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Transcript

Rugby Direct - Episode 154 · Rugby Direct

• 0:09
  Speaker 1: You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
• 0:12
  Speaker 1: this and our wide range of podcast now on iHeartRadio.
• 0:17
  Speaker 1: Get inside the game from every angle. It's Rugby Direct
• 0:21
  Speaker 1: with Elliot Smith, powered by News Talks EDB.
• 0:25
  Speaker 2: Welcome into Rugby Direct powered by Habit Health, tackling all
• 0:28
  Speaker 2: your aches and pains from sports and work back for
• 0:31
  Speaker 2: another week to discuss the latest in Super Rugby Round
• 0:34
  Speaker 2: five in the books, Liam, it was a cracking old weekend.
• 0:38
  Speaker 2: We'll get to that in a minute, but I can
• 0:40
  Speaker 2: see he as always and well, we've got actually two
• 0:42
  Speaker 2: episodes coming out this week. If you're listening to this
• 0:46
  Speaker 2: on Monday, Tuesday, five am is when it will be released.
• 0:49
  Speaker 2: We were lucky enough to have all Black Sea coach
• 0:51
  Speaker 2: Scott Robertson and New Zealand Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson
• 0:55
  Speaker 2: in Rugby Direct towers for any special extended chat and
• 0:58
  Speaker 2: that goes live well five am Tuesday. As I say so,
• 1:01
  Speaker 2: it might already be out of people aren't listening to
• 1:03
  Speaker 2: this until Tuesday.
• 1:04
  Speaker 3: That's right, Eliot Bump a week for Rugby Direct.
• 1:07
  Speaker 4: It was great to have both those guys in studio
• 1:10
  Speaker 4: and hit them with all the hot topics, so rapp
• 1:14
  Speaker 4: is around that and enjoy.
• 1:15
  Speaker 2: Yeah, we'll have a bit more discussion maybe about that
• 1:17
  Speaker 2: next week on the pod and any reaction to that.
• 1:20
  Speaker 2: But let's get into Round five of Super Rugby Pacific
• 1:24
  Speaker 2: and work our way backwards. Chiefs thirty two, Blues thirty
• 1:29
  Speaker 2: one on Saturday night and Hamilton. The Blues lose again
• 1:33
  Speaker 2: one in four to start their season now in their
• 1:36
  Speaker 2: title defense. The Chiefs pit them at the very end.
• 1:41
  Speaker 2: A compelling game in many ways. The Blues threw everything
• 1:43
  Speaker 2: at the Chiefs I felt, but just didn't have the
• 1:46
  Speaker 2: class in the end that the Chiefs did, all the
• 1:48
  Speaker 2: ability to dig themselves out of holes that maybe the
• 1:51
  Speaker 2: home side did. What did you make of the game?
• 1:53
  Speaker 4: It was a great contest, wasn't an Elliott game of
• 1:55
  Speaker 4: the rounds to highly competitive teams and a lot to unpack. Really, look,
• 2:01
  Speaker 4: the Blues are unlucky in the finish. They kicked that
• 2:04
  Speaker 4: sideline conversion Xavier Taale, who I thought had a really soliday,
• 2:08
  Speaker 4: massive task for a young bloke to kick a match
• 2:13
  Speaker 4: winning sideline conversion and it did everything but curled in
• 2:17
  Speaker 4: hit the post and the Chiefs hold on.
• 2:20
  Speaker 3: At the death and in the end.
• 2:23
  Speaker 4: Their decision to kick the points rather than go for
• 2:26
  Speaker 4: the try and have a six point lead work for them,
• 2:30
  Speaker 4: but it almost didn't in terms of the match. The
• 2:34
  Speaker 4: Blues were always chasing that game. I thought Stephen Peterfetter
• 2:39
  Speaker 4: has to start at number ten for the Blues. He
• 2:41
  Speaker 4: came on massive impact, not all Diamonds. Had a couple
• 2:45
  Speaker 4: of moments where he mistouched and they like, but just
• 2:50
  Speaker 4: his ability to find space and the vision some really
• 2:54
  Speaker 4: classy touches, so he has to start for them. The
• 2:57
  Speaker 4: big issue for me for the Blues is their dominance
• 3:02
  Speaker 4: of their forward pack is not there. From last year,
• 3:05
  Speaker 4: they were blown off the ball a couple of times
• 3:07
  Speaker 4: and counterap situations that are conceding penalties at the scrum,
• 3:11
  Speaker 4: and that one of those counter rucks led directly to
• 3:16
  Speaker 4: non Xavier row Cortisratima has tried that the Chiefs breakout,
• 3:20
  Speaker 4: so those are really crucial moments and that dominance the
• 3:23
  Speaker 4: Blues head up the middle of the park and the
• 3:25
  Speaker 4: set piece in the collisions is not there and that's
• 3:29
  Speaker 4: where the Chiefs have made the big shift and targeting
• 3:32
  Speaker 4: them there as well. So I thought the Chief's got
• 3:35
  Speaker 4: some real pay off the bench with Simmasoni, Takyaju, Cortizratima
• 3:42
  Speaker 4: and others coming on having a big impression. The Blues
• 3:46
  Speaker 4: chased the game late, couldn't quite get there. But what
• 3:49
  Speaker 4: it also says is the Blues are last, their worst
• 3:52
  Speaker 4: start to a season since twenty nineteen, and the Blues
• 3:54
  Speaker 4: are first. So you know, that's a reflection of the
• 3:58
  Speaker 4: Shar's competition as well.
• 3:59
  Speaker 2: It is tight and one point separates the top team
• 4:02
  Speaker 2: in the bottom team or one of the bottom teams.
• 4:04
  Speaker 2: Now in the competition, it felt, as you said, the
• 4:07
  Speaker 2: Blues roy is chasing the game and they didn't perhaps
• 4:09
  Speaker 2: have the quality of the Chiefs. It was scrappy at
• 4:13
  Speaker 2: times for them. A lot of their tries were scrappy,
• 4:16
  Speaker 2: but they kept in the contest. And you know, there
• 4:20
  Speaker 2: was a lot of comments last game that they'll be
• 4:21
  Speaker 2: proud of the effort. Well they won't. Well maybe proud
• 4:23
  Speaker 2: of the effort, but they still have lost the game.
• 4:25
  Speaker 2: There were some bright spots though, as you mentioned, Zaba
• 4:30
  Speaker 2: Tally was was very very good, I thought, and Pera Fetter,
• 4:33
  Speaker 2: it's easy to zero in on the last couple of
• 4:35
  Speaker 2: moments of the game, but Para Feedtera mistouched from that
• 4:37
  Speaker 2: penalty right at the end as the Chiefs were slowing
• 4:39
  Speaker 2: it down, they got the penalty mistouched. That was a
• 4:42
  Speaker 2: big mistake. The ball gets booted back to them, they're
• 4:44
  Speaker 2: on the counter and Finlay Christie decides to kick ahead,
• 4:47
  Speaker 2: which was probably not the option I wouldn't have thought,
• 4:52
  Speaker 2: especially when then bade ground upfields. You know, you could
• 4:54
  Speaker 2: still work your way up, try and get a penalty,
• 4:56
  Speaker 2: get in position for a drop golf something like that.
• 4:58
  Speaker 2: It was a fairly poor option I thought, from you know,
• 5:03
  Speaker 2: an experienced all Black. So there are issues there. It's
• 5:06
  Speaker 2: easier to zero in the last two or three minutes
• 5:08
  Speaker 2: of the game and go. That's why the Blues lost it.
• 5:09
  Speaker 2: It wasn't the reason they lost it, but it certainly
• 5:11
  Speaker 2: didn't help.
• 5:12
  Speaker 3: No, it didn't.
• 5:13
  Speaker 4: And I come back to that the forward platform, and
• 5:16
  Speaker 4: it's not that it's not there, but it's it's vastly
• 5:18
  Speaker 4: different to it was last year. How many rolling wall
• 5:21
  Speaker 4: cracks do they have at the chief Chief's line and
• 5:23
  Speaker 4: they were repelled time and time again. Ricky Ricottelli was
• 5:26
  Speaker 4: scoring it at will last year from the Blues rolling
• 5:30
  Speaker 4: mall and teams now know what's coming with the Blues
• 5:33
  Speaker 4: and training it and start taking them head on. And
• 5:39
  Speaker 4: it's not that the Blues don't know where to go,
• 5:41
  Speaker 4: but it does feel like they're sort of caught between
• 5:43
  Speaker 4: two worlds.
• 5:44
  Speaker 2: I mean, they scored thirty one points, but have they
• 5:46
  Speaker 2: become a little bit predictable the Blues?
• 5:49
  Speaker 4: Yeah, I don't know if they're predictable, but it's just
• 5:52
  Speaker 4: last year they certainly caught the competition on the hop.
• 5:56
  Speaker 4: We hadn't seen that direct, simplistic style of rugby very
• 6:01
  Speaker 4: much out of the French top fourteen. Verncotta brought that
• 6:04
  Speaker 4: in no nonsense, up the guts, uncompromised and everyone knew
• 6:10
  Speaker 4: it was coming this year and there is a bit
• 6:11
  Speaker 4: more variety to the Blues game, but everyone's prepared for
• 6:15
  Speaker 4: it and they're countering it much better.
• 6:18
  Speaker 2: They're missing Boat and Barrett. I think that's fairly obvious
• 6:22
  Speaker 2: in terms of what he was adding at that point
• 6:24
  Speaker 2: to the season. Parafeedt would you start him at ten
• 6:27
  Speaker 2: this week against the Crusaders.
• 6:29
  Speaker 4: Yeah, it's a no brainer for me, And you mentioned
• 6:32
  Speaker 4: the mistouch, but there were two. He set up Riquewhanney
• 6:37
  Speaker 4: for the try that I think put the Blues ahead,
• 6:41
  Speaker 4: and there was another kick wide which exploited space.
• 6:44
  Speaker 3: A couple of long balls.
• 6:46
  Speaker 4: He just from a pure attacking potential vision he brings
• 6:52
  Speaker 4: so much more than Harry Plumber and Harry I think,
• 6:57
  Speaker 4: probably by his own admission, maybe struggling for confidence compared
• 7:00
  Speaker 4: to last year, that platform is not quite the same.
• 7:04
  Speaker 4: The Blues are making changes in their midfield. Clearly lot
• 7:07
  Speaker 4: happened there and they did have some outs just before
• 7:10
  Speaker 4: kickoff as well, Caleb Clark.
• 7:11
  Speaker 2: And offa FARSI went now at Cameron saw four was
• 7:14
  Speaker 2: out as well. So three relatively high profile players, certainly
• 7:17
  Speaker 2: two all blacks and then sofol has been in good
• 7:19
  Speaker 2: touch this season, so those are blows. But it felt
• 7:23
  Speaker 2: like last year maybe the Blues are just keep calm
• 7:25
  Speaker 2: and carry on. This year it feels like that they're
• 7:27
  Speaker 2: not quite there.
• 7:28
  Speaker 4: Yeah, and it doesn't get any easier. You've got the
• 7:30
  Speaker 4: Crusaders I think they're buying, and the Hurricanes, so there's
• 7:33
  Speaker 4: going to be some real hard conversations. Vinctda is a
• 7:36
  Speaker 4: tough man and he will becoming full noise at the
• 7:40
  Speaker 4: Blues that they didn't improve. But yeah, they're not the
• 7:44
  Speaker 4: team they were last year, and the Chiefs look that
• 7:47
  Speaker 4: they're fallible as well. I don't think they'd be overly,
• 7:52
  Speaker 4: you know, stoked with that performance. They could have very
• 7:55
  Speaker 4: nearly blew it at home. But look, there's a lot
• 8:00
  Speaker 4: to like them about them as well. They have threats
• 8:01
  Speaker 4: all over the park. Shawn Stevenson, dmat combination to Purvie
• 8:06
  Speaker 4: playing really well up front, got SAMMERSONI back to starting.
• 8:11
  Speaker 4: You know, some wereal weaponry right across their team.
• 8:14
  Speaker 2: Yeah, there certainly is that. I mean, as you say,
• 8:17
  Speaker 2: that wasn't a performance that dominated the Blues, but it
• 8:21
  Speaker 2: was good enough to win even though they probably didn't
• 8:23
  Speaker 2: play to their full potential. Damien McKenzie back at ten
• 8:26
  Speaker 2: for the first time this season after missing that Drioler game.
• 8:30
  Speaker 2: He's popped up very very well at full back with
• 8:33
  Speaker 2: Josh Jacob at ten. But it's going to be interesting
• 8:34
  Speaker 2: to see where the Chiefs go to over the course
• 8:37
  Speaker 2: of the season and whether they decide McKenzie's they are
• 8:40
  Speaker 2: ten for the next for the rest of the season,
• 8:43
  Speaker 2: or whether they go back to Jacob at ten and
• 8:46
  Speaker 2: mackenzie fifteen. Nashaw and Stevenson also back as well.
• 8:49
  Speaker 3: Yeah, I think they stick with that combination.
• 8:51
  Speaker 4: There'll be a bit of rotation with the mandatory or blacks,
• 8:54
  Speaker 4: rests and potential injuries and the like. Butts, I think
• 8:58
  Speaker 4: d mac and Stevenson complement each other really well. I
• 9:01
  Speaker 4: really rate Josh Jacob, but I think they'll stick with
• 9:05
  Speaker 4: that combination.
• 9:06
  Speaker 2: Yeah. Indeed, let's go further back to had it afternoon
• 9:08
  Speaker 2: the Crusaders beating the Force fifty five thirty three tries
• 9:12
  Speaker 2: a plenty in christ Church under the sun, eighty eight
• 9:17
  Speaker 2: points in the end. It was free flowing defense wasn't
• 9:21
  Speaker 2: always the sharpest from either team, but it was entertaining
• 9:24
  Speaker 2: afternoon footy. And you know, the Force had been a
• 9:27
  Speaker 2: bogiey team for the Crusaders and years gone by. They
• 9:29
  Speaker 2: got pelted by them last year in Perth thirty seven
• 9:33
  Speaker 2: to fifteen, so there was a bit of a response
• 9:35
  Speaker 2: needed from the Crusaders. They got there in the end
• 9:38
  Speaker 2: and maca spring School's five tries Sevy Reese three. I'm
• 9:41
  Speaker 2: not sure really how much to dig into this game. Well,
• 9:44
  Speaker 2: what we learned from it, We probably didn't learn a
• 9:45
  Speaker 2: great deal, but it was good and other good win
• 9:48
  Speaker 2: banks by the Crusaders that probably this team would not
• 9:51
  Speaker 2: have done last year.
• 9:53
  Speaker 4: Yeah, that's it isn't that the momentum rolls on. I
• 9:55
  Speaker 4: guess for the Crusaders, I think they would be disappointed
• 10:00
  Speaker 4: that the Force were in the contest as long as
• 10:02
  Speaker 4: they were, and to concede that many points the Force rested,
• 10:05
  Speaker 4: you know, a bunch of their top players to among them,
• 10:11
  Speaker 4: what is the MVP of Super Rugby Fantasy? Yeah, and
• 10:15
  Speaker 4: what a what a return for macas springer. It's not
• 10:17
  Speaker 4: every day you get five tries and the fact him
• 10:20
  Speaker 4: and Reese got eight tries between them says a lot
• 10:22
  Speaker 4: about where the Crusaders are having success this year, where
• 10:25
  Speaker 4: they are attacking and those wide channels, so great advertisement
• 10:32
  Speaker 4: for Afternoon footy.
• 10:34
  Speaker 3: Five points for the Crusaders.
• 10:36
  Speaker 4: There are only one loss this year to the Chiefs,
• 10:38
  Speaker 4: so I think we'll learn a lot more come this
• 10:41
  Speaker 4: time next week about where they're at.
• 10:43
  Speaker 2: We certainly will would be great if he could goal kick.
• 10:47
  Speaker 2: That is a battle that is ongoing. I think he
• 10:49
  Speaker 2: missed all four in the first spell James O'Connor came on.
• 10:52
  Speaker 2: I'm not sure o konna missed any after he came
• 10:55
  Speaker 2: on and took over the goal kicking.
• 10:56
  Speaker 3: Who would you start those two?
• 10:59
  Speaker 2: Look? To be honest, I would still start taka, but
• 11:02
  Speaker 2: I wouldn't. I would take David Havilli or someone to
• 11:05
  Speaker 2: have the goal kicking. I think Kima is improving week
• 11:09
  Speaker 2: to week and we're seeing the difference from last year
• 11:11
  Speaker 2: where he lost his confidence he had to go back
• 11:13
  Speaker 2: and play club rugby and Waikato. Not the finished product
• 11:15
  Speaker 2: as yet, but you can see him growing and controlling
• 11:18
  Speaker 2: the back line week to week, and I think that's
• 11:20
  Speaker 2: the big difference from last year. I like James O'Connor
• 11:23
  Speaker 2: coming on in the last twenty twenty five minutes. I
• 11:25
  Speaker 2: think that's a good one to punch for where the
• 11:27
  Speaker 2: Crusaders are ratt in terms of their depth at ten
• 11:29
  Speaker 2: at the moment, so I'd probably leave it that way,
• 11:32
  Speaker 2: but I'd hand over the gulking duties to someone else.
• 11:35
  Speaker 3: Yeah, I agree.
• 11:35
  Speaker 4: I think you've got to retain faith in young players,
• 11:38
  Speaker 4: let them not lose and learn, but allow them to
• 11:41
  Speaker 4: opportunities to make mistakes, to grow, to not have that
• 11:45
  Speaker 4: selection jeopardy hanging over their head. And you're right that
• 11:47
  Speaker 4: bringing that experience hit and O'Connor on works for you.
• 11:52
  Speaker 4: But at this point the Crusaders certainly don't want a
• 11:56
  Speaker 4: title of Taha Kimrada at number ten.
• 11:59
  Speaker 3: I'm sorry to.
• 11:59
  Speaker 2: Say, Well, we'll find out in June, won't we. Let's
• 12:03
  Speaker 2: go to Friday Night and the Highlanders Hurricanes. Now, I
• 12:07
  Speaker 2: didn't see much of the first half of any of
• 12:09
  Speaker 2: the first half of this because there were a few
• 12:11
  Speaker 2: issues with Skysport now watching it, and I was listening
• 12:14
  Speaker 2: to the descriptions from Paul Allison on gold Sport and iHeartRadio,
• 12:18
  Speaker 2: which were great. But learning or trying to pick out
• 12:22
  Speaker 2: the first forty minutes and then watching the second forty
• 12:24
  Speaker 2: minutes is a difficult balance. What did you make of it?
• 12:27
  Speaker 4: Lem, Yeah, well, first of all it was it did
• 12:30
  Speaker 4: set shaker from our mates at sky Look, I don't
• 12:34
  Speaker 4: know what happened behind the scenes, but yeah, I missed
• 12:38
  Speaker 4: the first half hour. I certainly wasn't alone alone. There
• 12:40
  Speaker 4: was a lot of outrage online. In the age of streaming,
• 12:44
  Speaker 4: you've just got to be better than that, so it
• 12:47
  Speaker 4: was a big frustration. But look, this was I have
• 12:52
  Speaker 4: been back and watched the first half since the first
• 12:54
  Speaker 4: half wasn't of great quality at all, a lot of mistakes,
• 12:57
  Speaker 4: a lot of turnovers. But it did come to life
• 13:00
  Speaker 4: in the second half. Great contest and very easily could
• 13:05
  Speaker 4: have gone either way. A lot of passion from the
• 13:09
  Speaker 4: Hurricanes on the bench in those closing stages closing it out,
• 13:12
  Speaker 4: and you could see how much that one meant to
• 13:15
  Speaker 4: them having struggled through much of the season, and props
• 13:19
  Speaker 4: to the Highlanders that they're still missing a bunch of players.
• 13:23
  Speaker 4: And the way what I like about the Henders this
• 13:26
  Speaker 4: year is they've got they seem to have a lot
• 13:28
  Speaker 4: more threats. They create something out of nothing. Caleb Tonguey
• 13:32
  Speaker 4: Towel has been a massive recruit for them with his.
• 13:35
  Speaker 3: Speed out and out speed.
• 13:37
  Speaker 4: It's not something very like widely prevalent in New Zealand rugby,
• 13:42
  Speaker 4: so that's a real point of difference. His chip and
• 13:45
  Speaker 4: chased that set up to try to take the leave
• 13:48
  Speaker 4: for the Holanders all very nearly won them the match.
• 13:52
  Speaker 4: Some big performances in this game toops care for, I
• 13:56
  Speaker 4: want to touch on him. I think it was Jamie
• 13:59
  Speaker 4: Macintosh on of Jason Pine. At the weekend his mouthguard
• 14:03
  Speaker 4: measured one hundred contact measurements in a game, which is
• 14:06
  Speaker 4: unheard of and that speed to his work great and
• 14:10
  Speaker 4: for me is becoming in the arty mold where he
• 14:17
  Speaker 4: really stands up when his team needs him on the line,
• 14:20
  Speaker 4: he's getting that crucial turnover that saves a try.
• 14:24
  Speaker 3: He wears his heart on his sleeve. He's matured.
• 14:26
  Speaker 4: He used to be a guy that would be very
• 14:29
  Speaker 4: penalty prone and almost do more harm than goods. But
• 14:33
  Speaker 4: he seems to have matured in his decision making the
• 14:37
  Speaker 4: captaincy I think has brought out the best in him.
• 14:40
  Speaker 4: He's not the biggest guy, but he's usually physical and
• 14:44
  Speaker 4: right now interested in your view, he's my all black
• 14:49
  Speaker 4: starting open side.
• 14:51
  Speaker 2: I tend to agree the one caveator would have is
• 14:53
  Speaker 2: that he can be a penalty magnet. I'm not entirely
• 14:57
  Speaker 2: sure that that's entirely gone from his game. It was
• 14:59
  Speaker 2: interesting hearing his comments on Sky after the weekend where
• 15:04
  Speaker 2: I think we sort of directly reference that and knowing
• 15:08
  Speaker 2: when the right time is to strike, knowing you've got
• 15:10
  Speaker 2: your body in the right position, you're over the ball,
• 15:13
  Speaker 2: you're showing the referee the right pictures, rather than going
• 15:15
  Speaker 2: hell for leather and trying to do it at every
• 15:18
  Speaker 2: ruck and conceding penalties. He seems to have matured in
• 15:21
  Speaker 2: that regard. I would still have a couple of worries
• 15:23
  Speaker 2: around that, but ultimately the kind of film that he's
• 15:26
  Speaker 2: in and the kind of doggedness that he brings to
• 15:30
  Speaker 2: a team, I think you've got to have him in
• 15:32
  Speaker 2: the All Blacks mix. And he's he was.
• 15:35
  Speaker 3: There last year but on more on the fringe of
• 15:37
  Speaker 3: the squad because of injuries.
• 15:39
  Speaker 2: Yeah, and he came in during COVID and twenty twenty
• 15:42
  Speaker 2: from memory, flew over to Australia when they were in
• 15:44
  Speaker 2: that bubble, didn't play and they obviously couldn't come home
• 15:49
  Speaker 2: because that couldn't played the NBC. But he's been around
• 15:52
  Speaker 2: that All Blacks environment before. I think the way that
• 15:55
  Speaker 2: he's playing this year, he's got to be right in
• 15:56
  Speaker 2: that conversation. So who would you have then in that mix?
• 16:00
  Speaker 2: Is your six seven eight at the moment?
• 16:02
  Speaker 4: Then link Well, look Wallace the tea. He's the big
• 16:05
  Speaker 4: unknown at this point, isn't he Where he's injured. We
• 16:07
  Speaker 4: don't know quite when he's returning. It's meant to be
• 16:10
  Speaker 4: back end of Super Rugby, maybe in the playoffs, so
• 16:12
  Speaker 4: you would think he would need some time to get
• 16:14
  Speaker 4: up to speed.
• 16:15
  Speaker 3: He was a World.
• 16:16
  Speaker 4: Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year last year, so let's
• 16:20
  Speaker 4: just say he's not fully fit and firing for July.
• 16:24
  Speaker 4: Then I think you look at Ardi at eight and
• 16:26
  Speaker 4: Duplessly at seven.
• 16:29
  Speaker 3: I like that blend. They know each other well.
• 16:33
  Speaker 4: But if Wallace's fits, then Wallace at eight for me
• 16:37
  Speaker 4: Ardie at seven and maybe Duplessly off the bench. Obviously
• 16:40
  Speaker 4: Sam Kayines move on. But what does this say about
• 16:43
  Speaker 4: Dalton Popoali he's fallen down the ranks, isn't he has?
• 16:48
  Speaker 2: He fell down the ranks last year then couldn't go
• 16:50
  Speaker 2: on the end of year tour through injury which cost
• 16:53
  Speaker 2: him probably at least two Test matches, if not more.
• 16:57
  Speaker 2: And to be honest, I don't think he's having a
• 16:58
  Speaker 2: great Super Rugby season. We mentioned the Blue struggles in
• 17:00
  Speaker 2: the forwards before. Now I'm not saying it's rest on
• 17:03
  Speaker 2: his shoulders, but I just don't think he's having a
• 17:05
  Speaker 2: great season as part of that wider Blues forward pack.
• 17:09
  Speaker 4: Yeah, and I think turnovers are so valuable in the
• 17:12
  Speaker 4: modern game, and it's about picking your moments and you know,
• 17:16
  Speaker 4: pilfering those and we're probably not seeing enough of that
• 17:20
  Speaker 4: from Dalton. You've got guys like Anton Signa getting crucial
• 17:24
  Speaker 4: turnovers for the Blues. I think Dalton got one at
• 17:26
  Speaker 4: the weekend and they went back for another penalty against
• 17:30
  Speaker 4: the Blues. But those sort of moments are so crucial,
• 17:34
  Speaker 4: and Dalton's a different player. He's bigger, probably a bit
• 17:38
  Speaker 4: of ball carrier that than Dop Carefy. It works hard defensively,
• 17:42
  Speaker 4: but yeah, he's got a got a bit of work
• 17:44
  Speaker 4: to do. And then you're looking at guys like Ethan
• 17:45
  Speaker 4: blackout of Luke Jacobson, so there's a lot of depth.
• 17:48
  Speaker 3: Peter Luckeye started.
• 17:52
  Speaker 4: Played what seventy eight minutes against France, so there's a
• 17:57
  Speaker 4: pathora of options there. But on form right now, Careef
• 18:02
  Speaker 4: is saying, Scott Robinson, you must have me in your squad.
• 18:04
  Speaker 2: You mentioned the size factor with Crief. He is a
• 18:07
  Speaker 2: smaller open so flank. Did you have any worries about
• 18:10
  Speaker 2: that because that does hurt the makeup of the loose
• 18:13
  Speaker 2: Ford trio.
• 18:15
  Speaker 4: I think you can. It's about the balance, isn't it.
• 18:19
  Speaker 4: I think the loose forwards and the midfield are about balance.
• 18:23
  Speaker 4: You need you need that size factor. That's that is important.
• 18:27
  Speaker 4: But if you have a big six or a big
• 18:29
  Speaker 4: eight and you've got ball carrying locks and props and Hookers.
• 18:33
  Speaker 4: You can get around there. I think I think he's
• 18:36
  Speaker 4: big enough to make an impact on the tests, on
• 18:38
  Speaker 4: the test scene.
• 18:39
  Speaker 2: Just as we wrap up that game, the Highlanders pips.
• 18:43
  Speaker 2: You know that couple opportunities Sam Gilbert MSUs a penalty
• 18:46
  Speaker 2: later on which was gettable, and the drop goal and
• 18:48
  Speaker 2: the drop goal which was further out and maybe not
• 18:50
  Speaker 2: the play at that point in time, they could have
• 18:54
  Speaker 2: won that game. They were right in it, and I
• 18:55
  Speaker 2: think the Hinders have to take a lot out of it.
• 18:57
  Speaker 3: Yeah.
• 18:57
  Speaker 4: Look, though, unlucky if you're highd has found you're screaming
• 19:00
  Speaker 4: for penalty for the glancing high shot at the end
• 19:04
  Speaker 4: that was missed. As a Hurricanes fan, I hadn't seen
• 19:08
  Speaker 4: thing there, so yeah, look, the Highlands are lucky they
• 19:12
  Speaker 4: had chances to win it. I did feel like the
• 19:14
  Speaker 4: Hurricanes were a bit of team dominated for large periods
• 19:18
  Speaker 4: and the Hondas, through Tonguey Tower or someone else, created
• 19:22
  Speaker 4: something out of nothing. I don't feel like they've built
• 19:24
  Speaker 4: as much pressure, but yeah, very evenly matched these kiwidoobies
• 19:30
  Speaker 4: that they can go either way. So it wouldn't be
• 19:33
  Speaker 4: downbeat if I was the Honders.
• 19:35
  Speaker 2: What did you make of the jerseys.
• 19:39
  Speaker 3: Look kind of sound like a boomer here, but.
• 19:42
  Speaker 2: I thought you're a big superhero guy.
• 19:43
  Speaker 4: Fast approaching for forty something from pretty much a boomer.
• 19:48
  Speaker 4: I don't like them, but you and I are probably
• 19:51
  Speaker 4: not the target.
• 19:52
  Speaker 2: Market kids around here.
• 19:54
  Speaker 4: Yeah, but for me, I love the classics. The throwbacks
• 19:58
  Speaker 4: are really really like those the Marvel elements. I get
• 20:04
  Speaker 4: it may appeal to kids, but yeah, I didn't like
• 20:07
  Speaker 4: the jerseys.
• 20:08
  Speaker 3: That my personal view.
• 20:09
  Speaker 2: But it was a hard watched, especially in that game
• 20:11
  Speaker 2: where and to be honest, the Chief where the Blues
• 20:14
  Speaker 2: are we in red, but when you had neither team
• 20:16
  Speaker 2: wearing their traditional colors just felt a little bit on
• 20:20
  Speaker 2: the nose. When it was the Hurricanes wearing red one
• 20:22
  Speaker 2: blue of Captain America which I'm not sure why we're
• 20:26
  Speaker 2: h and the Hinders were in green, it just felt
• 20:27
  Speaker 2: I mean, I love the Hinders and green, like their
• 20:29
  Speaker 2: old jerseys and green, but just didn't do it for me.
• 20:34
  Speaker 2: A couple of things from the weekend. Brumby's just not
• 20:37
  Speaker 2: necessarily going under the radar, but this is a good
• 20:39
  Speaker 2: win for them at home against the drawer after beating
• 20:41
  Speaker 2: the Blues previous week. The Reds and the Wartar is
• 20:44
  Speaker 2: unbeaten run We're starting to see the Australian conference become
• 20:48
  Speaker 2: very very even. What do you make of the Aussie
• 20:51
  Speaker 2: sides over the weekend?
• 20:53
  Speaker 4: Yeah, probably most impressed by the Reds. I think the Waratars, well,
• 20:58
  Speaker 4: they've been unbeaten to this point in the air and
• 21:01
  Speaker 4: that might be their first match away from home actually
• 21:03
  Speaker 4: the Watars, so probably learning a bit about where they're at.
• 21:06
  Speaker 4: But I think the Reds have a bit of about them,
• 21:08
  Speaker 4: certainly at some court. I love the way they play, enterprising, attacking,
• 21:14
  Speaker 4: number of threats Harry Wilson and Tate mcdonnalm. I think
• 21:17
  Speaker 4: they potentially lose Fraser mcwright to an injury, so big
• 21:21
  Speaker 4: blow for them there. And yeah, the Brumbi's always tough
• 21:24
  Speaker 4: to beat in Canberra. They head to grind that out,
• 21:27
  Speaker 4: but a big one for them. Who's the best Aussie team?
• 21:31
  Speaker 2: Well, I think the Reds have put their head above
• 21:32
  Speaker 2: the parapet over the course of the weekend. I still
• 21:35
  Speaker 2: think the Brumbies, on the basis of what they were
• 21:37
  Speaker 2: able to do Eden Park the previous week, the Australian
• 21:40
  Speaker 2: team to beat the Warritars have slipped down the rankings
• 21:43
  Speaker 2: over the course of the weekend and the Reds have
• 21:45
  Speaker 2: maybe just gone back up a little bit after that
• 21:47
  Speaker 2: lost the Crusader. I think they're all relatively even. Maybe
• 21:50
  Speaker 2: the Force tucked in in fourth at the moment after
• 21:52
  Speaker 2: a strong ish start to the season. They've just sort
• 21:54
  Speaker 2: of gone off and lost three in a row. Tough
• 21:57
  Speaker 2: look for my war Tars Blues final prediction though at
• 21:59
  Speaker 2: this point in the season.
• 22:01
  Speaker 4: Yes, yes, well you haven't been known for your great
• 22:05
  Speaker 4: predictions and over the years.
• 22:07
  Speaker 2: No, we'll get to that in the next segment. Also,
• 22:10
  Speaker 2: it appears that Lid's kiss if you look at the
• 22:14
  Speaker 2: reports over the Australian the course of the weekend now
• 22:16
  Speaker 2: in the box seat to become the Wallabies coach. Towns
• 22:19
  Speaker 2: like Dan mckellor didn't even get an interview from some
• 22:21
  Speaker 2: of the reporting I'm reading. Les Kiss firmly in the
• 22:23
  Speaker 2: box seat gave it the old straight back when he
• 22:26
  Speaker 2: was interviewed over the weekend. But I would say odds
• 22:28
  Speaker 2: on to replace Joe Schmitt later this year as Wallaby's coach.
• 22:31
  Speaker 4: Yeah, I think we talked about the start of this
• 22:34
  Speaker 4: year that the next Wallabies coach would come from Australia
• 22:38
  Speaker 4: and look Les Kiss has done a great job with
• 22:41
  Speaker 4: the Reds. They were very competitive last year when he
• 22:44
  Speaker 4: came in and took over from Brad Thorne. And I
• 22:47
  Speaker 4: think there's probably a lure with less about his relationship
• 22:51
  Speaker 4: with Joe Shmitt, the ability to potentially keep Joe on
• 22:55
  Speaker 4: and some sort of director of rugby technical whatever you
• 22:59
  Speaker 4: want to call it. But those two would work well
• 23:01
  Speaker 4: together and that would be a great combination for Australian rugby.
• 23:05
  Speaker 4: I would be surprised if Dan McKellen didn't at least
• 23:08
  Speaker 4: get an interview. I think you want to be bringing
• 23:11
  Speaker 4: him into the bosom and you know, keeping him there.
• 23:15
  Speaker 4: He's a various stute coach, did a great job with
• 23:18
  Speaker 4: the Brumbies as well. Didn't go so well up North,
• 23:21
  Speaker 4: but he wouldn't be the first coach to do that.
• 23:23
  Speaker 4: So look, I think lest because we'll do a good
• 23:26
  Speaker 4: job with the Wallabies and pick up where Joe Schmitt
• 23:29
  Speaker 4: leaves off.
• 23:30
  Speaker 2: We'll see if it gets confirmed in the next week
• 23:32
  Speaker 2: while across the Tares and will take a break here
• 23:35
  Speaker 2: and Rugby Direct come back with the second half of
• 23:37
  Speaker 2: Rugby Direct after this. Could I see our friends at
• 23:39
  Speaker 2: Habit Health.
• 23:40
  Speaker 1: This is Rugby Direct a podcast for real rugby fans.
• 23:48
  Speaker 1: Every try, every tackle, every big moment.
• 23:52
  Speaker 3: It's Rugby Direct.
• 23:53
  Speaker 1: How would by News.
• 23:54
  Speaker 2: Corsiby welcome back into Rugby Direct, paler By Habit Health.
• 23:57
  Speaker 2: Time for the final four to four rugby topics. Liam
• 23:59
  Speaker 2: and I debated them, and you the listener the judge
• 24:03
  Speaker 2: of who comes out on top the Six Nations topic
• 24:06
  Speaker 2: number one, finish it over the weekend? Are the French, Liam,
• 24:11
  Speaker 2: the best team in the world.
• 24:13
  Speaker 3: No, No, they're not. But the spring box.
• 24:19
  Speaker 4: I think they'll put together a hell of a portfolio
• 24:22
  Speaker 4: since the last World Cup, the previous World Cup, so
• 24:27
  Speaker 4: you've got to take the man to off them. But France,
• 24:31
  Speaker 4: it's not just winning the Six Nations, it's how they
• 24:33
  Speaker 4: did it that they lost it ticking them, but the
• 24:36
  Speaker 4: manner in which they've gone about their work going away
• 24:39
  Speaker 4: and really dismantling Ireland at home. There was a fantastic
• 24:43
  Speaker 4: performance and doing it emphatically at the weekend. The style
• 24:48
  Speaker 4: of rug where they're playing, the pace, the width, the
• 24:51
  Speaker 4: unstructuredness with what they're doing it, the way they're doing
• 24:54
  Speaker 4: it offloads, it's incredibly hard to count because they don't
• 24:59
  Speaker 4: even know what's coming next. And It is a tired
• 25:02
  Speaker 4: cliche about the French flamboyance, but I think it is
• 25:06
  Speaker 4: starting to come back into their game.
• 25:08
  Speaker 2: The flamboyants, but it's controlled flamboyants, I mean, apart from
• 25:11
  Speaker 2: the crossfield kick in the twenty two and the Island game.
• 25:14
  Speaker 2: But they're picking their moments and they're finding ways to
• 25:20
  Speaker 2: balance both things out. I mean, Louis bell Berri is
• 25:24
  Speaker 2: an incredible player. They did this win without DuPont. On
• 25:27
  Speaker 2: the weekend we saw a very good number nine and
• 25:30
  Speaker 2: makes him lookout at half back. But their depth is
• 25:34
  Speaker 2: quite quite something that they're building there in France, and
• 25:37
  Speaker 2: it didn't obviously come to pass at the home World Cup,
• 25:39
  Speaker 2: but they took a baby French side to the twenty
• 25:44
  Speaker 2: nineteen World Cup. We're now seeing the fruits of that
• 25:46
  Speaker 2: and they they just you know, the England game, it
• 25:51
  Speaker 2: took them aside. They look very very hard to break
• 25:54
  Speaker 2: down over the course of eighty minutes.
• 25:56
  Speaker 3: They can do it all, can't they. They can.
• 25:57
  Speaker 4: They've got power up fronts, they are strong at the
• 26:01
  Speaker 4: set piece, their kicking game is very proficient.
• 26:04
  Speaker 3: They've got pace out wide.
• 26:06
  Speaker 4: They can break you every I think Roman and Intermac
• 26:09
  Speaker 4: has been a massive in for them as well. He's
• 26:10
  Speaker 4: coming late after the best part of a year, maybe
• 26:15
  Speaker 4: more on the sideline. So yeah, that that depth that
• 26:18
  Speaker 4: you speak about, you know, and du Pond goes off
• 26:22
  Speaker 4: and they bring on another classy halfback. Just just on Intermac,
• 26:25
  Speaker 4: I'll read you something here from LAKEEP and this speaks
• 26:28
  Speaker 4: to the to the the podcast we've got with Raser
• 26:33
  Speaker 4: and Mark Robinson and how Raser is expecting planning for
• 26:37
  Speaker 4: the best French team to come down. So Roman Intermac
• 26:40
  Speaker 4: is basically he's not loan Gregory Uldra as well. These
• 26:44
  Speaker 4: guys are saying if they do play in the Top
• 26:46
  Speaker 4: fourteen final that they're going to seek an exemption to
• 26:49
  Speaker 4: be selected in the French team to come to New Zealand.
• 26:51
  Speaker 4: So this is Intermac telling LAKEEP. I don't really know
• 26:55
  Speaker 4: what is possible yet, whether finalists will be allowed to
• 26:58
  Speaker 4: go to New Zealand. Maybe an exemption will be made
• 27:01
  Speaker 4: depending on the tour. Because it's quite an exceptional opportunity
• 27:03
  Speaker 4: to play in New Zealand final.
• 27:05
  Speaker 3: No final.
• 27:06
  Speaker 4: If I have to go, it will be with pleasure.
• 27:09
  Speaker 4: A tour in New Zealand is a truly unique experience.
• 27:11
  Speaker 4: It's my dream to play there if I have the
• 27:13
  Speaker 4: chance to go, even if the club is in the final,
• 27:15
  Speaker 4: will obviously be with pleasure and Gregory aldrit saying something similar.
• 27:19
  Speaker 4: So these guys, these guys want to come, So it
• 27:23
  Speaker 4: might not be the Maybe some of these guys will
• 27:26
  Speaker 4: come out for the second or third Test. I don't
• 27:27
  Speaker 4: know how it will transpire, but clearly there is a
• 27:30
  Speaker 4: desire to come down here and play the All Blacks.
• 27:33
  Speaker 2: Well, what this is the last opportunity to have this
• 27:36
  Speaker 2: test series for the foreseeable future. Now, assuming the Nation's
• 27:39
  Speaker 2: Cup stays as it is and rolls out from twenty
• 27:44
  Speaker 2: twenty six, then there won't be these three tests inbound
• 27:47
  Speaker 2: tours anymore, so it will be lost. So this is
• 27:50
  Speaker 2: the last opportunity for these French players to get it
• 27:53
  Speaker 2: at least as current here because you know, we'll Raby
• 27:55
  Speaker 2: can change in ten years. They may flick and go
• 27:58
  Speaker 2: back to what it is so great that they're keen
• 28:01
  Speaker 2: on coming. The question I have is around those dates.
• 28:03
  Speaker 2: You know, the Rugby Championship starts a little bit later
• 28:06
  Speaker 2: this year because of the Lion Tour in Australia. Couldn't
• 28:11
  Speaker 2: I mean, I'm sure there's a reason why and probably
• 28:15
  Speaker 2: a very good reason. But couldn't you push back the
• 28:18
  Speaker 2: dates of the All Blacks France tests to align and
• 28:21
  Speaker 2: go deeper in the year. I get these players from
• 28:23
  Speaker 2: France have to have a break, But if you're clashing
• 28:25
  Speaker 2: with the top fourteen final, couldn't you go back by
• 28:28
  Speaker 2: a week or two and go, well, we want the
• 28:30
  Speaker 2: best players coming out to New Zealand. If that's going
• 28:32
  Speaker 2: to allow it to happen, we can push the series
• 28:34
  Speaker 2: back a little bit because you're going to have to
• 28:36
  Speaker 2: have a break at the other end of the series
• 28:38
  Speaker 2: while the Lion series goes on across the Tasman. Yeah.
• 28:43
  Speaker 4: I don't see why there couldn't be any flexibility there.
• 28:46
  Speaker 4: I guess there'd be some sort of stringent world Rugby
• 28:49
  Speaker 4: regulations around Regulation nine or player release, some sort of
• 28:55
  Speaker 4: caveat there.
• 28:56
  Speaker 2: But yeah, but if these players are taking an exemption,
• 28:59
  Speaker 2: I mean, maybe New Zealand and France should have come
• 29:01
  Speaker 2: to the table a bit earlier and gone, well, we'll
• 29:03
  Speaker 2: seek an exemption to the Regulation nine. You know, maybe
• 29:06
  Speaker 2: it's far too complicated with player release and very things
• 29:09
  Speaker 2: like that.
• 29:09
  Speaker 4: You want the best of the best as bottom lineers
• 29:11
  Speaker 4: and at least there is a desire from these players
• 29:13
  Speaker 4: to come out, so yeah, maybe we will see them
• 29:16
  Speaker 4: at the back end of that series.
• 29:18
  Speaker 2: And continue on with the Six Nations. Before we leave
• 29:20
  Speaker 2: that topic. England belted Wales and this is Wales. We
• 29:25
  Speaker 2: thought they couldn't maybe plumb new depths with a fan
• 29:27
  Speaker 2: a new way to manage to do so sixty eight
• 29:29
  Speaker 2: fourteen at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. None of that
• 29:34
  Speaker 2: was pretty from a Welsh perspective, and I thought they'd
• 29:38
  Speaker 2: already hit rock bottom, as I said, but they've managed
• 29:40
  Speaker 2: to find a new.
• 29:41
  Speaker 4: Rock bottom as dark times and particularly at home with
• 29:45
  Speaker 4: an expectant crowded and there was a lot of chat
• 29:47
  Speaker 4: in the build up to that game that Wales could
• 29:49
  Speaker 4: tip up England's you know, a bit of a banana
• 29:52
  Speaker 4: skin everything to play for Wales typically get up for
• 29:57
  Speaker 4: England's you know, just over the bridge. So yeah, interesting
• 30:03
  Speaker 4: to see where they go from a coaching perspective, but
• 30:05
  Speaker 4: there's some real deep set of issues and as is
• 30:08
  Speaker 4: anything else, it's about trying to rebuild the culture and
• 30:13
  Speaker 4: the confidence of those players, because I think I saw
• 30:15
  Speaker 4: their standing coach saying that it was a devastating defeat
• 30:18
  Speaker 4: for the players and it really is to cop that
• 30:21
  Speaker 4: scoreline at home.
• 30:21
  Speaker 2: Yeah, seeing some of the images postmatch, they looked absolutely
• 30:25
  Speaker 2: shell shocked. The other one I want to touch on
• 30:26
  Speaker 2: before we move on to topic two in the final
• 30:28
  Speaker 2: four is Ireland, who seem to have gone backwards a
• 30:32
  Speaker 2: little bit in the Six Nations. Now they're being coached
• 30:35
  Speaker 2: by an interim coach and Simon needs to be while
• 30:37
  Speaker 2: Andy Farrell prepares himself for the Lions. Is it as
• 30:40
  Speaker 2: simple as that or are there a few other issues
• 30:43
  Speaker 2: of the Island. I mean Ken Hareley, peterro o'mari Colin
• 30:46
  Speaker 2: and Murray all finishing their international career. Is that some
• 30:49
  Speaker 2: experience they're going to have to replace. Who are part
• 30:52
  Speaker 2: of this golden generation that Island's had. Is it a
• 30:56
  Speaker 2: blipp or is it maybe a few issues beginning to
• 30:58
  Speaker 2: emerge for the Irish.
• 31:01
  Speaker 4: It's a worry because Ireland have set the bar between
• 31:07
  Speaker 4: will that they've had an exceptional run going back to
• 31:11
  Speaker 4: Joe Schmidt, but haven't quite had that breakthrough success to
• 31:15
  Speaker 4: really hang their head on. From a global perspective, the
• 31:17
  Speaker 4: one six Six Nations are one Grand Slams and they
• 31:20
  Speaker 4: have had this golden generation as you mentioned, but now
• 31:23
  Speaker 4: clearly they need to regenerate from a player perspective and
• 31:27
  Speaker 4: probably from stylistically to evolve as well. This is not
• 31:31
  Speaker 4: an aberration. They lost at home to France. Obviously, the
• 31:36
  Speaker 4: All Blacks beat them there, which was their first loss
• 31:39
  Speaker 4: I think at home in nineteen ninety odd tests. So look,
• 31:43
  Speaker 4: it's not panic stations, but it is a worry when
• 31:47
  Speaker 4: Andy Farrell is absent and he will be keeping close tires.
• 31:51
  Speaker 4: But they'll be doing some pretty big soul searching after
• 31:55
  Speaker 4: that because they have raised the bar and that challenges
• 32:01
  Speaker 4: public expectation and now you need to consistently reach that.
• 32:05
  Speaker 4: So yeah, some real challenges in front eye and currently.
• 32:08
  Speaker 2: Yeah, I thought a little scrappy against Italians didn't rise
• 32:11
  Speaker 2: any great heights. Topic number two. Shan Stevens are making
• 32:15
  Speaker 2: some interesting comments last week back in New Zealand rugby,
• 32:17
  Speaker 2: albeit rather briefly before he goes back to Camboda later
• 32:21
  Speaker 2: on in this year around his All Blacks selection or
• 32:23
  Speaker 2: lack thereof, and talking about the lack of feedback that
• 32:25
  Speaker 2: he got from the All Blacks coaches and perhaps the
• 32:28
  Speaker 2: disappointment that he felt and that What did you make
• 32:31
  Speaker 2: of his comments and was he in the right.
• 32:33
  Speaker 4: Yeah, I think he is. Look that's his personal opinion
• 32:36
  Speaker 4: and he's fully entitled to it. I think you would
• 32:40
  Speaker 4: hope that there is open dialogue with anyone on the
• 32:43
  Speaker 4: fringe of the All Blacks, and that should be made
• 32:46
  Speaker 4: clear about why you're not being selected, what you have
• 32:48
  Speaker 4: to work on. And you think for the most part
• 32:51
  Speaker 4: they are reasonably good at doing that. But clearly Stevenson
• 32:54
  Speaker 4: felt miffed that he wasn't communicated with openly, clearly or consistently.
• 33:01
  Speaker 4: I think there's a reality there around the depth of
• 33:05
  Speaker 4: the All Blacks of New Zealand rugby's outside backs. And
• 33:08
  Speaker 4: he was in the All Blacks fifteen last year, so
• 33:12
  Speaker 4: clearly there's been some form of breakdown of communication. And look,
• 33:17
  Speaker 4: he will be a big loss. He's approaching one hundred
• 33:21
  Speaker 4: games for the Chiefs. He's been very loyal there. He's
• 33:23
  Speaker 4: played for the multi All Blacks, he's been on the fringe.
• 33:25
  Speaker 4: He played was It one.
• 33:26
  Speaker 2: Test, one Test and need in twenty three and he is.
• 33:29
  Speaker 4: A classy footballer, but he's not a complete player either.
• 33:33
  Speaker 4: He defensively there's been concerns and there's been comments about
• 33:39
  Speaker 4: his ability and contact as well. But yeah, it's up
• 33:44
  Speaker 4: to the All Blacks to communicate those and clearly he
• 33:46
  Speaker 4: felt that didn't happen.
• 33:47
  Speaker 2: Yeah, he's more than entitled to put those comments forward.
• 33:51
  Speaker 2: He's got a great highlight real Sean Stevenson. But it's
• 33:53
  Speaker 2: the full eighty minutes that you allude to there that
• 33:55
  Speaker 2: I think is the overall concern around him. Very good
• 33:59
  Speaker 2: player I probably didn't see. Yeah, probably deserved a few
• 34:04
  Speaker 2: more tests than he got, a bit more of a
• 34:05
  Speaker 2: look in that moment's probably now passed. I'm interesting to
• 34:08
  Speaker 2: see whether he makes himself available for some more come
• 34:12
  Speaker 2: twenty six, when he'll be e theory eligible again, assuming
• 34:14
  Speaker 2: he's not required before he goes back to Japan for
• 34:17
  Speaker 2: the All Blacks. Topic number three you talked about about
• 34:20
  Speaker 2: this last week and for the Herald Super Ragby expansion.
• 34:24
  Speaker 2: Where are we at with that and do you think
• 34:28
  Speaker 2: it's necessary in the next week while or should it happen?
• 34:32
  Speaker 4: Well, good friend Jason Pine had Jack massy On didn't
• 34:36
  Speaker 4: there a week or so ago, and he hinted that
• 34:41
  Speaker 4: next year will be an eleven team competition, and I
• 34:44
  Speaker 4: think that's the rut call. There's no need to rush.
• 34:47
  Speaker 4: We don't need another whipping team. Super Rugby's just finding
• 34:51
  Speaker 4: its feats. The real tweaks are working. Getting rid of
• 34:55
  Speaker 4: the rebels should have happened a long time ago, and
• 34:57
  Speaker 4: that's really improved the Australian competitiveness one A pacifica founder
• 35:02
  Speaker 4: home and they're improving. The Druur are captivating in terms
• 35:07
  Speaker 4: of their style of rugby, The Blues last, the chiefs
• 35:10
  Speaker 4: of First. This year's competition is really engaging. I think
• 35:14
  Speaker 4: you've got a product that can really take off. Don't
• 35:17
  Speaker 4: mess with it yet unless you have something that's going
• 35:19
  Speaker 4: to genuinely improve it. Where does the twelfth team come from?
• 35:23
  Speaker 2: I don't think there's any obvious place for it to
• 35:25
  Speaker 2: come from without jumping over time zones. You know, the
• 35:28
  Speaker 2: hawadis we talked a bit about returning potentially, but yeah,
• 35:31
  Speaker 2: that's what fifteen hours from New Zealand, if not longer,
• 35:36
  Speaker 2: and two three flights Japan. You know, there's been always
• 35:40
  Speaker 2: this talk about not necessarily that some woles returning, but
• 35:43
  Speaker 2: some form expansion in Japan. I think maybe over time
• 35:46
  Speaker 2: that becomes a more viable option. The time zones are
• 35:49
  Speaker 2: pretty good, but you know, Japan's League one is a
• 35:53
  Speaker 2: very very good competition on its own feet. So I
• 35:57
  Speaker 2: don't see an obvious port of call for there to
• 36:00
  Speaker 2: be expansion beyond you know, linking up with the team
• 36:04
  Speaker 2: and going this is the Super Rugby Australia New Zealand
• 36:07
  Speaker 2: Conference with eleven team. There's the rest of world which
• 36:10
  Speaker 2: has eleven teams in it, and you cross over for
• 36:12
  Speaker 2: a super Bowl something at the.
• 36:13
  Speaker 4: End that Club World Cup, right, and so that does
• 36:16
  Speaker 4: satisfy that that crossover elements. And I think there would
• 36:19
  Speaker 4: be some real interest in the best club team in
• 36:22
  Speaker 4: the world, you know, Linkster or Larachelle going up against
• 36:27
  Speaker 4: the Hurricanes.
• 36:28
  Speaker 2: But that a yeah, sure, the current form, it could
• 36:33
  Speaker 2: be a very long night for the Hurricanes. Yeah, Like,
• 36:36
  Speaker 2: I think there's definitely interesting. I think they've got to
• 36:39
  Speaker 2: be very careful and I think under the leadership of
• 36:42
  Speaker 2: these changes they will be careful. You'd hate to see
• 36:47
  Speaker 2: them just throw it all away from what they've got
• 36:48
  Speaker 2: the season to go welcome in Hawaii, bought Los Angeles
• 36:53
  Speaker 2: or whatever.
• 36:53
  Speaker 4: We'll just learn from history, right, Yeah, that's right exactly.
• 36:57
  Speaker 4: So Look, there is complications. The draw currently is less
• 37:02
  Speaker 4: than ideal. Teams don't want to be having two buyers.
• 37:05
  Speaker 4: You don't want to be starting earlier and finishing later,
• 37:08
  Speaker 4: and there will be pressure from broadcasters for more content. Contents.
• 37:13
  Speaker 4: King content generates cash. That's why the NROL is expanding
• 37:18
  Speaker 4: so and that you know, clubs have been struggling. We've
• 37:23
  Speaker 4: seen that with the Rebels and across the world, so
• 37:26
  Speaker 4: there are genuine financial pressures. But yeah, it's a really
• 37:31
  Speaker 4: risky business to mess with a competition that's really just
• 37:35
  Speaker 4: starting to find its feet.
• 37:37
  Speaker 2: Indeed, it is topic number four. One word answer. Will
• 37:40
  Speaker 2: the Blues make the playoffs top six?
• 37:46
  Speaker 3: Yes they will, There.
• 37:47
  Speaker 2: Was a three word answer, But.
• 37:50
  Speaker 3: What do you got?
• 37:53
  Speaker 2: I think they will. I think they've got enough games
• 37:55
  Speaker 2: in the back end of the season to string together
• 37:57
  Speaker 2: enough wins to get there. But I think it's gonna
• 38:01
  Speaker 2: be tough. I don't certainly think they're going to have
• 38:02
  Speaker 2: it all at home like they did last year, and
• 38:04
  Speaker 2: so it's going to be a very tricky old back
• 38:07
  Speaker 2: half of the season, even though some of the games
• 38:09
  Speaker 2: perhaps are a little bit more straightforward or on. You know,
• 38:13
  Speaker 2: they've got a few of the Aussie teams to come.
• 38:16
  Speaker 2: You know, they've got Moanda twice who you know that
• 38:18
  Speaker 2: could go either way. So not actually an easier draw.
• 38:21
  Speaker 2: But they've got some winnable games in their back half
• 38:23
  Speaker 2: of the competition that they should pick up some victories.
• 38:25
  Speaker 2: So I think they'll sneak in, but I think they'll
• 38:27
  Speaker 2: get five or six at best from where they are
• 38:29
  Speaker 2: at this point of the season. Try to get into
• 38:31
  Speaker 2: the tipping both of us four or five over the
• 38:33
  Speaker 2: course of the weekend. I was I picked the Canes,
• 38:37
  Speaker 2: you know, unlike you, I didn't.
• 38:40
  Speaker 3: Change my view once I saw the teams.
• 38:41
  Speaker 2: But that's what happens when you look at it on
• 38:44
  Speaker 2: a Monday morning. You picked the Landers. We both pick
• 38:46
  Speaker 2: the Brumbies, Crusaders and Chiefs. You picked the Reds. I
• 38:49
  Speaker 2: picked the Tars. So both four or five of the weekend.
• 38:51
  Speaker 2: That means I maintained a slender but sizable one point
• 38:55
  Speaker 2: lead fifteen to fourteen. At this point of the season.
• 38:58
  Speaker 3: There's plenty of time, mate, he'll crumble under the pressure.
• 39:00
  Speaker 2: Friday nights more on a pacificer against the Chiefs. This
• 39:03
  Speaker 2: game was supposed to be in Tonga and Nukula. It's
• 39:06
  Speaker 2: now in Pooka Koe because of it's logistical issues. Wana
• 39:10
  Speaker 2: coming off the by the win over the Hurricanes, can
• 39:13
  Speaker 2: they knock over the Chiefs.
• 39:15
  Speaker 4: It's so interesting to see the teams because there will
• 39:17
  Speaker 4: need to be a bit of rotation among the Chiefs
• 39:20
  Speaker 4: at some point.
• 39:20
  Speaker 3: But no, I'll stick with the Chiefs.
• 39:23
  Speaker 2: I'm going Maana for an upset Winten in that one.
• 39:25
  Speaker 2: Highlanders host the Reds in Dunedan. As you mentioned, frasmc
• 39:30
  Speaker 2: right unlikely make the trip to Deneedan. The Red's coming
• 39:33
  Speaker 2: off with one of the Warrtors. This is a really
• 39:35
  Speaker 2: fascinating game for me.
• 39:36
  Speaker 4: It is Saturday afternoon that rarely matters under the roof.
• 39:40
  Speaker 4: But I'm going to stick with the Landers and hopefully
• 39:44
  Speaker 4: I'm not the kiss of Deaf for them again.
• 39:46
  Speaker 2: I'm going to go the Reds to come across the
• 39:48
  Speaker 2: Tasm and get a win. Blues Crusaders match of the
• 39:51
  Speaker 2: round seven or five Saturday nights, Eden Park.
• 39:54
  Speaker 4: Look, Stephen Peter Fett is going to go back to
• 39:56
  Speaker 4: ten and lead the Blues to a drought breaking win.
• 40:00
  Speaker 2: Draut breaking win they won last year.
• 40:03
  Speaker 3: Crusaders well this season.
• 40:05
  Speaker 2: Right right right, I'll have the Crusaders, thank you. Tak
• 40:08
  Speaker 2: It is going to run rings War a tars Brumbi
• 40:12
  Speaker 2: is interesting old game in Sydney come Saturday nights.
• 40:19
  Speaker 4: Yes, very flip of the coin Brumbies tars for me,
• 40:23
  Speaker 4: it's going to really shake this.
• 40:25
  Speaker 2: This could be a very interesting weekend and the final
• 40:29
  Speaker 2: game of a round. Interesting. This must be a Sunday
• 40:31
  Speaker 2: afternoon game in Perth at two way five Force hosting
• 40:35
  Speaker 2: the Drawer seven O five New Zealand time Sunday night.
• 40:39
  Speaker 3: Yes, I'm going to go to the drawer Force.
• 40:44
  Speaker 2: Home for me. There we go, all five games with
• 40:48
  Speaker 2: different here we go, so this is going to change
• 40:50
  Speaker 2: things that Big time Rugby Direct MVP Meddle. Time for
• 40:54
  Speaker 2: the votes. Well, the leader bought it a moment, Tomothy.
• 40:56
  Speaker 2: It's out on eight three way tie for second on
• 41:01
  Speaker 2: six with Addie Save Quintepi, Will Jordan and just behind
• 41:04
  Speaker 2: Damian McKinzie in five. Liam, your three two ones this.
• 41:07
  Speaker 4: Week please, I'm going to go three Tod Carifi, very
• 41:11
  Speaker 4: very impressed by him. Two I'm going to give to Tupuvai.
• 41:15
  Speaker 4: I thought he was a standout on the Chiefs pack,
• 41:18
  Speaker 4: big try through the middle of the heart of the
• 41:21
  Speaker 4: Blues defense, reaching out. There was a big turning points
• 41:25
  Speaker 4: and I'm going to actually give one to Mark tala
• 41:27
  Speaker 4: I thought he was very good and a losing Blues
• 41:30
  Speaker 4: team everywhere over the park.
• 41:31
  Speaker 3: Kr involved, very elusive, tried.
• 41:35
  Speaker 2: Veritible finish that trial, wasn't it?
• 41:37
  Speaker 4: That's right, and just tried very hard all night. So yeah,
• 41:40
  Speaker 4: impressed with his work.
• 41:41
  Speaker 2: Great, I'm giving three to do Carefie as well. We
• 41:44
  Speaker 2: didn't compare notes beforehand, but remarkable. How did you want
• 41:47
  Speaker 2: to get thirty five Super Rugby Fantasy points? That is
• 41:50
  Speaker 2: beyond me.
• 41:50
  Speaker 3: I'd love to know the breakdown of it.
• 41:52
  Speaker 2: Yeah, it's tough scene macas Springer. Five tries the Crusaders
• 41:55
  Speaker 2: is enough for two points, and Daniel McKenzie back at
• 41:58
  Speaker 2: ten gets one for me, so he moves up to
• 42:00
  Speaker 2: six in the ranking. So Liam, that'll do us for
• 42:03
  Speaker 2: Rugby Direct. Just a reminder if you haven't seen on
• 42:05
  Speaker 2: your feed already. Five am Tuesday, Mark Robinson Scott Robertson
• 42:10
  Speaker 2: join Rugby Directs extended exclusive chat with both of them,
• 42:14
  Speaker 2: covering a whole range of rugby topics. I don't think
• 42:16
  Speaker 2: there's anything left off the table in terms of anything
• 42:18
  Speaker 2: we're missling them, So looking forward to hearing what people
• 42:22
  Speaker 2: think and you can get us on social media or
• 42:25
  Speaker 2: wherever you get your podcasts.
• 42:27
  Speaker 4: Yeah, give us some feedback, let us know what you
• 42:30
  Speaker 4: wants and if there's anyone out there that you'd love
• 42:32
  Speaker 4: a chat with as well singing, we'll try and track
• 42:34
  Speaker 4: them down.
• 42:35
  Speaker 2: That's right. Absolutely, another edition of Rugby Directing the Cam
• 42:37
  Speaker 2: with Habit Health techning all your aches and pains from
• 42:39
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• 42:42
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• 42:42
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• 42:47
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