Scott Robertson opens up on shock decision to select ‘intimidating’ rookie in All Blacks squad
Chiefs back-rower Simon Parker and All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson (inset).
All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson has named a 36-man squad for the start of this year’s Rugby Championship with the selection of loose forward Simon Parker the shock inclusion in the group.
He is the only uncapped player in the main squad while fellow rookies, Tevita Mafileo (front-row), Kyle Preston (scrum-half) and Leroy Carter (wing), have been included as part of a seven-man injury cover group.
The All Blacks kick off their Rugby Championship campaign with back-to-back fixtures against Argentina in Cordoba and Buenos Aires on August 16 and 23 respectively.
Parker, who weighs 117 kilograms and is 1,97 metres tall, plies his trade with the Chiefs at Super Rugby level and Northland in the New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship.
Robertson described the 25-year-old as “intimidating” and his impressive form for the Chiefs during Super Rugby Pacific has not gone unnoticed.
Comfortable on the blindside flank and at number eight, Parker was a regular in the Chiefs’ run-on side for most of the season despite competing for a starting spot with All Blacks back-rowers like Luke Jacobson, Samipeni Finau and current World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year Wallace Sititi.
Suffered an injury setback
Parker’s impressive run of form came to a grinding halt when he sustained an ankle injury during the Chiefs’ defeat to the Blues in their Qualifying Final.
A change in Super Rugby Pacific’s format meant the Chiefs still advanced to the semi-finals as the tournament’s ‘lucky loser’ but Parker missed out on his side’s semi-final victory over the Brumbies and their loss in the final to the Crusaders.
Despite his absence in those important fixtures, he made an impression on Robertson and the former New Zealand U20 representative’s excellent performances have now been rewarded with a senior All Blacks call-up.
“He’s a big man, he’s been incredibly consistent all year,” the head coach told reporters on Monday. “Obviously got the ankle injury and then came straight back out in great condition, paid really well for the Taniwha (Northland).
“I just like his accuracy. He’s a big man that’s physical but he’s really accurate and he’s intimidating.”
Robertson was asked if Parker’s size and style of play would be seen as the template to be used against the Springboks, who are renowned for their physical approach to the game, and he said: “Yeah, it’s good timing. Firstly, I just want to mention Simon’s history. He came through through the age groups and showed a lot of promise.
“He was injured and had two or three back-to-back injuries and just couldn’t quite get his rhythm.
“And then in the last year or two, he’s got on the field, been incredibly professional. His body type has changed just being in the Chiefs and the consistency of playing footy week to week. He’s a big man.
‘We’re just really pleased’
“He’s tough, but he’s accurate too. I think that’s the key thing for him. So we’re just really pleased.
“He’s come at the right time.”
Parker’s inclusion in the squad means that Crusaders star Ethan Blackadder misses out on an All Blacks call-up again after he was also left out of the group for last month’s series against France.
Robertson admitted that it was difficult to omit the experienced back-rower again.
“I talked to Ethan. We’re constantly having conversations with these guys that are right on the peripheral,” he said.
“Been through a lot with Ethan, so they’re tough phone calls.”
Another Crusaders player who misses out is Christian Lio-Willie, who made his international debut in the All Blacks’ 3-0 series win over Les Bleus in New Zealand.
Robertson revealed that apart from Parker’s selection, Peter Lakai’s return from injury made it difficult to include Lio-Willie.
“Those conversations are tough because he came off the back of an opportunity of an injury, as mentioned, and he performed,” he said. “We’re really pleased with him, on and off the field. He’s a great guy.
“And then you have a conversation with him that he’s not involved after performing.
“But we just believe, similar to the guys we had with Peter Lakai, who had an injury right at the end of Super (Rugby), we thought he was in great form, as well as Simon, and we’ll both come back into the mix.
“But no doors closed for anyone, especially Christian.”
