Justin Marshall has revealed that New Zealand Rugby (NZR) gave Scott Robertson no forewarning before news broke of his axing as the All Blacks\u2019 head coach.<\/p>\n
Robertson was dismissed from his position last month just two years into a four-year contract. This followed a review by the governing body into the 2025 Test season, headed by NZR chairman David Kirk.<\/p>\n
It was eventually decided it was best to part ways with Robertson<\/a>, who took over the reins as All Blacks<\/a> boss from Ian Foster after the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.<\/p>\n At the time of his axing, Robertson released a statement in which he said it was an honour to coach the All Blacks but he has not given interviews yet since then.<\/p>\n Robertson and Marshall<\/a> are close friends who spent the bulk of their playing careers together as team-mates with Canterbury, the Crusaders and the All Blacks.<\/p>\n And now the latter has revealed how Robertson was caught off guard by news of his axing.<\/p>\n \u2018Caught up with Razor\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve caught up with Razor, since what happened, all on that really bizarre day,\u201d Marshall told The Good, The Bad & The Rugby<\/a> podcast. \u201cSeeing him, probably about 10 days after that, was difficult.<\/p>\n \u201cAs we know, he wears his heart on his sleeve, Razor, and he cares about every team he coaches.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd in particular, his biggest passion was to coach the All Blacks. So, to have to be told on that day, like everybody else, you know.<\/p>\n \u201cHe got told at the same time as the story was unfolding \u2013 that he would no longer be the All Blacks coach \u2013 was something that took him massively by surprise. Because, obviously, he was getting told when the rest of the world was being told.<\/p>\n Scott Robertson to face off with Rassie Erasmus as ex-All Blacks boss lands next coaching job<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cHe had no heads up and then there was no ability to, have any more conversations. The decision was made and taken out of his control.\u201d<\/p>\n It was announced on Tuesday that Robertson would return to coaching in June to lead the Barbarians in matches against the Springboks and Wales at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha and at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.<\/p>\n Marshall revealed that due to the high profile nature of the All Blacks head coaching position, it is a difficult process for Robertson to deal with his dismissal.<\/p>\n