Robertson, Meyer and the cruelty of timing
OPINION: Scott Robertson’s axing from the All Blacks feels oddly familiar in a sporting world that has an immediate demand for results.
The dust has started to settle on a decision that both came as an overnight surprise in South Africa, but also felt inevitable given the reports from New Zealand that preceded it.
From the moment it was reported that various cliques were forming in the All Blacks camp, and there was player unrest with the coaching staff’s performance, there was only one conclusion to be drawn.
It became a matter of when – and not if – Scott Robertson was given the hook.
For South African supporters, there is a strong sense of deja vu in how this has played out.
Robertson’s All Blacks tenure bears more than a passing resemblance to Heyneke Meyer’s time with the Springboks – a reminder that even elite Super Rugby coaches are not immune to the unforgiving nature of Test rugby.
Both arrived with glittering provincial credentials, both inherited national teams in a state of flux, and both found themselves judged not only on results, but also on whether they could live up to an era that had already passed.
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On paper, Robertson’s appointment made sense. As Crusaders coach, he built a dynasty. Titles stacked up, standards were ruthless and players improved under his watch.
The same could be said of Meyer at the Bulls, where the Pretorians combined tactical clarity with physical dominance to rule Super Rugby.
Robertson’s All Blacks record will be judged harshly – given the high standards that New Zealanders are used to. Yet context matters.
Three of his seven losses in two years came against a Springbok squad many regard as the strongest since Nick Mallett’s famous unbeaten run in the 1990s.
Another loss came at Twickenham against an English outfit that is being backed to challenge for the 2027 World Cup.
Perhaps it is the record-breaking nature of the defeats that should’ve signalled that something wasn’t right behind the scenes.
Meyer faced a similar problem, just in a different direction. His Springboks were caught between eras.
The 2007 World Cup winners and 2009 British and Irish Lions-slayers were fast-moving towards the end of their respective Test careers. Meanwhile, many of the players who have come to define the success of the Rassie Erasmus-era were still finding their feet at an unforgiving level.
Add to that the complication of coaching against the 2011-2015 All Blacks – a team that is widely considered to be one of the greatest in sporting history.
The decision to quickly move on from Robertson also reflects a greater sporting trend: that switching out head coaches is a cure-all.
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NEWS: Tony Brown talked to Razor about AB’s job, something he wantshttps://t.co/VeE1n0WklM
— Rugby365 (@rugby365com) January 22, 2026
Rugby has borrowed heavily from football in this regard, where English Premier League clubs churn through managers in the hope that a new voice will unlock instant success.
“I’m speaking from a very defensive position as a coach, but we are getting very football-oriented,” Stormers head coach John Dobson said.
“I get much too much credit for the Stormers project. There are amazing coaches in the system here. With the All Blacks – it’s definitely a reboot from the team of 10-15 years ago.
“Putting it all on the coach’s door seems curious, but we don’t know enough about the situation.”
The truth is that it only somewhat works – and really only leads to wasted expenditure.
As a long-suffering Manchester United supporter, the cycle is familiar. Different managers, different philosophies and tactics, yet the underlying issues remain.
International rugby is no different. Structural challenges, player depth, alignment between domestic and international teams – these do not get solved when a new man walks in the door.
These require time, patience and coherence. Something modern sport has little room for.
Now, All Blacks fans look to who they hope to be their Erasmus-Nienaber combo.
Jamie Joseph – the knight in shining armour – is the man every New Zealander hopes to ride in and deliver the team back to the summit of Test rugby.
There is logic in that optimism. Joseph is a proven international coach, and his partnership with Tony Brown has delivered success with both the Highlanders and Japan.
However, context is also important here. Joseph without Brown is not the same proposition. Brown’s attacking influence has been central to their shared success, and he is locked into a contract with the Springboks until the end of the 2027 World Cup.
Any All Blacks rebuild under Joseph would therefore begin without one of its most important architects.
It is important to note that the 2019 World Cup victory came somewhat as a surprise to Erasmus, who was originally setting his sights on the longer target of the 2023 World Cup.
With the upcoming Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour in just a few months, the pressure is now on for New Zealand Rugby to get the right man in.
This is going to have to be someone who can satisfy the immediate demand for results, but also lead a long-term cultural overhaul and take the power back from the players.
