All Blacks 2026

@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:

@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2026:

if we roll in to the year with the same personnel on and off the field then it will go horribly.

However if we make just a couple of changes, i can see us winning a lot of those. Yes, a couple of those changes are fundamental, but i don't reckon we are that far off if those glaring deficiencies are rectified.

If we play the same with the same guys it will get real ugly real fast.

I agree, it could get better quick - but on the other hand, a couple of changes for the worse e.g. Roigard injured...

look, don't get me wrong, if we roll in with a couple of very key guys out, the same tired selections in others, and the same sort of plan on both sides of the ball that we saw this year, we're probably fucked. But i don't think all that much has to change for us to be as good as anyone.

We all have our own ideas of what those changes should be, but ultimately that's for NZ rugby to decide.

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:

@mariner4life

Agree with all of that.

But does Robertson have the headroom in the 2026 schedule to make and bed-in the personnel changes needed? Maybe if DMac and Love had some starts this year, he might have done but you worry it's all a bit too late

DMac will be okay, he's been in the squad for ages, and is a very versatile player. Love is young enough to not be set in his ways.

There will be a bedding in period of a couple of new systems (i fucking hope) and mindsets, and with a bit of luck a couple of new combinations, but that will be covered by playing at home.

@mariner4life

France, Italy & Ireland in the Southern series will be tough ask though, with only Italy being an easy game. Wasted 2025.

Don’t worry, guys - I’ve just received some inside information on Robertson’s coaching plans for 2026. Honestly, it all looks pretty bloody effective to me.

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:

@mariner4life

France, Italy & Ireland in the Southern series will be tough ask though, with only Italy being an easy game. Wasted 2025.

The more I look into the past in particular the recent past, and see how things played out with performance and results, I am more and more coming to the view that what happens from one year to the next when it relates to test rugby is having less and less relevance.

I would’ve liked to have seen a couple of more players get game time but come next year I think the team will look different any way especially in a couple of key positions. Sort out some of the off field and back room stuff.

@booboo said in All Blacks 2026:

@booboo said in All Blacks 2026:

@nzzp said in All Blacks 2026:

Most AB losses in a year was 4 I believe.

5 in 1998. SA x 2, Aus x 3

Actually 6! In 1949. SA x 4, Aus x 2. Including 2 in one day! Caveat that best Pakehas were in SA, Best Maoris and second best Pakehas at home to Aus.

@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:

@booboo Two of those losses in 1949 were on the same day if I remember correctly.

Glad that your reading and comprehension is up to scratch.

I'll qualify further and say the above refers to Tests. Wiki advises 3 additional losses in tour matches, plus 3 draws.

Shit year.

you know we have a word for that........

@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2026:

@booboo said in All Blacks 2026:

@booboo said in All Blacks 2026:

@nzzp said in All Blacks 2026:

Most AB losses in a year was 4 I believe.

5 in 1998. SA x 2, Aus x 3

Actually 6! In 1949. SA x 4, Aus x 2. Including 2 in one day! Caveat that best Pakehas were in SA, Best Maoris and second best Pakehas at home to Aus.

@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:

@booboo Two of those losses in 1949 were on the same day if I remember correctly.

Glad that your reading and comprehension is up to scratch.

I'll qualify further and say the above refers to Tests. Wiki advises 3 additional losses in tour matches, plus 3 draws.

Shit year.

you know we have a word for that........

You may be referring the the phenomenon of replying to a post without reading subsequent posts where the point I'm you are making has already been made by others further down. As opposed to missing an explicit point in the post you quote.

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks 2026:

I would’ve liked to have seen a couple of more players get game time but come next year I think the team will look different any way especially in a couple of key positions. Sort out some of the off field and back room stuff.

I feel I heard this exact claim 12 months ago......

@booboo said in All Blacks 2026:

@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2026:

@booboo said in All Blacks 2026:

@booboo said in All Blacks 2026:

@nzzp said in All Blacks 2026:

Most AB losses in a year was 4 I believe.

5 in 1998. SA x 2, Aus x 3

Actually 6! In 1949. SA x 4, Aus x 2. Including 2 in one day! Caveat that best Pakehas were in SA, Best Maoris and second best Pakehas at home to Aus.

@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:

@booboo Two of those losses in 1949 were on the same day if I remember correctly.

Glad that your reading and comprehension is up to scratch.

I'll qualify further and say the above refers to Tests. Wiki advises 3 additional losses in tour matches, plus 3 draws.

Shit year.

you know we have a word for that........

You may be referring the the phenomenon of replying to a post without reading subsequent posts where the point I'm you are making has already been made by others further down. As opposed to missing an explicit point in the post you quote.

thats catchy

@nzzp said in All Blacks 2026:

@DurryMexted said in All Blacks 2026:

Wow must be one of the first years in a while without a scheduled match with the Wallabies?

surely they will add some for the Bledisloe? Just not public yet

From the RA website:

vs New Zealand @ away venue TBC – 10 October
vs New Zealand @ Accor Stadium, Sydney – 17 October

@Bovidae One would assume, it'll be France in Christchurch, and Ireland/Australia in Auckland. Wellington is likely to get the other one of those, unless Auckland takes both and they play Italy there.

If they opt for a fourth venue, would likely be Italy in Dunedin, but given there is only four home tests, I suspect they will want two in Auckland.

The other consideration, is that Italy might be a tougher sell, so Christchurch could be the ideal location for it.

Fuck you lot are pessimistic. You only have to look at his track record to see this is part of the RWC plan. His Super Rugby dominating Crusaders built into their seasons and we're only halfway into this RWC cycle.

Sure as shit he's going to be breakdancing come 13 Nov 27. We'll just have to put up with some blips as we lose to the equivalent of the Western Force between now and then.

for a improvement we will need to see a change in tactics for our attack and defence. at international level you just carnt go around a defence with out forward movement. similarly if you give meters away by not advancing in defence you are giving away options to attack

@antipodean if he does guide us to a rwc win, does that absolve this shit now?

For me, nope, losing in the manner we have is never acceptable.

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2026:

@antipodean if he does guide us to a rwc win, does that absolve this shit now?

God no. Now we've won a few I want to go back to spanking everyone again and care less about this festival they hold every few years.

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2026:

@antipodean if he does guide us to a rwc win, does that absolve this shit now?

For me, nope, losing in the manner we have is never acceptable.

Had the All Blacks won the 2023 World Cup (and to me that’s one of two World Cup titles for South Africa with an asterisk beside it) everyone still would have though Foster was a terrible coach, with some awful records and firsts. He just would have also happened to have a World Cup win in amongst all the rubbish. Same goes for Robertson, if he manages it.

@booboo said in All Blacks 2026:

@nzzp said in All Blacks 2026:

Most AB losses in a year was 4 I believe.

5 in 1998. SA x 2, Aus x 3

Actually 6! In 1949. SA x 4, Aus x 2. Including 2 in one day! Caveat that best Pakehas were in SA, Best Maoris and second best Pakehas at home to Aus.

6 losses in 1976, as well, I think.

It's a bit misleading to be going "worst ever" losing five tests, when in the old days four tests in a season was probably all you got (max). So you've got to count those provincial losses in the olden days to have anything like a comparable framework.

@antipodean said in All Blacks 2026:

Fuck you lot are pessimistic. You only have to look at his track record to see this is part of the RWC plan. His Super Rugby dominating Crusaders built into their seasons and we're only halfway into this RWC cycle.

Sure as shit he's going to be breakdancing come 13 Nov 27. We'll just have to put up with some blips as we lose to the equivalent of the Western Force between now and then.

You are @kiwi_expat and I claim my free bag of chips.

@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2026:

@booboo said in All Blacks 2026:

@nzzp said in All Blacks 2026:

Most AB losses in a year was 4 I believe.

5 in 1998. SA x 2, Aus x 3

Actually 6! In 1949. SA x 4, Aus x 2. Including 2 in one day! Caveat that best Pakehas were in SA, Best Maoris and second best Pakehas at home to Aus.

6 losses in 1976, as well, I think.

It's a bit misleading to be going "worst ever" losing five tests, when in the old days four tests in a season was probably all you got (max). So you've got to count those provincial losses in the olden days to have anything like a comparable framework.

Our Test win ratio was 60% in the 1970's. We won 1 test in 4, two years running. Unprecedented at the time.
.
I can see that figure being emulated next year unless there's a big, big improvement.

@Victor-Meldrew

I still remember some of those years.

1976 is burned into my soul!

@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2026:

vs New Zealand @ Accor Stadium, Sydney – 17 October

Could be a few good days in Sydney as the Kiwis v Roos is on Thursday 15 October to kick off the RLWC.

@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:

@booboo Two of those losses in 1949 were on the same day if I remember correctly.

Jesus Sparky, how old are you!?

@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2026:

@Victor-Meldrew

I still remember some of those years.

1976 is burned into my soul!

'76 was the turnaround year. We started to play smart rugby again.

And here we are, in a thread about 50 years later...

@Victor-Meldrew Just hadn't yet learned our lesson about goal kicking!

@Bones said in All Blacks 2026:

And here we are, in a thread about 50 years later...

We're just hoping 50 yr-old history repeats and we turn the AB ship around in 2026

Metaphorically speaking.

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:

@Bones said in All Blacks 2026:

And here we are, in a thread about 50 years later...

We're just hoping 50 yr-old history repeats and we turn the AB ship around in 2026

Metaphorically speaking.

Have to drop some deadweight first

@Bones said in All Blacks 2026:

And here we are, in a thread about 50 years later...

There are a lot of corollaries between the 2020's and the 1970's.
Both eras coming after periods of sustained success.
83.33% test wins in the 60's.
Only two test losses between 1960 and 1970.

@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2026:

Don’t worry, guys - I’ve just received some inside information on Robertson’s coaching plans for 2026. Honestly, it all looks pretty bloody effective to me.

View image

Fake news, there's no way the ABs would have so many running onto the ball (or in support).

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2026:

@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2026:

Don’t worry, guys - I’ve just received some inside information on Robertson’s coaching plans for 2026. Honestly, it all looks pretty bloody effective to me.

View image

Fake news, there's no way the ABs would have so many running onto the ball (or in support).

That's our defence chasing yet another well supported line break.

@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2026:

Don’t worry, guys - I’ve just received some inside information on Robertson’s coaching plans for 2026. Honestly, it all looks pretty bloody effective to me.

View image

"...and these are the sheep who puffed me up and made me All Blacks Coach!"

Did Robertsin really say that Scott Hansen is actually coaching the All Blacks???

@Young-Hamiltons said in All Blacks 2026:

Did Robertsin really say that Scott Hansen is actually coaching the All Blacks???

Effectively, yes.

But Robertson’s vision was never for him to undertake the tasks that most would agree constitute the role of head coach......Robertson pitched himself as a culture coach, responsible for theming campaigns, communicating one-on-one with players to manage their expectations and career progression.
As Robertson confirmed to the Herald this week in Cardiff, it is his assistant, Scott Hansen, who effectively operates in the role most would recognise as the head coach.

@nzzp Just had some info passed to me that the All Black game v Ireland will be played at Eden Park
The French game more than likely to be at the new Te Kaha Stadium in Christchurch and the Italian game heading to Dunedin
Not fully confirmed on the later 2 but lock in the Irish game at Eden Park

@Steven-Harris So assuming the Bledisloe match is at Eden Park too, then no Tests next year in Wellington or Hamilton.

@mohikamo said in All Blacks 2026:

@Bones said in All Blacks 2026:

And here we are, in a thread about 50 years later...

There are a lot of corollaries between the 2020's and the 1970's.
Both eras coming after periods of sustained success.
83.33% test wins in the 60's.
Only two test losses between 1960 and 1970.

The ABs lost 3 times to the boks alone in that period .. as well as drawing one.

Razor: Yeah,aah Hansy, I'm off surfing, gotta come up with a new theme for the year. I'll be gone for 2 days. These things take time. There's 26 hours of video analysis for you to get through. Give us the 2 minute summary when I get back. Then I've gotta visit the familes of the 5 of the squad. You see, it's all about connection and care.

@Frank said in All Blacks 2026:

Razor: Yeah,aah Hansy, I'm off surfing, gotta come up with a new theme for the year. I'll be gone for 2 days. These things take time. There's 26 hours of video analysis for you to get through. Give us the 2 minute summary when I get back. Then I've gotta visit the familes of the 5 of the squad. You see, it's all about connection and care.

For some reason i happened to read that in Razors voice too.