Tupou Vaa\u2019i has thanked former All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson for his two years of service to the team.<\/p>\n
The Chiefs forward\u2019s international career really took off under Robertson after he bided his time behind the likes of Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock during Ian Foster\u2019s tenure.<\/p>\n
He made his Test<\/a> debut for New Zealand back in 2020 and earned 25 caps under Forster\u2019s tutelage, but his international career really took off when Robertson tookover the head coaching reins in 2024.<\/p>\n Vaa\u2019i on Robertson\u2019s sacking<\/p>\n Vaa\u2019i<\/a> played 13 times in 2024, including two starts against the Springboks in South Africa, adding a further seven last year before injury ruled him out of the end-of-year tour.<\/p>\n Early this month, New Zealand Rugby announced that the union had parted ways with Robertson after a comprehensive review, which included talking to around 20 All Blacks<\/a> players.<\/p>\n The identity of those players has not been disclosed, and Vaa\u2019i was not willing to give anything away as he feels that the board handled the situation perfectly.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s something that I\u2019m not going to really touch on,\u201d the Chiefs forward told DSPN with Martin Devlin<\/a> when asked whether he was part of Robertson\u2019s review process.<\/p>\n \u201cI felt like the board really nailed that situation, and it\u2019s kind of above my pay grade that I could answer that question. I\u2019m sorry, I can\u2019t really talk about it.\u201d<\/p>\n All Blacks duo break silence on Scott Robertson sacking after taking on \u2018the hardest job in New Zealand\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n While he was not willing to comment on the review process, Vaa\u2019i did express his gratitude to the former head coach, under whom he thrived during his two-year stint in charge.<\/p>\n He revealed the details of his message to Robertson once the news was confirmed.<\/p>\n \u201cMy international career really lifted when Razor was the coach for those two years,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cFunny enough, I messaged and told him thank you for the last two years. I feel like those two years were really important to me and my footy career, probably the most important.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, I just messaged him and said, \u2018Thank you for your service, and I hope that you and your family are well.’\u201d<\/p>\n Opinion: NZ Rugby\u2019s \u2018search\u2019 for new All Blacks coach stinks of a PR stunt with Scott Robertson\u2019s successor already lined up<\/a><\/p>\n Rassie Erasmus\u2019 blunt admission on Scott Robertson\u2019s axing and provides \u2018high expectations\u2019 theory on his exit<\/a><\/p>\n Return from injury and next All Blacks boss<\/p>\n The forward is set to mark his return from injury in the Chiefs\u2019 pre-season friendly against the Fijian Drua this weekend. The 26-year-old hasn\u2019t played since the Rugby Championship victory over Australia in August last year.<\/p>\n However, he is slated to feature for 20 minutes in the pre-season fixture as he builds up his fitness ahead of the Chiefs\u2019 Super Rugby Pacific season.<\/p>\n