1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,239 Speaker 1: Big week in the sport ahead. We've got the AB's 2 00:00:02,279 --> 00:00:03,960 Speaker 1: in the box at the cake tin, We've got the 3 00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:07,680 Speaker 1: Warriors in Auckland. Will start with the abs. Elliot Smith 4 00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:09,640 Speaker 1: the News Talks. He'd be voice of Rugby with us 5 00:00:09,680 --> 00:00:13,440 Speaker 1: this morning. Elliot, Good morning, morning Ryan. Your predictions this weekend? 6 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:16,720 Speaker 2: Look, I think both teams have made a few changes, 7 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:20,320 Speaker 2: but I think the All Blacks are given the consistency 8 00:00:20,320 --> 00:00:22,560 Speaker 2: they put forward in there, their Type five should be 9 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:25,440 Speaker 2: good enough to win and that would return them the 10 00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:28,240 Speaker 2: Freedom Cup which they lost to South Africa last year 11 00:00:28,280 --> 00:00:31,920 Speaker 2: and a big step forward to winning the Rugby Championship. 12 00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:36,160 Speaker 2: Haven't the best of records in Wellington in recent times 13 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:38,479 Speaker 2: against South Africa or at all, but I think the 14 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:41,239 Speaker 2: All Blacks should be good enough to win this weekend 15 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:44,040 Speaker 2: by a few points similar to last weekend. 16 00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:47,480 Speaker 1: I reckon And is it a big call we're putting 17 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:49,240 Speaker 1: a deep bit onto a match of this caliber. 18 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:52,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, I think usually the All Blacks are given 19 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:54,680 Speaker 2: them a sort of softly softly approach, bring them off 20 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:57,760 Speaker 2: the bench and get them used to test rugby. But 21 00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:01,400 Speaker 2: Leroy Carter is a player that's been built for the 22 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:05,560 Speaker 2: big stage. He's played numerous World seven's events in front 23 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:08,120 Speaker 2: of fans around the globe. He played the Paris Olympics 24 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:10,440 Speaker 2: last year, which didn't go overly well for the New 25 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:13,120 Speaker 2: Zealand seven side, but that was in front of seventy 26 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:17,280 Speaker 2: five thousand Parisians, so he's used to the big stage. 27 00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:20,360 Speaker 2: He had a great Super Rugby season, so the All 28 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:23,759 Speaker 2: Blacks have backed them in to perform this weekend. So yeah, 29 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:26,440 Speaker 2: it's a bit of a surprise to an extent, but he's, 30 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 2: as I said, used to playing on those big stages. 31 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:32,800 Speaker 1: Previously looking forward to Elliot Elliott Smith News talks heb 32 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 1: Voice of Rugby with us and it is twenty two 33 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:39,080 Speaker 1: minutes after five. Joden Nick Bewley News talks ab sports 34 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:41,240 Speaker 1: journalist style on the Wars and the Panthers at Mount 35 00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:45,400 Speaker 1: Smart this weekend, their first playoff of the season, home advantage. 36 00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:48,240 Speaker 1: But Nick, they're kind of being written off by most, 37 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:48,640 Speaker 1: aren't they. 38 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:52,240 Speaker 3: Good morning to you, Ryan. I mean that's the position 39 00:01:52,240 --> 00:01:54,320 Speaker 3: the Warriors are very comfortable and over the last thirty 40 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:58,240 Speaker 3: years being written off by everyone but lucky. It is 41 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:00,560 Speaker 3: fair to say going up against the team the caliber 42 00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 3: of Penrist, the full time defending premiers they know what 43 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:07,120 Speaker 3: it takes. At this point of the season, they are 44 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:11,640 Speaker 3: understandably favorites. But the Warriors that they've got history in 45 00:02:11,639 --> 00:02:13,480 Speaker 3: this position I know, probably have to go back a 46 00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:16,240 Speaker 3: wee way, but think about two thousand and eight as 47 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:19,360 Speaker 3: an example. They were eight going to the finals. They 48 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:22,040 Speaker 3: beat Melbourne who are top of the logs. So it 49 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:24,240 Speaker 3: is possible, but it feels like the Warriors are going 50 00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:27,880 Speaker 3: to have to do something rather remarkable to get through 51 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:29,640 Speaker 3: to the next round of the finals. But looking forward to. 52 00:02:29,639 --> 00:02:33,320 Speaker 1: It, nonetheless, Sam Herey's shown the flashes of promise. Will 53 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:35,080 Speaker 1: he be invaluable to that? 54 00:02:36,280 --> 00:02:39,080 Speaker 3: Well, he has to play first, right, he's on the 55 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:42,359 Speaker 3: extended reserves. Ares things down. He was sensational last week. 56 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:43,880 Speaker 3: I thought I must have been. I was a little 57 00:02:43,880 --> 00:02:48,680 Speaker 3: bit surprised that he wasn't. And Andrew Webster's initial seventeen 58 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:51,920 Speaker 3: named on Tuesday, however, there is a change. They can 59 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:53,919 Speaker 3: make changes right up into an hour before kickoff. But 60 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:56,239 Speaker 3: it really does feel like to me they will need 61 00:02:56,280 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 3: some form of X factor player, whether that is Sam 62 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:02,480 Speaker 3: Hereley coming in late Alekahala Seima is now starting, so 63 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:05,360 Speaker 3: it will take something a little bit beyond what the 64 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:07,320 Speaker 3: Warriors have delivered over the last couple of weeks in 65 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:10,920 Speaker 3: defeats to beat such a strong Enright theme. 66 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:13,000 Speaker 1: Get a high impact player and off the bench late 67 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:15,000 Speaker 1: in the piece, and they appreciate that. Nick few Lee 68 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:17,400 Speaker 1: News Talks, he'd be sports journalists with us this morning. 69 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 2: For more from Early Edition with Ryan Bridge. Listen live 70 00:03:21,639 --> 00:03:24,640 Speaker 2: to News Talks. He'd be from five am weekdays, or 71 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 2: follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.