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Scott Robertson explains Ethan Blackadder's All Blacks omission

CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND - JUNE 05: Ethan Blackadder looks on during a Crusaders Super Rugby training session at Apollo Projects Stadium on June 05, 2025 in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

Just under 10 months ago, All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson grinned as he endorsed the notion that workhorse loose forward Ethan Blackadder was possessed, such was his work rate around the park against the Springboks in Johannesburg. On Monday, when the first New Zealand squad of 2025 was announced, Blackadder’s name was not read.

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The recently crowned Super Rugby Pacific champion was chewing through tackles, carries and cleanouts in the Crusaders’ run to glory, putting his best foot forward for another national selection.

Robertson was left with no questions over the injury-prone 30-year-old’s desire, but among an uber-talented field, someone had to miss out. He was asked directly if the 14-time All Black was hard done by.

“Yeah. Yes and no. He’s full of effort, isn’t he, Ethan? He’s got so much energy, and he just keeps going,” the coach told SportNation.

“You leave someone like him out, and you could name him as well as a couple of other players; it’s always tough. But those are the decisions you go with.

“The door is always open for everyone. I think we learned last year that the squad changed throughout the season, with the training, everything can happen. I’m sure we’ll have a look at Ethan at some stage.”

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Expanding on what exactly caused Blackadder’s omission, Robertson highlighted the need for effectiveness in contact against what will likely be a giant French pack.

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“The big thing for Ethan is he’s just starting to play footy consistently. We look at all parts of the game. He’s very physical, he’s got great stats, high stats, but it’s the actual impact of them. So, converting those stats to post-carry metres, dominant tackles, and being clean and disciplined.

“So, a couple of areas for him. I actually haven’t talked to him, so I hope he isn’t listening to this live! I still need to pass that on to him, so there you go, Ethan.

“No, he’s a good man. I talked to him earlier, we all love him.”

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While Blackadder was one of the first names to come to many fans’ minds, he was far from the only big omission in the loose forwards. Dalton Papali’i and Hoskins Sotutu have been left out, while rising star Peter Lakai had his chances at selection blown by injury.

Robertson made no bones about the fact that loose forward selections were the hardest to nail down, as has been the case for a few years now. Joining the back row as the toughest selection calls this year was the midfield, with a handful of players starring in Super Rugby, leading a recall for Quinn Tupaea and a first-time call-up for Timoci Tavatavanawai.

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When asked about the toughest calls to make, Robertson sai: “Probably a mix between the midfield, the amount of players who can cover the outside backs, and the loose forwards, as you can tell. Everyone knows that, it’s quite clear.

“A couple of players played themselves in, like Du’Plessis (Kirifi) has been superb all year and in the midfield, it’s just a mix. People can cover a couple of positions, the utility factor. And so at 33, it just gives us that coverage for everything, so these three Tests we’ve got what we need on and off the field because training is so important. The preparations, the improvements we can make each week. That’s our balance.”


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Comments

40 Comments
J
JH 24 days ago

Unfortunately for Blackadder, he doesn’t have the amount of test caps the undroppable ‘leadership group’ players have.


They can show no form at all for years, and yet look at the squad every season, and there they are. As per their NZR contract it seems.

B
BleedRed&Black 25 days ago

They do seem to have a fair number of experimental selections from last year and this, Norris, Tosi, Finau, Sititi, Kirifi, Ratima, Hotham, Tavatavanawai, Proctor and Love, but that's a good thing. International coaches have to take the lead with players instead of relying on who is "in form", which often as not means who is playing in the winning team. They need to work out who has the highest ceiling, and who is flattering to deceive.


My votes for most likely in second category; Kirifi, who looks like another Laumape to me, Tavatavanawai, who simply can't pass and is too slow for an international winger, and Tosi, who is a second choice tighthead in a club with an abysmal record in developing tight forwards. He really needs to go to the Chiefs or Blues, be their starting 3. He's going backwards at the Hurricanes.


The Chiefs have a lot of players in the squad, but almost all of them are new/tenuous, with only Vaa'i a match day squad certainty. Even Sititi can't be considered certain. He's had a very quiet year, was benched by McMillan, and his defensive decision-making in the final was appalling. It never ceases to amaze me how failures by X factor players are simply ignored. No one has pointed out that it was Sititi getting himself in completely the wrong place in a maul that led to Taylors breakaway and the Crusaders only try.


From the Crusaders POV, my only disappointments are is that Reihana didn't make the team, he looks made for test match rugby, and that Lio-Willie is only a replacement player. I get the feeling the latter at least will change.

F
FF 25 days ago

“ Effectiveness in Contact “

WTF does that mean?

I blame NZ Rugby for not appointing Razor at his height.

But today his woke ramblings are those of a man on a train that left the station long ago🙄

D
Duplodocus 25 days ago

Getting over the gain line.

T
TokoRFC 25 days ago

Why do people claim anything they don’t understand is “woke”?


Many things have been marred by “woke” thinking, but views on the impact made during collisions in rugby union? Gimme a break….

Y
YeowNotEven 25 days ago

Basically, he gets around everywhere but basically doesn’t do anything. It’s all very well making 30 tackles a game, but if it’s always pulling a dude down after they’ve made gainline then it’s a bit meh.

Tackles need to be dominant.

Same with rucks. Ethan gets to more rucks than anyone else but usually a fraction of a second late so he kind of just shoves someone or flops over.

With ball in hand he doesn’t make any post contact metres.

I’m a massive Blackadder fan and when he is effective he’s the man, but he’s capable of more at the moment.

T
TB 26 days ago

Why does Scott Robinson sound like Donald Trump in interviews

A
AudreyKinsley 26 days ago

: "Shared my article on xenixnews.com and now it’s trending like crazy 😲🔥"

Y
YeowNotEven 25 days ago

Go there and eat something sharp. I’d share an article on you starring in a snuff film.

This is a footy page. Go spam elsewhere.

S
SM 26 days ago

Hopefully this doesn't mean we going to keep playing a chiefs stile of rugby?

J
JW 26 days ago

The new look skint AB squad size.

A
Andrew Nichols 26 days ago

“Expanding on what exactly caused Blackadder’s omission, Robertson highlighted the need for effectiveness in contact against what will likely be a giant French pack.” .. and rhere is what we who have chalkwnged EBs AB suitability have been saying all along. For all his energy and workrate…like Sotutu..he gets ragdolled by the big packs.

B
BA 26 days ago

As I remember and correct me if I am wrong but Kaino debut was 04 ( scored a banger ) against Baabaas and then took maybe like 5 years to be that dude at 6 was out the team few times

N
Nickers 26 days ago

Yes I think he started as an athletic ball carrying 7/8. He was touted as the “next Michael Jones” around Auckland rugby at the time.

M
MM 26 days ago

Exactly as Razor said. Slackbladder fails miserably in the dominant tackles and go forward stakes!

d
dk 26 days ago

Simon Parker kept Finau out of Chiefs’ starting lineup. Such a shame he got injured. Hopefully he’ll get a shot later in the year. Unlike Finau, he plays to his immense size. Our future 6.

B
BA 26 days ago

No not really Clayton just was rotating and keeping the bench strong I believe both very good

W
Wiseguy 26 days ago

Yeah I’d love for both these guys to really kick on. Finau had more metres per carry, higher post contact metres and more defenders beaten. Parker had more tackles per minute and higher tackle %. Finau had more dominant tackles.


Both have potential to be be absolute beasts.

S
SadersMan 26 days ago

Much as I love them, I’ve said on here several times that I thought Blackadder & Cullen had slipped down the rankings & didn’t expect either to get the nod. Similar to Papalii & Sotutu, there’s a certain staleness or “been there done that” associated with these players. Interesting too that Razor had opted for #6 coverage by a lock too. Who? Scooter &/or Tupou obviously?

f
fittler_step 26 days ago

Id say for 6 cover, Finau, Sititi (who played 6 for the ABs last year), Jacobson and Vaa’i

J
JW 26 days ago

The attacking side was brought up in an article about Ardie playing like a modern 7, about a month ago, and it was found that Papalii was the top carrier, this year and most, in his ability to beat defenders. Which in his role, means brush them off and slip by into another tackler basically.


He just doesn’t do it as often as those in that specific role.

B
BA 26 days ago

Both Grace and obviously Bkackadder have suffered from being injured a lot ….the thing with Scooter snd Tupou playing in the loose is it’s pretty obvious to my eye that both are considerably bigger than they used to be…in saying that for me it’s Scooter been there done that at 6 a whole heap more times than Tupou

G
GP 26 days ago

More fool the selectors for letting Ethan Blackadder down the “pecking order” . He was one of our best on Saturday night. He was crucial to the win and that is because unlike what Razor claims , he was mightily effective in contact.

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