It has been announced that Jason Holland will leave the All Blacks set-up at the end of the season, so we have delved into his potential replacements.
While Scott Robertson decided not to bring in another coach after Leon MacDonald, it is pretty much certain that they will need to find someone else following Holland’s exit.
We duly look at the runners and riders for that role.
Frontrunners: Roger Randle, Andrew Goodman, Scott Hansen
According to Robertson, he has not yet thought about a potential replacement, but he must surely have a shortlist in mind, and these three may well be at the top of the list.
Randle was in charge of the best attack in the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific in the Chiefs, and is almost certainly someone the All Blacks boss will consider. They were free-flowing under the attack guru, while the national team currently have a number of Chiefs stars in their 23.
Cortez Ratima, Damian McKenzie, Anton Lienert-Brown, Quinn Tupaea, Leroy Carter and, when fit, Emoni Narawa could all feasibly be picked in a matchday squad. Randle is therefore the most logical option from a domestic standpoint.
If Robertson wants to appoint internally, there is the possibility of giving Hansen full control of the attack and backs, and looking elsewhere for a defence coach. Since Leon MacDonald’s departure, Hansen has had extra responsibility, but it may be better if he focuses on just one area of the game.
New Zealand’s head coach could also search internationally, and in that case, Goodman comes into the equation. While he is currently Ireland backs coach, he knows Robertson well given their time together at the Crusaders and the Nelson-born former centre would probably be open to a return home.
In the mix: Joe Schmidt, David Hill
There is arguably no better coach than Schmidt, but it obviously depends on his personal situation and whether he would be willing to commit to such a role. The 60-year-old is available due to his contract with Rugby Australia expiring next July, and he would be a magnificent replacement for Holland.
He, of course, helped out in 2022 when Brad Mooar was sacked and played a key role in the All Blacks reaching the Rugby World Cup final in 2023, but there may be a reluctance from both parties to do a deal considering his comments about Robertson.
Schmidt questioned Robertson’s integrity over his role in New Zealand Rugby’s search to appoint Ian Foster’s successor and, although both coaches have since insisted there are no issues, it may still be slightly awkward.
That could therefore open the door for someone like Hill, who is part of the second-string All Blacks XV coaching group. He has been in charge of the attack for that team and November could prove to be a useful audition for him.
Outside bets: James Marshall, Brad Cooper, Cory Brown, Jason O’Halloran
Four people who are all coaching domestically, with at least three of them no doubt hoping to get the All Blacks call at some point in the future. Brown is the brother of Springboks attack guru Tony and is part of the Highlanders set-up, while Marshall and Cooper coach at the Crusaders and Hurricanes, respectively.
O’Halloran, meanwhile, is the most experienced of the four, having coached Scotland between 2015 and 2017 under Vern Cotter before becoming assistant to Cotter when he went to the Blues ahead of the 2024 Super Rugby season.
However, the Auckland-based outfit’s attack struggled in 2025 and, as a result, he doesn’t seem a viable option. Marshall and Cooper have shown promise in their respective roles, but it would be a surprise should Robertson give them a call.
Wild cards: Brad Mooar, Wayne Smith, Ronan O’Gara, Tony Brown
Four relatively high-profile names who would be big surprises should they join the All Blacks set-up. Mooar, of course, has experience with the New Zealand coaching team, having been part of Foster’s backroom staff but, considering the players effectively got rid of him – and John Plumtree – in 2022 it would be a shock should those same individuals accept his return.
Smith is a likelier option and currently has a role within NZR, which has included spending some time with the All Blacks squad, but you get the feeling that he would not want to go back to frontline coaching at the highest level.
As for O’Gara, the Ireland legend has stated that he will only move up to international rugby if it is the top job, but the All Blacks is an attractive proposition whatever the role and having coached under Robertson at the Crusaders, it is not completely impossible.
However, the person New Zealand Rugby should ultimately go all out for – and who they should have appointed in the first place – is Brown. He has fitted in superbly at the Springboks and shown why he is one of the most highly regarded attack coaches in the game, but it is difficult to see them prizing him away from South Africa. It’s worth noting that he has turned down the opportunity to work with Robertson previously, with his loyalty lying with Jamie Joseph.
Surely not: Leon MacDonald, Dave Rennie
Now for the highly improbable. After the All Blacks boss butted heads with MacDonald, which eventually resulted in the ex-Blues head coach’s departure, it would be a ridiculous decision to bring him back, a move that would provide the same risk.
Rennie, meanwhile, would probably only accept being a head honcho but, having coached in Japan Rugby League One since being sacked as Wallabies boss, he may be tempted by an international return. However, like MacDonald, there is that concern about creating a clash, something New Zealand can ill-afford at the moment.