Bruce Robertson was majestic, aristocratic, elegant… Yes, I am talking about a rugby player!

All Blacks centre Bruce John Robertson was loved by his wingers for his selflessness, and a ‘glamour’ player before that term became popular.

Robertson had superb skills and a lithe, tall build that was rare then and would be now. He ran with an upright style that gave him the opportunity to advance the play with a silky pass, chip kick or even a drop goal.

“He would motor along at three-quarter pace, carrying the ball out in front in two hands and then when his head went back and his knees were up, he hit the turbo button,” admired Peter Goldsmith, a Counties teammate.

Robertson was not known for crunching, intimidating tackles, but for an elegance that allowed him to slide through gaps and position himself for the final pass to his winger. He compensated for his perceived defensive weakness by expressing himself as one of the best attacking centres.

Bruce had many great wingers outside him – Bryan Williams, Stu Wilson, Bernie Fraser and Grant Batty – who were full of praise for his delivery and thinking approach to the game.

He appeared to be a mild-mannered man but expressed his strong stance on apartheid in South Africa by declaring himself unavailable, along with Graham Mourie, for the 1981 Springbok tour of New Zealand.

Hailing from the Hawkes Bay, Robertson played for the Hastings Boys High School first XV. He was a fine cricketer as a fast-medium bowler and a superb track athlete. However, he emerged as a rugby hope while training to be a teacher at Ardmore College in the Counties Union.

As a little-known player, Robertson was selected for the North Island team and then was chosen for the 1972 All Blacks internal tour of New Zealand.

Bruce made his Test debut versus the Wallabies in 1972 aged 20. Then he, Batty and Williams were picked for the 1972-73 tour of Britain and France. They formed a youthful, strong three-quarter line-up.

He endured many serious injuries throughout his career and missed the 1979 tour of England and Scotland. Robertson also was left out of the 1980 tour of Australia due to coach Eric Watson’s thoughts on his defensive game. Due to injuries, he did however join the team for the second and third Tests and in the second he began the movement which led to Hika Reid’s magnificent team try.

Bruce Robertson stood 1.83m, weighed 86 kg and was born in 1952. He played 135 matches for Counties between 1971 and 1982 where he made his debut at 19. For the All Blacks, he played in 34 Tests and 102 matches from 1972 to 1981, scoring 34 tries and unselfishly scoring only four Test tries.

All Black coaches John Stewart and Jack Gleeson encouraged a 15-man game plan, with backs having more involvement. This helped Robertson’s style and he reached his peak in the 1977 British Lions series and the Grand Slam tour of Britain in 1978. He was also outstanding on the 1976 tour of South Africa.

His last appearance for his country was against Scotland in 1981, aged 29, as he assisted Stu Wilson to score three tries. A Counties player until 1982, in a team who that the First Division title in 1979, Robertson did not ever appear in a shield-winning side.

He continued his rugby career as a coaching development officer with Auckland and assisted coaching the Blues in the Super 12. He also coached the New Zealand colts and Counties-Manukau in the NPC second division 2002-03.

A highlight of Robertson’s career was his on-field partnership with Bill Osborne, the exceptional second-five eighth. In his series 100 Greatest All Blacks, author Wynne Gray wrote, “when Bill Osborne reflects on his formative All Black years, he is grateful for the selfless guidance from Bruce Robertson. In theory the pair were supposed to be competitors, but the senior man gave Osborne stacks of support and suggestions.”

Robertson also rates Irishman Mike Gibson and Australian Michael O’Connor as top-grade players who impressed him.

From a deft chip kick, a drop goal, an incisive break to a well-timed pass, Bruce Robertson was one of the great All Black centres with an analytical study of the game. Great to watch with his unique, fluent running style.

Controversy did not appear to follow him, and he was a man of principle.

One of my favourite All Blacks.