Scott Robertson reveals why the All Blacks followed the Springboks lead with an early team announcement
Scott Robertson has explained why he has named his team early this week.
All Blacks boss Scott Robertson has strayed from the norm by naming his team earlier in the week as New Zealand tackle Japan before embarking on their northern tour.
The head coach has explained the reasoning for the earlier team announcement as the All Blacks take a leaf out of the Springboks book with Rassie Erasmus usually naming his side on a Tuesday before a Test match.
All Blacks get the team out early
For the clash against the Brave Blossoms, Robertson has named potential debutants Peter Lakai and Ruben Love on the bench and has made wholesale changes to his starting XV.
Patrick Tuipulotu will skipper the side in the absence of usual captain Scott Barrett and he features in an imposing-looking tight five that includes Tamaiti Williams, Asafo Aumua, Pasilio Tosi and Sam Darry.
Sam Cane and Samipeni Finau are the starting flanks with Wallace Sititi getting his first start in his preferred position at the back of the scrum.
Came Roigard also marks his return earning his first cap of 2024 and is joined in the half-backs by Damian McKenzie while Anton Lienert-Brown and Billy Proctor are the starting centres. Wingers Mark Tele’a and Sevu Reece complete the team along with full-back Stephen Perofeta.
Many of the frontline All Blacks miss the clash against Japan as they will head to the United Kingdom ahead of the rest of the squad in order to climatise and settle before the upcoming matches against England, Ireland, France and Italy.
Robertson explained that this was part of the reason that the All Blacks coaching staff decided to name their team earlier than they usually do and with the team always gaining the attention of the public wherever they go, it was worthwhile to just get it out of the way.
“We got the opportunity to go early [with the team announcement] with the two groups,” Robertson explained.
“And anyway there are enough cameras at training today to work it [the team] out. So we thought we might as well just tell you and stop the game of Guess Who.
“It’s good we’ve settled in and it’s a great country to tour very hospitable – the Japanese people – and the food is very good.”
As mentioned above, the All Blacks have selected an incredibly big pack to tackle Eddie Jones’ Japan team, something that Robertson was clearly excited by.
“It’s a big, big pack watching them train today,” he enthused.
“When you have got two 6ft6 plus locks and then our tight five, a lot of the front rowers are over 6ft3 as well, it’s a big forward pack.”
Wallace Sititi at number eight
After starring on the side of the scrum during the Rugby Championship, Sititi gets a shot in the number eight jumper where he impressed during the Super Rugby Pacific season with the Chiefs.
Robertson explained that the coaches aren’t looking to him to nail down that role on a long-term basis but would rather like to embrace his versatility.
“Yeah, as I have mentioned many times can cover a few positions and he’s pretty good at number eight too,” the coach said.
“It’s just a good combination with Sampeni [Finau] and Sam Cane.
“When you can play a couple of different positions it helps.”
The All Blacks tackle Japan at Yokohama’s Nissan Stadium which has an impressive capacity of 72,000. While New Zealand have faced the likes of England, Ireland, South Africa and Australia at the ground, this will be their first meeting against Japan at the venue.
This will be the eighth Test match between the All Blacks and the Brave Blossoms with New Zealand winning the previous seven encounters, most recently securing a 38-31 victory in 2022.
