'Massive difference': Razor on what turned the tide against France

The All Blacks failed to start with a hiss and a roar at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton against France on Saturday, with Fabien Galthié’s side dominating the early stages on the scoreboard.

The French seemed happy to bank the points whenever they were on offer, including multiple attempts at a drop goal.

The All Blacks found themselves down 10-0 in the first ten minutes, as well being down nine points just prior to halftime, before a crucial try to experienced midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown narrowed the margin heading into the sheds.

Robertson started the post-match press conference in Hamilton by congratulating the French, after a long year for their players.

“Gallant French team, just want to praise them for an 11 month season, they’ve come over here, to come over to our beautiful winter and put a performance like that, they should be very proud and I’d just like to commend them.

“Lots of debutantes, but hugely spirited and just really pleased we’ve found a way, we will be better for the experience as a group.

“10 points down at one stage, and we found a way, and played some pretty good footy, held up three of four times over the line so some really good stuff in it, and we’re better for it.”

But it was when All Blacks replacement midfielder Jordie Barrett came on the field that the All Blacks started to wrestle back momentum in Hamilton.

Barrett’s injection off the bench helped the All Blacks take control in the second half, while also giving Brodie McAlister a debut try, on the back of Barrett’s break.

Roberston explains that it’s really important everyone in the 23 have an impact on the game, something Barrett gave them in the third Test.

“We know how important the 23 is and Jordie was just so professional when he came on and made a massive difference for us.

“Look some of that wasn’t pretty and we understand that but it was a hell of lot of character and efforts on the back of a lot of care.”

Razor pinpointed McAlister’s cameo off the bench as one of the key ones, but overall, he was happy with the impact from the bench.

“I thought, Brodie McAllister, his try was great, those are big moments and I thought the whole front row. We had a couple of injuries early on but the guys just battled on.

“He’s [McAlister] one of the names, some great cameos off the beach.”

When asked about how important it is to be able to win scrum penalties late on in the game, Robertson explains that McAlister is one of the best scrummagers in the country.

“Yeah it’s critical, that’s a massive factor we learnt last year, didn’t we the other way, they came on and they were clean and they were straight, and everything that was asked of them and trained for.

“They came on and owned that moment, Brodie’s one of the best scrummagers in New Zealand as well and as a hooker they could they treat him as a prop.

“That’s why they talk to him around they’re pretty happy to have him under his arm, all of those things, like one thing for us we’re going to have to get the balance right, and sometimes we can probably overplay, and sometimes we underplay with our kicking, and that’s the balance of timing.”