Scott Robertson has named his first All Blacks 23 of the year, to face France at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday night.
France have won their past three tests against the All Black - but could that winning streak end this weekend as Robertson's men face a French side missing some of their stars?
Weekend Sport host Jason Pine and Wellington's All Sport Breakfast host Adam Cooper joined Nick Mills to give their takes ahead of the game.
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from News Talk said B getting you set for your
sporting weekend. It's the Wellington Mornings Friday Sport Kickoff on
News Talk seed B.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Joining us for Friday Sport Kickoff is All Sports Breakfast
hosts Adam Cooper, Good Morning Coops, monding Neck. I got
a lot of feedback about us announcing the team live
on the show.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
We might have to do that from now on.
Speaker 4 (00:42):
It wow, Yeah, it was good fun, wasn't it.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
It was good fun and keep our listeners up to
date with what's happening and live from Duneed.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
And he's landed.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
I had a bit of a scare for Jason Pine
last night as I looked out my window and couldn't
see the airport. I thought, oh, pied, he might be
stuck in Wellington. But he's got to Duneed in morning.
Speaker 5 (00:59):
Jason Pine, good morning guys. Yep, I've landed and beautiful
dedeed and love it down here. A bit chilly, a
bit misty, but pat to be in test City for
the weekend.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Did you get a.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Little sleep between the drive from the airport to the city.
It's quite a long drive, isn't it now?
Speaker 5 (01:15):
No, No, I'm still no man, my man in the taxi.
He has still got me. I'm still awake. He's made
no mistakes that I can look MP on. And we're
approaching the central city. So you go right, more good
down here.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
Test weekend in Duneda and there's nothing better is there?
The old scarf he's come out and party. It's it's
a great old Kiwi tradition.
Speaker 5 (01:37):
Yeah, I mean, I think it's a It goes back
a while, doesn't it. And you think of the days
of Carisbrook and all the famous Test matches that took
place there, and on to Foresight Bar Stadium now with
the roof and and you know, a much much more
comfortable viewing experience for people. But yeah, I like the
fact that for a second, you're in a row. We're
starting the Test season here. A year ago it was
(01:58):
Raised's first Test in charge, of course, and now I
went over to England. I think most of us would
be expecting a more convincing margin of victory tomorrow. Again
it's the pretty green French side. So yeah, I think
there's a lot of curiosity around some of the selections
from Wellington port of view. Great to see Billy practice
Dan and the centers and do Calithi set for a
(02:18):
debut off the bench. So look, I think most of
the most of the curiosity around this test tomorrow was
about how the All Blacks will play. I'm not sure
that there's a heck of a lot in terms of
a you know, of a real contest going to happen
with a French side, which, as I say, is pretty inexperienced.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
The amazing thing to me, Coops, is that I saw
a thing on the news the last couple of nights
ago that the French touring group has eighty people a
bus for the administrators and coaches and stuff, and a
bus for players. I mean, that's a lot of people
to bring on a tour like.
Speaker 4 (02:52):
This, especially when they haven't brought their top team and
leading players, isn't it. Yeah, it is a lot. But
I mean these numbers pretty add up pretty fast. And
you'd even when you see the All Blacks and sometimes
even like the Hurricanes arrive at the airport to fly away,
you see all these you know different you know physios
and you know managers and sometimes the CEO and others,
all sort of tagging along for the trip, but eighty
(03:13):
for a game of rugby for three matches does seem
a little bit excessive, but it does add up pretty
fast when you've got a lot of people doing a
lot of things in a very highly resourced environment of
international rugby.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Give us the Wellington thoughts. I know you announced a
team yesterday and we had a bit of a chat
about it. Billy Proctor is a great one. I mean,
there's not too many Wellingtonians.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
It won't be.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
High fiving themselves on that do per see GRIFFI obviously
getting that all black jersey on. I mean it's a
big weekend for Wellington.
Speaker 4 (03:40):
It is, and it's reward for these guys who have
you know, worked incredibly hard and hung in there for
so long. And obviously Billy Proctor, you know, has been
named in this all Black squad now for almost a year,
but opportunities has been very much limited, only two tests
to his name. Obviously he had to leave the end
of year tour last year with the birth of his child,
so he wasn't able to maybe get one or two
(04:01):
more opportunities to close out twenty twenty four last year.
So this is his time and I think you know,
you look at these selections from Scott Robertson and he
seems to have decided, right, I'm gonna do what I
can to play my players in the position that I
think they're best at. And you know, you look at
what he's done with Artie Save and put him back
to number seven, You put Rico Youanne back on the wing,
(04:22):
and in turn has said, well, let's bring in the
best center from super rugby, Billy Proctor. How could we
not have him at thirteen when we could easily played
Eco Yuanni on the wing, which is which is what
he's done. So yeah, I think really good selections and
stoked for Billy Proctor to get an opportunity in the
first Test of the year. Same with Duplessi Kafi. I
mean there was pretty much, with the injuries they've had
(04:44):
at loose forwards, no doubt that he would be in
this match day twenty three, and here he is named
on the bench and I do think we will see
him feature. You know, I know Ardie sav is at seven,
but he could easily move to you know, six or
eight to cover those other two guys is in the
loose Ford trio with so I'd expect to see some
decent miss tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
Co Pioney. There's no backup on the bench as Locke
is the well.
Speaker 5 (05:06):
I don't think there needs to be because tufull Vatty
is there. And I think that was probably the biggest
surprise of all really was the fact that he's named
too Paul Vaty to start on the blind side flank.
I think everybody thought that would be some a Penny
female too poor, Butty was one of the players of
the year last year and that in that second row.
But yeah, I think what that shows is here they
(05:26):
don't need They've got three locks in the starting fifteen,
so they don't need another one on the bench. And
that's opened the way for a couple of lucies to
come off the bench, one of those of course being
Duplace Cadith to the other one being some a Penny female.
So look, I'm really excited to see how Ghost a
couple of other things. Jordi Barrett back. We haven't seen
him super break the obviously, he's been with Leinster and
(05:47):
from all reports has been superb over there, teaming up
with Billy Proctor and Midfield that's the Hurricanes' midfield came
roy Guard, you know, starting half back as eased doubt
about that. Now, look, I yeah, there's always I mean
all blacks are never perfect in the first test of
the year. We all know that they take a little
bit of time to get cohesion go. And that's not
surprising given the fact they've only been together for nine
(06:09):
or ten days. But give us roof and Dneda and
I think it'll be. Yeah, I think it'll be a good,
good spectacle. That's what I'm hoping.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Anyway, Piney, give us a quick gym hickey. What's the
weather like down there? What's the you know, what does
it feel like? Is it good that the roof is
going to be closed or open?
Speaker 5 (06:24):
Well, I don't think they can open it, so I
think it has to be God. Yeah, but but yeah,
look it's actually like I say, I've arrived the pilot
on the way and said that the current temperature was
six degrees But it doesn't look it's not. I don't
mind the cold. I like it down here. And look,
it'll be calm and dry in the stadium. You're looking
(06:45):
out at the moment, Yeah, but bit misty overhead, but dry,
And I look at the winter sport for the most part,
isn't it so?
Speaker 2 (06:53):
And it's got a roof, as you say, it's got
a roof over the head, so they're right.
Speaker 4 (06:57):
You know, we talk about a jo Hum series. It's
sold out this game, So I mean that's you know,
people that All Blacks brand. People want to see the
best all Blacks in action, and they're pretty much all there,
aren't they.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
And it's still French to freach flair? Go do you
love the French flair?
Speaker 2 (07:08):
I mean, even if there's eighty of them Saints qualified
top of the NBL, that surprises even me. I'm not
involved in the hands on and running the team, but
I thought that was a very good result for them. Coops,
you know you were at the game. That was a
do or die for them to finish top.
Speaker 4 (07:25):
Yeah, showed some real fight, didn't They tough first half
of the Saints It was the top of table game
just by chance against against Canterbury midweek and jeez, they
had to do something when they were down by about
thirteen at the halftime break, didn't they? And isaiahe alfa
one hundredth game in the NBL, really stepped up. There
was almost a case of you know, remember when the
Hurricanes for a couple of seasons. As soon as martinon
(07:45):
who got the ball, he knew something magic was going
to happen. That reminded me of what Isaiah Aarpfer was
doing with the Saints on in that second half to
lead that fight back thirty two points to his name
and get the win over Cannabury. So isn't it good
to know for the basketball fans and sporting fans of
Wellington For as long as the Saints stay in the playoffs,
you know, starting with the semi finals next Sunday, those
games are going to be at TSP Arena. How special
(08:07):
is that?
Speaker 3 (08:08):
Very very special? And they have it in the big
arena because we haven't had that from many.
Speaker 4 (08:11):
And one of the best arenas in the country. To
a few other people from around the country, they say
they love watching the NBL when it's a Wellington home
game because some of the other stadiums around the country
that this leagues played, it is pretty ordinary. So great
for the league too.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Right now, Piiney, crucial game for the Central Polse now
by Central Pulses standards, and I'm a Central Polese fan.
Right They started slowly but they're coming right at the
right time.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
But this is a big game, isn't it.
Speaker 5 (08:35):
I think so. Yeah, And look, the Pols have always
been there or thereabout seven day when it comes to
the Grand Final. They hosted it last year without managing
to get it done. Yeah, they haven't. They haven't been
vintage Polse this year. I think they would freely admit that.
But all you've got to do really is stay in
the fight until the playoff rounds, which is what they're doing,
(08:56):
and then I guess back yourself to come out on
top of a one off game. I don't know what
you guys think, but it seems that the margins of
victory are a lot bigger this year previously, and part
of that I think is probably down to the two
point shot. You know that it can it can see
the school lines blow out. But yeah, it seems as
though the margins are a lot more convincing this year
(09:17):
than they have been in the past. But look, I'm
unfortunately going to have to leave you because my taxi has.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
And well we've got to leave you too because we've
got to go to the news. So perfect climbing. Have
a great weekend, Have a great weekend.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Down there, Piney, looking forward to listening to the show
over the weekend. Down there, have a great one. Thanks,
Adam Cooper, looking forward to Saturday morning. Adam Cooper's actually
sneaking off and getting down there as well. He's actually
he's got his show tomorrow morning. Then he's off the
need gosh, I'm the only one in the whole show
that doesn't.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
Isn't going For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills,
Listen live to news talks There'd be Wellington from nine
to am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from News Talk said B getting you set for your
sporting weekend. It's the Wellington Mornings Friday Sport Kickoff on
News Talk seed B.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Joining us for Friday Sport Kickoff is All Sports Breakfast
hosts Adam Cooper, Good Morning Coops, monding Neck. I got
a lot of feedback about us announcing the team live
on the show.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
We might have to do that from now on.
Speaker 4 (00:42):
It wow, Yeah, it was good fun, wasn't it.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
It was good fun and keep our listeners up to
date with what's happening and live from Duneed.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
And he's landed.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
I had a bit of a scare for Jason Pine
last night as I looked out my window and couldn't
see the airport. I thought, oh, pied, he might be
stuck in Wellington. But he's got to Duneed in morning.
Speaker 5 (00:59):
Jason Pine, good morning guys. Yep, I've landed and beautiful
dedeed and love it down here. A bit chilly, a
bit misty, but pat to be in test City for
the weekend.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Did you get a.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Little sleep between the drive from the airport to the city.
It's quite a long drive, isn't it now?
Speaker 5 (01:15):
No, No, I'm still no man, my man in the taxi.
He has still got me. I'm still awake. He's made
no mistakes that I can look MP on. And we're
approaching the central city. So you go right, more good
down here.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
Test weekend in Duneda and there's nothing better is there?
The old scarf he's come out and party. It's it's
a great old Kiwi tradition.
Speaker 5 (01:37):
Yeah, I mean, I think it's a It goes back
a while, doesn't it. And you think of the days
of Carisbrook and all the famous Test matches that took
place there, and on to Foresight Bar Stadium now with
the roof and and you know, a much much more
comfortable viewing experience for people. But yeah, I like the
fact that for a second, you're in a row. We're
starting the Test season here. A year ago it was
(01:58):
Raised's first Test in charge, of course, and now I
went over to England. I think most of us would
be expecting a more convincing margin of victory tomorrow. Again
it's the pretty green French side. So yeah, I think
there's a lot of curiosity around some of the selections
from Wellington port of view. Great to see Billy practice
Dan and the centers and do Calithi set for a
(02:18):
debut off the bench. So look, I think most of
the most of the curiosity around this test tomorrow was
about how the All Blacks will play. I'm not sure
that there's a heck of a lot in terms of
a you know, of a real contest going to happen
with a French side, which, as I say, is pretty inexperienced.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
The amazing thing to me, Coops, is that I saw
a thing on the news the last couple of nights
ago that the French touring group has eighty people a
bus for the administrators and coaches and stuff, and a
bus for players. I mean, that's a lot of people
to bring on a tour like.
Speaker 4 (02:52):
This, especially when they haven't brought their top team and
leading players, isn't it. Yeah, it is a lot. But
I mean these numbers pretty add up pretty fast. And
you'd even when you see the All Blacks and sometimes
even like the Hurricanes arrive at the airport to fly away,
you see all these you know different you know physios
and you know managers and sometimes the CEO and others,
all sort of tagging along for the trip, but eighty
(03:13):
for a game of rugby for three matches does seem
a little bit excessive, but it does add up pretty
fast when you've got a lot of people doing a
lot of things in a very highly resourced environment of
international rugby.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Give us the Wellington thoughts. I know you announced a
team yesterday and we had a bit of a chat
about it. Billy Proctor is a great one. I mean,
there's not too many Wellingtonians.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
It won't be.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
High fiving themselves on that do per see GRIFFI obviously
getting that all black jersey on. I mean it's a
big weekend for Wellington.
Speaker 4 (03:40):
It is, and it's reward for these guys who have
you know, worked incredibly hard and hung in there for
so long. And obviously Billy Proctor, you know, has been
named in this all Black squad now for almost a year,
but opportunities has been very much limited, only two tests
to his name. Obviously he had to leave the end
of year tour last year with the birth of his child,
so he wasn't able to maybe get one or two
(04:01):
more opportunities to close out twenty twenty four last year.
So this is his time and I think you know,
you look at these selections from Scott Robertson and he
seems to have decided, right, I'm gonna do what I
can to play my players in the position that I
think they're best at. And you know, you look at
what he's done with Artie Save and put him back
to number seven, You put Rico Youanne back on the wing,
(04:22):
and in turn has said, well, let's bring in the
best center from super rugby, Billy Proctor. How could we
not have him at thirteen when we could easily played
Eco Yuanni on the wing, which is which is what
he's done. So yeah, I think really good selections and
stoked for Billy Proctor to get an opportunity in the
first Test of the year. Same with Duplessi Kafi. I
mean there was pretty much, with the injuries they've had
(04:44):
at loose forwards, no doubt that he would be in
this match day twenty three, and here he is named
on the bench and I do think we will see
him feature. You know, I know Ardie sav is at seven,
but he could easily move to you know, six or
eight to cover those other two guys is in the
loose Ford trio with so I'd expect to see some
decent miss tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
Co Pioney. There's no backup on the bench as Locke
is the well.
Speaker 5 (05:06):
I don't think there needs to be because tufull Vatty
is there. And I think that was probably the biggest
surprise of all really was the fact that he's named
too Paul Vaty to start on the blind side flank.
I think everybody thought that would be some a Penny
female too poor, Butty was one of the players of
the year last year and that in that second row.
But yeah, I think what that shows is here they
(05:26):
don't need They've got three locks in the starting fifteen,
so they don't need another one on the bench. And
that's opened the way for a couple of lucies to
come off the bench, one of those of course being
Duplace Cadith to the other one being some a Penny female.
So look, I'm really excited to see how Ghost a
couple of other things. Jordi Barrett back. We haven't seen
him super break the obviously, he's been with Leinster and
(05:47):
from all reports has been superb over there, teaming up
with Billy Proctor and Midfield that's the Hurricanes' midfield came
roy Guard, you know, starting half back as eased doubt
about that. Now, look, I yeah, there's always I mean
all blacks are never perfect in the first test of
the year. We all know that they take a little
bit of time to get cohesion go. And that's not
surprising given the fact they've only been together for nine
(06:09):
or ten days. But give us roof and Dneda and
I think it'll be. Yeah, I think it'll be a good,
good spectacle. That's what I'm hoping.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Anyway, Piney, give us a quick gym hickey. What's the
weather like down there? What's the you know, what does
it feel like? Is it good that the roof is
going to be closed or open?
Speaker 5 (06:24):
Well, I don't think they can open it, so I
think it has to be God. Yeah, but but yeah,
look it's actually like I say, I've arrived the pilot
on the way and said that the current temperature was
six degrees But it doesn't look it's not. I don't
mind the cold. I like it down here. And look,
it'll be calm and dry in the stadium. You're looking
(06:45):
out at the moment, Yeah, but bit misty overhead, but dry,
And I look at the winter sport for the most part,
isn't it so?
Speaker 2 (06:53):
And it's got a roof, as you say, it's got
a roof over the head, so they're right.
Speaker 4 (06:57):
You know, we talk about a jo Hum series. It's
sold out this game, So I mean that's you know,
people that All Blacks brand. People want to see the
best all Blacks in action, and they're pretty much all there,
aren't they.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
And it's still French to freach flair? Go do you
love the French flair?
Speaker 2 (07:08):
I mean, even if there's eighty of them Saints qualified
top of the NBL, that surprises even me. I'm not
involved in the hands on and running the team, but
I thought that was a very good result for them. Coops,
you know you were at the game. That was a
do or die for them to finish top.
Speaker 4 (07:25):
Yeah, showed some real fight, didn't They tough first half
of the Saints It was the top of table game
just by chance against against Canterbury midweek and jeez, they
had to do something when they were down by about
thirteen at the halftime break, didn't they? And isaiahe alfa
one hundredth game in the NBL, really stepped up. There
was almost a case of you know, remember when the
Hurricanes for a couple of seasons. As soon as martinon
(07:45):
who got the ball, he knew something magic was going
to happen. That reminded me of what Isaiah Aarpfer was
doing with the Saints on in that second half to
lead that fight back thirty two points to his name
and get the win over Cannabury. So isn't it good
to know for the basketball fans and sporting fans of
Wellington For as long as the Saints stay in the playoffs,
you know, starting with the semi finals next Sunday, those
games are going to be at TSP Arena. How special
(08:07):
is that?
Speaker 3 (08:08):
Very very special? And they have it in the big
arena because we haven't had that from many.
Speaker 4 (08:11):
And one of the best arenas in the country. To
a few other people from around the country, they say
they love watching the NBL when it's a Wellington home
game because some of the other stadiums around the country
that this leagues played, it is pretty ordinary. So great
for the league too.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Right now, Piiney, crucial game for the Central Polse now
by Central Pulses standards, and I'm a Central Polese fan.
Right They started slowly but they're coming right at the
right time.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
But this is a big game, isn't it.
Speaker 5 (08:35):
I think so. Yeah, And look, the Pols have always
been there or thereabout seven day when it comes to
the Grand Final. They hosted it last year without managing
to get it done. Yeah, they haven't. They haven't been
vintage Polse this year. I think they would freely admit that.
But all you've got to do really is stay in
the fight until the playoff rounds, which is what they're doing,
(08:56):
and then I guess back yourself to come out on
top of a one off game. I don't know what
you guys think, but it seems that the margins of
victory are a lot bigger this year previously, and part
of that I think is probably down to the two
point shot. You know that it can it can see
the school lines blow out. But yeah, it seems as
though the margins are a lot more convincing this year
(09:17):
than they have been in the past. But look, I'm
unfortunately going to have to leave you because my taxi has.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
And well we've got to leave you too because we've
got to go to the news. So perfect climbing. Have
a great weekend, Have a great weekend.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Down there, Piney, looking forward to listening to the show
over the weekend. Down there, have a great one. Thanks,
Adam Cooper, looking forward to Saturday morning. Adam Cooper's actually
sneaking off and getting down there as well. He's actually
he's got his show tomorrow morning. Then he's off the
need gosh, I'm the only one in the whole show
that doesn't.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
Isn't going For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills,
Listen live to news talks There'd be Wellington from nine
to am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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