@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2026:
@reprobate big moment for me was seeing him walk from the scrum in the 2nd test v SA and them scoring moments later, obviously single him out because he usually doesnt stop, but in this case, seeing him basically 'giving up' summed up the team for me.
Probably suffered from being overplayed too
@No-Quarter i think how Ardie plays, he will unbalance most trios he is part of at international level.
Phenomenal athlete, huge ticker, has been an awesome player for us over the years, but for me, we need him to play a different game, or as many have said for several years, we need to have a 6 and 7 (or 8 depending where you start him) that compliment him, whether he is still good enough to dictate that we pick 2 loosies to suit his game, who knows.
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2026:
@No-Quarter i think how Ardie plays, he will unbalance most trios he is part of at international level.
Phenomenal athlete, huge ticker, has been an awesome player for us over the years, but for me, we need him to play a different game, or as many have said for several years, we need to have a 6 and 7 (or 8 depending where you start him) that compliment him, whether he is still good enough to dictate that we pick 2 loosies to suit his game, who knows.
Yeah, this is where I sit. He does amazing things. But, he very much does not do some things.
If you set him in stone (it doesn't matter which position), that sets the requirements for the other two loosies - and if we don't have 2 players who can between them do all of those tasks at a world class level, the group will never work.
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2026:
huge ticker
As determined by all the work he's doing? Or the hard shoulder he puts on people?
It's no secret I've never been his biggest fan, but I have given credit when it's been due. For me unless you have a Cane type player in the loose trio you can't afford to have Ardie starting.
@reprobate He was good in the warm up
@taniwharugby couldn't agree more. In my mind the most balanceed trio we could have would be Scooter at Six. Papalii or Jacobson at Seven, Ardie at Eight with Sititi on the Bench. But would be interested in your thoughts.
@antipodean said in All Blacks 2026:
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2026:
huge ticker
As determined by all the work he's doing? Or the hard shoulder he puts on people?
It's no secret I've never been his biggest fan, but I have given credit when it's been due. For me unless you have a Cane type player in the loose trio you can't afford to have Ardie starting.
Agreed. Sam Cane was an absolute warrior. I don't go with much of the Ardie criticism, but a warrior he ain't. Probbly best off the bench with the current set-up.
@antipodean his work rate and energy with the work he did (super this year and most of his international career prior to this year) ticker probably not the right way to define him.
He is hugely talented, but certainly not getting the best use out of him, especially with who we put alongside him
The Herald understands feedback from players and staff presents a deeply concerning picture of the All Blacks environment, with multiple sources pointing to widespread internal frustrations.
Two assistant coaches, Leon MacDonald and Jason Holland, voluntarily departing in the last two years sparked red-flag concerns with how the All Blacks are being run. But the fresh, stinging feedback from within – with communication, trust, strategy and selection all believed to have been raised – cannot be ignored.
All teams have unhappy players with selection, but concerns with the All Blacks environment are believed to spread well beyond individuals alone.
Support from senior players proved powerful in Ian Foster retaining his position as All Blacks head coach in 2022 – as the players approached then NZ Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson in his Johannesburg hotel room to strongly voice their views.
This time around, the opposite could be true.
At this stage, NZ Rugby is likely to allow Robertson further time to deliver significant improvements but if the players aren’t satisfied with the initial post-season All Blacks review findings and solutions – which could range from changes in coaching personnel to roles and responsibilities – they may request a second review is conducted.
@Tim said in All Blacks 2026:
The Herald understands feedback from players and staff presents a deeply concerning picture of the All Blacks environment, with multiple sources pointing to widespread internal frustrations.
Two assistant coaches, Leon MacDonald and Jason Holland, voluntarily departing in the last two years sparked red-flag concerns with how the All Blacks are being run. But the fresh, stinging feedback from within – with communication, trust, strategy and selection all believed to have been raised – cannot be ignored.
All teams have unhappy players with selection, but concerns with the All Blacks environment are believed to spread well beyond individuals alone.
Support from senior players proved powerful in Ian Foster retaining his position as All Blacks head coach in 2022 – as the players approached then NZ Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson in his Johannesburg hotel room to strongly voice their views.
This time around, the opposite could be true.
At this stage, NZ Rugby is likely to allow Robertson further time to deliver significant improvements but if the players aren’t satisfied with the initial post-season All Blacks review findings and solutions – which could range from changes in coaching personnel to roles and responsibilities – they may request a second review is conducted.
Sounds like the players aren't holding back, which is good. But if they allow him further time to improve I guess the NZRU aren't that interested in RWC27....
Lendrum is going to busy with damage control if more of these stories (and the rumours) come out.
@tubbyj said in All Blacks 2026:
But senior players not being up to it is half the problem with selection. If they are just complaining that their spots maybe under jeopardy next season then that is going to be worse for the team.
I don't think the senior players such as Ardie and BB have much to complain about because they got picked for every match that they were fit to play in!
@Tim said in All Blacks 2026:
But the fresh, stinging feedback from within – with communication, trust, strategy and selection all believed to have been raised – cannot be ignored.
If true, that's a damning indictment of Scott Robertson - or any head coach. Sounds like he has lost the dressing room. Schmidt in a Director of Rugby role supervising things would be good but would Coach Jesus accept that or would he walk?
What a fucking mess.
@tubbyj said in All Blacks 2026:
If they are just complaining that their spots maybe under jeopardy next season then that is going to be worse for the team
If they simply wanted to keep their spots, they wouldn't be complaining about poor communications and trust issues though. The last thing they would do would be to rock the boat and get in Robertson's and Head Coach Hansen's bad books.
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2026:
@No-Quarter i think how Ardie plays, he will unbalance most trios he is part of at international level.
Phenomenal athlete, huge ticker, has been an awesome player for us over the years, but for me, we need him to play a different game, or as many have said for several years, we need to have a 6 and 7 (or 8 depending where you start him) that compliment him, whether he is still good enough to dictate that we pick 2 loosies to suit his game, who knows.
Yeah, this is where I sit. He does amazing things. But, he very much does not do some things.
If you set him in stone (it doesn't matter which position), that sets the requirements for the other two loosies - and if we don't have 2 players who can between them do all of those tasks at a world class level, the group will never work.
Great harmonies too as seen on tiktok
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@tubbyj said in All Blacks 2026:
If they are just complaining that their spots maybe under jeopardy next season then that is going to be worse for the team
If they simply wanted to keep their spots, they wouldn't be complaining about poor communications and trust issues though. The last thing they would do would be to rock the boat and get in Robertson's and Head Coach Hansen's bad books.
I can't see how this improves trust unless they bin the coaches
@Jet said in All Blacks 2026:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2026:
that's fucking hilarious. who voted for that? Facebook?
Fuck me dead.
I owe later day Sam Cane an apology too, because he was way more visible on the field than the current iteration of Ardie, who it seems, is way more visible off the field between matches.
Cane and McCaw put way more into that 7 shirt than what im seeing from our "Mana-facturer".
Yes agreed, i was against him playing last year but he proved me wrong and he brought an hard nosed AB attitude to his game and the team. I have heard that he was a leader that always asked the hard questions, challenged players made them accountable. We need some of that leadership now because we seem very un all black like in mental fortitude.
@canefan said in All Blacks 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@tubbyj said in All Blacks 2026:
If they are just complaining that their spots maybe under jeopardy next season then that is going to be worse for the team
If they simply wanted to keep their spots, they wouldn't be complaining about poor communications and trust issues though. The last thing they would do would be to rock the boat and get in Robertson's and Head Coach Hansen's bad books.
I can't see how this improves trust unless they bin the coaches
Exactly. Senior players talking about trust issues with the coach would be terminal for their selection prospects
So who are the senior players. To be honest it is pretty easy to identify as there are not that many in the team at the moment. Can't imagine they call Sotutu a senior player for example.
The same group loved Foster for his great communication and trusting relationship and what did that get the team? pretty similar shit performances arguably worse.
To be honest I see the 'senior players' opinions as a bit of a red herring. The issue this team has is with selection of past it players who seem not to be able to be dropped and execution of basic skills like passing accurately, kicking accurately and catching high balls.
Whether the selection issue has to do with NZR contracting I am not sure but the selection of BB and Damien Mackenzie in the 10 position exclusively for the last 2 seasons has been ridiculous with a lack of eye to developing a young player with potential. Someone made a very salient point the other day if 20 year old Dan Carter was to have emerged 4 years ago he would probably be ignored by the selectors and now at age 24 would be looking at overseas offers.
I love Richie McCaw he is the GOAT but his comments recently about 'All Blacks should be ready too perform not developing' are not really helpful and have been taken on board too literally by Scott Robertson and his selectors.
They are a bit ironic also given Josh Kronfeld said similar about the GOATS intial selection
and he was given the Captaincy without being completely ready for it only developing into one of our greatest captains after the trauma of 2007.
@canefan said in All Blacks 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@tubbyj said in All Blacks 2026:
If they are just complaining that their spots maybe under jeopardy next season then that is going to be worse for the team
If they simply wanted to keep their spots, they wouldn't be complaining about poor communications and trust issues though. The last thing they would do would be to rock the boat and get in Robertson's and Head Coach Hansen's bad books.
I can't see how this improves trust unless they bin the coaches
When did NZ Rugby (at a Macro level) get so conservative?
I thought this was one of the best sporting institutions in the world.
Liverpool are on the verge of sacking Arne Slot...he won the league in June.
The crest on the front is bigger than any name on the back.
To quote Steve Hansen "flush the Dunny and move on".
Sack Razor and co and hire new people. We owe them nothing. He wasnt even a great Allblack himself.
There used to be books written about the Allblacks.....the current mob are a rabble, who are masturbating to their own instagram persona's.
There should be no charity to players and coaches alike...When you are no longer a net positive to the Silverfern.....sling your hook.
Its either a high performance unit or it isnt.....
@tubbyj said in All Blacks 2026:
I love Richie McCaw he is the GOAT but his comments recently about 'All Blacks should be ready too perform not developing' are not really helpful and have been taken on board too literally by Scott Robertson and his selectors.
They are a bit ironic also given Josh Kronfeld said similar about the GOATS intial selection
and he was given the Captaincy without being completely ready for it only developing into one of our greatest captains after the trauma of 2007.
That whole tour was remarkable to be fair. Mitchell was a headbanger.
But we did reap some long term rewards from the tour of the Canterblacks.
@Jet said in All Blacks 2026:
@tubbyj said in All Blacks 2026:
I love Richie McCaw he is the GOAT but his comments recently about 'All Blacks should be ready too perform not developing' are not really helpful and have been taken on board too literally by Scott Robertson and his selectors.
They are a bit ironic also given Josh Kronfeld said similar about the GOATS intial selection
and he was given the Captaincy without being completely ready for it only developing into one of our greatest captains after the trauma of 2007.
That whole tour was remarkable to be fair. Mitchell was a headbanger.
But we did reap some long term rewards from the tour of the Canterblacks.
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2026:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:
@tubbyj said in All Blacks 2026:
If they are just complaining that their spots maybe under jeopardy next season then that is going to be worse for the team
If they simply wanted to keep their spots, they wouldn't be complaining about poor communications and trust issues though. The last thing they would do would be to rock the boat and get in Robertson's and Head Coach Hansen's bad books.
I can't see how this improves trust unless they bin the coaches
Exactly. Senior players talking about trust issues with the coach would be terminal for their selection prospects
Presumably the reviews are held in confidence?
@Jet said in All Blacks 2026:
When did NZ Rugby (at a Macro level) get so conservative?
When some in NZR started thinking about only commercial performance.
It seeming to slip their minds that on field excellence is the key to that performance.
@tubbyj said in All Blacks 2026:
They are a bit ironic also given Josh Kronfeld said similar about the GOATS intial selection
As an out and out 7, I have Kronfeld ahead of McCaw, probably how Josh was thinking at the time.
But a bit more to Richies game than just 7 play.
@Tim Liam Napier's Rugby Direct podcast episode from December 8 mentioned players having those same issues with the coaches. Now he is reporting that they have been confirmed in the NZR review.
@Tim said in All Blacks 2026:
The Herald understands feedback from players and staff presents a deeply concerning picture of the All Blacks environment, with multiple sources pointing to widespread internal frustrations.
Two assistant coaches, Leon MacDonald and Jason Holland, voluntarily departing in the last two years sparked red-flag concerns with how the All Blacks are being run. But the fresh, stinging feedback from within – with communication, trust, strategy and selection all believed to have been raised – cannot be ignored.
All teams have unhappy players with selection, but concerns with the All Blacks environment are believed to spread well beyond individuals alone.
Support from senior players proved powerful in Ian Foster retaining his position as All Blacks head coach in 2022 – as the players approached then NZ Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson in his Johannesburg hotel room to strongly voice their views.
This time around, the opposite could be true.
At this stage, NZ Rugby is likely to allow Robertson further time to deliver significant improvements but if the players aren’t satisfied with the initial post-season All Blacks review findings and solutions – which could range from changes in coaching personnel to roles and responsibilities – they may request a second review is conducted.
I find this a strange article the Review is coming the 2nd week in January when the team is going in to camp for that very reason,interviews and feedback are then being assessed.
I am not sure what Napier is talking about as there has been no review or interviews as yet.
@Frank said in All Blacks 2026:
@Chris
I think Liam Napier's information is coming through conversations with certain players, either first hand or second hand.I also think he knows the problems are far more serious than what is generally being reported.
Yeah maybe but a lot of players senior ones stayed in Europe for Holidays some came back and took their families to the US the islands and Europe so haven't been around.
The players association and NZR have a 6 week window for the players away from Rugby until the mid Jan review camp.
The players I don't think are talking to a journalist about problems knowing he will publish it, they are putting their heads on the block because this coaching group will not change it will go through to the WC.
He's getting his information from somewhere.
He's also a pretty careful and solid enough journalist.
@Frank said in All Blacks 2026:
He's getting his information from somewhere.
He's also a pretty careful and solid enough journalist.
we will see I have also seen from stuff from him that has been way of the mark.
@Frank said in All Blacks 2026:
He's getting his information from somewhere.
He's also a pretty careful and solid enough journalist.
Put it this way, I don't think he's probably making this up
@Chris said in All Blacks 2026:
@Frank said in All Blacks 2026:
He's getting his information from somewhere.
He's also a pretty careful and solid enough journalist.we will see I have also seen from stuff from him that has been way of the mark.
Napier is about as trustworthy as it gets in terms of information
Just because you dont like the information doesn't make it false
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2026:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2026:
@Frank said in All Blacks 2026:
He's getting his information from somewhere.
He's also a pretty careful and solid enough journalist.we will see I have also seen from stuff from him that has been way of the mark.
Napier is about as trustworthy as it gets in terms of information
Just because you dont like the information doesn't make it false
Who said I didn't like it I have roasted the coaches and playing staff over the last year.
I am as sick of the shit as anyone.
and just because you like the information does not make it true either.
@canefan said in All Blacks 2026:
@Frank said in All Blacks 2026:
He's getting his information from somewhere.
He's also a pretty careful and solid enough journalist.Put it this way, I don't think he's probably making this up
I’m scratching my head trying to make sense of this
