New Straits Times

“I’m fine. I just played like crap.”

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TIGER WOODS, golf player

CHRISTCHUR­CH: The drums are beating for a breakdanci­ng, surfer dude to coach the world champion All Blacks after Scott “Razor ” Robertson guided the Canterbury Crusaders to their ninth Super Rugby crown.

The laidback 43-year-old, who likes nothing better than to be among the waves, has built a phenomenal record as a rugby coach when ashore.

The Crusaders’ 37-18 victory over the Golden Lions in Christchur­ch on Saturday gave him two Super titles from his two years in charge of the side and an impressive 34-3 win-loss record.

After a standout playing career which included 23 Tests for the All Blacks and four Super crowns with the Crusaders, Robertson’s first head-coaching role was with Canterbury in 2013 and they won the New Zealand premiershi­p.

In 2015, he guided the Junior All Blacks to win the Under-20 World Championsh­ip, and when his teams win the big matches, Robertson’s unorthodox nature comes to the fore as he celebrates with his trademark breakdanci­ng routine.

“He’d be the perfect next, next All Blacks coach with a few more Super Rugby coaching years behind him and perhaps also a bit of internatio­nal experience,” wrote New Zealand Herald rugby writer Gregor Paul.

When Robertson next renews his contract with the Crusaders “it could include a get-out clause to accommodat­e a switch” to the All Blacks should Steve Hansen step down after the 2019 World Cup, suggested Fairfax Media’s Richard Knowler.

With his unkempt hair and happy-go-lucky persona, Robertson does not fit the establishe­d coaching mould.

He has had to combat dyslexia and gets his message across as a “bullet-point and pictures man.”

Current All Blacks coach Hansen describes him as unique.

“He’s his own man, Razor — he’s different,” Hansen said, adding he bring “an infectious excitement with him.”

Robertson may be unorthodox, but his coaching credential­s cannot be questioned, with rugby always on his mind.

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