Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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#3452627 13-Jan-2026 15:14

JPNZ:

Only 31 days till the start of Super Season. Man that has come around fast.

Just 17 days away, if you count pre-season games.

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#3452629 13-Jan-2026 15:24

JPNZ:

Only 31 days till the start of Super Season. Man that has come around fast.

Yes, last year was one of the better years in recent times for the competition.

I was super surprised to see Thomas Lavanini was contracted by the Highlanders. He has one of the worst ever records for thuggery in Rugby, I think he currently holds the record for number of yellows AND red cards in the modern game?

Perhaps the change of environment might be the making of him, but in my view, these sorts of incidents come from a players personality.

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#3452780 14-Jan-2026 08:01

Rumour mill in full blast currently. Apparently some VERY big news will hit the media tomorrow regarding the All Blacks season review...

Hmmmm

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#3452785 14-Jan-2026 09:01

Earbanean:

Just 17 days away, if you count pre-season games.

Last year, I felt the Crusaders would do better than the year before simply off the fact, that statistically, it would be unlikely to have a similar result unless injuries were incredible again. I must admit to feeling anxious after getting properly spanked multiple times during the pre-season.

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#3452786 14-Jan-2026 09:12

JPNZ:

Rumour mill in full blast currently. Apparently some VERY big news will hit the media tomorrow regarding the All Blacks season review...

Hmmmm

Heres my predictions:

1) Razor will be retained, but will be tasked with a greater tactical role.

2) Replacement for attacking coach announced, with this role being filled by someone like Andrew Goodman or potentially even Razor himself playing a role.

3) Wayne Smith to join the AB's on a permanent basis, or potentially as a director of Rugby for NZR

4) Selector setup will be changed, to address significant negative feedback from the players around selection policies which hurt morale.

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#3452949 14-Jan-2026 16:29

"Pressure is mounting on New Zealand Rugby to instigate major changes to the All Blacks coaching team after a scathing internal review and with serious doubts hovering over Ardie Savea’s future in the black jersey.

Last December the Herald revealed widespread internal frustrations from players and support staff following the All Blacks’ failed Grand Slam tour.

That feedback has now come through loud and clear in the All Blacks internal review, leaving New Zealand Rugby (NZR) hierarchy under serious pressure to deliver sweeping coaching changes.

The Herald understands the most critical feedback of the All Blacks coaching, culture and environment stems from senior players, with frustrations building throughout Scott Robertson’s two-year tenure.

All Blacks head coach Robertson and his leading assistant Scott Hansen are believed to be at the centre of the critical feedback. World-class loose forward Savea, who captained the All Blacks several times in Scott Barrett’s injury absence last year, is among those believed to be seriously unhappy.

Multiple sources have told the Herald that Savea is exploring discussions to stay on with Japanese club Kobe beyond this year – or join a European club, with Irish club Leinster believed to be a possible destination.

Unless major coaching changes are made, Savea may not return to the All Blacks.

At this stage, though, he remains contracted through to 2027 and NZ Rugby expects he will return from Japan.

Savea is believed to have delivered strong feedback to NZR chairman David Kirk on last year’s Grand Slam tour. The 32-year-old is, however, far from alone in his dissatisfaction with the way in which the All Blacks are being run.

One senior Blues player is also understood to have declined an invitation to join the All Blacks in their final test of the year in Cardiff from the All Blacks XV."

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/all-blacks-review-ardie-savea-future-in-doubt-as-nz-rugby-faces-player-revolt/JYQLJCBKVVANPAHV442GARJ3KY/

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#3453143 15-Jan-2026 08:50

Wow, this is now a pretty high-level rumour situation, relative for rugby in NZ. I don't really believe in the new levels of player power in a lot of sports - e.g. the Noelene Taurua situation. However, when you have ABs, with north of 10 years and 100 tests, then their opinion must be listened to. Something (a lot of things?) are clearly badly wrong in the AB environment. How far they are prepared to go to make changes though, remains to be seen.

The problem, as always mid WC cycle, is what other options are available right now. If Tony Brown was a free agent, then I'd jump at Joseph and Brown in a heartbeat. Maybe with some sort of Wayne Smith or Joe Schmidt back room role. But the Boks aren't going to let Brown go anywhere.

IMO, this all goes back to terrible leadership at the top of NZR from Mark Robinson and 1 or 2 others. If it weren't for the debacle around Fozzy and the process for replacing him, we'd probably have Schmidt in the mix - amongst other benefits. I don't buy into the the conspiracy theories around the all-Canterbury AB chain of CEO-Head Coach-Assistant coaches-Captain - but it definitely hasn't worked out vey well.

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#3453190 15-Jan-2026 09:06

Australian Rugby is in the mess it was because it allowed players to be bigger than the team. It's also one of the many reasons that the Blues struggled for as long as they did.

Having said that, the balance in the coaching setup appears to be off.

Ultimately, we will never really know the truth, we are stuck waiting for announcements.

I genuinely don't understand the hype around Jamie Joseph, under him the Highlanders won 1 title and produced a relatively small number of long term performing AB's. He went to Japan who were at the bottom of the barrel and using a massively assorted group of players, managed to get some good results, but ultimately left with them not really doing that well. People are pointing at his 'success' in charge for the XV, but really?! A group of fringe All Blacks against third tier teams? You'd expect nothing less than decent wins given the Roster he had, compared to the ones he was playing against.

At this point last cycle people had been screaming for the head of Foster since before he was even hired, and a change of assistants turned the team around (largely, in my opinion, because the assistants were able to execute what Foster has been asking for).

What frustrates me the most, is that in NZ, we allow players time to find their feet, we allow them to make mistakes (some for many many years), and learn when they are on field, but the coach, he or she must be perfect all the time. We want innovation, but without any risk, and that isn't how it works.

74% is a win rate most coaches would give their nuts for, and most countries would be incredibly happy with. We are MID cycle, and there is still time, as was proven by Foster. If they didn't get rid of Foster, and they didn't get rid of Henry, then they shouldn't get rid of Robertson.

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#3453208 15-Jan-2026 10:43

One News saying that Razor is expected to be cut today. Harsh but fair - IMO.

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#3453209 15-Jan-2026 10:43

Earbanean:

One News saying that Razor is expected to be cut today. Harsh but fair - IMO.

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/scott-robertson-to-depart-all-blacks-head-coach-role-as-player-power-forces-nzr-hand/a1191576889.html

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#3453210 15-Jan-2026 10:47

networkn:

Australian Rugby is in the mess it was because it allowed players to be bigger than the team. It's also one of the many reasons that the Blues struggled for as long as they did.

Having said that, the balance in the coaching setup appears to be off.

Ultimately, we will never really know the truth, we are stuck waiting for announcements.

I genuinely don't understand the hype around Jamie Joseph, under him the Highlanders won 1 title and produced a relatively small number of long term performing AB's. He went to Japan who were at the bottom of the barrel and using a massively assorted group of players, managed to get some good results, but ultimately left with them not really doing that well. People are pointing at his 'success' in charge for the XV, but really?! A group of fringe All Blacks against third tier teams? You'd expect nothing less than decent wins given the Roster he had, compared to the ones he was playing against.

At this point last cycle people had been screaming for the head of Foster since before he was even hired, and a change of assistants turned the team around (largely, in my opinion, because the assistants were able to execute what Foster has been asking for).

What frustrates me the most, is that in NZ, we allow players time to find their feet, we allow them to make mistakes (some for many many years), and learn when they are on field, but the coach, he or she must be perfect all the time. We want innovation, but without any risk, and that isn't how it works.

74% is a win rate most coaches would give their nuts for, and most countries would be incredibly happy with. We are MID cycle, and there is still time, as was proven by Foster. If they didn't get rid of Foster, and they didn't get rid of Henry, then they shouldn't get rid of Robertson.

JJ, Rennie or even Schmidt won't get this team playing any better

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#3453214 15-Jan-2026 10:58

networkn:

74% is a win rate most coaches would give their nuts for, and most countries would be incredibly happy with. We are MID cycle, and there is still time, as was proven by Foster. If they didn't get rid of Foster, and they didn't get rid of Henry, then they shouldn't get rid of Robertson.

For the ABs 74% isn't great, but it's not those win/loss numbers that are the main problem. It's the games they imploded and lost when they should have won, the complete capitulation against the Boks in Welly, and the reported crazy dynamics around who's actually coaching and making selection decisions.

Fozzy went through a bad win/loss patch, but there were real issues related to COVID lockdowns, home games played offshore, etc. Critically though, he had the really strong support from the players and influential coaches like Steve Hanson. Razor doesn't seem to have any of that.

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#3453223 15-Jan-2026 11:24

JPNZ:

JJ, Rennie or even Schmidt won't get this team playing any better

I agree, so what's the answer ?

The thing is, if JJ takes over, and then falls at the quarters, everyone will be like "oh well, he had an impossible job, it's OK, he did his best".

I wonder how much of this was push vs jump (if true)? Foster will always have my admiration for his ability to keep his head and stick to his plan despite the absolutely horrific way he was treated throughout his tenure. Most people would have just said 'f this, good luck to you' and gone.

It seems strange to me, that Robertson had excellent relationships and was able to get the best out of players for the Crusaders, U20's etc, but in the AB's things were apparently terrible. It feels considerably more complicated than just head coach issues.

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#3453228 15-Jan-2026 11:32

Earbanean:

and the reported crazy dynamics around who's actually coaching and making selection decisions.

Claims that were never substantiated. This always smelt like players who were given many chances who sulked when they weren't selected, as much as anything else. Potentially, people upset they were in better form but weren't given chances maybe?

Fozzy went through a bad win/loss patch, but there were real issues related to COVID lockdowns, home games played offshore, etc. Critically though, he had the really strong support from the players and influential coaches like Steve Hanson. Razor doesn't seem to have any of that.

I agree, I defended Foster throughout his tenure and wasn't surprised at the end of result of that. I have struggled more with Robertson. Despite most people claiming I only supported him because he was from Canterbury, I neither blindly supported him, nor did so because of his prior coaching roles. It was due to the record he held and the near universal praise from players, and the challenges of probably the biggest cleanout and loss of IP related to change of guard in management there has been since before Henry. We will really never know what went on behind the scenes. Situations like this are rarely single factorial.

The reason for Robertson to go is if fundamentally, he was deemed to be unable to bring the team and management team together properly again. In Fosters situation, it was clear from the end of year report, that his underlings were the problem.

Changing coaches now will almost certainly reduce our chances at the RWC. I hope not.

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#3453230 15-Jan-2026 11:38

networkn:

Claims that were never substantiated. This always smelt like players who were given many chances who sulked when they weren't selected, as much as anything else. Potentially, people upset they were in better form but weren't given chances maybe?

What, Ardie Savea is sulking because he wasn't selected? Sounds like he's not the only senior player with the negative feedback either.

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