Robertson the man to resuscitate ailing ABs
It is time to bring in the Razor’s edge. The All Blacks coaching job is now, surely, Scott Robertson’s to lose. The resounding nature of Saturday night’s 19-7 semifinal loss to England in Yokohama leaves new New Zealand Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson and his appointments team with plenty to ponder and, almost certainly, a new course to plot in terms of the top All Blacks job.
Any hope Steve Hansen’s assistant, Ian Foster, had of stepping into the top role almost certainly went down the gurgler with the All Blacks’ threepeat prospects at Yokohama’s International Stadium on Saturday night.
Foster knew his prospects were pinned entirely on the All Blacks winning a third straight global title. Then he would have been a laydown misere for the job under the muchsquawked about ‘‘continuity’’ theory.
Now all bets are off. It’s why he’s never really bothered to campaign for the job and presented a largely indifferent face to the media throughout this last year or so. He knew it was pointless to win anyone over when his fate hung on what played out on the turf of Japan.
Well, that didn’t work out too well, did it?
It’s hard not to think that the All Blacks need a fresh voice at the top. A makeover in their management team. Some fresh minds to plot the way forward.
One loss will not define these All Blacks, nor Hansen’s otherwise hugely successful tenure. He got this one badly wrong, both in the readiness of his side to handle the relentless physicality of the England side in a one-sided semifinal, and also in his selection. He admitted he would not have picked Scott Barrett at No 6 if he had his time over.
There was a lot of talk among the players after this depressingly disappointing loss about the need to learn from it. The All Blacks barely fired a shot. Their lone try came from a terrible England misfire at a defensive lineout. Otherwise the New Zealanders were simply unable to handle what Eddie Jones’ men threw at them on defence, at the breakdown and at the set piece.
Well, New Zealand Rugby must learn too. It must understand that all good things come to an end and it is time for some freshness in these All Blacks.
Robertson, the charismatic, hugely successful former All Black and Crusaders coach, appeals as the logical successor. He is a modern thinker, an innovator and a motivator, and he has the midas touch. His franchise has won everything from the minute he toolk over.
Some things will have to be weighed up. Is this the best time for him? Would he be best served by accumulating more experience at the level below? Indeed are the All Blacks ready for a coach who likes to spin round on his head when his teams claim championships?
The impression is that he’s a man on the fast track to the top and that NZ Rugby should strike while the iron is hot. If it’s your time, it’s your time, in other words.
Who else comes into contention? Former Highlanders boss and Japan head coach Jamie Joseph has to be considered. The Japan union are locked in talks with him about a reappointment, but the combination of he and the innovative Tony Brown must be one that Robinson and co at least take a look at.
What they did with Japan at this World Cup was remarkable. You can only wonder about what they might have been able to achieve with the talent of an All Blacks squad at their disposal.
There’s also a deliciously complementary feel about the duo. Joseph is the hard man, the motivator, the boss. Brown the attacking genius who it’s often been said speaks the language of his players.
Others must also come into the mix.
Dave Rennie is being heavily pursued by Australia, and may already have come to terms. If not, he shapes as a viable alternative to Robertson or Joseph.
Neither Warren Gatland nor Joe Schmidt are technically available, so it would take some drastic changes for these experienced coaches to be considered.
Gatland is coming home to New Zealand to take over at the Chiefs, but has committed to coaching the British and Irish Lions in South Africa in 2021. Unless he was prepared to walk away from that role, the veteran might have to bide his time until the following cycle.
Schmidt, too, is supposedly off the books, making it clear he is taking some time off to spend with his family. His tilt may also come in the next cycle.
The experienced Vern Cotter is another who has compiled an outstanding record overseas, and a quality operator like John Plumtree might also be considered, though this pair might slot best into an assistant’s role with the right head coach.
For now, though, it is all eyes on Razor Robertson. Time to step into a bold new era of All Black rugby.
While the appointment has no timeline, New Zealand Rugby would want to make it sooner rather than later, as there are flow-on effects.
It is likely to be sorted before year end, after a post-RWC review.