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Speaker 1: You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow

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

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Speaker 1: Get inside the game from every angle. It's Rugby Direct

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Speaker 1: with Elliot Smith, powered by News Talks EDB.

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

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

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Speaker 2: another week to discuss the latest in Super Rugby Round

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Speaker 2: five in the books, Liam, it was a cracking old weekend.

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Speaker 2: We'll get to that in a minute, but I can

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Speaker 2: see he as always and well, we've got actually two

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Speaker 2: episodes coming out this week. If you're listening to this

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Speaker 2: on Monday, Tuesday, five am is when it will be released.

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Speaker 2: We were lucky enough to have all Black Sea coach

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Speaker 2: Scott Robertson and New Zealand Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson

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Speaker 2: in Rugby Direct towers for any special extended chat and

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Speaker 2: that goes live well five am Tuesday. As I say so,

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Speaker 2: it might already be out of people aren't listening to

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Speaker 2: this until Tuesday.

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Speaker 3: That's right, Eliot Bump a week for Rugby Direct.

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Speaker 4: It was great to have both those guys in studio

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Speaker 4: and hit them with all the hot topics, so rapp

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Speaker 4: is around that and enjoy.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, we'll have a bit more discussion maybe about that

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Speaker 2: next week on the pod and any reaction to that.

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Speaker 2: But let's get into Round five of Super Rugby Pacific

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Speaker 2: and work our way backwards. Chiefs thirty two, Blues thirty

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Speaker 2: one on Saturday night and Hamilton. The Blues lose again

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Speaker 2: one in four to start their season now in their

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Speaker 2: title defense. The Chiefs pit them at the very end.

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Speaker 2: A compelling game in many ways. The Blues threw everything

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Speaker 2: at the Chiefs I felt, but just didn't have the

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Speaker 2: class in the end that the Chiefs did, all the

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Speaker 2: ability to dig themselves out of holes that maybe the

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Speaker 2: home side did. What did you make of the game?

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Speaker 4: It was a great contest, wasn't an Elliott game of

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Speaker 4: the rounds to highly competitive teams and a lot to unpack. Really, look,

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Speaker 4: the Blues are unlucky in the finish. They kicked that

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Speaker 4: sideline conversion Xavier Taale, who I thought had a really soliday,

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Speaker 4: massive task for a young bloke to kick a match

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Speaker 4: winning sideline conversion and it did everything but curled in

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Speaker 4: hit the post and the Chiefs hold on.

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Speaker 3: At the death and in the end.

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Speaker 4: Their decision to kick the points rather than go for

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Speaker 4: the try and have a six point lead work for them,

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Speaker 4: but it almost didn't in terms of the match. The

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Speaker 4: Blues were always chasing that game. I thought Stephen Peterfetter

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Speaker 4: has to start at number ten for the Blues. He

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Speaker 4: came on massive impact, not all Diamonds. Had a couple

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Speaker 4: of moments where he mistouched and they like, but just

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Speaker 4: his ability to find space and the vision some really

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Speaker 4: classy touches, so he has to start for them. The

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Speaker 4: big issue for me for the Blues is their dominance

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Speaker 4: of their forward pack is not there. From last year,

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Speaker 4: they were blown off the ball a couple of times

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Speaker 4: and counterap situations that are conceding penalties at the scrum,

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Speaker 4: and that one of those counter rucks led directly to

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Speaker 4: non Xavier row Cortisratima has tried that the Chiefs breakout,

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Speaker 4: so those are really crucial moments and that dominance the

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Speaker 4: Blues head up the middle of the park and the

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Speaker 4: set piece in the collisions is not there and that's

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Speaker 4: where the Chiefs have made the big shift and targeting

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Speaker 4: them there as well. So I thought the Chief's got

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Speaker 4: some real pay off the bench with Simmasoni, Takyaju, Cortizratima

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Speaker 4: and others coming on having a big impression. The Blues

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Speaker 4: chased the game late, couldn't quite get there. But what

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Speaker 4: it also says is the Blues are last, their worst

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Speaker 4: start to a season since twenty nineteen, and the Blues

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Speaker 4: are first. So you know, that's a reflection of the

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Speaker 4: Shar's competition as well.

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Speaker 2: It is tight and one point separates the top team

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Speaker 2: in the bottom team or one of the bottom teams.

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Speaker 2: Now in the competition, it felt, as you said, the

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Speaker 2: Blues roy is chasing the game and they didn't perhaps

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Speaker 2: have the quality of the Chiefs. It was scrappy at

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Speaker 2: times for them. A lot of their tries were scrappy,

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Speaker 2: but they kept in the contest. And you know, there

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Speaker 2: was a lot of comments last game that they'll be

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Speaker 2: proud of the effort. Well they won't. Well maybe proud

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Speaker 2: of the effort, but they still have lost the game.

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Speaker 2: There were some bright spots though, as you mentioned, Zaba

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Speaker 2: Tally was was very very good, I thought, and Pera Fetter,

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Speaker 2: it's easy to zero in on the last couple of

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Speaker 2: moments of the game, but Para Feedtera mistouched from that

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Speaker 2: penalty right at the end as the Chiefs were slowing

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Speaker 2: it down, they got the penalty mistouched. That was a

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Speaker 2: big mistake. The ball gets booted back to them, they're

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Speaker 2: on the counter and Finlay Christie decides to kick ahead,

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Speaker 2: which was probably not the option I wouldn't have thought,

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Speaker 2: especially when then bade ground upfields. You know, you could

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Speaker 2: still work your way up, try and get a penalty,

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Speaker 2: get in position for a drop golf something like that.

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Speaker 2: It was a fairly poor option I thought, from you know,

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Speaker 2: an experienced all Black. So there are issues there. It's

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Speaker 2: easier to zero in the last two or three minutes

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Speaker 2: of the game and go. That's why the Blues lost it.

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Speaker 2: It wasn't the reason they lost it, but it certainly

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Speaker 2: didn't help.

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Speaker 3: No, it didn't.

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Speaker 4: And I come back to that the forward platform, and

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Speaker 4: it's not that it's not there, but it's it's vastly

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Speaker 4: different to it was last year. How many rolling wall

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Speaker 4: cracks do they have at the chief Chief's line and

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Speaker 4: they were repelled time and time again. Ricky Ricottelli was

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Speaker 4: scoring it at will last year from the Blues rolling

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Speaker 4: mall and teams now know what's coming with the Blues

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Speaker 4: and training it and start taking them head on. And

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Speaker 4: it's not that the Blues don't know where to go,

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Speaker 4: but it does feel like they're sort of caught between

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Speaker 4: two worlds.

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Speaker 2: I mean, they scored thirty one points, but have they

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Speaker 2: become a little bit predictable the Blues?

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Speaker 4: Yeah, I don't know if they're predictable, but it's just

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Speaker 4: last year they certainly caught the competition on the hop.

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Speaker 4: We hadn't seen that direct, simplistic style of rugby very

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Speaker 4: much out of the French top fourteen. Verncotta brought that

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Speaker 4: in no nonsense, up the guts, uncompromised and everyone knew

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Speaker 4: it was coming this year and there is a bit

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Speaker 4: more variety to the Blues game, but everyone's prepared for

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Speaker 4: it and they're countering it much better.

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Speaker 2: They're missing Boat and Barrett. I think that's fairly obvious

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Speaker 2: in terms of what he was adding at that point

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Speaker 2: to the season. Parafeedt would you start him at ten

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Speaker 2: this week against the Crusaders.

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Speaker 4: Yeah, it's a no brainer for me, And you mentioned

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Speaker 4: the mistouch, but there were two. He set up Riquewhanney

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Speaker 4: for the try that I think put the Blues ahead,

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Speaker 4: and there was another kick wide which exploited space.

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Speaker 3: A couple of long balls.

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Speaker 4: He just from a pure attacking potential vision he brings

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Speaker 4: so much more than Harry Plumber and Harry I think,

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Speaker 4: probably by his own admission, maybe struggling for confidence compared

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Speaker 4: to last year, that platform is not quite the same.

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Speaker 4: The Blues are making changes in their midfield. Clearly lot

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Speaker 4: happened there and they did have some outs just before

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Speaker 4: kickoff as well, Caleb Clark.

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Speaker 2: And offa FARSI went now at Cameron saw four was

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Speaker 2: out as well. So three relatively high profile players, certainly

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Speaker 2: two all blacks and then sofol has been in good

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Speaker 2: touch this season, so those are blows. But it felt

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Speaker 2: like last year maybe the Blues are just keep calm

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Speaker 2: and carry on. This year it feels like that they're

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Speaker 2: not quite there.

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Speaker 4: Yeah, and it doesn't get any easier. You've got the

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Speaker 4: Crusaders I think they're buying, and the Hurricanes, so there's

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Speaker 4: going to be some real hard conversations. Vinctda is a

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Speaker 4: tough man and he will becoming full noise at the

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Speaker 4: Blues that they didn't improve. But yeah, they're not the

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Speaker 4: team they were last year, and the Chiefs look that

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Speaker 4: they're fallible as well. I don't think they'd be overly,

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Speaker 4: you know, stoked with that performance. They could have very

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Speaker 4: nearly blew it at home. But look, there's a lot

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Speaker 4: to like them about them as well. They have threats

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Speaker 4: all over the park. Shawn Stevenson, dmat combination to Purvie

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Speaker 4: playing really well up front, got SAMMERSONI back to starting.

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Speaker 4: You know, some wereal weaponry right across their team.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, there certainly is that. I mean, as you say,

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Speaker 2: that wasn't a performance that dominated the Blues, but it

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Speaker 2: was good enough to win even though they probably didn't

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Speaker 2: play to their full potential. Damien McKenzie back at ten

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Speaker 2: for the first time this season after missing that Drioler game.

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Speaker 2: He's popped up very very well at full back with

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Speaker 2: Josh Jacob at ten. But it's going to be interesting

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Speaker 2: to see where the Chiefs go to over the course

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Speaker 2: of the season and whether they decide McKenzie's they are

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Speaker 2: ten for the next for the rest of the season,

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Speaker 2: or whether they go back to Jacob at ten and

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Speaker 2: mackenzie fifteen. Nashaw and Stevenson also back as well.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, I think they stick with that combination.

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Speaker 4: There'll be a bit of rotation with the mandatory or blacks,

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Speaker 4: rests and potential injuries and the like. Butts, I think

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Speaker 4: d mac and Stevenson complement each other really well. I

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Speaker 4: really rate Josh Jacob, but I think they'll stick with

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Speaker 4: that combination.

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Speaker 2: Yeah. Indeed, let's go further back to had it afternoon

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Speaker 2: the Crusaders beating the Force fifty five thirty three tries

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Speaker 2: a plenty in christ Church under the sun, eighty eight

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Speaker 2: points in the end. It was free flowing defense wasn't

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Speaker 2: always the sharpest from either team, but it was entertaining

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Speaker 2: afternoon footy. And you know, the Force had been a

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Speaker 2: bogiey team for the Crusaders and years gone by. They

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Speaker 2: got pelted by them last year in Perth thirty seven

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Speaker 2: to fifteen, so there was a bit of a response

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Speaker 2: needed from the Crusaders. They got there in the end

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Speaker 2: and maca spring School's five tries Sevy Reese three. I'm

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Speaker 2: not sure really how much to dig into this game. Well,

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Speaker 2: what we learned from it, We probably didn't learn a

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Speaker 2: great deal, but it was good and other good win

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Speaker 2: banks by the Crusaders that probably this team would not

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Speaker 2: have done last year.

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Speaker 4: Yeah, that's it isn't that the momentum rolls on. I

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Speaker 4: guess for the Crusaders, I think they would be disappointed

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Speaker 4: that the Force were in the contest as long as

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Speaker 4: they were, and to concede that many points the Force rested,

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Speaker 4: you know, a bunch of their top players to among them,

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Speaker 4: what is the MVP of Super Rugby Fantasy? Yeah, and

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Speaker 4: what a what a return for macas springer. It's not

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Speaker 4: every day you get five tries and the fact him

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Speaker 4: and Reese got eight tries between them says a lot

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Speaker 4: about where the Crusaders are having success this year, where

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Speaker 4: they are attacking and those wide channels, so great advertisement

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Speaker 4: for Afternoon footy.

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Speaker 3: Five points for the Crusaders.

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Speaker 4: There are only one loss this year to the Chiefs,

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Speaker 4: so I think we'll learn a lot more come this

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Speaker 4: time next week about where they're at.

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Speaker 2: We certainly will would be great if he could goal kick.

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Speaker 2: That is a battle that is ongoing. I think he

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Speaker 2: missed all four in the first spell James O'Connor came on.

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Speaker 2: I'm not sure o konna missed any after he came

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Speaker 2: on and took over the goal kicking.

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Speaker 3: Who would you start those two?

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Speaker 2: Look? To be honest, I would still start taka, but

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Speaker 2: I wouldn't. I would take David Havilli or someone to

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Speaker 2: have the goal kicking. I think Kima is improving week

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Speaker 2: to week and we're seeing the difference from last year

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Speaker 2: where he lost his confidence he had to go back

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Speaker 2: and play club rugby and Waikato. Not the finished product

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Speaker 2: as yet, but you can see him growing and controlling

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Speaker 2: the back line week to week, and I think that's

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Speaker 2: the big difference from last year. I like James O'Connor

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Speaker 2: coming on in the last twenty twenty five minutes. I

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Speaker 2: think that's a good one to punch for where the

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Speaker 2: Crusaders are ratt in terms of their depth at ten

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Speaker 2: at the moment, so I'd probably leave it that way,

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Speaker 2: but I'd hand over the gulking duties to someone else.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, I agree.

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Speaker 4: I think you've got to retain faith in young players,

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Speaker 4: let them not lose and learn, but allow them to

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Speaker 4: opportunities to make mistakes, to grow, to not have that

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Speaker 4: selection jeopardy hanging over their head. And you're right that

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Speaker 4: bringing that experience hit and O'Connor on works for you.

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Speaker 4: But at this point the Crusaders certainly don't want a

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Speaker 4: title of Taha Kimrada at number ten.

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Speaker 3: I'm sorry to.

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Speaker 2: Say, Well, we'll find out in June, won't we. Let's

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Speaker 2: go to Friday Night and the Highlanders Hurricanes. Now, I

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Speaker 2: didn't see much of the first half of any of

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Speaker 2: the first half of this because there were a few

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Speaker 2: issues with Skysport now watching it, and I was listening

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Speaker 2: to the descriptions from Paul Allison on gold Sport and iHeartRadio,

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Speaker 2: which were great. But learning or trying to pick out

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Speaker 2: the first forty minutes and then watching the second forty

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Speaker 2: minutes is a difficult balance. What did you make of it?

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Speaker 4: Lem, Yeah, well, first of all it was it did

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Speaker 4: set shaker from our mates at sky Look, I don't

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Speaker 4: know what happened behind the scenes, but yeah, I missed

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Speaker 4: the first half hour. I certainly wasn't alone alone. There

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Speaker 4: was a lot of outrage online. In the age of streaming,

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Speaker 4: you've just got to be better than that, so it

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Speaker 4: was a big frustration. But look, this was I have

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Speaker 4: been back and watched the first half since the first

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Speaker 4: half wasn't of great quality at all, a lot of mistakes,

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Speaker 4: a lot of turnovers. But it did come to life

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Speaker 4: in the second half. Great contest and very easily could

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Speaker 4: have gone either way. A lot of passion from the

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Speaker 4: Hurricanes on the bench in those closing stages closing it out,

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Speaker 4: and you could see how much that one meant to

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Speaker 4: them having struggled through much of the season, and props

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Speaker 4: to the Highlanders that they're still missing a bunch of players.

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Speaker 4: And the way what I like about the Henders this

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Speaker 4: year is they've got they seem to have a lot

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Speaker 4: more threats. They create something out of nothing. Caleb Tonguey

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Speaker 4: Towel has been a massive recruit for them with his.

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Speaker 3: Speed out and out speed.

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Speaker 4: It's not something very like widely prevalent in New Zealand rugby,

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Speaker 4: so that's a real point of difference. His chip and

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Speaker 4: chased that set up to try to take the leave

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Speaker 4: for the Holanders all very nearly won them the match.

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Speaker 4: Some big performances in this game toops care for, I

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Speaker 4: want to touch on him. I think it was Jamie

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Speaker 4: Macintosh on of Jason Pine. At the weekend his mouthguard

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Speaker 4: measured one hundred contact measurements in a game, which is

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Speaker 4: unheard of and that speed to his work great and

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Speaker 4: for me is becoming in the arty mold where he

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Speaker 4: really stands up when his team needs him on the line,

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Speaker 4: he's getting that crucial turnover that saves a try.

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Speaker 3: He wears his heart on his sleeve. He's matured.

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Speaker 4: He used to be a guy that would be very

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Speaker 4: penalty prone and almost do more harm than goods. But

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Speaker 4: he seems to have matured in his decision making the

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Speaker 4: captaincy I think has brought out the best in him.

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Speaker 4: He's not the biggest guy, but he's usually physical and

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Speaker 4: right now interested in your view, he's my all black

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Speaker 4: starting open side.

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Speaker 2: I tend to agree the one caveator would have is

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Speaker 2: that he can be a penalty magnet. I'm not entirely

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Speaker 2: sure that that's entirely gone from his game. It was

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Speaker 2: interesting hearing his comments on Sky after the weekend where

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Speaker 2: I think we sort of directly reference that and knowing

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Speaker 2: when the right time is to strike, knowing you've got

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Speaker 2: your body in the right position, you're over the ball,

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Speaker 2: you're showing the referee the right pictures, rather than going

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Speaker 2: hell for leather and trying to do it at every

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Speaker 2: ruck and conceding penalties. He seems to have matured in

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Speaker 2: that regard. I would still have a couple of worries

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Speaker 2: around that, but ultimately the kind of film that he's

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Speaker 2: in and the kind of doggedness that he brings to

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Speaker 2: a team, I think you've got to have him in

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Speaker 2: the All Blacks mix. And he's he was.

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Speaker 3: There last year but on more on the fringe of

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Speaker 3: the squad because of injuries.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, and he came in during COVID and twenty twenty

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Speaker 2: from memory, flew over to Australia when they were in

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Speaker 2: that bubble, didn't play and they obviously couldn't come home

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Speaker 2: because that couldn't played the NBC. But he's been around

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Speaker 2: that All Blacks environment before. I think the way that

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Speaker 2: he's playing this year, he's got to be right in

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Speaker 2: that conversation. So who would you have then in that mix?

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Speaker 2: Is your six seven eight at the moment?

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Speaker 4: Then link Well, look Wallace the tea. He's the big

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Speaker 4: unknown at this point, isn't he Where he's injured. We

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Speaker 4: don't know quite when he's returning. It's meant to be

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Speaker 4: back end of Super Rugby, maybe in the playoffs, so

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Speaker 4: you would think he would need some time to get

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Speaker 4: up to speed.

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Speaker 3: He was a World.

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Speaker 4: Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year last year, so let's

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Speaker 4: just say he's not fully fit and firing for July.

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Speaker 4: Then I think you look at Ardi at eight and

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Speaker 4: Duplessly at seven.

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Speaker 3: I like that blend. They know each other well.

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Speaker 4: But if Wallace's fits, then Wallace at eight for me

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Speaker 4: Ardie at seven and maybe Duplessly off the bench. Obviously

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Speaker 4: Sam Kayines move on. But what does this say about

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Speaker 4: Dalton Popoali he's fallen down the ranks, isn't he has?

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Speaker 2: He fell down the ranks last year then couldn't go

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Speaker 2: on the end of year tour through injury which cost

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Speaker 2: him probably at least two Test matches, if not more.

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Speaker 2: And to be honest, I don't think he's having a

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Speaker 2: great Super Rugby season. We mentioned the Blue struggles in

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Speaker 2: the forwards before. Now I'm not saying it's rest on

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Speaker 2: his shoulders, but I just don't think he's having a

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Speaker 2: great season as part of that wider Blues forward pack.

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Speaker 4: Yeah, and I think turnovers are so valuable in the

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Speaker 4: modern game, and it's about picking your moments and you know,

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Speaker 4: pilfering those and we're probably not seeing enough of that

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Speaker 4: from Dalton. You've got guys like Anton Signa getting crucial

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Speaker 4: turnovers for the Blues. I think Dalton got one at

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Speaker 4: the weekend and they went back for another penalty against

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Speaker 4: the Blues. But those sort of moments are so crucial,

341
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Speaker 4: and Dalton's a different player. He's bigger, probably a bit

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Speaker 4: of ball carrier that than Dop Carefy. It works hard defensively,

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Speaker 4: but yeah, he's got a got a bit of work

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Speaker 4: to do. And then you're looking at guys like Ethan

345
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Speaker 4: blackout of Luke Jacobson, so there's a lot of depth.

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Speaker 3: Peter Luckeye started.

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Speaker 4: Played what seventy eight minutes against France, so there's a

348
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Speaker 4: pathora of options there. But on form right now, Careef

349
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Speaker 4: is saying, Scott Robinson, you must have me in your squad.

350
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Speaker 2: You mentioned the size factor with Crief. He is a

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Speaker 2: smaller open so flank. Did you have any worries about

352
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Speaker 2: that because that does hurt the makeup of the loose

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Speaker 2: Ford trio.

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Speaker 4: I think you can. It's about the balance, isn't it.

355
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Speaker 4: I think the loose forwards and the midfield are about balance.

356
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Speaker 4: You need you need that size factor. That's that is important.

357
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Speaker 4: But if you have a big six or a big

358
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Speaker 4: eight and you've got ball carrying locks and props and Hookers.

359
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Speaker 4: You can get around there. I think I think he's

360
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Speaker 4: big enough to make an impact on the tests, on

361
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Speaker 4: the test scene.

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Speaker 2: Just as we wrap up that game, the Highlanders pips.

363
00:18:43,693 --> 00:18:46,053
Speaker 2: You know that couple opportunities Sam Gilbert MSUs a penalty

364
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Speaker 2: later on which was gettable, and the drop goal and

365
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Speaker 2: the drop goal which was further out and maybe not

366
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Speaker 2: the play at that point in time, they could have

367
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Speaker 2: won that game. They were right in it, and I

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Speaker 2: think the Hinders have to take a lot out of it.

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Speaker 3: Yeah.

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Speaker 4: Look, though, unlucky if you're highd has found you're screaming

371
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Speaker 4: for penalty for the glancing high shot at the end

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00:19:04,973 --> 00:19:08,253
Speaker 4: that was missed. As a Hurricanes fan, I hadn't seen

373
00:19:08,453 --> 00:19:12,533
Speaker 4: thing there, so yeah, look, the Highlands are lucky they

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Speaker 4: had chances to win it. I did feel like the

375
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Speaker 4: Hurricanes were a bit of team dominated for large periods

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Speaker 4: and the Hondas, through Tonguey Tower or someone else, created

377
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Speaker 4: something out of nothing. I don't feel like they've built

378
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Speaker 4: as much pressure, but yeah, very evenly matched these kiwidoobies

379
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Speaker 4: that they can go either way. So it wouldn't be

380
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Speaker 4: downbeat if I was the Honders.

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Speaker 2: What did you make of the jerseys.

382
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Speaker 3: Look kind of sound like a boomer here, but.

383
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Speaker 2: I thought you're a big superhero guy.

384
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Speaker 4: Fast approaching for forty something from pretty much a boomer.

385
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Speaker 4: I don't like them, but you and I are probably

386
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Speaker 4: not the target.

387
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Speaker 2: Market kids around here.

388
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Speaker 4: Yeah, but for me, I love the classics. The throwbacks

389
00:19:58,453 --> 00:20:04,013
Speaker 4: are really really like those the Marvel elements. I get

390
00:20:04,213 --> 00:20:07,653
Speaker 4: it may appeal to kids, but yeah, I didn't like

391
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Speaker 4: the jerseys.

392
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Speaker 3: That my personal view.

393
00:20:09,213 --> 00:20:11,653
Speaker 2: But it was a hard watched, especially in that game

394
00:20:11,773 --> 00:20:14,493
Speaker 2: where and to be honest, the Chief where the Blues

395
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Speaker 2: are we in red, but when you had neither team

396
00:20:16,733 --> 00:20:20,093
Speaker 2: wearing their traditional colors just felt a little bit on

397
00:20:20,173 --> 00:20:22,093
Speaker 2: the nose. When it was the Hurricanes wearing red one

398
00:20:22,173 --> 00:20:25,693
Speaker 2: blue of Captain America which I'm not sure why we're

399
00:20:26,133 --> 00:20:27,933
Speaker 2: h and the Hinders were in green, it just felt

400
00:20:27,933 --> 00:20:29,893
Speaker 2: I mean, I love the Hinders and green, like their

401
00:20:29,893 --> 00:20:32,973
Speaker 2: old jerseys and green, but just didn't do it for me.

402
00:20:34,093 --> 00:20:37,333
Speaker 2: A couple of things from the weekend. Brumby's just not

403
00:20:37,333 --> 00:20:39,413
Speaker 2: necessarily going under the radar, but this is a good

404
00:20:39,413 --> 00:20:41,413
Speaker 2: win for them at home against the drawer after beating

405
00:20:41,413 --> 00:20:44,293
Speaker 2: the Blues previous week. The Reds and the Wartar is

406
00:20:44,373 --> 00:20:47,653
Speaker 2: unbeaten run We're starting to see the Australian conference become

407
00:20:48,173 --> 00:20:51,493
Speaker 2: very very even. What do you make of the Aussie

408
00:20:51,493 --> 00:20:52,373
Speaker 2: sides over the weekend?

409
00:20:53,133 --> 00:20:58,453
Speaker 4: Yeah, probably most impressed by the Reds. I think the Waratars, well,

410
00:20:58,733 --> 00:21:01,053
Speaker 4: they've been unbeaten to this point in the air and

411
00:21:01,133 --> 00:21:03,213
Speaker 4: that might be their first match away from home actually

412
00:21:03,253 --> 00:21:06,253
Speaker 4: the Watars, so probably learning a bit about where they're at.

413
00:21:06,333 --> 00:21:08,693
Speaker 4: But I think the Reds have a bit of about them,

414
00:21:08,733 --> 00:21:13,813
Speaker 4: certainly at some court. I love the way they play, enterprising, attacking,

415
00:21:14,493 --> 00:21:17,813
Speaker 4: number of threats Harry Wilson and Tate mcdonnalm. I think

416
00:21:17,813 --> 00:21:21,093
Speaker 4: they potentially lose Fraser mcwright to an injury, so big

417
00:21:21,133 --> 00:21:24,533
Speaker 4: blow for them there. And yeah, the Brumbi's always tough

418
00:21:24,573 --> 00:21:27,053
Speaker 4: to beat in Canberra. They head to grind that out,

419
00:21:27,373 --> 00:21:31,253
Speaker 4: but a big one for them. Who's the best Aussie team?

420
00:21:31,293 --> 00:21:32,853
Speaker 2: Well, I think the Reds have put their head above

421
00:21:32,853 --> 00:21:35,413
Speaker 2: the parapet over the course of the weekend. I still

422
00:21:35,413 --> 00:21:37,253
Speaker 2: think the Brumbies, on the basis of what they were

423
00:21:37,253 --> 00:21:40,373
Speaker 2: able to do Eden Park the previous week, the Australian

424
00:21:40,413 --> 00:21:43,853
Speaker 2: team to beat the Warritars have slipped down the rankings

425
00:21:43,973 --> 00:21:45,493
Speaker 2: over the course of the weekend and the Reds have

426
00:21:45,533 --> 00:21:47,053
Speaker 2: maybe just gone back up a little bit after that

427
00:21:47,093 --> 00:21:50,093
Speaker 2: lost the Crusader. I think they're all relatively even. Maybe

428
00:21:50,133 --> 00:21:52,613
Speaker 2: the Force tucked in in fourth at the moment after

429
00:21:52,653 --> 00:21:54,533
Speaker 2: a strong ish start to the season. They've just sort

430
00:21:54,533 --> 00:21:57,373
Speaker 2: of gone off and lost three in a row. Tough

431
00:21:57,413 --> 00:21:59,893
Speaker 2: look for my war Tars Blues final prediction though at

432
00:21:59,893 --> 00:22:00,773
Speaker 2: this point in the season.

433
00:22:01,813 --> 00:22:05,853
Speaker 4: Yes, yes, well you haven't been known for your great

434
00:22:05,853 --> 00:22:07,093
Speaker 4: predictions and over the years.

435
00:22:07,213 --> 00:22:09,853
Speaker 2: No, we'll get to that in the next segment. Also,

436
00:22:10,733 --> 00:22:14,493
Speaker 2: it appears that Lid's kiss if you look at the

437
00:22:14,493 --> 00:22:16,733
Speaker 2: reports over the Australian the course of the weekend now

438
00:22:16,893 --> 00:22:19,333
Speaker 2: in the box seat to become the Wallabies coach. Towns

439
00:22:19,333 --> 00:22:21,133
Speaker 2: like Dan mckellor didn't even get an interview from some

440
00:22:21,173 --> 00:22:23,773
Speaker 2: of the reporting I'm reading. Les Kiss firmly in the

441
00:22:23,813 --> 00:22:26,013
Speaker 2: box seat gave it the old straight back when he

442
00:22:26,013 --> 00:22:28,613
Speaker 2: was interviewed over the weekend. But I would say odds

443
00:22:28,653 --> 00:22:31,373
Speaker 2: on to replace Joe Schmitt later this year as Wallaby's coach.

444
00:22:31,813 --> 00:22:34,413
Speaker 4: Yeah, I think we talked about the start of this

445
00:22:34,533 --> 00:22:38,173
Speaker 4: year that the next Wallabies coach would come from Australia

446
00:22:38,933 --> 00:22:41,613
Speaker 4: and look Les Kiss has done a great job with

447
00:22:41,653 --> 00:22:44,573
Speaker 4: the Reds. They were very competitive last year when he

448
00:22:44,613 --> 00:22:47,373
Speaker 4: came in and took over from Brad Thorne. And I

449
00:22:47,413 --> 00:22:51,573
Speaker 4: think there's probably a lure with less about his relationship

450
00:22:51,613 --> 00:22:54,893
Speaker 4: with Joe Shmitt, the ability to potentially keep Joe on

451
00:22:55,013 --> 00:22:59,053
Speaker 4: and some sort of director of rugby technical whatever you

452
00:22:59,053 --> 00:23:01,453
Speaker 4: want to call it. But those two would work well

453
00:23:01,493 --> 00:23:05,333
Speaker 4: together and that would be a great combination for Australian rugby.

454
00:23:05,973 --> 00:23:08,893
Speaker 4: I would be surprised if Dan McKellen didn't at least

455
00:23:08,933 --> 00:23:11,733
Speaker 4: get an interview. I think you want to be bringing

456
00:23:11,813 --> 00:23:14,893
Speaker 4: him into the bosom and you know, keeping him there.

457
00:23:15,973 --> 00:23:18,133
Speaker 4: He's a various stute coach, did a great job with

458
00:23:18,173 --> 00:23:21,853
Speaker 4: the Brumbies as well. Didn't go so well up North,

459
00:23:21,893 --> 00:23:23,373
Speaker 4: but he wouldn't be the first coach to do that.

460
00:23:23,533 --> 00:23:26,413
Speaker 4: So look, I think lest because we'll do a good

461
00:23:26,453 --> 00:23:29,493
Speaker 4: job with the Wallabies and pick up where Joe Schmitt

462
00:23:29,653 --> 00:23:30,173
Speaker 4: leaves off.

463
00:23:30,373 --> 00:23:32,693
Speaker 2: We'll see if it gets confirmed in the next week

464
00:23:32,733 --> 00:23:35,333
Speaker 2: while across the Tares and will take a break here

465
00:23:35,373 --> 00:23:37,173
Speaker 2: and Rugby Direct come back with the second half of

466
00:23:37,253 --> 00:23:39,613
Speaker 2: Rugby Direct after this. Could I see our friends at

467
00:23:39,613 --> 00:23:40,133
Speaker 2: Habit Health.

468
00:23:40,813 --> 00:23:45,253
Speaker 1: This is Rugby Direct a podcast for real rugby fans.

469
00:23:48,693 --> 00:23:51,733
Speaker 1: Every try, every tackle, every big moment.

470
00:23:52,093 --> 00:23:53,293
Speaker 3: It's Rugby Direct.

471
00:23:53,333 --> 00:23:54,293
Speaker 1: How would by News.

472
00:23:54,173 --> 00:23:57,413
Speaker 2: Corsiby welcome back into Rugby Direct, paler By Habit Health.

473
00:23:57,733 --> 00:23:59,893
Speaker 2: Time for the final four to four rugby topics. Liam

474
00:23:59,933 --> 00:24:03,293
Speaker 2: and I debated them, and you the listener the judge

475
00:24:03,333 --> 00:24:06,413
Speaker 2: of who comes out on top the Six Nations topic

476
00:24:06,493 --> 00:24:10,773
Speaker 2: number one, finish it over the weekend? Are the French, Liam,

477
00:24:11,053 --> 00:24:12,693
Speaker 2: the best team in the world.

478
00:24:13,693 --> 00:24:17,813
Speaker 3: No, No, they're not. But the spring box.

479
00:24:19,253 --> 00:24:21,853
Speaker 4: I think they'll put together a hell of a portfolio

480
00:24:22,293 --> 00:24:25,933
Speaker 4: since the last World Cup, the previous World Cup, so

481
00:24:27,133 --> 00:24:29,933
Speaker 4: you've got to take the man to off them. But France,

482
00:24:31,053 --> 00:24:33,773
Speaker 4: it's not just winning the Six Nations, it's how they

483
00:24:33,813 --> 00:24:36,853
Speaker 4: did it that they lost it ticking them, but the

484
00:24:36,933 --> 00:24:39,773
Speaker 4: manner in which they've gone about their work going away

485
00:24:39,813 --> 00:24:43,933
Speaker 4: and really dismantling Ireland at home. There was a fantastic

486
00:24:43,973 --> 00:24:48,373
Speaker 4: performance and doing it emphatically at the weekend. The style

487
00:24:48,413 --> 00:24:51,493
Speaker 4: of rug where they're playing, the pace, the width, the

488
00:24:51,653 --> 00:24:54,373
Speaker 4: unstructuredness with what they're doing it, the way they're doing

489
00:24:54,413 --> 00:24:59,653
Speaker 4: it offloads, it's incredibly hard to count because they don't

490
00:24:59,653 --> 00:25:02,373
Speaker 4: even know what's coming next. And It is a tired

491
00:25:02,453 --> 00:25:06,173
Speaker 4: cliche about the French flamboyance, but I think it is

492
00:25:06,213 --> 00:25:08,293
Speaker 4: starting to come back into their game.

493
00:25:08,373 --> 00:25:11,893
Speaker 2: The flamboyants, but it's controlled flamboyants, I mean, apart from

494
00:25:11,933 --> 00:25:14,813
Speaker 2: the crossfield kick in the twenty two and the Island game.

495
00:25:14,853 --> 00:25:19,253
Speaker 2: But they're picking their moments and they're finding ways to

496
00:25:20,413 --> 00:25:23,453
Speaker 2: balance both things out. I mean, Louis bell Berri is

497
00:25:24,053 --> 00:25:27,693
Speaker 2: an incredible player. They did this win without DuPont. On

498
00:25:27,733 --> 00:25:30,813
Speaker 2: the weekend we saw a very good number nine and

499
00:25:30,933 --> 00:25:34,933
Speaker 2: makes him lookout at half back. But their depth is

500
00:25:34,973 --> 00:25:37,533
Speaker 2: quite quite something that they're building there in France, and

501
00:25:37,573 --> 00:25:39,933
Speaker 2: it didn't obviously come to pass at the home World Cup,

502
00:25:39,973 --> 00:25:43,973
Speaker 2: but they took a baby French side to the twenty

503
00:25:44,053 --> 00:25:46,173
Speaker 2: nineteen World Cup. We're now seeing the fruits of that

504
00:25:46,373 --> 00:25:51,293
Speaker 2: and they they just you know, the England game, it

505
00:25:51,373 --> 00:25:54,093
Speaker 2: took them aside. They look very very hard to break

506
00:25:54,133 --> 00:25:55,613
Speaker 2: down over the course of eighty minutes.

507
00:25:56,133 --> 00:25:57,653
Speaker 3: They can do it all, can't they. They can.

508
00:25:57,893 --> 00:26:01,853
Speaker 4: They've got power up fronts, they are strong at the

509
00:26:01,853 --> 00:26:04,373
Speaker 4: set piece, their kicking game is very proficient.

510
00:26:04,493 --> 00:26:05,773
Speaker 3: They've got pace out wide.

511
00:26:06,453 --> 00:26:09,013
Speaker 4: They can break you every I think Roman and Intermac

512
00:26:09,053 --> 00:26:10,893
Speaker 4: has been a massive in for them as well. He's

513
00:26:10,893 --> 00:26:15,093
Speaker 4: coming late after the best part of a year, maybe

514
00:26:15,133 --> 00:26:18,533
Speaker 4: more on the sideline. So yeah, that that depth that

515
00:26:18,573 --> 00:26:22,533
Speaker 4: you speak about, you know, and du Pond goes off

516
00:26:22,533 --> 00:26:25,453
Speaker 4: and they bring on another classy halfback. Just just on Intermac,

517
00:26:25,493 --> 00:26:28,853
Speaker 4: I'll read you something here from LAKEEP and this speaks

518
00:26:28,893 --> 00:26:33,213
Speaker 4: to the to the the podcast we've got with Raser

519
00:26:33,333 --> 00:26:37,173
Speaker 4: and Mark Robinson and how Raser is expecting planning for

520
00:26:37,213 --> 00:26:40,013
Speaker 4: the best French team to come down. So Roman Intermac

521
00:26:40,573 --> 00:26:44,493
Speaker 4: is basically he's not loan Gregory Uldra as well. These

522
00:26:44,533 --> 00:26:46,293
Speaker 4: guys are saying if they do play in the Top

523
00:26:46,293 --> 00:26:49,373
Speaker 4: fourteen final that they're going to seek an exemption to

524
00:26:49,453 --> 00:26:51,653
Speaker 4: be selected in the French team to come to New Zealand.

525
00:26:51,693 --> 00:26:55,413
Speaker 4: So this is Intermac telling LAKEEP. I don't really know

526
00:26:55,973 --> 00:26:58,613
Speaker 4: what is possible yet, whether finalists will be allowed to

527
00:26:58,653 --> 00:27:01,213
Speaker 4: go to New Zealand. Maybe an exemption will be made

528
00:27:01,213 --> 00:27:03,933
Speaker 4: depending on the tour. Because it's quite an exceptional opportunity

529
00:27:03,973 --> 00:27:05,613
Speaker 4: to play in New Zealand final.

530
00:27:05,733 --> 00:27:06,373
Speaker 3: No final.

531
00:27:06,893 --> 00:27:08,813
Speaker 4: If I have to go, it will be with pleasure.

532
00:27:09,413 --> 00:27:11,613
Speaker 4: A tour in New Zealand is a truly unique experience.

533
00:27:11,693 --> 00:27:13,733
Speaker 4: It's my dream to play there if I have the

534
00:27:13,813 --> 00:27:15,853
Speaker 4: chance to go, even if the club is in the final,

535
00:27:15,893 --> 00:27:19,933
Speaker 4: will obviously be with pleasure and Gregory aldrit saying something similar.

536
00:27:19,973 --> 00:27:22,933
Speaker 4: So these guys, these guys want to come, So it

537
00:27:23,053 --> 00:27:26,013
Speaker 4: might not be the Maybe some of these guys will

538
00:27:26,013 --> 00:27:27,893
Speaker 4: come out for the second or third Test. I don't

539
00:27:27,933 --> 00:27:30,173
Speaker 4: know how it will transpire, but clearly there is a

540
00:27:30,173 --> 00:27:33,373
Speaker 4: desire to come down here and play the All Blacks.

541
00:27:33,413 --> 00:27:36,693
Speaker 2: Well, what this is the last opportunity to have this

542
00:27:36,853 --> 00:27:39,813
Speaker 2: test series for the foreseeable future. Now, assuming the Nation's

543
00:27:39,853 --> 00:27:44,333
Speaker 2: Cup stays as it is and rolls out from twenty

544
00:27:44,373 --> 00:27:47,053
Speaker 2: twenty six, then there won't be these three tests inbound

545
00:27:47,133 --> 00:27:50,133
Speaker 2: tours anymore, so it will be lost. So this is

546
00:27:50,173 --> 00:27:53,373
Speaker 2: the last opportunity for these French players to get it

547
00:27:53,413 --> 00:27:55,653
Speaker 2: at least as current here because you know, we'll Raby

548
00:27:55,653 --> 00:27:58,213
Speaker 2: can change in ten years. They may flick and go

549
00:27:58,293 --> 00:28:01,213
Speaker 2: back to what it is so great that they're keen

550
00:28:01,293 --> 00:28:03,453
Speaker 2: on coming. The question I have is around those dates.

551
00:28:03,493 --> 00:28:06,773
Speaker 2: You know, the Rugby Championship starts a little bit later

552
00:28:06,813 --> 00:28:11,373
Speaker 2: this year because of the Lion Tour in Australia. Couldn't

553
00:28:11,493 --> 00:28:15,573
Speaker 2: I mean, I'm sure there's a reason why and probably

554
00:28:15,613 --> 00:28:18,013
Speaker 2: a very good reason. But couldn't you push back the

555
00:28:18,133 --> 00:28:21,293
Speaker 2: dates of the All Blacks France tests to align and

556
00:28:21,373 --> 00:28:23,773
Speaker 2: go deeper in the year. I get these players from

557
00:28:23,773 --> 00:28:25,613
Speaker 2: France have to have a break, But if you're clashing

558
00:28:25,613 --> 00:28:28,053
Speaker 2: with the top fourteen final, couldn't you go back by

559
00:28:28,053 --> 00:28:30,093
Speaker 2: a week or two and go, well, we want the

560
00:28:30,133 --> 00:28:32,133
Speaker 2: best players coming out to New Zealand. If that's going

561
00:28:32,213 --> 00:28:34,613
Speaker 2: to allow it to happen, we can push the series

562
00:28:34,653 --> 00:28:36,813
Speaker 2: back a little bit because you're going to have to

563
00:28:36,813 --> 00:28:38,493
Speaker 2: have a break at the other end of the series

564
00:28:38,533 --> 00:28:42,813
Speaker 2: while the Lion series goes on across the Tasman. Yeah.

565
00:28:43,253 --> 00:28:46,093
Speaker 4: I don't see why there couldn't be any flexibility there.

566
00:28:46,133 --> 00:28:49,773
Speaker 4: I guess there'd be some sort of stringent world Rugby

567
00:28:49,813 --> 00:28:54,813
Speaker 4: regulations around Regulation nine or player release, some sort of

568
00:28:55,213 --> 00:28:56,293
Speaker 4: caveat there.

569
00:28:56,333 --> 00:28:58,453
Speaker 2: But yeah, but if these players are taking an exemption,

570
00:28:59,293 --> 00:29:01,333
Speaker 2: I mean, maybe New Zealand and France should have come

571
00:29:01,373 --> 00:29:03,373
Speaker 2: to the table a bit earlier and gone, well, we'll

572
00:29:03,413 --> 00:29:06,853
Speaker 2: seek an exemption to the Regulation nine. You know, maybe

573
00:29:06,853 --> 00:29:08,973
Speaker 2: it's far too complicated with player release and very things

574
00:29:09,013 --> 00:29:09,213
Speaker 2: like that.

575
00:29:09,293 --> 00:29:11,093
Speaker 4: You want the best of the best as bottom lineers

576
00:29:11,333 --> 00:29:13,533
Speaker 4: and at least there is a desire from these players

577
00:29:13,533 --> 00:29:16,573
Speaker 4: to come out, so yeah, maybe we will see them

578
00:29:16,573 --> 00:29:18,413
Speaker 4: at the back end of that series.

579
00:29:18,133 --> 00:29:20,333
Speaker 2: And continue on with the Six Nations. Before we leave

580
00:29:20,373 --> 00:29:25,333
Speaker 2: that topic. England belted Wales and this is Wales. We

581
00:29:25,373 --> 00:29:27,533
Speaker 2: thought they couldn't maybe plumb new depths with a fan

582
00:29:27,613 --> 00:29:29,773
Speaker 2: a new way to manage to do so sixty eight

583
00:29:29,853 --> 00:29:34,093
Speaker 2: fourteen at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. None of that

584
00:29:34,173 --> 00:29:38,413
Speaker 2: was pretty from a Welsh perspective, and I thought they'd

585
00:29:38,413 --> 00:29:40,653
Speaker 2: already hit rock bottom, as I said, but they've managed

586
00:29:40,693 --> 00:29:41,653
Speaker 2: to find a new.

587
00:29:41,653 --> 00:29:44,893
Speaker 4: Rock bottom as dark times and particularly at home with

588
00:29:45,093 --> 00:29:47,133
Speaker 4: an expectant crowded and there was a lot of chat

589
00:29:47,213 --> 00:29:49,893
Speaker 4: in the build up to that game that Wales could

590
00:29:49,933 --> 00:29:52,653
Speaker 4: tip up England's you know, a bit of a banana

591
00:29:52,693 --> 00:29:57,213
Speaker 4: skin everything to play for Wales typically get up for

592
00:29:57,253 --> 00:30:03,013
Speaker 4: England's you know, just over the bridge. So yeah, interesting

593
00:30:03,013 --> 00:30:05,053
Speaker 4: to see where they go from a coaching perspective, but

594
00:30:05,293 --> 00:30:08,453
Speaker 4: there's some real deep set of issues and as is

595
00:30:08,573 --> 00:30:13,053
Speaker 4: anything else, it's about trying to rebuild the culture and

596
00:30:13,093 --> 00:30:15,773
Speaker 4: the confidence of those players, because I think I saw

597
00:30:15,813 --> 00:30:18,293
Speaker 4: their standing coach saying that it was a devastating defeat

598
00:30:18,293 --> 00:30:21,013
Speaker 4: for the players and it really is to cop that

599
00:30:21,053 --> 00:30:21,813
Speaker 4: scoreline at home.

600
00:30:21,893 --> 00:30:24,893
Speaker 2: Yeah, seeing some of the images postmatch, they looked absolutely

601
00:30:25,173 --> 00:30:26,693
Speaker 2: shell shocked. The other one I want to touch on

602
00:30:26,733 --> 00:30:28,853
Speaker 2: before we move on to topic two in the final

603
00:30:28,893 --> 00:30:31,933
Speaker 2: four is Ireland, who seem to have gone backwards a

604
00:30:32,013 --> 00:30:35,133
Speaker 2: little bit in the Six Nations. Now they're being coached

605
00:30:35,133 --> 00:30:37,213
Speaker 2: by an interim coach and Simon needs to be while

606
00:30:37,253 --> 00:30:40,773
Speaker 2: Andy Farrell prepares himself for the Lions. Is it as

607
00:30:40,773 --> 00:30:43,213
Speaker 2: simple as that or are there a few other issues

608
00:30:43,213 --> 00:30:46,773
Speaker 2: of the Island. I mean Ken Hareley, peterro o'mari Colin

609
00:30:46,973 --> 00:30:49,413
Speaker 2: and Murray all finishing their international career. Is that some

610
00:30:49,453 --> 00:30:52,253
Speaker 2: experience they're going to have to replace. Who are part

611
00:30:52,293 --> 00:30:56,013
Speaker 2: of this golden generation that Island's had. Is it a

612
00:30:56,013 --> 00:30:58,693
Speaker 2: blipp or is it maybe a few issues beginning to

613
00:30:58,973 --> 00:31:01,253
Speaker 2: emerge for the Irish.

614
00:31:01,293 --> 00:31:07,893
Speaker 4: It's a worry because Ireland have set the bar between

615
00:31:07,933 --> 00:31:10,893
Speaker 4: will that they've had an exceptional run going back to

616
00:31:11,333 --> 00:31:15,013
Speaker 4: Joe Schmidt, but haven't quite had that breakthrough success to

617
00:31:15,093 --> 00:31:17,213
Speaker 4: really hang their head on. From a global perspective, the

618
00:31:17,333 --> 00:31:20,533
Speaker 4: one six Six Nations are one Grand Slams and they

619
00:31:20,533 --> 00:31:23,293
Speaker 4: have had this golden generation as you mentioned, but now

620
00:31:23,333 --> 00:31:26,853
Speaker 4: clearly they need to regenerate from a player perspective and

621
00:31:27,093 --> 00:31:31,333
Speaker 4: probably from stylistically to evolve as well. This is not

622
00:31:31,373 --> 00:31:36,333
Speaker 4: an aberration. They lost at home to France. Obviously, the

623
00:31:36,333 --> 00:31:39,373
Speaker 4: All Blacks beat them there, which was their first loss

624
00:31:39,413 --> 00:31:43,773
Speaker 4: I think at home in nineteen ninety odd tests. So look,

625
00:31:43,813 --> 00:31:47,493
Speaker 4: it's not panic stations, but it is a worry when

626
00:31:47,533 --> 00:31:51,493
Speaker 4: Andy Farrell is absent and he will be keeping close tires.

627
00:31:51,533 --> 00:31:55,453
Speaker 4: But they'll be doing some pretty big soul searching after

628
00:31:55,493 --> 00:32:01,733
Speaker 4: that because they have raised the bar and that challenges

629
00:32:01,773 --> 00:32:05,213
Speaker 4: public expectation and now you need to consistently reach that.

630
00:32:05,413 --> 00:32:09,133
Speaker 4: So yeah, some real challenges in front eye and currently.

631
00:32:08,893 --> 00:32:11,573
Speaker 2: Yeah, I thought a little scrappy against Italians didn't rise

632
00:32:11,573 --> 00:32:15,093
Speaker 2: any great heights. Topic number two. Shan Stevens are making

633
00:32:15,093 --> 00:32:17,453
Speaker 2: some interesting comments last week back in New Zealand rugby,

634
00:32:17,493 --> 00:32:20,973
Speaker 2: albeit rather briefly before he goes back to Camboda later

635
00:32:21,053 --> 00:32:23,213
Speaker 2: on in this year around his All Blacks selection or

636
00:32:23,293 --> 00:32:25,773
Speaker 2: lack thereof, and talking about the lack of feedback that

637
00:32:25,813 --> 00:32:28,533
Speaker 2: he got from the All Blacks coaches and perhaps the

638
00:32:28,573 --> 00:32:30,973
Speaker 2: disappointment that he felt and that What did you make

639
00:32:31,013 --> 00:32:32,893
Speaker 2: of his comments and was he in the right.

640
00:32:33,893 --> 00:32:36,693
Speaker 4: Yeah, I think he is. Look that's his personal opinion

641
00:32:36,693 --> 00:32:40,173
Speaker 4: and he's fully entitled to it. I think you would

642
00:32:40,213 --> 00:32:43,013
Speaker 4: hope that there is open dialogue with anyone on the

643
00:32:43,053 --> 00:32:46,293
Speaker 4: fringe of the All Blacks, and that should be made

644
00:32:46,333 --> 00:32:48,613
Speaker 4: clear about why you're not being selected, what you have

645
00:32:48,693 --> 00:32:51,333
Speaker 4: to work on. And you think for the most part

646
00:32:51,373 --> 00:32:54,453
Speaker 4: they are reasonably good at doing that. But clearly Stevenson

647
00:32:54,573 --> 00:33:00,013
Speaker 4: felt miffed that he wasn't communicated with openly, clearly or consistently.

648
00:33:01,653 --> 00:33:05,373
Speaker 4: I think there's a reality there around the depth of

649
00:33:05,453 --> 00:33:08,853
Speaker 4: the All Blacks of New Zealand rugby's outside backs. And

650
00:33:08,973 --> 00:33:11,253
Speaker 4: he was in the All Blacks fifteen last year, so

651
00:33:12,653 --> 00:33:17,533
Speaker 4: clearly there's been some form of breakdown of communication. And look,

652
00:33:17,653 --> 00:33:21,093
Speaker 4: he will be a big loss. He's approaching one hundred

653
00:33:21,093 --> 00:33:23,213
Speaker 4: games for the Chiefs. He's been very loyal there. He's

654
00:33:23,253 --> 00:33:25,253
Speaker 4: played for the multi All Blacks, he's been on the fringe.

655
00:33:25,293 --> 00:33:27,013
Speaker 4: He played was It one.

656
00:33:26,893 --> 00:33:29,933
Speaker 2: Test, one Test and need in twenty three and he is.

657
00:33:29,933 --> 00:33:33,413
Speaker 4: A classy footballer, but he's not a complete player either.

658
00:33:33,493 --> 00:33:39,493
Speaker 4: He defensively there's been concerns and there's been comments about

659
00:33:39,893 --> 00:33:44,133
Speaker 4: his ability and contact as well. But yeah, it's up

660
00:33:44,173 --> 00:33:46,093
Speaker 4: to the All Blacks to communicate those and clearly he

661
00:33:46,133 --> 00:33:47,853
Speaker 4: felt that didn't happen.

662
00:33:47,933 --> 00:33:50,493
Speaker 2: Yeah, he's more than entitled to put those comments forward.

663
00:33:51,013 --> 00:33:53,533
Speaker 2: He's got a great highlight real Sean Stevenson. But it's

664
00:33:53,573 --> 00:33:55,773
Speaker 2: the full eighty minutes that you allude to there that

665
00:33:55,813 --> 00:33:59,773
Speaker 2: I think is the overall concern around him. Very good

666
00:33:59,813 --> 00:34:04,253
Speaker 2: player I probably didn't see. Yeah, probably deserved a few

667
00:34:04,253 --> 00:34:05,893
Speaker 2: more tests than he got, a bit more of a

668
00:34:05,893 --> 00:34:08,133
Speaker 2: look in that moment's probably now passed. I'm interesting to

669
00:34:08,133 --> 00:34:11,533
Speaker 2: see whether he makes himself available for some more come

670
00:34:12,013 --> 00:34:14,693
Speaker 2: twenty six, when he'll be e theory eligible again, assuming

671
00:34:14,733 --> 00:34:17,733
Speaker 2: he's not required before he goes back to Japan for

672
00:34:17,773 --> 00:34:20,493
Speaker 2: the All Blacks. Topic number three you talked about about

673
00:34:20,493 --> 00:34:23,693
Speaker 2: this last week and for the Herald Super Ragby expansion.

674
00:34:24,573 --> 00:34:28,013
Speaker 2: Where are we at with that and do you think

675
00:34:28,053 --> 00:34:31,053
Speaker 2: it's necessary in the next week while or should it happen?

676
00:34:32,013 --> 00:34:36,253
Speaker 4: Well, good friend Jason Pine had Jack massy On didn't

677
00:34:36,293 --> 00:34:40,733
Speaker 4: there a week or so ago, and he hinted that

678
00:34:41,053 --> 00:34:44,333
Speaker 4: next year will be an eleven team competition, and I

679
00:34:44,333 --> 00:34:47,053
Speaker 4: think that's the rut call. There's no need to rush.

680
00:34:47,733 --> 00:34:51,093
Speaker 4: We don't need another whipping team. Super Rugby's just finding

681
00:34:51,133 --> 00:34:55,413
Speaker 4: its feats. The real tweaks are working. Getting rid of

682
00:34:55,413 --> 00:34:57,813
Speaker 4: the rebels should have happened a long time ago, and

683
00:34:57,813 --> 00:35:02,013
Speaker 4: that's really improved the Australian competitiveness one A pacifica founder

684
00:35:02,053 --> 00:35:07,213
Speaker 4: home and they're improving. The Druur are captivating in terms

685
00:35:07,213 --> 00:35:10,493
Speaker 4: of their style of rugby, The Blues last, the chiefs

686
00:35:10,493 --> 00:35:14,093
Speaker 4: of First. This year's competition is really engaging. I think

687
00:35:14,093 --> 00:35:17,333
Speaker 4: you've got a product that can really take off. Don't

688
00:35:17,413 --> 00:35:19,773
Speaker 4: mess with it yet unless you have something that's going

689
00:35:19,853 --> 00:35:23,373
Speaker 4: to genuinely improve it. Where does the twelfth team come from?

690
00:35:23,853 --> 00:35:25,613
Speaker 2: I don't think there's any obvious place for it to

691
00:35:25,653 --> 00:35:28,733
Speaker 2: come from without jumping over time zones. You know, the

692
00:35:28,773 --> 00:35:31,973
Speaker 2: hawadis we talked a bit about returning potentially, but yeah,

693
00:35:31,973 --> 00:35:35,773
Speaker 2: that's what fifteen hours from New Zealand, if not longer,

694
00:35:36,413 --> 00:35:40,733
Speaker 2: and two three flights Japan. You know, there's been always

695
00:35:40,773 --> 00:35:43,493
Speaker 2: this talk about not necessarily that some woles returning, but

696
00:35:43,573 --> 00:35:46,693
Speaker 2: some form expansion in Japan. I think maybe over time

697
00:35:46,733 --> 00:35:49,293
Speaker 2: that becomes a more viable option. The time zones are

698
00:35:49,333 --> 00:35:53,853
Speaker 2: pretty good, but you know, Japan's League one is a

699
00:35:53,973 --> 00:35:57,533
Speaker 2: very very good competition on its own feet. So I

700
00:35:57,573 --> 00:35:59,973
Speaker 2: don't see an obvious port of call for there to

701
00:36:00,013 --> 00:36:04,253
Speaker 2: be expansion beyond you know, linking up with the team

702
00:36:04,293 --> 00:36:07,213
Speaker 2: and going this is the Super Rugby Australia New Zealand

703
00:36:07,253 --> 00:36:10,493
Speaker 2: Conference with eleven team. There's the rest of world which

704
00:36:10,493 --> 00:36:12,453
Speaker 2: has eleven teams in it, and you cross over for

705
00:36:12,453 --> 00:36:13,373
Speaker 2: a super Bowl something at the.

706
00:36:13,413 --> 00:36:16,493
Speaker 4: End that Club World Cup, right, and so that does

707
00:36:16,613 --> 00:36:19,893
Speaker 4: satisfy that that crossover elements. And I think there would

708
00:36:19,933 --> 00:36:22,613
Speaker 4: be some real interest in the best club team in

709
00:36:22,613 --> 00:36:27,013
Speaker 4: the world, you know, Linkster or Larachelle going up against

710
00:36:27,093 --> 00:36:28,213
Speaker 4: the Hurricanes.

711
00:36:28,813 --> 00:36:33,853
Speaker 2: But that a yeah, sure, the current form, it could

712
00:36:33,853 --> 00:36:36,733
Speaker 2: be a very long night for the Hurricanes. Yeah, Like,

713
00:36:36,733 --> 00:36:39,013
Speaker 2: I think there's definitely interesting. I think they've got to

714
00:36:39,053 --> 00:36:41,773
Speaker 2: be very careful and I think under the leadership of

715
00:36:42,813 --> 00:36:46,973
Speaker 2: these changes they will be careful. You'd hate to see

716
00:36:47,013 --> 00:36:48,893
Speaker 2: them just throw it all away from what they've got

717
00:36:48,973 --> 00:36:53,173
Speaker 2: the season to go welcome in Hawaii, bought Los Angeles

718
00:36:53,293 --> 00:36:53,733
Speaker 2: or whatever.

719
00:36:53,893 --> 00:36:56,413
Speaker 4: We'll just learn from history, right, Yeah, that's right exactly.

720
00:36:57,093 --> 00:37:02,453
Speaker 4: So Look, there is complications. The draw currently is less

721
00:37:02,493 --> 00:37:05,493
Speaker 4: than ideal. Teams don't want to be having two buyers.

722
00:37:05,773 --> 00:37:07,933
Speaker 4: You don't want to be starting earlier and finishing later,

723
00:37:08,333 --> 00:37:13,013
Speaker 4: and there will be pressure from broadcasters for more content. Contents.

724
00:37:13,093 --> 00:37:16,733
Speaker 4: King content generates cash. That's why the NROL is expanding

725
00:37:18,053 --> 00:37:23,573
Speaker 4: so and that you know, clubs have been struggling. We've

726
00:37:23,613 --> 00:37:26,253
Speaker 4: seen that with the Rebels and across the world, so

727
00:37:26,973 --> 00:37:31,693
Speaker 4: there are genuine financial pressures. But yeah, it's a really

728
00:37:31,773 --> 00:37:35,893
Speaker 4: risky business to mess with a competition that's really just

729
00:37:35,933 --> 00:37:36,933
Speaker 4: starting to find its feet.

730
00:37:37,133 --> 00:37:40,853
Speaker 2: Indeed, it is topic number four. One word answer. Will

731
00:37:40,893 --> 00:37:45,013
Speaker 2: the Blues make the playoffs top six?

732
00:37:46,373 --> 00:37:47,973
Speaker 3: Yes they will, There.

733
00:37:47,813 --> 00:37:48,973
Speaker 2: Was a three word answer, But.

734
00:37:50,653 --> 00:37:51,173
Speaker 3: What do you got?

735
00:37:53,613 --> 00:37:55,293
Speaker 2: I think they will. I think they've got enough games

736
00:37:55,293 --> 00:37:57,213
Speaker 2: in the back end of the season to string together

737
00:37:57,973 --> 00:38:01,053
Speaker 2: enough wins to get there. But I think it's gonna

738
00:38:01,093 --> 00:38:02,573
Speaker 2: be tough. I don't certainly think they're going to have

739
00:38:02,573 --> 00:38:04,573
Speaker 2: it all at home like they did last year, and

740
00:38:04,733 --> 00:38:07,453
Speaker 2: so it's going to be a very tricky old back

741
00:38:07,453 --> 00:38:09,333
Speaker 2: half of the season, even though some of the games

742
00:38:09,333 --> 00:38:13,093
Speaker 2: perhaps are a little bit more straightforward or on. You know,

743
00:38:13,133 --> 00:38:14,733
Speaker 2: they've got a few of the Aussie teams to come.

744
00:38:16,213 --> 00:38:18,293
Speaker 2: You know, they've got Moanda twice who you know that

745
00:38:18,333 --> 00:38:21,133
Speaker 2: could go either way. So not actually an easier draw.

746
00:38:21,213 --> 00:38:23,053
Speaker 2: But they've got some winnable games in their back half

747
00:38:23,053 --> 00:38:25,093
Speaker 2: of the competition that they should pick up some victories.

748
00:38:25,173 --> 00:38:27,653
Speaker 2: So I think they'll sneak in, but I think they'll

749
00:38:27,693 --> 00:38:29,773
Speaker 2: get five or six at best from where they are

750
00:38:29,773 --> 00:38:31,613
Speaker 2: at this point of the season. Try to get into

751
00:38:31,653 --> 00:38:33,933
Speaker 2: the tipping both of us four or five over the

752
00:38:33,973 --> 00:38:37,133
Speaker 2: course of the weekend. I was I picked the Canes,

753
00:38:37,333 --> 00:38:40,373
Speaker 2: you know, unlike you, I didn't.

754
00:38:40,133 --> 00:38:41,733
Speaker 3: Change my view once I saw the teams.

755
00:38:41,733 --> 00:38:44,213
Speaker 2: But that's what happens when you look at it on

756
00:38:44,253 --> 00:38:46,773
Speaker 2: a Monday morning. You picked the Landers. We both pick

757
00:38:46,773 --> 00:38:49,213
Speaker 2: the Brumbies, Crusaders and Chiefs. You picked the Reds. I

758
00:38:49,213 --> 00:38:51,133
Speaker 2: picked the Tars. So both four or five of the weekend.

759
00:38:51,213 --> 00:38:55,253
Speaker 2: That means I maintained a slender but sizable one point

760
00:38:55,333 --> 00:38:58,093
Speaker 2: lead fifteen to fourteen. At this point of the season.

761
00:38:58,053 --> 00:39:00,373
Speaker 3: There's plenty of time, mate, he'll crumble under the pressure.

762
00:39:00,493 --> 00:39:03,493
Speaker 2: Friday nights more on a pacificer against the Chiefs. This

763
00:39:03,533 --> 00:39:06,013
Speaker 2: game was supposed to be in Tonga and Nukula. It's

764
00:39:06,053 --> 00:39:10,573
Speaker 2: now in Pooka Koe because of it's logistical issues. Wana

765
00:39:10,653 --> 00:39:13,373
Speaker 2: coming off the by the win over the Hurricanes, can

766
00:39:13,413 --> 00:39:14,573
Speaker 2: they knock over the Chiefs.

767
00:39:15,493 --> 00:39:17,773
Speaker 4: It's so interesting to see the teams because there will

768
00:39:17,773 --> 00:39:20,293
Speaker 4: need to be a bit of rotation among the Chiefs

769
00:39:20,293 --> 00:39:20,813
Speaker 4: at some point.

770
00:39:20,853 --> 00:39:23,013
Speaker 3: But no, I'll stick with the Chiefs.

771
00:39:23,053 --> 00:39:25,373
Speaker 2: I'm going Maana for an upset Winten in that one.

772
00:39:25,853 --> 00:39:29,933
Speaker 2: Highlanders host the Reds in Dunedan. As you mentioned, frasmc

773
00:39:30,013 --> 00:39:33,733
Speaker 2: right unlikely make the trip to Deneedan. The Red's coming

774
00:39:33,733 --> 00:39:35,493
Speaker 2: off with one of the Warrtors. This is a really

775
00:39:35,493 --> 00:39:36,493
Speaker 2: fascinating game for me.

776
00:39:36,973 --> 00:39:40,093
Speaker 4: It is Saturday afternoon that rarely matters under the roof.

777
00:39:40,173 --> 00:39:44,453
Speaker 4: But I'm going to stick with the Landers and hopefully

778
00:39:44,533 --> 00:39:46,573
Speaker 4: I'm not the kiss of Deaf for them again.

779
00:39:46,653 --> 00:39:48,333
Speaker 2: I'm going to go the Reds to come across the

780
00:39:48,333 --> 00:39:51,733
Speaker 2: Tasm and get a win. Blues Crusaders match of the

781
00:39:51,813 --> 00:39:54,013
Speaker 2: round seven or five Saturday nights, Eden Park.

782
00:39:54,493 --> 00:39:56,293
Speaker 4: Look, Stephen Peter Fett is going to go back to

783
00:39:56,333 --> 00:39:59,613
Speaker 4: ten and lead the Blues to a drought breaking win.

784
00:40:00,133 --> 00:40:02,813
Speaker 2: Draut breaking win they won last year.

785
00:40:03,013 --> 00:40:05,573
Speaker 3: Crusaders well this season.

786
00:40:05,333 --> 00:40:08,893
Speaker 2: Right right right, I'll have the Crusaders, thank you. Tak

787
00:40:08,973 --> 00:40:12,773
Speaker 2: It is going to run rings War a tars Brumbi

788
00:40:12,813 --> 00:40:18,813
Speaker 2: is interesting old game in Sydney come Saturday nights.

789
00:40:19,013 --> 00:40:22,773
Speaker 4: Yes, very flip of the coin Brumbies tars for me,

790
00:40:23,573 --> 00:40:24,493
Speaker 4: it's going to really shake this.

791
00:40:25,573 --> 00:40:29,053
Speaker 2: This could be a very interesting weekend and the final

792
00:40:29,053 --> 00:40:31,133
Speaker 2: game of a round. Interesting. This must be a Sunday

793
00:40:31,133 --> 00:40:35,133
Speaker 2: afternoon game in Perth at two way five Force hosting

794
00:40:35,173 --> 00:40:39,573
Speaker 2: the Drawer seven O five New Zealand time Sunday night.

795
00:40:39,773 --> 00:40:44,813
Speaker 3: Yes, I'm going to go to the drawer Force.

796
00:40:44,733 --> 00:40:48,013
Speaker 2: Home for me. There we go, all five games with

797
00:40:48,173 --> 00:40:50,373
Speaker 2: different here we go, so this is going to change

798
00:40:50,373 --> 00:40:54,093
Speaker 2: things that Big time Rugby Direct MVP Meddle. Time for

799
00:40:54,093 --> 00:40:56,773
Speaker 2: the votes. Well, the leader bought it a moment, Tomothy.

800
00:40:56,853 --> 00:41:01,373
Speaker 2: It's out on eight three way tie for second on

801
00:41:01,493 --> 00:41:04,853
Speaker 2: six with Addie Save Quintepi, Will Jordan and just behind

802
00:41:04,973 --> 00:41:07,813
Speaker 2: Damian McKinzie in five. Liam, your three two ones this.

803
00:41:07,813 --> 00:41:11,773
Speaker 4: Week please, I'm going to go three Tod Carifi, very

804
00:41:11,853 --> 00:41:15,253
Speaker 4: very impressed by him. Two I'm going to give to Tupuvai.

805
00:41:15,373 --> 00:41:17,533
Speaker 4: I thought he was a standout on the Chiefs pack,

806
00:41:18,813 --> 00:41:21,773
Speaker 4: big try through the middle of the heart of the

807
00:41:21,773 --> 00:41:25,453
Speaker 4: Blues defense, reaching out. There was a big turning points

808
00:41:25,493 --> 00:41:27,373
Speaker 4: and I'm going to actually give one to Mark tala

809
00:41:27,733 --> 00:41:30,093
Speaker 4: I thought he was very good and a losing Blues

810
00:41:30,133 --> 00:41:31,893
Speaker 4: team everywhere over the park.

811
00:41:31,973 --> 00:41:35,893
Speaker 3: Kr involved, very elusive, tried.

812
00:41:35,853 --> 00:41:37,253
Speaker 2: Veritible finish that trial, wasn't it?

813
00:41:37,253 --> 00:41:40,293
Speaker 4: That's right, and just tried very hard all night. So yeah,

814
00:41:40,453 --> 00:41:41,493
Speaker 4: impressed with his work.

815
00:41:41,533 --> 00:41:44,253
Speaker 2: Great, I'm giving three to do Carefie as well. We

816
00:41:44,253 --> 00:41:47,293
Speaker 2: didn't compare notes beforehand, but remarkable. How did you want

817
00:41:47,293 --> 00:41:50,053
Speaker 2: to get thirty five Super Rugby Fantasy points? That is

818
00:41:50,093 --> 00:41:50,453
Speaker 2: beyond me.

819
00:41:50,613 --> 00:41:51,973
Speaker 3: I'd love to know the breakdown of it.

820
00:41:52,053 --> 00:41:55,093
Speaker 2: Yeah, it's tough scene macas Springer. Five tries the Crusaders

821
00:41:55,253 --> 00:41:58,493
Speaker 2: is enough for two points, and Daniel McKenzie back at

822
00:41:58,493 --> 00:42:00,653
Speaker 2: ten gets one for me, so he moves up to

823
00:42:00,693 --> 00:42:03,013
Speaker 2: six in the ranking. So Liam, that'll do us for

824
00:42:03,333 --> 00:42:05,853
Speaker 2: Rugby Direct. Just a reminder if you haven't seen on

825
00:42:05,893 --> 00:42:10,453
Speaker 2: your feed already. Five am Tuesday, Mark Robinson Scott Robertson

826
00:42:10,533 --> 00:42:13,973
Speaker 2: join Rugby Directs extended exclusive chat with both of them,

827
00:42:14,013 --> 00:42:16,533
Speaker 2: covering a whole range of rugby topics. I don't think

828
00:42:16,533 --> 00:42:18,933
Speaker 2: there's anything left off the table in terms of anything

829
00:42:18,973 --> 00:42:22,053
Speaker 2: we're missling them, So looking forward to hearing what people

830
00:42:22,053 --> 00:42:25,013
Speaker 2: think and you can get us on social media or

831
00:42:25,813 --> 00:42:27,253
Speaker 2: wherever you get your podcasts.

832
00:42:27,333 --> 00:42:30,293
Speaker 4: Yeah, give us some feedback, let us know what you

833
00:42:30,413 --> 00:42:32,653
Speaker 4: wants and if there's anyone out there that you'd love

834
00:42:32,693 --> 00:42:34,693
Speaker 4: a chat with as well singing, we'll try and track

835
00:42:34,733 --> 00:42:35,093
Speaker 4: them down.

836
00:42:35,213 --> 00:42:37,653
Speaker 2: That's right. Absolutely, another edition of Rugby Directing the Cam

837
00:42:37,733 --> 00:42:39,733
Speaker 2: with Habit Health techning all your aches and pains from

838
00:42:39,773 --> 00:42:42,573
Speaker 2: sport and work big thanks to Andy McDonald. Will be

839
00:42:42,573 --> 00:42:43,173
Speaker 2: back next.

840
00:42:42,973 --> 00:42:47,013
Speaker 1: Week for more from News Talks ed B Listen live

841
00:42:47,173 --> 00:42:49,893
Speaker 1: on air or online, and keep our shows with you

842
00:42:49,973 --> 00:42:52,973
Speaker 1: wherever you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio