Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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OnceBitten

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#3505807 24-Jun-2026 13:27

networkn:

No-one, that's the point. They had two ('subjectively', so I don't trigger eabeann) average options and picked one of those.

At least when they were considering firing Foster, they had fully sounded out Robertson, who on paper was the clear and obvious choice to replace him.

Coaching Success at Super Rugby, doesn't guarantee coaching sucess at AB level and that was true with Robertson

Foster had 8 years with Hansen as his assistant.

Robertson turned out not to be the saviour that the AB's needed

Maybe the NZRFU shouldn't have panicked and kept Foster on past the 2023 RWC?

after all we did make the final and only lost by 1 point.... despite some people predicting we'd be gone by the qtr / semi finals

lxsw20

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#3505808 24-Jun-2026 13:29

OnceBitten:

apart from Joseph (who's form with the Highlanders was woeful) - who else was in the mix to be AB's coach??

With how Robertson did it goes to show you can't really pick an ABs coach on the back of Super Rugby form alone. Edit: beaten to the point

networkn

Networkn
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#3505810 24-Jun-2026 13:39

lxsw20:

With how Robertson did it goes to show you can't really pick an ABs coach on the back of Super Rugby form alone.

I think one example, with a guy who was clearly struggling with the pressure, does not a definitive statement make. It could be true, but on paper, very few would have picked what happened as the likely result. He was just as likely to be wildly successful.

He was hardly the unpopular choice, reddit and the likes were full of SA, Irish, English, French fans saying they were genuinely frightened of what Robertson could do for the AB's (That went on for 3 years prior to his appointment).

Maybe a stint overseas might have helped, or maybe a better and more supportive employer who didn't bail when the going got tough?

Also, his success wasn't only at super rugby level. He had been succesful at every level he had been coaching. The 'missing' peice was the international experience (which he had played for a number of years overseas). I am yet to have an explanation from anyone on what this magically provides?

Foster didn't have any and took us to within 1 point of a RWC.