Robertson on cusp of milestone
You’d be wrong if you thought Scott Robertson tallied his Super Rugby scalps like a narcissistic social media fanatic counts their followers.
But for those keeping count, the fourth-year Crusaders head coach is one win shy of reaching a half century, a feat which could be accomplished as soon as tonight when the reigning champions tackle the Chiefs in Hamilton.
Robertson, who replaced Todd Blackadder ahead of the 2017 season, had no idea last weekend’s bonus point win against the Waratahs was win No 49 when queried about it this week.
‘‘No, I didn’t quite get to those stats. I know it’s year four and we’ve been successful but I don’t keep that on the board,’’ he said.
To think the Crusaders hadn’t won the competition in almost a decade when Robertson took his spot in the hot seat of the most successful franchise in Super Rugby.
Three titles have followed in as many years, while his eye-popping record reads: 49 wins, three draws (including cancelled match v Highlanders) and five losses.
‘‘The results and that have been great, I really appreciate that. But we talk a lot about the pride that we get that the young men come through and be successful, play for the ABs or achieve great things, like getting their results or qualifications, or marriages and babies and all those sorts of things,’’ Robertson said.
‘‘You get 50 games, but you get a lot more out of it when you live it day to day and connect with a lot of people. They sort of go hand-inhand.’’
The man who missed out on the All Blacks job to Ian Foster in
Who: Chiefs v Crusaders
When: Tonight, 7.05pm
Where: FMG Stadium, Hamilton
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
TAB odds: Crusaders $1.80, Chiefs $2.00
Crusaders: Will Jordan, Sevu Reece, Braydon Ennor, Jack Goodhue, George Bridge, David Havili, Mitchell Drummond, Whetukamokamo Douglas, Tom Christie, Tom Sanders, Mitchell Dunshea, Scott Barrett (c), Oliver Jager, Codie Taylor, Joe Moody. Reserves: Andrew Makalio, George Bower, Michael Alaalatoa, Luke Romano, Cullen Grace, Bryn Hall, Brett Cameron, Leicester Faingaanuku.
Chiefs: Damian McKenzie, Sean Wainui, Quinn Tupaea, Anton Lienert-Brown, Solomon Alaimalo, Aaron Cruden, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Sam Cane, Mitchell Karpik, Lachlan Boshier, Mitchell Brown, Tyler Ardron, Atu Moli, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Aidan Ross. Reserves: Bradley Slater, Ross Geldenhuys, Ollie Norris, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Pita Gus Sowakula, Brad Weber, Kaleb Trask, Alex Nankivell.
Scott Robertson’s record by season: 2017: 17-1 (includes three playoff wins)
2018: 17-2 (includes three playoff wins)
2019: 14-3-2 (includes three playoff wins)
2020: 1-0
December is swiftly making up ground on Blackadder (83-3-45 over eight years) and Robbie Deans, who won five titles and amassed a 89-1-29 record in nine years in charge of the Crusaders.
It wasn’t until Deans’ fifth season at the helm that he cracked 50 wins, although admittedly teams then played fewer games a season.
Robertson has also bagged noncompetition wins – against the French Barbarians and Western Force – and oversaw a 12-3 defeat to the British and Irish Lions in 2017.
New Chiefs coach Warren Gatland was in charge of the Lions that cold June night in Christchurch. Now, he’s fresh from kickstarting his tenure with the Hamilton-based franchise with an impressive win against the Blues in round one.
‘‘Very Gatland like,’’ Robertson said when assessing their first-up performance.
‘‘I think the resilience they showed in a couple of key moments around halftime. He puts a lot of belief in his players and they showed it.
‘‘We know Gatland’s teams, and Chiefs teams previously can show a lot of spontaneity but also lots of resilience.
‘‘There will be a lot of simple things that they do well, but they will also be creating, it’s just the style of players they’ve got.’’
Since Robertson ruled out All Blacks pivot Richie Mo’unga (groin and knee) on Thursday and replaced him with Swiss Army knife David Havili, the bookies have tightened the odds.
The Crusaders were $1.60 favourites to improve to 2-0 but are now paying $1.80, while the Chiefs have gone from $2.30 outsiders to $2.00.
Fullback Damian McKenzie’s availability, and Aaron Cruden starting at first-five eighth, no doubt also played a part ahead of the first must-watch match of the new season.
‘‘The Chiefs mana style. We love playing them, they’re great games, it’s great for Super Rugby,’’ Robertson said.