The incoming All Blacks coach will inherit a world of challenges and there is no quick fix
Tuesday, 24 February 2026
ANALYSIS: England’s all-systems meltdown (bar the scrum) against Ireland over the weekend showed just how far the All Blacks were off the pace last November.
That 33-19 loss did for Scott Robertson: the subsequent All Blacks review was an exercise in collecting the evidence to justify a conclusion that New Zealand Rugby had already come to.
And as it turns out, England really aren’t that good. Over the past two weekends Scotland and Ireland have dealt with their high balls and then torn them to shreds with the sort of uptmepo, multiphase attack that the All Blacks didn’t get close to last November.
So, that’s the starting point for either Dave Rennie or Jamie Joseph as next All Blacks coach: behind England, who are currently behind Ireland, Scotland and France in the Six Nations.
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In fact, the top Six Nations sides have shown how quickly they have adapted to the increase in contestable kicking, with France in particular improving their work under the high ball and actually turning the aerial contest into a lethal counterattacking opportunity.
They are already a step ahead of the All Blacks and Joseph or Rennie have their work cut out, especially as public expectation in New Zealand and global realities appear to be distant cousins.
Some heat has already been applied by New Zealand Rugby chair David Kirk, who has insisted that the All Blacks have the players to succeed against South Africa later this year and at the Rugby World Cup in 2027.
Well, it’s time for some home truths on that front.
The All Blacks’ depth at hooker is overstated, and George Bell’s failure to kick on is a problem - he just can’t nail his lineout work.
At prop, Tamaiti Williams has gone off the boil and Pasilio Tosi doesn’t play enough rugby.
The locks are OK, but Fabian Holland’s injury robs them of crucial size and work rate.
The loose forwards are unbalanced because Ardie Savea, Peter Lakai and Wallace Sititi are too small to play together and there isn’t an obvious answer at No 6.
At halfback, the All Blacks are a Cameron Roigard injury away from a mini-crisis, and Robertson quietly confided to The Post at the end of last year that depth at No 9 was a big concern. He was somewhat banking on Dylan Pledger coming through, although the positive news on that front is that France’s No 9 Antoine Dupont has returned from his own ACL injury and hasn’t lost any pace or agility..
There are no new No 10s putting pressure on the old fellas - New Zealand rugby has been waiting in an airport lounge for three years for Richie Mo’unga to return.
The midfield is OK - but Quinn Tupaea might have to shift out to No 13 (Leicester Fainga’anuku has too many flaws).
In the back three, Caleb Clarke and Will Jordan are certainties and Caleb Tangitau and Emoni Narawa are next in line but most of them still need upskilling in the air and the depth at fullback isn’t great.
Some of these issues might be related to Robertson’s difficult time in charge, but not all of them.
The All Blacks’ November malaise, in fact, has carried through to the opening rounds of Super Rugby - particularly the rugby lesson that the Brumbies handed out to the Crusaders on Sunday.
If there is a belief that Joseph or Rennie is going to get the job, improve the “environment” and hey presto make the All Blacks dominant again, it needs to be challenged.
It is not going to be that simple, or quick.