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International

New Zealand Rugby offers context to All Blacks coaching roles

By Ned Lester

139 days ago

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - SEPTEMBER 06: Coach Scott Robertson of New Zealand looks on after winning The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and South Africa Springboks at Eden Park on September 06, 2025 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)

New Zealand Rugby has provided some clarity on the roles within the All Blacks‘ coaching set-up, saying speculation that assistant coach Scott Hansen is operating in what could be understood as the head-coaching role lacks context.

A claimed comment from All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson in late November was represented in a New Zealand Herald article by reading Hansen “effectively operates in the role most would recognise as the head coach”.

New Zealand Rugby’s general manager of professional rugby and performance, Chris Lendrum, was addressing the media on Tuesday when a follow-up question on the story was posed.

“I’m not sure of the exact quote, but I think the sentiment is out of context a bit,” Lendrum responded. “Scott Hansen helps to set up the performance week for the All Blacks.

“The head coach of the All Blacks is Scott Robertson. That’s what we appointed him to do.

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“But Scott (Hansen) has a serious and significant role to play in how the week is structured and how we build into performance.”

It’s widely known that the Robertson-Hansen dynamic was built over multiple Crusaders championships. While that winning recipe was essentially transplanted into the All Blacks alongside fellow Crusaders and Canterbury coaching alumni, the result hasn’t been all smooth-sailing, with two departures from the coaching cohort.

Initial attack coach Leon MacDonald departed after just five Test matches, and Jason Holland, also in an attack role, announced prior to the Northern Tour that he would not seek a new contract with the team after completing his two-year contract this summer.

That’s left the All Blacks with a vacancy. Lendrum said the post-season review will assess which expertise would benefit the group most, helping steer the direction of any appointment process.

“We have got some decisions to make around the coaching group with all options on the table,” Lendrum said. “Whether to directly replace Jason or to look at the balance that we’ve got, and to consider if there is any other way to do things. That’s all part of the purpose of the review.”

Lendrum then clarified that his “all options on the table” comment wasn’t indicative of coaches being under pressure in their respective roles.

“It just means that whenever you bring someone new into a group, or whenever someone leaves a group, you’ve got a different group. Just confirming what the roles and responsibilities are and what the team really needs, that’s an opportunity to reflect on that question in the review process.”

Comments

4 Comments

Wayneo 139 days ago

It comes as no surprise to me that New Zealand Rugby resorted to mansplaining what a rugby coach does to appease both rugby purists and woke people interested in their pronouns and broader social impact, rather than simply discussing their coaching philosophy.

This is strictly for the benefit of the non-rugby purists-

The All Blacks have a special team of grown-ups who act like the team's headmaster, teachers, and a doctor, all in one. They help the players learn, get stronger, and work together to win games!

Here are the main people and their jobs, explained simply:

Scott Robertson (Head Coach): The boss of the whole team, kind of like the principal at school. He makes the big decisions, sets the plan for how they'll play, and makes sure everyone is working nicely together to win the big games.

Jason Ryan (Forwards Coach): The teacher for the big, strong players up front (called the forwards). He teaches them how to be super strong in scrums (the big rugby huddle) and lineouts (when they throw the ball in the air).

Scott Hansen (Defence Coach): The teacher who helps all the players become great tacklers and stop the other team from scoring points. He's like the general of the defence army!

Tamati Ellison (Contact Skills Coach): The specialist who teaches the players how to be tough and safe when they run into other players or fall on the ground. He makes sure they hold onto the ball tight!

Nic Gill (Head of Performance): The fitness and health teacher. He makes sure all the players eat the right food, do enough running and gym work, and stay healthy so they can run fast for the whole game.

Some other helpers come and go, like a lineout expert named Bryn Evans who helps with catching the ball in the air, but these are the main guys running the show right now.

JW 137 days ago

That’s how Razor put it lol, but it hasn’t turned out how it is.

The world has become something terrible, I still thought mansplaining was like “let the paint dry before doing another coat”, not that jibberish.

SB 139 days ago

“I’m not sure of the exact quote, but I think the sentiment is out of context a bit”

Why not read what the actual quote was then come prepared to speak with the media?

JW 139 days ago

Meeting was obviously for another purpose, but the exact quote was “yes”, so I think he’s probably more referring to the original quote, as in ‘what was the whole discussion’, rather than how the media portrayed it (which is all that we have access to).

Even this article doesn’t tell you what the question is that Chris answered for instance.

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