NZ Chairman: All Blacks can defeat Boks and win RWC 2027
SPOTLIGHT: New Zealand Rugby Chairman David Kirk believes the All Blacks are still able to overcome their biggest foe and go on to win a fourth Rugby World Cup in 2027.
The All Blacks are in disarray following the news that Scott Robertson was sacked from his position as head coach on Thursday.
NZR confirmed that they’ll start the process immediately to replace Robertson ahead of the All Blacks’ 2026 Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour to South Africa in August and RWC 2027 in Australia.
The timing couldn’t have been worse for the Kiwis, but Kirk is still confident that the All Blacks can turn the ship around and win the series in South Africa and go on to claim a fourth World Cup in 2027.
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“Credit is absolutely due to Scott Robertson. He has put together a group of high-quality players and introduced a number of younger players to Test match rugby and given them plenty of game time,” Kirk told reporters in Auckland.
“I don’t doubt that we’ve got the players to beat South Africa in South Africa and to win the World Cup in 2027.”
Razor steps down with a 74 percent winning ratio as head coach of the All Blacks.
The former Crusaders mentor made all sorts of unwanted history, losing twice to Argentina, once to France and England and three times in four games to South Africa, including a record-breaking 10-43 result in Wellington during the 2025 Rugby Championship.
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Kirk stated that it was a difficult decision to give Robertson the boot, but it was made in the best interest of the All Blacks going forward.
“The people decisions are always the hardest because you’re really definitively affecting other people’s lives,” Kirk explained.
“It’s very difficult, it’s very challenging, but it’s also very important for me but for others as well and the whole board of New Zealand Rugby that we put specific individual concerns aside and think about the All Blacks and think about the need for the All Blacks to continue to win, and for us to ensure that they have the best environment and best likelihood of winning.”
“In situations like this, it’s much riskier not to change.”
Kirk revealed there will be “some constraints on who he can work for and when” for about the next year, with those being most of the top-tier countries.
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With additional reporting by @Rugbypass
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