WEBVTT - Rugby Direct - Episode 142 0:00:09.133 --> 0:00:12.693 You're listening to a podcast from news Talks EDB. Follow 0:00:12.773 --> 0:00:16.173 this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio. 0:00:17.493 --> 0:00:21.773 Yet inside the game from every angle. It's Rugby Direct 0:00:21.973 --> 0:00:24.573 with Elliot Smith powered by news talks ITB. 0:00:24.813 --> 0:00:27.693 Welcome in to Rugby Direct powered by Fourklift Solutions, lifting 0:00:27.733 --> 0:00:30.613 you and your business to a high level. After a 0:00:30.653 --> 0:00:33.453 week where we were rested and rotated out of the 0:00:33.453 --> 0:00:36.613 podcast line up, Liam, we are back, refreshed and ready 0:00:36.653 --> 0:00:39.653 to go and there is plenty to dig into in 0:00:39.693 --> 0:00:44.133 the rugby world. As always, Greetings once again. 0:00:43.973 --> 0:00:48.493 Greetings, yes, and congratulations are in order for the elliotts 0:00:49.013 --> 0:00:53.333 Smith family. Yes, your sister a new addition to the world. 0:00:53.493 --> 0:00:57.333 Congratulations on being an uncle to young Imagen. So it 0:00:57.453 --> 0:01:00.293 must have been a special occasion and crush church very special. 0:01:00.413 --> 0:01:03.453 Yes, lovely to meet me Imagen and very very exciting 0:01:03.493 --> 0:01:05.693 times for us. So it's been a pretty special week. 0:01:05.773 --> 0:01:07.933 So good to having you podcast listener as well. I'm 0:01:07.933 --> 0:01:11.173 sure it's Jesus to get them young and on the 0:01:11.213 --> 0:01:12.573 podcast train with rag the Direct. 0:01:12.653 --> 0:01:17.413 Look, there's Rugby Direct fans mini populated out in the community. 0:01:17.453 --> 0:01:20.813 I was at a birthday party over the weekend Japanese theme. 0:01:21.533 --> 0:01:25.973 There were summer wrestling Tipanyaki and met some fans of 0:01:25.973 --> 0:01:30.693 the Pods. Shout out to Miles Andrews. Unfortunately he's another 0:01:30.773 --> 0:01:36.373 christ Church bloke. He attended the Razor did a fundraiser 0:01:36.733 --> 0:01:40.093 at the Summer Rugby Club which she attended and turned 0:01:40.133 --> 0:01:43.053 up to this party as a karate kid and we 0:01:43.213 --> 0:01:45.253 just happened to be in the same outfit and he 0:01:45.333 --> 0:01:48.013 was telling me what a fan is of the Pod, So, oh, 0:01:48.053 --> 0:01:51.693 they just can't get away from it, mate, There's fans everywhere. 0:01:51.773 --> 0:01:55.413 Yeah, I believe Scott Robinson did do that thing in Sumner. 0:01:55.533 --> 0:01:59.093 A good friend of mine, Daniel Bell, was doing them singh. 0:01:59.133 --> 0:02:01.213 So I'm intrigued to hear what raisors thoughts were on that. 0:02:01.333 --> 0:02:04.413 But well, a week you going out, Razor selected his 0:02:06.213 --> 0:02:07.933 all Blacks and all Blacks of Fiends squads and a 0:02:07.933 --> 0:02:10.893 little bit from his selectors and clad McMillan in the 0:02:11.213 --> 0:02:14.733 as well. I guess it's been a week you've had 0:02:14.773 --> 0:02:16.733 the chance to let it soak him. What were the 0:02:16.773 --> 0:02:18.653 takeaways for you from that all black squad? 0:02:19.453 --> 0:02:24.093 Well, I guess probably one of the most predictable Northern 0:02:24.093 --> 0:02:26.613 tour squads in history. There weren't a lot of headline 0:02:26.653 --> 0:02:29.933 takeaways were there. Cam Ruga great to see him back 0:02:30.093 --> 0:02:34.613 and well first of all to come back and what 0:02:34.693 --> 0:02:37.053 an impression he's made straight off the back. Came off 0:02:37.093 --> 0:02:40.293 the bench for Counties, scored two tries, one with a 0:02:40.373 --> 0:02:45.133 trademark dummy and then started last weekend and Wellington as 0:02:45.573 --> 0:02:49.253 Counties lost their quarter final. So the one change to 0:02:49.613 --> 0:02:54.493 the squads, I. 0:02:52.853 --> 0:02:55.413 Wrote something for the Heralds last week. 0:02:56.133 --> 0:03:01.493 My hope was that that squad would be more picked 0:03:01.573 --> 0:03:08.493 with developments, not necessarily front and center, but more more 0:03:08.573 --> 0:03:12.773 of casting ahead to the future. Guys like Peter Luckeye 0:03:12.773 --> 0:03:17.053 I wanted to see in that squads. No hope them 0:03:17.053 --> 0:03:19.493 I would have had in there over TJ. Peanara, but 0:03:19.973 --> 0:03:23.493 Rays has been very consistent and conservative for me in 0:03:23.573 --> 0:03:28.573 terms of maintaining that level of experience and carrying guys 0:03:28.813 --> 0:03:32.053 as long as he wants, and I guess it probably 0:03:32.053 --> 0:03:34.693 reflects that he's feeling the heat that doesn't he because 0:03:34.893 --> 0:03:36.693 it is going to be a very grueling stretch this 0:03:36.733 --> 0:03:43.293 India tour, the England's, France and Ireland those three tests 0:03:43.333 --> 0:03:46.773 and fifteen days currently six and three, so there's no 0:03:46.893 --> 0:03:49.333 regal room in terms of results, and for me, that 0:03:49.413 --> 0:03:52.093 squad really did reflect the fact he's feeling that the 0:03:52.133 --> 0:03:54.053 heats in his first year as head coached. 0:03:54.053 --> 0:03:55.853 Well, I don't think he feels he's got the rope 0:03:56.053 --> 0:03:58.213 to be able to bring out at Peter Luckeye, or 0:03:58.253 --> 0:04:00.573 to be able to bring in some younger players and 0:04:00.613 --> 0:04:02.373 get them on the road to twenty twenty seven. It's 0:04:02.373 --> 0:04:05.733 focused on the here and now and winning these test matches. 0:04:05.773 --> 0:04:07.933 And you know, we'll probably touch on it a wee 0:04:07.933 --> 0:04:11.853 bit later. But the French, with the sounding that they 0:04:11.853 --> 0:04:14.333 won't send a top squad down to New Zealand next year, 0:04:14.333 --> 0:04:16.493 perhaps gives them the opportunity to bring in some of 0:04:16.493 --> 0:04:19.973 those players next year, perhaps earlier than they may have considered. 0:04:20.013 --> 0:04:22.893 So maybe they're sort of balancing those two things out. 0:04:22.893 --> 0:04:25.693 But I just don't think there's the rope there to 0:04:25.733 --> 0:04:29.093 be tinkering with too many selections. And I think you're right, 0:04:29.093 --> 0:04:31.253 there is the pressure that comes with the All Blacks 0:04:31.293 --> 0:04:34.733 job and the pressure that with having three losses already 0:04:34.733 --> 0:04:39.333 in this tenure is feeling. So I don't think it 0:04:39.373 --> 0:04:42.293 was a surprise that there weren't many changes. Peter luck 0:04:42.333 --> 0:04:45.013 I said, a good season for Wellington before that the Hurricanes. 0:04:45.053 --> 0:04:46.893 He could have been a player that comes in, but 0:04:46.933 --> 0:04:48.933 I just don't think there was too much room to 0:04:48.973 --> 0:04:50.733 bring in too many other players. And that's where I 0:04:50.733 --> 0:04:52.653 suppose you look at the All Blacks fifteen and go, well, 0:04:52.693 --> 0:04:54.933 if there's injuries, these are the players that are going 0:04:54.973 --> 0:04:58.333 to be called in, and the All Blacks fifteen squad 0:04:58.333 --> 0:05:00.053 with a wee bit of a nod to the future, 0:05:00.093 --> 0:05:03.573 but at times also a look back as well. You know, 0:05:03.613 --> 0:05:06.373 Ricky Ricketteally is somehow not in the top six hookers 0:05:06.813 --> 0:05:09.573 in the country, which is stagger and you go, okay, well, 0:05:09.573 --> 0:05:11.293 maybe they're looking to the future. But then Kurt Eckland, 0:05:11.333 --> 0:05:14.453 who's older than Rocky Rittelly, is in the squad. They 0:05:14.573 --> 0:05:17.453 gone with you. Bridie McCallister out of the Crusader's Bradley 0:05:17.493 --> 0:05:21.093 Slater out of Tartanaki, Rocky Rocketell he's Taranaki teammate as well, 0:05:21.173 --> 0:05:24.653 So there are some eyebrow raising selections there as well. 0:05:24.653 --> 0:05:28.293 But if you're Ricky Ricottelly, you're probably going, well, how 0:05:28.333 --> 0:05:29.733 am I not in the top six sockers in the 0:05:29.773 --> 0:05:32.093 country when I started for the Super Rugby Champions. 0:05:32.693 --> 0:05:33.013 That's it. 0:05:33.173 --> 0:05:37.213 And Eklund on the bench for the whole of the 0:05:37.453 --> 0:05:40.733 Blues championship. The Blues lineout was by far and away 0:05:40.853 --> 0:05:42.693 the best in the competition. I think it was eighty 0:05:42.773 --> 0:05:47.333 nine percent this year. You know, he's not a damaging 0:05:47.373 --> 0:05:50.893 ball carrier by any stretcher, Ricktell. He probably lacks a 0:05:50.893 --> 0:05:54.333 bit of punch with ball in hands, but he's busy. 0:05:54.573 --> 0:05:56.973 His lineout throwing is very effective, and that is an 0:05:57.013 --> 0:06:00.653 area of concern for the All Blacks. Behind Cody Taylor, 0:06:01.053 --> 0:06:08.573 George Bell and Asafa Armore not noted lineout throwers, and 0:06:09.573 --> 0:06:13.213 yeah behind them, I think Bradley Slater deputizes for Rica 0:06:13.293 --> 0:06:17.893 Telly in Tartanucky, so that was one very perplexing selection. 0:06:18.133 --> 0:06:20.213 Other guys that are unlucky to miss the cat Braden 0:06:20.293 --> 0:06:23.693 Yossi very good for the Hurricanes this year and has 0:06:23.693 --> 0:06:27.973 performed well for a struggling mun Or two falal Fuckatava. 0:06:28.013 --> 0:06:31.693 The aor Blecks fifteen only have two half backs. He's 0:06:31.813 --> 0:06:33.773 gone backwards in quite a big way, but I thought 0:06:34.053 --> 0:06:37.093 has actually performed quite well for Hawk's Bay this year 0:06:37.173 --> 0:06:40.333 and then the midfield to a degree as well. Daniel 0:06:40.413 --> 0:06:44.853 Rohn has been very good for Taranuki but look, I 0:06:44.893 --> 0:06:48.453 think it's fair to say that the All Blacks coaching 0:06:48.453 --> 0:06:52.413 team raiser largely packed the All Blacks fifteen, and that's 0:06:52.453 --> 0:06:55.533 what you'd expect, And I am intrigued to see how 0:06:57.453 --> 0:07:01.493 those squads interact, how many players shift in between those 0:07:01.533 --> 0:07:05.733 two teams, and probably what effect that has on the 0:07:05.813 --> 0:07:08.893 or Blecks fifteen more than anything, because the All Blacks 0:07:08.893 --> 0:07:11.893 of name thirty six players coming and going can be 0:07:11.933 --> 0:07:14.333 a bit destabilizing, particularly when you're only going to be 0:07:14.933 --> 0:07:17.733 in You're only playing two matches with the All Blacks fifteen. 0:07:18.773 --> 0:07:20.893 So just how many of those players go to Japan 0:07:21.773 --> 0:07:24.453 and get mixed and match throughout that tour. 0:07:24.973 --> 0:07:28.693 Yeah, indeed, that's the interesting thing. And what chances they get. 0:07:28.733 --> 0:07:31.813 It's obviously only two games, so you'd suspect that everyone's 0:07:31.813 --> 0:07:33.973 probably going to get one start. Maybe if you look 0:07:34.013 --> 0:07:36.733 at that, perhaps apart from the props and hookers in 0:07:36.733 --> 0:07:39.053 front rows, they're probably likely to mix and match some 0:07:39.093 --> 0:07:42.293 of those selections for the Monster game and the Georgia game. 0:07:43.013 --> 0:07:46.013 No Jacob brother my Tovurki Neepkins question whether he would 0:07:46.053 --> 0:07:47.933 have hopefully been there. I think he's been very very 0:07:47.933 --> 0:07:51.453 good for Taranaki this year before he suffered that neck injury, 0:07:51.453 --> 0:07:55.533 which sounds pretty serious and lucky it was caught as 0:07:55.573 --> 0:07:58.653 well by the doctors. After that ran fairly shield challenge 0:07:58.653 --> 0:08:01.213 against Tasman the week prior. He missed out on the squad, 0:08:01.253 --> 0:08:03.053 but we don't know whether he would have been in there, 0:08:03.413 --> 0:08:06.573 Shawn Stevenson. The drums are beating. It's you know, a 0:08:06.573 --> 0:08:08.333 lot of rumors going around at the moment that he's 0:08:08.373 --> 0:08:12.173 Warriors bound in twenty twenty five. This could be his 0:08:12.293 --> 0:08:15.333 last hourrah in rugby union as well. Nothing confirmed on 0:08:15.373 --> 0:08:18.533 that front as well, But it's an intriguing squad because 0:08:18.573 --> 0:08:20.533 the mixed match of players of youth I said before, 0:08:20.573 --> 0:08:22.613 but also some of those players that have been in 0:08:22.653 --> 0:08:24.773 the All Blacks in modern adawa and then come out 0:08:24.773 --> 0:08:29.533 of it again, you know Dallas McLeod in last year 0:08:30.093 --> 0:08:34.973 out again. So Brandon also can consider himself very very unlucky. 0:08:35.773 --> 0:08:37.653 But there is a lot of depth at loose Ford 0:08:38.773 --> 0:08:42.333 at the moment as a whole, not necessarily in specific jusies, 0:08:42.333 --> 0:08:44.373 but I think if you go look at the loose 0:08:44.413 --> 0:08:46.653 Ford stocks that are pretty deep in New Zealand rugby 0:08:46.653 --> 0:08:48.173 at the moment, and some of that Braden you'll say 0:08:48.293 --> 0:08:51.653 has missed out in Hoskin. So Tutu, who I don't know, 0:08:51.733 --> 0:08:53.853 has actually had a great MPC. In all honesty is 0:08:54.173 --> 0:08:55.853 has made the cart and you know there's a lot 0:08:55.853 --> 0:08:56.813 of questions around that too. 0:08:57.413 --> 0:08:58.493 Yeah, Hoskins too. 0:08:59.013 --> 0:09:01.813 A lot of talk about him, isn't there with a 0:09:01.893 --> 0:09:06.373 kid at Iwana putting up his Instagram posts saying basically 0:09:06.413 --> 0:09:10.173 should deflict to England's and look that the avenue is 0:09:10.213 --> 0:09:12.013 open to him. He hasn't played for the All Blacks 0:09:12.013 --> 0:09:16.373 now for what two years, and so could very well 0:09:16.413 --> 0:09:20.093 be eligible for England or feed you down the line. 0:09:20.973 --> 0:09:22.613 Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure the 0:09:22.613 --> 0:09:25.533 All Blacks fifteen is not a capture team now, so 0:09:25.693 --> 0:09:31.493 it doesn't affect his eligibility. It's a wee bit of 0:09:31.533 --> 0:09:33.813 a step forward for Hoskins making this team because he 0:09:33.853 --> 0:09:39.053 didn't last year the All Blacks fifteen. But I really 0:09:39.093 --> 0:09:42.453 don't see him cracking that All Blacks team anytime soon. 0:09:43.053 --> 0:09:47.373 From the conversations I've had behind the scenes, I think 0:09:47.373 --> 0:09:50.493 they the All Blecks haven't been impressed like you with 0:09:50.613 --> 0:09:54.533 what he's done during the NPC, and they wanted to 0:09:54.573 --> 0:09:57.813 see more of the feedback around what he does off 0:09:57.853 --> 0:10:01.813 the ball has worked great despite being the Super Rugby 0:10:01.893 --> 0:10:05.613 MVP this year. So a step forward and making this team, 0:10:05.613 --> 0:10:07.293 but I don't think it's going to enough be enough 0:10:07.333 --> 0:10:10.173 to keep him and his on rugby. Just a couple 0:10:10.173 --> 0:10:15.613 of other quick points there. Kenny Naholo really rewarded for form. 0:10:15.453 --> 0:10:19.213 He's been in great touch for Tartanuki, very consistent, strong 0:10:19.253 --> 0:10:23.333 over the ball, big presence in the finishing department and 0:10:23.413 --> 0:10:27.173 Josh Jacob very much the future at number ten. 0:10:27.493 --> 0:10:28.933 He is tough man. 0:10:29.093 --> 0:10:33.413 He took so much punishment at the weekend for Tartanuki 0:10:34.013 --> 0:10:36.933 when they went down Ta Wakato in their quarter final. 0:10:37.173 --> 0:10:38.493 Was battered, he was bloodied. 0:10:38.853 --> 0:10:42.693 He challenges the line and he's probably gone up or 0:10:42.733 --> 0:10:48.213 rung with Bret Cameron's injury. Potentially but very interesting prospect. 0:10:48.293 --> 0:10:51.573 Josh Jacob. My understanding was the Crusaders approached him and 0:10:51.573 --> 0:10:57.333 he turned them down, which is interesting because he you'd 0:10:57.333 --> 0:10:59.413 think he would have gone straight in to start there. 0:10:59.893 --> 0:11:03.813 Yeah. Absolutely the talent that he shone last year in 0:11:03.853 --> 0:11:06.173 the NBC in twenty twenty three, but then has built 0:11:06.173 --> 0:11:08.653 on that in twenty twenty four. I guess the big 0:11:08.733 --> 0:11:11.653 challenge it's a big step up from in PC. Didn't 0:11:11.653 --> 0:11:14.133 get a lot of opportunities at super rugby level this year, 0:11:14.933 --> 0:11:17.253 but to go to attract the All Blacks League this 0:11:17.293 --> 0:11:19.933 election on basically on the basis of MPC form and 0:11:19.973 --> 0:11:21.573 go right, we want to see you in an All 0:11:21.573 --> 0:11:24.693 Blacks fifteen environment playing months to playing Georgia, I think 0:11:24.773 --> 0:11:27.693 is a big statement about where they see him and 0:11:28.133 --> 0:11:30.773 what kind of path they see potentially for him in 0:11:31.413 --> 0:11:33.773 higher honors. The question I was, as you said, turn 0:11:33.813 --> 0:11:38.253 down the Crusaders, he's at the Chiefs. How much game 0:11:38.253 --> 0:11:41.093 time are you going to get behind Damian McKenzie in 0:11:41.133 --> 0:11:44.653 twenty twenty five. That's the real question because he could 0:11:44.693 --> 0:11:49.453 just be relegated to the bench again unless they change 0:11:49.493 --> 0:11:52.093 things around and Clayton Millan, who's going to be coaching him, 0:11:52.093 --> 0:11:53.933 and there's All Blacks fifteen and goes all right, well 0:11:54.173 --> 0:11:57.893 Damien you're back to fifteen and Josh Jacom you're playing ten. 0:11:58.573 --> 0:12:00.853 It was a very interesting scenario. We're going to touch 0:12:00.893 --> 0:12:05.893 on a later around Brick Cameron. But the New Zealand 0:12:05.933 --> 0:12:12.173 first five eight stocks compressed and two franchises, the Chiefs 0:12:12.173 --> 0:12:15.773 and the Blues. So the Chiefs have McKenzie. Caleb Trusk 0:12:15.853 --> 0:12:19.093 has come back playing well for the plenty of this 0:12:19.213 --> 0:12:22.933 year and Josh Jacob so he's by no means Jacob 0:12:22.933 --> 0:12:26.093 A Locke as the even the secondary playmaker at the Chiefs. 0:12:26.533 --> 0:12:30.613 But I don't know, I knows the young father, so 0:12:30.693 --> 0:12:32.253 maybe that played into his thinking in. 0:12:32.293 --> 0:12:33.773 Terms of he's got a second on the wor I 0:12:33.773 --> 0:12:34.413 think as well. 0:12:34.333 --> 0:12:38.133 Being close to home and the neck and it is 0:12:38.133 --> 0:12:40.893 a great story. He's a guy that's genuinely emerged from 0:12:40.893 --> 0:12:44.053 grass roots. He could have gone to taking a chance, 0:12:44.133 --> 0:12:46.973 gone to christ Church as a starting playmaker. But as 0:12:47.013 --> 0:12:51.373 we've discussed on this pod many times, Richie Muonger odds 0:12:51.413 --> 0:12:54.733 on to potentially come home potentially for the All Blacks 0:12:54.733 --> 0:12:55.573 next year, maybe. 0:12:55.413 --> 0:12:56.613 The Crusaders the year after. 0:12:57.493 --> 0:13:02.653 Where does that lead McKenzie unsure so, but from if 0:13:02.693 --> 0:13:04.653 you take a step back from a wider context than 0:13:04.693 --> 0:13:09.453 Super Rugby, the Blues, Stephen Peterfeitzter, Harry plum Boden, Barrett's 0:13:09.893 --> 0:13:12.613 Zan Sullivan, they are stacked and so are the Chiefs 0:13:12.653 --> 0:13:16.373 and the Crusaders. Hilanders and Canes are scrapping for playmakers. 0:13:16.413 --> 0:13:20.053 So everyone would love to get their hands on Josh Jacob. 0:13:20.133 --> 0:13:23.373 In an ideal scenario, you'd have them spread out across 0:13:23.373 --> 0:13:26.253 the five franchises and they're playing off every week against 0:13:26.293 --> 0:13:28.133 each other. I mean, the Crusaders are in back the 0:13:28.173 --> 0:13:32.373 time they had Mertons and Major and Carter and whoever else, 0:13:32.413 --> 0:13:34.253 stayed about five of them and they're all playing various 0:13:34.253 --> 0:13:35.213 positions in the back line. 0:13:35.253 --> 0:13:37.853 Come off the bench coinslated to go to the Landers. 0:13:38.373 --> 0:13:42.133 Yeah. So, I mean it's happened before. You'd love to 0:13:42.133 --> 0:13:44.133 see it perhaps spread around it and then you genuinely 0:13:44.133 --> 0:13:47.013 get to see those players. I mean of draft format 0:13:47.093 --> 0:13:50.813 or something similar might enable that, but it's not the 0:13:51.293 --> 0:13:52.693 contract system we have at the moment. 0:13:53.053 --> 0:13:53.213 Yeah. 0:13:53.253 --> 0:13:56.613 I think it's probably time we had a conversation about 0:13:56.653 --> 0:14:00.653 a genuine super rugby salary cap, because there is one, 0:14:01.013 --> 0:14:06.613 but it is deemed irrelevant when teams like the Blues 0:14:06.733 --> 0:14:10.213 have such superior finance backing and they can put massive 0:14:10.893 --> 0:14:15.173 third party payment options in front of players that distort 0:14:15.253 --> 0:14:20.373 things massively and leave other franchises they can't compete. So 0:14:20.653 --> 0:14:25.373 the NRL that as a real success that the talent 0:14:25.453 --> 0:14:28.053 has to spread. You look at the Panthers, they won 0:14:28.093 --> 0:14:32.733 a title and every year some of their biggest superstars 0:14:32.733 --> 0:14:35.493 have to go elsewhere because they can't allfer under the cap. 0:14:35.573 --> 0:14:40.053 Jerome Leuey is going next year, so super raguey salary 0:14:40.053 --> 0:14:44.573 cap doesn't really work. And until that is looked at, 0:14:44.813 --> 0:14:48.453 you are going to have these pockets of depth within 0:14:48.493 --> 0:14:50.653 the franchises and other ones missing out. 0:14:50.813 --> 0:14:53.693 Yeah, to be honest, I think they should go back 0:14:53.693 --> 0:14:56.493 to the days of the protected draft where you and 0:14:56.533 --> 0:14:58.933 it's different now because it doesn't feed in from the 0:14:58.933 --> 0:15:01.733 provincial unions like they used to, but you could protect 0:15:01.933 --> 0:15:06.133 x number of players from your provincial catchment area and 0:15:06.173 --> 0:15:08.333 then all those other players went back into a pool 0:15:08.933 --> 0:15:12.293 and could be moved out to the other five franchises, 0:15:12.333 --> 0:15:15.133 and the squads are bigger now. The contracting systems different. 0:15:15.173 --> 0:15:17.933 You're contracted directly via the Super Ugby franchises, not the 0:15:17.933 --> 0:15:23.373 provincial unions. But that would level the playing field quite considerable. 0:15:23.413 --> 0:15:25.893 If you could, say, protect twenty eight players from your 0:15:26.893 --> 0:15:30.173 catchment area or whatever it might be, and then everyone 0:15:30.213 --> 0:15:31.933 else is up for grabs. That would make some tricky 0:15:31.973 --> 0:15:35.213 decisions and it would mean players would be more likely 0:15:35.253 --> 0:15:37.493 to move around for opportunities. But again, this is not 0:15:37.493 --> 0:15:40.693 the contracting system we have and it's not the world 0:15:40.693 --> 0:15:41.893 we live in twenty twenty four. 0:15:42.413 --> 0:15:42.893 No it's not. 0:15:43.093 --> 0:15:46.813 But things change and we have to get the new 0:15:46.813 --> 0:15:49.573 Super Rugby boss on closer to the season and put 0:15:49.573 --> 0:15:50.253 them under the girl. 0:15:50.253 --> 0:15:51.853 I used to love the draft and finding out who 0:15:51.933 --> 0:15:54.653 had gone where, and you know whiching PC players had 0:15:54.653 --> 0:15:58.013 suddenly moved to various other parts of the country. Right, 0:15:58.093 --> 0:15:59.773 let's move on. We'll get to the NPC shortly. But 0:15:59.813 --> 0:16:03.453 the Black Ferns have finished their campaign for season twenty 0:16:03.533 --> 0:16:06.693 twenty four w XV with a winover France off the 0:16:06.733 --> 0:16:09.693 back of a lost to England, lost to Ireland and 0:16:09.773 --> 0:16:12.973 the WXV then a prior loss to England at Twickenham 0:16:13.573 --> 0:16:16.493 as well a good win to end the season. Again. 0:16:16.493 --> 0:16:18.413 It's a tough French team that had won five of 0:16:18.493 --> 0:16:22.293 the last six against New Zealand. But I guess there's 0:16:22.333 --> 0:16:24.453 a lot of questions around this team where they are 0:16:24.493 --> 0:16:26.573 at ten months out from a Rugby World Cup in 0:16:26.653 --> 0:16:28.933 England next year. Now, England were pushed pretty hard by 0:16:28.973 --> 0:16:31.293 Canada and that final yesterday and Canada had to lead 0:16:31.853 --> 0:16:34.693 in the second spell. But I think on most days 0:16:34.853 --> 0:16:37.613 England's to be honest, fifteen to twenty points better than 0:16:37.613 --> 0:16:39.773 most other teams in world rugby at the moment and 0:16:39.813 --> 0:16:42.853 women's rugby, but still New Zealand need to close that 0:16:42.933 --> 0:16:45.093 gap if it all possible to mount our World Cup 0:16:45.133 --> 0:16:46.813 surge for next year. So what have you seen out 0:16:46.813 --> 0:16:49.853 of the Black Funds, out of this tournament and where 0:16:49.853 --> 0:16:51.533 do you think they're at ten months out from next 0:16:51.573 --> 0:16:52.253 year's World Cup. 0:16:52.973 --> 0:16:57.493 It's a tricky question that I think this tournaments is 0:16:57.533 --> 0:16:59.533 a line in the sand about where they are and 0:16:59.573 --> 0:17:04.533 it has been a disappointment. It was good finish the 0:17:04.573 --> 0:17:06.573 second half in particular, they came over the top of 0:17:06.573 --> 0:17:08.213 the French and rarely put them to the So. 0:17:09.813 --> 0:17:11.453 They are very committed to. 0:17:13.013 --> 0:17:16.533 The Wayne Smith type blueprint of using the ball attacking 0:17:16.893 --> 0:17:18.773 and that comes with a lot of risk and reward. 0:17:18.893 --> 0:17:21.053 I think they can score a lot of points, but 0:17:21.853 --> 0:17:24.373 defensively there are some real concerns there. I think they 0:17:24.493 --> 0:17:28.413 conceded was it seven tries against England and you're never 0:17:28.453 --> 0:17:31.253 going to win a Test match conceding that many points, 0:17:31.293 --> 0:17:34.453 so that's one massive area of improvement. I think they 0:17:34.453 --> 0:17:39.093 finished fourth with a one one to win two loss record, 0:17:39.613 --> 0:17:42.573 lost to Ireland for the first time, who improved massively, 0:17:43.133 --> 0:17:48.573 so women's rugby on the whole was probably getting more competitive. 0:17:49.053 --> 0:17:53.133 Ireland the big movers there Canada, as you mentioned, pushed 0:17:53.173 --> 0:17:57.733 England who have won I think twenty games in succession now, 0:17:58.653 --> 0:18:02.373 so they are the standard bearers. But it's a massive 0:18:02.413 --> 0:18:06.453 challenge for the Black Ferns to improve now because I 0:18:06.493 --> 0:18:11.093 think they did improve and this level of opposition is 0:18:11.573 --> 0:18:15.253 so important and their lead into the World Cup now 0:18:15.533 --> 0:18:19.453 is you don't get that same quality of opponents. They 0:18:19.453 --> 0:18:22.133 come back, they play alpacky and then I think it's 0:18:22.133 --> 0:18:27.253 into the pack for and really your strongest competition there 0:18:27.373 --> 0:18:30.133 is Canada. And so you're not going to play England 0:18:30.133 --> 0:18:31.893 again before the World Cup, You're not going to play 0:18:31.933 --> 0:18:34.053 France who probably come back to the pack a bit. 0:18:35.013 --> 0:18:38.253 And so how much are they going to improve in 0:18:38.333 --> 0:18:39.293 that next ten months. 0:18:39.493 --> 0:18:42.253 There's not a lot of time is there they'll play 0:18:42.293 --> 0:18:44.933 obviously you'd think of Lauri or Rder. Game's Australia who 0:18:45.213 --> 0:18:49.613 have improved. Actually they won WX two and look to 0:18:49.613 --> 0:18:52.893 be improving under their coach Joe Yap but there's still 0:18:52.973 --> 0:18:55.173 you would think a big gulf between New Zealand and Australia. 0:18:55.213 --> 0:18:58.133 Having never lost to the Willa Rus I think there's 0:18:58.133 --> 0:19:01.173 still some selection issues around this team. They don't quite 0:19:01.213 --> 0:19:04.253 know the best mix in crucial positions or big best 0:19:04.293 --> 0:19:07.493 selections in crucial positions. I thought that the Atana will 0:19:07.533 --> 0:19:11.333 hire a half back. Yesterday was very very good. My 0:19:11.533 --> 0:19:14.173 Joseph struggled a little bit against the preciure that England 0:19:14.213 --> 0:19:17.453 and Ireland put on her in consecutive weeks. I'm not 0:19:17.573 --> 0:19:20.413 sold on Hannah King as a test number ten. You've 0:19:20.413 --> 0:19:22.053 got the world former World Player of the Year, really 0:19:22.093 --> 0:19:26.053 heye demand playing twelve. I'd move her into ten. There's 0:19:26.213 --> 0:19:28.213 you know, some other players around midfield that you could 0:19:28.253 --> 0:19:31.413 change around Amy to see, hopefully back from concussion and 0:19:33.053 --> 0:19:35.013 some other tweaks. The I's don't think they've got that 0:19:35.253 --> 0:19:39.453 right playmaking max nineteen and twelve at the moment to 0:19:39.493 --> 0:19:42.533 be able to attack wings. Very very good. Caitlin Vahaklos 0:19:42.573 --> 0:19:44.493 had a storming season a shea letier and great to 0:19:44.493 --> 0:19:47.373 see her back loose. Forwards I think are up there 0:19:47.373 --> 0:19:49.013 with some of the best in the world. Very very 0:19:49.053 --> 0:19:53.893 fast attacking players. Front row not too bad. Would be 0:19:53.893 --> 0:19:55.653 better to have some more depth in the props. I 0:19:55.693 --> 0:19:58.693 think so there are, but there are key positions and 0:19:58.693 --> 0:20:00.293 I think it's if you can sort out that nineteen 0:20:00.373 --> 0:20:03.493 and twelve and get confidence in your playmaking access around 0:20:03.533 --> 0:20:06.733 that point in the game, then they'll take another step forward. 0:20:06.773 --> 0:20:09.213 But I think that op key competition is canna be 0:20:09.293 --> 0:20:10.333 very very interesting around that. 0:20:11.053 --> 0:20:12.173 Yes, it's a great point. 0:20:12.453 --> 0:20:15.493 The inexperience in the halves isn't it's it's such a 0:20:15.493 --> 0:20:19.253 massive step up from Alpaky to the test arena, particularly 0:20:19.293 --> 0:20:23.573 against the lights of England and Canada, and you only 0:20:23.653 --> 0:20:27.053 learn by doing, and so that those will be valuable experiences. 0:20:27.053 --> 0:20:31.293 But yeah, ro had to demand still hugely influential from twelve. 0:20:31.533 --> 0:20:37.293 Sylvia Brunt just absolutely exceptional talent. Saw somebody call her 0:20:37.493 --> 0:20:39.573 you know, you don't have to make comparisons, but people 0:20:39.853 --> 0:20:42.453 do ineably do that, you know, the mananu of the 0:20:42.853 --> 0:20:46.813 of the of the woman's game. She's a phenomenal talent. 0:20:46.853 --> 0:20:51.253 I was still only in her early twenties. But you're right, 0:20:51.333 --> 0:20:53.813 they need to sort out that halves access and probably 0:20:53.893 --> 0:20:56.773 commit to a couple of players pick and stick, give 0:20:56.813 --> 0:21:01.533 them the next ten months to develop, because so important 0:21:01.573 --> 0:21:03.133 to get those that access right. 0:21:03.333 --> 0:21:06.533 And certainly is and Opaky forms a very very interesting 0:21:06.573 --> 0:21:09.253 part of the selections next year as well. With that 0:21:09.413 --> 0:21:13.813 on the line NPC semifinals sets and a couple of upsets. 0:21:14.293 --> 0:21:19.293 How good Canterbury back from the deads two weeks ago 0:21:19.933 --> 0:21:25.973 lost to Harbor by sixty points. Now out revenge on 0:21:26.133 --> 0:21:29.653 little brother Tasman. How good is that with a very 0:21:29.653 --> 0:21:33.253 good performance from Canterbury. Didn't see it coming, thought they 0:21:33.293 --> 0:21:35.253 might have been able to get the wind just given 0:21:36.493 --> 0:21:39.173 Tasman's got a few injuries. Even black Head are out injured, 0:21:39.213 --> 0:21:42.413 so questioned there around the All Blacks for him potentially 0:21:42.413 --> 0:21:45.293 in the Crusaders. Canterbury had some players back from the 0:21:45.333 --> 0:21:48.533 Crusaders but also from the All Blacks as well, so 0:21:48.653 --> 0:21:51.573