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Transcript

Rugby Direct: Episode 224 · 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 range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
• 0:19
  Speaker 2: Straight down the Middle, Try.
• 0:23
  Speaker 1: Try to get inside the game from every end goal.
• 0:32
  Speaker 1: It's Rugby Direct with Elliott Smith and Liam Napier powered
• 0:36
  Speaker 1: by News Talks EDB.
• 0:37
  Speaker 3: Welcome into Rugby Direct powered by Habit Health Book Today
• 0:42
  Speaker 3: and Stay in the Game. Always good to catch up
• 0:45
  Speaker 3: after a weekend of super rugby, Leam Napier joins me
• 0:49
  Speaker 3: as always napes so great to reconvene the podcast as
• 0:53
  Speaker 3: the crunch really does come on for those super rugby
• 0:55
  Speaker 3: plow spots.
• 0:57
  Speaker 4: It does.
• 0:57
  Speaker 5: Indeed, there was a busy weekend thoroughly entertaining and planning
• 1:01
  Speaker 5: to get stuck into this week.
• 1:02
  Speaker 2: As we always do.
• 1:03
  Speaker 3: Let's work our way backwards from the most recent game
• 1:06
  Speaker 3: of the weekend, at least from a New Zealand inspective,
• 1:09
  Speaker 3: and the Hurricanes beating Mwana pacifica fifty points to seventeen
• 1:13
  Speaker 3: four tries to Josh Molby. It wasn't overly clinical, I
• 1:17
  Speaker 3: didn't think from the Hurricanes, especially the ten minutes either
• 1:20
  Speaker 3: side of halftime. But they got the job done and
• 1:24
  Speaker 3: relatively easy, and they look what we've seen I think
• 1:26
  Speaker 3: napes over the last couple of weeks Mowana against the
• 1:28
  Speaker 3: Blues is they have periods of fight in them, but
• 1:32
  Speaker 3: they just don't have the quality or the ability to
• 1:35
  Speaker 3: play a full eighty minutes this season. And unfortunately another
• 1:39
  Speaker 3: point to fifty point hiding for them this season, which
• 1:42
  Speaker 3: is becoming unfortunately quite regular.
• 1:46
  Speaker 5: Yes, indeed, pretty difficult situation from Wana, isn't it? And
• 1:51
  Speaker 5: you can just imagine the mental emotional tell that a
• 1:54
  Speaker 5: lot of those players are going through. But look from
• 1:57
  Speaker 5: a Hurricanes' perspective, I think they'd be pretty happy with that.
• 2:00
  Speaker 5: They made some mass changes. There was no Reuben Love,
• 2:04
  Speaker 5: Jordy Barrett was off playing professional golf tournament professional in Tartanaki.
• 2:10
  Speaker 5: No Cam royguard, Peter Larkeye my suffer more so. They
• 2:14
  Speaker 5: benched basically a whole host of frontline starters and then
• 2:17
  Speaker 5: you bring Kenny in a whole after bench so further
• 2:21
  Speaker 5: bolster your depth there and score a host of tries.
• 2:24
  Speaker 4: I thought Billy Proctor was exceptional.
• 2:27
  Speaker 5: Josh Moreby really benefited from some classy touches from Billy
• 2:32
  Speaker 5: in the midfields.
• 2:33
  Speaker 4: So job done for the Hurricanes. Bonus point one.
• 2:36
  Speaker 5: I thought it might be a bit tighter given the conditions.
• 2:39
  Speaker 5: It was pissing down in Albany on Saturday nights, and
• 2:45
  Speaker 5: just the fact the Hurricanes made those rafter changes. But
• 2:48
  Speaker 5: job done for them and they retain top spot.
• 2:51
  Speaker 3: They do, and yeah, I did like the way they
• 2:53
  Speaker 3: played throughout. I did think though there was a chance
• 2:55
  Speaker 3: with I think it was twee tamas squad on a
• 2:58
  Speaker 3: half hour mark and then Mona. We camped down the
• 3:01
  Speaker 3: in the ten minutes before halftime. If they get to
• 3:03
  Speaker 3: nineteen twelve before halftime, then they could be in with
• 3:06
  Speaker 3: a shout and after half time they were still down
• 3:09
  Speaker 3: what nineteen to five? They scored first, they dominated position
• 3:13
  Speaker 3: for that ten minutes after halftime, but moreby goes down
• 3:16
  Speaker 3: the other end in scores and effectively that ended the
• 3:18
  Speaker 3: game as a contest. The Muwana side just don't have
• 3:22
  Speaker 3: enough quality. As I touched on before, I was looking
• 3:24
  Speaker 3: at the stats, and stats don't tell the full story
• 3:26
  Speaker 3: because they can get skewed with periods late in the game.
• 3:29
  Speaker 3: But both teams had ten entries into the opposition twenty two.
• 3:33
  Speaker 3: The Hurricanes took five points away from every entry and
• 3:38
  Speaker 3: then Mulana on the other hand, only took one point seven.
• 3:41
  Speaker 3: You know, they tried a few things with the old
• 3:44
  Speaker 3: starting the mall or the midfield line out that we've seen.
• 3:46
  Speaker 3: There's a lot of innovation there, but ultimately they just
• 3:49
  Speaker 3: can't string together the pressure as the top teams can
• 3:52
  Speaker 3: in this competition.
• 3:54
  Speaker 5: No, and they do have some boards that will be
• 3:59
  Speaker 5: picked up beyond the season. Miracle Fi Lung you think's
• 4:02
  Speaker 5: probably going to go to Japan, and a number of
• 4:06
  Speaker 5: others will be on the radar as well. But you've
• 4:08
  Speaker 5: touched on it previously. Their back line is lacking. I
• 4:12
  Speaker 5: guess star quality will have ely. He's had his moments,
• 4:16
  Speaker 5: but you know, it was pretty telling to see Kenny
• 4:18
  Speaker 5: a Holo push him off with these You've got Solomon
• 4:22
  Speaker 5: al Mulla playing center, which is I haven't seen him
• 4:25
  Speaker 5: play a lot of center prior to this year.
• 4:28
  Speaker 4: Augustine Pulu's at half back.
• 4:30
  Speaker 5: And you know, you'd have to think that retirement's pretty
• 4:33
  Speaker 5: imminent for him beyond this year. So it's it's just
• 4:37
  Speaker 5: that that back line where they do lack a touch
• 4:39
  Speaker 5: of finishing class or impetus, and recruitment has been challenging
• 4:43
  Speaker 5: for them as well.
• 4:44
  Speaker 3: It has been I mentioned Billy Procter as well. I
• 4:46
  Speaker 3: thought he was excellent. I think it was three triasis
• 4:48
  Speaker 3: he had on the night and d I say it
• 4:51
  Speaker 3: was only Muana pacifica.
• 4:53
  Speaker 2: But I don't know.
• 4:55
  Speaker 3: I feel like we haven't seen the beast of him
• 4:56
  Speaker 3: at Test level as year. He's played a lot of
• 4:58
  Speaker 3: tests now over the last couple of years. We haven't
• 5:01
  Speaker 3: seen him at his absolute peak that we've seen in
• 5:04
  Speaker 3: Super rugby. But you know, I think with a different
• 5:07
  Speaker 3: coaching set up, maybe here's a chance that we see
• 5:10
  Speaker 3: the best of Billy Proctor potentially this year, at least,
• 5:12
  Speaker 3: I hope so.
• 5:14
  Speaker 5: Yes, Likewise, I think there could be a second coming.
• 5:17
  Speaker 5: I think on form it's going to be really hard
• 5:20
  Speaker 5: to go past the Jordi Barrett Quinta pie starting midfield,
• 5:24
  Speaker 5: but there's room for Billy Proctor. He's a different type
• 5:26
  Speaker 5: of player. He's probably the best distributing midfielder in New
• 5:31
  Speaker 5: Zealand currently, just his array of passing, his vision, his
• 5:36
  Speaker 5: ability to get the ball to the edges, over around
• 5:39
  Speaker 5: in any way possible. And you really did see Josh
• 5:42
  Speaker 5: Morby benefit from that on the weekends. But there's been
• 5:45
  Speaker 5: countless other examples this year. The one question with Billy
• 5:48
  Speaker 5: I think is just his physicality and maybe size and
• 5:52
  Speaker 5: contact that test level. But he does have great feet,
• 5:54
  Speaker 5: he's a very good defender and he sets up his outside.
• 5:58
  Speaker 5: So yeah, hopefully he does get another crack under Dave Rennie.
• 6:01
  Speaker 3: Let's move backwards again to the Highlanders thirty one the
• 6:04
  Speaker 3: war Tars twenty six in the need in the Highland
• 6:07
  Speaker 3: is keeping your ploy off hopes alive despite a red
• 6:10
  Speaker 3: card in that contest to JOHNA. Nadeki and the Super
• 6:14
  Speaker 3: Rugby Review Committee looking at that. But look, the Highlanders
• 6:17
  Speaker 3: were impressive for the opening what twenty minutes. Also they
• 6:21
  Speaker 3: are out to twenty eight seven and a half time
• 6:23
  Speaker 3: and then let the Wartors back in the contest and
• 6:25
  Speaker 3: probably closer than it really should have been. But if
• 6:29
  Speaker 3: you're Jamie Joseph, you go okay, at least we've got
• 6:31
  Speaker 3: a snuff of making the playoffs over these closing weeks
• 6:34
  Speaker 3: of the competition.
• 6:36
  Speaker 5: Yeah, I think if you're the Honders, you take take
• 6:38
  Speaker 5: that win and run. But wasn't convincing, wasn't it? Helep
• 6:43
  Speaker 5: tonguey taw how good was he early? Absolutely rubber stamping
• 6:48
  Speaker 5: his all blackboarding pass. You'd have to think he's missed
• 6:52
  Speaker 5: a few matches this year with injury, but when he's played,
• 6:55
  Speaker 5: he's been front and center for the Hondas. And this
• 6:58
  Speaker 5: wasn't just you know, club rugby players. He's brushing off
• 7:02
  Speaker 5: some of them, superstar Australian Test players. He's busting through
• 7:08
  Speaker 5: been four or five defenders. So the Highlanders were on
• 7:12
  Speaker 5: fire early and then it was a wild old comeback
• 7:15
  Speaker 5: and you thought, wow, are they going to surrender this?
• 7:17
  Speaker 5: They barely scored a point in the second half. I
• 7:20
  Speaker 5: think Ken Miller's penalty might have even been there. They're
• 7:23
  Speaker 5: only late points. But the war tales you touched on
• 7:27
  Speaker 5: them last week. We posed it in the final four Elliotts.
• 7:29
  Speaker 5: Would we say the biggest enigma or the myth? The
• 7:34
  Speaker 5: biggest myths in rugby? And you look at Dan mckellor
• 7:37
  Speaker 5: in that coaching box and it looks like an unsolvable
• 7:41
  Speaker 5: Rubik's cube.
• 7:42
  Speaker 4: He looked highly stressed, highly frustrated.
• 7:44
  Speaker 5: Some of that defending was bloody awful in the opening
• 7:47
  Speaker 5: twenty minutes and then they come back. They play some
• 7:49
  Speaker 5: great rugby, but they've got some superstars in that team
• 7:53
  Speaker 5: and they should be playing a whole lot better.
• 7:55
  Speaker 3: They should be, And I don't know whether it's a
• 7:58
  Speaker 3: coaching issue or what it is. I've always though McKellen
• 8:00
  Speaker 3: was actually a pretty handy coach, but the message doesn't
• 8:03
  Speaker 3: seem to be ginning through. And if the message isn't
• 8:05
  Speaker 3: getting through, then it is a coaching problem. And I
• 8:07
  Speaker 3: wonder where they need to go back. And you know
• 8:10
  Speaker 3: Michael Chicker, he's been linked within URL jobs. Maybe you
• 8:13
  Speaker 3: go back to the well and go Michael Checker in
• 8:15
  Speaker 3: a World Cup you're in twenty seven, can you conjure
• 8:18
  Speaker 3: something up with some of these players to get them
• 8:21
  Speaker 3: to where they need to be for a World Cup
• 8:22
  Speaker 3: but also get them to you know, super rugy playoffs again.
• 8:27
  Speaker 5: Yeah, Look, it was good to see some more of
• 8:31
  Speaker 5: Joseph sweet Lee since coming back from injury. He's been
• 8:35
  Speaker 5: really started with ball in hand. But they've got others
• 8:37
  Speaker 5: Max Jilgensen, Sid Harvey and Holloway Callaway.
• 8:44
  Speaker 2: Sorry.
• 8:45
  Speaker 4: So there's so.
• 8:46
  Speaker 5: Many names within that back line and then you go
• 8:49
  Speaker 5: to the four pack Charlie Gamble and others. So they
• 8:52
  Speaker 5: should be performing a lot better. I'm not sure what
• 8:54
  Speaker 5: the issue is and I'm like you, I rate there mckellor.
• 8:57
  Speaker 5: But we just haven't seen the best of the Wartas
• 8:59
  Speaker 5: this year or what for a good decade now at least,
• 9:03
  Speaker 5: so nobody can solve that issue.
• 9:06
  Speaker 4: But the Highlander is a wee at hot cold.
• 9:08
  Speaker 5: I thought it was telling too that the warts comeback
• 9:11
  Speaker 5: started to happen once the Handas replaced their front row.
• 9:15
  Speaker 5: I think the Hounders have the most scrumpy. He's in
• 9:17
  Speaker 5: super rguys this year, Ethan. The group Angus Tarval and
• 9:22
  Speaker 5: Jack Taylor has been going really good for them at
• 9:24
  Speaker 5: Hooker as well, and then they've got Lavenini, so some
• 9:27
  Speaker 5: real power in that front row and they use their
• 9:29
  Speaker 5: scrum as a weapon. But when they replaced the front row,
• 9:32
  Speaker 5: that certainly coincided with the Waratas launching their comeback. So
• 9:38
  Speaker 5: props aren't going to play eighty minutes, but they need
• 9:40
  Speaker 5: to find a way of getting a bit more from
• 9:43
  Speaker 5: their replacements.
• 9:44
  Speaker 3: Yeah, the depth of shoes and another one for the Highlanders,
• 9:46
  Speaker 3: so they played obviously Joona Natiki, who got red carded
• 9:48
  Speaker 3: at center. Jamie Joseph said pregame that they're losing a
• 9:52
  Speaker 3: couple of centers next year, so they wanted to look
• 9:54
  Speaker 3: towards Nardiki potentially there as an option. So the Highlanders
• 9:58
  Speaker 3: now Elam got to twenty four points. They have two
• 10:01
  Speaker 3: games left in the regular season, with the final round
• 10:03
  Speaker 3: by those against the Chiefs this week and the Hurricanes.
• 10:07
  Speaker 3: My question is do they actually any more points this
• 10:09
  Speaker 3: season and can they make the playoffs from twenty four points.
• 10:13
  Speaker 5: Look, I wouldn't rule them again the losing bonus point,
• 10:15
  Speaker 5: but I can't see them winning either of those games.
• 10:17
  Speaker 4: On form.
• 10:19
  Speaker 5: They just look a step below the four other New
• 10:23
  Speaker 5: Zealand franchises and you're probably playing the two best teams
• 10:28
  Speaker 5: on form in New Zealand's so a bloody tough run
• 10:31
  Speaker 5: home and yeah, you need a minor miracle I think
• 10:35
  Speaker 5: to make the playoffs from there.
• 10:36
  Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely, I'm with you on that one.
• 10:38
  Speaker 3: Let's talk the Chiefs and the Reds. Thirty won twenty one,
• 10:40
  Speaker 3: the Chiefs two goods on the nights. Although we'll touch
• 10:45
  Speaker 3: on this horrific refereeing performance. I think it has to
• 10:48
  Speaker 3: be said the Reds should have had a try on halftime.
• 10:51
  Speaker 3: It was looked at once by the TMO, then moved on.
• 10:55
  Speaker 3: It was clear on the TV that there had been
• 10:57
  Speaker 3: a grounding. The players went off for halftime that was
• 11:00
  Speaker 3: incredibly baffling. There was one of them knock ons and
• 11:02
  Speaker 3: the lead up poor night out have we said for
• 11:05
  Speaker 3: the officiating team, I'm not sure would have made a
• 11:08
  Speaker 3: difference to the final result. I think the Chiefs were
• 11:11
  Speaker 3: a touch above the Reds. But I's kissed you've got
• 11:15
  Speaker 3: calls for complaint out of that performance.
• 11:18
  Speaker 5: It was telling, wasn't it to hear the some court
• 11:20
  Speaker 5: crowd baying for blood throughout that match. They were getting
• 11:23
  Speaker 5: stuck into the officials, and I think rightly so. At
• 11:26
  Speaker 5: times it was a really baffling officiating performance and I
• 11:31
  Speaker 5: think we've seen that probably too much this year and
• 11:33
  Speaker 5: super aguely. The standard of refereeing across the board I
• 11:36
  Speaker 5: don't think has been of a great standards. So yeah,
• 11:41
  Speaker 5: pretty frustrating I think for most people involved. But look
• 11:44
  Speaker 5: that spectacle itself. I really enjoyed it. I think it
• 11:46
  Speaker 5: was probably the match of the weekend. Huge physicality, a
• 11:49
  Speaker 5: lot of ball movement, a lot of pressure exerted, some
• 11:53
  Speaker 5: brilliant moments, Harry Watson's flickball for on the outside, a
• 11:58
  Speaker 5: brilliant pass from him. The Chiefs were put under a
• 12:02
  Speaker 5: huge pressure and they had to show some real resilience
• 12:05
  Speaker 5: to come back. Brisbane's not an easy place to go.
• 12:08
  Speaker 5: The Reds have had a lot of success against the
• 12:10
  Speaker 5: Chiefs in recent times. I thought Josh Lord was really
• 12:13
  Speaker 5: good early before he was replaced to Pouvai and a
• 12:18
  Speaker 5: couple of others.
• 12:19
  Speaker 4: Quincy Pye was in the thick of everything.
• 12:22
  Speaker 5: So an important away win for the Chiefs, but you
• 12:26
  Speaker 5: know there's some potential vulnerabilities there as well.
• 12:28
  Speaker 4: They weren't entirely convincing.
• 12:30
  Speaker 3: No they weren't, but I think they got the job
• 12:31
  Speaker 3: done on those You know that reads away trip is
• 12:33
  Speaker 3: a tricky one in Super rugby, and I think for
• 12:37
  Speaker 3: the Chiefs, you know now that you've got three derbies
• 12:40
  Speaker 3: to finish the season, two of them at home the
• 12:42
  Speaker 3: Highlanders and Blues either side of going to christ Church
• 12:45
  Speaker 3: and facing the Crusaders next week. So their travelers at
• 12:49
  Speaker 3: least done and they should be odds on, you would
• 12:51
  Speaker 3: think for a top two spot as we go through
• 12:55
  Speaker 3: the playoffs. And you know, it feels like we haven't
• 12:57
  Speaker 3: seen the best of the Chiefs and I we've touched
• 12:59
  Speaker 3: on this a couple of times that you know, they
• 13:00
  Speaker 3: beat the Hurricanes a few weeks back, but it kind
• 13:03
  Speaker 3: of feels and you know, previous seasons have peaked highly
• 13:06
  Speaker 3: and then you know, parted out in the playoffs. But
• 13:10
  Speaker 3: maybe they're holding a bit in reserve because it feels
• 13:12
  Speaker 3: like they've got more to give and maybe that'll come
• 13:14
  Speaker 3: in the closing weeks of the season.
• 13:17
  Speaker 5: Yeah, they've still got a few players to potentially come
• 13:20
  Speaker 5: back as well. I'm only na Lee Rocarda and the likes.
• 13:25
  Speaker 5: It was interesting, I think to see them when the
• 13:27
  Speaker 5: crunch came on, they really went back to their forward pack.
• 13:30
  Speaker 5: SIMMASONI takeya host scoring two tries from Wolves, so that's
• 13:34
  Speaker 5: a real testament, I think to the way John o'
• 13:37
  Speaker 5: gibbs likes to play. He's a forwards coach by nature.
• 13:41
  Speaker 5: Wallace to Titi after missing much of this year potentially
• 13:44
  Speaker 5: coming into some form, I thought he was highly involved.
• 13:48
  Speaker 5: He scored that telling final try which was sort of
• 13:51
  Speaker 5: all too easy going straight up the middle after the scrum.
• 13:56
  Speaker 5: So look, the Chiefs have got phenomenal depth, don't They
• 13:59
  Speaker 5: Probably the most stacked squad in Super rugby on the whole.
• 14:03
  Speaker 5: But yeah, come the back ends in the finals, they
• 14:06
  Speaker 5: have faulded a lot and we haven't seen the Vesta
• 14:09
  Speaker 5: this year. You're right, so maybe they'll put it all
• 14:12
  Speaker 5: together come playoff time.
• 14:13
  Speaker 3: Well, speaking of a team that is building towards a
• 14:15
  Speaker 3: playss very nicely lean a. Crusaders thirty six the Blues
• 14:20
  Speaker 3: twenty look really good performance I thought from the Crusaders,
• 14:25
  Speaker 3: apart from that ten minutes before halftime where they'd been dominating,
• 14:28
  Speaker 3: probably should have had a third try and then inexplicably
• 14:31
  Speaker 3: let the Blues lead by halftime. But other than that,
• 14:35
  Speaker 3: it was a very good Crusaders performance and lead again
• 14:38
  Speaker 3: by the man wearing seven on his back at Lester
• 14:41
  Speaker 3: fying a Nookho. What did you make of the Crusaders
• 14:44
  Speaker 3: thirty six over the Blues twenty.
• 14:46
  Speaker 4: Yeah, lots to take out of this, I think Elliott.
• 14:49
  Speaker 5: First of all, great to see another sellout, wasn't it
• 14:52
  Speaker 5: after Super Round the first time back in that stadium
• 14:55
  Speaker 5: and deceeed the fans flop down there and pack it
• 14:59
  Speaker 5: out again. Was a wonderful sight, and I think that
• 15:02
  Speaker 5: will be the case for the remainder of the regular season.
• 15:05
  Speaker 5: Don't think the Crusaders will sneak in to a home playoff,
• 15:11
  Speaker 5: it can't be ruled out, but look, yeah, leicsterfying a
• 15:14
  Speaker 5: knockou unreal, wasn't it a set up?
• 15:17
  Speaker 4: Three tries?
• 15:18
  Speaker 5: I think one of them Jamie Hannah, was very clearly
• 15:21
  Speaker 5: offside from his chip kick. But look, this guy's doing
• 15:24
  Speaker 5: it all. He spent most of the first half at
• 15:28
  Speaker 5: open side flanker getting turnovers and then was it that
• 15:32
  Speaker 5: when Dallas McLeod went off injured he switched to the midfield.
• 15:35
  Speaker 5: But he just seems to have a roaming license to
• 15:37
  Speaker 5: go anywhere he wants on the field, do anything he wants,
• 15:40
  Speaker 5: whether it be carrying, cleaning, turnovers, kicking, offloading. It was
• 15:47
  Speaker 5: a phenomenal one man performance. But I think probably the
• 15:51
  Speaker 5: overarching theme for me was the way in which the
• 15:54
  Speaker 5: Crusaders went to work on the Blues forward pack. That's
• 15:57
  Speaker 5: their strength, That's what vern Koda has prided himself on
• 16:00
  Speaker 5: with this Blues team, and I thought the Crusaders largely
• 16:03
  Speaker 5: did a number on them and made them backpedal for
• 16:06
  Speaker 5: much of that game.
• 16:06
  Speaker 2: They did.
• 16:07
  Speaker 3: I'd have to get can check that because I know
• 16:09
  Speaker 3: obviously it was cleared by the TMO that off side
• 16:11
  Speaker 3: you mentioned, but I think he was put back on site.
• 16:14
  Speaker 3: I do need to recheck the old rugby rules book
• 16:16
  Speaker 3: around that, but I think he was actually put back
• 16:18
  Speaker 3: on site. I may be wrong on that one haven't
• 16:20
  Speaker 3: done the referring course in quite some time. But remind
• 16:23
  Speaker 3: me a little bit of what they did with Addie
• 16:25
  Speaker 3: sav last year at Mona Pacifiga, and he was popping
• 16:28
  Speaker 3: up all areas of the park and allowed to rhyme,
• 16:32
  Speaker 3: had a license to Rome was able to basically take
• 16:35
  Speaker 3: the game on his string. And it feels like almost
• 16:37
  Speaker 3: what role Penny has allowed Leicester fighting anooku to do here,
• 16:41
  Speaker 3: especially with will Jordan out as well. He's basically, you know,
• 16:44
  Speaker 3: their attackers revolving around what leaks to fying a knooku
• 16:47
  Speaker 3: was doing.
• 16:48
  Speaker 4: Yeah. Absolutely, and look what a prospect it is for
• 16:51
  Speaker 4: the All Blacks as well.
• 16:51
  Speaker 5: I think at this point you'd be looking at Leicester
• 16:53
  Speaker 5: on the bench and that just gives you so much
• 16:56
  Speaker 5: versatility and so many options in terms of what you
• 16:59
  Speaker 5: can do with that bench. You could potentially bring Leicester
• 17:02
  Speaker 5: on the and the loose forwards or in the midfields.
• 17:06
  Speaker 5: So I think it's a great advertisement for Dave Renie
• 17:11
  Speaker 5: to sit up and take notes, and I'm sure he's
• 17:13
  Speaker 5: doing that.
• 17:14
  Speaker 4: What about the Blues Elliott.
• 17:16
  Speaker 5: I thought that was a really, really bad loss, particularly
• 17:20
  Speaker 5: late in the game when they had a number of
• 17:22
  Speaker 5: different opportunities following the cards. They just didn't really fire
• 17:27
  Speaker 5: a shot apart from that period's second period in the
• 17:31
  Speaker 5: first half, as you mentioned, And I think probably questions
• 17:34
  Speaker 5: need to be asked about the selections as well. Leaving
• 17:36
  Speaker 5: Boden Barrett and from Lay Christie on the bench. I
• 17:38
  Speaker 5: thought Sam Knock was good in patches, but perhaps better
• 17:43
  Speaker 5: coming off the bench when you're looking at lifting the
• 17:47
  Speaker 5: tempoe late in the game. And while Boden Barrett hasn't
• 17:50
  Speaker 5: been at his best this year, and Stephen Peterfefer played
• 17:53
  Speaker 5: well and has come back the week before, Barrett was
• 17:55
  Speaker 5: very instrumental in that earlier season victory over the Crusaders
• 18:00
  Speaker 5: at Eden Park. So I thought those selections backfired. The Blues,
• 18:04
  Speaker 5: not helped by losing Dalton Papale early to broken Jaw pretent.
• 18:08
  Speaker 5: Actually that may end his Blues campaign, but the Blues
• 18:12
  Speaker 5: on the whole, I thought that was quite a humbling
• 18:14
  Speaker 5: defeat for them.
• 18:14
  Speaker 3: Yeah, agreed, Look, yeah, I think those elections were a
• 18:17
  Speaker 3: little bit odd. Obviously had a short turn around from
• 18:20
  Speaker 3: the week previously. Again, small onea pacifica and they've got now,
• 18:25
  Speaker 3: you know, eight day turnaround to playing the Hurricanes this week,
• 18:28
  Speaker 3: top of the table game, pretty crucial one for them
• 18:31
  Speaker 3: as well. But I couldn't quite figure that out. I
• 18:34
  Speaker 3: think they should have started Boat and Barrot at ten,
• 18:37
  Speaker 3: should have started Christie at half back, and Signa is
• 18:41
  Speaker 3: you know, was the hot hand. He did come on
• 18:43
  Speaker 3: obviously very early in the game with the Golden Papa
• 18:45
  Speaker 3: Lee injury, and I thought Rambling, you know, had an
• 18:48
  Speaker 3: improved game from when we've seen him previously. But I
• 18:51
  Speaker 3: would go with the players and form, and you're asking
• 18:54
  Speaker 3: a lot of these players that haven't had a lot
• 18:57
  Speaker 3: of rugby and knock and parafeed to have not had
• 18:59
  Speaker 3: a lot of rugby to go out and beat the Crusaders,
• 19:03
  Speaker 3: and I thought they did, look, you know, a bit
• 19:05
  Speaker 3: short of a gallop against this Crusaders team. And I
• 19:07
  Speaker 3: also just think that the Blues have become rather predictable.
• 19:11
  Speaker 3: You know, they won the title on the back of
• 19:13
  Speaker 3: the style in twenty twenty four. They were ruthless with
• 19:17
  Speaker 3: their forwards and the way they played. They plotted their
• 19:19
  Speaker 3: way around the park with the European style of rugby,
• 19:23
  Speaker 3: but I think they've been figured out over the last
• 19:25
  Speaker 3: couple of years. They're obviously still a very very good
• 19:27
  Speaker 3: team and they're going to win more games than they lose.
• 19:30
  Speaker 3: But I just feel like the New Zealand teams have
• 19:32
  Speaker 3: figured out how to play them and they can shut
• 19:35
  Speaker 3: down and nuther five their strengths.
• 19:37
  Speaker 5: Yeah, I think they do look very one dimensional, and
• 19:41
  Speaker 5: you've got a guy like Caleb Clark who you need
• 19:44
  Speaker 5: to utilize with ball in hands. He had one run
• 19:49
  Speaker 5: late in the game and he also ran down Johnny McNichol,
• 19:51
  Speaker 5: but didn't see a lot of ball otherwise, and Kate
• 19:55
  Speaker 5: Banks I can't really remember seeing him were ball on
• 19:58
  Speaker 5: hand at all. Aj Lamb had that one breakouts from
• 20:02
  Speaker 5: a counter Attech try that came from a turnover there
• 20:06
  Speaker 5: that the Blues line. But attacking wise, I think they're
• 20:10
  Speaker 5: really struggling to find that spark. Discipline didn't help them
• 20:14
  Speaker 5: at times. I think there was a late obstruction penalty
• 20:18
  Speaker 5: with the clock ticking down and then needing to chase
• 20:20
  Speaker 5: the game. Regular infringements there, But they don't seem to
• 20:25
  Speaker 5: be playing a lot of second phase footy, a lot
• 20:26
  Speaker 5: of off the cuff. It does seem to structured and
• 20:29
  Speaker 5: a bit predictable that you say.
• 20:31
  Speaker 3: Yeah, Curtis McDonald will go for a skate, you would
• 20:33
  Speaker 3: suspect as well on the back of that's dangerous tackle
• 20:37
  Speaker 3: wasn't good on Petifetsa. I think he just lost his
• 20:41
  Speaker 3: steps in the run up. But you can't do that
• 20:43
  Speaker 3: and he'll suspect. We've gone for around three weeks and
• 20:47
  Speaker 3: Joan and Nadiki from the highnd is game likely to
• 20:49
  Speaker 3: go probably for a similar period as well.
• 20:52
  Speaker 5: Yeah, unfortunate incidence. I think Nardiki probably more mitigating factors.
• 20:58
  Speaker 5: He could have been lower, but the ball carrier was
• 21:01
  Speaker 5: dipping slightly. But the other incident with Peter Feta, I
• 21:05
  Speaker 5: think you've just got to be better than that. You've
• 21:06
  Speaker 5: got a check the man in the air and if
• 21:10
  Speaker 5: you're not getting off the ground and contesting it. I
• 21:12
  Speaker 5: think his eyes were for the ball. But it's very clumsy,
• 21:15
  Speaker 5: extremely dangerous, and yeah, you've just got to do better
• 21:18
  Speaker 5: than that.
• 21:19
  Speaker 3: Yeah, it was clumsy, as I say, a thing. You
• 21:21
  Speaker 3: just lost his steps and then couldn't pull out.
• 21:24
  Speaker 2: Man, you've got to be better than that.
• 21:25
  Speaker 3: And it was a clear red Well we'll take a
• 21:27
  Speaker 3: break here and rugby direct come back to the Final
• 21:29
  Speaker 3: four after this. You're back now with Rugby Direct. Time
• 21:34
  Speaker 3: now for the Final four. Ligam, You've got an article
• 21:36
  Speaker 3: that's gone live on the New Zealand Herald revealing that
• 21:38
  Speaker 3: Stephen Petfetta is heading to Japan after this season. How
• 21:43
  Speaker 3: big of a loss is this for both the Blues
• 21:45
  Speaker 3: and New Zealand rugby?
• 21:46
  Speaker 2: Do you think?
• 21:47
  Speaker 5: I think it's a big loss Elliott's and unfortunately Peter
• 21:51
  Speaker 5: Fetter will probably be remembered as a guy that never
• 21:54
  Speaker 5: quite fulfilled his potential. I think he's an extremely gifted playmaker,
• 21:59
  Speaker 5: always got time on the ball, good feet, good passing
• 22:02
  Speaker 5: game and has matured over the years, but missed the
• 22:05
  Speaker 5: bulk of last year and much of this year with
• 22:08
  Speaker 5: those problematic calf injuries. And he's probably looking at the
• 22:12
  Speaker 5: the All Blacks picking order thinking well, Boden Barrett and
• 22:15
  Speaker 5: Damian McKenzie there, Richie mulong is coming back, Ruben loves
• 22:18
  Speaker 5: playing well. Am I really going to get a looking
• 22:21
  Speaker 5: I should probably take the cash and run now. So
• 22:23
  Speaker 5: he's ending up to Japan to join his old coach
• 22:25
  Speaker 5: Leo on McDonald's and I think it will be a
• 22:28
  Speaker 5: massive loss for the Blues because who knows. I think
• 22:32
  Speaker 5: the future is uncertain for Boden Barrett beyond next year.
• 22:36
  Speaker 5: And Peterfetz is a guy that's been around for ten
• 22:38
  Speaker 5: years and you know that's easy to forget and you
• 22:43
  Speaker 5: don't accumulate that experience overnight.
• 22:45
  Speaker 4: So well what have you made of his career? And
• 22:47
  Speaker 4: I guess what do you make of moved to Japan?
• 22:49
  Speaker 3: Yeah, I think he'll be remembered as you're right apply
• 22:52
  Speaker 3: that a nearly man of tess rugby. You know, he
• 22:56
  Speaker 3: promised so much and yet injuries have always got in
• 22:59
  Speaker 3: the way. With Steven Peterfeedder. It feels like he's played
• 23:02
  Speaker 3: a run of games, then had another setback and just
• 23:04
  Speaker 3: hasn't been able to get a clear run of game time.
• 23:07
  Speaker 3: And it's easy to forget. He was the first choice
• 23:10
  Speaker 3: starting fullback when Scott Robinson's tenor started, you know, way
• 23:15
  Speaker 3: back in twenty twenty four, which seems a long time
• 23:17
  Speaker 3: ago now, but he was the starting fullback, albeit with
• 23:19
  Speaker 3: Will Jordan injured. He was the guy that started at fifteen.
• 23:23
  Speaker 3: But he's never quite been able to lock down a
• 23:26
  Speaker 3: test spot. He's promised plenty and perhaps through not a
• 23:30
  Speaker 3: lot of fault of his own just hasn't been able
• 23:31
  Speaker 3: to stay on the park with a really poor injury run,
• 23:35
  Speaker 3: so lok he'll be lost to the Blues and New
• 23:37
  Speaker 3: Zealand Rugby joining the Canon Eagles and Yokohama under Leon McDonald,
• 23:41
  Speaker 3: which is obviously an interesting move for him. Topic number two.
• 23:45
  Speaker 3: New Zealand Rugby holding firm on needing Richie Wonger and
• 23:48
  Speaker 3: Shannon Frazil to play n PC first. Not a huge
• 23:50
  Speaker 3: surprise this, but new CEO Steve Lancaster underlining that with
• 23:54
  Speaker 3: that colleague Jason Pine on the weekends. We've talked before
• 23:59
  Speaker 3: about this. I think it's a rule that could easily
• 24:01
  Speaker 3: be abolished and probably should be.
• 24:03
  Speaker 2: What do you make of it?
• 24:06
  Speaker 5: Yeah, I think New Zand Rugby has a history of
• 24:10
  Speaker 5: bending rules to suit the situation, and numerous all black
• 24:14
  Speaker 5: coaches have pushed for this as far back I think
• 24:17
  Speaker 5: as Matt Todd's some what six years ago now. There's
• 24:22
  Speaker 5: examples around Sonnyville Williams and some others that I can't
• 24:26
  Speaker 5: quite remember as well. So look, I think the fact
• 24:29
  Speaker 5: that they've signed to play in New Zealand's should be enough.
• 24:34
  Speaker 5: It does seem a bit unnecessary to go on this
• 24:38
  Speaker 5: greatest rivalry tour that's only going to happen, you know,
• 24:41
  Speaker 5: once every eight years in terms of going to South
• 24:44
  Speaker 5: Africa in that capacity, and for those guys to not
• 24:46
  Speaker 5: be available, and I think ultimately one way or another,
• 24:51
  Speaker 5: Richie Muwonga will get there. It could be an injury
• 24:54
  Speaker 5: to a lock and they'll bring him over or something
• 24:57
  Speaker 5: like that. There's not a world in which I can't
• 25:00
  Speaker 5: see Richie Wong are coming at some stage on that tour.
• 25:05
  Speaker 5: But maybe if you allow them to walk straight back
• 25:08
  Speaker 5: in to an all black environment, it perhaps sets some
• 25:11
  Speaker 5: sort of precedent. But then is it really that different
• 25:14
  Speaker 5: to guys going away on sabbaticorn coming back and joining
• 25:16
  Speaker 5: the All Blacks. Maybe you open the door to other
• 25:20
  Speaker 5: players going for three years and coming back for one year.
• 25:22
  Speaker 5: So it's a pretty vexed, messy situation that whole eligibility realm,
• 25:28
  Speaker 5: isn't it It is?
• 25:29
  Speaker 3: I feel like they're tangling themselves, are knots. This isn't
• 25:31
  Speaker 3: the world rugby rules. This is in New Zealand rugby rule.
• 25:33
  Speaker 3: It's easy to go as soon as you set for
• 25:35
  Speaker 3: New Zealand and your contractors have started whatever it date.
• 25:38
  Speaker 3: It is July one, whatever it might be, you're eligible
• 25:40
  Speaker 3: to play for our representative teams. You know, we've seen
• 25:45
  Speaker 3: players go play NROLW then come back. We've seen all
• 25:48
  Speaker 3: sorts of exs up you know, with the Blackfan sevens,
• 25:49
  Speaker 3: we've seen all sorts of examples. Yet they're tangling themselves
• 25:52
  Speaker 3: with up in knots now the fact that Muwanga or
• 25:54
  Speaker 3: Frazel has to go play you have to go play NPC. Well,
• 25:58
  Speaker 3: Dave Renny wouldn't select players out of the NPC. You know,
• 26:00
  Speaker 3: it's such a big leap from the NPC up into
• 26:03
  Speaker 3: Test rugby. I don't know why we're making them go
• 26:05
  Speaker 3: play NPC before they've played, before they can play Test rugby.
• 26:10
  Speaker 3: To me, that just doesn't make any sense. And it's
• 26:11
  Speaker 3: a rule that they could easily change the ended board.
• 26:15
  Speaker 3: Topic three. The New Zealand under twenties finished second at
• 26:18
  Speaker 3: the Under twenty Rugby Championship, not the Under twenty World Championship,
• 26:22
  Speaker 3: but the Under twenty Rugby Championship. Look, I feel the
• 26:25
  Speaker 3: underwhelming campaign until they got to their last game against
• 26:28
  Speaker 3: South Africa liam And drew that game, ultimately well off
• 26:31
  Speaker 3: the pace though in terms of the overall standings and
• 26:34
  Speaker 3: a bit of work to do before the World Championships.
• 26:36
  Speaker 3: I admit I didn't see a great deal of the campaign,
• 26:39
  Speaker 3: only watched a lot of highlights, But it feels like
• 26:41
  Speaker 3: some standout players, but some players that you know, hard
• 26:45
  Speaker 3: to see them developing into the Super Rugby test you know,
• 26:49
  Speaker 3: or test players off the back of what I've seen, Yeah, I.
• 26:53
  Speaker 5: Think, first and foremost earlier, it's great that this tournament
• 26:56
  Speaker 5: is continuing. It's a very important development tool to match
• 27:01
  Speaker 5: what the North has in terms of their six nations
• 27:04
  Speaker 5: and leading into the Global Under twenties World Cup.
• 27:09
  Speaker 4: But yeah, not a great campaign.
• 27:10
  Speaker 5: I think they lost to the Poombas who are pretty
• 27:12
  Speaker 5: hot cold as well, sort of afflicting their test sides.
• 27:18
  Speaker 5: They haven't managed to solve that adherence passion elements. But
• 27:23
  Speaker 5: from what I'm hearing around that under twenty team, not
• 27:26
  Speaker 5: great feedback in terms of talent that will feed and
• 27:30
  Speaker 5: Super Agby teams and beyond. So perhaps some depth questions
• 27:35
  Speaker 5: there and the talent pathway maybe not quite what it
• 27:38
  Speaker 5: used to be.
• 27:38
  Speaker 2: Yeah, I think it's hard to judge as well.
• 27:41
  Speaker 3: You know, some years you just don't get the players
• 27:43
  Speaker 3: coming through, and then some years You've got plenty of
• 27:46
  Speaker 3: players coming through and this is ultimately, you know, and
• 27:48
  Speaker 3: they still the World Championship to come, but you know,
• 27:51
  Speaker 3: this is ultimately the last time they will play together
• 27:53
  Speaker 3: as a cohort of age group players before they go
• 27:56
  Speaker 3: into playing against the big boys. And everyone doesn't matter
• 27:58
  Speaker 3: what year you came from. So I'm always, you know,
• 28:02
  Speaker 3: reluctant to judge at the under twenties, but I think
• 28:04
  Speaker 3: there is a lot of work that Don Trick and
• 28:07
  Speaker 3: Coke can do one once he gets his feet under
• 28:10
  Speaker 3: the desk. And topic number four, it's the continuing issue
• 28:12
  Speaker 3: of Mwana Pacifica kind of lower putting their heads above
• 28:16
  Speaker 3: and going we've got the money to save Majana Pacifica,
• 28:19
  Speaker 3: saying they haven't been engaged with and throwing all sorts
• 28:22
  Speaker 3: of questions out there.
• 28:24
  Speaker 2: What do you reckon? Liam? Is there enough time to
• 28:26
  Speaker 2: save Mowana Pacifica.
• 28:29
  Speaker 4: I don't think so earlier, as sad as that is, and.
• 28:34
  Speaker 5: If there is going to be a White Night savior,
• 28:36
  Speaker 5: I don't think it's going to become a lower their bids.
• 28:39
  Speaker 5: Their consortium was looked at pretty in depthfully last time
• 28:45
  Speaker 5: one or at the beginning of the inception when they
• 28:49
  Speaker 5: were looking at bringing Moana into the competition. Come and
• 28:51
  Speaker 5: Lower were are very vocal backers and wanting to be involved,
• 28:55
  Speaker 5: and it didn't work out for them then, and I
• 28:57
  Speaker 5: think many of the questions about their suitability to run
• 29:02
  Speaker 5: a sustainable franchise still remains. So if somebody or some
• 29:07
  Speaker 5: consorting is going to emerge and needs to be somebody
• 29:11
  Speaker 5: beyond Come of Lower from what I'm hearing.
• 29:13
  Speaker 3: Yeah, there's a group potentially with Tana Umager, although he
• 29:16
  Speaker 3: was reluctant to comment too much about that last week
• 29:18
  Speaker 3: that he might be involved with. But it feels like
• 29:21
  Speaker 3: times ticking pretty quickly. The winner I've got to buy
• 29:23
  Speaker 3: this week, then two games to come against the Reds
• 29:26
  Speaker 3: and Brumbies. But a fear was like, you know, Barrio miracle,
• 29:30
  Speaker 3: those will be their last two games, doesn't it?
• 29:33
  Speaker 5: It does?
• 29:33
  Speaker 4: And look that's Buddy said on our whole host of fronts.
• 29:37
  Speaker 5: Maybe Tana, with his standing in the Pacific community and
• 29:42
  Speaker 5: Michael Jones and others can can pull off some form
• 29:46
  Speaker 5: of minor miracle.
• 29:48
  Speaker 4: But it does.
• 29:50
  Speaker 5: Yeah, it's very late in the piece and people are
• 29:52
  Speaker 5: going to want some security very soon in terms of finalizing.
• 29:55
  Speaker 4: Next year's straw and beyond and one.
• 29:58
  Speaker 5: I just have a lot of challenges, don't they, in
• 30:00
  Speaker 5: terms of their home base and everything that goes with
• 30:03
  Speaker 5: it and their link back to the Islands. Has been
• 30:05
  Speaker 5: talk about Tonga and Sarwhill potentially coming in from a
• 30:10
  Speaker 5: government perspective to help fund the team, but even then
• 30:13
  Speaker 5: there's there's probably questions around there's a suitability the infrastructure
• 30:17
  Speaker 5: over there, how that works, and there's been a lot
• 30:20
  Speaker 5: of examples of corruption when it comes to Pacific rugby
• 30:24
  Speaker 5: as well, so a lot of hurdles for minor to
• 30:27
  Speaker 5: jump in a short space of time.
• 30:29
  Speaker 2: There certainly is.
• 30:30
  Speaker 3: Let's move on to our MVP voting our three to
• 30:33
  Speaker 3: two ones out in front for he finning on an
• 30:35
  Speaker 3: all four on sixteen points, cam Ruegat on teen, Quinn
• 30:38
  Speaker 3: to Pier on seven, then a whole host of other
• 30:41
  Speaker 3: players in behind.
• 30:43
  Speaker 2: Liam hit me with your three two ones if you'd
• 30:45
  Speaker 2: be so kind.
• 30:47
  Speaker 5: Well, Elliott, I'm going to reward two crusaders this week.
• 30:49
  Speaker 5: Wow show, I'm a fair man. I can't get past
• 30:54
  Speaker 5: Lester ken you for three phenomenal performance from him. I'm
• 30:58
  Speaker 5: going to Caleb Tounguytow almost single handedly won that game
• 31:01
  Speaker 5: for the Hondas in the wash up, and I'm going
• 31:04
  Speaker 5: one to Jamie Hannah. I think he's a very underrated
• 31:07
  Speaker 5: presence in the middle of that Crusader's pack, very good
• 31:12
  Speaker 5: at the line, out, restarts, prominent around the fields.
• 31:16
  Speaker 4: I thought he was very good against the Blues.
• 31:18
  Speaker 3: Well three two Crusaders, That are you three? I haven't
• 31:21
  Speaker 3: even done that unremarkable listifying a knooker gets my three
• 31:25
  Speaker 3: as well. I can't add any more to what you've
• 31:27
  Speaker 3: seen what we said earlier in the podcast, just exceptional.
• 31:29
  Speaker 3: Billy Proctor gets my two three try assists. Poor old
• 31:33
  Speaker 3: Josh Moreby is going to get no points after scoring
• 31:35
  Speaker 3: four tries because I'm getting Wells to t t one
• 31:38
  Speaker 3: out of the Chiefs when over the Reds. So I'm sorry, Josh,
• 31:42
  Speaker 3: but maybe five tries might have got you a point.
• 31:45
  Speaker 3: You know we're hard markersn'th we Liam?
• 31:48
  Speaker 4: We are.
• 31:49
  Speaker 5: Indeed, this a real dagger blow to Josh, but you
• 31:51
  Speaker 5: know we're open to next week. Keep showing your stuff.
• 31:55
  Speaker 3: Absolutely, see if you can get five against the Blues
• 31:57
  Speaker 3: these your target this week, that'll do.
• 31:59
  Speaker 2: It's almost a rugby director.
• 32:01
  Speaker 3: But you can of course get in touch with the
• 32:03
  Speaker 3: podcast Rugby Direct at news Talks here b dot co
• 32:05
  Speaker 3: dot z it and we'd encourage you as well. We're
• 32:08
  Speaker 3: going to have the new New Zealand Rugby CEO Steve
• 32:10
  Speaker 3: Lancaster joining us on our Thursday pod. Would be keen
• 32:14
  Speaker 3: for your questions as well to put to Steve Lancaster,
• 32:17
  Speaker 3: so get them through to us on Rugby Direct at
• 32:19
  Speaker 3: Newstalk ZIB dot co dot in z. But that does
• 32:23
  Speaker 3: us Napes, thanks for company. As always, we'll catch you
• 32:25
  Speaker 3: later in the week.
• 32:26
  Speaker 4: Yeah, look forward to it because Save the Bossman and
• 32:29
  Speaker 4: what I'm Under the Girl.
• 32:30
  Speaker 3: Absolutely, that'll do us. Rugby Director for a Monday. Thanks
• 32:34
  Speaker 3: to Mark Kelly. Thanks to having help Fizzio book Today
• 32:36
  Speaker 3: and say in the Game.
• 32:41
  Speaker 1: For more from News Talk ZEDB, listen live on air
• 32:44
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• 32:47
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