The selection of Leroy Carter on the left wing to play the Springboks in Wellington must be considered one of the boldest backline changes that head coach Scott Robertson has made during his tenure.
It has resulted in the demotion of Rieko Ioane from the match-day 23 after Ioane’s solid defensive display against the Boks at Eden Park.
Ioane has failed to consistently find his attacking edge this year, always seemed to be in the proverbial last-chance saloon last weekend but Robertson has been ruthless in handing Carter his Test debut against the world champions.
“He’s trained incredibly well,” Robertson said of Carter by way of explanation. “He complements that back three – he’s great at the kick-chase, he’s quick and his work rate is as good as it comes so we’re excited by it.”
Now in his second year in the top job, Robertson has taken time to put his own stamp on the team.
After largely following the status quo last year, he has shifted the versatile Tupou Vaa’i from lock to blindside flanker and back again, brought in lock Fabian Holland for his first taste of Test rugby, and tried Simon Parker in the No.6 jersey.
Robertson will be hoping the selection of the former sevens expert Carter, who impressed hugely for the Chiefs this year, finds a similar level of success in what will be an extremely challenging Test against the world champions.
Carter – who will mark Cheslin Kolbe, a former sevens exponent who is one of the best finishers in the world – will bring a different sort of energy to the No.11 jersey as one of the quickest players in the country and one not afraid to chase even lost causes off the boot.
That kick-chase record and ability to turn over the opposition’s ball all over the park – honed during his three years on the sevens circuit – could be a huge boost against a much-changed Springboks who appear caught in an identity crisis under head coach Rassie Erasmus.
They went the traditionally conservative route last weekend but Erasmus has made seven changes this week including a new No.10 in Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and new fullback in Aphelele Fassi.
Any uncertainty among a backline that also includes a new midfield could be exploited by the terrier-like Carter.
With Sevu Reece and Leicester Fainga’anuku, the other options for a wing spot, released to the NPC, and Caleb Clarke not deemed ready for Test rugby after injury, Robertson has taken the left-field option in handing Carter an opportunity in the wake of Emoni Narawa’s chest injury.
Damian McKenzie, who replaced Narawa early at Eden Park, starts at fullback, with Will Jordan, who scored his 43rd try in 46 Tests last weekend, on the right wing.
Asked what he wanted to see from Ioane, who has played 86 Tests, Robertson said: “We’ve obviously given him a crack on the wing. His work ethic and work off the ball has been incredible. There will be a few touches we need to improve which he’s well aware of.”
The other notable selection is Noah Hotham starting at halfback, with Finlay Christie, good again defensively in the first Test against the Boks, on the bench.
Robertson has obviously made his changes with improvement in mind and a big factor would have been his team’s failure to beat the Pumas in Buenos Aires a week after their success in Cordoba.
“We’ve got to improve, we know that,” he said. “With these double headers you have to improve week to week – we learned that just recently. Our focus has been on putting in a performance we’re proud of here.”
And, as he mentioned today, success at the Cake Tin has been hard to come by recently.
Last year the All Blacks broke a six-year winless streak in the capital when beating the Wallabies 33-13 and the run of poor performances and need to defend their territory was stressed to the team in the build-up.
Extending the Eden Park undefeated streak to 51 Tests was paramount last week – now to a place where their streak stands at "2".
“South Africa has beaten us twice the last times we’ve played here so that’s another record we’ve got to be mindful of in our preparation,” Robertson said.
Carter, 26, said his selection was a dream come true and due in large part to his development on the international sevens circuit.
“I probably wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for that programme and I get to live out my dream on Saturday night,” he said.
“It just made me a professional. I was playing NPC and going back to work – playing for the Steamers for three months a year - and then going back to being a sparky. The sevens environment gave me a professional contract so I could focus on rugby. All the little things – nutrition, planning – all that little stuff has helped me a lot.
“I’ve played in some pretty big [sevens] matches. The Paris Olympics was a big occasion so hopefully that will help me out. But, playing for the All Blacks, the nation’s on your shoulders so it’s going to be a new experience altogether. I’m looking forward to it.”
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