By WYNNE GRAY
Provocative until the end, departing NZRFU board member Kevin Roberts suggested Sean Fitzpatrick would be a superb choice as the next All Black manager.
As chief executive for Saatchi & Saatchi, ideas are Roberts' business and he delivered a few thoughts yesterday as he announced the end of his four-year stint of rugby administration.
The greatest issues for the NZRFU to sort out were the continued player drain, the need for improved coaching resources and player development. Finding the correct balance between professional and amateur rugby groups was also a priority.
Asked for his ideas about the next All Black manager, Roberts said he, personally, would target Fitzpatrick.
He was one of the two greatest living All Blacks and the other, Colin Meads, was a good manager too.
The job was not about getting to places on time but instilling values and culture. Fitzpatrick was in touch with the players and reality.
"I don't know anybody in New Zealand rugby who understands, respects and lives being an All Black as much as Fitzy. And I think the rest of the world would tremble. It would put intimidation back into the black jersey."
Roberts' NZRFU presence and views have polarised rugbydom. Critics questioned how he could be in touch with the New Zealand rugby scene while spending much of his time overseas. They used as examples of that lack of affinity his idea of painting black the plane carrying the All Blacks to the World Cup and his cheerleading advertisement in the Herald after the semifinal loss to France.
Roberts also gained notoriety on the political stage in 1998 for the "dinnergate" scandal when Opposition MPs linked an evening meal with then-Prime Minister Jenny Shipley to a subsequent Government decision to award a multi-million dollar Tourism Board contract to Saatchi & Saatchi. The contract was later cancelled.
There were no regrets yesterday from Roberts about any of his schemes, dreams or aspirations for rugby.
"The country does not have fantastic leadership kicking around the place because we are rapidly becoming a branch economy of Australia and closing stuff down, so I saw my role as providing some stimulation and debate," he said.
His main objectives on the board had been to secure the financial base of the NZRFU and he predicted there would be record gains for the next three years.
Roberts was most proud of his work, with former chief executive David Moffett, in securing the five-year deal with adidas. He had also been delighted at helping secure Sanzar's decade-long arrangement with News Ltd to thwart the WRC opposition.
An independent board member, Roberts' decision not to seek re-appointment adds to the NZRFU fallout since the World Cup with chairman Rob Fisher standing aside and Mike Banks considering his involvement.
Roberts could understand the angst throughout the country after the World Cup failures but was disappointed that Fisher would be lost to the leadership. Quizzed on a possible replacement, Roberts was unusually silent before reiterating his faith in Fisher's world-class chairmanship.
Roberts was now looking to work in the administration of other sports and always looking for ways "to move New Zealand's image onto the international stage."
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