July 2, 2026 • 10 mins
This evening, the first All Blacks squad was named for their test against France at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch.
Brad Weber is a former All Blacks and Chiefs halfback, he joined Elliott to discuss the forward pack named for the contest.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Waldergrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Let's get into it on the program, joining us now
to look at that all Black side that has been
named from All Blacks half back Brad wherever. Brad, thanks
so much for joining us on news Talk zb this.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Evening evening, Elliott, no worries at all.
Speaker 4 (00:26):
Thanks for having me on, mate.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
What do you make of the team that Dave Renni's announced.
Speaker 4 (00:31):
Yeah, I think it's pretty good. I think there's.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
But I'm not sure exactly what the loose portrio would
would would look like. But I called that I'm gonna
put myself on the back here, Elliot. I called that
loose word trio on the alt A Rugby part earlier
in the week. So, you know, as coaching gigs, not
too bit, not too hard, is it?
Speaker 4 (00:51):
No?
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Well, clearly not. What gave you the belief that that
was the way Rennie was going to go? And then
why do you think it's that the right trio?
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Well, I thought Luke Jacobson is really much as very
much a Dave Rennie guys, hard working. His worker at
the breakdown around clean out is probably the best in
the country. Around the fair loose swards and I know
Dave really really values that and also just work great
around the around the field, is you know, one of
(01:20):
the best going around So.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
Him in particularly I was really excited about and.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
Then had to had to deny Peter Larchive's form for
the Hurricanes this year, so I thought he deserved a crack.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
If we look at the back line Ruben Love at ten,
what does he offer and is that the right call
from Rennie given he's been in such good form during
Super rugby.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
Well, the thing that I always loved about Ren's when
when he was coaching me is he would always reward form.
Was that it didn't matter if if you're established All
Black or a rookie. If you if you were playing
the best and he thought you would do a good
job for the team, then he had no issue starting here.
So there's certainly sort of signals that as well. And Mate,
(02:07):
you can't deny Ruben's form during Super rugby, and also
I think these are probably the perfect tests to give
him a crack in the ten jersey with a small
eye towards the South Africa Test the tour coming up,
I think you give him a crack now a couple
of tests while while he's in red hot form and
(02:29):
and then rear test for the South African tests. You
already know what Damien and body can do in the
ten jersey. These are the tests to give Reuben hopefully
a bit of confidence and then keep keep that competition
in amongst our tens.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
And thinks great, he's got obviously cam Roy guard inside
him at half back. How much how vitalist having you know,
speaking as a form of nine yourself, having that combination
already at super rugby.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
Level, it's massive, especially for knowing exactly when your ten
wants the ball and how your nine likes to likes
to function. I think it's really good, and especially having
Jordie outside him as well, so he's got a fair
bit of familiarity around him, and like dam is one of,
(03:14):
if not the world's best nine at the moment, so
it's pretty good.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
Pretty good guys to have around here.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Quinn to Pie obviously at center as well, I mean
super Uguye player of the year, but not a position
he's played a lot of. But do you think that
that's a combination, you know, Barrit into Pie that the
All Blacks can really pick and stick with over the
next couple of years leading into the World Cup.
Speaker 4 (03:37):
I think so.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
I mean, Quinn's a few years now removed from his
knee injury and he's looking like the explosive athlete that
he was before that, So yeah, you're right. He hasn't
played a lot of thirteen, but he has for the
All Blacks and.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
Performed pretty bloody well there, So yeah, I guess it's wondering.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
It's the decision from the from the coaching group, no
doubt was with Jordy and Quinn are probably your two
best midfielders and form midfielders at the moment, so which
one sticks at their preferred position at twelve? And they
obviously think that with Jeordie's skill set around around his
kicking game and stuff like that, can really perhaps lighting
(04:19):
the load a.
Speaker 4 (04:20):
Little bit on Reuben. But yeah, I.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Wouldn't mind seeing those two switch around at some point,
especially using Quinn's explosiveness in the ball carrier from first place.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Well, speaking of switching around, will Jordan back to the
right wing, Damien McKenzie at fullback and interestingly, Dave Rennie
said the two best fullbacks in the world and wanted
them both on the park. Yeah, I guess Will Jordan's
played plenty of right wing It's a switch that both
will be used to buy and large, isn't it. What
do you make of that selection?
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Yeah, I guess it's just a case of who are
your fifteen best players and trying to get all of
them on the field at one time rather than them
the meeting for each other's lunch.
Speaker 4 (04:59):
So yeah, I think.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Look that Damien's been particularly world class at fifteen for
a number of years, and Davis coached him in the
past with the Chiefs at mostly at fifteen back then too,
so it's pretty familiar for him. And yeah, I just
think his all round skill set is really suited for
international fifteen. And Will Jordan has been one of, if
(05:25):
not the best right wingers and will rugby for a
long time. I know he prefers playing fifteen, but man,
he's a pretty good winger. For having both of them
on the park at one time is pretty special. And
you know, you know, keep harping back to how much
Dave Rennie appreciates or values work work, great work, ethic,
and Will Jordan and Damien are both two of the
(05:47):
fittest guys going around, so they fit in perfectly to
that mold.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Brad Webber with us on news talks. Be you obviously
mentioned Rennie and you were coached by him. So what
were the immediate changes that maybe we see from this
All Blacks team around what we see on the park
tactically and perhaps their attitude to rugby.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
Well, initially I would have thought maybe we see a
bit more running rugby, a bit more licensed to have
a crack from their own end, and I still probably
do believe that we will see that. I think the
Hurricanes certainly proved in Super Rugby this year that that
style of rugby can work. Like my only thought or
(06:29):
perhaps pushback on that is I wonder how much Dave's
time in Scotland and in the Northern Hemisphere potentially has
changed his attacking outlook from when I was coached by
him at the Chiefs. So it will be certainly interesting,
and obviously with Mike Blair as well being from the
Northern Hemisphere and in the attacking group as well, Yeah,
(06:52):
I'll be really probably be something I'll be really interested in.
But my gut still tells me that there'll be plenty
of attacking footy encourage from Dave and Mike, and certainly
I think we probably see the most to shift in
this All Black team is the brutality and violence at
(07:14):
the breakdown. That's something that always sticks out of mind
with Dave.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Any coach teams and the All Blacks have perhaps kicked,
you know a lot. As the international game has changed
over the last couple of years with the XC escort
rule changing. Do you think that Renny will adapt to that?
Perhaps that the style of game you know that he
has previously coached at the Chiefs and Glovesgo and over
in Corbey.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
I mean, the trend would suggest that maybe he would
he would change, and I mean the stats really back
up kicking and.
Speaker 4 (07:46):
Kick meters tend to.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
Swing the winning percentage in your favor if you're winning
those those stats. Is obviously quite a bit of nuancewer
around it. But certainly these sort of deepest stats that
have been brought in makes the game of rugby a
little bit more analytical and head coaches and particularly get
a little bit obsessed with with hitting these certain markers. However,
(08:12):
I know, I still think deep down Rens will be
pretty keen to change that current trend because you know,
all trends sort of coming roundabouts in months. One thing
is in fashion, the other thing starts starts working a
bit better. So perhaps certainly what we're seeing from from
(08:32):
the Hurricanes and Bordeaux as well when when they were
in the Champions Cup in Europe, it's certainly much more
free flowing and you.
Speaker 4 (08:41):
Know, having a little bit more of a crack on attack.
So I'd like to think that maybe that's the way
we go.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
And before I let you go, Brad, you've obviously spent
some time playing at STAT France and spent a lot
of time with the French players that are coming down.
I think you said though some ballers coming down to
New Zealand a couple of months ago on online. What
do you make of the French squad? And is it
I guess you know, obviously missing to lose players. What
are we going to expect from this each team comes
(09:07):
Saturday night.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
Yeah, I'll tell you what, Elliott.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
It shows how little the Kiwi public and the media
know about French rugby, because I've been on just about
every single rugby and sports show this week talking about
the French team. So yeah, look, I'm just really happy
that New Zealand fans finally get to see what some
(09:34):
of these French players are like. It is a shame
that we don't get to see all the big guns
from from Toulouse in particular here. But man, this bord
Old team and particularly these back line players some of
the best broken field runners that I've ever played against.
So the all backs are gonna have to be really
tight around limiting turnover ball for these guys because they
(09:55):
can score from anywhere and they have a crack, especially
the likes of Jelly Beer and Peno We've obviously seen
in the World Cup a few years ago, but jelly
Beer in particularly the first five is in red hot
form for ball and he's linked up with his Harvest
partner Maxim Luku, who's got a skill set that none
of our nines have in this country.
Speaker 4 (10:16):
Well perhaps Cole Preston a little bit. You can kick off,
you can kick off both.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
Feet, he kicks goals and just in terms of driving
a game, is certainly one of the best that I've
played again, So look, I really hope for our fans
sake that they get a few opportunities to really showcase
exactly what they're what they're like under the roof and
christ Church but hopefully not too many that that it
spoils Dave Renny's party.
Speaker 4 (10:40):
But yeah, ideally be five works on both sides.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
Absolutely, Hey Brad, appreciate your time and you are adding
us to your list of engagements this week. Look forward
to catching up Solute and appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (10:52):
No worries, Elliot, cheers mate there.
Speaker 1 (10:54):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks
it'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Waldergrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Let's get into it on the program, joining us now
to look at that all Black side that has been
named from All Blacks half back Brad wherever. Brad, thanks
so much for joining us on news Talk zb this.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Evening evening, Elliott, no worries at all.
Speaker 4 (00:26):
Thanks for having me on, mate.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
What do you make of the team that Dave Renni's announced.
Speaker 4 (00:31):
Yeah, I think it's pretty good. I think there's.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
But I'm not sure exactly what the loose portrio would
would would look like. But I called that I'm gonna
put myself on the back here, Elliot. I called that
loose word trio on the alt A Rugby part earlier
in the week. So, you know, as coaching gigs, not
too bit, not too hard, is it?
Speaker 4 (00:51):
No?
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Well, clearly not. What gave you the belief that that
was the way Rennie was going to go? And then
why do you think it's that the right trio?
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Well, I thought Luke Jacobson is really much as very
much a Dave Rennie guys, hard working. His worker at
the breakdown around clean out is probably the best in
the country. Around the fair loose swards and I know
Dave really really values that and also just work great
around the around the field, is you know, one of
(01:20):
the best going around So.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
Him in particularly I was really excited about and.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
Then had to had to deny Peter Larchive's form for
the Hurricanes this year, so I thought he deserved a crack.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
If we look at the back line Ruben Love at ten,
what does he offer and is that the right call
from Rennie given he's been in such good form during
Super rugby.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
Well, the thing that I always loved about Ren's when
when he was coaching me is he would always reward form.
Was that it didn't matter if if you're established All
Black or a rookie. If you if you were playing
the best and he thought you would do a good
job for the team, then he had no issue starting here.
So there's certainly sort of signals that as well. And Mate,
(02:07):
you can't deny Ruben's form during Super rugby, and also
I think these are probably the perfect tests to give
him a crack in the ten jersey with a small
eye towards the South Africa Test the tour coming up,
I think you give him a crack now a couple
of tests while while he's in red hot form and
(02:29):
and then rear test for the South African tests. You
already know what Damien and body can do in the
ten jersey. These are the tests to give Reuben hopefully
a bit of confidence and then keep keep that competition
in amongst our tens.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
And thinks great, he's got obviously cam Roy guard inside
him at half back. How much how vitalist having you know,
speaking as a form of nine yourself, having that combination
already at super rugby.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
Level, it's massive, especially for knowing exactly when your ten
wants the ball and how your nine likes to likes
to function. I think it's really good, and especially having
Jordie outside him as well, so he's got a fair
bit of familiarity around him, and like dam is one of,
(03:14):
if not the world's best nine at the moment, so
it's pretty good.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
Pretty good guys to have around here.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Quinn to Pie obviously at center as well, I mean
super Uguye player of the year, but not a position
he's played a lot of. But do you think that
that's a combination, you know, Barrit into Pie that the
All Blacks can really pick and stick with over the
next couple of years leading into the World Cup.
Speaker 4 (03:37):
I think so.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
I mean, Quinn's a few years now removed from his
knee injury and he's looking like the explosive athlete that
he was before that, So yeah, you're right. He hasn't
played a lot of thirteen, but he has for the
All Blacks and.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
Performed pretty bloody well there, So yeah, I guess it's wondering.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
It's the decision from the from the coaching group, no
doubt was with Jordy and Quinn are probably your two
best midfielders and form midfielders at the moment, so which
one sticks at their preferred position at twelve? And they
obviously think that with Jeordie's skill set around around his
kicking game and stuff like that, can really perhaps lighting
(04:19):
the load a.
Speaker 4 (04:20):
Little bit on Reuben. But yeah, I.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Wouldn't mind seeing those two switch around at some point,
especially using Quinn's explosiveness in the ball carrier from first place.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Well, speaking of switching around, will Jordan back to the
right wing, Damien McKenzie at fullback and interestingly, Dave Rennie
said the two best fullbacks in the world and wanted
them both on the park. Yeah, I guess Will Jordan's
played plenty of right wing It's a switch that both
will be used to buy and large, isn't it. What
do you make of that selection?
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Yeah, I guess it's just a case of who are
your fifteen best players and trying to get all of
them on the field at one time rather than them
the meeting for each other's lunch.
Speaker 4 (04:59):
So yeah, I think.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Look that Damien's been particularly world class at fifteen for
a number of years, and Davis coached him in the
past with the Chiefs at mostly at fifteen back then too,
so it's pretty familiar for him. And yeah, I just
think his all round skill set is really suited for
international fifteen. And Will Jordan has been one of, if
(05:25):
not the best right wingers and will rugby for a
long time. I know he prefers playing fifteen, but man,
he's a pretty good winger. For having both of them
on the park at one time is pretty special. And
you know, you know, keep harping back to how much
Dave Rennie appreciates or values work work, great work, ethic,
and Will Jordan and Damien are both two of the
(05:47):
fittest guys going around, so they fit in perfectly to
that mold.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Brad Webber with us on news talks. Be you obviously
mentioned Rennie and you were coached by him. So what
were the immediate changes that maybe we see from this
All Blacks team around what we see on the park
tactically and perhaps their attitude to rugby.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
Well, initially I would have thought maybe we see a
bit more running rugby, a bit more licensed to have
a crack from their own end, and I still probably
do believe that we will see that. I think the
Hurricanes certainly proved in Super Rugby this year that that
style of rugby can work. Like my only thought or
(06:29):
perhaps pushback on that is I wonder how much Dave's
time in Scotland and in the Northern Hemisphere potentially has
changed his attacking outlook from when I was coached by
him at the Chiefs. So it will be certainly interesting,
and obviously with Mike Blair as well being from the
Northern Hemisphere and in the attacking group as well, Yeah,
(06:52):
I'll be really probably be something I'll be really interested in.
But my gut still tells me that there'll be plenty
of attacking footy encourage from Dave and Mike, and certainly
I think we probably see the most to shift in
this All Black team is the brutality and violence at
(07:14):
the breakdown. That's something that always sticks out of mind
with Dave.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Any coach teams and the All Blacks have perhaps kicked,
you know a lot. As the international game has changed
over the last couple of years with the XC escort
rule changing. Do you think that Renny will adapt to that?
Perhaps that the style of game you know that he
has previously coached at the Chiefs and Glovesgo and over
in Corbey.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
I mean, the trend would suggest that maybe he would
he would change, and I mean the stats really back
up kicking and.
Speaker 4 (07:46):
Kick meters tend to.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
Swing the winning percentage in your favor if you're winning
those those stats. Is obviously quite a bit of nuancewer
around it. But certainly these sort of deepest stats that
have been brought in makes the game of rugby a
little bit more analytical and head coaches and particularly get
a little bit obsessed with with hitting these certain markers. However,
(08:12):
I know, I still think deep down Rens will be
pretty keen to change that current trend because you know,
all trends sort of coming roundabouts in months. One thing
is in fashion, the other thing starts starts working a
bit better. So perhaps certainly what we're seeing from from
(08:32):
the Hurricanes and Bordeaux as well when when they were
in the Champions Cup in Europe, it's certainly much more
free flowing and you.
Speaker 4 (08:41):
Know, having a little bit more of a crack on attack.
So I'd like to think that maybe that's the way
we go.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
And before I let you go, Brad, you've obviously spent
some time playing at STAT France and spent a lot
of time with the French players that are coming down.
I think you said though some ballers coming down to
New Zealand a couple of months ago on online. What
do you make of the French squad? And is it
I guess you know, obviously missing to lose players. What
are we going to expect from this each team comes
(09:07):
Saturday night.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
Yeah, I'll tell you what, Elliott.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
It shows how little the Kiwi public and the media
know about French rugby, because I've been on just about
every single rugby and sports show this week talking about
the French team. So yeah, look, I'm just really happy
that New Zealand fans finally get to see what some
(09:34):
of these French players are like. It is a shame
that we don't get to see all the big guns
from from Toulouse in particular here. But man, this bord
Old team and particularly these back line players some of
the best broken field runners that I've ever played against.
So the all backs are gonna have to be really
tight around limiting turnover ball for these guys because they
(09:55):
can score from anywhere and they have a crack, especially
the likes of Jelly Beer and Peno We've obviously seen
in the World Cup a few years ago, but jelly
Beer in particularly the first five is in red hot
form for ball and he's linked up with his Harvest
partner Maxim Luku, who's got a skill set that none
of our nines have in this country.
Speaker 4 (10:16):
Well perhaps Cole Preston a little bit. You can kick off,
you can kick off both.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
Feet, he kicks goals and just in terms of driving
a game, is certainly one of the best that I've
played again, So look, I really hope for our fans
sake that they get a few opportunities to really showcase
exactly what they're what they're like under the roof and
christ Church but hopefully not too many that that it
spoils Dave Renny's party.
Speaker 4 (10:40):
But yeah, ideally be five works on both sides.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
Absolutely, Hey Brad, appreciate your time and you are adding
us to your list of engagements this week. Look forward
to catching up Solute and appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (10:52):
No worries, Elliot, cheers mate there.
Speaker 1 (10:54):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks
it'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio
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