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Speaker 1: You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow

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Speaker 1: this and our wide range of podcast now on Iheartradiot, Inside.

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Speaker 2: The Game from every angle.

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Speaker 1: It's Rugby Direct with Elliott Smith powered by News Talks EDB.

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Speaker 3: Welcome in to Rugby Direct, powered by Excess Solutions, elevating

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

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Speaker 3: is Elligant Smith, chief rugby commentator for News Talk z'd

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Speaker 3: be alongside me as well is Liam Napier, chief sports

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Speaker 3: writer rugby correspondent for The New Zealand Herald. Liam, there

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Speaker 3: are some important things to dig into, but perhaps something

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Speaker 3: more important than a potential rift in the Rugby Direct

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Speaker 3: ranks around popcorn and going to the movies and shock

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Speaker 3: revelation from myself offline just before we hit record that

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Speaker 3: I'm the hugest of popcorn fans at the movies.

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Speaker 2: I don't have too many rules in life, Elliott.

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Speaker 4: For one of those is that you must say popcorn

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Speaker 4: when you go to the movies.

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Speaker 2: So yeah, you pretty much did to me.

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Speaker 5: Mate saw the movie.

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Speaker 3: We went to the Bike Riders yesterday just to inform

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Speaker 3: Liam I didn't take any popcorn and he was heartbroken. Anyway,

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Speaker 3: on to much more important matters. Let's get into the

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Speaker 3: week that was in rugby, and the biggest story probably

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Speaker 3: in Super Rugby transfer history is Ardie Savilla moving from

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Speaker 3: the Hurricanes to Mowana Pacifica. And the fact that's probably

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Speaker 3: just been brushed over a little bit is that he's

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Speaker 3: resigned with New Zealand Rugby through until twenty twenty seven.

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Speaker 3: But Liam, you broke this breakfast time on Friday morning,

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Speaker 3: two and a half days before it was official, and

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Speaker 3: look a huge story, isn't it.

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Speaker 2: It is?

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Speaker 4: Indeed, as you mentioned Earliert, I guess right up there

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Speaker 4: with Joan Loomu going to the Hurricanes, Boden Barrett coming

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Speaker 4: to the Blues, I guess you know Marlono and Andrew

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Speaker 4: Ware moving from Wellington to Dunedin. Hand as it didn't

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Speaker 4: go so well do it. But look, this is Matt Massive.

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Speaker 4: It's instant credibility for Moana Pacifica. It's gonna not necessarily

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Speaker 4: turn their fortunes around overnight, but if you think about

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Speaker 4: the gravitas that it brings the other potential players that

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Speaker 4: may be looking at going to that franchise, everything around

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Speaker 4: sponsorship and luring eyeballs is huge for that franchise and

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Speaker 4: like you say, already going through to the twenty twenty

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Speaker 4: seven world cover. I don't think there were ever any

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Speaker 4: doubts around that, but to have that cleared up, to

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Speaker 4: have him locked in is massive for the All Blacks

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Speaker 4: as well.

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Speaker 3: What's your understanding of why he's going to Mauna Pacifica

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Speaker 3: because he's been very loyal to the Hurricanes for a

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Speaker 3: number of years now. Obviously his brother plays at Mouna Pacifica.

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Speaker 3: How much did that play in his signing with Maua Pacifica.

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Speaker 4: Look, I think there's a number of different factors involved here.

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Speaker 4: Julian's presence is certainly a big one. They are an

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Speaker 4: extremely tight family that as they're also very proud of

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Speaker 4: their Polynesian heritage. Heritage, so ARTI's spoken openly over at

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Speaker 4: a number of different points in his career of a

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Speaker 4: desire to represent that heritage, and this is one way

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Speaker 4: where he can do that. It's fairly unlikely given he's

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Speaker 4: thirty years old now, you know, this next contract will

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Speaker 4: take him through until he's thirty three. He'd then have

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Speaker 4: to do a sort of three year stand down to

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Speaker 4: represent Snamo, So that's unlikely. So this is his chance

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Speaker 4: to represent that heritage, So that's a factor. I think

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Speaker 4: he probably also, you know, wants a new challenge. Going

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Speaker 4: to Japan was refreshing, going to Muana and having a

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Speaker 4: real influence there that that's a factor. Probably seeing what's

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Speaker 4: happened at the Hurricanes while he was away and the

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Speaker 4: way those loose forwards really stood up, what was a factor?

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Speaker 4: I think my understanding is that Jordi Barrett is actually

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Speaker 4: the highest played player at the Hurricanes, and so whether

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Speaker 4: that was a factor, I'm not sure could have thrown

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Speaker 4: a huge amount more money at Ardi, but I think

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Speaker 4: they probably could have to a degree, and I think, yeah,

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Speaker 4: at the stage of his career maybe Also I don't

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Speaker 4: know this for a fact, but I know Julian and

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Speaker 4: Ardi are very tight, and Julian wasn't happy about the

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Speaker 4: way that things played out at the Hurricanes with him

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Speaker 4: not being part of Clark Glade Law's Hurricanes future. So

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Speaker 4: maybe that was a potential factor as well.

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Speaker 5: Yeah, quite possibly for me.

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Speaker 3: I look at it and go, you're right, instant credibility

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Speaker 3: factor for more Wana pacifica and getting Ardie Savia across

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Speaker 3: the line and his magnetism.

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Speaker 5: I suppose is.

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Speaker 3: You know, it automatically gives that franchise credibility, but his

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Speaker 3: signature could bring others to be involved as well. Your

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Speaker 3: reporter that Via Fafita is looking likely to join more

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Speaker 3: Ona Pacifica, but there's other players as well that maybe

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Speaker 3: their Artie factor between if they have to choose between franchises,

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Speaker 3: could well see them for more on the Pacifica and

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Speaker 3: especially if they got Pacific Island heritage. This all of

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Speaker 3: a sudden becomes do I say that no longer a

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Speaker 3: team of players that are not good enough for the

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Speaker 3: other Super Rugby franchises, but one that aspires for success

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Speaker 3: under Ardie Savia and with Artie Savia.

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Speaker 2: That's right.

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Speaker 4: And if you think about guys like Liva Armor and

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Speaker 4: Tava Tavanawa, those guys I would go as far to say,

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Speaker 4: don't leave Mina Pacifica if Artie severe is there. Last year,

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Speaker 4: those were two shining lights for Minus Pacifica and it

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Speaker 4: was a real kick in the guts to see them

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Speaker 4: go elsewhere to further their careers. Liba Armor not a

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Speaker 4: great success at the Crusaders, but he went there because

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Speaker 4: he saw his future pathway, as you know, providing a

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Speaker 4: pathway through to the All Backs better and the Crusaders

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Speaker 4: than Miana. So Artie's present could change that, he could

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Speaker 4: lure more people there. And the other fact that I

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Speaker 4: didn't mention before was tana Umanger. He was a huge

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Speaker 4: driving factor in Ardi going Turmnor. I know he met

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Speaker 4: with him at Wellington. Tana and Tom Coventry have had

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Speaker 4: a real positive impact in improving standards at Wana last year.

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Speaker 4: I know they only won four or fourteen games and

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Speaker 4: finished second last, but their overall competitiveness throughout that season

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Speaker 4: lifted dramatically, didn't it. And so tana Umanger, the first

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Speaker 4: Polynesian All Black captain, his great minor and I think

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Speaker 4: his presence was huge in luring Ardi to Auckland.

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Speaker 3: Let's talk about the Hurricanes, because now they've lost Ardie Sava,

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Speaker 3: the running wheel Player of the Year. They lost Botien

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Speaker 3: Barrett through different circumstances as well in twenty nineteen. For

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Speaker 3: twenty twenty, can we linked the two and is there

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Speaker 3: a sign of a bigger issue at the Hurricanes that

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Speaker 3: they can't retain players that have won multiple World Player

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Speaker 3: of the Years titles.

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Speaker 4: I don't think they Boden's transfer an Ardia intrinsically linked.

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Speaker 2: Boden moved to Auckland because.

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Speaker 4: His wife is from Auckland's and their family wanted to move,

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Speaker 4: and the Blues could offer him exponentially more money through

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Speaker 4: their third party sponsorships. So I think also break the

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Speaker 4: teams are to a degree behind the Blues and what

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Speaker 4: they can offer financially. But look, there's no doubt despite

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Speaker 4: the Hurricanes' depth in their loose forwards that losing Artie

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Speaker 4: severe as a body blow, they.

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Speaker 2: Would have wanted to retain him.

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Speaker 4: All the noises were that he was going back to

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Speaker 4: the Hurricanes, and clearly there's been a bit of a

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Speaker 4: breakdown there because Artie's a pin up guy, isn't he

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Speaker 4: spoke before about From a sponsorship perspective, you know you

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Speaker 4: can guarantee that at Mine and he's going to be

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Speaker 4: plastered all over their promotional material, their season memberships, even

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Speaker 4: though they don't actually have a home right now. So

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Speaker 4: he's a guy that you can really sell from a

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Speaker 4: public perspective, and he's one of your first names on

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Speaker 4: the team suit. So there's no doubt that the Hurricanes

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Speaker 4: wanted him back, expected him back, and I think they'd

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Speaker 4: be very disappointed to lose him, so I think internally

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Speaker 4: there probably are a few questions being asked about how

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Speaker 4: this has happened. And you know, reigning World Player of

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Speaker 4: the Year, there's not too many other people you'd want.

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Speaker 2: In your ranks.

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Speaker 3: No, there isn't a couple more questions, I guess on

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Speaker 3: this topic before we move on. I guess I've saw

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Speaker 3: a couple of suggestions last night that you know, Richie

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Speaker 3: mo Wolo could be next to join him, given he's

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Speaker 3: looking to come back to New Zealand. From my understanding,

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Speaker 3: if he comes back, it'll be with the Crusaders, and

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Speaker 3: I just don't see him going to Mona Pacifica. There's

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Speaker 3: all sorts of family reasons, et cetera, that it will

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Speaker 3: go back to to christ Church with family, so that

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Speaker 3: won't happen. But as you touched on, a major opportunity

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Speaker 3: now for Wuana Pacifica, who we've asked the question a

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Speaker 3: couple of times on this podcastle around their future and

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Speaker 3: where they go to there, As it always is in

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Speaker 3: the rugby world, there are whispers and things going on.

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Speaker 3: From what I heard, the financial situation at Mojuana wasn't great,

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Speaker 3: but that's never sort of come totally to light. So

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Speaker 3: you take it at you know, face value that Mourana

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Speaker 3: is continuing.

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Speaker 5: I guess with the rebels as well.

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Speaker 3: That was the question asked around where the Mowana could

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Speaker 3: survive too, But this could you know, this is as

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Speaker 3: you said, sponsorship wise, this is going to be a

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Speaker 3: major boost for a franchise that has struggled to find

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Speaker 3: a foothold.

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Speaker 4: It is a major step in the right direction. It

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Speaker 4: doesn't solve everything behind the scenes. About a month ago

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Speaker 4: Mourana were actually sold to a pacifica medical group and

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Speaker 4: they involved them replacing their boards, So there has been

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Speaker 4: major changes behind the scenes there. That does provide a

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Speaker 4: lot of financial security to a degree. But look, this

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Speaker 4: is still a team without a home base, and that's

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Speaker 4: such a major factor in building fans because how do

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Speaker 4: you sell season memberships if you're playing in fungod Aid,

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Speaker 4: Mount Smart, Hamilton and Tonga all over the show really,

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Speaker 4: so that's a big thing for them to sort out

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Speaker 4: in the coming weeks. Hopefully they can lock down a base.

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Speaker 4: I don't know if they maybe look at Pookakoe and

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Speaker 4: Counties somewhere like that, but look, there's no doubt that

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Speaker 4: getting Artie does really put them on the map instant credibility.

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Speaker 4: The only other question I have for you that does

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Speaker 4: need to be addressed is this team is meant to

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Speaker 4: provide a pathway for players back to Samoa and Tonga

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Speaker 4: in particular with the Fijian Dura providing that pathway for

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Speaker 4: that team. You know, there's a lot of talk about

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Speaker 4: signing and all black and he's not going to play

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Speaker 4: for some or what's your read on that? And I

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Speaker 4: guess in the overall context of the purpose of Wina Pacifica.

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Speaker 3: You know what, I think this is actually the best

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Speaker 3: thing to make that happen. In all honesty, I think

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Speaker 3: getting a player like Ardie Sava is, as we've touched on,

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Speaker 3: you know, is more likely to get those signatures of

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Speaker 3: players looking to play for some more and Tonger, especially

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Speaker 3: the bigger name players that are currently maybe playing in

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Speaker 3: Europe or abroad elsewhere, to get that signature across the line.

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Speaker 3: Ardie Sava is that kind of player. They're allowed what

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Speaker 3: three all blacks or three non some more and tong

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Speaker 3: and qualifying players on their books Previously, I think they

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Speaker 3: used a couple of English players this year, or they

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Speaker 3: did use a couple of English players this year. This

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Speaker 3: is a much better use of that spot that they're

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Speaker 3: allowed to use.

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Speaker 5: So for me, I think this is the ultimate move.

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Speaker 3: And if you could see players going actually I'm thinking

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Speaker 3: about coming back to New Zealander, I'm weighing up a

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Speaker 3: contract in Japan having played for some more or Tonga.

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Speaker 3: I think that's you know, Ardie sav Is. Prisons could

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Speaker 3: definitely make that happen. So for me, no issues there

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Speaker 3: on that front. And I think let's hope that this

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Speaker 3: is a stake in the ground from one to pacifica

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Speaker 3: that they really been business in super rugby.

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Speaker 2: That's right.

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Speaker 4: And look, every team, every startup team basically in history,

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Speaker 4: takes time, don't they. This is Wine has had three

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Speaker 4: years and this is their biggest move on or off

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Speaker 4: the field. You know, they've had the odd upset that

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Speaker 4: they're starting to improve, but it doesn't come any bigger

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Speaker 4: in the context of global rugby really then signing the

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Speaker 4: world the reigning World Rugby Player of the Year, so

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Speaker 4: massive move from Miana And like you, I hope it

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Speaker 4: really is a springboard two bigger and better things and

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Speaker 4: some real stability because you know, there has been a

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Speaker 4: lot of uncertainty, and there still is to a degree,

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Speaker 4: but having a player of his status go there does provide,

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Speaker 4: you know, a real law for players, for fans, and

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Speaker 4: hopefully that'll translate into on field performances as well.

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Speaker 3: Indeed, let's move on to the Test that was over

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Speaker 3: the weekend, the All Blacks beating Fiji forty in San Diego. Liam,

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Speaker 3: what do we learn from that eighty minutes of rugby?

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Speaker 4: Look, I'm not too sure. I think I was fairly

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Speaker 4: underwhelmed by Fiji. The All Blacks were vastly improved, weren't they.

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Speaker 4: But look, they didn't face the same consuming line speed,

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Speaker 4: they didn't have Maro Tog pressuring their line outs. You know,

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Speaker 4: they weren't under a huge amount of pressure throughout that match.

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Speaker 4: But it was a step in the right direction. It

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Speaker 4: was very pleasing to get six rookies introduced to the

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Speaker 4: Test scene and see.

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Speaker 2: Them perform so well.

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Speaker 4: You know, there was no sign of nerves or anxiousness

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Speaker 4: there and a lot of them really did state their cases.

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Speaker 4: So I think when you take a step back, what

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Speaker 4: it did show as there is still depth in New

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Speaker 4: Zealand rugby that Scott Robinson's got some big selection headaches.

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Speaker 4: He's probably needs to be a bit more bold and brave.

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Speaker 4: I think he's been very conservative to start his tenure,

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Speaker 4: particularly in those first two tests against England, who were

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Speaker 4: the big standouts for you.

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Speaker 3: Billy Procter I thought was excellent, had a superb performance

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Speaker 3: and is really putting pressure now I think on Rico

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Speaker 3: yu one and it's gonna be a fascinating selection battle

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Speaker 3: for the All Blacks. And what I thought Billy Proctor's

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Speaker 3: performance did was it opened up Caleb Clark a little

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Speaker 3: bit more. We saw Caleb Clark come into the game

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Speaker 3: better than he has in previous times with the All Blacks.

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Speaker 3: You look at his stats, see Caleb Clark for all

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Speaker 3: his tries at super rugby level, he struggled to score

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Speaker 3: at international level and that can be for any number

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Speaker 3: of reasons. But he was I thought excellent on the

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Speaker 3: weekend and that was because Billy Procter was playing some

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Speaker 3: superb rugby inside him.

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Speaker 5: Looked like it took like a duct to.

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Speaker 3: Water for for Test rugby, I thought Billy Procter was

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Speaker 3: excellent and Antony let it Brown as well.

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Speaker 5: I thought had a very very good game in the midfield.

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Speaker 3: Obviously a veteran played seventy tests now or thereabouts for

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Speaker 3: the All Blacks, but just a reminder of what his

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Speaker 3: class is and what he can do. And you know,

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Speaker 3: Jordy Barrett' obviously taking that twelve jersey and rightly so

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Speaker 3: over the last couple of seasons. But Antony let it

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Speaker 3: brown and his ability to distribute but also take on

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Speaker 3: the line shouldn't be underestimated. And I think it was

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Speaker 3: a real sense of haircape. We've got some real good

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Speaker 3: midfield options. I think the pressure now goes on Rico

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Speaker 3: Yowanni to respond in the Rugby Championship when he gets

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Speaker 3: his chance. I guess the other one that impressed me

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Speaker 3: was not Hotham off the bench again Slidabilly Procter didn't

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Speaker 3: take long to adjust to Test rugby, just came in.

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Speaker 3: Wasn't expecting to get as much game time as he

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Speaker 3: did with Quartez Ratama coming off of the park, but

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Speaker 3: he slotted in really, really well, didn't overplay his hand

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Speaker 3: and just looked ready for Test rugby. So for me,

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Speaker 3: the mid field and Noah Hotham with the standouts then,

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Speaker 3: and I don't think any one of the debuhants really

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Speaker 3: put a foot wrong but I think there's a lot

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Speaker 3: to like from what we saw in terms of the

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Speaker 3: individual performances over the weekend, even if we didn't learn

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Speaker 3: so much maybe about the team as a whole.

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Speaker 4: That's right, and I'm glad you mentioned anton Lena Brown

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Speaker 4: there because Billy Proctor certainly got the plaudits and rightly so.

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Speaker 4: And the big thing that he brought wasn't it was

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Speaker 4: the distribution, just the ability to set us outsides away

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Speaker 4: Chris accurate, no hesitation, and I think that's what has

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Speaker 4: been missing. You know, that's the big criticism of Rico

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Speaker 4: Iwani's game, that he does tend to go himself rather

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Speaker 4: than set us outsides away. So there was a bit

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Speaker 4: of a stark contrast there. But Anton Lena Brown, you

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Speaker 4: know we've spoken before about no one really in New

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Speaker 4: Zealand rugby been able to replace what Jordi Barrett brings.

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Speaker 4: But on this occasion, Antony Leaner Brown actually did that.

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Speaker 4: He was hard running, direct, you know, he was Barrett

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Speaker 4: and for all intensive purposes. So that was really pleasing

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Speaker 4: to see that Angelina Brown has that ability allbit against Fiji.

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Speaker 4: You touch on some of the other debuns for me

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Speaker 4: off the bench as well Wallace Tsi, Pasilio Tossi. Those

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Speaker 4: guys have big futures. Still question marks around Tossi's scrummaging

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Speaker 4: ability against you know, the likes of the spring box

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Speaker 4: in England and others, but just from a pure ball carrying, dynamic, youth.

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Speaker 2: Perspective, those two guys have massive futures.

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Speaker 4: And we talked previously about Wallace Citti's ability to change

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Speaker 4: the dynamic of that loose forward trio, and I think

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Speaker 4: that's a very live conversation because both those guys off

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Speaker 4: the bench hard, direct punch up the middle, they can offload,

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Speaker 4: they've got quick feet at the line. Just their their

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Speaker 4: pure physical dynamic. It was great to see them not

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Speaker 4: be overruled by the occasion and really thrive. And I

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Speaker 4: think there is some really tough decisions and it's going

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Speaker 4: to be interesting to see how the All Blacks manage

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Speaker 4: that throughout the Rugby Championship, because even from a squad perspective,

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Speaker 4: there's going to be some tough conversations, aren't they.

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Speaker 3: There are, and I think that's going to be fascinating

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Speaker 3: to see how the thirty six are put together just

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Speaker 3: before we leave the game and or just Before we

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Speaker 3: move on, I just want to say about Luke Jacobson,

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Speaker 3: who as a player that I've never felt has really

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Speaker 3: stood up at test level, but I thought was very

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Speaker 3: very good on the weekend. But it was a real

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Speaker 3: line out target for the All Blacks. They used him

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Speaker 3: a lot during that game. I thought he carried pretty

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Speaker 3: strongly on occasion. But I thought that was probably one

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Speaker 3: of his better tests. Luke Jacobson was so Eathian blacket

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Speaker 3: a return to the fold maybe look short of a

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Speaker 3: gallop a little bit ethan. I found his way into

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Speaker 3: the game rather later on and I thought that was

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Speaker 3: a positive sign for the All Blacks. And Sam Derry

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Speaker 3: off the bench too. I thought when they're looking for

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Speaker 3: that size and that replacement lock, he put his hand up.

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Speaker 3: So there's some interesting selection quandaries ahead of the Rugby Championship.

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Speaker 3: As we touched on just on Fiji, liam really disappointing

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Speaker 3: from them. They obviously were World Cup quarter finalists last year.

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Speaker 3: They are missing some of the key players through injury.

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Speaker 3: You know Levani Botti. It wasn't there a couple of

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Speaker 3: players to join the sevens as well? Do we solve

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Speaker 3: not there either, So they were missing some key players,

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Speaker 3: but a really limp performance from Fiji. They ran pretty

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Speaker 3: much their entire attack around Semur and Dradra and on

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Speaker 3: times it worked, but it just wasn't going to be

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Speaker 3: able to cause issues for the All Blacks over eighty minutes.

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Speaker 3: I thought defensively they were lacks at times. Yeah, just

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Speaker 3: not a great afternoon from Fiji.

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Speaker 5: I didn't think.

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Speaker 2: No, it was very underwhelming, wasn't it.

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Speaker 4: Even when they did bill phases, there was so many mistakes.

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Speaker 4: It was largely predictable, and they blew one try in

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Speaker 4: the corner but never really threatened the All Blacks. Their

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Speaker 4: scrums struggled, they never put any pressure on the line out.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, they I guess you know.

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Speaker 4: They come off a July campaign where they've been up

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Speaker 4: to London, played the Barbarians, beat Georgia and Georgia.

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Speaker 2: They've got a new coach and Mick Burn.

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Speaker 4: As you mentioned, they're missing a couple of players, but

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Speaker 4: certainly expected a lot more from them given what happened

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Speaker 4: last year. They knocked over England at Twickenham Australia in

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Speaker 4: the World Cup and it did really look like they'd

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Speaker 4: fallen away significantly since then.

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Speaker 2: So let's hope that's not a sign of things to come.

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Speaker 2: I do agree.

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Speaker 4: Look, Jacison, that was definitely his best test for the

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Speaker 4: All Blacks, and yeah, probably underwhelmed by Ethan Blackhead. He's

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Speaker 4: a bit of a cult figure, isn't he his first test?

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Speaker 4: Since I think it's November first starting tests it's November

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Speaker 4: twenty twenty one, so maybe just coming to grips of that.

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Speaker 4: He's only played five games this year, but probably expected

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Speaker 4: a little bit more from him.

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Speaker 3: Indeed, Well, the All Blacks now, of course have a

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Speaker 3: break for three weeks, so they'reabouts until they reconvene for

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Speaker 3: the side of the Rugby Championship against Argentina in Wowing

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Speaker 3: and Leah before we take a break on the first

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Speaker 3: half of that podcast. And really sad news last week

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Speaker 3: as well, the passing of Norm Hewett age fifty five,

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Speaker 3: after he was diagnosed with murder neuron disease, which is

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Speaker 3: worryingly now a number of players have been diagnosed with

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Speaker 3: that number of rugby players from that era, but normal

390
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Speaker 3: Heewitt just a wonderful presence in rugby memories of that

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Speaker 3: showdown with Richard Cockrell, but I also admired the way

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Speaker 3: that he turned himself around towards the end of his

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Speaker 3: rugby career, then afterwards his battle with the bottle, and

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Speaker 3: then turned it into just a remarkable second half. I

395
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Speaker 3: suppose you'd say with the dancing with the stars, but

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Speaker 3: the fundraising for various charities. The SPCA, I know is

397
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Speaker 3: involved in drugging, alcohol abuse and everything like that. He

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Speaker 3: fund raised to help those people involved in that as well.

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Speaker 3: So really really sad news and New Zealand rugby losing

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Speaker 3: a bit of an identity in the passing of Norm Puitt.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, norms a bit of.

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Speaker 4: It's hard to summon my Actually, Jamie Wall, one of

403
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Speaker 4: our colleagues, did a nice piece that charted I guess

404
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Speaker 4: that that transition that you mentioned there and comparing it

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Speaker 4: to modern rugby and its challenges and it's trying to

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Speaker 4: change its public face to a degree, and I think

407
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Speaker 4: Norman did that. I've got memories of them playing in

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Speaker 4: the two thousand final great one that you'll remember fondly

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Speaker 4: Wellington claiming the title of Norm charging into rucks with

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Speaker 4: a broken arm b of Canterbury. So nice one for

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Speaker 4: the good guys there, and look Norm, you know he

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Speaker 4: came through in an era where Unfortunately, he spent the

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Speaker 4: vast majority of his career on the bench behind the

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Speaker 4: great Shaun Fazpatrick and was then quickly sort of usurped

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Speaker 4: by Antonine Oliver, but in an era where substitutions aren't

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Speaker 4: what they are today. So had he been born and

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Speaker 4: come through in a different era, would have played a

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Speaker 4: lot more tests for the All Blacks. But I think,

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Speaker 4: like you say, what he did off the field is

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Speaker 4: probably almost more meaningful and in later life. And yeah,

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Speaker 4: it is a worry that players of his generation are

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Speaker 4: disproportionately affected by modern neuron disease and I think there's

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Speaker 4: a lot to be said for that, and there's a

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Speaker 4: lot of research going into that.

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Speaker 2: So your thoughts with the Hewitt family.

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Speaker 4: But I guess great to see a guy like that

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Speaker 4: turn things around and it's a bit of a lesson

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Speaker 4: to us all.

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Speaker 5: Yeah, an impressive legacy he leaves.

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Speaker 3: There's a certain will take a break here on Rugby Direct,

431
00:23:36,253 --> 00:23:38,853
Speaker 3: come back with the second half after this.

432
00:23:38,853 --> 00:23:42,933
Speaker 1: This is Rugby Direct, a podcast for real rugby fans.

433
00:23:48,293 --> 00:23:49,093
Speaker 5: Rugby Direct.

434
00:23:49,333 --> 00:23:53,853
Speaker 3: How You're back with Rugby Direct, power By Access Solutions,

435
00:23:53,893 --> 00:23:57,133
Speaker 3: get to get into our final four for rugby topics

436
00:23:57,133 --> 00:23:59,733
Speaker 3: that Ligham and I will debate, let's rank the All

437
00:23:59,733 --> 00:24:03,733
Speaker 3: Blacks halfbacks who have played this year if they were

438
00:24:03,773 --> 00:24:05,933
Speaker 3: all fully fit now I actually probaly need to add

439
00:24:05,933 --> 00:24:07,813
Speaker 3: a caveat there that I think we both agree that

440
00:24:07,853 --> 00:24:10,213
Speaker 3: Cam Roy is in theory the number one, but he

441
00:24:10,253 --> 00:24:12,653
Speaker 3: hasn't been able to play. But the All Blacks have

442
00:24:12,933 --> 00:24:16,013
Speaker 3: now used four half backs this year, Liam, having seen

443
00:24:16,493 --> 00:24:20,053
Speaker 3: three tests, how would you rank the half backs as

444
00:24:20,093 --> 00:24:22,733
Speaker 3: they stand? The ones that are fit or close to being.

445
00:24:22,733 --> 00:24:25,613
Speaker 3: Fitzel include TJ Pedanar right in this conversation.

446
00:24:26,493 --> 00:24:29,933
Speaker 4: It was probably one of the most interesting selection debates,

447
00:24:30,013 --> 00:24:35,293
Speaker 4: isn't it. And it's very much a futuristic type conversation

448
00:24:35,453 --> 00:24:38,133
Speaker 4: with a lot of youth coming through. So I've been

449
00:24:38,253 --> 00:24:42,213
Speaker 4: extremely impressed by Cortez Ratimar. He made an immediate impact

450
00:24:42,213 --> 00:24:45,213
Speaker 4: at Eden Park coming off the bench, and while he

451
00:24:45,293 --> 00:24:48,253
Speaker 4: went off what was it thirty five minutes into that

452
00:24:48,333 --> 00:24:51,973
Speaker 4: Test in San Diego with an hia that will keep

453
00:24:52,013 --> 00:24:55,493
Speaker 4: him out for ten days or so. He's by far

454
00:24:55,573 --> 00:24:58,093
Speaker 4: and away made the biggest impact this year, so he's

455
00:24:58,133 --> 00:25:01,813
Speaker 4: won for me. I was impressed by t J Petinara

456
00:25:01,933 --> 00:25:05,013
Speaker 4: as well. I think in his limited time he did

457
00:25:05,013 --> 00:25:08,333
Speaker 4: show his experience. He's got a great left foot composure,

458
00:25:08,413 --> 00:25:11,733
Speaker 4: brings size and experience from the base, So he's two

459
00:25:11,773 --> 00:25:13,253
Speaker 4: for me, no hope them.

460
00:25:14,133 --> 00:25:15,093
Speaker 2: I was impressed by him.

461
00:25:15,093 --> 00:25:18,853
Speaker 4: I think he does still have elements of his game

462
00:25:18,973 --> 00:25:23,533
Speaker 4: that can improve, but extremely dynamic and another one who

463
00:25:23,573 --> 00:25:26,693
Speaker 4: took to test regular conduct Towater, so he's three infinite.

464
00:25:26,773 --> 00:25:29,493
Speaker 2: Christie is very much number four for me. I think

465
00:25:29,613 --> 00:25:32,053
Speaker 2: he's in danger of falling.

466
00:25:32,013 --> 00:25:36,053
Speaker 6: Out of the pack, and I think his selection was

467
00:25:36,053 --> 00:25:39,293
Speaker 6: probably more a nod to the previous regime and he's

468
00:25:39,333 --> 00:25:42,093
Speaker 6: not wanting to leave a guy out who was in

469
00:25:42,133 --> 00:25:45,733
Speaker 6: a World Cup squad and perhaps have too much youth

470
00:25:46,053 --> 00:25:47,213
Speaker 6: within your half back rank.

471
00:25:47,333 --> 00:25:48,773
Speaker 2: So he's number four for me.

472
00:25:48,813 --> 00:25:51,733
Speaker 3: Are it I would go the same order, although I

473
00:25:51,813 --> 00:25:55,933
Speaker 3: think I'd flip TJ Peninara and Nah Hotham around just

474
00:25:56,013 --> 00:25:58,973
Speaker 3: on the basis of I think you don't lose.

475
00:25:59,053 --> 00:25:59,693
Speaker 5: I mean TJ.

476
00:25:59,693 --> 00:26:02,413
Speaker 3: I thought we had a good first half in duned him,

477
00:26:02,413 --> 00:26:04,333
Speaker 3: but I think with Hotham you've got that future.

478
00:26:04,533 --> 00:26:05,613
Speaker 5: I look to the future there.

479
00:26:05,653 --> 00:26:08,093
Speaker 3: I don't know that TJ, at sort of thirty five

480
00:26:08,533 --> 00:26:10,573
Speaker 3: thirty six is going to be around to the next

481
00:26:10,853 --> 00:26:12,453
Speaker 3: Rugby World Cup, so I think you look to the

482
00:26:12,453 --> 00:26:15,933
Speaker 3: future with Hotham. I think with Finlay Christie, you're right

483
00:26:15,973 --> 00:26:18,533
Speaker 3: and I'm really intrigued when the squad comes out for

484
00:26:18,573 --> 00:26:22,333
Speaker 3: the Rugby Championship as to what Scott Robertson and perhaps

485
00:26:22,373 --> 00:26:26,533
Speaker 3: more specifically Scott Hansen does around it. There was footage

486
00:26:26,533 --> 00:26:29,133
Speaker 3: of him in the ins of R Plus documentary talking

487
00:26:29,173 --> 00:26:31,653
Speaker 3: about how they've potentially got the you know, one of

488
00:26:31,693 --> 00:26:33,813
Speaker 3: the greatest or the greatest group of halfbacks in the

489
00:26:33,813 --> 00:26:36,573
Speaker 3: world heading into this World Cup cycle. We know Roy

490
00:26:36,573 --> 00:26:38,573
Speaker 3: Guard's on the sidelines, champion at the bit to get

491
00:26:38,613 --> 00:26:41,293
Speaker 3: his opportunity when he can. But it's going to be

492
00:26:41,333 --> 00:26:43,053
Speaker 3: fascinating to see how they weigh it up and where

493
00:26:43,053 --> 00:26:45,253
Speaker 3: the Hotham has done enough to crack into that three

494
00:26:45,293 --> 00:26:48,373
Speaker 3: and where the Finlay Christie retains his spot. I think

495
00:26:48,413 --> 00:26:50,813
Speaker 3: he's the one and the most jupity, isn't he?

496
00:26:50,813 --> 00:26:53,253
Speaker 4: He is indeed, and if you cast the head, let's

497
00:26:53,733 --> 00:27:00,733
Speaker 4: win Royguards for how enticing dynamic prospect as a Roy

498
00:27:00,773 --> 00:27:04,013
Speaker 4: Guard Ratama one two punch, you know that that can

499
00:27:04,053 --> 00:27:10,013
Speaker 4: completely change the dynamic of your attacking game. Both strong defensively,

500
00:27:10,573 --> 00:27:15,653
Speaker 4: they bring great support lines. The only thing they're missing

501
00:27:15,733 --> 00:27:17,853
Speaker 4: is experience in big matches. But if you get them

502
00:27:17,853 --> 00:27:21,413
Speaker 4: and now build them for the next four years, that

503
00:27:21,653 --> 00:27:25,693
Speaker 4: is an absolutely lightning prospect.

504
00:27:26,613 --> 00:27:29,453
Speaker 3: Indeed, it is topic number two on our Rugby Direct

505
00:27:29,493 --> 00:27:32,693
Speaker 3: Final four. Joe Schmidt and start as Wallaby's coach, give

506
00:27:32,773 --> 00:27:36,373
Speaker 3: us a mic out of ten. Two wins over Wales,

507
00:27:36,453 --> 00:27:38,613
Speaker 3: one over Georgia. What do you give them out of ten?

508
00:27:39,693 --> 00:27:43,893
Speaker 2: Well, look, my harsh mark Earliot, we know this. I'm

509
00:27:43,933 --> 00:27:45,573
Speaker 2: only going to go five to be honest.

510
00:27:45,653 --> 00:27:49,693
Speaker 4: I was really underwhelmed by the Wallabies performance against Georgia.

511
00:27:49,733 --> 00:27:53,813
Speaker 4: I know they made a number of changes and take

512
00:27:53,893 --> 00:27:56,813
Speaker 4: nothing away from Georgia. Look they scored try from the

513
00:27:56,893 --> 00:28:01,213
Speaker 4: end of the Earth, a lot more enterprising than we

514
00:28:01,333 --> 00:28:03,653
Speaker 4: expect from them. They traditionally cast as a bit of

515
00:28:03,693 --> 00:28:07,973
Speaker 4: a scrummaging set piece, played territory type scene, but they

516
00:28:08,013 --> 00:28:09,453
Speaker 4: really brought a lot more than that.

517
00:28:09,493 --> 00:28:13,493
Speaker 2: Against the Wallabies. But I think the Wallabies still had

518
00:28:13,533 --> 00:28:16,013
Speaker 2: big issues with depth. I think they need.

519
00:28:16,973 --> 00:28:21,293
Speaker 4: Some overseas players back Ben Donaldson. I don't rate as

520
00:28:21,293 --> 00:28:24,773
Speaker 4: the first five. Lola Coo was criticized for some of

521
00:28:24,813 --> 00:28:27,613
Speaker 4: his work against Wales as well, so still some big

522
00:28:27,693 --> 00:28:31,253
Speaker 4: question marks at ten. I think Joe Schmitt will improve

523
00:28:31,293 --> 00:28:34,053
Speaker 4: them over time, but it's still very much baby steps

524
00:28:34,053 --> 00:28:35,093
Speaker 4: for me at the stage.

525
00:28:35,853 --> 00:28:39,173
Speaker 3: Yeah, hush, Marker, Liam, you own up to it, but

526
00:28:39,213 --> 00:28:41,773
Speaker 3: that is harsh that we three and zero first time,

527
00:28:41,773 --> 00:28:43,573
Speaker 3: and I think about a decade that they've managed to

528
00:28:43,573 --> 00:28:45,973
Speaker 3: do that. The Wallabies, they're on the up. I give

529
00:28:45,973 --> 00:28:48,613
Speaker 3: them a six and a half out of ten. With

530
00:28:48,693 --> 00:28:51,253
Speaker 3: the players that he's got, the injuries that they've had,

531
00:28:51,613 --> 00:28:55,053
Speaker 3: I'm giving Joe Schmitt, you know, perhaps on my soft hand,

532
00:28:55,053 --> 00:28:58,133
Speaker 3: but I'm giving Joshmitt six and a half out of ten.

533
00:28:58,213 --> 00:29:00,013
Speaker 3: But there are some improvements that need to be made

534
00:29:00,013 --> 00:29:03,213
Speaker 3: from the Wallabies. Defensive Wise, I don't think they're quite

535
00:29:03,253 --> 00:29:05,573
Speaker 3: where they need to be. They ship twenty eight against

536
00:29:05,613 --> 00:29:10,053
Speaker 3: Wales in the second Test, twenty nine Georgia on the weekend.

537
00:29:11,173 --> 00:29:13,613
Speaker 5: Defensively there are some real question marks.

538
00:29:13,613 --> 00:29:15,613
Speaker 3: But what we have seen is they can score points

539
00:29:16,253 --> 00:29:18,493
Speaker 3: forty against Australia, story against the Jordan the week in

540
00:29:18,573 --> 00:29:20,773
Speaker 3: thirty six against Well, they've got points in them. It's

541
00:29:20,813 --> 00:29:23,733
Speaker 3: the conceding of it that really worries me. And I'm

542
00:29:23,773 --> 00:29:25,573
Speaker 3: fascinated to see whether he brings back some of those

543
00:29:25,573 --> 00:29:29,453
Speaker 3: overseas players for the Rugby Championship Topic three. The New

544
00:29:29,573 --> 00:29:32,333
Speaker 3: Zealand under twenties finished third at the Under twenty World

545
00:29:32,373 --> 00:29:36,053
Speaker 3: Cup in South Africa. They beat France in group play

546
00:29:36,093 --> 00:29:39,493
Speaker 3: but couldn't match it in the semi finals and then

547
00:29:39,493 --> 00:29:42,693
Speaker 3: bet Ireland in the third place playoff. Liam, I guess,

548
00:29:42,693 --> 00:29:45,493
Speaker 3: after a barren few years, do you consider third a

549
00:29:45,613 --> 00:29:47,453
Speaker 3: success for the New Zealand under twenties.

550
00:29:49,333 --> 00:29:51,013
Speaker 4: Just before I dive into that, I think, you know,

551
00:29:51,053 --> 00:29:53,133
Speaker 4: we've had some singing on the podcast before and I

552
00:29:53,173 --> 00:29:55,453
Speaker 4: think next time giving your marking, maybe you can come

553
00:29:55,493 --> 00:29:57,693
Speaker 4: out with, you know, always look on the bright side

554
00:29:57,693 --> 00:30:00,413
Speaker 4: of life. I think I think our listeners would.

555
00:30:00,253 --> 00:30:00,893
Speaker 2: Really enjoy that.

556
00:30:02,293 --> 00:30:05,213
Speaker 5: We'll see, Yeah, okay.

557
00:30:04,973 --> 00:30:08,253
Speaker 4: I'll start the campaign for that look on the under twenty.

558
00:30:08,773 --> 00:30:10,973
Speaker 4: It is a positive step in the right direction, isn't it.

559
00:30:11,013 --> 00:30:15,813
Speaker 4: I think it has been a real concern this development piece,

560
00:30:15,853 --> 00:30:18,173
Speaker 4: and I think it still is to a degree. But

561
00:30:18,413 --> 00:30:21,853
Speaker 4: John O Gibbs has come in there and he's importantly

562
00:30:21,933 --> 00:30:24,493
Speaker 4: had a lot of support from the All Blacks. I

563
00:30:24,493 --> 00:30:27,053
Speaker 4: think Leo McDonald and Jason Holland went over to visit

564
00:30:27,933 --> 00:30:30,693
Speaker 4: their squads when they were on the Gold Coast, so

565
00:30:30,773 --> 00:30:33,053
Speaker 4: to see that that level of connection is important.

566
00:30:33,373 --> 00:30:34,453
Speaker 2: Third is an improvement.

567
00:30:35,093 --> 00:30:38,293
Speaker 4: They were well off the pace against France, but France

568
00:30:38,333 --> 00:30:42,973
Speaker 4: had been a domineering presence in this area of the

569
00:30:43,013 --> 00:30:47,293
Speaker 4: game and to get one up on Sorry Ireland in particular,

570
00:30:48,213 --> 00:30:51,693
Speaker 4: does show progress. So I think if they can retain

571
00:30:51,773 --> 00:30:55,293
Speaker 4: john O Gibbs, that's an important piece of the puzzle there,

572
00:30:55,813 --> 00:30:58,373
Speaker 4: and yet to shine a bit of a spotlight on

573
00:30:58,413 --> 00:31:00,693
Speaker 4: the under twenties and the importance it does have to

574
00:31:00,773 --> 00:31:04,653
Speaker 4: providing that pathway to the national team. So positive steps there, Eliot,

575
00:31:05,693 --> 00:31:08,973
Speaker 4: I'm with you. I'm seeing the glass half a side

576
00:31:08,973 --> 00:31:10,013
Speaker 4: of the equation here.

577
00:31:10,133 --> 00:31:11,053
Speaker 5: It's a better way to do it.

578
00:31:11,173 --> 00:31:13,893
Speaker 3: Unfortunately, Johnny Gibbs his sign with Leon I believe, so

579
00:31:14,853 --> 00:31:17,213
Speaker 3: that's him done. I think from a New Zealand under

580
00:31:17,213 --> 00:31:20,013
Speaker 3: twenties perspective, at least of this season. For me, I

581
00:31:20,053 --> 00:31:23,413
Speaker 3: think there's almost too much put on results at the

582
00:31:23,493 --> 00:31:27,813
Speaker 3: Under twenty World Championship and titles. I think you obviously

583
00:31:27,853 --> 00:31:29,413
Speaker 3: need to see the quality players coming through, but I

584
00:31:29,413 --> 00:31:31,853
Speaker 3: think there's a little bit too much weight put on Oh,

585
00:31:31,893 --> 00:31:33,653
Speaker 3: they haven't mad a final in seven years, because this

586
00:31:33,773 --> 00:31:35,533
Speaker 3: is the only point in time where you are capped

587
00:31:35,573 --> 00:31:40,373
Speaker 3: by an age limit. At test level or at international level.

588
00:31:40,453 --> 00:31:43,013
Speaker 3: So me it's important to see those players coming through.

589
00:31:43,013 --> 00:31:44,413
Speaker 3: But you look at through some of the years, yep,

590
00:31:44,413 --> 00:31:47,173
Speaker 3: there's been heaps of Super Rugby and All Blacks players

591
00:31:47,213 --> 00:31:49,693
Speaker 3: that have come through the grade and made their way there.

592
00:31:49,773 --> 00:31:51,613
Speaker 3: Some years not so much. But when you combine it

593
00:31:51,893 --> 00:31:56,013
Speaker 3: to one team from an open age limit, then you

594
00:31:56,093 --> 00:31:57,853
Speaker 3: may have as many problems. So I think there's almost

595
00:31:57,933 --> 00:32:00,533
Speaker 3: a little bit too much waiting, especially maybe up North

596
00:32:00,973 --> 00:32:04,733
Speaker 3: around what an under twenty championship means. But a good

597
00:32:05,093 --> 00:32:09,493
Speaker 3: progress from New Zealand none the least. Topic four in

598
00:32:09,613 --> 00:32:14,293
Speaker 3: the Final four sevens at the Olympics starts Thursday morning,

599
00:32:14,333 --> 00:32:17,413
Speaker 3: live commentary on Gold Sport and iHeartRadio looking forward to

600
00:32:17,613 --> 00:32:20,053
Speaker 3: bring this to you that All Black sevens have two

601
00:32:20,093 --> 00:32:22,093
Speaker 3: days of competition before a break for the day of

602
00:32:22,093 --> 00:32:25,213
Speaker 3: the opening ceremony, them back into it for finals date

603
00:32:26,013 --> 00:32:28,293
Speaker 3: Len What chance of a double gold for New Zealand

604
00:32:28,293 --> 00:32:29,933
Speaker 3: at these games?

605
00:32:30,493 --> 00:32:33,733
Speaker 4: I think there's a strong chance to a degree. But

606
00:32:34,773 --> 00:32:37,173
Speaker 4: sevens is so hit and miss, isn't it. He only

607
00:32:37,213 --> 00:32:41,213
Speaker 4: needs one drop ball, one penalty, a yellow card and

608
00:32:41,373 --> 00:32:44,213
Speaker 4: the momentum completely swings and it's so hard to get

609
00:32:44,213 --> 00:32:47,773
Speaker 4: it back a bit like twenty twenty cricket. So look,

610
00:32:47,813 --> 00:32:51,293
Speaker 4: I think I would back our woman to go there

611
00:32:51,293 --> 00:32:52,053
Speaker 4: and get gold.

612
00:32:52,133 --> 00:32:56,293
Speaker 2: But the men have improved significantly in recent years and

613
00:32:57,293 --> 00:32:58,213
Speaker 2: are a strong.

614
00:32:57,973 --> 00:33:01,853
Speaker 4: Chance, but I wouldn't be putting the house on them

615
00:33:01,893 --> 00:33:04,213
Speaker 4: to go and get gold. Double goal would be a

616
00:33:04,253 --> 00:33:08,493
Speaker 4: fantastic achievement. Both those teams that are fairly settled that

617
00:33:08,573 --> 00:33:11,773
Speaker 4: have been building to this as their pinnacle events, and

618
00:33:12,293 --> 00:33:15,013
Speaker 4: they do look like they're on track. But seven is

619
00:33:15,093 --> 00:33:19,253
Speaker 4: just so unpredictable. You never know what's coming. So it's

620
00:33:19,253 --> 00:33:21,613
Speaker 4: going to be fascinating to see as part of that

621
00:33:21,653 --> 00:33:24,893
Speaker 4: wider coverage and certainly looked forward to hearing your doulcet

622
00:33:24,973 --> 00:33:26,613
Speaker 4: turns in the early hours of the morning.

623
00:33:26,693 --> 00:33:28,773
Speaker 3: Yeah, put the radio under the beat or the the

624
00:33:29,213 --> 00:33:32,533
Speaker 3: iPad iPhone or whatever, chuck it on iHeartRadio. I think think

625
00:33:32,573 --> 00:33:35,053
Speaker 3: for the Blackfoo Sevens or the Women sevens as they

626
00:33:35,133 --> 00:33:39,013
Speaker 3: call it, this competition, I think for not getting gold

627
00:33:39,413 --> 00:33:41,093
Speaker 3: is probably a bit of a failure for them, even

628
00:33:41,133 --> 00:33:43,373
Speaker 3: though Australia is really on the improve. I think New

629
00:33:43,493 --> 00:33:46,453
Speaker 3: Zealand going as favorites to that competition, they should win it.

630
00:33:46,893 --> 00:33:49,173
Speaker 3: But as you say, anything could happen on the day.

631
00:33:49,253 --> 00:33:52,373
Speaker 3: But I think getting Sierra Hiddney back from that jury

632
00:33:52,373 --> 00:33:54,333
Speaker 3: that threatened to rule around the Olympics is a major

633
00:33:54,373 --> 00:33:56,293
Speaker 3: boost with them. They've been doing really really well in

634
00:33:56,293 --> 00:34:01,733
Speaker 3: her absence. They lost the Madrid World Championship final to Australia,

635
00:34:01,773 --> 00:34:04,293
Speaker 3: but they do in general have had their number for

636
00:34:04,653 --> 00:34:07,373
Speaker 3: a couple of years now, so let's hope that continues

637
00:34:07,413 --> 00:34:09,653
Speaker 3: at the Olympic game. And for the men's sevens, I

638
00:34:09,653 --> 00:34:13,453
Speaker 3: think it's so wide open. You've got France with Antonine

639
00:34:13,533 --> 00:34:16,533
Speaker 3: du Pont, the Argentina had a really really good season.

640
00:34:16,853 --> 00:34:19,493
Speaker 3: New Zealand's right, the Figi haven't had the greatest a

641
00:34:19,533 --> 00:34:21,013
Speaker 3: couple of years, but you know they'll turn up and

642
00:34:21,013 --> 00:34:23,173
Speaker 3: they've got a couple of players that have switched over there.

643
00:34:23,173 --> 00:34:25,973
Speaker 3: South Africa barely qualified, but they're a real contenter. So

644
00:34:26,213 --> 00:34:28,653
Speaker 3: there's any number I think in the men's where five, six,

645
00:34:28,773 --> 00:34:31,893
Speaker 3: seven teams actually could win it. So I promises to

646
00:34:31,933 --> 00:34:36,133
Speaker 3: be a fascinating Olympic sevens competition. Let's wrap up the

647
00:34:36,133 --> 00:34:39,253
Speaker 3: final four and wrap up the podcast with a quick

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00:34:39,293 --> 00:34:43,573
Speaker 3: one on Eddie Jones defeated at the weekend comfortably by

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00:34:43,613 --> 00:34:46,813
Speaker 3: Italy after losing to Georgia the previous week. Liam, do

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00:34:46,813 --> 00:34:48,693
Speaker 3: you put it down to just trialing a few new

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00:34:48,733 --> 00:34:52,453
Speaker 3: combinations and players, or has Eddie Jones gone a bit

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00:34:52,493 --> 00:34:54,213
Speaker 3: Joe Biden and all the momentum's gone.

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00:34:56,133 --> 00:34:59,613
Speaker 4: Yeah, I think we need to start an Eddy out campaign, Eliott,

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00:34:59,693 --> 00:35:03,933
Speaker 4: because it hasn't been a great what two years for him,

655
00:35:03,933 --> 00:35:07,053
Speaker 4: has it? I'd love to do a deep dive into

656
00:35:07,133 --> 00:35:12,053
Speaker 4: his record, but from to Australia to Japan, he's rode

657
00:35:12,093 --> 00:35:16,613
Speaker 4: the wave of reputation and it's tanking at the moment

658
00:35:16,693 --> 00:35:22,173
Speaker 4: because his only recent victories came with Japan, a over

659
00:35:22,453 --> 00:35:25,933
Speaker 4: the Mauldy All Blacks a few weeks ago, and some

660
00:35:25,973 --> 00:35:29,213
Speaker 4: really bad losses in recent times. Georgia, you know, that

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00:35:29,373 --> 00:35:33,013
Speaker 4: was a shock home loss, and so I think there's

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00:35:33,053 --> 00:35:38,213
Speaker 4: big questions mounting around whether Eddie will you know, I'm

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00:35:38,213 --> 00:35:40,693
Speaker 4: sure he'd want to stick it out, and Japan known

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00:35:40,813 --> 00:35:42,773
Speaker 4: for firing coaches, and he does have a lot of

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00:35:43,373 --> 00:35:48,013
Speaker 4: goodwill in Japan given what he did in twenty nineteen,

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00:35:48,133 --> 00:35:51,093
Speaker 4: but I think there's serious questions about whether he's the

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00:35:51,173 --> 00:35:52,093
Speaker 4: right man for that job.

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00:35:52,373 --> 00:35:54,533
Speaker 3: Indeed, and Liam, before we go, you wanted to give

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00:35:54,653 --> 00:35:58,893
Speaker 3: a special shout out on the pod to a victorious club.

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00:36:00,373 --> 00:36:03,093
Speaker 4: So Elliott, it was a big weekend club Lands with

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00:36:03,613 --> 00:36:06,893
Speaker 4: the grassroots that the heartbeat of the game around the country.

672
00:36:06,893 --> 00:36:11,173
Speaker 4: I know there's Club Final Needen and across the country

673
00:36:11,693 --> 00:36:14,533
Speaker 4: and club close to my heart Fox and We're the

674
00:36:14,613 --> 00:36:21,093
Speaker 4: won the hoop Carperty Championship defending Rahui thirty points to

675
00:36:21,133 --> 00:36:24,733
Speaker 4: twenty seven. That was only Rahui's second loss in three years.

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00:36:25,253 --> 00:36:29,253
Speaker 4: So very proud day for my hometown. And it's fair

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00:36:29,253 --> 00:36:31,693
Speaker 4: to say the fox and fizz was flowing for days.

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00:36:32,093 --> 00:36:35,813
Speaker 3: I'm sure it still is now. Congratulations to the Foxton lads.

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00:36:35,973 --> 00:36:39,773
Speaker 3: I'm sure there's been plenty of celebrations down that way.

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00:36:39,813 --> 00:36:40,133
Speaker 5: Liam.

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00:36:40,173 --> 00:36:43,493
Speaker 3: Thank you as always for your presence on Rugby Directs.

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00:36:43,493 --> 00:36:44,573
Speaker 3: Good catch up as always.

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00:36:45,733 --> 00:36:48,093
Speaker 2: That's so you warm up those vocal tones for next week.

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00:36:47,893 --> 00:36:50,093
Speaker 5: Elliott, Yes, indeed, not sure if we'll be back next week.

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00:36:50,133 --> 00:36:52,133
Speaker 3: We'll be back certainly the week of the Test match

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00:36:52,413 --> 00:36:55,533
Speaker 3: leading into Argentina and your podcast feeds.

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00:36:55,773 --> 00:36:56,773
Speaker 5: We will catch you then.

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Speaker 3: I thanks to the last and bars English that has

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00:36:58,573 --> 00:37:01,453
Speaker 3: been Rugby Direct powered by Excess Solutions, elevating you and

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00:37:01,493 --> 00:37:03,253
Speaker 3: your business to a higher level.

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Speaker 1: For more from New Talk Sat b listen live on

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Speaker 1: air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever

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