All Blacks young gun thanks Razor
While rumours of a player revolt within the All Blacks continue to swirl, one of their rising stars has paid tribute to Scott Robertson.
Tupou Vaa’i has thanked him for the impact he had on his international career during his two years in charge.
The Chiefs forward’s rise at Test level gathered momentum under Robertson, having previously had to be patient during Ian Foster’s tenure as he competed with the likes of Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock for opportunities.
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Vaa’i made his All Blacks debut in 2020 and earned 25 caps under Foster, but his role expanded significantly after Robertson took over the head coaching reins in 2024. He featured 13 times that year, including two starts against the Springboks in South Africa, before adding a further seven appearances last season. Injury later ruled him out of the end-of-year tour.
Earlier this month, New Zealand Rugby confirmed it had parted ways with Robertson following a comprehensive review process that involved discussions with around 20 All Blacks players. The identities of those players were not disclosed.
Vaa’i declined to be drawn on whether he was involved in that process, insisting the matter was handled appropriately.
“That’s something that I’m not going to really touch on,” Vaa’i told the DSPN podcast.
“I felt like the board really nailed that situation, and it’s kind of above my pay grade that I could answer that question. I’m sorry, I can’t really talk about it.”
While he avoided the politics around Robertson’s departure, Vaa’i was clear about the personal impact the former coach had on him, describing the period as a defining chapter in his career.
“My international career really lifted when Razor was the coach for those two years,” he said.
“Funny enough, I messaged and told him thank you for the last two years. I feel like those two years were really important to me and my footy career, probably the most important.
“So, I just messaged him and said, ‘Thank you for your service, and I hope that you and your family are well.’”
Photo: Hannah Peters/Getty Images