All Blacks team winners and losers as Scott Robertson opts for continuity and ‘naive’ playmakers keep their places
All Blacks playmakers Damian McKenzie and Stephen Perofeta alongside head coach Scott Robertson.
Following Scott Robertson’s team announcement for the All Blacks’ second Test against England, here are our winners and losers from the 23 named for the clash in Auckland.
After opening his account with a narrow 16-15 victory over the Red Rose, the head coach has resisted making changes to the squad, with the only alteration enforced following TJ Perenara’s injury.
We unpack that the matchday 23 and pick out our winners and losers from Robertson’s selections.
Winners
Scott Robertson
It was a winning start for the All Blacks’ new head coach and, as a result, he has decided against changing too much. That is not a surprise as they look to get some continuity into their team after a rusty opening in Dunedin.
Robertson was relieved to have got over the line but he will hope there is a marked improvement from his side. There were some good bits, such as the scrum and the first and fourth quarters, but the 40 minutes in the middle was a struggle.
The second period was also rather scrappy as both teams got bogged down, but New Zealand found a way to get the job done. They controlled the breakdown, set-piece and kicking battle to edge to victory against England, but Robertson will hope for more fluency this time around.
Stephen Perofeta
There would have been a temptation to bring in Beauden Barrett but the inexperienced full-back did his job well in the first Test. Earning just his fourth cap, Perofeta created Ardie Savea’s try with a lovely run and pass, thus showing his playmaking class.
In fact, the 27-year-old had several nice moments, especially in the first half, to suggest he could be their long-term option at full-back, but in the second period his Test naivety was evident and it forced Robertson to change things.
Still, Perofeta did enough to convince the head coach to keep the faith and it will be fascinating to see how he will build on last weekend’s encounter.
Damian McKenzie
There was a lot of good from the incredibly talented fly-half, including that crossfield kick for Sevu Reece’s score. McKenzie looked at home in the number 10 jersey and he will hope to cement that spot with another good display this weekend.
Considering the new ideas brought in by the coaching staff and, as a result, their lack of preparation time, the playmaker did well to adapt and get some cohesion into their game in the opening period in Dunedin.
Granted, that dissipated as the match wore on and they had to switch up the game plan, but he and the All Blacks adapted. There were signs that McKenzie has the control at international level to go alongside the obvious ball playing talent, even if, like Perofeta, there was the odd naive moment.
Finlay Christie
After Perenara’s injury, there was only one man who would replace the Hurricanes star in the starting line-up and that was Christie. The 28-year-old has already become a regular in the All Blacks squad over the past few years, but this is his chance to become first choice in the position. He was certainly very impressive off the bench in Test one, playing a key role in improving their kicking game and forcing England into their own half.
Christie was very accurate with the boot and finally allowed the chasers to put pressure on the opposition back three, something they weren’t doing in the first period. Being at the Blues, whose blueprint is similar to what you see at international level, has perhaps enabled the scrum-half to develop his game. Vern Cotter’s men have placed a significant emphasis on gain line, set-piece and kick pressure, and that is the basis of a good Test team.
Cortez Ratima
Congratulations to the 23-year-old, who is set to make his New Zealand debut after coming onto the bench following Perenara’s injury. Ratima has enjoyed a superb season for the Chiefs, helping them to reach the Super Rugby Pacific final.
He also has the benefit of being McKenzie’s partner at franchise level, so that relationship could well be key in the second period of the upcoming clash and potentially looking ahead to the Rugby Championship.
Scott Robertson makes one change to the XV as All Blacks put history on the line against England
Losers
TJ Perenara
You have to feel for the outstanding half-back. The 32-year-old worked so hard to get back fit after suffering a horrendous Achilles rupture which ended his Rugby World Cup dreams, but he has now sustained another injury.
Perenara had the misfortune of having the hefty Scott Barrett fall on his leg after the All Blacks captain was counter-rucked by the even heftier Englishman, George Martin. The extent of the damage has not yet been revealed, nor has the expected timeframe for recovery, but we very much hope it is nothing serious.
Ethan Blackadder
Given the Crusaders connection and how much Robertson rates the abrasive loose forward, it was a slight surprise he was not picked for Test one, and now Test two. Blackadder offers as much versatility as Luke Jacobson, considering he can play all three back-row positions, so it must be a form and fitness issue.
Jacobson has played the entire season for the Chiefs, whereas the Crusader only returned towards the end of the Christchurch outfit’s Super Rugby campaign. Robertson must think Blackadder is still not quite ready for Test action.
Wallace Sititi
Robertson is biding his time in regards to introducing the highly talented number eight. Son of Samoan legend Semo, the 21-year-old is competing with Ardie Savea for the position at the base of the scrum, but there was also a train of thought that the World Rugby Player of the Year could be shifted to accommodate Sititi.
That has not happened, perhaps unsurprisingly given the excellent balance of the loose trio last weekend, and the youngster will simply have to wait. It may come next weekend against Fiji in San Diego but, quite rightly, Robertson is currently rather happy with his back-row combination.
Other uncapped trio
New Zealand’s head coach has been reluctant to bring in the uncapped players with only injury forcing his hand in terms of Ratima’s inclusion. At the moment, Robertson appears to be searching for that continuity in both selection and game plan before bringing them into the fold.
Sititi has already been mentioned, but Billy Proctor, George Bell and Pasilio Tosi also remain without an international appearance to their name. That will come in time but the All Blacks boss is remaining cautious.
Beauden Barrett
Perhaps not a ‘loser’ as such but some predicted the experienced playmaker would start this weekend, whether at fly-half or full-back, considering his impact in Dunedin. Barrett’s kicking game played a huge part in them winning the match as they pinned England back in the final quarter.
With territory so vital at Test level, setting a similar tone would have been important at Eden Park and Barrett could have helped with that but, as mentioned, Perofeta and McKenzie did have promising games in the first Test. Robertson will therefore hope that those two can get the All Blacks attack moving and the match won’t be quite as close heading into the final quarter.
