Justin Marshall, a legend in the annals of All Blacks history, has thrown his weight behind Scott Robertson's controversial decision to sideline Finlay Christie in favor of rookie Noah Hotham for the upcoming clash against the Springboks. Despite Christie's commendable performance at Eden Park, where he played a pivotal role in New Zealand’s 24-17 triumph over South Africa, he finds himself demoted to the bench.
Marshall didn't mince words about the scrum-half hierarchy, asserting,
"Without debate, Finlay Christie is the fifth choice scrum-half in this country."
He elaborated that Christie's initial selection was out of necessity rather than preference, given injuries to preferred players. "That means when any of the others became available and fit again, they were always going to be starting ahead of him, regardless of how good he was – and he was good last week," Marshall explained.
The former scrum-half praised Hotham's readiness to step up, noting his connection to the Crusaders—a team Marshall once graced. "I like Noah Hotham, he’s got a really strong running game, he’s really good around the blindside, quite deceptively strong and he’s happy to take on defenders," he said. Marshall also highlighted Hotham's defensive prowess, a critical asset against a seasoned opponent like Cobus Reinach.
Speaking of the Springboks, Marshall acknowledged their depth at the scrum-half position, praising Reinach's aggressive playstyle. "Cobus Reinach, when he came on, I said in commentary, this guy will challenge defenders. He’s really sharp, I love the way that he plays because he’s got good delivery, really good skill set, but equally he’s got a combativeness to that Springbok front-nine because he’s got the threat," Marshall observed.
As the teams prepare for the Wellington showdown, the All Blacks and Springboks showcase their rich reserves in the scrum-half role. With talents like Faf de Klerk and Grant Williams, South Africa remains well-equipped, mirroring New Zealand's depth. The selection decisions, tough as they are, underscore the strategic nuances and the high stakes involved in modern rugby internationals.
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Justin Marshall, a legend in the annals of All Blacks history, has thrown his weight behind Scott Robertson's controversial decision to sideline Finlay Christie in favor of rookie Noah Hotham for the upcoming clash against the Springboks. Despite Christie's commendable performance at Eden Park, where he played a pivotal role in New Zealand’s 24-17 triumph over South Africa, he finds himself demoted to the bench.
Marshall didn't mince words about the scrum-half hierarchy, asserting,
"Without debate, Finlay Christie is the fifth choice scrum-half in this country."
He elaborated that Christie's initial selection was out of necessity rather than preference, given injuries to preferred players. "That means when any of the others became available and fit again, they were always going to be starting ahead of him, regardless of how good he was – and he was good last week," Marshall explained.The former scrum-half praised Hotham's readiness to step up, noting his connection to the Crusaders—a team Marshall once graced. "I like Noah Hotham, he’s got a really strong running game, he’s really good around the blindside, quite deceptively strong and he’s happy to take on defenders," he said. Marshall also highlighted Hotham's defensive prowess, a critical asset against a seasoned opponent like Cobus Reinach.
Speaking of the Springboks, Marshall acknowledged their depth at the scrum-half position, praising Reinach's aggressive playstyle. "Cobus Reinach, when he came on, I said in commentary, this guy will challenge defenders. He’s really sharp, I love the way that he plays because he’s got good delivery, really good skill set, but equally he’s got a combativeness to that Springbok front-nine because he’s got the threat," Marshall observed.
As the teams prepare for the Wellington showdown, the All Blacks and Springboks showcase their rich reserves in the scrum-half role. With talents like Faf de Klerk and Grant Williams, South Africa remains well-equipped, mirroring New Zealand's depth. The selection decisions, tough as they are, underscore the strategic nuances and the high stakes involved in modern rugby internationals.