Tony Johnson: Rugby Commentator ahead of the final All Blacks v France match

Unlike last week, the All Blacks team for the final clash against France is filled with changes.  

Ethan de Groot, Fabian Holland, Patrick Tuipulotu, Ardie Savea and Rieko Ioane are the only players remaining from the last run-on side. 

Rugby Commentator Tony Johnson told Andrew Dickens that Scott Robertson and the other selectors certainly fulfilled their promise to be bold with their selection. 

However, he says, that comes with a considerable risk against the French team, who still feel that they can take something out of the series. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
The final All Blacks Test against the French, said FMG
Razors made some major changes to the starting side. The
Barrett brothers are outvoted and Scott are off with injuries.
Geordie's being rested. Damian mackenzie will start at the number
ten Jersey Riven Love will play at fallback in his
second test. Meanwhile, the French are bringing out all their
spares that they had spare. Rubby commentator Toney Johnson joins me, Now,

(00:20):
good morning to you, Tony morning Andrew. So who's going
to win Takapuna or nor Sure?

Speaker 2 (00:27):
Well, I'm a North Cote man, so it doesn't really
matter to me quite so much as it does to you.

Speaker 1 (00:32):
Well, Norshaw's going for the three piece, so there we go.

Speaker 2 (00:34):
Yeah, and they'll be tough to beat them, of course.

Speaker 1 (00:37):
Of course wholesale changes on both sides. Is this Test
going to be a bit loose?

Speaker 2 (00:41):
Well? The All Black selectors or Scott Robertson certainly promised
to be more bold this year and they've been bold
with their selection. But with that comes I think a
considerable risk against the France team that still feel that
they can take something out of this series. They've come
here with a depleted squad, and if they can go
home winning one of the three Tests, I think they'll
have something to go back and say, hey, look we've

(01:03):
achieved something here, so they will be the toughest to bowl.
I think of the three Test matches New Zealand, with
the risks they've taken. As you mentioned the first time,
I think it's only the third time in the last
one hundred and one tests that there are no barretts
in the All Black teams. There's a bunch of leadership
gone and they don't have any specialist cover at lock

(01:25):
when you're going in against a giant, giant French team.
I think that the All Blacks have taken some risks here,
but they're honoring the commitment to give everyone a go
and to be bold.

Speaker 1 (01:35):
Who the hell's going to be our backup first five?
I'm sorry, I can't keep up.

Speaker 2 (01:40):
Well, it'll be Ruben Love. Damien McKenzie's obviously, they'll hope
he'll be there to run the cutter for the whole game.
Ruben Love at fullback. And that's the way they've been
selecting the team. They've been naming cover within the starting fifteen.
They're looking for flexibility, for versatility, and so it's going
to be a big night for Ruben Love. But he's
a talent to play. He's a very brave player. I've

(02:02):
got no doubts about it, mackenzie. This is an opportunity
for him again to prove that he is the guy
that can run the show and be reliable as well
as his normal brilliant self in a test match. He's
got the ideal place to do it, at home, in
front of a packed out stadium, and he's got a
lot of his Chiefs teammates around him. I think that

(02:23):
there's six of them and seven of them in the squad,
which is a record for White Cottle, certainly White Cottle players.
So that's a key area of the game as well.
But look, I think people are excited about Reuben Love
getting the opportunity because he is such a talent.

Speaker 1 (02:40):
I excited about the game I think is going to
be entertaining.

Speaker 2 (02:43):
But how well that era that element of I suppose
slight mystery or uncertainty about it, although I think a
lot of the old stages would rather say why aren't
we putting our number one team out there to complete
a clean sweep? Because they expect the Orbles to win
every single game. He's honoring a commitment.

Speaker 1 (03:01):
Yeah, and how important is this game really on the
large scale of things or is it just sort of
like a science experiment.

Speaker 2 (03:08):
Oh, you hush your mouth. Every test match is important,
isn't it in New Zealand? Yeah, look, are.

Speaker 1 (03:15):
You going to remember there's a World Cup coming up
and you need some depth.

Speaker 2 (03:18):
Well, there's also a massive rugby Championship coming up where
they've got two tests against the spring Box in New Zealand,
so they want to make sure that their players have
all had a taste of it so far and bringing
you know, they've bought successfully some new players and I
think Fabian Holland to me has probably been the most
exciting or encouraging development that we've seen so far in

(03:40):
this season because he's just taken the test rugby like
a duck to water. Just got to hope he let
goes the eighty minutes. But every test match is considered important.
Maybe not so much to France the way they've treated
this tour, but don't worry, they will be. They will
see this as an opportunity to take something from the

(04:01):
series to end on a positive note. Go back with
something to show for it, and so that makes it
me quite a compelling match.

Speaker 1 (04:08):
Got to go, you know the game, and I thank
you so much, Tony Johnson from Sky.

Speaker 2 (04:12):
For more from earlier edition with Ryan Bridge, Listen live
to News Talks it Be from five am weekdays, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio