Rugby union seems to have two distinct types of fans: the obsessive tragics and the curious casuals.
The latter can evolve into the former, as it is a sport that can grab you in many ways, with tactical and technical nuances or through more visceral means, through the physical and emotional commitment demanded of players.
Scott Robertson’s first post-match interview as All Blacks head coach was a real coup. Anyone would have been delighted.
The day after a thumping 16-15 victory, Robertson spoke to Sky New Zealand, a channel not known for its neutrality. Mils Muliaina, the team’s former full-back, was among the more reserved pundits. His pre-match verdict a few hours earlier? “I think the All Blacks will win, but it will be tough… I think they will win by 12 points.”
It was clear very quickly, when Robertson took the microphone, that New Zealand had respected England’s potential to unsettle them and had prepared accordingly. His opening gambit was a self-deprecating nod to the tension at the end of the first Test.
Robertson admitted his own work with performance psychiatrist Dr Ceri Evans, presumably in a bid to remain calm under pressure, had “gone down the drain” when Damian McKenzie was ruled out of a spot-kick and the hosts conceded another penalty. A flash of humanity.
After Sir Graham Henry, Steve Hansen and Ian Foster – three rather serious figures, albeit each with a dry sense of humour – “Razor” was destined to be different. Even without his penchant for surfing and breakdancing, the 49-year-old seems a gregarious charisma machine.
Robertson’s verdict was brief. “Just before half-time I thought we were all on them and then we got into a tug-of-war and they wouldn’t let us get away with it,” he said.
Kieran Read, the All Blacks’ iconic number eight and a great contributor to the broadcast, wondered why the final pass didn’t stick. Robertson praised England’s “scramble dribbling” and pointed out the tourists had played six matches in 2024 before the weekend.
“Congratulations to England”
Then came a few fascinating seconds, when Sir John Kirwan asked about the intricacies of the English blitz. It was Robertson’s moment to congratulate Felix Jones and stress how well his team had done their homework.
“Oh, we’ve seen it in the last six games,” he added of England’s aggressive approach without the ball, which has often seen Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and George Furbank rushing into midfield to chase down heavy tackles.
“Their defense coach [Jones] has arrived and he wants to land on you. He wants to create that turnover. He wants [to tackle] you are from the outside to the inside, in the blind spot, when you catch the ball.
“They’d rather leave you with two men as backup and come looking for you than arrive too early. You have to be brave, but you also have to be smart. We tried to have an extra man and a second pair of hands, just to take the pressure off. But we weren’t efficient enough.”
Read added: Have the All Blacks thought about more kicking, like McKenzie’s perfectly timed strike that produced Sevu Reece’s try?
“We did it… but because the kick pass came from the first [pair of] hands, [the defenders] “can turn,” Robertson replied. “It has to be from the second [receiver]but the second one didn’t have time. We’re getting very technical here, aren’t we? But kudos to [England]. They are tough, well-coached. It was a game of moments.
Astute and magnanimous, Robertson also showed vulnerability in another way. Such insight, while generous, is not revealing enough to harm New Zealand’s chances in the second Test at Eden Park. And yet it was disconcerting in its rarity.
Robertson was helped by the fact that his decisions paid off
Frankly, almost all coaches are capable of giving such detailed answers. However, they often prefer to rely on banal generalizations, apparently out of a desire to keep the cards to themselves. Brief conversations are always harmful, because coaches can use them to enlighten and educate the public, not to mention the opportunity to rationalize their own strategies and selection choices.
Robertson now had an advantage. He had not been questioned about a controversial refereeing decision. He was speaking after a hard-earned victory, which had been shaped by some of his decisions; starting Stephen Perofeta, for example, and bringing Beauden Barrett on to the bench.
As the man himself acknowledged, tougher times will inevitably present unusual challenges. TJ Perenara’s knee injury, coupled with Aaron Smith’s retirement and Cameron Roigard’s absence, means the All Blacks are particularly thin at scrum-half. England will return to Auckland. A New Zealand defeat there, for the first time in 30 years, could strain the All Blacks’ goodwill and make the interrogation more awkward.
Still, Robertson is likely to remain true to himself. He ended his interview with Sky New Zealand with a few shorter answers. Scott Barrett, his captain, received particular praise: “He keeps going… he’s like a NASCAR.” Maro Itoje was hailed as “probably the best operator in the world” in line disruption.
Robertson conceded he was still learning that “the result is all that matters” in the Test arena. Jason Ryan, his forwards coach, was praised for his scrum performance: “Mate, how good are you?”
Authenticity and affability were hallmarks of Robertson’s demeanour as he built his Crusaders dynasty. They were palpable here. At one point, the new All Blacks coach puffed out his cheeks and widened his eyes, visibly absorbing waves of adrenaline. He was not afraid to display pure relief.
Rival leaders may not be able to replicate his speech, but with the media message being a key pillar of the job description, they would do well to study Robertson’s interview. For it will have won hearts and minds.