All Blacks: Scott Robertson explains why experienced duo were included in squad for year-end tour
Experienced All Blacks duo Sam Cane and TJ Perenara, and head coach Scott Robertson.
All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson admitted that the decision to include veteran duo Sam Cane and TJ Perenara in the squad for the year-end tour to Japan and Europe was not an easy one.
Cane and Perenara are both set to take up lucrative offers in Japan after the tour which will bring down the curtain on their illustrious international careers.
Openside flanker Cane played his 100th match for New Zealand in their Rugby Championship clash against Australia in Wellington recently while scrum-half Perenara made his 87th Test appearance in the same game.
Despite their impending departures from the international scene, Robertson believes the pair still have important roles to play in the All Blacks environment.
“It was always a balance. Having experience, guys that are test fit, balance of leadership, and what it takes to win up north,” Robertson told reporters during his squad announcement in Christchurch on Monday.
‘Playing good footy still’
“When you looked at it, they’ve got a lot of those qualities. They’re in a Test team playing good footy still, it was a really important part of it.
“And they can build, they are a big part of helping the next players come through and building for the future.”
Despite Robertson’s explanation, it could have been beneficial for up-and-coming players like Hurricanes back-row Peter Lakai and Crusaders scrum-half Noah Hotham to go on the northern tour – instead of Cane and Perenara – but the young duo will in all likelihood be in action for the All Blacks XV for their matches against Munster and Georgia in November.
Robertson understands that point and said he and his assistants discussed it when selecting the All Blacks squad for their upcoming Tests against Japan, England, Ireland, France and Italy.
“You can look at it that way. We’ve got an All Blacks XV tour that is going up there that we can use to give players game time,” he said and revealed that up to six All Blacks XV players will join his team ahead of the tour opener against the Brave Blossoms in Yokohama.
“The squad is 36, not all 36 are playing every weekend. Both teams are on tour and a great opportunity for them to learn and play some quality rugby in the north.”
When asked whether he was tempted to select more young and inexperienced players, especially as it is the start of a new World Cup cycle, Robertson highlighted the importance of balance in his squad.
“We’ve given a few [a go] already, haven’t we? Could you give a few more? Yeah, potentially,” he said.
‘The balance of it all’
“It was the balance of it all, having a squad that’s well balanced, has cohesion, players can come in and learn, guys that have had that experience.
“Cam [Roigard] has only played a handful (five) of Test matches, so has Cortez (eight). TJ (87) gives us that balance.”
That could indicate that Perenara and Cane could be used for mentorship roles on the upcoming tour and the former Crusaders boss also revealed that he will be expecting his senior players to help with the development of the inexperienced ones at Test level.
“How does it look, how do we get the best out of them? How do they get the best out of the next young All Blacks so they can see them come through, spend a bit of time with them and show them what test football and what touring is all about?” added Robertson.
“So, Sam has got a couple of roles to play, on the field but also being a great mentor off.”
