Scott Robertson praises newcomer for ‘quality of repeat efforts’ and gives All Blacks injury update
The try-scoring Leroy Carter was praised by All Blacks boss Scott Robertson, inset
Scott Robertson has saluted the performance of rookie winger Leroy Carter following the All Blacks’ 33-24 Rugby Championship win over Australia in Auckland.
A try-scorer on debut last time out against South Africa in Wellington, the 26-year-old winger backed up that positive first impression by adding a second try in his second All Blacks Test appearance.
Carter’s 15th-minute finish put his team 13-3 ahead and while the Wallabies produced a stirring fightback, the All Blacks clinched victory when Cam Roigard struck for his second try in 76 minutes to close out the 33-24 win.
Robertson name-dropped both players at his post-game media briefing, quipping that Carter “played alright” before adding: “He’s pretty good. He’s not overawed with it.
“Just a quality athlete…”
“If you ever get to watch Leroy in training, he is probably the best on the park. Everything you see on the field he does it and he just goes and goes. There is that sevens quality of repeat efforts. We’re pleased for him.”
So too Roigard, who returned to Saturday’s starting line-up following his injury woes since the July series versus France. “Great shift, just a quality athlete, quality rugby player as well.”
Switching to the injuries suffered on the night by the All Blacks, namely the 28th minute departure of Beauden Barrett and the 47th minute exit of the try-scoring Caleb Clarke, the head coach added: “Caleb did the same ankle. He will be in the ice bath tonight.
“Beauden was shoulder. He gave his shoulder a wee little nudge. He didn’t do it in the in-goal when he landed; that was the second action of it. It’s with the scans.”
Asked how the All Blacks put the nightmare 10-43 Round Four hammering against the Springboks behind them, Robertson explained: “With the review, we played some really great rugby (in Wellington).
“We showed that at the start, but we hadn’t finished our sets that well and a lot of that was around the high ball and how much effort to get around the ball and then they [South Africa] just got outside us.
“It was just the management of the two. It was about pausing (the video) in the air and saying what is our best option and then the accountability of it. Once we put that to bed after an hour and a half, we just wanted to get on the field and train and then get here and play.”
That play on Saturday involved Jordie Barrett patrolling more in the backfield than the last day to ensure the aerial game went better. “Last week we didn’t quite get that right, so we put a lot of time (in) and the contest in the air was a genuine contest.
“We got up and won a few of those, which is critical as we know. It’s like another set-piece, isn’t it? You have just got to do everything you can to win it.”
Robertson saluted his team’s second-half determination to win the Bledisloe Cup and then added the race is now on to find some consistency and not follow another Rugby Championship win with a loss, as has been the case this season.
“A good second half was nice. We weathered it a bit. We put pressure on us and we put it back on them in a couple of big moments, and it was good impact from the guys off the bench. We felt like we could have been a couple of scores up more and they just kept in it. Big moments and the care for the Cup.”
Regarding next weekend’s Round Six finale in Perth, he continued: “Thanks for the reminder (about losses following wins). The ultimate for every sports team is the ability to be consistent and that’s what we need to do.
“There’s patches in matches that were unreal and you are not always going to swing and hit that but when it is not going your way, it’s how can you get it to come back your way and Perth is a great opportunity, hell of a ground and the story continues.
“It’s going to go right down to the last round for who wins this Championship, and that is why Test footy is a beautiful place.”
