■ Why Wales could make a real splash by reeling in Robertson:
THE Welsh Rugby Union are no strangers to making boltout-of-the-blue coaching appointments.
In 2004 with Llanelli’s Gareth Jenkins all, but nailed on to become Steve Hansen’s permanent successor, Dragons supremo Mike Ruddock emerged from leftfield at Rodney Parade to take the country on the fairytale ride to that Six Nations Grand Slam title some 12 months later.
And now 14 years on from his appointment could we see it happening all over again as the WRU ponder Warren Gatland’s replacement post 2019 Rugby World Cup.
It was thought to be down to a two-horse race involving Glasgow Warriors Dave Rennie and fellow Kiwi Wayne Pivac once Chris Boyd nailed his colours to the Northampton Saints mast earlier this year.
But Crusaders’ Scott Robertson is also thought to have his admirers among Welsh rugby’s hierarchy.
So, just who is Robertson?
WHERE WAS HE BORN AND WHEN?
ROBERTSON was born in Tauranga, New Zealand in 1974, the most famous rugby resident in the city in the Bay of Plenty these days is All Blacks flanker Sam Cane. WHAT’S HIS PLAYING BACKGROUND?
THE back-rower played 23 times for the All Blacks between 1998-2002 making his debut against the Wallabies in Christchurch and playing his last match versus the Springboks in Durban.
His career in domestic rugby started in 1996 playing 69 club games for Canterbury and representing the Crusaders 86 times in a seven-year spell.
From there he spent three seasons in French rugby with Perpignan from 2003-06 before ending his career in 2007 playing in Japanese rugby for the Ricoh Black Rams.
He also had a spell in the UK playing rugby for Northern Irish club Ards where he worked as a hod carrier and cement mixer on a building site.
“I was the worst worker they’d ever had,” he told Rugby World.
“I had a great time in Ireland, though. It was the first time in my life I’d been overweight – all that Guinness.”
WHAT’S HIS COACHING BACKGROUND?
ROBERTSON was appointed Canterbury’s head coach in 2013, when they won the Final in the Premiership Division of the ITM Cup - they won the competition again in 2015 under his watch.
The NZ Rugby Union appointed Robertson as head coach of the New Zealand Under-20 Rugby team, which subsequently won the 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Championship in Italy.
In June 2016, Robertson was appointed head coach for the Crusaders for the 2017-2019 Super Rugby seasons.
Last season, Robertson captured a Super Rugby title as the Crusaders secured a 25-17 victory over the Lions.
HOW DID HE GET HIS NICKNAME ‘RAZOR’?
HE told Rugby World: “In my first year at the Crusaders, 1996, we were playing the Brumbies and I cut Pat Howard in half. I said: ‘You see that boys? It was like he ran into a blade, a razor blade. That’s my right shoulder!’
“So it was a bit of self-promotion.”
AND WHAT ABOUT THAT BREAKDANCING VIDEO THAT WENT VIRAL?
“IT comes from my playing days,” he added in the magazine.
“I think the first time was up in Wellington; the boys called me out, chanting ‘Hey Ho Razor Ray’.
“It’s something I’d done behind closed doors and those doors quickly opened with peer pressure. Now it’s become a bit of a tradition, although I’d say I’m better at 4am than after a game.”
AND SOMETHING ELSE .....
APART from his coaching and breakdancing skills, Robertson is an avid surfer and back in his teenage years was the New Zealand junior surf life-saving champion.