Robertson pleads with Sanzaar to be ‘creative’
Crusaders coach Scott Robertson is urging Sanzaar to be creative in a bid to ensure the 2020 Super Rugby season isn’t dead in the water.
The fourth-year coach understands the governing body’s decision to suspend it for the ‘‘foreseeable future’’ due to New Zealand’s strict coronavirus related border policy, but, if possible, hopes the competition will resume in some shape or form.
‘‘Be creative. If it is local NZ derbies, origin matches over the next few months and then we play the leader of the other conference, or if things kickoff and the borders are relaxed in a month’s time and we have a shorter version,’’ Robertson told Stuff.
‘‘Whatever the opportunity is, the leaders of Sanzaar have to make a good call on what they think is the right thing with all the broadcasters, sponsors and fans.’’
Stripped of five rested All Blacks, the Crusaders overcame red and yellow cards to flog the Sunwolves 49-14 in Brisbane on Saturday, propelling themselves a point clear at the top of the New Zealand conference with a 5-1 record.
Now, they can do little else but wait and see if they will get a tilt at an unprecedented fourth consecutive Super Rugby crown.
The Crusaders flew back to Christchurch yesterday afternoon, before the midnight deadline kicks in and everyone arriving in New Zealand must self isolate for 14 days.
‘‘Jacinda, nick of time,’’ Robertson quipped.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Saturday announced the stringent border control policy, which will be reviewed in 16 days.
‘‘Jacinda made a call and we just have to adapt with it. Obviously, we’ve been through a lot of adversity the last few years so we know our mindset, we see opportunities in it,’’ Robertson said.
The Crusaders don’t plan to take an extended break. Instead, they will be at Rugby Park today and will train this week, despite their home derby against the Hurricanes on Friday being canned.
Their away match to the Highlanders next week is also a write off, while their home game against the Blues the following week also looks doomed.
It is winning derbies where the New Zealand conference is won and Robertson was desperate for the opportunity to knock back their next three opponents and kick clear.
‘‘We were so looking forward to the next few weeks, these big derby matches are so important to us,’’ he said.
‘‘The first thing the boys are saying, ‘what happens, do we get another opportunity to play Kiwi teams again?’.’’
That’s the question on the lips of many, and one Sanzaar executives are expected to work furiously toward answering in the coming weeks.
It’s only one of many questions which have surfaced, including whether New Zealand Rugby will scrap the rest of the All Blacks rest weeks if the competition resumes down the track.
Whether or not players will play club rugby is another prospect, one Robertson admitted had been discussed ahead of Christchurch’s premier competition kicking off at the end of the month. ‘‘It’s important that the guys play rugby and club rugby is a great possibility.’’
Crusaders debutant hooker Hugh Roach is due to front the Sanzaar judiciary today, after he was red carded for lashing out with an elbow and collecting Sunwolves lock Hencus van Wyk.