September 11, 2025 • 10 mins
Elliot Smith 0f Newstalk ZB previews the second Test between the All Blacks and South Africa.
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Speaker 1 (00:11):
And before we wrap up for the week here on
the Muster, Elliott Smith, you can hear his commentaries on
gold Sport doing a beautiful job as well. You would
have seen those clips no down on social media of
the last thirty seconds of the test last week and
Eden Park do your sound as a favor as well.
If you're sick of the commentary on taly go and
sync it up with gold Sport. You can do it.
It's not hard to do. And let him bring the
(00:31):
picture from the stadium into your room as well. Elliott,
good afternoon, Straight off the top, what do you make
of the changes of us all black side, because there
are a few.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
There are a few, Dy Afternoon, look I like them
to be honest. You know, South Africa have made some
changes at the start of the week and Razor has
been able to look at that team and figure out
the best way of matching that. But I also think
he's made some changes that we'll get to have a
look and learn a bit more about some of these players.
(01:00):
Leroy Carter on the left wig was electric for the
Chiefs and Super Rugby. He can play multiple positions as well.
Whether he can do that at test levels another question entirely,
but at the NPC level. Was seen him play halfback,
We've seen him playing in the midfield and he's very
very quick, and I think that's what the All Blacks
have lacked in recent times, is some out and outpace
(01:22):
on either wing. They've had some power wingers, they've had
some wingers with great footwork, but in terms of that
just speed to burn, it's been a while since we've
had that out and outpace. I think Leroy Carter very
much deserving of a shot. He's a point of difference
in terms of some of the other wingers that are
around the All Blacks camp at the moment, and I
(01:43):
think worthy of his opportunity. Just a nuggety player his
sevens background, he's good at getting over the ball in
one on one situations as well, you know, as I said,
small player, but very very physically strong. And looking forward
to seeing him tomorrow night and the other changes, you know,
Will Jordan and Damien McKenzie fourteen and fifteen a little
(02:04):
bit of a surprise, but I think they were lacking
a little bit for a right wing option this week
when they could have played Sevy Reeves. But I think
he's fallen out of favor a little bit after Buenos Aires,
and this was the combination that played seventy three minutes
last week in Auckland and was a winning combination at
that so I kind of like the continuity there. And
Noah Hosam at halfback feels like he's been around the
(02:26):
All Blacks camp for quite some time now, but this
is only his third Test tomorrow night and his first
Test start, so you know it's gone under the radar
a little bit with the excitement and the noise around
Leroy Carter getting his first opportunity, but big opportunity, big
moment for Noah Hopsam tomorrow night. We saw how big
the kick battle was out of nine last week between
(02:47):
the two half backs. You know, a bit of pressure
on him to respond. Hasn't played a starting game all
the way back since Super Rugby, so in the final there,
so you know, all lies on him. And then the
other couple of week's injury related of course as well,
with Tucky Yoho coming into Taylor which seemed fairly obvious
and Lomax coming in at Tidheads to Fletcher Newle which
(03:08):
is a pretty straightforward swamp and there, you know, quite
close in terms of where they sit in the all
Blacks pecking water. So by and large, Andy, I quite
like the moves that Scott Robinson's made. He's kept the
nucleus of that back five combination in the pack that
did so well last week. But we get to see
a bit more about some of these players in the
back line.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Simon Parker at Sex, he's going pretty good.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Yep, absolutely, I think you know hastened to you know,
Christen him is the first choice blindside as yet, but
he certainly didn't put a foot wrong last week. Did
he some thumping tackles on the spring box. He also
made some good meats as well. I thought he was
really really busy around the park and that's what they
want to see. And importantly as well, I think what
(03:52):
it did through having him at six, and this is
no slight on Tupovai, who I thought made a good
fist of his opportunities to that point. But it just
allowed Artie to focus on being the open side flanker
and in turn allowed all of Satiti to beat focus
on being the number eight and they could all play
their natural or assigned roles, which we probably haven't seen
to this point. Artie wasn't having to try and be
(04:13):
you know, a hybrid open side flanker in number eight
at the same time, he could just focus on being
an open side and attacking those opportunities when they prevented themselves.
Got over the baller calls very very late as well.
So if he can back it up with another good
performance tomorrow night, then I think the All Blacks have
found a really good one this year. They were prepared
to wait, you know, through injuries and things like that,
(04:35):
for him to get his opportunity, and it was a
great starting opportunity for him last week. So, as I said,
hopefully more of the same tomorrow night to really make
that six.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
Jersey is on resci Erasmus hasn't just changed his socks
and jokes he's Brandon's hall wardrobe, his whole wardrobe. And
he started again, Elliott, is this all we expected?
Speaker 2 (04:54):
No?
Speaker 1 (04:55):
This is Pete.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Grassie though, isn't it. You know, you lose on a
Saturday night then less than forty eight hours later, which
is what Rasi likes to do, is just name a
team earlier on a Monday and set things up and
play from there. You know, a lot of changes. No
Pollard this week. Last week's captain Jesse Kriel not there,
Damn and Alende gone as well. Change at halfway Grant
(05:18):
Williams drops to the Benjamin. This is a real reshuffle
from Russi Erasmus and to me it suggests that they
might expand their game plan a little bit more tomorrow night.
It may not be as kick orientated as it was
last week. We saw Pollard go to the skies a
number of times throughout the game. Finberg in gonmezulut at
(05:42):
tembile being flying to run a bit more. It won't
be a run first mentality necessarily, but he has got
a great running game. Ethan hooker on the wing is
outstanding as well if he gets ball in hand. He's
scored a lot of tries at the URC level for
the Sharks and then Canaan Moody and midfield caused the
All Blacks a few issues when he last played in
midfield a couple of years ago, so it didn't get
(06:04):
too many opportunities on the wing. So I think they'll
change things up a little bit tomorrow night. We might
see a little bit more about Tony brown influence on
the Springbox team than perhaps what we saw last week
when the aerial battle won out. In terms of a
game plan, they may go a little bit more expensive.
I wouldn't say too much more, but we may see
a little bit more of the spring Box showing their
(06:25):
hand at sky Stadium.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
So Africa has been in New Zealand and seeing what
the Ranfrelly shield means to the NPC into the country
as well. But on a Super Rugby note, do you
think they regret leaving?
Speaker 2 (06:37):
I think the players miss it and missed the opportunity
to come over to New Zealand. And look, I don't
think either competition is perfect. That the URC or Super Rugby,
you know, South Africans would tell you that the All
Black sorry, the New Zealand Rugby didn't want them in
Super Rugby anymore and they were booted out. New Zealand
(06:58):
Rugby would tell a different version of that story regardless,
though I think at some point it was going to
come to a breaking point that New Zealand Super Rugby
teams were battling, you know, financially to have their teams
out of time zones for so long in a season.
So the African time zones didn't necessarily work either, for
teams coming down to New Zealand, so at some point
(07:20):
there was going to be as split and I think
COVID accelerated that a little bit. I think both parties
miss it in terms of the quality and seeing some players.
Now Ethan Hooker, as I said, starting on the wing
for the spring box tomorrow night, he's a player that
we don't really know a lot about. He's got a
lot of trials for the Sharks out of the last
couple of seasons. But if we were seeing it in
(07:41):
Super Rugby would know a little bit more. So it
changes things a little bit there. You don't know the
players in and out as much as you would pre COVID.
I think it was a little bit of regret on
both sides about the way it played out, But I
don't necessarily see them back come back together at any
point in the near future.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
Just to wrap up, what do you see playing out
result wise tomorrow night? O.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
Look, I think the All Blacks will win. I think
they'll take the confidence from last week. I know speaking
to a couple of the players yesterday and the Scott
Robertson they've taken the lessons out of when they won
in quarter. But are against Argentina, then we're very poor
in Buenos aidre is the following week and they've gone
through this week and going okay, how do we back
(08:25):
up a worm get our preparation white? The question I'd
have for the All Blacks is how much of an
edge can they recreate this week? Even park last week
there was so much writing on that tis there was
a fervent excitement around what the spring Walks are going
to bring. There was so much of an edge all week.
Have they recreated that in camp? Can they recreate it
(08:46):
and get up again? I know Richie McCaul has been
in camp this week with the All Blacks. If they
can create that eache, then I think the All Blacks
will be too good on home soil, perhaps by eight
to ten points, similar margin to last week.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
Hell yeah, Smith, appreciate your time. Of course, we can
hear your commentaries on Gold Sports tomorrow night. Always appreciate it.
Antler's up for the Stags as well.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
Yep, look forward to seeing our SIVI. Reese responds in
his Stags Daver as well, with a bit of pressure
on him. So yeah, it will wait to see how
that goes.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
Laugh out loud with agg proud because life on the
land can be a laughing matter. Brought to us by
sheer Well Data working to help the livestock farmer. A
daughter says to her dad, Dad, my boyfriend says, I've
got a beautiful chessis, nice ear bags and a fantastic bumper.
But what does that even mean? Dad goes, You tell
them this. If he ever thinks about opening your head
(09:38):
or chickening your checking your royal, I'll tie it in
his nuts so hard as headlers will pop out at
his exhaust will start leaking. Leave it there for the afternoon.
Thanks very much for your company. My name is Andy Muller.
This has been the muster on hock and Newie thanks
to Peter's genetics. Best of the muster of five Am
Tomorrow morning podcasts going up shortly from today. Enjoy the weekend.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Four
And before we wrap up for the week here on
the Muster, Elliott Smith, you can hear his commentaries on
gold Sport doing a beautiful job as well. You would
have seen those clips no down on social media of
the last thirty seconds of the test last week and
Eden Park do your sound as a favor as well.
If you're sick of the commentary on taly go and
sync it up with gold Sport. You can do it.
It's not hard to do. And let him bring the
(00:31):
picture from the stadium into your room as well. Elliott,
good afternoon, Straight off the top, what do you make
of the changes of us all black side, because there
are a few.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
There are a few, Dy Afternoon, look I like them
to be honest. You know, South Africa have made some
changes at the start of the week and Razor has
been able to look at that team and figure out
the best way of matching that. But I also think
he's made some changes that we'll get to have a
look and learn a bit more about some of these players.
(01:00):
Leroy Carter on the left wig was electric for the
Chiefs and Super Rugby. He can play multiple positions as well.
Whether he can do that at test levels another question entirely,
but at the NPC level. Was seen him play halfback,
We've seen him playing in the midfield and he's very
very quick, and I think that's what the All Blacks
have lacked in recent times, is some out and outpace
(01:22):
on either wing. They've had some power wingers, they've had
some wingers with great footwork, but in terms of that
just speed to burn, it's been a while since we've
had that out and outpace. I think Leroy Carter very
much deserving of a shot. He's a point of difference
in terms of some of the other wingers that are
around the All Blacks camp at the moment, and I
(01:43):
think worthy of his opportunity. Just a nuggety player his
sevens background, he's good at getting over the ball in
one on one situations as well, you know, as I said,
small player, but very very physically strong. And looking forward
to seeing him tomorrow night and the other changes, you know,
Will Jordan and Damien McKenzie fourteen and fifteen a little
(02:04):
bit of a surprise, but I think they were lacking
a little bit for a right wing option this week
when they could have played Sevy Reeves. But I think
he's fallen out of favor a little bit after Buenos Aires,
and this was the combination that played seventy three minutes
last week in Auckland and was a winning combination at
that so I kind of like the continuity there. And
Noah Hosam at halfback feels like he's been around the
(02:26):
All Blacks camp for quite some time now, but this
is only his third Test tomorrow night and his first
Test start, so you know it's gone under the radar
a little bit with the excitement and the noise around
Leroy Carter getting his first opportunity, but big opportunity, big
moment for Noah Hopsam tomorrow night. We saw how big
the kick battle was out of nine last week between
(02:47):
the two half backs. You know, a bit of pressure
on him to respond. Hasn't played a starting game all
the way back since Super Rugby, so in the final there,
so you know, all lies on him. And then the
other couple of week's injury related of course as well,
with Tucky Yoho coming into Taylor which seemed fairly obvious
and Lomax coming in at Tidheads to Fletcher Newle which
(03:08):
is a pretty straightforward swamp and there, you know, quite
close in terms of where they sit in the all
Blacks pecking water. So by and large, Andy, I quite
like the moves that Scott Robinson's made. He's kept the
nucleus of that back five combination in the pack that
did so well last week. But we get to see
a bit more about some of these players in the
back line.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Simon Parker at Sex, he's going pretty good.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Yep, absolutely, I think you know hastened to you know,
Christen him is the first choice blindside as yet, but
he certainly didn't put a foot wrong last week. Did
he some thumping tackles on the spring box. He also
made some good meats as well. I thought he was
really really busy around the park and that's what they
want to see. And importantly as well, I think what
(03:52):
it did through having him at six, and this is
no slight on Tupovai, who I thought made a good
fist of his opportunities to that point. But it just
allowed Artie to focus on being the open side flanker
and in turn allowed all of Satiti to beat focus
on being the number eight and they could all play
their natural or assigned roles, which we probably haven't seen
to this point. Artie wasn't having to try and be
(04:13):
you know, a hybrid open side flanker in number eight
at the same time, he could just focus on being
an open side and attacking those opportunities when they prevented themselves.
Got over the baller calls very very late as well.
So if he can back it up with another good
performance tomorrow night, then I think the All Blacks have
found a really good one this year. They were prepared
to wait, you know, through injuries and things like that,
(04:35):
for him to get his opportunity, and it was a
great starting opportunity for him last week. So, as I said,
hopefully more of the same tomorrow night to really make
that six.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
Jersey is on resci Erasmus hasn't just changed his socks
and jokes he's Brandon's hall wardrobe, his whole wardrobe. And
he started again, Elliott, is this all we expected?
Speaker 2 (04:54):
No?
Speaker 1 (04:55):
This is Pete.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Grassie though, isn't it. You know, you lose on a
Saturday night then less than forty eight hours later, which
is what Rasi likes to do, is just name a
team earlier on a Monday and set things up and
play from there. You know, a lot of changes. No
Pollard this week. Last week's captain Jesse Kriel not there,
Damn and Alende gone as well. Change at halfway Grant
(05:18):
Williams drops to the Benjamin. This is a real reshuffle
from Russi Erasmus and to me it suggests that they
might expand their game plan a little bit more tomorrow night.
It may not be as kick orientated as it was
last week. We saw Pollard go to the skies a
number of times throughout the game. Finberg in gonmezulut at
(05:42):
tembile being flying to run a bit more. It won't
be a run first mentality necessarily, but he has got
a great running game. Ethan hooker on the wing is
outstanding as well if he gets ball in hand. He's
scored a lot of tries at the URC level for
the Sharks and then Canaan Moody and midfield caused the
All Blacks a few issues when he last played in
midfield a couple of years ago, so it didn't get
(06:04):
too many opportunities on the wing. So I think they'll
change things up a little bit tomorrow night. We might
see a little bit more about Tony brown influence on
the Springbox team than perhaps what we saw last week
when the aerial battle won out. In terms of a
game plan, they may go a little bit more expensive.
I wouldn't say too much more, but we may see
a little bit more of the spring Box showing their
(06:25):
hand at sky Stadium.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
So Africa has been in New Zealand and seeing what
the Ranfrelly shield means to the NPC into the country
as well. But on a Super Rugby note, do you
think they regret leaving?
Speaker 2 (06:37):
I think the players miss it and missed the opportunity
to come over to New Zealand. And look, I don't
think either competition is perfect. That the URC or Super Rugby,
you know, South Africans would tell you that the All
Black sorry, the New Zealand Rugby didn't want them in
Super Rugby anymore and they were booted out. New Zealand
(06:58):
Rugby would tell a different version of that story regardless,
though I think at some point it was going to
come to a breaking point that New Zealand Super Rugby
teams were battling, you know, financially to have their teams
out of time zones for so long in a season.
So the African time zones didn't necessarily work either, for
teams coming down to New Zealand, so at some point
(07:20):
there was going to be as split and I think
COVID accelerated that a little bit. I think both parties
miss it in terms of the quality and seeing some players.
Now Ethan Hooker, as I said, starting on the wing
for the spring box tomorrow night, he's a player that
we don't really know a lot about. He's got a
lot of trials for the Sharks out of the last
couple of seasons. But if we were seeing it in
(07:41):
Super Rugby would know a little bit more. So it
changes things a little bit there. You don't know the
players in and out as much as you would pre COVID.
I think it was a little bit of regret on
both sides about the way it played out, But I
don't necessarily see them back come back together at any
point in the near future.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
Just to wrap up, what do you see playing out
result wise tomorrow night? O.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
Look, I think the All Blacks will win. I think
they'll take the confidence from last week. I know speaking
to a couple of the players yesterday and the Scott
Robertson they've taken the lessons out of when they won
in quarter. But are against Argentina, then we're very poor
in Buenos aidre is the following week and they've gone
through this week and going okay, how do we back
(08:25):
up a worm get our preparation white? The question I'd
have for the All Blacks is how much of an
edge can they recreate this week? Even park last week
there was so much writing on that tis there was
a fervent excitement around what the spring Walks are going
to bring. There was so much of an edge all week.
Have they recreated that in camp? Can they recreate it
(08:46):
and get up again? I know Richie McCaul has been
in camp this week with the All Blacks. If they
can create that eache, then I think the All Blacks
will be too good on home soil, perhaps by eight
to ten points, similar margin to last week.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
Hell yeah, Smith, appreciate your time. Of course, we can
hear your commentaries on Gold Sports tomorrow night. Always appreciate it.
Antler's up for the Stags as well.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
Yep, look forward to seeing our SIVI. Reese responds in
his Stags Daver as well, with a bit of pressure
on him. So yeah, it will wait to see how
that goes.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
Laugh out loud with agg proud because life on the
land can be a laughing matter. Brought to us by
sheer Well Data working to help the livestock farmer. A
daughter says to her dad, Dad, my boyfriend says, I've
got a beautiful chessis, nice ear bags and a fantastic bumper.
But what does that even mean? Dad goes, You tell
them this. If he ever thinks about opening your head
(09:38):
or chickening your checking your royal, I'll tie it in
his nuts so hard as headlers will pop out at
his exhaust will start leaking. Leave it there for the afternoon.
Thanks very much for your company. My name is Andy Muller.
This has been the muster on hock and Newie thanks
to Peter's genetics. Best of the muster of five Am
Tomorrow morning podcasts going up shortly from today. Enjoy the weekend.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Four
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