Amid the fallout from Scott Robertson’s sacking as All Blacks coach, there are now calls for Ardie Savea to follow him out the door.

Outspoken pundit Mark Watson believes the star loose forward should also exit New Zealand rugby, accusing the All Blacks centurion of effectively “blackmailing” the union during its recent high-performance review.

NZ Rugby confirmed this week that Robertson has been relieved of his duties following a comprehensive assessment of the 2025 Test season, with the organisation concluding the All Blacks are not on track for the 2027 World Cup.

As part of the process, the NZ Rugby board and high-performance department consulted senior players, with Savea understood to have been among those interviewed.

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A report by The New Zealand Herald on the eve of Robertson’s dismissal claimed the 32-year-old was “seriously unhappy” with the coaching set-up and was considering his future in New Zealand if changes were not made.

That report suggested Savea was weighing up staying in Japan beyond the current season or even a potential move to Leinster – options that would render him ineligible for All Blacks selection heading towards the next World Cup.

Watson, speaking on The DSPN Live show with Martin Devlin, said the line had been crossed if player feedback came with ultimatums attached.

“If you’re asked to give honest feedback in a review, be brutally honest,” Watson said. “But don’t add a caveat at the end that says, ‘If you don’t get rid of him, I’m gone.’ That’s not on.”

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Watson himself had been one of the leading voices calling for Robertson to be axed.

He argued that accountability should not stop with the coaches and claimed senior players also needed to be held responsible for performances.

“For those reasons, I would also sack Ardie Savea,” Watson said. “You make a statement to the players. Give us all the feedback you want, but don’t blackmail us … it’s him or me.”

NZ Rugby has since played down claims of a player revolt, insisting Savea was not influential in Robertson’s departure.

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