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Scott Robertson is in rare company with latest ringing endorsement
If you’re reading this, there’s a reasonable chance you also read the story on RugbyPass in which Laurie Mains was quoted.
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What did you think?
I was quite shocked, myself.
Not because I inherently disagreed with Mains. More the fact that the former All Blacks coach isn’t known for showering people with praise.
In case you missed it, Mains basically said new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson is exceptional, that the players are already emotionally invested in the regime and that he’s now more optimistic about the team’s prospects than he has been in a long time.
Mains wasn’t a great media performer as All Blacks coach. Nor was he particularly warm with the players, according to those I’ve spoken to from that era.
They respected him, in large part because they felt he knew the game. But as a man often under pressure to keep the All Black job, Mains drove the team very hard.
Former coaches, keen to protect their own record, can be sparing in their praise of those who succeed them. Fundamentally they want New Zealand to do well, but they often qualify their statements.
They rarely come straight out and say what Mains has.
I have to admit his comments made me stop and think.
As I say, this is a man whose analysis of the game is greatly admired and someone not known for lavish statements.
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If he’s this bullish about Robertson’s boys, maybe we should all be?
After all, Mains isn’t one of those people who owes their current living to the All Blacks. Many of those who opine on the game are obliged to cheerlead for the team because it pays their bills.
Mains has nothing to gain from this burst of positivity.
I’d seen the All Blacks’ Rugby Championship squad before I read his comments.
The return of David Havili and Will Jordan, absence of Finlay Christie and inclusion of Ruben Love all enthused me.
The team still has a lot of work to do, but the personnel decisions suggest Robertson does intend playing differently than the team has done in the last six or seven years and will pick players to suit.
There’s been a tendency to put all our best players on the park and hope for the best.
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Fullbacks on the wing, wings at centre, first-fives at fullback, utility loose forwards with no fixed abode.
The premise seemed to be that the sheer level of talent would prevail, rather than a coherent gameplan, given all the square pegs in round holes.
I think we’ll gradually see an end to guys being picked on name, reputation or physical prowess under Robertson.
It’ll be their skillset that matters and how that fits into the overall scheme of play.
When I add that to Mains’ comments, I think I might’ve been a bit harsh on the team so far this season.
We should always expect a lot of the All Blacks and always assume that a new coaching staff will bring new ideas and methods to the table.
But the changes won’t always be immediate and nor will the opposition always allow you to implement them. England played very well here and, perhaps, they’re more worthy of praise than the All Blacks are of criticism.
That’s not to say this team doesn’t have to get better in a number of areas. They do.
But the Rugby Championship squad showed evidence of a plan, rather than just picking all the usual suspects and hoping for a better result.
I didn’t discern much that was different about the All Blacks in their series against England and, as a result, that didn’t instil huge confidence in Robertson.
Maybe we’ll all see what Laurie Mains has seen as the season continues.
When Foster's crew chose Cane, Jacobson, Finau, Lord and Vaa'i it was Chiefs' favoritism. When Robertson's crew picked the same players its yet another masterstroke by the master?
Only three tests in and the love in is already in motion.
Laurie Mains had one of the very best AB teams but his tactics in the 95 final were abysmal. Basically: give the ball to Jonah so SA only had one guy to mark, while completely ignoring
world class centres Bunce and Little. Such poor coaching was underlined by the AB comfortably beating SA in SA the following year. So the worth of Main's opinion is debatable?
The Gainline Analytic guy on Aotearoa Rugby Pod talked about this.
To have all new management is a huge upheaval.
They couldn’t change the entire plan and players overnight as well; it would have been chaos.
There has to be as much cohesion as possible as the new players are brought in.
So thanks for that Finlay, you helped out for a couple of games to settle Cortez and Noah.
TJ has seen the writing too.
I think they’ve been very smart about it all.
Mains is honest enough to recognise that Robertson’s on-field results are exceptional, and that’s the only thing that really matters when you want to continue the same trend for the All Blacks. There’s no guarantee that Robertson will succeed at international level but the evidence shows that he’s the most likely to do so.
Conversely, the elitist stooges in the NZR boardroom chose to pander to Foster’s netpoistic behavioural traits rather than reward real world competency. They’re probably to wrapped up in their own self-importance to acknowledge their error.
"Elitist stooges" - "netpoistic behavioral traits" - surprised you didn't use fascist dictators. They are just rugby men and women who have done the hard yards at school, club and / or provincial level.
What unpaid contributions have you made to rugby or sport in general?
Might be a wee bit premature with the praise. Some good moves, like Love and Hotham and Lord, but also some retrograde ones , like TJ (over Christie, whose box kicks were much more accurate once he settled in against the Poms) and Cane and Havili (who might also be gone by the end of the season). Some confusion also - Narawa was dropped without much chance to shine, (for which he should blame Jordie) and instead we now have 4 fullbacks in the squad - BB, Jordan, Love and Perofeta - not to mention the likes of Jordie and Havili who can also play there! I reckon it’ll only really become Razor’s Gang when we get to the northern tour at the end of the year.
I don't see how Narawa getting dropped is evidence of confusion. He probably wouldn't have been selected without Jordan's injury so it's no surprise that he didn't get much time on the field or that he's had to make way now that Jordan is fit.
Scott Hansen has explained that they want the halfbacks to pose an extra question of the rush defence by being a running threat and Christie admitted that he was putting pressure on teammates with his play. In the first test our attack was at by far its most effective before TJ’s injury and in the second after Christie’s.
Bringing back Havilli only faux pas so far
That is a coaching masterstroke!! The best midfielder in New Zealand by quite some margin.
I couldn't agree more Hamish. Particularly with the square peg in round hole point of previous coaches. We’re only three tests in with the team still learning the new coach’s direction. The way we want to play will influence the players selected. Just look at the change to Hotham. Exciting times ahead. Especially with Havili back in the squad. Hopefully a sign that our midfield is going to try more than just run into tacklers without thinking about passing. In ALB, Proctor and Havili, we definitely have more inventiveness.
What change to Hotham? He was already a star at school level and regarded as a future AB. Just like Ratima and Roigard at Waikato Schools. Sevu Reece too was the top NPC try scorer while playing for Waikato before he went to the Cru but people were going on how the Crusader regime had made him a star. Reality check needed!