The All Blacks’ requirement for leadership at the start and finish of the Test against Argentina at Eden Park on Saturday has resulted in a recall for former skipper Sam Cane and the retention of halfback TJ Perenara.
Cane’s call-up to the reserves bench from a long-term back injury is no surprise given what transpired at Sky Stadium last weekend – the All Blacks letting slip a healthy 20-8 first-half lead to collapse to a 38-30 defeat.
With captain Scott Barrett missing through a finger injury, they lacked composure at the end of that Test. They also lacked skill and cohesion for a large proportion of it, but the addition of 95-Test veteran Cane will presumably help with the composure part of the equation, at least.
It’s also a big part of why Perenara has retained his starting position ahead of Cortez Ratima.
With wet weather predicted in Auckland this weekend the All Blacks coaches are expecting an early onslaught from the Pumas forwards and are clearly wary about putting Ratima, who has played three Tests, into the firing line inside Damian McKenzie, whose game management wasn’t quite up to speed in Wellington.
The key for Perenara, however, will be to play with a decisiveness (and kicking game) that ensures the All Blacks are not sucked into the metaphorical arm wrestle that did for them last weekend and almost did in the narrow wins over England.
Perenara, who had two kicks charged down in succession against the Pumas, must provide a better platform for McKenzie but in fairness that also applies to a pack which was outgunned in the second half last weekend.
Adding to their problems was their inability to exit their half efficiently, along with a failure to build scoreboard pressure.
“Experience,” was Robertson’s reply to the question of Cane’s inclusion. “He’s been exceptional in our group and we think he’s going to be invaluable at the back end of the game.
“He knows what these big Test matches are about. His influence on the group is a little bit of gold – the information, how it’s delivered and his tone is something special. It’s another opportunity for him in the black jersey.”
It will be Cane’s first Test since his dismissal in last year’s World Cup final in Paris.
“A lot of hard work has gone in to get to this stage,” Cane said today. “I was pretty nervous at the team naming. I’m stoked to drag a spot on the bench.”
Cane, who has been training with the team since before the first England Test in Dunedin, said transitioning to being a former captain following Scott Barrett’s promotion wasn’t too difficult.
“At the start you’re conscious you don’t want to be stepping on those boys’ toes,” Cane said. “You want them to lead the best they can and I can support them the best I can.”
If the selection of Perenara raised eyebrows, Rieko Ioane’s as starting centre after Anton Lienert-Brown was tried there last weekend may also prompt a twitch.
Caleb Clarke’s promotion over Mark Tele’a is also intriguing given Tele’a’s recent good form. Will Jordan’s on the right wing ahead of Sevu Reece was far more predictable.
Ioane's recall is down to form in training, Robertson said. Clarke's power game and aerial ability got him the nod this week.
However, a big part of last week’s messaging was around finding cohesion. Now Robertson has shuffled his backline cards again.
“We’ve created enough but we’ve given them [opposition] back opportunities around our discipline, finishing our jobs and just execution,” Robertson said.
“They’ve owned it,” he said of the team’s performance in Wellington. “We all have.”
Robertson confirmed loosehead prop Ethan de Groot injured his neck earlier in the week. De Groot, who would have started, and has been replaced by Tamaiti Williams, is likely out for a couple of weeks.
The Pumas, who celebrated their third defeat against the All Blacks last weekend and will be relatively confident of a repeat at Eden Park, where the home side haven’t lost since 1994, may tweak their hugely successful game plan, he said.
“They’re quite innovative. Felipe [Contempomi] is a smart coach. I don’t think they’ll roll out what they did last week, they’ll be a step ahead and we’ve considered that as well.”
All Blacks team
The team (caps in brackets) to play Argentina at Eden Park on Saturday, kick-off 7.05pm is:
1. Tamaiti Williams (8), 2. Codie Taylor (88), 3. Tyrel Lomax (35), 4. Tupou Vaa’i (29), 5. Sam Darry (2), 6. Ethan Blackadder (12), 7. Dalton Papali’i (35), 8. Ardie Savea (85) ©, 9. TJ Perenara (83), 10. Damian McKenzie (51), 11. Caleb Clarke (21), 12. Jordie Barrett (61), 13. Rieko Ioane (72), 14. Will Jordan (32), 15. Beauden Barrett (127). Reserves: 16. Asafo Aumua (10), 17. Ofa Tu’ungafasi (60), 18. Fletcher Newell (17), 19. Josh Lord (5), 20. Sam Cane (95), 21. Cortez Ratima (3), 22. Anton Lienert-Brown (74), 23. Mark Tele’a (12).
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