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Scott Robertson explains the new halves pairing for the All Blacks ahead of France
By Ben Smith reporting from Paris
Scott Robertson and his coaching staff have made five personnel changes to the All Blacks starting team to play France, including a new halves pairing after beating Ireland 23-13 last week.
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Form pair Asafo Aumua and Damian McKenzie return to the bench as Codie Taylor and Beauden Barrett return from head knocks, while Cam Roigard, Samipeni Finau, and Sevu Reece have been given a chance to start.
Finau and Reece were forced changes as Sam Cane and Mark Tele’a suffered injuries, but the elevation of Roigard is a chance to see more of the Hurricanes halfback.
Robertson said that Roigard’s kicking game tipped selection in his favour, with the No 9 possessing a monster 60m boot from the base that rivals his opposite Antoine Dupont.
“He’s been impressive, hasn’t he?” Robertson said of Roigard.
“He’s taken his opportunity, and we believe this is the match for him, just with the game management, the kicking, there will probably be a fair bit of kicking if the match goes to plan for both teams.
“And you know Beauden comes back in after playing extremely well against England. He’s clear with his head knock.”
Last week’s man of the match Damian McKenzie returns to the bench to make way for Beauden Barrett.
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After playing such a pivotal role against Ireland, Robertson said it was a decision they thought long and hard about.
Robertson labelled McKenzie “the world’s best” bench player with his ability to come on and “change the game”.
“It’s great, it’s a great discussion to have when you’ve got two 10s in form, and both good tacticians, you know, both kicking well,” Robertson said.
“This the part that worked deeply at and, you know, the one thing about D-Mac is he’s probably the best off the bench, we believe, in the world.
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“When he comes on, he can change the game, and now he’s doing it as a starter. So it’s a good discussion to have.”
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It will be interesting to see if bench players, especially backs, get the same level of recognition as the 'Closing Pitcher' in baseball.
Especially of the number of replacements is reduced. One person may have to cover: 9, 10, 14, and 15.
I cant think of any AB apart from Dmac that could cover all 4 of those positions. Great 10, great 15, Exceptional pass so would do ok at 9 if needed and has played plenty of wing in times of injury
More indecision and excuses from Razor.
You've given a spot at 6 to Finau whom you haven't even had the courage to use off the bench in the last two games. Now the young enforcer is going into a big much with no rugby, we should expect a similar result to how Aumua struggled to impact a game after he'd hardly been given any chances of the bench either.
Weve now dropped a back three player who also wasn't even given any game time off the bench for someone coming in cold when they really need to have been playing constantly to perform at their best. There are just so many better pictures that should have been present rather than this mickey mouse selection.
I really hope Finau can overcome this, it won't be the first time he's had to. How is the bench even made up? Could you not just have included these changes in the article as well? I actually like BB coming back in, it highlights how courageous he is after sitting out through another concussion that could just as easily sent him back into months of symptoms again.
Dmac was also off his game last week, as was Ratima, with the poor platform Razor and his team have been setting the players up with. He needs to freedom to clear his mind from the clutter that saw him make so many bad decisions last week. It will still probably be a net loss for the team performance not having him on from the start but it should be better for them in the long run if he's allowed to just come on late and play his game trying to claw things back for the team.
With Roigard starting that might prove an outlet for the team to actually get on top first however. Along with Ardie busting a gut in his new role and emptying the tank by halftime, and being replaced by another new star, might mean that Dmac is just icing on the cake at the end.
Dmac was off his game last week? So a man of the match and a match winning game from him is off his game? No wonder he never gets a fair go.
Good to read Scott Robinson taking charge of ABs selevtion..
BB should be back and he should play the 80,Dmac reminds me of the story about the emperor having no clothes on how he got player of the day ahead of Jordan or J Barrett must be for not losing or maybe coal kicking 🤔
Yep 100% agree BB should play the 80. Sub him on in the 79 and give him the "full 80", and maybe even 81 and 82 if the match runs into extra time.😁😁
Hope BB can survive the French defense and that Abs don't many tricky, corner kicks which BB will not make
Taylor must have passed the medical and trained well enough for Jason to start him.
The replays of him staggering and stumbling over didn't look good for mine and had the similarity to a punch drunk pugilist in need of more time to fully recover.
Anyways if he can play as good as he normally does for as long as he can, Aumua and co. will definitely get the All Blacks over the line.
Cam and Damian also showed how in sync they are leading up Aumua's try assist pass to Jordan where Beauden would have gone kick pass and most likely stuffed it up.
Go the All Blacks...Wallace Sititi to score a try for Sammy...onwards and upwards...
Certainly it's mixed messages for the likes of Perofeta and Aumua, not to mention Paddy who has deserved to start this one too.
Beaudy better play well, it took him a few tests but Dmac has grown into a pretty handy international 10 this season.
Thats pretty harsh on Mckenzie after his performance against Ireland. Does Razor calling him the worlds best bench player shows us where he really wants him. Personally I don't think Beauden's done enough recently to come straight back in ahead of him.
I've been a DMac doubter, but I thought he played well for the full game against Ireland, supposedly our toughest opponent yet.
So if BB is first choice, what does he bring? He didn't seem very accurate against England; or was their pressure better than Ireland?
and Reece now seems to be too error prone, so why not keep DMac at 10 and let him kick those penalties, slip BB back to FB where he is a proven reliable defender, and put WJ on the wing instead of Reece?
I think it's the best outcome for Dmac if he wants to show he's going to be the better 10 than Mo'unga. Starting with this coaching teams mentality and mixed messages at the moment means the 10 jersey is a poisoned chalice.
I think the focus is on kicking in the first half. Dmac to spark an attack against tired French forwards of the 140kg variety.
Which is why, incidentally, France has gone for a 6/2. Fresher forwards.
This game will be decided by the benches. And Galthie has studied the boks I reckon.