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Transcript

Rugby Direct - Episode 135 · Rugby Direct

• 0:09
  Speaker 1: You're listening to a podcast from Newstalks EDB. Follow this
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  Speaker 1: and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio. Yet
• 0:17
  Speaker 1: Inside the Game from Every Angle against Rugby Direct with
• 0:22
  Speaker 1: Elliott Smith powered by News Talks EDB.
• 0:25
  Speaker 2: Welcome into Rugby Direct powered by folkliveb Solutions, lifting you
• 0:29
  Speaker 2: and your business to a higher level Elliott Smith and
• 0:33
  Speaker 2: leaving Apier back again to review the week that was
• 0:36
  Speaker 2: in the world of rugby and liam By. This time
• 0:39
  Speaker 2: last week we were assessing All Blacks defeat in Wellington.
• 0:43
  Speaker 2: This time though, it's a comfortable All Blacks wind, built
• 0:47
  Speaker 2: off the back of a very impressive first half at
• 0:50
  Speaker 2: Eden Park thirty five to three at halftime. The All
• 0:53
  Speaker 2: Blacks didn't really put a foot wrong in the first spell.
• 0:56
  Speaker 2: What are your top lines out of that performance?
• 0:58
  Speaker 3: I think we saw from the All Blacks what we
• 1:01
  Speaker 3: expected to see in Wellington essentially, and it was a response,
• 1:06
  Speaker 3: wasn't it the required that demanded rebounds? And it all
• 1:11
  Speaker 3: started up front, the intent, the physicality from the All
• 1:15
  Speaker 3: Blacks pack. They've got a lot more scrums, but they
• 1:18
  Speaker 3: were very direct with their ball carrying and the pick
• 1:21
  Speaker 3: and drive. A few subtle tweaks around simpler flying. The
• 1:26
  Speaker 3: game plan made some big shifts with the kicking game,
• 1:29
  Speaker 3: little chips and behind the defense, and the All Blacks
• 1:31
  Speaker 3: were just ruthless and clinical and that's what we've been
• 1:34
  Speaker 3: waiting for from Scott Robertson's All Blacks and this was
• 1:38
  Speaker 3: the first time that we'd really seen it.
• 1:39
  Speaker 2: It was and everything that they couldn't do last week,
• 1:43
  Speaker 2: especially in that first half on Saturday night, they will
• 1:46
  Speaker 2: managed to do this week. They built pressure, they paid
• 1:49
  Speaker 2: them down the right areas of the ground, Their kicking
• 1:51
  Speaker 2: game was a hell of a lot better and they
• 1:55
  Speaker 2: got a lot more out of their full pack as
• 1:57
  Speaker 2: well in terms of the loose forwards Nowadaysavey had a
• 1:59
  Speaker 2: good game in Wellington, but Ethan blakeatter I thought it
• 2:01
  Speaker 2: had a very strong game. Don Papalei is still a
• 2:05
  Speaker 2: bit quiet, but it was an improvement I thought, and
• 2:08
  Speaker 2: think that they didn't get right in the Capital, they
• 2:10
  Speaker 2: kind of put right again at Eden Park.
• 2:14
  Speaker 3: They did and they played to the conditions. They knew
• 2:17
  Speaker 3: rain was coming from a long way out and the
• 2:22
  Speaker 3: only you know, not to be a negative nancy or whatever,
• 2:25
  Speaker 3: but go for it. Look, the Pumas were poor and
• 2:28
  Speaker 3: they were played off the park. But the theme of
• 2:32
  Speaker 3: the Pumas falling off a mental cliff following a triumph
• 2:38
  Speaker 3: over the All Blacks continues, doesn't it. We saw it
• 2:40
  Speaker 3: in twenty twenty, we saw it in twenty twenty two
• 2:42
  Speaker 3: and it was the same theme. Now, credit to the
• 2:45
  Speaker 3: All Blacks. They did everything that was asked of them,
• 2:48
  Speaker 3: but the Pumas it just felt like they weren't at
• 2:51
  Speaker 3: the races compared to Wellington.
• 2:53
  Speaker 2: Yeah, and that's been the issue. As you point out,
• 2:56
  Speaker 2: those two wins have had over the All Blacks haven't
• 2:57
  Speaker 2: been able to back them up, not even in the
• 2:59
  Speaker 2: form of a win, but even a close loss the
• 3:01
  Speaker 2: following week, putting pressure on a game that's not decided
• 3:04
  Speaker 2: until the last ten minutes or thereabouts. So they've been
• 3:07
  Speaker 2: blown off the park and each of those occasions. And
• 3:10
  Speaker 2: it was interesting hearing Felipe Contopomy after the game on
• 3:12
  Speaker 2: Saturday sort of say, well, we're emotional people, but how
• 3:16
  Speaker 2: do you know it wasn't the All Blacks that raise
• 3:18
  Speaker 2: their emotions by thirty percent. I respect his argument, but
• 3:21
  Speaker 2: I certainly think it's an issue with the Pumas now
• 3:24
  Speaker 2: as well as that they get so high after a
• 3:26
  Speaker 2: win and why not. It was magnificent on those three occasions.
• 3:30
  Speaker 2: But they need to keep their heads level and whoever
• 3:34
  Speaker 2: the coach is, whether it's Felipe himself or whatever, they
• 3:37
  Speaker 2: can find that magic potion that is able to get
• 3:40
  Speaker 2: them to be consistent in world rugby will have a
• 3:43
  Speaker 2: real team on their hands.
• 3:45
  Speaker 3: And it's something inherent in South American Latin cultures, isn't it.
• 3:49
  Speaker 3: They're naturally emotive people and you see that with the
• 3:53
  Speaker 3: anthem and just their style of play. Look at Marcos
• 3:58
  Speaker 3: Crema and you know the way that they play, who
• 4:04
  Speaker 3: they are, who they embrace as people. But it is
• 4:08
  Speaker 3: something that they need to grasp, the ability to maintain
• 4:12
  Speaker 3: some form of level. But look, you've got to give
• 4:15
  Speaker 3: the All Blacks credit. While the Pumas were inept and
• 4:18
  Speaker 3: a lot of aspects, a lot of that was your
• 4:20
  Speaker 3: black supplying pressure. Defensively, they were superbed as a couple
• 4:24
  Speaker 3: of charge doowns. They got off the line and applied
• 4:28
  Speaker 3: relentless pressure and forced the Pumas into mistakes, whether that
• 4:31
  Speaker 3: be in their ball carrying or kicking. And like you
• 4:35
  Speaker 3: pointed out, there was so much more patient with their attack.
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  Speaker 3: It wasn't like you didn't feel they were trying to
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  Speaker 3: score off every play. They built pressure, whether that be
• 4:43
  Speaker 3: through their defense or phases, or they're more or the scrum,
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  Speaker 3: and that allowed them to capitalize. So a lot more
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  Speaker 3: patients on attack and it just felt like they're on
• 4:55
  Speaker 3: the same page a lot more. If you think about
• 4:57
  Speaker 3: what we'd seen from this team to this point. Their
• 5:02
  Speaker 3: attack in particular was quite clunky. They felt like they
• 5:04
  Speaker 3: were tripping over each other. Maybe too many men, maybe
• 5:09
  Speaker 3: too many set plays. I'm not sure what it was,
• 5:12
  Speaker 3: but it really shined through for me. TJ Pedinara Scott
• 5:17
  Speaker 3: robertson to Mikey Williams all talking about how it was
• 5:20
  Speaker 3: simple messaging about what they had to get right, what
• 5:23
  Speaker 3: they had to fix, and while no opposition is the same,
• 5:28
  Speaker 3: I do feel like that needs to be a bit
• 5:29
  Speaker 3: of a blueprint for the saw Blacks team, not trying
• 5:32
  Speaker 3: to do too much in a week, not trying to
• 5:34
  Speaker 3: over complicate things, and just pick a couple of really
• 5:38
  Speaker 3: key rocks to get right and a really you know,
• 5:41
  Speaker 3: rugby is a simple game. When you get that go
• 5:43
  Speaker 3: for platform, everything else tends to fall into place.
• 5:46
  Speaker 2: Speaking of that go for platform, TJ pen and I
• 5:48
  Speaker 2: looked a damn site better on Saturday night than he
• 5:52
  Speaker 2: did the previous week where he was confused at times
• 5:56
  Speaker 2: and was labored in his efforts. I would have switched
• 6:00
  Speaker 2: to cortez Ra and TJ. Penn and R and I
• 6:02
  Speaker 2: still probably would have even with the benefit of hindsight
• 6:05
  Speaker 2: from that performance at Eden part. But it was a
• 6:07
  Speaker 2: really good performance from TJ Pedinara and showed why they
• 6:10
  Speaker 2: put some faith in it and them for this year
• 6:12
  Speaker 2: is last year in New Zealand, Rugby represented the All
• 6:14
  Speaker 2: Blacks to still be the starting number nine at this
• 6:17
  Speaker 2: point in time.
• 6:18
  Speaker 3: I think if you broadened it out to the selections
• 6:21
  Speaker 3: in general, there was a lot of scrutiny, wasn't there
• 6:25
  Speaker 3: on Scott Robinson. He made four starting changes and this
• 6:29
  Speaker 3: was a real box to the wall, their first real
• 6:33
  Speaker 3: spotlight test for the All Blacks, and they showed a
• 6:36
  Speaker 3: lot of faith. They leaned heavily on experience, and myself
• 6:40
  Speaker 3: and others were questioned that and TJ. Pteranara really was
• 6:45
  Speaker 3: at the forefront of that. He was poor and Wellington
• 6:48
  Speaker 3: didn't have the platform but charged a number of times
• 6:51
  Speaker 3: with his kicking quite slow and labored from the base
• 6:54
  Speaker 3: and he wasn't perfect in this match either, but that
• 6:58
  Speaker 3: little snipe down the blind side was a brilliant, classy
• 7:01
  Speaker 3: piece of attacking play, not only in the vision, but
• 7:05
  Speaker 3: the ability to hold the offload up, draw the defender
• 7:08
  Speaker 3: and then set will Jordan away. It is, I guess
• 7:12
  Speaker 3: curious if you take a step back and look at
• 7:14
  Speaker 3: him and Sam Kine and the fact that they are
• 7:16
  Speaker 3: leaving at the end of the year. Kane came off
• 7:18
  Speaker 3: the bench and played half an hour. You know, where
• 7:22
  Speaker 3: is this team going is? It's about the here and now?
• 7:25
  Speaker 3: You know, do you just play who's available for this
• 7:28
  Speaker 3: year or are you looking to develop long term? It
• 7:31
  Speaker 3: is a bit of a vexed, delicate question, isn't it.
• 7:34
  Speaker 2: It is look the TJ question before I circle back around.
• 7:38
  Speaker 2: He's played plucking a number out of thin here, but
• 7:41
  Speaker 2: it's probably in the vicinity of seventy five to eight
• 7:43
  Speaker 2: percent of his test match is coming off the bench
• 7:45
  Speaker 2: for the All Blacks. Now in the twilight of his career,
• 7:47
  Speaker 2: you're asking him to start. I think, yes, he's still
• 7:51
  Speaker 2: worthy of being in that All Blacks mix, but wouldn't
• 7:53
  Speaker 2: you keep him in the bench position that he's most
• 7:55
  Speaker 2: accustomed to be your finisher and you can either slow
• 7:58
  Speaker 2: down or bring the pace of the game up depending
• 8:00
  Speaker 2: on what you need in the last twenty five minutes
• 8:02
  Speaker 2: of a Test match. That's what something I'm still not
• 8:05
  Speaker 2: entirely sold on, but I think if you're Robinson, you
• 8:09
  Speaker 2: need to win matches in the here and now. You
• 8:10
  Speaker 2: don't get a honeymoon period if you're All Blacks coach.
• 8:13
  Speaker 2: So he started with two tests against England. They put
• 8:15
  Speaker 2: in a lot of the incumbents from last year that
• 8:18
  Speaker 2: were there. It wouldn't surprise me in the two Tests
• 8:20
  Speaker 2: against South Africa if Sam Kaine has leaned upon to
• 8:23
  Speaker 2: start these two test matches.
• 8:25
  Speaker 3: In all honesty, yeah, I don't know if they will
• 8:28
  Speaker 3: go that way, but I think having included him in
• 8:31
  Speaker 3: this group that he will certainly be a strong consideration.
• 8:35
  Speaker 3: Just on the halfbacks. I think it would be a
• 8:38
  Speaker 3: different consideration if camer or gab was fit. I think
• 8:41
  Speaker 3: he is. You're bolted on starter by some distance, provided
• 8:44
  Speaker 3: he comes back at a similar level to where he was.
• 8:48
  Speaker 3: But I think it does show a bit of lack
• 8:53
  Speaker 3: of faith in Cortez Artama at the stage for him
• 8:56
  Speaker 3: to handle the white hot heat of a desperate All
• 9:02
  Speaker 3: Black team needing to front the conditions as well, very
• 9:06
  Speaker 3: difficult on the face of Eden, So the All Blacks
• 9:09
  Speaker 3: just wanted to calm head at the base and I
• 9:12
  Speaker 3: think having seen the way Pirana responded, it's going to
• 9:17
  Speaker 3: be pretty difficult to go away from him. Looking ahead
• 9:21
  Speaker 3: to South Africa on what's going to be one of
• 9:23
  Speaker 3: the toughest tests that they will face this year.
• 9:28
  Speaker 2: Sodney will be Damie McKenzie I thought had a very
• 9:31
  Speaker 2: good game at ten again, coming under pressure during the
• 9:35
  Speaker 2: week and when it's all bound that front football, isn't
• 9:37
  Speaker 2: it When the front foot ball you get from the
• 9:40
  Speaker 2: Fords is laying it on for the nine and ten,
• 9:43
  Speaker 2: instantly they look better. But I thought that combination stepped
• 9:46
  Speaker 2: up really well. He did.
• 9:48
  Speaker 3: Yeah, he wasn't flawless again. I think he skied one
• 9:50
  Speaker 3: kick out on the fall and dropped a high ball
• 9:53
  Speaker 3: in the second half, but it's a wee bit nitpicky.
• 9:55
  Speaker 3: He scored the opening try and I think it is
• 9:58
  Speaker 3: a credit to the All Blacks coaching team that they
• 10:01
  Speaker 3: spotted that space and behind the Puma's rush defense, Jeordie
• 10:05
  Speaker 3: Barret executed on one occasion. Damien McKenzie on another and
• 10:09
  Speaker 3: there were two runners pushing through the line at the
• 10:12
  Speaker 3: same time, so it was a clear plan and executed
• 10:15
  Speaker 3: really well. It was a step in the right direction
• 10:18
  Speaker 3: for mackenzie. I think Scot Robinson called it his best
• 10:22
  Speaker 3: test this year and that's fair. Boden Barrett played the
• 10:25
  Speaker 3: last half an hour at first five, so I think
• 10:28
  Speaker 3: that's still a live debate. But you have to say
• 10:32
  Speaker 3: McKenzie's bolted on to start the next test against the box.
• 10:36
  Speaker 3: What about the forward pack. You know there's been so
• 10:38
  Speaker 3: much debate and scrutiny on the loose forward trio. At
• 10:42
  Speaker 3: the balance of it, what did you make of I
• 10:45
  Speaker 3: guess the faith that was retained there was it repaid?
• 10:48
  Speaker 1: Yeah?
• 10:48
  Speaker 2: I think it was by and large. Like I probably
• 10:51
  Speaker 2: would have gone with more ball carriers and Savia and
• 10:54
  Speaker 2: Satiti starting together. I still think you need that extra
• 10:59
  Speaker 2: ball carrier to dent the line. That the question I
• 11:01
  Speaker 2: don't think was necessarily answered in that performance at eating
• 11:04
  Speaker 2: part because the defense wasn't up to scratch from Argentina.
• 11:08
  Speaker 2: It's gonna be different against South Africa. But I think
• 11:10
  Speaker 2: you need twin ball carriers in that loose ford trio,
• 11:13
  Speaker 2: and I don't think necessarily got it. Having said that,
• 11:15
  Speaker 2: I thought Ethan Blackader had a very very good test match,
• 11:17
  Speaker 2: probably his best test off the top of my head.
• 11:21
  Speaker 2: At Blindside. He made second highest tackles for the All
• 11:24
  Speaker 2: Blacks with eighteen, a lot of carries. He was dynamic,
• 11:28
  Speaker 2: he scored a try, was responsible for killing the pumas
• 11:32
  Speaker 2: more on occasions. So really like what the Ethan Blackader did.
• 11:35
  Speaker 2: And you can see when he gets into a rhythm
• 11:38
  Speaker 2: and he's playing some regular rugby and not hampered by injury,
• 11:41
  Speaker 2: what he's certainly capable of. So helly on his start.
• 11:44
  Speaker 2: I'm sure he'll start against South Africa. I still think, Look,
• 11:47
  Speaker 2: I don't know whether it's Sam Caine or that Satiti
• 11:51
  Speaker 2: savea combination. I just think there is still a question
• 11:54
  Speaker 2: about the best makeup of that loose Ford trio that
• 11:57
  Speaker 2: I think they're still going to tinker with it at
• 11:58
  Speaker 2: some point over the course of the coming tests.
• 12:00
  Speaker 3: Yeah, some of Penny females. Another guy is and he
• 12:02
  Speaker 3: hasn't been cited since those tests against England, and I
• 12:07
  Speaker 3: think there's a few who bumps and bruises. He's been
• 12:10
  Speaker 3: nursing behind the scenes, but he on Sunday as we're
• 12:14
  Speaker 3: recording this will play for Wakato and will certainly be
• 12:18
  Speaker 3: in that squad that goes to South Africa. He's a
• 12:20
  Speaker 3: big body, likes the TC and I agree that Full
• 12:23
  Speaker 3: Pack has lacked big ball carriers, and I think that
• 12:26
  Speaker 3: is still a big question mark when you look at
• 12:28
  Speaker 3: the box and their proficiency in the area. When you're
• 12:32
  Speaker 3: broad in that conversation out along the ball carrying discussion,
• 12:39
  Speaker 3: Scott Barrett coming back as a big body. Patrick Patrick
• 12:43
  Speaker 3: two Polotu doesn't sound like he's going to tour South
• 12:46
  Speaker 3: Africa because of a calf, so he's another big physical
• 12:49
  Speaker 3: presence that you will not have. But let's just talk
• 12:53
  Speaker 3: about the development of the All blackslocks because that's been
• 12:56
  Speaker 3: a real success against the Pomas despite you know, square
• 13:00
  Speaker 3: in the ledger Sam Dowry, I think he's hugely exceeded expectations,
• 13:06
  Speaker 3: still probably in the early stages of his development, young
• 13:10
  Speaker 3: guy still growing into his frame, and Tupuvai has run
• 13:14
  Speaker 3: the line out exceptionally well for the All Blacks. That's
• 13:17
  Speaker 3: a huge responsibility for a young man. So I think
• 13:20
  Speaker 3: some big ticks and probably the well not probably definitely
• 13:24
  Speaker 3: the most area of concern from a depth perspective.
• 13:28
  Speaker 2: It certainly was heading into the season. The All Blacks
• 13:30
  Speaker 2: are worried and they've been publicly worried about their their
• 13:32
  Speaker 2: locking depth and then to go all right, we're going
• 13:35
  Speaker 2: to start two Rugby Championship Tests with tuperv and Sam Dowry.
• 13:38
  Speaker 2: At the start of the year he would have gone jeepers,
• 13:40
  Speaker 2: but both of them have stepped up incredibly well. Supervise
• 13:44
  Speaker 2: has been around the All Blacks of four years now
• 13:46
  Speaker 2: but hasn't had many starting opportunities, but he was called
• 13:49
  Speaker 2: upon to call the lineouts in the last couple of tests,
• 13:52
  Speaker 2: did that very very well. Sam Derry slotting in for
• 13:55
  Speaker 2: two test starts wasn't in the squad at the start
• 13:57
  Speaker 2: of the year, so I think they can be very
• 13:59
  Speaker 2: very pleased with what they've managed to get out on
• 14:02
  Speaker 2: the park. And now there's an interesting conversation. Probably not
• 14:05
  Speaker 2: so much with Patrick two but lot too out injured.
• 14:07
  Speaker 2: But I think with that tests in South Africa, you'd
• 14:10
  Speaker 2: expect him to start in the second row with Scott Barrett.
• 14:12
  Speaker 2: Maybe Sam Dowry comes off the bench later on. We're
• 14:15
  Speaker 2: still seeing Josh Lord come back into it. I think
• 14:17
  Speaker 2: he needs more game time, but all of a sudden.
• 14:21
  Speaker 2: It's not the problem solved necessarily, but there's a lot
• 14:25
  Speaker 2: more depth beginning to develop at Lock than there was,
• 14:29
  Speaker 2: you know, two months ago for the All Blacks, and
• 14:30
  Speaker 2: that is really promising. I did also want to touch
• 14:33
  Speaker 2: on the second half last night for this All Blacks performance,
• 14:36
  Speaker 2: because thirty five three up at halftime when this often happens.
• 14:39
  Speaker 2: I mean, they've made five changes at once and that's
• 14:42
  Speaker 2: always going to disrupt rhythm. But I think they'll probably
• 14:45
  Speaker 2: be and they've said as much. They're a little bit
• 14:47
  Speaker 2: disappointed with the way things tracked in the second spell.
• 14:49
  Speaker 2: They were a little bit clunky. There's a lot more
• 14:51
  Speaker 2: handling errors in the second spell, disruptions with scrums. They're discipline.
• 14:58
  Speaker 2: When a little bit of stray, we sort of stuff
• 15:00
  Speaker 2: like a Moor yellow card. So I mean it's packing
• 15:04
  Speaker 2: nets to an extent. But thirty five to three up
• 15:07
  Speaker 2: at halftime, you know, Scott Roberts, I think they used
• 15:09
  Speaker 2: the line we wanted to bury them in the garden.
• 15:11
  Speaker 2: They didn't quite get there. The game was definitely over,
• 15:15
  Speaker 2: but they probably would have liked to score a few
• 15:17
  Speaker 2: more tries in the second spell and really put their
• 15:19
  Speaker 2: foot on the throat.
• 15:20
  Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm thinking of an analogy here about not quite
• 15:23
  Speaker 3: finishing the landscaping or the DIY left undone for another week.
• 15:28
  Speaker 3: It did lack a ruthlessness and ability to really put
• 15:34
  Speaker 3: the foot on the throat, and that probably is down to,
• 15:37
  Speaker 3: like what you say that the game's gone thirty five
• 15:39
  Speaker 3: to three at halftime, you introduce five players from the
• 15:42
  Speaker 3: bench at the fifty minute mark, couple more a couple
• 15:45
  Speaker 3: of minutes later, you lose a bit of cohesion and accuracy.
• 15:49
  Speaker 3: So I'd probably load to be too harsh about it
• 15:52
  Speaker 3: at that point. If the game was contestable, I think
• 15:55
  Speaker 3: they would have played very differently, probably a bit more
• 15:57
  Speaker 3: expansively as it transpired. But yeah, that's certainly a work
• 16:02
  Speaker 3: on But I think you want to at that point
• 16:06
  Speaker 3: use your full squad. They put Recoaled to left wing.
• 16:09
  Speaker 3: Bowden went to ten, so those elements are important. What
• 16:15
  Speaker 3: about will Jordan amazing return to Test rugby. He is
• 16:20
  Speaker 3: now a phenomenal triyscreen record. I think it's thirty four
• 16:24
  Speaker 3: trials from thirty four tests. He's hunting down Joe Doug
• 16:28
  Speaker 3: Howlett very quickly. Are the All Blacks is Scott Robinson
• 16:32
  Speaker 3: essentially going to have to do it about face and
• 16:34
  Speaker 3: leave him on the wing.
• 16:36
  Speaker 2: I think for the time being yes, because he is
• 16:41
  Speaker 2: so good there and he sean that he isn't just
• 16:43
  Speaker 2: a finisher on the right wing. He is able to
• 16:45
  Speaker 2: get involved in the game. There were couple of occasions
• 16:47
  Speaker 2: where he popped up in the middle of the park
• 16:49
  Speaker 2: when we're on a roaming sort of role. I think
• 16:52
  Speaker 2: for the time being, until maybe the end of the
• 16:54
  Speaker 2: year to it, I think they're going to stick with
• 16:56
  Speaker 2: ten fifteen with Mimith, Mackenzie and Barrett. That means that
• 17:01
  Speaker 2: Will Jordan will stand in the right wing. Maybe against
• 17:03
  Speaker 2: Astralia gets a test at fullback, they look to change
• 17:05
  Speaker 2: things around for them, but I think for the time
• 17:08
  Speaker 2: being he'll have to bite his time on the right
• 17:11
  Speaker 2: wing and this is just a horses for courses thing.
• 17:13
  Speaker 2: I think he'll be loath to distrupt too much heading
• 17:15
  Speaker 2: to South Africa. So I think Will Jordan has to
• 17:19
  Speaker 2: wear the fourteen for the time being.
• 17:20
  Speaker 3: Yeah, I think so too, and Boden Barrett's knowledge vision
• 17:24
  Speaker 3: kicking ability in particular from the backfield has proved hugely valuable.
• 17:28
  Speaker 3: So I don't send the All Blacks changing that left
• 17:31
  Speaker 3: wings probably up for debate. Caleb Clark difficult match to
• 17:34
  Speaker 3: get into, took his chances where he did, but Mark
• 17:37
  Speaker 3: t Lea has been in good form, so interesting to
• 17:40
  Speaker 3: see where they go there. The only other real talking
• 17:44
  Speaker 3: point injury concerned for the All Blacks is Ethan de group.
• 17:47
  Speaker 3: He was absent with a neck injury. It sounded like
• 17:49
  Speaker 3: it was going to be at least a couple of weeks,
• 17:51
  Speaker 3: so maybe he doesn't make the trip to South Africa.
• 17:54
  Speaker 3: What did you make of to Mighty Williams debut and
• 17:57
  Speaker 3: how much of a step up would it be if
• 17:59
  Speaker 3: he's asked to start at Alice Park.
• 18:02
  Speaker 2: I think it'll be a bit step up for Tomighty Williams.
• 18:05
  Speaker 2: But I thought he handled the Test match against Argentina
• 18:07
  Speaker 2: very well. Penalosed early at scrum time, then whatever the
• 18:11
  Speaker 2: issue was there reset and had no further issues for
• 18:14
  Speaker 2: the rest of the night. I think he is developing really,
• 18:18
  Speaker 2: really nicely. Obviously Ethan Degreet you'd like to have him there,
• 18:20
  Speaker 2: But I think in terms of a starter, that made
• 18:22
  Speaker 2: it quite clear that Ethan de Groot's a starter, and
• 18:25
  Speaker 2: in terms of the replacements, they've got that about right
• 18:27
  Speaker 2: as well. But if you're got your starting player out
• 18:31
  Speaker 2: and Ethan de Groot to Mighty comes out of it
• 18:33
  Speaker 2: out straight out of twenty three and as your starter,
• 18:35
  Speaker 2: So I think you lose a little bit. But it's
• 18:37
  Speaker 2: not Panic Stations. On the basis of what we saw
• 18:40
  Speaker 2: to Mighty, Williams do Eden Park fifty up for the
• 18:44
  Speaker 2: All Blacks. They are very, very impressive. You know, whatever
• 18:48
  Speaker 2: they is going wrong on the All Blacks, just the
• 18:49
  Speaker 2: trip to Eden Park bumps that right out, buffs that
• 18:52
  Speaker 2: right out.
• 18:52
  Speaker 3: It's good, good, it's right. It could probably solve house
• 18:55
  Speaker 3: prices and inflation. And yeah, just maybe throw the doors open,
• 19:01
  Speaker 3: let let everyone set up camp at Eden Park. I
• 19:03
  Speaker 3: mean it is a concrete jungle and I actually have
• 19:05
  Speaker 3: a lot of love for it, But the All Blacks
• 19:07
  Speaker 3: as a spiritual home, isn't it. It's a phenomenal record
• 19:10
  Speaker 3: and it stood the test of time. Scott Robertson, you know,
• 19:14
  Speaker 3: he's a big themeing guy, and he talked about I
• 19:18
  Speaker 3: think this would have been his message to the team
• 19:19
  Speaker 3: during the week that you know, those who have walked
• 19:22
  Speaker 3: before set that legacy for them and they were pretty
• 19:26
  Speaker 3: determined to uphold that. So that elements along with you
• 19:30
  Speaker 3: know Artie Severe standing up in front of the team
• 19:32
  Speaker 3: at the start of the week and laying it on
• 19:33
  Speaker 3: the forward pack to deliver physical intense. All those elements
• 19:38
  Speaker 3: were born out in that performance.
• 19:40
  Speaker 2: Look forward to them beginning a new era at some
• 19:42
  Speaker 2: point at the Key Park Stadium. You can it happened.
• 19:47
  Speaker 3: I hope so I really do. I mean, chrush It
• 19:50
  Speaker 3: has got a new stadium, so it's high time Aukland
• 19:52
  Speaker 3: got one too.
• 19:54
  Speaker 2: Let's take a break here on Rugby Direct and come
• 19:56
  Speaker 2: back with the second half of the podcast after this.
• 20:00
  Speaker 4: This is Rugby Direct, a podcast for real rugby fans.
• 20:11
  Speaker 4: Howard the News Talk.
• 20:13
  Speaker 2: You're back with Rugby Direct. Time now for our final
• 20:16
  Speaker 2: four to four rugby topics that Liam and myself debate.
• 20:19
  Speaker 2: Want to get your highlights of the second round of
• 20:21
  Speaker 2: the NPC, bearing in mind we are recording this midafternoon
• 20:25
  Speaker 2: on a Sunday afternoon. But my highlights certainly isn't the
• 20:31
  Speaker 2: performance of Canterbury losing to Tasman.
• 20:33
  Speaker 3: Well, it's mine, obviously highlight.
• 20:35
  Speaker 2: Yeah, tough to say, Okay, I think that the exciting
• 20:39
  Speaker 2: thing has been just the even nature of the comp
• 20:42
  Speaker 2: Now obviously not everyone's had wins to this point in
• 20:44
  Speaker 2: time of the competition. But I really liked the fact
• 20:47
  Speaker 2: that it, buy and large is even and both teams
• 20:51
  Speaker 2: seem to be in games. It doesn't seem to be
• 20:54
  Speaker 2: too many teams that are being blown off the park,
• 20:57
  Speaker 2: which I think has been a problem in recent season,
• 20:59
  Speaker 2: now only in round two, and that may happen over
• 21:01
  Speaker 2: time with fatigue sitting in. But I think by and large,
• 21:03
  Speaker 2: I mean Auckland, who would have picked that they would
• 21:04
  Speaker 2: be zero and two to start the season, have had
• 21:06
  Speaker 2: a bit of a toll at team with Harry Plummer
• 21:08
  Speaker 2: the All Blacks and having to whisk away Christian ledier
• 21:11
  Speaker 2: Fino from Waikato camp into Auckland. But I think that's
• 21:15
  Speaker 2: the truth and nature of it. Auckland from two to
• 21:17
  Speaker 2: start the season. Not many would have predicted that with
• 21:19
  Speaker 2: their squad.
• 21:21
  Speaker 3: No, I think you're right that it is a reasonably
• 21:24
  Speaker 3: level playing field. Otago. They're upset there been really impressed
• 21:27
  Speaker 3: impressed by bay plenty. I think they've been big movers.
• 21:31
  Speaker 3: Wallis Hollahaller returning from Wales coming back. I think if
• 21:36
  Speaker 3: I was a super rugby team, the Highlanders or the like,
• 21:38
  Speaker 3: I'd be snapping him up, he's thirty four years old,
• 21:41
  Speaker 3: but proving you've still got the goods deserving of a
• 21:44
  Speaker 3: one year contract or maybe even one of the Aussie
• 21:47
  Speaker 3: teams snaps him up. So impressed by him and nice
• 21:52
  Speaker 3: to have a game on a Wednesday night viewing Magpies
• 21:56
  Speaker 3: keep the shield so you know that might be in
• 22:00
  Speaker 3: need of refurbishment again sometime soon. But yeah, it's great
• 22:06
  Speaker 3: to have the NPC back and it does seem reasonably
• 22:09
  Speaker 3: open this year, doesn't it.
• 22:11
  Speaker 2: It certainly does right Topic number two, let's cross the Tasman.
• 22:15
  Speaker 2: Where are the Wallabies out after five tested this season?
• 22:17
  Speaker 2: Two against South Africa which were always going to be
• 22:20
  Speaker 2: really really tough for them, But look they're got the
• 22:24
  Speaker 2: under under new management sign up, they're under refurbishment, but
• 22:30
  Speaker 2: there is a lot of work to do and this
• 22:32
  Speaker 2: head and run project, if it is that from Joe
• 22:35
  Speaker 2: Schmidt targeting the Lions in twenty twenty five, they're going
• 22:38
  Speaker 2: to have to make up some real ground over the
• 22:41
  Speaker 2: next ten months or they'reabouts to get them in that
• 22:44
  Speaker 2: right position because they've swept off the park last week
• 22:47
  Speaker 2: in Brisbane. It was closer in Perth, but that was
• 22:50
  Speaker 2: wet conditions and The thing with Australia for me is
• 22:53
  Speaker 2: that they seem very very limited on attack. And again
• 22:58
  Speaker 2: you go back to what was talking about the all
• 22:59
  Speaker 2: Blacks with the full pack and being dominated there by
• 23:01
  Speaker 2: South Africa. You don't see a lot from Australia, even
• 23:04
  Speaker 2: when they do have born hand. It seems a lot
• 23:06
  Speaker 2: of crossfield kicking, aimless stuff from Strautiger. Joe Schmidt's got
• 23:11
  Speaker 2: a big job on his hands, he does.
• 23:13
  Speaker 3: Indeed, it does feel like reality must be starting to
• 23:16
  Speaker 3: dawn on Schmidt and Mike Cronn and others in that
• 23:20
  Speaker 3: coaching environment because from a cattle perspective, you know, we've
• 23:25
  Speaker 3: talked about this Australian rugby really you know, lacks not superstars,
• 23:32
  Speaker 3: but just some real key positions. They've got debate about
• 23:36
  Speaker 3: their best number. Ten. No Loto Ceo is still a
• 23:40
  Speaker 3: project despite the fact he's been around for a few years.
• 23:43
  Speaker 3: He has been cast on the scrap peep and brought back.
• 23:46
  Speaker 3: They're still trying to integrate reintegrate their overseas players. Look,
• 23:51
  Speaker 3: they were in that contest with the box until about
• 23:54
  Speaker 3: ten minutes fifteen minutes to go and then just got
• 23:56
  Speaker 3: rolled over the top of the box. More and the
• 24:01
  Speaker 3: context to that match that they lost convincingly in the end,
• 24:04
  Speaker 3: and that was a spring Box side that made ten
• 24:06
  Speaker 3: changes to their squad very much. You know, it was
• 24:08
  Speaker 3: to be a Springbox B team and they still did
• 24:10
  Speaker 3: it comfortably. So it really does show just where the
• 24:13
  Speaker 3: Wallabies are at and how far they have to go.
• 24:17
  Speaker 2: Let's flip that and go where it's at Africa after
• 24:19
  Speaker 2: five tiers, obviously with a night of the All Blacks
• 24:21
  Speaker 2: coming up for them, but I think Russy will be
• 24:24
  Speaker 2: pretty happy split that series against Ireland comfortably. Big Portugal
• 24:28
  Speaker 2: now two wins away in Australia, which hasn't always been
• 24:31
  Speaker 2: a happy hunting ground for them. I think Russy and
• 24:34
  Speaker 2: you mentioned those changes, the ability to change out ten
• 24:37
  Speaker 2: players in your team and still get the victory. Go
• 24:40
  Speaker 2: to from two in the Rugby Championship. They're looking really,
• 24:43
  Speaker 2: really good.
• 24:44
  Speaker 3: It's daunting prospect to play the spring Box anywhere at
• 24:47
  Speaker 3: this stage, let alone at home in the Republic at altitude.
• 24:52
  Speaker 3: You know, it's one of the greatest places to tour
• 24:55
  Speaker 3: in rugby. But the Box are a better team now
• 24:59
  Speaker 3: with Tony Brown in their mix. They have evolved, They
• 25:02
  Speaker 3: have more to their game. Our conditions in Perth was
• 25:05
  Speaker 3: torrential rain that the pitch cut up rough and the
• 25:09
  Speaker 3: Box sort of went back to their DNA their strengths
• 25:12
  Speaker 3: with the mall But having made those changes and built
• 25:17
  Speaker 3: such phenomenal depth over the past four years, there's so
• 25:22
  Speaker 3: many avenues that they can turn to. They genuinely have
• 25:25
  Speaker 3: two to three players in most positions, which is a
• 25:29
  Speaker 3: testament to what Russy's done and I think the leeway
• 25:34
  Speaker 3: he's had to develop that team as well. You know,
• 25:37
  Speaker 3: they haven't actually had a great record in between World Cups,
• 25:40
  Speaker 3: and that's at times because they do field second string teams.
• 25:44
  Speaker 3: You think about the World Cup last year and the
• 25:47
  Speaker 3: team that they sent out to Mount Smart Stadium to
• 25:49
  Speaker 3: play the All Blacks left a number of their frontline
• 25:51
  Speaker 3: players at home. But look, the Box are in great shape,
• 25:55
  Speaker 3: aren't they, and making those changes rotating from Test one
• 25:59
  Speaker 3: to two for the Wallabies, clearly they have an eye one,
• 26:02
  Speaker 3: if not two, on hosting the All Blacks. That will
• 26:05
  Speaker 3: be a real pinnacle series for them, and there's so
• 26:08
  Speaker 3: much that goes into it. Isn't it the World Cup
• 26:10
  Speaker 3: final rematch from last year? So many of the All
• 26:12
  Speaker 3: Blacks will have that in the back of their minds,
• 26:15
  Speaker 3: the spring Box status as world champions, Tony Brown and
• 26:19
  Speaker 3: that coaching mix Scott Robertson played against Russy, So you know,
• 26:24
  Speaker 3: where do you start. It's going to be a fascinating series.
• 26:27
  Speaker 2: If only the cut Aways Cup was on the line
• 26:30
  Speaker 2: and topic number four story coming out Damie McKenzie missing
• 26:36
  Speaker 2: the bus while the All Blacks were on tour in
• 26:40
  Speaker 2: San Diego after that match against Fiji, didn't get the
• 26:43
  Speaker 2: trip with the team down to the flight getting back
• 26:49
  Speaker 2: home and wasn't punished by the All Blacks internally. I
• 26:55
  Speaker 2: guess your action to the story.
• 26:58
  Speaker 3: It's interesting, isn't it. And this is the first off
• 27:00
  Speaker 3: field indiscretion for Scott Robinson to tackle, so it is
• 27:06
  Speaker 3: very interesting to see how they've handled it. We I
• 27:10
  Speaker 3: don't know all the details surrounding it, but the context
• 27:13
  Speaker 3: is it's the end of July, so the All Blacks
• 27:15
  Speaker 3: have finished their their series and they've got a bit
• 27:18
  Speaker 3: of rope. I think to go out and enjoy themselves.
• 27:21
  Speaker 3: And I don't have any issues with that by all
• 27:23
  Speaker 3: means blufsome steam because it doesn't happen very often. But
• 27:27
  Speaker 3: I think from what I do know, McKenzie has missed
• 27:30
  Speaker 3: the transports and you had to get a two hour over,
• 27:34
  Speaker 3: you know, at his own expense. And Scott Robinson sort
• 27:38
  Speaker 3: of tried to brush it off postmatch and said there
• 27:40
  Speaker 3: was no curfew and that might not That may be
• 27:42
  Speaker 3: the case, but I think we've seen in previous regimes
• 27:47
  Speaker 3: the All Blacks cracked down hard on standards, and I
• 27:51
  Speaker 3: think this was a missed opportunity from Scott Robertson to
• 27:55
  Speaker 3: set those standards to say this is unacceptable, this is
• 27:58
  Speaker 3: what we expect from you. And I don't know whether
• 28:02
  Speaker 3: an injury to Stephen Petefetter may be played into it,
• 28:06
  Speaker 3: maybe some lack of depth around ten, but from what
• 28:10
  Speaker 3: I do know, I think McKenzie was fortunate to have
• 28:14
  Speaker 3: no punishment.
• 28:15
  Speaker 2: Yeah, I think this, Yeah, it was an opportunity, perhaps
• 28:19
  Speaker 2: just to lay a marker in the sand. Now we
• 28:20
  Speaker 2: don't know if that that may have actually been done
• 28:22
  Speaker 2: internally and it hasn't sort of transpired out externally, but
• 28:25
  Speaker 2: he didn't miss a game for it. We don't know
• 28:27
  Speaker 2: what else has gone on internally, but yeah, interesting story.
• 28:31
  Speaker 2: And Dave McKenzie han't missed any test matches. You think
• 28:33
  Speaker 2: that to Mark d'alaia last year the World Cup. There's
• 28:35
  Speaker 2: been other instances as well when players have sort of
• 28:37
  Speaker 2: been stood down for a game for missing curfew or
• 28:41
  Speaker 2: breaking team protocol. That didn't happen on this occasion.
• 28:44
  Speaker 3: Yeah, I think the key takeaway is the All Blacks
• 28:47
  Speaker 3: have eight more tests I think away from home this year.
• 28:53
  Speaker 3: What happens if this happens again. You know, there's a
• 28:56
  Speaker 3: bit of a precedent been set here, so you leave
• 29:00
  Speaker 3: the door a jar for these things to happen. So, yeah,
• 29:04
  Speaker 3: an interesting story. Scott Robinson's chose to handle it in
• 29:08
  Speaker 3: one way. That's his riots, his team. But you, standards
• 29:13
  Speaker 3: are important, and I guess what's happened previously with Mark
• 29:17
  Speaker 3: tala Maybe some players might have been miffed about a
• 29:19
  Speaker 3: potential lack of accountability or double standards. But it is
• 29:24
  Speaker 3: a new regime and Razor can run his team how
• 29:27
  Speaker 3: he wants.
• 29:28
  Speaker 2: Yep, there's certainly a lot of standards here on Rugby
• 29:31
  Speaker 2: Direct and where we keep it to a tight show. Yeah,
• 29:36
  Speaker 2: sometimes sometimes now, Liam, you wanted to lay something on
• 29:39
  Speaker 2: the line.
• 29:40
  Speaker 3: Finish look, I think September one. You know, we're big
• 29:44
  Speaker 3: fans of provincial rugby here at Rugby Direct Canterbury v Wellington.
• 29:49
  Speaker 3: Sorry September one, you'll be in South Africa so he
• 29:52
  Speaker 3: probably won't even see the game. But Cannabry v Wellington,
• 29:54
  Speaker 3: I think it's only fair. You know, we have a
• 29:56
  Speaker 3: bit of a wager here. Sure, So look, I've got
• 29:59
  Speaker 3: two proposals for one is the loser, where's the opposing
• 30:04
  Speaker 3: jersey in the office for a day. The second is
• 30:08
  Speaker 3: that you have to call and we have to record
• 30:10
  Speaker 3: this somebody close to you, you know it might be
• 30:14
  Speaker 3: a friend or a family member, and tell them that
• 30:16
  Speaker 3: you're switching allegiance so you can choose you your punishment.
• 30:19
  Speaker 3: Because Wellington again on one say it's going to be.
• 30:23
  Speaker 2: Take the jersey option, I think I think that might
• 30:25
  Speaker 2: be the same for all candidates.
• 30:27
  Speaker 3: I'll make sure you get a picture of that for
• 30:28
  Speaker 3: our listeners out there.
• 30:30
  Speaker 2: Come on, you can tab lost the Tasmin with pathetically instant.
• 30:34
  Speaker 2: It's all right. Then, I'll do us for Rugby Directs
• 30:40
  Speaker 2: powered by Excess Solutions, elevating you and your business to
• 30:43
  Speaker 2: a higher level of Thanks to Dan Goodwin standing in
• 30:45
  Speaker 2: for our production this week. We'll see you next week
• 30:47
  Speaker 2: on Rugby Direct.
• 30:57
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