By Sam Worthington with AP
Michael Jordan had his “Last Dance,” and now Scott Robertson has had his “Last Breakdance” as he bid farewell to the Crusaders with an unforgettable seventh consecutive Super Rugby title on Saturday night.
Known as “Razor,” Robertson is set to take over as the All Blacks coach next season, bringing a fresh and unique energy to a role that is typically regarded as conservative.
“I am a true freestyler,” exclaimed Robertson to Sky Sport after joining star player Richie Mo’unga for a dance on the Hamilton turf.
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Coach Scott Robertson of the Crusaders breakdancing after their victory. (Getty)
“When I’m in the moment, I simply improvise. It’s challenging, but if the crowd starts chanting, I’ll bust out my moves.”
Mo’unga secured the final five points of the Super Rugby Pacific final after hooker Codie Taylor scored his second try in the Crusaders’ 25-20 win over the Chiefs.
Robertson will be succeeded by former Waratahs coach Rob Penney next season.
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The Crusaders coaching team celebrates after their victory. (Getty)
Penney had a challenging tenure with NSW, winning just seven out of 29 games before being let go in 2021. However, former Wallaby Morgan Turinui believes that the red and black machine will continue to thrive.
“The Crusaders will keep marching forward,” Turinui stated on Stan Sport’s Rugby Heaven.
“Blackadder set it up brilliantly, and Razor has taken it to another level. They have set everything up for continued success. It’s not the end of an era because the talent keeps flowing through the Canterbury system. From Wayne Smith and Robbie Deans to Scott Robertson, it’s an incredible rugby environment.”
The Chiefs seemed poised to cap off their record-breaking season when they took the lead in the second half with a try from new All Blacks winger Emoni Narawa. They extended their lead to five points with a penalty kick from Damian McKenzie.
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However, the Crusaders managed to break through the Chiefs’ sturdy defense when Codie Taylor scored his second try.
“We said at the start of the year that in order to reach the top, we would have to endure quite a journey, and we did just that throughout the season,” Taylor reflected.
He was referring to the numerous injuries that the Crusaders had to overcome in order to secure the title.
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The Chiefs had been frontrunners throughout the competition, winning a club record 13 out of 14 matches in the regular season and 15 out of 16 overall before heading into the home final.
They scored the first try of the match through fullback Shaun Stevenson in the 25th minute. However, Taylor’s first try in the 28th minute and another try from Mo’unga in the 36th minute gave the Crusaders a 15-10 lead at halftime.
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The Chiefs mounted a strong comeback in the second half and successfully shut down the Crusaders for long stretches. Narawa scored his try in the 43rd minute, putting the Chiefs back in the lead at 17-15, and he nearly had another in the 56th minute, but it was disallowed.
McKenzie capitalized on an overthrow from the Crusaders lineout and connected with Narawa for the score.
Emoni Narawa celebrates at FMG Stadium Waikato. (Getty)
However, referee Ben O’Keeffe and TMO Brendon Pickerill correctly ruled that McKenzie had encroached within 10 meters of the lineout, resulting in an offside call.
Chiefs co-captain Brad Weber expressed his disappointment with the loss, saying, “I’m gutted. But I truly believe that this team is capable of winning a championship. It didn’t happen tonight, but it will happen.”
The Chiefs were aiming for their third Super Rugby title and their first since 2013 under Dave Rennie.
“I have no idea how we pulled it off,” confessed Crusaders captain Scott Barrett.
“The Chiefs were in incredible form all season. We knew it would be an uphill battle, and it certainly was tonight.”
Coach Scott Robertson of the Crusaders breakdancing after their victory. (Getty)
The Chiefs fought valiantly despite having three players receive yellow cards, two in the first half and another to co-captain Sam Cane in the second.
“It’s tough to fall just short at the end there,” remarked Cane.
“Credit must go to the Crusaders tonight. They have been the best team for several years now, and they once again proved their strength.”
Coach Scott Robertson of the Crusaders celebrates after their victory. (Getty)
Robertson took charge of the Crusaders in 2017, leading them to a title after an eight-year drought.
Since becoming coach, the Crusaders have won a championship in every season. Robertson also won four titles as a player for the Crusaders.
“I should be overcome with emotion, but I’m not,” Robertson revealed.
“This is an extraordinary group of players. I believe there were five guys on the field tonight who were there in 2017. The coaching staff has reinvented itself over the years, and there have been crucial players like Richie and Sam Whitelock.”
Sam Whitelock of the Crusaders celebrates after their victory. (Getty)
Whitelock, who played in his 178th and final match for the Crusaders before heading to France, was named man of the match. He was questionable to play due to a persistent Achilles injury but managed to complete the full 80 minutes.
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Hasibur Rahaman is a passionate sports journalist. He covers everything from cricket to field hockey, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis of sporting events, both within India and on the international stage.
