Elliott Smith: ZB Rugby Commentator ahead of this weekend's rematch between the All Blacks and Argentina

Will the All Blacks redeem themselves after last week’s loss? 

This Saturday they’ll be facing Argentina in a rematch at Eden Park, a week on from losing to 30-38 in Wellington. 

Scott Robertson has made some major changes to the Kiwi side, including the return of former captain Sam Cane. 

Newstalk ZB Rugby Commentator Elliott Smith told Ryan Bridge the All Blacks need to bounce back, which they traditionally do when they lose to Argentina.  

He said that it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to happen tomorrow night, but you would hope there’s some form of response from the All Blacks after last week. 

Smith said that last week seems to be a bit of a reality check for Robertson. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Right.

Speaker 2 (00:00):
It's a big game for the All Blacks tomorrow night
as they face Argentina at Eden Park, a week on
from losing thirty eight to thirty is to them in Wellington.
Coach Scott Robinson has made some major changes. Elliot Smith's
news talks, they'd be rugby commentators with us. Elliott, good morning,
Good morning Ryan. Who's going to win?

Speaker 1 (00:16):
Oh? Look, I think the All Blacks need to balance
back and they traditionally have again Sargentina and the two
times have lost to them previously in twenty twenty and
twenty twenty two, they've come out and put a response
out the following week, won by thirty eight points in
twenty twenty and then by forty seven in twenty twenty two.
That doesn't necessarily mean it's going to happen tomorrow night,

(00:37):
but you would hope there was some form of response
from the All Blacks because last week they were ponderous
at times on attack. The defense wasn't up to scratch.
So they really need to improve tomorrow night and deliver
some of those things that have been talking about both
of the coaching group and the players that have laid
out a platform for at the start of the season
that we probably just haven't seen to this point in timeline.

Speaker 2 (00:59):
Yeah, losing is not something that Scott Roberts has done
a lot of in recent years. How's he doing? How's
he you know? I mean, I know it's only only
one game that he's lost, but you know, how's he fearing?

Speaker 1 (01:11):
Well? I think this week has been a bit of
reality check for him in terms of international rugby. Got
through the first three games of the campaign and they look,
those two games against England were pretty tricky ones and
they managed to get out on the right side of
the ledger. It was thought, maybe Argentina, those games give
you a chance to build on your platform and start
to develop the game plan that they were being playing.
But actually it was a huge step back last week

(01:34):
with the forwards not really clicking into gear ponderous stuff
from the back. So look, he's vowed this week that
he's you know, dug over under every rock and tried
to fine answers this week to get the game plan going.
But that starts with him at the top. And as
you said, he's made a few changes to the side
for this week, but he has to demand the all
Blacks beak better. He said earlier on in the week

(01:56):
that you know whether he's out of the dumps, and
the players will reflect that as well as he's tried
to maintain somewhat of a positive attitude walls of trying
to find the answers as to what went wrong last
Saturday and then rebuild the team and get them into
action for tomorrow night and in a style that will
get them across the line and with the victory.

Speaker 2 (02:16):
Is it going to rain? I only ask because I'm going.

Speaker 1 (02:19):
I believe it is right. I look at the forecast
and it suggests that it's going to rain all day
tomorrow in Auckland, which again we'll post some issues for
the All Blacks. Look, I expect a lot more kicking
from the All Blacks. They need to be smarter with
that stuff than they were last week in Wellington. At
times they kicking looked a lot quite aimless at times.
They need to be better with that. But Argentina under pressure.

(02:40):
But I don't expect it to be a free flowing
game necessary for the All Blacks, and they're going to
have to be a lot tidier with ball in hand
than they were at sky Stadium, and the conditions were
quite still, unusually for Wellington, and the weather was good,
so yeah, I can rain jacket tomorrow evening, Ryan, and
hope hopefully you remain dry.

Speaker 2 (02:58):
Thanks Elliot, Ellie's News Talks Rugby comments. For more from
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Speaker 1 (03:06):
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