'Intimidating' newcomer the biggest winner in All Blacks' squad
Parker, the 25-year-old Chiefs and Northland player, is the only new cap in Robertson's 36-man squad, but there are injury-cover call-ups for uncapped halfback Kyle Preston, prop Tevita Mafileo and utility back Leroy Carter. In total, six players have been named as injury cover.
It may be that Preston, the 25-year-old Crusaders and Wellington No.9, earns his first cap before Parker does due to the unavailability of the injured Cam Roigard and Noah Hotham.
And that could be as early as a week on Sunday in Cordoba, Argentina, as a back up to Cortez Ratima, although it is likely Preston will have to bide his time given the All Blacks also called up the more experienced Finlay Christie, who has played 23 Tests.
But Parker's presence as one of seven loose forwards in the squad is significant for the fact he has beaten Christian Lio-Willie to it, not to mention the experienced but previously discarded Ethan Blackadder, an indication as to how highly rated he is by the selectors.
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Indeed, the squad again appears loose forward heavy at the expense of lock, with only Scott Barrett, Fabian Holland, Patrick Tuipulotu and Tupou Vaa'i named as second row options and the latter likely to be used more as a flanker. Josh Lord, a lock, has been included as injury cover for injured flanker Luke Jacobson.
"He is a big man who has been incredibly consistent all year," Robertson said of Parker. "I just like his accuracy… he is physical but is really accurate and intimidating."
And there is no getting away from Parker's size, a mandatory requirement in the modern game.
Parker is 8cm taller and 8kg heavier than Lio-Willie, who was called in as injury cover for last month's three Tests against France and started the first two at No.8 in the absence of Wallace Sititi, who has now returned from an ankle problem. If Parker is the biggest winner, there is little doubt that Lio-Willie, 27, is the biggest loser after performing well in Dunedin and Wellington.
Parker, a New Zealand age-group representative who has struggled for consistent game time due to injury, will join Vaa'i, Sititi and Samipeni Finau as blindside flanker options.
Leroy Carter breaks away for the Chiefs against the Crusaders in May this year. (Source: Photosport)
Vice-captain Ardie Savea is an automatic selection at openside flanker or No.8 for the biggest Tests, with Du'Plessis Kirifi, the recalled Peter Lakai and Jacobson the other loose forwards in the mix.
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Robertson, asked today about Parker's reaction when told the news of his selection, replied: "He's a man of few words, as he said. I rang him and said 'it's Razor here, congratulations'. He choked and said, 'I'm not sure what to say'. I said, 'that's OK, I'll do the talking for you'.
'I said 'well done. You don't have to say anything. I know you've gone through a lot to get to this point and time'.'
Similarly, Robertson's conversation with Carter, the former New Zealand sevens international who has thrived for the Chiefs and Bay of Plenty since concentrating on the 15-aside game, was also memorable.
"He was very, very emotional. He didn't say much...," Robertson said.
Carter, one of the quickest players in the country, is also one of the most versatile, as evidenced by his shining at centre during Bay of Plenty's win over Tasman in Tauranga yesterday.
"You can see how many line breaks he makes, how good he is at the breakdown, covering tackles, his work off the ball. He's tough.
"He's probably the fastest in New Zealand on record times. There's a lot of positives for him… he'll bring a lot of energy.
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All Blacks skipper Scott Barrett in action during the first Test against France last month. (Source: Photosport)
"We saw him play 13 for the Bay and we don't have any say in that but we thought 'that's ideal for us'. He can cover 9 – he's played a lot of 9. He can cover wing and centre. You can see most teams have players like that, especially when you split your bench."
And while the injury news on Roigard (stress fracture in right foot) and Hotham (high ankle sprain) is not overly positive, there is better news on skipper Scott Barrett, who is recovering well from a calf tear which ruled him out of the second and third Tests against France, plus brother Beauden (hand), who is also expected to be available for the Cordoba Test.
Of captain Scott, Robertson said: 'He's looking good. It's been a nice little pre-season for him, really. He's tracking well.'
Prop Tamaiti Williams (knee) should be available for the second Test against the Pumas in Buenos Aires on August 24, Robertson said.
Jacobson, Roigard, Hotham, prop Tyrel Lomax (hand) and wing Caleb Clarke (ankle) will not travel to Argentina.
Blues lock Sam Darry, who has been sidelined since the start of the year due to a shoulder injury, requires more rugby, Robertson said, as does midfielder/wing Leicester Fainga'anuku, who has returned from two years in France with a shoulder problem.
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Asked what he wants to see from Fainga'anuku, who performed well during the 2023 World Cup, and has returned to Tasman, Robertson said: 'Continue his form that he had before he went overseas.
'Obviously, he played wing, 12 and 13 for Toulon. Just come back and play good footy. There are measures in place if we need to bring him in if there was an injury.'
All Blacks squad for Rugby Championship
The squad is as follows: (age, Super Rugby club, province, Test caps)
* denotes new caps
Hookers: Codie Taylor (34, Crusaders / Canterbury, 98), Samisoni Taukei'aho (27, Chiefs / Waikato, 33), Brodie McAlister (28, Chiefs / Canterbury, 1).
Props: Ethan de Groot (27, Highlanders / Southland, 32), Tamaiti Williams (24, Crusaders / Canterbury, 18), Ollie Norris (25, Chiefs / Waikato, 2), Tyrel Lomax (29, Hurricanes / Tasman, 45), Fletcher Newell (25, Crusaders / Canterbury, 25), Pasilio Tosi (27, Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty, 9).
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Locks: Scott Barrett (31, Crusaders / Taranaki, 81) (Captain), Patrick Tuipulotu (32, Blues / Auckland, 55), Tupou Vaa'i (25, Chiefs / Taranaki, 40), Fabian Holland (22, Highlanders / Otago, 3).
Loose forwards: Samipeni Finau (26, Chiefs / Waikato, 11), Simon Parker (25, Chiefs / Northland, *), Ardie Savea (31, Moana Pasifika / Wellington, 97) (Vice-Captain), Du'Plessis Kirifi (28, Hurricanes / Wellington, 3), Wallace Sititi (22, Chiefs / North Harbour, 10), Peter Lakai (22, Hurricanes / Wellington, 3), Luke Jacobson (28, Chiefs / Waikato, 24).
Halfbacks: Cortez Ratima (24, Chiefs / Waikato, 14), Cameron Roigard (24, Hurricanes / Counties Manukau, 12), Noah Hotham (22, Crusaders / Tasman, 2).
First-five eighths: Beauden Barrett (34, Blues / Taranaki, 136), Damian McKenzie (30, Chiefs / Waikato, 64).
Midfielders: Anton Lienert-Brown (30, Chiefs / Waikato, 85), Jordie Barrett (28, Hurricanes / Taranaki, 71) (Vice-Captain), Quinn Tupaea (26, Chiefs / Waikato, 16), Billy Proctor (26, Hurricanes / Wellington, 4), Timoci Tavatavanawai (27, Highlanders / Tasman, 2).
Outside backs: Rieko Ioane (28, Blues / Auckland, 83), Caleb Clarke (26, Blues / Auckland, 29), Sevu Reece (28, Crusaders / Southland, 34), Emoni Narawa (26, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, 3), Will Jordan (27, Crusaders / Tasman, 44), Ruben Love (24, Hurricanes / Wellington, 2).
Injury cover
George Bower (33, Crusaders / Otago, 23) for Tamaiti Williams, Tevita Mafileo (27, Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty, *) for Tyrel Lomax, Josh Lord (24, Chiefs / Taranaki, 7) for Luke Jacobson, Finlay Christie (29, Blues / Tasman, 23) for Cameron Roigard/Noah Hotham, Kyle Preston (25, Crusaders / Wellington, *) for Cameron Roigard/Noah Hotham, Leroy Carter (26, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty, *) for Caleb Clarke.
Unavailable due to injury: Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Asafo Aumua, Stephen Perofeta.
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