Springboks v All Blacks: Five selection headaches Scott Robertson faces ahead of Cape Town clash

The All Blacks let a 10-point lead slip in the closing stages against the Springboks this weekend, which will leave Scott Robertson with plenty of food for thought ahead of Test two in Cape Town. 

Razor’s chargers looked to have the game under control for the most part, and led for over 80% of the game; but the replacements were bested by their Boks counterparts and the game rapidly flipped on it’s head from there.

On a slightly positive note – selection-wise – they have presented a mostly clean bill of health ahead of the trip to the capital, but this just makes those tough selection calls harder.

Here is a run-down of the key selection headaches Scott Robertson faces this coming week.

Back three combinations

The All Blacks are blessed with some of the best back three players in the world right now, but Razor needs to find a winning combination.

Don’t get us wrong, each of the players currently there – Caleb Clarke, Will Jordan and Beauden Barrett – have certainly shown flashes of brilliance this Rugby Championship, but it’s been just that, flashes.

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We all know Will Jordan is brilliant at 15, and he has shone in that position for the Crusaders under Robertson in the past, so it could be his time to get the nod there after Barrett’s indifferent display at the weekend. Jordan did actually slot into the 15 role in attack a few times against the Springboks, notably putting Clarke over in the corner for his second try, and looked to suit the system better in this role. It could also allow him to be a threat on the counter-attack as well, as he would get a lot more possession in broken field.

With Jordan possibly switching to 15, that could lead to a return for workhorse winger Mark Tele’a, with his absence being a notable one thus far. Tele’a is such a good option to have in the side, with his desire to get his hands on the ball as much as he can meaning he pops up in different positions throughout the game. This could still then allow Jordan to occasionally slot into the wide channels to give the All Blacks attack some width as and when needed too, but not limit him to this channel.

This then leaves Beauden Barrett out the team, however he featured brilliantly off the bench in the England Tests and could do this again in Cape Town. There is also another alternative for the Blues back that could keep him in the starting XV…

Scratching head at half-back

Both half-back positions continue to be an issue for the All Blacks, and it could be time to change things up this weekend. TJ Perenara has been fine in his performances thus far, and whilst he is giving Damian McKenzie some decent ball it isn’t consistently quick enough for him to play from.

Cortez Ratima did a decent job of providing consistent quick-ball in Test two against Los Pumas, but then he struggled to make any sort of positive impact off the bench at Ellis Park.

Likewise with McKenzie himself, who had a mixed performance against South Africa. He was great, like most of his team if truth be told for 65 minutes of the game, but seemed to drop off rapidly when the pressure mounted in the final stages.

These are the clutch moments an international 10, and especially an All Blacks number 10, needs to ice if they stand any chance of being a top level fly-half.

The All Blacks aren’t blessed with depth in either position for this Rugby Championship, but Razor could opt to turn to a completely fresh half-back combination in Cape Town, and maybe even a return for Beauden Barrett in the 10 shirt?

Sam Darry or Tupou Vaa’i

Lock has been one of the All Blacks’ weakest areas this year, and Scott Robertson will continue to have sleepless nights over his choice at number five. Sam Darry made a decent start to All Blacks life off the bench against Fiji, and only improved from there in the starting side against Argentina; so it was certainly a surprise to see him named on the bench again last weekend.

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Darry has helped shore up the lineout a lot in the absence of Scott Barrett, and also took on a lot of the dirty work that the skipper normally does for the team as well. That could then allow the pair to compliment each other nicely, and actually keep them a bit fresher as they can turn to their partner more regularly.

Tupou Vaa’i might have something to say about that though. He did a decent job against a tough Boks pack, but the lineout is a big question mark in his game. He wasn’t used at all as a jumper against the Boks, with Barrett, Ardie Savea and Ethan Blackadder the repeated targets, but this is such a crucial part of the role of a lock and could lead to a return for Sam Darry.

Rieko Ioane or Anton Lienert-Brown at 13?

Another straight shootout now, and it’s one that’s been brewing all Championship.

Rieko Ioane did show more signs of improvement at Ellis Park, but he still doesn’t seem to fit the system the All Blacks want to use their 13 in. He was again used as more of a strike runner, and that simply isn’t Ioane’s game. When they played slightly wider, he was used in a much more effective way, but it wasn’t consistent enough for him to be a major part of their attack.

On the flip side, Anton Lienert-Brown could be the man to play this way. He is more comfortable running through traffic than Ioane, and showed he can add that slight bit of punch with a solid attacking performance in Test one against Argentina. Lienert-Brown’s big issue though is defending in the 13 channel, which could deny him a spot in the starting team.

Fresh-faces on the bench?

I take no pleasure in writing this, but the All Blacks bench was grossly ineffective against South Africa for the most part, and it could lead to some changes in this department in Cape Town.

The All Blacks wider touring party has plenty of fresh options for Razor to turn to in the hopes of securing a victory. George Bower – who replaced Ethan de Groot in the 36-man squad – could slot in for Ofa Tuʻungafasi following his poor display in the latter stages, and Pasilio Tosi and George Bell might also be solid options to turn to if Razor opts to drop Fletcher Newell and Asafo Aumua.

A full rotation isn’t completely necessary, but they could also opt to run a 6/2 split. Josh Lord has given a good account of himself from the bench in the past, and elsewhere Dalton Papali’i could make a decent replacement to compliment the work of Sam Cane in the starting team – or vice-versa. In the backs, Ruben Love and Harry Plummer could also be good options.

Whatever way Robertson decides to do it though, he will be hoping to get more from his replacements.

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