Episode 5 - The Flying Fijians, Flat-Footed England & All Blacks Legend Aaron Smith
Aug 30, 2023
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Legendary All Blacks scrum-half Aaron Smith joins the hosts to discuss their preparations for Rugby World Cup 2023. They also discuss Fiji's impressive victory over England, the strengths and threats of the Samoa rugby team, and South Africa's dominant performance in the Summer Nations Series.
Fiji showcased excellent game management and set piece skills in their historic victory over England at Twickenham.
Samoa demonstrated great athleticism and skill, highlighting the closing gap between tier one and tier two nations.
The All Blacks are approaching the World Cup with a focus on enjoying each day, optimizing their training sessions, and embracing the opportunity to compete in a high-pressure environment against France.
Deep dives
Fiji's Impressive Performance against England
Fiji delivered a stunning performance against England, securing a historic victory at Twickenham. They showcased excellent game management and set piece skills, which have been areas of improvement in recent years. Their offloading game was exceptional, with players like Waisea Nayacalevu providing immense power and skill. England, on the other hand, struggled to find their form, with discipline issues and a lack of energy throughout the game. This victory has solidified Fiji's position as a competitive team heading into the upcoming World Cup.
Samoa's Strong Showing Against Ireland
Samoa put up a strong fight against Ireland, showcasing great athleticism and skill. They exhibited their usual physicality, with players like Michael Alaalatoa providing a dominant performance in the scrum. While Ireland was not at their full strength, Samoa showed improvements in their game management and set piece execution. This match highlighted the closing gap between the so-called tier one and tier two nations, indicating that the upcoming World Cup will be an exciting and competitive tournament.
All Blacks' Preparation and Focus for the World Cup
The All Blacks are approaching the World Cup with a focus on enjoying each day and giving their best effort. As they prepare in Germany, they are taking advantage of the excellent facilities and optimizing their training sessions. The players are aware that each game could be their last in the All Blacks jersey, which motivates them to give their all. They emphasize the importance of controlling what they can and avoiding dwelling on the past or getting caught up in emotions. The All Blacks are eagerly anticipating their match against France and view it as a significant opportunity to compete in a high-pressure environment.
Fiji's historic victory over England
Fiji achieved their first-ever victory over England at Twickenham, marking a significant milestone in their rugby history. This win propelled Fiji to their highest world ranking ever, surpassing England.
South Africa's dominant performance against New Zealand
South Africa delivered a dominant performance against New Zealand, defeating them convincingly and solidifying themselves as strong contenders to defend their World Cup title. The Springboks displayed physicality, skill, and cohesive teamwork that showcased their status as one of the best teams in the world.
With only ten days to go until RWC 2023 kicks off, we’ll be looking back at the final round of action in the Summer Nations Series and picking the bones out of a record win for a mighty-looking Springboks against New Zealand. We'll also look back at a proud and historic day for Fiji at Twickenham, a dark one for England fans, and where to next for both teams. Plus, we’ll be chatting to legendary All Blacks scrum-half Aaron Smith about their preparations for the tournament and leading the Haka.
The Rugby Pod, brought to you by Asahi Super Dry, official beer of Rugby World Cup 2023.