Former scrum-half Justin Marshall has called for a shift in thinking from the All Blacks after \u201cconspiring\u201d to lose Test matches in Scott Robertson\u2019s first year in charge.<\/b><\/p>\n
A running theme of 2024 was New Zealand\u2019s inability to finish off Test matches strongly. In five consecutive games last year, Robertson\u2019s side failed to score in the final quarter of matches.<\/p>\n
With the All Blacks<\/a> boss spoilt for choice at scrum-half this year, Marshall believes that Crusaders rookie Kyle Preston could improve the way the side finishes matches in 2025.<\/p>\n All Blacks\u2019 half-back stocks<\/p>\n The former number nine hailed the depth of the scrum-halves in the New Zealand Super Rugby<\/a> teams, even though they aren\u2019t quite of the high standard of Aaron Smith.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we\u2019ve recognised that we needed to have that element of what Aaron Smith bought, which was just a second, third arriver at the breakdown, crisp, clean pass, and we\u2019re rifling onto the ball,\u201d Marshall<\/a> said on the Breakdown<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been really interesting talking to James O\u2019Connor over the last two months and he just can\u2019t believe the speed that New Zealand teams play at, that\u2019s our strength being able to rifle onto the ball, half-backs that get there quickly and let go of it.<\/p>\n \u201cHe said, \u2018I\u2019ve not experienced that anywhere else in the world\u2019 and he\u2019s played all over the world. They are all very good there, none of them are behind the eight ball in getting to the breakdowns, they\u2019re all the second or third or first fittest in the teams with regularity.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cSo we need to offer up something different and think about what we are doing in the last 20 minutes of these Test matches in particular. At the moment, we are conspiring to lose them because whatever we\u2019re doing with our bench is not changing the picture and it\u2019s not helping us win Test matches.<\/p>\n \u201cSo do we bring a player on that changes the perspective for others like a Preston, who can kick off both feet and then the pressure goes off the other kickers.\u201d<\/p>\n All Blacks great backs USA Super Rugby team idea which could \u2018entice\u2019 South African return<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n