September 29, 2024 • 42 mins
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 out of Johnny Sexton's new book.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from news Talks EDB. Follow
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Inside the Game from every angle. It's Rugby Direct with
Elliott Smith powered.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
By News Talks EDB.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Welcome into Rugby Direct powered by Access Solutions, elevating you
and your business to a higher level. After a few weeks,
we've hit the lights back on in the Rugby Direct
Auckland studio and we are back again. Elligott Smith with
me Liam napier As was to review the weekend that
was in Rugby and Liam, great to have your company
(00:45):
once again. I should flag this to the top of
the podcast. The handover has happened, but.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Special was very touching, very moving and it was only
fitting rarely after we spent a week in the Capitol
and it really won you over that we finally you
finally made good on the bet and you are now
willing to line supporter and I for one welcome you
to the fan and look forward to celebrating this year's
title with them.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Well on the back of what we saw on the
weekends being absolutely pumped by Counties Monaco that shirt. Very
grateful I am for Wellington Rugby donating it and sending
it up is going to depreciate seriously in Valley on
the back of that lost to Counties.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Well look, let's just say Canterbury had their worst loss
in history.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
So it's a good time vie to jump ship.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Oh yeah, let's go the Tasman Marco. Right, let's get
into the weekend that was. You can catch a video
by the way, Liam's going to put up on his
social media if it's not the already but later on
ons the podcast is out. But let's get into the
weekend that was the All Blacks thirty three, the Wallaby's
at thirteen in the Capitol final game of the Rugby Championship,
second game out of the Bledderslow Cup series, and the
(01:54):
All Blacks were I don't know how you to describe it, Liam,
but I'd say dominant without being clinical and left a
fair few points out there. But it was certainly I
thought an improvement on the week prior from the All Blacks.
A couple of things extinguished, the Capital Curse, the last
twenty minute fades, all those things sort of out but
(02:15):
still left about out there on the park. What did
you make of it?
Speaker 4 (02:19):
They did?
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Yes, look it was a step forward for the ou
Blecks and it needed to be particularly just given the opposition. Right,
let's be real about where the Wallerbries are at tenth
in the world. You gave him a good uppercut last
week and said that they were the in your type
five column the Westerndies of world rugby, so I'm not
sure if they put that on their changing room walls.
(02:40):
Possibly may have inspired this start, actually because they started
really well.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Started love the West Indies started strongly. Chris gailisk came
out of the blocks herely then had nothing to back
it up.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
That's right, swung for the fences and did really bring
a fearless attitude and should have been up fourteen. Nils
had the Oblacks on the rack to a degree, some
nice Joshits specials scrum moves and we've seen that over
the last two weeks, but couldn't maintain it.
Speaker 4 (03:05):
They don't have the depth.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
They had some prolonged periods on the All Blacks line
in the second half, but they conceded twenty one unanswered
points and the All Blacks were vastly improved in the
second half. They got a bit more pay from their
bench to mite Williams was excellent, Patrick Tupolotu and look,
I don't know if I'd go as far as say
the final quarters fades have been banished, but certainly the
(03:28):
capital curse has and it was a positive step for
the All Blacks and what was a patchy Rugby Championship campaign.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
It was similar the last week in periods where I
felt the dam was about to break off the Wallabies
and the All Blacks just couldn't quite get there. The
cross for tries. It felt early in the second spell
that if they had scored one they might have been
able to score one, two, three pretty quickly. As it was,
they got scored one when able to back it up.
There were little eras in the twenty two. There was
a t J. Pett and Ara knock on from the
(03:58):
quick tap which very much felt like lived by the sword,
Die by the sword sort of stuff from the All Blacks.
You're right, the last twenty could still have been better
from the All Blacks. They finally got some points in
the last twenty, but I thought more so than the
perhaps the attack, the defensive shift from the All Blacks
is probably the most pleasing considered that try early could
have gone fourteen kneel down. But for a ball being
(04:21):
placed in the end goal when it was kicked through
bone Barratt mister it Jake Gorden could have got there
and then the end of the while he could have
got a consolation try at the end, and I think
the try wouldn't have mattered. But it was quite pleasing
to see the All Blacks put in a shift on
their line didn't break. I think there's a lot to
be learned from that, and the defensive system seems to
(04:42):
be holding up relatively well better than it did the
previous week any when they were cut to shreds a
little bit, especially when they were down to thirteen.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
The All Blacks defense this year's on the whole been
pretty good and they're actually bringing some really aggressive defense
and looking to play and that Bill Blacks for me,
have looked at their best from an unstructured play and
that was again evident in Wellington. They scored from turnovers,
they scored from broken play, whether it's Sevarice coming off
(05:10):
as wing or Boden Barrett ghosting across field, Wallace a
TSI in the midfields roaming off floating, so putting pressure
on with your defense and getting turnover possession. That's when
the All Blacks thrive. But on their line this was
a real standard bearing second half wasn't As Scott Barrett
talked to that in the postmatch press, Currents talked about
(05:33):
the fact that that needed to be the standard that
they carry north because they are going to be under
massive pressure at times against Ireland, England France and they
are going to need to remain composed and their discipline
still remains a bit of an issue. I think they
considered the first six penalties against the Wallabies. There's another
late yellow card maybe a bit harsh for Caleb Clark,
(05:56):
but they think that's six in the past four tests.
So discipline is still an area they need to improve.
But that defense on their own line was a big
step forward.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
It was I thought Nicko Mischa Kelly actually had a
pretty good game with the referee. He was consistent. He
was slightly pedantic, but at least he was consistent. One
of that quick release ball very very much and we
saw a lot of early penalties basically hit the floor
and he'd blow it up, you know. He was onto
that pretty quickly. So it took while for the All
(06:24):
Blacks to adjust to what he wanted to see. I
think they got that by the second spell. Discipline was
a lot better after halftime. Yellow cart aside, what the
All Blacks did well as well. With the tackle count
it was roughly one hundred versus fifty. The All Blacks
had to make one hundred and the first spell Wallaby's
just fifty. By full time it was relatively even around
one hundred and seventy each and so the Warbies had
(06:45):
to make about one hundred and twenty second half tackles
and the All Blacks had to make a roughly seventy themselves,
So they forced the Warbies into a bit more defensive
pressure in the second spell. Able to build periods pressure
under for periods of time, and I think it's been
an issue with the All Blacks is building pressure that've
scored tryers, breakout tries, but pressure in the twenty two
has not been something been able to do often enough
(07:07):
this year like teams have been able to do to
them building pressure in the twenty two.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
Yeah, it wasn't perfect.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
There were still some a lot of frustrating moments handling
eras there was a number of offloads that were dropped
and the TJ. Pedrian are a quick tap from a penalty,
you know a little instances that are still not quite clicking.
But the last quarter, the finish was vastly improved, wasn't it.
(07:35):
Bill Blacks had one try denied for Cody Taylor bobble
at the ruck, but then they scored in that last
quarter and they did apply a lot of pressure to
the Wallabies in that periods. So it was a massive
steps forward from the previous week in Sydney when they collapsed,
and from blowing leads against South Africa in South Africa,
(07:58):
the Pumas and Wellington previously. And thank god that the
Capitol curse has been broken because that's been absolutely bizarre, hudo,
isn't it.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
It has been very very odd, no rhyme or reason
to it, you know, draws, losses, It's been very odd.
But fortunately that's banished until we get to next year
when you can bring out the stat the All Blacks
have won only two of their last what is eight
at sky Stadium, so did but maybe not exactly buried.
A couple other things from the game, Sam Kine, tjped
(08:28):
Andara Milestone game, so them Sam Kain's one hundredth TJ
Pedanara final game on home soil. I think it was
an eighty eighth test. On the weekends. We were in
the media conference room when the Wallabies were giving their
post match media conference and it's right next to where
the All Blacks changing rooms were for that night, and
the Wolves were absolutely shaking with a pretty fiery hucker
which we later found out was from the All Blacks
(08:51):
towards samkin led by t J Petanara. Look a special
occasion for both of those players to sign off their
careers in New Zealand. We saw the guard of honor
for Sam Kain. Look special night for both of them.
We're going to get into whether they should go on
the Endigate tour but later on. But you know, there's
only few teen all back centurions and now Sam Kane
is one of them.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
He is and there's probably been none other that's gone
through such adversity to get there. I didn't think either
of them, you know, had the greatest games, to be honest.
I thought Sam missed a couple of pretty obvious tackles
in the first half and TJ was a bit you know,
erratic at times. But it is a big occasion and
(09:33):
It is a really a nice way for those guys
to finish with a victory with standing ovations when when
they left the field. The Postmas presentation was very emotional
for Sam Kane, Boden Barrett presenting his cap and as
you mentioned, the inner sanctum hucker so got. He's a
guy who has been through a broken neck. He fronted
(09:54):
through the lows of m Foster era and the red
card in the World Cup Final and you know, fully
deserving of such a milestone, isn't he.
Speaker 4 (10:05):
And interesting to see where things go now.
Speaker 3 (10:07):
Yeah, I'd say about Sam Kain is that he's coming
for plenty of criticism, but he has always fronted up
post match after the World Cup Final. I mean, there
was the criticism of the Chiefs last year which has
been explained away, but by and large, Sam Kaine has
fronted up when things have not been going well on
the All Blacks jersey, which has been a semi regular
occurrence in recent years. He's been one of the public
(10:28):
faces of that team and he's always fronted to media
and answered some questions. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Another thing I like about Cain is that if you
think about All Blacks captains in recent times, they're very
good at saying nothing and actually doing that on purpose
to a degree. I know the All Blacks Captains run
is set with a stopwatch, but Cain, no matter what
the circumstances were, you always felt like he listened to
(10:54):
the question and did his best to genuinely answer it.
Speaker 4 (10:56):
And that was through some very dark times.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
And from our side of the fence, I always respected that.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
Right, Let's move on to some awards for the Rugby
Championship that we've carved out.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
Drum roll.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
The best All Blacks performer of the Rugby Championship.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
Look, it's hard to go past the final of the year,
isn't it. Wallace a Titi playing in outer position largely.
He's not accustomed to blindside flanker and he will be,
in my view, the All Blacks long term number eight.
I think we will see a shift at some point there.
But for a young guy to come in and we've
(11:37):
seen this with others in South Africa, but thrusting to
start because of injury and he hasn't been perfect, missed
the odd tackle here and there, but his relentless ball carrying,
his range of skill at quick feed, at the line
offloading line out ability, you know, line out steels at
(11:58):
the weekends, his confidence to demand the ball.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
He's been exceptional. There's been others.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Caleb Clark I think is really impressed so yellow cards
aside Will Jordan's I think claimed that the fullback position
for now, of course is Ram has been good, but
Wallace a tt absolute standout.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
I'm going to go with two pou Vi for the
best all blacks performing the Rugby Championship. I think back
to the start of the Rugby Championship, Scott Barrett was injured,
Patrick two pilot was injured. Two po five thrust into
being a starting lock, and not only that, but he
was calling the line outs for both of those Asian
Tina games. I thought he grew immensely through that period
(12:42):
of time. Started he started the last six seven tests
in a row. Now every test in the Rugby Championship
and his come into his own and looks like he
might have nailed on that other lock spot starting at
least for the moment beside Scott Barrett. When at the
start of the year Patrick twy PILOTU appeared set for that.
Patrick twop a loto gets injured, Two po Vi comes in.
(13:05):
He's doing outstanding job I think in the second row
carrying very hard across the park as well grade line
out option.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
I'm giving it to two per h totally agree. The
other one for me is to Mighty Williams. I think
he would two starts in South Africa when Ethan the
group was injured. For me, he has surpassed the group
and that might be a wee bit unfair because the
group's coming back from injury, maybe still finding his feet.
But Tomighty just offers so much more around the field
(13:33):
and he proved him himself from a scrummaging perspective, but
ball carrying, defensively, mobility, he offers a lot more. But
it is an interesting dynamic that because then the group's
not really a prospect you bring off the bench to
Mighty does that role very well, so it's interesting to
see where that goes.
Speaker 3 (13:52):
All right, So the biggest upset in the Rugby Championship
Plumas and Wellington.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
Okay, I don't think anyone really rarely saw that coming
and it probably speaks to then shift that we need
to have with the Pumas about where they are at.
You know, they beat the Springboks in South Africa, they
should have beaten the Wallabies twice. They handed them their
worst defeat in history and that second match, I think
(14:21):
they are rarely starting to build something under Felipe Contapomei.
I still don't think they'll should be losing to them
at home, but they demanded a lot more respect, So
for me, that was a shock result.
Speaker 3 (14:32):
Yeah. Biggest uposite for me would probably be Australia beating Argentina.
Yeah no, actually it would be Argentina beating South Africa. Yes,
they rested a couple of players, but it was a
very good performance from Argentina. Unfortunately couldn't back it up
in the Rugby Championship decider on the weekend in South Africa.
But they are clearly growing. I like what Felippe Kontopomi's
(14:54):
doing with that team, and you know that maybell build
ahead of the twenty twenty seven Rugby World Cup. Worst
moment out of the Rugby Championship look best moment for me.
I've got to give it to you. The way that
South Africa played, You've got to give just as an
(15:15):
overall picture coming out of World Cup is always tricky,
but I think they improved on what they put on
the Paddock last year. So for me, if I had
to narrow it down to a specific moment, probably the
South African comeback and at Alice Park that showed grit,
that showed termination. Didn't like it as a New Zealander.
(15:35):
But credit to South Africa because the Rugby Championship changes
big time on the basis that last ten minutes in
that Test match and all of a sudden South afri
could go through and whin the Rugby Championship. If they don't,
they slipped to a loss to the All Blacks. Very
very changeable sort of tournament from that point onwards. So
best moment goes to South Africa. Worst moment don't really
(15:56):
have one. Probably if I had to look holistically, probably
that Australian collapse in La Plaza from just a sense
of what a hell is Australian rugby doing.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
My best moment is the Park Test, as you'd a test,
just a magic occasion. Obviously watching from a farm myself
this time, but I think there's something special about that
ground that evokes just brilliant test matches every time, the vibe,
the history of the legacy, everything that comes with it.
(16:27):
The All Blacks up by ten points and then they
couldn't hold on. Just a brilliant adversement for world rugby
and the worst moments. I'm going to go with a
half full Caketon for the All Blacks against the Pumas.
That's a really bad look for the All Blacks for Wellington.
I'm not sure we've touched on different reasoning for that,
(16:49):
whether the Puma's are on a lure where there's a
bit of apathy there. But last weekend it was sold
out for the Wallabies.
Speaker 3 (16:56):
It was and it was a great atmosphere, amazing waterfront
on the weekend. Part of me thinks that there might
have been some sort of joint family trips where some
members of the family went off to the rugby on
the Saturday night and some members went to the World
of Wearable Arts and made a weekend out of it
with the family, and that contributed to a real sense
of occasion around Wellington that things are actually happening in
(17:16):
the city. A lot of All Blacks, Wallaby's jerseys around
and families around on the weekend. It was a real
sense of occasion for a Test match, which you don't
often find, maybe outside of Dunedin, Hamilton and New Zealand.
Some of the biggest cities. You just don't get that,
but you did on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
Yes, Sam Caine, noting it was the best he'd seen
Wellington and he played a number of test matches there
and it was really heartening to see locals come up
and see you and say, oh, are you in the
world of wearable arts? Because it's really admiring your outfits.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
Yeah, it was that Wellington Lines Jersey. You gave me
right beat to Itale, What have you got for us live? Oh?
Speaker 2 (17:50):
Yeah, I've gone back and forth on this one, but
I'm going to go with your disgust when I gave
you a wee bloody Mary and the it was nice
to you to take me on one of the clubs.
I don't have a corded lounge membership, so Elliott took
me along graciously and I've got him a blame Mary.
After a couple of spruce and martinis with Oli Ritchie
(18:12):
and the disgust on your face, Sally, I don't think
I'll ever forget that, so I had to drink it myself.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
Unfortunately, tomato is for saucers, not for juice, and every
time Lingam Napier gets one of them. It disgusts me quite.
Speaker 4 (18:29):
Frankly, still looking for a sponsorship.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
Yeah, well you can go and do your own podcast
if you're going to do that. bestI Itali. Actually that
might be my best one as well, because I just
didn't have to drink tomato juice. It was a great
couple of weeks though in Sydney and Wellington enjoyed we
spot of at.
Speaker 4 (18:45):
Cujie Shout out to the Cujie Pavilion.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
Yeah, it was a good good wie spot. All right,
serious matters grade the Rugby Championship for the All Blacks.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
I've gone back and forth on this one, as you
know earlier. I'm a very harsh marker. I'm gonna go
with a C plus, which I feel is quite generous,
and that's on the back of what happened at the weekend.
I think we've seen enough from this All Black team
to suggest.
Speaker 4 (19:13):
That they're there, that they are close ish.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
But if you step back three and three, you lose
the Rugby Championship title for the first time since twenty nineteen.
You lose the Freedom Cup for the first time I
think it was in fifteen years. You know, there's pittures
going around the Springboks fully deserving, but they're on their
team bus, look like they're having rum and coke, maybe
some clippies branding drinking out of the Rugby Championship title,
(19:42):
you know those a lot of those players have. That's
the first time they've they've won that title. So I
think you could say on balance it was a failure
that the Rugby Championship from an All Black perspective.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
Yeah, I think you could rugby Championship when we ran
in a couple of years. It's going to be dismandled.
Don't worry about it.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
And look two years ago the All Blacks went one
on one in South Africa. So I think the Springbok
team is better. But I think I think we are
right to demand excellence from this All Black team, as
they do from themselves. We're right to demand more and
it was it was just too inconsistent highs and lows, collapses,
(20:23):
second half fades, discipline issues, So that gray would have
been a lot worse had it not been for the weekend.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
Yeah. I was asked by Brian Kelly a similar question
and I gave six out of ten six and a
half out of ten for them in terms of a
numerical number for the Rugby Championship. Promising signs, but a
lot of improvement required.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
It's going to be a very very tough Northern tour.
And so what the All Blacks are? Six wins, three losses.
So it's very delicately poised, isn't it?
Speaker 3 (20:54):
It is indeed right, let's take a break. We'll come
back with some of the key points around that Northern
touring selections after this year on Rugby Directs.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
This is Rugby Direct, a podcast for real rugby fans.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
Every try, try ten sixty sec, every tackle to tackle.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
Get up again.
Speaker 4 (21:13):
We take him before I'm not. It's Rugby Direct.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
Lad, welcome back into Rugby Direct. Power by Excess Solutions
elevating you and your business to a high level Final
four time. Liam sam Kine, t J Purnara Should they
go on the end of year to a yes or no.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
I'm on the fence about sam Kine, but TJ Piternara
I would say no. Cam Royguard is making his comeback
with County's. Monaco has missed all this year through a
torn patella. But and so there's a there's an element
of needing to protect him. A Weber and not throw
him and too soon. But he is an exceptional prospect
(22:00):
and my top three half backs in New Zealand are Courts.
Speaker 4 (22:06):
Rogard and Noah Hotham.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
So I would have TJ Petenarra with the All Blacks
fifteen and with Sam Kin. I don't mind him being
in the squad, but I want to see the All
Blacks evolve and so I think you could justify having
his leadership presence there. But I think it's time to
move on from him being a starter. And I think
we've seen while the game's up North will be different.
(22:31):
I think we saw the Wallabies target him at times
in open field. He's a great defender in the close quarters,
but he can be exposed in open field and I
think we saw that from the Wallabies. So I want
to see I want to see Ardie go to seven.
I want to see Wallace at eight. I don't know
why we're waiting to do that. I think Kine could
potentially be on the bench, but I want to see
(22:52):
some evolution there well.
Speaker 3 (22:55):
As we discussed last week, I think you've got to
view each test and isolation and snowpoint looking twenty five
and beyond now because you're playing in twenty twenty four
and sam Kin for me, yes, didn't have a great
game at the weekend, but I think we're only a
year or move from probably the best game of his
Test career against Island in the quarter final. If he
can put out performances like that again in the closing
(23:17):
stages of Test one hundred and one, two, three, four,
whatever of his Test career, I think they're important to
have in the All Blacks, and then next year you
look for that open side thinker.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
If you're looking at the composition of the bench, I
think there's an argument to potentially have Cain in the
mix on the bench. If you're looking at those closing
quarters experience, the makeup of it, he could be a
pretty valuable guy to have there. I just really want
to see Ardie and Wallace in that dynamic. I know
(23:47):
it doesn't really matter, you know the in Scott Robertson
certainly pushing the fact that Luis Ford trio at least
loose for is a versatile numbers don't matter, but while
it's off the back of the scrum could be very,
very damaging. And I think Artie is almost playing like
a seven now anyway, So I want to see that,
(24:07):
but I do think Sam has a role to play.
The question then, is if you do to take Sam Kame,
what to do Peter Luckeye and the remainder of the
loose forwards. Because the A's taking thirty six they had
thirty six in the Rugby Championship squad, there's no room
to move there. So I'll ask you what do you
do with Peter Luckeye and do all the All Blacks
(24:31):
loose forwards that we're in the Rugby Championship go north?
Speaker 3 (24:33):
Well, I think it's going to be some horse trading
between these two squads. And Scott Robertson mentioned as much
as that there's probably some players that play the Test
match or go to Japan that won't be with the
All Blacks when they go to London. They'll be instead
going to Munster and then playing and playing against Georgia.
So it won't be sixty five names. It'll probably be
(24:56):
closer to fifty five to sixty. There'll be a few
that cross over. Having said that I would select Peter
Luckeye and the All Black squad as a player that
the only thing I'll say about Peter Luye is that
I think in some of his recent NPC games he's
looking a little tired. He's had a big workload this year.
And whether he's capable of playing Test rugby this year
(25:17):
or not, I'm not entirely sure, but I think he
needs to be around that All Blacks because he seems
like a real player of the future. So I would
take Peter Luckeye. I think Sama Penni feen Now might
be the unlucky player when you look at will the
tt you know Sanma Penie feen Now has been there
who could have started up blowing soe Flanka there didn't
Ethan Blackadder is presumably the next blind Side Flanca, so
(25:38):
that leaves Santa Pennie feen Now. You know it's the
third tier blind Side instead. I think you bring him
out and put Luckeye in and Fena goes with the
All Blacks fifteen to get some game time.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
Yeah, I think that's that's I'd agree with that because
the other guy that's really slipped out of favor is
Dalton Papalin, hasn't he he He was the heir apparent
to Sam Kine for three years. He started this year
as Scott Robertson's first choice open side. Then he had
a thumb injury and South Africa Sam Kine started and
he hasn't been so since, not even on the bench.
(26:10):
Luke Jacobson has fulfilled that bench role. So it's if
you're bringing Luck, I know, and I agree I would
have him there. I think, get him and now he's
twenty one year old, likes the tit is the future
of the All Blacks, loose forwards. Get him and now
he can play against Italy, you know, potentially against Japan
might be a bit early. He can bounce between the
(26:31):
All Blacks and the All Blacks fifteen. But get him
and get him involved and either Summer Pennie or perhaps
Dalton rebuild that confidence, get some game time. But I
agree with you, I think Summer Pennie could be you know,
go with CLAYT.
Speaker 4 (26:46):
McMillan.
Speaker 2 (26:46):
It's his chiefs coach. Good relationship there, that would make sense.
Speaker 3 (26:51):
A couple of other things that have just come up
from that tour squad we didn't know. We don't know,
but I wonder whether the All Blacks were name an
apprentice apprentice players like they have previously in the past,
and if there is any apprentice players I would look
at selecting Fabian Horned not until next year's End of
View tour, but if you are able to bring him
(27:11):
along for the five test matches that have come get
him in the All Blacks environment. He looks like a
player that is certainly capable of playing All Black s
rugby when he is eligible at the end of twenty
twenty five. I would take him as an apprentice player
on this end of View tour.
Speaker 4 (27:25):
Well, can he play for the All Blacks fifteen?
Speaker 3 (27:27):
Well, I don't think it's a capture team, so maybe
he could play for that. It's not a captured team
in Timson national eligibility, so in theory maybe you could
play for them as well.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
Yeah, I mean that would be make a lot of
sense and you could potentially bring him in for a
few days, groom him, get him into that environment, because he,
like Lackeye, is the future.
Speaker 4 (27:46):
There's no doubt about that.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
He's got the size, he's got the attitude, and he's
only going to get better. So he's bolted on for sure.
Speaker 3 (27:53):
Any other players in the NPC that have stood up
that maybe will get in the All Blacks fifteen, but
not necessarily that All Black squad.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
Well, let's go through the squad here. Because you've got
guys like Stephen Peter Fetzer. He will make a return.
I think off the bench with Taranaki and the round
fish shield challenge against Tasman. That's assuming Tasman defended against Auckland.
Correct that that game is on Sunday. So the pressure
points here are Stephen Peterfetter or Harry Plummer Petifetter agreed
(28:26):
at Locke, Sam Darry or Josh Lord or Dary has
to be For me, I think Josh Lord has to
play all Works fifty. We barely played rugby. Josh Lord.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
Darry has been the option that was used when three
Perot two was injured. So for me, Josh Lola plays
all Nex fifteen.
Speaker 2 (28:44):
It's interesting, well, I think test rugby ready now in
terms of size and physicality, I think Josh Lord. But
whether yeah he's had enough game time this year probably not.
So I think that's a very fifty to fifty call.
And those are the main pressure that we talked about.
The loose forwards, I think whether you take six or
(29:06):
seven props, and then in the side backs, I really
want to see ammaning nar Hour back in the squad.
But I don't know whether they would look to bring
him back.
Speaker 3 (29:16):
Yeah, I mean, I think he'll probably should be in
the mix. He's played a very good NPC. I'd like
to see Josh Jakn going that All Blacks fifteen tour.
For me, he seems like a play with game time
that could be a real potential All Black starter at
ten down the track, and you only learned that by
playing quality opponents. I would like to see Josh Jacon
get a go. And that's All Blacks MACS topic number
(29:37):
two leading on from the tens. Has Boden Barrett done
enough to retain the All Blacks ten dusy for the
big games on the end of year tour? From what
you saw on Saturday night.
Speaker 2 (29:45):
I'm going to say, yes, it wasn't a spectacular performance
from Bone, but he didn't need to be. And look
there was his first test at number ten and two
years and what he did he did largely very well.
I think he mistouched for one penalty, which Dylan Peach
did really well to keep that in. He missed won penalty,
(30:08):
so I think he kicked four from five. He had
a hand in two of the All Blacks first three
first half tries. It brought a sense of calm I
think for the All Blacks. And also I thought Damien
McKenzie was good off the bench allow freed him up
to play his natural game, to flit around. He set
up Caleb Clark for his second try. So I thought
(30:31):
that dynamic worked really well. But it is a very
delicate situation for Scott. Robertson invested heavily and Damien McKenzie
through the first eight tests of this year. Then he
gave Boden one starts. But I don't think it was
a coincidence that there was a bit more calm at
the back end of that match.
Speaker 3 (30:49):
It felt a lot more structured the All Blacks attack,
I thought, And for me, I think he starts against England.
I think he's certainly capable of driving that team around
the park. It just felt as though there was a
lot more a to b and that game plan of
what Bonon Baritt was dry, whereas Damian McKenzie can be
(31:10):
a little bit scartery and game management still work on
for him, and I felt there was more of that
from Boden.
Speaker 2 (31:16):
The one thing I'd say is I wouldn't I think
the All Blacks will make subtle tweaks between England's, Ireland
and France. I think there's fifteen days or something between
those three tests, so you're not going to be able
to roll out the same starting fifteen. They are going
to try and put out their best team obviously to
win those matches, but players will be very fatigued across
(31:39):
that stretch, so there will be the old subtle tweaks
and I wouldn't be surprised to see maybe Bowden start two.
Speaker 3 (31:45):
McKenzie one Media will be as well, and Writers goes
out top number three. The ANZAC Test, which is now
gaining one momentum. I see that Mark Robinson has said
that they're provisionally on board with this idea and some
quotes with the Sydney Morning Herald is to play an
Anzac Day Test in twenty twenty six onwards, incorporating a
(32:09):
super round around it. As part of a super rounds.
You might have super rugby going on that whole weekend
and a Test match is part of it. And sounds
like that we potentially three tests against the Strataga once
again for a blitter's low. Now this is seemingly to
plicate them with the rugby's greatest rivalry to it poised
to be announced from twenty twenty six, between the All
Blacks and South Africa. Liam Good idea about idea.
Speaker 2 (32:33):
Well, it's a as you say, it's a trade off,
that's what it is. It's a dangling of the carra
It's a business negotiation to keep Ossie on side and
so New Zealand had to throw them a bone. And
that's what the Sanzac Test is. The issue is you
are shitting all over Super rugby again because it's not
(32:56):
just one week. Let's just say it plays out like
this that the Inzact Test takes place around Anzac Day.
It's the middle, it's basically the middle of the Super
rugby and it's not just going to that competition because
you take all the Wallabies and All Blacks out, it's
not just one week. It'll be you know, there'll be
wider ramifications, it might be injuries. You're looking at potential
(33:18):
two week window. It will affect that competition. And this
is a time when Super rugby's already a state of flux,
going back to eleven teams. You've got two draws, two
buyers this year, starting earlier, it's going longer. You know,
so there's already frustrations around it. It's not if you
(33:38):
talk to Super Rugby coaches they don't want the SANSC Test.
Speaker 3 (33:42):
Well, there are ways you can get around it by
not getting around it necessarily, but you could have a
whole competition by in the week before it, and so
there are no games, you're not missing the Super Rugby players.
Speaker 4 (33:54):
But then it does.
Speaker 2 (33:54):
Hold the momentum of Super Rugby though, then you're going, then,
how does it affect the July window, like there's already
a very well, yeah, but they've got they got the
Nation's Championship coming in as well next year. They've got
two buyers per team and starting in on Valentine's Day
for Super Rugby. So there are ways I think you
can change things around with the draw and give teams
(34:16):
a break. I'm not sure I get why they're doing it.
I'm sure there's a lot of cash involve that, whether
it's the Western Australian government or whoever is going to
help out and sort of line the coffers a little bit.
I'm not sold on the idea necessarily. I don't need
I don't think we need a third Test against Australia
they haven't proven that they're worthy of a third test
(34:37):
against the All Blacks, so for me, the jury is
still out on this idea. What it will do, though,
is help Rugby Australia in their broadcast negotiations because they
can go to Channel nine and stand and whoever else
is in the mix and go, look, we've got a
third bled Aslow Cup Test and it's going to be
around a super Round and that'll probably increase the amount
of money they can.
Speaker 4 (34:55):
Get, oh massively.
Speaker 2 (34:56):
The All Blacks are Australia's biggest straw card, that's no secret,
and that's why they want three tests. That's why they
want a new concept to throw into the mix. I
think the ends that concept works, it will be you know,
having Test Rugby earlier in the year. Test Rugby is
Rugby's pinnacle, right, That's where all the eyeballs come, So
(35:16):
it will work. It's just a flow on effect that
that has on Super Rugby at a time when that
competition is still trying to re establish itself, got a
new finals format, all these things, and then you're throwing
something else in the mix.
Speaker 3 (35:28):
Indeed, topic number four is there a crusader's bias in
the All Blacks. Chaffy Hackey called in last week, is
injury cover for some of the All Blacks players, liam
usaid used to this question, so you can floor as
yours all.
Speaker 2 (35:44):
Right, here we go, the gloves are off, elout. It's
time to really get down and dirty. Look, I'm just
going to name a few players for you. We'll start
off easy. We'll go look Severy Reese on the on
the right wing. I think he has been favored quite
quite heavily this year at times when he hasn't played well.
George Bell, Ricky Ricky Telly outplayed him thoroughly Super Rugby,
(36:09):
and I know they picking for the future on age,
but George Bell's throwing was awful this year. George Bauer,
great guy. Xavier new Meer had a superb Super Rugby season,
got injured at untimely manor, and then we had Scheffi Hackey.
And I think Shaeff Hacke is a talent, but he
(36:31):
has yet to prove himself and there are an infinite
number of wing fullbacks playing better than him right now.
Sean Stevenson, Jacob rut Of, ki Vuki Nipkins and a
number of others. Whether he's going to play or not.
I think it's relevant. I think it's the optics. I
(36:52):
think it's the message of sending to players about the
next guy in line. So I think the Schefficky one
was the straw that broke the camel's back. And I
think there is an unconscious crusader's bias here.
Speaker 3 (37:03):
Well, the message clearly to those players is get better,
get to hear Schaffee Harckey's playing.
Speaker 2 (37:09):
I know you just turned this to wye me up here,
and you do. You're on the cusp of me storming
out of the studio. Turn a Matthew Ridge. You cannot
sit there with a straight face and tell me that
you think that Shaefi Hacky is deserving of his place.
Speaker 3 (37:23):
But he wasn't called into the backs. He's called in
his injury cut.
Speaker 4 (37:26):
It doesn't matter answer the question.
Speaker 2 (37:27):
Answer the question, is he deserving as being the next
man in line for selection?
Speaker 3 (37:33):
Well, we haven't got a full explanation as to why
he was called in and whether it was decided to
keep in morning that I worked with his NBC team
because they were playing on the Saturday with that didn't
get runway to Vicky Nepkins in because they had a
storm week last week and therefore had two games. Sewan
Stevenson was involved in midweek game as well storm week.
Speaker 2 (37:55):
So whether it's Aunt Sullivan like there's so many other
fullbacks and he's on a rugby wings, yeah.
Speaker 3 (38:01):
Well shaefe. He can play midfield as well and there
are a few players like that.
Speaker 2 (38:05):
He had a great game for Canbury on the weekend
as well when he went back his opposite squad.
Speaker 3 (38:10):
If he hadn't be pulled out of that squad, they
might have won, might have been able to turn around.
That's a forty six point eficits.
Speaker 4 (38:16):
It's good we're in agreement there as a crusader's bias.
Speaker 3 (38:18):
Yeah, but I think it's a good thing. You think
it's a bad thing. Right Before we go, some interesting
late breaking news from the world of Johnny Sexton and
his book release. He's revealed what prompted the exchange with
Rico Youwanni after the World Cup quarterfinal last year in Paris.
(38:42):
So basically short stories. As Wayne Barnes blows full time,
Rico Yuanni says, don't miss your flight tomorrow, enjoy your retirement.
You beep fill in the gap there, and then after
that Sexton walks after Yuanni and calls them a fake
humble you know what. So Johnny Sexton's called into line
(39:05):
the no dickheads policy in the All Black and various things,
but revealed you know what exactly went on there. Also
questioned the penalty that seeing Whitelocke managed to get as
well over Ronan Calliha as well. So there are a
few things keeping Johnny Sexton up at night, and he's
put them into his book.
Speaker 4 (39:23):
Yeah, tough to see.
Speaker 2 (39:24):
Look, it's great to see an autobiography actually say something
normally dollars as anything. But look, get over it, Johnny
absolute winge there. Look, maybe you can say Rico shouldn't
have been so harsh, but I'm in the school of
thought that if you're going to give it, you've got
(39:44):
to be able to take it. Peter o'many and Johnny
Sexton were absolutely giving it to you all Blacks when
they beat them in Wellington, and they had every right
to that they won. They can celebrate as they choose to,
you know. He also mentions the fact that Artie Severe,
the Barrett brothers and Joe Schmidt were very humble in victory.
(40:05):
Everyone's difference, but Johnny has got no leg to stand on.
He's berated players, he's berated referees when he's been playing
and not and he's still winjin about the decision, like
get over it, mate.
Speaker 3 (40:18):
It shows the mental fragility that probably showed why they
didn't win the World Cup quarter final in all.
Speaker 4 (40:22):
Honesty, and that final play is not the only reason
they lost that game.
Speaker 3 (40:26):
And if you look back at the tape, Artie Savia
has a moment a few phases prior where there's a
very legitimate argument that all Blacks could have got the
penalty there and Wayne Barnes could have blown it up there.
Speaker 2 (40:34):
So yeah, I think there's a build up of quarter
final failures steaming within Johnny. And yeah, I saw a
headline this week about I think I'm pretty sure it
was someone I don't wanted to fame him here. He
was talking about how when he kept it goal he
pictured Ronan O'Gara or something.
Speaker 4 (40:55):
He's got a lot of grudges, I.
Speaker 3 (40:56):
Would say as well that postgame Andy Farrell was very
complimentary of Bill Blacks from my memories of that media conference,
and very very complimentary with the way they played, so
and luck.
Speaker 2 (41:06):
Was Ian Foster and Sam Kaine spoke very highly of
Johnny sixth and so it was one exchange. I think
Brodie Rettallick had a bit of a jibe as well.
But let's not forget Peter Omoni called Sam Cain a
shit version of Ritchie mccare and I'm of the view
that you know, what happens on the field stays on
the field.
Speaker 3 (41:24):
My favorite line from this is the BBC article BBC
Sport has approached New Zealand Rugby and Rico u ARTI's
representatives for COVID. What do they expect them to COVID? Yes,
I said that.
Speaker 4 (41:33):
I'm sure Rico is waiting by the phone, yeah to
pick up.
Speaker 3 (41:36):
Happy to talk to the BBC. Right, that'll do us
for another week on Rugby torect. We may be back
next week, maybe not. Bill Back's got the squad out
on October seventh, but we're into a wrist and rotation
policy over the next couple of weeks, so we'll see.
We'll be back at some point in the next couple
of weeks.
Speaker 4 (41:53):
Put your feet up and enjoy Bloody Maria.
Speaker 3 (41:56):
That's enough. Rugby Direct with Xus Solutions elevating you and
your business to a higher level of thanks to Last
and Bars English as well. See you next month.
Speaker 4 (42:03):
Go the lines.
Speaker 1 (42:08):
More from News Talk, set B. Listen live on air
or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you
go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
You're listening to a podcast from news Talks EDB. Follow
this and our wide range of podcast now on iHeartRadio.
Inside the Game from every angle. It's Rugby Direct with
Elliott Smith powered.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
By News Talks EDB.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Welcome into Rugby Direct powered by Access Solutions, elevating you
and your business to a higher level. After a few weeks,
we've hit the lights back on in the Rugby Direct
Auckland studio and we are back again. Elligott Smith with
me Liam napier As was to review the weekend that
was in Rugby and Liam, great to have your company
(00:45):
once again. I should flag this to the top of
the podcast. The handover has happened, but.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Special was very touching, very moving and it was only
fitting rarely after we spent a week in the Capitol
and it really won you over that we finally you
finally made good on the bet and you are now
willing to line supporter and I for one welcome you
to the fan and look forward to celebrating this year's
title with them.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Well on the back of what we saw on the
weekends being absolutely pumped by Counties Monaco that shirt. Very
grateful I am for Wellington Rugby donating it and sending
it up is going to depreciate seriously in Valley on
the back of that lost to Counties.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Well look, let's just say Canterbury had their worst loss
in history.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
So it's a good time vie to jump ship.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Oh yeah, let's go the Tasman Marco. Right, let's get
into the weekend that was. You can catch a video
by the way, Liam's going to put up on his
social media if it's not the already but later on
ons the podcast is out. But let's get into the
weekend that was the All Blacks thirty three, the Wallaby's
at thirteen in the Capitol final game of the Rugby Championship,
second game out of the Bledderslow Cup series, and the
(01:54):
All Blacks were I don't know how you to describe it, Liam,
but I'd say dominant without being clinical and left a
fair few points out there. But it was certainly I
thought an improvement on the week prior from the All Blacks.
A couple of things extinguished, the Capital Curse, the last
twenty minute fades, all those things sort of out but
(02:15):
still left about out there on the park. What did
you make of it?
Speaker 4 (02:19):
They did?
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Yes, look it was a step forward for the ou
Blecks and it needed to be particularly just given the opposition. Right,
let's be real about where the Wallerbries are at tenth
in the world. You gave him a good uppercut last
week and said that they were the in your type
five column the Westerndies of world rugby, so I'm not
sure if they put that on their changing room walls.
(02:40):
Possibly may have inspired this start, actually because they started
really well.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Started love the West Indies started strongly. Chris gailisk came
out of the blocks herely then had nothing to back
it up.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
That's right, swung for the fences and did really bring
a fearless attitude and should have been up fourteen. Nils
had the Oblacks on the rack to a degree, some
nice Joshits specials scrum moves and we've seen that over
the last two weeks, but couldn't maintain it.
Speaker 4 (03:05):
They don't have the depth.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
They had some prolonged periods on the All Blacks line
in the second half, but they conceded twenty one unanswered
points and the All Blacks were vastly improved in the
second half. They got a bit more pay from their
bench to mite Williams was excellent, Patrick Tupolotu and look,
I don't know if I'd go as far as say
the final quarters fades have been banished, but certainly the
(03:28):
capital curse has and it was a positive step for
the All Blacks and what was a patchy Rugby Championship campaign.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
It was similar the last week in periods where I
felt the dam was about to break off the Wallabies
and the All Blacks just couldn't quite get there. The
cross for tries. It felt early in the second spell
that if they had scored one they might have been
able to score one, two, three pretty quickly. As it was,
they got scored one when able to back it up.
There were little eras in the twenty two. There was
a t J. Pett and Ara knock on from the
(03:58):
quick tap which very much felt like lived by the sword,
Die by the sword sort of stuff from the All Blacks.
You're right, the last twenty could still have been better
from the All Blacks. They finally got some points in
the last twenty, but I thought more so than the
perhaps the attack, the defensive shift from the All Blacks
is probably the most pleasing considered that try early could
have gone fourteen kneel down. But for a ball being
(04:21):
placed in the end goal when it was kicked through
bone Barratt mister it Jake Gorden could have got there
and then the end of the while he could have
got a consolation try at the end, and I think
the try wouldn't have mattered. But it was quite pleasing
to see the All Blacks put in a shift on
their line didn't break. I think there's a lot to
be learned from that, and the defensive system seems to
(04:42):
be holding up relatively well better than it did the
previous week any when they were cut to shreds a
little bit, especially when they were down to thirteen.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
The All Blacks defense this year's on the whole been
pretty good and they're actually bringing some really aggressive defense
and looking to play and that Bill Blacks for me,
have looked at their best from an unstructured play and
that was again evident in Wellington. They scored from turnovers,
they scored from broken play, whether it's Sevarice coming off
(05:10):
as wing or Boden Barrett ghosting across field, Wallace a
TSI in the midfields roaming off floating, so putting pressure
on with your defense and getting turnover possession. That's when
the All Blacks thrive. But on their line this was
a real standard bearing second half wasn't As Scott Barrett
talked to that in the postmatch press, Currents talked about
(05:33):
the fact that that needed to be the standard that
they carry north because they are going to be under
massive pressure at times against Ireland, England France and they
are going to need to remain composed and their discipline
still remains a bit of an issue. I think they
considered the first six penalties against the Wallabies. There's another
late yellow card maybe a bit harsh for Caleb Clark,
(05:56):
but they think that's six in the past four tests.
So discipline is still an area they need to improve.
But that defense on their own line was a big
step forward.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
It was I thought Nicko Mischa Kelly actually had a
pretty good game with the referee. He was consistent. He
was slightly pedantic, but at least he was consistent. One
of that quick release ball very very much and we
saw a lot of early penalties basically hit the floor
and he'd blow it up, you know. He was onto
that pretty quickly. So it took while for the All
(06:24):
Blacks to adjust to what he wanted to see. I
think they got that by the second spell. Discipline was
a lot better after halftime. Yellow cart aside, what the
All Blacks did well as well. With the tackle count
it was roughly one hundred versus fifty. The All Blacks
had to make one hundred and the first spell Wallaby's
just fifty. By full time it was relatively even around
one hundred and seventy each and so the Warbies had
(06:45):
to make about one hundred and twenty second half tackles
and the All Blacks had to make a roughly seventy themselves,
So they forced the Warbies into a bit more defensive
pressure in the second spell. Able to build periods pressure
under for periods of time, and I think it's been
an issue with the All Blacks is building pressure that've
scored tryers, breakout tries, but pressure in the twenty two
has not been something been able to do often enough
(07:07):
this year like teams have been able to do to
them building pressure in the twenty two.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
Yeah, it wasn't perfect.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
There were still some a lot of frustrating moments handling
eras there was a number of offloads that were dropped
and the TJ. Pedrian are a quick tap from a penalty,
you know a little instances that are still not quite clicking.
But the last quarter, the finish was vastly improved, wasn't it.
(07:35):
Bill Blacks had one try denied for Cody Taylor bobble
at the ruck, but then they scored in that last
quarter and they did apply a lot of pressure to
the Wallabies in that periods. So it was a massive
steps forward from the previous week in Sydney when they collapsed,
and from blowing leads against South Africa in South Africa,
(07:58):
the Pumas and Wellington previously. And thank god that the
Capitol curse has been broken because that's been absolutely bizarre, hudo,
isn't it.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
It has been very very odd, no rhyme or reason
to it, you know, draws, losses, It's been very odd.
But fortunately that's banished until we get to next year
when you can bring out the stat the All Blacks
have won only two of their last what is eight
at sky Stadium, so did but maybe not exactly buried.
A couple other things from the game, Sam Kine, tjped
(08:28):
Andara Milestone game, so them Sam Kain's one hundredth TJ
Pedanara final game on home soil. I think it was
an eighty eighth test. On the weekends. We were in
the media conference room when the Wallabies were giving their
post match media conference and it's right next to where
the All Blacks changing rooms were for that night, and
the Wolves were absolutely shaking with a pretty fiery hucker
which we later found out was from the All Blacks
(08:51):
towards samkin led by t J Petanara. Look a special
occasion for both of those players to sign off their
careers in New Zealand. We saw the guard of honor
for Sam Kain. Look special night for both of them.
We're going to get into whether they should go on
the Endigate tour but later on. But you know, there's
only few teen all back centurions and now Sam Kane
is one of them.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
He is and there's probably been none other that's gone
through such adversity to get there. I didn't think either
of them, you know, had the greatest games, to be honest.
I thought Sam missed a couple of pretty obvious tackles
in the first half and TJ was a bit you know,
erratic at times. But it is a big occasion and
(09:33):
It is a really a nice way for those guys
to finish with a victory with standing ovations when when
they left the field. The Postmas presentation was very emotional
for Sam Kane, Boden Barrett presenting his cap and as
you mentioned, the inner sanctum hucker so got. He's a
guy who has been through a broken neck. He fronted
(09:54):
through the lows of m Foster era and the red
card in the World Cup Final and you know, fully
deserving of such a milestone, isn't he.
Speaker 4 (10:05):
And interesting to see where things go now.
Speaker 3 (10:07):
Yeah, I'd say about Sam Kain is that he's coming
for plenty of criticism, but he has always fronted up
post match after the World Cup Final. I mean, there
was the criticism of the Chiefs last year which has
been explained away, but by and large, Sam Kaine has
fronted up when things have not been going well on
the All Blacks jersey, which has been a semi regular
occurrence in recent years. He's been one of the public
(10:28):
faces of that team and he's always fronted to media
and answered some questions. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Another thing I like about Cain is that if you
think about All Blacks captains in recent times, they're very
good at saying nothing and actually doing that on purpose
to a degree. I know the All Blacks Captains run
is set with a stopwatch, but Cain, no matter what
the circumstances were, you always felt like he listened to
(10:54):
the question and did his best to genuinely answer it.
Speaker 4 (10:56):
And that was through some very dark times.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
And from our side of the fence, I always respected that.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
Right, Let's move on to some awards for the Rugby
Championship that we've carved out.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
Drum roll.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
The best All Blacks performer of the Rugby Championship.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
Look, it's hard to go past the final of the year,
isn't it. Wallace a Titi playing in outer position largely.
He's not accustomed to blindside flanker and he will be,
in my view, the All Blacks long term number eight.
I think we will see a shift at some point there.
But for a young guy to come in and we've
(11:37):
seen this with others in South Africa, but thrusting to
start because of injury and he hasn't been perfect, missed
the odd tackle here and there, but his relentless ball carrying,
his range of skill at quick feed, at the line
offloading line out ability, you know, line out steels at
(11:58):
the weekends, his confidence to demand the ball.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
He's been exceptional. There's been others.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Caleb Clark I think is really impressed so yellow cards
aside Will Jordan's I think claimed that the fullback position
for now, of course is Ram has been good, but
Wallace a tt absolute standout.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
I'm going to go with two pou Vi for the
best all blacks performing the Rugby Championship. I think back
to the start of the Rugby Championship, Scott Barrett was injured,
Patrick two pilot was injured. Two po five thrust into
being a starting lock, and not only that, but he
was calling the line outs for both of those Asian
Tina games. I thought he grew immensely through that period
(12:42):
of time. Started he started the last six seven tests
in a row. Now every test in the Rugby Championship
and his come into his own and looks like he
might have nailed on that other lock spot starting at
least for the moment beside Scott Barrett. When at the
start of the year Patrick twy PILOTU appeared set for that.
Patrick twop a loto gets injured, Two po Vi comes in.
(13:05):
He's doing outstanding job I think in the second row
carrying very hard across the park as well grade line
out option.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
I'm giving it to two per h totally agree. The
other one for me is to Mighty Williams. I think
he would two starts in South Africa when Ethan the
group was injured. For me, he has surpassed the group
and that might be a wee bit unfair because the
group's coming back from injury, maybe still finding his feet.
But Tomighty just offers so much more around the field
(13:33):
and he proved him himself from a scrummaging perspective, but
ball carrying, defensively, mobility, he offers a lot more. But
it is an interesting dynamic that because then the group's
not really a prospect you bring off the bench to
Mighty does that role very well, so it's interesting to
see where that goes.
Speaker 3 (13:52):
All right, So the biggest upset in the Rugby Championship
Plumas and Wellington.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
Okay, I don't think anyone really rarely saw that coming
and it probably speaks to then shift that we need
to have with the Pumas about where they are at.
You know, they beat the Springboks in South Africa, they
should have beaten the Wallabies twice. They handed them their
worst defeat in history and that second match, I think
(14:21):
they are rarely starting to build something under Felipe Contapomei.
I still don't think they'll should be losing to them
at home, but they demanded a lot more respect, So
for me, that was a shock result.
Speaker 3 (14:32):
Yeah. Biggest uposite for me would probably be Australia beating Argentina.
Yeah no, actually it would be Argentina beating South Africa. Yes,
they rested a couple of players, but it was a
very good performance from Argentina. Unfortunately couldn't back it up
in the Rugby Championship decider on the weekend in South Africa.
But they are clearly growing. I like what Felippe Kontopomi's
(14:54):
doing with that team, and you know that maybell build
ahead of the twenty twenty seven Rugby World Cup. Worst
moment out of the Rugby Championship look best moment for me.
I've got to give it to you. The way that
South Africa played, You've got to give just as an
(15:15):
overall picture coming out of World Cup is always tricky,
but I think they improved on what they put on
the Paddock last year. So for me, if I had
to narrow it down to a specific moment, probably the
South African comeback and at Alice Park that showed grit,
that showed termination. Didn't like it as a New Zealander.
(15:35):
But credit to South Africa because the Rugby Championship changes
big time on the basis that last ten minutes in
that Test match and all of a sudden South afri
could go through and whin the Rugby Championship. If they don't,
they slipped to a loss to the All Blacks. Very
very changeable sort of tournament from that point onwards. So
best moment goes to South Africa. Worst moment don't really
(15:56):
have one. Probably if I had to look holistically, probably
that Australian collapse in La Plaza from just a sense
of what a hell is Australian rugby doing.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
My best moment is the Park Test, as you'd a test,
just a magic occasion. Obviously watching from a farm myself
this time, but I think there's something special about that
ground that evokes just brilliant test matches every time, the vibe,
the history of the legacy, everything that comes with it.
(16:27):
The All Blacks up by ten points and then they
couldn't hold on. Just a brilliant adversement for world rugby
and the worst moments. I'm going to go with a
half full Caketon for the All Blacks against the Pumas.
That's a really bad look for the All Blacks for Wellington.
I'm not sure we've touched on different reasoning for that,
(16:49):
whether the Puma's are on a lure where there's a
bit of apathy there. But last weekend it was sold
out for the Wallabies.
Speaker 3 (16:56):
It was and it was a great atmosphere, amazing waterfront
on the weekend. Part of me thinks that there might
have been some sort of joint family trips where some
members of the family went off to the rugby on
the Saturday night and some members went to the World
of Wearable Arts and made a weekend out of it
with the family, and that contributed to a real sense
of occasion around Wellington that things are actually happening in
(17:16):
the city. A lot of All Blacks, Wallaby's jerseys around
and families around on the weekend. It was a real
sense of occasion for a Test match, which you don't
often find, maybe outside of Dunedin, Hamilton and New Zealand.
Some of the biggest cities. You just don't get that,
but you did on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
Yes, Sam Caine, noting it was the best he'd seen
Wellington and he played a number of test matches there
and it was really heartening to see locals come up
and see you and say, oh, are you in the
world of wearable arts? Because it's really admiring your outfits.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
Yeah, it was that Wellington Lines Jersey. You gave me
right beat to Itale, What have you got for us live? Oh?
Speaker 2 (17:50):
Yeah, I've gone back and forth on this one, but
I'm going to go with your disgust when I gave
you a wee bloody Mary and the it was nice
to you to take me on one of the clubs.
I don't have a corded lounge membership, so Elliott took
me along graciously and I've got him a blame Mary.
After a couple of spruce and martinis with Oli Ritchie
(18:12):
and the disgust on your face, Sally, I don't think
I'll ever forget that, so I had to drink it myself.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
Unfortunately, tomato is for saucers, not for juice, and every
time Lingam Napier gets one of them. It disgusts me quite.
Speaker 4 (18:29):
Frankly, still looking for a sponsorship.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
Yeah, well you can go and do your own podcast
if you're going to do that. bestI Itali. Actually that
might be my best one as well, because I just
didn't have to drink tomato juice. It was a great
couple of weeks though in Sydney and Wellington enjoyed we
spot of at.
Speaker 4 (18:45):
Cujie Shout out to the Cujie Pavilion.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
Yeah, it was a good good wie spot. All right,
serious matters grade the Rugby Championship for the All Blacks.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
I've gone back and forth on this one, as you
know earlier. I'm a very harsh marker. I'm gonna go
with a C plus, which I feel is quite generous,
and that's on the back of what happened at the weekend.
I think we've seen enough from this All Black team
to suggest.
Speaker 4 (19:13):
That they're there, that they are close ish.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
But if you step back three and three, you lose
the Rugby Championship title for the first time since twenty nineteen.
You lose the Freedom Cup for the first time I
think it was in fifteen years. You know, there's pittures
going around the Springboks fully deserving, but they're on their
team bus, look like they're having rum and coke, maybe
some clippies branding drinking out of the Rugby Championship title,
(19:42):
you know those a lot of those players have. That's
the first time they've they've won that title. So I
think you could say on balance it was a failure
that the Rugby Championship from an All Black perspective.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
Yeah, I think you could rugby Championship when we ran
in a couple of years. It's going to be dismandled.
Don't worry about it.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
And look two years ago the All Blacks went one
on one in South Africa. So I think the Springbok
team is better. But I think I think we are
right to demand excellence from this All Black team, as
they do from themselves. We're right to demand more and
it was it was just too inconsistent highs and lows, collapses,
(20:23):
second half fades, discipline issues, So that gray would have
been a lot worse had it not been for the weekend.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
Yeah. I was asked by Brian Kelly a similar question
and I gave six out of ten six and a
half out of ten for them in terms of a
numerical number for the Rugby Championship. Promising signs, but a
lot of improvement required.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
It's going to be a very very tough Northern tour.
And so what the All Blacks are? Six wins, three losses.
So it's very delicately poised, isn't it?
Speaker 3 (20:54):
It is indeed right, let's take a break. We'll come
back with some of the key points around that Northern
touring selections after this year on Rugby Directs.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
This is Rugby Direct, a podcast for real rugby fans.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
Every try, try ten sixty sec, every tackle to tackle.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
Get up again.
Speaker 4 (21:13):
We take him before I'm not. It's Rugby Direct.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
Lad, welcome back into Rugby Direct. Power by Excess Solutions
elevating you and your business to a high level Final
four time. Liam sam Kine, t J Purnara Should they
go on the end of year to a yes or no.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
I'm on the fence about sam Kine, but TJ Piternara
I would say no. Cam Royguard is making his comeback
with County's. Monaco has missed all this year through a
torn patella. But and so there's a there's an element
of needing to protect him. A Weber and not throw
him and too soon. But he is an exceptional prospect
(22:00):
and my top three half backs in New Zealand are Courts.
Speaker 4 (22:06):
Rogard and Noah Hotham.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
So I would have TJ Petenarra with the All Blacks
fifteen and with Sam Kin. I don't mind him being
in the squad, but I want to see the All
Blacks evolve and so I think you could justify having
his leadership presence there. But I think it's time to
move on from him being a starter. And I think
we've seen while the game's up North will be different.
(22:31):
I think we saw the Wallabies target him at times
in open field. He's a great defender in the close quarters,
but he can be exposed in open field and I
think we saw that from the Wallabies. So I want
to see I want to see Ardie go to seven.
I want to see Wallace at eight. I don't know
why we're waiting to do that. I think Kine could
potentially be on the bench, but I want to see
(22:52):
some evolution there well.
Speaker 3 (22:55):
As we discussed last week, I think you've got to
view each test and isolation and snowpoint looking twenty five
and beyond now because you're playing in twenty twenty four
and sam Kin for me, yes, didn't have a great
game at the weekend, but I think we're only a
year or move from probably the best game of his
Test career against Island in the quarter final. If he
can put out performances like that again in the closing
(23:17):
stages of Test one hundred and one, two, three, four,
whatever of his Test career, I think they're important to
have in the All Blacks, and then next year you
look for that open side thinker.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
If you're looking at the composition of the bench, I
think there's an argument to potentially have Cain in the
mix on the bench. If you're looking at those closing
quarters experience, the makeup of it, he could be a
pretty valuable guy to have there. I just really want
to see Ardie and Wallace in that dynamic. I know
(23:47):
it doesn't really matter, you know the in Scott Robertson
certainly pushing the fact that Luis Ford trio at least
loose for is a versatile numbers don't matter, but while
it's off the back of the scrum could be very,
very damaging. And I think Artie is almost playing like
a seven now anyway, So I want to see that,
(24:07):
but I do think Sam has a role to play.
The question then, is if you do to take Sam Kame,
what to do Peter Luckeye and the remainder of the
loose forwards. Because the A's taking thirty six they had
thirty six in the Rugby Championship squad, there's no room
to move there. So I'll ask you what do you
do with Peter Luckeye and do all the All Blacks
(24:31):
loose forwards that we're in the Rugby Championship go north?
Speaker 3 (24:33):
Well, I think it's going to be some horse trading
between these two squads. And Scott Robertson mentioned as much
as that there's probably some players that play the Test
match or go to Japan that won't be with the
All Blacks when they go to London. They'll be instead
going to Munster and then playing and playing against Georgia.
So it won't be sixty five names. It'll probably be
(24:56):
closer to fifty five to sixty. There'll be a few
that cross over. Having said that I would select Peter
Luckeye and the All Black squad as a player that
the only thing I'll say about Peter Luye is that
I think in some of his recent NPC games he's
looking a little tired. He's had a big workload this year.
And whether he's capable of playing Test rugby this year
(25:17):
or not, I'm not entirely sure, but I think he
needs to be around that All Blacks because he seems
like a real player of the future. So I would
take Peter Luckeye. I think Sama Penni feen Now might
be the unlucky player when you look at will the
tt you know Sanma Penie feen Now has been there
who could have started up blowing soe Flanka there didn't
Ethan Blackadder is presumably the next blind Side Flanca, so
(25:38):
that leaves Santa Pennie feen Now. You know it's the
third tier blind Side instead. I think you bring him
out and put Luckeye in and Fena goes with the
All Blacks fifteen to get some game time.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
Yeah, I think that's that's I'd agree with that because
the other guy that's really slipped out of favor is
Dalton Papalin, hasn't he he He was the heir apparent
to Sam Kine for three years. He started this year
as Scott Robertson's first choice open side. Then he had
a thumb injury and South Africa Sam Kine started and
he hasn't been so since, not even on the bench.
(26:10):
Luke Jacobson has fulfilled that bench role. So it's if
you're bringing Luck, I know, and I agree I would
have him there. I think, get him and now he's
twenty one year old, likes the tit is the future
of the All Blacks, loose forwards. Get him and now
he can play against Italy, you know, potentially against Japan
might be a bit early. He can bounce between the
(26:31):
All Blacks and the All Blacks fifteen. But get him
and get him involved and either Summer Pennie or perhaps
Dalton rebuild that confidence, get some game time. But I
agree with you, I think Summer Pennie could be you know,
go with CLAYT.
Speaker 4 (26:46):
McMillan.
Speaker 2 (26:46):
It's his chiefs coach. Good relationship there, that would make sense.
Speaker 3 (26:51):
A couple of other things that have just come up
from that tour squad we didn't know. We don't know,
but I wonder whether the All Blacks were name an
apprentice apprentice players like they have previously in the past,
and if there is any apprentice players I would look
at selecting Fabian Horned not until next year's End of
View tour, but if you are able to bring him
(27:11):
along for the five test matches that have come get
him in the All Blacks environment. He looks like a
player that is certainly capable of playing All Black s
rugby when he is eligible at the end of twenty
twenty five. I would take him as an apprentice player
on this end of View tour.
Speaker 4 (27:25):
Well, can he play for the All Blacks fifteen?
Speaker 3 (27:27):
Well, I don't think it's a capture team, so maybe
he could play for that. It's not a captured team
in Timson national eligibility, so in theory maybe you could
play for them as well.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
Yeah, I mean that would be make a lot of
sense and you could potentially bring him in for a
few days, groom him, get him into that environment, because he,
like Lackeye, is the future.
Speaker 4 (27:46):
There's no doubt about that.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
He's got the size, he's got the attitude, and he's
only going to get better. So he's bolted on for sure.
Speaker 3 (27:53):
Any other players in the NPC that have stood up
that maybe will get in the All Blacks fifteen, but
not necessarily that All Black squad.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
Well, let's go through the squad here. Because you've got
guys like Stephen Peter Fetzer. He will make a return.
I think off the bench with Taranaki and the round
fish shield challenge against Tasman. That's assuming Tasman defended against Auckland.
Correct that that game is on Sunday. So the pressure
points here are Stephen Peterfetter or Harry Plummer Petifetter agreed
(28:26):
at Locke, Sam Darry or Josh Lord or Dary has
to be For me, I think Josh Lord has to
play all Works fifty. We barely played rugby. Josh Lord.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
Darry has been the option that was used when three
Perot two was injured. So for me, Josh Lola plays
all Nex fifteen.
Speaker 2 (28:44):
It's interesting, well, I think test rugby ready now in
terms of size and physicality, I think Josh Lord. But
whether yeah he's had enough game time this year probably not.
So I think that's a very fifty to fifty call.
And those are the main pressure that we talked about.
The loose forwards, I think whether you take six or
(29:06):
seven props, and then in the side backs, I really
want to see ammaning nar Hour back in the squad.
But I don't know whether they would look to bring
him back.
Speaker 3 (29:16):
Yeah, I mean, I think he'll probably should be in
the mix. He's played a very good NPC. I'd like
to see Josh Jakn going that All Blacks fifteen tour.
For me, he seems like a play with game time
that could be a real potential All Black starter at
ten down the track, and you only learned that by
playing quality opponents. I would like to see Josh Jacon
get a go. And that's All Blacks MACS topic number
(29:37):
two leading on from the tens. Has Boden Barrett done
enough to retain the All Blacks ten dusy for the
big games on the end of year tour? From what
you saw on Saturday night.
Speaker 2 (29:45):
I'm going to say, yes, it wasn't a spectacular performance
from Bone, but he didn't need to be. And look
there was his first test at number ten and two
years and what he did he did largely very well.
I think he mistouched for one penalty, which Dylan Peach
did really well to keep that in. He missed won penalty,
(30:08):
so I think he kicked four from five. He had
a hand in two of the All Blacks first three
first half tries. It brought a sense of calm I
think for the All Blacks. And also I thought Damien
McKenzie was good off the bench allow freed him up
to play his natural game, to flit around. He set
up Caleb Clark for his second try. So I thought
(30:31):
that dynamic worked really well. But it is a very
delicate situation for Scott. Robertson invested heavily and Damien McKenzie
through the first eight tests of this year. Then he
gave Boden one starts. But I don't think it was
a coincidence that there was a bit more calm at
the back end of that match.
Speaker 3 (30:49):
It felt a lot more structured the All Blacks attack,
I thought, And for me, I think he starts against England.
I think he's certainly capable of driving that team around
the park. It just felt as though there was a
lot more a to b and that game plan of
what Bonon Baritt was dry, whereas Damian McKenzie can be
(31:10):
a little bit scartery and game management still work on
for him, and I felt there was more of that
from Boden.
Speaker 2 (31:16):
The one thing I'd say is I wouldn't I think
the All Blacks will make subtle tweaks between England's, Ireland
and France. I think there's fifteen days or something between
those three tests, so you're not going to be able
to roll out the same starting fifteen. They are going
to try and put out their best team obviously to
win those matches, but players will be very fatigued across
(31:39):
that stretch, so there will be the old subtle tweaks
and I wouldn't be surprised to see maybe Bowden start two.
Speaker 3 (31:45):
McKenzie one Media will be as well, and Writers goes
out top number three. The ANZAC Test, which is now
gaining one momentum. I see that Mark Robinson has said
that they're provisionally on board with this idea and some
quotes with the Sydney Morning Herald is to play an
Anzac Day Test in twenty twenty six onwards, incorporating a
(32:09):
super round around it. As part of a super rounds.
You might have super rugby going on that whole weekend
and a Test match is part of it. And sounds
like that we potentially three tests against the Strataga once
again for a blitter's low. Now this is seemingly to
plicate them with the rugby's greatest rivalry to it poised
to be announced from twenty twenty six, between the All
Blacks and South Africa. Liam Good idea about idea.
Speaker 2 (32:33):
Well, it's a as you say, it's a trade off,
that's what it is. It's a dangling of the carra
It's a business negotiation to keep Ossie on side and
so New Zealand had to throw them a bone. And
that's what the Sanzac Test is. The issue is you
are shitting all over Super rugby again because it's not
(32:56):
just one week. Let's just say it plays out like
this that the Inzact Test takes place around Anzac Day.
It's the middle, it's basically the middle of the Super
rugby and it's not just going to that competition because
you take all the Wallabies and All Blacks out, it's
not just one week. It'll be you know, there'll be
wider ramifications, it might be injuries. You're looking at potential
(33:18):
two week window. It will affect that competition. And this
is a time when Super rugby's already a state of flux,
going back to eleven teams. You've got two draws, two
buyers this year, starting earlier, it's going longer. You know,
so there's already frustrations around it. It's not if you
(33:38):
talk to Super Rugby coaches they don't want the SANSC Test.
Speaker 3 (33:42):
Well, there are ways you can get around it by
not getting around it necessarily, but you could have a
whole competition by in the week before it, and so
there are no games, you're not missing the Super Rugby players.
Speaker 4 (33:54):
But then it does.
Speaker 2 (33:54):
Hold the momentum of Super Rugby though, then you're going, then,
how does it affect the July window, like there's already
a very well, yeah, but they've got they got the
Nation's Championship coming in as well next year. They've got
two buyers per team and starting in on Valentine's Day
for Super Rugby. So there are ways I think you
can change things around with the draw and give teams
(34:16):
a break. I'm not sure I get why they're doing it.
I'm sure there's a lot of cash involve that, whether
it's the Western Australian government or whoever is going to
help out and sort of line the coffers a little bit.
I'm not sold on the idea necessarily. I don't need
I don't think we need a third Test against Australia
they haven't proven that they're worthy of a third test
(34:37):
against the All Blacks, so for me, the jury is
still out on this idea. What it will do, though,
is help Rugby Australia in their broadcast negotiations because they
can go to Channel nine and stand and whoever else
is in the mix and go, look, we've got a
third bled Aslow Cup Test and it's going to be
around a super Round and that'll probably increase the amount
of money they can.
Speaker 4 (34:55):
Get, oh massively.
Speaker 2 (34:56):
The All Blacks are Australia's biggest straw card, that's no secret,
and that's why they want three tests. That's why they
want a new concept to throw into the mix. I
think the ends that concept works, it will be you know,
having Test Rugby earlier in the year. Test Rugby is
Rugby's pinnacle, right, That's where all the eyeballs come, So
(35:16):
it will work. It's just a flow on effect that
that has on Super Rugby at a time when that
competition is still trying to re establish itself, got a
new finals format, all these things, and then you're throwing
something else in the mix.
Speaker 3 (35:28):
Indeed, topic number four is there a crusader's bias in
the All Blacks. Chaffy Hackey called in last week, is
injury cover for some of the All Blacks players, liam
usaid used to this question, so you can floor as
yours all.
Speaker 2 (35:44):
Right, here we go, the gloves are off, elout. It's
time to really get down and dirty. Look, I'm just
going to name a few players for you. We'll start
off easy. We'll go look Severy Reese on the on
the right wing. I think he has been favored quite
quite heavily this year at times when he hasn't played well.
George Bell, Ricky Ricky Telly outplayed him thoroughly Super Rugby,
(36:09):
and I know they picking for the future on age,
but George Bell's throwing was awful this year. George Bauer,
great guy. Xavier new Meer had a superb Super Rugby season,
got injured at untimely manor, and then we had Scheffi Hackey.
And I think Shaeff Hacke is a talent, but he
(36:31):
has yet to prove himself and there are an infinite
number of wing fullbacks playing better than him right now.
Sean Stevenson, Jacob rut Of, ki Vuki Nipkins and a
number of others. Whether he's going to play or not.
I think it's relevant. I think it's the optics. I
(36:52):
think it's the message of sending to players about the
next guy in line. So I think the Schefficky one
was the straw that broke the camel's back. And I
think there is an unconscious crusader's bias here.
Speaker 3 (37:03):
Well, the message clearly to those players is get better,
get to hear Schaffee Harckey's playing.
Speaker 2 (37:09):
I know you just turned this to wye me up here,
and you do. You're on the cusp of me storming
out of the studio. Turn a Matthew Ridge. You cannot
sit there with a straight face and tell me that
you think that Shaefi Hacky is deserving of his place.
Speaker 3 (37:23):
But he wasn't called into the backs. He's called in
his injury cut.
Speaker 4 (37:26):
It doesn't matter answer the question.
Speaker 2 (37:27):
Answer the question, is he deserving as being the next
man in line for selection?
Speaker 3 (37:33):
Well, we haven't got a full explanation as to why
he was called in and whether it was decided to
keep in morning that I worked with his NBC team
because they were playing on the Saturday with that didn't
get runway to Vicky Nepkins in because they had a
storm week last week and therefore had two games. Sewan
Stevenson was involved in midweek game as well storm week.
Speaker 2 (37:55):
So whether it's Aunt Sullivan like there's so many other
fullbacks and he's on a rugby wings, yeah.
Speaker 3 (38:01):
Well shaefe. He can play midfield as well and there
are a few players like that.
Speaker 2 (38:05):
He had a great game for Canbury on the weekend
as well when he went back his opposite squad.
Speaker 3 (38:10):
If he hadn't be pulled out of that squad, they
might have won, might have been able to turn around.
That's a forty six point eficits.
Speaker 4 (38:16):
It's good we're in agreement there as a crusader's bias.
Speaker 3 (38:18):
Yeah, but I think it's a good thing. You think
it's a bad thing. Right Before we go, some interesting
late breaking news from the world of Johnny Sexton and
his book release. He's revealed what prompted the exchange with
Rico Youwanni after the World Cup quarterfinal last year in Paris.
(38:42):
So basically short stories. As Wayne Barnes blows full time,
Rico Yuanni says, don't miss your flight tomorrow, enjoy your retirement.
You beep fill in the gap there, and then after
that Sexton walks after Yuanni and calls them a fake
humble you know what. So Johnny Sexton's called into line
(39:05):
the no dickheads policy in the All Black and various things,
but revealed you know what exactly went on there. Also
questioned the penalty that seeing Whitelocke managed to get as
well over Ronan Calliha as well. So there are a
few things keeping Johnny Sexton up at night, and he's
put them into his book.
Speaker 4 (39:23):
Yeah, tough to see.
Speaker 2 (39:24):
Look, it's great to see an autobiography actually say something
normally dollars as anything. But look, get over it, Johnny
absolute winge there. Look, maybe you can say Rico shouldn't
have been so harsh, but I'm in the school of
thought that if you're going to give it, you've got
(39:44):
to be able to take it. Peter o'many and Johnny
Sexton were absolutely giving it to you all Blacks when
they beat them in Wellington, and they had every right
to that they won. They can celebrate as they choose to,
you know. He also mentions the fact that Artie Severe,
the Barrett brothers and Joe Schmidt were very humble in victory.
(40:05):
Everyone's difference, but Johnny has got no leg to stand on.
He's berated players, he's berated referees when he's been playing
and not and he's still winjin about the decision, like
get over it, mate.
Speaker 3 (40:18):
It shows the mental fragility that probably showed why they
didn't win the World Cup quarter final in all.
Speaker 4 (40:22):
Honesty, and that final play is not the only reason
they lost that game.
Speaker 3 (40:26):
And if you look back at the tape, Artie Savia
has a moment a few phases prior where there's a
very legitimate argument that all Blacks could have got the
penalty there and Wayne Barnes could have blown it up there.
Speaker 2 (40:34):
So yeah, I think there's a build up of quarter
final failures steaming within Johnny. And yeah, I saw a
headline this week about I think I'm pretty sure it
was someone I don't wanted to fame him here. He
was talking about how when he kept it goal he
pictured Ronan O'Gara or something.
Speaker 4 (40:55):
He's got a lot of grudges, I.
Speaker 3 (40:56):
Would say as well that postgame Andy Farrell was very
complimentary of Bill Blacks from my memories of that media conference,
and very very complimentary with the way they played, so
and luck.
Speaker 2 (41:06):
Was Ian Foster and Sam Kaine spoke very highly of
Johnny sixth and so it was one exchange. I think
Brodie Rettallick had a bit of a jibe as well.
But let's not forget Peter Omoni called Sam Cain a
shit version of Ritchie mccare and I'm of the view
that you know, what happens on the field stays on
the field.
Speaker 3 (41:24):
My favorite line from this is the BBC article BBC
Sport has approached New Zealand Rugby and Rico u ARTI's
representatives for COVID. What do they expect them to COVID? Yes,
I said that.
Speaker 4 (41:33):
I'm sure Rico is waiting by the phone, yeah to
pick up.
Speaker 3 (41:36):
Happy to talk to the BBC. Right, that'll do us
for another week on Rugby torect. We may be back
next week, maybe not. Bill Back's got the squad out
on October seventh, but we're into a wrist and rotation
policy over the next couple of weeks, so we'll see.
We'll be back at some point in the next couple
of weeks.
Speaker 4 (41:53):
Put your feet up and enjoy Bloody Maria.
Speaker 3 (41:56):
That's enough. Rugby Direct with Xus Solutions elevating you and
your business to a higher level of thanks to Last
and Bars English as well. See you next month.
Speaker 4 (42:03):
Go the lines.
Speaker 1 (42:08):
More from News Talk, set B. Listen live on air
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