Scott Hansen: All Blacks assistant coach on the squad picks ahead of the Grand Slam tour

All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has defended the lack of fresh faces in the 36-strong squad for the upcoming Grand Slam tour.

There's just one new cap in prop Tevita Mafileo and only one player - hooker George Bell - didn't appear in the Rugby Championship squad.

All Blacks assistant coach Scott Hansen joined Piney to discuss.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talks' Be.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
To Right B.

Speaker 3 (00:13):
The All Black Selectors have named their squad for the
twenty twenty five Grand Slam Tour, which kicks off with
the Gallicher Gallagher Cup, the rematch that's against Ireland in Chicago,
followed by matches against Scotland, England and Wales hook At.
George Bell is the only new inclusion who wasn't involved
in the Rugby Championship, while prop Tavita Muffalleo is the

(00:35):
only uncapped member of the squad. All Black's assistant coach
Scott Hansen is with us on Sports Talks. God thanks
for taking the time tonight. Were there many or any
challenging conversations to be had when you selected the squad
for the Northern Tour?

Speaker 2 (00:51):
I think this should be and there always is so
as All Back selectors, we do have some challenging conversations
around where we feel the squads at and personnel and
that was always the case and that was the case
in this instant, so good conversations over. It's really happy

(01:11):
with the squad, Excited for the boys, a good cohesion
experience through the group and looking forward to getting into
the Irish in Chicago.

Speaker 3 (01:22):
How did you marry up naming this squad and also
the All Blacks fifteen squad which is going to be
unveiled tomorrow.

Speaker 2 (01:29):
Yeah, yeah, good question. I think it's closely linked to
the ability to have a team up there. Also playing
was key. We know there will be a number of
boys playing in the All Blacks fifteen close to the
All Blacks. What we did well last year is have
the dup Se Carevis and the Fabian Hollins involved there
being in Europe also they're a flight away, so within

(01:51):
the selection process for us having players playing and the
All Blacks fifteen is important also and they'll be essentially
the first point of call if we do go through
any injury. So it's also reward for the players that
have come through Super and the most recent NPC which
is currently still going, so they've been rewarded through form

(02:13):
through that also, so excited for the group.

Speaker 3 (02:15):
Also, how do you find that balance, Scott? You know,
you look at a player and you think, okay, is
he better being attached to the All Blacks with us
our thirty six or is he better in the All
Blacks fifteen, maybe getting more game time. How do you
strike strike that balance when you're talking about specific players.

Speaker 2 (02:32):
Yeah, yeah, I think game time's key at the end
of the day, the All Blacks it's not a development team,
so you're up there. We understand the challenges there in
front of us. It's a great opportunity with the All
Blacks fifteen. And I had some great memories there myself
involved in that coaching wise a number of years ago.
So it's definitely an environment that allows players to come in,

(02:55):
fill the touring atmosphere, get in and connect, feel some
expectations around what the Black Jersey does. A good coaching
staff with experience there that'll be howling will be closely
aligned to them. So when you look at playing time
and there the guys like Cole Preston and that, you

(03:16):
want to continue the playing time for them. You want
to see them in different environments. You want to see
our boys facing example, the English and the likes. So
a massive opportunity for them.

Speaker 3 (03:29):
So that's the reason why Kyle is perhaps, I mean,
let's you know, I think we can all probably predict
he'll be part of the team name tomorrow. Phin like
Christy comes with you in the All Blacks thirty six.
That was just a decision really based around wanting to
give Kyle a few more minutes which he may not
have got with the All Blacks.

Speaker 2 (03:48):
Oh well, again for us, you know Philly Christy and
what he's done, the experience that he gives the group
going into Europe, the conditions that will have up there massive.
But the benefit is having us All Blacks fifteen close
to us, and it's going to allow the cole Prestons
and the like to continue to play out, continue to
be challenged around what the game looks like. So we're

(04:11):
really happy obviously with the All Black squad, just as
excited by the All Backs fifteen and the potential that's
in that group.

Speaker 3 (04:17):
Also, sever Reese Scott, he perhaps had fallen out of
favor a little bit in terms of his opportunities with
the All Blacks, and recent times there was a school
of Thorpe that perhaps you might have moved on from
sever rece Can you talk about his selection.

Speaker 2 (04:32):
Ill Sevu for us, there's really so firstly, Jasic acknowledging
the competition that's there at the moment you're looking at
the wingers and in the performances we've had most recently
around it, and they're inform You look at Lester's performance
most recently, you look at Carter around how he's continuing
to grow his game as an all back winger. You've

(04:53):
got Caleb that's coming back from injury. So we do
have a number of wingers currently putting their hand up.
We've still got versatility in our squad, which we know,
and Sevu is an experience against All Black. He knows
what it takes to travel through Europe and the like
some challenges in front of us. Sevez, there is all
the boys around getting that starting role. We know that

(05:17):
it'll work hard for it. But that's what the All
Black environment should be doing. It should be creating competition.
It should be hard to get into the starting fifteen.
And for Sev, he's got some feedback around where he
can grow his game, what we need from him around
our preparation week to help us prepare also as a
twenty three and there'll be a big opportunity for Sev

(05:39):
to put his hand.

Speaker 3 (05:39):
Up on this tour all right, And in about seven
weeks or so, once you've played Wales at Cardiff to
finish the year, obviously Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales to finish.
What sort of things would need to have happened Scott
in the in the next four matches for you to
be relatively satisfied with twenty twenty five or indeed very
satisfied with twenty twenty five.

Speaker 2 (06:00):
Yeah, I think it's a I think it's continuation of
the growth in our game. It's our I believe it
always would just during it and we've had some challenges
this year, most recently around one or two performances, but
ultimately for us, it's continued to grow our game. It's
growing out set piece, the quality position that we provide,

(06:22):
having balance in our game around our defense in an attack,
and ultimately you want this group to be reaching its potential.
And when we do that, what that looks like is
a balanced game. It's applying preciate at the right end
of the field. We've had a good review of the
most recent competition around where we can get some learnings
and fundamentally for us around that is a controlling position.

Speaker 3 (06:46):
Scott, thanks for your time tonight, all the best on
your travels. Look forward to catching up during the Northern tour.

Speaker 2 (06:51):
Thanks Jase I appreciate your time. Nice to talk to
you today.

Speaker 3 (06:54):
Not nice to talk to you too, Scott. Thanks indeed,
Scott Hanson. Let's us to go to the All Back.

Speaker 1 (06:58):
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