1
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.
ADVERTISEMENT
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.
Loved my chat with Scott Robertson. @crusadersrugby head coach.
We chatted about getting the very best out of people. His dream job and his dream coaching team. Legend of a human. Enjoy. https://t.co/26g3ooZURO pic.twitter.com/rLBtOEILW5— Jim Hamilton (@jimhamilton4) July 26, 2022
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.
ADVERTISEMENT
“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?
ADVERTISEMENT
“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).”
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
1 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
24 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
6 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to comments