A new-look All Blacks side is taking to the field today for the first time in 2026 – coach Dave Rennie’s first match at the helm.
They’re taking on France in the opening match of the Nations Championship, and all eyes will be on One NZ Stadium as the game kicks off just after 7.
Peter Lakai is playing blindside flanker tonight, and joined Adam Cooper to preview the clash.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Dancy
Waldegrave from News Talk SEDB. Definitely a sense of excitement
around Test one for the new All Blacks season, Game
one of the year against France and christ Church tonight,
and of course the very first hit out for Dave
Rennie in his new era as head coach, and one
of the more interesting selections in Rennie's first team has
(00:29):
been the makeup of the loose forward trio. One of
those starting wearing the number six jersey is Peter Lucky.
Of course, fresh from winning Super Rugby with the Hurricanes,
Peter is with us now. Morning to you, Peter Firsley.
Congratulations on the starts for what's your ninth Test match tonight. Firstly,
it must just be pleasing to get the nod in
a new coach's first team.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Yeah, cheers Adam please having me on. Yeah, obviously I'm
pretty pleased, you know, to be able to get another
opportunity to start in black and yeah, I guess into
sort of giving us giving us Lucies the confidence and
sort of the game plan to to go out there
(01:13):
this week and play to our strengths. So yeah, just
looking forward to.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
It and lighting up alongside Luke. Jacob said at seven
he was your opponent in the final two weeks ago,
Artie Savier at number eight, a few big names on
the bench as well. How exciting do you feel this
trio is for game number one of twenty twenty six.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Yeah, Like I said, you know, we've got great depth
and our loose season, and we've got players like you know,
Wally coming off the bench just going to add all
punch to our unit, I guess. But yeah, it's a
special special makeup. And the Lucies obviously with Luke and
and Ardi there, they've been around this environment for a
(01:54):
while now, so to have their experiences as as key,
I guess.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
And often I guess it's fair to say we see
Ardie Savier at seven, so has moved to the back
of the scrum at number eight. What kind of advantage
does does us give the team? Do you think?
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Yeah? I guess we all know what already brings to
a team, and you know, having them at the back
of the scrum and you know, off the front row
and the plat five we have, you know, we expect
to see him come off the back and yeah, we
know how much of a damaging ball carrier.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
He is, Peter, You've played a lot of rugby at
number seven. We know you're versatile across any loose forward position.
That versatility, how important is that? Do you think for
regular game time, regular selections and opportunities are in the
All Blacks?
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Yeah, I'd say it's pretty important for me. I'm just
trying to do what after me if you know, obviously
I can play either six, seven or eight, but you know,
wherever the coach is need me for the week, whether
that's on the bench or starting or you know, not playing,
I'm willing to just fulfill my role and who one
needs to be done.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
I guess you all went into camp with the All
Blacks only a few days after your great Hurricanes, when
it is of course a new look coaching group this year.
For Peter, what has been the biggest change about the
All Blacks environment of twenty twenty six so far compared
with the last couple of years.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
I guess, yeah, Luck, you said, just the different personnel
in our coaching group. You know, Rens has sort of
border an emphasis on you know, running and attacking, attacking rugby,
but other than that, not much has changed. We turned
into camp last weekend. Yeah, I got hurt hit with
I guess a lot of detail, but I guess over
the week we've gradually been building and yeah, I feel
(03:37):
like we're in a good spot now and yeah, we're
just all thyes forward to under the Roof.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
And speaking of under the Roof view and the Hurricanes boys,
a lot of whom have been rewarded with selections for tonight.
The brand of rugby you played got a lot of
praise through the season. It worked very well for you.
You are under the roof to start the season. Is
that open, expansive play the type of rugby you want
to hit the ground running with this year?
Speaker 2 (03:59):
Yeah? Yeah, Rensa's has sort of jored into us to
play what's on front and obviously obvious. And at the
Hurricanes we've been you know, our attackers has been one
of our strengths. So coming in from the teams to
the eb's it's been pretty similar on the way we
want to attack and play eyes off footy. So yeah,
that that transition was pretty smooth for myself.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
How was it though, realigning your ideas with other players
that have come from the other Super Rugby franchises and
while there are plenty of your Hurricanes teammates across the park,
as you say, in various positions. How do you balance
out what's worked at the Canes this year with the
other ideas and plans. No doubt your teammates from other
teams will.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Have Yeah, I guess it's. Yeah, it's sort of hard
when you got guys coming in from different franchises, But
I guess we got guys and Keith the distance, you know,
obviously cam and and Ruben sort of driving the tempo
we want to play it and where we want to attack.
And then we also got Geordie Geordie after in the
back line orchestradio best style as well. So yeah, it's
(05:02):
sort of comes down from the group and then obviously
the players and there dictating the way we want to
play in how we want to tack teams.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
The Hurricanes teammates and mates Xavier, Numa, Fiki, Fini, Youang
Andov for potential debuts tonight off the bench. How nice
was it when I guess you guys found out the
team earlier in the week, hearing their names called.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Out, Yeah, super please. Yeah. Zeber's obviously had a big
couple of years of Super rugby, but yet to see
him get rewarded, you know, getting selected into the squad
and then seeing them being in the twenty three was yeah,
real pleasing, especially on the past few seasons he's strung together,
you know, he's in career form and then obviously for
(05:47):
he's coming into this year and then obviously having the
season he had. It's it's great to see. It's great
to see Kings boys getting rewarded for the former over
the Super season.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
Speaking of which number ten, that was probably one of
the most debated selections leading up to Thursday's team naming.
I mean hard to you with Rubin Love getting the
nod after the entire season, right, Peter, but particularly that
Super Rugby final only two weeks ago. You've played a
lot of rugby with him at Super rugby level, at
NPC level. You'll be delighted to see him there surely.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Oh yeah, obviously we've seeing what he could can do
it Super and what he did for us at the Hurricanes.
You know, it's excited to see to see how he goes. Yeah,
obviously as attacking as attacking flare and the way he
can he can break games opens arm obviously has point
of difference, So to see when he brings that to
(06:40):
the Test arena is going to be pleasing to see.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
All blacks flanker Peter Luckeye with us previewing the opening
Tests of the year against France and christ Church tonight,
Peter France back in town. The quality of the team,
it's always a discussion, it seems around who's playing for them.
Who hasn't come down on the tour. You've played France away,
it was on your debut tour at the end of
twenty twenty four. But what kind of match do you
expect the French to bring down to christ Church.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Yeah, the French, you know, obviously they're like they love
to play with a big pack and the pack likes
to be physical, so yeah, we can expect a big,
physical four pack to come down. And then obviously they
got you know back, they bring up a bit of
their their French flair. They love to swing the ball
around and playoff instinct. So yeah, for us, we we've
(07:32):
got to do a job there and you know, obviously
try to try to negate that.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
You had a couple of trips to christ Church to
play at the new stadium during the Super rugby season.
But how special is it for the All Blacks to
have their first game under the roof in christ Church
after it feels like so long since even a Test
matches last year.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Yes, it's super important. You know, I think we haven't
played in All Blacks haven't played in our Christis for
three or four years now. So to bring a Test
match back here and you know, be being the first
av Test this at this new stadium is yeah, pretty
important for us to to obviously get the win, but
you know, we we know the challenges ahead and and
(08:14):
yeah we're just we're just ready to get get into
our work, I guess.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
And as we said at the start, you've been in
camp for about a week and a half now, but
do you just get to a point where you're ready
to play? You just want to put on that black
jersey run out onto the field.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Yeah exactly. You know we've been together for a short
time a week, but yeah, I guess we'll over most
of our detail now. And we had a last training
and I was just to finishing touches and then you
hit the ground running.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
Yep, And can't wait to see that happen. Peter. I
really appreciate your time here on News Talk ZEDV. Congrats
on the selection for tonight and all the best forgetting
the season underway in the Black Jersey. Thanks for joining us,
Sweet cheers out on Thank you for more from the
All Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave. Listen live to News
Talk said Be on Saturday mornings, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Dancy
Waldegrave from News Talk SEDB. Definitely a sense of excitement
around Test one for the new All Blacks season, Game
one of the year against France and christ Church tonight,
and of course the very first hit out for Dave
Rennie in his new era as head coach, and one
of the more interesting selections in Rennie's first team has
(00:29):
been the makeup of the loose forward trio. One of
those starting wearing the number six jersey is Peter Lucky.
Of course, fresh from winning Super Rugby with the Hurricanes,
Peter is with us now. Morning to you, Peter Firsley.
Congratulations on the starts for what's your ninth Test match tonight. Firstly,
it must just be pleasing to get the nod in
a new coach's first team.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Yeah, cheers Adam please having me on. Yeah, obviously I'm
pretty pleased, you know, to be able to get another
opportunity to start in black and yeah, I guess into
sort of giving us giving us Lucies the confidence and
sort of the game plan to to go out there
(01:13):
this week and play to our strengths. So yeah, just
looking forward to.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
It and lighting up alongside Luke. Jacob said at seven
he was your opponent in the final two weeks ago,
Artie Savier at number eight, a few big names on
the bench as well. How exciting do you feel this
trio is for game number one of twenty twenty six.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Yeah, Like I said, you know, we've got great depth
and our loose season, and we've got players like you know,
Wally coming off the bench just going to add all
punch to our unit, I guess. But yeah, it's a
special special makeup. And the Lucies obviously with Luke and
and Ardi there, they've been around this environment for a
(01:54):
while now, so to have their experiences as as key,
I guess.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
And often I guess it's fair to say we see
Ardie Savier at seven, so has moved to the back
of the scrum at number eight. What kind of advantage
does does us give the team? Do you think?
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Yeah? I guess we all know what already brings to
a team, and you know, having them at the back
of the scrum and you know, off the front row
and the plat five we have, you know, we expect
to see him come off the back and yeah, we
know how much of a damaging ball carrier.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
He is, Peter, You've played a lot of rugby at
number seven. We know you're versatile across any loose forward position.
That versatility, how important is that? Do you think for
regular game time, regular selections and opportunities are in the
All Blacks?
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Yeah, I'd say it's pretty important for me. I'm just
trying to do what after me if you know, obviously
I can play either six, seven or eight, but you know,
wherever the coach is need me for the week, whether
that's on the bench or starting or you know, not playing,
I'm willing to just fulfill my role and who one
needs to be done.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
I guess you all went into camp with the All
Blacks only a few days after your great Hurricanes, when
it is of course a new look coaching group this year.
For Peter, what has been the biggest change about the
All Blacks environment of twenty twenty six so far compared
with the last couple of years.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
I guess, yeah, Luck, you said, just the different personnel
in our coaching group. You know, Rens has sort of
border an emphasis on you know, running and attacking, attacking rugby,
but other than that, not much has changed. We turned
into camp last weekend. Yeah, I got hurt hit with
I guess a lot of detail, but I guess over
the week we've gradually been building and yeah, I feel
(03:37):
like we're in a good spot now and yeah, we're
just all thyes forward to under the Roof.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
And speaking of under the Roof view and the Hurricanes boys,
a lot of whom have been rewarded with selections for tonight.
The brand of rugby you played got a lot of
praise through the season. It worked very well for you.
You are under the roof to start the season. Is
that open, expansive play the type of rugby you want
to hit the ground running with this year?
Speaker 2 (03:59):
Yeah? Yeah, Rensa's has sort of jored into us to
play what's on front and obviously obvious. And at the
Hurricanes we've been you know, our attackers has been one
of our strengths. So coming in from the teams to
the eb's it's been pretty similar on the way we
want to attack and play eyes off footy. So yeah,
that that transition was pretty smooth for myself.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
How was it though, realigning your ideas with other players
that have come from the other Super Rugby franchises and
while there are plenty of your Hurricanes teammates across the park,
as you say, in various positions. How do you balance
out what's worked at the Canes this year with the
other ideas and plans. No doubt your teammates from other
teams will.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Have Yeah, I guess it's. Yeah, it's sort of hard
when you got guys coming in from different franchises, But
I guess we got guys and Keith the distance, you know,
obviously cam and and Ruben sort of driving the tempo
we want to play it and where we want to attack.
And then we also got Geordie Geordie after in the
back line orchestradio best style as well. So yeah, it's
(05:02):
sort of comes down from the group and then obviously
the players and there dictating the way we want to
play in how we want to tack teams.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
The Hurricanes teammates and mates Xavier, Numa, Fiki, Fini, Youang
Andov for potential debuts tonight off the bench. How nice
was it when I guess you guys found out the
team earlier in the week, hearing their names called.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Out, Yeah, super please. Yeah. Zeber's obviously had a big
couple of years of Super rugby, but yet to see
him get rewarded, you know, getting selected into the squad
and then seeing them being in the twenty three was yeah,
real pleasing, especially on the past few seasons he's strung together,
you know, he's in career form and then obviously for
(05:47):
he's coming into this year and then obviously having the
season he had. It's it's great to see. It's great
to see Kings boys getting rewarded for the former over
the Super season.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
Speaking of which number ten, that was probably one of
the most debated selections leading up to Thursday's team naming.
I mean hard to you with Rubin Love getting the
nod after the entire season, right, Peter, but particularly that
Super Rugby final only two weeks ago. You've played a
lot of rugby with him at Super rugby level, at
NPC level. You'll be delighted to see him there surely.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Oh yeah, obviously we've seeing what he could can do
it Super and what he did for us at the Hurricanes.
You know, it's excited to see to see how he goes. Yeah,
obviously as attacking as attacking flare and the way he
can he can break games opens arm obviously has point
of difference, So to see when he brings that to
(06:40):
the Test arena is going to be pleasing to see.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
All blacks flanker Peter Luckeye with us previewing the opening
Tests of the year against France and christ Church tonight,
Peter France back in town. The quality of the team,
it's always a discussion, it seems around who's playing for them.
Who hasn't come down on the tour. You've played France away,
it was on your debut tour at the end of
twenty twenty four. But what kind of match do you
expect the French to bring down to christ Church.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Yeah, the French, you know, obviously they're like they love
to play with a big pack and the pack likes
to be physical, so yeah, we can expect a big,
physical four pack to come down. And then obviously they
got you know back, they bring up a bit of
their their French flair. They love to swing the ball
around and playoff instinct. So yeah, for us, we we've
(07:32):
got to do a job there and you know, obviously
try to try to negate that.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
You had a couple of trips to christ Church to
play at the new stadium during the Super rugby season.
But how special is it for the All Blacks to
have their first game under the roof in christ Church
after it feels like so long since even a Test
matches last year.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Yes, it's super important. You know, I think we haven't
played in All Blacks haven't played in our Christis for
three or four years now. So to bring a Test
match back here and you know, be being the first
av Test this at this new stadium is yeah, pretty
important for us to to obviously get the win, but
you know, we we know the challenges ahead and and
(08:14):
yeah we're just we're just ready to get get into
our work, I guess.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
And as we said at the start, you've been in
camp for about a week and a half now, but
do you just get to a point where you're ready
to play? You just want to put on that black
jersey run out onto the field.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Yeah exactly. You know we've been together for a short
time a week, but yeah, I guess we'll over most
of our detail now. And we had a last training
and I was just to finishing touches and then you
hit the ground running.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
Yep, And can't wait to see that happen. Peter. I
really appreciate your time here on News Talk ZEDV. Congrats
on the selection for tonight and all the best forgetting
the season underway in the Black Jersey. Thanks for joining us,
Sweet cheers out on Thank you for more from the
All Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave. Listen live to News
Talk said Be on Saturday mornings, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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