Scott Robertson steps down as All Blacks coach. Could Joe Schmidt replace him?

“I have therefore reached an agreement with New Zealand Rugby to end my contract early so a new coaching group has the time it needs to prepare and take the team into the next World Cup. As you can imagine, I am gutted by this outcome. I care deeply about this team. Given the sensitivity of this situation, I will not be making any further comment.”

The former All Blacks breakaway was appointed to the top job in New Zealand after great success at the Crusaders. Robertson won three successive Super Rugby titles in his first three seasons as a head coach at the South Island heavyweight.

Robertson was named All Blacks coach in March 2023, while Ian Foster was still in the role. Robertson took over in 2024 after Foster led the All Blacks to the World Cup final, where they lost to South Africa. Robertson leaves just two years into a four-year term.

Schmidt is contracted to finish up with the Wallabies after taking on Italy on July 18, the same day New Zealand face Ireland at Eden Park.

Originally, Schmidt was due to step down from his role with the Wallabies after The Rugby Championship, but agreed to stay until the end of July to ensure a smooth transition to incoming coach Les Kiss, who will finish the Super Rugby season with the Queensland Reds.

Rugby Australia has been extremely pleased with Schmidt’s work with the Wallabies, and the New Zealander has maintained a close bond with the squad. Earlier this month, he oversaw a training camp in Sydney.

Sources speaking on the condition of anonymity say it is unlikely that Schmidt would seek to end his contract with Rugby Australia early, but New Zealand Rugby could still appoint an interim coach until he is available. Schmidt would also attract interest from his former club, Irish giants Leinster, if coach Jacques Nienaber was to depart.

NZR is without a chief executive after the departure of former All Black Mark Robinson, who stepped down in June. Sydney-based former All Blacks captain David Kirk is NZR chairman.

A strong contender for the full-time appointment is Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph, who was recently appointed to lead the All Blacks XV, essentially the national second team.

Joseph’s departure would leave the Highlanders scrambling to find a replacement with the Super Rugby season starting on February 13.

Robertson took over one of the biggest jobs in world rugby from Foster. Foster is a close ally of Schmidt, and the Wallabies coach was not impressed with the pressure put on the former coach in the final stages of his tenure.

“A big part of it was about integrity,” Schmidt is quoted as saying in Foster’s book Leading Under Pressure. “The pressure that was being exerted was contributed to by not just New Zealand Rugby, but people aiming up at ‘Fozzie’ [Foster].

“There was a podcast – with Jim Hamilton and Scott Robertson. That’s in the public domain. That was a pressure point and an advertisement that he [Robertson] wanted to win the World Cup with two different teams.

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“And he [Robertson] applied pressure by starting an interview with ‘Bula’ when there was talk of the Fijian job being open. That was happening in the foreground, not the background. That was the tip of the iceberg, and it was bloody awkward for Foz.”

The All Blacks face one of the most demanding seasons in their history, with France, Italy and Ireland to tour in July for the Nations Championship. That will be followed by a six-week, four-Test tour of South Africa, from August to October.

The All Blacks then take on the Wallabies in the Bledisloe Cup in October before returning to Europe to take on Scotland, Wales and England.