It’s set to be an intense match as the All Blacks face Scotland at Murrayfield.
The Scottish side is celebrating 100 years at their home ground, and are aiming to cap it off with their first victory over the All Blacks.
Both teams have named strong sides, Scotland being led by their world-class first five Finn Russell.
Former All Blacks and Scotland assistant coach Brad Mooar told Jason Pine that when he first went to Scotland, he expected to see a mercurial talent in Russell, where things just sort of happened to him.
Instead, he says, Russell’s a massive student of the game, who does a lot of homework on his game, his team’s game, the opposition, and the game in general.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk s EDB All Blacks v.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Scotland tomorrow morning, ten past four New Zealand time. You'll
get a full commentary here on news Talk said B.
The first time these two have played one another since
the All Blacks End of Year tour in twenty twenty two.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
They do kick for touch and the All Blacks survive
a heck of a scale once again at Murrayfield, but
emerge eight point winner is thirty one twenty three.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
That game was five days short of three years ago.
Just the four survivors from the All Blacks starting fifteen
that day, who will start again tomorrow morning, Ethan DeGroot,
Ardie Savier Boden Barrett and Caleb Clark. This is the
thirty third meeting between the two all up the Black Aps.
It's not the Black Caps. The All Blacks have won
(00:58):
thirty of those matches, two draws, the most recent of
those draws twenty five, all all the way back in
nineteen eighty three. All twenty four matches since then have
been won by the All Blacks. A man who can
give us a truly unique perspective is former All Blacks
assistant coach and former Scotland assistant coach Brad Moore who
(01:20):
joins us. Now, Brad, let's get straight into it. What
is Scotland's best strategy for beating the All Blacks for
the very first time?
Speaker 4 (01:28):
Oh wow, Gay Finy, thanks for thanks for having me
on privilege to be chatting with you. God, what a
cracking game it is lining up to be. My ISAA
shining for it. It's two really good sides picked. I
think Scotland's mentality at home Murrayfield Special Place, one hundred
years of footy there will be highly motivating for them.
(01:52):
And I think they've picked a really strong side. Seven
British and Irish Lions in the group. I think in
the starting fifteen, I think they'll they'll be looking for that. Yeah,
they'll Fred Allen stuff, position, possession and pace of that.
Speaker 5 (02:09):
That parody up front. Get that.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
If they can get parody upfront, even dominated a little bit,
then then that will give them front football to see
some very exciting backs do their stuff and play the
game that they that they love playing, which is a
lot of possision, a lot of ball and ball in
hand and Finn Russell orchestrating things from ten, putting them
in the right places.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
It's such a good summary of everything. So there's a
bit to unpack there. Let's start with the parity that
you mentioned there. Can they get forward parity against the
All Blacks?
Speaker 4 (02:45):
Yeah, look, I think I think so in terms of
in different areas of a few.
Speaker 5 (02:50):
I think that the All Blacks will be having a
bit of a crack at the scrum.
Speaker 4 (02:53):
I think with Xander Faguson injured at the moment, tight
head for Scotland, I'm sure they'll be targeting that that space.
Speaker 5 (03:05):
The Scotland life out.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
There's some some excellent line out forwards in there, Scottie, Collens, Grant,
Gil Chris. Grant's very experienced now and Scotty's an outstanding
second rower, so I think they'll they'll be working pretty
hard there to get good ball and play quick off that.
So so they see one side having a crack at
(03:30):
the line out on another side having a crack at
the scrum. It's it sort of adds up to some
pretty cool moments and and then then it's about to
take your moments and the and the breakdown war, which
I'm sure will be firstly contested with some pretty hungry
loose boards on both sides, and then the outside backs
also enjoy having a crack at the ruck. Kyle Stain
(03:51):
and Darcy Graham Scotland and Lee Roy.
Speaker 5 (03:56):
And Caylib are not afraid to get amongst either.
Speaker 4 (03:59):
So it's I think it's tasty in all those physical areas.
Speaker 5 (04:05):
But if the if there's parody and.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
That that provides the good front football, then both sides
can be very dangerous.
Speaker 5 (04:12):
I just think it's look lining up to be a cracker.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Game, absolutely right. Let's talk about Thin Russell, Scotland first five,
their pivot, their director. Basically what makes him such a
good player.
Speaker 5 (04:24):
I absolute student of the game.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
So I think when I went over to join Scotland,
I thought I'd see a mercurial talent things that where
things just happened for him. Well, what I saw is
the high talent, awesome skill set of his passing game,
(04:47):
kicking game, and running game where he just buys time
on the ball. We're not really sure as a defense
exactly what he's going to pull, how he's going to
pull the trigger, where he's going to pass it, run
at or kick it. He can do all three of
those things in a pretty quick moment way holds the
ball buys time off him. So that there's I thought
(05:09):
that around the mercurial talent, and what I saw is
that and a massive student of the game where he
does a lot of homework on his game, his team's game,
and the opposition and game in general. So he sees
the pictures really quickly because he's worked earlier during the
week to see them already and knows what he's looking for,
(05:32):
to the point where really actually in the in the week,
by the back end of the week Friday leading into
a Saturday game, you actually having a conversation mate. You've
done plenty, You've done enough, You've got the homework done.
Let's go play.
Speaker 5 (05:50):
So is recalling the game huge can recall the moments
quickly and have a conversation with you point to point
without him having actually sat through it again to have
to watch it again.
Speaker 4 (06:00):
So that's beautiful because you can have in the moment
conversations without sitting around the computers during at the screen.
It's just it's a footy chat that leads to some
beautiful points. So really enjoyed working with him, and just
saw a guy who works very very hard and cares
massively for his country and his club and the people
(06:22):
around him.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
What kind of coaches Griger towns.
Speaker 4 (06:26):
End Very curious, hard working, very passionate about the game
and how it can be played. So I see him
very optimistic about the game. There's always an opportunity for him,
and I think he's been really clear with Scotland as
(06:47):
to what talent and skill set they've got in their group,
and then building that whilst also and then and then
adapting a game to suit the players abilities that they've got,
so really clear on the identity of the game, curious
about how to take that forward, and then builds a
(07:09):
week that fits into all of that, and is clear
about their connection. What's important is people and then how
I'm driving the hard work in between, Like he's puts
his shoulder to the well massively and provides a great
example of leadership in that space.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Is the fact that Scotland have never beaten the All
Blacks a motivation or a burden?
Speaker 4 (07:34):
Well, I guess it can be both, can't It depends
on your mindset and approach to that.
Speaker 5 (07:41):
I think that with this group that will provide a motivation.
Speaker 4 (07:47):
And no doubt the All Blacks will be highly motivated
by that as well.
Speaker 5 (07:50):
It's a motivation for our team too, isn't it.
Speaker 4 (07:54):
So it's the mindset it is motivated to keep it,
motivated to break it. I'm sure the All Blacks will
look to start fast and put Scotland into a position
of ah shiver as we've been here before, and potentially
try to create some doubt in the minds of Scotland.
Are we looking to keep the heat on, put themselves
(08:17):
in a position where they can finish strong and take
the moments You know that test Rugby. The margins are tiny,
but the consequences of those margins are big. So you've
just got to try to make add more more moments
up and win more of those little moments to take
your opportunities.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Bra What do you think it'll take for Scotland to
move from if we expand this out of it from
regular Six Nations wins which they get most years. You know,
they beat England, you know they'll beat Island here and there,
that sort of thing, but they haven't won the Six
Nations since it became the Six Nations and what two thousands?
What's it going to take for them to find the
consistency to start challenging for six Nations titles.
Speaker 4 (09:01):
Yeah, great question. I think the consistency is the thing.
I think that's by building depth, and I think that
that's been happening. There's got some awesome top class players
and then quietly building the depth in between that you know,
when there's seven or eight players off it, I think
might have been nine, even Scott's at the British and
(09:23):
Irish Lions. The side that came out here played the
news on a Maori Fiji Sama. That's a great opportunity
to build another layer of test match experience underneath and
bring the middle you sort of middle tier up to
leadership roles, so that that building of depth, so that
you can go in a six Nations competition, which is
(09:47):
five Tier one tests in a row potentially one week,
one week of a fellow week of no footy and
amongst that.
Speaker 5 (09:56):
Now it was two when I was there in twenty three.
Speaker 4 (10:00):
But to be able to put tests to test to
test to test to test together, you need to be
able to have that depth to keep putting the pressure
on each other during the week and to support each
other to be able to slot in and share the
load as those opportunities arrive, so I think that that'd
be one thing and just continually continuing to lock to
(10:24):
take your moments, don't try and look at the six
Nations as one big campaign.
Speaker 5 (10:28):
Game to game is the way to break that down.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
You're looking forward to getting back with the Crusaders when
you get back early early December. Do you normally get
back into keep or you're back in now?
Speaker 5 (10:38):
No?
Speaker 4 (10:39):
No, we'll be back and so the lads from the
NPC they are on leave now that and so they
have a break and stay fit and king during that themselves.
And obviously boys playing tests are away in New Zealand
fifteen as well, which is which is great to see
lots of lads having a crack in there. So we're
(11:00):
back at last two days of November and then we're
into it for for three weeks before Christmas as a group, training,
connecting and doing what we love. So very excited as
a heck of a group again. The conversations and the
work done in this three four month period to be
(11:21):
aligned as a coaching a management group as to how
to how we want to take our group forward and
evolve our game and have been really rich and enjoyable
and there's huge excitement about getting back into it.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
My bed there is good man, Brad, how you've provided
us some terrific insight. Thanks indeed for joining us, mate,
have a great weekend and enjoy you watching All Black
Scotland tomorrow.
Speaker 5 (11:44):
Oh I can't wait. It's going to be magniicent.
Speaker 4 (11:46):
But thanks Piney, it's a pleasure and appreciate the opportunity.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
No, appreciate you joining us, Brad. Thanks and deg great
insight from you. Brad Moore there, who has been inside
both camps, All Black's assistant coach under Ian Foster and
Scotland assistant coach under Gregor Townsend. You've heard from Brad
Moore you've thought about this game all week I presume anyway,
I would love your reaction to what you heard there
from Brad, who buy the is a pretty analytical rugby thinker,
(12:12):
isn't he? From what you heard there, and you think
to yourself, he's been successful everywhere he's been, with the
exception of the All Blacks, and listening to him there,
I can't help but thinking he's still got plenty to offer,
plenty to offer At the moment, the Crusaders are getting
the benefit of that. But Brad Moore worked with Scott
(12:35):
Robertson at the Crusaders. Jason Holland is leaving the All
Blacks coaching setup at the end of this year. Is
there an opening for Brad Moore? Maybe that's a conversation
for another day.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk sed B weekends from midday or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk s EDB All Blacks v.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Scotland tomorrow morning, ten past four New Zealand time. You'll
get a full commentary here on news Talk said B.
The first time these two have played one another since
the All Blacks End of Year tour in twenty twenty two.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
They do kick for touch and the All Blacks survive
a heck of a scale once again at Murrayfield, but
emerge eight point winner is thirty one twenty three.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
That game was five days short of three years ago.
Just the four survivors from the All Blacks starting fifteen
that day, who will start again tomorrow morning, Ethan DeGroot,
Ardie Savier Boden Barrett and Caleb Clark. This is the
thirty third meeting between the two all up the Black Aps.
It's not the Black Caps. The All Blacks have won
(00:58):
thirty of those matches, two draws, the most recent of
those draws twenty five, all all the way back in
nineteen eighty three. All twenty four matches since then have
been won by the All Blacks. A man who can
give us a truly unique perspective is former All Blacks
assistant coach and former Scotland assistant coach Brad Moore who
(01:20):
joins us. Now, Brad, let's get straight into it. What
is Scotland's best strategy for beating the All Blacks for
the very first time?
Speaker 4 (01:28):
Oh wow, Gay Finy, thanks for thanks for having me
on privilege to be chatting with you. God, what a
cracking game it is lining up to be. My ISAA
shining for it. It's two really good sides picked. I
think Scotland's mentality at home Murrayfield Special Place, one hundred
years of footy there will be highly motivating for them.
(01:52):
And I think they've picked a really strong side. Seven
British and Irish Lions in the group. I think in
the starting fifteen, I think they'll they'll be looking for that. Yeah,
they'll Fred Allen stuff, position, possession and pace of that.
Speaker 5 (02:09):
That parody up front. Get that.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
If they can get parody upfront, even dominated a little bit,
then then that will give them front football to see
some very exciting backs do their stuff and play the
game that they that they love playing, which is a
lot of possision, a lot of ball and ball in
hand and Finn Russell orchestrating things from ten, putting them
in the right places.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
It's such a good summary of everything. So there's a
bit to unpack there. Let's start with the parity that
you mentioned there. Can they get forward parity against the
All Blacks?
Speaker 4 (02:45):
Yeah, look, I think I think so in terms of
in different areas of a few.
Speaker 5 (02:50):
I think that the All Blacks will be having a
bit of a crack at the scrum.
Speaker 4 (02:53):
I think with Xander Faguson injured at the moment, tight
head for Scotland, I'm sure they'll be targeting that that space.
Speaker 5 (03:05):
The Scotland life out.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
There's some some excellent line out forwards in there, Scottie, Collens, Grant,
Gil Chris. Grant's very experienced now and Scotty's an outstanding
second rower, so I think they'll they'll be working pretty
hard there to get good ball and play quick off that.
So so they see one side having a crack at
(03:30):
the line out on another side having a crack at
the scrum. It's it sort of adds up to some
pretty cool moments and and then then it's about to
take your moments and the and the breakdown war, which
I'm sure will be firstly contested with some pretty hungry
loose boards on both sides, and then the outside backs
also enjoy having a crack at the ruck. Kyle Stain
(03:51):
and Darcy Graham Scotland and Lee Roy.
Speaker 5 (03:56):
And Caylib are not afraid to get amongst either.
Speaker 4 (03:59):
So it's I think it's tasty in all those physical areas.
Speaker 5 (04:05):
But if the if there's parody and.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
That that provides the good front football, then both sides
can be very dangerous.
Speaker 5 (04:12):
I just think it's look lining up to be a cracker.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Game, absolutely right. Let's talk about Thin Russell, Scotland first five,
their pivot, their director. Basically what makes him such a
good player.
Speaker 5 (04:24):
I absolute student of the game.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
So I think when I went over to join Scotland,
I thought I'd see a mercurial talent things that where
things just happened for him. Well, what I saw is
the high talent, awesome skill set of his passing game,
(04:47):
kicking game, and running game where he just buys time
on the ball. We're not really sure as a defense
exactly what he's going to pull, how he's going to
pull the trigger, where he's going to pass it, run
at or kick it. He can do all three of
those things in a pretty quick moment way holds the
ball buys time off him. So that there's I thought
(05:09):
that around the mercurial talent, and what I saw is
that and a massive student of the game where he
does a lot of homework on his game, his team's game,
and the opposition and game in general. So he sees
the pictures really quickly because he's worked earlier during the
week to see them already and knows what he's looking for,
(05:32):
to the point where really actually in the in the week,
by the back end of the week Friday leading into
a Saturday game, you actually having a conversation mate. You've
done plenty, You've done enough, You've got the homework done.
Let's go play.
Speaker 5 (05:50):
So is recalling the game huge can recall the moments
quickly and have a conversation with you point to point
without him having actually sat through it again to have
to watch it again.
Speaker 4 (06:00):
So that's beautiful because you can have in the moment
conversations without sitting around the computers during at the screen.
It's just it's a footy chat that leads to some
beautiful points. So really enjoyed working with him, and just
saw a guy who works very very hard and cares
massively for his country and his club and the people
(06:22):
around him.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
What kind of coaches Griger towns.
Speaker 4 (06:26):
End Very curious, hard working, very passionate about the game
and how it can be played. So I see him
very optimistic about the game. There's always an opportunity for him,
and I think he's been really clear with Scotland as
(06:47):
to what talent and skill set they've got in their group,
and then building that whilst also and then and then
adapting a game to suit the players abilities that they've got,
so really clear on the identity of the game, curious
about how to take that forward, and then builds a
(07:09):
week that fits into all of that, and is clear
about their connection. What's important is people and then how
I'm driving the hard work in between, Like he's puts
his shoulder to the well massively and provides a great
example of leadership in that space.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Is the fact that Scotland have never beaten the All
Blacks a motivation or a burden?
Speaker 4 (07:34):
Well, I guess it can be both, can't It depends
on your mindset and approach to that.
Speaker 5 (07:41):
I think that with this group that will provide a motivation.
Speaker 4 (07:47):
And no doubt the All Blacks will be highly motivated
by that as well.
Speaker 5 (07:50):
It's a motivation for our team too, isn't it.
Speaker 4 (07:54):
So it's the mindset it is motivated to keep it,
motivated to break it. I'm sure the All Blacks will
look to start fast and put Scotland into a position
of ah shiver as we've been here before, and potentially
try to create some doubt in the minds of Scotland.
Are we looking to keep the heat on, put themselves
(08:17):
in a position where they can finish strong and take
the moments You know that test Rugby. The margins are tiny,
but the consequences of those margins are big. So you've
just got to try to make add more more moments
up and win more of those little moments to take
your opportunities.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Bra What do you think it'll take for Scotland to
move from if we expand this out of it from
regular Six Nations wins which they get most years. You know,
they beat England, you know they'll beat Island here and there,
that sort of thing, but they haven't won the Six
Nations since it became the Six Nations and what two thousands?
What's it going to take for them to find the
consistency to start challenging for six Nations titles.
Speaker 4 (09:01):
Yeah, great question. I think the consistency is the thing.
I think that's by building depth, and I think that
that's been happening. There's got some awesome top class players
and then quietly building the depth in between that you know,
when there's seven or eight players off it, I think
might have been nine, even Scott's at the British and
(09:23):
Irish Lions. The side that came out here played the
news on a Maori Fiji Sama. That's a great opportunity
to build another layer of test match experience underneath and
bring the middle you sort of middle tier up to
leadership roles, so that that building of depth, so that
you can go in a six Nations competition, which is
(09:47):
five Tier one tests in a row potentially one week,
one week of a fellow week of no footy and
amongst that.
Speaker 5 (09:56):
Now it was two when I was there in twenty three.
Speaker 4 (10:00):
But to be able to put tests to test to
test to test to test together, you need to be
able to have that depth to keep putting the pressure
on each other during the week and to support each
other to be able to slot in and share the
load as those opportunities arrive, so I think that that'd
be one thing and just continually continuing to lock to
(10:24):
take your moments, don't try and look at the six
Nations as one big campaign.
Speaker 5 (10:28):
Game to game is the way to break that down.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
You're looking forward to getting back with the Crusaders when
you get back early early December. Do you normally get
back into keep or you're back in now?
Speaker 5 (10:38):
No?
Speaker 4 (10:39):
No, we'll be back and so the lads from the
NPC they are on leave now that and so they
have a break and stay fit and king during that themselves.
And obviously boys playing tests are away in New Zealand
fifteen as well, which is which is great to see
lots of lads having a crack in there. So we're
(11:00):
back at last two days of November and then we're
into it for for three weeks before Christmas as a group, training,
connecting and doing what we love. So very excited as
a heck of a group again. The conversations and the
work done in this three four month period to be
(11:21):
aligned as a coaching a management group as to how
to how we want to take our group forward and
evolve our game and have been really rich and enjoyable
and there's huge excitement about getting back into it.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
My bed there is good man, Brad, how you've provided
us some terrific insight. Thanks indeed for joining us, mate,
have a great weekend and enjoy you watching All Black
Scotland tomorrow.
Speaker 5 (11:44):
Oh I can't wait. It's going to be magniicent.
Speaker 4 (11:46):
But thanks Piney, it's a pleasure and appreciate the opportunity.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
No, appreciate you joining us, Brad. Thanks and deg great
insight from you. Brad Moore there, who has been inside
both camps, All Black's assistant coach under Ian Foster and
Scotland assistant coach under Gregor Townsend. You've heard from Brad
Moore you've thought about this game all week I presume anyway,
I would love your reaction to what you heard there
from Brad, who buy the is a pretty analytical rugby thinker,
(12:12):
isn't he? From what you heard there, and you think
to yourself, he's been successful everywhere he's been, with the
exception of the All Blacks, and listening to him there,
I can't help but thinking he's still got plenty to offer,
plenty to offer At the moment, the Crusaders are getting
the benefit of that. But Brad Moore worked with Scott
(12:35):
Robertson at the Crusaders. Jason Holland is leaving the All
Blacks coaching setup at the end of this year. Is
there an opening for Brad Moore? Maybe that's a conversation
for another day.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk sed B weekends from midday or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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