Crusaders and All Blacks prop Tamaiti Williams has reacted to Scott Robertson\u2019s sacking, claiming that he was unaware of any player revolt.<\/p>\n
New Zealand Rugby conducted a comprehensive review of the 2025 international season, interviewing the coaching staff as well as several senior players, which ultimately led to the decision to part ways with the head coach.<\/p>\n
Reports on the eve of the announcement stated that several players were \u2018seriously unhappy\u2019 with Robertson as head coach and the direction that the team were going in under his tutelage, with the New Zealand Herald namechecking loose forward Ardie Savea.<\/p>\n
It was claimed that Savea threatened to take his talents abroad, signing a contract in Japan or with a European club \u2013 effectively putting his international career on pause \u2013 if Robertson was not moved on.<\/p>\n
No knowledge of a player revolt<\/p>\n
New Zealand<\/a> Rugby chairman David Kirk rubbished the claims of a player revolt or cabal to remove the head coach.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was definitely no revolt. The players were very measured and thoughtful in their responses. It\u2019s very unfair to say that Ardie somehow led something, not at all,\u201d the World Cup-winning captain said<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cHe expressed public opinions. Some of those opinions were not agreed with by other players. Others would have been somewhat aligned with them.\u201d<\/p>\n Savea\u2019s All Blacks<\/a> teammate, Williams<\/a>, spoke to the media as the Crusaders continue their preparations for the upcoming Super Rugby Pacific season and stated that he had no knowledge of a conspiracy to remove Robertson.<\/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 told reporters<\/a> during the Crusaders\u2019 pre-season.<\/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\u2026 whoever comes in, trust them and good luck.\u201d<\/p>\n The front-rower added: \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.<\/p>\n \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 Tony Brown hits out at NZ Rugby over Scott Robertson axe and issues verdict on All Blacks\u2019 aura<\/a><\/p>\n Looking ahead<\/p>\n While Williams states that the All Blacks must now focus on the next job, he did share kind words for the departing coach.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a tough world we live in, right? But a lot of love and prayers go to Razor and his family. I know he\u2019s going to do well, whatever he does,\u201d Williams said of the move.<\/p>\n \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 A decision has yet to be made over the future of Robertson\u2019s assistant coaches; however, Kirk confirmed that the new head coach would be able to hire his own staff.<\/p>\n One man that Williams hopes will still be around is former Crusaders assistant coach Jason Ryan, who moved into the All Blacks backroom staff under Ian Foster and remained when Robertson took over.<\/p>\n \u201cI love the way he works\u2026 hopefully he stays around,\u201d he said of the forwards coach.<\/p>\n Israel Dagg: \u2018Pressure\u2019 on \u2018unhappy\u2019 All Blacks as Scott Robertson exit leaves New Zealand in a \u2018dark place\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n Hotham, Reece and Penney\u2019s remarks<\/p>\n The likes of Noah Hotham and Sevu Reece were also made available to reporters, and the former aptly summed up the week.<\/p>\n \u201cCrazy week, to be fair. Crazy news,\u201d the scrum-half remarked<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI wasn\u2019t on the end-of-year tour, so I didn\u2019t see the whole end of it. But it came as news to me. I wasn\u2019t aware of any of it.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cI\u2019ve got nothing but nice things to say about him.\u201d<\/p>\n