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Speaker 1: You're listening to a podcast from news Talks ed B.

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Speaker 1: Follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.

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Speaker 1: Inside the Game from Every angle. It's Rugby Direct with

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Speaker 1: Elliott Smith, powered by news Talks EDB.

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Speaker 2: Welcome into Rugby Direct powered by Habit Health tankling all

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Speaker 2: your aches and pains from sport and work back for

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Speaker 2: another week of Rugby Direct. And we welcome back from

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Speaker 2: the Kingdom, Liam Napier, It's a Rugby Direct.

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Speaker 3: Greetings readings, Elliot, great to be here, Great to be back.

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Speaker 2: Getting sponsorship while you're over there, aram Co coming on board.

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Speaker 2: Will we you know, live live Rugby directsclorring to it.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, it's fair to say the feelers are out a

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Speaker 3: lot of interest rugby and Saudi is on the rise,

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Speaker 3: and the oil tycoons are circling.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, Rugby Directs are not immune to that. We're more

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Speaker 2: than happy to sell our souls.

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Speaker 1: Right.

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Speaker 2: Let's refer to the weekend that was in Rugby Super

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Speaker 2: Rugby specifically and another intriguing weekend Liam. I guess, just

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Speaker 2: an overall perspective, we've had fifteen games down this comp

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Speaker 2: and there's been no real blowouts, no terrible games, so far,

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Speaker 2: which is a remarkable run really given where we're at

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Speaker 2: have been at in this competition. Just the standard and

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Speaker 2: the closeness of the games has been very very good.

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Speaker 3: Once again it has, and that's what this competition needs.

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Speaker 3: I think the only game at the weekend that was

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Speaker 3: more than five odd points was the Chief Sprumbies. And

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Speaker 3: it is early doors. You don't want to make too

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Speaker 3: many sweeping generalizations, but it does seem like the Australian

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Speaker 3: teams are more competitive, which is what we'd everyone had

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Speaker 3: hopes with the demise of the Rebels, and I guess

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Speaker 3: a real evening out of the New Zealand teams as

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Speaker 3: well with the Highland has been more competitive, the Blues

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Speaker 3: coming back to the pack, the Chiefs raising their standards

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Speaker 3: and the Hurricanes sort of struggling a wee bit.

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Speaker 4: So that's what super Bragby needs.

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Speaker 3: We need to see type competitive games, upsets. The only

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Speaker 3: I guess negative I would say was, you know, it's

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Speaker 3: a great spectacle. This defense is a weebird option all

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Speaker 3: at times, or maybe not of a certainly test standard,

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Speaker 3: but it's been a great watch and the finishers in games.

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Speaker 3: These games are being decided in the last couple of minutes,

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Speaker 3: which is great for spectators.

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Speaker 4: I do wonder if the.

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Speaker 2: Scores might settle down a little bit as it gets

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Speaker 2: a bit colder into March and April. I think fatigue

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Speaker 2: and heat taking a role in the opening two or

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Speaker 2: three weeks hot it as an Australian parts in New

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Speaker 2: Zealand a for you daytime or late kickoffs sort late

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Speaker 2: afternoon kickoffs that are maybe contributing to that. It's kind

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Speaker 2: of interesting to see if that settles down. Let's go

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Speaker 2: first to Saturday night and it was the Blues thirty

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Speaker 2: three over the Hurricanes twenty nine.

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Speaker 4: A game that was in.

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Speaker 2: The balance for a lot of it, but you know,

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Speaker 2: the stars rise to the big occasion. Mark Talia did

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Speaker 2: just that right at the very end or ten minutes

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Speaker 2: to go and put his side back in front. But again,

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Speaker 2: this was a game that we could have seen the

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Speaker 2: Blues go oh in three. They were just as smidge

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Speaker 2: better on the night. What did you make of it?

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Speaker 3: Yeah, look, I wouldn't be getting too carried away if

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Speaker 3: I was the Blues. When you look at that Hurricanes team,

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Speaker 3: they're still missing a lot of their front line stars

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Speaker 3: as a team without Jordy Barrett Ardie Severez left this

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Speaker 3: year and they have no Tarro lomax I suffer Armor,

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Speaker 3: Billy Proctor, There's a couple of others there and they

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Speaker 3: have had some performance stand up for them. Harry Godfrey

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Speaker 3: has really claimed that tenders Ruben loves another one that

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Speaker 3: won't come back till after the bye. But as you mentioned,

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Speaker 3: stars rise and I think it was Boden Barrett that

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Speaker 3: really sparked them at the back end of that match,

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Speaker 3: that the counter attack, and he had two influential moments

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Speaker 3: with helping get Hoskins a tutu over the line and

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Speaker 3: then Mark Tala skinning Riley haul Heepper. Thanks for gifting

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Speaker 3: him to the Hurricanes, by the.

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Speaker 4: Way, you're welcome. Yeah, yeah, you can have them back Crusade,

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Speaker 4: look at James. We don't.

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Speaker 3: But look, yeah, the Hurricanes will feel like they blew

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Speaker 3: that they were up. Was it twenty twenty nine to

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Speaker 3: twenty one with ten minutes to go, and you know,

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Speaker 3: did a lot of good things after being on the

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Speaker 3: back foot with two yellow cards early. So look, there's

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Speaker 3: a lot of positives to clutch up for the Hurricanes,

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Speaker 3: but they're in a bit of an early season whole

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Speaker 3: they are.

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Speaker 2: I don't think the Blues were great, but they were

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Speaker 2: good enough on the night. They had a few things

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Speaker 2: go their way. There also things that go against I mean,

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Speaker 2: Hoskins are two too recarded late in the match, will

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Speaker 2: probably serve two to three weeks for that. They had

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Speaker 2: the Hia scenario late as well, where there was a

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Speaker 2: bit of confusion about whether Sam Knock was actually concussed

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Speaker 2: or not. They managed to sort of navigate their way

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Speaker 2: around it, but I don't think it was vintage Blues.

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Speaker 2: They talked a bit about last week about going back

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Speaker 2: to being boring, rolling up the sleeves, doing the Ford work.

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Speaker 2: I don't think we necessarily saw that on the weekend,

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Speaker 2: and it almost felt like they were reverting back to

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Speaker 2: the Blues of old, where their instinct was just flinger

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Speaker 2: it out wide and hope something happened. So we saw

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Speaker 2: last year the success that they've had up the middle

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Speaker 2: of the park and their forwards doing a lot of

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Speaker 2: those work that work. I don't know that we're still

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Speaker 2: seeing that, and of course game plans have to evolve.

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Speaker 2: But when the Blues talked about going back to the basics,

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Speaker 2: probably didn't see that on Saturday night.

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Speaker 4: No, and that's their challenge this year, isn't it.

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Speaker 3: They can't do exactly what they did last year because

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Speaker 3: teams expect that they're going to counter that. And I

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Speaker 3: think we did see them actually go away from that

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Speaker 3: blueprint and it worked for them with the lakes of

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Speaker 3: Barrett and Taliah. You know what a try that was

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Speaker 3: a match winning try in the ends. We did see

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Speaker 3: examples where they went up the middle Patrick two polos,

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Speaker 3: who's big charge, Ricky Rickettelli's try. They really punched and

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Speaker 3: went direct, which was their game plan last year. But

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Speaker 3: it does feel like the I don't know, corp between

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Speaker 3: two worlds, not jelling, not quite finding their feats.

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Speaker 4: So it is interesting times for the Blues, it is.

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Speaker 2: I think they're getting enough out of midfield either. I

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Speaker 2: thought aj lamp had a very good end to last

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Speaker 2: year's Super Rugby season when he came into second five.

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Speaker 2: Ricca Juati is a test center. But I just don't

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Speaker 2: know that they're getting enough out of midfield so far

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Speaker 2: in the season with the players that they've selected. Wonder

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Speaker 2: whether maybe moving Barrett back to ten and Plumber into

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Speaker 2: second five could alleviate some of those issues.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, that would still give them two genuine playmakers.

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Speaker 4: A J. Lambs very versatile.

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Speaker 3: You know, he could be on the bench and come

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Speaker 3: on and fulfill a number of different roles.

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Speaker 4: I agree with.

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Speaker 3: That, but yeah, it is interesting because the Blues, we

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Speaker 3: sort of externally expect them just to roll through and

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Speaker 3: continue on.

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Speaker 4: Everyone was chasing them.

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Speaker 3: They did it, you know, reasonably easily last year when

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Speaker 3: you look at what happened in the final. They spoke

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Speaker 3: all through the preseason and at the start of the

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Speaker 3: year about starting again. That last year accounted for nothing

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Speaker 3: that they couldn't be complacent and they've got every reason

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Speaker 3: not to be now. But maybe stylistically they've just been

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Speaker 3: a bit court and figured out maybe teams are working

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Speaker 3: out how to unpick them, and that's going to be

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Speaker 3: a real challenge for their coaching stuff.

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Speaker 4: Because it was fairly unconvincing.

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Speaker 2: It was let's move backwards to the Chiefs and Brumbies

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Speaker 2: on Saturday afternoon forty nine to thirty four the Chiefs

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Speaker 2: when what was an up and down topsy turvy whatever

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Speaker 2: you want to put in front of it contest against

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Speaker 2: the Brumbies. For me, it was fifteen all at one point,

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Speaker 2: but it just felt like the Brumbies were the ones

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Speaker 2: chasing the game. The Chiefs always just sort of had

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Speaker 2: their noses in front. I felt they similar to the

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Speaker 2: Crusaders a week prior. Scored two quick tries after halftime

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Speaker 2: and that put them on the front foot and the

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Speaker 2: second spell use the Brumbies responded, but just felt like

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Speaker 2: they were always sort of chasing the game. And again

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Speaker 2: they win by fifteen points and beat the Brumbies. The

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Speaker 2: Chiefs are clearly the best team in the co petition

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Speaker 2: to this point attack wise. You know Damion McKenzie a

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Speaker 2: worry there that he went off with a bit of

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Speaker 2: a bang late in the game. Haven't heard anything further

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Speaker 2: about that, Josh Lord going off, but they have threats

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Speaker 2: all across the park and they have set up very,

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Speaker 2: very nicely through three weeks in the competition.

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Speaker 3: They are indeed and this is probably what I expected

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Speaker 3: from the Chiefs last year.

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Speaker 4: And they were really inconsistent. But you look at their roster.

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Speaker 3: It's stacked, isn't it with threats as you mentioned, and

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Speaker 3: they've clearly come into this year with a chip on

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Speaker 3: their shoulder.

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Speaker 4: It's Clayton McMillan's last year at the Helm.

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Speaker 3: Whether they knew that at the start of the year,

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Speaker 3: not too sure, but that adds another dynamic. And yeah,

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Speaker 3: I think this game in particular is another brilliant advertisement

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Speaker 3: for afternoon rugby. Both teams really had a crack. I

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Speaker 3: thought the Brumbies played really well. I like the balance

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Speaker 3: they've got to their game. You know, they're rolling war

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Speaker 3: was really effective, but they can play as well. They

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Speaker 3: tested the Chiefs, but you're right that you never really

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Speaker 3: like they were going to come over the top of

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Speaker 3: the Chiefs just with those threats. A real standout performance

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Speaker 3: from quint to Paire. He's been a big mover going

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Speaker 3: back into the midfield after you know, some stints on

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Speaker 3: the wing in a tough couple of years with injury.

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Speaker 3: McKenzie's playing well, Josh Jacob really staking a claim at ten.

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Speaker 3: I like that dynamic of their combination. And then they've

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Speaker 3: got the pack there as well with the Chiefs. So

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Speaker 3: the other team to beat, aren't they Their record speaks

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Speaker 3: for itself. But they can hot you all over the park,

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Speaker 3: they can go through the middle, they can go wide,

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Speaker 3: they can chip them behind you. They've got balanced variation,

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Speaker 3: very dynamic. So great start to the year for the Chiefs.

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Speaker 2: Indeed, and it's not I can see them losing a game,

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Speaker 2: but it's hard to see. You know, they sit alone

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Speaker 2: for me at the top of the table, and there's

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Speaker 2: a whole lot of teams that are in mixed form

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Speaker 2: at the moment and could slide anywhere from second to

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Speaker 2: nights or tenth on the ladder. At this point in time,

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Speaker 2: it feels like it's a real log jam, but everyone's

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Speaker 2: chasing Chiefs and it's an interesting position for them to begin.

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Speaker 2: We talked a bit about I guess that the Blues

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Speaker 2: and their threats through the middle of the park not working.

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Speaker 2: But you touched on Quintepie there. What a start to

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Speaker 2: the seasons he's having. I know last year it kind

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Speaker 2: of felt like his career could have gone two ways,

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Speaker 2: and it's going the way that I think is great

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Speaker 2: for him is that, you know, after that injury in

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Speaker 2: twenty twenty two when he was basically had his leg

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Speaker 2: you know, ripped apart by Varci Swain, to finally get back,

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Speaker 2: you know, maybe it's taken a couple of years to

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Speaker 2: get over that injury. The confidence back, well, he was

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Speaker 2: playing with confidence at the moment and leading this Chiefs team.

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Speaker 2: I say leading, but he's leading them midfield very very well.

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Speaker 3: I thought he was underutilized by the Chiefs last year

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Speaker 3: when he did play, it was off the bench or

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Speaker 3: on the wing, and just he's a real weapon. He's

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Speaker 3: always been a physical presence. He was selected in the

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Speaker 3: All Blacks what was it two years ago? Now twenty two?

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Speaker 3: What three? And it was for that physicality that he

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Speaker 3: brought to the position ball carrying wise, defensively, but you

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Speaker 3: look at the subtlety and the silky skills he brought

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Speaker 3: to that performance. At the weekend he made a bust

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Speaker 3: and sent that long ball wide to Matta Ali. He's

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Speaker 3: falling and to have the precision to pull that off

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Speaker 3: and then the chip and chase him behind and to regathero.

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Speaker 3: That's a real breadth of skill to complement that physicality,

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Speaker 3: and that's what you want from that position.

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Speaker 4: And it's an interesting dynamic, isn't it. The twelve position.

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Speaker 3: Jordie's not here at the moment, so while he will

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Speaker 3: come back, it certainly shines a spotlight on that position

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Speaker 3: and been a lot of attention on Ta Tavanawa with

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Speaker 3: the Highlanders moving into twelve. David Heavili, the Captaincy looks

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Speaker 3: really comfortable with him at the Crusaders, so interesting to

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Speaker 3: see how that evolves throughout there.

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Speaker 2: Certainly is Friday night the Highlanders beating mo Waa Pacific

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Speaker 2: at thirty one to twenty nine in Albany.

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Speaker 4: Weird old game. This one hard to judge.

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Speaker 2: Look, I think Miwan are a very very good team

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Speaker 2: for sixty minutes in the game. It's the last twenty

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Speaker 2: or the twenty minutes when they switch off or aren't

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Speaker 2: at the races that is a real concern. And on

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Speaker 2: Friday night it was minutes zero to ten and minutes

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Speaker 2: thirty to forty where they weren't there the rest of it.

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Speaker 2: They gave the Honders as good as they got. But

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Speaker 2: when you're ten or ten minutes out from half time

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Speaker 2: and you go into halftime thirty one ten down, something's

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Speaker 2: gone wrong. And that last ten minutes before the break

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Speaker 2: they've switched off and the Highlanders took advantage. And you know,

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Speaker 2: despite the fact they scored nineteen points on ans and

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Speaker 2: the second spell, it still wasn't enough. So for me,

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Speaker 2: the Highlanders deserve that win. But Mowana different story on

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Speaker 2: the night could have been then winning and winning well,

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Speaker 2: they've just got to find a way to play for

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Speaker 2: the full eighty minutes. It's a cliche, but you look

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Speaker 2: at their three performances so far. They've conceded fifty six

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Speaker 2: against the Reds in a game that they were in

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Speaker 2: for a wee bit and the first game against the

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Speaker 2: Force they were neck and neique for a period of time.

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Speaker 2: But just these moments of switching off or whether it's

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Speaker 2: a depth, I don't know, but that's costing them at

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Speaker 2: the moment.

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Speaker 4: It is just a bit before we get to your

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Speaker 4: point there.

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Speaker 3: And the rugby love the jerseys, the throwback, the best

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Speaker 3: jerseys on display all weekend, brilliant. I think mine had

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Speaker 3: their biggest crowd home crowd in Albany, so you know,

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Speaker 3: great occasion and there's a real sense that they're starting

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Speaker 3: to establish their presence in this competition and actually getting

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Speaker 3: a bit of a foothold after a lot of uncertainty

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Speaker 3: around the future and their presence. But they need some wins,

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Speaker 3: don't they. And you're rights they are improving. They are

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Speaker 3: in the contest, in the fights. There's genuine spirit there

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Speaker 3: that you can see Ardie severe. What a performance, but

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Speaker 3: they should be two and one they blew it against

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Speaker 3: the force. And but for those periods that you talk

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Speaker 3: about when they conceded three tries, some of them unlucky,

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Speaker 3: but you make your own luck. They've got to find

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Speaker 3: a way to finish the job. And yeah, whether it's

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Speaker 3: a mental concentration or maybe a depth, I'm not too sure.

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Speaker 3: They did come back well in the second half. Artie

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Speaker 3: tried to take them on their his back and do

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Speaker 3: everything he can, but he's not going to be able.

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Speaker 4: To do that every week.

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Speaker 3: So yeah, you feel four ton umonga because they're on

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Speaker 3: the cuspsp aren't they But they can't get over the line.

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Speaker 3: And if they don't do that soon, then that the

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Speaker 3: self doubt starts to creep in, and you know the

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Speaker 3: O sitting next to you. Your team builds pressure, builds frustration.

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Speaker 3: So they need to find a way, some way to

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Speaker 3: get over the line soon.

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Speaker 2: Maea's goalkicking as well, wasn't flash on the night. I

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Speaker 2: think William Hart really missed three of his conversion attempts,

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Speaker 2: two of which you would say were fairly gettable from

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Speaker 2: the positions that he kicked them from. You know, they

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Speaker 2: make a couple of those and they potentially win the

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Speaker 2: game really liked Artie Savey, who's great on the weekend

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Speaker 2: for them, talismanic performance that he's delivering. The Samisi Tupu

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Speaker 2: tailor as well, who was listed at open side and

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Speaker 2: then they changed things around. He is a really promising prospect.

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Speaker 4: It was bizarre.

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Speaker 2: He was very good for Southland last year, no one

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Speaker 2: wanted him in Super Rugby. Mawana called him up for

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Speaker 2: their wider training group and he's now been a part

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Speaker 2: of the the opening three games of the competition. So

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Speaker 2: I really like what that combination is doing. In the

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Speaker 2: loose Ford trip.

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Speaker 4: Yeah, what about the Highlanders?

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Speaker 3: Is it? James Ascott the replacement halfback who came in

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Speaker 3: late for Flower. I was really impressed by him and

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Speaker 3: earlier in the year a similar sort of sniping performance.

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Speaker 3: I did sort of chuck all about, you know, some

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Speaker 3: references post game to the Highlanders and twenty fifteen and

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Speaker 3: it being their year and Jamie's clearly pumping the brakes. Look,

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Speaker 3: it is good to see the Highlanders be more competitive

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Speaker 3: than they have been in recent years. And success, however,

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Speaker 3: it comes, builds comp fullness, doesn't it. And this is

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Speaker 3: a young team we've spoken a lot about, you know

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Speaker 3: them bringing through prospects and having faith in youth and

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Speaker 3: sticking with that, and maybe we're starting to see the

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Speaker 3: fruits of some of that that made some good off

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Speaker 3: season recruits. Cut of Tonguey Tawl on the wing has

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Speaker 3: you know, really taken his chance. And that's what Jamie

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Speaker 3: Joseph historically has been about, isn't it recruiting well, giving

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Speaker 3: guys opportunities and them being grateful to take those. So

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Speaker 3: good to see the Honders really, you know, holding their

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Speaker 3: own and making a case that they're going to be

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Speaker 3: playoff contenders this year.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, the depth will be the issue again for the

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Speaker 2: Honders when they suffer a few injuries. And on Friday night,

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Speaker 2: you know, cam Miller, who's an up and coming ten

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Speaker 2: knocked out. Don't know, haven't heard the latest on him.

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Speaker 2: Hopefully he's obviously all right, And and Hurley ruled out

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Speaker 2: with a quad injury for Lafacatava out for a few weeks.

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Speaker 2: So they start adding up, you know, it can be tricky.

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Speaker 2: They've got the buy this week, so chance to get

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Speaker 2: a few players sort of freshened up a little bit,

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Speaker 2: hopefully for them. A couple of other games of the

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Speaker 2: course of the weekend involving Australian teams. WARTA has been

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Speaker 2: the drawer twenty nine to twenty four. The Reds pipping

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Speaker 2: the Force at the post in Perth on Saturday night

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Speaker 2: twenty eight twenty four. Interesting to see Leon McDonald in

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Speaker 2: the Western Force coaching box. Obviously you announced still had

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Speaker 2: the scoop on that one, but still seeing him in

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Speaker 2: the air the Force polo was an interesting prospect on

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Speaker 2: the weekend.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, maybe Twiggy's cash goes along the forthing.

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Speaker 2: The Force not a bad team and that the Reds,

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Speaker 2: you know, coming over the top of the weekend. Feels like,

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Speaker 2: as we touched on at the start, those Australian teams

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Speaker 2: have lifted up a notch this year with that talent

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Speaker 2: being spread, you know, a little bit tighter across those

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Speaker 2: four teams.

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Speaker 3: Just on McDonald, what chance did they give the Australian

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Speaker 3: Rugby Union of luring him to join the Wallabies in

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Speaker 3: some capacity.

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Speaker 2: And some capacity wouldn't surprise me, I said. The hot

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Speaker 2: news now is that check is likely to go the

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Speaker 2: Wales team by the sound of it, So second stance

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Speaker 2: of the Wallabies might not be for him. Maybe mcalla

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Speaker 2: McDonald combination, another mix somewhere. I'm sure we can find.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, or his McDonald's relationship Will Schmidt if he's staying on,

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Speaker 3: and some advisory capacity you. My understanding is McDonald just

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Speaker 3: wants to go for one year to Perth and then

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Speaker 3: come back. But yeah, you never know how things transpire

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Speaker 3: and where the chips might fall.

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Speaker 2: Rugby coaching is a funny old game. We'll take a

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Speaker 2: break here on Rugby Direct. Come back with our final

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Speaker 2: four if you tipping in the MVP voting as well.

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Speaker 1: This is Rugby Direct, a podcast for real rugby fares.

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Speaker 4: Every try try tends sixty sec. Every tackle tackle get

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Speaker 4: up again afore it's Rugby Directed.

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Speaker 2: You're back with Rugby Direct powered by Habit Health. Time

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Speaker 2: now for our final four, four rugby topics, Liam and

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Speaker 2: I debate them both. News last week from our colleague

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Speaker 2: Gregor Paul and The New Zealand Herald that Dezone the

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Speaker 2: British broadcaster in talks and inverted commas with NZR over

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Speaker 2: the rights deal to potentially take that deal. Now no

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Speaker 2: bid has been submitted as yet, but with Sky signing

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Speaker 2: Cricket recently, which is still end of twenty twenty six away.

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Speaker 2: I think they've just resigned Australian cricket this morning as

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Speaker 2: we record this as well, rugby's on the table and

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Speaker 2: it's interesting to see de Zone come into the mix

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Speaker 2: around it. I guess you'll take on this news and

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Speaker 2: potentially what it would mean for the New Zealand rugby

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Speaker 2: market and media market.

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Speaker 3: It's not surprised generally that a streaming player has come

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Speaker 3: into the market. It's only been a matter of time,

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Speaker 3: isn't it when you look at broadcast rights around the

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Speaker 3: world EPL or others, with Amazon and Netflix now delving

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Speaker 3: into that scene with boxing. Dezone seriously cashed up now

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Speaker 3: owned by Saudi backers. They bought was it Fox Foxtel

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Speaker 3: year in Australia, so I got a real foothold in

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Speaker 3: the Australia market and no doubt looking to further expand.

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Speaker 3: So they're a genuine player with serious money and money

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Speaker 3: does talk. I think from what I understand their bids

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Speaker 3: will could be linked with TVNZ so maybe some freedom

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Speaker 3: were component which would be attractive to rugby to be

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Speaker 3: have more exposure, to not be behind a paywall. Although

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Speaker 3: lots of people have Sky on New Zealand. I would

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Speaker 3: still be very surprised if Sky's not that don't come

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Speaker 3: out on top. I've got a long standing relationship. He's

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Speaker 3: going to know what they're going to get, and there

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Speaker 3: would be a concern I think going with a streaming

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Speaker 3: platform about accessibility in New Zealand's rugby is a trueotionally

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Speaker 3: probably older population and how does that play in rural

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Speaker 3: areas with connectivity. All those sorts of things are factors.

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Speaker 3: But look, I would probably liken it to rugby players

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Speaker 3: coming out and saying all league players and going I'm

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Speaker 3: going to switch codes. Competition and any bidding process is healthy,

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Speaker 3: and New Zealand Rugby is doing the right thing by

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Speaker 3: engaging others and trying to bump up Sky's price to

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Speaker 3: get more more heat in that market.

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Speaker 4: How do you see it do? How's it going to

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Speaker 4: shake down?

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Speaker 2: Well, I think Sky will retain the rights, but I

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Speaker 2: think you're very much right that the offer that they've

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Speaker 2: submitted clearly isn't to New Zealand Rugby's liking, And so

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Speaker 2: they go and have a chat with Design on the

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Speaker 2: side and see whether it can be bummed up or

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Speaker 2: drive up Sky's priced a little bit. I think Design

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Speaker 2: have designs. I spoke with the VP of Marketing on

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Speaker 2: Weekend Sport a couple of weeks ago, and they have

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Speaker 2: designs on the New Zealand market and having role here.

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Speaker 2: Now you know you mentioned they have bought Foxtowel. There's

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Speaker 2: nothing stopping them coming in and buying Sky. Now the

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Speaker 2: Foxtel deal hasn't officially gone through, has going through you know,

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Speaker 2: all the regulatory sort of stuff in Australia, but once

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Speaker 2: that lands, they could look over to the TASM and go,

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Speaker 2: we'll snap up Sky potentially as well. And that has

433
00:22:26,253 --> 00:22:28,413
Speaker 2: been speculated in the media columns as well that that

434
00:22:28,453 --> 00:22:30,813
Speaker 2: could be a prospect. So it's an interesting time for

435
00:22:31,293 --> 00:22:34,933
Speaker 2: sport and right steals and everything like that. But I

436
00:22:35,013 --> 00:22:36,773
Speaker 2: still would say that Sky would be the most likely,

437
00:22:36,813 --> 00:22:38,933
Speaker 2: remembering as well in New Zealand. Rugby have a steak

438
00:22:39,053 --> 00:22:40,693
Speaker 2: in Sky as well, so that would need to be

439
00:22:40,773 --> 00:22:42,933
Speaker 2: untangled be a major thing. But something else that would

440
00:22:43,533 --> 00:22:45,293
Speaker 2: probably needs to be untangled if the rights were to

441
00:22:45,293 --> 00:22:49,053
Speaker 2: go elsewhere. Topic number two, the Dreadful Men's seven side.

442
00:22:49,653 --> 00:22:51,933
Speaker 2: I wrote about this in my column last week, but

443
00:22:53,893 --> 00:22:56,413
Speaker 2: they have not made a final so far in the

444
00:22:56,453 --> 00:22:59,013
Speaker 2: World Series four tournaments in the season at top of

445
00:22:59,013 --> 00:23:01,693
Speaker 2: the table Argentina and Spain, which says a bit about

446
00:23:01,813 --> 00:23:04,093
Speaker 2: the way that sevens has gone, But I guess from

447
00:23:04,093 --> 00:23:08,493
Speaker 2: a wider perspective they missed out medals at Paris. Just

448
00:23:08,533 --> 00:23:11,533
Speaker 2: this team at the moment feels like they're holding on

449
00:23:11,613 --> 00:23:14,133
Speaker 2: to the players of ys to Ye. Dylan Collier has

450
00:23:14,133 --> 00:23:15,973
Speaker 2: been a great suit for New Zealand rugby, still in

451
00:23:16,013 --> 00:23:20,653
Speaker 2: the mix. Andrew new stubs similar. The big flashing light

452
00:23:20,693 --> 00:23:23,893
Speaker 2: for me is that there aren't enough players to basically

453
00:23:23,893 --> 00:23:27,453
Speaker 2: play sevens in New Zealand. Once the super rugby teams

454
00:23:28,253 --> 00:23:30,813
Speaker 2: have their pack thirty eight players times five added a

455
00:23:30,853 --> 00:23:33,453
Speaker 2: few more formwana that would probably be of interest in

456
00:23:33,493 --> 00:23:36,253
Speaker 2: New Zealand seven team, you're looking upwards of two hundred

457
00:23:36,293 --> 00:23:40,773
Speaker 2: plus players. Unless you really want to play sevens, you're

458
00:23:40,773 --> 00:23:42,413
Speaker 2: going to go into that fifteen system. I think that's

459
00:23:42,413 --> 00:23:44,693
Speaker 2: where we're at with the program at the moment. These

460
00:23:44,693 --> 00:23:47,933
Speaker 2: super rugby sides have expanded, leaving little for sevens on

461
00:23:47,973 --> 00:23:50,693
Speaker 2: the table and it's hard to see how you claw

462
00:23:50,773 --> 00:23:53,613
Speaker 2: that back other than some seven specialists coming through.

463
00:23:54,133 --> 00:23:56,613
Speaker 3: Yeah, it does feel like a bit of an afterthought,

464
00:23:56,653 --> 00:23:57,053
Speaker 3: doesn't it.

465
00:23:57,093 --> 00:23:58,573
Speaker 4: And the sevens.

466
00:23:58,613 --> 00:24:02,693
Speaker 3: That sevens team's actually been used as a development pathway,

467
00:24:03,253 --> 00:24:06,253
Speaker 3: which has played that role historically as well. But I

468
00:24:06,253 --> 00:24:11,893
Speaker 3: think there was four players traverse over from that sevens

469
00:24:11,893 --> 00:24:15,533
Speaker 3: team into the NBC and progress, the Super Rugby's Lee

470
00:24:15,613 --> 00:24:20,453
Speaker 3: Ry Carter, the Hurricanes wing and a couple of others

471
00:24:20,733 --> 00:24:25,213
Speaker 3: as well. So and that's your your next tier talent, right,

472
00:24:25,253 --> 00:24:26,573
Speaker 3: So they're there, one mine gone, the.

473
00:24:26,533 --> 00:24:31,573
Speaker 4: Next the NRL. Yeah, so the players that have departed.

474
00:24:31,213 --> 00:24:32,853
Speaker 3: And then at the other end of the spectrum, you've

475
00:24:32,853 --> 00:24:35,173
Speaker 3: had some generational players and that sevens team move on

476
00:24:36,373 --> 00:24:39,653
Speaker 3: Scott Curry and the like who were real storarts of

477
00:24:39,693 --> 00:24:40,213
Speaker 3: that team.

478
00:24:40,933 --> 00:24:43,693
Speaker 4: So that team's clearly struggling to rebuild.

479
00:24:44,173 --> 00:24:48,093
Speaker 3: But you're right that the talent pool, the lure of

480
00:24:48,253 --> 00:24:53,013
Speaker 3: sevens isn't there outside of an Olympics year. It does

481
00:24:53,053 --> 00:24:55,973
Speaker 3: feel like a bit of an afterthought and not a

482
00:24:56,053 --> 00:24:59,653
Speaker 3: priority for aspiring young men really.

483
00:24:59,573 --> 00:25:01,733
Speaker 2: No whereas on the women's side of things, they are

484
00:25:01,853 --> 00:25:06,013
Speaker 2: absolute blockbusters and are an aspiring product aspirational team. You know,

485
00:25:06,053 --> 00:25:08,293
Speaker 2: George Miller twenty years old or just turned twenty one

486
00:25:08,333 --> 00:25:10,853
Speaker 2: one New Zealand Rug's raining Player of the Year, My

487
00:25:11,013 --> 00:25:13,253
Speaker 2: Davis Daboos and Vancouver and has a very good tournament.

488
00:25:13,253 --> 00:25:15,413
Speaker 2: But yeah, that mean sevens program, I think, isn't it

489
00:25:15,413 --> 00:25:17,693
Speaker 2: in a world of hurt at the program at the moment.

490
00:25:17,733 --> 00:25:21,133
Speaker 2: I just don't know how exactly you fixed it. Sevens

491
00:25:21,173 --> 00:25:23,333
Speaker 2: World Cup. Don't think there is one anymore, certainly one,

492
00:25:23,373 --> 00:25:25,853
Speaker 2: not one on the horizon, not at the Commonwealth Games anymore.

493
00:25:25,893 --> 00:25:29,133
Speaker 2: Sevens So you're basically Olympics to Olympics. So at that

494
00:25:29,173 --> 00:25:32,813
Speaker 2: point you sort of go, maybe you just pick try

495
00:25:32,853 --> 00:25:34,693
Speaker 2: and get the best possible players for the Olympics and

496
00:25:34,933 --> 00:25:37,653
Speaker 2: don't worry about the World Series. I know there's all

497
00:25:37,693 --> 00:25:39,333
Speaker 2: sorts of concerns about the World Series as well, which

498
00:25:39,333 --> 00:25:42,093
Speaker 2: you've written about. So interesting old time for sevens, isn't it?

499
00:25:42,653 --> 00:25:45,293
Speaker 2: Topic number three? Does Boden Barrett need to move back

500
00:25:45,333 --> 00:25:46,333
Speaker 2: to ten for the Blues?

501
00:25:47,253 --> 00:25:50,453
Speaker 3: We touched on it there with Harry Plummer potentially going

502
00:25:50,453 --> 00:25:53,213
Speaker 3: to twelve. I think it's a live option, isn't it.

503
00:25:54,093 --> 00:25:56,493
Speaker 3: Boden was very influential at the back end of that

504
00:25:56,533 --> 00:25:59,493
Speaker 3: Blues victory in Wellington when he shifted back to ten.

505
00:26:01,133 --> 00:26:04,853
Speaker 3: Some of those some of that counter attick he sparked

506
00:26:05,053 --> 00:26:08,893
Speaker 3: didn't necessarily come from first receiver, but look, it's his

507
00:26:09,053 --> 00:26:11,693
Speaker 3: preferred position. I think if you asked him, that's where

508
00:26:11,693 --> 00:26:15,333
Speaker 3: he'd want to play. I think he's also happy to

509
00:26:15,373 --> 00:26:19,613
Speaker 3: fulfill the role and play fifteen and the modern player

510
00:26:21,453 --> 00:26:26,693
Speaker 3: Ruben Love, Damien McKenzie, Thomas Ramos can all play switch

511
00:26:26,773 --> 00:26:29,893
Speaker 3: seamlessly between ten and fifteen. But I think the Blues

512
00:26:30,413 --> 00:26:33,093
Speaker 3: at some point we'll try that. Whether it's this week,

513
00:26:33,333 --> 00:26:35,373
Speaker 3: not too sure. The Brumbies are a team that you

514
00:26:36,293 --> 00:26:39,853
Speaker 3: probably traditionally kick more against trumpin them down there are

515
00:26:40,413 --> 00:26:43,253
Speaker 3: their end of the field. Do you think Vern pulls

516
00:26:43,253 --> 00:26:44,053
Speaker 3: out leave of this week.

517
00:26:44,493 --> 00:26:45,133
Speaker 4: I think he might.

518
00:26:46,093 --> 00:26:48,693
Speaker 2: I think injuries as well, you know obviously, and haven't

519
00:26:48,693 --> 00:26:51,053
Speaker 2: had Stephen Peterfetter as yet the seasons on. Sullivan's on

520
00:26:51,093 --> 00:26:53,213
Speaker 2: the sidelines, So that's taken out a couple of ten

521
00:26:53,893 --> 00:26:57,573
Speaker 2: or fifteen options. But I probably would have looked at

522
00:26:57,573 --> 00:27:02,053
Speaker 2: maybe a Cole Forbes at fifteen, Plumber at twelve, Barrowed

523
00:27:02,093 --> 00:27:04,533
Speaker 2: at ten sort of option. Kudas said last week that

524
00:27:04,533 --> 00:27:06,733
Speaker 2: they were wanted to do the first three rounds as is,

525
00:27:06,813 --> 00:27:09,653
Speaker 2: barring injury, and then reassess after that. So time is

526
00:27:09,693 --> 00:27:11,373
Speaker 2: now for reassessment, which will be interesting.

527
00:27:11,453 --> 00:27:12,453
Speaker 4: Yeah, I like Cole Forbes.

528
00:27:12,453 --> 00:27:16,253
Speaker 3: He brings a dynamic presence to the backfields, much more

529
00:27:16,253 --> 00:27:20,493
Speaker 3: of a running option than a tactical kicker, so could

530
00:27:20,493 --> 00:27:22,373
Speaker 3: bring some more attacking spark.

531
00:27:22,773 --> 00:27:24,093
Speaker 4: Indeed, so topic number four.

532
00:27:24,133 --> 00:27:27,013
Speaker 2: This was news a few days ago now, Clayton McMillan

533
00:27:27,133 --> 00:27:30,493
Speaker 2: departing the Chiefs for Monster after the season, released a

534
00:27:30,573 --> 00:27:33,013
Speaker 2: year early from his New Zealand rugby contract, signed through

535
00:27:33,053 --> 00:27:34,413
Speaker 2: until twenty twenty eight.

536
00:27:35,213 --> 00:27:37,813
Speaker 4: Good move for Clayton. Yeah, it is.

537
00:27:39,813 --> 00:27:42,973
Speaker 3: I sort of always knew that Clayton Wood wouldn't stay

538
00:27:43,013 --> 00:27:44,733
Speaker 3: on with the Chiefs beyond that contract, but I think

539
00:27:44,733 --> 00:27:46,853
Speaker 3: it is a surprise it's coming year earlier. I guess

540
00:27:47,533 --> 00:27:52,813
Speaker 3: the timing of a role like Munster was too good

541
00:27:52,893 --> 00:27:55,933
Speaker 3: to turn down. And you know he's served his time

542
00:27:56,093 --> 00:28:01,293
Speaker 3: and you reach a ceiling in New Zealand in Super rugby,

543
00:28:01,373 --> 00:28:05,893
Speaker 3: and through no fault of the ecosystem here, he's not

544
00:28:06,373 --> 00:28:10,853
Speaker 3: can't progress in any You want to be challenged, you

545
00:28:10,893 --> 00:28:13,453
Speaker 3: want to evolve and grow and look going to a

546
00:28:13,453 --> 00:28:16,813
Speaker 3: team like Munster will be a brilliant experience. Ireland loved

547
00:28:16,853 --> 00:28:19,813
Speaker 3: their rugby. There'll be big expectation and demands on him.

548
00:28:19,853 --> 00:28:23,493
Speaker 3: He's not a big name and wild rugby. But he

549
00:28:24,173 --> 00:28:27,053
Speaker 3: is a proven coach here and with a great reputation

550
00:28:27,253 --> 00:28:32,853
Speaker 3: for man management building a culture, but starting again in

551
00:28:32,933 --> 00:28:36,133
Speaker 3: a place like Munster with a rich rugby heritage will

552
00:28:36,173 --> 00:28:38,893
Speaker 3: be a great challenge. And when he returns, because he

553
00:28:38,933 --> 00:28:41,773
Speaker 3: will return to news own in some capacity, he will

554
00:28:41,813 --> 00:28:44,213
Speaker 3: be a better coach for that experience. And he's really

555
00:28:44,253 --> 00:28:47,093
Speaker 3: setting himself up for a play at the Orblix.

556
00:28:47,213 --> 00:28:48,333
Speaker 4: He coaching roll down the track.

557
00:28:48,373 --> 00:28:49,733
Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm sure that's the job that he that he

558
00:28:49,813 --> 00:28:52,893
Speaker 2: coverts and is keen on down the track and is

559
00:28:52,893 --> 00:28:55,333
Speaker 2: obviously not gonna happen in this cycle, so needs to

560
00:28:55,333 --> 00:28:56,093
Speaker 2: look elsewhere.

561
00:28:56,893 --> 00:28:57,533
Speaker 4: Going to Monster.

562
00:28:57,533 --> 00:29:00,453
Speaker 2: I think Connor Murray is leaving after the season, retired

563
00:29:00,453 --> 00:29:04,173
Speaker 2: internationally and Peter Omari retiring as well, so it's a

564
00:29:04,213 --> 00:29:07,133
Speaker 2: wee bit of a rebuild. So it's an interesting spot

565
00:29:07,173 --> 00:29:10,293
Speaker 2: for Munster and Inclad to begin picking up that gig.

566
00:29:10,533 --> 00:29:12,013
Speaker 2: I think it is a good move. You're right, you

567
00:29:12,053 --> 00:29:13,893
Speaker 2: reached the ceiling in New Zealand rugby very very quickly.

568
00:29:13,893 --> 00:29:15,933
Speaker 2: He's done the Mauldy All Blacks. He's ticked that box.

569
00:29:16,533 --> 00:29:18,653
Speaker 2: I think he's involved with the All Blacks fifteen as well,

570
00:29:18,733 --> 00:29:21,413
Speaker 2: so obviously last year, so he's coord of sort of

571
00:29:21,413 --> 00:29:23,373
Speaker 2: done everything he can bar coach. The All Blacks will

572
00:29:23,413 --> 00:29:26,293
Speaker 2: be part of that environment, so looking abroad is a

573
00:29:26,293 --> 00:29:27,933
Speaker 2: smart move. Who takes over it?

574
00:29:28,053 --> 00:29:30,733
Speaker 4: You know? And he whispers about Warren Gatlin returning to

575
00:29:30,733 --> 00:29:35,173
Speaker 4: the Chiefs that surely not. No, he's no longer a

576
00:29:35,253 --> 00:29:36,133
Speaker 4: beloved son, is he?

577
00:29:37,773 --> 00:29:40,133
Speaker 3: I think ross Filippo probably would have been in the mix,

578
00:29:40,173 --> 00:29:43,813
Speaker 3: but he was moved on this year's no longer in

579
00:29:43,853 --> 00:29:44,693
Speaker 3: the ranks.

580
00:29:45,173 --> 00:29:46,093
Speaker 4: Although was that.

581
00:29:47,693 --> 00:29:50,573
Speaker 2: Time, I mean he's Muldy All Blacks coach, Wakato NPC coach.

582
00:29:50,653 --> 00:29:53,093
Speaker 2: Was that his decision, Clayton's decision.

583
00:29:53,933 --> 00:29:57,133
Speaker 3: I think from what I understand it was they wanted

584
00:29:57,133 --> 00:30:01,373
Speaker 3: to change, which was surprising because ross Filippo was talked

585
00:30:01,373 --> 00:30:04,293
Speaker 3: about it being about being an option for the Crusaders

586
00:30:04,333 --> 00:30:07,213
Speaker 3: and it was by all accounts well liked among that

587
00:30:07,253 --> 00:30:09,893
Speaker 3: playing group and brought a lot to the forward pack.

588
00:30:10,013 --> 00:30:13,293
Speaker 3: So yeah, he's actually gone off with Adam Thompson and

589
00:30:13,333 --> 00:30:18,133
Speaker 3: he's doing some coaching clinics, so interesting to see where

590
00:30:18,293 --> 00:30:20,373
Speaker 3: he does pop up next. The one name I have

591
00:30:20,493 --> 00:30:26,133
Speaker 3: heard is being groomed as John o' gibbs, vastly experienced

592
00:30:26,453 --> 00:30:29,453
Speaker 3: time in France. I think he was involved with the

593
00:30:29,733 --> 00:30:35,093
Speaker 3: age grade teams in New Zealand recently, so yeah, he's

594
00:30:35,533 --> 00:30:37,413
Speaker 3: one name I have heard mentioned. I don't know how

595
00:30:37,453 --> 00:30:40,093
Speaker 3: far down the track the Chiefs are with their succession planning.

596
00:30:40,173 --> 00:30:44,173
Speaker 2: I think I heard from something Grauffis last week, the

597
00:30:44,293 --> 00:30:47,773
Speaker 2: CEO who suggested that they've got good options internally, and

598
00:30:47,853 --> 00:30:49,773
Speaker 2: Johnny Gibbs will clearly be one of those as an

599
00:30:49,773 --> 00:30:54,373
Speaker 2: assistant coach currently of that team. Good pedigree, I mean,

600
00:30:54,733 --> 00:30:56,653
Speaker 2: doesn't sound like they're going to look outside, so that

601
00:30:56,773 --> 00:31:00,733
Speaker 2: might be the just you know, the natural progression there.

602
00:31:00,813 --> 00:31:03,813
Speaker 2: I mean, you look at Joe Schmidt potentially based in Topel,

603
00:31:04,053 --> 00:31:07,653
Speaker 2: you know, potentially whether that would be any interest to him. Unlikely.

604
00:31:07,733 --> 00:31:09,973
Speaker 2: Neil Barnes has been the Chiefs coaching set up before.

605
00:31:10,013 --> 00:31:13,133
Speaker 2: Maybe another name, but probably sometimes the answer is the

606
00:31:13,133 --> 00:31:15,533
Speaker 2: most obvious option, which would be Johnny Gibbs.

607
00:31:15,813 --> 00:31:20,933
Speaker 3: Yeah, just quickly, another big, big move and the coaching

608
00:31:20,973 --> 00:31:24,213
Speaker 3: scene and world rugby. I would argue, probably the biggest

609
00:31:24,213 --> 00:31:26,373
Speaker 3: news and rugby in the past week. And you know,

610
00:31:26,413 --> 00:31:28,133
Speaker 3: we tend to live in a wee bit of a

611
00:31:28,133 --> 00:31:32,653
Speaker 3: bubble in New Zealand. But Felix Jones who was the

612
00:31:32,653 --> 00:31:38,173
Speaker 3: spring box defense coach twenty three World Cup went to England,

613
00:31:38,253 --> 00:31:40,173
Speaker 3: had a profound impact. I would argue is one of

614
00:31:40,213 --> 00:31:43,373
Speaker 3: the best defense coaches in world rugby currently. Has gone

615
00:31:43,413 --> 00:31:45,893
Speaker 3: back to the box. Hell of a pickup for them

616
00:31:45,973 --> 00:31:51,133
Speaker 3: and only strengthens the best team in world rugby currently.

617
00:31:51,573 --> 00:31:56,933
Speaker 3: I saw some clips of him, incredibly intense guy. That

618
00:31:57,093 --> 00:32:00,013
Speaker 3: was from the Chasing the Sun doco. Just the level

619
00:32:00,013 --> 00:32:04,013
Speaker 3: of detail he's been up all night, scaring YouTube, barking

620
00:32:04,133 --> 00:32:07,013
Speaker 3: orders in the changing room in the final of the

621
00:32:07,053 --> 00:32:10,413
Speaker 3: twenty twenty three World Cup about the breakdown his rush

622
00:32:10,493 --> 00:32:15,533
Speaker 3: defense with England causes all Blacks so many problems in

623
00:32:15,613 --> 00:32:18,813
Speaker 3: July when Scott Robinson first took over, and I think

624
00:32:19,173 --> 00:32:23,653
Speaker 3: England's have had to not start again. But he's been

625
00:32:23,693 --> 00:32:27,253
Speaker 3: a big loss for them in the sixth Nations. So man,

626
00:32:27,813 --> 00:32:29,493
Speaker 3: that box team just gets better and better.

627
00:32:29,573 --> 00:32:30,013
Speaker 4: Yeah, what is he?

628
00:32:30,093 --> 00:32:32,773
Speaker 2: The thing is the seventh assistant coach or something like that.

629
00:32:32,933 --> 00:32:35,293
Speaker 2: And these staffs, these as are out of control. But

630
00:32:35,533 --> 00:32:38,773
Speaker 2: great pack up and yeah, the whole England thing ended

631
00:32:38,853 --> 00:32:42,453
Speaker 2: quite weirdly. But you're very very good coach and good

632
00:32:42,453 --> 00:32:45,333
Speaker 2: pick up for as you said, already the best team

633
00:32:45,373 --> 00:32:48,213
Speaker 2: in the world to get a player like that, a

634
00:32:48,293 --> 00:32:50,933
Speaker 2: coach like that. Let's get into tipping now.

635
00:32:51,053 --> 00:32:51,213
Speaker 4: Liam.

636
00:32:51,293 --> 00:32:53,253
Speaker 2: Of course you went here last week, but Nick did

637
00:32:53,413 --> 00:32:56,453
Speaker 2: right for you in the hot seat. He got four

638
00:32:56,533 --> 00:33:00,533
Speaker 2: or five missed out on. He picked the Hurricanes, which

639
00:33:00,533 --> 00:33:02,653
Speaker 2: is probably what you would have done as well. Otherwise

640
00:33:03,653 --> 00:33:08,053
Speaker 2: you picked the Honders, war Tars, Chiefs and Reds. I

641
00:33:08,093 --> 00:33:10,493
Speaker 2: picked the Blues. Missed out on the Force. I thought

642
00:33:10,693 --> 00:33:12,533
Speaker 2: the boys from Western Australia are going to get it done.

643
00:33:12,573 --> 00:33:14,053
Speaker 2: So four or five for both of us, nine to

644
00:33:14,173 --> 00:33:17,373
Speaker 2: fifteen through the opening three rounds. Let's go through this

645
00:33:17,493 --> 00:33:18,933
Speaker 2: week Blues, Brumbies.

646
00:33:18,933 --> 00:33:24,373
Speaker 4: Friday Night the Blues, but could should be tight.

647
00:33:24,613 --> 00:33:26,453
Speaker 2: Yeah, look on basis of what we're seeing from the

648
00:33:26,453 --> 00:33:28,373
Speaker 2: Blues so far and the Brumbies, it should be tight.

649
00:33:28,413 --> 00:33:31,293
Speaker 2: I think the Blues as well. The drawer welcoming the

650
00:33:31,373 --> 00:33:34,093
Speaker 2: Chiefs to I think it's lat toalk. It's definitely in

651
00:33:34,133 --> 00:33:37,933
Speaker 2: Fiji on four to thirty five Saturday afternoon. Now, maybe

652
00:33:37,933 --> 00:33:40,253
Speaker 2: the Chiefs rest a couple of players from the trip here.

653
00:33:40,293 --> 00:33:43,293
Speaker 2: McKenzie had a bang, a couple of bangs last week. Yeah,

654
00:33:43,293 --> 00:33:45,093
Speaker 2: it's conning interesting what team the Chiefs roll.

655
00:33:44,973 --> 00:33:48,933
Speaker 3: Out Yeah, look, they've got great depth, so I'll stick

656
00:33:48,973 --> 00:33:52,253
Speaker 3: with the Chiefs. But yeah, a few dings there ends

657
00:33:53,333 --> 00:33:54,893
Speaker 3: the Dura much tougher at home, aren't they?

658
00:33:54,893 --> 00:33:56,213
Speaker 2: They are, and that's why I'm going to tip them

659
00:33:56,213 --> 00:33:59,573
Speaker 2: this week to end the Chiefs unbeaten run well one

660
00:33:59,573 --> 00:34:02,813
Speaker 2: of Pacific are hosting the Hurricanes, already playing his old team.

661
00:34:03,733 --> 00:34:07,053
Speaker 2: Very interesting games Saturday night, but a feeling I'm sure

662
00:34:07,093 --> 00:34:07,613
Speaker 2: around this.

663
00:34:08,493 --> 00:34:10,413
Speaker 3: Yeah, a bit of jip, it's for sure, a few,

664
00:34:10,853 --> 00:34:13,933
Speaker 3: a few facials in the rack and all those the

665
00:34:13,973 --> 00:34:16,133
Speaker 3: antics that you probably can't get away with anymore with

666
00:34:16,173 --> 00:34:19,933
Speaker 3: all the cameras. But look, the Cane is desperate for

667
00:34:19,973 --> 00:34:21,413
Speaker 3: a win, so they'll bank that one.

668
00:34:21,653 --> 00:34:23,853
Speaker 2: I think they will too. But as a semiwana, very

669
00:34:23,933 --> 00:34:25,893
Speaker 2: very good for sixty minutes. If they can string together,

670
00:34:25,893 --> 00:34:28,773
Speaker 2: they're close to seventy. Who knows, might be a different story,

671
00:34:28,773 --> 00:34:30,493
Speaker 2: but I'm going to go the Hurricanes as well. War

672
00:34:30,653 --> 00:34:33,373
Speaker 2: Tars Force, I think so I'll leat you still out

673
00:34:33,413 --> 00:34:35,773
Speaker 2: for another week or two at least with this injury

674
00:34:36,893 --> 00:34:38,613
Speaker 2: Wartors hosting the Force. What do you reckon?

675
00:34:39,253 --> 00:34:41,573
Speaker 4: It's been very unconvinced by the Tars. You were pumping

676
00:34:41,613 --> 00:34:42,813
Speaker 4: up their ties. It was big time.

677
00:34:43,773 --> 00:34:46,853
Speaker 3: Now on the Force and their roster, they should be

678
00:34:46,893 --> 00:34:47,693
Speaker 3: playing a lot better.

679
00:34:47,733 --> 00:34:51,293
Speaker 4: Look, I'll tip the Tars, but yeah, would not be surprised.

680
00:34:51,333 --> 00:34:54,773
Speaker 2: But upseet, I think Leon another week under Leon the Force.

681
00:34:55,253 --> 00:34:57,213
Speaker 2: They'll let the win and Leon your trust. That's right,

682
00:34:57,213 --> 00:34:59,733
Speaker 2: And the Crusaders and Reds wrap up the round at

683
00:34:59,773 --> 00:35:01,973
Speaker 2: three point thirty five Sunday afternoon, Sunda afternoon.

684
00:35:01,973 --> 00:35:06,813
Speaker 4: Footy, how good? Come on my Reds reads? Please right,

685
00:35:06,813 --> 00:35:09,493
Speaker 4: we'll makey down for that? Is that right? In next

686
00:35:09,533 --> 00:35:10,133
Speaker 4: to the Reds.

687
00:35:10,173 --> 00:35:13,373
Speaker 3: Look, I'll punt the Crusaders, but I'll be cheering wholeheartedly

688
00:35:13,373 --> 00:35:14,013
Speaker 3: for the Reds.

689
00:35:13,973 --> 00:35:16,053
Speaker 4: So I'm going to transfer you to the Crusaders poems

690
00:35:16,053 --> 00:35:16,373
Speaker 4: all right?

691
00:35:16,453 --> 00:35:20,773
Speaker 2: Yeah, sure a Crusader three thirty five Saturday, Sunday afternoon.

692
00:35:20,813 --> 00:35:25,173
Speaker 4: Perfect timing, MVP Middle raining in the gardens anyway, It.

693
00:35:25,333 --> 00:35:27,573
Speaker 2: Never rains in the garden, so they and it won't

694
00:35:27,573 --> 00:35:31,013
Speaker 2: matter from next year because the one New Zealand Stadium

695
00:35:31,133 --> 00:35:35,373
Speaker 2: is going to be New Zealand's premiere sporting venal Edits

696
00:35:35,413 --> 00:35:37,453
Speaker 2: like an absolute picture. I can't wait too to go

697
00:35:37,493 --> 00:35:41,333
Speaker 2: down and visit rugby. Director Middle. This is the standings

698
00:35:41,413 --> 00:35:45,813
Speaker 2: as it stands after just two rounds. Tabata Way on

699
00:35:45,893 --> 00:35:49,533
Speaker 2: eight points, Damie mckinzey on five, Will Jordan and Kyle

700
00:35:49,533 --> 00:35:51,733
Speaker 2: Preston on three? Will any of those players add to

701
00:35:51,773 --> 00:35:54,853
Speaker 2: their numbers this week? Liam yours please?

702
00:35:55,813 --> 00:35:57,853
Speaker 4: Well we spoke about Ardi three points starty.

703
00:35:57,933 --> 00:36:02,893
Speaker 3: Pretty hard to go past herculean performance, wasn't it? So

704
00:36:03,013 --> 00:36:07,133
Speaker 3: three to Ardi, two to Quincy Payre standouts for the Chiefs,

705
00:36:08,053 --> 00:36:10,973
Speaker 3: and I'm going to give one to how God godfree,

706
00:36:11,013 --> 00:36:14,213
Speaker 3: being really impressed by his work at ten for the

707
00:36:14,253 --> 00:36:14,933
Speaker 3: Canes this year.

708
00:36:15,533 --> 00:36:17,493
Speaker 2: I actually are threes and twos are the same this

709
00:36:17,573 --> 00:36:20,773
Speaker 2: week Ardie save three for me, excellent on the weekend

710
00:36:20,853 --> 00:36:24,573
Speaker 2: quinte pie two for me and Boden Barrett gets my

711
00:36:24,653 --> 00:36:26,853
Speaker 2: one slotted at half back right at the end as well.

712
00:36:27,213 --> 00:36:30,293
Speaker 2: Did a job there for the Blues and so the Yeah,

713
00:36:30,293 --> 00:36:32,133
Speaker 2: there we go. Damien McKinzie missus out this week.

714
00:36:32,173 --> 00:36:35,093
Speaker 4: Next time Boden's half Maybe you think you should give

715
00:36:35,093 --> 00:36:36,293
Speaker 4: me a call some tips?

716
00:36:37,493 --> 00:36:42,573
Speaker 2: No, no, something I think you should do? Yeah, no,

717
00:36:42,653 --> 00:36:44,853
Speaker 2: not in the slightest Liam. Great to have you back

718
00:36:44,853 --> 00:36:47,693
Speaker 2: on the podcast. We'll be back again next week on

719
00:36:47,773 --> 00:36:50,053
Speaker 2: Rugby Direct. Thanks to our friends that Habit Health Techning

720
00:36:50,093 --> 00:36:52,373
Speaker 2: all your aches and pains from sport and worker. Thanks

721
00:36:52,413 --> 00:36:55,053
Speaker 2: to Last and Bars English, and we'll be back next week.

722
00:36:58,973 --> 00:37:01,653
Speaker 1: For more from News Talks ed B. Listen live on

723
00:37:01,693 --> 00:37:04,653
Speaker 1: air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever

724
00:37:04,733 --> 00:37:07,293
Speaker 1: you go with our podcast on iHeartRadio