Super Rugby Pacific: Scott Robertson delighted by Crusaders step up to claim the title

Crusaders coach Scott Robertson revealed that asking everyone, including himself, to step up kicked their season into gear on the way to another title.

Robertson’s men endured a rocky start to the season by their standards but managed to turn the tides, peaking late in the season and snatching the title with a 21-7 win over the Blues in the final.

The coach was delighted with the character shown by his side and how they found the ability to dig deep this season.

“Without giving too much away, it was probably just a step up. We used a metaphor around how we could all step up, including myself, because we were going to have to take a step up to stay a step ahead of the rest,” he said told Stuff.

“Part of the season we weren’t [a step ahead], but when we needed to be we were. That was the pleasing thing.

“When you are in charge you’ve got to be hungry every year. That’s my job as coach to motivate the boys and find different reasons to dig deep, just to keep pushing yourself and finding that the well is always deeper, you can always keep digging. That’s something we’re really proud of and that showed tonight.”

The try that secured the game was off a perfectly weighted Pablo Matera grubber kick, and Robertson commended the loose forward for the incredible effort.

“He did one earlier in the year, I think it was under the roof, it might have been the Highlanders,” said Robertson. “I said, ‘oooohhh, we might just have to put that away’. He goes, ‘yes, I won’t do one again’. Then I just said, ‘mate, good on ya, you trusted your instincts’. That was world-class, just the weight of it, how it landed. He pretty much can do whatever he wants now.”

Matera is likely to leave the club after one season at the Crusaders. Robertson