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Richie McCaw expects Scott Robertson will 'do things a little bit different'

(Photo by Koki Nagahama/Getty Images)

Two Canterbury and New Zealand icons have endorsed another as Scott Robertson begins his All Blacks coaching journey, with Richie McCaw and Dan Carter excited to see what the coach can achieve at the international level.

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While Robertson conceded he will have to acknowledge the challenge of levelling up his game to prove he is not just a great club coach, Carter says there is no doubt Razor is world-class.

McCaw was Robertson’s understudy briefly at the All Blacks during his rapid rise to top dog, and so has also known Razor in both a playing and coaching context, helping him get a good read on what to expect from the next era of All Blacks rugby.

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“Well I think he’ll do things a little bit different to what’s been done before,” McCaw told Rugby.com.au.

“Since 2004, you’ve had a pretty settled, especially management team with a slight change of coaches but I think he’ll do things a little bit differently. He’ll bring the things that have worked in the past but he’s prepared to try things.

“What he does have is a great knowledge of who’s around. He knows getting selections and staff right are important so it’s going to be exciting to see what he brings.”

So far, Robertson has opted for tried and tested relationships in his coaching staff, selecting former Canterbury and Crusaders assistants in Leon MacDonald, Jason Ryan, Scott Hansen and Jason Holland.

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As for the players he’ll select, McCaw believes the nature of this year’s World Cup final loss will inevitably leave a sour taste in some mouths but also makes for confidence in a competitive international field.

“You make the final and you come up one point short, it’s disappointing that you’re so close but yet came up short.

“You look at all the teams that went to the World Cup like the French and the Irish that had a real good chance of winning it and they went home early and the Wallabies show you tournaments chuck up anything.

“The results especially leading up into the tournament against South Africa and in the opening game, to give themselves a chance you’ve got to be happy but if we stopped being disappointed when we don’t win, you lower your standards.

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“A few of the guys I’ve talked to have said how disappointed they are but that’s the nature of it and we have a new coach and outlook next year which will be interesting.”

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Carter joined his former teammate in expressing excitement over the seven-time Super Rugby champion’s appointment, agreeing the All Blacks will be “different” with Razor at the helm.

“He’s an incredibly talented coach, a former teammate of mine,” Carter told 1News. “I got coached by him for one year when I went back injured and played for Canterbury.

“I’ve been following his journey pretty closely and he’s got a great team around him, which will be really important at that next level of coaching.

“I can assure him, he’s much more than a club coach, he’s a world-class, world-leading coach and I’m really excited to see what he brings because there will be some changes, it will be different. He thinks about the game in a different way, extremely passionate and he often gets the best out of the players he coaches which is extremely exciting.”

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Comments

5 Comments
B
Bob Marler 472 days ago

Well there’d be no use coming in and doing everything the same, now then would there?

T
Tristan 472 days ago

Richie McCaw as AB captain instilled a mental edge that has been notably lacking since he retired. I would love to see him back involved with the team again.

J
Jon 472 days ago

McCaw sounding like he needs to be involved in the game again! Canterbury gig incoming? Would love to see it!

S
Simon 472 days ago

Cannot wait to see what Razor will do. He will be such a breath of fresh air after Mr Stoge. He will bring back that All Black excitement and energy that we have all been missing and I bet the players are exceited as well.

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JW 15 minutes ago
Super Rugby Pacific has turned the ship around in the right direction

LOL thats the same mentality the French saying about the Top 14. Why change their ridiculous comp if its performing well with investors?


There is always better JWH.


It depends really what you want out of Super Rugby and NPC. Currently Super Rugby fills both niche’s, it has the up and commers as well as the stars performing at the top. Reducing further obviously improves further on what has been the reason everybody is enjoying this season.


There is definitely a question of balance and what going further that way removes. But theres a few reasons. What coaches are telling us is it is also a struggle to find the talent to fill out a strong SR side. There is talk of increasing financial constraints. Currently there is a lopsided (random) amount of derby home and away match ups in each conference, so going 5v5 instead of 6v6 may mean we have a full derby round for each conference (currently I think they play just 3 teams twice), or even squeeze in a full dbl round comp. Going a larger number of teams means they need to go much larger to fairer league setup.


But they need to add or remove JWH, one or the other, and I was merely pointing out that adding, like you’re suggestion, is likely going to introduce just what we all (or at least what the person I was replying to was saying) think the comp has been remedied of, having a weak team. The 5v5 I referenced was 3 Aus teams, with the other two filling the landscape their, and 5 here. That’s what NZR wanted to kick off for the COVID year but ARU threw a hissy fit. If going to 10 is the right thing to do maybe it’s an NZ team that needs to be dropped, so Moana would remain here and Drua continue to be with the aussies, thats the other possible 5 v 5 setup (which would just be 10 if they found a way for all to play even games).

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