August 23, 2026 • 38 mins
On the latest episode of Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier dissect the All Blacks' historic 17-point victory over the Springboks at Ellis Park, one of the country's greatest results on South African soil.
What does the statement win mean for the remainder of the series, and have the All Blacks established themselves as clear favourites? The boys break down the key performances, the tactical trends that defined the contest, and what South Africa must do to respond.
They also react to Dave Rennie's team naming for Wednesday morning's clash against the Lions, with Richie Mo'unga set to wear the No.10 jersey for the first time since the 2023 Rugby World Cup final.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our Wide Ranger podcasts now on iHeartRadio straight down.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
The middle of truck Sky, try.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
To get inside the game from every end goal. It's
Rugby Direct with Elliott Smith and Leam Nabier powered by
News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Welcome into Rugby Direct powered by four Clive Solutions, lifting
you and your business to a higher label. Elliott Smith
Liam Napier in Johannesburg as we reflect on a pretty
big win for the All Blacks thirty three seventeen over
South Africa at Alice Park. Liam, Quite remarkable, wasn't it? So?
(00:59):
I think I took the All Blacks by three? On
the pod you I think when South Africa win.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
The box by three?
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Yeah, And here we are, the All Blacks have one
by seven against South Africa, pretty much against the odds
as well. We'll dig into it obviously and then get
through all the facets of the game. But it's always
so like opening up and you're giving us your top
line thoughts on what you made of that game.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
It was a night of knights, wasn't an Elliott's There's
no grander, greater experience in world rugby than going to
Alice Park sixty two thousand. There might have been three
thousand New Zealand fans. So what's that fifty nine thousand
screaming South Africans. It's a sea of green, It's a
magic occasion. The atmosphere at the hostility like nothing else.
(01:46):
They fly the passenger planes over the roof damp that
makes the hairs on the back of your next stand
up and what for. It's not as simple as it
to say, fifty minutes the box dominated, but they had
the All Blacks on the rack. They were one more
scrum penalty away from potentially inflicting a yellow card a
(02:09):
penalty try potentially on the All Blacks and probably just
steamrolling home. And the All Blacks summoned their spirit from
the dead. They had a scrum from the ages and produced.
It wasn't a comeback because they were actually in front,
which was defied belief in many respects at the time,
(02:31):
but summoned a remarkable last quarter surge to come away
with a victory that I don't know if anyone predicted
the All Blacks going Alice Park and winning by thirteen plus.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
No, I don't think anyone did that. It was built
on immense character from the All Blacks. And you know
this has been instilled in a very short space of
time some backbone into this team and it was certainly
missing last year. Look, we did see aspects of it
in the previous regime. We saw a good win against
(03:03):
Ireland in Dublin, we saw a big win against the
Box at Eden Park last year. But by and large,
backbone had been missing from this All Blacks team and
it felt like it had been restored last night at
Alice Park. And that's not to say they're going to
go on and win the series, although they put themselves
in a good position now to do so. It's not
to say that they're deserving even of the number one
(03:24):
world ranking, but it was a win in spite of
almost everything that could go wrong. Really, they managed to
find a way. And I think that is the most
compelling thing if you're an All Blacks fan listening to this,
is that in spite of the stat shed and we're
digging to some stats shortly, but the stats would suggest
(03:47):
that the All Blacks had no chance of winning, let
alone winning by seventeen points, and that's what they managed
to do. So I think it was a win of
real conviction for Dave Rinny's coaching methods for his coaching team,
and I think there was a lot to like, even
though they weren't even really able to implement the game
plan that they've talked about about playing at pace and
(04:08):
doing that sort of thing. Their rock speed was slower
than South Africa, they weren't able to get you know,
some players involved in the game as much as they
would have liked.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
They kicked once more than the Spring Else.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
They didn't have a lot of post contact meters from
their ball.
Speaker 4 (04:20):
Carriers, no, at least one hundreds less than the Box,
which was quite evident in the first forty to fifty minutes. Yeah,
and look, this was a Springbox team that had won
twelve in the trot, that swept every major test nation
in the past year. They won thirty one of their
last thirty four games. They hadn't lost since that Egan
(04:42):
Park game. They were only rarely missing Sair Calisi, so
largely at full strength at their spiritual home. Everything stacked
in their favor. So it was a remarkable win and
it really is testament to what Dave Rennie has done
in a little over two months, seven games, he has
(05:07):
rebuilt the culture of that team. He has really empowered
the players to take ownership, to have real buy in,
to strip a lot of things out and empowered this
team and rebuilt it. You know, a number of selections
have been questioned, and he said the courage of his convictions.
(05:28):
He surrounded himself with people he knows and trusts, and
it's teams don't win in those circumstances unless they're unified
and they have real internal character. Like you say, you
don't face that sort of adversity, have your backs to
the wall and respond like that. If you're not on
(05:48):
the same page.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
The comparison I'm going to draw and an interesting one.
I'll be intrigued to get your thoughts because you were there.
I wasn't on that occasion was twenty twenty two when
they were beaten the previous week in im Bibella, and
you know, it felt like it was Ian Foster's last stand.
Yet the players unified and turned in a performance to
really be proud of, ultimately saving in Foster's job. There
(06:12):
were more hiccups to come along the way, but that
was a better performance I thought last night than the
one even they won four years ago.
Speaker 4 (06:22):
Yeah, well, I think Foster's tenure was deeply flawed in
a lot of ways. And I'm still of the mind
that he was largely saved by his assistant coaches Jason
Ryan and Joe Schmidt. But he did have the support
of the players, and that was very evident when they
fronted Mark Robinson and basically demanded that he retain his posts.
(06:45):
So he had the support largely of the senior players
of that group. And again, you don't have that sort
of response without that support, without that unity, and Raiser
didn't have that increasingly, and his regime deteriorated because he
lost the dressing room because the messages weren't getting.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Through, game planers flowed.
Speaker 4 (07:10):
That's right, And the stark reality for me, Elliott is
if you compare the last four All Blacks tests against
the Box prior to this one, they lead all of those,
even the one at Wellington, the record loss. They led
that game at halftime. So all four of those games
they collapsed to some degree in the second half. And
(07:31):
that was the crippling element of Razors regime. After halftime,
when the coaches are delivering the messages, they fell to
pieces in those three quarters. Well, the All Blacks flipped
the script and had that last quarter suage. They won
the second half twenty one points to three, and there's
many elements to that, but you don't do that if
(07:54):
you're not aligned with the coaches, if your team's not unified.
So I think there is comparisons in terms of the
player support that Fossy had and Renny.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Big moments in the game. With the fifty five minute
scrum penalty that New Zealand got and they were under
their sticks. South Africa would win a scrum penalty, scrum again,
win a scrump penalty, scrum again, and then the script
flips and the All Blacks win a scrump penalty under
immense pressure on their line and with the scrum buckling
(08:30):
couple of replacement props to so offered a moor out
there as well, and they turned the tables on South Africa.
They don't win that, and as you mentioned at the top,
the game might quickly unravel, but there's no doubt that
that was the ultimate turning point in the contest for mine.
Speaker 4 (08:46):
That's fifty fifth minute mark. The Springboks had five scrum
penalties to that point. They their starting front row did
an absolute number on the All Blacks. Now Nathan the groups.
Dave Renny revealed that he left the Captain's run early
on the Friday before the game and spent a large
time in bed. He was sick, so maybe that had
some contributing well.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
He also went down with a knee injury as well
early in the game and then was getting warped by
wilco Low and then had the head clash.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
With Georsh Lord's so tough hold for us.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
Yeah, had roughold twenty four hours for Ethan the group.
But the All Blacks couldn't lay the scrum platform early.
You know, that was always mentioned as a key part
of the game, and they couldn't even get parity until
later on the game.
Speaker 4 (09:29):
It was a complete demolition job and on both sides
of the scrum ox Niche was he got the wood
over Tyrol Lomax. The scrum is back pedaling. I had
some concerns prior to the match about the bull carrying
within the All Black pack. I think that came to
fruition and I think they did miss Patrick two Polow too,
because along with the replacement front row, I think to
(09:49):
perv going into Locke from blind sides did help shore
up that scrum a wee bit because George Bauer came
on and went into Lock and that did seem to
make a difference. And also ox Niche was replaced the
spring box loose head prop at the forty fifth minute mark,
so I think if he stays on the field, I
(10:10):
don't know how much gas he's got left in the
tank because he was under an injury cloud pre match,
but if he's on that field, I don't know. The
All Blacks won that scrump penalty on their own line,
but he's one of the world's best scrummages. So there's
lots of different moments with the moments, aren't there. But
the starting box front row demolitian job, and you're right
that the All Blacks front row, and I think George
(10:32):
Bauer got a lot of credit.
Speaker 3 (10:34):
I suffer on Moore.
Speaker 4 (10:35):
Was a tank and Fletcher newl big performance, but to
going into Locke as well and ox Niche coming off,
I think they were big elements in the remarkable flip
of that dynamic.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
Yeah, it's quite remarkable because we didn't get a scrum
until the fifteen minute Lark, so it was a long
way for the first scrum. And you look at the stats,
the All Blacks fit fifteen stafage is four, so a
lot of the All Blacks going back pedling was on
their own ball.
Speaker 4 (11:02):
Yeah, and that also speaks to the spring Box wasteful
of opportunities. They committed twin twenty three turnovers and Dave
Reni spoke a lot in there about the Box being
the best team at converting and the twenty two well
they flipped that script as well, didn't they.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
The Blacks had nine entries to South Africa's ten and
leaving with average of three point six points to zero
point seven.
Speaker 4 (11:27):
Yeah, and I think the Box average five point five
points per inch generally so and all Bcks defense, yes,
a massive scrambling defense. Look, I thought Jordi Barrett, he
was my man of the match, made fifteen tackles, he
got five turnovers. He was the guy who dislodged the
ball from Malcolm Marx. If the Box score there, maybe
(11:48):
it's a different game as well that they had the
heat on. He loses the ball just out and there
was at least one other time when Jordi Barrett strips
the ball in contact.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
He was a massive effort.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
It was. It was huge. Let's stick into some of
the other key moments of the game. The All Blacks
heading the front early with the will Jordan Trith or
Cam Reguard. Maybe it was best match. He's really kicking wise,
but I thought his passing was really really good. Really
Crisp just probably failed. Was one game one moment where
(12:22):
he got the All Blacks out of a bit of
trouble on their own line and the food spell got
that much about the forty five meter mark. But what
Rygud was able to do with those bullet passes on
either flag and they used the short side a lot
in that game, I thought was really really good.
Speaker 4 (12:36):
Yeah, I thought Regard was excellent, to be honest. His
kicking game was good. He tried to snipe a couple
of times, and his booming boot definitely helped. And I
thought the All Blex kicking game in general increasingly got better.
You had Roy guards, you had Quinta pile that telling
fifty twenty two. Jeordi Barrett put one in late as well,
(12:57):
so I thought they varied their game well. And yeah,
with Roy guards, the Alblecks had a lot of success
on the edge they went to Tupuvai when he was
at blindside early on the on the edges and number
of times he got that off float away for Josh Morby.
But that's really where they made their meters. We mentioned
the post contact meters and the lack of them, and
(13:18):
I think that speaks to the lack of ball carriers
in the pack. The line speed and the gag tackling
from the Box was very effective and it was largely
bill Black's backs that made the meters or certainly wider
out that bill backs couldn't make a lot of headway
through the middle, so I think that's something they needed
to address. And also the high ball the spring Box
(13:41):
used kept from the base a lot with Grant Williams
if they've been holland charged them down. Once Sasha gotten
up and under, he regathered it. So the Box certainly
won the aerial battle they did.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
And again this goes in spite of everything, the hill
Blacks were able to find a way the aerial battle.
They couldn't contain it. Obviously, they're using the wingers going
backwards and a couple occasions they had success with that,
but by and large, so I forgot we were able
to them where they wanted to. But I thought South
Africa were rather limited in their attack and Yas Visa
(14:14):
carried hard. I think he made the most meters in
the game quite comfortably. Easter Hays and I thought carried
strongly as well Peter Steph on occasion. But it just
painted the difference, I guess between the two teams. The
All Blacks look for a couple of strong carries and
then looked to send it wide or find it a
midfield overlap or a mismatch, yeah, or to kick or
(14:37):
to kick, whereas South Africa were just looking to bash
the line and then they had they had success with that,
but then they got to a point and they weren't
really able to go any further, didn't have the variations
or the ability to back up quickly and use Visa
again or whatever it might have been to really trouble
the All Blacks.
Speaker 4 (14:53):
Well, their strength was there r Kelly's Hill, their their
the ego took over. Just going to the scrum and
just going to the air is not going to be
enough five tries to one, like, you have to do more,
And I think that painted a stark reality. We talked
about those entries into the twenty two. Will just use
(15:15):
the ball a little bit more, do something different, change
it up. One of the South African Juno has mentioned
to me after the game that referees very rarely world
ward five six five six penalties for the same offense.
And the All Blacks won that moment. But the spring
Box need more variety and what they did they did
exceptionally well, but it was limited. As you said, it
(15:37):
was conservative as predictable. They need to throw something else
at the All Blacks.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
Will they let Tony Brown off the chaining for this week?
Will be able to do anything?
Speaker 4 (15:45):
Why bother having him in the coaching him? If you're
not going to use him, he's put in a box.
He's That was pure Russy And it was the same
at Eden Park and their defeat there. That was a
very old conservative team and performance. And then the next
week I heard that that team that they selected and
(16:07):
they named it on the Monday. Russy's just gone in
and said we're naming this team and the assistant coaches
were like, what He's completely changed the script. But the
way they played certainly had a lot more Tony Ball
in it that didn't it. And so you've got him
in the mix. He's one of the best attacking mines
in the game. And you've got some talent there. You've
(16:27):
got Sasha, You've got Villains and Colby, Grant Williams, all
these players, but you're not utilizing them well.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Films tore the All Blacks to shreds last year in Wellington.
He was excellent and played some had some wonderful lines
that the All Blacks just couldn't handle, but didn't feel
like he had any real opportunities in that game to
speak of. He was well contained, but also didn't get
any chances really to show what he can do.
Speaker 4 (16:54):
Yeah, maybe the box are worried about their fitness and conditioning.
I don't think they can live with the All Blacks,
but they can play a little bit more without playing
too much.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
Yeah. Absolutely, And that kind of goes back to the
point around Little Black surging in the fine quarter is
that apart from the reserve props and from the back
up front row, there was no standout performance from the reserves.
It was all starters that were able to find their
way through in that last twenty minutes and have some
(17:25):
big moments. And yeah, this wasn't the bombs. The All
Blacks bomb squad of the reserves lifting them up. It
was very much the starters, you know, being able to
roll over the top of the South African bomb squad
in the closing stages.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
Yeah, well that's right.
Speaker 4 (17:38):
They did nullify the Box bomb squad and that replacement
front row made a big impact. But three of the
All Black's bench, Kyle Preston, Antonina Brown and Peter Luckeye
were used for five minutes, so that speaks to your point.
This wasn't the All Black's Bench on mass surging over
the top. And again that speaks to the All Blacks
(18:03):
formulating their own game plan, not meeting fire with fire,
not having to have their own bomb squad per se,
but finding energy and finding ways to counter what the
Box are going to bring, particularly in that final quarter.
But one swallow doesn't make a summer. And I think
Russy got his bench elections wrong. He I think the
(18:26):
lack of an outside back was exposed. They lost one
of their wingers early in the ninth minute and Kolbe
went off late. Esta Hasan had already been used, Crell
had to go to the wing. There was a lot
of moving parts there and the composition of their front rowers.
I think they had a lot of traditional tight heads.
(18:46):
The hooker ended up playing reserve, howker ended up playing prop.
So I think we can expect big changes both in
personnel and particularly with the composition of that bench because
the bomb scored. Look, it's a fundamental part of their DNA.
It's such a source of pride. They've come back and
(19:06):
won so many games. You even think to the twenty
twenty three World Cup, they won three successive knockout matches
by one point, and that speaks to their ability to
rise above pressure. Well, they floundered. Look at the way
the game ended. They were panicking, they got two yellow cards,
they shot the bed.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
Yeah well yeah. And the All Blacks, on the other hand,
were pretty calm and confident that they could close the
game out if they got down the right end of
the field. And sure enough, that ten point ly ballooned
out to a seventeen point advantage by the end of
the game. And you know, it's probably typified by that
couple of moments where the referee looks at the TMO
(19:43):
intervenes and looks at the Ardie Savier. He contact on
visa is cleared by Matthew Carley and then I'm not
sure how this wasn't spotted at the time by Armasha
Kelly on the touch line all Carli himself, but Carl
Dixon on the far touch spotted it that maybe they
should look at Canroygar being taken.
Speaker 3 (20:03):
Off the ball clear sinacorn in front.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
And so that's a yellow card. And then a minute
passes knockdown by Rayanak and he goes in the burn.
It's fifteen on thirty and the All Blacks close it
out from there, and that was them. Yeah, you can't
bank on yellow cards, but it was them trusting that
at the right areas of the ground they'll come away
with the points and will Jordan after almost being giving
it to Creole and passing the ball back to curling
(20:27):
Butter and his touch. Then they went back and score
the next time to really close it out. But they
trusted that they if they played it right areas of
the park, would be able to lock the game down.
Speaker 4 (20:36):
Yeah, look, we probably need to eat a bit of
humble pie. We were reasonably critical or worried about Matthew Carley.
He's had a pension for cards. He's quite pedantic and
it's very easy to say, in the context of an
all Black win. But how refreshing was it to see
him just tell the t motor bugger off, yeah and
make his own mind up.
Speaker 3 (20:56):
I love that And he was right.
Speaker 4 (20:58):
The contact with Ardie Severe was body first and you
can see it with the head coming forward. So I
think he got that decision one hundred percent correct. And
there was one earlier as involving look.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
Jacob jameson clearing out. I can't remember it was Visa
or Easter Hazing off the top of my head, but.
Speaker 3 (21:16):
That one was probably a bit marginal.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
Well yes, but I think again that was the right
cause no foul played there.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
It wasn't it was.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
It was in the actor clearing out. It wasn't maliciously
taking the player off the ball, and so there's got
to be a bit of leeway, and I think Matthew
Carlely applied it that it was a It's probably not
the right tun for the incident, but a rugby incident
that Jacobson had no intent of smashing him off the ball.
Visa was in it. I think it was Visa. I
might be completely wrong, but you know it was in
(21:47):
the actor clearing out and had reason to believe that
he was in the way, So I have no issue
with it, and it was it was refreshing to hear
Matthew Carly overall the TMO and it just speaks. And
this got any comment on it is that these tmos
do not have a feel for the game.
Speaker 4 (22:03):
Well, you've made the point previously that they're not experienced.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
Reference how many you know, how many tests between Carli
Dixon and Amisha Kelly would they have versus Adamson and
yet he rides roughshot over the game. I cannot forigure
that tried to So credits to Matthew Carli. I thought
he was excellent. And again I've said this before with
the test series, the ideal if he was referring all four.
Speaker 3 (22:30):
Games, Yeah, that's a good point. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (22:35):
Also, I don't think this is an element, but I'm
just gonna throw it out there. If you're a referee
and one team is highly critical of you in public
throughout the week or attempting to put pressure on you
and the other it goes out of their way to
sidestep those issues.
Speaker 2 (22:53):
Well, yeah, that's a that's a matter of perspective, because
from South Africa's perspective, the all Blacks have thrown out
the time wasting thing in the media. They've put it
out there, so spective is in the eye of the beholder, really.
Speaker 3 (23:04):
Yes, maybe, But.
Speaker 4 (23:06):
Look, I think it's very clear that one them put
a lot of avert pressure on the officials, from rolling
out a formal tests referee to complaining about the breakdown
and their all defense and it didn't work for them,
which is great. So, and I think the other element,
even if you're a one eyebox supporter, you can't sit
there on any level possible and say that the officials
(23:28):
determine the outcome of that game.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
No, you can't. I think it was clear that the
All Blacks deserve the victory by the end, even if
they perhaps, yeah, we're cycling backwards at a rate of
knots for the first fifty five minutes, it's certainly at
that set piece.
Speaker 4 (23:43):
Yeah, and look, Da've already made the point that the
final score line does not reflect that the nature of
the contests, and I fully agree with that. Yeah, yep,
they won by seventeen points, but that's grum moments, two
yellow cards. They had the roll on and it can
happen at altitudes. Just for the record, that was Your
Black's biggest win at Alice Park in history. They have
(24:05):
now won four of their last six games there. That
eclipse Ian Foster's saving victory. It's also the heaviest defeat
of the Russier Rassmus era.
Speaker 3 (24:16):
So that will sting.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
Yeah, well at big time, and look, we know the
spring box will hit back in Cape count I don't
know absolutely which way Russi will go with the selections. When
you'll name his team, he'll begin it what kind of
bench he goes for. But they've got the depth that
they can maybe not change their attack plan necessarily. Although yeah,
as we go, as a pointed earlier, maybe Tony Brown
gets left off the lit off the leash a little
(24:38):
bit this week, but they can make changes. I think
next week they'll try and apply school will pressure, but
more on the All Blacks, whether it's drop goals, you know,
if they can get some scrum dominance. I don't know
that they'll keep scrummaging. I think they'll just try and
bank threes. Yeah, I think next time it might be
win a scrump penalty, take the shot, win a scrump panality,
(24:58):
take the shot.
Speaker 4 (24:58):
Both teams turned down at least I think it was
three shots each in the first half.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
Yeah, yeah, they did so. Yeah, the spring box might
double down and it may work for them in Cape jan.
Where does this rank though, in terms of the All
Blacks recent history in the last say decade or so,
where does this win rank.
Speaker 4 (25:21):
It's a great question. I think it's their biggest one
since their last at Alice Park, and you know that
was a monumental backs to the wall upset triumph and
this is on the same level the box back to
back World Cup champions that their records, their status, the
(25:44):
level of arrogance amongst their supporters generally, their their their
strength and depth, Rusty Erasmus's influence over world rugby. That
the minimal time that Dave Rennie's had with this team,
you know, they were up against it by every metric
and they were dead and buried, but certainly seem that
(26:07):
way prior to that scre so the defiance, the courage,
the composure to pull that out.
Speaker 3 (26:15):
It was.
Speaker 4 (26:17):
Superb and it like to be there to witness it
as pretty special.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
Yeah, yeah, it was great. The flyover and the harker
and the anthems and everything like that. You know, as
a as an outsider and a place like that pretty
special to be there for occasion like that.
Speaker 4 (26:31):
Yeah, and to see the all bleckx linger on the
pitch and enjoy the moment and to applaud their fans.
You know, there was some decent pockets of them scattered
around Alice Park. Look, those are memories I think as
players and coaches and the supporters that were there that
they'll they'll hold on to for a lifetime.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
Yeah. For me, it probably sits maybe just behind, but
certainly pretty close to the win over Ireland in twenty
twenty three the World Cup quarter final, because they had
to summon everything to win that game and what it meant.
Speaker 4 (27:05):
Yeah, will cut probably elevates that doesn't.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
Yeah, it does, but again that was on neutral territory
in France. Was in the spring Blocks backyard to come
over and do it. So look, as we wrap up
our game conversation, where does this leave the All Blacks
in the context of the series? One went on the
board out of four really look and look Russy Rasmus
(27:28):
sort of pointed out even before the game a couple
of days before that the third game is going to
be the most important, and they've done it before. They
come from behind an a lion series. They dropped games
at twenty nineteen to twenty three World Cups and went
away with winning it. So they know their way to
doing it. But where does it leave the All Blacks.
I guess in the context of the series, do you think.
Speaker 4 (27:46):
Makes I think they would take a lot of heart,
a lot of confidence from that, and to not there's
so much more that they can improve on that. There
wasn't a great performance necessarily, but it was great resolve.
And you know, you look at the scrum, you look
at the high ball, you look at the lack of
the post content meters and look at the discipline. They
(28:08):
con seeded fourteen penalties and to still win in that
circumstance and to have so much more you can prove improve,
I think it leaves them in a great position. And look,
I just love what Rennie's doing and I think it
speaks to his experience. He's so level headed. Straight after
the games. It's one one we're wary of the response,
and we've seen the spring Box respond. Let's not underestimate
(28:33):
them as well. We've seen them lose Eden Park and
put a record score on the All Blacks. The following week.
We've seen them lose World Cup Games, pull matches, We've
seen them lose the opening British and Larrish Lions Test
and come back. So they've been in this situation before,
but it does feel a little bit different now with
Reny there and he's not intimidated by Russy, He's happy
(28:56):
to goad him in a little bit of a way.
He's calm, he's composed, and that's reflected throughout the team.
So and I didn't tip them per se, but I
do have a lot of faith in and what he's
building in such a short space assign So yeah, they're
in a great spot. Ironically, the All Blacks have a
fantastic record at Alice Park. I don't know the record
(29:19):
off the top of my head, but for all their
supporting Cape Town, that doesn't tend to translate from memory there.
And undoubtedly, look, the Box will will win by any
means possible. This is going to be I don't like
using the term warfare or battle as such, but man,
they're going to come for the All Blacks there physically
and do whatever it takes.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
Yeah. Absolutely, the stage is set for the second teast
of the series, but before that we have the matter
of a Lions game to get to, so click break.
Speaker 4 (29:50):
It's going to be quite the contrast, isn't it Going
back to Alice Park with five thousand people?
Speaker 2 (29:54):
Yep, Quick one on Tuesday night at seven o'clock Quick Break.
We'll come back and analyze the team name for the
Lions game after this on Rugby Directs.
Speaker 1 (30:02):
Rugby Diregged with Elliott Smith and Leam Navier powered by
News Talk zby Black's Game Live and free on air
and on iHeart Radio.
Speaker 2 (30:12):
You're back on Rugby Directs. The Lions team all black
center face the Lions has been named Liam and I
don't know where he caught surprises or not, because we
kind of expected most of these players to be there.
Maybe a mix of players on the bench that maybe
we didn't think or vice versa. In the starting side.
Are Moong at ten for the first time since the
(30:35):
World Cup Finals, Law making his first all Black start.
What stands out to you from that team named by
Dave Rennie.
Speaker 4 (30:45):
Yeah, I think one Mwanga. As you said, he's the
main talking point, isn't it. I think it's a challenging
week for the All Blacks. I think the toughest of
the tour to come off a test and have to
get straight into another midweek game and for the coaches
and the players there's certainly no respite.
Speaker 3 (31:05):
But ritchiem Wonga.
Speaker 4 (31:06):
Look, we haven't seen him in All Black jersey since
twenty three World Cup Final. It's been so much chatter,
so much talk about him coming home. Would he come home?
Then he did, would he be available? When was he
going to be available? We've talked a lot about it
on the podcast. So to see him back and in
the number ten jersey, it's going to generate a lot
of interest.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
It is and almost in a way that's quite good
to have some interest like that in the game and
the fact that he's starting so we'll get big minutes
you would think for the All Blacks Josh Jacob to
come off the bench. So looking forward to seeing what
he is able to do. Dave when he spoke to
media this afternoon and said he's a better player than
when he left New Zealand, Richie Wonger certainly says the same,
(31:48):
and he spoke of his desire to with a little
bit of unfinished business, I guess in the Black Jersey
to come back and play for them. Again, So look,
this is a game where there's not a lot of pressure.
You wouldn't think coming into it for someone like Richie
Wonger to take a step back into an international rugby.
Speaker 4 (32:05):
No, it's an ideal scenario. And he talked about it today,
didn't he. That it's perhaps been a bit of a
blessing in terms of the way he's come back from Japan,
going back home, having a couple of games for Canterbury
out of the spotlight to a degree, and then coming
back in and also not having a lot of pressure
on him in this all black environments. He hasn't been
thrust straight into the test site. And look, he's very
(32:27):
aware of where he sits in the picking, wasn't He
talked today about helping room and love and biding his
time being patients, that he's still obviously a competitor and
wants to be the best, but sort of knows his
place for now and that can change quickly form an
injury can change in the space of seven days in
(32:48):
one match.
Speaker 3 (32:49):
But yeah, it's going to be really interesting.
Speaker 4 (32:51):
This is his first step, isn't it in terms of
trying to I guess reclaim that number ten. Jersey also
pretty intrigued to see tav Tavanawa get a start at twelve.
We haven't seen enough of them, or a lot of
them in the all black environment, so it's one thing
to steamroll play off the bench for ten minutes, but
to start, we'll be intriguing to see how he goes.
Speaker 3 (33:14):
You mentioned tay Lower there.
Speaker 4 (33:16):
I think there's plenty of the game for those outside backs,
for Young and North, for and Ammoni in the Nardaua
and one of those locks Sam Dowry picture two below two.
Pretty down on troops there. They're going to have to
back up for the Test side, don't they.
Speaker 2 (33:30):
Well, maybe even both of them might have to back
up on the weekend, depending on what they think around that.
And Dave Ronie said, obviously they could move to Bova
back into the second row potentially this week. That might
be an option that they look at for this Test match.
That may of course look to keep him at six.
But I suspect that one well you have obviously one
(33:51):
when he needed, but maybe even both potentially to play
the spring box. So likely they'll only get forty minutes
and the other one off of thing a Farsig and
Jamie Hannah, who are currently midyear Judiland around breakfast time
tomorrow into South Africa. Not even sure if they know
they're playing as but they're on the plane and we'll
have to back up around you know, thirty six hours
(34:13):
or thereabouts after their land in South Africa, which is
quite remarkable as.
Speaker 4 (34:17):
A classical retail that Rennie shared about. He sent Jamie
hannerh some messages, couldn't get hold of him, had to
go get someone to bang on his door because they
had to be on a flight in four hours.
Speaker 3 (34:27):
So things move pretty quickly. I think you're right.
Speaker 4 (34:30):
I think Patrick Typoloto will be the one that they'll
pull early. You get Jamie Henner on probably at halftime,
and maybe toy Bloto comes off the bench or maybe
he even starts that second test. So yeah, there's a
bit of a moving feces in terms of players coming
and going.
Speaker 2 (34:48):
This tour is highly attritional, it is, and the other
one is Anton Signa as well. Look by maybe at
the time this is uploader we might have some more
news on that front. Dave Rennie couldn't give too much
away when we spoke to him a short time ago
around the ankle inflammation arthritis issue that he developed around
about twenty four hours out from the first test, certainly
(35:10):
all out of the second test, but see it had
been in hospital, So we'll wait and see. Obviously hoping
it's the best for Anton. Real shame because after playing
so well against the balls, you know, it felt like
test rugby, he was about to maybe really announce himself
over this series. And yeah, it doesn't sound particularly good.
Speaker 4 (35:29):
That's a great shame, and for him as much as
anyone else, isn't it that you know, he would have
been desperate to play at Alice Park. Imagine that being
within reach and then having that pool from your grasp.
It would be pretty devastated. And to test yourself against
the world champions, to be involved in this once in
a lifetime series, Yeah, very cruel scenario having played those
(35:50):
tool games and he said an amazing rise having been
the Blues Prayer player of the year. Yeah, great against
the Balls player of the match and yeah, great shame
because it does not sound good.
Speaker 2 (36:04):
No, we'll wait and see on that front. Interestingly, on
the Anton signet issue, we had a message into the
podcast or you did, Liam around that and asking why
Simon Parker had been called in. This was from James,
who said high, Liam, interested if you can address on
your Rugby Direct podcast the selection of Parker over so
Titi on the bench and then using him as replacement.
(36:25):
Well before Lucky he did well, but based on past elections,
this was quite a surprise. Cheers James. Well, Liam, you
went straight to the source Reni and put that to
him a short time ago.
Speaker 4 (36:35):
Yeah, it's a great question because we were debate and
it was a surprise. Thoughts Satti would have been in
that mix. Rennie talked to it today. He said that
they wanted an extra height in the line out and
they rate Simon Parker's defensive ability, his ability to clean
(36:56):
bodies at the ruck. He said he was very good
and the defensive more and the scenario played out perfectly
for them because they did lose a blindside early. Well
A Locke and Josh Lord Tovice switched to Locke and
that propel Parker on late in the second half. Renny
talked about the fact that maybe if you're on top
(37:17):
and you wanted an athlete, then Cities he would have
been better in the final twenty minutes, but they felt
they had that basis covered with Lakeye. So yeah, lots
of scenarios, but it was certainly something that we were
debating over here, so a great question.
Speaker 2 (37:30):
Yeah, thanks ver much. You can get in touch with
us Rugby Directed News Talk ZB dot co dot Nz
producer Marks in charge to the mailbag so he can
forward them on and we'll try to answer your questions
where and when we can hear on the podcast. But
that'll about do us for the latest edition of Rugby
Direct plenty to get stuck into enjoy your All Blacks
Lions game. We will reflect on that on the pod
(37:52):
come Thursday local time when we have our teams for
the second test in Cape Town, the Rugby's greatest rivalry
Tour rolls on, napes, rages on, rages on even Thanks
to Mark Cally for producing, and of course to our
friends at full Cliff Solutions, lifting you and your business to.
Speaker 1 (38:09):
For more from News Talk st B. Listen live on
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Speaker 2 (00:20):
The middle of truck Sky, try.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
To get inside the game from every end goal. It's
Rugby Direct with Elliott Smith and Leam Nabier powered by
News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Welcome into Rugby Direct powered by four Clive Solutions, lifting
you and your business to a higher label. Elliott Smith
Liam Napier in Johannesburg as we reflect on a pretty
big win for the All Blacks thirty three seventeen over
South Africa at Alice Park. Liam, Quite remarkable, wasn't it? So?
(00:59):
I think I took the All Blacks by three? On
the pod you I think when South Africa win.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
The box by three?
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Yeah, And here we are, the All Blacks have one
by seven against South Africa, pretty much against the odds
as well. We'll dig into it obviously and then get
through all the facets of the game. But it's always
so like opening up and you're giving us your top
line thoughts on what you made of that game.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
It was a night of knights, wasn't an Elliott's There's
no grander, greater experience in world rugby than going to
Alice Park sixty two thousand. There might have been three
thousand New Zealand fans. So what's that fifty nine thousand
screaming South Africans. It's a sea of green, It's a
magic occasion. The atmosphere at the hostility like nothing else.
(01:46):
They fly the passenger planes over the roof damp that
makes the hairs on the back of your next stand
up and what for. It's not as simple as it
to say, fifty minutes the box dominated, but they had
the All Blacks on the rack. They were one more
scrum penalty away from potentially inflicting a yellow card a
(02:09):
penalty try potentially on the All Blacks and probably just
steamrolling home. And the All Blacks summoned their spirit from
the dead. They had a scrum from the ages and produced.
It wasn't a comeback because they were actually in front,
which was defied belief in many respects at the time,
(02:31):
but summoned a remarkable last quarter surge to come away
with a victory that I don't know if anyone predicted
the All Blacks going Alice Park and winning by thirteen plus.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
No, I don't think anyone did that. It was built
on immense character from the All Blacks. And you know
this has been instilled in a very short space of
time some backbone into this team and it was certainly
missing last year. Look, we did see aspects of it
in the previous regime. We saw a good win against
(03:03):
Ireland in Dublin, we saw a big win against the
Box at Eden Park last year. But by and large,
backbone had been missing from this All Blacks team and
it felt like it had been restored last night at
Alice Park. And that's not to say they're going to
go on and win the series, although they put themselves
in a good position now to do so. It's not
to say that they're deserving even of the number one
(03:24):
world ranking, but it was a win in spite of
almost everything that could go wrong. Really, they managed to
find a way. And I think that is the most
compelling thing if you're an All Blacks fan listening to this,
is that in spite of the stat shed and we're
digging to some stats shortly, but the stats would suggest
(03:47):
that the All Blacks had no chance of winning, let
alone winning by seventeen points, and that's what they managed
to do. So I think it was a win of
real conviction for Dave Rinny's coaching methods for his coaching team,
and I think there was a lot to like, even
though they weren't even really able to implement the game
plan that they've talked about about playing at pace and
(04:08):
doing that sort of thing. Their rock speed was slower
than South Africa, they weren't able to get you know,
some players involved in the game as much as they
would have liked.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
They kicked once more than the Spring Else.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
They didn't have a lot of post contact meters from
their ball.
Speaker 4 (04:20):
Carriers, no, at least one hundreds less than the Box,
which was quite evident in the first forty to fifty minutes. Yeah,
and look, this was a Springbox team that had won
twelve in the trot, that swept every major test nation
in the past year. They won thirty one of their
last thirty four games. They hadn't lost since that Egan
(04:42):
Park game. They were only rarely missing Sair Calisi, so
largely at full strength at their spiritual home. Everything stacked
in their favor. So it was a remarkable win and
it really is testament to what Dave Rennie has done
in a little over two months, seven games, he has
(05:07):
rebuilt the culture of that team. He has really empowered
the players to take ownership, to have real buy in,
to strip a lot of things out and empowered this
team and rebuilt it. You know, a number of selections
have been questioned, and he said the courage of his convictions.
(05:28):
He surrounded himself with people he knows and trusts, and
it's teams don't win in those circumstances unless they're unified
and they have real internal character. Like you say, you
don't face that sort of adversity, have your backs to
the wall and respond like that. If you're not on
(05:48):
the same page.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
The comparison I'm going to draw and an interesting one.
I'll be intrigued to get your thoughts because you were there.
I wasn't on that occasion was twenty twenty two when
they were beaten the previous week in im Bibella, and
you know, it felt like it was Ian Foster's last stand.
Yet the players unified and turned in a performance to
really be proud of, ultimately saving in Foster's job. There
(06:12):
were more hiccups to come along the way, but that
was a better performance I thought last night than the
one even they won four years ago.
Speaker 4 (06:22):
Yeah, well, I think Foster's tenure was deeply flawed in
a lot of ways. And I'm still of the mind
that he was largely saved by his assistant coaches Jason
Ryan and Joe Schmidt. But he did have the support
of the players, and that was very evident when they
fronted Mark Robinson and basically demanded that he retain his posts.
(06:45):
So he had the support largely of the senior players
of that group. And again, you don't have that sort
of response without that support, without that unity, and Raiser
didn't have that increasingly, and his regime deteriorated because he
lost the dressing room because the messages weren't getting.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Through, game planers flowed.
Speaker 4 (07:10):
That's right, And the stark reality for me, Elliott is
if you compare the last four All Blacks tests against
the Box prior to this one, they lead all of those,
even the one at Wellington, the record loss. They led
that game at halftime. So all four of those games
they collapsed to some degree in the second half. And
(07:31):
that was the crippling element of Razors regime. After halftime,
when the coaches are delivering the messages, they fell to
pieces in those three quarters. Well, the All Blacks flipped
the script and had that last quarter suage. They won
the second half twenty one points to three, and there's
many elements to that, but you don't do that if
(07:54):
you're not aligned with the coaches, if your team's not unified.
So I think there is comparisons in terms of the
player support that Fossy had and Renny.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Big moments in the game. With the fifty five minute
scrum penalty that New Zealand got and they were under
their sticks. South Africa would win a scrum penalty, scrum again,
win a scrump penalty, scrum again, and then the script
flips and the All Blacks win a scrump penalty under
immense pressure on their line and with the scrum buckling
(08:30):
couple of replacement props to so offered a moor out
there as well, and they turned the tables on South Africa.
They don't win that, and as you mentioned at the top,
the game might quickly unravel, but there's no doubt that
that was the ultimate turning point in the contest for mine.
Speaker 4 (08:46):
That's fifty fifth minute mark. The Springboks had five scrum
penalties to that point. They their starting front row did
an absolute number on the All Blacks. Now Nathan the groups.
Dave Renny revealed that he left the Captain's run early
on the Friday before the game and spent a large
time in bed. He was sick, so maybe that had
some contributing well.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
He also went down with a knee injury as well
early in the game and then was getting warped by
wilco Low and then had the head clash.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
With Georsh Lord's so tough hold for us.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
Yeah, had roughold twenty four hours for Ethan the group.
But the All Blacks couldn't lay the scrum platform early.
You know, that was always mentioned as a key part
of the game, and they couldn't even get parity until
later on the game.
Speaker 4 (09:29):
It was a complete demolition job and on both sides
of the scrum ox Niche was he got the wood
over Tyrol Lomax. The scrum is back pedaling. I had
some concerns prior to the match about the bull carrying
within the All Black pack. I think that came to
fruition and I think they did miss Patrick two Polow too,
because along with the replacement front row, I think to
(09:49):
perv going into Locke from blind sides did help shore
up that scrum a wee bit because George Bauer came
on and went into Lock and that did seem to
make a difference. And also ox Niche was replaced the
spring box loose head prop at the forty fifth minute mark,
so I think if he stays on the field, I
(10:10):
don't know how much gas he's got left in the
tank because he was under an injury cloud pre match,
but if he's on that field, I don't know. The
All Blacks won that scrump penalty on their own line,
but he's one of the world's best scrummages. So there's
lots of different moments with the moments, aren't there. But
the starting box front row demolitian job, and you're right
that the All Blacks front row, and I think George
(10:32):
Bauer got a lot of credit.
Speaker 3 (10:34):
I suffer on Moore.
Speaker 4 (10:35):
Was a tank and Fletcher newl big performance, but to
going into Locke as well and ox Niche coming off,
I think they were big elements in the remarkable flip
of that dynamic.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
Yeah, it's quite remarkable because we didn't get a scrum
until the fifteen minute Lark, so it was a long
way for the first scrum. And you look at the stats,
the All Blacks fit fifteen stafage is four, so a
lot of the All Blacks going back pedling was on
their own ball.
Speaker 4 (11:02):
Yeah, and that also speaks to the spring Box wasteful
of opportunities. They committed twin twenty three turnovers and Dave
Reni spoke a lot in there about the Box being
the best team at converting and the twenty two well
they flipped that script as well, didn't they.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
The Blacks had nine entries to South Africa's ten and
leaving with average of three point six points to zero
point seven.
Speaker 4 (11:27):
Yeah, and I think the Box average five point five
points per inch generally so and all Bcks defense, yes,
a massive scrambling defense. Look, I thought Jordi Barrett, he
was my man of the match, made fifteen tackles, he
got five turnovers. He was the guy who dislodged the
ball from Malcolm Marx. If the Box score there, maybe
(11:48):
it's a different game as well that they had the
heat on. He loses the ball just out and there
was at least one other time when Jordi Barrett strips
the ball in contact.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
He was a massive effort.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
It was. It was huge. Let's stick into some of
the other key moments of the game. The All Blacks
heading the front early with the will Jordan Trith or
Cam Reguard. Maybe it was best match. He's really kicking wise,
but I thought his passing was really really good. Really
Crisp just probably failed. Was one game one moment where
(12:22):
he got the All Blacks out of a bit of
trouble on their own line and the food spell got
that much about the forty five meter mark. But what
Rygud was able to do with those bullet passes on
either flag and they used the short side a lot
in that game, I thought was really really good.
Speaker 4 (12:36):
Yeah, I thought Regard was excellent, to be honest. His
kicking game was good. He tried to snipe a couple
of times, and his booming boot definitely helped. And I
thought the All Blex kicking game in general increasingly got better.
You had Roy guards, you had Quinta pile that telling
fifty twenty two. Jeordi Barrett put one in late as well,
(12:57):
so I thought they varied their game well. And yeah,
with Roy guards, the Alblecks had a lot of success
on the edge they went to Tupuvai when he was
at blindside early on the on the edges and number
of times he got that off float away for Josh Morby.
But that's really where they made their meters. We mentioned
the post contact meters and the lack of them, and
(13:18):
I think that speaks to the lack of ball carriers
in the pack. The line speed and the gag tackling
from the Box was very effective and it was largely
bill Black's backs that made the meters or certainly wider
out that bill backs couldn't make a lot of headway
through the middle, so I think that's something they needed
to address. And also the high ball the spring Box
(13:41):
used kept from the base a lot with Grant Williams
if they've been holland charged them down. Once Sasha gotten
up and under, he regathered it. So the Box certainly
won the aerial battle they did.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
And again this goes in spite of everything, the hill
Blacks were able to find a way the aerial battle.
They couldn't contain it. Obviously, they're using the wingers going
backwards and a couple occasions they had success with that,
but by and large, so I forgot we were able
to them where they wanted to. But I thought South
Africa were rather limited in their attack and Yas Visa
(14:14):
carried hard. I think he made the most meters in
the game quite comfortably. Easter Hays and I thought carried
strongly as well Peter Steph on occasion. But it just
painted the difference, I guess between the two teams. The
All Blacks look for a couple of strong carries and
then looked to send it wide or find it a
midfield overlap or a mismatch, yeah, or to kick or
(14:37):
to kick, whereas South Africa were just looking to bash
the line and then they had they had success with that,
but then they got to a point and they weren't
really able to go any further, didn't have the variations
or the ability to back up quickly and use Visa
again or whatever it might have been to really trouble
the All Blacks.
Speaker 4 (14:53):
Well, their strength was there r Kelly's Hill, their their
the ego took over. Just going to the scrum and
just going to the air is not going to be
enough five tries to one, like, you have to do more,
And I think that painted a stark reality. We talked
about those entries into the twenty two. Will just use
(15:15):
the ball a little bit more, do something different, change
it up. One of the South African Juno has mentioned
to me after the game that referees very rarely world
ward five six five six penalties for the same offense.
And the All Blacks won that moment. But the spring
Box need more variety and what they did they did
exceptionally well, but it was limited. As you said, it
(15:37):
was conservative as predictable. They need to throw something else
at the All Blacks.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
Will they let Tony Brown off the chaining for this week?
Will be able to do anything?
Speaker 4 (15:45):
Why bother having him in the coaching him? If you're
not going to use him, he's put in a box.
He's That was pure Russy And it was the same
at Eden Park and their defeat there. That was a
very old conservative team and performance. And then the next
week I heard that that team that they selected and
(16:07):
they named it on the Monday. Russy's just gone in
and said we're naming this team and the assistant coaches
were like, what He's completely changed the script. But the
way they played certainly had a lot more Tony Ball
in it that didn't it. And so you've got him
in the mix. He's one of the best attacking mines
in the game. And you've got some talent there. You've
(16:27):
got Sasha, You've got Villains and Colby, Grant Williams, all
these players, but you're not utilizing them well.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Films tore the All Blacks to shreds last year in Wellington.
He was excellent and played some had some wonderful lines
that the All Blacks just couldn't handle, but didn't feel
like he had any real opportunities in that game to
speak of. He was well contained, but also didn't get
any chances really to show what he can do.
Speaker 4 (16:54):
Yeah, maybe the box are worried about their fitness and conditioning.
I don't think they can live with the All Blacks,
but they can play a little bit more without playing
too much.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
Yeah. Absolutely, And that kind of goes back to the
point around Little Black surging in the fine quarter is
that apart from the reserve props and from the back
up front row, there was no standout performance from the reserves.
It was all starters that were able to find their
way through in that last twenty minutes and have some
(17:25):
big moments. And yeah, this wasn't the bombs. The All
Blacks bomb squad of the reserves lifting them up. It
was very much the starters, you know, being able to
roll over the top of the South African bomb squad
in the closing stages.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
Yeah, well that's right.
Speaker 4 (17:38):
They did nullify the Box bomb squad and that replacement
front row made a big impact. But three of the
All Black's bench, Kyle Preston, Antonina Brown and Peter Luckeye
were used for five minutes, so that speaks to your point.
This wasn't the All Black's Bench on mass surging over
the top. And again that speaks to the All Blacks
(18:03):
formulating their own game plan, not meeting fire with fire,
not having to have their own bomb squad per se,
but finding energy and finding ways to counter what the
Box are going to bring, particularly in that final quarter.
But one swallow doesn't make a summer. And I think
Russy got his bench elections wrong. He I think the
(18:26):
lack of an outside back was exposed. They lost one
of their wingers early in the ninth minute and Kolbe
went off late. Esta Hasan had already been used, Crell
had to go to the wing. There was a lot
of moving parts there and the composition of their front rowers.
I think they had a lot of traditional tight heads.
(18:46):
The hooker ended up playing reserve, howker ended up playing prop.
So I think we can expect big changes both in
personnel and particularly with the composition of that bench because
the bomb scored. Look, it's a fundamental part of their DNA.
It's such a source of pride. They've come back and
(19:06):
won so many games. You even think to the twenty
twenty three World Cup, they won three successive knockout matches
by one point, and that speaks to their ability to
rise above pressure. Well, they floundered. Look at the way
the game ended. They were panicking, they got two yellow cards,
they shot the bed.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
Yeah well yeah. And the All Blacks, on the other hand,
were pretty calm and confident that they could close the
game out if they got down the right end of
the field. And sure enough, that ten point ly ballooned
out to a seventeen point advantage by the end of
the game. And you know, it's probably typified by that
couple of moments where the referee looks at the TMO
(19:43):
intervenes and looks at the Ardie Savier. He contact on
visa is cleared by Matthew Carley and then I'm not
sure how this wasn't spotted at the time by Armasha
Kelly on the touch line all Carli himself, but Carl
Dixon on the far touch spotted it that maybe they
should look at Canroygar being taken.
Speaker 3 (20:03):
Off the ball clear sinacorn in front.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
And so that's a yellow card. And then a minute
passes knockdown by Rayanak and he goes in the burn.
It's fifteen on thirty and the All Blacks close it
out from there, and that was them. Yeah, you can't
bank on yellow cards, but it was them trusting that
at the right areas of the ground they'll come away
with the points and will Jordan after almost being giving
it to Creole and passing the ball back to curling
(20:27):
Butter and his touch. Then they went back and score
the next time to really close it out. But they
trusted that they if they played it right areas of
the park, would be able to lock the game down.
Speaker 4 (20:36):
Yeah, look, we probably need to eat a bit of
humble pie. We were reasonably critical or worried about Matthew Carley.
He's had a pension for cards. He's quite pedantic and
it's very easy to say, in the context of an
all Black win. But how refreshing was it to see
him just tell the t motor bugger off, yeah and
make his own mind up.
Speaker 3 (20:56):
I love that And he was right.
Speaker 4 (20:58):
The contact with Ardie Severe was body first and you
can see it with the head coming forward. So I
think he got that decision one hundred percent correct. And
there was one earlier as involving look.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
Jacob jameson clearing out. I can't remember it was Visa
or Easter Hazing off the top of my head, but.
Speaker 3 (21:16):
That one was probably a bit marginal.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
Well yes, but I think again that was the right
cause no foul played there.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
It wasn't it was.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
It was in the actor clearing out. It wasn't maliciously
taking the player off the ball, and so there's got
to be a bit of leeway, and I think Matthew
Carlely applied it that it was a It's probably not
the right tun for the incident, but a rugby incident
that Jacobson had no intent of smashing him off the ball.
Visa was in it. I think it was Visa. I
might be completely wrong, but you know it was in
(21:47):
the actor clearing out and had reason to believe that
he was in the way, So I have no issue
with it, and it was it was refreshing to hear
Matthew Carly overall the TMO and it just speaks. And
this got any comment on it is that these tmos
do not have a feel for the game.
Speaker 4 (22:03):
Well, you've made the point previously that they're not experienced.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
Reference how many you know, how many tests between Carli
Dixon and Amisha Kelly would they have versus Adamson and
yet he rides roughshot over the game. I cannot forigure
that tried to So credits to Matthew Carli. I thought
he was excellent. And again I've said this before with
the test series, the ideal if he was referring all four.
Speaker 3 (22:30):
Games, Yeah, that's a good point. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (22:35):
Also, I don't think this is an element, but I'm
just gonna throw it out there. If you're a referee
and one team is highly critical of you in public
throughout the week or attempting to put pressure on you
and the other it goes out of their way to
sidestep those issues.
Speaker 2 (22:53):
Well, yeah, that's a that's a matter of perspective, because
from South Africa's perspective, the all Blacks have thrown out
the time wasting thing in the media. They've put it
out there, so spective is in the eye of the beholder, really.
Speaker 3 (23:04):
Yes, maybe, But.
Speaker 4 (23:06):
Look, I think it's very clear that one them put
a lot of avert pressure on the officials, from rolling
out a formal tests referee to complaining about the breakdown
and their all defense and it didn't work for them,
which is great. So, and I think the other element,
even if you're a one eyebox supporter, you can't sit
there on any level possible and say that the officials
(23:28):
determine the outcome of that game.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
No, you can't. I think it was clear that the
All Blacks deserve the victory by the end, even if
they perhaps, yeah, we're cycling backwards at a rate of
knots for the first fifty five minutes, it's certainly at
that set piece.
Speaker 4 (23:43):
Yeah, and look, Da've already made the point that the
final score line does not reflect that the nature of
the contests, and I fully agree with that. Yeah, yep,
they won by seventeen points, but that's grum moments, two
yellow cards. They had the roll on and it can
happen at altitudes. Just for the record, that was Your
Black's biggest win at Alice Park in history. They have
(24:05):
now won four of their last six games there. That
eclipse Ian Foster's saving victory. It's also the heaviest defeat
of the Russier Rassmus era.
Speaker 3 (24:16):
So that will sting.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
Yeah, well at big time, and look, we know the
spring box will hit back in Cape count I don't
know absolutely which way Russi will go with the selections. When
you'll name his team, he'll begin it what kind of
bench he goes for. But they've got the depth that
they can maybe not change their attack plan necessarily. Although yeah,
as we go, as a pointed earlier, maybe Tony Brown
gets left off the lit off the leash a little
(24:38):
bit this week, but they can make changes. I think
next week they'll try and apply school will pressure, but
more on the All Blacks, whether it's drop goals, you know,
if they can get some scrum dominance. I don't know
that they'll keep scrummaging. I think they'll just try and
bank threes. Yeah, I think next time it might be
win a scrump penalty, take the shot, win a scrump panality,
(24:58):
take the shot.
Speaker 4 (24:58):
Both teams turned down at least I think it was
three shots each in the first half.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
Yeah, yeah, they did so. Yeah, the spring box might
double down and it may work for them in Cape jan.
Where does this rank though, in terms of the All
Blacks recent history in the last say decade or so,
where does this win rank.
Speaker 4 (25:21):
It's a great question. I think it's their biggest one
since their last at Alice Park, and you know that
was a monumental backs to the wall upset triumph and
this is on the same level the box back to
back World Cup champions that their records, their status, the
(25:44):
level of arrogance amongst their supporters generally, their their their
strength and depth, Rusty Erasmus's influence over world rugby. That
the minimal time that Dave Rennie's had with this team,
you know, they were up against it by every metric
and they were dead and buried, but certainly seem that
(26:07):
way prior to that scre so the defiance, the courage,
the composure to pull that out.
Speaker 3 (26:15):
It was.
Speaker 4 (26:17):
Superb and it like to be there to witness it
as pretty special.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
Yeah, yeah, it was great. The flyover and the harker
and the anthems and everything like that. You know, as
a as an outsider and a place like that pretty
special to be there for occasion like that.
Speaker 4 (26:31):
Yeah, and to see the all bleckx linger on the
pitch and enjoy the moment and to applaud their fans.
You know, there was some decent pockets of them scattered
around Alice Park. Look, those are memories I think as
players and coaches and the supporters that were there that
they'll they'll hold on to for a lifetime.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
Yeah. For me, it probably sits maybe just behind, but
certainly pretty close to the win over Ireland in twenty
twenty three the World Cup quarter final, because they had
to summon everything to win that game and what it meant.
Speaker 4 (27:05):
Yeah, will cut probably elevates that doesn't.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
Yeah, it does, but again that was on neutral territory
in France. Was in the spring Blocks backyard to come
over and do it. So look, as we wrap up
our game conversation, where does this leave the All Blacks
in the context of the series? One went on the
board out of four really look and look Russy Rasmus
(27:28):
sort of pointed out even before the game a couple
of days before that the third game is going to
be the most important, and they've done it before. They
come from behind an a lion series. They dropped games
at twenty nineteen to twenty three World Cups and went
away with winning it. So they know their way to
doing it. But where does it leave the All Blacks.
I guess in the context of the series, do you think.
Speaker 4 (27:46):
Makes I think they would take a lot of heart,
a lot of confidence from that, and to not there's
so much more that they can improve on that. There
wasn't a great performance necessarily, but it was great resolve.
And you know, you look at the scrum, you look
at the high ball, you look at the lack of
the post content meters and look at the discipline. They
(28:08):
con seeded fourteen penalties and to still win in that
circumstance and to have so much more you can prove improve,
I think it leaves them in a great position. And look,
I just love what Rennie's doing and I think it
speaks to his experience. He's so level headed. Straight after
the games. It's one one we're wary of the response,
and we've seen the spring Box respond. Let's not underestimate
(28:33):
them as well. We've seen them lose Eden Park and
put a record score on the All Blacks. The following week.
We've seen them lose World Cup Games, pull matches, We've
seen them lose the opening British and Larrish Lions Test
and come back. So they've been in this situation before,
but it does feel a little bit different now with
Reny there and he's not intimidated by Russy, He's happy
(28:56):
to goad him in a little bit of a way.
He's calm, he's composed, and that's reflected throughout the team.
So and I didn't tip them per se, but I
do have a lot of faith in and what he's
building in such a short space assign So yeah, they're
in a great spot. Ironically, the All Blacks have a
fantastic record at Alice Park. I don't know the record
(29:19):
off the top of my head, but for all their
supporting Cape Town, that doesn't tend to translate from memory there.
And undoubtedly, look, the Box will will win by any
means possible. This is going to be I don't like
using the term warfare or battle as such, but man,
they're going to come for the All Blacks there physically
and do whatever it takes.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
Yeah. Absolutely, the stage is set for the second teast
of the series, but before that we have the matter
of a Lions game to get to, so click break.
Speaker 4 (29:50):
It's going to be quite the contrast, isn't it Going
back to Alice Park with five thousand people?
Speaker 2 (29:54):
Yep, Quick one on Tuesday night at seven o'clock Quick Break.
We'll come back and analyze the team name for the
Lions game after this on Rugby Directs.
Speaker 1 (30:02):
Rugby Diregged with Elliott Smith and Leam Navier powered by
News Talk zby Black's Game Live and free on air
and on iHeart Radio.
Speaker 2 (30:12):
You're back on Rugby Directs. The Lions team all black
center face the Lions has been named Liam and I
don't know where he caught surprises or not, because we
kind of expected most of these players to be there.
Maybe a mix of players on the bench that maybe
we didn't think or vice versa. In the starting side.
Are Moong at ten for the first time since the
(30:35):
World Cup Finals, Law making his first all Black start.
What stands out to you from that team named by
Dave Rennie.
Speaker 4 (30:45):
Yeah, I think one Mwanga. As you said, he's the
main talking point, isn't it. I think it's a challenging
week for the All Blacks. I think the toughest of
the tour to come off a test and have to
get straight into another midweek game and for the coaches
and the players there's certainly no respite.
Speaker 3 (31:05):
But ritchiem Wonga.
Speaker 4 (31:06):
Look, we haven't seen him in All Black jersey since
twenty three World Cup Final. It's been so much chatter,
so much talk about him coming home. Would he come home?
Then he did, would he be available? When was he
going to be available? We've talked a lot about it
on the podcast. So to see him back and in
the number ten jersey, it's going to generate a lot
of interest.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
It is and almost in a way that's quite good
to have some interest like that in the game and
the fact that he's starting so we'll get big minutes
you would think for the All Blacks Josh Jacob to
come off the bench. So looking forward to seeing what
he is able to do. Dave when he spoke to
media this afternoon and said he's a better player than
when he left New Zealand, Richie Wonger certainly says the same,
(31:48):
and he spoke of his desire to with a little
bit of unfinished business, I guess in the Black Jersey
to come back and play for them. Again, So look,
this is a game where there's not a lot of pressure.
You wouldn't think coming into it for someone like Richie
Wonger to take a step back into an international rugby.
Speaker 4 (32:05):
No, it's an ideal scenario. And he talked about it today,
didn't he. That it's perhaps been a bit of a
blessing in terms of the way he's come back from Japan,
going back home, having a couple of games for Canterbury
out of the spotlight to a degree, and then coming
back in and also not having a lot of pressure
on him in this all black environments. He hasn't been
thrust straight into the test site. And look, he's very
(32:27):
aware of where he sits in the picking, wasn't He
talked today about helping room and love and biding his
time being patients, that he's still obviously a competitor and
wants to be the best, but sort of knows his
place for now and that can change quickly form an
injury can change in the space of seven days in
(32:48):
one match.
Speaker 3 (32:49):
But yeah, it's going to be really interesting.
Speaker 4 (32:51):
This is his first step, isn't it in terms of
trying to I guess reclaim that number ten. Jersey also
pretty intrigued to see tav Tavanawa get a start at twelve.
We haven't seen enough of them, or a lot of
them in the all black environment, so it's one thing
to steamroll play off the bench for ten minutes, but
to start, we'll be intriguing to see how he goes.
Speaker 3 (33:14):
You mentioned tay Lower there.
Speaker 4 (33:16):
I think there's plenty of the game for those outside backs,
for Young and North, for and Ammoni in the Nardaua
and one of those locks Sam Dowry picture two below two.
Pretty down on troops there. They're going to have to
back up for the Test side, don't they.
Speaker 2 (33:30):
Well, maybe even both of them might have to back
up on the weekend, depending on what they think around that.
And Dave Ronie said, obviously they could move to Bova
back into the second row potentially this week. That might
be an option that they look at for this Test match.
That may of course look to keep him at six.
But I suspect that one well you have obviously one
(33:51):
when he needed, but maybe even both potentially to play
the spring box. So likely they'll only get forty minutes
and the other one off of thing a Farsig and
Jamie Hannah, who are currently midyear Judiland around breakfast time
tomorrow into South Africa. Not even sure if they know
they're playing as but they're on the plane and we'll
have to back up around you know, thirty six hours
(34:13):
or thereabouts after their land in South Africa, which is
quite remarkable as.
Speaker 4 (34:17):
A classical retail that Rennie shared about. He sent Jamie
hannerh some messages, couldn't get hold of him, had to
go get someone to bang on his door because they
had to be on a flight in four hours.
Speaker 3 (34:27):
So things move pretty quickly. I think you're right.
Speaker 4 (34:30):
I think Patrick Typoloto will be the one that they'll
pull early. You get Jamie Henner on probably at halftime,
and maybe toy Bloto comes off the bench or maybe
he even starts that second test. So yeah, there's a
bit of a moving feces in terms of players coming
and going.
Speaker 2 (34:48):
This tour is highly attritional, it is, and the other
one is Anton Signa as well. Look by maybe at
the time this is uploader we might have some more
news on that front. Dave Rennie couldn't give too much
away when we spoke to him a short time ago
around the ankle inflammation arthritis issue that he developed around
about twenty four hours out from the first test, certainly
(35:10):
all out of the second test, but see it had
been in hospital, So we'll wait and see. Obviously hoping
it's the best for Anton. Real shame because after playing
so well against the balls, you know, it felt like
test rugby, he was about to maybe really announce himself
over this series. And yeah, it doesn't sound particularly good.
Speaker 4 (35:29):
That's a great shame, and for him as much as
anyone else, isn't it that you know, he would have
been desperate to play at Alice Park. Imagine that being
within reach and then having that pool from your grasp.
It would be pretty devastated. And to test yourself against
the world champions, to be involved in this once in
a lifetime series, Yeah, very cruel scenario having played those
(35:50):
tool games and he said an amazing rise having been
the Blues Prayer player of the year. Yeah, great against
the Balls player of the match and yeah, great shame
because it does not sound good.
Speaker 2 (36:04):
No, we'll wait and see on that front. Interestingly, on
the Anton signet issue, we had a message into the
podcast or you did, Liam around that and asking why
Simon Parker had been called in. This was from James,
who said high, Liam, interested if you can address on
your Rugby Direct podcast the selection of Parker over so
Titi on the bench and then using him as replacement.
(36:25):
Well before Lucky he did well, but based on past elections,
this was quite a surprise. Cheers James. Well, Liam, you
went straight to the source Reni and put that to
him a short time ago.
Speaker 4 (36:35):
Yeah, it's a great question because we were debate and
it was a surprise. Thoughts Satti would have been in
that mix. Rennie talked to it today. He said that
they wanted an extra height in the line out and
they rate Simon Parker's defensive ability, his ability to clean
(36:56):
bodies at the ruck. He said he was very good
and the defensive more and the scenario played out perfectly
for them because they did lose a blindside early. Well
A Locke and Josh Lord Tovice switched to Locke and
that propel Parker on late in the second half. Renny
talked about the fact that maybe if you're on top
(37:17):
and you wanted an athlete, then Cities he would have
been better in the final twenty minutes, but they felt
they had that basis covered with Lakeye. So yeah, lots
of scenarios, but it was certainly something that we were
debating over here, so a great question.
Speaker 2 (37:30):
Yeah, thanks ver much. You can get in touch with
us Rugby Directed News Talk ZB dot co dot Nz
producer Marks in charge to the mailbag so he can
forward them on and we'll try to answer your questions
where and when we can hear on the podcast. But
that'll about do us for the latest edition of Rugby
Direct plenty to get stuck into enjoy your All Blacks
Lions game. We will reflect on that on the pod
(37:52):
come Thursday local time when we have our teams for
the second test in Cape Town, the Rugby's greatest rivalry
Tour rolls on, napes, rages on, rages on even Thanks
to Mark Cally for producing, and of course to our
friends at full Cliff Solutions, lifting you and your business to.
Speaker 1 (38:09):
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