Justin Marshall: All Blacks only operating at ’80 per cent’ in ominous warning to the rest of the world
All Blacks players following their victory over Ireland and former New Zealand scrum-half Justin Marshall.
Former All Blacks scrum-half Justin Marshall insists that Scott Robertson’s men still have plenty of improvement left in them as they prepare for their huge clash with France.
After a difficult Rugby Championship, which saw them lose three of their opening four matches, New Zealand have impressed on their northern hemisphere tour.
They opened with a dominant victory over Japan before Robertson’s side defeated both England and world number one side Ireland.
The All Blacks only just edged past the Red Rose 24-22 but they were much improved in Dublin, overcoming the Irishmen 23-13 to make it five successive victories.
Another big clash
Robertson’s outfit will look to make it six in a row when they face France in Paris this weekend and Marshall is confident that they are developing nicely.
However, the New Zealand great also believes that they can be much better in what is a ominous warning to their rivals.
“I think we’re trending in the right direction,” he told DSPN with Martin Devlin.
“Do I think we’re the team that we can be? No. Do I think that we are reaching our potential? No. I think we’re still operating at around that 80 per cent mark.
“But, man, that’s got to be encouraging. The fact that we’ve still got 20 per cent in us and we’ve just knocked over the number one team then our potential has to be really encouraging.”
New head coach Robertson went into the northern tour under a bit of pressure after their issues in the Rugby Championship, but that has now been relieved.
Even a defeat to France would not do too much damage heading into 2025, but the All Blacks are certainly not thinking like that.
Developing youngsters
Although they are in the midst of a rebuild following the departure of several greats of the game, they are still expected to win these games.
Marshall therefore believes that their victories over England and Ireland have been an important learning curve for their newer players.
“A massive pressure valve was released at the weekend because we were playing the number one side in the world and we were playing them at their home,” he added.
“The fact that a lot of those young players that haven’t been involved took themselves out onto that field and tested themselves.
“Equally, winning at Twickenham the week before was vitally important as well, many of them hadn’t experienced that before.
“For a team that is green and young, and doesn’t have a mountain of Test caps but still has a good nucleus of experience, they haven’t been overawed by the situation that has confronted them.”
