Like it or not, the All Blacks look better without Scott Barrett as captain

I’ll give Scott Robertson a little bit of credit.

I don’t imagine he gave up on guys such as Rieko Ioane and Sevu Reece that easily. I’m sure part of him is pained that Damian McKenzie isn’t reliable enough to start test matches.

I suspect he thinks Anton Lienert-Brown and Luke Jacobson are capable of doing a job at this level, otherwise he wouldn’t be carrying in his wider squad.

Rassie explains team selection v Argentina

Rassie explains team selection v Argentina

But Robertson’s been a bit ruthless with his team to meet Australia at Eden Park on Saturday, no doubt due to the embarrassment of the recent 43-10 loss to South Africa.

And he’s also had a bit of luck.

Like it or not, the All Blacks look better without Scott Barrett captaining the side.

Just on the Barretts, it’s kind of on Beauden and Jordie now. Plenty of other regulars in Robertson’s All Black backlines have become surplus to requirements, but the Barrett boys remain a constant.

At some point, if the team’s performances don’t improve, they have to shoulder some blame too.

As for Scott Barrett, I wrote that his form during Super Rugby Pacific was of no concern. His job was to deliver in the Test arena.

For all the reverence with which Robertson spoke about the injured skipper on Thursday, I sincerely doubt most fans hold Barrett in the same regard.

While I’m being semi-enthusiastic about the side to meet Australia, I have to express relief that halfbacks Cam Roigard and Cortez Ratima are good to go again. Finlay Christie has been a reliable replacement, but his ability to positively impact the outcome of a match isn’t high.

I’m glad too that Peter Lakai has replaced Hurricanes teammate Du’Plessis Kirifi on the bench. The latter is just too small to compete with the good teams.

The luckiest player in the 23 continues to be Quinn Tupaea. I don’t want to be harsh, but I just don’t see what job it is that he’s been picked to do.

Whether it’s due to inadequate coaching or limited playing ability, Tupaea looks entirely out of his depth.

If nothing else, his retention shows how far Lienert-Brown and Ioane have fallen.

Those who are meeting the Wallabies simply have to deliver.

We’ve heard how hurt they were by events against South Africa. We’ve seen players and coaches accept responsibility and vow to improve.

I’m really tired of the talking now and, in some ways, increasingly weary of this team.

Just play better. Do your job. Show signs of improvement. Convince me that you care about results as much as your fans do.

This is just about the strongest team the All Blacks have picked all season and I wouldn’t be shocked to see them beat the Wallabies by 20 points or more.

No-one doubts this team’s ability to rouse themselves for a one-off effort. It’s maintaining that standard which has proved elusive throughout Robertson’s tenure.

So I won’t rush to congratulate them when they win well this weekend. I’ll be grateful to see them produce a performance worthy of the jersey, but I won’t put any store in it until it’s repeated again and again and again.

The All Blacks don’t fear Australia and none of the rest of us should, either. They’re not robust enough physically or mentally to win at Eden Park.

They might compete for 30 minutes, maybe even an hour. But I’d expect the home side to run away with the match in the end.

I’ve given Robertson a couple of bouquets here, but I want to conclude with some thoughts on Ruben Love and Brodie McAlister.

New Zealand isn’t blessed with so much talent that we can destroy the confidence – and potentially the careers – of the few decent players we’ve got.

Love, on the left wing, and McAlister at hooker were set up to fail against the Springboks.

If I needed someone to do the job McAlister was asked to, I’d have picked Asafo Aumua. After years of haphazard lineout throwing, Aumua was fairly reliable for the All Blacks last year, as well as offering more with ball-in-hand and on defence than McAlister.

I think Love has a bit to offer this team, but definitely not in the role he was thrust into in Wellington. Unsurprisingly, he was found wanting.

Love and McAlister were done a disservice by their coaches. Just as Tupaea and Billy Proctor are.

We see the promise in Proctor. We watch him visibly grow as a game wears on and, just as he appears to feel comfortable, we sub him for Tupaea.

Neither player is performing to their potential and that’s on the blokes who pick them and coach them.

It’s also why Saturday is on Beauden and Jordie Barrett. If their positions are sacrosanct, then it’s them who need to be winning matches on behalf of the cast that keeps revolving around them.