Robertson not going anywhere
Scott Robertson has no intention of prematurely bailing out on the Crusaders after missing out on the All Blacks coaching role.
Robertson has been linked to overseas coaching roles, including in France, since Ian Foster was preferred as Steve Hansen’s replacement last month.
However, having extended his contract with New Zealand Rugby to coach the Crusaders through 2021 last year, Robertson does not plan to seek an early release and move on.
‘‘Look, I’ve got two more years here at this stage and nothing has changed,’’ he said yesterday.
‘‘You get offers and I had them, but I’ve got a pretty clear focus with myself, [wife] Jane and my three boys that I want to spend as long as I can in Christchurch, New Zealand, to give them a solid family life.’’
More than a month on from missing out on the top job, Robertson has had time to overcome the disappointment of being overlooked for a role he felt he would have done a ‘‘really good job’’ in.
‘‘It did take a little bit, I’ll be honest. I did a lot of reflecting, the reasons why I didn’t get the job,’’ he said. ‘‘Once I focused a little bit more on the future, what it means for me and how I can get better and looking at opportunities ahead, I got excited about the
Scott Robertson is focused on a fourth Crusaders campaign.
Crusaders season and the next few years.’’
Robertson is keen to have another tilt at the All Blacks job, which could come as soon as the end of next year, should Foster fail to impress the NZR board during his initial two-year contract. In the meantime, Robertson is cramming in a shorter than usual pre-season as the Crusaders eye an unprecedented fourth title in as many years under his direction.
He will take a remarkable 48-3-5 record into the year, a total which includes a drawn match against the Highlanders which was canned in the aftermath of the March 15 Christchurch terrorist attack.
Robertson’s named two starting XVs to play against the Hurricanes in tomorrow’s preseason match in Ashburton, with each set to play a 40-minute half.
No All Blacks will feature in the match, or next Friday’s clash with the Highlanders in Wanaka.
The Crusaders then kickoff the new season at Nelson’s Trafalgar Park against the Rob Penney coached Waratahs on February 1.
‘‘It’s a quick turn around, we’ve normally got a few more weeks before we play pre-season. You have to be really smart around the amount of information and how you give the information, and also get them
Crusaders team to play Hurricanes on Saturday
First half: Will Jordan, Manasa Mataele, Braydon Ennor, Dallas McLeod, Leicester Faingaanuku, Brett Cameron, Ere Enari, Whetukamokamo Douglas (c), Billy Harmon, Tom Sanders, Cullen Grace, Mitchell Dunshea, Oliver Jager, Brodie McAlister, Isi Tuungafasi. Second half: Dan Hollinshead, Fasi Fuatai, Inga Finau, Rameka Poihipi, Fetuli Paea, Fergus Burke, Mitchell Drummond (c), Sione Havili, Tom Christie, Samipeni Finau, Alex Ainley, Ethan Roots, Michael Alaalatoa, Andrew Makalio, Harry Allan.
Reserves: Conan O’Donnell, George Bower, Luke Romano, Sam Darry, Isaiah Punivai, Chay Fihaki.
set to play a game of rugby,’’ Robertson said.
‘‘We’ve got a good group of ABs who have come back, and they’ve got a few points to prove themselves around playing well.’’
Halfback Mitchell Drummond, who will start the second half, admitted there was a different feeling at Rugby Park with a string of veteran players no longer with the side.
Sam Whitelock, who captained the team the past three years, is on a sabbatical in Japan, while long-serving Crusaders Kieran Read, Jordan Taufua, Ryan Crotty, Owen Franks and Matt Todd are among others gone.
‘‘It’s a bit different, obviously a lot of those guys have been part of the furniture here for a long time, so there is a real fresh feel around the place.’’