February 17, 2025 • 33 mins
This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier run their eye over the opening round of Super Rugby Pacific - is the competition officially 'back'.
We assess the Blues' surprise capitulation against the Chiefs and address the Crusaders' come from behind effort to dismiss the Hurricanes in Christchurch, as well as the other games in the opening round.
We also delve into the NZR/INEOS situation and look at the possible replacements for Warren Gatland as Wales' coach.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our Wide Ranger podcasts now on iHeartRadio. Inside
the Game from every angle. It's Rugby Direct with Elliott Smith,
powered by News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Welcome into Rugby Direct powered by Habit Health, tackling all
your aches and pains from sports and work. Elliott Smith,
Newstalk zbb's lead rugby commentated with me is always Liam Nappier,
rugby writer and chief sports writer for The New Zealand Herald.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Liam is super rugby back.
Speaker 4 (00:42):
I think it is, Elliott. Well, you don't want to
jump the gun too much. But what an opening rounds,
wasn't it? One point results tries from the end of
the Earth, Try of the Year contenders, very competitive, very engaging.
The style of rugby was brilliant, so you couldn't ask
for a better start.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
You really couldn't because there were no blowouts. The biggest
margin of the weekend was the Chiefs upsetting the Blues.
The champions a lot at one point, when's last place
sort of victories, you know, maybe it's a little bit
too early and shouldn't get carried away, but deleting the
rebels from the competition spreading those players out. Mowana has
got better with RDSVA, the Crusaders seemed to be better.
(01:24):
Just as a general the competition seems a lot more
even this year or already compared to previous years. And
I know there were three new Zealand teams in the
mix last year, but across the board, you go, that's
a fascinating opening round.
Speaker 5 (01:38):
Yeah, big time.
Speaker 4 (01:39):
And I think we saw stylistically last year the massive
improvements that a number of largely small tweaks can make
in terms of speeding up the game, improving the product,
removing stoppages and even in the weekend, just little things
like the shot clock for the goalkickers or setting the
(02:00):
scrum or the line out quickly protecting the halfback. All
those sorts of things make a massive difference to the
on field products.
Speaker 5 (02:08):
Did see that last year.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
And now, as you mentioned, with the spread of talent
in Australia, Muana being more competitive, and we do have
to be careful not jumping the gum and making wid
widespread generalizations too early, but you put those two things
together and this does feel like it's going to be
one of the most competitive Super Rugby competitions in recent memory.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Well, let's go through it line by line, game by
game and speaking with sweeping generalizations. The Crusaders, they are back.
Speaker 5 (02:43):
I've been waiting for this, been waiting for this.
Speaker 4 (02:45):
Look, just pump the brakes, Elliot, pumped the brakes, mate,
you're not back yet.
Speaker 5 (02:48):
One game, you know, hold the phone.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Well, I thought they did very well.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
You know, they were down fourteen now and it felt
like the ghosts of last year was still in the
system and they could have tripped up and really been
blown out in that game. But they came back and
rallied and sort of fought fire with fire a little
bit against the Hurricanes. I really liked what David Harvelli
did for the Crusaders. Taha Kemada clearly his best game
(03:14):
at super rugby level, yet there are a lot of
questions about him last year sent back to MP sorry
to club rugby level. But David Avelli, I thought was
so key in that performance. He linked well with Will
Jordan and that allowed Sevrees to roam out wide. And
then you had Kyle Preston come on early in the
game play seventy seven to odd minutes, and boy, he
looks like a real player of promise. So what I
(03:37):
thought they did well was just response and fire with fire,
whereas last year they went into the cages a little
bit of the Crusaders and didn't know how to fight
their way out of trouble. I thought at fourteen neel
down it could have gone a lot differently, but they
managed to wheel their way back into the contest and
that's a confidence building win for a team that was
low on confidence at the end of last year.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
That's a massive one, isn't it after what happened last year,
missing the playoffs, having your head coach in the gun. Look,
I think everyone expected the Crusaders to be infinitely better year.
You put guys like Will Jordan back in that team
and what a difference he made.
Speaker 5 (04:13):
But he can't do it alone. You mentioned David Heavili there.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
The captaincy seems to rest really well on his shoulders.
I saw him talking postmatch about you know how much
the jersey means to him, and he really seems to
be mature and relishing that responsibility. Sever Reese was lethal
on the edge, and you're right the Crusaders made the
adjustment because in the first half, probably even for fifty
(04:39):
odd minutes.
Speaker 5 (04:40):
The Hurricanes were dominant. They regularly broke the Crusaders.
Speaker 4 (04:44):
Lever Armore clearly had a license to rush in the
midfield and that caused the Crusaders a lot of problems.
They were broken on the edge quite consistently. But they
made some adjustments and I felt the Crusaders got bester
as the game gone war on with the Hurricanes. For me,
maybe their their injuries, A bit of depth concerns started
(05:07):
to tell. I thought the Crusaders got more pay off
the bench. Guys like James O'Connor came on and had
a real impact. Where the Hurricanes it looked like they
started to fatigue and that allowed the Crusaders to just
get on top. But a massive win for the Crusaders
at home in particular. They've got a tough start to
the year with the Chiefs this week as well, so
(05:29):
really important for them to just draw a line in
the stand and say, hey, this is a new year,
let's keep building. You know, we're not the team that
we were last year. We can, you know, rebuild because
the Empire did crumble last year earlier and it does
need some rebuilding.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
It did, and that's only the opening week. As you mentioned,
some big games to come, but some promising signs there
for the Crusaders. I thought there were promising signs for
the Hurricanes as well. I agree though were fatigued late
in the game. What they did really well early on,
I thought was stretched the Crusaders on the edges, and
you had in the hollow and finng and awful who
looks really really impressive super rugby level dominating around the
(06:11):
edges and making breaks. But it felt to me like
cam Royguard was doing a lot of it on his own,
and as the game wore on, you know, he got
fatigued and just wasn't able to have the influence that
he probably would have liked. But it felt like a
lot of that game rested on his shoulders and he
was just trying to do a little bit too much.
There was one kick that went a little bit too
(06:31):
far from memory, and he was maybe trying to do
it all because he perhaps didn't have the players outside
him that he was used to. So look, I don't
think it's you know, I think the Hurricanes will bounce
back quickly from that performance. There were some promising signs,
but just maybe in terms of the makeup of that
back line. They don't have the right pieces in the
right places through injury and maybe some selection issues as well.
Speaker 4 (06:54):
Yeah, that's right, And look I was impressed with I
thought Harry Godfrey was very good at ten, but yeah,
I think maybe lacked a bit of support. And you're right,
Cam Royguard. He's still a young guy, isn't he and
took a lot on his shoulders. There was one kick
that went dead, another one went out on the fall
and those things start to compound, and yeah, you take
(07:16):
Jordi Barrett out of that team, massive influence in the
Hurricanes back line. I think they lost Riley Higgins late
in the week and a couple of others, so some
big outs. But yeah, I probably expected a bit more
from the Hurricanes just because of the way they performed
in that first half.
Speaker 5 (07:32):
They were all over the Crusaders.
Speaker 4 (07:34):
I wouldn't go as far as say they had them
on the ropes, but as you mentioned, they're breaking them up. Well,
they really had them on the rack and couldn't put
them away for whatever reason. They I thought Carrefa had
a big game and lead really well. That their attitude
to kick for the corner and really chase. Those opportunities
largely worked, but just they didn't get the payoff the bench.
(07:58):
You know, guys like Peter Luckeye came on and didn't
probably have the impact that you would expect of a
recent All Black, but he wasn't alone. So yeah, to
see how the Hurricanes regroup and if they can get
some troops.
Speaker 5 (08:11):
Back, but not not all all Derm and Gloom.
Speaker 4 (08:14):
I still think Clark Bladel was a very stude coach,
and he'll he'll go back and look at that, and
I think the blueprint is there for the Hurricanes.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Let's move on to the war Tars Highlanders later that
night on Friday, the war Tars winning that one by one,
thirty seven thirty six, end to end sort of stuff.
It was basically try meets try meets try. What did
we learn about the Highlanders first and foremost from the spixualium.
Speaker 4 (08:42):
The Highlanders look, I think there were signs of Jamie
Joseph's fingerprints on this team.
Speaker 5 (08:48):
I thought they had a.
Speaker 4 (08:49):
Lot of spirit, They competed well, they contested everything this game,
in particular that the first half wasn't great, that the
war Tars seemon intent on hoisting to the heavens every
chance they got to bring Joseph tole you into the game.
I thought the hand has competed well and area they
(09:09):
got some some good There were some interesting selections first
and foremost for the Hounds. Wasn't there Benching Falal, Fuckatava
and cam Miller So a couple of very green halves
for the Honders, and I thought they formed a reasonably well.
But I wouldn't be too desponding if I was the
Honders that this was really tip for tet. I think
(09:30):
there was something like four lead changes in the last
ten to fifteen minutes was try for try and the Waratas.
Speaker 5 (09:39):
Maybe deserved it, maybe they didn't.
Speaker 4 (09:41):
They did because they got there in the end, but
it very easily could have gone either.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Way they could have. I think there were promising signs
there for the Highlanders. I don't think their best is
probably going to come for another couple of years. They've
got a nucleus of a young squad used they've got
some older heads in there as well, but they have
some players that are on the up in New Zealand rugby.
Cam Miller you mentioned there Fabian Holland, Sean Whzy and
other players Tongue as well, who I thought was very
(10:08):
good good on the weekend to more of the Nawai.
Speaker 5 (10:12):
So is exceptional, wasn't he?
Speaker 4 (10:13):
He's probably one of the best players of a round
on both sides of the ball and his kicking game.
Speaker 5 (10:18):
Where did that come from?
Speaker 4 (10:19):
Obviously he's moved into the midfield, but he pulled off
one fifty twenty two. I don't think anyone really thought
he had that in his repertoire.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
No, and I think he can be a real presence
in the midfield. I actually liked that move from Jamie
Joseph moving in in there. So look, I don't think
it's all doom and glue for the Highlanders. I think
they're a team that is probably going to be this
year outside the playoffs looking in. But I think there
are promising signs. If Jamie Joseph sticks around, perhaps similar
to how he did in twenty fifteen, and can mold
(10:47):
this team into an unheralded, you know, unheralded bunch of
players into something, then they'll be really promising. They just
perhaps need to fix up, you know, some of their
their tidiness around the park.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
They're a little bit discipline as well, and you know.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
They'll they'll be tough for teams to put away this
year Waratas. In terms of their perform what did you
make of them? Is it title town in Sydney.
Speaker 4 (11:14):
Look to be honest for the cavalry that they have
got as practically a Wallabies team, I was a little
bit underwhelmed.
Speaker 5 (11:22):
I expected more.
Speaker 4 (11:23):
I think maybe it's round one and they will get
better as the season goes on.
Speaker 5 (11:29):
But they had an all Wallabies front row.
Speaker 4 (11:31):
They've got Joseph Sui Le who is an absolute freak
of an athlete. You know, the Broaden guys like Andrew Callaway,
Taliana Tupo, and they did get some pay in certain areas,
but I think tactically they're a wee bit one dimensional
in the first half and a wee helter skelter they
were forcing passes that didn't need to be pushed, like
(11:51):
a bit of composure.
Speaker 5 (11:52):
They got there in the end, but.
Speaker 4 (11:55):
If you just look man for man in terms of
international experience, they headed all over the Hondas and they
made really really difficult work that could easily lost it.
Speaker 5 (12:06):
So I expect them to get.
Speaker 4 (12:07):
Better as the season and goes on, but also probably
expected a bit more, just given their off field recruits
in the past year with the demise of the Rebels.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
Blues and Chiefs Saturday night at Eden Park this was
another fascinating game. You would expect, given what we saw
from the Blues last year fourteen six up at halftime,
that they would go on and win it, but they
folded in the second spell. The Chiefs went up a
level the Blues couldn't go with them. And while the
Chiefs I thought were unlucky to be down by eight
(12:36):
at half time, that was a game where you know,
I thought the Chiefs had maybe missed their opportunities in
the first half, the Blues had taken them and would
have kicked on from there. It didn't happen. In fact,
the opposite happened, and that's a big win, a statement
win from the Chiefs coming up to Auckland, taking the
win off the defending champions. Yes, and round one, but
a wake up call for the Blues as well. I
really liked the way and it was almost by accidents.
(12:59):
In terms of Clayton McMillan talking about the minutes that
he was prepared to give some of his All Blacks
players given how they'd had shortened preparation and times coming
in off their holidays, etc. But the fact that they
could bring those players on at the end, they could
move McKenzie into ten and direct the team around in
the second half. I thought it was a statement win
(13:20):
from the Chiefs and that now makes things very very
interesting in the state of the competition.
Speaker 4 (13:27):
It does, and a big win for the Chiefs because
of the context of last year, wasn't it and round
one that won't count for anything come to playoffs, But
it was a big win for the Chiefs because they
hadn't won in Auckland since twenty twenty. They got absolutely
plumped in the final last year very.
Speaker 5 (13:44):
Despondent.
Speaker 4 (13:45):
You know that the Eden Park was chock a fall
of Chiefs fans and they never really got into the contest.
And there's a number of players, the vast majority of
them in fact coming back again for another crack, as
well as Clayton McMillan, so there.
Speaker 5 (13:58):
Would have been a chip on their shoulder.
Speaker 4 (14:00):
And it was a contrasting match compared to the rest
of the realm, partly because of the way the Blues play,
partly because there's a bit of rain, So it was
a bit of a grind at times, but you're right,
the Chiefs bench had a massive impact and that might
not be the case every week, but it certainly worked
for them being able to bring on that level of
(14:22):
player to really you bring it home in the last quarter.
Where I think the Chiefs won that game was going
toe to toe with the Blues. You do that with
their pack and you take away their strength and it's
not like the Blues don't know where to turn, but
they need to have a few more tricks up their
sleeve because if you can compete with their pack, if
(14:45):
you can muscle up and stop that go forward, then
you really it can be a bit of a kryptonite.
Speaker 5 (14:53):
That's been Cotta's blueprint.
Speaker 4 (14:55):
How much of the blue is going to evolve it
because when you take it away, it does really have
a big impact. And Daman McKenzie has influence on that
game from as you mentioned, fallback and first five. He
really stamped his authority and said this is going to
be my year.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
He did look I really like Josh Jacob. I think
he's a promising player. But we did see the lifted
intensity once McKenzie was able to run things at the
back end of the game. I thought Jacob didn't play
too badly, but it was just the quality of McKenzie
that shone through, the ability and confidence to take on
the line when the opportunity presented themselves. It was a
game where he just took it by the struff of
(15:33):
the neck and said we're coming away with the competition
points from Eden Parks and I thought it was a
really really good performance. The worrying thing for the Blues
as you touched on there was up front there strum
got man handled at times. The lineup was okay, they
pinched a wee bit of the Chiefs ball, but the
penalty count sixteen to six against the Blues. Discipline wise,
(15:56):
they were all over the show. They invited Damon Murphy
to penalize them, and I think this is going to
be really really interesting to see where they go to
in the next few weeks around this discipline. Lin Let's
move on now to the four sen ONEA Pacific. The
final match of the round, at least involving one of
the New Zealand based teams that we'll discuss in this
(16:18):
week's part of this was quite the game. Look at
at forty four to thirty one up one. I should
have won that game. They did enough, well almost did enough,
and that's going to be a loss that haunts them.
Having to play the Reds again this week still in Australia.
They should be heading over to brisl with their tails up,
(16:39):
but it's a game they lost. And promising signs from
Mauana but just not enough on the night and Perth.
Speaker 4 (16:46):
Yeah, they will haunt Myna Elliott's I guess a RSI
improved performance on the whole, but to have that sort
of lead and to let it slip will be incredibly frustrating.
I think you saw all the work that they put
them throughout the year, the preseason, sorry, the impact of
the new coaching team that we've touched on Ardie Severe
coming in behind the scene and listing expectations.
Speaker 5 (17:10):
But it doesn't count for anything if you don't finish
the job.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
Person a traditionally tough place to go, the longest trip
and Super Rugby currently and as you mentioned, they've got
to go to the Reds this week, so look. Promising
signs on the whole from one, but those are the
sort of wins that you need to bank, and those
are the sort of wins that the Crusaders let slip
last year. I think they lost something l five or
(17:35):
six games by five or six points or less. And
good teams have that composure and when you're ten twelve
points up with five ten minutes ago, you just have
to close that out.
Speaker 5 (17:47):
So they will. That will really hurt.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
It will indeed, anything else you want to touch on
from the opening round, Liam, we didn't really touch on
the Blue Brumbies and drew a game, But anything else
that stands out from that opening week of Super Rugby,
I think.
Speaker 4 (18:02):
It was just a great start, Elliott, I really don't
think you could have asked for much more. Want to
see that competitiveness. We want to see the Chiefs upsetting
the Blues. We want to see more on you know,
going close and knocking over teams. So long man continue.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Absolutely, We'll take a break here on Rugby Direct with
Habit Health. Come back with the second half of the
podcast after this.
Speaker 1 (18:25):
This is Rugby Direct, a podcast for real rugby fares.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
Ever try try heads, sixty sec every tackle to tackle,
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Speaker 3 (18:41):
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Speaker 2 (18:48):
Time now for our final four four rugby topics that
Liam and I will debate. Well, William, I think just
after we clicked off on the podcast last week, it
was news that broke that in the OS in New
Zealand Rugby head split New Zealand Rugby taking in the
OS to quart around the vacation of the sponsorship which
has three years to run at this point. Your reaction
(19:09):
to this and who's likely to win from this point
in this whole saga, is anyone likely to win?
Speaker 5 (19:16):
No? No, No one will win.
Speaker 4 (19:18):
Lawyers will win because because they're not cheap, good lawyers
don't come cheap and New Zealand ARABBI will need a
very good lawyer to take on Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Look,
this is a big story outlet because big business matters
and it funds the game from the top to the bottom.
So I know there's a lot of very nervous people
out there in the New jell and a Ragby community
(19:39):
about the three years still remaining on the ANOS contract
and the loss of revenue that.
Speaker 5 (19:48):
Will come straight away.
Speaker 4 (19:50):
And I guess the big question now is well, a
couple what one's going regby get out of the steel
and you'd imagine it would be protracted that legal fights
don't get wrapped up overnight. So whatever they recruit, they're
going to take a loss and lawyer's fees. And can
they find another sponsor to that to that level, you know,
(20:12):
there's not that many out there. It's a pretty tough
climber in the world. Maybe they can tap up one
of their Japanese sponsors, but we're talking big funds here.
You know, Front of Jersey sponsor for the All Blacks
doesn't come cheap anywhere between ten to fifteen million dollars
per year.
Speaker 5 (20:29):
Can they find someone else at that level, well, at.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
Their short notice, it's going to be very, very tough.
You know, these things don't happen overnight. There's a lot
of you know, charm offenses that happen before you even
get to putting incorn paper. And to try and do
it in a relatively short window. We know, the SEVENS
teams I think still going to be badged as in
the OS this weekend because they don't have the gear,
you know, to change around that in such a short
(20:54):
space of time. By the time the All Blacks and
the Black Fans take to the field, you would suspect
that there'll be clean skinned and maybe there's another sponsor
on board. But as I say that, these things do
take time to try and get into motion and to
fill a hole of what I understand is to be
upwards of US ten million dollars a year for New
Zealand Rugby is not going to be a quick fix.
(21:16):
And as you say, it's you know, there's not many
sponsors out there that are willing to part with that
money at short notice. These things do take a lot
of time to get into motion, so it's going to
be fascinating to see whether someone can plug the gap.
Whether it's exactly the amount that inios we're putting into
the books or whether it's a smaller amount, is going
(21:36):
to be very very interesting. But I think you're right.
I think it's only lawyers who are going to win.
They clearly and the US wrote a number on a napkin,
slid it across the tables New Zealand Rugby and said
this is what we're preparing to get out of the
deal with New Zealand. Rugby laughed that off and hence
why we're going to court. But it's hard to see
anyone but lawyers winning at this point. Watch the space
(21:58):
on that front topic number two. The question was asked
last week here on Rugby Direct Napes around whether Warren
Gatland will last until the next six nations got I
said no, You said yes, he has gone. Now is
it the right call and who's going to replace him?
Speaker 5 (22:15):
Well? I think it is the right call.
Speaker 4 (22:16):
I didn't expect the Welsh Ruby Union to follow through
on that decision, and by all accounts, depending on who
you believe, this was Gatlin's decision.
Speaker 5 (22:28):
At least in the short term.
Speaker 4 (22:30):
He's jumped before he's been pushed because you just couldn't
retain him. Long term should have happened at the back
end of last year misplaced loyalty. But yeah, it is
a big question about who comes in now. Do they
look to someone like a Michael Checker, Do they look
to someone in their domestic scene. I know they've brought
(22:52):
up the Cardiff coach as interim for the rest of
the year.
Speaker 5 (22:55):
What if he gets a bit of a bounce, do
they retain him?
Speaker 4 (22:59):
But I think we do also do nearly acknowledge that
whoever gets its faces a massive uphill task because the
problems run much deeper than he co which But I
think it was a poor decision to bring in Gats.
Speaker 5 (23:12):
Yes, he had a lot of success.
Speaker 4 (23:14):
I think he won three Grand Slams and you know
went to the World Cup semi finals with Wales. But
viewing him as a quick solution was very short sighted
and I think we've seen that come to fruition.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
We have indeed, look, it's quite interesting to look back.
Wayne Pevack was sacked in twenty twenty two and replaced
by Gatland when PVAc won the Six Nations in twenty
twenty one. Yes, twenty twenty didn't go flash. Twenty twenty
two didn't go flash in terms of Six Nations and
other results. But clearly I think the point was missed
(23:51):
around it is that this team was on a slide
and they thought let's get a bloke back in who
knows well shrugby intimately and he can correct it. But
I think the problems are bigger than Wayne Pavac, than
Warren Gatland. But I don't think he was the right
coach for that point and time. And and you know,
the saying goes, you can't go home again. You know,
you try and do things again for a second time round.
(24:15):
You might have that nostalgia but it never quite works
out Eddie Jones, you know in Australia, he's back in Japan.
Things aren't working that flash room.
Speaker 3 (24:21):
Again.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
There's been football managers who have done the same thing.
It's very, very hard once you've left the place time's
gone by to go back and do it again, especially
when there are issues like that. And while Shrugby and
Franco Smith has been a link with the job, Simon
eased to be. You know, maybe you know Liam McDonald
or someone might might be in the mix from a
New Zealand perspective, but haven't heard his name particularly links.
(24:43):
Brad Moore, Crusader's assistant coaches had his name up in
lights as well when that news first broke, But seems
like they might go someone based on the European Continent
Topic number.
Speaker 3 (24:54):
Three, should we just give the war Tars the title? Now?
We did answer this a little bit earlier on, but
is it the year?
Speaker 4 (25:00):
Well, the way that they carried on like pork chops
Eliot after that victory, you'd think so certainly looked like
they'd won the championship. And look, I'm all for celebrating
your wins, but it does seem to be a bit
symptomatic of the Warrior tess you mentioned. You recall a
couple of years ago when they beat the Crusaders, and
you know, taking that scalp of the former seven time
(25:24):
champions is a big deal. But I think it just
needs to be a bit of ty hoe. You know,
just pull your head and look at Wii. But it's
only one game, it's only round one. You haven't won
anything yet. So yeah, it was interesting to see those
over the top reactions from the Tars and yeah, let's
just say they need to back it up now.
Speaker 2 (25:42):
Yeah, I do think the competition needs the war Tis
to be strong in terms of crowd figures and that
Sydney presence. But yeah, it's just just hold your horses
a little bit, Fellows. Topic number four of the chiefs Now,
the competition favorites on the basis of what we saw
on Saturday night.
Speaker 4 (25:56):
I wouldn't got that far. You know, don't rule out
the Canes yet, but no, look, I think i'd still
favor the Blues at this point in time, but clearly
they've got a lot of work to do. It's interesting,
isn't You Look at preseason and the Blues had a
patchy preseason.
Speaker 5 (26:18):
You have players coming late.
Speaker 4 (26:19):
Everyone has excuses, but there is none for the Blues
with the depth of their roster.
Speaker 5 (26:24):
Mentally, maybe they weren't quite there.
Speaker 4 (26:26):
Not too sure, but I think it's probably too early
to annoy the title favorites.
Speaker 5 (26:33):
Look, the Chiefs have it all to.
Speaker 4 (26:34):
Do and they have their expected them to be right
up there to win it last year. They've lost a
couple of finals that will be ingrained in them, won't they.
And Clayton McMillan is a very astute coach, but when
it comes to the big dance, hasn't hasn't quite made
the Chiefs lift. So personally, I'd love to see the
(26:55):
Chiefs to I think they've been building for a number
of years. They've got some very experienced figures in that team,
but they've just folded when it really mattered at the
back end of the year.
Speaker 5 (27:05):
So they need to keep building.
Speaker 4 (27:06):
But it was a mess monkey off their back to
knock over the title title defenders.
Speaker 2 (27:12):
One thing I do think they need to do the
Blues is move Boden Barrett back into ten. I know
there are injuries on Sullivan's out for at least a
few weeks. He was in a cast last week at training.
Stephen Petefetta a couple of weeks away, so maybe it
was the horses for courses selection. But Boden Barrett is
the incombent all Blacks ten. He needs to be playing ten.
I think they're better with him at ten. We saw
what Damian McKenzie did when he slid into ten for
(27:32):
the Chiefs. I think for the purposes of this Blues team,
they need to get him into ten as much as possible.
Let's run through the picks from last week. A rarity
for me. I'm actually in the lead three or five
over the course of the weekend, so great news for
me personally. And you had two of five.
Speaker 4 (27:54):
Well you enjoy that well at last, because history would
say it won't last.
Speaker 2 (27:59):
I think you've won what the last two maybe three years?
So look, let's see if I can build on that
lead the games this week. Liam, Let's run through the
Friday Night Chiefs Crusaders. Do the Chiefs go two from two?
Of the Crusaders be smart at home, Elliott's.
Speaker 4 (28:15):
Unfortunately for your Crusaders, the rebuild, it's a financial hurdle, mate.
Speaker 3 (28:23):
The rebul goes two from two. Don't you worry? About that.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
This is Rob Penny's time and the Crusaders will be
two from two after this weekend.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
Read's more one of PACIFICA.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
This is an interesting one Friday night sun Corpse Stadium,
Reds first game of the year after a first round
by Do more want to learn the lessons of last
week or do the Reds get the victory?
Speaker 5 (28:43):
Look, I think it helps playing a game.
Speaker 4 (28:45):
You should have a bit more cohesion and Miner will
take a lot out of that game despite the result.
But look less Kiss has done a brilliant job with
the Reds potentially coaching for a role and that walla
be set up as well. You've got Frase mcwright and
a number of quality players in that Reds team. They're
at home, so I'm going to go the Reds.
Speaker 2 (29:06):
I'm going to go the Reds as well. Set it
out afternoon at McLean Park in Napier. It'll be dangerous
if there's Sunshine Hurricanes hosting the drawer in Napier. Really
disappointed with the drawer. I thought over the weekend against
a Brumby's team that was down on numbers, so they
haven't traditionally traveled well. But you know, maybe you know
(29:27):
the sights and sounds of Napier will spur them on.
Speaker 3 (29:29):
What do you reckon?
Speaker 4 (29:30):
No, Elliott, it won't. The Kynes will bounce back in
that game. And I did tip last week that it
could be a tough year for the Dura. I just
think first year head coach Queen Jackson. Yeah, it's hard
to step in in your first year, while will there'll
be a number of things that that are in place
there it was. I think the Brumbies had something like
six debutants, didn't they and a number of their front
(29:52):
line players missing. So that was a bad first up
loss for them four point defeats. So I think the
Canes will resign the Dura to OH and two.
Speaker 2 (30:03):
Speaking of oh and two, the defending champions oh and
two as they visit the Glasshouse in Dunedin and the
Highlanders on Saturday night.
Speaker 5 (30:11):
Well, you know what, Elliot, I wouldn't rule the Highlands out.
Speaker 4 (30:13):
Going back home, Jammie Joseph will all stir the emotions
and no doubt, you know, play on the underdog status
that everyone will write them off, nobody gives them a
chance and try and stoke that sort of narrative. But no,
you can't go past the Blues and the depth that
they've got, so we'll tip them.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
Okay, we're going roughly similar here on going the Blues
as well, and the Brumby's a rounding things out against
the Western Force in Canberra Saturday nights. The Brumby is
always difficult at home. Any chance the Force go over
and get the job done, No, I.
Speaker 4 (30:47):
Can't see it, so we'll have to put that multi
in then all the faves.
Speaker 5 (30:53):
It sounds like a sure thing.
Speaker 2 (30:54):
Yeah, Well, apart from the Crusaders and the Chiefs, we're
exactly the same this weekend, so that could very well
be defining in terms of the first couple of weeks
of this tipping competition. Let's run things out with our
MVP voting. Our Super Rugby have got their own Player
of the Year coming in for the first time, long
over due. We're going to continue ours as well, which
is for the New Zealand based franchises. Only give me
(31:17):
a three two ones for this point of this week, Limb.
Speaker 5 (31:21):
I'm going all backs this week.
Speaker 4 (31:23):
Elliott will Jordan for three, Damien McKenzie for two and
Tather Tava Nahua for one. I just think they were
the standout performance for me, big, big influence on their
respective matches. I know the forwards to do the real work,
but the back to take the chocolates.
Speaker 2 (31:39):
This week I'm actually going very very similar, but I'm
going Kyle Preston for three points out of the Crusaders
three tries on debut gave them some spark. We didn't
see much of Nah Hotham, but for Kyle Preston to
come on and do the sort of numbers that he
did across the park I thought was very impressive.
Speaker 5 (31:57):
Mckenzrey very very tough to take, isn't it.
Speaker 4 (31:59):
Elliott born and bred Wellington boy wearing the worst jersey
you could possibly wear and super rugby and doing it
against his former teammates.
Speaker 5 (32:10):
It's very tough to take.
Speaker 2 (32:11):
Streams well, look at the Hurricanes offered him a contract
and he turned it down. He saw the you know,
he saw the lights. That's the Promised Land and him
and no Hotham and we're going to form a dynamic combination.
Hopefully Hotham not too far away from returning. So big
week for the Crusaders and the MVP voting with Will
Jordan and Kyle Preston getting three points eats but it
(32:33):
is Damien McKenzie who leads early on on the basis
of two points. For both of us getting four, he
is topping the chart. So that all about to do
us for Rugby Direct for the week. Liam, thank you,
as always, we will well, I won't catch up with
you next week. You're heading abroad, so we'll catch up
in a fortnight. And Nick Bule is going to slide
in next week and take your place and hopefully ruin
(32:56):
your tipping.
Speaker 5 (32:58):
Yeah, no, appreciate that.
Speaker 4 (32:59):
No, he's he's a heavy hitterer, so I look forward
to listening to his contributions.
Speaker 3 (33:04):
We'll catch you soon.
Speaker 2 (33:05):
Liam travels safe and we'll be back next week here
on Rugby Direct, powered by Habit Health, tackling all your
aches and pains from sport and.
Speaker 1 (33:12):
Work for more from news Talks at b Listen live
on air or online, and keep our shows with you
wherever you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our Wide Ranger podcasts now on iHeartRadio. Inside
the Game from every angle. It's Rugby Direct with Elliott Smith,
powered by News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Welcome into Rugby Direct powered by Habit Health, tackling all
your aches and pains from sports and work. Elliott Smith,
Newstalk zbb's lead rugby commentated with me is always Liam Nappier,
rugby writer and chief sports writer for The New Zealand Herald.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Liam is super rugby back.
Speaker 4 (00:42):
I think it is, Elliott. Well, you don't want to
jump the gun too much. But what an opening rounds,
wasn't it? One point results tries from the end of
the Earth, Try of the Year contenders, very competitive, very engaging.
The style of rugby was brilliant, so you couldn't ask
for a better start.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
You really couldn't because there were no blowouts. The biggest
margin of the weekend was the Chiefs upsetting the Blues.
The champions a lot at one point, when's last place
sort of victories, you know, maybe it's a little bit
too early and shouldn't get carried away, but deleting the
rebels from the competition spreading those players out. Mowana has
got better with RDSVA, the Crusaders seemed to be better.
(01:24):
Just as a general the competition seems a lot more
even this year or already compared to previous years. And
I know there were three new Zealand teams in the
mix last year, but across the board, you go, that's
a fascinating opening round.
Speaker 5 (01:38):
Yeah, big time.
Speaker 4 (01:39):
And I think we saw stylistically last year the massive
improvements that a number of largely small tweaks can make
in terms of speeding up the game, improving the product,
removing stoppages and even in the weekend, just little things
like the shot clock for the goalkickers or setting the
(02:00):
scrum or the line out quickly protecting the halfback. All
those sorts of things make a massive difference to the
on field products.
Speaker 5 (02:08):
Did see that last year.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
And now, as you mentioned, with the spread of talent
in Australia, Muana being more competitive, and we do have
to be careful not jumping the gum and making wid
widespread generalizations too early, but you put those two things
together and this does feel like it's going to be
one of the most competitive Super Rugby competitions in recent memory.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Well, let's go through it line by line, game by
game and speaking with sweeping generalizations. The Crusaders, they are back.
Speaker 5 (02:43):
I've been waiting for this, been waiting for this.
Speaker 4 (02:45):
Look, just pump the brakes, Elliot, pumped the brakes, mate,
you're not back yet.
Speaker 5 (02:48):
One game, you know, hold the phone.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Well, I thought they did very well.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
You know, they were down fourteen now and it felt
like the ghosts of last year was still in the
system and they could have tripped up and really been
blown out in that game. But they came back and
rallied and sort of fought fire with fire a little
bit against the Hurricanes. I really liked what David Harvelli
did for the Crusaders. Taha Kemada clearly his best game
(03:14):
at super rugby level, yet there are a lot of
questions about him last year sent back to MP sorry
to club rugby level. But David Avelli, I thought was
so key in that performance. He linked well with Will
Jordan and that allowed Sevrees to roam out wide. And
then you had Kyle Preston come on early in the
game play seventy seven to odd minutes, and boy, he
looks like a real player of promise. So what I
(03:37):
thought they did well was just response and fire with fire,
whereas last year they went into the cages a little
bit of the Crusaders and didn't know how to fight
their way out of trouble. I thought at fourteen neel
down it could have gone a lot differently, but they
managed to wheel their way back into the contest and
that's a confidence building win for a team that was
low on confidence at the end of last year.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
That's a massive one, isn't it after what happened last year,
missing the playoffs, having your head coach in the gun. Look,
I think everyone expected the Crusaders to be infinitely better year.
You put guys like Will Jordan back in that team
and what a difference he made.
Speaker 5 (04:13):
But he can't do it alone. You mentioned David Heavili there.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
The captaincy seems to rest really well on his shoulders.
I saw him talking postmatch about you know how much
the jersey means to him, and he really seems to
be mature and relishing that responsibility. Sever Reese was lethal
on the edge, and you're right the Crusaders made the
adjustment because in the first half, probably even for fifty
(04:39):
odd minutes.
Speaker 5 (04:40):
The Hurricanes were dominant. They regularly broke the Crusaders.
Speaker 4 (04:44):
Lever Armore clearly had a license to rush in the
midfield and that caused the Crusaders a lot of problems.
They were broken on the edge quite consistently. But they
made some adjustments and I felt the Crusaders got bester
as the game gone war on with the Hurricanes. For me,
maybe their their injuries, A bit of depth concerns started
(05:07):
to tell. I thought the Crusaders got more pay off
the bench. Guys like James O'Connor came on and had
a real impact. Where the Hurricanes it looked like they
started to fatigue and that allowed the Crusaders to just
get on top. But a massive win for the Crusaders
at home in particular. They've got a tough start to
the year with the Chiefs this week as well, so
(05:29):
really important for them to just draw a line in
the stand and say, hey, this is a new year,
let's keep building. You know, we're not the team that
we were last year. We can, you know, rebuild because
the Empire did crumble last year earlier and it does
need some rebuilding.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
It did, and that's only the opening week. As you mentioned,
some big games to come, but some promising signs there
for the Crusaders. I thought there were promising signs for
the Hurricanes as well. I agree though were fatigued late
in the game. What they did really well early on,
I thought was stretched the Crusaders on the edges, and
you had in the hollow and finng and awful who
looks really really impressive super rugby level dominating around the
(06:11):
edges and making breaks. But it felt to me like
cam Royguard was doing a lot of it on his own,
and as the game wore on, you know, he got
fatigued and just wasn't able to have the influence that
he probably would have liked. But it felt like a
lot of that game rested on his shoulders and he
was just trying to do a little bit too much.
There was one kick that went a little bit too
(06:31):
far from memory, and he was maybe trying to do
it all because he perhaps didn't have the players outside
him that he was used to. So look, I don't
think it's you know, I think the Hurricanes will bounce
back quickly from that performance. There were some promising signs,
but just maybe in terms of the makeup of that
back line. They don't have the right pieces in the
right places through injury and maybe some selection issues as well.
Speaker 4 (06:54):
Yeah, that's right, And look I was impressed with I
thought Harry Godfrey was very good at ten, but yeah,
I think maybe lacked a bit of support. And you're right,
Cam Royguard. He's still a young guy, isn't he and
took a lot on his shoulders. There was one kick
that went dead, another one went out on the fall
and those things start to compound, and yeah, you take
(07:16):
Jordi Barrett out of that team, massive influence in the
Hurricanes back line. I think they lost Riley Higgins late
in the week and a couple of others, so some
big outs. But yeah, I probably expected a bit more
from the Hurricanes just because of the way they performed
in that first half.
Speaker 5 (07:32):
They were all over the Crusaders.
Speaker 4 (07:34):
I wouldn't go as far as say they had them
on the ropes, but as you mentioned, they're breaking them up. Well,
they really had them on the rack and couldn't put
them away for whatever reason. They I thought Carrefa had
a big game and lead really well. That their attitude
to kick for the corner and really chase. Those opportunities
largely worked, but just they didn't get the payoff the bench.
(07:58):
You know, guys like Peter Luckeye came on and didn't
probably have the impact that you would expect of a
recent All Black, but he wasn't alone. So yeah, to
see how the Hurricanes regroup and if they can get
some troops.
Speaker 5 (08:11):
Back, but not not all all Derm and Gloom.
Speaker 4 (08:14):
I still think Clark Bladel was a very stude coach,
and he'll he'll go back and look at that, and
I think the blueprint is there for the Hurricanes.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Let's move on to the war Tars Highlanders later that
night on Friday, the war Tars winning that one by one,
thirty seven thirty six, end to end sort of stuff.
It was basically try meets try meets try. What did
we learn about the Highlanders first and foremost from the spixualium.
Speaker 4 (08:42):
The Highlanders look, I think there were signs of Jamie
Joseph's fingerprints on this team.
Speaker 5 (08:48):
I thought they had a.
Speaker 4 (08:49):
Lot of spirit, They competed well, they contested everything this game,
in particular that the first half wasn't great, that the
war Tars seemon intent on hoisting to the heavens every
chance they got to bring Joseph tole you into the game.
I thought the hand has competed well and area they
(09:09):
got some some good There were some interesting selections first
and foremost for the Hounds. Wasn't there Benching Falal, Fuckatava
and cam Miller So a couple of very green halves
for the Honders, and I thought they formed a reasonably well.
But I wouldn't be too desponding if I was the
Honders that this was really tip for tet. I think
(09:30):
there was something like four lead changes in the last
ten to fifteen minutes was try for try and the Waratas.
Speaker 5 (09:39):
Maybe deserved it, maybe they didn't.
Speaker 4 (09:41):
They did because they got there in the end, but
it very easily could have gone either.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Way they could have. I think there were promising signs
there for the Highlanders. I don't think their best is
probably going to come for another couple of years. They've
got a nucleus of a young squad used they've got
some older heads in there as well, but they have
some players that are on the up in New Zealand rugby.
Cam Miller you mentioned there Fabian Holland, Sean Whzy and
other players Tongue as well, who I thought was very
(10:08):
good good on the weekend to more of the Nawai.
Speaker 5 (10:12):
So is exceptional, wasn't he?
Speaker 4 (10:13):
He's probably one of the best players of a round
on both sides of the ball and his kicking game.
Speaker 5 (10:18):
Where did that come from?
Speaker 4 (10:19):
Obviously he's moved into the midfield, but he pulled off
one fifty twenty two. I don't think anyone really thought
he had that in his repertoire.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
No, and I think he can be a real presence
in the midfield. I actually liked that move from Jamie
Joseph moving in in there. So look, I don't think
it's all doom and glue for the Highlanders. I think
they're a team that is probably going to be this
year outside the playoffs looking in. But I think there
are promising signs. If Jamie Joseph sticks around, perhaps similar
to how he did in twenty fifteen, and can mold
(10:47):
this team into an unheralded, you know, unheralded bunch of
players into something, then they'll be really promising. They just
perhaps need to fix up, you know, some of their
their tidiness around the park.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
They're a little bit discipline as well, and you know.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
They'll they'll be tough for teams to put away this
year Waratas. In terms of their perform what did you
make of them? Is it title town in Sydney.
Speaker 4 (11:14):
Look to be honest for the cavalry that they have
got as practically a Wallabies team, I was a little
bit underwhelmed.
Speaker 5 (11:22):
I expected more.
Speaker 4 (11:23):
I think maybe it's round one and they will get
better as the season goes on.
Speaker 5 (11:29):
But they had an all Wallabies front row.
Speaker 4 (11:31):
They've got Joseph Sui Le who is an absolute freak
of an athlete. You know, the Broaden guys like Andrew Callaway,
Taliana Tupo, and they did get some pay in certain areas,
but I think tactically they're a wee bit one dimensional
in the first half and a wee helter skelter they
were forcing passes that didn't need to be pushed, like
(11:51):
a bit of composure.
Speaker 5 (11:52):
They got there in the end, but.
Speaker 4 (11:55):
If you just look man for man in terms of
international experience, they headed all over the Hondas and they
made really really difficult work that could easily lost it.
Speaker 5 (12:06):
So I expect them to get.
Speaker 4 (12:07):
Better as the season and goes on, but also probably
expected a bit more, just given their off field recruits
in the past year with the demise of the Rebels.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
Blues and Chiefs Saturday night at Eden Park this was
another fascinating game. You would expect, given what we saw
from the Blues last year fourteen six up at halftime,
that they would go on and win it, but they
folded in the second spell. The Chiefs went up a
level the Blues couldn't go with them. And while the
Chiefs I thought were unlucky to be down by eight
(12:36):
at half time, that was a game where you know,
I thought the Chiefs had maybe missed their opportunities in
the first half, the Blues had taken them and would
have kicked on from there. It didn't happen. In fact,
the opposite happened, and that's a big win, a statement
win from the Chiefs coming up to Auckland, taking the
win off the defending champions. Yes, and round one, but
a wake up call for the Blues as well. I
really liked the way and it was almost by accidents.
(12:59):
In terms of Clayton McMillan talking about the minutes that
he was prepared to give some of his All Blacks
players given how they'd had shortened preparation and times coming
in off their holidays, etc. But the fact that they
could bring those players on at the end, they could
move McKenzie into ten and direct the team around in
the second half. I thought it was a statement win
(13:20):
from the Chiefs and that now makes things very very
interesting in the state of the competition.
Speaker 4 (13:27):
It does, and a big win for the Chiefs because
of the context of last year, wasn't it and round
one that won't count for anything come to playoffs, But
it was a big win for the Chiefs because they
hadn't won in Auckland since twenty twenty. They got absolutely
plumped in the final last year very.
Speaker 5 (13:44):
Despondent.
Speaker 4 (13:45):
You know that the Eden Park was chock a fall
of Chiefs fans and they never really got into the contest.
And there's a number of players, the vast majority of
them in fact coming back again for another crack, as
well as Clayton McMillan, so there.
Speaker 5 (13:58):
Would have been a chip on their shoulder.
Speaker 4 (14:00):
And it was a contrasting match compared to the rest
of the realm, partly because of the way the Blues play,
partly because there's a bit of rain, So it was
a bit of a grind at times, but you're right,
the Chiefs bench had a massive impact and that might
not be the case every week, but it certainly worked
for them being able to bring on that level of
(14:22):
player to really you bring it home in the last quarter.
Where I think the Chiefs won that game was going
toe to toe with the Blues. You do that with
their pack and you take away their strength and it's
not like the Blues don't know where to turn, but
they need to have a few more tricks up their
sleeve because if you can compete with their pack, if
(14:45):
you can muscle up and stop that go forward, then
you really it can be a bit of a kryptonite.
Speaker 5 (14:53):
That's been Cotta's blueprint.
Speaker 4 (14:55):
How much of the blue is going to evolve it
because when you take it away, it does really have
a big impact. And Daman McKenzie has influence on that
game from as you mentioned, fallback and first five. He
really stamped his authority and said this is going to
be my year.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
He did look I really like Josh Jacob. I think
he's a promising player. But we did see the lifted
intensity once McKenzie was able to run things at the
back end of the game. I thought Jacob didn't play
too badly, but it was just the quality of McKenzie
that shone through, the ability and confidence to take on
the line when the opportunity presented themselves. It was a
game where he just took it by the struff of
(15:33):
the neck and said we're coming away with the competition
points from Eden Parks and I thought it was a
really really good performance. The worrying thing for the Blues
as you touched on there was up front there strum
got man handled at times. The lineup was okay, they
pinched a wee bit of the Chiefs ball, but the
penalty count sixteen to six against the Blues. Discipline wise,
(15:56):
they were all over the show. They invited Damon Murphy
to penalize them, and I think this is going to
be really really interesting to see where they go to
in the next few weeks around this discipline. Lin Let's
move on now to the four sen ONEA Pacific. The
final match of the round, at least involving one of
the New Zealand based teams that we'll discuss in this
(16:18):
week's part of this was quite the game. Look at
at forty four to thirty one up one. I should
have won that game. They did enough, well almost did enough,
and that's going to be a loss that haunts them.
Having to play the Reds again this week still in Australia.
They should be heading over to brisl with their tails up,
(16:39):
but it's a game they lost. And promising signs from
Mauana but just not enough on the night and Perth.
Speaker 4 (16:46):
Yeah, they will haunt Myna Elliott's I guess a RSI
improved performance on the whole, but to have that sort
of lead and to let it slip will be incredibly frustrating.
I think you saw all the work that they put
them throughout the year, the preseason, sorry, the impact of
the new coaching team that we've touched on Ardie Severe
coming in behind the scene and listing expectations.
Speaker 5 (17:10):
But it doesn't count for anything if you don't finish
the job.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
Person a traditionally tough place to go, the longest trip
and Super Rugby currently and as you mentioned, they've got
to go to the Reds this week, so look. Promising
signs on the whole from one, but those are the
sort of wins that you need to bank, and those
are the sort of wins that the Crusaders let slip
last year. I think they lost something l five or
(17:35):
six games by five or six points or less. And
good teams have that composure and when you're ten twelve
points up with five ten minutes ago, you just have
to close that out.
Speaker 5 (17:47):
So they will. That will really hurt.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
It will indeed, anything else you want to touch on
from the opening round, Liam, we didn't really touch on
the Blue Brumbies and drew a game, But anything else
that stands out from that opening week of Super Rugby,
I think.
Speaker 4 (18:02):
It was just a great start, Elliott, I really don't
think you could have asked for much more. Want to
see that competitiveness. We want to see the Chiefs upsetting
the Blues. We want to see more on you know,
going close and knocking over teams. So long man continue.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Absolutely, We'll take a break here on Rugby Direct with
Habit Health. Come back with the second half of the
podcast after this.
Speaker 1 (18:25):
This is Rugby Direct, a podcast for real rugby fares.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
Ever try try heads, sixty sec every tackle to tackle,
get up again, take him before I'm not.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
It's Rugby Direct. You're back with Rugby Direct powered by
Habit Health.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Time now for our final four four rugby topics that
Liam and I will debate. Well, William, I think just
after we clicked off on the podcast last week, it
was news that broke that in the OS in New
Zealand Rugby head split New Zealand Rugby taking in the
OS to quart around the vacation of the sponsorship which
has three years to run at this point. Your reaction
(19:09):
to this and who's likely to win from this point
in this whole saga, is anyone likely to win?
Speaker 5 (19:16):
No? No, No one will win.
Speaker 4 (19:18):
Lawyers will win because because they're not cheap, good lawyers
don't come cheap and New Zealand ARABBI will need a
very good lawyer to take on Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Look,
this is a big story outlet because big business matters
and it funds the game from the top to the bottom.
So I know there's a lot of very nervous people
out there in the New jell and a Ragby community
(19:39):
about the three years still remaining on the ANOS contract
and the loss of revenue that.
Speaker 5 (19:48):
Will come straight away.
Speaker 4 (19:50):
And I guess the big question now is well, a
couple what one's going regby get out of the steel
and you'd imagine it would be protracted that legal fights
don't get wrapped up overnight. So whatever they recruit, they're
going to take a loss and lawyer's fees. And can
they find another sponsor to that to that level, you know,
(20:12):
there's not that many out there. It's a pretty tough
climber in the world. Maybe they can tap up one
of their Japanese sponsors, but we're talking big funds here.
You know, Front of Jersey sponsor for the All Blacks
doesn't come cheap anywhere between ten to fifteen million dollars
per year.
Speaker 5 (20:29):
Can they find someone else at that level, well, at.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
Their short notice, it's going to be very, very tough.
You know, these things don't happen overnight. There's a lot
of you know, charm offenses that happen before you even
get to putting incorn paper. And to try and do
it in a relatively short window. We know, the SEVENS
teams I think still going to be badged as in
the OS this weekend because they don't have the gear,
you know, to change around that in such a short
(20:54):
space of time. By the time the All Blacks and
the Black Fans take to the field, you would suspect
that there'll be clean skinned and maybe there's another sponsor
on board. But as I say that, these things do
take time to try and get into motion and to
fill a hole of what I understand is to be
upwards of US ten million dollars a year for New
Zealand Rugby is not going to be a quick fix.
(21:16):
And as you say, it's you know, there's not many
sponsors out there that are willing to part with that
money at short notice. These things do take a lot
of time to get into motion, so it's going to
be fascinating to see whether someone can plug the gap.
Whether it's exactly the amount that inios we're putting into
the books or whether it's a smaller amount, is going
(21:36):
to be very very interesting. But I think you're right.
I think it's only lawyers who are going to win.
They clearly and the US wrote a number on a napkin,
slid it across the tables New Zealand Rugby and said
this is what we're preparing to get out of the
deal with New Zealand. Rugby laughed that off and hence
why we're going to court. But it's hard to see
anyone but lawyers winning at this point. Watch the space
(21:58):
on that front topic number two. The question was asked
last week here on Rugby Direct Napes around whether Warren
Gatland will last until the next six nations got I
said no, You said yes, he has gone. Now is
it the right call and who's going to replace him?
Speaker 5 (22:15):
Well? I think it is the right call.
Speaker 4 (22:16):
I didn't expect the Welsh Ruby Union to follow through
on that decision, and by all accounts, depending on who
you believe, this was Gatlin's decision.
Speaker 5 (22:28):
At least in the short term.
Speaker 4 (22:30):
He's jumped before he's been pushed because you just couldn't
retain him. Long term should have happened at the back
end of last year misplaced loyalty. But yeah, it is
a big question about who comes in now. Do they
look to someone like a Michael Checker, Do they look
to someone in their domestic scene. I know they've brought
(22:52):
up the Cardiff coach as interim for the rest of
the year.
Speaker 5 (22:55):
What if he gets a bit of a bounce, do
they retain him?
Speaker 4 (22:59):
But I think we do also do nearly acknowledge that
whoever gets its faces a massive uphill task because the
problems run much deeper than he co which But I
think it was a poor decision to bring in Gats.
Speaker 5 (23:12):
Yes, he had a lot of success.
Speaker 4 (23:14):
I think he won three Grand Slams and you know
went to the World Cup semi finals with Wales. But
viewing him as a quick solution was very short sighted
and I think we've seen that come to fruition.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
We have indeed, look, it's quite interesting to look back.
Wayne Pevack was sacked in twenty twenty two and replaced
by Gatland when PVAc won the Six Nations in twenty
twenty one. Yes, twenty twenty didn't go flash. Twenty twenty
two didn't go flash in terms of Six Nations and
other results. But clearly I think the point was missed
(23:51):
around it is that this team was on a slide
and they thought let's get a bloke back in who
knows well shrugby intimately and he can correct it. But
I think the problems are bigger than Wayne Pavac, than
Warren Gatland. But I don't think he was the right
coach for that point and time. And and you know,
the saying goes, you can't go home again. You know,
you try and do things again for a second time round.
(24:15):
You might have that nostalgia but it never quite works
out Eddie Jones, you know in Australia, he's back in Japan.
Things aren't working that flash room.
Speaker 3 (24:21):
Again.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
There's been football managers who have done the same thing.
It's very, very hard once you've left the place time's
gone by to go back and do it again, especially
when there are issues like that. And while Shrugby and
Franco Smith has been a link with the job, Simon
eased to be. You know, maybe you know Liam McDonald
or someone might might be in the mix from a
New Zealand perspective, but haven't heard his name particularly links.
(24:43):
Brad Moore, Crusader's assistant coaches had his name up in
lights as well when that news first broke, But seems
like they might go someone based on the European Continent
Topic number.
Speaker 3 (24:54):
Three, should we just give the war Tars the title? Now?
We did answer this a little bit earlier on, but
is it the year?
Speaker 4 (25:00):
Well, the way that they carried on like pork chops
Eliot after that victory, you'd think so certainly looked like
they'd won the championship. And look, I'm all for celebrating
your wins, but it does seem to be a bit
symptomatic of the Warrior tess you mentioned. You recall a
couple of years ago when they beat the Crusaders, and
you know, taking that scalp of the former seven time
(25:24):
champions is a big deal. But I think it just
needs to be a bit of ty hoe. You know,
just pull your head and look at Wii. But it's
only one game, it's only round one. You haven't won
anything yet. So yeah, it was interesting to see those
over the top reactions from the Tars and yeah, let's
just say they need to back it up now.
Speaker 2 (25:42):
Yeah, I do think the competition needs the war Tis
to be strong in terms of crowd figures and that
Sydney presence. But yeah, it's just just hold your horses
a little bit, Fellows. Topic number four of the chiefs Now,
the competition favorites on the basis of what we saw
on Saturday night.
Speaker 4 (25:56):
I wouldn't got that far. You know, don't rule out
the Canes yet, but no, look, I think i'd still
favor the Blues at this point in time, but clearly
they've got a lot of work to do. It's interesting,
isn't You Look at preseason and the Blues had a
patchy preseason.
Speaker 5 (26:18):
You have players coming late.
Speaker 4 (26:19):
Everyone has excuses, but there is none for the Blues
with the depth of their roster.
Speaker 5 (26:24):
Mentally, maybe they weren't quite there.
Speaker 4 (26:26):
Not too sure, but I think it's probably too early
to annoy the title favorites.
Speaker 5 (26:33):
Look, the Chiefs have it all to.
Speaker 4 (26:34):
Do and they have their expected them to be right
up there to win it last year. They've lost a
couple of finals that will be ingrained in them, won't they.
And Clayton McMillan is a very astute coach, but when
it comes to the big dance, hasn't hasn't quite made
the Chiefs lift. So personally, I'd love to see the
(26:55):
Chiefs to I think they've been building for a number
of years. They've got some very experienced figures in that team,
but they've just folded when it really mattered at the
back end of the year.
Speaker 5 (27:05):
So they need to keep building.
Speaker 4 (27:06):
But it was a mess monkey off their back to
knock over the title title defenders.
Speaker 2 (27:12):
One thing I do think they need to do the
Blues is move Boden Barrett back into ten. I know
there are injuries on Sullivan's out for at least a
few weeks. He was in a cast last week at training.
Stephen Petefetta a couple of weeks away, so maybe it
was the horses for courses selection. But Boden Barrett is
the incombent all Blacks ten. He needs to be playing ten.
I think they're better with him at ten. We saw
what Damian McKenzie did when he slid into ten for
(27:32):
the Chiefs. I think for the purposes of this Blues team,
they need to get him into ten as much as possible.
Let's run through the picks from last week. A rarity
for me. I'm actually in the lead three or five
over the course of the weekend, so great news for
me personally. And you had two of five.
Speaker 4 (27:54):
Well you enjoy that well at last, because history would
say it won't last.
Speaker 2 (27:59):
I think you've won what the last two maybe three years?
So look, let's see if I can build on that
lead the games this week. Liam, Let's run through the
Friday Night Chiefs Crusaders. Do the Chiefs go two from two?
Of the Crusaders be smart at home, Elliott's.
Speaker 4 (28:15):
Unfortunately for your Crusaders, the rebuild, it's a financial hurdle, mate.
Speaker 3 (28:23):
The rebul goes two from two. Don't you worry? About that.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
This is Rob Penny's time and the Crusaders will be
two from two after this weekend.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
Read's more one of PACIFICA.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
This is an interesting one Friday night sun Corpse Stadium,
Reds first game of the year after a first round
by Do more want to learn the lessons of last
week or do the Reds get the victory?
Speaker 5 (28:43):
Look, I think it helps playing a game.
Speaker 4 (28:45):
You should have a bit more cohesion and Miner will
take a lot out of that game despite the result.
But look less Kiss has done a brilliant job with
the Reds potentially coaching for a role and that walla
be set up as well. You've got Frase mcwright and
a number of quality players in that Reds team. They're
at home, so I'm going to go the Reds.
Speaker 2 (29:06):
I'm going to go the Reds as well. Set it
out afternoon at McLean Park in Napier. It'll be dangerous
if there's Sunshine Hurricanes hosting the drawer in Napier. Really
disappointed with the drawer. I thought over the weekend against
a Brumby's team that was down on numbers, so they
haven't traditionally traveled well. But you know, maybe you know
(29:27):
the sights and sounds of Napier will spur them on.
Speaker 3 (29:29):
What do you reckon?
Speaker 4 (29:30):
No, Elliott, it won't. The Kynes will bounce back in
that game. And I did tip last week that it
could be a tough year for the Dura. I just
think first year head coach Queen Jackson. Yeah, it's hard
to step in in your first year, while will there'll
be a number of things that that are in place
there it was. I think the Brumbies had something like
six debutants, didn't they and a number of their front
(29:52):
line players missing. So that was a bad first up
loss for them four point defeats. So I think the
Canes will resign the Dura to OH and two.
Speaker 2 (30:03):
Speaking of oh and two, the defending champions oh and
two as they visit the Glasshouse in Dunedin and the
Highlanders on Saturday night.
Speaker 5 (30:11):
Well, you know what, Elliot, I wouldn't rule the Highlands out.
Speaker 4 (30:13):
Going back home, Jammie Joseph will all stir the emotions
and no doubt, you know, play on the underdog status
that everyone will write them off, nobody gives them a
chance and try and stoke that sort of narrative. But no,
you can't go past the Blues and the depth that
they've got, so we'll tip them.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
Okay, we're going roughly similar here on going the Blues
as well, and the Brumby's a rounding things out against
the Western Force in Canberra Saturday nights. The Brumby is
always difficult at home. Any chance the Force go over
and get the job done, No, I.
Speaker 4 (30:47):
Can't see it, so we'll have to put that multi
in then all the faves.
Speaker 5 (30:53):
It sounds like a sure thing.
Speaker 2 (30:54):
Yeah, Well, apart from the Crusaders and the Chiefs, we're
exactly the same this weekend, so that could very well
be defining in terms of the first couple of weeks
of this tipping competition. Let's run things out with our
MVP voting. Our Super Rugby have got their own Player
of the Year coming in for the first time, long
over due. We're going to continue ours as well, which
is for the New Zealand based franchises. Only give me
(31:17):
a three two ones for this point of this week, Limb.
Speaker 5 (31:21):
I'm going all backs this week.
Speaker 4 (31:23):
Elliott will Jordan for three, Damien McKenzie for two and
Tather Tava Nahua for one. I just think they were
the standout performance for me, big, big influence on their
respective matches. I know the forwards to do the real work,
but the back to take the chocolates.
Speaker 2 (31:39):
This week I'm actually going very very similar, but I'm
going Kyle Preston for three points out of the Crusaders
three tries on debut gave them some spark. We didn't
see much of Nah Hotham, but for Kyle Preston to
come on and do the sort of numbers that he
did across the park I thought was very impressive.
Speaker 5 (31:57):
Mckenzrey very very tough to take, isn't it.
Speaker 4 (31:59):
Elliott born and bred Wellington boy wearing the worst jersey
you could possibly wear and super rugby and doing it
against his former teammates.
Speaker 5 (32:10):
It's very tough to take.
Speaker 2 (32:11):
Streams well, look at the Hurricanes offered him a contract
and he turned it down. He saw the you know,
he saw the lights. That's the Promised Land and him
and no Hotham and we're going to form a dynamic combination.
Hopefully Hotham not too far away from returning. So big
week for the Crusaders and the MVP voting with Will
Jordan and Kyle Preston getting three points eats but it
(32:33):
is Damien McKenzie who leads early on on the basis
of two points. For both of us getting four, he
is topping the chart. So that all about to do
us for Rugby Direct for the week. Liam, thank you,
as always, we will well, I won't catch up with
you next week. You're heading abroad, so we'll catch up
in a fortnight. And Nick Bule is going to slide
in next week and take your place and hopefully ruin
(32:56):
your tipping.
Speaker 5 (32:58):
Yeah, no, appreciate that.
Speaker 4 (32:59):
No, he's he's a heavy hitterer, so I look forward
to listening to his contributions.
Speaker 3 (33:04):
We'll catch you soon.
Speaker 2 (33:05):
Liam travels safe and we'll be back next week here
on Rugby Direct, powered by Habit Health, tackling all your
aches and pains from sport and.
Speaker 1 (33:12):
Work for more from news Talks at b Listen live
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