July 18, 2025 • 6 mins
With one final test on the agenda, the All Blacks will be aiming for a clean sweep against France.
They’re running with a largely changed team, including the late switch out of Reiko Ioane due to injury.
ZB rugby commentator Elliott Smith caught up with halfback Cortez Ratima for a chat about starting in front of his home crowd in Hamilton, and the team’s aim to maintain their winning streak.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldegrave from News Talk SEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Well it's promised by All Blacks coach Scott Robertson they've
rung in the changes and every single member of their
squad will feature in this series against France. As a
result of well ten changes made to the starting fifteen.
Only Ethan de Groot, Fabian Holland Patrick two below to
and Ardie Savia remain from last weekend's run on side
(00:32):
in that pretty impressive win over the French in Wellington
to take out the series. Obviously a bit of a
last minute change as well, much like last week. You
know they've had some real issues at the wing, haven't
they with last minute injuries and the late withdrawal with
Rico Youani outs a tight hamstring. So Will Jordan will
come into the starting lineup. He was initially named on
(00:54):
the bench, but he'll start on the right wing. Severu
Reese goes to the left wing and Jordi Barrett who
was going to be in the stands but he now
finds himself on the bench wearing the number twenty three Jersey.
So that's how things shape up in terms of the
All Blacks squad for tonight and at halfback in for
cam roy Guard this week wearing the number nine Jersey
is courtiers at that's them up. He'll be deputized by
(01:17):
Noah Hotham, who comes in for his potential second Test
in the number twenty one at Jersey. We're going to
hear from All Blacks half back courtiers at Artema now.
Who spoke to excuse me our All Blacks commentator Elliott
Smith during the week and he was asked about how
special it will be being out in front of his
home fans from the Chiefs at white Cutter Stadium in Hamilton. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Yeah, pretty cool opportunity obviously home here, so yeah, hopefully
hopefully you boys can get out there and do a job. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
How have the first couple of weeks been against this
French team coming off the bench? Have you found it good?
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Obviously Test frety margins are really fine, so yeah, it's
a whole other level to supern Yeah, it's been good though,
being in a bit of an opportunity, so.
Speaker 4 (02:04):
Tune it up in the series. Obviously a bit of
confidence from that in terms of how you build I
guess for bigger challenges and other challenges coming later on.
What are the team do you want to improve on
this week for this test? In Himlton, I.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
Think for us it's making sure that we just get
over or we need to get over. Obviously a couple
of changes in the team, so making sure we get
our connections right. And ye French. French are a dangerous team.
They feed off turnovers or a little stuff like that.
So for us it's make sure we complete our sets
(02:38):
and on our teams.
Speaker 4 (02:39):
You mentioned the connections nine, ten, twelve, thirteen all Chiefs players,
so you've got that natural connection there. That must be
pretty good on Saturday up when you're looking out and
seeing those players in the back line that you know
and play with on a regular basis.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Yeah, one hundred percent. That's an exciting opportunity for all
of us, and you're just extremely grateful for the coaches
forgiving us the opportunity.
Speaker 4 (02:59):
You've been in the All Blacks for about a year,
hour bit longer. What are the biggest lessons for you
over that period of times you get a test up.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
The biggest lessons probably just just how fine margins are, Like,
you know, it could be a drop of the ball
and you're down the other and getting scored on. So yeah,
it's it's definitely test match footing and it's but it's exciting.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
So yeah, with those changes that come through, is a
challenge to get those combinations going so quickly. Obviously talk
about the cheap but there's a number of other new
players in the back line that you maybe haven't played
with as much.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
Yeah, I think the coaches set us up pretty well
throughout the week. So as long as we go about
our week, make sure we take everything off we can
leave no stone unturned, I guess, and you set ourselves
well to go go out there on Saturday night.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
So you sort cameroy guard score that sneaky try down
the blind side last week? Had you did that work
as well as it had in training? Was that something
you'd seen on the training field.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Oh, and there's to be honest, it's as best that
as it could have come out. Yeah, been privy for
there all week and to see it come off was awesome.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
That she must love sort of seeing that opportunity down
the blind that that opens up and a chance for
you to use your running game.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
Yeah, one hundred percent chance to just have a go
down down a short sides per year and they don't
don't have the numbers there, so yeah, it's good.
Speaker 4 (04:26):
And this week in Hamilton obviously mentioned home ground, a
lot of requests for tickets and everything like that this.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Week yeah yeah, got the family coming, so yeah, it's
pretty exciting, pretty coo opportunity to be able to play
in front of them and the and the black.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
Jersey often the All Blacks playing Hamilton last fist time
since twenty twenty two, so good opportunity to play on
your home ground as well. And the people of Hamilton
obviously always come out for rugby.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Yeah yeah, when was the last one twin twin two, Yeah,
so yeah, I'd say the white culture region would have
been pretty eager and in the Chiefs region, so to
be cool, cool, cool to get everyone out here and
show this they have for rugby.
Speaker 4 (05:07):
What would it mean to this All Blacks team to
beat the French three nil and head into that Rugby
Championship with with confidence under the belt.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
Honestly, it'd be massive for us. Obviously we've we've gone
to to and no so far, so the hunger is
still there to try and get through, you know.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
So yeah, and obviously not coming off the bench this week,
Camp getting the week off. But there's three half backs.
You must be pushing each other pretty hard in camp
to make yourselves as an all Blacks half back trio,
you know the better which week.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
Yeah, yeah, the competitions also made obviously three young knines
or or fresh and ready to get after it. So yeah,
that's it's good at training.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
It is it different this year with no TJ in
there because he was also sort of, you know, the
elder statesman sort of guy last year is the half
back and with you and Camp in camp orly Camp
was injured for a bit. But with no TJ this year,
is it the dynamic changed a little bit between the Knights.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Yesa know like TJ obviously has that experience behind them,
but the competitive is just still there for four of
us three. And yeah, we just try and help each
other out when we can in the learnings we take,
we try and cheer as a pod. So it's it's good.
Speaker 4 (06:20):
Just finally on the on the French team and the
way they've played. They made a lot of changes from
from first week to second week and we'll again for
the third Is there a style of game that you
expect them to play on Saturday night and how do
you combat that.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
I just think they have nothing to lose mindset. So
for us, it's about staying on, staying ready for anything
they could throw at us.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
For more from the All Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave,
listen live to News Talk Said Be on Saturday mornings,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldegrave from News Talk SEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Well it's promised by All Blacks coach Scott Robertson they've
rung in the changes and every single member of their
squad will feature in this series against France. As a
result of well ten changes made to the starting fifteen.
Only Ethan de Groot, Fabian Holland Patrick two below to
and Ardie Savia remain from last weekend's run on side
(00:32):
in that pretty impressive win over the French in Wellington
to take out the series. Obviously a bit of a
last minute change as well, much like last week. You
know they've had some real issues at the wing, haven't
they with last minute injuries and the late withdrawal with
Rico Youani outs a tight hamstring. So Will Jordan will
come into the starting lineup. He was initially named on
(00:54):
the bench, but he'll start on the right wing. Severu
Reese goes to the left wing and Jordi Barrett who
was going to be in the stands but he now
finds himself on the bench wearing the number twenty three Jersey.
So that's how things shape up in terms of the
All Blacks squad for tonight and at halfback in for
cam roy Guard this week wearing the number nine Jersey
is courtiers at that's them up. He'll be deputized by
(01:17):
Noah Hotham, who comes in for his potential second Test
in the number twenty one at Jersey. We're going to
hear from All Blacks half back courtiers at Artema now.
Who spoke to excuse me our All Blacks commentator Elliott
Smith during the week and he was asked about how
special it will be being out in front of his
home fans from the Chiefs at white Cutter Stadium in Hamilton. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Yeah, pretty cool opportunity obviously home here, so yeah, hopefully
hopefully you boys can get out there and do a job. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
How have the first couple of weeks been against this
French team coming off the bench? Have you found it good?
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Obviously Test frety margins are really fine, so yeah, it's
a whole other level to supern Yeah, it's been good though,
being in a bit of an opportunity, so.
Speaker 4 (02:04):
Tune it up in the series. Obviously a bit of
confidence from that in terms of how you build I
guess for bigger challenges and other challenges coming later on.
What are the team do you want to improve on
this week for this test? In Himlton, I.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
Think for us it's making sure that we just get
over or we need to get over. Obviously a couple
of changes in the team, so making sure we get
our connections right. And ye French. French are a dangerous team.
They feed off turnovers or a little stuff like that.
So for us it's make sure we complete our sets
(02:38):
and on our teams.
Speaker 4 (02:39):
You mentioned the connections nine, ten, twelve, thirteen all Chiefs players,
so you've got that natural connection there. That must be
pretty good on Saturday up when you're looking out and
seeing those players in the back line that you know
and play with on a regular basis.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Yeah, one hundred percent. That's an exciting opportunity for all
of us, and you're just extremely grateful for the coaches
forgiving us the opportunity.
Speaker 4 (02:59):
You've been in the All Blacks for about a year,
hour bit longer. What are the biggest lessons for you
over that period of times you get a test up.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
The biggest lessons probably just just how fine margins are, Like,
you know, it could be a drop of the ball
and you're down the other and getting scored on. So yeah,
it's it's definitely test match footing and it's but it's exciting.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
So yeah, with those changes that come through, is a
challenge to get those combinations going so quickly. Obviously talk
about the cheap but there's a number of other new
players in the back line that you maybe haven't played
with as much.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
Yeah, I think the coaches set us up pretty well
throughout the week. So as long as we go about
our week, make sure we take everything off we can
leave no stone unturned, I guess, and you set ourselves
well to go go out there on Saturday night.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
So you sort cameroy guard score that sneaky try down
the blind side last week? Had you did that work
as well as it had in training? Was that something
you'd seen on the training field.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Oh, and there's to be honest, it's as best that
as it could have come out. Yeah, been privy for
there all week and to see it come off was awesome.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
That she must love sort of seeing that opportunity down
the blind that that opens up and a chance for
you to use your running game.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
Yeah, one hundred percent chance to just have a go
down down a short sides per year and they don't
don't have the numbers there, so yeah, it's good.
Speaker 4 (04:26):
And this week in Hamilton obviously mentioned home ground, a
lot of requests for tickets and everything like that this.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Week yeah yeah, got the family coming, so yeah, it's
pretty exciting, pretty coo opportunity to be able to play
in front of them and the and the black.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
Jersey often the All Blacks playing Hamilton last fist time
since twenty twenty two, so good opportunity to play on
your home ground as well. And the people of Hamilton
obviously always come out for rugby.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Yeah yeah, when was the last one twin twin two, Yeah,
so yeah, I'd say the white culture region would have
been pretty eager and in the Chiefs region, so to
be cool, cool, cool to get everyone out here and
show this they have for rugby.
Speaker 4 (05:07):
What would it mean to this All Blacks team to
beat the French three nil and head into that Rugby
Championship with with confidence under the belt.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
Honestly, it'd be massive for us. Obviously we've we've gone
to to and no so far, so the hunger is
still there to try and get through, you know.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
So yeah, and obviously not coming off the bench this week,
Camp getting the week off. But there's three half backs.
You must be pushing each other pretty hard in camp
to make yourselves as an all Blacks half back trio,
you know the better which week.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
Yeah, yeah, the competitions also made obviously three young knines
or or fresh and ready to get after it. So yeah,
that's it's good at training.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
It is it different this year with no TJ in
there because he was also sort of, you know, the
elder statesman sort of guy last year is the half
back and with you and Camp in camp orly Camp
was injured for a bit. But with no TJ this year,
is it the dynamic changed a little bit between the Knights.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Yesa know like TJ obviously has that experience behind them,
but the competitive is just still there for four of
us three. And yeah, we just try and help each
other out when we can in the learnings we take,
we try and cheer as a pod. So it's it's good.
Speaker 4 (06:20):
Just finally on the on the French team and the
way they've played. They made a lot of changes from
from first week to second week and we'll again for
the third Is there a style of game that you
expect them to play on Saturday night and how do
you combat that.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
I just think they have nothing to lose mindset. So
for us, it's about staying on, staying ready for anything
they could throw at us.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
For more from the All Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave,
listen live to News Talk Said Be on Saturday mornings,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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