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'We've got a big six foot eight lock coming in, and a six foot nine lock on the bench'

Josh Lord and Head Coach Scott Robertson look onduring a New Zealand All Blacks training session at NZCIS on August 06, 2024 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

The All Blacks have named an inexperienced locking group to take on Argentina but head coach Scott Robertson is excited by the “fresh blood” coming through the position.

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Sam Darry will start for the All Blacks for the first time after debuting in San Diego against Fiji while Tupou Vaa’i packs down next to him. Off the bench will be four Test lock Josh Lord.

Robertson explained that Blues lock Patrick Tuipulotu succumbed to a calf injury while captain Scott Barrett was earlier ruled out for both Argentina Tests.

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“Obviously with Patrick [Tuipulotu], he had a calf injury, so Sam Darry comes in and Josh Lord has come back from a couple of games,” Robertson explained. 

“So perfect timing for us. There’s some fresh blood coming through with the second rows, the locks. Sam’s been impressive since he’s come in.

“And Josh has, you know, wore the black jersey before, and he’ll get straight up to the mark and standard.”

Some might be concerned with the All Blacks locking stocks in the post-Whitelock and Retallick but Robertson was adamant that they have the talent to fill the void.

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On state of the locks position he highlighted the tremendous athletes that the All Blacks have coming in.

“It’s exciting. I think is exciting. We’ve got a big six foot eight lock coming in, and a six foot nine lock on the bench, and they’re good athletes,” Robertson said.

“When someone retires, someone gets an opportunity, and it’s their opportunity, so we set them up the best we can to perform, and they’ve done themselves as well.

“They’ve owned the role and the opportunity this week, and on Saturday night with a performance, they can, you know, keep that jersey.”

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Comments

8 Comments
C
CR 237 days ago

Perfect timing, was he being sarcastic? 😂👍

J
JK 237 days ago

this apparently didn't mean s##t in today's game. Well done Pumas!

S
SC 239 days ago

The All Blacks second row of Vaa’i and Darry have more caps than Argentina’s second row as surprising as it may be. Vaa’i will be the most experienced lock of the four starting locks.


Time for Vaa’i to step up and dominate the lineout and be that big bruising ball carrying second row that Barrett is.


The time is now for Vaa’i, he is in his third season now. The time for grooming is over.

T
TO 239 days ago

Looking at the lock selections there seems to be a focus on the aerial side of things and then worry about ball carrying, clean outs, maul defense etc for later.

Our insistence on having athletes that can play an open style of rugby first and foremost comes at a cost when opposition sides decide to play a forward orientated, possession and territorial based game plan. We need to take our "learnings " from our losses during the last cycle and a.) have a plan b for when we meet this style of rugby and b.) identify forwards especially, that we can develop who when necessary can be included to combat that style.

A "horses for courses " philosophy can be beneficial if used effectively.

B
Bull Shark 240 days ago

Interesting all this talk of meat and potatoes coming through.

S
SadersMan 240 days ago

Tall doesn't mean much unless it's accompanied by pure strength, bulk - upperbody & core. None of these 3 locks have displayed this type of power, as yet. I expect the Argies pack will try to bully us with that well known prime Los Pumas beef. Hopefully we'll be up for the challenge.

F
Forward pass 239 days ago

They can try all they like. It wont work. Vaii, Lord and Darry are quality.

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JW 3 hours ago
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Yes that’s what WR needs to look at. Football had the same problem with european powerhouses getting all the latin talent then you’re gaurenteed to get the odd late bloomer (21/22 etc, all the best footballers can play for the country much younger to get locked) star changing his allegiance.


They used youth rep selection for locking national elifibilty at one point etc. Then later only counted residency after the age of 18 (make clubs/nations like in this case wait even longer).


That’s what I’m talking about, not changing allegiance in rugby (were it can only be captured by the senior side), where it is still the senior side. Oh yeah, good point about CJ, so in most cases we probably want kids to be able to switch allegiance, were say someone like Lemoto could rep Tonga (if he wasn’t so good) but still play for Australia’s seniors, while in someone like Kite’s (the last aussie kid to go to France) case he’ll be French qualified via 5 years residency at the age of 21, so France to lock him up before Aussie even get a chance to select him. But if we use footballs regulations, who I’m suggesting WR need to get their a into g replicating, he would only start his 5 years once he turns 18 or whatever, meaning 23 yo is as soon as anyone can switch, and when if they’re good enough teams like NZ and Aus can select them (France don’t give a f, they select anybody just to lock them).

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