1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,427 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:12,547 Speaker 1: from newstalksb. 3 00:00:12,867 --> 00:00:17,667 Speaker 2: Scott Robinson gone as All Blacks head coach, the nuclear 4 00:00:17,747 --> 00:00:22,307 Speaker 2: option taken, the slate cleaned, the last two years consigned 5 00:00:22,587 --> 00:00:25,107 Speaker 2: to history. Was it the right call? 6 00:00:26,027 --> 00:00:26,267 Speaker 1: Yes? 7 00:00:27,147 --> 00:00:30,827 Speaker 2: Board chair David Kirk talked about trajectory on Thursday. The 8 00:00:30,867 --> 00:00:34,347 Speaker 2: All Blacks were not heading upwards. They had it best 9 00:00:34,627 --> 00:00:39,747 Speaker 2: plateaued and were in fact trending dangerously downwards. We were 10 00:00:39,787 --> 00:00:42,867 Speaker 2: not more confident about the All Blacks at the end 11 00:00:42,867 --> 00:00:46,187 Speaker 2: of twenty twenty five than we were at the start 12 00:00:46,507 --> 00:00:50,067 Speaker 2: of twenty twenty four. The signs of improvement were sporadic 13 00:00:50,227 --> 00:00:54,787 Speaker 2: at best, overshadowed by doubt and confusion around tactics, around selection, 14 00:00:54,947 --> 00:01:00,187 Speaker 2: around progress, around potential World Cup success. That is the 15 00:01:00,267 --> 00:01:04,147 Speaker 2: sole filter through which David Kirk and co examined things 16 00:01:04,587 --> 00:01:08,467 Speaker 2: and made their decision. Worthy All Blacks on track? No, 17 00:01:09,227 --> 00:01:15,347 Speaker 2: they were not. Hascott Robertson suddenly become a bad rugby coach. No, 18 00:01:16,107 --> 00:01:20,227 Speaker 2: but he clearly underestimated the enormity of the job, and 19 00:01:20,307 --> 00:01:24,747 Speaker 2: those who put him into the role overestimated his ability 20 00:01:25,307 --> 00:01:29,027 Speaker 2: to do it. Raises superpowers team culture, which he built 21 00:01:29,387 --> 00:01:34,867 Speaker 2: superbly at the Crusaders. But consider how different that environment is. 22 00:01:35,387 --> 00:01:37,827 Speaker 2: You have your players with you every day for six months. 23 00:01:37,827 --> 00:01:40,507 Speaker 2: If you lose, you simply go again next week. And 24 00:01:40,547 --> 00:01:45,347 Speaker 2: the public interest, while certainly robust, pales in comparison to 25 00:01:45,467 --> 00:01:48,507 Speaker 2: the white hot spotlight of the All Blacks, which has 26 00:01:48,547 --> 00:01:54,507 Speaker 2: paralyzed many before him. It's unforgiving in its intensity, demanding 27 00:01:54,947 --> 00:01:58,227 Speaker 2: in its twenty four to seven nature, and relentless in 28 00:01:58,267 --> 00:02:01,467 Speaker 2: its scrutiny. Many believe they have what it takes. They 29 00:02:01,507 --> 00:02:05,907 Speaker 2: go in full of bollishness, bright ideas, bravado and boldness, 30 00:02:06,187 --> 00:02:09,307 Speaker 2: are only to come to the realization, either quickly or 31 00:02:09,387 --> 00:02:12,747 Speaker 2: over time, that their feet aren't quite big enough for 32 00:02:12,787 --> 00:02:16,507 Speaker 2: the enormous boots that they have been assigned to wear, 33 00:02:16,547 --> 00:02:19,587 Speaker 2: and they realize in hindsight that they displayed an obvious 34 00:02:19,747 --> 00:02:24,427 Speaker 2: naivety about exactly what it was they were walking into. 35 00:02:24,587 --> 00:02:28,027 Speaker 2: There is a reason this team is talked about in 36 00:02:28,107 --> 00:02:31,627 Speaker 2: the manner in which it is. This is the All Blacks. 37 00:02:32,187 --> 00:02:36,427 Speaker 2: There's a legacy to uphold a reputation, to protect a history, 38 00:02:36,467 --> 00:02:41,987 Speaker 2: to defend a responsibility to carry. Not everyone can do 39 00:02:42,147 --> 00:02:46,987 Speaker 2: that job. In fact, very few can. Scott Robertson took 40 00:02:46,987 --> 00:02:50,347 Speaker 2: it on with every intention of enhancing the All Black 41 00:02:50,387 --> 00:02:53,587 Speaker 2: story of taking this team to new heights of winning 42 00:02:54,187 --> 00:02:59,027 Speaker 2: World Cups. But not everything you try on is going 43 00:02:59,067 --> 00:03:01,667 Speaker 2: to fit, and sometimes it's better to find that out 44 00:03:01,747 --> 00:03:06,467 Speaker 2: quickly so that you and your employer can move on. 45 00:03:07,307 --> 00:03:09,787 Speaker 2: And that is now the question for the All Blacks. 46 00:03:09,867 --> 00:03:14,547 Speaker 2: Move on to what, or more correctly, to who, who 47 00:03:14,707 --> 00:03:18,627 Speaker 2: has the tools, the knowledge, the fortitude and the resilience 48 00:03:19,267 --> 00:03:22,747 Speaker 2: to take the job on and to make a success 49 00:03:22,787 --> 00:03:24,707 Speaker 2: of it, not just a few years down the track, 50 00:03:25,427 --> 00:03:30,227 Speaker 2: but almost immediately. There's no settling in period, no gentle launch, 51 00:03:30,347 --> 00:03:33,747 Speaker 2: no soft landing. There's a World Cup next year and 52 00:03:33,787 --> 00:03:37,347 Speaker 2: the most grueling All Black schedule ever over the next 53 00:03:37,387 --> 00:03:41,027 Speaker 2: ten months. Being able to coach scrum's lineouts and backline 54 00:03:41,067 --> 00:03:44,747 Speaker 2: moves is no longer enough, nowhere near enough for the 55 00:03:44,947 --> 00:03:49,307 Speaker 2: enormous scope and complexity of this modern day role. Among 56 00:03:49,347 --> 00:03:53,587 Speaker 2: other things, you need international experience, the ability to assemble 57 00:03:53,667 --> 00:03:57,587 Speaker 2: an effective support staff, the man management skills to keep 58 00:03:57,627 --> 00:04:00,627 Speaker 2: the best players in the country happy even when they're 59 00:04:00,667 --> 00:04:05,627 Speaker 2: not playing every game, and the charisma and communication skills 60 00:04:05,947 --> 00:04:09,587 Speaker 2: to front the players. Super rugby coaches, your bosses at 61 00:04:09,627 --> 00:04:13,147 Speaker 2: New Zealand Rugby, the board, sponsors, the media and rugby 62 00:04:13,187 --> 00:04:17,667 Speaker 2: fans and instill confidence in all of them that the 63 00:04:17,747 --> 00:04:21,027 Speaker 2: right path is being traveled and that they should come 64 00:04:21,067 --> 00:04:25,307 Speaker 2: along for the right. So who will come forward with 65 00:04:25,387 --> 00:04:28,667 Speaker 2: the same bravery, the same courage in their convictions, the 66 00:04:28,707 --> 00:04:33,267 Speaker 2: same confidence in their CV and do what their predecessor 67 00:04:33,587 --> 00:04:36,947 Speaker 2: could not as the all blacks often so? Who will 68 00:04:37,027 --> 00:04:41,387 Speaker 2: walk towards the pressure and shine in its spotlight rather 69 00:04:41,467 --> 00:04:45,867 Speaker 2: than shrink into the shadows. Who will accept this poisoned 70 00:04:45,987 --> 00:04:51,467 Speaker 2: chalice and attempt to make it their holy grail? And 71 00:04:51,507 --> 00:04:54,707 Speaker 2: after what we've seen this week? Who would want to. 72 00:04:55,227 --> 00:04:58,387 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live 73 00:04:58,507 --> 00:05:01,907 Speaker 1: to News Talk SEDB weekends from midday or follow the 74 00:05:01,947 --> 00:05:03,427 Speaker 1: podcast on iHeartRadio.