Latest / Early Edition with Ryan Bridge / Elliott Smith: Newstalk ZB Rugby Commentator ahead of the Bledisloe Cup test between the All Blacks and Australia

Transcript

Elliott Smith: Newstalk ZB Rugby Commentator ahead of the Bledisloe Cup test between the All Blacks and Australia · Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Yes, So it's the great showdown between the All Blacks
• 0:02
  Speaker 1: and the Wallabies this Saturday night in Auckland. The inn
• 0:05
  Speaker 1: part record is once again on the line and with
• 0:07
  Speaker 1: the Aussies in top shape, the All Blacks will need
• 0:09
  Speaker 1: to put on their best performance. There's a few changes
• 0:12
  Speaker 1: to the side with Ardie Savier's with Ardie Savier taking
• 0:15
  Speaker 1: the captaincy from Scott Barrett who's been ruled out through injury.
• 0:18
  Speaker 1: Elliott Smith, the News Talks There to be Rugby commentator
• 0:21
  Speaker 1: and editor is with us now, Good morning Elliott, Morning
• 0:24
  Speaker 1: Francisco or there is nothing like an All Blacks team
• 0:27
  Speaker 1: who have a point to prove. Do you think. I'm
• 0:29
  Speaker 1: pretty sure that we're going to see quite a different
• 0:30
  Speaker 1: performance compared to a couple of weeks ago against the
• 0:33
  Speaker 1: spring Box. How do you expect things to go on
• 0:35
  Speaker 1: Saturday night?
• 0:37
  Speaker 2: Well, you used to be able to expect a bit
• 0:38
  Speaker 2: of a backlash when the All Blacks were defeated, and
• 0:41
  Speaker 2: I think that is the the line in the sand.
• 0:44
  Speaker 2: That's what we expect when the All Blacks are defeated,
• 0:46
  Speaker 2: that the following match they turn up and they perform
• 0:49
  Speaker 2: in those things that they got wrong in the previous
• 0:51
  Speaker 2: match are righted, but we probably haven't seen that enough
• 0:55
  Speaker 2: in recent times to be able to seduce that that
• 0:57
  Speaker 2: will be a definite thing that will happen and tomorrow.
• 1:00
  Speaker 2: So I guess from an All Blacks perspective, they've got
• 1:03
  Speaker 2: to turn up, they've got to perform, and they've got
• 1:05
  Speaker 2: to start finding some consistency. And they won't find that
• 1:08
  Speaker 2: just solely tomorrow night, but they need to lay the
• 1:10
  Speaker 2: building blocks there. I think that first and foremost is
• 1:14
  Speaker 2: the main thing is that every team in this competition
• 1:17
  Speaker 2: has two wins and two losses, and the All Blacks
• 1:19
  Speaker 2: are one of those sides. But coming off the back
• 1:22
  Speaker 2: of the heaviest ever defeat, there's an expectation that they
• 1:25
  Speaker 2: will turn back up and will deliver it. And they've
• 1:27
  Speaker 2: got to do that come tomorrow afternoon.
• 1:29
  Speaker 1: What do you think about team selection? Bit risky.
• 1:32
  Speaker 2: I think by and large, you know the changes that
• 1:34
  Speaker 2: made Cody Taylor comes back and Cambroyguard those are first
• 1:37
  Speaker 2: choice players. Caleb Clark deserves an opportunity on the wing.
• 1:40
  Speaker 2: He's bite at this time after coming back from injury,
• 1:43
  Speaker 2: so that makes sense. So by and large these are changes.
• 1:47
  Speaker 2: And then Adam Scott Barrett as well. With the injury
• 1:50
  Speaker 2: that largely are you know, injury and forced or injury returnees.
• 1:54
  Speaker 2: And when you're bringing in the likes of Cody Taylor
• 1:56
  Speaker 2: that will stayble lows the line out and you would
• 1:58
  Speaker 2: think cambroy Gard was heavily missed. I thinking Argentina and
• 2:02
  Speaker 2: again against South Africa, he's closing and I think on
• 2:05
  Speaker 2: being one of the best halfbacks in the world. So
• 2:07
  Speaker 2: we can those two players and I think it instantly
• 2:09
  Speaker 2: bolsters the All Blacks run on side and then to
• 2:12
  Speaker 2: Pelozzo and ratam are coming off the bench, add some
• 2:14
  Speaker 2: more experience there that the All Blacks haven't been able
• 2:17
  Speaker 2: to call on. So they're getting some cavalry back and
• 2:20
  Speaker 2: at a time that it as much needed as they
• 2:22
  Speaker 2: as you said, try to protect this Eden part record,
• 2:24
  Speaker 2: keep the Blitters Low Cup, which is the only trophy
• 2:27
  Speaker 2: they've gotten, the cabinet that they need to keep hold of.
• 2:29
  Speaker 2: So couldn't happen at a bit of time those players
• 2:32
  Speaker 2: coming back into the mix.
• 2:33
  Speaker 1: So that's pretty much what is a stake here for
• 2:35
  Speaker 1: the All Blakes. What about the coaching the coaches.
• 2:39
  Speaker 2: I think they've got a point to prove, don't they absolutely,
• 2:41
  Speaker 2: and you know pressure comes on them and the scrutiny
• 2:45
  Speaker 2: that's in there. I know they had a pretty tough
• 2:46
  Speaker 2: review at the start of the week on Sunday night
• 2:49
  Speaker 2: around what was expected of the players after that game
• 2:52
  Speaker 2: in Wellington, but also what was expected of the coaches.
• 2:55
  Speaker 2: And you know losses, you know they trade in wins coaches,
• 2:59
  Speaker 2: and when they're not, the eyes come on them. So
• 3:02
  Speaker 2: Scott Robertson would desperately love a victory and a big
• 3:04
  Speaker 2: victory to eat some of that pressure valve. But it
• 3:07
  Speaker 2: only goes so far because if they win tomorrow afternoon
• 3:10
  Speaker 2: and they've got to back it up again in person.
• 3:12
  Speaker 2: That consistency is what we're demanding of this All Blacks
• 3:14
  Speaker 2: team and what has been historically demanded of that all
• 3:17
  Speaker 2: black team.
• 3:18
  Speaker 1: Elliott Smith, as always, thank you so much for your
• 3:20
  Speaker 1: time this morning. Don't forget join Elliott tomorrow on Goldsport
• 3:23
  Speaker 1: or news Talks he'd be He is going to be
• 3:25
  Speaker 1: bringing the game live to you and early kickoff five
• 3:30
  Speaker 1: oh five.
• 3:32
  Speaker 2: For more from early edition with Ryan Bridge. Listen live
• 3:35
  Speaker 2: to news Talks he'd be from five am weekdays, or
• 3:38
  Speaker 2: follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.