\u201cAnd for us as players, we\u2019ve just got to get together and figure it out, I guess. Looking forward to what\u2019s next, but also, yeah, love to Ray.\u201d <\/p>\n
The move that saw Robertson leave his post at the helm of the All Blacks came after a review into the programme at the end of last year. <\/p>\n
Under Robertson\u2019s charge, which began in 2024, the All Blacks had a 20-7 test record. However, they went 1-3 against South Africa, including being dealt their worst loss ever last year in Wellington, while they were also beaten at home by Argentina in 2024. <\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t really know too much about the review process, but we just got told it was very thorough; there was no bias in it,\u201d Williams said. \u201cSo for me as a player, my job\u2019s to now be back with the Crusaders and give my all to the Crusaders.\u201d <\/p>\n
Williams added that he wasn\u2019t aware of any feeling in the playing group that something needed to change in the coaching set-up. <\/p>\n
\u201cDefinitely not to my knowledge. I\u2019m a player. I get told to run into people and tackle people as well. So whoever the coaches were and whoever they\u2019re going to be, I have full trust in and I guess it\u2019s my job just to buy in 100%,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cMy opinion on it is we trust whoever gets the role. We back them and then we get the job done. That\u2019s quite simple … whoever comes in, trust them and good luck.\u201d <\/p>\n
Williams will return for a Crusaders team looking to back up its title-winning campaign in 2025; a season which saw a dramatic turnaround in the trajectory from 2024. <\/p>\n
In the first season under Rob Penney, who replaced Robertson after he led the Crusaders to seven titles, the Christchurch-based side struggled for results and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2015. <\/p>\n
In 2025, they finished the regular season second \u2013 tied with the Chiefs for best record in the competition at 11-3 \u2013 before going on to sneak past their Hamilton rivals in the grand final. <\/p>\n
The Crusaders will begin the year with four New Zealand derbies in their first five games (Highlanders, Chiefs, Blues, Highlanders), before ending the season with four in a row (Hurricanes, Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes). <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got a tough run this year, but, like we always say as Crusaders, we take it week by week and we\u2019ll keep showing up,\u201d Williams said. <\/p>\n
\u201cAt the end of the day, you\u2019ve still got to go out there and do it, right? So, we\u2019ll earn every week, every day, and we\u2019ll get after it.\u201d <\/p>\n