Latest / Rugby Direct / Rugby Direct Episode 232: All eyes on the title - looking ahead to the Super Rugby Pacific finals

Transcript

Rugby Direct Episode 232: All eyes on the title - looking ahead to the Super Rugby Pacific finals · Rugby Direct

• 0:09
  Speaker 1: You're listening to a podcast from News Talks at B.
• 0:12
  Speaker 1: Follow this and our Wide Ranger podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
• 0:18
  Speaker 2: Straight down the.
• 0:19
  Speaker 3: Middle guy, try get inside the game from every end goal.
• 0:31
  Speaker 1: It's Rugby Direct with Elliott Smith and Leam Napier powered
• 0:35
  Speaker 1: by News Talks at B.
• 0:37
  Speaker 2: Welcome into Rugby Direct powered by Habit Health as the
• 0:39
  Speaker 2: book today and stay in the game. Elliott Smith with me,
• 0:43
  Speaker 2: Liam Napier and Nate's the top six, the order of
• 0:47
  Speaker 2: the elimination finals that aren't really elimination finals. We're all set.
• 0:52
  Speaker 2: We're heading to playoffs in Super Rugby.
• 0:55
  Speaker 4: That's all right. Welcome to Super Rugby's quirky finals series.
• 0:59
  Speaker 5: And everyone will be quite stunned and shocked about the
• 1:02
  Speaker 5: final makeup and complexion of the finals.
• 1:05
  Speaker 4: And it's it's very hard to predict the game of
• 1:07
  Speaker 4: the round as well as yeah.
• 1:09
  Speaker 2: Exactly exactly. Luk Alys review the weekend that was first
• 1:13
  Speaker 2: and foremost before we dig into that, the Chiefs beating
• 1:17
  Speaker 2: the Blues fifty nine thirty four in a high scoring game.
• 1:22
  Speaker 2: The Blues look started strongly, but the Chiefs just two
• 1:25
  Speaker 2: good and the alarm bells, well, if they were already
• 1:28
  Speaker 2: going off at the Blues must be blearing rather loud
• 1:32
  Speaker 2: right now.
• 1:34
  Speaker 5: Absolutely, I let three straight losses to end the regular season,
• 1:39
  Speaker 5: and this was the worst of its Chiefs team. Missing
• 1:44
  Speaker 5: at least six frontline starters, they had nothing to gain
• 1:48
  Speaker 5: from that match. The Chiefs rarely apart from bragging rights
• 1:51
  Speaker 5: over neighborhood rivals, and the Blues, as you say, started
• 1:57
  Speaker 5: really well, probably could have scored at least two three
• 2:01
  Speaker 5: more tries in the first half.
• 2:04
  Speaker 4: They looked more attacking than they had all year.
• 2:06
  Speaker 5: They used the ball, some ice touches from Stephen Peter Fetter,
• 2:11
  Speaker 5: but they were their execution They're handling really costs them.
• 2:15
  Speaker 5: And then just they shot the bed, didn't they in
• 2:19
  Speaker 5: the second half, a really really abject showing. I think
• 2:22
  Speaker 5: they conceded forty second half points eight tries, So to
• 2:27
  Speaker 5: shine a lights on everything from attitude to defense to execution,
• 2:32
  Speaker 5: their lineout and scrums gone backwards in a massive way. Yes,
• 2:36
  Speaker 5: they were missing Patrick two below to Bowden, Barrett's and
• 2:39
  Speaker 5: still Dalton Popelli, but by and large, other than those guys,
• 2:45
  Speaker 5: they've got.
• 2:46
  Speaker 4: Regular starters there.
• 2:47
  Speaker 5: They had everything to play for for a home playoff
• 2:50
  Speaker 5: and potential second life and they just got put to
• 2:53
  Speaker 5: the sword they does.
• 2:55
  Speaker 2: They were very poor, I thought, and this was a game,
• 2:59
  Speaker 2: you know, home playoff on the line. The Crusaders had
• 3:02
  Speaker 2: won the night before obviously, which we'll get to, but
• 3:05
  Speaker 2: it was a win that was required for them, and
• 3:07
  Speaker 2: the Blues not only didn't firing shot, but they just
• 3:10
  Speaker 2: don't seem capable of firing enough shots to threaten teams.
• 3:16
  Speaker 2: I just don't know that they've got enough in their arsenal.
• 3:18
  Speaker 2: I don't think their game plan has evolved over the
• 3:20
  Speaker 2: last couple of years to the point where if you're
• 3:23
  Speaker 2: an opposition team, you know you know now the way
• 3:26
  Speaker 2: the Blues will play. And the thing is, the Blues
• 3:29
  Speaker 2: in that first season in twenty twenty four under Vincota,
• 3:31
  Speaker 2: we're playing direct and basically playing at a very very
• 3:36
  Speaker 2: high level and doing so now you know, the play
• 3:38
  Speaker 2: direct and obviously you mentioned they played a little bit
• 3:40
  Speaker 2: wider than they probably have all season, but they aren't
• 3:43
  Speaker 2: playing to the level they were in twenty twenty four.
• 3:45
  Speaker 2: And when you're predictable and not playing to that level,
• 3:48
  Speaker 2: it's very very easy to be found out. And I
• 3:50
  Speaker 2: think we've seen that with the Blues now and barring
• 3:53
  Speaker 2: some sort of incredible comeback over the next week, maybe
• 3:57
  Speaker 2: two weeks. Very very hard to see them going too
• 4:01
  Speaker 2: far in the playoffs. In fact, it could be two
• 4:02
  Speaker 2: more losses to end the season given the way this
• 4:05
  Speaker 2: playoff format works.
• 4:08
  Speaker 4: Yeah, that's right.
• 4:08
  Speaker 5: I think that one of the biggest concerns or issues
• 4:13
  Speaker 5: for the Blues is the set piece. So when you're
• 4:15
  Speaker 5: a team that wants to play direct, wants to be physical,
• 4:18
  Speaker 5: wants to dominate upfront, if you haven't got a stable
• 4:21
  Speaker 5: set piece or reliable set piece, it sort of undermines
• 4:25
  Speaker 5: your whole game plan. So the line out has disintegrated
• 4:28
  Speaker 5: big time over the last three weeks. In particular, the
• 4:33
  Speaker 5: Blues got a really nice cameo performance from Odin Ryan
• 4:38
  Speaker 5: off the bench on debut twenty year old hooker who
• 4:42
  Speaker 5: looks like he's got a big future. But the scrum
• 4:46
  Speaker 5: was dismantled pushback at times, the line out was wobbly,
• 4:49
  Speaker 5: and then that just compromises your ability to build pressure
• 4:52
  Speaker 5: to get down the other end of the fields. And
• 4:56
  Speaker 5: they just didn't look like they had a lot of
• 4:58
  Speaker 5: answers in that second half to what was a very
• 5:01
  Speaker 5: heavily weekend Chiefs team. And when they got their tails
• 5:05
  Speaker 5: up the Chiefs, they moved the ball to space, their
• 5:08
  Speaker 5: attack was rampants Wallace, the TC led from the fronts
• 5:13
  Speaker 5: and look, the Blues do have some promising players and
• 5:16
  Speaker 5: Malakaia Rampling and Torrian Barnes and Todd Signers trying hards.
• 5:21
  Speaker 5: That was his first match leading the Blues. But collectively
• 5:24
  Speaker 5: they do look a bit lost their basic skills. Their
• 5:28
  Speaker 5: attacking execution, as we touched on earlier, just looked rarely substandards.
• 5:34
  Speaker 5: And you know, maybe they're possible pulling out a one
• 5:39
  Speaker 5: off result, but at this point there's just no way
• 5:41
  Speaker 5: you could really suggest that they're going to go down
• 5:43
  Speaker 5: to christ Church and win against the Crusader side that
• 5:47
  Speaker 5: I think their record's horrific in crush Church. I think
• 5:51
  Speaker 5: they've lost fourteen the last fifteen games against the Crusaders
• 5:53
  Speaker 5: down there.
• 5:54
  Speaker 2: Yeah, they have, let's sweat the Chiefs. You know, we
• 5:57
  Speaker 2: talked a bit about in the season, maybe haven't showed
• 5:59
  Speaker 2: their full cards as yet, maybe have sort of gone
• 6:03
  Speaker 2: under the radar in a weird way despite the fact
• 6:05
  Speaker 2: they're going to finish or have finished second in the
• 6:07
  Speaker 2: regulous season. But if they're building towards something We saw
• 6:11
  Speaker 2: perhaps a little bit of that on Saturday night, given
• 6:16
  Speaker 2: the fact though without so many players, but still put
• 6:18
  Speaker 2: in a comprehensive performance and showed the amount of depth
• 6:23
  Speaker 2: that we got. I was very impressed with the reON
• 6:24
  Speaker 2: Paul and the way that he played. But there was
• 6:26
  Speaker 2: some cameos right across the park. I thought that really
• 6:29
  Speaker 2: added to things and showed the depth that they can
• 6:32
  Speaker 2: call on over the next three weeks.
• 6:35
  Speaker 5: Absolutely a real showcase of depth, wasn't it. Rion Paul
• 6:38
  Speaker 5: was outstanding in the midfields, time and space. He looked
• 6:44
  Speaker 5: to have a lot of it pace, he finished well,
• 6:47
  Speaker 5: he made breaks, he really did it all.
• 6:49
  Speaker 4: So a guy that had.
• 6:51
  Speaker 5: Been in the Blues environment, he would have really enjoyed
• 6:54
  Speaker 5: getting one up on his former team. But yeah, you
• 6:59
  Speaker 5: put Damien McKenzie, SEMMASONI Takyaho to provide, Luke Jacobson, Xavier Row,
• 7:06
  Speaker 5: Olie Norris. You know, these are all blacks and frontline players.
• 7:11
  Speaker 5: You put them back in that Chiefs. They're starting to
• 7:13
  Speaker 5: look really formidable. And this is the time of year
• 7:15
  Speaker 5: where well not necessarily the quarters and semis, but the
• 7:19
  Speaker 5: final of course that the Chiefs have fallen here. I
• 7:22
  Speaker 5: think it's the last four years or something like that.
• 7:26
  Speaker 5: Maybe they are timing they're run because they haven't looked
• 7:28
  Speaker 5: their best this year. But they're going to come into
• 7:31
  Speaker 5: this final series well rested momentum and confidence. They're going
• 7:35
  Speaker 5: to be at home for probably at least two weeks,
• 7:40
  Speaker 5: providing they win. So they got there. There is absolutely
• 7:44
  Speaker 5: no reason why they can't win this year's.
• 7:46
  Speaker 2: Title, no exactly. And they play the Reds obviously in
• 7:49
  Speaker 2: week one, you'd expect them to win that. They'll probably
• 7:52
  Speaker 2: have Damien McKenzie back this week as well, among those
• 7:55
  Speaker 2: other players that you mentioned too, So perhaps they're just
• 7:58
  Speaker 2: building quite nicely for the playoffs the Chiefs. So let's
• 8:02
  Speaker 2: go backwards again. My Onana pacificat beating the Brumbys twenty
• 8:05
  Speaker 2: one nineteen. I tip this last week, Liam, I'll have
• 8:10
  Speaker 2: you know on the tipping and Miwana come through remarkable
• 8:15
  Speaker 2: really that it with fourteen men on the park for
• 8:17
  Speaker 2: the closing stages. Awful performance on the Brumbies. It has
• 8:21
  Speaker 2: to be said their lineup was dysfunctional and you know,
• 8:25
  Speaker 2: their soft skills let them down horrendously right throughout the game.
• 8:28
  Speaker 2: But Miwana hung tough and they were good enough in
• 8:31
  Speaker 2: the end from fourteen kneel down to come back and
• 8:33
  Speaker 2: winning Canberra is pretty impressive. And if that's the way
• 8:37
  Speaker 2: they finish, we'll touch on a bit later in the
• 8:39
  Speaker 2: final four. But if that's the way they finish, pretty
• 8:42
  Speaker 2: good night to go out on.
• 8:44
  Speaker 4: Yeah, very spirited showing.
• 8:45
  Speaker 5: Canbra's historically a very tough place to go and win,
• 8:49
  Speaker 5: but Miwana and the Fijian Jura have both gone to
• 8:55
  Speaker 5: Australia's capital and notched upset victories this year. It probably
• 9:00
  Speaker 5: says a bit about the Brumbies tailspin, but also you've
• 9:04
  Speaker 5: got to take your chances in Mowana. Look they went
• 9:08
  Speaker 5: close the week before against the Reds, didn't they big
• 9:11
  Speaker 5: second half comeback and again this time against the Brumbies
• 9:15
  Speaker 5: another notable comeback. So look, they've been highly competitive in
• 9:21
  Speaker 5: the last few weeks. With everything that's been hovering over
• 9:25
  Speaker 5: the team. I think it's a real nod to the
• 9:28
  Speaker 5: coaching team and the spirit within Mina and who knows
• 9:33
  Speaker 5: what transpires, but I don't think you could have asked
• 9:36
  Speaker 5: anything more from that playing group. With the jupidy hanging
• 9:40
  Speaker 5: over contract futures, all the uncertainty, they could have easily
• 9:45
  Speaker 5: dropped their Bundle, but they've gone the other way.
• 9:47
  Speaker 2: They have and it was You're right, it was spirited.
• 9:50
  Speaker 2: It was everything you want out of a team under
• 9:54
  Speaker 2: all that sort of juris that can go on one
• 9:57
  Speaker 2: way or the other. It went the right way and
• 9:59
  Speaker 2: they close out the season with the win. For the Brumbigs,
• 10:02
  Speaker 2: though Liam looks they head into the playoffs this weekend
• 10:06
  Speaker 2: with a daunting task. They a pretty good record against
• 10:09
  Speaker 2: the Hurricanes, albeit most of those wins in Canberra, but
• 10:14
  Speaker 2: look hard to see them getting past the Hurricanes this weekend.
• 10:19
  Speaker 5: Yes, indeed, Elliott so I can remember and recall too
• 10:23
  Speaker 5: many near things in Canberra finals losses, something the Hurricanes
• 10:28
  Speaker 5: are well accustomed to, but surely not this time. Given
• 10:32
  Speaker 5: the Brumbies form and where the Hurricanes are at, they
• 10:35
  Speaker 5: had the luxury of resting what was it thirteen odd
• 10:39
  Speaker 5: players last week to come into the finals reasonably fresh,
• 10:43
  Speaker 5: getting cam Ruga back an Tirol Lomax as well. So
• 10:48
  Speaker 5: very daunting prospect I think for the Brumbies to try
• 10:50
  Speaker 5: and contain what's been the best attack in the comp
• 10:53
  Speaker 5: this year.
• 10:54
  Speaker 2: Indeed, Crusader's been in the Hurricanes forty seven to fourteen.
• 10:57
  Speaker 2: We didn't put a lunch on this did we liamb
• 10:59
  Speaker 2: which is unfortunate. But look, hard to know what to
• 11:02
  Speaker 2: read into this really, because as you mentioned then, the
• 11:06
  Speaker 2: Hurricanes rested a whole lot of players. Crusaders didn't have
• 11:09
  Speaker 2: least to find a knooku It took what twenty minutes
• 11:13
  Speaker 2: of the Crusaders to rill over the top of the
• 11:14
  Speaker 2: Hurricanes and from then on it was a bit of
• 11:17
  Speaker 2: a training run really for both teams. You know, the
• 11:19
  Speaker 2: Hurricanes hooked a lot of players at halftime. Lomax and
• 11:23
  Speaker 2: Roy guard very experimental for the second spell. Both teams
• 11:27
  Speaker 2: didn't want to seem to show too much. For great
• 11:30
  Speaker 2: periods of that second half as well, handling got very
• 11:33
  Speaker 2: very loose. But as as I touched on the top
• 11:36
  Speaker 2: of the soliloquy, hard to know what to read into
• 11:40
  Speaker 2: that eighty minutes of rugby for either team. Perhaps you
• 11:42
  Speaker 2: just don't read anything into it.
• 11:44
  Speaker 4: Yeah, it wouldn't take too much out of it.
• 11:45
  Speaker 5: Look, it was a largely meaningless game for the Hurricanes
• 11:50
  Speaker 5: at least that the Crusaders went into that fiction knowing
• 11:54
  Speaker 5: what they had to do to win, win well, and
• 11:56
  Speaker 5: then put the pressure on the Blues, who ultimately crumbled
• 11:59
  Speaker 5: so the Crusaders get their home advantage by usurping the
• 12:03
  Speaker 5: Blues and look there it was an impressive performance from
• 12:07
  Speaker 5: the Crusaders thoughts on paper the Hurricanes were a wee
• 12:11
  Speaker 5: bit exposed, perhaps in the loose forwards, certainly the midfield,
• 12:14
  Speaker 5: and that that proved true. I thought the Crusaders really
• 12:18
  Speaker 5: targeted the Hurricanes midfields, busted through their found space on
• 12:21
  Speaker 5: the outside. Seevy Reese had a bit of a field day.
• 12:24
  Speaker 5: David Hevilli was strong again in the first half. So look,
• 12:29
  Speaker 5: I think the Crusaders building some momentum and confidence. But yeah,
• 12:35
  Speaker 5: it was very much a Sea Hurricanes team, wasn't it.
• 12:39
  Speaker 5: And I think probably the biggest news out of that
• 12:41
  Speaker 5: game for me when you when you throw head to
• 12:43
  Speaker 5: this week and the context of the season and the
• 12:46
  Speaker 5: Crusaders losing Will Jordan being without Scott Barrett's an injury
• 12:50
  Speaker 5: to Fletcher Newle, and I think who's who's the replacement?
• 12:55
  Speaker 5: Tight headed came on from seb called it as well,
• 12:59
  Speaker 5: was under an injury cloud, so that potentially leaves them
• 13:03
  Speaker 5: a wee bit exposed at tight head prop Fletcher Newle
• 13:07
  Speaker 5: has been outstanding this year and with tyra O Lomax
• 13:11
  Speaker 5: missing the bulk of this year, only coming back now
• 13:15
  Speaker 5: features pushing hard for that starting position in the All Blacks,
• 13:19
  Speaker 5: and he'll be a big loss for the Crusaders as
• 13:21
  Speaker 5: they lot to put some real heats on the blue
• 13:24
  Speaker 5: scrum this week.
• 13:25
  Speaker 2: Yeah, big loss assuming he doesn't play. I don't know what.
• 13:29
  Speaker 2: Also with the way the format is as well, I
• 13:30
  Speaker 2: don't think you want to risk him even if he
• 13:33
  Speaker 2: had pulled up. Okay, but he won't play. I wouldn't
• 13:35
  Speaker 2: have thought this weekend and get him ready for what
• 13:38
  Speaker 2: looms is maybe a matchup against the Chiefs that all
• 13:41
  Speaker 2: goes to plan next week. Rivers Rayhanna as well, going
• 13:45
  Speaker 2: off early with an h i A Taha Cameta I
• 13:48
  Speaker 2: thought was impressive and the way that he plays. So
• 13:53
  Speaker 2: where the Rivers Rayhanna plays this week, I guess the
• 13:55
  Speaker 2: question mark over him as well around the gach i
• 13:58
  Speaker 2: a protocols. But Taha Kimta. You know, there's been a
• 14:01
  Speaker 2: few question marks over him and the way he's playing.
• 14:04
  Speaker 2: But he slatted and I thought pretty well in that
• 14:07
  Speaker 2: game on the weekend he did.
• 14:09
  Speaker 5: Yeah, he look he for me, he is a bigger
• 14:12
  Speaker 5: upside than Rivers Rayhunter just in his his attacking mindset,
• 14:18
  Speaker 5: his ability, his passing game, his ability to challenge the line.
• 14:21
  Speaker 5: I thought he kicked really well off the tee as well.
• 14:24
  Speaker 5: Rivers Rayhunters to this point anyway, been a better controlling
• 14:29
  Speaker 5: influence at managing that game management putting the Crusaders at
• 14:33
  Speaker 5: the right end of the field, which probably suits their.
• 14:35
  Speaker 4: Style awee bit more.
• 14:36
  Speaker 5: But I think that match, with its open nature and
• 14:41
  Speaker 5: being under the roof of the conditions and everything, suited
• 14:44
  Speaker 5: Tahar's game and he did really step up. Just on
• 14:48
  Speaker 5: the on on the finals formats, you know, it is
• 14:50
  Speaker 5: very convoluted and people might not be across it. So
• 14:53
  Speaker 5: just touching on that, the Blues and Crusaders, well, well,
• 14:57
  Speaker 5: well there's a free life on the line, isn't there.
• 15:01
  Speaker 5: The highest ranked loser gets a second life. So if
• 15:04
  Speaker 5: we assume that the Hurricanes and Chiefs speak the Australian opposition,
• 15:08
  Speaker 5: which is highly likely based on this year, then the
• 15:13
  Speaker 5: loser of the Blues and Crusaders will get a second life.
• 15:16
  Speaker 5: So there's a scenario here, Elliott, where the Blues make
• 15:19
  Speaker 5: the semifinals having lost four straight games.
• 15:22
  Speaker 2: There is, yeah, and it's a messy. I really don't
• 15:25
  Speaker 2: like it. I know they've tweaked it a little bit
• 15:28
  Speaker 2: this year with the top seed or the higher seed
• 15:30
  Speaker 2: sliding to the bottom of whether that might be. But
• 15:34
  Speaker 2: there's a chance that the Blues, as you say, you know,
• 15:37
  Speaker 2: lose four straight, get into the semifinals. Then maybe they
• 15:40
  Speaker 2: got to you know, the Hurricanes next week, and who
• 15:42
  Speaker 2: knows what might happen. They might be a red card
• 15:45
  Speaker 2: or whatever it could have been. You know, maybe they're
• 15:47
  Speaker 2: sliding into the final. I'm not saying that will happen necessarily,
• 15:49
  Speaker 2: but it does open the door for those sort of possibilities.
• 15:52
  Speaker 2: And Super Rugby has talked for you know, a couple
• 15:55
  Speaker 2: of years now under Jack Measley about being fanned. First, well,
• 15:58
  Speaker 2: this is clearly broadcast. First, this is delivering them three
• 16:01
  Speaker 2: games this weekends rather than two, which they would have
• 16:05
  Speaker 2: in the other format, which would have been one D
• 16:07
  Speaker 2: two and so get a week off three v six,
• 16:09
  Speaker 2: four v five. Now, I would say that fan centric
• 16:13
  Speaker 2: is putting more games on the line, more deeper playoff
• 16:17
  Speaker 2: implications if it was three in terms of the Crusaders
• 16:20
  Speaker 2: hosting the Brumbies and then the Blues entertaining the reds.
• 16:25
  Speaker 2: To me, that is you know, knockout footing. You're starting
• 16:28
  Speaker 2: the knockout stages now. The Hurricanes and Chiefs have earned
• 16:31
  Speaker 2: enough to get a weekend off, then they get to
• 16:34
  Speaker 2: get into the semi finals after that. That to me,
• 16:36
  Speaker 2: is a more pure form of playoffs than the sort
• 16:39
  Speaker 2: of halfway house we have at the moment, which I
• 16:40
  Speaker 2: really do not like.
• 16:42
  Speaker 5: Yeah, absolutely, I think the integrity of your competition should
• 16:47
  Speaker 5: come before anything else. And yeah, revenues of struggle and
• 16:51
  Speaker 5: broadcasts pays the bills, but rewarding mediocrity significantly degrades the
• 17:02
  Speaker 5: integrity of your competition.
• 17:03
  Speaker 4: That's the bottom line.
• 17:04
  Speaker 5: And for a team like the Blues to potentially make
• 17:07
  Speaker 5: the finals semi finals on the back of four straight
• 17:10
  Speaker 5: losses is quite fastical. So, but that's highly likely at
• 17:17
  Speaker 5: this point to transpire. So also, I think the final
• 17:20
  Speaker 5: weekends of the regular season was about ho hum because
• 17:25
  Speaker 5: those top teams had the scenario of being able to
• 17:30
  Speaker 5: rest and go and looking ahead to the playoffs. So
• 17:33
  Speaker 5: maybe there's a way that super big Controne to avoid
• 17:36
  Speaker 5: that happening, because it really did take the wind out
• 17:38
  Speaker 5: of the final regular season weekend, didn't it.
• 17:40
  Speaker 2: Well, if they had a week off this week, they
• 17:42
  Speaker 2: probably would have played their best players and you would
• 17:44
  Speaker 2: have had a better regular season finish. You know, Crusaders
• 17:47
  Speaker 2: would have played a top shelf Hurricanes team, the Blues
• 17:50
  Speaker 2: would have played a top shelf Chiefs team. Who knows
• 17:54
  Speaker 2: if the results would have been flipped, don't know, but
• 17:57
  Speaker 2: you know they wouldn't have. I don't think most coaches
• 17:59
  Speaker 2: will want them to have two weeks off heading into
• 18:01
  Speaker 2: a semi final, so I think they would have played
• 18:03
  Speaker 2: most of their big guns. So I think it's sort
• 18:06
  Speaker 2: of hamstrung that final around a little bit. Let's take
• 18:09
  Speaker 2: a quick break here on Rugby Direct, back with the
• 18:11
  Speaker 2: Final four and our MVP voting. Right after this, you're
• 18:17
  Speaker 2: back with Rugby Director in the final four to four
• 18:20
  Speaker 2: Rugby topics number one. Liam Thinney on the North for situation.
• 18:26
  Speaker 2: It's now caught fire over in the UK. Some reports
• 18:31
  Speaker 2: over the last a few days that he will be
• 18:35
  Speaker 2: staying in New Zealand. I know for mccauaue Andy Rowe
• 18:39
  Speaker 2: spoke about this the other day. His sources are saying
• 18:41
  Speaker 2: that it's him staying. I've seen terminology around blocked, and
• 18:45
  Speaker 2: I don't think that's the right word, the right terminology.
• 18:48
  Speaker 2: I don't think he's on the Rugby have one iota
• 18:51
  Speaker 2: of us say about blocking this deal. But the more
• 18:55
  Speaker 2: we're hearing about it, and look, we've been talking about
• 18:57
  Speaker 2: this for a few weeks now on Rugby Director that
• 18:59
  Speaker 2: it was a possibility and we've had people on talking
• 19:02
  Speaker 2: about it, Steve Lancaster and Bruce Sharrick, who isn't for
• 19:05
  Speaker 2: his agent, by the way, but as part of that stable.
• 19:08
  Speaker 2: All signs point to him staying with the All Blacks,
• 19:10
  Speaker 2: So sorry, staying with New Zealand Rugby, don't they.
• 19:14
  Speaker 5: They do, yes, But I think a good friend Andy
• 19:17
  Speaker 5: might have jumped the gun slightly. And you're right that
• 19:21
  Speaker 5: Young Rugby can't block the deal, and there's a lot
• 19:25
  Speaker 5: in the mixed around world rugby regulations and not being
• 19:28
  Speaker 5: seen to incite players to stay. But as Bruce Shark
• 19:33
  Speaker 5: pointed out, if it is going to happen, Young Rugby
• 19:35
  Speaker 5: probably does need to have a conversation with Newcastle and
• 19:37
  Speaker 5: come to some form of agreement. But I saw that
• 19:40
  Speaker 5: Newcastle coaches come out saying they still expect for him
• 19:45
  Speaker 5: to be there. I've been in touch with people closer
• 19:48
  Speaker 5: for he who say nothing has changed at this point,
• 19:51
  Speaker 5: that they're still waiting on some form of dialogue and
• 19:54
  Speaker 5: movement from New Zealand Rugby. So I don't think it's
• 19:57
  Speaker 5: quite progressed to the point that some people expect. But look,
• 20:01
  Speaker 5: I think everyone is hoping that for him will stay.
• 20:05
  Speaker 5: I think his preference now is certainly to stay, but
• 20:10
  Speaker 5: he signed a contract and not easy to get out of.
• 20:13
  Speaker 5: There is historical comparisons in the form of wassuking the
• 20:18
  Speaker 5: Hoolo and get him getting out of his Clemont deal
• 20:21
  Speaker 5: in twenty fifteen. But look, at this point I would
• 20:26
  Speaker 5: be I wouldn't be surprised if Dave Rennie picks for
• 20:29
  Speaker 5: in his July squad put it that way.
• 20:31
  Speaker 2: Interesting. Okay, topic number so well, we talked about Bruce
• 20:34
  Speaker 2: Shyaryck there. That interview went up over the weekend or
• 20:37
  Speaker 2: on Friday. Look, plenty of dialogue around it and some
• 20:42
  Speaker 2: of the views he's got around New Zealand Rugby. What
• 20:44
  Speaker 2: will your takeaways from there to interview with Bruce Shyarrick.
• 20:48
  Speaker 5: Yeah, I think, first and foremost is great to have
• 20:50
  Speaker 5: a player agent on and someone as forthright and experienced
• 20:53
  Speaker 5: across both codes as Bruce, and I think that sort
• 20:58
  Speaker 5: of discussion, honest discussion is very healthy for the game
• 21:02
  Speaker 5: to challenge, to put forward ideas to show that there
• 21:08
  Speaker 5: probably needs to be movement and change within the New
• 21:11
  Speaker 5: Zealand game. So I thought he made some very salient points.
• 21:15
  Speaker 5: Not everyone will agree with it, but I think there
• 21:18
  Speaker 5: does need need to be some change and the way
• 21:21
  Speaker 5: rugby's governs and the way Super Rugby's run. And I
• 21:25
  Speaker 5: thought he made some good points about contracting as well.
• 21:27
  Speaker 2: Yeah, I thought it was good. I like the advantage idea.
• 21:30
  Speaker 2: I thought that was pretty good. I think the time
• 21:33
  Speaker 2: has come, you know. He mentioned at the top, we've
• 21:36
  Speaker 2: all got family friends, whatever they might be, that no
• 21:39
  Speaker 2: longer watch as much rugby as they used to. Maybe
• 21:43
  Speaker 2: they don't watch any rugby anymore than what I have
• 21:45
  Speaker 2: being died in the will rugby fans. The sport is
• 21:49
  Speaker 2: not capturing the public imagination as it once did. I
• 21:53
  Speaker 2: think there's a number of factors there. I think the
• 21:55
  Speaker 2: law changes and another things driven out of the North
• 21:59
  Speaker 2: of hamstrung the game down here. I mean, the game
• 22:02
  Speaker 2: is completely different. If you watch a game from twenty
• 22:04
  Speaker 2: fifteen World Cup to now, it looks completely different. And
• 22:08
  Speaker 2: I think that twenty fifteen style of rugby was more
• 22:10
  Speaker 2: in tune with New Zealand fans. It's coincided with you know,
• 22:14
  Speaker 2: the rise and resurgence of the Warriors as well. Not
• 22:17
  Speaker 2: saying it's solely down to it, but I think it's
• 22:20
  Speaker 2: time just for the keep powerbrokers be they you know,
• 22:24
  Speaker 2: rugby officials, rugby agents, top players, players association, the media, broadcast,
• 22:29
  Speaker 2: whatever might be, have a summit, do something. You know,
• 22:32
  Speaker 2: let's get some ideas around the table and you know,
• 22:36
  Speaker 2: see where we can get to with this game. Because
• 22:38
  Speaker 2: I think there's some good ideas around the place. It
• 22:42
  Speaker 2: just needs to be turbo charged and put it in
• 22:44
  Speaker 2: the right hand. So yeah, I think it was a
• 22:47
  Speaker 2: refreshing chat with him, and I know our friends the
• 22:51
  Speaker 2: Legion of Marty Banks Alex pops up on their page
• 22:54
  Speaker 2: as well. But if you haven't listened to it, well
• 22:56
  Speaker 2: worth listen Bruce share it with us. Last week on
• 22:59
  Speaker 2: Rugby to Rex topic number three, we talked about Mwana
• 23:02
  Speaker 2: pacificate earlier when St Peter's coming to the party. Potentially
• 23:07
  Speaker 2: the governments of some More and Tong are having a
• 23:09
  Speaker 2: look as well, so there might be some New Zealand
• 23:11
  Speaker 2: government money going in to keep him alive. What do
• 23:15
  Speaker 2: you make of this whole thing. Where are we at
• 23:16
  Speaker 2: with more on the Pacific and any lifelines?
• 23:19
  Speaker 5: Liam, Look, there does seem to be a bit of
• 23:23
  Speaker 5: momentum building there, doesn't there. Elliotts Winston Peters loves political
• 23:28
  Speaker 5: points scoring and with the election on the horizon, maybe
• 23:32
  Speaker 5: he's chasing some votes in the political or arms sphere.
• 23:37
  Speaker 5: He's a very populous man and knows where he can
• 23:40
  Speaker 5: win some votes. But I think it's still very much
• 23:45
  Speaker 5: in the balance and there's a number of different factors there.
• 23:48
  Speaker 4: In a coalition government, you have a lot of different views.
• 23:51
  Speaker 5: Mark Mitchell is the Minister for Sports and he's on
• 23:56
  Speaker 5: record saying that the government New Zealand government will not
• 23:59
  Speaker 5: contribute any public money.
• 24:02
  Speaker 4: It's a very challenging climate, isn't it. He runs strapord cash.
• 24:06
  Speaker 5: The cost of living is rising, so it's very hard
• 24:09
  Speaker 5: to justify stumping up funds to funder a professional rugby team.
• 24:13
  Speaker 5: So look, if there is going to be some form
• 24:16
  Speaker 5: of bailouts, first and foremost, it needs to be sustainable
• 24:20
  Speaker 5: and long term.
• 24:21
  Speaker 4: It can't just be about one year.
• 24:22
  Speaker 5: And that money I think needs to come from Samoa
• 24:26
  Speaker 5: and Tonga, because that's the purpose of one in Pacifica
• 24:31
  Speaker 5: for players to go back and benefit those nations, to
• 24:34
  Speaker 5: strengthen the national team, to provide a pathway. So it
• 24:39
  Speaker 5: is incredibly important both from a sporting and cultural sense
• 24:43
  Speaker 5: to those nations. So maybe once St Peters can lobby
• 24:46
  Speaker 5: those governments to stump up some cash, I think that's
• 24:49
  Speaker 5: where it needs to come from. And also just in
• 24:51
  Speaker 5: a New Zealand context, one actually owes something like two
• 24:55
  Speaker 5: point seven million dollars from their inception from a loan
• 25:00
  Speaker 5: to the New Zealand government, So I don't know how
• 25:02
  Speaker 5: in that context the New Zealand government could further deep
• 25:06
  Speaker 5: and dig deep into its pockets and contribute further cash.
• 25:10
  Speaker 5: So look, I know there's a number of parties working
• 25:12
  Speaker 5: behind the scenes. Michael Jones is involved when Peter's has
• 25:17
  Speaker 5: been up in the Islands and others, and everyone would
• 25:20
  Speaker 5: love to see Mowana saved. But there's also the scenario
• 25:24
  Speaker 5: that most of one is best players, given the uncertainty,
• 25:29
  Speaker 5: have signed elsewhere. Imong is joining the All Blacks. I'm
• 25:32
  Speaker 5: not sure what's happening with the rest of the coaching team,
• 25:35
  Speaker 5: so that there's also the question of what sort of
• 25:37
  Speaker 5: squad they would have next year. Given everything that's holvered
• 25:40
  Speaker 5: over them and the need for those players to put
• 25:43
  Speaker 5: themselves first and look after their livelihoods.
• 25:45
  Speaker 2: Yeah, that's right. This needs to be done asap if
• 25:47
  Speaker 2: it's going to happen, because players have decisions to make.
• 25:50
  Speaker 2: They're currently being played till the end of July. Some
• 25:53
  Speaker 2: have no doubt signed elsewhere already. But it's gonna be
• 25:56
  Speaker 2: a tough road if this team survives to put together
• 25:59
  Speaker 2: a roster for next year, and a competitive one at that.
• 26:05
  Speaker 2: But I guess the door is open for potentially Artie
• 26:07
  Speaker 2: Savia to be back there, depending on the terms of
• 26:09
  Speaker 2: his contracts next year, if that you know is still
• 26:12
  Speaker 2: valid and that's you know, the new entity of Minor
• 26:15
  Speaker 2: Pacific or if there is one still holds the the
• 26:18
  Speaker 2: Rdisavia contract and topic number four and Rugby direct the
• 26:22
  Speaker 2: final four You tease some news with me Liam offline
• 26:27
  Speaker 2: around the Blues and a coaching appointment. What have you
• 26:30
  Speaker 2: got for me?
• 26:32
  Speaker 4: It's a right, Elliott.
• 26:33
  Speaker 5: We like to give our listeners some news, don't we
• 26:35
  Speaker 5: and the bands getting back together? Two former All Blacks
• 26:39
  Speaker 5: assistant coaches are joining forces at the Blues next year.
• 26:43
  Speaker 5: Jason Holland has lured somebody Allison to join him as
• 26:48
  Speaker 5: defense coach. So Craig McGrath is going to be leaving
• 26:52
  Speaker 5: the Blues to join Vern Cotta at.
• 26:54
  Speaker 4: The Queens and Reds.
• 26:56
  Speaker 5: And somebody Allison who since leaving the All Blacks has
• 26:59
  Speaker 5: been appointed Mauldi All Blacks head coach. He will join
• 27:02
  Speaker 5: Jason Holland at the Blues, and I think the remainder
• 27:06
  Speaker 5: of the Blues coaching staff I expect them to stay on.
• 27:09
  Speaker 5: But I think that's a good get for the Blues.
• 27:12
  Speaker 5: Somebody else and was highly regarded certainly during his time
• 27:16
  Speaker 5: with Wellington and the Crusaders. Maybe elevated a bit too
• 27:20
  Speaker 5: quick from a defensive football perspective for the All Blacks,
• 27:24
  Speaker 5: but still a very good coach and New Zealand Rugby
• 27:27
  Speaker 5: saw that by giving him the multi All Blacks gig.
• 27:30
  Speaker 5: So I think that's a good appointment. And I think
• 27:33
  Speaker 5: it comes back to what was saying about the Blues.
• 27:34
  Speaker 5: I think they do really need a refresh. They've got
• 27:36
  Speaker 5: a whole bunch of players leaving, head coach and assistant
• 27:40
  Speaker 5: coach as well leaving.
• 27:42
  Speaker 4: So next year will very much mark the start of
• 27:45
  Speaker 4: a new era for them.
• 27:46
  Speaker 2: You know what's going to happen now as they'll come
• 27:47
  Speaker 2: out and win on the weekend.
• 27:48
  Speaker 5: You all the pressures off, isn't that no one, no
• 27:53
  Speaker 5: one expects them to front now.
• 27:54
  Speaker 2: No, No, that's a good signing for the Blues. I
• 27:56
  Speaker 2: think somebody else. I think you're right. Was probably elevated
• 27:59
  Speaker 2: too early. There had been that rumor going around that
• 28:02
  Speaker 2: he was basically in line to take on the Crusaders
• 28:07
  Speaker 2: from either this year or NET and then he got
• 28:09
  Speaker 2: elevated to the All Blacks and that plan, obviously, if
• 28:11
  Speaker 2: it was a plane got discarded. But a quality coach
• 28:14
  Speaker 2: and maybe just slipping back into some super rugby coaching
• 28:17
  Speaker 2: along with the MOLDI All Blacks might be the best
• 28:19
  Speaker 2: thing for his career reset. So that was the final four.
• 28:23
  Speaker 2: Let's get into MVP voting now. The man we talked
• 28:26
  Speaker 2: about earlier for he Finn the Young and Northfoo out
• 28:29
  Speaker 2: in front on sixteen. Although he's been away for two weeks,
• 28:31
  Speaker 2: hasn't been able to add to his tally. Cam Roygart
• 28:33
  Speaker 2: on ten, Lester Fangoku, Lucas Casey and Warner Durns All
• 28:38
  Speaker 2: on nine. Liam your three two ones.
• 28:40
  Speaker 5: Please sorry about the croaky voice. I'm sure what's happening here.
• 28:45
  Speaker 5: Rion Paul for three Elliots.
• 28:47
  Speaker 4: Not a big name, but.
• 28:49
  Speaker 5: Big time performance in Hamilton, so three points reward him
• 28:53
  Speaker 5: two to Christian Leo Weddy. I thought he's really stepped
• 28:57
  Speaker 5: up in recent weeks and been very consistent for the
• 28:59
  Speaker 5: Crusaders and one two Wallace a tt. I thought he
• 29:02
  Speaker 5: handled the captaincy and led from the front from for
• 29:05
  Speaker 5: the Chiefs.
• 29:06
  Speaker 2: You've broken your streak of giving Crusaders multiple points entries
• 29:10
  Speaker 2: into the m v P.
• 29:11
  Speaker 4: Verting I can't continue that that carry on.
• 29:13
  Speaker 2: Well, I've given Rion Paul my three as well. Excellent
• 29:17
  Speaker 2: Patrick PAALAGREENI gets Mowana to the victory. He was excellent
• 29:21
  Speaker 2: on the weekend he's slotted and he was excellent last
• 29:26
  Speaker 2: year for the the for Moana Pacifica and then has
• 29:29
  Speaker 2: sort of had a couple of injuries, been off the
• 29:31
  Speaker 2: bench a little bit for Moana this year. But I
• 29:34
  Speaker 2: thought he was a superb and it's gonna be interesting
• 29:36
  Speaker 2: to see where he goes next year if more Wana
• 29:39
  Speaker 2: don't come back. And sever Reese gets my one couple
• 29:42
  Speaker 2: of tries and there's one hundredth kick conversion as well.
• 29:45
  Speaker 2: It was the sev of old for me and that performance,
• 29:49
  Speaker 2: so he gets my one points. So Liam, that'll jell
• 29:52
  Speaker 2: us for Monday edition of rake B Direct. Thank you
• 29:54
  Speaker 2: as always and look forward to Actually it's Tuesday, King's
• 29:58
  Speaker 2: birthday of course yesterday, so we're already ahead of the
• 30:01
  Speaker 2: game and we're back on Thursday with another edition. Look
• 30:03
  Speaker 2: forward to that we.
• 30:04
  Speaker 5: Well indeed and some news on the on our fantas
• 30:08
  Speaker 5: see competition. I wanted to be crowned on Thursday.
• 30:11
  Speaker 2: Well here it's not you, So you've changed, you know.
• 30:16
  Speaker 2: I hope it's not an omen for the Hurricanes. But
• 30:18
  Speaker 2: so we'll see.
• 30:20
  Speaker 4: I'm taking so they don't so they don't have to.
• 30:22
  Speaker 4: I've done my favorite and cares.
• 30:23
  Speaker 2: That's what it is.
• 30:24
  Speaker 3: Right.
• 30:24
  Speaker 2: Well back Thursday here on Rugby to repowered by Habit
• 30:27
  Speaker 2: Help visio book today and stay in.
• 30:30
  Speaker 1: Again for more from news Talks ed B. Listen live
• 30:39
  Speaker 1: on air or online, and keep our shows with you
• 30:41
  Speaker 1: wherever you go with our podcast on iHeartRadio