Jason Pine: Sportstalk host on Scott Robertson unveiling the Rugby Championship squad

A glass half-full mindset from All Blacks coach Scott Robertson after naming a group of six players as injury cover for the start of their Rugby Championship campaign.

Uncapped trio Kyle Preston, Leroy Carter and Tevita Mafileo - along with Finlay Christie, George Bower and Josh Lord - comprise the back-up unit in the 42-strong wider squad.

Sportstalk host Jason Pine explains further.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Jason pine Sports sook hosters with us at Piney. Hello, Header,
all right, you got the All Black squad for the
Rugby Championship. What do you think?

Speaker 2 (00:06):
Yeah, I like it. I like it. No real surprises,
there's such no bolters. I think we were curious to
see how they'd cover the half back injury problems that
have befallen them. No, no hope of no cam royguard
for the Argentina tests. So income Finlay Christy we know
about him, experienced player. And Kyle Preston, who would be
making his All Blacks debut if he takes to the field.

(00:26):
Simon Parker is in the team. I think this is
a popular inclusion. He's a big, raw boned, loose forward
out of Northland and the Chiefs. I think a lot
of people very pleased to see that. And yeah, quite
a few guys have been named as injury cover as
we know hither there are a few niggles in the side. Hopefully,
hopefully most of those who are injured should be back
by the end of the Rugby Championship, if not for

(00:48):
the last couple of games of it.

Speaker 1 (00:51):
All right, what about the Warriors?

Speaker 2 (00:53):
What about the Warriors? I'm looking at the table, they're fourth,
They're a point ahead of the Panthers. Now. They've been
in the top four since round We're about to go
into Round twenty three, so they've been there for a
large part of the season. If they were to lose
to the Bulldogs on Saturday night in Canterbury, that's Cannaby
Bulldogs Country, of course, they would fall probably out of
the top four, and could I've worked out go as

(01:15):
low as seventh if the three teams below them all
win Panthers, Broncos, Sharks. The injuries are really rarely hurting
this side either. I just hope we get a few
back for the weekend and this team can get a
bit of a late season renaissance going and hang around
in the top four. It is in their hands, but
it's a difficult road home for them.

Speaker 1 (01:36):
So I watched most of the game and then I
just couldn't. I couldn't hack the last bit, so I
went I went to sleep, and the Warriors were leading.
Hello No, And I thought to myself as I headed off,
I was like, now they're going to lose. I don't
know what I think. It was just that it wasn't convincing, was.

Speaker 2 (01:52):
It well, they You're right, they didn't stretch out. They
were behind sixteen six, got back and lead and so
that was good. But against twelve plays they you know,
had Dolphin's got a man in the bin at the end. Yeah,
they'll look back at it as two points dropped, But
what happened they look I just think they were a
bit passive at the end. They just didn't defend with
aggression and commitment. And even Andrew Webster afterwards said, look,

(02:15):
even he looked out for the last couple of sets
of six that they were defending and he didn't like
the body language of his team out there. So that
speaks of class shoulders. I don't know what it says.
I'm not sure. I really don't know, Piney. Is this not?
Do you know what?

Speaker 1 (02:29):
Can they not get Gilbert and Oka over and just
have a good session. Do they have head people at
the Warriors because it feels like this? Or they need
new head people, don't they? Because it's all in their head?

Speaker 2 (02:39):
I take them into players back, I think before a
head person. But I know what you're saying.

Speaker 1 (02:43):
Yeah, but the body language, Ay, that tells you everything. Okay,
Piney really appreciate it. It's Jason Pine' Sports Talk Coast
will be back at seven o'clock this.

Speaker 2 (02:49):
Evening for more from Heather Duplessy Allen Drive. Listen live
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