Why next ABs coach Scott Robertson can 'become one of the greats'

Former New Zealand coach Laurie Mains has explained why newly appointed All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has the potential to “become one of the greats.”

Robertson has been among the favourites to succeed Ian Foster in the All Blacks’ hot seat for quite some time now – arguably the favourite – and the news was confirmed on Tuesday.

New Zealand Rugby announced this week that Robertson will replace Foster after this year’s World Cup in France, and will lead the national team through to the 2027 tournament in Australia.

NZR board chair Dame Patsy Reddy revealed at a press conference in Wellington that Robertson’s appointment was “unanimous.”

Finally, the All Blacks have their man.

Robertson has the backing of the entire NZR board, and the 48-year-old is also a popular choice among All Black fans.

Everywhere he’s gone, Robertson has tasted success. All Blacks fans like that.

Former All Blacks coach Laurie Mains believes Robertson was definitely the right choice for the job, having described him as “different in a very good way.”

“He absolutely is (the right choice),” Mains told SENZ The Run Home.

“I’m really excited about his appointment. He seems to get the best out of players, the best out of his team, the best out of his assistant coaches and he brings a whole new excitement to it.

“He’s different and different in a very good way. He’s different in a way that I couldn’t be and I’ve got to say… his record meant that really he was the only person that could get the job.”

Robertson is a winner – and has the breakdancing moves to show for it.

The former All Black loose forward has danced in celebration following championship triumphs with Canterbury, the Crusaders and the New Zealand Under-20s.

Winning is in his DNA. But this is a whole new level.

The pressure and expectation that follows the All Blacks is a completely different ball game.

But as a former All Black, the man known as ‘Razor’ will be eager to carry on the “legacy” of the black jersey with success and pride – and this can make him “one of the greats.”

“There’s a couple of things (that make him right for the job),” he added.

“He was a successful All Black himself… once you’ve played in the All Blacks, you carry the legacy of that All Black jersey with you and as a former player, he knows just how important it is.

“But what I’ve seen in his coaching, clearly the players are able to express themselves fully inside a very sound game plan and he’s just got everybody jumping out of their boots to play when they take the field.

“He brings an excitement to his players. It’s not hard to get the best out of your players for two or three years but he’s done it now for six years and he keeps innovating and he keeps bringing in new blood that turns out to be very good choices.

“The other factor that’s very important; he gets the best out of the coaching team around him and his whole team around him.

“For me sitting on the outside, he’s looking like he could become one of the greats.”