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 alright, 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.
Even with Owen Franks and Joe Moody out with injuries, and Israel Dagg in serious doubt because of his shoulder injury, up to 10 Crusaders could still be selected for the northern tour and a decent chunk of that number could play the Baabaas.
What will make the contest more intriguing is that several of Robertson’s most trusted Crusaders will probably be representing the All Blacks.
Kieran Read, if he plays, will captain the side and Sam Whitelock, who proved a major success when transitioning to his first year in charge at Super Rugby level, will be another key member of the forward pack.
‘‘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.’’
This will be the first time Deans and Robertson have coached together, although Deans visited the Crusaders earlier this season and was involved in their preparations for a couple of weeks.
‘‘The Baabaas is totally different to anything else in rugby, relaxed in regards to the preparation for a test-match level game,’’ Robertson added.