Robertson spoke to media on Thursday following the draw for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, which has New Zealand in Pool A with hosts the Wallabies, Hong Kong China and Chile. Photo: www.photosport.nz
The All Blacks end of season review will be completed by the end of January and coach Scott Robertson is ready for the "interrogation" headed his way.
Robertson spoke to media on Thursday following the draw for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, which has New Zealand in Pool A with hosts the Wallabies, Hong Kong China and Chile.
The All Blacks are coming off a year in which they won 10 of 13 tests with three defeats. They retained the Bledisloe Cup but couldn't win back the Rugby Championship nor complete the Grand Slam on their end of year tour and fell to a record loss at the hands of South Africa.
Those defeats, a pattern of poor second half performances and the team's struggles to adapt to their rivals' change of tactics have left many pundits questioning whether the All Blacks are getting better.
Scott Robertson said the review process was nothing new. Photo: www.photosport.nz
Consequently, there is plenty of interest in the end of season review and Robertson said it had begun.
"It's pretty much an interrogation, right from the top to the bottom," Robertson said.
"It's a great tool for us to get feedback as coaches, and the whole group from the players and all the management.
"People are gathering (info now). But in the new year, that's when the information is disseminated out.
"We have an All Blacks camp (in January) and then the team (input) and the board (input) and all that (review) information will be had by the end of January."
The review process was nothing new, Robertson said.
"We have someone that travels with us the whole time that's reviewing.
"There's online stuff, there's also the group stuff that the team do while they're on tour, you sit down one-on-one, you talk to all the leaders and get their feedback, so there's a personal touch to it as well, so that's all being gathered."
George Ford of England celebrates victory over the All Blacks. Photo: www.photosport.nz
The players would be involved in the review and it would be full and frank, Robertson said.
He was confident the review would show the team was improving less than two years out from the next Rugby World Cup.
"There's a lot to do before that. There's a lot of rugby, there's a lot of chances for us to go and get better in areas, and as a team, and hone in like everyone else. Like I said before, World Rugby is the closest it's ever been.
"We've got some really good competition across the squad and there's a lot of depth in our squad. This year we had the most injuries we've ever had as an All Black squad and so it did create opportunities for other players.
"We want to be four deep in each position and we're starting to get there and we've got another super rugby competition for someone to come in and play really well and put pressure on the current side to play well and pick themselves for the All Blacks next year."
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