The All Blacks have opted for a more attacking approach at scrum-half, with Noah Hotham earning a spot in the 36-man squad for the Rugby Championship ahead of the defence-minded Finlay Christie.
All Blacks defence coach Scott Hansen, responsible for selecting the team's half-backs, explained that under head coach Scott Robertson, the team is looking to evolve their game. This shift involves a more dynamic approach from their scrum-halves, emphasising their running game alongside traditional passing skills.
Hansen highlighted the "tight" selection call, explaining that Christie has been asked to return to Tasman and work on his attacking game. Meanwhile, Hotham's impressive form, particularly his 44-minute cameo off the bench against Fiji in San Diego, has impressed the coaching staff.
"He was close to the team to start with⦠with the point of difference around his running game. Heâs not a half-back you need to tell ârunâ⦠he finds it through instinct," Hansen said. "Against Fiji you saw he changed our point of attack, and what that looked like â will we attack differently due to that?"
Hotham's instinctive running style aligns with the All Blacks' new philosophy for their scrum-halves. Hansen elaborated on the desired approach: "All 10s in world rugby love nines that⦠they think theyâre about to receive the pass, then all of a sudden the nine runs, and what that does to the defence is totally different around where they need to acknowledge threats."
Alongside Hotham, Cortez Ratima, another rookie, and veteran TJ Perenara, complete the scrum-half trio for the upcoming Rugby Championship.
The All Blacks kick off their campaign with two home fixtures against Argentina, first in Wellington on August 10th and then in Auckland on August 17th. With a new approach and a dynamic scrum-half in Hotham, the All Blacks are aiming to add a fresh dimension to their attacking game.
