New Zealand Rugby's handling of the All Blacks coaching a 'disaster and debacle'

Criticism is again piling on New Zealand Rugby for their handling of the All Blacks coaching saga, with this week’s Scott Robertson press conference being the latest example of ill-considered communication and poor management from CEO Mark Robinson and company.

Roberston appeared before the media on Wednesday and confirmed he was fully aware of where his future resides and was simply awaiting New Zealand Rugby’s public announcement of their plans beyond the 2023 World Cup to talk about it. That news as well as the grin on Roberston’s face reportedly didn’t go down so well with current All Blacks head coach Ian Foster.

Also taken aback by the comments was New Zealand Rugby, who released a statement in response to Robertson saying no announcements were imminent on the All Blacks coaching job or the process of selection.

This breakdown in communication is only adding to the growing distaste the Kiwi rugby public and pundits share for the current New Zealand Rugby board, who have been called out at every turn in the All Blacks form throughout Ian Foster’s reign.

New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson has faced the majority of the criticism, from Sir Steve Hansen’s comments following 2022’s series loss to Ireland accusing the relationship between the players and the board of being the worst it’s ever been, to pundit Martin Devlin this week labelling Robinson as spineless during an interview with Mark Watson.

“Whatever is going on, there is just this perception that New Zealand Rugby at the moment is just completely and utterly rudderless,” Watson replied to Devlin on The Platform.

“You’re right, there is substantiated, creditable people, saying that Scott Robertson’s got the job. Scott Robertson himself in a press conference yesterday, when you listen to it, he clearly believes he’s got the job, it’s just a matter of him actually putting pen to paper.

“What does that mean for Ian Foster? Well, you’ve got to feel for Ian Foster, he’s come out at the same time and is somewhat perplexed by Scott Robertson’s comments and is concerned, feeling that it will disrupt the World Cup buildup.

“I don’t quite believe in that, I think that Ian Foster will play into that one because it gives him a little bit of a get out of jail free card if things do fail.

“Scott Robertson also, it’s being reported elsewhere that he’s seeking dispensation to coach Fiji at this year’s World Cup or be involved with the Fijian program which I don’t actually have a problem with because I mean, players are always getting so-called sabbaticals to go overseas and people have criticised Scott Robertson’s appointment – if he does get the All Black job potentially – suggesting that he doesn’t have any international experience, which I don’t buy into.”

Regardless of the coaching appointment itself or the timing of its announcement, New Zealand Rugby have lost the faith of much of New Zealand’s devoted rugby public. Devlin’s sentiments echoed those of Hansen’s from seven months earlier, saying it was high time that amongst all the team reviews the All Blacks were being subject to, New Zealand Rugby conducted a self-review and looked at their own leadership and structures.

“Those that reappointed him (Foster) or didn’t make the change when a lot of people thought it should be made last year need to fall on their sword as well,” Watson said when hypothesizing an early exit from the All Blacks at this year’s World Cup.

“Whatever they need, New Zealand Rugby have got to come out, they’ve got to be more transparent, they’ve got to be more open, they’ve got to be more decisive.

“But what an absolute just disaster and debacle and it just seems to go from one thing to the next. I mean this coaching saga has now gone on for well over 12 months, it continues to go on, there just seems to be so much uncertainty around it, the only guy that seems certain about one thing I think is Scott Robertson that he in fact does have this All Black job going forward.”