Rugby News: Eddie Jones to USA, Razor to England links, TJ's brutal injury blow, Caslick wins WR gong

I don’t think NZR don’t want Robertson as such, but they certainly wont do what is necessary to be certain of keeping him. Like all fundamentally mediocre organizations NZR is constantly being pushed around by circumstances and events. In this case the circumstance is Foster. The very fact he hasn’t ruled himself out by now means he will run again, his best chance of retaining his position is to do well at RWC 2023, if he gets the AB’s to the final he will keep his job, so he will do everything possible to delay the selection process. And in that he has precedent, inertia, the players leadership group and Hansen et al on his side in that. Any selection process prior to the World Cup would be deemed “disruptive”, could lead to a player rebellion, and would be the scapegoat for an All Black failure at the WC even if Foster is retained. Effectively the whole selection process is being controlled by Foster’s incumbency, as it has been from the start. Foster is a problem NZR is too weak and stupid to get rid of. And Robertson knows it.

Razor says he’s in contact with NZR yet he’s reported to be meeting with English RU, which I can only deduce means NZR has promised him nothing. In fact I think the NZR thinking is, Scott Robertson isn’t the right man for the job as in for whatever reason, they don’t like/rate him, as was the case with Graham Henry, when they took away his Eden Park car park as punishment for coaching in Wales! after he probably correctly deduced there was no way they’d choose another Aucklander as AB coach after John Hart. But who did they end up going back to? Certainly, if Joe Schmidt is available as a potential candidate to take over head coach from Ian Foster, then I fear they’ll prefer him but there’s also the potential for this AB’s team to win WC which could mean Foster actually chooses to stay on, given there’s precedent for it. Wayne’ Smith’s Black Ferns showed what the AB’s have lost over time, in terms of not playing with freedom - and Schmidt is a control freak, Foster a poor strategist. We need Robertson's influence in terms of enabling and encouraging players’ freedom of expression, within the win a platform structure his teams have always had - but from Robertson’s point of view, why take the risk of being left out in the cold again, waiting for NZR to make up its mind? Happened last time when a lot of potential other candidates had already signed elsewhere and I don’t have much confidence that under Mark Robertson and board the decision making is or will be, decisive and forward thinking. Razor seems to be firming as England favourite, ironically the poms experience of him coaching BaBa’s v AB’s B has only enhanced his standing in their eyes, vis a vis his ability to relate and get best from players plus and he’s perhaps more proven than other options like Borthwick/O’Gara at this stage. To me NZR should consider, do you want Razor coaching against AB’s which could end up a double whammy to the downside, given what AB’s lose and Razor identifying and getting the best of the talent base potential in England plus the fact he could potentially take Jason Ryan with him - triple whammy! I fear the NZR will be too slow to act to lock Razor in. Their past choice to stick with Foster was wrong, hence we’re still ‘improving and growing’ as a team, despite all the experience locked in there i.e. we didn’t choose the guy that would’ve done the growing by taking our coaching game itself forward, hence the in season need to change up coaching staff - the impact of Ryan, Razor’s right hand man. They should have locked Robertson in already because if so, Ryan will stay with AB’s and even if Schmidt leaves in misguided ‘loyalty’ to Foster, there are plenty of others to replace Schmidt and the consistency of Scott Mcleod’s defense is questionable, so I think coaching change is the way to go, regardless of WC outcome - which to me means Robertson should be locked in now, or we lose him and settle for something less - as in who’s left that’s available - and haven’t learnt anything from last time.

Look quite possibly Muzzo and I'm still not impressed by the executives and board members of the NZRU. Not yet anyway. But we are where we are so I personally won't be taking a holiday from supporting the teams because I disagree with some of the appointments or recent conduct.

The calculus for Robertson is starting to take shape. Foster’s silence on the issue suggests he’s going to run again. The very fact that the supine NZ media aren’t asking suggests the question has already been answered. Objectively speaking, you can see why. As the established coach Foster will have the inside running, irrespective of results, he has a decent shot of getting to the final anyway, Schmidt is another established coach standing in his Robertson’s way, [though given his personal and professional circumstances its more likely in the form of him casting a veto on Robertson’s candidacy, as he’s already done, rather than as a direct rival] and for all the wishful thinking of Razor supporters, and those who claim to be, there is no way in hell NZR will run a contest before the WC. The NZ Herald is reporting there is a faction on the board trying to get it going. Not with the dead hands of Hansen, Henry et al on the wheel. Old age and treachery will triumph again. If Robertson gets an offer from England, and it’s a major if, he can’t turn it down. For a start it will never be offered again, and as the one of only the two great powers in the game available to him [Sorry Aussie, you’re down there with Scotland, Wales and Argentina these days] England offers the only chance he has outside NZ to actually win a RWC. And Razor is all about the W. He waited 5 years until the Canterbury head coach position came open. He waited 4 years until the Crusaders job came open. It would be interesting to see just how many tasty jobs he turned down in that near decade of waiting. All to give him the best chance of being a winning coach. England have made the world cup final as many times as NZ, so there is massive native strength there. They just need to know how to win it. The thing is, Robertson seems to have become more and more alienated from NZR. Again, you can see why. The renewal of Foster’s contract before the evidence of a Northern hemisphere tour was available in 2020. The exploitation of Jason Ryan to keep Foster in the job when Ryan had been used by Henry to keep Robertson out of the job in 2019. The talk of winning RWC’s with two teams after NZR teased the AB job in mid-year, only to have it vetoed by Schmidt. The pointed refusal to take on the All Blacks XV, instead coaching the team that beat them. The funny thing is, NZR’s behavior towards him has been so atrocious, I wonder that if he got his feet under the table with England he would even want to come back to NZ. No head coach has won the RWC twice, after all. And Razor plays the percentages.

Spot on Colin. Those who decide differently are showing their true colours. I was unaware the coach of a team had to be liked. I have never liked Rennie as a coach but my Chiefs had two SR title wins under him.

Keep being faithful to his cause Jacko, as it seems you really are associated with him! You just dont get it do you. What have you achieved? I think Im a far happier person because I have excepted Foster is the coach where you seem so bitter and twisted you cant get past it, and have to post 20 comments per article saying how bad the coach and NZR are just to satisfy your anger. You seem to read half my posts then go off on this "You are associated with him" garbage. Ive accepted that I cant change it so as an ABs fan Ill embrace the team and ignore whose coaching it. I cant be bothered being angry all the time like you seem to be Muzzo. And yes!!! We are a good shot at winning it. About as good a shot as 4 or 5 others.

As I Colin, but it’s you know who, I don’t support! A massive fk up by the NZRU

TBH both Razor or Foster won’t win the RWC this year, as you said, not even next year when the tournament is on. Yeh ok you noticed we do have far better players in Aotearoa not in this current squad some injured, some not. But honestly do you really expect the current AB head coach to select them over his evidently favourites? Anyway as far as the RWC goes, just wait & see, as what won’t surprise under this dropkick head coach we have, is his improving his record of firsts, all for the wrong reasons! Keep being faithful to his cause Jacko, as it seems you really are associated with him!

Im with you. Id have SR locked in already. Why muck around and risk not getting him. I wonder if its all becoming a BS situation where Robertson is saying all these things and NZR is being driven further and further away from him due to their refusal to admit they got it wrong to start with. The other thing is of course that they wouldnt be sacking a world cup winning coach ( if we won ) just replacing him at the end of his contract which is a better look. I do hope we win and if that creates a situation for NZR then so be it.

If we win (which I don't think we will), I hope Foster gets replaced regardless. The results clearly haven't been up to it over his tenure, and though improved this year, still not where they should be. You are right, we have a chance, but that chance is lower than it otherwise would be if we had a better head coach. I think the argument would become would Joe Schmidt then have a chance at the head role if we won. Personally I would pick Razor regardless and if I was NZR I would already have him locked up now to take over after the WC. He is young enough to take us through 2 cycles (results permitting), and despite what he has said about winning with two countries, if he won with the ABs you'd have to think he would be interested in creating history by being the first head coach to win two. NZR will no doubt find a way to bungle it, and we'll probably end up with Foster for another cycle after the ABs get rolled in the quarters or semis.

I'm not an NZ fan so this is more of a "neutral" comment, but he's clearly stated he wants the AB coaching job. It's more than about money for him. He's guaranteed to throw his hat in the ring if available and again if he misses out the first time. He also wants to coach another team (not really specified who, I don't think he has his heart set on England, I think if he got offered Ireland, Scotland or Wales, he's take it). So basically you can have him as AB coach now, with him then moving on to another, or he can coach another team and then move on to ABs. I feel like the second version of Razor would be the stronger one.

While I doubt how sincere you really are, this stills says more about you Lux, than it does about Foster. Regardless of who coaches the All Blacks, I will always support them. Full stop.

Dont they only have to beat 1 of them tho? Georgia could play its part too with beating Wales the other day.

Haha so if they win you wont support them?

Well done Charlotte Caslick you are an out and out champion.

We are as good a shot as anyone and Robertson definately WONT win a WC this year as HC but Foster could. If the ABs win it do you see NZR not extending his contract? Whats an acceptable result for them to extend his contract tho? 2nd? 3rd? 4th? Lets just say that a win would make it difficult for them to not re-sign him. Always the optimist..... Yep why not? We have a good rugby side with more players of better quality to come in. You know the depth is there but now we just need to see it on the park uninjured.

He was incredibly successful with the age group teams but being the head coach of an international team comes with a whole new level of pressure and expectations.

So true BRB, as the NZRU has become very much like RA, where those in & around those places place their own personal gain before the game itself. Been there on a voluntary basis back in the 80’s & 90’s, & through contacts I know, nothings changed

You do love the strawman argument, Pete Samu's Missed Tackle. Though I have wondered how many of Brad Thorn's Roar detractors would have the nads to repeat their criticisms to his face.

If it’s Razor your talking about Colin, he actually has been tested successfully at international level, firstly with AB age group & now the Baba’s !