Speculation mounting that All Blacks coach Scott Robertson could be sacked
Thursday, 15 January 2026
Speculation is mounting that All Blacks coach Scott Robertson could be sacked.
An Irish newspaper has reported that Robertson’s reign as All Blacks coach could be over, while 1News has suggested he could be dumped as early as Thursday afternoon.
Although Robertson is contracted to NZ Rugby through to the 2027 World Cup, the Irish Independent said the national body “has decided to bow to player power and Robertson will not be in charge in 2026’’.
Robertson and New Zealand Rugby have been contacted for comment.
The speculation comes after the completion of a review into the 2025 season, which has not been made public but is understood to have been scathing of the coaching and leadership.
Robertson’s first two years in charge of the All Blacks produced mixed results and following the recent tour of the northern hemisphere, reports emerged of players being unhappy with the direction the team was taking under the head coach.
Robertson, who replaced Ian Foster after the 2023 World Cup in France, has struggled for consistent results. This includes failing to win the Rugby Championship, and losing to the Pumas for the first time in Argentina.
The All Blacks also suffered a heavy defeat to the Springboks in Wellington last year, a week after defending an unbeaten record at Eden Park in Auckland that stretches back to 1994.
The All Blacks’ record under Robertson is 20 wins from 27 tests.
If Robertson is sacked, Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph is at short odds to take over.
Joseph, who like Robertson is a former All Blacks loose forward, currently coaches the Highlanders and last year he was in charge of the All Blacks XV during their tour of the northern hemisphere.
Joseph previously coached Japan at the 2019 and 2023 World Cups with another former All Black, Tony Brown, as his assistant.
Other contenders to replace Robertson are likely to be Vern Cotter and Dave Rennie.
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Cotter, currently in charge of the Blues, has previously coached Scotland. Rennie, now in Japan, was in charge of the Wallabies for several seasons before being dumped by Rugby Australia and replaced by Eddie Jones ahead of the 2023 World Cup.
It proved to be a disastrous decision, with the Wallabies failing to qualify for the playoffs for the first time.
Joe Schmidt, who will be replaced by Les Kiss as Wallabies coach after the Nations Championship tests this winter, is sure to have been courted by NZ Rugby as a potential replacement.
Schmidt, who assisted Foster in the All Blacks camp between mid-2022 and 2023, has also coached Ireland; he is highly regarded for his work ethic and knowledge of the game.
On Wednesday there was speculation in the NZ Herald that vice-captain and star loose forward Ardie Savea, who is currently playing in Japan, was considering remaining in Japan or moving to Europe if the current All Blacks coaching group remained in charge.
Savea was linked with Dublin-based club Leinster, where All Blacks wing/centre Rieko Ioane is currently playing after activating a sabbatical in his NZ Rugby contract that allows him to skip playing for the Blues in Super Rugby Pacific.
But the Irish Independent said its “sources indicate that is not something the province are considering’’.
The recent post-season review, which is understood to have involved NZ Rugby chair David Kirk, former All Blacks hooker Keven Mealamu and former NZ Rugby high performance boss Don Tricker, is likely to have drilled deep into the issues that have plagued the All Blacks during Robertson’s reign.
Robertson’s tenure with the All Blacks began on a bum note, when assistant backs coach Leon MacDonald departed after just two tests in the Rugby Championship in 2024.
After last year’s northern tour another assistant backs coach, Jason Holland, elected not to renew his contract with NZ Rugby.
Robertson was appointed All Blacks coach after a successful tenure as Crusaders coach between 2017 and 2023.
During that period he filled the Crusaders’ trophy cabinet with silverware.
The franchise had been starved of titles since Robbie Deans was in charge of the side in 2008.