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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 iHeartRadio.

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Speaker 2: Inside the Game from Every Angle.

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Speaker 3: It's Rugby Direct with Elliott Smith, powered by News Talks EDB.

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Speaker 4: Welcome in to Rugby Direct, powered by Habit Health, tackling

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Speaker 4: all your aches and pains from sports and to work

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Speaker 4: back for another week of Rugby Day section on iHeartRadio

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Speaker 4: and powered by News Talks.

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Speaker 2: He'd been.

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Speaker 4: My name is Elligott Smith, with you as always, and

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Speaker 4: we'll changed things up this weekly and napier watching people

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Speaker 4: slug it out and reads we've called and Nick Bailey,

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Speaker 4: the voice of the Crusaders on Goldsport and iHeartRadio to

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Speaker 4: join us. And Nick thinks so much for joining us

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Speaker 4: to wrap the week in Super Rugby and beyond Chess.

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Speaker 2: Menie, I'm very much the Martin macaulay of Rugby Direct

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Speaker 2: Anti after he was drafted in a very late notice

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Speaker 2: to fight Joseph Parkers and great to be here. And

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Speaker 2: what's been a fantastic opening Fortnite of Super Rugby.

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Speaker 5: Well, let's ripen to the weekend.

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Speaker 4: It was in starf maybe with the Saturday night action

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Speaker 4: from a new Zealand perspective, the Highlanders beating the Blues.

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Speaker 5: Twenty nine to twenty one. I mean, you would have.

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Speaker 4: Got long odds to have the Blues windless through the

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Speaker 4: opening two rounds in their title defense, sunk at the

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Speaker 4: bottom of the ladder, but that's where we're at. The

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Speaker 4: Highlanders very very good given the hurdles they had to overcome.

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Speaker 4: The Blues just really haven't got this title defense underway.

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Speaker 4: What did you make of the game Saturday night?

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Speaker 2: Yes, certainly speaking, those odds for the Blues being winless

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Speaker 2: after a fortnight they had have been very large. Indeed

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Speaker 2: one don't they But just on the Highlanders first, I mean,

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Speaker 2: what an inspired performance after the scenes pre match in

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Speaker 2: tribute to the late Jackson Garden Baship, not only a

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Speaker 2: moment's noise as opposed to a moment's silence, but a

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Speaker 2: huka as well. I thought that was very moving and

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Speaker 2: that really just set the tone for the evening. The

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Speaker 2: Blues did score first, and I was thinking, gee, they've

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Speaker 2: sort of taken the fizz out early and maybe it

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Speaker 2: was going to be a long night for the Highlanders,

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Speaker 2: but they just eked their way back into the contest.

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Speaker 2: We were starting to win some moments, particularly around in

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Speaker 2: the collision areas, and then a couple of standouts for

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Speaker 2: mine young Finn Hurley and isn't it great to see

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Speaker 2: some real little blokes star and super rugby gets a

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Speaker 2: run there at fullback and chances his arm with a

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Speaker 2: little chip and chase try contender early on for Try

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Speaker 2: of the year and then from there the Highland has

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Speaker 2: really got into their work. The other standout for mine,

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Speaker 2: I'm sure we're going to get to in a bit

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Speaker 2: more depth, was to Mothi Tava Tava Nahwhite. Incredible inspiring

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Speaker 2: selection really from Jamie Joseph back at the helm to

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Speaker 2: put him in at second five. Has played little to

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Speaker 2: no rugby at second five is my understanding off the

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Speaker 2: wing and just his impact not only with the ball

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Speaker 2: but without over the ball, winning penalty turnovers at the

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Speaker 2: breakdown and a co captain as well who really says,

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Speaker 2: come on, boys, I'm going to leave through actions here.

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Speaker 2: He was exceptional. But for them to do it, as

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Speaker 2: he alluded to, Smithy down not only fourteen men to

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Speaker 2: the Daniel Lennart Brown Red card, but obviously having go

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Speaker 2: to Golden Oldie and being punished therefore because of the

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Speaker 2: interpretations of World Rugby's laws to thirteen men. For them

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Speaker 2: still to hang on and beat a blue side laiden

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Speaker 2: with all blacks was simply outstanding. So Curdos to the

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Speaker 2: Landers and a lot of head scratching up in Blues country.

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Speaker 4: Well, there's got to be some head scratching, absolutely, because

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Speaker 4: they have all these players and they've played very very

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Speaker 4: well last season. But I think they're just missing a

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Speaker 4: few key pieces and I don't know where exactly. Will

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Speaker 4: probably dig into a bit deeper where they're going wrong.

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Speaker 4: But on the basis of Saturday night, it fell to

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Speaker 4: me like I was always waiting for them to come

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Speaker 4: through and take control of the game, whether it was

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Speaker 4: at the sixty minute mark, the sixty fifth, seventy fifth,

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Speaker 4: and they're just running out of a runway, and I

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Speaker 4: figured about seventy eighth minute, this isn't going to happen.

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Speaker 4: They're not going to come back and win this game.

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Speaker 4: When Rocketswi scored in about the fiftieth minute, I thought, Okay,

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Speaker 4: this is when they take charge of the game. Then

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Speaker 4: Leonett Brown gets redcarded, but they just looked a little

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Speaker 4: bit lost out there on the path.

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Speaker 5: They're missing.

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Speaker 4: I think a few players up front, Sam Dowry being

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Speaker 4: a key one, but there just doesn't seem to be

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Speaker 4: a lot of cohesiveness in the game plan, and the

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Speaker 4: Highlanders were able to exploit it. Every time it felt

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Speaker 4: like they were about to maybe drift out of the

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Speaker 4: game or the Blues are about to take charge, that

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Speaker 4: the Highders would pull something out, whether it was a

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Speaker 4: turnover from Tava Tava Nahwai, that Finn Hurley magic try

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Speaker 4: in the second sassory in the first spell, and they

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Speaker 4: just won the key moments I thought right throughout the

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Speaker 4: night a lot better than the Blues, who pretty much

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Speaker 4: won every moment last year. So for the Highlanders, this

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Speaker 4: win has got to be a major boost to their confidence.

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Speaker 4: They obviously came away with a close loss in opening

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Speaker 4: round against the Waratahs in Sydney, but to go home

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Speaker 4: beat the defending champions on their own patch, there's a

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Speaker 4: sign there. I think that Jamie Joseph is instilled a

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Speaker 4: bit of grit in this team already in just two weeks.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, very much so. It feels like his fingerprints are

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Speaker 2: already all over this team in terms of what their

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Speaker 2: identity is all about, in terms of being there fighting

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Speaker 2: for every contest and that's shining through across the park,

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Speaker 2: just the one all Black and Ethan DeGroot, who was

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Speaker 2: one of those injured front rowers that caused those the

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Speaker 2: scenes late with the Highland is having to play with

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Speaker 2: third team in But just on the Blues, like, if

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Speaker 2: we look at the competition as a whole, three hundred

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Speaker 2: and seventy four points in the second round of the

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Speaker 2: five games across the weekend, what's an average of just

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Speaker 2: under seventy five points a game. The Blues, of all

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Speaker 2: the teams who have played two matches so far, have

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Speaker 2: the least amount of tries in five and it feels

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Speaker 2: like they feel like what works so well last year

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Speaker 2: in terms of being direct, physical, abrasive, backing the forwards

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Speaker 2: and just grinding out results can still get them through

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Speaker 2: twenty twenty five. And it still might prove you know,

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Speaker 2: it's very early on, but it still might prove to

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Speaker 2: be a successful template. But everyone else, it feels Smithy

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Speaker 2: is playing this high tempo February razzle, dazzle, quick rock, speed,

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Speaker 2: quick ball and you know ball and play stats through

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Speaker 2: the roof and rarely chancing the The Blues haven't really

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Speaker 2: adjusted to that, there's a lot of kicking. It seems

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Speaker 2: a little bit slower, and this is a team that

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Speaker 2: has Caleb Clark and Mark tal En, Rico Joanna, So

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Speaker 2: I don't know it's quite an identity crisis, but there

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Speaker 2: just hasn't been that adjustment to what everyone else is playing,

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Speaker 2: and therefore they're a step behind.

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Speaker 4: Yeah, I think there's definitely signs of that, and maybe

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Speaker 4: look as the weather gets a little bit worse as

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Speaker 4: the season goes on, the Blues might be able to

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Speaker 4: come into their own a little bit more. But it

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Speaker 4: just doesn't feel like a cohesive team at this point

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Speaker 4: in time. We'll tag into that a little bit more

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Speaker 4: in the final four about exactly what is going wrong

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Speaker 4: at the Blues. You mentioned to more Tabatava Naway. He

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Speaker 4: has had an electric two weeks to start this season,

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Speaker 4: and as you mentioned, putting him at twelve has been

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Speaker 4: an absolute malester stroke. He's winning turnovers for fun, but

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Speaker 4: every time he gets the ball in hand, he's making

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Speaker 4: things happen, and he's from my mind, put himself in

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Speaker 4: that All Blacks conversation firmly.

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Speaker 5: Early on in the season.

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Speaker 4: He probably would have been in the mix a wee

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Speaker 4: bit last year, but he hadn't a couple of injuries

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Speaker 4: here and there. He's aligned himself with the All Blacks

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Speaker 4: because he would have been certainly caught up for Fiji

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Speaker 4: by this point. But he has been just a relation

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Speaker 4: in that twelve josey in the opening two weeks. And

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Speaker 4: I also think that being captain as well sits very

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Speaker 4: very nicely with him. He's he looks like a real leader,

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Speaker 4: confident in doing that and he's playing some great footing.

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Speaker 2: A lot of our listeners smith will know Tava Tabanaho's

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Speaker 2: game in terms of that explosive power and his ability

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Speaker 2: over the ball. Probably what stood out to me most

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Speaker 2: on Saturday night down there in Dunedin was that heads

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Speaker 2: up play when the Highlanders, I think Tava tabanah had

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Speaker 2: actually just won the penalty at the breakdown, they're inside

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Speaker 2: their half and the Blues a little bit on the ropes.

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Speaker 2: There was no fallback back there. He taps and goes

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Speaker 2: from his own ten meter line boots at downfield fifty

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Speaker 2: twenty two. I didn't know that Tava tab no I

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Speaker 2: had had a kicking game, but like that's another element

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Speaker 2: to what is a very rall wounded game, and just

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Speaker 2: by having him in the midfield, you know you're not

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Speaker 2: limiting his opportunities with the ball or you know, waiting

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Speaker 2: for it to get out to his wing. He is

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Speaker 2: so heavily involved as say, both sides of the ball,

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Speaker 2: gets that first phase carry up over the advantage line

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Speaker 2: and then just such a menace there at the breakdown.

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Speaker 2: It's worked. Wonders already. I see one of our columnsts

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Speaker 2: in the New Zealand Heralds comparing him to the Annu already,

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Speaker 2: which might be a slight reach, but look Tabasavanai. For me,

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Speaker 2: he's probably the standout player of Super rugby twenty twenty

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Speaker 2: five so far.

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Speaker 4: Indeed, look he's twenty seven years of age, so he's

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Speaker 4: taken a little bit longer to develop maybe than some

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Speaker 4: other players, but he is playing some simperid rugby. Had

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Speaker 4: time at Mwana Pacifica of course for a couple of seasons,

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Speaker 4: now at the Highlanders, and he has started the season

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Speaker 4: very very strongly. And you'll players old team this Friday night.

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Speaker 4: Let's move backwards to Saturday afternoon and Hurricanes beating the

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Speaker 4: Fijian Drewer in a thriller in Napy year by the

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Speaker 4: tune of thirty eight thirty four. I don't want this

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Speaker 4: to sound dismissive, but I think the Hurricanes won by

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Speaker 4: virtue of just being the team that was ahead when

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Speaker 4: the game was over, because two minutes later it could

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Speaker 4: have been the Drawer leading. Well, five minutes earlier it

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Speaker 4: would have been the Drawer. It was just a a

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Speaker 4: back and forth game. I'm not really sure what we

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Speaker 4: learned about either team, to be honest, from this game,

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Speaker 4: other than the fact that cam roy Guard's playing some

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Speaker 4: great footy. So's duples could he fear apart from that

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Speaker 4: yellow card? But that was super rugby of old, just

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Speaker 4: attacking rugby end to end stuff. And the Hurricanes you

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Speaker 4: get on the board after their opening round loss, which

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Speaker 4: will be a confidence booster for them certainly.

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Speaker 2: Well, yeah, you've got your value for money if you

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Speaker 2: head along to mcclaim Park and Napier on Saturday afternoon,

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Speaker 2: didn't you. It was like an old fashioned game of

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Speaker 2: touch where the ball was just being shifted from end

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Speaker 2: to end, side to side, and as you say, defense

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Speaker 2: was a little bit optional. But the poor old drawer,

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Speaker 2: they just can't buy one away from Fiji. I don't

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Speaker 2: know quite what it is. As you say, Smithy, maybe

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Speaker 2: if the game goes five minutes longer, it's a completely

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Speaker 2: different story. They know they bombed a try with an

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Speaker 2: early celebration there late in the first half, but they

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Speaker 2: play a really exciting brand of rugby and they really

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Speaker 2: bring a point of difference to Super Rugby Pacific. You

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Speaker 2: nailed it with cam Roy guard and really good to

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Speaker 2: see in the Hurricanes Jews. We've seen at the back

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Speaker 2: end of last year his abilities with the All Blacks

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Speaker 2: after coming back from that horrific knee injury. But he

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Speaker 2: created those first two tries, he snipes in from the

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Speaker 2: ruck and scores one late and I think his combination

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Speaker 2: it's very early days with young Harry Godfrey is effectively

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Speaker 2: what third or fourth cab off the rank at first

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Speaker 2: five eighth for the Hurricanes. But he started to see

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Speaker 2: some signs there of what Harry Godfrey speaking of little

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Speaker 2: blokes like Fin Hurley and Harry Godfrey, what a guy

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Speaker 2: like him can do on the super apy stage on

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Speaker 2: a dry track with the sun out. I thought he

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Speaker 2: was very good, created that try just before halftime and

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Speaker 2: then scored the match winner, So there's encouraging signs here.

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Speaker 2: For the Canes. I still think though, and I was

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Speaker 2: looking at some of these statsmithy issues up front, which

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Speaker 2: has been something I felt like the Hurricanes addressed last

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Speaker 2: year when they effectively finished minor premiers. But their lineout

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Speaker 2: and I know they are missing a safer a moa,

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Speaker 2: but ten lineouts only five to one, it's pretty hard

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Speaker 2: to have a platform to attack from when you set

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Speaker 2: piece or that area. Set piece isn't firing work today

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Speaker 2: for Clark Laidlaer and his men, but they're underway.

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Speaker 4: They are underway, and a lot of the welcome the

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Speaker 4: Blues who are lower confidence this week as well. I'm

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Speaker 4: liking in that Hurricanes team just the ability to get

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Speaker 4: it out wide. And you know, I think Nahrda is

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Speaker 4: playing some good rugby kind of after halftime in that

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Speaker 4: Crusader's game last week we didn't see a lot of

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Speaker 4: even the Haller were finneng and northwar but those two

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Speaker 4: players are dangerous whenever they get ball in hand. And

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Speaker 4: in terms of fir here, he looks like he was

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Speaker 4: superb for the seven side for it for a couple

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Speaker 4: of years. He looks like a really promising player in

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Speaker 4: fifteen's still adjusting back to that fifteen style of play.

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Speaker 4: But I'm really liking what the Hurricanes are getting out

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Speaker 4: of him.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, speaking the two seven's wingers from New Zealand, Seams

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Speaker 2: fairhov On and off For and Caleb Tonguingtow are now

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Speaker 2: getting an opportunity at the Highlanders when they have a

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Speaker 2: bit of space down those fifteen meter channels lockout. They're

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Speaker 2: both lightning and they've they've really shown out in this

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Speaker 2: first couple of weeks.

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Speaker 4: Let's go to Friday Night and the Reds beating more

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Speaker 4: Wana Pacific at fifty six thirty six in Brisbane. Poor

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Speaker 4: old Mowana Nick, you scored forty four points in week one,

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Speaker 4: thirty six in week two and they have no wins

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Speaker 4: to show from it. They can certainly score points. It's

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Speaker 4: the other side of the ball, the defense that is

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Speaker 4: the worry. Former Wanda PACIFICA you can't ship the number

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Speaker 4: of points they have in the opening couple of rounds

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Speaker 4: and expect to win too many games. So if you're

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Speaker 4: ti umong It, you'll love the attack, but you've got

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Speaker 4: to tighten up that defense somehow because they're a pretty

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Speaker 4: leaky ship.

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Speaker 2: At the moment. Yeah, indeed, and you look at the

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Speaker 2: nature of the tries that have been scored on them,

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Speaker 2: particularly on Friday night against the Reds, and you know,

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Speaker 2: the Reds went to their set piece, they went to

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Speaker 2: their line out pushover more with Matt Fasla there at

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Speaker 2: the back, and I just look at Mowana's packing on paper,

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Speaker 2: you Ardie Savia aside. He can't do it all there,

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Speaker 2: you know, and it just feels like in that sort

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Speaker 2: of type five and then the other loose forward pieces,

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Speaker 2: they're just losing that collision battle and it is a

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Speaker 2: reel r Kelly's Hill for that team. Hand somehow tighten

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Speaker 2: things up defensively, as you say, they have got so

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Speaker 2: many points in them. You know Kiroen tolmoy Filau out

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Speaker 2: on that he scored a couple of tries I think

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Speaker 2: on the right wing, who's playing a bit of left

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Speaker 2: wing as well, but he's a serious challenge out of Tasman.

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Speaker 2: They got pace to burn. Good to see Solomon Alo

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Speaker 2: Marlow back from rugby league. He scored a try on

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Speaker 2: the weekend as well. So the pieces are there, but

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Speaker 2: if you can't put it together up front, the old cliche,

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Speaker 2: you're not really going anywhere in this competition. So yeah,

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Speaker 2: some work needs doing in those areas for Mowana to

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Speaker 2: be competitive, that's the bottom line.

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Speaker 4: Yeah, it was interesting as well to see Artie Savier

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Speaker 4: move to open side flank on the weekend as well,

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Speaker 4: where we haven't seen a lot of him in recent times.

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Speaker 5: I just you're right.

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Speaker 4: I hope they don't sort of use Artie Savier as

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Speaker 4: the band aid to try and keep this pack together,

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Speaker 4: because he's such a better player than that. But I

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Speaker 4: hope they don't use him just to fill in holes

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Speaker 4: and try and go, well, maybe if we move this

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Speaker 4: piece around, we'll be better this week. Givevadi can play

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Speaker 4: seven or eight or maybe even blindside. You know, he's

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Speaker 4: better than obviously a band aid situation, so they've got

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Speaker 4: to figure out how to get the best of him.

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Speaker 4: We'll also, you know, figure out the balance of that

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Speaker 4: pack at some point over the next few weeks in

307
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Speaker 4: this competition.

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Speaker 2: Just on the Reds, the mcwright, McDermott mcbrothers, if you

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Speaker 2: want to call them that, I thought, you know, that's

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Speaker 2: the first opportunity we've had to see them, And just

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Speaker 2: on the whole with the Australian teams, the demise of

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Speaker 2: the Rebels and bringing the four together. I think as

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Speaker 2: a collective they've all risen. We haven't touched on the

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Speaker 2: Force being two from two beating the Brumbies as well,

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Speaker 2: but they've got some really nice pieces and have that

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Speaker 2: good balance between having that four dominant pack able to

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Speaker 2: bully some teams up front and then having some real

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Speaker 2: excitement out wide. So I know the Reds are the

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Speaker 2: next team I'll see down here in christ Chitch Sunday

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Speaker 2: week and I think they'll be near the top of

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Speaker 2: the log when it comes to Ossie team's at the

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Speaker 2: back end of the season.

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Speaker 4: Yeahed the four forty five points two weeks in a row,

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Speaker 4: one point when last week, three point when this weekend,

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Speaker 4: similar to Mawana Pacifica. But they're on the winning side

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Speaker 4: of the Leiga after both weeks. You know, it's it's

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Speaker 4: a case of will outscore you. You know, however, what

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Speaker 4: have you throw at us? And to go to canber

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Speaker 4: and put forty five points? There's no easy task, no.

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Speaker 2: These and these are the fine margins of super Apia Pacific.

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Speaker 2: There's no easy beats. And I was going to James Marshall,

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Speaker 2: the Crusader's assistant coach last week, you know, and we're

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Speaker 2: going to get onto the Crusaders shortly, but there's you know,

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Speaker 2: one mistake can quickly be seven points, you know, and

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Speaker 2: that can that can decide a match and the Crusaders

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Speaker 2: found that out the hard way last year. But look,

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Speaker 2: it's great for the competition. We're seeing very close games.

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Speaker 2: I know we had a couple of blowouts, but but

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Speaker 2: the three others eight points or less. So I think

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Speaker 2: that's what the viewer wants to see.

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Speaker 4: Well, let's go to the biggest blowout of the competition

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Speaker 4: over the through this two weeks so far. And you mentioned,

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Speaker 4: you know, stringing tries together in terms of conceding that. Well,

344
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Speaker 4: the Chiefs managed to do that on the weekend seventeen

345
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Speaker 4: all at one point and then they go bang bang

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Speaker 4: two tries in the space of three minutes in the

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Speaker 4: game was effectively gone at that point, is Crusaders caller?

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Speaker 4: What did you see from that performance in Hamilton?

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Speaker 2: Well, firstly, just on the Chiefs. What just a freight

350
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Speaker 2: train and avalanche, wasn't it?

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Speaker 1: Like?

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Speaker 2: As you mentioned seventeen all, I kind of kicks that

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Speaker 2: penalty after what was potentially a contentious moment where he

354
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Speaker 2: was pulled back by Josh Lord after that line break,

355
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Speaker 2: no yellow card penalty, only seventeen all but the games

356
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Speaker 2: and the balance, and then from there just the way

357
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Speaker 2: that the Chiefs ran with intent and purpose. I'm going

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Speaker 2: to get to the Crusaders in a second, but I

359
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Speaker 2: looked initially with the loss of Wallace Atiti and thought,

360
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Speaker 2: you know, that's a pretty big out for a side.

361
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Speaker 2: You know that, you know he was their star last

362
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Speaker 2: year to get all the way to the Grand Final.

363
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Speaker 2: But a guy like Simon Parker stepping up in a

364
00:16:52,533 --> 00:16:55,453
Speaker 2: massive way for them in these first two weeks. And

365
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Speaker 2: then when they lose Luke Jacobson early, they've got Sam

366
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Speaker 2: a Penie Finale on the bench. They lose Rama Kapoi

367
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Speaker 2: Happy early, they got Quintu Pyra on the bench. Clayde

368
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Speaker 2: McMillan's strength and depth of that Chief's unit is and

369
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Speaker 2: they just blew the Crusaders away. They made them pay

370
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Speaker 2: for some pretty ordinary moments, and they are rightly on

371
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Speaker 2: its early days. But the leaders in this competition like

372
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Speaker 2: the way the Chiefs particularly are going about their second half.

373
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Speaker 2: What stands out for me Smith is two weeks and

374
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Speaker 2: now Blues and Crusaders. They've scored eight tries in in

375
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Speaker 2: the second half and conceded just the one and that

376
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Speaker 2: was Antonio Chellphone sort of falling over when the game

377
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Speaker 2: was absolutely gone. So they're a scary prospect and if

378
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Speaker 2: they can keep at this level, it's going to take

379
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Speaker 2: something pretty pretty scary to stop them.

380
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Speaker 1: It is.

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Speaker 4: You look at that bench that they put out on

382
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Speaker 4: the weekend as well, wasn't as many all blacks as

383
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Speaker 4: the week before. But something that Claude McMillan's doing very

384
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Speaker 4: very well is just balancing the bean Chan's bringing on

385
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Speaker 4: semipenny fee now for these in these games, I know

386
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Speaker 4: we end up playing seventy three minutes and then Quinta

387
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Speaker 4: Pie played seventy odd but a lot of these players

388
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Speaker 4: you're bringing on are quasi and just the depth that

389
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Speaker 4: I don't think you know, as many New Zealand super

390
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Speaker 4: Aby coaches have embraced. You know, a lot of them

391
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Speaker 4: mentioned about the bomb squad, the Chiefs bomb squad, you know,

392
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Speaker 4: taking a leaf out of South Africa and Russi Erasmus's

393
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Speaker 4: bomb squad. But I don't think New Zealand has been

394
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Speaker 4: wise enough to play with a full eighty minute mentality

395
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Speaker 4: and believing that the final thirty minutes is just as important,

396
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Speaker 4: if not more important, than the first fifty minutes in games.

397
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Speaker 4: And maybe we're just seeing a sign of that now

398
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Speaker 4: with Claydon McMillan and what he's doing around the way

399
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Speaker 4: that he's balancing his bench. You know, you would have

400
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Speaker 4: expected someone like a Cortizratama to have started these first

401
00:18:41,533 --> 00:18:43,093
Speaker 4: two games where has come off the bench and he's

402
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Speaker 4: making a real impact. So I just think it's maybe

403
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Speaker 4: a little bit of a mind shift maybe that clad

404
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Speaker 4: McMillan might be leading around some of these New Zealand coaches.

405
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Speaker 2: Well, you just look at the fatigue in the game, Smithy,

406
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Speaker 2: with these with these score lines, you know, there's just

407
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Speaker 2: so much opportunity there to exploit fatigue, and I think

408
00:19:01,413 --> 00:19:02,853
Speaker 2: that's what the Chiefs did so well, you know, it

409
00:19:02,933 --> 00:19:06,093
Speaker 2: was unfortunate for the Crusaders. They lose Fletcher Null to

410
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Speaker 2: a late mouthguard Hia Trigger at halftime, and poor old

411
00:19:11,253 --> 00:19:15,453
Speaker 2: said martinga who's probably fifth or sixth cab up tight

412
00:19:15,533 --> 00:19:18,293
Speaker 2: head prop down here in Crusader's country, gets his opportunity.

413
00:19:18,773 --> 00:19:20,373
Speaker 2: He's only been with the team a hand full of

414
00:19:20,453 --> 00:19:24,013
Speaker 2: weeks and the scrum collapses and he was targeted in

415
00:19:24,093 --> 00:19:26,973
Speaker 2: a big way. And you know, just being able to

416
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Speaker 2: do that and see that and balance your squad. It

417
00:19:30,293 --> 00:19:33,213
Speaker 2: can't be done for every team. Teams just some squads

418
00:19:33,293 --> 00:19:34,853
Speaker 2: just don't have that depth. But as I was just

419
00:19:35,013 --> 00:19:37,733
Speaker 2: touching on the floor, like the Chiefs, it's scary how

420
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Speaker 2: far down you go in every position where they can

421
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Speaker 2: lean on and they've still got guys like Sean Stevenson

422
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Speaker 2: SAMMASONI take a halt to come back into the mix.

423
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Speaker 2: So very encouraging on the Crusaders though, and I do

424
00:19:48,653 --> 00:19:53,613
Speaker 2: want to touch on it, like, yes, the Chiefs, you know,

425
00:19:53,693 --> 00:19:56,173
Speaker 2: put them away, but you look at how some of

426
00:19:56,213 --> 00:19:59,853
Speaker 2: those tries began, you know, James O'Connor not finding touch

427
00:19:59,893 --> 00:20:03,533
Speaker 2: off a penalty one on one, soft misses and tackles,

428
00:20:03,573 --> 00:20:08,093
Speaker 2: missing those collisions, chancing their arm on pushing the pass unnecessarily.

429
00:20:08,093 --> 00:20:11,373
Speaker 2: I think it was O'Connor again intercepted by Ammoni Nadoe

430
00:20:11,573 --> 00:20:14,133
Speaker 2: boots it downfield. He then wins the turnover and they

431
00:20:14,173 --> 00:20:17,213
Speaker 2: score off the next phase. So there was just little

432
00:20:17,293 --> 00:20:19,533
Speaker 2: moments there, and I know the Crusaders are really trying

433
00:20:19,573 --> 00:20:23,933
Speaker 2: to push this up tempo you know, play what's in

434
00:20:24,013 --> 00:20:28,613
Speaker 2: front of you, offload the ball, recycle quickly style of rugby.

435
00:20:28,733 --> 00:20:30,973
Speaker 2: But it felt like they're at that point in time,

436
00:20:31,053 --> 00:20:33,773
Speaker 2: particularly when they went to their bench early where it

437
00:20:33,893 --> 00:20:36,013
Speaker 2: was seventeen all and they just needed to play the

438
00:20:36,053 --> 00:20:39,293
Speaker 2: percentages and you know, not every one of these fifty

439
00:20:39,293 --> 00:20:41,293
Speaker 2: to fifty passes are going to come off like they

440
00:20:41,373 --> 00:20:43,133
Speaker 2: did in round one against the Hurricanes. So I think

441
00:20:43,133 --> 00:20:45,213
Speaker 2: there was a real lesson learned there for the Crusaders

442
00:20:45,253 --> 00:20:48,013
Speaker 2: that if you want to play this attacking style and

443
00:20:48,333 --> 00:20:50,413
Speaker 2: on the other side to this defensive style which is

444
00:20:50,533 --> 00:20:53,333
Speaker 2: just all hell breaks loose with ol Miller shooting up

445
00:20:53,533 --> 00:20:57,493
Speaker 2: out of outside center and basically leaving Chafee Hackey marking

446
00:20:57,733 --> 00:20:59,813
Speaker 2: three minute times out on the flanks, that you're going

447
00:20:59,853 --> 00:21:03,013
Speaker 2: to have to adjust accordingly because you're going to get

448
00:21:03,053 --> 00:21:05,453
Speaker 2: found out by a team with the quality of the Chiefs.

449
00:21:05,653 --> 00:21:07,373
Speaker 5: Indeed, so you very interesting.

450
00:21:07,453 --> 00:21:09,773
Speaker 4: After a couple of weeks in Super rugby, it is

451
00:21:10,053 --> 00:21:12,813
Speaker 4: clear the Chiefs are now, you know, the team to

452
00:21:12,893 --> 00:21:15,773
Speaker 4: beat through two weeks, things might change and shuffle around,

453
00:21:15,813 --> 00:21:18,173
Speaker 4: but they've laid a real statement, where As I think

454
00:21:18,453 --> 00:21:20,293
Speaker 4: you look at the rested ladder and obviously there are

455
00:21:20,333 --> 00:21:21,933
Speaker 4: three teams still to get a win, but it feels

456
00:21:22,013 --> 00:21:24,693
Speaker 4: like a lot of that might shuffle around because there

457
00:21:24,693 --> 00:21:26,613
Speaker 4: are teams that can beat each other at the moment.

458
00:21:26,893 --> 00:21:29,093
Speaker 4: You know, a lot of these results are unpredictable. We'll

459
00:21:29,093 --> 00:21:31,493
Speaker 4: get to some tipping after our breaking in a moment

460
00:21:31,613 --> 00:21:34,573
Speaker 4: or two. But it feels like the Super Rugby competition

461
00:21:34,733 --> 00:21:36,133
Speaker 4: is really unpredictable at the moment.

462
00:21:36,613 --> 00:21:39,653
Speaker 2: It certainly as yeah, and I think has alluded to before.

463
00:21:39,813 --> 00:21:44,093
Speaker 2: Since the rebels have moved away no more, we're now

464
00:21:44,133 --> 00:21:46,573
Speaker 2: in a position where the Australian teams, you know, the

465
00:21:46,693 --> 00:21:49,413
Speaker 2: talent pool is and it's spread as wide it's now

466
00:21:49,853 --> 00:21:53,493
Speaker 2: they're much more competitive. The drawer is still offer plenty.

467
00:21:54,173 --> 00:21:56,813
Speaker 2: You know, the Highlanders with the lift that Jamie Joseph

468
00:21:56,893 --> 00:22:00,253
Speaker 2: has provided, they're now you know, can beat a Blues team.

469
00:22:00,293 --> 00:22:03,413
Speaker 2: For them, it's just about consistency. So it's a tip

470
00:22:03,493 --> 00:22:05,773
Speaker 2: as nightmare this competition. But that's what it's all about,

471
00:22:05,813 --> 00:22:08,213
Speaker 2: I know listening to you guys over the last year.

472
00:22:08,453 --> 00:22:10,893
Speaker 2: So we want jeopardy in this competition. We don't want

473
00:22:11,133 --> 00:22:13,253
Speaker 2: a situation where we can sit here and go it's

474
00:22:13,253 --> 00:22:16,173
Speaker 2: going to be Blues Chiefs come June and we'll see

475
00:22:16,173 --> 00:22:18,933
Speaker 2: who makes up the rest or previously the Crusaders. It's

476
00:22:18,973 --> 00:22:22,013
Speaker 2: the Crusaders to lose. So I think Super Rugby as

477
00:22:22,093 --> 00:22:24,533
Speaker 2: a whole is actually in a really good spot. And

478
00:22:24,573 --> 00:22:27,693
Speaker 2: I think more broadly speaking, you think, particularly given what

479
00:22:27,813 --> 00:22:30,413
Speaker 2: probably their biggest competitor being the NRL starting this week,

480
00:22:30,773 --> 00:22:33,653
Speaker 2: it couldn't have been a better start this first fortnight

481
00:22:33,733 --> 00:22:36,093
Speaker 2: while the NRL is waiting to fire up.

482
00:22:36,253 --> 00:22:36,653
Speaker 5: That's right.

483
00:22:37,013 --> 00:22:38,653
Speaker 4: It will be interesting once we get a few more

484
00:22:38,853 --> 00:22:42,373
Speaker 4: Aussie New Zealand games. We've seen a lot of derbies,

485
00:22:42,413 --> 00:22:44,773
Speaker 4: I think four in the first couple of weeks of

486
00:22:44,813 --> 00:22:47,093
Speaker 4: the competition. It'll be interesting to see how things shakedown

487
00:22:47,133 --> 00:22:49,293
Speaker 4: after that. But you're right, there's been quality that the

488
00:22:49,333 --> 00:22:51,733
Speaker 4: first couple of weeks and I think the best start

489
00:22:51,813 --> 00:22:53,933
Speaker 4: to Super Rugby in years. One thing I did want

490
00:22:53,933 --> 00:22:55,373
Speaker 4: to touch on Nick before we take a quick break

491
00:22:55,533 --> 00:22:59,653
Speaker 4: was this rule. On Saturday night Solou and Ethan de

492
00:22:59,733 --> 00:23:01,813
Speaker 4: group both of the Park Daniel and it Brown gets

493
00:23:02,173 --> 00:23:05,213
Speaker 4: red carded and we go to Golden Oldie scrums and

494
00:23:05,253 --> 00:23:08,773
Speaker 4: we were messaging on Saturday night around It's one of

495
00:23:08,813 --> 00:23:10,853
Speaker 4: those things that we don't see too often in rugby,

496
00:23:10,893 --> 00:23:13,813
Speaker 4: but the Highlanders had to drop a player basically because

497
00:23:13,853 --> 00:23:17,173
Speaker 4: they were the ones that triggered the Golden Oldies scrums,

498
00:23:17,253 --> 00:23:19,293
Speaker 4: so it got them a bit of a mess, and

499
00:23:19,293 --> 00:23:20,693
Speaker 4: then they managed to come out on the other side

500
00:23:20,733 --> 00:23:22,653
Speaker 4: and win it, which is remarkable but one of those

501
00:23:22,693 --> 00:23:24,973
Speaker 4: old rugby rules that only come out once in a

502
00:23:24,973 --> 00:23:27,533
Speaker 4: blue moon and had everyone scratching their heads.

503
00:23:28,173 --> 00:23:29,893
Speaker 2: Yeah. I got into a good old little back and

504
00:23:30,013 --> 00:23:32,453
Speaker 2: forth on Twitter x whatever you call it these days

505
00:23:32,493 --> 00:23:35,133
Speaker 2: with Ryan Nixon. Shout out to Ryan who does some

506
00:23:35,213 --> 00:23:37,133
Speaker 2: great work there at the North Arbor Rugby Union around

507
00:23:37,253 --> 00:23:40,213
Speaker 2: educating referees and educating me. As it turns out, so

508
00:23:40,573 --> 00:23:42,773
Speaker 2: that law you know he was explaining to me is

509
00:23:42,773 --> 00:23:47,453
Speaker 2: basically put in place so you can't manipulate being overpowered

510
00:23:47,493 --> 00:23:50,573
Speaker 2: at scrum times sort of feigning injuries. Front rowers go

511
00:23:50,733 --> 00:23:53,013
Speaker 2: off and then there's no punishment for them going to

512
00:23:53,093 --> 00:23:55,533
Speaker 2: a Golden Oldies and the team that's been dominant aren't

513
00:23:56,213 --> 00:23:58,613
Speaker 2: all of a sudden no longer having that advantage. What

514
00:23:58,733 --> 00:24:00,573
Speaker 2: I'd like to see though, is I think common sense

515
00:24:00,613 --> 00:24:03,853
Speaker 2: needs to prevail, as you mentioned, so they had their

516
00:24:03,893 --> 00:24:06,373
Speaker 2: tight head come off with the failed HIA that's completely

517
00:24:06,413 --> 00:24:09,573
Speaker 2: out of their control and Ethan dig By all means

518
00:24:09,693 --> 00:24:12,933
Speaker 2: was buggered with some sort of leg injury. So yes,

519
00:24:13,133 --> 00:24:15,893
Speaker 2: Lennard Brown is the one that he's a front rower

520
00:24:15,973 --> 00:24:19,493
Speaker 2: too and he's committed that red card defense. But it

521
00:24:19,533 --> 00:24:23,333
Speaker 2: should be fifteen on fourteen in my view anyway, It

522
00:24:23,373 --> 00:24:25,893
Speaker 2: shouldn't be then fifteen on thirteen. As it turns out,

523
00:24:25,893 --> 00:24:27,813
Speaker 2: it's all in material and it makes the Highlanders went

524
00:24:27,853 --> 00:24:30,413
Speaker 2: even more impressive. However, I think that's just one of

525
00:24:30,453 --> 00:24:34,013
Speaker 2: those little oddities where you just tied it up, get

526
00:24:34,053 --> 00:24:36,333
Speaker 2: a bit of twink out at a line and we

527
00:24:36,413 --> 00:24:38,453
Speaker 2: don't have some sort of fascal situation like we did

528
00:24:38,493 --> 00:24:38,893
Speaker 2: on Saturday.

529
00:24:38,973 --> 00:24:41,613
Speaker 4: Well, the thing is, I completely agree because one of

530
00:24:41,653 --> 00:24:43,853
Speaker 4: the arguments in this, the whole twenty minute red card,

531
00:24:43,893 --> 00:24:46,213
Speaker 4: the augment against is a players will we target players

532
00:24:46,253 --> 00:24:48,973
Speaker 4: will target a quality player from the opposition because it's

533
00:24:48,973 --> 00:24:50,973
Speaker 4: only a twenty minute deterrent. You still be off the

534
00:24:51,013 --> 00:24:52,893
Speaker 4: park for twenty minutes, or someone will off the park

535
00:24:52,933 --> 00:24:55,053
Speaker 4: for twenty minutes, but they're able to replace them. But

536
00:24:55,813 --> 00:24:57,613
Speaker 4: I don't buy that for a second. So on the

537
00:24:57,693 --> 00:25:00,173
Speaker 4: reverse of that, if you're taking off a player when

538
00:25:00,213 --> 00:25:03,013
Speaker 4: you have lost players through injury, and also yellow card.

539
00:25:03,013 --> 00:25:04,933
Speaker 4: I think you don't quite get the balance of that.

540
00:25:04,973 --> 00:25:07,133
Speaker 4: If you're doing it on one side for a discipline

541
00:25:07,173 --> 00:25:09,573
Speaker 4: reactually on the other you've got to balance it out

542
00:25:09,613 --> 00:25:10,053
Speaker 4: that way.

543
00:25:10,693 --> 00:25:15,133
Speaker 2: Absolutely, and just on that too the Blues. It's talking

544
00:25:15,173 --> 00:25:18,573
Speaker 2: about that game management. They didn't recognize that if they

545
00:25:18,773 --> 00:25:22,013
Speaker 2: just went for scrums, albeit golden oldies scrums, they would

546
00:25:22,013 --> 00:25:25,133
Speaker 2: have had a two man numerical advantage in the back line.

547
00:25:25,173 --> 00:25:28,173
Speaker 2: Yet they went to the line out. Yeah, head scratching,

548
00:25:28,213 --> 00:25:29,733
Speaker 2: to say the least, very head scratching.

549
00:25:30,053 --> 00:25:32,093
Speaker 4: And clearly, well, you know, the players on the part

550
00:25:32,133 --> 00:25:33,813
Speaker 4: should be smarter, but I'm not sure how there wasn't

551
00:25:33,813 --> 00:25:36,333
Speaker 4: a message they didn't get down ground level as a

552
00:25:36,413 --> 00:25:38,293
Speaker 4: result of that. Will take a break here on Rugby Direct.

553
00:25:38,333 --> 00:25:40,093
Speaker 4: Come back on the second half of the podcast after this.

554
00:25:40,973 --> 00:25:45,053
Speaker 3: This is Rugby Direct, a podcast for real rugby fares,

555
00:25:51,293 --> 00:25:52,293
Speaker 3: power babies talk.

556
00:25:53,333 --> 00:25:55,653
Speaker 4: You're back with Rugby Direct powered by Habit Health. Time

557
00:25:55,733 --> 00:25:58,853
Speaker 4: now for our final four. Let's change tax slightly. The

558
00:25:59,133 --> 00:26:01,933
Speaker 4: sevens still ongoing as we record this in Vancouver, but

559
00:26:02,013 --> 00:26:05,693
Speaker 4: over the weekends Mikayla Break became the all time leading

560
00:26:05,773 --> 00:26:08,453
Speaker 4: tri scorer on the women's seven circuit the question I

561
00:26:08,533 --> 00:26:11,613
Speaker 4: have for you, Nick, is she underappreciated.

562
00:26:13,213 --> 00:26:16,653
Speaker 2: I'm gonna say yes, And that seems crazy to say,

563
00:26:16,773 --> 00:26:20,013
Speaker 2: but I think it's by virtue of the Black Ferns

564
00:26:20,133 --> 00:26:23,413
Speaker 2: being you know, Laiden with stars Black Fern and sevens

565
00:26:23,453 --> 00:26:25,573
Speaker 2: as and the Black Ferns. But you know, for so

566
00:26:25,733 --> 00:26:29,933
Speaker 2: long it's been what's Porscha Woodman Wickcliffe doing, or Sarah

567
00:26:29,973 --> 00:26:34,413
Speaker 2: Herony or Stacy Woker and michaela Blinde. Mikayla Brake is

568
00:26:35,293 --> 00:26:37,853
Speaker 2: you know, on the end of so much fantastic work.

569
00:26:37,893 --> 00:26:40,613
Speaker 2: But in her own right, she is an absolute superstar.

570
00:26:41,213 --> 00:26:45,453
Speaker 2: And you know, to be now clear of Porsche is

571
00:26:45,533 --> 00:26:49,253
Speaker 2: phenomenal and look personally, someone who loves both codes pretty

572
00:26:49,253 --> 00:26:52,093
Speaker 2: excited that she's going to chance rumon an NRLW as well,

573
00:26:52,093 --> 00:26:53,773
Speaker 2: which it's only twenty nine years old, Elliott, and I

574
00:26:53,813 --> 00:26:55,453
Speaker 2: feel like, I know you've seen a lot of the

575
00:26:55,533 --> 00:26:57,733
Speaker 2: SEVENS program, so you'll be able to probably put it

576
00:26:57,773 --> 00:26:59,653
Speaker 2: in better words than me, But she's she's got so

577
00:26:59,813 --> 00:27:02,573
Speaker 2: much still to offer to this program. And you see sometimes,

578
00:27:02,893 --> 00:27:05,093
Speaker 2: particularly in the men's game, sort of that twenty seven

579
00:27:05,173 --> 00:27:07,973
Speaker 2: year year age where it feels like, oh the pace

580
00:27:08,093 --> 00:27:10,373
Speaker 2: sort of of the players start losing a bit of

581
00:27:10,413 --> 00:27:12,333
Speaker 2: pace out wide, but if anything like, she's just got

582
00:27:12,373 --> 00:27:14,533
Speaker 2: speed to burn and she's such an asset to New Zealand.

583
00:27:14,533 --> 00:27:16,133
Speaker 2: So yeah, I think she is a bit unappreciated.

584
00:27:16,213 --> 00:27:17,093
Speaker 5: Yeah, I've got to agree.

585
00:27:17,693 --> 00:27:21,413
Speaker 4: She is phenomenal and just one of those underpreciated players

586
00:27:21,453 --> 00:27:22,493
Speaker 4: that just keeps delivering.

587
00:27:22,573 --> 00:27:25,573
Speaker 5: You know, five tries and one half against Island on

588
00:27:25,613 --> 00:27:26,053
Speaker 5: the weekend.

589
00:27:26,213 --> 00:27:28,533
Speaker 4: She had to get three in the game to take

590
00:27:28,573 --> 00:27:30,533
Speaker 4: the record out right where she had two in the

591
00:27:30,533 --> 00:27:32,533
Speaker 4: space about three minutes, bags another one and then grabs

592
00:27:32,533 --> 00:27:34,733
Speaker 4: a couple more before halftime. And what I really like

593
00:27:34,813 --> 00:27:37,653
Speaker 4: about her as well, she's adding extra elements to a game.

594
00:27:37,773 --> 00:27:39,613
Speaker 4: You mentioned, you know, she's twenty nine years of age,

595
00:27:39,693 --> 00:27:42,573
Speaker 4: probably got one more Olympic cycle in her which is

596
00:27:42,613 --> 00:27:45,973
Speaker 4: the current one after her stint with NRRAL later in

597
00:27:46,013 --> 00:27:47,693
Speaker 4: the year. But she's adding strings to a game. She's

598
00:27:47,733 --> 00:27:50,413
Speaker 4: now doing a little bit of goalkicking as well, and

599
00:27:50,453 --> 00:27:52,733
Speaker 4: it wouldn't surprise me maybe just to see it move

600
00:27:52,813 --> 00:27:56,173
Speaker 4: into the middle at some point over the next couple

601
00:27:56,213 --> 00:27:58,773
Speaker 4: of years, because there are going to be players that can,

602
00:27:59,653 --> 00:28:01,973
Speaker 4: you know, perhaps overtake it. With that pace out wide,

603
00:28:02,293 --> 00:28:04,693
Speaker 4: she still have absolute pace in the middle of the part.

604
00:28:04,733 --> 00:28:07,293
Speaker 4: But she may just perhaps after she come back from sevens,

605
00:28:07,333 --> 00:28:08,853
Speaker 4: just look to adapt to a game a little bit

606
00:28:08,893 --> 00:28:11,813
Speaker 4: further and maybe moving to the middle. It's going to

607
00:28:11,853 --> 00:28:14,413
Speaker 4: be fascinating to see how she comes back after that

608
00:28:14,533 --> 00:28:18,093
Speaker 4: stint with sevens. Sorry with with the nral W a

609
00:28:18,133 --> 00:28:20,333
Speaker 4: bit later on the year, quick word as well. The

610
00:28:20,453 --> 00:28:24,213
Speaker 4: men's sevens losing to Spain in the quarter finals, there

611
00:28:24,253 --> 00:28:25,893
Speaker 4: are some real issues. I know we're in the early

612
00:28:25,973 --> 00:28:30,813
Speaker 4: stages of an Olympic cycle neck but not liking the

613
00:28:30,853 --> 00:28:32,853
Speaker 4: way that the men's team is playing at the moment.

614
00:28:33,413 --> 00:28:36,533
Speaker 2: It doesn't read well does it to lose to Spain

615
00:28:36,693 --> 00:28:39,253
Speaker 2: in any form, any format of rugby for a New

616
00:28:39,333 --> 00:28:43,213
Speaker 2: Zealand representative team. And look, I know, as you alluded

617
00:28:43,213 --> 00:28:47,213
Speaker 2: to their new Olympic cycle, relatively new coach and Tamasia summer,

618
00:28:48,293 --> 00:28:52,813
Speaker 2: but I think yeah, a real sort of stern look

619
00:28:53,173 --> 00:28:56,253
Speaker 2: is required into that men's set up, and maybe some

620
00:28:56,693 --> 00:28:59,693
Speaker 2: pretty significant change is required given how much we prioritize

621
00:28:59,733 --> 00:29:00,653
Speaker 2: other Olympic events.

622
00:29:00,973 --> 00:29:03,573
Speaker 4: Yeah, that's right, top number two in the final four.

623
00:29:03,653 --> 00:29:06,293
Speaker 4: How's your your fantasy team going two weeks? And who

624
00:29:06,493 --> 00:29:08,693
Speaker 4: your best buy has been? Because I had battle of

625
00:29:08,733 --> 00:29:09,893
Speaker 4: a weekend. How did your team go?

626
00:29:10,173 --> 00:29:13,173
Speaker 2: Well? Look, the Bewley's Battlers were flying in the inns

627
00:29:13,213 --> 00:29:16,333
Speaker 2: in me League. In round one I had the lead

628
00:29:16,853 --> 00:29:20,293
Speaker 2: over Foxton Fizz, which I'm i'm led to believe is

629
00:29:20,493 --> 00:29:23,093
Speaker 2: Liam Napier, the co host of Rugby Direct, usually by

630
00:29:23,213 --> 00:29:26,013
Speaker 2: just a solitary points, but yet similar I got too

631
00:29:26,133 --> 00:29:30,813
Speaker 2: cute with unlimited transfers that I tried to pack my

632
00:29:30,933 --> 00:29:33,773
Speaker 2: team full of what I thought was ideal matchups and

633
00:29:34,253 --> 00:29:37,093
Speaker 2: went with Hunter, Paisami and Leniki Tail for example in

634
00:29:37,693 --> 00:29:40,013
Speaker 2: the Reds and the Brumbies, and they scored about ten

635
00:29:40,053 --> 00:29:42,413
Speaker 2: points combined, so not as good. But look, I think

636
00:29:42,453 --> 00:29:45,133
Speaker 2: it's been a great addition. Certainly around the workplace here

637
00:29:45,173 --> 00:29:47,573
Speaker 2: in christ Church is a bit of chatter, but what

638
00:29:47,693 --> 00:29:50,053
Speaker 2: a cooler chat about who's in your fantasy team and

639
00:29:50,093 --> 00:29:52,253
Speaker 2: what not? Cam Royguard, I'm glad I stuck with him.

640
00:29:52,293 --> 00:29:54,493
Speaker 2: There's a fair amount of excitement to get Kyle Preston

641
00:29:54,773 --> 00:29:57,493
Speaker 2: in the mix after his hat trick in round one.

642
00:29:57,613 --> 00:30:01,413
Speaker 2: But roy Guard served me well with those two triss

643
00:30:01,493 --> 00:30:04,173
Speaker 2: and a tryver's own at the weekend and points of

644
00:30:04,293 --> 00:30:07,133
Speaker 2: roy Guard not too bad, not too bad, so McKinsey's

645
00:30:07,213 --> 00:30:10,253
Speaker 2: the second top score He's been my captain throughout the

646
00:30:10,333 --> 00:30:12,213
Speaker 2: season so far. But I'm going to put you on

647
00:30:12,253 --> 00:30:14,293
Speaker 2: the spot here. Do you know who the top scorer

648
00:30:14,493 --> 00:30:15,733
Speaker 2: is through two weeks.

649
00:30:17,413 --> 00:30:22,533
Speaker 5: No, I'm going to guess and say it is Will Jordan.

650
00:30:24,093 --> 00:30:27,533
Speaker 2: No. It is an outside back and he plays Form

651
00:30:27,573 --> 00:30:30,653
Speaker 2: ONEA PACIFICA and his name is Kliroen Tomoy full out

652
00:30:30,773 --> 00:30:34,493
Speaker 2: and he's only about four million, I think, so he's

653
00:30:34,533 --> 00:30:37,253
Speaker 2: almost I must have at this point in time. The

654
00:30:37,293 --> 00:30:40,533
Speaker 2: budget for your team is a one hundred million, So yeah,

655
00:30:40,573 --> 00:30:43,253
Speaker 2: get Kien and I think he's four tries in two games,

656
00:30:43,493 --> 00:30:46,173
Speaker 2: and yeah, he's some talent. Certainly, the points are skewed

657
00:30:46,173 --> 00:30:47,933
Speaker 2: towards the back three, so that's where you're really going

658
00:30:48,013 --> 00:30:50,613
Speaker 2: to load up, I think week to week and make

659
00:30:50,653 --> 00:30:51,293
Speaker 2: sure you get that right.

660
00:30:51,493 --> 00:30:53,053
Speaker 4: You're not getting much out of locks. It doesn't seem

661
00:30:53,133 --> 00:30:54,973
Speaker 4: like a game made fantasy. It doesn't seem like game

662
00:30:55,013 --> 00:30:56,533
Speaker 4: made for locks. On the basis of what I've seen,

663
00:30:56,573 --> 00:30:58,973
Speaker 4: I think I've got eighteen from Holland and nine from

664
00:30:59,053 --> 00:31:00,173
Speaker 4: three be law to on the weekend.

665
00:31:00,493 --> 00:31:04,053
Speaker 2: Colin Grace, somewhat strangely, is a lock in fantasy so

666
00:31:04,213 --> 00:31:07,013
Speaker 2: maybe that's one you need to exploit their smith.

667
00:31:07,093 --> 00:31:08,773
Speaker 4: I'll look at that for the weekend. I think number

668
00:31:08,773 --> 00:31:10,293
Speaker 4: three we touched on this a bit earlier. But what

669
00:31:10,493 --> 00:31:13,173
Speaker 4: is going wrong at the Blues?

670
00:31:13,773 --> 00:31:13,973
Speaker 2: For me?

671
00:31:14,493 --> 00:31:17,053
Speaker 4: I think the missing Kida Yanni big time in that

672
00:31:17,253 --> 00:31:19,693
Speaker 4: pack both sides of the ball. He was electric last

673
00:31:19,733 --> 00:31:22,653
Speaker 4: year in Super Rugby. I don't know that the Blues

674
00:31:22,653 --> 00:31:25,173
Speaker 4: anticipated missing him as much as they have in the

675
00:31:25,253 --> 00:31:28,853
Speaker 4: opening rounds. Sam Dowry is a big loss for them,

676
00:31:28,933 --> 00:31:31,373
Speaker 4: but I also think their back line is looking really

677
00:31:31,493 --> 00:31:35,973
Speaker 4: clunky at the moment. I don't know that I'd be

678
00:31:36,053 --> 00:31:38,853
Speaker 4: sticking with Harry Plumber and Boden Barrett in that ten

679
00:31:38,893 --> 00:31:40,773
Speaker 4: to fifteen combination. I think you need to get Boden

680
00:31:40,853 --> 00:31:43,613
Speaker 4: involved in the game a little bit more. Maybe Plumber

681
00:31:43,613 --> 00:31:46,693
Speaker 4: moves back to twelve. Obviously, Petafetta is injured so to

682
00:31:47,173 --> 00:31:49,613
Speaker 4: Sullivan at the moment, but I don't know that they've

683
00:31:49,613 --> 00:31:51,733
Speaker 4: got the makeup of that run on side exactly right

684
00:31:51,933 --> 00:31:54,813
Speaker 4: at the moment, and they're missing a bit of tenaciousness

685
00:31:54,933 --> 00:31:57,253
Speaker 4: in that four pack. What are you seeing is going

686
00:31:57,293 --> 00:31:58,253
Speaker 4: wrong at the Blues at the moment?

687
00:31:58,333 --> 00:31:59,893
Speaker 2: Nick, Yeah, I was going to ask you as if

688
00:31:59,893 --> 00:32:01,973
Speaker 2: you look the Blues call around that ten to fifteen

689
00:32:02,253 --> 00:32:04,373
Speaker 2: combination and we are seeing you know, the ten to

690
00:32:04,413 --> 00:32:06,893
Speaker 2: fifteen dual playmaker has been around for a number of

691
00:32:07,053 --> 00:32:10,093
Speaker 2: years now, but it just doesn't feel like the balance

692
00:32:10,293 --> 00:32:14,733
Speaker 2: is right in terms of the orchestrator of this attack.

693
00:32:15,133 --> 00:32:18,733
Speaker 2: And yeah, I do under two. Obviously, Harry Plumber's got

694
00:32:18,773 --> 00:32:21,693
Speaker 2: a lot of money in the bank from last year,

695
00:32:22,013 --> 00:32:24,573
Speaker 2: and you're not going to leave someone like Bowden Barrett out.

696
00:32:24,893 --> 00:32:27,773
Speaker 2: But yeah, when guys come back to they look at

697
00:32:27,813 --> 00:32:32,053
Speaker 2: Plumber at twelve, Barrett ten, Parafeta fifteen, something like that.

698
00:32:32,213 --> 00:32:34,933
Speaker 2: It's just sort of feels too many chefs in the kitchen.

699
00:32:34,973 --> 00:32:37,173
Speaker 2: And I touched on it earlier too, just around the kicking.

700
00:32:38,213 --> 00:32:41,773
Speaker 2: I just think, especially in these early rounds from what

701
00:32:41,813 --> 00:32:44,653
Speaker 2: we've seen from everyone else, they probably just need to

702
00:32:44,733 --> 00:32:49,173
Speaker 2: put the boot away a bit. Those two Boden Barrett

703
00:32:49,573 --> 00:32:53,253
Speaker 2: kicks straight down thin Hurley's throat led to tries and

704
00:32:54,293 --> 00:32:56,733
Speaker 2: in an eight point games, just some aimless kicking and

705
00:32:56,813 --> 00:32:59,853
Speaker 2: little decision making there can be the difference between a

706
00:32:59,893 --> 00:33:00,533
Speaker 2: win and a loss.

707
00:33:00,613 --> 00:33:03,773
Speaker 4: Agreed, and the midfield's not quite clicking for me either.

708
00:33:04,053 --> 00:33:05,773
Speaker 4: I do rate aj Lamb as a player. I think

709
00:33:05,773 --> 00:33:07,853
Speaker 4: he's excellent. I think was quite close to getting an

710
00:33:07,853 --> 00:33:10,213
Speaker 4: All Blacks all up in the back end of last

711
00:33:10,333 --> 00:33:13,573
Speaker 4: year as well, was doing some training with them, and

712
00:33:14,093 --> 00:33:16,693
Speaker 4: I think twelve is his position. Bryce team out injured

713
00:33:17,013 --> 00:33:19,453
Speaker 4: for the season and what might be maybe his last.

714
00:33:19,493 --> 00:33:22,693
Speaker 4: But Lamb and Yanni aren't clicking at the moment, and

715
00:33:22,773 --> 00:33:24,733
Speaker 4: that in turn is affecting the kind of ball that

716
00:33:24,853 --> 00:33:27,813
Speaker 4: Caleb Clark and Mark Talia are getting on the edges

717
00:33:28,173 --> 00:33:29,933
Speaker 4: of the games. You know, Mark to Lea, I think

718
00:33:30,213 --> 00:33:32,973
Speaker 4: ran for about fifteen meters on the weekend, which is

719
00:33:33,013 --> 00:33:35,133
Speaker 4: not going to get it done. Clark for forty, which

720
00:33:35,253 --> 00:33:36,893
Speaker 4: is also not going to get it out.

721
00:33:37,133 --> 00:33:38,173
Speaker 2: I think that was one breakout.

722
00:33:38,693 --> 00:33:40,013
Speaker 4: And so when you're not getting it out to these

723
00:33:40,093 --> 00:33:42,013
Speaker 4: dangerous players, you've got to look in midfield and go

724
00:33:42,093 --> 00:33:44,373
Speaker 4: what's going wrong there? But just as a whole from

725
00:33:44,453 --> 00:33:46,493
Speaker 4: nine to fifteen, it doesn't feel like any part of

726
00:33:46,573 --> 00:33:48,333
Speaker 4: that back line is clicking at the moment.

727
00:33:49,093 --> 00:33:52,613
Speaker 2: It's early. I wouldn't panic and wrap up your Super

728
00:33:52,693 --> 00:33:55,853
Speaker 2: Apia Winners tickets on the Blues just yet, but it

729
00:33:55,933 --> 00:33:58,213
Speaker 2: brings me to a point around Rico Joanni and can

730
00:33:58,253 --> 00:34:00,013
Speaker 2: you hear your thoughts just quickly too on this one,

731
00:34:00,133 --> 00:34:03,173
Speaker 2: like that, this is a guy who's just had a remarkable,

732
00:34:03,613 --> 00:34:06,413
Speaker 2: fantastic career both in Blue and black, but he does

733
00:34:06,493 --> 00:34:09,573
Speaker 2: have his detractors, particularly around his distribution, Like is he

734
00:34:09,693 --> 00:34:10,653
Speaker 2: under pressure at the moment?

735
00:34:10,693 --> 00:34:12,733
Speaker 4: Well, I think he's got to be under pressure because

736
00:34:12,733 --> 00:34:14,773
Speaker 4: we've seen the kind of players that are standing up

737
00:34:14,813 --> 00:34:18,213
Speaker 4: across the state of the competition at the moment in

738
00:34:18,333 --> 00:34:22,253
Speaker 4: the midfield, not only at center, but also second five,

739
00:34:22,373 --> 00:34:24,413
Speaker 4: you know, to more of the tava tava nahwe He's

740
00:34:25,213 --> 00:34:27,773
Speaker 4: made twelve his own over a two week period. Why

741
00:34:27,813 --> 00:34:30,573
Speaker 4: couldn't he make thirteen his own in an all Blacks jersey.

742
00:34:30,653 --> 00:34:33,213
Speaker 4: You know, if he's going to take to twelve like

743
00:34:33,253 --> 00:34:35,093
Speaker 4: a duck to water, who's to say that he couldn't

744
00:34:35,413 --> 00:34:37,373
Speaker 4: also move out one and do the same thing there.

745
00:34:37,573 --> 00:34:40,413
Speaker 4: I think, you know, we've seen Quinta Pie come back

746
00:34:40,973 --> 00:34:44,093
Speaker 4: really really well across the back line as well. Twelve

747
00:34:44,133 --> 00:34:46,293
Speaker 4: and thirteen. Leonet Brown I think has had an excellent

748
00:34:46,373 --> 00:34:48,893
Speaker 4: start to Super Rugby. I thought he was superb against

749
00:34:48,893 --> 00:34:51,573
Speaker 4: the Crusaders on the weekend. So if you're Rico Jouani,

750
00:34:51,773 --> 00:34:53,533
Speaker 4: I think you do have to come in for a

751
00:34:53,613 --> 00:34:55,893
Speaker 4: little bit of pressure, a little bit of criticism over

752
00:34:55,933 --> 00:34:58,373
Speaker 4: the way that the opening two weeks have gone, and

753
00:34:59,173 --> 00:35:01,613
Speaker 4: there is a level that needs to be met by

754
00:35:01,653 --> 00:35:03,853
Speaker 4: all Blacks players, and I don't think he's quite hit

755
00:35:03,893 --> 00:35:04,973
Speaker 4: that as ye in this competition.

756
00:35:05,253 --> 00:35:06,973
Speaker 2: Yeah, like he's not alone in that Blues team in

757
00:35:07,053 --> 00:35:09,373
Speaker 2: terms of all Blacks who haven't five from the opening round.

758
00:35:09,453 --> 00:35:12,613
Speaker 2: But yeah, look, i'd back him to bounce back. But

759
00:35:12,733 --> 00:35:15,453
Speaker 2: it just as it's been an interesting observation to me

760
00:35:15,613 --> 00:35:18,373
Speaker 2: that it just hasn't. Certainly I'll cross that back line.

761
00:35:18,413 --> 00:35:19,253
Speaker 2: It isn't firing.

762
00:35:19,533 --> 00:35:21,293
Speaker 5: Topic number four in the final four.

763
00:35:21,453 --> 00:35:24,093
Speaker 4: We'll have a chat with Kendrick Coxage Black fans legend

764
00:35:24,493 --> 00:35:27,333
Speaker 4: on the program on the podcast in a few moments time.

765
00:35:27,453 --> 00:35:30,613
Speaker 4: But who wins Super Rugby or Picky? Which gets underway

766
00:35:30,893 --> 00:35:31,413
Speaker 4: this weekend?

767
00:35:31,493 --> 00:35:35,453
Speaker 2: Nick, Look, I think the balance of power still lies

768
00:35:35,853 --> 00:35:39,613
Speaker 2: in and around the Bombay Hills. Elliott I saw the

769
00:35:39,693 --> 00:35:43,093
Speaker 2: Blues racked up there on a cricket score against Chief

770
00:35:43,173 --> 00:35:45,813
Speaker 2: Munuah in a preseason game, and yes it is preseason,

771
00:35:45,933 --> 00:35:48,213
Speaker 2: but just look at the strength and depth again in

772
00:35:48,253 --> 00:35:52,373
Speaker 2: those squads. It is a sprint Super Rugby, Opicky, But

773
00:35:52,413 --> 00:35:54,933
Speaker 2: the Blues we mentioned Porsha Woodman Wickcliffe. But that's a

774
00:35:54,933 --> 00:35:57,813
Speaker 2: pretty handy addition for them, isn't it. And look my

775
00:35:57,973 --> 00:36:01,333
Speaker 2: Mata two down here, a couple of good INDs getting

776
00:36:01,373 --> 00:36:03,733
Speaker 2: Hannah King back, really looking forward to seeing what she

777
00:36:03,853 --> 00:36:06,613
Speaker 2: can do after a really solid year under her about

778
00:36:06,973 --> 00:36:10,173
Speaker 2: getting an opportunity up there at Hurrick Poler. The Bremner

779
00:36:10,253 --> 00:36:14,053
Speaker 2: sisters reunite, so they've they've got some talent too. But

780
00:36:14,333 --> 00:36:18,973
Speaker 2: but I just get the sense that it's Blues Chiefs manna,

781
00:36:19,133 --> 00:36:22,613
Speaker 2: if you will, And and it'll take some beating for

782
00:36:22,813 --> 00:36:24,893
Speaker 2: for the for the Polar or Matitu to come through

783
00:36:25,253 --> 00:36:26,453
Speaker 2: over the top of one of those two.

784
00:36:26,773 --> 00:36:28,693
Speaker 4: Look on the basis of what I've seen in preseason,

785
00:36:28,853 --> 00:36:31,333
Speaker 4: and that is a little bit here and there, I think,

786
00:36:32,333 --> 00:36:34,653
Speaker 4: I think you're right. You know, the Chiefs are blowing

787
00:36:34,693 --> 00:36:36,173
Speaker 4: out on the weekend, but there will be better as

788
00:36:36,173 --> 00:36:38,653
Speaker 4: they get back into competition. There's a lot of new

789
00:36:38,693 --> 00:36:43,373
Speaker 4: faces in the new combinations in the mix. The Blues, though,

790
00:36:43,413 --> 00:36:44,733
Speaker 4: I think of the team to beat. You know, when

791
00:36:44,733 --> 00:36:48,373
Speaker 4: you can add pullshit Wooden Wickliffe into your team, you know,

792
00:36:48,453 --> 00:36:50,093
Speaker 4: it's a it's a hell of an inn to have

793
00:36:50,293 --> 00:36:54,133
Speaker 4: to an already championship winning team. But as we've seen

794
00:36:54,213 --> 00:36:56,853
Speaker 4: from the Blues Men, you know, sometimes things can go

795
00:36:56,933 --> 00:36:59,173
Speaker 4: off track when you're coming into the Fenia title.

796
00:36:59,653 --> 00:37:03,053
Speaker 2: Yeah, titles aren't one with pre season predictions. You've got

797
00:37:03,093 --> 00:37:05,213
Speaker 2: a front. Games aren't played on paper, as I hear

798
00:37:05,813 --> 00:37:08,613
Speaker 2: tracked out every now and then Smithy's So we shall

799
00:37:08,613 --> 00:37:10,173
Speaker 2: wait and see, but very much looking forward to it

800
00:37:10,373 --> 00:37:13,813
Speaker 2: a lot like the fact that from another two perspective anyway,

801
00:37:13,853 --> 00:37:16,813
Speaker 2: you know they're gun to Nelson, which is great. There's

802
00:37:16,853 --> 00:37:19,133
Speaker 2: a doubleheader here next week in chross Church as well,

803
00:37:19,253 --> 00:37:22,733
Speaker 2: so getting around the Matto and yeah, like it's been

804
00:37:22,893 --> 00:37:25,213
Speaker 2: a fantastic addition. It's sort of going from strength to

805
00:37:25,293 --> 00:37:28,533
Speaker 2: strengths and now we have the situation where the winner

806
00:37:28,533 --> 00:37:31,933
Speaker 2: will play the Australian winner in a standalone final, so

807
00:37:32,493 --> 00:37:34,653
Speaker 2: it's treading in the right direction.

808
00:37:34,893 --> 00:37:36,973
Speaker 4: Well, probably a good opportunity on the back of talking

809
00:37:37,013 --> 00:37:39,253
Speaker 4: about Super Rugby or Picky to bring in a Black

810
00:37:39,293 --> 00:37:42,813
Speaker 4: Funds legend to rugby direct Kendrick cox Age joining us

811
00:37:42,933 --> 00:37:45,933
Speaker 4: on the podcast. Kendre, I think so much for your time.

812
00:37:45,933 --> 00:37:48,413
Speaker 4: I'm always an exciting part of the season when Super

813
00:37:48,493 --> 00:37:49,853
Speaker 4: Rugby or Picky is around the corner.

814
00:37:50,253 --> 00:37:52,893
Speaker 6: Yeah, it's very exciting. I'm looking forward to clicking off

815
00:37:52,933 --> 00:37:55,693
Speaker 6: this weekend. I think it's been a World Cup year

816
00:37:56,533 --> 00:37:59,373
Speaker 6: and the players that the coming through, it's going to

817
00:37:59,453 --> 00:38:01,693
Speaker 6: be an absolute rapper of a season.

818
00:38:01,893 --> 00:38:05,573
Speaker 4: How much does that World Cup Carrott, you know, being

819
00:38:05,653 --> 00:38:08,773
Speaker 4: dangled in front of both current Black Funds players they

820
00:38:08,773 --> 00:38:11,333
Speaker 4: haven't played for the Black fans before, just increase the

821
00:38:11,413 --> 00:38:14,013
Speaker 4: intensity of what we might see over the coming weeks.

822
00:38:14,813 --> 00:38:15,013
Speaker 2: Yeah.

823
00:38:15,093 --> 00:38:20,293
Speaker 6: I think the overall competition obviously is messive with the

824
00:38:20,333 --> 00:38:22,773
Speaker 6: World Cup year, but I think for the players they'll

825
00:38:22,813 --> 00:38:26,413
Speaker 6: be heavily focused on their job with their super side,

826
00:38:26,453 --> 00:38:29,253
Speaker 6: but also knowing that there's a big selection piece in

827
00:38:29,333 --> 00:38:31,653
Speaker 6: a World Cup at the end of it. You know,

828
00:38:31,733 --> 00:38:35,053
Speaker 6: everyone goes into a World Cup and pre season training

829
00:38:35,213 --> 00:38:36,253
Speaker 6: is another level.

830
00:38:36,653 --> 00:38:38,493
Speaker 4: There's been a bit of movement, as there always is

831
00:38:38,893 --> 00:38:42,333
Speaker 4: in the off season. What's your read on I suppose

832
00:38:42,373 --> 00:38:45,573
Speaker 4: the off season transfers and maybe who's benefited the most

833
00:38:45,613 --> 00:38:46,693
Speaker 4: out of some of those changes.

834
00:38:47,533 --> 00:38:50,293
Speaker 6: Yeah, I mean there's always a few a few changes

835
00:38:50,333 --> 00:38:52,933
Speaker 6: and people are looking for some game time and whatnot,

836
00:38:53,293 --> 00:38:54,933
Speaker 6: and being a World Cup year, you want to you know,

837
00:38:54,973 --> 00:38:58,373
Speaker 6: you've got to play to be seen so well, I think,

838
00:38:58,653 --> 00:39:01,093
Speaker 6: you know, there's there's there's a great players across the

839
00:39:01,133 --> 00:39:03,213
Speaker 6: whole board. I think a month or two have done

840
00:39:03,253 --> 00:39:06,413
Speaker 6: well with like a highly rade mety kind of player

841
00:39:06,493 --> 00:39:10,053
Speaker 6: to watch and pull her from obviously the Hurricanes region,

842
00:39:11,373 --> 00:39:14,053
Speaker 6: and then the likes of Atlanta Lola here who's decided

843
00:39:14,133 --> 00:39:17,413
Speaker 6: to move north to the Blues for some game time

844
00:39:18,133 --> 00:39:19,733
Speaker 6: as well. So there's been there's been a few that

845
00:39:19,853 --> 00:39:23,133
Speaker 6: have kind of mixed across it. But in terms of

846
00:39:23,573 --> 00:39:26,493
Speaker 6: players to watch, I think across like the Chiefs would

847
00:39:26,493 --> 00:39:32,973
Speaker 6: be probably they the prop she's awesome player, Braxton Star

848
00:39:33,053 --> 00:39:36,133
Speaker 6: and some McGhee young player with the Blues, very talented,

849
00:39:37,053 --> 00:39:39,453
Speaker 6: obviously plays a bit of sevens too, and she's a

850
00:39:39,493 --> 00:39:41,413
Speaker 6: young girl coming through. And then I'd say the Canes

851
00:39:41,453 --> 00:39:45,973
Speaker 6: players Elanor plump King, she always you know, she she's

852
00:39:46,573 --> 00:39:48,893
Speaker 6: she's a quality player on the on the flanks. And

853
00:39:48,973 --> 00:39:51,533
Speaker 6: then Matter two would be a Holy Holly Ray Metti

854
00:39:51,613 --> 00:39:53,893
Speaker 6: I think would probably be the players. She's probably the

855
00:39:53,933 --> 00:39:55,133
Speaker 6: player to watch for for MATERA two.

856
00:39:55,213 --> 00:39:57,453
Speaker 4: Yeah, those are some players. Keeping on Ellen Or plump

857
00:39:57,493 --> 00:39:59,973
Speaker 4: King was superb last year in the f PC. She

858
00:40:00,053 --> 00:40:05,333
Speaker 4: had a breakout season, absolutely dominated in that competition, you

859
00:40:05,413 --> 00:40:07,613
Speaker 4: know for the Blues, you know there are championship team

860
00:40:07,693 --> 00:40:11,333
Speaker 4: is that he didn't so twenty twenty five obviously target

861
00:40:11,413 --> 00:40:13,853
Speaker 4: on the back is championship teams always have, and then

862
00:40:14,173 --> 00:40:17,293
Speaker 4: they go out and ad some talent like Porsche woodmen Wickliff,

863
00:40:17,293 --> 00:40:18,773
Speaker 4: which isn't a bad player to put on the books

864
00:40:18,773 --> 00:40:20,013
Speaker 4: when you've already won a title.

865
00:40:20,573 --> 00:40:23,493
Speaker 6: Yeah, exactly, and you know what Porch is going to bring,

866
00:40:23,653 --> 00:40:26,213
Speaker 6: you know, like any team, you know obviously with the

867
00:40:26,253 --> 00:40:28,853
Speaker 6: first asat team sport, but if you've got Porscha Wood

868
00:40:28,853 --> 00:40:31,493
Speaker 6: will workloff on your team, you know you're probably going

869
00:40:31,573 --> 00:40:34,373
Speaker 6: to go pretty well. So on paper, I think the

870
00:40:34,413 --> 00:40:37,853
Speaker 6: Blues probably have the best side in terms of depth

871
00:40:38,013 --> 00:40:41,053
Speaker 6: across positions as well as across the whole one to well,

872
00:40:41,133 --> 00:40:44,053
Speaker 6: probably one thirty players, I've got to be honest. So

873
00:40:44,853 --> 00:40:46,933
Speaker 6: on paper they definitely that probably the best side.

874
00:40:47,173 --> 00:40:48,213
Speaker 5: It's going to be fascinating.

875
00:40:48,293 --> 00:40:51,933
Speaker 4: And then there's the additional trans Tasmin Final which will

876
00:40:51,933 --> 00:40:53,453
Speaker 4: be at the end of the competition, which is just

877
00:40:53,693 --> 00:40:55,933
Speaker 4: adds a little bit extra. Hopefully in the future there's

878
00:40:55,973 --> 00:40:58,813
Speaker 4: a combined competition of some sort, but to have that

879
00:40:59,013 --> 00:41:01,573
Speaker 4: is I think a great initiative. That must be something

880
00:41:01,613 --> 00:41:02,573
Speaker 4: you're looking forward to as well.

881
00:41:03,493 --> 00:41:06,133
Speaker 6: Yeah, I think that's exciting and you know, anything that

882
00:41:06,293 --> 00:41:08,173
Speaker 6: kind of adds a bit a bit more meaningful competition

883
00:41:08,493 --> 00:41:10,893
Speaker 6: the you know, with the Aussies and hopefully in the

884
00:41:10,973 --> 00:41:14,573
Speaker 6: future the Opeki becomes extended. And you know the reason

885
00:41:14,773 --> 00:41:17,453
Speaker 6: kind of reason for having a crossover game. I can

886
00:41:17,493 --> 00:41:19,813
Speaker 6: see how the teams kind of go against each other

887
00:41:20,293 --> 00:41:22,053
Speaker 6: and then look to explore what it could look like

888
00:41:22,173 --> 00:41:25,053
Speaker 6: in the future and if there's potential there the combined

889
00:41:25,493 --> 00:41:26,933
Speaker 6: with Australia.

890
00:41:26,973 --> 00:41:28,693
Speaker 4: And you can hear a lot of the super rugby

891
00:41:28,773 --> 00:41:31,933
Speaker 4: or picky action on gold Sport and iHeartRadio from this

892
00:41:32,053 --> 00:41:35,533
Speaker 4: weekends before we go on Rugby, Dirigulet's get into our tipping.

893
00:41:35,573 --> 00:41:38,533
Speaker 4: Now you are going to take hold of Liam's steps

894
00:41:38,573 --> 00:41:40,333
Speaker 4: for the week which is a lot of pressure. Five

895
00:41:40,413 --> 00:41:42,693
Speaker 4: out of ten we've picked so far in the competition,

896
00:41:42,773 --> 00:41:45,213
Speaker 4: both of us, Liam picked the Chiefs to beat the

897
00:41:45,293 --> 00:41:48,813
Speaker 4: Crusaders over the course of the weekend, and we both

898
00:41:48,853 --> 00:41:50,853
Speaker 4: picked the Reds and Hurricanes to get the job done.

899
00:41:50,893 --> 00:41:52,413
Speaker 5: And we both picked the Blues and brum Bees to

900
00:41:52,453 --> 00:41:53,973
Speaker 5: get the job done. Who didn't.

901
00:41:54,013 --> 00:41:56,933
Speaker 4: So after two weeks, five of ten matches for both

902
00:41:56,973 --> 00:41:59,013
Speaker 4: of us, So a bit of pressure for you Nick

903
00:41:59,093 --> 00:42:01,893
Speaker 4: this week taking on Liam's tipping. You know he'll be

904
00:42:01,973 --> 00:42:04,773
Speaker 4: listening and next time in christ which you know he

905
00:42:04,853 --> 00:42:07,373
Speaker 4: may have something out for you if you don't get

906
00:42:07,413 --> 00:42:09,013
Speaker 4: things right here. But let's see how we get on

907
00:42:09,173 --> 00:42:13,373
Speaker 4: Maana pacificat against the Highlanders Friday nights at North Harbor

908
00:42:13,413 --> 00:42:15,453
Speaker 4: Stadium to get round three underway.

909
00:42:15,453 --> 00:42:15,973
Speaker 5: What do you reckon?

910
00:42:16,493 --> 00:42:18,613
Speaker 2: I think I'll take the points over for that one.

911
00:42:18,653 --> 00:42:20,613
Speaker 2: But this is a tip in competition where we're picking

912
00:42:20,613 --> 00:42:22,413
Speaker 2: who's going to win. So look, I think on the

913
00:42:22,493 --> 00:42:26,333
Speaker 2: balance of what we've seen, particularly at the weekend, that

914
00:42:26,453 --> 00:42:29,093
Speaker 2: the Highlanders should be too good. But it has been

915
00:42:29,133 --> 00:42:30,613
Speaker 2: a bit of a story for them in terms of

916
00:42:31,133 --> 00:42:34,733
Speaker 2: backing up after a big win, not taking the foot off.

917
00:42:34,853 --> 00:42:37,253
Speaker 2: So I will put my faith though, and the Highlander

918
00:42:37,293 --> 00:42:38,813
Speaker 2: is beating Mowana on the road, I.

919
00:42:38,893 --> 00:42:41,173
Speaker 4: Tend to agree, although yeah Mowan have been scoring points.

920
00:42:41,213 --> 00:42:43,173
Speaker 4: If they can tighten up that defense, I think it

921
00:42:43,213 --> 00:42:45,253
Speaker 4: could be a cracking game. But you can't go past

922
00:42:45,253 --> 00:42:49,093
Speaker 4: the Highlanders. Wartars drew a nine thirty five Saturday Sorry

923
00:42:49,133 --> 00:42:53,133
Speaker 4: Friday Nights in Sydney. You know the drawer probably got

924
00:42:53,133 --> 00:42:56,013
Speaker 4: a bit of confidence out of that loss to the

925
00:42:56,133 --> 00:42:59,893
Speaker 4: Hurricanes on the weekend, but again, they don't travel particularly well.

926
00:43:00,093 --> 00:43:02,293
Speaker 4: Do the Wartars fresh off the by beat the drawer?

927
00:43:03,493 --> 00:43:05,733
Speaker 2: I think they do. Yeah, the post Boys Super Rugby

928
00:43:05,853 --> 00:43:09,013
Speaker 2: Joseph Saul is going to take the Waratars to two

929
00:43:09,053 --> 00:43:12,613
Speaker 2: and o. As you mentioned the drawer. Yeah, no, wait

930
00:43:12,693 --> 00:43:14,693
Speaker 2: until they're back in Fiji before I tip the drawer.

931
00:43:14,853 --> 00:43:17,493
Speaker 4: I'm with you, Chiefs Brumbies, Chiefs go three and O.

932
00:43:17,573 --> 00:43:20,573
Speaker 4: What do the Brumbies come back and spoil things?

933
00:43:21,093 --> 00:43:24,213
Speaker 2: The fun in Hamilton four thirty five kickoff as well,

934
00:43:24,373 --> 00:43:26,533
Speaker 2: looking forward to to this one and getting a real

935
00:43:26,613 --> 00:43:29,813
Speaker 2: good assessment where the Brumbies are at after Yeah, losing

936
00:43:29,893 --> 00:43:35,493
Speaker 2: to the Force, but the Chiefs Chiefs for me Hamilton, Yeah,

937
00:43:36,573 --> 00:43:38,253
Speaker 2: I need I need to throw something in the in

938
00:43:38,293 --> 00:43:40,133
Speaker 2: the works. Yeah maybe maybe this game.

939
00:43:40,173 --> 00:43:44,093
Speaker 4: Well, Hurricanes Blues Saturday night, Sky Stadium, which way you're leaning?

940
00:43:44,493 --> 00:43:48,013
Speaker 2: Look, I know that Liam Napier is from the region,

941
00:43:48,733 --> 00:43:51,173
Speaker 2: so it might be blastphe me if I was to

942
00:43:51,253 --> 00:43:52,733
Speaker 2: go Blues. So I'm going to I'm going to go

943
00:43:52,853 --> 00:43:56,013
Speaker 2: the Canes. I think I thought the Blues were going

944
00:43:56,053 --> 00:43:57,773
Speaker 2: to bounce back at the weekend and they didn't. And

945
00:43:57,893 --> 00:44:00,133
Speaker 2: I think there's a bit more than just a couple

946
00:44:00,213 --> 00:44:02,093
Speaker 2: of band aids to be put over this team to

947
00:44:02,373 --> 00:44:05,133
Speaker 2: get to some quick fixes. So I think the Hurricanes

948
00:44:05,173 --> 00:44:06,213
Speaker 2: are going to beat the Blues.

949
00:44:06,293 --> 00:44:07,613
Speaker 5: I'm going to go the Blues. So there we are.

950
00:44:07,773 --> 00:44:10,173
Speaker 5: We are different on that front. The Blues surely can't

951
00:44:10,213 --> 00:44:12,693
Speaker 5: go oh and three in their title defense. You wouldn't

952
00:44:12,693 --> 00:44:15,653
Speaker 5: have thought. Surely, not all the Crusaders did last year.

953
00:44:16,693 --> 00:44:19,973
Speaker 4: I was gonna say, and there is President, there is President,

954
00:44:20,253 --> 00:44:23,733
Speaker 4: and final game of the Round fours v Reds Saturday

955
00:44:23,853 --> 00:44:25,133
Speaker 4: night in Perth.

956
00:44:26,053 --> 00:44:29,413
Speaker 5: This is a really interesting one. I'm going to go

957
00:44:29,453 --> 00:44:29,893
Speaker 5: the Force.

958
00:44:29,933 --> 00:44:33,693
Speaker 2: What so you ll, let's go completely different on these

959
00:44:33,773 --> 00:44:36,373
Speaker 2: last two games, just really juice things up and it

960
00:44:36,893 --> 00:44:38,853
Speaker 2: could be still even by the end of it. But yeah,

961
00:44:39,053 --> 00:44:42,413
Speaker 2: I'll go the Reds. But yeah, I think it could

962
00:44:42,453 --> 00:44:45,373
Speaker 2: be another one of these eighty point games where it'll

963
00:44:45,493 --> 00:44:47,293
Speaker 2: just be whoever's in front of the final whistle.

964
00:44:48,053 --> 00:44:50,853
Speaker 4: Indeed, we'll mark that down and we'll see how we

965
00:44:50,893 --> 00:44:54,133
Speaker 4: get on next Monday on Rugby Direct. Finally, Rugby Direct

966
00:44:54,173 --> 00:44:56,333
Speaker 4: Metal voting three to two ones the best three players

967
00:44:56,333 --> 00:45:01,573
Speaker 4: over the course of the weekend from New Zealand based franchises, Nick,

968
00:45:01,613 --> 00:45:03,813
Speaker 4: if you got some three two ones to dishout.

969
00:45:03,493 --> 00:45:07,653
Speaker 2: For us three two ones? Okay, I forgot this in

970
00:45:07,693 --> 00:45:09,253
Speaker 2: my notes actually, but I'll just go righttle off the

971
00:45:09,293 --> 00:45:12,733
Speaker 2: top of my head. I think Tavatavahi, his influence can't

972
00:45:12,733 --> 00:45:15,133
Speaker 2: be understated, and had to have to be my player

973
00:45:15,213 --> 00:45:18,413
Speaker 2: of the round. I almost want to get Finn Hurley

974
00:45:18,453 --> 00:45:21,653
Speaker 2: in there as well, so maybe we'll give three to Tavatavanai,

975
00:45:22,173 --> 00:45:26,773
Speaker 2: one to Finn Hurley and two to Simon Parker at

976
00:45:26,813 --> 00:45:28,773
Speaker 2: the Chiefs thoy were my standouts from the weekend.

977
00:45:29,453 --> 00:45:32,853
Speaker 4: I'm going three tomorrow at Tavatavannahwai as well, two to

978
00:45:32,933 --> 00:45:35,853
Speaker 4: Quinn to payer for me, you came off the benuel

979
00:45:35,853 --> 00:45:37,453
Speaker 4: were I played seventy minutes, but I thought he was

980
00:45:37,533 --> 00:45:40,333
Speaker 4: just superb over the course of the weekend, and giving

981
00:45:40,373 --> 00:45:42,253
Speaker 4: one to Damian McKenzie as well, who I think is

982
00:45:42,373 --> 00:45:46,813
Speaker 4: just in some sublime form over the first couple of

983
00:45:46,893 --> 00:45:49,533
Speaker 4: weeks of the competition and is playing some great rugby

984
00:45:49,573 --> 00:45:51,453
Speaker 4: and you know, directing the Chiefs around the park really

985
00:45:51,493 --> 00:45:54,493
Speaker 4: really well, whether it be from fifteen or from tennis.

986
00:45:54,493 --> 00:45:56,973
Speaker 4: Slotting in there later on in games. I think he's

987
00:45:56,973 --> 00:45:58,093
Speaker 4: playing some excellent rugby.

988
00:45:58,293 --> 00:45:58,453
Speaker 2: Nick.

989
00:45:58,493 --> 00:46:00,333
Speaker 5: Has been a pleasure having you on Rugby Direct.

990
00:46:00,373 --> 00:46:02,333
Speaker 4: Thank you so much for your time, and I'm sure

991
00:46:02,813 --> 00:46:04,613
Speaker 4: we'll get back on over the course of the season

992
00:46:04,853 --> 00:46:05,293
Speaker 4: as well.

993
00:46:05,733 --> 00:46:09,653
Speaker 2: Cheers Elliott. Always a pleasure, and yeah forward to going

994
00:46:09,693 --> 00:46:12,893
Speaker 2: back to my listening as opposed to hosting. As much

995
00:46:12,933 --> 00:46:14,973
Speaker 2: as it has been nice to be here with you

996
00:46:15,133 --> 00:46:16,093
Speaker 2: this afternoon.

997
00:46:16,013 --> 00:46:18,053
Speaker 4: It has been right be Direct, powered by Habit Health,

998
00:46:18,093 --> 00:46:20,733
Speaker 4: tackling all your aches and pains from sport and work.

999
00:46:20,813 --> 00:46:23,053
Speaker 4: We're back next week with or another edition in our podcast.

1000
00:46:23,093 --> 00:46:25,173
Speaker 4: Thanks very much to Last and Bars English for pulling

1001
00:46:25,173 --> 00:46:26,613
Speaker 4: this all together. We'll see you next time.

1002
00:46:30,813 --> 00:46:33,733
Speaker 1: For more from News talkst B, listen live on air

1003
00:46:33,933 --> 00:46:36,613
Speaker 1: or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you

1004
00:46:36,733 --> 00:46:39,093
Speaker 1: go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio.