All Blacks: Scott Robertson explains why experienced duo were included in squad for year-end tour

All Blacks: Scott Robertson explains why experienced duo were included in squad for year-end tour.

The decision to select senior players Sam Cane and TJ Perenara in the team for the year-end tour to Japan and Europe was not an easy one, according to All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson.

Following the tour, Cane and Perenara will both accept generous offers in Japan, bringing an end to their remarkable international careers.

In their Rugby Championship encounter against Australia in Wellington recently, openside flanker Cane played his 100th game for New Zealand, while scrum-half Perenara made his 87th Test appearance.

In the All Blacks setting, Robertson thinks the two still have significant roles to play despite their approaching departures from the international arena.

“It was always a balance. Having experience, guys that are test fit, balance of leadership, and what it takes to win up north,” Robertson told reporters during his squad announcement in Christchurch on Monday.

‘Playing good footy still’

“When you looked at it, they’ve got a lot of those qualities. They’re in a Test team playing good footy still, it was a really important part of it.

“And they can build, they are a big part of helping the next players come through and building for the future.”

Despite Robertson’s explanation, it could have been beneficial for up-and-coming players like Hurricanes back-row Peter Lakai and Crusaders scrum-half Noah Hotham to go on the northern tour – instead of Cane and Perenara – but the young duo will in all likelihood be in action for the All Blacks XV for their matches against Munster and Georgia in November.

Robertson understands that point and said he and his assistants discussed it when selecting the All Blacks squad for their upcoming Tests against Japan, England, Ireland, France and Italy.

That is one way to look at things. Up to six All Blacks XV players will join his team before to the trip’s opening game against the Brave Blossoms in Yokohama, he said. “We have an All Blacks XV tour that is going up there that we can use to give players game time,” he said.

“Not all 36 members of the squad play every weekend. They have a fantastic opportunity to learn and play some excellent rugby in the north while both teams are on tour.

Robertson emphasised the value of balance in his squad when asked if he was tempted to choose more youthful and inexperienced players, particularly as a new World Cup cycle has begun.

“We’ve provided a few

‘The balance of it all’

“It was the equilibrium of everything, having a cohesive, well-balanced team where players who have been there before can come in and learn.”

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