The changes Scott Robertson must make to address All Blacksâ struggles
When All Blacks coach Scott Robertson and captain Scott Barrett walked into the post-match press conference at Cape Townâs DHL Stadium earlier this month, it was hard to think of new questions to ask. Blame it on dĂŠjĂ vu â it felt like weâd all been in that room before.
The All Blacks had just gone down 18-12 to the world champion Springboks in what can be labelled both a frustrating and disappointing defeat from that teamâs perspective. They had chances to silence the passionate South African crowd but failed to do so when it counted.
The All Blacks had been in a similar situation one week earlier.
Johannesburgâs world-renowned rugby venue, Emirates Airline Park, hosted another enthralling battle between last yearâs Rugby World Cup finalists. The All Blacks shouldâve won that Test, but the Springboksâ famed âbomb squadâ came up trumps when it counted.
Replacements Kwagga Smith and Grant Willams scored a try each as the Springboks clawed their way back from a 10-point deficit late. They ended up winning 31-27 at Ellis Park, and the reaction from the crowd at full-time was like nothing this writer had ever experienced before.
It was a shock to watch the New Zealanders do something very un-All Blacks in that Test, and then to see them do it again after making the two-hour trip down to The Mother City, was unsettling.
There are some issues the All Blacks need to address.
All year, this team has failed to click in the way fans expect of them. Their two wins over England were far from convincing, and splitting a two-Test series with Argentina in New Zealand wasnât on many fansâ 2024 bingo cards.
Theyâve lost three of their last four.
The All Blacks have also failed to score in the last 20 minutes of Tests on four occasions this year. It wasnât that long ago that New Zealandâs bench was the secret to their success, but now itâs far from that â itâs actually become a problem.
âImpactâ players on the pine have come on and failed to fire.
Sam Darry wasnât even used at all in the Cape Town Test.
There are questions that Scott Robertsons still needs to answer.
But, before anyone gathers their pitchforks in response to the All Blacksâ two defeats to the Springboks, thereâs a golden opportunity for the Kiwis to bounce back. Theyâll take on arch-rivals the Wallabies in two Bledisloe Cup Tests later this month.
It has the makings of a really intriguing Test series, with the Aussies looking to bounce back from a record loss of their own to Argentina. But make no mistake, the All Blacks need to get their bench right before heading north for their end-of-year tour.
To do that, Robertson needs to make some changes.
First, Wallace Sititi was the star of the show for the New Zealanders in Cape Town. Sititi was a bit of an unknown to South Africans before that Test, but they wonât forget about the three-cap All Black anytime soon after that performance.
That was Sititiâs first outing as a starter at international level. It was also only the third time heâd started at blindside flanker in professional rugby â the other two were with North Harbour in the NPC.
Is he the next Jerome Kaino? Okay, letâs not get too carried away.
But the point stands, Sititi was brilliant and must start moving forward.
Letâs not forget about Ethan Blackadder, though, who was the All Blacksâ best in the No. 6 jumper just seven days earlier in Johannesburg. Blackadder picked up a hamstring injury which opened the door for Sititâs opportunity.
To keep it simple, both men must start moving forward.
Sititi at No. 8 and Blackadder at blindside.
But what about Ardie Savea?
Thereâs been some criticism of Savea at No. 8 and if weâre being honest, itâs probably fair to a point. The reigning World Rugby Player of the Year hasnât been as impactful this year at the back of the scrum, so it might be time for a change.
When Blackadder returns at blindside flanker, moving Sititi to his more familiar position of No. 8 just makes sense. Savea can then return to openside flanker.
â(Savea has) been a workhorse, but to me itâs not an impact as an eight, itâs more like a seven,â former All Black Jeff Wilson explained on The Breakdown.
âHigh tackle count, you know heâs getting himself involved in the game. We know he fights hard and he competes and he competes.
âBut itâs about the role everyone plays (together), and itâs the role the No. 6 plays, and I donât think Wallace Sititi is a No. 6, I think heâs a No. 8. I think the type of explosive runner he is, Iâd be happy if Ardie had a Test at seven. I really would, in terms of getting balance.â
That change would likely push former captain Sam Cane to the bench.
Cane came off the bench in the All Blacksâ big win over Los Pumas in Auckland and had himself a game. The 2015 Rugby World Cup winner was one of the top tacklers on the night, despite playing significantly fewer minutes than other players on both teams.
If the All Blacks have learnt anything over the last few weeks, hopefully, they understand they need more experience and impact on the bench. Cane can certainly provide that on a reliable basis before hanging up the international boots at the end of the year.
The rest of the bench should remain as it was in Cape Town, except for the inclusion of Harry Plummer. Plummer can be the difference for the All Blacks as they look to close out Tests with a cool, calm and collected option at first five-eighth.
Plummer showed during the Bluesâ run to title glory in Super Rugby Pacific that heâs a winning option at flyhalf. Without being especially exciting compared to the likes of Damian McKenzie, Plummer was reliable time and time again for the eventual champions.
Itâs exactly what the All Blacks need in the last 20 minutes.
McKenzie is a brilliant player but he hasnât delivered in the final quarter.
Thatâs a problem.
Plummer can be the answer. He also covers 12 and 15, which is a bonus.
That change should see Beauden Barret return to the starting side.
The Will Jordan experiment at fullback didnât work in Cape Town. Jordan is a try-scoring machine on the right wing, but with the 15 on his back, the 26-year-old struggled to get things going with Mark Teleâa and Sevu Reece on the edges.
If something isnât broken, donât try and fix it.
Jordan back to the right wing, Beauden Barrett at fullback, and Caleb Clarke should return down the left sideline when heâs recovered from a back injury.
The bench was a big talking point in South Africa, but a new approach, innovation and maybe an element of surprise is needed to solve the teamâs big problem moving forward.
That press conference in Cape Town felt far too familiar, but take the learnings and move on.
The All Blacks have quality at their disposal, and itâs important they look at the bench as a position rather than a backup to the first team. If selected on the bench, Cane and Plummer can help the All Blacks address their lack of dominance and execution in the final quarter.
What the All Blacksâ bench should look like
- Asafo Aumua (Samisoni Taukeiâaho when fit)
- Ofa Tuâungafasi
- Fletcher Newell
- Sam Darry
- Sam Cane
- TJ Perenara (Cam Roigard should start when fit)
- Harry Plummer
- Anton Lienert-Brown