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

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

‘We had 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 huge. 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 somewhat look over my shoulder and it was an enormous factor. When the opposite man went in, he may have advised me! It was shut sufficient. That was my little second! You’re fairly care-free if you end up 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 doable.

He has now been tasked with main New Zealand again to the summit of world rugby

‘There was 10ft (swell) on the market in the present day,’ he mentioned. ‘I might be in Antarctica now! I do attempt to exit. I nonetheless at all times verify the surf stories. It’s on my app wherever I am going. Some guys play golf and I surf. Guys go to the gymnasium, 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 count on the All Blacks to overcome all-comers and they’ll count on 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 detrimental forecasts by reaching a World Cup Remaining. 

So, the brand new man has had this primary Check in his sights for greater than a 12 months. No marvel 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 course, he might need been right here this weekend within the visiting camp. The RFU interviewed him in November 2022, after they had been succession planning forward of the scheduled finish of Eddie Jones’ tenure a 12 months later. Then the Australian was abruptly dismissed and Steve Borthwick was recruited from Leicester to switch him at quick 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 residence.

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

Robertson may have changed Eddie Jones (pictured) as England head coach in 2022

England opted to go together with Steve Borthwick (pictured) as an alternative, and Robertson’s first recreation in command of the All Blacks can be in opposition to Borthwick’s males on Saturday

When pressed on why taking cost of England didn’t go well with him, he added: ‘There are loads of elements; your children’ age, your spouse. We’d spent three years in France and a 12 months in Japan. You understood what it was prefer to deliver 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 selection 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 had 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 footage 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 through which he goes about his teaching. There may be an emphasis on utilizing photographs and clear, transient directions. ‘That’s how I’ve at all times labored,’ he mentioned. ‘I’m not nice at admin. I simply speak to footage and produce 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 residence with a heightened consciousness of the necessity to prolong 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 had been on the market.

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

Armed with this new outlook, Robertson signed with the Crusaders, on the situation they’d 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.

New Zealand misplaced to South Africa by a single level in final 12 months’s Rugby World Cup remaining

New Zealand at the moment are trying to kickstart a brand new period underneath Robertson in opposition to England

A type 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 significantly, as a staff able to spoiling the new-era launch get together.

‘They’ve superior their recreation 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 palms on them for a 12 months and he’s a very achieved, meticulous coach. You may see how they’re evolving.’

Over current years, when the Crusaders received Tremendous Rugby titles, Robertson would have fun with an impromptu demonstration of breakdancing, surrounded by his gamers. However it would take greater than a one-off Check 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.