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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 Ranger podcasts now on iHeartRadio, Straight

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Speaker 1: Down the Middle, SCY try to get inside the game

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Speaker 1: from every angle. It's Rugby Direct with Elliott Smith and

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Speaker 1: Leam Napier powered by News Talks EDB.

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Speaker 2: Welcome into Rugby Direct powered by Habits Health Book today

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Speaker 2: and stay in the game. Elliott Smith with me Liam Napier.

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Speaker 2: Another busy weekend of rugby in the books. Greetings, Liam,

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Speaker 2: welcome back into Rugby Directors.

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Speaker 3: Always great to be he Elliott. Always plenty of happening,

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Speaker 3: isn't that there is?

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Speaker 2: Indeed, in some breaking news that's come just before we

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Speaker 2: record on this podcast to Mighty Williams ruled out of

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Speaker 2: Super Rugby for the rest of twenty twenty six with

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Speaker 2: a serious infection. This news from the Crusaders this morning.

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Speaker 2: The All Black prop has been diagnosed with discitis, which

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Speaker 2: is an infection in one of the discs in the spine,

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Speaker 2: which sounds horrible. He's had blood tests, et cetera, et cetera,

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Speaker 2: and he's going to be on antibiotics for a long time.

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Speaker 2: So his Crusader season is over. It's a pretty big blow.

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Speaker 2: He was due to come back from suspension I think

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Speaker 2: last week. They didn't obviously include him that week. We

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Speaker 2: now know why.

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Speaker 3: Massive blow.

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Speaker 4: Elliott very well, big human, first and foremost, isn't the

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Speaker 4: tomicy and it's been a big part of the Crusader's

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Speaker 4: success in recent years and looked good an increasingly destructive scrummager,

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Speaker 4: great fitness these days around the field, very much the

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Speaker 4: all court modern day props. So massive setback for the Crusaders.

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Speaker 4: I've actually had a mate who's been through something similar.

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Speaker 4: It does sound pretty random of virus in your back,

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Speaker 4: but it's it can be very debilitating and with to

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Speaker 4: mighty ruled out for the whole of the year, that

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Speaker 4: speaks to its severity. So I guess, you know, I

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Speaker 4: thoughts with him. He's going to be in hospital for

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Speaker 4: a period of time before he's allowed to go home

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Speaker 4: first and foremost, and then I guess hopefully bounce back

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Speaker 4: at some point later in the year for the All Blacks.

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Speaker 4: But yeah, pretty nasty illness that it is.

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Speaker 2: Indeed, Adam Thompson remember about a decade ago he had

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Speaker 2: the same thing. I think he copped it in Japan

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Speaker 2: and he was in hospital for about two months. I

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Speaker 2: think they had some trouble figuring out exactly what it was.

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Speaker 2: So they've got to obviously the point of knowing what

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Speaker 2: it is with tomighty. So hopefully it's you know, slow

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Speaker 2: and steady progress and he can make his return to

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Speaker 2: international rugby at some point this season. Let's through the

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Speaker 2: weekend that was and look fairly unconvincing. The Chiefs twenty

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Speaker 2: four to fourteen over the Western Forest in Perth on

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Speaker 2: Saturday night. Felt like the Chiefs are poised to break

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Speaker 2: the game open. Just before halftime. They had a try

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Speaker 2: that Jacobson scored, No sorry, Jacob scored off the back

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Speaker 2: of a line out that wasn't called not straight by

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Speaker 2: the referee. They've got a bit lucky then, but they

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Speaker 2: could have been nineteen seven twenty one seven and a

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Speaker 2: half time if they haven't fluffed their lines. But then

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Speaker 2: just got into a little bit of an arm wrestle

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Speaker 2: with the Western Force, which they are quite good at doing,

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Speaker 2: and couldn't find a way to really break the shackles

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Speaker 2: at all in that contest. It was a fairly middling performance.

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Speaker 2: I thought from the Chiefs, what did you make of it?

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Speaker 4: It was and it's probably a reflection of the season

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Speaker 4: to date. I think quite unconvincing. I've had some bad

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Speaker 4: losses that I'm thinking about the Crusaders at home, and

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Speaker 4: just quite a bit patchy really and unconvincing outside of that,

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Speaker 4: And look, I think the Force a better team than

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Speaker 4: they have been in recent years. They pushed the Hurricanes,

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Speaker 4: They've been wine in Pacifica when they were out here,

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Speaker 4: and have been competitive in other fixtures this year. But

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Speaker 4: they're also a team that's New Zealand sides in particular

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Speaker 4: view with rotation in mind, you think about Josh Jacob

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Speaker 4: coming into ten Leroy Carter at center, Samersoni Takiaho on

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Speaker 4: the bench, so as one of the also rans. To

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Speaker 4: a degree, the Force are viewed in that light, and

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Speaker 4: I think that can cause disruption. But the Chiefs should

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Speaker 4: have probably put them away even in those circumstances. By

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Speaker 4: twenty thirty points. They had a number of line breaks,

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Speaker 4: so many blowing chances they're handling areas, their execution they're

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Speaker 4: finishing was really off. Maybe it was a symptom of

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Speaker 4: a weaber disruption on the way to the game with

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Speaker 4: the bus breaking down, but look, no excuses rarely expect

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Speaker 4: a lot more from this Chief's.

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Speaker 2: Team, absolutely, and you look back at the last two weeks,

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Speaker 2: the swing in Australia GA, they'll be disappointed with their

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Speaker 2: return I think in the end. Obviously the lost of

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Speaker 2: the Brumbies last week in a poor ish performance will

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Speaker 2: be with a win against the Western Force, you there's

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Speaker 2: a lot to improve as they come back and play

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Speaker 2: the Wartors this weekend.

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Speaker 4: There is, indeed, and the coaching change with John O

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Speaker 4: Gibbs coming in, there was always going to be a

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Speaker 4: bit of a transition there and you'd have to say

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Speaker 4: the Chiefs aren't performing as well as they have in

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Speaker 4: recent years, but maybe they'll find those improvements between now

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Speaker 4: and the end of the year. They've been bridesmaid on

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Speaker 4: so many occasions come the playoffs, so maybe they're getting

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Speaker 4: that rust out now.

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Speaker 2: How much do you think that tinkering them? And obviously

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Speaker 2: they had to make some tweaks there and move Jacob

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Speaker 2: into ten and Mackenzie at fallback, But do you think

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Speaker 2: that is actually more of an issue than you know?

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Speaker 2: Obviously trying to build some depth and rotating players out

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Speaker 2: and keeping players fresh, But at this point of the

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Speaker 2: season I think they need to string together some consistent performances,

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Speaker 2: don't they.

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Speaker 4: They do, and they probably need to see a bit

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Speaker 4: more out of well some of their regular stars. I

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Speaker 4: don't think McKenzie's been at his best since coming back

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Speaker 4: from having his first Child's probably got a lot on

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Speaker 4: his hands on the home fronts. He's missed a couple

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Speaker 4: of raally regulation kicks in both Canberra and Perth, and yeah,

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Speaker 4: that disruption can have an impact.

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Speaker 3: But I agree, I think they need to.

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Speaker 4: Start settling on their best team where possible, developing those

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Speaker 4: combinations and really driving home improvements because they look at

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Speaker 4: this point anyway a bit of a shadow of the

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Speaker 4: team of recent times, recent years they do.

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Speaker 2: The Blues beating the Fiji and Juwer forty to fifteen.

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Speaker 2: Took a while for the Blues to get going. There

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Speaker 2: was a bit of a just that a sense of

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Speaker 2: inevitability about how this was all going to end. But

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Speaker 2: at halftime, you know, the game was certainly in the balance,

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Speaker 2: but you know, the Blues in the final half hour

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Speaker 2: took the game away. Some of the youngsters stepping up

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Speaker 2: Kurdy Vai, Peyton Spencer I thought were impressive in the

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Speaker 2: closing stages and their ability to find space around the

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Speaker 2: Fiji and Durer attack. But again, you know, forty fifteen.

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Speaker 2: It's not a result to be sniffed at from the Blues,

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Speaker 2: but they were clunky at times and didn't look like

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Speaker 2: a team you know that were you know, making a

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Speaker 2: claim for the throne of super Rugby New Zealand or

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Speaker 2: at least specific.

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Speaker 4: It feels like the Blues have a lot more in

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Speaker 4: them points despite you know, clocking up the points and

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Speaker 4: sitting pretty much level with the Hurricanes at the top

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Speaker 4: of the table banking bonus points, they have had a

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Speaker 4: reasonably softer draw and look, I did take them a

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Speaker 4: long time to get going. I think they struggled with

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Speaker 4: the jurors physicality on both sides of the ball.

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Speaker 3: At times.

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Speaker 4: The Blues like to have it their own way with

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Speaker 4: their pack laying the platform before they go wide. But

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Speaker 4: as you mentioned, there's some of that. It's good to

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Speaker 4: see some of the youngsters standing up. Also, Sam Dowry

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Speaker 4: coming to the four is standing skipper. After his injury

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Speaker 4: troubles of recent years, he's starting to find some form.

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Speaker 4: So look the Blues. The cavalry is coming back as well,

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Speaker 4: isn't it. Potentially Dalton Papal Patrick two, Polo two and

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Speaker 4: a number of others as well. So there's plenty of

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Speaker 4: firepower for them to come back, but you'd expect to

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Speaker 4: see a lift in the coming weeks as well.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely looking and they did win that game without

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Speaker 2: Papaali Situtu's sullivan on the weekend just on Darry We

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Speaker 2: obviously had him in a podcast last year and simracor

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Speaker 2: m saying something about using his size, and maybe it

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Speaker 2: was Luke Ramano potentially saying something to him. Well, it

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Speaker 2: feels now that he's more comfortable using that size of

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Speaker 2: his He's put on a bit of muscle. He looks

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Speaker 2: more imposing than perhaps he did when he came out

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Speaker 2: when you know, maybe he was a bit more of

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Speaker 2: a rake at the line out and around the park.

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Speaker 2: Now he looks like a full bodied specimen in that

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Speaker 2: blues pack.

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Speaker 3: Yeah. I think there's a natural age of maturing, isn't there.

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Speaker 4: Into a frame you can pack on weight, you can

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Speaker 4: have all the eggs you want, but you can't fast

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Speaker 4: forward evolution. And I think Type five forwards generally mature

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Speaker 4: in their late twenties, some of them even their early thirties.

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Speaker 4: So Samdarry's actually been around quite a while, but I

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Speaker 4: think we're starting to see the best of him. He's

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Speaker 4: very astute, he's a great line technician, but as you mentioned,

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Speaker 4: it is that physicality that he's going to need to impose,

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Speaker 4: particularly when it comes to the Test arena. And look,

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Speaker 4: he also knows when he looks around at the depth

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Speaker 4: of New Zealand locks and with Dave Rennie saying you'd

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Speaker 4: love to get Brodie Rittellick back, maybe there was a

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Speaker 4: week kick up the backside as well for him to

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Speaker 4: stake his claim.

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Speaker 5: Yeah.

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Speaker 2: Absolutely, Look wasn't vintage Blues, but it's another word that

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Speaker 2: they are second on the ladder. Again, we moved back

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Speaker 2: and to Saturday afternoon. The Hurricanes far too good for

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Speaker 2: the Reds fifty two fourteen. The Reds haven't beaten the

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Speaker 2: Hurricanes in Wellington since the Athletic Park days. How many

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Speaker 2: name changes has Henry Stadium been through since then and

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Speaker 2: different different variations etc. Quite remarkable that this has continued.

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Speaker 2: But this was a superb performance from the Hurricanes.

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Speaker 5: Liam. Look, I'll allow you to wax lyrical before I

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Speaker 5: had a few.

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Speaker 4: Thoughts, Oh Elliott, Well, it's not to like mate, It's

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Speaker 4: a wee bit of a gloomy day, isn't it in

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Speaker 4: Auckland today? But when the Hurricanes are running rampant, you

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Speaker 4: can't help but wake up with a smile from air

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Speaker 4: to air. Look, I think the Canes this year scored

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Speaker 4: forty one tries that wrapped up fifty points on a

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Speaker 4: number of occasions, and I think it's the speed with

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Speaker 4: which they're playing with. That was a reds team that

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Speaker 4: has had success in recent years against is on opposition,

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Speaker 4: they got phrasing right back and yet still they couldn't

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Speaker 4: slow the Hurricanes rockball, and that's because of their dominant carries.

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Speaker 4: And then when they have that front foot platform, jeez,

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Speaker 4: I've got some skills and that back line and they

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Speaker 4: can score some points very quickly.

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Speaker 3: So unless you find a way to slow that rockball down,

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Speaker 3: you're going to be in real trouble.

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Speaker 4: So I think the Cane train is in full steam,

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Speaker 4: but it's I'm not going to anoint its champions just yet, Elliott,

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Speaker 4: because it's a bloody tough run home for the Canes

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Speaker 4: that they got to this weekend, and then they basically

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Speaker 4: play eleven weeks straight and I think they have six

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Speaker 4: Derbys in their last eight games, so I wouldn't say

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Speaker 4: the jury's out just yet, but we're going to learn

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Speaker 4: a lot more over the back half of the year

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Speaker 4: as the weather turns as well. It was a great

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Speaker 4: evening in Wellington and the Cane certainly made the most

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Speaker 4: of it.

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Speaker 5: Yeah, that's right, isn't it.

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Speaker 2: When those games come thick and fast and you've got

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Speaker 2: a compound wins back to back against New Zealand sides

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Speaker 2: or the stronger sides in the competition, that's when it's

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Speaker 2: going to be really difficult. Crucial game for me is

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Speaker 2: that the Brumbies in christ Church and super Round and

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Speaker 2: over Anzac weekends, though they don't travel well to Canberra.

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Speaker 2: The Hurricanes lost a couple of playoffs there in the

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Speaker 2: last few years. But if they can get that win there,

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Speaker 2: that's a pretty crucial win over another top six team.

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Speaker 2: They've got the Crusaders, et cetera, as you mentioned, but

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Speaker 2: they can string a few wins together against these teams

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Speaker 2: and claim top spot on the ladder, then they're going

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Speaker 2: to be very very difficult to spot to stop. Rather,

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Speaker 2: what I like is their forward play this season, and

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Speaker 2: I think the Fords have traditionally not only been a

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Speaker 2: weakness of the Hurricanes, but they've always been quite predictive

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Speaker 2: in the way that they go about things and haven't

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Speaker 2: always had the strength. But this time they've got a

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Speaker 2: few variations in that pack around.

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Speaker 5: The set piece.

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Speaker 2: They've got the platform that their back line is able

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Speaker 2: to play off. And that's always been the thing for

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Speaker 2: the Hurricanes. I've always had these exciting backs, and you

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Speaker 2: even go back to the nineties and tana Umonger, it

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Speaker 2: was running around in Christian color and et cetera, et cetera,

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Speaker 2: but they didn't always have the forward pack to match

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Speaker 2: their much haunted backs. What feels like this time and

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Speaker 2: Devin Flanders is potentially coming of age in that pack.

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Speaker 2: Warned Durns has added a lot to them this season

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Speaker 2: as well, are more etcetera, etcetera. It feels like all

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Speaker 2: the parts are sort of clicking for the Hurricanes when

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Speaker 2: maybe they haven't necessarily in the past.

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Speaker 3: Yeah.

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Speaker 4: Absolutely, I think previous iterations of the Hurricanes have generally

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Speaker 4: had great loose forwards, but that's the type five where

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Speaker 4: the soft underbelly has been potentially exposed.

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Speaker 3: Mentioned Warner Deernsey.

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Speaker 4: I think it's taken him a few weeks to adjust

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Speaker 4: from Japanese rugby to Super rugby, maybe the increased physicality

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Speaker 4: there and just coming to Grips with a new team.

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Speaker 3: And he's been a great addition.

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Speaker 4: And there is real depth to this Hurricanes team outside

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Speaker 4: of maybe half back. They do have a number of

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Speaker 4: different options that they can turn to. We even saw

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Speaker 4: you know, Cullum Harkins step into the ten shoot. I

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Speaker 4: think he was about third or fourth choice. Now they've

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Speaker 4: got Reuben Love back. I think he'll grow in confidence

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Speaker 4: in the coming weeks. You've just recently had Tyrol.

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Speaker 3: Lomax come back.

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Speaker 4: They've got real depth and they're propping ranks as well,

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Speaker 4: so that with that four pack there, there's no excuses

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Speaker 4: for the Hurricanes. I've always, as you say, had those

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Speaker 4: starts out of backs. You got Finn young and off

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Speaker 4: for running, ramping on the wing. I think back to

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Speaker 4: back hat tricks, nine tries this year. He's looking unstoppable.

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Speaker 4: And then you've got Kinni Naholo waiting in the wings

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Speaker 4: for a couple of weeks to come back. So at

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Speaker 4: this point it's hard to see him cracking the starting

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Speaker 4: side when he's probably walking to most other teams going around.

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Speaker 4: So yeah, lots of like about the Hurricanes, but as

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Speaker 4: we mentioned, pretty tough run home and that depth will

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Speaker 4: be need to be utilized.

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Speaker 5: Yeah.

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Speaker 2: Absolutely, get a couple of injuries potentially and things go awry.

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Speaker 2: And back to Friday night, The Highlander is thirty nine

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Speaker 2: Mawana Pacific nineteen and fascical scenes at North Harbor Stadium

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Speaker 2: with the lights going off the last twenty minutes not televised,

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Speaker 2: but the Highlanders just putting Mowana to the sword. You know,

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Speaker 2: Moana're missing a couple of players. No Tom Savage on

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Speaker 2: Friday Semtai Law was out as well. But The Highland

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Speaker 2: is just a little too good and a bit of

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Speaker 2: a confidence boosting wind for the Highlanders after a tough

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Speaker 2: few weeks.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, much needed, isn't it.

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Speaker 4: And I thought they were really good for it in

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Speaker 4: the first half and they scored in a.

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Speaker 3: Multitude of ways. They use them all.

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Speaker 4: They went why Caleb Tongueytow was highly involved on both wings,

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Speaker 4: going looking for work and creating scoring and creating tries.

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Speaker 4: They were all over more on the really and yeah,

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Speaker 4: bizarre sick in half. We didn't see most of it,

299
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Speaker 4: but I don't think a point was scored either, so

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Speaker 4: maybe we didn't miss too much.

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Speaker 2: I didn't miss too much either when it was really

302
00:15:30,413 --> 00:15:34,253
Speaker 2: the round where anything that could go wrong did go wrong.

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00:15:34,373 --> 00:15:37,133
Speaker 2: You know, the lights out in Albany, cheese bas breaks

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Speaker 2: down the way to the stadium. As you mentioned Sean Maloney,

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Speaker 2: the Australian commentator lost his voice midgame. Well, I missed

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Speaker 2: two games through illness. You know, whatever could go wrong

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Speaker 2: over the weekend did go wrong. But ultimately a pretty

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Speaker 2: entertaining week of Super Rugby and the books Lamb and

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Speaker 2: just a quick word as well, the war Tars upsetting

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Speaker 2: the Brumbies thirty twenty eight and maybe there is some

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Speaker 2: life in the old New South Wales war Tars this

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Speaker 2: season after all.

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Speaker 4: Yeah, certainly didn't see that result coming. They'd been very

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Speaker 4: underwhelming so far this year, the Waratars and camera is

315
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Speaker 4: an extremely difficult place to go. The Brumby's been running

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Speaker 4: hot and the Waratars really came out of the blocks

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Speaker 4: and blew them away and then hung on late. So

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Speaker 4: much needed win for the waratas. I wouldn't say they're

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Speaker 4: back by any stretch. Need a lot more convincing yet,

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Speaker 4: but they've clearly done a lot of work during the

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Speaker 4: week in a huge win in the context of their season.

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Speaker 4: Because I'm pretty much ready to draw a line through them,

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Speaker 4: so you might have to be revisiting that.

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Speaker 2: Well, I'll hold that thought because after the break in

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Speaker 2: the Final four, I'm going to ask you just about

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Speaker 2: how many teams you are prepared to draw a line

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Speaker 2: through for the title this season? Back after this on

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Speaker 2: Rugby Direct, You're back with rugby. It's a direct powered

329
00:16:49,853 --> 00:16:52,573
Speaker 2: by habit health, physio time Now for the Final four, well,

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Speaker 2: it's been underlying the last couple of weeks too. Hat

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Speaker 2: tricks as many weeks fineng and all four for the Hurricanes.

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Speaker 2: Is letting him go an egregious era from New Zealand

333
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Speaker 2: rugby and the Canes or is it just the way

334
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Speaker 2: pro rugby is these days?

335
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Speaker 4: Lamb ah, look Ali, I think you'd love to keep

336
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Speaker 4: them all and New Zealand rugby is on the cusp

337
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Speaker 4: of losing some good ones when you think about Dalton, Papallii, Hoskins,

338
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Speaker 4: the tout a j Lamb, Brandon Enor and a number

339
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Speaker 4: of others leaving and this is quite common for that

340
00:17:26,573 --> 00:17:29,933
Speaker 4: tier of player to go in the years prior to

341
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Speaker 4: your World Cup, because after the World Cup you see

342
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Speaker 4: the flood of regular internationals come onto the market. So

343
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Speaker 4: this is the window for that next tier. Fenough has

344
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Speaker 4: come of age, hasn't he Probably in the past year maybe,

345
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Speaker 4: And look, Clark Blaidlaw identified his talents a long way

346
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Speaker 4: out through his ties to him with the sevens team.

347
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Speaker 3: He loves his.

348
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Speaker 4: Work great on defense as much as his finishing ability.

349
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Speaker 4: It's a shame to lose a player in great form.

350
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Speaker 4: I think the reality is the money that he was

351
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Speaker 4: offered by Newcastle, who are backed by red Ball in

352
00:18:08,133 --> 00:18:11,773
Speaker 4: the UK, would have been at least three times would

353
00:18:11,773 --> 00:18:14,053
Speaker 4: have been offered from New Zealand rugby. He's got a family,

354
00:18:14,533 --> 00:18:16,613
Speaker 4: so on that front it's a bit of a no brainer.

355
00:18:16,693 --> 00:18:20,653
Speaker 4: But when you think about Test level wingers traditionally are

356
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Speaker 4: selected when they're hot and fine and off four right

357
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Speaker 4: now as the hottest prospects, certainly from a try scoring

358
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Speaker 4: standpoint in Super rugby.

359
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Speaker 2: Yeah, he's playing exceptional rugby. I think he's playing exceptional

360
00:18:33,413 --> 00:18:37,093
Speaker 2: rugby last year as well as that power winger, but

361
00:18:37,133 --> 00:18:39,653
Speaker 2: also got a lot of pace to him too. He's

362
00:18:39,733 --> 00:18:41,533
Speaker 2: kind of the packaging as you mentioned that hot hand.

363
00:18:41,573 --> 00:18:44,213
Speaker 2: You know, in New Zealand, if you're the you know,

364
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Speaker 2: the hot ticket wing, you're at a certain point in time,

365
00:18:46,533 --> 00:18:48,733
Speaker 2: you basically have a pass through to the All Blacks

366
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Speaker 2: and he's playing some good rugby. It's a real shame

367
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Speaker 2: to see him go. I know, Clark Laidlall said over

368
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Speaker 2: the weekend, you know, maybe we haven't seen the last

369
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Speaker 2: of him, but you know, two years away, you don't

370
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Speaker 2: know how he comes back. It's a couple of years older,

371
00:18:59,653 --> 00:19:02,013
Speaker 2: et cetera, et cetera. So I think it's a shame

372
00:19:02,053 --> 00:19:04,173
Speaker 2: for New Zealand rugby that he is going at this point.

373
00:19:04,293 --> 00:19:07,533
Speaker 2: But you can't deny the dollar signs that were in

374
00:19:07,573 --> 00:19:09,853
Speaker 2: front of him. Topic two in the Final four. I

375
00:19:09,893 --> 00:19:11,933
Speaker 2: went a little bit under the radar last week with

376
00:19:12,053 --> 00:19:15,733
Speaker 2: the All Blacks assistants being named. But Scott McCleod, former

377
00:19:15,773 --> 00:19:19,173
Speaker 2: All Blacks assistant defense coach, going to the Wallabies under

378
00:19:19,253 --> 00:19:22,173
Speaker 2: Liz Kiss's coaching staff later in the year. Is that

379
00:19:22,213 --> 00:19:23,813
Speaker 2: a good appointment for the Wallaby's lamb.

380
00:19:25,013 --> 00:19:26,253
Speaker 3: I think it's a solid appointment.

381
00:19:26,293 --> 00:19:28,333
Speaker 4: You're looking at someone that's been to two World Cups,

382
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Speaker 4: so he's got experience coaching Japan coach in New Zealand's

383
00:19:33,413 --> 00:19:36,693
Speaker 4: I'm not sure who else the Wallabies were considering on

384
00:19:36,733 --> 00:19:40,573
Speaker 4: that front. I certainly wouldn't call him goes farther calling

385
00:19:40,573 --> 00:19:44,293
Speaker 4: Scott McLeod at guru as was tousted I think even

386
00:19:44,853 --> 00:19:48,533
Speaker 4: not by the Rugby Australia press release or certainly out

387
00:19:48,533 --> 00:19:53,453
Speaker 4: of Australia. So yeah, interesting to see that Wallaby's coaching

388
00:19:53,453 --> 00:19:56,493
Speaker 4: group come together. They're not shy of hiring New Zealanders,

389
00:19:56,533 --> 00:19:59,773
Speaker 4: are they. Mike cron has been over there in recent times.

390
00:19:59,853 --> 00:20:04,133
Speaker 4: Joe Schmidt. So Scott McLeod the latest, what about you?

391
00:20:04,173 --> 00:20:05,213
Speaker 4: How do you think he'll go?

392
00:20:05,373 --> 00:20:08,933
Speaker 2: Look, I think he probably wasn't appreciated at the time

393
00:20:09,173 --> 00:20:12,693
Speaker 2: for his work, but you look back at that World Cup,

394
00:20:12,813 --> 00:20:15,893
Speaker 2: especially now and what the All Blacks are able to do.

395
00:20:16,813 --> 00:20:19,733
Speaker 2: Also on the knockout stages, I guess you know, twenty

396
00:20:19,733 --> 00:20:22,573
Speaker 2: four points against Ireland but shut them down including that,

397
00:20:23,653 --> 00:20:26,533
Speaker 2: you know, incredible, what was it thirty seven phases right

398
00:20:26,573 --> 00:20:29,893
Speaker 2: at the end of the game to deny them a

399
00:20:30,053 --> 00:20:33,053
Speaker 2: very good defensive performance against Argentina in the semi final.

400
00:20:33,253 --> 00:20:35,813
Speaker 2: I think they didn't consider trying that game, and then

401
00:20:35,853 --> 00:20:39,693
Speaker 2: eleven points against South Africa sorry, twelve points against Africa

402
00:20:39,733 --> 00:20:44,413
Speaker 2: in the final. You know, a pretty good defensive system

403
00:20:44,453 --> 00:20:47,373
Speaker 2: that he obviously set up there from the All Blacks.

404
00:20:47,413 --> 00:20:49,013
Speaker 2: I think there's a lot of eyes on the attack

405
00:20:49,093 --> 00:20:51,133
Speaker 2: and what Joe Schmid had been able to do but

406
00:20:51,533 --> 00:20:54,933
Speaker 2: maybe didn't quite get his flowers at the time. Interested

407
00:20:54,933 --> 00:20:56,533
Speaker 2: to see what he can do with the Wallabies and

408
00:20:56,573 --> 00:21:00,133
Speaker 2: whether he can put the same successes there though, But

409
00:21:00,173 --> 00:21:02,893
Speaker 2: I think it is a solid appointment for the Wlbies.

410
00:21:02,933 --> 00:21:06,933
Speaker 2: Thing I think Anthony sebold mate Jamie Panderin was floating

411
00:21:06,973 --> 00:21:09,733
Speaker 2: that on the weekend is being straight out of axas

412
00:21:09,813 --> 00:21:16,173
Speaker 2: manly coach into Liz Kisses squad after being dumped's Eddie Jones.

413
00:21:16,293 --> 00:21:19,293
Speaker 2: Was Jones in England for a couple of years. Maybe

414
00:21:19,293 --> 00:21:20,373
Speaker 2: that could happen potentially.

415
00:21:21,213 --> 00:21:24,893
Speaker 3: He's certainly looking for a job, is he isn't he? Yeah?

416
00:21:24,973 --> 00:21:27,093
Speaker 4: The other thing to note about Scott McLeod's appointment with

417
00:21:27,173 --> 00:21:31,373
Speaker 4: defense is it probably means that unless less kiss goes

418
00:21:31,413 --> 00:21:33,133
Speaker 4: out and hires someone else, that he's going to have

419
00:21:34,053 --> 00:21:36,773
Speaker 4: quite a big say in the Wallabies attack. Traditionally Liz

420
00:21:37,573 --> 00:21:41,773
Speaker 4: as a defense coach, so interesting to see how he

421
00:21:41,853 --> 00:21:45,533
Speaker 4: might go with a switching portfolios with the Wallabies, there we.

422
00:21:45,493 --> 00:21:46,893
Speaker 5: Go interesting to watch the space.

423
00:21:47,173 --> 00:21:49,693
Speaker 2: Topic three is alluded to how many teams are you

424
00:21:49,733 --> 00:21:53,053
Speaker 2: prepared to draw a line through for the Super Rugby

425
00:21:53,093 --> 00:21:57,293
Speaker 2: title this season? So the Hurricanes, Blues, Brumby's, Reds, Chiefs,

426
00:21:57,293 --> 00:22:00,493
Speaker 2: Crusaders inside the top six as it stands, the war

427
00:22:00,573 --> 00:22:03,453
Speaker 2: to right has two points out sort of, the war

428
00:22:03,453 --> 00:22:06,573
Speaker 2: tis outside as it stands, Highland is outside Fiji and

429
00:22:06,613 --> 00:22:08,733
Speaker 2: drew a force in more one of PACIFICA. How many

430
00:22:09,093 --> 00:22:10,813
Speaker 2: teams cannot win the title?

431
00:22:11,093 --> 00:22:12,653
Speaker 5: Liam, Well, I.

432
00:22:12,653 --> 00:22:15,893
Speaker 4: Think the top six probably stays how it is, unless

433
00:22:15,893 --> 00:22:20,773
Speaker 4: to what waratars can find a rich vein of form.

434
00:22:21,853 --> 00:22:24,053
Speaker 4: I don't think the Reds are capable of winning the title,

435
00:22:24,333 --> 00:22:28,413
Speaker 4: so I would say, on paper, on form, on my

436
00:22:28,453 --> 00:22:32,613
Speaker 4: gap field, there's probably five teams that can still win

437
00:22:32,653 --> 00:22:36,813
Speaker 4: the Super Rugby title, and I know that everyone will

438
00:22:36,853 --> 00:22:40,013
Speaker 4: hope that it's down to four and the Crusaders keep

439
00:22:40,053 --> 00:22:41,133
Speaker 4: stumbling along as well.

440
00:22:42,093 --> 00:22:44,813
Speaker 2: No, mate, the Crusader's are back after beating water last week.

441
00:22:44,893 --> 00:22:47,693
Speaker 2: New stadium opening in a few weeks. They've got Derby's

442
00:22:47,893 --> 00:22:50,013
Speaker 2: plenty to finish the season, but don't worry about that.

443
00:22:50,613 --> 00:22:53,693
Speaker 2: They'll be home in host look I yeah, Mowana won't

444
00:22:53,693 --> 00:22:55,333
Speaker 2: win it. Force won't win it, Drill won't win a

445
00:22:55,373 --> 00:22:58,333
Speaker 2: Highlanders won't win it, war Tars won't win it. I'm

446
00:22:58,333 --> 00:23:00,253
Speaker 2: going to keep the Reds in there for the time being,

447
00:23:01,253 --> 00:23:05,173
Speaker 2: but you know they're on notice after the weekend that was,

448
00:23:06,013 --> 00:23:08,933
Speaker 2: and they really need to show something over the next

449
00:23:09,173 --> 00:23:11,173
Speaker 2: coming a couple of weeks. They've got the Force at

450
00:23:11,213 --> 00:23:14,213
Speaker 2: home this week, then they've got the Crusaders next weekend.

451
00:23:14,253 --> 00:23:17,413
Speaker 2: If they can't beat the Crusaders next weekend, then lines

452
00:23:17,453 --> 00:23:20,613
Speaker 2: through them for me. They need a couple of statement

453
00:23:20,653 --> 00:23:23,333
Speaker 2: wins in the next week. While topic number four, as

454
00:23:23,373 --> 00:23:25,893
Speaker 2: we touched on last week in Rugby reck the assistant

455
00:23:25,933 --> 00:23:28,333
Speaker 2: had done, who would you pick as the All Blacks

456
00:23:28,413 --> 00:23:29,533
Speaker 2: captain this year?

457
00:23:29,693 --> 00:23:30,013
Speaker 5: Liam?

458
00:23:31,973 --> 00:23:35,933
Speaker 4: I suspect that Dave Reny might go down the co

459
00:23:36,013 --> 00:23:41,693
Speaker 4: captain and see roots. I think Scott Barrett was a

460
00:23:41,733 --> 00:23:44,053
Speaker 4: reluctant captain. I don't think I think it had an

461
00:23:44,093 --> 00:23:47,893
Speaker 4: impact on his form, so I would not be having

462
00:23:47,973 --> 00:23:48,413
Speaker 4: him captain.

463
00:23:48,453 --> 00:23:49,653
Speaker 3: I think Artie's a contender.

464
00:23:50,613 --> 00:23:54,173
Speaker 4: I think when he's captain the team he's played really well.

465
00:23:54,213 --> 00:23:58,173
Speaker 4: So that's important and it is first and foremost so

466
00:23:58,253 --> 00:24:02,093
Speaker 4: important that your captain is one of your first picks.

467
00:24:02,293 --> 00:24:04,173
Speaker 4: He has to be starting. There has to be no

468
00:24:04,293 --> 00:24:07,293
Speaker 4: questions around that. I think Jordi Barrett is a really

469
00:24:07,333 --> 00:24:11,973
Speaker 4: strong candidate captain under the last regime. So you could

470
00:24:12,013 --> 00:24:15,373
Speaker 4: potentially see a scenario where you're looking at maybe an

471
00:24:15,453 --> 00:24:18,293
Speaker 4: Artie Severe and Jordi Barrett, maybe a Cody Taylor or

472
00:24:18,293 --> 00:24:19,373
Speaker 4: a Jordi Barrett combination.

473
00:24:20,173 --> 00:24:24,333
Speaker 2: Okay, look, I'd probably go Cody Taylor. Look, I know

474
00:24:24,933 --> 00:24:28,173
Speaker 2: Artie's got a lot of fans out the Yere and

475
00:24:28,213 --> 00:24:30,373
Speaker 2: he has played well. I still have questions over his

476
00:24:30,373 --> 00:24:35,333
Speaker 2: game managements as a Test captain, and I just think

477
00:24:35,373 --> 00:24:37,453
Speaker 2: you kind of almost need to let Ardi be Arti.

478
00:24:38,293 --> 00:24:40,013
Speaker 2: And you know, I know there's, as I said, a

479
00:24:40,053 --> 00:24:42,773
Speaker 2: legion of fans that believe the path is now been

480
00:24:42,853 --> 00:24:45,093
Speaker 2: cleared for him to be the All Black Skipper. I'm

481
00:24:45,133 --> 00:24:47,493
Speaker 2: not as convinced. I almost think that you need to

482
00:24:47,933 --> 00:24:49,893
Speaker 2: I think you do need to change. I think you

483
00:24:49,973 --> 00:24:52,493
Speaker 2: need to go to someone like Cody Taylor. The question

484
00:24:52,573 --> 00:24:54,933
Speaker 2: marker would have on Cody as a couple of cynical

485
00:24:54,933 --> 00:24:57,893
Speaker 2: penalties that he is capable of giving away. You think

486
00:24:57,973 --> 00:24:59,933
Speaker 2: back to England last year, there's been a couple of

487
00:24:59,973 --> 00:25:03,173
Speaker 2: times in Super Rugby where he's given away cynical penalties.

488
00:25:03,173 --> 00:25:06,133
Speaker 2: You can't really do that as a captain, but I'd

489
00:25:06,173 --> 00:25:11,653
Speaker 2: probably lean towards Cody. I'm not convinced around co captains Liam.

490
00:25:11,933 --> 00:25:14,653
Speaker 5: You know, the captain sees a one man job for mine.

491
00:25:15,413 --> 00:25:16,333
Speaker 3: Yeah, I tend to agree.

492
00:25:16,573 --> 00:25:20,653
Speaker 4: I like to have not a dictatorial leader, but certainly

493
00:25:20,893 --> 00:25:23,373
Speaker 4: one man in that job and you can have the

494
00:25:23,453 --> 00:25:27,533
Speaker 4: leadership support cast around them. But I also think that

495
00:25:28,413 --> 00:25:31,013
Speaker 4: the days where it has to be a forward are

496
00:25:31,013 --> 00:25:33,293
Speaker 4: a bit outdated as well. You think, you know, Tanuma

497
00:25:33,573 --> 00:25:37,453
Speaker 4: was a great form of black captain. I don't think

498
00:25:37,493 --> 00:25:40,853
Speaker 4: there's any question about Jordi Barrett's place in that team.

499
00:25:41,173 --> 00:25:44,613
Speaker 4: Cody Taylor, I think definitely has claims. But I also

500
00:25:44,653 --> 00:25:48,533
Speaker 4: think you needed to utilize guys like SAMMASONI, Takyajo and

501
00:25:48,733 --> 00:25:51,213
Speaker 4: I suffer more off the bench, so potentially they're coming

502
00:25:51,293 --> 00:25:53,133
Speaker 4: on with half an hour ago.

503
00:25:53,493 --> 00:25:56,373
Speaker 3: I've seen how important that that impact from the.

504
00:25:56,253 --> 00:26:00,053
Speaker 4: Bench is, where maybe a guy like Jordi plays deeper

505
00:26:00,093 --> 00:26:03,533
Speaker 4: into the game, So maybe that comes into consideration as well.

506
00:26:03,613 --> 00:26:04,813
Speaker 5: Yeah, good point, good point.

507
00:26:05,213 --> 00:26:07,013
Speaker 2: Before we wrap up on RAIGHTPI direct time now for

508
00:26:07,093 --> 00:26:10,053
Speaker 2: we're our MVP you're seeing Liam. You give me your

509
00:26:10,053 --> 00:26:14,093
Speaker 2: three two ones and we'll pop it into the spreadsheet

510
00:26:14,133 --> 00:26:16,373
Speaker 2: and we'll come out with some results in the next

511
00:26:16,373 --> 00:26:18,013
Speaker 2: week and update you on how it's all tracking.

512
00:26:18,773 --> 00:26:18,893
Speaker 3: Well.

513
00:26:18,893 --> 00:26:21,933
Speaker 4: It has to be one from the cane train, doesn't it.

514
00:26:21,973 --> 00:26:25,413
Speaker 4: Elliott's be rude not to so. Fennyanng and or four

515
00:26:25,453 --> 00:26:30,093
Speaker 4: gets my three the red hot try scoring machine. I'm

516
00:26:30,093 --> 00:26:33,213
Speaker 4: going to go Caleb Tunguataw for two. Just really impressed

517
00:26:33,213 --> 00:26:35,333
Speaker 4: by his work, great his physicality.

518
00:26:35,333 --> 00:26:35,973
Speaker 3: We're ball on hand.

519
00:26:35,973 --> 00:26:37,773
Speaker 4: I think you've still got some work ons on defense

520
00:26:38,373 --> 00:26:41,453
Speaker 4: and with the difference in the Test game, a bit

521
00:26:41,493 --> 00:26:43,573
Speaker 4: to prove under the high wall as well. But he's

522
00:26:43,613 --> 00:26:46,773
Speaker 4: doing everything possible with ball in hands. And I'm going

523
00:26:46,853 --> 00:26:50,373
Speaker 4: to go one to your man who you've anointed as

524
00:26:50,413 --> 00:26:54,173
Speaker 4: one of the world's best locks in a great team

525
00:26:54,173 --> 00:26:57,293
Speaker 4: like the Hurricanes, Wanna Durns. So he's coming on nicely.

526
00:26:57,373 --> 00:27:00,613
Speaker 2: Too well done, Yep, you come on to the Warner

527
00:27:00,693 --> 00:27:04,453
Speaker 2: Dunes Fan Club. Welcome in as much as it disturbs me.

528
00:27:04,493 --> 00:27:07,213
Speaker 2: I've also given two Hurricanes players and they're the same

529
00:27:07,293 --> 00:27:11,253
Speaker 2: Hurricanes players three points FEddi Finn Young and a fo

530
00:27:11,253 --> 00:27:14,213
Speaker 2: He's got my three, Quinti Pie has got my two.

531
00:27:14,813 --> 00:27:19,413
Speaker 2: He was everywhere again for the Chiefs and as we

532
00:27:19,493 --> 00:27:21,813
Speaker 2: discussed at the top, middling performance, but again he's just

533
00:27:21,813 --> 00:27:24,893
Speaker 2: been one of their standouts as standards haven't dropped this season,

534
00:27:25,293 --> 00:27:28,893
Speaker 2: even if maybe the team hasn't risen with him. And yep,

535
00:27:28,893 --> 00:27:30,933
Speaker 2: Warner Dunes gets my one as well. So we're on

536
00:27:30,973 --> 00:27:34,093
Speaker 2: a similar page there, which is a little bit disturbing actually, Liam,

537
00:27:34,133 --> 00:27:34,853
Speaker 2: but there we go.

538
00:27:35,893 --> 00:27:37,053
Speaker 3: I'm sure you're right the ship.

539
00:27:37,093 --> 00:27:40,813
Speaker 4: Next week when when the Crusaders lose their nine, the

540
00:27:40,853 --> 00:27:46,093
Speaker 4: one hundredth game and final game at Apollos Stadium, and

541
00:27:46,733 --> 00:27:48,373
Speaker 4: you still manage to include a few red and.

542
00:27:48,293 --> 00:27:50,773
Speaker 2: Blacks, we'll make sure of that absolutely. Only three games

543
00:27:51,133 --> 00:27:55,933
Speaker 2: this weekend. We'll touch based again on Thursday and go

544
00:27:56,013 --> 00:27:58,213
Speaker 2: through those Liam, thank you very much for your time.

545
00:27:58,253 --> 00:27:59,813
Speaker 5: As always on Ragia Direct.

546
00:28:00,453 --> 00:28:03,773
Speaker 2: Treat that mate, that is Raby Direct for another week.

547
00:28:04,013 --> 00:28:05,693
Speaker 2: We're back in the later in the week thanks to

548
00:28:05,733 --> 00:28:09,813
Speaker 2: producer Mark Kelly. Thanks to sponsors Heabit Health Us your

549
00:28:09,813 --> 00:28:10,413
Speaker 2: book Today.

550
00:28:10,293 --> 00:28:17,053
Speaker 1: Then Today for more from News Talks at b listen

551
00:28:17,133 --> 00:28:20,093
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552
00:28:20,213 --> 00:28:23,293
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