July 7, 2025 • 10 mins
The All Blacks managed a scrappy win over France in Dunedin, but they've got some improvements to make ahead of the second clash.
The 31-27 victory has left the team with plenty to mull over for the next few days.
All Blacks halfback Cam Roigard joined Piney to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talk zed Be.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
I was to catch the eye and a black jersey
on Saturday night. Was half back Cam roy Guard.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
And it will be a penalty for the All Blacks.
In midfield. Cody Taylor's pointing at the sticks, but he's
been ignored. Cam roy gut slices up the midlowe pick
still going. Roy gut head supported us left Penn site
puck quite release it, but he's two away.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Wonderful run from Roygut Yeah, one of those trademark runs
from Cam roy Guard. He also, of course made the
run which set up Jordy Barrett for what looked to
be the All Blacks first try before being chalked off
by the TMO for a Fletcher Nu'll knock on. I
had the chance to chat with cham camroy Guard this afternoon.
His name's came Roy Guard. I spoke to him this
afternoon and us first up for his overall reflections on
(00:55):
the first Test and Needen on Saturday.
Speaker 4 (00:58):
Yeah, good, I guess we did.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
You know.
Speaker 5 (01:00):
I guess the challenge with playing your first Test of
the year is you know that I guess actively how
are you going to click together with not much time
to prepare, and then obviously the uncetity of what the
French are going to throw at us, as they'll have
you know, special plays and special moves and all that
sort of stuff. So yeah, it's been good to get
there one under the bout and get the result. I
(01:21):
feel like we've got our big rocks right and obviously
plenty of things to work on still, which I think
is obviously always going to be a given at this
stage of where we're at in the season for us.
Speaker 4 (01:33):
But yeah, overall, pretty pretty heavy.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Did the French surprise you in any way or did
they come with what you expected they would come with? Yeah?
Speaker 5 (01:41):
I think no, I don't think there was too many
surprises in terms of what they're going to turn up. Like,
you know, they play with lots of passion, lots of
lots of pride, and then there are a team that's
then going to go away, and I guess unfortunately for us,
we sort of played them to their hands a little
bit with you know, giving them a lot of turnover
ball and sort of letting them off the hook, and
we felt like they were about to crack, which is
(02:03):
exactly how they enjoy playing and you know last time
we played them and it was the exact same thing happens.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
So you know, we know that if we can sort of.
Speaker 5 (02:11):
Keep creating opportunities like we were on the weekend, but
be able to finish them a bit more ruthless in
that space, then yeah, will be being a good spot.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Can we just come talk us through the kick strategy,
particularly box kicking, and what it is that your part
in that is looking to achieve, and then what you
need from others as part of the aerial game.
Speaker 5 (02:31):
Yeah. I know a lot of people don't like it
when they think that we're just kicking them all away,
but it's all around, you know, for us pressure cycles
and how we can put pressure back on them, whether
it's through gaining territory because if they do get the
ball back, we're defending on the halfway or in their half,
which I guess takes the pressure of us a little bit,
or if we do get it back, you know that
(02:52):
immediately puts the pressure straight back on them as they're
into our counter attack opportunities.
Speaker 4 (02:57):
So yeah, I guess it's a little.
Speaker 5 (02:59):
Bit of an element of trying to control the game,
and it probably can get a bit stale for people
watching it home that don't quite understand it or don't
know why we're doing it. But you can see in
both sides that there's a lot of kicking on the
weekend because we are trying to control that either the
territory or you know, put the forced mistakes through through
our kicking game. And you know, it's gonna be a
(03:21):
big challenge this weekend. Obviously not under a roof, so
the kicks aren't going to be perfect. It's going to
be swirling all over the place, if it's anything like
it has been this year. So it's going to be
an exciting challenge. And yeah, I think it's gonna be
a big part to win in the scheme on the weekend.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
So when you were lining up a box kick, I
was presumably you're going for elevation more than distance, so
that you give your guys the chance to get under it.
Is it a it's quite a science. It's something I've
seen you work on at Captain Drums. Do you work
closely on that?
Speaker 4 (03:48):
Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 5 (03:49):
It's probably a skill set that's probably a little bit
underrated in my opinion. You know, people probably don't know
how hard it is, and with the rules around the
time of the ruck and you're not allowed anyone to
stand in front of.
Speaker 4 (04:01):
You for protection, so there's a lot more pressure on
the box kicker now and because they obviously trying to
be the game up, which is all good.
Speaker 5 (04:08):
So yeah, there's definitely quite a big skill set involved
with the executing a good box skick. And the difference
between a good box stick and a bad box kick
can either be the location or where it lands. And
if that's the length, if it's thirty meters, it's too long,
and if it's you know, twenty meters in or you know,
eighteen meters and it's too short.
Speaker 4 (04:26):
So yeah, it's definitely something that we work as.
Speaker 5 (04:29):
Nine is pretty hard at because so we can because
it is a big part of our game, and if
we can nail it, then yeah, we're doing the right
things to sort of getting in control of the game.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Let's move to something that people do start cheering about
and that you're sniping going from the base of the ruck.
And you went in this first half on the weekend
and set Jordy up for a try that was eventually
ruled out. But in those moments when you are decision
making and split seconds. What are the pictures you're seeing.
Speaker 5 (04:52):
Yeah, I guess around a few things around body language
from the opposition. You know that we're that the French
team is a team that's probably set, peace dominant, and
if we can go deep in the phase count sort
of fatigue them, then I guess those opportunities can open up.
And yeah, like you say, it was sort of a
little bit unfortunate with the that try getting overalled, But
(05:13):
I think the way that we're trying to play sort
of suits the way I want to play, because if
we get quick rucks where the defense isn't set, then
there's opportunities to sort of poke out and have a look.
And if it means that it's a mismatch on a
on a prop or you know, someone that's not quite ready,
then yeah, that suits me perfectly.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
And similar situation was the tap penalty that you took
in the second half. I think I saw Cody Taylers thing,
I we're going to take a shot at goal, but
then off your went and almost got there. So in
those moments, you feel you've got the responsibility, you're able
to make those decisions.
Speaker 5 (05:43):
Yeah, I think collectively we sort of felt that they
were in a position they're a little bit vulnerable, and
I guess that fatigue element was setting in and they
were about to crack, and it was I was thinking it,
and then I was sort of looking across, and then
Scooter was sort of telling me to go, so I
was like, oh, well, I'm not gonna ask twice. So
and then as it sort of worked out, probably, yeah,
I didn't really have a plan as to what I
(06:04):
was going to do, but obviously yeah, worked out up
until we got turned over. But I guess, yeah, having
the confidence collectively to we have our you know, systems,
instructions and stuff, but being able to play what's in
front of us and if we get an opportunity to
be able to take there is Yes, it's what we're
about as well.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Your eleventh test, but you're first at home. All your
ten previous tests have been off. Sure, So how different
was the week and how special was the week?
Speaker 5 (06:29):
Yeah? I loved it. It was Yeah, probably a long
time coming in terms of playing in front of you know,
while playing in New Zealand, in front of our fans
and friends and family and whatnot. So it was cool
to finally get that one I guess out of the way,
but yeah, enjoyed the enjoyed the build up. Our fans
are great, you know, they're so passionate, so loud, and
(06:51):
although you know, they travel really well as well, you know,
like at the World Cup obviously we had plenty of
New Zealand support, but yeah, it's just different at home,
you know, playing in a stadium with unfamiliar playing with
you know, with faces that I see in the crowd
that you know, have been supporting me, you know since
day one and stuff like that's pretty cool.
Speaker 4 (07:09):
So yeah, really looking forward to this.
Speaker 5 (07:12):
Weekend as well, if IgE an opportunity obviously playing in Wellington,
which would be cool. Yeah, never played here in the
All Black jerseys, so yeah, yeah, just so excited to
hopefully get another opportunity this weekend and year Rips in
our country.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
And four debutantes on the on the weekend just gone,
including one of your Hurricanes teammates and du Plas clearly
something that he's worked hard for and absolutely deserves. What
was it like, you know, having you know, having Dups
on the on the field as an All Black alongside you.
Speaker 5 (07:40):
Yeah, it's exceremely special for him and his family. I
think a lot of people are still of starting to
see how much it means to him and his family.
And I think, you know, I've known him since I've
come since I first came to the Hurricanes in twenty
twenty one, and I know how hard he works and
how passionate he is about playing for you know, obviously
(08:00):
there was the Hurricanes, but you know, playing in New
Zealand probably I'm sure there would have been times where
he was, you know, thinking it wasn't going to happen.
But you know, credit to him the resilience he showed
to be able to get better, you know, on the
field obviously as a player and as a leader, especially
through the Hurricanes, he's started to make them, you know,
(08:21):
really mature decisions with his actions on the field. And yeah,
everything that sort of comes way over the past couple
of weeks has been through nothing but hard work and
I guess determination to sort of make this dreamer has
come true.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
So yeah, really stick from and.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Of course some the eight nine combo is quite important too.
And Christian Leo Willie, a guy who you probably I
don't know, haven't played a lot with. How did you
go about forging that partnership during the week.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
Yeah, it was great.
Speaker 5 (08:46):
It was just about I guess, connecting around a few
what if scenarios, So he's not getting flustered, He's yeah,
I don't know if we had played together before, but
you know I've played obviously against him, and you know,
he's a pretty smooth operator and seems to be pretty
composed a lot of the time. And you know, obviously
having Laradi Besidon would have been pretty good for us
(09:06):
confidence and yea, I was just making sure that I
was always just connecting with them through the week around
some stuff that we would get through normally, and just
try to treat it as normal of the week as possible.
So you know, it's pretty clear for him, so you
could just go out and do his job on the weekend,
which yeah, which him as he did along with you
know the other.
Speaker 4 (09:24):
Debutants as well. So yeah, pretty stoked for all four
of them.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
It's cool just to finish. Obviously, last year had the
injury which kept you out of the All Black store
the end of year tour. In your first year as
at All Let you came in and waited a couple
of tests for your debut. Here are first test of
the year, you're the starting nine looking into a World
Cup cycle. Do you feel in a good place rugby wise,
and you're excited about what the next three years might hold.
Speaker 4 (09:47):
Yeah, yeah, it's definitely exciting.
Speaker 5 (09:48):
It's you never take the position I'm unfo granted and
being able to play the first tests is pretty special
and yeah, hopefully. Well, definitely I'm in a position where
I can get a lot better and you know, being
in this environment definitely enables me alongside everyone else here
to to do that. And yeah, whatever my position or
(10:09):
my role on the team is, I know that I'm
going to be able to get better each week. With
the coaching group and the players that we have, it's
an inevitable So yeah, hugely exciting for the future for me.
Speaker 4 (10:20):
But yeah, just focusing on week to week because that's
when you get the best out of me.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
So good man, thanks for the chat.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
Easy, thank you.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
That is cam roygat how I spoke with this afternoon.
The All Blacks have arrived in Wellington and settled in
at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport in
Upper Hut, where they'll be until Thursday. Then they'll move
into the city and into their Hotel ahead of Saturday's match.
Great to have a great chin wab with cam roy Guard.
He always gives you something. He is a very very
(10:49):
intelligent guy and obviously thinks a lot about the game,
so good to get his thoughts on a couple of things.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
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 Wildergrave
from News Talk zed Be.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
I was to catch the eye and a black jersey
on Saturday night. Was half back Cam roy Guard.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
And it will be a penalty for the All Blacks.
In midfield. Cody Taylor's pointing at the sticks, but he's
been ignored. Cam roy gut slices up the midlowe pick
still going. Roy gut head supported us left Penn site
puck quite release it, but he's two away.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Wonderful run from Roygut Yeah, one of those trademark runs
from Cam roy Guard. He also, of course made the
run which set up Jordy Barrett for what looked to
be the All Blacks first try before being chalked off
by the TMO for a Fletcher Nu'll knock on. I
had the chance to chat with cham camroy Guard this afternoon.
His name's came Roy Guard. I spoke to him this
afternoon and us first up for his overall reflections on
(00:55):
the first Test and Needen on Saturday.
Speaker 4 (00:58):
Yeah, good, I guess we did.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
You know.
Speaker 5 (01:00):
I guess the challenge with playing your first Test of
the year is you know that I guess actively how
are you going to click together with not much time
to prepare, and then obviously the uncetity of what the
French are going to throw at us, as they'll have
you know, special plays and special moves and all that
sort of stuff. So yeah, it's been good to get
there one under the bout and get the result. I
(01:21):
feel like we've got our big rocks right and obviously
plenty of things to work on still, which I think
is obviously always going to be a given at this
stage of where we're at in the season for us.
Speaker 4 (01:33):
But yeah, overall, pretty pretty heavy.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Did the French surprise you in any way or did
they come with what you expected they would come with? Yeah?
Speaker 5 (01:41):
I think no, I don't think there was too many
surprises in terms of what they're going to turn up. Like,
you know, they play with lots of passion, lots of
lots of pride, and then there are a team that's
then going to go away, and I guess unfortunately for us,
we sort of played them to their hands a little
bit with you know, giving them a lot of turnover
ball and sort of letting them off the hook, and
we felt like they were about to crack, which is
(02:03):
exactly how they enjoy playing and you know last time
we played them and it was the exact same thing happens.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
So you know, we know that if we can sort of.
Speaker 5 (02:11):
Keep creating opportunities like we were on the weekend, but
be able to finish them a bit more ruthless in
that space, then yeah, will be being a good spot.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Can we just come talk us through the kick strategy,
particularly box kicking, and what it is that your part
in that is looking to achieve, and then what you
need from others as part of the aerial game.
Speaker 5 (02:31):
Yeah. I know a lot of people don't like it
when they think that we're just kicking them all away,
but it's all around, you know, for us pressure cycles
and how we can put pressure back on them, whether
it's through gaining territory because if they do get the
ball back, we're defending on the halfway or in their half,
which I guess takes the pressure of us a little bit,
or if we do get it back, you know that
(02:52):
immediately puts the pressure straight back on them as they're
into our counter attack opportunities.
Speaker 4 (02:57):
So yeah, I guess it's a little.
Speaker 5 (02:59):
Bit of an element of trying to control the game,
and it probably can get a bit stale for people
watching it home that don't quite understand it or don't
know why we're doing it. But you can see in
both sides that there's a lot of kicking on the
weekend because we are trying to control that either the
territory or you know, put the forced mistakes through through
our kicking game. And you know, it's gonna be a
(03:21):
big challenge this weekend. Obviously not under a roof, so
the kicks aren't going to be perfect. It's going to
be swirling all over the place, if it's anything like
it has been this year. So it's going to be
an exciting challenge. And yeah, I think it's gonna be
a big part to win in the scheme on the weekend.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
So when you were lining up a box kick, I
was presumably you're going for elevation more than distance, so
that you give your guys the chance to get under it.
Is it a it's quite a science. It's something I've
seen you work on at Captain Drums. Do you work
closely on that?
Speaker 4 (03:48):
Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 5 (03:49):
It's probably a skill set that's probably a little bit
underrated in my opinion. You know, people probably don't know
how hard it is, and with the rules around the
time of the ruck and you're not allowed anyone to
stand in front of.
Speaker 4 (04:01):
You for protection, so there's a lot more pressure on
the box kicker now and because they obviously trying to
be the game up, which is all good.
Speaker 5 (04:08):
So yeah, there's definitely quite a big skill set involved
with the executing a good box skick. And the difference
between a good box stick and a bad box kick
can either be the location or where it lands. And
if that's the length, if it's thirty meters, it's too long,
and if it's you know, twenty meters in or you know,
eighteen meters and it's too short.
Speaker 4 (04:26):
So yeah, it's definitely something that we work as.
Speaker 5 (04:29):
Nine is pretty hard at because so we can because
it is a big part of our game, and if
we can nail it, then yeah, we're doing the right
things to sort of getting in control of the game.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Let's move to something that people do start cheering about
and that you're sniping going from the base of the ruck.
And you went in this first half on the weekend
and set Jordy up for a try that was eventually
ruled out. But in those moments when you are decision
making and split seconds. What are the pictures you're seeing.
Speaker 5 (04:52):
Yeah, I guess around a few things around body language
from the opposition. You know that we're that the French
team is a team that's probably set, peace dominant, and
if we can go deep in the phase count sort
of fatigue them, then I guess those opportunities can open up.
And yeah, like you say, it was sort of a
little bit unfortunate with the that try getting overalled, But
(05:13):
I think the way that we're trying to play sort
of suits the way I want to play, because if
we get quick rucks where the defense isn't set, then
there's opportunities to sort of poke out and have a look.
And if it means that it's a mismatch on a
on a prop or you know, someone that's not quite ready,
then yeah, that suits me perfectly.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
And similar situation was the tap penalty that you took
in the second half. I think I saw Cody Taylers thing,
I we're going to take a shot at goal, but
then off your went and almost got there. So in
those moments, you feel you've got the responsibility, you're able
to make those decisions.
Speaker 5 (05:43):
Yeah, I think collectively we sort of felt that they
were in a position they're a little bit vulnerable, and
I guess that fatigue element was setting in and they
were about to crack, and it was I was thinking it,
and then I was sort of looking across, and then
Scooter was sort of telling me to go, so I
was like, oh, well, I'm not gonna ask twice. So
and then as it sort of worked out, probably, yeah,
I didn't really have a plan as to what I
(06:04):
was going to do, but obviously yeah, worked out up
until we got turned over. But I guess, yeah, having
the confidence collectively to we have our you know, systems,
instructions and stuff, but being able to play what's in
front of us and if we get an opportunity to
be able to take there is Yes, it's what we're
about as well.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Your eleventh test, but you're first at home. All your
ten previous tests have been off. Sure, So how different
was the week and how special was the week?
Speaker 5 (06:29):
Yeah? I loved it. It was Yeah, probably a long
time coming in terms of playing in front of you know,
while playing in New Zealand, in front of our fans
and friends and family and whatnot. So it was cool
to finally get that one I guess out of the way,
but yeah, enjoyed the enjoyed the build up. Our fans
are great, you know, they're so passionate, so loud, and
(06:51):
although you know, they travel really well as well, you know,
like at the World Cup obviously we had plenty of
New Zealand support, but yeah, it's just different at home,
you know, playing in a stadium with unfamiliar playing with
you know, with faces that I see in the crowd
that you know, have been supporting me, you know since
day one and stuff like that's pretty cool.
Speaker 4 (07:09):
So yeah, really looking forward to this.
Speaker 5 (07:12):
Weekend as well, if IgE an opportunity obviously playing in Wellington,
which would be cool. Yeah, never played here in the
All Black jerseys, so yeah, yeah, just so excited to
hopefully get another opportunity this weekend and year Rips in
our country.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
And four debutantes on the on the weekend just gone,
including one of your Hurricanes teammates and du Plas clearly
something that he's worked hard for and absolutely deserves. What
was it like, you know, having you know, having Dups
on the on the field as an All Black alongside you.
Speaker 5 (07:40):
Yeah, it's exceremely special for him and his family. I
think a lot of people are still of starting to
see how much it means to him and his family.
And I think, you know, I've known him since I've
come since I first came to the Hurricanes in twenty
twenty one, and I know how hard he works and
how passionate he is about playing for you know, obviously
(08:00):
there was the Hurricanes, but you know, playing in New
Zealand probably I'm sure there would have been times where
he was, you know, thinking it wasn't going to happen.
But you know, credit to him the resilience he showed
to be able to get better, you know, on the
field obviously as a player and as a leader, especially
through the Hurricanes, he's started to make them, you know,
(08:21):
really mature decisions with his actions on the field. And yeah,
everything that sort of comes way over the past couple
of weeks has been through nothing but hard work and
I guess determination to sort of make this dreamer has
come true.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
So yeah, really stick from and.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Of course some the eight nine combo is quite important too.
And Christian Leo Willie, a guy who you probably I
don't know, haven't played a lot with. How did you
go about forging that partnership during the week.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
Yeah, it was great.
Speaker 5 (08:46):
It was just about I guess, connecting around a few
what if scenarios, So he's not getting flustered, He's yeah,
I don't know if we had played together before, but
you know I've played obviously against him, and you know,
he's a pretty smooth operator and seems to be pretty
composed a lot of the time. And you know, obviously
having Laradi Besidon would have been pretty good for us
(09:06):
confidence and yea, I was just making sure that I
was always just connecting with them through the week around
some stuff that we would get through normally, and just
try to treat it as normal of the week as possible.
So you know, it's pretty clear for him, so you
could just go out and do his job on the weekend,
which yeah, which him as he did along with you
know the other.
Speaker 4 (09:24):
Debutants as well. So yeah, pretty stoked for all four
of them.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
It's cool just to finish. Obviously, last year had the
injury which kept you out of the All Black store
the end of year tour. In your first year as
at All Let you came in and waited a couple
of tests for your debut. Here are first test of
the year, you're the starting nine looking into a World
Cup cycle. Do you feel in a good place rugby wise,
and you're excited about what the next three years might hold.
Speaker 4 (09:47):
Yeah, yeah, it's definitely exciting.
Speaker 5 (09:48):
It's you never take the position I'm unfo granted and
being able to play the first tests is pretty special
and yeah, hopefully. Well, definitely I'm in a position where
I can get a lot better and you know, being
in this environment definitely enables me alongside everyone else here
to to do that. And yeah, whatever my position or
(10:09):
my role on the team is, I know that I'm
going to be able to get better each week. With
the coaching group and the players that we have, it's
an inevitable So yeah, hugely exciting for the future for me.
Speaker 4 (10:20):
But yeah, just focusing on week to week because that's
when you get the best out of me.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
So good man, thanks for the chat.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
Easy, thank you.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
That is cam roygat how I spoke with this afternoon.
The All Blacks have arrived in Wellington and settled in
at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport in
Upper Hut, where they'll be until Thursday. Then they'll move
into the city and into their Hotel ahead of Saturday's match.
Great to have a great chin wab with cam roy Guard.
He always gives you something. He is a very very
(10:49):
intelligent guy and obviously thinks a lot about the game,
so good to get his thoughts on a couple of things.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
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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