@mohikamo said in All Blacks 2026:
@handa457 said in All Blacks 2026:
can you elaborate on the Papalii turning down a Black Jersey story? First I'm hearing of it.
The rumour is that Papalii was asked to train with the AB squad, while with the ABXV squad in England at the end of the year . . . and said no thanks, I'm staying with the ABXV squad.
Also worth noting that this came from the most accurate rumour poster on TSF and then was backed up another very accurate poster
@mohikamo said in All Blacks 2026:
The thing is, I think the people that hired him knew exactly what they were getting.
A marketing man's dream?
@Duluth said in All Blacks 2026:
@mohikamo said in All Blacks 2026:
@handa457 said in All Blacks 2026:
can you elaborate on the Papalii turning down a Black Jersey story? First I'm hearing of it.
The rumour is that Papalii was asked to train with the AB squad, while with the ABXV squad in England at the end of the year . . . and said no thanks, I'm staying with the ABXV squad.
Also worth noting that this came from the most accurate rumour poster on TSF and then was backed up another very accurate poster
Neither of whom have any reason to stir up shit, neither are partizans.
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@mohikamo said in All Blacks 2026:
The thing is, I think the people that hired him knew exactly what they were getting.
A marketing man's dream?
The problem I have with this argument is that he's absolutely not. He's barely coherent in an interview.
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@mohikamo said in All Blacks 2026:
The thing is, I think the people that hired him knew exactly what they were getting.
A marketing man's dream?
The problem I have with this argument is that he's absolutely not. He's barely coherent in an interview.
Does bloody great PowerPoint presentations though, apparently.
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@mohikamo said in All Blacks 2026:
The thing is, I think the people that hired him knew exactly what they were getting.
A marketing man's dream?
The problem I have with this argument is that he's absolutely not. He's barely coherent in an interview.
Does bloody great PowerPoint presentations though, apparently.
So did Hammett apparently.... 
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@mohikamo said in All Blacks 2026:
The thing is, I think the people that hired him knew exactly what they were getting.
A marketing man's dream?
The problem I have with this argument is that he's absolutely not. He's barely coherent in an interview.
Does bloody great PowerPoint presentations though, apparently.
It's pretty obvious why he'd be picked: absolutely excellent Super rugby coaching results. I don't think it is valid to say that marketing had become more important than results to NZR and that's why he got the job - he had the bloody results, that was literally the strongest argument in his favour.
It's the powerpoint presentations which should have countered that - and that's on the people doing the hiring. Every time he opens his mouth seems like a red flag to me.
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@mohikamo said in All Blacks 2026:
The thing is, I think the people that hired him knew exactly what they were getting.
A marketing man's dream?
The problem I have with this argument is that he's absolutely not. He's barely coherent in an interview.
Does bloody great PowerPoint presentations though, apparently.
It's pretty obvious why he'd be picked: absolutely excellent Super rugby coaching results. I don't think it is valid to say that marketing had become more important than results to NZR and that's why he got the job - he had the bloody results, that was literally the strongest argument in his favour.
It's the powerpoint presentations which should have countered that - and that's on the people doing the hiring. Every time he opens his mouth seems like a red flag to me.
Nah. The people who hired him wanted someone who looked like a winner at international level - plus he was fresh and "different". They knew he was untested at international level but that was an inconvenience to be ignored.
@mohikamo said in All Blacks 2026:
@handa457 said in All Blacks 2026:
can you elaborate on the Papalii turning down a Black Jersey story? First I'm hearing of it.
The rumour is that Papalii was asked to train with the AB squad, while with the ABXV squad in England at the end of the year . . . and said no thanks, I'm staying with the ABXV squad.
Dalton Papalii has a bloody good book in the making.....or at least a nice long stuff article.
Judging by how unbalanced the loosies have been this year his "snubbing" makes Akira Ioane and Hoskins Sotutu look like sensible omissions.
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@mohikamo said in All Blacks 2026:
The thing is, I think the people that hired him knew exactly what they were getting.
A marketing man's dream?
The problem I have with this argument is that he's absolutely not. He's barely coherent in an interview.
Does bloody great PowerPoint presentations though, apparently.
It's pretty obvious why he'd be picked: absolutely excellent Super rugby coaching results. I don't think it is valid to say that marketing had become more important than results to NZR and that's why he got the job - he had the bloody results, that was literally the strongest argument in his favour.
It's the powerpoint presentations which should have countered that - and that's on the people doing the hiring. Every time he opens his mouth seems like a red flag to me.
Nah. The people who hired him wanted someone who looked like a winner at international level - plus he was fresh and "different". They knew he was untested at international level but that was an inconvenience to be ignored.
There simply are not going to be candidates who are tested and a proven success at tier one international level on any sort of regular basis.
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@mohikamo said in All Blacks 2026:
The thing is, I think the people that hired him knew exactly what they were getting.
A marketing man's dream?
The problem I have with this argument is that he's absolutely not. He's barely coherent in an interview.
Does bloody great PowerPoint presentations though, apparently.
It's pretty obvious why he'd be picked: absolutely excellent Super rugby coaching results. I don't think it is valid to say that marketing had become more important than results to NZR and that's why he got the job - he had the bloody results, that was literally the strongest argument in his favour.
It's the powerpoint presentations which should have countered that - and that's on the people doing the hiring. Every time he opens his mouth seems like a red flag to me.
Nah. The people who hired him wanted someone who looked like a winner at international level - plus he was fresh and "different". They knew he was untested at international level but that was an inconvenience to be ignored.
I also think there was an element of trying to keep the fans onside and being worried about the public reaction if they didn’t install him as coach and let him coach another international team .
He was the popular choice by a long way by the masses and everyone was very vocal about it ,
@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@mohikamo said in All Blacks 2026:
The thing is, I think the people that hired him knew exactly what they were getting.
A marketing man's dream?
The problem I have with this argument is that he's absolutely not. He's barely coherent in an interview.
Does bloody great PowerPoint presentations though, apparently.
It's pretty obvious why he'd be picked: absolutely excellent Super rugby coaching results. I don't think it is valid to say that marketing had become more important than results to NZR and that's why he got the job - he had the bloody results, that was literally the strongest argument in his favour.
It's the powerpoint presentations which should have countered that - and that's on the people doing the hiring. Every time he opens his mouth seems like a red flag to me.
Nah. The people who hired him wanted someone who looked like a winner at international level - plus he was fresh and "different". They knew he was untested at international level but that was an inconvenience to be ignored.
I also think there was an element of trying to keep the fans onside and being worried about the public reaction if they didn’t install him as coach and let him coach another international team .
He was the popular choice by a long way by the masses and everyone was very vocal about it ,
Definitely this. There's a reason why you don't listen to the public.
I wasn't really paying attention at the time.
100% knew we needed a change in direction.
Robertson seemed the logical choice, next cab off the rank.
But if I had known then, that he was a huggy f'n "culture" coach, i'd have said no f'n way.
Had some faith that the people who were making the appointment knew what they were doin.
Seems like they were making an f'ing marketing move!
Those guys should be f'd off.
Not impressed by any of the black team coaches rn.
@Victor-Meldrew
Maybe it's more nuanced - there is an issue - they understand that and perhaps a go again with a diff staff gives them more longevity.
But you couldn't have imagined Foster (assuming he did it all) doing this 2 yeara in to his reign?
@reprobate
Soz - my belated point.
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@mohikamo said in All Blacks 2026:
The thing is, I think the people that hired him knew exactly what they were getting.
A marketing man's dream?
The problem I have with this argument is that he's absolutely not. He's barely coherent in an interview.
Does bloody great PowerPoint presentations though, apparently.
It's pretty obvious why he'd be picked: absolutely excellent Super rugby coaching results. I don't think it is valid to say that marketing had become more important than results to NZR and that's why he got the job - he had the bloody results, that was literally the strongest argument in his favour.
It's the powerpoint presentations which should have countered that - and that's on the people doing the hiring. Every time he opens his mouth seems like a red flag to me.
Nah. The people who hired him wanted someone who looked like a winner at international level - plus he was fresh and "different". They knew he was untested at international level but that was an inconvenience to be ignored.
There simply are not going to be candidates who are tested and a proven success at tier one international level on any sort of regular basis.
Tony Brown, Jamie Joseph, Joe Schmidt and Dave Rennie say "Hi"
@ploughboy said in All Blacks 2026:
I think there has been a moving of the goalposts here.people were calling for Robertson to head over seas after he missed out to foster to get overseas experience not international experience. get out of a bubble and coach elsewhere.
The big picture is NZR didn't have a strategy to develop and coaching talent at the highest level. Quite the opposite in that they seemingly burned bridges with a lot of good coaches
@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@mohikamo said in All Blacks 2026:
The thing is, I think the people that hired him knew exactly what they were getting.
A marketing man's dream?
The problem I have with this argument is that he's absolutely not. He's barely coherent in an interview.
Does bloody great PowerPoint presentations though, apparently.
It's pretty obvious why he'd be picked: absolutely excellent Super rugby coaching results. I don't think it is valid to say that marketing had become more important than results to NZR and that's why he got the job - he had the bloody results, that was literally the strongest argument in his favour.
It's the powerpoint presentations which should have countered that - and that's on the people doing the hiring. Every time he opens his mouth seems like a red flag to me.
Nah. The people who hired him wanted someone who looked like a winner at international level - plus he was fresh and "different". They knew he was untested at international level but that was an inconvenience to be ignored.
I also think there was an element of trying to keep the fans onside and being worried about the public reaction if they didn’t install him as coach and let him coach another international team .
He was the popular choice by a long way by the masses and everyone was very vocal about it ,
Placating the hordes is exactly what a high performance unit would do.
Speaking of placating the hordes, normally the ABs losing enrages the hordes. But it might be a sign of how far we've sunk that average fans seem accepting of it all
@tubbyj said in All Blacks 2026:
He assumed the job with massive goodwill from everyone except Foster, Hansen and their compadres and the bad will they had built up from 2017 to 2024 invalidated their negativity.
It's increasingly looking like he assumed the role with an over-inflated CV., aided by his fluffers in the media who lost all sense of objectivity.
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@tubbyj said in All Blacks 2026:
He assumed the job with massive goodwill from everyone except Foster, Hansen and their compadres and the bad will they had built up from 2017 to 2024 invalidated their negativity.
It's increasingly looking like he assumed the role with an over-inflated CV., aided by his fluffers in the media who lost all sense of objectivity.
If what has been said on here is true, that Razor assumed a similar role and let his assistants coach the team at the Saders, he shouldn't have been considered for the HC job unless that's exactly what Robinson expected of him
@canefan said in All Blacks 2026:
Speaking of placating the hordes, normally the ABs losing enrages the hordes. But it might be a sign of how far we've sunk that average fans seem accepting of it all
Looking at social media comments, I’m convinced most people either don’t notice the team’s lost or just don’t watch the games. The sycophantic nature of the comments and ignorance of the overall performance is crazy.
@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2026:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2026:
Speaking of placating the hordes, normally the ABs losing enrages the hordes. But it might be a sign of how far we've sunk that average fans seem accepting of it all
Looking at social media comments, I’m convinced most people either don’t notice the team’s lost or just don’t watch the games. The sycophantic nature of the comments and ignorance of the overall performance is crazy.
The ridiculous love for Ardie is unreal.
@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2026:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2026:
Speaking of placating the hordes, normally the ABs losing enrages the hordes. But it might be a sign of how far we've sunk that average fans seem accepting of it all
Looking at social media comments, I’m convinced most people either don’t notice the team’s lost or just don’t watch the games. The sycophantic nature of the comments and ignorance of the overall performance is crazy.
We have to accept the opposition has improved seems to be a common one now ,
I don’t remember seeing that much when foster was coaching , they wanted his head .
@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks 2026:
@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2026:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2026:
Speaking of placating the hordes, normally the ABs losing enrages the hordes. But it might be a sign of how far we've sunk that average fans seem accepting of it all
Looking at social media comments, I’m convinced most people either don’t notice the team’s lost or just don’t watch the games. The sycophantic nature of the comments and ignorance of the overall performance is crazy.
We have to accept the opposition has improved seems to be a common one now ,
I don’t remember seeing that much when foster was coaching , they wanted his head .
That's also Canterbury fans for you too. They"re a noisy bunch until they get their way,
Ardie sin-binned for dissent in his first match back in Japan. Make him captain right now and don’t think twice!!
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@mohikamo said in All Blacks 2026:
The thing is, I think the people that hired him knew exactly what they were getting.
A marketing man's dream?
The problem I have with this argument is that he's absolutely not. He's barely coherent in an interview.
Does bloody great PowerPoint presentations though, apparently.
It's pretty obvious why he'd be picked: absolutely excellent Super rugby coaching results. I don't think it is valid to say that marketing had become more important than results to NZR and that's why he got the job - he had the bloody results, that was literally the strongest argument in his favour.
It's the powerpoint presentations which should have countered that - and that's on the people doing the hiring. Every time he opens his mouth seems like a red flag to me.
Nah. The people who hired him wanted someone who looked like a winner at international level - plus he was fresh and "different". They knew he was untested at international level but that was an inconvenience to be ignored.
There simply are not going to be candidates who are tested and a proven success at tier one international level on any sort of regular basis.
Tony Brown, Jamie Joseph, Joe Schmidt and Dave Rennie say "Hi"
Correct me if I'm wrong but at the time of Robertson's appointment:
Brown had not been an international head coach (and still hasn't).
Joseph had coached tier 2 Japan.
Joe Schmidt had not been an international head coach.
Dave Rennie had just been sacked from the Wallabies - after he had been passed over for Foster, who had also not been an international head coach.
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
Joe Schmidt had not been an international head coach.
Long time head coach of Ireland.
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@mohikamo said in All Blacks 2026:
The thing is, I think the people that hired him knew exactly what they were getting.
A marketing man's dream?
The problem I have with this argument is that he's absolutely not. He's barely coherent in an interview.
Does bloody great PowerPoint presentations though, apparently.
It's pretty obvious why he'd be picked: absolutely excellent Super rugby coaching results. I don't think it is valid to say that marketing had become more important than results to NZR and that's why he got the job - he had the bloody results, that was literally the strongest argument in his favour.
It's the powerpoint presentations which should have countered that - and that's on the people doing the hiring. Every time he opens his mouth seems like a red flag to me.
Nah. The people who hired him wanted someone who looked like a winner at international level - plus he was fresh and "different". They knew he was untested at international level but that was an inconvenience to be ignored.
There simply are not going to be candidates who are tested and a proven success at tier one international level on any sort of regular basis.
Tony Brown, Jamie Joseph, Joe Schmidt and Dave Rennie say "Hi"
Correct me if I'm wrong but at the time of Robertson's appointment:
Brown had not been an international head coach (and still hasn't).
Joseph had coached tier 2 Japan.
Joe Schmidt had not been an international head coach.
Dave Rennie had just been sacked from the Wallabies - after he had been passed over for Foster, who had also not been an international head coach.
as @Tim noted, Ireland are technically an international team.
But can I add Gatland (3 6N titles) ? John Kirwan was also an ex-international head coach. And Robbie Deans. And John Mitchell. Maybe we missed a bullet.
There was also Kieran Crowley (who wanted to continue to coach Italy, not sure what happened there or what he is doing now). You can say Italy (don't add Ireland) were tier 2 but Crowley's team had recently beaten Australia (end of 2022 I think).
@Tim said in All Blacks 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
Joe Schmidt had not been an international head coach.
Long time head coach of Ireland.
hahaha ah yep.
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@mohikamo said in All Blacks 2026:
The thing is, I think the people that hired him knew exactly what they were getting.
A marketing man's dream?
The problem I have with this argument is that he's absolutely not. He's barely coherent in an interview.
Does bloody great PowerPoint presentations though, apparently.
It's pretty obvious why he'd be picked: absolutely excellent Super rugby coaching results. I don't think it is valid to say that marketing had become more important than results to NZR and that's why he got the job - he had the bloody results, that was literally the strongest argument in his favour.
It's the powerpoint presentations which should have countered that - and that's on the people doing the hiring. Every time he opens his mouth seems like a red flag to me.
Nah. The people who hired him wanted someone who looked like a winner at international level - plus he was fresh and "different". They knew he was untested at international level but that was an inconvenience to be ignored.
There simply are not going to be candidates who are tested and a proven success at tier one international level on any sort of regular basis.
Tony Brown, Jamie Joseph, Joe Schmidt and Dave Rennie say "Hi"
Correct me if I'm wrong but at the time of Robertson's appointment:
Brown had not been an international head coach (and still hasn't).
Joseph had coached tier 2 Japan.
Joe Schmidt had not been an international head coach.
Dave Rennie had just been sacked from the Wallabies - after he had been passed over for Foster, who had also not been an international head coach.as @Tim noted, Ireland are technically an international team.
But can I add Gatland (3 6N titles) ? John Kirwan was also an ex-international head coach. And Robbie Deans. And John Mitchell. Maybe we missed a bullet.
So, aside from bullets dodged - Schmidt then - who probably didn't want the job?
Point remains, we can't expect to have a range of first rate internationally tier 1 experienced head coach candidates available when we want them. It's just not realistic.
@game_film said in All Blacks 2026:
Ardie sin-binned for dissent in his first match back in Japan. Make him captain right now and don’t think twice!!
The messiah's team lost 46-0 to Deans' Wild Knights.
@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks 2026:
@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2026:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2026:
Speaking of placating the hordes, normally the ABs losing enrages the hordes. But it might be a sign of how far we've sunk that average fans seem accepting of it all
Looking at social media comments, I’m convinced most people either don’t notice the team’s lost or just don’t watch the games. The sycophantic nature of the comments and ignorance of the overall performance is crazy.
We have to accept the opposition has improved seems to be a common one now ,
I don’t remember seeing that much when foster was coaching , they wanted his head .
Following the game against Wales, I saw a comment from someone pointing out that letting Wales score 26 points wasn't all that flash. There were countless replies claiming that was absolutely fine because Wales are a tier 1 team.
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@mohikamo said in All Blacks 2026:
The thing is, I think the people that hired him knew exactly what they were getting.
A marketing man's dream?
The problem I have with this argument is that he's absolutely not. He's barely coherent in an interview.
Does bloody great PowerPoint presentations though, apparently.
It's pretty obvious why he'd be picked: absolutely excellent Super rugby coaching results. I don't think it is valid to say that marketing had become more important than results to NZR and that's why he got the job - he had the bloody results, that was literally the strongest argument in his favour.
It's the powerpoint presentations which should have countered that - and that's on the people doing the hiring. Every time he opens his mouth seems like a red flag to me.
Nah. The people who hired him wanted someone who looked like a winner at international level - plus he was fresh and "different". They knew he was untested at international level but that was an inconvenience to be ignored.
There simply are not going to be candidates who are tested and a proven success at tier one international level on any sort of regular basis.
Tony Brown, Jamie Joseph, Joe Schmidt and Dave Rennie say "Hi"
Correct me if I'm wrong but at the time of Robertson's appointment:
Brown had not been an international head coach (and still hasn't).
Joseph had coached tier 2 Japan.
Joe Schmidt had not been an international head coach.
Dave Rennie had just been sacked from the Wallabies - after he had been passed over for Foster, who had also not been an international head coach.as @Tim noted, Ireland are technically an international team.
But can I add Gatland (3 6N titles) ? John Kirwan was also an ex-international head coach. And Robbie Deans. And John Mitchell. Maybe we missed a bullet.So, aside from bullets dodged - Schmidt then - who probably didn't want the job?
Point remains, we can't expect to have a range of first rate internationally tier 1 experienced head coach candidates available when we want them. It's just not realistic.
I agree with your overall point. The only exception I can think of would be Wayne Smith, and that was obviously not going to happen. We don't have the (coaching) cattle. It does lead me to wonder if there will be pressure to allow non NZ AB coaches in the future - like many other countries.
Speaking of All Blacks, Richie Mo'unga is preparing well for the ABs, his Toshiba Brave Lupus team went down by 46 points, unanswered.
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:
It does lead me to wonder if there will be pressure to allow non NZ AB coaches in the future
is there actually something in place for that (like the players eligibility) I just assumed it was that up until now, the best coaches were usually Kiwis, so coaches from other nationalities were never considered.
