Justin Marshall believes Antoine Dupont-like rookie can solve Scott Robertson issue as All Blacks are ‘conspiring to lose Tests’
Justin Marshall believes breakout Super Rugby star can help ease Scott Robertson's woes.
Former scrum-half Justin Marshall has called for a shift in thinking from the All Blacks after “conspiring” to lose Test matches in Scott Robertson’s first year in charge.
A running theme of 2024 was New Zealand’s inability to finish off Test matches strongly. In five consecutive games last year, Robertson’s side failed to score in the final quarter of matches.
With the All Blacks boss spoilt for choice at scrum-half this year, Marshall believes that Crusaders rookie Kyle Preston could improve the way the side finishes matches in 2025.
All Blacks’ half-back stocks
The former number nine hailed the depth of the scrum-halves in the New Zealand Super Rugby teams, even though they aren’t quite of the high standard of Aaron Smith.
“I think we’ve recognised that we needed to have that element of what Aaron Smith bought, which was just a second, third arriver at the breakdown, crisp, clean pass, and we’re rifling onto the ball,” Marshall said on the Breakdown.
“It’s been really interesting talking to James O’Connor over the last two months and he just can’t believe the speed that New Zealand teams play at, that’s our strength being able to rifle onto the ball, half-backs that get there quickly and let go of it.
“He said, ‘I’ve not experienced that anywhere else in the world’ and he’s played all over the world. They are all very good there, none of them are behind the eight ball in getting to the breakdowns, they’re all the second or third or first fittest in the teams with regularity.”
He added: “So we need to offer up something different and think about what we are doing in the last 20 minutes of these Test matches in particular. At the moment, we are conspiring to lose them because whatever we’re doing with our bench is not changing the picture and it’s not helping us win Test matches.
“So do we bring a player on that changes the perspective for others like a Preston, who can kick off both feet and then the pressure goes off the other kickers.”
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Antoine Dupont-esque
Crusaders scrum-half Preston has enjoyed a breakout season in Super Rugby Pacific, crossing for five tries in his nine appearances.
He came off the bench on his debut against the Hurricanes, just nine minutes into the game following Noah Hotham’s injury and has quickly cemented his place in the squad, starting four times and regularly coming off the bench.
His performances have caught the attention of Marshall and not just for his try-scoring antics.
“He’s smart, he knows very much what his strengths are and is very, very skilled to be able to bang the kick off both left and right foot,” he continued.
“Not everybody in the world apart from him and Antoine Dupont can do that, now he’s not bad is he. He doesn’t seem to do much wrong either; he’s got good support lines, scored three tries in his first game for the Crusaders, and he’s just a really intelligent player.
“He can kick off both feet but he doesn’t just kick the ball away. When he does kick it, he kicks it at the right time and kicks it to try and get it back and put the opposition under pressure.”
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