‘Razor’s agenda’: All Black Dalton Papali’i opens up about angst under Scott Robertson

Wednesday, 11 February 2026

Flanker Dalton Papali'i has lifted the lid on the frustrations he experienced under former coach Scott Robertson, noting the latter's 'agenda'' resulted in a 'big difference'' in the way the team operated when he was in charge in 2024 and 2025.

Despite making 36 test appearances for the All Blacks since earning his first cap in 2018, Papali'i was only invited to take the field once by Robertson last year.

Having initially missed selection for the domestic series against France in July, Papali'i was later added as an injury replacement and ended up taking the field as a substitute in the third match in Hamilton.

He wasn't picked for the remainder of the 2025 season.

Papali'i, who played his first test for the All Blacks against Japan under Steve Hansen in November 2018, and was a regular member of the squad when Ian Foster was coach between 2019 and 2023, was disappointed to make just the one appearance in 2025.

“I’ve done some reflection on that and at the time you think ‘oh, I’m not good enough’, or ‘it’s a couple of men’s opinions that are holding you down’, but going back to Counties and the ABs XV reminds you about why you want to play,'' Papali'i, 28, said in an interview with TVNZ.

“I was there when Shag [Sir Steve Hansen] and Fozzie [Ian Foster] were there holding the helm [at the All Blacks]. Seeing it change to Razor’s agenda – you could see there was a big difference.

“People spoke up and they had to have a review. We followed that process… I don’t really want to speak too much on that. What happened, happened.”

Papali'i was reluctant to divulge details about the review apart from to confirm he was asked to participate: 'I’ll keep that to myself,”

After the interviews with around 20 players were conducted by NZ Rugby it became apparent that players had concerns of how the team was travelling under Robertson.

When Robertson named his squad to play France he picked Samipeni Finau, Ardie Savea, Du'Plessis Kirifi, Wallace Sititi and Luke Jacobson as his back rowers. Christian Lio-Willie and Papali'i were later added to the squad after Sititi was ruled out of the series because of an ankle injury.

Papali'i wasn't picked for the Rugby Championship. Peter Lakai, Simon Parker, Finau, Savea, Kirifi, Sititi and Jacobson were named in the original squad. And when the All Blacks departed for their northern tour matches against Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales, Papali'i was, once again, not required.

Not being required for international duty meant Papali'i returned to NPC duties with Counties-Manukau. He was also picked to captain the All Blacks XV squad which was coached by Jamie Joseph and embarked on a short tour of the northern hemisphere.

The All Blacks XV beat the Barbarians, England A and Uruguay in November.

Robertson parted ways from NZ Rugby last month.

Despite Robertson having two years left on his contract, NZ Rugby chair David Kirk said the board was concerned with the All Blacks 'trajectory'' ahead of the 2027 World Cup and had decided to search for a new coach.

Dave Rennie and Joseph are the frontrunners to be the next coach.

The All Blacks won 20 of their 27 tests when Robertson was in charge.

Although the All Blacks retained the Bledisloe Cup, a trophy they have held since 2003, they failed to win the Rugby Championship and suffered their worst-ever defeat to the Springboks in Wellington last year.

The defections of two assistant coaches, Leon MacDonald left during the Rugby Championship in 2024 and Jason Holland declined to renew his contact at the end of last year, was a sign that all was not well in the All Blacks coaching set-up.

Robertson, apart from issuing a statement to say he was 'gutted'' to leave the All Blacks, hasn't spoken publicly about having to depart after just two years into his four-year contract.

“It was a bit of a crazy old year,'' Papali'i told TVNZ. 'Going back to Counties was probably the best thing for me because I fell in love with the game again.

'Playing with those boys who want to get to the next level and seeing how much knowledge they want to soak up and how hard they want to work brings you back down to earth.

“We started off in a tough way - 0-5 - but we turned it around and nearly beat [eventual champions] Canterbury in the quarters. It was a close game.”

Papali'i, who is contracted to NZ Rugby through to the end of the 2027 World Cup but said he was contemplating an early release after this season, enjoyed playing under Joseph with the All Blacks XV.

If Joseph wins the race for the All Blacks coaching job, it could help Papali'i, who will captain the Blues until Patrick Tuipulotu returns from a shoulder injury in April, re-ignite his international career.

“I really had a good relationship with Jamie Jo and … I felt like I was back to my old self [at the All Blacks XV],'' Papali'i told TVNZ.

“I feel like I play better with the weight of being a leader. Going into the ABs XV, I got that role back again, the captaincy, and I took it with both hands. I enjoyed it and felt like I played well again.

“Everyone bought into the culture and it was a credit to Jamie Jo and the coaches – they set up the environment for everyone to be at their best and I loved it.”