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Scott Robertson has to take charge of his All Blacks in 2025

Scott Robertson has openly advocated for New Zealand toi change its policy on picking players based overseas (Photo Seb Daly/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

The more I think about the 2025 rugby year, the more I think it’s about Scott Robertson. 

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I think he left New Zealanders underwhelmed and confused, in his first season as All Blacks head coach. 

We’d expected a lot from him, some of which was potentially unrealistic.  

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But the man had years to prepare for his elevation to this country’s top coaching job and he frankly looked unprepared for it. 

The team was a shambles and an assistant coach – and longtime friend of Robertson’s – walked the plank after a few weeks. 

Selections made little sense, the performances lacked cohesion and the coach himself came across as inauthentic. 

Far from being the inspirational and galvanising appointment many had hoped for, Robertson’s belated ascension disheartened people. They’d waited a long time for this alleged saviour to be given his shot and yet nothing seemed better than it had been before. 

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If I had any advice for Robertson this year, it would be to own it. 

Own the team, own how you speak to the media and public, own the results and the style of play.  

Don’t try to be someone you’re not, don’t give too much ownership of the onfield tactics to the players, don’t be too loyal to established stars and don’t let them say and do things that you wouldn’t yourself. 

New Zealand Rugby (NZR) might want – and even encourage – players to drive social change in this country, but I don’t get the sense Robertson endorses that.  

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Teams work very hard to minimise or ignore noise from outside their bubble. On that basis, I don’t see why a coach would want players generating that noise themselves. 

It wasn’t all bad from Robertson in 2024. He eventually pared back the game plan and dispensed with Damian McKenzie as the starting 10, even if he was bloody slow in doing so. 

Then there was the Ethan de Groot thing. I don’t know what the prop did, but I do know the team would have been better with him in it. 

But standards are important, de Groot clearly fell short of Robertson’s and he was left out of the side. That’s the kind of ownership I’m talking about. 

Rightly or wrongly, people believe Graham Henry and Steve Hansen were in charge of their respective All Black teams. In reality it’s a collaborative process between management and players, but the impression remained that those two men ran the cutter. 

Not NZR, not the players or the Players’ Association, not the broadcast rights holder, but the coach. 

Hansen, for instance, could be charming and eloquent, but he largely stuck to speaking the fans’ language.  

Unlike Robertson has done, he didn’t seek to sound wise or to use words he didn’t fully comprehend himself. He rarely resorted to jargon or accentuating scant positives. 

Hansen might’ve had agendas he was pushing, but was mindful not to insult the public’s intelligence in doing so. 

Like any leader, Hansen also knew you have to take the people with you. 

Robertson did that at the Crusaders. He picked players with character, he played rugby that was ruthlessly efficient and he emphasised how much pride they all felt in representing that region and those fans. 

The coach’s stamp was all over that team and the public loved him for it. 

There’s huge potential in Robertson’s All Blacks but, for that to be realised, he has to make it his team. 

I assumed he’d do that from the outset and that we would see demonstrable change and a team with a real identity. We didn’t. 

As my late mother often said, you might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb. And that’s what I would say to Robertson. 

You’ve waited a long time for this job, you’ll only get one crack, you don’t want to die wondering. 

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95 Comments
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JW 24 days ago

I feel like he'd be too happy to select people from overseas and tank the ABs as a result. I mean you gotta do it to find out, but nah, I certainly don't have enough confidence in him to give him that sort of freedom.

smith 100% plays 9 and mounga 100% plays 10

Haha yep you sound like a Razor clone, run his players into the ground without developing the next gen and tanking 2027 WC as a result.


Yes, AJ Lam was that player this year.


That's when DMac is also the biggest liability. Forced to be the playmaker is the best way he can contribute being such a tiny bloke.


That was actually one of the reasons I liked the older age bracket, it attracts the youth and also gives them somewhere to go after hs, something to capitilize on, as currently it all just dies out without an immediate or obvious step. It helps to remove a bit of the seriousness as well, which can be misplaced at that age. Sure it might be older kids that look upto it but I wouldn't change hs footy at all. Agreed though, its about the only place left with that sort of tribalism so you wouldn't want to destroy it. As there wouldn't be more than a dozen university teams hs should definitely still have cause to retain it's high following.


Haha it would certainly be cool being in that particular environment with some influence. I had a mate who worked there and said it wasn't great, but that was under the guy that got kicked out. University rugby is that stepping stone you're after 😉 thank me once you're able to pay for my time and expertise!

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Easy_Duzz-it 28 days ago

You want immediate success , Give razor full autonomy . He will pick all our best players. If this occurred last year 2024 would be a clean sweep . That's how confident I am in New Zealand's best . smith 100% plays 9 and mounga 100% plays 10 . these 2 men behind a forward pack that actually goes forward is near impossible to beat . Add A line breaking 12 and not only will that give mounga more time but it'll create space for 13 and 11 for the full 80 minutes . If reiko and clarke are given space they will score 100% .

with Dmac off the bench for the last 25mins with free reign , opposition will struggle to contain him . Without pressure to do this and do that , he will be able to fully express himself . Thats when he's most dangerous .


You want long term success . 1st 15 rugby is the second most important competition in NZ and i'll explain why . firstly the rivalries between the schools are already there and the atmosphere is crazy . I still watch games from 2-3 years ago just for the atmosphere alone . They also get their first taste of international footy in the end of year school tournaments . But most importantly the core target for the future is the kids and the easiest way to get their interest is to use older kids , obviously being closer in age they can relate more .


There's also a gap between 1st 15 and the npc level that isn't getting exposure , that's why the NPC atmosphere doesn't exist. That's why 1st 15 is so important . It's the first point of exposure . Whatever that bridge is between 1st 15 and NPC has to become accessible. this is the key to increasing the fan base . In the past people followed teams , but in this age people follow players . So increasing player engagement is the best way to increase the fan base . And following 1st 15 players all the way to NPC is the most logical solution to ticket and jersey sales . Rebuild the fanbase , rebuild rugby , secure the future . At this point I think the NZRU should hire me .

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JW 29 days ago

Haha crap man I wouldn't know if SR has ever made a profit. ABs subsidize everything. Factors like SR clubs not paying 'for' their ABs etc, normal having a star would cost you 2 or 3x as much as a regular, but NZR covers all that in NZ. Pretty sure was the case for the other two partners too. I doubt even NZR knows the exact ratios sponsors like Sky/Adidas/AIG/Altrad/Investec give for local product.


No doubt SR used to make more money with the 3 partners, but of course it was also split 3 way. TBH I don't think its going to be much different (I think the new deal is still higher than before?). That last deal was bumper despite the comp being in decline, then SA left and the deal was probably worth even more for NZ? Can't recall how that played out I think Sky kept the agreemnt (fully). They'll be taking a big hit but it would be anything to do with the state of the game.


So when you say bleeding, you mean since around 2013/14 right? When SA'n and Aussie crowds finally stopped turning up to watch NZ smash them every week. So again, I was just stating your picture was wrong, and you've got the wrong causes, I don't disagree too much with the idea it's 'bleeding' though, id1ots were complaining about NZ sides getting a rough deal come final time for a loooong period and lots of other things that dragged the game down but on the field it just kept getting better and better. The problem is this nationalistic concept, that caught up on them (previously being the great driver for interest) and fans didn't care about the top four teams like every other sports competition in the world. They only cared about their local teams not winning.


No, SR wasnt optimal, which is what it was recommended to have just the SR Pacific comp instead. I'm not sure how much better things are now though. It needs time?


I know how I'd like to find equilibrium and it's much like what you propose. One big difference is I just don't think they need to cut SR. I would switch investment into an NPC/fully domestic scene + youth, like you, I'd just have like a much shorter SR season and I'd try and create a university scene rather than high school, that little extra age demographic matters a lot to investment/interest.


It's what the NRL can pay, and I think I heard it recently for someone in the spot light. I used it as a future figure more than anything though, the idea being these other leagues are only going to be more and more competitive, so much so they take away local talent before it can have a chance to develop. And once it goes they're unlikely to develop into the player they would have here. Not choosing a path that can compete will be a disaster imo. Thus the All Black decline.


I think don't think theres any reason your ideas can't work though, with maybe a added little flair here and there to drive some extra revenue. 20 is just a number to get a picture how many of top 60 might dissapear, it's nothing Id calculated. Think of it as an 'at any particular time' number.


In general I think people so quickly forget those that leave and all hope is placed on the next guy. Think that were talking top 4 or 5 in a position, there are a lot of positions that don't place much past the number 3. Look at Bell, theres no one he would be one of NZ top dozen hookers, numerous people would have left without getting a shot and the likes of Riccitelli or Eklund are obvious better. You've got first fives like Burke, Jordan, Falcon, Black, Plummer next year, Ioane Sopoaga, West who at any one time are going to be 3, 4, and 5 in NZ order. You've TKB, Smith, now Perenara, Weber, even Ruru is having a standout season and ALL would be better than the 3rd best local in Hotham or Christie. Now weve got last season statistical best full back leaving in Stevenson, he's joining Moorby and Rayasi, Bridge, and god knows who else who's having an awesome year that would break him into the All Blacks if it was in Super Rugby. Midfield is stacked when at home would be scratching around for guys like the Umaga-Jensen boys hoping they were fit to fill out 4 or 5th best 2nd5 and centers, when the likes of TJ Faiane, Nankiville, Seta, Aso, Fekitoa, Goodhue, Leicester, Ngani, even one of my fav Rob Thompson would be better than getting down to picks like Aumua, Ennor, McCleod, Tupea, and those that would have to come after them. We've got some of my fav loosies in Lachlan Boshier, Charlie Gamble, Whetu Douglas overseas, now Akira, never my talented players like.


I think your top 60 must have be a picture of the 36 man Crusaders squad plus a list of last years All Blacks! Obviously I've gone off track here as sure, these players leave a big whole but it's not one that NZ hasn't been able to fill in the past while maintaining quality SR sides (the periods when it was rocking), but there will be a time when loosing too many of those quality players has a much bigger impact than the already currently disillusioned SR fan can take.


Bottom line is Australia have far more talent and players that we do (statistically) and all that would need to have in the short term to fix your perceived problem with Super Rugby is trade some the best NZ players into the Aus sides. Simple, problem solved, competitive comp achieved.

cut off super rugby and stop the bleeding . put all the money back into the remaining competitions

Is too quick, many will see it as an opportunity to leave and that starts the very risky slope. You have to have a plan. Any change needs to be gradual and with a better future prospect, until then, voices like yours are only going to undermine any possible immediate success.

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Easy_Duzz-it 30 days ago

Super rugby is bleeding . when was the last year super rugby made profit ? . Real growth is determined by how much money you generate . Remember super rugby is a business first and currently it's not optimal . Australia will always be wiping boys in super rugby , they don't have the path ways that we do . In Australia union is made for private school kids and with that in mind it'll never grow bigger than what it is . And the South africans would be wiping boys again if they came back to super rugby . because the time differences is too much on the body . So super rugby as a genuine profitable product is a lie .


So what's the plan ? . It's quite simple really you cut off super rugby and stop the bleeding . put all the money back into the remaining competitions . Get the 1st 15 back on tv and have content creators at every level of the game making highlight reels for all the up and coming stars . the faster people know who players are , the interest will grow . streamers are the new stars of this generation . So NZRU should follow suite . watch these kids from 1st 15 and follow them all the way to the top . Some will succeed but most will fail . But that's the real point of interest . To see who will make it . And who wont .


Of coarse the quality of rugby will drop for a little , but once rivalries spark again . it wont take long for performances to lift and with that quality will only improve . All of a sudden the player exodus is a hoax just like covid and only our very best players leave to off shore pastures because they conquered every level in New Zealand and theres nothing left here to do .


I also have no ideas for equilibrium . I only have simple and easy solutions for the current problems in NZ rugby . You said we 20 of our best are currently off sure . Being the best means you are good enough to wear the All Black jersey . Currently only 3 players off shore would fit that criteria . Mounga , Frizell and Fainga nuku . so who are the rest ? . I also haven't read any stories about 100k offers to any up and coming talent . If there's a link you would like to share on that matter , I would definitely take the time to read it . Also don't be worried about who will play for the All Blacks and who wont . 10-15 years ago the "Tongan Thor Taniela Tupou" was a menace in 1st 15 he left to play for the wallabies . Yes he would have been a great asset for the All Blacks . But at the end of the day . Money only keeps the lights on , We only want players who want to play for the black jersey no matter where they play in the world .


We don't poses the world cup . But we are still the best in the world at rugby , of that I have no doubt . And if Razor gets his way results will follow quickly .

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Another 30 days ago

In terms of Robertson needing to ‘own’ 2025, I agree, although I disagree about where his priorities might lie in terms of tactics and personnel.


There is, as usual, an over scrutinising of backline performances, especially at No10, and not enough on the combinations up front where matches are really won and lost.


The ABs in 2024 took a while to work out their best front five. I personally think that Williams ultimately outperformed De Groot in the No1 jersey this year, and Vaa’i matured into a full international lock, both deserving their ascension. The re-inclusion of Tuipolutu on the bench essentially solved the AB jitters in the last quarter that plagued them during the Rugby Championship.


The real area of development needed now is to find a fully balanced, consistent and forceful loose forward combination. Sam Cane is gone, and both Savea and Sititi have been playing in the wrong positions, in my view, at No8 and No.6 respectively for too long. This area, as a major priority for 2025, is where they can make the most incremental improvement in collective performance for the team. It would be the area that they could start turning close losses into wins.


This is the key point: NZ played almost every other World ranked team in 2024, mostly away from home. Against South Africa, Ireland and France - the other major teams in the Top 4 of World Rugby right now - they scored, on aggregate, just one less point than these opponents collectively scored against them in all Tests played. If they can improve in one clear area, in 2025, they are going to see their results and ranking look after themselves.

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JH 34 days ago

The main things pointed out are his loyalty to 'star' players even when they're not performing. The fact that it was youth who were the stand-outs this year, and only ever got their chance when someone from the immune from being dropped 'leadership group' got injured says it all.


Also, if you're going to have 'internal standards' around off field things like DeGroot, then that should be extended to the on-field form and discipline of any player. The fact that ALB got carded so many times and yet would appear the following week (mainly to get carded again) was ridiculous.

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Skinny Pins 35 days ago

He has to drop all three Barretts. They're not winners, and have lowered the standards of the All Blacks. I think though Robertson is too weak to do it. That's why Jamie Joseph was the right choice for head coach. But Dame Patsy chose Razor, and that is NZR in a nutshell.

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YeowNotEven 36 days ago

Did anyone else here watch the game against Ireland?

And see how Rieko and Dmac played?

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SC 35 days ago

Rieko did nothing as usual.


DMac had one of his two outstanding test starts of the 10 tests he started to go along with two terrible tests (Argentina 1 and Australia 1) and 6 hot & cold tests.

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YeowNotEven 36 days ago

Damien McKenzie was excellent by the end of the season and DeGroot- whatever he did- was nowhere near playing better than Tamaiti Williams.

Bidwell says Hansen and Henry have the impression they were in charge of their teams, and that’s what Razor should do.

He also states that the reality is it is a collaborative effort.

So what Hamish Bidwell is arguing for is window dressing. He wants razor to look the part, never mind what the reality is.

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JW 36 days ago

Yes, because he cant see it. His mind is unable to make it out, like looking at a visual puzzle and just seeing nothing/garbage. It might click.


For instance, Razor did take charge very early by saying those English performances werent good enough, he just executed in how you describe is a "collaborative effort" require individuals to step up. rather than the old school barking AKA Vern Cotter type approach (Ryan does that role I elieve).

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Utiku Old Boy 36 days ago

Like others, I was underwhelmed by Razor in his first year and couldn't understand why he persisted with players who were out of form. All of a sudden, "experience" was the holy grail for selections and up-and-comers mainly got a shot through injury. I had high hopes after Foster and was disappointed in the lack of clarity in game plan and selection. I think Hamish has articulated what a lot of AB supporters feel and count this year's disappointment due to nerves from the big stage and from "too many voices" in the coaching group. I don't think Razor gets another pass if 2025 is marked by the same reticence, confusion and conservatism.

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JW 36 days ago

You (and Hamish) have different influences for the problems for me UOB, for instance I got the picture "too many voices" were from the fans and peers, not internally at all.


Getting used to the pedestal of this coaching job is pretty much getting used to this. I thought he was just naturally gifted to not 'need' to deal with these sorts of problems, that they would be like water off a ducks back, but he has appeared far more human than expected him to be!


If the season is met by similar performances UOB, unfortunately it gets an easy pass mark I'm afriad. My pass mark is an unbeaten season however.

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GC 37 days ago

Absolutely correct Hamish. Razor was overwhelmed by AB's coach job - too many in the management and support team, too many other voices.

The disparite mix of players came from the crazy idea of letting assistant coaches pick players for the positions they were responsible for. No cohesion, no team, no attack plan, no dropped goals.

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JW 36 days ago

The problem with your view is there was clear cohesion, a team, and an attack plan, it's just that it wasnt what (as good as) you/we expected.

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Utiku Old Boy 36 days ago

Agreed GC.

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Bull Shark 37 days ago

Razor and his 6-8 assistant coaches did as well as I expected them to do. 70% was a great outcome and they ran the boks close at home. Can’t knock them for that.


I expect another 70% season in 2025. A perfectly respectable outcome in a year where boldness in selections and blooding new talent is vital.


Razor went for respectable and safe in 2024. Build a relatively solid foundation. Albeit a boring one with more questions than answers. But he has to take a few chances in selections in 2025 or stick around 70% with the current crop to 2027 AND miss a World Cup medal.


The question is whether the NZ public can live with another 70% season whilst Razor and his 5-7 assistant coaches get their feet properly under their desks. I suspect they will accept 70% if they see innovation. And I suspect they won’t accept 70% if they don’t and it’s more of the same.

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Head high tackle 36 days ago

Id say another 70% season and Razor looses the fans and loose his job. If you look at 24s draw compared to 2025's he should win 11 from 13 minimum. Thats close to 85%. 3 v France, 1 v Aus, 2 v SA at home and the 4 home nations, 1 Aus test away plus whatever addons that come up with like a Fiji or a Japan test.

Could lose 1 v SA and the Ireland or perhaps Scotland tests and have a successful year but We should beat Ireland and Scotland and you would have to think Razor's priority would be to win 2 v SA at home.

When you think about how bad we played last year yet still should have won 1 SA test and could have easily beaten France had Dmac started in place of BB.

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RedWarrior 37 days ago

My feeling is that NZ were building the physicality/Intensity etc. needed to deal with the Frances, SAs and Irelands so taht this is not a point of difference. They were there and thereabouts in all these matches, easily managing Ireland in the end. I suspect he will continue to build on this while starting to build an attack which is good enough to create opportunities. This will involve some more complicated moves like we have seen Ireland produce at their prime, but in fairness it is extremely difficult for individual flair to recreate these moves. After that it would be left to individual flair to look at the opportunities presented and decide what to do. NZ are best equipped for this. You've seen the start of this in patches also: eg Jordan's try V England as a result of manipulating the England defence and B Barrett identifying the opportunity.

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Nickers 36 days ago

This is a very generous interpretation. Strike plays from set piece are well and good but the ABs showed little to no ability to collectively manipulate defences outside of that.


The problem with relying on individual flair is that individuals are far more fallible than systems. Schmidt showed this perfectly with Australia against England. A defence that the ABs struggled to get anything going against three times in a row were completely opened up the same way over and over again by a superior system to the point where Australia were scoring at will.

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JW 36 days ago

I think you've hit the nail on the head. Ireland created a beautiful system to follow, but I'm not sure it's for everyone. More importantly in my mind, Lancasters system merely try's to mimic what great teams, like those of ABs and Lions past, executed, and in the case of the ABs, it has been something core to how rugby is played in general by the country, so the real task is creating a system that just allows that "individual flair to recreate these moves", as you put it.


The lack of that development is what is most depressing for me, they seemed to go for some completely new approach, much like league, of hitting ball runners in the gap (rather than how Ireland simple just choses (or seems to) the person running the gap to pass to), or wide passes for an overlap. Very much like 5th tackel strike plays, and nothing at all like the Irish system where every running option is looking to put the defence under pressure, on every play, whether it still on goes one or two wide or not. It was/is constant. It is how the ABs used to develop so much pressure, and why they seemed to get so much pay. It needs a lot of building.

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johnz 37 days ago

Razor is known as the culture coach, and on that note he has a pass mark. It's obvious this team is developing a backbone and consistency that were sorely missing in the Foster era.


What's surprising, however, is the lack of innovation. I think we all thought that would be a big part of Razor's reportoire. So far we haven't seen much.


Razor seems partly held back by fear and the fact he's lacking an innovative figure in his coaching team. All the coaches know each other and have worked together for the same team; there's a real risk of groupthink.


When Razor bought O'Gara onboard at the Crusaders, he described his decision along the lines of: We wanted to bring someone onboard from a different environment, someone who would ask us different questions.


It's the mindset I've seen a lot of winners display—a willingness to be challenged and humility to have an open mind.


At the moment I see that attitude missing, and I'm not convinced Hansen has the tactical pedigree for his job.


But as we've seen from Razor, he has had the confidence to innovate in the past, and the ruthlessness to end a career for the sake of the team. Let's hope that self-belief to make the brave calls comes back soon.

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WW 37 days ago

The quality of NZ rugby has always been top notch, being a coach is almost superfluous. That being said, if they want to feature against Ireland, Boks and the French when they gel, they need to add something extra, a lapse in timing or even a blink can cost a tackle which is expensive these days. For once there is no clear dominating team which makes for extra special braais, BBQs and ref cussing.

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johnz 37 days ago

I'd argue coaches are more important than ever; we're not that good in NZ to send our team out uncoached. For no better evidence, just look at the difference Schmidt and Ryan made to Foster's setup. The change when they came onboard was like night and day.


Speaking of our man Schmidt, it was him and Farrell who showed the World how to beat the ABs. And it was Schmidt who taught the ABs how to beat Ireland.


Sure, playing what's in front of you is all very well in good. But if you're set piece is rubbish, you're breakdown work poor, and your defence is like a leaky sieve, you'll only be scoring consolation tries.

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JW 37 days ago

Unfortunately it is not the 'extra' they are trying to add these days. Razor has simply been trying to get them back to that instinctive rugby you speak that makes a coach superfluous.


Through all the Super teams, and even in NPC, the players aren't allowed to play rugby themselves now. That which made them great is gone, and it is now heavily reliant on the coach to set the structure, ala Schmidts success with them.

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JW 37 days ago

You're blind bidwell, Razor and the team was 10x better.


Is that good enough? Frankly it isn't, things had been at such a low standard for a long time. I guess I was kinda expect the personal change to immediately fix the problems the previous personal had caused.


All the same pressure will be on as if what is reported here was reality.

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GrahamVF 37 days ago

"Scott Roberton admitted the All Blacks' mindset was "slightly off" as a resolute Italian side rose to the challenge in Turin to put the All Blacks under the pump."

I could understand if he said their execution was slightly off for whatever reason but for a coach to say the team he had been with for weeks has a slightl off mindset is not what one would want to hear from an inspirational coach. Sounds like he lost the locker room.

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Tk 37 days ago

Personally I was underwhelmed by Razor last year. However, yes, it was a transition season and Rome wasn't built in a day. 2025 will be the acid test. The thing that I am hoping to see more than anything else is to move away from players who have been tried at length and really are not what will win RWC-27. Move on the known mediocrity and be bold to try fresh faces who just may be generational talents and win in '27.

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JW 37 days ago

That's it, underwhelmed by Razor, but not by the team as Bidwell suggest. They were still probably the best team this year.

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Michael86 37 days ago

Billy Proctor at 13

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SK 37 days ago

I dont see how he hasnt owned it. His selections have been his own and he dispensed with an assistant who disagreed with him on the direction which was clearly a decision driven by him. Everyone expected him to revolutionise the team but instead he has gone with consistency and that was very much him deciding to do that and not anyone elses call. He has remained true to himselft throughout and steadfast in his belief in these players despite the noises coming from outside the structure. Robertson is in charge for better or worse. He has taken ownership already

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JW 37 days ago

While Bidwell is offtarget, I don't think his point is wrong.


Why was Razor so busy looking after his japanese and other foreign interests (tracking his players I mean specificaly) and not his coaching teams?


And he did revolutionise the team, in many facets, you raise the glaring question of why wasn't also that with the players?


He did not at all remain true to himself. He back stepped immediately on this 'wow this is what a test match is' theme.


This article is far off the mark but I think you have to be realistic in trying to defend Razor for it.

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Cantab 37 days ago

I see no reason to panic over Razor's coaching just yet. Last season was a transition one and he inherited a team that had lost several experienced members. Rebuilding takes time and progress has been made. A kinder schedule this year & continuation should see the ABs return to the status expected by many. Don't panic Mr Mainwaring !!!

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Easy_Duzz-it 37 days ago

He ain’t achieving anything great with dmac or B.Barret playing like they did last year …

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Head high tackle 36 days ago

He has no backs plan. Constantly changes their priorities, kicking, running plans and just confuses his 9 and 10. The way he dropped Dmac for the France game was nothing but hate from Razor. Why on earth would you go back to BB at 10 after the English test where Dmac had to save the match, was confusing. Razor failed in 2024 and if something isnt improved he will be gone in 2025.He desperately needs a backs coach. Get the Chiefs backs coach. That coach seems to be able to get a backline moving. Come to think about it plenty of NPC sides had better performing backlines. Taranaki were great, BOP, Tasman.... Plenty of backs coaches got their sides performing better than Razor got the ABs backs performing.

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JW 37 days ago

Dmac was the worlds best 10 last year.


One would normally say you can't get much better than that. But that's the second year running the ABs have had the worlds best 10, and I think theres a lot of finish to come from Dmac still.

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YBGUR 37 days ago

Wasn't Leon MacDonald pushed because he wasn't keen on Sevu Reece?

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SC 37 days ago

Do you really believe a disagreement over which wing to start would lead to coaches leaving the team?

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Andrew Nichols 37 days ago

If that was so then he wasnt wrong. Reece has failed at test level. Narawa was stiffed.

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JW 37 days ago

Nar he wanted BB playing 10.

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GM 37 days ago

A first move might be to embrace the receding hair-line. Starting to look suspiciously like an incipient comb-over.

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GP 37 days ago

Great article Hamish Bidwell.As Crusaders Coach. Scott Robertson got huge by in from his players, co-coaches and fans. It was "we are all in this together approach". He was coached by two of the greats Wayne Smith and Robbie Deans . There styles , while different from each other, achieved great results. Razor has tried to be all things to all men as AB coach.That was reflected in his selections and results. Get back to his own authentic style he can work wonders.He has done it before.

S
SO 37 days ago

Yes excellent read I think Razor last season was surprisingly very tentative which is the opposite from where he was as the Crusaders coach. Forwards looking good but backs wer lackintg especially at 9 (Perenara) 10 and 13. Maybe an Irish season the best thing for Jordie B he needs something.

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kumar supriya 1 hour ago
Waratahs plotting unprecedented 29-season Super Rugby first in 2025

MY NAME IS SUPRIYA KUMAR FROM INDIA PLEASE FIND TIME TO READ THIS CAREFULLY.              AS WE ALL KNOW INDIA IS NUMBER ONE IN THE WORLD IN TERMS OF MAGIC SO DO NOT IGNORE THIS. BE CAREFUL HERE, NOBODY CAN HELP YOU FROM AFRICA OR EVEN SUGGEST HOW YOU CAN GET YOUR EX OR LOVE BACK, ANY TESTIMONIES OF MOST SPELL CASTER FROM AFRICA HERE MUST BE IGNORED, BECAUSE MOST OF THEM ARE SCAM I MEAN REAL SCAM AND FROM AFRICA WHICH I WAS A VICTIM AND I GOT RIPPED OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BECAUSE I WAS SO ANXIOUS TO GET MY HUSBAND JOHN BACK AFTER HE LEFT ME FOR OVER 2YEARS WITH MY 3YEARS OLD SON JERRY,I HAVE APPLIED TO 7 DIFFERENT SPELL CASTER HERE I MET ON THIS BLOG AND ALL TO NO AVAIL THEY ALL ASK FOR SAME THING SEND YOUR NAME YOUR EX NAME ADDRESS AND PICTURE PHONE NUMBER ETC WHICH I DID OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND MOST OF THEM WERE FROM AFRICA, I WAS SO CONFUSED AND I WAS ALWAYS SICK BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM AND I WAS SO DESPERATE TO HAVE JOHN BACK TO ME I LOVE HIM SO MUCH AND COULD DIE FOR HIM. UNTIL A FRIEND TOLD ME ABOUT THE TEMPLE OF DREAMS THE GREATEST SPELL TEMPLE, (templeofdreams1@gmail.com) TEMPLE OF BLACK AND WHITE (GOOD AND EVIL) IN INDIA, AND I DECIDED TO SEND A MAIL TO THE TEMPLE. THE SECRETARY TOLD ME THAT ALL MY PROBLEM ARE OVER SINCE I HAVE DECIDED TO CONTACT INDIA FOR HELP, HE TOLD ME TO EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN ME AND MY EX HUSBAND JOHN AND I DID, I TOLD HIM ALL THAT HAPPENED FROM THE BEGINNING. AND HE SAID TO ME MY CHILD WHAT YOU JUST EXPLAINED TO ME NOW IS A LITTLE PROBLEM TO HANDLE COMPARE TO SERIOUS PROBLEMS THE TEMPLE HAS HANDLED, I WAS SO SHOCKED AND I SAID TO MY SELF WHAT PROBLEM COULD BE MORE SERIOUS THAN THIS. HE TOLD ME WHAT I NEEDED TO DO AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BUT WHAT HE SAID LOOK SIMILAR TO WHAT I HAVE HEARD IN THE PAST(THAT I WAS TO PAY FOR THE ITEMS NEEDED), I WAS HAVING DOUBT ABOUT IT BECAUSE OF PAST EXPERIENCE, BUT I DECIDED TO TRY SINCE THE TEMPLE IS LOCATED IN INDIA (ASIA) AND NOT AFRICA (NIGERIA AND SOUTH AFRICA) THEY COULD BE REAL AND DIFFERENT. SO I GAVE THEM 50% OF MY TRUST. THIS WAS LIKE A MAGIC AND DREAM COME TRUE TO ME, AFTER TWO DAYS WHEN THE SPELL HAS BEEN CASTEED, JOHN BEEPED MY PHONE AT ABOUT 9:PM I COULD NOT SLEEP THAT NIGHT BECAUSE I REALLY LOVE JOHN AND WANT HIM BACK. BY 7:AM THE NEXT MORNING HE GAVE ME ANOTHER  MISSED CALL I DECIDED NOT TO CALL BACK AS I WAS STILL ON SHOCK,   AT ABOUT 10:AM THAT MORNING HE CALLED AND I PICKED HE SAID CAN WE SEE AFTER WORK TODAY I SAID YES SO HE ENDED THE CALL IMMEDIATELY I GOT OFF WORK HE CALLED ME AND TOLD ME WERE TO MEET HIM, I WAS STILL ON SHOCK, BEHOLD WHEN I GOT THERE I SAW JOHN CRYING WITH TEARS ALL OVER HIS EYES, AND HE SAID TO ME MY WIFE, I AM SO SORRY IMMEDIATELY I HUGGED HIM AND KISSED HIM WHICH I HAVE MISSED ALL THIS YEARS. ALL THANK TO TEMPLE OF DREAMS. IF YOU ARE A MAN OR A WOMAN READING THIS AND YOU ARE PASSING THROUGH SIMILAR PROBLEMS LIKE MINE, DO NOT FAIL TO CONTACT THIS GREAT TEMPLE. HE IS REALLY INDEED A REAL SPELL CASTER.           THE WORST OF ALL IS THAT I DON’T KNOW THE PARTICULAR DOCTOR THAT HELPED ME AS I WAS TOLD THAT THERE ARE MORE THAN 300 SPELL CASTERS WORKING IN THE TEMPLE, UNLIKE THE SINGLE SCAM DOCTORS IN AFRICA. I AM NO LONGER AFRAID OF THE SPELL CASTERS IN AFRICA BECAUSE THE TEMPLE OF DREAMS ASSURED AND GAVE ME HUNDRED PERCENT PROTECTION AND ALSO HELPED ME RECOVER 50% OF MY MONEY THAT I PAYED TO SCAMS FROM AFRICA SOME SERVICES RENDERED IN THE TEMPLE OF DREAMS (1) If you want your ex back. (2) To cure HIV/AID or related illness (3) You want to be promoted in your office. (4) You want women/men to run after you. (5) If you want a child. (6) Are you a contractor and you want to win contract (7) You want to tie your husband/wife to be yours forever. (8) If you need help spiritually. (9) How you been scammed and you want to recover you lost money.     (10)Stop Divorce (11)Invoking of Money Ritual (12)To verify if your online lover is real (13)To verify if your online loan is real (14)To be very brilliant (15)If you are looking for a good job (16)If you are old and want to look young (17) If you want to be free from threats of spell caster in AFRICA And many more.. Email... templeofdreams1@gmail.com  

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