Scott Robertson’s ‘pretty clear’ message to the All Blacks as head coach provides selection hint for Ireland clash

All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson insists that they have pretty much decided on the team that will take on Ireland in Chicago on November 1.

New Zealand are looking for a positive end to the season after missing out on the Rugby Championship title to the Springboks earlier this month.

While there is always one eye on the Rugby World Cup, Robertson knows that the supporters will not accept anything other than a victory in the US.

The game might still be two weeks away but the head coach has revealed that the All Blacks have a clear outline of how they want to attack that match with the Irish.

All Blacks ‘will be ready’

“We know how we’re going to play Ireland, we’ve had a couple of weeks to prepare for that and we’re pretty clear on what Test team’s going to play in that game,” he told The Breakdown.

“When we get together on Wednesday, we’ve got a couple of days camp in Auckland before we fly out to Chicago, so that team will be ready.”

Although there is always pressure for the All Blacks to win, supporters also want to see some of the young players given game time.

Robertson may be reluctant to do that against Ireland, while the matches that follow in Scotland and England will not be easy either.

The head coach understands the need to find “balance”, however, having given debuts to a number of players in 2025.

“It’s the best team to win that Test match. I think the first thing is Ireland and giving them a crack, and that’s the balance of the two,” he said.

“We’ve had a few injuries this year, we haven’t had time to get them match fit and other guys have come in, and it’s been a bit in and out.

“There has been stuff in-game where you’re trying to get balance and you want to give guys opportunities to play at the backend and we haven’t had a chance to do that.

“You sort of learn along the way that you try and bring the best team for the team that’s in front of you, but give yourself a chance to get enough connections and enough training during the week, and have enough experience on there and then give a young guy a crack.”

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Pressure on Razor

The pressure has certainly increased on Robertson this year and heavy criticism certainly came his and the All Blacks way following their record 43-10 defeat to the Springboks in Wellington.

They responded to that loss, though, with successive victories over the Wallabies as they finished level on points with South Africa at the top of the Rugby Championship table.

“Those two Tests against Australia, we played some really good footy under a lot of pressure; two teams that were extremely hungry,” he said.

“We go on in with a good mental state going north, we’ve got a hungry group and a key group just to add to our legacy, I think that’s really key.”

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