WEBVTT - Rugby Direct - Episode 151 0:00:09.093 --> 0:00:12.693 You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow 0:00:12.773 --> 0:00:16.173 this and our wide range of podcast now on iHeartRadio. 0:00:17.773 --> 0:00:20.213 Inside the Game from Every Angle. 0:00:20.413 --> 0:00:24.493 It's Rugby Direct with Elliott Smith, powered by News Talks EDB. 0:00:24.693 --> 0:00:27.013 Welcome in to Rugby Direct, powered by Habit Health, tackling 0:00:27.053 --> 0:00:30.453 all your aches and pains from sports and to work 0:00:30.533 --> 0:00:35.333 back for another week of Rugby Day section on iHeartRadio 0:00:35.533 --> 0:00:37.293 and powered by News Talks. 0:00:37.333 --> 0:00:37.573 He'd been. 0:00:37.613 --> 0:00:39.773 My name is Elligott Smith, with you as always, and 0:00:39.893 --> 0:00:43.053 we'll changed things up this weekly and napier watching people 0:00:43.173 --> 0:00:46.173 slug it out and reads we've called and Nick Bailey, 0:00:46.213 --> 0:00:48.853 the voice of the Crusaders on Goldsport and iHeartRadio to 0:00:48.933 --> 0:00:51.613 join us. And Nick thinks so much for joining us 0:00:51.653 --> 0:00:54.053 to wrap the week in Super Rugby and beyond Chess. 0:00:54.093 --> 0:00:57.533 Menie, I'm very much the Martin macaulay of Rugby Direct 0:00:57.533 --> 0:00:59.893 Anti after he was drafted in a very late notice 0:00:59.893 --> 0:01:02.653 to fight Joseph Parkers and great to be here. And 0:01:02.653 --> 0:01:05.533 what's been a fantastic opening Fortnite of Super Rugby. 0:01:05.573 --> 0:01:07.293 Well, let's ripen to the weekend. 0:01:07.333 --> 0:01:10.533 It was in starf maybe with the Saturday night action 0:01:10.573 --> 0:01:14.533 from a new Zealand perspective, the Highlanders beating the Blues. 0:01:14.293 --> 0:01:16.853 Twenty nine to twenty one. I mean, you would have. 0:01:16.773 --> 0:01:19.333 Got long odds to have the Blues windless through the 0:01:19.373 --> 0:01:22.013 opening two rounds in their title defense, sunk at the 0:01:22.053 --> 0:01:25.133 bottom of the ladder, but that's where we're at. The 0:01:25.213 --> 0:01:29.213 Highlanders very very good given the hurdles they had to overcome. 0:01:29.613 --> 0:01:32.733 The Blues just really haven't got this title defense underway. 0:01:32.773 --> 0:01:34.293 What did you make of the game Saturday night? 0:01:34.373 --> 0:01:37.253 Yes, certainly speaking, those odds for the Blues being winless 0:01:37.293 --> 0:01:40.013 after a fortnight they had have been very large. Indeed 0:01:40.053 --> 0:01:42.133 one don't they But just on the Highlanders first, I mean, 0:01:42.453 --> 0:01:45.933 what an inspired performance after the scenes pre match in 0:01:46.053 --> 0:01:49.933 tribute to the late Jackson Garden Baship, not only a 0:01:50.013 --> 0:01:53.853 moment's noise as opposed to a moment's silence, but a 0:01:53.933 --> 0:01:56.333 huka as well. I thought that was very moving and 0:01:56.373 --> 0:01:58.373 that really just set the tone for the evening. The 0:01:58.373 --> 0:02:01.213 Blues did score first, and I was thinking, gee, they've 0:02:01.253 --> 0:02:03.093 sort of taken the fizz out early and maybe it 0:02:03.133 --> 0:02:04.893 was going to be a long night for the Highlanders, 0:02:04.933 --> 0:02:08.093 but they just eked their way back into the contest. 0:02:08.413 --> 0:02:11.533 We were starting to win some moments, particularly around in 0:02:11.573 --> 0:02:14.453 the collision areas, and then a couple of standouts for 0:02:14.533 --> 0:02:16.413 mine young Finn Hurley and isn't it great to see 0:02:16.453 --> 0:02:19.973 some real little blokes star and super rugby gets a 0:02:20.053 --> 0:02:22.733 run there at fullback and chances his arm with a 0:02:22.733 --> 0:02:26.333 little chip and chase try contender early on for Try 0:02:26.373 --> 0:02:28.773 of the year and then from there the Highland has 0:02:28.813 --> 0:02:31.653 really got into their work. The other standout for mine, 0:02:31.653 --> 0:02:32.813 I'm sure we're going to get to in a bit 0:02:32.813 --> 0:02:38.413 more depth, was to Mothi Tava Tava Nahwhite. Incredible inspiring 0:02:38.533 --> 0:02:41.133 selection really from Jamie Joseph back at the helm to 0:02:41.173 --> 0:02:43.493 put him in at second five. Has played little to 0:02:43.533 --> 0:02:45.653 no rugby at second five is my understanding off the 0:02:45.693 --> 0:02:49.253 wing and just his impact not only with the ball 0:02:49.293 --> 0:02:53.173 but without over the ball, winning penalty turnovers at the 0:02:53.173 --> 0:02:56.613 breakdown and a co captain as well who really says, 0:02:56.653 --> 0:02:59.093 come on, boys, I'm going to leave through actions here. 0:02:59.373 --> 0:03:01.573 He was exceptional. But for them to do it, as 0:03:01.573 --> 0:03:04.893 he alluded to, Smithy down not only fourteen men to 0:03:05.013 --> 0:03:07.533 the Daniel Lennart Brown Red card, but obviously having go 0:03:07.573 --> 0:03:10.213 to Golden Oldie and being punished therefore because of the 0:03:10.573 --> 0:03:14.493 interpretations of World Rugby's laws to thirteen men. For them 0:03:14.533 --> 0:03:17.373 still to hang on and beat a blue side laiden 0:03:17.413 --> 0:03:20.613 with all blacks was simply outstanding. So Curdos to the 0:03:20.693 --> 0:03:23.893 Landers and a lot of head scratching up in Blues country. 0:03:23.933 --> 0:03:26.173 Well, there's got to be some head scratching, absolutely, because 0:03:26.653 --> 0:03:29.613 they have all these players and they've played very very 0:03:29.613 --> 0:03:31.533 well last season. But I think they're just missing a 0:03:31.533 --> 0:03:35.813 few key pieces and I don't know where exactly. Will 0:03:35.813 --> 0:03:38.013 probably dig into a bit deeper where they're going wrong. 0:03:38.093 --> 0:03:40.173 But on the basis of Saturday night, it fell to 0:03:40.253 --> 0:03:42.693 me like I was always waiting for them to come 0:03:42.773 --> 0:03:45.133 through and take control of the game, whether it was 0:03:45.173 --> 0:03:48.013 at the sixty minute mark, the sixty fifth, seventy fifth, 0:03:48.013 --> 0:03:50.013 and they're just running out of a runway, and I 0:03:50.053 --> 0:03:52.613 figured about seventy eighth minute, this isn't going to happen. 0:03:52.613 --> 0:03:54.613 They're not going to come back and win this game. 0:03:54.613 --> 0:03:57.853 When Rocketswi scored in about the fiftieth minute, I thought, Okay, 0:03:57.893 --> 0:03:59.573 this is when they take charge of the game. Then 0:03:59.653 --> 0:04:02.693 Leonett Brown gets redcarded, but they just looked a little 0:04:02.733 --> 0:04:04.733 bit lost out there on the path. 0:04:04.773 --> 0:04:05.213 They're missing. 0:04:05.293 --> 0:04:08.293 I think a few players up front, Sam Dowry being 0:04:08.533 --> 0:04:10.893 a key one, but there just doesn't seem to be 0:04:10.973 --> 0:04:13.733 a lot of cohesiveness in the game plan, and the 0:04:13.773 --> 0:04:16.453 Highlanders were able to exploit it. Every time it felt 0:04:16.533 --> 0:04:18.813 like they were about to maybe drift out of the 0:04:18.853 --> 0:04:22.053 game or the Blues are about to take charge, that 0:04:22.093 --> 0:04:24.013 the Highders would pull something out, whether it was a 0:04:24.013 --> 0:04:28.173 turnover from Tava Tava Nahwai, that Finn Hurley magic try 0:04:28.293 --> 0:04:30.933 in the second sassory in the first spell, and they 0:04:30.973 --> 0:04:33.253 just won the key moments I thought right throughout the 0:04:33.373 --> 0:04:36.733 night a lot better than the Blues, who pretty much 0:04:36.733 --> 0:04:39.613 won every moment last year. So for the Highlanders, this 0:04:39.653 --> 0:04:42.453 win has got to be a major boost to their confidence. 0:04:42.493 --> 0:04:45.933 They obviously came away with a close loss in opening 0:04:45.973 --> 0:04:48.573 round against the Waratahs in Sydney, but to go home 0:04:48.693 --> 0:04:52.053 beat the defending champions on their own patch, there's a 0:04:52.093 --> 0:04:54.893 sign there. I think that Jamie Joseph is instilled a 0:04:54.893 --> 0:04:57.693 bit of grit in this team already in just two weeks. 0:04:57.813 --> 0:05:00.133 Yeah, very much so. It feels like his fingerprints are 0:05:00.133 --> 0:05:02.213 already all over this team in terms of what their 0:05:02.253 --> 0:05:05.373 identity is all about, in terms of being there fighting 0:05:05.453 --> 0:05:09.093 for every contest and that's shining through across the park, 0:05:09.173 --> 0:05:12.053 just the one all Black and Ethan DeGroot, who was 0:05:12.053 --> 0:05:14.573 one of those injured front rowers that caused those the 0:05:14.613 --> 0:05:16.493 scenes late with the Highland is having to play with 0:05:16.533 --> 0:05:18.133 third team in But just on the Blues, like, if 0:05:18.133 --> 0:05:20.933 we look at the competition as a whole, three hundred 0:05:20.973 --> 0:05:23.253 and seventy four points in the second round of the 0:05:23.253 --> 0:05:25.613 five games across the weekend, what's an average of just 0:05:25.693 --> 0:05:28.853 under seventy five points a game. The Blues, of all 0:05:28.893 --> 0:05:31.493 the teams who have played two matches so far, have 0:05:31.533 --> 0:05:33.933 the least amount of tries in five and it feels 0:05:33.973 --> 0:05:37.133 like they feel like what works so well last year 0:05:37.133 --> 0:05:40.693 in terms of being direct, physical, abrasive, backing the forwards 0:05:41.213 --> 0:05:44.973 and just grinding out results can still get them through 0:05:45.053 --> 0:05:46.973 twenty twenty five. And it still might prove you know, 0:05:47.013 --> 0:05:49.053 it's very early on, but it still might prove to 0:05:49.053 --> 0:05:52.693 be a successful template. But everyone else, it feels Smithy 0:05:52.773 --> 0:05:58.373 is playing this high tempo February razzle, dazzle, quick rock, speed, 0:05:58.453 --> 0:06:00.453 quick ball and you know ball and play stats through 0:06:00.493 --> 0:06:02.973 the roof and rarely chancing the The Blues haven't really 0:06:02.973 --> 0:06:04.773 adjusted to that, there's a lot of kicking. It seems 0:06:04.773 --> 0:06:06.773 a little bit slower, and this is a team that 0:06:06.773 --> 0:06:09.933 has Caleb Clark and Mark tal En, Rico Joanna, So 0:06:10.133 --> 0:06:12.253 I don't know it's quite an identity crisis, but there 0:06:12.293 --> 0:06:15.413 just hasn't been that adjustment to what everyone else is playing, 0:06:15.853 --> 0:06:17.493 and therefore they're a step behind. 0:06:17.893 --> 0:06:20.173 Yeah, I think there's definitely signs of that, and maybe 0:06:20.293 --> 0:06:22.173 look as the weather gets a little bit worse as 0:06:22.173 --> 0:06:24.333 the season goes on, the Blues might be able to 0:06:24.333 --> 0:06:26.693 come into their own a little bit more. But it 0:06:26.773 --> 0:06:29.773 just doesn't feel like a cohesive team at this point 0:06:29.813 --> 0:06:31.733 in time. We'll tag into that a little bit more 0:06:31.773 --> 0:06:34.333 in the final four about exactly what is going wrong 0:06:34.653 --> 0:06:37.293 at the Blues. You mentioned to more Tabatava Naway. He 0:06:37.373 --> 0:06:40.573 has had an electric two weeks to start this season, 0:06:40.773 --> 0:06:44.013 and as you mentioned, putting him at twelve has been 0:06:44.053 --> 0:06:46.853 an absolute malester stroke. He's winning turnovers for fun, but 0:06:47.253 --> 0:06:49.693 every time he gets the ball in hand, he's making 0:06:49.813 --> 0:06:52.893 things happen, and he's from my mind, put himself in 0:06:52.973 --> 0:06:55.093 that All Blacks conversation firmly. 0:06:55.213 --> 0:06:56.293 Early on in the season. 0:06:56.373 --> 0:06:57.733 He probably would have been in the mix a wee 0:06:57.813 --> 0:06:59.573 bit last year, but he hadn't a couple of injuries 0:06:59.933 --> 0:07:02.853 here and there. He's aligned himself with the All Blacks 0:07:02.893 --> 0:07:05.453 because he would have been certainly caught up for Fiji 0:07:05.973 --> 0:07:08.693 by this point. But he has been just a relation 0:07:08.893 --> 0:07:11.053 in that twelve josey in the opening two weeks. And 0:07:11.093 --> 0:07:14.253 I also think that being captain as well sits very 0:07:14.333 --> 0:07:16.973 very nicely with him. He's he looks like a real leader, 0:07:17.533 --> 0:07:20.373 confident in doing that and he's playing some great footing. 0:07:21.293 --> 0:07:24.373 A lot of our listeners smith will know Tava Tabanaho's 0:07:24.453 --> 0:07:28.013 game in terms of that explosive power and his ability 0:07:28.053 --> 0:07:30.093 over the ball. Probably what stood out to me most 0:07:30.653 --> 0:07:34.133 on Saturday night down there in Dunedin was that heads 0:07:34.213 --> 0:07:36.813 up play when the Highlanders, I think Tava tabanah had 0:07:36.853 --> 0:07:39.733 actually just won the penalty at the breakdown, they're inside 0:07:39.773 --> 0:07:43.413 their half and the Blues a little bit on the ropes. 0:07:43.493 --> 0:07:45.773 There was no fallback back there. He taps and goes 0:07:45.933 --> 0:07:49.053 from his own ten meter line boots at downfield fifty 0:07:49.133 --> 0:07:52.413 twenty two. I didn't know that Tava tab no I 0:07:52.453 --> 0:07:55.893 had had a kicking game, but like that's another element 0:07:56.013 --> 0:07:59.293 to what is a very rall wounded game, and just 0:07:59.373 --> 0:08:02.013 by having him in the midfield, you know you're not 0:08:02.133 --> 0:08:05.133 limiting his opportunities with the ball or you know, waiting 0:08:05.173 --> 0:08:06.573 for it to get out to his wing. He is 0:08:06.773 --> 0:08:09.533 so heavily involved as say, both sides of the ball, 0:08:10.013 --> 0:08:12.813 gets that first phase carry up over the advantage line 0:08:13.093 --> 0:08:15.613 and then just such a menace there at the breakdown. 0:08:15.693 --> 0:08:19.453 It's worked. Wonders already. I see one of our columnsts 0:08:19.493 --> 0:08:22.853 in the New Zealand Heralds comparing him to the Annu already, 0:08:22.893 --> 0:08:26.173 which might be a slight reach, but look Tabasavanai. For me, 0:08:26.533 --> 0:08:28.853 he's probably the standout player of Super rugby twenty twenty 0:08:28.893 --> 0:08:29.413 five so far. 0:08:29.893 --> 0:08:32.093 Indeed, look he's twenty seven years of age, so he's 0:08:32.133 --> 0:08:34.133 taken a little bit longer to develop maybe than some 0:08:34.253 --> 0:08:37.053 other players, but he is playing some simperid rugby. Had 0:08:37.093 --> 0:08:40.373 time at Mwana Pacifica of course for a couple of seasons, 0:08:40.413 --> 0:08:43.813 now at the Highlanders, and he has started the season 0:08:43.973 --> 0:08:47.093 very very strongly. And you'll players old team this Friday night. 0:08:47.213 --> 0:08:51.093 Let's move backwards to Saturday afternoon and Hurricanes beating the 0:08:51.213 --> 0:08:54.213 Fijian Drewer in a thriller in Napy year by the 0:08:54.293 --> 0:08:57.293 tune of thirty eight thirty four. I don't want this 0:08:57.413 --> 0:09:00.013 to sound dismissive, but I think the Hurricanes won by 0:09:00.093 --> 0:09:02.133 virtue of just being the team that was ahead when 0:09:02.173 --> 0:09:04.173 the game was over, because two minutes later it could 0:09:04.173 --> 0:09:06.773 have been the Drawer leading. Well, five minutes earlier it 0:09:06.813 --> 0:09:08.493 would have been the Drawer. It was just a a 0:09:08.653 --> 0:09:10.733 back and forth game. I'm not really sure what we 0:09:10.853 --> 0:09:13.573 learned about either team, to be honest, from this game, 0:09:13.613 --> 0:09:15.333 other than the fact that cam roy Guard's playing some 0:09:15.373 --> 0:09:18.053 great footy. So's duples could he fear apart from that 0:09:18.213 --> 0:09:21.973 yellow card? But that was super rugby of old, just 0:09:22.013 --> 0:09:26.093 attacking rugby end to end stuff. And the Hurricanes you 0:09:26.333 --> 0:09:28.253 get on the board after their opening round loss, which 0:09:28.253 --> 0:09:30.293 will be a confidence booster for them certainly. 0:09:30.333 --> 0:09:31.853 Well, yeah, you've got your value for money if you 0:09:31.933 --> 0:09:34.373 head along to mcclaim Park and Napier on Saturday afternoon, 0:09:34.413 --> 0:09:36.213 didn't you. It was like an old fashioned game of 0:09:36.333 --> 0:09:39.653 touch where the ball was just being shifted from end 0:09:39.693 --> 0:09:41.893 to end, side to side, and as you say, defense 0:09:42.013 --> 0:09:44.773 was a little bit optional. But the poor old drawer, 0:09:45.253 --> 0:09:48.493 they just can't buy one away from Fiji. I don't 0:09:48.533 --> 0:09:50.493 know quite what it is. As you say, Smithy, maybe 0:09:50.493 --> 0:09:52.533 if the game goes five minutes longer, it's a completely 0:09:52.573 --> 0:09:55.773 different story. They know they bombed a try with an 0:09:55.813 --> 0:09:59.373 early celebration there late in the first half, but they 0:09:59.453 --> 0:10:01.333 play a really exciting brand of rugby and they really 0:10:01.373 --> 0:10:04.733 bring a point of difference to Super Rugby Pacific. You 0:10:04.813 --> 0:10:07.053 nailed it with cam Roy guard and really good to 0:10:07.053 --> 0:10:09.093 see in the Hurricanes Jews. We've seen at the back 0:10:09.173 --> 0:10:12.093 end of last year his abilities with the All Blacks 0:10:12.133 --> 0:10:14.533 after coming back from that horrific knee injury. But he 0:10:14.693 --> 0:10:17.813 created those first two tries, he snipes in from the 0:10:17.893 --> 0:10:20.373 ruck and scores one late and I think his combination 0:10:20.493 --> 0:10:23.733 it's very early days with young Harry Godfrey is effectively 0:10:23.773 --> 0:10:26.093 what third or fourth cab off the rank at first 0:10:26.133 --> 0:10:28.733 five eighth for the Hurricanes. But he started to see 0:10:28.773 --> 0:10:31.653 some signs there of what Harry Godfrey speaking of little 0:10:31.693 --> 0:10:34.333 blokes like Fin Hurley and Harry Godfrey, what a guy 0:10:34.493 --> 0:10:37.093 like him can do on the super apy stage on 0:10:37.373 --> 0:10:39.333 a dry track with the sun out. I thought he 0:10:39.493 --> 0:10:42.933 was very good, created that try just before halftime and 0:10:43.013 --> 0:10:46.253 then scored the match winner, So there's encouraging signs here. 0:10:46.293 --> 0:10:47.533 For the Canes. I still think though, and I was 0:10:47.533 --> 0:10:50.413 looking at some of these statsmithy issues up front, which 0:10:50.453 --> 0:10:53.253 has been something I felt like the Hurricanes addressed last 0:10:53.333 --> 0:10:56.533 year when they effectively finished minor premiers. But their lineout 0:10:56.573 --> 0:10:58.413 and I know they are missing a safer a moa, 0:10:58.453 --> 0:11:02.493 but ten lineouts only five to one, it's pretty hard 0:11:02.653 --> 0:11:05.453 to have a platform to attack from when you set 0:11:05.533 --> 0:11:08.893 piece or that area. Set piece isn't firing work today 0:11:09.013 --> 0:11:11.733 for Clark Laidlaer and his men, but they're underway. 0:11:12.013 --> 0:11:13.773 They are underway, and a lot of the welcome the 0:11:13.773 --> 0:11:16.693 Blues who are lower confidence this week as well. I'm 0:11:16.733 --> 0:11:21.093 liking in that Hurricanes team just the ability to get 0:11:21.133 --> 0:11:23.173 it out wide. And you know, I think Nahrda is 0:11:23.173 --> 0:11:25.933 playing some good rugby kind of after halftime in that 0:11:25.973 --> 0:11:27.693 Crusader's game last week we didn't see a lot of 0:11:28.253 --> 0:11:31.173 even the Haller were finneng and northwar but those two 0:11:31.213 --> 0:11:33.533 players are dangerous whenever they get ball in hand. And 0:11:34.173 --> 0:11:35.893 in terms of fir here, he looks like he was 0:11:36.093 --> 0:11:38.853 superb for the seven side for it for a couple 0:11:38.933 --> 0:11:41.373 of years. He looks like a really promising player in 0:11:41.533 --> 0:11:44.453 fifteen's still adjusting back to that fifteen style of play. 0:11:44.493 --> 0:11:46.573 But I'm really liking what the Hurricanes are getting out 0:11:46.573 --> 0:11:46.813 of him. 0:11:47.133 --> 0:11:50.213 Yeah, speaking the two seven's wingers from New Zealand, Seams 0:11:50.253 --> 0:11:53.253 fairhov On and off For and Caleb Tonguingtow are now 0:11:53.293 --> 0:11:55.853 getting an opportunity at the Highlanders when they have a 0:11:55.933 --> 0:11:58.733 bit of space down those fifteen meter channels lockout. They're 0:11:58.773 --> 0:12:01.973 both lightning and they've they've really shown out in this 0:12:02.133 --> 0:12:02.893 first couple of weeks. 0:12:03.333 --> 0:12:06.053 Let's go to Friday Night and the Reds beating more 0:12:06.053 --> 0:12:10.253 Wana Pacific at fifty six thirty six in Brisbane. Poor 0:12:10.293 --> 0:12:13.973 old Mowana Nick, you scored forty four points in week one, 0:12:14.373 --> 0:12:17.053 thirty six in week two and they have no wins 0:12:17.373 --> 0:12:19.773 to show from it. They can certainly score points. It's 0:12:19.813 --> 0:12:22.173 the other side of the ball, the defense that is 0:12:22.213 --> 0:12:25.693 the worry. Former Wanda PACIFICA you can't ship the number 0:12:25.733 --> 0:12:27.693 of points they have in the opening couple of rounds 0:12:27.733 --> 0:12:30.853 and expect to win too many games. So if you're 0:12:30.893 --> 0:12:33.413 ti umong It, you'll love the attack, but you've got 0:12:33.453 --> 0:12:36.973 to tighten up that defense somehow because they're a pretty 0:12:37.053 --> 0:12:37.813 leaky ship. 0:12:37.693 --> 0:12:40.453 At the moment. Yeah, indeed, and you look at the 0:12:40.573 --> 0:12:42.493 nature of the tries that have been scored on them, 0:12:42.533 --> 0:12:45.413 particularly on Friday night against the Reds, and you know, 0:12:45.493 --> 0:12:47.653 the Reds went to their set piece, they went to 0:12:47.733 --> 0:12:50.533 their line out pushover more with Matt Fasla there at 0:12:50.573 --> 0:12:54.813 the back, and I just look at Mowana's packing on paper, 0:12:55.293 --> 0:12:58.093 you Ardie Savia aside. He can't do it all there, 0:12:58.733 --> 0:13:00.533 you know, and it just feels like in that sort 0:13:00.533 --> 0:13:03.133 of type five and then the other loose forward pieces, 0:13:03.573 --> 0:13:06.133 they're just losing that collision battle and it is a 0:13:06.173 --> 0:13:09.613 reel r Kelly's Hill for that team. Hand somehow tighten 0:13:09.733 --> 0:13:12.173 things up defensively, as you say, they have got so 0:13:12.333 --> 0:13:15.773 many points in them. You know Kiroen tolmoy Filau out 0:13:15.853 --> 0:13:18.093 on that he scored a couple of tries I think 0:13:18.133 --> 0:13:19.533 on the right wing, who's playing a bit of left 0:13:19.573 --> 0:13:22.493 wing as well, but he's a serious challenge out of Tasman. 0:13:23.053 --> 0:13:25.693 They got pace to burn. Good to see Solomon Alo 0:13:25.773 --> 0:13:27.733 Marlow back from rugby league. He scored a try on 0:13:27.773 --> 0:13:31.333 the weekend as well. So the pieces are there, but 0:13:31.493 --> 0:13:34.693 if you can't put it together up front, the old cliche, 0:13:35.173 --> 0:13:38.213 you're not really going anywhere in this competition. So yeah, 0:13:38.333 --> 0:13:42.773 some work needs doing in those areas for Mowana to 0:13:42.853 --> 0:13:44.093 be competitive, that's the bottom line. 0:13:44.133 --> 0:13:45.893 Yeah, it was interesting as well to see Artie Savier 0:13:46.013 --> 0:13:49.213 move to open side flank on the weekend as well, 0:13:49.213 --> 0:13:52.773 where we haven't seen a lot of him in recent times. 0:13:53.133 --> 0:13:54.173 I just you're right. 0:13:54.213 --> 0:13:56.373 I hope they don't sort of use Artie Savier as 0:13:56.413 --> 0:13:59.093 the band aid to try and keep this pack together, 0:13:59.133 --> 0:14:02.133 because he's such a better player than that. But I 0:14:02.213 --> 0:14:04.173 hope they don't use him just to fill in holes 0:14:04.253 --> 0:14:06.293 and try and go, well, maybe if we move this 0:14:06.373 --> 0:14:09.093 piece around, we'll be better this week. Givevadi can play 0:14:09.173 --> 0:14:13.693 seven or eight or maybe even blindside. You know, he's 0:14:13.733 --> 0:14:15.773 better than obviously a band aid situation, so they've got 0:14:15.813 --> 0:14:17.093 to figure out how to get the best of him. 0:14:17.213 --> 0:14:19.213 We'll also, you know, figure out the balance of that 0:14:19.373 --> 0:14:21.773 pack at some point over the next few weeks in 0:14:21.813 --> 0:14:22.413 this competition. 0:14:22.893 --> 0:14:28.253 Just on the Reds, the mcwright, McDermott mcbrothers, if you 0:14:28.293 --> 0:14:30.413 want to call them that, I thought, you know, that's 0:14:30.453 --> 0:14:33.653 the first opportunity we've had to see them, And just 0:14:33.773 --> 0:14:35.893 on the whole with the Australian teams, the demise of 0:14:35.893 --> 0:14:37.773 the Rebels and bringing the four together. I think as 0:14:37.813 --> 0:14:41.213 a collective they've all risen. We haven't touched on the 0:14:41.333 --> 0:14:44.133 Force being two from two beating the Brumbies as well, 0:14:44.213 --> 0:14:47.093 but they've got some really nice pieces and have that 0:14:47.213 --> 0:14:52.493 good balance between having that four dominant pack able to 0:14:52.733 --> 0:14:54.693 bully some teams up front and then having some real 0:14:54.773 --> 0:14:57.253 excitement out wide. So I know the Reds are the 0:14:57.333 --> 0:15:00.293 next team I'll see down here in christ Chitch Sunday 0:15:00.413 --> 0:15:02.813 week and I think they'll be near the top of 0:15:02.853 --> 0:15:04.293 the log when it comes to Ossie team's at the 0:15:04.293 --> 0:15:05.013 back end of the season. 0:15:05.093 --> 0:15:07.493 Yeahed the four forty five points two weeks in a row, 0:15:07.613 --> 0:15:10.053 one point when last week, three point when this weekend, 0:15:10.373 --> 0:15:14.093 similar to Mawana Pacifica. But they're on the winning side 0:15:14.133 --> 0:15:16.973 of the Leiga after both weeks. You know, it's it's 0:15:17.013 --> 0:15:19.573 a case of will outscore you. You know, however, what 0:15:19.693 --> 0:15:21.413 have you throw at us? And to go to canber 0:15:21.493 --> 0:15:23.733 and put forty five points? There's no easy task, no. 0:15:23.893 --> 0:15:26.493 These and these are the fine margins of super Apia Pacific. 0:15:26.533 --> 0:15:31.093 There's no easy beats. And I was going to James Marshall, 0:15:31.093 --> 0:15:33.613 the Crusader's assistant coach last week, you know, and we're 0:15:33.613 --> 0:15:36.253 going to get onto the Crusaders shortly, but there's you know, 0:15:36.533 --> 0:15:39.493 one mistake can quickly be seven points, you know, and 0:15:39.613 --> 0:15:41.693 that can that can decide a match and the Crusaders 0:15:41.733 --> 0:15:44.373 found that out the hard way last year. But look, 0:15:44.413 --> 0:15:46.693 it's great for the competition. We're seeing very close games. 0:15:46.693 --> 0:15:48.533 I know we had a couple of blowouts, but but 0:15:48.693 --> 0:15:50.813 the three others eight points or less. So I think 0:15:50.853 --> 0:15:52.893 that's what the viewer wants to see. 0:15:53.013 --> 0:15:55.093 Well, let's go to the biggest blowout of the competition 0:15:55.453 --> 0:15:58.173 over the through this two weeks so far. And you mentioned, 0:15:58.373 --> 0:16:01.733 you know, stringing tries together in terms of conceding that. Well, 0:16:01.973 --> 0:16:04.493 the Chiefs managed to do that on the weekend seventeen 0:16:04.533 --> 0:16:06.933 all at one point and then they go bang bang 0:16:07.013 --> 0:16:08.893 two tries in the space of three minutes in the 0:16:08.933 --> 0:16:13.093 game was effectively gone at that point, is Crusaders caller? 0:16:13.173 --> 0:16:14.973 What did you see from that performance in Hamilton? 0:16:15.133 --> 0:16:18.973 Well, firstly, just on the Chiefs. What just a freight 0:16:19.093 --> 0:16:20.813 train and avalanche, wasn't it? 0:16:20.973 --> 0:16:21.013 Like? 0:16:21.173 --> 0:16:24.293 As you mentioned seventeen all, I kind of kicks that 0:16:24.413 --> 0:16:27.253 penalty after what was potentially a contentious moment where he 0:16:27.333 --> 0:16:29.493 was pulled back by Josh Lord after that line break, 0:16:29.573 --> 0:16:32.173 no yellow card penalty, only seventeen all but the games 0:16:32.213 --> 0:16:34.973 and the balance, and then from there just the way 0:16:35.093 --> 0:16:37.933 that the Chiefs ran with intent and purpose. I'm going 0:16:37.973 --> 0:16:40.773 to get to the Crusaders in a second, but I 0:16:40.853 --> 0:16:43.533 looked initially with the loss of Wallace Atiti and thought, 0:16:43.573 --> 0:16:45.253 you know, that's a pretty big out for a side. 0:16:45.373 --> 0:16:47.733 You know that, you know he was their star last 0:16:47.813 --> 0:16:49.413 year to get all the way to the Grand Final. 0:16:49.533 --> 0:16:52.373 But a guy like Simon Parker stepping up in a 0:16:52.533 --> 0:16:55.453 massive way for them in these first two weeks. And 0:16:55.533 --> 0:16:58.573 then when they lose Luke Jacobson early, they've got Sam 0:16:58.653 --> 0:17:01.013 a Penie Finale on the bench. They lose Rama Kapoi 0:17:01.093 --> 0:17:03.853 Happy early, they got Quintu Pyra on the bench. Clayde 0:17:03.893 --> 0:17:08.933 McMillan's strength and depth of that Chief's unit is and 0:17:09.653 --> 0:17:12.213 they just blew the Crusaders away. They made them pay 0:17:12.413 --> 0:17:16.533 for some pretty ordinary moments, and they are rightly on 0:17:16.693 --> 0:17:20.333 its early days. But the leaders in this competition like 0:17:20.413 --> 0:17:23.573 the way the Chiefs particularly are going about their second half. 0:17:23.693 --> 0:17:26.413 What stands out for me Smith is two weeks and 0:17:26.493 --> 0:17:29.213 now Blues and Crusaders. They've scored eight tries in in 0:17:29.293 --> 0:17:31.333 the second half and conceded just the one and that 0:17:31.413 --> 0:17:34.373 was Antonio Chellphone sort of falling over when the game 0:17:34.493 --> 0:17:39.853 was absolutely gone. So they're a scary prospect and if 0:17:39.853 --> 0:17:42.013 they can keep at this level, it's going to take 0:17:42.093 --> 0:17:45.173 something pretty pretty scary to stop them. 0:17:45.293 --> 0:17:45.573 It is. 0:17:46.053 --> 0:17:48.853 You look at that bench that they put out on 0:17:48.893 --> 0:17:50.853 the weekend as well, wasn't as many all blacks as 0:17:50.893 --> 0:17:53.733 the week before. But something that Claude McMillan's doing very 0:17:53.813 --> 0:17:56.133 very well is just balancing the bean Chan's bringing on 0:17:56.253 --> 0:18:00.493 semipenny fee now for these in these games, I know 0:18:00.533 --> 0:18:02.493 we end up playing seventy three minutes and then Quinta 0:18:02.533 --> 0:18:05.453 Pie played seventy odd but a lot of these players 0:18:05.573 --> 0:18:08.693 you're bringing on are quasi and just the depth that 0:18:08.813 --> 0:18:11.213 I don't think you know, as many New Zealand super 0:18:11.253 --> 0:18:13.333 Aby coaches have embraced. You know, a lot of them 0:18:13.373 --> 0:18:15.613 mentioned about the bomb squad, the Chiefs bomb squad, you know, 0:18:15.733 --> 0:18:18.573 taking a leaf out of South Africa and Russi Erasmus's 0:18:18.613 --> 0:18:20.973 bomb squad. But I don't think New Zealand has been 0:18:21.053 --> 0:18:24.453 wise enough to play with a full eighty minute mentality 0:18:24.533 --> 0:18:27.693 and believing that the final thirty minutes is just as important, 0:18:27.973 --> 0:18:31.493 if not more important, than the first fifty minutes in games. 0:18:31.533 --> 0:18:33.173 And maybe we're just seeing a sign of that now 0:18:33.213 --> 0:18:35.893 with Claydon McMillan and what he's doing around the way 0:18:35.893 --> 0:18:38.573 that he's balancing his bench. You know, you would have 0:18:38.613 --> 0:18:41.493 expected someone like a Cortizratama to have started these first 0:18:41.533 --> 0:18:43.093 two games where has come off the bench and he's 0:18:43.133 --> 0:18:45.773 making a real impact. So I just think it's maybe 0:18:45.813 --> 0:18:47.493 a little bit of a mind shift maybe that clad 0:18:47.573 --> 0:18:50.493 McMillan might be leading around some of these New Zealand coaches. 0:18:50.693 --> 0:18:52.693 Well, you just look at the fatigue in the game, Smithy, 0:18:52.773 --> 0:18:56.453 with these with these score lines, you know, there's just 0:18:56.573 --> 0:19:01.373 so much opportunity there to exploit fatigue, and I think 0:19:01.413 --> 0:19:02.853 that's what the Chiefs did so well, you know, it 0:19:02.933 --> 0:19:06.093 was unfortunate for the Crusaders. They lose Fletcher Null to 0:19:06.493 --> 0:19:11.173 a late mouthguard Hia Trigger at halftime, and poor old 0:19:11.253 --> 0:19:15.453 said martinga who's probably fifth or sixth cab up tight 0:19:15.533 --> 0:19:18.293 head prop down here in Crusader's country, gets his opportunity. 0:19:18.773 --> 0:19:20.373 He's only been with the team a hand full of 0:19:20.453 --> 0:19:24.013 weeks and the scrum collapses and he was targeted in 0:19:24.093 --> 0:19:26.973 a big way. And you know, just being able to 0:19:27.093 --> 0:19:30.213 do that and see that and balance your squad. It 0:19:30.293 --> 0:19:33.213 can't be done for every team. Teams just some squads 0:19:33.293 --> 0:19:34.853 just don't have that depth. But as I was just 0:19:35.013 --> 0:19:37.733 touching on the floor, like the Chiefs, it's scary how 0:19:37.813 --> 0:19:40.653 far down you go in every position where they can 0:19:40.773 --> 0:19:42.893 lean on and they've still got guys like Sean Stevenson 0:19:43.133 --> 0:19:45.733 SAMMASONI take a halt to come back into the mix. 0:19:45.813 --> 0:19:48.533 So very encouraging on the Crusaders though, and I do 0:19:48.653 --> 0:19:53.613 want to touch on it, like, yes, the Chiefs, you know, 0:19:53.693 --> 0:19:56.173 put them away, but you look at how some of 0:19:56.213 --> 0:19:59.853 those tries began, you know, James O'Connor not finding touch 0:19:59.893 --> 0:20:03.533 off a penalty one on one, soft misses and tackles, 0:20:03.573 --> 0:20:08.093 missing those collisions, chancing their arm on pushing the pass unnecessarily. 0:20:08.093 --> 0:20:11.373 I think it was O'Connor again intercepted by Ammoni Nadoe 0:20:11.573 --> 0:20:14.133 boots it downfield. He then wins the turnover and they 0:20:14.173 --> 0:20:17.213 score off the next phase. So there was just little 0:20:17.293 --> 0:20:19.533 moments there, and I know the Crusaders are really trying 0:20:19.573 --> 0:20:23.933 to push this up tempo you know, play what's in 0:20:24.013 --> 0:20:28.613 front of you, offload the ball, recycle quickly style of rugby. 0:20:28.733 --> 0:20:30.973 But it felt like they're at that point in time, 0:20:31.053 --> 0:20:33.773 particularly when they went to their bench early where it 0:20:33.893 --> 0:20:36.013 was seventeen all and they just needed to play the 0:20:36.053 --> 0:20:39.293 percentages and you know, not every one of these fifty 0:20:39.293 --> 0:20:41.293 to fifty passes are going to come off like they 0:20:41.373 --> 0:20:43.133 did in round one against the Hurricanes. So I think 0:20:43.133 --> 0:20:45.213 there was a real lesson learned there for the Crusaders 0:20:45.253 --> 0:20:48.013 that if you want to play this attacking style and 0:20:48.333 --> 0:20:50.413 on the other side to this defensive style which is 0:20:50.533 --> 0:20:53.333 just all hell breaks loose with ol Miller shooting up 0:20:53.533 --> 0:20:57.493 out of outside center and basically leaving Chafee Hackey marking 0:20:57.733 --> 0:20:59.813 three minute times out on the flanks, that you're going 0:20:59.853 --> 0:21:03.013 to have to adjust accordingly because you're going to get 0:21:03.053 --> 0:21:05.453 found out by a team with the quality of the Chiefs. 0:21:05.653 --> 0:21:07.373 Indeed, so you very interesting. 0:21:07.453 --> 0:21:09.773 After a couple of weeks in Super rugby, it is 0:21:10.053 --> 0:21:12.813 clear the Chiefs are now, you know, the team to 0:21:12.893 --> 0:21:15.773 beat through two weeks, things might change and shuffle around, 0:21:15.813 --> 0:21:18.173 but they've laid a real statement, where As I think 0:21:18.453 --> 0:21:20.293 you look at the rested ladder and obviously there are 0:21:20.333 --> 0:21:21.933 three teams still to get a win, but it feels 0:21:22.013 --> 0:21:24.693 like a lot of that might shuffle around because there 0:21:24.693 --> 0:21:26.613 are teams that can beat each other at the moment. 0:21:26.893 --> 0:21:29.093 You know, a lot of these results are unpredictable. We'll 0:21:29.093 --> 0:21:31.493 get to some tipping after our breaking in a moment 0:21:31.613 --> 0:21:34.573 or two. But it feels like the Super Rugby competition 0:21:34.733 --> 0:21:36.133 is really unpredictable at the moment. 0:21:36.613 --> 0:21:39.653 It certainly as yeah, and I think has alluded to before. 0:21:39.813 --> 0:21:44.093 Since the rebels have moved away no more, we're now 0:21:44.133 --> 0:21:46.573 in a position where the Australian teams, you know, the 0:21:46.693 --> 0:21:49.413 talent pool is and it's spread as wide it's now 0:21:49.853 --> 0:21:53.493 they're much more competitive. The drawer is still offer plenty. 0:21:54.173 --> 0:21:56.813 You know, the Highlanders with the lift that Jamie Joseph 0:21:56.893 --> 0:22:00.253 has provided, they're now you know, can beat a Blues team. 0:22:00.293 --> 0:22:03.413 For them, it's just about consistency. So it's a tip 0:22:03.493 --> 0:22:05.773 as nightmare this competition. But that's what it's all about, 0:22:05.813 --> 0:22:08.213 I know listening to you guys over the last year. 0:22:08.453 --> 0:22:10.893 So we want jeopardy in this competition. We don't want 0:22:11.133 --> 0:22:13.253 a situation where we can sit here and go it's 0:22:13.253 --> 0:22:16.173 going to be Blues Chiefs come June and we'll see 0:22:16.173 --> 0:22:18.933 who makes up the rest or previously the Crusaders. It's 0:22:18.973 --> 0:22:22.013 the Crusaders to lose. So I think Super Rugby as 0:22:22.093 --> 0:22:24.533 a whole is actually in a really good spot. And 0:22:24.573 --> 0:22:27.693 I think more broadly speaking, you think, particularly given what 0:22:27.813 --> 0:22:30.413 probably their biggest competitor being the NRL starting this week, 0:22:30.773 --> 0:22:33.653 it couldn't have been a better start this first fortnight 0:22:33.733 --> 0:22:36.093 while the NRL is waiting to fire up. 0:22:36.253 --> 0:22:36.653 That's right. 0:22:37.013 --> 0:22:38.653 It will be interesting once we get a few more 0:22:38.853 --> 0:22:42.373 Aussie New Zealand games. We've seen a lot of derbies, 0:22:42.413 --> 0:22:44.773 I think four in the first couple of weeks of 0:22:44.813 --> 0:22:47.093 the competition. It'll be interesting to see how things shakedown 0:22:47.133 --> 0:22:49.293 after that. But you're right, there's been quality that the 0:22:49.333 --> 0:22:51.733 first couple of weeks and I think the best start 0:22:51.813 --> 0:22:53.933 to Super Rugby in years. One thing I did want 0:22:53.933 --> 0:22:55.373 to touch on Nick before we take a quick break 0:22:55.533 --> 0:22:59.653 was this rule. On Saturday night Solou and Ethan de 0:22:59.733 --> 0:23:01.813 group both of the Park Daniel and it Brown gets 0:23:02.173 --> 0:23:05.213 red carded and we go to Golden Oldie scrums and 0:23:05.253 --> 0:23:08.773 we were messaging on Saturday night around It's one of 0:23:08.813 --> 0:23:10.853 those things that we don't see too often in rugby, 0:23:10.893 --> 0:23:13.813 but the Highlanders had to drop a player basically because 0:23:13.853 --> 0:23:17.173 they were the ones that triggered the Golden Oldies scrums, 0:23:17.253 --> 0:23:19.293 so it got them a bit of a mess, and 0:23:19.293 --> 0:23:20.693 then they managed to come out on the other side 0:23:20.733 --> 0:23:22.653 and win it, which is remarkable but one of those 0:23:22.693 --> 0:23:24.973 old rugby rules that only come out once in a 0:23:24.973 --> 0:23:27.533 blue moon and had everyone scratching their heads. 0:23:28.173 --> 0:23:29.893 Yeah. I got into a good old little back and 0:23:30.013 --> 0:23:32.453 forth on Twitter x whatever you call it these days 0:23:32.493 --> 0:23:35.133 with Ryan Nixon. Shout out to Ryan who does some 0:23:35.213 --> 0:23:37.133 great work there at the North Arbor Rugby Union around 0:23:37.253 --> 0:23:40.213 educating referees and educating me. As it turns out, so 0:23:40.573 --> 0:23:42.773 that law you know he was explaining to me is 0:23:42.773 --> 0:23:47.453 basically put in place so you can't manipulate being overpowered 0:23:47.493 --> 0:23:50.573 at scrum times sort of feigning injuries. Front rowers go 0:23:50.733 --> 0:23:53.013 off and then there's no punishment for them going to 0:23:53.093 --> 0:23:55.533 a Golden Oldies and the team that's been dominant aren't 0:23:56.213 --> 0:23:58.613 all of a sudden no longer having that advantage. What 0:23:58.733 --> 0:24:00.573 I'd like to see though, is I think common sense 0:24:00.613 --> 0:24:03.853 needs to prevail, as you mentioned, so they had their 0:24:03.893 --> 0:24:06.373 tight head come off with the failed HIA that's completely 0:24:06.413 --> 0:24:09.573 out of their control and Ethan dig By all means 0:24:09.693 --> 0:24:12.933 was buggered with some sort of leg injury. So yes, 0:24:13.133 --> 0:24:15.893 Lennard Brown is the one that he's a front rower 0:24:15.973 --> 0:24:19.493 too and he's committed that red card defense. But it 0:24:19.533 --> 0:24:23.333 should be fifteen on fourteen in my view anyway, It 0:24:23.373 --> 0:24:25.893 shouldn't be then fifteen on thirteen. As it turns out, 0:24:25.893 --> 0:24:27.813 it's all in material and it makes the Highlanders went 0:24:27.853 --> 0:24:30.413 even more impressive. However, I think that's just one of 0:24:30.453 --> 0:24:34.013 those little oddities where you just tied it up, get 0:24:34.053 --> 0:24:36.333 a bit of twink out at a line and we 0:24:36.413 --> 0:24:38.453 don't have some sort of fascal situation like we did 0:24:38.493 --> 0:24:38.893 on Saturday. 0:24:38.973 --> 0:24:41.613 Well, the thing is, I completely agree because one of 0:24:41.653 --> 0:24:43.853 the arguments in this, the whole twenty minute red card, 0:24:43.893 --> 0:24:46.213 the augment against is a players will we target players 0:24:46.253 --> 0:24:48.973 will target a quality player from the opposition because it's 0:24:48.973 --> 0:24:50.973 only a twenty minute deterrent. You still be off the 0:24:51.013 --> 0:24:52.893 park for twenty minutes, or someone will off the park 0:24:52.933 --> 0:24:55.053 for twenty minutes, but they're able to replace them. But 0:24:55.813 --> 0:24:57.613 I don't buy that for a second. So on the 0:24:57.693 --> 0:25:00.173 reverse of that, if you're taking off a player when 0:25:00.213 --> 0:25:03.013 you have lost players through injury, and also yellow card. 0:25:03.013 --> 0:25:04.933 I think you don't quite get the balance of that. 0:25:04.973 --> 0:25:07.133 If you're doing it on one side for a discipline 0:25:07.173 --> 0:25:09.573 reactually on the other you've got to balance it out 0:25:09.613 --> 0:25:10.053 that way. 0:25:10.693 --> 0:25:15.133 Absolutely, and just on that too the Blues. It's talking 0:25:15.173 --> 0:25:18.573 about that game management. They didn't recognize that if they 0:25:18.773 --> 0:25:22.013 just went for scrums, albeit golden oldies scrums, they would 0:25:22.013 --> 0:25:25.133 have had a two man numerical advantage in the back line. 0:25:25.173 --> 0:25:28.173 Yet they went to the line out. Yeah, head scratching, 0:25:28.213 --> 0:25:29.733 to say the least, very head scratching. 0:25:30.053 --> 0:25:32.093 And clearly, well, you know, the players on the part 0:25:32.133 --> 0:25:33.813 should be smarter, but I'm not sure how there wasn't 0:25:33.813 --> 0:25:36.333 a message they didn't get down ground level as a 0:25:36.413 --> 0:25:38.293 result of that. Will take a break here on Rugby Direct. 0:25:38.333 --> 0:25:40.093 Come back on the second half of the podcast after this. 0:25:40.973 --> 0:25:45.053 This is Rugby Direct, a podcast for real rugby fares, 0:25:51.293 --> 0:25:52.293 power babies talk. 0:25:53.333 --> 0:25:55.653 You're back with Rugby Direct powered by Habit Health. Time 0:25:55.733 --> 0:25:58.853 now for our final four. Let's change tax slightly. The 0:25:59.133 --> 0:26:01.933 sevens still ongoing as we record this in Vancouver, but 0:26:02.013 --> 0:26:05.693 over the weekends Mikayla Break became the all time leading 0:26:05.773 --> 0:26:08.453 tri scorer on the women's seven circuit the question I 0:26:08.533 --> 0:26:11.613 have for you, Nick, is she underappreciated. 0:26:13.213 --> 0:26:16.653 I'm gonna say yes, And that seems crazy to say, 0:26:16.773 --> 0:26:20.013 but I think it's by virtue of the Black Ferns 0:26:20.133 --> 0:26:23.413 being you know, Laiden with stars Black Fern and sevens 0:26:23.453 --> 0:26:25.573 as and the Black Ferns. But you know, for so 0:26:25.733 --> 0:26:29.933 long it's been what's Porscha Woodman Wickcliffe doing, or Sarah 0:26:29.973 --> 0:26:34.413 Herony or Stacy Woker and michaela Blinde. Mikayla Brake is 0:26:35.293 --> 0:26:37.853 you know, on the end of so much fantastic work. 0:26:37.893 --> 0:26:40.613 But in her own right, she is an absolute superstar. 0:26:41.213 --> 0:26:45.453 And you know, to be now clear of Porsche is 0:26:45.533 --> 0:26:49.253 phenomenal and look personally, someone who loves both codes pretty 0:26:49.253 --> 0:26:52.093 excited that she's going to chance rumon an NRLW as well, 0:26:52.093 --> 0:26:53.773 which it's only twenty nine years old, Elliott, and I 0:26:53.813 --> 0:26:55.453 feel like, I know you've seen a lot of the 0:26:55.533 --> 0:26:57.733 SEVENS program, so you'll be able to probably put it 0:26:57.773 --> 0:26:59.653 in better words than me, But she's she's got so 0:26:59.813 --> 0:27:02.573 much still to offer to this program. And you see sometimes, 0:27:02.893 --> 0:27:05.093 particularly in the men's game, sort of that twenty seven 0:27:05.173 --> 0:27:07.973 year year age where it feels like, oh the pace 0:27:08.093 --> 0:27:10.373 sort of of the players start losing a bit of 0:27:10.413 --> 0:27:12.333 pace out wide, but if anything like, she's just got 0:27:12.373 --> 0:27:14.533 speed to burn and she's such an asset to New Zealand. 0:27:14.533 --> 0:27:16.133 So yeah, I think she is a bit unappreciated. 0:27:16.213 --> 0:27:17.093 Yeah, I've got to agree. 0:27:17.693 --> 0:27:21.413 She is phenomenal and just one of those underpreciated players 0:27:21.453 --> 0:27:22.493 that just keeps delivering. 0:27:22.573 --> 0:27:25.573 You know, five tries and one half against Island on 0:27:25.613 --> 0:27:26.053 the weekend. 0:27:26.213 --> 0:27:28.533 She had to get three in the game to take 0:27:28.573 --> 0:27:30.533 the record out right where she had two in the 0:27:30.533 --> 0:27:32.533 space about three minutes, bags another one and then grabs 0:27:32.533 --> 0:27:34.733 a couple more before halftime. And what I really like 0:27:34.813 --> 0:27:37.653 about her as well, she's adding extra elements to a game. 0:27:37.773 --> 0:27:39.613 You mentioned, you know, she's twenty nine years of age, 0:27:39.693 --> 0:27:42.573 probably got one more Olympic cycle in her which is 0:27:42.613 --> 0:27:45.973 the current one after her stint with NRRAL later in 0:27:46.013 --> 0:27:47.693 the year. But she's adding strings to a game. She's 0:27:47.733 --> 0:27:50.413 now doing a little bit of goalkicking as well, and 0:27:50.453 --> 0:27:52.733 it wouldn't surprise me maybe just to see it move 0:27:52.813 --> 0:27:56.173 into the middle at some point over the next couple 0:27:56.213 --> 0:27:58.773 of years, because there are going to be players that can, 0:27:59.653 --> 0:28:01.973 you know, perhaps overtake it. With that pace out wide, 0:28:02.293 --> 0:28:04.693 she still have absolute pace in the middle of the part. 0:28:04.733 --> 0:28:07.293 But she may just perhaps after she come back from sevens, 0:28:07.333 --> 0:28:08.853 just look to adapt to a game a little bit 0:28:08.893 --> 0:28:11.813 further and maybe moving to the middle. It's going to 0:28:11.853 --> 0:28:14.413 be fascinating to see how she comes back after that 0:28:14.533 --> 0:28:18.093 stint with sevens. Sorry with with the nral W a 0:28:18.133 --> 0:28:20.333 bit later on the year, quick word as well. The 0:28:20.453 --> 0:28:24.213 men's sevens losing to Spain in the quarter finals, there 0:28:24.253 --> 0:28:25.893 are some real issues. I know we're in the early 0:28:25.973 --> 0:28:30.813 stages of an Olympic cycle neck but not liking the 0:28:30.853 --> 0:28:32.853 way that the men's team is playing at the moment. 0:28:33.413 --> 0:28:36.533 It doesn't read well does it to lose to Spain 0:28:36.693 --> 0:28:39.253 in any form, any format of rugby for a New 0:28:39.333 --> 0:28:43.213 Zealand representative team. And look, I know, as you alluded 0:28:43.213 --> 0:28:47.213 to their new Olympic cycle, relatively new coach and Tamasia summer, 0:28:48.293 --> 0:28:52.813 but I think yeah, a real sort of stern look 0:28:53.173 --> 0:28:56.253 is required into that men's set up, and maybe some 0:28:56.693 --> 0:28:59.693 pretty significant change is required given how much we prioritize 0:28:59.733 --> 0:29:00.653 other Olympic events. 0:29:00.973 --> 0:29:03.573 Yeah, that's right, top number two in the final four. 0:29:03.653 --> 0:29:06.293 How's your your fantasy team going two weeks? And who 0:29:06.493 --> 0:29:08.693 your best buy has been? Because I had battle of 0:29:08.733 --> 0:29:09.893 a weekend. How did your team go? 0:29:10.173 --> 0:29:13.173 Well? Look, the Bewley's Battlers were flying in the inns 0:29:13.213 --> 0:29:16.333 in me League. In round one I had the lead 0:29:16.853 --> 0:29:20.293 over Foxton Fizz, which I'm i'm led to believe is 0:29:20.493 --> 0:29:23.093 Liam Napier, the co host of Rugby Direct, usually by 0:29:23.213 --> 0:29:26.013 just a solitary points, but yet similar I got too 0:29:26.133 --> 0:29:30.813 cute with unlimited transfers that I tried to pack my 0:29:30.933 --> 0:29:33.773 team full of what I thought was ideal matchups and 0:29:34.253 --> 0:29:37.093 went with Hunter, Paisami and Leniki Tail for example in 0:29:37.693 --> 0:29:40.013 the Reds and the Brumbies, and they scored about ten 0:29:40.053 --> 0:29:42.413 points combined, so not as good. But look, I think 0:29:42.453 --> 0:29:45.133 it's been a great addition. Certainly around the workplace here 0:29:45.173 --> 0:29:47.573 in christ Church is a bit of chatter, but what 0:29:47.693 --> 0:29:50.053 a cooler chat about who's in your fantasy team and 0:29:50.093 --> 0:29:52.253 what not? Cam Royguard, I'm glad I stuck with him. 0:29:52.293 --> 0:29:54.493 There's a fair amount of excitement to get Kyle Preston 0:29:54.773 --> 0:29:57.493 in the mix after his hat trick in round one. 0:29:57.613 --> 0:30:01.413 But roy Guard served me well with those two triss 0:30:01.493 --> 0:30:04.173 and a tryver's own at the weekend and points of 0:30:04.293 --> 0:30:07.133 roy Guard not too bad, not too bad, so McKinsey's 0:30:07.213 --> 0:30:10.253 the second top score He's been my captain throughout the 0:30:10.333 --> 0:30:12.213 season so far. But I'm going to put you on 0:30:12.253 --> 0:30:14.293 the spot here. Do you know who the top scorer 0:30:14.493 --> 0:30:15.733 is through two weeks. 0:30:17.413 --> 0:30:22.533 No, I'm going to guess and say it is Will Jordan. 0:30:24.093 --> 0:30:27.533 No. It is an outside back and he plays Form 0:30:27.573 --> 0:30:30.653 ONEA PACIFICA and his name is Kliroen Tomoy full out 0:30:30.773 --> 0:30:34.493 and he's only about four million, I think, so he's 0:30:34.533 --> 0:30:37.253 almost I must have at this point in time. The 0:30:37.293 --> 0:30:40.533 budget for your team is a one hundred million, So yeah, 0:30:40.573 --> 0:30:43.253 get Kien and I think he's four tries in two games, 0:30:43.493 --> 0:30:46.173 and yeah, he's some talent. Certainly, the points are skewed 0:30:46.173 --> 0:30:47.933 towards the back three, so that's where you're really going 0:30:48.013 --> 0:30:50.613 to load up, I think week to week and make 0:30:50.653 --> 0:30:51.293 sure you get that right. 0:30:51.493 --> 0:30:53.053 You're not getting much out of locks. It doesn't seem 0:30:53.133 --> 0:30:54.973 like a game made fantasy. It doesn't seem like game 0:30:55.013 --> 0:30:56.533 made for locks. On the basis of what I've seen, 0:30:56.573 --> 0:30:58.973 I think I've got eighteen from Holland and nine from 0:30:59.053 --> 0:31:00.173 three be law to on the weekend. 0:31:00.493 --> 0:31:04.053 Colin Grace, somewhat strangely, is a lock in fantasy so 0:31:04.213 --> 0:31:07.013 maybe that's one you need to exploit their smith. 0:31:07.093 --> 0:31:08.773 I'll look at that for the weekend. I think number 0:31:08.773 --> 0:31:10.293 three we touched on this a bit earlier. But what 0:31:10.493 --> 0:31:13.173 is going wrong at the Blues? 0:31:13.773 --> 0:31:13.973 For me? 0:31:14.493 --> 0:31:17.053 I think the missing Kida Yanni big time in that 0:31:17.253 --> 0:31:19.693 pack both sides of the ball. He was electric last 0:31:19.733 --> 0:31:22.653 year in Super Rugby. I don't know that the Blues 0:31:22.653 --> 0:31:25.173 anticipated missing him as much as they have in the 0:31:25.253 --> 0:31:28.853 opening rounds. Sam Dowry is a big loss for them, 0:31:28.933 --> 0:31:31.373 but I also think their back line is looking really 0:31:31.493 --> 0:31:35.973 clunky at the moment. I don't know that I'd be 0:31:36.053 --> 0:31:38.853 sticking with Harry Plumber and Boden Barrett in that ten 0:31:38.893 --> 0:31:40.773 to fifteen combination. I think you need to get Boden 0:31:40.853 --> 0:31:43.613 involved in the game a little bit more. Maybe Plumber 0:31:43.613 --> 0:31:46.693 moves back to twelve. Obviously, Petafetta is injured so to 0:31:47.173 --> 0:31:49.613 Sullivan at the moment, but I don't know that they've 0:31:49.613 --> 0:31:51.733 got the makeup of that run on side exactly right 0:31:51.933 --> 0:31:54.813 at the moment, and they're missing a bit of tenaciousness 0:31:54.933 --> 0:31:57.253 in that four pack. What are you seeing is going 0:31:57.293 --> 0:31:58.253 wrong at the Blues at the moment? 0:31:58.333 --> 0:31:59.893 Nick, Yeah, I was going to ask you as if 0:31:59.893 --> 0:32:01.973 you look the Blues call around that ten to fifteen 0:32:02.253 --> 0:32:04.373 combination and we are seeing you know, the ten to 0:32:04.413 --> 0:32:06.893 fifteen dual playmaker has been around for a number of 0:32:07.053 --> 0:32:10.093 years now, but it just doesn't feel like the balance 0:32:10.293 --> 0:32:14.733 is right in terms of the orchestrator of this attack. 0:32:15.133 --> 0:32:18.733 And yeah, I do under two. Obviously, Harry Plumber's got 0:32:18.773 --> 0:32:21.693 a lot of money in the bank from last year, 0:32:22.013 --> 0:32:24.573 and you're not going to leave someone like Bowden Barrett out. 0:32:24.893 --> 0:32:27.773 But yeah, when guys come back to they look at 0:32:27.813 --> 0:32:32.053 Plumber at twelve, Barrett ten, Parafeta fifteen, something like that. 0:32:32.213 --> 0:32:34.933 It's just sort of feels too many chefs in the kitchen. 0:32:34.973 --> 0:32:37.173 And I touched on it earlier too, just around the kicking. 0:32:38.213 --> 0:32:41.773 I just think, especially in these early rounds from what 0:32:41.813 --> 0:32:44.653 we've seen from everyone else, they probably just need to 0:32:44.733 --> 0:32:49.173 put the boot away a bit. Those two Boden Barrett 0:32:49.573 --> 0:32:53.253 kicks straight down thin Hurley's throat led to tries and 0:32:54.293 --> 0:32:56.733 in an eight point games, just some aimless kicking and 0:32:56.813 --> 0:32:59.853 little decision making there can be the difference between a 0:32:59.893 --> 0:33:00.533 win and a loss. 0:33:00.613 --> 0:33:03.773 Agreed, and the midfield's not quite clicking for me either. 0:33:04.053 --> 0:33:05.773 I do rate aj Lamb as a player. I think 0:33:05.773 --> 0:33:07.853 he's excellent. I think was quite close to getting an 0:33:07.853 --> 0:33:10.213 All Blacks all up in the back end of last 0:33:10.333 --> 0:33:13.573 year as well, was doing some training with them, and 0:33:14.093 --> 0:33:16.693 I think twelve is his position. Bryce team out injured 0:33:17.013 --> 0:33:19.453 for the season and what might be maybe his last. 0:33:19.493 --> 0:33:22.693 But Lamb and Yanni aren't clicking at the moment, and 0:33:22.773 --> 0:33:24.733 that in turn is affecting the kind of ball that 0:33:24.853 --> 0:33:27.813 Caleb Clark and Mark Talia are getting on the edges 0:33:28.173 --> 0:33:29.933 of the games. You know, Mark to Lea, I think 0:33:30.213 --> 0:33:32.973 ran for about fifteen meters on the weekend, which is 0:33:33.013 --> 0:33:35.133 not going to get it done. Clark for forty, which 0:33:35.253 --> 0:33:36.893 is also not going to get it out. 0:33:37.133 --> 0:33:38.173 I think that was one breakout. 0:33:38.693 --> 0:33:40.013 And so when you're not getting it out to these 0:33:40.093 --> 0:33:42.013 dangerous players, you've got to look in midfield and go 0:33:42.093 --> 0:33:44.373 what's going wrong there? But just as a whole from 0:33:44.453 --> 0:33:46.493 nine to fifteen, it doesn't feel like any part of 0:33:46.573 --> 0:33:48.333 that back line is clicking at the moment. 0:33:49.093 --> 0:33:52.613 It's early. I wouldn't panic and wrap up your Super 0:33:52.693 --> 0:33:55.853 Apia Winners tickets on the Blues just yet, but it 0:33:55.933 --> 0:33:58.213 brings me to a point around Rico Joanni and can 0:33:58.253 --> 0:34:00.013 you hear your thoughts just quickly too on this one, 0:34:00.133 --> 0:34:03.173 like that, this is a guy who's just had a remarkable, 0:34:03.613 --> 0:34:06.413 fantastic career both in Blue and black, but he does 0:34:06.493 --> 0:34:09.573 have his detractors, particularly around his distribution, Like is he 0:34:09.693 --> 0:34:10.653 under pressure at the moment? 0:34:10.693 --> 0:34:12.733 Well, I think he's got to be under pressure because 0:34:12.733 --> 0:34:14.773 we've seen the kind of players that are standing up 0:34:14.813 --> 0:34:18.213 across the state of the competition at the moment in 0:34:18.333 --> 0:34:22.253 the midfield, not only at center, but also second five, 0:34:22.373 --> 0:34:24.413 you know, to more of the tava tava nahwe He's 0:34:25.213 --> 0:34:27.773 made twelve his own over a two week period. Why 0:34:27.813 --> 0:34:30.573 couldn't he make thirteen his own in an all Blacks jersey. 0:34:30.653 --> 0:34:33.213 You know, if he's going to take to twelve like 0:34:33.253 --> 0:34:35.093 a duck to water, who's to say that he couldn't 0:34:35.413 --> 0:34:37.373 also move out one and do the same thing there. 0:34:37.573 --> 0:34:40.413 I think, you know, we've seen Quinta Pie come back 0:34:40.973 --> 0:34:44.093 really really well across the back line as well. Twelve 0:34:44.133 --> 0:34:46.293 and thirteen. Leonet Brown I think has had an excellent 0:34:46.373 --> 0:34:48.893 start to Super Rugby. I thought he was superb against 0:34:48.893 --> 0:34:51.573 the Crusaders on the weekend. So if you're Rico Jouani, 0:34:51.773 --> 0:34:53.533 I think you do have to come in for a 0:34:53.613 --> 0:34:55.893 little bit of pressure, a little bit of criticism over 0:34:55.933 --> 0:34:58.373 the way that the opening two weeks have gone, and 0:34:59.173 --> 0:35:01.613 there is a level that needs to be met by 0:35:01.653 --> 0:35:03.853 all Blacks players, and I don't think he's quite hit 0:35:03.893 --> 0:35:04.973 that as ye in this competition. 0:35:05.253 --> 0:35:06.973 Yeah, like he's not alone in that Blues team in 0:35:07.053 --> 0:35:09.373 terms of all Blacks who haven't five from the opening round. 0:35:09.453 --> 0:35:12.613 But yeah, look, i'd back him to bounce back. But 0:35:12.733 --> 0:35:15.453 it just as it's been an interesting observation to me 0:35:15.613 --> 0:35:18.373 that it just hasn't. Certainly I'll cross that back line. 0:35:18.413 --> 0:35:19.253 It isn't firing. 0:35:19.533 --> 0:35:21.293 Topic number four in the final four. 0:35:21.453 --> 0:35:24.093 We'll have a chat with Kendrick Coxage Black fans legend 0:35:24.493 --> 0:35:27.333 on the program on the podcast in a few moments time. 0:35:27.453 --> 0:35:30.613 But who wins Super Rugby or Picky? Which gets underway 0:35:30.893 --> 0:35:31.413 this weekend? 0:35:31.493 --> 0:35:35.453 Nick, Look, I think the balance of power still lies 0:35:35.853 --> 0:35:39.613 in and around the Bombay Hills. Elliott I saw the 0:35:39.693 --> 0:35:43.093 Blues racked up there on a cricket score against Chief 0:35:43.173 --> 0:35:45.813 Munuah in a preseason game, and yes it is preseason, 0:35:45.933 --> 0:35:48.213 but just look at the strength and depth again in 0:35:48.253 --> 0:35:52.373 those squads. It is a sprint Super Rugby, Opicky, But 0:35:52.413 --> 0:35:54.933 the Blues we mentioned Porsha Woodman Wickcliffe. But that's a 0:35:54.933 --> 0:35:57.813 pretty handy addition for them, isn't it. And look my 0:35:57.973 --> 0:36:01.333 Mata two down here, a couple of good INDs getting 0:36:01.373 --> 0:36:03.733 Hannah King back, really looking forward to seeing what she 0:36:03.853 --> 0:36:06.613 can do after a really solid year under her about 0:36:06.973 --> 0:36:10.173 getting an opportunity up there at Hurrick Poler. The Bremner 0:36:10.253 --> 0:36:14.053 sisters reunite, so they've they've got some talent too. But 0:36:14.333 --> 0:36:18.973 but I just get the sense that it's Blues Chiefs manna, 0:36:19.133 --> 0:36:22.613 if you will, And and it'll take some beating for 0:36:22.813 --> 0:36:24.893 for the for the Polar or Matitu to come through 0:36:25.253 --> 0:36:26.453 over the top of one of those two. 0:36:26.773 --> 0:36:28.693 Look on the basis of what I've seen in preseason, 0:36:28.853 --> 0:36:31.333 and that is a little bit here and there, I think, 0:36:32.333 --> 0:36:34.653 I think you're right. You know, the Chiefs are blowing 0:36:34.693 --> 0:36:36.173 out on the weekend, but there will be better as 0:36:36.173 --> 0:36:38.653 they get back into competition. There's a lot of new 0:36:38.693 --> 0:36:43.373 faces in the new combinations in the mix. The Blues, though, 0:36:43.413 --> 0:36:44.733 I think of the team to beat. You know, when 0:36:44.733 --> 0:36:48.373 you can add pullshit Wooden Wickliffe into your team, you know, 0:36:48.453 --> 0:36:50.093 it's a it's a hell of an inn to have 0:36:50.293 --> 0:36:54.133 to an already championship winning team. But as we've seen 0:36:54.213 --> 0:36:56.853 from the Blues Men, you know, sometimes things can go 0:36:56.933 --> 0:36:59.173 off track when you're coming into the Fenia title. 0:36:59.653 --> 0:37:03.053 Yeah, titles aren't one with pre season predictions. You've got 0:37:03.093 --> 0:37:05.213 a front. Games aren't played on paper, as I hear 0:37:05.813 --> 0:37:08.613 tracked out every now and then Smithy's So we shall 0:37:08.613 --> 0:37:10.173 wait and see, but very much looking forward to it 0:37:10.373 --> 0:37:13.813 a lot like the fact that from another two perspective anyway, 0:37:13.853 --> 0:37:16.813 you know they're gun to Nelson, which is great. There's 0:37:16.853 --> 0:37:19.133 a doubleheader here next week in chross Church as well, 0:37:19.253 --> 0:37:22.733 so getting around the Matto and yeah, like it's been 0:37:22.893 --> 0:37:25.213 a fantastic addition. It's sort of going from strength to 0:37:25.293 --> 0:37:28.533 strengths and now we have the situation where the winner 0:37:28.533 --> 0:37:31.933 will play the Australian winner in a standalone final, so 0:37:32.493 --> 0:37:34.653 it's treading in the right direction. 0:37:34.893 --> 0:37:36.973 Well, probably a good opportunity on the back of talking 0:37:37.013 --> 0:37:39.253 about Super Rugby or Picky to bring in a Black 0:37:39.293 --> 0:37:42.813 Funds legend to rugby direct Kendrick cox Age joining us 0:37:42.933 --> 0:37:45.933 on the podcast. Kendre, I think so much for your time. 0:37:45.933 --> 0:37:48.413 I'm always an exciting part of the season when Super 0:37:48.493 --> 0:37:49.853 Rugby or Picky is around the corner. 0:37:50.253 --> 0:37:52.893 Yeah, it's very exciting. I'm looking forward to clicking off 0:37:52.933 --> 0:37:55.693 this weekend. I think it's been a World Cup year 0:37:56.533 --> 0:37:59.373 and the players that the coming through, it's going to 0:37:59.453 --> 0:38:01.693 be an absolute rapper of a season. 0:38:01.893 --> 0:38:05.573 How much does that World Cup Carrott, you know, being 0:38:05.653 --> 0:38:08.773 dangled in front of both current Black Funds players they 0:38:08.773 --> 0:38:11.333 haven't played for the Black fans before, just increase the 0:38:11.413 --> 0:38:14.013 intensity of what we might see over the coming weeks. 0:38:14.813 --> 0:38:15.013 Yeah. 0:38:15.093 --> 0:38:20.293 I think the overall competition obviously is messive with the 0:38:20.333 --> 0:38:22.773 World Cup year, but I think for the players they'll 0:38:22.813 --> 0:38:26.413 be heavily focused on their job with their super side, 0:38:26.453 --> 0:38:29.253 but also knowing that there's a big selection piece in 0:38:29.333 --> 0:38:31.653 a World Cup at the end of it. You know, 0:38:31.733 --> 0:38:35.053 everyone goes into a World Cup and pre season training 0:38:35.213 --> 0:38:36.253 is another level. 0:38:36.653 --> 0:38:38.493 There's been a bit of movement, as there always is 0:38:38.893 --> 0:38:42.333 in the off season. What's your read on I suppose 0:38:42.373 --> 0:38:45.573 the off season transfers and maybe who's benefited the most 0:38:45.613 --> 0:38:46.693 out of some of those changes. 0:38:47.533 --> 0:38:50.293 Yeah, I mean there's always a few a few changes 0:38:50.333 --> 0:38:52.933 and people are looking for some game time and whatnot, 0:38:53.293 --> 0:38:54.933 and being a World Cup year, you want to you know, 0:38:54.973 --> 0:38:58.373 you've got to play to be seen so well, I think, 0:38:58.653 --> 0:39:01.093 you know, there's there's there's a great players across the 0:39:01.133 --> 0:39:03.213 whole board. I think a month or two have done 0:39:03.253 --> 0:39:06.413 well with like a highly rade mety kind of player 0:39:06.493 --> 0:39:10.053 to watch and pull her from obviously the Hurricanes region, 0:39:11.373 --> 0:39:14.053 and then the likes of Atlanta Lola here who's decided 0:39:14.133 --> 0:39:17.413 to move north to the Blues for some game time 0:39:18.133 --> 0:39:19.733 as well. So there's been there's been a few that 0:39:19.853 --> 0:39:23.133 have kind of mixed across it. But in terms of 0:39:23.573 --> 0:39:26.493 players to watch, I think across like the Chiefs would 0:39:26.493 --> 0:39:32.973 be probably they the prop she's awesome player, Braxton Star 0:39:33.053 --> 0:39:36.133 and some McGhee young player with the Blues, very talented, 0:39:37.053 --> 0:39:39.453 obviously plays a bit of sevens too, and she's a 0:39:39.493 --> 0:39:41.413 young girl coming through. And then I'd say the Canes 0:39:41.453 --> 0:39:45.973 players Elanor plump King, she always you know, she she's 0:39:46.573 --> 0:39:48.893 she's a quality player on the on the flanks. And 0:39:48.973 --> 0:39:51.533 then Matter two would be a Holy Holly Ray Metti 0:39:51.613 --> 0:39:53.893 I think would probably be the players. She's probably the 0:39:53.933 --> 0:39:55.133 player to watch for for MATERA two. 0:39:55.213 --> 0:39:57.453 Yeah, those are some players. Keeping on Ellen Or plump 0:39:57.493 --> 0:39:59.973 King was superb last year in the f PC. She 0:40:00.053 --> 0:40:05.333 had a breakout season, absolutely dominated in that competition, you 0:40:05.413 --> 0:40:07.613 know for the Blues, you know there are championship team 0:40:07.693 --> 0:40:11.333 is that he didn't so twenty twenty five obviously target 0:40:11.413 --> 0:40:13.853 on the back is championship teams always have, and then 0:40:14.173 --> 0:40:17.293 they go out and ad some talent like Porsche woodmen Wickliff, 0:40:17.293 --> 0:40:18.773 which isn't a bad player to put on the books 0:40:18.773 --> 0:40:20.013 when you've already won a title. 0:40:20.573 --> 0:40:23.493 Yeah, exactly, and you know what Porch is going to bring, 0:40:23.653 --> 0:40:26.213 you know, like any team, you know obviously with the 0:40:26.253 --> 0:40:28.853 first asat team sport, but if you've got Porscha Wood 0:40:28.853 --> 0:40:31.493 will workloff on your team, you know you're probably going 0:40:31.573 --> 0:40:34.373 to go pretty well. So on paper, I think the 0:40:34.413 --> 0:40:37.853 Blues probably have the best side in terms of depth 0:40:38.013 --> 0:40:41.053 across positions as well as across the whole one to well, 0:40:41.133 --> 0:40:44.053 probably one thirty players, I've got to be honest. So 0:40:44.853 --> 0:40:46.933 on paper they definitely that probably the best side. 0:40:47.173 --> 0:40:48.213 It's going to be fascinating. 0:40:48.293 --> 0:40:51.933 And then there's the additional trans Tasmin Final which will 0:40:51.933 --> 0:40:53.453 be at the end of the competition, which is just 0:40:53.693 --> 0:40:55.933 adds a little bit extra. Hopefully in the future there's 0:40:55.973 --> 0:40:58.813 a combined competition of some sort, but to have that 0:40:59.013 --> 0:41:01.573 is I think a great initiative. That must be something 0:41:01.613 --> 0:41:02.573 you're looking forward to as well. 0:41:03.493 --> 0:41:06.133 Yeah, I think that's exciting and you know, anything that 0:41:06.293 --> 0:41:08.173 kind of adds a bit a bit more meaningful competition 0:41:08.493 --> 0:41:10.893 the you know, with the Aussies and hopefully in the 0:41:10.973 --> 0:41:14.573 future the Opeki becomes extended. And you know the reason 0:41:14.773 --> 0:41:17.453 kind of reason for having a crossover game. I can 0:41:17.493 --> 0:41:19.813 see how the teams kind of go against each other 0:41:20.293 --> 0:41:22.053 and then look to explore what it could look like 0:41:22.173 --> 0:41:25.053 in the future and if there's potential there the combined 0:41:25.493 --> 0:41:26.933 with Australia. 0:41:26.973 --> 0:41:28.693 And you can hear a lot of the super rugby 0:41:28.773 --> 0:41:31.933 or picky action on gold Sport and iHeartRadio from this 0:41:32.053 --> 0:41:35.533 weekends before we go on Rugby, Dirigulet's get into our tipping. 0:41:35.573 --> 0:41:38.533 Now you are going to take hold of Liam's steps 0:41:38.573 --> 0:41:40.333 for the week which is a lot of pressure. Five 0:41:40.413 --> 0:41:42.693 out of ten we've picked so far in the competition, 0:41:42.773 --> 0:41:45.213 both of us, Liam picked the Chiefs to beat the 0:41:45.293 --> 0:41:48.813 Crusaders over the course of the weekend, and we both 0:41:48.853 --> 0:41:50.853 picked the Reds and Hurricanes to get the job done. 0:41:50.893 --> 0:41:52.413 And we both picked the Blues and brum Bees to 0:41:52.453 --> 0:41:53.973 get the job done. Who didn't. 0:41:54.013 --> 0:41:56.933 So after two weeks, five of ten matches for both 0:41:56.973 --> 0:41:59.013 of us, So a bit of pressure for you Nick 0:41:59.093 --> 0:42:01.893 this week taking on Liam's tipping. You know he'll be 0:42:01.973 --> 0:42:04.773 listening and next time in christ which you know he 0:42:04.853 --> 0:42:07.373 may have something out for you if you don't get 0:42:07.413 --> 0:42:09.013 things right here. But let's see how we get on 0:42:09.173 --> 0:42:13.373 Maana pacificat against the Highlanders Friday nights at North Harbor 0:42:13.413 --> 0:42:15.453 Stadium to get round three underway. 0:42:15.453 --> 0:42:15.973 What do you reckon? 0:42:16.493 --> 0:42:18.613 I think I'll take the points over for that one. 0:42:18.653 --> 0:42:20.613 But this is a tip in competition where we're picking 0:42:20.613 --> 0:42:22.413 who's going to win. So look, I think on the 0:42:22.493 --> 0:42:26.333 balance of what we've seen, particularly at the weekend, that 0:42:26.453 --> 0:42:29.093 the Highlanders should be too good. But it has been 0:42:29.133 --> 0:42:30.613 a bit of a story for them in terms of 0:42:31.133 --> 0:42:34.733 backing up after a big win, not taking the foot off. 0:42:34.853 --> 0:42:37.253 So I will put my faith though, and the Highlander 0:42:37.293 --> 0:42:38.813 is beating Mowana on the road, I. 0:42:38.893 --> 0:42:41.173 Tend to agree, although yeah Mowan have been scoring points. 0:42:41.213 --> 0:42:43.173 If they can tighten up that defense, I think it 0:42:43.213 --> 0:42:45.253 could be a cracking game. But you can't go past 0:42:45.253 --> 0:42:49.093 the Highlanders. Wartars drew a nine thirty five Saturday Sorry 0:42:49.133 --> 0:42:53.133 Friday Nights in Sydney. You know the drawer probably got 0:42:53.133 --> 0:42:56.013 a bit of confidence out of that loss to the 0:42:56.133 --> 0:42:59.893 Hurricanes on the weekend, but again, they don't travel particularly well. 0:43:00.093 --> 0:43:02.293 Do the Wartars fresh off the by beat the drawer? 0:43:03.493 --> 0:43:05.733 I think they do. Yeah, the post Boys Super Rugby 0:43:05.853 --> 0:43:09.013 Joseph Saul is going to take the Waratars to two 0:43:09.053 --> 0:43:12.613 and o. As you mentioned the drawer. Yeah, no, wait 0:43:12.693 --> 0:43:14.693 until they're back in Fiji before I tip the drawer. 0:43:14.853 --> 0:43:17.493 I'm with you, Chiefs Brumbies, Chiefs go three and O. 0:43:17.573 --> 0:43:20.573 What do the Brumbies come back and spoil things? 0:43:21.093 --> 0:43:24.213 The fun in Hamilton four thirty five kickoff as well, 0:43:24.373 --> 0:43:26.533 looking forward to to this one and getting a real 0:43:26.613 --> 0:43:29.813 good assessment where the Brumbies are at after Yeah, losing 0:43:29.893 --> 0:43:35.493 to the Force, but the Chiefs Chiefs for me Hamilton, Yeah, 0:43:36.573 --> 0:43:38.253 I need I need to throw something in the in 0:43:38.293 --> 0:43:40.133 the works. Yeah maybe maybe this game. 0:43:40.173 --> 0:43:44.093 Well, Hurricanes Blues Saturday night, Sky Stadium, which way you're leaning? 0:43:44.493 --> 0:43:48.013 Look, I know that Liam Napier is from the region, 0:43:48.733 --> 0:43:51.173 so it might be blastphe me if I was to 0:43:51.253 --> 0:43:52.733 go Blues. So I'm going to I'm going to go 0:43:52.853 --> 0:43:56.013 the Canes. I think I thought the Blues were going 0:43:56.053 --> 0:43:57.773 to bounce back at the weekend and they didn't. And 0:43:57.893 --> 0:44:00.133 I think there's a bit more than just a couple 0:44:00.213 --> 0:44:02.093 of band aids to be put over this team to 0:44:02.373 --> 0:44:05.133 get to some quick fixes. So I think the Hurricanes 0:44:05.173 --> 0:44:06.213 are going to beat the Blues. 0:44:06.293 --> 0:44:07.613 I'm going to go the Blues. So there we are. 0:44:07.773 --> 0:44:10.173 We are different on that front. The Blues surely can't 0:44:10.213 --> 0:44:12.693 go oh and three in their title defense. You wouldn't 0:44:12.693 --> 0:44:15.653 have thought. Surely, not all the Crusaders did last year. 0:44:16.693 --> 0:44:19.973 I was gonna say, and there is President, there is President, 0:44:20.253 --> 0:44:23.733 and final game of the Round fours v Reds Saturday 0:44:23.853 --> 0:44:25.133 night in Perth. 0:44:26.053 --> 0:44:29.413 This is a really interesting one. I'm going to go 0:44:29.453 --> 0:44:29.893 the Force. 0:44:29.933 --> 0:44:33.693 What so you ll, let's go completely different on these 0:44:33.773 --> 0:44:36.373 last two games, just really juice things up and it 0:44:36.893 --> 0:44:38.853 could be still even by the end of it. But yeah, 0:44:39.053 --> 0:44:42.413 I'll go the Reds. But yeah, I think it could 0:44:42.453 --> 0:44:45.373 be another one of these eighty point games where it'll 0:44:45.493 --> 0:44:47.293 just be whoever's in front of the final whistle. 0:44:48.053 --> 0:44:50.853 Indeed, we'll mark that down and we'll see how we 0:44:50.893 --> 0:44:54.133 get on next Monday on Rugby Direct. Finally, Rugby Direct 0:44:54.173 --> 0:44:56.333 Metal voting three to two ones the best three players 0:44:56.333 --> 0:45:01.573 over the course of the weekend from New Zealand based franchises, Nick, 0:45:01.613 --> 0:45:03.813 if you got some three two ones to dishout. 0:45:03.493 --> 0:45:07.653 For us three two ones? Okay, I forgot this in 0:45:07.693 --> 0:45:09.253 my notes actually, but I'll just go righttle off the 0:45:09.293 --> 0:45:12.733 top of my head. I think Tavatavahi, his influence can't 0:45:12.733 --> 0:45:15.133 be understated, and had to have to be my player 0:45:15.213 --> 0:45:18.413 of the round. I almost want to get Finn Hurley 0:45:18.453 --> 0:45:21.653 in there as well, so maybe we'll give three to Tavatavanai, 0:45:22.173 --> 0:45:26.773 one to Finn Hurley and two to Simon Parker at 0:45:26.813 --> 0:45:28.773 the Chiefs thoy were my standouts from the weekend. 0:45:29.453 --> 0:45:32.853 I'm going three tomorrow at Tavatavannahwai as well, two to 0:45:32.933 --> 0:45:35.853 Quinn to payer for me, you came off the benuel 0:45:35.853 --> 0:45:37.453 were I played seventy minutes, but I thought he was 0:45:37.533 --> 0:45:40.333 just superb over the course of the weekend, and giving 0:45:40.373 --> 0:45:42.253 one to Damian McKenzie as well, who I think is 0:45:42.373 --> 0:45:46.813 just in some sublime form over the first couple of 0:45:46.893 --> 0:45:49.533 weeks of the competition and is playing some great rugby 0:45:49.573 --> 0:45:51.453 and you know, directing the Chiefs around the park really 0:45:51.493 --> 0:45:54.493 really well, whether it be from fifteen or from tennis. 0:45:54.493 --> 0:45:56.973 Slotting in there later on in games. I think he's 0:45:56.973 --> 0:45:58.093 playing some excellent rugby. 0:45:58.293 --> 0:45:58.453 Nick. 0:45:58.493 --> 0:46:00.333 Has been a pleasure having you on Rugby Direct. 0:46:00.373 --> 0:46:02.333 Thank you so much for your time, and I'm sure 0:46:02.813 --> 0:46:04.613 we'll get back on over the course of the season 0:46:04.853 --> 0:46:05.293 as well. 0:46:05.733 --> 0:46:09.653 Cheers Elliott. Always a pleasure, and yeah forward to going 0:46:09.693 --> 0:46:12.893 back to my listening as opposed to hosting. As much 0:46:12.933 --> 0:46:14.973 as it has been nice to be here with you 0:46:15.133 --> 0:46:16.093 this afternoon. 0:46:16.013 --> 0:46:18.053 It has been right be Direct, powered by Habit Health, 0:46:18.093 --> 0:46:20.733 tackling all your aches and pains from sport and work. 0:46:20.813 --> 0:46:23.053 We're back next week with or another edition in our podcast. 0:46:23.093 --> 0:46:25.173 Thanks very much to Last and Bars English for pulling 0:46:25.173 --> 0:46:26.613 this all together. We'll see you next time. 0:46:30.813 --> 0:46:33.733 For more from News talkst B, listen live on air 0:46:33.933 --> 0:46:36.613 or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you 0:46:36.733 --> 0:46:39.093 go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio.