‘Tough conversation’ as All Blacks bank on bench impact

It’s not every day that the All Blacks would leave Beauden Barrett and TJ Perenara out of the starting line-up, but coach Scott ‘Razor’ Robertson believes that they can make a real difference off the bench in tomorrow’s Rugby Championship clash against the Springboks.

Scott Barrett captains from No 4 and Jordie Barrett will start at inside centre in the side that Robertson announced yesterday, but big brother Beauden will have to weave his magic as a substitute at Cape Town Stadium tomorrow (5pm).

Beauden was at fullback in last week’s 31-27 defeat at Ellis Park, and used his speed and skills to unlock the Bok defence, including a try assist to wing Caleb Clarke. But Robertson picked a brand-new back-three yesterday, with Clarke ruled out with a sore back – as Will Jordan has been shifted to fullback from No 14, while Sevu Reece and Mark Tele’a are back on the wings.

Jordan has a remarkable try-scoring record of 33 in 34 Tests, and perhaps having him at No 15 will see him getting his hands on the ball even more in Cape Town.

Reece and Tele’a provide plenty of pace and side-stepping skills out wide too, and then the impact of Beauden Barrett in the second half could help the Kiwis land the knock-out blow that they weren’t able to dish out in Johannesburg.

“It’s an opportunity to play Will at fullback, and Sevu is a world-class wing. With Mark Tele’a, he goes pretty well! We’re fortunate that we’ve got some quality players... in the mix for us,” Robertson said yesterday.

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“He’s (Jordan) fit, he’s able, he’s training very well, and he covers fullback and wing anyway in the structure that we do play.

“We don’t have a massive change from week-to-week – it’s more the style of the individual. He’s played a lot of rugby with Sevu, and Mark before.

“We’ve looked at it, and realised it’s really important to have experience at the end of games. It’s a great couple of names to put on there with a lot of Tests and a lot of experience, who can come on and finish the job for us.”

Robertson stated that it was a difficult choice to leave out Perenara and Beauden Barrett, with Cortez Ratima at scrumhalf.

“It’s a tough conversation... Both are great team men, and have been involved in the team for a long time,” he said. “They know that the All Black jersey is so important for all of us, and if they need to come on and finish the job, they will.

“(Ratima) is quick, he’s has got a great pass. He’s intuitive and gets himself into some great support roles. He does all the basics really well, and he is a great competitor.”

All Black staring XV: 15 Will Jordan 14 Sevu Reece 13 Rieko Ioane 12 Jordie Barrett 11 Mark Tele’a 10 Damian McKenzie 9 Cortez Ratima 8 Ardie Savea 7 Sam Cane 6 Wallace Sititi 5 Tupou Vaa’i 4 Scott Barrett (captain) 3 Tyrel Lomax 2 Codie Taylor 1 Tamaiti Williams; Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi 18 Fletcher Newell 19 Sam Derry 20 Luke Jacobsen 21 TJ Perenara 22 Anton Lienert-Brown 23 Beauden Barrett