Justin Marshall feels several All Blacks will have to prove themselves in Super Rugby Pacific this year after Scott Robertson\u2019s axing from his position as New Zealand\u2019s head coach.<\/p>\n
Robertson was fired from his position last week, just two years into a four-year contract.<\/p>\n
That decision was made after a review by the governing body into the 2025 season headed by NZR chairman David Kirk.<\/p>\n
The review was undertaken by Kirk, former All Blacks<\/a> hooker and NZR board member Keven Mealamu as well as ex-NZR high performance manager Don Tricker.<\/p>\n Robertson\u2019s successor is set to be announced in the coming weeks and Marshall<\/a>, who made 81 appearances for New Zealand in the international arena and represented the Crusaders in 105 matches at Super Rugby level, feels numerous All Blacks will have to readjust their thinking and approach to the game.<\/p>\n \u2018Players probably have complacency in their systems\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cThose players probably have a bit of complacency in their systems, because they\u2019re used to getting picked,\u201d he told Radio New Zealand.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re used to going out and doing what they\u2019ve been doing for the last six years, 10 years, whatever it might be.<\/p>\n \u201cThat coach is going to be announced, so all those players that were working under (Robertson) have to reset.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause they now have to think about \u2018do I fit into this with the thinking of a new coach? Is he going to see from me every week that I want to be an All Black?\u2019<\/p>\n Fabien Galthie slams New Zealand Rugby over Scott Robertson\u2019s exit and draws comparison with Ian Foster situation<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThat could be a total mindset change, and they want to make sure they\u2019re performing each week.\u201d<\/p>\n The legendary scrum-half speaks from experience and revealed that he underwent a similar process during his 10-year stint with the All Blacks from 1995 to 2005.<\/p>\n \u201cI came in when Laurie Mains moved on, then John Hart moved on after the World Cup, then Wayne Smith moved on prematurely,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n \u201cIt does make you wonder about where you sit because all of a sudden you are not communicating with that coach regularly. Where they saw you in that environment is no longer relevant because that environment doesn\u2019t exist anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n No reason for pessimism<\/p>\n The 52-year-old feels though that there\u2019s no reason for pessimism and expects the All Blacks and Super Rugby Pacific to be strengthened by it.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s good to be put in that position of pressure, particularly when you\u2019ve been around that environment for a long time and have that familiarity of where you sit,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause it means that you need make sure that you\u2019re performing and maybe showing a little bit of something that we haven\u2019t seen out of your game in a while.<\/p>\n \u201cThat might be what the coaches are looking for.\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