Jason Pine: A few questions ahead of tonight's test

A few questions ahead of tonight's second AB's v England test: 

What would have been the biggest areas of focus for the AB's this week?  

Three things. 

One: The collision areas. England trumped us there last week. 

Two: Finding a way to combat England's rush defence. Cross-kicks are one way, but quicker, slicker ball is another. 

Three: Lineouts. Not good last week, both with connections and throwing. Codie Taylor and Asafo Aumua have big nights ahead. 

Will Damian McKenzie change his pre-kick routine after being timed out last weekend?  

I doubt it. Kickers are metronomic with the way they prepare for kicking. 

He'll also have a shot-clock on the big screen, which would have been very handy last weekend.   

How will Cortez Ratima go on debut?  

Good, I think. He's been a quality Super Rugby halfback for a while now and looks every inch a player who'll go well in black. 

He'd want to as well, with Noah Hotham also now in the mix and Cam Roigard on the improve, competition for the halfback spots is about to intensify. 

Will England break the Eden Park fortress?  

It feels unlikely. 

Something happens to the All Blacks and visiting teams on that patch of grass, how else can you explain the last 30 years?  

Only 6 of the current All Blacks 23 were even born when France scored the try from the end of the earth in 1994. 

It felt like England's chance was last weekend. 

So, who wins and by how many?  

All Blacks. And for me, more comfortably than the one-point victory that started Razor's reign in Dunedin. 

I've got them by 10 this time. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk ZB A.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
Few questions for me or from me ahead of tonight's
second test? What would have been the biggest areas of
focus for the All Blacks this week? For me, the
collision areas England certainly trump the All Blacks there last
week two. Finding a way to combat the rush defense
and this I think is one for greater minds than mine.
Maybe your mind might have an idea. Cross kecks a

(00:34):
one way, of course, but quicker slicker ball is another,
a different approach perhaps or a slightly different approach. Let's
not forget that both teams now have a frame of
reference after last week, They have some intel, and they
have the ability of have had the opportunity this week
to look back at what went well and what didn't
and then find them some solutions and three lineouts for

(00:55):
the All Blacks not that great last week, both with
connections and even just throwing the ball in Cody Taylor
more have big nights ahead. I wonder whether Damien McKenzie
will chain his kicking routine tonight after being timed out
last weekend. I doubt he will kickers just tend to
have a pre kick routine that they stick to religiously.

(01:19):
And he'll also have the shot clock on the big
screen tonight. I'm not sure if he caught up with
his news. You probably did that there will be a
shot clock on the big screen at eden Park tonight,
so there's a visual queue for the kickers that the
sixty seconds is starting to run out. So that'll be
there tonight. How will Courtees will have to go on
debut good? I think he's been a quality super rugby

(01:42):
halfback for a while now looks every inch of player
who will go very well in the black jersey. I'd
want to as well because Noah Hothams in the mix now,
isn't he? With TJ Petinata out for a short period,
cam roy Guard's on the improve. Competition for those half
back spots is about to intensify and will England Blake
break rather the eden Park Fortress? It just seems unlikely,

(02:03):
doesn't it. Something happens to the All Blacks and to
visiting teams on this patch of grass out here in
front of me. I mean, how else can you explain
the last thirty years, only six of the current All
Blacks twenty three were even born when France scored that
try from the end of the Earth here in nineteen
ninety four. It just feels like England's chance was last weekend.

Speaker 1 (02:28):
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