Ant Strachan: former All Black and rugby analyst on the All Blacks' win over Italy

Mixed emotions for Dave Rennie after the All Blacks’ clunky 47-17 win over Italy in Wellington.

Rennie was pleased a four-try burst in the 14 minutes after half-time turned the game, but believes they should have driven Italy into the turf.

Former All Black and rugby analyst Ant Strachan joined Piney to explain further.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from NEWSTALKSB What All.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
Black's half Back and News TALKS'B commentator and analyst and
Strawn and thanks for chatting to us. Make forty seven seventeen.
It suggests, I guess a comfortable night. But how satisfied
or not would Dave Rennie be after that win and
after the performance last night?

Speaker 3 (00:29):
I think he was pretty considered in his interview, wasn't he?

Speaker 4 (00:32):
After the game there was some some pleasure I suppose
for about a period of maybe twenty twenty five minutes
where they just got everything right, But the start.

Speaker 3 (00:44):
Was of a concern.

Speaker 4 (00:45):
Again second test, we haven't started too well and put
ourselves under pressure, and then again just trying to keep
that offensive flow using the ball, getting the edges.

Speaker 3 (00:56):
From the middle, just a bit clunky and eras at times.

Speaker 4 (00:59):
I think it was twenty eras handling eras in the game.
So some of those things he won't be too happy about,
but I think he was really happy in that second
half that they kind of knuckled down and got this
All Black.

Speaker 3 (01:10):
Machine rolling, and that was really the difference in the end.

Speaker 2 (01:13):
What did Italy do so well in the first half
to keep it what fourteen ten at halftime or was
it more what the All Blacks didn't do well? What
was the balance there?

Speaker 4 (01:25):
Look, I think defensively all international teams are really stepping
it up now and if they can sort of just
create a little bit of a wall that's almost impenetrable.
It's really hard to get your game going when you're
trying all sorts of things. You're going aeriel, you're going
through the middle, trying to get around the edges, and
you just can't break through. And the Italians were impressive.
I watched the Japanese game last night too. They defended

(01:47):
really well against you know, against Eiland for a long
periods of time as well, So I think partly due
to the Italian defense. I thought it was impressive and
they slowed the ball down really well, but also maybe
needing to adjust to that and just trying a few
other things to sign.

Speaker 3 (02:05):
Offset that that Italian defense.

Speaker 4 (02:07):
But it was impressive, I thought the first twenty minutes
from the Italians.

Speaker 2 (02:11):
We've now seen two tests under Dave Rennia's head coach,
are you seeing big differences and compared to the All
Blacks we've seen over the past couple of years.

Speaker 3 (02:21):
Yeah, I see an air of confidence in the way
they're playing and they haven't really deviated.

Speaker 4 (02:27):
I mean, you know, after that first Test, I mean,
look how well the French played last night, belting the Wallabies.

Speaker 3 (02:33):
You know, even though they were down at halftime. That's
a good French team.

Speaker 4 (02:36):
So the first Test to get away with a wind
was pretty impressive, and then this one was really about
cementing how they're going to defend, tiing.

Speaker 3 (02:44):
Up those eras which we saw the French.

Speaker 4 (02:46):
And obviously just seeing a continuation of the way they attack,
and we just saw it in parts last night, so
we're all a bit frustrated we didn't see more of it.
But after two tests, you know, they've certainly showed their
hand and I think this All Black team's got a
long way to go to be where we want them
to be, heading to South African then obviously to the

(03:07):
World Cup. But two for two, I mean, you can't
you know, you can't snatch on that one, So I
mean you have to be pretty happy, to be honest.

Speaker 2 (03:16):
Well, Jordan, now the All Blacks all time leading test
tri scorer records aside, I mean, where does he sit
among the great All Blacks finishers.

Speaker 3 (03:27):
Oh look, I think.

Speaker 4 (03:29):
When you when you have a look at his career,
you know, and just just the opportunity he's taken from
a young All Black to now and he's still not
that old. I mean, how many more tests has he
got in him? And I really like the way they've
trend it changes and him to the right wing. I
think he's so much more comfortable there.

Speaker 3 (03:47):
He can use the.

Speaker 4 (03:48):
Sideline as his friend, and you know, he's just got
He's a multifaceted player. He can chip and chase, he
can drop back and attack from deep. The unstructured stuff
suits his play well. And he's just really.

Speaker 3 (04:01):
Good at reading lines.

Speaker 4 (04:02):
And you know the three trace he scored last night
to take him to the top, beating Doug Howle, it's
an impressive effort. But as I say, Piney, I think
he's got a few more test left in him. But yeah,
an exceptional player and a critical part of this All
Black team.

Speaker 2 (04:15):
What do you expect next week's selection wise? And do
you think Dave Renni will roll out his strongest possible
side or do you think there's still some tweaking and
some tinkering and perhaps an opportunity to give guys like Bowden, Barrett,
Simon Parker, you know, guys like that a chance because
they haven't played yet. What do you expect selection wise
next week?

Speaker 3 (04:35):
Look injury's aside.

Speaker 4 (04:36):
I reckon he picks his test team, he picks his
best starting fifteen that he has available, and then they
have to have a look at sixteen three to twenty
three and see how the reserves those players coming on
can compliment what he has in the front group. And
of course the Iris have had two wins as well,
so they'll come across, you know, pretty confident. I would

(04:57):
have thought Andy Ferrell and his boys, So yeah, I
don't think they'll play anymore. I think they'll pick the
best team.

Speaker 2 (05:04):
And always great to get to Anellis's things for you
us this afternoon. Don't take it, no, you take care too.
Thanks and and Strawn for more all bleckx halfback just
such a student analyst say the word analyst of the game.

Speaker 1 (05:16):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, Listen live
to News Talk sed B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.