All Blacks: Delving into Scott Robertson’s options after losing key forward for Bledisloe Cup
All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson and prop Fletcher Newell.
New Zealand will likely be without the services of Fletcher Newell for their two games against the Wallabies in the Rugby Championship.
The tighthead suffered a calf issue in the 18-12 defeat to the Springboks last weekend and will certainly miss their opening Bledisloe Cup clash.
According to New Zealand Rugby, Newell’s injury is not serious but his “three to four weeks” recovery time puts him out of the match with Australia in Sydney and probably Wellington, although they have not officially ruled him out of the second Test.
The talented prop has enjoyed an excellent season so far for the All Blacks, impressing off the bench in the majority of their games.
Superb in July
He starred against England in July and played a key role in turning the tide of both of those internationals before taking that form into the Rugby Championship.
However, he surprisingly only appeared late on against South Africa in Cape Town, with Tyrel Lomax’s yellow card forcing Scott Robertson to make a change for the next scrum.
It was in those final four minutes that Newell sustained the injury, leaving Robertson with just Lomax and the inexperienced Pasilio Tosi as his out-and-out tighthead options.
They can call on Tamaiti Williams to shift across if required, with the Crusaders star adept on both sides of the scrum.
That is what they might do for the first game with the Wallabies, especially with Ethan de Groot making a return from injury.
Versatility
Williams successfully deputised for De Groot at loosehead but, due to the 26-year-old’s recovery from a neck problem, he could switch to the tight.
Ofa Tu’ungafasi, who has been a consistent presence among the replacements in 2024, is another player that can move over but he has focused on loosehead over the past couple of seasons.
With Williams and Tu’ungafasi in the squad, it does give Robertson options if he doesn’t feel like he can trust Tosi in big Tests just yet.
The All Blacks will be desperate to claim successive wins to end the Rugby Championship as they go into the final two matches with a record of just one win in four.
New Zealand suffered a shock defeat against Argentina in their opener before they responded with a comprehensive victory over the same team.
That set up the crucial double-header with the Springboks, but it was Rassie Erasmus’ men who emerged on the right side of the scoreline on both occasions.
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