'Must have been told something': Why Scott Robertson will be the next ABs coach

Coach Scott Robertson is in demand, and has been for quite time. The Crusaders coach has been linked with a number of international positions, including the All Blacks’ top job.

The international rugby rumour mill was in full swing following last year’s Autumn Nations Series, as Robertson’s name continued to be linked with multiple positions.

Robertson was reportedly among the leading candidates to replace Eddie Jones as England head coach.

The 48-year-old has also been linked with the Wallabies and All Blacks, as well as a position with Fiji ahead of this year’s Rugby World Cup in France.

But after months of talk and speculation, Robertson’s future in Test rugby remains unclear.

Or does it?

Six-time Super Rugby champion Bryn Hall believes there’s a reason Robertson has stayed in New Zealand, saying he “must have been told something” about the All Blacks job.

“For Razor right, as an example, the England job and the Australian job are two jobs we think that if he wasn’t going to coach the All Blacks, that would be where he’s going,” Hall said on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.

“The fact that he’s turned it down, just for me personally, just shows that for me, I think that there’s a reason why he’s staying in New Zealand.

“He might have been told he might be the coach and that’s why he stayed around… I think he must have been told something.

“He wouldn’t have gone through the process of going to England, having Australia, and having those communications chats of really (having) an opportunity to coach those teams.”

Ahead of this year’s Super Rugby Pacific season opener, Robertson dropped a bombshell in a press conference.

New Zealand Rugby are expected to steer clear of tradition and appoint their next coach ahead of this year’s World Cup.

But a smiling Scott Robertson told reporters that an announcement would be made “in the next few days.”

While that timeframe has since come and gone - and no coach has been appointed - rumours continue to dominate headlines.

But Hall, who played under Razor for many years, doesn’t expect this to become a distraction for his former teammates this season.

“I don’t think so, I just know that in that environment he’ll put that aside and it won’t really be touched on, especially in that group,” Hall said.

“He’ll be pretty motivated around the seventh title, and if that’s his last campaign… they’ll be pretty good around their theme, based around their theme, and they’ll keep it in house around what their motivations are.

“Razor, he’ll be talking to himself as well around the opportunity of maybe coaching the All Blacks in 2024.”

Reigning Super Rugby Pacific champions the Crusaders are set to host New Zealand rivals the Chiefs in Christchurch on Friday.