Justin Marshall Issues ‘Pressure’ Warning to All Black Coach After Springboks Defeats Added ‘More Baggage’
Justin Marshall believes that Scott Robertson is handling the pressure of being All Blacks boss impressively, but that it will only become harder after their latest losses.
The 50-year-old succeeded Ian Foster following the 2023 Rugby World Cup and was a popular appointment, but it has been a mixed start.
Despite emerging victorious over England in their two-Test series, the performances were not convincing.
New Zealand then beat Fiji before succumbing to their first defeat under Robertson when they were stunned by Argentina.
Springboks increase pressure
Although the All Blacks responded with their best display of the new era by thrashing Los Pumas at Eden Park, they were not able to build on that in South Africa. 
Robertson’s men were very much in both contests against the Springboks, but ultimately the world champions prevailed to end New Zealand’s Rugby Championship title chances.
The head coach’s record currently stands at three losses in seven, which has inevitably attracted criticism, but patience is required from supporters at this stage.
It is a job which can be too big for some people but, according to Marshall, Robertson is taking it in his stride.
“He’s not locked himself in his room and overstressing about tactics, and overstressing about game plan, he’s still able to be himself; get out and have a surf, go out for a beer and have a coffee in the morning,” he said on The Good, The Bad and The Rugby ANZ podcast.
“In terms of pressure, that tells me he’s handling it okay at the moment.
The former All Blacks scrum-half did provide a warning to Robertson, however, stating that the scenario is now different for the head coach.
“The problem is, the more Test matches you lose as All Blacks coach, the more that pressure doesn’t go away, and it basically gives you more baggage,” he said.
“I spoke to him before the game in Johannesburg, I spoke to him before the game in Cape Town and in both instances he felt good about their prep, he felt good about their game plan and he said: ‘mate, we’re ready to play.’
“Now it’s different. He’s got a different couple of weeks facing him. He’s got to re-evaluate where they’ve just lost four Test matches on the bounce to the Springboks, and one against Argentina.”
Righting the wrongs
New Zealand were not far away in their games with the Springboks but those losses mean that successive victories over the Wallabies is a must for Robertson.
After that, they head on their northern hemisphere tour which sees them face Japan, England, Ireland, France and Italy.
“He’s got two Bledisloes coming up, which is a trophy he certainly won’t want to be losing, and then that much talked about end-of-year tour,” Marshall added.
“I think he’s still in a good head space at the moment but that doesn’t mean things are going to get any easier and the pressure is going to dissipate, it’s only going to increase.”
