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Why Scott Robertson shifted Will Jordan back to All Blacks’ wing

By Finn Morton
Will Jordan of New Zealand looks on during The Rugby Championship match between New Zealand All Blacks and Argentina at Eden Park on August 17, 2024 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has explained the somewhat surprising decision to move Will Jordan back to the wing after just one Test at fullback. Jordan wore the No.15 in the 18-12 loss to the Springboks in Cape Town but will return to the right edge for the All Blacks’ next Test.

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On Saturday afternoon, Jordan will join Caleb Clarke and Beauden Barrett in a familiar outside backs combination when New Zealand takes on Australia in a crunch Bledisloe Cup Test. That same trio started against the Springboks at Johannesburg’s Emirates Airline Park.

Clarke missed the next Test against the Boks with a back injury which led coach Robertson to make some significant changes to the backline. Mark Tele’a and Sevu Reece got the nod to start on the wings while Jordan shifted to the back.

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But, it’ll be a different story this weekend.

Robertson coached Jordan for years at Super Rugby level with the Crusaders – with the pair both playing a role in an unrivalled dynasty – and primarily saw the now 26-year-old as a fullback. That hasn’t really been the case at international level, though.

While Jordan has moved to fullback in the backend of Test matches, the All Black has only ever started in that position on two occasions. After the team was announced to the public on Thursday, ‘Razor’ Robertson explained why that was the case this week.

“There’s always conversations,” Robertson told reporters.

“When Caleb came back we felt it was the best mix, the best balance for us to put Beauden to fullback and Will on the wing.

“They’ve had a great combination here, all three of them have so that’s what we’ve gone for.

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“He’s playing some great Test footy on the wing,” he added when asked about Jordan.

“Just because you start on the wing doesn’t mean you can’t finish at fullback and that’s what we tried last week with Beauden to come on, eh was covering 10 and fullback.

“You’re always trying to make sure you get your balance of your squad right and give guys opportunities and the best team to finish matches.

“We’ve gone for that group this week.”

This change sees Barrett return to the starting side for the first time since that Johannesburg Test, with Robertson benching the former two-time World Rugby Player of the Year for the second match in Cape Town.

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That was all part of a plan to hopefully add a bit more punch and experience to the All Blacks’ reserves, but it didn’t quite down as they fell in a thriller at DHL Stadium. It was a Barrett experiment which seems like a thing of the past for at least this week.

The All Blacks have still named a solid group of reserves as they look to snap a worrying trend. They haven’t scored a single point in the final 20 minutes of four Tests this year – they’ve only played seven – and that’s a stat that the coaches are well aware of.

“Well every Test’s been different for us,” Robertson explained.

“We’re aware, we’re always trying to be the best we can and make sure they come on and make an impact at the right time.

“There’s different factors but we’ve considered it all, done a little bit of homework to make sure that we can put the best team on at the right time.”

Watch the highly acclaimed five-part documentary Chasing the Sun 2, chronicling the journey of the Springboks as they strive to successfully defend the Rugby World Cup, free on RugbyPass TV (*unavailable in Africa)

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Comments

2 Comments
B
Bull Shark 1 hr ago

He’s moved him back to wing because that’s where he belongs, and Razor was wrong to say he is a fullback who can play wing. Admit the mistake and move on.


And can someone please ask razor to stop calling it footy. I despise that term. Its Rugby!

G
Gl99 6 hours ago

Would have preferred Clarke, Jordan and Telea and BB on bench

F
Forward pass 12 hours ago

A wise move. WJ was terrible v SA. He isnt a 15 at test level. Kicking lacks, option taking is average, play making ability is seriously lacking.

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GS 35 minutes ago
Bundee Aki sends new reminder to All Blacks he's the one that got away

It's good to see, as I expected, that you are inherently dishonest and won't answer three simple questions.


Your reflex is to react with abuse and vulgarity, highlighting your position's inherent weakness and ignorance. So feel free to abuse me all day because it does not take away the accuracy of my questions.


By refusing to address the questions and then answering with abuse, you confirm that they are accurate and truthful.


Again, refusing to answer the question allows you to avoid the fact that Ireland effectively brought its way to success, as everyone in the Southern Hemisphere understands.


I mean, the sad, simple fact is that in the recent QF loss to the ABs - Ireland scored one try, and all others were scored by Kiwis - including two by so-called "project players."


The amusing thing is—and I'm unsure if you realize how funny it is—when rolling out the abuse to all things Kiwi and Kiwi rugby, you are so blinded by your abuse that you haven't taken time to consider that you have multiple Kiwis running around in your national team and that your team's success is largely built off the Rugby IP of a Kiwi coach. I mean, a little self-reflection might assist here, I would imagine.


As I leave, let me leave you again with those three questions and the simple challenge of answering them: Are you honest enough to do so, or will you reply with abuse?


Agree or disagree:

1. The IRFU enacted a policy of "Project Players."

2. The policy targeted professional rugby players who they considered could, after the residency three-year residency period in existence at that time(now five years), play for Ireland.

3. None of the Southern Unions - RA, NZRFU, etc- have ever enacted any centralized policy and have ever had any "project player."

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B
Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Why the All Blacks overlooking Joe Schmidt could yet hurt them in the Bledisloe battle

Every year we read about the Wallabies chances in the Bledisloe cup.


And every year the same result.


This time around the chances are even more slim. 1. This is the worst Australian side for some time. With or without Schmidt. He’s no miracle worker. 2. This is still a very good NZ team. Despite the absolute mess they’ve made around running the team. If Argentina can put 40 on Australia - NZ can put 40 on them. No problem.


It’s going to be a 20+ ball game in NZs favour. Minimum. And then NZ will be back in their public’s good books.


If they pump Australia again, they’ll be declared the next World Cup winners with Ireland. Shared.


Until the autumn tests of course. When NZ lose one or both games against the Irish and French and we’ll be back to this story again.


Ahh. The media and fans. So predictable and fickle.


The ABs will become consistent winners again once razors has had the opportunity to learn how to be an international coach. He’s only been doing it for a few months now.


Like I’ve said before. Razor waking in and blowing the competition out of the water is insulting to the many fantastic international coaches who has to work hard to get to that level of success. Even the great Henry and Hansen had to slum it in Wales.


If NZRU actually knew what they were doing they’d have developed their boy razor more. They’ve set him up for failure. They should have retained Foster (or Schmidt) instead of discarding him like a leper.


But at least one thing is certain on the horizon. If Razor doesn’t cut it beyond 2027 - SARU and Rassie Erasmus would have done the good work for them and prepped Tony Brown for the job. I just hope he tells them to stuff it because he’s being treated so well by an organization that knows how to treat its people.

10 Go to comments
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LONG READ Why the All Blacks overlooking Joe Schmidt could yet hurt them in the Bledisloe battle Why the All Blacks overlooking Joe Schmidt could yet hurt them in the Bledisloe battle
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