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Speaker 3: Elli Gett Smith with me Liam Napier The countdown on
Speaker 3: to Super Rugby Specifical lim This was in theory supposed
Speaker 3: to be the first show of the year, best slide
Speaker 3: plans and everything, and I think this is number four
Speaker 3: of Rugby Direct for twenty twenty six. But welcome and
Speaker 3: how excited are you for Super Rugby to kick off
Speaker 3: lad of this week?
Speaker 4: Heah, what a treats to have four four in the can.
Speaker 4: It's been a big year already, isn't it. Well into
Speaker 4: the season Super Rugby thirty free as you say, and
Speaker 4: planning to look forward to. I think summer rugby or
Speaker 4: always produces great spectacles. It's a week earlier this year
Speaker 4: than last year, so some people grumble about that, but
Speaker 4: I'm looking forward to you bring him a Valentine's Day
Speaker 4: present this weekend.
Speaker 5: You got anything special on mine?
Speaker 3: Yeah? The bookings in with Into Flora, A nicely bunch
Speaker 3: of roses coming for the Valentine's Day.
Speaker 5: Yeah, delightful. Yeah, expect nothing less.
Speaker 2: All right, let's get into the business of Super Rugby.
Speaker 2: Big question first and foremost. I'm going to hit you
Speaker 2: with Liam who will win Super Rugby twenty twenty six.
Speaker 5: I'm a betting man.
Speaker 4: If I am having a punt, which I haven't as yet.
Speaker 4: I am on England to win six Nations, which was
Speaker 4: good start. Left me very torn, but I would go
Speaker 4: the Chiefs. I think, look there question mark there about
Speaker 4: the coaching transition between Clayton McMillan and John o'gibbs. That've
Speaker 4: been the nearly men of recent years, a number of lost,
Speaker 4: blown finals, but I think they have the deepest squad
Speaker 4: in Super Rugby. They've lost Antonina Brown temporarily to Japan
Speaker 4: and Shan Stephenson, so interesting.
Speaker 5: To see how they go about that.
Speaker 4: But I just think when you look at the season
Speaker 4: as a whole, all black rests, injuries, rotation, depth is
Speaker 4: so important and this Chiefs squad is stacked. If you
Speaker 4: just consider their starting team are starting twenty three potentially,
Speaker 4: and how many all blacks and the depth there consider this,
Speaker 4: Olin Norris, Samsoni Takyaho, George Dyer, Josh Lord, Tupu Vai,
Speaker 4: Simon Parker, Luke, Jacobsson, Wallace a Tzi. That's a hell
Speaker 4: of a pack, Cortes At, Damien McKenzie, Leroy Carter, Quintupaia,
Speaker 4: Daniel Rohner who's highly underrated in my book, Ammonia, and
Speaker 4: n and Tenny nine Ers so Torno. Then on the
Speaker 4: bench you've got potentially Arkoy, some of Penny Female, Xavier Roe, Josh,
Speaker 4: Jacob and Toymoi Flow and Brodie McAllister. So that's without
Speaker 4: even going into the wider squads. So the chiefs to
Speaker 4: me are favorites about what so you.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I think they have to go in as favorites
Speaker 3: as they have for the last few years because of
Speaker 3: that depth. And you're adding a player like a time
Speaker 3: boy for Lour. You had Simon Parker who wasn't at
Speaker 3: all black this time last year. All those sort of
Speaker 3: things I think vitally important. And depth is so big
Speaker 3: and super rugby we've seen it for the last few years.
Speaker 3: It's not necessarily the deepest team that wins, but it
Speaker 3: certainly helps. And if you have a couple of injuries
Speaker 3: and key positions, it's very very hard to rebuild. You
Speaker 3: look back to twenty twenty four when cam roy Guard
Speaker 3: got that injury. The Hurricanes were humming at that point
Speaker 3: and after that they were never quite the same. Following
Speaker 3: that last year took the Crusaders a little bit. They
Speaker 3: were playing quite well, lost Taha Kimita, Rivers. Rahart originally
Speaker 3: comes in and does very well, you know, wins a
Speaker 3: Super Rugby title and was the player of the match
Speaker 3: in the final, but took them a little bit to
Speaker 3: get going as well. Twenty four the Crusaders didn't have
Speaker 3: Will Jordan. You know, there's so you lose a couple
Speaker 3: of players in key positions, then you're in real strife.
Speaker 3: I think the Chiefs have got that arsenal there that
Speaker 3: if it's one player injured, the next man up is
Speaker 3: a very very good replacement. I don't see that depth
Speaker 3: across all the franchises. Maybe the Crusaders are perhaps the
Speaker 3: closest in terms of a New Zealand perspective and having
Speaker 3: that depth. And you know, there have been the two
Speaker 3: standard bearers for the last couple of seasons.
Speaker 2: So I'm with you.
Speaker 3: I'm intrigued to see how the coaching transition goes from
Speaker 3: John o' gibbs taking over. You know, he's a different
Speaker 3: kind of coach to Clayton McMillan. From what I hear
Speaker 3: speaking to Wallis a Titi last week, Damian McKenzie a
Speaker 3: couple of weeks prior to that, seems like it's been
Speaker 3: a fairly seamless transition. I don't know that's necessarily a
Speaker 3: good thing in some ways because he's already been part
Speaker 3: of the setup. You know, sometimes when you haven't got
Speaker 3: over that hurdle of making the final, you might just
Speaker 3: need a little bit of a shake up. But the
Speaker 3: Chiefs have gone for consistency in a way, and you know,
Speaker 3: apart from you know, those closing moments in a final,
Speaker 3: they're they're there or thereabouts, aren't they?
Speaker 4: They are, But it is a big mental hurdle question
Speaker 4: how do they get over there hump? Because there's got
Speaker 4: to be some demons there among that playing group, among
Speaker 4: the coaching staff that largely remains the same. Johnny Gibbs,
Speaker 4: as you say, was there last year, looking after the Fords,
Speaker 4: So what has he seen? What is he going to
Speaker 4: bring to the table that's new and he doesn't have
Speaker 4: a hugely great track record as head coach.
Speaker 5: It's very different being assistant to head coach.
Speaker 4: So I think you're right there does need to be
Speaker 4: something new because the Chiefs will almost certainly be there
Speaker 4: come finals time. How are they going to get over
Speaker 4: that hump?
Speaker 5: Otherwise?
Speaker 4: I think look the Crusader's resurrection last year. They've got
Speaker 4: claims to go back to back largely settled squads. They've
Speaker 4: lost Christy who was a real tireless workhorse, but you'd
Speaker 4: think Ethan Blackett will probably play, you know, one on
Speaker 4: five games on the discrossed on the open side lot
Speaker 4: hopefully as a better season in terms of injury. I
Speaker 4: think David Hevilli was a really smart choice as captain.
Speaker 4: He made a real impact on the Crusaders. The Blues
Speaker 4: will be there or thereabouts, but I think there could
Speaker 4: be a bit of disruption there. I think we saw
Speaker 4: last year Vncotta didn't have the same impact he had
Speaker 4: in year one.
Speaker 5: They lost the close semi final in christ Church.
Speaker 4: But interesting to see how they navigate recruiting a new
Speaker 4: coach with Verne's transition out and what that means for
Speaker 4: their wider coaching team as well. You've also got Biden
Speaker 4: Barrot out to round four, Patrick two Pilot out to
Speaker 4: round nine, Dalton Papal captaining the team. So Stephen Peter
Speaker 4: Fetter coming back really intrigued to see how he goes.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I think it just to touch on those two players.
Speaker 3: Papa last year was had a rough year. Was when
Speaker 3: the initial All backs squad then comes in then goes
Speaker 3: missing from the All Backs later in the year as well.
Speaker 3: I don't think he had a great rugby last year, Dalton,
Speaker 3: but I think he's certainly capable of having you know,
Speaker 3: more All Blacks rugby under his belt. And I think
Speaker 3: this looms is a big year for Dalton Papa Lee
Speaker 3: in so many ways. There's a new All Blacks coaching staff,
Speaker 3: which will get to a bit later in the pod
Speaker 3: with what the latest is around that. But I think
Speaker 3: this is a big chance for Dalton Papa Lee to
Speaker 3: stamp his claims and return to being perhaps the first
Speaker 3: choice you know, open side in the country. Who knows
Speaker 3: we ALREADYSRV might slot in into a new All Black setup,
Speaker 3: but I think this is a big year for Dolton,
Speaker 3: Papa Lee and Stephen Peter Feeder. I almost think this
Speaker 3: is the last chance saloon. And I mean that in
Speaker 3: the kindest possible way. Is that he's had so many
Speaker 3: injuries through the years, He's had so much time out
Speaker 3: of rugby. He's now what twenty eight. I think this
Speaker 3: is make or break for Stephen Peter Fetter in terms
Speaker 3: of nailing that All Black spot. I think a couple
Speaker 3: of years ago he was the starting All Blacks fullback
Speaker 3: and then he's had a number of injuries.
Speaker 5: Since the start of Scott Robertson's reign, he was the
Speaker 5: All Blacks fullback.
Speaker 3: So look, if he can have a good Super Rugby season,
Speaker 3: great and he may well get back in the All Blacks.
Speaker 3: But I think this is probably a big opportunity for Confit.
Speaker 3: Otherwise I think that window might have closed.
Speaker 4: He's a forgotten man, didn't play any NPC this year,
Speaker 4: had a number of league injuries. He's a guy that
Speaker 4: New Zealand Raby would love to retain because let's just
Speaker 4: say a Muanga comes back, but he might fall over
Speaker 4: or Bowden or d Mac.
Speaker 5: You need that depth.
Speaker 4: We've seen that in previous history with World Cups and
Speaker 4: first fives and how influential will they be can be.
Speaker 4: So he's a really classy operator and I'd love to
Speaker 4: see him have a runner and he is going to
Speaker 4: because Boden's not back to round four, so interesting to
Speaker 4: see how that pans out. Also, the Blues without Riquoewane,
Speaker 4: they've got Peter Aki coming back after seven years in France.
Speaker 4: Some footage in the preseason looks like he's strong and
Speaker 4: playing well. So look, the Blues have a strong roster.
Speaker 4: There's no doubting that. I don't see them winning it,
Speaker 4: but I see them featuring. And I think the Canes
Speaker 4: were the big movers this year and they should be.
Speaker 3: You've been pumping those tires on the train, yeah, for
Speaker 3: a couple of weeks. Now, what gives you so much
Speaker 3: confidence that they're ready to go?
Speaker 4: Well, Jordie's a massive in He's had that time in Leinster.
Speaker 4: He is coming back from injury, so I think he
Speaker 4: missed the back end of the All Black season, so
Speaker 4: he should be fresh and hungry there. He's a hugely
Speaker 4: influential presence in the fact that he does a lot
Speaker 4: of backline directing.
Speaker 5: He's a physical presence.
Speaker 4: I think we'll see him play a bit of fullback
Speaker 4: as well as second five. So intrigued to see how
Speaker 4: that pans out. I know there were a lot of
Speaker 4: people last year with the All Black struggling under the
Speaker 4: high ball, clamoring for Jordi to go back to fullback.
Speaker 4: Maybe that would certainly spark a bit of a conversation.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I think so.
Speaker 3: I'd like to see omit fullback at times this year
Speaker 3: for the Hurricanes. I think with the way that rugby's
Speaker 3: being played now, it made sense at the time for
Speaker 3: Jordi to move into second five for the All Blacks.
Speaker 3: I think it now makes sense for him potentially to
Speaker 3: move back to fall back, just with the way the
Speaker 3: high ball game operates.
Speaker 2: So I think it should be a live conversation. Yeah.
Speaker 4: The Hurricanes have are really like Roley Higgins, and if
Speaker 4: he can stay fit, I think you'll see him feature
Speaker 4: at twelve certainly at some point this year.
Speaker 5: With Jordi at fullback.
Speaker 4: The Hurricanes also get back Josh Morby, who's a very
Speaker 4: solid operator.
Speaker 3: Warner Dunes in the second row. They want big tickets
Speaker 3: on Wanta don Well. I think he's up there with
Speaker 3: the best locks in the world on his day, to
Speaker 3: be honest. And that's always been a weakness of the
Speaker 3: Hurricanes has been the Type five. And they've had some
Speaker 3: good players come through the years. They've had the odd
Speaker 3: you know, Hooker Moor, but they've never had them all
Speaker 3: together at once. And you look at that Type five
Speaker 3: now and you go, it's a pretty pretty good prospect,
Speaker 3: you know, when you can put together maybe youngster like
Speaker 3: a Delaaney or a Plumber alongside of Warner Dunes, who's
Speaker 3: a captain international. Ukala Whitte is still there for the Hurricanes.
Speaker 3: So I think it's a better Type five than what
Speaker 3: we've seen from the the Canes in recent times.
Speaker 5: Yeah, there's no excuses there.
Speaker 4: The Hurricy have three all black tight head props and
Speaker 4: they've recruited Lowaki who's a hulking prop.
Speaker 5: They've got us all as you mentioned there.
Speaker 4: I had a quick gown to lend mySAP Wang at
Speaker 4: the Super Rugby launch and he was saying, look, I
Speaker 4: think I'm done mate, I'm going to have to retire.
Speaker 4: I've seen us suffer more running around and there's no
Speaker 4: way I want to tackle that bloke.
Speaker 5: So yeah, Warner Durnes is a good recruit.
Speaker 4: I think it's interesting to see how he comes back
Speaker 4: from Japan or adapts to Super rugby, which is certainly
Speaker 4: going to be more physical. But he's a big line
Speaker 4: out presence. And then you talk about someone like Cam Rugard.
Speaker 4: If he stays on the park, he could be the
Speaker 4: best player in the comp this year. And then I
Speaker 4: think the Hurricanes are a lot clearer about where they
Speaker 4: want to go at ten. Ruben Loves started there and
Speaker 4: you've got Bret Cameron as well. A shame to lose
Speaker 4: Harry Godfrey for the season. He had some real nice
Speaker 4: moments at times, but he's done his ACL So look,
Speaker 4: I think generally speaking, the Canes of all the pieces.
Speaker 4: They've also got a view very strong coaching team. They
Speaker 4: get Jason Holland back from the All Blacks, Corey Jane
Speaker 4: and Jamie McIntosh are very highly regarded. Clark Lader thinks
Speaker 4: into his third year. In his first year he took
Speaker 4: them to top of the log and then they lost
Speaker 4: the semi final to the Chiefs and Wellington the Hurricanes kryptonite.
Speaker 4: I think they've lost three semifinals and four years. So
Speaker 4: we talk about the Chiefs not getting over the final hump. Well,
Speaker 4: the Hurricanes can't even reach the finals, so all the
Speaker 4: pieces are there and they should be the big movers,
Speaker 4: but there's no guarantee.
Speaker 2: No, it's not.
Speaker 3: They also hate a trip to Canberra in the knockout
Speaker 3: rounds because that has been their kryptonite for the last
Speaker 3: few years. The question I Mark I'd have over the
Speaker 3: Hurricanes is their depth. Dupless if he's going to miss
Speaker 3: the opening rounds through injury. We saw as I touched
Speaker 3: on earlier, Roy Guard if he gets an injury basically
Speaker 3: stopped them their tracks. I mean, that was the same
Speaker 3: year that they did lose to the Chiefs and the semifinals,
Speaker 3: but they weren't the same team after he got injured.
Speaker 3: But after that Roygard Love combination can click at ten
Speaker 3: and then anything's possible. I think for them this season
Speaker 3: they're certainly big contenders. The Crusaders defending champions Rob Pennies
Speaker 3: now into his third year at the Helm. First year
Speaker 3: was a bit of an unmitigated disaster, but you look
Speaker 3: back now and go, well, they lost a few key
Speaker 3: players that year and he rebuilt them be twenty twenty
Speaker 3: five and won the title In the end.
Speaker 2: Can they do it again.
Speaker 3: What do you think the chances of the Crusader's back
Speaker 3: to back in christ shoot might.
Speaker 5: Be Yeah, I mean, nobody wants to see that.
Speaker 4: Thick for yourself, but of course right up there, I
Speaker 4: think they're probably second favorites based on what they did
Speaker 4: last year. I think David Hevilli was a very smart
Speaker 4: choice as captain. They've lost Christie who is a real workhorse,
Speaker 4: but look they get Leicsterifying a nooko back. What an
Speaker 4: asset he's going to be, particularly at super rugby level.
Speaker 4: Where do you think he features in the midfield or yeah.
Speaker 2: I think he does.
Speaker 3: I think they'll probably move him alongside Brandon in or
Speaker 3: potentially or a Dallas mcleoard. I think they've got a
Speaker 3: number of options there seven Reeses last year as well
Speaker 3: at macas Springer. They've got a lot of depth in
Speaker 3: the world Jordan Will Jordan. Yeah, they could move the
Speaker 3: pieces around as they see fit. I would like to
Speaker 3: see Lester's at either second five wall center for the
Speaker 3: Crusaders this season. I think he's got the biggest upside
Speaker 3: in midfield. We sat a little bit of them there
Speaker 3: with the All Blacks last year. I think he saw
Speaker 3: needs a little bit work on distribution a couple other things,
Speaker 3: but he might be there also a little bit of
Speaker 3: whisper that maybe they might look in using him a
Speaker 3: little bit of a hybrid role, maybe potentially as well
Speaker 3: the loose forts, which is what he did in Too Long.
Speaker 4: For one of the big unknowns I think with the Crusaders,
Speaker 4: everybody hated going to was Apollo stating here in the
Speaker 4: middle of the winter, you know, horrific place to go
Speaker 4: for a finals match. Everyone's going to look forward to
Speaker 4: going to a pristine place under the roof. How does
Speaker 4: that affect the Crusaders.
Speaker 3: It's a very good question, and you might be losing
Speaker 3: one of their strengths by moving to the stadium. I
Speaker 3: think ultimately they had to get a new stadium because
Speaker 3: the scaffolding lean to, you know, had well exhausted.
Speaker 2: It's used by date.
Speaker 3: But that does mitigate some of the Crusader's strengths, is
Speaker 3: the ability to roll up the sleeves in the wets
Speaker 3: or in the dewey night era of Christ Jutch. It's
Speaker 3: still going to be cold inside the stadium, you know,
Speaker 3: like full South Barth Stadium, It's still cold inside there.
Speaker 3: But it does mitigate that and you take away, you know,
Speaker 3: the atmospheric conditions. It's a bit of a leaveless So
Speaker 3: it's going to be interesting for the Crusaders how they
Speaker 3: adapt to that, especially with a run of derbies towards
Speaker 3: the end of the season, because they've been back into
Speaker 3: the derby's once the stadium opens for Super Round and April,
Speaker 3: they've got a few derbies at home after that, so
Speaker 3: they're going to have to adapt to those conditions and
Speaker 3: adapt quickly. It's going to be interesting to see how
Speaker 3: that unfolds over the course of the season.
Speaker 5: It is.
Speaker 4: Yeah, if you're the look I think the Blues one
Speaker 4: team that's under Verncoda that went to christ Church with
Speaker 4: a belief that they had the game plan to go
Speaker 4: toe to toe with the Crusaders upfronts you know, play
Speaker 4: that tim Man rugby, match them, physically, challenge their set piece.
Speaker 4: But if you're the Hurricanes and the Chiefs and you're
Speaker 4: going to a roof stadium, I think you're rubbing your
Speaker 4: hands together compared to yes, going to.
Speaker 5: A cold scaffold stadium in the middle of the winter.
Speaker 3: Absolutely, a couple of question marks I do have of
Speaker 3: the Crusaders is at ten Takim. I think it's a
Speaker 3: big year for him. I was beginning to be impressed
Speaker 3: by him last year before he got injured in that
Speaker 3: Chiefs game at Home Rivers. Rayhanna was a player of
Speaker 3: the match in the final. But I think it's still
Speaker 3: a question mark there. I think in the second row
Speaker 3: as well, Scott Barrett out until probably around maysh for
Speaker 3: them this year, They've got Jamie Hannah, They've got shel Foon,
Speaker 3: They've got Liam Jack Taylor, Cahill will tuck it Now.
Speaker 3: These are names that have been around, some of them
Speaker 3: for the Crusader's environment for a few years now, but
Speaker 3: they haven't had a lot of opportunity. Is because they've
Speaker 3: been behind white Lock and Barrett.
Speaker 5: And always had a degree of experience there.
Speaker 2: Alongside them with them.
Speaker 3: So I think that's a question mark for the Crusaders
Speaker 3: this year is can these second row players stand up
Speaker 3: and continue what has been a strength of them in
Speaker 3: the set piece over the last few seasons. So that's
Speaker 3: fascinating to me, is we I also think losing you
Speaker 3: only more I know who is a loss this year.
Speaker 3: He's got to Warrataz, They've got letter you who has
Speaker 3: been under twenties last season. Good player, but again that's
Speaker 3: a losing him's a big drop off as well. It's
Speaker 3: touch on the Highlanders as well. You know the when
Speaker 3: in the offseason I was compiling a rugby director things
Speaker 3: we'd missed and that's quickly got turfed out the window
Speaker 3: because we're back very quickly. But Dylan Pledge's injury was
Speaker 3: at the top of that and I think that alone
Speaker 3: has changed the course and the expectations of the season
Speaker 3: for the Highlanders. And then you throw in Farbig and
Speaker 3: Holand getting injured on Friday and we're still well waiting word.
Speaker 3: I'm hearing various things as too. Once it's not as
Speaker 3: big as it looked too. They were struggling to get
Speaker 3: it back in on Friday, so that usually means surgery,
Speaker 3: so we wait news on that. But you lose Dylan Pledger,
Speaker 3: who was you know, one of the great players last
Speaker 3: year in the NPC, and potentially Holland for instant that
Speaker 3: really takes the Windo own of the Highland of Sales.
Speaker 4: I think, oh massive, and I think wider from a
Speaker 4: pure fan perspective, Dylan Pledger would have been one of
Speaker 4: the top five players this year that you circled to
Speaker 4: look forward to such an exciting prospects. His running game,
Speaker 4: his control, his speeds to the base. You know, he's
Speaker 4: probably the closest thing, closest nine to Aaron Smith, that
Speaker 4: the New Zealand game has seen. And look, we hope
Speaker 4: and expect he's a young man. He'll do the rearhab
Speaker 4: and come again, but it won't be this year. So
Speaker 4: huge blow for the Landers. And yeah, Fabian Holland's let's
Speaker 4: hope it's not too serious because they just don't have
Speaker 4: that caliber player.
Speaker 5: They've got three all blacks Ethan de Groot.
Speaker 4: And Tavatavanawa the other one, the other ones, so they
Speaker 4: desperately need them and they've got a bloody tough start
Speaker 4: to the season. I think they have the Crusader Chiefs
Speaker 4: maybe next and then the Reds away and you've got
Speaker 4: the Jamie Joseph unknown hanging over their season as well.
Speaker 4: They were wooden spooners last year, and it does feel
Speaker 4: like it's sort of set up for the Highlanders maybe
Speaker 4: next year when they get Josh Shakim.
Speaker 5: They've been crying out for.
Speaker 4: A real established tin and I think he is going
Speaker 4: to be that guy for them. They've still got talents
Speaker 4: Russe Mavookie Neapkins and you know the All Blacks needs
Speaker 4: some wingers. Caleb Tungueytowel had a breakout year last year,
Speaker 4: so if they can get some good quality ball, they've
Speaker 4: got talents in that back line.
Speaker 3: But I do it does feel like a rebuild project
Speaker 3: that still work in progress. I mean they've got Stanley
Speaker 3: Solomon who's a very good player out of Wellington. They've
Speaker 3: nabbed him from there. If he gets an opportunity this year,
Speaker 3: excited to see him.
Speaker 4: Van Hurley and Seawann will the Hurley gets injured quite
Speaker 4: quite consistently as well, So yeah, it could be another
Speaker 4: tough year for the Landers.
Speaker 3: Mark I think is over that pack. They've got a
Speaker 3: lot of excitement in the outside backs. They've got Fucker
Speaker 3: Tava who I think is a big year for him. Potentially,
Speaker 3: maybe he's back knocking on the door of the All
Speaker 3: Blacks if he can have a good year. You know Pledger,
Speaker 3: he's probably gonna behind Pledger now you know he's going
Speaker 3: to be the first choice this year. Ten I think
Speaker 3: is a question mark for them again. They've got new stub,
Speaker 3: they've got Cam Miller. They've got Tan Robinson, They've got
Speaker 3: Rishan passitoa who came over from Australia.
Speaker 5: It's pretty lightweight.
Speaker 2: It's lightweight. These are players that in theory could be good,
Speaker 2: but they haven't had a lot of game time.
Speaker 4: Cam Miller was he was he marked as the guy
Speaker 4: and look, maybe a year on, I think he gets
Speaker 4: the keys, but it's all set up for and waiting
Speaker 4: for Jacob Okay.
Speaker 3: Let's touch on the rest of the team's more on
Speaker 3: a PACIFICA. Losing Ardisava, that's a big blow for them.
Speaker 3: They're going to be captain by a miracle fire along you,
Speaker 3: which I think is a great pick for them, But
Speaker 3: it feels like losing Artie Savilla might take the take
Speaker 3: more Wana. You know they're going to get him back
Speaker 3: next year, but it just feels like that's going to
Speaker 3: be impossible to get over.
Speaker 2: It's an Artie Savia sizes hole.
Speaker 5: Yeah.
Speaker 4: Look, there's no getting away from he was super a
Speaker 4: good player of the year last year with what three
Speaker 4: rounds remaining, he was that good, ye, and you do
Speaker 4: not replace the guy like that. I think Miracles a
Speaker 4: smart choice as captain when you think about his story
Speaker 4: coming from the Island's been plucked from relative obscurity and
Speaker 4: coming here and thriving. It is a great story. But
Speaker 4: he's not going to step into artie shoes. He's going
Speaker 4: to need some support. I think they've still got a
Speaker 4: strong coaching team with Tana and Tom Coventry. They've lost
Speaker 4: Stephen Jones, so interesting to see whether that has an
Speaker 4: impact on their attack my pursua as well.
Speaker 5: They've recruited Nannie Lao Marpi. I've heard a few.
Speaker 4: Worrying reports about the state of his knees, so interesting
Speaker 4: to see how much rugby he plays. Look, I hope
Speaker 4: more want to go really well and build on that momentum.
Speaker 4: They were on the cusp for making the top six
Speaker 4: last year. I can't see them making it this year.
Speaker 4: And look, there are real concerns over their financial future.
Speaker 5: Reported a lot on that last year.
Speaker 4: I understand they've got a a it's called a information
Speaker 4: memorandum out there at the moments, and so they're basically
Speaker 4: seeking investments, significant millions and millions of dollars investments to
Speaker 4: keep them afloat so off the field, major major question marks,
Speaker 4: and I think that's probably true on but I think
Speaker 4: they are a real unique proposition for this tournament and competition,
Speaker 4: and a hope that they can pull it together on
Speaker 4: the field because that does generate interest and momentum, and they've.
Speaker 5: Got a lot of goodwill and support.
Speaker 4: But it could be a tough year to meet the
Speaker 4: expectations that they set for themselves last year, because nobody
Speaker 4: really saw them going that well, knocking over the Crusaders
Speaker 4: and the.
Speaker 3: Like, yeah, beting the Blues and all those sort of
Speaker 3: big moments. It's not only Savvig they've lost. They've lost
Speaker 3: their Nissi brothers, their Reformo is not their car, Anthime Woiflour,
Speaker 3: a couple of Hosavily Taylor too, He's gone. So this
Speaker 3: is a even removing artists Ivy. They've lost a bit
Speaker 3: of the nucleus that's been around for three or four
Speaker 3: years since that team came into Super Rugby. So I
Speaker 3: think it's gonna be a struggle this year for more
Speaker 3: one a Pacific. Let's touch on the Australian insides. Do
Speaker 3: you expect them to be better this year? There was
Speaker 3: certainly an improvement last year. Are they able to take
Speaker 3: that lead?
Speaker 2: Well?
Speaker 3: We see more Australian sides in the top Sex and
Speaker 3: threatening to win the title.
Speaker 4: I expect the Waratahs to be I think you tipped
Speaker 4: them last year to make the final last year and
Speaker 4: as a familiar theme, isn't it? And I spoke to
Speaker 4: Jack Measley, the competition CEO at the launch and he admitted,
Speaker 4: purely from a selfish point of view, from a revenue
Speaker 4: broadcasts and eyeball's point of view, they would love the
Speaker 4: war Tars to go well because that's the Sydney.
Speaker 3: The Marketsburg twenty twenty seven World Cup. It's everything that
Speaker 3: gets to.
Speaker 4: The yeah, and I think Australian rugby has a wee
Speaker 4: bit of momentum there with on the back of the
Speaker 4: lines tour the World Cup coming and.
Speaker 5: They need to continue that. So I think the Wara Tars.
Speaker 4: They've recruited well and they've got some massive names throughout
Speaker 4: that backlane, guys like Suwey Lee and Max Jorgenson, who's
Speaker 4: an incredible talents. The Brumbies have consistently set the bar
Speaker 4: for them. The Reds have had their moments, particularly against
Speaker 4: New Zealand's teams, and Liz Kiss in his final season
Speaker 4: before going to the Wallabies will be you know, looking
Speaker 4: to make a final impression, so I don't see an
Speaker 4: Australian side winning it. I probably don't see an Australian
Speaker 4: side making the final, but I hope there's a a
Speaker 4: and some upsets because the competition needs it.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 3: I think the Australian sides do look a little bit
Speaker 3: stronger Man for Man this year than they do last year.
Speaker 3: The Warrior I think very very good, so elite. He's
Speaker 3: had a super rugby season under his belt now after
Speaker 3: being thrust into that Wallaby's tour end of twenty four.
Speaker 3: The Reds you know, Mcwright Wilson, very good pack. The
Speaker 3: Brumby's are always very very strongly attained EDMD this year
Speaker 3: to their mix. The Force I think have recruited well
Speaker 3: for you Agentina players over there. George Bridge comes back in,
Speaker 3: but it's hard to see them going you know, you know,
Speaker 3: making a real charge.
Speaker 2: One of those teams.
Speaker 4: Especially they started really well last year and fell away
Speaker 4: quite badly. Yeah they did, so that to me speaks
Speaker 4: to a lack of depth and they don't tend to
Speaker 4: travel well to New Zealand.
Speaker 5: So it'd be nice to see the narrative change.
Speaker 3: It would be Drew is the team only team. We
Speaker 3: haven't touched on Unknown with them, didn't have a great
Speaker 3: lead year last year. They've got my nust at Tali,
Speaker 3: which is probably the highest profile recruits this season. But again,
Speaker 3: the Unknown playing at home in Fiji, there's a great
Speaker 3: advantage for them, didn't travel particularly well last year.
Speaker 5: No, they're away record iss horrific.
Speaker 4: So until they address that, they're not going to feature
Speaker 4: long into the competition. And I think it's fair to
Speaker 4: say they've probably gone backwards since Mick the Kick moved
Speaker 4: on from them and went to lead the national team.
Speaker 2: I think so too.
Speaker 3: All right, anyone else that stands out for you, any
Speaker 3: players to watch the sear I'm excited to see a
Speaker 3: few of those young players that have gone around the place.
Speaker 3: Rico Simpson would like to see him get an opportunity
Speaker 3: at the Blues. Excited to see him Tyrone Thompson at
Speaker 3: the Chiefs for me back in rugby this year went
Speaker 3: to the Knights and the NRAL. Last year didn't quite
Speaker 3: work out for him, but I think he's a player
Speaker 3: of real upside if he can get some game time.
Speaker 3: He stands out for me. Anyone that stands out of
Speaker 3: the top of the head for you.
Speaker 4: Well, not up and comers necessarily, but bill Blecks need
Speaker 4: a wing need wingers. So I think I'm really intrigued
Speaker 4: to see who stands up out of Kleib, Toney, Towel,
Speaker 4: Timeoi Flo, these sort of guys.
Speaker 5: Nawa as well had a.
Speaker 4: Brief impact with the All Blacks, suffer More needs a
Speaker 4: big year. He looks in great physical shape and if
Speaker 4: he can stay on the park. Looking forward to seeing
Speaker 4: him go again. Guys like Peter Ki but interest and
Speaker 4: see how he comes back. There's a few wraps on
Speaker 4: Rampling yep as well. Recruit for the Blues. There's always
Speaker 4: a few surprise packages that we aren't necessarily on the radar.
Speaker 4: Tava Tavanaha missed most of the second half of last
Speaker 4: year and he was right up there in terms of
Speaker 4: Super Auby Players of the Year last year of his
Speaker 4: turnover ability and moved to the midfield, so there's a lot.
Speaker 4: I think there's a lot of points to prove, particularly
Speaker 4: with a new All Black coach coming in. Maybe reputations
Speaker 4: don't count for as much, so yeah, there's plenty of Injurgue.
Speaker 3: All right, final question on Super Rugby, who will be
Speaker 3: in the final come mid to late June this year, Liam.
Speaker 5: The Chiefs and the Canes.
Speaker 3: Interesting, it's going to require the Canes to actually win
Speaker 3: a knockout game, so good luck to them.
Speaker 2: I'm going to the.
Speaker 3: Chiefs in the Crusader's very matched last year's final, but
Speaker 3: I suspect this time around it will probably be in Hamilton.
Speaker 5: Is that boring?
Speaker 4: Like that's that's what most people would predict, right? Is
Speaker 4: that bad for the competition that it's so familiar?
Speaker 3: No, you said no, I think legacies, you know, are
Speaker 3: good for competitions and way because everyone wants to knock
Speaker 3: off the top team. The Crusaders one seven straight that
Speaker 3: frustrated the Jesus out of everyone. But I, you know,
Speaker 3: I would like to see an Australian team really rattled
Speaker 3: the cage this year and put some pressure on the
Speaker 3: New Zealand teams. Can't see it happening to the extent
Speaker 3: that one of the women about the final, I thought
Speaker 3: maybe last year, as I said, I took Blues Warritar's
Speaker 3: final last year had been quite happened. I took the
Speaker 3: Chief Drewer the year before, which was rather rogue. So
Speaker 3: I'm going a bit conservative this time and going to
Speaker 3: the Chiefs Crusaders, so watch the space.
Speaker 4: One final question before we leave Super how much wind
Speaker 4: is sucked out of the competition by guys like Severe
Speaker 4: alb Rico being in Japan, or Rico and Link so
Speaker 4: this is not a new concept necessarily, and also guys
Speaker 4: like Scott Barrett non playing sabbatical, Boden Barretts and Cody
Speaker 4: Taylor having late starts. And then there's also a number
Speaker 4: of injuries which are beyond the control of a competition.
Speaker 5: That does the seasons need to start later?
Speaker 4: Should Super we delay the Kii Doubi's when all these
Speaker 4: guys are missing.
Speaker 5: You know, it's it's not idea, was it?
Speaker 2: It's not a deal. It does take a win and
Speaker 2: out of the sales.
Speaker 3: We talked about the ARTISRV sized hole at more on
Speaker 3: a Pacifica this year. But I think it's the way
Speaker 3: of the world. Like I would like to see a
Speaker 3: Super Rugby start start of March. I think that would
Speaker 3: be better for everyone. If you speak to Super Rugby
Speaker 3: that they would love to go even longer at the
Speaker 3: back end of the year and you go past Dune
Speaker 3: July and make it a real you know, home and
Speaker 3: away style competition. It does take some wind out of
Speaker 3: the sales. But I also you know, we talked about
Speaker 3: the Chiefs thing. We didn't mention Antonine Brown not being
Speaker 3: there and the Chiefs you mentioned they've got a whole
Speaker 3: lot of great players coming through there, you know, the Blues.
Speaker 3: Rique Yuani's not I don't think it's as big as
Speaker 3: it's been made out to be.
Speaker 2: What about you.
Speaker 4: I think fundamentally you want all of his players on
Speaker 4: the park all the time, and I think the all
Speaker 4: Blacks reces I can understands from a worklow point of view,
Speaker 4: but I think you could have a bit more structure
Speaker 4: around the ki we doobies. I think you don't want
Speaker 4: headline stars missing from those matches in particular, and they
Speaker 4: do tend to be front loaded at the start of
Speaker 4: the year and it probably does diminish their appeal.
Speaker 2: Interesting, all right, We'll take a break, come back with
Speaker 2: more on Rugby Direct after this powered by Habit Health Physio.
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Speaker 3: Before it's Rugby Direct. You're back with Rugby It's Direct.
Speaker 3: Time now for the final four. Let's pivots and go
Speaker 3: to the big topic of the summer, biggest story of
Speaker 3: the year, bigger than the election that I think as well,
Speaker 3: all blacks coaching gig where are we at? Applications have
Speaker 3: closed last week. We're just going to give it to
Speaker 3: Steve Hanson and Egan Foster. And we're wrong about the clock?
Speaker 4: Is it the I don't think so. Okay, Look, it
Speaker 4: is like an election in some ways. I'm not sure
Speaker 4: who's national and who's labor. But I have to ask Jamie,
Speaker 4: Joseph and Dave Rennie because look, it's a two horse race.
Speaker 4: They've applied everyone it's aware that it's down to those two.
Speaker 4: So what coaching teams can they as symbol how they're
Speaker 4: going to interview. And you think it shouldn't even take
Speaker 4: too long when that's the scenario as well, well.
Speaker 2: I think it'd be good if it doesn't take too long.
Speaker 3: Make a decision, especially for the Highlanders, you know, make
Speaker 3: a decision if if Joseph misses out or gets it,
Speaker 3: then you can move on and plan for the future.
Speaker 3: You don't want to dragging through, you know, to round
Speaker 3: eight nineteen of especially if the Highlanders, for example, are
Speaker 3: in the Super raggy playff mix. I don't think they
Speaker 3: will be, but look, you don't want that being You
Speaker 3: know in the back of your minds as a team
Speaker 3: that the coaching is uncertain, so I suspect they'll come
Speaker 3: to a pretty quick conclusion. It surprised me, what are
Speaker 3: we at the moment ninth of February. I wouldn't be
Speaker 3: surprised to see a decision this time.
Speaker 4: In a month's time, yeah, I think even by the
Speaker 4: end of the month, they've got the coaching panel. Dane
Speaker 4: Cole's joining, Kevin Meer, Lamu, David Kirk and Don Tricker.
Speaker 5: I think that's a strong coaching team.
Speaker 4: You could argue maybe they're missing a former coach in
Speaker 4: that mix, but there's two contenders, interview them, have a
Speaker 4: thorough debate about it, and make a decision.
Speaker 3: Should they be presenting their coaching staff at these like
Speaker 3: how much is that going to matter?
Speaker 4: I think it does matter because we saw with Scott
Speaker 4: Robertson that his coaching team didn't work. We had a
Speaker 4: number of exits, we had a real lack of experience a.
Speaker 3: Floyd, but he still presented it. It just didn't work.
Speaker 3: So he presents it and look, there was. It was
Speaker 3: pushback saying this is not experienced enough, but they still
Speaker 3: signed off on it and then it didn't work. So
Speaker 3: who with Joseph or any might brings you know that
Speaker 3: may not work either.
Speaker 5: It's a different panel this time around. Yeah, so maybe they'll.
Speaker 4: Maybe those floors will be hit them between the eyes
Speaker 4: when it's the sudden and people were locked up like
Speaker 4: Tony Brown and Joe Schmidt and Vern Cootta and others.
Speaker 4: It's not going to be the krem dela creme of
Speaker 4: the coaching team necessarily. I don't think Joseph and Reny
Speaker 4: are going to work together. But I think the coaching
Speaker 4: teams are important. But getting the right vision and the
Speaker 4: right man is first and foremost. What it comes down to.
Speaker 3: Watch the space opening weekend of Six Nations as we continue,
Speaker 3: the final four is under in the books now France
Speaker 3: island WAITANGUI day. Great to have them schedule that game
Speaker 3: for nine am on a public holiday in New Zealand.
Speaker 5: I saw that smashed TV records in France.
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 3: Look, I think that's what rugby needs to be a
Speaker 3: bit better. AT's just as an assign it is. They
Speaker 3: moved it to avoid the opening ceremony of the Milano
Speaker 3: called Tina Winter Olympics. But especially in markets where rugby
Speaker 3: is not the biggest, biggest driver, find those windows where
Speaker 3: you can slote in games. And Thursday night game didn't
Speaker 3: clash with any football on the weekend, didn't clash with
Speaker 3: the opening ceremony, smashed the records. There's big interest in France.
Speaker 3: You look at the Wallabies three or four years ago
Speaker 3: when they played that game on Thursday night. The blood
Speaker 3: is low, big interest levels there. So I think in
Speaker 3: those markets, just a site, it's important to find those
Speaker 3: little windows that work and capture the public's imagination.
Speaker 4: Yeah, be adaptable, Yeah, pivots, be creative. We've talked about
Speaker 4: this before around Easter and Anzac Day and how the
Speaker 4: NRL and other sporting comps do that better than rugby.
Speaker 4: So yeah, I think you're right in terms of that
Speaker 4: opening weekends. Look, the All Blacks coaching team or next
Speaker 4: to All Black coach is a two horse race, and
Speaker 4: I think the Six Nations is a two horse race.
Speaker 4: France and England's Scotland don't. I don't think you could
Speaker 4: say that's a shock loss, given what's transpired in recent
Speaker 4: times in Italy. Beat them last year as well, and
Speaker 4: Islands real concerns thereabouts their states.
Speaker 2: They haven't just not gone stagnant, they've gone backwards.
Speaker 4: They are on the decline, yeah, one hundred percent, and
Speaker 4: I saw the results.
Speaker 5: I think it was.
Speaker 4: England a Island ay as well, and England pumped them.
Speaker 4: So probably concerns zir about the next generation coming through
Speaker 4: as well. Maybe Andy Farrell doesn't have a lot of
Speaker 4: options to turn to. And also I think maybe in
Speaker 4: general Irish rugby has just been found out for being
Speaker 4: a little bit formulaic. You know that that pattern structure
Speaker 4: worked really well to a points, but it's I think
Speaker 4: the game has moved on to a degree and it
Speaker 4: hasn't got them over that World Cup hump either. They've
Speaker 4: had some great success. They enjoyed time at number one,
Speaker 4: They've won six Nations titles. Andy Farrell succeeded Joe Shma
Speaker 4: and yeah, has enjoyed success. But they've hit the ceiling
Speaker 4: and now they're on the decline.
Speaker 3: That French performance, especially in the first forty five to
Speaker 3: fifty minutes, was as good as I've seen against another
Speaker 3: Tier one team. They played a style of rugby that
Speaker 3: was entertaining to watch, but they were just ruthless at
Speaker 3: the same time. You know, Blbot is an exceptional player
Speaker 3: that any number of players this is, you know, while
Speaker 3: they've also left out audreats from their squad.
Speaker 5: Credit credit to Galt.
Speaker 4: He made some massive selection decisions, going favoring more that
Speaker 4: the Bordeaux way than to lose way of style, but
Speaker 4: also players, and it's paying off.
Speaker 3: Losing Winnie Antonio to retirement on the I mean, all
Speaker 3: sorts of things. And they absolutely pummeled Ireland. England smashing Wales.
Speaker 3: No surprises there.
Speaker 4: No Wales. Rugby's in a very sad state. No one's
Speaker 4: happy about that at the moments. And I don't think
Speaker 4: you can take too much from that from an English
Speaker 4: perspective either.
Speaker 2: No, I think it was fairly standard.
Speaker 3: I mean, what I did see was that the forty
Speaker 3: eight seven I watched their game back and honestly could
Speaker 3: have been another sixty pointer late last year. They probably
Speaker 3: missed a couple of opportunities while it was really really poor.
Speaker 3: And then a great win for Italy who are playing
Speaker 3: some entertaining r He doesn't always come off, but they
Speaker 3: are really really thrilling to watch, and in the reign
Speaker 3: and Rome. They were too good in the end. So
Speaker 3: a big day for you're Italian heritage.
Speaker 5: That's right.
Speaker 4: The blood was boiling on in the morning when I
Speaker 4: got up and saw that the result. I didn't get
Speaker 4: up to watch that.
Speaker 5: It was very early. Consider this.
Speaker 4: It'saly had won one of forty two six Nation games
Speaker 4: before Gonzalo Corsada took over. They have won four of
Speaker 4: eleven since.
Speaker 3: It's remarkable and and look he looks like you look
Speaker 3: at that performance that he got out of them against
Speaker 3: the All Blacks end of twenty twenty four. It was
Speaker 3: a tit All Blacks team, but they really just annoyed
Speaker 3: the All Blacks that night and played some good rugby
Speaker 3: at times I thought and didn't get perhaps to get
Speaker 3: the awards. But they've found a coach there came off
Speaker 3: the back of Kieran Crowley. They've struck gold. Think with
Speaker 3: guisarda Scotland on the other hand, Gregor Town's end. He
Speaker 3: was asked in the media conference afterwards. I heard the footage,
Speaker 3: I heard the audigo and basically was asked whether you
Speaker 3: expected to be in charge when England came to town, come
Speaker 3: to town and at Murrayfield, this coming weekend he will
Speaker 3: be he would suspect, but Franco Smith is poised and
Speaker 3: ready to go. It wouldn't surprise me to see them
Speaker 3: pulled the trigger after these Six Nations if it continues
Speaker 3: in this vein.
Speaker 4: Yeah, I think I can see that happening Glasgow. I
Speaker 4: think they're currently second in Europe leading the USC. Franco
Speaker 4: Smith's done a great job there and patients has run
Speaker 4: out with Town's end, He's had.
Speaker 2: General ninth Six Nations campaign.
Speaker 4: He's he is Scotland's most successful coach, but he for
Speaker 4: a number of years he's had generational players and scored
Speaker 4: depth like Scotland have never had before. And when Scotland
Speaker 4: blew that leads against the Pumas a week halfter losing
Speaker 4: to the All Blacks and similar fashion at Murrayfield, Scotland
Speaker 4: will booed off the park. And if that's not telling,
Speaker 4: I don't know what is. This result comes on the
Speaker 4: back of that. I think Scotland needed to finish at
Speaker 4: least third or above. And look, there's already a lot
Speaker 4: of noise around Gregor Town's end going to become director
Speaker 4: of rugby at Newcastle after the World Cup. He's already
Speaker 4: there in a consultancy capacity. I don't think that's a
Speaker 4: good look trying to juggle two rolls in one when
Speaker 4: your main gig's not going well. So I think he's
Speaker 4: gone by the end of the six Nations and you'll
Speaker 4: see a change at the head of Scottish Rugby.
Speaker 3: Topic number three and the Final four Rugby World Cup
Speaker 3: draw for twenty twenty seven was released last week has
Speaker 3: predicted the big game to open is Australia Hong Kong, China.
Speaker 3: I mean we had to draw in decend, but this
Speaker 3: is the schedule, but it just sort of was laid
Speaker 3: ba A. How thin that pool stages in terms of
Speaker 3: must watch matches. I think World Rugby has lost a
Speaker 3: plot here. Like, I do not know what they're thinking.
Speaker 3: The sport does not have twenty four teams worthy of
Speaker 3: being at a World Cup. They've gone far too early
Speaker 3: with moving to that format. I just think this is
Speaker 3: going to fall flat in the face and I think
Speaker 3: there's a real risk that this tournament doesn't get the
Speaker 3: returns that they're hoping for in Australia, So I just, yeah,
Speaker 3: I do not know what they're thinking.
Speaker 4: I think there's a real internal conflict in sport in
Speaker 4: general at the moments when you look at the NRL
Speaker 4: expanding between broadcast revenue and putting the fan first, and
Speaker 4: the Rugby World Cup is expanding to make more broadcast revenue,
Speaker 4: and it's going to completely suck the interest out of
Speaker 4: that competition basically until almost the quarter final stage, and
Speaker 4: that's a long time.
Speaker 3: There should be some jeopardy in the opening rounds. I
Speaker 3: just don't know what world are we think they're getting
Speaker 3: out of having such a light group stage. You know,
Speaker 3: you can have the Australian New Zealand game, but really
Speaker 3: there's not even that much jippety on that fixture because
Speaker 3: they should both pump Hong Kong, China and Chile in
Speaker 3: that pool. We've got Ireland Scotland, you got England Wales.
Speaker 3: But again, it works at World Cups because there should
Speaker 3: be some jeopardy that if you lose this game, you
Speaker 3: have a tougher path through the quarterfinals or you might
Speaker 3: not make the quarter finals at all. And I just
Speaker 3: don't see that from World Rugby. So I think they've
Speaker 3: misread this big time.
Speaker 5: Oh massively.
Speaker 4: You look at South Africa's pool, they could put out
Speaker 4: a fourth fifth string team and waltz through the pool stages.
Speaker 5: Nobody wants to watch that.
Speaker 2: No, no, no one does.
Speaker 3: So yeah, Black Mark against World Rugby Topic four in
Speaker 3: the final four thirty years of Super Rugby or thirtieth anniversary,
Speaker 3: It started in nineteen ninety six, on the eve of
Speaker 3: the twenty twenty six season.
Speaker 2: You'll stand out memory from the last thirty years.
Speaker 4: Well, we were at the superbrig relaunch and they had
Speaker 4: had a bit of memorabilitiya floating around there, and they
Speaker 4: had the stubs from the opening game and Mighty Palmas
Speaker 4: the North and I was at that game.
Speaker 5: I remember.
Speaker 4: Snippets of it, but also remember the Mexican waves, full
Speaker 4: cans flying up and a little kid being carried out because.
Speaker 5: He got gone with a full can.
Speaker 4: So yes, they say it's good that that times have
Speaker 4: moved on from that, but I think the early stages
Speaker 4: of that competition were amazing because it was just all
Speaker 4: out attack, wasn't it. You think about Christian Cullen and
Speaker 4: Goldie and other players just you know, linked to the field.
Speaker 5: Try is amazing brand of rugby.
Speaker 4: The game's changed a lot since then, so that was
Speaker 4: magic being witnessing Mike Canes won their first title and
Speaker 4: the freezing cold in Wellington. Wasn't a great final, but
Speaker 4: it was a great night. So there's a couple for you.
Speaker 2: I'm struggling to narrow it down.
Speaker 5: Person, get out there.
Speaker 3: Well, I'm going to say the Crusaders warri Tis two
Speaker 3: thousand and two at Jade Stadium in Christia.
Speaker 5: You're going to say the one they lost.
Speaker 3: Crusaders Pumping the war Tars ninety six nineteen. I was
Speaker 3: at the game, never seen anything like a standing ovation
Speaker 3: at halftime there was sixty three nil up. So that's
Speaker 3: one that lives in the memory. So I'll give you
Speaker 3: that one. But I mean I could narrow it down
Speaker 3: to any of the other thirteen thirteen titles. The Crusaders one.
Speaker 4: Right, I could have said Rob Pennies fish.
Speaker 3: Well, look at the reboard works. So it was all
Speaker 3: worth it. The pain was worth the worth it in
Speaker 3: the end, Like this run through some tipping. We'll keep
Speaker 3: this going this year. Give me some tips for the
Speaker 3: opening round. We start with Highland. Just Crusaders Friday night
Speaker 3: in Dunedin.
Speaker 5: Stada's doing that, Yeah, I think so, yeah.
Speaker 2: War Tars Reds in Sydney.
Speaker 5: It was always tight. But I'll go the Tars.
Speaker 3: You're going to go the Tars. I will go the
Speaker 3: Reds for an upset in that one. The Drewer hosting
Speaker 3: winner Pacifica in Tokia Saturday afternoon.
Speaker 5: The the Drewer at home.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I tend to agree with you. I just have
Speaker 2: worries about my Wanda. She Blues Chiefs Eden Park the
Speaker 2: National Stadium.
Speaker 4: Tough to tip. Interesting to see what sort of crowd
Speaker 4: they get on opening weekend for that. Had to chat
Speaker 4: to Carl Budge last week, which puts something out this
Speaker 4: week about things he wants to do differently and how
Speaker 4: Rugby hasn't put the fan first. So interesting to see
Speaker 4: how body looks to bring and how restricted he is.
Speaker 5: With with Eden Park.
Speaker 4: They've got that over the outer over there that could
Speaker 4: potentially do some fun things with. It's a long one
Speaker 4: way of saying, I have no idea who's going to
Speaker 4: win that game, but I will tip the Blues home.
Speaker 3: Wow, okay, I'm going to check the Chiefs for a victory.
Speaker 3: The Western Force Brumbies the game you're almost looking forward
Speaker 3: to this weekend in Perth.
Speaker 5: Of course, the Brumbies Force your Force. I've lost lel
Speaker 5: mackd on with.
Speaker 3: Yeah, but what they've gained is Steorge a Bridge, so
Speaker 3: you know they've gained something there. I think they've named
Speaker 3: like a six player leadership group as well. Curtley Beal
Speaker 3: probably his last season. Our win for Coote Bill to
Speaker 3: win another Super Rugby title right Rugby dreets Super Rugby preview.
Speaker 2: In the books, we will catch you next week.
Speaker 3: Thanks to Habit Health Visio book today and stay in
Speaker 3: the game Up the Canes.
Speaker 2: No for more from News Talks ed B.
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