Northern Edition
Select Edition
Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Crusaders coach Scott Robertson 'optimistic' ahead of All Blacks interview

Scott Robertson. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

c

The 44-year-old steered the Crusaders to their third successive Super Rugby crown on Saturday thanks to their 19-3 grand final win over the Jaguares at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch.

ADVERTISEMENT

In doing so, he became the first person in Super Rugby history to win a hat-trick of titles as both a player and a coach, as he also claimed three consecutive titles during his time as a loose forward with the franchise between 1998 and 2000.

With current All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen stepping down from the position of which he has held since 2012 – and thus ending a 16-year association with New Zealand Rugby – at the end of the year, speculation has been rife as to who will replace the two-time World Cup-winning coach.

Robertson has established himself as a favourite to take over the role through his success with the Crusaders, which comes off the back of title-winning campaigns in previous roles with both Canterbury and the New Zealand U20 side.

Others, such as All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster, Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt and Glasgow Warriors head coach Dave Rennie, have also been shortlisted as potential candidates, but Robertson remains quietly confident of becoming Hansen’s successor when he is interviewed for the position in December.

“I’ve got to prepare as best I can to put myself forward,” he told media during the Crusaders’ victory parade in Christchurch today.

“I’ve done what I can do so then hopefully I’ll have a great interview and if they want someone, they know who they’re getting with me.

ADVERTISEMENT

“We’ll wait for December.”

When pressed further about how he feels about his chances, Robertson, a 22-test All Black himself, was coy with his answer.

“Ask me closer to the time,” he said.

“I’m a pretty optimistic person – if you have a crack I’d like to think you have a chance.”

Since coming into coaching at first-class level as Canterbury assistant coach in 2008, Robertson has won a plethora of accolades.

He won five straight domestic titles while working under head coaches Rob Penney and Tabai Matson, before adding a sixth consecutive crown as a head coach in 2013.

ADVERTISEMENT

Robertson was appointed head coach of the New Zealand U20 side in 2015, and guided them to a title at the World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy that year.

He then won back-to-back titles with Canterbury in 2015 and 2016, and was subsequently named Crusaders head coach for the 2017 campaign after Todd Blackadder’s departure to Bath.

Nadolo – The Documentary:

Video Spacer

ADVERTISEMENT

South Africa v Argentina | World Rugby U20 Championship | Extended Highlights

France v New Zealand | World Rugby U20 Championship | Extended Highlights

England v Wales | World Rugby U20 Championship | Extended Highlights

Tattoos & Rugby: Why are tattoos so popular with sportspeople? | Amber Schonert | Rugby Rising Locker Room Season 2

Lions Share | Episode 3

Zimbabwe vs Kenya | Rugby Africa Cup Semi Final | Full Match Replay

USA vs Spain | Men's International | Full Match Replay

Portugal vs Ireland | Men's International | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

P
PM 31 minutes ago
Why Henry Pollock's x-factor could earn him a Lions Test start

Nick,

I am a long suffering England fan, who has had to endure watching 4 years of dull rugby, poor selections and painful defeats. Steve Borthwick talks about GPS and picks squads by numbers and then we put in a poor performance on the pitch - it’s been a consistent trend.


Something changed in the Six Nations and we totally changed our style (literally overnight) and played some really good footie, which finally felt like positive rugby for a change.


Genge has regained his pore-Covid form and is looking back to his best and is head and shoulders above Porter.


Chessum has had a good year and hasn’t played a poor International game this season.


Tom Curry was outstanding in the 6 Nations but they have been playing him at 6, wheras he is better at 7 and is lethal at the breakdown.


Tom Willis was brought into the starting team at 8 and has been one of the best England players over the last year, who should have been on this Lions tour at 8. Earl had his best game since 2020 last week - not sure 1 game warrants Lions selection over a poor combination side and he is certainly second choice for his club 7 country behind Willis.


Pollock will be a good player but like all young emerging players, he is inconsistent and can go quiet in games, which is why Curry should be the starter at 7. He brings energy to games, which is why he is good from the bench but there is an argument to say he is the 5th best England openside (Curry x2, Underhill & Earl are currently better) but will improve over the next 5 years. We just need to stop the media building him up for a fall, let him play and develop and you will see a sensational Henry Pollock for the Lions in 4 years time.


Lions will be too powerful over 80 mins, so doesn’t really matter who they pick. Just please don’t put too much hype on Pollock. His 20 mins of International rugby going into this tour were positive but the media caused a frenzy and no other player would be selected on this basis.


Let’s enjoy the rugby and give Pollock the space and time he requires.

100 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Mick Cleary: 'Why the Lions have no excuses and Owen Farrell should be in the first Test 23' Mick Cleary: 'Why the Lions have no excuses and Owen Farrell should be in the first Test 23'