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Why Robertson laughed when asked about Sam Cane & TJ Perenara’s futures
By Finn Morton
Head coach Scott Robertson has remained coy about whether Sam Cane and TJ Perenara will play a part in the All Blacks’ end-of-year tour. Cane and Perenara both played their last Test in New Zealand on Saturday, with the pair heading offshore at season’s end.
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Cane joined an exclusive All Blacks club at Wellington’s Sky Stadium by bringing up a century of Test appearances. The former skipper is the only 13th All Black in history to reach the incredible milestone, but the celebrations didn’t stop there in the capital.
In the 61st minute, thousands got on their feet to applaud Perenara who walked off the playing surface at Sky Stadium for the last time as an active All Black. The boy from Porirua bowed out as an international rugby hero in the eyes of those who have cheered him on for years.
The All Blacks went on to beat the Wallabies 33-13 which capped off an unforgettable night for the Rugby World Cup-winning duo. Perenara led a powerful haka for Cane in the team changerooms post-match which was heard from the press conference room next door.
Then, about 20 minutes later, both men sat down in front of the media to reflect on exactly how special that fateful September night had been. But, it remains to be seen whether Cane and Perenara will play another Test on the All Blacks’ upcoming end-of-season tour.
“I think it’s important you’ve got an eye for now, an eye for the future, always,” Robertson told reporters at the team’s hotel in Wellington on Sunday.
“You’ll find out on October the seventh.
“You’re framing me nicely there, mate.”
Roberston laughed after completing that response.
The All Blacks coach didn’t want to give too much away about the team’s selection headaches moving forward, but ‘Razor’ did reveal some big news ahead of their Tests in Japan and Europe.
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Samisoni Taukei’aho will not take part in the tour as the hooker continues to manage an injury, but it’s much better news for the likes of Jordie Barrett and Cam Roigard who are both expected to be in the mix.
Barrett suffered a knee injury during last weekend’s 31-28 win over the Wallabies in Sydney but coach Robertson said the playmaker is targeting the Japan Test for a return. As for Roigard, the injured halfback is on track for a comeback match with Counties Manukau in the NPC.
Roigard, who was arguably the best player in Super Rugby Pacific before rupturing his left patella tendon in the sixth round, has made headlines with impressive feats in the weight room and with the Bronco fitness test.
The 23-year-old won’t be the only All Black playing in New Zealand’s provincial competition, either, with others set to be released ahead of the trip up north. An All Blacks XV – a ‘B team’ behind the All Blacks themselves – will also assemble for a couple of matches.
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“We just covered it off with all the players here now, there’s going to be a lot of guys going back and playing NPC, either one or two games or if they’ve had a real high load they won’t play any,” Robertson revealed.
“There’s some obvious names in there and some guys that need some footy to be in for that Japan Test.
“We’ve got 29 going on the AB XV tour and 36 going on the end-of-year tour for the All Blacks. (The All Blacks XV) will play Munster and Georgia and there’ll be a little bit of interchangeable players which was required.
“There’s a little bit of a matrix, especially coming out of Japan and then heading north, who’s the best fit in getting us games. We’ll get the best teams out for the team that’s in front of us.”
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Tj,Dmac,Cane and Reiko aren't good enough. Feels like we lost some time developing others in these tests.
Cane had so many missed tackles, Savea was is now in clear decline. Sititi's potency sets the benchmark for loose forwards selection going forward.
Savea looking a lot like Shelford when he was clinging in with the rise of Zinzan, his steal on a ball about to be passed from Ratima to Sititi was a painful watch.
NZ rugby needs to move these long term guys on quicker once they hit the wall, it's losing a lot of test matches having these ineffectual loose forwards.
Several stages last night Sititi looked like he was the AB's only loose forward.
If there had been three loose forwards playing like Sititi the Allblacks would've won by a hundred.
They need to get over the myth that is Frizzell, he had an awful world cup final and find a proper couple of sixes, Dalton needs to be given a rev up and told he's the seven that will be having to fight for the spot with Lakai, etc.
Dalton told to follow Sititi's lead and they need to invest time in the next generation of loose forwards that will get through eighty and still be potent.
NZ rugby needs to be brave and call time on these long term forwards, none of them are really at this level other than possibly Jacobson who's still youngish, it's hard work upfront and once you get over thirty it's only a very special player like Codie Taylor that still produces.
The nearly men that are filling the squad, leave them at home and cap a ton of talent. Blackadder is a fierce competitor but he's almost never available, Havili needs to be left at home or put into the NZ fifteen, he's never going to be big enough for the midfield in the top matches but an emergency call up.
And yes, couldn't care less that Ardie is world player of the year, his best was several years ago in 2018/19.
Might be a bit harsh to say Savea is in decline. He's been an absolute warrior over the last few seasons, often carrying the team when the rest of the forward pack didn't show up. His form has been off, but we only need to look at Taylor as example of a bloke who had a couple of poor seasons under Foster but is now in career best form.
It's unrealistic to expect players to deliver year after year, game after game in top form at this level.
In saying that, Scooter who was also one of our best under Foster, started quietly this year but showed hints of getting back to his warrior best yesterday.
As for Savea, he was the top tackler of the loosies by some margin, and far more effective than Cane in hitting his target. Even though his running game has escaped him for now, I can't help but think he's playing more and more like a 7 week after week.
Ach, come on! Let Sam loose (lose?) in Dublin. Red card or not.
Let him get another rematch with big, bad Pete O'Mahony!
Worth the gate fee alone.
sam iose is playing for Ireland now? What!! They've snagged another one?!?
Drop: Tu’ungafasi, Cane, Perenara, Havili, Tele’a,
Add: Numia, Lakai, Roigard, Lam, Narawa,
Havili was only selected due to Barrett's injury. You can expect him gone once Jordie recovers.
The problem is the AB's have lost six of the last five to the Boks and they have used more combinations than a safecracker on holiday in fort knox. They are just not what they used to be. Doesn't matter who is playing.