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

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

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Speaker 2: Straight down the Middle, Try Dickey scud.

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Speaker 1: Try get inside the game from every angle. It's Rugby

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Speaker 1: Direct with Elliot Smith and Lea Napier, powered by News

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Speaker 1: Talks ed B.

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Speaker 3: Welcome into Rugby Direct powered by Access Solutions, elevating you

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Speaker 3: and your business to a higher level. We tease that

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Speaker 3: we might be back, and we have delivered two days

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Speaker 3: out from the All Blacks Test match against South Africa.

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Speaker 3: This big match has been on the horizon for quite

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Speaker 3: some time. Liam, It's as we record this, just over

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Speaker 3: forty eight hours away and we have the All Blacks

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Speaker 3: team for Saturday night's game. Were you surprised by the

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Speaker 3: twenty three that coach Scot Robertson's named.

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Speaker 2: No on the whole?

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Speaker 4: There was a bit of oil floating around the traps elsewhere,

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Speaker 4: but look, this is largely the team we discussed at

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Speaker 4: the start of the week and what I expected. I

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Speaker 4: thought they would bring in Ammonia Darraua for sever Reese.

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Speaker 4: We talked about Fabian Holland being fatigued and to provi

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Speaker 4: playing his best rugby at Locke for the All Blacks

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Speaker 4: last year, and the All Blacks have always seen Simon

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Speaker 4: Parker as a six rather than an eight. It was

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Speaker 4: more about giving him that exposure last week. And look,

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Speaker 4: the All Blacks were never going to push the panic button.

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Speaker 4: Their backs are pressed to the war and they are

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Speaker 4: really up against it, aren't They were the Eden park

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Speaker 4: record the Springboks coming to town. But I never really

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Speaker 4: got the sense from Scott Robertson's public utterances or just

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Speaker 4: the general All.

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Speaker 2: Blacks ethos that they were always.

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Speaker 4: Back, faith first and foremost back players to respec on

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Speaker 4: before making mass changes.

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Speaker 2: What about you.

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Speaker 3: I don't know that it's pushing the panic part it necessarily,

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Speaker 3: but they've invested a lot into two po I at

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Speaker 3: blindside flanker this year across the two tests in Dunedin

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Speaker 3: and Wellington. Didn't play in Hamilton, off the top of

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Speaker 3: my head, then played the two in Argentina at blindside Flanka.

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Speaker 3: Now that wouldn't have happened. If Simon Parker was fit

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Speaker 3: at the start of the year. He would have got

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Speaker 3: an opportunity in some of that French series. Whether it's

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Speaker 3: all some whatever, but it feels like for the biggest

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Speaker 3: Test match of the year. They've now diverted course, and

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Speaker 3: to an extent it is understandable, but I would have

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Speaker 3: almost liked them to stay the course. Now you mentioned

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Speaker 3: Farban Holland, I think he did look a little bit

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Speaker 3: fatigued him. And this is the young kid started five

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Speaker 3: Test matches on the trot and played eighteen I think

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Speaker 3: all bar one, so he has looked fatigued. And I

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Speaker 3: wonder if Patrick toy but lotso not being fed has

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Speaker 3: also played a part in some of these selections as well.

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Speaker 3: But it almost feels like they're rushing Simon Parker in

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Speaker 3: on the blind side. People might say that differently, but

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Speaker 3: I think you've invested to per v. I would have

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Speaker 3: stuck with him on the blind side for this Test match.

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Speaker 4: It's a fair concern. Look, Simon Parker's played one Test.

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Speaker 4: He's absolutely unproven at test level. I think I was

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Speaker 4: probably a wee bit harsh on him on reflection that

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Speaker 4: test he got through quite a power of work on

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Speaker 4: defense in an all black pack that was largely beaten

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Speaker 4: to the punch. But he's got everything to prove and

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Speaker 4: I think it was Matt Pears, the super support commentator

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Speaker 4: at the Press Currence today with Scott Robertson, talked about

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Speaker 4: the spring box saying or their mantra being there's a

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Speaker 4: test debut and then there's a debut against the All Blacks,

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Speaker 4: and that's a very real concept in the physicality the

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Speaker 4: collisions that Simon Parker and a number of this All

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Speaker 4: Black team will confront this weekend.

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Speaker 2: Look for me to Pervi isn't a six.

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Speaker 4: I think he lacks the pace and he was probably

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Speaker 4: exposed a wee bit there against the pumas he brings

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Speaker 4: and upside. But if you just compare his performances last

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Speaker 4: year when he really was one of the All Blacks

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Speaker 4: best from Locke Scorps and also talked about today him

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Speaker 4: being one of the best scrummaging locks. I just I

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Speaker 4: do like the balance of the loose forderer and the

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Speaker 4: second row. But you're right, maybe they have diverted the

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Speaker 4: plan because why invest so much into provi Oni to

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Speaker 4: make that change for this game.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, it feels like maybe they should have stuck with

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Speaker 3: it at least this week. Clearly they've seen something in

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Speaker 3: Simon Parker that from that first test when he got

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Speaker 3: through a lot of work a lot of tackles. I

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Speaker 3: think he had the second most meters from the All Blacks.

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Speaker 3: I mean that wasn't hard on that night, given though

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Speaker 3: weren't getting a lot of go forward. But big opportunity

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Speaker 3: for him, I guess you can frame it that way,

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Speaker 3: and a chance for him to take on that six

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Speaker 3: year old Wallace. Titi comes back in at number eight.

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Speaker 3: Artie Saviga has one hundredth on the open side flank.

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Speaker 3: Big moment for Arti this week, as if this Test

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Speaker 3: could be any bigger. You know, Artie bring up the

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Speaker 3: one hundredth Test match, one hundred and second game overall.

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Speaker 3: He's meant a lot to the All Blacks for nigh

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Speaker 3: on a decade now and he can still deliver. You know.

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Speaker 3: His consistency is one of his hallmarks, isn't it.

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Speaker 2: Well, it's funny, isn't it.

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Speaker 4: I guess because of the normality, the magnitude of this

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Speaker 4: occasion and everything else that goes with the Eden Park,

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Speaker 4: the World Champions coming to town, Ardie's hundredth has very

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Speaker 4: much flown under the raidar. He spoke to us to

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Speaker 4: a big media pack today and I think he looked

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Speaker 4: away bit uncomfortable, doesn't necessarily want the spotlight on him

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Speaker 4: right now. You know, pre match the focus will certainly

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Speaker 4: be on getting the victory this weekends. But if you

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Speaker 4: reflect on Ardie, there's a few things.

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Speaker 2: That stand out.

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Speaker 4: One is his size in the land of Giants in

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Speaker 4: the forward pack. He's not big, is he, but he

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Speaker 4: consistently punches above his weight and has done from a

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Speaker 4: young age. I think he had to prove himself and

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Speaker 4: come out of the shadow of Julian and prove himself

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Speaker 4: from a size perspective. And we see now his leg

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Speaker 4: drive and he's grown into a real leader, hasn't he?

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Speaker 4: Through Wine and PACIFICA and he's led the All Blacks

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Speaker 4: in Scott Robertson's absence. So yeah, massive occasion for him

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Speaker 4: this weekends, and that historically tends to bring out the

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Speaker 4: best in him.

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Speaker 3: It does, absolutely and he loves an occasion. We look

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Speaker 3: at the performances he had from one of Pacific out

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Speaker 3: this year and those big games Blues and North Harbor Stadium.

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Speaker 3: A lot made of that game and the lead up

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Speaker 3: basically put the team on his shoulders and got them

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Speaker 3: the victory. So if he can deliver a performance like

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Speaker 3: that comes Saturday night, and then the All Blacks will

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Speaker 3: be well on the way to getting this victory. A

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Speaker 3: couple of changes to the back line as well, from

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Speaker 3: the Christie starts at half back. Cortez Rata ruled out

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Speaker 3: with that ribb injury he suffered in Argentina and Nadawa

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Speaker 3: on the right wing, your thoughts on both of those,

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Speaker 3: I guess for phin Lake Christie next man up mentality,

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Speaker 3: I mean he remarkable to think five six weeks ago,

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Speaker 3: maybe a bit longer when the squad was named in

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Speaker 3: Taranaki for the French series, that Phinlay Christie would be

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Speaker 3: starting against the spring Box. But it's transpired that way,

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Speaker 3: and I know the comparison was made to Stephen Donald today,

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Speaker 3: fourth choice player in a big moment, big match, a

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Speaker 3: chance for him to really deliver and show what he's

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Speaker 3: capable of doing.

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Speaker 4: Yeah. Look, if there's one era of concern for the

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Speaker 4: orblexis halfback, isn't it you lose?

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Speaker 2: I think if you lose.

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Speaker 4: Three players in any position, can Roy Gardnahothem, Cortez Artima,

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Speaker 4: You're going to be in a hole anywhere. Scott Robertson's

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Speaker 4: trying to build this four four four, Well here we

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Speaker 4: are she's getting an early taste of it, Finlay, Christie

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Speaker 4: has never quite delivered for me on the test stage.

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Speaker 4: He can get a little bit. He doesn't get overawed

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Speaker 4: by an occasion, but he can get rattled his decision

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Speaker 4: making a little bit at times. But as Scott Robinson

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Speaker 4: said today, he's got an established combination to a degree

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Speaker 4: with Boden Barrett and he's fairly unflappable character. But yeah,

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Speaker 4: with Christie starting and Coyle Preston on debut on the bench,

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Speaker 4: that is an area of concern for the All Blacks

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Speaker 4: and Ammonia Naraua. Look, I'm happy he's getting a chance,

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Speaker 4: but it's a rare chance and the All Blacks to

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Speaker 4: this point have lacked faith in them, haven't they.

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Speaker 2: I think this is his third test, second start.

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Speaker 4: He only started earlier this year in Wellington against the

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Speaker 4: French after Caleb Clark pulled out late in the week

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Speaker 4: with an injury. So he's almost been a bit of

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Speaker 4: a stopgap measure when they've had to go to him

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Speaker 4: rather than when they've wanted to. So it is a

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Speaker 4: huge occasion to throw a guy in when there's so

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Speaker 4: much focus on that aerial assault that will come his

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Speaker 4: way well.

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Speaker 3: A lot of focus on Rico Yuani today as well,

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Speaker 3: and I thought Scot Robison chose his words relatively carefully

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Speaker 3: around what he expects and needs from him this weekend. Robertson,

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Speaker 3: I can't have the clip to play you at the moment,

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Speaker 3: but he was quite short in terms of that opportunity

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Speaker 3: and the expectation that is now in Riko Youwanne and

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Speaker 3: it feels like it is must deliver time for Riko Yuanni.

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Speaker 3: This is his home ground, his SETI expectations on him

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Speaker 3: to really deliver it. They decided to chop one of

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Speaker 3: the wings and sever Reese putting in morning another. He's

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Speaker 3: regod under the high ball. Riko Euan has clung onto

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Speaker 3: his jusey, but the message seems to be implied that

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Speaker 3: it's time to deliver, so.

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Speaker 2: It's a stay of execution. It feels that way, doesn't it.

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Speaker 4: Because you've got Caleb Clark bloking and you have Les

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Speaker 4: defying a Nuku, two ready made options. Clark's your best

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Speaker 4: aerial winger, has performed really well against South Africa. He'll

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Speaker 4: go away and play for Auckland this weekend and by

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Speaker 4: all accounts be available for the All Blacks next week

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Speaker 4: in the rematch in Wellington, so Rico's on notice and

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Speaker 4: his back to the future switch from center to the

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Speaker 4: wing has been unconvincing across the board, from chasing kicks

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Speaker 4: to be involved with ball in hands. He has the

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Speaker 4: physical attributes, but it just hasn't clicked. And you don't

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Speaker 4: often see center's wings go to center and then back

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Speaker 4: to the wing, do you.

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Speaker 3: You don't, especially at the All Blacks, the age that

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Speaker 3: the age out of that profile. I know you've written

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Speaker 3: about it before, but late in their careers wings tend

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Speaker 3: to not you know, produce for the All Blacks in

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Speaker 3: terms of tries and therefore that's their currency. It's like

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Speaker 3: batsmen and runs in cricket. That's their currency of scoring

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Speaker 3: tries by and large, and often they exit around that

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Speaker 3: twenty seven to twenty eight age. Looking at the bench

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Speaker 3: as well, not too many surprises here. We've got to

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Speaker 3: mighty Williams coming off the bench again this week, or

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Speaker 3: a Lomax makes his return off the bench. A couple

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Speaker 3: of great players to bring on in the last thirty

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Speaker 3: thirty five minutes of the Test match as well. Fabing

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Speaker 3: and Holland drops to the bench to see Kadifi Carle

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Speaker 3: Preston for a day boone, then Quintepia, Damian mckint to

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Speaker 3: the Backs. Not too many surprises in that all Blacks bench.

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Speaker 2: No, the Backs perhaps lack a wee bit of firepower.

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Speaker 2: I think.

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Speaker 4: I'm sure Scott Robinson was tempted to bring Lester fighting

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Speaker 4: a nooku back in. You would have gone as far

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Speaker 4: as potentially starting him. You know that the argument you

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Speaker 4: made was he's available, pick him, and that's very valid.

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Speaker 4: I think if you weigh a two pire against fighting

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Speaker 4: a nook who, there is more upside in a lister.

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Speaker 4: But he only joined the camp on Sunday nights, so

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Speaker 4: maybe he will come into the mixed next weekend. In

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Speaker 4: terms of the Fords, it really is meet and fire

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Speaker 4: will fire to mighty Williams, SAMERSONI Takyaho, who is in

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Speaker 4: great form apart from his line out milkdown against the Pumas,

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Speaker 4: which is probably not his fault alone. Entirole Lomax. When

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Speaker 4: you talk about the box bomb squad, that is a

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Speaker 4: real beefy front row to bring on, isn't.

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Speaker 3: It certainly is. And Kyle Price for a debut after

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Speaker 3: earning making a super rugby deboot at the start of

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Speaker 3: the year. Quite a remarkable story. We don't have the

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Speaker 3: Box team at time of recording. We're standing by for that,

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Speaker 3: but Liam, give us a prediction, how is this going

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Speaker 3: to play out Saturday night?

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Speaker 4: Well, it's going to be a magic occasion. You know,

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Speaker 4: we're both very fortunate to be there to witness it.

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Speaker 4: It'll be a moment that will stand in time one

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Speaker 4: way or the other. I think there could be could

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Speaker 4: well be a bit of controversy. Who's the referee again,

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Speaker 4: Old Dixon?

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Speaker 2: Dixon? Which evokes a few nerves.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, what do I say about Car? I would

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Speaker 3: just keep my powder dry until after the game. But

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Speaker 3: I think I've made a thoughts clear before on this

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Speaker 3: podcast about yes, Carl Dixon is an international referee recording.

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Speaker 4: I think I think there are a few nerves around

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Speaker 4: about how that's going to play out. Look, I'm going

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Speaker 4: to stick with the prediction I've made all week that

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Speaker 4: the All Blacks are going to rebound and win by

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Speaker 4: three points. That's not an overly confident one. But I

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Speaker 4: think this spring Box team, I won't go as far

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Speaker 4: as say they're not the team they were, but they're

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Speaker 4: certainly not performing to their potential. They've been in recent

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Speaker 4: times have been knocked over by the Pumas as the

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Speaker 4: All Blacks were. They lost at home to the Wallabies

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Speaker 4: and were exposed when the Wallabies brought fatigue into the

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Speaker 4: game and used a good short kicking game. So I

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Speaker 4: think there is a real blueprint there. I think Wayne

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Speaker 4: Smith coming into camp this week is very timely.

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Speaker 3: And so Graham Henry as well popping in on chas right.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, I don't know what.

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Speaker 4: I don't know whether the box, given what played out

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Speaker 4: in South Africa, are going to have the confidence to

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Speaker 4: play enough rugby because if they do it's a real risk.

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Speaker 4: So my gut is that they'll stick largely to their

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Speaker 4: strengths and I don't know if that'll that'll be enough.

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Speaker 3: I think they'll stick to their strengths as well. Like

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Speaker 3: I started the week with All Blacks by four, I've

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Speaker 3: gone back to All Blacks by three and now I'm

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Speaker 3: sitting it All Blacks by two forty eight hours out.

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Speaker 3: So I said, no, I'm going I'm going to draw

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Speaker 3: by Saturday I think, which was ninety four at Eden

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Speaker 3: Park as well. Look, it should be a fantastic test match,

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Speaker 3: looking forward to it and let's hope it delivers to

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Speaker 3: the hype that has been built around it, because it

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Speaker 3: feels like this has been Lions Test three and twenty seventeen,

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Speaker 3: even World Cup finalist in twenty eleven in terms of

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Speaker 3: the attention that has been zeroed in on this game.

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Speaker 2: Let's hope it delivered. Saturday night, Yes, Strappan can't wait Absolutely.

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Speaker 3: Live commentary on News Talks ABI Gold Sport iHeart Radio

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Speaker 3: seven oh five on Saturday, and you can follow live

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Speaker 3: blogs and all the analysis on the New Zealand Hero

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Speaker 3: website as well. Until next time. This has been Rugby

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Speaker 3: Direct powered by Excess Solutions.

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Speaker 1: For more from News Talk ZEDB, listen live on air

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