Rassie can’t breakdance: Scott Robertson on ‘unique’ Springboks rival

Rassie Erasmus can’t breakdance. When that point was thrown Scott Robertson’s way during a press conference on Thursday, the All Blacks coach responded with a smile and a chuckle while agreeing, “That’s a good point. We’ll have to see what rhythm he’s got.”

Robertson is well-known for breaking out into a groove after tasting title-winning success as a head coach. The now 50-year-old busted some moves with the New Zealand U20s years ago, and of course, did so time and time again with the Crusaders in Super Rugby.

However, that light-hearted moment between the All Blacks coach and reporters doesn’t take away from the respect Robertson and Erasmus share. The pair went head-to-head during their playing days and they’re preparing to do so as Test level coaches for the first time.

On Tuesday, Erasmus said that Robertson “might be the best coach in the world.” That was high praise from the two-time Rugby World Cup-winning mastermind, who has seemingly helped the Springboks take their game to an all-new level so far in The Rugby Championship.

Robertson has only coached five Tests, and for the most part, the All Blacks have been successful. They beat England twice, Fiji once, and bounced back from a shock loss to Argentina in Wellington to dominate the same foe in Auckland a week later.

The two coaches are at different stages of their careers in charge of their respective national teams, but there’s no denying that both Robertson and Erasmus are among the leading rugby gurus in the international game at the moment.

“We shared a few beers and a few stories after the games over the years. We just have a good little rapport that you’re sort of connected in,” Robertson told reporters on Thursday.

“You watch players go into their coaching after they’ve played and you look to his journey and how he’s got to where he’s got to where he’s got, it’s a pretty remarkable story isn’t it? He won a couple of World Cups… he’s got seven forwards on the bench and it’s awesome.

“He’s his own man and what’s in his head he tells you so it’s pretty unique.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

4

Draws

0

Wins

1

Average Points scored

24

17

First try wins

40%

Home team wins

60%

“He’s one of the benchmarks, yeah, for sure,” he added. “You have all that success, you’ve got to respect that.”

Robertson famously led the Crusaders to seven Super Rugby titles in as many years, and a vast majority of All Blacks fans were thrilled to see the super coach appointed as Ian Foster’s successor-to-be more than a year ago.

With a new-look coaching group leading the way, the All Blacks are still chipping away and finding their groove in 2024, but their next challenge is one that promises fireworks as two titans of Test match rugby prepare to trade blows.

For the first time since last year’s Rugby World Cup Final – which South Africa won 12-11 in a thriller at Stade de France – the All Blacks and Springboks will meet on the field of battle for what promises to be another enthralling Test.

The All Blacks have been in Johannesburg, South Africa, for just under a week now to prepare for the Test at altitude. Ellis Park will host the heavyweight bout between two giants of the international rugby game before they meet again the following weekend in Cape Town.

“It was the last time they played, the last time they played against the Springboks,” Robertson explained when asked about the Rugby World Cup Final.

“They understood those small margins in that game and (they) missed a couple of kicks and it swung both ways. It’s probably just a reflection of Test match rugby and how tight it is and how tight these games are over history.

“There’s a couple of ones that have blown out either way but it’s normally, at the backend of it, you’re not far away from each other and that was that Final, wasn’t it?”