September 27, 2025 • 5 mins
The All Blacks have set their eyes on consistency after snaring the Bledisloe Cup for another year.
The 33-24 win over the Wallabies keeps the trophy at NZR headquarters - the 23rd consecutive summer it will spend there.
Newstalk ZB rugby commentator Elliott Smith says the All Blacks didn't fold like they did in Wellington last time, but there's still room for improvement.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Ruggin
from News Talk z EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Well, it was a very emotional start to the rugby
game last night, wasn't it. All Black Caleb Clark reduced
to tears when his dad Aerroni surprisingly turned up to
sing the pre match national anthem. It was a very
touching moment and it did the trick, Caleb scoring the
first try and the All Blacks retaining the Bluzeslow beating
(00:33):
the Wallabies thirty three twenty four z B Rugby commentator
Elliott Smith joins me.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Now, good morning morning, Francesca.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Also, look we've still got some silverware in the trophy.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Cabinet, absolutely, and the All Blacks were net was a
match to spare the last sort of remaining trophy in
their cabinet and it does give them a chance of
winning some more next week as they head to perf
Although the Spring Box winning pretty comfortably over Argentina this morning,
they'll go in the box seats the next week's final round.
But the All Blacks put a pretty high price on
the Bledislow. It's that they claim it's the second most
(01:07):
important trophy outside the world Cup in terms of the
ones they compete for, so it stays for a twenty
third straight year for the All Blacks.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
So it was a re boring start from the All Blacks.
But the next thing, you know, we're at halftime and
there's nothing at It's twenty seventeen to the All Blacks. Yeah,
a bit tense, but nerve.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
Wrecking absolutely, and look they had the opportunity to go
on with it. And this is probably we talk about
consistency from match to match with the All Blacks, but
I think it's also consistency in the match where they
fade in and out of games and look the world
he started playing some really good rugby after they were
behind on the Scorebard that they needed to be the
team that scored next when they were twenty to three down,
(01:46):
and they were, and then they got another one and
started applying some pressure to the All Blacks. At twenty
points to three, the All Blacks really should have been
able to kick on from there and mount an unassailable lead,
but got back to a two point game, you know,
right in the second spell. So look, this is probably
a tale of two teams that the All Blacks are
not the roofless team that they once were. When they
(02:08):
were twenty two points to three up, they would have
kicked on and put a real score on the Wallabies.
But this also isn't the Wallabies team, but they once were,
even a couple of years ago, where they had a
soft underbelly and.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
Would have rolled over.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
There's a lot more leadership in this Wallabies team and
we've seen them fight back against South Africa and Argentina
over the last month or so. They managed to do
it against the All Blacks but ultimately fall short. So
you know, for the All Blacks there are obviously some
still some challenges, still a lot of things to work on,
but they would like that last ten minutes we're under pressure,
(02:41):
they didn't fold like they did in Wellington. They managed
to come out and secure the match winning try.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
And great to have Cam Reguard back, welcome return any
other standouts.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
Yeah, Camp Regard made a huge difference, so I thought
for the All Blacks in the way that they attacked.
But I was also impressed by Leroy Carter. I think
had an excellent game on the wing and popping up
and all sorts of places, showing a seven's background in
his ability to get over the ball and make spot tackles.
He nullified Joseph Suletti on a couple of occasions and
(03:13):
the Wallaby's midfield, so I was really impressed by what
he did as well for Ardie Savilla.
Speaker 4 (03:18):
Stood up as well and after a.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
Quiet game and Wellington delivered for the All Blacks in
the game where he was captain and they needed him
to deliver. There was one moment where he snuffed out
of Wallaby's attack, surged backwards and made a cover tackle.
So very impressed by him and as you said, cam
Roy Guard him being backward was worth his weight in
gold two tries and just made a real difference in
the shape of the All Blacks back line and showed
(03:42):
you know here he is emerging as one of the
best halfbacks of this current generation worldwide.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Yeah, I think Leboy might be a new favorite All Black. Hey,
look at the referee a bit pedandic around the breakdown.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
Do you think absolutely yes?
Speaker 3 (03:56):
But to the All Blacks credit, they adapted better than
the Ballabies were able to do. I think the Wallaby
is considered the last eight penalties of the game. It
was a fifteen to ten against some twenty five penalties
in a Test match is too much.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
I think, you know, a little bit too.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Pedantic from Andrea Piati. That the Wallabies have struggled to
adapt to him, though they in the Lions Test the
Second East in Melbourne were not given a late penalty
that they believe they should have been given. Then again
having him last night, they really struggled to adapt to
some of his refereeing. I thought he was too pedantic,
didn't find a way to make it into a contest
(04:34):
or a flowing contest, which is what we wanted rugby.
But you've got to adapt to what the referees doing
and the Wallabies weren't able to do that. But I
think he is one of those referees that World Rugby
are keen to promote. Probably has happened a little bit
too early for him and alliet.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
The Black Ferns they got the job done, which is excellent.
They've come away with stirred. But I'm sure there's going
to be quite a lot of reflection on this tournament.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
And so yeah, absolutely, and so there should be.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
I think the Black Ferns, you know, were at times
in that game last night, I thought we're playing some
of their best rugby of the tournament. But ultimately they
didn't go there to come away with a bronze medal.
They meant to come away with the trophy and they
weren't able to do that. There has to be some
real questions on how they closed the gap to England
(05:19):
and Canada, especially Canada being basically in an amateur union.
New Zealand with a lot more resources, not as many
as the English Union, but there has to be some
questions around the coaching and also pathways into the national
setup given how much of a difference the sevens players
made when they came in. I think you nes has
to be on the fifteens pathways and what that's doing
(05:40):
for the game in New Zealand. So ultimately, you know,
they leave with the bronze medal, not what they went for,
but you know, New Zealand, you know, with a bit
of work to do before Australia twenty twenty nine.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
Alliott Smith, thank you so much 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 Ruggin
from News Talk z EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Well, it was a very emotional start to the rugby
game last night, wasn't it. All Black Caleb Clark reduced
to tears when his dad Aerroni surprisingly turned up to
sing the pre match national anthem. It was a very
touching moment and it did the trick, Caleb scoring the
first try and the All Blacks retaining the Bluzeslow beating
(00:33):
the Wallabies thirty three twenty four z B Rugby commentator
Elliott Smith joins me.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Now, good morning morning, Francesca.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Also, look we've still got some silverware in the trophy.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Cabinet, absolutely, and the All Blacks were net was a
match to spare the last sort of remaining trophy in
their cabinet and it does give them a chance of
winning some more next week as they head to perf
Although the Spring Box winning pretty comfortably over Argentina this morning,
they'll go in the box seats the next week's final round.
But the All Blacks put a pretty high price on
the Bledislow. It's that they claim it's the second most
(01:07):
important trophy outside the world Cup in terms of the
ones they compete for, so it stays for a twenty
third straight year for the All Blacks.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
So it was a re boring start from the All Blacks.
But the next thing, you know, we're at halftime and
there's nothing at It's twenty seventeen to the All Blacks. Yeah,
a bit tense, but nerve.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
Wrecking absolutely, and look they had the opportunity to go
on with it. And this is probably we talk about
consistency from match to match with the All Blacks, but
I think it's also consistency in the match where they
fade in and out of games and look the world
he started playing some really good rugby after they were
behind on the Scorebard that they needed to be the
team that scored next when they were twenty to three down,
(01:46):
and they were, and then they got another one and
started applying some pressure to the All Blacks. At twenty
points to three, the All Blacks really should have been
able to kick on from there and mount an unassailable lead,
but got back to a two point game, you know,
right in the second spell. So look, this is probably
a tale of two teams that the All Blacks are
not the roofless team that they once were. When they
(02:08):
were twenty two points to three up, they would have
kicked on and put a real score on the Wallabies.
But this also isn't the Wallabies team, but they once were,
even a couple of years ago, where they had a
soft underbelly and.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
Would have rolled over.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
There's a lot more leadership in this Wallabies team and
we've seen them fight back against South Africa and Argentina
over the last month or so. They managed to do
it against the All Blacks but ultimately fall short. So
you know, for the All Blacks there are obviously some
still some challenges, still a lot of things to work on,
but they would like that last ten minutes we're under pressure,
(02:41):
they didn't fold like they did in Wellington. They managed
to come out and secure the match winning try.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
And great to have Cam Reguard back, welcome return any
other standouts.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
Yeah, Camp Regard made a huge difference, so I thought
for the All Blacks in the way that they attacked.
But I was also impressed by Leroy Carter. I think
had an excellent game on the wing and popping up
and all sorts of places, showing a seven's background in
his ability to get over the ball and make spot tackles.
He nullified Joseph Suletti on a couple of occasions and
(03:13):
the Wallaby's midfield, so I was really impressed by what
he did as well for Ardie Savilla.
Speaker 4 (03:18):
Stood up as well and after a.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
Quiet game and Wellington delivered for the All Blacks in
the game where he was captain and they needed him
to deliver. There was one moment where he snuffed out
of Wallaby's attack, surged backwards and made a cover tackle.
So very impressed by him and as you said, cam
Roy Guard him being backward was worth his weight in
gold two tries and just made a real difference in
the shape of the All Blacks back line and showed
(03:42):
you know here he is emerging as one of the
best halfbacks of this current generation worldwide.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Yeah, I think Leboy might be a new favorite All Black. Hey,
look at the referee a bit pedandic around the breakdown.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
Do you think absolutely yes?
Speaker 3 (03:56):
But to the All Blacks credit, they adapted better than
the Ballabies were able to do. I think the Wallaby
is considered the last eight penalties of the game. It
was a fifteen to ten against some twenty five penalties
in a Test match is too much.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
I think, you know, a little bit too.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Pedantic from Andrea Piati. That the Wallabies have struggled to
adapt to him, though they in the Lions Test the
Second East in Melbourne were not given a late penalty
that they believe they should have been given. Then again
having him last night, they really struggled to adapt to
some of his refereeing. I thought he was too pedantic,
didn't find a way to make it into a contest
(04:34):
or a flowing contest, which is what we wanted rugby.
But you've got to adapt to what the referees doing
and the Wallabies weren't able to do that. But I
think he is one of those referees that World Rugby
are keen to promote. Probably has happened a little bit
too early for him and alliet.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
The Black Ferns they got the job done, which is excellent.
They've come away with stirred. But I'm sure there's going
to be quite a lot of reflection on this tournament.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
And so yeah, absolutely, and so there should be.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
I think the Black Ferns, you know, were at times
in that game last night, I thought we're playing some
of their best rugby of the tournament. But ultimately they
didn't go there to come away with a bronze medal.
They meant to come away with the trophy and they
weren't able to do that. There has to be some
real questions on how they closed the gap to England
(05:19):
and Canada, especially Canada being basically in an amateur union.
New Zealand with a lot more resources, not as many
as the English Union, but there has to be some
questions around the coaching and also pathways into the national
setup given how much of a difference the sevens players
made when they came in. I think you nes has
to be on the fifteens pathways and what that's doing
(05:40):
for the game in New Zealand. So ultimately, you know,
they leave with the bronze medal, not what they went for,
but you know, New Zealand, you know, with a bit
of work to do before Australia twenty twenty nine.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
Alliott Smith, thank you so much 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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