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

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

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Speaker 2: Strike down the Middle.

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Speaker 3: Of Dry Dickney Score, Please come this boy, tryse pa.

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

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

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Speaker 3: Welcome into Rugby Direct, powered by Habit Health, tackling all

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Speaker 3: your aches and pains from sport and work back for

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Speaker 3: another week. Elliott Smith and with me this week. Great

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Speaker 3: pleasure to welcome in Nick Bewley. Crusaders commentator Liam Napier

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Speaker 3: did leave at twenty four hours after the Crusaders beat

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Speaker 3: the Hurricanes to say he didn't want to join me

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Speaker 3: on the podcast this week. The night he's got family,

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Speaker 3: family wedding and day he's been out of action for

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Speaker 3: the weekend. But great pleasure to welcome in Nick Bewley

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Speaker 3: to come in for the week on Rugby Direct.

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Speaker 4: House things gooda Elliott, You're always happy to suthern at

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Speaker 4: whatever notice. Yeah, another great week of super rugby, wasn't it.

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Speaker 4: Of course the Crusader's now sitting pretty at the top

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Speaker 4: of the table. We even sort of surprised myself really

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Speaker 4: as to the position therein currently, the Chiefs losing to

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Speaker 4: the Waratahs, the Brumby's surprising the Reds in Brisbane. It

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Speaker 4: was a pretty good round of Super Rugby Pacific and

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Speaker 4: what's been a great season.

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Speaker 3: It certainly has. We'll get to that in a moment.

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Speaker 3: But the Super Rugby Orpicky Final first and foremost on

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Speaker 3: Saturday night to round out the women's Super Rugby season,

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Speaker 3: at least from a New Zealand perspective. Still the crossover

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Speaker 3: game to come on Thursday. But the Blues too good

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Speaker 3: for Matter two in the year Matters who started really

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Speaker 3: strongly and had a couple of chances to force extra time.

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Speaker 3: It was a game of momentum swings, i felt, but

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Speaker 3: the Blues perhaps just dominated those bigger moments a little

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Speaker 3: bit more and you know, on the whole of the season,

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Speaker 3: probably deserved the crown. What did you make of the

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Speaker 3: Super Rugby or Picky Final?

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Speaker 4: Yeah, I'd agree with that sentiment. It fell like the

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Speaker 4: Blue even though the Mutter two got the job done

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Speaker 4: over them and fung it a in the regular season,

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Speaker 4: they were the team to beat throughout and as we

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Speaker 4: know across whether it's opake or super ropy pacific. It

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Speaker 4: just it is fine Margins when two tough opponents are

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Speaker 4: going hammer and tong. And it came down to those moments,

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Speaker 4: as you say, like Muttitude did really well.

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Speaker 2: I thought to jump out to an early lead.

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Speaker 4: But I look back at like that the Hannah King

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Speaker 4: kicked for touch, which goes dead.

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Speaker 2: That was a bit of a moment there.

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Speaker 4: You go back to a scrum and then mutter iiO

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Speaker 4: and their electric backline playmakers like Rujete Demant and Paul

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Speaker 4: Showoodman Wickcliffe shaking off Grace Brookers. She helped set up

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Speaker 4: that first try for Demant, and the more the Blues

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Speaker 4: I guess grew into the contest after that twelve nel

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Speaker 4: deficit they faced early, it just felt like a matter

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Speaker 4: of time that they were going to push themselves clear.

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Speaker 4: It was a pretty frantic finish a couple of cards

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Speaker 4: as well. Wasn't great to see those high contact incidents,

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Speaker 4: But on the whole I thought the Blues were deserved

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Speaker 4: victors that they won the key moments. I'll tell you

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Speaker 4: what if I was Alan Bunting, I'll be trying to

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Speaker 4: convince Porscha Woodman, whitl to go around for one last

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Speaker 4: World Cup. I thought she was sensational both sides of

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Speaker 4: the ball, some heavy contact on her midfield opponents, but

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Speaker 4: then just her ability with ball in hand to then

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Speaker 4: not only in the carry, but to be able to

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Speaker 4: unleash the likes of Caitlin Vajacolo out wide I thought

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Speaker 4: was superb. So Kurdos to the Blues. It's not easy

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Speaker 4: going back to back. You just gotta ask their men.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, that's right, absolutely, We'll get into that very very surely.

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Speaker 3: In terms of that World Cup, you're right. I mean

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Speaker 3: the nrol's loss could be the Black Fans gain. I'd

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Speaker 3: be asking the question if she is wanting to go

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Speaker 3: to a World Cup because the kind of form that

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Speaker 3: she showed in that final shows she loves the big stage.

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Speaker 3: And before the final, I was like, before the announcer

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Speaker 3: teams like, how do you use Portia wooden Wickliff. You

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Speaker 3: came off the bench the previous week. Maybe you get

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Speaker 3: her in for the last thirty thirty five minutes given

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Speaker 3: her perhaps lack of fifteen's experience in recent times, but

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Speaker 3: how she just played, you know, dominant for the entire

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Speaker 3: time she was on the field and just a reminder

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Speaker 3: of how good she is, the greatest to probably ever

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Speaker 3: do it. You know, in the fifteens, all the sevens game.

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Speaker 3: A couple of names have been thrown up, obviously for

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Speaker 3: the Black Fans. Braxton Sorrens McGee I thought was fantastic

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Speaker 3: throughout the season, but that big long range trying the

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Speaker 3: final top for Basin as well, and I almost wonder

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Speaker 3: whether Alan Bunting needs to go with some of that

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Speaker 3: youth as they select the team for the Black Fans

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Speaker 3: for the World Cup in the next week.

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Speaker 4: While he's got some good problems on his hands, Alan

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Speaker 4: Bunting in terms of strength and depth, I completely agree

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Speaker 4: with some of the youngsters coming through, and I've seen

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Speaker 4: a bit more of Mutta two than I have the Blues.

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Speaker 4: But I thought Kaypo Olson Baker had another really standout

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Speaker 4: season than you think of the loose for depth there

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Speaker 4: with Leana mcairly.

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Speaker 2: To Leila Sati, some real combinations to.

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Speaker 4: Come to grips with us over the course of the

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Speaker 4: next few months as Alan Bunting plots that World Cup triumph.

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Speaker 4: But yeah, it's always riding that balance, isn't it between

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Speaker 4: use and experience, And I think with Porscha women and

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Speaker 4: Wickcliffe is at our understanding anyway, the NRLW deal with

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Speaker 4: newcasts who is now dead in the water because.

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Speaker 2: Of this ambassadorial role with the Rugby World Cups.

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Speaker 4: I'm just going to be there just lace the boots,

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Speaker 4: of course, should be an option, I reckon absolutely.

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Speaker 3: Let's get into the men's round of super Rumpy Pacific

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Speaker 3: and stut with the most recent match at least involving

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Speaker 3: a New Zealand team, and that was the Highlanders forty

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Speaker 3: three twenty over the Fiji and drew it.

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Speaker 2: Nick.

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Speaker 3: You look at that scoreline, you go, comfortable win for

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Speaker 3: the Highlanders. But boy, for the first twenty minutes of

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Speaker 3: the second spell, the Drewer really came back into it

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Speaker 3: and good Jack Taylor try sort of put the Highlanders

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Speaker 3: back beyond arm's reach. But the Hinders almost gave themselves

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Speaker 3: a little bit of a skier there when it was

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Speaker 3: perhaps unnecessary to do so, and let the drawer back

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Speaker 3: in the content.

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Speaker 4: If there's any team, even forgiving their ladder position that

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Speaker 4: you don't want to give a sniff into a game,

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Speaker 4: perhaps outside of minor PACIFICA, it would have to be

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Speaker 4: the Fijian drawer. And yeah, the Highlanders were guilty of

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Speaker 4: just letting their foot off the gas a little bit.

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Speaker 4: Think of, you know, the moments just immediately after halftime

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Speaker 4: the Drawer what has scored three tries in the space

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Speaker 4: of eight and nine minutes get them back into the contest.

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Speaker 4: Twenty four points to twenty started to get a little

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Speaker 4: bit icy, but the Highlanders, credit to them.

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Speaker 2: They went to their strengths or the Drewers weaknesses and

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Speaker 2: around the line out drive. They got through a mountain

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Speaker 2: of work.

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Speaker 4: Looking at some of these postgame statistics and the Highland

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Speaker 4: has only had forty percent of position forced into two

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Speaker 4: hundred and thirteen tackles to the Drewers, sixty three guys

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Speaker 4: like Hugh rent In twenty seven tackles Fabean holand twenty

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Speaker 4: five tackles like that's a mountain of work on the

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Speaker 4: defensive side.

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Speaker 2: But the Highland is just that that was one they

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Speaker 2: had to put away right and bank the points.

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Speaker 4: It's got to this point in the season now they've

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Speaker 4: got a a very tricky run home. I think if

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Speaker 4: we count Mowana as a New Zealand side, they've basically

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Speaker 4: got Darby's from here on in Chiefs Crusaders Mowana Cain's

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Speaker 4: Crusaders again, Chiefs again. If they weren't going to win

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Speaker 4: that one, Like I personally feel like there's almost a

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Speaker 4: line through them already, but it would have been a

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Speaker 4: line and ink had they somehow managed to not get

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Speaker 4: the job done against the Drillers. So a much needed

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Speaker 4: win for the Highlanders after a run of losses against

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Speaker 4: Australian opposition, and they just give themselves a little bit

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Speaker 4: of life in a campaign that has been teetering.

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Speaker 3: It has been teetering. Positive out of it. Jackie Rodemo

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Speaker 3: Tavuki Nipkins back from injury, looked assured for that performance.

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Speaker 3: I thought he was really really good one handling her aside.

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Speaker 3: But I'm just a reminder of his class after that

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Speaker 3: Nick injury. And you know he was in the All

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Speaker 3: Blacks conversation a little bit over the last year or so,

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Speaker 3: and you know, if he can find some form again,

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Speaker 3: he may well get back into that mix. And good

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Speaker 3: to se him back out on the park.

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Speaker 4: Yeah, just a really encouraging story, isn't it, Because when

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Speaker 4: you think neck injury, you know, it's pretty scary stuff.

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Speaker 4: And I heard him speak in an interview come back

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Speaker 4: through Tayati Club Rugby and Otago about just mind over

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Speaker 4: matter in many ways in terms of just getting confidence

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Speaker 4: back into the contact, particularly on the defensive side. Six

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Speaker 4: months sidelined and yeah, he came back and didn't really

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Speaker 4: look out of place in a super rugby environment.

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Speaker 2: That's game one, So I think you're absolutely right.

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Speaker 4: He'll take a lot of confidence from that building into

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Speaker 4: the remainder of the season. And his combinations with the

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Speaker 4: likes of Jonah Naduki as well, I thought was very impressive.

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Speaker 4: The Highland has had some strike there, you know, Caleb

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Speaker 4: Tounguyto as well. It's just going to be a matter

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Speaker 4: of getting those outside back some quality ball, particularly against

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Speaker 4: these other New Zealand teams that they will face in

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Speaker 4: the next six or so weeks.

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Speaker 3: Indeed, Blues in more Ona Pacific thirty six seventeen the

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Speaker 3: way of the Blues look. The Blues I thought just

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Speaker 3: did the job they needed to do and Mwana made

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Speaker 3: some curly selection calls for this game, dropping Patrick Palegreeni

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Speaker 3: to the bench. They were without Jonathan Tomatine through injury,

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Speaker 3: but the Blues just kind of rolled their sleeves up,

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Speaker 3: went back to the kind of rugby they played last year,

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Speaker 3: dominated position, especially in the first bell I think it

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Speaker 3: was two thirds position they had at the halftime break

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Speaker 3: and really just didn't allow Mawana the bull and the

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Speaker 3: position to construct anything throughout the contest. And even without

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Speaker 3: halftime lead that the Blues had I think twenty four

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Speaker 3: to five, it was you know, they thought, well, one

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Speaker 3: has had opportunities in previous games to come back. When

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Speaker 3: they get a roll on, they're very, very hard to stop.

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Speaker 3: But they just couldn't find a way back into the

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Speaker 3: contest and the Blues I think were just too good

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Speaker 3: and you know, a couple of wins on the bounce.

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Speaker 3: Now for the Blues, I'm not saying they're necessarily back,

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Speaker 3: but it was the kind of performance they need to

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Speaker 3: put out against Mowana Bank to win and got the

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Speaker 3: job done and you know they can look ahead and

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Speaker 3: out of this Crusaders game this week. What did you

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Speaker 3: make of it?

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Speaker 4: Yeah, we've got on the Blues side first, and as

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Speaker 4: you mentioned, you know here on rugby direct, they were

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Speaker 4: direct and that was the blueprint in many ways to

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Speaker 4: how they won the title last year. Yes, they haven't

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Speaker 4: quite had the pieces to be able to do that.

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Speaker 4: But I thought guys like Ricky Rickattally, I thought Hoskins Stitut,

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Speaker 4: who probably arguably had one of his best games of

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Speaker 4: the season.

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Speaker 2: You look at the nature of how those.

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Speaker 4: Tries were scored outside of a little bit of individual

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Speaker 4: brilliance chip and chase kick from Bowden Barrett, and it

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Speaker 4: was Ricket Tally, tepul Or Toutu Eckland, Curt Eckland when

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Speaker 4: he came on, and Mark Talayre sort of sniffing and

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Speaker 4: around the ruck. You know, five of their six tries

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Speaker 4: it was just you know, they suffocated Moana. They made

219
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Speaker 4: they created pressure for Moana to either make errors or

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Speaker 4: their discipline got a little bit shoddy in as you say,

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Speaker 4: it was just completely dominant in that first half and

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Speaker 4: they'll take a great deal of confidence from that. That's

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Speaker 4: the first time this year the Blues have one and

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Speaker 4: back to back weeks. You know, it's been that sort

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Speaker 4: of season for them. And you look at their run

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Speaker 4: ahead sort of complete contrast to the Highlanders, right they

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Speaker 4: they've kind of got through outside of this Good Friday

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Speaker 4: contest down my Way and christ Church, the Crusaders, they've

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Speaker 4: they've pretty much got through those new Zealand Derby's they've

230
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Speaker 4: got the Reds which will be difficult over in Brisbane,

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Speaker 4: but then the force at home.

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Speaker 2: They do have a trip to Fiji, but.

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Speaker 4: Then they have Muana again and the Waratahs at Eden

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Speaker 4: Park can't seem to win outside of Sydney. So look,

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Speaker 4: even with the ladder position that they are, so I'm

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Speaker 4: on the outside of the six looking in, I think

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Speaker 4: they'll take a great deal of confidence. They seem to

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Speaker 4: have found what best works for them. It's not entirely

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Speaker 4: pretty or full of you know, it's going to fill

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Speaker 4: up a highlight package, but it's proving very effective just

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Speaker 4: on the Maana side. And I saw firsthand, you know,

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Speaker 4: how brutal and clinical they can be against the who

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Speaker 4: say it is down here in christ Church a few

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Speaker 4: weeks ago. There's still an issue there isn't there around

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Speaker 4: their starts, and for whatever reason, I don't know if

246
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Speaker 4: they have ton of Ermanger and co. Thought they had

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Speaker 4: potentially solved that issue and that's why they went with

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Speaker 4: more punch off the bench. But yeah, I completely agree

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Speaker 4: with you with your original point around Garden Baship and

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Speaker 4: PALEGREENI And that's not taking anything away from Jackson Garden, Bashett.

251
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Speaker 4: It's more a case of how influential Patrick PALEGRENI has

252
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Speaker 4: been and steering this team around the park. And you know,

253
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Speaker 4: I'm not saying one guy would have changed the outcome

254
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Speaker 4: of a contest like that, but it's just something I

255
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Speaker 4: think they'll reflect on heading into the Brumbis at home

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Speaker 4: this week. Minor pacificare and go. We probably haven't quite

257
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Speaker 4: got that right yet to be able to afford to

258
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Speaker 4: get too cute with our selections.

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Speaker 3: That's right, And you know, a Ton was asked about

260
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Speaker 3: their post game and said that Pellegrini was feeling the

261
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Speaker 3: effects of I think it was four straight starts and

262
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Speaker 3: the way that he's played, you know, the body just

263
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Speaker 3: coming into Super rugby for the first time and feeling that.

264
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Speaker 3: But you know, it's a big game against the Blues.

265
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Speaker 3: You want your best players on the park and he

266
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Speaker 3: didn't get it back onto the park until the last

267
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Speaker 3: twenty five minutes of the contest. And by that point,

268
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Speaker 3: even though the score but was perhaps still within reach,

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Speaker 3: you know, compared to you know, like previous weeks when

270
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Speaker 3: the Mountain comebacks, it felt like the game was actually

271
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Speaker 3: out of reach. On this occasion, they've got an interesting

272
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Speaker 3: running as well, Nock. We looked at the Blues running

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Speaker 3: the Brumbies this week in Pokacoe. Then they're at North

274
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Speaker 3: Harbor Stadium for the drawer in the following week, then

275
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Speaker 3: to Dunedin. Then the Blues has just said back at

276
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Speaker 3: home then the Cheeks and Hurricanes to finish, So you

277
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Speaker 3: would suspect that they're probably going to need to win

278
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Speaker 3: probably two, if not three of those New Zealand Derby's

279
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Speaker 3: at the back end of the comp to be in

280
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Speaker 3: the playoff mix. They're currently in tenth, so they've got

281
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Speaker 3: a bit of work to do and it starts with

282
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Speaker 3: this game against the Brumbies this week.

283
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Speaker 2: Yeah.

284
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Speaker 4: Absolutely, they're on fifteen competition points, the five outside the

285
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Speaker 4: force who are in sixth. But you know you can

286
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Speaker 4: throw a blanket basically over teams three to ten and

287
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Speaker 4: you know the Brumbies are third on twenty three points,

288
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Speaker 4: miana tenth as you sound, fifteen, so that those are

289
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Speaker 4: the ones in many ways against the Brumbies, like that's

290
00:14:24,853 --> 00:14:27,373
Speaker 4: a real swing game for Then the drawer after that

291
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Speaker 4: is at home in particular as a non negotiable, and

292
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Speaker 4: then you've got those.

293
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Speaker 2: Those porn New Zealand Derbies to close things out.

294
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Speaker 4: Look, they for mine a sort of a possibility rather

295
00:14:40,013 --> 00:14:43,053
Speaker 4: than a probability of making the six. But as we've

296
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Speaker 4: seen on their day and in particular, if they can

297
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Speaker 4: piece it together for almost anything over forty minutes, really

298
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Speaker 4: they can beat the best of them. So look, I

299
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Speaker 4: won't rule out Mona completely, but it's getting to that

300
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Speaker 4: point now where it's going to have to happen soon.

301
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Speaker 3: Indeed, let's go to Friday Night Wartar's twenty one Chiefs fourteen.

302
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Speaker 3: I don't think many would have seen this coming, but

303
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Speaker 3: very good performance from the war Retars and very poor

304
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Speaker 3: from the Chiefs. In fact, the Chiefs, to be honest,

305
00:15:16,973 --> 00:15:18,973
Speaker 3: we're lucky it was still within Grass were sending it

306
00:15:19,013 --> 00:15:21,253
Speaker 3: to super point right at the end of the game.

307
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Speaker 3: I don't think I've seen Damian McKenzie play as poor

308
00:15:23,973 --> 00:15:29,653
Speaker 3: as that at this level and above. He was I

309
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Speaker 3: think dreadful really to put it mildly on the weekend

310
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Speaker 3: six handling eras in the ends, and with the kind

311
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Speaker 3: of ball that the Chiefs had sixty forty. They spent

312
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Speaker 3: a lot of time in the Wara Tars half, but

313
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Speaker 3: that has made far too many mistakes to really mount

314
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Speaker 3: a serious contest. The one thing they did when was

315
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Speaker 3: the penalty account the Wartars conceding eighteen to the Chiefs five.

316
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Speaker 3: But this was a weird old game. But the thing

317
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Speaker 3: that probably people are going to remember is that incredible

318
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Speaker 3: end of the Earth try. The war Retars scored, and

319
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Speaker 3: you know, credit to them, they were good enough on

320
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Speaker 3: the night to knock over what was the competition's top team.

321
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Speaker 4: I'll just get to the McKenzie point first and then

322
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Speaker 4: I want to give some love to the warre Tars.

323
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Speaker 2: Credit to them, but that was another one for mine.

324
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Speaker 4: We've just talked about the garden Bash at PALEGREENI situation

325
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Speaker 4: at Moana, the Blues who probably found this out at

326
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Speaker 4: this point. So I know that there's been some injury issues,

327
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Speaker 4: but Boden Barratt's clearly their guy at ten. And I

328
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Speaker 4: know the Crusaders, through all sorts of adversity last year,

329
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Speaker 4: had to finally figure out their first five conundrum. But again,

330
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Speaker 4: and forgive me if there was some more clarity around

331
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Speaker 4: this selection puzzle, but they seem to have found something

332
00:16:47,773 --> 00:16:50,933
Speaker 4: once or even added to their game once Shawn Stevenson

333
00:16:50,973 --> 00:16:54,093
Speaker 4: came back from Japan, he was at fullback, Mackenzie was

334
00:16:54,133 --> 00:16:55,733
Speaker 4: at ten. There just seemed to be a bit more

335
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Speaker 4: clarity around roles and responsibilities. Then they've got a situation

336
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Speaker 4: now where they've gone Stevenson to the right wing, Josh

337
00:17:03,413 --> 00:17:06,213
Speaker 4: Jacob to ten, Mackenzie to fall back. What do they

338
00:17:06,213 --> 00:17:09,013
Speaker 4: have Amon in Nadawa coming off the bench. And I

339
00:17:09,133 --> 00:17:12,253
Speaker 4: completely understand in a long season you've got to manage

340
00:17:12,813 --> 00:17:16,773
Speaker 4: your players, but I suppose really it wasn't really a

341
00:17:16,853 --> 00:17:19,773
Speaker 4: management of them in this situation because they were all there,

342
00:17:19,893 --> 00:17:23,653
Speaker 4: just in different jerseys, and I just felt that Mackenzie. Look,

343
00:17:23,973 --> 00:17:26,733
Speaker 4: the kick pressure in particular from the waratars was superb.

344
00:17:27,133 --> 00:17:30,493
Speaker 4: Some of it was unforced, absolutely, but you know they

345
00:17:30,533 --> 00:17:34,373
Speaker 4: didn't miss him all night. And you definitely see players

346
00:17:34,413 --> 00:17:37,813
Speaker 4: of all class levels, world class and below, they have

347
00:17:37,973 --> 00:17:40,693
Speaker 4: those nights where they don't feel like they're quite getting

348
00:17:40,733 --> 00:17:41,013
Speaker 4: into the.

349
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Speaker 2: Game as much.

350
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Speaker 4: Every time they're taking a high ball they're getting absolutely

351
00:17:44,733 --> 00:17:48,653
Speaker 4: belted by a loose forward coming through. And again I

352
00:17:48,733 --> 00:17:51,773
Speaker 4: think it's one on reflection that they'll probably concede they

353
00:17:51,813 --> 00:17:54,333
Speaker 4: didn't get right. This is not to say that Josh

354
00:17:54,413 --> 00:17:57,373
Speaker 4: Jacob isn't a quality player, and he's certainly a player

355
00:17:57,693 --> 00:18:00,613
Speaker 4: on the rise with a lot of upside, But I

356
00:18:00,733 --> 00:18:03,573
Speaker 4: think at this point of the season tinkering in and

357
00:18:03,693 --> 00:18:07,653
Speaker 4: around those selections, particularly in those game drivers, is probably

358
00:18:07,973 --> 00:18:11,573
Speaker 4: ill advised when you want to start creating some momentum.

359
00:18:11,653 --> 00:18:14,653
Speaker 4: But just on the Tars we were talking about moments

360
00:18:14,693 --> 00:18:19,653
Speaker 4: earlier and Joseph Suali, I think he really set the

361
00:18:19,733 --> 00:18:22,533
Speaker 4: tone for that game, you know, the individual piece of

362
00:18:22,573 --> 00:18:24,893
Speaker 4: brilliance for his first ever super Ragby tried to get

363
00:18:24,933 --> 00:18:28,133
Speaker 4: things going and then had a huge role in that

364
00:18:28,893 --> 00:18:32,813
Speaker 4: try from inside their own end goal finished off? Was

365
00:18:32,813 --> 00:18:35,693
Speaker 4: it by the winger and all the halfback sorry to

366
00:18:35,773 --> 00:18:38,333
Speaker 4: get them out to that point. So I don't know

367
00:18:38,373 --> 00:18:41,613
Speaker 4: what the Warratars need to do to try and replicate

368
00:18:41,733 --> 00:18:47,613
Speaker 4: that type of form. Beyond the confines of SFS in Sydney,

369
00:18:47,973 --> 00:18:51,573
Speaker 4: They've now won five there, cant went away. They've got

370
00:18:51,573 --> 00:18:55,653
Speaker 4: a points differential of negative forty. But it was a

371
00:18:55,693 --> 00:18:57,533
Speaker 4: big win for them to kind of get things back

372
00:18:57,573 --> 00:18:59,853
Speaker 4: on track because they came over to New Zealand looked

373
00:18:59,933 --> 00:19:05,893
Speaker 4: really poor against the Hurricanes in particular, and then obviously

374
00:19:06,053 --> 00:19:08,973
Speaker 4: got just melted by Mowana over the the course of

375
00:19:09,373 --> 00:19:10,013
Speaker 4: the second half.

376
00:19:10,053 --> 00:19:11,173
Speaker 2: There at North Harbor Stadium.

377
00:19:11,253 --> 00:19:14,493
Speaker 4: So they've righted a few wrongs and we wait to

378
00:19:14,533 --> 00:19:17,933
Speaker 4: see now whether they can be some form have find

379
00:19:18,013 --> 00:19:19,173
Speaker 4: some form of consistency.

380
00:19:19,413 --> 00:19:19,613
Speaker 1: Yeah.

381
00:19:19,653 --> 00:19:23,973
Speaker 3: Absolutely, And look there was some odd moments in that

382
00:19:24,133 --> 00:19:28,653
Speaker 3: game as well. Lolacoe Foketty's try overturned by the TMO

383
00:19:28,813 --> 00:19:31,053
Speaker 3: despite being awarded on the ground and didn't look like

384
00:19:31,133 --> 00:19:36,653
Speaker 3: sufficient evidence to overturn it. Yet the TMO again intervenes

385
00:19:36,693 --> 00:19:40,773
Speaker 3: in something that they weren't asked to and changes the ruling,

386
00:19:40,773 --> 00:19:43,573
Speaker 3: and that would have made it nineteen nil with a

387
00:19:43,653 --> 00:19:45,973
Speaker 3: kick to come from the touch line at that point

388
00:19:46,013 --> 00:19:48,453
Speaker 3: of the game, and you know, probably at that point

389
00:19:48,493 --> 00:19:50,893
Speaker 3: it might have been curtains long before it actually was

390
00:19:52,053 --> 00:19:54,333
Speaker 3: for the Chiefs. So yeah, there were some interesting decisions

391
00:19:54,373 --> 00:19:56,813
Speaker 3: from the referees on the night of interesting CEA if

392
00:19:56,853 --> 00:19:59,813
Speaker 3: anything further comes out of it, But the Chiefs handed

393
00:19:59,933 --> 00:20:03,693
Speaker 3: loss in Sydney earlier on on Friday night. It was

394
00:20:03,813 --> 00:20:07,293
Speaker 3: the Crusaders being the Hurricanes thirty one twenty four, an

395
00:20:07,293 --> 00:20:10,493
Speaker 3: odd old game and any respects the Crusaders getting out

396
00:20:10,533 --> 00:20:13,533
Speaker 3: to what appeared to be a comfortable lead and then

397
00:20:13,893 --> 00:20:17,733
Speaker 3: the old brain melt started happening with discipline eluded the

398
00:20:17,813 --> 00:20:21,973
Speaker 3: Crusaders and it got very very squeaky bum time for

399
00:20:22,093 --> 00:20:24,013
Speaker 3: most part of this game, though the Crusaders I thought

400
00:20:24,053 --> 00:20:28,053
Speaker 3: laid a pretty good platform in this contest and dominated

401
00:20:28,093 --> 00:20:30,653
Speaker 3: most of it. But I suppose you linger on the

402
00:20:30,733 --> 00:20:34,573
Speaker 3: last ten to fifteen also minutes neck and the contest

403
00:20:34,653 --> 00:20:36,173
Speaker 3: that became in those closing quarters.

404
00:20:37,213 --> 00:20:38,773
Speaker 2: Yeah, as you say, funny old game.

405
00:20:39,333 --> 00:20:41,493
Speaker 4: And in many ways, I think the Crusaders, you know,

406
00:20:41,853 --> 00:20:44,293
Speaker 4: with a complacency crept in or they got a little

407
00:20:44,333 --> 00:20:48,373
Speaker 4: bit too comfortable leading at what thirty one points to ten.

408
00:20:48,533 --> 00:20:52,573
Speaker 4: And this has been not so much an issue this season,

409
00:20:52,733 --> 00:20:54,853
Speaker 4: but it's something that over the course of my time

410
00:20:55,693 --> 00:20:57,773
Speaker 4: covering the Crusaders, as they've always.

411
00:20:57,853 --> 00:21:00,333
Speaker 2: Really flirted with that off sideline, haven't they.

412
00:21:00,373 --> 00:21:04,413
Speaker 4: And some referees are willing to perhaps give them the

413
00:21:04,453 --> 00:21:08,133
Speaker 4: benefit of the doubt, others not so much. And James

414
00:21:08,733 --> 00:21:12,973
Speaker 4: on Friday Night really didn't miss them late. And to

415
00:21:13,093 --> 00:21:16,733
Speaker 4: be honest, you've got to adjust, and sometimes that's what

416
00:21:16,773 --> 00:21:20,453
Speaker 4: the Crusaders have been guilty of struggling with. And you

417
00:21:20,493 --> 00:21:23,013
Speaker 4: know when they lost Ethan Blackadder and then what ninety

418
00:21:23,053 --> 00:21:27,373
Speaker 4: seconds later Antonio Chalfont, the same type of infringements deep

419
00:21:27,413 --> 00:21:30,053
Speaker 4: on their twenty two I couldn't really argue with the calls,

420
00:21:30,213 --> 00:21:34,293
Speaker 4: so yep, they made it very, very nerve racking for

421
00:21:34,373 --> 00:21:38,853
Speaker 4: those here in the mainland. But look, I think if

422
00:21:38,893 --> 00:21:42,573
Speaker 4: we go back to minutes sort of ten to sixty,

423
00:21:43,693 --> 00:21:48,213
Speaker 4: it was incredibly dominant and on the back of a

424
00:21:48,333 --> 00:21:51,173
Speaker 4: really strong foundation up front. I thought, I know, we're

425
00:21:51,173 --> 00:21:53,573
Speaker 4: going to probably get into it and the MVPs a

426
00:21:53,613 --> 00:21:55,453
Speaker 4: little bit later on, but there was a lot of

427
00:21:55,653 --> 00:21:58,773
Speaker 4: talk around Scott Barrett and where he is in his season.

428
00:21:58,813 --> 00:22:02,253
Speaker 4: At the moment, I thought, not only his influential hand

429
00:22:02,333 --> 00:22:05,053
Speaker 4: in one of the Yuana Mohnanu tries and the Schaffee

430
00:22:05,093 --> 00:22:08,693
Speaker 4: hockey tries, but his work defensively at lineout time has

431
00:22:08,733 --> 00:22:11,853
Speaker 4: breakdown clearance work is defensive work was right up there

432
00:22:11,853 --> 00:22:13,893
Speaker 4: of what you'd expect anyway of an All Blacks captain.

433
00:22:13,973 --> 00:22:17,733
Speaker 4: So he silenced a few critics. And it's worth mentioning

434
00:22:17,773 --> 00:22:19,813
Speaker 4: too that the Crusaders, you know, did it with a

435
00:22:19,853 --> 00:22:22,293
Speaker 4: little bit of adversity. They had at one point I

436
00:22:22,373 --> 00:22:26,893
Speaker 4: think they had James O'Connor playing second five. Kimino was

437
00:22:26,933 --> 00:22:29,453
Speaker 4: offer for a little bit. They lost Fletcher Newell, they

438
00:22:29,493 --> 00:22:32,773
Speaker 4: lost David Harvilly. So they didn't have it all their

439
00:22:32,813 --> 00:22:36,093
Speaker 4: own way. But in many ways this season, compared to

440
00:22:36,253 --> 00:22:39,533
Speaker 4: last anyway they've they've sort of been able to overcome

441
00:22:39,613 --> 00:22:43,453
Speaker 4: those those obstacles, be very clear about who they are

442
00:22:43,573 --> 00:22:45,613
Speaker 4: and how they want to play and at least get

443
00:22:45,693 --> 00:22:50,053
Speaker 4: out to Leeds where they feel like, you know that

444
00:22:50,173 --> 00:22:52,613
Speaker 4: they can still be in the control of their own destiny.

445
00:22:52,733 --> 00:22:55,253
Speaker 4: So credit to the Crusaders, I guess on the other side,

446
00:22:55,293 --> 00:22:57,013
Speaker 4: with the Hurricanes, it sort of leaves them in a

447
00:22:58,493 --> 00:23:00,253
Speaker 4: state of I'm not sure of a state of flux,

448
00:23:00,293 --> 00:23:02,053
Speaker 4: but still just sort of you know, one step forward,

449
00:23:02,093 --> 00:23:04,373
Speaker 4: two six back for them this year and you know

450
00:23:04,493 --> 00:23:06,653
Speaker 4: now they've they've got a two week road trip over

451
00:23:06,733 --> 00:23:10,733
Speaker 4: to Australia taking on the Force and the Brumbies before

452
00:23:11,373 --> 00:23:14,493
Speaker 4: Chiefs Highlanders, and then back over to Australia to face

453
00:23:14,533 --> 00:23:17,493
Speaker 4: the Reds and Brisbane and then Malana, and you know

454
00:23:17,733 --> 00:23:19,333
Speaker 4: they're not out of it by any stretch. You got

455
00:23:19,373 --> 00:23:21,853
Speaker 4: four points outside of the playoff positions, but it just

456
00:23:22,013 --> 00:23:25,373
Speaker 4: feels like, you know, momentum is so critical in this competition.

457
00:23:25,493 --> 00:23:28,053
Speaker 4: The Blues seem to have found it now. The Canes

458
00:23:28,133 --> 00:23:31,853
Speaker 4: just struggling to kind of piece things together to ultimately

459
00:23:31,893 --> 00:23:35,933
Speaker 4: build their confidence back up. So yeah, interesting time for

460
00:23:36,293 --> 00:23:40,373
Speaker 4: Clark Laidlaw and his team, you know, given how well

461
00:23:40,413 --> 00:23:41,693
Speaker 4: it went for him a year one.

462
00:23:42,333 --> 00:23:44,853
Speaker 3: Absolutely, and you know they'll look back at the last

463
00:23:44,853 --> 00:23:47,453
Speaker 3: couple of weeks ago. Those are both games that potentially

464
00:23:48,053 --> 00:23:49,533
Speaker 3: we could have won. I mean, they've got themselves into

465
00:23:49,533 --> 00:23:52,333
Speaker 3: a thirty one ten hole the other night, but came

466
00:23:52,373 --> 00:23:57,293
Speaker 3: back and could have forced super point the game before

467
00:23:57,493 --> 00:24:00,173
Speaker 3: one point lost to the Blues, a game that potentially

468
00:24:01,133 --> 00:24:03,333
Speaker 3: they could have won on another night as well. So

469
00:24:03,493 --> 00:24:05,973
Speaker 3: you've got those margins and New Zealand Derbies are so

470
00:24:06,213 --> 00:24:09,333
Speaker 3: fine and they just seem to be lacking a little

471
00:24:09,373 --> 00:24:12,613
Speaker 3: bit of direction. Riley hoo heepper. Again, I do not

472
00:24:12,693 --> 00:24:14,373
Speaker 3: think is the answer at ten. We talked a bit

473
00:24:14,493 --> 00:24:17,413
Speaker 3: last week on the podcast about Ruben Love should he

474
00:24:17,533 --> 00:24:20,733
Speaker 3: move into ten. Felt Clark Laidlaw, whether he was just

475
00:24:20,773 --> 00:24:22,653
Speaker 3: having a little bit of fun and throwing out a

476
00:24:22,693 --> 00:24:25,093
Speaker 3: bit of bait for the media because he wasn't even

477
00:24:25,133 --> 00:24:28,213
Speaker 3: supposed to be doing media that day, is my understanding.

478
00:24:28,293 --> 00:24:30,173
Speaker 3: The day before the teams and name suggested that Ruben

479
00:24:30,213 --> 00:24:31,613
Speaker 3: Love was right in the mix to start at ten.

480
00:24:32,013 --> 00:24:34,853
Speaker 3: They went with Riley houll Hepper. He played fifty one minutes,

481
00:24:35,173 --> 00:24:37,933
Speaker 3: the Crusaders didn't score after fifty one minutes. The Hurricanes

482
00:24:37,973 --> 00:24:40,733
Speaker 3: looked a lot better in those closing stages. Now the

483
00:24:40,773 --> 00:24:42,293
Speaker 3: game had broken up a little bit, and I'm not

484
00:24:42,373 --> 00:24:45,453
Speaker 3: piling on Riley hou Heepper, but I just do not

485
00:24:45,573 --> 00:24:47,933
Speaker 3: think that he is the kind of first five that

486
00:24:48,093 --> 00:24:50,333
Speaker 3: is going to deliver those wins and those tight New

487
00:24:50,453 --> 00:24:51,213
Speaker 3: Zealand derbies.

488
00:24:52,093 --> 00:24:52,253
Speaker 2: Yeah.

489
00:24:52,253 --> 00:24:55,733
Speaker 4: I tend to agree. And they're at a point now

490
00:24:55,893 --> 00:24:58,733
Speaker 4: where they're going to have to take some risks, and

491
00:25:00,373 --> 00:25:03,133
Speaker 4: you know, Riley Hohepper is a sort of various stute,

492
00:25:03,493 --> 00:25:06,893
Speaker 4: steady hand perhaps to you know, even to come on

493
00:25:07,053 --> 00:25:10,253
Speaker 4: and defend the lead once you've gotten into a position

494
00:25:10,613 --> 00:25:13,173
Speaker 4: on the ol mark where we just need someone to

495
00:25:13,653 --> 00:25:16,613
Speaker 4: kind of just play the percentages. But it feels like,

496
00:25:16,693 --> 00:25:18,893
Speaker 4: you know, if Reuben loves up for it, he should

497
00:25:19,013 --> 00:25:20,453
Speaker 4: be give him an opportunity.

498
00:25:20,573 --> 00:25:20,813
Speaker 2: I thought.

499
00:25:20,853 --> 00:25:23,013
Speaker 4: Actually, Callum Harkin came on and as you say, the

500
00:25:23,053 --> 00:25:24,853
Speaker 4: game was a little bit open, but that sort of

501
00:25:24,893 --> 00:25:25,773
Speaker 4: suited his strengths.

502
00:25:26,533 --> 00:25:28,893
Speaker 2: So yeah, one to consider for Clark Laidlaw.

503
00:25:28,893 --> 00:25:32,733
Speaker 4: It's obviously such a critical position, the first five position,

504
00:25:32,853 --> 00:25:35,493
Speaker 4: and all teams are sort of grappling with the balance

505
00:25:35,573 --> 00:25:37,693
Speaker 4: of it, but probably none more so with the canes

506
00:25:37,733 --> 00:25:41,253
Speaker 4: given there without you know, your Brett Cameron's your focal

507
00:25:41,293 --> 00:25:43,213
Speaker 4: point was you know, if he wasn't and you're going

508
00:25:43,293 --> 00:25:44,653
Speaker 4: to be starting all of these games.

509
00:25:44,573 --> 00:25:46,133
Speaker 3: Yea a bit of a whisper as well. Britt Cameron

510
00:25:46,173 --> 00:25:47,653
Speaker 3: might be able to be back for the back end

511
00:25:47,773 --> 00:25:51,133
Speaker 3: of the Hurricane season if all goes to plan with

512
00:25:51,253 --> 00:25:54,333
Speaker 3: his knee injury, so that's good news for them. Another

513
00:25:54,373 --> 00:25:56,293
Speaker 3: word is what Brumby's beating the Reads fitting on twenty

514
00:25:56,333 --> 00:25:58,813
Speaker 3: six bit of an upset on the weekend, although I

515
00:25:58,853 --> 00:26:01,493
Speaker 3: did pick it in the tripping comp last week. But

516
00:26:02,053 --> 00:26:04,493
Speaker 3: you know the magic of this competition this year is

517
00:26:04,573 --> 00:26:08,053
Speaker 3: that it's so up and down and you just do

518
00:26:08,173 --> 00:26:10,253
Speaker 3: not no you know who's going to win week to

519
00:26:10,333 --> 00:26:12,493
Speaker 3: week and the Chiefs losses as proof of that, the

520
00:26:12,573 --> 00:26:14,573
Speaker 3: Reds losing at home to the Brumbies as proof of that.

521
00:26:15,533 --> 00:26:18,853
Speaker 3: And it makes for congested standings after nine rounds.

522
00:26:19,453 --> 00:26:23,573
Speaker 4: Yeah, I think it has. You know, it's real shot

523
00:26:23,613 --> 00:26:26,973
Speaker 4: in the arm to the competition this year. You know,

524
00:26:27,053 --> 00:26:30,933
Speaker 4: when you look over to the closest sort of rugby

525
00:26:31,013 --> 00:26:33,893
Speaker 4: code rival and NRL, and they've been able to hang

526
00:26:33,973 --> 00:26:36,533
Speaker 4: their hat on that unpredictability and jeopardy for so long,

527
00:26:36,653 --> 00:26:39,213
Speaker 4: and it feels like for some at least, you know,

528
00:26:39,493 --> 00:26:42,133
Speaker 4: sort of casual observers, a super rugby Okay, the Crusader

529
00:26:42,213 --> 00:26:43,933
Speaker 4: is going to win here, all the Chiefs or the Blues.

530
00:26:44,733 --> 00:26:47,053
Speaker 4: But you look at this table and it just as

531
00:26:47,053 --> 00:26:49,533
Speaker 4: a reflection of how tight this competition is, which is

532
00:26:50,133 --> 00:26:52,653
Speaker 4: perfect for people like us in terms of trying to

533
00:26:52,773 --> 00:26:56,453
Speaker 4: you know, promote the game and cover the game and

534
00:26:56,533 --> 00:26:59,453
Speaker 4: all the storylines and narratives that come with it. But

535
00:26:59,573 --> 00:27:03,293
Speaker 4: absolute nightman for those and tipping competitions and trying to

536
00:27:03,613 --> 00:27:07,613
Speaker 4: run multis through and gambling responsibly. So look, it's it's

537
00:27:07,693 --> 00:27:11,053
Speaker 4: been it's been great, and it now allows us as

538
00:27:11,093 --> 00:27:12,933
Speaker 4: we enter sort of this business end of the season

539
00:27:13,013 --> 00:27:16,413
Speaker 4: with six rounds to go, so many f sputs and maybes,

540
00:27:16,533 --> 00:27:18,813
Speaker 4: rather than you know, things are guaranteed and we're just

541
00:27:18,933 --> 00:27:21,333
Speaker 4: playing to to see out the regular season.

542
00:27:21,493 --> 00:27:23,173
Speaker 3: That's right. We'll take a break, come back with more

543
00:27:23,213 --> 00:27:25,613
Speaker 3: here on Rugby Direct with our friends at Habit Health.

544
00:27:26,333 --> 00:27:30,413
Speaker 1: This is Rugby Direct, a podcast for real rugby fans.

545
00:27:33,413 --> 00:27:37,133
Speaker 3: Every try, try ten sixty sec every tackle, tack tackles,

546
00:27:37,173 --> 00:27:38,053
Speaker 3: get up again.

547
00:27:41,213 --> 00:27:44,493
Speaker 2: Afore I'm not It's Rugby Direct, Ladies, talk to me.

548
00:27:44,973 --> 00:27:46,933
Speaker 3: You're back with Rugby Direct. Sick and half of the

549
00:27:46,973 --> 00:27:49,493
Speaker 3: podcast time now for the final four to four Rugby

550
00:27:49,533 --> 00:27:53,253
Speaker 3: top perks myself and Nick to bake them. Topic number one.

551
00:27:53,733 --> 00:27:56,493
Speaker 3: My ruse last week said Super Rugby or Picky in

552
00:27:56,573 --> 00:28:00,173
Speaker 3: its current format is not sustainable when the players come

553
00:28:00,213 --> 00:28:02,493
Speaker 3: in basically on a Wednesday, have to try and get

554
00:28:02,573 --> 00:28:05,653
Speaker 3: ready for a Saturday game. Where do you see the

555
00:28:05,693 --> 00:28:09,453
Speaker 3: future of Super Rugby or Picky going neck in this competition?

556
00:28:09,653 --> 00:28:12,573
Speaker 3: And is she right and that it's not sustainable?

557
00:28:13,973 --> 00:28:16,053
Speaker 4: Well, I'll take your word for it at face value,

558
00:28:16,053 --> 00:28:19,493
Speaker 4: because she's very much living it. But it's tricky, isn't it?

559
00:28:19,573 --> 00:28:23,053
Speaker 4: Because if there was a simple solution, it would have

560
00:28:23,133 --> 00:28:26,253
Speaker 4: been unearthed and executed by now you feel, and you

561
00:28:26,333 --> 00:28:28,453
Speaker 4: know obviously it comes down to bottom line and costs

562
00:28:28,533 --> 00:28:32,533
Speaker 4: and resources and on that point, you know, that's.

563
00:28:32,413 --> 00:28:34,213
Speaker 2: Where the broadcast side of it comes in.

564
00:28:34,333 --> 00:28:36,413
Speaker 4: I guess we're all sort of waiting to see where

565
00:28:36,493 --> 00:28:40,053
Speaker 4: that lands with Sky and New Zealand rugby and talk

566
00:28:40,133 --> 00:28:43,133
Speaker 4: of design and that'll ultimately have a pretty big impact

567
00:28:43,253 --> 00:28:46,013
Speaker 4: on the future of Super Aby Open as well, and

568
00:28:46,053 --> 00:28:48,933
Speaker 4: it will be interesting too to see what the numbers,

569
00:28:49,013 --> 00:28:52,293
Speaker 4: if any, the Sky release on the twenty twenty five season.

570
00:28:52,293 --> 00:28:54,173
Speaker 4: I've seen the recall last year that they mentioned. It

571
00:28:54,293 --> 00:28:58,573
Speaker 4: was modest increase in terms of interest sort of week

572
00:28:58,653 --> 00:29:01,533
Speaker 4: to week, but there's no doubt like the players are

573
00:29:01,573 --> 00:29:04,373
Speaker 4: clamoring for more in terms of more games or being

574
00:29:05,053 --> 00:29:07,733
Speaker 4: close to fully professional or at least having the full

575
00:29:07,933 --> 00:29:12,133
Speaker 4: Monday a Saturday to get readies. And especially when you

576
00:29:12,213 --> 00:29:16,373
Speaker 4: look to England Elliott where you know I know some

577
00:29:16,493 --> 00:29:18,813
Speaker 4: players live McGovern for example, who played a bit for

578
00:29:18,893 --> 00:29:20,533
Speaker 4: much to two last year. She's since gone back to

579
00:29:20,573 --> 00:29:21,813
Speaker 4: play for the exit of the Chiefs. You look at

580
00:29:21,813 --> 00:29:26,253
Speaker 4: their competition, I think it's eighteen rounds. It's October to March,

581
00:29:26,413 --> 00:29:29,853
Speaker 4: so it is doable a lot. I don't know where

582
00:29:29,853 --> 00:29:31,973
Speaker 4: it's going to go, but probably Thursday will be a

583
00:29:32,093 --> 00:29:37,093
Speaker 4: really interesting indication of the viability of a trans Tasman

584
00:29:37,573 --> 00:29:40,853
Speaker 4: competition or the two Opeke and Super ABW and Australia

585
00:29:40,893 --> 00:29:44,933
Speaker 4: coming together, because if the Blues the Wartars coming across

586
00:29:44,973 --> 00:29:48,773
Speaker 4: the Tasman in this sort of cross competition final on Thursday,

587
00:29:49,293 --> 00:29:52,853
Speaker 4: if the Blues. You know, hypothetically, if they wallop the

588
00:29:52,933 --> 00:29:57,453
Speaker 4: war Retars, that is not good for the viability of

589
00:29:57,733 --> 00:30:01,893
Speaker 4: a fully fledged trans Tasman round robin competition. And I

590
00:30:01,973 --> 00:30:04,333
Speaker 4: guess I look at take a step back into the

591
00:30:04,453 --> 00:30:08,693
Speaker 4: International Games. You know, the Black Ferns for many years

592
00:30:08,773 --> 00:30:12,093
Speaker 4: now have been well untarily on top of the Wallaroos.

593
00:30:12,253 --> 00:30:14,773
Speaker 4: So I just wonder, I guess if that is what

594
00:30:14,973 --> 00:30:19,773
Speaker 4: we're all hoping for, whether there is enough there's going

595
00:30:19,813 --> 00:30:22,573
Speaker 4: to be enough for that jeopardy and parody that we've

596
00:30:22,613 --> 00:30:24,253
Speaker 4: just been discussing on the men's side. I guess you

597
00:30:24,373 --> 00:30:27,333
Speaker 4: have to start somewhere, But I do wonder if we

598
00:30:27,493 --> 00:30:30,173
Speaker 4: just go all in on that, and then next year

599
00:30:32,013 --> 00:30:36,213
Speaker 4: when the Chiefs Malawa host the Waratahs and it's fifty

600
00:30:36,293 --> 00:30:38,533
Speaker 4: to nil, whether there's going to be enough interest.

601
00:30:38,373 --> 00:30:40,613
Speaker 3: Well, that's it, Isn't it An expansion for the sake

602
00:30:40,653 --> 00:30:44,453
Speaker 3: of expansion, isn't good? And super rugby the men's comp

603
00:30:44,493 --> 00:30:46,653
Speaker 3: has learned that the hard way in the past and

604
00:30:46,813 --> 00:30:51,693
Speaker 3: is now having to constrict and change things around their approach.

605
00:30:52,333 --> 00:30:54,413
Speaker 3: The Black Fans have never lost to the Wallaroos in

606
00:30:54,493 --> 00:30:57,893
Speaker 3: the international stage. I think there's a gulf between the

607
00:30:57,973 --> 00:31:01,693
Speaker 3: two sides at domestic level. I know the war Tars

608
00:31:01,773 --> 00:31:05,973
Speaker 3: women beat Chiefs in pre season this year, but I

609
00:31:06,133 --> 00:31:08,613
Speaker 3: still think in the competition Sensor is still a gulf

610
00:31:08,693 --> 00:31:12,173
Speaker 3: between both of these two countries. So I don't know

611
00:31:12,253 --> 00:31:14,293
Speaker 3: that necessarily throwing them all in the one potter is

612
00:31:14,773 --> 00:31:16,813
Speaker 3: the right step either. So there's gonna be some inter

613
00:31:16,893 --> 00:31:18,933
Speaker 3: intercession that you're right. It's sort of a holding pattern

614
00:31:19,293 --> 00:31:21,853
Speaker 3: competition at the moment until we get some clarity on

615
00:31:21,853 --> 00:31:24,773
Speaker 3: the broadcast deal and the way forward and where it sits.

616
00:31:24,813 --> 00:31:27,533
Speaker 3: And I know there's been murmurings as well around potentially

617
00:31:28,493 --> 00:31:31,013
Speaker 3: shifting of an international calendar for the women's game, the

618
00:31:31,093 --> 00:31:33,933
Speaker 3: Pack four and where that feeds into WXV as well,

619
00:31:34,093 --> 00:31:37,253
Speaker 3: So holding pattern for the women's game as it stands,

620
00:31:37,373 --> 00:31:40,093
Speaker 3: and I think they'd just chug on with Super Rugby

621
00:31:40,173 --> 00:31:44,013
Speaker 3: or Picky for the time being until they hear here otherwise.

622
00:31:44,213 --> 00:31:46,933
Speaker 3: Topic number two World Rugby last week finding no reason

623
00:31:47,053 --> 00:31:51,573
Speaker 3: to outlaw the seven to one split. So should New

624
00:31:51,653 --> 00:31:54,853
Speaker 3: Zealand try it? Because it hasn't been seen in both

625
00:31:54,893 --> 00:31:57,093
Speaker 3: the All Blacks level or as Super Rugby. What are

626
00:31:57,133 --> 00:31:57,733
Speaker 3: we missing out on?

627
00:31:59,733 --> 00:31:59,973
Speaker 2: Look?

628
00:32:00,213 --> 00:32:04,213
Speaker 4: I personally don't think it fits the fabric or the

629
00:32:04,333 --> 00:32:07,613
Speaker 4: DNA of how we go about playing our rugby in

630
00:32:07,693 --> 00:32:12,413
Speaker 4: this country. Personally, like it clearly suits South Africa and

631
00:32:12,693 --> 00:32:14,893
Speaker 4: the way they want to play. And look, I'm sure

632
00:32:14,933 --> 00:32:20,173
Speaker 4: it's something that somewhere in Scott Robertson's mind he's mindful of,

633
00:32:20,813 --> 00:32:23,893
Speaker 4: because you don't want to fall behind the pack and

634
00:32:24,293 --> 00:32:27,093
Speaker 4: not be all of you know, across all the trends

635
00:32:27,293 --> 00:32:29,333
Speaker 4: that all of a sudden you know you're trying to

636
00:32:29,333 --> 00:32:31,493
Speaker 4: play another way. And I guess that's where criticism of

637
00:32:32,013 --> 00:32:34,213
Speaker 4: the style of Super rugby Pacific versus getting into the

638
00:32:34,253 --> 00:32:36,013
Speaker 4: Test arena is coming in the past. You know, it's

639
00:32:36,013 --> 00:32:38,853
Speaker 4: a bit more frivolous and ad hoc and giving them

640
00:32:38,933 --> 00:32:40,973
Speaker 4: the ball plenty of width, and then we come into

641
00:32:41,013 --> 00:32:43,733
Speaker 4: the Test arena and our top line players aren't quite

642
00:32:43,733 --> 00:32:47,813
Speaker 4: prepared for the abrasiveness and the directness of a South

643
00:32:47,853 --> 00:32:51,773
Speaker 4: Africa or in Ireland for example. But I Cunting Recallsmeyther

644
00:32:51,813 --> 00:32:54,133
Speaker 4: the last time we saw a six two split alone

645
00:32:54,293 --> 00:32:55,533
Speaker 4: lett alone a seven to one split.

646
00:32:55,613 --> 00:32:57,973
Speaker 2: So while I'm.

647
00:32:57,253 --> 00:33:00,093
Speaker 4: Not dismissing World Rugby, I don't think they needed to

648
00:33:00,813 --> 00:33:02,213
Speaker 4: outlawer it or anything like that.

649
00:33:02,973 --> 00:33:06,413
Speaker 2: I just don't think it's going to ever be really

650
00:33:06,693 --> 00:33:09,853
Speaker 2: on the radar for us. That's just my personal view.

651
00:33:10,053 --> 00:33:12,373
Speaker 3: Yeah, I think the mu Zeale might look at it

652
00:33:12,373 --> 00:33:15,133
Speaker 3: in a different sense in that if you could load

653
00:33:15,213 --> 00:33:18,573
Speaker 3: up with loose forwards who would also be capable of

654
00:33:18,653 --> 00:33:22,653
Speaker 3: playing in the back line and sort of a hybrid player,

655
00:33:22,773 --> 00:33:26,613
Speaker 3: potentially might look at it that way, and you know

656
00:33:26,733 --> 00:33:29,813
Speaker 3: you could have you know, say worst comes to worse,

657
00:33:29,893 --> 00:33:33,053
Speaker 3: you could move an ardisrv out from number eight into

658
00:33:33,293 --> 00:33:36,013
Speaker 3: midfield or something like that if if you couldn't all

659
00:33:36,173 --> 00:33:39,093
Speaker 3: utilize them in the forward packer at a certain time,

660
00:33:39,213 --> 00:33:41,653
Speaker 3: or you had injuries in the back line. You know,

661
00:33:41,653 --> 00:33:45,773
Speaker 3: there's players like Adam Lennox and Leroy Carter who was

662
00:33:45,813 --> 00:33:50,133
Speaker 3: capable of playing both half back and win. Yeah, absolutely

663
00:33:51,373 --> 00:33:53,693
Speaker 3: that worst comes to worst. So instead of like I'm

664
00:33:53,733 --> 00:33:56,573
Speaker 3: going with the I suppose the South African style of

665
00:33:56,613 --> 00:33:58,853
Speaker 3: a seven one, you can go with the more utility

666
00:33:59,493 --> 00:34:03,453
Speaker 3: version of it and utilize those powerful players that are

667
00:34:03,493 --> 00:34:07,613
Speaker 3: great ball carriers as well. Scott Robertson said when we

668
00:34:07,693 --> 00:34:09,933
Speaker 3: had him on the Pops with Mark Robinson a month

669
00:34:10,053 --> 00:34:12,493
Speaker 3: or so ago, that it's something they have considered, but

670
00:34:12,693 --> 00:34:15,813
Speaker 3: at this point in time they haven't rolled it out,

671
00:34:15,933 --> 00:34:18,133
Speaker 3: but you know, I guess never say never, and maybe

672
00:34:18,173 --> 00:34:19,853
Speaker 3: there will be a time with the All Blacks.

673
00:34:20,373 --> 00:34:20,733
Speaker 2: Do do it?

674
00:34:20,893 --> 00:34:23,213
Speaker 3: Topic number three news last week Joey marn who is

675
00:34:23,613 --> 00:34:27,173
Speaker 3: reportedly seeking a release from his Rusting ninety two contract

676
00:34:27,253 --> 00:34:30,493
Speaker 3: that he is yet to start to come back to

677
00:34:30,613 --> 00:34:33,493
Speaker 3: either Sydney or in New Zealand. That opens up some

678
00:34:33,693 --> 00:34:36,253
Speaker 3: options around the NRL. The Roosters have said that they

679
00:34:36,373 --> 00:34:40,533
Speaker 3: probably can't take him back at this point in time.

680
00:34:41,213 --> 00:34:43,533
Speaker 3: The Warriors loom is an option of course super rugby

681
00:34:43,613 --> 00:34:45,653
Speaker 3: clubs as well. So Neck, what does your gut feel say?

682
00:34:46,693 --> 00:34:49,213
Speaker 3: Where does Joey marnin who Land? That is indeed, if

683
00:34:49,933 --> 00:34:52,453
Speaker 3: only two are great fag generous enough to release him

684
00:34:52,453 --> 00:34:53,493
Speaker 3: from his contract.

685
00:34:54,413 --> 00:34:55,213
Speaker 2: That's it, isn't it.

686
00:34:56,373 --> 00:34:59,213
Speaker 4: Look, I think if I've learned anything from my time

687
00:34:59,373 --> 00:35:02,573
Speaker 4: in sports media at this part of the world, when

688
00:35:02,613 --> 00:35:05,813
Speaker 4: it comes to these reports that come out of Australia

689
00:35:05,853 --> 00:35:10,133
Speaker 4: and look, sometimes they do bear of fruits, but there

690
00:35:10,213 --> 00:35:14,773
Speaker 4: is a lot of wheeling and dealing and agents calling

691
00:35:14,853 --> 00:35:18,093
Speaker 4: up reporters and trying to create conversation and keeping the

692
00:35:18,453 --> 00:35:21,373
Speaker 4: gravy train ticking over and just for a sake of content,

693
00:35:21,493 --> 00:35:23,533
Speaker 4: on a quiet week like. I'm not saying that this

694
00:35:23,693 --> 00:35:25,893
Speaker 4: is the case here, but we haven't heard from from

695
00:35:25,973 --> 00:35:30,253
Speaker 4: Joey Marnu himself. But look, in a completely hypothetical situation,

696
00:35:30,573 --> 00:35:34,853
Speaker 4: my gut feeling, even though the Sydney Roosters, I think

697
00:35:34,893 --> 00:35:37,653
Speaker 4: Trent Robinson might have even spoken over the weekend about saying,

698
00:35:38,213 --> 00:35:40,573
Speaker 4: you know that they probably couldn't fit him in.

699
00:35:41,213 --> 00:35:43,013
Speaker 2: They have found ways in the past of.

700
00:35:44,813 --> 00:35:47,933
Speaker 4: Yeah, the old salary sombrero, the third party deals, Nick

701
00:35:47,973 --> 00:35:51,093
Speaker 4: Poliitis finds an old jag out the back of the

702
00:35:51,133 --> 00:35:52,213
Speaker 4: garage or something like that.

703
00:35:52,453 --> 00:35:53,453
Speaker 2: So look at that.

704
00:35:53,533 --> 00:35:56,133
Speaker 4: That would probably be my gut feel if it's very much,

705
00:35:56,693 --> 00:35:59,093
Speaker 4: you know, I want to be in New Zealand, and look,

706
00:35:59,173 --> 00:36:04,013
Speaker 4: the Warriors just just on salary cap positioning, having lost

707
00:36:04,293 --> 00:36:06,893
Speaker 4: what Shawn Johnson, Tay Harrison, Adam Fanola, Blake. Yes, have

708
00:36:06,973 --> 00:36:09,853
Speaker 4: brought James Fisher Harrison, but they've got some cap to spend.

709
00:36:10,533 --> 00:36:14,013
Speaker 4: It could be a possibility. I think it's a pretty

710
00:36:14,053 --> 00:36:17,293
Speaker 4: slim one. But if it's if he comes back to

711
00:36:17,333 --> 00:36:20,533
Speaker 4: New Zealand, my upfield would be it'll be to give

712
00:36:20,813 --> 00:36:24,413
Speaker 4: this rugby thing a red hot crack when he's coming

713
00:36:24,493 --> 00:36:26,373
Speaker 4: up twenty nine in June.

714
00:36:26,493 --> 00:36:27,733
Speaker 2: Will it comes two years away?

715
00:36:28,413 --> 00:36:31,013
Speaker 4: Does he have one real goal of that, you know,

716
00:36:31,213 --> 00:36:33,293
Speaker 4: like a sunny Billilliams has in the past, get himself

717
00:36:33,333 --> 00:36:38,973
Speaker 4: in the chiefs environment toccodoor boy. Maybe that's the most likely,

718
00:36:39,213 --> 00:36:42,253
Speaker 4: but I'm not going to get too carried away, and

719
00:36:43,053 --> 00:36:45,213
Speaker 4: I see something a little bit more concrete, but is

720
00:36:45,253 --> 00:36:47,013
Speaker 4: an interesting one as a talking point. I think it

721
00:36:47,013 --> 00:36:50,293
Speaker 4: would be a luxury for New Zealand rugby as opposed

722
00:36:50,293 --> 00:36:53,573
Speaker 4: to a necess It is a lot of a lot

723
00:36:53,573 --> 00:36:55,413
Speaker 4: of really good midfielders around at the moment. Of course,

724
00:36:55,493 --> 00:36:57,053
Speaker 4: Jordi Barrett to come back in the mix from his

725
00:36:57,133 --> 00:37:00,773
Speaker 4: time over in Ireland, so it would certainly create a

726
00:37:00,813 --> 00:37:01,533
Speaker 4: lot of conversation.

727
00:37:01,653 --> 00:37:03,213
Speaker 3: Put it that way, it would. I've seen a bit

728
00:37:03,253 --> 00:37:06,133
Speaker 3: of him playing for Toyota in Japan and they are

729
00:37:06,213 --> 00:37:10,453
Speaker 3: having a dreadful old season as stands, but he's been

730
00:37:10,493 --> 00:37:12,293
Speaker 3: on the wing for them, the right wing by and large,

731
00:37:12,333 --> 00:37:15,133
Speaker 3: and he's been I think quite good, really breaking a

732
00:37:15,173 --> 00:37:18,213
Speaker 3: lot of tackles since we adapting to rugby. I like

733
00:37:18,253 --> 00:37:19,933
Speaker 3: the way he was going about it is almost following

734
00:37:19,973 --> 00:37:22,493
Speaker 3: that sunny Bill Williams blueprint of having a couple of

735
00:37:22,573 --> 00:37:26,173
Speaker 3: seasons abroad out of the limelight, apart from the bit

736
00:37:26,213 --> 00:37:28,213
Speaker 3: where he walked out on his contract, Sonny Bill, but

737
00:37:29,213 --> 00:37:31,253
Speaker 3: building that way and then when you ready come and

738
00:37:31,293 --> 00:37:33,373
Speaker 3: have a crack. But maybe he feels like he's ready

739
00:37:33,413 --> 00:37:36,173
Speaker 3: now or his homesick or whatever it is, and is

740
00:37:36,213 --> 00:37:38,133
Speaker 3: going to accelerate that plan. I saw an interview with

741
00:37:38,173 --> 00:37:41,133
Speaker 3: him on Forkuta Mauldi TV not so long ago, in

742
00:37:41,173 --> 00:37:43,173
Speaker 3: fact a couple of weeks ago, suggesting that the All

743
00:37:43,173 --> 00:37:45,093
Speaker 3: Blacks were a real goal. So that certainly seems part

744
00:37:45,093 --> 00:37:48,373
Speaker 3: of the conversation. So yeah, watch the space topic number four,

745
00:37:48,453 --> 00:37:50,813
Speaker 3: how many teams outside the Super Ragby Pacific Top Sex

746
00:37:50,853 --> 00:37:53,093
Speaker 3: will be in the top six at the end of

747
00:37:53,173 --> 00:37:56,493
Speaker 3: the season. So the Highlanders, Hurricanes, Blues, more Wia, PACIFICA

748
00:37:56,533 --> 00:37:59,853
Speaker 3: and the Fiji and Drew all on the outside looking in.

749
00:38:00,093 --> 00:38:02,733
Speaker 3: How many of those teams will crack the Top Sex neck.

750
00:38:05,173 --> 00:38:10,533
Speaker 4: I'm going to say one with no real confidence. I

751
00:38:10,573 --> 00:38:12,253
Speaker 4: don't think it's going to be any more than two.

752
00:38:12,853 --> 00:38:17,533
Speaker 4: But I've got one team in mind dropping out and

753
00:38:17,773 --> 00:38:20,493
Speaker 4: one team in mind coming back in. And sorry to

754
00:38:21,173 --> 00:38:26,413
Speaker 4: our faithful listeners in Western Australia, but I just look

755
00:38:26,453 --> 00:38:29,653
Speaker 4: at the forces position and they're run in, and I

756
00:38:29,733 --> 00:38:33,213
Speaker 4: look at the Blues position and they're run home, and

757
00:38:33,373 --> 00:38:35,453
Speaker 4: there's a been a four point gap between those two,

758
00:38:36,293 --> 00:38:38,453
Speaker 4: and I think those are going to be the two

759
00:38:38,653 --> 00:38:39,813
Speaker 4: that switch in and out.

760
00:38:40,053 --> 00:38:43,813
Speaker 2: I don't know what the Waratahs are. Eight rounds into

761
00:38:43,853 --> 00:38:44,253
Speaker 2: the season.

762
00:38:44,853 --> 00:38:47,413
Speaker 4: They look like they can win the title at home

763
00:38:47,893 --> 00:38:51,253
Speaker 4: and then they look awful anywhere else outside of Sydney.

764
00:38:51,653 --> 00:38:55,293
Speaker 4: They're currently fifth, so they might be the other casualty,

765
00:38:55,493 --> 00:38:58,773
Speaker 4: and then it would have to be one of I'm

766
00:38:58,813 --> 00:39:00,693
Speaker 4: going to put a line through that. I sort of

767
00:39:00,773 --> 00:39:02,333
Speaker 4: alluded to it at the beginning when we talked about

768
00:39:02,333 --> 00:39:05,133
Speaker 4: the Highlanders drawer. I just think with that run and

769
00:39:05,253 --> 00:39:08,933
Speaker 4: I think that there's just a gulf in class ultimately

770
00:39:09,013 --> 00:39:11,893
Speaker 4: still between them and the other New Zealand Foundation sides.

771
00:39:11,893 --> 00:39:14,333
Speaker 4: I know the Highland is at seventh, so if it

772
00:39:14,453 --> 00:39:16,413
Speaker 4: was going to be one more for me anyway, it

773
00:39:16,413 --> 00:39:19,853
Speaker 4: would be one of the Canes or Mowana jumping in.

774
00:39:20,133 --> 00:39:25,173
Speaker 4: But it's so tight and that's a fantastic place for

775
00:39:25,213 --> 00:39:25,733
Speaker 4: the comp to be in.

776
00:39:25,933 --> 00:39:27,853
Speaker 3: It really is. The big game that looms for me

777
00:39:28,173 --> 00:39:31,853
Speaker 3: is the Hurricanes Brumbies the day after Anzac Day, because

778
00:39:31,853 --> 00:39:34,173
Speaker 3: they haven't had a lot of success in the Aussie

779
00:39:34,253 --> 00:39:36,373
Speaker 3: capital the last couple of years. I think if they

780
00:39:36,453 --> 00:39:38,173
Speaker 3: win that then they could well be on their way.

781
00:39:38,293 --> 00:39:41,093
Speaker 3: The Hurricanes. They lose that, I think they probably will

782
00:39:41,093 --> 00:39:43,173
Speaker 3: miss the top six. So as it stands, I'm going

783
00:39:43,653 --> 00:39:46,773
Speaker 3: one like you at this point in time. Let's get

784
00:39:46,813 --> 00:39:50,933
Speaker 3: into our tipping. Last week, Lem and I tip the

785
00:39:50,973 --> 00:39:53,333
Speaker 3: same apart from the Brumbies and Reds where I picked

786
00:39:53,333 --> 00:39:56,773
Speaker 3: the Brumbies for an upset. So he gets three, I

787
00:39:56,973 --> 00:40:00,173
Speaker 3: get four. I lead by seven thirty twenty three. You're

788
00:40:00,213 --> 00:40:02,533
Speaker 3: in charge of his tips this week, Nick, Crusaders Blues

789
00:40:02,573 --> 00:40:05,133
Speaker 3: the game you'll be calling gold Sport iHeartRadio Friday night.

790
00:40:06,173 --> 00:40:09,453
Speaker 4: See no pressure being taken on the mantle of someone

791
00:40:09,573 --> 00:40:14,253
Speaker 4: with a seven game deficit, A poor old Liam. Look,

792
00:40:15,533 --> 00:40:17,653
Speaker 4: this is a it'll be a cracking contest because by

793
00:40:17,733 --> 00:40:20,453
Speaker 4: no means you know it's not one v nine. I

794
00:40:20,533 --> 00:40:22,413
Speaker 4: know it is on the table, but there you know

795
00:40:22,733 --> 00:40:24,773
Speaker 4: that the Blues will still be hurting in the back

796
00:40:24,813 --> 00:40:26,813
Speaker 4: of their mind from how poor they were in this

797
00:40:26,933 --> 00:40:29,213
Speaker 4: reverse fixture what three three or so weeks ago at

798
00:40:29,253 --> 00:40:33,773
Speaker 4: Eton Park and as as well as the Crusaders have

799
00:40:33,853 --> 00:40:36,973
Speaker 4: played comparative lead to last year. I still think by

800
00:40:37,053 --> 00:40:40,693
Speaker 4: no means are they the finished product. And you know,

801
00:40:40,893 --> 00:40:43,373
Speaker 4: if David Harvilly is out, which it sounds like he

802
00:40:43,533 --> 00:40:46,493
Speaker 4: will be, there's some question marks there too, in terms of,

803
00:40:46,813 --> 00:40:50,213
Speaker 4: you know, how they go about their midfield and taking

804
00:40:50,253 --> 00:40:52,853
Speaker 4: that pressure off the lights of Taha Kima and in

805
00:40:53,013 --> 00:40:56,133
Speaker 4: terms of driving the game. So I'm going to say

806
00:40:56,173 --> 00:41:01,213
Speaker 4: the Crusaders, but it wouldn't shock me if you know

807
00:41:01,373 --> 00:41:02,533
Speaker 4: I'm calling a Blues victory.

808
00:41:02,573 --> 00:41:04,773
Speaker 3: I'm going the Crusaders in a tight one as well.

809
00:41:04,853 --> 00:41:08,293
Speaker 3: Fiji and Drawer against the warr Tas in Fiji Saturday afternoon.

810
00:41:09,853 --> 00:41:13,013
Speaker 2: Is this one? Is it Laoutoka? It is Lautoka, Chief Parker.

811
00:41:13,093 --> 00:41:15,373
Speaker 4: I'm just going to say, just these are the two

812
00:41:15,493 --> 00:41:19,333
Speaker 4: most jekylin high teams and terms of home and away Fiji.

813
00:41:19,773 --> 00:41:22,533
Speaker 4: Drawer can beat anyone in Lautoka and Martars can't win

814
00:41:22,533 --> 00:41:25,733
Speaker 4: out of Sydney. So just based on those that are

815
00:41:25,813 --> 00:41:27,373
Speaker 4: those facts alone, and I'm going to go with the Drawer.

816
00:41:27,653 --> 00:41:29,573
Speaker 3: I'm going to Taz to win that one. More on

817
00:41:29,653 --> 00:41:31,613
Speaker 3: a Pacific Brumby's looking forward to the calling this one

818
00:41:31,653 --> 00:41:35,653
Speaker 3: and book a koeie on Saturday afternoon to Mawana bounce

819
00:41:35,813 --> 00:41:37,453
Speaker 3: back next. I think they do.

820
00:41:37,613 --> 00:41:43,973
Speaker 4: Personally I'm going to say they do too. But yeah,

821
00:41:44,053 --> 00:41:46,933
Speaker 4: this is this is a real tricky game. I haven't

822
00:41:46,973 --> 00:41:48,933
Speaker 4: got a very good read on the Brumbies either, but

823
00:41:50,213 --> 00:41:52,693
Speaker 4: you know, for them to beat the Reds in Brisbane,

824
00:41:52,733 --> 00:41:55,013
Speaker 4: that's that's really impressive and.

825
00:41:56,573 --> 00:41:58,653
Speaker 2: You know it could go either way. But y'all, i'll

826
00:41:58,693 --> 00:41:59,213
Speaker 2: tip my onna.

827
00:41:59,413 --> 00:42:02,093
Speaker 3: Chiefs Thailand is seven o five in Hamilton.

828
00:42:04,733 --> 00:42:09,053
Speaker 4: Chiefs thinks there will be some pretty honest conversation if

829
00:42:09,173 --> 00:42:12,333
Speaker 4: they're not already have had have been have been had

830
00:42:12,653 --> 00:42:14,733
Speaker 4: over the weekend on the on the flight home from Sydney,

831
00:42:15,493 --> 00:42:20,573
Speaker 4: and I think they're a pretty dangerous team off offer loss.

832
00:42:20,693 --> 00:42:22,373
Speaker 2: After some stern words from Clayton.

833
00:42:22,133 --> 00:42:25,253
Speaker 3: Mcviell, Hurricanes are also coming off a loss, in fact

834
00:42:25,253 --> 00:42:27,853
Speaker 3: two losses. They play the Force in perthirth game of

835
00:42:27,933 --> 00:42:31,573
Speaker 3: a two game Aussie swing. You were mean to our

836
00:42:31,613 --> 00:42:34,973
Speaker 3: Western Australian listeners before. So for those in the minds

837
00:42:35,013 --> 00:42:39,333
Speaker 3: in cal Gooley and everywhere else in Perth, do they

838
00:42:39,373 --> 00:42:40,173
Speaker 3: get the win this week?

839
00:42:41,013 --> 00:42:44,893
Speaker 4: Well, here you go tell all those faithful listeners in

840
00:42:44,973 --> 00:42:46,453
Speaker 4: a completely different time zone.

841
00:42:46,493 --> 00:42:48,973
Speaker 2: But yeah, I'm going to say your team.

842
00:42:50,293 --> 00:42:51,813
Speaker 4: I think this is the perfect sort of game for

843
00:42:52,213 --> 00:42:56,453
Speaker 4: the Western Force and and I think the Hurricanes are

844
00:42:56,573 --> 00:43:00,733
Speaker 4: just it'll depend on those selections. I think, you know,

845
00:43:01,093 --> 00:43:03,933
Speaker 4: I personally think they need to take some risks around

846
00:43:03,973 --> 00:43:08,693
Speaker 4: that ten position. But I think the four have a

847
00:43:09,253 --> 00:43:10,973
Speaker 4: you know, they have a semblance of a of a

848
00:43:11,053 --> 00:43:14,253
Speaker 4: really good team. They're just it's quite inconsistent. But I

849
00:43:14,293 --> 00:43:16,053
Speaker 4: think that's a really tough place to go and play.

850
00:43:16,093 --> 00:43:19,533
Speaker 4: I know you mentioned before, Elliott around that Caines Brumbies

851
00:43:19,613 --> 00:43:24,653
Speaker 4: game that's the week following, But yeah, why not, I'll

852
00:43:24,653 --> 00:43:26,133
Speaker 4: tip the Force. Lamb's got some grunt to.

853
00:43:26,133 --> 00:43:28,293
Speaker 3: Make there we go. That's our tip. I'm going to

854
00:43:28,333 --> 00:43:30,653
Speaker 3: go to Hurricanes to win that one. In Perth Rugby

855
00:43:30,693 --> 00:43:34,093
Speaker 3: Direct Metal voting time three two ones eightything has a

856
00:43:34,133 --> 00:43:36,613
Speaker 3: five point gap on the field and thirteen points to

857
00:43:36,733 --> 00:43:38,933
Speaker 3: a t Nawa and Palegreeny title on eight and then

858
00:43:38,973 --> 00:43:42,573
Speaker 3: Bote and Barrett in on seven. Neck your three to

859
00:43:42,613 --> 00:43:44,133
Speaker 3: two ones. Who gets points this week?

860
00:43:45,773 --> 00:43:49,533
Speaker 2: I am going to give three points to Scott Barrett.

861
00:43:50,573 --> 00:43:53,493
Speaker 4: Look, I think, you know, irrespective of all the attention

862
00:43:53,613 --> 00:43:57,333
Speaker 4: that was around him from some you know, outside noise,

863
00:43:57,933 --> 00:44:00,773
Speaker 4: I thought that was a really strong performance, clearly his

864
00:44:00,893 --> 00:44:02,973
Speaker 4: best of the season. I think I touched on it before,

865
00:44:03,093 --> 00:44:06,413
Speaker 4: but really nice line break to set up you anamnu,

866
00:44:06,773 --> 00:44:08,173
Speaker 4: the presence of mind to reckon.

867
00:44:08,213 --> 00:44:10,573
Speaker 2: There was no half back there when they just made

868
00:44:10,613 --> 00:44:11,013
Speaker 2: that break.

869
00:44:11,053 --> 00:44:14,333
Speaker 4: He just shifts a little narrow pass to Schaffee Harckey

870
00:44:14,693 --> 00:44:16,733
Speaker 4: to dive over. So a couple of triass but has

871
00:44:16,813 --> 00:44:19,893
Speaker 4: worked just in general around the park. Super physical, got up,

872
00:44:20,373 --> 00:44:22,893
Speaker 4: stole a couple of lineouts at some crucial moments, just

873
00:44:22,973 --> 00:44:24,173
Speaker 4: when the Canes look to be building.

874
00:44:24,213 --> 00:44:29,293
Speaker 2: So he gets my three and brother Bowden is going

875
00:44:29,373 --> 00:44:30,573
Speaker 2: to nab my two.

876
00:44:31,053 --> 00:44:34,253
Speaker 4: I just think there's you know, it's pretty clear he's

877
00:44:34,373 --> 00:44:37,813
Speaker 4: the premiere ten at the Blues. Yes he's been out

878
00:44:37,853 --> 00:44:42,773
Speaker 4: with injury, but his game control, his safety under the

879
00:44:42,813 --> 00:44:48,453
Speaker 4: high ball, his variety of kicks, individual brilliance to do

880
00:44:48,573 --> 00:44:51,933
Speaker 4: that little chip and chase kick through to score against Mowana,

881
00:44:52,013 --> 00:44:54,453
Speaker 4: So credits to Boden Barrett. He's going to get my

882
00:44:54,573 --> 00:44:56,773
Speaker 4: two and because a bit of a toss up for

883
00:44:56,813 --> 00:44:59,413
Speaker 4: mine between a couple of hookers. I thought Ricky ricatally

884
00:44:59,493 --> 00:45:05,173
Speaker 4: really came back to that Blues environment. Strong, super clinical,

885
00:45:05,453 --> 00:45:07,093
Speaker 4: you know, his core roles in the line out of that.

886
00:45:07,173 --> 00:45:10,733
Speaker 4: But one of the stories of the Crusader season has

887
00:45:10,773 --> 00:45:13,333
Speaker 4: been Yoanni Mohinannu, Like, this is a guy who probably

888
00:45:13,413 --> 00:45:17,933
Speaker 4: wasn't going to get very very little game time if

889
00:45:17,973 --> 00:45:20,373
Speaker 4: it wasn't for George Bell being injured for the season,

890
00:45:20,453 --> 00:45:23,373
Speaker 4: and if it wasn't for Cody Taylor missing game time,

891
00:45:23,533 --> 00:45:25,053
Speaker 4: and he's come in and made.

892
00:45:24,973 --> 00:45:27,173
Speaker 2: Every post winner. He's like a mini I suffer on

893
00:45:27,293 --> 00:45:31,693
Speaker 2: my ways. He's deadly over the ball and he's.

894
00:45:31,533 --> 00:45:33,693
Speaker 4: Benefiting from a lot of great work and those line

895
00:45:33,693 --> 00:45:36,333
Speaker 4: out drives in terms of scoring tries. But the one

896
00:45:36,813 --> 00:45:38,253
Speaker 4: you know, being the right place at the right time

897
00:45:38,333 --> 00:45:41,093
Speaker 4: to be there for that Scott Barrett Pastor to score

898
00:45:41,133 --> 00:45:44,133
Speaker 4: one in midfield. Yeah, he's having a cracking season and

899
00:45:45,453 --> 00:45:47,213
Speaker 4: the Crusaders are in a good spot there depth wise,

900
00:45:47,213 --> 00:45:47,813
Speaker 4: it hooker.

901
00:45:47,773 --> 00:45:50,293
Speaker 3: They are indeed now three two ones are similar. I've

902
00:45:50,293 --> 00:45:52,333
Speaker 3: gone Bern and Beart for three. Actually, I thought he

903
00:45:52,453 --> 00:45:54,613
Speaker 3: was very very good and the way that he's playing

904
00:45:54,653 --> 00:45:56,933
Speaker 3: at the moment clearly the best ten I think in

905
00:45:57,013 --> 00:46:00,133
Speaker 3: the country. Scott Barrett gets my two similar words to you.

906
00:46:00,293 --> 00:46:03,053
Speaker 3: I thought he was very very good. Again, responding to

907
00:46:03,053 --> 00:46:05,293
Speaker 3: the question of taken it, I don't know if it

908
00:46:05,453 --> 00:46:07,893
Speaker 3: was because of the criticism, but we sort of had

909
00:46:07,973 --> 00:46:10,973
Speaker 3: him way Cup for the season now and hopefully more

910
00:46:11,013 --> 00:46:13,133
Speaker 3: of those performances to come. And Jakob brother my t

911
00:46:13,213 --> 00:46:16,973
Speaker 3: Voki Nipkins gets my one point great return from him,

912
00:46:17,133 --> 00:46:20,733
Speaker 3: very very impressed and luking the way that he played,

913
00:46:20,773 --> 00:46:22,253
Speaker 3: so hopefully more of that to come. And I'll tell

914
00:46:22,293 --> 00:46:25,693
Speaker 3: you what, Jordy Barrett playing for linkstro on the weekend

915
00:46:25,933 --> 00:46:27,493
Speaker 3: was man of the match to their performance. So if

916
00:46:27,533 --> 00:46:31,093
Speaker 3: you look at that Bowden, Scott and Jordie, three performances

917
00:46:31,253 --> 00:46:33,853
Speaker 3: of class over the weekend from the Barrett family across

918
00:46:33,893 --> 00:46:34,253
Speaker 3: the globe.

919
00:46:34,733 --> 00:46:38,053
Speaker 4: One of the great rugby families, aren't they the Barretts. Yeah,

920
00:46:38,333 --> 00:46:40,733
Speaker 4: they shouldn't be buhying bears anywhere in the country.

921
00:46:41,133 --> 00:46:43,533
Speaker 3: Absolutely not. Nick, thank you for joining us on Rugby

922
00:46:43,573 --> 00:46:45,093
Speaker 3: Direct this week. Always a pleasure to have you on.

923
00:46:45,213 --> 00:46:46,173
Speaker 3: We'll catch up again soon.

924
00:46:47,053 --> 00:46:47,533
Speaker 2: Appreciate it.

925
00:46:47,573 --> 00:46:50,053
Speaker 4: Elliott, No, it's been a great fun and you're looking

926
00:46:50,053 --> 00:46:52,613
Speaker 4: forward to this week, this Easter weekend slate starting with

927
00:46:52,853 --> 00:46:54,253
Speaker 4: Crusaders Blues down My Way.

928
00:46:54,253 --> 00:46:55,013
Speaker 2: It's going to be a cracker.

929
00:46:55,093 --> 00:46:57,533
Speaker 3: You can hear that on Gold Sport and iHeartRadio. Friday Night,

930
00:46:57,573 --> 00:46:59,453
Speaker 3: Good Friday and night. So that has been ragby Direct

931
00:46:59,453 --> 00:47:01,373
Speaker 3: with Habit Health tackling all your aches and pains from

932
00:47:01,413 --> 00:47:03,613
Speaker 3: sport and work. Thanks to Lars and Bars English for

933
00:47:03,653 --> 00:47:08,773
Speaker 3: pulling this all together. We'll see you next week m hmm.

934
00:47:09,733 --> 00:47:12,613
Speaker 1: For more from Newstalk st B, listen live on air

935
00:47:12,853 --> 00:47:15,493
Speaker 1: or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you

936
00:47:15,613 --> 00:47:18,013
Speaker 1: go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio