New Zealand head coach Scott Robertson said the current crop of Japan-based All Blacks were in good hands after watching his second Japan Rugby League One clash of the weekend on Sunday.
The 49-year-old former All Black was at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground as a Brave Lupus Tokyo side featuring 2023 World Cup players Shannon Frizell and Richie Mo'unga defeated Sagamihara Dynaboars 41-19.
He also watched All Blacks flanker Ardie Savea's Kobe Steelers go down 28-18 to leaders Saitama Wild Knights at Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium on Saturday as part of his week-long trip to keep tabs on New Zealand players in League One.
Tokyo Sungoliath's Sam Cane and Toyota Verblitz's Beauden Barrett are also among the players eligible to return to national duty after a season-long "sabbatical" in Japan, but Mo'unga's multi-year contract with Brave Lupus rules him out of selection.
"Our players are in great physical condition, we're really pleased," said Robertson, who took over from Ian Foster as head coach of New Zealand at the start of the year.
"We think that they're well looked after, they're well coached (and) they're in a situation where they come back to New Zealand in good condition."
Robertson said he was impressed by the standard of Japanese rugby during the trip, which he said "brought back memories" of his time playing for Ricoh Black Rams, now known as Black Rams Tokyo.
"I think the quality on and off the field is definitely building," he said.
Having watched Mo'unga deliver a man-of-the-match performance for Brave Lupus, Robertson would not be drawn on questions about the potential for changes to New Zealand's eligibility rules but praised the No. 10 for his play.
"Our current eligibility rules stand and there's been no change," he said.
"He (Mo'unga) is playing good rugby, isn't he? Exceptional, he's probably the form player (in League One)."
Robertson said New Zealand's influence on Japanese rugby was evident beyond the prominent players and coaches, with several Kiwis providing tactical, medical, and strength-and-conditioning expertise to League One clubs.
"There are a lot of familiar faces who have come through the system in New Zealand, so it's good to see them having a good time in Japan," he said.
The All Blacks' busy 2024 schedule includes an Oct. 26 clash with Japan in Yokohama. While subsequent tests against the likes of England, Ireland and France may loom larger, Robertson will not be taking the Brave Blossoms lightly.
"We know the quality of Japan Rugby," he said. "On the day a lot can happen, so you have to be ready for that match -- the speed, the quality of skills, the variation and the innovation of the match, and the passion of the crowd."
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