September 24, 2025 • 10 mins
The All Blacks are set to faces off against the Wallabies this weekend and it's been a long times since the Aussies won on New Zealand soil.
Andrew Slack was the Wallabies captain for the last time the team beat out the All Blacks at Eden Park in 1986.
He caught up with D'Arcy to discuss how rugby is going in Australia at the moment ahead of this massive test match.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Waldegrave
from News Talks'd be.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Right talking of that test matches, which we will rite
here right now, twelve minutes after seven long time between drinks.
In fact, they've possibly forgotten what a drink is. The
Australians haven't beaten the All Blacks in New Zealand since
two thousand and one. Se been even longer since their
last one at Eden Park against the All Blacks nineteen
(00:34):
eighty six. Wow. Andrew Slack was the Wallabies captain on
that day nearly forty years ago when they defeated the
All Blacks twenty two nine to win the Blatherslake Cup
and joins us now to talk about that day as
well as the state of rugby across the ditch at
the moment. It's great pleasure. I haven't spoken Andrew Slack
(00:57):
for ages. You know, Andrew, long time, no speak. Very well,
very excited about the possibility of this week team because
the Australians, the Wallabies are looking to do something that
hasn't been done since well, I'd say Moss was a
lad or you were playing for the Wallabies. What are
you a member of that day?
Speaker 3 (01:18):
A few things. My memory is not what it should
be that many years now, but I know it was
a culmination of good adeen months for the Wallabies. We've
had some success elsewhere and we're probably just about the
last last hurrah in terms of being at the peak
and so beating the All Blacks on the home turf
(01:40):
and the series was terrific. So I remember the general thing.
A couple of minor things is I remember Enri Rodriguez
making a tackle on Picker Reid. That was a pretty
puvotal moment, camp scoring a try at one stage, and
you know, the end being the end and we were ahead,
so it was a good day.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Would you ever thought that it'd take this long between drinks?
It's a gulf, it's almost it's almost unfeathomable, unfeathomable that
it's taken so long.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
Well, it is odd in the sense that you know,
you've got to ease these teams. And Nick then when
he was taking over for a while and we had
some pretty solid teams in the mid two thousands, I
think one of us would fall over the line, but
not around this time. People have asked me why, and
I haven't come up with a decent answer yet apart
(02:31):
from the fact that every time we played even part
we're playing the All Blacks, so you're not home and.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Knows the interesting because it's been said, well, we're not
overly concerns. I'll tell it. It's just a footing field really,
but it's just so much more than that. How do
you get that out of your mind when you run
on to that park, that this is just a footy field.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Well interesting that it says that, because the one thing
in trying to work out why it's also a cricket
field and it's not. You know, it's not rectangular. I
found a slightly difficult police place to play this, like
the Sydney cricket grounds are a bit nod and that
maybe because but they're just sort of upset my feel
(03:12):
and I think with the All Blacks and New Zealand
players used to playing there, their bearings were better. Maybe
now I am clutching it straw famous, but that's the
one thing that maybe a legitimate answer.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
I'm interested in the current state of Australian rugby because
it's been turned on its head in a good way.
And I hate to say this, we're always trying to
claim something off each other, you know, the Pavlova far Lap,
crowded house, whatever. But you're in possession now of some
very good rugby brains that are all from New Zealand.
(03:49):
We've got scrum coach chron that's something else. Of course,
you got the head coach Ozzie Joe Schmidt as they're
calling them that the list goes on. How instruments do
you think those guys have been and turning the fortunes.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Around completely on top of it all. I mean, you know,
who knows what would have happened if they hadn't been
brought on board, But the reality is they have and
they've done a superb job for both of them. They well,
you know, there's a bit of a talk in Australia
you need an Australian coach to the Australian I reckon
that's dribbled. I mean, the rul's moved on.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Now.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
You want the best person and the most knowledgeable person
and the one who gets the best out of the players,
and Joe's definitely done that, and I know that the
players are thrilled with the way he does things and
the way Coronnie does Conno does things as well. So
they're a happy bunch, and that's not because they're being
molly coddle, because I don't think Joe's and molly good.
(04:40):
But the short answer to your questions, they've been fantastic.
And I think there's a bit of disappointment that Joe,
because of his circumstances, not able to keep game. But
we'll take him form as long as we're can have him.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
And lest Kiss, of course, is waiting in the wings.
He must be beside himself with joy that what can
be pulled out of the of the players, the cattle
they've got, because he's been complaints that you just haven't
got the players, But they're there, all right, it's just
how you utilize them. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
Well, you know, I think some of the players have
now mature, got a bit of depth in some areas
we've we've still got concerns. I mean, James to Connor
will probably be our first choice number ten now and
he's thirty five, so you know he's not going to
be here for one hundred years. And there's a lot
of good up and comes around there, but nobody's proven
themselves yet at number ten, so that's a concern to
(05:29):
a degree. Although I think we'll get there, but everywhere
else pretty well, we've got some depth which we haven't
had and you're not going to get anywhere without debt.
We've also got a couple of world class players and
you're not going to get anywhere without world class players.
So about two or three of those anyway, so you
know it's all looking up. But each week to new week,
and I think that's the way they face it, the
way they've got places set up.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
From a rugby perspective, this championship has been extraordinary. No
one's run away with it as tight as they come.
What would you put that down to? No one saw
this coming?
Speaker 3 (06:01):
Andrew, Well, every team's better, you know, you're just say
we're talking about Australia being better, Argentina are clearly better,
and South Africa and New Zealand are always top of
the tree. Really so I mean, from a rugby perspective
in Australia, this is fantastic, not only because the Wallabies
are doing better, but you want to contests, you know
you don't want Okay, we know that other New Zealand
and South Africa going to win this thing, and that's
(06:22):
from a non parochial point of view, so I think
sure to actually argent Australia playing better New Zealand and
South Africa. You know, you're sure the New Zealands aren't
thinking at the top of the tree at the moment
with recent results, but they're still a hot side. So
it's you know, it's been the best Rugby championship is
what people love sports for because there's a contest and
you know, you don't know who's going to win.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Dare I say the Aussie public are climbing behind this.
You Australians are great, You ignore the losers what you
should do and you really celebrate the winners. Are you
feeling that that surge now behind the team?
Speaker 3 (06:54):
No question, But I think also Australian and rugby followers
specifically have had a been rough time over the last
few years, and even though we haven't won every game,
you know that they see what's happening. They see that
we're in the contest every time and they appreciate the
improvement with improvement we've made. So you're right, everyone likes
to winner, but I think we're accepting that even if
(07:15):
we don't always win, at least we're in there at
the eightieth and we're still a show. So it's been
great for rugby in Australia because you know, it was
battling a bit after our last World Cup and various things.
So yeah, we're running with the wind a bit, so
I hope that continues.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
You talked before of the superstar players that you've got
on the side, the leaders of this team. Who are
they and why are they up there? What are you
seeing these players?
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Well, I think Phrasement right probably you could argue that
he's one of the world's best back rollers. Now, I
have a bit of the theory that back rows an
easy place to play because there's so many good ones.
I've got a back rolls of disagree with me, but
I just think he's up there on any given day.
Will Skelton, who's not here this weekend but will be
in Perth, I think has been. He's a guy who
(08:02):
most teams would like to have. Jorgenson. Max Jorgensen is
a winger who's I think winger, stroke fullback who could
be anything. You know, Kid's only twenty, I think. And
Joseph Soali and there's more. There's probably a couple more,
but I think you could argue those names. You know,
if you're a World fifteen selector, they're going to come
into the discussion and that's what you want.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
The All Blacks are at six and seven's right now.
When some lose, some win, some lose some, it is
all over the shop. If you look back at what
they've done and what they're going to bring to Eden
Park for that bled Slow Cup match, what's their focus
going to be? How are they going to pack up
from the wreckage of the last game against South Africa.
There are so many areas for you what would it be?
Speaker 3 (08:43):
Yeah, look, I'm you know, I don't. I don't look
at it as just an observer. Now. I don't look
at a game and replay twenty seven times and think,
you know, I look at it the one you know,
make a judgment, and my judgment, well, I'll certainly bring
a bit of anger a thought. But I know that
he's in public and everyone's been up. But I thought
that South Africa performance in the second half was phenomenal,
(09:05):
absolutely phenomenal, And it wasn't all just because it wasn't
because New Zealand didn't show up or made a mistake.
So they just got on a roll from heaven and
I know, it's just one of those days. I remember
France betting forty something one day and you know, you
just sort of end up stopping and looking at them
because everything's going so well. So I wouldn't think the
(09:25):
Wallabies are taking any much, well much notice at all
of that performance and looking at more as well. I'm
glad we got South Africa earlier because they were great.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
If you're running, you're captaining the Wallaby's now along with
the coach, who, if it may be, where would you
target the All Blacks? Where do you think their week
go on? Say it under the high ball and defending
anything about twenty minutes to go well?
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Well, an interesting call that in terms of talking to
the high ball, because we got beaten against Argentina, I
think one of the reasons we were beaten under the
high ball. So I don't know we'll be getting too
cocky about the fact that South Africa beat New Zealand
under the high ball. I think I heard Scott Robertson
say immediately after that game something about but it was
dido us and I'm sure Joe was saying the same stuff.
(10:10):
So we can't so we're going to kill New Zealand
on the high ball because we weren't brilliant and that's
an area we really need to improve. And I dare say,
whoever's wins that area on Saturday might be the people
smiling full time.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
Any other area you see as being maybe a tender
under belly for the All Blacks that maybe the Wallabies
can exploit the strength that they bring. Andrew no.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to news Talks
they'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Waldegrave
from News Talks'd be.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Right talking of that test matches, which we will rite
here right now, twelve minutes after seven long time between drinks.
In fact, they've possibly forgotten what a drink is. The
Australians haven't beaten the All Blacks in New Zealand since
two thousand and one. Se been even longer since their
last one at Eden Park against the All Blacks nineteen
(00:34):
eighty six. Wow. Andrew Slack was the Wallabies captain on
that day nearly forty years ago when they defeated the
All Blacks twenty two nine to win the Blatherslake Cup
and joins us now to talk about that day as
well as the state of rugby across the ditch at
the moment. It's great pleasure. I haven't spoken Andrew Slack
(00:57):
for ages. You know, Andrew, long time, no speak. Very well,
very excited about the possibility of this week team because
the Australians, the Wallabies are looking to do something that
hasn't been done since well, I'd say Moss was a
lad or you were playing for the Wallabies. What are
you a member of that day?
Speaker 3 (01:18):
A few things. My memory is not what it should
be that many years now, but I know it was
a culmination of good adeen months for the Wallabies. We've
had some success elsewhere and we're probably just about the
last last hurrah in terms of being at the peak
and so beating the All Blacks on the home turf
(01:40):
and the series was terrific. So I remember the general thing.
A couple of minor things is I remember Enri Rodriguez
making a tackle on Picker Reid. That was a pretty
puvotal moment, camp scoring a try at one stage, and
you know, the end being the end and we were ahead,
so it was a good day.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Would you ever thought that it'd take this long between drinks?
It's a gulf, it's almost it's almost unfeathomable, unfeathomable that
it's taken so long.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
Well, it is odd in the sense that you know,
you've got to ease these teams. And Nick then when
he was taking over for a while and we had
some pretty solid teams in the mid two thousands, I
think one of us would fall over the line, but
not around this time. People have asked me why, and
I haven't come up with a decent answer yet apart
(02:31):
from the fact that every time we played even part
we're playing the All Blacks, so you're not home and.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Knows the interesting because it's been said, well, we're not
overly concerns. I'll tell it. It's just a footing field really,
but it's just so much more than that. How do
you get that out of your mind when you run
on to that park, that this is just a footy field.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Well interesting that it says that, because the one thing
in trying to work out why it's also a cricket
field and it's not. You know, it's not rectangular. I
found a slightly difficult police place to play this, like
the Sydney cricket grounds are a bit nod and that
maybe because but they're just sort of upset my feel
(03:12):
and I think with the All Blacks and New Zealand
players used to playing there, their bearings were better. Maybe
now I am clutching it straw famous, but that's the
one thing that maybe a legitimate answer.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
I'm interested in the current state of Australian rugby because
it's been turned on its head in a good way.
And I hate to say this, we're always trying to
claim something off each other, you know, the Pavlova far Lap,
crowded house, whatever. But you're in possession now of some
very good rugby brains that are all from New Zealand.
(03:49):
We've got scrum coach chron that's something else. Of course,
you got the head coach Ozzie Joe Schmidt as they're
calling them that the list goes on. How instruments do
you think those guys have been and turning the fortunes.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Around completely on top of it all. I mean, you know,
who knows what would have happened if they hadn't been
brought on board, But the reality is they have and
they've done a superb job for both of them. They well,
you know, there's a bit of a talk in Australia
you need an Australian coach to the Australian I reckon
that's dribbled. I mean, the rul's moved on.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Now.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
You want the best person and the most knowledgeable person
and the one who gets the best out of the players,
and Joe's definitely done that, and I know that the
players are thrilled with the way he does things and
the way Coronnie does Conno does things as well. So
they're a happy bunch, and that's not because they're being
molly coddle, because I don't think Joe's and molly good.
(04:40):
But the short answer to your questions, they've been fantastic.
And I think there's a bit of disappointment that Joe,
because of his circumstances, not able to keep game. But
we'll take him form as long as we're can have him.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
And lest Kiss, of course, is waiting in the wings.
He must be beside himself with joy that what can
be pulled out of the of the players, the cattle
they've got, because he's been complaints that you just haven't
got the players, But they're there, all right, it's just
how you utilize them. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
Well, you know, I think some of the players have
now mature, got a bit of depth in some areas
we've we've still got concerns. I mean, James to Connor
will probably be our first choice number ten now and
he's thirty five, so you know he's not going to
be here for one hundred years. And there's a lot
of good up and comes around there, but nobody's proven
themselves yet at number ten, so that's a concern to
(05:29):
a degree. Although I think we'll get there, but everywhere
else pretty well, we've got some depth which we haven't
had and you're not going to get anywhere without debt.
We've also got a couple of world class players and
you're not going to get anywhere without world class players.
So about two or three of those anyway, so you
know it's all looking up. But each week to new week,
and I think that's the way they face it, the
way they've got places set up.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
From a rugby perspective, this championship has been extraordinary. No
one's run away with it as tight as they come.
What would you put that down to? No one saw
this coming?
Speaker 3 (06:01):
Andrew, Well, every team's better, you know, you're just say
we're talking about Australia being better, Argentina are clearly better,
and South Africa and New Zealand are always top of
the tree. Really so I mean, from a rugby perspective
in Australia, this is fantastic, not only because the Wallabies
are doing better, but you want to contests, you know
you don't want Okay, we know that other New Zealand
and South Africa going to win this thing, and that's
(06:22):
from a non parochial point of view, so I think
sure to actually argent Australia playing better New Zealand and
South Africa. You know, you're sure the New Zealands aren't
thinking at the top of the tree at the moment
with recent results, but they're still a hot side. So
it's you know, it's been the best Rugby championship is
what people love sports for because there's a contest and
you know, you don't know who's going to win.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Dare I say the Aussie public are climbing behind this.
You Australians are great, You ignore the losers what you
should do and you really celebrate the winners. Are you
feeling that that surge now behind the team?
Speaker 3 (06:54):
No question, But I think also Australian and rugby followers
specifically have had a been rough time over the last
few years, and even though we haven't won every game,
you know that they see what's happening. They see that
we're in the contest every time and they appreciate the
improvement with improvement we've made. So you're right, everyone likes
to winner, but I think we're accepting that even if
(07:15):
we don't always win, at least we're in there at
the eightieth and we're still a show. So it's been
great for rugby in Australia because you know, it was
battling a bit after our last World Cup and various things.
So yeah, we're running with the wind a bit, so
I hope that continues.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
You talked before of the superstar players that you've got
on the side, the leaders of this team. Who are
they and why are they up there? What are you
seeing these players?
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Well, I think Phrasement right probably you could argue that
he's one of the world's best back rollers. Now, I
have a bit of the theory that back rows an
easy place to play because there's so many good ones.
I've got a back rolls of disagree with me, but
I just think he's up there on any given day.
Will Skelton, who's not here this weekend but will be
in Perth, I think has been. He's a guy who
(08:02):
most teams would like to have. Jorgenson. Max Jorgensen is
a winger who's I think winger, stroke fullback who could
be anything. You know, Kid's only twenty, I think. And
Joseph Soali and there's more. There's probably a couple more,
but I think you could argue those names. You know,
if you're a World fifteen selector, they're going to come
into the discussion and that's what you want.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
The All Blacks are at six and seven's right now.
When some lose, some win, some lose some, it is
all over the shop. If you look back at what
they've done and what they're going to bring to Eden
Park for that bled Slow Cup match, what's their focus
going to be? How are they going to pack up
from the wreckage of the last game against South Africa.
There are so many areas for you what would it be?
Speaker 3 (08:43):
Yeah, look, I'm you know, I don't. I don't look
at it as just an observer. Now. I don't look
at a game and replay twenty seven times and think,
you know, I look at it the one you know,
make a judgment, and my judgment, well, I'll certainly bring
a bit of anger a thought. But I know that
he's in public and everyone's been up. But I thought
that South Africa performance in the second half was phenomenal,
(09:05):
absolutely phenomenal, And it wasn't all just because it wasn't
because New Zealand didn't show up or made a mistake.
So they just got on a roll from heaven and
I know, it's just one of those days. I remember
France betting forty something one day and you know, you
just sort of end up stopping and looking at them
because everything's going so well. So I wouldn't think the
(09:25):
Wallabies are taking any much, well much notice at all
of that performance and looking at more as well. I'm
glad we got South Africa earlier because they were great.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
If you're running, you're captaining the Wallaby's now along with
the coach, who, if it may be, where would you
target the All Blacks? Where do you think their week
go on? Say it under the high ball and defending
anything about twenty minutes to go well?
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Well, an interesting call that in terms of talking to
the high ball, because we got beaten against Argentina, I
think one of the reasons we were beaten under the
high ball. So I don't know we'll be getting too
cocky about the fact that South Africa beat New Zealand
under the high ball. I think I heard Scott Robertson
say immediately after that game something about but it was
dido us and I'm sure Joe was saying the same stuff.
(10:10):
So we can't so we're going to kill New Zealand
on the high ball because we weren't brilliant and that's
an area we really need to improve. And I dare say,
whoever's wins that area on Saturday might be the people
smiling full time.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
Any other area you see as being maybe a tender
under belly for the All Blacks that maybe the Wallabies
can exploit the strength that they bring. Andrew no.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to news Talks
they'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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