Honestly, if you’d told a rugby fan two years ago that Scott Robertson would be out of a job by early 2026, they’d have laughed in your face. The guy was the chosen one. The breakdancer. The man who was supposed to restore the All Blacks to their rightful throne.
But here we are.
On January 15, 2026, New Zealand Rugby (NZR) pulled the trigger. They sacked "Razor" after a 2025 season that didn't just underperform—it felt like a slow-motion car crash. The tension between the coaching staff and the senior players apparently got so bad that legends like Ardie Savea were reportedly considering walking away from the black jersey. That’s not just a bad season; that’s an existential crisis for the most famous team in sports.
What Really Happened with France vs New Zealand in 2025?
To understand why the All Blacks are currently without a leader, you have to look at the July 2025 series. On paper, it looks like a New Zealand success. They swept the three-test series 3-0. But sports aren't played on paper, and the "Gallic shrug" from the French side told a different story.
France arrived for that tour with what many called a "development" squad. Because the French Top 14 final happened only a week before the first test in Dunedin, Fabien Galthié left his superstars at home. No Antoine Dupont. No Romain Ntamack. No Thomas Ramos.
Basically, the All Blacks were playing France’s "B" team, and they still struggled to look convincing.
The 2025 Series Breakdown
- First Test (Dunedin): NZ won 31-27. It was a nail-biter. France’s youngsters, led by Nolann Le Garrec, nearly pulled off a miracle at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
- Second Test (Wellington): A 43-17 win for the All Blacks. This was the only time they truly looked like themselves, with Will Jordan slicing through the defense.
- Third Test (Hamilton): NZ won 29-19. It was gritty, ugly, and left fans feeling... weirdly unsatisfied?
Even though they won the trophy, the cracks were showing. France, even without their heavy hitters, played with a tactical cohesion that the All Blacks lacked. When the European giants returned home and started dominating the Autumn Internationals—beating Ireland and Scotland—it made the All Blacks' internal struggles look even worse by comparison.
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The Rivalry That Refuses to Be Predictable
There is something about France vs New Zealand that defies logic. Historically, the All Blacks have a 75% win rate. They’ve won 51 of their 67 meetings. But if you ask any New Zealander which team they fear most in a World Cup knockout game, it isn't South Africa. It’s France.
Why? Because France is the only team that can be "bad" for three years and then suddenly play like gods for eighty minutes.
Think back to the 2024 Autumn Nations Series. France won a 30-29 thriller in Paris. Thomas Ramos was hitting penalties from the parking lot, and Louis Bielle-Biarrey was moving at speeds that should be illegal. That loss for the All Blacks was a turning point. It proved that when both teams are at full strength, the power dynamic has shifted. France no longer fears the Haka; they find it motivating.
Recent Head-to-Head History
- Nov 16, 2024: France 30 - 29 New Zealand (Paris)
- Sept 8, 2023: France 27 - 13 New Zealand (World Cup Opener)
- Nov 20, 2021: France 40 - 25 New Zealand (Paris)
Notice a pattern? Before the 2025 July tour, France had won three in a row. They had the "wood" on the All Blacks. By the time NZ won those three games in 2025 against a depleted French side, the prestige had already taken a hit.
The Player Revolt and the "Razor" Exit
The bombshell news of Scott Robertson’s sacking on January 15, 2026, wasn't just about the scoreboards. It was the "vibe."
Reports from insiders like Justin Marshall suggest the "boat had been leaky for a while." NZR Chair David Kirk admitted that a midpoint review in the World Cup cycle was the right time to pivot. But the real kicker? The players.
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When you have Ardie Savea—a man who wears his heart on his sleeve—reportedly unhappy with the tactical direction, you have a problem. The All Blacks under Robertson tried to play a high-octane, creative game that often resulted in handling errors and a lack of set-piece dominance. Meanwhile, France has perfected a "winning ugly" mentality combined with "French Flair" when it matters.
The Statistical Reality
If we look at the numbers, the gap is closing. New Zealand has scored 1,781 points all-time against France, while the French have managed 961. That seems like a massive lead.
However, in the professional era, France has secured 15 wins against the All Blacks—more than any other Northern Hemisphere nation. They are the "kryptonite" of the South Pacific. They have a slight edge in drop goals (26 to 14), which speaks to their ability to take points when the pressure is on.
What Most People Get Wrong
Most fans think the All Blacks lost their edge because of a lack of talent. That's just wrong. Look at the roster: Will Jordan, Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane. These are world-class players.
The issue is identity.
For decades, the All Blacks were the smartest team in the room. They out-thought you. Now, France is out-thinking everyone. Fabien Galthié has built a system where the domestic league (Top 14) and the national team are finally working together. They are fresh. They are tactically rigid but let their individuals shine.
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New Zealand, conversely, is in a state of flux. They are debating whether to hire their first-ever foreign coach (Joe Schmidt? Dave Rennie?) or bring back a kiwi legend like Jamie Joseph or Tony Brown.
The Road to 2027
So, what's next?
The All Blacks are scheduled to host France again in Christchurch on July 4, 2026. This will be the inaugural fixture of the new Nations Championship. It will also likely be the debut of a brand-new All Blacks head coach.
The stakes couldn't be higher. If the All Blacks lose that game, at home, in a brand-new stadium, the panic will reach a fever pitch.
France is currently sitting pretty. They have a settled squad, a coach with a clear vision, and a generation of players like Nolann Le Garrec who proved in 2025 that even the "backups" can go toe-to-toe with the best in the world.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're following the France vs New Zealand saga, keep your eyes on these three things over the next few months:
- The NZR Coaching Announcement: Whoever takes the job has less than six months to fix a broken culture before the French arrive in July. Watch for whether they "cast the net wide" for a foreign coach or stick to the traditional kiwi pathway.
- The Top 14 Fatigue Factor: France's biggest weakness is their own domestic schedule. If the French clubs have a grueling playoff season in May and June 2026, the national team might arrive in New Zealand exhausted.
- The Ardie Savea Situation: If the new coach can't get Savea and the senior leaders back on board immediately, the All Blacks' transition will be messy.
The rivalry is no longer a one-sided affair. It's a battle for the soul of modern rugby. One team is trying to find its lost magic, while the other is busy defining a new era.
Keep an eye on the squad announcements for the July 2026 series. If Galthié brings the "A-Team" to Christchurch, we might see a definitive shift in the world rankings that hasn't happened in over a hundred years.