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International

Scott Robertson discusses his future leading the All Blacks

Henry Lee

157 days ago

Scott Robertson head coach of New Zealand acknowledges the crowd after the Quilter Nations Series 2025 rugby international match between Wales and New Zealand at Principality Stadium on November 22, 2025 in Cardiff, Wales.

Now that the 2025 International season is over, All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson can reflect on his first two years in charge of the team, at the halfway point of a World Cup cycle.

Robertson’s side have been through their fair share of ups and downs as a group over the course of the two year period, losing four games in the opening year of Robertson’s tenure, before losing three in 2025 including the heaviest defeat of all time, against South Africa in Wellington.

This year, the 51-year-old head coach and his staff have used 45 players in the black jersey, a slight uptick from last year’s number, but have also dealt with a number of injuries that have forced changes throughout the campaign.

VIDEO

When Robertson is questioned about whether he feels like he’s the right man to lead this team to the Rugby World Cup in 2027, he explains that he believes he has the backing from the board.

“They’ve taken me a four year contract in belief that this group has got some great young players coming through, and there’s going to be some learning along the way. Look, I’m excited. I’ve got some great backing from David and the board and have got a good crew behind us here. I’m excited,” Robertson told reporters in New Zealand from Cardiff.

Looking at the two seasons as a whole, Robertson explains that when he took the job, he knew there would be lots of challenges in the first couple of years, and that he would need to create exposure for players.

“When I took out the job, I knew the first two years were going to be challenging, I honestly did, I thought with the amount of players and leaders. I thought, okay, you get a new captain. You’re going to bring a whole new group through, you lost a spine effectively,” Robertson said.

“The hooker, two locks, your nine and your team, you know we kept TJ Perenara and Sam Cane around last year to keep the experience, and just until you played a Test match or coached a Test match, you don’t know, until you’ve done it.

“And so those guys are really valuable, now we feel like we’ve turned a corner with 45 players this year. We’ve got the balance, a lot of exposure, we’ve built combinations and the four deep projects coming along.”

The All Blacks captain Scott Barrett, who has now captained the team for two years now, has had a slightly stop-start year with a couple of injuries during the International campaign, which could be a reason for his non-playing sabbatical to start the 2026 season.

When asked about the on-field leadership of this All Blacks team, Robertson has nothing but praise for his captain, saying that he’s starting to get his body right despite having some problems in the past couple of years.

“I think Scott’s rugby IQ is as good as I’ve ever come across, he’s an exceptional reader of the game, his ability to understand the intricacies, and he’s got people to rely on like his vice captains and on field drivers that we do a lot of work with.

“But he is unique, he’s someone that can push a scrum, call a line out, make 20 tackles, barge rucks, and still make calls and be with the referee, and he’s done a really good job, so we monitor all that.

“He’s been good, and his body’s good this year, he played with a lot of bangs last year, and he couldn’t lift in the gym. We know he’s got preseason off, but the All Black captain takes a lot of you, and he’s coming of age with the experience,” Robertson said.

13 International Tests involve a lot of travel, many hotels, flights and time away from home, but Robertson says the biggest thing he’s learnt so far about himself as All Blacks coach is how to get the messages across to the players.

“Personally, yeah, being in 32 hotels and going around the world a few times, but I think what’s required of me every week, how do I set the group up, the management group, the team, we talk about being all in, we talk about serving our jersey on the field and our people off the field, so how can I shape and bring the legacy along with us.

“I feel like I’ve made a real connection to that piece and personally, how can I get those simple messages across to the group? Look, I said before, it’s fine margins, and there’s a lot of expectations that come with it. So how can you refine your messages so the boys are clear and then just go and play and trust themselves.

“I feel like I’ve got a lot better in that regard.”

Comments

39 Comments

Kipper Mitten 156 days ago

Razor out; Eddy in!

TJ 156 days ago

Try putting up with COVID-19 like your predecessor did. If Robertson makes a World cup final, then and only then will he be successful. I don't see the NZRU putting the same pressure on Robertson as they did with Fozzie.

RugCs 156 days ago

So he gave him self a pat on the back and a pass mark. I suppose you can’t blame him he only three matches.

Karlos G 156 days ago

Just my own personal opinion and yes l know there were many players still playing into there 30s and still in there prime but they were in that prime early - mid 20s but most of them would be considered our greatest players.l think for the vast majority their best days are behind them upon reaching 30, loss of speed, body taken hundreds if not thousands of knocks and alot of surgery.l say good on SB for taking a sabbatical but using it for rest body and mind, spend some time with the wife and kids! Maybe he comes back playing like the 2023 version.l don't personally rate him as captain but am not sure who else, Ardie sure can fill in but does he even want the full time responsibility?

Stap yourself in folks cause SR and SB are it til the next world cup.lf anything changes l hope it’s Scott Hansen and Tamati Ellison our defence is woeful and I have a feeling SH is a big problem too

Poorfour 156 days ago

International rugby is sufficiently different from club rugby that it’s very hard for a coach to step up to coaching a Tier 1 team without having had experience of that environment. There are very few examples of someone who has stepped straight into an international head coach role and doing well with no prior international experience, especially the experience of having been through an RWC cycle and tournament.

The All Blacks for a long time had a boot room of coaches who had been assistants to the previous head coach. By promoting Razor directly to the top job, you’ve got a coach new to that level with a coaching staff new to that level, and it shows.

The question now is whether he will grow into the job. If he has the potential, then I don’t think NZRU has much option but to back him (and possibly support him with some senior coaching IQ), but you might have to accept a weaker performance than you’d like at RWC 27 to have a fully mature coaching setup for 2031.

JW 156 days ago

Have you not read NZH’s last article about his role have you?

unknown 157 days ago

I think Razor has done a remarkable job . It takes time to build a team new management etc . What I admire about Razor is that he doesn’t let his dyslexia stop him that’s why I relate to him so much we share something we both have a disability. Sure he isn’t Rassie . Rassie is a coach like no other I don’t think SB is the right captain he has no leadership whatsoever but that is my opinion. I look forward to seeing how you go next year especially in south Africa even though i will be supporting the springboks. It’s because of razor that I support the ABs second . Yes some of the players but not so much the fans I have my reasons for that . I am also an expat here in NZ why that’s my business.

RC 156 days ago

Rassie is really not that amazing… it's only because the springboks are playing in an era of the weakest All Blacks of the last 50 years.

They should have lost the RWC final to the ABs by 20.

Dave Didley 157 days ago

He's lost as many assistant coaches as players he's started at #10 in those two years. Despite the youth they have.

I’ve no doubt this squad would win 3 or 4 super rugby titles under him, though.

Currently 3/10 against their rivals who will get 4 cuts at them next year. At home.

Oh dear.

GodOfFriedChicken 157 days ago

All well and good to mention the number of players given a black jersey this year but it’s a bit of an empty number given how little meaningful time was given to a lot of those players. How much game time will they even get by 2027 against top talent? I hoped that the AB XV tours alongside the main squad was meant to make it easier to work out what top talent would be good to bring along for games like the Welsh test but of all the people they brought up, they brought in Sevu Reece and Rieko Ioane over a young Caleb Tangitau? At wing, a position with a shorter shelf-life than most as well. What he’s saying doesn’t match what’s been happening.

Bruiser 157 days ago

Scotts Rugby IQ is as good as Ive come across???? Alarm Bells ringing

JW 157 days ago

I wonder what he’s trying to say?

So how can you refine your messages so the boys are clear and then just go and play and trust themselves.

I think you need an assistant coach who’s aligned in your thinking if you want that to happen Razor.

GL 157 days ago

Razor’s issue is that his benchmark is SR and the Crusaders..very successful but international rugby is a whole new level and he has not (and I was a huge suporter of his appointment) made the jump and he is surrounded by equally limited staff.

His comment about Scott is very true: his IQ is great in SR NZ but internationally and vs Kolisi or our prior captains, not the same level.

This is a case of unknown unknowns

unknown 157 days ago

Are you referring to Scott Barrett as you comment said SR

GodOfFriedChicken 157 days ago

Scooter was at his best before they gave him leadership responsibilities. He’d be much better off playing without the armband, especially with Holland, Vaa’i, Lord and Darry on the up. I bag him a lot but I do think there is a chance he grows into that role but given that he was given it with barely a full year as a starting lock, they fast tracked him into it and it’s showing in his visible drop off in play.

JW 157 days ago

From recent local, NZ based articles, it sounds like his issue is bringing in an untried approach to the All Blacks. He needed to think of this years ago, go to a place like Dunedin, and prove he can implement it.

I don’t think it’s got anything to do with International rugby. Problems like finding a time and place to talk to players in a new hotel every week are minor compared to what theyre trying to do.

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