All Blacks great addresses Scott Robertson’s ‘nervous’ body language as ‘quirky’ head coach ‘feeling the pressure’
All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson and former back three star Israel Dagg.
Israel Dagg believes that the heat has been “turned right up” on Scott Robertson and the All Blacks ahead of their Bledisloe Cup opener.
New Zealand are set to face Australia at Eden Park this weekend, knowing that plenty is on the line.
Firstly, the All Blacks are looking to protect their long unbeaten run at the iconic ground, which now stands at 51 matches and 31 years.
However, they will also be looking to protect their Bledisloe Cup record and know that the Rugby Championship remains in the balance.
With Robertson’s side making more unwanted history with defeats against Argentina and the Springboks, there are plenty of subplots going into this weekend’s contest, which adds to the pressure.
Robertson’s mannerism
On Sport Nation’s Scotty and Izzy show, presenter Scotty Stevenson started off by referencing the head coach’s mannerisms in his press conference on Monday.
“You and I both now he’s quirky, we’ll give him that. He’s got his quirks, he’s a different kind of personality, I enjoy his company, I enjoy the conversations with him,” Stevenson said.
“He fronted the press, but I think it’s fair to say that he’s feeling the pressure.”
All Blacks great Dagg agreed with that assessment, but insisted that it is not necessarily a bad thing ahead of their huge showdown with the Wallabies.
“First glance from myself is you always look in the eyes and you kind of look at the body language, the mouth, and I think the pressure is right on,” he said.
“It’s a tough place to be at the moment coming off a huge loss. There are still articles being written about it, there’s plenty going on in conversations, so there’s no doubt in my mind there’s a lot of nerves there.
“For me, nerves are great, it means you care, it means you want to do well and this week they’ve got an opportunity, but the pressure, the dial, everything – the heat, the furnace – it is turned right up.”
Australia have not lifted the Bledisloe Cup since 2002 but many think that this year is their best opportunity to end that barren streak.
The All Blacks are in a rare spot of uncertainty while the Wallabies are improving under Joe Schmidt, but they will have to win both games.
That includes defeating New Zealand at Eden Park, which no side has done since 1994, and Dagg is certain that Robertson’s men will retain the trophy.
“Not at all,” was Dagg’s response when asked if the Wallabies stand a chance of winning in Auckland, before he went on to add a caveat.
‘This year I don’t know’
“But in saying that, in years gone by – and I’ve been apart of those years – they’ve come over, had a really good squad, won the Super Rugby title and there is a lot of confidence there,” he added.
“I still knew that this group I was apart of would be capable enough to get the job done, whereas this year I don’t know.
“The Wallabies going to Ellis Park and then in the second Test only losing by eight points. They’ve kept the scoreline relatively close, there’s never been a blowout.
“They are a very, very good side but, flip it on the other side, this team is hurting. It won’t be hard to find any edge, any desire, any backlash from an All Blacks team.
“They will be feeling the pinch and I’m expecting a big reaction from some of their big-time players. I think it will be a tough night for the Wallabies.”
