Typically, we think not much real news happens in January, but there’s normally one big story which grabs our attention - be it wild fires, the Jan 6th Capitol riots or Jacinda Ardern’s resignation. 

I presumed the story this January would be US imperialism, with the strike against Venezuela and the capture of its president Maduro, and the on-going question of the US’s push to control Greenland. But on Thursday, a rather shocking news story broke closer to home.  

There is no job as scrutinised or commented on as the All Blacks' head coach. The Prime Minister or leaders of political parties may disagree, and they cop their fair share, but the world of rugby can be more brutal, more invested in by Kiwis, and very public.  

Leaks about the end of year tour review aside, both New Zealand Rugby and Scott Robertson handled things well this week. Rugby New Zealand made it clear the team wasn’t where they wanted it to be in the lead up to the 2027 Rugby World Cup, and that there were issues with both culture and performance. Robertson was his normal honest self and said he was gutted, but accepted the outcome with dignity.  

And so he should - things haven’t turned out this time, but he still has an impressive record and will go on to accomplish many more good things.  

Regardless of whether Scott Robertson should or shouldn’t have been fired, his success rate, the role of players in his demise - the relatively simple observation is that as a whole things weren’t working, and Razor and his team were struggling to fix it.  

After the dragged out Foster/Robertson kerfuffle a few years ago, which ultimately saw Robertson get the role, it’s reassuring to see some decisive and strong leadership from NZR Chair David Kirk this time round.  

There is a lot to sort out at the NZR - the organization is currently short a CEO, CFO, COO, and a High Performance manager is also leaving. The All Blacks is where NZR makes it money, so if you’re going to make changes this is probably the most important place to start. But I expect that once the coaching staff have been sorted, Kirk will work his way through the rest of the organisation.  

So, while the rest of the world saw this unprecedented move as another 'slip from the summit' or a 'superpower in decline', I suggest we all take a beat, wish the outgoing coach all the best, and have confidence in what appears to be some solid leadership that isn’t afraid to make hard calls. 

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