In Sydney, the sun is out and the surf is up. But Scott Robertson, who revealed this morning that he has taken to the waves with league legend Andrew Johns this week, has insisted Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup Test is the most important of his All Blacks’ coaching career.
His selections reflect that. Apart from Pasilio Tosi’s place as back-up prop on the reserves bench, there is no hint of experimentation among the All Blacks for the Test at Accor Stadium in Homebush.
Robertson and his assistants have taken a pragmatic approach and have picked an experienced line-up full of proven performers as they attempt to lock up the Bledisloe for another year. The bigger picture of development may have to wait for next week in Wellington.
Razor’s flirtation with Will Jordan at fullback lasted only a week, the Crusader back on the right wing.
Beauden Barrett, on the bench against the Boks in Cape Town, returns to fullback. Damian McKenzie has retained his place at No.10.
Ethan de Groot is back from a neck problem to start at loosehead prop, with Caleb Clarke on the left wing after a back issue.
The loose forward trio of Wallace Sititi, Ardie Savea and Sam Cane is unchanged – potentially helped by the fact Ethan Blackadder still has the hamstring issue that ruled him out of the last Test.
Lock Patrick Tuipulotu was not considered due to a lack of game time following his recovery from a calf injury which means Sam Darry has been named on the bench again.
It is a team which Robertson believes will be ready for anything Joe Schmidt and his Wallabies throw at them, and the All Blacks head coach is under no illusions the Aussies will be coming with everything after their humiliation at the hands of Argentina a fortnight ago.
For Robertson, every Test as head coach since his first against England in Dunedin in July will have been his “most important” but there is something extra about this one.
Not only is he coming up against former All Blacks assistant Schmidt, he’s also desperate to not be the first coach to put New Zealand’s hold on the Bledisloe Cup in jeopardy.
The Wallabies haven’t held it since 2002. Win on Saturday and again a week later in the Cake Tin and they’ll be creating a huge slice of history.
So, yes, Robertson, who also reflected today on his starting role in the so-called “game of the century”, the All Blacks’ famous Bledisloe Cup win in Sydney in 2000, agreed this one was up there.
Has he slept well this week, then?
“I sleep well because we get the process right and get everything in place,” he replied. “We’ve put a lot of preparation into this match, as the Aussies would have. It gives you an underlying confidence going into it but there’s always a bit of trepidation. That’s the appropriate fear that comes with any sport, especially contact sport.”
Robertson will want the All Blacks to express themselves on what will be a hard and fast track on Saturday afternoon following two defeats to the Boks.
He wants a ruthless mentality too in terms of finishing opportunities and creating them. In veteran Cane, who is about to play his 99th Test, he has a player capable of that.
“His experience – the value of that on and off the field [was a big plus],” Robertson said. “His ability to have high tackle counts and be really active and slow the opposition ball up has been a big factor for us. We’re mindful that this is his swansong, but when does the song stop?
“He’s in good form and is just what we need… he’s great for Scott Barrett and Ardie and the team and is playing well.
“For this Test we’ve picked an experienced group, a group that has played recently together and has played Bledisloe Cup matches. It’s a sign of respect to the Aussies because we know they’ll be coming. The score last week is irrelevant. It’s this week.”
Robertson has tangled with Boks coach Rassie Erasmus over the past few weeks, now it’s Schmidt. It’s a head-to-head he feels is good for the game.
“He’s been around and done it,” Robertson said of Schmidt, who led Ireland to their first win over the All Blacks in 2016 before joining Ian Foster as an assistant in 2022.
“Full respect for what he’s done in the past… he’ll come up with a couple of special third-phase plays that you haven’t seen for a while or that he has brought of out of his bank. He’s got a hell of a library and has a high rugby intellect.”
Asked whether the clash of the coaches had entered his mind this week, Robertson said: “No, only when you come to press conferences, really. It’s a good headline for you guys.
“It adds to the story, doesn’t it? That’s what people want to read. The personality of the coaches. Full respect to Joe, he’s taken on a hell of a job and it’s a good opportunity for him this weekend to show what his boys are about.”
And so to Robertson’s surfing session with “Joey” Johns yesterday morning at Bronte, south of Bondi, on the players’ traditional day off.
“It was entertaining, he knows his rugby, he knows his footy,” Robertson said of Johns, the former New South Wales and Kangaroos legend.
“I was impressed with him. He loves a stand-off or a 10. He knows the details. He’s in love with Carlos Spencer and he knows all the pivots… ‘when are you getting Richie [Mo’unga] back [from Japan]?’. I thought ‘oh jeez it’s gone global’. That was entertaining. It’s a special country, Aussie.”
All Blacks team to play Australia
Accor Stadium in Sydney on Saturday, kick-off 5.45pm NZT:
1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Scott Barrett (c), 5. Tupou Vaa'i, 6. Wallace Sititi, 7. Sam Cane, 8. Ardie Savea, 9. Cortez Ratima, 10. Damian McKenzie, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. Jordie Barrett, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Will Jordan, 15. Beauden Barrett.
Reserves: 16. Asafo Aumua, 17. Tamaiti Williams, 18. Pasilio Tosi, 19. Sam Darry, 20. Luke Jacobson, 21. TJ Perenara, 22. Anton Lienert-Brown, 23. Sevu Reece.
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