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Scott Robertson hints at Will Jordan return for the All Blacks for Rugby Championship
By Ben Smith
All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson has hinted that Will Jordan could make his All Blacks return soon as they prepare for the Rugby Championship.
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After completing the July series against England and Fiji, the coaches will assemble at NZCIS in Wellington where they will announce a 36-man squad on Sunday.
The initial squad for the England series had just 32 players, with eight additional players bought in as part of an extended squad. From the additional eight, a handful were handed All Blacks debuts against Fiji.
On the four extra selections available, Robertson shared the conversations the selectors are having around which positions they need.
“It depends on the mix. If we take an extra front rower, loose forward or lock position,” Robertson told media.
“That is the two areas we’re discussing at the moment, and, and obviously a couple of backs, ones that you know, can play a couple of positions.
“Without sort of naming names, but you know, we’ve got one coming back from injury as well.
“So a bit of a mix, couple in the forwards, couple in the backs.”
The high profile name that fits Robertson’s description is Will Jordan, who hasn’t played since the World Cup final last November.
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He decided to undergo surgery this year for a pre-existing shoulder injury that ruled him out of the entire Super Rugby Pacific season.
He has made a successful recovery and has been training with the All Blacks through the July series.
The position of real concern for the All Blacks is halfback with Cortez Ratima the latest in the injury ward.
After losing Cam Roigard to injury during the Super Rugby season, TJ Perenara suffered a knee injury in the first Test against England.
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Ratima’s first start for the All Blacks lasted 35 minutes before an HIA after a hard knock on the turf, which put debutant Noah Hotham on for the majority of the game.
“He woke up well. Doc said he was in good spirits. He obviously couldn’t go back on and he’ll go through the next two or three week protocols to make sure he’s available, but he’s in good spirits,” Robertson said of Ratima.
However while Ratima might be sidelined with concussion protocols in the early part of the campaign, Robertson had a positive update for Perenara and expected to name him in the upcoming squad.
“TJ, anything the doc says he minuses two or three of it, in weeks. He’s great, he’s tracking incredibly well, but he’ll be available. Yes, we believe for him to be named.”
In terms of where the squad has progressed over the last month, Robertson said the defence has been a standout over the first few Tests.
“On-field reflects off-field preparation. With all our leadership, all the management, coaching group and everything, it’s been a big month since the team naming, so looking back a lot’s been done,” he said.
“And you know, your true reflection of your environment is the performance on the field.
“We’re really pleased with holding Fiji to five [points]. You know, not many teams you can keep them down to one try.
“We’ve had a couple of kick offs [receipts], a lot of tries off kicks in the last couple of weeks, and that’s something we’ve got to work on as well.
“But just a genuine care in our defence has been incredible, and we’ve learned a lot, learned quickly, and know that we can be better, that’s the exciting thing. So, yeah, very pleased.”
On the attack side of the ball, Robertson spoke of the missed opportunities from the second England Test as motivation for the Fiji game.
Despite trialling new combinations, a new midfield, halves pairing and back three, they were able to capitalise on more in San Diego.
“To be fair, we’re a little bit more courageous and playing, playing a little bit more,” Robertson said of the the progression against Fiji.
“We were aware of sometimes the opportunities we didn’t take against the English by actually having a crack.
“Just last pass stuff. You know, there’s a couple of call backs by the ref. When those passes stick after what we’ve created, that’s the exciting part.
We’re evolving.”
My first choice backline would be Ratima 9, DMac 10 , Jordie 12, ALB 13, Jordan 14, Clarke 11 , Beauden 15.
Logic:
Caleb to be one of the wingers for TRC. Need more pace and threat out wide. Reece and Talea to alternate
Best fullback? Unknown. Best winger? Definitely.
Not having two 10s on the pitch would be a big change from what NZ have done for many years.
At international level I think playing on the wing actually gives Jordan the best opportunity to do what he does best. There are some tries only he can score, the timing, the line, the acceleration, the top end speed.. The ABs have managed to utilise that to great effect and cause absolute carnage without needing him to play at full back. Once he is on the field there are very few upsides to him playing FB, but a few downsides. McKenzie, Jordan, and BB/SP on the field at the same time is as dangerous a situation as you’re likely to find anywhere.
I’d like to see Caleb get more time at 11, and I’m very interested to see how Jordan goes at 15 but I suspect he might need some NPC games first, get some match fitness in.
Telea seems a bit slow at the moment, might benefit from a bit of recovery time.
Emoni Narawa got absolutely shafted by his team mates against Fiji, dude didn’t get one regulation pass.
The man deserves a start against the argies in welly for sure.
Can’t wait to see Cane back Caning it against the Boks. He needs to get Blackadder up to speed.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone work their ring piece off to be so late and ineffectual as Blackadder against Fiji. He had some nice touches and interplay but he was off the pace and tapped out at 65 minutes.
Hopefully just needs a couple more outings to find his best form because we’ll need the panel beaten bastad for the Boks games.
BB should just own the 23 permanently, against everyone, every game.
Boks, wallabies, poms, Romania, whoever.
BB is 23 and gets the last 20 minutes. It should be scripture.
We could flog him to the World Cup and beyond like this.
Too much talk from the likes of Gregor Paul and Jeff Wilson of putting Jordan back on the wing.
We’ve tried that, and people can talk about try numbers, but the reality is Jordan is a 15, and it would be nice to have a proper fullback instead of a converted 10 back there.
No other top nation seems to be obsessed with putting 10s at 15, just NZ. Against the top teams, bar one quarter final, it’s never really worked. Time to try something new.
Ardie Savea, expressed his opinions in South Africa about “Staying loyal to Ian Foster and rejecting the idea of Scott Robertson replacing Foster. Cane was also a “loud voice” for Foster.
That decision cost the All Blacks the “World Cup” and the Captain Cane was sent off in the final, after 29 minutes. He also kicked a 12 year old kid up the arse. when 22 other All Blacks didn’t . F U C K W I T!
If Jordan comes back in it's only back to the right wing where's he's played all his test rugby. Beauden has shown that he's the best test fullback by a mile and his experience alone is worth it's weight in gold.
Barrett, Jordan and Telea have proven to be our best back 3 under the heat of WC final pressure so need to be reunited for the Rugby Championship.
Will Jordan at 15 with Beauden Barrett at 23. Easy peasey. Problem solved.