The All Blacks have enjoyed visits from Richie McCaw, Sir Steve Hansen and others this year as they work towards winning the Rugby World Cup, but one person barred from seeing them reportedly is their next coach Scott Robertson.
Former All Black and rugby commentator Justin Marshall revealed in a panel discussion for South African broadcaster SuperSport the "really interesting" tidbit from France.
"Scott Robertson has been here in France. You would have seen him. He’s been floating around," Marshall said.
“He’s not allowed to be at All Blacks games.
“They feel he’s too big a distraction to the current players.
"All of a sudden they might want to chat to him or might want to impress him, so [current coach] Ian Foster said to him...he’s not being allowed at All Blacks games."
Springboks great Schalk Burger, also on the panel, was stunned by the news.
Burger said while it's not secret there's "no love lost" between Robertson and his eventual predecessor, it's still "unlike" the All Blacks to bar one of their own from the environment.
Marshall agreed, adding the All Blacks "help each other" normally.
Robertson has been taking in the sights and sounds of the World Cup but has kept a low profile in France with cameras only spotting him once so far at a match involving Fiji.
His presence at the match made sense though with the All Blacks set to face Fiji, as well as England, in July next year - Robertson's first Tests as All Blacks coach after he takes over from Foster.
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