Scott Robertson: A turbulent timeline for All Blacks coach
Scott Robertson has lost assistant coach Jason Holland, as the All Blacks prepare to leave on their northern tour. Photo / Photosport
Scott Robertson’s time as All Blacks coach has hit another speedbump with assistant coach Jason Holland announcing on the eve of the team’s departure for Europe that he will step down at the end of the Grand Slam tour.
Holland is the second assistant coach to leave in Razor’s era, after Leon MacDonald left last year.
While there were many calls for Robertson to take over as coach, it has been far from smooth sailing for New Zealand Rugby since it was announced that he would succeed Ian Foster.
2023: Getting the job
March 1: Ian Foster confirms he won’t reapply for the All Blacks job, clearing the way for Robertson to take over after the 2023 World Cup.
March 21: Robertson is announced as the All Blacks’ new head coach from 2024, appointed to the end of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
April 26: Four coaches are named to assist Robertson, with Jason Ryan staying on, while Leon MacDonald, Jason Holland and Scott Hansen joined the set-up. At the time, MacDonald was Blues coach and Holland was in charge of the Hurricanes.
October 29: Foster coaches his last test, as the All Blacks fall to the Springboks 12-11 in the final in France.
December 20: Tamati Ellison is announced as a skills coach.
2024: The debutant
January 9: Robertson, who officially took over on November 1, addresses the media for the first time as All Blacks coach.
June 13: Corey Flynn and David Hill join the assistant coaching ranks.
July 6: In Robertson’s first test, the All Blacks claim a scrappy 16-15 win over England in Dunedin.
August 10: The All Blacks suffer their first defeat under Robertson, a 38-30 loss to Argentina in Wellington.
August 21: On the eve of the team leaving for South Africa, MacDonald departs the All Blacks coaching set-up.
September 8: The All Blacks leave South Africa after suffering back-to-back defeats, 31-27 in Johannesburg, then 18-12 in Cape Town.
November 24: The All Blacks end their year with a 29-11 win over Italy, but the match is overshadowed by TJ Perenara calling out the Treaty Principles Bill, which left senior players, coaches and management blindsided.
2025: Sophomore year
June 8: Mark Robinson, NZ Rugby’s chief executive, announces he plans to leave his role at the end of the year.
June 12: Former All Blacks lock Bryn Evans joins the coaching team to target improvements to the lineout.
September 13: The All Blacks fall to a record 43-10 defeat to the Springboks in Wellington.
October 23: Holland announces he will step down after the northern tour.
Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.