All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson says the selectors will keep backing playmaker Damian McKenzie after the team's collapse against Argentina in Wellington last night.
A big part of the All Blacks' slump from the apparent dominance of a 20-8 lead just before halftime at Sky Stadium to a 38-30 loss was a lack of game management, for which McKenzie, as the team's No.10 and navigator, will bear a lion's share of the responsibility.
It was also his loose pass (after Ardie Savea's) which sent the ball behind the All Blacks' tryline and provided the platform for Argentina's winning try.
The focus as the All Blacks — and the nation — pick over the defeat, New Zealand's third to the Pumas in four years, will be on what changes can be made to improve cohesion ahead of the second Test Rugby Championship Test at Eden Park on Saturday.
For the All Blacks, at least, it is likely to involve changes to mindset rather than personnel, although given the selectors' treatment of halfback Finlay Christie, dropped from the squad, and centre Rieko Ioane, relegated to a bench role, a tougher stance can't be ruled out.
Beauden Barrett, who started at fullback last night and was the star of the series win over England last month, is the other candidate for the No.10 jersey but it appears Robertson is willing to stick with the 29-year-old McKenzie.
Asked about him today, Robertson replied: "Damian had some moments didn't he? He showed some incredible class touches, that chip kick. His short passing game is really, really good. He'll grow as a game manager — that's his biggest area [of growth]."
Asked whether he was prepared to back McKenzie, he said: "Yeah, we are. Of course. You've got to back him. He's learning on the way."
The mistakes by Savea and McKenzie (after Ethan Blackadder had done well to steal a lineout) with 13 minutes remaining began a chain reaction that led to Agustin Creevy's seven-pointer and was a continuation of a sloppy evening for the home side that included a try for Mateo Carreras after a Sevu Reece high-kick slap-back.
Asked about the lead up to the Creevy try, Robertson said: "That's the part where you need to breathe and be composed. Those are your moments. Just settle it back and get the ball back down their end or get a bit of shape to play again. That was the game."
When queried on how Savea felt about it, Robertson said: "He's a quiet leader and it did hurt … he does his talking with his actions."
There will be scrutiny on other players this week, including halfback TJ Perenara who looked off the pace on his return from a knee injury and had two kicks charged down in succession.
Robertson and company could be tempted to go for the pace and decisiveness of Cortez Ratima to start at Eden Park.
Reece will almost certainly pay the price for his mistake and the solid form of Will Jordan from injury, with Beauden Barrett likely to stay at fullback.
The injuries to locks Scott Barrett (finger) and Patrick Tuipulotu (calf) tie the selectors' hands to a certain extent, but Josh Lord is a chance to start alongside the impressive Sam Darry should the pair remain in the casualty ward.
And there will be scrutiny on Robertson himself after a significant and unwanted milestone in his All Blacks head coaching career.
The All Blacks scraped home against England in Dunedin and Auckland before blowing past Fiji in San Diego, but few predicted them to struggle so badly in Wellington, even taking into consideration the team’s lack of recent success there.
He clearly appreciated the enormity of the task and his importance in the team's response.
"You roll on," he said. "I think it's important you dust yourself off pretty quickly. If I'm a bit gloomy it will go on the rest of the group.
"The boys will understand the measure of the week in front of us, but I'll frame it up my way. We have to have the right energy to move forward.
"We know how much is at stake this weekend."
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