It’s an undeniable truth that you can’t lean so heavily on legacy like the All Blacks do without touching on history, so one of head coach Scott Robertson’s major tasks this week will be on putting the nation’s extraordinary 30-year unbeaten record at Eden Park into perspective.
Actually, it may not be just the players with some added weight on their shoulders. Test one is out of the way, albeit won by the narrowest of margins in Dunedin, but the pressure on the man known as Razor has not abated.
No one wants to be the first to break what is an extraordinary run which has lasted 48 Tests (and has included two draws). Such is the success rate there that the previous defeat before the France calamity in 1994 (which allowed the Tricolours to take a 2-0 series victory) was to Australia in 1986.
England coach Steve Borthwick quite rightly planted a seed this week by suggesting all the pressure is on the All Blacks due to their record on the patch of grass in shadow of Mt Eden and now it’s up to the home side to respond.
“They’ve said that they’ll be better next week,” Borthwick said. “They are going to produce a team that’s going to be more experienced than ours and older than ours, and they are playing at Eden Park, so the expectation is all on them. We always recognise and respect the history, but these players weren’t here in the past, that’s the reality.”
It would be no exaggeration to suggest that every member of Robertson’s group is well aware of that 30-year record since the All Blacks lost to France thanks to “the try from the end of the world” scored by Jean-Luc Sardouny in the dying moments.
“With Eden Park, with our successes… I’ve mentioned before about effort – winning is earned there,” Robertson said today. “We respect what has been before and now it’s our opportunity.”
There is pressure, of course.
“There’s always pressure,” Robertson said. “It depends how you use it.”
What’s so special about the place? “It’s home. There’s a bit of a national feel about it. Players come with expectations around it and there are some good memories.”
Robertson hopes to create his own via continuity of selection and an improvement in performance.
The only change is forced – Blues halfback Finlay Christie in for the injured TJ Perenara, as expected, with Chiefs No.9 Cortez Ratima on the reserves bench and in line for his Test debut.
Robertson, despite some messages from his assistant Jason Holland earlier in the week that hinted at changes and perhaps made to keep some players on their toes, has resisted the urge to tweak his line-up.
“[It was] very straightforward,” he said of his selection. “There were some great performances and areas where we can get better. The players have been really good this week once we got a bit of cohesion in place and got into our work.
“We’ve got to finish opportunities a little bit better… a little bit of execution…”
Asked about fullback Stephen Perofeta, the minor surprise selection last weekend at the back ahead of Beauden Barrett, he said: “I thought Stephen was exceptional – he took his opportunity. It gives us a balance of 10 and 15 when we bring on Beauden. He [Barrett] understands the game so well and a couple of early touches gave us that field position when we needed it at that time.”
With Perofeta retaining his position and Damian McKenzie holding on to the No.10 jersey, will Barrett get another start?
Very much so, he replied. “There are 14 Tests [this year]. Of course… all that experience. This is the right mix for this Test.”
The All Blacks will be assured by the presence of Australia referee Nic Berry this week after being puzzled by several of Nika Amashukeli’s rulings in Dunedin.
“We know Nic and what he likes to see,” Robertson said.
Back to Sardouny’s try from 30 years ago. Robertson’s memories of it? “C’est magnifique,” he replied.
“It was amazing. I’ve seen a few replays. The old inside hip pass… it was a beautiful moment.”
And one very much locked away in history - just how Robertson and the All Blacks like it.
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