Elliott Smith: Newstalk ZB rugby commentator on All Blacks v England match

The All Blacks will face England at Twickenham on Sunday morning NZT.

The kiwi side sees Beauden Barrett start at first five, Jordie Barrett return from injury and Ethan de Groot dropped for failing to meet ‘internal standards’.

Newstalk ZB rugby commentator Elliott Smith tells Heather du Plessis-Allan Beauden Barrett at 10 is the “right move” as a solid position to steer the All Blacks from.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now we've had the All Blacks name their side to
face England had took in him on Sunday morning our time,
Body Barrett starting at first five, Jordiy Barrett's back from injury,
and Ethan de Groot has been dropped for failing to
meet internal standards. Now Elliot Smith is in England to
call the game for US.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
Hey Elliott, Hey Heather.

Speaker 1 (00:15):
Do we actually know what Ethan DeGroot has done.

Speaker 2 (00:18):
We don't know. It's been fairly fin on details from
Scott Robertson. I asked him whether it was on field
off field. My understanding is that it's an off field indiscretion,
but details coming few and far between from the All
Blacks and to this point we don't know what Ethan
de Groot has done to be stood down for a match.
You think back to earlier in the year. Damien McKenzie

(00:41):
wasn't stood down for missing the team bus earlier in
that trip to San Diego. So, for comparison's sake, Ethan
de Groot's missed it on the basis of whatever indiscretion
or missive team protocol or standards that he's done on
this point, but we don't know exactly what it'll be here,
we fit again, We'll available for selection again, I should
say for for next week in Dublin.

Speaker 1 (01:03):
What do you think about Boden Barrett taking the number
ten jersey from Damian McKenzie. What's happened here?

Speaker 2 (01:09):
Look, I think this is the right move, to be
honest here, the Damien McKenzie's had a real run at
ten this year, started the first eight matches of the season.
Boden Barrett came in and while they didn't set the
world on fire, I thought he was solid in Wellington
and perhapskiss gives the All Blacks what they need to
steer themselves around the park when they're playing at Twickenham.

(01:30):
Kicking game very very important that. It's a strength of
Boden Barrett later on in his career, very good tactically
and game management wise. He's played more than one hundred
and thirty tests now to this point. He started his career,
or started at the starting of his test career, he
was playing at ten and sort of back to the
future a little bit for Boden Barrett. But I think
this is a good move. It just sharpens up the

(01:51):
All Blacks attack a little bit. It is a change
mid season to goo, actually we're going to change our ten.
But I think they've given Damien McKenzie enough rope now
this time for a change for the All Blacks.

Speaker 1 (02:01):
Do you think that these guys are in the slightest
concern about Joe Marler and his absolute muckup of the
hakker call?

Speaker 2 (02:09):
Oh, look, I think it all won't wind the All
Blacks up necessarily, but they will have noted it. And
Scott Rolinson says he's not the kind of coach that
will pin things on the dressing room wall, but he
did point out that all these players have social media
and you wouldn't have been able to escape the talk
about Joe Mahler this week. They will have noted it.
And look, the hacker is very very important to the

(02:31):
All Blacks as part of their DNA. It's it's something
really special to them. They do it for themselves. They
don't do it for opposition, applause or fans in the
cheering on it. They do it for themselves. And you know,
while Joe Marl is entitled to his opinion, I thought
it was a little bit ill timed, but we have
these stories every so often. It seems someone from England

(02:52):
will disparage the hacker. Joe Marhler is the person who's
thrown out the bait, and the All Blacks have responded
to it, but I don't think they would really cared
that much. I think it will be noted and they
would have moved on. But you know, before kick off,
two bits before kickoff on Sunday morning, everyone's going to
be looking to see what kind of hark could they
do and what kind of English response we get from.

Speaker 1 (03:15):
It too, right, Elliott, Thanks very much, Elliott Smith, newstalksb
Rugby commentator, calling the game live and free four am
Sunday here on NEWSTALKSBIL.

Speaker 2 (03:22):
For more from Heather Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to
News talks 'b from four pm weekdays, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio