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Crusaders coach Scott Robertson gives advice to South African teams on how to win Super Rugby

Crusaders celebrate their 2018 title win. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson has a message for South African sides wanting to win Super Rugby – score more tries.

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Following his side’s 19-all draw against the Stormers, the coach who has won the title twice in his first two years at the helm of the Canterbury franchise was asked how the South Africans can ultimately compete for the title.

“They are going to have to score more tries. There is no doubt about that. You have to defend well but you have to be able to score tries. That’s part of the game that they are growing, I know, but they certainly take kicks at goal and that keeps them in games, just like the Sharks.

The Crusaders have drawn twice in three weeks against South African teams, while the Sharks were in a commanding position to win without scoring a try and ultimately settled for a draw. Opting to kick goals and take three’s instead of kicking to the corner were a large part of the tactics employed in both of the games, while the Bulls have been doing it all season with Handre Pollard the clear frontrunner by some distance as the top points scorer.

Robertson’s advice is a high-powered attack scoring tries will win the ultimate title even though kicking goals will keep you in games when you can bring the right intensity, which is something South African sides have only managed to do at home.

“The big challenge for South African teams is to win on the road. The Bulls have done that for the first time in a long time.

“When you look at the stats, the Stormers have won two of the last 15. They are tough to beat at home but they’ve got to learn to win on the road. Once they do that, they will give themselves an opportunity to push for finals and semi-finals, really contest in Super Rugby.

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“If they play on the road with the same intensity they will be extremely tough to beat.

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Nickers 35 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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