Scott Robertson focuses on finishing as All Blacks prepare for second test

All Blacks coach Scott Robertson said his side would focus on improving their finishing in the days before the second test in Wellington.

His men held on for a 31-27 victory against the little-fancied French in the tour opener on Saturday night.

Robertson said a review of the match performance had concentrated on “what can we get better at in the different areas”.

“We did a lot of great stuff and there’s stuff to get better at, so that’s exciting.”

He said his men had worked well creating opportunities in Dunedin.

“Broke 20 tackles, make 13 line breaks – so that’s probably a reflection of what we created and again, it’s just the finishing part.”

He said the review of the performance had been “honest”.

“Let’s get started with finishing those opportunities, you know, the set piece was outstanding, we’ve put a lot of work into it.”

He acknowledged playmaker Beauden Barrett, who had shown “great form” in the first test.

“There are parts that we can help him out with, and he can help out as well with, but he led the team really well.

“He’s still got a lot of class and he’s sort of evergreen.”

Management received a medical briefing on the injury to captain Scott Barrett but won’t deliver an update until tomorrow.

“We’ve had the scan. You’ll find out in a media release, yeah.”

Coach Scott Robertson with captain Scott Barrett, who is under an injury cloud after the first test against France. Photo / Photosport

He said his side had not yet discussed the All Blacks’ poor run of recent results in Wellington as they prepare for the second test.

“We’ll definitely cover it during the week, but we didn’t start the review with it. It’s important we acknowledge it and respect it.”

Bringing in fresh talent was important, he said, after four debutants impressed in the opener – Fabian Holland, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Ollie Norris and Christian Lio-Willie.

“That’s the art of it: you consider it at all, and then you trust your instinct. One good thing we’ve been proud of in the period we’ve had the All Blacks is the guys that have come in have stepped in for test football and have performed. They’ve stepped up to that level quickly.

“They’ve got themselves ready through Super Rugby and then our job is to do it through test weeks.”

Outside back Will Jordan came in for special praise for his performance in Dunedin that involved him moving from fullback to right wing inside the first minute.

“That was pretty special, wasn’t it? Both sides of the ball, really physically tough. You feel like he’s three steps ahead sometimes – just his feet are moving to where the ball’s going to be beforehand.

French coach Fabien Galthié (left) and All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. Photos / Photosport

Robertson paid tribute to his opposite number, the bespectacled Fabien Galthié.

“Fabien is a unique character, as you know. Love the glasses. He’s a deep thinker behind those.

“His understanding of the game and his clarity of how his teams play – they know how they’re gonna play, but you’ve got to stop them, and they do it under incredible pressure.

“They care deeply for each other, they never give up. What we saw on the weekend, they never went away, did they?”