I have always loved Scott Robertson. He should have been, should be, the All Blacks Coach. I've loved watching him make the Crusaders one of the great global sporting stories.

Part of it also is I am from Christchurch and I love Christchurch. But I don’t love how the city has so badly lets itself down since the earthquake. The gaps you still see 11 years on are inexcusable.

It's been made worse this past week with yet another blowout for the stadium. Every city needs at least one proper stadium.

We have, for years, had Melbourne as the example just across the way. We have admired their facilities and their approach and yet never really learned the lesson.

The lesson for Christchurch was the opportunity not to be missed in the rebuild. The best small city in the world was the goal and what an admirable sentiment. There are signs, there is building, and infrastructure. It gives you a sense it is possible. But the gaps are the reminder of the damage of procrastination.

So Robertson, post his victory over the Reds, Speaks so eloquently for so many of us. "Leaders need to be brave," he says. "And if we don't, we are going to be hung out as a public and as a generation."

"Why are we not brave? Why are we showing so much hesitancy? We have been through too much for somebody not to be brave and now is the opportunity for us to do that."

"Build and bring to life our inner city. Build the heart of it so people will come from overseas and see something we can be really proud of. We're the Melbourne of the south. We're a great sporting city, region and we love all our arts and we got all the music - it's all there for us. We are a great sporting city and region. And we love all our arts and we've got our music. It's all there for us."

"Leaders march on be brave."

It's perfectly put and from a bloke who most of us have large amount of admiration for. The sad thing is he has to say it, pleading for progress is a sign the leaders he talks of are absent.

Christchurch is not alone in its malaise. The whole country lacks a certain aspiration these days. But Christchurch specifically has been at it for 11 years and counting.

The city deserves better and they deserve more people like Robertson.