Amid the All Blacks' ongoing struggles with the high ball, speculation is rife about whether head coach Scott Robertson has the audacity to make a daring strategic shift akin to that of Springboks' coach Rassie Erasmus. The spotlight intensifies as suggestions emerge about repositioning Jordie Barrett to potentially resolve this glaring issue.
New Zealand's aerial game has notably suffered throughout 2025, with Robertson failing to nail down a consistent back three, exacerbated by injuries and fluctuating form. Among the few standouts, Will Jordan has shown promise, yet even he has faltered under high-pressure matches, most notably against the Springboks in Wellington.
The conundrum lies in whether to shift Barrett from inside centre, a move that could bolster the All Blacks' aerial capabilities. Former All Black Justin Marshall points out, "You’ve just got to come up with a solution. Could we look at moving him and maybe look at him going back to full-back again, which he can play competently, and leave Will Jordan on the wing? Or Jordie, as he did in the World Cup, can play on the wing." This adjustment could potentially rectify the current weaknesses but opens up new challenges in midfield selection.
"With his height and his ability in the air, he can offer us something that we’re not seeing at the moment, but you’ve got to come up with a solution at 12 and I just don’t know what that is,"
Marshall expressed, highlighting the dilemma at centre where options are limited. Anton Lienert-Brown has experience at Test level, but alternatives like Quinn Tupaea and possibly Leicester Fainga’anuku might need consideration for the inside centre role.
The potential reshuffling carries significant risks, with the outcome uncertain. Marshall questions Robertson's readiness to take such a gamble under intense scrutiny, "What’s not working now needs to be fixed. Can we actually be brave like Rassie Erasmus? Has Scott Robertson got the balls to do that, considering how much pressure he’s under?"
"Imagine if it doesn’t work – the fallout. That’s the hard part. I’m happy to throw an opinion out there but I’m not the guy that’s responsible for it. I know what I see, I know what Fainga’anuku can bring to that backline, but I’m not the guy that has to make that decision, put him in that jersey and deal with the consequences if it doesn’t work,"
Marshall added, underscoring the weight of such a decision.
The All Blacks are at a crossroads, and the decisions made now could define Robertson's legacy and New Zealand's aerial combat strategy for games to come.
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Amid the All Blacks' ongoing struggles with the high ball, speculation is rife about whether head coach Scott Robertson has the audacity to make a daring strategic shift akin to that of Springboks' coach Rassie Erasmus. The spotlight intensifies as suggestions emerge about repositioning Jordie Barrett to potentially resolve this glaring issue.
New Zealand's aerial game has notably suffered throughout 2025, with Robertson failing to nail down a consistent back three, exacerbated by injuries and fluctuating form. Among the few standouts, Will Jordan has shown promise, yet even he has faltered under high-pressure matches, most notably against the Springboks in Wellington.
The conundrum lies in whether to shift Barrett from inside centre, a move that could bolster the All Blacks' aerial capabilities. Former All Black Justin Marshall points out, "You’ve just got to come up with a solution. Could we look at moving him and maybe look at him going back to full-back again, which he can play competently, and leave Will Jordan on the wing? Or Jordie, as he did in the World Cup, can play on the wing." This adjustment could potentially rectify the current weaknesses but opens up new challenges in midfield selection.
"With his height and his ability in the air, he can offer us something that we’re not seeing at the moment, but you’ve got to come up with a solution at 12 and I just don’t know what that is,"
Marshall expressed, highlighting the dilemma at centre where options are limited. Anton Lienert-Brown has experience at Test level, but alternatives like Quinn Tupaea and possibly Leicester Fainga’anuku might need consideration for the inside centre role.The potential reshuffling carries significant risks, with the outcome uncertain. Marshall questions Robertson's readiness to take such a gamble under intense scrutiny, "What’s not working now needs to be fixed. Can we actually be brave like Rassie Erasmus? Has Scott Robertson got the balls to do that, considering how much pressure he’s under?"
"Imagine if it doesn’t work – the fallout. That’s the hard part. I’m happy to throw an opinion out there but I’m not the guy that’s responsible for it. I know what I see, I know what Fainga’anuku can bring to that backline, but I’m not the guy that has to make that decision, put him in that jersey and deal with the consequences if it doesn’t work,"
Marshall added, underscoring the weight of such a decision.The All Blacks are at a crossroads, and the decisions made now could define Robertson's legacy and New Zealand's aerial combat strategy for games to come.