CSB - Cortez Ratima - All Black

The man running out in the number 9 jersey this Sunday against England. Live here of Gold sport from just after 4am Sunday. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
International rugby coverage on the Country Sport Breakfast is proudly
brought to you by Access Solutions, elevating you and your
business to a higher level. We're talking international rugby now
on the show where the All Blacks kick off their
Northern Tour ten past four Sunday morning up against England
at a sold out Twickenham. We'll have a commentary live

(00:20):
here on Gold Sport. Joining us on the show this morning.
The man wearing the number nine, Jersey Cortez Ratamo, the
pride of Pupu Primary School courtis good morning.

Speaker 2 (00:31):
Ha ha, thank you for having me. Good morning mate.

Speaker 1 (00:34):
You've come a long way since your day is growing
up in the king Country.

Speaker 2 (00:37):
A yeah, yeah, jeez, bloody makes me think beckcha a wee.
While ago, Jesus.

Speaker 1 (00:45):
Jay, you would have thought you would have thought back then, hey,
I'm going to be an All Black one day and
play against England at Twickenham.

Speaker 2 (00:52):
Oh man, I couldn't even I don't even think I
would have even thought I would have got this, Ira. Yeah,
unreal to get the opportunity to to run on against
England at Twickenham.

Speaker 1 (01:06):
So what was it like hearing your name read out
being on the on the run on side when the
team was announced well a few hours ago.

Speaker 2 (01:14):
Really, oh man, it's just goosebumps every time the team
gets named. Ah, you just you're just waiting eagerly. Obviously
we've got three three really good nines with Cam and
TJ and anyone can start. So anytime you get named

(01:35):
out to run out out there is pretty special.

Speaker 1 (01:40):
It's your first Northern tourk it is with the with
the All Blacks. How have you enjoyed it so far?

Speaker 2 (01:47):
That's been awesome. Obviously been away for for a couple
of weeks now so feeling quite connected with the team
and it's it's pretty pretty cool to be able to
live together and tour together and experience these these pretty
cool experiences that we get to have.

Speaker 1 (02:07):
Where's your seat on the bus obviously that's a tradition
with the All Blacks?

Speaker 2 (02:11):
Oh yeah, right up the front, ye as I said
on the bus driver's left.

Speaker 1 (02:19):
Great stuff. I talk us through training this week? What's
it been like in England for training?

Speaker 2 (02:26):
Good? Good we've had We've had a real good intensity.
The boys we we we run against, they bring some
some real good heat and trip us pretty well hopefully
so Yes, it's just been exciting. Really.

Speaker 1 (02:41):
What's been the big work on? Has it been anything
in particular?

Speaker 2 (02:47):
I think for us it's just just really getting getting
in the know of our game and trusting, trusting the
game plan that the that the coaches have have helped
prepare for us. So you're having full full trust in
that and getting a few rips over there is going
to be the big one for us.

Speaker 1 (03:07):
I think you're enjoying it under Raiser Robinson.

Speaker 2 (03:10):
Yeah, yeah, he's a good man.

Speaker 1 (03:15):
The nine ten combination you and Body Barrett. You've got
eight tests to your name, Body has one hundred and
thirty one, so you got an old hand outside you.

Speaker 2 (03:26):
Yeah, yeah, he's he's one of the great days. So
anytime we get to get a chance to pull on
a jersey Orf Bowden is a huge pleasure.

Speaker 1 (03:38):
On the other side of the park, you're up against England.
In fact, you made your Test debut against England here
in New Zealand in July, so I guess to play
them on their home ground is something special for you too.

Speaker 2 (03:50):
Yeah, one hundred obviously debut against England over and over home,
coming off the bench, so we've playing a bit of
a different role getting the run out there first, so
it's just exciting to get the opportunity not only play England,
but to play at Twickenham as well, which has got

(04:12):
a lot of rugby history in it.

Speaker 1 (04:13):
And in front of a crowd of eighty two thousand people.
I don't want to scare you here, but that's a
big crowd.

Speaker 2 (04:20):
Ye, yeah, it's a big stadium, big crowd, but it's exciting.
So really looking forward to the opportunity.

Speaker 1 (04:29):
Really you'll be marking Ben Spencer he takes over as
halfback for England. Have you played against him before?

Speaker 2 (04:39):
No, not before there was on my debut. I don't
think he got on. He was on the bench as well,
so yeah, it's pretty exciting to be playing against him.

Speaker 1 (04:53):
Absolutely fantastic. Well, we wish you and the team the
very best of Black will have a commentary of the
game on Sunday morning. And of course it doesn't get
any easier does it. We've got Ireland, We've got France
coming up as well, so there's some tough tastes.

Speaker 2 (05:05):
Yeah, one hundred, that's pretty pretty exciting. Not often you
get to get to go on and Northern Tour and
be all fall back, so just try and soak it
up as much as we can.

Speaker 1 (05:16):
And yeah, mate, we're proud of you and i'm sure
your family back in the king Country are as well.
Go well on Sunday morning.

Speaker 2 (05:24):
Jeez, thank you for having me coming for you, caring me.

Speaker 1 (05:31):
Oh yes, And that anthem's going to ring out around
around twicken and with eighty six thousand people singing there,
we're going to be a few all black fancy I'm
sure as well. Swing low, sweet Chariot,