Scrum V The Warm Up: 'I would love to see the Welsh have a swing'
Nov 20, 2025
Andrew Mehrtens, the former New Zealand fly-half and second highest All Black points scorer, joins a panel featuring Lauren Salter, Jonathan Davies, and James Hook to preview the upcoming clash between Wales and New Zealand. They delve into Mehrtens' experiences living in Paris and visiting Welsh clubs. With anecdotes from his career, he discusses the pressure of late-game kicks and the evolution of the All Blacks. The panel debates strategies for Wales to challenge New Zealand, emphasizing performance over results while celebrating the historic rivalry.
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Stick To Direct Strengths
- Play direct and stick to strengths like driving from lineouts and scrums to get into the 22.
- Preserve energy for those moments and finish phases with clear intent rather than overcomplicating attack.
Pretoria Celebration Story
- Andrew Mehrtens recalls pulling both middle fingers at Pretoria fans after a big win in 1999.
- He says it was his only aggressive act on the field and South Africans largely laughed it off.
Expectations Shape All Blacks' Scrutiny
- The All Blacks are judged by potential because past dominance set very high expectations.
- Other nations have upskilled and now consistently challenge New Zealand across whole matches.