Underfire Savea vows to stay on at Toulon
Extending his contract with the Crusaders doesn’t change anything, Scott Robertson is still keen to have a crack at the All Blacks coaching job later this year.
The back-to-back Super Rugby title-winning coach inked a new deal two-year deal with the franchise, and New Zealand Rugby, through the 2021 season, which was announced yesterday morning.
Robertson confirmed last year he would put his hand up to replace All Blacks coach Steve Hansen when he quits his post after the 2019 World Cup. New Zealand Rugby will advertise the job at the conclusion of the tournament in November.
‘‘I’ll have a crack at it if it’s the right thing for me and my family,’’ Robertson said at Christchurch’s Rugby Park yesterday afternoon.
Should Robertson, 44, land the job, he would be released from his Crusaders’ contract.
Robertson wouldn’t reveal how many overseas teams had expressed interest in securing his services at the end of the year, but at least one French club had reached out to him and agent Warren Alcock.
‘‘I only got the currency converter out once to have a look at the options overseas just to weigh it all up,’’ Robertson said. ‘‘It’s always flattering to get offers. There was a bit of interest, yeah.
‘‘At the age of our young boys, the opportunity to go away will be there in the future. What we’ve done here and what we’ve achieved here is something we’re really proud of.
‘‘It’s good to have that feeling where someone really wants you, I didn’t quite get that in my [playing] career. It’s not often in someone’s career you have that chance to negotiate. I’m really pleased with it [contract].’’
Robertson has been successful and popular since coming on board as the franchise’s head coach for the 2017 season, netting back-to back championships to end an eight-season title drought in red and black country.
The straight-talking former All Black immediately impressed with his ability to get the best out of his players, with his forthright communication and also with his breakdancing celebration of the respective championships.
Crusaders chief executive Colin Mansbridge, who replaced Hamish Riach late last year, was a relieved man to firm up the franchise’s future beyond 2019.
‘‘I would have been murdered by my family and friends if he had decided to go to France. For me, the relief, I slept 15 hours that night after he re-signed.’’
New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew said Robertson’s recommitment to the game here should be celebrated.
‘‘His energy and passion for rugby is relentless and his outstanding sense of humour is infectious. He doesn’t miss an opportunity to tell me he is our best-ever signing,’’ Tew said.
The former Crusaders, Canterbury and All Blacks loose forward started his provincial career with Bay of Plenty in 1995, before moving to Christchurch where he played 69 games for Canterbury and 86 Super Rugby matches for the Crusaders.
Robertson featured in 23 tests for the All Blacks between 1998-2002 and won four Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders during that period, including a hat-trick from 1998-2000.
Following his international career, he played three seasons for Perpignan in France, before moving to Japan to join the Ricoh Black Rams – as a player for one season, and then as a coach.
Robertson assisted the Canterbury national provincial team to five successive titles between 2008 and 2012, and from 2013-16 was head coach as a further three Premiership titles were annexed.