1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:01,160 Speaker 1: Brian Bridgewe. 2 00:00:01,400 --> 00:00:03,800 Speaker 2: Jason Heine is with US sports talk hosts lots to 3 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:07,360 Speaker 2: discuss Jason, Good afternoon, Good afternoon. Right, So the rugby 4 00:00:07,360 --> 00:00:10,200 Speaker 2: at the weekend seems to have got everyone quite fizzed up. 5 00:00:10,640 --> 00:00:13,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think so. You know, it's a good formula, 6 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:15,880 Speaker 1: isn't it the start of a season. Lots of tries, 7 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:19,880 Speaker 1: close matches, couple of one pointers, all three of the 8 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:23,280 Speaker 1: Australian sides who played had a win, and we will 9 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:25,439 Speaker 1: know that we want a competitive competition. We can't just 10 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:28,600 Speaker 1: have the New Zealand sides dominating year after year after year, 11 00:00:28,600 --> 00:00:31,480 Speaker 1: although that would be nice. But I think by all 12 00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:35,479 Speaker 1: metrics it's reached it's reached a really good level. I 13 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:38,600 Speaker 1: haven't seen any official viewer numbers, but anecdotally a couple 14 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:41,239 Speaker 1: of a couple of sources at Sky have told me 15 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:43,720 Speaker 1: that numbers were very, very high over the weekend. Good 16 00:00:43,720 --> 00:00:46,920 Speaker 1: people ting out at ground, So yeah, I think a 17 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:48,360 Speaker 1: lot to be happy about in the first week. 18 00:00:48,479 --> 00:00:51,640 Speaker 2: Have we had any numbers on how much play there 19 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:55,920 Speaker 2: was happening compared to before the rule changes which would 20 00:00:56,040 --> 00:00:57,440 Speaker 2: designed to speed things. 21 00:00:57,280 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 1: Up, Yeah, we had, olock. I haven't seen any impair 22 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 1: called data. But look again, anecdotally there were fewer stoppages 23 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:06,280 Speaker 1: over the weekend. Right, it was just obvious the play 24 00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:10,320 Speaker 1: was being was being encouraged to be played, you know, 25 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:14,080 Speaker 1: the shot clocks and the time limits now on setting 26 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:16,000 Speaker 1: scrums and getting the ball to line out, all that stuff. 27 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:18,440 Speaker 1: I think it's you know, it's a really promising start. 28 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:21,760 Speaker 1: The officials played their part, the teams obviously did as well. 29 00:01:21,760 --> 00:01:23,800 Speaker 1: There was a lot of fatigue, which I love. That's 30 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:25,640 Speaker 1: what's supposed to happen. You know, you run until you 31 00:01:25,680 --> 00:01:29,039 Speaker 1: can't run anymore, they'll bring somebody else on. So yeah, look, 32 00:01:29,080 --> 00:01:31,240 Speaker 1: I think a really promising start. Yes, there's still a 33 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:33,080 Speaker 1: bit of work to do, but yeah, I don't think 34 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:35,399 Speaker 1: they could have wanted for a better, better opening weekend 35 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 1: of Super Rugby this year. 36 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 2: Absolutely not even a few streakers for good measure. 37 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:43,120 Speaker 1: Indeed, I don't know whether that's a lie or a 38 00:01:43,120 --> 00:01:46,199 Speaker 1: spreadsheet but if for the steamer can ticket as well. 39 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:54,000 Speaker 2: There certainly some spreadsheet spread photos at the end of it. 40 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:57,240 Speaker 2: Hey Aukland, you see, so they are now five points 41 00:01:57,280 --> 00:01:58,960 Speaker 2: clear of the pack in the A League. 42 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:01,120 Speaker 1: They could win the whole thing. I was driving in 43 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:03,640 Speaker 1: today thinking at what point do we start to say, 44 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:07,040 Speaker 1: you know what, in their first season Auckland FC could 45 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:09,320 Speaker 1: win the A League because if you're not, you know, 46 00:02:09,760 --> 00:02:12,640 Speaker 1: a believer now you won't be. I look back to 47 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:16,000 Speaker 1: last season, similar stage and the team who won it 48 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:19,160 Speaker 1: last year the regular season at the same stage had 49 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:23,080 Speaker 1: eight fewer points than Auckland have now, So look that 50 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:25,639 Speaker 1: they are looking every inch a team that will if 51 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:27,880 Speaker 1: they don't win, it will go very very deep in 52 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:31,320 Speaker 1: their first season. Massive game coming up on Saturday, Ryan 53 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:34,120 Speaker 1: with the third derby. Wellington Phoenix have had an unhappy 54 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:37,160 Speaker 1: season by comparison, but that won't matter on Saturday. Jam 55 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:39,440 Speaker 1: Pac mount Smart. The forecast is good, said to be 56 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:42,120 Speaker 1: another great occasion. So yeah, Auckland FC making every post 57 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:44,240 Speaker 1: a winner and it wouldn't be a surprise at all 58 00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:45,880 Speaker 1: at the back end of May to see them holding 59 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:46,560 Speaker 1: some silverware. 60 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:48,680 Speaker 2: Brilliant Jason, great to have you on as always. Jason 61 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:50,440 Speaker 2: Pine will be with you tonight at seven o'clock on 62 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:51,520 Speaker 2: News Talk Said Beat. 63 00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:54,120 Speaker 1: For more from Heather Duplessy Allen Drave. 64 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:57,679 Speaker 2: Listen live to News Talks it'd be from four pm weekdays, 65 00:02:57,800 --> 00:02:59,960 Speaker 2: or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.