Robertson was effectively sacked, in the early hours of Thursday South African time, after an internal review left his position untenable. It appears that player power ended the two-year tenure of All Blacks coach Scott Robertson, who stepped down before being formally fired amid senior player unhappiness and poor results. New Zealand Rugby (NZR) effectively sacked the 51-year-old, although officially Robertson had “departed his role” as All Blacks coach.
“The mid-point in the Rugby World Cup cycle is the right time to look at the All Blacks’ progress over the first two seasons. The team is set to play a significant 2026 schedule and the tournament in 2027 remains the key goal,” a statement from NZR confirmed. “We’ve taken an extensive look at the team’s progress on and off the field and have subsequently had discussions with Scott on the way forward.
Both NZR and Scott agree it is in the best interests of the team that he depart his role as head coach.” But as the hours passed after the official announcement, it became clearer that ifRobertson stayed on, a senior players revolt could follow– and the players won out. “I think trajectory is a good word to apply, we just weren’t seeing the trajectory,” NZR chairperson and former World Cup-winning captain David Kirk told the media in the hours after Robertson’s departure. “Fans probably shared that…
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we were falling a bit short of the excellence that we’re looking for, it never really got addressed over the year. “The All Blacks are not on track the way they need to be on track for the 2027 World Cup.” In his parting shot, Robertson focused on the growth of playing depth he achieved in his short tenure. “Coaching the All Blacks has been the honour of my life,” he said in a statement.
“I am incredibly proud of what this team has achieved and of the progress we have made. We have brought through a talented group of young players, strengthened the depth across the squad, and set solid foundations for the years ahead.
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