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International

‘Watch out the Springboks’: Sir John Kirwan reacts to Robertson’s exit

By Finn Morton

91 days ago

Coach Scott Robertson of New Zealand looks on during The Rugby Championship match between New Zealand All Blacks and South Africa Springboks at Sky Stadium on September 13, 2025 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

All Blacks great Sir John Kirwan has reminded fans of “the human factor” after New Zealand Rugby parted ways with head coach Scott Robertson, before issuing a warning to two-time defending Rugby World Cup champions South Africa.

RugbyPass and other media outlets reported on Thursday morning that ‘Razor’ Robertson was set to exit the position, which was confirmed by NZR that afternoon. NZR Chair David Kirk fronted the press a few hours later in Auckland, answering questions for more than 20 minutes.

Kirk, who captained New Zealand to World Cup glory in 1987, explained the governing body had not seen “the trajectory that we wanted.” The All Blacks revealed on social media that the search for a new head coach would begin immediately, 20 months out from the World Cup.

VIDEO

Robertson led the All Blacks to 20 wins from 27 Test matches, which included a one-from-four record against the Springboks across two years. New Zealand beat South Africa at Eden Park last year, before suffering a record-defeat to the same opponent the next weekend in Wellington.

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A post shared by Sir John Kirwan (@johnkirwan14)

South Africa successfully defended their Rugby Championship crown and retained their No. 1 status on World Rugby’s rankings. As for the All Blacks, they recorded two other defeats in 2025, falling to Los Pumas 29-23 and England 33-19.

“Wow, what a day for the All Blacks,” Kirwan said after NZR announced that Robertson had left the position, halfway through a four-year deal.

“Firstly, I just want everyone to take into consideration the human factor. I’ve been in a situation like this before and it is gut-wrenching for those people that are involved. My thoughts go out to Razor and the effort he’s put into the All Blacks. It’s a hard day.

“The leadership of David Kirk, I believe, has been amazing since he’s been in the chair. He’s obviously done a thorough process, he would not do this without a thorough process.

“It’s a sad day but I think that if it was the right decision, then no one is bigger than the All Black jersey, no one: me, David Kirk, Razor, Beauden (Barrett). The All Black jersey for us must always come first and I’m sure that’s why they’re doing it.

“I think the sadness of it is replaced now with the excitement of what’s happening next.

“I’m incredibly passionate about this All Black jersey and passionate about the team. I feel for the human side when things like this happen but I think that it is what it is and I’m sure a process has been followed.

“Go the All Blacks. Watch out the Springboks, we’re coming!”

New Zealand’s first season with Robertson at the helm included four defeats. The All Blacks beat England in two thrillers to start Robertson’s time in charge, before later losing to Argentina during The Rugby Championship.

It didn’t get any easier for the All Blacks, who made their way to South Africa for two Tests away to the Springboks. While the All Blacks were in the fight in both matches, the home side did enough in the end to claim victory – and win the Freedom Cup.

The All Blacks retained the Bledisloe Cup for another year and defeated England, Ireland and Italy during their Northern Tour. Their only other defeat was against France at Stade de France, with Cam Roigard lining up opposite Antoine Dupont in a 30-29 thriller.

Kirk told reporters last week that the decision to part ways with Robertson has come as a “crucial mid-point in the four-year World Cup cycle.” That said, Robertson’s 74 per cent winning record won’t be seen as a marker for the next head coach.

“I think trajectory is a good word to apply. We weren’t seeing the trajectory that we wanted and I think fans will probably share that view, that there were ways that we were playing and ways we were falling a bit short of the excellence we’re looking for,” Kirk explained.

“It never really got addressed over the year so I think that was certainly a theme.

“I don’t want to be specific because that puts a cross on the forehead of the new coach,” he answered when asked what the new coach needs to do better. “I don’t want to be specific about what a new coach ought to be or not to be doing.

“When we go through the process of appointing a new coach, those new coaches will clearly present their plans and the way in which they go about coaching.”

Comments

48 Comments

TR 89 days ago

JK - still trying to stay relevant after all these years. He put the boot in relentlessly during Razor’s tenure - as did a number of “rugby commentators”. A number of former All Blacks have nothing to offer but cheap sniping from the shadows, and Kirwan - is as disingenuous as it gets. No insights, no advice, no sage-like observations… just cheap shots.

Ben 90 days ago

So Kirwan is not bigger than the ABs. Noted. Sometimes I think we all need a reminder.

Karismakismo 90 days ago

JK, NZs answer to Campo! Talk it up now JK will be whining again by end 2026. Will he promise to disappear from anymore commentary if the ABs do not win 3 test vs SA and win RWC 2027?pleeeese🙏🏻

SM 90 days ago

What do you mean watch out Springboks? As long as you refuse to call up foreign based players nothing’s gonna change for you, Super Rugby pacific is not preparing your players for international rugby

Wayneo 90 days ago

Writing has been on the wall for Razor for over 18 months already, only the blind who have refused to see it. Definitely did not surprise anybody who has spent 5 minutes in Wellington.

When the ABs lost back-to-back in SA in 2024 you could almost taste the disappointment from the Kiwi public. Where there was once optimist after Foster quickly turned to sour grapes and buyer’s remorse over Robertson.

NZR were just looking for an excuse to pull the trigger, it was rumored they were going to use “his breakdancing wasn't inclusive enough” excuse before the players revolted.

A 74% win ration is basically a hate crime in NZR’s eyes, the same NZR that officially traded its backbone for a gluten-free, emotionally-regulated soy latte a while back already. I can just imagine the board meetings, a full 3 hours practicing radical empathy and sharing their feelings about the ball being oval, while plotting how to get World Rugby to outlaw the scrum because it violates personal space boundaries.

Also, let’s not kid ourselves here. Robertson was essentially a pawn in a high-stakes game of 3D chess. By firing him, NZR created a vacancy to pry Tony Brown away from his post with Rassie Erasmus and the world champions.

Turns out Rassie Erasmus read the NZR like a cheap comic and posted a mocking AI-generated video of Brown saying he is not leaving. This confirms it's a cold war, and Rassie is using memes as psychological warfare. Kind of like saying he sees the NZR’s 3D Chess, but he is playing in 4D.

Maybe they should have checked Razors contract first to see restraint of trade the clauses and checked to see if other nations did the same…

RugCs 90 days ago

All that they are doing is putting pressure on the next man in when you fire someone with a 74% win ratio. What are they going to do when the next one also hits 74% or less than that? Fire him as well because kiwis need to understand that this is not 2015 where there is no competition and you can win almost all of your matches. There are 5 or 6 teams that have their houses in order with better domestic and international competitions, better coaches and better players than what they have available

Karismakismo 90 days ago

And a s***load of money

johnz 90 days ago

It’s a fair point RugCs. The expectations of NZR are probably too high, and will deter many coaches from even considering the post. Prospects will also be well aware they will face the two-year review of the players. So they don’t even have authority over the senior player group in the squad, as ultimately it's the players who have power.

In saying that, it was clear this coaching group had no clear plans while the set-up was flawed from the begining. The trajectory was going nowhere, as Kirk summed it up. Plus it sounds like the dressing room was lost, rightly or wrongly, so difficult to come back from that.

Over the sideline 90 days ago

Its nothing to do with 74% and if you’re hanging on that number thats on you. It’s the simple fact that they arnt going anywhere. The issues from test one are still the same in test 27. The game plan is an unknown, and it looks like the players don’t understand it. The press conferences are ambarrassing and then the statements around the coaching staff “still learning” on the job or that the HC is the assistant is far from acceptable. The lack of development in some areas is not good either.

PB 90 days ago

Sir JK is blowing hot air, or smoking his socks.

There is nothing to indicate that a change of coach can change the AB playing fortunes with the players they have. The scrum is not going to magically transform. The backline maybe. It is in the setpiece where the Boks are decimating the AB’s

They need two extra Lomax, Williams, de Groot, and Hollands to even dream that. The loose forwards also a mess. Ardie unsettles the combination. Too lazy to be a 6/8 and not willing to play the Sam Cane role at 7

Hammer Head 90 days ago

JK is often right if he isn’t wrong.

frandinand 90 days ago

The most inept NZ Super Rugby coach of all time and the commentator that Sky dispensed with because of his bias is trying to make himself relevant again.

unknown 90 days ago

Yeah well, at the end of the day, it’s night

unknown 90 days ago

JK is all hot air and bluster….how can he possibly be threatening the Boks? For Pete’s sake, the AB’s don’t even have a coach yet mate!!!! And I bet they won’t be hiring JK….

GRB13 90 days ago

When he coached the Blues their wining rate was 36%!

GM 91 days ago

Don’t cry for me, Argentina - APT2me is doing it for you. Maybe Razor for Kendrick Lynn would be a fair swap?

JW 90 days ago

Nice. Though to be honest I wouldn’t want to risk giving the Los Pumas an even more lethal backline.

APT2me 91 days ago

We’ll never win the world cup in 2027 now Razor has gone and if that happens Kirk should walk away and the rest of the board that backed him. Can't even let the man settle he is proven and a rare commodity. Players are there to play not cry they can't handle the coach in other words they're not good enough to be a All Black that Jersey is for men with mana. As for Razor I’m hoping Argentina picks him up for the next world cup and win it. I won't be following the All Blacks anytime soon, disappointed Kirk, shattered All Black fan, kiss the world cup good bye again. It's the fans that pay the price and keep the sport alive not people sitting on boards who change their minds cause the road ahead gotten rough cause they feel they're not heading in the right direction, rubbish total rubbish NZ Rugby board, notch up another dumb move. Rather watch the the Black ferns

Tk 90 days ago

I'm surprised that NZR acted like this, previously they would rather go down with the Titanic than admit error and change course. Is it a harsh call? Probably yes, but TBH Razor has really underwhelmed, been very conservative and actually looked a bit clueless at times.

johnz 90 days ago

The 2027 RWC is a massive long shot, with our without Razor. It was looking pretty doubtful under Razor in fairness. Hopefully they don't heap unrealistic expectations on the next bloke. That draw is nasty. All we ask for, is a team on the up that we can get excited about again.

Over the sideline 90 days ago

Perhaps ask your coach why he couldn’t coach at test level. Best move ever by NZR. Get it done now so the failure of the past two years can at least have a chance of being rectified.

DP 90 days ago

Well said, I can’t believe people are OK with the mutiny in that dressing room. It’s flabbergasting that All Black players would turn on a coaching staff and be directly responsible for their removal. I see an All Black team which has no edge and desire when they take the field. Losing is part of sport, blaming coaches while showing no bite on the field is pathetic. Wayne Smith needs to cast his net far and wide and find some blood that will in sporting terms die for the jersey.

cw 90 days ago

Can relate to this sentiment. Had my own vent on another post! Razor needs time to rebuild and should take on a NH pro club role - be great experience for him or spend sometime in an assistant role with one of the NH international teams.

JW 90 days ago

I’ve read comments they are as shocked as anyone, no crying. Argentina a good idea though. They have their own fabulous coaches lined up but they should be in no hurry. Pablo would have a good idea whether that is worth a shot.

MA 90 days ago

As an outsider it was a sirprise he lasted so long in the seat, it was hard to see what Razor was thinking. He dodged too many pointed questions in press conferences, deferring to the captain or player with him to answer questions when pressed. He lacked the analytical nous one expects from an All Black coach. Sad day for him but not unexpected as a South African.

Budhachief 90 days ago

Bit of an overreaction there buddy. It's a pretty big decision but David Kirk isn't stupid so for him to do this there can't have been any other options. The teams been average for 2 years, didn't even look like they had a game plan. I'm pretty sure a decent coach will be able to turn it around in 2 years.

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