'I didn't get that stat': Robertson surprises himself with All Blacks changes

All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson was taken aback by a stat thrown his way during his team naming press conference on Thursday, with the revelation that only five of the players named to start this weekend featured in the starting XV of the equivalent fixture one year ago.

Just Codie Taylor, Scott Barrett, Ardie Savea, Beauden Barrett, and Will Jordan remain as starters in 2025 after securing a tight, hard-fought win over England at Twickenham last November.

Test rookies Fabian Holland, Simon Parker, and Leroy Carter have recently earned starting berths in the team, while the likes of Ethan de Groot, Fletcher Newell, Peter Lakai, Cam Roigard, and Billy Proctor were on the outside of starting XV selection looking in this time last year. Quinn Tupaea and Leicester Fainga’anuku were not in the 2024 squad.

Injuries to several starters from last year, Tyrel Lomax, Tupou Vaa’i, and Caleb Clarke, have ruled the trio unavailable for this weekend’s showdown, while Sam Cane and Mark Tele’a are now ineligible for selection, having committed their futures to Japan Rugby League One.

“Is there only five?” Robertson reacted when the stat was brought up, before acknowledging he wasn’t aware of it.

Despite the dramatic turnover, the coach described his selections as best available for this Test in particular, while looking to build cohesion in a team that has claimed two wins from two Tests so far in the Quilter Nations Series.

Explaining the handful of changes made, Caleb Clarke’s head knock is responsible for one adjustment on the left wing, where Leicester Fainga’anuku will fill in after playing in the midfield in the last two games. Billy Proctor replaces Fainga’anuku in the No.13 jersey.

“With Caleb’s injury, obviously, he’s in good form, and you feel for him, because he’s just refound his rhythm,” Robertson said. “His power game, aerial game, all of the things that you need from a left wing, we just felt like that was the best change.

“Billy goes into his eighth Test, and he’s trained there and came on with Quinn (last weekend), and he’s been ready to go. So that combination and the way we want to play is what we’ve gone for.”

Team Form

Last 5 Games

27 - 23

33 - 19

38 - 18

25 - 7

5 - 40

26 - 52

33 - 19

17 - 25

13 - 26

14 - 28

5

Wins

4

5

Streak

1

23

Tries Scored

21

91

Points Difference

47

4/5

First Try

4/5

4/5

First Points

3/5

3/5

Race To 10 Points

4/5

When asked why the decision was to change Fainga’anuku’s position rather than bring in a new winger, Robertson responded, “Did you see the second Bledisloe Cup match? He was pretty handy on the left wing.

“He gives you power, left-foot kicking as well, and he’s playing good footy. So, it’s his spot.”

Proctor graduating from the bench to the starting unit opened up a spot in the No.22 jersey, where Chiefs veteran Anton Lienert-Brown has been selected after seven straight games on the outer.

“He can cover all positions in the backline; 12, 13, can cover wing as well,” Robertson said of the 30-year-old. “He’s experienced, he’s trained really well.”

In the forward pack, a non-injury-enforced change sees Simon Parker return to the starting XV after a week of rest, with the idea of injecting some more height into the starting loose trio, while leaving Wallace Sititi, who started in Edinburgh last week, to bring impact off the bench.

“He’s (Parker) a big body, he’s physical, and Wallace will come on; he’s got a great game, especially if it opens up a little bit. We still have to make our tackles and turn the ball over, but whatever the style of game is, he can add to it.”

Expanding on why Parker was given the weekend off in Scotland, Robertson said it was both a case of resting him and giving Sititi a crack in a new-look back row.

“We wanted that combination, to give those guys that chance with Wally back at six and see him and Peter (Lakai); we know what Ardie can do, he’s pretty special, but it was just the combination of those two. He (Parker) comes in fresh and keen.”

The bench has played a defining role in the wins over Ireland and Scotland in recent weeks, but Robertson is hoping his side won’t be so prone to forfeiting momentum against England.

“They’re momentum swings, and they put pressure on us, compounding. The ability to get out of our own end more cleanly was key for us. So, we did that, it probably just took longer than we’d plan for, so we’ve done a little bit of work on it this week, but we’re aware of how to get the momentum back.”