Will Razor look for greener pastures?
Supremely successful Crusaders coach Scott Robertson is keeping a close eye on the proposed Silver Lake deal. Robert van Royen explains why.
‘‘It’s great, a great lifestyle and stuff, but I’m also an ambitious career coach.’’
Scott Robertson
Scott Robertson’s future in New Zealand could hinge on the outcome of mediation between New Zealand Rugby (NZR) and the Players’ Association this week.
Off contract at the end of the year, Crusaders coach Robertson and agent Warren Alcock are keeping an eye on the possible sale of a 15 per cent stake in NZR’s commercial rights to US technology investment giant Silver Lake, a private equity deal worth $465 million.
‘‘The next couple of days is pretty big around the Silver Lake deal. We are getting close, but the Silver Lake deal is a pretty important part of re-signing,’’ Robertson said yesterday.
‘‘Like I’ve said before, with the agent, he’s a pretty patient type, it’s a long game for him just around what’s happening with New Zealand Rugby, just making sure the timing is right.’’
NZR and the Players’ Association began mediation yesterday, after a January dated letter, backed by All Blacks and Black Ferns stars, including Sam Cane, Sam Whitelock, Aaron Smith and Selica Winiata, was sent to NZ Rugby directors and clubs, expressing concern regarding the private equity sale.
NZR boss Mark Robinson said on Tuesday he was optimistic a ‘‘transformational’’ deal will get the backing from key stakeholders ahead of next month’s annual general meeting.
‘‘Just see what it [the deal] means, if it is or isn’t [accepted], and what does it look like on the side of that with the next All Blacks role coming up?’’ Robertson said when asked if the Silver Lake deal needed to go ahead for him to stay.
Robertson, who has won four straight titles and boasts a staggering 63-3-7 record since taking over the Crusaders in 2017, has been linked to the England coaching job in recent weeks, as speculation Eddie Jones will be given the boot builds.
He called it ‘‘pretty flattering’’ to be linked to the role, one fellow Kiwi Warren Gatland and South African World Cup winning coach Rassie Erasmus have also been connected to, but it’s clear his preference is to coach the All Blacks one day.
The question is, how long is he willing to wait for a crack at the job he missed out on to Ian Foster at the end of 2019?
‘‘I’ve asked a few questions around the All Blacks job and what it will look like, what timing? We’ve talked to the coaching group that I took [to the interview process] last time, and we’re still well aligned.
‘‘But things can change, so we’re just making sure we get a lot more of those answers back from those questions.’’
Robertson’s All Blacks coaching team, had he landed the job, included Blues coach Leon MacDonald and Crusaders assistant Jason Ryan.
Foster’s two-year contract expires at the end of this year, but it will likely take a disastrous 2021 for him not to be extended through the 2023 World Cup.
Robertson realises that, and has made it clear in recent months he was leaning towards remaining in New Zealand through 2023.
‘‘It’s pretty clear if I sign a couple more years I’ve done the Crusaders for seven years, which I love doing, but what does it mean the next step after that? How does that line up around the 2023 World Cup if this coaching group stays on? There’s a lot of things going on, there’s a lot of answers,’’ Robertson said.
‘‘I’ve been coming down to Rugby Park since 2008 in some role as a coach, it’s great, a great lifestyle and stuff, but I’m also an ambitious career coach, so for me to have an opportunity, whether it’s here or elsewhere, you look at those opportunities.’’