April 6, 2025 • 52 mins
This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier dive into the big topics of the week in rugby, beginning with Liam's quick trip to Suva to experience his first Drua home game and the Crusaders' drought-breaking win there, along with the other games in round 8 that included another win for Moana Pasifika and the Chiefs and Blues picking up victories.
We also discuss how the talent in NZ Rugby can be spread more widely, the Super Rugby Aupiki final this weekend and the doomed ANZAC Day Bledisloe Cup test concept in Perth.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks ed B.
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Speaker 2 (00:19):
Straight down the middle of dry score, try get inside
the game from every angle.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
It's Rugby Direct with Elliot Smith and Leam Napier, powered
by News Talks EDB.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Welcome into Rugby to repowered by Habit Health, tackling all
your aches and pains from sports and work. Back again
for another week. Elliott Smith with me Liam Napier as
always to wrap up the week that has been in
rugby across the globe and in Super Rugby and Big
Buller to you, Liam Napier, Welcome to the podcast.
Speaker 4 (00:56):
It's Buller Buller Toss, Drawer Toss.
Speaker 5 (01:00):
My drawer didn't quite get up, but no, I will
say if if you have a rugby bucket list that's
tending a game in Fiji should be right up there.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
We'll get into the nuts and bolts of the game
in a wee while. But the experience, what was it
like up there? I know you sort of said that
you wanted to go see these the crusaders up close
and see if they were the you know the same
the British product again under Rob Penny, what did you
see up close and what was the atmosphere like?
Speaker 5 (01:29):
Yeah, that I guess touched on the atmosphere and what
it's like from an experienced point of view. It's very authentic.
I think the big takeaway for me was that just
reminded me what true fandom is. The Drawer were down
thirty one nil and the fans get their two hours
(01:50):
before the game. They've got their umbrellas out because it's hot,
it's humid, there's grass, embankments, you can see the coast
right there.
Speaker 4 (01:57):
This is in Suva. They play in Lautoka as well.
Speaker 5 (02:02):
Just a bit of a backstory that the first year
with the Drawer, when they beat the Crusaders the first time,
in lowtime, people were climbing the trees outside the ground
and one of the trees actually broke and fell into
the crowd.
Speaker 4 (02:15):
So that's how keen they are to watch their team.
Speaker 5 (02:18):
But as I mentioned that, they're down thirty one nil
and then they score a try and the decibels in
the ground. There's only ten twelve thousand people there and
it feels like fifty thousand. They're up, they're chanting, they're
there till the end. Of the game in New Zealand,
if your team's down thirty one nil, half the crowd's
(02:40):
probably leaving and they're disengaged. The drawer were very very poor,
dropped so much ball. They were never really in that contest,
and yet the crowd is there there hanging off every moment.
The cheering, scrums and lineouts is a very unique atmosphere.
(03:00):
So you know, it's a tough climent. We live and
financially and I had assistance to get there on these
sorts of things. But you are going there for a
holiday or you do have a Rugby bucket list, you know,
twicking them and Alice Park. There's magic experiences, but from
a pure fandom point of view, is very special.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
Could hold a Super Round Fiji possibly in time.
Speaker 5 (03:24):
I think there would need to be a lot of
work around infrastructure in terms of there is lighting and suva.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
The pitch probably needs a bit of work to.
Speaker 5 (03:36):
Maintain or be able to sustain what would it be
six odd games, and then a hotel infrastructure what professional
teams need on a day to day. I think that
the Crusaders stayed in the holiday in They flew in
on the Thursday and out on the Sunday, so it's
a pretty quick trip and it is a very brutal
(03:58):
place to play from a condition's point of view. The
Crusader's prepped really well for that. I think they this
year from pre season. They've been wearing vests and beanies.
They wore the white jersey with the Fijian cultural markings
on it, but it was white and that was clearly
(04:19):
a lesson from previous experience.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
So they did it really well this time.
Speaker 5 (04:24):
They stacked their bench Ethan Blackheader, Ficture, New Quentin Strange,
LeVar Moore, like some real heavy hitters, James O'Connor. So
they did it very well the Crusaders this time around.
Look the super around there would be amazing from an
atmosphere point of view.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
I think people would go, but I don't think they're
ready for it yet.
Speaker 5 (04:48):
I don't think it's realistic, particularly if they do bring
it back next year.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
We'll get into the nuts and bolts of that game
in a week while here on Rugby Direct. Let's go
back to the final game of the weekend, Force and
Highlanders twenty nine to twenty. The Force beat the Highlanders.
This felt like a game at the Honders was there
for the taking and they had a twenty points to
seven lead and just opened the door for the Force
(05:13):
before halftime, and the Force barreled on through that door.
Sean Witheri gets red carded. Just felt like the Holanders
spun out of control a little.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
Bit in that game. What did you make of that one?
Speaker 5 (05:26):
Yes, a bit of a story of the Highlands season.
Isn't that letting games slip? I think we've touched on
this in previous weeks. That game was there for the taking.
The red card prove costly. I thought it was a
wee bit harsh, but you do leave your seat to
the head though you lift himself open exactly. There's not
a lot of choice. Many point would be it's not intentional,
(05:48):
but it almost doesn't matter, does it. When you put
yourself in that situation it was avoidable and so yeah, yeah,
you put yourself outside under massive pressure. Sewn Withy's had
a great season, but that was really costly and unfortunately
that's I think you draw a line through the Highlands
making the top six because of that result, they've got
the drawer in Dunedin I think this week and need
(06:11):
back them to win that game. I think guys like
Jacob Ratamvuki Nepkins are coming back through Club Rugby and
be great to see him back after his k neck injury.
You know, anytime it's a nick injury fears for players futures,
so great to see him back. And I think Fukatava
is making his way back as well. So some reinforcements
coming for the Honders, but does feel like a bit
(06:33):
too little, too late. And the impact that Jamie Joseph
made at the start of the year, where Henders really
did seem like they had a bit more resilience and
they were really competitive against the Kii opposition more than
they had been in recent years, seems to be tailing away.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
I fin hearly injured as well last few weeks as
Super Rugby season is over. He was one of the
sparks early on in that campaign. Tabatava naw Way as well,
is a player that I think started the season well
but has maybe been figured out a little bit by
opposition defenses to this point in the season. So yeah,
(07:11):
it feels like the Hondas just have lost a little
bit of momentum out of their campaign. You know. The
thing back to that Reds game, you know, which they lost,
which was imminently winnable on that afternoon, and so same
with the Hurricane. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (07:26):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
So There's been fixtures where I could have won, there's
been missed opportunities, and it feels like that might be
the tale of the season now. And ninth the Force,
who you draw a line through in terms of winning
the comp last week up to fourth?
Speaker 5 (07:39):
Yeah, lookout Western Force fans occurring, but look I think
come there into the AR. I still do not expect
them to be in the top six, but they are
a force at home.
Speaker 4 (07:51):
Well done, well done.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
Let's go back to the Blues Hurricanes on Saturday evening
at Eden Park and Army saw this one. The Blues
went by one. The only team that've beaten this year,
the Hurricanes have done it twice. It felt to me
like the Blues kind of reverted back to what they
played last year and they figured that that was going
to be the way to victory. Played very narrow, They
get the ball inside opposition territory and just play narrow
(08:16):
one out plays, strike, strike, strike it into the twenty two.
Speaker 4 (08:19):
Apply pressure that way.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
They only scored one try in the game, but it
felt like they didn't really want to work the game
on the edges, which is where the probably the Hurricanes
were looking to play with their wingers, you know, kenningda
Holler didn't have much of an impact. Nanny Punuai as well.
Reuben Love wasn't able to strike around the edges that
we've seen him play in recent times. So the Blues
(08:42):
kept it narrow. They drew penalties. I mean, when was
the last time Boden Barrack hit four penalties in the game.
Would have been a long time ago, So I thought
it wasn't pretty from the Blues, but it was a
game they had to win, and they pulled the Hurricanes
into an army wrestle, and the Canes just couldn't get
out of it and play the style that they wanted
after running in fifty plus points the previous weekends the warritors.
(09:04):
I give credit to the Blues because they just pulled
the Hurricanes into is it say an army so or
that probably the Hurricanes didn't want to get into.
Speaker 5 (09:14):
This felt like a game where there was this season
on the line for both teams, didn't it It was tense,
it was tights, and they didn't really open up and
have a crack either team. It felt like that the
Hurricanes certainly tried to use the ball more and be
a bit more expensive, but you're right, the Blues definitely
(09:35):
reverted to type, and Boden Barrett postmatch did suggest that
there's been a lot of hard conversations and that they'd
figured out what they wanted to do, and I think
that was referring to what you were suggesting that they
have gone back to type. The Blues wingers Mark Tlea
and Caleb Clark, two of the most potents attacking struke
(09:56):
weapons in the game, they barely touched the ball. Caleb
Clark gets the ball off the restart, but otherwise they're
basically contesting kicks most of the game and it worked
enough for the Blues, but it wasn't convincing and they
were fortunate in some regards. Patrick two polo to Clark
laid law a Hurricanes's coach came out and was livid
(10:19):
that that wasn't a red card, and I think there's
a case for that. Yes, there was mitigation, but it
was clear shoulder to the head contact and in the
modern game, you put yourself at the mercy of the
powers that be when that happens. The Blues I think
were on the wrong side of the penalty count something
like fourteen to eight, so the discipline was an issue
(10:41):
and the difference for me, there's two points here, Boden
Barretts and Riley Juhepper poles apart and their influences on
the game. As you'd expect to a certain degree from
a one hundred odd test veteran, Boden was in a
class of his own. But also the Blues got some
good pay off their bench and their squad depth I
(11:03):
think helped them. Angus Tarval made a big impact off
the bench, certainly one one scrump penalty and had the
Hurricanes under pressure. Hurricanes front row under under big pressure
other times as well, So the Blues bench made a
big impact, but Boden was ultimately the difference he was.
Speaker 3 (11:21):
And in a week where Damie mckenzie'd resign with New
Zealand Rugby, you know a bit of a statement from
Boden Barrett that he can play the tight games as
well and get his team across the line. Whether this
is the win that kick starts the Blue season, I
think the jury is out on that. It wasn't like
they completely rolled the Hurricanes. They pit them by a point,
could have lost that on a different night. It felt
(11:44):
like when the Hurricanes scored through Punavia that maybe they
were beginning to get on top but just couldn't quite
take hold of that advantage. Didn't see enough to suggest
that things have turned around from the Blues, though, And
they've got more wider Pacifica this week. Who you know,
give them forty minutes and they'll absolutely, you know, knock
your socks off. So that looms is a pretty big
(12:05):
game in context of the Blues season.
Speaker 5 (12:07):
It does, and I totally agree and not convinced that
the Blues are back in any way, shape or form.
They did some good things well, but there's not enough
from that performance. And the Hurricanes, on the other hand,
this was a gut wrenching loss to lose to the
Blues in similar circumstances, similar margins. They'll be kicking themselves
(12:30):
because that game was there for the taking. They spurned
a few opportunities. I thought Baalen Sullivan was good, but
many of the attacking weapons were blunted. Wasn't Duple Carifi's
best match and they I think the Blues blunted them
up front.
Speaker 4 (12:49):
That was the big the Hurricanes came.
Speaker 5 (12:51):
They wanted to be physical, they wanted to go through
the middle, and the Blues didn't allow them to do that.
So that's probably the big takeaway for the Blues. If
they can replicate that that four dominance, that's the platform
they want to create. But the Hurricanes are really hitting
miss this year and it looks a bit of a
long road back.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
Without wanting to pile on Ridy Hill Hooper too much,
the Hurricanes are down to what their third choice first
five with pretty Cameron gone for the season Harry godfree
Art at the moment for I think four to six.
He's probably had two three weeks now of that. So
I almost wonder whether you go to Rubin Love. I
know he's come back from injury, so you know a
lot of responsibility for the young man. But he's an
(13:32):
all black, one test all black. You know, plays on
the right wing, can play wing, sorry, plays full back,
can play on the wing as well, but also as
a playmaker. Almost wonder whether you handed him the keys
in this team, and with the Crusaders coming up this week,
whether they actually look to give you know, someone like
Rubin Love more touches at the ball because we know
what he can do and steer the team around the park.
(13:53):
It almost it was like they have got nothing to
lose at this point by installing someone like Love at ten.
Speaker 5 (13:58):
Yeah, I'd like to see that, or even Callum Harkin.
I thought he was really good in the NPC and
he's quite a robust player. He could play for coming
at fullback for the Hurricanes. I know they're struggling with
depth and their outside backs have lost a lot of
players there in recent years with Celesie Rowsy and Josh
(14:22):
Morby and some big outs there and that has really
affected the balance of that back three and then the
outs at first five that you mentioned. But Riley hall Hepper,
I thought he was good the week before, but he's
not the answer.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
Not in big games. No, these are Derby's. There's a
test match like intensity to an extent. Yeah, and you
saw that couple of big kicks.
Speaker 5 (14:45):
He missed some misstackles and he's just a bit of
a vulnerability and teams will target that. The Crusaders will
know him well, they'll know his game, his weaknesses, his strengths,
and they'll come for that channel. And they've got some
big ball runners they'll come for him all day long.
So I think it is time for the Hurricanes to
make that switch. It needs to happen now because they're seasons.
(15:10):
It's make or break time.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
Yeah, they're in seventh as it stands, two points outside
the top six. Let's go to that game that you're at,
Crusaders and Chiefs A sorry, Crusaders and Fiji and Drewer
thirty one to fourteen. The Crusaders win, first time they've
won in Fiji, and that includes games they've played against
the Chiefs there as well a couple of losses to
the Drewer along there, and kind of felt like obviously
(15:33):
mentioned the white Shirts that was probably a real big
factor in it, but also started really strongly. And we've
seen Crusaders teams in the past and visiting teams, you know,
once that heat gets into your fifty five sixty sixtieth minute,
it becomes really really hard and if you switch off,
they can score. Well. We saw that for an extent
and ten minute period where Drewer got a couple of tries,
(15:54):
but the Crusader's already banked a number of points at
that point and just sort of were comfortable playing the
style they wanted to. I thought, you know, didn't didn't
overplay their hand. I suppose is the way i'd phrase that.
They weren't trying to do too much with too little.
(16:14):
They just played what was in front of them and
kept it relatively basic and that was enough for the victory.
Speaker 5 (16:21):
It was a very smart, tactically stute victory from the Crusaders.
They slowed the game down at every opportunity, They ground
Fiji down, They lived off their mistakes, they went up
the middle, they kept it tight, they used their kicking
game really well, and they took their opportunities. And I
(16:45):
think if you haven't been there, it is quite hard
to grasp just how hard and energy sapping it is.
At every break, players down on their haunches, hands on hips.
And you mentioned the Crusaders fatigue at the end, and
that was very evident, and I think the bench played
a big role in just helping them cling on. Basically,
(17:06):
but they've done enough to that point. So a big
one for the crises. As you mentioned that it's historic,
and I think that was a big target for them,
having not gone to Fiji and one before, so I
know they took a lot of pride in that, and
they've got Fijians in their team, shave Fiahaki, Seever Reese,
George Bauer, and they were really disappointed with their performance
(17:29):
the week before against Mowana. I spoke to Rob Penny
afterwards and he described their season to date as a
bit schizophrenic, and I think that's probably a good term.
Speaker 4 (17:39):
What do you make of where they at bither.
Speaker 3 (17:41):
Thing they needed to string together consistent performances. You know,
they came off that Blues performance a couple of weeks ago,
were very poor against Mowana Pacifica. Now they've put a
stake in the ground, gone to Fiji and won for
the first time. They played the Hurricanes on a six
day turnaround. The Canes also have that obviously six day turnaround.
The Canes have had to fly from Auckland back home.
The Crusaders have had to go to Fiji and the
(18:02):
energ that that sapped out of them, but they need
to back it up. They need to keep backing up.
We've got a few more derbies to come at the
Blues the following week. I think from memory, the Chiefs
on the horizon at about three four weeks time. They've
got a lot of Derby still to come the Crusaders,
so they've got some tough games to come and if
they want to be at the point end of the season,
(18:23):
they need to finish in the top two because I
think that's the path the victory. Hard to see anyone
winning the Super Rugby comp If you're not in the
top two at the season, you might be able to
go and beat a team in a one off in
a final to v one two, but I think the
path becomes very very hard if you're coming from five
(18:43):
or six in the in the plutoff. So backing it up,
I think the key to this year is I have
been consistency in selections for the Crusaders. You know Taha Kima,
they've trusted him this year. By this point last year,
I think they've played three or four players at first five.
Kyle Preston's been there half back. He's out injured at
the moment. Now. I hope them slot soon. You've got
an all Black coming in there. You've got Christian leer
(19:06):
Willi at number eight. You've got consistent playing very well. Yeah,
So consistency of selections. Last year was a lot of
chopping and changing, trying to find the winning formula, but
that doesn't happen. You can't chop and change your way
to victories. This year they've been a bit more consistent
and it's delivering results, but they need to keep backing
it up.
Speaker 4 (19:23):
A couple of points I want to pick up on there.
Speaker 5 (19:25):
I think what we're seeing from the Chiefs and the Crusaders,
not so much the Crusaders because they lost the week before,
but you're going to need to find and prove you
can win in different ways now. The Chiefs on Friday
night driving rain, they had to keep it tight. I
had to grind it out and as we move into winter,
that's what we're going to need to see. And the Crusaders,
who have been quite expansive this year, usable offloaded. Their
(19:49):
attack has been a real feature. This was a stylistically
very different performance. Their defense was exceptional. They frustrated the drawer,
force mistakes, use their kicking game and so tactically it
is very different and that's what there'll be a big
takeaway for them.
Speaker 4 (20:08):
He was very impressive Nahoam. I thought he controlled the
game well.
Speaker 5 (20:11):
His kicking game was put a lot of pressure on
the doer's outside backs. Kim I just want to pick
up on that as well. You mentioned a lot of
faith there and there is a bit of rocks and
diamonds about him, and I know there's a bit of
criticism out there and the loyal crusader's fan base for him.
Would you stick with him and back in because it's
(20:33):
not he pulled off of fifty twenty two early missed
the number of kicks. I think you might have sent
one out on the fall. You know, he's a long
long way from the finished product, he.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
Certainly is, but I can see something and he's still
very young. Ye know, his name has been around for
a few years, but he's still very very young in
terms of a first five and running a super rugby team.
And you only get better by having rips in time
under the belt. Last year, flicking him back to Wakato
Club Rugby, what's he going to learn there? Probably not
(21:04):
much This year he's learning his goal kicking is an
absolute work on. Needs to get better on that front.
To give it to Shaffi Hackey, Well, I don't know
why they haven't, but I almost think, sorry, I know
why they haven't because they want to trust hard to
be back you to get this right. We're back you
because we know you're going to Ego can write you
take it away from him, similar to last year. We
don't back you to do this on the big stage.
(21:25):
So I think there's a bit of trust there from
Rob Penny going we trust that you'll get this right
at some point. But again, how many points do you
leave out in the park And we saw Fee Hackey
a tent one from what was it you there sixty
four meters out?
Speaker 4 (21:37):
You did it easy, had to have the distance, just
didn't quite go through the uprights, but it wasn't far away.
Got to kick those if you're an all Black mate.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
Sixty four out yeah, I mean, but again that put
the drawer on a little bit of notice that if
it's on, you know they'll have a have a crack
at that. So yeah, I think you stick with them.
And I know there's been clamoring for James O'Connor, but
I just think that the trust element there. In terms
of building Taha Camada, I think you got put him there.
(22:08):
What do you make a SIV center, by the way,
didn't have a lot of impact on the gar I
think it was fine. I mean, it didn't have as
many touches as you probably because the Crusaders get really narrow,
really tight, would have had a lot more touches.
Speaker 4 (22:20):
On the wing on a game like that. Didn't put
too much of a foot wrong from what I saw, though, No, it.
Speaker 5 (22:25):
Wasn't that style of game. He did what he had
to do. I don't think it's his long term position.
He has played there coming through the ranks, but I
think he's better suited to the wing because he is
a guy that naturally gets involved from there. Anyway, just
casting a head to next week sounds like David Hevilly's achilles,
very touch and go. I would be surprised to see
him against the Hurricanes. Scott Barrett much more of a chance.
(22:50):
So maybe the Crusader's midfield stays at it as it
is interesting to see what they do with seven. I
think that is also a reflection of Macha Springer's form
and Rob Penny wanting to keep him in that team.
Speaker 4 (23:04):
That's right.
Speaker 3 (23:06):
Saturday afternoon more Wanda Pacificus the Warrior has forty five
twenty eight. This was a heck of a game and
Mwana again, you know, first time they've got two wins
in a row in Super rugby and deserved. Wasn't looking
that way at halftime. But as I said earlier, you
give them one to forty minutes, they are going to
tea the shreds and that's what they did on Saturday afternoon.
Speaker 5 (23:27):
Our second half team, aren't they. We've seen this before
against the Highlanders when they lost and the Chiefs in Pukakoi.
They need to fix that, and I think this time
it was probably more a mental come down, trying to
get off the high I've beaten the Crusaders, their greatest
(23:47):
win in their short history, the expectations that come with that,
the hype, and so a bit of a false start
and not a lot went right in that first stuff,
but they regrouped and man, they can score some points. Yeah,
forty five points and they have done that consistently this year.
Defensively they haven't been as good, but when they're on,
(24:10):
they will come through you. They can go around you.
They have a number of attacking threats. So the Blues
will be very nervous this week for that local derby.
Speaker 3 (24:21):
Yeah, the Mourner are the kings of regrouping, because you
look at the deficit and go game might be slipping
away from them, but doesn't seem to matter for them.
But the ruck speed when they're on the ruck speed
that they play with when they give their you know,
players like fire Lungy Tuptlor Savia of course a crack.
When those forwards get going, they have very, very hard
(24:41):
to stop. We saw that the prop score three tries
on the weekend. They've got some great outside backs and
when they click that they're just really dangerous to play it,
and not many teams can hang with them.
Speaker 5 (24:53):
No, and Patrick PELAGREENI very good. Again, he's the glue
that's that's holding that together. And just want to pick
up great recruitment and great coaching. You'd have to say,
to bring a guy up to speed that was playing
second division and English club rugby. And yeah, isn't it
great to see more on a history made and validation
(25:15):
further legitimacy. After that went over the Crusaders, it wasn't
a one off. They are here to compete.
Speaker 3 (25:21):
Yeah, and you think back to the questions around their
long term viability in this comp and whether they can survive.
And the Webbys had some ownership changes here and there
through the last couple of years. But though the whipping
boys for a while and you go, this could be
a team that could easily be flecked at some point. Well,
now they're top six contenders, if not further and it's
(25:44):
hard to imagine Super Rugby without them now, which is
the great thing saying with the Fiji and Drawer, you know,
they've got to the point where these teams are legitimate
contenders to win rugby games. They're not just the whipping boys.
They're not there to make up the numbers. So in
terms of when one has got to that's exactly where
you want them to be in this competition.
Speaker 5 (26:04):
And that's why we don't want to change the competition
right now because teams like Maayana are having these victories
knocking over well established teams the Waratas the Crusaders, and
it has taken them sometime where the Drewer were competitive
from the outset. And I think it is an advantage
(26:24):
being a one nation team. You've got that national support,
you have a pool of sponsors. I think they've got
fifteen local sponsors propping up the Drewer and their player
pool is much more concentrated. Smuana has taken them time
to find their identity, to develop their culture, to get
(26:47):
a good coaching team, to find a home base, to
understand what it takes to win at this level, to
recruit well. And they've still got a long way to go,
but getting someone like Ardie Severe was massive getting tana
Umag on board. So it has been a very slow,
gradual process, but most startup teams need time and we're
(27:07):
seeing that growth nowe on and off the field. They
I saw some stats that they have the most engagement
in social media than any other team in Australasia. So
the engagements there, they're building a fan base and then
the results are coming. So it is magic to see
(27:31):
something come to fruish and like that long mat continue.
They're not the finished product, but they are setting expectations
and look, isn't it amazing to sit here and say
it would not be a shock to see them knock
over the Blues this week.
Speaker 4 (27:44):
Absolutely, that's what we want out of this competition. The Waratas.
Speaker 3 (27:47):
I'm not sure if they went home between the Hurricanes
or not, but tough old trip for New Zealand. Two weeks,
one hundred and two points conceded and Suwa Lei is
the bright spot for them. But there's not much else
going on in that war Retars team at the moment.
Speaker 5 (28:01):
No, they've fallen off a cliff. They are three and
zero at home, so they will be desperate to get back.
But it can't be that simple. You've got to win
on the road. And yeah, I'm not sure what's gone
wrong there because they were horrific against the Hurricanes and
then got belt in that second half, so maybe there's
(28:24):
some mental challenges there. They've got stack squad, yeah, full
of Wallabies. They should be playing and performing a lot better.
Speaker 4 (28:32):
They should be.
Speaker 3 (28:33):
Friday night, first game of the round final game, we'll
discussed Chiefs and Reds twenty seven to fifteen, driving rain.
Speaker 4 (28:40):
It was horrible weather. I have much in New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (28:42):
Thursday Friday bucketed down and it was just a niggli
old game. The Chiefs twenty seven to fifteen winners at
the end. It was ten all at halftime, the Reds
scoring a great try through Joe Brile just before the break.
Can chase, but really hard to get a sentence in
those kind of conditions and the Chiefs I think just
(29:03):
managed the game a little bit better. The Reds will
take a lot out of that, a lot to like.
Not sure McLachlin. Phillips attends the answer for them, Liner
looks like a better bet, but top of the table clash,
they gave their all I think the Reds. But the
Chiefs are just a little bit too clinical when it
counted on the night with a silly yellow card for
(29:27):
Jeffrey tu Munger Allen, which is again for the evidence
at the TMO needs to just be cast aside. But
good one for the Chiefs keeps on top of the
ladder and the Reds, you know, a couple losses Crusaders
a few weeks ago to the Kiwi teams the Chiefs
as well, not far away but not quite there yet.
Speaker 4 (29:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (29:46):
I think it is an important one for the Chiefs,
and the Reds have been their bogey team in recent years.
I think the matches tighter than the twenty seven fifteen
score line suggests. I agree about Liner, he needs to
be starting for the Reds, and I do just wonder
about the chief strategy of stacking their bench of all blacks.
I think maybe that needs to change as a season
(30:08):
goes on, because they have been a They're performing well
at the back end of matches, but they're not quite
starting as well, so bringing guys like sommersny Takiajo some
of a penny female off the bench.
Speaker 4 (30:20):
These there's a bit of a waste, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (30:23):
It is, But we've seeing the bench, you know, think
about the bombs squad and that's what everyone goes to.
But the last thirty minutes I think now in matches
is just as important as the first fifty. And I
think we almost need to get past the idea of
bench being a relegation bench being you're not good enough
to be in the starting team. I think we need
to embrace the concept of finishes. You know, look at
(30:44):
Malcolm Marx and what he does for the spring Box
and how good he is replacing bon Gain but Nambi
the couple of world class players there, but Marks is
in my mind a better hooker comes off the bench.
The last thirty minutes absolutely bosses things. So from a
strategy perspective, I don't necessarily mind it. I think the
thirty minutes that count of the back end of the games.
(31:04):
If you're in the first fifty, that's going to close
out the games. And probably we we said a lot,
you know, an experience off bench teams change things you
know Royga goes off the bench, it comes off on.
Speaker 4 (31:17):
There was a weekend weird substitution.
Speaker 3 (31:18):
Yeah, Idianadi comes on with what fifteen to play? You know,
roy Gard had been very, very good. I thought in
that game the drop off between Royguard and Eddie and
Ardi is big massive. But I'm not advocating for Rutguard
to start, but sometimes sorry to come off the bench.
I'm not over going for Rodyard to come off the bench.
Played last thirty minutes, but it's such a big part
of the game now that I don't necessarily mind it.
Speaker 5 (31:39):
From the Chiefs, Roygard should have played the eighty that
there's you don't need to make sub substitutions and mean
he was playing well, and yes, half back to get fatigue,
but there are certain games that they can play eighty.
And I understand where you're coming from, and it is
a lot more common the Crusaders that are in Fiji,
(31:59):
and I think and that's climates.
Speaker 4 (32:02):
It makes sense.
Speaker 5 (32:03):
But for me, the Chiefs line out struggled a wee
bit and takeyo Ho for me is a much better
hooker than Brody McAllister. I'd like to see him for fifty,
not twenty or thirty and same with Summer Penny Female.
It's an interesting strategy and I just it's going to
be interesting to see how that evolves throughout the for
(32:23):
the Chiefs and other teams like the Crusaders, and we've
seen it from the Blues. It is much more common,
like you say, to target those finishers because it's been
an issue for teams. The Blues have struggled losing games
late and they tried to stack their bench. Didn't really
work for them. They've gone back the other way. So yeah,
there's a bit of trial and error as well.
Speaker 4 (32:44):
Yeah, there certainly is.
Speaker 3 (32:45):
That'll bring up the end of the first half of
Rugby Direct back with the second half including the final four.
After this, I could see our friends at Habit Health.
Speaker 2 (32:53):
This is Rugby Direct, a podcast for real rugby fans.
Speaker 4 (33:00):
Every try try and sixty sec every tackle to tackle,
tackle get up again, I thank him before it's Rugby Direct.
Speaker 2 (33:10):
Ladies.
Speaker 4 (33:11):
You're back with Rugby Direct powered by a Habit Health.
Speaker 3 (33:14):
Time now for the second half of the podcast and
our final four topic number one, should more be done
to spread talent around the franchises?
Speaker 4 (33:22):
Liam?
Speaker 3 (33:23):
I suppose we look at the Blues on the weekend.
They're pitiphetic coming off the bench. Harry Plumber all black
Cap last year, not in their twenty three. You know
the teams they're crying out for tens. You think back
to the Crusaders and twenty years ago and they had
major Mertons Carter period after that had Colin Sad any
(33:43):
number of tens. So it's not a new issue. But
do you think something should be done to prevent quote
unquote stockpiling of plays?
Speaker 4 (33:50):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (33:50):
I would like to see New Zealand Rugby be more
influential in the space to try and push players in
certain directions. I think we see the success of it
with guys like Caleb Tunguey Tao and the Highlanders throughout
Super Rugby. You know the mod An era of players
getting opportunities and grabbing them.
Speaker 4 (34:13):
On the converter.
Speaker 5 (34:14):
On the contrasting side, players go backwards and don't get
opportunities to push for high honors when they're not playing.
And is it beneficial for New Zealand Rugby to be
stockpiling three tens and you've effectively got six quality tens
and two franchises and the Highlanders Tane Robinson not the answer, unfortunately,
(34:39):
and the Hurricanes are forced to go to Riley horheapper.
How much better off would the competition be if the
Holanders had caleber Trusk or the Hurricanes had Stephen Peterfefer
who was sitting on the bench and played what fifteen
minutes at the weekend. I understand the challenges around it,
and telling players where to go is not ideal, but
(35:01):
look look at the NBA players get traded on a whim.
Speaker 3 (35:03):
Should the ends should ins o, though, be playing god
on a professional competition with integrity.
Speaker 4 (35:11):
To go you go there, you go there. I don't
know if you can be that dictatorial about it, but
we do see it.
Speaker 5 (35:15):
An Irish rugby Joey Carberry went from Leinster to Munster
and that there are other examples up there of where
they I don't think they are saying I don't think
they do say you must go there, but they say, look,
your your career is going to be enhanced if you do.
Speaker 3 (35:34):
I would like to see the old school draft system
come back. And for those that don't recall it, it
was in the days early from right the start of
Super rugby until maybe the mid two thousands at a
guess where this is when the NPC teams are more
aligned with Super Rugby, be you could protect a certain
number of players from your patch, from your regions, and
(35:57):
then once you've done that, you had to fill up
your squad with players from the draft. So any number
of players that weren't contracted to go there. I would
like to see a return to that. Say you could
contract eight to thirty players and to make up the
rest of your thirty eight man scored, you go to
a draft and so you've got a planet advance a
bit because you want to have Boden Barrett for three
(36:17):
four seasons. Well, you know that's one player in your
twenty eight that you have to account for, but you
can protect that you can protect, and obviously when you
make signings around protecting players, you know that there's going
to be some jepardy and there's going to be some
players that you can't protect that you can only cap
at twenty eight or whatever the number is. And that
(36:38):
would then bring those players that aren't contracted to a
Super Rugby team and say say it's ten spots available
in each roster, Well that's if you include one to
PACIFICA sixty spots that could be filled at a point
in the year, whether it's after the NPC, midway through
the NBC, whatever it is, and that means that tactically
(37:00):
you are more likely to be able to go. Let's
say Harry Plumber is staying in you see on Rugby,
but Harry Plumber, maybe not protected by the Blues, could
end up at the Highland, could end up that and
you take those opportunities there. I would like to see
a return from that, and what it does do as
well would keep Super Rugby in the headlines those teams
in the headlines throughout the rest of the year. Yeah,
they're not playing. There's a lot of talk around, well,
(37:22):
we know that player X is on a five year contract,
so they'll definitely be part of that twenty eight. Will
they'll take up an option to keep this player in
the twenty eight Who knows? So it just keeps those
storylines going but also helps level the playing field a
little bit.
Speaker 4 (37:37):
Yeah, I like it. The last point I'm going to
pick up on.
Speaker 5 (37:39):
The one thing Super Rabi could do to really shoot
itself into lights is have a competition wide draft and
there are massive logistical challenges with that with players New
Zealand players going to Australian teams and your pathways and
all those sorts of things. But what you're suggesting is
a bit of a compromise. You protect X amount of
(38:02):
players and then there's a pool that you could market
and people would be fascinated by engaging with that.
Speaker 3 (38:12):
We look at the Big Bash League and they do
the overseas player draft and various other things that go
around as a televised program. You know, couldn't tell me
that Sky Sport, couldn't tell me that US here wouldn't
want to do some sort of event coverage around it.
When teams are going to pick you know, their players
to fool their squads. Yeah, they're not the pick of
(38:33):
the crop, the cream of the crop, these players because
they're not protected. But there is you know, a lot
a lot of interest around who goes where and what
decisions he made and look, you know, maybe a team
needs an extra first five, an extra halfback, whatever it is.
There's a lot of you know, genuine strategy and tactics
that would go into it.
Speaker 4 (38:51):
Yeah, and the narratives and storylines that flow out of that.
Speaker 5 (38:54):
Look at a guy like Preston and the impact he
made scoring three tries on Debous for the Crusaders now
he was picked up out of NPC and Wellington and
so some of those fringe guys can actually have a
massive impact. Tongueytail is another one and we've seen it
with the Honders with the holo going down there over
the years. And yeah, a third string first five at
(39:18):
the Chiefs or Blues as a starter.
Speaker 4 (39:20):
Right now for the Hurricanes and Highlanders. So I like
the concept.
Speaker 5 (39:24):
I think there does need to be some sort of
caveats or notion for pushing players and spreading the talent
and it's only going to enhance the competitiveness of the competition, which.
Speaker 3 (39:37):
Is exactly what we want. And it's not like it's
not competitive at the moment, but just that talent spread
could be could be spread better. Topic number so the
Orpecky Final Blues and Matter two seven o five on
Saturday evening. We talked abouit last week about the scheduling there,
which to me remains baffling. All for women's rugby, all
for promoting it, all for having it in prime time,
(39:57):
and I get there are different audiences, but just don't
quite get the logic around it. When you want to
expose your brand. When there's a Highlanders drawer which is
a must game for both teams on the other channel,
you know, it's just it's all about promoting it. And
I'm not saying they shouldn't be playing in primetime, but
you've got to give people opportunity to find it, and
(40:20):
I think that's the issue. But regardless, who do you
think is going to win this weekend? Blues and we
had a loss to the chiefs manwer on the weekend
the Blues beat the Hurricanes, who are probably much more
competitive than they have been throughout the entirety of this competition.
Speaker 4 (40:35):
My head says Blues at home and Eden Park at
the victory. It is first one that scheduling.
Speaker 5 (40:39):
We obviously touched on it last week, but so it's
after the Blues Maana as well, and there's no Super
Raugby game prior to that. So I really don't understand
why you wouldn't have it as you don't have to
call it the curtain raiser, It's still call it a doubleheaderah,
But I think it makes much more sense to have
it in an un congested window and have the Blues
(41:03):
and Wana after that. I think you're much more likely
to get fans coming in pre match for the Blues
men men men's team rather than staying afterwards for a
seven o five kickoff. Maybe Club Rugby there is an
argument there, but yeah, I totally agree about the scheduling. Baffling.
(41:23):
Look on the final, it's the first time the Chiefs
haven't been in it. So interesting there, and it will
be the first time I think, correct me if I'm
wrong that a team will go back to back. Might
or two might have sayn to say about that, but yes,
well they won the title in that but yeah, this
is the first Yeah, the first time that summer. You're
saying that this was the first time a team's going
(41:43):
back to back to win it. Yeah, they going to
win it first. Well, the Blues have won one yea
and Multa two have won one. Yeah, so it will
be the first time that any team has gone back
to back well one two, Yes, but the Blues will
win sor Okay, we got.
Speaker 4 (42:01):
There at the end. Topic number three came on a
Pacific A win Super Rugby.
Speaker 5 (42:08):
Then need to play eighty minutes, so right now I'd
say no, But they are fully capable of knocking over
anyone on their day.
Speaker 3 (42:15):
I think they can win. I genuinely do think they
can win if they If they beat the Blues this week,
they get it, they continue to get that role on.
Speaker 4 (42:21):
I just think they're going to be very very hard
to stop.
Speaker 3 (42:23):
And the higher they get in the playoffs, which they're
on the outside looking in at the moment, you know
they're going to play at home. We know how big
that is for them, very very hard team to beat.
Now at North Harbor, I think they can win again.
It's their eighty minute performance and they'll look back now
and go should have had that force win, should have
had that high end as win. Hell, probably should have
even beat in the Chiefs even in all honesty, despite
(42:45):
being forty three to seven down. You know they don't
can see one or two of those tries. They're right
in that game, So there are missed opportunities. If they
can keep delivering the way that they are, they're not
out of any contest. We've seen that. I genuinely think.
I'm not saying they will win, but I think they
are capable of winning Super Rugby this year.
Speaker 5 (43:04):
Yeah. What I would say is they've already vastly exceeded
my expectations. I didn't expect them to be in the
top six picture realistically this year. I thought maybe next
year in terms of the incremental growth that we've seen
from them now having gone back to back, grasp that
consistency and keep the ball rolling. So I'd like to
(43:24):
see more consistency throughout the game. Put together an eighty
minute performance. But come the playoffs, I think the cream
will rise and I think we are starting to see
that slowly.
Speaker 3 (43:37):
Indeed's topic four, but later the party on this meant
to discuss it last week. But over the last couple
of weeks the ANZAC Dave Bladslower Cup test, which was
floated by Australia Western Australian Government, we're going to put
some money into it. Using on Rugby said no thanks
your reaction to that because speak rather heated across the TAZM.
Speaker 5 (43:56):
To that it has Tim Morem came out in slam
New Zealand Rugby and I needed some fact checking on this.
But he suggested that money that Western Force government we're
putting up, that the teams are going to be handsomely compensating.
Speaker 4 (44:12):
Compensated.
Speaker 5 (44:13):
He was suggesting to the tune of two hundred thousand
dollars I'd like to see the figures on that. But
also on this side of the Tasman Jeff Wilson and
Justin Marshall supported to Morren's views that ZEBI could do more.
The issue around it is you'd have to take All
Blacks and Wallabies out of Super Ragby for two weeks
(44:34):
and we've seen the backlash around that with All Black
rests and that notwithstanding, I would like to see the
concept investigated more. I think it would be a hit
to see the All Blacks and the Wallabies play one
off test at a different time of year. Anything New
(44:56):
garners a bit of interest, but there are clearly widespread
problems and you are cannibalizing Super Rugby just as it's
starting to really take off.
Speaker 3 (45:06):
Yeah, it just makes no sense to me whatsoever this concept,
and I think New Zealand Rugby are right to reject it.
So they would have had to play in Perth every year,
so that would have meant well, you'd still play one
blitter is the start of the year and they have
to play two in the Rugby Championship, so Perth gets one.
So Australia would New Zealand would play two away games
(45:27):
and the Blitters every year potentially.
Speaker 4 (45:29):
Well maybe they'll be a compromise that some years is
too in New Zealand and you pause Super Rugby for
a week or two weeks or do you think it going?
I think it keeps going. But yeah, it losire all
Blacks plays.
Speaker 5 (45:41):
It is a massive handicap to take all the All
Blacks and Wallabies out for two whole weeks and that
does massively compromise the integrity of the competition.
Speaker 3 (45:52):
And you land on a very busy sporting day already
across Australia there's what three NRL games, the Warriors of
nagot One on the side of the Tasman, there's the
traditional Roosters, Saint George la Warror.
Speaker 4 (46:05):
I think it is.
Speaker 5 (46:06):
I think the Black it's the traditional AFL games. Bill
Black's trump set certainly in New Zealand's yep.
Speaker 3 (46:12):
But you're landing on a very busy Australian sporting calendar.
So where did the headlines come from? Where do you
find a way to I know you're in Perth and
then probably the interest will gravitate there. But you're landing
on what is a very very busy sporting day as
it stands I know that clearly, pers just want to
slice that Anzac day pie.
Speaker 5 (46:30):
I think they sell out that new stadium, no problem
up there. There's plenty of expats, they get, the Force,
get great support. It's a great venue and the All
Blacks are hugely popular. It's Australian Rugby's number one ticket,
so no problem selling that out. It would be a
ratings hit. The issue is the massive hit that Super
(46:53):
Rugby takes.
Speaker 3 (46:54):
Yeah, interesting one. I just look at you. I think
that the concepts now did in the water the Anzac test. Liam.
Let's get into our tipping Hurricanes Crusaders Friday nights. In fact, Liam,
let's get into that tipping recap last week five. The
side of the table. You got two of five chiefs
and wine to right. Everything's wrong.
Speaker 5 (47:14):
Tough to take, isn't it. My two teams the Drawer
and the Canes. Your two teams heartbreaking.
Speaker 3 (47:21):
So I've now got a six point leader as it stands,
which is great news for my fans out there and myself.
Speaker 4 (47:26):
Hurrigan's Crusaders Friday nights in the Capitol. Oh, Elliot, Elias, Elies.
Speaker 3 (47:32):
It's just look this on the Crusaders on the weekend
surely you want to see them when.
Speaker 5 (47:38):
No one wants to see them one mate, Okay, let's
get that clear from the outset. But I am going
to tip them.
Speaker 4 (47:43):
It breaks my hearts, but I need to make up
some ground here.
Speaker 3 (47:48):
Okay, Well, you're not gonna make it anything ground because
I've also picked the Crusaders, so that's a block. Wartars
and Chiefs nine thirty five in Sydney. You talked earlier
about the war Retars. You know good at home? Is
this the way they get back into form by beating
the competition's top team.
Speaker 5 (48:06):
Look, they'll be happy to get home Camp's sleep in
your own beds and get a stick over their head
from Dan McCall. Probably, But no, they're not going to
beat the Chiefs Incidney.
Speaker 4 (48:16):
I tend to agree.
Speaker 3 (48:16):
Blues more Water Pacific at four thirty five on Saturday,
looking forward to this one at Eden Park and all
that might bring. Can we want to go three in
a row? Went back to back for the first time
on the weekend. Can they make it three?
Speaker 4 (48:31):
Yeah? They can.
Speaker 5 (48:33):
I'm not gonna tip them to do so, but that
they are real chance just just on. This game has
been billed by the Blues ironically as a bit of
a celebration of pacifica rugby.
Speaker 4 (48:43):
And that's that's pretty special, isn't it.
Speaker 5 (48:47):
When you think about some of the greats of the game,
many of them are Pacific Pacific, many of them do
have Pacific heritage. So hopefully it's a festival atmosphere and
the weather plays ball and it all comes together. But
I am going to tip the Blue.
Speaker 3 (49:01):
I'm going to as well, but boy it would be
great SIMI wan to win another one. Highlanders drew at
nine the eleven big game in the common text to
both of these two teams seasons, Liam, can the Highlanders,
you know, get back to winning ways at home?
Speaker 4 (49:16):
Stop the Rock? Yes, look, Jamie will have them working
pretty hard this week.
Speaker 3 (49:20):
Go.
Speaker 5 (49:20):
I'd suggest the Drua have been very poor the last
two weeks. Got belted in Perth by the Force and
they dropped a lot of ball. Their lineup was a
shambles against the Crusaders and Suver. So yes, I'm going
to tip the Landers.
Speaker 3 (49:34):
Yeah, I can't see the drew unfortunately going to Dunedin
Reds Brumbies. We've gone full from four and similar tips
here At this point in time, Bre's hosting the Brumbies
in Brisbane Saturday nights.
Speaker 4 (49:46):
Read's are the best team in Australia, so I'm going
to tip them.
Speaker 3 (49:50):
I'm going to the Brumbies run upset. I reckon they
might be able to do it in Brisbane and that
would really check things up from a competition perspective, as
well as bragging rights to the best of Stralian team.
As we head for the home stretch in Super Rugby
Rugby Direct MVP Medal voting quick recapable where we sit
Addie save at eleven pins to mar They have a
dove An ol Way and Patrick Palagrini tied for second
(50:11):
on eight and then in behind on six Quinta Pie Will,
Jordan Tuplessi Cofi and Damien McKenzie. Do any of those
players get any points this week? Liamb you threety Ones please?
Speaker 5 (50:21):
Yes, Elliot, I'm going to go Bone and Barrett for three.
Very much a virtuo so performance from Bowden. Some banana kicks,
I think, was it. Tony Johnson said something like you'd
never seen so much swing at Eden Park since Larnce
Ken's very good. Boden had what one meter to work
in and he peeled off forty meters, probably overkicked a
(50:45):
little bit at times, but there was clearly the tactics.
Great performance from Boden, so he gets my three. Two
to Ardie Severe very influential for moueo again and one
to Luke Jacobson who was strong for the Chiefs. Well.
Speaker 3 (50:57):
Our threes and ones are the same. Bone and Barrett
three for me Luke Jacobson one for methods leadership in
weak conditions in the game that wasn't overly expansive. I
thought was very very very good. No Hopeam gets my
two points key in that Crusaders performance came back from
an injury in round one and we're now looking at
that form and going this is the kind of player
(51:17):
that got into the All Blacks last year. Cole Preston
has been playing well for the Crusaders currently ad injured,
but I think you look at Hotham and Preston, they've
got a couple of good half backs there and someone
like a Mitchell Drummond who's been a centurion for the
Crusaders now probably their third pick halfback, which is remarkable
to see.
Speaker 4 (51:35):
But he gets my two. That does it for rugby.
Speaker 3 (51:37):
Dirick though for another week, Liam, any overseas adventures coming
up for you this week, or you're staying in New zeal.
Speaker 5 (51:42):
No overseas trips, but a special occasion. My sister is
getting married, so we'll be watching the Hurricanes Crusaders from there.
Just keep that under wraps so they don't tell her.
Speaker 3 (51:53):
Well, I'm assuming she's not a loyal listener of Rugby Directs,
otherwise the secret might be out. Just checking the ear
button and maybe listen on gold Sport as well. I'm
sure you'll be fine. None will notice if you've got
an airpit button. I'm sure during the wedding you'll be
be fun. It'll do us for Rugby Direct rather weak.
Thanks to listen by our English and our friends at
Habitath tackling all your aches and pains from sport.
Speaker 1 (52:13):
And work for more from news talks at b Listen
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Speaker 2 (00:19):
Straight down the middle of dry score, try get inside
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Speaker 1 (00:32):
It's Rugby Direct with Elliot Smith and Leam Napier, powered
by News Talks EDB.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Welcome into Rugby to repowered by Habit Health, tackling all
your aches and pains from sports and work. Back again
for another week. Elliott Smith with me Liam Napier as
always to wrap up the week that has been in
rugby across the globe and in Super Rugby and Big
Buller to you, Liam Napier, Welcome to the podcast.
Speaker 4 (00:56):
It's Buller Buller Toss, Drawer Toss.
Speaker 5 (01:00):
My drawer didn't quite get up, but no, I will
say if if you have a rugby bucket list that's
tending a game in Fiji should be right up there.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
We'll get into the nuts and bolts of the game
in a wee while. But the experience, what was it
like up there? I know you sort of said that
you wanted to go see these the crusaders up close
and see if they were the you know the same
the British product again under Rob Penny, what did you
see up close and what was the atmosphere like?
Speaker 5 (01:29):
Yeah, that I guess touched on the atmosphere and what
it's like from an experienced point of view. It's very authentic.
I think the big takeaway for me was that just
reminded me what true fandom is. The Drawer were down
thirty one nil and the fans get their two hours
(01:50):
before the game. They've got their umbrellas out because it's hot,
it's humid, there's grass, embankments, you can see the coast
right there.
Speaker 4 (01:57):
This is in Suva. They play in Lautoka as well.
Speaker 5 (02:02):
Just a bit of a backstory that the first year
with the Drawer, when they beat the Crusaders the first time,
in lowtime, people were climbing the trees outside the ground
and one of the trees actually broke and fell into
the crowd.
Speaker 4 (02:15):
So that's how keen they are to watch their team.
Speaker 5 (02:18):
But as I mentioned that, they're down thirty one nil
and then they score a try and the decibels in
the ground. There's only ten twelve thousand people there and
it feels like fifty thousand. They're up, they're chanting, they're
there till the end. Of the game in New Zealand,
if your team's down thirty one nil, half the crowd's
(02:40):
probably leaving and they're disengaged. The drawer were very very poor,
dropped so much ball. They were never really in that contest,
and yet the crowd is there there hanging off every moment.
The cheering, scrums and lineouts is a very unique atmosphere.
(03:00):
So you know, it's a tough climent. We live and
financially and I had assistance to get there on these
sorts of things. But you are going there for a
holiday or you do have a Rugby bucket list, you know,
twicking them and Alice Park. There's magic experiences, but from
a pure fandom point of view, is very special.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
Could hold a Super Round Fiji possibly in time.
Speaker 5 (03:24):
I think there would need to be a lot of
work around infrastructure in terms of there is lighting and suva.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
The pitch probably needs a bit of work to.
Speaker 5 (03:36):
Maintain or be able to sustain what would it be
six odd games, and then a hotel infrastructure what professional
teams need on a day to day. I think that
the Crusaders stayed in the holiday in They flew in
on the Thursday and out on the Sunday, so it's
a pretty quick trip and it is a very brutal
(03:58):
place to play from a condition's point of view. The
Crusader's prepped really well for that. I think they this
year from pre season. They've been wearing vests and beanies.
They wore the white jersey with the Fijian cultural markings
on it, but it was white and that was clearly
(04:19):
a lesson from previous experience.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
So they did it really well this time.
Speaker 5 (04:24):
They stacked their bench Ethan Blackheader, Ficture, New Quentin Strange,
LeVar Moore, like some real heavy hitters, James O'Connor. So
they did it very well the Crusaders this time around.
Look the super around there would be amazing from an
atmosphere point of view.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
I think people would go, but I don't think they're
ready for it yet.
Speaker 5 (04:48):
I don't think it's realistic, particularly if they do bring
it back next year.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
We'll get into the nuts and bolts of that game
in a week while here on Rugby Direct. Let's go
back to the final game of the weekend, Force and
Highlanders twenty nine to twenty. The Force beat the Highlanders.
This felt like a game at the Honders was there
for the taking and they had a twenty points to
seven lead and just opened the door for the Force
(05:13):
before halftime, and the Force barreled on through that door.
Sean Witheri gets red carded. Just felt like the Holanders
spun out of control a little.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
Bit in that game. What did you make of that one?
Speaker 5 (05:26):
Yes, a bit of a story of the Highlands season.
Isn't that letting games slip? I think we've touched on
this in previous weeks. That game was there for the taking.
The red card prove costly. I thought it was a
wee bit harsh, but you do leave your seat to
the head though you lift himself open exactly. There's not
a lot of choice. Many point would be it's not intentional,
(05:48):
but it almost doesn't matter, does it. When you put
yourself in that situation it was avoidable and so yeah, yeah,
you put yourself outside under massive pressure. Sewn Withy's had
a great season, but that was really costly and unfortunately
that's I think you draw a line through the Highlands
making the top six because of that result, they've got
the drawer in Dunedin I think this week and need
(06:11):
back them to win that game. I think guys like
Jacob Ratamvuki Nepkins are coming back through Club Rugby and
be great to see him back after his k neck injury.
You know, anytime it's a nick injury fears for players futures,
so great to see him back. And I think Fukatava
is making his way back as well. So some reinforcements
coming for the Honders, but does feel like a bit
(06:33):
too little, too late. And the impact that Jamie Joseph
made at the start of the year, where Henders really
did seem like they had a bit more resilience and
they were really competitive against the Kii opposition more than
they had been in recent years, seems to be tailing away.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
I fin hearly injured as well last few weeks as
Super Rugby season is over. He was one of the
sparks early on in that campaign. Tabatava naw Way as well,
is a player that I think started the season well
but has maybe been figured out a little bit by
opposition defenses to this point in the season. So yeah,
(07:11):
it feels like the Hondas just have lost a little
bit of momentum out of their campaign. You know. The
thing back to that Reds game, you know, which they lost,
which was imminently winnable on that afternoon, and so same
with the Hurricane. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (07:26):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
So There's been fixtures where I could have won, there's
been missed opportunities, and it feels like that might be
the tale of the season now. And ninth the Force,
who you draw a line through in terms of winning
the comp last week up to fourth?
Speaker 5 (07:39):
Yeah, lookout Western Force fans occurring, but look I think
come there into the AR. I still do not expect
them to be in the top six, but they are
a force at home.
Speaker 4 (07:51):
Well done, well done.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
Let's go back to the Blues Hurricanes on Saturday evening
at Eden Park and Army saw this one. The Blues
went by one. The only team that've beaten this year,
the Hurricanes have done it twice. It felt to me
like the Blues kind of reverted back to what they
played last year and they figured that that was going
to be the way to victory. Played very narrow, They
get the ball inside opposition territory and just play narrow
(08:16):
one out plays, strike, strike, strike it into the twenty two.
Speaker 4 (08:19):
Apply pressure that way.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
They only scored one try in the game, but it
felt like they didn't really want to work the game
on the edges, which is where the probably the Hurricanes
were looking to play with their wingers, you know, kenningda
Holler didn't have much of an impact. Nanny Punuai as well.
Reuben Love wasn't able to strike around the edges that
we've seen him play in recent times. So the Blues
(08:42):
kept it narrow. They drew penalties. I mean, when was
the last time Boden Barrack hit four penalties in the game.
Would have been a long time ago, So I thought
it wasn't pretty from the Blues, but it was a
game they had to win, and they pulled the Hurricanes
into an army wrestle, and the Canes just couldn't get
out of it and play the style that they wanted
after running in fifty plus points the previous weekends the warritors.
(09:04):
I give credit to the Blues because they just pulled
the Hurricanes into is it say an army so or
that probably the Hurricanes didn't want to get into.
Speaker 5 (09:14):
This felt like a game where there was this season
on the line for both teams, didn't it It was tense,
it was tights, and they didn't really open up and
have a crack either team. It felt like that the
Hurricanes certainly tried to use the ball more and be
a bit more expensive, but you're right, the Blues definitely
(09:35):
reverted to type, and Boden Barrett postmatch did suggest that
there's been a lot of hard conversations and that they'd
figured out what they wanted to do, and I think
that was referring to what you were suggesting that they
have gone back to type. The Blues wingers Mark Tlea
and Caleb Clark, two of the most potents attacking struke
(09:56):
weapons in the game, they barely touched the ball. Caleb
Clark gets the ball off the restart, but otherwise they're
basically contesting kicks most of the game and it worked
enough for the Blues, but it wasn't convincing and they
were fortunate in some regards. Patrick two polo to Clark
laid law a Hurricanes's coach came out and was livid
(10:19):
that that wasn't a red card, and I think there's
a case for that. Yes, there was mitigation, but it
was clear shoulder to the head contact and in the
modern game, you put yourself at the mercy of the
powers that be when that happens. The Blues I think
were on the wrong side of the penalty count something
like fourteen to eight, so the discipline was an issue
(10:41):
and the difference for me, there's two points here, Boden
Barretts and Riley Juhepper poles apart and their influences on
the game. As you'd expect to a certain degree from
a one hundred odd test veteran, Boden was in a
class of his own. But also the Blues got some
good pay off their bench and their squad depth I
(11:03):
think helped them. Angus Tarval made a big impact off
the bench, certainly one one scrump penalty and had the
Hurricanes under pressure. Hurricanes front row under under big pressure
other times as well, So the Blues bench made a
big impact, but Boden was ultimately the difference he was.
Speaker 3 (11:21):
And in a week where Damie mckenzie'd resign with New
Zealand Rugby, you know a bit of a statement from
Boden Barrett that he can play the tight games as
well and get his team across the line. Whether this
is the win that kick starts the Blue season, I
think the jury is out on that. It wasn't like
they completely rolled the Hurricanes. They pit them by a point,
could have lost that on a different night. It felt
(11:44):
like when the Hurricanes scored through Punavia that maybe they
were beginning to get on top but just couldn't quite
take hold of that advantage. Didn't see enough to suggest
that things have turned around from the Blues, though, And
they've got more wider Pacifica this week. Who you know,
give them forty minutes and they'll absolutely, you know, knock
your socks off. So that looms is a pretty big
(12:05):
game in context of the Blues season.
Speaker 5 (12:07):
It does, and I totally agree and not convinced that
the Blues are back in any way, shape or form.
They did some good things well, but there's not enough
from that performance. And the Hurricanes, on the other hand,
this was a gut wrenching loss to lose to the
Blues in similar circumstances, similar margins. They'll be kicking themselves
(12:30):
because that game was there for the taking. They spurned
a few opportunities. I thought Baalen Sullivan was good, but
many of the attacking weapons were blunted. Wasn't Duple Carifi's
best match and they I think the Blues blunted them
up front.
Speaker 4 (12:49):
That was the big the Hurricanes came.
Speaker 5 (12:51):
They wanted to be physical, they wanted to go through
the middle, and the Blues didn't allow them to do that.
So that's probably the big takeaway for the Blues. If
they can replicate that that four dominance, that's the platform
they want to create. But the Hurricanes are really hitting
miss this year and it looks a bit of a
long road back.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
Without wanting to pile on Ridy Hill Hooper too much,
the Hurricanes are down to what their third choice first
five with pretty Cameron gone for the season Harry godfree
Art at the moment for I think four to six.
He's probably had two three weeks now of that. So
I almost wonder whether you go to Rubin Love. I
know he's come back from injury, so you know a
lot of responsibility for the young man. But he's an
(13:32):
all black, one test all black. You know, plays on
the right wing, can play wing, sorry, plays full back,
can play on the wing as well, but also as
a playmaker. Almost wonder whether you handed him the keys
in this team, and with the Crusaders coming up this week,
whether they actually look to give you know, someone like
Rubin Love more touches at the ball because we know
what he can do and steer the team around the park.
(13:53):
It almost it was like they have got nothing to
lose at this point by installing someone like Love at ten.
Speaker 5 (13:58):
Yeah, I'd like to see that, or even Callum Harkin.
I thought he was really good in the NPC and
he's quite a robust player. He could play for coming
at fullback for the Hurricanes. I know they're struggling with
depth and their outside backs have lost a lot of
players there in recent years with Celesie Rowsy and Josh
(14:22):
Morby and some big outs there and that has really
affected the balance of that back three and then the
outs at first five that you mentioned. But Riley hall Hepper,
I thought he was good the week before, but he's
not the answer.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
Not in big games. No, these are Derby's. There's a
test match like intensity to an extent. Yeah, and you
saw that couple of big kicks.
Speaker 5 (14:45):
He missed some misstackles and he's just a bit of
a vulnerability and teams will target that. The Crusaders will
know him well, they'll know his game, his weaknesses, his strengths,
and they'll come for that channel. And they've got some
big ball runners they'll come for him all day long.
So I think it is time for the Hurricanes to
make that switch. It needs to happen now because they're seasons.
(15:10):
It's make or break time.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
Yeah, they're in seventh as it stands, two points outside
the top six. Let's go to that game that you're at,
Crusaders and Chiefs A sorry, Crusaders and Fiji and Drewer
thirty one to fourteen. The Crusaders win, first time they've
won in Fiji, and that includes games they've played against
the Chiefs there as well a couple of losses to
the Drewer along there, and kind of felt like obviously
(15:33):
mentioned the white Shirts that was probably a real big
factor in it, but also started really strongly. And we've
seen Crusaders teams in the past and visiting teams, you know,
once that heat gets into your fifty five sixty sixtieth minute,
it becomes really really hard and if you switch off,
they can score. Well. We saw that for an extent
and ten minute period where Drewer got a couple of tries,
(15:54):
but the Crusader's already banked a number of points at
that point and just sort of were comfortable playing the
style they wanted to. I thought, you know, didn't didn't
overplay their hand. I suppose is the way i'd phrase that.
They weren't trying to do too much with too little.
(16:14):
They just played what was in front of them and
kept it relatively basic and that was enough for the victory.
Speaker 5 (16:21):
It was a very smart, tactically stute victory from the Crusaders.
They slowed the game down at every opportunity, They ground
Fiji down, They lived off their mistakes, they went up
the middle, they kept it tight, they used their kicking
game really well, and they took their opportunities. And I
(16:45):
think if you haven't been there, it is quite hard
to grasp just how hard and energy sapping it is.
At every break, players down on their haunches, hands on hips.
And you mentioned the Crusaders fatigue at the end, and
that was very evident, and I think the bench played
a big role in just helping them cling on. Basically,
(17:06):
but they've done enough to that point. So a big
one for the crises. As you mentioned that it's historic,
and I think that was a big target for them,
having not gone to Fiji and one before, so I
know they took a lot of pride in that, and
they've got Fijians in their team, shave Fiahaki, Seever Reese,
George Bauer, and they were really disappointed with their performance
(17:29):
the week before against Mowana. I spoke to Rob Penny
afterwards and he described their season to date as a
bit schizophrenic, and I think that's probably a good term.
Speaker 4 (17:39):
What do you make of where they at bither.
Speaker 3 (17:41):
Thing they needed to string together consistent performances. You know,
they came off that Blues performance a couple of weeks ago,
were very poor against Mowana Pacifica. Now they've put a
stake in the ground, gone to Fiji and won for
the first time. They played the Hurricanes on a six
day turnaround. The Canes also have that obviously six day turnaround.
The Canes have had to fly from Auckland back home.
The Crusaders have had to go to Fiji and the
(18:02):
energ that that sapped out of them, but they need
to back it up. They need to keep backing up.
We've got a few more derbies to come at the
Blues the following week. I think from memory, the Chiefs
on the horizon at about three four weeks time. They've
got a lot of Derby still to come the Crusaders,
so they've got some tough games to come and if
they want to be at the point end of the season,
(18:23):
they need to finish in the top two because I
think that's the path the victory. Hard to see anyone
winning the Super Rugby comp If you're not in the
top two at the season, you might be able to
go and beat a team in a one off in
a final to v one two, but I think the
path becomes very very hard if you're coming from five
(18:43):
or six in the in the plutoff. So backing it up,
I think the key to this year is I have
been consistency in selections for the Crusaders. You know Taha Kima,
they've trusted him this year. By this point last year,
I think they've played three or four players at first five.
Kyle Preston's been there half back. He's out injured at
the moment. Now. I hope them slot soon. You've got
an all Black coming in there. You've got Christian leer
(19:06):
Willi at number eight. You've got consistent playing very well. Yeah,
So consistency of selections. Last year was a lot of
chopping and changing, trying to find the winning formula, but
that doesn't happen. You can't chop and change your way
to victories. This year they've been a bit more consistent
and it's delivering results, but they need to keep backing
it up.
Speaker 4 (19:23):
A couple of points I want to pick up on there.
Speaker 5 (19:25):
I think what we're seeing from the Chiefs and the Crusaders,
not so much the Crusaders because they lost the week before,
but you're going to need to find and prove you
can win in different ways now. The Chiefs on Friday
night driving rain, they had to keep it tight. I
had to grind it out and as we move into winter,
that's what we're going to need to see. And the Crusaders,
who have been quite expansive this year, usable offloaded. Their
(19:49):
attack has been a real feature. This was a stylistically
very different performance. Their defense was exceptional. They frustrated the drawer,
force mistakes, use their kicking game and so tactically it
is very different and that's what there'll be a big
takeaway for them.
Speaker 4 (20:08):
He was very impressive Nahoam. I thought he controlled the
game well.
Speaker 5 (20:11):
His kicking game was put a lot of pressure on
the doer's outside backs. Kim I just want to pick
up on that as well. You mentioned a lot of
faith there and there is a bit of rocks and
diamonds about him, and I know there's a bit of
criticism out there and the loyal crusader's fan base for him.
Would you stick with him and back in because it's
(20:33):
not he pulled off of fifty twenty two early missed
the number of kicks. I think you might have sent
one out on the fall. You know, he's a long
long way from the finished product, he.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
Certainly is, but I can see something and he's still
very young. Ye know, his name has been around for
a few years, but he's still very very young in
terms of a first five and running a super rugby team.
And you only get better by having rips in time
under the belt. Last year, flicking him back to Wakato
Club Rugby, what's he going to learn there? Probably not
(21:04):
much This year he's learning his goal kicking is an
absolute work on. Needs to get better on that front.
To give it to Shaffi Hackey, Well, I don't know
why they haven't, but I almost think, sorry, I know
why they haven't because they want to trust hard to
be back you to get this right. We're back you
because we know you're going to Ego can write you
take it away from him, similar to last year. We
don't back you to do this on the big stage.
(21:25):
So I think there's a bit of trust there from
Rob Penny going we trust that you'll get this right
at some point. But again, how many points do you
leave out in the park And we saw Fee Hackey
a tent one from what was it you there sixty
four meters out?
Speaker 4 (21:37):
You did it easy, had to have the distance, just
didn't quite go through the uprights, but it wasn't far away.
Got to kick those if you're an all Black mate.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
Sixty four out yeah, I mean, but again that put
the drawer on a little bit of notice that if
it's on, you know they'll have a have a crack
at that. So yeah, I think you stick with them.
And I know there's been clamoring for James O'Connor, but
I just think that the trust element there. In terms
of building Taha Camada, I think you got put him there.
(22:08):
What do you make a SIV center, by the way,
didn't have a lot of impact on the gar I
think it was fine. I mean, it didn't have as
many touches as you probably because the Crusaders get really narrow,
really tight, would have had a lot more touches.
Speaker 4 (22:20):
On the wing on a game like that. Didn't put
too much of a foot wrong from what I saw, though, No, it.
Speaker 5 (22:25):
Wasn't that style of game. He did what he had
to do. I don't think it's his long term position.
He has played there coming through the ranks, but I
think he's better suited to the wing because he is
a guy that naturally gets involved from there. Anyway, just
casting a head to next week sounds like David Hevilly's achilles,
very touch and go. I would be surprised to see
him against the Hurricanes. Scott Barrett much more of a chance.
(22:50):
So maybe the Crusader's midfield stays at it as it
is interesting to see what they do with seven. I
think that is also a reflection of Macha Springer's form
and Rob Penny wanting to keep him in that team.
Speaker 4 (23:04):
That's right.
Speaker 3 (23:06):
Saturday afternoon more Wanda Pacificus the Warrior has forty five
twenty eight. This was a heck of a game and
Mwana again, you know, first time they've got two wins
in a row in Super rugby and deserved. Wasn't looking
that way at halftime. But as I said earlier, you
give them one to forty minutes, they are going to
tea the shreds and that's what they did on Saturday afternoon.
Speaker 5 (23:27):
Our second half team, aren't they. We've seen this before
against the Highlanders when they lost and the Chiefs in Pukakoi.
They need to fix that, and I think this time
it was probably more a mental come down, trying to
get off the high I've beaten the Crusaders, their greatest
(23:47):
win in their short history, the expectations that come with that,
the hype, and so a bit of a false start
and not a lot went right in that first stuff,
but they regrouped and man, they can score some points. Yeah,
forty five points and they have done that consistently this year.
Defensively they haven't been as good, but when they're on,
(24:10):
they will come through you. They can go around you.
They have a number of attacking threats. So the Blues
will be very nervous this week for that local derby.
Speaker 3 (24:21):
Yeah, the Mourner are the kings of regrouping, because you
look at the deficit and go game might be slipping
away from them, but doesn't seem to matter for them.
But the ruck speed when they're on the ruck speed
that they play with when they give their you know,
players like fire Lungy Tuptlor Savia of course a crack.
When those forwards get going, they have very, very hard
(24:41):
to stop. We saw that the prop score three tries
on the weekend. They've got some great outside backs and
when they click that they're just really dangerous to play it,
and not many teams can hang with them.
Speaker 5 (24:53):
No, and Patrick PELAGREENI very good. Again, he's the glue
that's that's holding that together. And just want to pick
up great recruitment and great coaching. You'd have to say,
to bring a guy up to speed that was playing
second division and English club rugby. And yeah, isn't it
great to see more on a history made and validation
(25:15):
further legitimacy. After that went over the Crusaders, it wasn't
a one off. They are here to compete.
Speaker 3 (25:21):
Yeah, and you think back to the questions around their
long term viability in this comp and whether they can survive.
And the Webbys had some ownership changes here and there
through the last couple of years. But though the whipping
boys for a while and you go, this could be
a team that could easily be flecked at some point. Well,
now they're top six contenders, if not further and it's
(25:44):
hard to imagine Super Rugby without them now, which is
the great thing saying with the Fiji and Drawer, you know,
they've got to the point where these teams are legitimate
contenders to win rugby games. They're not just the whipping boys.
They're not there to make up the numbers. So in
terms of when one has got to that's exactly where
you want them to be in this competition.
Speaker 5 (26:04):
And that's why we don't want to change the competition
right now because teams like Maayana are having these victories
knocking over well established teams the Waratas the Crusaders, and
it has taken them sometime where the Drewer were competitive
from the outset. And I think it is an advantage
(26:24):
being a one nation team. You've got that national support,
you have a pool of sponsors. I think they've got
fifteen local sponsors propping up the Drewer and their player
pool is much more concentrated. Smuana has taken them time
to find their identity, to develop their culture, to get
(26:47):
a good coaching team, to find a home base, to
understand what it takes to win at this level, to
recruit well. And they've still got a long way to go,
but getting someone like Ardie Severe was massive getting tana
Umag on board. So it has been a very slow,
gradual process, but most startup teams need time and we're
(27:07):
seeing that growth nowe on and off the field. They
I saw some stats that they have the most engagement
in social media than any other team in Australasia. So
the engagements there, they're building a fan base and then
the results are coming. So it is magic to see
(27:31):
something come to fruish and like that long mat continue.
They're not the finished product, but they are setting expectations
and look, isn't it amazing to sit here and say
it would not be a shock to see them knock
over the Blues this week.
Speaker 4 (27:44):
Absolutely, that's what we want out of this competition. The Waratas.
Speaker 3 (27:47):
I'm not sure if they went home between the Hurricanes
or not, but tough old trip for New Zealand. Two weeks,
one hundred and two points conceded and Suwa Lei is
the bright spot for them. But there's not much else
going on in that war Retars team at the moment.
Speaker 5 (28:01):
No, they've fallen off a cliff. They are three and
zero at home, so they will be desperate to get back.
But it can't be that simple. You've got to win
on the road. And yeah, I'm not sure what's gone
wrong there because they were horrific against the Hurricanes and
then got belt in that second half, so maybe there's
(28:24):
some mental challenges there. They've got stack squad, yeah, full
of Wallabies. They should be playing and performing a lot better.
Speaker 4 (28:32):
They should be.
Speaker 3 (28:33):
Friday night, first game of the round final game, we'll
discussed Chiefs and Reds twenty seven to fifteen, driving rain.
Speaker 4 (28:40):
It was horrible weather. I have much in New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (28:42):
Thursday Friday bucketed down and it was just a niggli
old game. The Chiefs twenty seven to fifteen winners at
the end. It was ten all at halftime, the Reds
scoring a great try through Joe Brile just before the break.
Can chase, but really hard to get a sentence in
those kind of conditions and the Chiefs I think just
(29:03):
managed the game a little bit better. The Reds will
take a lot out of that, a lot to like.
Not sure McLachlin. Phillips attends the answer for them, Liner
looks like a better bet, but top of the table clash,
they gave their all I think the Reds. But the
Chiefs are just a little bit too clinical when it
counted on the night with a silly yellow card for
(29:27):
Jeffrey tu Munger Allen, which is again for the evidence
at the TMO needs to just be cast aside. But
good one for the Chiefs keeps on top of the
ladder and the Reds, you know, a couple losses Crusaders
a few weeks ago to the Kiwi teams the Chiefs
as well, not far away but not quite there yet.
Speaker 4 (29:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (29:46):
I think it is an important one for the Chiefs,
and the Reds have been their bogey team in recent years.
I think the matches tighter than the twenty seven fifteen
score line suggests. I agree about Liner, he needs to
be starting for the Reds, and I do just wonder
about the chief strategy of stacking their bench of all blacks.
I think maybe that needs to change as a season
(30:08):
goes on, because they have been a They're performing well
at the back end of matches, but they're not quite
starting as well, so bringing guys like sommersny Takiajo some
of a penny female off the bench.
Speaker 4 (30:20):
These there's a bit of a waste, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (30:23):
It is, But we've seeing the bench, you know, think
about the bombs squad and that's what everyone goes to.
But the last thirty minutes I think now in matches
is just as important as the first fifty. And I
think we almost need to get past the idea of
bench being a relegation bench being you're not good enough
to be in the starting team. I think we need
to embrace the concept of finishes. You know, look at
(30:44):
Malcolm Marx and what he does for the spring Box
and how good he is replacing bon Gain but Nambi
the couple of world class players there, but Marks is
in my mind a better hooker comes off the bench.
The last thirty minutes absolutely bosses things. So from a
strategy perspective, I don't necessarily mind it. I think the
thirty minutes that count of the back end of the games.
(31:04):
If you're in the first fifty, that's going to close
out the games. And probably we we said a lot,
you know, an experience off bench teams change things you
know Royga goes off the bench, it comes off on.
Speaker 4 (31:17):
There was a weekend weird substitution.
Speaker 3 (31:18):
Yeah, Idianadi comes on with what fifteen to play? You know,
roy Gard had been very, very good. I thought in
that game the drop off between Royguard and Eddie and
Ardi is big massive. But I'm not advocating for Rutguard
to start, but sometimes sorry to come off the bench.
I'm not over going for Rodyard to come off the bench.
Played last thirty minutes, but it's such a big part
of the game now that I don't necessarily mind it.
Speaker 5 (31:39):
From the Chiefs, Roygard should have played the eighty that
there's you don't need to make sub substitutions and mean
he was playing well, and yes, half back to get fatigue,
but there are certain games that they can play eighty.
And I understand where you're coming from, and it is
a lot more common the Crusaders that are in Fiji,
(31:59):
and I think and that's climates.
Speaker 4 (32:02):
It makes sense.
Speaker 5 (32:03):
But for me, the Chiefs line out struggled a wee
bit and takeyo Ho for me is a much better
hooker than Brody McAllister. I'd like to see him for fifty,
not twenty or thirty and same with Summer Penny Female.
It's an interesting strategy and I just it's going to
be interesting to see how that evolves throughout the for
(32:23):
the Chiefs and other teams like the Crusaders, and we've
seen it from the Blues. It is much more common,
like you say, to target those finishers because it's been
an issue for teams. The Blues have struggled losing games
late and they tried to stack their bench. Didn't really
work for them. They've gone back the other way. So yeah,
there's a bit of trial and error as well.
Speaker 4 (32:44):
Yeah, there certainly is.
Speaker 3 (32:45):
That'll bring up the end of the first half of
Rugby Direct back with the second half including the final four.
After this, I could see our friends at Habit Health.
Speaker 2 (32:53):
This is Rugby Direct, a podcast for real rugby fans.
Speaker 4 (33:00):
Every try try and sixty sec every tackle to tackle,
tackle get up again, I thank him before it's Rugby Direct.
Speaker 2 (33:10):
Ladies.
Speaker 4 (33:11):
You're back with Rugby Direct powered by a Habit Health.
Speaker 3 (33:14):
Time now for the second half of the podcast and
our final four topic number one, should more be done
to spread talent around the franchises?
Speaker 4 (33:22):
Liam?
Speaker 3 (33:23):
I suppose we look at the Blues on the weekend.
They're pitiphetic coming off the bench. Harry Plumber all black
Cap last year, not in their twenty three. You know
the teams they're crying out for tens. You think back
to the Crusaders and twenty years ago and they had
major Mertons Carter period after that had Colin Sad any
(33:43):
number of tens. So it's not a new issue. But
do you think something should be done to prevent quote
unquote stockpiling of plays?
Speaker 4 (33:50):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (33:50):
I would like to see New Zealand Rugby be more
influential in the space to try and push players in
certain directions. I think we see the success of it
with guys like Caleb Tunguey Tao and the Highlanders throughout
Super Rugby. You know the mod An era of players
getting opportunities and grabbing them.
Speaker 4 (34:13):
On the converter.
Speaker 5 (34:14):
On the contrasting side, players go backwards and don't get
opportunities to push for high honors when they're not playing.
And is it beneficial for New Zealand Rugby to be
stockpiling three tens and you've effectively got six quality tens
and two franchises and the Highlanders Tane Robinson not the answer, unfortunately,
(34:39):
and the Hurricanes are forced to go to Riley horheapper.
How much better off would the competition be if the
Holanders had caleber Trusk or the Hurricanes had Stephen Peterfefer
who was sitting on the bench and played what fifteen
minutes at the weekend. I understand the challenges around it,
and telling players where to go is not ideal, but
(35:01):
look look at the NBA players get traded on a whim.
Speaker 3 (35:03):
Should the ends should ins o, though, be playing god
on a professional competition with integrity.
Speaker 4 (35:11):
To go you go there, you go there. I don't
know if you can be that dictatorial about it, but
we do see it.
Speaker 5 (35:15):
An Irish rugby Joey Carberry went from Leinster to Munster
and that there are other examples up there of where
they I don't think they are saying I don't think
they do say you must go there, but they say, look,
your your career is going to be enhanced if you do.
Speaker 3 (35:34):
I would like to see the old school draft system
come back. And for those that don't recall it, it
was in the days early from right the start of
Super rugby until maybe the mid two thousands at a
guess where this is when the NPC teams are more
aligned with Super Rugby, be you could protect a certain
number of players from your patch, from your regions, and
(35:57):
then once you've done that, you had to fill up
your squad with players from the draft. So any number
of players that weren't contracted to go there. I would
like to see a return to that. Say you could
contract eight to thirty players and to make up the
rest of your thirty eight man scored, you go to
a draft and so you've got a planet advance a
bit because you want to have Boden Barrett for three
(36:17):
four seasons. Well, you know that's one player in your
twenty eight that you have to account for, but you
can protect that you can protect, and obviously when you
make signings around protecting players, you know that there's going
to be some jepardy and there's going to be some
players that you can't protect that you can only cap
at twenty eight or whatever the number is. And that
(36:38):
would then bring those players that aren't contracted to a
Super Rugby team and say say it's ten spots available
in each roster, Well that's if you include one to
PACIFICA sixty spots that could be filled at a point
in the year, whether it's after the NPC, midway through
the NBC, whatever it is, and that means that tactically
(37:00):
you are more likely to be able to go. Let's
say Harry Plumber is staying in you see on Rugby,
but Harry Plumber, maybe not protected by the Blues, could
end up at the Highland, could end up that and
you take those opportunities there. I would like to see
a return from that, and what it does do as
well would keep Super Rugby in the headlines those teams
in the headlines throughout the rest of the year. Yeah,
they're not playing. There's a lot of talk around, well,
(37:22):
we know that player X is on a five year contract,
so they'll definitely be part of that twenty eight. Will
they'll take up an option to keep this player in
the twenty eight Who knows? So it just keeps those
storylines going but also helps level the playing field a
little bit.
Speaker 4 (37:37):
Yeah, I like it. The last point I'm going to
pick up on.
Speaker 5 (37:39):
The one thing Super Rabi could do to really shoot
itself into lights is have a competition wide draft and
there are massive logistical challenges with that with players New
Zealand players going to Australian teams and your pathways and
all those sorts of things. But what you're suggesting is
a bit of a compromise. You protect X amount of
(38:02):
players and then there's a pool that you could market
and people would be fascinated by engaging with that.
Speaker 3 (38:12):
We look at the Big Bash League and they do
the overseas player draft and various other things that go
around as a televised program. You know, couldn't tell me
that Sky Sport, couldn't tell me that US here wouldn't
want to do some sort of event coverage around it.
When teams are going to pick you know, their players
to fool their squads. Yeah, they're not the pick of
(38:33):
the crop, the cream of the crop, these players because
they're not protected. But there is you know, a lot
a lot of interest around who goes where and what
decisions he made and look, you know, maybe a team
needs an extra first five, an extra halfback, whatever it is.
There's a lot of you know, genuine strategy and tactics
that would go into it.
Speaker 4 (38:51):
Yeah, and the narratives and storylines that flow out of that.
Speaker 5 (38:54):
Look at a guy like Preston and the impact he
made scoring three tries on Debous for the Crusaders now
he was picked up out of NPC and Wellington and
so some of those fringe guys can actually have a
massive impact. Tongueytail is another one and we've seen it
with the Honders with the holo going down there over
the years. And yeah, a third string first five at
(39:18):
the Chiefs or Blues as a starter.
Speaker 4 (39:20):
Right now for the Hurricanes and Highlanders. So I like
the concept.
Speaker 5 (39:24):
I think there does need to be some sort of
caveats or notion for pushing players and spreading the talent
and it's only going to enhance the competitiveness of the competition, which.
Speaker 3 (39:37):
Is exactly what we want. And it's not like it's
not competitive at the moment, but just that talent spread
could be could be spread better. Topic number so the
Orpecky Final Blues and Matter two seven o five on
Saturday evening. We talked abouit last week about the scheduling there,
which to me remains baffling. All for women's rugby, all
for promoting it, all for having it in prime time,
(39:57):
and I get there are different audiences, but just don't
quite get the logic around it. When you want to
expose your brand. When there's a Highlanders drawer which is
a must game for both teams on the other channel,
you know, it's just it's all about promoting it. And
I'm not saying they shouldn't be playing in primetime, but
you've got to give people opportunity to find it, and
(40:20):
I think that's the issue. But regardless, who do you
think is going to win this weekend? Blues and we
had a loss to the chiefs manwer on the weekend
the Blues beat the Hurricanes, who are probably much more
competitive than they have been throughout the entirety of this competition.
Speaker 4 (40:35):
My head says Blues at home and Eden Park at
the victory. It is first one that scheduling.
Speaker 5 (40:39):
We obviously touched on it last week, but so it's
after the Blues Maana as well, and there's no Super
Raugby game prior to that. So I really don't understand
why you wouldn't have it as you don't have to
call it the curtain raiser, It's still call it a doubleheaderah,
But I think it makes much more sense to have
it in an un congested window and have the Blues
(41:03):
and Wana after that. I think you're much more likely
to get fans coming in pre match for the Blues
men men men's team rather than staying afterwards for a
seven o five kickoff. Maybe Club Rugby there is an
argument there, but yeah, I totally agree about the scheduling. Baffling.
(41:23):
Look on the final, it's the first time the Chiefs
haven't been in it. So interesting there, and it will
be the first time I think, correct me if I'm
wrong that a team will go back to back. Might
or two might have sayn to say about that, but yes,
well they won the title in that but yeah, this
is the first Yeah, the first time that summer. You're
saying that this was the first time a team's going
(41:43):
back to back to win it. Yeah, they going to
win it first. Well, the Blues have won one yea
and Multa two have won one. Yeah, so it will
be the first time that any team has gone back
to back well one two, Yes, but the Blues will
win sor Okay, we got.
Speaker 4 (42:01):
There at the end. Topic number three came on a
Pacific A win Super Rugby.
Speaker 5 (42:08):
Then need to play eighty minutes, so right now I'd
say no, But they are fully capable of knocking over
anyone on their day.
Speaker 3 (42:15):
I think they can win. I genuinely do think they
can win if they If they beat the Blues this week,
they get it, they continue to get that role on.
Speaker 4 (42:21):
I just think they're going to be very very hard
to stop.
Speaker 3 (42:23):
And the higher they get in the playoffs, which they're
on the outside looking in at the moment, you know
they're going to play at home. We know how big
that is for them, very very hard team to beat.
Now at North Harbor, I think they can win again.
It's their eighty minute performance and they'll look back now
and go should have had that force win, should have
had that high end as win. Hell, probably should have
even beat in the Chiefs even in all honesty, despite
(42:45):
being forty three to seven down. You know they don't
can see one or two of those tries. They're right
in that game, So there are missed opportunities. If they
can keep delivering the way that they are, they're not
out of any contest. We've seen that. I genuinely think.
I'm not saying they will win, but I think they
are capable of winning Super Rugby this year.
Speaker 5 (43:04):
Yeah. What I would say is they've already vastly exceeded
my expectations. I didn't expect them to be in the
top six picture realistically this year. I thought maybe next
year in terms of the incremental growth that we've seen
from them now having gone back to back, grasp that
consistency and keep the ball rolling. So I'd like to
(43:24):
see more consistency throughout the game. Put together an eighty
minute performance. But come the playoffs, I think the cream
will rise and I think we are starting to see
that slowly.
Speaker 3 (43:37):
Indeed's topic four, but later the party on this meant
to discuss it last week. But over the last couple
of weeks the ANZAC Dave Bladslower Cup test, which was
floated by Australia Western Australian Government, we're going to put
some money into it. Using on Rugby said no thanks
your reaction to that because speak rather heated across the TAZM.
Speaker 5 (43:56):
To that it has Tim Morem came out in slam
New Zealand Rugby and I needed some fact checking on this.
But he suggested that money that Western Force government we're
putting up, that the teams are going to be handsomely compensating.
Speaker 4 (44:12):
Compensated.
Speaker 5 (44:13):
He was suggesting to the tune of two hundred thousand
dollars I'd like to see the figures on that. But
also on this side of the Tasman Jeff Wilson and
Justin Marshall supported to Morren's views that ZEBI could do more.
The issue around it is you'd have to take All
Blacks and Wallabies out of Super Ragby for two weeks
(44:34):
and we've seen the backlash around that with All Black
rests and that notwithstanding, I would like to see the
concept investigated more. I think it would be a hit
to see the All Blacks and the Wallabies play one
off test at a different time of year. Anything New
(44:56):
garners a bit of interest, but there are clearly widespread
problems and you are cannibalizing Super Rugby just as it's
starting to really take off.
Speaker 3 (45:06):
Yeah, it just makes no sense to me whatsoever this concept,
and I think New Zealand Rugby are right to reject it.
So they would have had to play in Perth every year,
so that would have meant well, you'd still play one
blitter is the start of the year and they have
to play two in the Rugby Championship, so Perth gets one.
So Australia would New Zealand would play two away games
(45:27):
and the Blitters every year potentially.
Speaker 4 (45:29):
Well maybe they'll be a compromise that some years is
too in New Zealand and you pause Super Rugby for
a week or two weeks or do you think it going?
I think it keeps going. But yeah, it losire all
Blacks plays.
Speaker 5 (45:41):
It is a massive handicap to take all the All
Blacks and Wallabies out for two whole weeks and that
does massively compromise the integrity of the competition.
Speaker 3 (45:52):
And you land on a very busy sporting day already
across Australia there's what three NRL games, the Warriors of
nagot One on the side of the Tasman, there's the
traditional Roosters, Saint George la Warror.
Speaker 4 (46:05):
I think it is.
Speaker 5 (46:06):
I think the Black it's the traditional AFL games. Bill
Black's trump set certainly in New Zealand's yep.
Speaker 3 (46:12):
But you're landing on a very busy Australian sporting calendar.
So where did the headlines come from? Where do you
find a way to I know you're in Perth and
then probably the interest will gravitate there. But you're landing
on what is a very very busy sporting day as
it stands I know that clearly, pers just want to
slice that Anzac day pie.
Speaker 5 (46:30):
I think they sell out that new stadium, no problem
up there. There's plenty of expats, they get, the Force,
get great support. It's a great venue and the All
Blacks are hugely popular. It's Australian Rugby's number one ticket,
so no problem selling that out. It would be a
ratings hit. The issue is the massive hit that Super
(46:53):
Rugby takes.
Speaker 3 (46:54):
Yeah, interesting one. I just look at you. I think
that the concepts now did in the water the Anzac test. Liam.
Let's get into our tipping Hurricanes Crusaders Friday nights. In fact, Liam,
let's get into that tipping recap last week five. The
side of the table. You got two of five chiefs
and wine to right. Everything's wrong.
Speaker 5 (47:14):
Tough to take, isn't it. My two teams the Drawer
and the Canes. Your two teams heartbreaking.
Speaker 3 (47:21):
So I've now got a six point leader as it stands,
which is great news for my fans out there and myself.
Speaker 4 (47:26):
Hurrigan's Crusaders Friday nights in the Capitol. Oh, Elliot, Elias, Elies.
Speaker 3 (47:32):
It's just look this on the Crusaders on the weekend
surely you want to see them when.
Speaker 5 (47:38):
No one wants to see them one mate, Okay, let's
get that clear from the outset. But I am going
to tip them.
Speaker 4 (47:43):
It breaks my hearts, but I need to make up
some ground here.
Speaker 3 (47:48):
Okay, Well, you're not gonna make it anything ground because
I've also picked the Crusaders, so that's a block. Wartars
and Chiefs nine thirty five in Sydney. You talked earlier
about the war Retars. You know good at home? Is
this the way they get back into form by beating
the competition's top team.
Speaker 5 (48:06):
Look, they'll be happy to get home Camp's sleep in
your own beds and get a stick over their head
from Dan McCall. Probably, But no, they're not going to
beat the Chiefs Incidney.
Speaker 4 (48:16):
I tend to agree.
Speaker 3 (48:16):
Blues more Water Pacific at four thirty five on Saturday,
looking forward to this one at Eden Park and all
that might bring. Can we want to go three in
a row? Went back to back for the first time
on the weekend. Can they make it three?
Speaker 4 (48:31):
Yeah? They can.
Speaker 5 (48:33):
I'm not gonna tip them to do so, but that
they are real chance just just on. This game has
been billed by the Blues ironically as a bit of
a celebration of pacifica rugby.
Speaker 4 (48:43):
And that's that's pretty special, isn't it.
Speaker 5 (48:47):
When you think about some of the greats of the game,
many of them are Pacific Pacific, many of them do
have Pacific heritage. So hopefully it's a festival atmosphere and
the weather plays ball and it all comes together. But
I am going to tip the Blue.
Speaker 3 (49:01):
I'm going to as well, but boy it would be
great SIMI wan to win another one. Highlanders drew at
nine the eleven big game in the common text to
both of these two teams seasons, Liam, can the Highlanders,
you know, get back to winning ways at home?
Speaker 4 (49:16):
Stop the Rock? Yes, look, Jamie will have them working
pretty hard this week.
Speaker 3 (49:20):
Go.
Speaker 5 (49:20):
I'd suggest the Drua have been very poor the last
two weeks. Got belted in Perth by the Force and
they dropped a lot of ball. Their lineup was a
shambles against the Crusaders and Suver. So yes, I'm going
to tip the Landers.
Speaker 3 (49:34):
Yeah, I can't see the drew unfortunately going to Dunedin
Reds Brumbies. We've gone full from four and similar tips
here At this point in time, Bre's hosting the Brumbies
in Brisbane Saturday nights.
Speaker 4 (49:46):
Read's are the best team in Australia, so I'm going
to tip them.
Speaker 3 (49:50):
I'm going to the Brumbies run upset. I reckon they
might be able to do it in Brisbane and that
would really check things up from a competition perspective, as
well as bragging rights to the best of Stralian team.
As we head for the home stretch in Super Rugby
Rugby Direct MVP Medal voting quick recapable where we sit
Addie save at eleven pins to mar They have a
dove An ol Way and Patrick Palagrini tied for second
(50:11):
on eight and then in behind on six Quinta Pie Will,
Jordan Tuplessi Cofi and Damien McKenzie. Do any of those
players get any points this week? Liamb you threety Ones please?
Speaker 5 (50:21):
Yes, Elliot, I'm going to go Bone and Barrett for three.
Very much a virtuo so performance from Bowden. Some banana kicks,
I think, was it. Tony Johnson said something like you'd
never seen so much swing at Eden Park since Larnce
Ken's very good. Boden had what one meter to work
in and he peeled off forty meters, probably overkicked a
(50:45):
little bit at times, but there was clearly the tactics.
Great performance from Boden, so he gets my three. Two
to Ardie Severe very influential for moueo again and one
to Luke Jacobson who was strong for the Chiefs. Well.
Speaker 3 (50:57):
Our threes and ones are the same. Bone and Barrett
three for me Luke Jacobson one for methods leadership in
weak conditions in the game that wasn't overly expansive. I
thought was very very very good. No Hopeam gets my
two points key in that Crusaders performance came back from
an injury in round one and we're now looking at
that form and going this is the kind of player
(51:17):
that got into the All Blacks last year. Cole Preston
has been playing well for the Crusaders currently ad injured,
but I think you look at Hotham and Preston, they've
got a couple of good half backs there and someone
like a Mitchell Drummond who's been a centurion for the
Crusaders now probably their third pick halfback, which is remarkable
to see.
Speaker 4 (51:35):
But he gets my two. That does it for rugby.
Speaker 3 (51:37):
Dirick though for another week, Liam, any overseas adventures coming
up for you this week, or you're staying in New zeal.
Speaker 5 (51:42):
No overseas trips, but a special occasion. My sister is
getting married, so we'll be watching the Hurricanes Crusaders from there.
Just keep that under wraps so they don't tell her.
Speaker 3 (51:53):
Well, I'm assuming she's not a loyal listener of Rugby Directs,
otherwise the secret might be out. Just checking the ear
button and maybe listen on gold Sport as well. I'm
sure you'll be fine. None will notice if you've got
an airpit button. I'm sure during the wedding you'll be
be fun. It'll do us for Rugby Direct rather weak.
Thanks to listen by our English and our friends at
Habitath tackling all your aches and pains from sport.
Speaker 1 (52:13):
And work for more from news talks at b Listen
live on air or online, and keep our shows with
you wherever you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
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