All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has delivered a direct message to increasingly frustrated supporters, insisting the team is “doing everything we can” to rebuild momentum ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup, despite Saturday’s 33-19 loss to England at Twickenham.
The defeat – England’s first win over New Zealand at the venue in 13 years – ended the All Blacks’ hopes of a Grand Slam and intensified scrutiny after a turbulent season that has included a historic loss to Argentina and a record home defeat to South Africa.
‘We feel it just like they do’
Speaking after the match, Robertson acknowledged the rising unease among fans, but defended the commitment and culture within the squad.
“All I can say is we have got a team that cares deeply about the black jersey,” he said.
“We haven’t quite got those results we’ve worked really hard for, and we can feel it just like they [fans] do.”
The All Blacks blew a 12-0 lead as England surged in the second half, exposing recurring problems – lack of intensity after the break, discipline lapses highlighted by Codie Taylor’s yellow card, and continued struggles under the high ball.
18 months to turn things around
Robertson, hired after the 2023 World Cup to lead the team to the 2027 tournament in Australia, stressed the group remains united.
“Rest assured we are doing everything we can,” he said.
“We’ve got 18 months until the World Cup. The players care.”
The coach is expected to ring the changes for the final Test of the year against Wales in Cardiff, where a strong finish could soften the noise around a three-loss season – though many fans argue the damage is already done.
Tough road ahead
Next year’s schedule offers no relief.
The All Blacks face:
- Three home Tests in the Nations Championship (against France, Italy, Ireland)
- A brutal “Greatest Rivalry Tour” of three Tests against South Africa plus one at a neutral venue
- Two Bledisloe Cup clashes
- Three home Tests in the Nations Championship (against Scotland, Wales, England)
Assistant coach Jason Holland will leave after the current tour, with his replacement still to be named – another pressure point in a coaching group under public scrutiny.
Scott Robertson: Consistency the missing ingredient
Asked why the team continues to repeat the same errors, Robertson said the All Blacks are fighting to find “consistency.”
“We tirelessly work at it… It’s not for a lack of care. There’s definitely frustration,” he said.
“We’ve created so many opportunities; we’ve just got to finish more.”
On the high-ball woes: “It’s an incredibly important part of the game… We spend a lot of time on it. We’ve just got to get better and find better resources.”
Must-win in Cardiff
A convincing win over Wales – who secured their first victory in two years on Sunday – would see New Zealand end 2025 with a 10-3 record, a respectable outcome on paper but one overshadowed by high-profile losses.
For now, Robertson’s promise to fans stands: “We’ve got an incredible group of men… and we will work tirelessly.”
