VIDEO: The Kiwi take on Razor's reign

Scott Maurice Robertson will deliver the goods for New Zealand. The fans have to be patient.

This is the message from the Boks Office crew: host Hanyani Shimange, Springbok legends Jean de Villiers and Schalk Burger, along with their guest, retired All Black Andrew Mehrtens.

They were talking ahead of the Rugby Championship return match in Cape Town on Saturday.

Mehrtens, capped 70 times for New Zealand between 1995 and 2004, was at Ellis Park last week to watch the Springboks come from behind to beat the All Blacks 31-27 in an epic encounter.

Mehrtens, 51, knows what it is like to be at the receiving end of a Bok beating.

The Durban-born All Black was the flyhalf when South Africa edged New Zealand 15-12 in the 1995 World Cup[ Final.

(Article continues below the Andrew Mehrtens interview ….)

“It is taking some time, as you would expect, to get his message and philosophy across to the group,” he said, when Shimange asked him about Robertson’s first six matches in charge – which produced four wins and two defeats, to Argentina and South Africa.

He said the ‘slow learning’ process is natural with any change of coach.

“We have seen, already, significant improvement,” Mehrtens said.

“It is hard to judge that second game against Argentina.” he said of a 42-10 All Black win in Auckland, after a 30-38 loss in Wellington the week before.

“Argentina was pretty awful.

“The All Blacks were good [in Auckland], but I feel the performance at Ellis Park was a big step up on that.

“They will continue to progress, develop their combinations and be aware of the style he is looking for.

“It is taking time, but I am really encouraged by the signs this past Saturday.”

Mehrtens also touched on the controversial walk-out by Leon Macdonald.

Attack coach MacDonald on the eve of the team’s departure to South Africa, with Robertson citing ‘cultural differences’ for his sudden departure.

Mehrtens said Robertson and MacDonald had coached together before and had gone their separate ways.

“I was a little surprised that they thought they might overcome their philosophical differences this time.

“It is great that coaches like [Springbok head] Rassie [Erasmus] and Razor [Robertson] are inviting different voices and influences [into their coaching panels].

“They want to be challenged.

“They don’t want it to be one-way traffic.

“They want to have other points of view.

“It wasn’t working out and it was mature that they just came out and said: ‘It is not working and we are done’.”

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