France-New Zealand: “He was a truly exceptional locker room and training partner”, USAP alumni recount Scott Robertson's Catalan years

There is always a bit of blood and gold everywhere in international Rugby. Patrick Arlettaz, Laurent Sempéré, Manu Plaza, Cédric Cassou, and even Shaun Edwards, the Englishman adopted by the Catalans, are on the staff of the XV of France. Scott Robertson is at the head of the All Blacks. The former USAP third row (2003-2006) was named coach of New Zealand at the end of the 2023 World Cup. This Saturday evening (9:10 p.m.), he will be at the Stade de France, for the expected clash between the XV of France and the Blacks. Before that, his former coach Philippe Boher and his former teammates Bernard Goutta, Grégory Le Corvec and Manny Edmonds talk about what “their” was Razor (1).

The player

When Scott Robertson arrived in Perpignan, at the age of 29, he was coming off four Super Rugby titles in five years with the Crusaders. He also won the Tri-Nations in 2002 as a starter with the All Blacks, under the leadership of John Mitchell. With his 23 caps with the fern jersey, the third row arrived with quite a CV for the French championship at the time. “He was a huge tackler and a big defender. He was very hard on the manremembers Philippe Boher, who coached him from 2004 to 2006. His nickname was not usurped!”

At Lansdowne Road? His attitude was impressive.

He only played 54 matches with the USAP in three years, mainly due to numerous injuries, but there was one meeting which left an impression on his comrades. Philippe Boher and Grégory Le Corvec remember the quarter-final of the European Cup at Lansdowne Road against the immense armada of Munster (19-10 defeat), against whom the New Zealander had been “bright”. “He was impressive in his attitude. He shook (Brown) O'Callaghan 2-3 times, and he showed us the way, notably thanks to his energy. It was this match that marked me with himconfides Le Corvec, former iconic third line of the USAP (2001-2012). Through his attitude and his tackles, he showed us the extent of his talent in this regard. I'm very, very happy to have played with him. He’s a great guy, a good rugby player, very rough.”

For his part, Bernard Goutta remembers the New Zealander's first match with the USAP in Aimé-Giral against Biarritz. “He put on a bit of a show before the matchsmiles the legendary former third line (1994-2007) then coach (2007-2012) of Perpignan. He made two tackles where he made all the Aimé-Giral supporters rise up. Then he had to come out with an injury, he tore his calf. That's a bit like Scott's story at USAP… In any case, I know he really appreciated the Catalan welcome.”

Despite everything, he therefore participated in this European quarter-final of 2006, after having experienced a Top 16 final in 2004 lost against Paris (20-38), but also the championship semi-final at the Mosson stadium in Montpellier against Biarritz (9-12 defeat).

The man

But beyond the player that Scott Robertson was, everyone remembers the man that he was. The aura he represented in the locker room. “He arrived with the All Black label, but he was a humble boy”assures “Greg” Le Corvec. “Beyond the fact that he had around thirty selections, that he arrived with all the codes of the high international level, he came with lots of ideasexplains Philippe Boher. With the coaches of the time, whether it was Philippe Ducousso at the beginning, then Franck Azéma afterwards, we relied on him a lot. Particularly on the defensive aspects, because they were very ahead in the South. He is a player who has contributed a lot, with a remarkable state of mind. Always cheerful, always cheerful, always in a good mood.”

We, the Catalans, were obliged to put ourselves at his level.

Bernard Goutta will not contradict his former teammates. The Catalan loved playing alongside the Kiwi, two years his junior: “He was a truly exceptional locker room and training partner. It was a chance to play with Scott Robertson, an extraordinary player. We, the Catalans, were obliged to put ourselves at his level. That's what was exciting! And now, with a little hindsight, what I regret is that we weren't able to use this guy who comes from the best rugby in the world more. But he still gave advice, tried to pass it on, in particular to Jean-Pierre Perez. He immediately saw that Jean-Pierre would make a great third row even though he was barely training with us and he was coming up from the Espoir team.”

And what Bernard Goutta will never forget is the climb to the summit of Canigó with Robertson. “He was really, really pissed about his knees. And I remember his face when we got to the top, and then on the way back, he was in decay.”he laughs. Because, obviously, surfing was more the domain of the New Zealander. Blond hair in the wind, he who could never remain inactive, “he took his car to go to the Atlantic coast, and spend a weekend surfing”. An electric battery.

The Blacks coach

A passionate about life Scott Robertson, but above all a rugby madman. Seeing him at the head of the most legendary nation in the world does not surprise many people. Manny Edmonds, USAP opener from 2002 to 2007, and current coach of ES Catalane in Federal 2, remembers someone who “loved talking rugby”. “I know that at the time, when he lived in Canet-Plage, he lived not far from the Englishman who trained the Dragons (Steve Deakin, NDLR). He was often at home to talk rugby, tactics and game vision. It was something he loved doing all the time.”

A very good coach with a way of doing things that was a little different from everyone else.

At the time, seeing a New Zealand international land in France was still a rare commodity. And what emerges is that Scott Robertson was ahead of his time. At least it proved that New Zealand was already advanced in other aspects of rugby. “I remember that he had scored a try by doing offloads. For a number 8, he had all the abilities, the technicality and the skill needed for that position. He managed to do offloads, which we didn't do”recalls Bernard Goutta.

Ahead, at the time. And obviously still today. Because, at the head of the All Blacks for 1 year, “The Razor” did not get there by chance. He won Super Rugby five consecutive times with the Crusaders (2017, 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2023), also won two Super Rugby Aotearoa during Covid (2020 and 2021), as well as 8 New Zealand championships with Canterbury ( 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016). And a U20 World Cup with the Baby Blacks on the road (2015). “When I signed for Toulon in 2018, I went to spend a week with him at the Crusaders. And I saw already then that he was a very good coach with a way of doing things that was a bit different from everyone else”assure Manny Edmonds.

Today, Scott Robertson is preparing to challenge the French XV for the first time as coach of New Zealand. And it is a joy for all those who came into contact with him near or far in Perpignan.