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'Freshen the whole thing' - Chiefs assistant makes case for Scott Robertson as All Blacks coach

December 9, 2019

The Crusaders coach said he's done all he can - now all that's left is December's interview.

New Zealand Rugby can't look past Scott Robertson in the race to find the next All Blacks coach, says Chiefs assistant coach Tabai Matson.

With NZR believed to be beginning the interview stage for the All Blacks' coaching role today, Robertson finds himself pitted against Ian Foster in the quest to appoint Steve Hansen's successor.

Because Foster is seen largely as a continuation of the same system that gave the likes of Hansen and Sir Graham Henry success in years gone by, an argument for Robertson could be made in terms of the need for a different approach.

Hansen and Foster's current system with the All Blacks came unstuck in spectacular fashion at this year's Rugby World Cup in Japan when the All Blacks crashed out with a 19-7 defeat to England in Yokohama.

Speaking to Radio Sport, former Crusaders and now Chiefs assistant coach Matson outlined that Robertson is the ideal candidate, capable of shaking up the All Blacks' systems moving into the next World Cup cycle.

"They [the selection panel] may think this year we actually need to freshen the whole thing," Matson says.

"Understanding what [world rugby's] going to look like will be the key thing.

"If you're looking at purely coaching, you got to say [Robertson's] world class."

However, arguments against Robertson revolve around the current Crusaders coach being too young, with former All Blacks coach Laurie Mains among his critics.

New Zealand Rugby say that the announcement of the new All Blacks coach will be made before Christmas.

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