The All Blacks will be feeling satisfied following a scrappy 29-19 win over France to close out a three-test whitewash.
The hosts kept the French scoreless in the final 40 minutes of the series in Hamilton as they scored the last 19 points of the contest.
Newstalk ZB rugby commentator Elliott Smith says the All Blacks will come out of this series with a lot to learn and improve on ahead of future matches.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudgin
from News Talks edb right.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
A clean sweep of the French for the All Backs.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
Well, they've done it the hard way tonight.
Speaker 4 (00:18):
The All Blacks have had to come from behind, but
they keep the French scoreless in the second spell and
take a twenty nine to nineteen win, and they whitewash
the French to open season twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
So not as convincing. Last night in Hamilton to discuss
News Talks, dB Rugby commentator Elliott Smith joins me.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Now, good morning morning, Francisca.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Okay, what did you make of last night?
Speaker 3 (00:46):
A little bit clunky, I think from the All Blacks,
the Fronds I thought probably played their best game of
the tour. Yes, they got probably closer and certainly did
get closer in terms of a margin in Dunedan, but
I thought they defended a lot better. Their attack looked
with a little bit more shape than what we saw
in Dunedin as well, So I think from an All
(01:07):
Black's perspective, clunky probably covers it. And did we learn
what they wanted to about some of those players that
they gave opportunities to maybe a couple, but I think
the All Blacks will be more than happy just to
wrap up the series with a three to win and
consider that job done from what we've said over the
last three weeks.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Yes, So what did Scott Robertson say after the match?
What did he think of his sid's performance.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Well, I think he was said to his performance that
they needed. He thought the French were gallant last night,
and I think suggested that the All Blacks probably will
be better for what they've seen over the last three
weeks and certainly what they've encountered in the first and
third weeks. The way that the French attack, he said,
is nothing like what we see in super rugby. The
(01:53):
way that they kick is nothing like they see in
super rugby. So to get some of those pictures and
learn a little bit different things about test rugby I
think will be valuable. He got a number of players
out in the park. He managed to live up to
promise of getting everyone into the in the squad game time,
apart from Luke Jacobson who has ruled out you know,
ten minutes before kickoff last night. So he will have
(02:15):
learned a little bit about you know how the All
Blacks perform under pressure. There is certainly a lot to
work on before the Rugby Championship. But I think you'd
take his comments and go, yep, they do. You know.
You know, the series was perhaps, you know, a no
win situation I guess with Scott Robertson where French had
sent over the second or third string side and Bill
(02:36):
Blacks were expected to win and win well. They didn't
win well in all three matches, but they did come
away with a series win.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
A tough night for Damon mackenzie.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
Yeah, he just couldn't quite go his way. Look, a
number of opportunities he had. He tried all night long
to try and spark the team and get things going.
Just couldn't quite get bad and I think that was
a result probably in the first half of Theill Blacks
not getting enough front football and therefore when you're in
ten you're always playing from behind. I thought it was
(03:08):
enough and down night for it from McKenzie. There were
some glimpses of what he can do. There's also some
glimpses that he was just struggling to assert himself on
the game. Very similar perhaps in a way, especially that
first half I felt to the Super Rugby Final when
his pack was going backwards, he wasn't able to put
his imprint on the game, and when the All Blacks
(03:28):
pack were able to get a bit of go forward
after halftime, he looked a lot better. So yeah, it
wasn't the best to night for nights for Damien McKinsey,
but he certainly wasn't alone in that regard from an
all works perspective, So.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
They couldn't quite pull it together as a team. But
were there any individual performances that impressed you.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
Yeah, they were. Look I thought Fabi and Holland again
stood out in the second row. Third Test in a row.
He would be one of the few Test players in
recent history, certainly in the professional era when they've had substitutes,
to have played three straight eighty minutes in a row
since making his debut, and I think he took another
step forward last night and what he can do in
(04:04):
the second row, so very very priest by him. I
think he's been the find of the series Francesca and
what he can do for the All Blacks. I thought
Antony Lennett Brown had at a mixed night. He was
certainly better, probably in the first half rather than the second,
which is probably the opposite for a number of the
All Blacks. But I thought he was better before halftime,
so he can be in priests. And again Ruben Love
I thought grew into the game a couple of aerial
(04:26):
contests that he didn't win, but I thought he showed
that he is very much a growing player and in
terms of test rugby, his ceiling is very very high,
so getting his opportunity to get full back up, I
thought he was better as time went on in that game.
So there's a few players that would have stood out
to Scott Robinson as he contemplates the best mix of
his twenty three for the Rugby Championship.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Yes, so that was gonna be my next question. How
has this series set the All Blacks up for that Championship?
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Look, I think in a way, you know, the French,
as I said before, do attack and to defend in
a different way to some of the Super rugby teams,
maybe a little bit closer to South Africa, although they
are sort of unique a little bit the French the
way that they do approach the game. But I think
it was a tough test, look tougher than the All Blacks.
Some of the New Zealand public, I should say, probably
(05:14):
expected it to be given the caliber of French players
that were sent over in the number of caps that
they had. Look, they're gonna have to live a level,
certainly for two tests away in Argentina in four weeks time.
The first test of that in a four weeks time today,
They're going to have to lift for that. So, look,
we learned a little bit about some of those players.
You'd imagine most of them will be retained for the
(05:36):
Rugby Championship. Last night you said that Boden Barrett's hand
injury still quite tender, so he'll probably be out for
a few weeks and whether he's available for the start
of the Rugby Championship still remains to be seen, you know,
whilst the teety missed the series through injury, so whether
he's available as yet to be answered. Scott Barrett, So
there's a few questions around that from an All Blacks perspective,
(05:57):
But they are going to have to lift a level
and when that first choice team gets out of the park,
you'd expect them to be able to click a lot
better than maybe the teams have seen, especially the first
and third Test.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Elliott is a month too long between.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Matches probably is, to be honest, but there's a lions
too obviously going on across the Tasman and with the
Whalley stacking part, and that they sort of need to
realign the schedule a little bit. And you know, maybe
the All Blacks could have thrown another Test in, you know,
potentially against another country, a fig or someone like that
would have been quite handy. Some war was just played
(06:32):
on the weekend against Scotland. That might have been potentially
an option, just to keep the bodies warm and ticking over.
But also there's come off a long Super Rugby season
as well. These players now need had ten days before
they went into the camp. I mean, the international rugby
calendar is so squeezed, the domestic calendar is so squeezed
that finding another Test match and room for it isn't
(06:52):
always easy. And maybe you know, a few weeks off
isn't necessarily the worst thing in the world, but we
know when we get to the Rugby Championships will inevitably
be a little bit of a rust from the All
Black so kind of sitting on the fence and in
terms of answering that one, Francesca, but maybe the still
you know, reinvigorate the all black stuff.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
Look, it gives you a little rest as well, Elliott.
You can rest up and you know, be ready to go.
Oh look, it's always Thank you so much for your time, Elliott,
much appreciated, No trouble.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
Thanks for more from the Sunday session with Francesca Rudkin.
Listen live to news Talks it'd be from nine am Sunday,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudgin
from News Talks edb right.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
A clean sweep of the French for the All Backs.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
Well, they've done it the hard way tonight.
Speaker 4 (00:18):
The All Blacks have had to come from behind, but
they keep the French scoreless in the second spell and
take a twenty nine to nineteen win, and they whitewash
the French to open season twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
So not as convincing. Last night in Hamilton to discuss
News Talks, dB Rugby commentator Elliott Smith joins me.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Now, good morning morning, Francisca.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Okay, what did you make of last night?
Speaker 3 (00:46):
A little bit clunky, I think from the All Blacks,
the Fronds I thought probably played their best game of
the tour. Yes, they got probably closer and certainly did
get closer in terms of a margin in Dunedan, but
I thought they defended a lot better. Their attack looked
with a little bit more shape than what we saw
in Dunedin as well, So I think from an All
(01:07):
Black's perspective, clunky probably covers it. And did we learn
what they wanted to about some of those players that
they gave opportunities to maybe a couple, but I think
the All Blacks will be more than happy just to
wrap up the series with a three to win and
consider that job done from what we've said over the
last three weeks.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Yes, So what did Scott Robertson say after the match?
What did he think of his sid's performance.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Well, I think he was said to his performance that
they needed. He thought the French were gallant last night,
and I think suggested that the All Blacks probably will
be better for what they've seen over the last three
weeks and certainly what they've encountered in the first and
third weeks. The way that the French attack, he said,
is nothing like what we see in super rugby. The
(01:53):
way that they kick is nothing like they see in
super rugby. So to get some of those pictures and
learn a little bit different things about test rugby I
think will be valuable. He got a number of players
out in the park. He managed to live up to
promise of getting everyone into the in the squad game time,
apart from Luke Jacobson who has ruled out you know,
ten minutes before kickoff last night. So he will have
(02:15):
learned a little bit about you know how the All
Blacks perform under pressure. There is certainly a lot to
work on before the Rugby Championship. But I think you'd
take his comments and go, yep, they do. You know.
You know, the series was perhaps, you know, a no
win situation I guess with Scott Robertson where French had
sent over the second or third string side and Bill
(02:36):
Blacks were expected to win and win well. They didn't
win well in all three matches, but they did come
away with a series win.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
A tough night for Damon mackenzie.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
Yeah, he just couldn't quite go his way. Look, a
number of opportunities he had. He tried all night long
to try and spark the team and get things going.
Just couldn't quite get bad and I think that was
a result probably in the first half of Theill Blacks
not getting enough front football and therefore when you're in
ten you're always playing from behind. I thought it was
(03:08):
enough and down night for it from McKenzie. There were
some glimpses of what he can do. There's also some
glimpses that he was just struggling to assert himself on
the game. Very similar perhaps in a way, especially that
first half I felt to the Super Rugby Final when
his pack was going backwards, he wasn't able to put
his imprint on the game, and when the All Blacks
(03:28):
pack were able to get a bit of go forward
after halftime, he looked a lot better. So yeah, it
wasn't the best to night for nights for Damien McKinsey,
but he certainly wasn't alone in that regard from an
all works perspective, So.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
They couldn't quite pull it together as a team. But
were there any individual performances that impressed you.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
Yeah, they were. Look I thought Fabi and Holland again
stood out in the second row. Third Test in a row.
He would be one of the few Test players in
recent history, certainly in the professional era when they've had substitutes,
to have played three straight eighty minutes in a row
since making his debut, and I think he took another
step forward last night and what he can do in
(04:04):
the second row, so very very priest by him. I
think he's been the find of the series Francesca and
what he can do for the All Blacks. I thought
Antony Lennett Brown had at a mixed night. He was
certainly better, probably in the first half rather than the second,
which is probably the opposite for a number of the
All Blacks. But I thought he was better before halftime,
so he can be in priests. And again Ruben Love
I thought grew into the game a couple of aerial
(04:26):
contests that he didn't win, but I thought he showed
that he is very much a growing player and in
terms of test rugby, his ceiling is very very high,
so getting his opportunity to get full back up, I
thought he was better as time went on in that game.
So there's a few players that would have stood out
to Scott Robinson as he contemplates the best mix of
his twenty three for the Rugby Championship.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Yes, so that was gonna be my next question. How
has this series set the All Blacks up for that Championship?
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Look, I think in a way, you know, the French,
as I said before, do attack and to defend in
a different way to some of the Super rugby teams,
maybe a little bit closer to South Africa, although they
are sort of unique a little bit the French the
way that they do approach the game. But I think
it was a tough test, look tougher than the All Blacks.
Some of the New Zealand public, I should say, probably
(05:14):
expected it to be given the caliber of French players
that were sent over in the number of caps that
they had. Look, they're gonna have to live a level,
certainly for two tests away in Argentina in four weeks time.
The first test of that in a four weeks time today,
They're going to have to lift for that. So, look,
we learned a little bit about some of those players.
You'd imagine most of them will be retained for the
(05:36):
Rugby Championship. Last night you said that Boden Barrett's hand
injury still quite tender, so he'll probably be out for
a few weeks and whether he's available for the start
of the Rugby Championship still remains to be seen, you know,
whilst the teety missed the series through injury, so whether
he's available as yet to be answered. Scott Barrett, So
there's a few questions around that from an All Blacks perspective,
(05:57):
But they are going to have to lift a level
and when that first choice team gets out of the park,
you'd expect them to be able to click a lot
better than maybe the teams have seen, especially the first
and third Test.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Elliott is a month too long between.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Matches probably is, to be honest, but there's a lions
too obviously going on across the Tasman and with the
Whalley stacking part, and that they sort of need to
realign the schedule a little bit. And you know, maybe
the All Blacks could have thrown another Test in, you know,
potentially against another country, a fig or someone like that
would have been quite handy. Some war was just played
(06:32):
on the weekend against Scotland. That might have been potentially
an option, just to keep the bodies warm and ticking over.
But also there's come off a long Super Rugby season
as well. These players now need had ten days before
they went into the camp. I mean, the international rugby
calendar is so squeezed, the domestic calendar is so squeezed
that finding another Test match and room for it isn't
(06:52):
always easy. And maybe you know, a few weeks off
isn't necessarily the worst thing in the world, but we
know when we get to the Rugby Championships will inevitably
be a little bit of a rust from the All
Black so kind of sitting on the fence and in
terms of answering that one, Francesca, but maybe the still
you know, reinvigorate the all black stuff.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
Look, it gives you a little rest as well, Elliott.
You can rest up and you know, be ready to go.
Oh look, it's always Thank you so much for your time, Elliott,
much appreciated, No trouble.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
Thanks for more from the Sunday session with Francesca Rudkin.
Listen live to news Talks it'd be from nine am Sunday,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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