Three disallowed tries courtesy of the TMO has made for a scrappy opening match for the All Blacks to begin 2025.
They’ve escaped with a 31-27 win over the French in Dunedin, having led 21-13 at halftime.
Newstalk ZB rugby commentator Elliott Smith says it was a close match, but the All Blacks found a way to win in the end.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudkin
from Newstalks'd be alrighty.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
The All Blacks had their first hat out of twenty
twenty five last night against what had been billed as
an under strength French side. I don't think it was
a little closer than many of us would have.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Liked, and a so called second strength French side has
delivered a first rate performance, but the All Blacks hang
on so win test number one of twenty twenty five
thirty one twenty seven News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
He'd be lead rugby commentator Elliot Smith called the game
last night, Good morning, Elliot, morning, franchiscin right closer than
the All Blacks would have liked last night. How did
you rate their performance?
Speaker 4 (00:51):
Look, I think the All Blacks will be probably a
little bit disappointed with that performance last night. Obviously they
got the win, but they had several attacking opportunities that
they didn't finish off. They were put under pressure by
the French defense in the red zone where they're on defense,
and a couple of those French tis really were rather
soft and put under a bit of pressure aerily as well.
(01:12):
So they had plenty of position. They made France tackle
double the amount that the All Blacks had to on
the other side of the ball, but it just couldn't
make the French pay. And this is a problem again
from last year from an All Blacks perspective, is that
they had a number of opportunities, couldn't finish them off
and they need to be better at doing so.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Thirty one points on attack pretty good, but what did
you think of defense? Twenty seven points was probably a
little bit more than they'd like to give.
Speaker 4 (01:37):
Away, exactly right, And look, they at times threatened to
maybe break the French open. Of course, they had three
tries denied by the TOMO. But when France began applying pressure,
especially after halftime, that All john with a twenty one
to thirteen lead, felt like they had the ascendency heading
into halftime. And then the French come out and start
the second half with a hiss and a raw, get
(01:57):
back to twenty one twenty very very quickly, continue applying pressure,
and again they just wouldn't go away. The All Blacks
got out, so that twenty eight twenty lead, the Free
come back in again and the All Blacks just weren't
able to repel the French. When the French got a
roll on inside the twenty two, they inevitably found an
opportunity to score tries. So while the French didn't get
(02:18):
into the All Blacks twenty two too much, they just
when they did get there, they made the All Blacks pay.
So that's something certainly and they need to work on
heading into the second Test in the Capitol this week.
By and large, their discipline was good, didn't allow the
French too many opportunities to into the All Blacks red
zone via penalties, but they just need to tidy up
(02:40):
a lot of that defense as they head to the
second Test in the Capitol.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Look, Elliott, if you were if you're very passionate about
the All Blacks and how they played, you might be disappointed.
But if you just wanted some entertainment, that was certainly provided.
I thought I liked the fact that it was a
close game.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
Yeah, I delivered on that for sure. And look a
lot of being written about the squad that the French
had sent over and the fact there were eight debutantes
in their match Day twenty three, but there are players
that are playing in the top fourteen, which is probably
the toughest rugby competition, club rugby competition on the planet
at the moment. It's very very tight, very tough rugby
(03:16):
and a lot of these players look built for Tesla level.
A lot have come through the under twenty system where
France have donated for over a few years and won
some titles along the way. So these are quality players
and while they weren't expected to push the All Blacks
as much as they did last night, it turned into
an enthralling contest and it tends to be the opening
match of the season. The All Blacks have sort of
(03:38):
struggled to get things going. France certainly came out with
his and a roar and put the All Blacks on
the back foot a number of times last night. So
from you know, a contest perspective, a drama perspective was
certainly plenty of that last night and an even yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
I mean, were you disappointed with the under strength French
team that they have brought over. Do you think they
proved themselves last night? Oh?
Speaker 4 (04:01):
I think a lot of those players prove themselves for sure,
and you know, the number was very, very impressive. I
thought the nine to ten combination ran things well and
just stuck to the French game plan, which is ultimately
to kick by and large and put pressure on the
All Blacks. Yeah, the players that did play last night,
you know, a lot of them did show up. Their
(04:23):
fall back out of Sogby was very, very good. These
are players that have been in and around the French
camp for a number of years. Some of them have
had opportunities off the bench in Six Nations, have been
part of the widest squad, but by and large their
coach Fabian Galtier, when he is in the Six Nations,
stuck to a first choice team, you know, the number
eight last night. Gilla has been behind El Drietz, who's
(04:44):
been one of the best number eights, if not the
best number eight in the world for a few years now.
So the players that have been you know, in the
Q waiting for their opportunity, and certainly a lot of
them stuck their hands up last night. It was disappointing
obviously when the French decided again sending their top players
down to New Zealand, but they'd say that about a
year ago, so they've had the opportunity to really put
(05:05):
these players in in the mix and know which players
are coming to New Zealand. For some time, knowing that
the top players wouldn't be there.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Yeah, what about our debutants? How did they go? Do
you think? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (05:15):
I thought that were good by and large. Fabian Hollands
in the second row went eighty minutes a solid debut,
and look when each something you can go eighty minutes
on debut. I think you've got to be pretty impressed
by what the youngster can do, and look'd be great
to see him build on that next week. I suspect
he will probably get another opportunity in Wellington. I thought
Christian Leo Willie made some strides. He got more comfortable
(05:37):
as the game went on. He was very very good
on defense. I think made twelve tackles in the end.
I thought Dupless could if he made a real impact
coming off the bench. I was impressed by what he
was able to do. Wasn't able to pill for one
of his trademark turnovers, but I thought was active with
a number of carries throughout, and Olin Norris did his
job as well. But the All Blacks as a whole
just weren't able to get the ascendency that they probably
(05:59):
would have liked. But I think certainly a pass mark
for those debutants by and large that came into the
game and looked at there a couple of things to
work on. We were talking about this last night that
you look at the performance and no one really stood
out as having a poor game. It was just the
All Blacks weren't able to put this trademark effectiveness on
(06:20):
the performance. Jureko Jouanni had a couple of moments where
he probably would want back Billy Procter as well, and
Aaron pars and miss tackle here and there, but there
were no out and out poor performances. On the other side,
there was probably no out and out sublime performances. So
you'll Blacks are able to get the win, but there's
plenty to work on as they head to Wellington.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
What do you expect to see from the All Blacks
next week in Wellington?
Speaker 4 (06:43):
Well I suspect they might roll out a similar side.
They're going to have to change at one player and
sever Reese, who has already been ruled out of next
week with their HA after fifty seven seconds he went
off the park. It was a Category one, so he's
definitely out next week. I don't know there'll be too
many other tweaks to the side. I suspect any further
tweaks may come in for the third test if the
(07:03):
All Blacks are able to win in the Capital. So look,
I think ultimately the things we've talked about, their defense
needs to improve and they need to be better at
taking those attacking opportunities, you know, when they're out on
the park and and claiming those. That'll be the main
focus for the All Blacks is they look to go
turn it up and claim it understandable leaving the series.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
He's the thing though, Aliant, we know that the All
Blacks like to come back strong after a game, that
they might be a little bit disappointed and then feel
that they didn't, you know, do as well as they'd
like to. However, I imagine the French are very buoyed
by that performance last night and getting so close.
Speaker 4 (07:36):
Well that's right. Look, if they've been off the parking
and hadn't got close, then you go, okay, well, well
this could be you know, a long couple of weeks
for the French, but the fact they did get so
close might just give them that extra impetus. That's been
a long season for them, I think started in August
last year. From memory, so a lot of these players
have been playing for pretty much eleven months of the year,
but they found it, you know, a second wind potentially,
(07:58):
given it was so close last night, and you know,
Wellington hasn't been the happiest of hunting grounds for the
All Blacks, as we've discussed for a number of years.
They've we've got a wind and Bledderslow last year, but
it's been diaboltically bad for a number of years. So
they might be able to take that the French and
use it for a bit of confidence heading into that match.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Oh well, I'm looking forward to it. Thank you so much, Aliot,
really appreciate your thoughts this morning.
Speaker 4 (08:19):
Too easy. Thanks scip.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
For more from the Sunday session with Francesca Rudkin, listen
live to news Talks there'd be from nine am Sunday,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudkin
from Newstalks'd be alrighty.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
The All Blacks had their first hat out of twenty
twenty five last night against what had been billed as
an under strength French side. I don't think it was
a little closer than many of us would have.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Liked, and a so called second strength French side has
delivered a first rate performance, but the All Blacks hang
on so win test number one of twenty twenty five
thirty one twenty seven News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
He'd be lead rugby commentator Elliot Smith called the game
last night, Good morning, Elliot, morning, franchiscin right closer than
the All Blacks would have liked last night. How did
you rate their performance?
Speaker 4 (00:51):
Look, I think the All Blacks will be probably a
little bit disappointed with that performance last night. Obviously they
got the win, but they had several attacking opportunities that
they didn't finish off. They were put under pressure by
the French defense in the red zone where they're on defense,
and a couple of those French tis really were rather
soft and put under a bit of pressure aerily as well.
(01:12):
So they had plenty of position. They made France tackle
double the amount that the All Blacks had to on
the other side of the ball, but it just couldn't
make the French pay. And this is a problem again
from last year from an All Blacks perspective, is that
they had a number of opportunities, couldn't finish them off
and they need to be better at doing so.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Thirty one points on attack pretty good, but what did
you think of defense? Twenty seven points was probably a
little bit more than they'd like to give.
Speaker 4 (01:37):
Away, exactly right, And look, they at times threatened to
maybe break the French open. Of course, they had three
tries denied by the TOMO. But when France began applying pressure,
especially after halftime, that All john with a twenty one
to thirteen lead, felt like they had the ascendency heading
into halftime. And then the French come out and start
the second half with a hiss and a raw, get
(01:57):
back to twenty one twenty very very quickly, continue applying pressure,
and again they just wouldn't go away. The All Blacks
got out, so that twenty eight twenty lead, the Free
come back in again and the All Blacks just weren't
able to repel the French. When the French got a
roll on inside the twenty two, they inevitably found an
opportunity to score tries. So while the French didn't get
(02:18):
into the All Blacks twenty two too much, they just
when they did get there, they made the All Blacks pay.
So that's something certainly and they need to work on
heading into the second Test in the Capitol this week.
By and large, their discipline was good, didn't allow the
French too many opportunities to into the All Blacks red
zone via penalties, but they just need to tidy up
(02:40):
a lot of that defense as they head to the
second Test in the Capitol.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Look, Elliott, if you were if you're very passionate about
the All Blacks and how they played, you might be disappointed.
But if you just wanted some entertainment, that was certainly provided.
I thought I liked the fact that it was a
close game.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
Yeah, I delivered on that for sure. And look a
lot of being written about the squad that the French
had sent over and the fact there were eight debutantes
in their match Day twenty three, but there are players
that are playing in the top fourteen, which is probably
the toughest rugby competition, club rugby competition on the planet
at the moment. It's very very tight, very tough rugby
(03:16):
and a lot of these players look built for Tesla level.
A lot have come through the under twenty system where
France have donated for over a few years and won
some titles along the way. So these are quality players
and while they weren't expected to push the All Blacks
as much as they did last night, it turned into
an enthralling contest and it tends to be the opening
match of the season. The All Blacks have sort of
(03:38):
struggled to get things going. France certainly came out with
his and a roar and put the All Blacks on
the back foot a number of times last night. So
from you know, a contest perspective, a drama perspective was
certainly plenty of that last night and an even yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
I mean, were you disappointed with the under strength French
team that they have brought over. Do you think they
proved themselves last night? Oh?
Speaker 4 (04:01):
I think a lot of those players prove themselves for sure,
and you know, the number was very, very impressive. I
thought the nine to ten combination ran things well and
just stuck to the French game plan, which is ultimately
to kick by and large and put pressure on the
All Blacks. Yeah, the players that did play last night,
you know, a lot of them did show up. Their
(04:23):
fall back out of Sogby was very, very good. These
are players that have been in and around the French
camp for a number of years. Some of them have
had opportunities off the bench in Six Nations, have been
part of the widest squad, but by and large their
coach Fabian Galtier, when he is in the Six Nations,
stuck to a first choice team, you know, the number
eight last night. Gilla has been behind El Drietz, who's
(04:44):
been one of the best number eights, if not the
best number eight in the world for a few years now.
So the players that have been you know, in the
Q waiting for their opportunity, and certainly a lot of
them stuck their hands up last night. It was disappointing
obviously when the French decided again sending their top players
down to New Zealand, but they'd say that about a
year ago, so they've had the opportunity to really put
(05:05):
these players in in the mix and know which players
are coming to New Zealand. For some time, knowing that
the top players wouldn't be there.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Yeah, what about our debutants? How did they go? Do
you think? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (05:15):
I thought that were good by and large. Fabian Hollands
in the second row went eighty minutes a solid debut,
and look when each something you can go eighty minutes
on debut. I think you've got to be pretty impressed
by what the youngster can do, and look'd be great
to see him build on that next week. I suspect
he will probably get another opportunity in Wellington. I thought
Christian Leo Willie made some strides. He got more comfortable
(05:37):
as the game went on. He was very very good
on defense. I think made twelve tackles in the end.
I thought Dupless could if he made a real impact
coming off the bench. I was impressed by what he
was able to do. Wasn't able to pill for one
of his trademark turnovers, but I thought was active with
a number of carries throughout, and Olin Norris did his
job as well. But the All Blacks as a whole
just weren't able to get the ascendency that they probably
(05:59):
would have liked. But I think certainly a pass mark
for those debutants by and large that came into the
game and looked at there a couple of things to
work on. We were talking about this last night that
you look at the performance and no one really stood
out as having a poor game. It was just the
All Blacks weren't able to put this trademark effectiveness on
(06:20):
the performance. Jureko Jouanni had a couple of moments where
he probably would want back Billy Procter as well, and
Aaron pars and miss tackle here and there, but there
were no out and out poor performances. On the other side,
there was probably no out and out sublime performances. So
you'll Blacks are able to get the win, but there's
plenty to work on as they head to Wellington.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
What do you expect to see from the All Blacks
next week in Wellington?
Speaker 4 (06:43):
Well I suspect they might roll out a similar side.
They're going to have to change at one player and
sever Reese, who has already been ruled out of next
week with their HA after fifty seven seconds he went
off the park. It was a Category one, so he's
definitely out next week. I don't know there'll be too
many other tweaks to the side. I suspect any further
tweaks may come in for the third test if the
(07:03):
All Blacks are able to win in the Capital. So look,
I think ultimately the things we've talked about, their defense
needs to improve and they need to be better at
taking those attacking opportunities, you know, when they're out on
the park and and claiming those. That'll be the main
focus for the All Blacks is they look to go
turn it up and claim it understandable leaving the series.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
He's the thing though, Aliant, we know that the All
Blacks like to come back strong after a game, that
they might be a little bit disappointed and then feel
that they didn't, you know, do as well as they'd
like to. However, I imagine the French are very buoyed
by that performance last night and getting so close.
Speaker 4 (07:36):
Well that's right. Look, if they've been off the parking
and hadn't got close, then you go, okay, well, well
this could be you know, a long couple of weeks
for the French, but the fact they did get so
close might just give them that extra impetus. That's been
a long season for them, I think started in August
last year. From memory, so a lot of these players
have been playing for pretty much eleven months of the year,
but they found it, you know, a second wind potentially,
(07:58):
given it was so close last night, and you know,
Wellington hasn't been the happiest of hunting grounds for the
All Blacks, as we've discussed for a number of years.
They've we've got a wind and Bledderslow last year, but
it's been diaboltically bad for a number of years. So
they might be able to take that the French and
use it for a bit of confidence heading into that match.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Oh well, I'm looking forward to it. Thank you so much, Aliot,
really appreciate your thoughts this morning.
Speaker 4 (08:19):
Too easy. Thanks scip.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
For more from the Sunday session with Francesca Rudkin, listen
live to news Talks there'd be from nine am Sunday,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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