Robertson names two ex-England players he would love to coach with
Serial trophy winner Scott Robertson has included two ex-England players in the list of coaches he would love to work with in the future. The former All Blacks forward is formulating plans ahead of 2023, his seventh season in charge at the Crusaders, but he hopes to eventually branch out into the Test game as his long-term ambition is to win two World Cups - one with his native country and a second with another team.
Robertson has recently been linked to roles with both the All Blacks and England. He was interviewed by New Zealand Rugby to succeed Steve Hansen after the 2019 World Cup but lost out to Ian Foster.
However, Robertson has been heavily touted in recent weeks as the next man up at the All Blacks where the Foster era has recently fallen into disrepair following four defeats in five matches ahead of their two-Test trip to South Africa. That is very much a wait-and-see situation.
Meanwhile, ex-back-rower Robertson also caught up with England boss Eddie Jones in Sydney this month and he explained the reason why during an appearance on The Big Jim Show, a podcast hosted by ex-Scotland international Jim Hamilton. The RFU insisted last week their preferred candidate to succeed Jones, who is leaving after the 2023 World Cup, has still to be identified.
Away from that speculation, one of the most interesting answers provided by Robertson during his Big Jim Show appearance was his thoughts on whether he would work again with La Rochelle boss Ronan O’Gara, his former Crusaders assistant, and what other coaches he would love to collaborate with in a dream team scenario.
Speaking initially about O’Gara, the Irishman he will join as co-coach of the Barbarians when they take on an All Blacks XV in London next November, Robertson explained: “Look, we have quite a cool relationship actually. I needed someone like him, someone who had been in Europe and understood the kicking game really as the Crusaders wanted to work with Richie (Mo’unga) on it.
“He was a little bit cynical about life really when he first arrived. There was a bit of scepticism, ‘I don’t think it’s going to work out that way’. I was, ‘mate, what if it does?’ I am really optimistic and he just saw things differently. I need that, I need people with risk management.
“It wasn’t quite there but the balance of it all we ended up coming in as a combination, he built great relationships with the players and he has talked (since) about how his couple of years down here helped him.
“I’m coaching the Baa-Baas with him. We talk regularly, he talks about how to shape a season, and what you have to do in the off-season, we talk about a lot of those things. He is a great mind but he needs good people around him which he is starting to get right - it is really, really critical.
“Would I coach with him again? Yeah, I would. I love that he has become a head coach. He has got a little bit of charisma and for whatever reason, players trust him and that is hard… for him to do what he has done is pretty special.”
Who would be the Robertson dream team of coaches? “I have got my mate Jas Ryan, who is an incredible forwards coach (who has now been snapped up by the All Blacks over the last weekend). I’m just trying to think if there are any other positions?
“I have really enjoyed what Mike Catt has done with Ireland. It’s pretty special, their short passing game, the work off the ball that they do. Robin McBryde, I’d love. I think Steve Borthwick, I just love the way his team has a clear identity.
"He has brought Leicester back to their peak, ‘we’re going to maul, we’re going to scrum, we are going to put pressure on you, we are going to kick you into corners, we are going to defend’ but they can play a bit when they need to as well. He is pretty special in his own unique way. There are a few (coaches I like).”
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John, McKenzie was 10 years ago and he only lasted 15 months until the disgustingly unfair affair that brought him down. I thought that if he didn't get another gig over Eddie V2 then he was done. I read that he had been approached but declined to put his name in the ring.
There are no potential Wallaby coaches outside of McKellar unless you have some inside info?
Go to commentsThe way they are defending is sometime pathetic to be honest. Itoje is usually on the inside of the rush and he is paired with a slower tight forward. Unable to keep up with the rush we have seen the line become disconnected on the inside where the big boys are. How many times have we seen Earl rush past the first receiver almost into no mans land covering no attacker. It looks like a system without any guidance. Tome Wright, Ikitau and a number of Wallabies went back to this soft centre as did Williams, Jordan and several others. Also when the line is broken the multiple lines of defence seems to be missing. The rush is predicated on a cover and recovery system with multiple lines of defence but with England you dont see it any more. Fitness and conditioning seems to be off as well as players are struggling to keep up with the intensity of the rush. Felix Jones has left a huge hole. The whole situation was and is a mess. Why they insist on not letting him go and having him work remotely is beyond me. Its leading to massive negative press and is a hot button issue thats distracting from the squad. Also the communication around Jones and his role has been absolute rubbish and is totally disjointed. While some say he is working remotely and playing a role others are saying theres been no contact. His role has not been defined and so people keep asking and keep getting different answers. England need a clean break from him and need to start over. Whatever reason for his leaving its time to cut the rope before the saga drags the whole Borthwick regime down. As for Joe El Abd well good luck to him. He is being made to look like an amateur by the whole saga and he is being asked to coach a system thats not his and which has been perfected and honed since 2017 by Nienaber, Jones, Erasmus and Co and which was first started by White in 2004. He is literally trying to figure out a system pioneered by double world cup winning coaches at the highest level and coach it at the same time. Talk about being on a hiding to nothing.
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