July 6, 2025 • 49 mins
This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier take a look at the All Blacks' 31-27 win over France in Dunedin to open the year and discuss whether it was underwhelming or whether France's so-called 'B-team' deserve more respect than they'd been given.
We discuss the big key moments of the game, where it was won and what changes, both personnel and tactically wise, are required for game two in Wellington.
We also sweep up the world of rugby news and returning All Blacks second-five Jordie Barrett chats with Liam about his time in Leinster.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks ed B.
Follow this and our Wide Ranger podcast now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Straight down the middle of dry Disco. Try these pocket.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Inside the game from every angle. It's Rugby Direct with
Elliott Smith and Liam Napier, powered by News Talks ed B.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Welcome into rugbytergtown by Excess Solutions, salivating you and your
business to a higher level. Elliott Smith, Liam Napier Back
for another week and the first All Blacks test of
the year in the books, and that will form a
large part of our podcast in this episode, and also
stick around for Liam's chat with Jordy Barrett towards the
(00:59):
end of the podcast about his time over in Leinster
and looking forward to that a bit later on in
the podcast.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
But Liam, let's rip in.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
We'll record holding the Sunday afternoon and so our takes
are fresh in the mind. The All Blacks thirty one
twenty seven winners of course over France. What's your feeling?
You know, just under twenty four hours removed from that performance.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
A lot to reflect on, Eliot. I think first and
foremost first test of the year. Wasn't it very typical
in that regard from the All Blacks twelve months ago
their escape with a very nervy, shaky, tense one point
win over England at the same venue in Dunedan's and
we went down this year for the start of Scott
Robertson's second season at the Helm, and while the context
(01:48):
and the oppositions different, there were a lot of familiarities
in the rustiness in the All Blacks failing to finish
their chances. I think there were some positives in the
individual performances and the attacking shapes. The All Blacks scored
four tris had three denied by the TMO, but I
(02:09):
think given the context around France and we can dive
into everything around that, I expected a lot.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
More fair to say, the All Blacks didn't deliver perhaps
what was expected, and like you, there was some positive
moments there and I felt they were one try away potentially.
You know, it was twenty eight, twenty seven, with half
an hour ago still, but it still felt like the
All Blacks were on top and one try might have
been enough to have the French surrender. Essentially for the
(02:40):
night that didn't obviously happen in the game was right
until the balance, until the final whistle.
Speaker 5 (02:46):
Attack.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
I think buying large work pretty good. There were three
tries denied, obviously for minor errors. You can quibble over those,
and we might do it in a moment or two.
But I think the attack showed some promising signs. The
defense less so, and I think that's a major worry
ahead of the week. It felt like the All Blacks
(03:07):
had to work harder for their point than the French did. Now,
the French couldn't always score and the All Blacks couldn't
always score, but it felt like the French tries came
a little bit easier, some buttoned off defense, especially early
in the second spell when France got back to twenty
one to twenty minute or two into the second half.
The All Blacks were making France work hard enough when
(03:28):
they did get those rare opportunities in the twenty two
and I was checking the stats, so the All Blacks
had thirteen twenty two meter entries in the French red
zone and average two point three points on return from that.
The French had just five entries but average four point
eight points, so essentially a try on the five occasions
they entered the twenty two. So that tells a little
(03:48):
bit of a story that All Blacks are only able
to execute half as well in the twenty two as
the French, so defense needs to be a focus as
the head to skuy Stadium this week.
Speaker 6 (03:58):
It doesn't.
Speaker 4 (03:59):
Just picking up further on those stats, I think the
All Blacks made something like eleven line breaks to three,
and they had something like two hundred and fifty more
post content meters, which is quite staggerant. It was four
hundred to one hundred and sixty odd, so extremely dominant.
They had so much ball and territory in the second
half and that was reflected in those tries that were denied,
(04:24):
in particular Billy Proctor's touch and go seen those given before.
The obstruction was an absolute nonsense. I think Pasilio Toossi
does make contact, but there's no way that defender gets
on the outside and he's barely impeded, So I think
that was over zealous officiating. Just I think it's important
(04:44):
to stop and look at the lens with which we
view this game and the context, and that's predominantly about
the French here. France has one of, if not the
best domestic competitions in the world in the top fourteen.
They have clearly have very good strength and depth and talents.
You only have to look at the fullback. I won't
(05:04):
try and say his name, Tay to thank you bon soir.
He's twenty years old, eighty four kg. What a talent,
blitz bully propped on the outside to set up the
French opening try and he's not even like an out
and out fallback in his in his day job. But
(05:25):
this French team had one genuine starter in Gaelficku. And
there was a lot of chat previous game about the
players that France had left at home and that's all
very relevant even now. Yes, they performed a lot better
than we expected, but it is a second string b
French side.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
But what well, yes it was a second string French side,
But we're the media. Were we too harsh on what
we expected? Because second string doesn't automatically mean a major
drop off. You know a lot of these French players
have been playing, as you said, in the top fourteen
for a number of years. You see not the first pick,
but is there much difference between Grigory Oldriet at number
eight in a Michel Guillar at number eight. We last
(06:06):
night some of these elections, these players have been around
the French camp for a number of years. They haven't
had a lot of opportunity us. There were five debutants
and the run on side and three on the bench
last night, but a lot of these players probably haven't
been far from the international stage for it for a
number of years, and perhaps there shows the depth at
the top fourteen have and maybe not enough respect was
given to that.
Speaker 4 (06:27):
Yeah, I think that's a fair point. Maybe we in
the media particularly underestimated them. I think that's a fair point,
but it doesn't detract from the fact that the vast
majority of France's first choice squad are not here, and
so that's the lens with which you view this all
black performance, I think from my perspective anyway, and why
I expected so much more so, Yes, I was guilty
(06:51):
of underestimating the French i'bstinately not alone there and they
surpassed expectations and the All Blacks didn't meet those And
you touched on the defense, but there were other areas
that were badly exposed under the high ball, particularly in
the first half, and we'll talk about a bit later,
but it was it's something that is an issue when
he's on rugby because it's not something that we here
(07:14):
are overly exposed to before the international scene. The Mauldi
or Blacks had a real tough time of it against
Scotland and Funga Ay and so it's a common theme
and it is an issue when you're only selecting two
specialist wingers in your squad, and that will touch on
that further when we look at sev Reese's absence going
(07:35):
into Wellington. The breakdown as well, the All Blacks conceded.
I think it's sixteen turnovers to six. They didn't all
come at the breakdown. That's handling errors and whatnot as well.
But I thought the All Blacks were quite slow to
the punch. Can re Reguard I thought played really well,
but he was under pressure a lot. He ran a
lot because he had to because France were attacking the breakdown,
(07:57):
putting on massive pressure there and he wasn't quite able
to wait at the ruck.
Speaker 6 (08:03):
He didn't have that time.
Speaker 4 (08:05):
So there's a few key areas to work on before
we even look at individuals.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
If you look at a lot of the stats, the
All Blacks should have won and won comfortably. And we
talked about the defense as to reason why they didn't.
That was one of the stats that doesn't align with
their performance in that game last night. They forced the
French to make one hundred more tackles than the All
Blacks had to do themselves, two hundred and twenty versus
one hundred and twenty. They forced the French to do
(08:30):
a lot of work. And yet you know, and then
you look another stat the penalty is considered nine to three.
The discipline's outstanding last night, buying large from an All
Blacks perspective.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
So you're right.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
You have to look through the prism of this French
team and perhaps the All Blacks as well, is that
we know this slow starters. They've only had ten days,
you know, if that in camp together. But it seems
to be a common theme now that the All Blacks
have in this mind of their blueprint that they want
to play with, but something's just letting them down. They're
not quite able to click into it when they need
(09:03):
it most.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
Yeah, and there is a positive lens you can view
it through that they are creating chant that they scored
seven tries. Now two of those were probably rightly ruled out,
but they are creating a lot and it was quite
a lot to like from my perspective about the dynamic
of Boden first five McKenzie at fullback and Will Jordan
(09:26):
on the right wing mat as a really potent, dynamic,
creative force. And Damien does seem like a waste almost
to leave on the bench. I thought he when he
made some scything runs from the backfield. Boden was largely
very good, some beautiful tip on pass. Some of his
(09:47):
kicking was a weaver in accurate.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Was that one for a touch?
Speaker 4 (09:50):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (09:50):
And the little.
Speaker 4 (09:53):
Grubbers through didn't always come off, but the intent was there.
And Will Jordan scored two tries shifting out to the wing,
could have would have probably should have had three. So
those three players really stood up. So they're creating a lot.
But this is this was the major focus from the
All Blacks, wasn't it that they wanted to come into
this year have a much greater accuracy and they're finishing
(10:15):
to nail their chances to put teams away.
Speaker 6 (10:18):
And they didn't do that.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
It felt like they played fast and that created some
of those eras, and that's probably always going to happen.
When you play fast, there will be eras. There as well.
France wanted to slow it down. France looked quite tired,
I thought around the half hour mark, and then halftime
became at a pretty good time for them. Managed to regroup,
got some players on the park, some new players around
the right time, probably pulled the trigger earlier than maybe
(10:40):
they would have usually and kick themselves into the contest,
which I thought was pretty smart coaching from Fabian Gualtier,
just to manage some of those players a little bit.
As you know, the tiring bodies came through. So I
think the French handled that game smartly. And look they
got into the closing stages and it was thirty one
to twenty seven. They were on attack inside the All
(11:02):
Blacks twenty two and looking rather threatening and they cough
up the ball and that's the game done there but cheap,
as we could be talking about in All Blacks loss. Really,
if something a bit different in that last couple of minutes.
Speaker 4 (11:15):
Well the French shouldn't have been within touching distance. The
All Blacks should have put them away. And that's what
we need to see, that ruthless edge from this All
Black team, and they yet to display it. Maybe that's
because it's their first Test of the year, but that
is their major focus. I agree the French got some
real pay off the bench when they injected what was
it like, five forwards all at once and they scored
(11:40):
a try not long after that. Interested in your take
on the All Blacks bench. As you mentioned, there was
one point in that game. For the best part of
twenty thirty minutes in that second half, very low scoring
second half, the All Blacks needed Boden Barratt's penalty to
edge them home, an elate Scrumb penalty proving decisive. And
(12:01):
when you stop and look at who was in that pack,
it's very an experience with Takyaho, Fabian Holland and Olie
Norris on de Boo du See Karefi on deboo. So
there was a big win in that moment for some
young players. What about the bench as a whole. Did
Deal Blacks get what they want?
Speaker 2 (12:21):
No?
Speaker 3 (12:21):
I don't think they did get what they needed from
the Benjamin McKenzie had to come on early, so that
automatically sort of shuffles things around around. You know, last
thirty impact that you might get from Damien McKenzie because
he had to play eighty sorry, seventy nine minutes. In
the end, I thought Tokyo was tidy without being too spectacular. Clearly,
Cody Taylor is the best hooker that their team's gone.
(12:42):
I thought he was very, very good in his time
on the park. Female I thought was rather anonymous when
he came on. He came on early for Scott Barrett
around the fifty seven minute mark, could I thought, try
his hard out on his time on the field. I
was actually quite impressed by what he was able to
do in the twenty god minutes that he got. So
there were some promising signs there, but it felt you know,
(13:05):
Takeyahu and Tupai hadn't played test level, you know, takeyos
and World Cup to by three years. It felt like
that felt like it. You know, they felt like they
were just a little bit slow to the punch in
terms of their test match intensity. And You'll said, you know,
a couple of debutants on there, so give them a
week to sell and potentially change it in then you
(13:25):
know it may be a little bit different.
Speaker 4 (13:28):
I think the composition of that of their benches was
not right. You need some experience. Guys like a Patrick
two Polotu coming on would make a big difference.
Speaker 3 (13:37):
But do you know, I see what they're going for
in terms of the two loose forwards and the explosiveness
of female and Kadifi in particular, and they had three
locks in the starting side.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
What would too POLITI have added.
Speaker 4 (13:49):
Well, I think we disagree on this, but I don't
see to provide as a long term six. I didn't
see enough out of him at the weekend. It's not
a knock on him. He tried hard, he scored that try.
Speaker 5 (14:04):
He was.
Speaker 6 (14:07):
Prevalent on All Blacks ball.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
But I don't think the All Black's got the pay
they were looking for in terms of lineout steals for
having three locks. I think his he to me, just
doesn't look like a six. He's too tall, he doesn't
quite have the speed to the breakdown. I think that
contributed to the All Black struggles at the breakdown as well.
So I would be more traditional and have two locks,
(14:33):
find another six and have a toy below to or
a Holland coming off the bench.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
I'm not overly sold on it as yet, but I
am keen to see how it plays out, and I
think it's worthy of sticking again. I think the All
Blacks mister trick by not attacking the French lineout too often.
I got penalized once for going across and so that
didn't necessarily work. But I don't know on the basis
of what we saw last night that it's worth completely
(15:03):
writing off. There's a lot of work to do to
provide in that role, and it's it's a different role
to lock Well.
Speaker 4 (15:10):
That's one point I'd make is that I feel for
him because he was, if not the best, right up
there with Stizi last year as the All Black's best performer.
He outperformed Scott Barrett's Scott Barrett his injury troubles and formed.
But tupu v was so consistent from South Africa and
then he carried that through to the Chiefs and then
(15:31):
he comes into the All Blacks environment and he's got
ten days to become a blindside flanker.
Speaker 6 (15:35):
So it's a big ask.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
It is a big ask. I think it's worth sticking
with for at least another test. And you mentioned his height.
He's only two centimeters taller than during Cana, so you know,
similar frame potentially to one of the greatest to wear
the All Blacks number six.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
Tusey.
Speaker 4 (15:53):
Yeah, I'm just of a mind that some of Penny
female make a decision on him. What are you going
to learn bringing him off the bench for fifteen minutes stardom,
give him a crack, let's find out whether he's there
or not.
Speaker 3 (16:04):
Yeah, I take your point on that, but I also
think you've got to have a bench strategy, and so
he's your bench guy, then you know they've got to
fix the bench from because they've talked about it. They
threw away some leads last year. So do your pigeonhole
him as as a bench guy or do you start him?
And if they see that as the path to fixing
(16:27):
the bench by having Foena come on for twenty five
to thirty minutes at the end and you know being
able to you know not with stuffing out of opposition
tens and various things, is that the better corridor for
him to play and then starting and playing fifty minutes
at the front of the match.
Speaker 6 (16:42):
I'd prefer him starting and find out about him.
Speaker 4 (16:45):
Now, just one other point I want to touch on,
which I think has been a bit lost, maybe glossed
over to me. It was very clear that the All
blacksmissed to Mighty Williams and Tyrell Lomax, and that's not
from a scrummaging perspective. Fletcher Newell and Ethan the Grew
are great scrummagers, but there were a couple of times
it was very noticeable their comparative clunkiness with those soft
(17:09):
hand back door plays that the All Blacks love to
create space for their playmakers. It's not really in their
repertoire a new or a degree and to Mighty Williams
and Tyrol Lomax are far superior in that regard. So
it really did stand out to me those two guys'
absence in particularly Yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:29):
I agree, and sort of went under the radar a
bit letting into the match that Lomax had been ruled
out with a calf injury, which is apparently week to week.
Obviously we knew to Mighty Williams had been ruled out
at the start of last week before we recorded that podcast,
but that sort of went under the radar given the
four debutantes and the tub of Ice shift in the
Rico U Warne shift. Wood brings me to the Rico
(17:50):
Varney shift to the left wing Billy Proctor at center. Rico,
you only made the most line bracks out of the
All Blacks in that game last night in Dnedon. Jury's
still out on him. I think jury is still out
on Billy Proctor at center. Bad miss for the first
French try attackle Wise, it's a couple of times at
Testleville now he's been left on the outside and been burned.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
I can't really so much more than jury still out,
which applies to a lot of the scenarios in this team.
Speaker 4 (18:20):
I agree about Billy, which is disappointing because he has
waited a long time for that chance and I think
they do need to persevere with it, give him another crack.
He had some good moments, but it wasn't his best Test,
wasn't his best game, and that's probably the reflection of
the step up from Super rugby to Test rugby and
(18:40):
his lack of experience. And I think a knock on
the All Blacks coaches for not giving him more opportunities
last year. I know he wasn't on the India tour
because he and his partner welcomed their baby, but earlier
in the year they had they had opportunities and so
they have stunted his development. So I would give him
another crack and en Rico. It didn't really work for me.
(19:05):
And there was one moment which really stood out, and
that was when well a, I didn't see him contest
one kick and he wasn't alone in that regard, but
it was noticeable him going back to the wing for
his first test there, his first.
Speaker 6 (19:20):
Game there in three years.
Speaker 4 (19:23):
When Roygarb put up box kicks or anyone, Rico seemed
quite reluctant to get off the ground and can test
the ball. And maybe that's just because he hasn't really
done it in recent times, but so's one moment. Boden
Barratts is near the All Blacks twenty two and he
puts in a little dinky chip and it wasn't perfect,
but Rico just sort of looked at it and didn't
(19:45):
really make an effort to run and chase it down.
And I was half expecting Boden to give him a
bit of a spray for not doing that, and there
was a bit of a look of confusion, and yeah,
RecA made a couple of handling eras the one glaring
one after the second half restart that directly led to
a French try and one of those line breaks he's
(20:05):
gone through and while it was a tough path if
he had to throw on a long ball out to
his right hand side, Will Jordan was marked. So yeah,
jury very much out. I expect you Rico to go
back to the wing and flourish and he didn't.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
Well, he talk with the game on social media with
the compilation of his greatest triers at eleven and look,
I love that. I think it's great for the game,
I really really do. But probably just didn't quite get
to the heights that he needed to on the pitch
in that jersey. One other thing before we leave the game,
and it's the TMO interference, And we are getting to
(20:45):
the point now where clearly the referees have been told
that they need to really comb through everything for each tribe.
But the message hasn't got through to World Rugby that
this is absolutely ruining the spectacle as a sport. Whether
the decisions are right or wrong, I couldn't really care less.
(21:08):
It is detracting from an entertainment product. And that is
the point that World Rugby doesn't seem to get through
their heads that interruptions and games are not fun for anyone.
No one wants to see three blokes in green jerseys
or whatever they're weiring last night looking at footage on
a big screen.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
This isn't a jury trial.
Speaker 3 (21:29):
This is an entertainment product, and World Rugby seems to
have basically washed its hands because they're so fearful of
lawsuits up north. Now, last night wasn't about head knocks
or anything like that. It was about tries and we've
just let this charade go on too long around basically
having the TMO given too much power in the game,
and World Rugby has let it get out of control
(21:49):
and they don't seem interested in fixing it. And I
didn't see a lot of the wartars Lines game last night.
I sattle bits of it, caught up a few highlights,
but it was a blight on that game as well.
And the is becoming I've seen this on the podcast
before and people are probably sick of it, but the
TMO is becoming a blight on the international sport.
Speaker 7 (22:05):
It is, and.
Speaker 4 (22:09):
It just needs to come in when it's absolutely blatantly
obvious and necessary, because it really does stop the spectacle
for three to five minutes every time, and it just
sucks the wind out of the contest, out of the atmosphere,
and the other point to make is at the venue
in to needing. None of the decisions or the decision
(22:30):
making process was explained, and that needs to be audible
for the crowd. It's not good enough that it's just
broadcast to the TV audience. These are people that pay
good money to come to the venue. You want people
there and the clueless as to what's going on.
Speaker 3 (22:48):
Say what you like about Super Rugby, but they've tightened
it up to the point where it's entertainment first, it's
product first, and then according to our quality Greg Apaul. Basically,
the Super Raby officials were told in a conference called
before the semi finals by Joel Jut the World rug
we are free that they needed to be on the
lookout for more things and that's why you saw more
cards in the playoffs. So we're getting to the point
(23:10):
where Super Ruby's puttingentertainment first. World Rugby is putting its
rule book first and the precision first. And you are
never going to win new fans by that World Rugby
talks about, you know, getting USA getting into other markets. Well,
if that's your show piece product, then you're sorely, sorely
lacking and I just do not see them interested in
fixing it and it's just absolutely doing my heaven to
(23:33):
be quite honest, the way that Test rugby is officiated.
Speaker 4 (23:37):
Now, yeah, I think you need to put the power
in the officials on the field and there's a responsibility
that goes then to the fan and media and everyone
to accept that there is going to be some mistakes.
Speaker 3 (23:51):
Yeah, absolutely, and I think people yeah, yeah, you talk
about wrong referring decision, that's part of the game and
you're still getting things wrong at TMI level. We're debating
whether that abstruction will was correct. Last night the assistant referee,
Christoph Ridley of England disagreed with what Nick Barry was
seeing on the screen. So did we get a perfect
(24:13):
call there, No, we didn't. The TMOS come down and
said it substruction, but we're still disagreeing over it. So
we're adding a fourth set of eyes by something that
wasn't captured by three set of eyes on the park.
It wasn't clear and obvious, so it just it was
cleared by Nick Berry, I think on the park and
he said it was fine with it. Get shown some
evidence of the big screen changes his mind. But we're
(24:36):
adding more sets of eyes in the game's getting worse,
so I really don't know what to think. Let's stop
talking about it because I'm get skinned for you annoyed
changes for this week the third Test, sorry, second Test,
getting hit myself in Wellington, sever Us will not be there,
Scott Barrett has and Achilles issued not sure whether it's
serious or not. We'll probably find out Monday Tuesday as
(24:58):
to that, or maybe Thursday when the team is named.
So first and foremost, who you're putting on the right
wing in place of sever Res.
Speaker 4 (25:07):
I'm sticking well with what we saw for seventy nine minutes.
I'd put Jordan to the wing and I'd have Damien
McKenzie at fullback. I quite like that combination. I think
it's got a lot of strike and Jordan is very
good in the air, and France are going to kick
a lot again, that's them, o they That's how they play.
(25:30):
So whoever you pick on the wing is going to
be peppered with kicks. So if you're looking at some
of the other options are a lot more risky. Rico
Owani and Caleb Clark are almost exclusively left wingers. Ruben
Love has played ten minutes of Test rugby on the
wing and is quite short, and that's a risk and
(25:55):
amani that I would love to see get a crack,
but he's in the squad as injury cover, so I
don't see them going that way.
Speaker 6 (26:03):
What do you reckon?
Speaker 3 (26:04):
I suspect you're probably right. Look, I would love to
see Reubin Love get a crack on the right wing.
I do think he's got the attributes to be a
test make sing. You are right, he is short, but
I think he has the pace and the ability to
do that. But it would be a big risk to
do it, because Scott Robinson said at the media conference
last night was it was you know, we've seen the
(26:26):
way they play. There wasn't a lot of innovation. Put
it that way. They were clearly kicking a lot. You
wouldn't expect to change that too much for test too.
So I suspect you're probably right, but I would like
to see Ruben Love getting go.
Speaker 6 (26:39):
Regardless of who starts on the right.
Speaker 4 (26:40):
I'd be starting Caleb Clark on the left because he
is your best winger in the air and so that's
one very easy fix. And yeah, yeah, he didn't have
a good a great Super Rugby campaign. Some of that's
down to the Blues and their style. Didn't score a try,
but they put faith in them. He's one of two
specialist wingers in the squad and I'd give him a crack.
Speaker 3 (27:03):
Okay, we'll take a break here on Rugby Dick come
back with the second half of the podcast after this
could to save our friends SAT Access solutions.
Speaker 1 (27:11):
This is Rugby Direct, a podcast for real rugby fans.
Speaker 3 (27:18):
Try try and sixty sec every tackle, Get up again?
Speaker 2 (27:25):
Take him before a times.
Speaker 5 (27:26):
It's Rugby Direct.
Speaker 1 (27:28):
Badies talks to me.
Speaker 3 (27:31):
You're back with Rugby Direct. Time now for the second
half of the podcast. Stick around as well. Jordy Barrett's
Limbs interview with him coming along very shortly as well.
First and foremost results for the year. There's thirteen tests
for the All Blacks. They've got one on the board.
So how many wins do they end with? How many losses?
Speaker 4 (27:50):
I'm going to say they win eleven Elliotts. It's a
tougher schedule than many All Black fans would probably perceive.
Straight off the baut I think there'd be an expectation
that the All Blacks will go to Argentina and do
that reasonably comfortably I think the context of that tour
has changed in recent years that the Pumas are a
(28:11):
team that.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
Have knocked off not England this morning.
Speaker 4 (28:14):
No, no, the Pomaers did make a few changes blooded
a few rookies in that game as well. But the
Pumers have knocked off the Wallabies, the Spring Box, the
All Blacks, England and the British and Irish Lions, so
that they are they are a real team and it
will be a tough tour. I can see the All
Blacks going one on one with the Box in New
Zealand's I think maybe when I eaton Park maybe losing.
Speaker 2 (28:37):
Wellings Yeah be new, wouldn't it?
Speaker 4 (28:41):
And I will back the All Blacks to get better
throughout the year and I think they can go unbeaten
on the Northern tour.
Speaker 3 (28:50):
I have the same school line, the same yeah, eleven
and two. I think for the year. The loss I
think comes against South Africa and you know what, I
think they might actually drop the Wallabies test potentially maybe
in Perth.
Speaker 2 (29:09):
This year.
Speaker 3 (29:11):
The reasoning for that is they played the first game
at eden Park, Blitzslow Cup might be safe by that
point go over to Perth. They've lost there before, That's
what I've got at this point. South African Waraby's which
you know there could be more, but it is a
tricky year in Argentina is an interesting one, isn't it
because there is almost the final frontier for this Argentina
(29:31):
team in terms of outside of a World Cup, you know,
beating the All Blacks on their home you know, on
Argentina's home soil. They've managed to do it in Australia once,
in New Zealand twice. There was a lot of expectation
maybe in twenty twenty three that they could do it
there the All Blacks boom off the park. A couple
of track, tricky tests you know for the All Blacks
(29:52):
and building Argentina team under flippecontopomy, could happen.
Speaker 6 (29:57):
Could happen?
Speaker 4 (29:58):
Yeah, the Poops probably struggle with expectation, don't they. They're
a motive beast and that probably doesn't help them at home,
but it will certainly be right up there for them
in terms of make or break of the year. And yeah,
the All Blacks have the capacity to be complacent against
the Wallabies when you look at their test calendar and
(30:20):
what they want to achieve, a Grand Slam, defending Eden Park,
going to Argentina and maintaining your being status over there.
Winning the bledders Low is important, but the Wallaby's.
Speaker 5 (30:34):
Given the or.
Speaker 4 (30:35):
Black's recent record, I think, yeah, there is real risk
in that there's.
Speaker 3 (30:39):
Me on top or two in the final four. Was
certainly a busy weekend of rugby around the rest of
the globe. We had the Maldi All Blacks and Action,
the Black Friends Black Fans fifteen. We've had the aforementioned
Argentina England game. We had Japan continuing Wales losing street.
I think last week you see that Wales would have
anyone left on the.
Speaker 6 (31:00):
I need to make an apology, public apology to.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
Wales because I think they've still got one two.
Speaker 3 (31:08):
Yeah, the open side, Yeah, Jack Morgan, Well they couldn't
win in Japan.
Speaker 6 (31:13):
No eighteen losses in a row looking good.
Speaker 3 (31:18):
What's stood out, I guess from the rest of the
Wartor is pushing the British and Irish lines of the
fifteen to one outsiders at the tab. There's a lot
to catch up on in the last twenty four hours.
Didn't see a great deal of it, but what stood
out to you results.
Speaker 4 (31:29):
Was, Yeah, the black Fern said the undersquad trial didn't
catch a lot of that on a very busy Saturday
saw but some pieces of the Mauldy All Blacks in
between walking a foresyth bar that was quite an engrossing
encounter went eighty five minutes and a surprise results because
that Scotland team's missing eight players with the British and
(31:51):
Irish lines and it's probably a game that the Mouldy
All Blacks.
Speaker 6 (31:54):
Should have won. And really bad finish to that game.
Speaker 4 (31:59):
They Scotland went down one man, they had two or
three rolling all opportunities and just blew it and really
struggled under the highball as I mentioned earlier.
Speaker 6 (32:09):
So yeah, big ups to Scotland.
Speaker 4 (32:11):
There was a great result for a development team that
Gregor towns ends is brought out here.
Speaker 5 (32:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (32:18):
I think that the WATA surprised didn't see them being
that competitive, but I wouldn't read too much into that
in the context of the lines story though.
Speaker 5 (32:26):
No.
Speaker 3 (32:27):
Yeah, the Motorle Week's definitely struggle around the high ball,
including t K Howden. I don't know if you saw
quit up with this, but yeah Rivers Rayharnah with the
clearing crossfield bomb from inside his ingole that didn't really
go any weird tk hout and smacks it dead, which
of course you cannot do yellow carded. So yeah, it
wasn't the best in the Maldi All Blacks and that's
the end of their season. You know, two games, one
(32:48):
in Japan, one in Scotland. They're in a trickle.
Speaker 2 (32:52):
Player excuse me. The Mauldi All Blacks as well.
Speaker 3 (32:53):
I know they want more international fextures, but they're very
much consigned to playing Japan and you know, weakend tourading teams.
It'd be great to have them part of the Pacific
Nations Cup, for example against Fiji and some more and
things like that, but sort of hasn't quite happened for
them as yet.
Speaker 2 (33:11):
Topic three.
Speaker 3 (33:12):
Interesting comment in the Godt that we're musing over in
one of the local cafes, Vocal Street Kitchen, which very
very good reading Hayden Mikaels, Colin and the oly T
on a Saturday saying that he suspects that Daneeda may
not get another test for the next three years, so
back until twenty twenty eight and you go cheapest three years.
But when you break it down, there is a possibility
(33:35):
Liam that they don't get a test rug test game
for the next three years. There'll be four test matches
at home from our understanding, our reporting next year with
the to be confirmed it is happening. South Arien too
be three in the nation's cut window in July. Then
a blue islow so christ Church comes online next year,
(33:56):
Auckland will get at least one, maybe two. Where does
the other one go? Does it go to Wellington? Does
it go to Dunedin, does it go to Hamilton? Real
squeeze on there. And then twenty twenty seven there's probably
going to be only two home tests before the Rugby
World Cup, so that does leave twenty twenty eight. So
hater meekle might be right there and that'd be a
real shame for Dunedin if it is the case.
Speaker 4 (34:17):
It would indeed, because I'm going to steal your line
here that that Dunedin is one of the last true
New Zealand test cities. You know, being there this week
it is clear how much it means having the all
Blacks in town. All the shop windows have got go
all Blacks written in tape. Flags are displayed prominently. Merchandise,
you know, the Octagon and Emerson Spury is packed on
(34:40):
game day. I have no doubt it brings an immense
amount to the local economy and the Test was sold
out long in advance despite all the noise around the
status of this French team. But yeah, you're right that
the squeeze is on and the new christ Stadium is
going to be a destination by all accounts.
Speaker 6 (34:59):
It's a head to schedule.
Speaker 4 (35:00):
It's going to be a great venue for concerts and
sporting fixtures alike. So fortunately for Dunedin, I think, yeah,
they are going to miss out because one of the
big issues of Dunedin is accommodation as well.
Speaker 6 (35:13):
It's quite a small city.
Speaker 3 (35:15):
It certainly is, so you need to figure out for
Dunedin some more accommodation Christ which she's got plenty more
coming online with that stadium as well. So if there's
something that Dunedin's gonna have to figure out and until then,
well they're going to have to perhaps, I guess, take
what they're given. And there is a small schedule and
you think of that after this year, the All Blacks
have maybe only got sick, have only got six home
(35:36):
tests before the World Cup, barring it in the extras
in the lead up to twenty twenty seven, which could
well happen given it as an Australia they could play
your home game before they go to Australia at some point,
so maybe an extra one there and top.
Speaker 2 (35:49):
Of number four and the final four.
Speaker 3 (35:51):
Good story from our colleague Rob van ryin around Rob
Henny re signing. Perhaps not a surprise given he decided
to basically straight batts and to you see he wouldn't
go anywhere else and everything like that, But sounds like
he's sticking around for at least one more see at
the Crusaders. But there is some other movement as well.
You want to need more none who on the move
(36:13):
potentially back to the Blues. Is that the rumor doing
the rounds leam, I guess your action to both of
those pieces and.
Speaker 4 (36:19):
Use Yeah, it's not often you win a championship and
get turfed out, is it. Verncotta was re signed for
a further year, staying on for two so three all
up with the Blues and yeah, but what a turn
of events for Rob Penny. You know, you and I
(36:40):
and many others were calling for him to be turfed
out after the low of twenty twenty four and gets
a few players back and hangs tough and wins the
title and interesting to see how long he sticks around
for and what the succession plan is there. But yeah,
hopefully they can do a Blues and crash out next
(37:02):
to here.
Speaker 3 (37:03):
Thanks for your optimism on that front. You wanted more
not who as well going to Blues and.
Speaker 4 (37:07):
A great up for the Blues, And it does make
sense he's stuck behind Taylor and George Bell.
Speaker 3 (37:11):
Yeah, there's a bit of oiled in the runs that
Bradley Slater might be on the way back up as well,
a way up rather to Auckland.
Speaker 2 (37:18):
I don't add to the Blues.
Speaker 3 (37:19):
I don't know how that shack and down that was
doing the rounds a couple of months ago now, haven't
checked in on that. But Stanley Solomon as well im
pressa player in the under twenties. You'd think would be
naturally fitting for the Hurricanes. He's from that region, but
maybe not.
Speaker 4 (37:32):
Yeah, it sounds like Jamie Joseph swooped there to pick
him up for the Highlanders, which would be a good pickup.
And it sort of fits the Honders brief targeting young
guys and giving them opportunities. Stanley Solomon's a guy that's
stuck behind Reuben Love and Brit Cameron and many others
who's the Hawks Bay first five have got injured god
(37:54):
Free Godfree and so has passed blocked essentially at the Hurricanes,
he can play wing, fall back and first five. So yeah,
it would be a good pickup for the Honders and
our friend that we saw in Toned and Pool Cully,
I'm sure it's give him some advice and welcome with
(38:16):
open arms.
Speaker 3 (38:17):
I'm sure he would do that absolutely absolutely. Excuse me,
has been very long week, quite tired. That'll do us
for another week on Rugby Direct. But before we go,
you caught up with Jordy Barrett, fresh back home back
in the All Blacks Jersey after his time in Leinster.
Speaker 2 (38:34):
Let's hear that chat now.
Speaker 5 (38:35):
Yeah, right just before December and left. There was a
late late June, so that was great.
Speaker 4 (38:43):
Was it everything you expected anticipated? Because I guess it
was quite turriblizing because when you talk about sabbaticals, most
players previously had largely gone to Japan and you obviously
set your sights on Leinster and it was it everything
you hoped and dreamed.
Speaker 7 (39:01):
Yeah, that's to be honest, I didn't really know what
to expect. Yeah, as you alluded to, before me had
done it for quite some time. I think Dan was
the last when he went to Perpignon, but no one
had really gone for an Irish experience or a Lenk
stuff for that matter.
Speaker 5 (39:19):
So yeah, I was, I guess walking down to the.
Speaker 7 (39:24):
Deep water for a bit at the start, But in
terms of as an experience as a whole, it exceeded
my I guess the expectation and what I wanted to
get out of it, which was great. It doesn't always
happen that way. I mean, it was available body wise
the whole time, was there and and I mean although
(39:48):
I didn't get what we wanted in Europe when in
the UC and some silverware was great.
Speaker 6 (39:56):
Links the had in one silverware for a number.
Speaker 5 (39:58):
Of years now with the squad and coaches I've.
Speaker 4 (40:01):
Had, So that was pleasing your real student of the game, right,
that was a big part of going Yeah, yeah, it
would have taken from from a rugby point of view,
from stylesfer coaching players arenas.
Speaker 7 (40:15):
Yes, Yeah, like you said, it's not just one thing
pretty much learning through experience. I mean, one week you
can be playing in LaRochelle in the European Cup match
sold out in January, freezing cold, and then a couple
of weeks later you might be heading to Pretoria for
(40:36):
the u r C and then your back home again
in an Irish derby.
Speaker 5 (40:43):
Against Munster.
Speaker 7 (40:44):
So the game and the dynamic can change so quickly,
So the team has to adapt to different conditions, different
time of the year, different referees in different styles, and ultimately,
like the UC starts in September I think, and finishes
(41:05):
in June, so you've got to be playing your best
rugby later on in the air.
Speaker 5 (41:08):
So it's a bit of the mouth on.
Speaker 8 (41:11):
What are some of the things specifically I guess that
you can take away from and bring back here. I
think believe preference.
Speaker 4 (41:17):
Before the defensive line speeds. You know, you've always had
the tactical mind to your game, but what nuggets of
gold or things will you bring home is and add
to your as well.
Speaker 7 (41:32):
Yeah, individually, I think like walking into a different environment
and chatting to.
Speaker 9 (41:39):
Different coaches, different players and trying to I guess, to
gather a different understanding of playing the game, a way
of thinking, a way of preparing.
Speaker 5 (41:50):
And challenging yourself and.
Speaker 7 (41:53):
There are some things that I would have left at
the door and the other things that I really took
on from other players, And I guess like leaving, I
feel like I got a better understanding of my own
game and broader understanding the game of rugby, but in
some ways almost refining that and working out what's importance
(42:13):
and what's nelton what.
Speaker 5 (42:16):
I guess equates to performing well on the weekend and
getting your team across the line.
Speaker 4 (42:21):
Do you think you know they're a punta who knows
anything different about the way you play?
Speaker 5 (42:27):
Yeah, I'm not sure, hopefully. I mean.
Speaker 7 (42:32):
It's different because I'm walking into a team now where
you know you've just got to do your job. There's
fourteen other world class players on the field, and maybe
at Leinster at different times of the year you lose
the international guys and you're playing with ten twelve academy
(42:53):
boys and.
Speaker 5 (42:55):
You might have a bigger role to play.
Speaker 7 (42:57):
There's an expectation there to perform and take on a
whole lot more load, whereas in here.
Speaker 5 (43:02):
You just got to do your job and do it well.
Speaker 7 (43:05):
So in some ways, coming back in here, I've just
got to narrow my focus and pretty much just try
and nail what I can.
Speaker 5 (43:13):
Obviously bring a real physical edge.
Speaker 7 (43:15):
That's something I'm going to look to try to do
this year, coming back from Leinster and being under Jark
and bit of South African influence, and yeah, just trying
to nail all those individual sorry not individual, those one
on one moments in a game where you might have
forty of them, whether it's a ball carrier breakdown at
tack where you got so many chances to influence a game,
(43:38):
and just trying to win as many as those as
I can.
Speaker 4 (43:40):
I mentioned Jack, what about I guess others who had
an impression on you, contributed to something to your Leinster
players or coaches or.
Speaker 5 (43:50):
Yeahler, Tyler Blandel.
Speaker 7 (43:52):
I've been very lucky to be coached by Tyler since
he moved back from Ireland and joined the Canes. And yeah,
coincidentally he moved to Leinster last year, and his game
understanding and his ability to get a team to attack
and strike off set pieces great and I mean in
(44:15):
the last yeah, I guess how many maybe five years now,
I've learned so much through him and so he was
very influential for me last year and then just certain
conversations with senior players. I was so lucky to be
Robin Shoulders with twenty two or twenty three captain internationals
in Leinster and the IRA set up. So yeah, picking
(44:38):
their brains and just having conversations has been great.
Speaker 8 (44:41):
Did it?
Speaker 5 (44:41):
I guess?
Speaker 4 (44:42):
You know there's been a real rivalry in recent times
between the All Blacks and Island.
Speaker 8 (44:47):
Did it give you an insight to their mentality?
Speaker 4 (44:49):
And I guess it's a different dynamic being on that
side of the fence as well.
Speaker 5 (44:54):
Yeah, certainly, like I wasn't sure just in terms of the.
Speaker 7 (44:58):
Way they prepare their psyche and what makes them tack.
But it was clear there was a few little differences
as to what we.
Speaker 5 (45:09):
Had rightly or wrongly back home.
Speaker 7 (45:11):
And also there were some things that we'd be doing
better here that it was nice to confirm and say, yep,
we need to continue doing that at home, or little
things in the week where I think I might take
that home and shake, shake a few trees and see
if we can change.
Speaker 5 (45:26):
Which is great and.
Speaker 7 (45:29):
That was the whole point of my decision of moving
moving to Ireland and just trying to get a greater
understanding of individuals and the way to play the game
and ultimately become a better rugby player myself, and I.
Speaker 4 (45:44):
Guess from the outside there was a bit of a concern
about fatigue, you know, you Gues you went over there
and it was in December, and then yeah, there's a
perception that you're playing the whole time and come back
and you join the All Blacks and that's a big
run out about a break. But from what I can gather,
it was really particulously playing. You're well managed and obviously
come and starting here if you like, you're in a good, good.
Speaker 5 (46:06):
Place at place.
Speaker 7 (46:10):
I mean a fluid conversations with Leo and guy from
the Leinster side and then with Gilly and ends that
are here. So like I was managed so well. Like
I said, I was lucky. I was healthy and available
for seven months I was there, So that's number one.
(46:30):
I played fifteen games so over the course of that period.
And there's a time during six Nations where I didn't
play for nine weeks and treated that as a mini
pre season block where I was able to get some
condition on, get into the gym, get a little bit
of a rest as well, which is important, take a
bit of a mental and physical break, and then come
(46:51):
bouncing back into that environment around March, and I'm feeling
really good at the moment, but as the.
Speaker 5 (46:56):
Final series with Leinster, but yeah, there was always chad.
Speaker 7 (47:00):
Around my workload and going up to Europe and getting
bashed up. But ironically I'm almost feeling better than sometimes
when you come out of Super Rugby season, so I'm
obviously grateful. You need a little bit of luck with
that too, your injuries, and but I come bouncing back
into this environment, which is great.
Speaker 4 (47:23):
Obviously it wasn't just about rugby, you know, you went
up the early partner and experience Europe and golf and
travel and all those sorts of things. That's great for
the mind to when you've been in one place in
terms of the knes and stuff as well.
Speaker 8 (47:36):
That was a big part of the desire to go
up there.
Speaker 5 (47:39):
Yeah for sure.
Speaker 7 (47:40):
I mean we are ruggy players, but we're also people
and you got a life to live as well, so
there's an opportunity for an unbelievable experience and I'm certainly
glad I did it.
Speaker 5 (47:53):
I've got no regrets.
Speaker 7 (47:54):
The people in Ireland as a whole were great, Dublin
as well, and.
Speaker 5 (48:02):
I had opportunities.
Speaker 7 (48:03):
To get away for the odd weekend and take Elis
with me and just enjoy life outside of rugby and
walk back through the doors at Leinster and with a
smile on my face and just enjoy the challenge.
Speaker 5 (48:15):
Of preparing for a week again. So I couldn't be
happy with the way I went.
Speaker 4 (48:20):
Well, there mixed emotions in some ways. Imagine there's a
party that wanted to stay and you know continue and
obviously you know coming back and play for your vacs, yes,
when desire.
Speaker 5 (48:33):
What what was that like? Yeah, it's a funny one,
it was.
Speaker 7 (48:36):
It was a bittersweet actually, Yeah, over a short period
of time develop some great friendships, ones that will carry
through for the rest of my life. But you wonder
if if I was there any longer with the nulty
of worn off, But I guess we'll never know. So
I'm just grateful that the whole time I was there,
I absolutely enjoyed it. But even throughout the season that
(48:59):
iron super rugby. There's guys playing well, your mates and
brothers are they're playing and playing well, and I still
burns inside. You just want to get back and ideally
earn yourself an opportunity into wearing the black Jusey again,
so I'm grateful I've done that.
Speaker 3 (49:18):
Jordy Barrett's on RAGB Directs with Liam Napier. That will
do us for another week on Rugby Direct. Thanks to
our friends at Access Solutions. We will see you next
week as we build into Test three.
Speaker 1 (49:34):
For more from News Talks at B Listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks ed B.
Follow this and our Wide Ranger podcast now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Straight down the middle of dry Disco. Try these pocket.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Inside the game from every angle. It's Rugby Direct with
Elliott Smith and Liam Napier, powered by News Talks ed B.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Welcome into rugbytergtown by Excess Solutions, salivating you and your
business to a higher level. Elliott Smith, Liam Napier Back
for another week and the first All Blacks test of
the year in the books, and that will form a
large part of our podcast in this episode, and also
stick around for Liam's chat with Jordy Barrett towards the
(00:59):
end of the podcast about his time over in Leinster
and looking forward to that a bit later on in
the podcast.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
But Liam, let's rip in.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
We'll record holding the Sunday afternoon and so our takes
are fresh in the mind. The All Blacks thirty one
twenty seven winners of course over France. What's your feeling?
You know, just under twenty four hours removed from that performance.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
A lot to reflect on, Eliot. I think first and
foremost first test of the year. Wasn't it very typical
in that regard from the All Blacks twelve months ago
their escape with a very nervy, shaky, tense one point
win over England at the same venue in Dunedan's and
we went down this year for the start of Scott
Robertson's second season at the Helm, and while the context
(01:48):
and the oppositions different, there were a lot of familiarities
in the rustiness in the All Blacks failing to finish
their chances. I think there were some positives in the
individual performances and the attacking shapes. The All Blacks scored
four tris had three denied by the TMO, but I
(02:09):
think given the context around France and we can dive
into everything around that, I expected a lot.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
More fair to say, the All Blacks didn't deliver perhaps
what was expected, and like you, there was some positive
moments there and I felt they were one try away potentially.
You know, it was twenty eight, twenty seven, with half
an hour ago still, but it still felt like the
All Blacks were on top and one try might have
been enough to have the French surrender. Essentially for the
(02:40):
night that didn't obviously happen in the game was right
until the balance, until the final whistle.
Speaker 5 (02:46):
Attack.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
I think buying large work pretty good. There were three
tries denied, obviously for minor errors. You can quibble over those,
and we might do it in a moment or two.
But I think the attack showed some promising signs. The
defense less so, and I think that's a major worry
ahead of the week. It felt like the All Blacks
(03:07):
had to work harder for their point than the French did. Now,
the French couldn't always score and the All Blacks couldn't
always score, but it felt like the French tries came
a little bit easier, some buttoned off defense, especially early
in the second spell when France got back to twenty
one to twenty minute or two into the second half.
The All Blacks were making France work hard enough when
(03:28):
they did get those rare opportunities in the twenty two
and I was checking the stats, so the All Blacks
had thirteen twenty two meter entries in the French red
zone and average two point three points on return from that.
The French had just five entries but average four point
eight points, so essentially a try on the five occasions
they entered the twenty two. So that tells a little
(03:48):
bit of a story that All Blacks are only able
to execute half as well in the twenty two as
the French, so defense needs to be a focus as
the head to skuy Stadium this week.
Speaker 6 (03:58):
It doesn't.
Speaker 4 (03:59):
Just picking up further on those stats, I think the
All Blacks made something like eleven line breaks to three,
and they had something like two hundred and fifty more
post content meters, which is quite staggerant. It was four
hundred to one hundred and sixty odd, so extremely dominant.
They had so much ball and territory in the second
half and that was reflected in those tries that were denied,
(04:24):
in particular Billy Proctor's touch and go seen those given before.
The obstruction was an absolute nonsense. I think Pasilio Toossi
does make contact, but there's no way that defender gets
on the outside and he's barely impeded, So I think
that was over zealous officiating. Just I think it's important
(04:44):
to stop and look at the lens with which we
view this game and the context, and that's predominantly about
the French here. France has one of, if not the
best domestic competitions in the world in the top fourteen.
They have clearly have very good strength and depth and talents.
You only have to look at the fullback. I won't
(05:04):
try and say his name, Tay to thank you bon soir.
He's twenty years old, eighty four kg. What a talent,
blitz bully propped on the outside to set up the
French opening try and he's not even like an out
and out fallback in his in his day job. But
(05:25):
this French team had one genuine starter in Gaelficku. And
there was a lot of chat previous game about the
players that France had left at home and that's all
very relevant even now. Yes, they performed a lot better
than we expected, but it is a second string b
French side.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
But what well, yes it was a second string French side,
But we're the media. Were we too harsh on what
we expected? Because second string doesn't automatically mean a major
drop off. You know a lot of these French players
have been playing, as you said, in the top fourteen
for a number of years. You see not the first pick,
but is there much difference between Grigory Oldriet at number
eight in a Michel Guillar at number eight. We last
(06:06):
night some of these elections, these players have been around
the French camp for a number of years. They haven't
had a lot of opportunity us. There were five debutants
and the run on side and three on the bench
last night, but a lot of these players probably haven't
been far from the international stage for it for a
number of years, and perhaps there shows the depth at
the top fourteen have and maybe not enough respect was
given to that.
Speaker 4 (06:27):
Yeah, I think that's a fair point. Maybe we in
the media particularly underestimated them. I think that's a fair point,
but it doesn't detract from the fact that the vast
majority of France's first choice squad are not here, and
so that's the lens with which you view this all
black performance, I think from my perspective anyway, and why
I expected so much more so, Yes, I was guilty
(06:51):
of underestimating the French i'bstinately not alone there and they
surpassed expectations and the All Blacks didn't meet those And
you touched on the defense, but there were other areas
that were badly exposed under the high ball, particularly in
the first half, and we'll talk about a bit later,
but it was it's something that is an issue when
he's on rugby because it's not something that we here
(07:14):
are overly exposed to before the international scene. The Mauldi
or Blacks had a real tough time of it against
Scotland and Funga Ay and so it's a common theme
and it is an issue when you're only selecting two
specialist wingers in your squad, and that will touch on
that further when we look at sev Reese's absence going
(07:35):
into Wellington. The breakdown as well, the All Blacks conceded.
I think it's sixteen turnovers to six. They didn't all
come at the breakdown. That's handling errors and whatnot as well.
But I thought the All Blacks were quite slow to
the punch. Can re Reguard I thought played really well,
but he was under pressure a lot. He ran a
lot because he had to because France were attacking the breakdown,
(07:57):
putting on massive pressure there and he wasn't quite able
to wait at the ruck.
Speaker 6 (08:03):
He didn't have that time.
Speaker 4 (08:05):
So there's a few key areas to work on before
we even look at individuals.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
If you look at a lot of the stats, the
All Blacks should have won and won comfortably. And we
talked about the defense as to reason why they didn't.
That was one of the stats that doesn't align with
their performance in that game last night. They forced the
French to make one hundred more tackles than the All
Blacks had to do themselves, two hundred and twenty versus
one hundred and twenty. They forced the French to do
(08:30):
a lot of work. And yet you know, and then
you look another stat the penalty is considered nine to three.
The discipline's outstanding last night, buying large from an All
Blacks perspective.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
So you're right.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
You have to look through the prism of this French
team and perhaps the All Blacks as well, is that
we know this slow starters. They've only had ten days,
you know, if that in camp together. But it seems
to be a common theme now that the All Blacks
have in this mind of their blueprint that they want
to play with, but something's just letting them down. They're
not quite able to click into it when they need
(09:03):
it most.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
Yeah, and there is a positive lens you can view
it through that they are creating chant that they scored
seven tries. Now two of those were probably rightly ruled out,
but they are creating a lot and it was quite
a lot to like from my perspective about the dynamic
of Boden first five McKenzie at fullback and Will Jordan
(09:26):
on the right wing mat as a really potent, dynamic,
creative force. And Damien does seem like a waste almost
to leave on the bench. I thought he when he
made some scything runs from the backfield. Boden was largely
very good, some beautiful tip on pass. Some of his
(09:47):
kicking was a weaver in accurate.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Was that one for a touch?
Speaker 4 (09:50):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (09:50):
And the little.
Speaker 4 (09:53):
Grubbers through didn't always come off, but the intent was there.
And Will Jordan scored two tries shifting out to the wing,
could have would have probably should have had three. So
those three players really stood up. So they're creating a lot.
But this is this was the major focus from the
All Blacks, wasn't it that they wanted to come into
this year have a much greater accuracy and they're finishing
(10:15):
to nail their chances to put teams away.
Speaker 6 (10:18):
And they didn't do that.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
It felt like they played fast and that created some
of those eras, and that's probably always going to happen.
When you play fast, there will be eras. There as well.
France wanted to slow it down. France looked quite tired,
I thought around the half hour mark, and then halftime
became at a pretty good time for them. Managed to regroup,
got some players on the park, some new players around
the right time, probably pulled the trigger earlier than maybe
(10:40):
they would have usually and kick themselves into the contest,
which I thought was pretty smart coaching from Fabian Gualtier,
just to manage some of those players a little bit.
As you know, the tiring bodies came through. So I
think the French handled that game smartly. And look they
got into the closing stages and it was thirty one
to twenty seven. They were on attack inside the All
(11:02):
Blacks twenty two and looking rather threatening and they cough
up the ball and that's the game done there but cheap,
as we could be talking about in All Blacks loss. Really,
if something a bit different in that last couple of minutes.
Speaker 4 (11:15):
Well the French shouldn't have been within touching distance. The
All Blacks should have put them away. And that's what
we need to see, that ruthless edge from this All
Black team, and they yet to display it. Maybe that's
because it's their first Test of the year, but that
is their major focus. I agree the French got some
real pay off the bench when they injected what was
it like, five forwards all at once and they scored
(11:40):
a try not long after that. Interested in your take
on the All Blacks bench. As you mentioned, there was
one point in that game. For the best part of
twenty thirty minutes in that second half, very low scoring
second half, the All Blacks needed Boden Barratt's penalty to
edge them home, an elate Scrumb penalty proving decisive. And
(12:01):
when you stop and look at who was in that pack,
it's very an experience with Takyaho, Fabian Holland and Olie
Norris on de Boo du See Karefi on deboo. So
there was a big win in that moment for some
young players. What about the bench as a whole. Did
Deal Blacks get what they want?
Speaker 2 (12:21):
No?
Speaker 3 (12:21):
I don't think they did get what they needed from
the Benjamin McKenzie had to come on early, so that
automatically sort of shuffles things around around. You know, last
thirty impact that you might get from Damien McKenzie because
he had to play eighty sorry, seventy nine minutes. In
the end, I thought Tokyo was tidy without being too spectacular. Clearly,
Cody Taylor is the best hooker that their team's gone.
(12:42):
I thought he was very, very good in his time
on the park. Female I thought was rather anonymous when
he came on. He came on early for Scott Barrett
around the fifty seven minute mark, could I thought, try
his hard out on his time on the field. I
was actually quite impressed by what he was able to
do in the twenty god minutes that he got. So
there were some promising signs there, but it felt you know,
(13:05):
Takeyahu and Tupai hadn't played test level, you know, takeyos
and World Cup to by three years. It felt like
that felt like it. You know, they felt like they
were just a little bit slow to the punch in
terms of their test match intensity. And You'll said, you know,
a couple of debutants on there, so give them a
week to sell and potentially change it in then you
(13:25):
know it may be a little bit different.
Speaker 4 (13:28):
I think the composition of that of their benches was
not right. You need some experience. Guys like a Patrick
two Polotu coming on would make a big difference.
Speaker 3 (13:37):
But do you know, I see what they're going for
in terms of the two loose forwards and the explosiveness
of female and Kadifi in particular, and they had three
locks in the starting side.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
What would too POLITI have added.
Speaker 4 (13:49):
Well, I think we disagree on this, but I don't
see to provide as a long term six. I didn't
see enough out of him at the weekend. It's not
a knock on him. He tried hard, he scored that try.
Speaker 5 (14:04):
He was.
Speaker 6 (14:07):
Prevalent on All Blacks ball.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
But I don't think the All Black's got the pay
they were looking for in terms of lineout steals for
having three locks. I think his he to me, just
doesn't look like a six. He's too tall, he doesn't
quite have the speed to the breakdown. I think that
contributed to the All Black struggles at the breakdown as well.
So I would be more traditional and have two locks,
(14:33):
find another six and have a toy below to or
a Holland coming off the bench.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
I'm not overly sold on it as yet, but I
am keen to see how it plays out, and I
think it's worthy of sticking again. I think the All
Blacks mister trick by not attacking the French lineout too often.
I got penalized once for going across and so that
didn't necessarily work. But I don't know on the basis
of what we saw last night that it's worth completely
(15:03):
writing off. There's a lot of work to do to
provide in that role, and it's it's a different role
to lock Well.
Speaker 4 (15:10):
That's one point I'd make is that I feel for
him because he was, if not the best, right up
there with Stizi last year as the All Black's best performer.
He outperformed Scott Barrett's Scott Barrett his injury troubles and formed.
But tupu v was so consistent from South Africa and
then he carried that through to the Chiefs and then
(15:31):
he comes into the All Blacks environment and he's got
ten days to become a blindside flanker.
Speaker 6 (15:35):
So it's a big ask.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
It is a big ask. I think it's worth sticking
with for at least another test. And you mentioned his height.
He's only two centimeters taller than during Cana, so you know,
similar frame potentially to one of the greatest to wear
the All Blacks number six.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
Tusey.
Speaker 4 (15:53):
Yeah, I'm just of a mind that some of Penny
female make a decision on him. What are you going
to learn bringing him off the bench for fifteen minutes stardom,
give him a crack, let's find out whether he's there
or not.
Speaker 3 (16:04):
Yeah, I take your point on that, but I also
think you've got to have a bench strategy, and so
he's your bench guy, then you know they've got to
fix the bench from because they've talked about it. They
threw away some leads last year. So do your pigeonhole
him as as a bench guy or do you start him?
And if they see that as the path to fixing
(16:27):
the bench by having Foena come on for twenty five
to thirty minutes at the end and you know being
able to you know not with stuffing out of opposition
tens and various things, is that the better corridor for
him to play and then starting and playing fifty minutes
at the front of the match.
Speaker 6 (16:42):
I'd prefer him starting and find out about him.
Speaker 4 (16:45):
Now, just one other point I want to touch on,
which I think has been a bit lost, maybe glossed
over to me. It was very clear that the All
blacksmissed to Mighty Williams and Tyrell Lomax, and that's not
from a scrummaging perspective. Fletcher Newell and Ethan the Grew
are great scrummagers, but there were a couple of times
it was very noticeable their comparative clunkiness with those soft
(17:09):
hand back door plays that the All Blacks love to
create space for their playmakers. It's not really in their
repertoire a new or a degree and to Mighty Williams
and Tyrol Lomax are far superior in that regard. So
it really did stand out to me those two guys'
absence in particularly Yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:29):
I agree, and sort of went under the radar a
bit letting into the match that Lomax had been ruled
out with a calf injury, which is apparently week to week.
Obviously we knew to Mighty Williams had been ruled out
at the start of last week before we recorded that podcast,
but that sort of went under the radar given the
four debutantes and the tub of Ice shift in the
Rico U Warne shift. Wood brings me to the Rico
(17:50):
Varney shift to the left wing Billy Proctor at center. Rico,
you only made the most line bracks out of the
All Blacks in that game last night in Dnedon. Jury's
still out on him. I think jury is still out
on Billy Proctor at center. Bad miss for the first
French try attackle Wise, it's a couple of times at
Testleville now he's been left on the outside and been burned.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
I can't really so much more than jury still out,
which applies to a lot of the scenarios in this team.
Speaker 4 (18:20):
I agree about Billy, which is disappointing because he has
waited a long time for that chance and I think
they do need to persevere with it, give him another crack.
He had some good moments, but it wasn't his best Test,
wasn't his best game, and that's probably the reflection of
the step up from Super rugby to Test rugby and
(18:40):
his lack of experience. And I think a knock on
the All Blacks coaches for not giving him more opportunities
last year. I know he wasn't on the India tour
because he and his partner welcomed their baby, but earlier
in the year they had they had opportunities and so
they have stunted his development. So I would give him
another crack and en Rico. It didn't really work for me.
(19:05):
And there was one moment which really stood out, and
that was when well a, I didn't see him contest
one kick and he wasn't alone in that regard, but
it was noticeable him going back to the wing for
his first test there, his first.
Speaker 6 (19:20):
Game there in three years.
Speaker 4 (19:23):
When Roygarb put up box kicks or anyone, Rico seemed
quite reluctant to get off the ground and can test
the ball. And maybe that's just because he hasn't really
done it in recent times, but so's one moment. Boden
Barratts is near the All Blacks twenty two and he
puts in a little dinky chip and it wasn't perfect,
but Rico just sort of looked at it and didn't
(19:45):
really make an effort to run and chase it down.
And I was half expecting Boden to give him a
bit of a spray for not doing that, and there
was a bit of a look of confusion, and yeah,
RecA made a couple of handling eras the one glaring
one after the second half restart that directly led to
a French try and one of those line breaks he's
(20:05):
gone through and while it was a tough path if
he had to throw on a long ball out to
his right hand side, Will Jordan was marked. So yeah,
jury very much out. I expect you Rico to go
back to the wing and flourish and he didn't.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
Well, he talk with the game on social media with
the compilation of his greatest triers at eleven and look,
I love that. I think it's great for the game,
I really really do. But probably just didn't quite get
to the heights that he needed to on the pitch
in that jersey. One other thing before we leave the game,
and it's the TMO interference, And we are getting to
(20:45):
the point now where clearly the referees have been told
that they need to really comb through everything for each tribe.
But the message hasn't got through to World Rugby that
this is absolutely ruining the spectacle as a sport. Whether
the decisions are right or wrong, I couldn't really care less.
(21:08):
It is detracting from an entertainment product. And that is
the point that World Rugby doesn't seem to get through
their heads that interruptions and games are not fun for anyone.
No one wants to see three blokes in green jerseys
or whatever they're weiring last night looking at footage on
a big screen.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
This isn't a jury trial.
Speaker 3 (21:29):
This is an entertainment product, and World Rugby seems to
have basically washed its hands because they're so fearful of
lawsuits up north. Now, last night wasn't about head knocks
or anything like that. It was about tries and we've
just let this charade go on too long around basically
having the TMO given too much power in the game,
and World Rugby has let it get out of control
(21:49):
and they don't seem interested in fixing it. And I
didn't see a lot of the wartars Lines game last night.
I sattle bits of it, caught up a few highlights,
but it was a blight on that game as well.
And the is becoming I've seen this on the podcast
before and people are probably sick of it, but the
TMO is becoming a blight on the international sport.
Speaker 7 (22:05):
It is, and.
Speaker 4 (22:09):
It just needs to come in when it's absolutely blatantly
obvious and necessary, because it really does stop the spectacle
for three to five minutes every time, and it just
sucks the wind out of the contest, out of the atmosphere,
and the other point to make is at the venue
in to needing. None of the decisions or the decision
(22:30):
making process was explained, and that needs to be audible
for the crowd. It's not good enough that it's just
broadcast to the TV audience. These are people that pay
good money to come to the venue. You want people
there and the clueless as to what's going on.
Speaker 3 (22:48):
Say what you like about Super Rugby, but they've tightened
it up to the point where it's entertainment first, it's
product first, and then according to our quality Greg Apaul. Basically,
the Super Raby officials were told in a conference called
before the semi finals by Joel Jut the World rug
we are free that they needed to be on the
lookout for more things and that's why you saw more
cards in the playoffs. So we're getting to the point
(23:10):
where Super Ruby's puttingentertainment first. World Rugby is putting its
rule book first and the precision first. And you are
never going to win new fans by that World Rugby
talks about, you know, getting USA getting into other markets. Well,
if that's your show piece product, then you're sorely, sorely
lacking and I just do not see them interested in
fixing it and it's just absolutely doing my heaven to
(23:33):
be quite honest, the way that Test rugby is officiated.
Speaker 4 (23:37):
Now, yeah, I think you need to put the power
in the officials on the field and there's a responsibility
that goes then to the fan and media and everyone
to accept that there is going to be some mistakes.
Speaker 3 (23:51):
Yeah, absolutely, and I think people yeah, yeah, you talk
about wrong referring decision, that's part of the game and
you're still getting things wrong at TMI level. We're debating
whether that abstruction will was correct. Last night the assistant referee,
Christoph Ridley of England disagreed with what Nick Barry was
seeing on the screen. So did we get a perfect
(24:13):
call there, No, we didn't. The TMOS come down and
said it substruction, but we're still disagreeing over it. So
we're adding a fourth set of eyes by something that
wasn't captured by three set of eyes on the park.
It wasn't clear and obvious, so it just it was
cleared by Nick Berry, I think on the park and
he said it was fine with it. Get shown some
evidence of the big screen changes his mind. But we're
(24:36):
adding more sets of eyes in the game's getting worse,
so I really don't know what to think. Let's stop
talking about it because I'm get skinned for you annoyed
changes for this week the third Test, sorry, second Test,
getting hit myself in Wellington, sever Us will not be there,
Scott Barrett has and Achilles issued not sure whether it's
serious or not. We'll probably find out Monday Tuesday as
(24:58):
to that, or maybe Thursday when the team is named.
So first and foremost, who you're putting on the right
wing in place of sever Res.
Speaker 4 (25:07):
I'm sticking well with what we saw for seventy nine minutes.
I'd put Jordan to the wing and I'd have Damien
McKenzie at fullback. I quite like that combination. I think
it's got a lot of strike and Jordan is very
good in the air, and France are going to kick
a lot again, that's them, o they That's how they play.
(25:30):
So whoever you pick on the wing is going to
be peppered with kicks. So if you're looking at some
of the other options are a lot more risky. Rico
Owani and Caleb Clark are almost exclusively left wingers. Ruben
Love has played ten minutes of Test rugby on the
wing and is quite short, and that's a risk and
(25:55):
amani that I would love to see get a crack,
but he's in the squad as injury cover, so I
don't see them going that way.
Speaker 6 (26:03):
What do you reckon?
Speaker 3 (26:04):
I suspect you're probably right. Look, I would love to
see Reubin Love get a crack on the right wing.
I do think he's got the attributes to be a
test make sing. You are right, he is short, but
I think he has the pace and the ability to
do that. But it would be a big risk to
do it, because Scott Robinson said at the media conference
last night was it was you know, we've seen the
(26:26):
way they play. There wasn't a lot of innovation. Put
it that way. They were clearly kicking a lot. You
wouldn't expect to change that too much for test too.
So I suspect you're probably right, but I would like
to see Ruben Love getting go.
Speaker 6 (26:39):
Regardless of who starts on the right.
Speaker 4 (26:40):
I'd be starting Caleb Clark on the left because he
is your best winger in the air and so that's
one very easy fix. And yeah, yeah, he didn't have
a good a great Super Rugby campaign. Some of that's
down to the Blues and their style. Didn't score a try,
but they put faith in them. He's one of two
specialist wingers in the squad and I'd give him a crack.
Speaker 3 (27:03):
Okay, we'll take a break here on Rugby Dick come
back with the second half of the podcast after this
could to save our friends SAT Access solutions.
Speaker 1 (27:11):
This is Rugby Direct, a podcast for real rugby fans.
Speaker 3 (27:18):
Try try and sixty sec every tackle, Get up again?
Speaker 2 (27:25):
Take him before a times.
Speaker 5 (27:26):
It's Rugby Direct.
Speaker 1 (27:28):
Badies talks to me.
Speaker 3 (27:31):
You're back with Rugby Direct. Time now for the second
half of the podcast. Stick around as well. Jordy Barrett's
Limbs interview with him coming along very shortly as well.
First and foremost results for the year. There's thirteen tests
for the All Blacks. They've got one on the board.
So how many wins do they end with? How many losses?
Speaker 4 (27:50):
I'm going to say they win eleven Elliotts. It's a
tougher schedule than many All Black fans would probably perceive.
Straight off the baut I think there'd be an expectation
that the All Blacks will go to Argentina and do
that reasonably comfortably I think the context of that tour
has changed in recent years that the Pumas are a
(28:11):
team that.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
Have knocked off not England this morning.
Speaker 4 (28:14):
No, no, the Pomaers did make a few changes blooded
a few rookies in that game as well. But the
Pumers have knocked off the Wallabies, the Spring Box, the
All Blacks, England and the British and Irish Lions, so
that they are they are a real team and it
will be a tough tour. I can see the All
Blacks going one on one with the Box in New
Zealand's I think maybe when I eaton Park maybe losing.
Speaker 2 (28:37):
Wellings Yeah be new, wouldn't it?
Speaker 4 (28:41):
And I will back the All Blacks to get better
throughout the year and I think they can go unbeaten
on the Northern tour.
Speaker 3 (28:50):
I have the same school line, the same yeah, eleven
and two. I think for the year. The loss I
think comes against South Africa and you know what, I
think they might actually drop the Wallabies test potentially maybe
in Perth.
Speaker 2 (29:09):
This year.
Speaker 3 (29:11):
The reasoning for that is they played the first game
at eden Park, Blitzslow Cup might be safe by that
point go over to Perth. They've lost there before, That's
what I've got at this point. South African Waraby's which
you know there could be more, but it is a
tricky year in Argentina is an interesting one, isn't it
because there is almost the final frontier for this Argentina
(29:31):
team in terms of outside of a World Cup, you know,
beating the All Blacks on their home you know, on
Argentina's home soil. They've managed to do it in Australia once,
in New Zealand twice. There was a lot of expectation
maybe in twenty twenty three that they could do it
there the All Blacks boom off the park. A couple
of track, tricky tests you know for the All Blacks
(29:52):
and building Argentina team under flippecontopomy, could happen.
Speaker 6 (29:57):
Could happen?
Speaker 4 (29:58):
Yeah, the Poops probably struggle with expectation, don't they. They're
a motive beast and that probably doesn't help them at home,
but it will certainly be right up there for them
in terms of make or break of the year. And yeah,
the All Blacks have the capacity to be complacent against
the Wallabies when you look at their test calendar and
(30:20):
what they want to achieve, a Grand Slam, defending Eden Park,
going to Argentina and maintaining your being status over there.
Winning the bledders Low is important, but the Wallaby's.
Speaker 5 (30:34):
Given the or.
Speaker 4 (30:35):
Black's recent record, I think, yeah, there is real risk
in that there's.
Speaker 3 (30:39):
Me on top or two in the final four. Was
certainly a busy weekend of rugby around the rest of
the globe. We had the Maldi All Blacks and Action,
the Black Friends Black Fans fifteen. We've had the aforementioned
Argentina England game. We had Japan continuing Wales losing street.
I think last week you see that Wales would have
anyone left on the.
Speaker 6 (31:00):
I need to make an apology, public apology to.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
Wales because I think they've still got one two.
Speaker 3 (31:08):
Yeah, the open side, Yeah, Jack Morgan, Well they couldn't
win in Japan.
Speaker 6 (31:13):
No eighteen losses in a row looking good.
Speaker 3 (31:18):
What's stood out, I guess from the rest of the
Wartor is pushing the British and Irish lines of the
fifteen to one outsiders at the tab. There's a lot
to catch up on in the last twenty four hours.
Didn't see a great deal of it, but what stood
out to you results.
Speaker 4 (31:29):
Was, Yeah, the black Fern said the undersquad trial didn't
catch a lot of that on a very busy Saturday
saw but some pieces of the Mauldy All Blacks in
between walking a foresyth bar that was quite an engrossing
encounter went eighty five minutes and a surprise results because
that Scotland team's missing eight players with the British and
(31:51):
Irish lines and it's probably a game that the Mouldy
All Blacks.
Speaker 6 (31:54):
Should have won. And really bad finish to that game.
Speaker 4 (31:59):
They Scotland went down one man, they had two or
three rolling all opportunities and just blew it and really
struggled under the highball as I mentioned earlier.
Speaker 6 (32:09):
So yeah, big ups to Scotland.
Speaker 4 (32:11):
There was a great result for a development team that
Gregor towns ends is brought out here.
Speaker 5 (32:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (32:18):
I think that the WATA surprised didn't see them being
that competitive, but I wouldn't read too much into that
in the context of the lines story though.
Speaker 5 (32:26):
No.
Speaker 3 (32:27):
Yeah, the Motorle Week's definitely struggle around the high ball,
including t K Howden. I don't know if you saw
quit up with this, but yeah Rivers Rayharnah with the
clearing crossfield bomb from inside his ingole that didn't really
go any weird tk hout and smacks it dead, which
of course you cannot do yellow carded. So yeah, it
wasn't the best in the Maldi All Blacks and that's
the end of their season. You know, two games, one
(32:48):
in Japan, one in Scotland. They're in a trickle.
Speaker 2 (32:52):
Player excuse me. The Mauldi All Blacks as well.
Speaker 3 (32:53):
I know they want more international fextures, but they're very
much consigned to playing Japan and you know, weakend tourading teams.
It'd be great to have them part of the Pacific
Nations Cup, for example against Fiji and some more and
things like that, but sort of hasn't quite happened for
them as yet.
Speaker 2 (33:11):
Topic three.
Speaker 3 (33:12):
Interesting comment in the Godt that we're musing over in
one of the local cafes, Vocal Street Kitchen, which very
very good reading Hayden Mikaels, Colin and the oly T
on a Saturday saying that he suspects that Daneeda may
not get another test for the next three years, so
back until twenty twenty eight and you go cheapest three years.
But when you break it down, there is a possibility
(33:35):
Liam that they don't get a test rug test game
for the next three years. There'll be four test matches
at home from our understanding, our reporting next year with
the to be confirmed it is happening. South Arien too
be three in the nation's cut window in July. Then
a blue islow so christ Church comes online next year,
(33:56):
Auckland will get at least one, maybe two. Where does
the other one go? Does it go to Wellington? Does
it go to Dunedin, does it go to Hamilton? Real
squeeze on there. And then twenty twenty seven there's probably
going to be only two home tests before the Rugby
World Cup, so that does leave twenty twenty eight. So
hater meekle might be right there and that'd be a
real shame for Dunedin if it is the case.
Speaker 4 (34:17):
It would indeed, because I'm going to steal your line
here that that Dunedin is one of the last true
New Zealand test cities. You know, being there this week
it is clear how much it means having the all
Blacks in town. All the shop windows have got go
all Blacks written in tape. Flags are displayed prominently. Merchandise,
you know, the Octagon and Emerson Spury is packed on
(34:40):
game day. I have no doubt it brings an immense
amount to the local economy and the Test was sold
out long in advance despite all the noise around the
status of this French team. But yeah, you're right that
the squeeze is on and the new christ Stadium is
going to be a destination by all accounts.
Speaker 6 (34:59):
It's a head to schedule.
Speaker 4 (35:00):
It's going to be a great venue for concerts and
sporting fixtures alike. So fortunately for Dunedin, I think, yeah,
they are going to miss out because one of the
big issues of Dunedin is accommodation as well.
Speaker 6 (35:13):
It's quite a small city.
Speaker 3 (35:15):
It certainly is, so you need to figure out for
Dunedin some more accommodation Christ which she's got plenty more
coming online with that stadium as well. So if there's
something that Dunedin's gonna have to figure out and until then,
well they're going to have to perhaps, I guess, take
what they're given. And there is a small schedule and
you think of that after this year, the All Blacks
have maybe only got sick, have only got six home
(35:36):
tests before the World Cup, barring it in the extras
in the lead up to twenty twenty seven, which could
well happen given it as an Australia they could play
your home game before they go to Australia at some point,
so maybe an extra one there and top.
Speaker 2 (35:49):
Of number four and the final four.
Speaker 3 (35:51):
Good story from our colleague Rob van ryin around Rob
Henny re signing. Perhaps not a surprise given he decided
to basically straight batts and to you see he wouldn't
go anywhere else and everything like that, But sounds like
he's sticking around for at least one more see at
the Crusaders. But there is some other movement as well.
You want to need more none who on the move
(36:13):
potentially back to the Blues. Is that the rumor doing
the rounds leam, I guess your action to both of
those pieces and.
Speaker 4 (36:19):
Use Yeah, it's not often you win a championship and
get turfed out, is it. Verncotta was re signed for
a further year, staying on for two so three all
up with the Blues and yeah, but what a turn
of events for Rob Penny. You know, you and I
(36:40):
and many others were calling for him to be turfed
out after the low of twenty twenty four and gets
a few players back and hangs tough and wins the
title and interesting to see how long he sticks around
for and what the succession plan is there. But yeah,
hopefully they can do a Blues and crash out next
(37:02):
to here.
Speaker 3 (37:03):
Thanks for your optimism on that front. You wanted more
not who as well going to Blues and.
Speaker 4 (37:07):
A great up for the Blues, And it does make
sense he's stuck behind Taylor and George Bell.
Speaker 3 (37:11):
Yeah, there's a bit of oiled in the runs that
Bradley Slater might be on the way back up as well,
a way up rather to Auckland.
Speaker 2 (37:18):
I don't add to the Blues.
Speaker 3 (37:19):
I don't know how that shack and down that was
doing the rounds a couple of months ago now, haven't
checked in on that. But Stanley Solomon as well im
pressa player in the under twenties. You'd think would be
naturally fitting for the Hurricanes. He's from that region, but
maybe not.
Speaker 4 (37:32):
Yeah, it sounds like Jamie Joseph swooped there to pick
him up for the Highlanders, which would be a good pickup.
And it sort of fits the Honders brief targeting young
guys and giving them opportunities. Stanley Solomon's a guy that's
stuck behind Reuben Love and Brit Cameron and many others
who's the Hawks Bay first five have got injured god
(37:54):
Free Godfree and so has passed blocked essentially at the Hurricanes,
he can play wing, fall back and first five. So yeah,
it would be a good pickup for the Honders and
our friend that we saw in Toned and Pool Cully,
I'm sure it's give him some advice and welcome with
(38:16):
open arms.
Speaker 3 (38:17):
I'm sure he would do that absolutely absolutely. Excuse me,
has been very long week, quite tired. That'll do us
for another week on Rugby Direct. But before we go,
you caught up with Jordy Barrett, fresh back home back
in the All Blacks Jersey after his time in Leinster.
Speaker 2 (38:34):
Let's hear that chat now.
Speaker 5 (38:35):
Yeah, right just before December and left. There was a
late late June, so that was great.
Speaker 4 (38:43):
Was it everything you expected anticipated? Because I guess it
was quite turriblizing because when you talk about sabbaticals, most
players previously had largely gone to Japan and you obviously
set your sights on Leinster and it was it everything
you hoped and dreamed.
Speaker 7 (39:01):
Yeah, that's to be honest, I didn't really know what
to expect. Yeah, as you alluded to, before me had
done it for quite some time. I think Dan was
the last when he went to Perpignon, but no one
had really gone for an Irish experience or a Lenk
stuff for that matter.
Speaker 5 (39:19):
So yeah, I was, I guess walking down to the.
Speaker 7 (39:24):
Deep water for a bit at the start, But in
terms of as an experience as a whole, it exceeded
my I guess the expectation and what I wanted to
get out of it, which was great. It doesn't always
happen that way. I mean, it was available body wise
the whole time, was there and and I mean although
(39:48):
I didn't get what we wanted in Europe when in
the UC and some silverware was great.
Speaker 6 (39:56):
Links the had in one silverware for a number.
Speaker 5 (39:58):
Of years now with the squad and coaches I've.
Speaker 4 (40:01):
Had, So that was pleasing your real student of the game, right,
that was a big part of going Yeah, yeah, it
would have taken from from a rugby point of view,
from stylesfer coaching players arenas.
Speaker 7 (40:15):
Yes, Yeah, like you said, it's not just one thing
pretty much learning through experience. I mean, one week you
can be playing in LaRochelle in the European Cup match
sold out in January, freezing cold, and then a couple
of weeks later you might be heading to Pretoria for
(40:36):
the u r C and then your back home again
in an Irish derby.
Speaker 5 (40:43):
Against Munster.
Speaker 7 (40:44):
So the game and the dynamic can change so quickly,
So the team has to adapt to different conditions, different
time of the year, different referees in different styles, and ultimately,
like the UC starts in September I think, and finishes
(41:05):
in June, so you've got to be playing your best
rugby later on in the air.
Speaker 5 (41:08):
So it's a bit of the mouth on.
Speaker 8 (41:11):
What are some of the things specifically I guess that
you can take away from and bring back here. I
think believe preference.
Speaker 4 (41:17):
Before the defensive line speeds. You know, you've always had
the tactical mind to your game, but what nuggets of
gold or things will you bring home is and add
to your as well.
Speaker 7 (41:32):
Yeah, individually, I think like walking into a different environment
and chatting to.
Speaker 9 (41:39):
Different coaches, different players and trying to I guess, to
gather a different understanding of playing the game, a way
of thinking, a way of preparing.
Speaker 5 (41:50):
And challenging yourself and.
Speaker 7 (41:53):
There are some things that I would have left at
the door and the other things that I really took
on from other players, And I guess like leaving, I
feel like I got a better understanding of my own
game and broader understanding the game of rugby, but in
some ways almost refining that and working out what's importance
(42:13):
and what's nelton what.
Speaker 5 (42:16):
I guess equates to performing well on the weekend and
getting your team across the line.
Speaker 4 (42:21):
Do you think you know they're a punta who knows
anything different about the way you play?
Speaker 5 (42:27):
Yeah, I'm not sure, hopefully. I mean.
Speaker 7 (42:32):
It's different because I'm walking into a team now where
you know you've just got to do your job. There's
fourteen other world class players on the field, and maybe
at Leinster at different times of the year you lose
the international guys and you're playing with ten twelve academy
(42:53):
boys and.
Speaker 5 (42:55):
You might have a bigger role to play.
Speaker 7 (42:57):
There's an expectation there to perform and take on a
whole lot more load, whereas in here.
Speaker 5 (43:02):
You just got to do your job and do it well.
Speaker 7 (43:05):
So in some ways, coming back in here, I've just
got to narrow my focus and pretty much just try
and nail what I can.
Speaker 5 (43:13):
Obviously bring a real physical edge.
Speaker 7 (43:15):
That's something I'm going to look to try to do
this year, coming back from Leinster and being under Jark
and bit of South African influence, and yeah, just trying
to nail all those individual sorry not individual, those one
on one moments in a game where you might have
forty of them, whether it's a ball carrier breakdown at
tack where you got so many chances to influence a game,
(43:38):
and just trying to win as many as those as
I can.
Speaker 4 (43:40):
I mentioned Jack, what about I guess others who had
an impression on you, contributed to something to your Leinster
players or coaches or.
Speaker 5 (43:50):
Yeahler, Tyler Blandel.
Speaker 7 (43:52):
I've been very lucky to be coached by Tyler since
he moved back from Ireland and joined the Canes. And yeah,
coincidentally he moved to Leinster last year, and his game
understanding and his ability to get a team to attack
and strike off set pieces great and I mean in
(44:15):
the last yeah, I guess how many maybe five years now,
I've learned so much through him and so he was
very influential for me last year and then just certain
conversations with senior players. I was so lucky to be
Robin Shoulders with twenty two or twenty three captain internationals
in Leinster and the IRA set up. So yeah, picking
(44:38):
their brains and just having conversations has been great.
Speaker 8 (44:41):
Did it?
Speaker 5 (44:41):
I guess?
Speaker 4 (44:42):
You know there's been a real rivalry in recent times
between the All Blacks and Island.
Speaker 8 (44:47):
Did it give you an insight to their mentality?
Speaker 4 (44:49):
And I guess it's a different dynamic being on that
side of the fence as well.
Speaker 5 (44:54):
Yeah, certainly, like I wasn't sure just in terms of the.
Speaker 7 (44:58):
Way they prepare their psyche and what makes them tack.
But it was clear there was a few little differences
as to what we.
Speaker 5 (45:09):
Had rightly or wrongly back home.
Speaker 7 (45:11):
And also there were some things that we'd be doing
better here that it was nice to confirm and say, yep,
we need to continue doing that at home, or little
things in the week where I think I might take
that home and shake, shake a few trees and see
if we can change.
Speaker 5 (45:26):
Which is great and.
Speaker 7 (45:29):
That was the whole point of my decision of moving
moving to Ireland and just trying to get a greater
understanding of individuals and the way to play the game
and ultimately become a better rugby player myself, and I.
Speaker 4 (45:44):
Guess from the outside there was a bit of a concern
about fatigue, you know, you Gues you went over there
and it was in December, and then yeah, there's a
perception that you're playing the whole time and come back
and you join the All Blacks and that's a big
run out about a break. But from what I can gather,
it was really particulously playing. You're well managed and obviously
come and starting here if you like, you're in a good, good.
Speaker 5 (46:06):
Place at place.
Speaker 7 (46:10):
I mean a fluid conversations with Leo and guy from
the Leinster side and then with Gilly and ends that
are here. So like I was managed so well. Like
I said, I was lucky. I was healthy and available
for seven months I was there, So that's number one.
(46:30):
I played fifteen games so over the course of that period.
And there's a time during six Nations where I didn't
play for nine weeks and treated that as a mini
pre season block where I was able to get some
condition on, get into the gym, get a little bit
of a rest as well, which is important, take a
bit of a mental and physical break, and then come
(46:51):
bouncing back into that environment around March, and I'm feeling
really good at the moment, but as the.
Speaker 5 (46:56):
Final series with Leinster, but yeah, there was always chad.
Speaker 7 (47:00):
Around my workload and going up to Europe and getting
bashed up. But ironically I'm almost feeling better than sometimes
when you come out of Super Rugby season, so I'm
obviously grateful. You need a little bit of luck with
that too, your injuries, and but I come bouncing back
into this environment, which is great.
Speaker 4 (47:23):
Obviously it wasn't just about rugby, you know, you went
up the early partner and experience Europe and golf and
travel and all those sorts of things. That's great for
the mind to when you've been in one place in
terms of the knes and stuff as well.
Speaker 8 (47:36):
That was a big part of the desire to go
up there.
Speaker 5 (47:39):
Yeah for sure.
Speaker 7 (47:40):
I mean we are ruggy players, but we're also people
and you got a life to live as well, so
there's an opportunity for an unbelievable experience and I'm certainly
glad I did it.
Speaker 5 (47:53):
I've got no regrets.
Speaker 7 (47:54):
The people in Ireland as a whole were great, Dublin
as well, and.
Speaker 5 (48:02):
I had opportunities.
Speaker 7 (48:03):
To get away for the odd weekend and take Elis
with me and just enjoy life outside of rugby and
walk back through the doors at Leinster and with a
smile on my face and just enjoy the challenge.
Speaker 5 (48:15):
Of preparing for a week again. So I couldn't be
happy with the way I went.
Speaker 4 (48:20):
Well, there mixed emotions in some ways. Imagine there's a
party that wanted to stay and you know continue and
obviously you know coming back and play for your vacs, yes,
when desire.
Speaker 5 (48:33):
What what was that like? Yeah, it's a funny one,
it was.
Speaker 7 (48:36):
It was a bittersweet actually, Yeah, over a short period
of time develop some great friendships, ones that will carry
through for the rest of my life. But you wonder
if if I was there any longer with the nulty
of worn off, But I guess we'll never know. So
I'm just grateful that the whole time I was there,
I absolutely enjoyed it. But even throughout the season that
(48:59):
iron super rugby. There's guys playing well, your mates and
brothers are they're playing and playing well, and I still
burns inside. You just want to get back and ideally
earn yourself an opportunity into wearing the black Jusey again,
so I'm grateful I've done that.
Speaker 3 (49:18):
Jordy Barrett's on RAGB Directs with Liam Napier. That will
do us for another week on Rugby Direct. Thanks to
our friends at Access Solutions. We will see you next
week as we build into Test three.
Speaker 1 (49:34):
For more from News Talks at B Listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
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