Why Robertson laughed when asked about Sam Cane & TJ Perenara’s futures

Head coach Scott Robertson has remained coy about whether Sam Cane and TJ Perenara will play a part in the All Blacks’ end-of-year tour. Cane and Perenara both played their last Test in New Zealand on Saturday, with the pair heading offshore at season’s end.

Cane joined an exclusive All Blacks club at Wellington’s Sky Stadium by bringing up a century of Test appearances. The former skipper is the only 13^th All Black in history to reach the incredible milestone, but the celebrations didn’t stop there in the capital.

In the 61^st minute, thousands got on their feet to applaud Perenara who walked off the playing surface at Sky Stadium for the last time as an active All Black. The boy from Porirua bowed out as an international rugby hero in the eyes of those who have cheered him on for years.

The All Blacks went on to beat the Wallabies 33-13 which capped off an unforgettable night for the Rugby World Cup-winning duo. Perenara led a powerful haka for Cane in the team changerooms post-match which was heard from the press conference room next door.

Then, about 20 minutes later, both men sat down in front of the media to reflect on exactly how special that fateful September night had been. But, it remains to be seen whether Cane and Perenara will play another Test on the All Blacks’ upcoming end-of-season tour.

“I think it’s important you’ve got an eye for now, an eye for the future, always,” Robertson told reporters at the team’s hotel in Wellington on Sunday.

“You’ll find out on October the seventh.

"You're framing me nicely there, mate."

Roberston laughed after completing that response.

The All Blacks coach didn’t want to give too much away about the team’s selection headaches moving forward, but ‘Razor’ did reveal some big news ahead of their Tests in Japan and Europe.

Samisoni Taukei’aho will not take part in the tour as the hooker continues to manage an injury, but it’s much better news for the likes of Jordie Barrett and Cam Roigard who are both expected to be in the mix.

Barrett suffered a knee injury during last weekend’s 31-28 win over the Wallabies in Sydney but coach Robertson said the playmaker is targeting the Japan Test for a return. As for Roigard, the injured halfback is on track for a comeback match with Counties Manukau in the NPC.

Roigard, who was arguably the best player in Super Rugby Pacific before rupturing his left patella tendon in the sixth round, has made headlines with impressive feats in the weight room and with the Bronco fitness test.

The 23-year-old won’t be the only All Black playing in New Zealand’s provincial competition, either, with others set to be released ahead of the trip up north. An All Blacks XV – a ‘B team’ behind the All Blacks themselves – will also assemble for a couple of matches.

“We just covered it off with all the players here now, there’s going to be a lot of guys going back and playing NPC, either one or two games or if they’ve had a real high load they won’t play any,” Robertson revealed.

“There’s some obvious names in there and some guys that need some footy to be in for that Japan Test.

“We’ve got 29 going on the AB XV tour and 36 going on the end-of-year tour for the All Blacks. (The All Blacks XV) will play Munster and Georgia and there’ll be a little bit of interchangeable players which was required.

“There’s a little bit of a matrix, especially coming out of Japan and then heading north, who’s the best fit in getting us games. We’ll get the best teams out for the team that’s in front of us.”