Scott Robertson on ‘Remarkable’ Performance from Latest All Black Debutant

Chiefs halfback Cortez Ratima, entrusted with the No. 21 jersey, entered the match in the 53rd minute for an injured Finlay Christie. Despite the pressure, the young star delivered a remarkable performance, helping turn the tide for his team.

Trailing 13-17 at the time, New Zealand needed an injection of pace to retain their famous 30-year winning record at Eden Park. Ratima stepped up to the challenge, delivering under immense pressure.

“Cortez was remarkable, wasn’t he? I thought he did his core role really well, he kicked well,” All Blacks coach Scott Robertson said of the debutant after the game. “I’m really pleased, he trains well and he actually converted it straight onto the field which, in that position, at Test level, it just shows how classy and skilful the young man is.”

The bench unit provided the needed impact, producing a vintage All Blacks final quarter and sealing the 24-17 win. The final play saw England go to the driving maul off a lineout just five meters from the New Zealand line. Forwards and backs alike packed into the contest before a dramatic defensive play from Beauden Barrett caught the ball carrier peeling off the maul and held the play just short of the line.

A TMO analysis found the breakaway group had committed an offside infringement, drawing the game to a dramatic close.

“I knew that I was underneath it, I didn’t know that it would get to that point but I was just relieved that I did,” Barrett told media following the win. “I was making up for a minute earlier when I should have put that ball in the stands. Marcus Smith took a quick throw, so I’m quite relieved the game finished the way it did. I was comfortable that I held the ball up, don’t ask me about the obstruction rules.”

Reserve prop Fletcher Newell shared insights into the conversations the reserve unit had been having throughout the week. “Us reserves that came on, we’ve had really good discussions throughout the week on what we need to do when we come on, whether that’s speeding up the game or just doing our job really well,” Newell said. “So, that’s just what we tried to do tonight, we found little opportunities where we could come on and bring energy to the group and that’s what we tried to do.”

The young front rower emphasized the importance of these experiences for the younger team members. “The last two Tests have been really tough and the boys coming on off the bench have had to bring a lot of energy to try and close out the game. I think for us boys coming on, it’s not so much about closing out the game, we’re still trying to attack and apply pressure. So, for us young boys coming in, it’s awesome to close out those tight ones.”

The All Blacks’ victory showcased the depth and resilience of the squad, with Ratima’s debut performance standing out as a highlight of the match.