Robertson names two ex-England players he would love to coach with

Serial trophy winner Scott Robertson has included two ex-England players in the list of coaches he would love to work with in the future. The former All Blacks forward is formulating plans ahead of 2023, his seventh season in charge at the Crusaders, but he hopes to eventually branch out into the Test game as his long-term ambition is to win two World Cups – one with his native country and a second with another team.

Robertson has recently been linked to roles with both the All Blacks and England. He was interviewed by New Zealand Rugby to succeed Steve Hansen after the 2019 World Cup but lost out to Ian Foster.

However, Robertson has been heavily touted in recent weeks as the next man up at the All Blacks where the Foster era has recently fallen into disrepair following four defeats in five matches ahead of their two-Test trip to South Africa. That is very much a wait-and-see situation.

Meanwhile, ex-back-rower Robertson also caught up with England boss Eddie Jones in Sydney this month and he explained the reason why during an appearance on The Big Jim Show, a podcast hosted by ex-Scotland international Jim Hamilton. The RFU insisted last week their preferred candidate to succeed Jones, who is leaving after the 2023 World Cup, has still to be identified.

Away from that speculation, one of the most interesting answers provided by Robertson during his Big Jim Show appearance was his thoughts on whether he would work again with La Rochelle boss Ronan O’Gara, his former Crusaders assistant, and what other coaches he would love to collaborate with in a dream team scenario.

Loved my chat with Scott Robertson. @crusadersrugby head coach.
We chatted about getting the very best out of people. His dream job and his dream coaching team. Legend of a human. Enjoy. https://t.co/26g3ooZURO pic.twitter.com/rLBtOEILW5

— Jim Hamilton (Vice Captain) (@jimhamilton4) July 26, 2022

Speaking initially about O’Gara, the Irishman he will join as co-coach of the Barbarians when they take on an All Blacks XV in London next November, Robertson explained: “Look, we have quite a cool relationship actually. I needed someone like him, someone who had been in Europe and understood the kicking game really as the Crusaders wanted to work with Richie (Mo’unga) on it.

“He was a little bit cynical about life really when he first arrived. There was a bit of scepticism, ‘I don’t think it’s going to work out that way’. I was, ‘mate, what if it does?’ I am really optimistic and he just saw things differently. I need that, I need people with risk management.

“It wasn’t quite there but the balance of it all we ended up coming in as a combination, he built great relationships with the players and he has talked (since) about how his couple of years down here helped him.

“I’m coaching the Baa-Baas with him. We talk regularly, he talks about how to shape a season, and what you have to do in the off-season, we talk about a lot of those things. He is a great mind but he needs good people around him which he is starting to get right – it is really, really critical.

“Would I coach with him again? Yeah, I would. I love that he has become a head coach. He has got a little bit of charisma and for whatever reason, players trust him and that is hard… for him to do what he has done is pretty special.”

Who would be the Robertson dream team of coaches? “I have got my mate Jas Ryan, who is an incredible forwards coach (who has now been snapped up by the All Blacks over the last weekend). I’m just trying to think if there are any other positions?

“I have really enjoyed what Mike Catt has done with Ireland. It’s pretty special, their short passing game, the work off the ball that they do. Robin McBryde, I’d love. I think Steve Borthwick, I just love the way his team has a clear identity.

“He has brought Leicester back to their peak, ‘we’re going to maul, we’re going to scrum, we are going to put pressure on you, we are going to kick you into corners, we are going to defend’ but they can play a bit when they need to as well. He is pretty special in his own unique way. There are a few (coaches I like).”