Stephen Donald's take on a new All Blacks coaching group

Former All Black winning first-five Stephen Donald has weighed in on the vacant All Black head coaching role, and who could partner the head coaches as assistants.

NZR Chair David Kirk announced that All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson would be leaving his role with the organisation on January 15, after two-years in the role, and two years before the Rugby World Cup in Australia.

Robertson’s coaching team though, consisting of forwards coach Jason Ryan, defence coach Tamati Ellison and right-hand-man Scott Hansen, are all still contracted with New Zealand Rugby going forward and may continue with the new head coach.

When Kirk addressed media in Auckland after the massive announcement, he claimed the organisation would “cast the net wide” in search of the new head coach, less than a month away from the start of Super Rugby Pacific 2026.

That search likely includes a number of possible candidates, but the likes of Highlanders head coach Jamie Joseph and Kobelco Kobe Steelers boss Dave Rennie could be leading the charge.

Donald, who famously kicked a penalty in the 8-7 victory over France at Eden Park back in 2011, has never been coached by Joseph, but believes he’s the front-runner.

“Well, if you look at it logically, it’s Jamie Joseph, great record, all his international experience sitting here. And look, I’ve never been coached by Jamie but I’ve probably had the same impression every time you bump into him,” Donald said on his Aftermatch Podcast with Kirstie Stanway.

“If you look at the All Blacks right now, and from outside, of course, we’re saying he might be just what they need, and maybe just what the players want, but they don’t know they want that.”

The 42-year-old pundit and commentator is full of praise for one of the other leading candidates, Rennie, who coached him at the Chiefs.

“When I had him as the head coach at the Chiefs, his portfolio was attack and counter attack. But he could cover it all, he could do whatever, but in my experience with him, that was his particular portfolio.”

Stanway then asked Donald whether he thinks Rennie would be keen on being an assistant, even though he’s been a head coach for the large part of his coaching career.

“But it’s the All Blacks, that’s the thing and Rennie would never turn it down, and the reason why you ask that question is, essentially you’re asking, can egos be put to the side? Oh, if I’m a head coach, can I work for someone else?

“Well, Rennie is probably the least ego head coach of that of that ilk that I’ve ever met. So I think if him and Jamie have got a relationship, if Jamie has reached out, I wouldn’t put that past him.

“For me personally, he’s (Rennie) as good as I’ve had, like the whole package with Rennie. So I would love to see Rennie in there.”