Next All Blacks coach Scott Robertson open to idea of picking overseas-based players

Scott Robertson is open to the idea of selecting overseas-based players for the All Blacks when he takes over as coach after the Rugby World Cup.

New Zealand Rugby [NZR] has always picked All Blacks squads with players from New Zealand-based franchises.

The All Blacks will be losing a number of big names to Japan and Europe following the World Cup, including Crusaders first five-eighths Richie Mo’unga.

When asked about the potential to change the All Blacks selection process, Robertson left the door open.

“One thing they [NZR] have said to me is a bit of forward thinking and challenging the norm here. So we’ll have conversations. You’ve got to be a step ahead. If you’re a step behind and then changing rules, that’s when you get caught.

“So they will definitely be getting my opinion and my thoughts. I’ll present to the board and where I think the game is heading potentially. But a lot of that will happen after I get in the role.”

NZR chief executive Mark Robinson didn’t rule anything out.

“We have, as it relates to players and coaches, a pretty strong track record of backing people within our own context. But the world is changing as we’ve seen many, many times. We need to think a bit more laterally on that.”

When it came to looking at other codes, with the likes of Wallabies coach Eddie Jones “on the hunt” for players in the NRL, Robertson was less clear about where he stands.

“I think the NRL stuff and the league players and the converts thing is a really interesting discussion. There’s some great examples and then ones that you could have done it better, you know, like the selection side of it.

“I’ve got a broad view on it... you can write a pamphlet on it because I’ve got some clear guidelines about what I think about it. There’s always extreme talents and, you know, Sonny Bill [Williams] is a prime example.”

Yesterday NZR announced the four coaches who will assist Robertson once he takes over from Ian Foster on November 1: current All Blacks assistant coach Jason Ryan, Blues head coach Leon MacDonald, Hurricanes head coach Jason Holland and Crusaders assistant coach Scott Hansen.

Asked if NZR would consider overseas candidates to replace the departing Super Rugby coaches, Robinson said: “We want great coaches in our environments, we know that’s what the players value really highly in our Super clubs. We want to make sure we get the best possible. We’ll get to work with the CEOs and the high performance people in those clubs as soon as possible.

“Historically we’ve been really strong on head coaches being New Zealanders. That is still a preference. We’ve had lots of good examples too of overseas-based coaches coming in and taking various roles as assistants. So we’re not closed to that obviously already.”