Rugby Direct - Episode 148
On Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier wrap up the 2024 All Blacks season and hand out some awards from the campaign and get out their red pens and mark the season that was. We dig into the eligibility saga as it continues to rage around New Zealand rugby, ask whether Joe Schmidt will stay…
Rugby Direct - Episode 147
This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith (in Turin) and Liam Napier review the All Blacks' 1-point loss to France in Paris and how the defeat changes the complexion of the end of year tour. We also look ahead to the final test of the year against Italy and consider the likely make-up of the 23. We…
Rugby Direct - Episode 146
This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith in Paris and Liam Napier discuss the All Blacks' win over (now former) world number ones Ireland in Dublin - what it means in both the context of the tour and the year and how they managed to wear down Ireland. We also look ahead to the penultimate test of 2…
Rugby Direct - Episode 145
This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith in Dublin is joined by Liam Napier to reflect on the All Blacks' tight win over England at Twickenham and we break down the performance - the good and the bad. We also look ahead to Ireland and the remainder of this weekend's test matches as the end of year…
Rugby Direct - Episode 144
This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier review the All Blacks win over Japan in Yokohama and look ahead to Sunday morning's big test against England, we also review the NPC final and sit down with New Zealand Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson in London to chat some of the burning…
Rugby Direct - Episode 143
This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith dials in from Tokyo to run through with Liam Napier the All Blacks team named for Saturday's test against Japan in Yokohama and what it means for the rest of the tour. We also preview the NPC final, discuss Rugby Sevens being given the heave-ho from the par…
Rugby Direct - Episode 142
This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier recap all the big news of the rugby world from the last fortnight - beginning with the All Blacks and All Blacks XV squads selected for tours north - who were the unlucky ones that missed out and who can count themselves lucky to be there? W…
Rugby Direct - Episode 141
This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier review the second Bledisloe Cup test in Wellington with the All Blacks beating Australia and ending the 'Capital Curse'. We review the Rugby Championship as a whole, dish up some awards and look ahead to the end of year tour and what big cal…
Rugby Direct - Episode 140
This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier review the Bledisloe Cup opener in Sydney - and how the All Blacks nearly let what was heading for a comfortable win turn into a nervy defeat. We again try to answer what is going wrong in the last 20 minutes of test matches and what changes…
Rugby Direct - Special Edition: Bledisloe 1 Preview
Elliott Smith and Liam Napier are in Sydney this week for theopening Bledisloe Cup and in a crossover special, stopped by the ESPN Scrum Reset podcast studios to count down to Saturday’s match with Aussie rugby journos Sam Bruce and Christy Doran.