Scott Robertson assumes the All Blacks head coach reins after the 2023 Rugby World Cup and is set to raid the New Zealand Super Rugby Pacific sides to complete his coaching staff.
Robertson takes over from Ian Foster following the global tournament and is starting to recruit his coaching staff.
Robertson raids Super Rugby sides
According to the New Zealand Herald, the Crusaders won’t be the only side searching for a new head coach for Super Rugby Pacific 2024.
Blues head coach Leon MacDonald worked as an assistant under Robertson in 2017 at the Crusaders before heading to Auckland in 2019.
MacDonald is believed to be on Robertson’s preferred shortlist for his coaching staff.
The Blues boss also drew interest from Scotland, but Gregor Townsend could remain in the role beyond the Rugby World Cup. Dave Rennie is said to be the Blues’ preferred candidate to replace MacDonald.
Meanwhile, Hurricanes boss Jason Holland has also been linked with a role with the All Blacks. He worked as Robertson’s assistant at Canterbury before joining the Hurricanes.
Holland poured cold water over the rumours telling reporters in March that he had not heard from Robertson in months.
“I’ll put it to bed now. I haven’t heard from Razor in the last couple of months,” Holland said. “We haven’t spoken about it in the last couple of months, so unfortunately, I haven’t got anything more for you on that.”
Only Robertson’s former right-hand man, Jason Ryan, is expected to remain on the All Blacks’ coaching staff.
Greg Feek and Scott McLeod are set to vacate their roles along with Foster, as will Joe Schmidt.
Crusaders assistant coach Scott Hansen would have been a candidate to replace Robertson at the Crusaders, but he too is set to make the step up to the All Blacks.
Search for new head coaches
If all of Robertson’s rumoured targets join the All Blacks, it will leave the Blues, Crusaders and Hurricanes searching for a new head coach.
According to Stuff.co.nz, the Blues have also shortlisted Schmidt and Jamie Joseph as potential head coaches, along with Rennie, if MacDonald leaves. Current assistant coaches Tom Coventry, Daniel Halangahu and Craig McGrath have also been mentioned as replacements.
As for the Hurricanes, they are awaiting word from New Zealand Rugby, who are holding talks with Robertson over his candidates to see if Holland will be in the picture.
Leinster assistant coach Andrew Goodman, who left the Crusaders last year, is viewed as a replacement for Robertson, with current assistants Tamati Ellison and Marty Bourke lacking head coach experience.
“Whenever you go to somebody who’s substantially but maybe not fully formed [as a coach] … timing can be critical,” Crusaders’ chief executive Colin Mansbridge told Stuff.
“You don’t want to set them up to fail. [But] those two people are highly valued in our environment, I’d probably say that.”
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