All Blacks 2026

@Tim said in All Blacks 2026:

View embedded content

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.

@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.

@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

@Chris said in All Blacks 2026:

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.

How are they putting their name on the chopping block? The players aren't named.

I also dont buy that this coaching group absolutely won't change

A) certain coaches within the group have already changed and there could be further changes

B ) ABs have an extremely tough tour of RSA next year - if it all goes sideways have a RWC where they are due to face the Boks in the quarters

C) By next year neither the CEO or Chairman appointed this coaching group and the Chairman has just publicly criticised the process that got the coaching group selected.

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2026:

@Chris said in All Blacks 2026:

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.

How are they putting their name on the chopping block? The players aren't named.

I also dont buy that this coaching group absolutely won't change

A) certain coaches within the group have already changed and there could be further changes

B ) ABs have an extremely tough tour of RSA next year - if it all goes sideways have a RWC where they are due to face the Boks in the quarters

C) By next year neither the CEO or Chairman appointed this coaching group and the Chairman has just publicly criticised the process that got the coaching group selected.

You don't think the coaches will know.
No changes just an add on.

@Chris said in All Blacks 2026:

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2026:

@Chris said in All Blacks 2026:

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.

How are they putting their name on the chopping block? The players aren't named.

I also dont buy that this coaching group absolutely won't change

A) certain coaches within the group have already changed and there could be further changes

B ) ABs have an extremely tough tour of RSA next year - if it all goes sideways have a RWC where they are due to face the Boks in the quarters

C) By next year neither the CEO or Chairman appointed this coaching group and the Chairman has just publicly criticised the process that got the coaching group selected.

You don't think the coaches will know.
No changes just an add on.

Well Holland leaving is certainly a change

And if there are calls for a second review there could be further changes. There's also reference to changes in responsibilities to those that remain.

And no I dont think coaches will know.

All teams have unhappy players with selection, but concerns with the All Blacks environment are believed to spread well beyond individuals alone.

There's certainly a list of things adding up

• Leon leaving almost immediately
• Holland leaving
• Hoskins by all accounts not happy
• Papalii turning down an AB jersey this end of year tour
• suggestions Scott Hansen is the one who does the hands on coaching
• Criticism of the coaching hire process
• now negative feedback from multiple sources including both players and staff

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2026:

@Chris said in All Blacks 2026:

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2026:

@Chris said in All Blacks 2026:

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.

How are they putting their name on the chopping block? The players aren't named.

I also dont buy that this coaching group absolutely won't change

A) certain coaches within the group have already changed and there could be further changes

B ) ABs have an extremely tough tour of RSA next year - if it all goes sideways have a RWC where they are due to face the Boks in the quarters

C) By next year neither the CEO or Chairman appointed this coaching group and the Chairman has just publicly criticised the process that got the coaching group selected.

You don't think the coaches will know.
No changes just an add on.

Well Holland leaving is certainly a change

And if there are calls for a second review there could be further changes. There's also reference to changes in responsibilities to those that remain.

And no I dont think coaches will know.

All teams have unhappy players with selection, but concerns with the All Blacks environment are believed to spread well beyond individuals alone.

There's certainly a list of things adding up

• Leon leaving almost immediately
• Holland leaving
• Hoskins by all accounts not happy
• Papalii turning down an AB jersey this end of year tour
• suggestions Scott Hansen is the one who does the hands on coaching
• Criticism of the coaching hire process
• now negative feedback from multiple sources including both players and staff

I never said it was all good just questioning the articles sources.
There is clearly problems looking from
The outside selections and they way we are playing with no apparent game plan just a couple,
Hanging on to old players who are only there on past reputations one of my big issues.
But the coaches will stay, some players will pay the price.

@KiwiMurph

Yeah, all adds up.
And this sort of vibe type thing can start feeding on itself.

Read an article last week by journo (not a Kiwi) who actually wrote that Scott Hansen had been "moved on."
Thought, news to me!
Had a look around; and decided it was just a "freudian slip," so didn't mention it until now.
But, it sums up the present vibe, when people start making that sort of slip.

Originally thought Robertson would be retained for sure; maybe still, but I definitely think there will be changes now.

@tubbyj said in All Blacks 2026:

The same group loved Foster for his great communication and trusting relationship and what did that get the team?

A one-point loss in a RWC Final with 14 men? Can you imagine this lot displaying that level of fortitude, because I can't. Robertson's teams simply give up when times get hard - something I've never, ever seen in an AB team.

Robertson pushed himself forward with the aid of his media-fluffers as a coaching wunderkind. Looks increasing like he's just hopelessly out of his depth.

He's handed over the actual coaching to Hansen so he could concentrate on "Culture and Well-being". The result? He seems to have lost the dressing room

@Jet said in All Blacks 2026:

When did NZ Rugby (at a Macro level) get so conservative?

When they put Marketing as the key CSF.

So at the Crusaders, was Razor the health and well being coach with Hansen acting as the coach? And before Hansen, who did that job at the Crusaders?

Surely Razor must have been a coach of the rugby side of things somewhere in his coaching career?

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:

@tubbyj said in All Blacks 2026:

The same group loved Foster for his great communication and trusting relationship and what did that get the team?

A one-point loss in a RWC Final with 14 men? Can you imagine this lot displaying that level of fortitude, because I can't. Robertson's teamssimply give up when times get hard - something I've never, ever seen in an AB team.

Robertson pushed himself forward with the aid of his media-fluffers as a coaching wunderkind. Looks increasing like he just hopelessly out of his depth.

He's handed over the actual coaching to Hansen so he could concentrate on "Culture and Well-being". The result? He seems to have lost the dressing room

I've had a gutsful of Robertson mate, but revisionism on Foster is unnecessary. His tenure was shit. The WC final was the outlier, that game is not a fair representation of his coaching time with the ABs and it's hardly a 'jesus christ look at what Robertson has done with our mighty lost the final by a point with 14 men ABs' situation. There's been no improvement - which is fucking shit - but lets not pretend we were in a good spot before he took over.

It's also not a candidate's job to present themselves as 'might not be as good as my record shows', it's up to the people doing the hiring to figure that out.

@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:

I've had a gutsful of Robertson mate, but revisionism on Foster is unnecessary. His tenure was shit.

Don't disagree. But you're missing my point which is we've gone backwards - and in some areas rapidly.

The one good thing that can come from this is NZR & rugby public look at people touted as super-coaches with a high degree of scepticism.

@Chris can you elaborate on the Papalii turning down a Black Jersey story? First I'm hearing of it.

@Tim said in All Blacks 2026:

View embedded content

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.

Depends who’s doing the complaining right? We can’t have a cake and eat it too. If it’s Barrett, Savea etc complaining, then who gives a fuck what they’ve got to say. If they’re whinging surely it’s a good thing. If it’s the same leadership group sucking lemons on the field, they can go too

@handa457 said in All Blacks 2026:

@Chris can you elaborate on the Papalii turning down a Black Jersey story? First I'm hearing of it.

I know nothing about that rumour someone posted that on the fern .
I have seen nothing about if or heard anything about Papalli turning down a AB chance.
It seems a bit of a stretch to me.

@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:

It's also not a candidate's job to present themselves as 'might not be as good as my record shows', it's up to the people doing the hiring to figure that out.

The thing is, I think the people that hired him knew exactly what they were getting.
So . . . the people that hired him need to be looked at.

@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.

@mohikamo said in All Blacks 2026:

@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:

It's also not a candidate's job to present themselves as 'might not be as good as my record shows', it's up to the people doing the hiring to figure that out.

The thing is, I think the people that hired him knew exactly what they were getting.
So . . . the people that hired him need to be looked at.

The guy that hired him resigned after he'd fucked NZR by getting into bed with Silverlake....

@canefan
A few of that guys compadres need to go as well.

@mohikamo said in All Blacks 2026:

@canefan
A few All of that guys compadres need to go as well.

Fixed

@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.

Yes otherwise your only candidates are Rassie Erasmus and Steve Hansen.

@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 ,

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.