Billy Proctor: Hurricanes player on being called up as part of Razor's first All Blacks squad

Hurricanes star Billy Proctor was stoked to learn he was part of Scott Robertson's first All Blacks squad in the role.

He joined Piney to discuss the good news.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalgs EDB. It's more than just a game. Weekend
Sport with Jason Vine and GJ. Gardnerholmes, New Zealand's most
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Speaker 2 (00:22):
EDB fourteen away from three John on Texas, Jason, I've
only been listening for some of the show, but since
the All Black squad was named, I've heard nothing about
the non selection of Sam Kain. He said it was available,
just not as captain.

Speaker 3 (00:34):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (00:35):
I think the problem John with Sam Kain was that
he's had no rugby. He picked up that injury early
in the Japanese season and hadn't had any rugby at
all really from which he could be considered for selection.
But I can tell you he was at the official
launch on Wednesday. He's attached to the All Blacks team
at the moment, as are a couple of others. They
named the thirty two man squad plus four training partners,

(00:56):
but there are others there as well. Sam Kaine is
one of them. Will Jordan is another. So I think
you will see Sam Kain in an official capacity in
an All Black squad at some stage this season, but
he's not among the official thirty two for the upcoming
Test matches against England and Fiji. One man who is, though,
is one of the new Caps Hurricanes midfielder Billy Proctor.

(01:19):
I spoke with Billy Proctor at the All Black season
laun John Wednesday to find out how he was feeling
about his first ever All Blacks call up Billy Proctor
All Black.

Speaker 3 (01:27):
Well almost, how does that sound, mate?

Speaker 4 (01:30):
Yeah, it's pretty cool, you know, to be named in
the squad. You know, it's the work to do. But
over the past few days being able to process it,
you know, I've had a you know, signs of effect.
Then yeah, as I said, processor and you know, it's
been awesome, awesome to see you know that we're paying
off and I guess being yeah, pictor b Ben the

(01:52):
squad is, Yes, something pretty awesome.

Speaker 3 (01:55):
So nuts and bolts. How to find out?

Speaker 4 (01:57):
It was just at home watching it on TV with
my whole family, my partner, parents and brothers, and yeah,
just just waited to the so let's started naming the
names and obviously mine mine got read out and there's
a few cheers going on in the household and it's
a pretty special way of finding out instead of like

(02:18):
a phone call. It's pretty cool just not knowing and
waiting and hearing it on TV.

Speaker 3 (02:25):
Very cool.

Speaker 2 (02:25):
I spoke to Jason Holland on the radio the other
day and he said, you just kept on banging on
the door the reason that you got chosen. You just
kept on banging on that door. Did you feel like
you were in the frame?

Speaker 1 (02:36):
Ah?

Speaker 4 (02:38):
Yeah, I didn't think too much about about the All
Blacks during the season. You know. I was just trying
to do my part for the Hurricanes, trying to play
the best I can, and yeah, do my part for
the Hurricanes. Just trying to get bit each week, and yeah,
improve my game and get better. So yeah, that was
that was I guess my focus. And it's pretty cool
to be here now and this team. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (02:58):
What's it like now that you you've had the task
to process that the team got read out. As you're
say on the TV on Monday, what are we now Wednesday?
You've had forty eight hours or so. You're in the environment.
You got to you gear on as a sunder sinking.
Now what what what's about to unfold?

Speaker 4 (03:10):
Yeah? I guess so, you know, I had the few
days to process it, and you know, I don't quite
realize that how big of the elders, and so you
see all the messages coming and I guess you see
the reactions of your family and how proud they are.
But yeah, now now in the environment, you know, we've
only had a couple of hours to give them, still
still grubbing shoulders of every run and U you know,

(03:32):
connecting with everyone. But I'm sure over the next few days,
you know, it would be called to I guess, get
the full experience of what it's like to be in
the all black environment and I guess learning and get
to work with with with the squad and coaches. So
looking forward to it.

Speaker 2 (03:47):
I'm not sure what the cheers were like when you
went from p for proped and carried on?

Speaker 3 (03:51):
Did you were?

Speaker 2 (03:51):
You had you calm down by the time Pussily or
Tossi's name was called?

Speaker 3 (03:54):
What about that?

Speaker 4 (03:55):
Yeah? That was awesome too to hear his name and uh,
you know see how far he's coming. Uh to be
I guess named in this squad with him as you know,
pretty cool. Yeah, so a happy mistake for him and
him and his family. So yeah, it's a cool moment.

Speaker 2 (04:12):
Your partnership with Jordy Barrett's been a night catching part
of the hurricane success this year. How keen are you
to replicate that with with a black jersey on?

Speaker 4 (04:21):
Yeah, it'd be awesome. You know, it's awesome to see
him him get I guess recognized and and him to
get his role as vice captain. You know, it's an
awesome achievement, achievement for him and he you know, it's
awesome to play alongside him, and you know I played
with him for the last couple of years and really
enjoyed it. He's awesome player. So yeah, so you see

(04:44):
what happens in the next next couple of weeks or yeah,
next week or two, but you know it will be
awesome to be able to run out there with him
if the opportunity positions.

Speaker 3 (04:52):
Are just to finish. How long has this been a goal?

Speaker 2 (04:55):
I mean, how old was Billy Proctor when he first
started thinking about we're in the all black jersey.

Speaker 4 (05:01):
Yeah, I don't know if he started thinking about wearing
the all black jersey, but you know, he's always been
a team that you look up to ever since a
young boy. And you know, I've been playing rugby since
I was just a little kids, so you know you
always look up, look up to all Blacks and you
know it's always been an awesome team and I guess
a big part of New Zealand. So yeah, it's been

(05:23):
you know, it's like a little kid's dream come true.
So it's yeah, pretty cool.

Speaker 2 (05:26):
That is Billy Proctor one of the new faces and
the all Blacks. So the first test is next weekend.
That's going to rush up quick as well next Saturday
night Dunedin against England five past seven. We'll have a
full commentary here on News Talks EDB and Weekend Sport
will come to you out of Test City Dunedin next
Saturday and Sunday, so we'll preview it all for you
next Saturday.

Speaker 1 (05:45):
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