November 27, 2024 • 8 mins
We tak the big rugby issues of the week.
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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):
Time to talk a little rugby on the show. Now,
quite a lot going on when we look ahead to
next year as far as the All Blacks are concerned.
But the season is done and dusted, and a man
who's watched it all and commented on it all the
new Eraser experience, you could say, is Gregor Paul who
joins me from the south of France. Actually, bonjour Gregor.
(00:32):
That so the season done and dusted, and I guess
you know, let's just look back at last weekend's game.
A little bit disappointing result. I mean, we won it,
didn't we But not the best way to finish the season.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
No, they're disappointing, underwhelming way to end a season, which
was absolutely not the intention. And I say that deliberately
because of course, the All Blacks picture what we would
all agree would be the top Tix put them again
for a fourth week in a row with a very
deliberate and stated goal of finishing the season with an
emphatic performance.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
They gave all the guys that played in.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Paris the week before a chance to you know, make
amains and make themselves feel better about life.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
So that was the whole.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Intent of picking that team, and clearly didn't get anywhere
near delivering on it.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
The Italians, though, they you certainly got to take your
head off to them. They came out and really put
up a fight, didn't they.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
Yeah, they defended well, the defense was actually genuinely sixth
nation standard defense. But when they had the ball, I
mean they were massy, scrappy, you know, uncoordinated team. They
didn't really offer a great amount of attack. And you know,
I think this idea that they were, you know, a
far more resilient and better team than we were giving
(01:49):
them credit for.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
I'm still not sure.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
I walked away at into that game believing that. I
still think they were a team that the All Blacks
should have put thirty to forty points on.
Speaker 1 (01:59):
So you're right, that was it for the season, so
that the All Blecks are concerned, has been a long one.
If you would to grade the All Blacks twenty twenty
four season, what sort of numbers would you be looking at?
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Well, I mean, I've got all school with my gratings.
So I was sort of C plus on the cusp
of a B minus.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
Maybe.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
I think if they'd finished the season on a high,
you tend to get seduced a little bit by the
final game that they played, don't you carries in your
memory a wee. But so I would have been willing
to put them up to be minus if they'd played
well in train, but they didn't. And you know, three
defeats on the Rugby Championship, another one against France. Four
losses out of fourteen look not great, you know, not
(02:42):
a great return. I think we've seen numbers like that
in previous regimes and we would all have said, who cheaper?
As you know, these guys will be lucky to keep
their jobs if they keep going like that.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
You got to sit down with raisor Robinson when it
was all over, before he returns home with the with
the all blacks, And one of the things that came
out of that I read the article you wrote in
New Zealand Herald yesterday was raised is still sort of
hurting from that loss to Argentina and Wellington.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Yeah, yeah, well that is the one that probably I
feel this is a bit disrespectful to Argentina, but it
probably put a real taint on their season, didn't it.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
If they lost to South Africa twice.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Over there, you'd kind of got well, they are the
best team in the world and his own were competitive,
didn't get the wins. And you lose to France in
Paris to a point you go, well, yep, that can
happen as well. So you walk away yeah, going, oh,
not too bad was it? You know, three losses, but
you lose to Argentina at home, and I think that
just creates a real sense of uncertainty and doubt about
(03:44):
where this team is going, you know, what kind of
season they actually had. And for him personally, I think
it was the apex of a whole series of things
that weren't going right. Behind the scenes, they've gone off
a lot wrong that weekend. Leo McDonald left the cap
shortly after there. You know, I don't think they were
empowering their senior players enough to lead and to control
(04:05):
the week and give them a voice. So there was
a lot not quite right and it all came to
few fruition in that game in Wellington. So for him,
that's the moment I think where he's looking back and
going cheaper as we've got a lot wrong, but in
one way it actually created a catalyst to make a
lot of changes and to get a lot right from
that point onwards.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
What were the other takeaways that from that sit down
with Raiser that you took you took away from it.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
The thing that's different about him in some respects has
been appointed in a four year contract.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
Now, no other all black coaches had that.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
They've all been on sort of two years that get
extended for another two And it does make a difference
because it means you can plan. I mean, you can't
plan with impunity because you know you've got to keep
getting results otherwise you won't have a four year contract.
That remains true, but it has given him a slightly
longer time frame in which he can look ahead. And
I think he's got a plan on how he's going
(05:02):
to build this team between now or twenty twenty four
and twenty twenty seven. So that we've all had a
wee bit of criticism that he's been a little bit
conservative at times. He's leaning into guys like Born Barrett
sam Kain to give him experience.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
And seniority on the field.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
But there's probably method, if we call it madness, there's
method to that madness in that he's trying to establish
a team in year one and use their institutional knowledge
now to help the younger guys, to grow them, to
mentor them, and at some point probably in the cycle,
well we know that sam Kin won't be available anymore,
and maybe born Barrett won't be picked anymore after a while,
(05:41):
but they'll have done their bit in transitioning a younger
side and passing on their knowledge.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
Before they depart.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
So I think he's got a four year plan to
evolve and grow his team.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
If you can have one wish for the game of rugby,
gregor for Christmas under the Christmas tree, what change would
you like to see in the game.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
I just want some common sense refereeing from a from
a world body that's consistent with what it does. Stop
changing the rules or changing the law interpretations on the
eve of major you know, like the awesome Internationals. Don't
change them on the eve of those, and let's get
some consistency around the refereeing because you know, we're being
(06:23):
told that there's a plan to speed the game up
and yet ensure in Oh my god, it was cold
and this game just didn't get moving at all in
a referee that was allowing everything to be slowed down.
That's contrary to what we've agreed we're going to do,
and that bit. We just need consistency and common sense
from now until the World Cup. And please don't change
all the rules that we've had between now and the
World Cup on the eve of the World Cup.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
So please don't do that.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
Yeah, absolutely good one. Looking into next year, it looks
like we might get a one off taste against France.
But in the USA, what do you make of that?
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Yeah, Like, I don't look, there's a real uh concerned
that because the world Cap Rugby World Cap twenty thirty
one is going there and the game isn't really gaining
the sort of traction. Everyone's getting worried that they're going
to take a weld cap to a country that doesn't
embrace it or doesn't know what's happening.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
So there's a kind of communal view.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Around the top table that they've got to do something
to grow the profile of rugby between now and the
World Cup.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
But I don't love the idea that.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
New Zealand is going to take another test match to
America take it away from the New Zealand public. It's
probably a game or one of the games that might
be going to a venue like Hamilton or New Plymouth
or wherever. You know, they're going to miss out on
that game if they go to America.
Speaker 3 (07:38):
I'm not a huge fan. I don't mind.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
I mean the fact that they're going to go and
play All Blacks are going to play in Chicago, play
Ireland in Chicago at the end of the year. That's
probably enough. You know, you don't need to keep going
to America. America's America's problem in some respects.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Yeah, final check for the year, Grigor. I've got to
say thank you for your expertise and you're input on
the show and enjoy your breaking Europe I well do.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Thanks very much for having me.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
Gregor Paul out of The New Zealand Herald. The columnists
wrapping up the twenty twenty four year four All Blacks
Footy look forward to next year though with Australia coming here,
there'll be testing Eden Park I think against the Aussies
South Africa Eden Park as well, So looking forward to
that next year.
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):
Time to talk a little rugby on the show. Now,
quite a lot going on when we look ahead to
next year as far as the All Blacks are concerned.
But the season is done and dusted, and a man
who's watched it all and commented on it all the
new Eraser experience, you could say, is Gregor Paul who
joins me from the south of France. Actually, bonjour Gregor.
(00:32):
That so the season done and dusted, and I guess
you know, let's just look back at last weekend's game.
A little bit disappointing result. I mean, we won it,
didn't we But not the best way to finish the season.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
No, they're disappointing, underwhelming way to end a season, which
was absolutely not the intention. And I say that deliberately
because of course, the All Blacks picture what we would
all agree would be the top Tix put them again
for a fourth week in a row with a very
deliberate and stated goal of finishing the season with an
emphatic performance.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
They gave all the guys that played in.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Paris the week before a chance to you know, make
amains and make themselves feel better about life.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
So that was the whole.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Intent of picking that team, and clearly didn't get anywhere
near delivering on it.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
The Italians, though, they you certainly got to take your
head off to them. They came out and really put
up a fight, didn't they.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
Yeah, they defended well, the defense was actually genuinely sixth
nation standard defense. But when they had the ball, I
mean they were massy, scrappy, you know, uncoordinated team. They
didn't really offer a great amount of attack. And you know,
I think this idea that they were, you know, a
far more resilient and better team than we were giving
(01:49):
them credit for.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
I'm still not sure.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
I walked away at into that game believing that. I
still think they were a team that the All Blacks
should have put thirty to forty points on.
Speaker 1 (01:59):
So you're right, that was it for the season, so
that the All Blecks are concerned, has been a long one.
If you would to grade the All Blacks twenty twenty
four season, what sort of numbers would you be looking at?
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Well, I mean, I've got all school with my gratings.
So I was sort of C plus on the cusp
of a B minus.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
Maybe.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
I think if they'd finished the season on a high,
you tend to get seduced a little bit by the
final game that they played, don't you carries in your
memory a wee. But so I would have been willing
to put them up to be minus if they'd played
well in train, but they didn't. And you know, three
defeats on the Rugby Championship, another one against France. Four
losses out of fourteen look not great, you know, not
(02:42):
a great return. I think we've seen numbers like that
in previous regimes and we would all have said, who cheaper?
As you know, these guys will be lucky to keep
their jobs if they keep going like that.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
You got to sit down with raisor Robinson when it
was all over, before he returns home with the with
the all blacks, And one of the things that came
out of that I read the article you wrote in
New Zealand Herald yesterday was raised is still sort of
hurting from that loss to Argentina and Wellington.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Yeah, yeah, well that is the one that probably I
feel this is a bit disrespectful to Argentina, but it
probably put a real taint on their season, didn't it.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
If they lost to South Africa twice.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Over there, you'd kind of got well, they are the
best team in the world and his own were competitive,
didn't get the wins. And you lose to France in
Paris to a point you go, well, yep, that can
happen as well. So you walk away yeah, going, oh,
not too bad was it? You know, three losses, but
you lose to Argentina at home, and I think that
just creates a real sense of uncertainty and doubt about
(03:44):
where this team is going, you know, what kind of
season they actually had. And for him personally, I think
it was the apex of a whole series of things
that weren't going right. Behind the scenes, they've gone off
a lot wrong that weekend. Leo McDonald left the cap
shortly after there. You know, I don't think they were
empowering their senior players enough to lead and to control
(04:05):
the week and give them a voice. So there was
a lot not quite right and it all came to
few fruition in that game in Wellington. So for him,
that's the moment I think where he's looking back and
going cheaper as we've got a lot wrong, but in
one way it actually created a catalyst to make a
lot of changes and to get a lot right from
that point onwards.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
What were the other takeaways that from that sit down
with Raiser that you took you took away from it.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
The thing that's different about him in some respects has
been appointed in a four year contract.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
Now, no other all black coaches had that.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
They've all been on sort of two years that get
extended for another two And it does make a difference
because it means you can plan. I mean, you can't
plan with impunity because you know you've got to keep
getting results otherwise you won't have a four year contract.
That remains true, but it has given him a slightly
longer time frame in which he can look ahead. And
I think he's got a plan on how he's going
(05:02):
to build this team between now or twenty twenty four
and twenty twenty seven. So that we've all had a
wee bit of criticism that he's been a little bit
conservative at times. He's leaning into guys like Born Barrett
sam Kain to give him experience.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
And seniority on the field.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
But there's probably method, if we call it madness, there's
method to that madness in that he's trying to establish
a team in year one and use their institutional knowledge
now to help the younger guys, to grow them, to
mentor them, and at some point probably in the cycle,
well we know that sam Kin won't be available anymore,
and maybe born Barrett won't be picked anymore after a while,
(05:41):
but they'll have done their bit in transitioning a younger
side and passing on their knowledge.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
Before they depart.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
So I think he's got a four year plan to
evolve and grow his team.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
If you can have one wish for the game of rugby,
gregor for Christmas under the Christmas tree, what change would
you like to see in the game.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
I just want some common sense refereeing from a from
a world body that's consistent with what it does. Stop
changing the rules or changing the law interpretations on the
eve of major you know, like the awesome Internationals. Don't
change them on the eve of those, and let's get
some consistency around the refereeing because you know, we're being
(06:23):
told that there's a plan to speed the game up
and yet ensure in Oh my god, it was cold
and this game just didn't get moving at all in
a referee that was allowing everything to be slowed down.
That's contrary to what we've agreed we're going to do,
and that bit. We just need consistency and common sense
from now until the World Cup. And please don't change
all the rules that we've had between now and the
World Cup on the eve of the World Cup.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
So please don't do that.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
Yeah, absolutely good one. Looking into next year, it looks
like we might get a one off taste against France.
But in the USA, what do you make of that?
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Yeah, Like, I don't look, there's a real uh concerned
that because the world Cap Rugby World Cap twenty thirty
one is going there and the game isn't really gaining
the sort of traction. Everyone's getting worried that they're going
to take a weld cap to a country that doesn't
embrace it or doesn't know what's happening.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
So there's a kind of communal view.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Around the top table that they've got to do something
to grow the profile of rugby between now and the
World Cup.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
But I don't love the idea that.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
New Zealand is going to take another test match to
America take it away from the New Zealand public. It's
probably a game or one of the games that might
be going to a venue like Hamilton or New Plymouth
or wherever. You know, they're going to miss out on
that game if they go to America.
Speaker 3 (07:38):
I'm not a huge fan. I don't mind.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
I mean the fact that they're going to go and
play All Blacks are going to play in Chicago, play
Ireland in Chicago at the end of the year. That's
probably enough. You know, you don't need to keep going
to America. America's America's problem in some respects.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Yeah, final check for the year, Grigor. I've got to
say thank you for your expertise and you're input on
the show and enjoy your breaking Europe I well do.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Thanks very much for having me.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
Gregor Paul out of The New Zealand Herald. The columnists
wrapping up the twenty twenty four year four All Blacks
Footy look forward to next year though with Australia coming here,
there'll be testing Eden Park I think against the Aussies
South Africa Eden Park as well, So looking forward to
that next year.
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