Why Dan Carter believes ‘world-class’ Scott Robertson can ‘change’ the All Blacks
All Blacks legend Dan Carter at the World Rugby awards in 2023.
All Blacks legend Dan Carter has backed Scott Robertson to impress as the country’s new head coach.
The 49-year-old takes over from Ian Foster, who guided the team to the Rugby World Cup final last month.
Robertson is regarded as one of the most talented coaches around having created a dynasty with the Crusaders following his arrival in 2017.
Domination
Under the former back-row, the Christchurch outfit utterly dominated the competition and won seven titles in as many seasons.
Carter and Robertson used to play alongside each other for the Crusaders and the great fly-half believes that he can make the step up to the next level with the All Blacks.
“He’s an incredibly talented coach, a former team-mate of mine,” he told 1News. “I got coached by him for one year when I went back injured and then played for Canterbury.
“I can assure him he’s much more than a club coach, he’s a world-class, leading coach, and I’m really excited to see the impact that he brings to the All Blacks.”
As Foster’s tenure showed, it is also about the people you surround yourself with that can determine a team’s success.
Influence of Schmidt and Ryan
New Zealand were surprisingly inconsistent following the 2019 World Cup, but a change in backroom team midway through 2022 made a huge difference.
Joe Schmidt and Jason Ryan both joined the coaching staff and, with those two helping out the head coach, they managed to reach the final of the global tournament.
“I’ve been following his (Robertson’s) journey pretty closely and he’s got a great team around him, which will be really important at that next level of coaching,” Carter added.
“There will be some changes. It will be different, he thinks about the game in a different way, is extremely passionate and he often gets the best out of the players he coaches.”
