May 25, 2025 • 40 mins
This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier wrap up the penultimate round of Super Rugby Pacific - as the Chiefs make a statement against Moana Pasifika, the Hurricanes and Crusaders take contrasting wins with eight teams left standing in the playoff race.
We also dissect the Black Ferns' big win over the USA and assess the impact of the Sevens stars, offer some thoughts on the All Blacks mix and dish out some MVP votes.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
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Speaker 2 (00:19):
Straight down the middle of.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
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Try these get inside the game from every angle.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
It's Rugby Direct with Elliot Smith and Liam Napier, powered
by News Talks EDB.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Welcome into Rugby Direct, piloted by Habit Hell, tackling all
your aches and pains from sports and work. Back again
another week down in Super Rugby Elliott Smith with me
as always Liam Napier and Liam It's been an interesting
old weekend of rugby right around the globe, hasn't it.
And you know we're all set for eight teams to
(00:57):
go into six in the final round of Super Rugby.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
Well indeed, Elliott, the pointy end of Super Rugby is here.
Playoff spots to be determined this weekend. It's all on
the line. We had the Black Ferns routing the USA
and Bordeaux claiming the European title, so plenty to get
our tea stuck into.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
How many bottles of wine do you think the good
people at Bordeaux have gone through in the last twenty
four to forty eight hours.
Speaker 4 (01:23):
It looked like Ben tummy Funa made a dent in
a fair fair so props to him and the fellow
Kiwi and boys from down Under that savor that success.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Well, let's get into the weekend of Super Rugby that
was and the chief speaking Mwana pacifica eighty five points
to seven. I don't think anyone saw this score line
coming after how good Mawana were the week before against
the Blues. This was a performance that saw the crashed
(01:56):
back down to earth in rather spectacular fashion. A loss
is one thing, A loss of this magnitude is an
entirely different thing. And used they still in the playoff mix.
But I just wonder how much com frience has been
dented as a result of that performance on Saturday night.
But the Chiefs were just just too good week off
after the bye, they came out, they were visiting and
(02:18):
they just dispatched Mawana with relative ease.
Speaker 5 (02:20):
To be honest, Yeah, lest they were minor first.
Speaker 4 (02:23):
I think this year they have look that they had
won three in a row, but within that they have
struggled at time for consistency, coming off big HighRes like
the Crusaders and christ Church and battling to get back
to that level. We've seen them within games be good
one half not the next. But look, this was an
(02:46):
ugly result for them, wasn't it. Humbling is the word
that springs to mind, going down and taking on the
title favorites. I think there was seventeen thousand fans in Hamilton,
so look, that's a testament to Miner's improvement because last
year you wouldn't get that sort of turnout for a
team that was struggling. Yeah, I think it does sort
(03:09):
of set the bar for where Moana want to get
to and how far they still have to go. Ardie
Severe was taken off about fifty minutes into that match.
The game's done by halftime, and the Chiefs really did
That was a hell of a statement, wasn't it. Right
across the park from their physicality front football, they ran
rampant lee Roy Carter.
Speaker 5 (03:31):
On the edge.
Speaker 4 (03:31):
They lost a money in at an hour and it
didn't matter. Damien McKenzie, I think as long as he's
at ten, the Chiefs won the title.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
It's hard to see any team going to Hamilton and
winning and taking them because the Chief's going to play
at home right throughout the Playoffs' still going to have
some tricky games because you know, the Blues could be
their opponent of Week one, they may to face the
Hurricanes or the Crusaders. But on the basis of what
we saw on the weekend, very very hard to see
any team being able to stop them on that surface.
(04:03):
And it reminded me of you'll give me some sticky
but some of those Rusaders teams when they flicked the
switch and just buried teams, and we haven't probably seen
the Chiefs do it this season. Well they did it
on Saturday night and they just bury Mawana and it
was thirty one mil a halftime. Sometimes those games in
the second half can become scrappy. We saw them have
a big advantage at halftime in the reverse game and
(04:25):
Pucacola earlier in the season. They lead forty three to
seven I think it was, and nearly for a moment
looked like potentially drawing or losing that game. Well, they
put the foot on the throat and as I say,
buried Mauana Pacifica on Saturday night, and it was a
statement performance in many ways. They draw a line in
the sand and said this is how good we are.
If you want to bet us, this is how good
(04:45):
you're going to have to be on the night, and
Mawana couldn't stick with them.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
There's so many facets to the Chiefs game. They can
play so many different ways. Their full pack, their squad
is by far and away the best, the deepest throughout
this competition. And let's not forget their experiences are previous
years fueling them, haunting them, having lost to previous final
and what that teaches you about what it takes to
(05:12):
win at this time of year and when it matters
most to turn up. So much of that performance of
getting it right at this level is attitude and mentality.
And the Chiefs full pack they have the ability to
go up the guts and through you and take you on. Physically,
they're set pieces strong. I think George Steyer was their
(05:33):
player of the Year, which speaks to where the strength
has been this season. Their forwards have great soft skills
when you look at some of Sony Takyajo to provide
look Jacobson, they've all got the ability to create space
out the back for McKenzie and that back line's has
got such struck even without Antonina Brown, they haven't really
missed a beat, So that speaks to their depth and
(05:55):
as you mentioned, they are going to be highly likely
in Hamilton right throughout the playoffs. For me, Elliott, and
this may surprise you, I feel like the only team
that can really stop the Chiefs is the Blues and
that's because of the they're on their day. If the
Blues get it right from with their forward pack, the
Crusaders to a certain degree as well, but you have
(06:17):
to stop that power from the Chiefs and you can't
give them that when they get on a roll and
we saw it in christ Church and that second half
performance when they get those power runners going and they
start rumbling forward, are incredibly difficult to stop. You give
Mackenzie that time and space and so for me, the
Blues are incredibly one dimensional. But when they get that
(06:38):
one dimensional aspect right, I think they can match the
Chiefs up front and the Crusaders to a degree. But yeah,
it just it is really hard to see someone stopping
the Chiefs. And yes, they won't play that well. Opposition
will be better. So we do have to contextualize that
a weave it. But you have to stop them up front.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
I yes, so I guess to an extent, you're right
the Blues, but we haven't seen it this year and
so we're going back to last year and what they
did on that.
Speaker 5 (07:08):
Yes and no.
Speaker 4 (07:09):
If you look at the Blues performance two losses against
the Chiefs and Hamilton and the Crusades and krushit that
those are the up there with their best performances this year.
They stare losses, but there I think are only a
couple of points in it, and that's when they're four
pack actually fronted. So playoff footy, bit of rain. Yeah,
I just feel like if the Blues can front in
(07:30):
a one off match, they have the ability to knock
the Chiefs off.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
What about the Hurricanes, We can probably discuss that game now.
Thirty one to twenty seven. Did that give you basis
for hope that they could go to Hamilton and beat
the Chiefs potentially.
Speaker 4 (07:44):
Well, they did it earlier this year in Wellington. I
felt like the Chiefs were off that night. The Hurricanes
were certainly on. Hurricanes have the potential, But if I
was tipping a playoff match in Hamilton, I would definitely
go the Chiefs. I think the Hurricanes have struggled for consistency.
(08:07):
Are still a few big guns and physically in the
forward pack. I feel like the Chiefs when they're on
would have their number.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
What did you make of that game against the Reds
on Friday night? Good win thirty one to twenty seven.
Brisbane's a tough place to go and play. The Reds
certainly through a lot at them, but the Hurricanes just
a fraction too good on the night.
Speaker 4 (08:32):
Is a good win for the Canes away from home
a lot on the line because when you extrapolate out
the context of the top six and how this convoluted
finals format works, finishing in the top four is important
because it potentially does give you that second life the
what is it, the highest ranked losing team gets a
(08:54):
second life, right?
Speaker 3 (08:56):
Correct?
Speaker 5 (08:57):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (09:00):
Thing to do that they could have done with simple way,
but it's one.
Speaker 5 (09:05):
That's all right.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
The Canes had to come from behind, they had to
hold on, they'd score lates. So I was overly overall
relatively impressed. The Chiefs have that The Reds have been
a bit hot cold this year, but they are hard
to beat at some corp Some big performances from Billy
Proctor rarely state in this case for their All Blacks
(09:26):
thirteen Jersey cam roy Gard was really good as well.
Do see Carrife, So the Canes are potentially coming good
at the right time. Looked like Ruben Love broken his
arm and then he got taped up and finished the game,
so that was a bit of a sigh of relief.
But yeah, if they can sneak into to fourth and
hold on to that position, that's where they want to be.
Speaker 5 (09:47):
What do you make of the Kenes.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
I think they're building really nicely, because at the start
of the season it felt like they'd faded a little
bit just when I would have string performances together. I mean,
they had a bundle of injuries around the start and
had to switch their tens a number of times and
refuse to play Reuben Love at ten, and O'd come
back from an injury himself, but they were sticking with
Riley Halhepper, who's never going to when you were championship
(10:10):
finally have gone with Rubin Love. They've got some players back,
Brick Cameron's there in the mix as well now, and
I think they're building. There's still I think probably definitely
below the Chiefs, but I'd say in terms of the
New Zealand team, there are thereabouts With the Crusaders as
we get into the closing stages of the season and
if they can continue to build Rubin Love hopefully that
(10:33):
is all right and he can play out the rest
of the Super Rugby campaign. Obviously played out the game
on Friday night. They are a different team with him
at ten than they were with Riley Holheap and with
other players that have played at ten this season, so
they can keep players fit. I know Nahola is gone,
but finning on NORTHWL is looking really really good. Reilly
propped her back in the mix is looking outstanding as
(10:54):
you said at seem to So for me, they're building
really really nicely and are becoming harder to beat by
the week.
Speaker 4 (11:00):
I think gen guys like Tyra A Lomax back is
massive as well. He's right up there with one of
the world's best tight hair props. Haven't seen a lot
of him this year or arm more so to have
that platform, I think it's really important for the Canes.
Speaker 5 (11:16):
So Tyra Lomax big, big for the Canes.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
He certainly is. Crusaders Highlanders fifteen twelve on Friday night,
the first game of this round. A dreadful game of
rugby in all honesty, the Highlanders were a better team.
Crusaders somehow sneak out on top. And this is the
kind of performance that makes your question whether the Crusaders
are contenders or pretenders. And on the basis all we
(11:42):
saw on Friday night, they are pretenders and we saw
the real team that other contenders play the following night
in terms of the Chiefs. So ultimately, very disappointing point
for performance from the Crusaders. They were tender up at
one stage felt like they were going to kick on.
Highland has got back into the contest. I mean, the
Higland has played so much rugby in that game, or
had so much ball, but the Crusaders came up with
(12:04):
the steel or the turnover or the defensive play in
the twenty two How many times during that game felt like,
you know, probably a dozen times the Highlanders came close
and the Crusaders repelled them and the Crusaders just sneak
home with the win. But sometimes those close games you go, yep,
that's what championship teams are built on, winning those close encounters. Well,
the Crusader's more got out of jail than anything on
(12:26):
the weekend. I thought it was a really poor performance.
From the Crusaders the Highlanders a couple of weeks in
a row that went. They were leading after eighty minutes
against the Hurricanes. They should have beaten the Crusaders on
the Friday night, ultimately didn't. They're going to finish close to,
if not bottom of the table. But I think you
can take a bit if you, Jamie Joseph out of
these two performances as you head into twenty twenty six.
Speaker 4 (12:49):
The story of the highlanded season. They've lost seven games
by seven points or less and I thought they would
hit the wall. It's a really tough run against Kiwi opposition.
But they've played their best rugby in the past two weeks.
Really really fronted against the Hurricanes and absolutely should have
been the Crusaders team. They must five shots at goal
(13:11):
and you know you hate to put it on the kickers,
but there are a couple of those were really kickable
penalties and that would have, you know, pushed the game
into extra time. You've got to kick those goals in
a tight game like that. So extremely disappointing for the Holands.
Some big performances Tavatavanawa, Fabian Hollands really pushing his case
(13:36):
if the ol Blacks take four locks. I think he's
a must inclusion.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
Young guy.
Speaker 4 (13:41):
Get him in there now playing great rugby and the
Crusaders I agree with you, I think really really underwhelming.
This is the time of year they should be building,
they should be starting to hum and it is a
tale of two distinct aspects. Their defense has been brilliant
and their attack without Will Jordan has gone to the pack.
They had three line breaks in that game. I know
(14:04):
that they have as much ball. The Hunters made something
like six hundred and twenty meters to the Crusaders two
fifty odd, so massive disparity there. But the attack from
the Crusaders is being blunted without Will Jordan, and it
was a massive concern immediately when they lost Will Jordan,
and they have yet to rectify it, so they cannot
(14:24):
get him back soon enough. It also sounds like he's
ethan Blackheader close to coming back. But he's not the
type of guy that's going to change your attack either,
So big job for Brad Moore, James Marshall and Rob
Penny to reignite that attack.
Speaker 5 (14:42):
And camera's not necessarily the place to do it either.
Speaker 3 (14:44):
No, three wise men will come up with a plan.
I'm sure, but you're right. You look at those stats
and the position in territory second half. I mean the
Highland has had seventy territory and position in the second spell.
And yeah, we can talk about the defense, but the attack,
the Crusaders are just kicking it to touch and then
it all start over again. And Johnaymannic was playing full back,
(15:06):
but he's band aid solution. He's not going to strike
and when you you know, line breaks and when you
get you over the advantage line like it, Will Jordan
is able to do and make things happen from inside
his own half. So Crusaders definitely need Will Jordan back.
I've heard caught a final weekend, maybe possibly semi finals
if they get through to that second week. So they
(15:27):
need him back because as we saw last year when
he wasn't there, and what we've seen this year, he
is a difference maker in that Crusader's team. And we
know how world class Will Jordan is, but it's just
been spelled out by his absence over the last few weeks.
Speaker 4 (15:41):
Yeah, it'd go as far to say as Will Jordan
is as influential as and inspiring to the Crusaders as
Artie Severe as Winer Pacifica, because when you look at
like you say, when he wasn't there last year, there
wasn't him alone, but it was a big factor and
their attack was their strength. Earlier this year they were
(16:02):
running from everywhere offloading and yes there was a different
climate in terms of you know, coming into winter and
now it's always going to be a different style of footy,
But just his ability to mentor those young tens as well.
I think the Crusaders have really missed Takimita. But Will
Jordan's influence I think can't be understated on helping guide
(16:23):
those guys around to come into first receiver, take a
bit of pressure off and just run the right angles,
pop up at the right moments.
Speaker 5 (16:31):
He was outstanding.
Speaker 4 (16:33):
So yeah, they really need him back because they look
impotent without him.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
Well, and they looked a little ponderous with Mitch strumand
I know it was his one hundred and fiftieth, but
they looked a little ponderous with him at half back
and it's probably a sign of Carle Preston and not
hope them what they can add it half back other
than now right, Yeah, that they know there's a sentimental thing.
They started him obviously, but Preston with his ability to
kick off both feet and hope them with his strikeability,
(16:59):
they needed to have a bit more on the park.
Speaker 4 (17:02):
I felt sevy rees breaks TJ Peinar is super rugby
all time try screwing record.
Speaker 5 (17:07):
Very bizarre that they apparently stop the game.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
Ypri midgame Hype Briel to celebrate, sure in a very
dubious try, Well, what happens if Julian Sarvia takes it
over mid game?
Speaker 5 (17:19):
Hype Bril, I did not award that that was fair, right, shock,
while we.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
Spent like fifteen minutes looking at it, So glad they
came up all it out, just just to water as
to try and figure it out later. Yes, that was
a little.
Speaker 5 (17:33):
Enery draft than the TMO box.
Speaker 3 (17:35):
If only they still made the finest drop that has
ever been made, gets the record. Before we take a break, though,
let's let's sort of break this down a little bit.
We'll get into our jupping a bit later. But the
Chiefs out on top forty six, they win against the Hondas,
they'll take home advantage right through the playoffs. Crusaders and
second on forty five Brumbies and forty three in third,
(17:58):
Hurricanes thirty four, Reads in fifth on thirty three, Mowana
in the top six on twenty eights with a negative
points differential of eighty seven. Now it comes down to
wins first and foremost in terms of the tiebreaker. They
have six wins at the moment, so a win against
the Hurricanes will be enough.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
The Blues.
Speaker 3 (18:18):
Are on twenty eight outside looking in. The Wartas are
on twenty six, and that is the possibilities that can
happen at the moment. Who makes the top six to
the Blues given.
Speaker 4 (18:28):
Yes, the Blues come in to sixth and on form,
the Brumbies go to second.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
So the Brumbies. But the Crusaders yeap, and the Chiefs
beat the hind.
Speaker 5 (18:40):
Us correct and the Hurricanes maintain fourth.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
Yeah, they can't do any better than that. They can
do worse.
Speaker 4 (18:48):
Yeah, they could slip out a fourth, but they stand
fourth and the Blues come in. There's your top six.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
So Chiefs play the Blues week one is what you're saying.
Brumbies would play the Reds and the Crusaders would play
the Hurricanes.
Speaker 5 (19:07):
You don't want that cane come in to town, mate.
Speaker 3 (19:10):
Yeah, on the basis of what so okay, this is Yeah,
this is interesting, isn't it. I guess it's probably last
chance to talk about hard We probably won't next week.
There is some promising signs there from what we've seen
over the last couple of weeks and also the start
of the season. They started quite strongly beat the Blues
at home. There are some young players in that mix
(19:32):
with the is one of them, Holland Obviously that'll be
best for the season of decent halfbacks half backs, and
they've got young Dylan Pledger who I think is in
the home this mix next year. The under twenty half
back looks very, very promising. They have some framework there.
What they're desperately missing is a ten and if they
(19:54):
can find a ten, you know, Cambilla is obviously pretty
young and promising, hasn't always had the trust of Jamie Joseph.
This year. Tane Robinson's been starting a lot of those
games at ten. But if they can find a ten
to steer them around the park, that solves a few
issues for them.
Speaker 5 (20:08):
Yeah, short on locks, but it is a green pack.
Speaker 4 (20:11):
I think Ethan de Groot's the oldest in that pack
and he's what like twenty eight twenty something like that,
So yeah, but look, I think they do need a
ten and the chopping and changing probably has to stop.
I think you it's hard because you give a guy
like cam Miller the keys and maybe he doesn't kick
on as you want, so you're backed into a corner
(20:33):
and where you go to from there. Losing Caleb Tongueytowel
tour injury at times this year has been a big blow.
He was a real spark for them, some brilliant individual
tries at times. So yeah, and I think Rosamavuki Nikkins
has been impressive largely since coming back and missed him
(20:54):
for a big chunk of the year. So the Highlands
when they get injuries to key players, it hurts them
more than others. If the fucker Tava hasn't been there
for most of the year.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
And it's a depth game, isn't super Rugby, the bear
of the get the more likely to weather thiss title.
Speaker 4 (21:10):
And it is more challenging now with an effective sixth
New Zealand franchise with Winea Pacifica, they are competing for
talent out of the NPC and recruitment drive. But I
think if we talk to Jamie Joseph and with him
coming back this year, there were hopes that he would
improve the Hondas and on the basis of where they sit,
(21:32):
they've gone backwards and playoffs last year. Yeah, exactly the
eighteen format. So a lot of work ahead of Jamie,
Joe and the Hondas, but there's enough in their performances,
particularly in the past two weeks, to say that they
should be a lot better than where they sit. Seven
losses by seven points or less. You've got to start
(21:52):
converting some of those.
Speaker 3 (21:53):
Indeed, we'll take a break, come back with more on
Rugby Direct, including our look at the Black Ferns and
the Pack four series after this with their friends that
Habit Help.
Speaker 2 (22:01):
This is Rugby Direct, a podcast for real rugby fans.
Speaker 3 (22:09):
Every try try ten sixty sec, every tackle to tack,
the tackles, get up agaya moment, Well I take him before.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
Our times Rugby Directed.
Speaker 3 (22:20):
You're back with Rugby Direct powered by Habit Health, second
half of our podcast, and we kicked things off with
the final four to four Rugby topics topic number one
Ligum the Black Fans Packed full series. They smashed the
United States to the tune of seventy nine fourteen. We
didn't probably learn a lot from that game other than
the Sevens and the players coming in. Georgia Miller I
(22:42):
thought was very good, reci Palty Lane excellent a half back,
and then they had the center combination of Teresa's definal
and Stacy Waker come in in midfield as well. And
it felt that those SEVENS players, and again you've got
temperate with the fact that the United States weren't really
the races apart from the opening fifteen minutes, those SEVENS
players made a huge immediate difference on this Black Fans team.
Speaker 4 (23:04):
They did, and I wonder what that's like to manage
from relationship dynamic point of view, right, because you've got
players that have come through Alpaqui, the fifteen specialists, they're
in the squad, and then you get half a dozen
players come in from outside who are very close as
a group as well. So I'd love to be a
(23:24):
fly on the wall and sort of see how that's managed.
But you're right, those SEVENS players made a massive impact.
Stacy Walker in particularly particularly. You mentioned the week before
about Amy Dupless in the midfield, and we talked about
pusha Woodman potentially coming in and being closer to the action.
Speaker 5 (23:42):
But Stacy Waker, she was not the heart and soul,
but her ability.
Speaker 4 (23:48):
The wingers scored eleven tries, and that's when you know
your center's playing well as well. Because the distribution of
Stacy Woker is hugely underrated. Her ability to throw skip
balls to create space, to make players around her look good.
She was a big part of that World Cup victory
(24:08):
three years ago and she made an immediate impact there.
Georgia Miller some nice touches, nice breaks. There's an element
of surprise for me that she's an open side just
to look at her physical she's.
Speaker 3 (24:19):
Quite small for an open side Flanka or for a Ford,
to be honest, But I don't know where else she
put her. She kind of plays that prop role in
vite coomas and sevens, but there's so much competition in
the back line. Maybe she's more suited there. But in
the four pack, you know they've got Kennedy Takawafu, who's
the co captain of the team at openside. Flanka had
to make way for Georgia Miller, So I'm not quite
(24:42):
sure you need to have her in the mix because
we saw how devastating she can be with a couple
of those breaks that she made, But it feels like
they've sort of tagged her as a seven I don't
know that it's necessarily her best position on the park.
Speaker 4 (24:53):
Maybe she's a bit of a hybrid player on the
bench that can come on and play all loose four positions.
She roams, doesn't she She is very good on the edge,
using her skills, having a bit more space rather than
being confined. But I have heard her speaking about enjoying
being close to the action, enjoying targeting the ruck and
(25:15):
those sorts of things. So she could be a game
breaker to bring on with twenty minutes to go. There's
a bit of fatigue in the game, a bit more
space it targets and weak shoulders, and let her have
a bit of a roaming commission, and the way that
Black Ferns play with their intent to offload, I think
will suit her.
Speaker 5 (25:35):
It is hard to take too much out of that game.
Speaker 4 (25:37):
The USA ranked ninth in the world, and the Black
Ferns have clearly experimented throughout this tournament, particularly in that match,
made a number of changes to give those sevens players time.
Speaker 5 (25:46):
If there's one concern. I do still have.
Speaker 4 (25:50):
Their kicking game and the length of it, being able
to get in the right positions, because that's the strength
of England in particular. They're going to pinion the corners,
They're going to go to their mall, so you're not
always going to be able to run your way out
of trouble. So you can't take on England at their
own game or Canada and the like. But I think
(26:13):
that is somewhere where the Black fans will feel the pressure.
Speaker 3 (26:17):
Even the set piece scrumbet well, the line out was
chambalock at times. A lot of miss ball on line
out and against better teams you're going to have to
be a lot better getting all to A player have
felt I was not straight, there was miscommunication between the
it was the call, but the hooker and the jumper.
It all just felt out of sync at line out time,
so that's something they need to fix as well. They've
(26:38):
got an internal trial game of sorts in early July
Black Fans with Black Fans fifteen, and then they have
a Test against Australia the following week in Wellington, so
two more games won a test match before they head
to the World Cup. So still a little bit of
time to figure out some of these combinations, but time
taking away a little.
Speaker 4 (26:57):
Bit, Yes, not a lot, is it. You'd love to
play Canada again just to have that sort of level
of opposition. Again, I don't know how much you get
out of playing Australia, but I guess you run your
best team, but some difficult choices as well. To finalize
that World Cup squads, there's going to be a number
of disappointed players and that's what you want leading into
(27:19):
a World Cup.
Speaker 3 (27:20):
Certainly. There's topic two in the Final four communication last week.
The All Black squad will be named the Monday after
the Super Rugby Final. Interestingly, it's a thirty five man
squad now I'd heard it was only going to be
thirty players also heard thirty two at one point. I guess,
in just the context of naming a wider squad, what
(27:42):
does this tell us about maybe what they are going
to do. We've seen bigger squads go for obviously end
of year tours and things like that, but the wisdom
has always been when you're in New Zealand, you can
just whistle a player on a domestic flight and getting
there in a couple of hours. So interestingly, they're going
through the thirty five man squad. Does that tell us
something about the way that they're going to pick and
the players that they're going to pick.
Speaker 5 (28:02):
I think it's bloated.
Speaker 4 (28:04):
I don't think you need thirty five players for a
three match series again France. But obviously Raises got on
Mark Robinson's ear and said, just give me a bit
more cash, mate.
Speaker 5 (28:16):
What's another it? How's your math?
Speaker 4 (28:19):
Three times seven five hundred is what each all Black
earns when they're in camp each week, So twenty two
and a half thousand dollars per week, so time's three yep. Yeah, yeah,
it's a bit of extra cash there. But it does
give you more fleix. It does give you more flexibility.
I think it means they'll select four locks. It gives
(28:41):
you an extra prop, probably an extra Lucy, maybe an
extra outside back, so you get three extra players. So
we will have a new luc Head prop with offer
toing a fussy out of that mix. So interesting to
see who fills that void. I think I hope it
(29:02):
paves away for someone like Fabian Holland. I'd be selecting
him over Josh Lord at this point. And the Lucy's
is where the pinchers is rarely going to come. And
I think in the thirty two man Squaddy could probably
only slept four max outside backs because you've got that
flexibility with McKenzie and Boden, Barrett, Stephen Peterfetzter if he's
(29:22):
in that mix, so it probably gives you. It allows
you to go deeper in some positions which you know
Razor and the Orbicks will want this year and beyond.
Speaker 3 (29:31):
Yeah, that Lucy props interesting, isn't it. The drums beating
a little bit for Josh Fuzzy Tour. I've seen his
name mentioned a fair better around the place. Olie Norris
has been very good for the Chiefs, so there's some
competition for that jersey there is.
Speaker 4 (29:44):
George Boar's been there, Xavier new Mere I think the
All Blacks like him. I know Jason Ryan has spent
some time in Wellington working with him this year. Those
All Blacks coaches get around all the franchises, but I
think Xavier new Mia. He was on the cusp last
year and what was it a calf or an ankle,
something very untimely injury at the back end of last year.
(30:07):
So It is interesting because those three players for situr
Olie Norris who heard a massive performance off the bench,
and Bay plenty against who was it against the Force
played seventy odd minutes and Numea are that all court
modern day prop that bring you so much more around
(30:28):
the field than say Ethan de Groot. But the Groot
scrummaging is probably at another level to those guys at
this point. So it is an interesting dynamic about where
the All Blacks want to go there.
Speaker 3 (30:38):
It is indeed we'll pick out All Black squad probably
in the week, letting up to that team announcement as well.
Probably a good chance to flow into another question in
the final four who plus Savia and Satiti. Let's assume
that their locks are will their loose fords actually, but
their locks for this team are going to be the
All Blacks loose ford trio for that opening Test of
twenty twenty five. So you can move things around it,
(30:59):
but I guess you in theory save is your open
side Flanka and Satiti's the number eight, but Saditi could
play six, Artie could play eight. You can move things
around a little bit, but who are you adding to
that loose ford Trigo.
Speaker 4 (31:11):
Yeah, I think we will see Sititi at eight and
Save at seven this year. It slowly progressed that way
towards the back end of last year, and that dynamic
does seem to work well.
Speaker 5 (31:23):
I think.
Speaker 4 (31:25):
The All Blacks are still take guys of invested time,
and so you're looking at a female Black Header Jacobson.
It's hard to see them going beyond that realm. And yes,
female is coming off the bench for the Chiefs, currently
behind Simon Parker, who's been great for them in recent weeks,
performing exactly what they want from him.
Speaker 3 (31:46):
We'll see you contender. I don't maybe not start this,
but maybe for that squad.
Speaker 4 (31:51):
I can't see it that there's so much talent the
loose Fords, Peter Larkeye and then you go the open
sides Papaal to see CARREFI.
Speaker 5 (31:59):
You know, the list goes on.
Speaker 4 (32:00):
So I just I can't see a guy like Parker
forcing his way in. It's very interesting. Black Header hasn't
played most of this year. Jacobson has been good for me.
It's probably still female.
Speaker 5 (32:14):
I think.
Speaker 4 (32:16):
The upside in him where he can get to with
his ball carrying. He is a strong line out option,
but he's been used sparingly this year, so it's whether
the All Blacks and he hasn't really taken his chance.
Speaker 3 (32:30):
He hasn't gone in Stamford's authority on a Test match
like you would want. You know, Shan Frazel, you did
that game against Sartifragar in twenty three, but it feels
like Jerome Kano left eight years ago and they're still
searching for that blind. They've been through a lot since then,
Liam Squire, Scott Barrett's gone and any number of players,
but they're still searching for that number six.
Speaker 5 (32:52):
Well, Frazel was that guy.
Speaker 4 (32:54):
He got to that level or pretty close to it,
and then he's gone to Japan for a couple of years.
As we would have whispers that maybe he'd entertained coming back,
but we haven't heard anything more about that. But since
he's left, Orsa Titi became the guy in an unfamiliar
largely positioned but you'd think his long term home is
(33:17):
number eight. So that six jersey is still very much
up for grabs.
Speaker 3 (33:21):
It certainly is final topic in the final four Club
World Cup got the go ahead from twenty twenty eight,
so you're popping balloons and celebrating about that when you
heard the news, I'm sure.
Speaker 4 (33:31):
Well it's going to be pretty magic time to see
the Canes crown champions of the world.
Speaker 3 (33:35):
Isn't it going to make the top seven and twenty
seven first? So just hold your horses.
Speaker 4 (33:39):
Actually sip a bit of consternation on Twitter or x
or whatever it's called now about if if the draw
was made now, Moana would be included and they've just
been pumped by eighty points, So well, let's look at
the entirety of the season. They beat the Crusades and
krash Chitts knocked over four of the five New Zealand teams.
(34:00):
You know, if you want to look at it that way,
was it Glasgow got pumped by fifty points and the
Champions Cup or the final by Leinster.
Speaker 5 (34:09):
So you can pick out one off results.
Speaker 4 (34:11):
But look, the concept of a Club World Cup does
excite me and I think it will engage fans because
there's long been talk about the Crusaders and their pump
going up against Leinster or Laraschelle or whoever it is.
And I think that narrative will, you know, spark some
banter and interest and I think rugby needs that it
(34:33):
lacks it.
Speaker 3 (34:34):
It is a competition that rugby needs. I agree the
club book ups never quite worked in football, They've never
quite known what to do with it. In fact, the
football ones in a month or two's time with a
thirty two team format, which is the first time they've
done that. Cricket's tried it, They've tried it around the
Rugby League Club Challenge and various things, because it's very
(34:54):
very hard to get the calendar's right the best players
or playing at the one time. Sounds like the calendar
is going to be just after the end of the
French A story season, so maybe June July, so you're
going to come straight out of Super if you're in
New Zealand or Australian specific team and head into that
Club World Cup. So they've probably done the best possible
sort of window they can for this one.
Speaker 4 (35:15):
Yeah, I think the league one's a bit of a
joke to be honest, because it's preseason the following year
and I've heard even I think Nathan Clary talk about
it's basically like a pissed trip for those guys go
up there and have a joint a jaunts.
Speaker 5 (35:29):
So maybe they do that.
Speaker 4 (35:31):
It wouldn't be advisable of drug testing. Probably Stier clear
of that. But Rugby does need it. But it has
to be authentic, right, you can't. You can't pull the
wall over fans eyes and do it half fast pool
players out have non internationals not playing. But it also
(35:53):
doesn't need to be every year.
Speaker 3 (35:55):
That's right. Actually adds some context, some you know, some
value to it by not playing every year. Whether it's
every if it's every four years, great, that is a
World Cup. You're playing once every four years. Teams have change,
cycles of change, players have gone through and you have
a legitimate claim to being the club World Cup when
it's not over you Yeah, just.
Speaker 5 (36:16):
On their faux pas.
Speaker 4 (36:17):
Maybe if we have another referendum, you know, Rugby direct
could have having that bring a sponsor on board.
Speaker 3 (36:22):
Yeah, feel free might make for a more interesting pot
back for a very interesting pot that is for certain. Right,
let's move on and get into tipping limb. Congratulations, you
had four correct all four corrects on the weekend.
Speaker 5 (36:37):
They say, you know, big players step up at the
point the end of the air.
Speaker 3 (36:40):
Yeah they do, they do say that. Yeah, you hit
all four right. I had the Crusaders correctly, but read's
Mawana and the four so I only get one point.
I'm now leaving by five.
Speaker 5 (36:50):
It's feeling with precious coming.
Speaker 3 (36:53):
Yeah, and it's gonna be a big final weekend of
Super Rugby. Highlanders and Chiefs Friday nights under the roof.
Speaker 5 (37:03):
Chiefs. Chiefs. Look, lenders have come, you know, put up
a good fight, but you can't not to the Chiefs.
Speaker 3 (37:09):
So yeah, I'm going to have the Chiefs as well.
Brumbies Crusaders saying Canberra nine to thirty five Friday night,
looking forward to calling this one on gold Sport on iHeartRadio. Well,
you've knowed your flags the mast earlier in the.
Speaker 5 (37:19):
Pod always been a Brumbies fan elit.
Speaker 2 (37:21):
You know that.
Speaker 3 (37:22):
Crusaders will win that and finished second on the letter.
I think Blues war Atars. I was slayn soon last
week that you know this is going to be interesting
because the Blues are playing at Eden Park. There was
going to be the Auckland f C final potentially at
Mounts Mounts standing. Well, they don't have to worry about
that because Auckland f C collapse in a heap, so
the Blues will get the Saturday afternoon sports crowd to
themselves and do they get the win.
Speaker 4 (37:46):
They do, but there's a lot on the line, isn't
there Because the Tars have keep this season alive with
the golden point or whatever you want to call it,
super point over the Force. So yeah, they'll come with
a bit of sting.
Speaker 3 (37:57):
But I think the Blues, yeah, I can't see the
Warriors they wanted Eden Parks in two thousand and nine.
Speaker 5 (38:03):
I think it is a bonus point would be desirable
for the Blues, but I think.
Speaker 3 (38:08):
Enough Hurricanes, more Ona pacifica seven oh five. Now mawana
Adi going back to his old team looking to clinch
our playoff spot. It's written in the stars, isn't it
that Mowana gone derail the Cane train the week before
the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (38:23):
Oh look, there are chants if they perform how they
have and those four victories, but I think they might
run out a bit of steam and there's enough on
the line for the Canes to lock up that full
spot and potentially have a second chance.
Speaker 3 (38:36):
It feels like that lost psychologically. I mean, it's gonna
be fascinated to see how they respond, but feels like
that eighty five points conceded, it might have done a
little bit of psychological damage to Mowana, but they are
going to know what they need once they head into
that game because the Blues war tars Well a little
bit earlier reads Fiji and drud to round out the
regular season in Brisbane nine thirty five Saturday nights.
Speaker 4 (38:59):
Yes, the drew of one what the odd game in
lawel Toka this year, but it's been fairly underwhelming otherwise,
So the Reds bounce back to one that.
Speaker 3 (39:06):
They do at sun Corps State.
Speaker 2 (39:08):
I agree.
Speaker 3 (39:09):
Regular MVP Medal voting time, Ali Saviga has a twelve
point lead twenty five points to Bowden Barrett's thirteen three
way time for third. Will Jordan Quintepi to Liham your
three two once please?
Speaker 5 (39:22):
Well, I'm going Damien McKenzie.
Speaker 4 (39:24):
I thought he, you know, other players probably shone Moore,
but I thought he orchestrated a lot of that for
the Chiefs. Billy Proctor superb for the Canes. Just give
him a crack razor. What more does a man have
to do? And I thought he's been really good for
the Honda's past two weeks and Vasi and pro performance.
Speaker 3 (39:45):
Leroy Carter gets my three points hat track. He was
very very good. He seems to make things happen when
he gets the ball, and he reminds you a little
bit of those Australian wingers. Quite nuggety. Doesn't look that
there's a lot to him, no, but he just his
ability to get over the advantage line and score tries.
Very interesting prospect with the All BLACKSI but later this
season Billy Proctor gets my two as well, and Fabian
(40:06):
hond and that losing calls for the Honders gets my one.
I thought out point to the crusader's locks. He was,
he was good and the losing efforts. So they'll go
our three two ones and that'll do us for another
week with Rugby directlim.
Speaker 5 (40:17):
Well straight yourselves in play our footy on the ways?
Speaker 3 (40:21):
Yeah, will the cane train be rolling through? I don't
know if I could do three weeks of hurricanes plus beautiful?
Isn't it bring back keptain Hurricanes still flighting around. I
don't know if he's still got you guys are taken
in America now. Don't know if he's got his plane.
The plane might have needs a change seorage. Yeah, okay,
all right, that'll do Rugby directs Wouldbit Health tackling all
your aches and pains from sport and work out, thanks
(40:41):
to Larst and bars English. See you next week.
Speaker 2 (40:47):
For more from News Talks the'd be.
Speaker 1 (40:49):
Listen live on air or online, and keep our shows
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You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Straight down the middle of.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Drum Dicky Score.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Try these get inside the game from every angle.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
It's Rugby Direct with Elliot Smith and Liam Napier, powered
by News Talks EDB.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Welcome into Rugby Direct, piloted by Habit Hell, tackling all
your aches and pains from sports and work. Back again
another week down in Super Rugby Elliott Smith with me
as always Liam Napier and Liam It's been an interesting
old weekend of rugby right around the globe, hasn't it.
And you know we're all set for eight teams to
(00:57):
go into six in the final round of Super Rugby.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
Well indeed, Elliott, the pointy end of Super Rugby is here.
Playoff spots to be determined this weekend. It's all on
the line. We had the Black Ferns routing the USA
and Bordeaux claiming the European title, so plenty to get
our tea stuck into.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
How many bottles of wine do you think the good
people at Bordeaux have gone through in the last twenty
four to forty eight hours.
Speaker 4 (01:23):
It looked like Ben tummy Funa made a dent in
a fair fair so props to him and the fellow
Kiwi and boys from down Under that savor that success.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Well, let's get into the weekend of Super Rugby that
was and the chief speaking Mwana pacifica eighty five points
to seven. I don't think anyone saw this score line
coming after how good Mawana were the week before against
the Blues. This was a performance that saw the crashed
(01:56):
back down to earth in rather spectacular fashion. A loss
is one thing, A loss of this magnitude is an
entirely different thing. And used they still in the playoff mix.
But I just wonder how much com frience has been
dented as a result of that performance on Saturday night.
But the Chiefs were just just too good week off
after the bye, they came out, they were visiting and
(02:18):
they just dispatched Mawana with relative ease.
Speaker 5 (02:20):
To be honest, Yeah, lest they were minor first.
Speaker 4 (02:23):
I think this year they have look that they had
won three in a row, but within that they have
struggled at time for consistency, coming off big HighRes like
the Crusaders and christ Church and battling to get back
to that level. We've seen them within games be good
one half not the next. But look, this was an
(02:46):
ugly result for them, wasn't it. Humbling is the word
that springs to mind, going down and taking on the
title favorites. I think there was seventeen thousand fans in Hamilton,
so look, that's a testament to Miner's improvement because last
year you wouldn't get that sort of turnout for a
team that was struggling. Yeah, I think it does sort
(03:09):
of set the bar for where Moana want to get
to and how far they still have to go. Ardie
Severe was taken off about fifty minutes into that match.
The game's done by halftime, and the Chiefs really did
That was a hell of a statement, wasn't it. Right
across the park from their physicality front football, they ran
rampant lee Roy Carter.
Speaker 5 (03:31):
On the edge.
Speaker 4 (03:31):
They lost a money in at an hour and it
didn't matter. Damien McKenzie, I think as long as he's
at ten, the Chiefs won the title.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
It's hard to see any team going to Hamilton and
winning and taking them because the Chief's going to play
at home right throughout the Playoffs' still going to have
some tricky games because you know, the Blues could be
their opponent of Week one, they may to face the
Hurricanes or the Crusaders. But on the basis of what
we saw on the weekend, very very hard to see
any team being able to stop them on that surface.
(04:03):
And it reminded me of you'll give me some sticky
but some of those Rusaders teams when they flicked the
switch and just buried teams, and we haven't probably seen
the Chiefs do it this season. Well they did it
on Saturday night and they just bury Mawana and it
was thirty one mil a halftime. Sometimes those games in
the second half can become scrappy. We saw them have
a big advantage at halftime in the reverse game and
(04:25):
Pucacola earlier in the season. They lead forty three to
seven I think it was, and nearly for a moment
looked like potentially drawing or losing that game. Well, they
put the foot on the throat and as I say,
buried Mauana Pacifica on Saturday night, and it was a
statement performance in many ways. They draw a line in
the sand and said this is how good we are.
If you want to bet us, this is how good
(04:45):
you're going to have to be on the night, and
Mawana couldn't stick with them.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
There's so many facets to the Chiefs game. They can
play so many different ways. Their full pack, their squad
is by far and away the best, the deepest throughout
this competition. And let's not forget their experiences are previous
years fueling them, haunting them, having lost to previous final
and what that teaches you about what it takes to
(05:12):
win at this time of year and when it matters
most to turn up. So much of that performance of
getting it right at this level is attitude and mentality.
And the Chiefs full pack they have the ability to
go up the guts and through you and take you on. Physically,
they're set pieces strong. I think George Steyer was their
(05:33):
player of the Year, which speaks to where the strength
has been this season. Their forwards have great soft skills
when you look at some of Sony Takyajo to provide
look Jacobson, they've all got the ability to create space
out the back for McKenzie and that back line's has
got such struck even without Antonina Brown, they haven't really
missed a beat, So that speaks to their depth and
(05:55):
as you mentioned, they are going to be highly likely
in Hamilton right throughout the playoffs. For me, Elliott, and
this may surprise you, I feel like the only team
that can really stop the Chiefs is the Blues and
that's because of the they're on their day. If the
Blues get it right from with their forward pack, the
Crusaders to a certain degree as well, but you have
(06:17):
to stop that power from the Chiefs and you can't
give them that when they get on a roll and
we saw it in christ Church and that second half
performance when they get those power runners going and they
start rumbling forward, are incredibly difficult to stop. You give
Mackenzie that time and space and so for me, the
Blues are incredibly one dimensional. But when they get that
(06:38):
one dimensional aspect right, I think they can match the
Chiefs up front and the Crusaders to a degree. But yeah,
it just it is really hard to see someone stopping
the Chiefs. And yes, they won't play that well. Opposition
will be better. So we do have to contextualize that
a weave it. But you have to stop them up front.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
I yes, so I guess to an extent, you're right
the Blues, but we haven't seen it this year and
so we're going back to last year and what they
did on that.
Speaker 5 (07:08):
Yes and no.
Speaker 4 (07:09):
If you look at the Blues performance two losses against
the Chiefs and Hamilton and the Crusades and krushit that
those are the up there with their best performances this year.
They stare losses, but there I think are only a
couple of points in it, and that's when they're four
pack actually fronted. So playoff footy, bit of rain. Yeah,
I just feel like if the Blues can front in
(07:30):
a one off match, they have the ability to knock
the Chiefs off.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
What about the Hurricanes, We can probably discuss that game now.
Thirty one to twenty seven. Did that give you basis
for hope that they could go to Hamilton and beat
the Chiefs potentially.
Speaker 4 (07:44):
Well, they did it earlier this year in Wellington. I
felt like the Chiefs were off that night. The Hurricanes
were certainly on. Hurricanes have the potential, But if I
was tipping a playoff match in Hamilton, I would definitely
go the Chiefs. I think the Hurricanes have struggled for consistency.
(08:07):
Are still a few big guns and physically in the
forward pack. I feel like the Chiefs when they're on
would have their number.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
What did you make of that game against the Reds
on Friday night? Good win thirty one to twenty seven.
Brisbane's a tough place to go and play. The Reds
certainly through a lot at them, but the Hurricanes just
a fraction too good on the night.
Speaker 4 (08:32):
Is a good win for the Canes away from home
a lot on the line because when you extrapolate out
the context of the top six and how this convoluted
finals format works, finishing in the top four is important
because it potentially does give you that second life the
what is it, the highest ranked losing team gets a
(08:54):
second life, right?
Speaker 3 (08:56):
Correct?
Speaker 5 (08:57):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (09:00):
Thing to do that they could have done with simple way,
but it's one.
Speaker 5 (09:05):
That's all right.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
The Canes had to come from behind, they had to
hold on, they'd score lates. So I was overly overall
relatively impressed. The Chiefs have that The Reds have been
a bit hot cold this year, but they are hard
to beat at some corp Some big performances from Billy
Proctor rarely state in this case for their All Blacks
(09:26):
thirteen Jersey cam roy Gard was really good as well.
Do see Carrife, So the Canes are potentially coming good
at the right time. Looked like Ruben Love broken his
arm and then he got taped up and finished the game,
so that was a bit of a sigh of relief.
But yeah, if they can sneak into to fourth and
hold on to that position, that's where they want to be.
Speaker 5 (09:47):
What do you make of the Kenes.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
I think they're building really nicely, because at the start
of the season it felt like they'd faded a little
bit just when I would have string performances together. I mean,
they had a bundle of injuries around the start and
had to switch their tens a number of times and
refuse to play Reuben Love at ten, and O'd come
back from an injury himself, but they were sticking with
Riley Halhepper, who's never going to when you were championship
(10:10):
finally have gone with Rubin Love. They've got some players back,
Brick Cameron's there in the mix as well now, and
I think they're building. There's still I think probably definitely
below the Chiefs, but I'd say in terms of the
New Zealand team, there are thereabouts With the Crusaders as
we get into the closing stages of the season and
if they can continue to build Rubin Love hopefully that
(10:33):
is all right and he can play out the rest
of the Super Rugby campaign. Obviously played out the game
on Friday night. They are a different team with him
at ten than they were with Riley Holheap and with
other players that have played at ten this season, so
they can keep players fit. I know Nahola is gone,
but finning on NORTHWL is looking really really good. Reilly
propped her back in the mix is looking outstanding as
(10:54):
you said at seem to So for me, they're building
really really nicely and are becoming harder to beat by
the week.
Speaker 4 (11:00):
I think gen guys like Tyra A Lomax back is
massive as well. He's right up there with one of
the world's best tight hair props. Haven't seen a lot
of him this year or arm more so to have
that platform, I think it's really important for the Canes.
Speaker 5 (11:16):
So Tyra Lomax big, big for the Canes.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
He certainly is. Crusaders Highlanders fifteen twelve on Friday night,
the first game of this round. A dreadful game of
rugby in all honesty, the Highlanders were a better team.
Crusaders somehow sneak out on top. And this is the
kind of performance that makes your question whether the Crusaders
are contenders or pretenders. And on the basis all we
(11:42):
saw on Friday night, they are pretenders and we saw
the real team that other contenders play the following night
in terms of the Chiefs. So ultimately, very disappointing point
for performance from the Crusaders. They were tender up at
one stage felt like they were going to kick on.
Highland has got back into the contest. I mean, the
Higland has played so much rugby in that game, or
had so much ball, but the Crusaders came up with
(12:04):
the steel or the turnover or the defensive play in
the twenty two How many times during that game felt like,
you know, probably a dozen times the Highlanders came close
and the Crusaders repelled them and the Crusaders just sneak
home with the win. But sometimes those close games you go, yep,
that's what championship teams are built on, winning those close encounters. Well,
the Crusader's more got out of jail than anything on
(12:26):
the weekend. I thought it was a really poor performance.
From the Crusaders the Highlanders a couple of weeks in
a row that went. They were leading after eighty minutes
against the Hurricanes. They should have beaten the Crusaders on
the Friday night, ultimately didn't. They're going to finish close to,
if not bottom of the table. But I think you
can take a bit if you, Jamie Joseph out of
these two performances as you head into twenty twenty six.
Speaker 4 (12:49):
The story of the highlanded season. They've lost seven games
by seven points or less and I thought they would
hit the wall. It's a really tough run against Kiwi opposition.
But they've played their best rugby in the past two weeks.
Really really fronted against the Hurricanes and absolutely should have
been the Crusaders team. They must five shots at goal
(13:11):
and you know you hate to put it on the kickers,
but there are a couple of those were really kickable
penalties and that would have, you know, pushed the game
into extra time. You've got to kick those goals in
a tight game like that. So extremely disappointing for the Holands.
Some big performances Tavatavanawa, Fabian Hollands really pushing his case
(13:36):
if the ol Blacks take four locks. I think he's
a must inclusion.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
Young guy.
Speaker 4 (13:41):
Get him in there now playing great rugby and the
Crusaders I agree with you, I think really really underwhelming.
This is the time of year they should be building,
they should be starting to hum and it is a
tale of two distinct aspects. Their defense has been brilliant
and their attack without Will Jordan has gone to the pack.
They had three line breaks in that game. I know
(14:04):
that they have as much ball. The Hunters made something
like six hundred and twenty meters to the Crusaders two
fifty odd, so massive disparity there. But the attack from
the Crusaders is being blunted without Will Jordan, and it
was a massive concern immediately when they lost Will Jordan,
and they have yet to rectify it, so they cannot
(14:24):
get him back soon enough. It also sounds like he's
ethan Blackheader close to coming back. But he's not the
type of guy that's going to change your attack either,
So big job for Brad Moore, James Marshall and Rob
Penny to reignite that attack.
Speaker 5 (14:42):
And camera's not necessarily the place to do it either.
Speaker 3 (14:44):
No, three wise men will come up with a plan.
I'm sure, but you're right. You look at those stats
and the position in territory second half. I mean the
Highland has had seventy territory and position in the second spell.
And yeah, we can talk about the defense, but the attack,
the Crusaders are just kicking it to touch and then
it all start over again. And Johnaymannic was playing full back,
(15:06):
but he's band aid solution. He's not going to strike
and when you you know, line breaks and when you
get you over the advantage line like it, Will Jordan
is able to do and make things happen from inside
his own half. So Crusaders definitely need Will Jordan back.
I've heard caught a final weekend, maybe possibly semi finals
if they get through to that second week. So they
(15:27):
need him back because as we saw last year when
he wasn't there, and what we've seen this year, he
is a difference maker in that Crusader's team. And we
know how world class Will Jordan is, but it's just
been spelled out by his absence over the last few weeks.
Speaker 4 (15:41):
Yeah, it'd go as far to say as Will Jordan
is as influential as and inspiring to the Crusaders as
Artie Severe as Winer Pacifica, because when you look at
like you say, when he wasn't there last year, there
wasn't him alone, but it was a big factor and
their attack was their strength. Earlier this year they were
(16:02):
running from everywhere offloading and yes there was a different
climate in terms of you know, coming into winter and
now it's always going to be a different style of footy,
But just his ability to mentor those young tens as well.
I think the Crusaders have really missed Takimita. But Will
Jordan's influence I think can't be understated on helping guide
(16:23):
those guys around to come into first receiver, take a
bit of pressure off and just run the right angles,
pop up at the right moments.
Speaker 5 (16:31):
He was outstanding.
Speaker 4 (16:33):
So yeah, they really need him back because they look
impotent without him.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
Well, and they looked a little ponderous with Mitch strumand
I know it was his one hundred and fiftieth, but
they looked a little ponderous with him at half back
and it's probably a sign of Carle Preston and not
hope them what they can add it half back other
than now right, Yeah, that they know there's a sentimental thing.
They started him obviously, but Preston with his ability to
kick off both feet and hope them with his strikeability,
(16:59):
they needed to have a bit more on the park.
Speaker 4 (17:02):
I felt sevy rees breaks TJ Peinar is super rugby
all time try screwing record.
Speaker 5 (17:07):
Very bizarre that they apparently stop the game.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
Ypri midgame Hype Briel to celebrate, sure in a very
dubious try, Well, what happens if Julian Sarvia takes it
over mid game?
Speaker 5 (17:19):
Hype Bril, I did not award that that was fair, right, shock,
while we.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
Spent like fifteen minutes looking at it, So glad they
came up all it out, just just to water as
to try and figure it out later. Yes, that was
a little.
Speaker 5 (17:33):
Enery draft than the TMO box.
Speaker 3 (17:35):
If only they still made the finest drop that has
ever been made, gets the record. Before we take a break, though,
let's let's sort of break this down a little bit.
We'll get into our jupping a bit later. But the
Chiefs out on top forty six, they win against the Hondas,
they'll take home advantage right through the playoffs. Crusaders and
second on forty five Brumbies and forty three in third,
(17:58):
Hurricanes thirty four, Reads in fifth on thirty three, Mowana
in the top six on twenty eights with a negative
points differential of eighty seven. Now it comes down to
wins first and foremost in terms of the tiebreaker. They
have six wins at the moment, so a win against
the Hurricanes will be enough.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
The Blues.
Speaker 3 (18:18):
Are on twenty eight outside looking in. The Wartas are
on twenty six, and that is the possibilities that can
happen at the moment. Who makes the top six to
the Blues given.
Speaker 4 (18:28):
Yes, the Blues come in to sixth and on form,
the Brumbies go to second.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
So the Brumbies. But the Crusaders yeap, and the Chiefs
beat the hind.
Speaker 5 (18:40):
Us correct and the Hurricanes maintain fourth.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
Yeah, they can't do any better than that. They can
do worse.
Speaker 4 (18:48):
Yeah, they could slip out a fourth, but they stand
fourth and the Blues come in. There's your top six.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
So Chiefs play the Blues week one is what you're saying.
Brumbies would play the Reds and the Crusaders would play
the Hurricanes.
Speaker 5 (19:07):
You don't want that cane come in to town, mate.
Speaker 3 (19:10):
Yeah, on the basis of what so okay, this is Yeah,
this is interesting, isn't it. I guess it's probably last
chance to talk about hard We probably won't next week.
There is some promising signs there from what we've seen
over the last couple of weeks and also the start
of the season. They started quite strongly beat the Blues
at home. There are some young players in that mix
(19:32):
with the is one of them, Holland Obviously that'll be
best for the season of decent halfbacks half backs, and
they've got young Dylan Pledger who I think is in
the home this mix next year. The under twenty half
back looks very, very promising. They have some framework there.
What they're desperately missing is a ten and if they
(19:54):
can find a ten, you know, Cambilla is obviously pretty
young and promising, hasn't always had the trust of Jamie Joseph.
This year. Tane Robinson's been starting a lot of those
games at ten. But if they can find a ten
to steer them around the park, that solves a few
issues for them.
Speaker 5 (20:08):
Yeah, short on locks, but it is a green pack.
Speaker 4 (20:11):
I think Ethan de Groot's the oldest in that pack
and he's what like twenty eight twenty something like that,
So yeah, but look, I think they do need a
ten and the chopping and changing probably has to stop.
I think you it's hard because you give a guy
like cam Miller the keys and maybe he doesn't kick
on as you want, so you're backed into a corner
(20:33):
and where you go to from there. Losing Caleb Tongueytowel
tour injury at times this year has been a big blow.
He was a real spark for them, some brilliant individual
tries at times. So yeah, and I think Rosamavuki Nikkins
has been impressive largely since coming back and missed him
(20:54):
for a big chunk of the year. So the Highlands
when they get injuries to key players, it hurts them
more than others. If the fucker Tava hasn't been there
for most of the year.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
And it's a depth game, isn't super Rugby, the bear
of the get the more likely to weather thiss title.
Speaker 4 (21:10):
And it is more challenging now with an effective sixth
New Zealand franchise with Winea Pacifica, they are competing for
talent out of the NPC and recruitment drive. But I
think if we talk to Jamie Joseph and with him
coming back this year, there were hopes that he would
improve the Hondas and on the basis of where they sit,
(21:32):
they've gone backwards and playoffs last year. Yeah, exactly the
eighteen format. So a lot of work ahead of Jamie,
Joe and the Hondas, but there's enough in their performances,
particularly in the past two weeks, to say that they
should be a lot better than where they sit. Seven
losses by seven points or less. You've got to start
(21:52):
converting some of those.
Speaker 3 (21:53):
Indeed, we'll take a break, come back with more on
Rugby Direct, including our look at the Black Ferns and
the Pack four series after this with their friends that
Habit Help.
Speaker 2 (22:01):
This is Rugby Direct, a podcast for real rugby fans.
Speaker 3 (22:09):
Every try try ten sixty sec, every tackle to tack,
the tackles, get up agaya moment, Well I take him before.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
Our times Rugby Directed.
Speaker 3 (22:20):
You're back with Rugby Direct powered by Habit Health, second
half of our podcast, and we kicked things off with
the final four to four Rugby topics topic number one
Ligum the Black Fans Packed full series. They smashed the
United States to the tune of seventy nine fourteen. We
didn't probably learn a lot from that game other than
the Sevens and the players coming in. Georgia Miller I
(22:42):
thought was very good, reci Palty Lane excellent a half back,
and then they had the center combination of Teresa's definal
and Stacy Waker come in in midfield as well. And
it felt that those SEVENS players, and again you've got
temperate with the fact that the United States weren't really
the races apart from the opening fifteen minutes, those SEVENS
players made a huge immediate difference on this Black Fans team.
Speaker 4 (23:04):
They did, and I wonder what that's like to manage
from relationship dynamic point of view, right, because you've got
players that have come through Alpaqui, the fifteen specialists, they're
in the squad, and then you get half a dozen
players come in from outside who are very close as
a group as well. So I'd love to be a
(23:24):
fly on the wall and sort of see how that's managed.
But you're right, those SEVENS players made a massive impact.
Stacy Walker in particularly particularly. You mentioned the week before
about Amy Dupless in the midfield, and we talked about
pusha Woodman potentially coming in and being closer to the action.
Speaker 5 (23:42):
But Stacy Waker, she was not the heart and soul,
but her ability.
Speaker 4 (23:48):
The wingers scored eleven tries, and that's when you know
your center's playing well as well. Because the distribution of
Stacy Woker is hugely underrated. Her ability to throw skip
balls to create space, to make players around her look good.
She was a big part of that World Cup victory
(24:08):
three years ago and she made an immediate impact there.
Georgia Miller some nice touches, nice breaks. There's an element
of surprise for me that she's an open side just
to look at her physical she's.
Speaker 3 (24:19):
Quite small for an open side Flanka or for a Ford,
to be honest, But I don't know where else she
put her. She kind of plays that prop role in
vite coomas and sevens, but there's so much competition in
the back line. Maybe she's more suited there. But in
the four pack, you know they've got Kennedy Takawafu, who's
the co captain of the team at openside. Flanka had
to make way for Georgia Miller, So I'm not quite
(24:42):
sure you need to have her in the mix because
we saw how devastating she can be with a couple
of those breaks that she made, But it feels like
they've sort of tagged her as a seven I don't
know that it's necessarily her best position on the park.
Speaker 4 (24:53):
Maybe she's a bit of a hybrid player on the
bench that can come on and play all loose four positions.
She roams, doesn't she She is very good on the edge,
using her skills, having a bit more space rather than
being confined. But I have heard her speaking about enjoying
being close to the action, enjoying targeting the ruck and
(25:15):
those sorts of things. So she could be a game
breaker to bring on with twenty minutes to go. There's
a bit of fatigue in the game, a bit more
space it targets and weak shoulders, and let her have
a bit of a roaming commission, and the way that
Black Ferns play with their intent to offload, I think
will suit her.
Speaker 5 (25:35):
It is hard to take too much out of that game.
Speaker 4 (25:37):
The USA ranked ninth in the world, and the Black
Ferns have clearly experimented throughout this tournament, particularly in that match,
made a number of changes to give those sevens players time.
Speaker 5 (25:46):
If there's one concern. I do still have.
Speaker 4 (25:50):
Their kicking game and the length of it, being able
to get in the right positions, because that's the strength
of England in particular. They're going to pinion the corners,
They're going to go to their mall, so you're not
always going to be able to run your way out
of trouble. So you can't take on England at their
own game or Canada and the like. But I think
(26:13):
that is somewhere where the Black fans will feel the pressure.
Speaker 3 (26:17):
Even the set piece scrumbet well, the line out was
chambalock at times. A lot of miss ball on line
out and against better teams you're going to have to
be a lot better getting all to A player have
felt I was not straight, there was miscommunication between the
it was the call, but the hooker and the jumper.
It all just felt out of sync at line out time,
so that's something they need to fix as well. They've
(26:38):
got an internal trial game of sorts in early July
Black Fans with Black Fans fifteen, and then they have
a Test against Australia the following week in Wellington, so
two more games won a test match before they head
to the World Cup. So still a little bit of
time to figure out some of these combinations, but time
taking away a little.
Speaker 4 (26:57):
Bit, Yes, not a lot, is it. You'd love to
play Canada again just to have that sort of level
of opposition. Again, I don't know how much you get
out of playing Australia, but I guess you run your
best team, but some difficult choices as well. To finalize
that World Cup squads, there's going to be a number
of disappointed players and that's what you want leading into
(27:19):
a World Cup.
Speaker 3 (27:20):
Certainly. There's topic two in the Final four communication last week.
The All Black squad will be named the Monday after
the Super Rugby Final. Interestingly, it's a thirty five man
squad now I'd heard it was only going to be
thirty players also heard thirty two at one point. I guess,
in just the context of naming a wider squad, what
(27:42):
does this tell us about maybe what they are going
to do. We've seen bigger squads go for obviously end
of year tours and things like that, but the wisdom
has always been when you're in New Zealand, you can
just whistle a player on a domestic flight and getting
there in a couple of hours. So interestingly, they're going
through the thirty five man squad. Does that tell us
something about the way that they're going to pick and
the players that they're going to pick.
Speaker 5 (28:02):
I think it's bloated.
Speaker 4 (28:04):
I don't think you need thirty five players for a
three match series again France. But obviously Raises got on
Mark Robinson's ear and said, just give me a bit
more cash, mate.
Speaker 5 (28:16):
What's another it? How's your math?
Speaker 4 (28:19):
Three times seven five hundred is what each all Black
earns when they're in camp each week, So twenty two
and a half thousand dollars per week, so time's three yep. Yeah, yeah,
it's a bit of extra cash there. But it does
give you more fleix. It does give you more flexibility.
I think it means they'll select four locks. It gives
(28:41):
you an extra prop, probably an extra Lucy, maybe an
extra outside back, so you get three extra players. So
we will have a new luc Head prop with offer
toing a fussy out of that mix. So interesting to
see who fills that void. I think I hope it
(29:02):
paves away for someone like Fabian Holland. I'd be selecting
him over Josh Lord at this point. And the Lucy's
is where the pinchers is rarely going to come. And
I think in the thirty two man Squaddy could probably
only slept four max outside backs because you've got that
flexibility with McKenzie and Boden, Barrett, Stephen Peterfetzter if he's
(29:22):
in that mix, so it probably gives you. It allows
you to go deeper in some positions which you know
Razor and the Orbicks will want this year and beyond.
Speaker 3 (29:31):
Yeah, that Lucy props interesting, isn't it. The drums beating
a little bit for Josh Fuzzy Tour. I've seen his
name mentioned a fair better around the place. Olie Norris
has been very good for the Chiefs, so there's some
competition for that jersey there is.
Speaker 4 (29:44):
George Boar's been there, Xavier new Mere I think the
All Blacks like him. I know Jason Ryan has spent
some time in Wellington working with him this year. Those
All Blacks coaches get around all the franchises, but I
think Xavier new Mia. He was on the cusp last
year and what was it a calf or an ankle,
something very untimely injury at the back end of last year.
(30:07):
So It is interesting because those three players for situr
Olie Norris who heard a massive performance off the bench,
and Bay plenty against who was it against the Force
played seventy odd minutes and Numea are that all court
modern day prop that bring you so much more around
(30:28):
the field than say Ethan de Groot. But the Groot
scrummaging is probably at another level to those guys at
this point. So it is an interesting dynamic about where
the All Blacks want to go there.
Speaker 3 (30:38):
It is indeed we'll pick out All Black squad probably
in the week, letting up to that team announcement as well.
Probably a good chance to flow into another question in
the final four who plus Savia and Satiti. Let's assume
that their locks are will their loose fords actually, but
their locks for this team are going to be the
All Blacks loose ford trio for that opening Test of
twenty twenty five. So you can move things around it,
(30:59):
but I guess you in theory save is your open
side Flanka and Satiti's the number eight, but Saditi could
play six, Artie could play eight. You can move things
around a little bit, but who are you adding to
that loose ford Trigo.
Speaker 4 (31:11):
Yeah, I think we will see Sititi at eight and
Save at seven this year. It slowly progressed that way
towards the back end of last year, and that dynamic
does seem to work well.
Speaker 5 (31:23):
I think.
Speaker 4 (31:25):
The All Blacks are still take guys of invested time,
and so you're looking at a female Black Header Jacobson.
It's hard to see them going beyond that realm. And yes,
female is coming off the bench for the Chiefs, currently
behind Simon Parker, who's been great for them in recent weeks,
performing exactly what they want from him.
Speaker 3 (31:46):
We'll see you contender. I don't maybe not start this,
but maybe for that squad.
Speaker 4 (31:51):
I can't see it that there's so much talent the
loose Fords, Peter Larkeye and then you go the open
sides Papaal to see CARREFI.
Speaker 5 (31:59):
You know, the list goes on.
Speaker 4 (32:00):
So I just I can't see a guy like Parker
forcing his way in. It's very interesting. Black Header hasn't
played most of this year. Jacobson has been good for me.
It's probably still female.
Speaker 5 (32:14):
I think.
Speaker 4 (32:16):
The upside in him where he can get to with
his ball carrying. He is a strong line out option,
but he's been used sparingly this year, so it's whether
the All Blacks and he hasn't really taken his chance.
Speaker 3 (32:30):
He hasn't gone in Stamford's authority on a Test match
like you would want. You know, Shan Frazel, you did
that game against Sartifragar in twenty three, but it feels
like Jerome Kano left eight years ago and they're still
searching for that blind. They've been through a lot since then,
Liam Squire, Scott Barrett's gone and any number of players,
but they're still searching for that number six.
Speaker 5 (32:52):
Well, Frazel was that guy.
Speaker 4 (32:54):
He got to that level or pretty close to it,
and then he's gone to Japan for a couple of years.
As we would have whispers that maybe he'd entertained coming back,
but we haven't heard anything more about that. But since
he's left, Orsa Titi became the guy in an unfamiliar
largely positioned but you'd think his long term home is
(33:17):
number eight. So that six jersey is still very much
up for grabs.
Speaker 3 (33:21):
It certainly is final topic in the final four Club
World Cup got the go ahead from twenty twenty eight,
so you're popping balloons and celebrating about that when you
heard the news, I'm sure.
Speaker 4 (33:31):
Well it's going to be pretty magic time to see
the Canes crown champions of the world.
Speaker 3 (33:35):
Isn't it going to make the top seven and twenty
seven first? So just hold your horses.
Speaker 4 (33:39):
Actually sip a bit of consternation on Twitter or x
or whatever it's called now about if if the draw
was made now, Moana would be included and they've just
been pumped by eighty points, So well, let's look at
the entirety of the season. They beat the Crusades and
krash Chitts knocked over four of the five New Zealand teams.
(34:00):
You know, if you want to look at it that way,
was it Glasgow got pumped by fifty points and the
Champions Cup or the final by Leinster.
Speaker 5 (34:09):
So you can pick out one off results.
Speaker 4 (34:11):
But look, the concept of a Club World Cup does
excite me and I think it will engage fans because
there's long been talk about the Crusaders and their pump
going up against Leinster or Laraschelle or whoever it is.
And I think that narrative will, you know, spark some
banter and interest and I think rugby needs that it
(34:33):
lacks it.
Speaker 3 (34:34):
It is a competition that rugby needs. I agree the
club book ups never quite worked in football, They've never
quite known what to do with it. In fact, the
football ones in a month or two's time with a
thirty two team format, which is the first time they've
done that. Cricket's tried it, They've tried it around the
Rugby League Club Challenge and various things, because it's very
(34:54):
very hard to get the calendar's right the best players
or playing at the one time. Sounds like the calendar
is going to be just after the end of the
French A story season, so maybe June July, so you're
going to come straight out of Super if you're in
New Zealand or Australian specific team and head into that
Club World Cup. So they've probably done the best possible
sort of window they can for this one.
Speaker 4 (35:15):
Yeah, I think the league one's a bit of a
joke to be honest, because it's preseason the following year
and I've heard even I think Nathan Clary talk about
it's basically like a pissed trip for those guys go
up there and have a joint a jaunts.
Speaker 5 (35:29):
So maybe they do that.
Speaker 4 (35:31):
It wouldn't be advisable of drug testing. Probably Stier clear
of that. But Rugby does need it. But it has
to be authentic, right, you can't. You can't pull the
wall over fans eyes and do it half fast pool
players out have non internationals not playing. But it also
(35:53):
doesn't need to be every year.
Speaker 3 (35:55):
That's right. Actually adds some context, some you know, some
value to it by not playing every year. Whether it's
every if it's every four years, great, that is a
World Cup. You're playing once every four years. Teams have change,
cycles of change, players have gone through and you have
a legitimate claim to being the club World Cup when
it's not over you Yeah, just.
Speaker 5 (36:16):
On their faux pas.
Speaker 4 (36:17):
Maybe if we have another referendum, you know, Rugby direct
could have having that bring a sponsor on board.
Speaker 3 (36:22):
Yeah, feel free might make for a more interesting pot
back for a very interesting pot that is for certain. Right,
let's move on and get into tipping limb. Congratulations, you
had four correct all four corrects on the weekend.
Speaker 5 (36:37):
They say, you know, big players step up at the
point the end of the air.
Speaker 3 (36:40):
Yeah they do, they do say that. Yeah, you hit
all four right. I had the Crusaders correctly, but read's
Mawana and the four so I only get one point.
I'm now leaving by five.
Speaker 5 (36:50):
It's feeling with precious coming.
Speaker 3 (36:53):
Yeah, and it's gonna be a big final weekend of
Super Rugby. Highlanders and Chiefs Friday nights under the roof.
Speaker 5 (37:03):
Chiefs. Chiefs. Look, lenders have come, you know, put up
a good fight, but you can't not to the Chiefs.
Speaker 3 (37:09):
So yeah, I'm going to have the Chiefs as well.
Brumbies Crusaders saying Canberra nine to thirty five Friday night,
looking forward to calling this one on gold Sport on iHeartRadio. Well,
you've knowed your flags the mast earlier in the.
Speaker 5 (37:19):
Pod always been a Brumbies fan elit.
Speaker 2 (37:21):
You know that.
Speaker 3 (37:22):
Crusaders will win that and finished second on the letter.
I think Blues war Atars. I was slayn soon last
week that you know this is going to be interesting
because the Blues are playing at Eden Park. There was
going to be the Auckland f C final potentially at
Mounts Mounts standing. Well, they don't have to worry about
that because Auckland f C collapse in a heap, so
the Blues will get the Saturday afternoon sports crowd to
themselves and do they get the win.
Speaker 4 (37:46):
They do, but there's a lot on the line, isn't
there Because the Tars have keep this season alive with
the golden point or whatever you want to call it,
super point over the Force. So yeah, they'll come with
a bit of sting.
Speaker 3 (37:57):
But I think the Blues, yeah, I can't see the
Warriors they wanted Eden Parks in two thousand and nine.
Speaker 5 (38:03):
I think it is a bonus point would be desirable
for the Blues, but I think.
Speaker 3 (38:08):
Enough Hurricanes, more Ona pacifica seven oh five. Now mawana
Adi going back to his old team looking to clinch
our playoff spot. It's written in the stars, isn't it
that Mowana gone derail the Cane train the week before
the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (38:23):
Oh look, there are chants if they perform how they
have and those four victories, but I think they might
run out a bit of steam and there's enough on
the line for the Canes to lock up that full
spot and potentially have a second chance.
Speaker 3 (38:36):
It feels like that lost psychologically. I mean, it's gonna
be fascinated to see how they respond, but feels like
that eighty five points conceded, it might have done a
little bit of psychological damage to Mowana, but they are
going to know what they need once they head into
that game because the Blues war tars Well a little
bit earlier reads Fiji and drud to round out the
regular season in Brisbane nine thirty five Saturday nights.
Speaker 4 (38:59):
Yes, the drew of one what the odd game in
lawel Toka this year, but it's been fairly underwhelming otherwise,
So the Reds bounce back to one that.
Speaker 3 (39:06):
They do at sun Corps State.
Speaker 2 (39:08):
I agree.
Speaker 3 (39:09):
Regular MVP Medal voting time, Ali Saviga has a twelve
point lead twenty five points to Bowden Barrett's thirteen three
way time for third. Will Jordan Quintepi to Liham your
three two once please?
Speaker 5 (39:22):
Well, I'm going Damien McKenzie.
Speaker 4 (39:24):
I thought he, you know, other players probably shone Moore,
but I thought he orchestrated a lot of that for
the Chiefs. Billy Proctor superb for the Canes. Just give
him a crack razor. What more does a man have
to do? And I thought he's been really good for
the Honda's past two weeks and Vasi and pro performance.
Speaker 3 (39:45):
Leroy Carter gets my three points hat track. He was
very very good. He seems to make things happen when
he gets the ball, and he reminds you a little
bit of those Australian wingers. Quite nuggety. Doesn't look that
there's a lot to him, no, but he just his
ability to get over the advantage line and score tries.
Very interesting prospect with the All BLACKSI but later this
season Billy Proctor gets my two as well, and Fabian
(40:06):
hond and that losing calls for the Honders gets my one.
I thought out point to the crusader's locks. He was,
he was good and the losing efforts. So they'll go
our three two ones and that'll do us for another
week with Rugby directlim.
Speaker 5 (40:17):
Well straight yourselves in play our footy on the ways?
Speaker 3 (40:21):
Yeah, will the cane train be rolling through? I don't
know if I could do three weeks of hurricanes plus beautiful?
Isn't it bring back keptain Hurricanes still flighting around. I
don't know if he's still got you guys are taken
in America now. Don't know if he's got his plane.
The plane might have needs a change seorage. Yeah, okay,
all right, that'll do Rugby directs Wouldbit Health tackling all
your aches and pains from sport and work out, thanks
(40:41):
to Larst and bars English. See you next week.
Speaker 2 (40:47):
For more from News Talks the'd be.
Speaker 1 (40:49):
Listen live on air or online, and keep our shows
with you wherever you go with our podcast on iHeartRadio
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