Jeff Wilson: New Zealand Rugby Set Up Scott Robertson to Fail
New Zealand Rugby (NZR) created an environment where success was “virtually unfeasible” for recently ousted All Blacks coach Scott Robertson, according to former star Jeff Wilson. The governing body is now searching for a replacement after a challenging two-year period under Robertson, marked by underwhelming results and reported internal strife.
The arrival of Robertson, a highly decorated coach with the Crusaders, was initially met with significant excitement. However, that enthusiasm quickly dissipated as the All Blacks struggled to deliver consistent performances, culminating in his dismissal. A lack of marked improvement from a mediocre 2024 into 2025, coupled with reports of a player revolt, ultimately sealed his fate.
Wilson believes NZR bears significant duty for the situation, suggesting they prematurely positioned robertson as the team’s “saviour” following the turbulent tenure of his predecessor, Ian Foster.
“I certainly don’t think there was another choice for New zealand Rugby,” Wilson stated on The breakdown. “When you lose the trust of the players and you lose the dressing room, and I’m not 100 per cent whether Razor over the last two years had control of that dressing room.”
Wilson contends that Robertson was placed in a difficult position from the outset, burdened by unrealistic expectations. “They painted this as a revolution; they were rebranding the All Blacks on and off the field,” he explained. “All of a sudden, there was this pressure to deliver not just results on it but deliver results off it, opening up the doors, opening up their own platform.”
This shift in focus, according to Wilson, placed undue pressure on Robertson to succeed not only on the field but also in areas of commercial and public engagement. He noted that a key commercial role within NZR remains unfilled, indicating a continued commitment to this broader rebranding effort.
“They’ve portrayed Razor as almost the saviour,” Wilson continued. “How hard was it for him then to live up to those expectations? It’s virtually impossible.”
The pressure also appears to have taken a personal toll on Robertson. Wilson observed a noticeable change in the coach’s demeanor over the past two years. “We’ve seen how he’s changed over the last two years. How he was when he came in, how he spoke to us for the first time at sky, you could just see the weight of coaching the All Blacks, it is very, very difficult,” he added.
Wilson highlighted the increasing power of players in the modern game and suggested that Robertson struggled to forge strong relationships with senior members of the squad. “Over time, he has problably got further and further away from having all of the players on board,” he said. “This is the world we live in now, this is the fact that players are powerful. But the players are the ones that are out there playing; they are the ones that have to go out there and deliver.as a coaching staff, you have to listen to the players, they have to be part of your planning, and early on I don’t know if they established that relationship with the senior guys.”
Ultimately, Scott Robertson’s two-year tenure as All Blacks coach ended with his dismissal following a series of disappointing results and reported internal conflicts. Jeff Wilson argues that New Zealand Rugby’s setup and expectations contributed significantly to Robertson’s
