Jason Pine: This is what test rugby in the Capital should feel like

This was a good performance from the All Blacks to wrap the Rugby Championship. A performance that reassured us this All Blacks team has the raw materials to consistently challenge the top sides in the world.

There are some tough test matches to come in November - England, Ireland and France in consecutive weeks - and we'll learn more about them when those matches roll around. But for now, it feels like things are trending in the right direction,

There was more than enough there last night, on both sides of the ball, to feel better about the progress of this side than perhaps we have at other times during 2024.

Wallace Sititi - exceptional last night from a bloke playing out of position in just his third test start. There was plenty of debate when he was chosen ahead of Hoskins Sotutu at the start of the All Blacks season, and I think we can safely say they got that one right.

Will Jordan at fullback - he played there often for Razor's all-conquering Crusaders. Last night was his third straight start there for the All Blacks. The extra space he's got back there, the way he assesses the game in front of him, the way he runs and his elusiveness in broken play, which led to another try last night - there's no doubt he'll become our all-time leading test try-scorer.

He's got 35 in 37 tests now, the record is Doug Howlett's 49.

But his defensive work under the high ball was good too - the 15 jersey is his to lose now.

I'm loving seeing Caleb Clarke get back to the form he showed when he first became an All Black in 2020. He's drifted in and out a bit in the time since, he had that brief dalliance with sevens of course - and he played just 5 test matches last year and only 2 starts, he played just 2 of the 7 games at the Rugby World Cup, and they were against Namibia and Uruguay.

But in 2024, he's become the first-choice left wing. 2 more tries last night and a good all-round showing despite that slightly mysterious late yellow card.

And to Tupou Vaa'i - who's played every game this year -7 of the 9 from the start.

When Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick left, lock was a position where there didn't appear to be as much depth as we would have liked. Tupou Vaa'i has stepped up well and truly - and there's a very real contest between he and Patrick Tuipulotu to partner Scott Barrett in the second row.

And just a word on the crowd - Wellington has been rightly criticised in recent times for not turning up for test matches.

Well last night, they turned up to a sold-out Sky Stadium.

And right across the weekend, there was a different kind of buzz around the city. It's what test rugby used to feel like here in the Capital, it's what it should feel like.

May there be many more nights like that.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine
from Newstalk ZEDB.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
A performance that reassured us. I think that this All
Blacks team has the raw materials to consistently challenge the
top sides in the world. There are some tough test
matches coming up, absolutely there are in November England, Island,
France in consecutive weeks, and we'll learn more about the
team when those matches roll around. But for now it
feels as though things are trending in the right direction.

(00:33):
There was more than in our last night on both
sides of the ball to feel better about the progress
of this side than perhaps we have at other times
during twenty twenty four. Couple of players, Wallace Satiti exceptional
last night from a bloke playing out a position and
Justice Third Test or Third Test start plenty of debate.

(00:55):
You'll remember when he was chosen ahead of Hoskins Setutu
at the start of the All Black season. I think
we can safely say they got that one right. What
a player Wallace Atiti could be for us. Will Jordan
at fall back, I think he's enjoying it. I'm going
to it. Yeah, it's been good to get a few bats,
beck opportunities be able to kind of work through it.
So now I'm enjoying it. I'm trying to get better

(01:15):
with each game. He played there often, of course for Razors,
all conquering Crusaders. Last night his third straight start there
for the All Blacks. The extra space he's got back there,
the way he assesses the game in front of him,
the way he runs, his elusiveness and broken play which
led to another try last night. Thirty five tries he's
got now in thirty seven Tests. No doubt he'll break
Doug Hawlllett's record of forty nine for most tries and

(01:36):
Test matches by an All Black. But his defensive work was
good too. Under the highball the fifteen jersey Will Jordan's
to lose. Now you'd have to think loving seeing Caleb
Clark get back to the form he showed when he
first became an All Black in twenty twenty. He's drifted
in and out of it in the time since. Had
that deliance with sevens, of course, only played five Test
matches last year. Caleb Clark only two starts and only

(01:56):
played in two of the seven games at the Rugby
World Cup and they were against Namibia in Uruguay, but
this year he's become the first choice left wing. A
couple more tries last night good all round, shit going
despite that slightly mysterious late yellowcut and to Porvai, he's
played every Test this year, seven of the nine. From
the start when Sam Wylock and Brody Retallick left, Locke
was a position where it didn't appear to be quite

(02:18):
as much depth as we would have liked. But he
has stepped up well and truly and there's a real
contest now I reckon between him and Patrick Tuopilotu to
partner Scott Barrett in the second row and just before
we go to the lines of word on the crowd
last night. Wellington has been criticized and rightly so in
recent times for not turning up to Test matches. Last

(02:38):
night they turned up a sold out sky Stadium and
right across the weekend a real different kind of buzz
around the city. It's what test right be used to
feel like here in the capital where I live, That's
what it should feel like. May there be many more
nights like that.

Speaker 1 (02:56):
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