All Blacks winners and losers: ‘Conservative’ Scott Robertson makes ‘baffling decision’ with big backline calls taking centre stage
Anton Lienert-Brown for All Blacks and head coach Scott Robertson.
Following Scott Robertson’s team announcement for the All Blacks’ second Test against Argentina, here are our winners and losers from the 23 named for the Rugby Championship clash in Auckland.
New Zealand have responded to their shock 38-30 defeat in Wellington last weekend by making four changes to the XV, including replacing both wings.
We unpack the matchday squad and pick out our winners and losers from Robertson’s selection.
Winners
New wings
Well, it perhaps should be ‘old’ wings given that Will Jordan and Caleb Clarke, who are established Test players, come into the XV. Ex-All Black Justin Marshall questioned after Saturday’s game in Wellington whether Mark Tele’a and Sevu Reece were hampering their attack and Robertson evidently agreed.
Jordan certainly adds try-scoring prowess, considering his record at Test level, and his selection is not a surprise, but Clarke’s inclusion is an interesting one. Clarke is a highly gifted athlete but there are doubts around his all-round game at the very top. However, he had a superb campaign for the Blues in Super Rugby Pacific, with his high ball work particularly impressing, and he will look to translate that when the match comes around this weekend.
Rieko’s one game absence
The centre’s omission from the starting XV only lasted a single match as the 27-year-old returns in place of Anton Lienert-Brown. We’re really not sure about this decision, however, as Lienert-Brown deserved a bit longer to prove his worth as a starter.
Ioane obviously adds pace and power, and probably gives them a bit more security defensively, but are his ball-handling skills up to standard? That is the question he needs to his answer. He is certainly a ‘winner’ though, as the Blues star is perhaps fortunate to regain his place.
TJ trusted
Being ‘fortunate’ could also apply to TJ Perenara, who was very poor in the opening match of the Rugby Championship. Ultimately, the All Blacks’ problems really stemmed from the kicking game and particularly their inability to relieve pressure with their exits.
Perenara, as well as his half-back partner Damian McKenzie, were the main reasons for that. The former in particular can count himself very lucky to still be in the XV, with his ‘experience’ – a watchword for Robertson this week – the only thing going for him.
The 32-year-old’s best work has always been as an impact player off the bench and he has yet to convince as a starter. Hopefully the clash at Eden Park will go some way to dispelling that concern, but he has plenty to prove in Auckland.
Surprise at prop
With Ethan de Groot out, Ofa Tu’ungafasi was the natural heir at loosehead, but the All Blacks boss has sprung a slight surprise by bringing in Tamaiti Williams. There is a logical reason for keeping Tu’ungafasi on the bench as he has shone as a replacement in 2024, combining well with tighthead Fletcher Newell in the second half of matches.
That has therefore allowed Williams to come into the starting line-up. Able to operate on both sides of the scrum, the 24-year-old is an invaluable asset, but he has predominately played loosehead for New Zealand having done that role effectively during the Rugby World Cup. However, the versatile front-rower has not played a huge amount this season due to injury so he could be undercooked.
Ex-captain returns
Sam Cane is back and looks set to edge closer to that century milestone after being named in the 23 for the first time this year. In Wellington, the All Blacks lost control of the match, with some experienced players, including skipper Ardie Savea, making some rash calls, so Cane could well be used to bring some calm to proceedings in the latter stages.
Cane also brings an intensity and physicality on both sides of the ball, but obviously there is still a doubt about his match fitness given that he has not played a proper match since February – he made his return in a pre-season encounter for Bay of Plenty.
Losers
Dropped wings
It is tough on Tele’a and Reece, who have not done too much wrong. While we can understand bringing in Jordan, we would have certainly kept on the Blues star after he performed well against both England and Argentina.
There is a concern that the duo are slightly too similar as they both like to come off their wings and look for work, thus reducing the team’s width, but surely there is space for one of them. It is a big call to bring in Clarke, who has yet to convince at international level.
Unfortunate ALB
The one decision we are genuinely baffled by. Although Lienert-Brown had a couple of defensive issues, he did his job well in attack by getting the ball into space, something which was holding the All Blacks back during the England series.
Defence is something he can fix, especially when it has not been a weakness of his in the past, but having those natural playmaking skills is not something every player possesses. He deserved at least one more match in that slot but Robertson could well be running scared.
Full-back conundrum
You never take playing Test rugby for granted but Jordan may well be slightly frustrated that he is not doing it in his preferred position. Jordan thinks he’s a full-back, Robertson thinks he’s a full-back, the other players think he’s a full-back and the fans think he’s a full-back, so naturally the 26-year-old starts on the right wing.
To an extent it makes sense, considering the playmaking dynamic and Beauden Barrett’s excellent form, but at some point the head coach will have to make the bold choice. If Jordan really is seen as the long-term option at 15 then New Zealand may have to sacrifice the extra playmaker or leave out McKenzie if they don’t think he can run a game on his own.
Rookies axed
We called Robertson ‘ruthless’ last week, but this selection smacks of conservatism. Sam Darry, Josh Lord, Williams and Cortez Ratima may have fewer than 10 caps, but all of them have been chosen out of sheer necessity.
The lock injury crisis, allied by the departures of Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock, has led to Darry’s and Lord’s inclusion, while the absence of De Groot has resulted in Williams’ call-up. At scrum-half, Aaron Smith’s move to Japan and the decision to drop Finlay Christie from the wider Rugby Championship squad means that the head coach simply has to select one of the younger scrum-halves.
There is no place for Billy Proctor, who performed well against Fiji and could well solve their midfield woes if given the chance. Equally, Wallace Sititi has been axed from the 23 in favour of the experienced Cane, despite not doing much wrong last weekend. Only Darry has survived from the six that made their debuts in San Diego and, again, that is generally because Robertson has few options in the second-row.
Front-five injuries
Speaking of the tight-five, they are down three of the starters from the England Tests, with captain Scott Barrett, fellow lock Patrick Tuipulotu and now prop De Groot out injured. It is another blow for the head coach, who has lost another world-class performer in the front-rower.
The loosehead is one of the finest operators around and his absence will be a boost for Argentina in the set-piece – should there be a few more scrums, of course. Williams is an outstanding talent, but the loss of De Groot should not be underestimated, especially when it comes to the overall cohesion of the tight-five.
READ MORE: In numbers: The All Blacks’ INSANE unbeaten run at Eden Park since 1994
