September 25, 2025 • 8 mins
The All Blacks are returning to Eden Park to defend their record.
Coming off the back of the worst-ever defeat just 12 days ago against South Africa, they're set to host the Wallabies in the Bledisloe Cup opener on Saturday.
There are six changes to the side, with Ardie Savea taking over the captaincy from an injured Scott Barrett.
Coach Scott Robertson told Mike Hosking the pressure of performing at Eden Park is still there, but he would describe it as a gift.
He says people care so deeply about performing in a place with so much history, and their gift is to earn it again.
“You’ve just gotta rise to it – that’s the key.”
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
To the rugby though. Meantime, with your blacks returned to
Eton Park of course to face the resurgence and possibly
bullish Australian side. We've got six changes out so he
gets to be captain of course, and Scott Robertson is
your coach and he's back with us. A very good
morning to you.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Good morning Mike.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Are you set to go?
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Which well you still thinks obvious. We've had a couple
of changes when they drew force, but within the week
we just want to get back into it after the
week we had before. So it's a great, great occasion
to do it good.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
And how's that two week on, two week off thing
working for you? That is that a thing? Have you enjoyed?
Speaker 2 (00:35):
That?
Speaker 1 (00:36):
Is that a good idea or not?
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Well, you have to have the week in between, there's
no doubt about it. But it's it's so unique to
playing the same team twice, like every every second game
he's got its own storyline for what happened in the
first game. You know, either hurt or you've been successful,
and people gap so quickly and it is an art
to that not Evene's quite good at right because no
(01:03):
one's won to in a row in. You know, we
get chance this week against a good world beside.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Yeah, you make a very good point. See as a
casual lover of sport, I've actually thoroughly am thoroughly enjoying
the competition because I know you want to win every
time obviously, but what a great competition that is, with
with every participant being a high quality team, and that's
what you want, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Yeah, there's been an orgy of it. You've hit a
couple of blowouts like World number one and two serves
in South Africa took a couple of points at the
end of the game that blow out, and then you've
got a majority of the other games come down in
one play games at the end. And as you see
that this entertainment sector and that builds so so much connection.
(01:48):
So the Nick tweek Argentina play South Africa and took
in them. You know they're pretty much sold out by understanding,
So you had the whole world behind it and watching it,
enjoying it.
Speaker 1 (01:59):
Having said that two week on, two week off thing,
I mean, this is I mean, you've just given a
very good example, but I mean your example, Nick, You've
got to jump on a plane and go to the
other side of Australia then play again. That's hard yards,
isn't it.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Yeah, there's the old Beck to Becks, but that's a
part of it. It's a little bit different to sort
of Rugby World Cups. You know you get sort of
five sort of five or six big game well at
the Beck and you get three or four big games
in a row, and then for this one, because you've
got over a six six games in that in that period,
paying the same team, you know you're going to change
(02:34):
these slightly adjust your team along the way, your technics
because you're playing the same team, like and there are
all sudden emancy teams. We know each other pretty well.
And when you go and play like the end of
your tour last year, we had five games five weeks.
By the end of it, you know you play, you
know you paying all different conditions. You're traveling, you're on
(02:56):
and off buses and stuff, so how they need to train.
In the end, you're just going to keep free as
you're possibly gain this week off and the whole He
gives you that little bit of injy boost.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
A couple of weeks ago against the first South African side,
there was this whole eaten park thing and oh we
haven't lost the has that been a thing this week
at all? If it ever was a thing or not.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
That's a thing. That's definitely sort of thing. You know.
It's a it's a it's a it's a great gift
you got given because you've got people that have kids
so deeply about performing in a place that's sort of
historically just keep melting up from performance on performance. So
when it comes to you, you know, your gift is
to earn it again so for people see how much
(03:40):
it cares for you. And obviously we've got loads of
this week and you know what they like. They're plan
good and we you know, just you just get a
rise to it. Misteris Key.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
How good are the Australians do you think?
Speaker 2 (03:54):
I well really find out tomorrow night. I think hands
on and just it was the style we pay. But
they've got really refined structures, they kick well. They brought
some really good young paths who have got some speed
and and your leaders are playing well so then they
don't go away so that they're then they're well coached.
(04:17):
So they're a good package.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Yeah they are. I was reading a piece from the
Australian media. They gave a series of reasons as to
why this could be the best time for Australia ever
to beat you guys. Youthful freedom was one of their arguments.
Do you think there's a bit of youthful freedom in there?
They're unburdened? Is there something in that?
Speaker 2 (04:36):
How you look at it, that's a great narrative for
you to talk about if it's what you wanted to
become alive. Yeah, I suppose they pay fast good. It
just takes freedom. Is probably a little bit around being fearless.
So that's what we expect as well.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
I don't want to dwell on the loss. But the
only question that everyone asks when you're when you're in
the box with your walkie talkie and things are going wrong,
and the argument has always been that that you guys
can't adjust that something unfolds that you're not expecting or whatever.
That you can't adjust what's in that moment, what's going on.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Look, when we chase the game, we probably we overchase
the game, you know, when we sort of got to
the three scores and were frustrating and stuff. So when
you're singing, you see the team trying to chase it,
and so you just send our messages like one word
messages that reflect the mindset. So what you're trying to
(05:38):
achieve it if you want to hold the ball or
do you want to go to a mall? Do you
do go down shore side? Or is it kick differently?
So you get one or two words and messages huddle.
Those huddles are thirty seconds. You've got one of the
water carriers or medicals, medicals running near saying one word
(06:02):
to the captain to get the or one of the
leaders to get their message across. So a lot of
preparation goes into that, and and then there's the key
around it. How do you can help that one word
can slowly, slowly change a little bit of mindset all
the flow of the game.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Do you put weight on the bounce back so when
things have gone wrong there is a real bounce back
for you guys the next opportunity.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
Again, you don't want to do that. To do that,
do you? That's the first thing, So you don't want
to have to bounce back. It's not you. We want
consistency and reliability. That's just to keep every every team
to frone up. The meaning what what's in front of them.
You're going to be inspired internally, not by by a
past result. And look you can draw on it. A
(06:48):
lot of our guys like to plans to do it.
So yeah, whatever, few of you take it.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
And what about the MPC. Does that helped? Did they
enjoy that?
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Yeah? Some of the of course. You know, there's a
lot of guys in your thirty six, don't you get
playing and your rugby player. You've got to play your
sport and get in there and get back to your
teams and not just training. Actually get to put a
sholder on someone with a bit of meaning you can
and then the scrum and line out and do all
the things you need to to keep yourself to come
back into test.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Foody, fantastic. Well, it's going to be a good night.
I think the it's a forecast any I think it's
going to rain in the afternoon or something. Does that
make any difference to you?
Speaker 2 (07:27):
We did it better now we're now we're I said Jason.
We wish it's going to rain. We just let it rain.
You s get on with it. But we have the
conditions are well, we'll take on. But we just pleased
made another seller that we had all six sold out
this year and thanksful the support for everyone, and yeah,
I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
All right, mate, go well, we'll be watching as always.
Scott robertson, who's the All Blacks coach. Just on related matters,
by the way, Jason Pine was in earlier on this
morning doing some more of his just Standout prep. He
was there about seven o'clock and I said, you've got
an eleven o'clock pre record, Jason, he said, twelve fifteen.
He's in there six hours early, so he's.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Technically he's in there about what twenty eight hours early.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
Yeah, I don't know what he's got lined up for
the weekend, but when he's prepping here on Friday, it's Friday,
it's just it's going to be good. It's bound to
be award winning. 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.
To the rugby though. Meantime, with your blacks returned to
Eton Park of course to face the resurgence and possibly
bullish Australian side. We've got six changes out so he
gets to be captain of course, and Scott Robertson is
your coach and he's back with us. A very good
morning to you.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Good morning Mike.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Are you set to go?
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Which well you still thinks obvious. We've had a couple
of changes when they drew force, but within the week
we just want to get back into it after the
week we had before. So it's a great, great occasion
to do it good.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
And how's that two week on, two week off thing
working for you? That is that a thing? Have you enjoyed?
Speaker 2 (00:35):
That?
Speaker 1 (00:36):
Is that a good idea or not?
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Well, you have to have the week in between, there's
no doubt about it. But it's it's so unique to
playing the same team twice, like every every second game
he's got its own storyline for what happened in the
first game. You know, either hurt or you've been successful,
and people gap so quickly and it is an art
to that not Evene's quite good at right because no
(01:03):
one's won to in a row in. You know, we
get chance this week against a good world beside.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Yeah, you make a very good point. See as a
casual lover of sport, I've actually thoroughly am thoroughly enjoying
the competition because I know you want to win every
time obviously, but what a great competition that is, with
with every participant being a high quality team, and that's
what you want, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Yeah, there's been an orgy of it. You've hit a
couple of blowouts like World number one and two serves
in South Africa took a couple of points at the
end of the game that blow out, and then you've
got a majority of the other games come down in
one play games at the end. And as you see
that this entertainment sector and that builds so so much connection.
(01:48):
So the Nick tweek Argentina play South Africa and took
in them. You know they're pretty much sold out by understanding,
So you had the whole world behind it and watching it,
enjoying it.
Speaker 1 (01:59):
Having said that two week on, two week off thing,
I mean, this is I mean, you've just given a
very good example, but I mean your example, Nick, You've
got to jump on a plane and go to the
other side of Australia then play again. That's hard yards,
isn't it.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Yeah, there's the old Beck to Becks, but that's a
part of it. It's a little bit different to sort
of Rugby World Cups. You know you get sort of
five sort of five or six big game well at
the Beck and you get three or four big games
in a row, and then for this one, because you've
got over a six six games in that in that period,
paying the same team, you know you're going to change
(02:34):
these slightly adjust your team along the way, your technics
because you're playing the same team, like and there are
all sudden emancy teams. We know each other pretty well.
And when you go and play like the end of
your tour last year, we had five games five weeks.
By the end of it, you know you play, you
know you paying all different conditions. You're traveling, you're on
(02:56):
and off buses and stuff, so how they need to train.
In the end, you're just going to keep free as
you're possibly gain this week off and the whole He
gives you that little bit of injy boost.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
A couple of weeks ago against the first South African side,
there was this whole eaten park thing and oh we
haven't lost the has that been a thing this week
at all? If it ever was a thing or not.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
That's a thing. That's definitely sort of thing. You know.
It's a it's a it's a it's a great gift
you got given because you've got people that have kids
so deeply about performing in a place that's sort of
historically just keep melting up from performance on performance. So
when it comes to you, you know, your gift is
to earn it again so for people see how much
(03:40):
it cares for you. And obviously we've got loads of
this week and you know what they like. They're plan
good and we you know, just you just get a
rise to it. Misteris Key.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
How good are the Australians do you think?
Speaker 2 (03:54):
I well really find out tomorrow night. I think hands
on and just it was the style we pay. But
they've got really refined structures, they kick well. They brought
some really good young paths who have got some speed
and and your leaders are playing well so then they
don't go away so that they're then they're well coached.
(04:17):
So they're a good package.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Yeah they are. I was reading a piece from the
Australian media. They gave a series of reasons as to
why this could be the best time for Australia ever
to beat you guys. Youthful freedom was one of their arguments.
Do you think there's a bit of youthful freedom in there?
They're unburdened? Is there something in that?
Speaker 2 (04:36):
How you look at it, that's a great narrative for
you to talk about if it's what you wanted to
become alive. Yeah, I suppose they pay fast good. It
just takes freedom. Is probably a little bit around being fearless.
So that's what we expect as well.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
I don't want to dwell on the loss. But the
only question that everyone asks when you're when you're in
the box with your walkie talkie and things are going wrong,
and the argument has always been that that you guys
can't adjust that something unfolds that you're not expecting or whatever.
That you can't adjust what's in that moment, what's going on.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Look, when we chase the game, we probably we overchase
the game, you know, when we sort of got to
the three scores and were frustrating and stuff. So when
you're singing, you see the team trying to chase it,
and so you just send our messages like one word
messages that reflect the mindset. So what you're trying to
(05:38):
achieve it if you want to hold the ball or
do you want to go to a mall? Do you
do go down shore side? Or is it kick differently?
So you get one or two words and messages huddle.
Those huddles are thirty seconds. You've got one of the
water carriers or medicals, medicals running near saying one word
(06:02):
to the captain to get the or one of the
leaders to get their message across. So a lot of
preparation goes into that, and and then there's the key
around it. How do you can help that one word
can slowly, slowly change a little bit of mindset all
the flow of the game.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Do you put weight on the bounce back so when
things have gone wrong there is a real bounce back
for you guys the next opportunity.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
Again, you don't want to do that. To do that,
do you? That's the first thing, So you don't want
to have to bounce back. It's not you. We want
consistency and reliability. That's just to keep every every team
to frone up. The meaning what what's in front of them.
You're going to be inspired internally, not by by a
past result. And look you can draw on it. A
(06:48):
lot of our guys like to plans to do it.
So yeah, whatever, few of you take it.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
And what about the MPC. Does that helped? Did they
enjoy that?
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Yeah? Some of the of course. You know, there's a
lot of guys in your thirty six, don't you get
playing and your rugby player. You've got to play your
sport and get in there and get back to your
teams and not just training. Actually get to put a
sholder on someone with a bit of meaning you can
and then the scrum and line out and do all
the things you need to to keep yourself to come
back into test.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Foody, fantastic. Well, it's going to be a good night.
I think the it's a forecast any I think it's
going to rain in the afternoon or something. Does that
make any difference to you?
Speaker 2 (07:27):
We did it better now we're now we're I said Jason.
We wish it's going to rain. We just let it rain.
You s get on with it. But we have the
conditions are well, we'll take on. But we just pleased
made another seller that we had all six sold out
this year and thanksful the support for everyone, and yeah,
I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
All right, mate, go well, we'll be watching as always.
Scott robertson, who's the All Blacks coach. Just on related matters,
by the way, Jason Pine was in earlier on this
morning doing some more of his just Standout prep. He
was there about seven o'clock and I said, you've got
an eleven o'clock pre record, Jason, he said, twelve fifteen.
He's in there six hours early, so he's.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Technically he's in there about what twenty eight hours early.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
Yeah, I don't know what he's got lined up for
the weekend, but when he's prepping here on Friday, it's Friday,
it's just it's going to be good. It's bound to
be award winning. 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.
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