Ex-All Blacks star Israel Dagg believes that certain individuals will have to front up following the sacking of Scott Robertson.

Reports emerged of a player revolt after a review into New Zealand’s frustrating 2025 campaign revealed issues with the culture under Robertson.

New Zealand Rugby chair David Kirk denied that there was a rebellion but there is no doubt the players did not exactly provide glowing feedback to the governing body.

Ardie Savea reportedly unhappy

It has been claimed that Ardie Savea was ‘seriously unhappy’ with the All Blacks set-up and was considering his future if changes weren’t made.

Dagg therefore believes that those individuals who aired their grievances to NZR will have more pressure on them next season.

“It’s crazy. I was actually shocked because it’s never really happened. I knew there was a bit of concern where things weren’t okay,” he told Sport Nation.

“But first and foremost, you take the rugby out of it, I feel for Razor and I feel for his family. He’s just lost his job.

“I got dropped and I found there’s a lot of embarrassment. You keep telling yourself these certain things that are probably not even true.

“Now it’s kind of like, where do we go next? What are we doing? We’re in a bit of a dark place at the moment with everything that’s going on, not only with the All Blacks but rugby in general. The next couple of years are pretty pivotal to get things sorted.

“There’s a lot of speculation about the whole review and maybe some player unrest, but it’s really important when there’s an opportunity to go out there and put that jersey on, they put some mana back into it.

“There’s a lot of pressure on a couple of players in that playing group, they’re going to have to front. If the speculation is right about the review, they’ve got to go out there and front.”

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Discussion then turned to the person who will succeed Robertson and the 2011 Rugby World Cup winner believes that the financial aspect will play a role in that decision.

‘It might just be what they need’

“I would say if a new coach comes in, a new coach gets to bring in his people. It’s like what happened with Razor, he came in and probably 98 per cent of the people that were in the environment,” Dagg added.

“I guess it depends on who the new coach is. It is it Dave Rennie? There’s been a lot of conversations about Dave Rennie.

“But if he comes in, he potentially brings in an entire new coaching group. What does that financially cost for New Zealand Rugby? I would say that’s pretty expensive.

“Or does a Jamie Joseph come in and we all know the name that he’s talking about, it’s Tony Brown, and that’s going to be rather expensive.

“Jamie Jo’s probably the frontrunner, he’s here in our country, he’s coached the All Blacks XV. I’ve never been coached by Jamie Jo but I get a sense there may be a few burpees, may be a few backs having some mauls – it might be just what they need.”

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