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Speaker 1: You're listening to a podcast from Newstalks EDB. Follow this

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Speaker 1: and our Wide Ranger podcasts now on iHeartRadio, Strake down

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Speaker 1: the Middle of.

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Speaker 2: Drup, Dicky Scy Try these packet.

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

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Speaker 1: Elliot Smith and Liam Napier powered by News Talks EDB.

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Speaker 2: Welcome into Rugby Direct powered by Habit Heath, 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 Elliott Smith and Liam Napier. Plenty to get

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Speaker 2: stuck into. But first, some breaking news that has come

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Speaker 2: just before we kicked off our recording of Rugby Directs,

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Speaker 2: and that is New Zealand Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson

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Speaker 2: to stand down at the ends of twenty twenty five. Liam,

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Speaker 2: your initial reaction to this newser There had had been

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Speaker 2: a few rumors in recent weeks that this was a

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Speaker 2: possibility and now it has been firmed that he's leaving

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Speaker 2: at the end of the year.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, big news is and Elliott the head of our

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Speaker 3: national sport moving on at the end of the year.

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Speaker 3: Has it's been a tumultuous six year tenure. I think

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Speaker 3: it's fair to say Mark Robinson coming in following Steve

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Speaker 3: Cheue two very different characters. Cho was a very dictatorial,

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Speaker 3: authoritative figure and Mark Robinson a different type of leader.

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Speaker 4: He hasn't had it easy, but it has.

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Speaker 3: Been a There's been a lot of upheaval, hasn't There

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Speaker 3: COVID unprecedented pandemic, all the closures and the Super Rugby

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Speaker 3: upheaval that came out of that Silver Lake, the private

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Speaker 3: equity deal that's still in the balance about whether that

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Speaker 3: was a good move for the New Zealand game, and

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Speaker 3: of course the public fallout around Ian Foster and Robertson

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Speaker 3: that the appointment of the All Blacks coach, again unprecedented

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Speaker 3: coming during in the lead up to the twenty twenty

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Speaker 3: three World Cup. So some very big ticket items on

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Speaker 3: Mark Robinson's tenure. And I think there you mentioned the

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Speaker 3: whispers the rumors there. The riding had been on the

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Speaker 3: wall from the back end of last year when you

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Speaker 3: had a new New Zealand Rugby board coming, David Kirk

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Speaker 3: the new chairman, and everyone expected at some point he

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Speaker 3: would essentially push for change. We've also had the New

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Speaker 3: Zealand Rugby commercial co boss move on, Craig Fenton, and

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Speaker 3: I think there was always going to be a come

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Speaker 3: to Jesus moment where New Zealand Rugby wanted one group

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Speaker 3: CEO across those both those boards. So the commercial entity

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Speaker 3: of New Zealand Rugby and the rugby arm of the

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Speaker 3: New Zealand Rugby board and who that's going to be,

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Speaker 3: not too sure. What do you make of I guess

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Speaker 3: your initial reaction of the news and I guess your

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Speaker 3: reflections of he's not gone yet, but of his time

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Speaker 3: on Mark Robinson's time in the hot seat.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean it hasn't come easy for Robinson. I

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Speaker 2: think compared to Steve Chu probably navigated a few less

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Speaker 2: challenges in the global game potentially, and that was exacerbated

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Speaker 2: by COVID nineteen. I mean Mark Robinson started the gig

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Speaker 2: in January of twenty twenty. The world was a completely

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Speaker 2: different place back then to where it is now. And

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Speaker 2: it feels like the game is still sort of getting

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Speaker 2: back on its feet a little bit after COVID, both

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Speaker 2: at super rugby level and an international level. The Silver

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Speaker 2: Lake deal, as you said, very much jury out still

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Speaker 2: as to whether that was a good idea and whether

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Speaker 2: New Zeale Rabya is seeing the benefits of what was

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Speaker 2: supposedly promised by silver Lake as a result of them

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Speaker 2: pumping that money into elements of the New Zealand game.

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Speaker 2: So he's seen a period of change and I think

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Speaker 2: the timing's probably right to have someone new come in

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Speaker 2: and accelerate that change, or even decelerate the change and

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Speaker 2: changed up a bit and look for different ways to

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Speaker 2: do things in the national game. I think, yeah, the

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Speaker 2: jury is probably out over his legacy is tenure. You know,

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Speaker 2: the pull away from South Africa is probably going to

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Speaker 2: be something that's attached to him. I know a lot

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Speaker 2: of New Zealand rugby fans view that period of Super

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Speaker 2: Rugby with South Africa with roast into glasses. It feels

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Speaker 2: like this year Super Pacific might have got to the

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Speaker 2: point where they envisioned it being when they first split

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Speaker 2: away from the South Africans. So ultimately, I think a

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Speaker 2: mixed period of legacy. And you know he's judged on

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Speaker 2: not only the on field results but also the off

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Speaker 2: field results, and I think on that point you probably

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Speaker 2: have to say very much a mixed tenure from Mark Robinson.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, and that would be reflected if you went out

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Speaker 3: to the heart blends of rugby and talked to the

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Speaker 3: provincial unions. If you talk to people about the way

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Speaker 3: in which Silverlac deal played out, about the all black

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Speaker 3: coaching appointment, and a lot of those situations are lose

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Speaker 3: lose from a public facing point of view, But at

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Speaker 3: times I think there could have been more strong, decisive

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Speaker 3: leadership of New Zealand game and I think that's what

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Speaker 3: they'll be seeking going forward with a replacement in time.

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Speaker 3: Just on your point about South Africa, I think there

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Speaker 3: has been an element of history being rewritten there. I

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Speaker 3: think South Africa always we're going to go that way.

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Speaker 3: COVID accelerated it, maybe it wasn't handled that well. And

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Speaker 3: even the friction, the tension with Australia about how many

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Speaker 3: teams I've had, well we've seen now that clearly they

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Speaker 3: couldn't afford or sustain five teams. So history does shine

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Speaker 3: a different light on things. I think Super Rugby is

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Speaker 3: more sustainable in its current format and.

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Speaker 4: US would be nice to.

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Speaker 3: Have South Africa involved, But like you say, a bit

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Speaker 3: of rose into glasses there in some respects, and I

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Speaker 3: think they were always going to break away and go north.

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Speaker 2: He's going to leave at the end of the year.

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Speaker 2: There's still a few things to be signed off before

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Speaker 2: he does depart. A new broadcast deal, the Women's Rugby

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Speaker 2: World Cup in England is still to take place. We

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Speaker 2: haven't had rugby's greatest rivalry. These tours against Africa are

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Speaker 2: basically they're in the schedule, but it hasn't been officially

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Speaker 2: announced that. The Club World Cup hasn't been officially announced,

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Speaker 2: the Nation's Cup schedule etc. Hasn't been officially announced. So

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Speaker 2: there's a fair bit of work to do before he

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Speaker 2: leaves the post at the end of the year, where

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Speaker 2: he apparently he's going to go join his family in

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Speaker 2: Australia who are based in Queensland. So very understandable for

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Speaker 2: from those reasons, but a bit of work to do,

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Speaker 2: I guess, you know some part of it and from

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Speaker 2: what I unerstand very well respected Mark Robinson around the

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Speaker 2: international boards, the international game, bring back tours, there's going

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Speaker 2: to be something that he can probably point to as

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Speaker 2: part of his legacy.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, it's some really big ticket items mentioned there. The

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Speaker 3: tours concept will be hugely popular once every four years

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Speaker 3: and the boom I guess in the Woman's game and

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Speaker 3: the Black Ferns will Cup this year and it sounds

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Speaker 3: like plans are in the works to really finalize a

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Speaker 3: strong calendar for the women's game in this country going forward.

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Speaker 3: So yeah, there are some positive steps taken there. And

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Speaker 3: as you mentioned, he is going to go join his

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Speaker 3: family in Queensland. He's got three kids, understand all you

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Speaker 3: want to link up there. But the big one there

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Speaker 3: is the broadcast steel. It sounds like Sky is offering

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Speaker 3: around eighty five million, which is a significant reduction on

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Speaker 3: previous years.

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Speaker 4: New Zealand Rugby has.

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Speaker 3: Signed a number of different sponsorship deals in recent times

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Speaker 3: to plug potentially plug some of those holes. But that

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Speaker 3: is going to be really fundamental to funding every level

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Speaker 3: of the game. How that broadcast steal plays out.

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Speaker 2: Anyone stand out as a possible contender to take over

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Speaker 2: this job or is it going to be very much

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Speaker 2: an open such I.

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Speaker 3: Think it will be open slather to a degree. I

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Speaker 3: see it being a one, one group CEO, so you

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Speaker 3: will have I think you still have people at the

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Speaker 3: head of a commercial code board or in a New

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Speaker 3: Zealand Rugby board. But then there's an overarching helicopter figure

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Speaker 3: almost like a Director of Rugby type role, but in

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Speaker 3: a managerial position, somebody with strong business background but still

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Speaker 3: knows the rugby scene. So I don't think there's anyone

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Speaker 3: internally that jumps out, but it is going to be

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Speaker 3: a massive appointments and I think people like David Kirk

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Speaker 3: will have a big say in who that might be.

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Speaker 2: Indeed, watch the space say some breaking news out this morning,

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Speaker 2: can follow all the reaction on ZID, Herald, dot co

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Speaker 2: dot nz. Of course, let's get into the weekend that

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Speaker 2: was in Super Rugby and boy this took a turn,

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Speaker 2: didn't it. This weekend of Super Rugby qualifying finals, so

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Speaker 2: much of that last game being a dead rubber. We'll

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Speaker 2: get to what caused that in a moment or two,

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Speaker 2: but first and foremost, the Brumbies. Let's start backwards. Brumbies

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Speaker 2: beating the Hurricanes thirty five twenty eight, the cane train

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Speaker 2: that had been gathering momentum. It's a bit like New

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Speaker 2: Zealand's approach to rail. It's come to a grinding halt

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Speaker 2: and the Hurricane to be disappointed with this. Look the

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Speaker 2: Brumbies with a better team. I think on the night

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Speaker 2: the Hurricanes were with them, they led fourteen seven, but

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Speaker 2: something switched around the half hour mark, and it felt

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Speaker 2: like even before they went behind the school, they began

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Speaker 2: chasing the game. The Brumbies just began to get on

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Speaker 2: top of the armory so and didn't relent. And boy,

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Speaker 2: it was a game with fine margins and the Hurricanes

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Speaker 2: are probably disappointed with their discipline. Also, the air account

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Speaker 2: through that game.

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Speaker 4: Yeah, our friendship was is in jeopardy.

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Speaker 3: Actually, I was driving back from the tron and receive

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Speaker 3: a gift, a gift in the student night chat group

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Speaker 3: that Thomas the tank Engine's coming off the track.

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Speaker 4: So it was not well received. It's fair to say

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Speaker 4: I think we'd have enjoyed that.

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Speaker 2: No, No, I did not what it was the key

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Speaker 2: And then obviously you're you've you've you've seen the game,

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Speaker 2: and the Hurricanes we frustrated. Perhaps they didn't put their

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Speaker 2: best performance out and what turned out to be a

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Speaker 2: knockout game.

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Speaker 4: Yeah, I devastated.

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Speaker 3: You could see Billy Proctor sitting on the posts post

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Speaker 3: final whistle carrefee very emotional post match, and that's just

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Speaker 3: deflating because, as you mentioned, the Canes had built a

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Speaker 3: lot of momentum from being in a real hole and

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Speaker 3: getting guys like Billy Proctor back were massive for them

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Speaker 3: and they had their draw and Perth knocked over the

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Speaker 3: Brumbies and the Chiefs and really did that. They came

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Speaker 3: into the finals probably as the form team and to

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Speaker 3: go to camera it's an incredibly tough place to win.

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Speaker 3: But defensively they let themselves down. The mall defense cost them.

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Speaker 3: They considered one really nice set try to Tom Wright,

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Speaker 3: but it just always felt like they were chasing the

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Speaker 3: game and yeah they could score points, still created a lot,

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Speaker 3: but defensively they were exposed. And yeah, they'll reflect on

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Speaker 3: that harshly because they set themselves up for a real

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Speaker 3: tilt and flopped. I think, you know, they'll be really

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Speaker 3: disappointed with the level that they got to because they

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Speaker 3: were much better in previous weeks.

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Speaker 2: They were and this has been a bit of a

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Speaker 2: graveyard for them. Canberra in terms of ending their Super

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Speaker 2: Rugby season on a couple of occasions, whether their mindset

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Speaker 2: changed given it was a knockout game rather than seating

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Speaker 2: game for them, potentially, but it just felt like they

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Speaker 2: didn't get enough probably out of ten. I didn't think

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Speaker 2: on the weekend Britt Cameron that they moved him back

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Speaker 2: into teen with Ruben Love at fullback. Probably didn't get

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Speaker 2: enough how of brick Cameron and I thought Flanders and

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Speaker 2: duple coref He tried all nine and so did Larkeye,

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Speaker 2: but they were beaten I thought by the while other

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Speaker 2: Brumbies loose for Valentin, he had another outstanding night. You

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Speaker 2: know there's other loose for partners I thought were excellent

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Speaker 2: as well, and probably just been into the punch. We

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Speaker 2: didn't see Kreefy over the ball as much as we've

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Speaker 2: seen him in other games this season. We'll put him

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Speaker 2: those big hats and just didn't probably get the ascendency

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Speaker 2: up front.

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Speaker 3: You look credit to the Brumbies as well. They are

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Speaker 3: a good team and tough to beat in camera. And

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Speaker 3: this match was in stark contrast, wasn't it to the

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Speaker 3: other semi final. It was open, it was quite expensive,

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Speaker 3: it was high scoring and Canes just couldn't quite stick

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Speaker 3: with the Brumbies.

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Speaker 4: It was very tip for tat.

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Speaker 3: But yeah, just a couple of really bad defensive lapses

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Speaker 3: proved costly. And you're right, I didn't think they got

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Speaker 3: enough out of ten. There was some punch at times,

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Speaker 3: but little moments that made breaks and you know, bread

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Speaker 3: shields go through and just funnels the ball and then

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Speaker 3: little occasions like that where they couldn't quite make it stick.

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Speaker 3: So it's another early exit for the Canes, probably reflective

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Speaker 3: of where they are at in the New Zealand pecking order.

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Speaker 3: But having built that momentum into the finals they did.

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Speaker 3: It was very familiar of building up hope and then

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Speaker 3: letting the balloon down. So tough to take all.

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Speaker 2: Right, Let's move back to the Blues twenty Chiefs nineteen

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Speaker 2: Blues winning it after the siren in Hamilton. Liam, as

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Speaker 2: you mentioned you were there, I wouldn't say you had

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Speaker 2: a great seat for it, but given what I've seen

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Speaker 2: out of that media box, thanks Chet. Yeah, really good

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Speaker 2: thinks the media really appreciates it. Blues though stubborn nineteen

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Speaker 2: six down. I mean they were out of it really

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Speaker 2: at half time, but they went out of it. They

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Speaker 2: should have been at it at half time. The Chiefs

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Speaker 2: had so much ball, so much position in territory in

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Speaker 2: that first spell, and yet we're only leading what nine

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Speaker 2: to three at the break, and if Boden Barrett their

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Speaker 2: ball sits up or he can slide onto it and

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Speaker 2: score the try, then the Blues would have been a

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Speaker 2: hit against the run of play at halftime, but it

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Speaker 2: felt like the Chiefs a game of that a sentence

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Speaker 2: after the break. Nineteen six games should probably have been

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Speaker 2: locked away in a tight tuss all like that. But

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Speaker 2: as I said, the Blues a stubborn. They refuse to

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Speaker 2: give up. And it took all Lady three minutes, but

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Speaker 2: they keep this season alive. Very impressive performance. To keep

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Speaker 2: this season going.

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Speaker 3: You want to results, I think first of all, I

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Speaker 3: want to touch on the Chiefs because bizarre tactics. They

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Speaker 3: played into the Blues hands by being so conservative by

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Speaker 3: crashing it one off the ruck, and even Verncotta postmatch

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Speaker 3: said those tactics surprise the Blues.

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Speaker 4: Really did, felt like.

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Speaker 3: I feel like the Chiefs went into their shells a

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Speaker 3: bit and it did still work for them to a degree.

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Speaker 3: They blew I think five chances in the Blues red

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Speaker 3: zone in that first half dominated all position. They pretty

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Speaker 3: much set up camp and the Blues twenty two. There

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Speaker 3: was the quartz at Artema bounce of the ball that

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Speaker 3: didn't go his way, but there was I think it

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Speaker 3: was a Daniel Rona when Caleb Clark threw that brain

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Speaker 3: explosion of a quick throwing a couple of penalties, botched opportunities,

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Speaker 3: so the Chiefs could have been up a couple of

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Speaker 3: tries at halftime. The Blues actually looked more dangerous when

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Speaker 3: they had ball in hand. They lose Ricky Ricottelli and

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Speaker 3: the Chiefs don't really punish them for that. And then

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Speaker 3: as you mentioned there, the Bowden Barrett brilliance and could

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Speaker 3: have easily scored the Blues could.

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Speaker 4: Have been up at halftime.

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Speaker 3: And before we go into the rest of it, just

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Speaker 3: on that boden Bar completely outplayed Damien McKenzie in a.

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Speaker 4: Match that matters.

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Speaker 3: You know that this was a head to hea battle

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Speaker 3: and McKenzie was virtually other than goalkicking non existent. Boden Bar,

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Speaker 3: a very influential with his tactical kicking, would have should

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Speaker 3: have scored that try. Named Man of the match. So

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Speaker 3: really wiped the floor and McKenzie on his home patch.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, how much she ascribe to McKenzie's performance, the tactics

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Speaker 2: that you mentioned the change in that that it was

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Speaker 2: a very un chief slight performance from what we've seen.

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Speaker 2: Did they just go well, it's plat footy, we need

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Speaker 2: to play this way rather than doing what's worked for them.

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Speaker 2: The entire season.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, I just had a thought here, I'm just going

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Speaker 3: to blow my own trumpet, because a couple of weeks ago,

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Speaker 3: do you remember me saying the one team in Super

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Speaker 3: Rugby that could beat the Chiefs.

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Speaker 4: This was after they pumped Winer was the Blues.

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Speaker 2: As you did say that, yep, yeah, it's not even

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Speaker 2: the Hurricane.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, he did mention that, and that's because the Blues

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Speaker 3: forward pack and in their tactics it's built for finals rugby,

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Speaker 3: isn't it. And they've had tight tussles with the Chiefs

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Speaker 3: and Crusaders this year. But yeah, I just felt the

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Speaker 3: Chiefs that they had all that strike. I don't know

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Speaker 3: whether losing Antonina Brown and Quincy Pye changed their tactics somewhat.

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Speaker 3: They didn't win a confidence to use their back line,

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Speaker 3: but it was just so conservative and as you mentioned,

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Speaker 3: they're up thirteen points. It should have been shut the gate,

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Speaker 3: closed the game out, But the Blues incredibly resilient, aren't

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Speaker 3: They just to keep coming back, keep fighting, and it

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Speaker 3: was a real role reversal in that second half. They

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Speaker 3: set up camp in the Blues twenty two and it

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Speaker 3: did feel inevitable even when Hoskinsitutu denied that try.

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Speaker 4: It was penalty.

320
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Speaker 2: Clark denied that try for and knocking it off.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, it was penalty after penalty and just wave after

322
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Speaker 3: wave of the Blues raiding the Chiefs line and what

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Speaker 3: a moment for Josh Berry to come off the bench

324
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Speaker 3: bus through. I think it was Arcoy's tackle, reach out

325
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Speaker 3: and score for young promising Locke, such an unlikely hero

326
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Speaker 3: right next to the post. And it was earlier in

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Speaker 3: the year March maybe when the Blues went down there

328
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Speaker 3: scored Xavier Taile, twenty year old kids hits the post

329
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Speaker 3: with a conversion. This time it's right next to the

330
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Speaker 3: posts and Boden Barrett throws the ball over and the

331
00:18:32,293 --> 00:18:36,733
Speaker 3: Blues steal it, and Ricco Ajani remains the chief protagonist,

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Speaker 3: shushing the crowd and hamming it up. So the Blues

333
00:18:42,133 --> 00:18:44,933
Speaker 3: probably the most hated team and Super Rugby, but they're

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Speaker 3: doing the business.

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Speaker 2: That's right. It's promotion for the game and if they

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Speaker 2: want to build that narrative around them, think great. I

337
00:18:51,813 --> 00:18:54,493
Speaker 2: think that's good for the game. And Rico Juani's done

338
00:18:54,533 --> 00:18:58,253
Speaker 2: a very very good job at doing so great to

339
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Speaker 2: see Cameron so far as all the images of Cameron

340
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Speaker 2: so far in hospital chearing his team on teep A

341
00:19:04,613 --> 00:19:07,013
Speaker 2: lot too mentioned the postgame their thoughts obviously with Cameron

342
00:19:07,093 --> 00:19:09,573
Speaker 2: so far as everyone's are as he goes through this

343
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Speaker 2: tough health battle. But the Blues, now, you know, they're

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Speaker 2: going with their tails up to this game in christ yet.

345
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Speaker 2: We'll get to the Crusader's reads at a moment. But

346
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Speaker 2: the Crusader's never lost a home game. Van Koda mentioned, well,

347
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Speaker 2: they've got to lose some time, he said, he.

348
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Speaker 4: Was asked about that, not yet his immediate response, and look.

349
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Speaker 2: They came very close to doing so. But for a

350
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Speaker 2: James a Quanta penalty earlier in the season. The Crusaders

351
00:19:33,533 --> 00:19:35,773
Speaker 2: will go in probably his favorites. But boy, the Blues

352
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Speaker 2: will hid down there with their tails up. The things

353
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Speaker 2: that potentially could count against them. That six day turned

354
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Speaker 2: around for what was a very physical game. But when

355
00:19:44,653 --> 00:19:48,213
Speaker 2: you got that adrenaline and that momentum going, that may

356
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Speaker 2: not matter too much.

357
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Speaker 3: It does feel like the Blues have nothing to lose,

358
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Speaker 3: you know, the defending champions, but they just snuck into

359
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Speaker 3: the playoffs.

360
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Speaker 4: It's been a.

361
00:19:59,893 --> 00:20:03,213
Speaker 3: Rubbish year really, from when you look at this squad

362
00:20:03,333 --> 00:20:05,293
Speaker 3: and where they came from and how dominant they were

363
00:20:05,693 --> 00:20:07,813
Speaker 3: to win that first title in twenty one years last

364
00:20:07,893 --> 00:20:12,013
Speaker 3: year and then yeah they scrape into the playoffs, everyone's

365
00:20:12,053 --> 00:20:15,413
Speaker 3: writing them off, nobody really gives them a chance. And

366
00:20:15,493 --> 00:20:18,693
Speaker 3: it's a similar theme this week really with as you

367
00:20:18,773 --> 00:20:22,773
Speaker 3: mentioned that the record down there in christ Church, most

368
00:20:22,813 --> 00:20:26,493
Speaker 3: people will be tipping the Crusaders, and so the Blues

369
00:20:26,733 --> 00:20:30,813
Speaker 3: maintain their underdog villain status or whatever you want to

370
00:20:30,893 --> 00:20:34,853
Speaker 3: call it, go down there and ye harness their internal

371
00:20:34,973 --> 00:20:38,213
Speaker 3: confidence and with the game that is built for finals rugby.

372
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Speaker 3: So what a match up to arch rivals. I would

373
00:20:43,573 --> 00:20:46,333
Speaker 3: like to see two selection changes from the Blues. I

374
00:20:46,773 --> 00:20:49,493
Speaker 3: know you don't change your warning formula, but I thought

375
00:20:49,533 --> 00:20:54,093
Speaker 3: Finlay Christie was relatively poor again drop the ball at

376
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Speaker 3: the base, there was a thinking one kick charge and

377
00:20:57,373 --> 00:21:00,733
Speaker 3: his kicking was a bit off. Tough of fol Nachi.

378
00:21:01,133 --> 00:21:03,013
Speaker 3: I would bring him back into the mix, even off

379
00:21:03,053 --> 00:21:06,773
Speaker 3: the bench, and zarh Sullivan for me, should be at

380
00:21:06,813 --> 00:21:13,173
Speaker 3: fullback from when you're playing that combative direct game and

381
00:21:13,533 --> 00:21:18,253
Speaker 3: you want to play territory just having his massive boot.

382
00:21:18,853 --> 00:21:19,813
Speaker 4: I looked at Corey Evans.

383
00:21:19,893 --> 00:21:21,733
Speaker 3: He put up a couple of high kicks and went

384
00:21:21,813 --> 00:21:25,813
Speaker 3: to contest them very bravely, but didn't regather them. And

385
00:21:26,213 --> 00:21:28,773
Speaker 3: a couple of clearance kicks only made you know, ten

386
00:21:28,813 --> 00:21:31,133
Speaker 3: to twenty meters you put zar in the pocket, you're

387
00:21:31,133 --> 00:21:34,853
Speaker 3: looking at another forty. So those were two tweaks I

388
00:21:35,013 --> 00:21:37,093
Speaker 3: think the Blue should look at, but I'm not sure

389
00:21:37,133 --> 00:21:37,413
Speaker 3: they will.

390
00:21:37,413 --> 00:21:39,773
Speaker 2: All soun Sullivan and Steph Pittferer become two of the

391
00:21:39,853 --> 00:21:41,253
Speaker 2: forgotten men of New Zealand rugby.

392
00:21:41,733 --> 00:21:44,213
Speaker 4: Well, parafest is injured, Yeah, but isn't he back?

393
00:21:44,293 --> 00:21:46,093
Speaker 2: He's back? Doesn't he fit again? Or very close to

394
00:21:46,093 --> 00:21:46,413
Speaker 2: being fit?

395
00:21:46,693 --> 00:21:47,253
Speaker 4: Pretty close?

396
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Speaker 2: And again with the All Blacks looming, you know, not

397
00:21:52,813 --> 00:21:55,213
Speaker 2: much of a chance to show the WIRs. Let's go

398
00:21:55,253 --> 00:21:58,053
Speaker 2: into that Crusader's Reds game on Friday night. The Crusaders

399
00:21:59,173 --> 00:22:01,813
Speaker 2: just went to work. Really, the Reds failed to fire

400
00:22:01,853 --> 00:22:05,893
Speaker 2: a shot until the game was beyond them, and the

401
00:22:06,013 --> 00:22:09,493
Speaker 2: Crusaders I think can be relatively happy with the eighty

402
00:22:09,533 --> 00:22:11,653
Speaker 2: minutes they turned out. In fact, if you went into

403
00:22:11,693 --> 00:22:14,133
Speaker 2: that game, if your Rob Penny pretty much everything, you know,

404
00:22:14,453 --> 00:22:17,213
Speaker 2: they got through relatively injury free. From what I understand,

405
00:22:17,653 --> 00:22:20,613
Speaker 2: they could sub some of those players before the game

406
00:22:20,773 --> 00:22:23,973
Speaker 2: was done. It wasn't in the balance. Job done for

407
00:22:24,013 --> 00:22:26,853
Speaker 2: the Crusaders, and they took that box on Friday night.

408
00:22:27,933 --> 00:22:30,733
Speaker 3: A lot of the talk from us and outside was

409
00:22:30,773 --> 00:22:33,773
Speaker 3: about the returner will Jordan, but the guy who had

410
00:22:33,813 --> 00:22:37,613
Speaker 3: the biggest impact on this game returning was Fletcher Newel

411
00:22:38,253 --> 00:22:40,773
Speaker 3: and the Crusaders scrum just ate the reds up to

412
00:22:40,853 --> 00:22:44,173
Speaker 3: Mighty Williams and Fletcher Neil Fletcher in particular, just went

413
00:22:44,333 --> 00:22:50,053
Speaker 3: to work and that's where their dominance started and they

414
00:22:50,173 --> 00:22:54,973
Speaker 3: just rolled on. It really was a procession and it's

415
00:22:55,013 --> 00:23:00,093
Speaker 3: what you expect, wasn't it from that matchup? Much tougher

416
00:23:01,053 --> 00:23:04,053
Speaker 3: quest this week, but as you mentioned, they are in

417
00:23:04,173 --> 00:23:06,213
Speaker 3: great shape to Mighty Williams.

418
00:23:06,613 --> 00:23:07,773
Speaker 4: Injury not too bad.

419
00:23:07,773 --> 00:23:10,093
Speaker 2: I don't think it's too bad. I's get a full

420
00:23:10,133 --> 00:23:14,533
Speaker 2: report on that, but I think it's okay, hopefully from

421
00:23:14,573 --> 00:23:16,493
Speaker 2: a Crusader's perspective, because he's I mean, he's on a

422
00:23:16,533 --> 00:23:19,453
Speaker 2: mountain of work this year. He switched to tight head

423
00:23:19,533 --> 00:23:22,213
Speaker 2: for a period of weeks with Fletcher Newell being out.

424
00:23:23,133 --> 00:23:25,333
Speaker 2: He's been excellent. I think for them. Tomody Williams the

425
00:23:25,413 --> 00:23:28,133
Speaker 2: season probably close to being their best player throughout the season.

426
00:23:28,333 --> 00:23:31,773
Speaker 2: Just what he's adding to his game a few times

427
00:23:31,813 --> 00:23:33,613
Speaker 2: he's slotted in a half back and showing a pretty

428
00:23:33,613 --> 00:23:35,773
Speaker 2: good pass, which I know is not his core skills,

429
00:23:35,813 --> 00:23:38,173
Speaker 2: but his scrummaging work has been excellent this season, and

430
00:23:38,893 --> 00:23:41,453
Speaker 2: really liking the way that he's going. So hopefully and

431
00:23:41,493 --> 00:23:43,173
Speaker 2: I haven't had update from Friday night, hopefully it's not

432
00:23:43,213 --> 00:23:44,413
Speaker 2: too bad in that perspective.

433
00:23:44,573 --> 00:23:48,653
Speaker 3: Yeah, big, big performer there, I thought, Christian Leo Werde

434
00:23:49,093 --> 00:23:54,133
Speaker 3: another standout performance from him. James O'Connor was quite patchy

435
00:23:54,173 --> 00:23:58,173
Speaker 3: off the bench, missed touch kick that was kick the

436
00:23:58,213 --> 00:24:03,813
Speaker 3: ball dead and another sort of knock on, so uncharacteristically

437
00:24:03,933 --> 00:24:06,053
Speaker 3: poor performance when he did come on there.

438
00:24:07,373 --> 00:24:10,053
Speaker 4: Big. Focused on the scrum this week.

439
00:24:10,533 --> 00:24:13,453
Speaker 3: I think we've talked a bit about Josh for situr

440
00:24:13,973 --> 00:24:18,413
Speaker 3: and has you know rise this year while going up

441
00:24:18,453 --> 00:24:24,853
Speaker 3: against Fletcher. Massive task to stabilize that scrum because the

442
00:24:24,893 --> 00:24:29,733
Speaker 3: Crusaders clearly came from the Reds there and the Blues

443
00:24:29,853 --> 00:24:32,573
Speaker 3: value their set piece that they backed themselves and so

444
00:24:32,693 --> 00:24:33,933
Speaker 3: that's where this could be. One of the.

445
00:24:34,653 --> 00:24:37,053
Speaker 2: Blues had a few issues at scrum time on the

446
00:24:37,173 --> 00:24:40,173
Speaker 2: weekend and gets got popped up by Olie Norris on

447
00:24:40,293 --> 00:24:44,293
Speaker 2: one occasion. So yeah, that's going to be key part

448
00:24:44,533 --> 00:24:46,853
Speaker 2: of the game, isn't it. And we have our playoff set.

449
00:24:46,893 --> 00:24:49,093
Speaker 2: We'll get into some tipping very very shortly. But you

450
00:24:49,173 --> 00:24:52,253
Speaker 2: know the road to the title runs through christ Church,

451
00:24:52,293 --> 00:24:54,773
Speaker 2: which not many would have expected after that first weekend.

452
00:24:55,093 --> 00:24:58,173
Speaker 2: And what chance do you give the Brumbies of beating

453
00:24:58,213 --> 00:25:01,093
Speaker 2: the Chiefs in Hamilton? You mentioned the Blues have got

454
00:25:01,093 --> 00:25:03,173
Speaker 2: that style of game that can stop them. Well, the

455
00:25:03,213 --> 00:25:07,493
Speaker 2: Brumbies have got that prototype as well. You'd fancy the Chiefs,

456
00:25:07,533 --> 00:25:10,333
Speaker 2: but you know, the Brumbies are really in a similar

457
00:25:10,373 --> 00:25:11,813
Speaker 2: position to the Blues. They've got nothing to lose.

458
00:25:12,693 --> 00:25:14,453
Speaker 4: It was just firstly on the Crusaders.

459
00:25:14,973 --> 00:25:18,293
Speaker 3: Look, it's the title to lose that with the rankings changing,

460
00:25:18,533 --> 00:25:21,173
Speaker 3: with them having the box that they're in the box

461
00:25:21,213 --> 00:25:25,773
Speaker 3: seat home advantage. Freezing in christ Church everything set up

462
00:25:25,773 --> 00:25:28,413
Speaker 3: from just on there. Where the hell was everyone?

463
00:25:28,853 --> 00:25:29,493
Speaker 2: It was freezing.

464
00:25:29,653 --> 00:25:32,133
Speaker 3: There's nobody there, mate, Like did you even care about

465
00:25:32,213 --> 00:25:34,733
Speaker 3: rugby and cushy cold mate? It was like two degrees

466
00:25:35,013 --> 00:25:38,933
Speaker 3: literally no one there. Yeah, what very very poor toun out.

467
00:25:38,933 --> 00:25:42,413
Speaker 2: Okay, that stadium is sucks shit for one, and people

468
00:25:42,613 --> 00:25:44,693
Speaker 2: cannot wait to get them the new stadium. Two They

469
00:25:44,773 --> 00:25:47,093
Speaker 2: were most likely to have a game the following week three.

470
00:25:47,133 --> 00:25:49,413
Speaker 2: That reads a huge draw card arrogance four.

471
00:25:49,613 --> 00:25:51,933
Speaker 3: It was just cold, mate, I don't want to hear

472
00:25:51,933 --> 00:25:54,413
Speaker 3: it's cold, Okay, I get it's cold. It was cold

473
00:25:54,493 --> 00:25:55,133
Speaker 3: and Hamilton's it.

474
00:25:55,293 --> 00:25:58,053
Speaker 2: Was cold and wheat and raining and there is nowhere

475
00:25:58,293 --> 00:26:01,373
Speaker 2: more miserable to be than that tin pot stadium.

476
00:26:01,693 --> 00:26:04,733
Speaker 3: Look, I understand that, but it was a terrible look

477
00:26:04,813 --> 00:26:06,773
Speaker 3: for a quarterfinal match to be played in front of

478
00:26:06,973 --> 00:26:11,973
Speaker 3: no one man when you've had so much success. Just

479
00:26:13,053 --> 00:26:16,613
Speaker 3: going back to the Brumbies, there are a live chance

480
00:26:16,973 --> 00:26:20,693
Speaker 3: the Chiefs need to play more rugby and their confidence

481
00:26:20,693 --> 00:26:24,813
Speaker 3: will be rocked by that. They blew it thirteen point

482
00:26:24,893 --> 00:26:31,493
Speaker 3: lead in the second half and they've got this finals yep, yep,

483
00:26:31,693 --> 00:26:35,133
Speaker 3: yeah hanging over them having lost to was three finals.

484
00:26:35,213 --> 00:26:38,773
Speaker 3: Really if you go back to Super rugby, alter and

485
00:26:39,573 --> 00:26:41,653
Speaker 3: a lot of pressure to try and send off CLAYT

486
00:26:41,693 --> 00:26:45,613
Speaker 3: McMillan in the right fashion, and yeah that was They're

487
00:26:45,733 --> 00:26:48,453
Speaker 3: very lucky to have to retain a home semi final

488
00:26:48,573 --> 00:26:52,613
Speaker 3: this week. But the Brumbies, if they played to their best,

489
00:26:52,733 --> 00:26:53,933
Speaker 3: are a real live chance.

490
00:26:54,053 --> 00:26:55,573
Speaker 2: Indeed, well we'll look forward to that this week in

491
00:26:55,653 --> 00:26:58,493
Speaker 2: commentary of both on Gold Sport and iHeartRadio. Of course,

492
00:26:58,493 --> 00:27:00,213
Speaker 2: will take a break here on Rugby Direct. Come back

493
00:27:00,213 --> 00:27:01,333
Speaker 2: with the second half after this.

494
00:27:02,253 --> 00:27:06,333
Speaker 1: This is Rugby Direct, a vodcast for real rugby fans.

495
00:27:09,213 --> 00:27:12,933
Speaker 2: Every drive, drive and sixty secondary, tackle to tack, tackles,

496
00:27:12,973 --> 00:27:17,773
Speaker 2: get up, agaying you before time.

497
00:27:17,813 --> 00:27:18,933
Speaker 4: It's Rugby Direct.

498
00:27:19,413 --> 00:27:24,213
Speaker 2: Lad, You're back with Rugby Direct, powered by Habit Health,

499
00:27:24,413 --> 00:27:27,173
Speaker 2: tackling all your aches and pains from sport and let's

500
00:27:27,173 --> 00:27:29,533
Speaker 2: get into the final four four rugby topics. Liam and

501
00:27:29,573 --> 00:27:33,413
Speaker 2: I discussed debate, et cetera, et cetera. R three sixty

502
00:27:33,613 --> 00:27:36,573
Speaker 2: A lot of hype coming out of the Northern Hemisphere.

503
00:27:37,773 --> 00:27:41,733
Speaker 2: Any prospect of this working? This franchise competition that supposedly

504
00:27:41,813 --> 00:27:44,533
Speaker 2: we've got some of the greats of franchise sport, the

505
00:27:44,613 --> 00:27:47,693
Speaker 2: NFL owners, the Premier League, the Formula One, they all

506
00:27:47,733 --> 00:27:51,413
Speaker 2: want a slice of R three sixty. Will we ever

507
00:27:51,493 --> 00:27:54,413
Speaker 2: see this actually take the field? This sounds a bit

508
00:27:55,653 --> 00:27:57,613
Speaker 2: Steve Hansen twelve?

509
00:27:57,773 --> 00:27:58,253
Speaker 4: Was it twelve?

510
00:27:58,333 --> 00:27:58,493
Speaker 2: Yeah?

511
00:27:58,613 --> 00:27:59,733
Speaker 4: The twelves. Yeah.

512
00:28:00,093 --> 00:28:04,133
Speaker 3: Look, there's lots of these concepts around, but I think

513
00:28:04,253 --> 00:28:06,333
Speaker 3: the only way this skits off the ground if Mike

514
00:28:06,413 --> 00:28:11,413
Speaker 3: Tinlkin swindle some royals money because it's literally going to

515
00:28:11,493 --> 00:28:15,813
Speaker 3: take not small fortune to be able to bankroll it

516
00:28:16,013 --> 00:28:21,413
Speaker 3: and look as a disruptor as a means to get

517
00:28:21,493 --> 00:28:24,573
Speaker 3: rugby to think about things differently. It's not the worst

518
00:28:25,013 --> 00:28:27,973
Speaker 3: concept in the world, but oh, it's pretty close. I

519
00:28:28,053 --> 00:28:29,653
Speaker 3: cannot see it getting off the ground.

520
00:28:29,773 --> 00:28:32,133
Speaker 2: No, I just don't know where the desire is from

521
00:28:32,173 --> 00:28:34,933
Speaker 2: this Sevens are battling at the moment. It's very Sevens

522
00:28:35,013 --> 00:28:36,693
Speaker 2: like concept, and they go around the globe. We're going

523
00:28:36,773 --> 00:28:39,653
Speaker 2: to bring all the best players in there. Well, the

524
00:28:39,733 --> 00:28:43,493
Speaker 2: Sevens isn't working. And when you've got no connection, where

525
00:28:43,493 --> 00:28:47,293
Speaker 2: do the home fans go? You know, take it to Argentina,

526
00:28:47,333 --> 00:28:49,093
Speaker 2: to take it to Spain, take it to wherever you want.

527
00:28:49,173 --> 00:28:51,253
Speaker 2: But you need to have home fans and have some

528
00:28:51,373 --> 00:28:55,093
Speaker 2: supporter base, and a globe trotting franchise league doesn't quite work.

529
00:28:55,133 --> 00:28:56,533
Speaker 2: Just because you're putting the best players in the world

530
00:28:56,573 --> 00:28:58,493
Speaker 2: in our team doesn't mean that anyone that you'll have

531
00:28:58,733 --> 00:29:00,573
Speaker 2: any connection to it or want to see it. And

532
00:29:01,413 --> 00:29:03,013
Speaker 2: you can see the best players in the world play

533
00:29:03,373 --> 00:29:06,573
Speaker 2: pretty accessibly in terms of rugby. They go around the globe.

534
00:29:06,613 --> 00:29:09,013
Speaker 2: That's kind of the basis of what makes rugby union

535
00:29:09,333 --> 00:29:11,973
Speaker 2: so good as it is a global game and you

536
00:29:12,013 --> 00:29:13,933
Speaker 2: can go north and see the best players in the

537
00:29:13,973 --> 00:29:17,693
Speaker 2: world and reverse and come down south. So I know

538
00:29:17,733 --> 00:29:19,653
Speaker 2: they're more worried about it in the Northern hemisphere than

539
00:29:20,693 --> 00:29:23,413
Speaker 2: they are seemingly around the Southern hemisphere because they've got

540
00:29:23,453 --> 00:29:26,093
Speaker 2: a lot of issues around the Premiership and everything like that.

541
00:29:27,013 --> 00:29:29,173
Speaker 2: You know where some money could be tempted with a

542
00:29:29,213 --> 00:29:31,933
Speaker 2: lot of those teams in financial difficulty, not saying New

543
00:29:32,013 --> 00:29:35,813
Speaker 2: Zealand and Super Abay clubs aren't in financial hardship as well,

544
00:29:35,893 --> 00:29:37,733
Speaker 2: but it seems like something that's driven out of the

545
00:29:37,813 --> 00:29:40,493
Speaker 2: North that seems more appealing to the North. Just can't

546
00:29:40,533 --> 00:29:42,413
Speaker 2: see it working. And six R three six is a

547
00:29:42,533 --> 00:29:44,613
Speaker 2: terrible name. It sounds like you're sitting down on a

548
00:29:44,653 --> 00:29:47,653
Speaker 2: Monday night to watch Buzz Rothfield and Braith and Astera

549
00:29:47,773 --> 00:29:51,293
Speaker 2: and the boys to watch them debate that the weekend.

550
00:29:51,333 --> 00:29:54,133
Speaker 2: That was Yeah, just just don't see it working.

551
00:29:54,613 --> 00:29:58,693
Speaker 3: No, And it's the cash that you need to bank

552
00:29:58,853 --> 00:30:02,093
Speaker 3: roll that many players, that many teams, the yeah, the

553
00:30:02,133 --> 00:30:05,533
Speaker 3: global travel, all the rest of it. It's who's funding there,

554
00:30:05,573 --> 00:30:08,093
Speaker 3: And that was all that. That's the question of all

555
00:30:08,133 --> 00:30:10,413
Speaker 3: the sort of concepts is who's going to bank roll

556
00:30:10,493 --> 00:30:14,973
Speaker 3: them and why? So Yeah, I think there's been a

557
00:30:15,053 --> 00:30:19,533
Speaker 3: bit of interest up north and players signing signaling their

558
00:30:19,573 --> 00:30:21,893
Speaker 3: interests if it does get off the ground, but that's

559
00:30:21,973 --> 00:30:24,933
Speaker 3: just them looking after their their you know, their patch

560
00:30:25,013 --> 00:30:28,853
Speaker 3: and not ruling things out. But very very surprised if

561
00:30:28,893 --> 00:30:29,893
Speaker 3: this is a fly.

562
00:30:30,333 --> 00:30:32,493
Speaker 2: Yeah, and I think from what I understand, it's sort

563
00:30:32,493 --> 00:30:34,253
Speaker 2: of be taking to World Rugby Council if they wanted.

564
00:30:34,333 --> 00:30:36,013
Speaker 2: I mean, they could do a rebel league themselves, but

565
00:30:36,093 --> 00:30:38,253
Speaker 2: you wouldn't have allow players to be playing test rugby.

566
00:30:38,293 --> 00:30:41,453
Speaker 2: So if they want the players to be playing, it's

567
00:30:41,493 --> 00:30:42,933
Speaker 2: got to go to World Rugby Council. It needs to

568
00:30:42,933 --> 00:30:44,613
Speaker 2: be backed by a union, so they've got to find

569
00:30:44,653 --> 00:30:46,653
Speaker 2: a union to go. This is a great idea, Let's

570
00:30:46,653 --> 00:30:48,093
Speaker 2: take it to World Rugby Council. Then it needs to

571
00:30:48,093 --> 00:30:50,053
Speaker 2: be voted in after that. So there's so many hopes

572
00:30:50,453 --> 00:30:52,213
Speaker 2: to getting this off the ground. Just can't see it happening.

573
00:30:53,013 --> 00:30:55,533
Speaker 2: Topic number two, the hurricane season. Give us the grade

574
00:30:56,013 --> 00:30:56,693
Speaker 2: from A to.

575
00:30:57,053 --> 00:31:01,653
Speaker 3: Well, if it's tough, isn't it still still down in

576
00:31:01,693 --> 00:31:05,293
Speaker 3: the dumps here? And then you're really kicking a man here. Look,

577
00:31:08,173 --> 00:31:10,213
Speaker 3: they have had a lot of departures in recent years.

578
00:31:10,293 --> 00:31:14,293
Speaker 3: No Jordie, no Ardie. They barely had a first five

579
00:31:14,373 --> 00:31:17,453
Speaker 3: for most of the year. Yeah, so that's something like

580
00:31:17,533 --> 00:31:19,893
Speaker 3: Crusaders from US. Look, I'm going to give them a

581
00:31:20,093 --> 00:31:23,813
Speaker 3: B plus. Okay, I'm giving them a B. So we're similar.

582
00:31:25,293 --> 00:31:27,093
Speaker 3: They came into their own towards the end of the season.

583
00:31:28,373 --> 00:31:30,773
Speaker 3: They had injuries. As you mentioned, they didn't have Ruben

584
00:31:30,813 --> 00:31:32,613
Speaker 3: Love for the first month and a half roughly of

585
00:31:32,653 --> 00:31:35,213
Speaker 3: the competition. Brick Cameron was out for a long period

586
00:31:35,213 --> 00:31:37,493
Speaker 3: of time. They started Riley ho Heepper at ten for

587
00:31:37,573 --> 00:31:38,253
Speaker 3: a number of weeks.

588
00:31:38,333 --> 00:31:40,813
Speaker 4: Harry Godfrey was very good and then they lost him

589
00:31:40,813 --> 00:31:41,093
Speaker 4: as well.

590
00:31:41,173 --> 00:31:44,933
Speaker 2: Yeah, and horn Heeaper is just not the answer. I

591
00:31:45,053 --> 00:31:48,413
Speaker 2: think they missed a track by moving Ruben Love back

592
00:31:48,493 --> 00:31:51,493
Speaker 2: to fifteen in those last couple of weeks by instead

593
00:31:51,493 --> 00:31:54,253
Speaker 2: of putting Brick Cameron. By putting Brick Cameron back in

594
00:31:54,253 --> 00:31:56,493
Speaker 2: at ten, I would have stuck with Ruben Love. He

595
00:31:56,653 --> 00:31:58,333
Speaker 2: was the guy in the hot seat, had the hot hands.

596
00:31:58,653 --> 00:32:01,733
Speaker 2: Bret Cameron's a solid player, but Ruben Love's the future.

597
00:32:01,933 --> 00:32:03,573
Speaker 4: Yeah, just on that. A couple of.

598
00:32:05,733 --> 00:32:09,493
Speaker 3: Tactical blunders from Love and Callum Hark and kicking the

599
00:32:09,533 --> 00:32:11,613
Speaker 3: ball away late in the piece in that match. So

600
00:32:12,813 --> 00:32:16,133
Speaker 3: still a lot to learn from a game management maturity

601
00:32:16,133 --> 00:32:17,693
Speaker 3: point of view when the game is on the line.

602
00:32:17,773 --> 00:32:20,173
Speaker 2: Yeah, they miss Kenning Hollow later in the season, I

603
00:32:20,253 --> 00:32:22,293
Speaker 2: felt as well. Obviously had to move Baalen Sullivan and

604
00:32:22,333 --> 00:32:24,773
Speaker 2: some of the pieces of the back line around.

605
00:32:24,853 --> 00:32:26,933
Speaker 4: More not there for a lot of the years or

606
00:32:27,013 --> 00:32:28,013
Speaker 4: Lomax came back later.

607
00:32:28,133 --> 00:32:30,253
Speaker 2: Yes, they had injuries, but it felt like they were

608
00:32:30,333 --> 00:32:33,053
Speaker 2: gaining momentum and it came to a very sudden stop

609
00:32:33,453 --> 00:32:37,413
Speaker 2: in Canberra, and again it wasn't in theory supposed to

610
00:32:37,413 --> 00:32:41,053
Speaker 2: be sudden death. They couldn't quite get this, So block

611
00:32:41,133 --> 00:32:42,853
Speaker 2: on too twenty twenty six and they'll have Jordy Barrett

612
00:32:42,853 --> 00:32:45,053
Speaker 2: back for next year as well, which is a positive

613
00:32:45,053 --> 00:32:45,493
Speaker 2: for you guys.

614
00:32:45,853 --> 00:32:46,093
Speaker 4: It is.

615
00:32:46,413 --> 00:32:50,173
Speaker 2: It is topic number three on the basis of the weekend.

616
00:32:50,213 --> 00:32:53,413
Speaker 2: If you changed your mind on the Super Rugby playoff format. No,

617
00:32:53,813 --> 00:32:56,413
Speaker 2: and there's a lot of talk about this wasn't.

618
00:32:56,413 --> 00:32:59,493
Speaker 3: There a lot of acts and it was largely around

619
00:32:59,573 --> 00:33:02,973
Speaker 3: the lucky loser type concept. But the one frustration that

620
00:33:03,093 --> 00:33:06,133
Speaker 3: we touched on and talked about was the chief or

621
00:33:06,573 --> 00:33:10,693
Speaker 3: should the Chiefs lose ever, lose only dropped one ranking position,

622
00:33:10,893 --> 00:33:13,653
Speaker 3: and for me, that's almost the biggest scrape with it.

623
00:33:14,213 --> 00:33:17,253
Speaker 3: I think the Chiefs, having lost, should go to fourth

624
00:33:18,373 --> 00:33:23,293
Speaker 3: to have a guaranteed home semi final and be a

625
00:33:23,373 --> 00:33:27,893
Speaker 3: lucky loser. That's a double reward. I think in a

626
00:33:27,973 --> 00:33:30,333
Speaker 3: perfect world the top two teams get.

627
00:33:30,253 --> 00:33:33,653
Speaker 4: The week off. We understand that the broadcasting.

628
00:33:34,893 --> 00:33:40,693
Speaker 3: Financial imperatives behind those decisions to have a full quarter

629
00:33:40,813 --> 00:33:43,733
Speaker 3: final as such, but to only lose one ranking position

630
00:33:43,853 --> 00:33:46,493
Speaker 3: I think in the context of what happened at the

631
00:33:46,493 --> 00:33:48,053
Speaker 3: weekend doesn't feel right.

632
00:33:48,053 --> 00:33:49,413
Speaker 2: I'm kind of with you that I think they should

633
00:33:49,413 --> 00:33:51,373
Speaker 2: slide to last, but also that would have meant the

634
00:33:51,413 --> 00:33:54,733
Speaker 2: Crusaders now play the Chiefs, and probably not a game

635
00:33:54,773 --> 00:33:56,453
Speaker 2: the Crusaders would want this week. I mean, the Blue's

636
00:33:56,453 --> 00:33:57,933
Speaker 2: gonna be tough. A is that they don't get me wrong.

637
00:33:57,813 --> 00:34:00,173
Speaker 4: But don't get a hand pick here. No semi finals.

638
00:34:00,213 --> 00:34:01,493
Speaker 2: But if they slide to the bottom, you're all of

639
00:34:01,493 --> 00:34:03,973
Speaker 2: a sudden facing the best team in the season, you know,

640
00:34:04,053 --> 00:34:05,933
Speaker 2: in the second week of the playoffs, rather than potentially

641
00:34:06,333 --> 00:34:08,173
Speaker 2: in the final. So yeah, I don't think there's a

642
00:34:08,173 --> 00:34:10,533
Speaker 2: per format when you're refusing to give the top two

643
00:34:10,573 --> 00:34:12,813
Speaker 2: teams off, you're sort of always going to lose something

644
00:34:13,213 --> 00:34:15,253
Speaker 2: as a result or be hamstrung by something as a

645
00:34:15,293 --> 00:34:20,333
Speaker 2: result of that. So yeah, Max feelings still despite perhaps

646
00:34:20,373 --> 00:34:22,253
Speaker 2: some of the jeopardy that came into the weekend and

647
00:34:22,293 --> 00:34:26,293
Speaker 2: topic number four not a topic or a debate or anything,

648
00:34:26,293 --> 00:34:31,013
Speaker 2: but Stu Bawson passing away over the weekends one of

649
00:34:31,053 --> 00:34:32,693
Speaker 2: those figures that I don't think you or I would

650
00:34:32,693 --> 00:34:35,853
Speaker 2: have seen live obviously, but a name that probably we

651
00:34:35,973 --> 00:34:38,693
Speaker 2: knew from a young age broadcaster wise, he was on

652
00:34:38,773 --> 00:34:40,893
Speaker 2: the TV, commentated a lot of games. You see some

653
00:34:40,973 --> 00:34:43,893
Speaker 2: highlights maybe from yester year. So he was a real

654
00:34:43,973 --> 00:34:46,213
Speaker 2: character of the game in New Zealand and very very

655
00:34:46,213 --> 00:34:48,813
Speaker 2: sad to hear of his passing and at a very

656
00:34:49,173 --> 00:34:50,013
Speaker 2: young age of seventy.

657
00:34:50,573 --> 00:34:56,653
Speaker 3: Yeah, Wellington in all Black great in the seventies and eighties.

658
00:34:56,933 --> 00:34:59,453
Speaker 3: I grew up in a house where Ebonie and Ivory,

659
00:34:59,573 --> 00:35:03,453
Speaker 3: the book he had with Bernie Fraser was on the

660
00:35:03,533 --> 00:35:07,013
Speaker 3: mantle piece. And yeah, as you mentioned, not just his

661
00:35:07,093 --> 00:35:09,293
Speaker 3: feats on the field but off the feel real character,

662
00:35:10,213 --> 00:35:14,533
Speaker 3: a lot of personality brought that to commentary, very funny

663
00:35:14,653 --> 00:35:18,733
Speaker 3: and engaging, and I think he had a stint put

664
00:35:18,773 --> 00:35:21,333
Speaker 3: in his heart in twenty twenty one and actually worked

665
00:35:21,373 --> 00:35:24,973
Speaker 3: as an orderly in total on the hospital prior to

666
00:35:25,413 --> 00:35:28,773
Speaker 3: passing away over over the weekend. So yeah, very sad news,

667
00:35:29,133 --> 00:35:32,653
Speaker 3: and I'm sure they'll be keenly felt by a number

668
00:35:32,693 --> 00:35:36,533
Speaker 3: of players from his generation. David Campeazy leading the tribute,

669
00:35:36,573 --> 00:35:40,853
Speaker 3: saying he was cocky and confident and had you know,

670
00:35:40,973 --> 00:35:43,173
Speaker 3: as sharp as a tack on and off the field.

671
00:35:43,293 --> 00:35:47,413
Speaker 3: So players of that generation will, yeah, I'm sure rally

672
00:35:47,493 --> 00:35:49,213
Speaker 3: round and share some memories, surely.

673
00:35:49,253 --> 00:35:52,533
Speaker 2: Well, yeah, after I had to think, after dinner speeches

674
00:35:52,613 --> 00:35:55,373
Speaker 2: and m seeing gigs. He sort of did over the years,

675
00:35:55,693 --> 00:35:59,133
Speaker 2: very prolific, So very very sad news. Let's get into

676
00:35:59,293 --> 00:36:01,813
Speaker 2: out tipping. Over the course of the weekend, we both

677
00:36:01,853 --> 00:36:04,773
Speaker 2: had two out of three. Liam, you picked the Crusaders

678
00:36:04,973 --> 00:36:07,733
Speaker 2: and Blues, but your Canes you got that pack wrong.

679
00:36:07,773 --> 00:36:09,773
Speaker 2: I picked the Crusades and Brumbies and got the Chiefs

680
00:36:09,813 --> 00:36:13,173
Speaker 2: game wrong. So that means I still lead by six

681
00:36:13,253 --> 00:36:15,853
Speaker 2: points forty nine point five to fifty five five. No

682
00:36:15,973 --> 00:36:20,333
Speaker 2: toots this week Crusaders Blues Friday Nights.

683
00:36:21,333 --> 00:36:28,773
Speaker 3: Look, I'm gonna have to go with the Blues. Aren't underdogs? Villains, villains, villains, yeah,

684
00:36:29,933 --> 00:36:32,813
Speaker 3: taking it was kept in America.

685
00:36:33,013 --> 00:36:33,573
Speaker 4: That was the Canes.

686
00:36:33,613 --> 00:36:36,213
Speaker 2: But the Blues Spider Man, spider Man, Yeah, not really

687
00:36:36,253 --> 00:36:39,653
Speaker 2: a villain, are they. Spiderman's a good guy. Yeah, hey,

688
00:36:39,693 --> 00:36:41,573
Speaker 2: that could be the Jesseys down there this week. Prob

689
00:36:41,653 --> 00:36:46,453
Speaker 2: would clash with the Crusaders. That's some sort of villain revival.

690
00:36:46,533 --> 00:36:47,653
Speaker 2: Can't think of one off the top of my head.

691
00:36:47,693 --> 00:36:49,773
Speaker 2: So you're going to Blues. I'm going to Crusaders to

692
00:36:49,853 --> 00:36:52,773
Speaker 2: win that. Chiefs Brumbies Saturday Night seven o five. The

693
00:36:52,893 --> 00:36:57,853
Speaker 2: Chiefs hot favorite for this one against the Brumbies. You know,

694
00:36:57,973 --> 00:36:59,893
Speaker 2: the Brumbies go across the Tasman nothing to lose. But

695
00:36:59,933 --> 00:37:01,853
Speaker 2: I still think the Chiefs will bounce back. Even though

696
00:37:03,133 --> 00:37:05,773
Speaker 2: you know that game was pretty torrid and they would

697
00:37:05,773 --> 00:37:07,333
Speaker 2: have taken a bit of a rock to the confidence.

698
00:37:07,333 --> 00:37:09,013
Speaker 2: I still think the Chiefs will back. So I'm going

699
00:37:09,053 --> 00:37:09,973
Speaker 2: Crusaders Chiefs one.

700
00:37:10,533 --> 00:37:11,613
Speaker 4: Yeah, I'm going to the Chiefs too.

701
00:37:11,933 --> 00:37:13,773
Speaker 3: I think I think the Brummy's all get there are

702
00:37:13,813 --> 00:37:17,213
Speaker 3: real nudge But I'd be surprised of the Chiefs that

703
00:37:17,973 --> 00:37:20,973
Speaker 3: they have shown this year they're belity to bounce back

704
00:37:21,013 --> 00:37:22,693
Speaker 3: from a defeat. You think about that lost to the

705
00:37:22,773 --> 00:37:25,293
Speaker 3: Hurricanes and Wellington Clate mcmellon made them listen to the

706
00:37:25,733 --> 00:37:27,253
Speaker 3: Hurricanes team song, and.

707
00:37:27,693 --> 00:37:29,773
Speaker 4: God knows what he listened to on the weekend, I

708
00:37:29,893 --> 00:37:30,813
Speaker 4: can only imagine.

709
00:37:32,053 --> 00:37:34,613
Speaker 3: And they did bounce back emphatically from that defeat, so

710
00:37:35,373 --> 00:37:39,213
Speaker 3: surely everything to play for, they've got to get up.

711
00:37:40,053 --> 00:37:44,893
Speaker 2: We'll see MVP Metal voting time three two ones. Ardie

712
00:37:44,933 --> 00:37:49,253
Speaker 2: sav leads by twelve points, Boden Barrett on thirteen points

713
00:37:49,293 --> 00:37:51,853
Speaker 2: and second and to Marthy Tapa tab naw Way in eleven.

714
00:37:51,933 --> 00:37:54,213
Speaker 2: Now he can't get any more points. We do continue

715
00:37:54,253 --> 00:37:59,333
Speaker 2: it during the playoffs. My three two ones, Christian Leo

716
00:37:59,373 --> 00:38:02,093
Speaker 2: Willie gets my three points. He led the way on

717
00:38:02,173 --> 00:38:04,453
Speaker 2: the weekend. I think he's right in that all Blacks mix.

718
00:38:05,213 --> 00:38:06,773
Speaker 2: I think he was second only to Will Jordan for

719
00:38:06,933 --> 00:38:09,733
Speaker 2: number of carries. He was just everywhere for the Crusaders

720
00:38:09,733 --> 00:38:11,453
Speaker 2: on the weekend. He gets my three hoskins. The two

721
00:38:11,493 --> 00:38:15,373
Speaker 2: he gets my two probably has been performed in a

722
00:38:15,533 --> 00:38:20,453
Speaker 2: tight game. I just thought he led the punch for

723
00:38:20,493 --> 00:38:23,093
Speaker 2: the Blues in a way we haven't seen. Patrick Tweeple

724
00:38:23,173 --> 00:38:26,453
Speaker 2: or two gets my one. Boden Barrett probably should have

725
00:38:26,493 --> 00:38:28,613
Speaker 2: got a point at some point because he outpointed and

726
00:38:28,733 --> 00:38:31,013
Speaker 2: was out of the match. But that's the three to two.

727
00:38:31,053 --> 00:38:33,733
Speaker 2: When I went to that certain point in time, I'm

728
00:38:33,733 --> 00:38:34,693
Speaker 2: gonna go Hoskins for three.

729
00:38:34,773 --> 00:38:36,453
Speaker 3: I thought he was exceptional and I think he has

730
00:38:36,573 --> 00:38:39,733
Speaker 3: been standing up big time at the back end of

731
00:38:39,733 --> 00:38:42,053
Speaker 3: the year for the Blues. And it's some of the

732
00:38:42,133 --> 00:38:44,613
Speaker 3: criticisms of his game where he's actually coming to the fours.

733
00:38:44,813 --> 00:38:49,813
Speaker 3: It's that combativeness. It's you know, the physical exchanges in

734
00:38:49,933 --> 00:38:53,813
Speaker 3: defense at the breakdown with ball in hand, he's making

735
00:38:53,893 --> 00:38:56,613
Speaker 3: real hard meters. So I think he's one of the

736
00:38:56,653 --> 00:38:59,773
Speaker 3: former loose forwards in this competition really standing up.

737
00:38:59,853 --> 00:39:01,493
Speaker 4: So three to him, two to Fletch Newell.

738
00:39:01,893 --> 00:39:05,573
Speaker 3: I just think he was a massive driving force behind

739
00:39:06,133 --> 00:39:09,053
Speaker 3: that Crusader's victory. And I'm going to give one to

740
00:39:09,133 --> 00:39:14,293
Speaker 3: Boden just for his tactical control, clearly out Shawn McKenzie there.

741
00:39:14,853 --> 00:39:16,453
Speaker 2: Indeed, Well, there you go our three two ones of

742
00:39:16,493 --> 00:39:19,573
Speaker 2: Boden gains a point on Ardie Savia and the rankings

743
00:39:19,653 --> 00:39:24,013
Speaker 2: moves to fourteen. Another week of three two ones next week,

744
00:39:24,133 --> 00:39:26,933
Speaker 2: And speaking of next week, we pick he's a bit

745
00:39:26,933 --> 00:39:29,853
Speaker 2: a homework for a liam Our thirty five Man All

746
00:39:29,933 --> 00:39:31,733
Speaker 2: Black squad to face France. This will be a last

747
00:39:31,813 --> 00:39:35,173
Speaker 2: podcast before the squad is announced, So next week on

748
00:39:35,573 --> 00:39:38,173
Speaker 2: our edition of the podcast, I want you to pick

749
00:39:38,173 --> 00:39:40,213
Speaker 2: your thirty five names. You can pick it however you like,

750
00:39:41,453 --> 00:39:43,133
Speaker 2: but I want those thirty five names and I'll do

751
00:39:43,173 --> 00:39:43,453
Speaker 2: the same.

752
00:39:43,733 --> 00:39:46,173
Speaker 3: You can handle that, won't go with the dog ate

753
00:39:46,213 --> 00:39:50,853
Speaker 3: my homework excuse and yes we were. The following week

754
00:39:50,933 --> 00:39:53,933
Speaker 3: after the Super Ugby Final, you know, will be jetting

755
00:39:53,973 --> 00:39:57,853
Speaker 3: our way to the beautiful Tartanucky Coasts, yes, where the

756
00:39:58,133 --> 00:40:01,093
Speaker 3: All Black squad will be announced at the Coastal Rugby.

757
00:40:00,893 --> 00:40:04,093
Speaker 2: Club, hopefully ned some interviews and some thoughts and and

758
00:40:04,213 --> 00:40:05,933
Speaker 2: get the podcast going down there. It'll be busy or

759
00:40:05,973 --> 00:40:08,093
Speaker 2: game because we're wrapping the the Super Rugby Final between

760
00:40:08,093 --> 00:40:13,333
Speaker 2: the and the Chiefs. Maybe maybe not Blues Brumbies Blues Chiefs.

761
00:40:13,933 --> 00:40:17,093
Speaker 2: We'll be wrapping something as well. No, it will not

762
00:40:17,213 --> 00:40:18,853
Speaker 2: be and that's probably a good note to furnish it

763
00:40:18,933 --> 00:40:21,653
Speaker 2: on for Rugby Direct for another week. Thanks for our

764
00:40:21,693 --> 00:40:24,173
Speaker 2: friends that habit health, tackling all your aches and pains

765
00:40:24,213 --> 00:40:25,613
Speaker 2: from sport and work. Our thanks to the last and

766
00:40:25,653 --> 00:40:27,813
Speaker 2: Bars English. But we will see you next.

767
00:40:27,653 --> 00:40:34,293
Speaker 1: Week for more from News Talks, ed B. Listen live

768
00:40:34,533 --> 00:40:37,213
Speaker 1: on air or online, and keep our shows with you

769
00:40:37,333 --> 00:40:40,293
Speaker 1: wherever you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio