Andrew Mehrtens, Schalk Brits and Johnnie Beattie on the Official Rugby World Cup 2023 podcast

On Australia:

Andrew Mehrtens: "It is sad to see Australia have underperformed in this tournament and as a New Zealander you know our futures are entwinned in rugby. We need to be strong together. I'm not against anyone but New Zealand rugby does need Australia rugby to be strong, it's a bigger economy and everything. While it is fantastic to see the Fijians looking like they are going to qualify, barring some sort of debacle against Portugal, it is tough to see the Australian depart."

On South Africa and Tonga in a huddle together after the game:

Schalk Brits: "I suppose that is the beauty about rugby if you compare it to any other sports. Although you try to smash the living crap out of each other for 80 minutes afterwards you often have a beer together after the game. They prayed together and they probably had a couple of cold ones. That is what rugby is all about. I can remember playing against a lot of guys and thinking they are an absolute ... but after you have a beer with the guy and you think he's just like me. He is very competitive, he wants to win the game but afterwards you relax and have one of these [beer]."

On Eddie Jones leaving out experienced players:

Brits: "If you are under pressure you want a guy who has been there and done it. Handre Pollard hasn't played in however long, he got on the tee [against Tonga] and slotted those three-pointers. The one thing we lacked against Ireland, we didn't take our opportunities but we didn't build scoreboard pressure."

On Manie Libbok and Handre Pollard:

Mehrtens: "I wondered if it was just masterful coaching. You know if a World Cup you are going to have injuries and you are going to be able to replace players. Did they know? We have seen it with New Zealand as well, they have brought in Ethan Blackadder. You know there is going to be some attrition on the way through. Maybe you've got a senior guy who has got comfortable in his position and he gets a bit of a jab, doesn't get picked but he is going to turn up at the business end of the competition, maybe it was that.

"Libbok is a fantastic and exciting player. Pollard is just awesome, already a World Cup winner, proven success."

Johnnie Beattie: "Statistically Libbok is under 80 per cent [for goal kicking] so if you want your sure thing, you've got Pollard back from injury, you go with Pollard. It's a no brainer. 

"That's [Libbok's no look cross-field pass] not going to win you World Cups is it? Libbok has been phenomenal in the URC with his franchise in South Africa but if you're ticking under 80 per cent on your top-level goalkicker you're leaving 11 points out there against Ireland. You take those points, you win the game. I fully expect Pollard to be their starter."

Brits: "I'll make a prediction. They will start with Pollard, they'll go with a six-two split and they will put Manie on the bench. The backline moves better with Libook there, he brings some x-factor to that team. Maybe the six-two split is a better combination for us."

On Scotland:

Beattie: "It is the cruellest pool. You had number one, three and five and you also had to play Romania and Tonga, everyone knows looking for bonus points and so it is a shoot-out between the top three teams. Scotland have already lost [against South Africa].

"You have to knock over one of the big two teams and that is the opportunity they have in Paris. It's not going to be easy, they will prep away quietly and they will try and throw some punches, shoot some shots."

Mehrtens: "It's not beyond Scotland. How many times have we seen them win the Calcutta Cup over the years against an England team where nobody really gave them a chance? It's not beyond them. On the performance against South Africa, which wasn't wonderful and South Africa controlled the game you wouldn't see that much of a chance but in four weeks and how much they have learned and how much they have applied themselves in preparation."

On New Zealand:

Mehrtens: "It's hard to judge because Italy were poor. Some of that was the All Blacks making Italy look poor but I don't think the All Blacks would have taken much out of that game, it just wasn't the same pressure on the All Blacks that you would get from France or South Africa or probably most other teams. Italy were disappointing. Saying that, the All Blacks were impressive and I think really they have been able to go away and work without a lot of noise around them. As soon as they lost to France, coming off the back of losing to South Africa, the talk went away from New Zealand.

"If they can come into the game [quarter-final] as an underdog, which historically is not a regular position for them they will be very happy. Sounds like there was quite a lot of spice at training."