Scott Robertson, who played 23 tests for the All Blacks between 1998 and 2002, is set to be appointed as the next Crusaders coach.

An announcement on Todd Blackadder's successor is imminent, with Scott Robertson tipped to take over as the Crusaders head coach next year.

It is understood the Crusaders board made their decision late last week, and NZ Rugby are in the process of finalising the contract.

A press release may be issued as early as Friday to confirm Robertson has been preferred ahead of Tabai Matson and Dave Hewett who, given their experience of assisting Blackadder at Super Rugby level, were expected to be the frontrunners for the job.

Instead it appears Robertson, who is currently in England coaching the New Zealand under-20 team, is poised to be a shock selection for one of the most prized jobs in Super Rugby.

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This will be Robertson's first job at Super Rugby level. The former All Blacks and Crusaders loose forward, who played 23 tests between 1998 and 2002, began his coaching career in New Zealand when former Canterbury coach Rob Penney invited him to work with the national provincial championship side in 2008.

Robertson was appointed as head coach in 2013 when Matson, who in his only season as head coach of Canterbury won a title, accepted Blackadder's invite to work as a backs coach at the Crusaders.

In three seasons Robertson has won two NPC titles with Canterbury. He also guided the New Zealand under-20 team to a world crown last year, but that success was not repeated this week. For the first time in the tournament's history a New Zealand side failed to make the playoffs; despite beating Wales in their final pool game in England on Thursday, it wasn't enough to qualify for a chance to defend the title.

Matson and Hewett will have good reason to feel disappointed at missing out on the job, and it is uncertain whether they will work alongside Robertson or look to coach elsewhere.

Matson was touted as the favourite to fill the void left by Blackadder, who declared before the season began that his eighth season in charge would be his last.

When Matson accepted an invite by former Blues coach John Kirwan to consider a bold plan to move to the Auckland-based club - a deal that came to nothing because the former accepted a one-year extension to keep working at the Crusaders and Kirwan lost his job anyway - there was a belief he would be at short odds to replace Blackadder who was always expected to step aside after this season.

Instead the Crusaders board and chief executive Hamish Riach appear to have opted to overlook Matson's experience of working as an assistant with Canterbury and Crusaders since 2009, and his involvement with the NZ Maori and Fiji World Cup sides.

Hewett will also have reason to feel disappointed. Like Matson, he too is a former All Black and began working with the Crusaders as a scrum coach in 2009. He was later promoted to working with the forwards and has proved a valuable confidant for Blackadder.

If Robertson decides to contract new assistants, or Matson and Hewett elect to chase coaching jobs elsewhere, it could result in a radical shake-up of the franchise. It also is uncertain whether Brad Mooar, who has proved a valuable contributor in his ability to extract the best from the inside backs, will continue beyond this season.

A potential assistant for Robertson could be with him in England at this time. Hawke's Bay head coach Craig Philpott is working as a forwards coach with the NZ under-20 team and has stated he would be keen to work as an assistant with the Christchurch-based club.

Robertson, nicknamed 'Razor', was known for developing a strong rapport with players and has used self-deprecating motivators with his teams, including in the 2013 NPC when he agreed to breakdance at Wellington Stadium should Canterbury win the final. They did, and so did he.

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