Former All Blacks star Jeff Wilson has warned New Zealand Rugby that they must find the right balance when it comes to appointing their next head coach.

The governing body is currently searching for Scott Robertson’s successor, but that process has now moved into a second month following the previous head honcho’s dismissal in mid-January.

There were suggestions that they would be announcing the new All Blacks boss last week, but it now won’t be confirmed until March.

NZ Rugby have already stated that they want someone in place soon despite the next Test not being until July when the inaugural Nations Championship begins.

Wilson is pleased about NZR’s intention but is concerned that they are still taking too long with so much to sort out ahead of the mid-year internationals.

NZR need to make a decision

“I don’t want them to rush into this, it would be worse if they didn’t get the right guy but by the same token they still have to make a decision,” he said on The Breakdown.

“If it’s just a two-horse race, you can get the process going because they will need to do a lot in the next three months, particularly working out what is the best way for the All Blacks to play over the next 18 months as you approach a Rugby World Cup.

“I don’t think you can take that lightly in terms of preparation and time. You need time to discuss deeply about some of the form players in Super Rugby who you might give an opportunity to.

“It was a large squad that was used in 2025 and now they’ve got to find a way, whoever that might be, to organise management teams, organise their coaching staff, organise the medical teams, organise touring South Africa for the first time since 1996.

“There’s a lot to do in not very long.”

Jamie Joseph ‘miffed’ by All Blacks recruitment process to assess his ‘worthiness’

Wilson is perhaps right to be wary with NZ Rugby’s process reportedly causing consternation with at least one of the candidates.

Jamie Joseph unhappy

Jamie Joseph is understood to be “miffed” after having “observers sit in on his coaching to take notes”, according to the New Zealand Herald.

It is costing valuable time and means that it will make the job harder for whoever the governing body select to succeed Robertson.

“It’s all well and good talking about a game plan but you’ve got to put your leadership group in place, the guys you know you’re going to select and then you start talking about the capabilities at the highest level,” Wilson added.

“Then you have to assess the opposition you’re going to be up against and what you’re going to need.

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“You’re talking about 100 days. Well those 100 days can disappear very, very quickly. The scope and the way New Zealand teams are playing in Super Rugby this weekend compared to last weekend was different.

“There are a lot of conversations that you are having to have and the longer it goes on… I’m not saying it doesn’t need to be done thoroughly, it does, but it doesn’t necessarily have to drag out.”

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