Scott Robertson addresses All Blacks injuries as ‘special’ youngster comes into contention
All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson and flanker Peter Lakai.
All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson has revealed that he will select his strongest available side for their final match of the season against Italy.
New Zealand go into that encounter off the back of a narrow 30-29 defeat to France, which ended their five-match winning run.
They suffered a couple of injury blows after Samipeni Finau went off with a head injury, while Jordie Barrett was also replaced before half-time.
Robertson discussed their stricken players, including Finau, as the All Blacks boss confirmed that the flanker would miss this weekend’s Autumn Nations Series clash.
“That’s a 12-day stand-down for a start, so he’s not available,” he said.
Jordie prognosis
The head coach was slightly more hopeful on Barrett, who is suffering from rib and knee issues, although a scan will determine his availability.
“He’s woken up a little bit better, he’ll get a scan and get that checked this morning so we’ll have more on that later today,” he said.
Other than that, Robertson stated that they had “just a few bumps and bruises but nothing of note”, as he looked ahead to the game with the Azzurri.
Sam Cane, whose “noggin is good” according to the New Zealand head honcho, could conceivably come back in as his “scar has healed up quite nicely.”
It would allow Cane to have a deserved send-off, with the flanker retiring from international rugby following Saturday’s game, but Robertson also reserved praise for Peter Lakai.
The 21-year-old came on for Finau early and, despite his inexperience, Lakai impressed and has done his chances of starting the world of good.
“He was accurate, volunteered, backed his skill set. He had a great game for a second Test and with the enormity of it, it was special,” the head coach said.
Robertson therefore has a few things to consider before he names his side to take on Italy, which is likely to be announced on Thursday.
“It will be the best team for Italy. This year’s been a great year for us to play 12 debutants, give them game time, get them in, get good combinations and get a bit of cohesion going and this week will be no different,” he said.
“A few of these guys are coming into their fourth game in a row now, because we had a few that played Japan, and we’ll get the balance for the best team this week.”
Captain’s call
Scott Barrett is therefore likely to lead the team from the second-row once again. The Crusaders star missed the two games against Argentina in the Rugby Championship through injury and also the Japan clash, but has started every other Test in 2024.
Some criticism came Barrett’s way after the lock opted for the posts with seven minutes remaining of the clash against France, instead of going for the try which could have won New Zealand the match.
Robertson has backed his skipper but oddly did not give a firm answer over whether the decision was at odds with the message delivered by the coaching staff.
“You’ve got to support him. That’s the first thing. He’s your captain, you trust him. He went on instinct at the time. Now he’s had a bit of time to reflect,” he said.
“When you look at the opportunities in Test footy, they’re quite limited and he felt like he might have got another one to get another three or a shot to win it and we didn’t get that.
“We have a process to tell him our thoughts. We get the message out… to help with the decision. He got the information.”
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