Scott Robertson has made time during his trip to Sydney to catch a wave and pick the brain of oval ball royalty. 

The All Blacks coach is known for his love of surfing and said after naming his side for the first Bledisloe test that Bronte beach is a far more hospitable environment than Johannesburg for someone wearing a silver fern. 

“You’re walking everywhere and people go ‘Good luck Razor! All the best!’. A few Kiwis have done all right coming around Double Bay and Bronte beach.” 

Robertson’s company in the lineup at Bronte was none other than NRL immortal Andrew Johns, one of the finest players to have laced up boots in the 13-man code. 

“He knows his rugby, he knows his footy. I was really impressed with him, he loves a standoff or a ten and he knows the details of them. He’s still in love with Carlos Spencer.” 

It wasn’t just knowledge of rugby’s mechanics and famous All Blacks that impressed Robertson, who said he was taken aback by Johns’ knowledge of the headlines coming out of New Zealand rugby. 

In particular, the swirling rumours that All Blacks first-five Richie Mo’unga may cut short his stint in Japan to return to the side have made their way to the rugby league legend’s ear and suddenly it was Robertson who was on the receiving end of the questions. 

“He knows all the pivots, you know ‘When are you getting Richie back?’, geez, it’s gone global. It was entertaining.” 

Mo’unga signed a three-season Japanese club contract after last year’s World Cup and helped lead the Toshiba Brave Lupus to the domestic title this season. 

He is ineligible for the All Blacks until his contract ends and told the Sydney Morning Herald he is “working towards” representing New Zealand at the 2027 World Cup in Australia. 

Mo’unga was in the crowd when the All Blacks beat England in the first test at Dunedin earlier this year, their first match under new coach Robertson. 

The All Blacks head into the first Bledisloe Cup test in Sydney with four changes made to their starting lineup from the side that lost 18-12 to the Springboks in Cape Town. 

At fullback, Beauden Barrett returns to the 15 jersey with Will Jordan moved to the wing and Caleb Clarke is over his back injury to assume his spot on the other flank. 

The call sees Sevu Reece move to the bench, with Mark Tele’a omitted from the squad entirely. 

Ethan de Groot also returns from injury to start at loosehead prop while a second test cap beckons for Pasilio Tosi after he picked up his first against Fiji in San Diego. 

Will Toogood is an online sports editor for the NZ Herald. He enjoys watching people chase a ball around on a grass surface so much he decided to make a living out of it.