Elliott Smith: Newstalk ZB Rugby Commentator ahead of the Bledisloe Cup test between the All Blacks and Australia

The All Blacks have got to perform in this weekend’s Eden Park test. 

They’re set to face Australia in the wake of their worst-ever defeat just 12 days ago against South Africa. 

Newstalk ZB’s voice of rugby Elliott Smith told Francesca Rudkin the All Blacks have to turn up, perform, and start finding some consistency. 

He says consistency won’t come soley from tomorrow’s performance, but they need to start laying the building blocks. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Yes, So it's the great showdown between the All Blacks
and the Wallabies this Saturday night in Auckland. The inn
part record is once again on the line and with
the Aussies in top shape, the All Blacks will need
to put on their best performance. There's a few changes
to the side with Ardie Savier's with Ardie Savier taking
the captaincy from Scott Barrett who's been ruled out through injury.
Elliott Smith, the News Talks There to be Rugby commentator

(00:21):
and editor is with us now, Good morning Elliott, Morning
Francisco or there is nothing like an All Blacks team
who have a point to prove. Do you think. I'm
pretty sure that we're going to see quite a different
performance compared to a couple of weeks ago against the
spring Box. How do you expect things to go on
Saturday night?

Speaker 2 (00:37):
Well, you used to be able to expect a bit
of a backlash when the All Blacks were defeated, and
I think that is the the line in the sand.
That's what we expect when the All Blacks are defeated,
that the following match they turn up and they perform
in those things that they got wrong in the previous
match are righted, but we probably haven't seen that enough
in recent times to be able to seduce that that

(00:57):
will be a definite thing that will happen and tomorrow.
So I guess from an All Blacks perspective, they've got
to turn up, they've got to perform, and they've got
to start finding some consistency. And they won't find that
just solely tomorrow night, but they need to lay the
building blocks there. I think that first and foremost is
the main thing is that every team in this competition
has two wins and two losses, and the All Blacks

(01:19):
are one of those sides. But coming off the back
of the heaviest ever defeat, there's an expectation that they
will turn back up and will deliver it. And they've
got to do that come tomorrow afternoon.

Speaker 1 (01:29):
What do you think about team selection? Bit risky.

Speaker 2 (01:32):
I think by and large, you know the changes that
made Cody Taylor comes back and Cambroyguard those are first
choice players. Caleb Clark deserves an opportunity on the wing.
He's bite at this time after coming back from injury,
so that makes sense. So by and large these are changes.
And then Adam Scott Barrett as well. With the injury
that largely are you know, injury and forced or injury returnees.

(01:54):
And when you're bringing in the likes of Cody Taylor
that will stayble lows the line out and you would
think cambroy Gard was heavily missed. I thinking Argentina and
again against South Africa, he's closing and I think on
being one of the best halfbacks in the world. So
we can those two players and I think it instantly
bolsters the All Blacks run on side and then to
Pelozzo and ratam are coming off the bench, add some

(02:14):
more experience there that the All Blacks haven't been able
to call on. So they're getting some cavalry back and
at a time that it as much needed as they
as you said, try to protect this Eden part record,
keep the Blitters Low Cup, which is the only trophy
they've gotten, the cabinet that they need to keep hold of.
So couldn't happen at a bit of time those players
coming back into the mix.

Speaker 1 (02:33):
So that's pretty much what is a stake here for
the All Blakes. What about the coaching the coaches.

Speaker 2 (02:39):
I think they've got a point to prove, don't they absolutely,
and you know pressure comes on them and the scrutiny
that's in there. I know they had a pretty tough
review at the start of the week on Sunday night
around what was expected of the players after that game
in Wellington, but also what was expected of the coaches.
And you know losses, you know they trade in wins coaches,

(02:59):
and when they're not, the eyes come on them. So
Scott Robertson would desperately love a victory and a big
victory to eat some of that pressure valve. But it
only goes so far because if they win tomorrow afternoon
and they've got to back it up again in person.
That consistency is what we're demanding of this All Blacks
team and what has been historically demanded of that all
black team.

Speaker 1 (03:18):
Elliott Smith, as always, thank you so much for your
time this morning. Don't forget join Elliott tomorrow on Goldsport
or news Talks he'd be He is going to be
bringing the game live to you and early kickoff five
oh five.

Speaker 2 (03:32):
For more from early edition with Ryan Bridge. Listen live
to news Talks he'd be from five am weekdays, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.