Eddie Jones, the forthright Japan head coach, has issued a stark warning to New Zealand Rugby, suggesting they could be heading towards a crisis reminiscent of Manchester United post-Alex Ferguson. The dismissal of Scott Robertson as head coach, despite a commendable 74% win rate, has exposed underlying issues within the organization. Robertson, the first ‘outsider’ All Blacks head coach since Graham Henry in 2004, was let go mid-contract, signaling an end to a long-standing coaching lineage.
Jones compared the situation to Manchester United's struggles after Ferguson's departure, which left a significant power vacuum at the club. "To me, on the outside, it’s smelling a little bit like Manchester United. A long period of success, dominant coaching group – Manchester United had Alex Ferguson – and over that period where New Zealand were unbelievable and winning at 85 per cent, it was the Henry, Hansen group," Jones noted on the Rugby Unity podcast.
"It then went to Foster and now all of that has fallen away, so when that group leaves there’s a power gap, and people then fight for that gap because they all want a part of it. It ended up going to Robertson, and it seemed like a difficult situation."
The turmoil isn't new to the All Blacks. Ian Foster nearly faced a similar fate in 2022 but was saved by player intervention. “Without telling too much, I can remember being in South Africa for that second Test when Foster was playing against South Africa, and he had basically been told he had been sacked before that game,” Jones recalled. The players’ support at Ellis Park was crucial, as they vocally opposed the decision, ensuring Foster's continuation as coach.
Conversely, Robertson wasn't as fortunate during his stint, with cultural issues cited during the 2024 and 2025 Test campaigns. This inconsistency in handling coaching changes hints at deeper problems within New Zealand Rugby, something Jones believes needs urgent address. “Maybe [David] Kirk’s going to come in, try to clean the stage a little bit and try to get the ship back on track because I don’t think this is just a Scott Robertson thing – I think this is generally a bigger issue for New Zealand Rugby,” he speculated.
This saga casts a long shadow over the storied legacy of the All Blacks, a team renowned for their dominance and strategic foresight in rugby. The next steps for New Zealand Rugby could very well determine the future trajectory of this iconic team.
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Eddie Jones, the forthright Japan head coach, has issued a stark warning to New Zealand Rugby, suggesting they could be heading towards a crisis reminiscent of Manchester United post-Alex Ferguson. The dismissal of Scott Robertson as head coach, despite a commendable 74% win rate, has exposed underlying issues within the organization. Robertson, the first ‘outsider’ All Blacks head coach since Graham Henry in 2004, was let go mid-contract, signaling an end to a long-standing coaching lineage.
Jones compared the situation to Manchester United's struggles after Ferguson's departure, which left a significant power vacuum at the club. "To me, on the outside, it’s smelling a little bit like Manchester United. A long period of success, dominant coaching group – Manchester United had Alex Ferguson – and over that period where New Zealand were unbelievable and winning at 85 per cent, it was the Henry, Hansen group," Jones noted on the Rugby Unity podcast.
"It then went to Foster and now all of that has fallen away, so when that group leaves there’s a power gap, and people then fight for that gap because they all want a part of it. It ended up going to Robertson, and it seemed like a difficult situation."
The turmoil isn't new to the All Blacks. Ian Foster nearly faced a similar fate in 2022 but was saved by player intervention. “Without telling too much, I can remember being in South Africa for that second Test when Foster was playing against South Africa, and he had basically been told he had been sacked before that game,” Jones recalled. The players’ support at Ellis Park was crucial, as they vocally opposed the decision, ensuring Foster's continuation as coach.
Conversely, Robertson wasn't as fortunate during his stint, with cultural issues cited during the 2024 and 2025 Test campaigns. This inconsistency in handling coaching changes hints at deeper problems within New Zealand Rugby, something Jones believes needs urgent address. “Maybe [David] Kirk’s going to come in, try to clean the stage a little bit and try to get the ship back on track because I don’t think this is just a Scott Robertson thing – I think this is generally a bigger issue for New Zealand Rugby,” he speculated.
This saga casts a long shadow over the storied legacy of the All Blacks, a team renowned for their dominance and strategic foresight in rugby. The next steps for New Zealand Rugby could very well determine the future trajectory of this iconic team.