No shift in selection for Italy Test, says Razor
NEWS: All Blacks coach Scott Robertson said there would be no change in the selection policy for their final Test of the year against Italy in Turin on Saturday.
Speaking to Allblacks.com, the coach said, “It will be the best team for Italy. This year’s been a great year for us to play 12 debutants, give them game time, get them in, get good combinations, and get a bit of cohesion going.
“And this week will be no different.
“A few of these guys are coming into their fourth game in a row now, because we had a few that play Japan, and we’ll get the balance for the best team this week.”
Robertson wouldn’t comment on the correctness of the TMO interventions in the game, especially the neck roll ruled against prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi that allowed Thomas Ramos to kick the match-winning penalty goal.
He said the game’s administration was working on trying to simplify rulings from the bunker, the TMO the assistant referees, and the referee.
“It’s a call for foul play, so that’s why he comes in.
“Was it foul play? That’s probably the question. He’s made a call at the moment, and the referees trusted him.
“The law interpretations of our games is what it’s all about and how everyone interprets that. People make calls in a quick game. We’re trying to simplify as much as we can, and there’s an art to it. We’re getting better and better in some areas.
“I haven’t had a chance to have a look at the game fully. I’ve looked at some highlights and got some stats and stuff through.
“But the time that you sit down and actually watch all the nuances of the game, and all the little conversations and how things swing, the ebbs and flows of it, and when you’re in the Stade and you’ve got your little earpiece in, then you’ve got the TMO or the guy coming through it, there’s a lot to download, so it’s always good to watch it back.”
He felt the All Blacks missed a few calls from the referee around the scrum that could have swung momentum their way.
Robertson said he supported captain Scott Barrett in making his late decision to kick for goal from a penalty rather than kick to the corner.
“He went on instinct at the time. When you look at the opportunities in Test match footy, they’re quite limited and he felt like he might have got another three, or a shot to win it, and we didn’t get that.”
Barrett said he was torn on the decision and would reflect on it and learn if it was right.
Robertson said immediately after the game that the tough part of the loss was creating so much they didn’t finish.
“We played some really good football, and there were a couple of moments when the game swung their way, especially just before and after halftime.
“We never put enough pressure, like scoreboard pressure on them early enough and they stayed in it, and the crowd came into it, and [they] had opportunities in the end to win it.”
📍Turin, Italy
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) November 18, 2024
Injuries suffered by flank Samipeni Finau [concussion] and centre Jordie Barrett, who suffered a knee injury that prevented him from striding out, will see Finau undertake a 12-day stand down while Barrett was to receive a scan.
Robertson said Finau’s replacement, Peter Lakai, had an exceptional 79 minutes.
“He was accurate, volunteered, backed his skill set. He had a great game for a second Test and with the enormity of it, it was special.”
Sam Cane, who missed the France Test, is expected to be considered for the Test against Italy.
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