Latest / Rugby Direct / Rugby Direct Episode 233: Breaking down the key matchups of the Super Rugby playoffs

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Rugby Direct Episode 233: Breaking down the key matchups of the Super Rugby playoffs · Rugby Direct

• 0:09
  Speaker 1: You're listening to a podcast from News Talks at B.
• 0:12
  Speaker 1: Follow this and our Wide Ranger podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
• 0:19
  Speaker 2: Straight down the.
• 0:20
  Speaker 3: Middle of scrum.
• 0:28
  Speaker 1: To get inside the game from every end goal. It's
• 0:32
  Speaker 1: Rugby Direct with Elliott Smith and Liam Navier, powered by
• 0:36
  Speaker 1: News Talks EDB.
• 0:37
  Speaker 4: Welcome to Rugby Direct, powered by INSI and Safety Blackwoods
• 0:40
  Speaker 4: taking care of business. Back again for another edition of
• 0:45
  Speaker 4: Rugby Direct. Boy were racking them now rapidly heading towards
• 0:48
  Speaker 4: two hundred and fifty, Liam Phiels, So not that long ago,
• 0:51
  Speaker 4: we're on two hundred and now we're at what two
• 0:54
  Speaker 4: thirty four to two thirty five or.
• 0:56
  Speaker 2: Something like that, evoking memories of my cricketing talents.
• 1:00
  Speaker 3: There is that right. I don't think I have any
• 1:02
  Speaker 3: double Sea trees in school.
• 1:04
  Speaker 2: No, not many, none, I won't lie, But I think
• 1:08
  Speaker 2: captain the High School first fifteen some great talents in
• 1:13
  Speaker 2: that team.
• 1:14
  Speaker 3: And I'm including yourself absolutely.
• 1:17
  Speaker 2: Man of many talents.
• 1:18
  Speaker 4: Elliott Bradio look number ones on for the Radio Awards
• 1:23
  Speaker 4: tonight as well, So looking sharp, ready to go.
• 1:25
  Speaker 2: Yeap, got my wrist bands, We've got the number ones.
• 1:28
  Speaker 2: Nice to get dressed up and ditch the sweats for
• 1:31
  Speaker 2: once a year and look forward to seeing your bust
• 1:33
  Speaker 2: to move on the dance floor.
• 1:34
  Speaker 4: Absolutely probably get an injury, right, let's get into it.
• 1:37
  Speaker 4: A couple of news items to get into. Jack Measley
• 1:40
  Speaker 4: joined the podcast a bit later on as well, the
• 1:42
  Speaker 4: boss of Super Rugby News this morning that Troll Lomax
• 1:46
  Speaker 4: has resigned with New Zealand Rugby through until twenty twenty nine.
• 1:49
  Speaker 4: By my calculations, he's the sixth All Black to re
• 1:52
  Speaker 4: sign to that point, which is obviously allions two a year.
• 1:56
  Speaker 4: There had been suggestions that Munster were courting him.
• 2:00
  Speaker 3: He wasn't.
• 2:01
  Speaker 4: He was off contray after this year. I think Monster
• 2:02
  Speaker 4: looking after the World Cup. But regardless, they can take
• 2:06
  Speaker 4: their deal off the table now because he's resigned until
• 2:08
  Speaker 4: twenty twenty nine. It's a good hold for New Zealand Rugby.
• 2:11
  Speaker 3: It is.
• 2:11
  Speaker 2: And look, I think when players resign it's easy to
• 2:16
  Speaker 2: overlook that there's much bigger deal made when players are leaving, right,
• 2:21
  Speaker 2: But don't underestimate the significance of retaining Tyrol Lomax. You
• 2:28
  Speaker 2: build teams around first fives, but you also build teams
• 2:31
  Speaker 2: around tight hair props, and in a global market, tight
• 2:35
  Speaker 2: hair props are highly desirable. We had Bruce Shack on
• 2:38
  Speaker 2: the pod and he talked about hookers and halfbacks and
• 2:44
  Speaker 2: open side flankers not being in demands and probably paid
• 2:48
  Speaker 2: overs in a New Zealand context. Well, tight haired props
• 2:51
  Speaker 2: are among the world's best paid players and they take
• 2:55
  Speaker 2: time to mature. They anchor your scrum. Tyro Loomax has
• 2:59
  Speaker 2: been a bit injury prone throughout his career, but he
• 3:03
  Speaker 2: is a guy that he can build a team around.
• 3:05
  Speaker 2: News And Rugby does have depth in Fletcher Newle but
• 3:10
  Speaker 2: you can't manufacture experience and Tyrol Lomax is also a
• 3:17
  Speaker 2: guy that can go deep into a match. So a
• 3:19
  Speaker 2: massive hold Veneziana Rugby should not be underestimated. Monthster went
• 3:22
  Speaker 2: big time at him and not only retained him to
• 3:26
  Speaker 2: the World Cup but also through to the Next Lines Tour.
• 3:28
  Speaker 4: Yeah, big, big hold for New Zealand rugby. Obviously mentioned
• 3:32
  Speaker 4: Fletcher knew all he's out for this weekend super game
• 3:35
  Speaker 4: and the playoffs for the Crusaders with their knee injury
• 3:38
  Speaker 4: went off on the weekend. Haven't got a full detail
• 3:41
  Speaker 4: around that, but Lomex had a couple of injuries this
• 3:44
  Speaker 4: year himself, obviously, so not ideal to have both of
• 3:47
  Speaker 4: those players sidelines.
• 3:49
  Speaker 2: No, in the context of the All Blacks, not a
• 3:53
  Speaker 2: not a major. But the Crusaders will certainly want Fletcher
• 3:58
  Speaker 2: neilback asap, particularly because I've had to call on was
• 4:02
  Speaker 2: a twenty year old rookie off the Brown off the bench,
• 4:05
  Speaker 2: massive moment for him to make his debut in a
• 4:07
  Speaker 2: finals match, and conversely the Hurricanes getting Tyrell back at
• 4:12
  Speaker 2: just the right time. I think it's also been good
• 4:14
  Speaker 2: for Pasilio Tossi's development to have to play. He spent
• 4:18
  Speaker 2: much of his career riding the pine or at times
• 4:23
  Speaker 2: not even in the squad. The Hurricanes have immense depth
• 4:26
  Speaker 2: at tighthead with ta Vita Muffo Leo there as well, so,
• 4:30
  Speaker 2: but to get Tyrell back, to get forty minutes in
• 4:32
  Speaker 2: him against the Crusaders and then to bring him back
• 4:34
  Speaker 2: in the finals big in for the Hurricanes, and looking
• 4:38
  Speaker 2: at the weather forecast for Wellington, I think they'll need him.
• 4:43
  Speaker 3: It's a bit wet, is it.
• 4:44
  Speaker 2: There's no roof in Wellington.
• 4:46
  Speaker 3: This could be like Cambra with us could but this
• 4:48
  Speaker 3: could really sit the Brumbies.
• 4:49
  Speaker 2: Yeah, A few nerves, a few nerves growing as the
• 4:51
  Speaker 2: week goes on.
• 4:52
  Speaker 3: You've got a second life, so don't worry about.
• 4:54
  Speaker 2: That, Sue Braugby's great quirks.
• 4:57
  Speaker 4: Yes, well more from that on Jack Measley a bit
• 4:59
  Speaker 4: later on Super Rugby heading to Hawaii. How excited would
• 5:04
  Speaker 4: you be by that prospect? Some suggesting that more one
• 5:07
  Speaker 4: up Pacifika could relocate to Hawaii if they're going to survive,
• 5:11
  Speaker 4: or at least that the license could be relocated to
• 5:14
  Speaker 4: someone who wants to put it there.
• 5:17
  Speaker 3: Would that work in Super Rugby? Do you think?
• 5:20
  Speaker 2: Look, I'm easily won over Elliott. So if the Hawaiian
• 5:24
  Speaker 2: Hulas want to set up camp in Hawaii and Hawaiian
• 5:27
  Speaker 2: Airlines want to fly me over for some pinicolatas, I'll
• 5:30
  Speaker 2: get on board. But look, I think there's a number
• 5:33
  Speaker 2: of hoops to jump through. From a positive perspective, a
• 5:37
  Speaker 2: time zone it does work. I think there's what like
• 5:40
  Speaker 2: a two hour difference, so if the game kicks off
• 5:43
  Speaker 2: at nine pm in Hawaii at seven pm in New Zealand,
• 5:47
  Speaker 2: I think. But there's suggestions that there's a multi millionaire
• 5:54
  Speaker 2: tech guy that's willing to bankroll the team. There's also suggestions,
• 5:59
  Speaker 2: you know, Whence Peters has been in the island's trying
• 6:01
  Speaker 2: to cajole the salmon and tong and governments to stump
• 6:04
  Speaker 2: up cash. I can't see New Zealand fronting with any
• 6:07
  Speaker 2: money from a government inspective. Look, they would they would
• 6:11
  Speaker 2: need an airline, I think, or somebody willing to pay
• 6:15
  Speaker 2: for the cost of travel, because that is really prohibitive,
• 6:18
  Speaker 2: having to travel to Hawaii. I think player wise they would.
• 6:24
  Speaker 2: Players would probably rather live in Hawaii than some or
• 6:28
  Speaker 2: Tonga probably either and Albany well, I live on I
• 6:34
  Speaker 2: live on the shore, but Hawaii is very attractive from
• 6:38
  Speaker 2: a lifestyle perspective. But look, the timeline's extremely compromise, isn't it.
• 6:43
  Speaker 2: This talk of a feasibility study. But Super Rugby want
• 6:47
  Speaker 2: a draw by August? What do you reckon? Can you
• 6:50
  Speaker 2: see it getting sign off?
• 6:52
  Speaker 4: No, the windows too tight for this to happen. And
• 6:55
  Speaker 4: if it was going to happen, you know, these are
• 6:57
  Speaker 4: the kind of things that take eighteen to twenty four
• 7:00
  Speaker 4: months to get into train. They've got two months to
• 7:03
  Speaker 4: basically say they're in. If that, they may may even
• 7:05
  Speaker 4: be shorter than that because they want the draw out
• 7:07
  Speaker 4: in in August. So I just think everything's pointing towards
• 7:12
  Speaker 4: it being a ten team competition next year. Maybe your
• 7:14
  Speaker 4: ice didn't go yep, we'll look at something, but we
• 7:17
  Speaker 4: need to get through next year. That needs to be
• 7:19
  Speaker 4: the priority for Super Rugby. I know they've fitded with
• 7:22
  Speaker 4: the format endlessly and this would be another one. But
• 7:25
  Speaker 4: you don't want an eleventh team to come in and
• 7:27
  Speaker 4: then fall over again. So perhaps the best thing for
• 7:30
  Speaker 4: all parties is that Mowana Pacifica or whatever it's going
• 7:33
  Speaker 4: to be called, sits out next year, and maybe you
• 7:36
  Speaker 4: look towards twenty twenty eight, twenty twenty nine, and you
• 7:39
  Speaker 4: can potentially look at another way to expand as well,
• 7:42
  Speaker 4: if that were to be on the horizon with another
• 7:44
  Speaker 4: team whatever it might be, and lok to bring in
• 7:47
  Speaker 4: a twelfth team alongside it. Perhaps that's the way to
• 7:49
  Speaker 4: do it and get back to even numbers and Super
• 7:51
  Speaker 4: Rugby or and even doesn't but I just think this
• 7:54
  Speaker 4: is too tight to get going next year.
• 7:56
  Speaker 2: Yeah, it's a good point. You don't want to rush
• 7:58
  Speaker 2: and stand something up that's half baked. We saw that
• 8:01
  Speaker 2: with the sun Wolves, didn't we And the Southern Kings
• 8:06
  Speaker 2: were you know, helping boys the Rebels and the force
• 8:11
  Speaker 2: when they first came.
• 8:12
  Speaker 4: In were they were.
• 8:15
  Speaker 2: Pretty good at the back end of this year, but
• 8:16
  Speaker 2: what that's taken exactly twenty years and so yeah, maybe
• 8:22
  Speaker 2: that is a viable option, But there also has to
• 8:24
  Speaker 2: be questions around what sort of squad win I can
• 8:28
  Speaker 2: form next year when you're losing Miracle Fire along into Japan,
• 8:32
  Speaker 2: Sumissi tay lower to France, toumang a head coach, leaving
• 8:36
  Speaker 2: to the All Blacks. I think none of la marpees
• 8:39
  Speaker 2: off overseas and how many others with the uncertainty, So
• 8:42
  Speaker 2: what sort of squad are you going to be able
• 8:44
  Speaker 2: to assemble when there's been that uncertainty and players have
• 8:46
  Speaker 2: to put their careers first. So it does feel like
• 8:50
  Speaker 2: two bigg a bridge to get over and what a month?
• 8:53
  Speaker 4: Yeah if that, I mean, it's just the time is
• 8:56
  Speaker 4: taking away by the day. I just can't see any
• 8:59
  Speaker 4: way that they get to the start line, at least
• 9:02
  Speaker 4: for twenty twenty seven. Anyway, let's get into the weekend
• 9:05
  Speaker 4: of heads tipping wise, we're just going to take the same.
• 9:10
  Speaker 2: Yeah, I can't see how you can't. Australia's never won
• 9:13
  Speaker 2: a finals match in New Zealand Australian teams in history.
• 9:17
  Speaker 4: I just don't have the evidence to suggest that the
• 9:18
  Speaker 4: Rumbies or Reds could possibly do it this weekend.
• 9:22
  Speaker 2: I think the Reds will be competitive. They do match
• 9:25
  Speaker 2: up well with the Chiefs. I think they have an
• 9:26
  Speaker 2: internal belief they can pull out a one off performance,
• 9:33
  Speaker 2: but I'd still not far enough for them to go
• 9:36
  Speaker 2: and win.
• 9:36
  Speaker 5: No.
• 9:37
  Speaker 4: Hurricanes Brumby's on Friday night is the first game obviously
• 9:40
  Speaker 4: of the playoffs. The Hurricanes have all their band back
• 9:44
  Speaker 4: together after resting a few although they don't still have
• 9:47
  Speaker 4: a fair heath in the young and north for who's
• 9:49
  Speaker 4: out with the injury that's skipped them out for a
• 9:51
  Speaker 4: couple of weeks now.
• 9:52
  Speaker 2: So it sounds promising though. I saw a clip from
• 9:55
  Speaker 2: Clark Laidlaw saying he's been doing all his rehab. He's
• 9:57
  Speaker 2: a head of schedule, so I would expect him to
• 10:00
  Speaker 2: play a semi final.
• 10:02
  Speaker 4: For the Newcastle Red Bulls, so he's going to get
• 10:03
  Speaker 4: some more game time before he heads North. Look, the
• 10:06
  Speaker 4: Hurricanes should be too strong for the Brumbies. I expect
• 10:09
  Speaker 4: to the Brumbies to put up a better reffit than
• 10:11
  Speaker 4: they did against more one up PACIFICA. They would have
• 10:13
  Speaker 4: been pretty humbled by that performance. They were poor for
• 10:16
  Speaker 4: long patches of that game. Hard to see them being
• 10:19
  Speaker 4: that poor again even though they're away from home. But
• 10:21
  Speaker 4: I still have the Hurricanes thirty plus.
• 10:24
  Speaker 2: Yeah, I think so. I think there's the one question
• 10:28
  Speaker 2: mark with the Canes about this time of year is
• 10:30
  Speaker 2: does this style of rugby work when it's raining, it's wet,
• 10:34
  Speaker 2: it's tight, it's tense. Its finals can be very different.
• 10:38
  Speaker 2: But if they play with confidence and they've got great depth,
• 10:43
  Speaker 2: they should be too strong for the Brumbies.
• 10:45
  Speaker 4: Agrees the Crusaders and Blues look on the p On
• 10:49
  Speaker 4: the surface of it, there's potentially nothing riding on this
• 10:52
  Speaker 4: apart from I guess who you get to play the
• 10:55
  Speaker 4: following weekends. But the Brumbies or Reds could have to
• 10:58
  Speaker 4: say and really twist things up and make it an
• 11:00
  Speaker 4: elimination game, which would be weird.
• 11:02
  Speaker 2: Yeah, you can't go and take that game with that mindset.
• 11:05
  Speaker 2: You have to approach it as sudden death, like you say,
• 11:09
  Speaker 2: it is probable that's one of the one of the
• 11:13
  Speaker 2: Crusades and Blues will give second life.
• 11:15
  Speaker 4: You wouldn't want to go in and then lose it
• 11:16
  Speaker 4: and then go Actually the reads a bit the Chiefs
• 11:18
  Speaker 4: and whoever loses that is out, so you gotta approach it,
• 11:21
  Speaker 4: and I'm sure both teams are, but it's just a
• 11:23
  Speaker 4: weird feeling as a fan not knowing whether your advance
• 11:25
  Speaker 4: or whether you don't as a result. But look, the
• 11:29
  Speaker 4: Crusaders have kipt Tahakim at ten this week where his
• 11:32
  Speaker 4: Rayhana comes off the bench, lesterfying Nuku back at open
• 11:36
  Speaker 4: side Flanka. They've obviously got no Fletcher Neil, which is
• 11:39
  Speaker 4: a blow up front as we touched on before. The
• 11:42
  Speaker 4: Blues get Patrick Threep a lot two back in, but
• 11:44
  Speaker 4: no Old and Papa and no Boat and Barrett again
• 11:47
  Speaker 4: for them, it feels like, you know, we talk about
• 11:50
  Speaker 4: this on Monday, but the Blues have got a lot
• 11:53
  Speaker 4: of work to do if they're trying to if they're
• 11:54
  Speaker 4: going to get this game. And I don't see enough
• 11:57
  Speaker 4: firepower from their bench either. Although it's interesting that you
• 12:00
  Speaker 4: like Owen Ryan's retained a spot at reserve.
• 12:02
  Speaker 2: Looker, Yeah, look, an upset from the Blues wouldn't totally
• 12:07
  Speaker 2: shock me if you think of it. If you think
• 12:09
  Speaker 2: about that their last game in christ Church, the Blues
• 12:14
  Speaker 2: probably should have or could have won that game. They
• 12:17
  Speaker 2: that the back end of that game they had a
• 12:18
  Speaker 2: two man advantage and did nothing with it, But there.
• 12:21
  Speaker 4: Was no really that ten minutes before halftime with they
• 12:23
  Speaker 4: actually threw a few punches in that game.
• 12:25
  Speaker 2: Yeap, that's fair. I think they're capable of a one
• 12:29
  Speaker 2: up performance, but on the on the evidence of what
• 12:32
  Speaker 2: we've seen in the past three weeks, there is no
• 12:34
  Speaker 2: way you could tip the Blues to win that match.
• 12:37
  Speaker 2: I think Fletcher's a big out, but the blue set
• 12:39
  Speaker 2: piece has been an abomination in recent weeks. They scrumber
• 12:42
  Speaker 2: line out Shambalock if they can find a way to
• 12:45
  Speaker 2: get that right. Offer toing a fuss. He's come back
• 12:48
  Speaker 2: to starts. I think he's a bit of a fading
• 12:51
  Speaker 2: force certainly around the park, but he's still a very
• 12:54
  Speaker 2: strong scrummager. So maybe they look to go at the
• 12:57
  Speaker 2: Crusaders there. Yeah, and also what an adversement for that
• 13:04
  Speaker 2: stadium that it's sold out in twenty minutes? That what's that?
• 13:07
  Speaker 2: Four five straight sellouts? Man, just get a stadium to
• 13:12
  Speaker 2: Auckland with a roof already.
• 13:13
  Speaker 4: Yeah, National Stadium again delivering in christ Church it's great
• 13:17
  Speaker 4: to see look at You know, the Crusaders have always
• 13:19
  Speaker 4: been perhaps numbers not numbers wise, or maybe numbers wise,
• 13:23
  Speaker 4: but you know, the most probably well supported New Zealand
• 13:25
  Speaker 4: Super rugby team in terms of a connection to their
• 13:28
  Speaker 4: fan base.
• 13:28
  Speaker 2: Yeah, but in recent years Apollo Projects was fairly empty
• 13:33
  Speaker 2: for playoff games on a regular basis.
• 13:35
  Speaker 4: But what I think you've seen now is was you know,
• 13:37
  Speaker 4: you've got a great stadium now yet an absolute shitter
• 13:39
  Speaker 4: of a stadium beforehand. People were sick of that stadium,
• 13:42
  Speaker 4: and now they've reconnected with the Crusaders. I think can
• 13:45
  Speaker 4: only be a good thing for Super Rugby.
• 13:47
  Speaker 2: Yeah. Absolutely, it's a great venue so having the Crusaders,
• 13:52
  Speaker 2: but I do expect it to be unders close and
• 13:55
  Speaker 2: a bit nervy at times.
• 13:58
  Speaker 4: Chiefs Reads seven o five Saturday nights in Hamilton. You
• 14:04
  Speaker 4: know the Chiefs go on obviously as favorites for this game.
• 14:07
  Speaker 4: You mentioned the reads. Look, if everything fires, if they
• 14:11
  Speaker 4: can get they'd be best players firing, then there's a
• 14:14
  Speaker 4: chance for them to come through and win. But I
• 14:17
  Speaker 4: just away from home, I can't see it happening. I
• 14:21
  Speaker 4: don't think this Chiefs team is as fallible at home,
• 14:25
  Speaker 4: as perhaps other teams have been in the past. I
• 14:28
  Speaker 4: would fully expect them to win. This might be close,
• 14:31
  Speaker 4: this might be a twelve and under, but I still
• 14:33
  Speaker 4: think the Chiefs will get.
• 14:34
  Speaker 3: The job done.
• 14:34
  Speaker 5: Yeah.
• 14:35
  Speaker 2: I think the Chiefs win. They get eight all blacks
• 14:37
  Speaker 2: back for this and they've got fourteen in their twenty
• 14:40
  Speaker 2: three man squad. Lerocada back for the first time I
• 14:44
  Speaker 2: don't know this season, played a few games earlier that. Yeah,
• 14:47
  Speaker 2: so he comes back via the bench. I think that's
• 14:49
  Speaker 2: a big in. He's an electric prospect, certainly at at
• 14:53
  Speaker 2: super agular level. Man, this squad is phenomenal, really outstanding depth.
• 14:59
  Speaker 2: Just on those all blacks. The Hurricanes have nine Blue seven,
• 15:03
  Speaker 2: Crusaders eleven and the Chiefs fourteen. It really does paint
• 15:09
  Speaker 2: a stark picture for the for the Landers of where
• 15:13
  Speaker 2: the talents, the elite talent is pulled in New Zell
• 15:16
  Speaker 2: and Rugby. But yeah, I think the Chiefs one. They're
• 15:19
  Speaker 2: getting those bodies back at the right time. They rested,
• 15:22
  Speaker 2: like you say, back at home. They'll get the job done.
• 15:24
  Speaker 3: Yeah.
• 15:24
  Speaker 4: It felt like last week was a bit of a
• 15:25
  Speaker 4: statement as well, in terms of rising to the occasion
• 15:29
  Speaker 4: in the Pluffs. You are six points aheads in the
• 15:31
  Speaker 4: rugby direct tipping.
• 15:33
  Speaker 2: Give me the trophy, now, well you.
• 15:36
  Speaker 4: Might have to yet quite well, I hit catch up,
• 15:39
  Speaker 4: so maybe you will win that. Speaking of trophies, our
• 15:41
  Speaker 4: tip and comp, sorry, our fantasy comp has come to
• 15:43
  Speaker 4: an end, has now, if memory serves right, you were
• 15:47
  Speaker 4: leading that heading into the final band of the regular season,
• 15:50
  Speaker 4: and I'm going to leave you.
• 15:57
  Speaker 2: Your mail is correct.
• 16:01
  Speaker 3: Well, this is not a great up for the Hurricanes.
• 16:04
  Speaker 3: Your Hurricanes.
• 16:05
  Speaker 2: I'm doing them a favor, Elliott. We've discussed this. I
• 16:08
  Speaker 2: so they didn't have to. I think I led for
• 16:10
  Speaker 2: the last two three weeks, so it was a good season.
• 16:14
  Speaker 2: And I've probably done the Chiefs, really haven't I I've lost, lost,
• 16:19
  Speaker 2: lost the final. So yeah, big ups to Isaac. He's
• 16:24
  Speaker 2: you suit me in the final round. I had absolute shocker.
• 16:26
  Speaker 2: Actually I only got four hundred and fifty points poor,
• 16:30
  Speaker 2: So congrats to Isaac. Make sure you get in touch
• 16:33
  Speaker 2: with me. He responded to our message earlier in the
• 16:38
  Speaker 2: season about merch from superregby team going to the winner,
• 16:42
  Speaker 2: saying he's pretty stoked with that. So get in touch
• 16:44
  Speaker 2: with us, Isaac and we'll sort you out. And thanks
• 16:47
  Speaker 2: to all who jumped on board and participated Fantasy Rugby.
• 16:51
  Speaker 2: Good fun, great initiative from Super Rugby, albeit what five
• 16:55
  Speaker 2: years after the fact?
• 16:56
  Speaker 4: Yeah, and I completely forgot my team for the last
• 16:59
  Speaker 4: two or three weeks, so I don't know where I finished,
• 17:01
  Speaker 4: but it was way down the rankings.
• 17:03
  Speaker 2: Glad one of us flying the flag.
• 17:04
  Speaker 3: Yeah yeah, Isaac.
• 17:05
  Speaker 4: Get in touch either with Liam or Rugby Director News Talk,
• 17:08
  Speaker 4: ZB dot co dot m ZID. I mentioned em earlier.
• 17:12
  Speaker 4: Jack Measley, the boss of Super Rugby joining us on
• 17:15
  Speaker 4: Rugby Direct. I caught up with him miss today and
• 17:17
  Speaker 4: three a few questions at him on the eve of
• 17:19
  Speaker 4: the playoffs and about how much he was looking forward
• 17:22
  Speaker 4: to the playoffs playing off from this weekend.
• 17:26
  Speaker 5: Oh man, I think it's been a great, great regular season.
• 17:30
  Speaker 5: I probably would have liked to have seen a few
• 17:32
  Speaker 5: of the Aussie sides finish higher, just so that we
• 17:35
  Speaker 5: were penetrating the Aussie market a bit more. But all
• 17:39
  Speaker 5: up made very very pleased with the regular season and
• 17:42
  Speaker 5: exciting final series ahead.
• 17:44
  Speaker 4: Indeed, has it delivered what you wanted it to and
• 17:48
  Speaker 4: built on the previous twelve months and the twenty twenty
• 17:51
  Speaker 4: five season.
• 17:53
  Speaker 5: It really has. In a number of areas. You know,
• 17:57
  Speaker 5: we're seeing some really positive momentum. I think firstly on
• 18:02
  Speaker 5: the on the field, we've continued our good direction around
• 18:05
  Speaker 5: our shape of game, looking at our key tricks of
• 18:08
  Speaker 5: reducing dead time and getting the ball moving, so really
• 18:14
  Speaker 5: pleased with that. We've seen about another three minute reduction
• 18:17
  Speaker 5: in dead time, which is compounding off the great work
• 18:20
  Speaker 5: we saw last season. So really pleased with how that's looking.
• 18:25
  Speaker 5: You know, tries are still high and games have been
• 18:29
  Speaker 5: really good and I think highlighted probably by the Hurricane
• 18:31
  Speaker 5: sort of how they're playing the game and winning in
• 18:34
  Speaker 5: our competition is really pleasing. So on the field, really
• 18:38
  Speaker 5: really excited and happy with the momentum there. Off the field,
• 18:43
  Speaker 5: some really positive momentums. Our key focus going into this
• 18:47
  Speaker 5: season was about attendance and really pleased with how that's gone.
• 18:53
  Speaker 5: So in New Zealand, all five New Zealand clubs are
• 18:57
  Speaker 5: going to post some really pleasing growth stories around their
• 19:00
  Speaker 5: attendance overall double digit growth and all of those clubs
• 19:04
  Speaker 5: are growing. So you know, I think from where I
• 19:08
  Speaker 5: see it, looking at the data and the facts, really
• 19:10
  Speaker 5: pleased with how how the season's gone. Still opportunity for
• 19:14
  Speaker 5: us to work on. But you know, all up, you know,
• 19:17
  Speaker 5: we're really happy.
• 19:18
  Speaker 4: You mentioned the Australian teams obviously, and as it stands,
• 19:22
  Speaker 4: not another home game for those Australian teams for its
• 19:25
  Speaker 4: barring a few upsets and who knows what might happen
• 19:28
  Speaker 4: this weekend. But is that a concern that I guess
• 19:32
  Speaker 4: New Zealand is going to have three semi finals or
• 19:36
  Speaker 4: you know, playoff games in that opening round.
• 19:39
  Speaker 5: Yeah, I mean there's still there is still some chance.
• 19:42
  Speaker 5: I'm looking at the eight different scenarios for our semi
• 19:45
  Speaker 5: finals and the Reds could host the Brumbies. Should should
• 19:49
  Speaker 5: we have a whole heap of upsets this week in
• 19:52
  Speaker 5: a semi final? Yeah, I mean I think the Aussie
• 19:55
  Speaker 5: teams would be disappointed. You know, early in the season,
• 19:58
  Speaker 5: the Brumbies were flying, you know, and I think they
• 20:02
  Speaker 5: had a number of games they probably let slip that
• 20:04
  Speaker 5: really should have had them finished in the top two.
• 20:07
  Speaker 5: So yeah, I think the teams will be disappointed. Yeah,
• 20:11
  Speaker 5: I would have liked to have seen more Aussie games,
• 20:14
  Speaker 5: you know, played through the final series. Again, not because
• 20:18
  Speaker 5: I'm an Aussie, because it's a very big market here
• 20:22
  Speaker 5: and and we you know, for the growth of the competition.
• 20:26
  Speaker 5: We need to be penetrating those those those teams. But yeah,
• 20:30
  Speaker 5: having said that, you know what has been great again
• 20:33
  Speaker 5: this year. We've like last year, there's been a number
• 20:36
  Speaker 5: of hoodoos that have been broken, which is great for
• 20:40
  Speaker 5: the competition. You know, the Brumby's winning in christ Church
• 20:43
  Speaker 5: for the first time I think a twenty six years
• 20:45
  Speaker 5: and putting fifty on the Crusaders was a good one.
• 20:48
  Speaker 5: Mp winning in Canberra last week, you know, wonderful story there,
• 20:52
  Speaker 5: the Drewer winning in Canberra for the first time. The
• 20:55
  Speaker 5: Forces have had a really great year. You know, seven
• 20:58
  Speaker 5: wins for them is a is a really positive shift
• 21:01
  Speaker 5: in momentum. So you know, whilst whilst you know, I'd
• 21:05
  Speaker 5: probably love to see an Ozzie team finish higher, some
• 21:08
  Speaker 5: of the jeopardy that's in the comp this year has
• 21:11
  Speaker 5: been really pleasing to see.
• 21:13
  Speaker 4: You mentioned the numbers and the crowds. We've got one
• 21:16
  Speaker 4: New Zealand Stadium sold out again for the Blues Crusaders game.
• 21:19
  Speaker 4: I think that's the fifth sellout potentially in a row,
• 21:22
  Speaker 4: including Super Round. You know, those sort of stories must
• 21:26
  Speaker 4: make you pretty happy about the way that that team
• 21:28
  Speaker 4: in particular and those numbers are trending.
• 21:31
  Speaker 5: Yeah, it's just great to see, isn't it selling out
• 21:34
  Speaker 5: in twenty minutes a qualifying final and you're right. I
• 21:38
  Speaker 5: think that's the fifth game in a row and obviously
• 21:41
  Speaker 5: super around the whole weekend was sold out, so that
• 21:43
  Speaker 5: was really pleasing. I was down in Hamilton on the weekend,
• 21:46
  Speaker 5: great crowd down there and I took a couple of
• 21:49
  Speaker 5: oddie mates over and they absolutely had a ball down
• 21:54
  Speaker 5: there in Hamilton. So great to see it in christ Church,
• 21:57
  Speaker 5: but also really pleasing to seed in other areas as well.
• 22:00
  Speaker 5: And as I said, all five New Zealand clubs are
• 22:02
  Speaker 5: going to post really pleasing results in terms of crowd
• 22:05
  Speaker 5: this year. And seeing the improvements at the Hurricanes at
• 22:10
  Speaker 5: the Blues, you know, the Highlanders always always do well
• 22:13
  Speaker 5: for such a such a small market, so and again
• 22:17
  Speaker 5: you know, it was really good to be there on
• 22:18
  Speaker 5: the on the weekend with the Chiefs with twenty odd
• 22:20
  Speaker 5: thousand as well.
• 22:21
  Speaker 4: Obviously on the doorstep of the playoffs, Jack and the
• 22:24
  Speaker 4: slightly tweaked variation this year, if the Hurricanes are one
• 22:28
  Speaker 4: of the top four losers, they slide to the bottom
• 22:31
  Speaker 4: of the four remaining teams I think you talked about
• 22:35
  Speaker 4: it at the time and the and the reason for
• 22:37
  Speaker 4: the change, But just for our podcast listeners, what went
• 22:40
  Speaker 4: into making the tweak that you did do for this
• 22:43
  Speaker 4: playoff series.
• 22:45
  Speaker 5: Yeah, well, I think the overwhelming feedback after last season,
• 22:49
  Speaker 5: particularly around the Chiefs that got the you know, I guess,
• 22:52
  Speaker 5: the double benefit of being the lucky loser of both
• 22:56
  Speaker 5: getting a second chance and hosting it just seemed that
• 23:00
  Speaker 5: it needed some correction, So so we bought that in.
• 23:04
  Speaker 5: You know, I think it certainly is a good addition
• 23:08
  Speaker 5: and a necessary tweak as we go into this weekend
• 23:11
  Speaker 5: and we look at all the permutations, and yeah, there
• 23:15
  Speaker 5: is a lot riding on it, right, So Hurricanes, if
• 23:17
  Speaker 5: they don't win, you know, yes, they might still get
• 23:21
  Speaker 5: a second chance, but you know, they could they could
• 23:24
  Speaker 5: end up going somewhere where they really don't want to go.
• 23:27
  Speaker 5: So yeah, we think it brings a bit more intrigue
• 23:30
  Speaker 5: and probably the right level of benefit for your ladder position,
• 23:36
  Speaker 5: and also, you know, for that lucky loser position.
• 23:39
  Speaker 4: There's obviously always chatter about tweets and formats and things
• 23:42
  Speaker 4: like that, but obviously the one that often comes up
• 23:45
  Speaker 4: is whether you give the top two seeds a week off.
• 23:49
  Speaker 4: Why why have you looked and gone with the one
• 23:51
  Speaker 4: you have rather than you know, three v six.
• 23:53
  Speaker 3: Four v five.
• 23:56
  Speaker 5: Yeah, I think for a number of reasons. You know,
• 24:01
  Speaker 5: part of it is about making sure we've got as
• 24:03
  Speaker 5: much content in as many markets as we can, so
• 24:06
  Speaker 5: we like the three game qualifying final for that reason.
• 24:11
  Speaker 5: I think the second point, which is potentially the main one, is,
• 24:16
  Speaker 5: you know, if you look at our finals history, the
• 24:20
  Speaker 5: percentage of games won by the home team is significant,
• 24:25
  Speaker 5: and maybe as it should be, but I think it
• 24:28
  Speaker 5: is it's a bit of an achilles for our competition
• 24:32
  Speaker 5: that you know that the home teams have such an
• 24:35
  Speaker 5: advantage if those home teams are also getting a week
• 24:38
  Speaker 5: off by skipping week one of the finals. There is
• 24:42
  Speaker 5: an argument that suggests that that advantage is so material
• 24:48
  Speaker 5: that you know, potentially we run through it a final
• 24:51
  Speaker 5: series that's even more predictable. Now. The counter argument is, obviously, well,
• 24:55
  Speaker 5: if you if you're first and second past the point
• 24:58
  Speaker 5: past the post after the regular season, shouldn't you shouldn't
• 25:01
  Speaker 5: you get the advantage? But you know, I think the
• 25:04
  Speaker 5: current thinking is, you know, well, our thinking is that
• 25:08
  Speaker 5: there is already so much advantage with that home advantage.
• 25:13
  Speaker 4: Jack Measley with us on Rugby Direk Jack Obviously one
• 25:15
  Speaker 4: of the stories to the season. The backdrop has been
• 25:18
  Speaker 4: Mowana PACIFICA. As we sit here today, where are you
• 25:21
  Speaker 4: at with discussions around their future now they've finished up
• 25:24
  Speaker 4: their commitments and the competition.
• 25:27
  Speaker 5: Yeah, so ends that are are leading that process in
• 25:31
  Speaker 5: assessing potential new owners of more Wana Pacific Gap. So
• 25:37
  Speaker 5: they are currently reviewing that to see if there is
• 25:41
  Speaker 5: any chance of the right new owners coming in and
• 25:45
  Speaker 5: being able to take that franchise forward. It's been well
• 25:50
  Speaker 5: documented that the current owners it can no longer fund
• 25:52
  Speaker 5: it and in fact have gone into liquidation. So ens
• 25:58
  Speaker 5: R are working through that process. You know that they
• 26:03
  Speaker 5: are doing due diligence on that and they're going to
• 26:05
  Speaker 5: take the right amount of time to make sure that
• 26:07
  Speaker 5: that's done right. So we wait for that process to
• 26:11
  Speaker 5: come out. In the background, our focus has been on
• 26:15
  Speaker 5: supporting one specific to get through the season, and full
• 26:20
  Speaker 5: credit to the players and the management team for getting
• 26:25
  Speaker 5: through the season and doing so under really difficult circumstances,
• 26:29
  Speaker 5: not just the uncertainty of the future, but also you know,
• 26:32
  Speaker 5: with the company going into liquidation uncertain dyers would they
• 26:37
  Speaker 5: be paid or not? So for the team to get
• 26:39
  Speaker 5: on and finish the season and also then to go
• 26:42
  Speaker 5: to Canberra and get that win, full credit to them
• 26:45
  Speaker 5: and Tanna and his team full credit to get in
• 26:50
  Speaker 5: the team through. So as the process is going on,
• 26:54
  Speaker 5: we're doing all the work in the background to make
• 26:56
  Speaker 5: sure that twenty seven, regardless of what scenario happens, if
• 27:01
  Speaker 5: are in or if they're out, we're preparing for all
• 27:06
  Speaker 5: scenarios so that we're really roll and ready to fire
• 27:09
  Speaker 5: into another great season.
• 27:11
  Speaker 4: There's reports that could be based in Hawaii or someone
• 27:13
  Speaker 4: in Hawaii's looking into to basing it there. Would would
• 27:16
  Speaker 4: that work for Super Rugby having a team and the US.
• 27:22
  Speaker 5: Good question. I think it'll be a big leap for
• 27:26
  Speaker 5: us right now. You know, there's no there's no secret,
• 27:29
  Speaker 5: you know, with the with the rebels and now MP
• 27:33
  Speaker 5: you know, going through what they've gone. We are in
• 27:35
  Speaker 5: a we are in a phase of consolidation and strengthening
• 27:38
  Speaker 5: what we have here as I talk to we're seeing
• 27:41
  Speaker 5: some positive movement and positive growth in that consolidation phase.
• 27:46
  Speaker 5: Albeit you know, we we've obviously got my Moana situation,
• 27:51
  Speaker 5: so we really need to strengthen our core in my eyes,
• 27:55
  Speaker 5: before we before we go and tackle new markets. But
• 28:00
  Speaker 5: all of those proposals and all of those potential kind
• 28:03
  Speaker 5: of bids will be will be looked at and assessed
• 28:06
  Speaker 5: on their merits.
• 28:08
  Speaker 4: India need to have an answer by Jack. Obviously we've
• 28:10
  Speaker 4: got a playoff theories to contend with first, but I'm
• 28:13
  Speaker 4: sure soon after that, or even now that the attention
• 28:15
  Speaker 4: that turns to getting a draw together for twenty twenty seven.
• 28:18
  Speaker 4: So when's your line to get it done by Yeah.
• 28:23
  Speaker 5: I mean I've been public in saying that last year
• 28:26
  Speaker 5: we released our drawer in August, which was early for
• 28:29
  Speaker 5: Super Rugby. I do not want to go out beyond that.
• 28:33
  Speaker 5: So you know, it's certainly our intention to have that
• 28:36
  Speaker 5: all wrapped up in the next little while, but you know,
• 28:40
  Speaker 5: the right time needs to be taken on and it's
• 28:42
  Speaker 5: a very important piece of the puzzle. So you know,
• 28:46
  Speaker 5: we're you know, what do they say, chewing gum and
• 28:49
  Speaker 5: running at the same time so that we can meet
• 28:51
  Speaker 5: those timelines and we're planning for all eventualities. So yeah,
• 28:57
  Speaker 5: we're fairly confident with where we're at in terms of
• 28:59
  Speaker 5: all the scenario plans that need to be done. And yeah,
• 29:03
  Speaker 5: that's looking good right the.
• 29:05
  Speaker 4: US for rugby zarrex. When we get back on Monday,
• 29:07
  Speaker 4: they'll only before teams left in Super Rugby. Let's see
• 29:11
  Speaker 4: who they'll be, will be all in New Zealand. I
• 29:13
  Speaker 4: suspect it might be.
• 29:14
  Speaker 2: Yeah, I think so. So all of it familiar, isn't it.
• 29:19
  Speaker 2: It would it be nice for an aussy team to
• 29:21
  Speaker 2: come to the party.
• 29:21
  Speaker 4: Well, this is why they're want the conferences, isn't it?
• 29:24
  Speaker 4: So there is some Australian representation. This is what stands sports.
• 29:27
  Speaker 4: This is stand sports a gender for Super rugby.
• 29:29
  Speaker 2: Yes, finals should be earned, not guaranteed, Dahlias.
• 29:33
  Speaker 3: And again the Hurricanes have not really earned many through
• 29:37
  Speaker 3: the years.
• 29:38
  Speaker 2: I've made They've been in plenty of playoffs, finals and trophies. Well,
• 29:44
  Speaker 2: you managed to organize the fog for that disgraceful final
• 29:47
  Speaker 2: and crushed it.
• 29:48
  Speaker 4: Organized it last week too. That was quite good, wasn't
• 29:50
  Speaker 4: it right? That'll do us Rugby direct. We'll be back Monday,
• 29:54
  Speaker 4: thanks to INSI in safety Blackwoods taking care of business.
• 29:58
  Speaker 1: For more from News Talks ed B listen live on
• 30:01
  Speaker 1: air or online and keep our shows with you Wherever
• 30:04
  Speaker 1: you go with our podcast on iHeartRadio.