‘Huffing and puffing’
Robert Kitson, The Guardian
“As much as England’s 33-19 win was a striking result, New Zealand were transparently not their usual forbidding selves. Whatever Razor was muttering into the ears of his backs, in particular, was definitely not working; when an All Black backline looks so visibly short of cohesion and rhythm, there is trouble at mill.
“Add to that the humbling 43-10 defeat at home by a rampant South Africa, the heaviest in the All Blacks’ 120-year history, plus a first-ever loss in Argentina and the review was never likely to be cosy.
“On the flip side, for all their huffing and puffing, New Zealand are still ranked second in the world, ahead of England and Ireland. It is way too early, accordingly, to write them off as 2027 World Cup contenders in Australia. As South Africa have proved in the past, a mid-cycle jolt can sometimes concentrate minds and prove highly beneficial.”
‘Far bigger problems below the surface’
Daniel Schofield, The Telegraph
“Whoever the man is at the top, there are far bigger problems below the surface. On England’s 2024 tour to New Zealand, I was struck by how little the All Blacks’ series resonated with the man on the street – or specifically with a series of taxi drivers who I used as my census. In Auckland, the popularity of the NRL franchise Warriors completely outstrips that of the Blues in Super Rugby while, all over the country, there is evidence of declining participation rates (although this is a problem that is far from unique to New Zealand).”
‘Great expectations’
Gavin Mairs, The Telegraph
“The first task for whoever succeeds Robinson [sic] will be to address the concerns of senior players, including Savea, with the knowledge that time is running out before the World Cup in Australia next year.
“Robertson’s appointment in 2024 was accompanied with great expectations, given his superb record with the Crusaders, but he failed to replicate that form with the national side.”
‘A superpower in decline’
Mike Henson, BBC
“The All Black brand is based on over a century of dominating rugby union, which has seen them transcend the sport and become a global cultural phenomenon.
“That a small country with a population of a little over five million is, by some distance, the most consistently successful in the history of the men’s game is an astonishing achievement that has spawned a whole cottage industry in management gurus claiming to explain their over-performance.
“But, with Robertson’s dismissal on Thursday, there is a sense of a superpower in decline.”
‘Unable to find the crucial fixes’
Sam Bruce, ESPN
“From an inconsistent attack, a severe issue under the high ball, and a failure to finish games off, Robertson was simply unable to find the crucial fixes he needed to convince not only the NZR board, but also the country’s passionate fans, that he was capable of righting the All Blacks’ course by October 1 next year.
And it’s clear that those most important to that cause, his players, had already made up their mind, too.”
