All Blacks coach makes blunt admission about his position and reveals what he expects from Scott Robertson
New Zealand forwards coach Jason Ryan and ex-All Blacks boss Scott Robertson (inset).
Jason Ryan has admitted that he feared his stint as part of the All Blacks backroom staff had ended after Scott Robertson was axed as the men in black’s head coach earlier this year.
Ryan has been the one constant in the All Blacks coaching group in recent years, since he replaced John Plumtree as the team’s forwards coach ahead of the 2022 Rugby Championship.
He initially served in the position under former head coach Ian Foster until the end of New Zealand‘s 2023 Rugby World Cup campaign and stayed on in that role when his former Crusaders boss Scott Robertson took charge of the All Blacks in 2024.
However, New Zealand Rugby parted ways with Robertson at the start of this year and earlier this month Dave Rennie was appointed as his successor.
Rennie was allowed to bring in his own assistants and although the opted to add new faces in Tana Umaga, Neil Barnes and Mike Blair to his backroom staff, Ryan has once again remained in his position.
Was unsure whether he would remain in his position
However, he revealed that he was unsure whether he would continue in his role after Rennie was confirmed as the new All Blacks boss.
“Well you just don’t know. I did, I’d planned for it,” he told Stuff when asked whether he was worried whether his time in the All Blacks environment might be over.
“I’d never taken anything for granted in this job ever.
“It’s just such a privilege, I keep saying it is and it’s an honour but things can be out of your control and where you get to there’s a little bit of unknown and it can stop pretty quick and (I’m) fortunate enough to have another crack.
“There was a couple of stages there where it was not very nice, but I’ve had nothing really compared to the other guys.”
He revealed that although it’s been a difficult time for several people in the aftermath Robertson’s dismissal, it’s important to focus on the future now.
“It has been a few moving parts of late but (I’m) looking forward to getting into it now,” said Ryan.
“It’s been tough on a lot of people, especially the coaches that aren’t there anymore and especially their families as well.
“So, it hasn’t been easy but it’s time to move forward now.”
Ryan said although parting ways with his former coaching colleagues was not easy to deal with, his main focus is on doing his job to the best of his ability.
“It can be (tough) but I think you’ve just got to stick to what’s in front of you and nail down on your core role in your craft, I guess,” he explained.
‘All pretty excited about this moving forward’
“It’s been an interesting time as I said before and I just want to get some progress in place now which I think we’re all pretty excited about this moving forward.
“It would be good to get some stability.”
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As someone who spent a large part of his coaching career working alongside Robertson with the Crusaders and the All Blacks, Ryan revealed that he has been in contact with the man known as Razor, who he expects to bounce back from his recent setback.
“I’ve been in touch a couple of times, obviously. Initially when it went down and then also a couple of days ago,” he said.
“He’ll be fine, he’s got a big heart and he’ll move forward.”