WEBVTT - Rugby Direct - Episode 141 0:00:09.133 --> 0:00:12.693 You're listening to a podcast from news Talks EDB. Follow 0:00:12.773 --> 0:00:16.213 this and our wide range of podcast now on iHeartRadio. 0:00:17.813 --> 0:00:22.053 Inside the Game from every angle. It's Rugby Direct with 0:00:22.253 --> 0:00:24.013 Elliott Smith powered. 0:00:23.613 --> 0:00:24.573 By News Talks EDB. 0:00:24.933 --> 0:00:28.693 Welcome into Rugby Direct powered by Access Solutions, elevating you 0:00:28.773 --> 0:00:32.293 and your business to a higher level. After a few weeks, 0:00:32.333 --> 0:00:34.893 we've hit the lights back on in the Rugby Direct 0:00:34.933 --> 0:00:38.813 Auckland studio and we are back again. Elligott Smith with 0:00:38.853 --> 0:00:42.013 me Liam napier As was to review the weekend that 0:00:42.333 --> 0:00:45.493 was in Rugby and Liam, great to have your company 0:00:45.573 --> 0:00:48.053 once again. I should flag this to the top of 0:00:48.053 --> 0:00:52.253 the podcast. The handover has happened, but. 0:00:52.333 --> 0:00:55.613 Special was very touching, very moving and it was only 0:00:55.613 --> 0:00:57.813 fitting rarely after we spent a week in the Capitol 0:00:57.853 --> 0:01:01.333 and it really won you over that we finally you 0:01:01.453 --> 0:01:04.213 finally made good on the bet and you are now 0:01:04.253 --> 0:01:07.733 willing to line supporter and I for one welcome you 0:01:07.853 --> 0:01:11.213 to the fan and look forward to celebrating this year's 0:01:11.253 --> 0:01:11.893 title with them. 0:01:12.573 --> 0:01:13.933 Well on the back of what we saw on the 0:01:13.973 --> 0:01:18.173 weekends being absolutely pumped by Counties Monaco that shirt. Very 0:01:18.173 --> 0:01:21.213 grateful I am for Wellington Rugby donating it and sending 0:01:21.253 --> 0:01:23.493 it up is going to depreciate seriously in Valley on 0:01:23.493 --> 0:01:24.573 the back of that lost to Counties. 0:01:24.693 --> 0:01:28.413 Well look, let's just say Canterbury had their worst loss 0:01:28.413 --> 0:01:28.933 in history. 0:01:29.013 --> 0:01:30.613 So it's a good time vie to jump ship. 0:01:31.093 --> 0:01:34.453 Oh yeah, let's go the Tasman Marco. Right, let's get 0:01:34.453 --> 0:01:36.813 into the weekend that was. You can catch a video 0:01:36.973 --> 0:01:38.293 by the way, Liam's going to put up on his 0:01:38.293 --> 0:01:41.453 social media if it's not the already but later on 0:01:41.493 --> 0:01:43.853 ons the podcast is out. But let's get into the 0:01:43.893 --> 0:01:46.133 weekend that was the All Blacks thirty three, the Wallaby's 0:01:46.133 --> 0:01:50.533 at thirteen in the Capitol final game of the Rugby Championship, 0:01:50.613 --> 0:01:53.973 second game out of the Bledderslow Cup series, and the 0:01:54.013 --> 0:01:57.293 All Blacks were I don't know how you to describe it, Liam, 0:01:57.333 --> 0:02:02.253 but I'd say dominant without being clinical and left a 0:02:02.253 --> 0:02:04.973 fair few points out there. But it was certainly I 0:02:04.973 --> 0:02:07.333 thought an improvement on the week prior from the All Blacks. 0:02:07.573 --> 0:02:11.133 A couple of things extinguished, the Capital Curse, the last 0:02:11.173 --> 0:02:15.533 twenty minute fades, all those things sort of out but 0:02:15.773 --> 0:02:18.173 still left about out there on the park. What did 0:02:18.173 --> 0:02:18.693 you make of it? 0:02:19.333 --> 0:02:19.733 They did? 0:02:19.853 --> 0:02:21.333 Yes, look it was a step forward for the ou 0:02:21.373 --> 0:02:25.613 Blecks and it needed to be particularly just given the opposition. Right, 0:02:25.973 --> 0:02:28.133 let's be real about where the Wallerbries are at tenth 0:02:28.213 --> 0:02:30.173 in the world. You gave him a good uppercut last 0:02:30.173 --> 0:02:32.533 week and said that they were the in your type 0:02:32.573 --> 0:02:37.893 five column the Westerndies of world rugby, so I'm not 0:02:37.893 --> 0:02:39.813 sure if they put that on their changing room walls. 0:02:40.133 --> 0:02:43.253 Possibly may have inspired this start, actually because they started 0:02:43.293 --> 0:02:43.973 really well. 0:02:43.773 --> 0:02:46.973 Started love the West Indies started strongly. Chris gailisk came 0:02:47.013 --> 0:02:48.653 out of the blocks herely then had nothing to back 0:02:48.693 --> 0:02:48.933 it up. 0:02:49.053 --> 0:02:52.133 That's right, swung for the fences and did really bring 0:02:52.133 --> 0:02:54.613 a fearless attitude and should have been up fourteen. Nils 0:02:55.213 --> 0:02:57.293 had the Oblacks on the rack to a degree, some 0:02:57.413 --> 0:03:03.053 nice Joshits specials scrum moves and we've seen that over 0:03:03.053 --> 0:03:05.533 the last two weeks, but couldn't maintain it. 0:03:05.653 --> 0:03:06.653 They don't have the depth. 0:03:07.853 --> 0:03:10.213 They had some prolonged periods on the All Blacks line 0:03:10.213 --> 0:03:13.093 in the second half, but they conceded twenty one unanswered 0:03:13.093 --> 0:03:16.253 points and the All Blacks were vastly improved in the 0:03:16.293 --> 0:03:18.893 second half. They got a bit more pay from their 0:03:18.973 --> 0:03:23.253 bench to mite Williams was excellent, Patrick Tupolotu and look, 0:03:23.453 --> 0:03:24.773 I don't know if I'd go as far as say 0:03:24.773 --> 0:03:28.493 the final quarters fades have been banished, but certainly the 0:03:28.493 --> 0:03:33.213 capital curse has and it was a positive step for 0:03:33.253 --> 0:03:37.293 the All Blacks and what was a patchy Rugby Championship campaign. 0:03:37.533 --> 0:03:40.333 It was similar the last week in periods where I 0:03:40.333 --> 0:03:42.493 felt the dam was about to break off the Wallabies 0:03:42.493 --> 0:03:44.893 and the All Blacks just couldn't quite get there. The 0:03:45.093 --> 0:03:47.893 cross for tries. It felt early in the second spell 0:03:47.973 --> 0:03:49.773 that if they had scored one they might have been 0:03:49.813 --> 0:03:52.053 able to score one, two, three pretty quickly. As it was, 0:03:52.453 --> 0:03:54.013 they got scored one when able to back it up. 0:03:54.053 --> 0:03:56.213 There were little eras in the twenty two. There was 0:03:56.253 --> 0:03:58.093 a t J. Pett and Ara knock on from the 0:03:58.173 --> 0:04:01.013 quick tap which very much felt like lived by the sword, 0:04:01.013 --> 0:04:03.933 Die by the sword sort of stuff from the All Blacks. 0:04:04.293 --> 0:04:06.653 You're right, the last twenty could still have been better 0:04:06.693 --> 0:04:08.853 from the All Blacks. They finally got some points in 0:04:08.893 --> 0:04:12.093 the last twenty, but I thought more so than the 0:04:12.093 --> 0:04:15.093 perhaps the attack, the defensive shift from the All Blacks 0:04:15.133 --> 0:04:18.053 is probably the most pleasing considered that try early could 0:04:18.053 --> 0:04:21.053 have gone fourteen kneel down. But for a ball being 0:04:21.093 --> 0:04:23.413 placed in the end goal when it was kicked through 0:04:24.573 --> 0:04:26.773 bone Barratt mister it Jake Gorden could have got there 0:04:28.573 --> 0:04:29.853 and then the end of the while he could have 0:04:29.853 --> 0:04:31.693 got a consolation try at the end, and I think 0:04:32.533 --> 0:04:34.653 the try wouldn't have mattered. But it was quite pleasing 0:04:34.693 --> 0:04:36.453 to see the All Blacks put in a shift on 0:04:36.493 --> 0:04:40.053 their line didn't break. I think there's a lot to 0:04:40.053 --> 0:04:42.173 be learned from that, and the defensive system seems to 0:04:42.213 --> 0:04:45.613 be holding up relatively well better than it did the 0:04:45.613 --> 0:04:47.373 previous week any when they were cut to shreds a 0:04:47.373 --> 0:04:48.933 little bit, especially when they were down to thirteen. 0:04:49.653 --> 0:04:52.493 The All Blacks defense this year's on the whole been 0:04:52.533 --> 0:04:56.053 pretty good and they're actually bringing some really aggressive defense 0:04:56.373 --> 0:05:00.413 and looking to play and that Bill Blacks for me, 0:05:00.773 --> 0:05:03.253 have looked at their best from an unstructured play and 0:05:03.293 --> 0:05:06.973 that was again evident in Wellington. They scored from turnovers, 0:05:07.093 --> 0:05:10.773 they scored from broken play, whether it's Sevarice coming off 0:05:10.813 --> 0:05:14.173 as wing or Boden Barrett ghosting across field, Wallace a 0:05:14.253 --> 0:05:19.293 TSI in the midfields roaming off floating, so putting pressure 0:05:19.293 --> 0:05:21.933 on with your defense and getting turnover possession. That's when 0:05:21.973 --> 0:05:25.573 the All Blacks thrive. But on their line this was 0:05:26.213 --> 0:05:30.453 a real standard bearing second half wasn't As Scott Barrett 0:05:30.453 --> 0:05:33.253 talked to that in the postmatch press, Currents talked about 0:05:33.493 --> 0:05:36.053 the fact that that needed to be the standard that 0:05:36.093 --> 0:05:38.533 they carry north because they are going to be under 0:05:38.533 --> 0:05:43.173 massive pressure at times against Ireland, England France and they 0:05:43.173 --> 0:05:47.413 are going to need to remain composed and their discipline 0:05:47.573 --> 0:05:49.253 still remains a bit of an issue. I think they 0:05:49.293 --> 0:05:52.333 considered the first six penalties against the Wallabies. There's another 0:05:52.533 --> 0:05:55.773 late yellow card maybe a bit harsh for Caleb Clark, 0:05:56.253 --> 0:05:58.573 but they think that's six in the past four tests. 0:05:58.653 --> 0:06:01.253 So discipline is still an area they need to improve. 0:06:01.373 --> 0:06:03.533 But that defense on their own line was a big 0:06:03.533 --> 0:06:04.133 step forward. 0:06:04.253 --> 0:06:06.613 It was I thought Nicko Mischa Kelly actually had a 0:06:06.613 --> 0:06:11.813 pretty good game with the referee. He was consistent. He 0:06:12.013 --> 0:06:16.213 was slightly pedantic, but at least he was consistent. One 0:06:16.253 --> 0:06:18.213 of that quick release ball very very much and we 0:06:18.253 --> 0:06:20.453 saw a lot of early penalties basically hit the floor 0:06:20.893 --> 0:06:22.893 and he'd blow it up, you know. He was onto 0:06:22.893 --> 0:06:24.773 that pretty quickly. So it took while for the All 0:06:24.773 --> 0:06:26.493 Blacks to adjust to what he wanted to see. I 0:06:26.533 --> 0:06:28.413 think they got that by the second spell. Discipline was 0:06:28.413 --> 0:06:32.093 a lot better after halftime. Yellow cart aside, what the 0:06:32.133 --> 0:06:34.013 All Blacks did well as well. With the tackle count 0:06:34.053 --> 0:06:37.253 it was roughly one hundred versus fifty. The All Blacks 0:06:37.253 --> 0:06:39.613 had to make one hundred and the first spell Wallaby's 0:06:39.653 --> 0:06:42.693 just fifty. By full time it was relatively even around 0:06:42.693 --> 0:06:45.853 one hundred and seventy each and so the Warbies had 0:06:45.853 --> 0:06:47.773 to make about one hundred and twenty second half tackles 0:06:48.173 --> 0:06:51.173 and the All Blacks had to make a roughly seventy themselves, 0:06:51.173 --> 0:06:53.693 So they forced the Warbies into a bit more defensive 0:06:53.733 --> 0:06:56.773 pressure in the second spell. Able to build periods pressure 0:06:56.853 --> 0:06:58.333 under for periods of time, and I think it's been 0:06:58.373 --> 0:07:00.973 an issue with the All Blacks is building pressure that've 0:07:00.973 --> 0:07:05.013 scored tryers, breakout tries, but pressure in the twenty two 0:07:05.053 --> 0:07:07.653 has not been something been able to do often enough 0:07:07.733 --> 0:07:10.733 this year like teams have been able to do to 0:07:10.773 --> 0:07:12.253 them building pressure in the twenty two. 0:07:12.733 --> 0:07:13.773 Yeah, it wasn't perfect. 0:07:13.933 --> 0:07:17.773 There were still some a lot of frustrating moments handling 0:07:17.813 --> 0:07:22.773 eras there was a number of offloads that were dropped 0:07:22.813 --> 0:07:25.973 and the TJ. Pedrian are a quick tap from a penalty, 0:07:26.973 --> 0:07:29.893 you know a little instances that are still not quite clicking. 0:07:30.693 --> 0:07:35.693 But the last quarter, the finish was vastly improved, wasn't it. 0:07:35.893 --> 0:07:39.533 Bill Blacks had one try denied for Cody Taylor bobble 0:07:39.733 --> 0:07:42.173 at the ruck, but then they scored in that last 0:07:42.293 --> 0:07:45.773 quarter and they did apply a lot of pressure to 0:07:45.813 --> 0:07:49.613 the Wallabies in that periods. So it was a massive 0:07:49.653 --> 0:07:53.493 steps forward from the previous week in Sydney when they collapsed, 0:07:53.693 --> 0:07:57.893 and from blowing leads against South Africa in South Africa, 0:07:58.173 --> 0:08:01.933 the Pumas and Wellington previously. And thank god that the 0:08:02.013 --> 0:08:07.333 Capitol curse has been broken because that's been absolutely bizarre, hudo, 0:08:07.453 --> 0:08:07.933 isn't it. 0:08:07.933 --> 0:08:11.093 It has been very very odd, no rhyme or reason 0:08:11.173 --> 0:08:15.333 to it, you know, draws, losses, It's been very odd. 0:08:15.333 --> 0:08:17.813 But fortunately that's banished until we get to next year 0:08:17.853 --> 0:08:19.733 when you can bring out the stat the All Blacks 0:08:19.733 --> 0:08:21.693 have won only two of their last what is eight 0:08:21.853 --> 0:08:25.533 at sky Stadium, so did but maybe not exactly buried. 0:08:26.333 --> 0:08:28.853 A couple other things from the game, Sam Kine, tjped 0:08:28.893 --> 0:08:31.853 Andara Milestone game, so them Sam Kain's one hundredth TJ 0:08:31.933 --> 0:08:34.613 Pedanara final game on home soil. I think it was 0:08:34.653 --> 0:08:37.973 an eighty eighth test. On the weekends. We were in 0:08:37.973 --> 0:08:40.053 the media conference room when the Wallabies were giving their 0:08:40.093 --> 0:08:42.733 post match media conference and it's right next to where 0:08:42.733 --> 0:08:44.813 the All Blacks changing rooms were for that night, and 0:08:44.973 --> 0:08:48.333 the Wolves were absolutely shaking with a pretty fiery hucker 0:08:48.453 --> 0:08:51.373 which we later found out was from the All Blacks 0:08:51.413 --> 0:08:55.213 towards samkin led by t J Petanara. Look a special 0:08:55.213 --> 0:08:57.973 occasion for both of those players to sign off their 0:08:58.173 --> 0:09:00.893 careers in New Zealand. We saw the guard of honor 0:09:01.293 --> 0:09:03.773 for Sam Kain. Look special night for both of them. 0:09:03.813 --> 0:09:05.373 We're going to get into whether they should go on 0:09:05.373 --> 0:09:07.973 the Endigate tour but later on. But you know, there's 0:09:08.013 --> 0:09:10.133 only few teen all back centurions and now Sam Kane 0:09:10.213 --> 0:09:10.973 is one of them. 0:09:11.333 --> 0:09:15.533 He is and there's probably been none other that's gone 0:09:15.573 --> 0:09:20.373 through such adversity to get there. I didn't think either 0:09:20.413 --> 0:09:23.613 of them, you know, had the greatest games, to be honest. 0:09:23.653 --> 0:09:26.613 I thought Sam missed a couple of pretty obvious tackles 0:09:26.613 --> 0:09:30.293 in the first half and TJ was a bit you know, 0:09:30.453 --> 0:09:33.093 erratic at times. But it is a big occasion and 0:09:33.613 --> 0:09:35.853 It is a really a nice way for those guys 0:09:35.893 --> 0:09:39.213 to finish with a victory with standing ovations when when 0:09:39.253 --> 0:09:42.853 they left the field. The Postmas presentation was very emotional 0:09:42.853 --> 0:09:45.173 for Sam Kane, Boden Barrett presenting his cap and as 0:09:45.213 --> 0:09:49.773 you mentioned, the inner sanctum hucker so got. He's a 0:09:49.813 --> 0:09:54.693 guy who has been through a broken neck. He fronted 0:09:54.733 --> 0:09:58.293 through the lows of m Foster era and the red 0:09:58.293 --> 0:10:01.213 card in the World Cup Final and you know, fully 0:10:01.253 --> 0:10:04.573 deserving of such a milestone, isn't he. 0:10:05.533 --> 0:10:07.373 And interesting to see where things go now. 0:10:07.573 --> 0:10:10.093 Yeah, I'd say about Sam Kain is that he's coming 0:10:10.133 --> 0:10:12.733 for plenty of criticism, but he has always fronted up 0:10:14.013 --> 0:10:16.853 post match after the World Cup Final. I mean, there 0:10:16.853 --> 0:10:19.093 was the criticism of the Chiefs last year which has 0:10:19.133 --> 0:10:21.533 been explained away, but by and large, Sam Kaine has 0:10:21.533 --> 0:10:23.853 fronted up when things have not been going well on 0:10:23.893 --> 0:10:26.133 the All Blacks jersey, which has been a semi regular 0:10:26.133 --> 0:10:28.613 occurrence in recent years. He's been one of the public 0:10:28.613 --> 0:10:31.413 faces of that team and he's always fronted to media 0:10:31.453 --> 0:10:33.853 and answered some questions. Yeah. 0:10:33.853 --> 0:10:37.013 Another thing I like about Cain is that if you 0:10:37.013 --> 0:10:39.573 think about All Blacks captains in recent times, they're very 0:10:39.573 --> 0:10:43.573 good at saying nothing and actually doing that on purpose 0:10:43.613 --> 0:10:46.613 to a degree. I know the All Blacks Captains run 0:10:47.333 --> 0:10:51.133 is set with a stopwatch, but Cain, no matter what 0:10:51.173 --> 0:10:54.213 the circumstances were, you always felt like he listened to 0:10:54.253 --> 0:10:56.813 the question and did his best to genuinely answer it. 0:10:56.893 --> 0:11:00.333 And that was through some very dark times. 0:11:00.053 --> 0:11:04.253 And from our side of the fence, I always respected that. 0:11:05.173 --> 0:11:07.453 Right, Let's move on to some awards for the Rugby 0:11:07.533 --> 0:11:09.613 Championship that we've carved out. 0:11:09.853 --> 0:11:10.533 Drum roll. 0:11:12.533 --> 0:11:16.093 The best All Blacks performer of the Rugby Championship. 0:11:17.373 --> 0:11:19.893 Look, it's hard to go past the final of the year, 0:11:19.933 --> 0:11:24.493 isn't it. Wallace a Titi playing in outer position largely. 0:11:25.053 --> 0:11:29.453 He's not accustomed to blindside flanker and he will be, 0:11:30.133 --> 0:11:32.613 in my view, the All Blacks long term number eight. 0:11:32.693 --> 0:11:35.053 I think we will see a shift at some point there. 0:11:35.533 --> 0:11:37.613 But for a young guy to come in and we've 0:11:37.653 --> 0:11:41.293 seen this with others in South Africa, but thrusting to 0:11:41.413 --> 0:11:46.093 start because of injury and he hasn't been perfect, missed 0:11:46.093 --> 0:11:49.893 the odd tackle here and there, but his relentless ball carrying, 0:11:50.773 --> 0:11:53.733 his range of skill at quick feed, at the line 0:11:54.293 --> 0:11:58.133 offloading line out ability, you know, line out steels at 0:11:58.173 --> 0:12:03.733 the weekends, his confidence to demand the ball. 0:12:04.173 --> 0:12:05.853 He's been exceptional. There's been others. 0:12:05.893 --> 0:12:09.773 Caleb Clark I think is really impressed so yellow cards 0:12:09.813 --> 0:12:15.213 aside Will Jordan's I think claimed that the fullback position 0:12:15.293 --> 0:12:17.813 for now, of course is Ram has been good, but 0:12:18.333 --> 0:12:21.013 Wallace a tt absolute standout. 0:12:21.573 --> 0:12:24.173 I'm going to go with two pou Vi for the 0:12:24.213 --> 0:12:27.613 best all blacks performing the Rugby Championship. I think back 0:12:27.613 --> 0:12:29.773 to the start of the Rugby Championship, Scott Barrett was injured, 0:12:29.813 --> 0:12:32.693 Patrick two pilot was injured. Two po five thrust into 0:12:32.853 --> 0:12:36.053 being a starting lock, and not only that, but he 0:12:36.093 --> 0:12:38.333 was calling the line outs for both of those Asian 0:12:38.373 --> 0:12:42.813 Tina games. I thought he grew immensely through that period 0:12:42.893 --> 0:12:46.173 of time. Started he started the last six seven tests 0:12:46.173 --> 0:12:49.013 in a row. Now every test in the Rugby Championship 0:12:49.053 --> 0:12:53.013 and his come into his own and looks like he 0:12:53.093 --> 0:12:56.253 might have nailed on that other lock spot starting at 0:12:56.333 --> 0:12:59.213 least for the moment beside Scott Barrett. When at the 0:12:59.213 --> 0:13:02.253 start of the year Patrick twy PILOTU appeared set for that. 0:13:02.293 --> 0:13:04.813 Patrick twop a loto gets injured, Two po Vi comes in. 0:13:05.053 --> 0:13:07.053 He's doing outstanding job I think in the second row 0:13:07.213 --> 0:13:09.853 carrying very hard across the park as well grade line 0:13:09.853 --> 0:13:10.253 out option. 0:13:10.853 --> 0:13:13.893 I'm giving it to two per h totally agree. The 0:13:13.973 --> 0:13:17.053 other one for me is to Mighty Williams. I think 0:13:17.413 --> 0:13:20.293 he would two starts in South Africa when Ethan the 0:13:20.293 --> 0:13:24.613 group was injured. For me, he has surpassed the group 0:13:24.693 --> 0:13:27.373 and that might be a wee bit unfair because the 0:13:27.413 --> 0:13:29.973 group's coming back from injury, maybe still finding his feet. 0:13:30.173 --> 0:13:33.053 But Tomighty just offers so much more around the field 0:13:33.493 --> 0:13:37.853 and he proved him himself from a scrummaging perspective, but 0:13:38.533 --> 0:13:42.933 ball carrying, defensively, mobility, he offers a lot more. But 0:13:42.973 --> 0:13:46.613 it is an interesting dynamic that because then the group's 0:13:46.653 --> 0:13:48.373 not really a prospect you bring off the bench to 0:13:48.453 --> 0:13:51.253 Mighty does that role very well, so it's interesting to 0:13:51.253 --> 0:13:52.133 see where that goes. 0:13:52.733 --> 0:13:55.773 All right, So the biggest upset in the Rugby Championship 0:13:57.533 --> 0:13:58.533 Plumas and Wellington. 0:13:59.693 --> 0:14:03.893 Okay, I don't think anyone really rarely saw that coming 0:14:04.933 --> 0:14:09.333 and it probably speaks to then shift that we need 0:14:09.373 --> 0:14:11.253 to have with the Pumas about where they are at. 0:14:12.293 --> 0:14:14.653 You know, they beat the Springboks in South Africa, they 0:14:14.653 --> 0:14:17.333 should have beaten the Wallabies twice. They handed them their 0:14:17.333 --> 0:14:20.733 worst defeat in history and that second match, I think 0:14:21.333 --> 0:14:24.853 they are rarely starting to build something under Felipe Contapomei. 0:14:25.773 --> 0:14:27.573 I still don't think they'll should be losing to them 0:14:27.573 --> 0:14:30.093 at home, but they demanded a lot more respect, So 0:14:30.693 --> 0:14:32.533 for me, that was a shock result. 0:14:32.653 --> 0:14:35.693 Yeah. Biggest uposite for me would probably be Australia beating Argentina. 0:14:36.413 --> 0:14:42.573 Yeah no, actually it would be Argentina beating South Africa. Yes, 0:14:42.573 --> 0:14:44.133 they rested a couple of players, but it was a 0:14:44.173 --> 0:14:47.093 very good performance from Argentina. Unfortunately couldn't back it up 0:14:47.173 --> 0:14:50.333 in the Rugby Championship decider on the weekend in South Africa. 0:14:51.413 --> 0:14:54.413 But they are clearly growing. I like what Felippe Kontopomi's 0:14:54.453 --> 0:14:58.773 doing with that team, and you know that maybell build 0:14:59.253 --> 0:15:03.173 ahead of the twenty twenty seven Rugby World Cup. Worst 0:15:03.253 --> 0:15:08.813 moment out of the Rugby Championship look best moment for me. 0:15:10.813 --> 0:15:12.413 I've got to give it to you. The way that 0:15:12.493 --> 0:15:14.973 South Africa played, You've got to give just as an 0:15:15.013 --> 0:15:18.653 overall picture coming out of World Cup is always tricky, 0:15:18.933 --> 0:15:22.653 but I think they improved on what they put on 0:15:22.693 --> 0:15:25.653 the Paddock last year. So for me, if I had 0:15:25.733 --> 0:15:27.973 to narrow it down to a specific moment, probably the 0:15:28.013 --> 0:15:32.293 South African comeback and at Alice Park that showed grit, 0:15:32.333 --> 0:15:35.493 that showed termination. Didn't like it as a New Zealander. 0:15:35.533 --> 0:15:38.733 But credit to South Africa because the Rugby Championship changes 0:15:38.853 --> 0:15:41.253 big time on the basis that last ten minutes in 0:15:41.253 --> 0:15:43.373 that Test match and all of a sudden South afri 0:15:43.373 --> 0:15:46.853 could go through and whin the Rugby Championship. If they don't, 0:15:46.933 --> 0:15:48.693 they slipped to a loss to the All Blacks. Very 0:15:48.773 --> 0:15:52.773 very changeable sort of tournament from that point onwards. So 0:15:52.813 --> 0:15:56.453 best moment goes to South Africa. Worst moment don't really 0:15:56.453 --> 0:15:59.773 have one. Probably if I had to look holistically, probably 0:15:59.773 --> 0:16:03.413 that Australian collapse in La Plaza from just a sense 0:16:03.413 --> 0:16:05.013 of what a hell is Australian rugby doing. 0:16:06.213 --> 0:16:11.613 My best moment is the Park Test, as you'd a test, 0:16:11.653 --> 0:16:14.653 just a magic occasion. Obviously watching from a farm myself 0:16:14.653 --> 0:16:18.253 this time, but I think there's something special about that 0:16:18.293 --> 0:16:23.533 ground that evokes just brilliant test matches every time, the vibe, 0:16:23.693 --> 0:16:26.613 the history of the legacy, everything that comes with it. 0:16:27.053 --> 0:16:28.973 The All Blacks up by ten points and then they 0:16:28.973 --> 0:16:34.093 couldn't hold on. Just a brilliant adversement for world rugby 0:16:34.853 --> 0:16:36.933 and the worst moments. I'm going to go with a 0:16:37.053 --> 0:16:40.573 half full Caketon for the All Blacks against the Pumas. 0:16:40.813 --> 0:16:44.893 That's a really bad look for the All Blacks for Wellington. 0:16:45.813 --> 0:16:49.013 I'm not sure we've touched on different reasoning for that, 0:16:49.093 --> 0:16:51.693 whether the Puma's are on a lure where there's a 0:16:51.693 --> 0:16:54.893 bit of apathy there. But last weekend it was sold 0:16:54.893 --> 0:16:55.773 out for the Wallabies. 0:16:56.053 --> 0:16:59.133 It was and it was a great atmosphere, amazing waterfront 0:16:59.213 --> 0:17:01.333 on the weekend. Part of me thinks that there might 0:17:01.373 --> 0:17:04.373 have been some sort of joint family trips where some 0:17:04.453 --> 0:17:06.053 members of the family went off to the rugby on 0:17:06.093 --> 0:17:08.333 the Saturday night and some members went to the World 0:17:08.373 --> 0:17:10.933 of Wearable Arts and made a weekend out of it 0:17:10.973 --> 0:17:13.693 with the family, and that contributed to a real sense 0:17:13.733 --> 0:17:16.373 of occasion around Wellington that things are actually happening in 0:17:16.413 --> 0:17:19.973 the city. A lot of All Blacks, Wallaby's jerseys around 0:17:20.093 --> 0:17:22.573 and families around on the weekend. It was a real 0:17:22.613 --> 0:17:24.973 sense of occasion for a Test match, which you don't 0:17:24.973 --> 0:17:28.253 often find, maybe outside of Dunedin, Hamilton and New Zealand. 0:17:28.253 --> 0:17:29.573 Some of the biggest cities. You just don't get that, 0:17:29.613 --> 0:17:30.893 but you did on Saturday. 0:17:30.693 --> 0:17:33.253 Yes, Sam Caine, noting it was the best he'd seen 0:17:33.253 --> 0:17:35.893 Wellington and he played a number of test matches there 0:17:35.933 --> 0:17:38.733 and it was really heartening to see locals come up 0:17:38.773 --> 0:17:41.253 and see you and say, oh, are you in the 0:17:41.653 --> 0:17:45.573 world of wearable arts? Because it's really admiring your outfits. 0:17:45.653 --> 0:17:47.493 Yeah, it was that Wellington Lines Jersey. You gave me 0:17:48.373 --> 0:17:50.813 right beat to Itale, What have you got for us live? Oh? 0:17:50.893 --> 0:17:52.613 Yeah, I've gone back and forth on this one, but 0:17:53.053 --> 0:17:56.933 I'm going to go with your disgust when I gave 0:17:56.973 --> 0:17:59.853 you a wee bloody Mary and the it was nice 0:17:59.853 --> 0:18:01.853 to you to take me on one of the clubs. 0:18:01.933 --> 0:18:06.053 I don't have a corded lounge membership, so Elliott took 0:18:06.093 --> 0:18:08.813 me along graciously and I've got him a blame Mary. 0:18:08.893 --> 0:18:12.693 After a couple of spruce and martinis with Oli Ritchie 0:18:12.733 --> 0:18:15.013 and the disgust on your face, Sally, I don't think 0:18:15.013 --> 0:18:17.733 I'll ever forget that, so I had to drink it myself. 0:18:17.813 --> 0:18:23.613 Unfortunately, tomato is for saucers, not for juice, and every 0:18:23.733 --> 0:18:30.133 time Lingam Napier gets one of them. It disgusts me quite. 0:18:29.973 --> 0:18:31.573 Frankly, still looking for a sponsorship. 0:18:31.893 --> 0:18:33.813 Yeah, well you can go and do your own podcast 0:18:33.853 --> 0:18:36.573 if you're going to do that. bestI Itali. Actually that 0:18:36.613 --> 0:18:38.093 might be my best one as well, because I just 0:18:38.093 --> 0:18:40.573 didn't have to drink tomato juice. It was a great 0:18:40.573 --> 0:18:44.253 couple of weeks though in Sydney and Wellington enjoyed we 0:18:44.413 --> 0:18:46.093 spot of at. 0:18:45.973 --> 0:18:47.853 Cujie Shout out to the Cujie Pavilion. 0:18:47.933 --> 0:18:49.693 Yeah, it was a good good wie spot. All right, 0:18:49.893 --> 0:18:53.773 serious matters grade the Rugby Championship for the All Blacks. 0:18:55.253 --> 0:18:56.813 I've gone back and forth on this one, as you 0:18:56.853 --> 0:18:59.733 know earlier. I'm a very harsh marker. I'm gonna go 0:18:59.813 --> 0:19:03.853 with a C plus, which I feel is quite generous, 0:19:05.133 --> 0:19:08.973 and that's on the back of what happened at the weekend. 0:19:09.053 --> 0:19:11.533 I think we've seen enough from this All Black team 0:19:12.533 --> 0:19:13.693 to suggest. 0:19:13.333 --> 0:19:16.373 That they're there, that they are close ish. 0:19:17.213 --> 0:19:21.533 But if you step back three and three, you lose 0:19:21.573 --> 0:19:25.213 the Rugby Championship title for the first time since twenty nineteen. 0:19:25.253 --> 0:19:28.213 You lose the Freedom Cup for the first time I 0:19:28.253 --> 0:19:30.533 think it was in fifteen years. You know, there's pittures 0:19:30.573 --> 0:19:33.493 going around the Springboks fully deserving, but they're on their 0:19:33.493 --> 0:19:36.493 team bus, look like they're having rum and coke, maybe 0:19:36.493 --> 0:19:42.533 some clippies branding drinking out of the Rugby Championship title, 0:19:42.613 --> 0:19:45.853 you know those a lot of those players have. That's 0:19:45.893 --> 0:19:49.293 the first time they've they've won that title. So I 0:19:49.333 --> 0:19:51.933 think you could say on balance it was a failure 0:19:51.973 --> 0:19:54.893 that the Rugby Championship from an All Black perspective. 0:19:54.733 --> 0:19:57.613 Yeah, I think you could rugby Championship when we ran 0:19:57.613 --> 0:19:59.173 in a couple of years. It's going to be dismandled. 0:20:00.213 --> 0:20:01.173 Don't worry about it. 0:20:01.213 --> 0:20:03.533 And look two years ago the All Blacks went one 0:20:03.533 --> 0:20:06.693 on one in South Africa. So I think the Springbok 0:20:06.733 --> 0:20:08.933 team is better. But I think I think we are 0:20:09.053 --> 0:20:11.453 right to demand excellence from this All Black team, as 0:20:11.493 --> 0:20:17.773 they do from themselves. We're right to demand more and 0:20:16.693 --> 0:20:22.493 it was it was just too inconsistent highs and lows, collapses, 0:20:23.173 --> 0:20:27.453 second half fades, discipline issues, So that gray would have 0:20:27.493 --> 0:20:29.733 been a lot worse had it not been for the weekend. 0:20:30.293 --> 0:20:32.893 Yeah. I was asked by Brian Kelly a similar question 0:20:32.893 --> 0:20:35.773 and I gave six out of ten six and a 0:20:35.773 --> 0:20:38.733 half out of ten for them in terms of a 0:20:38.853 --> 0:20:43.213 numerical number for the Rugby Championship. Promising signs, but a 0:20:43.253 --> 0:20:44.333