‘He’s a winner’: Scott Robertson doubles down on All Blacks captaincy call

All Blacks coach Scott Roberston has described new captain Scott Barrett as “a winner” amid some surprise or discussion amongst fans as to whether backrower Ardie Savea should’ve been given the role on a full-time basis.

Last month, incumbent skipper Sam Cane revealed that 2024 would be the flanker’s final year as an All Black after he penned a three-year deal with Suntory Sungoliath in Japan. That decision has made the Rugby World Cup winner ineligible for national selection from 2025.

The 95-Test veteran, who became the first man to receive a red card in a Rugby World Cup final last October, offered to support New Zealand’s next captain after clarifying that he’d “had my time” in the highly regarded position.

Dalton Papali’i and TJ Perenara both publicly backed reigning World Rugby Player of the Year, Ardie Savea, to step into the hot seat after leading the men in black on multiple occasions under former coach Ian Foster. It seemed a majority of fans shared that view as well.

But when the first All Blacks squad of the year was unveiled in Christchurch on Monday evening, new coach Scott Robertson announced that Scott Barrett would succeed Cane. While some have questioned Barrett's disciplinary record, Robertson has doubled down on the appointment.

“He’s aware of it, whether he’s captain or not – he’s dealt with a lot of his stuff. He’s a tight forward who will live on the edge. The physicality and brutality of international rugby, if you’re lightly wrong, you’re wrong,” Robertson said on SENZ’s Scotty & Izzy.

“He’s matured, he understands, he’s owned it, he’s done a bit of work on the mental side. You just got to trust someone.

“He’s a winner,” he added. “We’ve had so much success over the years, he knows how to get the team over the line.”

The All Blacks will officially get their new era under coach ‘Razor’ Robertson underway next weekend when they host England in the first of two Tests on New Zealand soil. New Zealand will also take on Fiji in an intriguing matchup in San Diego, USA.

That squad that Robertson and the rest of the All Blacks’ coaching staff have selected boasts a wealth of talent and experience, and also includes five uncapped players. Of the five uncapped players, one of the bigger surprises is backrower Wallace Sititi.

Sititi, 21, debuted for the Chiefs in Super Rugby Pacific this year when they played the Reds at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium in round three. The loose forward came off the bench again in round five before starting at No. 8 in his next five appearances.

The Chiefs enforcer ended up starting nine times in the run to the Grand Final at Eden Park, which included a standout Player of the Match display in the clinical win over the Hurricanes at Wellington’s Sky Stadium in the semi-final.

“He’s sort of picked himself with those performances – he just rose up. In the quarters, we thought, ‘Wow! He’s exceptionally quick in the lineout’,” Robertson added.

“Just his character and how resilient he is. He can just get up, working back behind the ball and (he) volunteers to make tough carries.”

Sititi seems to well and truly be in the mix for a debut next month after being named as one of six loose forwards. Vice-captain Ardie Savea, Ethan Blackadder, Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson and Dalton Papali’i are the other backrowers in the squad.

There was, however, no room for Blues No. 8 Hoskins Sotutu. Sotutu had arguably an MVP-esque season with the eventual champions but that hasn’t been enough to see the backrower included in the 32-man squad.

“A big focus for me and the team, especially the loose forwards at Test level, is to be great at both sides of the ball,” Robertson explained.

“A lot of the loose forwards can play two-three positions. A lot of them are good around the breakdown, defensive triple actions and in and around the lineout areas.

“They’re good leaders. Luke (Jacobson) has been exceptional for the Chiefs this year – his consistency and discipline a majority of the time and performing at the highest level.”