July 5, 2025 • 11 mins
One former All Black applauded the team's performance against France - as the side walked away with a narrow 31-27 win.
The All Blacks won a late scrum penalty to get out of trouble as the French searched for a match-winning try.
Paul Miller joined Piney to weigh in.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
dB popped up well daughter skip Ba for Jordy Barrett,
wasn't how good Top goes again? Try Romick Corner, Jordi Barren.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
That was Jordy Barrett who had a try chalked off
earlier on for the knock on by Fiction and you'r
but did get himself won one of four tries that
the All Black scored last night form Allas number eight.
Paul Miller provided expert comments for us in our call
last night, and he joins us on Weekend Sport. Paul,
Great to see you last night and great day on
(00:42):
the show today. In general terms, first of all, before
we talk some specifics, how how should All Blacks fans
be feeling today about last night?
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Well? I think hey, FINEI and yeah, good afternoon. But
I think as fans they shouldn't feel too overly disappointed
this French team, even though it was stipulated that yes
it was, it was probably their b side. However, the
French flair, the instinctiveness of the players, the level of
(01:13):
their competition, they were always going to challenge the All Blacks,
and you touched on it initially. Yep, yes, All Blacks
were rusty in that first twenty But and I heard
a comment from Jason Ryan, like, you know, if it
was a blowout score, there wouldn't be much to work
on and they would have missed those crucial things that
they definitely needed to work on from last night's game.
And that's particularly around the rock Time defensive systems, and
(01:37):
the obvious one is the kick chase. So yeah, it's
a building momentum towards the series. And like yourself, Pinety,
I believe that the All Blacks will be a lot
better come the second test in Wellington.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
Let's talk about the kick chase. How do you fix
the issues around that happened last night?
Speaker 2 (02:00):
I think part of the problem is that the over
commitment they have in the actual Rocky area around twenty
two from a lineout or from a broken play none
defies the ability for the runners to get up and
actually nominate to go up and compete for the ball.
Last night, there really only had two nominated sort of players.
(02:21):
That was the I think it was Will Jordan most
of the time. Jordy Barrett obviously got up there, but
they didn't really have a second wave of runners coming
back to actually compete, and that France's strength is that instinctiveness.
They love to play on that scrappy fifty to fifty ball.
So for my mind, the next test they need to
have an allocation of three players who are going to
(02:42):
be nominated to actually get up. Maybe a couple run
past the ball and one actually goes up. Other than that, John,
pretty sure Jordi Barret can boot that ball about eighty meters,
so why not get him in the pocket and just
hoof that ball down in the territory.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
Yeah, yeah, it's a good point. And yeah, the contestable
nature of the box kick obviously means that you are
and you know you're on the risk of not getting
the ball back, and that happened more often than not.
I thought France's kickchase was good though.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Paul, did you Yes, a lot more structured. Don't know
too much around the competition over in France, but I
guess so they're probably an English style that they do
kick a lot over there in Europe. So obviously it's
a skill in bredain to them, probably when they're growing
up through the ages too, so they probably have a
(03:29):
bit more ability and skill leven. In terms of that kickchase,
you know, us kiwis, we love to run with the
ball and we love to sort of try and open
up teams with the ability with the with the ball
in hand, speed of the ball as well. Obviously the
ball beats man all the time, so kicking for us
is probably still have a new idea. However, I think
there was an exceptional coach called mc barron back back
(03:52):
a few years ago which he sort of embedded that
a fl tactic going up for the high ball, that
sort of thing. So maybe they need someone like that
to come back in possibly.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
Indeed, you means you also some improvements needed at right time.
What did you see there last night?
Speaker 2 (04:08):
A bit of a mess. It's a fifty to fifty
call whether or not Saviian Holland. I mean, he had
a massive game, and I don't want to be too
critical or critical. However, when he's a physically dominant man
and I feel like he should really be powering those leads.
He's a big man and to staying on his feet
a bit more. He I think he sacrifices his body
(04:31):
too quickly. But that might be a ploy for the
all backs to get that ball back quick at ruck time,
so they need to tidy up the latcher and the
actual clean out. I thought cam Roy guard Woli. You know,
he had an immense game. He was still had a
bit to do and he kept the defense guessing with
his ball running ability from the back of the ruck
taking two or three steps, which kept that French defense guessing.
(04:54):
But rocktime, they just probably need to be identify and
to be a bit more accurate around that cleanout area.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
What did you make of two Paul v his performance
at blindside, Well, he moved into lock, didn't they. But
during his time as a blindside flanker last night, what
did you make of his performance?
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Hard working, physical and exceptional in the lineout. I mean
it's already been touched on having the three locks supposedly
in that line out. Hence while they won twenty lineout
so and didn't lose one. So yeah, he was very
hard walking. He gave that physical edge, big tall, physical
player and from my mind he's probably he probably needs
(05:30):
a bit more time in that saddle to sort of
gain that more experience and at exposure at blindside flanker
and obviously the all Black sea him as a bit
of a utility, but probably looking at him more of
the blindside. But it's great having a semipenny female on
the bench as well to come in and fill that void.
So obviously that might happen with Scott Barrett under a
(05:51):
bit of an injury cloud for next week.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Yeah, killies by the sounds of it, So we'll keep
an eye on that. And speaking of injuries, what a
shame for sever Resa. What fifty seven seconds into a
Test match and you get your head in the wrong
place and all of a sudden, your night's over.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
Yeah. Quite quite a contrast player to ricca Oani, whereas
Rico obviously loves that space and open territory in front
of him where Sevu actually goes hunting for work. And
they probably missed that work rate of Sevu Reese around
that rocky area just to take that pressure off some
of the forwards who were doing a lot of running
a lot of direct hits into that French that that
(06:27):
staff French defense there. So they missed that work rate
of Sevu Reese his ability to sort of beat that
first then Allah like Will Jordan's particularly, but yeah, they
definitely missed that work rate of Sevu.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
I think we can all agree that the All Blacks
can and probably will improve. What about France, all, do
you think that I've got another gear?
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Look France like they love unstructured play and that was
them to a t last night. And you know, you
give a team a bit of an edge and they'll
take it. And from my mind, it was the impact
of the four I can't remember the four big French
forwards that came. I think it was probably ten minutes
into that second half they actually had. They scored not
(07:10):
long after that. Big guys and big just big physical
stature in Alah. You know, similar to what the South
African do with the bomb squad. It takes you know
a bit more energy sapping for the defensive side like
the All Blacks here to take them down. So like
that's a really crucial tactic for them to keep that.
(07:31):
So it's yeah, I think they've probably looked at things
where the All Blacks a week just holding onto the
ball a bit more than just trying to expose a
bit more over commitment from the All Blacks, which were
they're doing too much into that rus hence why they
sort of open up a bit around that sort of
midfield area. So yeah, France will be they'll be smarting
(07:52):
for those weaknesses of the All Blacks sort of displayed
last night.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
Indeed, yeah, I think it's an intriguing series. I still
expect that the All Blacks will, as I say, improve
and do a bitter next week in Wellington and then
in Hamilton as well. What do you think think they'll do?
Selection wise? Scott Robertson has said he wants everybody to
get a game. We know Seva Roof can't play next week.
As you say, there's as an injury concern over Scott Barrett,
so they might have their hand forced in some ways.
(08:17):
The likes of Tamathi Tabatava Na When, when and how
might he get his debut in the next two weekends.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Well, I definitely I think they missed a bit of
edge on that midfield. No disrespect to clearly Proctor there,
but they definitely miss someone that was sort of hard running.
Jordan Barrett didn't really do too well. He played really well,
but they missed someone just just running hard off the
set piece, the liner or the scrum, which Tabatava. Now
I can get that initial impetus over that game line,
(08:45):
and from my mind, I think we might see him
either in the reserves or it's not starting next week
tavertoa Now, I just just to create that impact there,
Quinti pie as well. You know, great turnover, great tackle.
I think that was probably a game winning tackle that
he did on that big French locking that ball out
of his arms there so quite fortuously. So yeah, he
(09:07):
will also play himself, either obviously of the reserves or
starting as well. But I think tryed and true. I
think because of the way the forwards went, I don't
think we'll see too many changes in that area, but
probably you know, are we one or two changes maybe
in that backline?
Speaker 3 (09:26):
All right? And just before you go, you and I
spoke about this, I think on air end off here yesterday,
and that's the continuation of Test matches in Dunedin. For me,
it's a no brainer. You play a Test here every
year in July under a roof, as you do in
christ What feeling do you get though about the future
of Test rugby in Dunedin? Are we going to have
one every year? Is that you feel about it or not?
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Well, it's on rocky ground and you know, I actually
got to walk back where a part mcard lot probably
about half an hour and just the vibe of the crowd,
French mixing in with the locals of the Dunedin Knights
and obviously all around from New Zealand. It's just a
fantastic atmosphere, you know. It just sort of brings everyone
up a bit of joy in that. So yeah, so
(10:10):
I hope the Union or whoever makes those decisions definitely
keeps the need and in mind for at least one
test match a year. And you know what better time
to have it in the year in July cut the
coldest part of coldest time in New Zealand, so you
know what better way to have it under a roof?
And I do hope you know, obviously, crist you'll start
to get their come April next year. So but look,
(10:32):
it would be very detrimental for the local community of
Dunedin Otago Southern Region if these tests stopped going ahead.
Speaker 3 (10:40):
Yeah, no brainer for me, mate, no brainer for me.
Awesome to work alongside you again last night, Paul. Great
to see you. Thanks for your time this afternoon as well,
and we'll see you next year for a test mentioned
and I'm.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
Sure I hope, so thanks Piney, Thanks very much, Thank.
Speaker 3 (10:53):
Youre mate Paul Miller, former All Black, real analyst of
the game and our expert comments man alongside Elliot Smith
last night and our commentary on news Talks. He'd be
of the first test of twenty twenty five.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk set B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
dB popped up well daughter skip Ba for Jordy Barrett,
wasn't how good Top goes again? Try Romick Corner, Jordi Barren.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
That was Jordy Barrett who had a try chalked off
earlier on for the knock on by Fiction and you'r
but did get himself won one of four tries that
the All Black scored last night form Allas number eight.
Paul Miller provided expert comments for us in our call
last night, and he joins us on Weekend Sport. Paul,
Great to see you last night and great day on
(00:42):
the show today. In general terms, first of all, before
we talk some specifics, how how should All Blacks fans
be feeling today about last night?
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Well? I think hey, FINEI and yeah, good afternoon. But
I think as fans they shouldn't feel too overly disappointed
this French team, even though it was stipulated that yes
it was, it was probably their b side. However, the
French flair, the instinctiveness of the players, the level of
(01:13):
their competition, they were always going to challenge the All Blacks,
and you touched on it initially. Yep, yes, All Blacks
were rusty in that first twenty But and I heard
a comment from Jason Ryan, like, you know, if it
was a blowout score, there wouldn't be much to work
on and they would have missed those crucial things that
they definitely needed to work on from last night's game.
And that's particularly around the rock Time defensive systems, and
(01:37):
the obvious one is the kick chase. So yeah, it's
a building momentum towards the series. And like yourself, Pinety,
I believe that the All Blacks will be a lot
better come the second test in Wellington.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
Let's talk about the kick chase. How do you fix
the issues around that happened last night?
Speaker 2 (02:00):
I think part of the problem is that the over
commitment they have in the actual Rocky area around twenty
two from a lineout or from a broken play none
defies the ability for the runners to get up and
actually nominate to go up and compete for the ball.
Last night, there really only had two nominated sort of players.
(02:21):
That was the I think it was Will Jordan most
of the time. Jordy Barrett obviously got up there, but
they didn't really have a second wave of runners coming
back to actually compete, and that France's strength is that instinctiveness.
They love to play on that scrappy fifty to fifty ball.
So for my mind, the next test they need to
have an allocation of three players who are going to
(02:42):
be nominated to actually get up. Maybe a couple run
past the ball and one actually goes up. Other than that, John,
pretty sure Jordi Barret can boot that ball about eighty meters,
so why not get him in the pocket and just
hoof that ball down in the territory.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
Yeah, yeah, it's a good point. And yeah, the contestable
nature of the box kick obviously means that you are
and you know you're on the risk of not getting
the ball back, and that happened more often than not.
I thought France's kickchase was good though.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Paul, did you Yes, a lot more structured. Don't know
too much around the competition over in France, but I
guess so they're probably an English style that they do
kick a lot over there in Europe. So obviously it's
a skill in bredain to them, probably when they're growing
up through the ages too, so they probably have a
(03:29):
bit more ability and skill leven. In terms of that kickchase,
you know, us kiwis, we love to run with the
ball and we love to sort of try and open
up teams with the ability with the with the ball
in hand, speed of the ball as well. Obviously the
ball beats man all the time, so kicking for us
is probably still have a new idea. However, I think
there was an exceptional coach called mc barron back back
(03:52):
a few years ago which he sort of embedded that
a fl tactic going up for the high ball, that
sort of thing. So maybe they need someone like that
to come back in possibly.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
Indeed, you means you also some improvements needed at right time.
What did you see there last night?
Speaker 2 (04:08):
A bit of a mess. It's a fifty to fifty
call whether or not Saviian Holland. I mean, he had
a massive game, and I don't want to be too
critical or critical. However, when he's a physically dominant man
and I feel like he should really be powering those leads.
He's a big man and to staying on his feet
a bit more. He I think he sacrifices his body
(04:31):
too quickly. But that might be a ploy for the
all backs to get that ball back quick at ruck time,
so they need to tidy up the latcher and the
actual clean out. I thought cam Roy guard Woli. You know,
he had an immense game. He was still had a
bit to do and he kept the defense guessing with
his ball running ability from the back of the ruck
taking two or three steps, which kept that French defense guessing.
(04:54):
But rocktime, they just probably need to be identify and
to be a bit more accurate around that cleanout area.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
What did you make of two Paul v his performance
at blindside, Well, he moved into lock, didn't they. But
during his time as a blindside flanker last night, what
did you make of his performance?
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Hard working, physical and exceptional in the lineout. I mean
it's already been touched on having the three locks supposedly
in that line out. Hence while they won twenty lineout
so and didn't lose one. So yeah, he was very
hard walking. He gave that physical edge, big tall, physical
player and from my mind he's probably he probably needs
(05:30):
a bit more time in that saddle to sort of
gain that more experience and at exposure at blindside flanker
and obviously the all Black sea him as a bit
of a utility, but probably looking at him more of
the blindside. But it's great having a semipenny female on
the bench as well to come in and fill that void.
So obviously that might happen with Scott Barrett under a
(05:51):
bit of an injury cloud for next week.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Yeah, killies by the sounds of it, So we'll keep
an eye on that. And speaking of injuries, what a
shame for sever Resa. What fifty seven seconds into a
Test match and you get your head in the wrong
place and all of a sudden, your night's over.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
Yeah. Quite quite a contrast player to ricca Oani, whereas
Rico obviously loves that space and open territory in front
of him where Sevu actually goes hunting for work. And
they probably missed that work rate of Sevu Reese around
that rocky area just to take that pressure off some
of the forwards who were doing a lot of running
a lot of direct hits into that French that that
(06:27):
staff French defense there. So they missed that work rate
of Sevu Reese his ability to sort of beat that
first then Allah like Will Jordan's particularly, but yeah, they
definitely missed that work rate of Sevu.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
I think we can all agree that the All Blacks
can and probably will improve. What about France, all, do
you think that I've got another gear?
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Look France like they love unstructured play and that was
them to a t last night. And you know, you
give a team a bit of an edge and they'll
take it. And from my mind, it was the impact
of the four I can't remember the four big French
forwards that came. I think it was probably ten minutes
into that second half they actually had. They scored not
(07:10):
long after that. Big guys and big just big physical
stature in Alah. You know, similar to what the South
African do with the bomb squad. It takes you know
a bit more energy sapping for the defensive side like
the All Blacks here to take them down. So like
that's a really crucial tactic for them to keep that.
(07:31):
So it's yeah, I think they've probably looked at things
where the All Blacks a week just holding onto the
ball a bit more than just trying to expose a
bit more over commitment from the All Blacks, which were
they're doing too much into that rus hence why they
sort of open up a bit around that sort of
midfield area. So yeah, France will be they'll be smarting
(07:52):
for those weaknesses of the All Blacks sort of displayed
last night.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
Indeed, yeah, I think it's an intriguing series. I still
expect that the All Blacks will, as I say, improve
and do a bitter next week in Wellington and then
in Hamilton as well. What do you think think they'll do?
Selection wise? Scott Robertson has said he wants everybody to
get a game. We know Seva Roof can't play next week.
As you say, there's as an injury concern over Scott Barrett,
so they might have their hand forced in some ways.
(08:17):
The likes of Tamathi Tabatava Na When, when and how
might he get his debut in the next two weekends.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Well, I definitely I think they missed a bit of
edge on that midfield. No disrespect to clearly Proctor there,
but they definitely miss someone that was sort of hard running.
Jordan Barrett didn't really do too well. He played really well,
but they missed someone just just running hard off the
set piece, the liner or the scrum, which Tabatava. Now
I can get that initial impetus over that game line,
(08:45):
and from my mind, I think we might see him
either in the reserves or it's not starting next week
tavertoa Now, I just just to create that impact there,
Quinti pie as well. You know, great turnover, great tackle.
I think that was probably a game winning tackle that
he did on that big French locking that ball out
of his arms there so quite fortuously. So yeah, he
(09:07):
will also play himself, either obviously of the reserves or
starting as well. But I think tryed and true. I
think because of the way the forwards went, I don't
think we'll see too many changes in that area, but
probably you know, are we one or two changes maybe
in that backline?
Speaker 3 (09:26):
All right? And just before you go, you and I
spoke about this, I think on air end off here yesterday,
and that's the continuation of Test matches in Dunedin. For me,
it's a no brainer. You play a Test here every
year in July under a roof, as you do in
christ What feeling do you get though about the future
of Test rugby in Dunedin? Are we going to have
one every year? Is that you feel about it or not?
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Well, it's on rocky ground and you know, I actually
got to walk back where a part mcard lot probably
about half an hour and just the vibe of the crowd,
French mixing in with the locals of the Dunedin Knights
and obviously all around from New Zealand. It's just a
fantastic atmosphere, you know. It just sort of brings everyone
up a bit of joy in that. So yeah, so
(10:10):
I hope the Union or whoever makes those decisions definitely
keeps the need and in mind for at least one
test match a year. And you know what better time
to have it in the year in July cut the
coldest part of coldest time in New Zealand, so you
know what better way to have it under a roof?
And I do hope you know, obviously, crist you'll start
to get their come April next year. So but look,
(10:32):
it would be very detrimental for the local community of
Dunedin Otago Southern Region if these tests stopped going ahead.
Speaker 3 (10:40):
Yeah, no brainer for me, mate, no brainer for me.
Awesome to work alongside you again last night, Paul. Great
to see you. Thanks for your time this afternoon as well,
and we'll see you next year for a test mentioned
and I'm.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
Sure I hope, so thanks Piney, Thanks very much, Thank.
Speaker 3 (10:53):
Youre mate Paul Miller, former All Black, real analyst of
the game and our expert comments man alongside Elliot Smith
last night and our commentary on news Talks. He'd be
of the first test of twenty twenty five.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk set B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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