All Blacks coaching great Sir Wayne Smith has issued some pointed remarks towards New Zealand Rugby and the players following Scott Robertson\u2019s sacking.<\/p>\n
The governing body took the rare step to dismiss the head coach after a mixed two years in charge of the set-up.<\/p>\n
Robertson<\/a> won 20 out of 27 matches but was ousted last week amid reports of dissatisfied players, including former World Rugby Player of the Year Ardie Savea<\/a>.<\/p>\n Smith\u2019s view<\/p>\n Smith clearly felt that the 51-year-old should not have been axed, telling the New Zealand Herald in a statement: \u201cUnfortunately, Razor hasn\u2019t been given more time, greater opportunity to adapt and overcome many of the challenges new All Blacks<\/a> coaches face. I feel sad about that \u2013 for Razor and our game.<\/p>\n \u201cThey obviously feel that the win % wasn\u2019t going to improve, although that is just guesswork.\u201d<\/p>\n Smith is currently part of the New Zealand Rugby system and acted as a consultant to Robertson on occasions.<\/p>\n It means that the universally respected coach has a good understanding of the inner workings of the All Blacks set-up under the 51-year-old.<\/p>\n \u201cI actually found Razor and his coaches to be extremely competent around their roles,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n \u201cProgress is often slow when you take over as a new AB coaching group. You learn as you go. Nothing truly prepares you for it.\u201d<\/p>\n Those comments to the Herald came following an even more pointed statement, this time to 1News, where he made his feelings very clear.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a tough old gig when 76% isn\u2019t good enough. They obviously feel that the win percentage wasn\u2019t going to improve, although that is just guesswork,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cCoaching in this environment is becoming more and more challenging. Egos abound, 76% win records are no longer enough.\u201d<\/p>\n All Blacks great: Scott Robertson was \u2018backed into a corner\u2019 by New Zealand Rugby<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018Disaffected players speak behind your back\u2019<\/p>\n There were reports of players being unhappy with certain aspects of Robertson\u2019s leadership, pointing to widespread cultural issues and a lack of trust, but Smith is disappointed by aspects of the modern day player and game.<\/p>\n \u201cDisaffected players speak behind your back and get to rubbish you, incognito, during end-of-campaign reviews,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n \u201cSocial media, hidden behind nicknames and alter egos, can tear you apart without remorse.<\/p>\n \u201cIt takes time to settle on your way, and you just pray that you get the opportunity to prove yourself over time.<\/p>\n \u201cLooking into the future to determine where the game is going next is critical. Making changes before they are needed is key. Others will copy and force you to keep going ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for world-class coverage you can trust.<\/p>\n