All Blacks coach Scott Robertson: Watch live as Razor answers questions about France series
Player ratings: The All Black debutant that impressed the most
A fine debut in a strong 80-minute effort. How often do you see that from a new lock? Earns another test to see if we have the new Brodie Retallick. Led the All Blacks with 17 tackles and also had 13 carries.
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France player ratings: The Frenchman who outshone the All Blacks
Best on show. Arrived with a big reputation and justified it with his energy and dash. Lovely running and important tidying-up in the busy late stages. Billy Proctor is probably too young to remember Serge Blanco, but he got a taste of the classic when the French No 15 jersey wafted out of reach in build-up to opening try. Read more
'Exceeded my expectations': Barrett on transformative Irish rugby journey
'I didn't know what to expect,' [Jordie] Barrett says, reflecting on his Irish stint. 'No one before me had done it for quite some time. Dan [Carter] was the last but no one had gone for an Irish or Leinster experience so I was walking out into deep water at the start.' Read more
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RNZ News
an hour ago
- RNZ News
All Blacks wing Caleb Clarke is a man on a mission
Blues winger Caleb Clarke celebrates a Rieko Ioane try. Photo: Brett Phibbs / After a tough Super Rugby season, Caleb Clarke is more motivated than ever to prove he can still have an impact at test level. "That Super Rugby season, it wasn't my personal best. I know that and I own that," Clarke said. The 26-year-old wing was last month discharged without conviction for fleeing police on a motorbike in Auckland. Clarke was deeply embarrassed by the incident and concedes it likely affected his performances for the Blues. He said he was blessed to be supported by good people who helped him keep his mental health in a good space during the ups and downs. "It's definitely the boys that you surround yourself with. I'm pretty lucky to be surrounded by the likes of Patty (Tuipulotu), Dalton (Papali'i), Ardie (Savea), Christian Lio-Willie now in the environment as well. He's someone that keeps you where your feet are. "Coming from a faith background, it's not all about rugby. It's not who we are. I'm lucky and really grateful to be in this (All Blacks) environment. If I can keep that front of mind, then whether I'm playing or not, I'll be putting my best foot forward." Caleb Clarke in action for the Blues. Photo: Photosport With that now behind him, Clarke's motivation levels are high as he seeks to earn selection for this weekend's second test against France in Wellington. "Definitely. Now that off field stuff has finally gone out the way. It was a hindrance that kept growing in the back of my mind throughout the Super Rugby season. It feels good to be free and finally be able to move forward," Clarke said. "Definitely that motivational piece is there. If the opportunity comes (to play), then I'll take it with two hands and you'll probably see a few tears out there." With Sevu Reece out of the second test with concussion, Clarke and Will Jordan appear the frontrunners to take his spot on the wing. Clarke said it's always bittersweet when a chance presents itself due to another player's misfortune. "It's always an exciting opportunity to try and put your hand up, but it's at a cost of one of our brothers going down, so that's the downside. "It's good to see Sevu around the place still smiling, still laughing. That's uplifting to see. "The best I can do is put my hand up and and see the way the coaches want to go. If it happens, I'll take it with two hands. If it doesn't, then my role is to prepare the team as best as I can." Sevu Reece. Photo: Masanori Udagawa Reece is often give a licence to roam and get involved closer to the ruck and Clarke said that's still a big part of his own role. "Yeah, definitely. With the French being so wide on defence and and bringing that line speed, it's quite nice to try and get in between them, especially near the ruck," Clarke said. "It's still part of my game, having that work rate and trying to work around the ball. If I get the opportunity, it would be something I'd to look to do." Clarke makes no secret of his desire to become a consistent starter for the All Blacks and he said that begins with doing everything he can to help the team. "Just taking every opportunity I can, especially if I'm not picked. You don't want to drop your lip and go out to training and not prepare the boys well," Clarke said. "You want to have the right attitude mentality to go out there and compete. That's what I want to try and do week in, week out and if I get the chance to wear the black jersey, I want to try and hold it." Clarke has been in the All Blacks for five years now, but it doesn't necessarily feel like it for the Blues star. "Not really. It's gone really quickly. I still feel so excited and grateful whenever I get named as an All Black. These last five years have gone really quickly because time flies when you're having fun." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NZ Herald
4 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Ma'a Nonu extends Toulon deal, aged 43
Former New Zealand centre Ma'a Nonu has signed a one-year contract extension with Toulon at the age of 43, the French Top 14 club has announced. Nonu signed a short-term deal with the four-time French champions last season and became the oldest player to feature in the Top 14 in
1News
5 hours ago
- 1News
Analysis: McKenzie question looms as biggest issue for All Blacks
Damian McKenzie, on early at fullback for the All Blacks in Dunedin, may find himself back on the bench in Wellington, writes Patrick McKendry. Such is the determination of this group of All Blacks selectors to put their own stamp on the team 12 months into the job, it is probably foolish to predict what they will do for the second Test against France. But with Sevu Reece out as he recovers from a head injury and Scott Barrett unlikely to play after hurting an Achilles – an announcement on the skipper will be made tomorrow, which sounds ominous – Scott Robertson and company may elect to keep other changes to a minimum. The head coach today said the biggest area of improvement for the All Blacks this week after their 31-27 win in the first Test is their ability to finish opportunities. 'We broke 20 tackles and made 13 line breaks, so that's probably a reflection of what we created,' Robertson said. ADVERTISEMENT 'It's just the finishing part… just the ability to keep trusting your instinct. The conditions this week might be a bit different. You expect everything here [in Wellington], so we'll have to adapt to that and have the same mindset around backing ourselves.' Improving combinations will likely lift cohesion, which would make big changes more likely for the third Test in Hamilton than Saturday at the Cake Tin. Waiting in the wings to replace Reece The big question — one we'll address shortly — is what the selectors do with Damian McKenzie, who was on early in Dunedin and is a chance to start in Wellington but who may be better used as a pure impact player. The inclusion of Patrick Tuipulotu to the starting line-up – and probably alongside impressive debutant Fabian Holland — may be the extent of the changes to the pack. The selectors rolled the dice on playing Tupou Vaa'i at blindside flanker and that was, overall, a success. There will be no complaints about the All Blacks' set piece – their last-minute scrum penalty to help close out the game was a highlight – but they will want to pressure the French lineout a little more this week. Beauden Barrett lines up a kick against France in Dunedin. (Source: Photosport) ADVERTISEMENT Centre Billy Proctor, in his third Test (and first at home), was caught out defending too narrowly in the build-up to France's first try in Dunedin and later threw a wayward pass as the All Blacks swept on to the attack. But he deserves another crack on his home pitch. The biggest call for the selectors will be how to adjust to the withdrawal of Reece, who departed after just 57 seconds at the weekend. McKenzie was a little uncertain under the high ball but virtually all his teammates were. This, and their defensive alignments, will be the team's two work-ons this week. Overall, McKenzie did a solid job at fullback as Will Jordan shifted to the right wing, but the selectors may want him back on the bench to allow Jordan to play in his preferred position at the back and Beauden Barrett to have full reign as game controller. If it is a straight swap for Reece, Caleb Clarke could come into the frame but so too could the uncapped Timoci Tavatavanawai. The Highlander's power game and breakdown excellence could add a new dimension to his team's attack and defence. Possession is nine-tenths of the law Otherwise, the All Blacks' inability to consistently retain possession will have disappointed the coaches. ADVERTISEMENT Forwards coach Jason Ryan said yesterday that part of the issue was the way his players carried the ball into contact but just as important will be supporting runners finding an extra urgency, and, after being reminded of the realities of Test rugby, the All Blacks should be better here second time around. Beauden Barrett's accuracy off the tee (five out of five) – which proved crucial in the end – and key involvements in two of his team's three tries means he is a shoo-in to continue in the No.10 jersey. Barrett told 1News today: 'We were probably a bit disappointed with the amount of errors we made in those conditions which are perfect for running rugby. 'That came from us being a little bit too flat at the line at times, putting our skills under pressure, but also we've got to give the French defence some compliments around the way they like to connect and work hard together.'
