1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,427 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:12,067 Speaker 1: from Newstalks. 3 00:00:11,587 --> 00:00:16,027 Speaker 2: EDB qualifying final. They had their moments as per usual, 4 00:00:16,107 --> 00:00:19,427 Speaker 2: including a memorial win over the Chiefs and round robin. 5 00:00:19,787 --> 00:00:25,347 Speaker 3: Full time a boil over in the Capitol. The table 6 00:00:25,507 --> 00:00:31,187 Speaker 3: toppers toppled twenty six unanswered points in the second half 7 00:00:31,227 --> 00:00:38,387 Speaker 3: by the Hurricanes, courtesy mainly of Balen Sullivan, a four try. 8 00:00:38,307 --> 00:00:41,067 Speaker 2: Bonanza for him in the second half. 9 00:00:41,267 --> 00:00:46,427 Speaker 3: Full time Hurricanes thirty five, Chiefs seventeen. 10 00:00:46,667 --> 00:00:48,387 Speaker 2: So the Hurricanes have to wait for a bit before 11 00:00:48,427 --> 00:00:50,787 Speaker 2: they get going. They have the first round by then 12 00:00:50,907 --> 00:00:54,867 Speaker 2: host Mauana pacifica Friday, the twentieth of February. Then they're 13 00:00:54,907 --> 00:00:57,627 Speaker 2: away against the Drawer and the Waratahs and at home 14 00:00:57,947 --> 00:01:01,467 Speaker 2: to the Force. Hurricanes head coach is Clark Laidlaw who 15 00:01:01,507 --> 00:01:04,347 Speaker 2: joins us now by in the first round. Clark, is 16 00:01:04,347 --> 00:01:06,947 Speaker 2: that a good thing, a bad thing, or or neither 17 00:01:06,987 --> 00:01:07,867 Speaker 2: of those things? 18 00:01:08,427 --> 00:01:10,187 Speaker 4: Yeah, well, no choice about it. So we just got 19 00:01:10,187 --> 00:01:13,947 Speaker 4: to We've got to accept it, I guess I think 20 00:01:13,987 --> 00:01:16,667 Speaker 4: after you know what, we had five weeks since Christmas, 21 00:01:17,067 --> 00:01:22,027 Speaker 4: back end, two preseason games, you know, reintegrating. You're all 22 00:01:22,027 --> 00:01:26,227 Speaker 4: blacks it's been a hectic five weeks. So I think 23 00:01:26,267 --> 00:01:27,907 Speaker 4: the plat side is we can take a your breath 24 00:01:27,907 --> 00:01:30,787 Speaker 4: this week and sort of a deload week physically and mentally, 25 00:01:30,827 --> 00:01:34,707 Speaker 4: and we've got a camp up in Parmi to spend 26 00:01:34,707 --> 00:01:37,827 Speaker 4: some time together up there and take a breath as 27 00:01:37,827 --> 00:01:40,587 Speaker 4: we gather with thoughts and then get ready for Milana. 28 00:01:40,787 --> 00:01:43,307 Speaker 2: I look at the schedule for you. The games against 29 00:01:43,307 --> 00:01:45,707 Speaker 2: the other New Zealand sides in many respects are back 30 00:01:45,747 --> 00:01:49,427 Speaker 2: louded your last five of the season Crusider's, Molana Blues, 31 00:01:49,467 --> 00:01:53,587 Speaker 2: Highlanders and Crusiders again to end the regular season. Will 32 00:01:53,587 --> 00:01:56,787 Speaker 2: that need a bit of forward planet, Yeah. 33 00:01:56,627 --> 00:01:58,907 Speaker 4: I think so. I mean, you know, one thing I've 34 00:01:58,987 --> 00:02:00,507 Speaker 4: learned over the last couple of year is probably week 35 00:02:00,547 --> 00:02:03,307 Speaker 4: to week and make sure you try and do as 36 00:02:03,347 --> 00:02:05,667 Speaker 4: well as you can. But yeah, certainly after that that 37 00:02:05,827 --> 00:02:10,627 Speaker 4: second we run into a big block of games where 38 00:02:10,627 --> 00:02:14,267 Speaker 4: it need to be pretty thoughtful around how we use 39 00:02:14,347 --> 00:02:17,307 Speaker 4: the squad. You know, with two six day turnarounds in 40 00:02:17,347 --> 00:02:21,867 Speaker 4: the Crusader games twice, which is you know anomally I 41 00:02:21,867 --> 00:02:23,507 Speaker 4: guess in the draw, but we do have an eight 42 00:02:23,547 --> 00:02:27,627 Speaker 4: day turn round into the second Milanna games. So I 43 00:02:27,667 --> 00:02:29,747 Speaker 4: think there's an opportunity there for maybe like a mini 44 00:02:29,787 --> 00:02:31,627 Speaker 4: buy where we try and give the men, you know, 45 00:02:31,667 --> 00:02:35,427 Speaker 4: a few extra days off to recharge. As you say, 46 00:02:35,427 --> 00:02:38,147 Speaker 4: into that last block of games before playoffs, you. 47 00:02:38,107 --> 00:02:40,627 Speaker 2: Went down twenty nine nil to the Chief shasterday. Obviously 48 00:02:40,627 --> 00:02:43,787 Speaker 2: it's any price sizing, but any concerns coming out of 49 00:02:43,787 --> 00:02:44,867 Speaker 2: the game yesterday. 50 00:02:44,467 --> 00:02:47,947 Speaker 4: For you, well, I think if we look at the 51 00:02:47,947 --> 00:02:50,427 Speaker 4: two weeks mother than just the one game, where we're 52 00:02:50,427 --> 00:02:52,587 Speaker 4: pretty sort of happy where we're at. You know, all 53 00:02:52,587 --> 00:02:54,387 Speaker 4: of the boys have had rugby for the most part 54 00:02:55,307 --> 00:02:58,667 Speaker 4: part from a couple of all backs, no serious injuries 55 00:02:58,667 --> 00:03:01,347 Speaker 4: over the two weeks, which you know, which is a 56 00:03:01,347 --> 00:03:04,307 Speaker 4: good thing. And I think up to fifty minutes yesterday 57 00:03:04,347 --> 00:03:06,187 Speaker 4: it was you know, it was quite an even game 58 00:03:06,467 --> 00:03:09,667 Speaker 4: five mil for that for a long period we felt 59 00:03:09,707 --> 00:03:12,387 Speaker 4: like we had a lot of opportunities to score. Some 60 00:03:12,507 --> 00:03:15,987 Speaker 4: of the skill set stuff wasn't as good it needs 61 00:03:15,987 --> 00:03:17,147 Speaker 4: to be. I thought the Chiefs, you know, they have 62 00:03:17,147 --> 00:03:19,187 Speaker 4: a step up from playing the Blues last week is 63 00:03:19,227 --> 00:03:21,347 Speaker 4: as most teams are that second week. So their defense 64 00:03:21,347 --> 00:03:25,147 Speaker 4: put us on a bit more pressure, which was good. 65 00:03:25,587 --> 00:03:27,747 Speaker 4: And yeah, the last sort of thirty minutes we felt, 66 00:03:27,827 --> 00:03:29,467 Speaker 4: you know, we dropped off a little bit, which was 67 00:03:29,507 --> 00:03:32,827 Speaker 4: a little bit disappointing, I guess in terms of the 68 00:03:32,867 --> 00:03:37,387 Speaker 4: physicality we you know, we we didn't feel like we 69 00:03:37,387 --> 00:03:39,707 Speaker 4: we won many races around the contact. You know, we 70 00:03:39,787 --> 00:03:41,627 Speaker 4: thought the Chiefs were maybe a bit sharper there. So 71 00:03:41,667 --> 00:03:43,947 Speaker 4: there's definitely a couple of things for us to you know, 72 00:03:44,147 --> 00:03:47,227 Speaker 4: take from that game and and get across as we 73 00:03:47,267 --> 00:03:48,067 Speaker 4: head toward the mona. 74 00:03:48,587 --> 00:03:50,187 Speaker 2: Let's have look at your squad. One of your key 75 00:03:50,267 --> 00:03:53,707 Speaker 2: guynes has been kay Wee Bone, Japanese lock Warner Dunes. 76 00:03:53,987 --> 00:03:55,707 Speaker 2: Has he fitted in and what are you hoping to 77 00:03:55,747 --> 00:03:57,067 Speaker 2: say from him this season? 78 00:03:58,107 --> 00:04:00,507 Speaker 4: Yeah, he's feeling real good. He's a pretty low key character, 79 00:04:01,547 --> 00:04:03,427 Speaker 4: sort of gets on with his work and he's coming 80 00:04:03,467 --> 00:04:05,267 Speaker 4: out of shell a little bit now as we sort 81 00:04:05,267 --> 00:04:06,507 Speaker 4: of all get to know him a little bit. And 82 00:04:07,747 --> 00:04:10,267 Speaker 4: over the two weeks, like you know, yesterday in particularly 83 00:04:10,347 --> 00:04:13,147 Speaker 4: set piece workers is really encouraging. He puts a lot 84 00:04:13,147 --> 00:04:16,267 Speaker 4: of pressure defensively on the line out and he's obviously 85 00:04:16,307 --> 00:04:18,547 Speaker 4: a tall man for the you know, for for us 86 00:04:18,587 --> 00:04:21,867 Speaker 4: around our game possession there. So so that's good and 87 00:04:21,907 --> 00:04:23,627 Speaker 4: you know, and he's gonna lamb you know, around the 88 00:04:23,787 --> 00:04:25,787 Speaker 4: around the field. When he need to load his body 89 00:04:25,787 --> 00:04:28,787 Speaker 4: height both sides of the ball, you know, we'll we'll 90 00:04:28,787 --> 00:04:30,547 Speaker 4: can help them with that and the game will demand 91 00:04:30,547 --> 00:04:33,107 Speaker 4: that of him. You know, he's he's a big man 92 00:04:33,187 --> 00:04:35,747 Speaker 4: up in Japan and he plays in the Japanese league, 93 00:04:35,787 --> 00:04:38,227 Speaker 4: so you know, maybe low on his body a little 94 00:04:38,227 --> 00:04:39,707 Speaker 4: bit as he gets to wads those collision there'll be 95 00:04:39,747 --> 00:04:41,427 Speaker 4: a good little work on for him. But yeah, we're 96 00:04:41,427 --> 00:04:42,627 Speaker 4: really enjoying them in the team. 97 00:04:42,787 --> 00:04:46,227 Speaker 2: Jordy Barrett returns from his sabbatical on Ireland. Josh mobiles 98 00:04:46,427 --> 00:04:48,827 Speaker 2: back after a year playing in France. You haven't lost 99 00:04:48,867 --> 00:04:50,747 Speaker 2: too many players, Clark, I look at the roster. Is 100 00:04:50,787 --> 00:04:54,307 Speaker 2: this the strongest squad you've had us? Hurrah Kane's head couch. 101 00:04:56,227 --> 00:04:58,947 Speaker 4: Yeah, I think so certainly around that cohesion piece, you know, 102 00:04:58,987 --> 00:05:02,587 Speaker 4: we we have players over the last two or three years, 103 00:05:03,227 --> 00:05:06,267 Speaker 4: you know, with keeps the experience around like a key. 104 00:05:07,667 --> 00:05:10,027 Speaker 4: You know, Dane Cole finished the year before Harvey obviously 105 00:05:10,067 --> 00:05:13,667 Speaker 4: took off, so there's there's been players leave, but it's definitely, 106 00:05:14,427 --> 00:05:16,787 Speaker 4: you know, a strong squad. You know, got some depth, 107 00:05:18,747 --> 00:05:20,227 Speaker 4: but we can't rely on that, you know, we need 108 00:05:20,267 --> 00:05:22,307 Speaker 4: to prepare a while each week and make sure we 109 00:05:22,427 --> 00:05:25,427 Speaker 4: turn up with a with a right archude, something we've 110 00:05:25,427 --> 00:05:28,627 Speaker 4: already talked about as that. You know, just because you've 111 00:05:28,627 --> 00:05:31,107 Speaker 4: got a squad that you think can go deep and 112 00:05:32,027 --> 00:05:33,787 Speaker 4: in positions, you get a couple of injuries and it 113 00:05:33,787 --> 00:05:36,347 Speaker 4: can change quickly on you. So yeah, we just got 114 00:05:36,387 --> 00:05:40,067 Speaker 4: to prepare proper each week and get that part right 115 00:05:40,147 --> 00:05:41,747 Speaker 4: and then see where it takes us. 116 00:05:42,107 --> 00:05:45,387 Speaker 2: Always a real fascination about Rubin Love and where he's 117 00:05:45,427 --> 00:05:47,547 Speaker 2: gonna play. Is he going to get a crack in 118 00:05:47,547 --> 00:05:49,987 Speaker 2: the teen jersey again this season or is he more 119 00:05:50,027 --> 00:05:52,027 Speaker 2: likely to be at fifteen? You got Brett Cameron Nicolls 120 00:05:53,307 --> 00:05:55,707 Speaker 2: a very accomplished first five. What do we what's your 121 00:05:55,707 --> 00:05:57,107 Speaker 2: thinking around Rubin Love this season? 122 00:05:58,107 --> 00:06:00,907 Speaker 4: Yeah, I bet I both. I would think. You know, 123 00:06:00,947 --> 00:06:04,187 Speaker 4: he played about of ten yesterday. Brett had a little 124 00:06:04,187 --> 00:06:06,467 Speaker 4: bit of a sort of illness over two sets for 125 00:06:06,587 --> 00:06:08,787 Speaker 4: weeks since Christmas. That's what them down and we touched 126 00:06:08,787 --> 00:06:12,067 Speaker 4: it has got really good pre Christmas, so he's just 127 00:06:12,067 --> 00:06:15,867 Speaker 4: getting back into a full training in the last ten days. 128 00:06:16,227 --> 00:06:19,587 Speaker 4: So yeah, we genuinely see both them competing for that position. 129 00:06:20,427 --> 00:06:22,227 Speaker 4: You know, it's good to have too. What calm Harkin 130 00:06:22,267 --> 00:06:25,707 Speaker 4: could play there. Lucas Cashmore had a good preseason. It 131 00:06:25,787 --> 00:06:28,547 Speaker 4: might depend on you know, who plays twelve, who plays fifteen, 132 00:06:29,867 --> 00:06:33,187 Speaker 4: those sort of combinations. So as usual at this time 133 00:06:33,227 --> 00:06:35,227 Speaker 4: of the year, we hope we'll have those sort of 134 00:06:35,227 --> 00:06:38,067 Speaker 4: discussions and decisions to make to healthy bodies. 135 00:06:38,307 --> 00:06:41,827 Speaker 2: And Jason Holland has come back into the Hurricanes coaching 136 00:06:42,027 --> 00:06:44,387 Speaker 2: set up. The hell have you sort of integrated him 137 00:06:44,427 --> 00:06:47,187 Speaker 2: and I mean, obviously it's a pretty experienced rugby couch, 138 00:06:47,187 --> 00:06:49,667 Speaker 2: but have you divided the responsibilities and what will they 139 00:06:49,667 --> 00:06:50,547 Speaker 2: be looking after for you? 140 00:06:51,467 --> 00:06:55,387 Speaker 4: Yeah, he's working with Brad Cooper and Britain Evans around 141 00:06:55,387 --> 00:06:58,547 Speaker 4: the attacking signs of a game. He's got a great 142 00:06:58,547 --> 00:07:00,747 Speaker 4: eye for detail. He's got, you know, as you say, 143 00:07:00,827 --> 00:07:04,147 Speaker 4: really experience around the game and what works, how we 144 00:07:04,187 --> 00:07:06,227 Speaker 4: keep my monumental game. It's a big part of what 145 00:07:06,427 --> 00:07:07,827 Speaker 4: want to try and do, so how we use a 146 00:07:07,867 --> 00:07:11,627 Speaker 4: kicking game in momentum game if teams are on top defensively. 147 00:07:11,747 --> 00:07:13,827 Speaker 4: So so yeah, he's got a sort of wide ranging 148 00:07:15,187 --> 00:07:17,507 Speaker 4: eye on the game, but in particular phrase and count 149 00:07:17,547 --> 00:07:21,067 Speaker 4: and tann over attack And he's good for me and 150 00:07:21,227 --> 00:07:23,067 Speaker 4: he you know, he's been a head coach for a 151 00:07:23,107 --> 00:07:25,107 Speaker 4: number of years. Having somebody with that sort of second 152 00:07:25,107 --> 00:07:28,307 Speaker 4: set of eyes. He's got the experience of a weekly 153 00:07:28,347 --> 00:07:32,227 Speaker 4: flow in the field of the bigger picture. You know, 154 00:07:32,267 --> 00:07:33,867 Speaker 4: it'll be good for me to be able to lean 155 00:07:33,907 --> 00:07:38,987 Speaker 4: on him with his experience in different lens and things. So, yeah, 156 00:07:38,987 --> 00:07:42,907 Speaker 4: we're enjoying the men seems to be enjoying himself, And yeah, 157 00:07:43,147 --> 00:07:44,707 Speaker 4: it's been a great addition really. 158 00:07:44,867 --> 00:07:48,307 Speaker 2: And Hurricanes always contained us, always make the top six, 159 00:07:48,347 --> 00:07:50,547 Speaker 2: always there or there are bets and on your dy 160 00:07:50,587 --> 00:07:53,867 Speaker 2: can bid anybody. Have you thought about what it's going 161 00:07:53,907 --> 00:07:55,947 Speaker 2: to take to take that final step to win one 162 00:07:55,987 --> 00:07:57,867 Speaker 2: of these things for the first time in ten years. 163 00:07:59,267 --> 00:08:01,627 Speaker 4: Yeah, we think about it fair bit, as I'm sure 164 00:08:02,067 --> 00:08:07,427 Speaker 4: all the Hurricanes teams have for our ten years. You say, 165 00:08:07,507 --> 00:08:09,587 Speaker 4: we've got the game that can have teams, We've got 166 00:08:09,587 --> 00:08:11,187 Speaker 4: the game that can beat teams. Can we do it 167 00:08:11,227 --> 00:08:13,067 Speaker 4: on the on the biggest stage, on the biggest nights 168 00:08:13,107 --> 00:08:16,827 Speaker 4: with the consistency That comes down to how we prepare 169 00:08:16,867 --> 00:08:18,467 Speaker 4: every week. You know, that's going back to that week 170 00:08:18,467 --> 00:08:20,587 Speaker 4: to week. It's the habits and behaviors that we build 171 00:08:20,587 --> 00:08:23,507 Speaker 4: every day that will stand stand up under the pressure 172 00:08:23,547 --> 00:08:27,387 Speaker 4: of playoff rugby. So that's our focus, you know, for 173 00:08:27,427 --> 00:08:29,307 Speaker 4: the next two or three months, is to be good 174 00:08:29,387 --> 00:08:32,747 Speaker 4: enough to get into that top six and have the 175 00:08:32,787 --> 00:08:35,227 Speaker 4: game and the sort of behaviors and habits that will 176 00:08:35,227 --> 00:08:38,907 Speaker 4: stand up under the pressure of knockout rugby. So it's 177 00:08:38,947 --> 00:08:42,147 Speaker 4: an exciting few months ahead. But we're really looking forward 178 00:08:42,187 --> 00:08:44,867 Speaker 4: to this week just to take a breather and I 179 00:08:44,867 --> 00:08:47,227 Speaker 4: guess watch the competition, see what the referee is looking 180 00:08:47,267 --> 00:08:49,587 Speaker 4: like and seeing the sort of interpretations, get a little 181 00:08:49,667 --> 00:08:52,147 Speaker 4: look at it. We get to look at obviously Malana 182 00:08:52,227 --> 00:08:55,027 Speaker 4: play a live game where and they've only had one 183 00:08:55,067 --> 00:08:58,747 Speaker 4: trial game, so so that's all sort of positives. So yeah, 184 00:08:58,747 --> 00:08:59,747 Speaker 4: we're looking forward to this week. 185 00:08:59,787 --> 00:09:01,987 Speaker 2: Good man. Thanks clak I appreciate you taking the time. 186 00:09:02,027 --> 00:09:04,827 Speaker 2: Clak light Law, head coach of the Hurricanes, who I 187 00:09:04,867 --> 00:09:06,707 Speaker 2: have to sit and watch the first weekend. As Clark 188 00:09:06,747 --> 00:09:10,587 Speaker 2: mentioned there, they have the bye with an eleven team competition. 189 00:09:11,067 --> 00:09:13,387 Speaker 2: Simon says, how ridiculous the Canes start with a buye. Well, 190 00:09:13,427 --> 00:09:17,147 Speaker 2: I guess somebody has to, you know, I guess there's 191 00:09:17,307 --> 00:09:19,907 Speaker 2: always going to be one team that you know, stays 192 00:09:19,907 --> 00:09:22,347 Speaker 2: on the start line while the other ten get their 193 00:09:22,387 --> 00:09:25,667 Speaker 2: seasons going. I'm not sure and it's any more ridiculous 194 00:09:25,987 --> 00:09:29,027 Speaker 2: or otherwise than another team having the BUYE. I'll tell 195 00:09:29,027 --> 00:09:31,707 Speaker 2: you when you wouldn't want the buy super round, that's 196 00:09:31,747 --> 00:09:34,267 Speaker 2: when you don't want to have the BUYE. That's going 197 00:09:34,307 --> 00:09:37,267 Speaker 2: to be a great occasion across ANZAC weekend in christ Yet. 198 00:09:37,707 --> 00:09:40,867 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 199 00:09:40,987 --> 00:09:44,267 Speaker 1: to News Talk zed Be weekends from midday, or follow 200 00:09:44,307 --> 00:09:45,867 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.