Scott ‘Razor’ Robertson and his red-and-black machine will attempt to go for five championships in a row – Super Rugby and Aotearoa combined – at their home ground on Saturday.
Robertson is the coach with the Midas touch. In every team he has been involved with, silverware has followed, and you’d be a brave man to bet against the Crusaders doing it again.
Some will argue that he has always worked with exceptional players, and that anybody could coach the Crusaders squad to a title. It’s a moot point because under Robertson’s gaze, the Crusaders have been relentless.
His ability to get even more out of already great players such as Sam Whitelock, for example, is a testament to his genius as a coach. He can make a great player raise the level of his game further.
Only the very gifted coaches in this world have that unique ability. Think of Pep Guardiola in football or Phil Jackson in basketball. They are mavericks, and Robertson certainly breakdances to the beat of his own drum.
(Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
He is credited first and foremost – along with his loyal coaching staff – for creating an environment of fun at the training ground. Fun is not a word you’d probably associate with a professional rugby club.
However, as Robertson told the Rugby Pass podcast in 2017: “I’m not big on fear ruling, I want to make sure that we enjoy it, we have fun, and people want to come to work and engage to be better. So there are a lot of things. There’s always a part of the day that’s not dedicated to rugby, it’s about having fun.”
But that certainly doesn’t mean that hard truths cannot be spoken as the players themselves have testified that Robertson is brutally honest with them in his estimations. Robertson said: “I’m doing it for them to be better. So I tell ’em I love ’em and tell them that they need to be better. And I think they get it and they like that. They don’t want to be dropped or hear second hand or have it be unclear to them.”
This only adds to an environment of trust within the playing group and staff, which in turn adds to their fabric as a championship team consistently striving to be better for themselves and for the group.
He has created a synergy between the individual striving for his own personal accolades but always doing so in a way that benefits the overall objective of the team.
The style and philosophy of how the Crusaders play is so often a joy to watch, the mantra of KBA (keep ball alive) is at the centre of this team.
ESPN recently asked Wayne Smith what makes them so special. Smith professed: “They’re way more efficient at what they do. They re-set quickly, they fill the width of the field, they come forward, they are more likely to give an offload into a hole and once they’re through that hole they’re more likely to have support players carrying the play on so they’re more likely to score off a break than any other team.”
Codie Taylor. (Photo by Dianne Manson/Getty Images)
So while Robertson has created a fun environment for his players to grow in, let’s not forget his acute feel and awareness for the game and how it’s evolving cannot be underestimated.
Robertson has always themed his campaigns for the players to set individual and team goals to be achieved during the season. One such example was Muhammad Ali’s Rumble in the Jungle. Ali spent nine years in the wilderness before coming back and winning the world heavyweight title.
When Robertson took over as head coach of the Crusaders, it had been nine years since the Crusaders had won a Super Rugby championship. He is able to see elements other coaches cannot. He is a big picture man if ever there was one. All of these elements put together make for a coach who is destined to be a winner, and Robertson’s own ambition does not seem to be abating anytime soon.
The only people who were truly happy (even relieved) that Robertson was passed over for the All Blacks job were the Crusaders. While rumours have swirled about him taking a job overseas in Europe, he has stuck with the red-and-blacks and built a dynasty of his own.
No doubt he will receive many offers and he would certainly be able to cherry-pick which team he will evolve next. But first, all he and his team will be focused on is beating their nemesis the Chiefs for what would be an unprecedented and relentless dynasty of championships.
Diesel
Guest
Crusaders had 7 changes to the forward pack when they last played and lost to the chiefs in the final minutes. Will be different this time. Scrums and breakdown even - crusaders lineout and rolling maul impossible to stop.
Carlin
Roar Rookie
Scott Robertson is a great coach and players thrive under his environment as they have fun but at the same time they know where they stand. He is a positive and refreshing coach. I remember a couple of years ago he told Wyatt Crockett (who is one if not the most capped Crusaders) he would not be playing in the Super Rugby Final and he was nearly in tears breaking the news to him. The good thing with the Chiefs resting key players last is that both squads will be relatively fresh, which will allow for a higher quality game as not many players would have had to recover from this weekend. I still think the Crusaders win but do want the Chiefs to end the streak. The Chiefs forward pack has to be at their niggly best as I think Whitelock, Barrett, Taylor and co. will play with a lot more purpose than they have all season. The Crusaders fire power in their backs is also a threat and they do have a number backs that can break out. This a big opportunity for some of the Chiefs youngsters who have only been in Super Rugby for a couple of seasons. Nigel Yalden who is a NZ Rugby Journalist/Commentator posted this stat, which makes interesting reading and the Chiefs making the final more remarkable: PTS SCORED Crusaders 237 (1st) Chiefs 187 (5th) PTS CONCEDED Crusaders 165 (1st) Chiefs 230 (5th) PTS DIFFERENTIAL Crusaders +72 (1st) Chiefs -43 (5th) TRIES SCORED Crusaders 30 (1st) Chiefs 18 (5th) TRIES CONCEDED Crusaders 18 (1st) Chiefs 31 (5th) TRY DIFFERENTIAL Crusaders +12 (1st) Chiefs -13 (5th)
(theres no way the Chiefs are winning this Yes there is!!!!! If they score 1 more point than the Saders they win :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Yep I think the more niggle the better he plays...I just cant agree with that YC Coles and Hunt both got tho....Thats getting too soft for my liking....
Mark
Guest
Pep Guardiola - are you serious? Hes a cheque book manager - never managed a team that isnt the most expensive in the league by a mile Let him go to somewhere like Tottenham and see what happens When he actually comes up against other talented and expensive squads hes found out
CUW
Roar Rookie
Crusaders pack is nothing from 4 seasons ago - they lack the class but no doubt make up for it with youthful exuberance Crusaders no longer have a world class squad - so that the coach can seat test players on the bench and bring on at half time !!! hindsight is 20:20 but i think they got the squad mix wrong by not getting enough quality forwards and relaying on the existing ones. the likes of Havilii Blackadder Sanders Douglas are good workhorses - but they lack proper thoroughbreds in the 3rd row!! i mean how can u compare the current lot with Read Taufua Todd from a few seasons back ?
Mark
Guest
I fear the Aussies are so bad Foster will keep his job and we'll be waiting another 4 years
Mark
Guest
So Blackadder with Carter and McCaw at his disposal wins nothing But Robertson without those two (and others) wins 5 in a row (theres no way the Chiefs are winning this) simply has the best squad Not a Crusaders fan - but thats a massive disservice the the bloke who should be the AB's coach
Puff
Guest
Playing the Crusaders at home has never been straightforward and few visitors depart Orangetheory Stadium with a smile. If you consider the trials & tribulation Christchurch has endured in recent years, not to mention all the name changes their facility has received. From, Lancaster Park, AMI stadium, and I believe Jade stadium, their support, and brand appears to remains strong. Is there something in the air in that part of NZ or do they have a coach, structure, committee, franchise and protocols that support such a level of on field commitment. Regardless of the dead rubber the Chiefs played last week and their forwards giving the Blues a busy time up front. If the Chiefs are not disruptive the Crusaders at home will enjoy their normal service, requiring the Chiefs to look for multiples of 7. Finals always have and element of uncertainly and for the visitors the devil is always in the detail.
WEST
Roar Guru
Yeah bro. That’s what I’m afraid of. Crusaders get a good start and score a flurry of points early.. (worst part is getting a drunk Christchurch crowd excited).. Chiefs will be up against it. Chiefs will be scrutinised at every touch of the ball. Even the refs start to get a effected by the crowd :laughing: Chiefs need to empty the tanks. Can’t under estimate the challenge that lays ahead of the chiefs. The hardest game to ever win in Super Rugby. Damn it would be wicked if they won
WEST
Roar Guru
Totally bro!! Chiefs defence has been very effective last few rounds. Beating the Crusaders is testimony to that :thumbup: also the last few Hurricanes vs chiefs games were really impressive chiefs forward display! Side question.. (have you noticed how niggle/aggressive Coles has been. Hes starting to makes Fitzy look like a choirboy
WEST
Roar Guru
Yes.. indeed. Like Rennie also.
You were going so well until your last sentence... :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
I think the Chiefs forwards dominated them in their last match. Damn close tho but the Chiefs forwards are in good form. Chiefs by
4030101…Maybe thats what has had his mind on other things a bit lately? Why would he tho :laughing: :laughing:
but this Chiefs team has shown that they could cause an upset I wont be upset at all Pinetree :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
WEST
Roar Guru
Yes.. it’s kind of an annoying outcome. But I think you’re right. The Chiefs will need a tight game start to finish to have any hope.. No Moody helps a bit. No Goodhue in the midfield is also helpful for the chiefs. The Chiefs just have to play the full 80, they proved they’re capable! The Chiefs have the talent, Tupou Vaa’i is getting better and better. Angus Ta’avao.. Needs a big game. Anton Lienert-Brown! Needs to take charge and dominate the midfield contest. Bryn Gatland Is another dude who’s coming into his own. Pity Boshier and Cane are injured.. Hopefully the smiling assassin McKenzie utilises everything in his arsenal to keep the Crusaders honest. It really comes down to the Chiefs forward power! The chiefs Forward pack has to draw in some serious Waikato Mana and unleash it on the field! Go Te Chiefs!!
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
The cattle comment is a misnomer and is disingenuous when you look at Blackadder's tenure. The talent across that park cannot be argued but the structure and belief are Razor's. He's an excellent man-manager as the author alludes to and that's rare. Appropriate mention of Smith here given he designed the template that has seen such success and developed so much talent for the All Blacks. Razor will hopefully resist the offers that are surely already in his mailbox to get the opportunity to helm the All Blacks and correct the error the last farcical selection process made, hopefully with Brown assisting for this invested fan boy. Crusaders to take it out...
Pinetree
Roar Rookie
*Robbie Deans (whoops, fat fingers hit the "n" by accident!)
GregM
Roar Rookie
"Some will argue that he has always worked with exceptional players, and that anybody could coach the Crusaders squad to a title." - sure the same could be said about the AB's - yet look at their recent performances!! Great coaches have the ability to make great players even better