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‘We found a way’ – Robertson reflects on Bledisloe battle
Asked if he was happy or relieved after the All Blacks’ 31-28 Bledisloe Cup victory, coach Scott Robertson admitted it was a bit of both. After shooting out to a 21-0 lead early in the game, the All Blacks could only muster one Damian McKenzie penalty goal in the entire second half.
“I’m just really proud of the effort,” said Robertson post-match at Accor Stadium.
“Some of the efforts at the end there, that scramble. We had a couple of yellow cards and we found a way to win it.”
It was the fifth time as many Rugby Championship tests that the All Blacks have failed to score in the final 20 minutes, however Robertson paid tribute to their opposition.
Will Jordan celebrates with Cortez Ratima after scoring. Wallabies v New Zealand All Blacks, 2024 Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup test match, Accor Stadium, NSW, Australia, Saturday 21st September 2024, Copyright Photo: David Neilson / www.photosport.nz Photo: David Neilson/Photosport
“Full respect to the Aussies. We just didn’t finish those opportunities that we’ve been creating all year and there’s big momentum swings. Whenever the score’s like that there’s always a bit of trepidation, that you’ve got to keep going and get those passes to stick… but they didn’t and we found a way.”
There were an astonishing seven tries arguably bombed by the All Blacks, most glaringly a shockingly unnecessary flick pass from McKenzie that should have sent Tamaiti Williams in for his first test try. Instead, the ball went flying behind the prop and into the hands of the Wallaby defence.
Robertson said that while he will have a conversation with his first five regarding the matter, he wants his players to “trust their skillset”.
“You want D-Mac to be instinctive, that’s his greatest gift isn’t it? Find space, glide, but put it on someone’s chest. Maybe give that a bit earlier, get a bit of pressure under him at training but keep trusting himself.”
The issue of discipline was something Robertson did concede he was “very disappointed” with, as the All Blacks made it very hard for themselves in the last 10 minutes after losing Caleb Clarke and Anton Lienert-Brown to the sin bin.
“A big focus for us was our discipline, especially when you get on your own line… it’s an area where they targeted us and we weren’t good enough.”
during the All Blacks v Australia, Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship test match, Accor Stadium, Sydney, Australia, Saturday, 21 September 2024. (Photo by Mark Evans / action press) Photo: Mark Evans/ActionPress
Asked if the feeling after the victory was bittersweet, Robertson left no doubt about the way he was feeling.
“We’ve got the cup,” he said. “I’m really pleased. The last three test matches have come to a pass, a ref call, a moment’s decision-making. So that’s test footy. We’re learning quick, we’re getting a group experienced to win these tight games. So, it’ll taste sweet, thank you.”
It’ll also taste new. While Robertson had a four-year, 23-test career as an All Black, he never won the Bledisloe Cup as a player. He’s now won it as a coach, although it was clear that his side has a few work-ons for the return match in Wellington next Saturday night.
“We’re not shying away… there’s areas with our bench, finishing and decision-making. But we’re working hard, man. I think that’s reflective in how that showed in our defence that there’s a deep care for what we’re all about. But we need to start finishing some games a bit better.”
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The chief executive of the Parliamentary Service is confident there will be enough room to accommodate the increased number of MPs and their staff coming into Parliament.
On current numbers, up to 131 MPs could be sitting in the Chamber following the election, brought on by a record overhang result.
Clerk of the House of Representatives Dr David Wilson told the Spinoff that currently the debating chamber had enough chairs to seat 124 MPs – including the Speaker of the House – and work was being done to accommodate more by altering the seating arrangement.
In a statement, Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero said planning for a larger Parliament had been going for “some time”.
“Now that the election results have confirmed an increase to the number of members we are looking at several options.
“We are confident we will be able to accommodate all members within the Chamber.”
VNP / Phil Smith
Gonzalez-Montero said office accommodation for members and their staff would be “stretched” for a short time, but the new Members’ Building was only a few months away from “practical completion”.
That building – located behind Parliament – was due to be ready to occupy in April next year and had capacity to accommodate around 30 backbench MPs.
“All members should be in fit-for-purpose accommodation from that point,” Gonzalez-Montero said.
Following the 2023 election, 123 MPs sat in the Chamber – a record number at the time. That decreased to 122 following the resignation of National MP Judith Collins.
Collins held the seat of Papakura and stepped down in May and Parliament voted against holding a by-election because it was too close to the election.
The election result also meant high-ranking National Party MPs like Chris Bishop, Paul Goldsmith, Nicola Willis and Gerry Brownlee – Speaker of the House and an MP for 30 years – would likely not make it back into Parliament.
Only resigning or retiring MPs were permitted to give a valedictory speech meaning none of them would get the chance to give a valedictory statement.
Asked if their would be special allowances for valedictories, Wilson said in a statement that normally only MPs were allowed to speak in the House but the House could suspend its own rules or temporarily alter them.
“It could do so to allow former members to address the House.”
Wilson said no such arrangements could be made until the next Parliament opened and members sworn in.
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