WEBVTT - Rugby Direct - Episode 177 0:00:09.093 --> 0:00:11.973 You're listening to a podcast from News Talks ed B. 0:00:12.373 --> 0:00:16.173 Follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio. 0:00:19.253 --> 0:00:22.333 Straight down the middle of Drum Dickey scud. 0:00:23.813 --> 0:00:32.773 Try get inside the game from every angle. It's Rugby 0:00:32.853 --> 0:00:36.453 Direct with Elliott Smith and Leam Napier, powered by News 0:00:36.533 --> 0:00:37.053 Talks ed B. 0:00:37.493 --> 0:00:41.773 Welcome in to Rugby Directs, powered by Excess Solutions, elevating 0:00:41.893 --> 0:00:45.173 you and your business to a higher level. Elliott Smith 0:00:45.253 --> 0:00:49.573 with me Liam Napier, back from Argentina and ready to 0:00:49.653 --> 0:00:53.333 go for this huge week of test rugby. We've had 0:00:53.373 --> 0:00:56.013 it marked on the calendar since the schedule was announced. Liam, 0:00:56.453 --> 0:00:58.893 and finally Canterbury get this shield charge. 0:01:01.133 --> 0:01:02.653 I should have known you to throw that down there. 0:01:04.373 --> 0:01:07.613 Four oh five Saturday. The shield is coming to its 0:01:07.733 --> 0:01:09.733 rightful up the stag. 0:01:09.853 --> 0:01:13.613 Dave Dobbin out Welcome home is blasting around the cannery 0:01:13.653 --> 0:01:16.373 once that shield comes to the mainland once again. 0:01:16.533 --> 0:01:19.853 Look, I think it's fair to say that everyone is 0:01:19.893 --> 0:01:21.533 an honorary stag for the weekend. 0:01:22.493 --> 0:01:24.053 Don't know about that, but we will get onto that 0:01:24.093 --> 0:01:26.653 bit later on in the podcast. Of course, our focus 0:01:26.853 --> 0:01:30.133 is the All Blacks and South Africa. Seven oh five Saturday, 0:01:30.213 --> 0:01:32.773 night and in all seriousness, this has been a game 0:01:33.213 --> 0:01:35.573 that has been in the calendar ever since the schedule 0:01:35.653 --> 0:01:38.413 was announced. Eden Park record on the line from the 0:01:38.453 --> 0:01:41.533 All Blacks and you know it's just days away now, 0:01:41.813 --> 0:01:45.093 how are your feelings in terms of this contest as 0:01:45.173 --> 0:01:46.493 we record this five days out? 0:01:47.653 --> 0:01:51.333 Well, you and I are positively fizzed. Elliott and I 0:01:51.453 --> 0:01:57.613 think this match will grip New Zealand like outside of 0:01:57.653 --> 0:02:00.173 a World Cup Final, like nothing probably since a game 0:02:00.213 --> 0:02:02.973 on New Zealand Shows since twenty eleven. It really is 0:02:03.133 --> 0:02:06.573 that big of an occasion. It's you know, fifty test 0:02:06.693 --> 0:02:10.893 undefeated at Eden Park thirty four years there the World 0:02:10.933 --> 0:02:14.533 Cup Final rematch one v two in the Worlds. The 0:02:14.573 --> 0:02:16.693 Springboks looking to go five in a row against the 0:02:16.693 --> 0:02:20.053 All Blacks, which is quite staggering in itself Artist Severe's 0:02:20.133 --> 0:02:22.973 hundredth The Springboks haven't won at Eden Park since nineteen 0:02:23.053 --> 0:02:24.293 thirty seven, so. 0:02:24.693 --> 0:02:25.733 You know, what more do you want? 0:02:25.773 --> 0:02:29.653 The All Blacks backs press to the wall following a loss. 0:02:29.973 --> 0:02:32.893 Spring Box not at their best, but everything about the 0:02:33.053 --> 0:02:38.653 year is targeted around this game. And while rugby fans 0:02:38.733 --> 0:02:42.853 would naturally tune into this game, casual fans non rugby 0:02:42.893 --> 0:02:47.333 supporters will be tuning in so massive occasion and how 0:02:47.413 --> 0:02:48.653 could you not be excited. 0:02:48.773 --> 0:02:50.293 Yeah, you get the sense that this is a test 0:02:50.373 --> 0:02:53.133 week that we haven't had for in New Zealand, as 0:02:53.173 --> 0:02:56.613 you say, for yeah, maybe that third week of the 0:02:56.693 --> 0:02:59.333 line series back in twenty seventeen. But it does feel 0:02:59.413 --> 0:03:01.693 like a World Cup final. Two teams going ahead to 0:03:01.773 --> 0:03:04.053 hear it, it's one v two in the world. But 0:03:04.133 --> 0:03:06.573 from an All Blacks perspective, there are questions around this 0:03:06.693 --> 0:03:10.173 All Blacks team and their status as world number one, 0:03:10.173 --> 0:03:12.053 because it doesn't quite feel like, especially on the back 0:03:12.053 --> 0:03:14.973 of that performance in Buenos Aida, is that they deserve 0:03:15.053 --> 0:03:15.773 to be sitting there. 0:03:15.893 --> 0:03:18.893 So the All Blacks go in? Do they go in 0:03:18.933 --> 0:03:20.773 as favorites? Do you think liam for this game. 0:03:20.973 --> 0:03:23.693 Although actually quite hot favorites for the book is I 0:03:23.733 --> 0:03:26.613 think the Box are at two forty two fifty, which 0:03:26.693 --> 0:03:30.893 is quite staggering. Really, I would have them pretty neck 0:03:30.973 --> 0:03:33.333 and neck, maybe the All Blacks favorites given to the 0:03:33.413 --> 0:03:37.333 end park record, given they're on home soil. But you 0:03:37.453 --> 0:03:40.653 look at that All Black squad and just the injuries 0:03:40.853 --> 0:03:43.733 at half back and the questions around the wings do 0:03:43.893 --> 0:03:46.453 make you a bit nervous, but on the other side 0:03:46.493 --> 0:03:48.813 of the coin. While certainly our focus and much of 0:03:48.853 --> 0:03:51.453 New Zealand's focus is on the All Blacks, the Springboks 0:03:51.453 --> 0:03:53.733 have been well below their best this year as well. 0:03:53.893 --> 0:03:59.293 They were upset by the Wallabies at Alice Park and 0:04:00.373 --> 0:04:02.413 very much went back to type the following week and 0:04:02.933 --> 0:04:05.853 scraped out of victory to go one on one with 0:04:05.973 --> 0:04:10.533 the Wallabies at home. So they have question marks over 0:04:10.573 --> 0:04:13.333 them as well. But it does sort of feel like 0:04:13.533 --> 0:04:17.813 form is almost irrelevant in a match like this. 0:04:18.893 --> 0:04:19.413 What do you reckon? 0:04:19.693 --> 0:04:20.173 I think it is. 0:04:20.493 --> 0:04:23.293 It feels like doesn't matter what's gone on in the 0:04:23.693 --> 0:04:27.333 three five Tests that these teams have played so far 0:04:27.573 --> 0:04:29.093 this year. That's all going to go out the window. 0:04:29.093 --> 0:04:30.453 And it's a cliche, but it will go out the 0:04:30.493 --> 0:04:32.373 window at seven oh five on Saturday night. It won't 0:04:32.413 --> 0:04:35.013 matter two weeks ago that the All Blacks lost in Argentina. 0:04:35.093 --> 0:04:37.453 It won't matter three weeks ago that the box are 0:04:37.533 --> 0:04:40.653 upset by Australia. This will be All Blacks in South 0:04:40.693 --> 0:04:44.413 Africa as it has always been right through their storied history, 0:04:44.693 --> 0:04:47.493 a Test match where to be honest, on the surface 0:04:47.533 --> 0:04:48.893 of I don't think there'll be much in it comes 0:04:48.933 --> 0:04:52.333 Saturday and up whoever ends up winning. I think that's 0:04:52.613 --> 0:04:55.973 the nature of the rivalry and sometimes that supersedes the 0:04:56.133 --> 0:04:58.653 form that teams go into it prior to it. I 0:04:58.733 --> 0:05:01.453 think this is where these two seams sit and have 0:05:01.573 --> 0:05:02.933 always sat when they face each other. 0:05:03.133 --> 0:05:06.253 That's right, and it is very much that rivalry, isn't it. 0:05:06.293 --> 0:05:13.893 It's the storied history, the respect the success of the 0:05:14.093 --> 0:05:18.373 two dominant teams within world rugby as far back as 0:05:18.453 --> 0:05:24.693 you can remember. So that's transformed and progressed into the 0:05:24.813 --> 0:05:28.933 modern age. But it's an interesting backdrop that we find 0:05:28.973 --> 0:05:31.853 ourselves in because the Springboks have had the All Blacks 0:05:31.933 --> 0:05:35.253 number and you can go back to last year and 0:05:35.333 --> 0:05:38.133 look at the All Blacks out playing the spring Box 0:05:38.213 --> 0:05:41.173 in South Africa for fifteen minutes only to let it 0:05:41.253 --> 0:05:42.213 slip and fade away. 0:05:43.573 --> 0:05:44.973 And then the World Cup final. 0:05:45.173 --> 0:05:47.453 We could argue the All Blacks could have order should 0:05:47.453 --> 0:05:51.533 have won that game, but they didn't. So results matter 0:05:52.053 --> 0:05:55.933 and South Africa will certainly bring that confidence in because 0:05:56.653 --> 0:06:00.733 no matter how you perform, no matter what decisions or 0:06:01.053 --> 0:06:04.013 moments and matches you can highlight the spring Box have 0:06:04.093 --> 0:06:05.653 won the last four and. 0:06:07.213 --> 0:06:09.573 You know they have pedigree. 0:06:09.733 --> 0:06:14.653 In recent times of winning matches of real significance, and 0:06:14.773 --> 0:06:18.253 that does matter when all eyes are on, when the 0:06:18.373 --> 0:06:22.533 pressure tells when you need clutch moments, so that big 0:06:22.613 --> 0:06:25.893 game temperament is stacked in their favor. 0:06:26.013 --> 0:06:28.173 And that's what we probably haven't seen yet from this 0:06:28.373 --> 0:06:30.853 All Blacks era under Scott Robertson. I mean, they've had 0:06:30.893 --> 0:06:33.733 some good wins. The Irish win last year, the England 0:06:33.773 --> 0:06:37.493 win at Twickenham, both very very good wins. But there's 0:06:37.493 --> 0:06:39.453 a legitimate argument you can make it they should have 0:06:39.533 --> 0:06:41.893 left South Africa one win, one lost last year maybe 0:06:41.933 --> 0:06:44.653 even if you're being generous, should have won potentially both 0:06:44.693 --> 0:06:47.853 of those games given where they sat in both of them. 0:06:47.933 --> 0:06:51.333 So it's about finishing and what we've seen from the 0:06:51.373 --> 0:06:54.613 All Blacks is they've just had moments in games where 0:06:55.293 --> 0:06:57.853 they've switched off and gone out of games. And last 0:06:57.933 --> 0:07:00.413 year it was the last twenty minutes where they didn't 0:07:00.413 --> 0:07:03.173 score a point for weeks on end. This year it 0:07:03.213 --> 0:07:05.733 seems to be minutes forty to sixty where they go 0:07:05.933 --> 0:07:09.293 cold and struggling to get back in the contest. So 0:07:10.253 --> 0:07:13.133 they've got to deliver an eighty minute performance and nothing 0:07:13.213 --> 0:07:15.533 less than that is going to do come Saturday night. 0:07:16.213 --> 0:07:22.173 That's right, and that patchy elements has been evident largely 0:07:22.293 --> 0:07:26.493 throughout Scott Robinson's tenure. You mentioned the victory in Dublin, 0:07:26.493 --> 0:07:30.373 which is the standout achievement, but the French game in 0:07:30.453 --> 0:07:32.853 Paris they were dominant throughout and then let it slip 0:07:32.893 --> 0:07:35.373 in the second half. This year there was the one 0:07:35.453 --> 0:07:39.693 performance against the very second string French team, the worst 0:07:39.893 --> 0:07:42.373 side that they put out in their three match series 0:07:42.453 --> 0:07:46.893 in Wellington. But even in Argentina, dominant first half in 0:07:46.973 --> 0:07:51.253 the first Test, two yellow cards and they come down 0:07:51.293 --> 0:07:53.493 a cliff and almost let the puma's back in. And 0:07:53.613 --> 0:07:57.453 then the worst performance of Scott Robinson's tenure last time out. 0:07:57.573 --> 0:08:02.293 So that patchy elements. Is it a lack of concentration? 0:08:03.293 --> 0:08:09.053 Is its system error? Is its combinations? Is it coaching floors? 0:08:09.093 --> 0:08:13.613 Because that coaching team lacks experience on the test stage, 0:08:13.693 --> 0:08:15.813 So that the in the middle of he like you say, 0:08:15.853 --> 0:08:18.133 to put together a four to eighty minute performance, to 0:08:18.253 --> 0:08:22.693 stay the course, to come up clutch, to have the 0:08:22.853 --> 0:08:26.333 right discipline when things aren't going your way, to ride 0:08:26.413 --> 0:08:28.973 through momentum and regain composure. 0:08:29.573 --> 0:08:31.693 There are some big question marks in that regard over 0:08:31.733 --> 0:08:32.533 this All Black team. 0:08:32.453 --> 0:08:36.333 Certainly a few personnel notes to go through this week. 0:08:37.653 --> 0:08:40.253 Half back wise, Cortes Ratama is going to be given 0:08:40.253 --> 0:08:43.053 every opportunity to play this Saturday night at Eden Park 0:08:43.133 --> 0:08:45.773 had a rib issue that we knew about coming back 0:08:45.773 --> 0:08:49.333 from Argentina. He is touch and go. I think it's 0:08:49.373 --> 0:08:51.293 fair to save for Saturday Night. We heard from Scott 0:08:51.333 --> 0:08:53.533 robertson the last couple of hours basically saying they'll give 0:08:53.573 --> 0:08:55.093 them every chance to play. 0:08:55.173 --> 0:08:55.853 But it's firming. 0:08:55.893 --> 0:08:57.653 You'd have to say that Philay Christie will make his 0:08:57.773 --> 0:09:02.253 first his start in quite some time, and Kyle Preston 0:09:02.453 --> 0:09:04.413 likely to make a dabu off the bench. Davy Row 0:09:05.133 --> 0:09:07.933 has been called in his training cover to the All 0:09:07.973 --> 0:09:11.093 Blacks this week as well. So that's a big blow 0:09:11.213 --> 0:09:14.613 losing Cortiz Ratima if indeed he is out this week, 0:09:14.853 --> 0:09:17.893 and it's a big pressure on Finlay Christie. 0:09:18.613 --> 0:09:20.853 Yeah, I'd never profess to be anywhere near in All 0:09:20.893 --> 0:09:23.653 Black stage, but I've broken a fracture of rib playing 0:09:23.693 --> 0:09:29.173 rugby before, and bloody hurts, and you think about carrying 0:09:29.293 --> 0:09:31.213 that into a game, even if you did have a. 0:09:32.933 --> 0:09:35.173 Jab or something like that. 0:09:36.493 --> 0:09:38.533 If it ever needs to be, it has to be 0:09:38.933 --> 0:09:41.173 clocks you early, you're certainly going to know about it. 0:09:41.213 --> 0:09:45.653 So it's high risk to put someone into that combative 0:09:45.733 --> 0:09:48.853 stage with that sort of an injury. So I would 0:09:48.933 --> 0:09:53.013 be very surprised, particularly given they've called in Xavier Row 0:09:54.213 --> 0:09:57.893 if Cortez does play this weekend, and look, he's a tough, 0:09:59.133 --> 0:10:02.573 tough rooster. Cortez obviously played on with that injury, but 0:10:02.653 --> 0:10:06.733 he was in significant pain. So like you say, jeez, 0:10:06.733 --> 0:10:08.653 I've been the all Black's been really hard there. The 0:10:08.973 --> 0:10:13.333 missing came Roy guard Noah Hotham is potentially number two 0:10:13.653 --> 0:10:16.493 and he's out for much of the Rugby Championship, and 0:10:16.573 --> 0:10:20.053 then you lose Cortez Latimer, so you're really digging deep 0:10:20.213 --> 0:10:21.413 into to one position. 0:10:21.653 --> 0:10:23.613 So that's a real area of concern. 0:10:23.733 --> 0:10:26.293 Look, the one thing, I'm not a huge fan of 0:10:26.293 --> 0:10:28.853 fin Le Christie, but he's not going to be overawed 0:10:28.893 --> 0:10:32.013 by the stage. He was involved in those World Cup 0:10:32.053 --> 0:10:34.213 knockout games. Off the bench, he's a pretty. 0:10:35.693 --> 0:10:38.213 Coming seems to face him. He's level headed yet very 0:10:38.293 --> 0:10:40.333 kind of high lows really when you speak to him. 0:10:40.453 --> 0:10:40.893 That's right. 0:10:42.893 --> 0:10:46.133 I do have concerns about his kicking game. It's de 0:10:46.213 --> 0:10:49.693 al Black's their contestable kicks. The accuracy of them has 0:10:49.773 --> 0:10:54.973 been in an area of vulnerability and that's not one 0:10:55.013 --> 0:10:57.213 of his strengths. What he does bring, he's very nuggety, 0:10:57.533 --> 0:11:00.293 he gets over the ball. He's usually very strong defensively. 0:11:01.133 --> 0:11:03.573 His delivery is actually quite sharp off the deck if 0:11:03.613 --> 0:11:08.173 you look at the speed. So he's an unflappable character. 0:11:08.373 --> 0:11:11.493 He won't be take a backward step with the big 0:11:11.533 --> 0:11:14.853 box forwards coming around the fringes. But yeah, and then 0:11:14.893 --> 0:11:19.293 Kyle Preston, what a potentially massive occasion to make your debut. 0:11:19.773 --> 0:11:21.653 And I guess the other one who's coming to the mix. 0:11:22.573 --> 0:11:24.173 Very unlucky to se him this week, but less of 0:11:24.253 --> 0:11:27.053 fighting a Nuoku played a couple of games for Tasman 0:11:27.253 --> 0:11:30.253 and gets the board seal of approval to come in 0:11:30.333 --> 0:11:32.333 a in any way surprised by that. 0:11:33.373 --> 0:11:35.813 Not really, because it feels like they can bend the 0:11:35.893 --> 0:11:39.493 rules as they see fit to get players and to 0:11:39.573 --> 0:11:42.693 Marthy and Wise, all Blacks rugby season is over out 0:11:42.733 --> 0:11:45.133 for three months with a broken arm. Fighting an Ooku 0:11:45.333 --> 0:11:47.413 has been in good form for Tasman since coming back. 0:11:47.413 --> 0:11:49.493 It's got a great try where he rushed off several 0:11:49.533 --> 0:11:53.693 defenders against Otago on Saturday night. He is the logical replacement. 0:11:54.253 --> 0:11:56.613 The board have clearly given their approval. He's been with 0:11:56.653 --> 0:11:59.133 Tasman since the start of pre season, has played some 0:11:59.213 --> 0:12:02.813 good rugby. I've got no problem with them him being selected. 0:12:03.173 --> 0:12:06.453 It's more the straight jacket that they put on themselves 0:12:06.533 --> 0:12:08.613 around these rules that they've got to bend. The You know, 0:12:08.853 --> 0:12:10.773 you put the straight jacket on yourself, you know now 0:12:10.813 --> 0:12:12.453 you want to get out of it. These are your 0:12:12.493 --> 0:12:14.853 own rules. They're not dictated to by World Rugby. So 0:12:15.213 --> 0:12:17.373 that's the kind of issue I've got around the eligibility 0:12:17.453 --> 0:12:19.333 and the seven levers that they can pull. 0:12:19.453 --> 0:12:19.573 Is it? 0:12:19.813 --> 0:12:21.933 These are of their own making. You can break the 0:12:22.053 --> 0:12:23.933 rules as much as you want. I know it. Maybe not. 0:12:24.333 --> 0:12:26.413 That doesn't send the best message to players that have 0:12:26.493 --> 0:12:28.253 been in New Zealand rugby for a number of times. 0:12:28.333 --> 0:12:30.293 But I've seen it before on the podcast. 0:12:30.453 --> 0:12:33.293 If you have a contract that is existing with New 0:12:33.373 --> 0:12:36.093 Zealand Rugby, as far as I'm concerned, you are free 0:12:36.173 --> 0:12:38.413 to play, You're eligible to play. 0:12:39.053 --> 0:12:40.213 Yeah, I don't have an issue with it. 0:12:40.293 --> 0:12:44.173 I think technically, and this is what I've seen previously 0:12:44.253 --> 0:12:47.573 with guys like Damian McKenzie and TJ Peinara when they 0:12:48.093 --> 0:12:51.333 went away to Japan and didn't have a New Zealand 0:12:51.373 --> 0:12:53.333 Rugby contract, they had to come back and play a 0:12:53.413 --> 0:12:56.893 whole season of NPCs. So that's why that's where the 0:12:56.933 --> 0:12:57.813 precedent is set. 0:12:58.293 --> 0:13:02.053 That's where it is. But I don't have an issue 0:13:02.093 --> 0:13:02.213 with that. 0:13:02.213 --> 0:13:04.253 He's come back, he's played a couple of games, he's 0:13:04.613 --> 0:13:06.773 I think the key thing is he's committed his future. 0:13:07.493 --> 0:13:10.613 He's not just back for five minutes and he's going 0:13:10.653 --> 0:13:14.653 to buger off again. And look, when I think about 0:13:14.653 --> 0:13:18.293 a guy like Lester fining Anookoo and I compare him 0:13:18.333 --> 0:13:20.933 even to an antoin Leina Brown, and you think about 0:13:21.453 --> 0:13:25.013 the versatility you put Lester on the bench and he 0:13:25.093 --> 0:13:28.853 can cover second center, wing and just his power elements 0:13:30.173 --> 0:13:32.013 that as a massive asset to heaving your squad. 0:13:32.173 --> 0:13:34.253 You say you wouldn't expect to see him this week. 0:13:34.613 --> 0:13:38.173 I don't think so. He only arrived in camp on 0:13:39.213 --> 0:13:41.573 Sunday night. I think it's probably a wee bit of 0:13:41.613 --> 0:13:45.053 a rush perhaps for the second Test in Wellington. 0:13:46.293 --> 0:13:47.853 If he's fit and he's a good form, why not 0:13:47.973 --> 0:13:50.533 get him in Like I think he is the kind 0:13:50.573 --> 0:13:52.373 of difference maker that the All Blacks have been screaming 0:13:52.413 --> 0:13:55.013 out for, especially with some of the injuries they've got 0:13:55.013 --> 0:13:58.413 around Caleb Clark and Billy Procter has struggled. I don't 0:13:58.413 --> 0:14:00.773 know whether i'd start him this week necessarily, but if 0:14:00.813 --> 0:14:02.533 you put him in Jersey twenty three and have the 0:14:02.573 --> 0:14:04.093 ability to use him on the wing, use him in 0:14:04.133 --> 0:14:06.573 midfield in the last twenty five thirty minutes of a 0:14:06.653 --> 0:14:09.493 Test match, why not. And that's the kind of position 0:14:09.533 --> 0:14:11.413 i'mond if he's going to help you win the Test 0:14:11.453 --> 0:14:13.053 match this week, put him in there. 0:14:13.733 --> 0:14:15.733 I wouldn't have an issue that I think he'd be 0:14:16.133 --> 0:14:18.653 make a massive impact if you talk about bringing someone 0:14:18.733 --> 0:14:21.773 on and that in the second half when fatigues in 0:14:21.853 --> 0:14:25.613 the mix, and he is the type of combative character 0:14:25.693 --> 0:14:28.933 that could really stand up to some of those spring 0:14:29.013 --> 0:14:32.213 Box players. Just on Caleb Clark, He's come back from 0:14:32.213 --> 0:14:35.493 an ankle injury, played one game for Auckland and will 0:14:35.533 --> 0:14:38.413 not be available for the All Blacks this weekend. 0:14:38.453 --> 0:14:42.133 We'll play for Auckland again. I would have picked him. 0:14:42.173 --> 0:14:44.613 Yeah, if he's got sorow. 0:14:44.613 --> 0:14:47.133 Wlison's explanation around it was that they wanted to see 0:14:47.253 --> 0:14:49.533 him get another game. Well, you can see him get 0:14:49.533 --> 0:14:51.693 another game against South Africa this weekend if he's fit. 0:14:51.773 --> 0:14:52.093 He's fit. 0:14:52.893 --> 0:14:55.613 Yeah, and you've got massive issue issues under the high ball. 0:14:55.733 --> 0:14:59.693 He's by far and away your best aerial athlete. I 0:14:59.773 --> 0:15:02.213 would have been ushering him straight into the left wing. 0:15:02.373 --> 0:15:02.573 Yeah. 0:15:02.733 --> 0:15:04.933 And again you can protect yourself on the bench if 0:15:05.493 --> 0:15:08.693 you know the ankle does tweak and injuries can happen. Again, 0:15:08.693 --> 0:15:12.173 that's why you select a bench again. I just what's 0:15:12.213 --> 0:15:15.813 the benefit of getting NPC game versus a test match 0:15:16.213 --> 0:15:19.533 and then to roll Lomax has been with the thumb 0:15:19.533 --> 0:15:20.973 and dry for the last few weeks, and I get 0:15:21.013 --> 0:15:23.133 their different parts of the body, but he's had a 0:15:23.173 --> 0:15:25.213 thumbdrefs last few weeks. Is going to go straight back 0:15:25.253 --> 0:15:27.613 and presumably to the run on side to start in 0:15:28.733 --> 0:15:30.293 the three Jersey on Saturday night. 0:15:30.693 --> 0:15:33.293 Yeah. And Caleb Clark performed very well against the spring 0:15:33.373 --> 0:15:37.533 Box in South Africa last year, and that's possibly because 0:15:37.573 --> 0:15:40.853 of the way the spring Box play. You know, Grant 0:15:40.893 --> 0:15:42.733 Williams is going to box kick all day. You know, 0:15:42.933 --> 0:15:45.093 Andre Pollard is going to hoist to the heavens and 0:15:45.133 --> 0:15:48.253 put it in crossfield kicks so I think it's an 0:15:48.253 --> 0:15:50.653 oversight to not select Clark this week. 0:15:50.693 --> 0:15:52.613 It should be noted that the All Blacks and New 0:15:52.653 --> 0:15:55.293 Zealand ABY didn't take any notice of my comments on 0:15:55.293 --> 0:15:57.613 Aby Direct last week. All my opinion piece for the 0:15:57.653 --> 0:16:00.893 New Zealand Herald around getting Aaron Smith in. But that's 0:16:00.893 --> 0:16:02.533 all right. You know you can't win them all your 0:16:02.573 --> 0:16:04.373 fly kite sometimes and see what happens. 0:16:05.773 --> 0:16:07.613 It's good to have an opinion people, It's be a 0:16:07.813 --> 0:16:09.213 boring line otherwise. 0:16:08.853 --> 0:16:09.253 That's right. 0:16:09.973 --> 0:16:12.453 A regular sis Steve Lenthial from across the TASM and said, 0:16:13.413 --> 0:16:15.653 do you or Liam have your boots ready to PLAYT nine? 0:16:15.693 --> 0:16:16.933 Give them the current injury crisis. 0:16:16.973 --> 0:16:19.453 I mean, I'm fairly confident if you've got you get 0:16:19.453 --> 0:16:21.253 through seventy five minutes, I might come on for the 0:16:21.333 --> 0:16:21.733 last five. 0:16:22.013 --> 0:16:23.053 Yeah, you've played half. 0:16:22.933 --> 0:16:26.013 Bankied the new but that's not saying a lot. 0:16:28.053 --> 0:16:29.173 In terms of that All Blacks makes. 0:16:29.213 --> 0:16:30.573 Then if we looked at this team which will be 0:16:30.573 --> 0:16:34.773 announced on Thursday, do you expect big changes from the 0:16:34.853 --> 0:16:37.413 side that lost to Argentina and Buenos Aires. 0:16:38.533 --> 0:16:41.493 I don't know, but I think Wallace the TC comes 0:16:41.533 --> 0:16:44.893 into eight already goes to seven. I think there's a 0:16:44.933 --> 0:16:47.213 real question about whether the tup of goes back into 0:16:47.293 --> 0:16:52.333 Locke and maybe they start Simon Parker at six. I 0:16:52.453 --> 0:16:55.933 think that that balance Fabian Holland started to look a 0:16:55.973 --> 0:16:59.973 bit fatigued. I think there's a real question about whether 0:17:00.013 --> 0:17:03.933 you potentially go six to two on the bench but 0:17:04.933 --> 0:17:06.733 one of and then there's the wings. 0:17:07.413 --> 0:17:10.813 I think you don't want to push the panut button 0:17:11.173 --> 0:17:13.373 here with with the you don't want. 0:17:13.213 --> 0:17:14.693 Putting the panic pushing the panic button? 0:17:14.893 --> 0:17:15.013 Is it? 0:17:15.733 --> 0:17:16.573 These guys aren't playing? 0:17:16.613 --> 0:17:17.373 Well? What other change? 0:17:18.253 --> 0:17:20.293 I'm happy to change the wings, but I'm just saying 0:17:20.373 --> 0:17:22.853 that you don't want to throw the baby out of 0:17:22.893 --> 0:17:27.173 the bath water, like you you're yeah, what will Jordan 0:17:27.733 --> 0:17:29.733 stays at fallback? I think Bowden stays at ten, and 0:17:29.773 --> 0:17:32.853 I think the midfield probably stays unchanged. Like what are 0:17:32.853 --> 0:17:33.773 the changes you're making? 0:17:33.973 --> 0:17:35.613 Well, you can put least defying a nook on one 0:17:35.653 --> 0:17:40.053 of the wings immediately changes the dynamic. I think of 0:17:40.093 --> 0:17:43.133 that back line. If you put him in, he's eligible 0:17:43.173 --> 0:17:43.573 for selection. 0:17:43.893 --> 0:17:46.173 Yeah, that's a there's an element of rest with that too. 0:17:46.253 --> 0:17:49.893 His plays basically spent two years playing midfield in France. 0:17:51.333 --> 0:17:53.173 How much high ballwork has he done, that's where he's 0:17:53.213 --> 0:17:53.853 going to be targeted. 0:17:54.013 --> 0:17:58.173 Yep, And that is a very good question. What about 0:17:58.453 --> 0:18:00.693 but what are you doing with I'm keeping too provide there. 0:18:00.933 --> 0:18:03.413 I agree that Holland is looking a little bit fatigued. 0:18:03.493 --> 0:18:06.373 I mean he's played. I think he came off the bench. Sorry, 0:18:06.773 --> 0:18:10.533 was substituted in the last game in Buenos Aires, but 0:18:10.613 --> 0:18:12.413 that was the first time he didn't play eighty as 0:18:12.453 --> 0:18:15.613 an All Black, and this is a young kid being exposed. 0:18:15.653 --> 0:18:16.773 He's ruby for the first time. 0:18:17.133 --> 0:18:19.613 Probably wouldn't have played every test in the French series 0:18:19.613 --> 0:18:23.373 if not for Scott Barrett's injury and obviously the shift 0:18:23.413 --> 0:18:25.293 from two BO five to six, so he's had a 0:18:25.333 --> 0:18:27.613 big workload. But I still think that they'll probably get 0:18:27.613 --> 0:18:28.813 another test out of him this week. 0:18:29.853 --> 0:18:30.533 What about. 0:18:32.013 --> 0:18:35.613 Last timeouts to Mighty, Williams came off the bench Ethan 0:18:35.693 --> 0:18:40.613 the group starts. It's an interesting question because Ethan Degree 0:18:40.733 --> 0:18:41.893 is not really an impact player. 0:18:42.053 --> 0:18:42.573 Yeah, but. 0:18:44.173 --> 0:18:47.453 To Mighty and Williams can play sixty seventy minutes, So 0:18:47.853 --> 0:18:48.613 what are you doing there? 0:18:48.773 --> 0:18:50.933 I'm starting Ethan degreed again this week with an either 0:18:51.053 --> 0:18:53.253 to Mighty starting next week in Wellington. 0:18:53.853 --> 0:18:54.333 I think. 0:18:55.933 --> 0:18:58.213 He hasn't had the rugby load to Mighty Williams in 0:18:58.293 --> 0:19:01.413 recent times to not justify justify as the wrong word, 0:19:01.493 --> 0:19:04.373 but as a prop to play that sixty minute spell, 0:19:04.533 --> 0:19:07.173 I think he needs to build into it. Give him 0:19:07.293 --> 0:19:10.893 another half hour this week. And again we're talking about 0:19:10.933 --> 0:19:13.293 impact off the bench to Mighty can bring that in spade. 0:19:13.453 --> 0:19:15.733 So I think for this week I would stick with 0:19:15.813 --> 0:19:18.013 Ethan de Groot, who's I think been pretty good so 0:19:18.173 --> 0:19:20.613 far this season, with a lot of question marks in 0:19:20.613 --> 0:19:22.773 the offseason and various things around his role in the 0:19:22.813 --> 0:19:25.493 All Blacks, you know, after the question marks at that 0:19:25.573 --> 0:19:27.293 end of the year too, I think he's responded well. 0:19:27.733 --> 0:19:29.893 But I'll probably stick with Ethan to start it this week. 0:19:30.413 --> 0:19:36.453 Ye I think that's the way they'll go. But I 0:19:36.613 --> 0:19:39.613 want to harness to Whity because he he is the 0:19:39.773 --> 0:19:42.293 all court modern day prop. He's athletic, he brings so 0:19:42.413 --> 0:19:45.133 much more around the field with his ball skills, and 0:19:45.253 --> 0:19:48.453 I don't think you really lose much of anything from 0:19:48.493 --> 0:19:49.493 a scrummaging perspective. 0:19:49.533 --> 0:19:51.533 Would you go Lomax straight in at tighthead? 0:19:51.773 --> 0:19:53.453 I think Lomex will come off the bench. 0:19:53.853 --> 0:19:56.253 He hasn't played a lot of rugby this show and 0:19:56.333 --> 0:19:58.813