Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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Networkn
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#3459717 8-Feb-2026 11:23

Heres something that has been bothering me for a while. It was clear that the pressure felt by Robertson was impacting his coaching and therefore the environment for which he was responsible.

Why did no-one step in earlier and work out how to help him manage the pressure? It could be that it was offered and rebuffed, Robertson does have an decent ego on him, but if you can see someone who has been a super star, struggling, you don't just leave them to suffer.

It amazes me that players get unending numbers of chances to develop, improve, they are supported in 100 different ways and given 1000 chances (Reiko), but the head coach struggles and people assume that they are perfectly 100% ready for the entirety of the role.

Steve Hansen was a person who struggled significantly with the press and the public eye part of his coaching role. He was pretty unpleasant during press conferences early days and got help to improve that area of his coaching.

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#3459731 8-Feb-2026 12:23

Especially given you would imagine the nz rugby ecosphere is pretty tight, if the feeling in the camp was so different to the Crusader setup you would hope someone was taking him aside for a word.

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#3459733 8-Feb-2026 12:35

lachlanw:

Especially given you would imagine the nz rugby ecosphere is pretty tight, if the feeling in the camp was so different to the Crusader setup you would hope someone was taking him aside for a word.

Absolutely. It really feels like someone missed a trick here. This could and should have ended so much differently. The thing is, coaching overseas probably wouldn't have solved this.

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#3459838 9-Feb-2026 09:39

I read the Shane Currie article too, but in my view it added almost nothing to the existing 'discussion'. In this period we're currently in, between Robertson leaving and a new coach being appointed, there is an absolute vacuum of real verifiable facts. Look at how most paragraphs start:

"Three sources spoken to by the Herald have confirmed..."
"The source believed..."
"The source understood..."
"Two sources have confirmed..."
"According to one source..."
"Another source spoke of..."
"One source told the Herald..."
"It is understood that..."
"But one source close to the All Blacks said..."
"It is understood a number of players..."

It goes on and on like this, almost completely with anonymous 'sources'. It's hard to find one actual verified quote from a known person. Currie and the Herald may have good inside source(s), but without verification, this is really just a huge pile of hearsay. They don't have hard facts and quotes, but they need to sell papers and get clicks, so this is what we get.

And FWIW, this article actual paints Savea in a better light. It says he was happy to continue working with Robertson, etc - again all unverified. But who actually knows what his role was? This article doesn't really have any concrete evidence either way.

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#3459854 9-Feb-2026 10:08

With that much smoke, there is definitely fire.

You and I are clearly reading different things. From the article:

For his part, it is understood that Robertson also considered that he and Savea had a good relationship.

“He would catch up with Ardie regularly and also chatted regularly with Ardie’s wife and there were never any issues raised directly with him. As far as Scott was concerned, they had a good relationship,” another source said.

But behind the scenes, Savea was having conversations with several senior leaders – including Kirk, Robinson and Robertson – about his All Blacks future.

I read this as Robertson was of the opinion he had a good relationship with Savea, but behind his back, Ardie was talking to Kirk and Robinson and saying something different.

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#3459865 9-Feb-2026 10:54

Yeah, agree with that about Savea, but as I say, it's all really still hearsay. Maybe true, maybe not.

I think the article also says that pretty much everyone else wasn't saying stuff to Robertson's face as well. Which was a big part of the problem. It sounds like everyone lacked the courage to be upfront and honest on what he was getting wrong. It seems that included Savea, but was definitely not limited to him alone. e.g. what was Scott Barrett saying to him? What were Codie Taylor, Beauden Barrett, etc saying to him?

Maybe Leon McDonald actually tried to confront him on some of the issues and that led with them agreeing to part ways? I guess we won't really know for some time, until people retire and books come out. Even then, there may still be different versions of what actually happened.

I can't wait for some hard info or events to occur, like a new coach appointment, so we can move on. This endless speculation in an info vacuum isn't great IMO.

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networkn

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#3459880 9-Feb-2026 11:27

The whole environment feels like it was really dysfunctional and I am sure Robertson played his part in it. It feels like a fundamental failing of his employer not to have noticed and put guardrails in to assist, much earlier, and as a result the outcome is far far less than ideal.

I still remain unconvinced that this should not have been fixed. Scott Robertson didn't become a terrible person and an awful coach suddenly overnight, and replacing him with a far less successful coach mid cycle feels like the worst way to have resolved it.

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#3459953 9-Feb-2026 13:21

networkn:

I still remain unconvinced that this should not have been fixed. Scott Robertson didn't become a terrible person and an awful coach suddenly overnight, and replacing him with a far less successful coach mid cycle feels like the worst way to have resolved it.

Well, we'll be replacing him with a far less successful coach at Super Rugby. However, if the last 2 years have taught us anything, it's that Super Rugby success isn't a very good indicator of ability to coach the ABs at test level.

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#3459965 9-Feb-2026 14:35

Earbanean:

Well, we'll be replacing him with a far less successful coach at Super Rugby. However, if the last 2 years have taught us anything, it's that Super Rugby success isn't a very good indicator of ability to coach the ABs at test level.

That's certainly an interesting take on the last 2 years. I am really not sure what you imagine an overseas posting would have added to Razers tenure magically? Rennies 38% with the Wallabies and Josephs 45% with Japan, vs Scott Robertsons 74% with the AB's (second only to SA with 86% for the same period, with a inargurably stronger squad).

Henry's time with Wales was a disaster, by his own account, but he came to NZ and lost at the Quarter-Finals in 2007, and was re-hired with Hansen amidst a siezmic shift in attitude and approach, much of which was wildly unpopular initially. (like rotation, which turned out to be a good part of the AB's success over the following years).

We will never know, but it's hard to believe we would be worse off if Robertson had been provided additional support in his role, to help him deal with the pressure of the role, which seems to be one of the biggest factors in where things started to go wrong. As someone who has managed people for the better part of 20 years, I couldn't imagine seeing a person who worked for me struggle the way he was, without providing some support, potentially short term looking to remove some parts of the role so they could concentrate on their other areas, whislt providing support for the areas they were struggling. Certainly more so with someone who had previously shown themselves more than capable in the past.

I have some personal experience in this area, both with myself and with staff I have managed. Anxiety and stress are crippling, but it stems from feeling like you don't have 'enough'.

Some of this concern may have been allayed if there had been stronger contenders for the role than Rennie, and Joseph (sans Brown).

I really hope I am wrong, and one or both of them do a stellar job, but it's a big ask.

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#3460608 11-Feb-2026 13:08

I am really not sure what you imagine an overseas posting would have added to Razers tenure magically?

There is a lot to be said about operating in different and challenging environments. Apart from age group coaching he had only really been involved in the Canterbury/Crusaders set up.

Not saying you're wrong, just a different perspective.

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#3460640 11-Feb-2026 14:09

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360936891/razors-agenda-all-black-dalton-papalii-opens-about-angst-under-scott-robertson

Flanker Dalton Papali'i has lifted the lid on the frustrations he experienced under former coach Scott Robertson, noting the latter's "agenda'' resulted in a "big difference'' in the way the team operated

Surely New Coach = New Agenda? I think by agenda he means "he didn't want to select me"

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#3460657 11-Feb-2026 15:10

lachlanw:

Surely New Coach = New Agenda? I think by agenda he means "he didn't want to select me"

Exactly this. There is a certain attitude that comes out of some of these comments that I could see hindering progress for some players under Robertson.

I literally can't recall a time in recent memory where more players were publically complaining about missing out on starting spots. It's not a great look. Awesome players don't make the cut in every squad. People are often unlucky to not be selected.

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#3460659 11-Feb-2026 15:14

I imagine some people are going to lose their minds that Ian Foster is being linked to head coaching role at the Blues. I've ordered my popcorn.

For the record, I'd be happy if he wanted to Coach the Crusaders, though I am happy for Penney to coach for a while.

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#3461017 12-Feb-2026 15:23

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby/black-ferns/black-ferns-great-kelly-brazier-calls-time-on-international-rugby/BHBV4TH27VHJBFZO4VEHYMIUDY/

What a career and incredible servant of NZ Rugby Kelly has been. I'll miss her smiling face, she has done a great job with helping develop the next generation of talent to filter through the system. NZ Black Ferns are in great shape thanks in no small part, to her contribution.

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#3461165 13-Feb-2026 10:41

Super Rugby kicks off tonight, though it feels like it's still summer. Maybe because it is. It could be an interesting comp, with some tasty match ups along the way.

I think you can't go past last year's finalists as this year's favourites, although I still think the Chiefs have a problem weakness at front row. I think the Blues should be better this year, with Darry and Tu’ungafasi back (and Ioane away). However, it looks to me like they have a bad lack of depth. Same with the Highlanders, although they're even worse. They could not afford to lose Holland and Pledger.

I think depth/injuries is such a huge factor in a comp like this. The Chiefies and 'saders appear to have the best depth to me, but bad luck with injuries will test that.

It's always fascinating to try to predict the new breakout/rookie stars - especially with a new ABs coaching team (and possible AB bolters). Tangitau and Taumoefolau on the wing will be interesting - but need to show some aerial ability (like Clarke and Narawa). A big year and opportunity for Reihana at 10.

I've always been a huge fan of very big (third lock style) blindsides for test rugby. Vaa'i and Parker showed good promise, but never really nailed it down. I'm really keen to see Dom Gardiner at 6 for the 'saders. I'm glad they're playing him there and Blackadder at 7. I liked what I saw of Gardiner at 6 in some previous game (can't remember who for). He's my dark dark horse for ABs bolter.

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