John Hart: Former All Blacks Coach ahead of the second test match against England

It’s been 30 years since the All Blacks last lost at Eden Park. 

Could England be the ones to bring an end to the streak after their narrow loss in Dunedin? 

Former All Blacks Coach John Hart told Andrew Dickens that last week was a great test in terms of the proximity of the scores and this will be England’s last game of the season, so they’ll be really fired up. 

He says the difference is that England showed what they’ve got last week, but the All Blacks have space to improve and adjust accordingly. 

Hart thinks they’ll improve sufficiently to make sure we maintain the unbeaten record at Eden Park. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Here come the men in blacks. It's been thirty years
since the Allbacks last loss on Eden Park. I was there.
It was that French game with the try from the
end of the world and I was sitting in the
Panasitic stand. So the try was scored on the very
furthest part away from where I was sitting. It was
a try from the end of the world. But thirty
years eh, Now could England be the ones to spore
the party? It's only one point victory last weekend sixteen

(00:22):
fifteen and Toneden. So with me right now is former
All back coach John Hart.

Speaker 2 (00:26):
Hello, John, morning, Andrey, how are you very good?

Speaker 1 (00:30):
So they've had a week they it's fair to say
they've both been rusty. They've both been able to really train.
The weather's been fantastic and it's been a fast track.
Will be a fast track tomorrow. Are you expecting a
great Test and who's going to improve the most?

Speaker 2 (00:46):
I think it will be a great Test. I think
last week was a great test Trek really in terms
of the proximity of the scores. Both teams, you know,
brought different elements of the game. I thought England played
really well last week. This will be their last game
for the season, so they will be really fired up.
I think the all backs will improve and I think
probably that will be the difference. I think England showed

(01:08):
what they've got and it was very good and the
all backs will have to adjust accordingly. But I think
they'll improve sufficiently to make sure we maintain that unbeaten
record at Eden.

Speaker 1 (01:18):
Park both weeks. Seems we've convinced the English that it's
okay to run.

Speaker 2 (01:23):
Yeah, I know he's got Look. I thought two of
the best players on the field last week were their
fullback Thurdbank and their half back Mitchell. I thought they
were excellent. They added to everything that England were doing
in terms of quick defense and getting quick ball and
carrying the ball well. Those two added so well, So
you know, I think he certainly has got them in

(01:46):
a mood where they are prepared to use the ball.
Their set piece scrub was very average last week and
I would think that's an area where again the all
backs will look for dominance and if that happens and
you know, the game go the way of the team
on the front board.

Speaker 1 (02:02):
Larded debate, particularly on the show last night, about Finley
Christi at number nine. TJ's hurt and that was horrific
to see, obviously, but I saw him yesterday. It doesn't
seem to be super bad, but it's Finny good. I mean,
this is one of his first times to actually start.

Speaker 2 (02:17):
Look, he's got a very good game. He had a
difficult season with injury. He finished very strongly for the Blues.
He I've got no doubt that his pass is actually
I heard the debate passes quicker than paranaras Per Andaras
brings different things to a game. His experiences is obviously

(02:37):
I'm told. But look, I think Finn Christie will fit
the all back pattern very well. They want to move
the more quickly and I think he'll do that well.

Speaker 1 (02:46):
Yes, Finn has the fastest pass. TJ is like a
second loose forward. And here they should get over the
fact that he's a vegan. What about Finn Baxter. He's
twenty two years old, he's a prop getting his first start.
What do you reckon about him?

Speaker 2 (02:58):
Well, he looked came on, he had a real baby face.
I was shocked when he came on last week, but
I thought he held up really well. But he will
be under There be a baptism of fire for him.
The English will be very dependent on his coming ability tomorrow.
So you know he would have learned a lot in
that sixty seventy minutes that he got last week, and

(03:20):
you know he did very well in the sense of
a young man having his first game. But you know
he'll be under fire tomorrow because this All Back scrub
looks very dominant and it is where they will go
to try and achieve their dominance.

Speaker 1 (03:32):
Hey, it's nice to have a tour, but there was
only two tests. Of course, we're playing Fiji in the
USA next week for some reason, should we have had
a three test tour? Oh?

Speaker 2 (03:41):
Look, I think you know there's all arguments about these
sorts of things. You know, in the end two tests,
if you know, it's there'll be an outcome one way
or the other, and the Allbacks will be all about
winning this Test match. I mean it wins a series,
but it'll be very important for them to maintain the
unbeaten re call that we have what thirty years at

(04:02):
Eden Park, and you know that's something very special. So
I'm sure the will Bles will be focused totally on
this one game.

Speaker 1 (04:10):
Thank you so much, John.

Speaker 2 (04:12):
For more from the mic Asking Breakfast. Listen live to
news talks it'd be from six am weekdays, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio