Analysis: Taking the soon-to-be-departing veterans Sam Cane and TJ Perenara on Northern tour was a no-brainer, writes Patrick McKendry.
Once Scott Robertson acknowledged that experience and leadership are paramount at Test level there was never really any question that he would not take Sam Cane and TJ Perenara on the Northern Hemisphere tour.
It has been established here before that the importance of the former quality is one of the biggest lessons the All Blacks head coach has learned this year, his first at this level, and so it was almost a no-brainer that the pair would travel to assist a squad to play Japan, England, Ireland, France and Italy, five Tests that will comprehensively challenge his men.
Does that put Robertson on the conservative side of the scale in terms of his selections? Not really – the presence of the All Blacks XV in Europe to play Munster and Georgia means those on the fringe of selection, and in particular Noah Hotham and Peter Lakai, two potential replacements for Perenara and Cane, get another taste of the All Blacks environment.
Robertson confirmed yesterday that Hotham and fellow halfback Finlay Christie would be included in the 29-man squad, announced at 2pm today, with loose forward Lakai a near certainty.
Some members of the All Blacks XV will spend time in Japan with the All Blacks before jetting off to Ireland.
A case could be made that, while Robertson has resisted the urge to see more of the promising midfielder Billy Proctor at this level, he has been decisive rather than conservative.
Yes, Wallace Sititi’s selection was the result of an injury to Ethan Blackadder in South Africa but Robertson was quick to demote Christie from the squad and, in the biggest shock of his tenure, part ways with assistant coach Leon MacDonald when the pair decided it was in the best interests of the team to do so.
It must have been tempting for that partnership to limp on until after the Rugby Championship but they officially called it quits in an unprecedented announcement after the victory over Argentina at Eden Park in mid-August.
It’s clear that Cam Roigard will be the All Blacks’ No.1 halfback now that he has fully recovered from a serious knee injury – a rehabilitation confirmed when he scored two tries for Counties recently – and his running game will be a huge boost to Robertson and company.
The similarly impressive Cortez Ratima is the third halfback to make the top squad. Perenara will play a mentoring role to the pair, but don’t be surprised to see the 87-Test veteran starting at least one of the Tests against England, Ireland or France.
The French describe the gruelling annual Paris to Roubaix cycle race as "L'Enfer du Nord", or the "Hell of the North", and playing three nations ranked in the top five on the world rankings away in consecutive weeks could qualify as similar.
In theory they will be the toughest Tests on tour but both Japan and Italy have the potential to surprise.
Cane, like Perenara, is heading to Japan after this year but has a firmer grasp on a starting place than Perenara. After ticking off his 100-Test milestone against Australia in Wellington recently, Cane should be pleased with his form and the leadership he is providing new skipper Scott Barrett.
“It was a deep conversation,” Robertson said of the selections of Cane and Perenara, who are both aged 32.
“It was always a balance of having experience, guys who are Test fit, the balance of leadership and what does it take to win up north. If you look at them, they have a lot of those qualities.
“They’re in a Test team playing good footy still. And they can build. They [Cane and Perenara] are a big part of helping the next players come through and building for the future.”
Indeed, Robertson described Cane’s form as “exceptional”. Cane is also part of a top-flight loose forward trio which includes the impressive Sititi and Ardie Savea that has balance and momentum.
This is important because the other messages Robertson delivered concerned “cohesion” and the ability to execute or finish opportunities and you can’t have one without the other at the top level.
“We’ve created plenty, we’ve just got to finish plenty more," he said.
“There’s been some really good footy, we’ve just got to turn that good into great and finish the job.”
All Blacks squad for Northern tour
Forwards (20)
Hookers: Asafo Aumua, Codie Taylor, George Bell; Props: Ethan De Groot, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell, Pasilio Tosi, Ofa Tu'ungafasi,Tamaiti Williams; Locks: Scott Barrett, Tupou Vaa'I, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Darry; Loose forwards: Ethan Blackadder, Sam Cane, Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papali'i, Ardie Savea, Wallace Sititi.
Backs (16)
Halfbacks: Cam Roigard, TJ Perenara, Cortez Ratima; First five-eighths: Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie; Midfielders: Jordie Barrett, David Havili, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Billy Proctor; Outside backs: Caleb Clarke, Will Jordan, Ruben Love, Stephen Perofeta, Sevu Reece, Mark Tele'a.
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