Scott Robertson boils All Blacks 10 call down to ‘form’

With two world-class first five-eighths to choose from, Scott Robertson has kept his selection ideology simple for the All Blacks‘ first Rugby Championship Test of 2025.

Beauden Barrett will wear the prized black No.10 jersey in Córdoba, Argentina, with Damian McKenzie again set to come off the bench in an impact role.

Barrett has been the coach’s preferred option in the game-driver role since the Bledisloe Cup Tests last year, but another influential Super Rugby Pacific campaign from the dynamic McKenzie has kept the selection debate alive.

Robertson appears settled on each player’s best role, and cut a relaxed figure as he spoke about the selection at the All Blacks’ team naming press conference on Thursday evening, local time.

“Beauden’s experienced, he’s been around for a long period of time, he can get you around the field,” the coach explained. “And DMac is one of the best players in the game to come off the bench and change the pace, the speed. It’s a great balance.

“Beauden’s in great form, so he gets picked.”

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With Barrett boasting a team-high 136 Test caps, including an All Blacks record of 21 games against Argentina, the team certainly has plenty of expertise steering the ship. McKenzie, on the other hand, has earned selection in each of the last 20 All Blacks games, the best run in the team.

“We’ve got a balanced and experienced squad,” Robertson continued. “Obviously, we used the three Tests against the French to play our whole squad, and now we’re focusing in on a very, very good Argentinian team; they’ve picked a strong squad.

“There’s a lot of experience in their team too, so it’s going to be a great game. We like playing fast; they play fast and skilled rugby. So, it’s on.”

Both outfits will be looking to make a statement in the opening round of a hugely anticipated Rugby Championship, and both teams have the benefit of a month’s rest heading into round one. Robertson says his team managed their downtime well and re-entered the environment ready to run.

“Having that three-week period and then you play on that fourth week, it’s a real balance. We’ve had a few guys who have played a bit of rugby and a few guys who have had a little recharge. It’s like an extra little preseason. They train really hard, a lot of conditioning, and they were pretty keen to get back into training for rugby in a group.

“We’ve had a good week. Buenos Aires has been great. They’ve turned it on for us here in Argentina, the police escorts and the buses, and the football games, everything that comes with it. But we’ve trained well, which is how we improve.”