September 25, 2025 • 10 mins
The All Blacks are two days away from defending the Eden Park fortress again in 2025 as they take on the Wallabies in the first Bledisloe Cup test.
Scott Barrett has been ruled out due to a shoulder injury meaning Ardie Savea takes over the captaincy, Cam Roigard, Codie Taylor, Fabian Holland and Caleb Clarke all return to the starting side and Patrick Tuipolotu and Cortez Ratima return to the bench having recovered for their injuries.
D'Arcy caught up with former All Black prop Craig Dowd to discuss the team named.
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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):
It's Thursday, It's a home test. The All Black squad
was named earlier today. Six changes being made, which sounds
a lot worse than it actually is. To this team
that suffered a record breaking defeat to the spring Box
Wellington a couple of weeks back. Scott Barrett has been
ruled out due to a shoulder injury. Means ardis harvere.
It takes over the captain see Cam Roy Guard, the
(00:35):
Roy Guard action, Cody, Taylor, Fabi and Holland Caleb Clark
all come back to the starting side. And Big Patty
two ups Patrick two Blotto and Court. You know its
name's actually caught hez Lee, the little hyphen that he
just runs it short court. There's Lee Artima. I should
never have found that out. They returned to the bench
(00:56):
and they ever recovered from their injuries. Right, let's get
amongst not literally but figuratively form All Black prop Craig
down now to mal over the changes in the team
and what is shaping up to be an absolute cracker
of an encounter. While I hope theyday mate, here we
go again. Eight another classic Test match.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Craiky, I'm not expecting anything less than fire and brimstone
from the All Blacks this week.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
And I don't envy the Australian team.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
That loss has gonna hurt and the debrief they would
have been through, the pain that those guys would be
suffering would be unbearable. So I'm picking that it's going
to be fire and brimstone.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Let's wind it back to when you were playing, Craig.
Did you suffer in no?
Speaker 4 (01:44):
Unfortunately?
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Did you wind it back when your team got absolutely hammled?
I'd suggest back in those days it very rarely happened.
And the response from the All Black what was the
week like in the lead up to that? The soul
search that went on with the men?
Speaker 4 (01:58):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Look, and I know we've been talking off about some
of the other games that you've watched, but I mean,
I don't remember all of the games that I played
for the Blacks, but I never forget the losses. That's
the one thing that any player you ask well will
come out and say they just never forgot losing in
the Black Jersey because it was horrible. And you know,
(02:19):
if you're lucky enough to get another crack after a loss,
then you definitely make up for it.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Okay, you played over fifty test matches, so how many
did you lose in that time? And again, what was
the response? What happened?
Speaker 3 (02:29):
I think would be it might be fifteen that we lost.
I played sixty all up and I think they're so
seventy five percent success, right, But yeah, what happened was
the media. We're just climbing to us. I mean, we
had a court judge come and talk to the all
Blacks about the impact on what happens in society when
we lose a game.
Speaker 4 (02:50):
Domestic violence goes up over one hundred percent.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
You know, losing a game, you feel so so responsible
for what goes on, you know on a domestic front,
it's scary.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
So what was the best way to read tool? What
did you guys do the deep stern conversations you go
for a first shaven How did it op? I mean
you worked under different coaches that have different theorizing on that.
What was a good way through that?
Speaker 4 (03:12):
A good way? A good way let's process that.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
Lorry Mains Lorri Mains would actually just stay on the
line and he would cane us physically just absolutely run
the shit out of us. John Hart would be more
analytical and go through the you know, just what happened
and have an honesty session. And yeah, but I mean
you felt that. You know, you have any any player
that's worth half a grand assault, he knows and everyone
(03:39):
in the All Black team has their own standards and
if you drop your standard and which causes a loss, then.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
Yeah, yeah, you know it's not great.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
And I'm sorry when you were watching and you looked
at that and you saw the is it fair to
say the All Blacks turned off in that second half?
It's very un All Blacks? What did you read into that?
What did you see? Why did that happen?
Speaker 3 (04:01):
I personally believe the occasion of the South African team
at Eton Park a week earlier was as big as
any game that you're going to get outside of World Cup,
outside of World Cup finally, and there was a lot
of pressure and there was a lot of just the
All Blacks had to win that game. Ardis a vis
hundredth game, and I just think they played so well
they got the win, and I.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
Think they dropped their guard.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
I think, you know, the standard from fifteen players taking
the field was not the same standard we saw the
week earlier.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
So yeah, unfortunately the human absolutely, So the changes have
been wrung, but they're they're a huge amount of changes.
Talk us through what you've seen in this side. There's
been some consistency of selection with Scott robertson, which I
don't think is a surprise, especially you look at the midfield.
They've had to play around with the pack because he's
(04:51):
returning players and of course the captain is out injured.
So what are you reading to the selections craze.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
Yeah, look, by no ways is anything broken and just
because it's a massive loss, your hands up, get on
with it, fellers. How do we fig So obviously we've
all been talking about the number nine jersey and and
you know we've been toying with just where we're going
to get, you know, a fit number nine from But
for cam Reuigard comes straight in into the starting position
(05:19):
after you know, one game of county is great, fantastic.
We all love this guy. He's an absolute superstart waiting
to happen. He's going to make a massive difference for
that team. The Ford pack personally, they took a hiding
scrum time and set peace and they will know it,
they will be hurting it and I think that's going
to be a key focus this weekend for our scrum
to step up. And of course there's the Micron factor
(05:41):
and the Australian scrum has improved somewhat. But yeah, that's
that's that's that's going to be in my mind where
the game is won and lost. But then take Keeler
cart Clark's coming back. You know, he's on his home
ground at Eden Park, which is great and the in
part factor, let's not forget, that's going to be huge
again once this weekend. So the pressure on you know,
to bounce back and then also not lose that that
(06:02):
I mean just imagine that the worst ever loss on
an All Black team and losing at weedon par Eton
Park in.
Speaker 4 (06:08):
A space for two weeks. I don't want that.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
So I'd be very very surprised if these guys have
the correct attitude and go out there.
Speaker 4 (06:17):
And like I said earlier, it's fire and Brimstone.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Artie Savia has the captaincy by default because finally Scott
Barrett's got a damn shoulder so he can't What will
that mean from Ardie and for the rest of the
team because he's kind of a leader already that maybe
you wouldn't see a lot of that last week or
two weeks ago.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
Yeah, I look, I think it's a great, great change
naming Ardie captain.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
He sets the standard within that all Black team.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Like I said, the game against South Africa at ad
Eton Park, it was one hundredth game, it was a
big occasion from again having that the captain mantle.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
It will be another big occasion for Arti and the
fourteen players behind him.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
They follow Artie, you know, he sets the standard, he
creates the go forward and let the other players catch
up to his standards.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
The front row a place that you've spent far too
much time root Taylor, plainly Taylor coming back, who's just
getting better and better and better, is going to be huge,
especially down the stretch when the actually need someone to
throw the ball straight. That's another story. And Lomax, they're
setting up there and coming off the bench to cover
those guys. Samasoni, Takiyaho. You got to Mighty Williams and
(07:25):
Fletcher knew. What does that say to you? That selection?
Speaker 3 (07:28):
Well, I looked at the reserves and there's you've got
this bomb squad sitting on the bench there. But you're
quite right, Cody coming back and to sort of steady.
Speaker 4 (07:35):
The ship and offer that experience up front. He's huge.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
You know, we we did miss some in that last game,
but look, Tyron Lomax, he's getting back to his form.
He's he's only just come back from injury himself. I
rate that guy as a fantastic tight ed world class
and of course Ethan degree it's a great front row
and a great replacement. So there's no reason why else
(07:59):
Crumb should not operate. And I'm sure you know there's
a little soul searching going on. What did happen against
South Friga and they ain't going to want to repeat it.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Some of the changes, as I said, pushed on by
the fact that we've got no Scooter Barrett, but Fabian
or Fabian is like to be called Fabian Holland and
a lot along with Triple V is no longer at six.
Simon park has got that role, that great, big lump
of a human being has got that role. Satiti at
the boot and Savia at open Site. Simon Parker's arguing
(08:31):
in the story of the Year in the Pack, isn't.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
He absolutely so that's that's a fantastic back five, you know,
and again it's they were all there on merit.
Speaker 4 (08:40):
I mean, that's a that's a really exciting loose portreo
as well.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
You know, like I'm really enjoying Wallace's het, seeing him
back of that black jersey. And but you know, Simon
Parker obviously physicality around the field, and you know, and
then there's Artie Servier, which is one of the best players,
if not the best player in the world.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
We've got a guy on the bench, Peter Luck. I
haven't aready seen a great deal of him. He's come in.
Some players have fallen too one side. I don't know
if it's a punishment or but there's no care for example,
and then they're pumped for this relatively inexperienced Peter Luck guy.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
Yeah, it's I think what raises be seen in those guys.
He's given them the you know, they've got his trust.
They're going to go out there and they will be
sitting in the back of the room all those brief
listening to what's been happening, and they'll be hurting as
part of the squad themselves. And this is their opportunities
and when they get on the field to go and
(09:33):
prove themselves.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
And I'm presuming that you are going to back your
former teammates all the way and suggesting that you're not
fearful for anything. You're more fearful for the Australians than
anything else.
Speaker 4 (09:43):
Oh.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
Look, in my mind, there is only one result this weekend,
you know, And I'm just mindful of coming off the
loss that they have the pressure of Eden Park and
what that brings. I think these guys are hurting, and well,
if they're not hurting, they're not real all backs, are they?
Of course they're hurting, and I'm expecting a pretty convincing performance.
Speaker 4 (10:04):
And that's not to say, you know, so Australia.
Speaker 3 (10:07):
They might sniff blood, but you know, they put their
nose too close to it, don't get it slipped down.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks.
They'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):
It's Thursday, It's a home test. The All Black squad
was named earlier today. Six changes being made, which sounds
a lot worse than it actually is. To this team
that suffered a record breaking defeat to the spring Box
Wellington a couple of weeks back. Scott Barrett has been
ruled out due to a shoulder injury. Means ardis harvere.
It takes over the captain see Cam Roy Guard, the
(00:35):
Roy Guard action, Cody, Taylor, Fabi and Holland Caleb Clark
all come back to the starting side. And Big Patty
two ups Patrick two Blotto and Court. You know its
name's actually caught hez Lee, the little hyphen that he
just runs it short court. There's Lee Artima. I should
never have found that out. They returned to the bench
(00:56):
and they ever recovered from their injuries. Right, let's get
amongst not literally but figuratively form All Black prop Craig
down now to mal over the changes in the team
and what is shaping up to be an absolute cracker
of an encounter. While I hope theyday mate, here we
go again. Eight another classic Test match.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Craiky, I'm not expecting anything less than fire and brimstone
from the All Blacks this week.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
And I don't envy the Australian team.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
That loss has gonna hurt and the debrief they would
have been through, the pain that those guys would be
suffering would be unbearable. So I'm picking that it's going
to be fire and brimstone.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Let's wind it back to when you were playing, Craig.
Did you suffer in no?
Speaker 4 (01:44):
Unfortunately?
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Did you wind it back when your team got absolutely hammled?
I'd suggest back in those days it very rarely happened.
And the response from the All Black what was the
week like in the lead up to that? The soul
search that went on with the men?
Speaker 4 (01:58):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Look, and I know we've been talking off about some
of the other games that you've watched, but I mean,
I don't remember all of the games that I played
for the Blacks, but I never forget the losses. That's
the one thing that any player you ask well will
come out and say they just never forgot losing in
the Black Jersey because it was horrible. And you know,
(02:19):
if you're lucky enough to get another crack after a loss,
then you definitely make up for it.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Okay, you played over fifty test matches, so how many
did you lose in that time? And again, what was
the response? What happened?
Speaker 3 (02:29):
I think would be it might be fifteen that we lost.
I played sixty all up and I think they're so
seventy five percent success, right, But yeah, what happened was
the media. We're just climbing to us. I mean, we
had a court judge come and talk to the all
Blacks about the impact on what happens in society when
we lose a game.
Speaker 4 (02:50):
Domestic violence goes up over one hundred percent.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
You know, losing a game, you feel so so responsible
for what goes on, you know on a domestic front,
it's scary.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
So what was the best way to read tool? What
did you guys do the deep stern conversations you go
for a first shaven How did it op? I mean
you worked under different coaches that have different theorizing on that.
What was a good way through that?
Speaker 4 (03:12):
A good way? A good way let's process that.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
Lorry Mains Lorri Mains would actually just stay on the
line and he would cane us physically just absolutely run
the shit out of us. John Hart would be more
analytical and go through the you know, just what happened
and have an honesty session. And yeah, but I mean
you felt that. You know, you have any any player
that's worth half a grand assault, he knows and everyone
(03:39):
in the All Black team has their own standards and
if you drop your standard and which causes a loss, then.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
Yeah, yeah, you know it's not great.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
And I'm sorry when you were watching and you looked
at that and you saw the is it fair to
say the All Blacks turned off in that second half?
It's very un All Blacks? What did you read into that?
What did you see? Why did that happen?
Speaker 3 (04:01):
I personally believe the occasion of the South African team
at Eton Park a week earlier was as big as
any game that you're going to get outside of World Cup,
outside of World Cup finally, and there was a lot
of pressure and there was a lot of just the
All Blacks had to win that game. Ardis a vis
hundredth game, and I just think they played so well
they got the win, and I.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
Think they dropped their guard.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
I think, you know, the standard from fifteen players taking
the field was not the same standard we saw the
week earlier.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
So yeah, unfortunately the human absolutely, So the changes have
been wrung, but they're they're a huge amount of changes.
Talk us through what you've seen in this side. There's
been some consistency of selection with Scott robertson, which I
don't think is a surprise, especially you look at the midfield.
They've had to play around with the pack because he's
(04:51):
returning players and of course the captain is out injured.
So what are you reading to the selections craze.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
Yeah, look, by no ways is anything broken and just
because it's a massive loss, your hands up, get on
with it, fellers. How do we fig So obviously we've
all been talking about the number nine jersey and and
you know we've been toying with just where we're going
to get, you know, a fit number nine from But
for cam Reuigard comes straight in into the starting position
(05:19):
after you know, one game of county is great, fantastic.
We all love this guy. He's an absolute superstart waiting
to happen. He's going to make a massive difference for
that team. The Ford pack personally, they took a hiding
scrum time and set peace and they will know it,
they will be hurting it and I think that's going
to be a key focus this weekend for our scrum
to step up. And of course there's the Micron factor
(05:41):
and the Australian scrum has improved somewhat. But yeah, that's
that's that's that's going to be in my mind where
the game is won and lost. But then take Keeler
cart Clark's coming back. You know, he's on his home
ground at Eden Park, which is great and the in
part factor, let's not forget, that's going to be huge
again once this weekend. So the pressure on you know,
to bounce back and then also not lose that that
(06:02):
I mean just imagine that the worst ever loss on
an All Black team and losing at weedon par Eton
Park in.
Speaker 4 (06:08):
A space for two weeks. I don't want that.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
So I'd be very very surprised if these guys have
the correct attitude and go out there.
Speaker 4 (06:17):
And like I said earlier, it's fire and Brimstone.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Artie Savia has the captaincy by default because finally Scott
Barrett's got a damn shoulder so he can't What will
that mean from Ardie and for the rest of the
team because he's kind of a leader already that maybe
you wouldn't see a lot of that last week or
two weeks ago.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
Yeah, I look, I think it's a great, great change
naming Ardie captain.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
He sets the standard within that all Black team.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Like I said, the game against South Africa at ad
Eton Park, it was one hundredth game, it was a
big occasion from again having that the captain mantle.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
It will be another big occasion for Arti and the
fourteen players behind him.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
They follow Artie, you know, he sets the standard, he
creates the go forward and let the other players catch
up to his standards.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
The front row a place that you've spent far too
much time root Taylor, plainly Taylor coming back, who's just
getting better and better and better, is going to be huge,
especially down the stretch when the actually need someone to
throw the ball straight. That's another story. And Lomax, they're
setting up there and coming off the bench to cover
those guys. Samasoni, Takiyaho. You got to Mighty Williams and
(07:25):
Fletcher knew. What does that say to you? That selection?
Speaker 3 (07:28):
Well, I looked at the reserves and there's you've got
this bomb squad sitting on the bench there. But you're
quite right, Cody coming back and to sort of steady.
Speaker 4 (07:35):
The ship and offer that experience up front. He's huge.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
You know, we we did miss some in that last game,
but look, Tyron Lomax, he's getting back to his form.
He's he's only just come back from injury himself. I
rate that guy as a fantastic tight ed world class
and of course Ethan degree it's a great front row
and a great replacement. So there's no reason why else
(07:59):
Crumb should not operate. And I'm sure you know there's
a little soul searching going on. What did happen against
South Friga and they ain't going to want to repeat it.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Some of the changes, as I said, pushed on by
the fact that we've got no Scooter Barrett, but Fabian
or Fabian is like to be called Fabian Holland and
a lot along with Triple V is no longer at six.
Simon park has got that role, that great, big lump
of a human being has got that role. Satiti at
the boot and Savia at open Site. Simon Parker's arguing
(08:31):
in the story of the Year in the Pack, isn't.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
He absolutely so that's that's a fantastic back five, you know,
and again it's they were all there on merit.
Speaker 4 (08:40):
I mean, that's a that's a really exciting loose portreo
as well.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
You know, like I'm really enjoying Wallace's het, seeing him
back of that black jersey. And but you know, Simon
Parker obviously physicality around the field, and you know, and
then there's Artie Servier, which is one of the best players,
if not the best player in the world.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
We've got a guy on the bench, Peter Luck. I
haven't aready seen a great deal of him. He's come in.
Some players have fallen too one side. I don't know
if it's a punishment or but there's no care for example,
and then they're pumped for this relatively inexperienced Peter Luck guy.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
Yeah, it's I think what raises be seen in those guys.
He's given them the you know, they've got his trust.
They're going to go out there and they will be
sitting in the back of the room all those brief
listening to what's been happening, and they'll be hurting as
part of the squad themselves. And this is their opportunities
and when they get on the field to go and
(09:33):
prove themselves.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
And I'm presuming that you are going to back your
former teammates all the way and suggesting that you're not
fearful for anything. You're more fearful for the Australians than
anything else.
Speaker 4 (09:43):
Oh.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
Look, in my mind, there is only one result this weekend,
you know, And I'm just mindful of coming off the
loss that they have the pressure of Eden Park and
what that brings. I think these guys are hurting, and well,
if they're not hurting, they're not real all backs, are they?
Of course they're hurting, and I'm expecting a pretty convincing performance.
Speaker 4 (10:04):
And that's not to say, you know, so Australia.
Speaker 3 (10:07):
They might sniff blood, but you know, they put their
nose too close to it, don't get it slipped down.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks.
They'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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