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Speaker 1: You're listening to a podcast from News talks it be

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Speaker 1: Follow this and our Wide Ranger podcast now on iHeartRadio,

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Speaker 1: Inside the Game from Every Angle. It's Rugby Direct with

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Speaker 1: Elliott Smith powered by news talks it B.

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Speaker 2: Welcome back to Rugby Directs powered by Habit Health, tackling

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Speaker 2: all your aches and pains from sports and work. It

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Speaker 2: has been I think about two and a half months,

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Speaker 2: but your favorite podcast is back in the feed. Elliott

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Speaker 2: Smith and Liam Napier Cross News Talks, ABB and New Zealand.

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Speaker 2: Here all back for twenty twenty five on Rugby Direct.

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Speaker 2: Liam decent summer.

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Speaker 3: Was it has been Elliott, Great to see you mate,

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Speaker 3: Welcome back. Yeah, I had a good summer, lots of

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Speaker 3: sun and surfing, family and friends. So good to be back.

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Speaker 3: And Rugby's Rugby's here. Isn't it a one week earlier

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Speaker 3: than their previous years? And cricket season can take a hike.

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Speaker 2: Cricket season is year round now that's the you know,

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Speaker 2: everyone talked about rugby and croaching on cricket season. Cricket

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Speaker 2: season just goes twelve months a year. At least rugby

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Speaker 2: you get a little bit of a break. We've missed

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Speaker 2: a fair bit, haven't we over the last two and

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Speaker 2: a half months while we've been on sabbatical, getting the

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Speaker 2: overseas wages in Japan and various things into the main account.

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Speaker 4: Yeah, thanks to Sheba. Appreciate, appreciate that.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, they're gonna come on board as a sponsor. Let's

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Speaker 2: go through a few of those topics now in a

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Speaker 2: bit of what we've missed segment to kick things off.

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Speaker 2: First and foremost news late last week Joe Schmidt out

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Speaker 2: as Wallaby's coach after the Rugby Championship. Interesting that this

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Speaker 2: was dressed up by Rugby Australia as a slight contract extension.

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Speaker 2: He was supposed to end or his contract ended after

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Speaker 2: the Lions series. Now signed on for the Rugby Championship,

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Speaker 2: but he is going to leave after that. I guess

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Speaker 2: your reaction and what this means now for Rugby Australia

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Speaker 2: and the Wallabies.

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Speaker 3: Not a great surprise, I think when you know the

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Speaker 3: circumstances around Joe Schmitt and his family, his son and

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Speaker 3: his health challenges. He wants to be close to home

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Speaker 3: and prioritize his family. His intention was only ever going

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Speaker 3: to be to take the Wallabies through to the Lions

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Speaker 3: and I think we've already seen quite drastic improvements since

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Speaker 3: he's taken over. It's easy to forget the absolutely disastrous

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Speaker 3: Eddie Jones era that that he came on on board

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Speaker 3: after look, Rugby Australia would have desperately wanted him to

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Speaker 3: stay because of those improvements. Because of you only have

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Speaker 3: to hear people like Joseph Suey Lee talk about Joe

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Speaker 3: Schmitt and you know sue Lee has come from a

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Speaker 3: rugby league background and speaks so highly of Joe. So

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Speaker 3: I think all the players involved with Echo that we

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Speaker 3: heard that with the All Blacks, Joe Schmitt's level of detail,

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Speaker 3: his analysis, his feedback for players, as.

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Speaker 4: You know, second to none.

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Speaker 3: So Australia in an ideal will would have retained him.

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Speaker 4: He will be a massive loss.

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Speaker 3: It is good he's staying on post Arabia Championship and

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Speaker 3: it's still a big task between now and the Lions series.

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Speaker 3: I guess what do you view the Wallabies prospects as

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Speaker 3: it stands for that line series? It will come round fast.

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Speaker 3: It's only in July. And can the Wallabies replace Josemitt?

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Speaker 2: Well, I think it for the Wallabies they can do

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Speaker 2: something in this British and Irish line series because I

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Speaker 2: don't think that the lines are infallible. I think the

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Speaker 2: Australia is certainly capable of taking at least a Test

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Speaker 2: off them. Where they can get to is another matter entirely,

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Speaker 2: but I think this Australian team is capable of getting

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Speaker 2: at least one match, and you look at the lines

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Speaker 2: in their recent history, it takes a while for them

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Speaker 2: to come in. The Test team tends to play it's

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Speaker 2: one of those big tour matches at least, and then

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Speaker 2: into a Test match. Off the back of it, Australia's

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Speaker 2: got Fiji first and foremost, they'll get some cohesion there.

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Speaker 2: A lot of the combinations will have been playing Super

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Speaker 2: rugby as well, so I think off the back of

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Speaker 2: what they did on the end of year tour, Australia

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Speaker 2: can head into that series with a little bit of confidence.

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Speaker 2: You've still got it as outsiders, but I think they're

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Speaker 2: certainly capable of shaking things up and maybe taking a

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Speaker 2: Test off the lines. Would be great if it was

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Speaker 2: one all heading into the third and final Test, and

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Speaker 2: I would put some pressure on there. And I think

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Speaker 2: now that the future of joshmud has been decided, there'll

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Speaker 2: be a bit more clarity in camp. It won't just

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Speaker 2: be the unknown that's hanging over them. By then they'll

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Speaker 2: know who's coming in as the head coach for the

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Speaker 2: End of View Tour and beyond through the World Cup,

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Speaker 2: so there'll be a bit more continuity and that person

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Speaker 2: you would expect would probably come in for the line

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Speaker 2: series and perhaps we have a watching brief over them.

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Speaker 2: So I think Australia, on the basis of what we

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Speaker 2: saw in the last year's End of View Tour, can

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Speaker 2: take a little bit of confidence out of that. As

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Speaker 2: for the replacements for Joe Shmidt, I think you look

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Speaker 2: at the obvious ones, Dan mccallor from the waratahs Le's

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Speaker 2: Kiss from the Reeds seems likely. Stephen Larkham. You know,

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Speaker 2: maybe there's other contenders around the globe, perhaps someone like

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Speaker 2: a Vencotta, maybe from the Blues as contracted through to

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Speaker 2: twenty six.

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Speaker 4: Ronan o'garaz has put his hand up.

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Speaker 2: Yeah.

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Speaker 3: I think Leo McDonald as a potential wildcard as well.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, so, I mean I guess they're our contenders there.

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Speaker 2: It's just a matter for Rugby Australia to figure out

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Speaker 2: where they want to go to and they'll have to

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Speaker 2: be careful about it because they've improved under Joe Schmidt.

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Speaker 2: They won't want to go backwards to the dark days

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Speaker 2: of Eddie Jones in twenty twenty three. So that's going

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Speaker 2: to be fascinating to see what kind of coach they

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Speaker 2: land on, where the jo Schmitt will stay on in

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Speaker 2: an advisory role, which he sounds like he's open to

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Speaker 2: according to some of the reporting from our colleagues across

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Speaker 2: the Tasman So it's going to be interesting. Dan mchaal

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Speaker 2: has certainly been earmarked as a coach of the future,

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Speaker 2: but maybe Liz Kiss just has his ear and it

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Speaker 2: knows in front because he has worked with josemt before

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Speaker 2: itd Island.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, the mumblings of heard is highly likely to be

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Speaker 3: an Australian coach and Australians love their own. While Eddie

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Speaker 3: Jones was a disaster, You've had a period of foreign

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Speaker 3: coaches and I think ideally you would have one of

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Speaker 3: your own, and yeah, I think from the outside looking

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Speaker 3: in for me, it does appear to be a two

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Speaker 3: horse race between mccullor and Liz Kiss, and I'll be

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Speaker 3: very impressed by what les Kiss has done coming back.

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Speaker 3: He has a not a strong established relationship with Joe,

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Speaker 3: but they have worked together in some capacity previously, so

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Speaker 3: that would work and goes to what you're saying before

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Speaker 3: about Joe potentially staying on in an over arching role

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Speaker 3: or an advisory role, whatever that may be. And he

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Speaker 3: did that with the Blues with Leam McDonald and that

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Speaker 3: worked brilliantly, didn't it. So I think the Wallabies will

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Speaker 3: be desperate to retain him in that capacity, but I

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Speaker 3: will be surprised if it's not an Australian coach that

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Speaker 3: does succeed him.

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Speaker 2: The tricky thing about I mean, it sounds great on

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Speaker 2: paper Jotion staying on in an advisory rob, but that

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Speaker 2: can quickly become too many cooks in the kitchen. Obviously

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Speaker 2: he's going to be based on this side of the Tasman.

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Speaker 2: It's going to be matter for whoever the head coach

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Speaker 2: is to decide whether that's something they want, whether they

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Speaker 2: want that extra word. We sort of work well with

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Speaker 2: the All Blacks and then Jo Schmitt became came on

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Speaker 2: board full time in that coaching stuff. So it's going

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Speaker 2: to be interesting to see how that unfolds. If you're

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Speaker 2: Joe Schmidt, obviously back in New Zealand, do you want

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Speaker 2: to be still semi coaching Australia from Afar? Do you

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Speaker 2: want to stick your ow into something on this side

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Speaker 2: of the Tasman? Should New Zealand Rugby make an approach

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Speaker 2: to him to get him involved in some way, whether

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Speaker 2: it's not the All Blacks but an overarching role perhaps

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Speaker 2: in rugby. You know, the Crusaders for example, could use

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Speaker 2: them next year. Their succession plan has been blown out

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Speaker 2: of the waters. So yeah, if you're Joschmidt, what do

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Speaker 2: you look to do here? Because obviously being on the

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Speaker 2: side of the Tasman, being close to family is very

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Speaker 2: important to him.

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Speaker 3: I think, like you say, it does depend on who

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Speaker 3: the next Wallaby's coach is. But look, he'll keep his

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Speaker 3: options open and there'll be no shortage of suitors for

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Speaker 3: his services, whether that be on the international market or domestically.

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Speaker 3: And yeah, he is with the Blues previously, but they're

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Speaker 3: in a good space here. Has a tight relationship with

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Speaker 3: Vern Cotter as well. But at the moment certainly the

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Speaker 3: Blues don't need them, do they. They're going for back

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Speaker 3: to back titles and I've got a very very strong

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Speaker 3: coaching team. So yeah, very interesting to see where Joe

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Speaker 3: goes next. But I think one thing is certain and

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Speaker 3: that he will continue coaching in some capacity because he

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Speaker 3: is extremely passionate and when he does get involved, he

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Speaker 3: tends to be all in.

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Speaker 2: Indeed, let's move on watch the space on that topic.

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Speaker 2: Another big one from the summer, Richie Wong doesn't come home,

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Speaker 2: won't be available for the All Blacks. As perhaps predicted

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Speaker 2: in twenty twenty five, there was almost an expectation that

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Speaker 2: he was going to be back in New Zealand rugby

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Speaker 2: at some point this year. It got to that point

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Speaker 2: that it was seemed fairly obvious or fairly certain that

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Speaker 2: he was going to be released year early by Toshiba.

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Speaker 2: There was going to be some working around of his

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Speaker 2: contract with them. He'd come back and be eligible for

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Speaker 2: the All Blacks from twenty twenty five and play for

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Speaker 2: the Crusaders twenty six and twenty seven. That didn't happen.

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Speaker 2: So I guess if your reaction to that, because as

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Speaker 2: we sat here last year it seemed like that it

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Speaker 2: was heading to that conclusion.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, very surprised, I think I said. At one point

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Speaker 3: I put my house on it that he was coming home.

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Speaker 3: So I'm homeless as of this year. If anyone wants

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Speaker 3: to take me in they would would be very eternally grateful.

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Speaker 3: But look, it was all smoke signals. Everything pointed towards

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Speaker 3: that happening. Scott Robertson and Mark Robertson went up to

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Speaker 3: Japan to try and.

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Speaker 4: Get that over.

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Speaker 3: The line. For me had to be financial. That's the

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Speaker 3: only reason why they couldn't get over the line. Richie's

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Speaker 3: earning close to over then two million dollars a year

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Speaker 3: in Japan, so clearly he's on rugby weren't in a

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Speaker 3: position willing to bridge that gap. Maybe that he would

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Speaker 3: have been offered close to a million to come home.

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Speaker 3: So it's a significant shortfall, wasn't it. But it is

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Speaker 3: only one year and a Ritchie really wanted that number

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Speaker 3: ten Jersey, if he really wanted to work with Razor,

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Speaker 3: then he had to make that sacrifice that other New

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Speaker 3: Zealand rugby players who are playing in New Zealand do

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Speaker 3: make from a financial sense. But it does change the landscape,

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Speaker 3: doesn't it. Because if you look back to the end

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Speaker 3: of last year and we thought Muhoger was coming home

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Speaker 3: in July. He's always been raisers.

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Speaker 4: Man.

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Speaker 3: Now you're looking more longer term, aren't you. With McKenzie

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Speaker 3: and Barrett going head to heads. Even guys like Stephen

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Speaker 3: Peterfetter may have been looking leaving. Harry Plummer when he

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Speaker 3: decided to go following the Super Rugby season. I spoke

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Speaker 3: to him and he said that Muhoger coming home was

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Speaker 3: a fact in his decision because he was that much

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Speaker 3: further down the pecking order. So I think everyone, including

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Speaker 3: you know, Harry Plummer and and these sort of guys,

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Speaker 3: expected him to come home, so it is a major

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Speaker 3: surprise that he's not.

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Speaker 2: So is this a matter of New Zealand Rugby and

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Speaker 2: Tshiba not being able to meet the asking price orr

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Speaker 2: New Zealand Raby? I will be able to meet Sheba's

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Speaker 2: asking price to release him from.

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Speaker 3: His contract or Ritchie's desired salary.

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Speaker 4: I think yeah.

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Speaker 3: There was all sorts of talk about maybe brokering a

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Speaker 3: deal with to Sheba where he would come back for

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Speaker 3: two years until the Ragby will cup and then maybe

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Speaker 3: go back to to Sheba, but that hasn't worked out.

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Speaker 4: And the other part about that equation is.

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Speaker 3: Richie will now have what's basically a year of Test

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Speaker 3: rugby to get up to speed to try and stake

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Speaker 3: his claim for that number ten Jersey. And while he

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Speaker 3: has that relationship with Razor, we've seen consistently how hard

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Speaker 3: it is to come back. No matter what anyone says,

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Speaker 3: who's on the payroll in Japan, it's infinitely harder to

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Speaker 3: come back from Japan and walk straight into Test rugby

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Speaker 3: than it is to go from Super rugby to Test rugby.

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Speaker 3: It is a rung down and so he would have

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Speaker 3: been there for two and a half years, and I'm

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Speaker 3: not denying he's still a world class player, but it

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Speaker 3: does take time to get up to speed, to get

242
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Speaker 3: used to the pace and intensity and line speed, pressure,

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Speaker 3: all those different elements that Test rugby brings. So it's

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Speaker 3: going to be much harder for him to waltz back

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Speaker 3: into their all Black team. And for Razor, having invested

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Speaker 3: in Damian McKenzie and Boden Barra and others, it's a

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Speaker 3: very going to be a very very difficult, delicate balancing

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Speaker 3: act for him.

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Speaker 2: It is because those players, whichever way they split it,

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Speaker 2: McKenzie and Barrett will both get tests at ten this year.

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Speaker 2: Whoever becomes the first choice. It was barred at the

252
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Speaker 2: end of last year, but both of them will get

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Speaker 2: game time at teen this year. It's another year under

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Speaker 2: their belts, it's another year playing under Scott Robinson's game

255
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Speaker 2: plan as All Blacks coach. And then Richiemong is going

256
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Speaker 2: to have to come and cold, assuming it even comes

257
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Speaker 2: back next year, and that's the other thing he hasn't signed.

258
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Speaker 2: He may go to Sven, might put some more money

259
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Speaker 2: on the table and go, here's another few million for

260
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Speaker 2: another three year deal. You might go, actually, I don't

261
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Speaker 2: need to come back, So we're you know, we thought

262
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Speaker 2: he would come back. Then he may not come back

263
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Speaker 2: at all.

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Speaker 3: We've seen that with guys like Charles Piedsows Stephen Latour.

265
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Speaker 3: Once you move abroad, the longer you're there, the more

266
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Speaker 3: comfortable you become. You're earning exceptional money, your family's settled,

267
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Speaker 3: so there's lots of different factors to consider. And you

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Speaker 3: know who knows he could play for Tonga. Yeah, that

269
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Speaker 3: possibility is not off the table either. So you're right,

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Speaker 3: there's no guarantees he does come home. Now, you'd suspect

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Speaker 3: Razer will still be in his heir, He'll still want

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Speaker 3: them back, but who knows.

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Speaker 2: James O'Connor, you know, might block his path of the Crusaders,

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Speaker 2: he might have to go elsewhere.

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Speaker 3: Well, look, Riley Warhap has seen the light and gone

276
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Speaker 3: to the Canes, so there's hope for him yet.

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Speaker 2: The king pen of your fantasy team, I believe. Also

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Speaker 2: Sean Stephenson. This is a bubbled way with summer as well.

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Speaker 2: He's gone to Japan for a few weeks, to Kibota,

280
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Speaker 2: back for about round four in Super Rugby. Sounds like

281
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Speaker 2: you'll be going full time as of twenty twenty six,

282
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Speaker 2: So sort of a short term solution to a longer

283
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Speaker 2: problem for the Chiefs and Shawan Stevenson and New Zealand

284
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Speaker 2: Rugby and Caboda. Look, he's been there or there about

285
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Speaker 2: Shawan Stevenson. You can hardly blame him for taking it.

286
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Speaker 2: But there's been whispers he's going to the NRL, he's

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Speaker 2: going off sure of various things. Finally does go off, sure,

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Speaker 2: and it's only for a short term deal for now.

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Speaker 3: Yeah. Look, he's painted his colors to the wall and

290
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Speaker 3: like you say, you can't blame him. He has been

291
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Speaker 3: knocking on the door for several years and the thing

292
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Speaker 3: with Sean and I think most people are aware who

293
00:15:03,133 --> 00:15:05,893
Speaker 3: have followed his career or followed rugby, there's always been

294
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Speaker 3: concerns about him defensively and his ability in contact. He

295
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Speaker 3: is an exceptionally gifted athlete. He can kick, he's very

296
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Speaker 3: silky with his schools. He can create for others, he

297
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Speaker 3: can finish. He can do a lot of things. But

298
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Speaker 3: on the defensive side of the ball he has been

299
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Speaker 3: exposed at times and we saw that even in his

300
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Speaker 3: Test debut. I think it was against the Wallabies in Dunedin,

301
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Speaker 3: and several All Blacks coaches have held reservations. You know

302
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Speaker 3: that happened with Ian Foster regime and now with Scott Robertson.

303
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Speaker 3: He was in the All Blacks fifteen but never really

304
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Speaker 3: elevated beyond that. So New Zealand Ragby were clearly reluctant,

305
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Speaker 3: unwilling to let him walk out of his contract with

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Speaker 3: the Chiefs.

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Speaker 2: So they when the name of the squad's, you know,

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Speaker 2: it's different to perhaps if he come to them in

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Speaker 2: September of last year he might have been the chance

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Speaker 2: of getting a release.

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Speaker 3: So they've broken a deal where he goes he comes

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Speaker 3: back for the Super season and then he'll go back

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Speaker 3: to Japan and you know what, He's served the Chiefs

314
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Speaker 3: really well. He's been a multi All Black. You wish

315
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Speaker 3: him well and by all means mate Bank, because your

316
00:16:16,453 --> 00:16:21,653
Speaker 3: career is infinite. But unfortunately he is in one of,

317
00:16:21,733 --> 00:16:23,733
Speaker 3: if not the most congested areas.

318
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Speaker 4: Traditionally in the New Zealand game.

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Speaker 3: You know, New Zealand traditionally produces wings every single season,

320
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Speaker 3: fullbacks the same. It's very hard to get a look

321
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Speaker 3: in there, and if you've got slight deficiencies in your game,

322
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Speaker 3: then that can hurt you.

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Speaker 2: Indeed, let's move on to some other news that happened

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Speaker 2: over summer. I think we touched on it at the

325
00:16:45,813 --> 00:16:48,573
Speaker 2: end of last year. TJ Penina and the All Blacks

326
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Speaker 2: hocker in Churin. It's now emerged, according to reporting in

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Speaker 2: the New Zealand Herald, that took members of the All

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Speaker 2: Blacks by surprise, the message that TJ Peninara sceend. Obviously,

329
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Speaker 2: TJ is now playing in Japan full time. But you

330
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Speaker 2: look at that story and go just doesn't feel right though. Yes,

331
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Speaker 2: the whole way it's sort of played out from both

332
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Speaker 2: a media perspective and also an All Black perspective. Does it

333
00:17:16,813 --> 00:17:17,493
Speaker 2: your take on this.

334
00:17:18,253 --> 00:17:20,413
Speaker 4: Ye, it wasn't surprised that there were divisions.

335
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Speaker 3: I think if you go back to the Hurricanes poa Hucker,

336
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Speaker 3: I don't think in any if you got thirty if

337
00:17:30,173 --> 00:17:32,133
Speaker 3: you walk down the street and got thirty people together,

338
00:17:32,333 --> 00:17:36,013
Speaker 3: they're not going to share the same political views. And

339
00:17:36,013 --> 00:17:39,533
Speaker 3: that extends to sport, and so it's very hard for

340
00:17:40,253 --> 00:17:43,413
Speaker 3: someone to take soul authority of that and say we're

341
00:17:43,453 --> 00:17:46,973
Speaker 3: all on the same page, we're sending this message. Personally,

342
00:17:47,053 --> 00:17:49,813
Speaker 3: I support the message, but that doesn't mean that all

343
00:17:49,813 --> 00:17:53,373
Speaker 3: the Barrett brothers do or Damian McKenzie does. And if

344
00:17:53,413 --> 00:17:56,093
Speaker 3: you think back to the photos that were posted postmatch,

345
00:17:56,533 --> 00:17:58,933
Speaker 3: it was very clear that some people were on board

346
00:17:58,933 --> 00:18:00,293
Speaker 3: with that and some people weren't.

347
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Speaker 4: And so that's that's come to.

348
00:18:02,493 --> 00:18:07,413
Speaker 3: Lights and I think it could have been handled better.

349
00:18:07,573 --> 00:18:10,173
Speaker 3: But the only way you probably could have avoided it

350
00:18:10,333 --> 00:18:12,973
Speaker 3: was leaving TJ Pedinara out of that test and his

351
00:18:13,053 --> 00:18:14,693
Speaker 3: final test for the All Blacks. That would have been

352
00:18:14,733 --> 00:18:18,173
Speaker 3: a massive call, but it was a big issue. It

353
00:18:18,253 --> 00:18:22,973
Speaker 3: sparked a lot of division and I think if TJ

354
00:18:23,133 --> 00:18:25,213
Speaker 3: went back again, he would probably do it again because

355
00:18:25,253 --> 00:18:29,253
Speaker 3: he's very passionate about that issue, but people will have

356
00:18:29,613 --> 00:18:32,653
Speaker 3: a lot of differing, varying views on whether he was

357
00:18:32,733 --> 00:18:33,253
Speaker 3: right to do that.

358
00:18:33,333 --> 00:18:33,933
Speaker 4: How do you see that?

359
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Speaker 2: I think you're exactly right. And now on the head.

360
00:18:36,573 --> 00:18:39,533
Speaker 2: When you gather thirty odd people into a room or

361
00:18:39,533 --> 00:18:41,413
Speaker 2: a team or whatever it is, they're not going to

362
00:18:41,413 --> 00:18:44,013
Speaker 2: share the same beliefs. And when you do something like

363
00:18:44,053 --> 00:18:46,893
Speaker 2: a hucker, Yes, TJ was the leader of the hacker,

364
00:18:47,373 --> 00:18:50,893
Speaker 2: and he's the public face of the hucker and has

365
00:18:50,893 --> 00:18:54,973
Speaker 2: been of this particular hucker, but it's seen as an

366
00:18:54,973 --> 00:18:58,493
Speaker 2: All Blacks hucker. You're representing your teammates, the other twenty

367
00:18:58,493 --> 00:19:01,333
Speaker 2: two players that are standing alongside you delivering the hucker,

368
00:19:01,373 --> 00:19:03,453
Speaker 2: regardless of whether it's your message at the front. And

369
00:19:03,653 --> 00:19:06,293
Speaker 2: it was explained to me that, yes, TJ's done the

370
00:19:06,293 --> 00:19:09,733
Speaker 2: message itself. That's his here, that's his message at the

371
00:19:09,733 --> 00:19:11,773
Speaker 2: top of the hacker, and the rest is the team hucker.

372
00:19:11,853 --> 00:19:14,373
Speaker 2: But it doesn't always come across that way. And when

373
00:19:14,773 --> 00:19:17,373
Speaker 2: it seems like it's gone under the radar a little

374
00:19:17,413 --> 00:19:19,893
Speaker 2: bit and hasn't been presented as to the true nature

375
00:19:19,933 --> 00:19:23,253
Speaker 2: of the message that the All Blacks were expecting because

376
00:19:23,253 --> 00:19:24,973
Speaker 2: it was sold as a unity and then the message

377
00:19:24,973 --> 00:19:27,493
Speaker 2: about whit's sung. I think the all Blacks players do

378
00:19:27,613 --> 00:19:29,533
Speaker 2: have a right perhaps to be a little bit upset

379
00:19:29,533 --> 00:19:32,693
Speaker 2: if that was the message, because you're standing there, there's

380
00:19:32,733 --> 00:19:37,853
Speaker 2: twenty two people, twenty three people as essentially co signing

381
00:19:37,973 --> 00:19:39,973
Speaker 2: this message, and if you don't agree with it, regardless

382
00:19:40,013 --> 00:19:43,733
Speaker 2: of your political beliefs, I think that you've been misrepresented.

383
00:19:43,813 --> 00:19:49,333
Speaker 2: So I can completely understand why it has caused some consternation.

384
00:19:50,413 --> 00:19:53,733
Speaker 2: And you know, maybe TJ could have done this and

385
00:19:53,733 --> 00:19:55,613
Speaker 2: put this messagecross in a different way. It wouldn't it have

386
00:19:55,613 --> 00:19:57,533
Speaker 2: been as high profile as doing it in a hucker

387
00:19:57,613 --> 00:20:00,373
Speaker 2: in this final Test match. There are other avenues, and

388
00:20:00,413 --> 00:20:02,413
Speaker 2: I guess maybe you saw this way as the biggest

389
00:20:02,413 --> 00:20:05,533
Speaker 2: way to create some waves, some interest, because certainly it

390
00:20:05,613 --> 00:20:06,333
Speaker 2: managed to do that.

391
00:20:06,893 --> 00:20:10,613
Speaker 3: Yeah, the only other I guess I'd just draw another

392
00:20:10,653 --> 00:20:14,813
Speaker 3: analogy in that if if we're going to go down

393
00:20:14,893 --> 00:20:18,853
Speaker 3: this line, then keep all politicians away from sport, you know,

394
00:20:18,973 --> 00:20:22,373
Speaker 3: because everyone's not going to want the acting Prime minister

395
00:20:22,453 --> 00:20:27,413
Speaker 3: in the changing rooms getting smamy and imposing for political clout.

396
00:20:27,973 --> 00:20:34,053
Speaker 3: So that anytime there's a political issue, it's it's highly charged.

397
00:20:34,853 --> 00:20:39,173
Speaker 3: So personally, I'd like to see them keep keep keep distanced.

398
00:20:41,093 --> 00:20:45,133
Speaker 3: Politicians often use sports to leverage their their profile and

399
00:20:45,133 --> 00:20:46,853
Speaker 3: those sorts of things, and that makes me square them

400
00:20:46,893 --> 00:20:50,253
Speaker 3: a lot, So that that sort of thing makes makes

401
00:20:50,253 --> 00:20:54,053
Speaker 3: me feel uncomfortable, but it's very common in the modern worlds.

402
00:20:54,613 --> 00:20:57,053
Speaker 3: And looking back at this instant, there were telltale signs,

403
00:20:57,053 --> 00:21:00,253
Speaker 3: weren't there. The All Blacks on social media didn't share

404
00:21:00,613 --> 00:21:03,413
Speaker 3: t J Perrena's message. That actually cut that out of

405
00:21:03,453 --> 00:21:06,493
Speaker 3: their of their of their vision on social media. So

406
00:21:07,173 --> 00:21:09,773
Speaker 3: it was clear at the time, even with those who

407
00:21:09,813 --> 00:21:12,413
Speaker 3: posted in the photos and those who didn't, that maybe

408
00:21:12,413 --> 00:21:15,733
Speaker 3: everyone wasn't on the same page. So yeah, I think

409
00:21:15,933 --> 00:21:18,653
Speaker 3: if Scott Robinson and the All Blacks had their time again,

410
00:21:18,693 --> 00:21:20,693
Speaker 3: maybe they'll do it differently. But it is a very

411
00:21:21,173 --> 00:21:23,253
Speaker 3: delicate situation to handle indeed.

412
00:21:23,293 --> 00:21:25,733
Speaker 2: So let's move on to some rugby. The Six Nations

413
00:21:25,973 --> 00:21:29,893
Speaker 2: underway two rounds down a fellow week this week, so

414
00:21:30,013 --> 00:21:32,533
Speaker 2: we break in the Six Nations, but you'll read on

415
00:21:32,573 --> 00:21:36,453
Speaker 2: what we've seen so far. Liam the cream has risen

416
00:21:36,493 --> 00:21:39,333
Speaker 2: to the top a little bit, but some surprises along

417
00:21:39,333 --> 00:21:41,493
Speaker 2: the way, England beating France and a cracking game at

418
00:21:41,493 --> 00:21:44,933
Speaker 2: Twickenham over the weekend so I thought it was excellent.

419
00:21:44,973 --> 00:21:47,733
Speaker 2: Island's been very good the opening couple of weeks whiles

420
00:21:47,733 --> 00:21:51,293
Speaker 2: have been shit house you'll read on the first couple

421
00:21:51,293 --> 00:21:51,693
Speaker 2: of weeks.

422
00:21:52,573 --> 00:21:55,493
Speaker 3: Yeah, I guess apart from Ireland, it's a very even tournament,

423
00:21:55,653 --> 00:21:59,573
Speaker 3: isn't it. And I would argue maybe not of a

424
00:21:59,613 --> 00:22:05,093
Speaker 3: gold standard. I think that England France tests very dramatic, captivating,

425
00:22:05,213 --> 00:22:09,053
Speaker 3: but not necessarily of the highest quality. I think we're

426
00:22:09,093 --> 00:22:12,813
Speaker 3: seeing that France to a degree have an element of

427
00:22:12,853 --> 00:22:15,813
Speaker 3: being home track bullies. They're not as good away from

428
00:22:15,893 --> 00:22:19,813
Speaker 3: home and you could see that in DuPont's performance. Maybe

429
00:22:19,813 --> 00:22:21,973
Speaker 3: they don't have the same level of care or passion

430
00:22:22,293 --> 00:22:25,333
Speaker 3: and maybe there's a bit of resentment from my side

431
00:22:25,373 --> 00:22:27,613
Speaker 3: about the team, the second string team they're going to

432
00:22:27,613 --> 00:22:29,733
Speaker 3: send out here in July, and just their attitude I

433
00:22:29,733 --> 00:22:32,933
Speaker 3: think to playing away from home, something that if they

434
00:22:32,973 --> 00:22:35,893
Speaker 3: want to be considered the world's best rugby nation, they

435
00:22:35,893 --> 00:22:39,973
Speaker 3: need to address. Ireland hold the mantle. They did a

436
00:22:40,053 --> 00:22:42,373
Speaker 3: number on Scotland. I think that was a very convincing

437
00:22:42,413 --> 00:22:47,813
Speaker 3: performance away from home Atale continue to improve And the

438
00:22:47,853 --> 00:22:51,013
Speaker 3: point I'd make about Wales is from my side, at

439
00:22:51,053 --> 00:22:54,493
Speaker 3: least there's no glee in their struggles. Fourteen losses in

440
00:22:54,533 --> 00:22:58,373
Speaker 3: a row. They're at their lowest EBB. This is a

441
00:22:58,493 --> 00:23:02,293
Speaker 3: very passionate historic rugby nation and they are on their

442
00:23:02,333 --> 00:23:05,613
Speaker 3: knees and it's very sad to see.

443
00:23:06,173 --> 00:23:07,173
Speaker 2: It is sad to see.

444
00:23:08,693 --> 00:23:10,213
Speaker 4: I can't see them turning it around here.

445
00:23:10,253 --> 00:23:13,173
Speaker 2: No, that's the thing that's not like a different coach

446
00:23:13,253 --> 00:23:15,533
Speaker 2: is going to absently be able to waiver wand because

447
00:23:15,733 --> 00:23:17,973
Speaker 2: they thought that Warren Gatton was going to do. And

448
00:23:18,373 --> 00:23:21,213
Speaker 2: when you look at Wayne Pivock's results when he got

449
00:23:22,693 --> 00:23:26,693
Speaker 2: sent packing, they actually compare not too bad. The fact

450
00:23:26,733 --> 00:23:29,853
Speaker 2: is that they've had this generation for quite some time

451
00:23:29,893 --> 00:23:32,093
Speaker 2: that were very very good and could contend with the

452
00:23:32,133 --> 00:23:35,333
Speaker 2: wilds Besus, Wynne Jones, Warburton retired a bit longer than

453
00:23:35,373 --> 00:23:39,933
Speaker 2: the other's Dan Lydiott, Fellatad's still going number of couple of

454
00:23:39,933 --> 00:23:43,253
Speaker 2: good tens, bigger and all these players that were very

455
00:23:43,373 --> 00:23:47,093
Speaker 2: very good, seems like those coming into a place and

456
00:23:48,253 --> 00:23:51,093
Speaker 2: just haven't got the same quality. And whether that's down

457
00:23:51,133 --> 00:23:54,093
Speaker 2: to a provincial level in Wales not providing the talent

458
00:23:54,133 --> 00:23:57,053
Speaker 2: the pathways through, I think there's some issues there. Without

459
00:23:57,133 --> 00:24:01,053
Speaker 2: knowing the intricacies too much of the Welsh domestic game,

460
00:24:01,053 --> 00:24:03,333
Speaker 2: but that certainly seems to be reading some of the

461
00:24:03,413 --> 00:24:05,493
Speaker 2: articles where some of the issues lie. There are some

462
00:24:05,533 --> 00:24:07,973
Speaker 2: promising players there, you know, Aaron Wayne Wright's a good

463
00:24:07,973 --> 00:24:10,373
Speaker 2: player of mine. A couple of others Jack Morgan are

464
00:24:10,453 --> 00:24:12,773
Speaker 2: very very good. But if you're far between, they don't

465
00:24:12,773 --> 00:24:16,093
Speaker 2: look like world beaters. And it's not like a coach

466
00:24:16,173 --> 00:24:17,973
Speaker 2: is not getting the message through. I just don't think

467
00:24:18,013 --> 00:24:21,133
Speaker 2: the players, whether it's Warren Gatland to whoever, is going

468
00:24:21,173 --> 00:24:23,773
Speaker 2: to be able to turn the ship around anytime soon.

469
00:24:23,893 --> 00:24:27,253
Speaker 3: Yeah, the systematic issues and wells and the domestic game,

470
00:24:27,373 --> 00:24:29,933
Speaker 3: and that the financial state of the game, which is

471
00:24:30,013 --> 00:24:35,293
Speaker 3: prevalent throughout the international rugby worlds. I know we're going

472
00:24:35,293 --> 00:24:38,453
Speaker 3: to touch on Warren lately but later, but I do

473
00:24:38,613 --> 00:24:40,693
Speaker 3: think it was a massive mistake to bring him back.

474
00:24:41,293 --> 00:24:44,053
Speaker 3: You're looking at a previous generation, like you say, in

475
00:24:44,133 --> 00:24:45,973
Speaker 3: terms of the players, you're looking at him with rose

476
00:24:46,133 --> 00:24:49,293
Speaker 3: into glasses. There were clear signs that rugby had pat

477
00:24:50,053 --> 00:24:53,093
Speaker 3: moved on. He struggled when he came back to New Zealand,

478
00:24:54,053 --> 00:24:57,733
Speaker 3: and it was seen as a very easy, quick fit solution.

479
00:24:57,973 --> 00:25:02,493
Speaker 3: You hide someone on reputation alone, and that's really blowing

480
00:25:02,573 --> 00:25:03,413
Speaker 3: up in their face now.

481
00:25:03,773 --> 00:25:06,693
Speaker 2: It certainly is and it's hard to see where the

482
00:25:06,813 --> 00:25:09,133
Speaker 2: next one comes from. I don't see them getting another

483
00:25:09,133 --> 00:25:12,973
Speaker 2: winning the Six Nations barring a massive upset. Maybe you know,

484
00:25:13,173 --> 00:25:15,893
Speaker 2: they play Ireland and someone gets red carded full red card,

485
00:25:15,973 --> 00:25:17,813
Speaker 2: you know, something like that, they play fifteen on fourteen,

486
00:25:17,813 --> 00:25:19,373
Speaker 2: maybe they can get a win that way. But you're

487
00:25:19,413 --> 00:25:21,253
Speaker 2: looking for things like that because they just do not

488
00:25:21,293 --> 00:25:23,133
Speaker 2: have the quality to match any of the other teams

489
00:25:23,133 --> 00:25:25,093
Speaker 2: in the Six Nations. They were, to be honest, well

490
00:25:25,133 --> 00:25:27,453
Speaker 2: beaten by Adelie. It was only the late couple of

491
00:25:27,893 --> 00:25:30,693
Speaker 2: schools that got them even close to the Italians that

492
00:25:30,733 --> 00:25:34,453
Speaker 2: are well beaten. Their attacking structure is poor. That's where

493
00:25:34,453 --> 00:25:36,373
Speaker 2: I think Warren Gatland does have some issues because their

494
00:25:36,413 --> 00:25:40,413
Speaker 2: structure on the park is poor. Attacking selection and attack yeah,

495
00:25:40,973 --> 00:25:43,933
Speaker 2: as it just looks labored, there's nothing much to it.

496
00:25:44,733 --> 00:25:48,173
Speaker 2: And again Warren ball, the game's moved on from that

497
00:25:48,493 --> 00:25:51,493
Speaker 2: and that's where I think maybe new coach can ad something,

498
00:25:51,493 --> 00:25:53,213
Speaker 2: but they're not going to turn things around overnight.

499
00:25:53,853 --> 00:25:57,173
Speaker 3: And the tough thing now is it's seen as a

500
00:25:57,213 --> 00:26:02,653
Speaker 3: poison chalice. If you heard Rodan O'Gara talk, he was like,

501
00:26:02,773 --> 00:26:05,253
Speaker 3: no thanks, and that would be the attitude of a

502
00:26:05,333 --> 00:26:09,813
Speaker 3: number of quality and coaches around the world. You are

503
00:26:09,853 --> 00:26:13,813
Speaker 3: staking the reputation and you've got an expectant rugby public

504
00:26:15,013 --> 00:26:17,773
Speaker 3: to come in and turn things around immediately.

505
00:26:17,853 --> 00:26:21,413
Speaker 4: So it's not a desired position. So where do you

506
00:26:21,413 --> 00:26:21,773
Speaker 4: turn to?

507
00:26:22,613 --> 00:26:25,013
Speaker 2: Very good question. We will take a break here on

508
00:26:25,133 --> 00:26:28,573
Speaker 2: Rugby Direct. Comeback with our Super Rugby preview the Final four.

509
00:26:28,693 --> 00:26:31,053
Speaker 2: Jack Measley here the Super Rugby CEO to join us

510
00:26:31,173 --> 00:26:34,013
Speaker 2: as well as Rugby Direct continues with Habit Health.

511
00:26:34,693 --> 00:26:38,813
Speaker 1: This is Rugby Direct, a podcast for real rugby fares.

512
00:26:42,253 --> 00:26:45,493
Speaker 2: Every try try ten sixty second, every tackle, put back

513
00:26:45,533 --> 00:26:50,613
Speaker 2: the tackles, get up again. Take you before I'm not

514
00:26:50,853 --> 00:26:55,733
Speaker 2: It's Rugby Direct. You're back with Rugby Direct powered by

515
00:26:55,813 --> 00:26:57,453
Speaker 2: Habit Health. Let's get stuck into a bit of a

516
00:26:57,453 --> 00:27:00,653
Speaker 2: Super Rugby preview. We are days out from the opening

517
00:27:00,693 --> 00:27:04,413
Speaker 2: game of the season Crusaders and Hurricanes February fourteen. It

518
00:27:04,413 --> 00:27:06,293
Speaker 2: all gets underway. You can hear all the New Zealand

519
00:27:06,333 --> 00:27:11,853
Speaker 2: franchise games on Gold Sport and iHeartRadio. Ligam Super Regular

520
00:27:11,933 --> 00:27:15,093
Speaker 2: rolls around again. I guess there's always a bit of

521
00:27:15,133 --> 00:27:17,293
Speaker 2: intrigue at the start of the season with some offseason

522
00:27:17,333 --> 00:27:21,333
Speaker 2: signings and everything like that. But to me, as is customary,

523
00:27:21,373 --> 00:27:24,013
Speaker 2: I suppose the defending champions go in his favorites. You

524
00:27:24,013 --> 00:27:25,733
Speaker 2: look at the Blues, they'll be hard to beat again

525
00:27:25,773 --> 00:27:28,253
Speaker 2: and hard to go past the scheme of things.

526
00:27:29,093 --> 00:27:32,133
Speaker 3: Yeah, Look, I think this season does hold more intrigue

527
00:27:32,173 --> 00:27:34,893
Speaker 3: than others because we've had the demise of the Rebels

528
00:27:35,213 --> 00:27:37,933
Speaker 3: and I think that will change the landscape in Australia.

529
00:27:38,333 --> 00:27:41,013
Speaker 3: You've seen the Wara Tars in particular pickup of a

530
00:27:41,093 --> 00:27:45,453
Speaker 3: host of former Melbourne players Rob Leota and they've got

531
00:27:46,053 --> 00:27:50,653
Speaker 3: Sue Lee and a number of others. I think Taniela

532
00:27:50,693 --> 00:27:53,133
Speaker 3: Tupo Yep and Dan mccallor is a big in for

533
00:27:53,173 --> 00:27:55,373
Speaker 3: them as coach side. Expect the war Tars to improve

534
00:27:55,813 --> 00:27:59,613
Speaker 3: and the competitiveness across the world maybe with the exception

535
00:27:59,693 --> 00:28:04,333
Speaker 3: of the Force to lift in Australia, I expect more

536
00:28:04,333 --> 00:28:07,693
Speaker 3: Ona Pacifica to be better. With Ardie Severe probably the

537
00:28:07,893 --> 00:28:12,013
Speaker 3: biggest transfer in Super rigby history. They've got a better

538
00:28:12,093 --> 00:28:18,053
Speaker 3: coaching team, they've got a stable base. But the wider

539
00:28:18,253 --> 00:28:21,213
Speaker 3: New Zealand landscape does look to be the Blues title

540
00:28:21,253 --> 00:28:25,333
Speaker 3: to lose. They've got a pretty stable squad, stable coaching team,

541
00:28:25,413 --> 00:28:28,293
Speaker 3: Van Cotter's back, and then you had two time Player

542
00:28:28,293 --> 00:28:30,973
Speaker 3: of the Year Boden Barrett and the mix Man. They

543
00:28:31,013 --> 00:28:36,013
Speaker 3: are stacked from a playmaking perspective, Harry Plummer, Stephen Peter Fetter,

544
00:28:36,613 --> 00:28:40,853
Speaker 3: Boden Barrett's You've got Zen Sullivan there as well. You

545
00:28:40,933 --> 00:28:44,773
Speaker 3: look at at the back line, Ricoewanni, Caleb Clark, Mark.

546
00:28:44,653 --> 00:28:46,293
Speaker 4: Talah, a j Lamb.

547
00:28:47,933 --> 00:28:49,453
Speaker 3: But it was the four pack that did it for

548
00:28:49,493 --> 00:28:52,613
Speaker 3: the Blues last year, you know, so it is hard

549
00:28:52,653 --> 00:28:54,413
Speaker 3: to go past the Blues. I think Wallace a TC

550
00:28:54,573 --> 00:28:57,493
Speaker 3: is a massive loss for the Chiefs. They were well

551
00:28:57,533 --> 00:29:02,053
Speaker 3: beaten and last year's final, but were had a late

552
00:29:02,093 --> 00:29:05,013
Speaker 3: season run. The Canes were a surprise package last year

553
00:29:05,053 --> 00:29:07,933
Speaker 3: top the table. Nobody saw that coming with no Adie

554
00:29:07,933 --> 00:29:10,213
Speaker 3: Severe and a new coach and Clark laid Law.

555
00:29:10,853 --> 00:29:11,773
Speaker 4: Can they back it up?

556
00:29:11,853 --> 00:29:17,173
Speaker 3: And the Crusaders they were an absolute calamity. Surely they

557
00:29:17,213 --> 00:29:19,853
Speaker 3: can't be that bad again. They've got will Jordan back,

558
00:29:20,053 --> 00:29:23,493
Speaker 3: Cody Taylor will be back, Scott Barrett should play a

559
00:29:23,533 --> 00:29:26,493
Speaker 3: lot more to Mighty Williams. I think I went through

560
00:29:26,533 --> 00:29:28,733
Speaker 3: They've got something like thirteen all blacks in that team,

561
00:29:28,813 --> 00:29:32,173
Speaker 3: so there's really no excuses for them not to be better.

562
00:29:32,533 --> 00:29:33,933
Speaker 3: What's your broad expectations.

563
00:29:34,093 --> 00:29:35,773
Speaker 2: Oh, look, I think it is hard to go past

564
00:29:35,813 --> 00:29:37,813
Speaker 2: the Blues again because, as you say, you add in

565
00:29:37,853 --> 00:29:40,213
Speaker 2: Bowden Barrett. The question is how they juggle all of

566
00:29:40,253 --> 00:29:44,293
Speaker 2: that and how they keep everyone happy with the amount

567
00:29:44,293 --> 00:29:48,413
Speaker 2: of game time. Who plays Where does Boden Barrett play ten?

568
00:29:48,933 --> 00:29:52,253
Speaker 2: Do you move them to fifteen? Harry Plumber, Steven Peter Fetter?

569
00:29:52,253 --> 00:29:55,813
Speaker 2: How do you balance all of that? Because yet it's

570
00:29:55,813 --> 00:29:57,933
Speaker 2: all very well having great depth, and that's what the

571
00:29:57,933 --> 00:29:59,533
Speaker 2: best sides in super rugby are being built on. You

572
00:29:59,533 --> 00:30:01,413
Speaker 2: look at the Crusaders and that dynasty they formed in

573
00:30:01,453 --> 00:30:04,093
Speaker 2: other teams, the Chiefs and the twenty tens as well

574
00:30:04,413 --> 00:30:06,413
Speaker 2: built it on depth. But you've also got to have

575
00:30:07,013 --> 00:30:08,813
Speaker 2: the players in the right positions on the park and

576
00:30:08,853 --> 00:30:12,133
Speaker 2: those key starting positions to get things right, and that

577
00:30:12,173 --> 00:30:14,173
Speaker 2: can be an issue where things fall down if players

578
00:30:14,213 --> 00:30:16,293
Speaker 2: are expecting more game time than they actually get. So

579
00:30:17,133 --> 00:30:19,053
Speaker 2: I think the Blues head in his favorites are really

580
00:30:19,053 --> 00:30:20,773
Speaker 2: like look at them, They've lost a key to Jouannie,

581
00:30:20,813 --> 00:30:23,213
Speaker 2: but they do have players like Anton Segna, Cameron Sawa

582
00:30:23,293 --> 00:30:25,493
Speaker 2: four who are next in line and ready to step up.

583
00:30:25,453 --> 00:30:28,973
Speaker 2: They had taste of game time in recent seasons Adrian.

584
00:30:28,653 --> 00:30:32,173
Speaker 4: Houston's Doulton Publi So yeah.

585
00:30:31,533 --> 00:30:34,733
Speaker 2: Yeah, any number of players there, you know, I think

586
00:30:35,533 --> 00:30:37,653
Speaker 2: it's hard to go past the kind of quality and

587
00:30:37,693 --> 00:30:39,333
Speaker 2: the depth that they've built there. The Chiefs I grew

588
00:30:39,373 --> 00:30:41,573
Speaker 2: Wallace a TD being up for them is a big blow.

589
00:30:41,613 --> 00:30:46,693
Speaker 2: I'm interested to see how Clayton McMillan balances things as well.

590
00:30:46,853 --> 00:30:50,613
Speaker 2: Damien McKenzie wants time at teen obviously, Josh Jacob it

591
00:30:50,653 --> 00:30:52,493
Speaker 2: looks like a real up and comer. Do they give

592
00:30:52,573 --> 00:30:54,493
Speaker 2: him game time at ten and move McKenzie back to

593
00:30:54,533 --> 00:30:58,373
Speaker 2: fifteen Tenny Naneaea tutro Is there are thereabouts, but they're

594
00:30:58,373 --> 00:31:00,213
Speaker 2: going to lose Shawan Stevenson for at least the first

595
00:31:00,213 --> 00:31:02,853
Speaker 2: four weeks, so how do they balance that. That's the

596
00:31:02,933 --> 00:31:05,133
Speaker 2: interesting thing for me. Moving down the country that the

597
00:31:05,253 --> 00:31:09,373
Speaker 2: Hurricanes know Jordi Barrett at Leinster Ardie's gone. That's a

598
00:31:09,413 --> 00:31:12,813
Speaker 2: big loss for them, so it's hard to know exactly

599
00:31:12,853 --> 00:31:16,053
Speaker 2: what to get from the Hurricanes. No Brick Cameron, so

600
00:31:16,053 --> 00:31:18,613
Speaker 2: they lost a bit at ten this year as well.

601
00:31:18,653 --> 00:31:20,613
Speaker 2: Doing Flanders has suffered a broken league.

602
00:31:20,653 --> 00:31:23,893
Speaker 3: So there's been so many injuries, and I think part

603
00:31:23,933 --> 00:31:27,813
Speaker 3: of that's down to the encouragement to be to disclose

604
00:31:27,853 --> 00:31:31,133
Speaker 3: these injuries, which is positive from a public point of view.

605
00:31:31,573 --> 00:31:33,053
Speaker 4: I think everyone should be informed.

606
00:31:33,373 --> 00:31:37,293
Speaker 3: But there has been some big casualties throughout well at

607
00:31:37,293 --> 00:31:39,493
Speaker 3: the back end of last year which weren't disclosed I

608
00:31:39,493 --> 00:31:40,333
Speaker 3: think by the All Blacks.

609
00:31:40,373 --> 00:31:41,293
Speaker 4: Guys like Reuben Love.

610
00:31:42,533 --> 00:31:44,453
Speaker 2: Sadari's now out for the season.

611
00:31:44,533 --> 00:31:46,573
Speaker 3: Yeah, of course, yeah, but guys like I suffer our

612
00:31:46,613 --> 00:31:49,773
Speaker 3: moor Wallace a tit. We weren't aware they were injured

613
00:31:49,773 --> 00:31:52,213
Speaker 3: for the All Blacks, So what actually happened and why

614
00:31:52,213 --> 00:31:54,853
Speaker 3: did they? Did they play against Italy and then, like

615
00:31:54,893 --> 00:31:57,733
Speaker 3: you say, Sam Dowry throughout the preseason, so I think

616
00:31:57,773 --> 00:31:59,493
Speaker 3: you're always going to get that to start the year.

617
00:31:59,493 --> 00:32:02,933
Speaker 3: The Crusader's lost a couple of props as well, so

618
00:32:03,093 --> 00:32:05,613
Speaker 3: interesting to see how that shakes down. One of the

619
00:32:05,613 --> 00:32:08,013
Speaker 3: big questions I think for teams like the Hurricanes and

620
00:32:08,053 --> 00:32:11,213
Speaker 3: the Crews. One of the big overarching themes I think

621
00:32:11,253 --> 00:32:14,693
Speaker 3: from in his Geller perspective, as so many of the

622
00:32:14,693 --> 00:32:19,693
Speaker 3: playmakers are congested in the Upper North Island with the

623
00:32:19,773 --> 00:32:22,213
Speaker 3: Chiefs and Blues, so the Hurricanes are probably going to

624
00:32:22,253 --> 00:32:25,973
Speaker 3: start the season with Harry Godfrey. The Crusaders are what

625
00:32:26,133 --> 00:32:31,253
Speaker 3: Taha Kima or James O'Connor. The Highlands have got camp

626
00:32:31,333 --> 00:32:34,493
Speaker 3: probably going to invest heavily in Cam Miller. So there's

627
00:32:34,493 --> 00:32:38,773
Speaker 3: a real disparity in class there and how much of

628
00:32:38,813 --> 00:32:39,733
Speaker 3: affect that does that play?

629
00:32:39,813 --> 00:32:41,013
Speaker 2: So I think it's a big time. You look at

630
00:32:41,533 --> 00:32:44,573
Speaker 2: the Super Rugby champions throughout the years and you need

631
00:32:44,613 --> 00:32:49,213
Speaker 2: a quality ten to steer you to the title. Pretty

632
00:32:49,253 --> 00:32:51,333
Speaker 2: much can't get by. But you might have some other

633
00:32:51,373 --> 00:32:53,213
Speaker 2: superstars on the team, but if you're lacking at ten,

634
00:32:53,693 --> 00:32:56,613
Speaker 2: you just can't get the job done. And no doubt

635
00:32:56,653 --> 00:32:59,013
Speaker 2: the Crusaders have been scratching around. Maybe they thought that

636
00:32:59,173 --> 00:33:00,853
Speaker 2: m longer'll be back next year. Now they've got to

637
00:33:00,933 --> 00:33:04,613
Speaker 2: look elsewhere and go, you know, as Taha Kima a

638
00:33:04,693 --> 00:33:07,613
Speaker 2: guy for another season after this. Rivers Rayhan is injured

639
00:33:07,613 --> 00:33:09,453
Speaker 2: for a bit of the season and James O'Connor's there.

640
00:33:10,053 --> 00:33:14,253
Speaker 2: The Hurricanes obviously Britt Cameron injured, Callum Harkins come into

641
00:33:14,293 --> 00:33:16,533
Speaker 2: the squad. They've got a lot of questions around that.

642
00:33:16,613 --> 00:33:18,733
Speaker 2: Rubin Love might play a bit of ten, but he's

643
00:33:18,973 --> 00:33:22,813
Speaker 2: not back until March, so he expects. So yeah, I

644
00:33:22,853 --> 00:33:24,533
Speaker 2: think this has been a problem in sub rugby before that.

645
00:33:24,613 --> 00:33:26,973
Speaker 2: A lot of the talent has been congested in one

646
00:33:27,013 --> 00:33:29,333
Speaker 2: position in one team. The Crusaders for years had a

647
00:33:29,333 --> 00:33:33,053
Speaker 2: lot of playmakers, and then you know, Colin Slade goes

648
00:33:33,373 --> 00:33:35,133
Speaker 2: south to the Highlanders for a bit, other you know,

649
00:33:35,173 --> 00:33:37,253
Speaker 2: other changes as well. But you've got to have a

650
00:33:37,293 --> 00:33:39,213
Speaker 2: quality ten and if you don't have it, the job

651
00:33:39,213 --> 00:33:41,533
Speaker 2: becomes very very hard. So immediately you look at the

652
00:33:41,533 --> 00:33:45,053
Speaker 2: Blues and the Chiefs with all black quality tens and

653
00:33:45,133 --> 00:33:49,053
Speaker 2: go they're automatically a step ahead. You mentioned the Holland

654
00:33:49,093 --> 00:33:51,853
Speaker 2: is there as well. Hard to know what to expect

655
00:33:51,853 --> 00:33:54,413
Speaker 2: from them under Jamie Joseph this year. A lot of

656
00:33:54,453 --> 00:33:57,253
Speaker 2: young players, a lot of academy players that are now

657
00:33:57,333 --> 00:33:59,733
Speaker 2: coming through. Fabian Holland had a bit of a taste

658
00:33:59,733 --> 00:34:01,733
Speaker 2: of the all Blacks environment. Didn't get on the park,

659
00:34:02,693 --> 00:34:06,773
Speaker 2: you know, Timothy, Timothy taaa why very impressive last year

660
00:34:06,813 --> 00:34:10,093
Speaker 2: I thought for the Highlanders O captain this show captain

661
00:34:10,133 --> 00:34:12,533
Speaker 2: this year. If you rent a player of immense super

662
00:34:12,613 --> 00:34:17,133
Speaker 2: rugby experience, but again very young team and hard to

663
00:34:17,213 --> 00:34:20,413
Speaker 2: know where they are going to pick up the wins,

664
00:34:20,453 --> 00:34:22,293
Speaker 2: especially against New Zealand teams this year.

665
00:34:23,093 --> 00:34:25,293
Speaker 3: Yeah, one thing you do know, and what I have heard,

666
00:34:25,453 --> 00:34:30,413
Speaker 3: is that Jamie Joseph hasn't changed. Some of the trainings

667
00:34:30,413 --> 00:34:34,493
Speaker 3: have been notoriously ruthless, so they will be fits. Their

668
00:34:34,533 --> 00:34:37,933
Speaker 3: forward pack will be uncompromising with I think it's a

669
00:34:37,933 --> 00:34:42,893
Speaker 3: good move Clark Deermody going back into that capacity, but

670
00:34:44,013 --> 00:34:47,413
Speaker 3: they really do need to quickly unearth some of that

671
00:34:47,533 --> 00:34:49,853
Speaker 3: rising talent, don't They find a few nuggets of gold,

672
00:34:50,253 --> 00:34:52,413
Speaker 3: hang on to them, promote them, invest in them, and

673
00:34:52,453 --> 00:34:53,653
Speaker 3: that's what they've been trying to do.

674
00:34:54,493 --> 00:34:56,533
Speaker 4: But they face an up fill battle.

675
00:34:56,333 --> 00:34:58,453
Speaker 2: They do. I spoke to Sean Withy last week and

676
00:34:58,453 --> 00:35:02,053
Speaker 2: he reckoned they could do some surprise some teams this

677
00:35:02,133 --> 00:35:07,893
Speaker 2: year and certainly they're capable of doing that. But you know,

678
00:35:08,333 --> 00:35:10,813
Speaker 2: guy only get you so far in Super Rugby. You've

679
00:35:10,853 --> 00:35:12,453
Speaker 2: got to be consistent and you might pick up a

680
00:35:12,493 --> 00:35:13,693
Speaker 2: win here or there, but you've got to be ultra

681
00:35:13,733 --> 00:35:15,373
Speaker 2: consistent across the course of the seas and I think

682
00:35:15,413 --> 00:35:17,773
Speaker 2: it might be perhaps a year or two too early

683
00:35:17,813 --> 00:35:19,413
Speaker 2: for some of those young players at the Highlanders.

684
00:35:19,893 --> 00:35:22,933
Speaker 3: From a neutual perspective, Super Rugby needs those surprises that

685
00:35:23,053 --> 00:35:26,413
Speaker 3: they need Australia to come in and rock the Blues

686
00:35:26,413 --> 00:35:29,253
Speaker 3: the Chiefs at home to turn the competition on it here,

687
00:35:29,253 --> 00:35:31,893
Speaker 3: they need the Fijian Jura to win. Away from home,

688
00:35:32,413 --> 00:35:34,613
Speaker 3: they need the Landers to pull off a few shock

689
00:35:34,693 --> 00:35:38,293
Speaker 3: upsets to spark that interest. If it's just goes to

690
00:35:38,333 --> 00:35:42,093
Speaker 3: scripts as we expect, the Chiefs and Blues playing another

691
00:35:42,293 --> 00:35:45,973
Speaker 3: title decider, it's not ho' harm. You and I are

692
00:35:45,973 --> 00:35:48,013
Speaker 3: still going to be engaged and interested, but it's not

693
00:35:48,013 --> 00:35:50,533
Speaker 3: going to attract the casual fans. So it needs to

694
00:35:50,533 --> 00:35:53,373
Speaker 3: be competitive. We need upsets, we need surprises. You need

695
00:35:53,413 --> 00:35:56,773
Speaker 3: teams like the Highlanders, Wina Pacifica, the Waratahs, whoever it

696
00:35:56,893 --> 00:36:02,413
Speaker 3: is to really you know, turn the tables spark some

697
00:36:02,493 --> 00:36:07,053
Speaker 3: interests because otherwise, but it's gonna be tough like that

698
00:36:07,133 --> 00:36:10,613
Speaker 3: Blues team is pretty much international quality it is.

699
00:36:10,893 --> 00:36:14,573
Speaker 2: Let's dig a little into Moreida Pacifica Artie Savia going there,

700
00:36:14,613 --> 00:36:17,373
Speaker 2: as you mentioned a touch earlier, the biggest transfer in

701
00:36:17,413 --> 00:36:21,693
Speaker 2: Super rugby history that they've pulled off there. How much

702
00:36:21,733 --> 00:36:26,213
Speaker 2: will that instantly improve them? And what can they expect

703
00:36:26,213 --> 00:36:30,213
Speaker 2: in terms of results this year? They've had some tweaks

704
00:36:30,453 --> 00:36:33,653
Speaker 2: to some other positions, but buying large ARTI is the

705
00:36:33,893 --> 00:36:36,253
Speaker 2: big magnet that has comeing to their team. He's going

706
00:36:36,253 --> 00:36:38,653
Speaker 2: to captain them this year. How much of an instant

707
00:36:38,693 --> 00:36:42,133
Speaker 2: influence can be on one PACIFICA And do they become playoff.

708
00:36:41,813 --> 00:36:46,093
Speaker 3: Cordy No, I don't think they've become playoff quality, but

709
00:36:46,133 --> 00:36:47,773
Speaker 3: that's very much their aspiration.

710
00:36:47,893 --> 00:36:48,893
Speaker 4: It very much should be.

711
00:36:49,413 --> 00:36:53,613
Speaker 3: I think Ardia is without doubt one of the most

712
00:36:53,613 --> 00:36:57,533
Speaker 3: inspirational figures, particularly from a Pacificer perspective, and he will

713
00:36:58,933 --> 00:37:02,533
Speaker 3: he will bring people with him. I think it's worth

714
00:37:02,573 --> 00:37:04,933
Speaker 3: noting that he is probably not going to be in

715
00:37:04,973 --> 00:37:07,253
Speaker 3: that team next year because he has a sabbatical option

716
00:37:07,933 --> 00:37:10,253
Speaker 3: that will mitigate his influence. But from this year at

717
00:37:10,333 --> 00:37:13,893
Speaker 3: least he will come in. He we've all heard that

718
00:37:14,013 --> 00:37:21,013
Speaker 3: he's lifted standards and expectations across the entire team. He's

719
00:37:21,293 --> 00:37:25,893
Speaker 3: been anointed captain. As he said, his style of rugby.

720
00:37:26,933 --> 00:37:29,733
Speaker 3: We'll bring people with him, but it's not going to

721
00:37:29,813 --> 00:37:32,693
Speaker 3: be enough. I don't think to bring Moana into the playoffs.

722
00:37:33,413 --> 00:37:35,013
Speaker 3: But one other point to note is I think they've

723
00:37:35,053 --> 00:37:38,053
Speaker 3: got something like fourteen new recruits and they have improved

724
00:37:38,053 --> 00:37:41,213
Speaker 3: their coaching team. They brought in celelem up Asuur who

725
00:37:41,333 --> 00:37:45,133
Speaker 3: was coaching Samoa, and they've got Tom Coventry and Tana

726
00:37:45,213 --> 00:37:48,133
Speaker 3: Umager and that's infinitely better than where they were with

727
00:37:48,213 --> 00:37:50,373
Speaker 3: Aaron Major a few years ago. It's a lot of unrest.

728
00:37:50,613 --> 00:37:54,453
Speaker 3: He was basically forced out by player power. They've got

729
00:37:54,453 --> 00:37:57,373
Speaker 3: a stable training base. They still don't have a home

730
00:37:57,413 --> 00:38:01,573
Speaker 3: as such, which is challenging, but you know, they've got

731
00:38:02,533 --> 00:38:04,653
Speaker 3: I think Jackson gunn Bash it was a good pickup

732
00:38:05,573 --> 00:38:10,213
Speaker 3: Solomon ala Malo brought him back from the NRL, So

733
00:38:10,253 --> 00:38:13,653
Speaker 3: they have got some decent pickups there. It's just whether

734
00:38:13,693 --> 00:38:16,533
Speaker 3: they have the quality and the consistency I think to

735
00:38:16,613 --> 00:38:18,853
Speaker 3: back it up week after week. But I would expect

736
00:38:18,893 --> 00:38:22,373
Speaker 3: them to be to improve and be competitive.

737
00:38:22,093 --> 00:38:23,813
Speaker 2: Yeah, which is exactly what we need out of that

738
00:38:23,853 --> 00:38:28,733
Speaker 2: team and heading into the future of Super Rugby as well,

739
00:38:28,973 --> 00:38:31,373
Speaker 2: because to touch on that, you know, eleven teams is

740
00:38:31,413 --> 00:38:35,813
Speaker 2: suboptimal for this competition. There have been questions around one

741
00:38:35,813 --> 00:38:39,213
Speaker 2: of Pacific's ongoing involvements in this. They've seem to have

742
00:38:39,253 --> 00:38:41,093
Speaker 2: been put to bed, at least for the time being,

743
00:38:41,133 --> 00:38:43,293
Speaker 2: but there's always gonna be a question mark, especially when

744
00:38:43,293 --> 00:38:46,613
Speaker 2: the results on the park haven't been as good as

745
00:38:46,653 --> 00:38:49,933
Speaker 2: they can be, So if you look to Super Rugby's future,

746
00:38:49,973 --> 00:38:52,693
Speaker 2: it's probably got to expand again and find a twelfth

747
00:38:52,693 --> 00:38:56,213
Speaker 2: team because eleven is suboptimal in terms of draw buys,

748
00:38:56,373 --> 00:39:01,373
Speaker 2: everything like that, playoff systems. So just to be looking

749
00:39:01,333 --> 00:39:03,133
Speaker 2: at an overall picture, it's going to be interesting to

750
00:39:03,133 --> 00:39:06,013
Speaker 2: see where Super Rugby goes to in twenty twenty six,

751
00:39:06,053 --> 00:39:08,053
Speaker 2: which is also the commencement of a new broadcast deal

752
00:39:08,093 --> 00:39:09,853
Speaker 2: which is to be signed on both sides of the Tasment.

753
00:39:10,413 --> 00:39:12,933
Speaker 3: Yeah, and it sounds like positive news out of Australia

754
00:39:12,933 --> 00:39:15,133
Speaker 3: that they're going to get significant uplift over there, which

755
00:39:15,133 --> 00:39:16,773
Speaker 3: is great news for them and great news for New

756
00:39:16,813 --> 00:39:20,453
Speaker 3: Zella Rugby because they've effectively been subsidizing Australia to keep

757
00:39:20,493 --> 00:39:23,893
Speaker 3: them off their knees. With the major events that they've got coming,

758
00:39:25,093 --> 00:39:29,133
Speaker 3: Super Ragby definitely wants needs another team. Where that comes

759
00:39:29,173 --> 00:39:32,373
Speaker 3: from and whether it's going to improve the competition, the

760
00:39:32,493 --> 00:39:35,493
Speaker 3: jury is out there. As you mentioned, eleven teams and

761
00:39:35,893 --> 00:39:39,733
Speaker 3: the top six final system this year, and I'm going

762
00:39:39,733 --> 00:39:42,053
Speaker 3: to put the onus on you, how Eliott and tell

763
00:39:42,093 --> 00:39:44,893
Speaker 3: your wee story. So I went over to Australia the

764
00:39:44,893 --> 00:39:48,413
Speaker 3: Gold Coast earlier this year for a boxing event. David Nacre,

765
00:39:48,813 --> 00:39:51,013
Speaker 3: it's fight over there, and I ran into none other

766
00:39:51,053 --> 00:39:55,013
Speaker 3: than Scott Robertson at the airport and neither of neither

767
00:39:55,053 --> 00:39:58,973
Speaker 3: he nor me could decipher this top six play a format.

768
00:39:59,013 --> 00:40:01,093
Speaker 3: At the time was early January, so I've got a

769
00:40:01,133 --> 00:40:03,533
Speaker 3: bit of time to work it out. But can you

770
00:40:03,613 --> 00:40:06,493
Speaker 3: explain to the punters out there, and the simplest possible

771
00:40:06,653 --> 00:40:09,533
Speaker 3: layman's terms, how this finals format works.

772
00:40:09,573 --> 00:40:15,173
Speaker 2: It would be my pleasure, Liam. So you have six

773
00:40:15,213 --> 00:40:18,613
Speaker 2: teams in the playoffs. I'm with you now, yeah, good

774
00:40:18,613 --> 00:40:23,253
Speaker 2: start one play six, two plays five, three plays four.

775
00:40:24,093 --> 00:40:29,293
Speaker 2: The winners go through to the next round. So three winners,

776
00:40:29,333 --> 00:40:35,773
Speaker 2: three winners, the highest remaining seed that lost, so that

777
00:40:35,813 --> 00:40:40,853
Speaker 2: it'll be either team one, two or three. Well depends

778
00:40:40,853 --> 00:40:41,853
Speaker 2: who lost, it could be four.

779
00:40:41,973 --> 00:40:42,653
Speaker 4: Yeah, gotcha.

780
00:40:43,253 --> 00:40:45,733
Speaker 2: They will go through to.

781
00:40:44,973 --> 00:40:46,573
Speaker 4: The semi finals.

782
00:40:46,213 --> 00:40:50,253
Speaker 2: Semifinals, so they get a second life. So it's not

783
00:40:50,293 --> 00:40:52,013
Speaker 2: the format that I would have gone with put it

784
00:40:52,013 --> 00:40:54,413
Speaker 2: that way, but it gives Super Rugby the most of

785
00:40:54,453 --> 00:40:59,733
Speaker 2: the maximum games in terms of the broadcasters, which you know,

786
00:40:59,813 --> 00:41:01,533
Speaker 2: I don't think is the right way to go about it.

787
00:41:01,573 --> 00:41:02,973
Speaker 2: But that's the way they've gone about it. You know,

788
00:41:02,973 --> 00:41:04,373
Speaker 2: the simplest way we to give one and two a

789
00:41:04,373 --> 00:41:06,773
Speaker 2: week off, three plays, six, four plays five instantly into

790
00:41:06,773 --> 00:41:07,213
Speaker 2: the semis.

791
00:41:07,213 --> 00:41:08,773
Speaker 3: After that, that was the point is going to make.

792
00:41:08,813 --> 00:41:11,973
Speaker 3: There's not really enough reward. Is therefore topping the log.

793
00:41:12,253 --> 00:41:15,373
Speaker 2: No, you get a second life if you're the losing

794
00:41:15,373 --> 00:41:16,973
Speaker 2: team from the first week that is the highest seed.

795
00:41:16,973 --> 00:41:19,813
Speaker 2: But if there are upsets there, you could be gone

796
00:41:19,813 --> 00:41:22,533
Speaker 2: first week. And I just don't know that there's enough reward,

797
00:41:22,613 --> 00:41:25,413
Speaker 2: Especially when you're putting six of eleven teams into a

798
00:41:25,413 --> 00:41:28,253
Speaker 2: plaoff system. You've got to give the upper teams some

799
00:41:28,293 --> 00:41:30,853
Speaker 2: more award, a second chance, whatever it might be, a

800
00:41:30,893 --> 00:41:33,933
Speaker 2: week off, some reward there. What they've gone with is

801
00:41:33,973 --> 00:41:37,533
Speaker 2: giving ultimately more games to the broadcasters. And we'll see

802
00:41:37,533 --> 00:41:40,293
Speaker 2: how it works this year. You know, maybe we're about

803
00:41:40,293 --> 00:41:42,933
Speaker 2: twelve next year and we can reinstate that popular eighteen

804
00:41:42,933 --> 00:41:44,133
Speaker 2: plaff that you were so forgot.

805
00:41:44,733 --> 00:41:46,573
Speaker 4: Yes, there's very much a stopgap measure. All right, I'll

806
00:41:46,613 --> 00:41:48,053
Speaker 4: give you. I'll give you a pass mark for that.

807
00:41:48,133 --> 00:41:48,453
Speaker 4: Thank you.

808
00:41:48,773 --> 00:41:52,413
Speaker 2: It's a pleasure. Is there any whispers about a twelve team?

809
00:41:52,413 --> 00:41:53,333
Speaker 2: Are we're hearing anything?

810
00:41:54,053 --> 00:41:54,693
Speaker 4: Not currently.

811
00:41:54,813 --> 00:41:57,093
Speaker 3: I mean, we had whispers last year about the hagaad

812
00:41:57,293 --> 00:42:00,493
Speaker 3: is about. You know, there's always talk about a team

813
00:42:00,493 --> 00:42:05,293
Speaker 3: in the West Coast of America. There's the long term

814
00:42:05,293 --> 00:42:08,013
Speaker 3: desire to bring in some of the Japanese top leagues,

815
00:42:08,053 --> 00:42:09,493
Speaker 3: but the incentive for them.

816
00:42:09,373 --> 00:42:11,133
Speaker 2: Well, Butt and Barrett mentioned that last week, didn't he

817
00:42:11,213 --> 00:42:13,373
Speaker 2: that I'd love to see that Japan unless you were

818
00:42:13,413 --> 00:42:16,693
Speaker 2: to create a multiple division competition because there's so many

819
00:42:16,773 --> 00:42:19,693
Speaker 2: Japan japan teams, how do you peck and go to

820
00:42:19,813 --> 00:42:24,773
Speaker 2: Shiba Toyota, Kiboda Suntory. You're coming through with us, but

821
00:42:24,893 --> 00:42:28,413
Speaker 2: sorry to the Panasonic Wild Nights, you're gone. Unless you

822
00:42:28,453 --> 00:42:32,333
Speaker 2: were to create sort of a multi division Super rugby

823
00:42:32,413 --> 00:42:35,293
Speaker 2: competition that included Japan. It was three divisions, you can

824
00:42:35,293 --> 00:42:37,333
Speaker 2: include all those teams there. I just don't see how

825
00:42:37,333 --> 00:42:38,613
Speaker 2: that gets off the ground.

826
00:42:39,053 --> 00:42:41,693
Speaker 4: I think longer term that's probably where it's going to

827
00:42:41,773 --> 00:42:42,013
Speaker 4: get to.

828
00:42:42,093 --> 00:42:46,453
Speaker 3: They'll have to not bow to the Japanese wishes. But

829
00:42:47,213 --> 00:42:49,653
Speaker 3: they hold all the cards. Yeah, and they hold all

830
00:42:49,653 --> 00:42:52,893
Speaker 3: the money and money talks, and you've got the World

831
00:42:52,933 --> 00:42:56,693
Speaker 3: Club Championship to consider as well. If that still gets

832
00:42:56,693 --> 00:42:57,373
Speaker 3: off the ground.

833
00:42:57,133 --> 00:42:58,253
Speaker 2: I understand as it is, yeah.

834
00:42:58,293 --> 00:43:03,213
Speaker 4: Yeah, and that's twenty twenty six, twenty eight, I think

835
00:43:03,213 --> 00:43:03,853
Speaker 4: for twenty eight.

836
00:43:04,013 --> 00:43:06,213
Speaker 3: Yeah, so there's a few things to play arts, but

837
00:43:07,293 --> 00:43:10,653
Speaker 3: I think Japan at least has a has a Rugby identity.

838
00:43:10,773 --> 00:43:13,093
Speaker 3: If you're going to go plunker team in the West

839
00:43:13,093 --> 00:43:16,173
Speaker 3: coast of the States, that's going to be a failure.

840
00:43:16,253 --> 00:43:18,813
Speaker 2: No, And I think Boden Barrett made a good point

841
00:43:18,853 --> 00:43:22,893
Speaker 2: around the travel factor on tour with some of those teams,

842
00:43:22,893 --> 00:43:25,653
Speaker 2: and you could replace some of the factor of South Africa,

843
00:43:25,853 --> 00:43:27,853
Speaker 2: the fact that a lot of the Suffragan's actually playing

844
00:43:27,893 --> 00:43:30,373
Speaker 2: in Japan. If you bring them in, you're playing a

845
00:43:30,453 --> 00:43:34,013
Speaker 2: Peter Steff Bigthow, You're playing you know, Fuff the Clerk,

846
00:43:34,053 --> 00:43:36,293
Speaker 2: all those sort of players, You're actually playing them while

847
00:43:36,333 --> 00:43:37,933
Speaker 2: you play those Japan teams. It's a matter of how

848
00:43:37,973 --> 00:43:41,693
Speaker 2: it shakes down whether it could work as another matter entirely. Yeah. Yeah,

849
00:43:41,933 --> 00:43:44,613
Speaker 2: And the Japan teams instantly become better because they've got

850
00:43:44,653 --> 00:43:45,013
Speaker 2: more money.

851
00:43:45,133 --> 00:43:45,293
Speaker 4: Yeah.

852
00:43:45,613 --> 00:43:49,453
Speaker 2: All right, So let's get into some predictions for the

853
00:43:49,493 --> 00:43:51,653
Speaker 2: season of fact, let's do some tips for the weekend. First

854
00:43:51,653 --> 00:43:54,413
Speaker 2: and foremost, as we always do.

855
00:43:55,493 --> 00:43:56,933
Speaker 4: Who's winning Round one, don't we?

856
00:43:57,253 --> 00:43:59,773
Speaker 2: Friday Night Crusader's Hurricanes. Well the Hurricanes has got No.

857
00:43:59,893 --> 00:44:04,493
Speaker 3: Ten so well yeah, because the Crusaders have got international

858
00:44:04,573 --> 00:44:05,533
Speaker 3: quality in their ranks.

859
00:44:05,573 --> 00:44:08,253
Speaker 2: Walby's teen, Walby's teen, thank you very much.

860
00:44:08,653 --> 00:44:10,973
Speaker 3: Well Luck, I hate to break it to here, but

861
00:44:11,213 --> 00:44:12,773
Speaker 3: your season is going to start where it left off

862
00:44:12,853 --> 00:44:13,533
Speaker 3: last year.

863
00:44:13,573 --> 00:44:16,453
Speaker 2: With a win against Mowana. I think it was last year.

864
00:44:18,213 --> 00:44:20,213
Speaker 4: Get on the cane cane train, mate.

865
00:44:20,173 --> 00:44:21,973
Speaker 2: Cane train is not going to get out of the station.

866
00:44:22,893 --> 00:44:26,813
Speaker 2: It is Crusaders. I'm going that way seven five and

867
00:44:27,453 --> 00:44:30,053
Speaker 2: Rob and Rob we trust before we make a big

868
00:44:30,053 --> 00:44:32,853
Speaker 2: play for Joe Schmidt in twenty twenty six and beyond.

869
00:44:33,453 --> 00:44:36,333
Speaker 2: Colm Mansbridge, if you're listening, get on the blower of

870
00:44:36,413 --> 00:44:40,093
Speaker 2: Joe right now. Wartars Highland is the star studded war

871
00:44:40,133 --> 00:44:44,653
Speaker 2: Retars in Sydney entertaining the Highlanders.

872
00:44:44,973 --> 00:44:47,093
Speaker 4: Well it's a tough one, isn't it? Round one?

873
00:44:47,893 --> 00:44:53,053
Speaker 3: I am going to go the war Tars.

874
00:44:53,173 --> 00:44:55,333
Speaker 2: Yes, am, I I think they've got too much quality.

875
00:44:55,373 --> 00:44:57,853
Speaker 2: Will start the season. Sorry, Paul Kelly with the win

876
00:44:58,373 --> 00:45:02,573
Speaker 2: the drawer hosting the Brumbies. I know last week at

877
00:45:02,573 --> 00:45:04,933
Speaker 2: the Super Rugby Lord and showed us Ateno Robert Tamanda

878
00:45:04,933 --> 00:45:07,133
Speaker 2: was looking forward to welcoming the Brumbies on a sweltering

879
00:45:07,213 --> 00:45:09,773
Speaker 2: Saturday afternoon in Fiji.

880
00:45:10,213 --> 00:45:10,413
Speaker 4: Yeah.

881
00:45:10,453 --> 00:45:12,693
Speaker 3: Look, I think I'm going to go the Brumbies and

882
00:45:12,733 --> 00:45:16,453
Speaker 3: I think Glenn Jackson's the new coach of the Dura

883
00:45:16,533 --> 00:45:20,253
Speaker 3: this year and I think they will not be as

884
00:45:20,333 --> 00:45:21,293
Speaker 3: good as they have been.

885
00:45:21,173 --> 00:45:21,933
Speaker 4: In recent years.

886
00:45:22,173 --> 00:45:24,773
Speaker 3: What's wrong with Queen Jackson. I don't not knocking Glenn.

887
00:45:24,813 --> 00:45:26,653
Speaker 3: I just think it's a bit of a transition here

888
00:45:26,733 --> 00:45:27,613
Speaker 3: for the for the.

889
00:45:30,853 --> 00:45:33,533
Speaker 2: Seven five Saturday night. Looking forward to commentating this on

890
00:45:33,613 --> 00:45:38,173
Speaker 2: Goldswoldn't iHeartRadio? Grand Final rematch Blues and Chiefs Eden Park.

891
00:45:38,453 --> 00:45:41,493
Speaker 2: Do the Chiefs avenge in some way their defeat at

892
00:45:41,533 --> 00:45:43,613
Speaker 2: the same ground last year in the final?

893
00:45:44,773 --> 00:45:48,053
Speaker 3: They do not, but it will be highly competitive and

894
00:45:48,613 --> 00:45:52,133
Speaker 3: what a way to start this season. Great to see Supergue.

895
00:45:52,133 --> 00:45:55,093
Speaker 3: We finally get some scheduling, right, Yeah, I'm with you.

896
00:45:55,133 --> 00:45:57,773
Speaker 2: I think the Blues when that one and the Force

897
00:45:57,813 --> 00:46:00,533
Speaker 2: welcome on one to Pacifica to a Perth nine point

898
00:46:00,533 --> 00:46:03,053
Speaker 2: thirty five Saturday nights again. You can hear this song

899
00:46:03,093 --> 00:46:04,293
Speaker 2: called Sporting Nightheart Radio.

900
00:46:06,973 --> 00:46:08,133
Speaker 3: You know what, I'm going to tip my line at

901
00:46:08,133 --> 00:46:11,333
Speaker 3: a one that it's always a tough place to win,

902
00:46:11,413 --> 00:46:14,013
Speaker 3: but a bit of positivity, so I'll give them the

903
00:46:14,053 --> 00:46:15,373
Speaker 3: benefit of the doubt to start there.

904
00:46:15,413 --> 00:46:18,293
Speaker 2: I've got the fourth couple of new recruits, Darcy Sway,

905
00:46:19,373 --> 00:46:19,973
Speaker 2: a few others.

906
00:46:20,013 --> 00:46:21,573
Speaker 4: He's got a good reputation, that's right.

907
00:46:22,253 --> 00:46:25,813
Speaker 2: Yeah, hopefully it doesn't injure anyone.

908
00:46:26,213 --> 00:46:28,493
Speaker 3: Yeah, an interesting matchup. When he comes head to have

909
00:46:29,093 --> 00:46:30,453
Speaker 3: quinter Pi, he'll be.

910
00:46:30,373 --> 00:46:33,613
Speaker 2: Fireworks, could be fireworks. Right, let's get into our final four.

911
00:46:34,453 --> 00:46:37,413
Speaker 2: Big question, Liam, give me your winner of Super Rugby

912
00:46:37,573 --> 00:46:39,773
Speaker 2: plus the five other playoff sides.

913
00:46:40,293 --> 00:46:44,533
Speaker 3: Okay, so Blues to win. Unfortunately, it's a bit boring

914
00:46:44,533 --> 00:46:54,813
Speaker 3: and predictable. Chiefs, Canes, Brumbies, Reds and maybe maybe the

915
00:46:55,093 --> 00:47:00,053
Speaker 3: Saders sneaking there and just scraping to sixth.

916
00:47:00,293 --> 00:47:03,573
Speaker 2: Scrape into sixth. I think the Blues win it again.

917
00:47:04,373 --> 00:47:07,453
Speaker 2: I think the Chiefs made the playoffs, Crusaders make the playoffs,

918
00:47:08,933 --> 00:47:10,253
Speaker 2: the war Tars make the playoffs.

919
00:47:10,293 --> 00:47:11,853
Speaker 4: You're going the Tars? Okay, Yeah, the.

920
00:47:11,813 --> 00:47:14,573
Speaker 2: Reds make the playoffs and the drumount of playoffs.

921
00:47:14,773 --> 00:47:16,293
Speaker 4: You left the Canes out, lift.

922
00:47:16,093 --> 00:47:20,693
Speaker 2: The Canes out. You're no no Jordi, no TJ no

923
00:47:20,813 --> 00:47:26,693
Speaker 2: first five, no media managers, organizations and is Peter luck

924
00:47:26,853 --> 00:47:28,413
Speaker 2: to get to christ.

925
00:47:28,613 --> 00:47:33,773
Speaker 3: Great in your Billy Proctor, suffer more, Tyre Lomax, mate,

926
00:47:33,933 --> 00:47:34,453
Speaker 3: lose your tin.

927
00:47:34,533 --> 00:47:35,213
Speaker 4: The list goes on.

928
00:47:35,253 --> 00:47:38,853
Speaker 3: Harry Godfree, we trust man, We'll see and Ruben Love

929
00:47:38,853 --> 00:47:39,413
Speaker 3: will be back.

930
00:47:40,253 --> 00:47:41,893
Speaker 2: Yeah, that'll be a big game once they get him back.

931
00:47:41,893 --> 00:47:43,253
Speaker 2: But I think it'll be they'll be chasing it.

932
00:47:43,693 --> 00:47:45,813
Speaker 4: Look, you're going to regard you know, I'm not going

933
00:47:45,853 --> 00:47:46,733
Speaker 4: to let you forget this.

934
00:47:47,053 --> 00:47:49,093
Speaker 2: Okay, Super Rugby m v P.

935
00:47:51,093 --> 00:47:54,493
Speaker 3: Oh well, probably if the Blues are winning, it probably

936
00:47:54,533 --> 00:47:56,533
Speaker 3: has to be someone from the Blues.

937
00:47:57,213 --> 00:47:58,973
Speaker 2: Because it could be an all around team performance. It

938
00:47:59,013 --> 00:48:01,293
Speaker 2: gets the Blues to the title. You might have someone

939
00:48:01,333 --> 00:48:03,373
Speaker 2: starring in a wicked team that gets all the points

940
00:48:03,413 --> 00:48:11,933
Speaker 2: every week. Hoskins last year, you're true. I am going

941
00:48:12,053 --> 00:48:18,373
Speaker 2: to go with not finily Christie cam Roygaate. Oh yeah,

942
00:48:18,413 --> 00:48:23,133
Speaker 2: well there is another one you missed. You know, I'm

943
00:48:23,133 --> 00:48:24,973
Speaker 2: going to go Harry Plumber on his way out the door,

944
00:48:25,373 --> 00:48:27,293
Speaker 2: Harry Plumber. Is he going to get enough game time?

945
00:48:28,413 --> 00:48:29,933
Speaker 4: Well, he could play twelve.

946
00:48:30,053 --> 00:48:34,413
Speaker 3: Boden can play fullback and you know what, it'd be

947
00:48:34,453 --> 00:48:36,373
Speaker 3: pretty hard to go past him after what he did

948
00:48:36,453 --> 00:48:39,813
Speaker 3: last year. But very interesting to see how that plays out,

949
00:48:39,813 --> 00:48:40,093
Speaker 3: isn't it.

950
00:48:40,213 --> 00:48:43,213
Speaker 2: I'm going Joseph Sua Lee to be the super rugby

951
00:48:43,293 --> 00:48:44,093
Speaker 2: m VP. Cool.

952
00:48:44,173 --> 00:48:45,333
Speaker 4: What positions is he going to play?

953
00:48:45,373 --> 00:48:45,813
Speaker 2: Fullback?

954
00:48:46,413 --> 00:48:46,653
Speaker 4: Yeah?

955
00:48:46,813 --> 00:48:49,253
Speaker 3: It sounds like he's been training there and I would

956
00:48:49,333 --> 00:48:51,693
Speaker 3: like to see that. But more space to Rome. He's

957
00:48:51,693 --> 00:48:56,213
Speaker 3: brolling in the air. Get him evolved, get him in space. Absolutely,

958
00:48:56,933 --> 00:49:01,173
Speaker 3: he's really on the tars yeast. This happens every year.

959
00:49:01,493 --> 00:49:03,413
Speaker 3: The Hype train now the Sydney and they fall flat.

960
00:49:03,533 --> 00:49:05,773
Speaker 3: The style of forward for the hype trade drinking the

961
00:49:05,853 --> 00:49:06,413
Speaker 3: kool well.

962
00:49:06,933 --> 00:49:09,253
Speaker 2: Last year write tipped the Chiefs drew a Fighter, which

963
00:49:09,253 --> 00:49:14,853
Speaker 2: did the exactly yes yes. Topic three in the final four,

964
00:49:14,853 --> 00:49:16,533
Speaker 2: who are you Wooden Spooners.

965
00:49:18,413 --> 00:49:19,253
Speaker 4: Going to go the force?

966
00:49:19,693 --> 00:49:22,733
Speaker 2: The force? Yeah?

967
00:49:23,773 --> 00:49:28,093
Speaker 4: Mawana no love, no love, okay?

968
00:49:29,533 --> 00:49:32,613
Speaker 2: Topic number four. I originally wrote this last night before

969
00:49:32,613 --> 00:49:35,653
Speaker 2: some news reports had emerged that there's emergency Wales board

970
00:49:35,693 --> 00:49:37,973
Speaker 2: meeting in forty eight hours as well as rub union

971
00:49:38,013 --> 00:49:39,933
Speaker 2: to decide the future of Warren Gallon. The original question

972
00:49:40,013 --> 00:49:42,213
Speaker 2: Lamb was will Warren Gatlan still be Wales coach by

973
00:49:42,253 --> 00:49:44,333
Speaker 2: the time the All Blacks visited in November? The new

974
00:49:44,413 --> 00:49:47,093
Speaker 2: question is will Warren Gatlin still be the Wales coach

975
00:49:47,133 --> 00:49:49,213
Speaker 2: by the time we do this podcast next week.

976
00:49:51,813 --> 00:49:55,493
Speaker 3: I think he will. But he should have been gone

977
00:49:55,813 --> 00:49:58,253
Speaker 3: at the back end of last year. They made a mistake.

978
00:49:58,533 --> 00:50:03,973
Speaker 3: They it was a weak decision, but I personally don't

979
00:50:04,013 --> 00:50:07,373
Speaker 3: see there's a lot of upside and rushing into appointing

980
00:50:07,373 --> 00:50:09,053
Speaker 3: an interim What are they going to do put Rob

981
00:50:09,093 --> 00:50:13,493
Speaker 3: Howley in there mid tournaments? They need to take time,

982
00:50:13,653 --> 00:50:19,053
Speaker 3: have a proper recruitment process find their next coach. But look,

983
00:50:19,133 --> 00:50:21,413
Speaker 3: it's bloody grim, isn't it. And I wouldn't blame them

984
00:50:21,453 --> 00:50:24,573
Speaker 3: for getting rid of them. Maybe they save themselves some

985
00:50:24,613 --> 00:50:26,653
Speaker 3: money by saving wait until the end of the tournament.

986
00:50:26,693 --> 00:50:27,333
Speaker 4: I'm not too sure.

987
00:50:27,933 --> 00:50:30,333
Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean they're probably hoping he resigns and perhaps

988
00:50:30,373 --> 00:50:33,613
Speaker 2: of feeding out some of these stories to go, Colin Warren,

989
00:50:33,653 --> 00:50:35,093
Speaker 2: save us a bit of coin and just fall on

990
00:50:35,133 --> 00:50:36,893
Speaker 2: your sword. Whether that happens or not, I don't know,

991
00:50:36,973 --> 00:50:39,693
Speaker 2: but maybe an interim coach you might be able to

992
00:50:39,733 --> 00:50:41,213
Speaker 2: get a bit of a new coach bounce. Just for

993
00:50:41,253 --> 00:50:43,693
Speaker 2: the back end of this tournament. I think they've got

994
00:50:43,693 --> 00:50:48,573
Speaker 2: Island next. When the competition returns from the break this week,

995
00:50:48,653 --> 00:50:51,853
Speaker 2: I think he's gone and we'll have an interim coach

996
00:50:51,893 --> 00:50:53,533
Speaker 2: in charge for the rest of the six nations and then

997
00:50:53,813 --> 00:50:55,413
Speaker 2: they can go and recruit. And we touched on some

998
00:50:55,493 --> 00:50:59,413
Speaker 2: of those contenders around the place, you know for the

999
00:50:59,493 --> 00:51:02,373
Speaker 2: Wallabies job. Maybe some of them look to the valleys

1000
00:51:02,853 --> 00:51:06,373
Speaker 2: and go that way. And before we go on Rugby

1001
00:51:06,493 --> 00:51:09,133
Speaker 2: Direct this week, good chance to catch up worth a

1002
00:51:09,253 --> 00:51:12,053
Speaker 2: number of the rugby identities last week at the Super

1003
00:51:12,133 --> 00:51:15,613
Speaker 2: Rugby launch in Sydney, and also sat down with the

1004
00:51:15,733 --> 00:51:19,613
Speaker 2: chief executive of Super Rugby Jack Missley, as he counts

1005
00:51:19,653 --> 00:51:22,333
Speaker 2: down to his first season in charge. Let's have a listen,

1006
00:51:22,893 --> 00:51:26,013
Speaker 2: Jack Missley, chief executive of Superroggy Pacific. Welcome to Rugby Direct.

1007
00:51:26,013 --> 00:51:28,613
Speaker 2: Thanks for your time, thanks for having us. How excited

1008
00:51:28,613 --> 00:51:31,533
Speaker 2: to you your first season in charge of Super Rugby Pacific.

1009
00:51:32,173 --> 00:51:34,093
Speaker 5: Yeah, I'm so excited.

1010
00:51:34,133 --> 00:51:35,293
Speaker 2: I can't wait for it to be.

1011
00:51:35,693 --> 00:51:39,413
Speaker 5: To kick it off on the fourteenth of February. I've

1012
00:51:39,413 --> 00:51:42,293
Speaker 5: had six months in the role now and you know,

1013
00:51:42,333 --> 00:51:44,853
Speaker 5: I thoroughly enjoyed my time getting to know everyone sort

1014
00:51:44,853 --> 00:51:48,053
Speaker 5: of in the ecosystem and getting the planned down for

1015
00:51:48,133 --> 00:51:51,573
Speaker 5: twenty five and yeah, just itchy feet now to kick

1016
00:51:51,613 --> 00:51:52,453
Speaker 5: it off and get it going.

1017
00:51:52,973 --> 00:51:55,773
Speaker 2: No rebels obviously, the ship, which has been well documented.

1018
00:51:56,253 --> 00:51:58,013
Speaker 2: Do you think there'll be a concentration of talent on

1019
00:51:58,053 --> 00:52:00,293
Speaker 2: those Australian teams and how will that affect the overall

1020
00:52:00,493 --> 00:52:01,373
Speaker 2: product on the park?

1021
00:52:02,053 --> 00:52:05,253
Speaker 5: Yeah, I mean there's no doubt squads have been bolstered

1022
00:52:06,253 --> 00:52:09,333
Speaker 5: and you know, we're glad we could. You know that

1023
00:52:09,373 --> 00:52:12,813
Speaker 5: they've those players are found a home that will just

1024
00:52:13,133 --> 00:52:17,373
Speaker 5: drive competition for place, drive standards in all those all

1025
00:52:17,413 --> 00:52:21,333
Speaker 5: those organizations, and hopefully we see that come out on.

1026
00:52:21,333 --> 00:52:24,493
Speaker 2: The on the park. I guess everyone's got an idea

1027
00:52:24,573 --> 00:52:27,053
Speaker 2: and everyone's got an opinion around with Super Rugby can

1028
00:52:27,093 --> 00:52:29,813
Speaker 2: be better? How tricky is that? Balancing that and trying

1029
00:52:29,813 --> 00:52:32,413
Speaker 2: to implement new things? And we've seen the fantasy competition

1030
00:52:32,493 --> 00:52:34,253
Speaker 2: this year, but it feels like a competition with everyone's

1031
00:52:34,253 --> 00:52:36,653
Speaker 2: got an idea of how it could be improved or changed.

1032
00:52:36,693 --> 00:52:41,333
Speaker 2: How do you balance that as the chief executive? Yeah, well, firstly.

1033
00:52:41,493 --> 00:52:44,413
Speaker 5: We're really lucky that people care enough to have an opinion,

1034
00:52:44,573 --> 00:52:50,613
Speaker 5: So you know that's exciting, and you know what we've

1035
00:52:50,613 --> 00:52:54,493
Speaker 5: got to work through is how we prioritize the things

1036
00:52:54,493 --> 00:52:56,733
Speaker 5: that we do with the with the resources we have.

1037
00:52:58,093 --> 00:53:01,413
Speaker 5: And so for us, that's about making sure we're listening,

1038
00:53:01,453 --> 00:53:05,773
Speaker 5: but also going and seeking seeking information, be that fan

1039
00:53:06,373 --> 00:53:10,133
Speaker 5: insight or be that shape of game data to work

1040
00:53:10,173 --> 00:53:14,333
Speaker 5: through what will have the most impact and then balancing

1041
00:53:14,373 --> 00:53:17,813
Speaker 5: that across a competition that spans across five different countries

1042
00:53:18,253 --> 00:53:22,733
Speaker 5: and he's watched globally, and so that added complexity of

1043
00:53:22,773 --> 00:53:26,213
Speaker 5: where to focus, you know, comes with a little bit

1044
00:53:26,253 --> 00:53:31,213
Speaker 5: of Okay, well this might work really well in New Zealand,

1045
00:53:32,013 --> 00:53:34,693
Speaker 5: maybe that's not an issue in Australia. So that is

1046
00:53:34,733 --> 00:53:38,173
Speaker 5: a challenge. But we have there's a lot of low

1047
00:53:38,173 --> 00:53:41,093
Speaker 5: hanging fruit. I think that we still have to pick

1048
00:53:42,293 --> 00:53:45,573
Speaker 5: to make sure that we are as good as we

1049
00:53:45,653 --> 00:53:48,853
Speaker 5: can be on field, and that you know, we have

1050
00:53:48,973 --> 00:53:51,933
Speaker 5: all of the tools for fans to engage with the competition,

1051
00:53:52,253 --> 00:53:53,453
Speaker 5: so there's still lots of work to do.

1052
00:53:53,613 --> 00:53:55,253
Speaker 2: One of those is Fantasy, which is launching for the

1053
00:53:55,293 --> 00:53:58,653
Speaker 2: first time to the Super Agybander the season, something that

1054
00:53:59,133 --> 00:54:01,453
Speaker 2: fans have cried out for for a while. How important

1055
00:54:01,493 --> 00:54:03,853
Speaker 2: is that strategically to get that into the market and

1056
00:54:03,893 --> 00:54:04,733
Speaker 2: have people playing that.

1057
00:54:05,773 --> 00:54:09,573
Speaker 5: Yeah, I mean it's a great example of you know,

1058
00:54:10,333 --> 00:54:13,893
Speaker 5: fans wanting different ways to engage with the competition, and

1059
00:54:13,933 --> 00:54:18,773
Speaker 5: gamification is a really growing part of sport, so it's

1060
00:54:18,853 --> 00:54:22,333
Speaker 5: it is really important and we can't wait for fans

1061
00:54:22,373 --> 00:54:27,453
Speaker 5: to to start playing. We also want that to feel

1062
00:54:27,453 --> 00:54:31,773
Speaker 5: a whole new sort of content cycle which which we

1063
00:54:31,813 --> 00:54:35,533
Speaker 5: can have fun with, bring new voices into the competition,

1064
00:54:36,733 --> 00:54:39,773
Speaker 5: and where we're working through how we support those emerging

1065
00:54:39,853 --> 00:54:44,253
Speaker 5: voices as well. So yeah, gamification more broadly is going

1066
00:54:44,293 --> 00:54:46,213
Speaker 5: to continue to be important for us to look at.

1067
00:54:47,133 --> 00:54:49,533
Speaker 5: You know, we've decided with Fantasy to go with a

1068
00:54:50,133 --> 00:54:55,253
Speaker 5: fairly accessible product to start with that will be really

1069
00:54:55,293 --> 00:54:59,173
Speaker 5: easy to use, and you know, we're already getting feedback

1070
00:54:59,213 --> 00:55:05,293
Speaker 5: from more hardcore super fans wanting you know, other iterations

1071
00:55:05,293 --> 00:55:08,133
Speaker 5: of Fantasy with drafts and things like that. So you know,

1072
00:55:08,173 --> 00:55:10,933
Speaker 5: the so there's so many different things we can be doing,

1073
00:55:10,973 --> 00:55:13,093
Speaker 5: and we'll continue to look at how we build on

1074
00:55:13,133 --> 00:55:14,333
Speaker 5: the foundations we're laying.

1075
00:55:14,493 --> 00:55:17,773
Speaker 2: You've come from the A League, which is I guess

1076
00:55:18,373 --> 00:55:21,133
Speaker 2: in Australia. Ge'st the NRAL of AFL. What listens do

1077
00:55:21,133 --> 00:55:23,053
Speaker 2: you learned from the A League that you can implement

1078
00:55:23,133 --> 00:55:24,933
Speaker 2: in super Rugby.

1079
00:55:26,093 --> 00:55:28,053
Speaker 5: Yeah, it was my time in the A League and

1080
00:55:28,213 --> 00:55:31,053
Speaker 5: you know, prior to that, I also worked for one

1081
00:55:31,053 --> 00:55:33,613
Speaker 5: of the NRL clubs so yeah, there's some good learnings

1082
00:55:33,653 --> 00:55:37,173
Speaker 5: that I've got from from some of our competitors. Now,

1083
00:55:38,253 --> 00:55:40,693
Speaker 5: my time at the A Leagues was was really interesting.

1084
00:55:40,733 --> 00:55:44,893
Speaker 5: It was a time where the A League stepped away

1085
00:55:45,013 --> 00:55:48,853
Speaker 5: from Football Australia and ran as its own entity. So

1086
00:55:48,893 --> 00:55:51,093
Speaker 5: there are some commonalities there with us setting up a

1087
00:55:51,213 --> 00:55:54,693
Speaker 5: new a new entity to run Super Rugby and so

1088
00:55:55,253 --> 00:55:57,613
Speaker 5: you know, there are some direct learnings there around the

1089
00:55:57,653 --> 00:56:01,333
Speaker 5: phasing in what we should focus on, where we should

1090
00:56:01,453 --> 00:56:06,613
Speaker 5: where we should allocate resource, and work through what's what's important.

1091
00:56:07,533 --> 00:56:07,733
Speaker 2: You know.

1092
00:56:08,493 --> 00:56:11,533
Speaker 5: In the unbundling on the A Leagues from Football Australia,

1093
00:56:12,813 --> 00:56:15,373
Speaker 5: one of the learnings was that we focused a lot

1094
00:56:15,413 --> 00:56:22,213
Speaker 5: on content and digital platform but maybe didn't have as

1095
00:56:22,253 --> 00:56:23,093
Speaker 5: close a eye on.

1096
00:56:23,133 --> 00:56:26,093
Speaker 4: Our core product on the ground.

1097
00:56:26,573 --> 00:56:28,813
Speaker 5: And so we're really trying to get that balance right

1098
00:56:28,893 --> 00:56:31,733
Speaker 5: to make sure the amazing athletes with God on the

1099
00:56:31,773 --> 00:56:35,333
Speaker 5: park are playing as good as shape of game as

1100
00:56:35,373 --> 00:56:39,373
Speaker 5: we can for fans, and to ensure that the diverse

1101
00:56:39,413 --> 00:56:43,013
Speaker 5: skill sets that exists through one to twenty three can shine,

1102
00:56:43,373 --> 00:56:46,213
Speaker 5: but also then balance that with stuff off the park

1103
00:56:47,053 --> 00:56:51,493
Speaker 5: to drive fan interest and appeal. So yeah, lots of

1104
00:56:51,573 --> 00:56:53,053
Speaker 5: learnings from the previous experience.

1105
00:56:53,173 --> 00:56:54,893
Speaker 2: So it's no longer really about the eighty minutes on

1106
00:56:54,893 --> 00:56:57,613
Speaker 2: the park of the weekend. It's that full week sort

1107
00:56:57,653 --> 00:56:59,413
Speaker 2: of experience, isn't it. Yeah, that's right.

1108
00:56:59,453 --> 00:57:03,533
Speaker 5: We know, the old business model of sport would be that, okay,

1109
00:57:04,613 --> 00:57:08,653
Speaker 5: clubs have fourteen games to run their business. With the

1110
00:57:08,693 --> 00:57:12,653
Speaker 5: advent of digital media, clubs now have the ability, the

1111
00:57:12,693 --> 00:57:14,773
Speaker 5: competition now has the ability to engage arou undred and

1112
00:57:14,773 --> 00:57:17,893
Speaker 5: sixty five days of the year. And you know, making

1113
00:57:17,933 --> 00:57:21,733
Speaker 5: sure our full week in a Super Rugby Pacific week

1114
00:57:22,013 --> 00:57:25,653
Speaker 5: is full and fans are getting the information they want

1115
00:57:25,773 --> 00:57:26,533
Speaker 5: is really important.

1116
00:57:26,893 --> 00:57:27,773
Speaker 2: And then our next.

1117
00:57:27,613 --> 00:57:31,173
Speaker 5: Step is to work through, Okay, outside of those nineteen

1118
00:57:31,173 --> 00:57:34,413
Speaker 5: weeks of Super Rugby, how we feel in conversations about

1119
00:57:34,453 --> 00:57:37,813
Speaker 5: Super Rugby the rest of the year, because there is

1120
00:57:37,893 --> 00:57:40,373
Speaker 5: so much that happens within our clubs and within the

1121
00:57:40,413 --> 00:57:44,013
Speaker 5: competition outside of those nineteen weeks that fans want to

1122
00:57:44,013 --> 00:57:44,773
Speaker 5: know more about.

1123
00:57:45,693 --> 00:57:48,653
Speaker 2: You know, that could be filling squads and how clubs

1124
00:57:48,693 --> 00:57:49,413
Speaker 2: go about it.

1125
00:57:49,933 --> 00:57:53,333
Speaker 5: That could be you know, there's huge interest in preseason

1126
00:57:53,373 --> 00:57:58,333
Speaker 5: training on things like you know, you know who's lifting what,

1127
00:57:58,533 --> 00:58:01,853
Speaker 5: who's running what, and so you know, once we get

1128
00:58:02,013 --> 00:58:07,453
Speaker 5: our nineteen weeks sorted and really embed that communication flow

1129
00:58:07,493 --> 00:58:10,453
Speaker 5: and that content. You know, the next thing for us

1130
00:58:10,533 --> 00:58:13,013
Speaker 5: is to extend out of that nineteen weeks.

1131
00:58:13,853 --> 00:58:17,373
Speaker 2: Without the rebels this year down to eleven teams. Is

1132
00:58:17,373 --> 00:58:20,173
Speaker 2: that sustainable for this competition to have eleven teams? Does

1133
00:58:20,173 --> 00:58:22,853
Speaker 2: it need to be twelve? Ordre us that ten? Can

1134
00:58:22,893 --> 00:58:25,293
Speaker 2: you get by with that odd number for too long?

1135
00:58:26,013 --> 00:58:26,253
Speaker 1: Yeah?

1136
00:58:26,453 --> 00:58:27,773
Speaker 2: I think we can.

1137
00:58:28,573 --> 00:58:33,213
Speaker 5: There's no doubt an odd number throws up some complexity

1138
00:58:33,253 --> 00:58:37,893
Speaker 5: when it comes to fixturing and feeling key slots around

1139
00:58:37,973 --> 00:58:38,493
Speaker 5: a weekend.

1140
00:58:39,653 --> 00:58:40,453
Speaker 2: But you know, we'll see.

1141
00:58:40,533 --> 00:58:42,213
Speaker 5: You know, we think we've done a good job with

1142
00:58:42,253 --> 00:58:47,333
Speaker 5: a fixture in balancing balancing those complexities spacing of buyers

1143
00:58:47,413 --> 00:58:51,493
Speaker 5: for example, ensuring that we're hitting key markets across the

1144
00:58:51,533 --> 00:58:53,293
Speaker 5: Pacific every week.

1145
00:58:54,253 --> 00:58:55,653
Speaker 2: But we'll live and learn through that.

1146
00:58:55,573 --> 00:58:58,933
Speaker 5: And being its first year, we'll continue to really watch

1147
00:58:58,933 --> 00:58:59,413
Speaker 5: that closely.

1148
00:58:59,533 --> 00:59:02,573
Speaker 2: You've mentioned those timeslots there you mentioned in your speech

1149
00:59:02,613 --> 00:59:06,173
Speaker 2: before afternoon fan friendly sort of timeslots which people have

1150
00:59:06,213 --> 00:59:08,493
Speaker 2: been crying out for a while. How important. So I

1151
00:59:08,533 --> 00:59:12,293
Speaker 2: guess keep that accessible four p thirty Saturday afternoon, three

1152
00:59:12,373 --> 00:59:14,973
Speaker 2: o'clock Sunday, whatever it might be to get those new

1153
00:59:15,013 --> 00:59:17,173
Speaker 2: fans on board. Yeah.

1154
00:59:17,173 --> 00:59:19,293
Speaker 5: I mean, I'm a father of three.

1155
00:59:19,133 --> 00:59:19,933
Speaker 2: Myself, so.

1156
00:59:21,453 --> 00:59:24,093
Speaker 5: It is really important that we hit those spots and

1157
00:59:24,133 --> 00:59:28,733
Speaker 5: that we you know, we're also thinking about the nuances

1158
00:59:28,773 --> 00:59:32,253
Speaker 5: of different geographies because an afternoons lot doesn't work for everyone,

1159
00:59:33,013 --> 00:59:36,813
Speaker 5: and so you know, what works in Duneden is different

1160
00:59:36,893 --> 00:59:39,893
Speaker 5: to what works in Wellington is different to what works

1161
00:59:39,933 --> 00:59:44,213
Speaker 5: in Sydney, and so as well as making sure we

1162
00:59:44,293 --> 00:59:49,093
Speaker 5: have those you know, family friendly time slots, you know,

1163
00:59:49,173 --> 00:59:52,573
Speaker 5: where we want to go with fixturing is adding in

1164
00:59:52,613 --> 00:59:56,693
Speaker 5: that additional level of smarts to make sure that we're

1165
00:59:56,733 --> 01:00:01,973
Speaker 5: considering you know, Chiefs fans being different to you know,

1166
01:00:02,093 --> 01:00:05,653
Speaker 5: Brumbies fans, and so you know, we're looking at that

1167
01:00:05,813 --> 01:00:09,613
Speaker 5: in terms of our planning horizons. You know, we want

1168
01:00:09,613 --> 01:00:12,373
Speaker 5: to get ahead of venue availability to give us more

1169
01:00:12,373 --> 01:00:15,293
Speaker 5: options and we want more time to be able to

1170
01:00:15,893 --> 01:00:17,373
Speaker 5: implement some of those things as well.

1171
01:00:17,613 --> 01:00:19,653
Speaker 2: No super Round this year. Do you envisit it being

1172
01:00:19,693 --> 01:00:21,213
Speaker 2: on the scheduling in at some point?

1173
01:00:22,093 --> 01:00:22,293
Speaker 1: Yeah?

1174
01:00:22,333 --> 01:00:25,573
Speaker 5: I do. I think it's a great weekend to celebrate

1175
01:00:26,733 --> 01:00:30,973
Speaker 5: super Abi specific and Rugby more broadly and bring fans together.

1176
01:00:31,933 --> 01:00:34,773
Speaker 5: We're certainly looking at for twenty twenty six and beyond

1177
01:00:35,813 --> 01:00:38,573
Speaker 5: and having some really good discussions with some.

1178
01:00:40,413 --> 01:00:42,493
Speaker 2: Territories and cities that.

1179
01:00:42,493 --> 01:00:44,813
Speaker 5: I think would be super exciting for Super Ambi fans.

1180
01:00:45,573 --> 01:00:48,373
Speaker 2: With just a few days to launch. Now, I guess

1181
01:00:48,853 --> 01:00:50,573
Speaker 2: the work's being done. You can just sort of leave

1182
01:00:50,613 --> 01:00:53,413
Speaker 2: it to the players and it's ultimately up to them,

1183
01:00:53,453 --> 01:00:56,493
Speaker 2: isn't it. Whether you know, the Aussie sides come together

1184
01:00:56,573 --> 01:00:58,493
Speaker 2: and put some pressure on the New Zealand sides, or

1185
01:00:58,533 --> 01:01:00,013
Speaker 2: whether it's the Blues that go back to back. But

1186
01:01:00,213 --> 01:01:02,133
Speaker 2: ultimately it's down to the players and the product, isn't it.

1187
01:01:02,173 --> 01:01:05,973
Speaker 2: And that dictates a lot of it. Absolutely. Yeah.

1188
01:01:06,333 --> 01:01:10,653
Speaker 5: But as a competition, you know, week in week out,

1189
01:01:10,773 --> 01:01:16,093
Speaker 5: we will be reviewing the on field product, working with

1190
01:01:16,173 --> 01:01:17,653
Speaker 5: the match officials.

1191
01:01:18,293 --> 01:01:20,933
Speaker 2: To make sure that our focus area.

1192
01:01:20,653 --> 01:01:24,293
Speaker 5: Is to set the players up for success are executed well.

1193
01:01:25,373 --> 01:01:26,573
Speaker 2: And then, as we've.

1194
01:01:26,413 --> 01:01:30,533
Speaker 5: Talked about, making sure each week that consistent fly of communication,

1195
01:01:30,613 --> 01:01:36,093
Speaker 5: whether it be injury update, judicial outcomes, team lists, all

1196
01:01:36,133 --> 01:01:40,373
Speaker 5: of those things happen, you know, in a really great

1197
01:01:40,413 --> 01:01:45,773
Speaker 5: way so that fans, media, our great broadcast partners have

1198
01:01:45,853 --> 01:01:49,093
Speaker 5: all the information they need to have the water cooler

1199
01:01:49,173 --> 01:01:53,373
Speaker 5: conversation or you know for yourself, you know, be able

1200
01:01:53,373 --> 01:01:55,653
Speaker 5: to report on the on the comp.

1201
01:01:55,893 --> 01:01:57,813
Speaker 2: So there we go Jack Measley and we will hopefully

1202
01:01:57,853 --> 01:02:00,413
Speaker 2: get him back on the podcast as the season goes on. Truly,

1203
01:02:00,453 --> 01:02:02,293
Speaker 2: plenty of issues that we can get stuck into with

1204
01:02:02,413 --> 01:02:05,693
Speaker 2: Jack at some point a bit later in the season. Liam,

1205
01:02:05,853 --> 01:02:07,773
Speaker 2: it's been good to be back and get back into

1206
01:02:07,773 --> 01:02:10,653
Speaker 2: the rug your Direct studios for twenty twenty five and

1207
01:02:10,733 --> 01:02:12,573
Speaker 2: promises to be a big old year, doesn't it.

1208
01:02:12,573 --> 01:02:12,853
Speaker 4: It does.

1209
01:02:12,893 --> 01:02:18,653
Speaker 3: Indeed it can smell the linament, shoulders are warm, hamstrings

1210
01:02:18,653 --> 01:02:21,453
Speaker 3: are getting there. A few hot colds yeap, much needed.

1211
01:02:21,493 --> 01:02:23,853
Speaker 3: At they say literally, have a good week.

1212
01:02:23,853 --> 01:02:27,053
Speaker 2: We'll catch you back next week on Rugby Directs. Thanks

1213
01:02:27,093 --> 01:02:29,293
Speaker 2: to Habit Health tackling all your aches and pains from

1214
01:02:29,293 --> 01:02:29,893
Speaker 2: sport on work

1215
01:02:34,093 --> 01:02:36,733
Speaker 1: For more from News Talks ed B Listen live on

1216
01:02:36,813 --> 01:02:39,773
Speaker 1: air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever

1217
01:02:39,813 --> 01:02:42,413
Speaker 1: you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio