Elliott Smith: Newstalk ZB sport commentator on Du'Plessis Kirifi making All Blacks debut

Du'Plessis Kirifi's decision to turn done an offer from Japan has been vindicated.

The Hurricanes flanker is one of five new caps in the All Blacks squad to face France.

He's also one of only five loose forwards in the 33 names read out today - with coach Scott Robertson opting to maximise game time of those selected.

Newstalk ZB rugby commentator Elliott Smith explains further.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now Scott Robertson and his team have named the first
All Black squad of the year. Got thirty five players named.
So this is to play against France next month. Hurricanes
co captain Diplassy Carreffi is one of five uncapp players
to get their first official call up. You're waiting for
such a big important call and I guess a call
like for the rest of us boys who are in
for the first time. It's a big milestone in your life.

(00:21):
I yes, Alliot Smith was at the Oh sorry, I
said it was going to be Jason Pine but Elliott
was there. So we're going to go to Elliott Smith
and stick because he knows rugby.

Speaker 2 (00:28):
Hello Elliott, Hello Heather afternoon.

Speaker 1 (00:31):
Not that Piney doesn't know rugby. It's just this is
your mastermind topic.

Speaker 2 (00:35):
Now.

Speaker 1 (00:36):
Any surprise, isn't there for you?

Speaker 2 (00:37):
Oh, Brody McCallister has to be a surprise. I don't
think many would have mentioned his name around the traps
this year as a possibility. Everyone knew they were going
to need the third hooker with a suffol or more injured.
The logical thought was that George Bell, who'd been in
the squad last year up and coming player would get
the nod, but Brady McAllister, in his like twenties, decided
to shift to the Chiefs in the off season. It's

(00:59):
been a big move for him and it's worked out
because he's in the All Black squad for the first time,
so that was a real surprise. The four other players
that were included for the first time have certainly been
mentioned in dispatches and predictions and sweepstakes over the course
of the last few weeks. To Plas Kadifi as we
heard from, there has been a name mentioned by a
number of people, Ollie Norris out of the Chiefs as well,

(01:20):
Fabian Holland and to Monthly tather Tava Nawai the other
new faces in the All Black squads. So four that
probably people might have had in the mix, but certainly
one surprise there in Brady Mcallison had all.

Speaker 1 (01:31):
Surplies surprised by Ethan Blackadder and David have early losing out.

Speaker 2 (01:35):
Certainly both of them I thought that they would be
in the mix. And interestingly Scott Robertson deciding to trim
he went with thirty three in the ends. He could
have named thirty five, but he's left a couple of
players out, he'll have to extend that for the Rugby
Championship and perhaps assigned that he wants to see a
little bit more of these players get back to NPC.
I mean, David have really captained the Crusaders to a
Super Rugby title less than forty eight hours ago, so

(01:57):
a real surprise not to see him there. He's been
a favorite of Scott Robinson's for some time. Ethan Blackad
it also a player that Scott Robinson really liked in
his time at the Crusaders. But what do think it
does signal hither is that they want a bit more
explosiveness out of their players. In the loose forwards. They've
got Duplessi Cofi. We know how explosive he's been great
over turnover ball. Same with Tavia, tav and Naway in

(02:17):
the backs. They want to get over that game line.
Quincy Pie back in the All Blacks as well. So
they want explosiveness, they want to get over the game line.
I think that's what we've seen from the new Caps
that have come in and the faces that have been
left out.

Speaker 1 (02:29):
Who do you reckon he starts in first by the.

Speaker 2 (02:30):
Eighth, I think it'll be Boden Barrett for the first
Test in Dunedin in eleven days time while they'reabout so.
I think he ended the year with him. Starting last year,
he was the man they switched to when Damien McKenzie
had a number of chances that decided to make the switch.
I think Boden Barrett has probably done enough to retain
that Jersey wasn't you know, the greatest of the seasons

(02:52):
for for Boden Barrid is a bit up and down,
but I think he'll retain that jersey. Damien McKenzie probably
didn't do himself too many favors with the performing against
the Crusaders are on the weekend either. That was an
opportunity I thought to really go out and stamp and mark.
He failed to do so. And I think Boden Barrett
will get the the number ten jusy next week because
of it. Reuben Love incidentally has been named. They also

(03:12):
see him possibly as a ten down the track as well.

Speaker 1 (03:15):
Good stuff. It's good to talk to you, Elliott. Thanks
so much Elliott Smith, who is of course I'm our
rugby expert here at news Talks

Speaker 2 (03:20):
Aben for more from Heather Duplessy, Allen Drive, Listen live
to News talks 'b from four pm weekdays, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio