Former All Blacks scrumhalf Justin Marshall has revealed that NZ Rugby gave Scott Robertson no warning before news of his axing became public.
Robertson was dismissed as All Blacks coach last month, just two years into a four-year deal, following a review of the 2025 Test season led by NZ Rugby chairman David Kirk. The decision brought a sudden end to his tenure after taking over from Ian Foster in the wake of the 2023 World Cup.
While Robertson described it as an honour to coach the All Blacks in a brief statement at the time, he has not spoken publicly since.
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Marshall, a long-time friend and former teammate of Robertson at Canterbury, the Crusaders and the All Blacks, says the manner of the dismissal left him stunned.
“I’ve caught up with Razor since what happened, all on that really bizarre day,” Marshall told The Good, The Bad & The Rugby podcast. “Seeing him, probably about 10 days after that, was difficult.
“As we know, he wears his heart on his sleeve, Razor, and he cares about every team he coaches.
“And 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.
“He got told at the same time as the story was unfolding that he would no longer be the All Blacks coach. It was something that took him massively by surprise. Because, obviously, he was getting told when the rest of the world was being told.
“He 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.”
ALSO: ‘Razor was just on edge, always tense’
Marshall suggested the public nature of the role made the fallout even tougher to process, given the scrutiny that comes with leading the All Blacks.
Robertson is set to return to the coaching box in June, when he takes charge of the Barbarians for fixtures against the Springboks in Gqeberha and Wales at Twickenham.
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Photo: Dan Mullan/Getty Images
