Analysis: The All Blacks coach said he had to make some tough calls for the French series. Several players will feel hard done by, writes Patrick McKendry.
A squad of 33 players – two fewer than he was apparently offered by New Zealand Rugby – five newcomers and at least three notable omissions from the Crusaders; there is plenty to unpack in Scott Robertson’s first official announcement of the year.
Let us start with that 33 number. Robertson explained it today by saying he wants every player in the squad to get game time during the three Tests against France next month, and that he can call up players if required.
That is a common-sense decision on the face of it, but one wonders whether New Zealand Rugby’s financial situation may also have played a part, given the squad was named a month after the organisation announced a $19.5 million loss.
Robertson got just about whatever he asked for last year, his first in the job, including the sign-off to take a large squad to Japan for a Test against the fearsome Brave Blossoms in Tokyo.
Assembling Test squads is not a cheap exercise and there is a direct cost to NZ Rugby every day a player is in camp. It could be that Robertson’s decision is not only a pragmatic one but also one with an eye on his employer’s pocket.
Watch 1News Sports Reporter Luke Robinson explain Robertson's squad decisions on TVNZ+
As is always the case, there are some great storylines around the new players – Highlanders lock Fabian Holland and midfielder Timoci Tavatavanawai, Chiefs front rowers Brodie McAlister and Ollie Norris, and Hurricanes flanker Du’Plessis Kirifi.
For Holland, a 22-year-old born in the Netherlands, it is the culmination of a unique dream for his countrymen.
Fortunately for him, his mother is currently in Dunedin and celebrated with him after he received his phone call yesterday from Robertson.
“This place for me is home,” Holland said. “The people I’ve met and the relations I’ve made… it’s no secret that this has been a dream from a very young age.
“You say it out loud, but you don’t think it’s ever something that can be achieved.”
The 2.04m tall Holland said he had planned to go to the first Test against France in Dunedin on July 5 with his mother and brother. Now they may be going in the expectation of watching him on the pitch.
His Super Rugby teammate Tavatavanawai, a 27-year-old born in Fiji who has been a sensation at midfield after moving from the wing, said his selection was inspired by his late father back home.
For Kirifi, 28, his selection is a vindication of his decision to stay and fight for his chance.
Kirifi said he had a big decision to make at the start of the year about staying or going overseas.
“Part of that decision was around fulfilment and unanswered questions,” he said. “My partner and myself and my family felt I hadn’t really given it my all yet… we know we made the right decision to stay and part of that was to become an All Black. I just had to fully commit.”
Those most unfortunate to miss out all appear to come from the Crusaders – prop George Bower, loose forward Ethan Blackadder and midfielder David Havili.
All three were outstanding in their team’s run to their championship victory on Saturday night – Bower as a front row super-sub, Blackadder as a tireless defender and Havili as the inspirational skipper who can do it all – kick, pass and run.
Blackadder has had another injury-hit season but his work rate over the past few weeks is undeniable and Havili appears particularly hard done by.
He proved himself as one of the most consistent midfielders in the country this season, plus he has the versatility that Robertson apparently values. The Crusaders did not look the same without him on the field.
Another Crusader, back-up hooker George Bell, has clearly been overtaken by McAlister.
“You’ve got to make some calls and do what you think is right for the team,” Robertson said.
“You’ve just got to be honest with the players you’re having the conversations with… how they can get better - or just state the situation.”
The venue of today’s announcement – the Coastal Rugby Club in rural Taranaki – was probably part-homage to the three Barrett brothers, who all played there as kids (and dad Kevin), and part retort by Robertson to those questioning Scott’s retention as captain in the face of Ardie Savea’s challenge.
It was a reminder about who is in charge – Robertson and Barrett, with the latter saying his body had bounced back well from the Crusaders’ epic 16-12 grand final victory over the Chiefs only a couple of days ago.
He said he just required a little more sleep before the squad goes into camp in Auckland at the end of the week.
As for his plans for the year, Barrett said they were well advanced after meeting with the All Blacks leadership group during the Super Rugby season.
“We got really aligned with what we want to stand for as a team and some of the values we want to live by,” Barrett said.
“That’s going to be a great foundation… we’ll just build the rugby on top of that and certainly bounce from the experiences we had last year.”
As for his big couple of days, Barrett said: “It’s a huge high – a huge couple of days with the final on Saturday. To be back here hearing the kids and fun out here – it’s a great reminder about why we all play the game.”
All Blacks squad
(age, franchise, province, caps)
Hookers: Codie Taylor (34, Crusaders / Canterbury, 96), Samisoni Taukei’aho (27, Chiefs / Waikato, 30), Brodie McAlister (28, Chiefs / Canterbury,*)
Props: Ethan de Groot (26, Highlanders / Southland, 29), Tamaiti Williams (24, Crusaders / Canterbury, 18), Ollie Norris (25, Chiefs / Waikato, *), Tyrel Lomax (29, Hurricanes / Tasman, 44), Fletcher Newell (25, Crusaders / Canterbury, 22), Pasilio Tosi (26, Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty, 7)
Locks: Scott Barrett (31, Crusaders / Taranaki, 80) (Captain), Patrick Tuipulotu (32, Blues / Auckland, 51), Tupou Vaa’i (25, Chiefs / Taranaki, 38), Fabian Holland (22, Highlanders / Otago, *)
Loose forwards: Samipeni Finau (26, Chiefs / Waikato, 8), Ardie Savea (31, Moana Pasifika / Wellington, 94) (Vice-Captain), Du’Plessis Kirifi (28, Hurricanes / Wellington, *), Wallace Sititi (22, Chiefs / North Harbour, 10), Luke Jacobson (28, Chiefs / Waikato, 24)
Halfbacks: Cameron Roigard (24, Hurricanes / Counties Manukau, 10), Cortez Ratima (24, Chiefs / Waikato, 11), Noah Hotham (22, Crusaders / Tasman, 1)
First-five eighths: Beauden Barrett (34, Blues / Taranaki, 134), Damian McKenzie (30, Chiefs / Waikato, 61)
Midfielders: Anton Lienert-Brown (30, Chiefs / Waikato, 84), Jordie Barrett (28, Hurricanes / Taranaki, 68) (Vice-Captain), Rieko Ioane (28, Blues / Auckland, 81), Quinn Tupaea (26, Chiefs / Waikato, 14), Billy Proctor (26, Hurricanes / Wellington, 2), Timoci Tavatavanawai (27, Highlanders / Tasman, *)
Outside backs: Caleb Clarke (26, Blues / Auckland, 29), Sevu Reece (28, Crusaders / Southland, 32), Will Jordan (27, Crusaders / Tasman, 41), Ruben Love (24, Hurricanes / Wellington, 1)
Injury cover - The following players have been named as injury cover: Christian Lio-Willie (26, Crusaders / Otago, *) for Luke Jacobson, Emoni Narawa (25, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, 2) for Anton Lienert-Brown.
Unavailable due to injury: Asafo Aumua; Ofa Tu’ungafasi; Sam Darry; Peter Lakai; Stephen Perofeta.
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