Is it time for the All Blacks to have a Pasifika coach?
A former All Black believes it’s time for a Pacific Islander to take the reins as New Zealand coach.
In 2024, players with Pacific Island heritage made up 14 of the 32-man All Blacks squad, with Christian Lio-Willie, Timoci Tavatavanawai and Du’Plessis Kirifi earning caps in 2025.
Star Moana Pasifika signing Ngani Laumape wants to see Tana Umaga given the job in the wake of Scott Robertson’s sacking in January.
With such a predominant Pasifika contingent in the squad, Laumape said it’s time for a cultural change and that Umaga is the inspirational leader needed.
“For sure. 100 percent. When ‘T’ speaks, everyone listens. When he talks about our purpose, it gives me goosebumps. When he talks like that, the boys are pretty revved up to go out and play for him. I feel like he’ll be an awesome coach for the All Blacks.”
Fellow former All Black Sonny Bill Williams also touted Umaga as the man for the role.
Tana Umaga has been touted by former All Blacks as the ideal candidate as Scott Robertson’s replacement.
Photo: Brett Phibbs / www.photosport.nz
“We need some more flavour in the coaching group. I’m a big believer that in order to correct, you must connect, and these players at this level know how to play rugby. But what got the best out of me was believing in the coaches, wanting to go out there and run through a brick wall,” Williams said on Instagram.
The man himself was coy on the prospect when asked this week, shifting the focus to his side’s round one clash with the Fijian Drua.
“I’ve got a big enough job doing what I’m doing right now.”
Umaga said through the love of his parents and his MΔori wife, he is privileged to understand what New Zealand means on “a lot of different levels.”
“I am a very proud New Zealander, born in Aotearoa, but I am passionate about my heritage.”
Like Robertson, Laumape himself also had a tumultuous tenure with the All Blacks, playing just 15 tests and arguably leaving at the peak of his powers in 2021 after being consistently overlooked.
Ngani Laumape.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
However, Laumape said he has put that chapter of his career to bed.
“I feel like it doesn’t matter if you played one game or 100, you still achieved that jersey. You still achieve that dream of representing the All Blacks. But I think for me now, I’ve closed that chapter and It’s been an awesome journey being overseas the last couple of years, but it’s really refreshing being back representing Moana.”
The powerful midfielder is now setting his sights on representing Tonga at next year’s World Cup.
“You can have more than one dream, and for me, I I still have one more goal that I want to achieve in my rugby career and that’s representing Tonga and I feel like this is the closest way that I can build to that dream.”
As the big name signing for Moana, Laumape said he won’t be trying to replicate the influence of Ardie Savea in 2025.
“I don’t think anyone can fill those shoes, but I think for me what he did not only inspired the young Pasifika kids but also inspired a whole generation of old and young and I just want to credit my brother for being the leader that he is.”
Laumape said he was annoyed by the narrative surrounding Savea and Robertson’s departure.
“I’ve seen that he’s been getting a lot of backlash in the media, there’s more people that were in those meetings and I feel like it’s pretty bull crap that only his name was out there and I know there’s probably about 10 players in that leadership group who were also in that review, and if one name comes out, all of them should come out.”
As for the season ahead, Laumape said they are far from a one man band and will not let the standards set by Savea in 2025 drop.
“We’re not here to make numbers. We’re here to carry on what the boys did last year.”
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