Sport Headlines | Daniel Hillier wins 105th NZ Open, NZ plays South Africa in T20 semi-final, Stephen Crichton slots field goal in dying seconds of game | Monday March 02, 2026
The All Blacks have been without a coach for 45 days but the position could be covered by the end of the week as Jamie Joseph and Dave Rennie make their cases to replace Scott Robertson.
Joseph and Rennie are expected to undertake in-person interviews this week, presenting their respectivecases to the full New Zealand Rugby appointment panel.
The Herald understands that once the panel make a decision on the coach, and it is approved by the NZR board, the announcement will possibly be made as early as Thursday.
As reported by the Herald, in a bid to assess Rennie and Joseph’s coaching environments, interim NZR chief executive Steve Lancaster and former All Blacks hooker Dane Coles visited the Highlanders last month in Dunedin before their round-one Super Rugby Pacific upset victory against the Crusaders.
Lancaster and Coles attended coaching meetings, observed Highlanders training and were reporting back to their fellow members of the appointment panel, who include All Blacks centurion Keven Mealamu, NZR chair David Kirk and high-performance expert Don Tricker.
“Everyone will be aware that we’re at that crucial mid-period in the four-year World Cup cycle.
“Two years in and so I’m sure unsurprising for everyone, the New Zealand Rugby Board and management have taken a very comprehensive review.”
Kirk said the All Blacks were “not on track”, and didn’t think they would be without changes.
“The All Blacks are not on track in the way that we need them to be on track for the 2027 World Cup, and indeed for what will be a very demanding year in 2026 with the four matches against South Africa in rugby’s greatest rivalry.”
