All Blacks winners and losers: Leadership vital for Scott Robertson as Sam Cane seeks to ‘exact revenge’ on Springboks
Sam Cane after Rugby World Cup final defeat, and All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson. (Photos by James Foy/Speed Media/Icon Sportswire and AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Following Scott Robertson’s team announcement for the All Blacks’ first Test against the Springboks, here are our winners and losers from the 23 named for the Rugby Championship clash in Johannesburg.
New Zealand have unsurprisingly opted for continuity after their 42-10 demolition of Argentina, but they have been boosted by the return of Scott Barrett, while Sam Cane makes his first start since the Rugby World Cup final.
We unpack the matchday squad and pick out our winners and losers from Robertson’s selections.
Winners
Captain returns
After suffering a broken finger, which ruled him out of the Tests against Argentina, Scott Barrett returns to the side for this huge encounter with the Boks. The captain was certainly missed in the opening match with Los Pumas, in terms of his leadership and the physical and technical aspects he brings.
The lineout was an issue late on in that 38-30 defeat, while there was a lack of intensity from the All Blacks forwards. Although they hit back a week later at Eden Park, Barrett will make sure they do not fall below that standard during this weekend’s game.
Former skipper’s redemption
In the 27th minute of the Rugby World Cup final, there was sheer desolation for Sam Cane and New Zealand as the then-captain was red-carded. His team-mates fought manfully but they would succumb by a single point as South Africa claimed their fourth world title.
That appeared to be the end of the flanker’s international career, especially after he announced that 2024 would be his last in Test rugby. Robertson may have looked to move on from the 32-year-old, but the new head coach understands the value of experience and Cane gets an opportunity to exact his revenge.
Holding onto the fly-half jersey
After failing to control the game in Wellington, the axis of Damian McKenzie and Beauden Barrett worked superbly in Auckland in what were much more difficult conditions. It is, therefore, no surprise that Robertson has retained that duo for the Ellis Park encounter, but there might have been a temptation to play Barrett at fly-half.
That would potentially allow Will Jordan to play at full-back – a position everyone would like to see him in – but at the moment Robertson has opted for continuity, and understandably so. McKenzie is renowned for his creativity and running game, but his kicking was exceptional at Eden Park and he will look to repeat that at altitude.
Young prop backed
Ethan de Groot’s absence is a blow but Tamaiti Williams did a fine job filling in for the world-class loosehead in their second Rugby Championship Test. Williams scrummaged superbly and also did some excellent work around the field as the All Blacks claimed a 42-10 triumph over Los Pumas.
It is one thing taking on Argentina and another to face the best set-piece in the world, however, which is what will happen this weekend. Robertson could have therefore been tempted to bring Ofa Tu’ungafasi into the starting line-up for Saturday, but Williams deserves his chance from the get-go.
Given a second chance
Many predicted Samipeni Finau would be New Zealand’s long-term answer at blindside flanker, and that still might be the case, but he was unceremoniously dropped after the England series. The Chiefs back-row is a big unit who gets around the field but he is also a very useful option in the lineout. However, that faltered against the Red Rose and the 25-year-old ultimately paid the price.
Finau has now returned to the squad, potentially benefiting from Dalton Papali’i’s enforced absence, and he will look to grasp this opportunity. The back-rower, who can also fill in at lock, has all the tools to succeed at Test level and he will look to prove that off the bench against the world number one team on Saturday.
Losers
Injury rules out flanker
As mentioned above, Papali’i will miss the encounter with the Boks after picking up a thumb injury, but his place was already under threat. We are big fans of the flanker but, after a stunning campaign for the Blues, a bit more was expected of the 26-year-old.
In 2024, Papali’i has so far failed to really impose himself at international level and secretly he will hope that Cane, Ethan Blackadder and Finau do not play too well or else the openside could find himself out of the 23 once again when he returns from injury.
Making way for the captain
Someone had to lose out with Barrett back fit and it was unsurprisingly youngster Sam Darry, who has enjoyed a good start to his Test career. The 23-year-old very much looks like a player that could be around the All Blacks XV for a long time but, for now, he has to make do with a place on the bench.
Darry could still have an important role to play in the second period, especially with Eben Etzebeth among the Springboks replacements. What better way to test yourself than against the sport’s best enforcer?
No playmaking switch
It has already been mentioned but Robertson is still not quite ready to play Jordan at full-back, particularly with Beauden Barrett playing so well in that jersey. To be honest, it is a slight surprise given that the head coach is convinced that the 26-year-old’s best position is at 15.
He pretty much refused to play Jordan anywhere else when boss at the Crusaders, despite the All Blacks continuing to select him on the wing. However, he has changed tack now that he’s heading up the national team. With the talent of Barrett and McKenzie at your disposal, it is understandable, but everyone remains eager to see Jordan in his best slot.
Back-row change
Another option which Robertson has not decided to pursue just yet is moving Ardie Savea to openside. Many pundits and fans reckon the experienced back-rower should be shifted from his position at the base of the scrum, especially after the emergence of Wallace Sititi and with Hoskins Sotutu waiting in the wings.
Oddly for the All Blacks, they are not necessarily blessed with loose forwards at the moment, which is perhaps the reason why the soon-to-be-retired Cane has returned. Robertson has also taken a risk on Ethan Blackadder, who has suffered a number of injury issues over recent years.
Moving Savea to openside and bringing either Sititi or Sotutu in at number eight could solve their problems in the back-row, but the head coach is once again unwilling to take that risk.
Wrong Blues wing starts
Dropping Mark Tele’a to the bench was one of the surprise calls for the second Los Pumas clash. Despite the All Blacks’ mixed form, Tele’a has built nicely on his 2023 performances and put in some excellent displays this year, but he remains out of the XV for the Springboks clash.
That could well be an error as Caleb Clarke has never truly convinced as a Test player. Tele’a finds space in the tightest of channels and, against a gargantuan Springboks side, that skill would be crucial. Clarke has enjoyed an outstanding season for the Blues but he needs to show that he can do it against the best in the world.
