Sensational new player poll reveals majority of Super Rugby stars are unhappy with All Blacks coaching set-up
The majority of Kiwi Super Rugby players aren’t happy with the makeup of the new All Blacks coaching group, according to a sensational new poll.
A 40-question survey conducted by Country Sport Breakfast producer Sam Casey has offered an insight into the real opinions New Zealand’s Super Rugby players – and the results of the first question could ruffle some feathers at New Zealand Rugby.
Casey says he conducted the poll with “over 100 players” that ranged from senior All Blacks to Super Rugby newcomers, asking them 40 questions about the state of NZ rugby.
The anonymous polling was done during the period of March-June this year, and included at least 15 players from every Kiwi Super Rugby franchise.
The first question asked was: “Did the NZRU get it right with their All Black coaching group?”
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The results revealed that, of the players polled, the majority weren’t happy with who NZ Rugby picked in the current All Blacks coaching setup.
Almost half (46 per cent) said they believed NZ Rugby didn’t get the decision right, while 26 per cent said they were “happy with Ian Foster but not the assistant coaches”.
Only 28 per cent of the players polled agreed with NZ Rugby’s decision.
The bombshell results mirror the opinions of some fans who believed Crusaders coach Scott Robertson, who led his team to three-straight Super Rugby titles, deserved to succeed Steve Hansen as All Blacks head coach instead of Foster.
The Country Sport Breakfast, which airs weekdays 6am to 9am on Gold, will roll out the results of the rest of the poll over throughout the week.
Some of the other surprising poll results include:
Who is the best player in NZ rugby?
Beauden Barrett: 40 per cent
Ardie Savea: 20 per cent
Brodie Retallick: 12 per cent
Eight others: 28 per cent
The Chiefs coaches were fuming at half time. This is why… #CHIvHUR #SuperRugbyAotearoahttps://t.co/NX3huJ8EA2
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 5, 2020
Who is the best player 23 years of age or under in NZ rugby?
Jordie Barrett: 33 per cent
Will Jordan: 22 per cent
Luke Jacobson: 14 per cent
Sevu Reece: 14 per cent
Six others: 17 per cent
Who is the best first five in NZ rugby?
Beauden Barrett: 58 per cent
Richie Mo’unga: 32 per cent
Aaron Cruden: 9 per cent
One other: 1 per cent
Who is the best winger in NZ rugby?
George Bridge: 46 per cent
Sevu Reece: 21 per cent
Rieko Ioane: 13 per cent
Ben Lam: 11 per cent
Four others: 9 per cent
Who is the best midfielder in NZ rugby?
Anton Lienert-Brown: 66 per cent
Jack Goodhue: 21 per cent
Ngani Laumape: 11 per cent
Two others: 3 per cent
Who is the best fullback in NZ rugby?
Damian McKenzie: 47 per cent
Jordie Barrett: 25 per cent
David Havili: 18 per cent
Beauden Barrett: 10 per cent
Two minutes to go, down 4, need to score a try. Whose hands do you want the ball in?
Damian McKenzie: 30 per cent
Beauden Barrett: 24 per cent
Richie Mo’unga: 10 per cent
17 others: 46 per cent
Who will be the next breakout star and make the All Blacks?
Cullen Grace: 17 per cent
Hoskins Sotutu: 14 per cent
Mark Telea: 12 per cent
27 others: 53 per cent
Who is the best professional coach you’ve had?
Tony Brown: 17 per cent
Scott Robertson: 16 per cent
Dave Rennie: 9 per cent
Warren Gatland: 9 per cent
Jason Holland: 9 per cent
16 others: 40 per cent
Comments on RugbyPass
We had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getitng to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
7 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
7 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
55 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
55 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
7 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
55 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
55 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
55 Go to comments