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Transcript

Rugby Direct - Episode 178 · Rugby Direct

• 0:09
  Speaker 1: You're listening to a podcast from News Talks ed B.
• 0:12
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• 0:19
  Speaker 2: Straight down the Middle, Try Dickey scud.
• 0:23
  Speaker 1: Try get inside the game from every angle. It's Rugby
• 0:32
  Speaker 1: Direct with Elliot Smith and Lea Napier, powered by News
• 0:36
  Speaker 1: Talks ed B.
• 0:37
  Speaker 3: Welcome into Rugby Direct powered by Access Solutions, elevating you
• 0:40
  Speaker 3: and your business to a higher level. We tease that
• 0:43
  Speaker 3: we might be back, and we have delivered two days
• 0:47
  Speaker 3: out from the All Blacks Test match against South Africa.
• 0:51
  Speaker 3: This big match has been on the horizon for quite
• 0:53
  Speaker 3: some time. Liam, It's as we record this, just over
• 0:56
  Speaker 3: forty eight hours away and we have the All Blacks
• 0:59
  Speaker 3: team for Saturday night's game. Were you surprised by the
• 1:03
  Speaker 3: twenty three that coach Scot Robertson's named.
• 1:06
  Speaker 2: No on the whole?
• 1:08
  Speaker 4: There was a bit of oil floating around the traps elsewhere,
• 1:12
  Speaker 4: but look, this is largely the team we discussed at
• 1:15
  Speaker 4: the start of the week and what I expected. I
• 1:18
  Speaker 4: thought they would bring in Ammonia Darraua for sever Reese.
• 1:22
  Speaker 4: We talked about Fabian Holland being fatigued and to provi
• 1:27
  Speaker 4: playing his best rugby at Locke for the All Blacks
• 1:29
  Speaker 4: last year, and the All Blacks have always seen Simon
• 1:33
  Speaker 4: Parker as a six rather than an eight. It was
• 1:35
  Speaker 4: more about giving him that exposure last week. And look,
• 1:39
  Speaker 4: the All Blacks were never going to push the panic button.
• 1:42
  Speaker 4: Their backs are pressed to the war and they are
• 1:48
  Speaker 4: really up against it, aren't They were the Eden park
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  Speaker 4: record the Springboks coming to town. But I never really
• 1:54
  Speaker 4: got the sense from Scott Robertson's public utterances or just
• 1:59
  Speaker 4: the general All.
• 2:00
  Speaker 2: Blacks ethos that they were always.
• 2:05
  Speaker 4: Back, faith first and foremost back players to respec on
• 2:08
  Speaker 4: before making mass changes.
• 2:10
  Speaker 2: What about you.
• 2:12
  Speaker 3: I don't know that it's pushing the panic part it necessarily,
• 2:14
  Speaker 3: but they've invested a lot into two po I at
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  Speaker 3: blindside flanker this year across the two tests in Dunedin
• 2:21
  Speaker 3: and Wellington. Didn't play in Hamilton, off the top of
• 2:24
  Speaker 3: my head, then played the two in Argentina at blindside Flanka.
• 2:27
  Speaker 3: Now that wouldn't have happened. If Simon Parker was fit
• 2:31
  Speaker 3: at the start of the year. He would have got
• 2:32
  Speaker 3: an opportunity in some of that French series. Whether it's
• 2:35
  Speaker 3: all some whatever, but it feels like for the biggest
• 2:38
  Speaker 3: Test match of the year. They've now diverted course, and
• 2:41
  Speaker 3: to an extent it is understandable, but I would have
• 2:45
  Speaker 3: almost liked them to stay the course. Now you mentioned
• 2:48
  Speaker 3: Farban Holland, I think he did look a little bit
• 2:50
  Speaker 3: fatigued him. And this is the young kid started five
• 2:52
  Speaker 3: Test matches on the trot and played eighteen I think
• 2:54
  Speaker 3: all bar one, so he has looked fatigued. And I
• 2:57
  Speaker 3: wonder if Patrick toy but lotso not being fed has
• 2:59
  Speaker 3: also played a part in some of these selections as well.
• 3:02
  Speaker 3: But it almost feels like they're rushing Simon Parker in
• 3:07
  Speaker 3: on the blind side. People might say that differently, but
• 3:10
  Speaker 3: I think you've invested to per v. I would have
• 3:12
  Speaker 3: stuck with him on the blind side for this Test match.
• 3:14
  Speaker 4: It's a fair concern. Look, Simon Parker's played one Test.
• 3:17
  Speaker 4: He's absolutely unproven at test level. I think I was
• 3:21
  Speaker 4: probably a wee bit harsh on him on reflection that
• 3:23
  Speaker 4: test he got through quite a power of work on
• 3:26
  Speaker 4: defense in an all black pack that was largely beaten
• 3:29
  Speaker 4: to the punch. But he's got everything to prove and
• 3:34
  Speaker 4: I think it was Matt Pears, the super support commentator
• 3:36
  Speaker 4: at the Press Currence today with Scott Robertson, talked about
• 3:39
  Speaker 4: the spring box saying or their mantra being there's a
• 3:43
  Speaker 4: test debut and then there's a debut against the All Blacks,
• 3:46
  Speaker 4: and that's a very real concept in the physicality the
• 3:51
  Speaker 4: collisions that Simon Parker and a number of this All
• 3:56
  Speaker 4: Black team will confront this weekend.
• 3:59
  Speaker 2: Look for me to Pervi isn't a six.
• 4:01
  Speaker 4: I think he lacks the pace and he was probably
• 4:04
  Speaker 4: exposed a wee bit there against the pumas he brings
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  Speaker 4: and upside. But if you just compare his performances last
• 4:11
  Speaker 4: year when he really was one of the All Blacks
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  Speaker 4: best from Locke Scorps and also talked about today him
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  Speaker 4: being one of the best scrummaging locks. I just I
• 4:21
  Speaker 4: do like the balance of the loose forderer and the
• 4:24
  Speaker 4: second row. But you're right, maybe they have diverted the
• 4:29
  Speaker 4: plan because why invest so much into provi Oni to
• 4:33
  Speaker 4: make that change for this game.
• 4:35
  Speaker 3: Yeah, it feels like maybe they should have stuck with
• 4:37
  Speaker 3: it at least this week. Clearly they've seen something in
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  Speaker 3: Simon Parker that from that first test when he got
• 4:43
  Speaker 3: through a lot of work a lot of tackles. I
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  Speaker 3: think he had the second most meters from the All Blacks.
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  Speaker 3: I mean that wasn't hard on that night, given though
• 4:49
  Speaker 3: weren't getting a lot of go forward. But big opportunity
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  Speaker 3: for him, I guess you can frame it that way,
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  Speaker 3: and a chance for him to take on that six
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  Speaker 3: year old Wallace. Titi comes back in at number eight.
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  Speaker 3: Artie Saviga has one hundredth on the open side flank.
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  Speaker 3: Big moment for Arti this week, as if this Test
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  Speaker 3: could be any bigger. You know, Artie bring up the
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  Speaker 3: one hundredth Test match, one hundred and second game overall.
• 5:11
  Speaker 3: He's meant a lot to the All Blacks for nigh
• 5:14
  Speaker 3: on a decade now and he can still deliver. You know.
• 5:17
  Speaker 3: His consistency is one of his hallmarks, isn't it.
• 5:20
  Speaker 2: Well, it's funny, isn't it.
• 5:21
  Speaker 4: I guess because of the normality, the magnitude of this
• 5:23
  Speaker 4: occasion and everything else that goes with the Eden Park,
• 5:26
  Speaker 4: the World Champions coming to town, Ardie's hundredth has very
• 5:30
  Speaker 4: much flown under the raidar. He spoke to us to
• 5:34
  Speaker 4: a big media pack today and I think he looked
• 5:38
  Speaker 4: away bit uncomfortable, doesn't necessarily want the spotlight on him
• 5:43
  Speaker 4: right now. You know, pre match the focus will certainly
• 5:47
  Speaker 4: be on getting the victory this weekends. But if you
• 5:53
  Speaker 4: reflect on Ardie, there's a few things.
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  Speaker 2: That stand out.
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  Speaker 4: One is his size in the land of Giants in
• 5:59
  Speaker 4: the forward pack. He's not big, is he, but he
• 6:04
  Speaker 4: consistently punches above his weight and has done from a
• 6:07
  Speaker 4: young age. I think he had to prove himself and
• 6:10
  Speaker 4: come out of the shadow of Julian and prove himself
• 6:13
  Speaker 4: from a size perspective. And we see now his leg
• 6:17
  Speaker 4: drive and he's grown into a real leader, hasn't he?
• 6:21
  Speaker 4: Through Wine and PACIFICA and he's led the All Blacks
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  Speaker 4: in Scott Robertson's absence. So yeah, massive occasion for him
• 6:28
  Speaker 4: this weekends, and that historically tends to bring out the
• 6:34
  Speaker 4: best in him.
• 6:35
  Speaker 3: It does, absolutely and he loves an occasion. We look
• 6:39
  Speaker 3: at the performances he had from one of Pacific out
• 6:41
  Speaker 3: this year and those big games Blues and North Harbor Stadium.
• 6:45
  Speaker 3: A lot made of that game and the lead up
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  Speaker 3: basically put the team on his shoulders and got them
• 6:50
  Speaker 3: the victory. So if he can deliver a performance like
• 6:53
  Speaker 3: that comes Saturday night, and then the All Blacks will
• 6:54
  Speaker 3: be well on the way to getting this victory. A
• 6:56
  Speaker 3: couple of changes to the back line as well, from
• 6:59
  Speaker 3: the Christie starts at half back. Cortez Rata ruled out
• 7:03
  Speaker 3: with that ribb injury he suffered in Argentina and Nadawa
• 7:06
  Speaker 3: on the right wing, your thoughts on both of those,
• 7:08
  Speaker 3: I guess for phin Lake Christie next man up mentality,
• 7:11
  Speaker 3: I mean he remarkable to think five six weeks ago,
• 7:15
  Speaker 3: maybe a bit longer when the squad was named in
• 7:16
  Speaker 3: Taranaki for the French series, that Phinlay Christie would be
• 7:21
  Speaker 3: starting against the spring Box. But it's transpired that way,
• 7:24
  Speaker 3: and I know the comparison was made to Stephen Donald today,
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  Speaker 3: fourth choice player in a big moment, big match, a
• 7:32
  Speaker 3: chance for him to really deliver and show what he's
• 7:36
  Speaker 3: capable of doing.
• 7:38
  Speaker 4: Yeah. Look, if there's one era of concern for the
• 7:40
  Speaker 4: orblexis halfback, isn't it you lose?
• 7:42
  Speaker 2: I think if you lose.
• 7:44
  Speaker 4: Three players in any position, can Roy Gardnahothem, Cortez Artima,
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  Speaker 4: You're going to be in a hole anywhere. Scott Robertson's
• 7:52
  Speaker 4: trying to build this four four four, Well here we
• 7:56
  Speaker 4: are she's getting an early taste of it, Finlay, Christie
• 8:00
  Speaker 4: has never quite delivered for me on the test stage.
• 8:06
  Speaker 4: He can get a little bit. He doesn't get overawed
• 8:08
  Speaker 4: by an occasion, but he can get rattled his decision
• 8:11
  Speaker 4: making a little bit at times. But as Scott Robinson
• 8:16
  Speaker 4: said today, he's got an established combination to a degree
• 8:19
  Speaker 4: with Boden Barrett and he's fairly unflappable character. But yeah,
• 8:24
  Speaker 4: with Christie starting and Coyle Preston on debut on the bench,
• 8:28
  Speaker 4: that is an area of concern for the All Blacks
• 8:31
  Speaker 4: and Ammonia Naraua. Look, I'm happy he's getting a chance,
• 8:35
  Speaker 4: but it's a rare chance and the All Blacks to
• 8:38
  Speaker 4: this point have lacked faith in them, haven't they.
• 8:41
  Speaker 2: I think this is his third test, second start.
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  Speaker 4: He only started earlier this year in Wellington against the
• 8:47
  Speaker 4: French after Caleb Clark pulled out late in the week
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  Speaker 4: with an injury. So he's almost been a bit of
• 8:53
  Speaker 4: a stopgap measure when they've had to go to him
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  Speaker 4: rather than when they've wanted to. So it is a
• 9:00
  Speaker 4: huge occasion to throw a guy in when there's so
• 9:03
  Speaker 4: much focus on that aerial assault that will come his
• 9:06
  Speaker 4: way well.
• 9:06
  Speaker 3: A lot of focus on Rico Yuani today as well,
• 9:08
  Speaker 3: and I thought Scot Robison chose his words relatively carefully
• 9:11
  Speaker 3: around what he expects and needs from him this weekend. Robertson,
• 9:15
  Speaker 3: I can't have the clip to play you at the moment,
• 9:17
  Speaker 3: but he was quite short in terms of that opportunity
• 9:19
  Speaker 3: and the expectation that is now in Riko Youwanne and
• 9:22
  Speaker 3: it feels like it is must deliver time for Riko Yuanni.
• 9:26
  Speaker 3: This is his home ground, his SETI expectations on him
• 9:30
  Speaker 3: to really deliver it. They decided to chop one of
• 9:33
  Speaker 3: the wings and sever Reese putting in morning another. He's
• 9:36
  Speaker 3: regod under the high ball. Riko Euan has clung onto
• 9:38
  Speaker 3: his jusey, but the message seems to be implied that
• 9:42
  Speaker 3: it's time to deliver, so.
• 9:43
  Speaker 2: It's a stay of execution. It feels that way, doesn't it.
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  Speaker 4: Because you've got Caleb Clark bloking and you have Les
• 9:49
  Speaker 4: defying a Nuku, two ready made options. Clark's your best
• 9:54
  Speaker 4: aerial winger, has performed really well against South Africa. He'll
• 9:58
  Speaker 4: go away and play for Auckland this weekend and by
• 10:00
  Speaker 4: all accounts be available for the All Blacks next week
• 10:02
  Speaker 4: in the rematch in Wellington, so Rico's on notice and
• 10:08
  Speaker 4: his back to the future switch from center to the
• 10:11
  Speaker 4: wing has been unconvincing across the board, from chasing kicks
• 10:16
  Speaker 4: to be involved with ball in hands. He has the
• 10:22
  Speaker 4: physical attributes, but it just hasn't clicked. And you don't
• 10:26
  Speaker 4: often see center's wings go to center and then back
• 10:30
  Speaker 4: to the wing, do you.
• 10:31
  Speaker 3: You don't, especially at the All Blacks, the age that
• 10:33
  Speaker 3: the age out of that profile. I know you've written
• 10:36
  Speaker 3: about it before, but late in their careers wings tend
• 10:40
  Speaker 3: to not you know, produce for the All Blacks in
• 10:43
  Speaker 3: terms of tries and therefore that's their currency. It's like
• 10:46
  Speaker 3: batsmen and runs in cricket. That's their currency of scoring
• 10:49
  Speaker 3: tries by and large, and often they exit around that
• 10:52
  Speaker 3: twenty seven to twenty eight age. Looking at the bench
• 10:55
  Speaker 3: as well, not too many surprises here. We've got to
• 10:58
  Speaker 3: mighty Williams coming off the bench again this week, or
• 11:01
  Speaker 3: a Lomax makes his return off the bench. A couple
• 11:03
  Speaker 3: of great players to bring on in the last thirty
• 11:06
  Speaker 3: thirty five minutes of the Test match as well. Fabing
• 11:09
  Speaker 3: and Holland drops to the bench to see Kadifi Carle
• 11:12
  Speaker 3: Preston for a day boone, then Quintepia, Damian mckint to
• 11:15
  Speaker 3: the Backs. Not too many surprises in that all Blacks bench.
• 11:18
  Speaker 2: No, the Backs perhaps lack a wee bit of firepower.
• 11:21
  Speaker 2: I think.
• 11:22
  Speaker 4: I'm sure Scott Robinson was tempted to bring Lester fighting
• 11:25
  Speaker 4: a nooku back in. You would have gone as far
• 11:27
  Speaker 4: as potentially starting him. You know that the argument you
• 11:29
  Speaker 4: made was he's available, pick him, and that's very valid.
• 11:33
  Speaker 4: I think if you weigh a two pire against fighting
• 11:36
  Speaker 4: a nook who, there is more upside in a lister.
• 11:38
  Speaker 4: But he only joined the camp on Sunday nights, so
• 11:42
  Speaker 4: maybe he will come into the mixed next weekend. In
• 11:45
  Speaker 4: terms of the Fords, it really is meet and fire
• 11:48
  Speaker 4: will fire to mighty Williams, SAMERSONI Takyaho, who is in
• 11:53
  Speaker 4: great form apart from his line out milkdown against the Pumas,
• 11:58
  Speaker 4: which is probably not his fault alone. Entirole Lomax. When
• 12:01
  Speaker 4: you talk about the box bomb squad, that is a
• 12:04
  Speaker 4: real beefy front row to bring on, isn't.
• 12:06
  Speaker 3: It certainly is. And Kyle Price for a debut after
• 12:09
  Speaker 3: earning making a super rugby deboot at the start of
• 12:11
  Speaker 3: the year. Quite a remarkable story. We don't have the
• 12:14
  Speaker 3: Box team at time of recording. We're standing by for that,
• 12:18
  Speaker 3: but Liam, give us a prediction, how is this going
• 12:21
  Speaker 3: to play out Saturday night?
• 12:23
  Speaker 4: Well, it's going to be a magic occasion. You know,
• 12:25
  Speaker 4: we're both very fortunate to be there to witness it.
• 12:28
  Speaker 4: It'll be a moment that will stand in time one
• 12:31
  Speaker 4: way or the other. I think there could be could
• 12:34
  Speaker 4: well be a bit of controversy. Who's the referee again,
• 12:37
  Speaker 4: Old Dixon?
• 12:38
  Speaker 2: Dixon? Which evokes a few nerves.
• 12:41
  Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, what do I say about Car? I would
• 12:45
  Speaker 3: just keep my powder dry until after the game. But
• 12:48
  Speaker 3: I think I've made a thoughts clear before on this
• 12:50
  Speaker 3: podcast about yes, Carl Dixon is an international referee recording.
• 12:54
  Speaker 4: I think I think there are a few nerves around
• 12:56
  Speaker 4: about how that's going to play out. Look, I'm going
• 12:59
  Speaker 4: to stick with the prediction I've made all week that
• 13:01
  Speaker 4: the All Blacks are going to rebound and win by
• 13:03
  Speaker 4: three points. That's not an overly confident one. But I
• 13:08
  Speaker 4: think this spring Box team, I won't go as far
• 13:11
  Speaker 4: as say they're not the team they were, but they're
• 13:12
  Speaker 4: certainly not performing to their potential. They've been in recent
• 13:18
  Speaker 4: times have been knocked over by the Pumas as the
• 13:20
  Speaker 4: All Blacks were. They lost at home to the Wallabies
• 13:22
  Speaker 4: and were exposed when the Wallabies brought fatigue into the
• 13:26
  Speaker 4: game and used a good short kicking game. So I
• 13:28
  Speaker 4: think there is a real blueprint there. I think Wayne
• 13:31
  Speaker 4: Smith coming into camp this week is very timely.
• 13:36
  Speaker 3: And so Graham Henry as well popping in on chas right.
• 13:39
  Speaker 2: Yeah, I don't know what.
• 13:40
  Speaker 4: I don't know whether the box, given what played out
• 13:44
  Speaker 4: in South Africa, are going to have the confidence to
• 13:47
  Speaker 4: play enough rugby because if they do it's a real risk.
• 13:52
  Speaker 4: So my gut is that they'll stick largely to their
• 13:56
  Speaker 4: strengths and I don't know if that'll that'll be enough.
• 13:58
  Speaker 3: I think they'll stick to their strengths as well. Like
• 14:00
  Speaker 3: I started the week with All Blacks by four, I've
• 14:02
  Speaker 3: gone back to All Blacks by three and now I'm
• 14:04
  Speaker 3: sitting it All Blacks by two forty eight hours out.
• 14:07
  Speaker 3: So I said, no, I'm going I'm going to draw
• 14:09
  Speaker 3: by Saturday I think, which was ninety four at Eden
• 14:13
  Speaker 3: Park as well. Look, it should be a fantastic test match,
• 14:16
  Speaker 3: looking forward to it and let's hope it delivers to
• 14:19
  Speaker 3: the hype that has been built around it, because it
• 14:21
  Speaker 3: feels like this has been Lions Test three and twenty seventeen,
• 14:25
  Speaker 3: even World Cup finalist in twenty eleven in terms of
• 14:28
  Speaker 3: the attention that has been zeroed in on this game.
• 14:31
  Speaker 2: Let's hope it delivered. Saturday night, Yes, Strappan can't wait Absolutely.
• 14:34
  Speaker 3: Live commentary on News Talks ABI Gold Sport iHeart Radio
• 14:37
  Speaker 3: seven oh five on Saturday, and you can follow live
• 14:39
  Speaker 3: blogs and all the analysis on the New Zealand Hero
• 14:42
  Speaker 3: website as well. Until next time. This has been Rugby
• 14:45
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• 14:51
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