Fans feel for overlooked Scott Robertson
Ian Foster and Scott Robertson each had one main selling point in their race to become the new All Blacks coach.
Robertson has a resume that very few coaches can rival: two provincial titles with Canterbury, a World Rugby Under 20 Championship with New Zealand and three Super Rugby titles crowns consecutive years with the Crusaders (a side he’s been at the helm at for just those three years).
Foster’s resume, on the other hand, is far less glamorous on a domestic level but he has been part of the All Blacks setup for the past eight years under Steve Hansen and New Zealand Rugby have previously supported the policy of appointing from within. Ultimately, NZR upheld their traditional approach and chose Foster.
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In light of this, there is a lot of sympathy for Robertson from many All Blacks fans. While Foster always stood a good chance of being appointed to ensure continuity, the Crusaders coach’s record is so staggeringly impressive, many thought he may have shaded the battle.
https://twitter.com/2legit2dunk/status/1204560381521252353?s=20
? They've missed a trick not getting Robertson. Could have done with some new energy to stop the slide of players going north. https://t.co/Nn6hFmWwGr
— Robert Giannotti (@robertgiannotti) December 11, 2019
I… I'm a bit surprised that they didn't go for Scott Robertson. But also kind of not surprised #AllBlacks
— P.G. Wodelouse (@PGWodelouse) December 11, 2019
What some are saying is that this has disincentivised any coach from applying for the All Blacks job in the future, as very few would be able to make a more compelling case to be coach than Robertson has on this occasion. Unless NZR make it clear that the next appointment will be different, anyone that is not part of the coaching team already will be reluctant to apply.
Huge mistake. You've not only picked the inferior candidate, you've further disincentivised quality NZ coaches from applying to be ABs coach in the future.
— MrHeathcliff (@heathcliff_mr) December 11, 2019
https://twitter.com/VizualizeIt/status/1204556668085735424?s=20
The other reason why many are sceptical is that the loss to England in the Rugby World Cup semi-final has been viewed as a watershed moment. The All Blacks’ eight years of dominance came crashing down in Yokohama, and it is feared in New Zealand that it signalled the end of such a fruitful period.
Therefore, some feel that a fresh approach is needed within the All Blacks coaching setup to avoid the chance of the team growing stale. Phrases like “decade of decline” have been bandied about by fans as a consequence.
Boooooo. All Blacks decade of decline starts today. All that talk by Hansen of fresh ideas and here we are. Stale city
— ??Sir Sponge Robert Square Tunic (@derilicte) December 11, 2019
AB's need a fresh mind, doubt Ian Foster is the answer as he has been in the system far too long. Razor would have been my pick, but let Boks reign as no.1 continue until 2021. https://t.co/8RJhde4Kcw
— Nandile Maholwana (@Igwe_TheElder) December 11, 2019
When Graham Henry stood down in 2011 after winning the RWC, it would have been a travesty if anyone but Hansen took over, as he had, after all, helped build such a formidable team. The All Blacks flourished over the next four years under him, but some have felt that they have waned since 2015 – at least compared to their usual standards. With Robertson proving credentials since then, developing arguably the best non-Test team in the world, many feel that this is an opportunity lost.
WATCH: One of the darlings of the 2019 Rugby World Cup could find themselves on the outer in the coming years.
Comments on RugbyPass
Ben Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
86 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to comments