Jason Holland's Departure: A Tactical Exit or the First Shoe to Drop in All Blacks Coaching Shake Up?

By Mark Philpott. 

As the All Blacks lace up for their ambitious Grand Slam northern tour, the timing couldn't be more dramatic or damning. Assistant coach Jason Holland, the man tasked with igniting the team's set piece attack and backs, has confirmed he'll bow out when his contract expires at the end of the 2025 season. 

On the surface, it's a mutual parting of ways with head coach Scott Robertson, who heaped praise on Holland's dedication and coaching acumen. But peel back the layers, and this feels less like a graceful exit and more like a polite severance. With the All Blacks' backline sputtering through a 7-2 record marred by historic losses to Argentina and South Africa, rugby's rumor mill is already churning: was this a firing in fancy dress?

Holland, the ex Hurricanes head coach and former Munster assistant with a reputation for sharp tactical minds, joined Robertson's staff in 2024 as part of the original quartet alongside Leon MacDonald, Jason Ryan, and Scott Hansen. 

His portfolio? 

Crafting the intricate plays that should have turned the All Blacks' world class wings and midfield into a scoring machine. Instead, 2025 has delivered fits and starts: flashes of brilliance drowned out by turnovers, miscommunications, and a lack of cohesion that left fans. and analysts scratching their heads. Remember that Rugby Championship thriller against the Pumas, where New Zealand's backline coughed up possession in key moments, handing Argentina their first ever win over the AB’s at home? 

Or the Eden Park humbling by the Springboks, where the attack flatlined despite home soil invincibility? 

These weren't just blips; they were symptoms of a deeper malaise in the backs, where Holland's innovations failed to gel under pressure.

Whispers from the terraces and online forums paint a picture of quiet discontent. "Holland's out after the flops Razor's cleaning house," one fan posted on X, echoing a sentiment rippling through Kiwi rugby circles. It's not hard to see why. 

The All Blacks, once synonymous with backline artistry, have looked pedestrian at times this year, with possession stats lagging behind their 2024 highs and try scoring efficiency dipping by nearly 15% in tight games.

Holland himself dismissed any internal drama in a presser yesterday, calling his decision a "gut feel" driven by personal excitement rather than acrimony. "No major things triggered it," he insisted, emphasizing robust discussions with Robertson as healthy sparring, not showdowns. Robertson echoed the goodwill, calling Holland a "great man" whose absence will sting but whose focus remains laser sharp on the tour ahead.

Yet, for UNITED Rugby faithful, this smells like accountability catching up. 

Holland's departure is the second high profile scalp under Robertson, following MacDonald's mutual split last August amid clashing philosophies on attack. With Ryan and Hansen holding steady, and Tamati Ellison elevated from within, the coaching box suddenly feels thinner and more scrutinized.

Is this the prelude to a broader shake up? 

NZ Rugby's silence on replacements speaks volumes; whispers suggest a post tour review could target vulnerabilities exposed abroad. After all, Robertson's Crusaders dynasty was built on ruthless evolution why should the All Blacks be any different? A rejig might mean poaching from Super Rugby's hot seats or even circling back to proven exports like Tony Brown, but one thing's clear: stasis isn't an option if the AB’s are to reclaim their throne ahead of the 2027 World Cup.

Compounding the pressure is the shadow cast by Jamie Joseph's gleaming new gig. Just last month, NZ Rugby anointed the 55 year old Highlanders maestro as All Blacks XV head coach for 2025 and 2026, handing him the reins of the development squad with a stacked brains trust including Jamie Mackintosh, David Hill, and Cory Jane. 

Joseph, no stranger to big stages think Japan's 2019 World Cup quarterfinal heroics or the 2015 Super Rugby triumph is a proven winner with 20 All Blacks caps under his belt. His appointment, succeeding Clayton McMillan, was billed as a pathway booster, with the XV set for a November jaunt against the Barbarians and England A.

But let's not kid ourselves: this is a velvet glove over an iron fist.

Joseph, who threw his hat in the ring for the top job in 2023 only to lose out to Robertson, hasn't hidden his hunger for the All Blacks helm. "My desire to coach at the highest level remains strong," he said at the unveiling, a line that landed like a subtle gauntlet. 

For Robertson's crew, it's a not so subtle reminder, perform, or prepare to step aside. 

The XV role isn't just a feeder team it's a proving ground, a parallel universe where Joseph can showcase his blend of grit and flair. If the All Blacks stumble on tour while Joseph's XV dazzles, the narrative writes itself: Why not elevate the man who's already got the blueprint?

And oh, what a tour it is. 

Kicking off November 1 in Chicago's Soldier Field a "Rematch" nod to the 2016 epic against Ireland the All Blacks chase a Grand Slam against the Home Nations for the first time since 2010. 

The slate? 

Ireland (Nov 1), Scotland (Nov 8), England (Nov 15), and Wales (Nov 22), all under NZDT lights that will test jet lagged bodies and razor thin margins. 

It's a golden opportunity, as Robertson called it, but with Holland's clock ticking and Joseph's star rising, the stakes feel existential. A clean sweep silences the skeptics, buys time for tweaks, and keeps the coaching carousel dormant. But slip even once, and the calls for change will crescendo.

For now, Holland vows to unleash "a few new strike plays" in his swan song, and the squad insists unity is unshaken. Cam Roigard, the halfback with everything to prove, shrugged it off: "We're locked in for the north." But in rugby, as in life, optics matter. 

This departure isn't just a goodbye; it's a referendum on progress. As UNITED fans, we've backed Razor through the rebuild now's the time to deliver. Northern hemisphere, bring it on.

The AB’s need this more than ever.