August 30, 2024 • 9 mins
In their most highly anticipated test of 2024 so far, the All Blacks meet the Springboks at Johannesburg's Ellis Park for the first time since last year's Rugby World Cup final.
Adam Cooper joined Rugby Editor Elliott Smith on the ground in Johannesburg for a preview.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Twenty seven pass eight on the All Sport breakfasts. So
let's continue our build up to this massive, massive All
Blacks spring Box test at Alice Park and Johannesburg in
the early hours of tomorrow morning. Will Our Rugby editor
Elliott Smith is one of just well less than a
handful of New Zealand reporters and broadcasters on the grounds
for this one in Johannesburg, so he's been able to
(00:23):
get a rare insight into how both of these teams
have been building up for this match. Elliott joins us
now from Johannesburg. Appreciate you staying up for us over there, Elliott,
morning to you from Wellington. Well Piney and I were
just talking about it's so much excitements around New Zealand
about this game and what it could mean. What about
over there on the ground in South Africa are Springbok
(00:44):
fans and the wider public really excited by what this
test and the next one Holts.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
They absolutely love a lot bit of a huge test.
And I don't think we should underestimate this rivalry and
the passion between these two teams, but also the respect
between these two rugby nations. About what it means for
both of these sides, and I think we can sometimes
get a little bit lost in that, but this is
you know, box office rivalry that I don't think anything
(01:10):
else in rugby union really compares to. And just being
around the streets of Johannesburg seeing fans and spring Box
jerseys but also some all black jerseys as well. There's
a real sense of anticipation around this match and it
was interesting. I just got an email in Box an
hour or so ago around the fact this is going
to be shown on free to air TV, which is
a real rare seat in South Africa, and it's been
(01:33):
done to celebrate thirty years of democracy in South Africa
back to nineteen ninety four. So there's little parallels around
this and you know the history between these two sides,
but absolutely it is fee the pitch and anticipation for tomorrow.
The gates opened five hours before kickoff, It's been sold
out for months. There's a real sense around what this
(01:56):
test means to people from Johannesburg, South Africans and both
the sets of teams of course as well.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
And I know you've been able to head to Alice
Park for the first time as well. Elliott do bit
of ariki for tomorrow. See the teams do their captains runs.
What did you make of the iconic venue?
Speaker 2 (02:12):
Oh absolutely, I mean so exactely how your picture it
in your mind's eye. And then I think about the
ninety five Rugby World Cup Final while I was there.
It really hasn't changed too much. It looks you know,
there's the red seats and all the surrounds of that.
It's exactly how you remember it from sort of nine
ninety five onwards. There's been a few modern touches added
(02:32):
here and there, but by and large it's a historic stadium.
It is a daunting stadium, but it was a wonderful
sporting amphitheater and just soaking it all in it was
pretty special. And you know, both these teams rise to
the occasion when they played Alis Park the World Cup
final in ninety five. There's been some incredible test matches
in the last ten to fifteen years between these two
(02:53):
sides played at that then you as well, so incredibly
special and wonderful way to start, you know, this tour
of sorts, I supposed two week tour. Both sides you know,
relished the opportunity to play there.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
How much of a distant memory does it feel the
coaching change, which was only just over a week ago.
But I know they tried to sort of put that
all behind them when they flew out of New Zealand
the All Blacks. As I've mentioned, it's taken a little
bit of discussion earlier in the week. But are they
sort of well and truly moved on from that?
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Do you feel, yeah, they have looked. Scott Robinson was
asked when he named the team right at the end
of his media conference and gave sort of a one
line answer. I think he's pretty much done with discussing it.
Scott Barrett was asked a few hours ago at Besides
Captain's Run and he gave a bit more of an
extended answer, but really didn't say too much. It feels
like the team have moved on a little bit from it,
(03:45):
Scott Hanson now running the attack and Thomas d Ellison
of course in the defensive role. Having observed them this
week at training, it feels like it's come relatively seamlessly
around those changes. I mean, we only get to have
a brief glimpse of them on the training paddock, we
don't get to see how they're running at their team
beatings and everything like that, but it seems as though
(04:06):
it's been a really seamless change on the surface of
things around it, and a lot of them. The wording
this week from the team has been around clarity and
everything like that, so it feels like maybe an obstacle
of getting that clarity for better or worse, has been removed.
The proof will beat on the park of course, around
the attack, the All Blacks this season have probably scored
probably too many tries from set peace and full pack
(04:29):
full play than they would have liked. They would like
to see more from their back line, so maybe that
changes around that as well, trying to get some more clarity,
trying to get that back line striking like they should be,
and as I say, proof will be in the plodding
over not only tomorrow morning, but over the coming weeks
and months as well.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Yeah. Great, and obviously the big talking point for very
minimal changes to the All Blacks, but Sam Kine back
into the starting team. What have the comments been made
around the squad regarding that move? Obviously injury enforced, but
what that brings to the All Blacks having the experience.
We're hopefully it will matter.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Yeah, Scott Robertson talking about you Sam Kaine's hard shoulders. Look,
we hope it's not too hard given for happening in
the Ruguy World Cup final, of course not so long ago.
But you know, I think he adds a defensive edgy.
He always steps up. I mean it's not so long ago.
Everyone thinks of their World Cup final, but think about
their quarter final against Island, where I think he played
easily the best Test of his career. He was an
(05:24):
absolute monster that evening in Paris. A performance like that
would go a long way to helping the All Blacks
win at Ali's Park tomorrow morning News your own time.
So I think there's an each there that Sam Kane
not just really unfinished business, but wanting to write the
end to his career. And I think there's a steely determination.
You know, with Sam Kaine speaking to him over the
(05:45):
last few weeks. He doesn't give a lot away. He
never has really in the media, but it feels like
there's a real determination for Sam Kaine just to write
his own ending to his Test career rather than the
one he was handed last year. Scott Robertson very effusive
in his praise of what Sam Kane can bring to
this All Blacks test team. And I think the experience
as well, Canaan Savia combining there with well more than
(06:08):
one hundred caps in fact, closing really in on two
hundred combined between the two of them. Ethan Blackheaded was
just thirteen to his name, so a little bit of
an experience on the blind side. But you look at
seven and eight, that's the kind of experience that you
need to win test matches and I'm sure that'll be
a valuable help come tomorrow morning. And you mentioned the
back line before, but you know what areas of the
(06:29):
backlad are you looking at in particular to try and
get things going in a way that we probably haven't
seen so far this season. Yeah, Look, I think that
revolves around McKenzie as well. We saw it probably his
best test will definitely his best test of the season
in Argentina at Eden Park. And now you've got some
of the other pieces in place as well. Will Jordan
back on the right wing and back at full fitness
as well, so he can sort of strike from anywhere.
(06:53):
I think that's the roving brief that he's been given there.
The midfield perhaps still a little bit of a work
in programs hasn't come along is as much as I'm
sure the All Blanks would have liked him in Caleb Clark,
you soping Mark Khalia for the left wing role, which
is a interesting decision. You know, Caleb Clark very very
good under the high ball, hard runner on hard ground.
(07:14):
I think he's the kind of player that could have
an impact if he can get involved in the game.
Not lots gone his way, and that Test against Argentina
and Auckland, I think we need to see him get
a little bit more involved and then you can bring
on Mark Khalia in the closing stages of the game.
We know how slip free he can be with ball
in hand and the devastating effect he can have maybe
(07:35):
in the last twenty thirty minutes of the Test match.
So I think we need more from the back line
from an All Blacks perspective, a bit more, you know.
I guess strike play from the All Blanks will be
what the coaches want to see and I'm sure the
fans as well.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
Yeah, and just just to wrap up Eliot, I mean genuinely,
how much chance are you the experts over in South
Africa giving the All Blacks here.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Well, I heard that going is under dogs for this
Test match, but I think back to the last dast
Test match would be at Alice Park twenty twenty two.
Different story course, they are under a lot of pressure
there with Ian Foster's job on the line for their
Test match, but they came out and won it. They
haven't lost it at Alice Park in a decade, so
the ground they enjoy playing out. And there's a few
(08:19):
players that will need to learn about the altitude and
everything like that, and you know the statue of Alice
Park and sixty plus thousand South African fans yelling at
you. You got to learn about those things and sometimes learning
on the fly is the best way of doing so.
Bill Blacks is certainly underdog South Africa favorites given their
forms so far this year, but they're not infallible and
(08:40):
I think the All Blacks are certainly capable of getting
a win. I think it'll be a cracking Test match,
and I think that's honestly, as you mentioned the top,
a lot of expectation around this Test match. I think
people are just hoping and I'm sure they're hoping for
an all black's winning from a New zeal perspective, but
hoping it's a great test match for fitting of what
has been a pretty special rivalry through the year.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Indeed, so we're all hoping that, and I'm sure you
are too by being there on site, Elliott. We'll let
you get back to your evening in Johannesburg. Thank you
so much, our Rugby editor, Elliott Smith, with us here
on the All Sport Breakfast. For more from News Talk
sed B, listen live on air or online, and
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Keep our shows with you wherever you go with our
podcasts on iHeartRadio.
Twenty seven pass eight on the All Sport breakfasts. So
let's continue our build up to this massive, massive All
Blacks spring Box test at Alice Park and Johannesburg in
the early hours of tomorrow morning. Will Our Rugby editor
Elliott Smith is one of just well less than a
handful of New Zealand reporters and broadcasters on the grounds
for this one in Johannesburg, so he's been able to
(00:23):
get a rare insight into how both of these teams
have been building up for this match. Elliott joins us
now from Johannesburg. Appreciate you staying up for us over there, Elliott,
morning to you from Wellington. Well Piney and I were
just talking about it's so much excitements around New Zealand
about this game and what it could mean. What about
over there on the ground in South Africa are Springbok
(00:44):
fans and the wider public really excited by what this
test and the next one Holts.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
They absolutely love a lot bit of a huge test.
And I don't think we should underestimate this rivalry and
the passion between these two teams, but also the respect
between these two rugby nations. About what it means for
both of these sides, and I think we can sometimes
get a little bit lost in that, but this is
you know, box office rivalry that I don't think anything
(01:10):
else in rugby union really compares to. And just being
around the streets of Johannesburg seeing fans and spring Box
jerseys but also some all black jerseys as well. There's
a real sense of anticipation around this match and it
was interesting. I just got an email in Box an
hour or so ago around the fact this is going
to be shown on free to air TV, which is
a real rare seat in South Africa, and it's been
(01:33):
done to celebrate thirty years of democracy in South Africa
back to nineteen ninety four. So there's little parallels around
this and you know the history between these two sides,
but absolutely it is fee the pitch and anticipation for tomorrow.
The gates opened five hours before kickoff, It's been sold
out for months. There's a real sense around what this
(01:56):
test means to people from Johannesburg, South Africans and both
the sets of teams of course as well.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
And I know you've been able to head to Alice
Park for the first time as well. Elliott do bit
of ariki for tomorrow. See the teams do their captains runs.
What did you make of the iconic venue?
Speaker 2 (02:12):
Oh absolutely, I mean so exactely how your picture it
in your mind's eye. And then I think about the
ninety five Rugby World Cup Final while I was there.
It really hasn't changed too much. It looks you know,
there's the red seats and all the surrounds of that.
It's exactly how you remember it from sort of nine
ninety five onwards. There's been a few modern touches added
(02:32):
here and there, but by and large it's a historic stadium.
It is a daunting stadium, but it was a wonderful
sporting amphitheater and just soaking it all in it was
pretty special. And you know, both these teams rise to
the occasion when they played Alis Park the World Cup
final in ninety five. There's been some incredible test matches
in the last ten to fifteen years between these two
(02:53):
sides played at that then you as well, so incredibly
special and wonderful way to start, you know, this tour
of sorts, I supposed two week tour. Both sides you know,
relished the opportunity to play there.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
How much of a distant memory does it feel the
coaching change, which was only just over a week ago.
But I know they tried to sort of put that
all behind them when they flew out of New Zealand
the All Blacks. As I've mentioned, it's taken a little
bit of discussion earlier in the week. But are they
sort of well and truly moved on from that?
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Do you feel, yeah, they have looked. Scott Robinson was
asked when he named the team right at the end
of his media conference and gave sort of a one
line answer. I think he's pretty much done with discussing it.
Scott Barrett was asked a few hours ago at Besides
Captain's Run and he gave a bit more of an
extended answer, but really didn't say too much. It feels
like the team have moved on a little bit from it,
(03:45):
Scott Hanson now running the attack and Thomas d Ellison
of course in the defensive role. Having observed them this
week at training, it feels like it's come relatively seamlessly
around those changes. I mean, we only get to have
a brief glimpse of them on the training paddock, we
don't get to see how they're running at their team
beatings and everything like that, but it seems as though
(04:06):
it's been a really seamless change on the surface of
things around it, and a lot of them. The wording
this week from the team has been around clarity and
everything like that, so it feels like maybe an obstacle
of getting that clarity for better or worse, has been removed.
The proof will beat on the park of course, around
the attack, the All Blacks this season have probably scored
probably too many tries from set peace and full pack
(04:29):
full play than they would have liked. They would like
to see more from their back line, so maybe that
changes around that as well, trying to get some more clarity,
trying to get that back line striking like they should be,
and as I say, proof will be in the plodding
over not only tomorrow morning, but over the coming weeks
and months as well.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Yeah. Great, and obviously the big talking point for very
minimal changes to the All Blacks, but Sam Kine back
into the starting team. What have the comments been made
around the squad regarding that move? Obviously injury enforced, but
what that brings to the All Blacks having the experience.
We're hopefully it will matter.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Yeah, Scott Robertson talking about you Sam Kaine's hard shoulders. Look,
we hope it's not too hard given for happening in
the Ruguy World Cup final, of course not so long ago.
But you know, I think he adds a defensive edgy.
He always steps up. I mean it's not so long ago.
Everyone thinks of their World Cup final, but think about
their quarter final against Island, where I think he played
easily the best Test of his career. He was an
(05:24):
absolute monster that evening in Paris. A performance like that
would go a long way to helping the All Blacks
win at Ali's Park tomorrow morning News your own time.
So I think there's an each there that Sam Kane
not just really unfinished business, but wanting to write the
end to his career. And I think there's a steely determination.
You know, with Sam Kaine speaking to him over the
(05:45):
last few weeks. He doesn't give a lot away. He
never has really in the media, but it feels like
there's a real determination for Sam Kaine just to write
his own ending to his Test career rather than the
one he was handed last year. Scott Robertson very effusive
in his praise of what Sam Kane can bring to
this All Blacks test team. And I think the experience
as well, Canaan Savia combining there with well more than
(06:08):
one hundred caps in fact, closing really in on two
hundred combined between the two of them. Ethan Blackheaded was
just thirteen to his name, so a little bit of
an experience on the blind side. But you look at
seven and eight, that's the kind of experience that you
need to win test matches and I'm sure that'll be
a valuable help come tomorrow morning. And you mentioned the
back line before, but you know what areas of the
(06:29):
backlad are you looking at in particular to try and
get things going in a way that we probably haven't
seen so far this season. Yeah, Look, I think that
revolves around McKenzie as well. We saw it probably his
best test will definitely his best test of the season
in Argentina at Eden Park. And now you've got some
of the other pieces in place as well. Will Jordan
back on the right wing and back at full fitness
as well, so he can sort of strike from anywhere.
(06:53):
I think that's the roving brief that he's been given there.
The midfield perhaps still a little bit of a work
in programs hasn't come along is as much as I'm
sure the All Blanks would have liked him in Caleb Clark,
you soping Mark Khalia for the left wing role, which
is a interesting decision. You know, Caleb Clark very very
good under the high ball, hard runner on hard ground.
(07:14):
I think he's the kind of player that could have
an impact if he can get involved in the game.
Not lots gone his way, and that Test against Argentina
and Auckland, I think we need to see him get
a little bit more involved and then you can bring
on Mark Khalia in the closing stages of the game.
We know how slip free he can be with ball
in hand and the devastating effect he can have maybe
(07:35):
in the last twenty thirty minutes of the Test match.
So I think we need more from the back line
from an All Blacks perspective, a bit more, you know.
I guess strike play from the All Blanks will be
what the coaches want to see and I'm sure the
fans as well.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
Yeah, and just just to wrap up Eliot, I mean genuinely,
how much chance are you the experts over in South
Africa giving the All Blacks here.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Well, I heard that going is under dogs for this
Test match, but I think back to the last dast
Test match would be at Alice Park twenty twenty two.
Different story course, they are under a lot of pressure
there with Ian Foster's job on the line for their
Test match, but they came out and won it. They
haven't lost it at Alice Park in a decade, so
the ground they enjoy playing out. And there's a few
(08:19):
players that will need to learn about the altitude and
everything like that, and you know the statue of Alice
Park and sixty plus thousand South African fans yelling at
you. You got to learn about those things and sometimes learning
on the fly is the best way of doing so.
Bill Blacks is certainly underdog South Africa favorites given their
forms so far this year, but they're not infallible and
(08:40):
I think the All Blacks are certainly capable of getting
a win. I think it'll be a cracking Test match,
and I think that's honestly, as you mentioned the top,
a lot of expectation around this Test match. I think
people are just hoping and I'm sure they're hoping for
an all black's winning from a New zeal perspective, but
hoping it's a great test match for fitting of what
has been a pretty special rivalry through the year.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Indeed, so we're all hoping that, and I'm sure you
are too by being there on site, Elliott. We'll let
you get back to your evening in Johannesburg. Thank you
so much, our Rugby editor, Elliott Smith, with us here
on the All Sport Breakfast. For more from News Talk
sed B, listen live on air or online, and
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Keep our shows with you wherever you go with our
podcasts on iHeartRadio.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.