Scott Robertson’s two-year tenure as All Blacks coach ended abruptly today after New Zealand Rugby announced his departure. Here are the highs and lows of the Razor era. Razor’s ‘reset’ March 21, 2023: Robertson was named All Blacks coach starting from the 2024 season, appointed for four years through to the end of the 2027 Rugby World Cup. The decision meant incumbent Ian Foster continued to lead the All Blacks through the 2023 Rugby World Cup, where they were beaten in the final by South Africa. It marked the end of a charged debate about Foster and just who was the right leader for the men in black. “Robertson is being brought in with a mandate to reset an All Blacks side in every way: personnel, attitudes, culture and interaction,” the Herald’s Gregor Paul wrote at the time. An awkward start April 26, 2023: Robertson revealed his coaching staff, with All Blacks assistant coach Jason Ryan joined by Leon MacDonald, Jason Holland and Scott Hansen, more than a full year before the team’s first test. It meant awkward ramifications among the All Blacks set-up at the time, with assistants Scott McLeod (defence) and Greg Feek (scrum) on the outer as part of a widespread cleanout. O Captain! My Captain! June 25, 2024: Robertson named his first squad, including the call to make Scott Barrett his captain. The Crusaders skipper was the preferred choice over Ardie Savea, the reigning World Rugby player of the year. “He’s got a really good feel for the game to make the right calls at the right time. He’s won a lot of big games and big moments,” Robertson said of Barrett. ”He’s always risen to the occasion with the All Blacks, and I know he’ll do it as a captain too." The biggest talking point was the omission of Blues No 8 Hoskins Sotutu, despite a standout Super Rugby Pacific season. A scare to start July 6, 2024: Robertson’s first test in charge started with England giving the All Blacks an almighty scare under the Dunedin roof as the home side held on for a 16-15 win. A week later, the All Blacks needed a comeback win to deny England at Eden Park. Gregor Paul described it as a nervy start to the Robertson era, where the All Blacks were sucked into England’s trap. First defeat August 10, 2024: Fourth test in charge and first defeat for Robertson as Argentina recorded their highest total against the All Blacks in a 38-30 win in Wellington. The All Blacks bounced back against the Pumas a week later, winning 42-10. “It’s a close-run thing in trying to determine whether the biggest failure in Wellington last Saturday was the All Blacks losing to Argentina or New Zealand Rugby (NZR) not selling out the stadium,” Paul wrote at the time. Exit MacDonald August 22, 2024: Ahead of two Rugby Championship tests in South Africa, assistant coach Leon MacDonald left his post in the All Blacks coaching group. After several weeks of discussions between Robertson and MacDonald on their working approach, NZR confirmed the pair had mutually agreed to part ways and that MacDonald would not be replaced. Assistant coach Scott Hansen and contact skills coach Tamati Ellison took on additional responsibilities for the remainder of the season. Contract conundrum: The legal implications of MacDonald’s exit Bashed by the Boks September 1, 2024: In Robertson’s first clash against the Springboks, the All Blacks coughed up a 10-point lead with 12 minutes to play, conceding two late tries to fall 31-27 in Johannesburg. A week later, the Springboks recorded their fourth win in succession against their great foes, for the first time in 75 years. For the first time in 15 years, the All Blacks handed the Freedom Cup over to South Africa. Ireland streak snapped November 9, 2024: A week after beating England for a fourth time in the year, Robertson’s men stunned Ireland and snapped their 19-test undefeated home streak. It was New Zealand’s first win in Dublin in eight years. Fourth loss of the year November 17, 2024: An unbeaten northern tour was within reach, but...