Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Coming to you from rugby's greatest fortress, New Zealand's national stadium, Eden Park, is the Aotearoa Rugby Party. Kia ora and welcome to another episode of the Aotearoa Rugby Pod. Plenty to talk this week. Obviously, the Moana Pacifica ordeal that's been unfolding over the last week. We'll get into that.
We will have an interview with Super Rugby CEO Jack Mesley where we talk about this, try to establish what the facts are and what the way forward is with Moana Pacifica in this competition. So please look forward to that in the next couple of days. But we'll delve into it in the show and give you a little clip of what Jack has to say before tomorrow's interview comes out.
Plus, of course, upsets aplenty in Super Rugby. We had the Druids turn up and beat the Brumbies away. We had the Crusaders go down to the force and we had that absolute ripper of a game between the Hurricanes and the Chiefs, that top of the table match, lived up to the hype. We have your questions as well for the Athletic Question of the Week.
Plenty through both in the comments section and in the email. So please send us an email at arp at fandommedia.co.nz. And of course, you can catch the show on at Aotearoa Rugby Pod official channels, our YouTube channel, across our socials as an audio pod. You can also get us on stuff.co.nz, New Zealand's biggest news website, as a full pod, as clips, as little stories as well.
And then you can go to Rugby Pass and catch us on Rugby Pass' app,
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Chapter 2: What financial challenges is Moana Pasifika currently facing?
as well as their wonderful stats. So plenty of places to get the Aotearoa Rugby pod. Jipper, great weekend for you.
Oh, what a way to lead into Super Round. Honestly, I was excited for Super Round, let alone those results. Man, I just love the tight nature of this competition. You know, you had it last year, you get nervous, are we going to see the same? You felt like there was a little bit of separation, then bang, upsets galore. And, you know, you still, you'd say, I think the Canes is still an upset.
The expectation is that they were red hot and they'd win. Going down to a drop goal and Wallace the Teddy try, it was beautiful.
It really had it all. It did look like the Hurricanes to me were going to pull through with that and then suddenly it changed, Brennan.
Probably for that first half, I look at the Hurricanes and the way they defended and took their opportunities. They didn't have many opportunities in that first half, but I think the kind of things that they did against the Blues, all the effort areas and all those little things, I thought they won a lot of those battles in their game.
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Chapter 3: How could Moana Pasifika's situation impact Super Rugby teams?
But I just think, as kind of Drip has said throughout the year, the Chiefs are able to find a way, whether it's ugly or whether it's just a moment to be able to try and to get a trial. You look at Kyron Tomoifala, his injection to be able to get that ball to Damian McKenzie.
Those little moments where I think in those kind of games, there's not much between them, but it just seems that the Chiefs throughout this year have just been able to find their way. But in saying that, for the Hurricanes, I think we talked about it in our
in our WhatsApp group like they did a lot of good things in their game and if anything it'll set them up for I think at the back end of the ad learning from that experience because I think personally they probably were the better team for probably 60 to 70 minutes of that game but I think to the Chiefs credit being able to find a way to win games which they've predominantly done this year
was a good one for Wallace Atiti to get a drop goal and staying on was probably the big thing for me in that situation. Staying on and Wallace scores that try and we get the Chiefs out of the line in an absolute unbelievable game.
Chapter 4: What recent upsets occurred in Super Rugby matches?
You think about the Seekenson try as well. What we've seen from the Canes is they've either played behind the advantage line and brought defenders out or when they've gone hard, they've gone hard and not looked for the offload.
And there was just moments in the game where they went away from that blueprint, and if there's one side you just cannot afford to do that against, it is the Chiefs, because they will take any opportunity put on their lap. Like, that was an amazing try. I'm not saying that error cost the game, because to score that try was ridiculous. But that's what the Chiefs are capable of doing.
And you just feel they're building this little war chest of quiet confidence. You know, they're not over the top. You know, everyone's still probably thinking the Canes deserve to win, as we do as well. And, you know, they just sit there in at third and slowly climbing that lower.
I'll tell you what, is there a player in Super Rugby that makes rugby look easier than current Tamui Fila?
He wasn't even in the team a few weeks ago.
and he gets that one opportunity it's just he he is he is very very very easy on the eye when it comes to ball in hand he's better ask brunner like he just you know so smooth i think just glides as a good way to put it he just um he glides and kind of goes where he needs with the space and then just he has that kind of yeah like you said that roger roger federer feel but yeah look i think you know with the fact with sean stevenson going last year and coming over here to kubota
I think, you know, there was a little bit of, I guess, excitement with his signing. And I think you look at probably Ananas Satoru being injured as well, getting an opportunity most of the last couple of weeks to be able to inject himself. And yeah, his moments around being able to glide, give that great ball to be able to give that to Damian McKenzie to open up the game just before extra time.
Yeah, he's been a great signing. And I think the more opportunities he does get in these kind of big games, we'll see the best version of him because he's been great for the Chiefs in the last couple of weeks when he has played.
He was great for the Chiefs and he was great for Moana Pacifica as well last season before leaving Moana Pacifica.
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Chapter 5: How are injuries affecting the performance of the Crusaders?
And then the other issue, I'm just coming up with every issue, but the other roadblock or hurdle is some being privatised and some not.
Yeah.
So integrity of competition is, again... I don't know if it would damage Super Rugby, because the whole essence, and this will come back to eligibility, but why players potentially stay here for less is Wilburks.
Yeah.
And Wilburks is usually his opponent. So I don't know how it would impact us. I think it would be interesting to see how it would impact Australia because they seem to be loosening and now tightening again. I'm not quite sure where the ghetto law is at anymore. Yeah. It's chopping and changing.
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Chapter 6: What strategies are teams using to handle pressure in tight matches?
But I think it would impact them in Australia. And then there's the other, like I know there's the narrative of, okay, let's forget about Japan and expansion. Okay, can we have players spread around the competition and still be eligible for the All Blacks and Wallabies, which, you know, maybe there is a middle ground there. But, Bryn, I just don't think...
you're going to be able to match what they're paid here? Do you know what I mean? Like, the big stars are very well looked after. Like, are they going to get that money in Sydney?
Yeah.
Because Australian rap is not going to top it up. So who's going to top it up for these players to actually move around? Do you know what I mean? It's great in concept, but maybe the Reds would. I'm not sure of what the commercial market or what they could do from a third-party deal, but I just don't know, even if you open that up, how many players would actually jump about.
Guys that are very well-established All Blacks are getting, you know, there's some great loyalty schemes in terms of players getting paid when you're at the All Blacks. It's actually really good money. So I think it's more so maybe that middle tier jipper, they might have the opportunity possibly to then go over to a Waratahs or to a Reds or to a Force, whatever it may be.
Because I question if an Artie Sevier or a Damien McKenzie or a Bowdoin Barrett would actually want to go to the Waratahs.
We've seen that already with the Rebels and stuff and the middle tier goes and You know, like, I don't know. Like, I just feel like we've seen that. Like, if you're going to do it, you've got to have the big dogs. And then I also think... I don't know why my body language has gone all defensive. Sorry. I'm reading myself. I also think... What... Maybe a Tom Wright.
I'm just trying to think like what Wallabies would, you know, obviously a Suoliti, but they've invested so much, they're not going to let him go. You know, like it's all for us to think, like sometimes I think it's like, oh, you know, New Zealand's going to give talent. Well, there is quite a few players, you know, a Jorgensen would look good in a Blues jersey. So, yeah, you know, so...
How much are they going to want to come and live in Auckland when they're in Sydney? You know, I don't know. I just, it's just a hard, you got to start somewhere. I get it. I just, it's really hard for me to comprehend.
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Chapter 7: What insights does Super Rugby CEO Jack Mesley provide about Moana Pasifika?
Like he was the game winner against the Highlanders in Dunedin last year. Like, I don't know. And he's one of those energetic players, like he's going for a charge down or, you know, something always happens. Or even he's really undervalued or underrated, you know. You look at him and, I don't know, Kubota might be after him. Could be, could be.
Or Toyota. Toyota's got the money, right? You go to Toyota. Him and Aaron Smith.
It's why the net profits are $51 million, because you're going. Oh, I wish. It's being facetious, but yeah, no, I really rate him. Hard to pick a halfback, because I actually thought Augie was really good when he came back from the red card, just the way he adjusted his tackle height, and you could see he was making a concerted effort, and he was good around the park, so...
So tough, tough decisions. And I'm looking forward to this Highlanders-Moana Pacifica this weekend in the Super Round and how that plays out. Afternoon footy, 2 o'clock. It's going to be great.
Let's go to the Highlanders versus the Blues then because the Blues, I mean, they had it in the bag, didn't they?
I thought so. Yeah. I'll tell you what, when you're doing the sideline shows, you go up Season Watch and you almost have to leave about five or six minutes before full time to get down the lift because there's only one lift down at Eden Park. Anyway, come down. And I ran into...
ted henry and i was like oh you know ted i was going you know gave him a little hug he goes i said what we've got this in the back here i was like 47 40. what the hell's going on what's happened here i was quite shocked yeah um i think yeah speaking to jamie joe after the game like you could just sense a little bit of frustration because you think about that mistry just before half time you get that one
And the injury to the tongue tower, he stays on, you get that try. I think it's a lot closer than, I mean, it was only seven points in the end, but they sort of felt they'd won it.
Well, only converting 50% of their entries.
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Chapter 8: What are the implications of player transfers on team dynamics in Super Rugby?
Mate, the one thing I liked, even though it was clunky and attacking that first 20, is their ability to just focus on the counteract. You didn't see too often them trying to go for the tackle or jackal. They were trying to step over the ball and a clear change, you know, under Whitney Hanson and her crew. But that's just smart because what made them lose at the World Cup was the speed of ball.
And they just did not allow Canada to have that sort of flow of play and that up-tempo play. They eventually got there, and I suppose the most pleasing thing as well, a couple of tries off defence, you know, bringing line speed. I don't think we've seen that line speed focus in the female game, but it's another change that, again, has come under Whitney Hanson and her coaching staff.
So a lot to like. They won't be happy, but they'll be absolutely ecstatic to get a result because they'd still be hurting from back-to-back losses. But all in all, my optimism is coming from the areas that were probably concerns and now they're showing strengths in them. Driving more, defence is still one that will need some sharpening.
Obviously the penalty try wasn't ideal, and I wouldn't say that's Canada's strength. We know the English side will go there all day, so that's probably one blemish. But other than that, the report card's pretty good for the first two games.
They could have, they had a little few tries early, didn't they?
They did. But I still think they haven't had Opeke. They're just forcing a pass. I think once they get a few more games on the bat, you'll see less of that. They'll back themselves to go one more ruck. The most important thing is they're getting results and not playing as well as I'd like. And I like the improvement areas. That rush D, man, that was awesome to see.
One person as well that was unbelievable in that game was Kaiboa Olsen-Baker. I think since she's been playing for the Black Ferns, especially the last 12 months, her involvement with the ball in hand, the physicality that she's able to get over the advantage line with her ball carries, the defensive efforts and the work that she does off the ball as well.
I think with the things that Jip did touch on, the optimism around where the Black Ferns are at, but also with the improvements in some areas. Yeah, Cobble Olsen-Baker, look, I think since she's been coming back into that black jersey, she's been very impressive for that loose four-trier.
Yeah, I thought all three, like Mikel had two, it was good, but I thought Tukuafu was outstanding. That's one of my best test matches from memory. So, no, that Luciford trio is going very well.
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