The All Blacks begin their daunting end of year tour against Japan at Nissan Stadium in Yokohama on Saturday.
To Win (80 mins)
15/1 Japan | Draw 46/1 | New Zealand N/A
Handicap
Japan (+31.5) 9/10 | NZ (-31.5) 9/10
Following an indifferent 2024 season so far, Scott Robertson’s boys have the chance to earn back some lost pride over the next month, starting with this clash against the Brave Blossoms. With formidable Tests against England, Ireland, France and Italy lying in wait, there’s no question that the side simply must hit the ground running with a big victory here.
In the absence of all three Barrett brothers, Patrick Tuipulotu has been made Kiwi captain while Cam Roigard, in his first Test match of the year, partners Damian McKenzie at halfback. With the likes of DMac and substitute TJ Perenara having turned out for Tokyo Sungoliath and the NTT Red Hurricanes respectively in the Japan Rugby League One, the ABs have plenty of intelligence to draw on this week
Robertson has stated that he is still wary of the Eddie Jones factor, with the Australian having led Japan to the Grand Final of last month’s World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup, where they were ultimately beaten 17-41 by Fiji in Higashiōsaka.
Jones will doubtless have pinpointed several areas of weakness in the All Blacks’ game for his young squad to target, and while a victory remains highly unlikely, it will be interesting to see whether players like 23-year-old fullback Seungsin Lee, whom Robertson singled out in the media this week, can conjure anything up come matchday.
Verdict: New Zealand on the minus
Get on the All Blacks to win comfortably and get their year-end schedule off on a high note.
