Elliott Smith and Nick Bewley: Newstalk ZB Sports Journalists preview Warriors v Panthers, All Blacks v South Africa

It’s a big weekend for rugby, with the Warriors final against the Panthers falling at the same time as the All Blacks second clash with South Africa.  

It’s been ten years since the All Blacks claimed victory over the Springboks in Wellington – will they be able to pull off another win? 

And the Warriors are entering the playoffs in 6th place after a season filled with ups and downs – how will they fare against the Panthers? 

Newstalk ZB’s voice of rugby Elliott Smith and sports journalist Nick Bewley joined Ryan Bridge to preview the weekend’s clashes. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Big week in the sport ahead. We've got the AB's
in the box at the cake tin, We've got the
Warriors in Auckland. Will start with the abs. Elliot Smith
the News Talks. He'd be voice of Rugby with us
this morning. Elliot, Good morning, morning Ryan. Your predictions this weekend?

Speaker 2 (00:14):
Look, I think both teams have made a few changes,
but I think the All Blacks are given the consistency
they put forward in there, their Type five should be
good enough to win and that would return them the
Freedom Cup which they lost to South Africa last year
and a big step forward to winning the Rugby Championship.
Haven't the best of records in Wellington in recent times

(00:36):
against South Africa or at all, but I think the
All Blacks should be good enough to win this weekend
by a few points similar to last weekend.

Speaker 1 (00:44):
I reckon And is it a big call we're putting
a deep bit onto a match of this caliber.

Speaker 2 (00:49):
Yeah, well, I think usually the All Blacks are given
them a sort of softly softly approach, bring them off
the bench and get them used to test rugby. But
Leroy Carter is a player that's been built for the
big stage. He's played numerous World seven's events in front
of fans around the globe. He played the Paris Olympics
last year, which didn't go overly well for the New

(01:10):
Zealand seven side, but that was in front of seventy
five thousand Parisians, so he's used to the big stage.
He had a great Super Rugby season, so the All
Blacks have backed them in to perform this weekend. So yeah,
it's a bit of a surprise to an extent, but he's,
as I said, used to playing on those big stages.

Speaker 1 (01:29):
Previously looking forward to Elliot Elliott Smith News talks heb
Voice of Rugby with us and it is twenty two
minutes after five. Joden Nick Bewley News talks ab sports
journalist style on the Wars and the Panthers at Mount
Smart this weekend, their first playoff of the season, home advantage.
But Nick, they're kind of being written off by most,
aren't they.

Speaker 3 (01:49):
Good morning to you, Ryan. I mean that's the position
the Warriors are very comfortable and over the last thirty
years being written off by everyone but lucky. It is
fair to say going up against the team the caliber
of Penrist, the full time defending premiers they know what
it takes. At this point of the season, they are
understandably favorites. But the Warriors that they've got history in

(02:11):
this position I know, probably have to go back a
wee way, but think about two thousand and eight as
an example. They were eight going to the finals. They
beat Melbourne who are top of the logs. So it
is possible, but it feels like the Warriors are going
to have to do something rather remarkable to get through
to the next round of the finals. But looking forward to.

Speaker 1 (02:29):
It, nonetheless, Sam Herey's shown the flashes of promise. Will
he be invaluable to that?

Speaker 3 (02:36):
Well, he has to play first, right, he's on the
extended reserves. Ares things down. He was sensational last week.
I thought I must have been. I was a little
bit surprised that he wasn't. And Andrew Webster's initial seventeen
named on Tuesday, however, there is a change. They can
make changes right up into an hour before kickoff. But
it really does feel like to me they will need
some form of X factor player, whether that is Sam

(02:59):
Hereley coming in late Alekahala Seima is now starting, so
it will take something a little bit beyond what the
Warriors have delivered over the last couple of weeks in
defeats to beat such a strong Enright theme.

Speaker 1 (03:10):
Get a high impact player and off the bench late
in the piece, and they appreciate that. Nick few Lee
News Talks, he'd be sports journalists with us this morning.

Speaker 2 (03:18):
For more from Early Edition with Ryan Bridge. Listen live
to News Talks. He'd be from five am weekdays, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.