Razor’s loss has silver lining for Crusaders

Scott Robertson had little time to digest the news he’d missed out on the All Blacks coaching job to Ian Foster.

While Foster was soaking up the fact he’s got the top job for at least the next two years, Robertson was back on deck at Rugby Park in Christchurch yesterday, putting the Crusaders through their latest pre-season training session.

New Zealand Rugby’s (NZR) confirmation Foster beat out Robertson after an ‘‘extensive and really difficult’’ process carries a silver lining for the Crusaders.

After all, Robertson, the only person to win a Super Rugby three-peat as both a player and coach, is locked in at the Super Rugby champions for two more years, having extended his contract with NZR in February.

Robertson was unable to be reached for comment yesterday, but Crusaders chief executive Colin Mansbridge told Stuff the 45-year-old was taking the news in his stride.

‘‘Disappointed for Razor, but there is a silver lining for us. Obviously, bitter-sweet.

‘‘You know what he is like, he has this ability to just focus on what is in his control.

‘‘He is back on the grass today, working away. That’s the sort of bloke he is, he’s quite resilient.’’

Robertson, who has been nominated for national coach of the year alongside Crusaders assistant Andrew Goodman (won Mitre 10 Premiership title with Tasman), and Kieran Kite (Canterbury women’s coach), is expected to speak to media at the annual NZR awards in Auckland tonight.

The man they call ‘‘Razor’’ appeared to be the public’s preferred option to take over from Steve Hansen after the All Blacks finished the recent World Cup in Japan with bronze medals.

Knowing they might lose their leader, and at least one of his assistants, the Crusaders started putting contingency plans in place as early as last December.

Losing Robertson, who boasts a remarkable 48-3-5 record in three seasons in charge of the Crusaders, so close to the 2020 season would have been a significant blow to their tilt at an unprecedented four-peat next year.

But the multiple contingency plans can be scrapped. Robertson and his assistants – Jason Ryan, Goodman and Scott Hansen – aren’t going anywhere, and the focus can now solely go on 2020.

The Crusaders have been holding off on naming a fourth assistant coach, but Mansbridge said the All Blacks decision meant it would soon follow.

‘‘We are not too far from an announcement there hopefully. Just working through some stuff there. Obviously, this gives us a chance to lock that down.

‘‘Not everything was locked down because it was all contingency based. Now we’ve got clarity, we can start locking down,’’ he told Stuff. He went on to congratulate to Foster, a long-term assistant of Hansen, on beating out Robertson.

‘‘I’m not surprised. The process was fairly well scrutinised. Obviously, it’s probably tougher to be new into the group, but I think they had a fairly rigorous process and I think they [NZR] thought long and hard about it.’’

The Crusaders have preseason fixtures against the Hurricanes in Ashburton (January 18) and Highlanders in Wanaka (January 24), before kicking off the new season against the Waratahs in Nelson on February 1.

Lock Scott Barrett will captain the side.