November 4, 2024 • 31 mins
This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith in Dublin is joined by Liam Napier to reflect on the All Blacks' tight win over England at Twickenham and we break down the performance - the good and the bad.
We also look ahead to Ireland and the remainder of this weekend's test matches as the end of year internationals ramp up.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Get inside the game from every angle. It's Rugby Direct
with Elliot Smith powered by News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Welcome into Rugby Direct, powered by Excess Solutions, elevating you
and your business to a higher level. Back for another
week to chat everything in the rugby world. My name
is Alligott Smith, News Talk MB, lead rugby commentator in Dublin.
And joining me Liam Napier, chief sports writer, rugby correspondent
for the New Zealand Herald. Liam back again and two
(00:48):
matches down of the All Blacks inter vid Silla Greetings.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Hello Eliot, ses two down, three to go and well
not all positive news but two from two and the
All Black train remains just on the tracks for now,
doesn't it.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Well I was going to ask you twenty four to
twenty two, are you a glass half full? Glass half empty?
Sorts of person? I guess the All Blacks got the
win in the end, which is what they're paid to
do and expected to do. But again they've sort of
won in spite of everything going on, rather than because
(01:27):
they put in a good performance.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
The All Blacks are a very mercurial team, aren't they.
It's hard to gauge on them. But look, I think
the fact that they won has to be a glass
half full. And they overturned an eight points second half leads,
you know, almost blew. It could would have should have
for England again, just like it was in those two
(01:51):
tests in July some four months ago. But look, I
think from my perspective, the All Blacks were the better team.
They created a lot, they scored three tries to one.
But there were a lot of frustrations in that performance,
weren't there I think at twenty two turnovers, a lot
of handling eras, discipline issues in the first half, late
(02:14):
yellow card again. So they did everything possible to throw
it away and they really won it through some individual
brilliance Wallace, a tit mark to lee Is finishing, Damian McKenzie,
sideline conversion, some big performances off the bench which we
can touch on. But it was a real rocks and
diamonds performance from the All Blacks.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
It certainly was discipline another one to throw on that
pot as well. It was poor at times. They couldn't
seem to adjust to the way that England were attacking
the tackling without the ball was a real issue, especially
in the first spell off Your Black's got three or
four penalties against them that way. It seemed like England
(02:57):
were running their runners in a manner where the All
Blacks basically had to make a decision around who they're
going to tackle. A lot of the times that was
an incorrect That was the way that England were attacking
their throwing runners into that space and confusing the space.
I thought quite well from England and drawing those penalties
out of the All Blacks. At one point that the
(03:18):
penalty count against the All Blacks was eleven two, got
back to eleven seven at the end of the game,
because the scrum turns into a weapon once offered, throwing
a fussy and passily or TOSSI came onto the park,
but again just struggling to find a cohesive performance from
the All Blacks and they just couldn't quite set the
(03:38):
platform despite being fourteen six up. Now you go, okay, well,
fourteen sex up. Wallace to TC and bakes that break
to provive he can stretch out and reel it in
and finish it. The All Blacks I think would be
up probably twenty one to nine, I think at that
point in time, and the game heading into halftime is done,
but they don't, and then they can see a couple
(03:59):
of penalties fourteen twelve different game heading into the halftime sheds,
they sort of took two steps forward during the game,
they had one step back, and then after halftime took
two or three steps back and somehow found themselves not somehow,
but found themselves down on the lead on the scoreboard
by virtue of some good, really good England play. So
we look at that eighty minute performance, it's really hard,
(04:22):
I think, to sort of assess where the All Blacks
are at because it was a win, yet they didn't
actually play that well for long stretches of that game.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
No very Decko and hired, wasn't it. They did a
lot of things well and then they'd undo that good work.
Whether it was a penalty to keep England in touch,
You know that they could have, like you say, with
Tupouvai and the Wallace to tit instance, they could have
been up by ten fifteen points at halftime and could
(04:54):
have put them away by that sort of margin had
they finished a lot of those chances, but a lot
of drop ball, a lot of basic skill errors, and
that's not what you expect from the All Blacks. This
is a team that in previous iterations have led the
world for just a simple catch pass execution under pressure
where I think it was a sign again that the
(05:17):
English rush defense put them under a lot of pressure.
They did adjust at times their depth and did find
some holes with the switch move that Boden Barrett pulled
off around the ruck, with the will Jordan cut back,
just simple things like that to change the point of
attack worked well, but for large parts that rush defense
(05:39):
from England did put them under a lot of pressure,
coursed a lot of errors, particularly from the back line.
I think the midfield didn't have a great performance. I
think Jordie was short of a gallop coming back from
that knee injury in Riquewuaney. I think he had that
hand injury that he had to go off for. It
(05:59):
was spewing blood. Did come back, but he dropped a
lot of ball as well. All Blacks under the high
ball were found a bit vulnerable the new sort of
laws about not escorting that I think they were they
were real sitting ducks. Weren't they the high ball recipients.
Will Jordan must have been bloody saw because he basically
(06:21):
took a serious pounding. But then there was you know,
moments of brilliance, chip kicks that that came off Wallace
TC and Mark t Lea fully justified his inclusion over
Seva Reese in the wing. We've sort of been calling
for that all year, haven't we. But a bit strange
the faith that the All Blacks had maintained in Sevu
(06:43):
when Mark Talia was out in the cold, and he
really proved as his finishing prowess there. I don't think
they get over the line without him. So good aspects
of takeaway from that All Blacks performance, the scrum you
mentioned there and the bench, you know, massive concerns about
the second half performances this year. Five times in the
Rugby Championship they didn't score a point in the last quarter.
(07:05):
This time, the bench, huge off between Fassi, Pasilio Tossi,
the scrum, Patrick two Poloto was one of the best performers,
just hugely physical in the second half. But some big
worries I think Elliott for the All Blacks around the
line out that capitulated in the second half they had
(07:26):
this insistence on throwing long. I think they lost three
line out throws and a lot of those were in
you know, striking distance of the English line. And when
you look ahead to this week, losing Cody Taylor and
Bowden Barrett, two hugely senior influential figures in that team,
how big of a concern is that, Well, I.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Think it is pretty big because they drop off of
the currently available hookers in the All Blacks is quite significant,
from Cody Taylor to to George Bell is a major
drop off. Are laid on some big hits on the weekend.
Had you play seventy five minutes and I thought around
the park he was actually quite good. But when you
(08:08):
a core skill is line out of throwing, you have
to get that right. And more often than not, it's
not a strength of a sofa a mow as it
seems to throw long to the back of the line
at all. Beyond those sort of plays you know, fall
apart of it when when aa a moo is throwing in,
So you can't be as predictable as just going to
(08:28):
the front every time either when as a security blanket,
so they're gonna have to figure that out over the
course of the next four or five days, a sofa
are more and get some real practicing or strategies around that,
because look, it's not a surprise and when it's been
talking about plenty that a sofa. A Moore's big work
on as a hooker is his line out throwing around
(08:50):
the park. He's great, but you're in there as the hooker.
You need to be able to throw him straight. And
it's not like George Bower has played a lot of
Test rugby or indeed had the greatest of Crusader seasons
to justify starting him ahead of of a Moer either.
So that's a big concern I think starting this week.
So Cody Taylor a big loss for the All Blacks.
(09:12):
And when you have Sam MASONI taky your holes still
sidelines for the rest of the year. Yeah, the All
Blacks don't have a lot of great depth hook it
at the moment. In Boden Bearl I think is a
big loss as well, just as I thought he actual
had a pretty good game at ten. Some of the
kicking slightly went Australia was the one that went dead.
There was a week Grubber into the twenty two that
(09:32):
looked relatively aimless. But I thought he was relatively assured
at ten and that performance and would have got better.
I think having a run of games at ten under
his belt on this tour, so to have it stop
start through the HIA protocols is a bit frustrating. I
think they're big losses there.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
What say you loom, yeah, big time. I think you
touched on it there with the line out. I think
they're going to have to get creative around that because
throwing long as okay on occasions, but it becomes predictable
and it is higher risk, and so you need to
look at variations around that with that, be to the
prop at the front or short line out or just
(10:12):
going quickly. You need to alleviate some of that burden
on armor. It certainly will be an area that Island
will target the All Blacks. It's one of their strengths.
They're set peace in general, so I expect them to
come hard for the All Blacks there. And I agree
about Boden. Just the contrast and what Damien McKenzie offered
(10:34):
through the first eight tests of this year, some brilliant
moments and then some baffling ones. And for a Test
against Ireland. I think you're only going to get you know,
three four genuine opportunities to really strike. You're going to
need that game management. That's been a concern around Damien.
So look he now that kick from the sideline. He's
(10:55):
performed well off the bench, but it's completely different kettle
of fish coming in to start to control the test,
to be that navigator. That's you know, Boden has provided
a call come here in recent weeks, so it is
a real contrast for the All Blacks stare and I
think I would like to see a couple of other
(11:16):
we tweaked Eliot, I think cam Rougard, I'd like to
see him come in and start at half back. I'm
not sure about you. I thought Cortez was just a
wee bit hesitance at halfback, struggled a touch with the
pressure that England brought to the breakdown. And Rougo's sister
a bit of a bigger body. I thought he did
make a big impact when he came off the bench.
(11:36):
So maybe flip those two around there and then Patrick
two Poloto. I think he was huge off the bench,
you know, I know to been massive this season, so
maybe there's a conversation to have about which way around
those two props start sorry locks and then the other
one Ethan the group missing last week, your black scrum
was actually under a fair amount of pressure for fifty
(11:59):
odd minutes before they made those changes. So you'd think
Ethan the Groups served his punishment. Do you expect him
to come back in and start this week and shore
up that scrummer bit?
Speaker 2 (12:10):
I do. I look, I thought the weekend was going
to be a big opportunity for Tomighty Williams, but he
got picked a couple of times at scrum time, didn't
have quite the impact on the game that he would
have hoped. I thought it could have been a wee
transition moment in terms of that, because I think Ethan
de Grootz had a roll heavily quiet year and that
all black role obviously missed some of the tests through
(12:32):
injuries as well. But I thought the game was set
up in theory for to Mighty Williams to have a
stormer and really create some question marks around the pecking
order of the Lucier prop. But I don't think he
did that, And I think Ethan de Grootz having served
his punishment, at least according to what Scott Robertson said
last week, we'll be back in the mix for this week.
(12:53):
I agree, can't argue with too many of those tweets
that you suggested there. I wondered whether t J. Pettinara
maybe the contender off the bench to back up Cam Royguard.
I really liked the idea of Roy Gards starting against
Ireland and his ability to snipe around the edges. His
running game is excellent. I think he matches up quite
(13:15):
well against this Irish team. Corte Isratama didn't have probably
since he's taken on the starting role. Wasn't the best
of performances from Cortez Ratama, But I think maybe here
you get Peter Andara on the bench this week for
his defensive abilities. But can't argue too much more with that,
especially on a six day turnaround. Almost think you kind
(13:36):
of need to keep the hot hand as much as
you possibly can with those players that were there at
twickt him, and then you can maybe look at a
couple of other tweaks here and there for France. Given
the nature of the workload that is in front of you.
Let's talk about the Irish Test.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
You know, a.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
Grudge match in many ways it's developed into in recent
years on the back of twenty sixteen, the first win
in Chicago, a bit of bad blood around the return
match and Dublin a couple of weeks after that. There's
been other matches through there. The series in twenty twenty
two of course, which Ireland famously won and created havoc
(14:18):
in the All Blacks coaching staff and false changes there
and then the All Blacks winning the World Cup quarter
final mean there's no shortage of storylines between these two
teams in recent years. The backdrop to it is quite spectacular.
It's developed in quite the rivalry in recent years.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
That's one of the great rivalries and world rugby, isn't that.
Elliott and the Springboks will always be the All Black's
greatest rival. But I think in terms of animosity or
feeling not quite mutual dislike. I've got a number of
Irish friends and the media continued as well, But there've
(14:59):
been so many heated battles and exchanges in recent years,
haven't they haven't there and on the pitch as well.
When you go back to that series in New zeal
Allen's and Peter o'manny calling Sam Kine a ship, Richie
mccaor and then the World Cup quarterfinal with Riquewane telling
six and to get on the plane and joy enjoy retirement.
(15:20):
So there's been a lot of back and forward, a
lot of genuine heat between the players. It's not manufactured
by us in the media or the fans. There's genuine
heats there. And while some of those players have moved on,
some of them are still very much front and center
and above all we else. It's just the closeness of
(15:44):
the contests and the intenseness of the matches that that
World Cup quarterfinal was one of the greatest matches and
World Cup history wasn't It could have gone either way,
the All Black's defending their line at the death for
what was it fifteen twenty odd phases, Sam Whitelocke getting
(16:05):
the turnover to win the match, just the emotion at
the and also I think the nature of the rivalry
has evolved significantly since twenty sixteen, because the backdrop to
that match in the World Cup was Ireland were hot
favorites and you go back, you know, six odd years
or so, that was unthinkable. And also just the level
(16:29):
of confidence among the Irish fans before that World Cup
quarterfinal was like nothing I've ever witnessed before from an
Irish rugby supporters group. They had that match won. There
was no question in their minds that they were winning
their first World Cup quarterfinal progressing beating the All Blacks.
There was just no sense of doubts at all and
(16:53):
the deflation afterwards was palpable, wasn't it Because there was
just that level of expectation that Ireland were going to
win that match from their fans and there were so
many of them traveling to fronts. So that match which
really changed the complexion of the World Cup and there's
no doubt that this Irish group will be helping on
(17:17):
revenge and carrying a lot of hurt from that result.
And look, they've done the All Blacks no favors either,
have they? With the six day turnaround Friday Nights, this
match sold out as soon as it's was put on sale.
As soon as the tickets went out to the Irish clubs,
they were snapped up. So it will be an absolutely
(17:38):
amazing atmosphere and a really you know, spectacular match again,
I'm sure.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
Indeed all right, Liam, who wins Friday Night my time
Saturday morning in New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (17:53):
Look, I'm in the Tip Islands Elliott's. I was reasonably
confident that the All Blacks would win last week at Twickenham,
but I just think they've got a lot against them
this week. The injuries, I think really hurt their chances.
As we've already touched on, I think Ireland are fresh.
The sixth day turnaround is tough, and Ireland of the
(18:13):
world's number one team. This is This is not you know, Australia, Argentina, England.
This this is Ireland and in their own backyard they
are incredibly tough to beat. I think the All Blacks
have lost their last two in Dublin. Correct me if
I'm wrong there. And Andy Farrell is a very studie coach. Look,
(18:33):
I think if the All Blacks perform to their best
and get rid of those eras that we talked about,
they are real. They are real chants. But I think
the tab has the All Blacks two fifty and Ireland
one fifty. I think that's pretty accurate.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Yeah, I think Ireland certainly going his favorites for this one.
I've tipped the All Blacks and people go, how do
you think this tour is going to play out. I've
actually thought they're gonna win. I've said, you know, I
think they're going to beat England and I think they're
going to beat Ireland and maybe drop the game against
France next week. So I'm going to stick with that
for the time being. We'll see how it plays out
on Saturday morning, Usal on time, Live Tree on gold
(19:09):
Sport News Talk, ZMB and iHeartRadio can follow live blog.
It's INZID Herald dot co dot NZ as well in
all the match reaction on the New Zealand Herald site soon.
I was also told today the Rayburn shield the lineal
Rugby shields, the mythical beast that it is and go
right back into the Rugby Director archives to hear more
about that. That match, that trophy on the line this
(19:31):
week Island the current holders to something else to play for.
We'll take quick break here on Rugby Direct. Back with
the second half after this.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
This is Rugby Direct, a podcast for real rugby fares.
Speaker 3 (19:51):
Powered by News Talks V.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
You're back with Rugby Direct powered by Excess Solutions.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
Now.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
Reports Liam and the South Afragan Outlet report of a
speculation of an IPL style tournament with the United States.
Links details fairly thin on the around, but described as
the best of the best in i PL sort of
style tournament. You've been a big ten nice Super Kings
fan for as long as I can remember, So does
(20:18):
this get the blood pumping?
Speaker 3 (20:21):
No, it certainly does not, Elliott, And look, this has
been around the concept, hasn't it for you know a
good four years. There was talk about it being in
London I think last time, and Steve Hanson and various
other you know rugby identities coaches were paid to promote
(20:41):
us and get involved. So it's interesting to see where
it goes that the IPL has caused well T twenty
cricket has caused a massive disruption, hasn't it to the
international game of cricket? And there's a real sea change
in terms of players going for the money and not
playing for their country. So if this does come off
(21:04):
as has been reported, it would be a massive issue
for international rugby to tackle hit on because ultimately the
players are putting their bodies on the line and a
lot of them will sell to the highest bidder and
I don't think you can blame them for that. And
a sport as tough as rugby. So if it does
get pulled off and the figures are correct, is you know,
(21:27):
talk about nine hundred thousand for one player to go
and play in this twelve tournament. That's a staggering figure
for a short amount of time. I think it would
cause massive issues.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
I think so, And to be honest, it feels like
rugby has been waiting for this moment and trepidation. Cricket
obviously has had it. We've had to lived golf as well,
and while this isn't sort of Saudi backed, it feels
like something was like this was coming for rugby at
some point. I guess the model is slightly different. Players
(22:02):
spread out as is anyway in France and England and
Japan in terms of that financial boon for a lot
of Kiwi players, so maybe that is going to limit
some of the damage. But I think it is worrying
for international rugby if this becomes off the ground and
(22:24):
is able to create some players, because ultimately money dictates
so many decisions and you'd hate to see international rugby
dwarfs or hurt by something like this concept. I do
think there is enough still an international rugby to keep
players from making that decision the World Cups and Lions
Tours and whatever else it might be. But it's something
(22:47):
that I think Ruggy bosses are going to have to
be cognizant of over the next few years.
Speaker 3 (22:51):
Yeah, for sure. I think it's a massive issue and
it'd be interesting to know who's the financial backup, where's
the money coming from? Because it's head turning, isn't it?
And as it sustainable, is it going to last? Is
it actually going to get off the ground. There's a
lot of questions around this, but like you say, money
talks and those are pretty big sums being thrown around.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
Yeah, hopeful it's not Allen Stanford right. Topic number two
in the Final four Johnny Sexton in the Ireland coaching
set up. I believe he's helping out the tens specifically
and the playmakers for this week. Just adds a little
bit of extra spice to proceedings this week. Having Johnny
still in the mix. Is everyone heads to.
Speaker 3 (23:33):
A either, Sure it does, Elliott's you don't have to
go back too far to hear Johnny's thoughts on Riquewhanny
and the whole rugby world. He came out and fired
a few shots in his book, didn't he? And you know,
I guess that's what you want when you're selling an autobiography.
But no surprise that someone of Johnny's elk is involved
(23:55):
in the Irish coaching team. I think he'd be silly
not to tap into his nausis and as an analyst,
as a mentor for the tens. It sounds like he
is actually heavily involved, but it certainly ads a bit
of spice given how things played out at the World Cup.
My advice would be to keep him off the pitch
so he doesn't go abusing referees or get up and
(24:15):
recol one his grill because then more from rugby to
UFC pretty rapidly.
Speaker 2 (24:21):
Topic number three in the final four is what of TSI,
the most assured All Blacks debutante in the last decade?
How good was he on the weekend?
Speaker 3 (24:31):
It's doing it every week, Elliott, it really is. I
haven't seen him for a couple of weeks, and I
guess you can forget about the breadth of his skill,
his confidence. It's easy to forget just how how shorter
period that he's been in this All Black team, only
a couple of months. Going back to his first starts
(24:53):
in Cape Town, his footwork at the line, his involvement
on the carry, his line out work. He created that
first try for Mark Tala by sucking into defenders and offloading.
He fired that ball back on the inside after a
massive break that tuper I couldn't quite gather. And yeah,
I think you're right, Lewis Herman Watts, one of our
(25:15):
sort of former friends and colleagues who's now in London,
that sent me a tweet saying he's the best rookie
since And I said Aaron Smith and that was going
back to twenty twelve. And what about you? Is there
anyone that he could throw up that has made a
more swift impression on the international scene. You know, you'd
have to think Wallas the teaser. Just hand him that
(25:36):
the World Breakthrough Player of the Year award, now, right.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
Yeah, I think so. I'm really battling to think of
players that have made such an immediate impact. I mean,
Cam Roy guards developed well as a Test footballer and
took his opportunities when he's been given them. Think back
to someone like Nearhi Milner's scudder in twenty fifteen, who
played Test rugby like he played it. All of his life.
(26:01):
Unfortunately it burned out pretty quickly for Milner's scudder with injuries,
but he's someone to go back to. But that Aaron
Smith can parison is very very apt because you expect
players to take their time to develop into Test footballs.
You don't expect them to have it from the word go.
Wallace the t T, much like Aaron Smith, appears destined
(26:22):
to be a Test footballer for a very very long
time and on the back of what we've seen in
his test matches to date, and I hope that is
indeed the case, because he could be you know, a
very very long term All Black. Without wanting to put
you know, too much on his shoulders at this young age,
but you know, I think that Aaron Smith the comparison
is absolutely bang on. And Wallace the TT, you know,
(26:43):
if he has we had Aaron Smith on the podcast
ear the end of the year, if he can play
one hundred tests with the All Blacks, I think he'll
be doing pretty well.
Speaker 3 (26:50):
And that's right, and that's something to look forward to,
isn't it. When you get to one hundred tests for
the All Blacks, you get the accolade and the respect
of coming on Ruggay Direct, so it's something something for
him to look forward to in his later career.
Speaker 2 (27:02):
Absolutely that is part of the deal. Get the silver
cap and the appearance on Rugby e Wrecks and final topic,
in fact, it's a few topics. Who will win the
fixtures this weekend outside of Ireland and the All Blacks
weigame of predictions for that moment ago, let's run through
these liam Saturday Local Times that Sunday morning, New Zealand,
(27:24):
England and Australia at Alion Stadium, Twickenham.
Speaker 3 (27:29):
Yes, back to Twickers. Look, Australia's got will skelt him
back in the mix, but that will not be much
enough to get them over the line.
Speaker 2 (27:37):
I think Australia wins that match. Joey sewer Lee if
he plays will Skeleton. It's all come together in the
words you love Ehlee and Argentina. You are Motherland of
sorts against Argentina.
Speaker 3 (27:55):
That's the beautiful Homelands just makes the heart sing. Elliott,
take me back to Italy now, look, Italy on the rise?
Aren't they improving? It's always a bit of an unpredictable
fiction that but I think you'd have to go with
the Pomas just on the basis of what they put
out during the Raby Championships, some big victories over the
(28:16):
spring Box at home and the All Blacks in New Zealand,
so I'll tip them to start their tour on a
positive note.
Speaker 2 (28:23):
Yeah, I'm going to disappoint a friend of leader as well.
I'm going to go with Argentina. Pablo Mateta out with
suspension for this game, but I still think Argentina will
be too strong. France and Japan at Star de France
look hard to go past the home side, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (28:40):
Yeah again, France are unpredictable, weren't they when they play
opposition that are beneath them? And I think Japan certainly
are that. But surely they don't lose at home to
Japan and the state that they are. And currently with
Bertie Jones.
Speaker 2 (28:56):
We move on now to Sunday in Europe and Wales
hosting Fiji in Cardiff. This is a really tricky game
to pick. I think Fiji it's been a little up
and down this year, blown out by Scotland's on the weekends.
But do they go to Cardiff and get the win?
Speaker 3 (29:18):
I think they'll push Wales for sure, and they should
be better for a head out in Scotland, but that
was quite a big margin that the Scot's put on
them in Edinburgh, so lo I'll tip Wales, but I
wouldn't be putting any money on that match because hard
to know where Wales are at and what they're going
(29:39):
to bring as well and.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
Gets you trust. I'm going to go Wales as well.
And the final match of this weekend see Scotland's at
murray Fields hosting South Africa. What do you reckon?
Speaker 3 (29:54):
Oh? I think this will be tight, Elliott, Scotland's not
an easy place to go, but I'm going to tip
South Africa to start their tour. I know they've got
a few injury concerns and rust you'll be juggling that
squads and have a few excuses up his sleeve just
in case. But I think the box to win that.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
Yeah, I'm going to go to Scotland to lose. South
Africa to win. I have seen some online suggestions that
the Scotts are very very confident, but I just can't
see it this weekend. I think South Africa will be
too good at Murrayfield and get the job done against
(30:34):
the Scotts. They're all about. Do us for Rugby Direct
for another week, Liam, big weekend of rugby awaits, so
look forward to catching up again in a week's time.
Speaker 3 (30:45):
That's it. Go well, Elli, enjoy the call and get
stuck into a feel the points of the good stuff
and try stay safe and temple Barrow. I know you'll
be highly popular and learn in some deep dark rooms.
Speaker 2 (31:01):
All right, Okay, we'll leave on that note. Has been
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Speaker 1 (31:16):
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Speaker 2 (00:24):
Welcome into Rugby Direct, powered by Excess Solutions, elevating you
and your business to a higher level. Back for another
week to chat everything in the rugby world. My name
is Alligott Smith, News Talk MB, lead rugby commentator in Dublin.
And joining me Liam Napier, chief sports writer, rugby correspondent
for the New Zealand Herald. Liam back again and two
(00:48):
matches down of the All Blacks inter vid Silla Greetings.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Hello Eliot, ses two down, three to go and well
not all positive news but two from two and the
All Black train remains just on the tracks for now,
doesn't it.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Well I was going to ask you twenty four to
twenty two, are you a glass half full? Glass half empty?
Sorts of person? I guess the All Blacks got the
win in the end, which is what they're paid to
do and expected to do. But again they've sort of
won in spite of everything going on, rather than because
(01:27):
they put in a good performance.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
The All Blacks are a very mercurial team, aren't they.
It's hard to gauge on them. But look, I think
the fact that they won has to be a glass
half full. And they overturned an eight points second half leads,
you know, almost blew. It could would have should have
for England again, just like it was in those two
(01:51):
tests in July some four months ago. But look, I
think from my perspective, the All Blacks were the better team.
They created a lot, they scored three tries to one.
But there were a lot of frustrations in that performance,
weren't there I think at twenty two turnovers, a lot
of handling eras, discipline issues in the first half, late
(02:14):
yellow card again. So they did everything possible to throw
it away and they really won it through some individual
brilliance Wallace, a tit mark to lee Is finishing, Damian McKenzie,
sideline conversion, some big performances off the bench which we
can touch on. But it was a real rocks and
diamonds performance from the All Blacks.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
It certainly was discipline another one to throw on that
pot as well. It was poor at times. They couldn't
seem to adjust to the way that England were attacking
the tackling without the ball was a real issue, especially
in the first spell off Your Black's got three or
four penalties against them that way. It seemed like England
(02:57):
were running their runners in a manner where the All
Blacks basically had to make a decision around who they're
going to tackle. A lot of the times that was
an incorrect That was the way that England were attacking
their throwing runners into that space and confusing the space.
I thought quite well from England and drawing those penalties
out of the All Blacks. At one point that the
(03:18):
penalty count against the All Blacks was eleven two, got
back to eleven seven at the end of the game,
because the scrum turns into a weapon once offered, throwing
a fussy and passily or TOSSI came onto the park,
but again just struggling to find a cohesive performance from
the All Blacks and they just couldn't quite set the
(03:38):
platform despite being fourteen six up. Now you go, okay, well,
fourteen sex up. Wallace to TC and bakes that break
to provive he can stretch out and reel it in
and finish it. The All Blacks I think would be
up probably twenty one to nine, I think at that
point in time, and the game heading into halftime is done,
but they don't, and then they can see a couple
(03:59):
of penalties fourteen twelve different game heading into the halftime sheds,
they sort of took two steps forward during the game,
they had one step back, and then after halftime took
two or three steps back and somehow found themselves not somehow,
but found themselves down on the lead on the scoreboard
by virtue of some good, really good England play. So
we look at that eighty minute performance, it's really hard,
(04:22):
I think, to sort of assess where the All Blacks
are at because it was a win, yet they didn't
actually play that well for long stretches of that game.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
No very Decko and hired, wasn't it. They did a
lot of things well and then they'd undo that good work.
Whether it was a penalty to keep England in touch,
You know that they could have, like you say, with
Tupouvai and the Wallace to tit instance, they could have
been up by ten fifteen points at halftime and could
(04:54):
have put them away by that sort of margin had
they finished a lot of those chances, but a lot
of drop ball, a lot of basic skill errors, and
that's not what you expect from the All Blacks. This
is a team that in previous iterations have led the
world for just a simple catch pass execution under pressure
where I think it was a sign again that the
(05:17):
English rush defense put them under a lot of pressure.
They did adjust at times their depth and did find
some holes with the switch move that Boden Barrett pulled
off around the ruck, with the will Jordan cut back,
just simple things like that to change the point of
attack worked well, but for large parts that rush defense
(05:39):
from England did put them under a lot of pressure,
coursed a lot of errors, particularly from the back line.
I think the midfield didn't have a great performance. I
think Jordie was short of a gallop coming back from
that knee injury in Riquewuaney. I think he had that
hand injury that he had to go off for. It
(05:59):
was spewing blood. Did come back, but he dropped a
lot of ball as well. All Blacks under the high
ball were found a bit vulnerable the new sort of
laws about not escorting that I think they were they
were real sitting ducks. Weren't they the high ball recipients.
Will Jordan must have been bloody saw because he basically
(06:21):
took a serious pounding. But then there was you know,
moments of brilliance, chip kicks that that came off Wallace
TC and Mark t Lea fully justified his inclusion over
Seva Reese in the wing. We've sort of been calling
for that all year, haven't we. But a bit strange
the faith that the All Blacks had maintained in Sevu
(06:43):
when Mark Talia was out in the cold, and he
really proved as his finishing prowess there. I don't think
they get over the line without him. So good aspects
of takeaway from that All Blacks performance, the scrum you
mentioned there and the bench, you know, massive concerns about
the second half performances this year. Five times in the
Rugby Championship they didn't score a point in the last quarter.
(07:05):
This time, the bench, huge off between Fassi, Pasilio Tossi,
the scrum, Patrick two Poloto was one of the best performers,
just hugely physical in the second half. But some big
worries I think Elliott for the All Blacks around the
line out that capitulated in the second half they had
(07:26):
this insistence on throwing long. I think they lost three
line out throws and a lot of those were in
you know, striking distance of the English line. And when
you look ahead to this week, losing Cody Taylor and
Bowden Barrett, two hugely senior influential figures in that team,
how big of a concern is that, Well, I.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Think it is pretty big because they drop off of
the currently available hookers in the All Blacks is quite significant,
from Cody Taylor to to George Bell is a major
drop off. Are laid on some big hits on the weekend.
Had you play seventy five minutes and I thought around
the park he was actually quite good. But when you
(08:08):
a core skill is line out of throwing, you have
to get that right. And more often than not, it's
not a strength of a sofa a mow as it
seems to throw long to the back of the line
at all. Beyond those sort of plays you know, fall
apart of it when when aa a moo is throwing in,
So you can't be as predictable as just going to
(08:28):
the front every time either when as a security blanket,
so they're gonna have to figure that out over the
course of the next four or five days, a sofa
are more and get some real practicing or strategies around that,
because look, it's not a surprise and when it's been
talking about plenty that a sofa. A Moore's big work
on as a hooker is his line out throwing around
(08:50):
the park. He's great, but you're in there as the hooker.
You need to be able to throw him straight. And
it's not like George Bower has played a lot of
Test rugby or indeed had the greatest of Crusader seasons
to justify starting him ahead of of a Moer either.
So that's a big concern I think starting this week.
So Cody Taylor a big loss for the All Blacks.
(09:12):
And when you have Sam MASONI taky your holes still
sidelines for the rest of the year. Yeah, the All
Blacks don't have a lot of great depth hook it
at the moment. In Boden Bearl I think is a
big loss as well, just as I thought he actual
had a pretty good game at ten. Some of the
kicking slightly went Australia was the one that went dead.
There was a week Grubber into the twenty two that
(09:32):
looked relatively aimless. But I thought he was relatively assured
at ten and that performance and would have got better.
I think having a run of games at ten under
his belt on this tour, so to have it stop
start through the HIA protocols is a bit frustrating. I
think they're big losses there.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
What say you loom, yeah, big time. I think you
touched on it there with the line out. I think
they're going to have to get creative around that because
throwing long as okay on occasions, but it becomes predictable
and it is higher risk, and so you need to
look at variations around that with that, be to the
prop at the front or short line out or just
(10:12):
going quickly. You need to alleviate some of that burden
on armor. It certainly will be an area that Island
will target the All Blacks. It's one of their strengths.
They're set peace in general, so I expect them to
come hard for the All Blacks there. And I agree
about Boden. Just the contrast and what Damien McKenzie offered
(10:34):
through the first eight tests of this year, some brilliant
moments and then some baffling ones. And for a Test
against Ireland. I think you're only going to get you know,
three four genuine opportunities to really strike. You're going to
need that game management. That's been a concern around Damien.
So look he now that kick from the sideline. He's
(10:55):
performed well off the bench, but it's completely different kettle
of fish coming in to start to control the test,
to be that navigator. That's you know, Boden has provided
a call come here in recent weeks, so it is
a real contrast for the All Blacks stare and I
think I would like to see a couple of other
(11:16):
we tweaked Eliot, I think cam Rougard, I'd like to
see him come in and start at half back. I'm
not sure about you. I thought Cortez was just a
wee bit hesitance at halfback, struggled a touch with the
pressure that England brought to the breakdown. And Rougo's sister
a bit of a bigger body. I thought he did
make a big impact when he came off the bench.
(11:36):
So maybe flip those two around there and then Patrick
two Poloto. I think he was huge off the bench,
you know, I know to been massive this season, so
maybe there's a conversation to have about which way around
those two props start sorry locks and then the other
one Ethan the group missing last week, your black scrum
was actually under a fair amount of pressure for fifty
(11:59):
odd minutes before they made those changes. So you'd think
Ethan the Groups served his punishment. Do you expect him
to come back in and start this week and shore
up that scrummer bit?
Speaker 2 (12:10):
I do. I look, I thought the weekend was going
to be a big opportunity for Tomighty Williams, but he
got picked a couple of times at scrum time, didn't
have quite the impact on the game that he would
have hoped. I thought it could have been a wee
transition moment in terms of that, because I think Ethan
de Grootz had a roll heavily quiet year and that
all black role obviously missed some of the tests through
(12:32):
injuries as well. But I thought the game was set
up in theory for to Mighty Williams to have a
stormer and really create some question marks around the pecking
order of the Lucier prop. But I don't think he
did that, And I think Ethan de Grootz having served
his punishment, at least according to what Scott Robertson said
last week, we'll be back in the mix for this week.
(12:53):
I agree, can't argue with too many of those tweets
that you suggested there. I wondered whether t J. Pettinara
maybe the contender off the bench to back up Cam Royguard.
I really liked the idea of Roy Gards starting against
Ireland and his ability to snipe around the edges. His
running game is excellent. I think he matches up quite
(13:15):
well against this Irish team. Corte Isratama didn't have probably
since he's taken on the starting role. Wasn't the best
of performances from Cortez Ratama, But I think maybe here
you get Peter Andara on the bench this week for
his defensive abilities. But can't argue too much more with that,
especially on a six day turnaround. Almost think you kind
(13:36):
of need to keep the hot hand as much as
you possibly can with those players that were there at
twickt him, and then you can maybe look at a
couple of other tweaks here and there for France. Given
the nature of the workload that is in front of you.
Let's talk about the Irish Test.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
You know, a.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
Grudge match in many ways it's developed into in recent
years on the back of twenty sixteen, the first win
in Chicago, a bit of bad blood around the return
match and Dublin a couple of weeks after that. There's
been other matches through there. The series in twenty twenty
two of course, which Ireland famously won and created havoc
(14:18):
in the All Blacks coaching staff and false changes there
and then the All Blacks winning the World Cup quarter
final mean there's no shortage of storylines between these two
teams in recent years. The backdrop to it is quite spectacular.
It's developed in quite the rivalry in recent years.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
That's one of the great rivalries and world rugby, isn't that.
Elliott and the Springboks will always be the All Black's
greatest rival. But I think in terms of animosity or
feeling not quite mutual dislike. I've got a number of
Irish friends and the media continued as well, But there've
(14:59):
been so many heated battles and exchanges in recent years,
haven't they haven't there and on the pitch as well.
When you go back to that series in New zeal
Allen's and Peter o'manny calling Sam Kine a ship, Richie
mccaor and then the World Cup quarterfinal with Riquewane telling
six and to get on the plane and joy enjoy retirement.
(15:20):
So there's been a lot of back and forward, a
lot of genuine heat between the players. It's not manufactured
by us in the media or the fans. There's genuine
heats there. And while some of those players have moved on,
some of them are still very much front and center
and above all we else. It's just the closeness of
(15:44):
the contests and the intenseness of the matches that that
World Cup quarterfinal was one of the greatest matches and
World Cup history wasn't It could have gone either way,
the All Black's defending their line at the death for
what was it fifteen twenty odd phases, Sam Whitelocke getting
(16:05):
the turnover to win the match, just the emotion at
the and also I think the nature of the rivalry
has evolved significantly since twenty sixteen, because the backdrop to
that match in the World Cup was Ireland were hot
favorites and you go back, you know, six odd years
or so, that was unthinkable. And also just the level
(16:29):
of confidence among the Irish fans before that World Cup
quarterfinal was like nothing I've ever witnessed before from an
Irish rugby supporters group. They had that match won. There
was no question in their minds that they were winning
their first World Cup quarterfinal progressing beating the All Blacks.
There was just no sense of doubts at all and
(16:53):
the deflation afterwards was palpable, wasn't it Because there was
just that level of expectation that Ireland were going to
win that match from their fans and there were so
many of them traveling to fronts. So that match which
really changed the complexion of the World Cup and there's
no doubt that this Irish group will be helping on
(17:17):
revenge and carrying a lot of hurt from that result.
And look, they've done the All Blacks no favors either,
have they? With the six day turnaround Friday Nights, this
match sold out as soon as it's was put on sale.
As soon as the tickets went out to the Irish clubs,
they were snapped up. So it will be an absolutely
(17:38):
amazing atmosphere and a really you know, spectacular match again,
I'm sure.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
Indeed all right, Liam, who wins Friday Night my time
Saturday morning in New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (17:53):
Look, I'm in the Tip Islands Elliott's. I was reasonably
confident that the All Blacks would win last week at Twickenham,
but I just think they've got a lot against them
this week. The injuries, I think really hurt their chances.
As we've already touched on, I think Ireland are fresh.
The sixth day turnaround is tough, and Ireland of the
(18:13):
world's number one team. This is This is not you know, Australia, Argentina, England.
This this is Ireland and in their own backyard they
are incredibly tough to beat. I think the All Blacks
have lost their last two in Dublin. Correct me if
I'm wrong there. And Andy Farrell is a very studie coach. Look,
(18:33):
I think if the All Blacks perform to their best
and get rid of those eras that we talked about,
they are real. They are real chants. But I think
the tab has the All Blacks two fifty and Ireland
one fifty. I think that's pretty accurate.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Yeah, I think Ireland certainly going his favorites for this one.
I've tipped the All Blacks and people go, how do
you think this tour is going to play out. I've
actually thought they're gonna win. I've said, you know, I
think they're going to beat England and I think they're
going to beat Ireland and maybe drop the game against
France next week. So I'm going to stick with that
for the time being. We'll see how it plays out
on Saturday morning, Usal on time, Live Tree on gold
(19:09):
Sport News Talk, ZMB and iHeartRadio can follow live blog.
It's INZID Herald dot co dot NZ as well in
all the match reaction on the New Zealand Herald site soon.
I was also told today the Rayburn shield the lineal
Rugby shields, the mythical beast that it is and go
right back into the Rugby Director archives to hear more
about that. That match, that trophy on the line this
(19:31):
week Island the current holders to something else to play for.
We'll take quick break here on Rugby Direct. Back with
the second half after this.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
This is Rugby Direct, a podcast for real rugby fares.
Speaker 3 (19:51):
Powered by News Talks V.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
You're back with Rugby Direct powered by Excess Solutions.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
Now.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
Reports Liam and the South Afragan Outlet report of a
speculation of an IPL style tournament with the United States.
Links details fairly thin on the around, but described as
the best of the best in i PL sort of
style tournament. You've been a big ten nice Super Kings
fan for as long as I can remember, So does
(20:18):
this get the blood pumping?
Speaker 3 (20:21):
No, it certainly does not, Elliott, And look, this has
been around the concept, hasn't it for you know a
good four years. There was talk about it being in
London I think last time, and Steve Hanson and various
other you know rugby identities coaches were paid to promote
(20:41):
us and get involved. So it's interesting to see where
it goes that the IPL has caused well T twenty
cricket has caused a massive disruption, hasn't it to the
international game of cricket? And there's a real sea change
in terms of players going for the money and not
playing for their country. So if this does come off
(21:04):
as has been reported, it would be a massive issue
for international rugby to tackle hit on because ultimately the
players are putting their bodies on the line and a
lot of them will sell to the highest bidder and
I don't think you can blame them for that. And
a sport as tough as rugby. So if it does
get pulled off and the figures are correct, is you know,
(21:27):
talk about nine hundred thousand for one player to go
and play in this twelve tournament. That's a staggering figure
for a short amount of time. I think it would
cause massive issues.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
I think so, And to be honest, it feels like
rugby has been waiting for this moment and trepidation. Cricket
obviously has had it. We've had to lived golf as well,
and while this isn't sort of Saudi backed, it feels
like something was like this was coming for rugby at
some point. I guess the model is slightly different. Players
(22:02):
spread out as is anyway in France and England and
Japan in terms of that financial boon for a lot
of Kiwi players, so maybe that is going to limit
some of the damage. But I think it is worrying
for international rugby if this becomes off the ground and
(22:24):
is able to create some players, because ultimately money dictates
so many decisions and you'd hate to see international rugby
dwarfs or hurt by something like this concept. I do
think there is enough still an international rugby to keep
players from making that decision the World Cups and Lions
Tours and whatever else it might be. But it's something
(22:47):
that I think Ruggy bosses are going to have to
be cognizant of over the next few years.
Speaker 3 (22:51):
Yeah, for sure. I think it's a massive issue and
it'd be interesting to know who's the financial backup, where's
the money coming from? Because it's head turning, isn't it?
And as it sustainable, is it going to last? Is
it actually going to get off the ground. There's a
lot of questions around this, but like you say, money
talks and those are pretty big sums being thrown around.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
Yeah, hopeful it's not Allen Stanford right. Topic number two
in the Final four Johnny Sexton in the Ireland coaching
set up. I believe he's helping out the tens specifically
and the playmakers for this week. Just adds a little
bit of extra spice to proceedings this week. Having Johnny
still in the mix. Is everyone heads to.
Speaker 3 (23:33):
A either, Sure it does, Elliott's you don't have to
go back too far to hear Johnny's thoughts on Riquewhanny
and the whole rugby world. He came out and fired
a few shots in his book, didn't he? And you know,
I guess that's what you want when you're selling an autobiography.
But no surprise that someone of Johnny's elk is involved
(23:55):
in the Irish coaching team. I think he'd be silly
not to tap into his nausis and as an analyst,
as a mentor for the tens. It sounds like he
is actually heavily involved, but it certainly ads a bit
of spice given how things played out at the World Cup.
My advice would be to keep him off the pitch
so he doesn't go abusing referees or get up and
(24:15):
recol one his grill because then more from rugby to
UFC pretty rapidly.
Speaker 2 (24:21):
Topic number three in the final four is what of TSI,
the most assured All Blacks debutante in the last decade?
How good was he on the weekend?
Speaker 3 (24:31):
It's doing it every week, Elliott, it really is. I
haven't seen him for a couple of weeks, and I
guess you can forget about the breadth of his skill,
his confidence. It's easy to forget just how how shorter
period that he's been in this All Black team, only
a couple of months. Going back to his first starts
(24:53):
in Cape Town, his footwork at the line, his involvement
on the carry, his line out work. He created that
first try for Mark Tala by sucking into defenders and offloading.
He fired that ball back on the inside after a
massive break that tuper I couldn't quite gather. And yeah,
I think you're right, Lewis Herman Watts, one of our
(25:15):
sort of former friends and colleagues who's now in London,
that sent me a tweet saying he's the best rookie
since And I said Aaron Smith and that was going
back to twenty twelve. And what about you? Is there
anyone that he could throw up that has made a
more swift impression on the international scene. You know, you'd
have to think Wallas the teaser. Just hand him that
(25:36):
the World Breakthrough Player of the Year award, now, right.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
Yeah, I think so. I'm really battling to think of
players that have made such an immediate impact. I mean,
Cam Roy guards developed well as a Test footballer and
took his opportunities when he's been given them. Think back
to someone like Nearhi Milner's scudder in twenty fifteen, who
played Test rugby like he played it. All of his life.
(26:01):
Unfortunately it burned out pretty quickly for Milner's scudder with injuries,
but he's someone to go back to. But that Aaron
Smith can parison is very very apt because you expect
players to take their time to develop into Test footballs.
You don't expect them to have it from the word go.
Wallace the t T, much like Aaron Smith, appears destined
(26:22):
to be a Test footballer for a very very long
time and on the back of what we've seen in
his test matches to date, and I hope that is
indeed the case, because he could be you know, a
very very long term All Black. Without wanting to put
you know, too much on his shoulders at this young age,
but you know, I think that Aaron Smith the comparison
is absolutely bang on. And Wallace the TT, you know,
(26:43):
if he has we had Aaron Smith on the podcast
ear the end of the year, if he can play
one hundred tests with the All Blacks, I think he'll
be doing pretty well.
Speaker 3 (26:50):
And that's right, and that's something to look forward to,
isn't it. When you get to one hundred tests for
the All Blacks, you get the accolade and the respect
of coming on Ruggay Direct, so it's something something for
him to look forward to in his later career.
Speaker 2 (27:02):
Absolutely that is part of the deal. Get the silver
cap and the appearance on Rugby e Wrecks and final topic,
in fact, it's a few topics. Who will win the
fixtures this weekend outside of Ireland and the All Blacks
weigame of predictions for that moment ago, let's run through
these liam Saturday Local Times that Sunday morning, New Zealand,
(27:24):
England and Australia at Alion Stadium, Twickenham.
Speaker 3 (27:29):
Yes, back to Twickers. Look, Australia's got will skelt him
back in the mix, but that will not be much
enough to get them over the line.
Speaker 2 (27:37):
I think Australia wins that match. Joey sewer Lee if
he plays will Skeleton. It's all come together in the
words you love Ehlee and Argentina. You are Motherland of
sorts against Argentina.
Speaker 3 (27:55):
That's the beautiful Homelands just makes the heart sing. Elliott,
take me back to Italy now, look, Italy on the rise?
Aren't they improving? It's always a bit of an unpredictable
fiction that but I think you'd have to go with
the Pomas just on the basis of what they put
out during the Raby Championships, some big victories over the
(28:16):
spring Box at home and the All Blacks in New Zealand,
so I'll tip them to start their tour on a
positive note.
Speaker 2 (28:23):
Yeah, I'm going to disappoint a friend of leader as well.
I'm going to go with Argentina. Pablo Mateta out with
suspension for this game, but I still think Argentina will
be too strong. France and Japan at Star de France
look hard to go past the home side, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (28:40):
Yeah again, France are unpredictable, weren't they when they play
opposition that are beneath them? And I think Japan certainly
are that. But surely they don't lose at home to
Japan and the state that they are. And currently with
Bertie Jones.
Speaker 2 (28:56):
We move on now to Sunday in Europe and Wales
hosting Fiji in Cardiff. This is a really tricky game
to pick. I think Fiji it's been a little up
and down this year, blown out by Scotland's on the weekends.
But do they go to Cardiff and get the win?
Speaker 3 (29:18):
I think they'll push Wales for sure, and they should
be better for a head out in Scotland, but that
was quite a big margin that the Scot's put on
them in Edinburgh, so lo I'll tip Wales, but I
wouldn't be putting any money on that match because hard
to know where Wales are at and what they're going
(29:39):
to bring as well and.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
Gets you trust. I'm going to go Wales as well.
And the final match of this weekend see Scotland's at
murray Fields hosting South Africa. What do you reckon?
Speaker 3 (29:54):
Oh? I think this will be tight, Elliott, Scotland's not
an easy place to go, but I'm going to tip
South Africa to start their tour. I know they've got
a few injury concerns and rust you'll be juggling that
squads and have a few excuses up his sleeve just
in case. But I think the box to win that.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
Yeah, I'm going to go to Scotland to lose. South
Africa to win. I have seen some online suggestions that
the Scotts are very very confident, but I just can't
see it this weekend. I think South Africa will be
too good at Murrayfield and get the job done against
(30:34):
the Scotts. They're all about. Do us for Rugby Direct
for another week, Liam, big weekend of rugby awaits, so
look forward to catching up again in a week's time.
Speaker 3 (30:45):
That's it. Go well, Elli, enjoy the call and get
stuck into a feel the points of the good stuff
and try stay safe and temple Barrow. I know you'll
be highly popular and learn in some deep dark rooms.
Speaker 2 (31:01):
All right, Okay, we'll leave on that note. Has been
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Speaker 1 (31:16):
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