July 4, 2026 • 8 mins
The Dave Rennie era of All Blacks rugby has started in winning ways with a 34-32 victory over France in the opening match of the inaugural Nations Championship.
New Zealand were made to earn their victory against a well drilled French outfit who never looked out of touching distance, and caused a few nervy moments in the Garden City.
Former All Black Lima Sopoaga said it was a good start, but there's room for the team to improve.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudkin
from News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The Dave Rennie era as All Blacks coach got off
to a winning start.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
This will be the last phase of play. The All
Black Suns need to get it into touch right back
for love the All Blacks. What a thriller to sign
a new era of All Blacks rugby in more ways
than one. Thirty four thirty.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Two International Rugby media described the match as a thrilling,
high tempo contest. Much of the praise went to Camera
Regard and Will Jordan, who both scored two tries and
were seen as key figures in the All Blacks attack.
Skysport analyst Nemosopolanga joins me, now, good morning.
Speaker 4 (00:49):
Good morning to you too. How are you.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
I'm very good, thank you. It was a tough task
facing the sixth nation winners first up. The French came
to play, so did the All Blacks. The basics were good,
the old catch and pass worked well. Has Dave Rennie
made his mark?
Speaker 4 (01:05):
Oh? I mean that test was. It was honestly so
cool to be a part of the first one. Back
in christ Church under the roof and yeah, it was,
like you said, an intense and close match and we
only won by two points and they're a great French side.
But you know, I think it's definitely you know, like
he's put his mark down on the sand and you
(01:28):
know they only had six days to train together to
get things going, and you know, like for me, I
think that's an awesome start from you know, not only
the coaching stuff, but the whole team and the whole collective.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Renny's big on the basics, isn't he And they did it.
Did I had a feeling of a lot more of
a team that was a lot more confident and had
a lot more belief in just doing those basics.
Speaker 4 (01:54):
Yeah, I think so too. I think it really showed
the way that they want to play. I think I
saw something said off again by a ruin gun and
so he said it was the most that the least
amount of box kicks he's ever done in the game.
So it clearly shows their intent to want to use
the skill set that they have, which is some great athletes.
(02:15):
But back to your points, it is about making sure
you do the basics really really well, and at times
they certainly did that, and other times it wasn't quite
there and they missed the mark. But I think the
bones of the game plan and of what they want
to achieve are definitely there, and so it'll be exciting
to see where they come in the next couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Interesting you mentioned the box kick because it didn't really
turn up until the second half. Was that the plan?
Do you think?
Speaker 4 (02:41):
Well, I think judging by what Royguard had said post game,
it's got to be. It's got I mean, you've got
a beautiful in law stadium, you have perfect conditions, Like
why wouldn't you want to play attacking rugby with the
athletes that you have? You know, you got Quintupia, Wally
(03:02):
so Tt, Peter Larkeye, you know, guys who loved express
themselves out there. So I think it was I think
it was great to see.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
What did you see that you liked and what are
the work ons?
Speaker 4 (03:16):
Oh, like you said, back to those basics, I think,
you know, there were a few drop passes that maybe
if they had stuck, they would have put away a
few more tries. But I think for me and what
I liked and maybe what people didn't get to see
watching on TV and not being so close to the action.
(03:36):
It felt like the team is really united and the
group is really happy, and they feel really well connected.
And a lot of people have said that about Dave
Rennie is that he's a connector of men and he
brings people together. And that's something that even Quaie Cooper,
so when I spoke to him before the game, is
one thing he had with the Wallabies was that he
(03:57):
was able to bring so many different types of people
together and make them go in the same direction towards
the same goal. And I think that's what I really
liked about seeing you all Blacks last night, was that
ceiling that they all were really well connected.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Defense probably needs a bit of work.
Speaker 4 (04:16):
Yeah for sure. I mean, you know, you you open
the game in the first minute or two and it's
seven zero, it's like, oh, but it's like I said before,
it's it's only they've only had six days together as
a new group, and so these things will get ironed
over and worked out and they'll understand each other better
(04:38):
and understand the coaching and the systems that want to
be implemented by the coaches. So yeah, for sure. But
we saw the intent, Yeah, the intent, the intent to
get off the line and whack dudes, and the intent
to be brutally physical in the contact, which is which
is a staple of teams that are coached by Dave
(05:00):
Rennie is he wants brutality and and and rugby is
a game collision and violence. And I think to your point,
that's exactly what we saw as the intent to be
physical with the opposition was great.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
The buzzword that we sort of seem to hear coming
out of this team is optimism. You know, really believes
that you you know, you should be optimistic that you
could score from anywhere on the field. And that sort
of also contributes to that intent, doesn't it.
Speaker 4 (05:30):
Yeah, it does, And I think it's such a great
mindset and it takes it back to probably how this
country is when you're a young age. You want to
go out there with your mates and play in the
backyard and kick a ball around and you know, be
razzle dazzle, And I think that's in the heart of
(05:52):
all that rugbia and we have been successful in the past,
and that's been the heart of us to back our skills,
to use what we're good at, and that's our natural
instincts to play and run off the ball and so
hopefully we'll continue to see more of that awesome, exciting
rugby as the season gets on and the games get
(06:12):
better and better.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Lima before the team was selected this week, you threw
your support in behind Ruben Love getting the starting first
five spot. How do you think he went?
Speaker 4 (06:21):
Yeah, obviously at that yellow card, so he'll be disappointed
with that, but there's always like that was we got
to look at Ruben and Love's ascension and like that
was only his sixth tests and he got to start
on the ten jersey, So it's great. We've got to
allow these young guys and I say young because he
hasn't been given the reins for a long period. Is
(06:41):
that he will get better. He will have things he
wants to work on himself. And that game by Ruben
Lum was no means perfect, and it wasn't, you know,
his Super Rugby final performance, but it's an awesome place
for him to start, and I think he can only
get better and stronger easterly.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Then Ireland next is stay Ready the kind of coach
to reshuffle players around. Do you think he'll stick with
those he feels are inform.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
I'm not too sure to be totally honest, I think
they'll want to see different guys in different combinations, especially
throughout this July series. And then I think when it
comes to South Africa, you know, those big tests will
be where we see maybe more of a consistent team
of what he thinks is the best.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
David Kirk was talking about the fact that, you know,
the over the last couple of years, the All Blacks
haven't been on the trajectory that he wants them to
be on to get to the Rugby World Cup. Now,
I know we've only seen one game limit, but from
what you saw, do you think the All Blacks have
the time to be dominant at the next Rugby World Cup?
Do you think they're on their way?
Speaker 4 (07:51):
Absolutely? I believe they can do it. I believe they've
got the group. I believe they've got the coaching stuff. Yeah,
it is early days, but we have to. We can't
at elite sport in the highest level, you can't even
think that you're not going to get somewhere and you're
not going to try, believed to climb the highest mountain
and want to win a World Cup. And I think
that's what they what what we'll see, and you know,
(08:14):
I believe in this group, and I believe in how
they lead and what they're trying to achieve, and it's
going to be pretty exciting to watch. Lima.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Thank you so much for your time this morning. Really
appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
Sweet, no worries, absolute pleasure.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
That was Skysport Analystic Lima Saporinger.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
There for more from the Sunday session with Francesca Rudkin.
Listen live to News Talks it'd be from nine am Sunday,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudkin
from News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The Dave Rennie era as All Blacks coach got off
to a winning start.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
This will be the last phase of play. The All
Black Suns need to get it into touch right back
for love the All Blacks. What a thriller to sign
a new era of All Blacks rugby in more ways
than one. Thirty four thirty.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Two International Rugby media described the match as a thrilling,
high tempo contest. Much of the praise went to Camera
Regard and Will Jordan, who both scored two tries and
were seen as key figures in the All Blacks attack.
Skysport analyst Nemosopolanga joins me, now, good morning.
Speaker 4 (00:49):
Good morning to you too. How are you.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
I'm very good, thank you. It was a tough task
facing the sixth nation winners first up. The French came
to play, so did the All Blacks. The basics were good,
the old catch and pass worked well. Has Dave Rennie
made his mark?
Speaker 4 (01:05):
Oh? I mean that test was. It was honestly so
cool to be a part of the first one. Back
in christ Church under the roof and yeah, it was,
like you said, an intense and close match and we
only won by two points and they're a great French side.
But you know, I think it's definitely you know, like
he's put his mark down on the sand and you
(01:28):
know they only had six days to train together to
get things going, and you know, like for me, I
think that's an awesome start from you know, not only
the coaching stuff, but the whole team and the whole collective.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Renny's big on the basics, isn't he And they did it.
Did I had a feeling of a lot more of
a team that was a lot more confident and had
a lot more belief in just doing those basics.
Speaker 4 (01:54):
Yeah, I think so too. I think it really showed
the way that they want to play. I think I
saw something said off again by a ruin gun and
so he said it was the most that the least
amount of box kicks he's ever done in the game.
So it clearly shows their intent to want to use
the skill set that they have, which is some great athletes.
(02:15):
But back to your points, it is about making sure
you do the basics really really well, and at times
they certainly did that, and other times it wasn't quite
there and they missed the mark. But I think the
bones of the game plan and of what they want
to achieve are definitely there, and so it'll be exciting
to see where they come in the next couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Interesting you mentioned the box kick because it didn't really
turn up until the second half. Was that the plan?
Do you think?
Speaker 4 (02:41):
Well, I think judging by what Royguard had said post game,
it's got to be. It's got I mean, you've got
a beautiful in law stadium, you have perfect conditions, Like
why wouldn't you want to play attacking rugby with the
athletes that you have? You know, you got Quintupia, Wally
(03:02):
so Tt, Peter Larkeye, you know, guys who loved express
themselves out there. So I think it was I think
it was great to see.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
What did you see that you liked and what are
the work ons?
Speaker 4 (03:16):
Oh, like you said, back to those basics, I think,
you know, there were a few drop passes that maybe
if they had stuck, they would have put away a
few more tries. But I think for me and what
I liked and maybe what people didn't get to see
watching on TV and not being so close to the action.
(03:36):
It felt like the team is really united and the
group is really happy, and they feel really well connected.
And a lot of people have said that about Dave
Rennie is that he's a connector of men and he
brings people together. And that's something that even Quaie Cooper,
so when I spoke to him before the game, is
one thing he had with the Wallabies was that he
(03:57):
was able to bring so many different types of people
together and make them go in the same direction towards
the same goal. And I think that's what I really
liked about seeing you all Blacks last night, was that
ceiling that they all were really well connected.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Defense probably needs a bit of work.
Speaker 4 (04:16):
Yeah for sure. I mean, you know, you you open
the game in the first minute or two and it's
seven zero, it's like, oh, but it's like I said before,
it's it's only they've only had six days together as
a new group, and so these things will get ironed
over and worked out and they'll understand each other better
(04:38):
and understand the coaching and the systems that want to
be implemented by the coaches. So yeah, for sure. But
we saw the intent, Yeah, the intent, the intent to
get off the line and whack dudes, and the intent
to be brutally physical in the contact, which is which
is a staple of teams that are coached by Dave
(05:00):
Rennie is he wants brutality and and and rugby is
a game collision and violence. And I think to your point,
that's exactly what we saw as the intent to be
physical with the opposition was great.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
The buzzword that we sort of seem to hear coming
out of this team is optimism. You know, really believes
that you you know, you should be optimistic that you
could score from anywhere on the field. And that sort
of also contributes to that intent, doesn't it.
Speaker 4 (05:30):
Yeah, it does, And I think it's such a great
mindset and it takes it back to probably how this
country is when you're a young age. You want to
go out there with your mates and play in the
backyard and kick a ball around and you know, be
razzle dazzle, And I think that's in the heart of
(05:52):
all that rugbia and we have been successful in the past,
and that's been the heart of us to back our skills,
to use what we're good at, and that's our natural
instincts to play and run off the ball and so
hopefully we'll continue to see more of that awesome, exciting
rugby as the season gets on and the games get
(06:12):
better and better.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Lima before the team was selected this week, you threw
your support in behind Ruben Love getting the starting first
five spot. How do you think he went?
Speaker 4 (06:21):
Yeah, obviously at that yellow card, so he'll be disappointed
with that, but there's always like that was we got
to look at Ruben and Love's ascension and like that
was only his sixth tests and he got to start
on the ten jersey, So it's great. We've got to
allow these young guys and I say young because he
hasn't been given the reins for a long period. Is
(06:41):
that he will get better. He will have things he
wants to work on himself. And that game by Ruben
Lum was no means perfect, and it wasn't, you know,
his Super Rugby final performance, but it's an awesome place
for him to start, and I think he can only
get better and stronger easterly.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Then Ireland next is stay Ready the kind of coach
to reshuffle players around. Do you think he'll stick with
those he feels are inform.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
I'm not too sure to be totally honest, I think
they'll want to see different guys in different combinations, especially
throughout this July series. And then I think when it
comes to South Africa, you know, those big tests will
be where we see maybe more of a consistent team
of what he thinks is the best.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
David Kirk was talking about the fact that, you know,
the over the last couple of years, the All Blacks
haven't been on the trajectory that he wants them to
be on to get to the Rugby World Cup. Now,
I know we've only seen one game limit, but from
what you saw, do you think the All Blacks have
the time to be dominant at the next Rugby World Cup?
Do you think they're on their way?
Speaker 4 (07:51):
Absolutely? I believe they can do it. I believe they've
got the group. I believe they've got the coaching stuff. Yeah,
it is early days, but we have to. We can't
at elite sport in the highest level, you can't even
think that you're not going to get somewhere and you're
not going to try, believed to climb the highest mountain
and want to win a World Cup. And I think
that's what they what what we'll see, and you know,
(08:14):
I believe in this group, and I believe in how
they lead and what they're trying to achieve, and it's
going to be pretty exciting to watch. Lima.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Thank you so much for your time this morning. Really
appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
Sweet, no worries, absolute pleasure.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
That was Skysport Analystic Lima Saporinger.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
There for more from the Sunday session with Francesca Rudkin.
Listen live to News Talks it'd be from nine am Sunday,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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