Scott Robertson reflects on All Blacks' growth during Rugby Championship
Saturday’s 24-18 Rugby Championship Test win over Australia marked the end of the All Blacks’ campaign that saw a first-time defeat in Argentina and a record loss to the Boks, but Robertson is looking at the silver linings.
The players demonstrated the ability to adapt in games, as they had when rain in Perth forced a change to their intended plan. It is something they work on in their preparation during the weeks leading up to the tests, and in Perth, they were doing it on the field before messages came down from the coaching box.
“The game and information are already on the field; they’ve got the answers, that’s one part of it,” he told allbacks.com.
“The other part is to create depth, and we want to go four deep in each position, so we create a lot of competition, and we feel like we’re getting there.”
However, injuries will require depth to be tested on their northern tour to end their year. While flyhalf Beauden Barrett, wing Caleb Clarke and midfielder Timoci Tavatavanawai will have recovered from injury, lock Tupou Vaa’i, wing Emoni Narawa, prop Tyrel Lomax and scrumhalf Noah Hotham will miss the tour.
Robertson said Australia forced the All Blacks to make a lot of tackles, especially in the early stages of the Test. But showing discipline, the All Blacks stayed in the game and took their opportunities.
“We got ahead on the scoreboard and that was important going into the second half,” he continued.
“In past games, we probably would have let teams back in, but in its entirety, and the bench came on and made a big difference, we managed to finish it.
“We knew the importance of this match for them. They wanted to turn that [their losing streak], especially here in a state that you don’t get too much footy. We came prepared for that and are happy with the result from a tough performance.
Robertson was pleased with the impact Quinn Tupaea made at centre.
“He’s robust, tough, physical. It was great to see him in his ball carry and he’ll be better for that Test.”
Wing Leroy Carter has proved to be a special player.
“He’s powerful, short, good hops, keeps his feet and is instinctual, and with Leicester [Fainga’anuku], you’ve got a player who can run over people and carry them and hold his feet. It’s a good balance. He’s got a left foot, so to have him, and Caleb, and someone that can go into the midfield, and Leroy can go into halfback, so they’ve got some great strengths.”
Robertson said the campaign as a whole suffered from periods in games when they didn’t front, and their record loss to South Africa in Wellington was an example of that, but there were other times when they played some impressive rugby.
“It showed how quickly this can turn on you. We saw that with Australia in South Africa, and us as well, and we’ve got to make sure we learn in games and stay in the fight, and we did that tonight.”
