July 3, 2025 • 17 mins
On Sports Fix with Jason Pine & Elliott Smith for 3 July 2025, rugby writer for the New Zealand Herald, Liam Napier, joins the podcast to discuss his initial reaction to the All Blacks squad named for this weekend's test match, which picks were most surprising and throws in his prediction for how the game will go.
Elliott discusses the change in thinking this team naming signals from the All Blacks coaching team.
Plus, how well is Dunedin embracing having the test match in town? What can we expect from the debutants? And what do Piney and Elliott predict for the No 10 jersey this year?
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
This is Sportsfix Howard by News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Hello there and welcome into the Sports Fix podcast. We're
here at association with G. J. Gardner Holmes, New Zealand's
most trusted a homebuilder. It is the third of July Thursday,
the third. I'm Jason Pine Elliott Smith on the Sports
Fix podcast today as well as we pretty much dedicate
the whole podcast to the first all Blacks test of
the Scott Robertson has unveiled his twenty three to take
(00:44):
on France under the roof in Duneda on Saturday night.
A very interesting twenty three it is as well, a
couple of surprises, a couple of positional changes and a
number of potential deboots as well. Ali and I will
kick that around in the chamber, but also Elliott with
Liam Napier seeing your rugby writer with the New Zealand
Herald to get his thoughts on the twenty three as well.
(01:06):
We've got the lottesting sports news coming you all way
as well, so let's get into it. In other news,
let's get under as always with some of the big
sports stories around today. The big one the naming of
the first All Blacks team of the year, building depth
and providing opportunities for thinking behind this election. They take
on France and Denet and on Saturday, four debutants and
(01:26):
three major positional changes. All Blacks coach Scott Robertson says
the selection process was easier in his second year.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Though, get a year under your belt, so understand the
group a little bit more in what wins test matches
and the balance of it all and you know, using
your first series for us to build depth in of
guy's opportunities.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
A simple but strenuous goal for Keewi cyclist Lawrence Pithy
ahead of his Tour de France Deboos on Saturday night
from Leale, the twenty two year old has been tasked
with helping Primas Rodlitch's charge for the yellow jersey as
part of the Red Bull Bora Hands Grow team.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
It's one things starting the tour, that making it to Paris.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
It's a challenge in itself, so hopefully I'm still there
and I can write down the songs of these and
that's what I'm most looking forward.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
To and India three hundred and ten for five. It
starts on the first day of the second cricketest against
England at Edge Boston, after being sent into that the
highlight came via their new skippers.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
In the lining and sunshine at each Baston showing you'll
go through to sacking unregue in.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Justice second match as India's county has been a really responsibleing.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
Is this leading a vix? We've got just the ticket.
It's sports vix powered by newstalks IVY.
Speaker 5 (02:41):
And not to the future with the All Blacks twenty
three name today for the first Test and a nod
to a significant seed change in terms of thinking around selections.
Whether this is the best twenty three by the end
of the year, who knows, but it signals a change
in thinking, playing for the now and backing the form
players in to do a job. The conservatism that hungover
last year has now gone replaced by a heir of
(03:03):
risk taking, good risk taking, although we'll only find that
out around nine o'clock on Saturday night to be sure.
But it is a massive tonal shift from the selector's
rewarding form and opting for new faces. Traditionally all Black
coaches have tended towards holding back new players until they're
certain they're ready to go, not willing to dole out
camps until they can ensure the player was mentally and
(03:23):
physically ready for the big show. That occasionally worked, it
usually works, but that was the All Blanks way. Now,
some players who only found out they were in the
All Blacks squad ten days ago when the squad was named,
and in Christian Leo Willie's case even fewer than that
when he was elevated to the squad proper are in
a test line up for the first time as the
All Blanks look to get the mantle of the world's
(03:43):
best team back. Conservatism doesn't cut up. We should be
the world leaders in Rank B. Whether these players can
do it as another question entirely, but we won't die wondering.
Selection conservatism has been left behind by this group.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
This is Sportsfix, your daily dose of sports news, how
and by news.
Speaker 6 (04:00):
Talks be on sports Fix.
Speaker 5 (04:03):
Let's get into the All Blacks team that has been
named to play France first team in Dens. In with
me is Liam Napier, rugby writer for the New Zealand
Herald and my co host on the Rugby Direct podcast
and Liam scot Robinson's name the team. Plenty of surprises
your initial reaction when that one dropped, You're.
Speaker 7 (04:21):
Right, Elliott was a wee bit surprised in some positions.
I think to Puvia at Blindside stands out as one
of the big talking points. It was widely expected that
summer Penny Fena would get the first crack at Blindside
Flanka with no Wallace a tit and Luke Jacobson at
both absent car injuries. Scot Robinson has sprung a surprise
(04:44):
and named three locks with Fabian Holland to start, and
then there's four debuts in the squads and also Rico
on he goes to the wings.
Speaker 4 (04:52):
So plenty of.
Speaker 6 (04:53):
Cheo over, plenty of plenty two over.
Speaker 5 (04:55):
You're right, absolutely, Let's talk the loose Ford mix and
dig into that two po vis starting at Blindside flanker.
What does that tell us about the way that the
All Blacks want to play this weekend?
Speaker 4 (05:06):
Well, Tupervisor a big unit, isn't he?
Speaker 7 (05:08):
And I think partly I'm surprised is he was so
good at Locke for the Chiefs and the All Blacks
this year and last year.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
But It gives the All Blacks.
Speaker 7 (05:18):
Three real lineout options, genuine tall timber with Fabian Holland
coming into that mix as well. They clearly want their
blind side to be big and bruising and to provide
is that to a degree, But I think it tells
us that they want their set piece to dominate, They
(05:39):
want to win their line aup ball, they want to
be strong in their air. And then I think it
also speaks to having a powerful bench, having guys like
Somemmer Penny Female Somersony Takyajo, these sort of guys Ollie Norris,
very mobile, dynamic forwards. Do see Carefi coming off the bench.
You think about the impact that they could make with
(06:01):
ball in hand defensively turnovers as well. So finishing games
is a big priority for this All Black team.
Speaker 5 (06:07):
Yeah, that's what's got Robinson has really pushed, hasn't it.
In the off season. His messaging has been around finishing
because they led all four of the games they lost
last year and didn't go on to be winners of
that game. Back line is really fascinating. Rico Yuanni on
the left wing bill, he propped it in at center.
There were some predictions that that would indeed happen, but no,
Caleb Clark didn't have the greatest of Super Rugby season
(06:29):
since scored a try for the Blues. But Proctor's got
the hot hand and coach Scott Robertson has decided to
utilize him this weekend.
Speaker 7 (06:38):
I really like the back line earlier. I think Billy
was drastically under utilized last year. To be fair to
the All Blacks, he was unavailable for most of that
Northern Tour because he had a baby that was born,
so I wanted to be present for that, rightly so,
but he wasn't news throughout the Rugby Championship. He missed
(06:59):
the bulk of this season for the Hurricanes with injury,
but when he came back there was no coincidence that
that co inspired with the Hurricanes.
Speaker 4 (07:08):
Big uptick and form.
Speaker 7 (07:10):
Billy is a point of difference from Rico because of
his distribution. First and foremost, he sets up his outsides.
His wingers looked really good outside him, and let's not
forget that Rico one. He is a real weapon on
the edge as well. That's where he started his test career.
He's big, he's fast, he's a brilliant finisher and I
(07:31):
think he'll be brilliant there.
Speaker 4 (07:34):
What about you? Are you surprised by that?
Speaker 5 (07:36):
In some ways and in some ways because he was
listed as a midfielder and raltively caje the All Blacks
around whether he was going to be used on the
wing this year. They usaid it was a wing option,
but didn't really front foot it and say that we're
looking at him, you know, as a real wing threat.
But he's probably played his best All Blacks rugby on
the wing. Center has always felt like he was trying
(07:56):
to make a goal that hasn't quite got there. I'm
sure we'll see him again at center this year as well,
but I think his best rugby has been on the wing,
and for the balance of the All Blacks at the moment,
that's the position that he needs to play a couple
of other things in that team. Christian le or Willie,
what a meteoric rise he's had. Wasn't in the squad
when that was named what eleven days ago? Now he
was in his injury cover. Now he's starting the first
(08:18):
test of the year.
Speaker 4 (08:19):
Yeah, what a great story as well.
Speaker 7 (08:21):
A guy who has emerged from Massi in Auckland's came
to Dunedin, played a lot of club footy, close to
fifty games, made his professional semi professional debut alongside Fabian Holland.
So some real symmetry there that they're going to make
their All Black debut together this weekend in Dunedin. Lea
(08:43):
Wede made a mark with Otago and the Highlanders and
then was snapped up by the Crusaders unfortunately and had
a great season. Was a massive standout for them. Very
consistent from number rights on both sides of the ball,
great work rate and like you say, he was not
initially in the squad and then to come in and
(09:05):
go straight into starting as a big ask, but he's today.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
We heard it from him about the confidence that.
Speaker 7 (09:11):
He's taken from Ardie Severe backing him and encouraging him
to go out and dominate this weekend.
Speaker 4 (09:18):
So it'll be great to see him do his thing.
Speaker 6 (09:20):
Yeah, looking forward to it Saturday night.
Speaker 5 (09:22):
Finally, prediction, please, Liam, is to which way this is
going to go Saturday.
Speaker 4 (09:26):
I'm going to say the All Blacks by twenty earlier.
Speaker 7 (09:28):
I think the French using this as somewhat as a
development tour. I've left the bulk of their best players
at home. Many of them are going to be on
debut and I think this all black side under the roof,
you know, pristine conditions.
Speaker 5 (09:43):
I think they've got a lot of points in them.
I say, all blacks by twelve. Lim Napier, thanks very
much for joining us on Sports Fox.
Speaker 4 (09:48):
Great to be here, mate.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
The chamber is now in session on Sports Fix on
the Sports Fix podcast.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Let's get inside the chamber. We've heard from Elliott Smith
and Liam Napier. Elliott joins me in the chamber now,
the Dunedin Chamber, which will be five or six degrees
chillier than where I'm sitting at the moment, although I
am joining you there tomorrow.
Speaker 6 (10:06):
How is Test City great? It really is. There's a
vibe to the city. The shops are dicked out.
Speaker 5 (10:11):
On our way back to from our accommodation, the shops
are dicked out and all blacks, juicies, flags, everything like that.
So you do get the sense that there is a
Test coming to town, which I think is really specially.
You don't really get that in Auckland, so coming to
duned in a smaller city, they are getting right in
behind it. It's sold out on Saturday night and great
to see them embracing it, and they're going to have
a couple of the local suns, even if they're slightly
(10:33):
adopted perhaps, And the sense of Fabian Holland who's come
from the Netherlands of course, and Christian Leo Willy who's
come from Massy up in Auckland and made Toned him
his home for a few months in a year as well,
So really special for them to get a couple of
debutantes in the mix.
Speaker 6 (10:47):
This weekend on Home Ground swell well.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
You and Liam spoke about Christian Leo Willy in terms
of the loose forward mix. But just before we move
from that to Fabian Holland, what now for Summer Penny
Female Elliott, what is your feel around whether this means
a lot or doesn't mean a lot given the fact
that just about everybody had him written down as their
starting six a.
Speaker 6 (11:08):
Big surprise look.
Speaker 5 (11:09):
I think it does mean a lot, because clearly they
view two po vi as the better starting option for
the first test of the year. But I think the
challenge for semmapennythenw is to embrace this bench troll. The
all Blacks have gone with two loose forwards on the bench.
They've got enough lock kind of obviously in their starting
side having selected three of them. But the challenge now
for Sema Penny fen now is to make the most
(11:30):
of this bench roll and really embrace it and bring
what the All Blacks want or coach Scott Robinson has
mentioned that they didn't get enough out of the bench
last year. They struggled at times to close out matches
that they had lead. All four of the games that
they had were defeated in they had leads at certain
points in those games. So the challenge of Sampene Finale
is to really own that bench roll and make him
(11:52):
irresistible in terms of selection for either the second Test
or the third Test, make an impact when he comes
on and show that maybe the selector's got it wrong
or indeed that maybe they've got it right, and that
he can own that bench troll and give them what
he wants out of out of the juwsey that he's
been picked in on the weekend. It's a challenge for him.
It's surprised for sure that the gone with Tupo VI
adds some real height to the line out three lineed
(12:13):
options genuinely there for the All Blacks. They can use
that to their advantage. But as a say for Feenaup,
he's going to come out and own that role on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
All right, really special day in coming for Fabian Holland.
He's long been talked about as a potential All Black.
He will become one on Saturday. Look, I think again
there was a large school of thought that suggested he
wouldn't be in the twenty three at all for the
first test area is starting. How special is this going
to be? And what might Fabian Holland's ceiling be?
Speaker 5 (12:41):
I think his ceiling is huge. He reminds me a
lot of broder retallic without wanting to put so much
pressure on the young kid's shoulders, but he has that
body frame about him, the size, the aggression in the
right places, not overdoing it, you know, and teams to
pick tends to pick his moment as well. It's a
wonderful story and it sort of goes against the all
blacks theories that have been used to is that you
(13:02):
don't blood debutons until maybe the second or third test.
Scott Robinson said, maybe is a bit too conservative. Last year, well,
the pendulum has swung the other way with four debutantes
he's rewarded the form players, of which Fabian Holn certainly
was one, and I think he just needs to go
out and do his role. And that sounds obvious, but
you can get caught up in the emotion of Test matches,
(13:23):
especially when it's your first one, especially when you're playing
on home soil, your family go over from the Netherlands,
all that sort of thing. He just needs to focus
on his role and I'm sure that first line out,
that first moment, the first carry, whatever it might be,
in the Test match, is getting that under his belt.
Speaker 6 (13:36):
Because we know what a good player he is. It's
about showing it.
Speaker 5 (13:39):
Look, you don't want to put so much pressu on
the kids shoulders, but I think the ceiling is really
really high for him. He's that big body that the
All Blacks haven't had. Look, I've had some big locks
in recent times, but you look at his height and
two hundred and four cent to me, there's one hundred
and twenty four kg's that's the kind of frame that
the All Blacks have sort of been missing for a
few years. Finding that really really tall body. We're not
producing them enough in New Zealand. A lot of them
(14:01):
going to basketball and not playing rugby at all. They
finally got one and look, he has a big career
in front of him. I'm sure of that.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Just before we exit the chamber, which has become basically
an All Blacks chamber, and that's absolutely fine. Given where
we are in the calendar. I look at first five
and most people pick Boten Barrett and so it's proven
to be Damien McKenzie will come off the bench. If
we look ahead, Elliott, you know, three Tests against France,
then we're into the Rugby Championship, Argentina twice, South Africa twice,
(14:28):
Australia twice, then the the end of the year tour.
What do you predict for the ten Jersey this year?
Last year we saw Damien McKenzie get the keys to
the car for a large part of the first half
to three quarters of the season. When and if Damien
mackenzie comes into the ten Jersey under what circumstances do
you predict that will be.
Speaker 6 (14:50):
I think it'll be probably in the third Test.
Speaker 5 (14:52):
If the All Blacks win the first two matches, they
can probably go and change things up and move Boat
and Barrett to the bench potentially, or maybe look at
at Reuben Love to cover ten to fifteen in one
of the test matches. I think Damien McKenzie is just
going to be patient this year. We saw him get
a lot of Test matches under his belt last year.
Then the Old Blacks and Scott Robertson changed their mind
(15:13):
after that win in the Bledderslow Cup in Sydney. We're
overly happy with the way things closed out in that game.
So Boden Barrett became the first choice as they went
through the end of the year two. And then Boden
Barrett gets out injured for the Island Series and Damian
McKenzie was very, very good and that win over Ireland.
Speaker 6 (15:29):
He's just got to be patient.
Speaker 5 (15:30):
Now he's put the runs on the board and while
they weren't the greatest of runs though maybe a little
bit scratchy to use a cricketing analogy, he's got the
runs on the board. Now Boden Barrett has the chance
to respond and I think it's a live race. Boden
Barrett's going to get the most opportunities this year, barring injury,
to get the hot seat because Damien's had his go.
(15:51):
But he has just be patient and the similar to
Semipenny Feen now in a different role in the park
is make the most of his chances. We saw that
with Boden Barrett last year the second Test against England
at Eden Park came in turned the game. He did
that on a couple of other occasions last year. He
was able to change the dynamic of games. For for
Damien McKenzie, that's the case this year. He's got a waits.
(16:11):
Make the most the opportunities mount in that case for
Scott Robertson and put his best foot for when he
gets those chances.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
One of several talking points as the All Black season
is set to get underway. That is us in the chamber,
Thanks for stopping and Elliott then a pleasure, Thank you.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
This is Sportsfix, your daily dose of sports news powered
by News.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
TALKSB and that is us on the Sports Fix podcast
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(16:52):
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Speaker 1 (16:59):
For more from News Talks, EDB, listen live on air
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You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
This is Sportsfix Howard by News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Hello there and welcome into the Sports Fix podcast. We're
here at association with G. J. Gardner Holmes, New Zealand's
most trusted a homebuilder. It is the third of July Thursday,
the third. I'm Jason Pine Elliott Smith on the Sports
Fix podcast today as well as we pretty much dedicate
the whole podcast to the first all Blacks test of
the Scott Robertson has unveiled his twenty three to take
(00:44):
on France under the roof in Duneda on Saturday night.
A very interesting twenty three it is as well, a
couple of surprises, a couple of positional changes and a
number of potential deboots as well. Ali and I will
kick that around in the chamber, but also Elliott with
Liam Napier seeing your rugby writer with the New Zealand
Herald to get his thoughts on the twenty three as well.
(01:06):
We've got the lottesting sports news coming you all way
as well, so let's get into it. In other news,
let's get under as always with some of the big
sports stories around today. The big one the naming of
the first All Blacks team of the year, building depth
and providing opportunities for thinking behind this election. They take
on France and Denet and on Saturday, four debutants and
(01:26):
three major positional changes. All Blacks coach Scott Robertson says
the selection process was easier in his second year.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Though, get a year under your belt, so understand the
group a little bit more in what wins test matches
and the balance of it all and you know, using
your first series for us to build depth in of
guy's opportunities.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
A simple but strenuous goal for Keewi cyclist Lawrence Pithy
ahead of his Tour de France Deboos on Saturday night
from Leale, the twenty two year old has been tasked
with helping Primas Rodlitch's charge for the yellow jersey as
part of the Red Bull Bora Hands Grow team.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
It's one things starting the tour, that making it to Paris.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
It's a challenge in itself, so hopefully I'm still there
and I can write down the songs of these and
that's what I'm most looking forward.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
To and India three hundred and ten for five. It
starts on the first day of the second cricketest against
England at Edge Boston, after being sent into that the
highlight came via their new skippers.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
In the lining and sunshine at each Baston showing you'll
go through to sacking unregue in.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Justice second match as India's county has been a really responsibleing.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
Is this leading a vix? We've got just the ticket.
It's sports vix powered by newstalks IVY.
Speaker 5 (02:41):
And not to the future with the All Blacks twenty
three name today for the first Test and a nod
to a significant seed change in terms of thinking around selections.
Whether this is the best twenty three by the end
of the year, who knows, but it signals a change
in thinking, playing for the now and backing the form
players in to do a job. The conservatism that hungover
last year has now gone replaced by a heir of
(03:03):
risk taking, good risk taking, although we'll only find that
out around nine o'clock on Saturday night to be sure.
But it is a massive tonal shift from the selector's
rewarding form and opting for new faces. Traditionally all Black
coaches have tended towards holding back new players until they're
certain they're ready to go, not willing to dole out
camps until they can ensure the player was mentally and
(03:23):
physically ready for the big show. That occasionally worked, it
usually works, but that was the All Blanks way. Now,
some players who only found out they were in the
All Blacks squad ten days ago when the squad was named,
and in Christian Leo Willie's case even fewer than that
when he was elevated to the squad proper are in
a test line up for the first time as the
All Blanks look to get the mantle of the world's
(03:43):
best team back. Conservatism doesn't cut up. We should be
the world leaders in Rank B. Whether these players can
do it as another question entirely, but we won't die wondering.
Selection conservatism has been left behind by this group.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
This is Sportsfix, your daily dose of sports news, how
and by news.
Speaker 6 (04:00):
Talks be on sports Fix.
Speaker 5 (04:03):
Let's get into the All Blacks team that has been
named to play France first team in Dens. In with
me is Liam Napier, rugby writer for the New Zealand
Herald and my co host on the Rugby Direct podcast
and Liam scot Robinson's name the team. Plenty of surprises
your initial reaction when that one dropped, You're.
Speaker 7 (04:21):
Right, Elliott was a wee bit surprised in some positions.
I think to Puvia at Blindside stands out as one
of the big talking points. It was widely expected that
summer Penny Fena would get the first crack at Blindside
Flanka with no Wallace a tit and Luke Jacobson at
both absent car injuries. Scot Robinson has sprung a surprise
(04:44):
and named three locks with Fabian Holland to start, and
then there's four debuts in the squads and also Rico
on he goes to the wings.
Speaker 4 (04:52):
So plenty of.
Speaker 6 (04:53):
Cheo over, plenty of plenty two over.
Speaker 5 (04:55):
You're right, absolutely, Let's talk the loose Ford mix and
dig into that two po vis starting at Blindside flanker.
What does that tell us about the way that the
All Blacks want to play this weekend?
Speaker 4 (05:06):
Well, Tupervisor a big unit, isn't he?
Speaker 7 (05:08):
And I think partly I'm surprised is he was so
good at Locke for the Chiefs and the All Blacks
this year and last year.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
But It gives the All Blacks.
Speaker 7 (05:18):
Three real lineout options, genuine tall timber with Fabian Holland
coming into that mix as well. They clearly want their
blind side to be big and bruising and to provide
is that to a degree, But I think it tells
us that they want their set piece to dominate, They
(05:39):
want to win their line aup ball, they want to
be strong in their air. And then I think it
also speaks to having a powerful bench, having guys like
Somemmer Penny Female Somersony Takyajo, these sort of guys Ollie Norris,
very mobile, dynamic forwards. Do see Carefi coming off the bench.
You think about the impact that they could make with
(06:01):
ball in hand defensively turnovers as well. So finishing games
is a big priority for this All Black team.
Speaker 5 (06:07):
Yeah, that's what's got Robinson has really pushed, hasn't it.
In the off season. His messaging has been around finishing
because they led all four of the games they lost
last year and didn't go on to be winners of
that game. Back line is really fascinating. Rico Yuanni on
the left wing bill, he propped it in at center.
There were some predictions that that would indeed happen, but no,
Caleb Clark didn't have the greatest of Super Rugby season
(06:29):
since scored a try for the Blues. But Proctor's got
the hot hand and coach Scott Robertson has decided to
utilize him this weekend.
Speaker 7 (06:38):
I really like the back line earlier. I think Billy
was drastically under utilized last year. To be fair to
the All Blacks, he was unavailable for most of that
Northern Tour because he had a baby that was born,
so I wanted to be present for that, rightly so,
but he wasn't news throughout the Rugby Championship. He missed
(06:59):
the bulk of this season for the Hurricanes with injury,
but when he came back there was no coincidence that
that co inspired with the Hurricanes.
Speaker 4 (07:08):
Big uptick and form.
Speaker 7 (07:10):
Billy is a point of difference from Rico because of
his distribution. First and foremost, he sets up his outsides.
His wingers looked really good outside him, and let's not
forget that Rico one. He is a real weapon on
the edge as well. That's where he started his test career.
He's big, he's fast, he's a brilliant finisher and I
(07:31):
think he'll be brilliant there.
Speaker 4 (07:34):
What about you? Are you surprised by that?
Speaker 5 (07:36):
In some ways and in some ways because he was
listed as a midfielder and raltively caje the All Blacks
around whether he was going to be used on the
wing this year. They usaid it was a wing option,
but didn't really front foot it and say that we're
looking at him, you know, as a real wing threat.
But he's probably played his best All Blacks rugby on
the wing. Center has always felt like he was trying
(07:56):
to make a goal that hasn't quite got there. I'm
sure we'll see him again at center this year as well,
but I think his best rugby has been on the wing,
and for the balance of the All Blacks at the moment,
that's the position that he needs to play a couple
of other things in that team. Christian le or Willie,
what a meteoric rise he's had. Wasn't in the squad
when that was named what eleven days ago? Now he
was in his injury cover. Now he's starting the first
(08:18):
test of the year.
Speaker 4 (08:19):
Yeah, what a great story as well.
Speaker 7 (08:21):
A guy who has emerged from Massi in Auckland's came
to Dunedin, played a lot of club footy, close to
fifty games, made his professional semi professional debut alongside Fabian Holland.
So some real symmetry there that they're going to make
their All Black debut together this weekend in Dunedin. Lea
(08:43):
Wede made a mark with Otago and the Highlanders and
then was snapped up by the Crusaders unfortunately and had
a great season. Was a massive standout for them. Very
consistent from number rights on both sides of the ball,
great work rate and like you say, he was not
initially in the squad and then to come in and
(09:05):
go straight into starting as a big ask, but he's today.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
We heard it from him about the confidence that.
Speaker 7 (09:11):
He's taken from Ardie Severe backing him and encouraging him
to go out and dominate this weekend.
Speaker 4 (09:18):
So it'll be great to see him do his thing.
Speaker 6 (09:20):
Yeah, looking forward to it Saturday night.
Speaker 5 (09:22):
Finally, prediction, please, Liam, is to which way this is
going to go Saturday.
Speaker 4 (09:26):
I'm going to say the All Blacks by twenty earlier.
Speaker 7 (09:28):
I think the French using this as somewhat as a
development tour. I've left the bulk of their best players
at home. Many of them are going to be on
debut and I think this all black side under the roof,
you know, pristine conditions.
Speaker 5 (09:43):
I think they've got a lot of points in them.
I say, all blacks by twelve. Lim Napier, thanks very
much for joining us on Sports Fox.
Speaker 4 (09:48):
Great to be here, mate.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
The chamber is now in session on Sports Fix on
the Sports Fix podcast.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Let's get inside the chamber. We've heard from Elliott Smith
and Liam Napier. Elliott joins me in the chamber now,
the Dunedin Chamber, which will be five or six degrees
chillier than where I'm sitting at the moment, although I
am joining you there tomorrow.
Speaker 6 (10:06):
How is Test City great? It really is. There's a
vibe to the city. The shops are dicked out.
Speaker 5 (10:11):
On our way back to from our accommodation, the shops
are dicked out and all blacks, juicies, flags, everything like that.
So you do get the sense that there is a
Test coming to town, which I think is really specially.
You don't really get that in Auckland, so coming to
duned in a smaller city, they are getting right in
behind it. It's sold out on Saturday night and great
to see them embracing it, and they're going to have
a couple of the local suns, even if they're slightly
(10:33):
adopted perhaps, And the sense of Fabian Holland who's come
from the Netherlands of course, and Christian Leo Willy who's
come from Massy up in Auckland and made Toned him
his home for a few months in a year as well,
So really special for them to get a couple of
debutantes in the mix.
Speaker 6 (10:47):
This weekend on Home Ground swell well.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
You and Liam spoke about Christian Leo Willy in terms
of the loose forward mix. But just before we move
from that to Fabian Holland, what now for Summer Penny
Female Elliott, what is your feel around whether this means
a lot or doesn't mean a lot given the fact
that just about everybody had him written down as their
starting six a.
Speaker 6 (11:08):
Big surprise look.
Speaker 5 (11:09):
I think it does mean a lot, because clearly they
view two po vi as the better starting option for
the first test of the year. But I think the
challenge for semmapennythenw is to embrace this bench troll. The
all Blacks have gone with two loose forwards on the bench.
They've got enough lock kind of obviously in their starting
side having selected three of them. But the challenge now
for Sema Penny fen now is to make the most
(11:30):
of this bench roll and really embrace it and bring
what the All Blacks want or coach Scott Robinson has
mentioned that they didn't get enough out of the bench
last year. They struggled at times to close out matches
that they had lead. All four of the games that
they had were defeated in they had leads at certain
points in those games. So the challenge of Sampene Finale
is to really own that bench roll and make him
(11:52):
irresistible in terms of selection for either the second Test
or the third Test, make an impact when he comes
on and show that maybe the selector's got it wrong
or indeed that maybe they've got it right, and that
he can own that bench troll and give them what
he wants out of out of the juwsey that he's
been picked in on the weekend. It's a challenge for him.
It's surprised for sure that the gone with Tupo VI
adds some real height to the line out three lineed
(12:13):
options genuinely there for the All Blacks. They can use
that to their advantage. But as a say for Feenaup,
he's going to come out and own that role on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
All right, really special day in coming for Fabian Holland.
He's long been talked about as a potential All Black.
He will become one on Saturday. Look, I think again
there was a large school of thought that suggested he
wouldn't be in the twenty three at all for the
first test area is starting. How special is this going
to be? And what might Fabian Holland's ceiling be?
Speaker 5 (12:41):
I think his ceiling is huge. He reminds me a
lot of broder retallic without wanting to put so much
pressure on the young kid's shoulders, but he has that
body frame about him, the size, the aggression in the
right places, not overdoing it, you know, and teams to
pick tends to pick his moment as well. It's a
wonderful story and it sort of goes against the all
blacks theories that have been used to is that you
(13:02):
don't blood debutons until maybe the second or third test.
Scott Robinson said, maybe is a bit too conservative. Last year, well,
the pendulum has swung the other way with four debutantes
he's rewarded the form players, of which Fabian Holn certainly
was one, and I think he just needs to go
out and do his role. And that sounds obvious, but
you can get caught up in the emotion of Test matches,
(13:23):
especially when it's your first one, especially when you're playing
on home soil, your family go over from the Netherlands,
all that sort of thing. He just needs to focus
on his role and I'm sure that first line out,
that first moment, the first carry, whatever it might be,
in the Test match, is getting that under his belt.
Speaker 6 (13:36):
Because we know what a good player he is. It's
about showing it.
Speaker 5 (13:39):
Look, you don't want to put so much pressu on
the kids shoulders, but I think the ceiling is really
really high for him. He's that big body that the
All Blacks haven't had. Look, I've had some big locks
in recent times, but you look at his height and
two hundred and four cent to me, there's one hundred
and twenty four kg's that's the kind of frame that
the All Blacks have sort of been missing for a
few years. Finding that really really tall body. We're not
producing them enough in New Zealand. A lot of them
(14:01):
going to basketball and not playing rugby at all. They
finally got one and look, he has a big career
in front of him. I'm sure of that.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Just before we exit the chamber, which has become basically
an All Blacks chamber, and that's absolutely fine. Given where
we are in the calendar. I look at first five
and most people pick Boten Barrett and so it's proven
to be Damien McKenzie will come off the bench. If
we look ahead, Elliott, you know, three Tests against France,
then we're into the Rugby Championship, Argentina twice, South Africa twice,
(14:28):
Australia twice, then the the end of the year tour.
What do you predict for the ten Jersey this year?
Last year we saw Damien McKenzie get the keys to
the car for a large part of the first half
to three quarters of the season. When and if Damien
mackenzie comes into the ten Jersey under what circumstances do
you predict that will be.
Speaker 6 (14:50):
I think it'll be probably in the third Test.
Speaker 5 (14:52):
If the All Blacks win the first two matches, they
can probably go and change things up and move Boat
and Barrett to the bench potentially, or maybe look at
at Reuben Love to cover ten to fifteen in one
of the test matches. I think Damien McKenzie is just
going to be patient this year. We saw him get
a lot of Test matches under his belt last year.
Then the Old Blacks and Scott Robertson changed their mind
(15:13):
after that win in the Bledderslow Cup in Sydney. We're
overly happy with the way things closed out in that game.
So Boden Barrett became the first choice as they went
through the end of the year two. And then Boden
Barrett gets out injured for the Island Series and Damian
McKenzie was very, very good and that win over Ireland.
Speaker 6 (15:29):
He's just got to be patient.
Speaker 5 (15:30):
Now he's put the runs on the board and while
they weren't the greatest of runs though maybe a little
bit scratchy to use a cricketing analogy, he's got the
runs on the board. Now Boden Barrett has the chance
to respond and I think it's a live race. Boden
Barrett's going to get the most opportunities this year, barring injury,
to get the hot seat because Damien's had his go.
(15:51):
But he has just be patient and the similar to
Semipenny Feen now in a different role in the park
is make the most of his chances. We saw that
with Boden Barrett last year the second Test against England
at Eden Park came in turned the game. He did
that on a couple of other occasions last year. He
was able to change the dynamic of games. For for
Damien McKenzie, that's the case this year. He's got a waits.
(16:11):
Make the most the opportunities mount in that case for
Scott Robertson and put his best foot for when he
gets those chances.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
One of several talking points as the All Black season
is set to get underway. That is us in the chamber,
Thanks for stopping and Elliott then a pleasure, Thank you.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
This is Sportsfix, your daily dose of sports news powered
by News.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
TALKSB and that is us on the Sports Fix podcast
for today. We really appreciate you downloading and tuning in
and we doubly appreciate it if you subscribe to the
Sports Fix podcast, you'll know if you're a subscriber, that
a fresh episode will drop into your podcast feed at
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(16:52):
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Speaker 1 (16:59):
For more from News Talks, EDB, listen live on air
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