DAMIAN MCKENZIE + NIEL BARNES On Upcoming ALL BLACKS v FRANCE Test Match
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How is the All Blacks team preparing for the upcoming test match?
Here at Christ College just about to hear from All Black assistant coach Neil Barnes and then following that we've got Damian McKenzie because we're here at his old school Christ College. Here they are.
Neil how's the team coming together and how are you enjoying your time in the All Blacks?
It's been all go to be honest. Jason did warn me about it, that it's a machine that didn't stop moving and it is. We've had a fair bit of content in our days but when you get an all-black team you've got really good people and I've been really, really impressed with how quickly the uptake's been and how quick our game's progressing.
Traditionally the first test of the year can be a bit rusty when you bring everyone together. What are your expectations for the team to open that?
I suppose that can be an issue, but we're an all-black team, which standards live up to. We're aiming to be arriving on Saturday fully prepared and ready to go. There'll be no excuses.
Alright, we're done. How do you feel that the team's come together in such a short time?
Way quicker than I'm used to, to be honest. You're dealing with a different standard of player here and you have to coach a little bit differently too. They have a lot more ownership. They just take things in their own grasp. So yeah, my job's just, to be honest, guiding.
What do you think is key when it is such a short turnaround?
being very clear and being simple. Renz has been talking about it the whole time, being brilliant at basics. So yeah, being organised and allowing the players to take ownership when you get to the end of the week.
Someone like Damien McKenzie coming back in after the disappointment of Super Rugby, is there a bit of, I guess, pastoral care needed around players like that, around boosting their confidence again?
At the end of the day, that's sport, and he's been around a while. It's nice to get into another campaign and wash that away. I'm sure when those boys walk in our door, that stuff's gone. We're an all-black team. We're not worried about what's going on in the past.
I know Fords are your wheelhouse, but what do you make of the depth of backs and obviously the competition for that team jersey?
Yeah, it's good, isn't it? If we want a strong all-black team, we need depth across every position, not just one.
How does it feel now that you are actually in a test week?
Exciting, really exciting. long time coming. It's been a lot of work going to get to here so yeah our whole coaching group is coming together well too so the cohesion is getting higher and higher as the week progresses.
Neil there was a lot of chat about playing optimistically and embracing attack and that sort of thing but as you know you've got to get that platform right. How have you gone about driving the physicality that you want to be able to play in that way?
What expectations does Neil Barnes have for the team's performance?
It's still a game of rugby and you have to match other teams with whatever they bring and physicality is just a part of any game plan to be perfectly honest. So our clean out and all that type of thing, that's got to be at top level. But the mindset you're talking about is like we're here to take a positive outlook on things, not worry about the consequence if it doesn't go well. We're here to make sure it goes well and challenge other teams.
Coach, probably expecting quite a lot of kicking from the three opponents that you're going to be facing over the next three weeks. Question is, do you guys as a coaching staff feel that the average New Zealand player is equipped enough to deal with the high ball, given there's generally less kicking in Super Rugby as opposed to the North England team?
Yeah, obviously some nations are stronger than others in certain areas. At the moment, we think we've got people that can handle it, to be honest. So if people want to kick us the ball, we'll be doing our best to retrieve it. We've got a plan around that, and we might even try and use it. But yeah, if box kicking is what you're talking about, it has a use in the game. At the moment, I just think it's a little bit overboard what the teams are doing there.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
How is the All Blacks team preparing for the upcoming test match?
0:00–2:38
2
What expectations does Neil Barnes have for the team's performance?
2:38–9:50
3
How does Neil Barnes view the physicality required in rugby?
9:50–12:41
4
What strategies are in place to handle high kicks from opponents?
12:41–15:18
5
How does the team plan to utilize their depth across positions?
15:18–20:24
Speakers
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