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Speaker 1: You're listening to a podcast from News Talks ed B.

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Speaker 1: Follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.

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Speaker 1: Yet inside the game from every angle.

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Speaker 2: It's Rugby Direct with Elliott Smith powered by News Talks EDB.

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Speaker 3: Welcome to Rugby Direct powered by four Klod Solutions, lifting

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Speaker 3: you and your business to a higher level.

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Speaker 4: Well after a.

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Speaker 3: Well earned week off, Elliott Smith, Liam Napier Week are

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Speaker 3: back for another episode and Liam good to be back

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Speaker 3: on the Rugby Direct horse. There has been a fair

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Speaker 3: bit going on in the one week we've taken off.

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Speaker 5: Podcasting has indeed, Elliott's and you haven't had a week off.

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Speaker 5: You've been doing crazy hours a part of the Olympic Games,

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Speaker 5: and we'll certainly touch on that. But great to be

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Speaker 5: back and great to have the Rugby Championship on the horizon.

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Speaker 5: Always fascinating tournaments and will be the case again this year.

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Speaker 4: Certainly we'll be well.

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Speaker 3: Let's start with the Olympics gold medal for the Black

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Speaker 3: Fern sevens, A place furnished or a quarterfinal eksit, depending

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Speaker 3: on which way you want to spin it. For the

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Speaker 3: men's side, I guess first and foremost, let's celebrate the

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Speaker 3: women's side, because I think they deserve it. They've been

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Speaker 3: the pacesetters in women's sevens since it became into the Olympics.

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Speaker 3: They missed out obviously on gold in twenty sixteen, but

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Speaker 3: they have been quite the phenomenon over a number of years.

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Speaker 3: And it feels like that gold medal was a bit

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Speaker 3: of a closing of the book. I guess on a

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Speaker 3: generation that has delivered so much to New Zealand sevens

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Speaker 3: and New Zealand rugby and we're not going to see

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Speaker 3: Portia Woodman Wickcliffe again. We know that Tyler King is going,

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Speaker 3: Stacy Waka sees she'll be back, but we don't know

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Speaker 3: when others or I guess a bit up in the year.

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Speaker 3: The likes have said it hit any so it felt

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Speaker 3: like the closing of a book. But if that's the

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Speaker 3: closing of the book, then it's a hell of a

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Speaker 3: final line to what has been a great read.

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Speaker 6: Yeah, what a team earlier.

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Speaker 5: I mean, you can put this Black Fern's sevens team

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Speaker 5: up there with the greatest in New Zealand rugby, and

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Speaker 5: you'd say the same for some of those athletes there

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Speaker 5: that you mentioned, not just in a woman's context, but

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Speaker 5: when you're comparing them to the men as well. Back

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Speaker 5: to back gold medals at Olympic Games puts them in

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Speaker 5: a really elite eschelon in a New Zealand context, let

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Speaker 5: alone a global one. I guess from a tournament perspective,

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Speaker 5: it didn't go to script, did it. You know, they

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Speaker 5: perhaps had a favorable drawer. The Aussies choked I think,

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Speaker 5: and the Black Ferns made hard work of the final

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Speaker 5: with Porsche's yellow card. They had to really grind that out,

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Speaker 5: but you always felt like they were going to get

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Speaker 5: the job done there. But yeah, what a triumph and

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Speaker 5: an amazing way for the lacks of Porsche to finish.

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Speaker 5: Sarah hid In that you mentioned there, to even reach

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Speaker 5: that stage after her acl I think she played the

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Speaker 5: final with a fractured face. I'm not sure if it

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Speaker 5: was a cheap bone. So you know, you can compare

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Speaker 5: her to McCaw and the Raby World Cup final playing

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Speaker 5: with a broken foot. There's certainly parallels there in terms

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Speaker 5: of how inspirational sheh is to that team. So a

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Speaker 5: magic moment on a on a grand stage for you know,

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Speaker 5: a really special bunch of athletes as well.

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Speaker 6: I think it's worth.

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Speaker 5: Noting just how genuine and engaging they are in.

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Speaker 6: All facets of.

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Speaker 5: Their sporting realm as well, so that that certainly shines through.

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Speaker 6: So, you know, an amazing achievement.

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Speaker 3: It is they love their sport, they love their team.

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Speaker 3: It is really special that environment and it's been world

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Speaker 3: class for a number of years. And you're right Australia

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Speaker 3: missing out on a medal entirely is you know that

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Speaker 3: Canada women in the semi final probably the biggest upset

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Speaker 3: in women's seven's history, maybe closely followed by the bronze

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Speaker 3: medal match where again Australia missed out. Staggering stuff because

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Speaker 3: going into the tournament I thought it was fifty to

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Speaker 3: fifty and I thought both teams had been playing quite well.

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Speaker 3: But I was in the tournament, maybe just giving the

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Speaker 3: edge slightly to the Australigans. Madison Levi in an incredible form.

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Speaker 3: But you know, Canada, credit to them. They were unfancied,

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Speaker 3: but they just dug in and beat France the hosts

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Speaker 3: in the quarter final. Bit of Stratiga in the semi final,

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Speaker 3: I thought that was really really impressive. But look, the

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Speaker 3: end of an era. In many ways, I guess there's

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Speaker 3: new players coming through Georgia.

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Speaker 4: Miller is world class already.

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Speaker 3: The likes of the others Paul and Nukhu are young

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Speaker 3: players in there so as well set up for the future.

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Speaker 3: Rissi Polti Lane co captain of the tournament, very very

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Speaker 3: young still as well, and we'll have a number of

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Speaker 3: tournaments and years in cycles of the Olympics under her belt.

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Speaker 3: So great stuff from the women's sevens team. I guess

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Speaker 3: if we look at the men liam sevens in the

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Speaker 3: men's format can be a funny game. But they just

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Speaker 3: were in the quarter final against South Africa. They faded

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Speaker 3: out of that game pretty badly and that was that.

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Speaker 3: And it's the cutthroat nature of sevens. You don't get

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Speaker 3: another chance and they blew it. And for me, I'm

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Speaker 3: a treat to get your thoughts on this. Seven's in

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Speaker 3: the men's context is quite challenged. I think in the

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Speaker 3: New Zealand rugby market, you've got all the players that

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Speaker 3: are there for the All Blacks jersey, the Mouldy All Blacks,

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Speaker 3: Super Rugby, et cetera. And sometimes through design or through

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Speaker 3: just the way that New Zealand rugby is feels like

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Speaker 3: the sevens program is a bit of an afterthought and

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Speaker 3: I don't really know the way to fix it. But

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Speaker 3: if we look at the tournament itself before we dig

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Speaker 3: into that, what did you make of that? Their exit?

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Speaker 3: And can it you put it down to just a

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Speaker 3: bad dabt the office or is there more at it?

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Speaker 5: I think it is worth acknowledging that sevens is different

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Speaker 5: to fifteen's, isn't it. It's wambam, it's bounce to the ball,

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Speaker 5: a penalty here, a runaway there. It's such a brutal

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Speaker 5: format that a match result can swing momentum so quickly.

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Speaker 5: But this was a real dagger blow for the men

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Speaker 5: to not even really get close to meddling. I think

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Speaker 5: there's some real soul searching that needs to go on,

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Speaker 5: you know, with that results. They have performed well in

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Speaker 5: recent times, the men on the global circuit as well,

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Speaker 5: so they will be extremely disappointed. But I think you're

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Speaker 5: right in your assessment of where it stands in the

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Speaker 5: pecking order. I think there's a real case to be

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Speaker 5: made that New Zealand Rugby doesn't prioritize the goal medal

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Speaker 5: Olympic medals when it comes to the men's it's all

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Speaker 5: about the all Blacks and the fifteens game. And that's

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Speaker 5: why you can't compare the woman with the men, because

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Speaker 5: the woman that is, they have the elite of the elite.

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Speaker 5: If you look at what happened with the Black Back

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Speaker 5: Ferns and their fifteen's World Cup, those sevens players were

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Speaker 5: so influential in going back and playing fifteens and helping

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Speaker 5: the Black Ferns to that title, where the men, those

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Speaker 5: players go into a provincial setup and struggle to break

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Speaker 5: into those teams, so that it's really poles apart in

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Speaker 5: terms of the level of athletes that are in these teams.

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Speaker 5: So when you look at the All Blacks, I think,

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Speaker 5: you know, Will Jordan flirted with the idea, but I

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Speaker 5: don't think anyone else you know, seriously considered it. Caleb

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Speaker 5: Clark four years ago couldn't make the team, So making

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Speaker 5: that transition isn't as easy as it seems. But you'd

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Speaker 5: have to think that certainly that team for me lack pace,

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Speaker 5: out out and out pace, and you'd have to think

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Speaker 5: there are some better athletes out there that would be

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Speaker 5: suited to the fifteen the sevens arena. But maybe it's

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Speaker 5: just not that enticing to commit for a four year

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Speaker 5: cycle or six months out. You know, I think it

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Speaker 5: does need we think.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, I think the Olympics needs to be reset from

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Speaker 3: a New Zealand rugby men's perspective, and that goes for

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Speaker 3: the Insidos SIG as well. They've got to play their

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Speaker 3: role in selling what being an Olympian is all about.

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Speaker 3: I don't think they particularly sold it well. I think

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Speaker 3: there was this idea when sevens first came into the

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Speaker 3: Olympics that every man and their dog from every rugby

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Speaker 3: Ish sport league and fifteen's men's We're going to put

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Speaker 3: their hands up and go I want to be part

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Speaker 3: of that. But it just hasn't been realized when we

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Speaker 3: saw Sonny but Williams do it in twenty sixteen, but

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Speaker 3: it never has quite captured the imagination of the All

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Speaker 3: Blacks like many were expecting. I can remember when it

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Speaker 3: was sort of first being named in the Olympics and

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Speaker 3: Shawn Johnson being asked about it and those sort of things.

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Speaker 3: Well that none of that's ever materialized, and so I

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Speaker 3: think that New Zealand Rugby and the INSIDOC do need

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Speaker 3: to sell the job a bit better. But if it's

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Speaker 3: never appealed to you in terms of an Olympic medal,

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Speaker 3: and you've grown up wanting to to represent New Zealand

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Speaker 3: in fifteen's and where the All Blacks jersey and build

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Speaker 3: yourself towards a World Cup and play for the Bledder's

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Speaker 3: Low Cup whatever it might be, or play for Super Rugby.

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Speaker 3: Then trying to sell the stream of an Olympic gold

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Speaker 3: medal I think becomes quite tricky. And we haven't seen

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Speaker 3: the benefits from those fifteens players from New zealanderspective. Anyway,

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Speaker 3: go and do it, so I don't know what necessarily

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Speaker 3: the answers. I agree that it's hard to keep hold

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Speaker 3: of that talent and always has been for the men's team.

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Speaker 3: You know, look at the players that have you know,

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Speaker 3: in Gordon Kitchen's era that were he brought through and

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Speaker 3: then we're elevated to Super Rugby and beyond and he

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Speaker 3: never saw them again.

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Speaker 4: It continues now.

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Speaker 3: William Warbrecker was very very good for that New Zealand

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Speaker 3: men sevenside for a few seasons, got plucked by the

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Speaker 3: storm and he's going from strength to strength. I think

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Speaker 3: they're missing pace out wide, But for me, I think

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Speaker 3: it just requires a little bit of a reset as

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Speaker 3: to how they're going to plan to go forward, because

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Speaker 3: I think Liam, if you'd said rugby's going to be

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Speaker 3: in the Olympics and in the first three cycles New

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Speaker 3: Zealand when a men's gold medal, in fact, we'll only

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Speaker 3: get one medal from those three games, I think everyone

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Speaker 3: would have been pretty surprised.

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Speaker 6: Yeah, big time.

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Speaker 5: And if you think about the exposure that Seven's gives

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Speaker 5: rugby on a global stage, You've seen, you know, clips

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Speaker 5: blow up online, people go viral, particularly in the woman's scene.

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Speaker 5: It is a major stage and you know, New Zealand

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Speaker 5: rugby is in this space where it's all about building

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Speaker 5: its brand and capitalizing on global fans and all these

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Speaker 5: sorts of things. So from that perspective you could argue

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Speaker 5: that this is quite damaging.

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Speaker 6: You know, from a men's side of things.

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Speaker 5: A results a black jersey on the world stage, you know,

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Speaker 5: very underwhelming.

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Speaker 6: So how do they feel about that? What are they

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Speaker 6: going to do?

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Speaker 5: You know, when you talk about different athletes that are

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Speaker 5: out there attending Nino Sotutro, you know, Sean Stevenson, even

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Speaker 5: some of the nippier halfbacks going around the scene, they

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Speaker 5: would all have an impact if they were allowed a

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Speaker 5: decent lead in time, but it just doesn't seem to

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Speaker 5: be a lure. So I think it does need a rethink.

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Speaker 5: It does need to be really prioritized. And it is

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Speaker 5: such a major event once every four years that it's

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Speaker 5: not about investment, but I think it does need some

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Speaker 5: real attention and priority given to it.

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Speaker 4: Yeah, that's going to be fascinating.

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Speaker 3: Right. Let's move on to the Rugby Championship and the

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Speaker 3: All Blacks. I'm in Wellington, you're gitting down tomorrow to

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Speaker 3: the Capitol and we have an All Black squad selected

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Speaker 3: a little bit a week ago for the Rugby Championship,

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Speaker 3: which has already been tinkered with with Scott Barrett out injured,

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Speaker 3: Harry Plummer, Cordon his cover for Stephen Petafetta who's carrying

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Speaker 3: a niggle ARDSRV is going to be the captain if

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Speaker 3: we go back a few days to win.

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Speaker 4: The squad was named.

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Speaker 3: I guess that the big story was Finlay Christie not

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Speaker 3: being included in the squad of thirty six or one

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Speaker 3: of the three half backs. When we did our rankings

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Speaker 3: of our half backs last time out, we missed him

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Speaker 3: both out in our top three and I think we're

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Speaker 3: on the same wavelength as Scott Hansen and Scott Robertson

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Speaker 3: there evidently, Liam.

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Speaker 6: I think it's been a long time coming.

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Speaker 5: Elliott to a degree, Finlay's you know, we've talked about

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Speaker 5: his defensive qualities, but with the next Cropper halfbacks coming through,

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Speaker 5: he got usurped very quickly, didn't He His hesitation at

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Speaker 5: the base, Some of his kicking game was a bit errants,

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Speaker 5: and just that the pace and the accuracy that I

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Speaker 5: think the All Blacks want and have done for such

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Speaker 5: a long time, he doesn't really fit that mold.

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Speaker 6: So for me it was a bit of a surprise.

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Speaker 5: But just because of how conservative Scott Robertson and this

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Speaker 5: All Blacks coaching team have been to this point three

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Speaker 5: tests into their tenure, very conservative baby steps forward, and

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Speaker 5: I guess Finley was a guy that they inherited, but

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Speaker 5: courtiers that Artema Noah Hotham really went past them, and

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Speaker 5: he was probably going head to head with TJ. Pedara

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Speaker 5: for you know, that one experienced head in the half

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Speaker 5: back ranks. I guess the only other major talking points

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Speaker 5: from that squad was Will Jordan and Sam Kin coming

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Speaker 5: back any any sort of surprise there for you.

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Speaker 3: Look, I was a little bit surprised to see Sam

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Speaker 3: kin selected just on the basis and I guess that

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Speaker 3: you could make the same argument now with t J

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Speaker 3: Peternaro who's going and we'll touch on that in a moment.

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Speaker 3: But they've had an eye to the future in a

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Speaker 3: lot of ways with some of those selections they made

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Speaker 3: for the Rugby Championship around half back. Apart from TJ

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Speaker 3: of course, but they're almost like, well, looking a little

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Speaker 3: bit backwards, I think with Sam Kain Now, I get

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Speaker 3: you've got to live in the hero and now and

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Speaker 3: and when the Test matches in front of you, But

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Speaker 3: at the same time he has signaled he's leaving at

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Speaker 3: the end of the year. I'm not saying you can't

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Speaker 3: pick it necessarily, but just one with a just a

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Speaker 3: little bit of a backward step necessarily keeping him around

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Speaker 3: and ends not allowing him just to have a clean break.

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Speaker 3: I don't know, it just feels like it's perhaps a

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Speaker 3: tat unnecessary when they could be blooding someone new or

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Speaker 3: bringing someone new in. I get why you want him

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Speaker 3: in there. He's had ninety five caps of experience with

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Speaker 3: the All Blacks. I used to wonder whether maybe the

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Speaker 3: time was right to look at someone new.

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Speaker 5: It's a delicate one, isn't it, Because if you are

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Speaker 5: planning for the future, you know you could argue someone

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Speaker 5: like a Peter Luckeye would would be gain more value

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Speaker 5: from being in that squad. I heard suggestions that Sam

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Speaker 5: kin at the start of the year was told he's

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Speaker 5: likely to get to one hundred caps, and then there

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Speaker 5: are a few whispers that maybe he was on the

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Speaker 5: cusp of missing out on the squad. So I don't

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Speaker 5: know quite where that ends up, but I guess what

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Speaker 5: are we six nine months ago sam Kine played his

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Speaker 5: best test for the in that World Cup quarterfinal against Ireland.

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Speaker 5: If he can produce that, he is thoroughly deserving of

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Speaker 5: his place. But then he is leaving at the end

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Speaker 5: of the year. So from an open side perspective, you know,

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Speaker 5: wouldn't you be better off investing in someone else, giving

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Speaker 5: them a chance to gain experience and s build a

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Speaker 5: combination with the loose forward trio.

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Speaker 6: So it is a very delicate one.

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Speaker 5: But I guess the All Blacks have to win every

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Speaker 5: test and Scott Robinson clearly sees Sam Kaine as being

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Speaker 5: a valuable a set to have around, you know, from

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Speaker 5: a leadership perspective as much as anything else in the background.

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Speaker 3: Probably speaking of leadership, Scott Barrett out injured for the

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Speaker 3: first two Tests of the year for the Rugby Championship.

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Speaker 3: Excuse me, Ardie Savilla predictably named as captain for the

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Speaker 3: next couple of weeks. Cody Taylor elevated into the vice

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Speaker 3: captaincy alongside Jordi Barrett this week. Look, I think no

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Speaker 3: surprise is there in terms of that, but it is

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Speaker 3: a loss at line out time for the All Blacks

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Speaker 3: not having Scott Barrett there. He played in all three

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Speaker 3: tiests obviously to start the season, so he's going to

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Speaker 3: set out the next two. The word is right for

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Speaker 3: South Africa if you hear Jason Ryan's assistance at the

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Speaker 3: media session today. So it's kind of interesting to see

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Speaker 3: the All Blacks this week, isn't it? Around the selections

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Speaker 3: at Locke Patrick Deuypilotto and who partners him in the

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Speaker 3: second row to face Argentina.

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Speaker 6: You presume to Bouvia would go in there.

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Speaker 5: Sam Derry obviously in the squad as well, but look

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Speaker 5: at the lineout was vast improved against Fiji, but was

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Speaker 5: extremely vulnerable up against Maro at Toji and England. So

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Speaker 5: it is a concern to lose your best lineout's ball winner,

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Speaker 5: your captain. And it is an interesting scenario for Scott

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Speaker 5: as well because he's had such a patchy year, you know,

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Speaker 5: missed along most of the vast majority of the season

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Speaker 5: for the Crusaders with their back injury and now a

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Speaker 5: finger while he's trying to establish himself as All Black captain,

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Speaker 5: so not ideal to be side lined again.

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Speaker 6: He'll be chomping at the bit to get back for

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Speaker 6: the box.

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Speaker 5: But I think the Pumas, if they were doing their homework,

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Speaker 5: they'll be coming straight for the All Blacks lineout to

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Speaker 5: put that under some heat and see if they can

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Speaker 5: get some pay from that area.

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Speaker 3: Also, Harry Plumber called an as cover for the injured

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Speaker 3: Stephen Petifitz. A nice reward for Harry Plumber who had

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Speaker 3: a very good Super Rugby season and gets perhaps an

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Speaker 3: opportunity or sit in the opportunity to show what he

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Speaker 3: can do. Rubin Love selected obviously for this campaign as well,

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Speaker 3: but the All Black signaling maybe they just need an

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Speaker 3: extra ten and looking to give Harry Plumber a little

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Speaker 3: bit of experience.

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Speaker 5: Yeah, good reward, isn't it for a guy that guided

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Speaker 5: the Blues unheralded playmaker for a number of years, guided

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Speaker 5: the Blues a very special title for them. And I

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Speaker 5: guess the guy that offers a bit of versatility is

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Speaker 5: a bigger ten can cover twelve, so you know, quite

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Speaker 5: desirable from a bench perspective, and Rubin Love very happy

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Speaker 5: to see him include out and out attacking weapon, genuine

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Speaker 5: fullback and probably one step closer to a debut with

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Speaker 5: Stephen Peterfitzer, Nursing and Nigel And of course he started

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Speaker 5: those two tests at fallback against England, so pretty much

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Speaker 5: going head to head, I guess with Bowden Barrett for

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Speaker 5: you know, maybe some game time in the backfield.

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Speaker 3: What do we expect from Argentina? Liam, I guess they

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Speaker 3: were well beaten by France in the first Test of

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Speaker 3: the year and undemanded. France then bounce back to beat

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Speaker 3: them in the second week and then thump Uriguy seventy

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Speaker 3: nine to five in the third week of the International

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Speaker 3: Block in July. What do we expect from Argentina as

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Speaker 3: they show up here? Last time they were in New Zealand,

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Speaker 3: they beat New Zealand in christ Church and that shock result,

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Speaker 3: then with thump the week after. But do they have

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Speaker 3: the ability to go out and give them a bit

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Speaker 3: of a tickle up at sky Stadium on the weekend.

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Speaker 5: I think they'll be competitive, but they are an unknown

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Speaker 5: quantity out't there new coach?

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Speaker 6: Post World Cup?

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Speaker 5: I guess a bit of change that series against France

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Speaker 5: really hard to get a read on the French send

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Speaker 5: out a second string team had some a number of

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Speaker 5: issues off the field as well, so hard to know

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Speaker 5: quite where the Pumas are at. But they are a

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Speaker 5: team that will challenge you hard at the breakdown. They'll

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Speaker 5: contest in the air, they'll they'll play a lot of rugby,

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Speaker 5: will offload. So the All Blacks have been vulnerable at

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Speaker 5: the breakdown when you go back to that England series

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Speaker 5: and their inability I guess to produce lightning quickball and

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Speaker 5: secure their own their own pill So I think the

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Speaker 5: Pumas will come hard and fast there. But look, you'd

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Speaker 5: expect the All Blacks at this stage to win and

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Speaker 5: win reasonably comfortably. But you probably would have said the

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Speaker 5: same about that result in christ Church, so you never

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Speaker 5: ruled anything out in this climate.

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Speaker 3: Do you you don't speaking of this climates if you

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Speaker 3: change or a few cummings and goings. So over the

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Speaker 3: last couple of weeks, t Je Petenara departing after this year,

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Speaker 3: Dold and Papa Leti re signing through to twenty twenty seven,

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Speaker 3: calib Clark sticking around for twenty twenty five. What stands

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Speaker 3: out from those three putting pen to paper either in

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Speaker 3: New Zealand or going abroad Limb.

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Speaker 5: I guess by and large, good business from New Zealand

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Speaker 5: rugby's perspective, isn't it.

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Speaker 6: Caleb Clark?

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Speaker 5: I guess you'd question why only one year extension he

387
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Speaker 5: leaves his options open. Hasn't really had a great crack

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Speaker 5: at the All Blacks left wing Jersey.

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Speaker 6: I think he deserves it.

390
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Speaker 5: At this point the All Blacks were sort of exposed

391
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Speaker 5: under the high ball with the crossfield kicks against England's.

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Speaker 6: That's where an area he's really proficient.

393
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Speaker 5: But he's talked about, you know, fluting with the idea

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Speaker 5: of going to rugby league. So maybe if he doesn't

395
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Speaker 5: get a serious crack over the next eighteen months, maybe

396
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Speaker 5: he will deflect. I think he would be a real

397
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Speaker 5: success in the Dolon Papolli, no real surprise committing through

398
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Speaker 5: to the next World Cup. We mentioned Sam Kine moving

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Speaker 5: on at the end of this year, so there's a

400
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Speaker 5: real open avenue to that. All Blacks open side Jersey

401
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Speaker 5: and TJ Peinar, I guess, no major surprise. I think

402
00:21:23,813 --> 00:21:27,573
Speaker 5: he was actually contracted next year. But he signed on

403
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Speaker 5: a three year deal with the Black Rams in Japan.

404
00:21:32,533 --> 00:21:34,933
Speaker 5: And it makes sense, doesn't it to cash in at

405
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Speaker 5: this stage of his career, having battle back from eighteen

406
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Speaker 5: months success of Achilles injuries, coming off off the back

407
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Speaker 5: of another knee injury. But it is he's got till

408
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Speaker 5: the end of the year, and I know it would

409
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Speaker 5: have been a really tough decision for a guy that's

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Speaker 5: extremely competitive. Do you think had he stuck around that,

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Speaker 5: you know, I guess maybe he was in danger of

412
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Speaker 5: being overtaken.

413
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Speaker 3: I think that was definitely part of it for him.

414
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Speaker 3: And you look at the players that are coming through now,

415
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Speaker 3: and I'm sure he didn't sign the contract the last

416
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Speaker 3: two weeks since Noah Hotham made his debut, but I

417
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Speaker 3: think he probably got a sense that there were some

418
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Speaker 3: good young halfbacks coming through and he would be usurped

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Speaker 3: at some point, and I think he's given plenty to

420
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Speaker 3: New Zealand rugby, backed up Aaron Smith for a number

421
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Speaker 3: of years, played a lot of those tests off the

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Speaker 3: bench and controlled the last twenty minutes and finished the

423
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Speaker 3: games for the All Blacks. So I think he can

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Speaker 3: be very proud of his career, proved himself both proved

425
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Speaker 3: that he could make it back both to himself and

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Speaker 3: to the rugby world after that injury, making it back

427
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Speaker 3: this year with the All Blacks number one for a point,

428
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Speaker 3: and may still go out as the All Blacks number one,

429
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Speaker 3: depending on how the rest of the year shakes down.

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Speaker 3: But I think there's probably a realization that the cam

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Speaker 3: Roy guard Colled, Thesraziman, Noah Hothams of the world are

432
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Speaker 3: coming for that number nine and number twenty two Jusey

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Speaker 3: or twenty one Jewsey, I should say. So he's made

434
00:22:58,773 --> 00:23:00,853
Speaker 3: the call to go out on his terms, and good

435
00:23:00,933 --> 00:23:02,413
Speaker 3: luck to him. I think it's it's the right call

436
00:23:02,453 --> 00:23:05,773
Speaker 3: for him. Interesting as well to see that dearly signed

437
00:23:06,013 --> 00:23:09,653
Speaker 3: can include some coaching expertsperience towards the back end, so

438
00:23:09,693 --> 00:23:13,493
Speaker 3: that's interesting for future and down the track and how

439
00:23:13,533 --> 00:23:17,893
Speaker 3: that might play out for TJ. Caleb Clark. I mean

440
00:23:17,933 --> 00:23:23,333
Speaker 3: the one you deal for me is interesting because that

441
00:23:23,533 --> 00:23:26,333
Speaker 3: does leave that league door right open. He's a big

442
00:23:26,373 --> 00:23:29,373
Speaker 3: fan of South Sydney. He's talked about that. It would

443
00:23:29,453 --> 00:23:33,093
Speaker 3: not surprise me to see him go to Rugby League

444
00:23:33,333 --> 00:23:35,533
Speaker 3: after that. Before we take a break here on Rugby

445
00:23:35,533 --> 00:23:38,053
Speaker 3: Direct and finish up the first half of our podcast,

446
00:23:38,173 --> 00:23:41,373
Speaker 3: just some intel. We've got spies everywhere on the ground, lamb,

447
00:23:41,413 --> 00:23:44,853
Speaker 3: don't we. The Rugby Director community is very very good

448
00:23:44,893 --> 00:23:48,133
Speaker 3: at sharing what they're seeing out there, and I had

449
00:23:48,173 --> 00:23:53,293
Speaker 3: some intel on Friday that Richiemonger and Scott Hansen we

450
00:23:53,333 --> 00:23:56,213
Speaker 3: were seen having a coffee and then also seen on

451
00:23:56,253 --> 00:24:00,293
Speaker 3: the sidelines of the Tasman Southland game in christ Church,

452
00:24:00,613 --> 00:24:05,213
Speaker 3: the NPC build up game, and I think they met

453
00:24:05,253 --> 00:24:09,173
Speaker 3: halfway Tasman in Southland, but Richie Moonger on the sideline

454
00:24:09,213 --> 00:24:13,813
Speaker 3: there alongside Scott Hansen, Scott Robertson and Thomas E.

455
00:24:13,853 --> 00:24:15,853
Speaker 4: Ellison. So make of that what you will.

456
00:24:17,253 --> 00:24:19,653
Speaker 5: It's all right, So what is it the gc SB,

457
00:24:19,933 --> 00:24:25,213
Speaker 5: the government spy agency. Least to say, Rugby Direct's got

458
00:24:25,253 --> 00:24:27,853
Speaker 5: its own people in the wings and.

459
00:24:29,333 --> 00:24:30,853
Speaker 6: Little lasers out in the community.

460
00:24:30,933 --> 00:24:35,293
Speaker 5: So it's not a surprise, is that that Richie's engaged

461
00:24:35,333 --> 00:24:38,733
Speaker 5: with all Blacks management. Given you know what we've heard

462
00:24:38,973 --> 00:24:42,013
Speaker 5: over the last eighteen months, but very good intel from

463
00:24:42,093 --> 00:24:44,733
Speaker 5: u LA and I would expect nothing less than you

464
00:24:44,853 --> 00:24:46,973
Speaker 5: tapping into the christ Church community.

465
00:24:47,013 --> 00:24:50,053
Speaker 3: That's right, yeap, keep it coming. We will take any

466
00:24:50,333 --> 00:24:53,173
Speaker 3: oil if you want to send it our way. Right,

467
00:24:53,213 --> 00:24:55,453
Speaker 3: We'll take a break here on Rugby Direct. Come back

468
00:24:55,453 --> 00:24:56,813
Speaker 3: with the final four after this.

469
00:24:58,973 --> 00:24:59,973
Speaker 1: The Rugby Direct.

470
00:25:00,173 --> 00:25:04,533
Speaker 2: Howard Badies talk it, call yourself a real Rugby fan.

471
00:25:04,933 --> 00:25:06,773
Speaker 2: This is Rugby Direct.

472
00:25:07,213 --> 00:25:10,413
Speaker 3: You're back with Rugby Direct powered by Excess Solutions. Time

473
00:25:10,453 --> 00:25:14,493
Speaker 3: now for our final four. On the podcast four Rugby Topics,

474
00:25:14,533 --> 00:25:19,293
Speaker 3: myself and Liam debate them. Topic one Liam, this came

475
00:25:19,333 --> 00:25:22,573
Speaker 3: out as a result of Anton DuPont and if it's

476
00:25:22,573 --> 00:25:27,013
Speaker 3: with the French seven sides which was a big reason

477
00:25:27,093 --> 00:25:31,573
Speaker 3: why they won and a suggestion on x formerly Twitter

478
00:25:31,693 --> 00:25:34,733
Speaker 3: that he was the greatest player of all time. Where

479
00:25:34,733 --> 00:25:35,573
Speaker 3: do you stand on this?

480
00:25:35,733 --> 00:25:36,013
Speaker 1: Is he.

481
00:25:37,813 --> 00:25:39,093
Speaker 6: Look in short? No, he's not.

482
00:25:39,573 --> 00:25:41,933
Speaker 5: I think Aaron Smith summed it up nicely for me.

483
00:25:41,973 --> 00:25:45,333
Speaker 5: He tweeted that he's the greatest player of this generation.

484
00:25:45,533 --> 00:25:49,093
Speaker 5: I think he certainly has claims to that, but I

485
00:25:49,133 --> 00:25:54,973
Speaker 5: think whenever there's something front and center like the Olympics,

486
00:25:55,013 --> 00:25:58,773
Speaker 5: like Anton DuPont making a seamless transition to the sevens.

487
00:25:58,813 --> 00:26:01,373
Speaker 5: We talked about some of the athletes in New Zealand

488
00:26:01,373 --> 00:26:02,213
Speaker 5: that haven't managed that.

489
00:26:02,333 --> 00:26:04,613
Speaker 6: So look, he's a phenomenal talent.

490
00:26:04,733 --> 00:26:09,293
Speaker 5: He can kick off both feet, he is change the

491
00:26:09,293 --> 00:26:13,053
Speaker 5: game from a halfback perspective. He really does do it all.

492
00:26:13,413 --> 00:26:15,893
Speaker 5: But he also hasn't done a lot. He hasn't spent

493
00:26:15,933 --> 00:26:18,093
Speaker 5: a lot of time playing in the Southern Hemisphere. He

494
00:26:18,093 --> 00:26:20,413
Speaker 5: hasn't won a World Cup, and this is you know,

495
00:26:20,573 --> 00:26:22,893
Speaker 5: he can only do so much from an individual perspective.

496
00:26:23,213 --> 00:26:25,293
Speaker 5: But when you go back to the World Cup, I think,

497
00:26:26,373 --> 00:26:29,773
Speaker 5: reflecting on his performance in that quarter final when the

498
00:26:29,773 --> 00:26:32,293
Speaker 5: spring box pit the French, there were moments in that

499
00:26:32,333 --> 00:26:35,853
Speaker 5: match where he wasn't very composed in the white hot

500
00:26:35,853 --> 00:26:39,293
Speaker 5: heat of a home World Cup, a knockout match, and

501
00:26:39,373 --> 00:26:42,373
Speaker 5: so I think, you know, he's one top fourteen titles,

502
00:26:42,373 --> 00:26:46,053
Speaker 5: he's won an Olympic gold. But for me, he's still young,

503
00:26:46,093 --> 00:26:47,613
Speaker 5: he's still got a bit to prove, he's still got

504
00:26:47,653 --> 00:26:49,253
Speaker 5: a bit to do to get to.

505
00:26:49,253 --> 00:26:50,853
Speaker 6: That goat status.

506
00:26:50,853 --> 00:26:53,573
Speaker 5: But it is a very strange debate, isn't it to

507
00:26:53,613 --> 00:26:57,693
Speaker 5: compare players, compare generations, but for me, he's not quite

508
00:26:57,733 --> 00:26:58,213
Speaker 5: there yet.

509
00:26:58,613 --> 00:27:00,413
Speaker 4: No, I think he's there yet either.

510
00:27:01,693 --> 00:27:03,973
Speaker 3: Agreed he's the best player of the current generation, but

511
00:27:05,413 --> 00:27:07,933
Speaker 3: a few question marks in terms of he barely plays

512
00:27:07,973 --> 00:27:11,413
Speaker 3: outside out of Europe all the six nations, to be

513
00:27:11,533 --> 00:27:15,093
Speaker 3: quite honest, and only plays in France very rarely tours.

514
00:27:15,293 --> 00:27:16,733
Speaker 3: We won't see him in New Zealand. I wouldn't have

515
00:27:16,733 --> 00:27:19,573
Speaker 3: thought next year. It's been pretty much confirmed on that.

516
00:27:19,653 --> 00:27:21,973
Speaker 3: I think you have to. It's kind of like cricket.

517
00:27:21,973 --> 00:27:24,213
Speaker 3: You can't just score all your runs at home. You

518
00:27:24,293 --> 00:27:27,093
Speaker 3: kind of have to score abroad to be considered as

519
00:27:27,133 --> 00:27:28,773
Speaker 3: one of the greats. If you can score away from

520
00:27:28,773 --> 00:27:33,293
Speaker 3: home and unfamiliar conditions, then you can be called one

521
00:27:33,333 --> 00:27:36,293
Speaker 3: of the greats depending on your record. So I think

522
00:27:36,293 --> 00:27:38,853
Speaker 3: he's still got to do that. The sevens think, yep,

523
00:27:38,933 --> 00:27:41,493
Speaker 3: he was a big factor in why France won that,

524
00:27:42,333 --> 00:27:45,653
Speaker 3: but he wouldn't have played sevens if it wasn't in France.

525
00:27:45,653 --> 00:27:48,453
Speaker 3: It was a publicity stunt more than anything. In many ways,

526
00:27:48,493 --> 00:27:50,613
Speaker 3: I thought like good on him for doing it, and

527
00:27:50,613 --> 00:27:53,573
Speaker 3: the good on him for the French Rugby Federation and

528
00:27:53,613 --> 00:27:55,813
Speaker 3: to lose allowing him to do it and making it happen,

529
00:27:55,893 --> 00:27:58,613
Speaker 3: but it was by and larger publicity stunt. He wasn't

530
00:27:58,653 --> 00:28:00,533
Speaker 3: going to play if it was an LA he won't

531
00:28:00,533 --> 00:28:02,293
Speaker 3: be backward in the four and four years time. So

532
00:28:03,333 --> 00:28:06,573
Speaker 3: that was a moment to try and effectively. Listen, ticket

533
00:28:06,573 --> 00:28:09,693
Speaker 3: sales that started to France and it worked. Very very

534
00:28:09,693 --> 00:28:14,413
Speaker 3: good player. I think it's still some question marks and yeah,

535
00:28:14,453 --> 00:28:16,173
Speaker 3: I just think, you know, you kind of do have

536
00:28:16,213 --> 00:28:21,493
Speaker 3: to win a World Cup or at least be in

537
00:28:21,573 --> 00:28:24,253
Speaker 3: contention for a World Cup to be considered one of

538
00:28:24,253 --> 00:28:26,733
Speaker 3: the great So I think he's the best player on

539
00:28:26,813 --> 00:28:29,773
Speaker 3: the planet, maybe just alongside artisav at the moment, but

540
00:28:29,813 --> 00:28:31,893
Speaker 3: there's still a long way for him to go to

541
00:28:31,933 --> 00:28:35,093
Speaker 3: be considered the greatest of all time. Topic number two.

542
00:28:35,413 --> 00:28:37,973
Speaker 3: Some sad news for our friends and Kutter with the

543
00:28:38,493 --> 00:28:42,133
Speaker 3: news there but has been to host the nation's championship

544
00:28:42,533 --> 00:28:45,573
Speaker 3: final weekend has been rejected. What do you make of this, Lamb.

545
00:28:46,573 --> 00:28:49,533
Speaker 5: Yes, I've been in undated actually from Rugby Direct fans

546
00:28:49,573 --> 00:28:55,453
Speaker 5: and kat that's big and pause pause to poise sorry

547
00:28:55,453 --> 00:29:01,333
Speaker 5: to buy tickets for the grand weekend that that was touted. Look,

548
00:29:01,373 --> 00:29:05,333
Speaker 5: I am quite surprised in the current climate of financial

549
00:29:05,413 --> 00:29:10,373
Speaker 5: strife across world rugby, that these unions didn't take the

550
00:29:10,413 --> 00:29:13,973
Speaker 5: money and run and turn a blind eye to, you know,

551
00:29:14,013 --> 00:29:23,053
Speaker 5: all the human rights issues surrounding Qatar, and basically came

552
00:29:23,093 --> 00:29:27,213
Speaker 5: down to us the usual split North feast South. So

553
00:29:27,773 --> 00:29:30,133
Speaker 5: from what I've read in a number of different outlets,

554
00:29:30,453 --> 00:29:34,933
Speaker 5: Island and France rejected it, and effectively they only need

555
00:29:34,933 --> 00:29:37,373
Speaker 5: one union to say no. On this occasion, there was

556
00:29:37,373 --> 00:29:40,253
Speaker 5: a split among the Southern hemisphere nations and it's caused

557
00:29:40,253 --> 00:29:43,093
Speaker 5: a real rift with the South who were absolutely dead

558
00:29:43,173 --> 00:29:45,413
Speaker 5: keen to take the money to get the bail out,

559
00:29:45,453 --> 00:29:49,613
Speaker 5: to have the guaranteed purses for the next what was it,

560
00:29:49,733 --> 00:29:53,293
Speaker 5: twelve years, So it doesn't sound like there's any comparable

561
00:29:53,333 --> 00:29:57,533
Speaker 5: bids from a financial perspective. But I also think I

562
00:29:57,613 --> 00:30:00,453
Speaker 5: think it's a good move because this nation's championship could

563
00:30:00,453 --> 00:30:04,733
Speaker 5: have fallen over in its first instance if you're playing

564
00:30:04,773 --> 00:30:06,653
Speaker 5: in front of no One, and that was a real

565
00:30:06,773 --> 00:30:11,893
Speaker 5: risk with that proposal, and so I think it's I'm

566
00:30:11,893 --> 00:30:14,013
Speaker 5: glad they're not going there. I think it would have

567
00:30:14,013 --> 00:30:17,493
Speaker 5: been all about the money, and it's going to be

568
00:30:17,493 --> 00:30:19,053
Speaker 5: really interesting to see where it does end up.

569
00:30:19,093 --> 00:30:19,293
Speaker 6: Now.

570
00:30:20,573 --> 00:30:23,373
Speaker 4: Yeah, I'm not how do I put this.

571
00:30:23,693 --> 00:30:27,653
Speaker 3: I think there is a risk now I think it

572
00:30:27,653 --> 00:30:30,813
Speaker 3: probably it may fall over the entire concept. Now I

573
00:30:30,813 --> 00:30:32,493
Speaker 3: know they have agreed this whole thing. I don't have

574
00:30:32,493 --> 00:30:34,213
Speaker 3: any intel to back that up, but I just think

575
00:30:34,253 --> 00:30:36,653
Speaker 3: that I'm not sure who's going to come forward to

576
00:30:36,693 --> 00:30:41,493
Speaker 3: bankroller this is a money spinner for these unions. I'm

577
00:30:41,493 --> 00:30:44,173
Speaker 3: not sure we'll see it in its original format. Maybe

578
00:30:44,213 --> 00:30:46,373
Speaker 3: now I don't know. It fels like that was the

579
00:30:46,693 --> 00:30:49,453
Speaker 3: you know, the deal that was on the table. To

580
00:30:49,493 --> 00:30:51,533
Speaker 3: be honest, that wouldn't have worried me if they went

581
00:30:51,613 --> 00:30:54,693
Speaker 3: if the head through cutter everything so far gone on

582
00:30:54,733 --> 00:30:58,733
Speaker 3: sport washing, like, what's another one? And to add to

583
00:30:58,733 --> 00:30:59,093
Speaker 3: the list.

584
00:30:59,173 --> 00:30:59,653
Speaker 4: I don't know.

585
00:31:00,173 --> 00:31:02,893
Speaker 3: You know, the empty crowds thing doesn't really wash with me,

586
00:31:03,333 --> 00:31:05,813
Speaker 3: I don't think, because if it's at the United States,

587
00:31:05,893 --> 00:31:09,093
Speaker 3: is a real risk it's empty over there. You take

588
00:31:09,133 --> 00:31:12,133
Speaker 3: it anywhere else in Europe. I don't know that it's

589
00:31:12,173 --> 00:31:14,533
Speaker 3: going to get full crowds that they seem to think

590
00:31:14,533 --> 00:31:17,333
Speaker 3: it will. Certainly outside the rugby nations like for example Spain,

591
00:31:18,373 --> 00:31:20,933
Speaker 3: you might get a crowd for the big final game,

592
00:31:20,973 --> 00:31:23,093
Speaker 3: but I don't, you know, you get it for Day

593
00:31:23,173 --> 00:31:26,693
Speaker 3: one and the twelve v twelve playoff or whatever it is.

594
00:31:26,733 --> 00:31:32,653
Speaker 3: So yeah, I can see why they rejected it. I'm

595
00:31:32,653 --> 00:31:34,693
Speaker 3: intrigued to see whether there's any deal that comes along

596
00:31:34,733 --> 00:31:38,173
Speaker 3: that that stacks up that could make it work for

597
00:31:38,373 --> 00:31:41,253
Speaker 3: these unions now. But you know, it's interesting to see

598
00:31:41,253 --> 00:31:43,613
Speaker 3: France and Iland hold themselves to a higher par than

599
00:31:43,693 --> 00:31:46,173
Speaker 3: perhaps the other ten unions. So we wait with beta

600
00:31:46,213 --> 00:31:47,893
Speaker 3: breath to see if someone else comes forward. I mean,

601
00:31:47,933 --> 00:31:50,453
Speaker 3: they're not necessarily running out of time, but they want

602
00:31:50,453 --> 00:31:52,653
Speaker 3: to take this to market, don't They liam to the

603
00:31:52,693 --> 00:31:55,093
Speaker 3: TV broadcasters to have it in their back pocket and

604
00:31:55,133 --> 00:31:57,613
Speaker 3: have some certainty about where it's going to be held,

605
00:31:57,653 --> 00:32:00,093
Speaker 3: and at the moment they don't have that to take

606
00:32:00,133 --> 00:32:03,373
Speaker 3: to broadcasters, with New Zealand Rugby, for instance, their TV

607
00:32:03,453 --> 00:32:05,013
Speaker 3: deal up at the end of twenty twenty five.

608
00:32:06,173 --> 00:32:09,333
Speaker 5: Yeah, you're right there, there are some big to overcome now,

609
00:32:09,373 --> 00:32:11,573
Speaker 5: and I think I agree that I don't think we

610
00:32:11,653 --> 00:32:15,573
Speaker 5: will see it as a finals weekend because currently they

611
00:32:15,653 --> 00:32:20,613
Speaker 5: need to negotiate compensation for the French clubs, European clubs

612
00:32:20,613 --> 00:32:23,733
Speaker 5: in particular for an extra weekend to stage that. So

613
00:32:23,773 --> 00:32:25,533
Speaker 5: I think what you'll see now as a one off

614
00:32:25,573 --> 00:32:29,733
Speaker 5: final perhaps in Spain or Germany or one of those

615
00:32:29,733 --> 00:32:34,413
Speaker 5: big iconic football stadiums trying to maximize the revenue. But yeah,

616
00:32:34,413 --> 00:32:37,733
Speaker 5: I think there's massive hurdles to overcome and that's why

617
00:32:38,173 --> 00:32:41,613
Speaker 5: by all accounts, the southern Hemisphere nations South Africa, Australia

618
00:32:41,613 --> 00:32:44,333
Speaker 5: and New Zealand. I think Argentina are well as well,

619
00:32:44,453 --> 00:32:47,493
Speaker 5: are actually going as far to seek compensation from the

620
00:32:47,533 --> 00:32:52,093
Speaker 5: North for vetoying this deal. So big ructions again nothing

621
00:32:52,133 --> 00:32:55,453
Speaker 5: new in terms of Northeast South. But you know when

622
00:32:55,533 --> 00:32:58,373
Speaker 5: you look across the ditch at Australia in an incredibly

623
00:32:58,413 --> 00:33:01,533
Speaker 5: periless state, the states are pretty high.

624
00:33:01,853 --> 00:33:04,853
Speaker 3: Certainly are watch this space on that one. Speaking of Australia,

625
00:33:04,933 --> 00:33:07,813
Speaker 3: our friends across the Tasman, can the Wallabies stop the

626
00:33:07,853 --> 00:33:11,653
Speaker 3: spring By in the opener this weekend in Brisbane? The

627
00:33:11,693 --> 00:33:14,453
Speaker 3: funny thing about the strong Box they actually don't have

628
00:33:14,533 --> 00:33:18,053
Speaker 3: the best of records in Australia touring there over the

629
00:33:18,093 --> 00:33:20,893
Speaker 3: last way while if more losses than you would think.

630
00:33:20,933 --> 00:33:22,933
Speaker 3: But how do you see this going this weekend? Is

631
00:33:23,013 --> 00:33:26,053
Speaker 3: Jochmit gonna tip up Rassi in the first meeting between

632
00:33:26,053 --> 00:33:27,493
Speaker 3: the two, I.

633
00:33:27,453 --> 00:33:29,493
Speaker 5: Don't think so. No, it is a bit of a

634
00:33:29,493 --> 00:33:31,653
Speaker 5: bizarre one though, isn't it. Maybe the Box there's a

635
00:33:31,653 --> 00:33:33,853
Speaker 5: bit of an arrogance there. When they go to Ossie,

636
00:33:33,893 --> 00:33:38,013
Speaker 5: they just expect to roll in and roll out, and

637
00:33:38,253 --> 00:33:41,373
Speaker 5: the world champions in the in the current state, you

638
00:33:41,413 --> 00:33:45,173
Speaker 5: would expect them to do just that, But funny, funnier

639
00:33:45,173 --> 00:33:48,213
Speaker 5: things have happened. I think Australia are still finding their feet.

640
00:33:49,053 --> 00:33:51,373
Speaker 5: I don't think they've selected all their best players. Are

641
00:33:51,413 --> 00:33:54,253
Speaker 5: still you know, the world skeletons of the world aren't

642
00:33:54,293 --> 00:33:56,333
Speaker 5: going to feature. I think against the Box, he's going

643
00:33:56,413 --> 00:33:59,133
Speaker 5: to come back for the for the Pumas. So I

644
00:33:59,173 --> 00:34:02,173
Speaker 5: think the Wallabies are still very much work in progress,

645
00:34:02,173 --> 00:34:03,493
Speaker 5: so I expect the Box to win that.

646
00:34:03,973 --> 00:34:06,293
Speaker 6: Let me put this to you earlier. So the Rugby Championship.

647
00:34:06,293 --> 00:34:09,693
Speaker 5: I think something like six out of the last seven

648
00:34:09,773 --> 00:34:12,253
Speaker 5: years the All Blacks have won the title.

649
00:34:12,773 --> 00:34:13,813
Speaker 6: Who wins it this year?

650
00:34:15,053 --> 00:34:18,133
Speaker 3: I think South Africa wins it this year. I think

651
00:34:18,213 --> 00:34:20,413
Speaker 3: they'll I think New Zealand and several will split their

652
00:34:20,453 --> 00:34:21,933
Speaker 3: tests in South Africa.

653
00:34:22,493 --> 00:34:23,493
Speaker 4: I think South Africa.

654
00:34:23,253 --> 00:34:27,413
Speaker 3: Will win both against the Wallabies and I just think

655
00:34:27,453 --> 00:34:30,293
Speaker 3: they might get that one extra win perhaps in the

656
00:34:30,293 --> 00:34:35,173
Speaker 3: All Blacks to win the Rugby Championship. I don't see

657
00:34:35,213 --> 00:34:40,373
Speaker 3: Australia or Argentina contending for line honors this time around.

658
00:34:40,373 --> 00:34:41,333
Speaker 3: I'm going to give it to the Box.

659
00:34:41,373 --> 00:34:41,453
Speaker 6: You.

660
00:34:43,013 --> 00:34:45,853
Speaker 5: I think the Box start favorites because hosting those two

661
00:34:45,933 --> 00:34:48,933
Speaker 5: tests against the All Blacks. But if feel Blacks can

662
00:34:48,973 --> 00:34:50,853
Speaker 5: have a couple of big wins against the Wallabies and

663
00:34:50,853 --> 00:34:54,333
Speaker 5: Pumas get a few bonus points at the Box, maybe

664
00:34:54,413 --> 00:34:57,333
Speaker 5: struggle to get it could be a very very tight

665
00:34:57,413 --> 00:34:59,013
Speaker 5: run thing all right.

666
00:34:59,053 --> 00:35:04,493
Speaker 3: And finally on rugby direct Provincial rugby at its finest

667
00:35:04,533 --> 00:35:09,613
Speaker 3: gets underway this weekend, the NPC and the far Palmer Cup.

668
00:35:10,613 --> 00:35:13,093
Speaker 3: Liam give us a winner for both of the competitions.

669
00:35:13,093 --> 00:35:19,693
Speaker 5: Gone, oh, here we go. I'm gonna tip Wellington of course.

670
00:35:19,853 --> 00:35:23,373
Speaker 5: And the men's have got Billy Proctor back. They've blind

671
00:35:23,453 --> 00:35:26,253
Speaker 5: the check book again like like they're not meant to.

672
00:35:26,853 --> 00:35:30,253
Speaker 5: Canterbury looks strong, they're no stand out first five, so

673
00:35:30,293 --> 00:35:35,533
Speaker 5: I think they'll contind Auckland strong as well, and and

674
00:35:35,573 --> 00:35:38,613
Speaker 5: the women's are will will tip Auckland's.

675
00:35:39,213 --> 00:35:41,173
Speaker 6: I think Philly settled squads.

676
00:35:41,893 --> 00:35:46,613
Speaker 5: I've actually got a mates been been Ben who was

677
00:35:46,653 --> 00:35:49,213
Speaker 5: involved with the Ponti eighty five hustlers involved with the

678
00:35:49,253 --> 00:35:52,133
Speaker 5: Auckland team, so hopefully gives me some good intel and

679
00:35:53,333 --> 00:35:53,893
Speaker 5: they get up.

680
00:35:54,293 --> 00:35:54,533
Speaker 4: Yeah.

681
00:35:54,613 --> 00:35:57,413
Speaker 3: For the NPC, I'm going to say Auckland, that squad

682
00:35:57,493 --> 00:36:01,053
Speaker 3: is seriously stacked, really really is you look at those

683
00:36:01,093 --> 00:36:04,213
Speaker 3: players across the park. I think Auckland wins the n

684
00:36:04,293 --> 00:36:08,813
Speaker 3: P m PC and I'm reckoning Canterbury will in the

685
00:36:08,973 --> 00:36:11,453
Speaker 3: f PC. It's coming back home in the f PC.

686
00:36:11,613 --> 00:36:14,573
Speaker 3: So that's that's good news. Great to hear Wellington's sort

687
00:36:14,573 --> 00:36:17,173
Speaker 3: of overspending again. That's that's really really good news.

688
00:36:18,013 --> 00:36:20,133
Speaker 5: Warms the heart, doesn't it? Almost as much as Rob

689
00:36:20,133 --> 00:36:20,973
Speaker 5: Penny Coming back to.

690
00:36:21,613 --> 00:36:24,573
Speaker 3: I was trying to like, I deliberately did not put

691
00:36:24,573 --> 00:36:27,493
Speaker 3: this on the document to discuss because I just did

692
00:36:27,573 --> 00:36:28,253
Speaker 3: not want to.

693
00:36:29,413 --> 00:36:31,293
Speaker 4: I can't bring myself to talk about it. What are

694
00:36:31,293 --> 00:36:31,973
Speaker 4: they doing?

695
00:36:33,533 --> 00:36:34,773
Speaker 6: Happy days? Happy days.

696
00:36:35,213 --> 00:36:37,613
Speaker 3: On that note, that's probably about it for Rugby Direct.

697
00:36:37,813 --> 00:36:40,733
Speaker 3: Looking forward to this weekend live commentary by the way,

698
00:36:40,773 --> 00:36:43,933
Speaker 3: news Talks hereb gold Sport, iHeartRadio, All Blacks Argentina from

699
00:36:44,013 --> 00:36:46,013
Speaker 3: sky Stadium and Wellington. You can read all about it

700
00:36:46,053 --> 00:36:48,973
Speaker 3: on inzi here, dot co, dot z. That will do us.

701
00:36:49,013 --> 00:36:52,013
Speaker 3: For Rugby Direct from the Capitol now thanks to Lars

702
00:36:52,013 --> 00:36:53,573
Speaker 3: and Bars English. We will see you next time on

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00:36:53,653 --> 00:36:57,373
Speaker 3: Rugby Direct, powered by Excess Solutions, elevating you and your

704
00:36:57,413 --> 00:36:59,373
Speaker 3: business to a higher level.

705
00:37:03,773 --> 00:37:06,733
Speaker 1: For more from News Talks B listen live on air

706
00:37:06,933 --> 00:37:09,613
Speaker 1: or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you

707
00:37:09,693 --> 00:37:12,093
Speaker 1: go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio