Scott Robertson: the matchup, the stakes, the verdict

Scott Robertson, who lost his job as All Blacks head coach recently, was conspicuous by his absence over a significant weekend. Scott Robertson has emerged this Friday as one of the stories drawing attention in New Zealand.

Key facts

• Scott Robertson, who lost his job as All Blacks head coach recently, was conspicuous by his absence over a significant weekend.
• One person conspicuously absent from Super Rugby Pacific’s triumphant “super round” at Christchurch’s new stadium was the Crusaders' most successful and beloved head coach Scott Robertson.
• Scott Robertson has been appointed head coach of the Barbarians for the upcoming summer season after his All Blacks sacking.
• Crusaders chief executive Colin Mansbridge told 1News today that Robertson was invited to go on the 10-minute “hikoi” from the city’s Bridge of Remembrance to the stadium and attend the match but elected not to.
• Robertson, a 51-year-old who played 23 Tests at loose forward for the All Blacks, has had several operations on both knees but Mansbridge accepted that Robertson’s absence was potentially due to more than his latest surgery.

What we know

Going deeper, one person conspicuously absent from Super Rugby Pacific’s triumphant “super round” at Christchurch’s new stadium was the Crusaders' most successful and beloved head coach Scott Robertson.

On the substance, Scott Robertson has been appointed head coach of the Barbarians for the upcoming summer season after his All Blacks sacking.

Beyond the headlines, Crusaders chief executive Colin Mansbridge told 1News today that Robertson was invited to go on the 10-minute “hikoi” from the city’s Bridge of Remembrance to the stadium and attend the match but elected not to.

More precisely, Robertson, a 51-year-old who played 23 Tests at loose forward for the All Blacks, has had several operations on both knees but Mansbridge accepted that Robertson’s absence was potentially due to more than his latest surgery.

It is worth noting that Robertson did not reply to a 1News invitation to comment.

By the numbers

At this stage, Nepo Laulala (Samoa)The 50-cap All Black tighthead becomes eligible in late 2026.

“He actually sent me a picture text of his knee which had just been operated on,” Mansbridge told 1News. “So, he’s had the other one done and was laid up.

Going deeper, But few, perhaps apart from former head coach Todd Blackadder, deserved a greater welcome at a stadium the city has spent 15 years waiting for.

On the substance, Blackadder – who led the team from 2009-2016 – had to endure the first earthquake in September, 2010, then the Pike River mine disaster on the West Coast two months later, before the big quake in February, 2011, which effectively changed everything and put the team on the road for the season.

What they're saying

“He was definitely invited and he was missed,” Mansbridge added. “I would have loved for him to be there and I’m sure many others would have too – even if he was in a wheelchair.”

“He is a great Crusader who has made an incredible contribution to this club – first as a player and then as a coach," he said.

The wider context

On a related note, Robertson, who until January was the head coach of the All Blacks, led the Crusaders to seven titles in seven years at the franchise’s temporary stadium in the suburb of Addington.

Going deeper, Robertson has kept a remarkably low profile since his axing from the All Blacks at the start of the year.

On the substance, Sources say Robertson has spent time overseas and has not been doing any coaching

Beyond the headlines, a larger-than-life character who celebrated his biggest wins by breakdancing, Robertson has clearly taken the dismissal from the top job extremely hard.

More precisely, the former All Blacks captain won three consecutive Super Rugby championships as Crusaders skipper from 1998-2000 but failed to win one as coach, although he got mightily close.

The bottom line

• One person conspicuously absent from Super Rugby Pacific’s triumphant “super round” at Christchurch’s new stadium was the Crusaders' most successful and beloved head coach Scott Robertson.
• Sources say Robertson has spent time overseas and has not been doing any coaching – including at the Sumner club near his home where he cut his teeth as a coach.
• A larger-than-life character who celebrated his biggest wins by breakdancing, Robertson has clearly taken the dismissal from the top job extremely hard.