Elliott Smith: Newstalk ZB's Voice of Rugby ahead of the All Blacks v England test at Twickenham

Beauden Barrett will have the keys to the All Blacks' attack at Twickenham, after being confirmed to start at 10 against England on Sunday morning. 

Barrett —who started the Bledisloe Cup test in Wellington ending a run of eight straight starts at 10 for Damian McKenzie— will start inside his fit-again brother Jordie, who returns at 12. 

It's the first time they've played together for the All Blacks in those positions. 

D'Arcy Waldegrave catches up with Newstalk ZB Rugby Editor Elliott Smith, ahead of this weekend's test. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Wildegrave from newstalk SEDB.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
We'll joined now by Elliot Smith, our voice of Rugby's
the man with the call and when the All Blacks
take on the English at the stadium formally called it Twickenham,
it will always be Twickenham to me, Elliott. Welcome to
the show mate.

Speaker 3 (00:24):
Good morning, good evening, Darcy. Great to catch up as always.

Speaker 2 (00:27):
How's it going in England? As far as the energy
around this fixture, can you feel in your bones? Is
it there? Is it ready?

Speaker 3 (00:36):
Well? I think the people that are interested in rugby
certainly are interested in you know, a sound like London
and you know experiences before It's very, very hard to
get a complete attention of the city. There are just
so many things going on around London at any one
point in time, not only from a sport but a
cultural perspective. But for those that are interested in rugby,

(00:58):
and it certainly is all go this weekend. The All
Blacks have have plenty of media interests around them this
week in plenty of call em inches about huckers and
various other things going on during the course of the week,
so there's a bit of feeling around this game and
a sense of anticipation under twenty four hours out from
kickoff gun.

Speaker 2 (01:18):
It would think the English camp must be so filthy
at Joe Mahler for what he did.

Speaker 3 (01:23):
Yeah, yeah, I think he's probably a little bit gratefully
he left camp already because the amount of side eye
that he'd be getting from his teammates and various chips
in the corridor from Joe Maala towards Joe Mahler probably
wouldn't be healthy in the team environment. Jamie George saying
yesterday the England captain that he likes Joe but really

(01:46):
sort of dug the team a little bit of a
whole there. And you can guarantee the All Blacks will
have noted it. It's been after them at every media
conference this week since the tweet was sent by mister Marler,
so they'll have noted it. They've been quick to point
out though that they won't have it, you know, hanging
on the dressing room wall at twickt and no one's
going down to the local stateationary shop and getting that

(02:06):
printed out. But it will be at the back of
their minds and it will be a pretty special hucker
come tomorrow. But again it is something that is only
sixty seconds of a spectacle before it even starts. The
real spectacle, of course, is the eighty minutes, so that
unfolds after that.

Speaker 2 (02:22):
I'm talking about feeling things in your bones. How's the
game going to unfold? I suppose nobody really knows that
the English are at home. They've been lying. Await, they
haven't been playing. Then again, half the All Blacks haven't
been playing either, so I don't know. You flip a coin,
how's this role, Elliott?

Speaker 3 (02:41):
Well, it's a very interesting question, isn't. Because the English
haven't played since that tested Eden Park and they pushed
the All Blacks over those two weeks then, and the
All Blacks have played quite a few tests eight since
that point in time, and there's been some ups and downs,
some losses along the way. But it feels like they
are a different team the All Blacks from the one

(03:01):
that played England back in July. They know their game
plan a little at Besa. There's some different players in
the mix as well. Wallace at Teddy had even debut
by the time. By the last time England in New
Zealand in the middle of the year, Sam Caine hadn't
returned to rugby. Cortez Razama came off the bench in
that second Test, but now he is grown in terms

(03:23):
of his stature as a Test footballer and some other
tweaks as well, and primarily in that as Boden Barrett
starting at ten, he was a player that call was
England a lot of trouble coming off the bench in
both of those two matches, and especially in that second Test,
turned the game solely on his doing by coming off
the bench. Now we gets a chance to start Bote

(03:45):
and Barrett. So there are different things that play and
the All Black's certainly different since that team as well.
Another one Darcy will Jordan. This is his first Test
match against England. He's been around for four years in
Test rugby. Now first time through the quirks of hue,
dueling and various injuries, that is actually going to play England,
which is quite remarkable. So look, there are a lot
of differences to the Blacks with England. Though they've made

(04:07):
some tweaks. We're through injuries and a couple of other
changes here and there, but the fact they haven't been
out for so long they'll have to pick up pretty
much a game plan that leaves behind in July and
try and put it into action tomorrow afternoon.

Speaker 2 (04:21):
We know our threats, what about the English? What are
they possessed that we should be concerned about?

Speaker 3 (04:28):
Well, I think this is the best English back three
that they've put out in quite some time. I really
like it. And they cause the All Blacks some issues.
George Fairbank at full back, Tommy Freeman on the wing
and Emmanuel Faboboso they'll cause the All Blacks some real
issues I thought in those two tests in July. They
line up again. Marcus Smith will have a lot on
his shoulders as he always does, but he looks like

(04:51):
a ten that is growing in confidence and the way
that he can play the game is again unlock that
back three. Then they can cause the All Blacks some
issues on both sides of the ground and from the
Bank Buck rings are run some great lines from fallback
as well, and that lose for Trio as well. Lot
of experience. Now Tom Curry backstarting for the first time
in the year. Ben Earl is a beast at number

(05:12):
eight and he's going to cover the midfield should there
be injuries as well. With England taking in a six
to two bench that gives you some of the size
and power that they're looking to try and overwhelm the
All blackswith but a very settled side. We saw these
players in July. Marotoji's had some great test matches against
the All Blacks. George Martin was a standout there as well.
They know their game pretty well that we know surprises

(05:33):
you wouldn't think about the way they play. It's a
matter I guess whether the All Blacks have improved since
that'stant in July, or whether England has got some stuff
in the tank for home at Twickenham.

Speaker 2 (05:42):
Enjoy the rest of your time and mother heng Land
to enjoy your call. I know we will, Elliott Smith,
as always, thanks very much for.

Speaker 3 (05:50):
Yours, catch us and cheers Darcy.

Speaker 1 (05:52):
For more from the All Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave,
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