Scott Robertson: All Blacks Coach on the squad naming for the clash against Argentina

A glass half-full mindset for All Blacks coach Scott Robertson after naming a group of six players as injury cover for the start of their Rugby Championship campaign. 

Uncapped trio Kyle Preston, Leroy Carter, and Tevita Mafileo, along with Finlay Christie, George Bower, and Josh Lord comprise the back-up unit in the 42-strong wider squad. 

Ahead of their tournament opener in Argentina next weekend, Robertson says injuries are a reality of the game. 

He told Mike Hosking you never know how things will play out – you could get two or three years with a player, and then two or three injuries in a row. 

Robertson says that when you get a double break in one position, it provides an opportunity for a less experienced player.  

He says that you always want your best players, but sometimes it doesn’t happen. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
So having dispatched with the French, it's time for the
Rugby Championship. The first game is against the Pumas in
a week and a half. Of course, six players have
been added to the wider squad as of yesterday as
injury cover. The chiefs loose ford Simon Park is the
only end cap payer to join the thirty six month
scoat anyway, Scott Robinson his coach of course, and he's
back well this morning.

Speaker 2 (00:16):
Gay, Good morning, Mike.

Speaker 1 (00:17):
What's your assessment of the season so far? All those
all those French wins of.

Speaker 2 (00:21):
Yours, look, yeah, got gritty, they were battle hard in
the French and they's nothing to lose. It's probably when
they're at their best. Will really please these areas we
always get improve and we just can't enit these tests,
you know, get a couple of scores out from them,

(00:41):
you know, three dislowed tries and four in the last
so just they just keep them minute and but we're
really really pleased with a lot of the young players
that have come through got of the past form that
come out of Super But on balance we've done for
good things in some areas to improve.

Speaker 1 (00:58):
On good stuff. What are your thoughts on jumping on
a plane and going all the way to Argentina first away.
You know, do you talk to people about that? Is
that a thing or not?

Speaker 2 (01:04):
Really? Yeah, Look, we're chipping have to. We're at the
bottom of the of the world, you know, and we've
been what sixty percent of our tessa are away even
more and he's putty used to it and enjoy it.
This one gift of footy, especially being at the allbacks,
you're going to be on the road, enjoy it, make

(01:26):
some good times of it. You know, you sit up
in front of the plane, so it's not all to that,
but you know, we go these hostile places and that's
that's a great part of it.

Speaker 1 (01:35):
No, now, listen, I'm having trouble at work this week, Scott.
Let me tell you my problem. I have you two
for two in Argentina, right. I don't see Argentina being
particularly a major impediment for you. But I have people
in the sports department that are questioning that.

Speaker 2 (01:47):
Am I right?

Speaker 1 (01:47):
Or are they right?

Speaker 2 (01:50):
Oh? I think what they're saying is Argentina are a
good team and they are well coached. A lot of
their players play in the top fourteen. They've got high cohesions,
so they're a lot together. They are real threat, but
thanks for the support.

Speaker 1 (02:07):
No worries at all. Are they on a tragedy? See?
I still see them as a bit roping. They can
be brilliant, but not all the time. Do you think
they're on a general trajectory towards betterness.

Speaker 2 (02:18):
Yeah. Look, if you look at it, the bit the
Lions and then they came back. Not all the parts
are available for their England series, but and it was
good English ide and they play some great footing. Overall
the balance, They've got a couple of young, well young
guys coming through and like I said, season that experienced
players and obviously Pablo is one of them. You get
them on a night, they're Latin leavein emotions right on.

(02:42):
They are very, very tough to beat, so we have
to be at their best.

Speaker 1 (02:46):
Okay, speaking of the Lions, what do you make of
that test? Was Australia really coming to life or the
Lions already on the plane halfway home having won the series.

Speaker 2 (02:56):
I think it was a test match of too emotion.
There's a lot of hurt with the Ossies and they
showed it. They want to show how much they care
for their jozy and you know the ray and the drama,
everything that came with it was a pretty special occasion.
And that's tast footy. That's tough. Anyone can win. It's

(03:16):
it's hyped up all week. There's lots of personal stuff
comes with it, and you know everyone's eyes are on it.
It's beautiful. Yeah.

Speaker 1 (03:24):
The other thing I was arguing with Jason Pine and
sav you can help me out with us as well
with your injury issues, Like you can't do anything about injuries,
can you. You've got to look forward, you got to go.
I mean, you can't fix them. If you fix them,
you would, but you know you got to deal with
what you gotta deal with.

Speaker 2 (03:39):
Well, that's part of the game. As the're a contact sport,
it's brutal. You never know you're going to get some
runs as a player that you can get big two
or three years and then you get two or three injuries.
And the big three for us is when you get
a double break in one position like half back. It's
great that we can bring friendly Christian, but those are
the ones where you try. I've got that project full deep,

(04:01):
which I've talked to you about before, and when a
couple of those, go and you can bring an experience
pard back. It's great, but it gives opportunity to somebody else.
But yeah, you want your dispass all the time, but
sometimes it doesn't.

Speaker 1 (04:14):
Happen quite right. Go well, mate, Scott Robinson, who's the
All Bakers coach. For more from the Mic Asking Breakfast,
listen live to news talks. It'd be from six am weekdays,
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