AB Great, Bruce Robertson - RIP
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@Billsy111 Yep, best AB Centre ever in my opinion. Think Conrad's smarts, timing, decision making and step with Riko's pace and you have Bruce Robertson.
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I didn't see alot of him play and YouTube doesn't have a lot, but I got to know him off the field, as a coach/mentor and chatted over a beer or 2, such a great guy.
Recall when I bumped into him at the Lions match up here in 2017 and he had 2 young English (think they were anyway) fellas with him he had billeted, initially they had no idea he was not only a former AB, but one of our greats, they loved it...they would never have found this out from him, only via google or other people alerting them to it
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@taniwharugby said in AB Great, Bruce Robertson - RIP:
I didn't see alot of him play and YouTube doesn't have a lot, but I got to know him off the field, as a coach/mentor and chatted over a beer or 2, such a great guy.
Recall when I bumped into him at the Lions match up here in 2017 and he had 2 young English (think they were anyway) fellas with him he had billeted, initially they had no idea he was not only a former AB, but one of our greats...they would never have found this out from him, only via google or other people alerting them to it
Probably went a little like this...
Followed by this
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RIP to one of the greats coming from Hawke's Bay and a Hastings Boys' product.
I have no memories of him playing, unfortunately.
Sincerest condolences to his whānau and friends.
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One of the nicest blokes you would ever meet , always a pleasure to deal with Bruce when he worked for Northland Rugby
He was one of my favourite players growing up in the 80s ,definetly knew how to beat a man on the outside with his pace and more importantly set his winger up ,
His draw ,and timing of the pass was an absolute clinic and a bench mark on how to set up an outside ,All Black wingers Grant Batty ,Brian Williams ,Bernie Fraser ,Stu Wilson and his provincial wingers Robert Kururangi and Paul Riley would also testify they played on the outside of the prince of centres , could have easily played in the 11 or 14 jersey thats how quick he was.
An absolute legend and great rugby player on and off the field
Moe mai e koro🙏🏼 -
My best memory of him was the making of Hika Reid's try v Aus at Ballymore in 1980.
Had to reach back and catch the pass behind him spin around and then accelerate into space.
Anyone old enough to remember it (and someone with better googling skills than me who can find the video*) will know there was a fair bit happening after that to get Hila across the line, but Robertson created the chance.
RIP
(* I keep getting the 3rd test in Sydney - which we lost after a food poisoning incident - but not the 2nd test with said try.)
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That's sad news - one of my favourite players growing up.
It's pretty grainy and you need to pretty much frame by frame it to see what happens - but, here's the famous (non) penalty try incident in the 4th test vs SA (at 5.15).
Using the modern "take Oosthuizen out of the play" protocol, no-one else will stop him scoring.
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Loved his play at centre 2 moments I saw him do live will always live in my memory, just flashes from games.
1 He was playing for Counties againsr Wellington in 197somthing at Atjletic park, he was mremirising, and will always remeber him coming down sideline at full pace, without slowing he centre kicked for one of his team mates, and put the ball on a dime under goal post, another try Counties won by about 50 that day , and he was a big part of reason.
2 Also Athletic Park test against Lions (1977) he was drifting across in defence, can't remember which Lions received ball, and as Robertson was going in for tackle he passed to another Lion with a huge overlap coming up, Robertson accelerated onto the reciver and hit him beautifully, ball popped up and Grant Batty got it and scored!
Will always remember both things I was just blown away. -
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@Chris-B Lol funny mate I remember Graham Price almost running him down too. Mind you Batty was crocked by then, was going to retire but talked out of it , was so good at throwing ball into lineout forwards didn't want him to go. And I thought Irvine shouldn't of been up in line anyway, I always came away from game remembering they had an overlap without him being there. Mind you just things that went through my mind.
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@Dan54 Ha - I'm old enough to have thrown into a few lineouts from the wing as a kid - initially with the two-handed between the legs lob - and a bit later basically sort of bowling offspin - torpedo style - with my hand wrapped around the ball because it wasn't big enough to grip it.
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in AB Great, Bruce Robertson - RIP:
Think Conrad's smarts, timing, decision making and step with Reiko's pace and you have Bruce Robertson.
Summed him up perfectly but I'd add his kicking ability as well.
Probably the best AB 13 I've seen.
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