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Scott Robertson: Why the All Blacks need departing veterans on Northern Tour
By Ned Lester
With the impending ineligibility of TJ Perenara and Sam Cane for All Blacks selection, questions began to swirl over the pair’s value to the New Zealand team on their upcoming Northern Tour at the expense of young talent. Questions that Scott Robertson answered on Monday.
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Both players are bound for Japan’s Rugby League One at the 2024 international season’s conclusion, meaning their selection in Monday’s squad will be their last.
With the likes of Peter Lakai making his case for selection at flanker and fellow 2023 U20 New Zealand star Noah Hotham already having made his All Blacks debut at halfback, there were players ready to step up should selectors look to move away from the old guard.
However, as Robertson explained, the old guard have plenty left in the tank.
“It was a deep conversation,” the coach told reporters in Christchurch. “There’s always a balance of bringing experience, guys that are Test fit, a balance of leadership; what does it take to win up north?
“When you look at those two, they’ve got a lot of those qualities, they’re playing good footy still – that was a really important part of it.
“And, they can build. They’re a big part of helping the next class come through and building for the future. So, on the balance of it, that’s why they come in.”
The opportunity was there to use the Northern Tour to introduce some more players to Test rugby, but with a lineup of opponents that stops just shy of a Grand Slam tour, Robertson emphasised the need for experience while also highlighting the fact the All Blacks XV side will be available for players in the top squad to get game time for and potentially vice versa.
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“We’ve got an ABXV tour that’s going up there that we can use for players to get game time. The squad’s 36 so not all 36 will be playing every weekend.
“Both teams are on tour so it’s a great opportunity to learn and play some quality time in the north.”
Robertson said there are likely to be “five or six” All Blacks XV players joining the All Blacks in Tokyo for the Japan Test, although that would primarily be for the purpose of experience and depth.
The All Blacks XV team will be named Tuesday but the coach did reveal both notable halfback omissions Noah Hotham and Finlay Christie would feature in the squad.
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Despite the appetite for more new faces in the squad, there have been eight debutants in the nine Tests so far this season, something Robertson highlighted when asked a follow-up question on the absence of any new youngsters.
“We’ve given a few (debuts) already, haven’t we? Could you have given a few more? Yes, potentially. But again, like I mentioned it was the balance of it all. Having a squad that’s well-balanced, got cohesion, players can come in and learn, guys who have had that experience.
“Cam’s only played a handful of Test matches and so has Cortez. TJ gives us that balance.”
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I don’t think it makes sense to throw a bunch of kids to the wolves on what’s going to be an incredibly tough tour. We have to play Ireland six days after we play England, then France the following week. That’s a great way to ruin a bunch of promising careers. Remember Eddie at the world cup?
This All Black squad has twelve players 25 and under and just eight in their 30s.
The most recent South Africa squad had just five under 26 and nineteen 30+. Yet I don’t recall much criticism of Rassie for that.
Not buying the stated rationale. Both are playing below par and below up-and-comers so "experience" is irrelevant if you are not performing. Robertson is a scaredy-cat.
They still need Cane. Very important for the younger squad members.
He could help make their breakfast in camp and teach them all how not to tackle. Essentials.
Tuck them all in at night and show them his runners up medal they could one day get. Keep them aspirational instead of going to Japan for a career.
It would make sense to carry Cane and TJ to help the next class come through, if they'd actually included the next class in the squad. I'm not sure what Lakai is going to learn from Cane when he's not even in the team. And if Papali'i hasn't picked up what he needs by now, I'm not sure one more tour will help.
As for TJ, I reckon he could learn a bit from Roigard and Ratima. They've both taken to test rugby like ducks to water and play at a pace well above their mentor.
Firstly, Razor knows a lot more about playing and coaching rugby than I do. But listening to the repetitive comments on Cane and TJ, it sounds more like these senior players are being asked to become defacto coaches.
Fair enough, Scott's has gone for the vets to mentor the next incumbents with obviously RWC 2027 the ultimate goal.
While he's at it, might as well try and clean sweep their EOYT matches too.
Go the All Blacks...looking on with interest and feeling really confident about their chances...