Scott Robertson is the New Zealand rugby coach who break-dances after winning titles, surfs to relax and was yesterday confirmed as the next boss of the All Blacks.
Officials in Wellington said the 48-year-old would replace Ian Foster, who is to step down as New Zealand head coach after the Rugby World Cup, which ends in October.
As All Blacks player No. 974, the loose forward laced up in 23 Tests for New Zealand from 1998 to 2002.
Photo: AP
He earned the nickname “Razor” on the pitch for scything down opponents with his tackles, and his record as a coach is just as sharp.
After hanging up his boots, Robertson learned his trade by helping junior club Sumner, based near his home in the seaside suburbs of Christchurch, win promotion in the regional Canterbury leagues.
Robertson recently said that he loved cutting his coaching teeth by helping the amateur team of tradesmen and builders improve and enjoy their rugby.
He polished his skills as an assistant coach at his former provincial team Canterbury, eventually filling the role of head coach.
In June 2016, Robertson made the step up to Super Rugby when he was put in charge of the Crusaders with instant success. He has written himself into the franchise’s folklore by leading them to six straight Super Rugby titles since his debut season in 2017.
Each victorious Super Rugby final has seen Robertson bust out his break-dancing moves on the pitch to get the party started.
With a thick mop of blond hair, Robertson likes to ride the waves near his home. It is not unusual to see him skateboarding to the beach with a surfboard tucked under his arm.
“I’m lucky that I can surf before going to work,” he said recently.
Having missed out to Foster in 2019, many in New Zealand rugby feel it is Robertson’s time to coach the All Blacks, but his critics point to a lack of experience at the international level.
He helped the Barbarians beat a shadow All Blacks XV in December last year, and was in charge of the New Zealand junior team that won the World Rugby Under 20 Championship title in 2015.
Apart from that, Robertson has never coached a senior national rugby team.
However, former All Blacks forward Matt Todd, who Robertson coached for three years at the Crusaders, backed him to make the step up.
“Obviously international rugby is different, but with his work ethic, desire to improve and forward thinking, it would be great to see him go into the All Blacks,” Todd said via telephone from Japan.
Todd, who plays for Japanese club Toshiba Brave Lupus, said Robertson has his own all-action coaching style.
“It’s awesome. He creates an environment that ... gets the best out of you,” he said. “Sometimes during a season, things can become mundane, but he’s great at keeping each week unique.”
“He brings good energy. He’s always up and excited at training. It’s infectious and flows through the team,” he said.
Manchester United on Tuesday confirmed Michael Carrick as interim manager until the end of the season, tasking him with leading the Red Devils back into the UEFA Champions League. “Having the responsibility to lead Manchester United is an honor,” said Carrick, 44, who won 12 major trophies in his 12-year playing career at United. The former midfielder previously had an unbeaten three-game stint as caretaker boss at Old Trafford in 2021. Carrick then took on his first permanent managerial role at second-tier Middlesbrough in October 2022 and was sacked in June last year after the club finished 10th in the
Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg on Wednesday was ruled out for the second half of their 118-109 loss to the Denver Nuggets after the No. 1 pick sprained his left ankle in the first half. Flagg was called for a foul while defending against Peyton Watson and turned the ankle as he fell to the floor with 6 minutes, 1 second left in the second quarter. Flagg limped to the bench and continued to the locker room, but returned for the final 2 minutes, 35 seconds before the break. The 19-year-old did not come out for the second half before the announcement that
Yassine Bounou on Wednesday saved two penalties, while Youssef en-Nesyri netted the decisive spot-kick as hosts Morocco secured a 4-2 shoot-out victory over Nigeria following a 0-0 draw in a tense Africa Cup of Nations semi-final in Rabat. Morocco, seeking their first continental title in 50 years, are to face 2021 winners Senegal in Sunday’s decider in Rabat, while Nigeria take on Egypt in the third-place playoff tomorrow. The 120 minutes before the shoot-out had few clear-cut chances for either side, but it was Morocco who created more opportunities, although they were denied by some fine saves from Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. Nigeria
Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Sunday sparked defending champions Oklahoma City to victory, while Anthony Edwards led Minnesota’s last-minute fightback to beat San Antonio. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points while adding eight assists and five rebounds in the Thunder’s 124-112 home victory over Miami, improving the NBA’s best record to 33-7 after outscoring the Heat 70-53 in the second half. “We locked in defensively. We were finally able to get some stops,” Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins said. “We were able to get out in transition a little bit, get going offensively and find the flow.” Jalen Williams scored 18 points, while
RSS