Six All Blacks newbies could earn their first caps after being named in the squad to take on Fiji in San Diego this weekend.
Just one of them starts – Hurricanes centre Billy Proctor – with the other five residing on the bench as Robertson generally opts for another experienced starting XV.
Proctor is alongside Anton Lienert-Brown in the midfield, while Caleb Clarke and Sevu Reece are outside them on the wings.
Intriguingly, Stephen Perofeta has dropped out of the squad which means Beauden Barrett comes in at full-back after starring in the series triumph over England.
Barrett-McKenzie partnership
Damian McKenzie remains at fly-half and he is partnered by Cortez Ratima, who makes his first start for the All Blacks.
Ratima made his debut last weekend, and he could be joined by several more new caps, with George Bell, Pasilio Tosi, Sam Darry, Wallace Sititi and Noah Hotham all hoping to get onto the field after being selected on the bench.
“You pick players for a reason. You give them an opportunity and they’ve trained really hard over the last three or four weeks, and it’s a great opportunity for some debutants to go and show their talent,” Robertson said.
“They’ve earned their opportunity; they’ve prepared well and they are ready for Test match rugby. We have a lot of respect for Fiji, who will be fast and physical, and we’re looking forward to the contest.
“It’s been a superb week in San Diego. Our leaders have fed off the younger players energy and our focus is now on performing.”
Up front, there is proven world-class quality in Ardie Savea and captain Scott Barrett but the other positions have been altered.
Flankers Ethan Blackadder and Luke Jacobson partner number eight Savea to form the loose trio, while Barrett is partnered by Tupou Vaa’i.
The XV is completed by a front-row of Fletcher Newell, Asafo Aumua and Tamaiti Williams, with outstanding loosehead Ethan de Groot among the replacements for the Fiji clash.
Jordie Barrett remains in the squad to provide some experience on an otherwise youthful bench and could play the role his brother played should the Pacific Islanders start strongly in the US.
“When they get going and rolling, they break the game up and can beat anyone. They’ve had some big scalps over the last few years,” Robertson said.
“From Super Rugby Pacific, we get to know their players very well, and when you get Semi Radradra back, you know you’re in for a hell of a Test match.
“We prepared, and we’ve got a good balance of experienced players and debutants.”
New Zealand team to face Fiji
All Blacks: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Ethan Blackadder, 6 Luke Jacobson, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Scott Barrett (c), 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Tamaiti Williams
Replacements: 16 George Bell, 17 Ethan de Groot, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Sam Darry, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Noah Hotham, 22 Jordie Barrett, 23 Emoni Narawa
Date: Friday, July 19
Venue: Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego
Kick-off: 19:30 local (02:30 GMT, 03:30 BST, 14:30 NZST – Friday)
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant Referees: Anthony Woodthorpe (England), Luke Rogan (USA)
TMO: Ian Tempest (England)
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