1
00:00:09,093 --> 00:00:12,693
Speaker 1: You're listening to a podcast from News Talks b follow

2
00:00:12,773 --> 00:00:17,013
Speaker 1: this and our wide range of podcast now on iHeartRadio.

3
00:00:19,253 --> 00:00:21,013
Speaker 2: Straight down the middle.

4
00:00:20,733 --> 00:00:22,373
Speaker 3: Of dry.

5
00:00:23,813 --> 00:00:24,413
Speaker 4: Try.

6
00:00:24,773 --> 00:00:26,013
Speaker 3: Welcome in to Rugby Direct.

7
00:00:26,093 --> 00:00:28,613
Speaker 5: John r Hen Health Technique, all your aches and pains

8
00:00:28,613 --> 00:00:38,773
Speaker 5: from the sports and another alien Disappearances, Joseph Lee or

9
00:00:39,333 --> 00:00:42,693
Speaker 5: Joey Marno the man that can do it All across

10
00:00:42,773 --> 00:00:45,213
Speaker 5: Rugby and Rugby League Podcast. Nick Bailey, Great, have you

11
00:00:45,253 --> 00:00:48,133
Speaker 5: in for Liam Napier this week? Welcome on and again,

12
00:00:48,453 --> 00:00:48,813
Speaker 5: Oh what.

13
00:00:48,813 --> 00:00:51,413
Speaker 4: An introduction Smith here, Thanks for that. I'm sure I'm

14
00:00:51,453 --> 00:00:53,333
Speaker 4: not sure if that NS and me listeners across the

15
00:00:53,333 --> 00:00:56,293
Speaker 4: podcast stable are enjoying me jumping between codes week to

16
00:00:56,293 --> 00:00:58,653
Speaker 4: week from the Big League Podcast back to Rugby Direct,

17
00:00:58,653 --> 00:01:02,133
Speaker 4: but I'm happy to be here and speaking of habit, health,

18
00:01:02,133 --> 00:01:04,613
Speaker 4: aches and pains from sport and work, probably leisure as well.

19
00:01:04,653 --> 00:01:07,933
Speaker 4: For Liam Napier, I hope he's doing okay after Nral's Magic.

20
00:01:07,693 --> 00:01:10,453
Speaker 5: Ground from him for a good twenty four plus hours.

21
00:01:10,493 --> 00:01:13,773
Speaker 5: So hopefully we'll report back for Judy at some point

22
00:01:13,773 --> 00:01:16,093
Speaker 5: this week and be on deck for the podcast next week.

23
00:01:16,093 --> 00:01:16,893
Speaker 3: I'm sure he had a great week.

24
00:01:16,933 --> 00:01:19,853
Speaker 5: It looked like a great weekend over there, and I suppose,

25
00:01:20,013 --> 00:01:22,053
Speaker 5: you know, if you're Super Rugby, you're trying to figure

26
00:01:22,053 --> 00:01:24,973
Speaker 5: out the lessons of how you apply that to Super Round,

27
00:01:24,973 --> 00:01:26,653
Speaker 5: which is obviously taking a break this year. I just

28
00:01:26,653 --> 00:01:28,933
Speaker 5: don't know that you can replicate that across Super Rugby.

29
00:01:28,973 --> 00:01:31,253
Speaker 5: I think they're trying to find something that's just not

30
00:01:31,333 --> 00:01:32,813
Speaker 5: going to quite work.

31
00:01:33,693 --> 00:01:34,573
Speaker 2: It'll be interesting to see.

32
00:01:34,573 --> 00:01:37,573
Speaker 4: I heard some comments from Super Rugby chair Kevin malloy

33
00:01:37,653 --> 00:01:40,093
Speaker 4: on Weekend Sport with Jason Pine just yes, they certainly

34
00:01:40,133 --> 00:01:42,493
Speaker 4: is in the thinking, whether that be down my way

35
00:01:42,613 --> 00:01:45,373
Speaker 4: Smith at christ Church to help open Tokaha next year.

36
00:01:45,373 --> 00:01:47,733
Speaker 4: I feel like there's a lot that makes a fair

37
00:01:47,733 --> 00:01:50,573
Speaker 4: amount of sense for mine or fig where they absolutely

38
00:01:50,573 --> 00:01:53,253
Speaker 4: adore their rugby. Of course there's some logistical challenges here,

39
00:01:53,293 --> 00:01:55,533
Speaker 4: but the NRL is certainly onto a winner there with

40
00:01:55,573 --> 00:01:56,053
Speaker 4: major round.

41
00:01:56,053 --> 00:01:57,253
Speaker 3: Has to be said, they certainly are.

42
00:01:57,293 --> 00:01:59,333
Speaker 5: Well, let's get into the round that was in Super

43
00:01:59,493 --> 00:02:03,933
Speaker 5: Rugby Pacific and the most recent game that rounded out

44
00:02:03,973 --> 00:02:06,373
Speaker 5: the round, but a Sunday afternoon footy which is always

45
00:02:06,453 --> 00:02:09,053
Speaker 5: a treat under the roof in Dunedam probably the best

46
00:02:09,093 --> 00:02:11,893
Speaker 5: game of the round, to be honest with you, Mina

47
00:02:11,933 --> 00:02:16,533
Speaker 5: Pacific at beating the Highland is thirty four twenty nine. Look,

48
00:02:16,693 --> 00:02:19,373
Speaker 5: I think you look at this Muana side and they

49
00:02:19,693 --> 00:02:23,093
Speaker 5: are continuing to upset the apple cart. Now, whether it's

50
00:02:23,133 --> 00:02:24,853
Speaker 5: good enough to make the playoffs, we'll get onto that

51
00:02:25,213 --> 00:02:27,053
Speaker 5: in a week while on the podcast. But what they're

52
00:02:27,053 --> 00:02:29,813
Speaker 5: doing is showing up every week, which is what we've

53
00:02:29,853 --> 00:02:32,293
Speaker 5: asked for them in recent years. And they've going down

54
00:02:32,333 --> 00:02:34,013
Speaker 5: to the need in which they haven't done, you know,

55
00:02:34,133 --> 00:02:37,493
Speaker 5: particularly well in previous years, and kept at it and

56
00:02:37,493 --> 00:02:39,013
Speaker 5: got the win. And I thought they were the better

57
00:02:39,053 --> 00:02:42,453
Speaker 5: team yesterday afternoon and deserving of that win. You've got

58
00:02:42,493 --> 00:02:44,173
Speaker 5: to give a lot of credit to Artie sa Via

59
00:02:44,413 --> 00:02:47,933
Speaker 5: wonderful try, you know, the double grubber, Regather scoring in

60
00:02:48,053 --> 00:02:50,853
Speaker 5: the corner, but everything else that he did across the game.

61
00:02:51,093 --> 00:02:53,453
Speaker 5: He has been so influential on this team this year

62
00:02:53,453 --> 00:02:56,573
Speaker 5: and kept talking about it, but it's hard to understate

63
00:02:56,693 --> 00:02:58,853
Speaker 5: just how valuable his presence has been to the side.

64
00:02:58,853 --> 00:02:59,893
Speaker 5: What did you make of that game.

65
00:02:59,813 --> 00:03:02,173
Speaker 2: Nick, eh? The South Island Slayers.

66
00:03:02,173 --> 00:03:04,573
Speaker 4: Aren't they Minor Pacifica or was it last month beating

67
00:03:04,573 --> 00:03:07,733
Speaker 4: the Crusaders down my way and now down a bit

68
00:03:07,773 --> 00:03:09,733
Speaker 4: further down Stie High One and getting the job done

69
00:03:09,733 --> 00:03:10,933
Speaker 4: over Jamie Joseph's side.

70
00:03:10,973 --> 00:03:13,213
Speaker 2: Look, I thought they were deserved.

71
00:03:12,813 --> 00:03:15,333
Speaker 4: Victors, and you summed it up brilliantly around the impact

72
00:03:15,333 --> 00:03:17,333
Speaker 4: that Ardie sav has and I know on this podcast

73
00:03:17,333 --> 00:03:19,893
Speaker 4: when Leans usually in this seat, you guys are waxing

74
00:03:19,973 --> 00:03:22,933
Speaker 4: lyrical about his influence both on and off the field.

75
00:03:22,733 --> 00:03:25,333
Speaker 2: But the way his body at work on both sides

76
00:03:25,373 --> 00:03:25,773
Speaker 2: of the ball.

77
00:03:26,013 --> 00:03:29,453
Speaker 4: He is in another stratosphere at the moment, and it

78
00:03:29,533 --> 00:03:31,333
Speaker 4: was almost as if I know a lot of the

79
00:03:31,373 --> 00:03:34,053
Speaker 4: headlines in the highlight moment with the Chip and Chase.

80
00:03:34,133 --> 00:03:36,053
Speaker 4: You know, it's obviously he wanted that that Chip and

81
00:03:36,133 --> 00:03:38,173
Speaker 4: Chase Trice somewhere on his resume after the one that

82
00:03:38,213 --> 00:03:41,213
Speaker 4: got scrubbed out the week before. But that's just I

83
00:03:41,253 --> 00:03:45,133
Speaker 4: guess a footnote really on his full performance, like, well,

84
00:03:45,133 --> 00:03:48,653
Speaker 4: what have we got here? Eighty one meters for nineteen carries,

85
00:03:48,693 --> 00:03:51,733
Speaker 4: three defenders, beat in three clean breaks are just an

86
00:03:51,773 --> 00:03:54,293
Speaker 4: all round inspiration and the way he's able to then

87
00:03:54,373 --> 00:03:56,973
Speaker 4: exert more out of the rest of the team just

88
00:03:57,053 --> 00:03:59,413
Speaker 4: can't be understated. And I think that loose forward trio

89
00:03:59,573 --> 00:04:04,413
Speaker 4: as a three with Miracle Fire, Lungey and Tupo Thayoloa,

90
00:04:04,453 --> 00:04:06,933
Speaker 4: who could have easily been in a Highlands juty this

91
00:04:07,013 --> 00:04:08,573
Speaker 4: season given he was playing for the Seat Up and

92
00:04:08,573 --> 00:04:11,573
Speaker 4: Stags and NPC last year. They're right up there in

93
00:04:11,613 --> 00:04:14,173
Speaker 4: terms of a loose forward trail in Super Rugby Pacific

94
00:04:14,213 --> 00:04:17,133
Speaker 4: full stop. So look, we'll get to the Highlanders in

95
00:04:17,133 --> 00:04:19,533
Speaker 4: a sec. But Moana give them a ton of credit.

96
00:04:20,093 --> 00:04:21,733
Speaker 4: I love the way they go about their player. I

97
00:04:21,733 --> 00:04:24,733
Speaker 4: love seeing some of their outside backs like Kyra and

98
00:04:24,733 --> 00:04:29,653
Speaker 4: Thomoyflau and open space. They're just their box office appointment viewing.

99
00:04:30,733 --> 00:04:33,053
Speaker 4: And they're very much now in the playoff picture. They've

100
00:04:33,053 --> 00:04:35,733
Speaker 4: got a terribly difficult run home with the last three games,

101
00:04:35,733 --> 00:04:37,853
Speaker 4: which we'll get to, but the fact that they're just

102
00:04:37,973 --> 00:04:40,253
Speaker 4: there in the top six at the minute, in that

103
00:04:40,333 --> 00:04:44,533
Speaker 4: sixth position, it's a success story for the season for sure.

104
00:04:44,653 --> 00:04:45,013
Speaker 3: That's right.

105
00:04:45,053 --> 00:04:47,613
Speaker 5: And they lose yesterday, they're probably out of the playoff mix,

106
00:04:47,653 --> 00:04:49,453
Speaker 5: aren't they, because it's just too much work to do

107
00:04:49,493 --> 00:04:51,973
Speaker 5: over the closing rounds of the competition. And you know,

108
00:04:52,053 --> 00:04:55,773
Speaker 5: Jack Taylor scores with seven eight minutes to go, converted

109
00:04:55,773 --> 00:04:58,053
Speaker 5: by robins and you go, yeah, this is maybe not

110
00:04:58,093 --> 00:05:01,453
Speaker 5: going to be their day. But then Milani Matavel who

111
00:05:01,573 --> 00:05:03,093
Speaker 5: came off for the bench and had a real impact.

112
00:05:03,173 --> 00:05:06,093
Speaker 5: I thought with that charge down. Now I've gone back

113
00:05:06,093 --> 00:05:07,693
Speaker 5: and watched it a couple of times, I think Robinson

114
00:05:07,693 --> 00:05:10,693
Speaker 5: that time to pull out probably should have seen Mazavel

115
00:05:10,813 --> 00:05:13,653
Speaker 5: in his eye line of vision and maybe pulled out

116
00:05:13,693 --> 00:05:15,933
Speaker 5: of it and not kicked it or just taken the tackle.

117
00:05:16,453 --> 00:05:19,693
Speaker 5: He's probably going to rue that. But great vision from

118
00:05:19,893 --> 00:05:22,213
Speaker 5: the replacement half back from one just to see that

119
00:05:22,253 --> 00:05:26,173
Speaker 5: opportunity coming through, got the balance and then the dive

120
00:05:26,213 --> 00:05:29,133
Speaker 5: in the corner was pretty special as well, and they

121
00:05:29,133 --> 00:05:31,013
Speaker 5: closed it up from there. And just that they have

122
00:05:31,053 --> 00:05:34,213
Speaker 5: a sense that of a never say die attitude and

123
00:05:34,213 --> 00:05:37,053
Speaker 5: it hasn't always turned into victories the seats in Mauana Pacifica,

124
00:05:37,093 --> 00:05:38,973
Speaker 5: but you look back at some of the performances they

125
00:05:39,013 --> 00:05:41,293
Speaker 5: probably should have been in the hound as earlier on

126
00:05:41,333 --> 00:05:43,173
Speaker 5: in the comp when they were twenty one points down

127
00:05:43,213 --> 00:05:47,373
Speaker 5: at halftime, they came back and stormed back against the Hurricanes.

128
00:05:47,373 --> 00:05:49,733
Speaker 5: From memory, the Chiefs they are forty three seven down

129
00:05:49,773 --> 00:05:52,293
Speaker 5: and maybe should have ended that game with, you know,

130
00:05:52,533 --> 00:05:54,453
Speaker 5: actually a losing bonus point. They didn't get it on

131
00:05:54,493 --> 00:05:57,093
Speaker 5: that occasion, but they've been the masters of the second spell,

132
00:05:57,133 --> 00:05:58,973
Speaker 5: but they also just don't know when they're beaten. That's

133
00:05:59,013 --> 00:06:02,293
Speaker 5: a really strong quality to have for Mowana given in

134
00:06:02,373 --> 00:06:05,013
Speaker 5: recent seasons the cops and pastings and the heads have

135
00:06:05,133 --> 00:06:07,573
Speaker 5: gone down completely agree.

136
00:06:07,333 --> 00:06:09,413
Speaker 4: And on the other side of the the equation the

137
00:06:09,493 --> 00:06:12,493
Speaker 4: Highlander is they're sort of finding ways to lose at

138
00:06:12,533 --> 00:06:14,653
Speaker 4: the moment, or finding ways where they're not icing the

139
00:06:14,653 --> 00:06:17,973
Speaker 4: big moments like the Tane Robinson clearance Kirk which ends

140
00:06:18,053 --> 00:06:20,453
Speaker 4: up a charge down trying the corner to the replacement

141
00:06:20,533 --> 00:06:22,573
Speaker 4: half back, and you've got to feel a little bit

142
00:06:22,613 --> 00:06:24,933
Speaker 4: for Jamie Joseph sid They're already up against it in

143
00:06:25,013 --> 00:06:29,573
Speaker 4: terms of attracting players down south to the southernmost franchise

144
00:06:29,613 --> 00:06:33,413
Speaker 4: in the country. They're investing a lot in youth and

145
00:06:33,453 --> 00:06:36,773
Speaker 4: trying to surround some young players with some veterans, but

146
00:06:36,813 --> 00:06:39,493
Speaker 4: it just isn't quite working for them at the moment,

147
00:06:39,533 --> 00:06:42,373
Speaker 4: and now they're very much a danger with their run

148
00:06:42,413 --> 00:06:47,373
Speaker 4: home Hurricanes Crusaders' chiefs after the bye this week of

149
00:06:47,453 --> 00:06:49,853
Speaker 4: being wooden Spooners, which when you reflect back a couple

150
00:06:49,893 --> 00:06:52,253
Speaker 4: of months ago, there was all this conversation and chatter

151
00:06:52,333 --> 00:06:54,413
Speaker 4: run oh the Highlanders have they turned a corner.

152
00:06:54,733 --> 00:06:56,333
Speaker 2: How good's Tamathya.

153
00:06:55,973 --> 00:06:59,333
Speaker 4: Tabatavanaha going at second five eighth's that's sort of forgotten

154
00:06:59,373 --> 00:07:02,493
Speaker 4: about now and some real conversations to be had about

155
00:07:02,573 --> 00:07:05,493
Speaker 4: the Highlanders and where they track moving forward into twenty

156
00:07:05,493 --> 00:07:05,973
Speaker 4: twenty six.

157
00:07:06,213 --> 00:07:06,413
Speaker 3: Yeah.

158
00:07:06,413 --> 00:07:09,693
Speaker 5: Absolutely, And they seem to be falling off a cliff

159
00:07:09,693 --> 00:07:12,933
Speaker 5: a little bit. I don't know what that is necessarily

160
00:07:12,933 --> 00:07:14,373
Speaker 5: down to it, but they're not playing as a team.

161
00:07:14,413 --> 00:07:17,733
Speaker 5: They look really clunky. You know that the bright spot

162
00:07:17,733 --> 00:07:19,893
Speaker 5: in recent weeks has been the return of Jackie running

163
00:07:19,893 --> 00:07:22,973
Speaker 5: away to Vockie Nepkins for them, but they just look

164
00:07:24,173 --> 00:07:26,933
Speaker 5: really clunky whatever they do, whether it's a line out,

165
00:07:27,293 --> 00:07:30,893
Speaker 5: set piece and just across the park, they're not playing

166
00:07:30,933 --> 00:07:34,493
Speaker 5: in rhythm with each other. And they're missing, you know,

167
00:07:34,573 --> 00:07:36,813
Speaker 5: a partner for Fabian hond at Locke. They seem to

168
00:07:37,813 --> 00:07:40,453
Speaker 5: specialize in not picking back up locks on the bench.

169
00:07:40,653 --> 00:07:42,493
Speaker 5: I'm just not sure if some of the strategy around

170
00:07:42,533 --> 00:07:45,333
Speaker 5: that obviously had injuries, but they don't look like a

171
00:07:45,373 --> 00:07:48,133
Speaker 5: cohesive unit at the moment, and things just seem to

172
00:07:48,133 --> 00:07:51,453
Speaker 5: be unraveling a little bit for the Highlanders, and it's that.

173
00:07:51,453 --> 00:07:53,773
Speaker 2: First five eighth position ultimately too. Elliott isn't it.

174
00:07:53,813 --> 00:07:56,813
Speaker 4: I know they've put a fair bit of faith and

175
00:07:56,973 --> 00:07:59,133
Speaker 4: the young fella the names just escaping the top of

176
00:07:59,173 --> 00:08:02,573
Speaker 4: the head, Cam Miller obviously, Tane Robinson. They've kind of

177
00:08:02,573 --> 00:08:05,013
Speaker 4: gone back and forth there. They've got a lot of

178
00:08:05,013 --> 00:08:07,493
Speaker 4: depth all of a sudden at halfback. Have really been

179
00:08:07,533 --> 00:08:09,413
Speaker 4: impressed by the emerge. It's a hasty as well as

180
00:08:09,453 --> 00:08:11,613
Speaker 4: fuck a tava. They've got young Dylan Pledger over the

181
00:08:11,653 --> 00:08:14,413
Speaker 4: New Zealand under twenties at the moment, but ultimately in

182
00:08:14,453 --> 00:08:18,013
Speaker 4: this competition to be successful or be competitive, you really

183
00:08:18,053 --> 00:08:20,493
Speaker 4: need a game driver in that ten jersey and they

184
00:08:20,573 --> 00:08:22,053
Speaker 4: yet to find one at the minute.

185
00:08:21,733 --> 00:08:24,653
Speaker 5: They are, but the Hurricanes back to Saturday night, seem

186
00:08:24,693 --> 00:08:27,293
Speaker 5: to have found one thirty five seventeen over the Chiefs

187
00:08:27,293 --> 00:08:30,773
Speaker 5: and it's not all down to Ruben Love, but boy

188
00:08:30,813 --> 00:08:33,533
Speaker 5: here is making an impact in that ten jersey. And

189
00:08:33,893 --> 00:08:36,853
Speaker 5: conversely for the Chiefs, I think Jacob has been playing well,

190
00:08:37,053 --> 00:08:39,653
Speaker 5: but they're really missing McKenzie as that second playmaker option

191
00:08:39,973 --> 00:08:42,133
Speaker 5: in that back line, whether he's playing fifteen or ten.

192
00:08:43,613 --> 00:08:45,653
Speaker 5: We've just seen in the last week or two even

193
00:08:45,653 --> 00:08:49,333
Speaker 5: against the Force, but especially against the Hurricanes, boy them

194
00:08:49,333 --> 00:08:52,493
Speaker 5: as Damien McKenzie and the Hurricanes took full advantage. That

195
00:08:52,613 --> 00:08:55,813
Speaker 5: was clearly the Hurricanes' best effort of the season. And

196
00:08:56,173 --> 00:08:58,653
Speaker 5: you know we talked about leaving maybe before being on

197
00:08:58,693 --> 00:09:00,613
Speaker 5: this podcast, and then what he would say, the cane

198
00:09:00,653 --> 00:09:03,053
Speaker 5: train is just beginning to gather a little bit of steam.

199
00:09:03,133 --> 00:09:06,093
Speaker 4: Nick Oh, is it what all of a sudden the

200
00:09:06,173 --> 00:09:08,613
Speaker 4: Hurricanes are looking like that team that you don't want

201
00:09:08,613 --> 00:09:11,093
Speaker 4: to face first round and the playoffs, And I know

202
00:09:11,173 --> 00:09:13,973
Speaker 4: the Rugby Direct drums were beating for Ruben Love to

203
00:09:14,013 --> 00:09:16,733
Speaker 4: be instored at first five eighth for quite some time.

204
00:09:17,293 --> 00:09:18,173
Speaker 2: Clark laidlaw.

205
00:09:18,333 --> 00:09:19,813
Speaker 4: In fact, I think the last time I came on

206
00:09:19,853 --> 00:09:21,853
Speaker 4: the podcast as well, we were chatting about it too,

207
00:09:22,213 --> 00:09:25,013
Speaker 4: and that was not dismissing anything that Riley Hohap is

208
00:09:25,493 --> 00:09:26,133
Speaker 4: capable of.

209
00:09:26,213 --> 00:09:28,533
Speaker 2: It was just looking for a bit more butt X factor.

210
00:09:28,573 --> 00:09:30,813
Speaker 4: They needed to chance they're um given their ladder position,

211
00:09:31,133 --> 00:09:33,173
Speaker 4: and what a master stroke it's proven to be so far.

212
00:09:33,293 --> 00:09:36,173
Speaker 4: Not only that from Ruben Love and the goalkicking was

213
00:09:36,213 --> 00:09:39,173
Speaker 4: really slick to but I think the emergence or the

214
00:09:39,173 --> 00:09:43,013
Speaker 4: faith being put in Callum Harken at fullback speaking of

215
00:09:43,013 --> 00:09:47,333
Speaker 4: those dual playmakers, has then just taken the Hurricanes attack

216
00:09:47,453 --> 00:09:50,253
Speaker 4: to another level. Yes, I've also got camroy guard sniping

217
00:09:50,253 --> 00:09:52,693
Speaker 4: in and around the ruck. I really like their midfield

218
00:09:52,693 --> 00:09:55,133
Speaker 4: combination as well with Riley Higgins and Billy Proctor. But

219
00:09:55,613 --> 00:09:58,573
Speaker 4: that ten to fifteen axis, you know, we saw the

220
00:09:58,653 --> 00:10:02,253
Speaker 4: hark in fifty twenty two which was a real momentum

221
00:10:02,253 --> 00:10:04,813
Speaker 4: swinger as well, just kept the foot on for the Canes.

222
00:10:05,333 --> 00:10:06,373
Speaker 2: They've found something there.

223
00:10:06,413 --> 00:10:08,133
Speaker 4: I know they've got Brett Cameron coming back from a

224
00:10:08,133 --> 00:10:09,973
Speaker 4: set is knee injury, playing a bit of club rugby.

225
00:10:10,013 --> 00:10:11,293
Speaker 2: But all of a sudden they've.

226
00:10:11,133 --> 00:10:14,013
Speaker 4: Gone from some real issues around their game drivers to

227
00:10:14,453 --> 00:10:17,813
Speaker 4: landing on a really slick ten to fifteen combination with

228
00:10:17,893 --> 00:10:21,133
Speaker 4: their incumbent ten returning from injury come the business end

229
00:10:21,133 --> 00:10:22,973
Speaker 4: of the season. But heck of a knight for the

230
00:10:23,013 --> 00:10:25,533
Speaker 4: Canes could have easily gone the other way. You know,

231
00:10:25,573 --> 00:10:29,053
Speaker 4: they lose their X factor player on the flanks and

232
00:10:29,133 --> 00:10:30,773
Speaker 4: Kenny in the hollow to what appears to be a

233
00:10:30,813 --> 00:10:34,253
Speaker 4: serious knee injury. They had a couple of moments there,

234
00:10:34,293 --> 00:10:37,093
Speaker 4: you know, Billy Proctor intercept that Daniel Rohner gets his

235
00:10:38,053 --> 00:10:40,213
Speaker 4: second try the night seventeen nine at half time.

236
00:10:40,333 --> 00:10:42,013
Speaker 2: It's just the credits I know we're speaking a.

237
00:10:41,933 --> 00:10:44,973
Speaker 4: Lot about the attack, but to hold a Chiefs team

238
00:10:45,013 --> 00:10:47,733
Speaker 4: like that, irrespective of being without Damien McKenzie, but to

239
00:10:47,773 --> 00:10:50,133
Speaker 4: hold them scoreless in the second half, I think that's

240
00:10:50,173 --> 00:10:53,533
Speaker 4: what will impress Clark Laidlaw the most. You know, that's

241
00:10:53,573 --> 00:10:56,733
Speaker 4: a that's a real sign of encouragement there for the

242
00:10:56,813 --> 00:11:01,373
Speaker 4: Hurricanes as they build towards the playoffs, and they are, if.

243
00:11:01,253 --> 00:11:03,973
Speaker 2: Not the hot team at the moment, certainly right up there.

244
00:11:04,053 --> 00:11:04,253
Speaker 1: Yeah.

245
00:11:04,293 --> 00:11:06,013
Speaker 5: I thought what was smart in that first spell is

246
00:11:06,053 --> 00:11:08,213
Speaker 5: they didn't get too worried. Obviously they can see that

247
00:11:08,733 --> 00:11:10,973
Speaker 5: just on half time again to set, but they keep

248
00:11:11,053 --> 00:11:13,213
Speaker 5: the school board tacking over and we don't often see

249
00:11:13,253 --> 00:11:15,053
Speaker 5: that in super rugby that you know, they were happy

250
00:11:15,093 --> 00:11:17,253
Speaker 5: to set all for keeping the school board going up

251
00:11:17,293 --> 00:11:19,733
Speaker 5: in threes. Reuben Love knocking over that early penalty goal,

252
00:11:19,773 --> 00:11:22,493
Speaker 5: then they considered the first of the road to tries

253
00:11:22,613 --> 00:11:24,813
Speaker 5: and then they just you know, tapped over another penalty

254
00:11:24,853 --> 00:11:27,493
Speaker 5: goal a couple in quick succession, and had that nine

255
00:11:27,533 --> 00:11:31,533
Speaker 5: to seven lead before that Jacob penalty and then the

256
00:11:31,653 --> 00:11:34,733
Speaker 5: converted try on halftime. But what they did was just

257
00:11:34,813 --> 00:11:36,933
Speaker 5: kept that pressure going on the Chiefs and we haven't

258
00:11:36,933 --> 00:11:39,373
Speaker 5: often seen that in Super rugby this season. There's just

259
00:11:39,413 --> 00:11:41,813
Speaker 5: a little bit of school board pressure and you know,

260
00:11:41,853 --> 00:11:43,893
Speaker 5: taking your shots at goal. It's very very rare we

261
00:11:43,933 --> 00:11:46,333
Speaker 5: see that and I really actually liked it from the Hurricanes.

262
00:11:46,653 --> 00:11:48,573
Speaker 2: Yeah, it was very discipline, wasn't it.

263
00:11:48,653 --> 00:11:51,573
Speaker 4: And as you say, just applying that school board pressure

264
00:11:51,573 --> 00:11:53,653
Speaker 4: and not letting it get beyond arms reached that all

265
00:11:53,693 --> 00:11:56,133
Speaker 4: of a sudden you're chancing your arm and you're chasing

266
00:11:56,173 --> 00:11:56,533
Speaker 4: the game.

267
00:11:57,093 --> 00:11:58,213
Speaker 2: And I thought just.

268
00:11:58,213 --> 00:12:01,333
Speaker 4: Their ability to keep the ball alive as well, like

269
00:12:02,133 --> 00:12:05,693
Speaker 4: they're so often they'd bend the defensive line of the Chiefs,

270
00:12:05,693 --> 00:12:08,813
Speaker 4: but then it was just a late offload when a

271
00:12:08,813 --> 00:12:11,253
Speaker 4: player was going down in the contact to just keep

272
00:12:11,413 --> 00:12:15,293
Speaker 4: putting applying that pressure. Yeah, that back line is just

273
00:12:15,493 --> 00:12:20,133
Speaker 4: full of some serious talent. And how about Baal and

274
00:12:20,173 --> 00:12:22,413
Speaker 4: Sullivan A he's probably thinking I might come on for

275
00:12:22,413 --> 00:12:24,093
Speaker 4: half an hour in the midfield or something like that,

276
00:12:24,133 --> 00:12:26,493
Speaker 4: gets his boarding passer up very early in the piece

277
00:12:26,533 --> 00:12:29,293
Speaker 4: after that Naholo injury, and look, I know he's just

278
00:12:29,333 --> 00:12:31,333
Speaker 4: on the end of the chain for a couple of them.

279
00:12:31,453 --> 00:12:33,573
Speaker 4: I've thought the second trol is a really strong finish,

280
00:12:33,653 --> 00:12:36,293
Speaker 4: but for him to get over for all four tries.

281
00:12:36,333 --> 00:12:37,453
Speaker 2: He'd be pretty happy with that too.

282
00:12:37,533 --> 00:12:37,693
Speaker 3: Yeah.

283
00:12:37,733 --> 00:12:40,253
Speaker 5: Look, I think he's a quality player ballin Suarvan and

284
00:12:41,453 --> 00:12:43,893
Speaker 5: he obviously he's been the midfield Billy Proclet comes back,

285
00:12:43,893 --> 00:12:47,053
Speaker 5: he loses that spot, but he's such a versatile player

286
00:12:47,053 --> 00:12:49,453
Speaker 5: that I think he can really add to this Hurricane siding.

287
00:12:49,693 --> 00:12:51,613
Speaker 5: You mentioned the top when we was talking about this game.

288
00:12:52,213 --> 00:12:53,693
Speaker 5: We'll get to the Plaff makes a wee bit later

289
00:12:53,733 --> 00:12:55,173
Speaker 5: in the pod. But you just do not want to

290
00:12:55,173 --> 00:12:56,933
Speaker 5: play this Hurricanes team at the moment. They're going to

291
00:12:57,093 --> 00:12:59,293
Speaker 5: buy They're going to freshen up over the next week

292
00:12:59,373 --> 00:13:01,173
Speaker 5: or so. They've got a couple of tricky games to

293
00:13:01,253 --> 00:13:04,693
Speaker 5: come before the season closes out, but they just you know,

294
00:13:04,773 --> 00:13:07,653
Speaker 5: the Highlanders obviously to welcome to the Capitol, they've got

295
00:13:07,733 --> 00:13:10,093
Speaker 5: to go visit the Reds in Brisbane, which should be

296
00:13:10,173 --> 00:13:12,013
Speaker 5: an interesting game in the context of the clubs. And

297
00:13:12,013 --> 00:13:15,053
Speaker 5: they close out against Milana. But with the momentum they're

298
00:13:15,093 --> 00:13:17,733
Speaker 5: beginning to get in this competition when we get to playoffs,

299
00:13:17,813 --> 00:13:19,653
Speaker 5: you don't want to be playing this Hurricanes team.

300
00:13:20,133 --> 00:13:20,813
Speaker 2: Certainly don't.

301
00:13:21,013 --> 00:13:23,613
Speaker 4: And you look at maybe where we project them to

302
00:13:23,653 --> 00:13:26,213
Speaker 4: finish at the moment. I actually personally have them winning

303
00:13:26,213 --> 00:13:29,013
Speaker 4: those three games. Certainly the Highlanders game the Reds one

304
00:13:29,013 --> 00:13:30,773
Speaker 4: will be tricky, as will Mowana. It'll be interesting to

305
00:13:30,773 --> 00:13:33,533
Speaker 4: see by that point final round the regular season if

306
00:13:33,573 --> 00:13:36,773
Speaker 4: Moana is run is done, or if they've managed to

307
00:13:37,133 --> 00:13:39,093
Speaker 4: win another one of these New Zealand Derby's on the

308
00:13:39,173 --> 00:13:42,973
Speaker 4: road home. But look there at this point in time

309
00:13:42,973 --> 00:13:46,213
Speaker 4: could be facing a Chiefs or a Crusaders round one

310
00:13:46,213 --> 00:13:48,013
Speaker 4: of the competition. You think all the work those two

311
00:13:48,013 --> 00:13:50,253
Speaker 4: teams are put in to get up there at the top,

312
00:13:50,293 --> 00:13:53,133
Speaker 4: and you look down and all g whiz arguably playing

313
00:13:53,293 --> 00:13:55,493
Speaker 4: the form team and the competition at the moment, which

314
00:13:56,213 --> 00:13:58,853
Speaker 4: you know they're always capable on paper, aren't they. Ali

315
00:13:58,893 --> 00:14:01,053
Speaker 4: At the Hurricanes, you know those players. It was just

316
00:14:01,093 --> 00:14:05,173
Speaker 4: about finding that right blend, that right mix, having that confidence,

317
00:14:05,453 --> 00:14:07,573
Speaker 4: and we need to give credit to it. We're talking

318
00:14:07,573 --> 00:14:09,253
Speaker 4: a lot about the backs and Roy Guard and love

319
00:14:09,293 --> 00:14:13,973
Speaker 4: and hearken that there loose Ford trio very impactful. I

320
00:14:14,013 --> 00:14:18,173
Speaker 4: thought Tyrel Lomax was really strong again as well. So look,

321
00:14:18,893 --> 00:14:21,293
Speaker 4: there's a lot of encouraging signs if you're a Hurricane.

322
00:14:21,053 --> 00:14:23,733
Speaker 5: Supporter, I certainly and a bit more encouraging for the

323
00:14:23,733 --> 00:14:27,773
Speaker 5: Blues forty nineteen over the Force on Friday night at

324
00:14:28,093 --> 00:14:29,933
Speaker 5: Eden Park. Look, I don't think this was a vintage

325
00:14:29,933 --> 00:14:32,653
Speaker 5: Blues performance by any stretch of the imagination, but they

326
00:14:32,693 --> 00:14:34,733
Speaker 5: got what they needed out of it. They needed the

327
00:14:34,773 --> 00:14:38,333
Speaker 5: bonus point. They got that and just got some confidence

328
00:14:38,453 --> 00:14:41,773
Speaker 5: back in the in the mix after what had been

329
00:14:42,333 --> 00:14:44,693
Speaker 5: a tricky few weeks, especially that poor performance against the

330
00:14:44,773 --> 00:14:48,773
Speaker 5: Reds at sun Corpse Stadium the week prior, largely case

331
00:14:48,853 --> 00:14:51,573
Speaker 5: of job done for the Blues. They almost threw away

332
00:14:51,573 --> 00:14:54,173
Speaker 5: that bonus point at the end when Angus had the

333
00:14:54,173 --> 00:14:57,653
Speaker 5: old topoken to touch and missed wild swing and the

334
00:14:57,693 --> 00:14:59,613
Speaker 5: Force get the ball back and get a penery thought on,

335
00:14:59,933 --> 00:15:02,133
Speaker 5: is this going to cost the Blues a bonus point?

336
00:15:02,133 --> 00:15:03,933
Speaker 5: And look, in the context of that season, that could

337
00:15:03,933 --> 00:15:06,573
Speaker 5: have been huge, And speaking to Simon Cron, the Force

338
00:15:06,653 --> 00:15:08,573
Speaker 5: coach after the game, he's like, that would I did

339
00:15:08,613 --> 00:15:10,413
Speaker 5: see it on wanting to deny the Blues the bonus

340
00:15:10,413 --> 00:15:13,173
Speaker 5: point because in the race for playoff spots, every point,

341
00:15:13,213 --> 00:15:15,973
Speaker 5: every competition point, is so big. But it just wasn't

342
00:15:16,013 --> 00:15:19,213
Speaker 5: to be in the end. Yeah, not vintage Blues by

343
00:15:19,253 --> 00:15:22,573
Speaker 5: any stretch of the imagination, but a game that could

344
00:15:22,573 --> 00:15:23,613
Speaker 5: have gone Ryan again.

345
00:15:24,013 --> 00:15:25,773
Speaker 3: They were leading.

346
00:15:25,573 --> 00:15:28,853
Speaker 5: At halftime fourteen twelve seven. I think it was scored

347
00:15:28,973 --> 00:15:31,333
Speaker 5: just after the break the Force they struggled to shut

348
00:15:31,333 --> 00:15:33,693
Speaker 5: them down, but it was really the last twenty twenty

349
00:15:33,693 --> 00:15:36,053
Speaker 5: five minutes where they just took charge and put the

350
00:15:36,053 --> 00:15:38,093
Speaker 5: game beyond reach for the Western Force.

351
00:15:38,693 --> 00:15:41,413
Speaker 4: That Angus Tart of our moment was when you look

352
00:15:41,413 --> 00:15:43,133
Speaker 4: at when you look at the ladder, there is nothing

353
00:15:43,213 --> 00:15:45,173
Speaker 4: separating the Blues in the Force, so that could have

354
00:15:45,213 --> 00:15:48,133
Speaker 4: easily been a swing the other way if the Force

355
00:15:48,173 --> 00:15:50,173
Speaker 4: had gone on to deny the Blues a bonus point there.

356
00:15:50,213 --> 00:15:54,053
Speaker 4: So yeah, a huge sigh of relief for Angus Tarl.

357
00:15:54,173 --> 00:15:55,773
Speaker 4: Just before we get into the Blues. I just want

358
00:15:55,773 --> 00:15:59,373
Speaker 4: to mention Harry Potter. Over the last couple of weeks

359
00:15:59,693 --> 00:16:02,893
Speaker 4: he is I used to just think maybe it was

360
00:16:02,933 --> 00:16:04,933
Speaker 4: because of his name that his name would just be

361
00:16:04,973 --> 00:16:07,853
Speaker 4: constantly brought up in commentaries, and you know, obviously it's

362
00:16:07,893 --> 00:16:12,853
Speaker 4: a pretty unique name given the book and movie series.

363
00:16:12,893 --> 00:16:15,533
Speaker 4: But like every time he touches the ball, something happens

364
00:16:15,533 --> 00:16:18,093
Speaker 4: and around him, and they need to give him more opportunities.

365
00:16:18,133 --> 00:16:20,053
Speaker 4: So just a quick shout out to Harry Potter.

366
00:16:20,173 --> 00:16:24,573
Speaker 5: Completely agree he's been outstanding and he makes something happen.

367
00:16:24,613 --> 00:16:26,733
Speaker 5: So he does to pop up everywhere on the park

368
00:16:26,773 --> 00:16:29,973
Speaker 5: and that tray screens achieves the previous week from the restart.

369
00:16:30,453 --> 00:16:33,813
Speaker 5: Incredible to show that pace. So I think he has

370
00:16:33,893 --> 00:16:36,893
Speaker 5: to be in the Australian mix for the line series.

371
00:16:37,053 --> 00:16:38,773
Speaker 5: The form that he's in, they could do a lot

372
00:16:38,813 --> 00:16:40,933
Speaker 5: worse than selecting him on one of those wings.

373
00:16:41,093 --> 00:16:44,093
Speaker 2: Spiders on at the moment. He's a serious talent.

374
00:16:44,133 --> 00:16:46,173
Speaker 4: But yeah, on the Blues, it was quite interesting smoothly

375
00:16:46,173 --> 00:16:48,773
Speaker 4: looking at the deepest statistics in this game, and it

376
00:16:48,813 --> 00:16:51,213
Speaker 4: was almost as if the Blues maybe took a look

377
00:16:51,213 --> 00:16:53,613
Speaker 4: at what the Crusaders did last week against the Highlanders

378
00:16:53,653 --> 00:16:57,133
Speaker 4: in terms of backing themselves without the ball, backing their defense,

379
00:16:57,173 --> 00:17:00,133
Speaker 4: backing their kicking game, and said we might try that too.

380
00:17:00,173 --> 00:17:03,613
Speaker 4: You know, the Force had was it sixty one percent

381
00:17:03,653 --> 00:17:07,253
Speaker 4: of possession, sixty percent of territory. Blues ended up making

382
00:17:07,293 --> 00:17:10,213
Speaker 4: one hundred and ninety ten tackles to the Forces ninety three.

383
00:17:10,333 --> 00:17:13,373
Speaker 4: So as you say it wasn't vintage from the Blues,

384
00:17:13,453 --> 00:17:14,893
Speaker 4: they did what was required.

385
00:17:15,573 --> 00:17:17,133
Speaker 2: They turned the screws late.

386
00:17:17,773 --> 00:17:20,853
Speaker 4: They went back to what has been successful for them

387
00:17:20,893 --> 00:17:23,173
Speaker 4: over the last eighteen or so months in terms of

388
00:17:23,173 --> 00:17:26,093
Speaker 4: that direct style of play in and around the ruck

389
00:17:26,173 --> 00:17:29,933
Speaker 4: and just I guess sort of constantly applying that pressure

390
00:17:30,013 --> 00:17:34,173
Speaker 4: until the defense wilts and they got the bonus point ultimately,

391
00:17:34,253 --> 00:17:36,893
Speaker 4: so that they've given themselves a chance. Look, they've got

392
00:17:37,013 --> 00:17:41,093
Speaker 4: an interesting run home with a trip now to face

393
00:17:41,813 --> 00:17:45,013
Speaker 4: the Drawer over there in Fiji, who of course beat

394
00:17:45,013 --> 00:17:47,293
Speaker 4: the Reds and the Weekend Read's a pretty handy team

395
00:17:47,293 --> 00:17:49,653
Speaker 4: at the minute as well. So the draw very much

396
00:17:49,653 --> 00:17:53,813
Speaker 4: have an opportunity to continue their spoiling run given they're.

397
00:17:53,613 --> 00:17:54,693
Speaker 2: Out of the playoff picture.

398
00:17:54,733 --> 00:17:57,333
Speaker 4: But yeah, if you're a Blues fan, I don't think

399
00:17:57,373 --> 00:18:00,613
Speaker 4: you can be crowing that we're back or anything like that,

400
00:18:00,773 --> 00:18:03,693
Speaker 4: but a step in the right direction. It's just whether

401
00:18:03,813 --> 00:18:06,773
Speaker 4: now they can build on that momentum. Because for me, anyway,

402
00:18:06,813 --> 00:18:08,653
Speaker 4: I thought when they only would just be in by

403
00:18:08,773 --> 00:18:11,093
Speaker 4: James O'Connor penalty down my way against the Crusaders a

404
00:18:11,133 --> 00:18:12,573
Speaker 4: few weeks ago, I thought, well, there was a lot

405
00:18:12,653 --> 00:18:14,773
Speaker 4: to like actually about that Blues performance. They should have

406
00:18:14,773 --> 00:18:17,333
Speaker 4: actually beaten the Crusaders down here in christ which yet

407
00:18:17,493 --> 00:18:19,613
Speaker 4: they go over to Brisbane the next week and the

408
00:18:19,613 --> 00:18:23,413
Speaker 4: wheels fell off, so for Vern Cotter, it's now about stability,

409
00:18:23,493 --> 00:18:26,013
Speaker 4: looking at the reviews, seeing what worked well and trying

410
00:18:26,013 --> 00:18:29,813
Speaker 4: to apply that and build some pressure as they go through.

411
00:18:29,733 --> 00:18:31,213
Speaker 2: With Drewer mowana Ge.

412
00:18:31,333 --> 00:18:33,253
Speaker 4: That's going to be a cracking game in a couple

413
00:18:33,293 --> 00:18:35,933
Speaker 4: of weeks, then a bye and then the Wireta's at.

414
00:18:35,813 --> 00:18:38,173
Speaker 5: Home absolutely, and look, we mentioned to see where they

415
00:18:38,173 --> 00:18:40,893
Speaker 5: get Caleb Clark maybe back this week for the trip

416
00:18:40,933 --> 00:18:45,093
Speaker 5: to Fiji. They obviously one have Mark Dalaire for a

417
00:18:45,173 --> 00:18:47,373
Speaker 5: couple more weeks yet, but if they can get Caleb

418
00:18:47,373 --> 00:18:49,613
Speaker 5: Clarke back in that changes the back line a little bit.

419
00:18:49,613 --> 00:18:52,973
Speaker 5: They can move Aj Lamb probably back to midfield, which

420
00:18:53,013 --> 00:18:54,933
Speaker 5: I think is a stronger mix in him. In twelve

421
00:18:55,173 --> 00:18:57,533
Speaker 5: he came off the bench shot on the weekend. Vancotta

422
00:18:57,853 --> 00:18:59,973
Speaker 5: reluctant to give too many details. They made a switch

423
00:19:00,013 --> 00:19:02,413
Speaker 5: at training on Thursday, so whether it was a off

424
00:19:02,453 --> 00:19:05,253
Speaker 5: field matter, I'm not entirely sure. He came off the

425
00:19:05,293 --> 00:19:07,493
Speaker 5: bench when he was originally listed to starter on the

426
00:19:07,573 --> 00:19:12,533
Speaker 5: left wing. If you gets some consistency going build some momentum. Again,

427
00:19:12,613 --> 00:19:14,813
Speaker 5: we talk about the Hurricanes and they've got more momentum

428
00:19:14,853 --> 00:19:17,013
Speaker 5: in the Blues habit at this point, but not aside

429
00:19:17,053 --> 00:19:20,173
Speaker 5: you'd want to face in week one, especially if you've

430
00:19:20,173 --> 00:19:22,453
Speaker 5: got that one or two home seating in the playoffs.

431
00:19:22,453 --> 00:19:23,973
Speaker 5: You wouldn't want to welcome the Blues to town.

432
00:19:24,653 --> 00:19:25,333
Speaker 2: No, you wouldn't.

433
00:19:25,733 --> 00:19:29,373
Speaker 4: They've got enough playoff experience within that mix to after

434
00:19:29,533 --> 00:19:33,933
Speaker 4: last year. So yeah, they're a dangerous prospect. I'm still

435
00:19:33,973 --> 00:19:38,653
Speaker 4: far from convinced, and certainly I'm sure there's even some

436
00:19:39,093 --> 00:19:41,853
Speaker 4: up your way, Ali who would agree that they're not

437
00:19:41,973 --> 00:19:44,253
Speaker 4: in the position obviously that they would have thought they

438
00:19:44,293 --> 00:19:47,493
Speaker 4: would have been in after the success they had last year.

439
00:19:47,533 --> 00:19:49,733
Speaker 4: But they're in with a chance, as are many teams.

440
00:19:49,773 --> 00:19:51,733
Speaker 4: But yeah, they'd have to be one, maybe just one

441
00:19:51,773 --> 00:19:53,853
Speaker 4: pig below the Hurricanes I want want to face, and

442
00:19:53,893 --> 00:19:55,293
Speaker 4: they're opening run in the playoffs, all.

443
00:19:55,213 --> 00:19:56,933
Speaker 5: Right, They's tack ad break here on rug Bitterrick come

444
00:19:56,973 --> 00:19:59,373
Speaker 5: back with the second half of the podcast after this

445
00:19:59,493 --> 00:20:00,813
Speaker 5: with our friends at Habit Health.

446
00:20:01,493 --> 00:20:06,013
Speaker 1: This is Rugby Direct, a podcast for real rugby fans.

447
00:20:09,293 --> 00:20:12,213
Speaker 5: Every try to drive, had sixty second, every tackle to

448
00:20:12,373 --> 00:20:13,613
Speaker 5: tackle get up again?

449
00:20:16,253 --> 00:20:20,053
Speaker 1: Well I take him before At time It's Ruggy Direct Talk.

450
00:20:20,813 --> 00:20:23,853
Speaker 5: You're back with Rugby Direct powered by Habit Health. Time

451
00:20:23,893 --> 00:20:26,573
Speaker 5: now for our Final four for Rugby Top Berks, myself

452
00:20:26,613 --> 00:20:29,453
Speaker 5: and Nick debate them. Topic number one, Nick must if

453
00:20:29,453 --> 00:20:32,093
Speaker 5: you saw this last week, but changes to the World

454
00:20:32,213 --> 00:20:36,293
Speaker 5: seven Series from next season now. There's been some financial

455
00:20:36,293 --> 00:20:39,133
Speaker 5: issues plaguing the series since they went to this new

456
00:20:39,573 --> 00:20:42,293
Speaker 5: format a couple of years ago. Trimmed it down, but

457
00:20:42,413 --> 00:20:45,013
Speaker 5: what it hasn't done is trim the costs, which was

458
00:20:45,333 --> 00:20:47,733
Speaker 5: largely sort of why they did. It's become a more

459
00:20:47,773 --> 00:20:49,733
Speaker 5: streamlined sort of model. I think they had up to

460
00:20:49,853 --> 00:20:53,133
Speaker 5: twelve thirteen World Series tournaments at one stage. Obviously New

461
00:20:53,213 --> 00:20:55,533
Speaker 5: Zealand used to be on the calendar. They've gone back

462
00:20:55,533 --> 00:20:58,933
Speaker 5: to seven teams sorry seven series, so six plus a

463
00:20:58,973 --> 00:21:02,693
Speaker 5: World Championship, which is ongoing at the moment in Los Angeles.

464
00:21:02,893 --> 00:21:05,013
Speaker 5: They've decided that's not enough and they're going to go

465
00:21:05,093 --> 00:21:07,493
Speaker 5: to the top eight teams in the world play the

466
00:21:07,533 --> 00:21:11,493
Speaker 5: top tier, and teams eight downwards going to a second

467
00:21:11,493 --> 00:21:15,093
Speaker 5: tier that feeds potentially into the top tier in a

468
00:21:15,133 --> 00:21:19,293
Speaker 5: World Championship. Bit convoluted, but ultimately one of the other

469
00:21:19,373 --> 00:21:22,693
Speaker 5: changes is two day events, and we're going to see

470
00:21:22,693 --> 00:21:24,613
Speaker 5: more of the top teams play each other because there's

471
00:21:24,653 --> 00:21:26,773
Speaker 5: only going to be eight teams at every of the

472
00:21:26,973 --> 00:21:30,293
Speaker 5: top tier World Series events. There's all sorts of flow

473
00:21:30,373 --> 00:21:32,293
Speaker 5: charts and diagrams if you want to dive a little

474
00:21:32,293 --> 00:21:34,773
Speaker 5: bit more deeply into this. But what do you make

475
00:21:34,773 --> 00:21:35,413
Speaker 5: of these changes?

476
00:21:35,453 --> 00:21:39,173
Speaker 4: N'tick still no valelves for Sevens in their marketing, so

477
00:21:39,413 --> 00:21:41,333
Speaker 4: a bit concerned that that wasn't top of the list

478
00:21:41,333 --> 00:21:42,773
Speaker 4: in terms of changes, but no, look at it does

479
00:21:42,853 --> 00:21:45,013
Speaker 4: very much feel like last chance saloon for the Sevens.

480
00:21:45,053 --> 00:21:46,813
Speaker 4: I know they're obviously part of the Olympic program and

481
00:21:46,893 --> 00:21:51,493
Speaker 4: have been since Rio in twenty sixteen, but yeah, it

482
00:21:51,533 --> 00:21:56,213
Speaker 4: was interesting, but perhaps massaging of this announcement because ultimately

483
00:21:56,253 --> 00:21:59,373
Speaker 4: you still have your six tournaments so this year for examples,

484
00:21:59,453 --> 00:22:02,693
Speaker 4: do buy Cape Town, Perth, Vancouver, Hong Kong, Singapoint and

485
00:22:02,733 --> 00:22:05,173
Speaker 4: at the moment as we record this podcast, the Los

486
00:22:05,253 --> 00:22:09,013
Speaker 4: Angeles Final. So it's very much that X plus one

487
00:22:09,213 --> 00:22:10,853
Speaker 4: for the top tier, and then there's going to be

488
00:22:10,893 --> 00:22:13,573
Speaker 4: another six tournaments for tiers two and three.

489
00:22:13,813 --> 00:22:15,933
Speaker 2: I guess my biggest question is who.

490
00:22:15,573 --> 00:22:20,333
Speaker 4: Outside of you know, the real hardcore fans of those

491
00:22:20,373 --> 00:22:24,373
Speaker 4: teams ranked nine to sixteen is tuning into those tournaments

492
00:22:24,693 --> 00:22:28,333
Speaker 4: both at venue and on the broadcast, and maybe it's

493
00:22:28,373 --> 00:22:32,213
Speaker 4: just me and the fact that my interest has dimmed

494
00:22:32,253 --> 00:22:34,933
Speaker 4: a little bit following on from I guess the halcyon

495
00:22:35,053 --> 00:22:37,293
Speaker 4: days of Wellington and to Hamilton are now no longer

496
00:22:37,333 --> 00:22:40,013
Speaker 4: a presence here. And look, I don't want to take

497
00:22:40,013 --> 00:22:42,413
Speaker 4: anything away from the Black Fans seven success as well.

498
00:22:42,613 --> 00:22:45,933
Speaker 4: They're probably the main reason that i'd tune in and

499
00:22:46,493 --> 00:22:49,213
Speaker 4: see how they're going because some of the rugby seven's

500
00:22:49,293 --> 00:22:53,533
Speaker 4: rugby they play is top tier, you know, arguably better

501
00:22:53,573 --> 00:22:56,173
Speaker 4: than watching some of the men's games. So it's an

502
00:22:56,213 --> 00:22:59,453
Speaker 4: interesting conundrum. I wonder I'll send it back to you, Elliott,

503
00:22:59,453 --> 00:23:01,973
Speaker 4: but if they weren't in the Olympics cycle, they're coming

504
00:23:02,013 --> 00:23:04,453
Speaker 4: up Olympic cycle twenty twenty eight, would they just run

505
00:23:04,453 --> 00:23:07,133
Speaker 4: a line through sevens and go It's been a great run,

506
00:23:07,493 --> 00:23:09,973
Speaker 4: but something has to give and we're not a bottomless

507
00:23:09,973 --> 00:23:10,453
Speaker 4: pit of money.

508
00:23:10,453 --> 00:23:14,333
Speaker 5: Well, I think that's a very very good question, and yeah,

509
00:23:14,333 --> 00:23:17,893
Speaker 5: I think they might, honestly, and World Rugby has tried

510
00:23:17,933 --> 00:23:20,493
Speaker 5: to make sevens work, tried to make this World Series

511
00:23:20,533 --> 00:23:22,333
Speaker 5: work for a number of years, and you're right, they're

512
00:23:22,333 --> 00:23:25,653
Speaker 5: not a bottomless pit of cash. The Olympics was supposedly

513
00:23:25,693 --> 00:23:29,293
Speaker 5: going to be the start of something for sevens and

514
00:23:29,613 --> 00:23:31,453
Speaker 5: it was all sorts of talk about how players are

515
00:23:31,493 --> 00:23:34,533
Speaker 5: going to cross codes and go and play the chase

516
00:23:34,573 --> 00:23:35,333
Speaker 5: of Olympic medal.

517
00:23:35,373 --> 00:23:35,493
Speaker 2: Look.

518
00:23:35,493 --> 00:23:37,853
Speaker 5: I can remember being on the Sports Tesk and Sean

519
00:23:37,933 --> 00:23:39,493
Speaker 5: Johnson was asked about it, would he want to make

520
00:23:39,493 --> 00:23:41,373
Speaker 5: an Olympic middle That's never happened. None of those players

521
00:23:41,373 --> 00:23:43,973
Speaker 5: have crossed over and it's still been seen there as

522
00:23:44,093 --> 00:23:46,533
Speaker 5: rather niche when we had Antone de Pont make it,

523
00:23:46,613 --> 00:23:49,813
Speaker 5: but that was for a home World sorry home Olympics

524
00:23:49,973 --> 00:23:52,293
Speaker 5: and Paris in twenty twenty four, and that was huge

525
00:23:52,493 --> 00:23:53,093
Speaker 5: and it was great.

526
00:23:53,093 --> 00:23:53,893
Speaker 3: But it's not going.

527
00:23:53,733 --> 00:23:57,293
Speaker 5: To see more all blacks crossover and play sevens at

528
00:23:57,413 --> 00:24:00,133
Speaker 5: LA twenty eight. So the World Series, they just do

529
00:24:00,133 --> 00:24:02,613
Speaker 5: not quite know what to do with it. And as

530
00:24:02,653 --> 00:24:04,173
Speaker 5: long as there's in the sevens and I think the

531
00:24:04,213 --> 00:24:08,213
Speaker 5: World Series survives, But I think the Olympic spot is

532
00:24:08,453 --> 00:24:11,173
Speaker 5: the question. You know, there's flag football potentially coming in

533
00:24:12,173 --> 00:24:15,093
Speaker 5: or for the next Olympics and all sorts of challenges

534
00:24:15,973 --> 00:24:17,773
Speaker 5: for it that I just don't know they can necessarily

535
00:24:17,813 --> 00:24:20,333
Speaker 5: guarantee that sevens will be at the Olympics. I think

536
00:24:21,013 --> 00:24:23,013
Speaker 5: wild rugby obviously love to keep it there, but they

537
00:24:23,053 --> 00:24:24,773
Speaker 5: just can't quite figure it out. And maybe if it

538
00:24:24,813 --> 00:24:27,173
Speaker 5: wasn't at the Olympics, you'd be reduced to maybe just

539
00:24:27,253 --> 00:24:29,733
Speaker 5: keeping say a Hong Kong event or a Dubai and

540
00:24:30,013 --> 00:24:32,533
Speaker 5: maybe two or three events a year, and that wouldn't

541
00:24:32,533 --> 00:24:35,173
Speaker 5: be great for the blackfan sevens program, which has been

542
00:24:35,213 --> 00:24:37,773
Speaker 5: so so good in recent times. But I just get

543
00:24:37,773 --> 00:24:40,533
Speaker 5: the feeling that world rugby don't know what to do

544
00:24:40,613 --> 00:24:40,933
Speaker 5: with it.

545
00:24:41,453 --> 00:24:43,853
Speaker 4: Yeah, completely agree, and I as you made me think

546
00:24:43,893 --> 00:24:48,133
Speaker 4: around whether franchising sevens is the way to go. But

547
00:24:48,253 --> 00:24:50,493
Speaker 4: like what we're having with Tea twenty cricket at the moment,

548
00:24:50,533 --> 00:24:53,053
Speaker 4: you know, you get all these bilateral international series that

549
00:24:53,093 --> 00:24:55,933
Speaker 4: don't really shift the needle, But then you've got an

550
00:24:55,933 --> 00:24:59,493
Speaker 4: Indian Premier League or a competitions over in the UK.

551
00:25:00,093 --> 00:25:02,333
Speaker 4: Could a franchise again, who's funding that?

552
00:25:02,373 --> 00:25:02,773
Speaker 2: I don't know?

553
00:25:02,853 --> 00:25:05,293
Speaker 4: But could that sort of create some interest? And then

554
00:25:05,293 --> 00:25:09,893
Speaker 4: you're one and only international sevens is the Olympics and

555
00:25:09,973 --> 00:25:12,533
Speaker 4: if it still exists the Commonwealth Games. I'm not so sure,

556
00:25:12,573 --> 00:25:14,693
Speaker 4: but I think some big decisions that have been made,

557
00:25:14,733 --> 00:25:16,373
Speaker 4: it feels like a real fork in the road moment

558
00:25:16,413 --> 00:25:16,853
Speaker 4: for sevens.

559
00:25:17,013 --> 00:25:19,693
Speaker 5: It certainly does topic two. The Black Ferns announced their

560
00:25:19,693 --> 00:25:22,173
Speaker 5: squad for the Pack four, which she gets underway well

561
00:25:22,173 --> 00:25:24,013
Speaker 5: this weekend from a New Zealand perspective, at least when

562
00:25:24,013 --> 00:25:26,893
Speaker 5: they play Australia at in Newcastle on Saturday afternoon. No

563
00:25:27,013 --> 00:25:30,893
Speaker 5: Renee Homes, no Ruby Towey, no Chelsea Bremner, all filling

564
00:25:31,173 --> 00:25:34,293
Speaker 5: the axe from Allen Bunting. What do you make of

565
00:25:34,333 --> 00:25:37,053
Speaker 5: these selections? Look, I looked at it and thought, I

566
00:25:37,053 --> 00:25:40,493
Speaker 5: don't know if Ruby Tooey is in the top mix

567
00:25:40,973 --> 00:25:45,173
Speaker 5: of outside backs in New Zealand at the moment. Didn't

568
00:25:45,173 --> 00:25:47,653
Speaker 5: think she had a great or picky campaign. Renee Holmes,

569
00:25:47,693 --> 00:25:49,093
Speaker 5: I don't think I had a great or peacky campaign.

570
00:25:49,133 --> 00:25:50,653
Speaker 5: But she's been there, done that for the Black Ferns

571
00:25:50,693 --> 00:25:52,773
Speaker 5: and offers the goalkicking as well, so I was a

572
00:25:52,813 --> 00:25:54,933
Speaker 5: little bit more surprised to see her there. But I

573
00:25:54,973 --> 00:25:58,293
Speaker 5: genuinely didn't know if Bunting would be brave enough to

574
00:25:59,293 --> 00:26:02,013
Speaker 5: cut Toey, but he has been and now it's a

575
00:26:02,053 --> 00:26:03,933
Speaker 5: long way back for her to get a spot at

576
00:26:03,973 --> 00:26:05,853
Speaker 5: the World Cut. What have you made of these selections?

577
00:26:06,413 --> 00:26:08,173
Speaker 4: Yeah, it is a long way back because you look

578
00:26:08,173 --> 00:26:10,733
Speaker 4: at it, well, I guess it's far aparmer Carp, isn't it.

579
00:26:10,773 --> 00:26:12,773
Speaker 4: That's the only way you can really shift the needle.

580
00:26:12,813 --> 00:26:15,093
Speaker 4: And then how much can you gain from their compared

581
00:26:15,133 --> 00:26:17,853
Speaker 4: to how many inroads can be made by the current

582
00:26:17,933 --> 00:26:20,133
Speaker 4: Black Ferns mix in the in the pack four before

583
00:26:20,133 --> 00:26:24,453
Speaker 4: the World Cup. But I feel they had to pick Braxton,

584
00:26:24,493 --> 00:26:27,253
Speaker 4: Sirence and McGhee, so you had to make room a

585
00:26:27,293 --> 00:26:30,773
Speaker 4: concession there for at least one player. And then the

586
00:26:30,813 --> 00:26:34,613
Speaker 4: fact that Porsche Woodman Wickliffe was listed as an outside

587
00:26:34,653 --> 00:26:36,613
Speaker 4: back as opposed to a midfielder.

588
00:26:37,133 --> 00:26:38,493
Speaker 2: Again, you had to make room.

589
00:26:38,333 --> 00:26:41,213
Speaker 4: For Porscha Woodman Wickcliffe in your mix if you plan

590
00:26:41,333 --> 00:26:43,933
Speaker 4: on playing her on the wing. And as you say,

591
00:26:44,013 --> 00:26:46,893
Speaker 4: based on the ope key form alone, I feel like

592
00:26:46,973 --> 00:26:50,093
Speaker 4: that was the right call to bring Sirence and McGhee

593
00:26:50,293 --> 00:26:53,173
Speaker 4: and Woodman and Wickcliffe in and Tilley and Holmes out.

594
00:26:53,213 --> 00:26:56,373
Speaker 4: It will be interesting to see the point you made

595
00:26:56,373 --> 00:26:58,933
Speaker 4: the elliot around Renee Holmes at fullback. I just looked

596
00:26:58,933 --> 00:27:01,333
Speaker 4: at again looking through that list, and that's probably where

597
00:27:01,653 --> 00:27:03,893
Speaker 4: I wonder, outside of Sorrence and McGee, who are they

598
00:27:03,933 --> 00:27:07,213
Speaker 4: thinking as back up fullback? So of any of them,

599
00:27:07,253 --> 00:27:10,773
Speaker 4: I feel like Renee Holmes has the greater chance of

600
00:27:10,853 --> 00:27:14,213
Speaker 4: maybe getting back in over Toy, which is a pretty

601
00:27:14,213 --> 00:27:16,613
Speaker 4: big cool given Ruby Toy standing in the women's game.

602
00:27:16,653 --> 00:27:16,853
Speaker 2: It is.

603
00:27:16,893 --> 00:27:21,293
Speaker 5: Yeah, I'm intrigued. I if Braxton's sign and McGee is injured,

604
00:27:21,773 --> 00:27:26,533
Speaker 5: where that Mex goes for fullback is really interesting. I

605
00:27:26,573 --> 00:27:29,893
Speaker 5: wonder whether Callie brazy It might be asked to play fullback.

606
00:27:29,933 --> 00:27:34,813
Speaker 5: Potentially she's a traveling reserved to Newcastle. Intrigued to see

607
00:27:34,853 --> 00:27:35,733
Speaker 5: where they go to with that.

608
00:27:36,173 --> 00:27:40,053
Speaker 4: I think I heard Alan Barling story say Rissy pory Lane,

609
00:27:40,053 --> 00:27:42,373
Speaker 4: who's obviously away with the Sevens, is sort of a

610
00:27:42,493 --> 00:27:46,653
Speaker 4: hybrid nine fifteen option in his mind. So that's where

611
00:27:46,653 --> 00:27:49,173
Speaker 4: this versatility of these sevens players come. Obviously we're waiting

612
00:27:49,213 --> 00:27:51,813
Speaker 4: to see how Georgia Miller slots back and listed there

613
00:27:51,933 --> 00:27:55,013
Speaker 4: is a loose forward, but yeah, still some decisions to

614
00:27:55,013 --> 00:27:57,613
Speaker 4: be made or I'm fascinated by how it all unfolds

615
00:27:57,613 --> 00:27:58,293
Speaker 4: over the coming weeks.

616
00:27:58,373 --> 00:28:01,213
Speaker 5: Yes, indeed, so am I and topic at number three,

617
00:28:01,333 --> 00:28:04,693
Speaker 5: let's after round twelve give us your super Rugby top

618
00:28:04,733 --> 00:28:07,293
Speaker 5: six and finishing order. Nick, I want to hear how

619
00:28:07,333 --> 00:28:09,293
Speaker 5: you're thinking with just a few rounds to go.

620
00:28:10,013 --> 00:28:13,533
Speaker 4: Well, look if Jack Mesley or Kevin Malowy is listening

621
00:28:13,533 --> 00:28:15,693
Speaker 4: to this edition of the Rugby Direct podcast. Just have

622
00:28:15,693 --> 00:28:17,773
Speaker 4: a look on the NRL dot com website. They've got

623
00:28:17,813 --> 00:28:20,573
Speaker 4: this thing called a ladder predictor that would be great

624
00:28:20,573 --> 00:28:20,853
Speaker 4: to do.

625
00:28:20,893 --> 00:28:23,413
Speaker 2: Rather than my notes here where I was manually.

626
00:28:23,173 --> 00:28:26,213
Speaker 4: Trying to figure out how many points each team is

627
00:28:26,253 --> 00:28:28,373
Speaker 4: going to win in the next three or four weeks.

628
00:28:28,373 --> 00:28:31,653
Speaker 4: But I've done my best look, I think, and probably

629
00:28:32,093 --> 00:28:35,093
Speaker 4: maybe call me bys whatever being based down here in Christs,

630
00:28:35,133 --> 00:28:36,693
Speaker 4: but I think the Crusaders are going to finish top.

631
00:28:37,093 --> 00:28:39,013
Speaker 4: It's level at the moment with the Chiefs, but they

632
00:28:39,013 --> 00:28:41,333
Speaker 4: do have the.

633
00:28:40,453 --> 00:28:42,493
Speaker 2: Benefit of a game in hand.

634
00:28:42,493 --> 00:28:45,533
Speaker 4: I do see them dropping one of those four, whether

635
00:28:45,613 --> 00:28:48,893
Speaker 4: that's the Chiefs this weekend, whether that's the Waretas has

636
00:28:48,933 --> 00:28:51,173
Speaker 4: been an unhappy hunting ground in Sydney, or even the Brumbies.

637
00:28:51,293 --> 00:28:54,413
Speaker 4: It isn't the easiest run home, but I back them

638
00:28:54,493 --> 00:28:59,653
Speaker 4: to finish top and then I've got the Chiefs second.

639
00:28:59,813 --> 00:29:03,933
Speaker 4: They either lose this weekend or even if they do win,

640
00:29:04,293 --> 00:29:06,853
Speaker 4: as I say, toss of a coin, maybe points differential.

641
00:29:06,893 --> 00:29:08,893
Speaker 4: It does come down to between the Crusader and the Chiefs.

642
00:29:08,893 --> 00:29:11,773
Speaker 4: But I'm backing them to beat Mowana and the Highlanders.

643
00:29:12,373 --> 00:29:15,053
Speaker 4: The Brumbies of course have beat them tars at the weekend.

644
00:29:15,093 --> 00:29:16,773
Speaker 4: I'm backing them to to win at least two of

645
00:29:16,773 --> 00:29:19,173
Speaker 4: the three and again wouldn't shock me if they beat

646
00:29:19,213 --> 00:29:22,733
Speaker 4: the Crusaders and Cameras. I've got them third. The big

647
00:29:22,773 --> 00:29:26,613
Speaker 4: mover of the last fortnight is the cane train. Hopefullyam

648
00:29:26,693 --> 00:29:29,653
Speaker 4: Napier's enjoying this on the flight back home. But look,

649
00:29:29,693 --> 00:29:33,893
Speaker 4: I've got them beating the Highlanders, I've got them beat

650
00:29:33,933 --> 00:29:36,973
Speaker 4: even beating the Reds in Brisbane, and I've got them

651
00:29:36,973 --> 00:29:40,573
Speaker 4: beating Maana. So they're fourth for mine. The Reds dropped

652
00:29:40,613 --> 00:29:43,773
Speaker 4: to fifth. They've got enough points in the bag though

653
00:29:43,813 --> 00:29:45,853
Speaker 4: to hold on. I think they'll win one of their

654
00:29:45,933 --> 00:29:50,733
Speaker 4: last four and in sixth position at the moment.

655
00:29:51,133 --> 00:29:53,133
Speaker 2: Hold on to your hats the Blues.

656
00:29:54,693 --> 00:29:55,133
Speaker 3: I'm one.

657
00:29:56,613 --> 00:29:57,373
Speaker 2: Yeah, tough scene.

658
00:29:57,453 --> 00:30:01,373
Speaker 4: Apologies for all our faithful fans, listeners and supporters of Majana.

659
00:30:01,453 --> 00:30:04,373
Speaker 4: I think they'll do enough even if they drop a

660
00:30:04,453 --> 00:30:07,013
Speaker 4: game from here, so the Blues run home. They got

661
00:30:07,053 --> 00:30:10,693
Speaker 4: the drawer that crucial game against Moana and the Waratas,

662
00:30:10,693 --> 00:30:13,373
Speaker 4: who can't win anywhere outside of New South Wales.

663
00:30:13,453 --> 00:30:16,693
Speaker 2: So that's my sex. Unfortunately for Milana.

664
00:30:16,733 --> 00:30:19,213
Speaker 4: I just feel, you know, when we reflect back to

665
00:30:19,413 --> 00:30:22,053
Speaker 4: earlier in the podcast and we were talking about some

666
00:30:22,133 --> 00:30:24,933
Speaker 4: of those games against the Highlanders for example, the Hurricanes,

667
00:30:25,053 --> 00:30:26,893
Speaker 4: or even that Chiefs won and Poker Co they shouldn't

668
00:30:26,893 --> 00:30:27,173
Speaker 4: have won.

669
00:30:27,373 --> 00:30:28,093
Speaker 2: They should have won.

670
00:30:28,173 --> 00:30:31,373
Speaker 4: Perhaps they did so much poor work in that first

671
00:30:31,413 --> 00:30:34,693
Speaker 4: forty to make it an insurmountable task. But it's just

672
00:30:34,733 --> 00:30:41,493
Speaker 4: that that run home Blues at home, Chiefs away, Hurricanes away.

673
00:30:42,613 --> 00:30:46,413
Speaker 4: For me, they're just going to fall short, but it's

674
00:30:46,453 --> 00:30:48,173
Speaker 4: gonna be a fantastic finish and that's what we want

675
00:30:48,213 --> 00:30:49,613
Speaker 4: in this competition. There's going to be a lot of

676
00:30:49,613 --> 00:30:54,653
Speaker 4: interest in these next three weeks because nothing is guarantee.

677
00:30:54,693 --> 00:30:56,453
Speaker 2: That's just one man's prediction about you.

678
00:30:56,453 --> 00:30:56,813
Speaker 3: We've got.

679
00:30:56,973 --> 00:30:58,653
Speaker 5: I've got the same top six as you, just in

680
00:30:58,693 --> 00:31:01,533
Speaker 5: a slightly different order. I've gone Chiefs to round out top.

681
00:31:02,413 --> 00:31:05,133
Speaker 5: I think the Crusaders will drop points, whether it's this week,

682
00:31:05,373 --> 00:31:07,893
Speaker 5: Similar to you, I think they've got at least one

683
00:31:07,973 --> 00:31:10,973
Speaker 5: game or a loss coming up in that last four games.

684
00:31:11,013 --> 00:31:14,013
Speaker 5: It's a tricky ish run home for them, whether it

685
00:31:14,013 --> 00:31:16,893
Speaker 5: comes this week or against the Brumbies or Wartas away.

686
00:31:16,933 --> 00:31:18,773
Speaker 5: So I got the Chiefs top the Crusaders, second the

687
00:31:18,813 --> 00:31:22,573
Speaker 5: Brumbies and third Hurricanes. Fourth Blues I've got making it

688
00:31:22,613 --> 00:31:25,853
Speaker 5: in fifth and the Reds to come home in sixth

689
00:31:25,973 --> 00:31:26,493
Speaker 5: at the end.

690
00:31:26,573 --> 00:31:27,933
Speaker 3: So no Mowana.

691
00:31:28,773 --> 00:31:31,653
Speaker 5: But boy, if they can beat the Blues at home

692
00:31:31,733 --> 00:31:34,093
Speaker 5: in a couple of weeks time, the seventeenth, I believe

693
00:31:34,133 --> 00:31:36,293
Speaker 5: it is at North Harbor Stadium, which has turned into

694
00:31:36,333 --> 00:31:38,053
Speaker 5: a little bit of a fortress for them, then that

695
00:31:38,133 --> 00:31:40,893
Speaker 5: shakes up the whole race in itself, so there is

696
00:31:40,933 --> 00:31:42,973
Speaker 5: more water to go under the bridge. But as it stands,

697
00:31:43,013 --> 00:31:45,493
Speaker 5: I think the Blues will make it and Mawana with

698
00:31:45,573 --> 00:31:49,253
Speaker 5: that Chiefs, Hurricanes Blues run in just a little bit

699
00:31:49,293 --> 00:31:51,853
Speaker 5: too much ground to make up unfortunately.

700
00:31:51,573 --> 00:31:54,013
Speaker 4: And look, don't rule out the drawer beating the Blues

701
00:31:54,053 --> 00:31:56,253
Speaker 4: this week. I'm just going to say that here, and

702
00:31:56,333 --> 00:31:58,413
Speaker 4: I'm either going to look like a genius or an

703
00:31:58,413 --> 00:32:02,493
Speaker 4: idiot in seven days time. But they're on their day

704
00:32:02,853 --> 00:32:07,373
Speaker 4: and better in Laotoka, but still equally pretty handy and suver.

705
00:32:09,133 --> 00:32:11,973
Speaker 4: That's no gimmy for the Blues, so just watch out

706
00:32:11,973 --> 00:32:12,573
Speaker 4: for that one this week.

707
00:32:12,613 --> 00:32:14,133
Speaker 5: Nd he was a cracking win. They got over the

708
00:32:14,173 --> 00:32:16,613
Speaker 5: Reds as well. Last minute try to get the job

709
00:32:16,653 --> 00:32:20,013
Speaker 5: done over the weekend, which has them in fifteenth in

710
00:32:20,053 --> 00:32:22,333
Speaker 5: the latter and so that is remarkable to be bottom

711
00:32:22,413 --> 00:32:24,653
Speaker 5: and have fifteen points on the board. Final topic in

712
00:32:24,693 --> 00:32:27,333
Speaker 5: the Final four, Jordy Barrett stint at Leinster won't win

713
00:32:27,373 --> 00:32:30,533
Speaker 5: the Champigins cut but hasn't been worth it. So Len's

714
00:32:30,573 --> 00:32:33,213
Speaker 5: obviously losing to Northampton, which is I've seen some people

715
00:32:33,253 --> 00:32:35,453
Speaker 5: call it one of the biggest shocks in European Champions

716
00:32:35,493 --> 00:32:40,053
Speaker 5: Cup history. I think Leinster were twenty point favorites according

717
00:32:40,093 --> 00:32:43,293
Speaker 5: to some of the stats and the bookies. They dropped

718
00:32:43,333 --> 00:32:45,813
Speaker 5: that game and a little bit of a chatter that

719
00:32:45,973 --> 00:32:49,853
Speaker 5: maybe ended and the conditioning program meant that Jordy Barrett

720
00:32:49,853 --> 00:32:51,813
Speaker 5: couldn't start. He came off the bench played the last

721
00:32:51,893 --> 00:32:55,773
Speaker 5: half hour from a couple of commentators suggested that maybe

722
00:32:55,773 --> 00:32:57,453
Speaker 5: he was still mad at the match despite any coming

723
00:32:57,453 --> 00:32:59,773
Speaker 5: on for half an hour, But would you classify the

724
00:32:59,853 --> 00:33:02,573
Speaker 5: stint has been worth it for Jordy Barrett.

725
00:33:03,093 --> 00:33:06,613
Speaker 4: Like I listened to Jordy again Weekend Sport with Jason

726
00:33:06,653 --> 00:33:09,533
Speaker 4: Pine a few weeks ago and look, I'll take his

727
00:33:09,573 --> 00:33:12,093
Speaker 4: comments at face value. He feels like he wanted to

728
00:33:12,093 --> 00:33:14,933
Speaker 4: go over there test himself in a new environment, grow

729
00:33:15,013 --> 00:33:15,733
Speaker 4: his game.

730
00:33:16,413 --> 00:33:17,693
Speaker 2: And come back a better player.

731
00:33:17,853 --> 00:33:20,813
Speaker 4: And as of a few weeks ago, his comments were, Yep,

732
00:33:21,173 --> 00:33:25,093
Speaker 4: I've ticked those boxes. And by all accounts of those

733
00:33:25,133 --> 00:33:28,213
Speaker 4: who follow the game closer in the Northern Hemisphere, he's

734
00:33:28,253 --> 00:33:30,493
Speaker 4: been a sensation. Has been quite interesting though, hasn't it

735
00:33:30,533 --> 00:33:33,013
Speaker 4: Smithy around? There's been a little bit of commentary and

736
00:33:33,053 --> 00:33:35,893
Speaker 4: maybe misguided commentary around. You know, he's been playing week in,

737
00:33:35,973 --> 00:33:38,213
Speaker 4: week out and he's going to be a bit naked

738
00:33:38,333 --> 00:33:40,093
Speaker 4: or spent by the time he gets back for a

739
00:33:40,173 --> 00:33:43,413
Speaker 4: potential All Blacks series against France in July. But if

740
00:33:43,453 --> 00:33:44,933
Speaker 4: you look a bit closer, he had the best part

741
00:33:44,933 --> 00:33:48,013
Speaker 4: of eight weeks off during the Six Nations, so it

742
00:33:48,053 --> 00:33:50,253
Speaker 4: will be interesting. I guess the proof will ultimately be

743
00:33:50,373 --> 00:33:53,693
Speaker 4: when he comes back and what is a real stacked

744
00:33:53,773 --> 00:33:57,573
Speaker 4: midfield picture to see what type of form Jordi Barrett is.

745
00:33:57,613 --> 00:34:01,293
Speaker 4: But look, I'm all for these experiences if it helps

746
00:34:01,813 --> 00:34:05,773
Speaker 4: keeping our top tier talent in New Zealand long term,

747
00:34:06,053 --> 00:34:09,013
Speaker 4: and look, I personally wouldn't mind. Where were actually chatting

748
00:34:09,053 --> 00:34:11,773
Speaker 4: to a couple of Crusaders senior Crusaders players at a

749
00:34:11,853 --> 00:34:13,733
Speaker 4: media session a couple of weeks ago. I won't name names,

750
00:34:13,733 --> 00:34:14,973
Speaker 4: but they were saying I'd love to see it go

751
00:34:15,653 --> 00:34:17,813
Speaker 4: the other way, where they get a you know, a

752
00:34:17,893 --> 00:34:20,613
Speaker 4: Sam Prendergas for example, comes down and plays for the

753
00:34:20,693 --> 00:34:23,373
Speaker 4: Highlanders for a season, you know, Like I think that

754
00:34:23,413 --> 00:34:28,213
Speaker 4: would spark even greater interest and transfer movement and rugby,

755
00:34:28,293 --> 00:34:30,333
Speaker 4: and it doesn't necessarily have to just be a one

756
00:34:30,373 --> 00:34:31,013
Speaker 4: way strict well.

757
00:34:31,013 --> 00:34:33,133
Speaker 5: One of the most successful has been Publo Meteta, who

758
00:34:33,133 --> 00:34:35,693
Speaker 5: came in twenty twenty two and did that season with

759
00:34:35,773 --> 00:34:39,933
Speaker 5: the Crusaders because he wanted experience, you know, the New

760
00:34:40,053 --> 00:34:42,253
Speaker 5: Zealand style of rugby, and I thought it was great

761
00:34:42,293 --> 00:34:44,933
Speaker 5: for the comp there. Yes, they're only coming for one

762
00:34:44,973 --> 00:34:48,013
Speaker 5: season and it's the short term attachment, but I think

763
00:34:48,093 --> 00:34:51,773
Speaker 5: ultimately creates interest in the comp interest in everything. Henry

764
00:34:51,773 --> 00:34:54,533
Speaker 5: Pollock's been a real staff for an English rugby on

765
00:34:54,533 --> 00:34:57,413
Speaker 5: the rise. If you want to come and improve his

766
00:34:57,493 --> 00:34:59,013
Speaker 5: game and go to the Hurricanes or go to the

767
00:34:59,053 --> 00:35:01,493
Speaker 5: Crusade wherever it might be, that's going to create interest.

768
00:35:01,573 --> 00:35:03,853
Speaker 5: So but I think ultimately we might see more of

769
00:35:03,893 --> 00:35:07,493
Speaker 5: it in world rugby, which can only be a good thing.

770
00:35:07,573 --> 00:35:10,213
Speaker 5: Let's get into our being. Liam had a good week.

771
00:35:10,573 --> 00:35:13,933
Speaker 5: He picked four of five, got the Reds drew a

772
00:35:14,013 --> 00:35:16,733
Speaker 5: game wrong, but else where he was correct with the Blues, Canes,

773
00:35:16,773 --> 00:35:21,613
Speaker 5: Brumbies and Mowana. I picked the Chiefs and the Highlanders

774
00:35:22,173 --> 00:35:24,973
Speaker 5: to get victories and they did not. So he's closed

775
00:35:24,973 --> 00:35:26,893
Speaker 5: the gap to five points, thirty nine and a half

776
00:35:26,933 --> 00:35:28,693
Speaker 5: to thirty four and a half. So pressure's on you

777
00:35:28,733 --> 00:35:31,773
Speaker 5: here this week, Nick, to see how whether you can

778
00:35:31,893 --> 00:35:33,093
Speaker 5: keep some of the He's on me.

779
00:35:34,253 --> 00:35:37,213
Speaker 4: Only only the four games, so yeah, I got much

780
00:35:38,173 --> 00:35:39,813
Speaker 4: much runway here, but I'll do my best.

781
00:35:39,893 --> 00:35:40,133
Speaker 2: Lamb.

782
00:35:40,173 --> 00:35:43,853
Speaker 5: Well, you picked earlier a couple of moments ago drew

783
00:35:43,893 --> 00:35:46,293
Speaker 5: a Blues You suggested look out for a drawer up.

784
00:35:46,293 --> 00:35:47,653
Speaker 5: See any willing to lock that in?

785
00:35:47,973 --> 00:35:48,173
Speaker 4: Yeah?

786
00:35:48,173 --> 00:35:49,693
Speaker 2: I lock it in, you know, So I'll stay true

787
00:35:49,693 --> 00:35:51,053
Speaker 2: to my word. I think.

788
00:35:52,533 --> 00:35:54,653
Speaker 4: The nature of the Blues season being a little bit

789
00:35:54,733 --> 00:35:58,933
Speaker 4: up and down. I just get I'm still unconvinced, and

790
00:35:59,053 --> 00:36:02,413
Speaker 4: I haven't really been convinced in them all year. And

791
00:36:02,893 --> 00:36:07,853
Speaker 4: I don't think the force, you know, despite their their improvement,

792
00:36:08,573 --> 00:36:11,573
Speaker 4: are a real line in the sand. You know, when

793
00:36:11,653 --> 00:36:13,293
Speaker 4: if you beat them by X amount of points, all

794
00:36:13,293 --> 00:36:14,373
Speaker 4: of a sudden, you're a good team.

795
00:36:14,453 --> 00:36:18,013
Speaker 5: So toss d I'm going the Blues to get it

796
00:36:18,053 --> 00:36:20,533
Speaker 5: done in a close one live on Godsport and my

797
00:36:20,613 --> 00:36:23,893
Speaker 5: Heart Radio. Warritars and Reds stat against state made against

798
00:36:23,893 --> 00:36:27,893
Speaker 5: mate Sydney the venue for this one. The war retar

799
00:36:28,053 --> 00:36:30,813
Speaker 5: is very disappointing on the weekend against the Brumbies. But

800
00:36:30,853 --> 00:36:32,733
Speaker 5: do they bounce back against their old rivals.

801
00:36:34,053 --> 00:36:36,373
Speaker 4: This is a tough one for mine, given both teams

802
00:36:36,493 --> 00:36:39,573
Speaker 4: were a little bit disappointing and the Reds sets a

803
00:36:39,613 --> 00:36:43,733
Speaker 4: long road trip home from Suva back to Brisbane, back

804
00:36:43,773 --> 00:36:46,893
Speaker 4: to Brisbane and then down to Sydney, and just given

805
00:36:46,933 --> 00:36:50,893
Speaker 4: the home record of the Waratars, I think that may

806
00:36:51,133 --> 00:36:52,653
Speaker 4: give them the edge if I had.

807
00:36:52,533 --> 00:36:54,693
Speaker 2: To make a pick, which I do, That's why I'm here.

808
00:36:54,733 --> 00:36:57,373
Speaker 5: So yeah, Tars, I'm going to visit as the Reds

809
00:36:57,373 --> 00:36:59,533
Speaker 5: to win that one. Looking forward to this one. Crusaders

810
00:36:59,613 --> 00:37:03,373
Speaker 5: cheap seven o five on Saturday night at Apollo Project

811
00:37:03,453 --> 00:37:06,053
Speaker 5: stating a hum in christ Church. Or check the forecast,

812
00:37:06,053 --> 00:37:08,813
Speaker 5: it's going to be three degrees Saturday nights.

813
00:37:10,693 --> 00:37:11,733
Speaker 3: Nick, what do you reckon?

814
00:37:12,173 --> 00:37:14,453
Speaker 4: Well, look, just firstly as a recommendation, because you are

815
00:37:14,493 --> 00:37:16,853
Speaker 4: calling this one, Elliott while you're down here and I'm

816
00:37:17,013 --> 00:37:20,013
Speaker 4: hopefully going to be sunning myself on the Sunshine coast.

817
00:37:20,533 --> 00:37:23,853
Speaker 2: M yeah, pack up all your layers electric.

818
00:37:25,053 --> 00:37:27,413
Speaker 4: Yeah, I was about to say for our listeners radio

819
00:37:27,413 --> 00:37:30,333
Speaker 4: sport listeners. Back in the day Corey Flynn used to

820
00:37:30,653 --> 00:37:34,173
Speaker 4: pack an electric blanket on occasion might be required. Just

821
00:37:34,293 --> 00:37:37,973
Speaker 4: the nature of that window as it just gets through

822
00:37:38,013 --> 00:37:39,813
Speaker 4: in the corner of the standard there up into our

823
00:37:39,813 --> 00:37:40,573
Speaker 4: commentary position.

824
00:37:40,613 --> 00:37:41,093
Speaker 2: But you'll love it.

825
00:37:41,173 --> 00:37:45,733
Speaker 3: How excited if next year it's going to be unreal?

826
00:37:45,893 --> 00:37:47,533
Speaker 2: Absolutely unreal? Cannot wait?

827
00:37:47,613 --> 00:37:51,013
Speaker 4: But yeah on this one fascinating contest, isn't it, and

828
00:37:51,133 --> 00:37:54,813
Speaker 4: probably will determine who finishes top spots. We haven't really

829
00:37:54,853 --> 00:37:57,813
Speaker 4: got to it, but you know, Takim a confirmation season

830
00:37:57,933 --> 00:38:01,693
Speaker 4: ending knee knee injury and subsequent surgery coming up to

831
00:38:01,773 --> 00:38:06,133
Speaker 4: repair his acl Like I thought Rivers Rayhanna was steady

832
00:38:06,213 --> 00:38:07,733
Speaker 4: enough against the Highlanders.

833
00:38:07,733 --> 00:38:09,213
Speaker 2: But the Highland aren't the chiefs.

834
00:38:09,413 --> 00:38:12,613
Speaker 4: And I'm really intrigued come Wednesday afternoon when we see

835
00:38:12,653 --> 00:38:15,533
Speaker 4: all the teams. Do they stick with Ray Harner as

836
00:38:15,573 --> 00:38:18,293
Speaker 4: a starter and O'Connor as a closer or do they

837
00:38:18,293 --> 00:38:21,933
Speaker 4: look to reverse that? But I will keep my faith

838
00:38:22,093 --> 00:38:25,093
Speaker 4: in the Crusaders at home.

839
00:38:25,853 --> 00:38:27,653
Speaker 3: Just I think the Chiefs.

840
00:38:27,813 --> 00:38:30,413
Speaker 5: Look, the Crusaders got beaten by them, what almost fifty

841
00:38:30,413 --> 00:38:33,653
Speaker 5: points earlier in the comp They've improved obviously since then.

842
00:38:33,773 --> 00:38:36,853
Speaker 5: But I think the Chiefs with Damie McKenzie back, Wallace

843
00:38:36,893 --> 00:38:38,933
Speaker 5: a teed might start this week after a couple of

844
00:38:39,013 --> 00:38:39,973
Speaker 5: weeks off the bench.

845
00:38:40,133 --> 00:38:42,733
Speaker 3: I think the Chiefs in a close one. I'm looking

846
00:38:42,733 --> 00:38:43,213
Speaker 3: forward to it.

847
00:38:43,453 --> 00:38:45,253
Speaker 4: Gee, this is a real swing week all of a sudden,

848
00:38:45,253 --> 00:38:46,573
Speaker 4: isn't it is? In competition?

849
00:38:47,093 --> 00:38:50,613
Speaker 5: It could be dangerous for my lead and the Force

850
00:38:50,693 --> 00:38:53,613
Speaker 5: and the Brumbies to round out a shortened week of

851
00:38:53,773 --> 00:38:57,093
Speaker 5: Super rugby this one in Perth on Saturday night. Now

852
00:38:57,133 --> 00:39:00,213
Speaker 5: the Force now on the outside looking in of the playoffs.

853
00:39:00,213 --> 00:39:03,573
Speaker 5: But if they win that, look it's all go again.

854
00:39:03,693 --> 00:39:06,013
Speaker 5: So what do you reckon to The Force went at home?

855
00:39:06,533 --> 00:39:09,613
Speaker 4: Well, just based on the final four before, I've got

856
00:39:09,613 --> 00:39:10,653
Speaker 4: the Brumbies winning out.

857
00:39:10,853 --> 00:39:12,853
Speaker 2: So that includes this one.

858
00:39:13,693 --> 00:39:17,453
Speaker 4: I thought after the loss they had against Hurricans, they

859
00:39:17,453 --> 00:39:19,933
Speaker 4: were very impressive against the Tars and I expect that

860
00:39:20,573 --> 00:39:24,333
Speaker 4: momentum to extend this week through in this game in Perth.

861
00:39:24,453 --> 00:39:25,733
Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm with you. I'm going to give you the

862
00:39:25,773 --> 00:39:27,413
Speaker 3: same one. That one. I think the Brumby's to win

863
00:39:27,453 --> 00:39:27,733
Speaker 3: that one.

864
00:39:27,733 --> 00:39:31,773
Speaker 5: In Perth Rugby Deric Metal voting time, Artie Savier out

865
00:39:31,813 --> 00:39:33,813
Speaker 5: on top on thirteen vote and Barrett on twelve. Will

866
00:39:33,893 --> 00:39:38,333
Speaker 5: Jordan in third on nine points. Nick, your three two

867
00:39:38,373 --> 00:39:39,693
Speaker 5: ones if you'd be so kind.

868
00:39:39,893 --> 00:39:44,013
Speaker 4: Yeah, three two ones for mine, and look, rugby direct

869
00:39:44,093 --> 00:39:46,453
Speaker 4: medal leader is going to push a bit clear via

870
00:39:46,533 --> 00:39:49,733
Speaker 4: me because I've got three points for Artie Savia. We

871
00:39:49,813 --> 00:39:53,693
Speaker 4: wax lyrical at the top, but he was sensational again

872
00:39:54,413 --> 00:39:57,493
Speaker 4: and the miner's position and.

873
00:39:57,453 --> 00:39:59,853
Speaker 2: Sixth on the ladder at the moment. A large part

874
00:39:59,893 --> 00:40:00,213
Speaker 2: of that.

875
00:40:00,293 --> 00:40:03,013
Speaker 4: Is through his influence. So three points for Artie Savia.

876
00:40:03,293 --> 00:40:07,013
Speaker 4: I got two for Ruben Love, who looks very much

877
00:40:07,053 --> 00:40:08,933
Speaker 4: at home as a ten and I'm I think it's

878
00:40:09,173 --> 00:40:13,693
Speaker 4: going to do his all blacks credentials or selection potential

879
00:40:13,853 --> 00:40:16,533
Speaker 4: all the world of good his versatility, but he is

880
00:40:17,373 --> 00:40:19,613
Speaker 4: riding a waiver of confidence at the moment, goal kicking

881
00:40:19,733 --> 00:40:23,893
Speaker 4: very slick, Love that crossfield kick and just the confidence

882
00:40:23,973 --> 00:40:26,253
Speaker 4: of him at ten. So he gets my two with

883
00:40:26,293 --> 00:40:27,973
Speaker 4: a big win over the Chiefs and that was the

884
00:40:27,973 --> 00:40:30,173
Speaker 4: big statement win for me of the week. So my

885
00:40:30,653 --> 00:40:34,693
Speaker 4: one I start tossing up between a number of hurricanes players,

886
00:40:34,733 --> 00:40:38,293
Speaker 4: but I've ended up landing on Callum Harkin just because

887
00:40:38,373 --> 00:40:41,293
Speaker 4: I think it's a real story of perseverance. Didn't get

888
00:40:41,333 --> 00:40:42,973
Speaker 4: a super rugby contract at the beginning of the year.

889
00:40:42,973 --> 00:40:45,413
Speaker 4: I thought he was actually very impressive in NPC. Has

890
00:40:45,493 --> 00:40:48,773
Speaker 4: fought his way back in through circumstance and injury, and

891
00:40:48,973 --> 00:40:52,813
Speaker 4: again he looks very slick at fifteen and a real

892
00:40:52,853 --> 00:40:55,733
Speaker 4: point of difference from his kicking game and running game.

893
00:40:55,813 --> 00:40:58,013
Speaker 4: And yeah he gets my one point might be the

894
00:40:58,013 --> 00:41:00,733
Speaker 4: first point for him or the Rugby Direct medal, but

895
00:41:01,093 --> 00:41:01,773
Speaker 4: he's on the board.

896
00:41:01,853 --> 00:41:03,093
Speaker 3: Yeah, I thought he was excellent.

897
00:41:03,133 --> 00:41:05,253
Speaker 5: Again. It was great hearing the clip from him this

898
00:41:05,293 --> 00:41:08,053
Speaker 5: week that last week rather than Collie Adam Cooper when

899
00:41:08,053 --> 00:41:10,573
Speaker 5: he spoke to him after all those wins in Wellington

900
00:41:11,013 --> 00:41:13,133
Speaker 5: last week and he said he probably still would have

901
00:41:13,173 --> 00:41:16,133
Speaker 5: been out on the building site because that's his trade

902
00:41:16,173 --> 00:41:19,413
Speaker 5: and his old boss wasn't favorable to calling it a

903
00:41:19,493 --> 00:41:23,013
Speaker 5: day too early, so if it wasn't rugby, he was

904
00:41:23,093 --> 00:41:24,853
Speaker 5: doing here. But he's probably on the building site, still

905
00:41:24,853 --> 00:41:26,773
Speaker 5: out in the wins, so he's quite grateful to be

906
00:41:27,253 --> 00:41:27,973
Speaker 5: chucking the ball around.

907
00:41:27,973 --> 00:41:28,733
Speaker 3: I thought that was great.

908
00:41:28,973 --> 00:41:31,813
Speaker 5: Our threes and twos are exactly the same, Artie Savia,

909
00:41:32,133 --> 00:41:33,613
Speaker 5: What more can you say? I think he's the best

910
00:41:33,613 --> 00:41:36,053
Speaker 5: player in the world at the moment, probably alongside Antilino

911
00:41:36,093 --> 00:41:39,613
Speaker 5: point obviously injured, but just the whole array of skills

912
00:41:39,653 --> 00:41:42,493
Speaker 5: we saw from him in that Moana game. He was exceptional.

913
00:41:42,533 --> 00:41:45,493
Speaker 5: So he is going to extend out with two three

914
00:41:45,533 --> 00:41:48,493
Speaker 5: pointers this week. Rubin Love gets my two as well,

915
00:41:48,533 --> 00:41:50,773
Speaker 5: and I'm giving one to Boden. Barrett pulled the strings

916
00:41:50,813 --> 00:41:54,013
Speaker 5: in that game against the Force for the Blues and

917
00:41:54,293 --> 00:41:56,493
Speaker 5: we'll keep them really alive in the playoff mix and

918
00:41:56,493 --> 00:42:00,333
Speaker 5: did what they needed to do, So Boden gets my one.

919
00:42:00,693 --> 00:42:02,013
Speaker 3: Well update you next week, I can tell you.

920
00:42:02,093 --> 00:42:06,413
Speaker 5: Artie Savia is right out in front of this rugby

921
00:42:06,453 --> 00:42:09,653
Speaker 5: director MVP medal vote. That about does us for rank

922
00:42:09,693 --> 00:42:11,773
Speaker 5: be direct for a week? Nick, thanks for stopping by.

923
00:42:11,773 --> 00:42:14,293
Speaker 5: I appreciate your time as always, and you enjoy a

924
00:42:14,373 --> 00:42:16,093
Speaker 5: well deserved break across the ditch.

925
00:42:16,813 --> 00:42:20,133
Speaker 4: Thank you very much, Elliott, and enjoy the comforts of

926
00:42:20,213 --> 00:42:24,133
Speaker 4: Apollo Orange Theory projects, Ami, whatever it's called these days,

927
00:42:24,293 --> 00:42:24,973
Speaker 4: You're in for a treat.

928
00:42:25,013 --> 00:42:26,773
Speaker 2: Saturday Night Night shall be a cracking game. Can't wait

929
00:42:26,813 --> 00:42:27,133
Speaker 2: to churn it.

930
00:42:27,293 --> 00:42:29,653
Speaker 3: Looking forward to that on gold Sport on iHeartRadio. Just

931
00:42:29,693 --> 00:42:30,693
Speaker 3: a quick programming note.

932
00:42:30,613 --> 00:42:34,693
Speaker 5: We'll be back next Wednesday. Slightly delay podcast next week,

933
00:42:35,053 --> 00:42:36,053
Speaker 5: but we look forward.

934
00:42:35,853 --> 00:42:37,373
Speaker 3: To joining you again. Then.

935
00:42:37,573 --> 00:42:39,413
Speaker 5: Thanks to Last and Bars English and I thanks it

936
00:42:39,413 --> 00:42:41,493
Speaker 5: as always to Habit Health, tackling all your aches and

937
00:42:41,533 --> 00:42:43,733
Speaker 5: pains from sports and work.

938
00:42:47,853 --> 00:42:50,493
Speaker 1: For more from news Talks at b Listen live on

939
00:42:50,573 --> 00:42:53,533
Speaker 1: air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever

940
00:42:53,573 --> 00:42:56,173
Speaker 1: you go with our podcast on iHeartRadio