April 13, 2025 • 47 mins
This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith is joined by Gold Sport's Crusaders commentator Nick Bewley with Liam on sabbatical to dissect a busy weekend of action.
We discuss the Super Rugby Aupiki final, with the Blues defending their title before digging into the weekend of Super Rugby men's action that leaves the Crusaders top of the table and the Blues beginning to find some form.
We also discuss whether Joey Manu will land in Super Rugby and more.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
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Speaker 2 (00:19):
Strike down the Middle.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Of Dry Dickney Score, Please come this boy, tryse pa.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Get inside the game from every angle. It's Rugby Direct
with Elliot Smith and Leam Napier, powered by News Talks EDB.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Welcome into Rugby Direct, powered by Habit Health, tackling all
your aches and pains from sport and work back for
another week. Elliott Smith and with me this week. Great
pleasure to welcome in Nick Bewley. Crusaders commentator Liam Napier
did leave at twenty four hours after the Crusaders beat
the Hurricanes to say he didn't want to join me
on the podcast this week. The night he's got family,
(00:57):
family wedding and day he's been out of action for
the weekend. But great pleasure to welcome in Nick Bewley
to come in for the week on Rugby Direct.
Speaker 4 (01:04):
House things gooda Elliott, You're always happy to suthern at
whatever notice. Yeah, another great week of super rugby, wasn't it.
Of course the Crusader's now sitting pretty at the top
of the table. We even sort of surprised myself really
as to the position therein currently, the Chiefs losing to
the Waratahs, the Brumby's surprising the Reds in Brisbane. It
(01:26):
was a pretty good round of Super Rugby Pacific and
what's been a great season.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
It certainly has. We'll get to that in a moment.
But the Super Rugby Orpicky Final first and foremost on
Saturday night to round out the women's Super Rugby season,
at least from a New Zealand perspective. Still the crossover
game to come on Thursday. But the Blues too good
for Matter two in the year Matters who started really
strongly and had a couple of chances to force extra time.
(01:52):
It was a game of momentum swings, i felt, but
the Blues perhaps just dominated those bigger moments a little
bit more and you know, on the whole of the season,
probably deserved the crown. What did you make of the
Super Rugby or Picky Final?
Speaker 4 (02:06):
Yeah, I'd agree with that sentiment. It fell like the
Blue even though the Mutter two got the job done
over them and fung it a in the regular season,
they were the team to beat throughout and as we
know across whether it's opake or super ropy pacific. It
just it is fine Margins when two tough opponents are
going hammer and tong. And it came down to those moments,
(02:26):
as you say, like Muttitude did really well.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
I thought to jump out to an early lead.
Speaker 4 (02:30):
But I look back at like that the Hannah King
kicked for touch, which goes dead.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
That was a bit of a moment there.
Speaker 4 (02:36):
You go back to a scrum and then mutter iiO
and their electric backline playmakers like Rujete Demant and Paul
Showoodman Wickcliffe shaking off Grace Brookers. She helped set up
that first try for Demant, and the more the Blues
I guess grew into the contest after that twelve nel
deficit they faced early, it just felt like a matter
(02:57):
of time that they were going to push themselves clear.
It was a pretty frantic finish a couple of cards
as well. Wasn't great to see those high contact incidents,
But on the whole I thought the Blues were deserved
victors that they won the key moments. I'll tell you
what if I was Alan Bunting, I'll be trying to
convince Porscha Woodman, whitl to go around for one last
(03:20):
World Cup. I thought she was sensational both sides of
the ball, some heavy contact on her midfield opponents, but
then just her ability with ball in hand to then
not only in the carry, but to be able to
unleash the likes of Caitlin Vajacolo out wide I thought
was superb. So Kurdos to the Blues. It's not easy
(03:40):
going back to back. You just gotta ask their men.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
Yeah, that's right, absolutely, We'll get into that very very surely.
In terms of that World Cup, you're right. I mean
the nrol's loss could be the Black Fans gain. I'd
be asking the question if she is wanting to go
to a World Cup because the kind of form that
she showed in that final shows she loves the big stage.
And before the final, I was like, before the announcer
teams like, how do you use Portia wooden Wickliff. You
(04:05):
came off the bench the previous week. Maybe you get
her in for the last thirty thirty five minutes given
her perhaps lack of fifteen's experience in recent times, but
how she just played, you know, dominant for the entire
time she was on the field and just a reminder
of how good she is, the greatest to probably ever
do it. You know, in the fifteens, all the sevens game.
(04:25):
A couple of names have been thrown up, obviously for
the Black Fans. Braxton Sorrens McGee I thought was fantastic
throughout the season, but that big long range trying the
final top for Basin as well, and I almost wonder
whether Alan Bunting needs to go with some of that
youth as they select the team for the Black Fans
for the World Cup in the next week.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
While he's got some good problems on his hands, Alan
Bunting in terms of strength and depth, I completely agree
with some of the youngsters coming through, and I've seen
a bit more of Mutta two than I have the Blues.
But I thought Kaypo Olson Baker had another really standout
season than you think of the loose for depth there
with Leana mcairly.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
To Leila Sati, some real combinations to.
Speaker 4 (05:07):
Come to grips with us over the course of the
next few months as Alan Bunting plots that World Cup triumph.
But yeah, it's always riding that balance, isn't it between
use and experience, And I think with Porscha women and
Wickcliffe is at our understanding anyway, the NRLW deal with
newcasts who is now dead in the water because.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Of this ambassadorial role with the Rugby World Cups.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
I'm just going to be there just lace the boots,
of course, should be an option, I reckon absolutely.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Let's get into the men's round of super Rumpy Pacific
and stut with the most recent match at least involving
a New Zealand team, and that was the Highlanders forty
three twenty over the Fiji and drew it.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Nick.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
You look at that scoreline, you go, comfortable win for
the Highlanders. But boy, for the first twenty minutes of
the second spell, the Drewer really came back into it
and good Jack Taylor try sort of put the Highlanders
back beyond arm's reach. But the Hinders almost gave themselves
a little bit of a skier there when it was
perhaps unnecessary to do so, and let the drawer back
(06:07):
in the content.
Speaker 4 (06:09):
If there's any team, even forgiving their ladder position that
you don't want to give a sniff into a game,
perhaps outside of minor PACIFICA, it would have to be
the Fijian drawer. And yeah, the Highlanders were guilty of
just letting their foot off the gas a little bit.
Think of, you know, the moments just immediately after halftime
the Drawer what has scored three tries in the space
(06:30):
of eight and nine minutes get them back into the contest.
Twenty four points to twenty started to get a little
bit icy, but the Highlanders, credit to them.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
They went to their strengths or the Drewers weaknesses and
around the line out drive. They got through a mountain
of work.
Speaker 4 (06:43):
Looking at some of these postgame statistics and the Highland
has only had forty percent of position forced into two
hundred and thirteen tackles to the Drewers, sixty three guys
like Hugh rent In twenty seven tackles Fabean holand twenty
five tackles like that's a mountain of work on the
defensive side.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
But the Highland is just that that was one they
had to put away right and bank the points.
Speaker 4 (07:05):
It's got to this point in the season now they've
got a a very tricky run home. I think if
we count Mowana as a New Zealand side, they've basically
got Darby's from here on in Chiefs Crusaders Mowana Cain's
Crusaders again, Chiefs again. If they weren't going to win
that one, Like I personally feel like there's almost a
(07:26):
line through them already, but it would have been a
line and ink had they somehow managed to not get
the job done against the Drillers. So a much needed
win for the Highlanders after a run of losses against
Australian opposition, and they just give themselves a little bit
of life in a campaign that has been teetering.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
It has been teetering. Positive out of it. Jackie Rodemo
Tavuki Nipkins back from injury, looked assured for that performance.
I thought he was really really good one handling her aside.
But I'm just a reminder of his class after that
Nick injury. And you know he was in the All
Blacks conversation a little bit over the last year or so,
and you know, if he can find some form again,
(08:05):
he may well get back into that mix. And good
to se him back out on the park.
Speaker 4 (08:09):
Yeah, just a really encouraging story, isn't it, Because when
you think neck injury, you know, it's pretty scary stuff.
And I heard him speak in an interview come back
through Tayati Club Rugby and Otago about just mind over
matter in many ways in terms of just getting confidence
back into the contact, particularly on the defensive side. Six
months sidelined and yeah, he came back and didn't really
(08:33):
look out of place in a super rugby environment.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
That's game one, So I think you're absolutely right.
Speaker 4 (08:38):
He'll take a lot of confidence from that building into
the remainder of the season. And his combinations with the
likes of Jonah Naduki as well, I thought was very impressive.
The Highland has had some strike there, you know, Caleb
Tounguyto as well. It's just going to be a matter
of getting those outside back some quality ball, particularly against
(08:59):
these other New Zealand teams that they will face in
the next six or so weeks.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
Indeed, Blues in more Ona Pacific thirty six seventeen the
way of the Blues look. The Blues I thought just
did the job they needed to do and Mwana made
some curly selection calls for this game, dropping Patrick Palegreeni
to the bench. They were without Jonathan Tomatine through injury,
(09:25):
but the Blues just kind of rolled their sleeves up,
went back to the kind of rugby they played last year,
dominated position, especially in the first bell I think it
was two thirds position they had at the halftime break
and really just didn't allow Mawana the bull and the
position to construct anything throughout the contest. And even without
halftime lead that the Blues had I think twenty four
(09:46):
to five, it was you know, they thought, well, one
has had opportunities in previous games to come back. When
they get a roll on, they're very, very hard to stop.
But they just couldn't find a way back into the
contest and the Blues I think were just too good
and you know, a couple of wins on the bounce.
Now for the Blues, I'm not saying they're necessarily back,
but it was the kind of performance they need to
(10:08):
put out against Mowana Bank to win and got the
job done and you know they can look ahead and
out of this Crusaders game this week. What did you
make of it?
Speaker 4 (10:17):
Yeah, we've got on the Blues side first, and as
you mentioned, you know here on rugby direct, they were
direct and that was the blueprint in many ways to
how they won the title last year. Yes, they haven't
quite had the pieces to be able to do that.
But I thought guys like Ricky Rickattally, I thought Hoskins Stitut,
who probably arguably had one of his best games of
the season.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
You look at the nature of how those.
Speaker 4 (10:39):
Tries were scored outside of a little bit of individual
brilliance chip and chase kick from Bowden Barrett, and it
was Ricket Tally, tepul Or Toutu Eckland, Curt Eckland when
he came on, and Mark Talayre sort of sniffing and
around the ruck. You know, five of their six tries
it was just you know, they suffocated Moana. They made
they created pressure for Moana to either make errors or
(11:03):
their discipline got a little bit shoddy in as you say,
it was just completely dominant in that first half and
they'll take a great deal of confidence from that. That's
the first time this year the Blues have one and
back to back weeks. You know, it's been that sort
of season for them. And you look at their run
ahead sort of complete contrast to the Highlanders, right they
they've kind of got through outside of this Good Friday
(11:25):
contest down my Way and christ Church, the Crusaders, they've
they've pretty much got through those new Zealand Derby's they've
got the Reds which will be difficult over in Brisbane,
but then the force at home.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
They do have a trip to Fiji, but.
Speaker 4 (11:38):
Then they have Muana again and the Waratahs at Eden
Park can't seem to win outside of Sydney. So look,
even with the ladder position that they are, so I'm
on the outside of the six looking in, I think
they'll take a great deal of confidence. They seem to
have found what best works for them. It's not entirely
pretty or full of you know, it's going to fill
up a highlight package, but it's proving very effective just
(12:01):
on the Maana side. And I saw firsthand, you know,
how brutal and clinical they can be against the who
say it is down here in christ Church a few
weeks ago. There's still an issue there isn't there around
their starts, and for whatever reason, I don't know if
they have ton of Ermanger and co. Thought they had
potentially solved that issue and that's why they went with
(12:24):
more punch off the bench. But yeah, I completely agree
with you with your original point around Garden Baship and
PALEGREENI And that's not taking anything away from Jackson Garden, Bashett.
It's more a case of how influential Patrick PALEGRENI has
been and steering this team around the park. And you know,
I'm not saying one guy would have changed the outcome
of a contest like that, but it's just something I
(12:44):
think they'll reflect on heading into the Brumbis at home
this week. Minor pacificare and go. We probably haven't quite
got that right yet to be able to afford to
get too cute with our selections.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
That's right, And you know, a Ton was asked about
their post game and said that Pellegrini was feeling the
effects of I think it was four straight starts and
the way that he's played, you know, the body just
coming into Super rugby for the first time and feeling that.
But you know, it's a big game against the Blues.
You want your best players on the park and he
didn't get it back onto the park until the last
(13:18):
twenty five minutes of the contest. And by that point,
even though the score but was perhaps still within reach,
you know, compared to you know, like previous weeks when
the Mountain comebacks, it felt like the game was actually
out of reach. On this occasion, they've got an interesting
running as well, Nock. We looked at the Blues running
the Brumbies this week in Pokacoe. Then they're at North
Harbor Stadium for the drawer in the following week, then
(13:40):
to Dunedin. Then the Blues has just said back at
home then the Cheeks and Hurricanes to finish, So you
would suspect that they're probably going to need to win
probably two, if not three of those New Zealand Derby's
at the back end of the comp to be in
the playoff mix. They're currently in tenth, so they've got
a bit of work to do and it starts with
(14:01):
this game against the Brumbies this week.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (14:04):
Absolutely, they're on fifteen competition points, the five outside the
force who are in sixth. But you know you can
throw a blanket basically over teams three to ten and
you know the Brumbies are third on twenty three points,
miana tenth as you sound, fifteen, so that those are
the ones in many ways against the Brumbies, like that's
a real swing game for Then the drawer after that
(14:27):
is at home in particular as a non negotiable, and
then you've got those.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
Those porn New Zealand Derbies to close things out.
Speaker 4 (14:35):
Look, they for mine a sort of a possibility rather
than a probability of making the six. But as we've
seen on their day and in particular, if they can
piece it together for almost anything over forty minutes, really
they can beat the best of them. So look, I
(14:56):
won't rule out Mona completely, but it's getting to that
point now where it's going to have to happen soon.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
Indeed, let's go to Friday Night Wartar's twenty one Chiefs fourteen.
I don't think many would have seen this coming, but
very good performance from the war Retars and very poor
from the Chiefs. In fact, the Chiefs, to be honest,
we're lucky it was still within Grass were sending it
to super point right at the end of the game.
(15:21):
I don't think I've seen Damian McKenzie play as poor
as that at this level and above. He was I
think dreadful really to put it mildly on the weekend
six handling eras in the ends, and with the kind
of ball that the Chiefs had sixty forty. They spent
a lot of time in the Wara Tars half, but
(15:43):
that has made far too many mistakes to really mount
a serious contest. The one thing they did when was
the penalty account the Wartars conceding eighteen to the Chiefs five.
But this was a weird old game. But the thing
that probably people are going to remember is that incredible
end of the Earth try. The war Retars scored, and
(16:04):
you know, credit to them, they were good enough on
the night to knock over what was the competition's top team.
Speaker 4 (16:10):
I'll just get to the McKenzie point first and then
I want to give some love to the warre Tars.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
Credit to them, but that was another one for mine.
Speaker 4 (16:17):
We've just talked about the garden Bash at PALEGREENI situation
at Moana, the Blues who probably found this out at
this point. So I know that there's been some injury issues,
but Boden Barratt's clearly their guy at ten. And I
know the Crusaders, through all sorts of adversity last year,
had to finally figure out their first five conundrum. But again,
(16:39):
and forgive me if there was some more clarity around
this selection puzzle, but they seem to have found something
once or even added to their game once Shawn Stevenson
came back from Japan, he was at fullback, Mackenzie was
at ten. There just seemed to be a bit more
clarity around roles and responsibilities. Then they've got a situation
(17:00):
now where they've gone Stevenson to the right wing, Josh
Jacob to ten, Mackenzie to fall back. What do they
have Amon in Nadawa coming off the bench. And I
completely understand in a long season you've got to manage
your players, but I suppose really it wasn't really a
management of them in this situation because they were all there,
just in different jerseys, and I just felt that Mackenzie. Look,
(17:23):
the kick pressure in particular from the waratars was superb.
Some of it was unforced, absolutely, but you know they
didn't miss him all night. And you definitely see players
of all class levels, world class and below, they have
those nights where they don't feel like they're quite getting
into the.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
Game as much.
Speaker 4 (17:41):
Every time they're taking a high ball they're getting absolutely
belted by a loose forward coming through. And again I
think it's one on reflection that they'll probably concede they
didn't get right. This is not to say that Josh
Jacob isn't a quality player, and he's certainly a player
on the rise with a lot of upside, But I
think at this point of the season tinkering in and
(18:03):
around those selections, particularly in those game drivers, is probably
ill advised when you want to start creating some momentum.
But just on the Tars we were talking about moments
earlier and Joseph Suali, I think he really set the
tone for that game, you know, the individual piece of
brilliance for his first ever super Ragby tried to get
(18:24):
things going and then had a huge role in that
try from inside their own end goal finished off? Was
it by the winger and all the halfback sorry to
get them out to that point. So I don't know
what the Warratars need to do to try and replicate
that type of form. Beyond the confines of SFS in Sydney,
(18:47):
They've now won five there, cant went away. They've got
a points differential of negative forty. But it was a
big win for them to kind of get things back
on track because they came over to New Zealand looked
really poor against the Hurricanes in particular, and then obviously
got just melted by Mowana over the the course of
(19:09):
the second half.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
There at North Harbor Stadium.
Speaker 4 (19:11):
So they've righted a few wrongs and we wait to
see now whether they can be some form have find
some form of consistency.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (19:19):
Absolutely, And look there was some odd moments in that
game as well. Lolacoe Foketty's try overturned by the TMO
despite being awarded on the ground and didn't look like
sufficient evidence to overturn it. Yet the TMO again intervenes
in something that they weren't asked to and changes the ruling,
(19:40):
and that would have made it nineteen nil with a
kick to come from the touch line at that point
of the game, and you know, probably at that point
it might have been curtains long before it actually was
for the Chiefs. So yeah, there were some interesting decisions
from the referees on the night of interesting CEA if
anything further comes out of it, But the Chiefs handed
loss in Sydney earlier on on Friday night. It was
(20:03):
the Crusaders being the Hurricanes thirty one twenty four, an
odd old game and any respects the Crusaders getting out
to what appeared to be a comfortable lead and then
the old brain melt started happening with discipline eluded the
Crusaders and it got very very squeaky bum time for
most part of this game, though the Crusaders I thought
(20:24):
laid a pretty good platform in this contest and dominated
most of it. But I suppose you linger on the
last ten to fifteen also minutes neck and the contest
that became in those closing quarters.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
Yeah, as you say, funny old game.
Speaker 4 (20:39):
And in many ways, I think the Crusaders, you know,
with a complacency crept in or they got a little
bit too comfortable leading at what thirty one points to ten.
And this has been not so much an issue this season,
but it's something that over the course of my time
covering the Crusaders, as they've always.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
Really flirted with that off sideline, haven't they.
Speaker 4 (21:00):
And some referees are willing to perhaps give them the
benefit of the doubt, others not so much. And James
on Friday Night really didn't miss them late. And to
be honest, you've got to adjust, and sometimes that's what
the Crusaders have been guilty of struggling with. And you
(21:20):
know when they lost Ethan Blackadder and then what ninety
seconds later Antonio Chalfont, the same type of infringements deep
on their twenty two I couldn't really argue with the calls,
so yep, they made it very, very nerve racking for
those here in the mainland. But look, I think if
we go back to minutes sort of ten to sixty,
(21:43):
it was incredibly dominant and on the back of a
really strong foundation up front. I thought, I know, we're
going to probably get into it and the MVPs a
little bit later on, but there was a lot of
talk around Scott Barrett and where he is in his season.
At the moment, I thought, not only his influential hand
in one of the Yuana Mohnanu tries and the Schaffee
(22:05):
hockey tries, but his work defensively at lineout time has
breakdown clearance work is defensive work was right up there
of what you'd expect anyway of an All Blacks captain.
So he silenced a few critics. And it's worth mentioning
too that the Crusaders, you know, did it with a
little bit of adversity. They had at one point I
think they had James O'Connor playing second five. Kimino was
(22:26):
offer for a little bit. They lost Fletcher Newell, they
lost David Harvilly. So they didn't have it all their
own way. But in many ways this season, compared to
last anyway they've they've sort of been able to overcome
those those obstacles, be very clear about who they are
and how they want to play and at least get
out to Leeds where they feel like, you know that
(22:50):
they can still be in the control of their own destiny.
So credit to the Crusaders, I guess on the other side,
with the Hurricanes, it sort of leaves them in a
state of I'm not sure of a state of flux,
but still just sort of you know, one step forward,
two six back for them this year and you know
now they've they've got a two week road trip over
to Australia taking on the Force and the Brumbies before
(23:11):
Chiefs Highlanders, and then back over to Australia to face
the Reds and Brisbane and then Malana, and you know
they're not out of it by any stretch. You got
four points outside of the playoff positions, but it just
feels like, you know, momentum is so critical in this competition.
The Blues seem to have found it now. The Canes
just struggling to kind of piece things together to ultimately
(23:31):
build their confidence back up. So yeah, interesting time for
Clark Laidlaw and his team, you know, given how well
it went for him a year one.
Speaker 3 (23:42):
Absolutely, and you know they'll look back at the last
couple of weeks ago. Those are both games that potentially
we could have won. I mean, they've got themselves into
a thirty one ten hole the other night, but came
back and could have forced super point the game before
one point lost to the Blues, a game that potentially
they could have won on another night as well. So
(24:03):
you've got those margins and New Zealand Derbies are so
fine and they just seem to be lacking a little
bit of direction. Riley hoo heepper. Again, I do not
think is the answer at ten. We talked a bit
last week on the podcast about Ruben Love should he
move into ten. Felt Clark Laidlaw, whether he was just
having a little bit of fun and throwing out a
bit of bait for the media because he wasn't even
(24:25):
supposed to be doing media that day, is my understanding.
The day before the teams and name suggested that Ruben
Love was right in the mix to start at ten.
They went with Riley houll Hepper. He played fifty one minutes,
the Crusaders didn't score after fifty one minutes. The Hurricanes
looked a lot better in those closing stages. Now the
game had broken up a little bit, and I'm not
piling on Riley hou Heepper, but I just do not
(24:45):
think that he is the kind of first five that
is going to deliver those wins and those tight New
Zealand derbies.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (24:52):
I tend to agree. And they're at a point now
where they're going to have to take some risks, and
you know, Riley Hohepper is a sort of various stute,
steady hand perhaps to you know, even to come on
and defend the lead once you've gotten into a position
on the ol mark where we just need someone to
(25:13):
kind of just play the percentages. But it feels like,
you know, if Reuben loves up for it, he should
be give him an opportunity.
Speaker 2 (25:20):
I thought.
Speaker 4 (25:20):
Actually, Callum Harkin came on and as you say, the
game was a little bit open, but that sort of
suited his strengths.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
So yeah, one to consider for Clark Laidlaw.
Speaker 4 (25:28):
It's obviously such a critical position, the first five position,
and all teams are sort of grappling with the balance
of it, but probably none more so with the canes
given there without you know, your Brett Cameron's your focal
point was you know, if he wasn't and you're going
to be starting all of these games.
Speaker 3 (25:44):
Yea a bit of a whisper as well. Britt Cameron
might be able to be back for the back end
of the Hurricane season if all goes to plan with
his knee injury, so that's good news for them. Another
word is what Brumby's beating the Reads fitting on twenty
six bit of an upset on the weekend, although I
did pick it in the tripping comp last week. But
you know the magic of this competition this year is
that it's so up and down and you just do
(26:08):
not no you know who's going to win week to
week and the Chiefs losses as proof of that, the
Reds losing at home to the Brumbies as proof of that.
And it makes for congested standings after nine rounds.
Speaker 4 (26:19):
Yeah, I think it has. You know, it's real shot
in the arm to the competition this year. You know,
when you look over to the closest sort of rugby
code rival and NRL, and they've been able to hang
their hat on that unpredictability and jeopardy for so long,
and it feels like for some at least, you know,
(26:39):
sort of casual observers, a super rugby Okay, the Crusader
is going to win here, all the Chiefs or the Blues.
But you look at this table and it just as
a reflection of how tight this competition is, which is
perfect for people like us in terms of trying to
you know, promote the game and cover the game and
all the storylines and narratives that come with it. But
(26:59):
absolute nightman for those and tipping competitions and trying to
run multis through and gambling responsibly. So look, it's it's
been it's been great, and it now allows us as
we enter sort of this business end of the season
with six rounds to go, so many f sputs and maybes,
rather than you know, things are guaranteed and we're just
playing to to see out the regular season.
Speaker 3 (27:21):
That's right. We'll take a break, come back with more
here on Rugby Direct with our friends at Habit Health.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
This is Rugby Direct, a podcast for real rugby fans.
Speaker 3 (27:33):
Every try, try ten sixty sec every tackle, tack tackles,
get up again.
Speaker 2 (27:41):
Afore I'm not It's Rugby Direct, Ladies, talk to me.
Speaker 3 (27:44):
You're back with Rugby Direct. Sick and half of the
podcast time now for the final four to four Rugby
top perks myself and Nick to bake them. Topic number one.
My ruse last week said Super Rugby or Picky in
its current format is not sustainable when the players come
in basically on a Wednesday, have to try and get
ready for a Saturday game. Where do you see the
(28:05):
future of Super Rugby or Picky going neck in this competition?
And is she right and that it's not sustainable?
Speaker 4 (28:13):
Well, I'll take your word for it at face value,
because she's very much living it. But it's tricky, isn't it?
Because if there was a simple solution, it would have
been unearthed and executed by now you feel, and you
know obviously it comes down to bottom line and costs
and resources and on that point, you know, that's.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
Where the broadcast side of it comes in.
Speaker 4 (28:34):
I guess we're all sort of waiting to see where
that lands with Sky and New Zealand rugby and talk
of design and that'll ultimately have a pretty big impact
on the future of Super Aby Open as well, and
it will be interesting too to see what the numbers,
if any, the Sky release on the twenty twenty five season.
I've seen the recall last year that they mentioned. It
was modest increase in terms of interest sort of week
(28:58):
to week, but there's no doubt like the players are
clamoring for more in terms of more games or being
close to fully professional or at least having the full
Monday a Saturday to get readies. And especially when you
look to England Elliott where you know I know some
players live McGovern for example, who played a bit for
(29:18):
much to two last year. She's since gone back to
play for the exit of the Chiefs. You look at
their competition, I think it's eighteen rounds. It's October to March,
so it is doable a lot. I don't know where
it's going to go, but probably Thursday will be a
really interesting indication of the viability of a trans Tasman
competition or the two Opeke and Super ABW and Australia
(29:40):
coming together, because if the Blues the Wartars coming across
the Tasman in this sort of cross competition final on Thursday,
if the Blues. You know, hypothetically, if they wallop the
war Retars, that is not good for the viability of
a fully fledged trans Tasman round robin competition. And I
(30:01):
guess I look at take a step back into the
International Games. You know, the Black Ferns for many years
now have been well untarily on top of the Wallaroos.
So I just wonder, I guess if that is what
we're all hoping for, whether there is enough there's going
to be enough for that jeopardy and parody that we've
(30:22):
just been discussing on the men's side. I guess you
have to start somewhere, But I do wonder if we
just go all in on that, and then next year
when the Chiefs Malawa host the Waratahs and it's fifty
to nil, whether there's going to be enough interest.
Speaker 3 (30:38):
Well, that's it, Isn't it An expansion for the sake
of expansion, isn't good? And super rugby the men's comp
has learned that the hard way in the past and
is now having to constrict and change things around their approach.
The Black Fans have never lost to the Wallaroos in
the international stage. I think there's a gulf between the
two sides at domestic level. I know the war Tars
(31:01):
women beat Chiefs in pre season this year, but I
still think in the competition Sensor is still a gulf
between both of these two countries. So I don't know
that necessarily throwing them all in the one potter is
the right step either. So there's gonna be some inter
intercession that you're right. It's sort of a holding pattern
competition at the moment until we get some clarity on
(31:21):
the broadcast deal and the way forward and where it sits.
And I know there's been murmurings as well around potentially
shifting of an international calendar for the women's game, the
Pack four and where that feeds into WXV as well,
So holding pattern for the women's game as it stands,
and I think they'd just chug on with Super Rugby
or Picky for the time being until they hear here otherwise.
(31:44):
Topic number two World Rugby last week finding no reason
to outlaw the seven to one split. So should New
Zealand try it? Because it hasn't been seen in both
the All Blacks level or as Super Rugby. What are
we missing out on?
Speaker 2 (31:59):
Look?
Speaker 4 (32:00):
I personally don't think it fits the fabric or the
DNA of how we go about playing our rugby in
this country. Personally, like it clearly suits South Africa and
the way they want to play. And look, I'm sure
it's something that somewhere in Scott Robertson's mind he's mindful of,
(32:20):
because you don't want to fall behind the pack and
not be all of you know, across all the trends
that all of a sudden you know you're trying to
play another way. And I guess that's where criticism of
the style of Super rugby Pacific versus getting into the
Test arena is coming in the past. You know, it's
a bit more frivolous and ad hoc and giving them
the ball plenty of width, and then we come into
(32:41):
the Test arena and our top line players aren't quite
prepared for the abrasiveness and the directness of a South
Africa or in Ireland for example. But I Cunting Recallsmeyther
the last time we saw a six two split alone
lett alone a seven to one split.
Speaker 2 (32:55):
So while I'm.
Speaker 4 (32:57):
Not dismissing World Rugby, I don't think they needed to
outlawer it or anything like that.
Speaker 2 (33:02):
I just don't think it's going to ever be really
on the radar for us. That's just my personal view.
Speaker 3 (33:10):
Yeah, I think the mu Zeale might look at it
in a different sense in that if you could load
up with loose forwards who would also be capable of
playing in the back line and sort of a hybrid player,
potentially might look at it that way, and you know
you could have you know, say worst comes to worse,
you could move an ardisrv out from number eight into
(33:33):
midfield or something like that if if you couldn't all
utilize them in the forward packer at a certain time,
or you had injuries in the back line. You know,
there's players like Adam Lennox and Leroy Carter who was
capable of playing both half back and win. Yeah, absolutely
that worst comes to worst. So instead of like I'm
(33:53):
going with the I suppose the South African style of
a seven one, you can go with the more utility
version of it and utilize those powerful players that are
great ball carriers as well. Scott Robertson said when we
had him on the Pops with Mark Robinson a month
or so ago, that it's something they have considered, but
at this point in time they haven't rolled it out,
(34:15):
but you know, I guess never say never, and maybe
there will be a time with the All Blacks.
Speaker 2 (34:20):
Do do it?
Speaker 3 (34:20):
Topic number three news last week Joey marn who is
reportedly seeking a release from his Rusting ninety two contract
that he is yet to start to come back to
either Sydney or in New Zealand. That opens up some
options around the NRL. The Roosters have said that they
probably can't take him back at this point in time.
(34:41):
The Warriors loom is an option of course super rugby
clubs as well. So Neck, what does your gut feel say?
Where does Joey marnin who Land? That is indeed, if
only two are great fag generous enough to release him
from his contract.
Speaker 2 (34:54):
That's it, isn't it.
Speaker 4 (34:56):
Look, I think if I've learned anything from my time
in sports media at this part of the world, when
it comes to these reports that come out of Australia
and look, sometimes they do bear of fruits, but there
is a lot of wheeling and dealing and agents calling
up reporters and trying to create conversation and keeping the
(35:18):
gravy train ticking over and just for a sake of content,
on a quiet week like. I'm not saying that this
is the case here, but we haven't heard from from
Joey Marnu himself. But look, in a completely hypothetical situation,
my gut feeling, even though the Sydney Roosters, I think
Trent Robinson might have even spoken over the weekend about saying,
you know that they probably couldn't fit him in.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
They have found ways in the past of.
Speaker 4 (35:44):
Yeah, the old salary sombrero, the third party deals, Nick
Poliitis finds an old jag out the back of the
garage or something like that.
Speaker 2 (35:52):
So look at that.
Speaker 4 (35:53):
That would probably be my gut feel if it's very much,
you know, I want to be in New Zealand, and look,
the Warriors just just on salary cap positioning, having lost
what Shawn Johnson, Tay Harrison, Adam Fanola, Blake. Yes, have
brought James Fisher Harrison, but they've got some cap to spend.
It could be a possibility. I think it's a pretty
(36:14):
slim one. But if it's if he comes back to
New Zealand, my upfield would be it'll be to give
this rugby thing a red hot crack when he's coming
up twenty nine in June.
Speaker 2 (36:26):
Will it comes two years away?
Speaker 4 (36:28):
Does he have one real goal of that, you know,
like a sunny Billilliams has in the past, get himself
in the chiefs environment toccodoor boy. Maybe that's the most likely,
but I'm not going to get too carried away, and
I see something a little bit more concrete, but is
an interesting one as a talking point. I think it
would be a luxury for New Zealand rugby as opposed
(36:50):
to a necess It is a lot of a lot
of really good midfielders around at the moment. Of course,
Jordi Barrett to come back in the mix from his
time over in Ireland, so it would certainly create a
lot of conversation.
Speaker 3 (37:01):
Put it that way, it would. I've seen a bit
of him playing for Toyota in Japan and they are
having a dreadful old season as stands, but he's been
on the wing for them, the right wing by and large,
and he's been I think quite good, really breaking a
lot of tackles since we adapting to rugby. I like
the way he was going about it is almost following
that sunny Bill Williams blueprint of having a couple of
(37:22):
seasons abroad out of the limelight, apart from the bit
where he walked out on his contract, Sonny Bill, but
building that way and then when you ready come and
have a crack. But maybe he feels like he's ready
now or his homesick or whatever it is, and is
going to accelerate that plan. I saw an interview with
him on Forkuta Mauldi TV not so long ago, in
fact a couple of weeks ago, suggesting that the All
(37:43):
Blacks were a real goal. So that certainly seems part
of the conversation. So yeah, watch the space topic number four,
how many teams outside the Super Ragby Pacific Top Sex
will be in the top six at the end of
the season. So the Highlanders, Hurricanes, Blues, more Wia, PACIFICA
and the Fiji and Drew all on the outside looking in.
How many of those teams will crack the Top Sex neck.
Speaker 4 (38:05):
I'm going to say one with no real confidence. I
don't think it's going to be any more than two.
But I've got one team in mind dropping out and
one team in mind coming back in. And sorry to
our faithful listeners in Western Australia, but I just look
(38:26):
at the forces position and they're run in, and I
look at the Blues position and they're run home, and
there's a been a four point gap between those two,
and I think those are going to be the two
that switch in and out.
Speaker 2 (38:40):
I don't know what the Waratahs are. Eight rounds into
the season.
Speaker 4 (38:44):
They look like they can win the title at home
and then they look awful anywhere else outside of Sydney.
They're currently fifth, so they might be the other casualty,
and then it would have to be one of I'm
going to put a line through that. I sort of
alluded to it at the beginning when we talked about
the Highlanders drawer. I just think with that run and
(39:05):
I think that there's just a gulf in class ultimately
still between them and the other New Zealand Foundation sides.
I know the Highland is at seventh, so if it
was going to be one more for me anyway, it
would be one of the Canes or Mowana jumping in.
But it's so tight and that's a fantastic place for
the comp to be in.
Speaker 3 (39:25):
It really is. The big game that looms for me
is the Hurricanes Brumbies the day after Anzac Day, because
they haven't had a lot of success in the Aussie
capital the last couple of years. I think if they
win that then they could well be on their way.
The Hurricanes. They lose that, I think they probably will
miss the top six. So as it stands, I'm going
one like you at this point in time. Let's get
(39:46):
into our tipping. Last week, Lem and I tip the
same apart from the Brumbies and Reds where I picked
the Brumbies for an upset. So he gets three, I
get four. I lead by seven thirty twenty three. You're
in charge of his tips this week, Nick, Crusaders Blues
the game you'll be calling gold Sport iHeartRadio Friday night.
Speaker 4 (40:06):
See no pressure being taken on the mantle of someone
with a seven game deficit, A poor old Liam. Look,
this is a it'll be a cracking contest because by
no means you know it's not one v nine. I
know it is on the table, but there you know
that the Blues will still be hurting in the back
of their mind from how poor they were in this
(40:26):
reverse fixture what three three or so weeks ago at
Eton Park and as as well as the Crusaders have
played comparative lead to last year. I still think by
no means are they the finished product. And you know,
if David Harvilly is out, which it sounds like he
will be, there's some question marks there too, in terms of,
you know, how they go about their midfield and taking
(40:50):
that pressure off the lights of Taha Kima and in
terms of driving the game. So I'm going to say
the Crusaders, but it wouldn't shock me if you know
I'm calling a Blues victory.
Speaker 3 (41:02):
I'm going the Crusaders in a tight one as well.
Fiji and Drawer against the warr Tas in Fiji Saturday afternoon.
Speaker 2 (41:09):
Is this one? Is it Laoutoka? It is Lautoka, Chief Parker.
Speaker 4 (41:13):
I'm just going to say, just these are the two
most jekylin high teams and terms of home and away Fiji.
Drawer can beat anyone in Lautoka and Martars can't win
out of Sydney. So just based on those that are
those facts alone, and I'm going to go with the Drawer.
Speaker 3 (41:27):
I'm going to Taz to win that one. More on
a Pacific Brumby's looking forward to the calling this one
and book a koeie on Saturday afternoon to Mawana bounce
back next. I think they do.
Speaker 4 (41:37):
Personally I'm going to say they do too. But yeah,
this is this is a real tricky game. I haven't
got a very good read on the Brumbies either, but
you know, for them to beat the Reds in Brisbane,
that's that's really impressive and.
Speaker 2 (41:56):
You know it could go either way. But y'all, i'll
tip my onna.
Speaker 3 (41:59):
Chiefs Thailand is seven o five in Hamilton.
Speaker 4 (42:04):
Chiefs thinks there will be some pretty honest conversation if
they're not already have had have been have been had
over the weekend on the on the flight home from Sydney,
and I think they're a pretty dangerous team off offer loss.
Speaker 2 (42:20):
After some stern words from Clayton.
Speaker 3 (42:22):
Mcviell, Hurricanes are also coming off a loss, in fact
two losses. They play the Force in perthirth game of
a two game Aussie swing. You were mean to our
Western Australian listeners before. So for those in the minds
in cal Gooley and everywhere else in Perth, do they
get the win this week?
Speaker 4 (42:41):
Well, here you go tell all those faithful listeners in
a completely different time zone.
Speaker 2 (42:46):
But yeah, I'm going to say your team.
Speaker 4 (42:50):
I think this is the perfect sort of game for
the Western Force and and I think the Hurricanes are
just it'll depend on those selections. I think, you know,
I personally think they need to take some risks around
that ten position. But I think the four have a
you know, they have a semblance of a of a
(43:11):
really good team. They're just it's quite inconsistent. But I
think that's a really tough place to go and play.
I know you mentioned before, Elliott around that Caines Brumbies
game that's the week following, But yeah, why not, I'll
tip the Force. Lamb's got some grunt to.
Speaker 3 (43:26):
Make there we go. That's our tip. I'm going to
go to Hurricanes to win that one. In Perth Rugby
Direct Metal voting time three two ones eightything has a
five point gap on the field and thirteen points to
a t Nawa and Palegreeny title on eight and then
Bote and Barrett in on seven. Neck your three to
two ones. Who gets points this week?
Speaker 2 (43:45):
I am going to give three points to Scott Barrett.
Speaker 4 (43:50):
Look, I think, you know, irrespective of all the attention
that was around him from some you know, outside noise,
I thought that was a really strong performance, clearly his
best of the season. I think I touched on it before,
but really nice line break to set up you anamnu,
the presence of mind to reckon.
Speaker 2 (44:08):
There was no half back there when they just made
that break.
Speaker 4 (44:11):
He just shifts a little narrow pass to Schaffee Harckey
to dive over. So a couple of triass but has
worked just in general around the park. Super physical, got up,
stole a couple of lineouts at some crucial moments, just
when the Canes look to be building.
Speaker 2 (44:24):
So he gets my three and brother Bowden is going
to nab my two.
Speaker 4 (44:31):
I just think there's you know, it's pretty clear he's
the premiere ten at the Blues. Yes he's been out
with injury, but his game control, his safety under the
high ball, his variety of kicks, individual brilliance to do
that little chip and chase kick through to score against Mowana,
(44:52):
So credits to Boden Barrett. He's going to get my
two and because a bit of a toss up for
mine between a couple of hookers. I thought Ricky ricatally
really came back to that Blues environment. Strong, super clinical,
you know, his core roles in the line out of that.
But one of the stories of the Crusader season has
been Yoanni Mohinannu, Like, this is a guy who probably
(45:13):
wasn't going to get very very little game time if
it wasn't for George Bell being injured for the season,
and if it wasn't for Cody Taylor missing game time,
and he's come in and made.
Speaker 2 (45:24):
Every post winner. He's like a mini I suffer on
my ways. He's deadly over the ball and he's.
Speaker 4 (45:31):
Benefiting from a lot of great work and those line
out drives in terms of scoring tries. But the one
you know, being the right place at the right time
to be there for that Scott Barrett Pastor to score
one in midfield. Yeah, he's having a cracking season and
the Crusaders are in a good spot there depth wise,
it hooker.
Speaker 3 (45:47):
They are indeed now three two ones are similar. I've
gone Bern and Beart for three. Actually, I thought he
was very very good and the way that he's playing
at the moment clearly the best ten I think in
the country. Scott Barrett gets my two similar words to you.
I thought he was very very good. Again, responding to
the question of taken it, I don't know if it
was because of the criticism, but we sort of had
(46:07):
him way Cup for the season now and hopefully more
of those performances to come. And Jakob brother my t
Voki Nipkins gets my one point great return from him,
very very impressed and luking the way that he played,
so hopefully more of that to come. And I'll tell
you what, Jordy Barrett playing for linkstro on the weekend
was man of the match to their performance. So if
you look at that Bowden, Scott and Jordie, three performances
(46:31):
of class over the weekend from the Barrett family across
the globe.
Speaker 4 (46:34):
One of the great rugby families, aren't they the Barretts. Yeah,
they shouldn't be buhying bears anywhere in the country.
Speaker 3 (46:41):
Absolutely not. Nick, thank you for joining us on Rugby
Direct this week. Always a pleasure to have you on.
We'll catch up again soon.
Speaker 2 (46:47):
Appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (46:47):
Elliott, No, it's been a great fun and you're looking
forward to this week, this Easter weekend slate starting with
Crusaders Blues down My Way.
Speaker 2 (46:54):
It's going to be a cracker.
Speaker 3 (46:55):
You can hear that on Gold Sport and iHeartRadio. Friday Night,
Good Friday and night. So that has been ragby Direct
with Habit Health tackling all your aches and pains from
sport and work. Thanks to Lars and Bars English for
pulling this all together. We'll see you next week m hmm.
Speaker 1 (47:09):
For more from Newstalk st B, listen live on air
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Speaker 2 (00:19):
Strike down the Middle.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Of Dry Dickney Score, Please come this boy, tryse pa.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Get inside the game from every angle. It's Rugby Direct
with Elliot Smith and Leam Napier, powered by News Talks EDB.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Welcome into Rugby Direct, powered by Habit Health, tackling all
your aches and pains from sport and work back for
another week. Elliott Smith and with me this week. Great
pleasure to welcome in Nick Bewley. Crusaders commentator Liam Napier
did leave at twenty four hours after the Crusaders beat
the Hurricanes to say he didn't want to join me
on the podcast this week. The night he's got family,
(00:57):
family wedding and day he's been out of action for
the weekend. But great pleasure to welcome in Nick Bewley
to come in for the week on Rugby Direct.
Speaker 4 (01:04):
House things gooda Elliott, You're always happy to suthern at
whatever notice. Yeah, another great week of super rugby, wasn't it.
Of course the Crusader's now sitting pretty at the top
of the table. We even sort of surprised myself really
as to the position therein currently, the Chiefs losing to
the Waratahs, the Brumby's surprising the Reds in Brisbane. It
(01:26):
was a pretty good round of Super Rugby Pacific and
what's been a great season.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
It certainly has. We'll get to that in a moment.
But the Super Rugby Orpicky Final first and foremost on
Saturday night to round out the women's Super Rugby season,
at least from a New Zealand perspective. Still the crossover
game to come on Thursday. But the Blues too good
for Matter two in the year Matters who started really
strongly and had a couple of chances to force extra time.
(01:52):
It was a game of momentum swings, i felt, but
the Blues perhaps just dominated those bigger moments a little
bit more and you know, on the whole of the season,
probably deserved the crown. What did you make of the
Super Rugby or Picky Final?
Speaker 4 (02:06):
Yeah, I'd agree with that sentiment. It fell like the
Blue even though the Mutter two got the job done
over them and fung it a in the regular season,
they were the team to beat throughout and as we
know across whether it's opake or super ropy pacific. It
just it is fine Margins when two tough opponents are
going hammer and tong. And it came down to those moments,
(02:26):
as you say, like Muttitude did really well.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
I thought to jump out to an early lead.
Speaker 4 (02:30):
But I look back at like that the Hannah King
kicked for touch, which goes dead.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
That was a bit of a moment there.
Speaker 4 (02:36):
You go back to a scrum and then mutter iiO
and their electric backline playmakers like Rujete Demant and Paul
Showoodman Wickcliffe shaking off Grace Brookers. She helped set up
that first try for Demant, and the more the Blues
I guess grew into the contest after that twelve nel
deficit they faced early, it just felt like a matter
(02:57):
of time that they were going to push themselves clear.
It was a pretty frantic finish a couple of cards
as well. Wasn't great to see those high contact incidents,
But on the whole I thought the Blues were deserved
victors that they won the key moments. I'll tell you
what if I was Alan Bunting, I'll be trying to
convince Porscha Woodman, whitl to go around for one last
(03:20):
World Cup. I thought she was sensational both sides of
the ball, some heavy contact on her midfield opponents, but
then just her ability with ball in hand to then
not only in the carry, but to be able to
unleash the likes of Caitlin Vajacolo out wide I thought
was superb. So Kurdos to the Blues. It's not easy
(03:40):
going back to back. You just gotta ask their men.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
Yeah, that's right, absolutely, We'll get into that very very surely.
In terms of that World Cup, you're right. I mean
the nrol's loss could be the Black Fans gain. I'd
be asking the question if she is wanting to go
to a World Cup because the kind of form that
she showed in that final shows she loves the big stage.
And before the final, I was like, before the announcer
teams like, how do you use Portia wooden Wickliff. You
(04:05):
came off the bench the previous week. Maybe you get
her in for the last thirty thirty five minutes given
her perhaps lack of fifteen's experience in recent times, but
how she just played, you know, dominant for the entire
time she was on the field and just a reminder
of how good she is, the greatest to probably ever
do it. You know, in the fifteens, all the sevens game.
(04:25):
A couple of names have been thrown up, obviously for
the Black Fans. Braxton Sorrens McGee I thought was fantastic
throughout the season, but that big long range trying the
final top for Basin as well, and I almost wonder
whether Alan Bunting needs to go with some of that
youth as they select the team for the Black Fans
for the World Cup in the next week.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
While he's got some good problems on his hands, Alan
Bunting in terms of strength and depth, I completely agree
with some of the youngsters coming through, and I've seen
a bit more of Mutta two than I have the Blues.
But I thought Kaypo Olson Baker had another really standout
season than you think of the loose for depth there
with Leana mcairly.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
To Leila Sati, some real combinations to.
Speaker 4 (05:07):
Come to grips with us over the course of the
next few months as Alan Bunting plots that World Cup triumph.
But yeah, it's always riding that balance, isn't it between
use and experience, And I think with Porscha women and
Wickcliffe is at our understanding anyway, the NRLW deal with
newcasts who is now dead in the water because.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Of this ambassadorial role with the Rugby World Cups.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
I'm just going to be there just lace the boots,
of course, should be an option, I reckon absolutely.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Let's get into the men's round of super Rumpy Pacific
and stut with the most recent match at least involving
a New Zealand team, and that was the Highlanders forty
three twenty over the Fiji and drew it.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Nick.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
You look at that scoreline, you go, comfortable win for
the Highlanders. But boy, for the first twenty minutes of
the second spell, the Drewer really came back into it
and good Jack Taylor try sort of put the Highlanders
back beyond arm's reach. But the Hinders almost gave themselves
a little bit of a skier there when it was
perhaps unnecessary to do so, and let the drawer back
(06:07):
in the content.
Speaker 4 (06:09):
If there's any team, even forgiving their ladder position that
you don't want to give a sniff into a game,
perhaps outside of minor PACIFICA, it would have to be
the Fijian drawer. And yeah, the Highlanders were guilty of
just letting their foot off the gas a little bit.
Think of, you know, the moments just immediately after halftime
the Drawer what has scored three tries in the space
(06:30):
of eight and nine minutes get them back into the contest.
Twenty four points to twenty started to get a little
bit icy, but the Highlanders, credit to them.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
They went to their strengths or the Drewers weaknesses and
around the line out drive. They got through a mountain
of work.
Speaker 4 (06:43):
Looking at some of these postgame statistics and the Highland
has only had forty percent of position forced into two
hundred and thirteen tackles to the Drewers, sixty three guys
like Hugh rent In twenty seven tackles Fabean holand twenty
five tackles like that's a mountain of work on the
defensive side.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
But the Highland is just that that was one they
had to put away right and bank the points.
Speaker 4 (07:05):
It's got to this point in the season now they've
got a a very tricky run home. I think if
we count Mowana as a New Zealand side, they've basically
got Darby's from here on in Chiefs Crusaders Mowana Cain's
Crusaders again, Chiefs again. If they weren't going to win
that one, Like I personally feel like there's almost a
(07:26):
line through them already, but it would have been a
line and ink had they somehow managed to not get
the job done against the Drillers. So a much needed
win for the Highlanders after a run of losses against
Australian opposition, and they just give themselves a little bit
of life in a campaign that has been teetering.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
It has been teetering. Positive out of it. Jackie Rodemo
Tavuki Nipkins back from injury, looked assured for that performance.
I thought he was really really good one handling her aside.
But I'm just a reminder of his class after that
Nick injury. And you know he was in the All
Blacks conversation a little bit over the last year or so,
and you know, if he can find some form again,
(08:05):
he may well get back into that mix. And good
to se him back out on the park.
Speaker 4 (08:09):
Yeah, just a really encouraging story, isn't it, Because when
you think neck injury, you know, it's pretty scary stuff.
And I heard him speak in an interview come back
through Tayati Club Rugby and Otago about just mind over
matter in many ways in terms of just getting confidence
back into the contact, particularly on the defensive side. Six
months sidelined and yeah, he came back and didn't really
(08:33):
look out of place in a super rugby environment.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
That's game one, So I think you're absolutely right.
Speaker 4 (08:38):
He'll take a lot of confidence from that building into
the remainder of the season. And his combinations with the
likes of Jonah Naduki as well, I thought was very impressive.
The Highland has had some strike there, you know, Caleb
Tounguyto as well. It's just going to be a matter
of getting those outside back some quality ball, particularly against
(08:59):
these other New Zealand teams that they will face in
the next six or so weeks.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
Indeed, Blues in more Ona Pacific thirty six seventeen the
way of the Blues look. The Blues I thought just
did the job they needed to do and Mwana made
some curly selection calls for this game, dropping Patrick Palegreeni
to the bench. They were without Jonathan Tomatine through injury,
(09:25):
but the Blues just kind of rolled their sleeves up,
went back to the kind of rugby they played last year,
dominated position, especially in the first bell I think it
was two thirds position they had at the halftime break
and really just didn't allow Mawana the bull and the
position to construct anything throughout the contest. And even without
halftime lead that the Blues had I think twenty four
(09:46):
to five, it was you know, they thought, well, one
has had opportunities in previous games to come back. When
they get a roll on, they're very, very hard to stop.
But they just couldn't find a way back into the
contest and the Blues I think were just too good
and you know, a couple of wins on the bounce.
Now for the Blues, I'm not saying they're necessarily back,
but it was the kind of performance they need to
(10:08):
put out against Mowana Bank to win and got the
job done and you know they can look ahead and
out of this Crusaders game this week. What did you
make of it?
Speaker 4 (10:17):
Yeah, we've got on the Blues side first, and as
you mentioned, you know here on rugby direct, they were
direct and that was the blueprint in many ways to
how they won the title last year. Yes, they haven't
quite had the pieces to be able to do that.
But I thought guys like Ricky Rickattally, I thought Hoskins Stitut,
who probably arguably had one of his best games of
the season.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
You look at the nature of how those.
Speaker 4 (10:39):
Tries were scored outside of a little bit of individual
brilliance chip and chase kick from Bowden Barrett, and it
was Ricket Tally, tepul Or Toutu Eckland, Curt Eckland when
he came on, and Mark Talayre sort of sniffing and
around the ruck. You know, five of their six tries
it was just you know, they suffocated Moana. They made
they created pressure for Moana to either make errors or
(11:03):
their discipline got a little bit shoddy in as you say,
it was just completely dominant in that first half and
they'll take a great deal of confidence from that. That's
the first time this year the Blues have one and
back to back weeks. You know, it's been that sort
of season for them. And you look at their run
ahead sort of complete contrast to the Highlanders, right they
they've kind of got through outside of this Good Friday
(11:25):
contest down my Way and christ Church, the Crusaders, they've
they've pretty much got through those new Zealand Derby's they've
got the Reds which will be difficult over in Brisbane,
but then the force at home.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
They do have a trip to Fiji, but.
Speaker 4 (11:38):
Then they have Muana again and the Waratahs at Eden
Park can't seem to win outside of Sydney. So look,
even with the ladder position that they are, so I'm
on the outside of the six looking in, I think
they'll take a great deal of confidence. They seem to
have found what best works for them. It's not entirely
pretty or full of you know, it's going to fill
up a highlight package, but it's proving very effective just
(12:01):
on the Maana side. And I saw firsthand, you know,
how brutal and clinical they can be against the who
say it is down here in christ Church a few
weeks ago. There's still an issue there isn't there around
their starts, and for whatever reason, I don't know if
they have ton of Ermanger and co. Thought they had
potentially solved that issue and that's why they went with
(12:24):
more punch off the bench. But yeah, I completely agree
with you with your original point around Garden Baship and
PALEGREENI And that's not taking anything away from Jackson Garden, Bashett.
It's more a case of how influential Patrick PALEGRENI has
been and steering this team around the park. And you know,
I'm not saying one guy would have changed the outcome
of a contest like that, but it's just something I
(12:44):
think they'll reflect on heading into the Brumbis at home
this week. Minor pacificare and go. We probably haven't quite
got that right yet to be able to afford to
get too cute with our selections.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
That's right, And you know, a Ton was asked about
their post game and said that Pellegrini was feeling the
effects of I think it was four straight starts and
the way that he's played, you know, the body just
coming into Super rugby for the first time and feeling that.
But you know, it's a big game against the Blues.
You want your best players on the park and he
didn't get it back onto the park until the last
(13:18):
twenty five minutes of the contest. And by that point,
even though the score but was perhaps still within reach,
you know, compared to you know, like previous weeks when
the Mountain comebacks, it felt like the game was actually
out of reach. On this occasion, they've got an interesting
running as well, Nock. We looked at the Blues running
the Brumbies this week in Pokacoe. Then they're at North
Harbor Stadium for the drawer in the following week, then
(13:40):
to Dunedin. Then the Blues has just said back at
home then the Cheeks and Hurricanes to finish, So you
would suspect that they're probably going to need to win
probably two, if not three of those New Zealand Derby's
at the back end of the comp to be in
the playoff mix. They're currently in tenth, so they've got
a bit of work to do and it starts with
(14:01):
this game against the Brumbies this week.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (14:04):
Absolutely, they're on fifteen competition points, the five outside the
force who are in sixth. But you know you can
throw a blanket basically over teams three to ten and
you know the Brumbies are third on twenty three points,
miana tenth as you sound, fifteen, so that those are
the ones in many ways against the Brumbies, like that's
a real swing game for Then the drawer after that
(14:27):
is at home in particular as a non negotiable, and
then you've got those.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
Those porn New Zealand Derbies to close things out.
Speaker 4 (14:35):
Look, they for mine a sort of a possibility rather
than a probability of making the six. But as we've
seen on their day and in particular, if they can
piece it together for almost anything over forty minutes, really
they can beat the best of them. So look, I
(14:56):
won't rule out Mona completely, but it's getting to that
point now where it's going to have to happen soon.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
Indeed, let's go to Friday Night Wartar's twenty one Chiefs fourteen.
I don't think many would have seen this coming, but
very good performance from the war Retars and very poor
from the Chiefs. In fact, the Chiefs, to be honest,
we're lucky it was still within Grass were sending it
to super point right at the end of the game.
(15:21):
I don't think I've seen Damian McKenzie play as poor
as that at this level and above. He was I
think dreadful really to put it mildly on the weekend
six handling eras in the ends, and with the kind
of ball that the Chiefs had sixty forty. They spent
a lot of time in the Wara Tars half, but
(15:43):
that has made far too many mistakes to really mount
a serious contest. The one thing they did when was
the penalty account the Wartars conceding eighteen to the Chiefs five.
But this was a weird old game. But the thing
that probably people are going to remember is that incredible
end of the Earth try. The war Retars scored, and
(16:04):
you know, credit to them, they were good enough on
the night to knock over what was the competition's top team.
Speaker 4 (16:10):
I'll just get to the McKenzie point first and then
I want to give some love to the warre Tars.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
Credit to them, but that was another one for mine.
Speaker 4 (16:17):
We've just talked about the garden Bash at PALEGREENI situation
at Moana, the Blues who probably found this out at
this point. So I know that there's been some injury issues,
but Boden Barratt's clearly their guy at ten. And I
know the Crusaders, through all sorts of adversity last year,
had to finally figure out their first five conundrum. But again,
(16:39):
and forgive me if there was some more clarity around
this selection puzzle, but they seem to have found something
once or even added to their game once Shawn Stevenson
came back from Japan, he was at fullback, Mackenzie was
at ten. There just seemed to be a bit more
clarity around roles and responsibilities. Then they've got a situation
(17:00):
now where they've gone Stevenson to the right wing, Josh
Jacob to ten, Mackenzie to fall back. What do they
have Amon in Nadawa coming off the bench. And I
completely understand in a long season you've got to manage
your players, but I suppose really it wasn't really a
management of them in this situation because they were all there,
just in different jerseys, and I just felt that Mackenzie. Look,
(17:23):
the kick pressure in particular from the waratars was superb.
Some of it was unforced, absolutely, but you know they
didn't miss him all night. And you definitely see players
of all class levels, world class and below, they have
those nights where they don't feel like they're quite getting
into the.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
Game as much.
Speaker 4 (17:41):
Every time they're taking a high ball they're getting absolutely
belted by a loose forward coming through. And again I
think it's one on reflection that they'll probably concede they
didn't get right. This is not to say that Josh
Jacob isn't a quality player, and he's certainly a player
on the rise with a lot of upside, But I
think at this point of the season tinkering in and
(18:03):
around those selections, particularly in those game drivers, is probably
ill advised when you want to start creating some momentum.
But just on the Tars we were talking about moments
earlier and Joseph Suali, I think he really set the
tone for that game, you know, the individual piece of
brilliance for his first ever super Ragby tried to get
(18:24):
things going and then had a huge role in that
try from inside their own end goal finished off? Was
it by the winger and all the halfback sorry to
get them out to that point. So I don't know
what the Warratars need to do to try and replicate
that type of form. Beyond the confines of SFS in Sydney,
(18:47):
They've now won five there, cant went away. They've got
a points differential of negative forty. But it was a
big win for them to kind of get things back
on track because they came over to New Zealand looked
really poor against the Hurricanes in particular, and then obviously
got just melted by Mowana over the the course of
(19:09):
the second half.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
There at North Harbor Stadium.
Speaker 4 (19:11):
So they've righted a few wrongs and we wait to
see now whether they can be some form have find
some form of consistency.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (19:19):
Absolutely, And look there was some odd moments in that
game as well. Lolacoe Foketty's try overturned by the TMO
despite being awarded on the ground and didn't look like
sufficient evidence to overturn it. Yet the TMO again intervenes
in something that they weren't asked to and changes the ruling,
(19:40):
and that would have made it nineteen nil with a
kick to come from the touch line at that point
of the game, and you know, probably at that point
it might have been curtains long before it actually was
for the Chiefs. So yeah, there were some interesting decisions
from the referees on the night of interesting CEA if
anything further comes out of it, But the Chiefs handed
loss in Sydney earlier on on Friday night. It was
(20:03):
the Crusaders being the Hurricanes thirty one twenty four, an
odd old game and any respects the Crusaders getting out
to what appeared to be a comfortable lead and then
the old brain melt started happening with discipline eluded the
Crusaders and it got very very squeaky bum time for
most part of this game, though the Crusaders I thought
(20:24):
laid a pretty good platform in this contest and dominated
most of it. But I suppose you linger on the
last ten to fifteen also minutes neck and the contest
that became in those closing quarters.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
Yeah, as you say, funny old game.
Speaker 4 (20:39):
And in many ways, I think the Crusaders, you know,
with a complacency crept in or they got a little
bit too comfortable leading at what thirty one points to ten.
And this has been not so much an issue this season,
but it's something that over the course of my time
covering the Crusaders, as they've always.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
Really flirted with that off sideline, haven't they.
Speaker 4 (21:00):
And some referees are willing to perhaps give them the
benefit of the doubt, others not so much. And James
on Friday Night really didn't miss them late. And to
be honest, you've got to adjust, and sometimes that's what
the Crusaders have been guilty of struggling with. And you
(21:20):
know when they lost Ethan Blackadder and then what ninety
seconds later Antonio Chalfont, the same type of infringements deep
on their twenty two I couldn't really argue with the calls,
so yep, they made it very, very nerve racking for
those here in the mainland. But look, I think if
we go back to minutes sort of ten to sixty,
(21:43):
it was incredibly dominant and on the back of a
really strong foundation up front. I thought, I know, we're
going to probably get into it and the MVPs a
little bit later on, but there was a lot of
talk around Scott Barrett and where he is in his season.
At the moment, I thought, not only his influential hand
in one of the Yuana Mohnanu tries and the Schaffee
(22:05):
hockey tries, but his work defensively at lineout time has
breakdown clearance work is defensive work was right up there
of what you'd expect anyway of an All Blacks captain.
So he silenced a few critics. And it's worth mentioning
too that the Crusaders, you know, did it with a
little bit of adversity. They had at one point I
think they had James O'Connor playing second five. Kimino was
(22:26):
offer for a little bit. They lost Fletcher Newell, they
lost David Harvilly. So they didn't have it all their
own way. But in many ways this season, compared to
last anyway they've they've sort of been able to overcome
those those obstacles, be very clear about who they are
and how they want to play and at least get
out to Leeds where they feel like, you know that
(22:50):
they can still be in the control of their own destiny.
So credit to the Crusaders, I guess on the other side,
with the Hurricanes, it sort of leaves them in a
state of I'm not sure of a state of flux,
but still just sort of you know, one step forward,
two six back for them this year and you know
now they've they've got a two week road trip over
to Australia taking on the Force and the Brumbies before
(23:11):
Chiefs Highlanders, and then back over to Australia to face
the Reds and Brisbane and then Malana, and you know
they're not out of it by any stretch. You got
four points outside of the playoff positions, but it just
feels like, you know, momentum is so critical in this competition.
The Blues seem to have found it now. The Canes
just struggling to kind of piece things together to ultimately
(23:31):
build their confidence back up. So yeah, interesting time for
Clark Laidlaw and his team, you know, given how well
it went for him a year one.
Speaker 3 (23:42):
Absolutely, and you know they'll look back at the last
couple of weeks ago. Those are both games that potentially
we could have won. I mean, they've got themselves into
a thirty one ten hole the other night, but came
back and could have forced super point the game before
one point lost to the Blues, a game that potentially
they could have won on another night as well. So
(24:03):
you've got those margins and New Zealand Derbies are so
fine and they just seem to be lacking a little
bit of direction. Riley hoo heepper. Again, I do not
think is the answer at ten. We talked a bit
last week on the podcast about Ruben Love should he
move into ten. Felt Clark Laidlaw, whether he was just
having a little bit of fun and throwing out a
bit of bait for the media because he wasn't even
(24:25):
supposed to be doing media that day, is my understanding.
The day before the teams and name suggested that Ruben
Love was right in the mix to start at ten.
They went with Riley houll Hepper. He played fifty one minutes,
the Crusaders didn't score after fifty one minutes. The Hurricanes
looked a lot better in those closing stages. Now the
game had broken up a little bit, and I'm not
piling on Riley hou Heepper, but I just do not
(24:45):
think that he is the kind of first five that
is going to deliver those wins and those tight New
Zealand derbies.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (24:52):
I tend to agree. And they're at a point now
where they're going to have to take some risks, and
you know, Riley Hohepper is a sort of various stute,
steady hand perhaps to you know, even to come on
and defend the lead once you've gotten into a position
on the ol mark where we just need someone to
(25:13):
kind of just play the percentages. But it feels like,
you know, if Reuben loves up for it, he should
be give him an opportunity.
Speaker 2 (25:20):
I thought.
Speaker 4 (25:20):
Actually, Callum Harkin came on and as you say, the
game was a little bit open, but that sort of
suited his strengths.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
So yeah, one to consider for Clark Laidlaw.
Speaker 4 (25:28):
It's obviously such a critical position, the first five position,
and all teams are sort of grappling with the balance
of it, but probably none more so with the canes
given there without you know, your Brett Cameron's your focal
point was you know, if he wasn't and you're going
to be starting all of these games.
Speaker 3 (25:44):
Yea a bit of a whisper as well. Britt Cameron
might be able to be back for the back end
of the Hurricane season if all goes to plan with
his knee injury, so that's good news for them. Another
word is what Brumby's beating the Reads fitting on twenty
six bit of an upset on the weekend, although I
did pick it in the tripping comp last week. But
you know the magic of this competition this year is
that it's so up and down and you just do
(26:08):
not no you know who's going to win week to
week and the Chiefs losses as proof of that, the
Reds losing at home to the Brumbies as proof of that.
And it makes for congested standings after nine rounds.
Speaker 4 (26:19):
Yeah, I think it has. You know, it's real shot
in the arm to the competition this year. You know,
when you look over to the closest sort of rugby
code rival and NRL, and they've been able to hang
their hat on that unpredictability and jeopardy for so long,
and it feels like for some at least, you know,
(26:39):
sort of casual observers, a super rugby Okay, the Crusader
is going to win here, all the Chiefs or the Blues.
But you look at this table and it just as
a reflection of how tight this competition is, which is
perfect for people like us in terms of trying to
you know, promote the game and cover the game and
all the storylines and narratives that come with it. But
(26:59):
absolute nightman for those and tipping competitions and trying to
run multis through and gambling responsibly. So look, it's it's
been it's been great, and it now allows us as
we enter sort of this business end of the season
with six rounds to go, so many f sputs and maybes,
rather than you know, things are guaranteed and we're just
playing to to see out the regular season.
Speaker 3 (27:21):
That's right. We'll take a break, come back with more
here on Rugby Direct with our friends at Habit Health.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
This is Rugby Direct, a podcast for real rugby fans.
Speaker 3 (27:33):
Every try, try ten sixty sec every tackle, tack tackles,
get up again.
Speaker 2 (27:41):
Afore I'm not It's Rugby Direct, Ladies, talk to me.
Speaker 3 (27:44):
You're back with Rugby Direct. Sick and half of the
podcast time now for the final four to four Rugby
top perks myself and Nick to bake them. Topic number one.
My ruse last week said Super Rugby or Picky in
its current format is not sustainable when the players come
in basically on a Wednesday, have to try and get
ready for a Saturday game. Where do you see the
(28:05):
future of Super Rugby or Picky going neck in this competition?
And is she right and that it's not sustainable?
Speaker 4 (28:13):
Well, I'll take your word for it at face value,
because she's very much living it. But it's tricky, isn't it?
Because if there was a simple solution, it would have
been unearthed and executed by now you feel, and you
know obviously it comes down to bottom line and costs
and resources and on that point, you know, that's.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
Where the broadcast side of it comes in.
Speaker 4 (28:34):
I guess we're all sort of waiting to see where
that lands with Sky and New Zealand rugby and talk
of design and that'll ultimately have a pretty big impact
on the future of Super Aby Open as well, and
it will be interesting too to see what the numbers,
if any, the Sky release on the twenty twenty five season.
I've seen the recall last year that they mentioned. It
was modest increase in terms of interest sort of week
(28:58):
to week, but there's no doubt like the players are
clamoring for more in terms of more games or being
close to fully professional or at least having the full
Monday a Saturday to get readies. And especially when you
look to England Elliott where you know I know some
players live McGovern for example, who played a bit for
(29:18):
much to two last year. She's since gone back to
play for the exit of the Chiefs. You look at
their competition, I think it's eighteen rounds. It's October to March,
so it is doable a lot. I don't know where
it's going to go, but probably Thursday will be a
really interesting indication of the viability of a trans Tasman
competition or the two Opeke and Super ABW and Australia
(29:40):
coming together, because if the Blues the Wartars coming across
the Tasman in this sort of cross competition final on Thursday,
if the Blues. You know, hypothetically, if they wallop the
war Retars, that is not good for the viability of
a fully fledged trans Tasman round robin competition. And I
(30:01):
guess I look at take a step back into the
International Games. You know, the Black Ferns for many years
now have been well untarily on top of the Wallaroos.
So I just wonder, I guess if that is what
we're all hoping for, whether there is enough there's going
to be enough for that jeopardy and parody that we've
(30:22):
just been discussing on the men's side. I guess you
have to start somewhere, But I do wonder if we
just go all in on that, and then next year
when the Chiefs Malawa host the Waratahs and it's fifty
to nil, whether there's going to be enough interest.
Speaker 3 (30:38):
Well, that's it, Isn't it An expansion for the sake
of expansion, isn't good? And super rugby the men's comp
has learned that the hard way in the past and
is now having to constrict and change things around their approach.
The Black Fans have never lost to the Wallaroos in
the international stage. I think there's a gulf between the
two sides at domestic level. I know the war Tars
(31:01):
women beat Chiefs in pre season this year, but I
still think in the competition Sensor is still a gulf
between both of these two countries. So I don't know
that necessarily throwing them all in the one potter is
the right step either. So there's gonna be some inter
intercession that you're right. It's sort of a holding pattern
competition at the moment until we get some clarity on
(31:21):
the broadcast deal and the way forward and where it sits.
And I know there's been murmurings as well around potentially
shifting of an international calendar for the women's game, the
Pack four and where that feeds into WXV as well,
So holding pattern for the women's game as it stands,
and I think they'd just chug on with Super Rugby
or Picky for the time being until they hear here otherwise.
(31:44):
Topic number two World Rugby last week finding no reason
to outlaw the seven to one split. So should New
Zealand try it? Because it hasn't been seen in both
the All Blacks level or as Super Rugby. What are
we missing out on?
Speaker 2 (31:59):
Look?
Speaker 4 (32:00):
I personally don't think it fits the fabric or the
DNA of how we go about playing our rugby in
this country. Personally, like it clearly suits South Africa and
the way they want to play. And look, I'm sure
it's something that somewhere in Scott Robertson's mind he's mindful of,
(32:20):
because you don't want to fall behind the pack and
not be all of you know, across all the trends
that all of a sudden you know you're trying to
play another way. And I guess that's where criticism of
the style of Super rugby Pacific versus getting into the
Test arena is coming in the past. You know, it's
a bit more frivolous and ad hoc and giving them
the ball plenty of width, and then we come into
(32:41):
the Test arena and our top line players aren't quite
prepared for the abrasiveness and the directness of a South
Africa or in Ireland for example. But I Cunting Recallsmeyther
the last time we saw a six two split alone
lett alone a seven to one split.
Speaker 2 (32:55):
So while I'm.
Speaker 4 (32:57):
Not dismissing World Rugby, I don't think they needed to
outlawer it or anything like that.
Speaker 2 (33:02):
I just don't think it's going to ever be really
on the radar for us. That's just my personal view.
Speaker 3 (33:10):
Yeah, I think the mu Zeale might look at it
in a different sense in that if you could load
up with loose forwards who would also be capable of
playing in the back line and sort of a hybrid player,
potentially might look at it that way, and you know
you could have you know, say worst comes to worse,
you could move an ardisrv out from number eight into
(33:33):
midfield or something like that if if you couldn't all
utilize them in the forward packer at a certain time,
or you had injuries in the back line. You know,
there's players like Adam Lennox and Leroy Carter who was
capable of playing both half back and win. Yeah, absolutely
that worst comes to worst. So instead of like I'm
(33:53):
going with the I suppose the South African style of
a seven one, you can go with the more utility
version of it and utilize those powerful players that are
great ball carriers as well. Scott Robertson said when we
had him on the Pops with Mark Robinson a month
or so ago, that it's something they have considered, but
at this point in time they haven't rolled it out,
(34:15):
but you know, I guess never say never, and maybe
there will be a time with the All Blacks.
Speaker 2 (34:20):
Do do it?
Speaker 3 (34:20):
Topic number three news last week Joey marn who is
reportedly seeking a release from his Rusting ninety two contract
that he is yet to start to come back to
either Sydney or in New Zealand. That opens up some
options around the NRL. The Roosters have said that they
probably can't take him back at this point in time.
(34:41):
The Warriors loom is an option of course super rugby
clubs as well. So Neck, what does your gut feel say?
Where does Joey marnin who Land? That is indeed, if
only two are great fag generous enough to release him
from his contract.
Speaker 2 (34:54):
That's it, isn't it.
Speaker 4 (34:56):
Look, I think if I've learned anything from my time
in sports media at this part of the world, when
it comes to these reports that come out of Australia
and look, sometimes they do bear of fruits, but there
is a lot of wheeling and dealing and agents calling
up reporters and trying to create conversation and keeping the
(35:18):
gravy train ticking over and just for a sake of content,
on a quiet week like. I'm not saying that this
is the case here, but we haven't heard from from
Joey Marnu himself. But look, in a completely hypothetical situation,
my gut feeling, even though the Sydney Roosters, I think
Trent Robinson might have even spoken over the weekend about saying,
you know that they probably couldn't fit him in.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
They have found ways in the past of.
Speaker 4 (35:44):
Yeah, the old salary sombrero, the third party deals, Nick
Poliitis finds an old jag out the back of the
garage or something like that.
Speaker 2 (35:52):
So look at that.
Speaker 4 (35:53):
That would probably be my gut feel if it's very much,
you know, I want to be in New Zealand, and look,
the Warriors just just on salary cap positioning, having lost
what Shawn Johnson, Tay Harrison, Adam Fanola, Blake. Yes, have
brought James Fisher Harrison, but they've got some cap to spend.
It could be a possibility. I think it's a pretty
(36:14):
slim one. But if it's if he comes back to
New Zealand, my upfield would be it'll be to give
this rugby thing a red hot crack when he's coming
up twenty nine in June.
Speaker 2 (36:26):
Will it comes two years away?
Speaker 4 (36:28):
Does he have one real goal of that, you know,
like a sunny Billilliams has in the past, get himself
in the chiefs environment toccodoor boy. Maybe that's the most likely,
but I'm not going to get too carried away, and
I see something a little bit more concrete, but is
an interesting one as a talking point. I think it
would be a luxury for New Zealand rugby as opposed
(36:50):
to a necess It is a lot of a lot
of really good midfielders around at the moment. Of course,
Jordi Barrett to come back in the mix from his
time over in Ireland, so it would certainly create a
lot of conversation.
Speaker 3 (37:01):
Put it that way, it would. I've seen a bit
of him playing for Toyota in Japan and they are
having a dreadful old season as stands, but he's been
on the wing for them, the right wing by and large,
and he's been I think quite good, really breaking a
lot of tackles since we adapting to rugby. I like
the way he was going about it is almost following
that sunny Bill Williams blueprint of having a couple of
(37:22):
seasons abroad out of the limelight, apart from the bit
where he walked out on his contract, Sonny Bill, but
building that way and then when you ready come and
have a crack. But maybe he feels like he's ready
now or his homesick or whatever it is, and is
going to accelerate that plan. I saw an interview with
him on Forkuta Mauldi TV not so long ago, in
fact a couple of weeks ago, suggesting that the All
(37:43):
Blacks were a real goal. So that certainly seems part
of the conversation. So yeah, watch the space topic number four,
how many teams outside the Super Ragby Pacific Top Sex
will be in the top six at the end of
the season. So the Highlanders, Hurricanes, Blues, more Wia, PACIFICA
and the Fiji and Drew all on the outside looking in.
How many of those teams will crack the Top Sex neck.
Speaker 4 (38:05):
I'm going to say one with no real confidence. I
don't think it's going to be any more than two.
But I've got one team in mind dropping out and
one team in mind coming back in. And sorry to
our faithful listeners in Western Australia, but I just look
(38:26):
at the forces position and they're run in, and I
look at the Blues position and they're run home, and
there's a been a four point gap between those two,
and I think those are going to be the two
that switch in and out.
Speaker 2 (38:40):
I don't know what the Waratahs are. Eight rounds into
the season.
Speaker 4 (38:44):
They look like they can win the title at home
and then they look awful anywhere else outside of Sydney.
They're currently fifth, so they might be the other casualty,
and then it would have to be one of I'm
going to put a line through that. I sort of
alluded to it at the beginning when we talked about
the Highlanders drawer. I just think with that run and
(39:05):
I think that there's just a gulf in class ultimately
still between them and the other New Zealand Foundation sides.
I know the Highland is at seventh, so if it
was going to be one more for me anyway, it
would be one of the Canes or Mowana jumping in.
But it's so tight and that's a fantastic place for
the comp to be in.
Speaker 3 (39:25):
It really is. The big game that looms for me
is the Hurricanes Brumbies the day after Anzac Day, because
they haven't had a lot of success in the Aussie
capital the last couple of years. I think if they
win that then they could well be on their way.
The Hurricanes. They lose that, I think they probably will
miss the top six. So as it stands, I'm going
one like you at this point in time. Let's get
(39:46):
into our tipping. Last week, Lem and I tip the
same apart from the Brumbies and Reds where I picked
the Brumbies for an upset. So he gets three, I
get four. I lead by seven thirty twenty three. You're
in charge of his tips this week, Nick, Crusaders Blues
the game you'll be calling gold Sport iHeartRadio Friday night.
Speaker 4 (40:06):
See no pressure being taken on the mantle of someone
with a seven game deficit, A poor old Liam. Look,
this is a it'll be a cracking contest because by
no means you know it's not one v nine. I
know it is on the table, but there you know
that the Blues will still be hurting in the back
of their mind from how poor they were in this
(40:26):
reverse fixture what three three or so weeks ago at
Eton Park and as as well as the Crusaders have
played comparative lead to last year. I still think by
no means are they the finished product. And you know,
if David Harvilly is out, which it sounds like he
will be, there's some question marks there too, in terms of,
you know, how they go about their midfield and taking
(40:50):
that pressure off the lights of Taha Kima and in
terms of driving the game. So I'm going to say
the Crusaders, but it wouldn't shock me if you know
I'm calling a Blues victory.
Speaker 3 (41:02):
I'm going the Crusaders in a tight one as well.
Fiji and Drawer against the warr Tas in Fiji Saturday afternoon.
Speaker 2 (41:09):
Is this one? Is it Laoutoka? It is Lautoka, Chief Parker.
Speaker 4 (41:13):
I'm just going to say, just these are the two
most jekylin high teams and terms of home and away Fiji.
Drawer can beat anyone in Lautoka and Martars can't win
out of Sydney. So just based on those that are
those facts alone, and I'm going to go with the Drawer.
Speaker 3 (41:27):
I'm going to Taz to win that one. More on
a Pacific Brumby's looking forward to the calling this one
and book a koeie on Saturday afternoon to Mawana bounce
back next. I think they do.
Speaker 4 (41:37):
Personally I'm going to say they do too. But yeah,
this is this is a real tricky game. I haven't
got a very good read on the Brumbies either, but
you know, for them to beat the Reds in Brisbane,
that's that's really impressive and.
Speaker 2 (41:56):
You know it could go either way. But y'all, i'll
tip my onna.
Speaker 3 (41:59):
Chiefs Thailand is seven o five in Hamilton.
Speaker 4 (42:04):
Chiefs thinks there will be some pretty honest conversation if
they're not already have had have been have been had
over the weekend on the on the flight home from Sydney,
and I think they're a pretty dangerous team off offer loss.
Speaker 2 (42:20):
After some stern words from Clayton.
Speaker 3 (42:22):
Mcviell, Hurricanes are also coming off a loss, in fact
two losses. They play the Force in perthirth game of
a two game Aussie swing. You were mean to our
Western Australian listeners before. So for those in the minds
in cal Gooley and everywhere else in Perth, do they
get the win this week?
Speaker 4 (42:41):
Well, here you go tell all those faithful listeners in
a completely different time zone.
Speaker 2 (42:46):
But yeah, I'm going to say your team.
Speaker 4 (42:50):
I think this is the perfect sort of game for
the Western Force and and I think the Hurricanes are
just it'll depend on those selections. I think, you know,
I personally think they need to take some risks around
that ten position. But I think the four have a
you know, they have a semblance of a of a
(43:11):
really good team. They're just it's quite inconsistent. But I
think that's a really tough place to go and play.
I know you mentioned before, Elliott around that Caines Brumbies
game that's the week following, But yeah, why not, I'll
tip the Force. Lamb's got some grunt to.
Speaker 3 (43:26):
Make there we go. That's our tip. I'm going to
go to Hurricanes to win that one. In Perth Rugby
Direct Metal voting time three two ones eightything has a
five point gap on the field and thirteen points to
a t Nawa and Palegreeny title on eight and then
Bote and Barrett in on seven. Neck your three to
two ones. Who gets points this week?
Speaker 2 (43:45):
I am going to give three points to Scott Barrett.
Speaker 4 (43:50):
Look, I think, you know, irrespective of all the attention
that was around him from some you know, outside noise,
I thought that was a really strong performance, clearly his
best of the season. I think I touched on it before,
but really nice line break to set up you anamnu,
the presence of mind to reckon.
Speaker 2 (44:08):
There was no half back there when they just made
that break.
Speaker 4 (44:11):
He just shifts a little narrow pass to Schaffee Harckey
to dive over. So a couple of triass but has
worked just in general around the park. Super physical, got up,
stole a couple of lineouts at some crucial moments, just
when the Canes look to be building.
Speaker 2 (44:24):
So he gets my three and brother Bowden is going
to nab my two.
Speaker 4 (44:31):
I just think there's you know, it's pretty clear he's
the premiere ten at the Blues. Yes he's been out
with injury, but his game control, his safety under the
high ball, his variety of kicks, individual brilliance to do
that little chip and chase kick through to score against Mowana,
(44:52):
So credits to Boden Barrett. He's going to get my
two and because a bit of a toss up for
mine between a couple of hookers. I thought Ricky ricatally
really came back to that Blues environment. Strong, super clinical,
you know, his core roles in the line out of that.
But one of the stories of the Crusader season has
been Yoanni Mohinannu, Like, this is a guy who probably
(45:13):
wasn't going to get very very little game time if
it wasn't for George Bell being injured for the season,
and if it wasn't for Cody Taylor missing game time,
and he's come in and made.
Speaker 2 (45:24):
Every post winner. He's like a mini I suffer on
my ways. He's deadly over the ball and he's.
Speaker 4 (45:31):
Benefiting from a lot of great work and those line
out drives in terms of scoring tries. But the one
you know, being the right place at the right time
to be there for that Scott Barrett Pastor to score
one in midfield. Yeah, he's having a cracking season and
the Crusaders are in a good spot there depth wise,
it hooker.
Speaker 3 (45:47):
They are indeed now three two ones are similar. I've
gone Bern and Beart for three. Actually, I thought he
was very very good and the way that he's playing
at the moment clearly the best ten I think in
the country. Scott Barrett gets my two similar words to you.
I thought he was very very good. Again, responding to
the question of taken it, I don't know if it
was because of the criticism, but we sort of had
(46:07):
him way Cup for the season now and hopefully more
of those performances to come. And Jakob brother my t
Voki Nipkins gets my one point great return from him,
very very impressed and luking the way that he played,
so hopefully more of that to come. And I'll tell
you what, Jordy Barrett playing for linkstro on the weekend
was man of the match to their performance. So if
you look at that Bowden, Scott and Jordie, three performances
(46:31):
of class over the weekend from the Barrett family across
the globe.
Speaker 4 (46:34):
One of the great rugby families, aren't they the Barretts. Yeah,
they shouldn't be buhying bears anywhere in the country.
Speaker 3 (46:41):
Absolutely not. Nick, thank you for joining us on Rugby
Direct this week. Always a pleasure to have you on.
We'll catch up again soon.
Speaker 2 (46:47):
Appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (46:47):
Elliott, No, it's been a great fun and you're looking
forward to this week, this Easter weekend slate starting with
Crusaders Blues down My Way.
Speaker 2 (46:54):
It's going to be a cracker.
Speaker 3 (46:55):
You can hear that on Gold Sport and iHeartRadio. Friday Night,
Good Friday and night. So that has been ragby Direct
with Habit Health tackling all your aches and pains from
sport and work. Thanks to Lars and Bars English for
pulling this all together. We'll see you next week m hmm.
Speaker 1 (47:09):
For more from Newstalk st B, listen live on air
or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you
go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
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