42 - 19

22 - 19

43 - 14

45 - 30

29 - 13

24 - 23

37 - 10

32 - 27

22 - 24

32 - 13

21 - 10

30 - 26

23 - 33

57 - 17

35 - 18

17 - 36

12 - 8

Thursday

15:00

Friday

13:00

Friday

13:30

Friday

13:30

Friday

13:30

Friday

13:30

Friday

13:30

Friday

15:00

Friday

15:10

In demand Robertson snubs overseas offers and commits to Crusaders

By Online Editors

17 Feb 2019

Robertson has been tipped by many to be the next All Blacks head coach

BNZ Crusaders Head Coach Scott Robertson has confirmed his plans to remain in New Zealand, announcing he has re-committed to the Crusaders and New Zealand Rugby for the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

Robertson is one of the leading candidates to takeover as the headcoach of the All Blacks when Steve Hansen leaves the position.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue to lead a group of incredible players, alongside a coaching staff and management group who are passionate about what we do and the organisation we represent,” Robertson said.

“My family and I are really settled here and when my wife Jane and I talked about it, this is ultimately where we wanted to be. I had already signalled my commitment to New Zealand Rugby and this 2019 campaign with the Crusaders, but this announcement ensures I can now focus on the task at hand and move forward with certainty around my coaching future.

“It’s a huge honour to lead this team and I’m thankful for the support I have been shown by New Zealand Rugby, the Crusaders Board and the team, in extending my time with the club,” Robertson said.

Continue reading below…

BNZ Crusaders CEO Colin Mansbridge said the news is fantastic for the Crusaders organisation, and fans throughout the region: “Razor’s rugby nous and coaching capabilities go without saying, but it’s his unique ability to connect with his players, our staff and our community, that truly makes him such an instrumental leader and endears him to our fans.

“We are fortunate to have a coach who cares deeply about his players, and injects so much heart and personality into Crusaders rugby. It was absolutely a priority to re-sign him and we’re extremely grateful to NZ Rugby for their time and effort, and working closely with us to achieve this. I’m thrilled that Scott, Jane and their family have made the decision to remain in New Zealand,” Mr Mansbridge said.

New Zealand Rugby (NZR) CEO Steve Tew added: “The Crusaders have enjoyed a very successful period under Razor and their success has been good for rugby in New Zealand. Razor’s recommitment to stay in New Zealand is one to be celebrated by Crusaders and New Zealand rugby fans. His energy and passion for rugby is relentless and his outstanding sense of humour is infectious. He doesn’t miss an opportunity to tell me he is our best ever signing!”

Scott Robertson. Photo / Getty Images

A former Crusaders, Canterbury and All Blacks loose forward, Robertson started his provincial rugby playing career with Bay of Plenty in 1995, before moving to Christchurch where he played 69 games for Canterbury and 86 Super Rugby matches for the Crusaders. All Black number 974, Robertson featured in 23 Tests between 1998-2002. During that same period, he won four Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders, including three consecutive titles in 1998, 1999 and 2000.

Following his international career, he played three seasons for Perpignan in France, before moving to Japan to join the Ricoh Black Rams – as a player for one season, and then as a coach.

Robertson assisted the Canterbury national provincial team to five successive titles between 2008 and 2012, first as the Assistant Forwards Coach for four years and then as the Assistant Coach in 2012. From 2013-2016 he was Head Coach of the side, guiding the team to three Premiership titles during that time.

The 44-year-old has also enjoyed success as Head Coach of the New Zealand Under 20 team, claiming victory at the 2015 Under 20 World Championship. Prior to that he was the Forwards Coach in 2014.

Robertson is now in his third season as Head Coach of the BNZ Crusaders, with a win-loss record of 35-3 since his first season in charge back in 2017. He secured back to back Investec Super Rugby titles in the 2017 and 2018 seasons. The Crusaders also made history with their 2017 victory in Johannesburg, becoming the first team to travel to South Africa for a Final and return with the Super Rugby trophy. In guiding the team to that title, Robertson also became the first person to win a Super title as both a player and a coach.

The BNZ Crusaders opened their 2019 Investec Super Rugby campaign with a 22-24 win on Saturday night, against the Blues at Eden Park.

LIVE

Comments

0 Comments

Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Latest Features

LONG READ

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

Having been spoiled by the giants of the past, New Zealand have been caught up by the rest of the world.

LONG READ

Freddie Thomas: 'OMFG, I've been selected for Wales - my mum was bawling her eyes out'

The burgeoning Gloucester forward was nervously hacking around the golf course when a fateful WRU email landed in his inbox.

LONG READ

The joy, spirit and obstacles of the rugby pilgrim

What is life like for those who traverse the rugby world as supporters, and is the game as accessible as it should be?

Comments on RugbyPass

Nickers 13 minutes ago

Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

So you have to be an international coach to have an opinion on rugby?

41 Go to comments

Nickers 13 minutes ago

Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

He looks the business. Reminds me of Tomaso Menoncello.

41 Go to comments

Another 15 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

There is a lot of this being said at the moment but Marcus Smith did miss a couple of drop goals of his own in the first half. Everything is in hindsight and you’d also need to be a brave coach to not make use of your bench replacements in a test.

NZ tried to resist making replacements in the second test against the Boks this year, and fatigued players just ended up making uncharacteristic errors at the end of the match.

61 Go to comments

Nickers 15 minutes ago

Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I think rush defences has made this almost impossible, which is why most teams have converted their 15 to this role. Which team is successfully deploying a Mauger/Giteau type 12?

41 Go to comments

Nickers 18 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.

41 Go to comments

JH 19 minutes ago

Jacob Stockdale: 'That was a turning point, that really got to me'

Has Stockdale recovered mentally yet regarding the tries conceded against Kolbe when he played Toulouse. He couldn’t put a hand on Kolbe on any occasion - thought that was the end for him.

0 Go to comments

Another 20 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

I do feel that the current low level of competitiveness from Australia has been problematic for NZ rugby also, and hopeful that the Aussies are beginning a slow but progressive assent now.

However, in historical terms there is sometimes an exaggeration about how competitive the field is now compared to past eras. The decline of Australia has curiously coincided with the rise of Ireland with Ireland's structured attack being notably reminiscent to that of the great Wallaby teams of 25 years ago or so. England were also strong back then too, lest we forget.

France are currently as good as the French team in the 1980s, same with Argentina really, and South Africa merely holding the tradition of some great Springboks teams of the past.

Where does NZ fit in to all of this? Currently at No.3 in the world, but still ambitious...

61 Go to comments

GD.Spear 21 minutes ago

Boks warned Scotland are a different beast from World Cup encounter

Not possible. Gregor Townsend and no bench = same Scotland. Boks by 20

1 Go to comments

AD 29 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

Thanks Nick.

Yes, the field is closing up.

As someone who has followed both Rugby League and Union for donkeys years, I concur both about Bellamy and All Blacks at 70%.

Of course, back in the day (and until recently) there were only a few international Rugby teams of true class.

The All Blacks and Springboks were top shelf with England, France and occasionally Wales and Australia as contenders.

Even though the All Blacks didn't play them much, Argentina, Italy and Fiji weren't anything, though Ireland and Scotland were regular NZ bunnies.

Occasionaly Romania, USA and Canada were ok, but again, NZ still tended to play only home nations teams + SA, France and Australia. They still got high win percentages. Their own comp was easily the best in the world.

Professionalism created Super Rugby with SA and Oz. A very high standard, until two too many Australian sides dragged the standard down, then the withdrawal of SA teams completed the rout.

All along, and unrelated, France and (especially) Ireland got better and Argentina and Italy got good-ish. Australia moved the other way.

I think 70% for NZ is top shelf now, and that's realistic.

I'm Australian, but I have no doubt that our poor performance on and off the Rugby Union field has hurt NZ a lot. So too has the attraction of Rugby League via Australia been damaging to the All Blacks.

Not their fault, our fault!

61 Go to comments

Another 31 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

Not a myth stated by anyone here.

61 Go to comments

Ninjin 39 minutes ago

Would a Springboks B team really conquer the world?

Does Ireland have a B team? It seems they have more a couple of good local players and a couple of average SH players and that combines to make one team?

38 Go to comments

Ninjin 42 minutes ago

Would a Springboks B team really conquer the world?