Scott Robertson clearly has enemies in high places
Scott Robertson clearly has enemies in high places.
And, hey, that happens.
Some people’s faces simply don’t fit, so we have to assume that this iteration of the All Blacks and New Zealand Rugby (NZR) don’t want Robertson around.
The man has done all there is to do in New Zealand rugby to be the national head coach. There’s no bar to be climbed, no box to be ticked.
Be it at club, provincial, under-20 and Super Rugby level, Robertson has done nothing but excel. Better than that, he has created environments in which players have performed to their potential.
And yet we continue to debate his suitability as All Blacks coach and continue to see non-committal answers about his future from NZR.
If they wanted him in the national set up he would be there by now.
Where does he go and what does he do? I honestly don’t know.
But whatever it is, it shouldn’t be here.
Robertson needs to leave this country behind and go and work his peculiar brand of magic somewhere else.
He’d go with my best wishes and I suspect those of many New Zealand rugby fans.
I read the comments on this website of NZR chief executive Mark Robinson with sadness this week. Sadness that he appears to see limited value in Robertson and sadness that NZR are “getting into a review’’ of the just-completed All Blacks season.
Honestly, what is there left to talk about?
They’ve backed their horse, he’s arguably a donkey and the team are as good as they’re ever going to get under his watch.
We hounded Warren Gatland out of this country. We lampooned him endlessly when he was Wales and British & Irish Lions coach and then criticised him at every turn when he took charge of the Chiefs.
We made it clear to Jamie Joseph and Tony Brown and Dave Rennie that they had no future here. That their inability to fall into line with every NZR edict meant they weren’t welcome.
We insist that coaches – such as Robertson must have some offshore experience – despite Ian Foster having none. Conveniently, when our coaches do do well elsewhere, we diminish the currency of those overseas results and suggest these men suddenly don’t have the familiarity with the New Zealand game and are out of touch.
We will now happily send Robertson packing for fear of doing anything to undermine Foster.
We are not so good that we can continue to lose so many good men. Just as the All Blacks aren’t so good that we can continue to insist there’s only one way to do things.
We need as many good coaches as possible in this country. We need them in schools and clubs and franchises, imparting their immense knowledge and a variety of methods and protecting our rugby from intellectual bankruptcy.
The All Blacks are inconsistent because we have become complacent. Worse than that, we’re now frightened of dissenting voices.
We exile those who disagree with the regime, while urging certain media types to defend the governing body at all times.
It’s like watching the Labour Party’s lackeys in action, as everyone seeks to protect their privilege.
Robertson’s record suggests he is exceptional. And, like many people of that ilk, that also means he’s different.
New Zealand Rugby would rather see the All Blacks lose matches – and further damage a once strong brand – than risk having an independent thinker at the helm.
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
5 Go to comments