Justin Marshall: former All Black speaks ahead of All Blacks v Italy clash

All Blacks coach Dave Rennie is rapt two players are set to debut off the bench in Saturday's Nations Championship showdown against Italy in Wellington.

Rennie says German-born Anton Segner and Hurricanes' flyer Josh Moorby deserve their spots.

Former All Black Justin Marshall joined D'Arcy to discuss further.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News talks'd be.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
We're not just going to look at the pack. Very
very important plaining victory starts there, but it ends with
the fancy pantss out back, so important that we take
a look at the back line as well. And I
can think of no one better to look at the
back line than a bloke called Justin for more All Black,
Justin Marshall working on Sky TV for Breakdown is with

(00:33):
us now to look at the back line. Good evening, Justin.

Speaker 3 (00:38):
Good evening to you.

Speaker 2 (00:39):
Were you surprised that the lack of change in the
back line.

Speaker 3 (00:43):
Two changes darts with Leroy Carter and Billy Popter coming
into the mix. I think Pctor's probably they just want
to find out what he looks like. Obviously his combination
with a lot of those Hurricanes that are in that
back line, Jordy Batt and Ruben Love have been very good.
So he gets his opportunity, and equally Leroy Carter as well.
You know the fact of the matter is there is

(01:04):
competition for places in the back three at the moment,
and you know how that sits and where it looked
for that Irish Test. I think they're just trying to
see how that balance is out. I'm not surprised that
there wasn't many changes. In fact, I was happy. Look,
I just feel that this team has three genuine weeks
in front of it. I was only hoping there would
be a maximum of sort of three and four changes

(01:26):
across the entire starting team. There really has only been
that basically, So you know that that creates continuity and rhythm,
and I think you know when you look at the
fact that the next the next Test match after Ireland
is going to be South Africa at Alice Park, you
need to know what you're doing, and you need to
know the person beside you, and you need to have

(01:48):
gone through some challenges. They went through some last week,
they'll have more in the next two weeks and that
and that creates resilience. So I'm pretty pleased that he
hasn't gone out there and just thrown Jerseys away and
is looking to get a stable team together.

Speaker 2 (02:03):
Desroy god Love on to Barrett and Proctor. This has
got the potential to be a wonderful, spineful one of
a better phrase. Looking into the future, the longer they
can spend with each other the better, and we know
Billy Proctor can provide and he's surrounded now in guys
that he knows, So I'm expecting big things. Is that

(02:24):
Is that fair?

Speaker 3 (02:26):
I think that's fair. But I also I'm not entirely
sure that all the answers to the questions have significantly
been given. You know, I certainly feel nine ten twelve
is those that combinations looking really really good, and you
know they know each other well. Like I said, the

(02:47):
opportunity at center went to Quintu Paia last week. Billy
Procter is an out and out center that plays there
every week. You know, what what does that backline look
like for that? For that for Eden Park? I'm not sure,
but I certainly feel that that nine ten twelve is
looking really really is a lot more established than any

(03:10):
other position combinations set in the back line. Yeah, I
still feel that they are looking for the perfect storm
from center out. Like I said, Leroy Carter and Billy
Popter have got their opportunities this week. I've been very
vocal that I feel and that's without any hesitation. It's
just the way that I am that I feel that
the best fullback in the world should play fullback. That's

(03:33):
not happening in this side at the moment. You know,
I certainly hope that that Will Jordan gets an opportunity
in that shirt because you've got to look like, you've
got to find out what that back three looks like
with him pulling the trigger from fifteen. So I wouldn't
like to think that they are so narrow focused and
stuck in their ways that they just feel he's a winger.
We're going to play him on the wing, because in

(03:54):
my mind, that back three is probably the one that's
jocking for spots the most in combinations in this team.

Speaker 2 (04:01):
Zero arguments for me around Will Jordan Travis that he's
on at full back and look like Daniel McKenzie off
the bench. But I don't like him starting and I
don't like him starting there, and finally adjustin short, sharp
and sweet, your ideal back three, what would it be?
Plainly Jordan's in the fifteen jumper. Who's your left wing,

(04:22):
who's your right wing? In a perfect world.

Speaker 3 (04:24):
Yeah, well, in a perfect world, Darcy, you know i'd
like to see and you know this, I hope again
that they again the selectors and Dave Rennie are not
too narrow minded that they don't know what that if
he's available, that lesterfying A Nuku you know, comes into
the mix if he's fit and okay for South Africa
because man, that back line, whether he's at center or

(04:46):
on the wing, could look dynamically different. So I think
there's a few questions out there that I probably can't
answer because some players aren't available. But you know, at
the moment, I feel that I'd like to see what
we look like with some speed out there, some genuine
out and outspeed like Fineang Nufful, you know, and his
finishing quality. And we know we've got the power with

(05:08):
Carter and Caleb Clark, etc.

Speaker 1 (05:11):
And more.

Speaker 3 (05:11):
We's getting the opportunity off the bench this weekend, which
is good. Disease deserve that. So and you know what
I feel about fallback. So yeah, I still don't know yet,
But come that first test at Alice Park, mate, and
we have it. You can have a conversation and you
can hold me to it. Hopefully we've got that established
and we can say, hey, look they've worked it out.

Speaker 2 (05:32):
You know what. Justin there's nothing wrong with saying I
don't know. In fact, I wish more people would say that,
thanks very much for your honesty. We'll talk again. See mate.
You look after yourself, enjoy the test.

Speaker 3 (05:43):
Or it's a pleasure.

Speaker 1 (05:43):
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