Rugby Direct

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier wrap another compelling round of Super Rugby - and ask if it's time to panic at the Blues after another defeat in their title defence. We celebrate Moana Pasifika's stunning win over the Hurricanes, and are the Crusaders here to rescue New Zealand rugby again?

Super Rugby CEO Jack Mesley checks in for an update on the opening month - we also dig into the Dupont drama in the S...

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier review the latest round of Super Rugby as the Blues finally get on the board, the Chiefs continue their form and Moana Pasifika and the Highlanders play out an odd game in Albany.

We also look at the latest in broadcast negotiations for New Zealand Rugby, Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan's pending departure and who should replace him and the men's Sevens programme floundering.

Se...

This week on Rugby Direct, with Liam away in Saudi Arabia, Elliott Smith is joined by Nick Bewley standing in to look back at week two of Super Rugby as the Chiefs assert their title favourites tag with a thumping win over the Crusaders and the Highlanders consign the defending champion Blues to another loss - we chat all of that and everything in between in Super Rugby.

We also preview Super Rugby Aupiki starting this weekend with...

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier run their eye over the opening round of Super Rugby Pacific - is the competition officially 'back'.

We assess the Blues' surprise capitulation against the Chiefs and address the Crusaders' come from behind effort to dismiss the Hurricanes in Christchurch, as well as the other games in the opening round.

We also delve into the NZR/INEOS situation and look at the possible repla...

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier are back in the studio for 2025 and not a moment too soon as we reflect on the major rugby issues over the summer break including Joe Schmidt's confirmed impending departure as Wallabies coach, Richie Mo'unga not returning to New Zealand Rugby as early as hoped, the Six Nations in full swing and the TJ Perenara haka developments.

We also preview the Super Rugby season, the li...

On Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier wrap up the 2024 All Blacks season and hand out some awards from the campaign and get out their red pens and mark the season that was.

We dig into the eligibility saga as it continues to rage around New Zealand rugby, ask whether Joe Schmidt will stay in charge of the Wallabies beyond the Lions series and also flag a potential job he could take up if not and give our thoughts on the Se...

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith (in Turin) and Liam Napier review the All Blacks' 1-point loss to France in Paris and how the defeat changes the complexion of the end of year tour. We also look ahead to the final test of the year against Italy and consider the likely make-up of the 23.

We also talk the news of Harry Plummer's impending departure from New Zealand Rugby, the continued noise about a F1/LIV Golf style rugby br...

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith in Paris and Liam Napier discuss the All Blacks' win over (now former) world number ones Ireland in Dublin - what it means in both the context of the tour and the year and how they managed to wear down Ireland. We also look ahead to the penultimate test of 2024 against France this weekend and ponder some selection headaches for the selectors.

We also wrap up the rest of the weekend in the en...

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier recap all the big news of the rugby world from the last fortnight - beginning with the All Blacks and All Blacks XV squads selected for tours north - who were the unlucky ones that missed out and who can count themselves lucky to be there?

We review the Black Ferns' WXV1 campaign and assess their stocks a year out from the Rugby World Cup in England, as well as look at the NP...

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier review the second Bledisloe Cup test in Wellington with the All Blacks beating Australia and ending the 'Capital Curse'.

We review the Rugby Championship as a whole, dish up some awards and look ahead to the end of year tour and what big calls the ABs selectors will have to make.

We also ask if there is a Crusaders bias in the All Blacks and cover off some interesting news ou...

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier review the Bledisloe Cup opener in Sydney - and how the All Blacks nearly let what was heading for a comfortable win turn into a nervy defeat.

We again try to answer what is going wrong in the last 20 minutes of test matches and what changes might be in the offing for Wellington.

We run through a controversial ANZAC rugby side of the professional era, as well as look back at ...

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier are in Sydney and celebrate touching down by jumping straight into a podcast.

They discuss the Bledisloe Cup test this weekend between the Wallabies and All Blacks and whether the Australians have a show, and what the All Blacks strategy is around blooding new talent.

Also on the podcast, a look back at the Black Ferns v England, Super Rugby format changes and the Ranfurly Sh...

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier assess another All Blacks' defeat to the Springboks, this time in Cape Town as opportunities go begging. We ask what are the reasons for the All Blacks being unable to put away the 'Boks and what is missing from the side at the moment.

We also dig into further information around a 2026 tour of South Africa by the All Blacks, the possible ANZAC Day match against the Wallabies ...