Crusaders players reportedly did not recognise Scott Robertson when he stepped into the All Blacks head coach role.
A wide-ranging New Zealand Herald investigation by Shayne Currie suggests the pressure of international rugby fundamentally changed the man who had dominated Super Rugby.
Across seven seasons in charge of the Crusaders, Robertson delivered seven Super Rugby titles (including two Super Rugby Aotearoa), built a relentless winning culture and became one of the most popular coaches in New Zealand rugby history. His appointment as All Blacks coach was widely seen as inevitable – and overdue.
But the transition from Christchurch to the Test arena was anything but smooth.
Sources told The Herald that from the earliest days of Robertson’s tenure, there was a sense that the coach players knew at the Crusaders was not the same figure leading the All Blacks.
“It was difficult from the start,” one insider said. “You had Crusaders players saying, ‘We don’t recognise this guy. He’s totally different to the Scott Robertson that we worked with in the Crusaders’. They said that in the Crusaders he was upbeat, he was fun, he was energetic.”
In the All Blacks environment, however, the source believed Robertson was “just on edge” and “always tense”, with the trademark looseness that defined his Crusaders teams largely absent.
“The fun stuff was gone,” the source said. “That made it difficult right from the start for everyone. The only thing I can think of as being the reason for that is the pressure.”
Robertson’s time in charge of the All Blacks produced mixed results. While New Zealand maintained a respectable win record, performances were inconsistent and the sense of clarity and confidence that had marked his Super Rugby reign never fully transferred to the Test stage.
In January, following an end-of-year review by NZ Rugby, Robertson was dismissed from his role.
The Herald reports that the review process placed heavy emphasis on player feedback, with concerns raised around Robertson’s communication style, leadership approach and the overall environment within the squad. That feedback ultimately proved decisive.
While Ardie Savea reportedly threatened to walk away from the All Blacks if Robertson continued as coach, one source claims the flanker “was always of the opinion they could find a way”.
“If they had said to [Ardie], ‘Razor’s going to continue’, absolutely fine. He would have continued trying his best to make it work for everyone.”
Savea declined to speak to The Herald, but a source said he made a conscious effort to support Robertson during the 2025 season.
“Any time Razor did something that was really cool or something that the players liked, Ardie would go over to him and say, ‘Hey, Ray, I just want to let you know that was awesome’. Encouraging him.”
ALSO: All Blacks young gun thanks Razor
From Robertson’s perspective, he believed his relationship with Savea was solid.
“He would catch up with Ardie regularly and also chatted regularly with Ardie’s wife and there were never any issues raised directly with him,” another source said. “As far as Scott was concerned, they had a good relationship.”
However, behind the scenes, Savea was reportedly holding separate discussions with senior NZ Rugby figures about his future. According to The Herald, Robertson later came to believe that different messages were being delivered in different rooms.
“Ardie had come to Scott at different points, saying he wasn’t really enjoying things, was feeling exhausted,” a source said. “Scott’s response was basically, if that’s how you feel, I won’t put you on the end-of-tour … so you can rest and recharge.
“Each time, Ardie said he would be fine.”
MORE: Search narrows for new All Blacks coach
The same source claimed Savea was telling NZ Rugby chairman David Kirk that he wanted out of his contract – something Robertson was allegedly unaware of at the time.
“That’s when it started to feel like things were being chipped away at behind the scenes,” the source said, adding that Robertson began to feel like a scapegoat.
There has also been speculation that Savea was considering alternative options, including a longer-term stint in Japan or involvement in the proposed R360 breakaway competition.
While pundits have suggested Robertson erred by not appointing Savea as captain in 2024, one source dismissed that theory.
“Ardie doesn’t go around trying to get the captaincy,” the source said. “He loves Scott Barrett to bits.”
Savea is expected to address the situation publicly at some point, but for now has remained silent.
Photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images
