All Blacks Coachingโฃ Plan Unravelsโข as Key Personnel Depart
Auckland, New Zealand โ- New Zealand Rugby’s (NZR) strategy for installingโ scottโค Robertson as all Blacks head โขcoach is facing scrutiny following the unexpectedโฃ departure of performance coach Sir โWayne smith and, more recently, NZR CEO Mark Holland. The unfolding events raise questions about the thoroughness ofโข theโ vetting process โsurrounding Robertson’s appointments and overall coaching structure.
Theโ situation began toโ come into focus whenโ then-head coach Ian โคFosterโฃ became aware that Robertson was receiving โdirect communication from the NZR board regarding the appointment process, ahead of data being shared with Foster himself. This led Foster toโ believe NZR had effectively assuredโ Robertson in august 2022, after he was overlooked for the position forโข a โsecond โtime, that a โฃthird attempt wouldโข be unlikely.
Despite previousโค reservations,โข the board ultimately announced Robertson as the All Blacks coach-in-waiting in March 2023, concurrently approving the same wider coaching team that had โpreviouslyโ been a source of concern. Initial anxieties about the team lacking โa seasoned veteran were โขseemingly addressedโ with the appointment of Sir Wayne Smith as aโ newly created “performance โcoach.” However, the role’s specifics remained vague, described โby some โขas aโ “light-touchโข consultancy position.”
The reversal in the board’s assessment – rejecting Robertson and his team in both 2019 โand 2022, only to embrace them โคin 2023 – is now under examination.Previously, the board expressed doubts โขabout Robertson’s proposed coaching structure, which envisioned him as a “culture coach” with individual coaches responsible for specialist units, mirroringโค an NFL model. This structure was later lauded as “high-performance thinking.”
With โขHolland’s โฃdeparture, questions are being raised about whether NZR adequately scrutinized Robertson’s coaching โappointments and setup, or ifโ securing his services was the sole objective.
Savea has been a consistent performer for the All Blacks. Photo / Photosport” class=”article-media__image responsively-lazy” data-test-ui=”article-media__image”/>


