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Transcript

Rugby Direct: Episode 228 · Rugby Direct

• 0:09
  Speaker 1: You're listening to a podcast from News Talks at B.
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• 0:19
  Speaker 1: Straight down the Middle of Trucks, Try get inside the
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  Speaker 1: game from Every End Goal. It's Rugby Direct with Elliot
• 0:34
  Speaker 1: Smith and Leam Napier powered by News Talks at B.
• 0:37
  Speaker 2: Welcome into Rugby Direct powered by INSI in Safety, Blackwood's
• 0:40
  Speaker 2: Tools Work where Footwear Safety. Get back again for another
• 0:44
  Speaker 2: edition of the pod. Elliott Smith with me, Liam Napier
• 0:48
  Speaker 2: and Midweek Chicken of Rugby Direct and Napes. Look. We're
• 0:53
  Speaker 2: hitting headfirst into the Super Ari playoffs in a couple
• 0:57
  Speaker 2: of weeks. But some pretty mouth watering matches to get into.
• 1:01
  Speaker 2: But some some news as well that has come out
• 1:03
  Speaker 2: over the last twenty four forty eight hours since a
• 1:05
  Speaker 2: recorded last couple of halfbacks to part in the country
• 1:09
  Speaker 2: Idionardi from the Hurricanes and Xavier Row out of the Chiefs,
• 1:13
  Speaker 2: and that do I say that middle layer is just
• 1:15
  Speaker 2: getting chipped away again in New Zealand rugby.
• 1:19
  Speaker 3: It is go to see Elliott. It's a further erosion
• 1:22
  Speaker 3: of depth, isn't it. Xavier Row sort of been knocking
• 1:25
  Speaker 3: on the door for the best part of two three years,
• 1:29
  Speaker 3: the half back depth has been pretty good. It was
• 1:32
  Speaker 3: hit pretty hard last year, but Rowe has been in
• 1:35
  Speaker 3: the All Blacks training squad. He's trained with the All
• 1:38
  Speaker 3: Blacks without being capped. He got pretty close last year,
• 1:44
  Speaker 3: but he has gone neck and neck with Courts ultimately
• 1:49
  Speaker 3: the Chiefs the past two years. He's a very creative halfback.
• 1:52
  Speaker 3: He's got a very he varies his kicking game a lot,
• 1:57
  Speaker 3: both along the ground in the air. Not as dynamic
• 2:02
  Speaker 3: running game as a wary guard or a Hotham, but
• 2:06
  Speaker 3: a very attacking minded, smart technically a stuote halfback who's
• 2:10
  Speaker 3: very experienced. So I think him in particular will be
• 2:14
  Speaker 3: a big loss for New Zealand rugby.
• 2:16
  Speaker 2: Yeah, I think so too. I've been pretty impressed by
• 2:19
  Speaker 2: has formed this year for the Chiefs and the way
• 2:21
  Speaker 2: that he's played, And he was right in that conversation
• 2:24
  Speaker 2: last year when there was that All Blacks injury crisis
• 2:26
  Speaker 2: and obviously came into camp as well for it for
• 2:28
  Speaker 2: a period of time. Just perhaps lacks the size maybe
• 2:32
  Speaker 2: for for Test rugby, but I think his vision is
• 2:36
  Speaker 2: up there in terms of New Zealand rugby players. And yeah,
• 2:40
  Speaker 2: lost for the Chiefs going to sail in the English Premiership.
• 2:44
  Speaker 2: I spoke with Xavier Roy yesterday and basically it was
• 2:47
  Speaker 2: to a good opportunity to turn out. He was out
• 2:49
  Speaker 2: of contract, he's twenty seven years old, he's got a
• 2:51
  Speaker 2: baby on the way. It all added up to basically
• 2:53
  Speaker 2: going if it don't go now, then maybe that opportunity
• 2:57
  Speaker 2: is not there in two years time. Eddie and Ardi's
• 2:59
  Speaker 2: going to Dragons in Wales. He's a someonn international, but
• 3:03
  Speaker 2: he's you know, he's been around the traps, hasn't. He's
• 3:05
  Speaker 2: playing for the Hurricanes at the moment. He's previously played
• 3:08
  Speaker 2: for more on a Pacific are He won five titles
• 3:11
  Speaker 2: with the Crusaders to get there, I did. But again
• 3:15
  Speaker 2: he's been valuable parties of some more in international. But
• 3:17
  Speaker 2: he's a valuable part of the Super rugby fabric. So yeah,
• 3:20
  Speaker 2: he'll be a loss. I know there are a couple
• 3:22
  Speaker 2: of young half backs coming in around the place, but yeah,
• 3:26
  Speaker 2: just more losses to New Zealand rugby.
• 3:28
  Speaker 3: Yeah, look, there is talent coming through. When you look
• 3:30
  Speaker 3: at a Dylan Pledger, we expect him well to have
• 3:35
  Speaker 3: been close to the mix even this year. Had he
• 3:37
  Speaker 3: got game time for the Highland has not been ruled
• 3:39
  Speaker 3: out for the year, so there is some talent coming through.
• 3:42
  Speaker 3: But yeah, these guys you can't buy experience. An Arde
• 3:46
  Speaker 3: not widely rated, I think it's fair to say, but
• 3:49
  Speaker 3: probably underrated based on what we've seen the past couple
• 3:52
  Speaker 3: of weeks.
• 3:52
  Speaker 2: Been really impressed by the way slotted in for the Hurricanes.
• 3:55
  Speaker 3: And they haven't missed a beat with him there. He
• 3:58
  Speaker 3: executed that special set move to perfection with the blindside
• 4:03
  Speaker 3: rap and the inside ball to killing the holow, so
• 4:06
  Speaker 3: he's probably surprised a lot of people, myself concluded with
• 4:09
  Speaker 3: how seamless that transition has been. And I have heard
• 4:14
  Speaker 3: a wee whisper. That's one the Hurricanes will have to
• 4:19
  Speaker 3: replace an Ardia next year and may be Brent Hallmarke
• 4:23
  Speaker 3: come home.
• 4:24
  Speaker 2: Is that right? Well again, how many Crusaders titles to
• 4:27
  Speaker 2: the one and I think he won six, seven, six
• 4:30
  Speaker 2: or seven, so he might be a contender. You know.
• 4:33
  Speaker 2: Just give some title experience to the Hurricanes because I'm
• 4:36
  Speaker 2: not know if they're going to win this year.
• 4:37
  Speaker 3: Oh really, mark that down, that's the day. But yeah,
• 4:42
  Speaker 3: look there will be a bit of a scrap for
• 4:44
  Speaker 3: halfbacks around the country won't there. I think Preston probably
• 4:50
  Speaker 3: should be starting at a franchise somewhere. You've got those
• 4:55
  Speaker 3: two leaving for make Christie's future we are uncertain as well.
• 4:59
  Speaker 2: I know Nick Sharer at the Highlanders. I think he
• 5:03
  Speaker 2: may be in conversations with the Blues. Not sure where
• 5:06
  Speaker 2: that's landed. They've got Adam Lennox who he's going really
• 5:09
  Speaker 2: strongly this year and have been very impressed by what
• 5:12
  Speaker 2: he's done. Flaffatava has been spat out the back. You know,
• 5:16
  Speaker 2: Rumors of a second coming of Flaff like Katava have
• 5:18
  Speaker 2: not really come to pass. Almost feels like he needs
• 5:21
  Speaker 2: a change in scenery. In some ways, it feels like
• 5:24
  Speaker 2: a last roll of the dice. I'm not sure how
• 5:26
  Speaker 2: long he's contracted at the Highlanders, but he's got a
• 5:30
  Speaker 2: you know, he's got to make something happen for the
• 5:33
  Speaker 2: sake of his career.
• 5:34
  Speaker 3: I suspect yeah he does. And I've been quite impressive.
• 5:38
  Speaker 3: Share I think was its wine of pacifica. He got
• 5:42
  Speaker 3: his first Super Rugby start and he impressed with Otago
• 5:46
  Speaker 3: and like a Lucas Casey, prove that he's ready for
• 5:50
  Speaker 3: that step up to Super Rugby. So he's starting again
• 5:52
  Speaker 3: this week for the Holanders, and that's a nod of
• 5:54
  Speaker 3: of the confidence that that coaching staff haven't.
• 5:57
  Speaker 2: Well speak of the Highlanders coaching stuff. Clark Dermody is
• 6:01
  Speaker 2: departing after a long tenure at the franchise, both of
• 6:04
  Speaker 2: his head coach and as a specialist coach or a
• 6:06
  Speaker 2: Ford's coach. He's leaving. So that's a loss to Jamie
• 6:10
  Speaker 2: Joseph who is going to have to rebuild his coaching
• 6:14
  Speaker 2: staff next year. I've heard there may be other departures.
• 6:17
  Speaker 2: That's the male that I've got, but it's going to
• 6:21
  Speaker 2: be interesting to see how they reshape the Highlanders've got
• 6:24
  Speaker 2: Josh Jacob coming in next year, you know, the suggestion
• 6:27
  Speaker 2: that may be in the market for a few more
• 6:28
  Speaker 2: oneer Pacificer players potentially. But this has been the continuing
• 6:34
  Speaker 2: story really of the last decade plus of the Highlanders
• 6:36
  Speaker 2: is that their ability to retain talent and recruit talent,
• 6:41
  Speaker 2: both as the coaching sphere and as a playing sphere
• 6:44
  Speaker 2: has always been rather difficult.
• 6:46
  Speaker 3: Well, yeah, I mean the opportunity makes sense for Clark Demody.
• 6:49
  Speaker 3: He like you say, he's been there as a head
• 6:51
  Speaker 3: coach for a season, He's been there a long time
• 6:54
  Speaker 3: in a Ford's coaching capacity, so to go to another
• 6:56
  Speaker 3: part of the world have that experience with his family,
• 6:59
  Speaker 3: I think good on him. But it is a continuation
• 7:03
  Speaker 3: of really high turnover of assistant coaches for Jamie Joseph
• 7:08
  Speaker 3: And like you say, you're hearing, there could be more,
• 7:12
  Speaker 3: so they're going to have to recruit. We've seen Tom
• 7:15
  Speaker 3: Donnelly and who went to the Pumas, Kendrick Lynn, Kendrick
• 7:21
  Speaker 3: Lynn and a number of others move on in recent times.
• 7:25
  Speaker 3: So there hasn't been a lot of stability and there
• 7:28
  Speaker 3: won't be again next year.
• 7:30
  Speaker 2: No, they won't. And yeah, it feels like a franchise
• 7:33
  Speaker 2: that just needs a little bit of a reset. And
• 7:36
  Speaker 2: I'm not sure where where they go to, whether it's
• 7:38
  Speaker 2: an administration thing, a coaching staff thing, or you know,
• 7:41
  Speaker 2: playing thing, but it feels like that there are a
• 7:43
  Speaker 2: team that's in a bit of a reset required. Also,
• 7:47
  Speaker 2: before we get into tipping this week, no Scott Barrett
• 7:49
  Speaker 2: still for the Crusaders. This has been flagged for the
• 7:51
  Speaker 2: last couple of weeks that he was going to come
• 7:53
  Speaker 2: back around May. We heard from his sabbatical he's had
• 7:55
  Speaker 2: another setback potentially around the back. Dave Rennie said last
• 7:59
  Speaker 2: week that maybe he might have been come back through
• 8:01
  Speaker 2: club rugby if the Crusaders don't go overly deep into
• 8:03
  Speaker 2: the playoffs. So a lot of worries for Scott Barrett.
• 8:07
  Speaker 2: I mean, it seems to be widely assumed that he's
• 8:09
  Speaker 2: not going to be the All Blacks captain anymore. That
• 8:11
  Speaker 2: hasn't been officially confirmed, but you know you need to
• 8:15
  Speaker 2: Seecott Barrett back out on the paddock with an eye
• 8:17
  Speaker 2: to test rugby later on the air.
• 8:20
  Speaker 3: Yeah, we do and look captaincy asides and there's no
• 8:24
  Speaker 3: doubt that had an impact on his form of the
• 8:27
  Speaker 3: past two years. I think his body has let him
• 8:30
  Speaker 3: down and there's been a lot of niggles or things
• 8:33
  Speaker 3: that aren't right within his body. Certainly last year he
• 8:37
  Speaker 3: must quite a fair chunk of that All Black season.
• 8:40
  Speaker 3: At times he had the late start, contractual start to
• 8:45
  Speaker 3: refresh and scare his back right and then he was
• 8:47
  Speaker 3: on the cusper returning. It's had another flare up, So
• 8:50
  Speaker 3: it is a concern I think for him. He'll he'll
• 8:53
  Speaker 3: want game time from a conditioning point of view, from
• 8:58
  Speaker 3: you just want the ball in your hands want you
• 8:59
  Speaker 3: want to get that contact, so he will be desperate
• 9:03
  Speaker 3: to get back. I have been impressed by the likes
• 9:05
  Speaker 3: of Jamie Hannah, but I think Scott Barrettwood a significant bulk.
• 9:10
  Speaker 3: So the Crusaders will be hoping to performing in these
• 9:13
  Speaker 3: next two weeks, potentially challenge the Blues for a home
• 9:17
  Speaker 3: final and then push deep in the playoffs, and that'll
• 9:21
  Speaker 3: give Scott the best chance of returning.
• 9:22
  Speaker 2: Indeed, well, let's get into the weekend that is ahead
• 9:25
  Speaker 2: and the Crusaders get Will Jordan back this week, shaf
• 9:27
  Speaker 2: Fee Hackey also back in the mix for them. This
• 9:30
  Speaker 2: week they host the Chiefs, who don't have Damien McKenzie,
• 9:33
  Speaker 2: who's out with that Hia relatively stable chief side. Otherwise,
• 9:39
  Speaker 2: keen for you to tell us which way you think
• 9:41
  Speaker 2: that one's going to go in christ Jitch.
• 9:42
  Speaker 3: Oh yeah, yeah, Look, I'm quite surprised by the odds
• 9:45
  Speaker 3: in this. Actually the Crusaders are outsiders two dollars outsiders
• 9:49
  Speaker 3: to I think dollars seventy something odds, and that does
• 9:53
  Speaker 3: surprise me. Because the Crusaders get their tailsmen back and
• 9:57
  Speaker 3: Will Jordan and the Chiefs lose theirs and McKenzie and
• 10:00
  Speaker 3: those are two big in and outs, and for me,
• 10:03
  Speaker 3: that does tip it in the way of the Crusaders.
• 10:06
  Speaker 3: The Chiefs are still missing that Awa Kada. They had
• 10:10
  Speaker 3: performed well, but I don't think they've either set the
• 10:14
  Speaker 3: world on fire. I think their forward pack may have
• 10:17
  Speaker 3: the edge. When you look at Takyaho Vy the Looseforcheros
• 10:24
  Speaker 3: Titi Jacobson, it's really strong. But with Will Jordan Backer,
• 10:29
  Speaker 3: expect him to fire up that Crusader's attack. Lestifying and
• 10:32
  Speaker 3: nook who's been in great form, the Crusaders should be
• 10:34
  Speaker 3: pretty fresh. Another third straight sellout in christ Church which
• 10:38
  Speaker 3: certainly helps build the confidence and momentum. And I do
• 10:42
  Speaker 3: feel like the Crusaders have built well in recent weeks.
• 10:44
  Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm intrigued to see how Lestifying Onooker goes. I
• 10:46
  Speaker 2: mean last time out against the Blues before the buye,
• 10:48
  Speaker 2: he was electric in that game. You had Will Jordan
• 10:51
  Speaker 2: back into the mix. Feels like players are coming back
• 10:53
  Speaker 2: at the right time for this Crusaders team. So I'm
• 10:56
  Speaker 2: going to tip the Crusaders. Shocking to the Crusaders as well.
• 11:00
  Speaker 2: War Tars Brumbigi's follows nine thirty five in Sydney on
• 11:04
  Speaker 2: Friday Night must win for the Waratars, not necessarily must
• 11:10
  Speaker 2: have been for the Brumbies, but it feels like they
• 11:12
  Speaker 2: need to work it to get some momentum going. Which
• 11:14
  Speaker 2: way do you see this one go?
• 11:16
  Speaker 3: That's an absolute lottery I think, Yeah, got no confidence
• 11:20
  Speaker 3: in tipping either of those teams. But I will go
• 11:23
  Speaker 3: the Wartars at home they had a great one and
• 11:25
  Speaker 3: Fiji no Suyli'm not sure what's going on there. He's
• 11:29
  Speaker 3: miss the bulk of this year.
• 11:31
  Speaker 2: A few league rooms popping up around P and G
• 11:33
  Speaker 2: Chiefs potentially surely wouldn't go before the World Cup though
• 11:36
  Speaker 2: you didn't think.
• 11:37
  Speaker 3: No, I can't see that happening. But maybe post World Cup.
• 11:39
  Speaker 3: But yeah, I'm not sure if there's a strength and
• 11:42
  Speaker 3: conditioning issue there. He shouldn't have been sidelined for as
• 11:45
  Speaker 3: much as he has and it's a great shame for
• 11:47
  Speaker 3: the competition and the Waratars, not that they've used them
• 11:50
  Speaker 3: that well. But yeah, I'll tip the Tars, but no
• 11:54
  Speaker 3: real confidence in that.
• 11:55
  Speaker 2: I'm gonna get the Brumbies just to be opposite one
• 11:58
  Speaker 2: a Pacific here. This may well be the last year
• 12:00
  Speaker 2: at home game against the Queensland. Reid's four thirty five
• 12:03
  Speaker 2: on Saturday at North Harbor Stadium. I'd like to think
• 12:07
  Speaker 2: they could emotionally get up. I don't see them winning
• 12:10
  Speaker 2: away in Canberra next week. They might be able to
• 12:13
  Speaker 2: get up for this Reds game. It is hard to see.
• 12:15
  Speaker 2: The Reds obviously still need to win to keep their
• 12:17
  Speaker 2: playoff momentum going. But if they're going to win one
• 12:20
  Speaker 2: of the two, it's this weekend and I'm going to
• 12:22
  Speaker 2: say they will.
• 12:23
  Speaker 3: Yeah, potentially, maybe they can ride that emotion. I'd question
• 12:26
  Speaker 3: for how long this year have been a forty minute
• 12:30
  Speaker 3: team almost and the Reds somewhat controversially tactically rested a
• 12:37
  Speaker 3: number of their front line stars Phraser mcwright. They get
• 12:40
  Speaker 3: taken McDermott back, Carter Gordon's at ten, so I think
• 12:44
  Speaker 3: they should have enough to win that.
• 12:46
  Speaker 2: The Hurricanes and the Hinders in Wellington's seven o five
• 12:50
  Speaker 2: on Saturday night. Looking forward to calling this one. No
• 12:53
  Speaker 2: Finny Hunger North fourth for the Hurricanes this week. I mean,
• 12:56
  Speaker 2: you rule him out. You're bringing Nanny Punavi, who's been
• 12:59
  Speaker 2: you know, you know, regular and super ruggy for a
• 13:02
  Speaker 2: number of years. Josh Morby slots in at full back
• 13:04
  Speaker 2: with no Calum Harkin shows the depth of the Hurricanes
• 13:07
  Speaker 2: have got the season when you can rest the top
• 13:09
  Speaker 2: try scorer of the season and presumably not misobeat because
• 13:13
  Speaker 2: I can't see the hind Is going up there and winning.
• 13:15
  Speaker 3: You wouldn't think so. Billy proct also gets a spell.
• 13:18
  Speaker 3: Were Baale and Sullivan coming into center. So a few
• 13:22
  Speaker 3: changes Bradon you'll say at number eights, Peter Lukeye seven,
• 13:27
  Speaker 3: Criefy on the bench. So yeah, the Hurricanes are showcasing
• 13:30
  Speaker 3: that depth, aren't they in the ability to rotate? I
• 13:32
  Speaker 3: think they're on an eight game stretch with no buy
• 13:36
  Speaker 3: so it is important. Can't look the Highlands will be
• 13:40
  Speaker 3: competitive for a period, but I just can't see them
• 13:42
  Speaker 3: tipping up the canes.
• 13:43
  Speaker 2: And it's kind of interesting to see what the Hurricanes do.
• 13:45
  Speaker 2: Obviously they've rested fitting on awful this week, but what they
• 13:48
  Speaker 2: do if they met the Honders and are assured of
• 13:50
  Speaker 2: top seed for the game in christ Church next week
• 13:54
  Speaker 2: against the Crusader. It's going to be interested to see
• 13:56
  Speaker 2: what clack lads mindset is this because he's he was
• 13:59
  Speaker 2: talking about no other team in world rugby would have
• 14:01
  Speaker 2: to play the the you know was it eleven weeks
• 14:02
  Speaker 2: straight or whatever they've got to do potentially to win
• 14:05
  Speaker 2: the title, So maybe they look as that as there
• 14:07
  Speaker 2: as a quasi sort of by around potentially.
• 14:10
  Speaker 3: Yeah, if they can lock up top spot, I think
• 14:12
  Speaker 3: they'd be silly not to take that opportunity the following week.
• 14:15
  Speaker 3: But they got to do it this week just on
• 14:18
  Speaker 3: the Landers Lucas Casey, he was outstanding, wasn't he against
• 14:21
  Speaker 3: the Chiefs upstage, some all black loose forwards and gets
• 14:25
  Speaker 3: the opportunity to do so again this way he does.
• 14:27
  Speaker 2: Look I've been really impressed by him even through NBC.
• 14:29
  Speaker 2: Last year. He had a sign of a player that
• 14:31
  Speaker 2: was on the rise, and he hasn't looked out of
• 14:33
  Speaker 2: place this year. Wider training, grip player. He got an
• 14:36
  Speaker 2: early start of the season with Hurenton not there, but
• 14:39
  Speaker 2: he just kept hold of his jersey and I like
• 14:42
  Speaker 2: the size profile of him, like the work rate. Wouldn't
• 14:45
  Speaker 2: surprise me to see him maybe end up going on
• 14:48
  Speaker 2: that tour of South Africa. I'm not saying he's gonna
• 14:49
  Speaker 2: be sipping for July, but he looked at a midweek proposition.
• 14:52
  Speaker 2: Potentially he fits what I think maybe Dave Rini is
• 14:56
  Speaker 2: looking at.
• 14:57
  Speaker 3: Yeah, potentially, and look, I think you look at that
• 15:00
  Speaker 3: Highlanders squad. Sean Willy has been an integral member of
• 15:04
  Speaker 3: that team and he can't make the starting team this
• 15:07
  Speaker 3: week and that's are not a nod to the way
• 15:10
  Speaker 3: that Casey's playing. And look, he's such a young man.
• 15:13
  Speaker 3: You think you'd only get better from here too.
• 15:14
  Speaker 2: Yeah, I've had season tickets. I'm Sean with you for
• 15:16
  Speaker 2: a few years now, but it just feels like he
• 15:18
  Speaker 2: hasn't quite taken that next step into rugby and Lucas
• 15:21
  Speaker 2: Casey's coming and made giant strikes and very impressed by
• 15:25
  Speaker 2: what he does, and he's certainly been a bright spot
• 15:26
  Speaker 2: in otherwise poor Highlanders season and a final game of
• 15:30
  Speaker 2: the Round the Fours against the Fiji and Drew. Both
• 15:33
  Speaker 2: these teams technically can still make the playoffs, although that
• 15:36
  Speaker 2: may not be the case by nine to thirty five
• 15:38
  Speaker 2: on Saturday if the Reds get up and Wartors etc.
• 15:42
  Speaker 2: Get up. But do you use the force, Liam or
• 15:47
  Speaker 2: do you think the Drew are going to go to
• 15:49
  Speaker 2: Perth and get a victory.
• 15:51
  Speaker 3: I thought the durw were going to get up at
• 15:52
  Speaker 3: home last weekend, so I'm not going to tip them
• 15:54
  Speaker 3: to go to Perth and get it done there. So
• 15:56
  Speaker 3: the force for me, I'm going.
• 15:57
  Speaker 2: To go the drawer for the upsets this week I
• 16:01
  Speaker 2: got three or four. Last week you got two of four.
• 16:03
  Speaker 2: You leave by six forty six forty Narrowing the gap,
• 16:05
  Speaker 2: noaring the gap may run out of runway, but that's
• 16:08
  Speaker 2: all right. Let's get into the mailbag. And Tim has
• 16:11
  Speaker 2: messaged and it's very long email. I've enjoyed reading it
• 16:14
  Speaker 2: till I'm not going to be the whole thing on
• 16:15
  Speaker 2: the podcast, but he did say sorry for the long email.
• 16:17
  Speaker 2: One thing I'd love to hear you and Liam discussed
• 16:19
  Speaker 2: is how much Graham Henry's returned to the All Black
• 16:21
  Speaker 2: selection room might shape the first squad of the cycle.
• 16:25
  Speaker 2: He talks about he was willing to make sharp call
• 16:27
  Speaker 2: straight away. Reuben Thorn went from me the All Blacks
• 16:29
  Speaker 2: captain and three to being out of the squad entirely,
• 16:32
  Speaker 2: but then also reflected that maybe when he reflected over it,
• 16:38
  Speaker 2: perhaps he was too conservative when he first came in
• 16:40
  Speaker 2: in two thousand and four. So the question from Tim is,
• 16:42
  Speaker 2: with Henry back in the room, do you think the
• 16:44
  Speaker 2: selectors will be more willing to make a genuine first
• 16:46
  Speaker 2: squad statement.
• 16:49
  Speaker 3: I think more so than what we saw from Scott Robertson.
• 16:52
  Speaker 3: I think his tenure was marked by conservatism when it
• 16:57
  Speaker 3: came to selection, both in squad and match day selections.
• 17:02
  Speaker 3: And I think Rennie will be more bold, and Henry
• 17:05
  Speaker 3: will add to that. I think he watches a lot
• 17:08
  Speaker 3: of rugby and I think it's not going to be
• 17:12
  Speaker 3: a totally new broom, as Dave Rennie on Sky Sports
• 17:15
  Speaker 3: said that, or in in the stand up with us
• 17:18
  Speaker 3: said that he's got a fair idea of that first
• 17:20
  Speaker 3: thirty four man squad, but finals will shape that. So
• 17:25
  Speaker 3: I think they will be more bold. What do you reckon?
• 17:27
  Speaker 2: I think they will be Look as you say, I'm
• 17:29
  Speaker 2: not expecting a broom to come through the place, but
• 17:33
  Speaker 2: there may well be some surprises. And you know, Dave
• 17:36
  Speaker 2: Rennie is very much outlined the kind of player that
• 17:38
  Speaker 2: he's interested in, the kind of player that he believes
• 17:40
  Speaker 2: would suit his style of game to win a Rugby
• 17:43
  Speaker 2: World Cup next year. And I suspect that we players
• 17:46
  Speaker 2: that maybe we haven't considered too closely that may well
• 17:51
  Speaker 2: be in the mix that are going to surprise us.
• 17:53
  Speaker 2: There may be all backs players that are going to
• 17:55
  Speaker 2: be on the way out that maybe we didn't expect
• 17:58
  Speaker 2: as well. But I think there will be a mood
• 18:01
  Speaker 2: for change. This is a hid and run mission for
• 18:03
  Speaker 2: the Rugby World Cup next year, so I think Dave
• 18:07
  Speaker 2: Renni needs to look at all options possible. In some positions,
• 18:11
  Speaker 2: it's clearly obvious who the top players are, but there
• 18:14
  Speaker 2: may be you know, talk about half backs potentially, you know,
• 18:18
  Speaker 2: maybe go for a point of difference there rather than
• 18:21
  Speaker 2: maybe the out and out third player and the third
• 18:24
  Speaker 2: best player in Vita coommas. You might look at someone
• 18:26
  Speaker 2: that gives you a point of difference and that may
• 18:28
  Speaker 2: be more what Dave when he looks.
• 18:29
  Speaker 3: At Yeah, I think so like a press and over
• 18:32
  Speaker 3: a Ratma maybe, but also within that squad, I think
• 18:36
  Speaker 3: you're right in that the runway is so short. They
• 18:39
  Speaker 3: don't have time to build over four years. It needs
• 18:42
  Speaker 3: to happen quick. He needs to give players opportunity, He
• 18:45
  Speaker 3: needs to figure things out on the run. South Africa
• 18:48
  Speaker 3: will help him with those midweek games, but look at
• 18:51
  Speaker 3: a guy like Ruben Love for me, he needs to
• 18:54
  Speaker 3: start at least one of those July tests at ten
• 18:57
  Speaker 3: and find out about him. Now that the Hurricanes are
• 19:02
  Speaker 3: playing great rugby. Ruben Love is a part of that.
• 19:05
  Speaker 3: He's not the finished article. But you know what Damien
• 19:09
  Speaker 3: McKenzie and Boden Bart are going to bring. You don't
• 19:12
  Speaker 3: know about Ruben Love. It tess Rugby. Give them that experience,
• 19:15
  Speaker 3: you know, run them out against I'm not disrespecting my
• 19:18
  Speaker 3: Italian brethren, but yes, but give him a crack. He
• 19:22
  Speaker 3: needs that experience. He's not going to learn You're not
• 19:24
  Speaker 3: going to learn anything about him by twenty minutes off
• 19:27
  Speaker 3: the pine. So that's where not only would the squad selections,
• 19:30
  Speaker 3: but match day those players need those opportunities.
• 19:34
  Speaker 2: I would start against France. Why not give them the
• 19:39
  Speaker 2: give them the keys in the first game? Back the guy.
• 19:42
  Speaker 2: This is the first test in charge of Dave Rennie.
• 19:44
  Speaker 2: This is the new era. This is Ruben Love starting
• 19:46
  Speaker 2: at ten. And then maybe you go to the reverse
• 19:49
  Speaker 2: and you look at McKinsey, you look at Barrett in
• 19:51
  Speaker 2: that second game, agains steady yuesh. You know what you're
• 19:52
  Speaker 2: going to get. How do they work in a Dave
• 19:54
  Speaker 2: Rennie system? I reckon there's nothing more he could probably do. Yeah,
• 19:58
  Speaker 2: it's a little bit daunting, but we know the French
• 19:59
  Speaker 2: team may not necessarily be the Rapeck, but back the
• 20:03
  Speaker 2: guy in your first test in charge and Ruben Love,
• 20:05
  Speaker 2: you're my ten?
• 20:07
  Speaker 3: Yeah why not? I mean, I don't see it blowing up,
• 20:10
  Speaker 3: and I don't see Ruben Love starting at ten causing
• 20:13
  Speaker 3: an All Black defeat. But historically the All Blacks are
• 20:17
  Speaker 3: very slow starters in July. Even the French B team
• 20:20
  Speaker 3: troubled them last year, so I think there may be
• 20:24
  Speaker 3: a few nerves around that, but I don't think Ruben's
• 20:27
  Speaker 3: going to make a hash of it.
• 20:29
  Speaker 2: Just on one thing on the selection that that Tim
• 20:31
  Speaker 2: pointed out. You know, Scott Robinson was supposedly working through
• 20:35
  Speaker 2: to this four four four approach of four deep in
• 20:38
  Speaker 2: every position to win a fourth World Cup? Was that
• 20:40
  Speaker 2: the number fourth? I think it was the one and
• 20:41
  Speaker 2: must thing. I can't remember, but regardless, that was what
• 20:43
  Speaker 2: it was supposedly working towards. But then it became very
• 20:46
  Speaker 2: conservative and we were seeing players like Severes who was
• 20:49
  Speaker 2: surely not going to make twenty twenty seven even before
• 20:51
  Speaker 2: he signed overseas.
• 20:52
  Speaker 3: Or even before that. Peran Aura and Sam Kan.
• 20:54
  Speaker 2: That's right, and I had this four or four idea,
• 20:57
  Speaker 2: but it didn't really come to pass year. He debuted
• 21:00
  Speaker 2: a fair few players in twenty four and twenty five,
• 21:02
  Speaker 2: but it was not really seen the fruits of the
• 21:06
  Speaker 2: supposed system. But that's now out the window to an extent.
• 21:11
  Speaker 2: This is all for Dave Rini. It's not about four
• 21:13
  Speaker 2: for four. It's about thirty three or thirty whatever he
• 21:15
  Speaker 2: can take to the World Cup next year. I think
• 21:17
  Speaker 2: it was thirty three last time, so this is about
• 21:19
  Speaker 2: thirty three, not four four four.
• 21:20
  Speaker 3: Yeah, it is. Look, there's a wide Paula players that
• 21:24
  Speaker 3: they will have on their radar and they do get
• 21:26
  Speaker 3: to take forty four to South Africa. That's a big
• 21:28
  Speaker 3: number and it will allow them to grow that depth.
• 21:32
  Speaker 3: But like you say, a World Cup, it shrinks massively.
• 21:35
  Speaker 3: You do need multiple players in multiple positions, but then
• 21:38
  Speaker 3: there's versatility. But I just think it's important to have
• 21:42
  Speaker 3: a clear idea where you're going take lestifying and Nooku
• 21:47
  Speaker 3: Reny sees him as a as a wing or a seven,
• 21:51
  Speaker 3: not midfielder. Okay, so he's got that in his mind.
• 21:54
  Speaker 3: Reuben Love is a ten. Now we didn't people didn't
• 22:00
  Speaker 3: say that outrightly until this season. Give them time there
• 22:05
  Speaker 3: your midfield if Quinte Pie is the center. Give them
• 22:08
  Speaker 3: time there, know your options, be bold, be prepared to
• 22:12
  Speaker 3: take a few risks, because that's the only way you're
• 22:14
  Speaker 3: going to progress.
• 22:15
  Speaker 2: Absolutely, Tim really enjoy the email. I like the long form,
• 22:19
  Speaker 2: like reading through it. So you can also get in
• 22:20
  Speaker 2: touch with us Rugby Direct at Newstalk ZB dot co
• 22:22
  Speaker 2: door in zeb. Try and read one or two every
• 22:25
  Speaker 2: Thursday on the pod, and before we do get to
• 22:26
  Speaker 2: the announcement of the squad in June, we will do
• 22:29
  Speaker 2: a proper sit down and draft our squads. I know
• 22:32
  Speaker 2: we've both fired one in for a publication this week,
• 22:36
  Speaker 2: but it may well change over the next few weeks.
• 22:38
  Speaker 2: Give them super ruggy plaths and injuries and everything like that.
• 22:41
  Speaker 3: Yeah, good old Rugby News. Get gets your eyes out
• 22:44
  Speaker 3: for that.
• 22:45
  Speaker 2: Absolutely, that'll do us for Rugby Direct for another week.
• 22:47
  Speaker 2: Thanks to Mark Kelly for producing We'll see you Monday
• 22:50
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• 22:56
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• 22:59
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• 23:02
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