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Speaker 1: Inside the Game from every angle. It's Rugby Direct with
Speaker 1: Elliott Smith powered by News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2: Welcome into Rugby Direct powered by Habit Health, tackling all
Speaker 2: your aches and pains from sports and work back for
Speaker 2: another week. After Super Rugby Round four, Elliott Smith, Liam
Speaker 2: Napier and Liam the Crusaders forced to rescue New Zealand
Speaker 2: rugby again. How many times did the Crusaders have to
Speaker 2: do it for their country? Just another time? Just add
Speaker 2: it to the list.
Speaker 3: I'm happy for you, Elliott, but please not get carried away, mate,
Speaker 3: all right, count came the fun, calm the fun.
Speaker 2: Well, how's being a last on the ladder suiting at
Speaker 2: the Hurricanes.
Speaker 3: Look, it's been tough starts of the year for the
Speaker 3: cane train fans. But we'll loyal, Elliott, We'll stick with
Speaker 3: it and we will hug back the cane trains.
Speaker 2: Like New Zealand's approach to the rail doesn't exist.
Speaker 4: Jesus boyt today, isn't he?
Speaker 3: Yeah?
Speaker 2: That's right.
Speaker 4: One winning over the Queens and Reds in best.
Speaker 2: Team in Australia. Mate, let's start there. Actually, Crusaders reads
Speaker 2: Sunday afternoon and great to see Someday afternoon forty first
Speaker 2: and foremost three thirty five kickoff right towards the last
Speaker 2: month of daylight saving sun shining down on christ Jurge
Speaker 2: and the Crusaders. They were lethal on attack, weren't so
Speaker 2: great on defense. I didn't think that's still an issue
Speaker 2: for them this season. But they showed that they can
Speaker 2: really score tries, which was an issue for them against
Speaker 2: the Chiefs. And obviously defense remains an issue, as I said,
Speaker 2: but a good one for the Crusaders. What did you
Speaker 2: make of it?
Speaker 5: Yeah?
Speaker 3: It was and Sunday afternoon forty brilliant to see, isn't it.
Speaker 3: I think the more we can have that time slot
Speaker 3: in the New Zealand backyard the better. It doesn't work
Speaker 3: for everyone, doesn't work in Hamilton, but really great day
Speaker 3: in christ Church and the Crusaders ran rampants. Will Jordan
Speaker 3: is playing out of his skin this year and his
Speaker 3: individual trial was brilliant. His injections into the line. He's
Speaker 3: untouchable at the moment. Severy Reese on the edge is
Speaker 3: creating Havoc. I think James Marshall and has given the
Speaker 3: Crusaders a real license to play what they see. They
Speaker 3: to me, are not playing overly structured. He's given that
Speaker 3: back line in particular a lot of freedom to play,
Speaker 3: and that's that they seem to be relishing that sort
Speaker 3: of style, which is interesting given their former attack coaches
Speaker 3: in recent times. I thought Ethan Blackheader was really good,
Speaker 3: some punishing defense individually which created a number of turnovers
Speaker 3: for the Crusaders to strike, and they just really made
Speaker 3: the most of conditions. The Reds were a bit off
Speaker 3: a number of errors, but I thought that was the
Speaker 3: pressure that the Crusaders put them under. So the best
Speaker 3: performance of the season for the Crusaders.
Speaker 2: Just on Will Jordan. You're right, he's been scoring and
Speaker 2: he's been playing magnificently the season. What I've been really
Speaker 2: liking is a support play and looking for his options
Speaker 2: either side, which hasn't always necessarily been a strength, but
Speaker 2: in terms of that fullback role and being a distributed
Speaker 2: but I think we're seeing more of that this season
Speaker 2: than maybe we haven't in years past.
Speaker 3: Yeah, and I also think it's just consistency of game time.
Speaker 3: It's easy to forget last year he missed the whole
Speaker 3: of super rugby right, and maybe a confidence to know
Speaker 3: that he is going to be staying in his preferred
Speaker 3: position when it comes to the All Blacks later in
Speaker 3: the year, the confidence of knowing that Razor will back
Speaker 3: him and that regards and the more he plays, the
Speaker 3: better he gets. So time on the park and you're right,
Speaker 3: he is bringing more strings to his bow, getting in
Speaker 3: the first receiver, exerting his influence. It was telling a
Speaker 3: couple of games ago when hearing James O'Connor talk about
Speaker 3: will Joe and overruling him and telling him to move out,
Speaker 3: get out of the space. I see this and those
Speaker 3: two working well together. Will Jordan really pulling rank using
Speaker 3: his voice and experience, like you say in that first
Speaker 3: receiver capacity, so really taking ownership and that's what the
Speaker 3: crusaderesn't need it with a young ten and Kimita you know,
Speaker 3: showing him the way, helping him out, not putting too
Speaker 3: much on his shoulders. So really stamping his mark on
Speaker 3: the Crusaders this year.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I wouldn't say Kimitda's goalkicking was too flash on
Speaker 2: the weekend, but I'm beginning to grow and press week
Speaker 2: to week on how he's growing. Yes, put under a
Speaker 2: lot of pressure in that last outing against the Chiefs,
Speaker 2: but I do like the way that they've just stuck
Speaker 2: with him the season. There was a bit of thought
Speaker 2: that maybe James I Quitte might start against his old
Speaker 2: team the Reds, but they've gone with Kimita and unlike
Speaker 2: last year where he was flashed back to Club Rugby
Speaker 2: and Hamilton sticking with him to this point of the season.
Speaker 2: I know we're only into Round five coming up this weekend,
Speaker 2: but they've given a bit more confidence than maybe he
Speaker 2: had last season.
Speaker 3: Yeah, backing a young guy, giving him time, that's really
Speaker 3: helping him. And I think probably James O'Connor's influence behind
Speaker 3: the scenes will be helping as well. And I also
Speaker 3: make a note of Kyle Preston's selection at halfback. I
Speaker 3: thought last year Rob Penny got a lot of selections wrong,
Speaker 3: didn't back know a hope them where this year he
Speaker 3: has promoted Kyle Preston.
Speaker 2: Above a centurion the franchise in Mitchell.
Speaker 3: Drummonde exactly and he's backing form and Preston for me,
Speaker 3: has really taken that on board. It was impressive again,
Speaker 3: So credit to Rob Penny and that coaching team for
Speaker 3: adjusting their selection tactics because I didn't think they got
Speaker 3: those things right last year, where they are getting some
Speaker 3: things right this season.
Speaker 2: The Readers, so I thought were a threats when they
Speaker 2: entered the twenty two. They just made too many years
Speaker 2: on Sunday afternoon to really push the Crusaders. Was fast scoring,
Speaker 2: especially in the first spell, and there were a couple
Speaker 2: of moments maybe it looked a bit shaky for the
Speaker 2: Crusaders and the second spell, but the Readers has kind
Speaker 2: of left themselves a little bit too much work to do.
Speaker 3: They did and been a bit hot cold this year,
Speaker 3: and those conditions should have suited them. That's a style
Speaker 3: of rugby they like to play, use the ball, attack,
Speaker 3: They've got the athletes, but yeah, they were a bit off.
Speaker 4: Taate McDermott. McDermott trying to spark things.
Speaker 3: Fraser mcwright's got a couple of turnovers, but I'm not
Speaker 3: sure about Dungunu in the midfields. They yeah, they're just
Speaker 3: we bit off this year. The Reds just on the
Speaker 3: Crusaders a bit hot cold this year. There was an
Speaker 3: impressive performance but if you look at the benchmark, you
Speaker 3: know that they lost to the Chiefs and had some
Speaker 3: struggles at other times very early doors.
Speaker 4: But how do you assess them.
Speaker 2: Well better than last year. I think they look like
Speaker 2: a team playing with a bit more confidence than last year.
Speaker 2: You mentioned the ability to attack and see what's in
Speaker 2: front of them. Last year are attacking structure felt far
Speaker 2: too rigid. They changed tens pretty much every week. They
Speaker 2: tweaked little things and you said got selections wrong. I
Speaker 2: think they looked better on the weekend with McLeod in
Speaker 2: the midfield and well we're coming off the bench late on.
Speaker 2: He scored that last try for them, so I think
Speaker 2: the selections have been better. So whether that's Rob Penny
Speaker 2: deciding to basically you go with the form as you say,
Speaker 2: and being a little less rigid than maybe we've seen
Speaker 2: in the past, I think ultimately good that Chiefs lost,
Speaker 2: you know, heavy loss to the Chiefs and the front
Speaker 2: runners for this competition stands out. But Week one went
Speaker 2: against the Hurricanes at home against the Reds, who were
Speaker 2: touted as one of the big Australian teams promising signs.
Speaker 2: Don't know where they're going to end up. At the
Speaker 2: end of the year, still with a lot of kew
Speaker 2: with Darbies to come. But you look at next weekend,
Speaker 2: you know weekend after this Blues Crusader's even Park. That's
Speaker 2: going to be a benchmark, big test for both of
Speaker 2: these two teams and where they sit in this campaign.
Speaker 4: Yeah, big time.
Speaker 3: And I guess the Crusaders are in much better shape
Speaker 3: from a squad perspective. And look, the Blues can't have
Speaker 3: too many excuses the stack with all Black.
Speaker 4: They've got a deep squad, but.
Speaker 3: They are heavily injury riddled currently and that was something
Speaker 3: that affected the Crusaders greatly last year.
Speaker 4: The scripts flip.
Speaker 3: Now they're starting to get guys back like Cody Taylor,
Speaker 3: a big in for them at this time of year
Speaker 3: where the Blues lose Bowden Barrett injury clouds over Ricky Telly,
Speaker 3: they having a reshuffle. I think the Blues will get
Speaker 3: back Stephen Peterfetta this week so but they have been
Speaker 3: missing hoskinstitute to Dalton Papae. Sam Dowry's gone for the year.
Speaker 3: So some big outs for the Blues. Where the Crusaders
Speaker 3: are in a much healthy estate and forms showing that too.
Speaker 2: Indeed, let's move back to Saturday night. Majea Pacific A
Speaker 2: forty Hurricanes thirty one. This was a cracking game Mowana
Speaker 2: just played. I think it was their best performance since
Speaker 2: they ended Super Rugby. I know they a bit the
Speaker 2: Hurricanes in twenty twenty two their first year. This was
Speaker 2: the most well rounded performance that I've seen from them.
Speaker 2: At halftime, Addie Savia doesn't come back on with hamstring tightness.
Speaker 2: You think get used to leading fourteen twelve, but it
Speaker 2: could have easily that could have been the losing of
Speaker 2: the game, Ardie Savia going off. But in a way
Speaker 2: it galvanized them and they almost did it for Ardie Savia.
Speaker 2: Not that I've heard them say that necessarily, but it
Speaker 2: felt like they did. And we saw a lot of
Speaker 2: players stand up in that second spell especially, and let's
Speaker 2: not forget it was forty points to nineteen, you know,
Speaker 2: with what twelve minutes to go roughly thereabouts, they'd blown
Speaker 2: the Hurricanes out of the water, probably ran out a
Speaker 2: bit of puff in that last ten minutes and considered
Speaker 2: a couple of tries and it got a wee bit nervy.
Speaker 2: But for me, that was Moe of his best performance
Speaker 2: and a lot of stand out players in that side
Speaker 2: that deserve accolades. What did you make of that?
Speaker 3: I think, first and foremost is great to see them
Speaker 3: wouldn't just get over the line because what was at
Speaker 3: one point lost to the force. They got blown away
Speaker 3: by the Reds and probably could have, would have should
Speaker 3: have beaten the Highlanders. So the improvements was evident from
Speaker 3: one another share but it didn't mean anything until you
Speaker 3: get that win. And there was a lot of emotion
Speaker 3: around this game, with already coming up against his former club,
Speaker 3: and just with the atmosphere my one are building at
Speaker 3: in Albany. I think they add about six thousand fans,
Speaker 3: but by all accounts it's incredibly loud, and they're doing
Speaker 3: a lot of things well that match. They allowed fans
Speaker 3: to have bryes all.
Speaker 2: Of the South Africans on the north shore.
Speaker 3: Yeah, that's all barbecues outside the ground, So really enhancing
Speaker 3: the fan experience, and we've seen that in other codes.
Speaker 3: With AUKFC doing a lot of things around their match,
Speaker 3: they experience so wine of doing things out of the box,
Speaker 3: doing a lot of things well off the field, and
Speaker 3: finally they got over the line. So really happy for them.
Speaker 3: In that regards the match itself. You mentioned Artie going
Speaker 3: off and that was such a big tick for them
Speaker 3: because he had carried them on his shoulders against the
Speaker 3: Highlanders and he was their big off field signing. But
Speaker 3: to do it without him, that will be a massive
Speaker 3: confidence boost for them. Patrick Pellegrino, massive performance for him.
Speaker 3: You know, Jackson Garden Bashett was brought in the off season,
Speaker 3: but this guy really stepped up and in a different
Speaker 3: style of rugby I think than you're used to from
Speaker 3: a ten in super rugby. His controlling influences, kicking game.
Speaker 3: I think it's brought over from Coventry and clearly that
Speaker 3: experience in the Northern Hemisphere.
Speaker 4: Has served him well.
Speaker 3: Miracle Fire Lungy three tries and he's been a big
Speaker 3: mover signed out of Samoa Club Rugby effectively in the
Speaker 3: last couple of years. So another big tick for that
Speaker 3: pathway and a real sign of that progression. So some
Speaker 3: really positive signs from one. You did mention there that
Speaker 3: in their first year they did beat the Hurricanes, so
Speaker 3: and I did look at their draw coming up.
Speaker 4: I think they play the.
Speaker 2: Chiefs in Bookakoe after the buy.
Speaker 4: And the Crusaders.
Speaker 3: So it is a tough draw and they do need
Speaker 3: to back it up and that was the message from
Speaker 3: tana Umanga and Artie. Severe but really positive science.
Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely, And they were supposed to play in Tonga
Speaker 2: next against the Chiefs after the buy, which would have
Speaker 2: been a different complexion to that game entirely off the
Speaker 2: back of that game. They're playing now in Pooka Koe,
Speaker 2: which you know is still going to be a great
Speaker 2: home game for them, but you almost want back at
Speaker 2: the North Shore and just keep building that fan base
Speaker 2: over the next wee wile, given how strong it's been.
Speaker 3: Well, yeah, let's touch on that tongue again. Very disappointing,
Speaker 3: isn't it because Muana as a fundamental purpose of their
Speaker 3: team to have that connection back to the island nations
Speaker 3: is very important, but the reality of it is extremely
Speaker 3: difficult from a financial point of view, from an infrastructure clearly,
Speaker 3: there's big issues in some of those island nations. We've
Speaker 3: seen i think the Tonglan rugby boards cleaned out in
Speaker 3: recent times and you know there's long standing corruption issues.
Speaker 3: So really disappointing that Mona can't take that fixture back
Speaker 3: and galvanize those connections.
Speaker 2: It is a shame, and I think it was by
Speaker 2: and large down to the floodlights that they couldn't get
Speaker 2: in time. I think a couple of other issues that
Speaker 2: seemed to be the main one, and that's frustrating because
Speaker 2: they did play there last year. It's a great occasion
Speaker 2: against the Highlanders, and then not to have that game
Speaker 2: in a couple of weeks. They've looked dead to twenty
Speaker 2: twenty six. But the more connections they can build with
Speaker 2: the Islands and their home, their spiritual home, the better
Speaker 2: I think for them. All those players you mentioned were
Speaker 2: excellent again. Palegrini come one and point out Kiren Tianmoi
Speaker 2: Flou played for Tongler in twenty twenty three. Born and
Speaker 2: raised in Marlbrook. Is he an All Blacks prospect in
Speaker 2: twenty twenty six months he completes his three years stand down?
Speaker 2: Is he interested in playing for the All Blacks in
Speaker 2: three years time or does he want to continue playing
Speaker 2: for Tongy. He didn't play for them last year, didn't
Speaker 2: have much of an international program last year Tonger. Do
Speaker 2: the All Blacks look at him from twenty twenty six,
Speaker 2: still very young, only twenty one years of age and
Speaker 2: he's been excellent for MO one of this year.
Speaker 5: Yeah.
Speaker 3: Look, I think for most of those Island players, their
Speaker 3: heart is in the island, but their financial future is
Speaker 3: with the All Blacks, right, And if you think about
Speaker 3: everything that the All Blacks wrap around you and the
Speaker 3: prestige that comes with it's the doors that are open
Speaker 3: in terms of overseas opportunities and just setting yourself up
Speaker 3: from a career point of view, that's probably your aspiration,
Speaker 3: isn't it. It's the same for Tava Tavanawa by all accounts,
Speaker 3: he's turned down Fiji to pursue the quest to play
Speaker 3: for the All Blacks. We saw it with Peter gustso
Speaker 3: Koula played one or two tests and then's ineligible for Fiji.
Speaker 3: So it's quite delicate and it does spark a lot
Speaker 3: of debate about what is the best pathway and even
Speaker 3: some suggestions that you know, the All Blacks pick guys
Speaker 3: like Peter Gust to deny for you the opportunity, which
Speaker 3: I don't believe him. But if there was some way
Speaker 3: to bridge the financial gap, then maybe these guys would
Speaker 3: play for the island.
Speaker 2: And it's also not what Mowana was created for You
Speaker 2: know current time boy Flowers played for Tonga. He's got
Speaker 2: the shop window there of playing in Super Rugby. Now.
Speaker 2: I haven't spoken to the bloke, don't know if he
Speaker 2: wants to play for the All Blacks. He may continue
Speaker 2: playing for Tonga, but wouldn't surprise me if the All
Speaker 2: Blacks come knocking or are knocking and going just stand
Speaker 2: down for eighteen more months and you know the All
Speaker 2: Blacks could come knocking in twenty twenty six. Another player
Speaker 2: as well, So Misi Tupo Tailwa. Just want to give
Speaker 2: him a note because I think he's been the pick
Speaker 2: of the season from Muana. Wasn't in their training squad.
Speaker 2: I know he played for Southland in the NBC. They
Speaker 2: couldn't believe down there that he missed out on a
Speaker 2: Super Rugby contract with the Highland his first and foremost.
Speaker 2: But anyone wyna pick him up as a training member.
Speaker 2: He's now played all four of their games this season
Speaker 2: off the back of the scrum, combining really well with
Speaker 2: Ardisavia and Miracle filing. He's playing excellent. What's going on
Speaker 2: with the Hurricanes.
Speaker 3: Though, Look, I think they've got some big outs, but
Speaker 3: there's enough talent in that team that they should be
Speaker 3: performing better. It has been a very disappointing year. They're
Speaker 3: very fractured. Some of those guys coming back will make
Speaker 3: a big difference.
Speaker 2: But I think they had twelve players injured heading into
Speaker 2: that game, which is a lot. Yeah, I mean every
Speaker 2: team needs in Daland's got a lot of injuries at
Speaker 2: the month.
Speaker 3: They do, and it's hard you take that into consideration,
Speaker 3: but you still look at some of the talent that
Speaker 3: is on the park for them, guys like Peter Luckeye
Speaker 3: break through player last year to see, you know, I
Speaker 3: think obviously Cam Roygard was on the bench. But yeah,
Speaker 3: I expect more from the Hurricanes to this point, and
Speaker 3: it's not going to get any easier. So dropping games
Speaker 3: against teams like Mowana, who when you start the year
Speaker 3: you expect to beat, is really good, and at this
Speaker 3: point you'd say they're certainly not a top six finals thing.
Speaker 2: And just doing some silly shit as well, like Isaiahacer,
Speaker 2: Larry Lear weird and taking out the legs of Danny Toy.
Speaker 2: I'm surprised more didn't come with that, to be entirely
Speaker 2: honest with you, Fiji and drew it twenty eight Chiefs
Speaker 2: twenty four special after and again in Laotoka. How many
Speaker 2: of these have we been having bucketed down for the
Speaker 2: first spell, some came out in the second spell and
Speaker 2: Fiji get their noses in front and win it. Odds
Speaker 2: we game of rugby this one. But look the drawer.
Speaker 2: They're very very hard to beat in Lautoka, and the
Speaker 2: Chiefs found that out the hard.
Speaker 3: Way they did, and conditions played a big factor, and
Speaker 3: it was actually the Doer's ball control that was vastly
Speaker 3: superior to the Chiefs and won them the game. It's
Speaker 3: a couple of brilliant individual moments, a couple of lot
Speaker 3: of brain explosions from the Chiefs. They were forced to
Speaker 3: chase the game and push passes and that hurt them.
Speaker 3: But man, what an occasion, what an atmosphere it is
Speaker 3: in Lawotoka. I'd love to be at one of those
Speaker 3: fixtures and really soak it up. You would have needed
Speaker 3: your poncho and.
Speaker 4: All the umbrellas are out in the first half.
Speaker 3: I'm not sure how much of the game the crowd
Speaker 3: actually saw all the all the brollies up, but look,
Speaker 3: the Duror were the same as Mawana went. They'd been there,
Speaker 3: they'd been in the fight, lost matches late to the
Speaker 3: waratas and the like, but they are a completely different
Speaker 3: beast at home.
Speaker 2: They are one step for you, which sort of sums
Speaker 2: up to the game for me. Against the Brumbies, the
Speaker 2: Chiefs have six hundred and twelve running meters against the
Speaker 2: drawer two hundred and eighty seven, and that's down to conditions,
Speaker 2: but also just the Druid, you know, just suffocated them
Speaker 2: to an extent. Cortez Razama barely made a meter four,
Speaker 2: couldn't snipe around the ruck. You just basically shoveled it
Speaker 2: off all day long while he was out in the park.
Speaker 2: The Chiefs weren't allowed to play the game that they
Speaker 2: love to play, and we know that's the key to
Speaker 2: shutting them down. But the Drawer went out and did it.
Speaker 4: Yeah, you look at that Brumbies game.
Speaker 3: I think it was a Saturday afternoon fixture, bathed in sunshine.
Speaker 3: And you go to Laotoka though, and the Chiefs are
Speaker 3: stuck in the mud, aren't They couldn't get that go forward,
Speaker 3: Josh Jacob. Quite a tough day as packs not getting
Speaker 3: ascendency and the drawers rushing up, knocking you over really
Speaker 3: tough to the office and that go forward makes all
Speaker 3: the difference.
Speaker 2: It does. Indeed, also a story last week around the
Speaker 2: drawer and some of the way that being treated by
Speaker 2: what's the word, I guess probably for me. It strikes
Speaker 2: into external providers, some around the transportation and their hotels.
Speaker 2: Just not a great look for Super Rugby. I think
Speaker 2: by and large it seems to be down to the
Speaker 2: external providers, the accommodation, buses, etc. That are there, but
Speaker 2: just leaves us how it tastes when you're not treating,
Speaker 2: you know, visitors to your country the way they should
Speaker 2: be treated.
Speaker 5: Yeah.
Speaker 3: I don't think there was any ill will, no or
Speaker 3: intent necessary, but it's not good enough.
Speaker 4: By all accounts.
Speaker 3: Teams that travel to Fiji treated like kings, hugely popular
Speaker 3: with locals and everything's laid on you start resorts, the
Speaker 3: transportation and everything like that, and that needs to be reciprocated.
Speaker 4: I think.
Speaker 3: Yeah. That Fiji arrived about midnight and Wellington for those
Speaker 3: who don't know the story, their bus was three hours late.
Speaker 3: They ended up traveling in the back of a truck
Speaker 3: to Napier. On the day of the game. The Hurricanes
Speaker 3: had a late checkout from their hotel and Fiji did not,
Speaker 3: so they're sleeping in the hotel lobby and just really
Speaker 3: compromise preparation for the game, and they go on to
Speaker 3: lose the match late by a couple of points or
Speaker 3: was at one point one last try at the end.
Speaker 3: So those sort of things can make a difference and
Speaker 3: it needs to be equal opportunities for everyone and it
Speaker 3: needs to be rectified to make sure that doesn't happen again.
Speaker 2: Absolutely. Speaking of not happening again, the Brumbies peak the
Speaker 2: Blues twenty one twenty at Eden Park. Very odd game.
Speaker 2: I mean it is as simple as Boden Bowrett goes
Speaker 2: off at halftime and that was the winning and losing
Speaker 2: of the game for the Blues.
Speaker 3: Potentially, yeah, it shouldn't be one player should not have
Speaker 3: that much influence, but he was the real spark, lifeblood
Speaker 3: of the Blues in that first half, scored a brilliant
Speaker 3: individual try, coming into ten for the first time this
Speaker 3: year for the Blues. Did make a real impact. And
Speaker 3: then he goes off and the Blues don't score a
Speaker 3: second half point stagger.
Speaker 2: It was just like the more the longer they second
Speaker 2: half went on, the more it's sort of bigger belief
Speaker 2: that the Blues were playing this bad and just went
Speaker 2: able to take the game by the scruff of the neck.
Speaker 2: That was, you know, in their hands. They scored before halftime,
Speaker 2: made it twenty points to ten at the break from memory,
Speaker 2: and then just sort of froze in the second spell.
Speaker 2: Poor decision making, playing at the wrong areas of the field,
Speaker 2: and they're almost just begging the Brumbies to take it
Speaker 2: by the end of it.
Speaker 3: Yeah, that's it wasn't wasn't as if the Brumbies grabbed
Speaker 3: it by the scruff or really dominated.
Speaker 4: It was the Blues killing themselves.
Speaker 3: And for me, the big stark realities were how badly
Speaker 3: their set piece disorientated. And that's vern Cod's blueprint, isn't it.
Speaker 3: You know, the set piece, the for domination. That's what
Speaker 3: won the Blues the title last year. And here the
Speaker 3: Blues were their lineout's buckling late. They considered the scrum
Speaker 3: penalty at the death, which cost them the result. So
Speaker 3: some massive work ons there. And at this point for
Speaker 3: the Blues, it's not complacency because you're losing and you're
Speaker 3: getting both barrels from Verlin Cotta behind closed doors. There
Speaker 3: is no hint of complacency at this point, So how
Speaker 3: do they turn this around?
Speaker 2: Well, we'll dig into it more in the final four,
Speaker 2: but I think they got it right by putting Bone
Speaker 2: and Barret at ten on the weekend. Now he's going
Speaker 2: to be out for we don't know who. Haven't had
Speaker 2: a confirmation, but we're probably guess around six to eight
Speaker 2: weeks usually for an injury like that, So they had
Speaker 2: it right there. For me, I think they need to
Speaker 2: put pera Feder at ten if he's coming back this week,
Speaker 2: as you hinted at and earlier on the podcast, I
Speaker 2: think he's got to start at ten. He is an
Speaker 2: all Blacks ten. He's all Blacks playmaker. He's been in
Speaker 2: that all Black squad so to his Harry Plumber, but
Speaker 2: not as much. I think you need to give him
Speaker 2: the keys to this team, and that is the way
Speaker 2: I can see there being a little bit more direction
Speaker 2: around it. We talked about last week, and I correspondent Dave,
Speaker 2: who listened to the podcast messas just on Twitter and
Speaker 2: said some stats to sort of back up. We talked
Speaker 2: about the Blues midfield last week, and some of the
Speaker 2: stats aren't available until sort of Wednesday Thursday. But in
Speaker 2: terms of defenders beaten, I think combined it was about
Speaker 2: eight for Rico Yowani and aj Lambon midfield, and Damie
Speaker 2: McKenzie's beaten about eighteen on his own. So they're just
Speaker 2: not breaking the line as easily as they were last year.
Speaker 2: So I think there's issues with that back line, but
Speaker 2: it's ultimately down to the Fords and they're just not
Speaker 2: getting the ascendancy that they were used to last year.
Speaker 2: There's been some changes, you know, Kerry Juannie Love my
Speaker 2: Haen is gone, but they just don't seem like the
Speaker 2: team they were last year.
Speaker 3: No, they don't, and you can point to the injuries,
Speaker 3: but I would I'll put the heat on the coaching staff,
Speaker 3: to be honest. You've got Vern Cotter, You've got Paul Tito,
Speaker 3: Greg Feek, this is a very well renowned coaching team.
Speaker 3: Jason O'Halloran as an attack coach, and how do you
Speaker 3: go from a championship winning team to really struggling week
Speaker 3: to week. You know that you've got to put some
Speaker 3: heat on that on that coaching team, I think at
Speaker 3: this point to turn things around. You look at other
Speaker 3: teams in this competition they don't have the same depth,
Speaker 3: they don't have the same number of all blacks.
Speaker 4: So yeah, pressures starting the build it is.
Speaker 2: Indeed, we'll have some more thoughts on that after a
Speaker 2: quick break here on Rugby Direct powered by Habit Health.
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Speaker 2: You're back with the final four on Rugby Direct. Full
Speaker 2: rugby topics that we race on through and debates. Topic
Speaker 2: number one, Let's go to the Six Nations limb. Should
Speaker 2: Tiger Burn have been charged or carded for the folding
Speaker 2: of Antoine DuPont's leg in that French Island game.
Speaker 4: I'm going to go no.
Speaker 3: I don't think there was intent or an intense not
Speaker 3: The only category is we've seen players red carded for
Speaker 3: accidental head clashes and the like. But I think it
Speaker 3: was an accidents, a mishap, and look, you can go
Speaker 3: on Twitter and there'll be all sorts of outrage. Irelands
Speaker 3: had probably taken South Africa's places as France's most hated team,
Speaker 3: but look, that wasn't the winning and losing of that game.
Speaker 3: France still went on to win it, But in terms
Speaker 3: of that incident, I don't believe it was worth a card.
Speaker 1: No.
Speaker 2: I think Ingus Gardner and co riffed it relatively well.
Speaker 2: Rugby incident, I mean, Faby and Guilty cited that incident
Speaker 2: and the World Rugby Discipline officers said, there's nothing to
Speaker 2: see here. I don't know that Antoine DuPont was in
Speaker 2: the best position, not that it was his faults, but
Speaker 2: I don't think he's in the best position in that
Speaker 2: ruck and Tiger Burn comes sort of falling over it
Speaker 2: a rugby It was a rugby incident, and just sometimes
Speaker 2: that happens in.
Speaker 3: Rugby, it does, and very unfortunate, and when it happens
Speaker 3: to the world's regarded best player in the world, it's
Speaker 3: very high profile.
Speaker 4: Yeah, just just on that game.
Speaker 3: Magnificent win for France, real statement performance, need for speed,
Speaker 3: and I think it does confirm that Ireland needs some
Speaker 3: regeneration as well. Who wins the six nations going into
Speaker 3: the final round France, England's have a real shot at
Speaker 3: it and Islands.
Speaker 2: France will beat Scotland at home. I think it'll come
Speaker 2: down obviously the last game, but I.
Speaker 3: Think they to guarantee that they need a bonus point.
Speaker 3: Well because England play Wales.
Speaker 2: Yeah yeah, I mean I wasn't that impressed with England
Speaker 2: against Italy. I think France when they'll beat Scotland at home, Yeah, yeah,
Speaker 2: I think so.
Speaker 3: And that's a real reflection of where things set up
Speaker 3: north with it, and maybe we need to pig things
Speaker 3: back about France's B team coming here.
Speaker 2: Well no, well, yes to no. I mean that was
Speaker 2: their eighteen that beat Ireland. How many of those players
Speaker 2: are going to be down here. Yeah, no, fair point,
Speaker 2: and we didn't see the B team on the weekend.
Speaker 3: That was by far and away their strongest team they
Speaker 3: put out this year as well. They got a fair
Speaker 3: few players back. Look, yeah, I was just been stoking
Speaker 3: the flames here, but you know I.
Speaker 2: Have read an interesting column on the Hero about that yesterday.
Speaker 2: Yes two, we didn't touch on us before, but Liam
Speaker 2: one win, three losses. Is it time to panic about
Speaker 2: the Blues? Not just yet, but I think it is.
Speaker 2: You go sorry, it can really get away from you.
Speaker 3: I think the Blues, if they can get into the finals,
Speaker 3: will still be difficult prospect, but losing becomes a habit
Speaker 3: and there does look to be something really missed this year,
Speaker 3: and going down to play the Chiefs and Hamilton this weekend,
Speaker 3: it is very hard to see the Blues winning that
Speaker 3: it is.
Speaker 2: And then you look at their drawer and they've got
Speaker 2: the Crusaders next weekend which they could win, but again
Speaker 2: it's in New Zealand Derby. Those are tough games. They
Speaker 2: have the buye after that, then they have the Hurricanes
Speaker 2: at home, they have Mwana at home, they have the
Speaker 2: Crusaders away. They've got if you include mo Wada Pacifica
Speaker 2: as a New Zealand derby and the way they're playing,
Speaker 2: that's five straight New Zealand Derby's or games against New
Speaker 2: Zealand opposition based opposition to come. That's a tough draw.
Speaker 4: Bloody tough. And look, the Chiefs will be.
Speaker 3: Hurting after their loss in Fiji coming back home. They've
Speaker 3: beaten the Blues once this year already at Eden Park.
Speaker 3: That local derby means a lot to them and that
Speaker 3: is an incredibly tough run. The Blues need some bodies back.
Speaker 3: That buyer can't come soon enough. But yeah, they really
Speaker 3: need to stop the rock.
Speaker 4: Well.
Speaker 2: On the other side of things, their men might be
Speaker 2: playing poorly, but the women playing great. Can anyone stop
Speaker 2: their Blues? Women winning or picky? If I asked this
Speaker 2: question this time last week after the belt in the Hurricanes,
Speaker 2: I would have said no. But having looked at it
Speaker 2: on the weekend, they just sneak past the Chiefs. So
Speaker 2: they had belted by sixty points in pre season with
Speaker 2: the lap Porsche of women Wickliffe try on the weekend
Speaker 2: at even par Master two just building quite nicely. So
Speaker 2: for me it's a two horse race in Blues and
Speaker 2: Matter two Chiefs and behind Hurricanes. Don't look overly flash
Speaker 2: at all.
Speaker 3: No, and look, if you had put the house on
Speaker 3: it right now, you'd say the Blues. But finals footyn
Speaker 3: can do funny things to teams. And you mentioned the
Speaker 3: Matter two that they are building nicely, And yeah, the
Speaker 3: Chiefs pushed the Blues to the brink, so I don't
Speaker 3: think it's a foregone conclusion just yet.
Speaker 2: Yeah. No, it's an interesting old competition this weekend, and sorry,
Speaker 2: this season and this weekends' interesting as well. And topic
Speaker 2: number four Russi Erasmus stoked some more flames, as he
Speaker 2: likes to do last week by suggesting the rugby championship
Speaker 2: should be aligned with the six Nations windows so played
Speaker 2: in February March. This isn't entirely new because if you
Speaker 2: acall friend of the podcast, Hamish mcclennan suggested this film.
Speaker 2: He spoke to him last year year before, formerly the
Speaker 2: Australian Rugby year. He was in that position at the
Speaker 2: time and I believe there was a retraction that had
Speaker 2: to be issued by SANSA as a result of that.
Speaker 2: Do you like the idea? Would it work?
Speaker 5: No?
Speaker 3: I don't like it. I like summer being summer and
Speaker 3: rugby is a winter sport. And this isn't just a
Speaker 3: New Zealand pushback. I think Australia doesn't want it in
Speaker 3: that window either, And to be frank, the Springboks don't
Speaker 3: need any help they I can totally see it from
Speaker 3: Russy's perspective. Their players play all year round with their
Speaker 3: club teams based up north. It is a relentless schedule.
Speaker 3: But we don't need to be bending over backwards just
Speaker 3: to look after the spring Box.
Speaker 4: So I understand where he's coming from.
Speaker 3: By all means, throw the idea out there, but it
Speaker 3: has been discussed, as you mentioned in recent times. I
Speaker 3: think the Rugby Championships and its current cycle is locked
Speaker 3: until twenty.
Speaker 2: Well remember the taking a break from it twenty six
Speaker 2: with the Rugby his greatest rivalry tour. So but the
Speaker 2: next it's up in the year a little bit.
Speaker 3: But yes, the next broadcast will lock it in for
Speaker 3: the next six years in the current window.
Speaker 4: So look, I can't see it moving.
Speaker 2: No, no, indeed, let's get into some tipping, and great
Speaker 2: news for fans of mine out there. I've sneaked ahead
Speaker 2: of you after a big two from five weekend.
Speaker 4: Great weekend on the punch.
Speaker 2: Liam one from five. You picked the Blues Cheese, the Canes,
Speaker 2: tick Reds and red you did, and I got the
Speaker 2: Drewer and the Crusaders correct. So wasn't a great weekend
Speaker 2: for either of us. But I lead eleven to ten.
Speaker 2: This after twenty games.
Speaker 4: Just quickly. That's great for the compo, isn't it?
Speaker 2: Absolutely the fact that fifty percent of these games roughly
Speaker 2: have been results that we didn't expect, didn't tip.
Speaker 4: It was a real giant killing weekend.
Speaker 2: Yeah, and you look at the latter as well, it's
Speaker 2: so congested and you know the Crusader went from bott
Speaker 2: to fourth on the weekend. That's how tight it is
Speaker 2: at the moment. And you know the Hurricanes bottom. If
Speaker 2: they beat the Highlanders this weekend, they'll leap right up
Speaker 2: as well. And yeah, we keep talking about it, but
Speaker 2: the Super Raby comp before we get into tipping, is
Speaker 2: just absolutely out the gate this season.
Speaker 3: It is stylistically and just just genuine upsets. You're tuning
Speaker 3: and you do not know who's going to win. That's
Speaker 3: that's what we've been crying out for in the past
Speaker 3: few years.
Speaker 2: Yeah, it is Highland is Hurricanes Friday nights. Gold's what
Speaker 2: iHeart radio under the roof in Dneede and seven o five.
Speaker 2: This is fascinating, isn't it.
Speaker 3: This is a real you know what, I'm going to
Speaker 3: tip the Landers in that one. A. I think the
Speaker 3: Hurricanes are struggling. They got Ruben and Love back at
Speaker 3: the weekends, but yeah, I think they're in a bit
Speaker 3: of a hole and I think the Highland is coming
Speaker 3: off the by they could get a few players back,
Speaker 3: So yeah, Jamie Joseph, have them prime to go under
Speaker 3: the roof.
Speaker 2: Cheap as I'm picking the Hurricanes and you're not unbelievable.
Speaker 2: Brumb's versus the drawer in Canberra. Can the drawer continue
Speaker 2: there winning ways after beating the Chiefs in Lautoka by
Speaker 2: going to Canberra. It'll be a cold night in Canberra.
Speaker 2: I don't know the forecast, but at the word.
Speaker 3: Cold slight contrast to Lauatoka, isn't it. No, the drawer
Speaker 3: unfortunately a bit of a different beast away from home
Speaker 3: and the Brumbies.
Speaker 2: No. I think Brumbies will return home after that one
Speaker 2: over the Blues at Eton Park and grab that one
Speaker 2: as well. Crusaders Force four to thirty five Saturday afternoon.
Speaker 2: Disappointed by the Force on the weekends against the Waratahs.
Speaker 2: I tipped them and they didn't really show up.
Speaker 3: Yeah, I thought there might be a chance of an
Speaker 3: upset there. Note the Stators get that done comfortably.
Speaker 2: Crusade on. Great to have you on board, Chiefs and Blues.
Speaker 2: This is a fascinating game in so many ways on
Speaker 2: Saturday night in Hamilton. Make or break for the Blues
Speaker 2: in terms of their season, Probably not, but just it's
Speaker 2: a big focal point. I suppose. Man, it's not the
Speaker 2: right to them, but just this is going to suggest
Speaker 2: which way this season's probably going to go. They lose
Speaker 2: they're still in the playoff mix, but to see them
Speaker 2: winning the comp from that point.
Speaker 3: Yeah, look, I think the Chiefs were that, but I
Speaker 3: will side with you on Stephen Peter Fetter likely to
Speaker 3: return this week. I would be making him ten. I
Speaker 3: really like the way he challenges the line creates for others,
Speaker 3: and you know they've got more options at fallback. Cole
Speaker 3: Forbes not a great night under the high ball, but
Speaker 3: he could come again. It's not the way I think
Speaker 3: they'll go, but they could be forced into that position
Speaker 3: in the coming week.
Speaker 4: So Chiefs to win for.
Speaker 2: Me and stay against State mat against mate sort of.
Speaker 2: Reds Wartarz at sun Corpse Stadium rounds us out on
Speaker 2: Saturday night.
Speaker 3: Yeah, it's another real flip of the coin, isn't it.
Speaker 3: I'm going to go the Reds without any form of confidence.
Speaker 3: Good win for the Wartars over the Force. But I've
Speaker 3: been a bit patchy this year.
Speaker 2: I'm going to Wartorze to remain unbeaten, the competition's only
Speaker 2: unbeaten team. Well, you would stoke in their flames, Yeah, exactly,
Speaker 2: and they're doing it without Suweli, which is very impressive.
Speaker 2: The Rugby Directs Medal two onested coverted medal, leading the
Speaker 2: points at the stage to Morthy Taanawa with eight, Ardie
Speaker 2: sav six and Quintepie six and in fourth is Damien McKenzie.
Speaker 3: I'm going to go Will Jordan for three smashing it
Speaker 3: out of the park, Miracle Fire Lungey for two three tries,
Speaker 3: big performance from him, and I'm going to give one
Speaker 3: to Ethan Blackhead on the defensive side of the ball.
Speaker 2: Yeah, he was excellent, I thought on the weekend. I'm
Speaker 2: giving my three to Patrick Palagrini from Morana Pacifica potentially
Speaker 2: the bye of the season, with aud your respect to
Speaker 2: Jackson Guarded Baship. He looks a cut above Garden Baship.
Speaker 2: The way he's played on the weekend and the last
Speaker 2: and even when he came off the bench against the
Speaker 2: Highland has tuned that game around the thirty one to
Speaker 2: ten down. He looks like an excellent prospect that has
Speaker 2: somehow seemingly gone under the radar. I'm giving two to
Speaker 2: Miracle Fire Lungey as well. I thought he was very
Speaker 2: very good in that game, and I'm going to give
Speaker 2: one to sev Reese as well. Tossed up between him
Speaker 2: and Will Jordan, but you know we've got your three,
Speaker 2: so I'm better give sevu something Rugby Howard Buddies talks
Speaker 2: itv MVP voting done on Rugby Direct before we go.
Speaker 2: Jack Measley, chief executive of Super Rugby, has been good
Speaker 2: enough to check in with us a month into the competition,
Speaker 2: and this competition is absolutely humming. Along Jack Measley, thanks
Speaker 2: to your time on Rugby Direct. You must be delighted
Speaker 2: about how the first month of Super Ruggy Pacific twenty
Speaker 2: twenty five is gone.
Speaker 5: Absolutely delighted early and great to talk to you. Yeah,
Speaker 5: and fantastic to be in New Zealand and get to
Speaker 5: some of the games and witness witness some of the upsets.
Speaker 5: So I was lucky enough to be out of Eden
Speaker 5: Park and also also up and now we need to
Speaker 5: watch more Pacific get the better of the Canes and yeah, great.
Speaker 2: To see everyone's trying to put their finger on it.
Speaker 2: But it surely can't be as simple as just that.
Speaker 2: The rebels going, You're down to eleven teams, the competition,
Speaker 2: the talent spreads a bit wider. It can't be that simple, surely.
Speaker 5: No, I don't think so. I mean, I think there's
Speaker 5: a whole host of factors that have gone into it.
Speaker 5: You know, Rugby Australia have been working incredibly hard over
Speaker 5: the pastor of eighteen months and I think it's made
Speaker 5: some really great nerves. You got the rebels happening there.
Speaker 5: Obviously wider specific have done a hell a lot of
Speaker 5: the work on their organization and you know, are really
Speaker 5: seeing some great results. You add that to some new
Speaker 5: rules and the match officials adding a bit of pace
Speaker 5: in the game early in the season, with a bit
Speaker 5: of heat. You know, I think all of those things
Speaker 5: are coming together to create to create sort of the
Speaker 5: outcomes that we're seeing.
Speaker 2: I guess you look at the scoring as well, very
Speaker 2: very high scoring, which is reminiscent of perhaps the early
Speaker 2: days in Super rugby. Is that early season, you know,
Speaker 2: cobwebs being blown out or is it some of those
Speaker 2: tweaks that have been made to some of the rules
Speaker 2: and over the last couple of years sort of now telling.
Speaker 5: Yeah, well, I think it's still a record year so
Speaker 5: far after after four rounds of sixty three average points
Speaker 5: per game, so record in Super rugby history. I think
Speaker 5: it's a lot to do with the coming into the game,
Speaker 5: you know, through the new rules, probably due to a
Speaker 5: bit of early season conditioning, match officials again doing a
Speaker 5: good job at moving the game forward. And then yeah,
Speaker 5: I think with that fatigue, you know, we're seeing defenses
Speaker 5: get stretched and and and some great trials out at
Speaker 5: the Crusaders burst the Reds game down in christ Church
Speaker 5: on Sunday, both teams were just absolutely out on their
Speaker 5: feet towards the end of the game and really noticeable.
Speaker 2: I don't I guess we talked at the launch in
Speaker 2: Sydney and obviously all the work that you and Sue
Speaker 2: Rugby had done, you know, it's up to the players
Speaker 2: and the teams by that point to pick the ball
Speaker 2: up and run with it, excuse the pun and they
Speaker 2: have in the opening rounds and the tightness of the
Speaker 2: competition has been incredible. This must be good for TV numbers,
Speaker 2: crowd numbers, et cetera as you look to build over
Speaker 2: the next couple of months heading into the playoffs.
Speaker 5: Yeah. I think you're right, Eliot. I mean you can
Speaker 5: see the players and the coaches. I think they're as
Speaker 5: excited as we all are about what we're seeing. And
Speaker 5: I think that's probably adding to what we're seeing on
Speaker 5: the park. It's being played with great intent and you know,
Speaker 5: just a bit of fever around. Yeah, and it is,
Speaker 5: it is, it's really helping with the results. It was
Speaker 5: great to see Sky publish some really great results for
Speaker 5: Super Ruggly specific after the first three rounds twelve percent
Speaker 5: up on the first three rounds on last year, which
Speaker 5: we know, which we know grew year on year. And
Speaker 5: you know in stadium too, you know, we know we've
Speaker 5: got we've got some opportunities to continue to work on that,
Speaker 5: but we're seeing good growth there as well. So really
Speaker 5: pleasing that people are switching on and switching on, you know,
Speaker 5: for longer. Right, So those close games mean that people
Speaker 5: stay in the game. And then you know, with fantasy
Speaker 5: and with unexpected results, people want to watch more than
Speaker 5: just their team, and that's that seems to be playing out.
Speaker 2: I know you've been around the country and New Zealand
Speaker 2: speaking to the CEOs and visiting the teams. What have
Speaker 2: they told you about the way the competition's going this year?
Speaker 2: The feedback you've been getting.
Speaker 5: Really good. I think the cees managed to wear two hats.
Speaker 5: They want they want the best for the competition and
Speaker 5: clearly they want the best of their for their clubs.
Speaker 5: Sometimes that doesn't that doesn't always align, but I think
Speaker 5: they're really pleased with how it's going. You know, I
Speaker 5: was sitting next to Andrew Ware at the Blues game
Speaker 5: on Friday night and a full time he did say
Speaker 5: to me, he goes, Jack, don't tell me that was
Speaker 5: good for the competition. I think deep down he would
Speaker 5: have loved to see the Blues wom but he knows
Speaker 5: that the Brumbies making breaking that twelve of you hudo
Speaker 5: is absolutely a great result for the competition. Yeah. So see,
Speaker 5: he's been really supportive and I think really happy with
Speaker 5: how it's coming. After four round.
Speaker 2: Jack Measley with us on Rugby Directs, so grateful for
Speaker 2: him checking in and updating us on how the competition
Speaker 2: is tracking, how the Super Rugby teams are feeling about it.
Speaker 2: The Blues perhaps not so happy as we heard about
Speaker 2: Andrew or then Liam. That about does us for another
Speaker 2: week of Rugby Direct. It's been another busy old week
Speaker 2: and super ruggy, isn't.
Speaker 3: It has hold tight and it's the tipping improves.
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah for you. Maybe I'm out in front, I'm
Speaker 2: one point ahead and you know, if you try and
Speaker 2: catch me, if you can you're right there, train. That's right,
Speaker 2: it's a bit in the cane train. Let's wrap things
Speaker 2: up on Rugby Directs. Thanks to Andy Duff for producing
Speaker 2: this one. We're back next week. Could see our friends
Speaker 2: with habit health tackling, or your aches and pains from
Speaker 2: sporting work.
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