All Blacks coach Scott Robertson was surprised by Rassie Erasmus’ decision to name the Springbok match 23 for Saturday’s Test in Wellington on Monday.
Erasmus waited until the Thursday to reveal his team for the Eden Park Test, which the Boks lost 24-17, but showed his hand early ahead of the Cake Tin clash.
“He’s naming the team today? Is he? Do we know that?” Robertson asked when told by the media.
The All Blacks boss couldn’t resist a dig, adding: “He’s had a couple of late nights hasn’t he?”
But Robertson was quick to praise Erasmus’ unpredictability.
“Great, we will find out tonight, and that’s what you love about him, you don’t know what’s coming. Outstanding.”
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Robertson said the early Bok team announcement wouldn’t change much from their side.
“I can’t talk about what was happening in those meetings and the reaction to it but he’s definitely got a strong will and obviously he thinks that’s best for the Springboks team to go early.
“They’ve been doing it for a while now, it’s not new, it’s not the first time they’ve done it, so for them it works. It gives you a little bit of awareness in one or two areas, but you don’t go and change too much because of that.”
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Looking ahead to Saturday’s showdown, Robertson said he didn’t expect the Boks to radically overhaul their game plan.
“The way Rassie operates, he’s got a squad he trusts, gives guys opportunities,” he said. “There will be variations in their game plan, there will be innovation like they did at the weekend but their core DNA, we know what it’s like.
“We can expect a little bit of everything, one-off plays and stuff, but the fundamentals will be the same for them.”
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