Robertson has no right reaching out for a Lions role
SINCE when has joining the British and Irish Lions backroom staff become a consolation prize for not becoming All Blacks coach? New Zealander Scott Robertson makes it sound that way — and the sooner the Lions committee kick into touch any suggestion that he will be part of Warren Gatland’s assistants, the better. The Crusaders head coach had the audacity to approach Gatland about a role in South Africa next summer. Then he went on New Zealand radio to tell the world he’d done so. Robertson has a decent pedigree as a club coach and has won three Super Rugby titles in a row with the Crusaders in his native land as well as this year’s Aotearoa.
He was so highly thought of in New Zealand that he just missed out on the All Blacks job. ‘Once I missed the All Blacks job, I actually reached out to Gats and asked him if I could go on that said Robertson (right). ‘I thought: “Look, if I can’t be involved with the All Blacks, what’s the next biggest thing — or actually bigger in itself — the Lions tour, to get involved in?’ ‘I said: “I would love to help you if I can”. We had a couple of good conversations since and he’s got to go through his line of management to make a decision.’
The aim of the Lions, unless I’ve always been missing the point, was to showcase the best of British and Irish talent — players and coaches — and that includes those like Gatland who have had a successful coaching career here. Why on earth would Lions chairman Jason Leonard, managing director Ben Calveley and their committee ever allow Gatland to bring in Robertson, especially when there are better candidates involved in British and Irish rugby ahead of him? Stuart Lancaster, the former England coach who is now on the backroom staff at Leinster, should be a definite for Gatland.. Then there is Andy Farrell of Ireland. Also Gregor Townsend, who turned down an approach from Gatland to go on the 2017 tour to New Zealand because he’d just taken over as Scotland head coach. Others may emerge after the Autumn Tests. Gatland took charge of the Lions full-time this month after his tenure with the Chiefs in New Zealand came to an end. He will now start the process of assembling his backroom team and shouldn’t be allowed to press the case for his pal Robertson. He is expected to have recruited some or all of them by the end of the year. Let’s hope Robertson isn’t involved.