With Scott Robertson’s departure as All Blacks coach, New Zealand Rugby finds itself at a familiar crossroads.

Yet, while coaching appointments come and go in elite sport, this moment demands bigger questions about how the All Blacks should be led.

The immediate conversation will centre on coaching credentials, win-loss records and tactical philosophy. That’s understandable.

But recent player comments suggest the next coaching era may need to think beyond strategy and selection, and pay closer attention to team environment, culture and connection with others.

One of the most telling signs has come from All Blacks veteran Ardie Savea. While playing for Super Rugby franchise Moana Pasifika in 2025, Savea publicly described that time as the happiest he has been in his rugby career.

The comment landed quietly, but its implications are significant. It raises questions about what players experience inside different elite environments, and why a community-rooted........

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