ROSEMARY ABBOTT | Sport
PUB WISDOM
Barry Boulter, 72, says he didn’t want to comment on Scott “Razor” Robertson’s sacking this week, but felt morally obligated to do so after his third Speights at a Timaru bar.
“I’m not one to get into rugby politics,” Barry announced on Saturday afternoon, moments before getting very deeply into rugby politics.
According to Barry, NZ Rugby’s decision to sack Robertson had nothing to do with systems, skill development, or long-term planning, and everything to do with the modern All Black not being “too bloody soft.”
“Back in our day you didn’t need sports psychologists,” Barry explained, tapping the bar for emphasis. “You just needed a bloke to yell at you and tell you to harden up and get back out there.”
Barry conceded that Razor was, in his words, “a good coach,” but maintained that responsibility ultimately rested with him anyway.
“Look, Razor’s the coach. The buck stops with him,” Barry said, pausing briefly to ask the bartender if the TAB was still taking bets on the next race at Addington. “And it’s about results. Simple as that. I don’t care what these show pony players have to say.”
When reminded that Robertson had only been in charge for less than a full World Cup cycle, Barry nodded thoughtfully before dismissing the point entirely.
Barry continued raising concerns about player toughness, citing evidence that included players wearing GPS vests, sitting on exercise bikes post-match, and “talking about feelings.”
“If a bloke’s hamstring went back then, you just taped it and carried on,” Barry said. “Now it’s all ‘load management’ and ‘player welfare.’ Rugby’s not supposed to be safe. It’s a real man’s game.”
“You’ve got to make tough calls and tell the players how it is. And if the players don’t like it, well, maybe they just need to harden up.”
More to come.
