The Country 09/07/26: Aaron Cruden talks to Hamish McKay

Time for some footy chat with a former All Black, including Ruben Love’s impressive test debut and the growing combinations in the All Blacks backline. Also, Dave Rennie’s early influence, selection options against Italy, and expectations for the second test in Wellington.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Time to talk a bit of a test match footy
here on the country now All Blacks Test match number
two of the of the Dave Reny tenure and it
is itally the opponent's ten past five on Saturday afternoon.
Joining us now to have a look at this as
World Cup winning All Black first five eight. Aaron Crudin,

(00:20):
how are you?

Speaker 2 (00:21):
Yes, very good, Thank you, Hamosh, very good.

Speaker 1 (00:24):
Great now you're to have been very happy to see
another alumni of Palmerston North Boys High School, young Reuben
Love comes through. I thought he came through despite the
yellow card with flying colors and his debut against a
French side. We can't call them b orc anymore because
they've got great depth, but I thought he went real well.

Speaker 2 (00:42):
Yeah, he was outstanding. I totally agree. Obviously, you know,
a little bit of a blit with a yellow card early,
but yeah, that was just one of those things. But
in regards to I think the resilience that he showed
to come and bounce back from that and then just
drive the team around the pettic and I really liked
probably the combination between him and Damien Mackenzie at fifteen

(01:03):
as well, you know, sharing that dual pivot role and
directing things well. And obviously they scored thirty four points,
so the attack was humming and that was a big
part in relations to Ruben.

Speaker 1 (01:15):
Yeah, and I also like the combination he has with
Jordi Barrett, which has growing over the season because one
of my all time favorite ten and twelve combinations was
what you used to do with Sonny Bill Williams, which
was transferred through Chiefs and the All Blacks as well.
But that's pretty important, that old head just outside of
him and you know, slightly different skill set, but very complimentary.

Speaker 2 (01:39):
Yeah. Yeah, I have to agree. It's been outstanding to
probably see the development of Jordi as a twelve over
the last couple of years. He's just really stamped his
mark on that position. And I think also getting that
exposure in lengths the Colors last year for Jordie, it's
just taken his game to another level and you can
see the confidence he has and just that rugby IQ

(02:02):
and I think, as you said, Mate, for a young
ten like Ruben to have that experience and that sounding
board outside him, it sort of both really well hopefully
for their combination, and it worked nicely for the Hurricanes
as we all saw through Super Rugby as well, which
is great.

Speaker 1 (02:17):
Yeah, now a good vibe seems to be emerging around
this team, and already, I guess it's early days in
terms of the media heat and those sorts of things,
but there was a lot of good intent that I'm
pleased has been picked up on by both the media
and the public of how Dave really wants to coach
at his side and the kind of game they want

(02:39):
to deliver.

Speaker 2 (02:41):
Yeah, I really hope so as well. I mean you
could even hear a lot of the players pregame postgame,
you know, talking about I guess, the ambition and the
intent that they want to play with. And I think
one of the most pleasing things I heard already say
after the game was, you know, he was really happy
with the attack, probably not so satisfied with the defense.
And obviously they only had ten days to prepare, so

(03:04):
you can't cover everything, but you know, they were obviously
happy with the win, but know that they still have
a lot to work on and a lot to improve on.
And that's the whole journey, isn't it that that's what
they're embarking on. And yeah, i'd expect probably this weekend
against Italy, who I believe will be much much improved
on what they produced against Japan last weekend. But I

(03:25):
think the All Blacks defensively will will be a lot
more assured and probably a little bit more brutal in
that area as well.

Speaker 1 (03:33):
Yeah, yeah, okay, And another a couple of questions three
point thirty this afternoon. I think the team is named.
What would you sort of think might be the mindset
behind the selection for this team for this game? Yeah.

Speaker 2 (03:47):
I think it's probably a nice opportunity to give other
guys within the squad game time, and I think that's
hopefully I guess what the coaching group will do. They've
selected god guys and there's there's possible opportunities for a
couple of the other I suppose new Caps in the squad,
and Josh Morby and antosm Signess I believe to be

(04:10):
in the in the match day twenty three somewhere. Also
to be pretty cool, I suppose that the game is
in Wellington, so a few Hurricanes boys possibly getting an opportunity,
maybe a suffar more starting at hooker, Vacilli or TOSSI
you know, yeah, maybe even Fair getting a start on
the wing. You never know, but I think it is
a real opportunity for for friends in the coaching group

(04:31):
if they want to to give other guys within the
squad game time and see what they're about. Because one
thing I know with Dave Rennie is he has full
trust and everyone within his squad, and you know he'll
want people to be out there and I guess just
putting pressure pressure on the coaches to make selection decisions.
So that's probably where I would see it. Again, could

(04:54):
be completely wrong, but yeah, I suppose we will find
out a little bit later this affternoon.

Speaker 1 (05:00):
We're talking with World Cup winning All Black first five
eight Aaron Crudon a five to ten kickoff. That's interesting too,
mind you, that's probably better than a seven h five
kickoff in the capital. Anything to sort of before we
get into that nighttime weather.

Speaker 2 (05:13):
Yeah, yeah, I think so. I mean, yeah, well, he's
always is a little bit unpredictable with the weather, and
I suppose the team's coming from playing under the roof
in christ Church last week to yeah, potentially some different
type of conditions this weekend in Wellington. But I mean
the blueprint was set from the Hurricanes throughout Super rugby,

(05:34):
you know, like positive, ambitious rugby can still be played
in those conditions if everyone's aligned, if the skill sets
are rights, and you know, the team have a strong connection.
So I'm looking forward to it. You know. Yeah, it
does certainly bring different challenges, but I think it's a
nice challenge. I suppose that this All Blacks team is
one thing.

Speaker 1 (05:55):
Aaron Crudin, thank you very much for joining us.

Speaker 2 (05:58):
No worries, mate, Appreciate you having me O