'We're aware of it': Scott Robertson addresses All Blacks' backline woes

The All Blacks‘ forward pack thrived in their Rugby Championship-opening win over Los Pumas in Cordoba, but their traditional strong suit, the backline, failed to hit top gear.

With a scoreline of 41-24 against a team that beat every powerhouse nation they came across in 2024 and toppled the Lions in Dublin just a few months ago, there were plenty of positives for coach Scott Robertson and Co. to celebrate. But so too were there some apparent work-ons.

For every bit of Will Jordan excellence that generated a try, there was a dropped ball. The execution, at times, was lacking, and that has raised questions about cohesion and selection.

“We’re aware of it,” Robertson told reporters on Tuesday morning. “We’ve got extremely high standards. It’s just a little bit of a back pass on the back shoulder, isn’t it? Just those little moments, you’re creating a lot, but not quite finishing it with the skill execution.

“The first thing to do is understand and own it, then go train it, put yourself under pressure.

“These guys are highly skilled, you know. They’re really professional, and they do their homework. We just feel like we just haven’t quite got that timing in that moment. But the important thing is that you have trust in your skillset, keep giving those passes. It will stick.”

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

2

Draws

0

Wins

3

Average Points scored

21

36

First try wins

60%

Home team wins

40%

One selection that’s come into the spotlight following the win is that of centre Billy Proctor, who was yellow-carded in what was his sixth All Blacks appearance.

“Billy’s got all the skills and capabilities. Sometimes, especially in Test footy, just getting your feet underneath you and feeling confident takes time for people. He’s just a pass away, he’s getting better each week in reading the game and the combinations. You can see it when he plays at his top level, his top form.

“We’ve put a lot of time into him, and it’s just about staying the course with him, and trusting him, and him believing in himself, and keep giving him feedback.”

Proctor’s promotion to the starting No.13 job has gone hand-in-hand with Rieko Ioane’s move back to the left wing, a position he stopped playing after the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

“Rieko’s had experience on the wing, gone to centre and back to wing. His work rate and effort are incredible. Like his stats, he leads a lot of our stats and a lot of our effort stats. So, we’ve really been impressed with him in that regard.

“What is he now? Three Tests in? He’ll get better and better with time, and in those combinations. He adds a different flavour to that wing, he’s a big, tall man in the aerial game, which is really critical, so he’s getting better each week.”