October 30, 2024 • 8 mins
Out of TalkSport UK - Andrew gives us his thoughts on the English side to face The All Blacks this weekend.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
International rugby coverage on the country.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Sport Breakfast is proudly brought to you by Access Solutions,
elevating you and your business to a higher level.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Yes, the All Blacks take on England a Sunday morning
team past four kickoff New Zealand Time were the commentary
live here on Goldsport with Elliot Smith All Blacks naming
this side Friday morning our time, But England have named
the Overnight. Joining us on the show this morning out
of the UK talkSPORT rugby commentator Andrew McKenna.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Morning, Andrew, good morning, How are you very well?
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Thank you, thank you for joining us. So twenty three
named overnight? What have you made of an Andrew?
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Well, the first thing is you're absolutely right they've named
it and it's Tuesday. England are the most incredible creatures
of habit so I'd love to know why they've done
it today. Normally it's a media email at about ten
or eleven o'clock Thursday morning naming the team and then
they do all of the interviews and all of that
(00:59):
once they've trained on Thursday round about two o'clock in
the afternoon, so that's completely gone out the window, so
that they completely caught us all on the hop by
naming their team today. What have they named? Well, pretty
much what everyone was expecting. I would say there were
certain question marks regarding some positions that've gone with Ben
(01:20):
Spencer at nine. Now he has probably been the form
nine in the Premiership this season, but he's much more
of a kicking nine. Is probably the best tactical kicking
nine in England at the moment, so it's interesting that
England have gone with him and paired him with the
(01:42):
so we said, the free spirit that is Marcus Smith
at ten. So there's a real contrasting styles there. But
for me, the two that really stand out are at
thirteen Henry Slade and the back replacement, which is George Ford.
And the reason though to stand out for me is
that Henry Slade before the weekend gone had not played
(02:06):
a minute of rugby this season. He had shoulder surgery
in the off season and hadn't played a minute. England
had a training camp in Spain last week and sent
Henry Slade back from that to his club Exeter and
said please play in this weekend against Harlequins. He played
fifty four minutes in that game and England have said, okay,
(02:28):
fair enough, that's enough for us. You're good enough to
go against New Zealand and George Ford on the bench
wearing twenty three. He's not played for a month. He
got injured six minutes into the Round two game against
Saracen's and so he's not played literally four a month,
but he's suddenly fit enough to be in the England squad.
(02:48):
So I imagine if you're a bit old school, you're
probably thinking, hang on a minute, you're not supposed to
get your form and fitness for your country. You do
that for your club. I just want what that message
that sends, because it feels like you're a little bit desperate,
or you know, we've got to make sure that Slade
is fit. Well, if it's not fit, then you're picking
(03:11):
Alex Lozowski, who's been one of the form players in
the Premiership this season. It looks a little bit desperate,
although I understand it in terms of credit in the bank.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
When you look at this English team and there's a
few risk as you meet Henry Slade and George Ford,
I mean as a team that you feel could beat
the Ublecks on home soil.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
It's a team that is probably about as good as
England can pick at the moment. And frankly, whenever England
go out on home soil, there is an expect excuse me,
an expectation that they will win or at least be
very competitive. That is what England need to do. We
know that. Let's be honest. They were not a thing
of beauty to watch in the Rugby World Cup. That
(03:54):
was Steve Borthwick mirroring if you like, what Razzie Erasmus
did when he went back to South Africa all those
years ago and said, right, we're going to play a
really simple game plan and look what it did for
South Africa. They only went and won the World Cup
and since then they've they've grown their game plan. So
(04:15):
what we need to see from England now is them
growing their game plan. Are they going to be more
of a threat because they can't just be that kick
chase team that they were in the World Cup. Because
the price, let me tell you the prices that they're
charging at Twickenham for this game, people are going to
expect some entertainment.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
It's been I hate to remind you about this, but
I think it's been something like twelve years since the
last time England beat the All Blacks on home soil,
So you know there's a lot of pressure on them, really,
isn't there?
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Absolutely? And they only won that game all those years
ago because Manu Tulangi had one of those days where
everything he touched turned to gold and most of the
New Zealand people he touched got vaporie. Now, Manaito Lang
he isn't there anymore. He honestly, I was there that day.
It was incredible. Sometimes you just need someone to stand
(05:08):
up and be that leader and say, come on, lads,
follow me. There's a lot of guys in that England
squad who could be that player, and it might take
something of that order to win this game. You know,
sometimes you just need one person to have a special day.
Or is it actually the case that you need twenty
three players to be seven out of ten rather than
(05:29):
having one one amazing person at ten out of ten?
Speaker 1 (05:33):
Andrew, you would have watched the All Blacks build up
to England that played Japan last week in and the
matches in our series over here, what do you make
of the All Black team?
Speaker 2 (05:44):
It's fascinating, It really is fascinating. The whole thing with
Boden Barrett. You know where is his best position? Is
it ten? Is it fifteen?
Speaker 3 (05:54):
Is it?
Speaker 2 (05:55):
You just got to get him in the side somewhere?
You know where does that leave Dame Ian McKenzie. It's fascinating. Look,
whenever you change a coach, they're always going to come
in with different ideas. I am honestly, I'm a little
bit surprised it's taken Razor quite as long. But I
did start to see some signs during the Rugby Championship.
(06:16):
I know the results didn't necessarily go the way, but hey,
as every coach will tell you, it's all about the process,
not the result. Well, actually no it's not, because if
you don't get the results, then you'll get me find
yourself with a P forty five sooner rather than later,
ask Eric ten Hag. But that's another story entirely. But
you know, so, look, I expect them. I expect them
(06:38):
to be better because if nothing else, this is effectively
what five six weeks together as a group. How many
times outside of a World Cup do you get that
as an international side? You know, this is this is
a brilliant time for Razor and the coaches. You know,
the players are basically going to be with the for
(07:00):
what's that about forty odd days? When do you ever
get that? So I would expect to see them improve
and I would also expect by the end of the
tour is they really should be looking visibly better as
well and making the most of that time.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
And over the next four weeks England doesn't get any easier.
They've got Australia probably is easy there, but South Africa
to come in the next four weeks.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
Do you think England can can beat those teams.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Australia? You would think what you would expl England, sorry,
twicken and will expect them to beat Australia. South Africa
is a different thing. I would expect, I think twicken
and will expect them to put on a performance that day,
and by that I mean give it a right good go.
As long as they do that, then if they don't win,
(07:52):
people will go okay, fair enough. What you don't want
to do is at eighty minutes the full time whistle
to go, and everyone turned to each other and and
oh my god, we left some bullets in the chamber.
There you go out and leave it all on the pitch,
give it a crack. If they come off fair enough
that you know I think, but let's be honest. Beat
(08:13):
in South Africa at the moment, as you well know,
it's not the easiest thing in the world.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Absolutely, Hey Andrew, pleasure, you're having you on the show today.
Thank you for joining us, and have a good game
on Sunday morning.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Nowhere is it All.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Anytime we are teen past four kickoff we'll have a
live commentary on gold Sport.
International rugby coverage on the country.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Sport Breakfast is proudly brought to you by Access Solutions,
elevating you and your business to a higher level.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Yes, the All Blacks take on England a Sunday morning
team past four kickoff New Zealand Time were the commentary
live here on Goldsport with Elliot Smith All Blacks naming
this side Friday morning our time, But England have named
the Overnight. Joining us on the show this morning out
of the UK talkSPORT rugby commentator Andrew McKenna.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Morning, Andrew, good morning, How are you very well?
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Thank you, thank you for joining us. So twenty three
named overnight? What have you made of an Andrew?
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Well, the first thing is you're absolutely right they've named
it and it's Tuesday. England are the most incredible creatures
of habit so I'd love to know why they've done
it today. Normally it's a media email at about ten
or eleven o'clock Thursday morning naming the team and then
they do all of the interviews and all of that
(00:59):
once they've trained on Thursday round about two o'clock in
the afternoon, so that's completely gone out the window, so
that they completely caught us all on the hop by
naming their team today. What have they named? Well, pretty
much what everyone was expecting. I would say there were
certain question marks regarding some positions that've gone with Ben
(01:20):
Spencer at nine. Now he has probably been the form
nine in the Premiership this season, but he's much more
of a kicking nine. Is probably the best tactical kicking
nine in England at the moment, so it's interesting that
England have gone with him and paired him with the
(01:42):
so we said, the free spirit that is Marcus Smith
at ten. So there's a real contrasting styles there. But
for me, the two that really stand out are at
thirteen Henry Slade and the back replacement, which is George Ford.
And the reason though to stand out for me is
that Henry Slade before the weekend gone had not played
(02:06):
a minute of rugby this season. He had shoulder surgery
in the off season and hadn't played a minute. England
had a training camp in Spain last week and sent
Henry Slade back from that to his club Exeter and
said please play in this weekend against Harlequins. He played
fifty four minutes in that game and England have said, okay,
(02:28):
fair enough, that's enough for us. You're good enough to
go against New Zealand and George Ford on the bench
wearing twenty three. He's not played for a month. He
got injured six minutes into the Round two game against
Saracen's and so he's not played literally four a month,
but he's suddenly fit enough to be in the England squad.
(02:48):
So I imagine if you're a bit old school, you're
probably thinking, hang on a minute, you're not supposed to
get your form and fitness for your country. You do
that for your club. I just want what that message
that sends, because it feels like you're a little bit desperate,
or you know, we've got to make sure that Slade
is fit. Well, if it's not fit, then you're picking
(03:11):
Alex Lozowski, who's been one of the form players in
the Premiership this season. It looks a little bit desperate,
although I understand it in terms of credit in the bank.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
When you look at this English team and there's a
few risk as you meet Henry Slade and George Ford,
I mean as a team that you feel could beat
the Ublecks on home soil.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
It's a team that is probably about as good as
England can pick at the moment. And frankly, whenever England
go out on home soil, there is an expect excuse me,
an expectation that they will win or at least be
very competitive. That is what England need to do. We
know that. Let's be honest. They were not a thing
of beauty to watch in the Rugby World Cup. That
(03:54):
was Steve Borthwick mirroring if you like, what Razzie Erasmus
did when he went back to South Africa all those
years ago and said, right, we're going to play a
really simple game plan and look what it did for
South Africa. They only went and won the World Cup
and since then they've they've grown their game plan. So
(04:15):
what we need to see from England now is them
growing their game plan. Are they going to be more
of a threat because they can't just be that kick
chase team that they were in the World Cup. Because
the price, let me tell you the prices that they're
charging at Twickenham for this game, people are going to
expect some entertainment.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
It's been I hate to remind you about this, but
I think it's been something like twelve years since the
last time England beat the All Blacks on home soil,
So you know there's a lot of pressure on them, really,
isn't there?
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Absolutely? And they only won that game all those years
ago because Manu Tulangi had one of those days where
everything he touched turned to gold and most of the
New Zealand people he touched got vaporie. Now, Manaito Lang
he isn't there anymore. He honestly, I was there that day.
It was incredible. Sometimes you just need someone to stand
(05:08):
up and be that leader and say, come on, lads,
follow me. There's a lot of guys in that England
squad who could be that player, and it might take
something of that order to win this game. You know,
sometimes you just need one person to have a special day.
Or is it actually the case that you need twenty
three players to be seven out of ten rather than
(05:29):
having one one amazing person at ten out of ten?
Speaker 1 (05:33):
Andrew, you would have watched the All Blacks build up
to England that played Japan last week in and the
matches in our series over here, what do you make
of the All Black team?
Speaker 2 (05:44):
It's fascinating, It really is fascinating. The whole thing with
Boden Barrett. You know where is his best position? Is
it ten? Is it fifteen?
Speaker 3 (05:54):
Is it?
Speaker 2 (05:55):
You just got to get him in the side somewhere?
You know where does that leave Dame Ian McKenzie. It's fascinating. Look,
whenever you change a coach, they're always going to come
in with different ideas. I am honestly, I'm a little
bit surprised it's taken Razor quite as long. But I
did start to see some signs during the Rugby Championship.
(06:16):
I know the results didn't necessarily go the way, but hey,
as every coach will tell you, it's all about the process,
not the result. Well, actually no it's not, because if
you don't get the results, then you'll get me find
yourself with a P forty five sooner rather than later,
ask Eric ten Hag. But that's another story entirely. But
you know, so, look, I expect them. I expect them
(06:38):
to be better because if nothing else, this is effectively
what five six weeks together as a group. How many
times outside of a World Cup do you get that
as an international side? You know, this is this is
a brilliant time for Razor and the coaches. You know,
the players are basically going to be with the for
(07:00):
what's that about forty odd days? When do you ever
get that? So I would expect to see them improve
and I would also expect by the end of the
tour is they really should be looking visibly better as
well and making the most of that time.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
And over the next four weeks England doesn't get any easier.
They've got Australia probably is easy there, but South Africa
to come in the next four weeks.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
Do you think England can can beat those teams.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Australia? You would think what you would expl England, sorry,
twicken and will expect them to beat Australia. South Africa
is a different thing. I would expect, I think twicken
and will expect them to put on a performance that day,
and by that I mean give it a right good go.
As long as they do that, then if they don't win,
(07:52):
people will go okay, fair enough. What you don't want
to do is at eighty minutes the full time whistle
to go, and everyone turned to each other and and
oh my god, we left some bullets in the chamber.
There you go out and leave it all on the pitch,
give it a crack. If they come off fair enough
that you know I think, but let's be honest. Beat
(08:13):
in South Africa at the moment, as you well know,
it's not the easiest thing in the world.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Absolutely, Hey Andrew, pleasure, you're having you on the show today.
Thank you for joining us, and have a good game
on Sunday morning.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Nowhere is it All.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Anytime we are teen past four kickoff we'll have a
live commentary on gold Sport.
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