Justin Marshall believes that the All Blacks look “really robotic” under Scott Robertson but reckons he doesn’t have the license to take as many risks as Rassie Erasmus.
New Zealand’s head coach has come under pressure following two defeats in their last three games, including a record loss last time out.
Their 43-10 reversal was the biggest-ever in the country’s history and, as a result, they go into their next game against the Wallabies desperate for a win.
Criticism of Robertson
Robertson has obviously been criticised for some of their results but also the style of play, with their attack failing to fire since he has taken charge.
Marshall agreed with those detractors but the All Blacks great has also called for a bit “perspective” ahead of the Bledisloe Cup double-header.
“I see a side that is playing restricted, that is not playing to the potential or playing with a little bit more freedom. I think they’re playing really robotic,” the former scrum-half said on Sport Nation’s The Rugby Run.
“There is expectation of results hanging over them. I think you can see that in the way that they’re playing.
“But let’s put it into perspective. If you’re Rassie Erasmus, you’re in such a different position than Scott Robertson.”
Erasmus’ approach is in stark contrast to Robertson’s, who has been far more conservative, but Marshall states that the Springboks boss has more credit in the bank, which gives him an opportunity to rotate and test their depth.
“You’ve won two Rugby World Cups back-to-back, you lose at Eden Park, you make 11 changes but equally, because the enigma of his coaching style and the results that he’s got, it comes off every now and then,” he said.
“When you’re a World Cup back-to-back champion and you’ve got the pedigree, and you’re number one in the world, if he dropped that game in Wellington, he still would have gone back and people would have said: ‘Rassie, he tried something’, but he wouldn’t have the fallout that Scott Robertson’s going to get.
“I feel that the minute they (All Blacks) have a poor performance or a loss, he (Robertson) doesn’t have the background to be able to rely on, ‘hey, we will get there’, or ‘we have already done this and working on being innovative and being creative’.”
Unusual weakness for All Blacks
Marshall would still like to see the All Blacks be more adventurous, however, and reiterated his earlier point that they appear inhibited.
New Zealand have always been renowned for their skills and ability to score tries, but that has been rather absent from their game over the past 12 months.
“We’re not playing spontaneous style rugby,” Marshall added.
“I don’t feel the All Blacks are, if we’re talking about playing heads-up rugby, are getting the opportunity to do that; playing from counter-attack and just playing what they see in front of them, for sure.”
READ MORE: Ex-All Black urges Scott Robertson to follow Rassie Erasmus’ lead in bid to improve depth