Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from News Talk.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Said, b.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
It's that time of the week again and it's Test Fever,
Test Fever rugby, first rugby All Black match of the year.
We head to christ Church and Jason Pine joins us
from the christ Church itself.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Jason, good morning, Hello, Nick. How you doing? What's give
us the vibe?
Speaker 4 (00:32):
It's pretty it's pretty cold when we landed. The pilot
said it was minus one. It felt it too when
we got off. But it's a beautiful day, one of
those christ Church days that starts off cold and then
you know it turns into a sparkling day. I haven't
really been here long enough to read the vibe of
the place, but as you're saying, Nick, the first Test
of any year is always that anticipation and excitement about it,
(00:55):
and I get the feeling tomorrow is going to be
quite the occasion. On match day, of course, the brand
new stadium in christ Jurg gets its first Test match,
so yeah, really exciting.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
And in the studio with us as Adam Cooper, Adam
you everything, new coach, new team, new stadium, new year.
Speaker 5 (01:12):
It's kind of like it's exciting. It's exciting, isn't it.
I mean, we don't really know what to expect. We've
seen Dave Rennie sort of show his first hand in
terms of some of his selections, how he sees things
going with this new Nation's Championship competition, with the season
opmare against France. I mean, you know, Ardie Savia at eight,
that's a surprise. I couldn't believe that when I saw
that yesterday. Everything that had been sort of indicated was
(01:34):
he was very likely to be wearing that seven jersey,
which is his best position. I don't think there'd be
too many arguments on that, but Dave Rennie's mind is
that the best mix is having him at the back
of the scrum. Seems to be a fan of Luke
Jacobson getting the chants at number seven, which I think
surprised a few people given you know, I wouldn't say
he's necessary to being the form seven of Super rugby
(01:56):
this year compared with several others. But then Hurricane Peterkei
getting the chance at six when his I mean he's
very versatile, Peter likey. But you know we've often seen
him at a seven at all Black level at Hurricanes level.
So yeah, a few early statements, and I don't mind it.
He's showing that he's obviously got a plan here and
he's ready to ready to make his own, you know,
make his own set of statement with his All Blacks team.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Piney. No Boden Barrett in the whole twenty three that
was the biggest shock to me.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
Yeah, I don't think it's that much of a shock
if I'm honest, given Boden's form for the Blues. Look,
I think You've still got a big part to play.
I'm delighted that see Finandon Northwall is going to get
a Test debut and Xavier Nimir as well other two Hurricanes,
Josh More. We're going to have to wait. But yeah, body,
I'm not entirely sure what his role to play is
(02:43):
in this team this year and next year World Cup year,
because we know Richie Moore Oger is coming back, and
I don't see a way that you can get Reuben Love,
Damien McKenzie, Richie Monger and Boden Barrett into a twenty
three man squad. In fact, I'm almost certain there isn't
a way to do that. So what is Boden? What
(03:03):
role does he play now? Is he? Is he still
a I contend to start test matches at thirst five.
Is he's going to come off the bench in that
twenty three jumper and ad versatility and a calming hand
at the end? I'm not sure. It's a really interesting time.
I am delighted, sorry, Nick, to see Reuben Love get
the ten jersey. I think it's the only decision they
could have made.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
Absolutely, But is this, you know, the product for I mean,
I just want to quickly go on the Boat and
Barrett one more time. Is this the product because the
fact that the team he played and if he was
playing with Hurricanes, would it have been things?
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Would things have been different groups?
Speaker 5 (03:39):
I mean, you certainly always often have to judge, you know, people,
but then you look at say Luke Jacobson momentum from
the finals certainly didn't go in his favor, and he's
the number seven jersey. I mean, yeah, it's fair to
say the Blues didn't stand out. Boat and Bart had
some good moments individually during the year, but I think overall,
aside from his his bleached blonde hair, he didn't really
stand out as often as he needed to through the
(04:01):
season as well, I don't know if you can completely put
it down to the team, but I mean he is
getting on a bit as well. Let's be honest here
to these two other guys, Mackenzie and obviously sort of
in the middle, and then Ruben Lovers as the youngster.
These guys are the future. Ruben Love in particular.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Pioneer the French team.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Some are saying it's a BEE plus, some are saying
it's a B minus a couple of players that aren't there,
obviously the half back that's the world's best halfback, DuPont.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Du Pont, that's his name. I mean is what where
do they sit?
Speaker 4 (04:30):
Well, I think France or France, regardless of who they bring.
I mean, I remember last year we thought they were
going to be a C team and they pushed the
All Blacks in those three tests last year, even though
the All Blacks ended up winning them. You know, it
wasn't you know, as easy as I think a lot
of people thought it was going to be France or France.
I'm more interested tomorrow and seeing, you know, how the
(04:50):
All Blacks play. I don't think the opposition is necessarily important.
I mean, a week from now it'll be Italy, they're
getting ready to play in then Ireland. You know it's
it's rare. In fact, I can't remember the last time
the All Blacks will played three home tests and three
weekends against three different sides. So you know, the ability
to adapt to different oppositions is going to be a
big part of this as well. But look, what does
(05:12):
the Dave Rennie style of All Black rugby look like?
We don't know that yet. We've got an idea from
what he has produced with other teams. But tomorrow we
get we get the first opportunity to watch Dave Rennie
lead All Black side and get a first idea about
what it's going to look like.
Speaker 5 (05:27):
I spoke to Peter Lakey yesterday and play that on
our show tomorrow morning. But he reckons if the Hurricanes
rugby excited, you expect similar things from the All Blacks.
That's what he said to me last night.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Did anyone's sort of not mentioned the bomb squad, the
Hurricanes bomb squad that's going to come on?
Speaker 3 (05:42):
I know that Dave Renny said, don't call it that,
don't call it that, but that's what it looks like
to me.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Coops.
Speaker 5 (05:48):
Yeah, I mean, if you look at those three names,
and you've watched Super Rugby this year, a saffrom or,
Xavier Numia and Tyra Lomax are a bomb squad. Whether
Dave Rennie likes that terminology or not, I mean, geez,
what those three players can offer. I mean, Xavier and
Numia want to stand out, you know, not just this
sea and stand out two years, I think in particular
(06:08):
to get to this point and get this opportunity, just
you know, just such high work rate. You know, at
times he looks like he could be playing in the
back line, and what he can offer this team is great.
A suffering or Jesus, even in just those Super Rugby
playoffs alone, what he could do with some of his
bursts with open play the fens and just bumping off
defenders like he was, you know, running through an opposable course,
(06:30):
it was, it was very impressive. So yeah, entire low
makes his experience. He's close to fifty cats for the
All Blacks. You know, just such an experienced hand and
what he does in the propping for any team he plays,
And so jeez, I'm actually probably more excited saying those
three come on than I am. Maybe the kick under
you know, they're going to be fantastic.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
One hundred percent. I mean, what what style are the
French going to play?
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Piney? Now?
Speaker 3 (06:53):
For me, French is all about flair. Do you reckon
they're going to play with flair or do you think
they're going to try? I mean world rugby has changed.
You know, we're we're now they're no longer. You know,
we're no longer just automatically go onto a field and
being better, are we?
Speaker 4 (07:08):
No? Absolutely not no, no, that those days are long gone.
I think we are still favored to beat France. As
you say that they haven't got their full side here,
but I can't imagine they go too much away from
their DNA of a bit of flare, but they have
become you know, a pretty imposing forward, you driven side
(07:28):
as well in the last little while. Whoever they bring over,
whoever is here, names that are familiar, names that are
not familiar, they'll they'll come here, you know, knowing that
they aren't going to be favorite. So there's really not
a lot to lose. I'd get the feeling under a
you know, under a roof on a dry track, we're
probably going to have a slightly higher scoring Test match
(07:49):
than we might normally expect in July if it was outside,
for example, And maybe next week we'll get that in
Wellington and maybe up in Auckland as well. But I
think I think France will probably they'll probably take to
the air a bit. I would say that they'll test
the lights of Will Jordan, Damien McKenzie, Caleb Clark. We
know he's got under the high and you know, and
when the opportunity presents itself, I don't think the Frings
(08:11):
know any other way than giving it a bit of
a go, and so that's I expect what they'll do tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
Coops, we've seen this one stadium, Paul with twenty five thousand,
How are they getting in another ten thousand?
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Is thirty five? They don't?
Speaker 5 (08:26):
Yeah, well, I think Pioneer Party's been there for a
sports game. I've been there for a concert, so I'm
bit unsure. But I think there's one end that they
don't usually have grand stand seating in that they can
actually put a grand stand in a little bit like
how the Dunedin Stadium works there. So yeah, there is
a chance to get a whole nother you know, side
of the field which is down one end open. I
believe that Pinty might have a bit more of an
insight on that.
Speaker 4 (08:46):
Piney, Yeah, that's bang on. Yeah, that's exactly what it is.
So for on regular match day for the Crusaders, they
have one end completely open. That's where they put the
stage for concerts, so they don't have to put the
stage on the grass. So one end will be completely
filled in with ten thousand or so extra seats. That's
how I get the extras in just.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
Quickly before I let you go. And obviously you both
think the All Blacks are going to win a little
bit of concern this week, Piney, you would have already
just jetted in and jetted out again, but a little
bit of concerned and willing toon over the fact that
we haven't sold out to Italy. Do you think a
good performance I'll come to you first on this one, Piney.
A good performance tomorrow night and those tickets will be
sold by the end of the game.
Speaker 4 (09:28):
Well, I don't know. I mean, it's not the most
attractive a test matches, is it. You know, in recent
times we've seen games in Wellington against much more high
profile sides not sell out. I don't think it's a
surprise that we haven't sold out the Test match in Wellington.
It's a long weekend as well, so you know, a
lot of people might be going out of town. I
would still hope that they would get up over thirty
(09:49):
a chance to see, you know. I think if the
All Blacks play well tomorrow night and play the hurricane
style that keeps just alluded to from Peter Larkeley, then yeah,
I think you'll get a few more a few more
tickets being snapped up in the time between the final
whistle tomorrow night and the opening whistle next Coops.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
I don't like taking advice from you because I missed
out in the thicket in the final by taking the
advice to you last time we had to say conversation.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
I swear it's still going to be a sellout.
Speaker 5 (10:16):
Yeah, I don't know. I'm unsure, I really am. I
mean it's Italy is a tough like. Yes, people will
go along and it'll be great. All Blacks see lots
of tries, hopefully a lot of hurricanes feature, which they
no doubt well, but I mean people are pretty you know,
protective of how they spend their money these days, and
a one sided game of rugby no matter who's playing,
but may not interest as many people as say at
(10:36):
All Blacks Ireland's game would that has obviously been played
up in Auckland the following week. Other interesting thing is
I know we're running out of time. The All Blacks
aren't even coming to Wellington till Thursday. They're going back
to Auckland and then here to Wellington. So if they're
not showing much love to Wellington, do we have to
show much love to them?
Speaker 3 (10:50):
What happens test week? Come on, that's not good enough.
Come on, All Blacks come into the city and make
it your own. Jason Pye Adam Cooper, thank you both
very very much.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
It'll sell out.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
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