Aisle be Back: All Blacks v Wales and the end of the season

• By Kevin McCarthy

There’s a saying in our household. When you come Lord, make it quick.

As in, when death comes, please don’t make it a lingering demise.

It maps nicely to our favourite international rugby team, which is currently about to undergo a convulsive review of two years of Razor Robertson.

You may recall that it seems only two years since the former coach Ian Foster was almost axed mid-season after erratic performances and historic losses.

Now we look back on 2025 and a season of erratic performances and historic losses. In fact, 2024 in retrospect looks better than 2025.

When the Fozzie  meltdown was at its peak, the NZR seemed to make an art form, at least in public, of not knowing what to do.  In the end it fudged it in the face of a player revolt, a thrilling comeback clutch victory over South Africa, and well, the lack of alternatives.

That, and a totally unsubtle purge of some coaching team members from under Foster.

Notwithstanding an overperforming World Cup run the following year, the die was already cast for Scott Robertson.

And two years out from the RWC now, the NZR must decide what it wants this time. Is it going to double down on Team Razor, or stage another intervention. In a sense, the coaching team has already been self-purging, not a great sign.

Or is it going to set a private or public line in the sand. A performance outcome that must be met for Robertson to say in the job.

If you want to summarise it, I think the logic behind Robertson was a culture of success, team building, and a breath of fresh air.  On all three counts, he’s not measuring up yet.

It’s not a complete write-off at all. New players are coming through. The team can look a million dollars for 20 minutes.

But melding them into a squad playing with a game strategy or strategies that work is so far elusive.

Instead, we are wandering into the territory of hey, we’re almost there, just a few things to work on. The Badlands that became infuriating to witness as a fan for the preceding tenure.

So please, spare us from that.

I don’t think people mind the All Blacks dropping games along the way if they are developing a new model. It’s when they are dropping games anyway, and showing an alarming fragility in the big matches, that you wonder what is the exact point of this.

If this is the exact point at which Razor hits the redemption road, turns around his fortunes, what a narrative that will be.

But if it isn’t we need to have the off-ramp ready and clearly signposted for everyone.

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The All Blacks conclude their 2025 against Wales this weekend, kick-off Sunday 4.10am NZT.

The All Blacks have made 13 changes to the team that met England last weekend.

The All Blacks have played Wales in 37 Tests, winning all but three of them.  Their last loss to them was in 1953. Wales fans will have claims on the 1978 test (won by the All Blacks), while All Blacks supporters will point to 1905 (won by Wales).They have scored 1219 points for and had 430 recorded against.

All Blacks match-day 23 (Test caps in brackets)

1. Tamaiti Williams (26)
2. Samisoni Taukei’aho (42)
3.  Pasilio Tosi (15)
4. Scott Barrett (88) (Captain)
5.Fabian Holland (11)
6. Simon Parker (7)
7. Du’Plessis Kirifi (7)
8. Wallace Sititi (18)
9.  Cortez Ratima (20)
10.  Damian McKenzie (73)
11. Caleb Clarke (32)
12.  Anton Lienert-Brown (87)
13. Rieko Ioane (87)
14. Will Jordan (53)
15. Ruben Love (4)
16.George Bell (3)
17.  Fletcher Newell (34)
18. George Bower (24)
19. Josh Lord (11)
20.  Christian Lio-Willie (3)
21. Finlay Christie (27)
22.Leicester Fainga’anuku (11)
23.Sevu Reece (36)

Pasilio Tosi (Paremata-Plimmerton), Du’Plessis Kirifi (Northern United) and Ruben Love (Wainuiomata) have all appeared in Wellington club rugby.

Unavailable for selection: Peter Lakai (Petone – calf), Tevita Mafileo (rib), Luke Jacobson (concussion), Samipeni Finau (family illness), Jordie Barrett (high ankle).