The Greatest Rivalry Test 1 Preview Ft Tamati Ellision & Searley

The final Test of the Greatest Rivalry Tour is here, with the All Blacks and Springboks heading to Baltimore for one last showdown!South Africa lead the series 2-1 after two huge wins at home, but what's install for this one!?Searley is back to break down everything ahead of the final Test, including Richie Mo’unga’s return to the No.10 jersey, Ethan Blackadder’s massive opportunity, the battle at scrum time and whether the All Blacks can find a way to nullify the Springboks’ biggest strengths.We also look at South Africa naming another incredibly strong side, what playing in Baltimore could mean for the game, the importance of the bench, and why this could almost feel like a preview of a potential World Cup quarter-final.Can the All Blacks level the series in Baltimore, or will the Springboks finish the tour with three straight wins?Let me know your prediction in the comments! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The All Blacks vs Springboks Greatest Rivalry Tour continues to deliver, with another massive Test match that had everything!Bryn Hall joins me to break down the third Test, where the All Blacks produced some outstanding rugby early before the Springboks once again showed why they’re the best in the world, using their set-piece in particular their scrum to take control of the match.We also dive into Jordie Barrett’s incredible form, the impact of losing Ardie Savea, the controversial yellow card, South Africa’s scrum dominance, Jessie Kriels form and Man of the Match Ethan Hooker.We also look ahead to the final Test in Baltimore. Will Richie Mo’unga get his opportunity? How will the All Blacks replace their injured stars? And can New Zealand level the series 2-2, or will the Springboks finish it off 3-1?Let me know what stood out for you in this test match in the comments! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Greatest Rivalry Tour is all square at 1-1 and Test Three is set to be massive!Bryn Hall joins me to break down where the All Blacks can improve, the Springboks’ set-piece dominance, the kicking battle, scrum tactics and the key selections ahead of another huge Test in South Africa.We also look at Cheslin Kolbe’s move to fullback, Cam Roigard’s influence, Asafa Aumua getting his opportunity to start and finish with our score and man of the match predictions.Who do you think is going to win this one? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Kerry Spackman has spent decades studying one fascinating question — what separates the very best from everyone else? As a cognitive neuroscientist and high-performance consultant, Kerry has worked with Formula One legends, Olympians, key All Blacks and some of the world's highest performers, helping them understand how the brain works and how to perform when it matters most.In this episode of What a Lad, Kerry shares some incredible insights from his career. From working with three-time Formula One World Champion Sir Jackie Stewart and discovering his relentless attention to detail, to seeing firsthand the work ethic and mindset required to become a world champion.Kerry also breaks down the science behind elite performance — why athletes choke under pressure, how the best performers see things others don't, why being the best youngster doesn't guarantee future success, and how our emotions and experiences can shape the way we think and behave.Some parts that stood out for me in this episode were…Working with Sir Jackie Stewart and discovering what made him so differentThe incredible work ethic Kerry has witnessed from world championsWhy some Wimbledon champions can predict where a serve is going before the ball is even hitWhy thinking too much under pressure can actually make you perform worseWhy being the best athlete at 16 doesn't mean you'll become the best as an adultThe mentality behind Hamish Bond and Eric Murray's incredible successWhy there are no shortcuts when it comes to becoming world-classHow confidence can be built just like a muscleHow emotional experiences from our past can continue to influence us years laterWhy Kerry believes we have a far greater ability to change ourselves than we realiseThis is one of those episodes that will make you think differently about performance, confidence and what we're actually capable of. Whether you're an athlete, coach, business owner or simply someone wanting to improve, there's plenty of gold in this one.If you enjoy hearing how some of the world's best think and what we can learn from them, you'll love this episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 3 of The What a Lad Greatest Rivalry series, reviewing the All Blacks’ thrilling midweek clash against the Lions and previewing a massive second Test against the Springboks in Cape Town!For this episode, I’m joined by the great Jeff McTainsh, who has been calling the action throughout the tour and joins me directly from South Africa to share his insight into the games and the incredible atmosphere surrounding this rivalry.We break down how the All Blacks recovered from a 14-0 deficit against the Lions, including Ethan Blackadder’s enormous performance, Timoci Tavatavanawai’s impact, Emoni Narawa’s footwork and Rieko Ioane looking back to his explosive best.We also discuss the challenges of preparing a midweek All Blacks side, which players have pushed their case for Test selection and the big decisions facing Dave Rennie ahead of Cape Town.Then we preview Test 2, looking at the aerial battle, the importance of winning collisions and how the All Blacks can disrupt the Springboks’ structured game. The All Blacks are 1-0 up, but with Handre Pollard and Siya Kolisi returning to the Springboks can they inspire a win to keep their series hopes alive, Cape Town is set up to be an absolute classic!Can the All Blacks go 2-0 up, or will the Springboks fight their way back into the series?Let me know your thoughts in the comments! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 2 of The What a Lad Greatest Rivalry series, reviewing an incredible opening Test between the All Blacks and Springboks at Ellis Park!For this episode, I’m joined again by the great Searley from Searley Talks Sport as we break down how the All Blacks managed to come away with a huge 33-16 win, despite the Springboks dominating large parts of the first half.We look at the massive moments that swung the Test, including the All Blacks bench front row completely changing the scrum battle, Fabian Holland’s charge down, Jordie Barrett’s incredible defensive effort, Will Jordan’s Man of the Match performance and Cam Roigard’s game management under pressure.We also discuss just how impressive Cheslin Kolbe and Jasper Wiese were for the Springboks, the refereeing and TMO decisions, Rassie Erasmus’ reaction to the loss and what both sides will need to change heading into Test 2.The All Blacks have drawn first blood, but with the Springboks now needing to win the remaining three Tests to take the series, this Greatest Rivalry Tour has been set up perfectly!Can the All Blacks go 2-0 up in Cape Town, or will the Springboks bounce back?Let me know your thoughts in the comments! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 1 of The What a Lad Greatest Rivalry preview show where we preview all you need to know about the test between the All Blacks and the Springboks this weekend!For this episode we get an insight from inside the All Black camp with All Black assistant coach Tamati Ellison as well as the usual insight from the great Searley from Searley talks sport as we look back on the tour so far as well as preview the first Test! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Uilisi Halaholo has a story so good it was one of the reasons I started this podcast. A naturally gifted player from a young age, who was heading down the wrong path to make the most of his talent. Caught up in the wrong lifestyle, drinking and getting into trouble on a regular basis.A turning point came when he became a young father ultimately forced him to change direction. He put down the bottle, transformed himself physically and decided to give rugby a genuine crack. That decision started a journey that would take him from fighting for an opportunity with the Southland Stags, to the Hurricanes, winning a Super Rugby title, moving across the world to Cardiff and eventually representing Wales.But reaching the top didn't mean the challenges stopped. Willis opens up about the criticism he received for representing Wales, devastating injuries, missing the opportunity to play against the All Blacks, losing a close family member, financial uncertainty and one of the darkest periods of his career.Some parts that stood out for me in this episode were…What his life as a teenager was like! Why having his daughter changed his mindset.Why the move to Southland was the best thing for himWhy he chose a contract with the Hurricanes over other offersHow he ended up on a Wider Squad contract in 2016 the year he started in the final!The decision to move to CardiffThe brutal run of injuries and juggling being a father to 5 girls How all of those highs and lows shaped the person he is todayAs you’ll hear Uilisi is a lad! His story is an incredible example of how much can change when you decide to take control of your life. Plenty of laughs in this one, but also some incredibly raw and powerful moments.As always, if you enjoy the episode please give it a like, subscribe to the channel and share it with a mate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan Kirkpatrick was an age grade superstar who was starting Super Rugby with the Hurricanes at just 20 years old. He’s a guy I always remember as being just a genuine good guy and he’s had a hell of a journey both on and off the fieldIn this episode of What a Lad, Dan opens up about becoming a father at just 19 and the challenges of balancing that with professional rugby, why he decided to leave New Zealand at 23 despite still having an All Blacks dream, and the serious injuries that eventually contributed to the end of his career.Some parts that stood out for me were…- What growing up looked like for him to be school boy star- Becoming a dad at 19 while trying to establish himself in professional rugby- what it was like at the Hurricanes as a young 10- More about his decision to leave for France - How he felt walking away from his All Blacks dream- Winning the Top 14 with Castres as massive underdogs- The concussion and neck injury that impacted the back end of his career- His transition out of rugby and into business- Building @hiit_crew_auckland and a new community after rugby.And heaps more! Dan’s another great example of how everyone’s journey is different and how important it is to enjoy the path you take and tackle whatever challenges come at you with a positive mindset. I really enjoyed this one and I’m sure you will too! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kurt Eklund has one of the most unique journeys in New Zealand rugby. A Super Rugby champion, Māori All Blacks captain and one of the most respected hookers in the country, Kurt's path to the top was anything but conventional.He spent eight years working as a builder, and admits he never thought professional rugby was a realistic goal. After only starting two games for Auckland across four seasons, a devastating knee injury left him ready to walk away from rugby altogether. But after losing his mum to breast cancer, everything changed. Determined to make her proud, Kurt found a new purpose, reignited his love for the game, and eventually made his Super Rugby debut for the Blues at the age of 28.Some other parts that stood out for me in this episode were…- Why he never believed a professional rugby career was possible- How losing his mum completely changed his outlook on rugby and life- The story behind making and captaining the Māori All Blacks- Winning Super Rugby with the Blues after years of grinding away- Why he's heading to Japan and the next chapter for his young family- His passion for fishing, protecting New Zealand's oceans and life beyond rugby- Plenty more hilarious stories Kurt is one of the most genuine people you'll come across. Humble, funny and incredibly self-aware, his story is a reminder that success doesn't always come early and that everyone's journey looks different. He truely is one of the great lads in NZ rugby! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.