Robertson to coach against ABs

When asked by Robbie Deans to help coach the Barbarians against the All Blacks, Scott Robertson lodged a query with his employers in Wellington.

The guts of the matter was that Crusaders coach Robertson didn’t want to get offside with anyone at NZ Rugby.

NZR high performance manager Don Tricker was on to it, advising Robertson he was within his rights to join his former All Blacks and Crusaders boss Deans, who now coaches the Panasonic Wild Knights club in Japan, in guiding the famous Baabaas side.

The Baabaas are slated to play a handful of games at the end of the year, but it is the fixture against the All Blacks in London on November 5, to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the foundation of NZ Rugby, that will command the biggest audience from around the world.

‘‘I rang Don Tricker and asked if it was all right, you have to go processes with things like this,’’ Robertson said.

‘‘I just said ‘can I do this, can I coach against them [the All Blacks]?’ He said ‘look, it is not a fully fledged test match and it is a great opportunity, and good for your development, to be with someone like Robbie’.

‘‘It is going to be strange - to be on the other side of the haka.’’

Given Robertson’s achievements with the Crusaders this year, having become the first person to win a Super Rugby title as a player and coach, and in doing so bringing the trophy back to the upper South Island for the first time since 2008, it would have been an injustice if NZ Rugby had denied him this juicy treat.

The fact Robertson will know a number of the All Blacks players so well won’t be lost on anyone.

‘‘It was like getting picked for a team, back when I was a player,’’ Robertson said in reference to his emotions when he received the invitation from Deans.

‘‘Such a great opportunity. Unfortunately I never got the chance to play for the Baabaas, and now to coach them is special.’’