September 23, 2024 • 11 mins
The All Blacks managed a narrow victory over the Wallabies last weekend - but it was too close for comfort for some.
NZ Herald sports writer Liam Napier joined Sportstalk to discuss the team's narrow 31-28 win in Sydney.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Waldegrave
from News Talk z'b.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Enra gets it in, Savia, gets it out, catch it
over the touchline.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
The All Blacks hang on to win the match.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
The All Blacks hang on to the Bledislow three tries
in the opening sixteen minutes and then got the fright
of their life, the All.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Blacks thirty one Australia twenty eight.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Yeah, three points in it in the end, far too
close for comfort for many, and the All Blacks do
get the bledders Low Cup for yet another year, the
twenty second straight. But still plenty of questions around this
team's performance for twenty twenty four as a whole, and
where the coaching staff should go this weekend for their
final chance at home before embarking on a pretty grueling
(00:53):
end of year tour. Look forward to debating some of
the possible selections with you through the hour, but first
let's head to Wellington and then New Zeland. Herald Rugby
correspondent Liam Napier joins us. Now, Liam evening, So you've
obviously just returned back following both sides in Sydney. You're
with the All Blacks in Wellington today. What was the
(01:13):
biggest talking point around the All Blacks camp today among
everything else that's going on at the moments.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Yeah, evening, coops. Great to be back in the nation's capital,
your hometown. Went out to Upperhart today and saw Wayne
Smith floating around. I think it's his first time in
camp with the All Blacks. He's the I thing. His
official title is performance coach with the b and Black Ferns,
so interesting to see him flowing around. No form what
(01:41):
day on Jeordie Barrett, but he's certainly out this week
with his medial ligament injury. He had scans today so
we'll hear later in the week about that. And then
I guess while the All Blacks have locked away to
Wedslow Cup, there's certainly no shortage of motivation. Everything from
the Wellington Hudoo having won here for six years could
be Sam came into j Pennara's last home tests and
(02:05):
of course the last quarter second half failings. Five tests
in a row. Your Blacks haven't scored a point beyond
this fifty second minute, so plenty for Sco Robinson's men
to improve on.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Yeah, exactly, and that was obviously a big talking point
straight after the game as well, from your perspective, how
much of the All Blacks and the coaching staff worried
about this? What kind of either poker faces or genuine
answers have they given in the last out of twenty
four to forty eight hours around that, that final twenty
minutes of games.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
Yeah, I think poker face is probably a good way
to put it. They're certainly projecting optimism and no sense
of panic as such, but it is an unsolvable curse
for the All Blacks these last quarter failings, whether it's
the bench, whether it's blowing am for opportunities. They had
the Wallabies on the rack and Sydney led twenty one nil,
(02:56):
twenty eight to seven and then twenty eight to fourteen
at halftime and should have really blown them away but didn't.
So finishing those attacking chances as a very pressing concern.
But you know, Jason Hollands speaking today about backing their
skill sets, continuing to be positive, and Will Jordan also
(03:19):
talking about, you know, things like refining support play and
just continuing to attack. But it is a major issue
because we've seenior Blacks blow big leads against Argentina here
in Wellington, the spring Box and Johannesburg they had ten
point lead and then again in Sydney, so it is
(03:41):
a major issue for them to try and solve and.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Hearing Scott Robertson used the term mercurial to describe Damien
McKenzie's performance. Is that a sign that you know has
consistent backing and confidenced him and him so far this
year is possibly starting to wane a little bit.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Yeah, I think it could be Coops both and Barrett
was late withdrawal last week. Will Jordan City only had
about two hours to kick off notice that he was
switching from the wing to start at fallback. But by
all accounts there is a bit of sickness in the
All Blacks camp, but Boden is said to have recovered,
so I wouldn't be surprised if we saw a change
(04:20):
at ten. I don't expect to see widespread changes from
the All Blacks this week. I think they haven't put
out the performance that they want that everyone expects from them,
so I don't think they will feel comfortable enough to
have widespread experimentation as such, even though the Bled is
locked away. But ten is a major talking point isn't it.
Damien has been backed consistently this year, started all eight
(04:43):
tests and hasn't stamped as authority on that position. It's
fair to say there's been questions about his game management
as goalkicking, which was actually very good in Sydney, but
there was the audacious flick path and just the game
management in the final quarter. I think the All Blacks
had about thirty eight percent of territory in the second
(05:03):
half and that contributed to, you know, them being under
pressure and conceding too late yellow cards. So if the
All Blacks are going to make a change at ten,
if they do want to see some other options, whether
that is Boden Barrett, maybe Harry Plummer, Stephen Pefetter is injured,
you'd think it has to be now before they head
(05:24):
north for the end of the tour. They do play
Japan before confronting England Island and France up north, but
if they're going to have another look, you would think
it has to happen sooner rather than bet on.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
The other side of the scale. Could they benefit from
giving Damian mackenzie another shot here, build that confidence before
they head to Europe.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
Yeah, it's a fair points. I guess the more time
he spends at ten the more backing he has from
the coaches, the more comfortable he should be in that role.
He hasn't prior to this year had a sustained run
for the All Blacks at tennis. Of course played there
for the Chiefs, but Richard Monger was the first choice
(06:05):
ten you know, for Blacks, and there's all sorts of
talk that he's going to return potentially next year, if
not next year, the year after. So every minutes Damien
gets of experience as incredibly valuable. So I'm sure he'll
want to retain those rains and continue to improve. But
(06:26):
we've seen elsewhere, you know, there's been players punished to
a degree for like a form or eras Riquewane was
dropped and brought back. Well Jordan you know, started one
test at fallback and then was pushed back to the
wing before the late change last week. Others have fallen
out of favor, the likes of Dalton Papa Lee. So
(06:47):
Scott Robinson has shown that he can use selection to
try and evoke performance, but just not with Damien McKenzie
to day.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Yeah, and on the other side the positives obviously Wallace
to Tt court Is at Artema very much the ones
you know newb's on the team being credited for great
consistent performances in the last month or side. Do you
expect them to continue to be given the time in
the saddle again to just build that confidence.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
You'd think so. Ethan Blackheader is backfit. He's been out
for the past two Tests with a hamstring injury, so
there's great depth in the loose forwards and it would
be very harsh to drop Wallace the way he's playing.
And Cortez at Artima was for me the best All
Black on the park in Sydney. His distribution, his niping game,
(07:36):
his defense is kicking or exceptional, so I think he's
really growing into his work. You've got cam royguards Hurricanes
halfback who's obviously missed this whole season in camp well
the All Blacks this year. I think he'll play for
Contes Monaco next week before possibly joining the All Blacks
for the end of year tour. So it is really
(07:57):
the youth that shine for the All Blacks at the moment.
Tupu Vis another one that's playing out of his skin.
He was one of the best performers in South Africa.
So I think there's a real case to be made
that Scott Robinson needs to promote this youth and back
them more because he's been a wee bit reluctant to
do that. And it is as you say that, like
(08:18):
the Tt and Ratima that have really been the shining
lights in recent weeks.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
And what's the mindset from Australia crossing the ditch for
this return test? They got so close. Was it disappointment
from them or was there more encouragement you felt the
sentiment around them post the game as to just how
close they got to the All Blacks.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
It was interesting to hear Joe Schmitt talk postmatch. He
was a realist, I would suggest he felt that bill
Blacks could would have should have been ahead by a
lot more had they taken those chances we talked about,
But he was heartened by the character and the fight
back that his team showed. It couldn't quite get over
(08:57):
the line. Bill Blacks had some very big turnovers on
their own line to escape and the final wall turnover
to save their bluff. Really, but look, it was a
vastly improved Wallaby's performance on the whole. They were blown
away early came back late and it's easy to forget.
The week before they suffered their second worst defeat in
(09:18):
history against the Pumas in Argentina. I think it was
the most points they had ever conceded, sixty seven. They
conceded sixty four points in fifty minutes and only scored three. So,
you know, to respond like that on home soil and
get within three points of the All Blacks, I think
they would take a lot of heart from that, but
they've got to back it up now. But those not
(09:40):
on the line. But there's certain everything to play for
for the Wallabies. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
And just finally, Liam, you mentioned obviously at the start
that t J. Pettinata Sam Kane, that final test for
them does loom at some point, you know, does that
get made public? I guess during this week if it
is likely the last game in the Black Jersey, we
know it would probably be their last on New Zealand soil.
When does that kind of picture become a bit clearer.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
Yeah. I don't think any of those things will be
discussed publicly because I doubt that those decisions have been made.
There are some very big decisions for the Blix to make.
As you cast a head beyond this game to the
India Tour with as we mentioned, Cam Roygo coming back
and someone like Peter Luckeye waiting in the wings. You'd
(10:24):
have to think both those guys will be on the
India Tour squad and which is normally enlarged, which does
give you a degree of flexibility. But this will be
Sam Caine and TJ's last home game. Sam Caine, provided
he plays, will play one hundredth tests, so a massive
occasion for the former captain. But yeah, there is a
(10:45):
chance that those guys get squeezed out by the future.
So there's some big decisions for Scout Robertson to make,
but I doubt whether I've actually made them to this point.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Liam, always good to chat mate, Thanks for your time
here on you stilzp and enjoy your week in the Capitol.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
Yest coops anytime.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Cheers Liam Napier with US ladies. Eeld Harold's made Rugby
correspondence here on Sports Talk.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks
it Be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Waldegrave
from News Talk z'b.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Enra gets it in, Savia, gets it out, catch it
over the touchline.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
The All Blacks hang on to win the match.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
The All Blacks hang on to the Bledislow three tries
in the opening sixteen minutes and then got the fright
of their life, the All.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Blacks thirty one Australia twenty eight.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Yeah, three points in it in the end, far too
close for comfort for many, and the All Blacks do
get the bledders Low Cup for yet another year, the
twenty second straight. But still plenty of questions around this
team's performance for twenty twenty four as a whole, and
where the coaching staff should go this weekend for their
final chance at home before embarking on a pretty grueling
(00:53):
end of year tour. Look forward to debating some of
the possible selections with you through the hour, but first
let's head to Wellington and then New Zeland. Herald Rugby
correspondent Liam Napier joins us. Now, Liam evening, So you've
obviously just returned back following both sides in Sydney. You're
with the All Blacks in Wellington today. What was the
(01:13):
biggest talking point around the All Blacks camp today among
everything else that's going on at the moments.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Yeah, evening, coops. Great to be back in the nation's capital,
your hometown. Went out to Upperhart today and saw Wayne
Smith floating around. I think it's his first time in
camp with the All Blacks. He's the I thing. His
official title is performance coach with the b and Black Ferns,
so interesting to see him flowing around. No form what
(01:41):
day on Jeordie Barrett, but he's certainly out this week
with his medial ligament injury. He had scans today so
we'll hear later in the week about that. And then
I guess while the All Blacks have locked away to
Wedslow Cup, there's certainly no shortage of motivation. Everything from
the Wellington Hudoo having won here for six years could
be Sam came into j Pennara's last home tests and
(02:05):
of course the last quarter second half failings. Five tests
in a row. Your Blacks haven't scored a point beyond
this fifty second minute, so plenty for Sco Robinson's men
to improve on.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Yeah, exactly, and that was obviously a big talking point
straight after the game as well, from your perspective, how
much of the All Blacks and the coaching staff worried
about this? What kind of either poker faces or genuine
answers have they given in the last out of twenty
four to forty eight hours around that, that final twenty
minutes of games.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
Yeah, I think poker face is probably a good way
to put it. They're certainly projecting optimism and no sense
of panic as such, but it is an unsolvable curse
for the All Blacks these last quarter failings, whether it's
the bench, whether it's blowing am for opportunities. They had
the Wallabies on the rack and Sydney led twenty one nil,
(02:56):
twenty eight to seven and then twenty eight to fourteen
at halftime and should have really blown them away but didn't.
So finishing those attacking chances as a very pressing concern.
But you know, Jason Hollands speaking today about backing their
skill sets, continuing to be positive, and Will Jordan also
(03:19):
talking about, you know, things like refining support play and
just continuing to attack. But it is a major issue
because we've seenior Blacks blow big leads against Argentina here
in Wellington, the spring Box and Johannesburg they had ten
point lead and then again in Sydney, so it is
(03:41):
a major issue for them to try and solve and.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Hearing Scott Robertson used the term mercurial to describe Damien
McKenzie's performance. Is that a sign that you know has
consistent backing and confidenced him and him so far this
year is possibly starting to wane a little bit.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Yeah, I think it could be Coops both and Barrett
was late withdrawal last week. Will Jordan City only had
about two hours to kick off notice that he was
switching from the wing to start at fallback. But by
all accounts there is a bit of sickness in the
All Blacks camp, but Boden is said to have recovered,
so I wouldn't be surprised if we saw a change
(04:20):
at ten. I don't expect to see widespread changes from
the All Blacks this week. I think they haven't put
out the performance that they want that everyone expects from them,
so I don't think they will feel comfortable enough to
have widespread experimentation as such, even though the Bled is
locked away. But ten is a major talking point isn't it.
Damien has been backed consistently this year, started all eight
(04:43):
tests and hasn't stamped as authority on that position. It's
fair to say there's been questions about his game management
as goalkicking, which was actually very good in Sydney, but
there was the audacious flick path and just the game
management in the final quarter. I think the All Blacks
had about thirty eight percent of territory in the second
(05:03):
half and that contributed to, you know, them being under
pressure and conceding too late yellow cards. So if the
All Blacks are going to make a change at ten,
if they do want to see some other options, whether
that is Boden Barrett, maybe Harry Plummer, Stephen Pefetter is injured,
you'd think it has to be now before they head
(05:24):
north for the end of the tour. They do play
Japan before confronting England Island and France up north, but
if they're going to have another look, you would think
it has to happen sooner rather than bet on.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
The other side of the scale. Could they benefit from
giving Damian mackenzie another shot here, build that confidence before
they head to Europe.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
Yeah, it's a fair points. I guess the more time
he spends at ten the more backing he has from
the coaches, the more comfortable he should be in that role.
He hasn't prior to this year had a sustained run
for the All Blacks at tennis. Of course played there
for the Chiefs, but Richard Monger was the first choice
(06:05):
ten you know, for Blacks, and there's all sorts of
talk that he's going to return potentially next year, if
not next year, the year after. So every minutes Damien
gets of experience as incredibly valuable. So I'm sure he'll
want to retain those rains and continue to improve. But
(06:26):
we've seen elsewhere, you know, there's been players punished to
a degree for like a form or eras Riquewane was
dropped and brought back. Well Jordan you know, started one
test at fallback and then was pushed back to the
wing before the late change last week. Others have fallen
out of favor, the likes of Dalton Papa Lee. So
(06:47):
Scott Robinson has shown that he can use selection to
try and evoke performance, but just not with Damien McKenzie
to day.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Yeah, and on the other side the positives obviously Wallace
to Tt court Is at Artema very much the ones
you know newb's on the team being credited for great
consistent performances in the last month or side. Do you
expect them to continue to be given the time in
the saddle again to just build that confidence.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
You'd think so. Ethan Blackheader is backfit. He's been out
for the past two Tests with a hamstring injury, so
there's great depth in the loose forwards and it would
be very harsh to drop Wallace the way he's playing.
And Cortez at Artima was for me the best All
Black on the park in Sydney. His distribution, his niping game,
(07:36):
his defense is kicking or exceptional, so I think he's
really growing into his work. You've got cam royguards Hurricanes
halfback who's obviously missed this whole season in camp well
the All Blacks this year. I think he'll play for
Contes Monaco next week before possibly joining the All Blacks
for the end of year tour. So it is really
(07:57):
the youth that shine for the All Blacks at the moment.
Tupu Vis another one that's playing out of his skin.
He was one of the best performers in South Africa.
So I think there's a real case to be made
that Scott Robinson needs to promote this youth and back
them more because he's been a wee bit reluctant to
do that. And it is as you say that, like
(08:18):
the Tt and Ratima that have really been the shining
lights in recent weeks.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
And what's the mindset from Australia crossing the ditch for
this return test? They got so close. Was it disappointment
from them or was there more encouragement you felt the
sentiment around them post the game as to just how
close they got to the All Blacks.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
It was interesting to hear Joe Schmitt talk postmatch. He
was a realist, I would suggest he felt that bill
Blacks could would have should have been ahead by a
lot more had they taken those chances we talked about,
But he was heartened by the character and the fight
back that his team showed. It couldn't quite get over
(08:57):
the line. Bill Blacks had some very big turnovers on
their own line to escape and the final wall turnover
to save their bluff. Really, but look, it was a
vastly improved Wallaby's performance on the whole. They were blown
away early came back late and it's easy to forget.
The week before they suffered their second worst defeat in
(09:18):
history against the Pumas in Argentina. I think it was
the most points they had ever conceded, sixty seven. They
conceded sixty four points in fifty minutes and only scored three. So,
you know, to respond like that on home soil and
get within three points of the All Blacks, I think
they would take a lot of heart from that, but
they've got to back it up now. But those not
(09:40):
on the line. But there's certain everything to play for
for the Wallabies. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
And just finally, Liam, you mentioned obviously at the start
that t J. Pettinata Sam Kane, that final test for
them does loom at some point, you know, does that
get made public? I guess during this week if it
is likely the last game in the Black Jersey, we
know it would probably be their last on New Zealand soil.
When does that kind of picture become a bit clearer.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
Yeah. I don't think any of those things will be
discussed publicly because I doubt that those decisions have been made.
There are some very big decisions for the Blix to make.
As you cast a head beyond this game to the
India Tour with as we mentioned, Cam Roygo coming back
and someone like Peter Luckeye waiting in the wings. You'd
(10:24):
have to think both those guys will be on the
India Tour squad and which is normally enlarged, which does
give you a degree of flexibility. But this will be
Sam Caine and TJ's last home game. Sam Caine, provided
he plays, will play one hundredth tests, so a massive
occasion for the former captain. But yeah, there is a
(10:45):
chance that those guys get squeezed out by the future.
So there's some big decisions for Scout Robertson to make,
but I doubt whether I've actually made them to this point.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Liam, always good to chat mate, Thanks for your time
here on you stilzp and enjoy your week in the Capitol.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
Yest coops anytime.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Cheers Liam Napier with US ladies. Eeld Harold's made Rugby
correspondence here on Sports Talk.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks
it Be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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