Elliott Smith: Newstalk ZB Rugby Commentator ahead of the All Blacks v England clash

The All Blacks have their captain back as they prepare to face England at Twickenham on Sunday morning. 

The English haven’t beaten the All Blacks at the stadium since 2012, and the All Blacks will be looking to continue that streak and keep their current winning streak alive. 

Scott Barrett has been cleared to start after a full week of training as his leg gash healed. 

Newstalk ZB’s Voice of Rugby, Elliott Smith, joined Ryan Bridge to preview the clash.  

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
So the AB's at Twickenham fourteen Sunday morning, our time
for those willing to watch or listen. Of course, Scott
Robertson's men are two from two on tour, but England
haven't lost at home all year. Elliot Smith's Newstalk's MB's
Voice of Rugby with us this morning, Elliott get a
get they right? So bookies are favoring the AB's right.

Speaker 2 (00:19):
Mostly, although I've seen a few up here in England
where they have gone the way of the home team.
So you look at that cut somewhere in the middle
and you probably say it's a toss up game between
these two sides. As you mentioned, England's on a bit
of a tear so far this year nine games unbeaten,
went through the Six Nations after an opening loss, been
through midyear and then on the end of year. At

(00:41):
international so far have posted a couple of wins, including
over the Wallabies, whereas the All Blacks obviously dropped a
couple of games midyear but beat Ireland beat Scotland. So
the bookies sort of saying it's maybe a fraction either way,
but in the middle you probably say it's a fifty
to fifty toss up game.

Speaker 1 (00:58):
Which makes for a great rugby, doesn't it. Now, what
about the back where Scott Robinson's had a bit of
a shuffle out back in Billy, Proctor's starting at center.

Speaker 2 (01:05):
Yeah, calla Clark out with injury. Suffered that head knock
last week at Murrayfield, so he's out and it was
a couple of options that he could have done. He's
moved Leicester fying a knook who out of center into
the left wing where he's played a little bit of
rugby for the All Blacks already this year and primarily
most of his Test careers to Billy. Proctor has come
back in out of the cold to start for the
first time and a few Test matches he's at thirteen.

(01:28):
Simon Parker back into the run on side as well.
In the good news as well, Ryan as that they've
got Scott Barrett back as well after a laceration to
his knee suffered that against Ireland, nasty we gash right
across the top of his knee and he's been training
this week. Had a look at him today on the
training Paddic looks ready to go. He's been named to
return to this All Black side as well for Sunday

(01:48):
Morning New Zealand Time.

Speaker 1 (01:49):
Elliot look forward to you calling on Sunday Morning. Elliot
Smith News Talks headb's Voice of Rugby.

Speaker 2 (01:54):
For more from early edition with Ryan Bridge. Listen live
to News Talks head be from five am, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio