A weekly fix for rugby fans and punters alike. Alex Coogan-Reeves is joined by legendary rugby caller Grant Nisbett and Patrick Jones to break down all the action from the Super Rugby season. They preview all the big games, giving their best bets and value picks each week.
Welcome back to a new episode of the Pick and Go podcast.It's playoffs time in Super Rugby Pacific which means the top six is set and the race for to lift the trophy begins this weekend with the Quarter Finals.Speaking of, this 'Lucky Loser' format doesn't make much sense with the potential of dead rubber games come Saturday night.Which teams are hitting their strides and who would you not want to be facing?As usual we will be looking ahead at this weekend's Quarter Final action and it it going to be an epic.
Welcome back to a new episode of the Pick and Go podcast.We are at the end of the regular season and there is still so much to play for. All eyes will be on the Blues and Moana Pasifika as they both attempt to finish within the top 6.Moana Pasifika suffered a bruising defeat at the hands of the Chiefs on the weekend, so can they recover before their final game, or has their tough win against the Blues taken too much out of them?Speaking of Blues, if they did manage to go on the win the comp after the start they had, it would be an incredible achievement. Does that make this title defence the worst one or best one we have seen in the modern game?As usual we will be looking ahead at this weekend's action and it it going to be an epic.
Welcome back to a new episode of the Pick and Go podcast. Are teams being punished twice for the same crime? That's what we are looking into this week, after Moana Pasifika conceded a penalty try and a yellow card for the same offence. However they did manage to win, and is that the end of the Blues season, or do they still have a chance to make the top 6? One team that seems to be taking their chances, is the Hurricanes, who scored a last minute winner to almost secure their spot in the knock out rounds. There are just two rounds left before we enter the final stage of the comp and there are some massive games ahead, so who will be celebrating a massive win and who'll be crying over a defeat?
Welcome back to a new episode of the Pick and Go podcast. Things get heated right out the gate when we debate which is the best side of the Auckland Harbour Bridge. The race for the top 6 is coming down to the wire and we want to know are we all secretly hoping that Moana Pacifika make the top 6 knocking out the Hurricanes and the Blues? Do any of our panel even think it is possible? We look back at last week's action and try to figure out what happened to the Crusaders during half-time against the Chiefs that saw them go scoreless in the second half of that game. Of course, we look ahead to this weekend's games where the fate of many teams could be sealed.
Welcome back to a new episode of the Pick and Go podcast.Paul returns and it doesn't take him long to cause trouble on the panel.Seeing as it was May 4th over the weekend, we are asking which Super Rugby team has turned to the Dark Side and which team is fighting on the side of good.We look back at last week's action as Moana Pasifika keep their hopes alive of a top 6 finish.he Blues have also improved their top 6 chances and it looks like it all might come down to the game between these two teams in a couple of weeks.
Welcome back to a new episode of the Pick and Go podcast. This week Karl from The Advantage Line podcast will be running the ship, so can he keep Piri Weepu and Steve Devine in line all will chaos reign. The Super Rugby season is getting closer to the end, but there is still so much to play for, so which teams to our panel think based on last week's performance will be sneaking into the playoff rounds. The Blues title defence is not done yet, but it is close to being over and in fairness it never really started so what went wrong for the Blues this season. We look ahead to this week's fixtures with the Chiefs having an opportunity to create some distance between them and the chasing Crusaders.
Welcome back to a new episode of the Pick and Go podcast. With Piri and Jeff out of action this week, we have Karl Tily coming off the bench to support Paul Maoate in the studio. ANZAC day is getting closer, so we are handing out an olive branch to our Aussie friends and asking which Australian would the panel love to see play for a New Zealand Super Rugby franchise. We look back at last week's action and wonder if this season is a two horse race between Chiefs and Crusaders and who will be coming out on top. There are some big games this week, including the Reds vs the Blues and the first meeting between the Drua and Moana Pacifica, who'll be coming out on top? Of course, we look back at THAT draw and it has us wondering if games should even be going to extra time.
Welcome back to a new episode of the Pick and Go podcast. Jeff Wilson and Ben Searle join Piri Weepu and Paul Maoate on this week's pod. With the Masters having just wrapped up, we are finding out which Super Rugby player might be able to make the cut should they play Augusta. We break down all the action from the weekend's action. We try to find out what happened to the Chiefs after losing in Australia one week after they beat first place. Crusaders return to the top of the table, are they finally back to their best? Jeff Wilson takes us through his Ultimate Highlanders Team.
Welcome back to a new episode of the Pick and Go podcast.It is only Piri and Paul today, but that doesn't mean there won't be the usual hot takes, controversial comments and debates that you've come to expect from the Pick and Go podcast.With news that the Hurricanes are looking for investment, we play out a worst case scenario and ask which player would each NZ franchise like to take from the Hurricanes.Piri and Paul look back at last week's action and are the Chiefs just unstoppable now?We have reached the midway point of the season, so is it still too early to tell who makes the playoff cut or will we see a lot of movement between now and the end of the season?
Welcome back to a new episode of the Pick and Go podcast.It's a controversial start to the pod this week, as we're asking which NZ team would you get rid of, if it meant improving the rest of the NZ teams in Super Rugby.We look back at the big weekend of Super Rugby action.Hurricanes put on a masterclass against the Waratahs, while Crusaders recent momentum can to an abrupt stop.With Moana Pasifika's win, where do our panel see them finishing the season?The big shock is the Reds topping the league should we be taking them seriously as title challengers? We shall find out when they face the Chiefs this week.
Welcome back to a new episode of the Pick and Go podcast.John Cena has gone full on heel in the WWE, so we need to find out which current or former Super Rugby player could take him on in the ring.We look back at round 6, and let's admit it, we all thought it was over after the first 40mins at the Chiefs, so what can anyone take from the game after the second 40mins?The Reds beat the Highlanders, and with so many Aussie teams above Kiwi teams this year, are we seeing an Aussie Rugby Resurgence?
Paul is back in the hot seat this week running the cutter. Searley and Steve Devine join to chat all things Super Rugby from round 5.
With Paul away, Karl runs the cutter on a review of Super Rugby Round 4, a week where Kiwi teams struggled! He's joined by Piri Weepu and Jeff WIlson to discuss all things rugby union.
Welcome back to a new episode of the Pick and Go podcast. Searley joins us from the US and gives us a very brief update on how he did against the might of Las Vegas. Spoiler alert: He didn't win. Super Rugby doesn't look like slowing down anytime soon as games continue to be high-scoring affairs that either team could win. Should Super Rugby be inspired by the NRL and play a game outside of NZ? A controversial opinion, but has the loss of the Rebels improved the remaining Australian teams?
Welcome back to a new episode of the Pick and Go podcast. Piri Weepu, Searley and Paul are breaking down all the weekend's Super Rugby action and it was another blockbuster weekend of high scoring rugby. With Super Rugby being so high-scoring, so entertaining is it the best rugby product in the world right now and how does it compare to the 6 Nations currently being played. Will this new Super Rugby style translate into the All Blacks teams? What was the biggest upset in week 2?Finally we preview week 3, and will in be another high-scoring round?
Welcome back to a new episode of the Pick and Go podcast. Piri Weepu returns to the Pick and Go, what were his and Searley's thoughts on an exciting first round of Super Rugby. The BIG question of the week, is Super Rugby SUPER once again. With so many games coming down to the wire, and having a number of tries are we about to witness one heck of a season. The trio look back at all the weekend's action, and which team or result surprised them? With sports like golf having allocated party holes, or party rounds, is there something Super Rugby could do to create a party atmosphere? Will round 2 live up to the high bar set by round one or will we see teams find their defensive mindsets.
Welcome back to a new episode of the Pick and Go podcast. Joining us for the first time this season is Jeff Wilson and he joins Searle and Paul to look back at last week's rugby action. The 6 Nations gave us some impressive games, but the BIG question is what is going on with Wales.Should we be reading anything into Joe Schmidt's recent announcement to leave Australia. Of course, we have to talk about the Super Bowl. Is the Mahomes vs Brady debate over? We are also talking Rugby GOAT's who is the Super Rugby greatness of all time? With injuries to many teams for the start of the Super Rugby, will we see some unexpected results in the opening round? Who is winning the first game of the season between the Crusaders and the Hurricanes?
Welcome back to a new episode of the Pick and Go podcast. We are back, and just in time for the new season of Super Rugby. Of course that means we talk about NFL heading to Melbourne and NBA trades! We do get into the rugby and what the future holds for the Kiwi teams. Will the Crusaders be bouncing back after last year's unsuccessful season? Will the Blues go back to back? Which team will not be living up to expectations? All that and much, much more as we provide you with all the news, views and tips before the season opener.
Welcome back to the Pick and Go podcast. Paul is joined by Searle and Piri, who is once again a little late to the party. Today we are talking about the All Blacks eligibility rules, should they be changed? Are the rules hurting the All Blacks or protecting the domestic game? We breakdown the All Blacks vs Italy test match and review Razor's first year in charge of the All Blacks. Who rates this year as a success and who isn't so sure. Now the big award for the season, we are naming our All Black of the year, do we have agreement amongst the panel?
Welcome back to the Pick and Go podcast. Paul is joined by Jeff Wilson and a very late to the studio Piri Weepu. The French have conquered the All Blacks and stopped the AB's momentum, but is there reason to be cheerful about the performance or are there still some worrying signs that the ABs aren't progressing fast enough. South Aftrica also took on England and put in an impressive showing. Were South Africa good, or were England just poor? Lastly, what can be done about the officiating in rugby? Is the game being over refereed?
Welcome back to the Pick and Go podcast. Paul is joined by Piri and Searle to look at the weekend's big rugby action. The All Blacks chucked off the underdog name and defeated the Irish in a heated affair. Were the media and the bookies wrong to have labeled the ABs underdogs in the first place. Are we starting to see a new All Blacks side emerge under Razor's management? Also, with the rivalry continuing off the field, is this what rugby needs to get bums in seats. With Australia taking out England, are the Wallabies back in terms of a serious rugby threat? The panel look ahead to France and what is unique about playing the French that makes them such a dangerous team to play.
Welcome back to the Pick and Go podcast. Paul is joined by Piri and Blake Ayshford. Of course, from any good rugby podcast our trio is talking about snacks and toasted sandwiches and there might be some of the most controversial opinions we've had on the pod this year. The chaps are looking back at the England v All Blacks test. They look at what went right, what went wrong and how has cemented their place in the team going forward. As we start thinking about the next World Cup are there any players who are already on the team sheet.
Welcome back to the Pick and Go podcast! What a NPC final.100 minutes of action that was as good of an advertisement for the game as you could hope for. Piri, Paul and Searle will be breaking down all the key moments from Wellington's win.They'll also be looking at better ways to decide the outcome of drawn matches. Is the team with the most tries the best tiebreaker or should rugby take inspiration from soccer?Of course, the other big event coming up is the All Blacks facing England. This is still an All Blacks team that is in transition so do any of our panel think England have a chance against this unsettled ABs side?
Welcome back to the Pick and Go podcast. Paul is joined by Searle and Piri Weepu and they preview the upcoming game against Japan. Which players need to put in a solid performance to cement their place in the team and what position has the most competition for places? Of course, we can't not talk about the amazing weekend of sport where Kiwis took out the Women's T20 World Cup, America's Cup and had test match victories. But we get back to rugby by breaking down the NPC Semi-Finals and discussing who will win the NPC.
Welcome back to the Pick and Go podcast. Paul is joined by Searle and Piri Weepu and they are looking at changing the rules of Rugby Union. Should there be more points for kicking drop goals from further distances or would that slow down the game too much, or would a points increase actual give appropriate value to a very difficult skill? The NPC reaches the Semi-Final stage and the group have a number of hunches about who will make it through and who'll go on to win the entire competition. Even Piri gives a hunch after a long self-imposed hiatus. We start looking ahead to the Northern Tour and what effect it could have on the NPC going forward
Razor has picked his squad for the Northern Tour and how do our panel of Paul, Piri, Jeff and Searle rate it?Is this playing things a little too safe or is getting wins more important to build consistency?With any All Blacks squad there are those who have missed out, and with the squad looking like a series of safe picks, who do our panel think has been unlucky to not make the cut?With Auckland misses in the NPC quarter finals, should the area be concerned about their lack of representation.Finally the group break down each team's chances to make the NPC semi-finals.
Welcome back to the Pick and Go podcast.Paul is joined by Searle and Jeff Wilson as they dissect the Rugby Championship.With the Northern Tour now just around the corner, who hurt their chances of being in the squad and who has cemented their place in the squad?The big question is should NZ relax the stance on using overseas players, or would that weaken the domestic game?Rugby is under pressure like never before so would can be done to maintain the game?We look at the NPC coming up, will big teams be missing out on this year's playoffs?Lastly the trio make their Ranfurly Shield predictions.
Welcome back to the Pick and Go Podcast.The Bledisloe Cup is safely locked away for another year, so can we look back at this year's Rugby Championship as a success after all?With the cup done after one match, is there a way to keep the second test between the All Blacks and the Wallabies interesting?Despite the win, the ABs were given a scare against Australia once again struggled as the game went on, who do the panel think is keeping their place in the team moving forward?The NPC is about to enter its final stages who will be making a late run to finish the season?
Welcome back to the Pick and Go Podcast.The Bledisloe Cup returns and the All Blacks will be looking to turnaround their fortunes after two straight loses to the Springboks.Australia will also be hurting and will want to take advantage of an All Blacks team still undergoing a rebuild under Razor.With such an important game coming up, with so much riding on it, will Razor revert to a tried and tested team or still ring in the changes?The NPC continues to excite with a number of entertaining games coming up this weekend.
Welcome back to the Pick and Go podcast!The All Blacks are in an unfamiliar situation having lost 3 of their last 4 games - thank goodness for the Eden Park fortress - and could potentially be lacking a trophy.So, is this the time to panic, or merely a transition between coaching styles?If all this All Blacks talk is making you blue, then we can look to the red of Tasman who won the Ranfurly Shield in the final seconds.Speaking of the Ranfurly Shield, Piri gives us an insight into what happens after you win the shield and what players get up to.Lastly, the trio of Paul, Piri and Searle look ahead to the test match against Australia and with both teams needing to make a statement it's going to be an exciting match up.
Jeff Wilson joins Paul and Searle to review last weekend's performance agains the Springboks.What do our panel make of the knock-on? Does World Rugby need to improve its communication with fans and players when mistakes happen?Is there anything the AB's coaching staff can do to turn things around before their second test?Can Auckland get a win in the NPC and where has it all gone wrong?
The Rugby Championship is back after a break and they don't come much bigger than this! It is the South Africa vs All Blacks.The ABs will be looking to make a statement and perhaps gain a little revenge for their World Cup lose, but do Piri, Paul or Searle think this new look team has a chance agains the Springboks?NPC continues to get interesting and the trio look at which teams have impressed them this week and who already seems to be fighting a losing battle.Lastly, Piri reveals why you shouldn't go looking for your golf ball in the bushes in South Africa.
Please be aware that there were some sound issues with this podcastSearle joins the duo of Paul and Piri to take about the All Blacks demolition job of Argentina from Eden Par.Fears that the Wellington curse had rubbed off on Auckland and put the streak under threat were put to bed early as the lads talk about what went right in this test.The panel talk about this week's NPC games and start to look ahead the test matches against South Africa.
Paul and Piri, are joined by sporting legend Jeff Wilson and they are breaking down the All Black's lose to the Pumas.Is the Wellington stadium cursed, and if so, what is it about the Wellington stadium that seems to have the All Blacks struggling to find a win.Of course, this lose will mean the honeymoon period has been cut short and now people will be demanding a response, but what would happen if the Argies picked up a win at the fortress of Eden Park?There is plenty to go over and of course the boys are revealing their tips for this weekend's NPC fixtures.
Once again Piri, Paul and Searle are answering the bog questions.This week, which current All Blacks player would be the best 100m sprinter? The boys look at the possible All Blacks line up that could face the Pumas this weekend. Piri talks what happens after a game of rugby and what it takes to recover from an injury and how it changes the way you play on the field. The boys go over the opening fixtures of the NPC Comp
The boys go over Scott Robertson's squad for the upcoming Rugby Championship.Who are they excited to see play in the upcoming competition, and who they think was an interesting selection? Do Siri, Paul or Searle think we will start to see the playing style change during this Rugby Championship? The panel reflect on the NZ Sevens performance. The NPC Comp is only a week away and who do the boys think are good value, and may be a surprise package this season. They also attempt to big this season's winner.
The All Blacks went to San Diego with still a few questions hanging over them, and the trio of Paul Moaote, Piri Weepu and Israel Dagg look over the weekend's game to see if those questions have been answered.Which player impressed on debut? Has the win against Fiji silenced any potential Scott Robertson doubters?We also begin to look forward to the NPC competition starting and what teams will be making a push for the title
The All Blacks completed a 2-0 series win over England to give Razor the perfect start as All Blacks coach. How do Paul and Piri rate the All Blacks performance, and were England unlucky to leave NZ without at least one win to take home?All eyes now turn to San Diego where the All Blacks will be taking on Fiji.Will Scott Robertson make changes to the team to play the Fijians, as he attempts to impose his philosophy and style on the team?
So the All Blacks got it done in the first test against England…. but only just. How do the lads rate the performance of the performance of the new look All Blacks? Do they think England have a chance when they face the All Blacks at the fortress that is Eden Park. Paul asks Piri if playing at Eden Park and maintaining the winning streak adds pressure. Of course, after last week's shot clock controversy, Searle has his thoughts on how the system could be improved. Lastly, is there an England player who would make it into the All Blacks? Find out who the trio thinks would make it into All Blacks and more in this week's Pick and Go podcast.
Piri, Searle and Paul give their final thoughts on the Super Rugby Pacific 2024 season.Now the trio move onto the upcoming England test and who they believe will be in Razor's first All Blacks team.Will this time of transition leave the door open for a surprise England win or are the All Blacks still too strong for the visitors?Attention also begins to shift the NPC Competition.Paul's hunches have been coming thick and fast and he has another TV inspired call to make this week.
The Super Rugby Pacific season has come to an end and now our attention shifts towards the new look All Blacks.Before we discuss Razor's ABs squad, the boys talk about the final between the Blues and the Chiefs.Do they think the Blues are deserving winners?The trio also give a score for the Chiefs and Blues season.Of course the BIG NEWS this week is the new All Blacks squad being announced. The boys break down the surprise entries and misses and how they think the team will play against England.Does Robertson need to win his first game or will he be given time?
The boys are looking ahead to this weekend's Super Rugby Pacific Final. Do the Chiefs have a chance despite their injuries?With the All Blacks team naming coming up soon, Paul, Searle and Jeff Wilson try to predict who will make the team.Jeff Wilson gives us a facinating insight into what happens when you get the call that you've made the All Blacks.It's an exciting weekend ahead, so let's get into it.
Only four teams remain!It is Super Rugby Semi Final time and it has provided us with two mouth watering games to discuss.The boys have are almost finished naming the first AB's squad.There are hunches all around us as the panel interpret their dreams and in a bid to unravel what their hunches are telling them.