Legendary All Blacks S&C Coach Reveals Best & Worst Athletes | The Rugby Pod with Nic Gill

We sat down with a man who's been with the All Blacks for over 200 tests and coached them to 2 Rugby World Cup Victories to find out who is the ultimate athlete to ever play for the All Blacks.
PLUS Nic Gill challenges Goodey and Jim to a 6 week fitness challenge courtesy of our friends at Wattbike.
0:00 Love/Hate Situation
3:30 FREAK athletes
9:29 Richie McCaw WEAK AND SLOW?!
12:30 RWC Expectations
15:20 All Blacks Secret Weapon
16:40 "I NEED HELP!"

[@colincameron5219]

Brad Thorn the most under rated league and union player. Played till 41 proffessional and still hard with no injury. And a really nice guy but took no s..t

[@brendandedecker8019]

does anyone in the public eye actually know his injury list. i would be very keen to see

[@colincameron5219]

@@brendandedecker8019 one injury at the age of 40. I think a broken thumb. Full contact sport organizations are scared of litigation now and in the future so a player who has an inkling of an injury is not played and is reported. Brad didn't even with playing two of the most full contact unprotected sports in the world

[@Lyricistnz]

If people under estimated him it says more about what they don't mother farking know

[@parkerhal]

underated? By who?

[@pat1589]

Brad thorns an ass. Wanted to play for Aussie in league but the all Blacks in Rugby, a glory guy. The worst line out lock in international rugby history, he should if stepped up when Isaak Ross was new in the ABs. Ross would of had a stella career if he had a Sam Whitelock as locking partner.

[@merlin5420]

McCaw has never been classed as a dynamic athlete with the likes of Michael Jones but what sets him apart from the rest is his endurance, toughness and durability

[@marcdaniels9079]

McCaw talks about how he played better a few kgs lighter and relied on his endurance engine which he started as a child. Now he competes in Ironman triathlon- enough said. 😉

[@merlin5420]

@@marcdaniels9079 Yep most loose forwards today are transfixed on power and strength and seldom dedicate as much focus to endurance

[@biggest23]

McCaw combined that endurance with a relatively speaking, very high IQ assessment of where the next breakdown he could engage with would be, where the defense needed him to preemptively be etc etc and instead of just chasing action he arrived early and made immediate impact. All the physical ability in the world is wasted if it’s steered around the park by a walnut brain.

[@Slipperygecko390]

Add to that his ref whispering, ability to understand and exploit other teams and raw machiavellianism and you've got one hell of a player.

[@merlin5420]

@@Slipperygecko390 Jedi mind tricks ‘ These are not the offside players you are looking for!’

[@joedennehy386]

That 2015 side had 8 all time great All Blacks. Woodcock ,Mealamu, Kaino, Mc Caw, Read, Carter, Nonu, Conrad Smith

[@hunha991]

Ben Smith wasn't far off. Obviously Christian Cullen was the best 15 but Bender was unreal.

[@philliproberts7294]

Exactly been watching all blacks since 1965 and that 2012 -2015 team is the best I've ever seen in Rugby

[@harryryan368]

You could easily put whitelock retallik and Aaron smith in there as well 😂

[@HugoBaird]

Savea in his prime and Ben Smith could definitely be added.

[@hunha991]

@@HugoBaird 100%

[@marcdaniels9079]

Reminds me of the story of big Trevor Liota at Wasps who struggled with his weight; at one of his weigh ins he managed to put his hand on the window cill to reduce the reading by 5kg without the coach noticing 😅😅😅😅😅

[@MA-ik7ys]

This is what I love about rugby. There are many positions requiring different attributes and yet everyone can wield their abilities within their role to different effects.

[@garethdesborough7960]

What a great guy. You’d not mind being thrashed in the gym by someone like him.

[@invigor8PT]

What a cool dude and a legend in Rugby S and C

[@fidget2020]

Interesting chat. Love the insight on McCaw. While not the fastest, he certainly didn’t appear to be slow, so that must be testament to his ability to read the game well and get to the right spot. Not a slow thinker on a rugby field. No mention of Sonny Bill, who was supposed to have been one of the fittest athletes to have donned the Black jersey.

[@adam872]

Ability to read the play is absolutely paramount for a back rower and McCaw was one of the best ever. I'll give you another name: Dean Richards. I could never work out how a bloke that big and who didn't look that athletic managed to be in precisely the right place at the right time so consistently. Young blokes like myself who ran around the park like headless chooks didn't learn that lesson fast enough.

[@mathieuguillet4036]

Sonny Bill Williams was indeed super fit. I am a bit surprised to not see him mentioned.

[@hoffjdod3276]

He wasn’t only super fit he’s probably one of the most explosive people that’s where played rugby period

[@Mhkjrswq46]

Hes just in the thumbnail for the eye candy

[@davidpeters3857]

Great craic lads…….more Gilly please

[@rory4016]

awesome interview

[@kOt985]

Notice how many of the top athletes gillie mentioned were of Samaoan descent 🇼🇸🇼🇸 Ioane, Vito, Nonu, Tuipulotu etc. Samoans have one of the highest chances of making NFL per capita as well 💪🏽

[@David_Lee92]

Sole, yous are genetically built for high contact sports. Along with the talent and hard work, it makes you go far !

[@kOt985]

@David_Lee92 Tongans, Maoris and Fijians are just as physically gifted but in my many sporting encounters in Rugby & Boxing with all ethnicities, I would say Samoans are the most gifted.

[@David_Lee92]

@@kOt985 Yeah. They are also likely to make it into the NFL too! Most of them are naturally big and strong.

[@IeseFakaua]

I love this 😂good on you mate

[@christiantasidaily]

I remember Reiko stepping 5 Englishmen into orbit when he debuted for NZ 7s on the circuit 😂

[@graemehuia5964]

I enjoyed the insight. How bout Will Jordan whats his numbers like?

[@mathieuguillet4036]

He is a sick athlete, for sure. Interesting to hear that Beauden Barrett has never had to do serious speed work. I would have thought otherwise.

[@dominicbritt]

Please document progress!!

[@ciaranmac646]

Andy...get yourself a Concept 2 rower mate. Best machine ever made.

[@iangregory54]

Agreed but a horrible bit of kit to use.

[@MA-ik7ys]

the ability to be powerful and strong typically comes with an ability to drain your tank quicker. I know they are using different energy systems but most people who can run up a hill more times over and over, typically cant do it as fast as someone who cant run them over and over. Ive always found speed power and strength cuts both ways. It gives you the ability to drain yourself.

[@rogerpattube]

Ritchie had agility and body position. Something many current ABs lack.

[@swites]

Watt bike. What max power sprint we talking for some of these big lads?

[@connorrice3873]

"The likes of McCaw, Ali Williams, Dan Carter" 😂

[@nimblegoat]

Would of like him to be asked about coaches - Henry, Hansen, Foster all not in great shape - but have access to trainers and facilities we would pay 1000s for -O'Gara , Razor, Leon MacDonald, Tony Brown , Wayne Smith etc all keep in pretty good shape - Doesn't a coach have to walk the walk a bit - stay in shape , eat well - A fitter coach - sleeps better , more energy etc , younger brain , better immunity etc

[@emmanuelardron]

There was no word of Sonny Bill Williams, who has excelled in four different sports (3 rugby codes and pro boxing).

[@joedennehy386]

He was rarely 1st choice, because of Nonu and Conrad Smith

[@soundersiren07]

His impact off the bench and taking advantage to a tiring backline was undeniable. He was a lot more consistent off the bench too. He could be brilliant one week and disappear for a couple or do something bizarre (see the red card against the lions) as a starter

[@philliproberts7294]

Excelled at boxing are you blind and he was a good rugby player not great but yes great league player absolutely

[@69butternut.]

He was a liability. Very disciplined off the field and then would get a rush of blood to the head and shoulder charge. Great physique but I wouldn’t say fast or particularly fit. Got knocked out by an ancient Mark Hunt in boxing.

[@chrispaul4599]

Graham Mourie set up the Richie MCaw Model for Sustainabilityand Tackled Ball Promititude. Graham Low transfered that through. Early Analysis, under an Operations Research Model at Victoria University Model at Wellington, showed that the Marist Brothers and Others, Advantage Line Gain and Working the Short Side before Running Out of Touchline plud Progressive. Tight Five Refreshment (Replacement Bench) and Gain line Imperitive Accentuated. PLUS Fatigue Factor for Heavy Lifting Tight Five.

[@simonpumfrey8504]

My boy used the butt cream for his hair until i told him what it was for!

[@Wolf-hh4rv]

Schalk Burger never entered a gym (maybe a milkshake?) only training - , running. People in England can testify to that too.

[@jldp24]

In person..a big human..big calves..massive head and jaw..

[@dajay2k]

@@jldp24 testosterone

[@teawaruaedwards274]

The All Blacks main weapon has always been SPEED with ACCURACY. With FITNESS comes the LEAN MEAN RUGBY MACHINE. Players who physically and mentally dominate their opponents who LIVE TO PLAY to a 130yr old LEGACY of being THE BEST at their Sport.

[@charkattack1]

If only that was true now

[@Slipperygecko390]

I'm no expert but it's pretty annoying they didn't do any speed work with BB, he could have been even faster!

[@FrancisDietPodcast]

How did he not mention LOMU !! Dear god

[@jldp24]

Lomu retired 02 from the AB setup

[@jamesgunn5103]

Goodey - Go Carnivore - turn yourself into a Fat Burning machine ! I am losing 7lbs a month at the moment

[@tommcg7564]

Hinu! Ka pai e hoa

[@lexas1]

Go to bed hungry. It's the only way. 😎

[@Siphamandla.Ngcobo]

That's it, that's the secret.

[@greylynnjr]

I heard the chinese would have tonnes of reserves

[@DP-cd5wr]

No way hamilton weighs 118 kegs 😂😂

[@dxfifa]

The guy is 6'8" and weighed 126 when at playing muscle mass, he looks lean here, what are you on?

[@danielmacdonald721]

Exactly aha no chance even etzebeth weighs only 117kg

[@DP-cd5wr]

@@dxfifa as in he looks like he weighs less than 118kgs

[@pat1589]

Richie is tough, good engine and intelligent. Clearly not an athlete of note. He has no calf muscles.

[@rogerpattube]

Haha you can’t say fat but you can say hinu that’s NZ in a nutshell.

[@jessecampbell-trotter6076]

No talk about PEDs in rugby? 😴

[@muhammadmajiet940]

Richie Mc caw slow nd weak???? . U cud never ever do what Richie dd on the field for All black jersey. Not in this life nd neither yr other life.

[@fu8713]

Nz won’t until change coach next year they will be back 🫡