Why the All Blacks coach went surfing with an Immortal

Talking rugby while surfing with an NRL Immortal off Bronte has been part of the Bledisloe Cup build-up for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson as the former Test flanker attempts to, amazingly, get his hands on the famous trophy for the first time.

Robertson revealed his team on Thursday morning ahead of the first clash with the Wallabies on Saturday afternoon at Accor Stadium, after making four changes to the All Blacks run-on side from a last-start loss to South Africa.

Highlighting the enviable depth of the All Blacks, veteran star Beauden Barrett has come off the bench and will start at fullback, with Will Jordan shifting to one wing and Caleb Clarke starting on the other ahead of Mark Telea. Prop Ethan de Groot returns from a neck injury and will start in the front row.

In a press conference on Thursday morning, Robertson described the changes as the best mix to meet the Wallabies, dismissed the relevance of Australia’s record loss two weeks ago in Argentina and said he was excited to go head-to-head with fellow Kiwi and coaching counterpart Joe Schmidt.

A keen surfer, Robertson also revealed he’d caught a few waves with Andrew Johns in Sydney’s east during the week. The pair have been friends for several years through coaching circles, and Robertson said the legendary league star knows his stuff in the modern 15-man game too.

“He enjoys his rugby, he knows his footy,” Robertson said.

All Blacks coach Scott Robertson.Credit: Getty Images

“I was really impressed with him. He loves a standoff, or a 10, and he knows the details of them and he’s still in love with Carlos Spencer. He knows all the pivots, you know, ’when are you getting Richie (Mo’unga) back [from Japan] and that. Geez, it’s gone global. He’s a good man.”

Robertson took over the All Black head coaching role this year after an extraordinarily successful run at the Crusaders, where he coached the side to seven straight Super Rugby titles and celebrated with some break dancing after each win.

But, remarkably, Robertson is one of the few in New Zealand Rugby who has never got his hands on the Bledisloe Cup.

Scott Robertson getting smashed as an All Black in 2002.Credit: Simon Alekna

He began his 27-Test career as an All Black flanker in 1998 - when the Wallabies won the trophy in a 3-0 whitewash - and concluded in 2002. Australia held the Bledisloe Cup throughout those years.

“The first year was a little bit niggly but yeah, we won a couple of big games,” Robertson said.

“We won ‘The Game of the Century’ actually at Accor here when Jonah scored in the last moment so that’s my memory of the Bledisloe Cup. I started in that game. We went up by 20-odd and they came back and it was a hell of a match.

“That was when they were at their peak with the old Georgie Gregans and John Eales and they had everyone.

“It’s got that little feeling again. You reflect back as a player but obviously as a coach now just the history and responsibility that comes with the Bledisloe and the performance that’s required.”

Robertson paid ‘full respect’ to Schmidt, and said he was expecting plenty of surprises from the canny coach.

“He’s been around. He’s done it. He’s played some really big games,” Robertson said.

“He knows how to prepare a team.So full respect for what he’s done in the past and how his teams play. He’ll come up with a couple of special third phase plays that you haven’t seen for a while or he’s brought out of his bank. He’s got a hell of a library of moves and he’s got high rugby intellect.”

The 1998 Wallabies after winning the Bledisloe Cup in Christchurch.Credit: Fairfax Media

Given their capacity to front up in the Bledisloe Cup, the Wallabies recent struggles have not been a source of confidence, said Robertson.

“If you look at the history of the first test of each year, especially in Aussie, those games have been tight,” Robertson said.

“They’ve come down to small margins.One score game for long parts of the match. Both countries care about it. A little bit of form goes out the window when the Bledisloe Cup starts.

“Joe’s got them structured enough to play some great ball in hand. They swing well, they know when they can kick, they can hold the ball for high phases. They know what they’re doing. With a little bit of bite in them, which they’ll have, it’s going to be a hell of a Bledisloe Cup.”

New Zealand (15-1): Beauden Barrett; Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke; Damian McKenzie, Cortez Ratima; Ardie Savea, Sam Cane, Wallace Sititi; Tupou Vaa’i, Scott Barrett (capt); Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Ethan de Groot

Replacements: Asafo Aumua, Tamaiti Williams, Pasilio Tosi, Sam Darry, Luke Jacobson, TJ Perenara,  Anton Lienert-Brown, Sevu Reece