Analysis: Halfway through his first year, head coach Scott Robertson has only a 57% winning record, but there are positives, writes Patrick McKendry.
Scott Robertson is aware he has two major tasks as All Blacks head coach — win every Test and build for the future, specifically the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
The two things aren't necessarily compatible, but that is the reality of the role.
The All Blacks' three losses in his opening seven Tests mean he and his team have failed on the first task, although, while Robertson wouldn't have liked much about the defeat to Argentina in Wellington, there were far more positives in the two losses against the world champions in South Africa.
And those include the progression of the inexperienced players in the squad — which ticks the depth box, although, conversely, it could be argued that he isn't getting the most out of his more experienced game drivers.
Robertson, who has a 57% winning record in his first seven Tests, will be disappointed in his team's final-quarter failures in the Rugby Championship — most particularly against the world champions in Johannesburg and Cape Town — because the All Blacks were in position to win both.
But international coaches are eternally optimistic — they must be — and so he and his assistants will be pleased at the development of most of their younger men, and the fact the All Blacks lost by only four points and six points respectively.
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Reflecting on his tenure a day after the Cape Town defeat, Robertson said: "The Rugby Championship is tough. We started with the result against Argentina … in the next 18 months my role is to create enough depth in all positions so we've got competition to get to the World Cup with a squad to win that."
Several things have become evident over the last couple of months.
One is that South Africa have an incredible amount of depth, a remarkable resilience and will to win, and a game plan that is easy to follow and devilishly hard to combat. They are worthy world champions.
Another is that while the All Blacks were second best on both occasions, they weren't by big margins.
Robertson recently spoke about his new-found appreciation for the small margins in international rugby but he will know too that the Boks probably had more than their fair share of luck in both Tests in terms of the officiating at Ellis Park and Damian McKenzie's off day with the boot in Cape Town when missing three second-half penalties.
It has also become apparent that Robertson's predecessor Ian Foster was harshly treated by New Zealand Rugby, and, yes, probably by some sections of the media and public too.
Foster, previously an assistant to Steve Hansen, began his reign in charge in the time of Covid-19 with a 16-16 draw against Australia in Wellington.
The All Blacks played only six Tests in 2020 and, after two comfortable wins over the Wallabies in New Zealand in his next Tests, Foster oversaw two defeats to South Africa (by one point) in Brisbane and Argentina (for the first time ever) in Sydney.
Foster's other defeats, including six in eight Tests over a nine-month stretch, are well documented, but he also almost pulled off the near impossible of beating the Boks in a World Cup final despite the All Blacks playing with 14 men for most of it.
A final observation is that, with two rounds of the Rugby Championship remaining, Argentina can be devastating when they get it right — as evidenced by their recent demolition of Australia in Santa Fe, and to a lesser extent their win over the All Blacks at Sky Stadium.
The Pumas' handling skills and game awareness have improved significantly (but not their set piece), which may be helpful in building some context around the All Blacks' failure against them.
But what of the depth Robertson is building? Overall this appears to be a win for him.
Wallace Sititi, a 22-year-old loose forward who began the year as a Chiefs development player and has now started (and excelled in) a Test against the Boks in South Africa, was mentioned by Robertson as a success story, and he is right.
Sititi, unfazed by the occasion and an impactful ball carrier and defender, appears made for Test rugby. He has now played three Tests.
Robertson and company are finally getting the best out of Tupou Vaa'i, a 24-year-old who has played 32 Tests and appears the second best lock in the country behind Scott Barrett.
The same goes for loosehead prop Tamaiti Williams, a 24-year-old who has played 11 Tests, halfback Cortez Ratima (6 Tests), and back-up lock Sam Darry (4).
Centre Billy Proctor, halfback Noah Hotham and prop Pasilio Tosi, who made their Test debuts this year, also have big futures.
Fullback Stephen Perofeta (5 caps) showed some good touches in the England series.
The All Blacks again lacked accuracy and ruthlessness against the Boks in Cape Town, qualities Aaron Smith had in abundance, writes Patrick McKendry.
Rugby
Sun, Sep 8
Head coach Scott Robertson reflects on the halfway stage of the international year after three defeats - including two against the Boks in South Africa.
Rugby
Monday 12:31pm
The only disappointment may be loose forward Samipeni Finau (4), but the rise of Sititi may help mitigate against that.
Watch TVNZ's Scotty Stevenson and Pat McKendry analyse the game on TVNZ+