Two All Blacks players, including their half-back star, have praised Scott Robertson after he was sacked as the team’s head coach two weeks ago.
New Zealand Rugby took the decision to make a change at the top despite it being under two years until the next Rugby World Cup.
Robertson departed midway through his four-year contract with NZR chair claiming they weren’t on the right “trajectory” under the 51-year-old.
However, there were reports that the players had a significant role in his removal as All Blacks boss following a scathing review.
More comments coming out
With the 2026 Super Rugby campaign, which starts in mid-February, now edging closer, comments are beginning to trickle out.
Hurricanes trio Jordie Barrett, Ruben Love and Cam Roigard, who has just extended his NZR contract to 2029, were on media duty on Wednesday.
Barrett was reluctant to say too much but Love, who was handed his Test debut by Robertson, praised the character of the former New Zealand head coach.
“It’s been huge, everywhere, but at the end of the day I have a lot of respect for Razor,” the full-back and fly-half told reporters.
“One thing I admire about him is his ability to bring a team together through culture, and I think we should have some of the morals in terms of him being family orientated.
“Every time you speak to him about his family, his eyes light up and everything, so I wish him all the best. That’s just how the job goes. It’s the hardest job in New Zealand. I thought he was great.
“I am a player, I get paid to score tries or save tries.”
All Blacks star unaware of revolt against Scott Robertson but is hopeful one coach sticks around
Interestingly, the culture within the All Blacks set-up was something that was supposedly highlighted as an issue under Robertson in the players review.
Love did not delve into that further but he did state that he was shocked by the announcement.
“Yeah, initially it was,” he said. “You can never expect anything like that. Like I said, I am a player, I am not part of that coaching set-up.
“Yeah, I just have a lot of respect for him. I hope whatever he does next he will be sweet because he is an intelligent man.”
Roigard’s view
Roigard echoed what Love said about Robertson and wished the ex-Crusaders boss all the best in the future.
“Yes, I guess the nature of it, you know, thinking about him as a person. You could tell right from when I first met him and he has been involved, that he cared about the team massively and I guess for it to sort of end out that way,” Roigard said.
“You know you feel for him as a person, making sure that he’s alright as a person.
“I don’t really want to get into the details and comment too much, but firstly I hope that he’s okay, and I am sure whatever he gets up to next I am sure he will be successful.
“But the nature of him as a person, he’s a great guy and I got on with him really well. It’s just I guess a part of sport.”