Scott Robertson narrowly escaped a ‘large’ man-eating shark in South Africa… now the All Blacks head coach needs to guide his nation again to the summit of world rugby as they kickstart a brand new period towards England

For brand new All Blacks head coach, Scott Robertson, being out within the ocean is a treasured launch from the stresses of labor – other than when he had an in depth encounter with a ‘large’, man-eating shark.

Today, after a number of knee operations, the 49-year-old goes paddle-boarding within the mornings, as typically as his location and schedule permits. Up to now, browsing was the exercise of alternative and it was again in 2018 when Robertson had what he known as ‘my little second’, in South Africa.

‘We have been a few hours south of Durban, at one of many golf resorts – and a tiger shark got here out,’ he mentioned. ‘This man went out and I used to be the final one out. Then I noticed the shark. It was large. It was large. I seemed round and there was no-one there, so I simply went straight up on my board and straight in, with my ft up.

‘I’d simply had a little bit look over my shoulder and it was an enormous factor. When the opposite man went in, he may have informed me! It was shut sufficient. That was my little second! You’re fairly care-free when you’re within the surf however that was only a wee signal (of the hazard).’

Robertson jokingly did an impression of his shaken-up deep respiration on the seaside after he fled the waves in a rush. However the expertise didn’t put him off his most popular pastime. Even now, with the onerous activity of overseeing the staff which function a nationwide obsession in New Zealand, he takes to the water every time attainable.

‘There was 10ft (swell) on the market at this time,’ he mentioned. ‘I might be in Antarctica now! I do attempt to exit. I nonetheless at all times verify the surf experiences. It’s on my app wherever I am going. Some guys play golf and I surf. Guys go to the health club, I surf or swim. I’m a water man.’

Greater than ever, Robertson will worth his marine refuge, as a method of escaping the maelstrom of hope and hype. Kiwis anticipate the All Blacks to overcome all-comers and they’ll anticipate them to mark their new period with victory over England at Forsyth Barr Stadium right here on Saturday.

Having received seven successive Tremendous Rugby titles with the Christchurch-based Crusaders, Robertson was unveiled as the subsequent nationwide coach final March – eight months earlier than his doomed predecessor, Ian Foster, defied adverse forecasts by reaching a World Cup Last. 

So, the brand new man has had this primary Take a look at in his sights for greater than a yr. No surprise he’s keyed-up and recognises that the stakes are excessive. ‘I realise I’ve received to carry out now,’ he mentioned.

If his profession sliding-doors second had taken Robertson in one other route, he might need been right here this weekend within the visiting camp. The RFU interviewed him in November 2022, after they have been succession planning forward of the scheduled finish of Eddie Jones’ tenure a yr later. Then the Australian was abruptly dismissed and Steve Borthwick was recruited from Leicester to exchange him at brief discover.

Regardless of publicly expressing an curiosity within the England job, it in the end didn’t fairly go well with Robertson and his household. What he actually needed was nearer to dwelling.

‘We have been speaking about dwelling in a fortress at one stage; me and the missus,’ he joked, when requested about England’s curiosity. ‘I considered going to France, however I did not actually need to return into membership rugby after my beloved time with the Crusaders. It was time for me to check myself at Take a look at degree and the chance got here right here the All Blacks. I did produce other alternatives, however my ft are right here.’

When pressed on why taking cost of England didn’t go well with him, he added: ‘There are a whole lot of elements; your children’ age, your spouse. We’d spent three years in France and a yr in Japan. You understood what it was prefer to convey children over, you then’re within the subsequent stage of your life. You go deep in all these areas, what suited us, and it would not. My first alternative was the place I’m now. I’m happy I stayed in that battle and right here we’re.’

Robertson has gained recognition and acclaim far past the Canterbury area on New Zealand’s south island, the place he masterminded a title-winning golden age. On the time the RFU have been inviting him over for a chat at Twickenham, the Kiwi free spirit had resumed his teaching alliance with former Crusaders assistant Ronan O’Gara, on behalf of the Barbarians. The pair actually embraced the true ethos of the invitational staff, judging by the hungover profile photos which emerged.

The photographs went viral, inflicting a lot amusement and Robertson recalled the episode, saying: ‘My goodness gracious. I don’t do social media, however I used to be proven it. He seemed worse than me!’ The relevance of the expertise was that the following victory over a New Zealand XV confirmed how Robertson can work wonders in a short while, which is what he has to do right here.

He’s dyslexic and that has had a bearing on the best way wherein he goes about his teaching. There’s an emphasis on utilizing pictures and clear, temporary directions. ‘That’s how I’ve at all times labored,’ he mentioned. ‘I’m not nice at admin. I simply speak to photos and convey them alive.’

Earlier than his skilled profession started, Robertson loved a formative expertise in Northern Eire which had a profound impact on him. After ending college in Mount Maunganui, he had a stint taking part in at Ards Rugby Membership and got here dwelling with a heightened consciousness of the necessity to lengthen his tutorial research. 

Reflecting on that point, he mentioned: ‘It helped me mature. I used to be a bit sheltered. It helped me to develop up within the realities of life and the alternatives that have been on the market.

‘I used to be restricted in my ideas. The No 1 factor I discovered from taking part in in Ards was that I needed to get an training. A number of the fellows went to Queen’s College. I might sit behind the lecture theatre and hear. They have been going off to Amsterdam or London – to finance and the markets. Schooling gave them these alternatives and I hadn’t had that.’

Armed with this new outlook, Robertson signed with the Crusaders, on the situation they might fund his diploma at Lincoln College in Christchurch. That turned a template for therefore many All Blacks who adopted him. ‘I used to be a little bit of a pioneer in that manner,’ he mentioned.

A kind of who gained a level at Lincoln was Richie McCaw and the enduring, double World Cup-winning New Zealand captain was invited into the All Blacks camp to talk to the present squad concerning the challenges forward. They’re taking England critically, as a staff able to spoiling the new-era launch social gathering.

‘They’ve superior their sport with ball in hand,’ mentioned Robertson. ‘They nonetheless play their pressurising footie and nonetheless love competing within the air, however after they assault off it, they’re a bit braver now. There’s a little bit of fringe of the unknown about them. Steve has had his arms on them for a yr and he’s a extremely completed, meticulous coach. You possibly can see how they’re evolving.’

Over latest years, when the Crusaders received Tremendous Rugby titles, Robertson would have fun with an impromptu demonstration of breakdancing, surrounded by his gamers. However it can take greater than a one-off Take a look at win to see him unveil his body-popping strikes in his new job. 

‘Let’s make it in Aussie in 4 years,’ he mentioned, in reference to the subsequent World Cup. That’s the objective. That’s the sky-high expectation. Nothing else will do.