Tomorrow a big announcement beckons, as the All Blacks squad to take on the Springboks will be named and those 23 men will be tasked with defending the ultimate record at Eden Park.
D'Arcy spoke with James Parsons, ex-All Black and Blues captain and current Sky Sport broadcaster to break down the match up and talk possible selections ahead of the big game.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Duncie Wildergrave
from News Talk z'b.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Gooday, jibber mate, how are you very very well looking
forward to this weekend? And that is an understatement I
think for any rugby mad individual, this is it. This
is not the test of the year. This is the
test in between World Cups surely.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Oh yeah, I mean I think at any time the
side has come these sides have come together. It's extremely close,
it's physical, and the scores aren't always massive, but it's
just so entertaining in terms of the.
Speaker 4 (00:42):
Way they go about their business.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Two differing styles, and I suppose that's what I'm really
interested in to see on Sunday night, and obviously with
the conditions, hopefully they can play their part and that
it's only due rather than rain.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Interesting you say the clash of styles, because this makes
great boxing fights as well, doesn't it. Could you just
outline or underline the key strengths and styles of both teams?
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Yeah, so I just bear with me. Will I nerd
out a little bit? But if I was to say
to you, South Africa had fourteen line breaks, they had
thirteen entries to the twenty two they had twenty two
defenders beaten on average.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
Would you say they win or lose that contest?
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Well, they win, but that's on average and you're far
from average. Are you pointing at something else with this
stat chains.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Well, if you look at fourteen line breaks and thirteen
twenty two meter entries, that's the hell of a lot
and it's really impressive attacking wise. But when they average that,
that's when they lose. And then when they win they
actually average five line breaks and only ten entries and
only twenty five defenders beaten. But the most important stat
is they have a lot less errors than score more points.
(01:52):
So I think they're going to go back to what
they know and we will see a lot of contestable kicking.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
We'll see a lot of taxical kicking.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
We'll see them trying to get some penalties to go
into the corner and go for a all. So that
style is probably what we'll see. Not that first twenty
minutes that we saw in Alice Park against the Wallaby.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
When you look at the pack of the All Blacks,
you'd look and suggest that's been our strength so far.
There was a lot more consistency, probably a lot less
errors involved in that group, it's the back line that
need to buff some of their sharp, sharpened edges. Do
you see that happening? Are they one or two beats
off getting that right?
Speaker 3 (02:36):
I think it's more trying to just release the shackles
and back their skill set, like will Jordan Bowden Barrett
like that second test against France.
Speaker 4 (02:48):
That's what we want to see.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
We want to see I suppose that X factor and
that ability to expose the outside and I don't think
it's all that drastic, like we sort of everyone reacts
to loss to Argentina, but you've got to remind like
they bet the Lions when they have their French players back,
they bet the lines. They were semi finalists at the
(03:09):
last World Cup. They don't actually quite get the respect
they deserve. And I know I don't want the public
accepting all Banck losses. That's not what I'm asking. But
just the form and the numbers suggest in terms of
the trajectory of this side in an attacking sense, they
are steps ahead of where they were last year. I
think last year they really went all out attack and
(03:33):
couldn't finish opportunities and maybe push passes and how to
high turnover count. The turnover count certainly dropped right down
against Arji, but before that it was down, but not
down to the point that you're playing reserved. You know,
like you've still got to be able to play what
you see, if you see the opportunity, execute it. But
a lot of that comes off the back of the
carry clean that I was talking about before. And if
(03:55):
you get that carried clean right, and I think two
po Va been at six with that sort of three
lock and big Body matches South Africa perfectly.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
And I think Wallace Tti.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
Couldn't come back at a bit of time because he
just has that knack of getting over that advantage line
which then slows the defense, which then gives players like
Bone and Barrett Will Jordan time to exploit that. So
I think if we can challenge the contestical kick area,
because that's where it's been a challenge against France and
against RG it's when they went to the air, if
(04:27):
we can match or you know, like it will have parody.
Speaker 4 (04:31):
Even just slightly.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
You know, you can't probably expect to beat the Selificans
in the air, but if we can just bring that
gap closer, I think the All Blacks put themselves in
a really, really strong position to win.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
As far as the team is concerned. James the naming,
there is a knee jerk reaction from a lot of
pundit scribes and the public saying we've got to change this, this, this,
This doesn't sound to me like something Scott Robertson would do.
It nobody's done of recent times. There are some areas
that needed to be tweaked, but you can go too far.
(05:02):
What do you think he's focused on the most? Where
are the changes required that I won't upset their apple
cut too much, but add something to the exchange.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
Yeah, I just thinking contest like this, you've got to
limit the amount of change in disruption. I potentially, because
of that aerial game, we may see more of probably
not three fullbacks, but there potentially would be. I think
Reuben Love potentially comes into the contest just in terms
(05:31):
of being able to match them earily and having your
best exponents in that backfield.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
So you can still have.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
Your power wingers as a Rico Yoani or a fiing
Anoku because.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
They actually chase most of the time.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
So where you've got to cover your backfield as your
ten will drop back there so body obviously has spent
some time at fifteen. He's good eerily, Will Jordan's really
good eerily And is there an opportunity to potentially have
a Ruben Love in that sort of pendulum?
Speaker 4 (06:00):
There really hard.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
On Sevu, so you could probably put Sevu to eleven
like he's showing he can player eleven, like he's been
a really really strong performer, but we haven't been able
to match in that in that aerial game. So I
think if there were to be changes, it would be
probably more so in that back three sort of pendulum
and how that backfield worked.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
So you wouldn't be meddling with the midfield. Are happy
with the makeup of the loose forward Trea and you
mentioned to before and where he stands in that There's
some complexities in there, but you're comfortable enough with the
person personnel.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
I have, Yeah, absolutely, Like as I say, like jeez,
I was waxing lyrically after the French and one game
won't dictate my perception, like I try to base it
all on facts and statistically, this this group that has
been selected for the majority of parts and key areas
has dominated the contest. Admittedly, you know we didn't get
(06:59):
things one hundred percent right in the second test. We
probably didn't get things one hundred percent right in the
first test either, we managed to get a result. I
just think you need experience. You don't want to be
putting guys. Too many guys out there, like a Springbok
test is the biggest I believe, like in terms of
(07:20):
what this Eden Park record means, you need guys that
have been there, done it can absorb that pressure because
the momentum is going to swing both ways and you're
just waiting. As the side that blinks when the momentum
is not going their way, that will probably dictate this.
So I think as many guys that have runs on
the board the better.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
What about halfback? That's been the story of the week,
hasn't it. Who's going to come in at Fulkram? Who's
your nine? Who's the backup? How does that go? You
got any oil force?
Speaker 4 (07:49):
Do you know anything?
Speaker 2 (07:50):
We don't know.
Speaker 4 (07:52):
No.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
I spend too much time in the media, so no
one tells me anything. But look, I'm completely comfortable with
Finlay Christy.
Speaker 4 (08:02):
He knows eden Park really well.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
He knows you know, how the wind op rates in
and around that stadium, and that's important in terms of
box kick accuracy. You know, he's got so much experience.
He's played, you know, those big games in the World
Cup in twenty twenty three.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
You know, I think.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
He's your out and out started. Like it does sound
like Courtiers has been given time. But man, it sounds
pretty sore, to be honest, and it looked pretty sore.
Speaker 4 (08:32):
So I'm not too sure.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
How real that is. But I'm really comfortable with Finlay starting.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
It sounds just like Sir Graham Henry said the same
thing yesterday. Regans Finny was the best All Black on
the park against Argentina doing that last one final thing. Jipperan,
thanks as always for your time, expertise and your crazy
stat geekery. Who is there more pressure on because I
think people are expecting the South Africans this is their
best chance. They've got a great team, this is their time.
(08:59):
I think maybe it's weighing more heavily on them than
the All Blacks.
Speaker 4 (09:03):
Well, if you look at it, they've won the last
four in a row.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
The thing with Russy in the spring box between World Cups,
they almost welcome losses to learn from.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
It's just a different psyche like.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
Of course their fans will be you know, fired up,
but normally they'll find reasons as to why it went
against them. So look at I think that Eaton Park record,
you know, the four losses.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
And just been a home test.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
I think all eyes in our country are on the
all Blacks, and I like it that way because you know,
history would suggest when the backs against the wall in
that black jersey, they step up and provide their best game.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
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 Duncie Wildergrave
from News Talk z'b.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Gooday, jibber mate, how are you very very well looking
forward to this weekend? And that is an understatement I
think for any rugby mad individual, this is it. This
is not the test of the year. This is the
test in between World Cups surely.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Oh yeah, I mean I think at any time the
side has come these sides have come together. It's extremely close,
it's physical, and the scores aren't always massive, but it's
just so entertaining in terms of the.
Speaker 4 (00:42):
Way they go about their business.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Two differing styles, and I suppose that's what I'm really
interested in to see on Sunday night, and obviously with
the conditions, hopefully they can play their part and that
it's only due rather than rain.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Interesting you say the clash of styles, because this makes
great boxing fights as well, doesn't it. Could you just
outline or underline the key strengths and styles of both teams?
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Yeah, so I just bear with me. Will I nerd
out a little bit? But if I was to say
to you, South Africa had fourteen line breaks, they had
thirteen entries to the twenty two they had twenty two
defenders beaten on average.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
Would you say they win or lose that contest?
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Well, they win, but that's on average and you're far
from average. Are you pointing at something else with this
stat chains.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Well, if you look at fourteen line breaks and thirteen
twenty two meter entries, that's the hell of a lot
and it's really impressive attacking wise. But when they average that,
that's when they lose. And then when they win they
actually average five line breaks and only ten entries and
only twenty five defenders beaten. But the most important stat
is they have a lot less errors than score more points.
(01:52):
So I think they're going to go back to what
they know and we will see a lot of contestable kicking.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
We'll see a lot of taxical kicking.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
We'll see them trying to get some penalties to go
into the corner and go for a all. So that
style is probably what we'll see. Not that first twenty
minutes that we saw in Alice Park against the Wallaby.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
When you look at the pack of the All Blacks,
you'd look and suggest that's been our strength so far.
There was a lot more consistency, probably a lot less
errors involved in that group, it's the back line that
need to buff some of their sharp, sharpened edges. Do
you see that happening? Are they one or two beats
off getting that right?
Speaker 3 (02:36):
I think it's more trying to just release the shackles
and back their skill set, like will Jordan Bowden Barrett
like that second test against France.
Speaker 4 (02:48):
That's what we want to see.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
We want to see I suppose that X factor and
that ability to expose the outside and I don't think
it's all that drastic, like we sort of everyone reacts
to loss to Argentina, but you've got to remind like
they bet the Lions when they have their French players back,
they bet the lines. They were semi finalists at the
(03:09):
last World Cup. They don't actually quite get the respect
they deserve. And I know I don't want the public
accepting all Banck losses. That's not what I'm asking. But
just the form and the numbers suggest in terms of
the trajectory of this side in an attacking sense, they
are steps ahead of where they were last year. I
think last year they really went all out attack and
(03:33):
couldn't finish opportunities and maybe push passes and how to
high turnover count. The turnover count certainly dropped right down
against Arji, but before that it was down, but not
down to the point that you're playing reserved. You know,
like you've still got to be able to play what
you see, if you see the opportunity, execute it. But
a lot of that comes off the back of the
carry clean that I was talking about before. And if
(03:55):
you get that carried clean right, and I think two
po Va been at six with that sort of three
lock and big Body matches South Africa perfectly.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
And I think Wallace Tti.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
Couldn't come back at a bit of time because he
just has that knack of getting over that advantage line
which then slows the defense, which then gives players like
Bone and Barrett Will Jordan time to exploit that. So
I think if we can challenge the contestical kick area,
because that's where it's been a challenge against France and
against RG it's when they went to the air, if
(04:27):
we can match or you know, like it will have parody.
Speaker 4 (04:31):
Even just slightly.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
You know, you can't probably expect to beat the Selificans
in the air, but if we can just bring that
gap closer, I think the All Blacks put themselves in
a really, really strong position to win.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
As far as the team is concerned. James the naming,
there is a knee jerk reaction from a lot of
pundit scribes and the public saying we've got to change this, this, this,
This doesn't sound to me like something Scott Robertson would do.
It nobody's done of recent times. There are some areas
that needed to be tweaked, but you can go too far.
(05:02):
What do you think he's focused on the most? Where
are the changes required that I won't upset their apple
cut too much, but add something to the exchange.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
Yeah, I just thinking contest like this, you've got to
limit the amount of change in disruption. I potentially, because
of that aerial game, we may see more of probably
not three fullbacks, but there potentially would be. I think
Reuben Love potentially comes into the contest just in terms
(05:31):
of being able to match them earily and having your
best exponents in that backfield.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
So you can still have.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
Your power wingers as a Rico Yoani or a fiing
Anoku because.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
They actually chase most of the time.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
So where you've got to cover your backfield as your
ten will drop back there so body obviously has spent
some time at fifteen. He's good eerily, Will Jordan's really
good eerily And is there an opportunity to potentially have
a Ruben Love in that sort of pendulum?
Speaker 4 (06:00):
There really hard.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
On Sevu, so you could probably put Sevu to eleven
like he's showing he can player eleven, like he's been
a really really strong performer, but we haven't been able
to match in that in that aerial game. So I
think if there were to be changes, it would be
probably more so in that back three sort of pendulum
and how that backfield worked.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
So you wouldn't be meddling with the midfield. Are happy
with the makeup of the loose forward Trea and you
mentioned to before and where he stands in that There's
some complexities in there, but you're comfortable enough with the
person personnel.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
I have, Yeah, absolutely, Like as I say, like jeez,
I was waxing lyrically after the French and one game
won't dictate my perception, like I try to base it
all on facts and statistically, this this group that has
been selected for the majority of parts and key areas
has dominated the contest. Admittedly, you know we didn't get
(06:59):
things one hundred percent right in the second test. We
probably didn't get things one hundred percent right in the
first test either, we managed to get a result. I
just think you need experience. You don't want to be
putting guys. Too many guys out there, like a Springbok
test is the biggest I believe, like in terms of
(07:20):
what this Eden Park record means, you need guys that
have been there, done it can absorb that pressure because
the momentum is going to swing both ways and you're
just waiting. As the side that blinks when the momentum
is not going their way, that will probably dictate this.
So I think as many guys that have runs on
the board the better.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
What about halfback? That's been the story of the week,
hasn't it. Who's going to come in at Fulkram? Who's
your nine? Who's the backup? How does that go? You
got any oil force?
Speaker 4 (07:49):
Do you know anything?
Speaker 2 (07:50):
We don't know.
Speaker 4 (07:52):
No.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
I spend too much time in the media, so no
one tells me anything. But look, I'm completely comfortable with
Finlay Christy.
Speaker 4 (08:02):
He knows eden Park really well.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
He knows you know, how the wind op rates in
and around that stadium, and that's important in terms of
box kick accuracy. You know, he's got so much experience.
He's played, you know, those big games in the World
Cup in twenty twenty three.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
You know, I think.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
He's your out and out started. Like it does sound
like Courtiers has been given time. But man, it sounds
pretty sore, to be honest, and it looked pretty sore.
Speaker 4 (08:32):
So I'm not too sure.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
How real that is. But I'm really comfortable with Finlay starting.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
It sounds just like Sir Graham Henry said the same
thing yesterday. Regans Finny was the best All Black on
the park against Argentina doing that last one final thing. Jipperan,
thanks as always for your time, expertise and your crazy
stat geekery. Who is there more pressure on because I
think people are expecting the South Africans this is their
best chance. They've got a great team, this is their time.
(08:59):
I think maybe it's weighing more heavily on them than
the All Blacks.
Speaker 4 (09:03):
Well, if you look at it, they've won the last
four in a row.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
The thing with Russy in the spring box between World Cups,
they almost welcome losses to learn from.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
It's just a different psyche like.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
Of course their fans will be you know, fired up,
but normally they'll find reasons as to why it went
against them. So look at I think that Eaton Park record,
you know, the four losses.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
And just been a home test.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
I think all eyes in our country are on the
all Blacks, and I like it that way because you know,
history would suggest when the backs against the wall in
that black jersey, they step up and provide their best game.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
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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