The Springboks’ decision to reveal their team on Monday caught Scott Robertson off guard, though he was quick to hail Rassie Erasmus as “outstanding”.
It was confirmed on Sunday that Erasmus would be bringing his team selection forward to Monday, a full five days before the clash in Wellington on Saturday.
At Test level, countries are only required to announce their sides 48 hours before a contest, but Erasmus has once again decided to change it up.
The Boks usually opt to select their squad on Tuesday, but for last weekend they did it at the latest possible time on Thursday.
However, for the second Test against the All Blacks, they have gone extremely early, which initially left Robertson confused.
“He’s naming the team today? Is he? Do we know that?” a surprised New Zealand head coach said when asked about Erasmus’ latest selection twist.
Robertson then joked: “He’s had a couple of late nights hasn’t he?” before praising the Boks boss for his ingenuity.
“Great, we will find out tonight, and that’s what you love about him, you don’t know what’s coming. Outstanding,” he said just prior to the visitors’ announcement.
“I can’t talk about what was happening in those meetings and the reaction to it but he’s definitely got a strong will and obviously he thinks that’s best for the Springboks team to go early.
“They’ve been doing it for a while now, it’s not new, it’s not the first time they’ve done it so for them it works.
“It gives you a little bit of awareness in one or two areas, but you don’t go and change too much because of that.”
Robertson also believes Erasmus will make subtle changes to their game plan but does not expect a radical overhaul after the Springboks’ 24-17 loss to the All Blacks.
“The way Rassie operates, he’s got a squad he trusts, gives guys opportunities,” he said.
“There will be variations in their game plan, there will be innovation like they did at the weekend but their core DNA, we know what it’s like.
“We can expect a little bit of everything, one-off plays and stuff, but the fundamentals will be the same for them.”
The All Blacks boss realises that his side cannot rest on their laurels having kept their Eden Park record intact.
There was a lot of pressure going into the Test in Auckland, which has now been somewhat relieved following Saturday’s result, but Robertson obviously does not want that intensity to dip.
“The big thing for us is the acknowledgement of it. You’re up here and you’ve got to get back up there,” he added.
“What’s it going to take internally for us? What’s those drivers that get you there? And you’ve got to be there on Saturday.
“That’s the key thing, the timing of it, how you’re emotionally connected to this game. It’s a sold-out crowd, the Wellingtonians are going to be having long lunches, they’re going to be walking into the Cake Tin expecting another performance from us, just as we will from ourselves.”
