September 28, 2025 • 31 mins
This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier review the opening Bledisloe Cup test for the All Blacks and assess what went right and wrong as well as whether criticism of referee Andrea Piardi is justified.
We also review the Black Ferns’ bronze medal win at the World Cup and assess where to next for the women’s programme and game.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from Newstalks EDB. Follow this
and our Wide Ranger podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Straight down the middle of DRUP Disco.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Try get inside the game from every angle. It's Rugby
Direct with Elliot Smith and Liam Napier, powered by News
Talks EDB.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Welcome into Rugby Direct, pad By Excess Solutions, taking you
Angel business to a higher level.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Alligant Smith with me Liam Napier.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
We reconvene once again in the Rugby Direct studio with
the All Blacks retaining the bleaters Low for a twenty
third straight summer on the back of a thirty three
twenty four win over the Wilby's at Eden Parker will
get into that very shortly as well. We'll also wrap
up the Black Ferns World Cup campaign, but let's get
into bleeders Low first and foremost. Ligam your initial top
(01:09):
line reactions to the All Blacks shaking off the Wallabies.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
At Eden park.
Speaker 4 (01:15):
I think we largely got what we expected Elliott, the
bounce back, the response, but still questions lingering over this
All Black team after that performance. Some inconsistencies within that game,
blowing some big leads and I think we got what
we expected from the Wallabies as well, highly competitive, they
didn't go away. They've got a depth of character and
(01:37):
resilience that they haven't had before. So a pressure relieving
victory for the All Blacks, wasn't it coming off the
darkest day? Perhaps a bit of a shred of light
you bank the bledder is low, so the trophy cabinet's
not entirely bere But yeah, I think more evidence is
required before there's any form of conviction that we can
(01:58):
definitively say that this All Black team is progressing.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
I think the consistency is the issue, and we weren't
going to answer that question on Saturday night at Eden
Park because for consistency you need to bank wins back
to back to back and we won't really be able
to judge that, or at least leave the current turned
a corner until probably the end of the season, if
indeed that is the case. So well, I think the
All Blacks did well though was Their attacking shape looked
(02:23):
a lot better against the Australians. They were able to
bend the line a little bit better, but most of
that came from the man wearing the number nine jersey
cam Reyguard. Now we've just got back from the airport
and heard from Jason Ryan who described him as phenomenal.
That performance last night. It showed what a difference he
can make to this All Blacks team. And to be honest,
(02:45):
head and shoulders, he is around the half back role
for this All Blacks team at the moment. He sparked
everything last night, or a lot of their attack at
the very least, his snipes around the ruck, his defense
is ball carrying.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
It was just a sublime performance. It wasn't even perfect.
It wasn't you know.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
He was a couple of errand box kicks. There was
a knock on at one point, but by and large
and he was the beating heart of that All Blacks attack.
Speaker 4 (03:11):
Absolutely yeah, And I think we've become accustomed in years
gone by. Obviously Aaron Smith was superb, but he still
played in an era largely where Dan Carter was there,
where Richie McCall was there, and even in this era,
it's more about your artist severe type characters. In terms
of so you think about inspirational figures, it's largely been
(03:31):
first fives and loose forwards. Well, cam Reguard has to
be the most influential player in the All Black team,
and he's played thirteen tests yea, a handful home, a
handful of starts. But as you say, his hid and
shoulders above and just his size, like he says, running game,
his support lines, his boot. He not single handedly changed
(03:56):
the shape of that attack, but he just made a
massive difference because he holds those inside defenders. And it's
certainly the best that we've seen that All Black attack
this year. That they did have all the ball in
that film, they scored three tries in the first twenty
four minutes. They had a lot more space and freedom,
they played with width, they largely kept the ball in hand,
(04:16):
a lot less kicking I think than previous weeks.
Speaker 5 (04:19):
But the set piece was much better.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
It's not the same team the spring box to the Wallabies,
but the set piece wasn't vastly improved and the high
ballwork as well. So some big improvements, but yeah, some
big concerns I think. And the way they blew leads
and allowed the Wallabies to come back.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
At twenty points to three up, the All Blacks should
kick on with it there, and they were up by
that margin at twenty four minutes. As you say, and
they didn't really and this is on the sniff test
rather than me having any stats to back it up,
but they didn't really see a lot of the ball
for the last fifteen minutes of that first spell and
Australia were able to get two tries out of it.
What concerns me the most is that interior defense inside
(05:03):
the twenty two when Australia able to build a little
bit of pressure and they did well, I thought, just
being able to gain a meet hero there and all
of a sudden they're in the twenty two and able
to snipe and able to put some pressure on the
All Blacks defense. So that's the worry for me is
that the defense from the All Blacks still isn't right.
They weren't able to squeeze the Wallabies, they weren't able
to get defensive winds down that area of the park
(05:25):
and when they got into the twenty two it was
all I don't say easy, but it was fairly straightforward
for the Wallabies to be able to get some points
when they went down that into the park.
Speaker 4 (05:34):
Yeah, and similar they scored in similar ways. Australia were
very deliberate in their directness around the ruck they hammered
away there before sweeping wide, and that was clearly a
tactic that joshmat or Mike Cron or someone had seen.
They sucked in the All Blacks defenders and then they
went a little bit wider and there's effectively no one there.
(05:56):
It was all too easy when they did those get
that pay in the All Blacks twenty two. I don't
want to shine the light massively on the officials, but
I think it's worth touching on. The Italian referee was
a massive focal figure for the Wallabies in the second
Test in the British and Irish Lions in Melbourne, so
(06:19):
clearly there is a bit of anks to hang over
from that, but he blew twenty five penalties. He was
a massive influence and presence on this game.
Speaker 5 (06:26):
For me both ways.
Speaker 4 (06:28):
I'm looking at some of those rock penalties and decisions
and it's like wow, like what I think twenty five
penalties generally is too much. You need to take a
bit of a step back. But I do want to
make the point that that's not the reason that Australia loss.
Has been a lot of fallout from that across the
ditch around Harry Potter's yellow card.
Speaker 5 (06:50):
I think the oblicks.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
Sorry, the Wallabies conceded the last five or six penalties,
so a lot of anks around that. For me, that's
not reason the Wallabies los lost. Look at your start,
look at other factors of the game. But I don't
think he should be the referee should be getting such
big time test matches when he's not performing on that stage.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
You know he's not and I don't. I think the
big issue with me in PRT is that he doesn't
seem to have a feel for the game, and that
is an intangible but twenty five penalties, regardless of the
amount of fringing, is too much and maybe he could
have gone to the card pocket a little bit earlier
to try and stuff some of that out, but he
just didn't seem to have a lock on how the
(07:33):
game was transpiring in front of him. And I felt
this on a number of occasions now when Party has
been refereeing, is that his first instinct is to blow
his whistle rather than allow the teams to play. And
I think he is one of a number of referees
that have been elevated above their station far too early
by World Rugby. It's a complicated game to referee at
(07:54):
the moment Rugby and we could all use the rule
book being you know, whittled down a little bit. But
it seems like a really northern hemisphere approach to bring
up these referees. And Nick Shekelly is another one who
I just do not think is at international standard. I
know he's got his fans up north, but to me,
(08:14):
Parti and Alma Shekelly, it's almost like World Rugby are
trying to tick a box and go We're helping out
George and Rugby by getting this refere on the world stage. Well, simply,
I don't think he's up to it, and I think
Party needs to take a step back. There are a
number of good referees around the globe. Luke Pearce seems
to have fallen off the face of the earth. I'm
not sure what that's about the English reef, so I
think Joel Jute needs to take a week step back.
(08:37):
There needs to be some sort of pathway change around that,
because there are too many referees being elevated too early.
Having said that, I agree with you that that wasn't
the referee the reason the Wallaby's lost last night thirty
six miss tackles to the All Blacks eleven James Economissing
touch on two occasions.
Speaker 4 (08:53):
Three was it ye kick the ball out on the
fall from another restart.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
That is the reason why the Wallabies lost last night,
and in fact, they weren't really able to play in
the areas of the ground that they wanted to often enough.
I thought they'll pin back in the All Blacks territory
for for long passages of the game. As I said before,
when they did get into the All Black staff, they
looked dangerous, but they just didn't play in the right
areas of the park and with the ball for long enough.
(09:17):
And you know, I saw a colleague, Sam Bruce of
ESPN who we had on the pod, well we're on
his pod last year suggesting he thought the Wallabies played
most of the rugby. I don't think they did. I
think the All Blacks played most of it. The Wallabies
took their chances when they had them, but I felt
like the All Blacks dictated things. And that goes back
to the fact when the All Blacks are twenty two
points to three up, they really should have kicked on
(09:37):
and being ruthless, and that was a word that came
out from Ardie Savia in the post match media conference
is they need to be ruthless. They need to be
when they're twenty points to three up, even if you
don't score any more points in the half, you get
some stops, you make some big tackles, you make those
moments and you go into the break at twenty points
to three or even twenty points eight or ten up
at a half time. Different game from that point. But
they are putting themselves under a little bit more pressian
(10:00):
They probably need to at the moment, the All.
Speaker 4 (10:01):
Blacks they are and look, it's hard because there's a
lot of positives to take out of that game. We
touched on Cam Roy guard Cody tay Tylor was a
massive influence coming back. I thought Jordi Barrett probably had
his best test this year. Wallace to Tt and Will
Jordan were prominent with ball in hands. So the All
Blacks did a lot of things well. But then it's
just that lack of conviction, whether it's a mentality thing,
(10:25):
clocking off and allowing the Wallabies to come back and
get it within three points at halftime and not finding
a way through those momentum swings, not having a big
time player stand up and you can look for a
few excuses because there were a number of disruptions to
the All Blacks. They finished that game with Quinte Pyre
(10:45):
on the wing. Another positive was a bench Patrick Tuopolo
to Samasoni Takyajo and well Quinte Pie and Peter Lucky
I thought made a real impact when they came on.
But it's still patchy and that's what we've seen consistently
from this All Black team throughout this Rugby Championship and
(11:06):
even going back to last year. They finished the Raby
champions with a fifty percent record and that's where they're
potentially hitting now. So have they improved at all under
Robinson at this point, I don't think you could say they.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
Could they No, No.
Speaker 3 (11:21):
I think at the back end of last year, I
think there were signs. Yes, they lost to France, but
it felt like with that England win which was built
on some some real toughness and really not playing that
well but still emerging with the win Ireland, the best
test of the year dropped against France. You know, at
started to France and then a poor performance against Italy,
(11:41):
but it felt like they were making some shifts and
then obviously took a big steps backward against Argentina and
again that big loss against South Afy a couple of
weeks ago. So they're not stagnant necessarily.
Speaker 4 (11:52):
But the body of work is not there to say,
here's the incremental improvements, here's the back to back performances,
here's the long instances within games or when they're under pressure,
they're responding that body of work is not there.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
No, it's not.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
And again when it got back to twenty six to
twenty four, it felt like, and look, everyone's got a
different perspective on how the game unfolds, but you kept
waiting for the All Blacks to crack that game open,
whether it was before half time and they're already up
twenty points to three, but just to put the foot
on the throat. Then again after halftime, you know, twenty
to seventeen after the break, Yes, I put a couple
of penalties on the board, but didn't feel really like
(12:29):
Australia had earned getting back to twenty six to twenty four.
I mean then the greatest respectcause it felt like the
All Blacks are playing most of the rugby. But therein
lies the problem is that the All Blacks have played
most of the rugby, but weren't getting their rewards and
that had the door open to Australia to potentially come
through and steal the game.
Speaker 4 (12:45):
Yeah. One area Shirlia did well was disrupt the All
Blecks breakdown. Frase mcwright, Harry Wilson Hooper, Nick Frost. I
thought that the Wallabies full pack really disrupted and competed
well at the breakdown and that's where they actually got
a lot of pay. That's how they came back into
the game. So that'll be a massive area of focus.
(13:06):
The All Bleck's ball carrying was good at times, but
I thought they're cleaners, lacked a bit of urgency and
body heights. Ye, so I think Australia tick for them
won the area of the game. But by and large,
the All Blacks had a lot of a lot of territory,
a lot of front foot possession, and it's that ruthlessness
to put teams away when you have that dominance. And
(13:28):
we've seen teams throughout this Rugby Championship score points quickly
when they have that momentum, and the All Blecks did
that and patches, but then they buttoned off and it's
it's that area that of conviction, of ruthlessness that this
All Black team is yet to convince, and Artie Severe
spoke to that, I think very well postmatch he said,
(13:50):
you know, we need to be hard on ourselves. We
need to help hold ourselves accountable because effectively, what he's
saying is this isn't the benchmark.
Speaker 5 (13:59):
We need to be better. We need to improve, and
that's very evident.
Speaker 4 (14:02):
It is.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
So you touched up before Bodenbartt goes off early in
the game. Relatively speaking, they also lose Ethan to Grootz
and then Caleb Clarke goes off injured. But in terms
of Boden Barrett, how much of an influence is his
loss because he's not going to be going to Perth.
Damien McKenzie, you would suspect will start at ten, but
(14:24):
as we look forward now it's a big loss for
the All Blacks.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
But McKenzie, you know, no stranger to filling that ten jersey.
Speaker 5 (14:31):
He's not, but he is this year.
Speaker 4 (14:33):
He's a one test at ten in Hamilton when there
was a rafter changes and it didn't go very well.
I think McKenzie is a different player. He's an accomplished
ten certainly at tests at super rugby level. He guided
the All Blacks in their best performance of last year
against Ireland in Dublin, so I think he will take
(14:56):
a lot of confidence from that. He's the best goalkicker
by quite some distance, so that helps as well. He
I think he challenges the line, digs into the line
a lot more than Boden, so that could help their attack.
Speaker 5 (15:10):
But I think he still has.
Speaker 4 (15:13):
I don't know whether it's flightiness or a brain explosion,
but he has a mistake in them or a rash moment,
so that's a bit of a concern. And it did
feel like the All Blacks attack wasn't quite as sharp
when he went off, and I don't know whether other
factors are at play there potentially, but it is a
big opportunity for him because a bone better.
Speaker 5 (15:34):
We don't know yet, has to have scans.
Speaker 4 (15:37):
AC shoulder injuries without surgery can be anywhere from two
to twelve weeks, so who knows how long bon is
going to be sidelined. They haven't called in anyone for
Perth this week, and you think that's a bit of
a risk.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
I think it's a big risk. Look, it's one flight
and you know it's what's seven and a half hours
to get there, but they've left here. We're recording this
on Sunday. They're not taking any cover. They'll train on Tuesday.
If Damian McKenzie rolls an ankle or does his knee
or what. You don't wish that on them, Robin Love
for that matter, then by that point you fly someone over,
(16:13):
it's probably first until they train, they probably don't even play.
I think it's a risk, not just to have an
extra body there. And yes, you know someone coming in
fresh and cold may not know the calls necessarily, but
surely they're better to have some ten cover because what
is the case if McKenzie goes down Rebon Love obviously starts,
But where does your teen cover come from the bench?
(16:35):
Do you look to Jordi Barrett who had one test
at ten and it's probably the next natural playmaker and
the team you know hasn't played ten and six years
and there was only a one off against Aamibia. You
look to a cam Roygard potentially to slide out to
ten with Christy and Ratama the I mean, it's worst
case scenario thinking, but I'm surprised that they haven't. You
(16:59):
handed Josh Jacob or someone a plane tick and see
come with us to Perth, even if they ended up
sitting in the stands for a week for the game.
Speaker 4 (17:06):
Brother, Yeah, I think it's it is a resp because
every squad usually has three tens, three half backs, three hookers.
They very specialized positions. Del Blecks have called in Tavita
Mafialo as covered for Ethan the group. Now that's largely
for a posed scrummaging I think. And also Elie Norris
is back Andrew been listed as injured in recent weeks,
(17:28):
so maybe they're down on loose head props there. But yeah,
you wouldn't want to be going into attest a couple
of days out having flown someone over. You could argue
perhaps James O'Connor's performance was affected by flying all the
way from Europe arriving on the Monday. I don't know
(17:48):
where they're necessarily affected as kicking, but it is a
long way to travel and it is disruption, So yeah,
I don't know why they're not erring on the side
of caution and calling in in a Josh Jacob.
Speaker 3 (17:59):
To provide Scott Barrett will be sis during the week
hat of Clark as well with an ankle indrets or him.
Golf will be assessed as well as the week goes on.
So if we look at this from an All Blacks
team perspective, they're going to have to replace McKinsey with
Barrett Sorry vice versa degree will be out and you'd
suspect this might be to Mighty Williams first start of
the season since he's come back. You see there being
(18:24):
too many other changes, you know, Barrett Vye injuries pinned
in Caleb Clark as well.
Speaker 4 (18:30):
Yeah, I don't know whether Caleb Clark plays. I don't
know how bad it is. He told us at the
airport today is feeling a lot better than last night's
but it's the same ankle he reinjured, So maybe they're
weerr on the side of caution. I thought he was
really good and his power carries. He terrorized Harry Potter.
He was good in the air. If Caleb's out, there's
(18:54):
two options, really, isn't there, Lisa fining Anooku or Riko
Ohanney and I'd go Lester. I think Ricco's had his
chance and didn't take it, And I think we need
to see Lester and Lester's probably seen more as a midfielder.
He's spent basically two years in France playing midfield, so
maybe there's some concerns under the high ball.
Speaker 5 (19:16):
But you think about bringing him off the wing.
Speaker 4 (19:19):
He's a real power option and I don't think at
this stage you could replace Quinta Pyre off the bench.
He's been very good in his contributions, very direct, powerful carries.
Speaker 5 (19:30):
Taking his chance.
Speaker 4 (19:31):
So if you don't go Lester in the starting team,
I don't know if you can bring him onto the bench.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
Yeah, I think that's probably a fair assumption. Billy Procter
at the center again, I thought it had a solid test,
considered a penalty, and it's probably found defensively lacking. A
couple of times it felt like Leroy Carter has sort
of made some of the spot tackles that you'd probably
expect Proctor to make them in terms of getting so
elity and a guitar to ground. But it seems like
(20:00):
they are going to persist with Billy Proctor because, without
speaking too deeply to the all Blacks on this, it
does feel like the more opportunities they give them, the
more they believe it will click and things will get
into place, and it might just be something that clicks
into gear and it's a you know, Eureka moment, he's
got it.
Speaker 4 (20:17):
There was that one frustrating rock penalty unnecessary, and yeah,
a couple of distribution moments that went well for him,
but it's still not clicking.
Speaker 5 (20:27):
But I agree.
Speaker 4 (20:28):
I think they will stick with them, partly because they
are potentially going to have to make changes elsewhere. The
All Blacks were relatively confident that Scott Brott would return
next week, so maybe he comes straight in for two
per VI, but well, McKenzie coming in, potential change on
the on the left wing, change at loose heads.
Speaker 5 (20:44):
You have to make some changes to the bench.
Speaker 4 (20:46):
I don't think you want to be tinkering too much,
given how important it is to register successive wins. But
I think you could still say that that Billy hasn't
taken his chance. That was Bill Black's best attacking performance largely,
and he still didn't really shine. You look at the
way Quinn impacted things when he's come on Jordi Barrett's
(21:10):
match winning moment again, and we just haven't seen enough
of Billy, particularly on attack, I think, and just on
Leroy Carter I really like what he's done coming into
Test rugby. He doesn't look overwards and those two tackles
on sauy Lee and Iktl completely punching above his weights,
(21:32):
drawing on the seventh scene, and he's highly involved from
the wing. Goes looking for work, so does Sevu. But
Sevu's just really erratic. You don't know what he's doing.
I think Leroy overplayed his hand when he got held up. Yeah,
but he scored one. Try doing that, so I don't
think he could be too harsh on him having a crack.
But I like the fact he goes looking for work
(21:54):
and the All Blacks are compensating for his height by
using Jordi Barrett in the backfield.
Speaker 5 (21:59):
I thought that that worked well. So I think he's
really taking his chance.
Speaker 3 (22:03):
Yeah, if He've been very impressed by him on both
sides of the park, left wing, right wing, and you
know not every wing can play both sides, but he's
shown that he can, and yeah, I think he's surely
going to play the third letters line looks to be
a real keeper for the All Blacks. And it's all
about taking your opportunities. I mean, you think back morning
another were injured in that Eden Park game squad an
early try I went off a few moments later. He
(22:25):
wont be back this week and maybe interviewed two is
more his time frame. But you know, things can change
pretty quickly in the All Blacks environment. Just in terms
of that big picture in the Rugby Championship, the spring
Box overnight putting a real score on Argentina sixty seven
points to thirty. In terms of the overall standings, you know,
the boxer leading the way in the Rugby Championship by
(22:47):
just a point, but it is going to be potentially
decided who knows on points difference and in which case
the Springboks have got a massive head start there fifty
five plus too the All Blacks negative six, so you
know it's all to play for, and you know the
Warbies could come through and sneak it the next weekend.
Argentina out of the record, but it's going to go
(23:09):
probably down to the wire. It's twicking them to decide
this Rugby Championship next weekend.
Speaker 4 (23:13):
Yeah, I don't know this definitively because I remember a
Rugby Championship I'd intended to test at Alice Park when
the Springbots had to score x amount of points to
win the Raby Championship. But somebody said today that this
is the tightest Raby Championship in history. It's certainly captivating
and it is going to come down to the wire.
I can't see the All Blacks going to Perth and
(23:34):
getting a bonus point win. I think it will be
plus three tries.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
It is more difficult these days than I.
Speaker 4 (23:40):
Think it's going to come down to a knife edge.
I think the Wallabies are going to improve. They're on
home soil. They get Will Skelton back, Rob Valentini and
potentially Tom Liner as well. I saw the called and
Josh Flick Fluke yep Fluke. I don't think he's a
big game changer. But maybe there's some injuries concerns in
their midfield. But they'll be stronger, particularly for having Skelton
(24:03):
back in that mix. So I'm nervous for the All
Blacks and Perth and I can't see them going there
and getting a bonus points. So it's certainly the box
Rugby Championship to lose. Yeah, And would that game being
at Twickenham.
Speaker 3 (24:17):
Absolutely yeah. If it was in Argentina. If they're going
to Buenos Aires, then it might be a different story.
But let's see what Felippe countinpo me can magic up
when they go to London Town this week. Are all
to play for this weekend? Roll attack, quick break, come
back and wrap up the Black Ferns and their World
Cup campaign Here on Rugby Directs.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
This is Rugby Direct, a podcast for real rugby fares.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
Every try, try ten sixty sec, every tackle, Get up again.
Speaker 2 (24:50):
Afore time.
Speaker 5 (24:51):
It's Rugby direct talks me.
Speaker 3 (24:54):
You're back with Rugby Directs and Black Ferns taking the
bronze medal at the Women's Rugby World Cup won by England,
who were the tournament favorites. So comfortably against England this
morning ra against Canada this morning thirty fe three thirteen,
the Black Funs beating France forty two to twenty six,
but game was kind of done when they leave thirty
(25:14):
nine to seven. Look, those third fourth playoffs are tough
games to play. No one wants to be playing them.
The Black Ferns pretty much did or you could ask
of them in terms of putting in a score. They
probably clicked off a little bit too early around the
hour mark and allowed France to get a wee sniff
and closer within thirteen or one stage. But I think
(25:37):
would you deem it a successful tournament liam on the
on the basis of what we've seen for the Black Fans.
Speaker 5 (25:43):
No, No, I don't know. You can't they win in
as defending champions, and while that is.
Speaker 4 (25:52):
Skewed, I think, you know, look, give them all the
credit they deserve for winning that final, but they were
up against a phenomenal English team who had been dominant
for or have been dominant for eight plus years, so
there's a bit of context around them in terms of
coming into this tournament. But I think you could have
(26:13):
deemed the tournament as success of the Black Ferns have
made the final, and I think what paints that more
starkly is the fact that Canada are largely still an
amateur program, and so for all the money and resource
that's been invested in the Black Ferns, I don't think
you've seen enough improvements from that team, and to lose
(26:33):
that semi final.
Speaker 5 (26:36):
It is extremely disappointing.
Speaker 4 (26:38):
Yes, great to bounce back and when the third and fourth,
but I don't deem this tournament a success, And I
think when it comes time for the review that we
be serious questions asked about why they didn't make their final.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
I think there are a number of factors.
Speaker 3 (26:51):
We did talk about a couple last week around where
the Super Rugby or pick is preparing players adequately, don't
have a huge amount of answers for that. England's pumping
a lot of money into their women's premiership and not
many other unions in the world are able to one
match that or to even have the interest in doing that,
and I think that creates is going to create some
(27:12):
issues over the next few years. And there's a lot
of candidate Canadian players at play in that English competition,
so while their own pathways are not great and the
funding's not there, that's playing top quality games against a
lot of English players and worldwide players. But England at
the moment are kind of dictating terms in women's rugby
and I don't see that changing or picky you know
(27:34):
link with Australia. Don't think that solves too many issues
around it. So you might get a few Black fans
going up and playing in that women's premiership on loan
or on sabbaticals, whatever it might be. But in terms
of just being battle hardened to be honest, I can
only see England getting better and better just because, as
I said, their pathways are so elites. They've got a
(27:57):
lot of money poured in from the financial mic that
they have and again interest level wise from you know, Australia,
other countries around the world don't think it's there for
the women's program.
Speaker 5 (28:12):
No, I totally agree.
Speaker 4 (28:13):
And yeah, that level of investments on the whole matters.
It hasn't matter for Canada, but I think they are
the exception to the rule and you've got to really
praise them for what they've done and.
Speaker 5 (28:26):
To get to that stage.
Speaker 4 (28:27):
But I agree, I think England will get better and
better because of depth, because they are fully professional and
everything that comes with that that you wrap around your squads.
So yeah, and also John Mitchell gets his first World
Cup title.
Speaker 3 (28:44):
That's right, he had denied in two thousand and three
by stealing Wartlock.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
Gets the chocolates this time again.
Speaker 3 (28:52):
Maybe the second coming, what is the second coming perhaps
of John Mitchell, who knows what he's up to next.
You see Alan Bunting sticking around. I believe my understanding
is he's off contract with the Black Ferns. I'm not
sure whether he wants to seek or renewal or not.
But today he's some changes the coaching set up for
that team.
Speaker 5 (29:09):
Yeah, potentially I think they might.
Speaker 4 (29:11):
And the only hard thing is there's no obvious successor
that just stands out as the how.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
Long is John Mitchell contracted for Eland rugby? Is time
to come home?
Speaker 5 (29:23):
Can you afford him?
Speaker 2 (29:24):
Yeah? Well that's it.
Speaker 3 (29:26):
There's not really any standouts, especially if you look for
a specialist women's coach that has been coaching a women's environments.
You know, Willie Walker has done it with the Blues
women's side, Crystal Carl has left and gone overseas. From
the Chiefs, Whitney Hansen maybe potentially an option who's been
around Mutha Tu Blair Baxter coach Canterbury and Matter two
(29:49):
in their first Sea So it's not like there are
huge options from a New Zealand perspective standing up. But
whether there's anyone overseas you Canada's he coached all right,
you look to He's going to be fascinating for New
Zealand rugby. But I think this tournament has created a
lot of questions and it's been a successful tournament overall.
Full world rugby and the Women's World Cup, but I
(30:12):
feel this is the only market it could have been
successful in. New Zealand obviously embraced it in twenty twenty
two after that delay, but it's only in three stadiums
in the northern part of the country. As I've touched
on women's rugbies on the upwards traductory in the UK.
In Australia in four years time, will it be embraced
the same way?
Speaker 2 (30:33):
Don't know.
Speaker 4 (30:34):
Yeah, not sure that they got behind the woman's Football
World Cup in a big way, but football certainly has
a much bigger profile in Australia and it helps massively
when your national team is competitive, is going to progress,
has a profile and you could argue Rugby Australia's.
Speaker 5 (30:57):
Investments or priority in their women's.
Speaker 4 (31:00):
Games actually lagged in recent years rather than pumping them up.
So yeah, big test for the women's game and where
it stands to take outside of that market where it
is really really really well supported.
Speaker 3 (31:11):
Indeed, right, that'll do us for rugby director thanks to
access solutions are taking you and your business to a
higher level. We will be back later in the week.
Eliam myself will be in Perth counting down to the
second leathers low cup test, looking forward to that and
maybe a schooner or so and seeing a couple of quakers.
Speaker 5 (31:32):
Rude, not too absolutely. What's the Australian fish but a
barrow or something baron?
Speaker 2 (31:37):
I don't know what though, Yeah, yeah, what's the Western
Australian beer of choice?
Speaker 3 (31:41):
Don't know, We'll find out, We'll report back. Thanks as
always NPE, so thanks to last and Bars English. We
will see you next time on Rugby Directs.
Speaker 1 (31:53):
For more from News Talks ed B listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to a podcast from Newstalks EDB. Follow this
and our Wide Ranger podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Straight down the middle of DRUP Disco.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Try get inside the game from every angle. It's Rugby
Direct with Elliot Smith and Liam Napier, powered by News
Talks EDB.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Welcome into Rugby Direct, pad By Excess Solutions, taking you
Angel business to a higher level.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Alligant Smith with me Liam Napier.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
We reconvene once again in the Rugby Direct studio with
the All Blacks retaining the bleaters Low for a twenty
third straight summer on the back of a thirty three
twenty four win over the Wilby's at Eden Parker will
get into that very shortly as well. We'll also wrap
up the Black Ferns World Cup campaign, but let's get
into bleeders Low first and foremost. Ligam your initial top
(01:09):
line reactions to the All Blacks shaking off the Wallabies.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
At Eden park.
Speaker 4 (01:15):
I think we largely got what we expected Elliott, the
bounce back, the response, but still questions lingering over this
All Black team after that performance. Some inconsistencies within that game,
blowing some big leads and I think we got what
we expected from the Wallabies as well, highly competitive, they
didn't go away. They've got a depth of character and
(01:37):
resilience that they haven't had before. So a pressure relieving
victory for the All Blacks, wasn't it coming off the
darkest day? Perhaps a bit of a shred of light
you bank the bledder is low, so the trophy cabinet's
not entirely bere But yeah, I think more evidence is
required before there's any form of conviction that we can
(01:58):
definitively say that this All Black team is progressing.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
I think the consistency is the issue, and we weren't
going to answer that question on Saturday night at Eden
Park because for consistency you need to bank wins back
to back to back and we won't really be able
to judge that, or at least leave the current turned
a corner until probably the end of the season, if
indeed that is the case. So well, I think the
All Blacks did well though was Their attacking shape looked
(02:23):
a lot better against the Australians. They were able to
bend the line a little bit better, but most of
that came from the man wearing the number nine jersey
cam Reyguard. Now we've just got back from the airport
and heard from Jason Ryan who described him as phenomenal.
That performance last night. It showed what a difference he
can make to this All Blacks team. And to be honest,
(02:45):
head and shoulders, he is around the half back role
for this All Blacks team at the moment. He sparked
everything last night, or a lot of their attack at
the very least, his snipes around the ruck, his defense
is ball carrying.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
It was just a sublime performance. It wasn't even perfect.
It wasn't you know.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
He was a couple of errand box kicks. There was
a knock on at one point, but by and large
and he was the beating heart of that All Blacks attack.
Speaker 4 (03:11):
Absolutely yeah, And I think we've become accustomed in years
gone by. Obviously Aaron Smith was superb, but he still
played in an era largely where Dan Carter was there,
where Richie McCall was there, and even in this era,
it's more about your artist severe type characters. In terms
of so you think about inspirational figures, it's largely been
(03:31):
first fives and loose forwards. Well, cam Reguard has to
be the most influential player in the All Black team,
and he's played thirteen tests yea, a handful home, a
handful of starts. But as you say, his hid and
shoulders above and just his size, like he says, running game,
his support lines, his boot. He not single handedly changed
(03:56):
the shape of that attack, but he just made a
massive difference because he holds those inside defenders. And it's
certainly the best that we've seen that All Black attack
this year. That they did have all the ball in
that film, they scored three tries in the first twenty
four minutes. They had a lot more space and freedom,
they played with width, they largely kept the ball in hand,
(04:16):
a lot less kicking I think than previous weeks.
Speaker 5 (04:19):
But the set piece was much better.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
It's not the same team the spring box to the Wallabies,
but the set piece wasn't vastly improved and the high
ballwork as well. So some big improvements, but yeah, some
big concerns I think. And the way they blew leads
and allowed the Wallabies to come back.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
At twenty points to three up, the All Blacks should
kick on with it there, and they were up by
that margin at twenty four minutes. As you say, and
they didn't really and this is on the sniff test
rather than me having any stats to back it up,
but they didn't really see a lot of the ball
for the last fifteen minutes of that first spell and
Australia were able to get two tries out of it.
What concerns me the most is that interior defense inside
(05:03):
the twenty two when Australia able to build a little
bit of pressure and they did well, I thought, just
being able to gain a meet hero there and all
of a sudden they're in the twenty two and able
to snipe and able to put some pressure on the
All Blacks defense. So that's the worry for me is
that the defense from the All Blacks still isn't right.
They weren't able to squeeze the Wallabies, they weren't able
to get defensive winds down that area of the park
(05:25):
and when they got into the twenty two it was
all I don't say easy, but it was fairly straightforward
for the Wallabies to be able to get some points
when they went down that into the park.
Speaker 4 (05:34):
Yeah, and similar they scored in similar ways. Australia were
very deliberate in their directness around the ruck they hammered
away there before sweeping wide, and that was clearly a
tactic that joshmat or Mike Cron or someone had seen.
They sucked in the All Blacks defenders and then they
went a little bit wider and there's effectively no one there.
(05:56):
It was all too easy when they did those get
that pay in the All Blacks twenty two. I don't
want to shine the light massively on the officials, but
I think it's worth touching on. The Italian referee was
a massive focal figure for the Wallabies in the second
Test in the British and Irish Lions in Melbourne, so
(06:19):
clearly there is a bit of anks to hang over
from that, but he blew twenty five penalties. He was
a massive influence and presence on this game.
Speaker 5 (06:26):
For me both ways.
Speaker 4 (06:28):
I'm looking at some of those rock penalties and decisions
and it's like wow, like what I think twenty five
penalties generally is too much. You need to take a
bit of a step back. But I do want to
make the point that that's not the reason that Australia loss.
Has been a lot of fallout from that across the
ditch around Harry Potter's yellow card.
Speaker 5 (06:50):
I think the oblicks.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
Sorry, the Wallabies conceded the last five or six penalties,
so a lot of anks around that. For me, that's
not reason the Wallabies los lost. Look at your start,
look at other factors of the game. But I don't
think he should be the referee should be getting such
big time test matches when he's not performing on that stage.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
You know he's not and I don't. I think the
big issue with me in PRT is that he doesn't
seem to have a feel for the game, and that
is an intangible but twenty five penalties, regardless of the
amount of fringing, is too much and maybe he could
have gone to the card pocket a little bit earlier
to try and stuff some of that out, but he
just didn't seem to have a lock on how the
(07:33):
game was transpiring in front of him. And I felt
this on a number of occasions now when Party has
been refereeing, is that his first instinct is to blow
his whistle rather than allow the teams to play. And
I think he is one of a number of referees
that have been elevated above their station far too early
by World Rugby. It's a complicated game to referee at
(07:54):
the moment Rugby and we could all use the rule
book being you know, whittled down a little bit. But
it seems like a really northern hemisphere approach to bring
up these referees. And Nick Shekelly is another one who
I just do not think is at international standard. I
know he's got his fans up north, but to me,
(08:14):
Parti and Alma Shekelly, it's almost like World Rugby are
trying to tick a box and go We're helping out
George and Rugby by getting this refere on the world stage. Well, simply,
I don't think he's up to it, and I think
Party needs to take a step back. There are a
number of good referees around the globe. Luke Pearce seems
to have fallen off the face of the earth. I'm
not sure what that's about the English reef, so I
think Joel Jute needs to take a week step back.
(08:37):
There needs to be some sort of pathway change around that,
because there are too many referees being elevated too early.
Having said that, I agree with you that that wasn't
the referee the reason the Wallaby's lost last night thirty
six miss tackles to the All Blacks eleven James Economissing
touch on two occasions.
Speaker 4 (08:53):
Three was it ye kick the ball out on the
fall from another restart.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
That is the reason why the Wallabies lost last night,
and in fact, they weren't really able to play in
the areas of the ground that they wanted to often enough.
I thought they'll pin back in the All Blacks territory
for for long passages of the game. As I said before,
when they did get into the All Black staff, they
looked dangerous, but they just didn't play in the right
areas of the park and with the ball for long enough.
(09:17):
And you know, I saw a colleague, Sam Bruce of
ESPN who we had on the pod, well we're on
his pod last year suggesting he thought the Wallabies played
most of the rugby. I don't think they did. I
think the All Blacks played most of it. The Wallabies
took their chances when they had them, but I felt
like the All Blacks dictated things. And that goes back
to the fact when the All Blacks are twenty two
points to three up, they really should have kicked on
(09:37):
and being ruthless, and that was a word that came
out from Ardie Savia in the post match media conference
is they need to be ruthless. They need to be
when they're twenty points to three up, even if you
don't score any more points in the half, you get
some stops, you make some big tackles, you make those
moments and you go into the break at twenty points
to three or even twenty points eight or ten up
at a half time. Different game from that point. But
they are putting themselves under a little bit more pressian
(10:00):
They probably need to at the moment, the All.
Speaker 4 (10:01):
Blacks they are and look, it's hard because there's a
lot of positives to take out of that game. We
touched on Cam Roy guard Cody tay Tylor was a
massive influence coming back. I thought Jordi Barrett probably had
his best test this year. Wallace to Tt and Will
Jordan were prominent with ball in hands. So the All
Blacks did a lot of things well. But then it's
just that lack of conviction, whether it's a mentality thing,
(10:25):
clocking off and allowing the Wallabies to come back and
get it within three points at halftime and not finding
a way through those momentum swings, not having a big
time player stand up and you can look for a
few excuses because there were a number of disruptions to
the All Blacks. They finished that game with Quinte Pyre
(10:45):
on the wing. Another positive was a bench Patrick Tuopolo
to Samasoni Takyajo and well Quinte Pie and Peter Lucky
I thought made a real impact when they came on.
But it's still patchy and that's what we've seen consistently
from this All Black team throughout this Rugby Championship and
(11:06):
even going back to last year. They finished the Raby
champions with a fifty percent record and that's where they're
potentially hitting now. So have they improved at all under
Robinson at this point, I don't think you could say they.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
Could they No, No.
Speaker 3 (11:21):
I think at the back end of last year, I
think there were signs. Yes, they lost to France, but
it felt like with that England win which was built
on some some real toughness and really not playing that
well but still emerging with the win Ireland, the best
test of the year dropped against France. You know, at
started to France and then a poor performance against Italy,
(11:41):
but it felt like they were making some shifts and
then obviously took a big steps backward against Argentina and
again that big loss against South Afy a couple of
weeks ago. So they're not stagnant necessarily.
Speaker 4 (11:52):
But the body of work is not there to say,
here's the incremental improvements, here's the back to back performances,
here's the long instances within games or when they're under pressure,
they're responding that body of work is not there.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
No, it's not.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
And again when it got back to twenty six to
twenty four, it felt like, and look, everyone's got a
different perspective on how the game unfolds, but you kept
waiting for the All Blacks to crack that game open,
whether it was before half time and they're already up
twenty points to three, but just to put the foot
on the throat. Then again after halftime, you know, twenty
to seventeen after the break, Yes, I put a couple
of penalties on the board, but didn't feel really like
(12:29):
Australia had earned getting back to twenty six to twenty four.
I mean then the greatest respectcause it felt like the
All Blacks are playing most of the rugby. But therein
lies the problem is that the All Blacks have played
most of the rugby, but weren't getting their rewards and
that had the door open to Australia to potentially come
through and steal the game.
Speaker 4 (12:45):
Yeah. One area Shirlia did well was disrupt the All
Blecks breakdown. Frase mcwright, Harry Wilson Hooper, Nick Frost. I
thought that the Wallabies full pack really disrupted and competed
well at the breakdown and that's where they actually got
a lot of pay. That's how they came back into
the game. So that'll be a massive area of focus.
(13:06):
The All Bleck's ball carrying was good at times, but
I thought they're cleaners, lacked a bit of urgency and
body heights. Ye, so I think Australia tick for them
won the area of the game. But by and large,
the All Blacks had a lot of a lot of territory,
a lot of front foot possession, and it's that ruthlessness
to put teams away when you have that dominance. And
(13:28):
we've seen teams throughout this Rugby Championship score points quickly
when they have that momentum, and the All Blecks did
that and patches, but then they buttoned off and it's
it's that area that of conviction, of ruthlessness that this
All Black team is yet to convince, and Artie Severe
spoke to that, I think very well postmatch he said,
(13:50):
you know, we need to be hard on ourselves. We
need to help hold ourselves accountable because effectively, what he's
saying is this isn't the benchmark.
Speaker 5 (13:59):
We need to be better. We need to improve, and
that's very evident.
Speaker 4 (14:02):
It is.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
So you touched up before Bodenbartt goes off early in
the game. Relatively speaking, they also lose Ethan to Grootz
and then Caleb Clarke goes off injured. But in terms
of Boden Barrett, how much of an influence is his
loss because he's not going to be going to Perth.
Damien McKenzie, you would suspect will start at ten, but
(14:24):
as we look forward now it's a big loss for
the All Blacks.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
But McKenzie, you know, no stranger to filling that ten jersey.
Speaker 5 (14:31):
He's not, but he is this year.
Speaker 4 (14:33):
He's a one test at ten in Hamilton when there
was a rafter changes and it didn't go very well.
I think McKenzie is a different player. He's an accomplished
ten certainly at tests at super rugby level. He guided
the All Blacks in their best performance of last year
against Ireland in Dublin, so I think he will take
(14:56):
a lot of confidence from that. He's the best goalkicker
by quite some distance, so that helps as well. He
I think he challenges the line, digs into the line
a lot more than Boden, so that could help their attack.
Speaker 5 (15:10):
But I think he still has.
Speaker 4 (15:13):
I don't know whether it's flightiness or a brain explosion,
but he has a mistake in them or a rash moment,
so that's a bit of a concern. And it did
feel like the All Blacks attack wasn't quite as sharp
when he went off, and I don't know whether other
factors are at play there potentially, but it is a
big opportunity for him because a bone better.
Speaker 5 (15:34):
We don't know yet, has to have scans.
Speaker 4 (15:37):
AC shoulder injuries without surgery can be anywhere from two
to twelve weeks, so who knows how long bon is
going to be sidelined. They haven't called in anyone for
Perth this week, and you think that's a bit of
a risk.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
I think it's a big risk. Look, it's one flight
and you know it's what's seven and a half hours
to get there, but they've left here. We're recording this
on Sunday. They're not taking any cover. They'll train on Tuesday.
If Damian McKenzie rolls an ankle or does his knee
or what. You don't wish that on them, Robin Love
for that matter, then by that point you fly someone over,
(16:13):
it's probably first until they train, they probably don't even play.
I think it's a risk, not just to have an
extra body there. And yes, you know someone coming in
fresh and cold may not know the calls necessarily, but
surely they're better to have some ten cover because what
is the case if McKenzie goes down Rebon Love obviously starts,
But where does your teen cover come from the bench?
(16:35):
Do you look to Jordi Barrett who had one test
at ten and it's probably the next natural playmaker and
the team you know hasn't played ten and six years
and there was only a one off against Aamibia. You
look to a cam Roygard potentially to slide out to
ten with Christy and Ratama the I mean, it's worst
case scenario thinking, but I'm surprised that they haven't. You
(16:59):
handed Josh Jacob or someone a plane tick and see
come with us to Perth, even if they ended up
sitting in the stands for a week for the game.
Speaker 4 (17:06):
Brother, Yeah, I think it's it is a resp because
every squad usually has three tens, three half backs, three hookers.
They very specialized positions. Del Blecks have called in Tavita
Mafialo as covered for Ethan the group. Now that's largely
for a posed scrummaging I think. And also Elie Norris
is back Andrew been listed as injured in recent weeks,
(17:28):
so maybe they're down on loose head props there. But yeah,
you wouldn't want to be going into attest a couple
of days out having flown someone over. You could argue
perhaps James O'Connor's performance was affected by flying all the
way from Europe arriving on the Monday. I don't know
(17:48):
where they're necessarily affected as kicking, but it is a
long way to travel and it is disruption, So yeah,
I don't know why they're not erring on the side
of caution and calling in in a Josh Jacob.
Speaker 3 (17:59):
To provide Scott Barrett will be sis during the week
hat of Clark as well with an ankle indrets or him.
Golf will be assessed as well as the week goes on.
So if we look at this from an All Blacks
team perspective, they're going to have to replace McKinsey with
Barrett Sorry vice versa degree will be out and you'd
suspect this might be to Mighty Williams first start of
the season since he's come back. You see there being
(18:24):
too many other changes, you know, Barrett Vye injuries pinned
in Caleb Clark as well.
Speaker 4 (18:30):
Yeah, I don't know whether Caleb Clark plays. I don't
know how bad it is. He told us at the
airport today is feeling a lot better than last night's
but it's the same ankle he reinjured, So maybe they're
weerr on the side of caution. I thought he was
really good and his power carries. He terrorized Harry Potter.
He was good in the air. If Caleb's out, there's
(18:54):
two options, really, isn't there, Lisa fining Anooku or Riko
Ohanney and I'd go Lester. I think Ricco's had his
chance and didn't take it, And I think we need
to see Lester and Lester's probably seen more as a midfielder.
He's spent basically two years in France playing midfield, so
maybe there's some concerns under the high ball.
Speaker 5 (19:16):
But you think about bringing him off the wing.
Speaker 4 (19:19):
He's a real power option and I don't think at
this stage you could replace Quinta Pyre off the bench.
He's been very good in his contributions, very direct, powerful carries.
Speaker 5 (19:30):
Taking his chance.
Speaker 4 (19:31):
So if you don't go Lester in the starting team,
I don't know if you can bring him onto the bench.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
Yeah, I think that's probably a fair assumption. Billy Procter
at the center again, I thought it had a solid test,
considered a penalty, and it's probably found defensively lacking. A
couple of times it felt like Leroy Carter has sort
of made some of the spot tackles that you'd probably
expect Proctor to make them in terms of getting so
elity and a guitar to ground. But it seems like
(20:00):
they are going to persist with Billy Proctor because, without
speaking too deeply to the all Blacks on this, it
does feel like the more opportunities they give them, the
more they believe it will click and things will get
into place, and it might just be something that clicks
into gear and it's a you know, Eureka moment, he's
got it.
Speaker 4 (20:17):
There was that one frustrating rock penalty unnecessary, and yeah,
a couple of distribution moments that went well for him,
but it's still not clicking.
Speaker 5 (20:27):
But I agree.
Speaker 4 (20:28):
I think they will stick with them, partly because they
are potentially going to have to make changes elsewhere. The
All Blacks were relatively confident that Scott Brott would return
next week, so maybe he comes straight in for two
per VI, but well, McKenzie coming in, potential change on
the on the left wing, change at loose heads.
Speaker 5 (20:44):
You have to make some changes to the bench.
Speaker 4 (20:46):
I don't think you want to be tinkering too much,
given how important it is to register successive wins. But
I think you could still say that that Billy hasn't
taken his chance. That was Bill Black's best attacking performance largely,
and he still didn't really shine. You look at the
way Quinn impacted things when he's come on Jordi Barrett's
(21:10):
match winning moment again, and we just haven't seen enough
of Billy, particularly on attack, I think, and just on
Leroy Carter I really like what he's done coming into
Test rugby. He doesn't look overwards and those two tackles
on sauy Lee and Iktl completely punching above his weights,
(21:32):
drawing on the seventh scene, and he's highly involved from
the wing. Goes looking for work, so does Sevu. But
Sevu's just really erratic. You don't know what he's doing.
I think Leroy overplayed his hand when he got held up. Yeah,
but he scored one. Try doing that, so I don't
think he could be too harsh on him having a crack.
But I like the fact he goes looking for work
(21:54):
and the All Blacks are compensating for his height by
using Jordi Barrett in the backfield.
Speaker 5 (21:59):
I thought that that worked well. So I think he's
really taking his chance.
Speaker 3 (22:03):
Yeah, if He've been very impressed by him on both
sides of the park, left wing, right wing, and you
know not every wing can play both sides, but he's
shown that he can, and yeah, I think he's surely
going to play the third letters line looks to be
a real keeper for the All Blacks. And it's all
about taking your opportunities. I mean, you think back morning
another were injured in that Eden Park game squad an
early try I went off a few moments later. He
(22:25):
wont be back this week and maybe interviewed two is
more his time frame. But you know, things can change
pretty quickly in the All Blacks environment. Just in terms
of that big picture in the Rugby Championship, the spring
Box overnight putting a real score on Argentina sixty seven
points to thirty. In terms of the overall standings, you know,
the boxer leading the way in the Rugby Championship by
(22:47):
just a point, but it is going to be potentially
decided who knows on points difference and in which case
the Springboks have got a massive head start there fifty
five plus too the All Blacks negative six, so you
know it's all to play for, and you know the
Warbies could come through and sneak it the next weekend.
Argentina out of the record, but it's going to go
(23:09):
probably down to the wire. It's twicking them to decide
this Rugby Championship next weekend.
Speaker 4 (23:13):
Yeah, I don't know this definitively because I remember a
Rugby Championship I'd intended to test at Alice Park when
the Springbots had to score x amount of points to
win the Raby Championship. But somebody said today that this
is the tightest Raby Championship in history. It's certainly captivating
and it is going to come down to the wire.
I can't see the All Blacks going to Perth and
(23:34):
getting a bonus point win. I think it will be
plus three tries.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
It is more difficult these days than I.
Speaker 4 (23:40):
Think it's going to come down to a knife edge.
I think the Wallabies are going to improve. They're on
home soil. They get Will Skelton back, Rob Valentini and
potentially Tom Liner as well. I saw the called and
Josh Flick Fluke yep Fluke. I don't think he's a
big game changer. But maybe there's some injuries concerns in
their midfield. But they'll be stronger, particularly for having Skelton
(24:03):
back in that mix. So I'm nervous for the All
Blacks and Perth and I can't see them going there
and getting a bonus points. So it's certainly the box
Rugby Championship to lose. Yeah, And would that game being
at Twickenham.
Speaker 3 (24:17):
Absolutely yeah. If it was in Argentina. If they're going
to Buenos Aires, then it might be a different story.
But let's see what Felippe countinpo me can magic up
when they go to London Town this week. Are all
to play for this weekend? Roll attack, quick break, come
back and wrap up the Black Ferns and their World
Cup campaign Here on Rugby Directs.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
This is Rugby Direct, a podcast for real rugby fares.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
Every try, try ten sixty sec, every tackle, Get up again.
Speaker 2 (24:50):
Afore time.
Speaker 5 (24:51):
It's Rugby direct talks me.
Speaker 3 (24:54):
You're back with Rugby Directs and Black Ferns taking the
bronze medal at the Women's Rugby World Cup won by England,
who were the tournament favorites. So comfortably against England this
morning ra against Canada this morning thirty fe three thirteen,
the Black Funs beating France forty two to twenty six,
but game was kind of done when they leave thirty
(25:14):
nine to seven. Look, those third fourth playoffs are tough
games to play. No one wants to be playing them.
The Black Ferns pretty much did or you could ask
of them in terms of putting in a score. They
probably clicked off a little bit too early around the
hour mark and allowed France to get a wee sniff
and closer within thirteen or one stage. But I think
(25:37):
would you deem it a successful tournament liam on the
on the basis of what we've seen for the Black Fans.
Speaker 5 (25:43):
No, No, I don't know. You can't they win in
as defending champions, and while that is.
Speaker 4 (25:52):
Skewed, I think, you know, look, give them all the
credit they deserve for winning that final, but they were
up against a phenomenal English team who had been dominant
for or have been dominant for eight plus years, so
there's a bit of context around them in terms of
coming into this tournament. But I think you could have
(26:13):
deemed the tournament as success of the Black Ferns have
made the final, and I think what paints that more
starkly is the fact that Canada are largely still an
amateur program, and so for all the money and resource
that's been invested in the Black Ferns, I don't think
you've seen enough improvements from that team, and to lose
(26:33):
that semi final.
Speaker 5 (26:36):
It is extremely disappointing.
Speaker 4 (26:38):
Yes, great to bounce back and when the third and fourth,
but I don't deem this tournament a success, And I
think when it comes time for the review that we
be serious questions asked about why they didn't make their final.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
I think there are a number of factors.
Speaker 3 (26:51):
We did talk about a couple last week around where
the Super Rugby or pick is preparing players adequately, don't
have a huge amount of answers for that. England's pumping
a lot of money into their women's premiership and not
many other unions in the world are able to one
match that or to even have the interest in doing that,
and I think that creates is going to create some
(27:12):
issues over the next few years. And there's a lot
of candidate Canadian players at play in that English competition,
so while their own pathways are not great and the
funding's not there, that's playing top quality games against a
lot of English players and worldwide players. But England at
the moment are kind of dictating terms in women's rugby
and I don't see that changing or picky you know
(27:34):
link with Australia. Don't think that solves too many issues
around it. So you might get a few Black fans
going up and playing in that women's premiership on loan
or on sabbaticals, whatever it might be. But in terms
of just being battle hardened to be honest, I can
only see England getting better and better just because, as
I said, their pathways are so elites. They've got a
(27:57):
lot of money poured in from the financial mic that
they have and again interest level wise from you know, Australia,
other countries around the world don't think it's there for
the women's program.
Speaker 5 (28:12):
No, I totally agree.
Speaker 4 (28:13):
And yeah, that level of investments on the whole matters.
It hasn't matter for Canada, but I think they are
the exception to the rule and you've got to really
praise them for what they've done and.
Speaker 5 (28:26):
To get to that stage.
Speaker 4 (28:27):
But I agree, I think England will get better and
better because of depth, because they are fully professional and
everything that comes with that that you wrap around your squads.
So yeah, and also John Mitchell gets his first World
Cup title.
Speaker 3 (28:44):
That's right, he had denied in two thousand and three
by stealing Wartlock.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
Gets the chocolates this time again.
Speaker 3 (28:52):
Maybe the second coming, what is the second coming perhaps
of John Mitchell, who knows what he's up to next.
You see Alan Bunting sticking around. I believe my understanding
is he's off contract with the Black Ferns. I'm not
sure whether he wants to seek or renewal or not.
But today he's some changes the coaching set up for
that team.
Speaker 5 (29:09):
Yeah, potentially I think they might.
Speaker 4 (29:11):
And the only hard thing is there's no obvious successor
that just stands out as the how.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
Long is John Mitchell contracted for Eland rugby? Is time
to come home?
Speaker 5 (29:23):
Can you afford him?
Speaker 2 (29:24):
Yeah? Well that's it.
Speaker 3 (29:26):
There's not really any standouts, especially if you look for
a specialist women's coach that has been coaching a women's environments.
You know, Willie Walker has done it with the Blues
women's side, Crystal Carl has left and gone overseas. From
the Chiefs, Whitney Hansen maybe potentially an option who's been
around Mutha Tu Blair Baxter coach Canterbury and Matter two
(29:49):
in their first Sea So it's not like there are
huge options from a New Zealand perspective standing up. But
whether there's anyone overseas you Canada's he coached all right,
you look to He's going to be fascinating for New
Zealand rugby. But I think this tournament has created a
lot of questions and it's been a successful tournament overall.
Full world rugby and the Women's World Cup, but I
(30:12):
feel this is the only market it could have been
successful in. New Zealand obviously embraced it in twenty twenty
two after that delay, but it's only in three stadiums
in the northern part of the country. As I've touched
on women's rugbies on the upwards traductory in the UK.
In Australia in four years time, will it be embraced
the same way?
Speaker 2 (30:33):
Don't know.
Speaker 4 (30:34):
Yeah, not sure that they got behind the woman's Football
World Cup in a big way, but football certainly has
a much bigger profile in Australia and it helps massively
when your national team is competitive, is going to progress,
has a profile and you could argue Rugby Australia's.
Speaker 5 (30:57):
Investments or priority in their women's.
Speaker 4 (31:00):
Games actually lagged in recent years rather than pumping them up.
So yeah, big test for the women's game and where
it stands to take outside of that market where it
is really really really well supported.
Speaker 3 (31:11):
Indeed, right, that'll do us for rugby director thanks to
access solutions are taking you and your business to a
higher level. We will be back later in the week.
Eliam myself will be in Perth counting down to the
second leathers low cup test, looking forward to that and
maybe a schooner or so and seeing a couple of quakers.
Speaker 5 (31:32):
Rude, not too absolutely. What's the Australian fish but a
barrow or something baron?
Speaker 2 (31:37):
I don't know what though, Yeah, yeah, what's the Western
Australian beer of choice?
Speaker 3 (31:41):
Don't know, We'll find out, We'll report back. Thanks as
always NPE, so thanks to last and Bars English. We
will see you next time on Rugby Directs.
Speaker 1 (31:53):
For more from News Talks ed B listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcast on iHeartRadio
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.