April 8, 2026 • 24 mins
On the latest Rugby Direct podcast, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier discuss a busy post-Easter weekend of news in the rugby world, with former All Black Shannon Frizell returning home and New Zealand Rugby closing in on a high performance director announcement.
We also look back at a truncated round eight of Super Rugby and ahead to a full slate in round nine of the competition, with a particular focus on the top of the table Hurricanes and Blues match.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
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Speaker 2 (00:20):
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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 2 (00:37):
Welcome into Rugby Direct powered by Habit Hell Physio book
today and stay in the game. Rugby directs back for
another week. Elliott Smith with me Liam Napier Napes. I
hope the Easter weekend was good to you, and you're
not too full on the joys of Whittakers and Cabri
and whatever other chocolate manufacturers they might be around the place.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
That seems to be about the kids these days, Elliott.
So chocolate's not my jam. Really haven't got much of
a sweek too for much rather have a pie. So yeah,
lest it throws, but no praise be and I hope
you everyone had ahead a great easter.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Absolutely well. It was a very quiet weekend of Super Rugby.
We'll get into a bit of that shortly, but there
has been plenty of news on the other fronts around
the periphery of the game, and one of the big
ones earlier in the week was the return of Shannon Frizzel.
Now this has been rumored for well pretty much since
he left, you know, Irmber Jason Ryan saying in Bordeaux
in a media conference during the twenty three World Cup
(01:36):
that he wasn't overly happy he was leaving, that finally
managed to do a deal to get him to come back.
It's very much a mirror of the Richie Muwanga deal.
He comes back for eighteen months, essentially a hid and
run mission for the World Cup. Your reaction to Shannon
Brazel returning home naps.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
You're not a great surprise, as you say, Eliot. I
think it had always been on the cards. But it's
starting a bit of a trend, isn't it that guys
like Muanga and Frazil will go away, make bank for
three years, come back for a pinnacle events. I'm not
too sure what sort of light that shines on us
rugby is eligibility laws certainly raises a few questions, but
(02:18):
from a depth perspective, great, great to have Shennon Frazel back.
I don't know what version of him Deil Blacks will get.
I know he's been injured in recent times. I have
seen him prior to that play some great rugby, dominating
physically as it expects in the League One competition up there.
(02:39):
And look, let's be honest, since his departure, nobody's really
nailed down that six jersey.
Speaker 4 (02:45):
It continues to be up for grabs. We've seen Simon.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
Parker, Wallace, the TT, Peter Luckley had a pinch, a
host of others, Ethan Blackheader at times, Luke Jacobson. So
these guys may be a bit myth if Frazelle comes
back and sort of walks into that team, but I
think he'll well have to earn his keep and Dave
(03:09):
Rennie will be be tough to have him back. But
at this point he's in the Muana boat, isn't then
he's not eligible for the Greatest Rivalry Tour, so he
won't be seen in a black jersey until at least October.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Yeah, I wonder whether Dave Rennie might be able to
push back on that for the tour and get some
sort of concessions for for Wong and Frazelle. It seems
ridiculous to me that if you've signed a contract with
New Zealand Rugby and it's underway that you can't be packed.
At the same time, I do understand that, you know,
you don't want these hidden run missions to become a
(03:40):
regularity in New Zealand rugby. You know, players going away
for three years coming back for eighteen months or a
year to basically go to a World Cup. I don't
think that's good for the game in New Zealand. So
there's a fine balance to be had there. I agree
with you on on Frazel though that no one has
been able to put their hand up and go that
six jersey and the All Blacks is in mine. But
(04:01):
I'd also argue that he really only did that towards
the back end of twenty twenty three, that game against
the spread box at Mount Smart where he was excellent,
had some solid performances at the World Cup, card in
the final. I just wonder whether we may be viewing
him through a little bit of a you know, halo
effect or the old roast into glasses as he comes back,
(04:22):
because I don't think he's the savior to that All
Blacks pack.
Speaker 4 (04:25):
Yeah, I think that's a fair points.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
He also has a penchant for yellow cards and you
know some openion female probably the closest in terms of
a physically dominant presence, certainly at super rugby level. Some
opinion hasn't been able to carry that through to the
test arena. But look, I think at this point you
would say Shannon Frazelle would be in all the version
(04:50):
that left in twenty twenty three would be in the
and the reckoning for the twenty three maybe he comes
off the bench. I think there's some real dynamic athletes
out there, aren't there when you look at us, the
tt Lackeye, Artie Severe, The balance of those three in
a loose for Traer. Not too sure whether that's right
(05:12):
for the All Blacks. You might want to look at
a different combination there. But having for a Zell back
in the mix is a great win for New Zealand
rugby and a great win for the Highlanders.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
Let's be honest.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
They struggle for recruitment massively and to bring former All
Black back like him will be a huge boost to
their campaign next year.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
It will be indeed, yeah, absolutely good for the depth.
But I just would hold anyone suggesting that he's the
second coming as he returns home. More news as well
this week, yourself and Gregor Paul both with the male
that it sounds like Don Tricker is the front runner
at least in serious negotiations with New Zealand Rugby to
become the new High Performance Director of New Zealand Rugby
(05:56):
with that widened scope that we've talked about on this
podcast before. I guess how much of a boost would
he be for New Zealand Rugby is Do you think
he's the kind of brain they need at the helm
to basically be the conduit between the All Blacks coach
and the New Zealand Rugby CEO, whoever that might be.
Speaker 4 (06:15):
Yeah, I think he'll be a good appointment. Elliot.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
If you look back to his time it was a
bit of a golden age for New zion Rugby and
All Blacks twenty ten to twenty eighteen, I think it
was he was in a comparable role, not quite with
so much influence and power as this new role will
have effectively been Dave Rennie's boss, and so he will
(06:38):
have should he be appointed, you know, jurisdiction for going
in and assessing the All Blacks the Black Ferns as
well as coaching developments.
Speaker 4 (06:47):
He what he lacks in.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
International or rugby coaching experience he makes up for in
high performance now, so he's been over with the MLB,
he's at that time at he's on a rugby and
I think he is quite direct and confrontational with his questioning,
both of players and coaches. So I think I think
that's the type of presence you want. I think someone
(07:11):
like Joe Schmitt Wayne Smith would have been ideal for
that position as well, but both out of the reckoning.
I think Joe Schmitt finishes up with the Wallabies in
July and then he's going to go to Ireland and
sort of weighing up what's next. Wayne Smith has committed
to Kobe. I think Steve Hanson's been touted. I don't
think that dynamic would have worked well between him and
(07:33):
Dave Rennie when Hanson was All Black coach and Rennie
was at the Chiefs. There was a bit of tension
there about rest and rotation, and they're both two pretty
strong presents forigureheads, so I don't think that would have worked.
So yeah, I think the broadly speaking, the change needed
to happen. This position we've seen overseas and work well
(07:54):
with Irish rugby. Scotland's Australia have a high performance director
and Peter Horns, So I think it's high time that
that's that this restructure came in.
Speaker 4 (08:05):
What do you think? What do you know about Don
Trickid And I guess the position generally.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Obviously very successful softball career and highly regarded, you know,
across New Zealand sport for the way that he can
break down high performance systems. We saw him involved in
the review last year and his expertise called upon there
is that the San Diego Padres and Baseball, major League
(08:31):
Baseball highly respected. They have been there for it for
a number of seasons now. But it feels like this
is the kind of role that could lure him home.
And I don't know that it necessarily needs to be
a rugby brainer. I think we talked about this at
the time that it might have been beneficial. But I
think also you can get lost in the weeds if
you're you know, if you were completely in the depths
(08:53):
of rugby and not see the wider picture, maybe not
know the best practices from other sporting environments. For example,
you know, Daryl Gibson is the high performance director at
New Zealand Cricket. These days early days for him. But
I think that's probably something we're going to see a
little bit more of, is that transferring of skills between sports.
And if Donald Truck can come back having experienced a
(09:17):
Major League baseball environment and knowing what makes them tick,
I think that can only be a good thing for
New Zealand rugby if indeed he does get ready for
it and look it. Maybe seems more suited at the
outset for a head coach to take on that role,
but probably needs someone with an array of skills outside
that he coaching domain, not just being a head coach,
(09:38):
and perhaps that's where a Hanson type might not be
the ideal man for the situation.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Yeah, I don't think you need someone coming in telling
Dave Rennie how to run the All Blacks right Like
he's been appointed head coached, he needs the autonomy to
run that team as he sees foot he's appointed as
his coaching team, and so I think it's someone to
come in and assess the environments, to challenge the coaches
on certain dynamics, rather than, as you say, having a
(10:06):
rugby brain as such coming and I think outside of
the All Blacks and the Black Ferns there does need
to be a real look at New Zealand Rugby's talent
pathways and development, as well as the coaching side of
it and whether that's right and the high performance structure.
We've seen some heavyweights leave in recent times of Chris Lendrum,
(10:29):
he was at New Zealand Rugby for twenty years and
Mike Anthony was there for fourteen years. So that's what's
brought about this restructure. And I think, as you say,
Don Tricka has not only been involved in rugby but
a whole hoster reviews in an array of sports within
the New Zealand's sphere, so he has great experience and
(10:49):
I think he'd be a great addition.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
Watch the space for an official announcement.
Speaker 1 (10:54):
This is Rugby Direct, a podcast for real rugby fares.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
Tried, ten sixty six, every tackle to tackle, tackles, get
up again, oh ifore time.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
It's Rugby Direct.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
How Ladies Talk obviously had the last round of Super
Rugby truncated one, as we mentioned last week on the podcast,
just the three games, with the Crusaders beating the drawer
relatively comfortably, the Chiefs beating the Waratar's relatively comfortably, and
the Western Force beating the Queensland Reads surprisingly rather comfortably.
(11:31):
It was an interesting round in many ways given the
lack of rugby. What did you make of it as
a whole? I guess that the Force result was a
little bit of a surprise, but otherwise it was fairly
to form, wasn't it for the the krew sides?
Speaker 4 (11:45):
From a New Zealand perspective, a very routine.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
You probably could have predict those blowouts at the start
of the year to a degree. Certainly the Crusaders playing
their final game at Apollo Projects one hundredth when there
they were always going to blow away the Duror and
they did that in pretty spectacular fashion, probably their best
performance of the year.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
But you have to keep that in perspective. Don't you
sweat you nourles making a habit of bursting up the middle.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
Leicester fying Nuku put his stamp on things, Chaffe hockey bags,
a few tries and of course Cody Taylor were four
tries to celebrate his one hundred and fiftieth game. So
pretty special night all around for the Crusaders at home.
But it's much tougher tests to come in the coming
weeks and the Chiefs. I thought they went about their
business pretty well. The Waratas arrived after being the Brumbies
(12:35):
so had their tails up we bits, only to slink
home where their bubble burst yet again. So I think
the Chiefs still probably finding their best team and weave
it down on troops in the back line at times
this year.
Speaker 4 (12:49):
But they do feel like they're done to hit a
bit of a groove as well.
Speaker 3 (12:52):
And as you say that, the Force a real upset
result that and they really deserved it going up to
Brisbane and tuning up the Reds. So that was a
massive upset really in the context of Australian rugby very much.
Speaker 4 (13:06):
So.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
Look, I was impressed by the Chiefs. Had a bumpy
couple of weeks on the road with the loss to
the Brumbies and fairly scratchy went over the Force the
week prior, but to come home beat the warri Tars
who as you say, we're riding high on the back
of that. Went over the Brumbies the previous week in
Canberra I thought was an excellent performance. We haven't seen
the best of the Chiefs so far this season, but
it felt like things clicked pretty well and they did
(13:28):
it without Damien McKenzie last week too, so that will
give them a bit of confidence as they head into
this next passage of the season. I thought it was
a pretty a stute performance from the Chiefs. We didn't
learn a lot from the Crusaders. As you touched on.
Cody Taylor was excellent, but it was otherwise something we
expected from the Crusaders. They ran over the top of
(13:48):
the drawer and set themselves up. I think for this
next week run of games two in Australia and then
the war Tars back at home in that new stadium
in a couple of weeks. You know they probably need
to win all three of these games. They're not too
far off the pace in Super Rugby, but you know
the Reds could be tricky this week coming off that
Force defeat. Then the Force at home the following it
(14:11):
could be tricky as well. So a couple of big
weeks coming up for the Crusaders. I want to get
you three two ones for our MVP. Liam. I'll three
your mind, you can respond. Cody Taylor gets my three,
Semipenny Female gets two and Chaffi Hackey gets my one.
Good week to be a New Zealand team because there
are only three games, so a good chance to get
yourself some points in the MVP Metal voting.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
Yeah, hell of a hit, wasn't it, Summer Penny for
now last week almost put me back on the surgeons table.
Just watch it watching that, so he's fully deserving of
your points. Look impossible to overlock Cody Taylor for three.
I'm going to go quint to Pie. I think he's
in the form of his life, real physical, dominant, dominant
(14:54):
presence for the Chiefs, and I'm going to give one
to fit your Fletcher Newal another standout performance in a
standout season.
Speaker 4 (15:02):
Such consistency from him.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
So nice to see a front where are roaming free
and doing the business upfront as well.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
Just before we move on to this week, is there
any doubt in your mind as to the all Black
starting midfield this season? We saw Tapira but there at
thirteen last year. Do you have him locked in at
thirteen and Jordi Barrett at twelve? Is there room for
firing a Knooku or Rico Yuwanni who's been playing at Leinster.
What's your Black starting midfield at this point?
Speaker 4 (15:29):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (15:30):
I think at this point you would go Jordia Ya
and Quinn. I'm not totally sold on Coinn at centre.
It's not his natural position. I think there's probably a
few nuances there, but pretty hard to leave him out
of the starting team, and he did play well there
last year. I think Leicester has got quite a few
flaws to his game defensively and handling, so he's an
(15:50):
ideal presence. I think for the bench you could bring
him on in the midfield or the wing Ricojane. At
this point I've only seen glimpse of him at Leinster.
He's scored a try at the weekends, but there's been
some pretty unflattering reviews prior to that.
Speaker 4 (16:05):
So at this point he doesn't make my twenty three.
But who knows.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
Dave Rennie could have something in his back pocket and
some different ideas about how he approaches things. Maybe he
looks to use Jordi Barrett in a different capacity and
use Quinn at twelve and look to bring in a
different thirteen. Tabatavanaha could be a bit of a surprise
package potentially if he wants to persist or go down
that route.
Speaker 4 (16:29):
So there are a few options out there.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
There are, indeed, Billy Procter as well for the Hurricanes.
Maybe his time might come again. Haven't seen the best
of him in the All Blacks environment over the last
couple of years. Does he get another opportunity in a
different system under Dave Rennie will be interesting And we
don't have the mail bag this week. I know there
was a question in there about our All Black squads.
We might look at doing that in the next couple
of weeks, potentially sort of a mid season All Blacks
(16:52):
draft for this competition as they head into to July.
But let's get into this week and what is coming
up Highland as Brombi's intraguing game to get us underway
on Friday night in denied and the Brumbies obviously coming
over with the bye last week and coming off the
(17:12):
loss to the Warrtors that have been boosted by Alata
who's back in the mix of them for the first
time this year. Lachland long again as well. Which way
do you see this game going? Naps, Yeah, it was
interesting the start of the week.
Speaker 4 (17:25):
The Brumbies actually started as outsiders.
Speaker 3 (17:27):
I think they've firmed in now, but I think the
Brumbies can go down there and win that game. They've
got the fod pack to put some pressure on the Holanders.
I think I'll probably target them there and look to
use their rolling more. And yeah, I'm probably going to
go the Brumbies at this point. The Holanders they knocked
(17:47):
over Moana in recent weeks, but it hasn't been a
great season from their perspective, so I'm going to tip
the Brumbies.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
Yeah, I'm the same and look at the Highlanders have
got a couple of injuries persisting in their team, but
I'm also just rather uninspired by their bench this week.
It doesn't add a lot of impact. For Fucka Tava
has disappeened off the face of the earth. I'm not
sure what's going on there. He hasn't been playing very well,
but he seems to have been dropped out of the
(18:15):
twenty three entirely. Next Year, who I think was a
wider training group member and Lenox are now the two
half backs for Jamie Joseph. So you know, hopes of
Fucka Tava perhaps coming again to the All Black seem
to have faded pretty quickly. I'm going to go the
Brumbies for the victory there as well. Wana Pacifica hosting
the Chiefs and Chiefs Territory and Rods of Ruh. This
game was supposed to be in Tonga. Look I've got
(18:39):
the Chiefs fit for this one over Malwana. What say you?
Speaker 3 (18:43):
Yeah? Even with the Chiefs rotating a few of their
starters out in No SEMMASONI Takyaho and a couple of others,
they get Damien McKenzie back, and I've given them the
big triple captain and my fantasy team, so expecting big
things from Damien hasn't really hit his straps this year.
So you'd have to expect a pretty comfortable victory for
(19:04):
the Chiefs.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
You would think.
Speaker 3 (19:05):
So.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
I used my triple Captain on Will Jordan last week
against the against the drawer for the Crusaders, and he
was great distributor. Didn't get on the scores sheet, so
didn't quite use it as well as I probably could have.
But I'm going to go the Chiefs as well. The
drawer hosting the Force in fig This could be the
debut of Zach Lomax. Didn't get it last week for
(19:26):
the Western Force. He was scrubbed late. But look the
drawer I've got at home to beat the Force. What
about you?
Speaker 4 (19:33):
A bit of a roll the dice, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (19:35):
Two teams that have largely struggled, but the Force are
in decent form. But look, yeah, pretty hard to go
past dur at home. They've got a great record there,
don't tend to win too many on the road, so
I think they'll be targeting this.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
One indeed, and the match of the round Hurricanes Blues
live on Gold Sport and iHeartRadio on Saturday Night one
VET two in the camp, Big acid test and away
for your Hurricanes, Liam. You know they've played one New
Zealand side so far. They've run rampant against the Australian sides.
But you know, now the pressure does come on a
bit for this cane train.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
Absolutely yep. Time to find out. This is where the
rubber meets the road. Pretty tough run over the next
few weeks. It'll test their depths and nice to see
a bit a spice off the fields, you know, But
a bans in between. Ruben lovers saw in his press
Conrance and a few other barbs flying around about this match.
So Boden Barrett VI Jordie Barrett. There's plenty of narratives
(20:29):
in the backgrounds. I am going to tip the Canes
to get up, but they've actually got a pretty decent
record against the Blues in recent times and being at home,
I think they've got enough firepower to get it done,
and they're in pretty good health at the stage. I
expect them to lose a few in the coming weeks,
but I think it'll be a bit of a contrast
of styles. You expect the Blues to keep it tight
(20:50):
and try and go through the middle, be direct challenge
the Canes at the set piece, and the Canes be
looking to unleash guys like Fine and four and Ruben
Love in that back line.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
I'm going to go the Blues for an upset just
to spice things up a little bit on the podcast
as well as just in general. I think can go
down there. And when I know it's been an emotional
week for the Blues, I was at training this morning
with them with the news around Cameron saw Far, which
is obviously devastating the fact that his cancer has spread
and is now terminal. I know he is in camp
(21:23):
on Tuesday, but just seeing that the team today, most
of the Fords have shaven their heads, most of the
backs have dyed their hair blonde, Boden Barrett is unrecognizable.
Saw him at training today, didn't didn't realize it was
him with the beach blonde here. I just think this week,
of all weeks, I fancy the Blues to be galvanized
by this and turning a performance. So I'm going to
(21:46):
go the Blues in an upset. But while we're on,
just an awful news about Cameron so far, isn't it?
Speaker 4 (21:52):
Ah? Yeah, devastating, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (21:54):
You know, he just because he'd battled back and gone
back to a place where he thoughts he could you know,
he had some goals around what he wanted to achieve
in a rugby space. And to have another setback and
to have to undergo for the chemotherapy treatments heartbreaking news
for anyone, and yeah, certainly wish them all the best.
Speaker 4 (22:15):
Terrible Disease.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
One absolutely final game with the Round Reds Crusaders nine
to thirty five Saturday night in Brisbane. The Reds desperate
to bounce back from that surprise loss to the Force
last week. The Crusaders going away for the next couple
of weeks. No Will Jordan, no Cody Taylor. Through injuries,
they do get back David HARVILLI their captain for this game.
Johnny McNichol Slotson for his first game of the year
(22:37):
at fullback. I think the Crusaders will win, but I
fancy the Reds might bounce back this week from a
pretty limp performance last week.
Speaker 3 (22:47):
Yeah, the Crusaders have a habit in recent times have
been a bit Rocks and Diamonds without Will Jordan, completely
different team when he's involved, chiming in from the back line,
adding his leadership, throwing those long assists as you mentioned
earlier in the pods. So maybe a bit of a
banana skin game, but I will tip them to sneak home.
(23:07):
There we go.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
You've got to two point lead in the tipping over
all twenty seven plays, twenty five through thirty eight games
of the season. That does us for ragby Direct this week,
of course, the Black Ferns playing on Sunday morning their
first game of the year. Their team is out tomorrow.
Intrigued to see what that looks like first game under
Whitney Hanson. We'll chat a bit about that on our
Monday or Tuesday pod next week, as well as bringing
(23:30):
back the mail Bag with producer Mark who was stuck
somewhere on the drive back from Toadong to Auckland. Hence
he couldn't join us for a bit of mail bag today,
but thank you as always, Napes. We'll look forward to
catching up again next week after a full slate of
Super Rugby games. We'll catch you early part of next week.
Speaker 4 (23:47):
Yeah, look forward to it.
Speaker 3 (23:48):
Nice to have as you say, full schedule was pretty
telling last week to tune in on a Monday night
and watch a bumper NRL game looked pretty close to
a sold out stadium in Sydney and it was hard
not to think that Super Rugby missed the trick there.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
Yeah, agreed. That is Rugby Direct powered by Habit Health
Physio book today and stand in the game. Thanks to
Last and Bars English for putting this pod together. See
you early next week.
Speaker 1 (24:13):
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Speaker 2 (00:20):
Of Dry Dicky Score. Try these.
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 2 (00:37):
Welcome into Rugby Direct powered by Habit Hell Physio book
today and stay in the game. Rugby directs back for
another week. Elliott Smith with me Liam Napier Napes. I
hope the Easter weekend was good to you, and you're
not too full on the joys of Whittakers and Cabri
and whatever other chocolate manufacturers they might be around the place.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
That seems to be about the kids these days, Elliott.
So chocolate's not my jam. Really haven't got much of
a sweek too for much rather have a pie. So yeah,
lest it throws, but no praise be and I hope
you everyone had ahead a great easter.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Absolutely well. It was a very quiet weekend of Super Rugby.
We'll get into a bit of that shortly, but there
has been plenty of news on the other fronts around
the periphery of the game, and one of the big
ones earlier in the week was the return of Shannon Frizzel.
Now this has been rumored for well pretty much since
he left, you know, Irmber Jason Ryan saying in Bordeaux
in a media conference during the twenty three World Cup
(01:36):
that he wasn't overly happy he was leaving, that finally
managed to do a deal to get him to come back.
It's very much a mirror of the Richie Muwanga deal.
He comes back for eighteen months, essentially a hid and
run mission for the World Cup. Your reaction to Shannon
Brazel returning home naps.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
You're not a great surprise, as you say, Eliot. I
think it had always been on the cards. But it's
starting a bit of a trend, isn't it that guys
like Muanga and Frazil will go away, make bank for
three years, come back for a pinnacle events. I'm not
too sure what sort of light that shines on us
rugby is eligibility laws certainly raises a few questions, but
(02:18):
from a depth perspective, great, great to have Shennon Frazel back.
I don't know what version of him Deil Blacks will get.
I know he's been injured in recent times. I have
seen him prior to that play some great rugby, dominating
physically as it expects in the League One competition up there.
(02:39):
And look, let's be honest, since his departure, nobody's really
nailed down that six jersey.
Speaker 4 (02:45):
It continues to be up for grabs. We've seen Simon.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
Parker, Wallace, the TT, Peter Luckley had a pinch, a
host of others, Ethan Blackheader at times, Luke Jacobson. So
these guys may be a bit myth if Frazelle comes
back and sort of walks into that team, but I
think he'll well have to earn his keep and Dave
(03:09):
Rennie will be be tough to have him back. But
at this point he's in the Muana boat, isn't then
he's not eligible for the Greatest Rivalry Tour, so he
won't be seen in a black jersey until at least October.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Yeah, I wonder whether Dave Rennie might be able to
push back on that for the tour and get some
sort of concessions for for Wong and Frazelle. It seems
ridiculous to me that if you've signed a contract with
New Zealand Rugby and it's underway that you can't be packed.
At the same time, I do understand that, you know,
you don't want these hidden run missions to become a
(03:40):
regularity in New Zealand rugby. You know, players going away
for three years coming back for eighteen months or a
year to basically go to a World Cup. I don't
think that's good for the game in New Zealand. So
there's a fine balance to be had there. I agree
with you on on Frazel though that no one has
been able to put their hand up and go that
six jersey and the All Blacks is in mine. But
(04:01):
I'd also argue that he really only did that towards
the back end of twenty twenty three, that game against
the spread box at Mount Smart where he was excellent,
had some solid performances at the World Cup, card in
the final. I just wonder whether we may be viewing
him through a little bit of a you know, halo
effect or the old roast into glasses as he comes back,
(04:22):
because I don't think he's the savior to that All
Blacks pack.
Speaker 4 (04:25):
Yeah, I think that's a fair points.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
He also has a penchant for yellow cards and you
know some openion female probably the closest in terms of
a physically dominant presence, certainly at super rugby level. Some
opinion hasn't been able to carry that through to the
test arena. But look, I think at this point you
would say Shannon Frazelle would be in all the version
(04:50):
that left in twenty twenty three would be in the
and the reckoning for the twenty three maybe he comes
off the bench. I think there's some real dynamic athletes
out there, aren't there when you look at us, the
tt Lackeye, Artie Severe, The balance of those three in
a loose for Traer. Not too sure whether that's right
(05:12):
for the All Blacks. You might want to look at
a different combination there. But having for a Zell back
in the mix is a great win for New Zealand
rugby and a great win for the Highlanders.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
Let's be honest.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
They struggle for recruitment massively and to bring former All
Black back like him will be a huge boost to
their campaign next year.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
It will be indeed, yeah, absolutely good for the depth.
But I just would hold anyone suggesting that he's the
second coming as he returns home. More news as well
this week, yourself and Gregor Paul both with the male
that it sounds like Don Tricker is the front runner
at least in serious negotiations with New Zealand Rugby to
become the new High Performance Director of New Zealand Rugby
(05:56):
with that widened scope that we've talked about on this
podcast before. I guess how much of a boost would
he be for New Zealand Rugby is Do you think
he's the kind of brain they need at the helm
to basically be the conduit between the All Blacks coach
and the New Zealand Rugby CEO, whoever that might be.
Speaker 4 (06:15):
Yeah, I think he'll be a good appointment. Elliot.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
If you look back to his time it was a
bit of a golden age for New zion Rugby and
All Blacks twenty ten to twenty eighteen, I think it
was he was in a comparable role, not quite with
so much influence and power as this new role will
have effectively been Dave Rennie's boss, and so he will
(06:38):
have should he be appointed, you know, jurisdiction for going
in and assessing the All Blacks the Black Ferns as
well as coaching developments.
Speaker 4 (06:47):
He what he lacks in.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
International or rugby coaching experience he makes up for in
high performance now, so he's been over with the MLB,
he's at that time at he's on a rugby and
I think he is quite direct and confrontational with his questioning,
both of players and coaches. So I think I think
that's the type of presence you want. I think someone
(07:11):
like Joe Schmitt Wayne Smith would have been ideal for
that position as well, but both out of the reckoning.
I think Joe Schmitt finishes up with the Wallabies in
July and then he's going to go to Ireland and
sort of weighing up what's next. Wayne Smith has committed
to Kobe. I think Steve Hanson's been touted. I don't
think that dynamic would have worked well between him and
(07:33):
Dave Rennie when Hanson was All Black coach and Rennie
was at the Chiefs. There was a bit of tension
there about rest and rotation, and they're both two pretty
strong presents forigureheads, so I don't think that would have worked.
So yeah, I think the broadly speaking, the change needed
to happen. This position we've seen overseas and work well
(07:54):
with Irish rugby. Scotland's Australia have a high performance director
and Peter Horns, So I think it's high time that
that's that this restructure came in.
Speaker 4 (08:05):
What do you think? What do you know about Don
Trickid And I guess the position generally.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Obviously very successful softball career and highly regarded, you know,
across New Zealand sport for the way that he can
break down high performance systems. We saw him involved in
the review last year and his expertise called upon there
is that the San Diego Padres and Baseball, major League
(08:31):
Baseball highly respected. They have been there for it for
a number of seasons now. But it feels like this
is the kind of role that could lure him home.
And I don't know that it necessarily needs to be
a rugby brainer. I think we talked about this at
the time that it might have been beneficial. But I
think also you can get lost in the weeds if
you're you know, if you were completely in the depths
(08:53):
of rugby and not see the wider picture, maybe not
know the best practices from other sporting environments. For example,
you know, Daryl Gibson is the high performance director at
New Zealand Cricket. These days early days for him. But
I think that's probably something we're going to see a
little bit more of, is that transferring of skills between sports.
And if Donald Truck can come back having experienced a
(09:17):
Major League baseball environment and knowing what makes them tick,
I think that can only be a good thing for
New Zealand rugby if indeed he does get ready for
it and look it. Maybe seems more suited at the
outset for a head coach to take on that role,
but probably needs someone with an array of skills outside
that he coaching domain, not just being a head coach,
(09:38):
and perhaps that's where a Hanson type might not be
the ideal man for the situation.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Yeah, I don't think you need someone coming in telling
Dave Rennie how to run the All Blacks right Like
he's been appointed head coached, he needs the autonomy to
run that team as he sees foot he's appointed as
his coaching team, and so I think it's someone to
come in and assess the environments, to challenge the coaches
on certain dynamics, rather than, as you say, having a
(10:06):
rugby brain as such coming and I think outside of
the All Blacks and the Black Ferns there does need
to be a real look at New Zealand Rugby's talent
pathways and development, as well as the coaching side of
it and whether that's right and the high performance structure.
We've seen some heavyweights leave in recent times of Chris Lendrum,
(10:29):
he was at New Zealand Rugby for twenty years and
Mike Anthony was there for fourteen years. So that's what's
brought about this restructure. And I think, as you say,
Don Tricka has not only been involved in rugby but
a whole hoster reviews in an array of sports within
the New Zealand's sphere, so he has great experience and
(10:49):
I think he'd be a great addition.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
Watch the space for an official announcement.
Speaker 1 (10:54):
This is Rugby Direct, a podcast for real rugby fares.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
Tried, ten sixty six, every tackle to tackle, tackles, get
up again, oh ifore time.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
It's Rugby Direct.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
How Ladies Talk obviously had the last round of Super
Rugby truncated one, as we mentioned last week on the podcast,
just the three games, with the Crusaders beating the drawer
relatively comfortably, the Chiefs beating the Waratar's relatively comfortably, and
the Western Force beating the Queensland Reads surprisingly rather comfortably.
(11:31):
It was an interesting round in many ways given the
lack of rugby. What did you make of it as
a whole? I guess that the Force result was a
little bit of a surprise, but otherwise it was fairly
to form, wasn't it for the the krew sides?
Speaker 4 (11:45):
From a New Zealand perspective, a very routine.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
You probably could have predict those blowouts at the start
of the year to a degree. Certainly the Crusaders playing
their final game at Apollo Projects one hundredth when there
they were always going to blow away the Duror and
they did that in pretty spectacular fashion, probably their best
performance of the year.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
But you have to keep that in perspective. Don't you
sweat you nourles making a habit of bursting up the middle.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
Leicester fying Nuku put his stamp on things, Chaffe hockey bags,
a few tries and of course Cody Taylor were four
tries to celebrate his one hundred and fiftieth game. So
pretty special night all around for the Crusaders at home.
But it's much tougher tests to come in the coming
weeks and the Chiefs. I thought they went about their
business pretty well. The Waratas arrived after being the Brumbies
(12:35):
so had their tails up we bits, only to slink
home where their bubble burst yet again. So I think
the Chiefs still probably finding their best team and weave
it down on troops in the back line at times
this year.
Speaker 4 (12:49):
But they do feel like they're done to hit a
bit of a groove as well.
Speaker 3 (12:52):
And as you say that, the Force a real upset
result that and they really deserved it going up to
Brisbane and tuning up the Reds. So that was a
massive upset really in the context of Australian rugby very much.
Speaker 4 (13:06):
So.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
Look, I was impressed by the Chiefs. Had a bumpy
couple of weeks on the road with the loss to
the Brumbies and fairly scratchy went over the Force the
week prior, but to come home beat the warri Tars
who as you say, we're riding high on the back
of that. Went over the Brumbies the previous week in
Canberra I thought was an excellent performance. We haven't seen
the best of the Chiefs so far this season, but
it felt like things clicked pretty well and they did
(13:28):
it without Damien McKenzie last week too, so that will
give them a bit of confidence as they head into
this next passage of the season. I thought it was
a pretty a stute performance from the Chiefs. We didn't
learn a lot from the Crusaders. As you touched on.
Cody Taylor was excellent, but it was otherwise something we
expected from the Crusaders. They ran over the top of
(13:48):
the drawer and set themselves up. I think for this
next week run of games two in Australia and then
the war Tars back at home in that new stadium
in a couple of weeks. You know they probably need
to win all three of these games. They're not too
far off the pace in Super Rugby, but you know
the Reds could be tricky this week coming off that
Force defeat. Then the Force at home the following it
(14:11):
could be tricky as well. So a couple of big
weeks coming up for the Crusaders. I want to get
you three two ones for our MVP. Liam. I'll three
your mind, you can respond. Cody Taylor gets my three,
Semipenny Female gets two and Chaffi Hackey gets my one.
Good week to be a New Zealand team because there
are only three games, so a good chance to get
yourself some points in the MVP Metal voting.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
Yeah, hell of a hit, wasn't it, Summer Penny for
now last week almost put me back on the surgeons table.
Just watch it watching that, so he's fully deserving of
your points. Look impossible to overlock Cody Taylor for three.
I'm going to go quint to Pie. I think he's
in the form of his life, real physical, dominant, dominant
(14:54):
presence for the Chiefs, and I'm going to give one
to fit your Fletcher Newal another standout performance in a
standout season.
Speaker 4 (15:02):
Such consistency from him.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
So nice to see a front where are roaming free
and doing the business upfront as well.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
Just before we move on to this week, is there
any doubt in your mind as to the all Black
starting midfield this season? We saw Tapira but there at
thirteen last year. Do you have him locked in at
thirteen and Jordi Barrett at twelve? Is there room for
firing a Knooku or Rico Yuwanni who's been playing at Leinster.
What's your Black starting midfield at this point?
Speaker 4 (15:29):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (15:30):
I think at this point you would go Jordia Ya
and Quinn. I'm not totally sold on Coinn at centre.
It's not his natural position. I think there's probably a
few nuances there, but pretty hard to leave him out
of the starting team, and he did play well there
last year. I think Leicester has got quite a few
flaws to his game defensively and handling, so he's an
(15:50):
ideal presence. I think for the bench you could bring
him on in the midfield or the wing Ricojane. At
this point I've only seen glimpse of him at Leinster.
He's scored a try at the weekends, but there's been
some pretty unflattering reviews prior to that.
Speaker 4 (16:05):
So at this point he doesn't make my twenty three.
But who knows.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
Dave Rennie could have something in his back pocket and
some different ideas about how he approaches things. Maybe he
looks to use Jordi Barrett in a different capacity and
use Quinn at twelve and look to bring in a
different thirteen. Tabatavanaha could be a bit of a surprise
package potentially if he wants to persist or go down
that route.
Speaker 4 (16:29):
So there are a few options out there.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
There are, indeed, Billy Procter as well for the Hurricanes.
Maybe his time might come again. Haven't seen the best
of him in the All Blacks environment over the last
couple of years. Does he get another opportunity in a
different system under Dave Rennie will be interesting And we
don't have the mail bag this week. I know there
was a question in there about our All Black squads.
We might look at doing that in the next couple
of weeks, potentially sort of a mid season All Blacks
(16:52):
draft for this competition as they head into to July.
But let's get into this week and what is coming
up Highland as Brombi's intraguing game to get us underway
on Friday night in denied and the Brumbies obviously coming
over with the bye last week and coming off the
(17:12):
loss to the Warrtors that have been boosted by Alata
who's back in the mix of them for the first
time this year. Lachland long again as well. Which way
do you see this game going? Naps, Yeah, it was
interesting the start of the week.
Speaker 4 (17:25):
The Brumbies actually started as outsiders.
Speaker 3 (17:27):
I think they've firmed in now, but I think the
Brumbies can go down there and win that game. They've
got the fod pack to put some pressure on the Holanders.
I think I'll probably target them there and look to
use their rolling more. And yeah, I'm probably going to
go the Brumbies at this point. The Holanders they knocked
(17:47):
over Moana in recent weeks, but it hasn't been a
great season from their perspective, so I'm going to tip
the Brumbies.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
Yeah, I'm the same and look at the Highlanders have
got a couple of injuries persisting in their team, but
I'm also just rather uninspired by their bench this week.
It doesn't add a lot of impact. For Fucka Tava
has disappeened off the face of the earth. I'm not
sure what's going on there. He hasn't been playing very well,
but he seems to have been dropped out of the
(18:15):
twenty three entirely. Next Year, who I think was a
wider training group member and Lenox are now the two
half backs for Jamie Joseph. So you know, hopes of
Fucka Tava perhaps coming again to the All Black seem
to have faded pretty quickly. I'm going to go the
Brumbies for the victory there as well. Wana Pacifica hosting
the Chiefs and Chiefs Territory and Rods of Ruh. This
game was supposed to be in Tonga. Look I've got
(18:39):
the Chiefs fit for this one over Malwana. What say you?
Speaker 3 (18:43):
Yeah? Even with the Chiefs rotating a few of their
starters out in No SEMMASONI Takyaho and a couple of others,
they get Damien McKenzie back, and I've given them the
big triple captain and my fantasy team, so expecting big
things from Damien hasn't really hit his straps this year.
So you'd have to expect a pretty comfortable victory for
(19:04):
the Chiefs.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
You would think.
Speaker 3 (19:05):
So.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
I used my triple Captain on Will Jordan last week
against the against the drawer for the Crusaders, and he
was great distributor. Didn't get on the scores sheet, so
didn't quite use it as well as I probably could have.
But I'm going to go the Chiefs as well. The
drawer hosting the Force in fig This could be the
debut of Zach Lomax. Didn't get it last week for
(19:26):
the Western Force. He was scrubbed late. But look the
drawer I've got at home to beat the Force. What
about you?
Speaker 4 (19:33):
A bit of a roll the dice, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (19:35):
Two teams that have largely struggled, but the Force are
in decent form. But look, yeah, pretty hard to go
past dur at home. They've got a great record there,
don't tend to win too many on the road, so
I think they'll be targeting this.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
One indeed, and the match of the round Hurricanes Blues
live on Gold Sport and iHeartRadio on Saturday Night one
VET two in the camp, Big acid test and away
for your Hurricanes, Liam. You know they've played one New
Zealand side so far. They've run rampant against the Australian sides.
But you know, now the pressure does come on a
bit for this cane train.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
Absolutely yep. Time to find out. This is where the
rubber meets the road. Pretty tough run over the next
few weeks. It'll test their depths and nice to see
a bit a spice off the fields, you know, But
a bans in between. Ruben lovers saw in his press
Conrance and a few other barbs flying around about this match.
So Boden Barrett VI Jordie Barrett. There's plenty of narratives
(20:29):
in the backgrounds. I am going to tip the Canes
to get up, but they've actually got a pretty decent
record against the Blues in recent times and being at home,
I think they've got enough firepower to get it done,
and they're in pretty good health at the stage. I
expect them to lose a few in the coming weeks,
but I think it'll be a bit of a contrast
of styles. You expect the Blues to keep it tight
(20:50):
and try and go through the middle, be direct challenge
the Canes at the set piece, and the Canes be
looking to unleash guys like Fine and four and Ruben
Love in that back line.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
I'm going to go the Blues for an upset just
to spice things up a little bit on the podcast
as well as just in general. I think can go
down there. And when I know it's been an emotional
week for the Blues, I was at training this morning
with them with the news around Cameron saw Far, which
is obviously devastating the fact that his cancer has spread
and is now terminal. I know he is in camp
(21:23):
on Tuesday, but just seeing that the team today, most
of the Fords have shaven their heads, most of the
backs have dyed their hair blonde, Boden Barrett is unrecognizable.
Saw him at training today, didn't didn't realize it was
him with the beach blonde here. I just think this week,
of all weeks, I fancy the Blues to be galvanized
by this and turning a performance. So I'm going to
(21:46):
go the Blues in an upset. But while we're on,
just an awful news about Cameron so far, isn't it?
Speaker 4 (21:52):
Ah? Yeah, devastating, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (21:54):
You know, he just because he'd battled back and gone
back to a place where he thoughts he could you know,
he had some goals around what he wanted to achieve
in a rugby space. And to have another setback and
to have to undergo for the chemotherapy treatments heartbreaking news
for anyone, and yeah, certainly wish them all the best.
Speaker 4 (22:15):
Terrible Disease.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
One absolutely final game with the Round Reds Crusaders nine
to thirty five Saturday night in Brisbane. The Reds desperate
to bounce back from that surprise loss to the Force
last week. The Crusaders going away for the next couple
of weeks. No Will Jordan, no Cody Taylor. Through injuries,
they do get back David HARVILLI their captain for this game.
Johnny McNichol Slotson for his first game of the year
(22:37):
at fullback. I think the Crusaders will win, but I
fancy the Reds might bounce back this week from a
pretty limp performance last week.
Speaker 3 (22:47):
Yeah, the Crusaders have a habit in recent times have
been a bit Rocks and Diamonds without Will Jordan, completely
different team when he's involved, chiming in from the back line,
adding his leadership, throwing those long assists as you mentioned
earlier in the pods. So maybe a bit of a
banana skin game, but I will tip them to sneak home.
(23:07):
There we go.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
You've got to two point lead in the tipping over
all twenty seven plays, twenty five through thirty eight games
of the season. That does us for ragby Direct this week,
of course, the Black Ferns playing on Sunday morning their
first game of the year. Their team is out tomorrow.
Intrigued to see what that looks like first game under
Whitney Hanson. We'll chat a bit about that on our
Monday or Tuesday pod next week, as well as bringing
(23:30):
back the mail Bag with producer Mark who was stuck
somewhere on the drive back from Toadong to Auckland. Hence
he couldn't join us for a bit of mail bag today,
but thank you as always, Napes. We'll look forward to
catching up again next week after a full slate of
Super Rugby games. We'll catch you early part of next week.
Speaker 4 (23:47):
Yeah, look forward to it.
Speaker 3 (23:48):
Nice to have as you say, full schedule was pretty
telling last week to tune in on a Monday night
and watch a bumper NRL game looked pretty close to
a sold out stadium in Sydney and it was hard
not to think that Super Rugby missed the trick there.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
Yeah, agreed. That is Rugby Direct powered by Habit Health
Physio book today and stand in the game. Thanks to
Last and Bars English for putting this pod together. See
you early next week.
Speaker 1 (24:13):
For more from Used Talk sed 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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