It’s that time of the year again, with Scott Robertson today naming a 33-man squad with two extra additional injury cover replacements for the home Test series against France.
The team was named at the Coastal Rugby Club, the home club of the three Barrett brothers named in the first squad.
Robertson, Scott Hansen and Jason Ryan sat down with Sky Sport’s Laura McGoldrick after the squad announcement, with Robertson saying that the first squad always comes with a challenge.
“Yeah there’s always a challenge, you look through the whole season, you look for the reliability, the ability to keep turning up week after week, their skill sets under pressure, how they complement the group,” Robertson told Sky Sport.
“You think about the whole 23 not just the starting 15, who’s going to finish matches for you, and then there’s always going to be someone that’s going to be disappointed this.
“That’s the great thing about it, we’ve got so much competition, so to have a team, we just want to congratulate those debutantes, for them and their families and who support them to get here.”
Robertson explains that some forward in particular played their way into the side with some big performances in Super Rugby Pacific.
“Some played their way in, just performances that we know there’s some great performances through the loose forwards across everything, the ability to play six, seven or eight, cover six and cover lock.
“Even our second row to cover loose forward as well, so we’ve gone for four-five split, four locks, and one of them will cover the loose forwards.”
When asked about what he saw in the debutantes in order to select them for the first squad, Ryan, the forwards coach for the All Blacks, says that they have all deserved their shot.
“There’s two parts, I think one is, firstly, they’ve all earned it, and secondly, they’ve got great character and when you think about selecting an All Black forward, you’ve got to have character when the contest is at its hottest.
“I believe Ollie Norris has showed some good progress in his season, he’s been incredibly accurate both sides of the ball, and he’s learning his craft really, really well.
“Brodie McAllister has earned the right, he’s been a consistent performer right through Super Rugby through the whole campaign, he was in around us last year and proved how good he is around his core roles.
“Fabian (Holland), we love him because he just loves the contest and everywhere on the field, he’s in the contest, whether or not he’s with the ball or without the ball, he’s a competitor.
“I think it’s a great story for Du’Plessis Kirifi, he’s worked extremely hard, he’s the ultimate story of what it takes to keep working and absolute desire to be an All Black and he’s worked well.”
Hansen believes that the selections around the backline will really motivate the group to raise to another level.
“There’s an opportunity that the All Black jersey gives them, and that’s to express themselves, that they’ve earned the right to be there now just be themselves.
“They’ll come and they’ll contribute, they’ll give great energy around our game and when you put the black jersey on, it’ll take you to a special place.
“So we know that they’ll wear it really well, there’s some fantastic stories around Timoci Tavatavanawai and particularly around his his journey through Tasman, Moana Pasifika and the Highlanders, and the great job people have done around him, and he’s earned his right to be here.”
Robertson is confident that the loose forward mix that he’s chosen will be able to cover enough positions, and likes the specific mix with both Ardie Savea and Du’Plessis Kirifi having expertise over the ball at the breakdown.
“Yeah, Ardie can play great in both spots, obviously we have mentioned many times before World Player of the year at number eight.
“His ability off the side, off the back of the scum, but he can play on the side and be just as involved, we can get the best out of him.
“It’s just as important the structure that you play, but it’s a great balance between him and Du’Plessis, both great over the ball, both ball carriers and can stop a game in it’s tracks by big turnovers and high self control.”
