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Super Rugby Pacific

Rugby Pass Podcast: The Barrett vs Cruden Conundrum

THOUGHTFULKISSER

This week Scotty Stevenson has a bye so Mark Stafford steps in to host. He’s joined by Daniel Richardson, a former journalist and commentator. Mark and Daniel discuss the cracker Sunwolves / Jaguares match which Scotty rightly predicted would result in a win to the Japanese team. They also discuss the Jason Emery 4 week ban for a dangerous tackle, rave about the Beauden Barrett / Aaron Cruden matchup, give Damian McKenzie his dues and look ahead to the games for this weekend’s Super Rugby competition. 

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Will the Northampton playmaking axis return for England at the Six Nations?

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Comments on RugbyPass

N
NB 7 minutes ago
Will the Northampton playmaking axis return for England at the Six Nations?

Natural progression of pro rugby Toko. With the academies grooved in the physical developments occur far earlier, and some of the mental ones too!

70 Go to comments
N
NB 9 minutes ago
Will the Northampton playmaking axis return for England at the Six Nations?

He’s the guy who has transferred from Tonga to the ABs right?

70 Go to comments
N
NB 9 minutes ago
Will the Northampton playmaking axis return for England at the Six Nations?



Northampton v Bulls just now will be interesting

Not for very long Toko!



...

70 Go to comments
N
NB 10 minutes ago
Will the Northampton playmaking axis return for England at the Six Nations?

I don’t see France being ably to play through Eng at will P. The ABs picked a big back row against Eng and never looked like they could do it.

Eng’s biggets concern right now is finding the right bloke to repalce Will Stuart!



...

70 Go to comments
N
NB 13 minutes ago
Will the Northampton playmaking axis return for England at the Six Nations?



The blocking law change has created a bit of a renaissance for Steward though.

Not so much on D tho. Time was if you kicked to Freddie with a protective shield around him it was 100% a clean catch. But even he is suffering in a one on one contest v the chaser now. The chaser can always do enough to prevent a clean receipt now.



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70 Go to comments
N
NB 18 minutes ago
Will the Northampton playmaking axis return for England at the Six Nations?

Yes Jack Willis is one player who could even improve the current Eng back row. He’s tall at 6’3 so can win lineout and he has enough 8 about him to do some heavy carry work. That is one aspect of his game which has improved hugely at Toulouse.

I’d still have Sam Underhill at 7 though.😉



...

70 Go to comments
N
NB 21 minutes ago
Will the Northampton playmaking axis return for England at the Six Nations?

Only a matter of time before George Hendy makes a big Eng 23-man squad surely…

70 Go to comments
N
NB 21 minutes ago
Will the Northampton playmaking axis return for England at the Six Nations?

Young Henry is creating a bit of a problem for himself isn’t he? Even as a Saint he’s cast mostly as a ‘finisher’ not a ‘starter’. Does he want to be a run-on player, or the world’s best relief pitcher?

Right now you have to start Ben Earl because he is far more robust on heavy carries than Henry. Can you imagine Henry carrying over 20 times versus the ABs as Earl did? No.



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70 Go to comments
N
NB 24 minutes ago
Will the Northampton playmaking axis return for England at the Six Nations?

Even in the cnetres which has been a bone of contention in the last two pieces, there are plenty of blokes who can handle both 12 and 13 comfortably - Slade, Lawrence and Ojomoh. So it really comes down to the finding the right combination of skills and personalities there, not simply ‘picking the best player’.

70 Go to comments
N
NB 27 minutes ago
Will the Northampton playmaking axis return for England at the Six Nations?

It brings an AFL element to the game so I’d guess we’ll see more Mick Byrnes involved in rugby coaching before very long!

Whether rugby wants to move further along that track is an interesting question, at this stage impossible to answer.



...

70 Go to comments
J
JW 28 minutes ago
Top five individual performances for the All Blacks in 2025



There were some outstanding individual performances in 2025 for the All Blacks

Really? I can’t remember any.



...

1 Go to comments
J
JW 32 minutes ago
Something all rugby fans need to remember... particularly Bok fans



At least most rugby fans don’t loot city centres after our teams lose or are subjected to water cannon dispersion techniques when things don’t go our way.

I’m told that was the vibe of the streets of Auckland in 2011.



...

79 Go to comments
N
NB 32 minutes ago
Will the Northampton playmaking axis return for England at the Six Nations?

Fair summary GVF. A weakened Bulls side team but it leave only the Stormers looking likely to advance in Europe this season…

Saints have the best integrated attack in the Prem and you can see the likes of Mitchell, Fin, Dingwall, Freeman and Furbank being involved with Eng for years to come. George Hendy too. That boy is a player.



...

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W
Wayneo 50 minutes ago
Watch: Anton Lienert-Brown plays part in two tries on debut in Japan

Man alive, that was horrible!

2 Go to comments
B
Btodd13 51 minutes ago
Will the Northampton playmaking axis return for England at the Six Nations?

Absolutely agree with this, especially when you have Dingwall at 12 aswell.

Hendy has been very very good this season and now furbanks back he's moved to the wing where he's scoring tries for fun in the last 2 games. To think they've still got Freeman to add into their backline aswell is quite something.



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70 Go to comments
B
Btodd13 54 minutes ago
Henry Pollock's Northampton Saints put Bulls to the sword

To think they're missing Freeman and Todaro to from that backline aswell. Fin Smith exceptional aswell.

9 Go to comments
C
Chris Whitfield 1 hour ago
Something all rugby fans need to remember... particularly Bok fans

Oh dear. Perhaps read my comment again. Back to the Thesaurus with you, Eric

79 Go to comments
G
GrahamVF 1 hour ago
Will the Northampton playmaking axis return for England at the Six Nations?

Watched Saints give the Bulls last rites yesterday. Pollock playing off No 10. Reminds me of a young Bobby Skinstadt. Going to be interesting to see how (if) Rassie can nullify the Saints attack which I presume will be wearing white come the summer yours to the Douth. From what I have watched recently England are going to be a very heavyweight factor in 2027.

70 Go to comments
J
JW 3 hours ago
Something all rugby fans need to remember... particularly Bok fans

Yes the comparison with Dan Carter is most strange, given that he doesn’t even play like him.

It was so much easier come onto the scene and dazzle back in his day, and defences didn’t normally need to worry about the 10. Carter played 12 as well and so wasn’t afraid to run through massive Lions holes. Is the comparison just due to Sascha being able to run through the best defenses, or is that weve just not had a first five hit the scene quite like Carter did before now?



...

79 Go to comments
J
JW 4 hours ago
Watch: Anton Lienert-Brown plays part in two tries on debut in Japan

AI dubs worse that mums foreign soaps.

2 Go to comments
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