Rugby Direct

On this week's Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith (Newstalk ZB's All Blacks commentator) and Liam Napier (NZ Herald chief sports writer) reflect on the All Blacks' 40-14 win over Australia that captured the Rugby Championship for another year.

We ask whether Jordie Barrett is now the ABs man at 12, who the top 3 All Blacks are to this point in 2022 and give our marks for the year to date.

We also ponder what was learned from the Black Ferns' romp against Japan, as we close in on the Rugby World Cup.

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On this week's edition of Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith (Newstalk ZB's lead rugby commentator) and Liam Napier (chief sports writer - NZ Herald) review the All Blacks and Wallabies' Bledisloe Cup test at Marvel Stadium and the shock decision of referee Mathieu Raynal at the end.

We discuss the make up of the side for Eden Park and whether the Wallabies can take some positives from the fact they probably should have won.

We also talk Ranfurly Shield being on the move to Wellington and the Black Ferns' test against Japan this weekend.

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On this week's edition of Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith (Newstalk ZB's lead rugby commentator) and Liam Napier (chief sports writer - NZ Herald) are in Melbourne ahead of the All Blacks and Wallabies' Bledisloe Cup test at Marvel Stadium on Thursday (which you can hear live on NewstalkZB and Gold Sport).

We debate the likely team to be announced by Ian Foster for the match, the challenges the Wallabies might pose the All Blacks and whether the All Blacks can snap their win/loss pattern of recent times.

The guys also debate the other big issues in the Rugby world, including whether player names should be on the back of jerseys.

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On this week's Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith (Newstalk ZB's All Blacks commentator) and Liam Napier (NZ Herald chief sports writer) discuss the All Blacks' big win over Argentina in Hamilton and debate whether everything has been cured now.

We pay tribute to the in-form Samisoni Taukei'aho, debate whether Richie Mo'unga now has a mortgage on the All Blacks 10 jersey and colours are nailed to the mast ahead of the Farah Palmer Cup final.

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On this week's Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith (Newstalk ZB's All Blacks commentator) and Liam Napier (NZ Herald chief sports writer) reflect on yet another weekend of drama out of the All Blacks as Argentina stun them at Orange Theory Stadium in Christchurch.

Elliott and Liam discuss how Los Pumas managed it, but also how the All Blacks blew any number of opportunities to at very least draw the match. Discussion also turns to the makeup of the side for this weekend and whether all-out change is the answer.

In addition, the guys look at a repelled Ranfurly Shield challenge and discuss whether Hawke's Bay might hold it all year and also assess a shaky Black Ferns effort in Adelaide.

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On this week's Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith (Newstalk ZB's All Blacks commentator) and Liam Napier (NZ Herald chief sports writer) discuss the All Blacks' mood since they returned to camp this week in Christchurch after the tumultuous past couple of weeks with questions over their head coach.

We ponder any selection changes the All Blacks might make for the test against Argentina and ponder what the future is for props Nepo Laulala and Ofa Tuungfasi in the All Blacks environment.

Elliott and Liam also run the rule over the Black Ferns big win over Australia in Christchurch and discuss the unpredictable nature of the Bunnings NPC.

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On this week's - special edition - of Rugby Direct Elliott Smith (Newstalk ZB's lead rugby commentator) and Liam Napier (NZ Herald's chief sports writer) react to the news that Ian Foster has retained his job as All Blacks coach to the end of 2023.

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On this week's podcast Elliott Smith (Newstalk ZB's lead rugby commentator) and Liam Napier (NZ Herald's chief sports writer) discuss the All Blacks loss to South Africa, but more importantly the bigger picture of five tests lost in six matches and whether there is anything that can be done to arrest this slide.

Liam's on the ground in South Africa to give us a sense of the local reaction to the performances from both sides and we assess where the All Blacks problems' start, as well as analyse whether it truly was the "best performance" by the All Blacks this year.

We take a look at the much-discussed future of Ian Foster in his job, while we also tackle (metaphorically only) the issue of high ball tackles and if the time has come to ban jumping for the ball in rugby.

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On this week's podcast Elliott Smith (Newstalk ZB's lead rugby commentator) and Liam Napier (NZ Herald's chief sports writer) go international - with Liam in South Africa ahead of the first Rugby Championship test against the Springboks.

We assess what changes the All Blacks might make to their 23 for the test against the 'Boks as they try to arrest a slide that has them with four losses in their last five and ask where the All Blacks have to improve if they are to be any chance of a result.

We run the rule over the Springboks side named for the match and whether there are any weaknesses there the All Blacks might look to exploit.

Elliott and Liam also address the Sevens teams taking away bronze from the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, with Australia returning to the top in women.

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On this week's edition of Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith (Newstalk ZB's lead rugby commentator) and Liam Napier (Chief Sports writer at the NZ Herald) assess another week of drama related to the All Blacks that has culminated in two assistant coaches being dumped and Crusaders forwards coach Jason Ryan being rushed in to assist the front eight.

The guys also run the rule over Ian Foster's media conference on Friday and whether that quelled a few issues, as well as assessing the Rugby Championship squad named and discuss whether more widespread changes than the ones made were warranted.

Elliott and Liam also offer some quick thoughts on the chances of the two Sevens sides at the Commonwealth Games and the prospect of a Club World Cup has returned again - what chance it actually happens?

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