July 12, 2026 • 33 mins
Rugby Direct is back as Elliott Smith and Liam Napier dissect the All Blacks' far-from-convincing 47-17 victory over Italy in Wellington. Despite the comfortable scoreline, questions remain about the performance, selections, and overall direction of the side after two tests under Dave Rennie.
The boys also debate one of the biggest talking points heading into this weekend: can the All Blacks extend their remarkable unbeaten run at Eden Park when they face Ireland, or are the visitors primed to snap one of rugby's most iconic streaks?
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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 podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Straight down the middle of Trumps, try.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
To get inside the game from every end goal. It's
Rugby Direct with Elliott Smith and Liam Napier, powered by
News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Welcome into Rugby Direct powered by Access Solutions, elevating you
and your business to a higher level. Elliott Smith with
me Liam Napier from The New Zealand Herald, as we
reflect on the All Blacks win over Italy forty seven seventeen.
Nape's first and foremost your your top line reactions to
(00:57):
that game where the All Blacks won convincingly but also
weirdly not convincingly.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
It's a great summary. E let's it's been a bit
of a whirl windaw hasn't it come back from the
capitol back in Auckland now. Look a lot to unpack
from that game. First of all, I think nice to
have early kickoff five pm, lots of families, lots of kids.
It was a bit of a battle to sell it out.
Italy are hard to sell them most other international teams,
so that was really notable. And then from the All Blacks. Yeah,
(01:27):
I think one really good quarter and a lot to
improve otherwise. Look, Italy are the big movers of the
six nations, but they were missing three of their starters
and they're at the back end of the year. They
come off successive losses to Japan and Wales. They were
(01:48):
very resolute in defense, but I thought the All Blacks
didn't adapt and had real trouble breaking through. They made
some good adjustments after halftime, got some pay and then
finished quite poorly as well. So all in all, I
think they've really summed up well. And he said it
was a pass, but he could tell he wasn't happy
with the overall nature of that performance.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Yeah, it was clunky, It was scratchy, wasn't it. And
I think the All Blacks have a lot to work
on head facing Irelands next week. I think it probably
depends on your point of view on life in general,
where you're a glass half full, glass half empty sort
of person. I would probably classify it as a minor
step back from the first week against France, because there
(02:33):
were a lot of expectations that they would build on
what worked well against France and continue to layer.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
That on, particularly having gone with a really strong team
and not an experimental one.
Speaker 4 (02:45):
That's right.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
So you go, okay, well, these players have had another
week in the saddle, another seven days to the ten
they had before the first game against France, so they
should be a bit clearer around some of the roles.
I didn't really see that for long periods of the game.
But when the All Blacks flicked the switch in that
thirteen fourteen minutes after halftime, they were utterly lethal and
(03:06):
a sign of what they can do when they everything
does click for them, and they closed the game down
and in the matter of thirteen to fourteen minutes with
those four tries after the break, But as Dave Renny rude,
they didn't kick on with it. And look, there are
a couple of reasons potentially for that. There was a
big long stoppage for Tomaso Allen, which took all the
momentum out of a game that was already won by
(03:26):
the All Blacks. But they were playing against fourteen for
a long period of the back half of the game
and didn't accelerate what was obviously going to be a win.
So there was for me a lot to work on
out of the game, and I think probably as set
at the top. A minor step back from what we
saw last week.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
Yeah, I think, look, this is a team that's in
its infancy and growing pains are very evident, and from
a game plan perspective, I think there has been quite
significant change. You can see the All Blacks intent to
retain the ball. They only kicked four times in the
first half last week it was six. They made the
(04:05):
I've got some stats here for you. They made three
hundred and twelve passes, which is their most in the
last fifteen years according to op the stats, and one
hundred and eighty eight carries, which is also their fourth
most in that same timeframe. So that tells you it
speaks to the game plan, to the ball retention. But
I just felt, particularly in that first half where the
(04:26):
Italians were filling the field and defending really well chopped tackles,
the All Blacks lacked variety and they did score that
one try with the grubber kick, and it just seems
a bit lateral, a bit predictable, and they didn't They
didn't win the physical battle in the collisions, they weren't
winning the breakdown, and they didn't generate enough go forward
(04:48):
to allow them to go wide. So they made those
adjustments after halftime, but against a better team, you want
them to happen earlier.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
I think I think so too, and I don't think
they switched. You know, we talk a lot about kicking
and the All Blacks with the maybe run first or
keep on hand mentality in the second In the first spel,
that was crying out for some tactical kicking to try
and put Italy on the back foot and disrupt the
game they wanted to play. That wasn't really forthcoming from
the All Blacks, and they seem to trust or believe
(05:17):
that the smithod was going to work. And I suppose
after halftime it did work, but I would have liked
to see perhaps a.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
Bit more kicking.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
You know. Kicking sort of been painted as the evil
art over the last few weeks, but I think there's
still a room for it in a game plan and
probably could have been unleashed in that first forty.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
Yeah, just when you're not getting that pay that go forwards,
and maybe that speaks to the lack of dominant ball
carriers that were that are in that All Black pack. Potentially,
I think the All Blacks miss Peter Laco he was
one of their better performers. I felt in the Test
against France. He's not a massive guy, but his ball
carrying is one of his real strengths. I thought Wallace
(05:57):
a Titi had probably his worst test for the All Blacks,
dropped a lot of pill and so yeah, that that
twenty minute period after halftime, the All Blacks did make
some adjustments, a little bit more tactical kicking, a lot
more clinical with their skill execution in the first half
(06:17):
as well. There are a few discipline issues. The scrum
got pings and look the referee and the pedantic performance
of the overarching TMO didn't help the nature of the spectacle.
But they didn't get that quick ruck speed that they
had in christ Church until the second half, and that's
why I think you saw passes flying out over the
(06:39):
touch line and a lot of inaccuracy because they were
playing with men in their faces and they struggled to
combat their Italian line speed.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
Yeah, Italy clearly worked out the way that the All
Blacks were going to attack and from Italy side that
I thought was really poor against Japan. You know, Dave
Renny put it down to the heat on Thursday. Maybe
that was a factor because they were a lot lot
better though it was similar to the six nation side
that we saw earlier in the year and perhaps with
a little bit more class and claw in that first spell.
(07:09):
They may have even been in front at halftime, but
it wasn't to be. But I think they can probably
hold their heads high a little bit from the way
that the All Blacks or they put the pressure on
the All Blacks, especially for the first forty or so
minutes of the game. If you're an opposition team though,
and say Ireland were watching that, the win watching that
because they're about to play. But what would they have
taken out is they prepare to play the All Blacks
(07:31):
this week.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
I think the All Blacks attacking blueprints clear and if
you can bring a bit of line speed, if you
can put a bit of pressure on, if you can
deny the All Blacks at quick ruck speed that go forward,
then you frustrate them. So I think you'd be trying
to do that. I think you'd still target the All
Blacks in the air. There wasn't a huge amount of that,
but the high ball the All Blacks the receiver are
(07:53):
remember McKenzie dropping one, So I think Islam will still
come for the all blacks in that department. And then look,
you have to be aware of the all blacks streats,
don't you, because when they do get it right, like
you say, they are lethal. And we saw that with
Will Jordan. Yeah, three tries, three tries record break in
the evening and that really did happen in a flash.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
It did, and he had one of the first spell
and then two bang bang very quickly to take the record.
And you know, fifty tries as a phenomenal feat in
test rug be.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
In fifty six tests, yeah, really is.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
He's not the highest New Zealand all time scorer, you know,
a lot more days when those games were you know,
the tour matches, various things, but to do it in
test matches is quite the achievement. And look there are
a club of six others that have reached fifty tries
at tess Levely, obviously past Starkala who was an exceptional
winger in his day as well. And you know, I
(08:48):
think the record's sixty nine, so what twenty water catch
and you wouldn't put it past him at this point.
The strike right that he's got, as you said, and
you know he's twenty eight now, you know, i'd think
probably in the second third of his career, probably at
this point in time. But he just showed his because
quality and this moved back to the right wing over
the last couple of you know, a lot of talk
(09:09):
around whether he should play fullback or right wing. Five
tries two weeks from the right wing just shows how
lethal he is on the edge, but he also pops up.
Speaker 4 (09:18):
Around the park. These aren't just falling over the line
for the tries.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
This is you know, Will Jordan having to go to
work and set things up, and his acceleration I think
is a second to none, and Will.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
Rugby acceleration anticipation I for a gap. You just think
of the many moments we've seen him from sithing through
on this occasion, I think he should be giving Josh
Morby a birthday present because I felt Morby was a
real game changer. He came on about thirty five minutes
(09:49):
into that match when Lee Occarter departed. Sounds like an
ac shoulder, which doesn't sound good for Lee. Ricarter had
a disrupted year, but Morby, for me, on debut, rarely
sees his chance. He was one of the best on display,
I felt, and he really brought similar qualities to Jordan. Pace, anticipation,
scything through on the edge, highly involved and certainly helped
(10:13):
Jordan break that record.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
He did, and I think his time that he spent
at fullback and will Jordan's the same, it does help
them and seeing just the different ways that defenses operate
where those gaps might be on the park, we'll be
having to slot in on the left wing, which is
probably a little bit unfamiliar for him, but you wouldn't
have really known.
Speaker 4 (10:33):
I thought he was.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
Really really good. It's a remarkable story, isn't it. Given
he went to France and was seemingly lost to New
Zealand rugby, comes back and now on his day, on
his birthday, makes his debut for the All Blacks. Has
really put his hand up.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
We could almost categorize him as a journeyman. He played
for Southland, Northland, the Hurricanes, that seemed like as a
newer New Zealand career was over when he went to France.
He cut that deal one year short to come back,
had a breakout season with the Canes and even before
he departed he did look to have those qualities but
to do it this year in a championship winning squad
and then to make your debut in that fashion, I
(11:13):
think it was a real statement performance.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
It was, and look when he came back, it was like, Okay,
that's a good pickup for the Hurricanes, but no one's
thinking international level. This isn't a boost for the All Blacks.
But it speaks to his ability this year and the
way that he played that he was deserving opportunity and
I thought took it as well. Anton Signa, I thought
really added something when he came on at halftime with
Luke Jacobson having a carf Nigol as well. He's not
(11:38):
the biggest player on the park. I know he's had
a little bit of size, but he's just got tenacity.
He's got fight in them and he gets over the
game line with a lot of his carries. He's always active,
always involved in the game. And yeah, I think we'll
see a lot more of Anton Signa in a Black jersey.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
It was nice to see him get an extended period
of time rather than ten minutes at the end. Came on,
like you said, straight after the break and look he
at his parents, his brother and brothers and Leicester Fengenoku,
who was his roommate at Nelson College when he came out,
and he's on as a teenager from Germany, so very
special night for him, and I agree, I think we'll
(12:15):
see a lot more of him, I thought, Sam Dowry
and Ethan the group was shown again for the All Blacks.
Billy Proctor not his best test, missed that telling tackle
on Menoncello early and there was one other pass which
didn't stick. So yet to make that step up to
(12:36):
test rugby, I think, and that center Jersey is probably
quintupires to lose at this point in time.
Speaker 4 (12:42):
Yeah, I think.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
I said on Thursday, I'm not convinced that Quint to
Pyre is a Test level thirteen, but jury's probably out
on Billy Procter being at Test level thirteen as well.
Just didn't quite click frohim. I think he threw that
pass that went over the touch line from memory in
the first spell it was. It was a clunky night,
I thought from Billy Proctor. The thing about Billy Procter
is he's always active in the game and even when
(13:05):
he perhaps isn't playing well, he's got a lot of
involved in It makes a lot of tackles. He's very
very good defensively apart from that obviously obviously look but
even when he's falling off tackles, it doesn't seem to
bother him. He gets back in the game very very quickly,
and I think that'll hold him in good Steed and
David and he's All Blacks with that that biggest philosophy
back in game go again. But again we're just not
(13:26):
seeing that the quality of what we've seen at super
rugby level for a few seasons now, of what he
is capable of. So I think you'd probably look this
week to go Quinta Pie comes back to thirteen.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
Yeah, I think so. But I agree that thirteen and
six still remain very contestable positions for the All Blacks.
And that's probably been true for at least a year
or two now.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
It is, and no one's has managed to lock it down,
you know, probably get onto some team stuff in a
moment or two round with the changes they might make
for Ireland. But I think we've seen some players really outshone,
you know that perhaps the other contenders in the Jersey,
you know, Luke Jacobson is a shame. It was gonna
be so Anton Signia for forty minutes. But it was
also shame we didn't see Luke J. Gibson kick on
(14:09):
for a bit more in that game, because I thought
he had another pretty good opening forty minutes. I think
he might have been pinged once, but.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
He was one of the all blacks bests in that
first time.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
Yeah, I was really impressed by what he did. A
lot of he made a couple of line breaks or
half break opportunities, so I really liked what he did
and is seemingly slotting and really nicely to that Dave
any system. Rubin Love at ten second testing probably didn't
shine too much, almost got yellow carded or did briefly.
(14:39):
What did you make of rubin Love's second test at ten?
Speaker 3 (14:42):
I wouldn't say it was authoritative, didn't notice him a
great deal. I think I think he can probably take
a wee bit more control of the match. But I
wouldn't say he was playing off the back foot. But
he certainly certainly went on the front foot. And they
didn't have that speed, that pace, that same tempo that
they enjoyed and Christ it so a learning experience for him,
(15:05):
but I think it wasn't a step forward on what
we saw the previous week. You know, I think about
him challenging the line at least a couple of times
in christ Church and siding through and putting others away.
There wasn't a great deal o that was there.
Speaker 4 (15:22):
No, there wasn't.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
I think he had that nice fifty to twenty two
during the second spell. I thought he in the first
game against Ransie didn't overplay his hand. I think this
time maybe he underplayed his hand a little bit. And
it's a fine balance I think for a ten at
Test level, especially in U ten, to get that sense
of managing the game. And perhaps that was a trickier
(15:45):
game to manage given some of the disruptions and various
other things. But I don't know if Yeah, Similarly, I
don't know if it was a step forward. I don't
know if it was a step backwards either. I thought
it was just a fine performance that without rate going
to any great heights. So we have Bill Blacks two
from two now. Just a final thought on that game.
I'm not sure if you got anything else, but the
(16:06):
referrering I thought was one of the worst referring performances
I've seen in a Test matchup that he completely lost
control of that game in the last twenty minutes or so.
Luke Ramos it was the first time he refereed to
the All Blacks, second time referred Italy after controlling their
Six Nations game against England earlier in the year. He
is the boss on the field, not the TMO in
the box. And this is the continuing problem in world
(16:28):
rugby is that some bloke with a whole bunch of
feeds gets to choose when to interrupt the game and
Ben Whitehouse of Wales was the latest to do that
and it has just become a blight on the game.
It was the same in Australia, France, same in Japan, Ireland.
These blokes interrupts. It's awful when they interrupt, but it's
even worse when they get things wrong. And when they
intervened on that Leroy Carter, Will Jordan try in the
(16:51):
first spell incorrectly?
Speaker 4 (16:53):
What are you doing? Man?
Speaker 2 (16:55):
I just I It does my headden and I've spoken
a million times. The people are probably second on the podcast,
but we have to get rid of the TMO. I'm sorry.
If you're not gonna get rid of it, it's try,
no try or ex of foul play. It's just it's
beyond a joke.
Speaker 3 (17:08):
Now, yeah, well this was absurd, just the level of interference,
unnecessary interference. I'm with you to a point. I think
it's needed for the Howler and World Rugby are meant
to be taking it off site to an NRL bunker
type situation, and you can only hope that's going to
(17:28):
minimize the influence because this was a blight on the spectacle.
It was already stop start and French refs, unfortunately do
tend to be that way and the All Blacks seem
to get these inexperienced refs quite often. But between the
French ref and the TMO, it really did have a
massive impact on the nature of that contest. So look, look,
(17:55):
and the frustration is that Super Rugby's got this right
and then you go to the elite part of rugby
and it becomes a face. So it needs to be sorted.
Speaker 4 (18:08):
It does.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
I don't think would Rugby have any idea how to sort.
I think that's the problem is that they have washed
their hands of this because they've gone too far and
they don't have to reel it back in, and they
don't seem to have any interest in reeling it back
in and they've appointed referee failed referees by and large,
or people that have never refereed a rugby game to
go sit in a box and watch a bunch of
feeds in intervene, like when was the last time you
(18:30):
saw Ben white House referee game? When was the last
time you saw Murray's read vistas and referee game Bret Cohner.
These blokes are full time tmos and yeah, it's a
specialist skill because you've got to watch a lot of feeds.
But they, you know, in terms of their actual involvement
in a game, they don't have the feel for it.
I don't think Luke Ramos had the field for it
last night either, But these blokes don't know so rain toever,
(18:51):
it just winds me up, and the sooner it changes,
the better. Let's talk about potential All Blacks changes for
the game against Ireland at Eden Park. I guess there's
a few players that set out the game on the
WEEKI and for a week the way through. Though.
Speaker 4 (19:11):
You know Cody Taylor will start at hooker.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
I presume props Ethan de Groot, Fletcher Yule humidly comes
back into sight head.
Speaker 3 (19:20):
Yeah, potentially either way around. I think Tywer Olomax will
be involved. Locks you would think Patrick Twoplo two will
come back into the mix, but probably not in a
starting capacity. Sam Dari's played really well to provide. That
was his first match back the loose four composition. Peter
Luckey's got to start for me somewhere.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
I think so. Yeah, he just had as a lot
and I think it was notably missed last night. It
wasn't helped by w was TD having a poor game,
Luke Jacobson, Carf Nickel. It didn't sound serious. We'll probably
find a little bit more about it on Monday, but
you could change things around a little bit there. I guess, Look,
if Jacobson's fail, I'm starting him again, but maybe you
(20:03):
look at a signet. If he's not fit.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
Yeah, I would be surprised if they've really said that
it was cramp. So if Jacobson's out, then he's pulling
the wall over our eyes. But if Jacobson's fit, then
I would expect it to be Ardi eight's, Jacobs seven
and Lucky six. I don't think you changed the halves.
Quincy Pie comes back at center, and probably Caleb Clark
(20:27):
on the left wing, and I think Morby deserves another
crack from the bench in the outside back department.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
Well, I thought Morby was excellent left I mean, did
it do enough to have a crack at Eating Park.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
There's a real case for it. I think most teams
like to have at least one power wing as a
as a as a contrast. But look, Morbe was excellent
and I wouldn't be shocked if he's rewarded with another start.
And then there's other guys who haven't featured. Do they
come back into the mix, Boden Barrett.
Speaker 2 (20:59):
Well, the way the All Blacks have compiled their bench
over the last couple of weeks, ten suced with mckinziet
fall back and love at ten that they don't think
they need ten covers. So even Barrat has to come
in and start presumably at fifteen or tim which I
can't see them doing for this Test match. Or again,
he's not in the twenty three, so maybe he switches
with mackenzie and they bring Boden Barridon hasn't had a
(21:19):
lot of rugby, it's been a while, but yes they're
rugby at some point. So I've been intrigued to see
what they do the I thought Antheline Brown added a
lot off the bench last night as well, but I
don't know that he's done enough to justify a starting
Berth or a run on Berth alongside Jordi Barrett. Caleb
Clark would be interesting. I don't think he had his
best game against France last week, but he is under
(21:41):
the high ball, one of the All Blacks best and
he know he's Eaton Park very very well. And Ireland
will kick at the All Blacks. You can guarantee that.
Speaker 3 (21:49):
Yep, they will. And other changes. I want to see
Kyle Preston on the bench. I think he had a
lot more. There's always going to be a massive drop
off with roy Guards and he could play eighty minutes
against Islands. But if you're going to bring on somebody,
I think it should be Preston. I would also bring
back new Mia and I suffer more as your other
(22:10):
front row cover. I just felt like they added more
in christ Church than what the All Blacks got off
the bench.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
And Wellington, yeah, I think that Hurricanes loose. Sorry the
Hurricanes front row. Whether you go yeah Newell off the
bench or Lomax I think those three are the ideal
bench players. And then you say Takeyoho byby Signa gets
another crack and we'll be in the boutside back. So
maybe there are minimal changes at best. And it's hard
(22:38):
to see where these players we talked about on Thursday
night after the team naming, but it's hard to see
a Parker, A Barrett being selected. Preston maybe maybe, but
I think there will be at least one or two
players that don't get the nod for the scam at
Eden Park and don't play any game any part in
the series.
Speaker 3 (22:57):
Yeah, someone park is a big body. Maybe they potentially
think he could bring some punch, but it would be
pretty tough to not have Signa in the mix somewhere.
What about Islands, This has been one of the great
rivalries with the All Blacks over the past eleven years.
I think that's six and five since twenty sixteen Islands
(23:17):
breakthrough win in Chicago. The All Blacks had won the
last three though, and the latest one of those was
in Chicago last year. We were there. It was very convincing.
They blew them away in the second half. I think
from memory with another strong light flurry Cook Quarter blitz.
Where do you see islands? As this was always going
(23:39):
to be the All Black's toughest test of their three
opening Nations Championship games, do you give them a worried
um No?
Speaker 2 (23:48):
I thought that, Look, they made a few changes last
night against Japan and Newcast, so I thought that was
a bit clunky. I suspect they've probably been targeting this
game against the All Blacks, though, and that makes them dangerous.
They obviously been Australia last week. But I thought that
I'm convincing against Japan, and maybe that was down to
a few factors. It was a weird atmosphere Newcastle neutral territory,
(24:10):
even though it was a supposed Jampanese home game. But
they just took a while, and I think Japan had
been not actually the big movies of the last couple
of weeks. But you know, they beat Italy convincingly last
week and we're hanging on twenty six to twenty down
with about five to go, maybe a little bit longer,
and Ireland get the late penalty and then late tried
it to finish things off, but they were right in
the mix, and you know, if the game had fallen
(24:32):
a little bit differently, they could well have ended up
with a narrow wind or a drawer or something like that.
So I think Ireland will have to improve for Eden Park,
the All Black says we've talked about for the last
twenty odd Nerds will have to improve. But I don't
feel the Ireland other threat that they were twenty twenty
three and previously obviously twenty twenty two when they had
(24:54):
that series win. Here they were playing some incredible rugby
and I just don't think they're at that peak again.
And there's gonna be the last game of their season,
so whether they can get up for it, you know,
one last shot, maybe they can. But I just don't
know that they're quite where they were were. Is it
say a couple of years ago.
Speaker 3 (25:10):
No, I think they peaked twenty three just prior to
that World Cup, and the All Blacks were underdogs, massive
underdogs for that quarterfinal at the World Cup because of
the way that Island had played because of their rise.
I don't know if they've regenerated enough since then or
(25:31):
significantly evolved their game, but I do give them a
red hot chance because of the fact that the All
Blacks have a completely new coaching team that made a
lot of changes. They yet to convince back at Fortressed
and Park thirty two years fifty two games unbeaten. That
certainly evokes a lot of confidence. So I expect the
(25:53):
All Blacks to win, but I think this could be
a very tight, tense, nervy match, similar to the one
in christ Church.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
Well, there's one thing guarantee you over the last couple
of weeks of the island will scored. The first try
inside the first two or three minutes just become a
at Arkill's Hill for the All Blacks terrible starf Yeah,
and then to get that fixed for this game is actually,
while we're talking about this, we see on our monitor
two and a half minutes in Italy scoring. That's something
they need to fix this week and Anti among has
spoke about that when we spoke to them at the
airport today. You know, they need to tidy a few
(26:22):
things up. And forty seven to seventeen have been largely comfortable.
Maybe you know there's a feeling of okay, they're on
the march here. This just does add a little bit
of tension that it was a clunky, scratchy performance and
there's a bit to improve as they had to eat in.
Speaker 3 (26:35):
Part there is yeah, and look it's it's challenging to
come in on ten days preparation for your opening tests
with literally a whole new management team other than Jason
Ryan to make widespread changes and so you don't expect
the All Blacks to be completely polished at this point.
And that's why I think there will be a bit
(26:56):
of nerves around this game. The All Blacks have a
lot to improve and Ireland will test them in several
areas even if they aren't where they were a few
years ago.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
Indeed, before we wrap things up here on Rugby Direct,
so we touched on a couple of those games or
Japan Ireland caught your eye over the last twenty four hours.
Very very hard to sort of watch everything. I'm sure
there'll be some people out there that have managed to
watch everything at this point. I watched Australia France after
getting back to the hotel last night, watched a lot
of Japan Ireland. Australia were right in that test match
(27:27):
until they weren't, and when they weren't, they completely lost
the plot against a French team that just began to
run rampant and send this with French teams when they
get a sniff and this goes back, you know, forever
in the French history. But I think back to some
of those games, the nine to a nine and semi
final against the All Blacks in the World Cup and
various other things. When they're on they can take the
(27:48):
game away from you and just start playing glows. Everything
just starts sticking for them. And felt like they were
doing that last night and just rolled over the top
of the Australians.
Speaker 3 (27:56):
They did. Yes, the Wallabies let at halftime and then
I think it was thirty to five that the points swing.
Look Australian rugby, their depths a made major problem and
we soought that's a starkly illustrated at first five you
lose Carter Gordon and Ben Donaldson, you throw in a
Rockie and you finish with Jock Campbell at ten. That's
(28:19):
a real indictment I think on your development and selection. Yeah.
I worry for the Wallabies. They should have beaten probably
all that. I felt like they blew it against Island
in their opening game. Then they collapse against Front, a
vastly stronger French team than the one that played the
or Blecks to be fair. And I think France, as
(28:43):
you say when they click, are exceptional and they're one
of the best teams in the world and I could
see them going really deep at the World Cup next year.
So there's no embarrassment to lose to them. But it's
a huge test now for the Wallabies against Italy and
Perth this week. That won't be easy for them's last test. Yeah,
(29:05):
and look, if Joe Schmitt can't turn around the Wallabies,
what have they wont have They won one of their last.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
Ten records of Paul and I was looking at that earlier.
He might end up having the worst record in the
professional era for the Walleries, which is quite remarkable given
the respect and the plaudits that he's had under his name.
But he is just you know, it's just not working.
It's just not working. I'm not sure I think Liz
(29:32):
Kiss is going to be able to do it. But
that lost not only past six tiers, they lost six
in a row. There only went over that was that
Scratchy went against Japan before they went on as part.
Speaker 4 (29:41):
Of the end of year tour.
Speaker 2 (29:45):
Yeah, I think I saw it was a Christie do
say it was Christie might have been some decent potentially
saying that basically this run would have had any other
will of his coach sacked.
Speaker 4 (29:54):
He's going anyway exactly.
Speaker 3 (29:55):
That's why. It's just not why the questions aren't being asked.
But yeah, at least Kiss got a hell of a
task to come in and take over that team with
just over a year to the World Cup. The spring
Box with a second string team beats a really informed
Scottish outfit to push them really deep in that game.
(30:19):
So I think that was notable for a number of reasons,
for the fact that the Box can literally change their
whole team and still beat a team that's in red hot.
Speaker 2 (30:28):
Form experimental team for the South Africans and they still beat,
as you say, a good, a really good Scotland side.
Speaker 3 (30:36):
Yeah, with Von Russell coming back and one of the
best nine ten to twelve combinations in the world, playing
a great brand of rugby and unfortunately for Scotland, they
seem to be able to push you know this top
teams to the brink and not Finnish the job.
Speaker 4 (30:51):
It's the execution that lets them down and it did again.
It was all backs last year. It was South Africa Argentina.
Speaker 2 (30:58):
Yeah, just make turning mistakes and that's probably what keeps
them from being, you know, top four nation in the
world at least, you know, in terms of who you
think that the four teams are. I just don't think
they're quite there as yet. They've just seen a bit
more ruthless because they've certainly got the ingredients. They've got
very good playmakers, great nineteen twelve combo, great outside backs.
So we're good under the ball, but just let them
(31:21):
down on the skills. Fiji woful against England in their
home game at at Liverpool at Everton Stadium.
Speaker 3 (31:28):
Yeah, changing their coach looks like a getting rid of
mcburn seems like a fastical, dumbfounding decision at this point,
just as the nation's championship has undermined itself by taking
the Japanese game to Newcastle and Fiji going to London
(31:52):
or Everton. I understand the financials and they need to
minimize travel, but at some point these nations are going
to have to front and go and play Fiji and
set aside some financial imperatives.
Speaker 2 (32:06):
Yes they do, and yeah, will that day come, I
don't know, but it does challenge the integrity of the
competition from day one when those sort of things are
happening and you're forcing player. I mean it's it's it's
already a globe trotting tournament. You were just impacting the
I think the integrity by having these away.
Speaker 4 (32:23):
I mean that.
Speaker 2 (32:24):
I think I saw a tweet saying that the grand
announcer at the Everton Stadium announced over the ten or
that it was Fiji's biggest home crowd ever.
Speaker 4 (32:31):
Well, yes it is to it so.
Speaker 3 (32:33):
It's not exactly.
Speaker 2 (32:36):
Yeah, it's a little bit fast scol like when the
you know the I don't Christ's when the Warriors would
have a game against the West Tigers, the West Tigers
of the home team, and it's everyone's you know, all
the bandages, there's the banners of the West Tigers.
Speaker 4 (32:48):
Well it's not really.
Speaker 2 (32:49):
A West Tigers home game, but I appreciate the thought
none the less.
Speaker 4 (32:52):
That'll do us for Rugby Direct.
Speaker 2 (32:54):
We'll be back on Thursday, once we've got an all
Blacks team for this big test at Eden Park. But Napes,
thank you as always in another busy week.
Speaker 3 (33:01):
Awaits indeed look forward to it.
Speaker 4 (33:04):
Can't wait.
Speaker 2 (33:05):
That has been Rugby Directs powered by our friends Access
Solutions slevrating you and your business to a higher level.
I thanks to to our producer Mark Kelly. We'll see
you Thursday.
Speaker 1 (33:14):
For more from News Talk st B, listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks ed B.
Follow this and our Wide Ranger podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Straight down the middle of Trumps, try.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
To get inside the game from every end goal. It's
Rugby Direct with Elliott Smith and Liam Napier, powered by
News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Welcome into Rugby Direct powered by Access Solutions, elevating you
and your business to a higher level. Elliott Smith with
me Liam Napier from The New Zealand Herald, as we
reflect on the All Blacks win over Italy forty seven seventeen.
Nape's first and foremost your your top line reactions to
(00:57):
that game where the All Blacks won convincingly but also
weirdly not convincingly.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
It's a great summary. E let's it's been a bit
of a whirl windaw hasn't it come back from the
capitol back in Auckland now. Look a lot to unpack
from that game. First of all, I think nice to
have early kickoff five pm, lots of families, lots of kids.
It was a bit of a battle to sell it out.
Italy are hard to sell them most other international teams,
so that was really notable. And then from the All Blacks. Yeah,
(01:27):
I think one really good quarter and a lot to
improve otherwise. Look, Italy are the big movers of the
six nations, but they were missing three of their starters
and they're at the back end of the year. They
come off successive losses to Japan and Wales. They were
(01:48):
very resolute in defense, but I thought the All Blacks
didn't adapt and had real trouble breaking through. They made
some good adjustments after halftime, got some pay and then
finished quite poorly as well. So all in all, I
think they've really summed up well. And he said it
was a pass, but he could tell he wasn't happy
with the overall nature of that performance.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Yeah, it was clunky, It was scratchy, wasn't it. And
I think the All Blacks have a lot to work
on head facing Irelands next week. I think it probably
depends on your point of view on life in general,
where you're a glass half full, glass half empty sort
of person. I would probably classify it as a minor
step back from the first week against France, because there
(02:33):
were a lot of expectations that they would build on
what worked well against France and continue to layer.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
That on, particularly having gone with a really strong team
and not an experimental one.
Speaker 4 (02:45):
That's right.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
So you go, okay, well, these players have had another
week in the saddle, another seven days to the ten
they had before the first game against France, so they
should be a bit clearer around some of the roles.
I didn't really see that for long periods of the game.
But when the All Blacks flicked the switch in that
thirteen fourteen minutes after halftime, they were utterly lethal and
(03:06):
a sign of what they can do when they everything
does click for them, and they closed the game down
and in the matter of thirteen to fourteen minutes with
those four tries after the break, But as Dave Renny rude,
they didn't kick on with it. And look, there are
a couple of reasons potentially for that. There was a
big long stoppage for Tomaso Allen, which took all the
momentum out of a game that was already won by
(03:26):
the All Blacks. But they were playing against fourteen for
a long period of the back half of the game
and didn't accelerate what was obviously going to be a win.
So there was for me a lot to work on
out of the game, and I think probably as set
at the top. A minor step back from what we
saw last week.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
Yeah, I think, look, this is a team that's in
its infancy and growing pains are very evident, and from
a game plan perspective, I think there has been quite
significant change. You can see the All Blacks intent to
retain the ball. They only kicked four times in the
first half last week it was six. They made the
(04:05):
I've got some stats here for you. They made three
hundred and twelve passes, which is their most in the
last fifteen years according to op the stats, and one
hundred and eighty eight carries, which is also their fourth
most in that same timeframe. So that tells you it
speaks to the game plan, to the ball retention. But
I just felt, particularly in that first half where the
(04:26):
Italians were filling the field and defending really well chopped tackles,
the All Blacks lacked variety and they did score that
one try with the grubber kick, and it just seems
a bit lateral, a bit predictable, and they didn't They
didn't win the physical battle in the collisions, they weren't
winning the breakdown, and they didn't generate enough go forward
(04:48):
to allow them to go wide. So they made those
adjustments after halftime, but against a better team, you want
them to happen earlier.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
I think I think so too, and I don't think
they switched. You know, we talk a lot about kicking
and the All Blacks with the maybe run first or
keep on hand mentality in the second In the first spel,
that was crying out for some tactical kicking to try
and put Italy on the back foot and disrupt the
game they wanted to play. That wasn't really forthcoming from
the All Blacks, and they seem to trust or believe
(05:17):
that the smithod was going to work. And I suppose
after halftime it did work, but I would have liked
to see perhaps a.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
Bit more kicking.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
You know. Kicking sort of been painted as the evil
art over the last few weeks, but I think there's
still a room for it in a game plan and
probably could have been unleashed in that first forty.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
Yeah, just when you're not getting that pay that go forwards,
and maybe that speaks to the lack of dominant ball
carriers that were that are in that All Black pack. Potentially,
I think the All Blacks miss Peter Laco he was
one of their better performers. I felt in the Test
against France. He's not a massive guy, but his ball
carrying is one of his real strengths. I thought Wallace
(05:57):
a Titi had probably his worst test for the All Blacks,
dropped a lot of pill and so yeah, that that
twenty minute period after halftime, the All Blacks did make
some adjustments, a little bit more tactical kicking, a lot
more clinical with their skill execution in the first half
(06:17):
as well. There are a few discipline issues. The scrum
got pings and look the referee and the pedantic performance
of the overarching TMO didn't help the nature of the spectacle.
But they didn't get that quick ruck speed that they
had in christ Church until the second half, and that's
why I think you saw passes flying out over the
(06:39):
touch line and a lot of inaccuracy because they were
playing with men in their faces and they struggled to
combat their Italian line speed.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
Yeah, Italy clearly worked out the way that the All
Blacks were going to attack and from Italy side that
I thought was really poor against Japan. You know, Dave
Renny put it down to the heat on Thursday. Maybe
that was a factor because they were a lot lot
better though it was similar to the six nation side
that we saw earlier in the year and perhaps with
a little bit more class and claw in that first spell.
(07:09):
They may have even been in front at halftime, but
it wasn't to be. But I think they can probably
hold their heads high a little bit from the way
that the All Blacks or they put the pressure on
the All Blacks, especially for the first forty or so
minutes of the game. If you're an opposition team though,
and say Ireland were watching that, the win watching that
because they're about to play. But what would they have
taken out is they prepare to play the All Blacks
(07:31):
this week.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
I think the All Blacks attacking blueprints clear and if
you can bring a bit of line speed, if you
can put a bit of pressure on, if you can
deny the All Blacks at quick ruck speed that go forward,
then you frustrate them. So I think you'd be trying
to do that. I think you'd still target the All
Blacks in the air. There wasn't a huge amount of that,
but the high ball the All Blacks the receiver are
(07:53):
remember McKenzie dropping one, So I think Islam will still
come for the all blacks in that department. And then look,
you have to be aware of the all blacks streats,
don't you, because when they do get it right, like
you say, they are lethal. And we saw that with
Will Jordan. Yeah, three tries, three tries record break in
the evening and that really did happen in a flash.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
It did, and he had one of the first spell
and then two bang bang very quickly to take the record.
And you know, fifty tries as a phenomenal feat in
test rug be.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
In fifty six tests, yeah, really is.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
He's not the highest New Zealand all time scorer, you know,
a lot more days when those games were you know,
the tour matches, various things, but to do it in
test matches is quite the achievement. And look there are
a club of six others that have reached fifty tries
at tess Levely, obviously past Starkala who was an exceptional
winger in his day as well. And you know, I
(08:48):
think the record's sixty nine, so what twenty water catch
and you wouldn't put it past him at this point.
The strike right that he's got, as you said, and
you know he's twenty eight now, you know, i'd think
probably in the second third of his career, probably at
this point in time. But he just showed his because
quality and this moved back to the right wing over
the last couple of you know, a lot of talk
(09:09):
around whether he should play fullback or right wing. Five
tries two weeks from the right wing just shows how
lethal he is on the edge, but he also pops up.
Speaker 4 (09:18):
Around the park. These aren't just falling over the line
for the tries.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
This is you know, Will Jordan having to go to
work and set things up, and his acceleration I think
is a second to none, and Will.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
Rugby acceleration anticipation I for a gap. You just think
of the many moments we've seen him from sithing through
on this occasion, I think he should be giving Josh
Morby a birthday present because I felt Morby was a
real game changer. He came on about thirty five minutes
(09:49):
into that match when Lee Occarter departed. Sounds like an
ac shoulder, which doesn't sound good for Lee. Ricarter had
a disrupted year, but Morby, for me, on debut, rarely
sees his chance. He was one of the best on display,
I felt, and he really brought similar qualities to Jordan. Pace, anticipation,
scything through on the edge, highly involved and certainly helped
(10:13):
Jordan break that record.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
He did, and I think his time that he spent
at fullback and will Jordan's the same, it does help
them and seeing just the different ways that defenses operate
where those gaps might be on the park, we'll be
having to slot in on the left wing, which is
probably a little bit unfamiliar for him, but you wouldn't
have really known.
Speaker 4 (10:33):
I thought he was.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
Really really good. It's a remarkable story, isn't it. Given
he went to France and was seemingly lost to New
Zealand rugby, comes back and now on his day, on
his birthday, makes his debut for the All Blacks. Has
really put his hand up.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
We could almost categorize him as a journeyman. He played
for Southland, Northland, the Hurricanes, that seemed like as a
newer New Zealand career was over when he went to France.
He cut that deal one year short to come back,
had a breakout season with the Canes and even before
he departed he did look to have those qualities but
to do it this year in a championship winning squad
and then to make your debut in that fashion, I
(11:13):
think it was a real statement performance.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
It was, and look when he came back, it was like, Okay,
that's a good pickup for the Hurricanes, but no one's
thinking international level. This isn't a boost for the All Blacks.
But it speaks to his ability this year and the
way that he played that he was deserving opportunity and
I thought took it as well. Anton Signa, I thought
really added something when he came on at halftime with
Luke Jacobson having a carf Nigol as well. He's not
(11:38):
the biggest player on the park. I know he's had
a little bit of size, but he's just got tenacity.
He's got fight in them and he gets over the
game line with a lot of his carries. He's always active,
always involved in the game. And yeah, I think we'll
see a lot more of Anton Signa in a Black jersey.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
It was nice to see him get an extended period
of time rather than ten minutes at the end. Came on,
like you said, straight after the break and look he
at his parents, his brother and brothers and Leicester Fengenoku,
who was his roommate at Nelson College when he came out,
and he's on as a teenager from Germany, so very
special night for him, and I agree, I think we'll
(12:15):
see a lot more of him, I thought, Sam Dowry
and Ethan the group was shown again for the All Blacks.
Billy Proctor not his best test, missed that telling tackle
on Menoncello early and there was one other pass which
didn't stick. So yet to make that step up to
(12:36):
test rugby, I think, and that center Jersey is probably
quintupires to lose at this point in time.
Speaker 4 (12:42):
Yeah, I think.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
I said on Thursday, I'm not convinced that Quint to
Pyre is a Test level thirteen, but jury's probably out
on Billy Procter being at Test level thirteen as well.
Just didn't quite click frohim. I think he threw that
pass that went over the touch line from memory in
the first spell it was. It was a clunky night,
I thought from Billy Proctor. The thing about Billy Procter
is he's always active in the game and even when
(13:05):
he perhaps isn't playing well, he's got a lot of
involved in It makes a lot of tackles. He's very
very good defensively apart from that obviously obviously look but
even when he's falling off tackles, it doesn't seem to
bother him. He gets back in the game very very quickly,
and I think that'll hold him in good Steed and
David and he's All Blacks with that that biggest philosophy
back in game go again. But again we're just not
(13:26):
seeing that the quality of what we've seen at super
rugby level for a few seasons now, of what he
is capable of. So I think you'd probably look this
week to go Quinta Pie comes back to thirteen.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
Yeah, I think so. But I agree that thirteen and
six still remain very contestable positions for the All Blacks.
And that's probably been true for at least a year
or two now.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
It is, and no one's has managed to lock it down,
you know, probably get onto some team stuff in a
moment or two round with the changes they might make
for Ireland. But I think we've seen some players really outshone,
you know that perhaps the other contenders in the Jersey,
you know, Luke Jacobson is a shame. It was gonna
be so Anton Signia for forty minutes. But it was
also shame we didn't see Luke J. Gibson kick on
(14:09):
for a bit more in that game, because I thought
he had another pretty good opening forty minutes. I think
he might have been pinged once, but.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
He was one of the all blacks bests in that
first time.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
Yeah, I was really impressed by what he did. A
lot of he made a couple of line breaks or
half break opportunities, so I really liked what he did
and is seemingly slotting and really nicely to that Dave
any system. Rubin Love at ten second testing probably didn't
shine too much, almost got yellow carded or did briefly.
(14:39):
What did you make of rubin Love's second test at ten?
Speaker 3 (14:42):
I wouldn't say it was authoritative, didn't notice him a
great deal. I think I think he can probably take
a wee bit more control of the match. But I
wouldn't say he was playing off the back foot. But
he certainly certainly went on the front foot. And they
didn't have that speed, that pace, that same tempo that
they enjoyed and Christ it so a learning experience for him,
(15:05):
but I think it wasn't a step forward on what
we saw the previous week. You know, I think about
him challenging the line at least a couple of times
in christ Church and siding through and putting others away.
There wasn't a great deal o that was there.
Speaker 4 (15:22):
No, there wasn't.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
I think he had that nice fifty to twenty two
during the second spell. I thought he in the first
game against Ransie didn't overplay his hand. I think this
time maybe he underplayed his hand a little bit. And
it's a fine balance I think for a ten at
Test level, especially in U ten, to get that sense
of managing the game. And perhaps that was a trickier
(15:45):
game to manage given some of the disruptions and various
other things. But I don't know if Yeah, Similarly, I
don't know if it was a step forward. I don't
know if it was a step backwards either. I thought
it was just a fine performance that without rate going
to any great heights. So we have Bill Blacks two
from two now. Just a final thought on that game.
I'm not sure if you got anything else, but the
(16:06):
referrering I thought was one of the worst referring performances
I've seen in a Test matchup that he completely lost
control of that game in the last twenty minutes or so.
Luke Ramos it was the first time he refereed to
the All Blacks, second time referred Italy after controlling their
Six Nations game against England earlier in the year. He
is the boss on the field, not the TMO in
the box. And this is the continuing problem in world
(16:28):
rugby is that some bloke with a whole bunch of
feeds gets to choose when to interrupt the game and
Ben Whitehouse of Wales was the latest to do that
and it has just become a blight on the game.
It was the same in Australia, France, same in Japan, Ireland.
These blokes interrupts. It's awful when they interrupt, but it's
even worse when they get things wrong. And when they
intervened on that Leroy Carter, Will Jordan try in the
(16:51):
first spell incorrectly?
Speaker 4 (16:53):
What are you doing? Man?
Speaker 2 (16:55):
I just I It does my headden and I've spoken
a million times. The people are probably second on the podcast,
but we have to get rid of the TMO. I'm sorry.
If you're not gonna get rid of it, it's try,
no try or ex of foul play. It's just it's
beyond a joke.
Speaker 3 (17:08):
Now, yeah, well this was absurd, just the level of interference,
unnecessary interference. I'm with you to a point. I think
it's needed for the Howler and World Rugby are meant
to be taking it off site to an NRL bunker
type situation, and you can only hope that's going to
(17:28):
minimize the influence because this was a blight on the spectacle.
It was already stop start and French refs, unfortunately do
tend to be that way and the All Blacks seem
to get these inexperienced refs quite often. But between the
French ref and the TMO, it really did have a
massive impact on the nature of that contest. So look, look,
(17:55):
and the frustration is that Super Rugby's got this right
and then you go to the elite part of rugby
and it becomes a face. So it needs to be sorted.
Speaker 4 (18:08):
It does.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
I don't think would Rugby have any idea how to sort.
I think that's the problem is that they have washed
their hands of this because they've gone too far and
they don't have to reel it back in, and they
don't seem to have any interest in reeling it back
in and they've appointed referee failed referees by and large,
or people that have never refereed a rugby game to
go sit in a box and watch a bunch of
feeds in intervene, like when was the last time you
(18:30):
saw Ben white House referee game? When was the last
time you saw Murray's read vistas and referee game Bret Cohner.
These blokes are full time tmos and yeah, it's a
specialist skill because you've got to watch a lot of feeds.
But they, you know, in terms of their actual involvement
in a game, they don't have the feel for it.
I don't think Luke Ramos had the field for it
last night either, But these blokes don't know so rain toever,
(18:51):
it just winds me up, and the sooner it changes,
the better. Let's talk about potential All Blacks changes for
the game against Ireland at Eden Park. I guess there's
a few players that set out the game on the
WEEKI and for a week the way through. Though.
Speaker 4 (19:11):
You know Cody Taylor will start at hooker.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
I presume props Ethan de Groot, Fletcher Yule humidly comes
back into sight head.
Speaker 3 (19:20):
Yeah, potentially either way around. I think Tywer Olomax will
be involved. Locks you would think Patrick Twoplo two will
come back into the mix, but probably not in a
starting capacity. Sam Dari's played really well to provide. That
was his first match back the loose four composition. Peter
Luckey's got to start for me somewhere.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
I think so. Yeah, he just had as a lot
and I think it was notably missed last night. It
wasn't helped by w was TD having a poor game,
Luke Jacobson, Carf Nickel. It didn't sound serious. We'll probably
find a little bit more about it on Monday, but
you could change things around a little bit there. I guess, Look,
if Jacobson's fail, I'm starting him again, but maybe you
(20:03):
look at a signet. If he's not fit.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
Yeah, I would be surprised if they've really said that
it was cramp. So if Jacobson's out, then he's pulling
the wall over our eyes. But if Jacobson's fit, then
I would expect it to be Ardi eight's, Jacobs seven
and Lucky six. I don't think you changed the halves.
Quincy Pie comes back at center, and probably Caleb Clark
(20:27):
on the left wing, and I think Morby deserves another
crack from the bench in the outside back department.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
Well, I thought Morby was excellent left I mean, did
it do enough to have a crack at Eating Park.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
There's a real case for it. I think most teams
like to have at least one power wing as a
as a as a contrast. But look, Morbe was excellent
and I wouldn't be shocked if he's rewarded with another start.
And then there's other guys who haven't featured. Do they
come back into the mix, Boden Barrett.
Speaker 2 (20:59):
Well, the way the All Blacks have compiled their bench
over the last couple of weeks, ten suced with mckinziet
fall back and love at ten that they don't think
they need ten covers. So even Barrat has to come
in and start presumably at fifteen or tim which I
can't see them doing for this Test match. Or again,
he's not in the twenty three, so maybe he switches
with mackenzie and they bring Boden Barridon hasn't had a
(21:19):
lot of rugby, it's been a while, but yes they're
rugby at some point. So I've been intrigued to see
what they do the I thought Antheline Brown added a
lot off the bench last night as well, but I
don't know that he's done enough to justify a starting
Berth or a run on Berth alongside Jordi Barrett. Caleb
Clark would be interesting. I don't think he had his
best game against France last week, but he is under
(21:41):
the high ball, one of the All Blacks best and
he know he's Eaton Park very very well. And Ireland
will kick at the All Blacks. You can guarantee that.
Speaker 3 (21:49):
Yep, they will. And other changes. I want to see
Kyle Preston on the bench. I think he had a
lot more. There's always going to be a massive drop
off with roy Guards and he could play eighty minutes
against Islands. But if you're going to bring on somebody,
I think it should be Preston. I would also bring
back new Mia and I suffer more as your other
(22:10):
front row cover. I just felt like they added more
in christ Church than what the All Blacks got off
the bench.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
And Wellington, yeah, I think that Hurricanes loose. Sorry the
Hurricanes front row. Whether you go yeah Newell off the
bench or Lomax I think those three are the ideal
bench players. And then you say Takeyoho byby Signa gets
another crack and we'll be in the boutside back. So
maybe there are minimal changes at best. And it's hard
(22:38):
to see where these players we talked about on Thursday
night after the team naming, but it's hard to see
a Parker, A Barrett being selected. Preston maybe maybe, but
I think there will be at least one or two
players that don't get the nod for the scam at
Eden Park and don't play any game any part in
the series.
Speaker 3 (22:57):
Yeah, someone park is a big body. Maybe they potentially
think he could bring some punch, but it would be
pretty tough to not have Signa in the mix somewhere.
What about Islands, This has been one of the great
rivalries with the All Blacks over the past eleven years.
I think that's six and five since twenty sixteen Islands
(23:17):
breakthrough win in Chicago. The All Blacks had won the
last three though, and the latest one of those was
in Chicago last year. We were there. It was very convincing.
They blew them away in the second half. I think
from memory with another strong light flurry Cook Quarter blitz.
Where do you see islands? As this was always going
(23:39):
to be the All Black's toughest test of their three
opening Nations Championship games, do you give them a worried
um No?
Speaker 2 (23:48):
I thought that, Look, they made a few changes last
night against Japan and Newcast, so I thought that was
a bit clunky. I suspect they've probably been targeting this
game against the All Blacks, though, and that makes them dangerous.
They obviously been Australia last week. But I thought that
I'm convincing against Japan, and maybe that was down to
a few factors. It was a weird atmosphere Newcastle neutral territory,
(24:10):
even though it was a supposed Jampanese home game. But
they just took a while, and I think Japan had
been not actually the big movies of the last couple
of weeks. But you know, they beat Italy convincingly last
week and we're hanging on twenty six to twenty down
with about five to go, maybe a little bit longer,
and Ireland get the late penalty and then late tried
it to finish things off, but they were right in
the mix, and you know, if the game had fallen
(24:32):
a little bit differently, they could well have ended up
with a narrow wind or a drawer or something like that.
So I think Ireland will have to improve for Eden Park,
the All Black says we've talked about for the last
twenty odd Nerds will have to improve. But I don't
feel the Ireland other threat that they were twenty twenty
three and previously obviously twenty twenty two when they had
(24:54):
that series win. Here they were playing some incredible rugby
and I just don't think they're at that peak again.
And there's gonna be the last game of their season,
so whether they can get up for it, you know,
one last shot, maybe they can. But I just don't
know that they're quite where they were were. Is it
say a couple of years ago.
Speaker 3 (25:10):
No, I think they peaked twenty three just prior to
that World Cup, and the All Blacks were underdogs, massive
underdogs for that quarterfinal at the World Cup because of
the way that Island had played because of their rise.
I don't know if they've regenerated enough since then or
(25:31):
significantly evolved their game, but I do give them a
red hot chance because of the fact that the All
Blacks have a completely new coaching team that made a
lot of changes. They yet to convince back at Fortressed
and Park thirty two years fifty two games unbeaten. That
certainly evokes a lot of confidence. So I expect the
(25:53):
All Blacks to win, but I think this could be
a very tight, tense, nervy match, similar to the one
in christ Church.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
Well, there's one thing guarantee you over the last couple
of weeks of the island will scored. The first try
inside the first two or three minutes just become a
at Arkill's Hill for the All Blacks terrible starf Yeah,
and then to get that fixed for this game is actually,
while we're talking about this, we see on our monitor
two and a half minutes in Italy scoring. That's something
they need to fix this week and Anti among has
spoke about that when we spoke to them at the
airport today. You know, they need to tidy a few
(26:22):
things up. And forty seven to seventeen have been largely comfortable.
Maybe you know there's a feeling of okay, they're on
the march here. This just does add a little bit
of tension that it was a clunky, scratchy performance and
there's a bit to improve as they had to eat in.
Speaker 3 (26:35):
Part there is yeah, and look it's it's challenging to
come in on ten days preparation for your opening tests
with literally a whole new management team other than Jason
Ryan to make widespread changes and so you don't expect
the All Blacks to be completely polished at this point.
And that's why I think there will be a bit
(26:56):
of nerves around this game. The All Blacks have a
lot to improve and Ireland will test them in several
areas even if they aren't where they were a few
years ago.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
Indeed, before we wrap things up here on Rugby Direct,
so we touched on a couple of those games or
Japan Ireland caught your eye over the last twenty four hours.
Very very hard to sort of watch everything. I'm sure
there'll be some people out there that have managed to
watch everything at this point. I watched Australia France after
getting back to the hotel last night, watched a lot
of Japan Ireland. Australia were right in that test match
(27:27):
until they weren't, and when they weren't, they completely lost
the plot against a French team that just began to
run rampant and send this with French teams when they
get a sniff and this goes back, you know, forever
in the French history. But I think back to some
of those games, the nine to a nine and semi
final against the All Blacks in the World Cup and
various other things. When they're on they can take the
(27:48):
game away from you and just start playing glows. Everything
just starts sticking for them. And felt like they were
doing that last night and just rolled over the top
of the Australians.
Speaker 3 (27:56):
They did. Yes, the Wallabies let at halftime and then
I think it was thirty to five that the points swing.
Look Australian rugby, their depths a made major problem and
we soought that's a starkly illustrated at first five you
lose Carter Gordon and Ben Donaldson, you throw in a
Rockie and you finish with Jock Campbell at ten. That's
(28:19):
a real indictment I think on your development and selection. Yeah.
I worry for the Wallabies. They should have beaten probably
all that. I felt like they blew it against Island
in their opening game. Then they collapse against Front, a
vastly stronger French team than the one that played the
or Blecks to be fair. And I think France, as
(28:43):
you say when they click, are exceptional and they're one
of the best teams in the world and I could
see them going really deep at the World Cup next year.
So there's no embarrassment to lose to them. But it's
a huge test now for the Wallabies against Italy and
Perth this week. That won't be easy for them's last test. Yeah,
(29:05):
and look, if Joe Schmitt can't turn around the Wallabies,
what have they wont have They won one of their last.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
Ten records of Paul and I was looking at that earlier.
He might end up having the worst record in the
professional era for the Walleries, which is quite remarkable given
the respect and the plaudits that he's had under his name.
But he is just you know, it's just not working.
It's just not working. I'm not sure I think Liz
(29:32):
Kiss is going to be able to do it. But
that lost not only past six tiers, they lost six
in a row. There only went over that was that
Scratchy went against Japan before they went on as part.
Speaker 4 (29:41):
Of the end of year tour.
Speaker 2 (29:45):
Yeah, I think I saw it was a Christie do
say it was Christie might have been some decent potentially
saying that basically this run would have had any other
will of his coach sacked.
Speaker 4 (29:54):
He's going anyway exactly.
Speaker 3 (29:55):
That's why. It's just not why the questions aren't being asked.
But yeah, at least Kiss got a hell of a
task to come in and take over that team with
just over a year to the World Cup. The spring
Box with a second string team beats a really informed
Scottish outfit to push them really deep in that game.
(30:19):
So I think that was notable for a number of reasons,
for the fact that the Box can literally change their
whole team and still beat a team that's in red hot.
Speaker 2 (30:28):
Form experimental team for the South Africans and they still beat,
as you say, a good, a really good Scotland side.
Speaker 3 (30:36):
Yeah, with Von Russell coming back and one of the
best nine ten to twelve combinations in the world, playing
a great brand of rugby and unfortunately for Scotland, they
seem to be able to push you know this top
teams to the brink and not Finnish the job.
Speaker 4 (30:51):
It's the execution that lets them down and it did again.
It was all backs last year. It was South Africa Argentina.
Speaker 2 (30:58):
Yeah, just make turning mistakes and that's probably what keeps
them from being, you know, top four nation in the
world at least, you know, in terms of who you
think that the four teams are. I just don't think
they're quite there as yet. They've just seen a bit
more ruthless because they've certainly got the ingredients. They've got
very good playmakers, great nineteen twelve combo, great outside backs.
So we're good under the ball, but just let them
(31:21):
down on the skills. Fiji woful against England in their
home game at at Liverpool at Everton Stadium.
Speaker 3 (31:28):
Yeah, changing their coach looks like a getting rid of
mcburn seems like a fastical, dumbfounding decision at this point,
just as the nation's championship has undermined itself by taking
the Japanese game to Newcastle and Fiji going to London
(31:52):
or Everton. I understand the financials and they need to
minimize travel, but at some point these nations are going
to have to front and go and play Fiji and
set aside some financial imperatives.
Speaker 2 (32:06):
Yes they do, and yeah, will that day come, I
don't know, but it does challenge the integrity of the
competition from day one when those sort of things are
happening and you're forcing player. I mean it's it's it's
already a globe trotting tournament. You were just impacting the
I think the integrity by having these away.
Speaker 4 (32:23):
I mean that.
Speaker 2 (32:24):
I think I saw a tweet saying that the grand
announcer at the Everton Stadium announced over the ten or
that it was Fiji's biggest home crowd ever.
Speaker 4 (32:31):
Well, yes it is to it so.
Speaker 3 (32:33):
It's not exactly.
Speaker 2 (32:36):
Yeah, it's a little bit fast scol like when the
you know the I don't Christ's when the Warriors would
have a game against the West Tigers, the West Tigers
of the home team, and it's everyone's you know, all
the bandages, there's the banners of the West Tigers.
Speaker 4 (32:48):
Well it's not really.
Speaker 2 (32:49):
A West Tigers home game, but I appreciate the thought
none the less.
Speaker 4 (32:52):
That'll do us for Rugby Direct.
Speaker 2 (32:54):
We'll be back on Thursday, once we've got an all
Blacks team for this big test at Eden Park. But Napes,
thank you as always in another busy week.
Speaker 3 (33:01):
Awaits indeed look forward to it.
Speaker 4 (33:04):
Can't wait.
Speaker 2 (33:05):
That has been Rugby Directs powered by our friends Access
Solutions slevrating you and your business to a higher level.
I thanks to to our producer Mark Kelly. We'll see
you Thursday.
Speaker 1 (33:14):
For more from News Talk st B, listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
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