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August 9, 2024 8 mins

The Rugby Championship is just around the corner. 

The All Blacks are facing off against Argentina tonight in the opening match at Sky Stadium in Wellington, kicking off at 7pm. 

Piney caught up with former All Black Pita Alatini to discuss what we should expect from the match. 

He told him we should always treat Argentina with the respect they deserve, remembering that they are a threat, and it wasn’t long ago they defeated the All Blacks on home soil. 

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Episode Transcript

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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Fine
from News Talk zed B.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
Test one of the Rugby Championship tonight, Wellington All Blacks Argentina,
Sky Stadium, five past seven. Let's hope it's more like
this from last year's Rugby World Cup. Well John over
ted over halfway, put a kick it behind, chasing after
it and pats of old Jordan he DICTI sess solar
chi and less like this from two years ago in

(00:34):
christ Church. The Sirens about to go Argentina just need
to get it into touch.

Speaker 1 (00:39):
They just need to.

Speaker 2 (00:40):
Get it out. Who wants to do it?

Speaker 1 (00:42):
The bat?

Speaker 2 (00:42):
He said, I'll do it, Babus Bamas Argentina. I remember
that night in christ Church the Pumas lost, Pumas beating
the All Blacks for the first time. Let's bring in
former All Blacks midfielder Peter A. Latini for some analysis
of this game. First of all, Peter, have you assessed
the first three tests under Scott robertson this year?

Speaker 3 (01:02):
I think, fuck everyone here has made it's a past
mark and so we didn't lose. We didn't lose, and
I think it's building nicely. I really did like that
that we had England straight off the bat. I think
it's that they're really good chess series to really you know,
for some of our boys under under Raisin, especially for
Raisin this new coaching group, to get a feel around

(01:23):
to rugby, I suppose, and also these selections of group
they have, and then having having having the opportunity to
face Fiji and San Diego, the amount of changes they
made and to get the score. So he's got a
got a good kind of complete squad across the board,
I suppose of what they want so far and something
to really build on in specially tonight against Argentina and

(01:44):
the Championship.

Speaker 2 (01:46):
When he assesses the first three tests, you know, with
reference to what lies head and the Rugby Championship Argentina,
South Africa, Australia and the end of year tour. If
you look back to those three tests, particularly the England ones, Peter,
where are the improvements you think he'll be most keen
on seeing.

Speaker 3 (02:01):
I think the biggest thing and we all know it,
it's seeing a teams like le in South Africa around
the rush defense. I think Marsh has always spoken up
about it that we haven't gotten answer, and he's absolutely
right mate. I think the improvements is around just our
skills said that we know that we have as who
are those guys in those right places to really execute

(02:21):
the skill set there is required when we come up
against rush defence, when we come up against the high
kech so's it's really around that area, I think it
and and that we need to make sure that that
we kind of firmly have and and the other side
is as long as get back to around us playing
with speed, making sure that that's that's been our siper
for a long time. How do we make sure that

(02:43):
we keep shifting at that contact among speeding our skill
sets to be able to finish off tries with the
with the battery that we have.

Speaker 2 (02:50):
How do you used to handle the rush defense as
a midfielder?

Speaker 3 (02:54):
I think it wasn't too much of a thing with
South Africa. At times it was still the old up
and out and drust. This still gave us a little time.
But I do know especially with myself around rush de
fence when it that happened was around my footwork. You know,
we're going to have guys to be able to as
they come through this. This is the only if we
get too square on them. Most of the time you're
going to get smoked by by those big defenders. But

(03:17):
having good footwork was was was was always to get
on the side and then being able to move. And
that's probably where we just need to hopefully have and
we do have guys and all that profile to be
able to get the job.

Speaker 2 (03:31):
So he's gone Jordy Barrett and Antone Leonart Brown as
the starting midfield pair for tonight. Why do you think
he's gone that way?

Speaker 3 (03:37):
I think this there's a big probably look at the
ability to distribute to our outsides and and that's probably
been a criticism of Rico after the couple of tists
and against England, where we do have space on the
outside and and and we're not getting it out to
those guys. So I think Leonard Brown and obviously protact,

(04:02):
obviously a sig and they disrespected him, but always seen
that how you know, how effective we can be with
being able to really text the inside and create space
on the outside telve boys to finish. So I think
that's where Leonard Brown I think is you know, we
know experience he years as well, so that brings another
another element to that to that change. But then also

(04:25):
him retail on the bench, him coming back off the
benches and as an impact and we all know what
he can do. So I'm just hoping that you know,
hasn't really good Bruco too much, because he is. He's
still one of the best in New Zealan and what
he does is just you be able to go his
game into what Raisan is such a good one.

Speaker 2 (04:44):
It's becoming quite a quite a contestable position though, isn't
it both of them. Well, I think Jordi Barrett's the
locked in twelve, but when you look at thirteen Rica
you Annie Antel, Lennart Brown and as you say, Billy
Proctor only against Fiji of course, but I thought he
made a pretty good first of us step up to
test Ragie. What did you think?

Speaker 3 (04:59):
Yeah, I've really been impressive Philly, and I'll followed him
during his last couple of years and in the change
where he's really sort out the skill set is worked rate.
I really love his I think that's one of although
he's got great he's got a great skill set to
get balled out wide. I've been really impressed and his
ability to to to defend well, it seemed to being

(05:22):
able to read those those back doors the outside coming through.
But also his work rate and being able to get
back in the position is off ballwork. So I'm being
really impressive with it. And I think, you know, given
the opportunity, he will put real heat in the midfield.
But again that's exactly what we're after and and just
throws our depth in that position one in at.

Speaker 2 (05:43):
At first five, Damien McKenzie's I've got a fourth start,
So I'm I'm pleased to see them, you know, give
them a decent crack. How have you assessed his ability
to guide the team around.

Speaker 3 (05:54):
I'm always I've always been a big fan of dmat.
I think he's getting giving these opportunities, getting the consistent
selections at ten, I think we'll only get it better
and then we that's I you know where we need
to go with we understand this course, that we understand
his time. Again he put another guy that they can

(06:14):
be able to really derail that rush defense just with
his ability to read that. So I think he's usable
partner for me and and I look forward to more
as he goes through.

Speaker 2 (06:24):
And then I look at the locks and I know
this isn't your specialist position, but I'll be keen to hear.
I be keen to hear your views on the inexperience.
And there, of course no Scott Barrett for this one.
No Patrick tuyplot to White Lock gone, retellic gone. So
we're tupor V and Sam Dowry to start Josh Lord
on the bench. I can't remember a greener Locking trio
than that. Peter, should we be concerned at all about

(06:44):
that or excited by it?

Speaker 3 (06:46):
I think we should be excited. Piney, I think I
think this is where we need to get through. We
understand who are god that's missing, but this is the
opportunity that the boys get to start against Argentina, you know,
and has been in an older squad seet they all
made an environment right and I mean there he's the
only one that's that's fealing new and and he was

(07:06):
a big passmuking CG. But I think we need to
grow these players again, the depths that we have, and
Locks needs to as we go, you know, just because
we're not saying what lock and retalct the guns for
many years and this is an opportunity to really go
their depth and these guys, and these guys have proven
again through this super super rugby form for the last

(07:27):
couple of years that they've been really consistent the best
and it's just just straat to have something on blod
to really step their market. And then Ciserna all.

Speaker 2 (07:35):
Right, and just a word on Argentina to finish. I
think when we look at a rugby calendar, and particularly
Rugby Championship, look at South Africa two tests away going
to be tough, the Australian bled Uslow Cup games always
eye catching. Should we how should we feel about Argentina.
I mean, it wasn't that long a couple of years
they beat us on home soil for the first time.
How should we assist their threat?

Speaker 3 (07:54):
I think we should always treat them with the respect
they deserve. Like you said, you've mentioned it. You know
it's lost to them and home soil to the time.
So they are a threat and it's good for us.
We need to be on edge where and we need
to start well in this championship. Good nights for well.
As you said that those games and seven we are
going to be tough and and these boys will will

(08:15):
have to be prepped up. But first taking care of Argentina.

Speaker 2 (08:18):
Good Man Peter always love chatting to you, mate, have
an excellent afternoon.

Speaker 3 (08:21):
Thank to you Piney, thanks mate, No.

Speaker 2 (08:23):
You, thank you mate. That's Peter Alertey, former All Blacks midfielder.
Some interesting thoughts. I have to admit this one has
crept up on me. The Olympics have kind of dominated
my sporting consciousness for the last two weeks. But I
love the All Blacks, think most of us do. I'm
looking forward tonight, looking forward tonight as much as I
always look forward to All Blacks tests.

Speaker 1 (08:42):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk sed B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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