Rugby: Bay snub put Scott Robertson on title path

Scott Robertson was passed over for the Bay of Plenty coaching role he wanted before he was picked up by Canterbury.

Canterbury's ITM Cup winning head coach Scott Robertson wanted to come back home to coach the Bay of Plenty Steamers but was turned down for the role three years ago that was given to Kevin Schuler.

In an exclusive interview with the Bay of Plenty Times, the proud former Mount College student says he saw the Steamers as his ticket to the higher echelons of the coaching ranks but missed out in a decision he says was disappointing at the time.

"The powers that be obviously decided there was a better person for the job and I guess it was not meant to be," Robertson said.

But timing often plays a key role in sport.

After he missed the Steamers job, the pathway to the top provincial coaching job in New Zealand opened up for the man they call Razor.

The 39-year-old was appointed assistant coach under Tabai Matson and then appointed as Canterbury's head coach late last year.

In his first season in charge he guided Canterbury to their sixth consecutive ITM Cup title. His coaching efforts in 2013 have been rewarded with an assistant coaching role looking after the NZ Under-20 forwards under head coach Chris Boyd.

Robertson admits things have happened quicker in his coaching career than he expected.

"I have been really patient for the last five years in professional rugby coaching and have done a lot of foundation work leading into this (ITM) campaign," Robertson said. "The expectations are high here that you win it and you wouldn't have it any other way in an environment that understands winning and striving for it consistently.

"Just being myself is the key. Anyone who knows me knows I am a pretty energetic and optimistic guy. I enjoy life and always try to find the positives in everything. I also like challenges and like to create an environment that is learning and effort based."

Robertson was at Mount College from 1988 to 1992 and has one abiding memory of the one that got away in his First XV years.

"We lost to Boys' College in the last play of the game so that was tough.

"It was a major disappointment as that was my goal growing up to beat them.

"I met a lot of my best friends through the Mount Rugby Club and it still means a lot to me. When I was growing up I probably spent more time at Blake Park than any other kid I reckon.

"I lived across the road in Campbell Rd so if there was no surf I was at the park and if there was surf I was surfing - it was as simple as that."

Robertson played 16 games for Bay of Plenty in 1995 before he moved to Canterbury where his qualities as a skilful loose forward earned him 23 test caps for the All Blacks.