Crusaders boss opens up about World Cup double act
SPOTLIGHT: Six-time Super Rugby championship-winning coach Scott Robertson says he still wants to coach the All Blacks and lead New Zealand to World Cup glory.
But, in comments likely to interest national rugby federations the world over, Robertson says he wants to win the Webb Ellis Cup with two nations before his time is done.
“I think that would transcend,” he said in a long interview with The Rugby Pod.
Robertson has kept a low profile this month as the All Blacks stuttered to two defeats to Ireland, their first home series loss since 1994.
Those losses heaped more pressure on embattled coach Ian Foster, the long-term New Zealand assistant picked ahead of Robertson to coach the All Blacks in 1999.
Robertson, who has led the Crusaders to six straight titles, said he was likely to leave the franchise after one more season, and the fire to coach at international level was burning.
“I’m open … if New Zealand Rugby want me, great,” he said.
“I really want to go to a Rugby World Cup. I want to go to a couple. I’m 47. I’ll be 52 by the time the next Rugby World Cup comes around. I want to get to two or three and really test myself.
“I want to win a Rugby World Cup but I want to win it with two different countries. I haven’t said that publicly before. I have now.
“It would be great to win a World Cup with your own country which I want to do but I’d love to do it with another country.
“I’m not sure what order that is. I’m not sure how that plays out. Those decisions are not mine.
“But I’d love to be able to do it … with different expectations, a different culture.”
#OPINION: Five things the All Blacks must fix in their opening Rugby Championship fixture against the Springboks on August 6 in Mbombela. 👇#RugbyChampionship #NewZealand #AllBlacks #SouthAfrica #Springboks #RSAvNZL https://t.co/VpSVX8U4It
— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) July 27, 2022
While Foster’s All Blacks lost the series to Ireland Robertson was enjoying a holiday in Fiji and then Sydney, watching the Australia-England series decider as a punter.
He said he caught up with England’s Tasmanian-born coach Eddie Jones, and while he was open to international opportunities, he wasn’t lining up the England job when it becomes vacant after next year’s World Cup.
“What I learned from last time with the All Blacks stuff is that you have to keep your options open.
“It’s a professional game,” he said.
“It’s one job. When someone doesn’t give it to you you have to think differently. You have to think what opportunities are out there?”
