Breakdancing coach Robertson injects new energy to All Blacks

WELLINGTON — Senior All Blacks are enjoying the energy brought by new head honcho Scott Robertson — the surfing, breakdancing, maverick coach who faces his first Test in charge against England on Saturday.

The man nicknamed “Razor” has inherited a New Zealand side criticised for a lack of innovation under maligned predecessor Ian Foster. Lock Patrick Tuipulotu said Robertson had energised the squad since they gathered in Wellington last week. “First word that comes to mind is probably ‘energy’. I think that’s good for this team,” said Tuipulotu.

“He knows what he wants and certainly brings that to the forefront, especially in the meeting room. New Zealand opens its international season with the first of two Tests against England in Dunedin on Saturday, the All Blacks’ first outing since narrowly losing the World Cup final to South Africa in October.

”It’s inevitable when you change personnel, you have different approaches and different ways of thinking,” said centre Jordie Barrett.