July 16, 2025 • 8 mins
The final All Blacks test against France is set to happen in the coming days and the Kiwi side have a solid lead.
All Black centurion Mils Muliaina joined Elliott Smith to discuss his take on whether coach Scott Robertson should shake the team selection - or if consistency is the key to a future victory.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the sports Talk podcast with Dancy Waldegrave
from News Talk ZEDB Let's.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Talk Test rug be here on news TALKSB. The All
Black side to face the French and the third and
final Test in Hamilton will be named around about quarter
to eleven tomorrow. Interesting conundrum for the All Blacks. Do
they shuffle and bring through all those players that haven't
had a lot of game time in the series or
do they continue to build the combinations that we've seen
(00:34):
in the opening two matches. What't your thoughts on this
in a moment or two, But first and foremost, All
Black centuring and skysport commentator Mills Mullyana joining us on
News Talk ZB. Mills, thanks so much for your time,
absolutely please.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Good to be on well, Mills.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
How would you assess the All Blacks so far in
the series against France with one game left?
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Mate, look, I think you know the response was evident
last week, wasn't it. I mean the first week is
always a little bit of pressure after this narrow win,
but I think the good thing was they actually won
and they left a couple of opportunities out in Dunedin.
The responses was fantastic, what I loved about Wellington is
that they started to click. You know, they all understood
(01:16):
what they needed to do, get down the other out
the end of the park, and some of the kicking also,
and they varied that up through Braden Barrett and everyone
knew where it was sort of going. And then you
compliment that with some set piece moves and some specials.
I mean, you know, pretty good. So so far, so good.
But as you say this week, now it's about finishing
it off, finishing off and making sure that they get
(01:39):
another woman and I'd like to say another convincing one
as well before the French move on.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Yeah, that growth between the first and the second match
very are guess important from an all Blacks perspective because
if the one again without being convincing, you start to
ask a few questions, don't.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
You Well, it just adds a little bit more pressure, right,
I mean, given the amount of experience that the French have,
you know, forty nine percent of your players you know,
hadn't had any sort of test match experience, and so
they sort of came to New Zealand compared to our caps.
I mean, you know, the whole starting well, the whole
twenty three last week. You know, Bod and Beard alone
(02:14):
had about eighty odd tests, more than everyone in their
free sight, So you would have you would have started
to think, well, man, have they actually started to get
things right after last year? And you know, there would
have been a lot of questions. Now then move into
a whole heap of confidence. The key now as they're
build into this week for them is you know that
they backed that performance up and you know, I you know,
(02:38):
I mean, I've got confident that they will be able
to do that. It's just where they changed the team
around and what they do.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
It's going to be interesting, isn't it. As someone who's
played a bit of center in your time, how have
you seised Billy proppedors first two tests of the year
in that jersey?
Speaker 3 (02:54):
Oh, I think I'm glad they got them out there again.
If you look at where we've come, you know, for
years we've said, you know, well, what are the positions
that we need sort of to solidify, and you look
at the Lucies were starting to get a little bit
of consistency with those guys, you know, a couple of
weeks in a row. Albeit you know, there's a lot
of injuries in that department. The midfield has always been
(03:15):
a biggie and we haven't sort of had that sort
of you know, consistency for a very long time. And
believe believe has been good. I've liked the way when
about he had made a couple of mistakes in Dunedin,
but again defensively, he's just starting to his rhythm there.
He's starting to understand his combination with with also Jordy
Barrett is. This is beginning to suppose floorish in some ways,
(03:39):
even though it's only been a couple of test matches.
So I have I've enjoyed that we know how good
he has been in what in Super ag B. It's
just the ability to get more game time in the
all black jersey, in the environment underneath some some pressure,
and then I love about it. He has been under
a bit of pressure, but he's been able to perform
and get to another level based on that sort of
(04:00):
those those pressure situations.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
With the series wrapped up, as you mentioned before, is
it time to maybe make some changes. The squad will
be named tomorrow morning. Is it time to preps look
at some other combinations or would you persevere with's the
billy proper at thirteen with those combinations we've seen over
the last couple of weeks.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Personally, Elliott, I think you'd keep the similar side, if
not the side that that's been playing over the last
couple of weeks. You know, will be some some injuries.
Patrick Bose who stepped there really nicely, isn't he And
I mean he's just showing you know what sort of
experience he does bring bore caring ability. I think if
(04:38):
you're going to change, it's probably going to subtleties around.
If you six to two and perhaps bring them the
likes of you know, Reuben Load into the game. You
know that he can cover both teen and andem the
half back maybe to give Noah hold them a bit
more opportunity off off the bench and preps even you know, uh,
(05:01):
you know they've got the guy going to a six
to two many you know you have come off the
bench still and cover that sort of locking the position.
You know. I'm not sure what, but I think in
terms of the fifteen, I'd like to see a civil
side and I'd like to see another comprehensive performance. I
don't think, you know, having if we scrape it once
(05:21):
again in Hamilton, you'd have to say that the French
will go away after this trip thinking more. Actually, we
may have lost the series, but we've gardening confidence. We've
been aving to you guys out there to be exposed
to some too semuch footy, and that's where I think
the All Blacks can really take a little bit of mentally,
(05:41):
just they came out and stared there with a consistent
team and provide a solid performance and one convincently I
think they've wore put them in because getting into the
certainly leading into the championship, that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
You mentioned Ruben Love the year. He's got the skill set,
isn't he a ten and fifteen? And also on the
right wing. He strikes me as maybe that that bench
option for the All Blacks that they can inject into
a game. But they've also got Damien McKenzie. But if
Ruben Loves given the opportunity this way, what will he
bring to the All Black Smacks.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
It just brings that in a little bit more of
enthusiasm as well. He hasn't had much game time and
if you think of how long it's actually been, he
hasn't played since the playoffs, So it's a heat of
a long time. We know how a depth will quite
you know, they they train really hard and a lot
harder than what the hehould do back back in the days,
you know, whilsty're not playing. But it's another opportunity for
(06:31):
for Reuben and you know, to give a little bit
of exposure. We know what Damie McKenzie. We know he's
you know, experienced his leve also perhaps you know that's
now a time he covers a lot of positions, right,
you know you mentioned a center, us for a wing
and fall back and now for his five you know,
why not heaven, why not Heaven there to integrate him
and to see what he can do. Yeah, the series
(06:54):
has wrapped up at all, so at the same time,
you know, it's a chance for him to get out
there and without starting him out of the team, to
show what he can do because he is he's he
he understands instinct, he understands the situations in the game,
and he takes opportunities as well. And he also he
beats himself. Then that's what I love about it. So
(07:16):
you know, maybe perhaps you know me that was coaching,
you know, Bot have him on the bench to give
him some of their dismans for the exposure.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
And just finally Mills one game to go. But you've
touched on it. How do you think the series as
a whole has prepared the All Blacks for the Rugby Championship.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
I think it's been good. So I mean you're always
you know, whilst it's that first game you want to
convince him performance. It wasn't quite. But you know what
you're seeing is the war opportunities went backed up in Wellington.
They've see All Blacks that year. You want to see
you wait about talk about playing the game. They're also
(07:54):
disciplined enough to the other say well, yeah it is
we've got to get down the other end and respect
the fact that we've got to get down the other
ing with our kicking and warrior garden and don't embarrass
certainly provided that. I think this puts them in good
That the key now and they always made you know,
there's an expectation now that they've set themselves, you know,
to really back up after that she can test and
(08:17):
go out and put in another solid performance again, so
you know, in an experience for inch Side. And if
you look at the stuff that's coming out of South
Africa at the moment. Yeah, yeah, it's looking pretty tasty.
But I think, you know, Argentina is another three as well,
so I think if they can get this one under
their beout and do it well, they'll be fairly confident
moving into the championship.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Well, we look forward to Saturday night. Mills, thank you,
as always for your time here here on news Talk.
Z'd be appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
No worries.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
For more from sports Talk, listen live to News talks
'B from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the sports Talk podcast with Dancy Waldegrave
from News Talk ZEDB Let's.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Talk Test rug be here on news TALKSB. The All
Black side to face the French and the third and
final Test in Hamilton will be named around about quarter
to eleven tomorrow. Interesting conundrum for the All Blacks. Do
they shuffle and bring through all those players that haven't
had a lot of game time in the series or
do they continue to build the combinations that we've seen
(00:34):
in the opening two matches. What't your thoughts on this
in a moment or two, But first and foremost, All
Black centuring and skysport commentator Mills Mullyana joining us on
News Talk ZB. Mills, thanks so much for your time,
absolutely please.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Good to be on well, Mills.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
How would you assess the All Blacks so far in
the series against France with one game left?
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Mate, look, I think you know the response was evident
last week, wasn't it. I mean the first week is
always a little bit of pressure after this narrow win,
but I think the good thing was they actually won
and they left a couple of opportunities out in Dunedin.
The responses was fantastic, what I loved about Wellington is
that they started to click. You know, they all understood
(01:16):
what they needed to do, get down the other out
the end of the park, and some of the kicking also,
and they varied that up through Braden Barrett and everyone
knew where it was sort of going. And then you
compliment that with some set piece moves and some specials.
I mean, you know, pretty good. So so far, so good.
But as you say this week, now it's about finishing
it off, finishing off and making sure that they get
(01:39):
another woman and I'd like to say another convincing one
as well before the French move on.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Yeah, that growth between the first and the second match
very are guess important from an all Blacks perspective because
if the one again without being convincing, you start to
ask a few questions, don't.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
You Well, it just adds a little bit more pressure, right,
I mean, given the amount of experience that the French have,
you know, forty nine percent of your players you know,
hadn't had any sort of test match experience, and so
they sort of came to New Zealand compared to our caps.
I mean, you know, the whole starting well, the whole
twenty three last week. You know, Bod and Beard alone
(02:14):
had about eighty odd tests, more than everyone in their
free sight, So you would have you would have started
to think, well, man, have they actually started to get
things right after last year? And you know, there would
have been a lot of questions. Now then move into
a whole heap of confidence. The key now as they're
build into this week for them is you know that
they backed that performance up and you know, I you know,
(02:38):
I mean, I've got confident that they will be able
to do that. It's just where they changed the team
around and what they do.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
It's going to be interesting, isn't it. As someone who's
played a bit of center in your time, how have
you seised Billy proppedors first two tests of the year
in that jersey?
Speaker 3 (02:54):
Oh, I think I'm glad they got them out there again.
If you look at where we've come, you know, for
years we've said, you know, well, what are the positions
that we need sort of to solidify, and you look
at the Lucies were starting to get a little bit
of consistency with those guys, you know, a couple of
weeks in a row. Albeit you know, there's a lot
of injuries in that department. The midfield has always been
(03:15):
a biggie and we haven't sort of had that sort
of you know, consistency for a very long time. And
believe believe has been good. I've liked the way when
about he had made a couple of mistakes in Dunedin,
but again defensively, he's just starting to his rhythm there.
He's starting to understand his combination with with also Jordy
Barrett is. This is beginning to suppose floorish in some ways,
(03:39):
even though it's only been a couple of test matches.
So I have I've enjoyed that we know how good
he has been in what in Super ag B. It's
just the ability to get more game time in the
all black jersey, in the environment underneath some some pressure,
and then I love about it. He has been under
a bit of pressure, but he's been able to perform
and get to another level based on that sort of
(04:00):
those those pressure situations.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
With the series wrapped up, as you mentioned before, is
it time to maybe make some changes. The squad will
be named tomorrow morning. Is it time to preps look
at some other combinations or would you persevere with's the
billy proper at thirteen with those combinations we've seen over
the last couple of weeks.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Personally, Elliott, I think you'd keep the similar side, if
not the side that that's been playing over the last
couple of weeks. You know, will be some some injuries.
Patrick Bose who stepped there really nicely, isn't he And
I mean he's just showing you know what sort of
experience he does bring bore caring ability. I think if
(04:38):
you're going to change, it's probably going to subtleties around.
If you six to two and perhaps bring them the
likes of you know, Reuben Load into the game. You
know that he can cover both teen and andem the
half back maybe to give Noah hold them a bit
more opportunity off off the bench and preps even you know, uh,
(05:01):
you know they've got the guy going to a six
to two many you know you have come off the
bench still and cover that sort of locking the position.
You know. I'm not sure what, but I think in
terms of the fifteen, I'd like to see a civil
side and I'd like to see another comprehensive performance. I
don't think, you know, having if we scrape it once
(05:21):
again in Hamilton, you'd have to say that the French
will go away after this trip thinking more. Actually, we
may have lost the series, but we've gardening confidence. We've
been aving to you guys out there to be exposed
to some too semuch footy, and that's where I think
the All Blacks can really take a little bit of mentally,
(05:41):
just they came out and stared there with a consistent
team and provide a solid performance and one convincently I
think they've wore put them in because getting into the
certainly leading into the championship, that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
You mentioned Ruben Love the year. He's got the skill set,
isn't he a ten and fifteen? And also on the
right wing. He strikes me as maybe that that bench
option for the All Blacks that they can inject into
a game. But they've also got Damien McKenzie. But if
Ruben Loves given the opportunity this way, what will he
bring to the All Black Smacks.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
It just brings that in a little bit more of
enthusiasm as well. He hasn't had much game time and
if you think of how long it's actually been, he
hasn't played since the playoffs, So it's a heat of
a long time. We know how a depth will quite
you know, they they train really hard and a lot
harder than what the hehould do back back in the days,
you know, whilsty're not playing. But it's another opportunity for
(06:31):
for Reuben and you know, to give a little bit
of exposure. We know what Damie McKenzie. We know he's
you know, experienced his leve also perhaps you know that's
now a time he covers a lot of positions, right,
you know you mentioned a center, us for a wing
and fall back and now for his five you know,
why not heaven, why not Heaven there to integrate him
and to see what he can do. Yeah, the series
(06:54):
has wrapped up at all, so at the same time,
you know, it's a chance for him to get out
there and without starting him out of the team, to
show what he can do because he is he's he
he understands instinct, he understands the situations in the game,
and he takes opportunities as well. And he also he
beats himself. Then that's what I love about it. So
(07:16):
you know, maybe perhaps you know me that was coaching,
you know, Bot have him on the bench to give
him some of their dismans for the exposure.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
And just finally Mills one game to go. But you've
touched on it. How do you think the series as
a whole has prepared the All Blacks for the Rugby Championship.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
I think it's been good. So I mean you're always
you know, whilst it's that first game you want to
convince him performance. It wasn't quite. But you know what
you're seeing is the war opportunities went backed up in Wellington.
They've see All Blacks that year. You want to see
you wait about talk about playing the game. They're also
(07:54):
disciplined enough to the other say well, yeah it is
we've got to get down the other end and respect
the fact that we've got to get down the other
ing with our kicking and warrior garden and don't embarrass
certainly provided that. I think this puts them in good
That the key now and they always made you know,
there's an expectation now that they've set themselves, you know,
to really back up after that she can test and
(08:17):
go out and put in another solid performance again, so
you know, in an experience for inch Side. And if
you look at the stuff that's coming out of South
Africa at the moment. Yeah, yeah, it's looking pretty tasty.
But I think, you know, Argentina is another three as well,
so I think if they can get this one under
their beout and do it well, they'll be fairly confident
moving into the championship.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Well, we look forward to Saturday night. Mills, thank you,
as always for your time here here on news Talk.
Z'd be appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
No worries.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
For more from sports Talk, listen live to News talks
'B from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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