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Find your Sport Nation frequencyMonday Musings: Enormous amount of oval ball and a spot of cricket
Alex Chapman • July 14th, 2025 2:33 pm
Photo: Photosport
If the opening Test was letting the car out of the garage for a test drive having made modifications, then Saturday was allowing it to be driven after some further tweaks.
The All Blacks didn't need to switch the battery or flush the transmission, but adjustments were needed; a tire change, fluid top-up and maybe a bulb replaced. Those issues had clearly been resolved in Wellington as they produced the sort of dominance many expected last week.
But if French were surprising in Dunedin, in the Capital they were sloppy.
New Zealand won more turnovers, kicked regularly with intent and variety, while also still looking to be punchy in their runs when possible. Their attack, whilst more-structured, had moments of magic as they continue to play the high-pace and entertaining footy that they teased in the first match and tempted further in the second.
The new players, such as Fabian Holland and Christian Lio-Willie, continue to look at home, while the experienced, less-acknowledged head, Patrick Tuipulotu reminded of his threat and disruption at the lineout and offerings as a different sort of ball runner.
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Speaking of ball-runners, Ardie Savea continues to be one of the best examples of a “follow me” leader. 14 carries, five defenders beaten and that maul switch play with Roigard were a handful of the highlights from the fill-in skipper.
The backs were quieter, though still made breaks and dotted over when called upon, and there was further evidence that this dual-playmaker idea can finally be turfed.
Looking ahead, the intrigue is now around team changes. Some, such as Tupou Vaa’i’s failed HIA, will be forced through injury, while others may be further experimenting and trying new combinations and options.
It wasn’t perfect though. There were periods where polish had clearly been applied, but there were also times, particularly in the second half, that will have some saying “you missed a spot”.
Their discipline still needs improvement, conceding three times the amount of penalties as they did seven days earlier, missing more tackles than at Forsyth Barr Stadium, and falling away in the second half.
But to win back a trophy that honours such a legendary figure for the first time since 2018, is a massive tick already this season.
Black Ferns decisions loom
By contrast, while the All Blacks are starting to heat up, the Black Ferns have already turned the oven on full blast, with attention now firmly on their World Cup title defence.
New Zealand looked like they may run over the top of the Wallaroos after an early try but it wasn’t until the second half when they managed to finish off plays and express their expansive intent, allowing breathing room on the scoreboard.
Having scored both tries in the first half for a slender 10-7 lead, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe made it a happy birthday hat-trick, while Jorja Miller showed why many consider her the world’s best player, regardless of gender.
As me old mate Rikki Swannell said after the game, there is “no player like her. Man, woman, XVs, 7s... she is wholly unique.”
That was their final game on home shores as World Cup holders, in this cycle at least, before heading to the UK. Like three years ago, they won’t go in as tournament favourites, and like three years ago, that will be a tag bestowed upon England. But unlike three years ago, the pressure of being the hosts, will instead be on the Red Roses rather than the Black Ferns.
Names will soon be read out, or for some, not, and bags, of which there will be a plethora, packed. But it’s just 42 more sleeps until their opening game.
Wahs and Wahine
Waht (intentional spelling error) a day for the Warriors!
The New South Wales Cup team, women and men all winning as part of a tremendous triple header at Mount Smart and making it four from four for the club.
All week, Michaela Brake had been telling her social media followers “don’t disappoint me” with their first home game of the NRLW season, and the sevens star duly repaid the favour.
We all know what Brake (the now ironic surname of the speedster) can do on a wing, regardless of sport. But her speed and opportunistic plays around the ruck, those bursts of brilliance and uncertainty and unexpectedness of what they may lead to, and physical defence, showed she’s becoming more comfortable in the code-switch.
As for the skipper, does anyone want to run at Apii Nicolls? What a weapon. To keep an opposition team scoreless in only their second week back in the competition, shows there’s an ever-raising ceiling for this side.
As Brake had asked for, the crowd delivered, with more than 10 and a half thousand in attendance for the side’s return to Mount Smart. Coach Ron Griffiths was bang on – this was their Dean Bell moment.
And from an in-ground spectator perspective, the amount of cheer and support they had from all ages, genders and backgrounds, showed that.
Photo: Brett Phibbs/Photosport
The week off to solidify new combinations served the men well, and it showed with Tanah Boyd’s level of control and organisation at halfback.
There’s a reason the NSW Cup team had been so sensational with him at seven and it showed. His variation of when to run and the switch of play on attack if something wasn’t working on one side or there was a defensive bunch, were all key elements.
But his kicking was an aspect of the game that, with all due respect to others, hasn’t been seen much consistently in recent time with the Warriors.
The type of bombs Boyd was putting up, in terms of height, rotation and spin, merged with delicate and deft nudges, floaters and those along the ground, were an arsenal of weapons that allowed his comrades to capitalise on.
There’s a lot for the Wahs to improve on though. They let the Tigers linger and against a better team the scoreline may have been closer or the result flipped.
Leka Haliasima’s late was try the icing on the cake, though perhaps a cake that needed it to taste better. But crucially, they’re back to winning ways, and four points clear in fourth.
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New dawn awaits Blackcaps - sort of
At a time when the fires are roaring, coats and raincoats are in full rotation and soup is part of the oval-ball heavy diet, a new era in New Zealand cricket is about to begin.
On Wednesday, the second match of the T20 tri-series between the Blackcaps, South Africa and Zimbabwe will serve as the first game under new coach Rob Walter.
Don’t expect anything too wild or different, after all, it’s not a full-strength team and they’re playing overseas, but it’s an exciting period for this team.
Though, for such a series, how much will really be watched? The discussion for a contextual calendar continues to be halted.
Tune into Alex Chapman on Sport Nation Mornings, 9am to midday on Thursdays & Fridays.
