1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,387 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,507 Speaker 1: from Newstalks. 3 00:00:11,587 --> 00:00:19,747 Speaker 2: Ed B says, what a heart stopper. The fighter no 4 00:00:20,027 --> 00:00:25,987 Speaker 2: here list, But it's the Crusaders who fight the way 5 00:00:26,867 --> 00:00:28,267 Speaker 2: Where don't they fight the way? 6 00:00:28,307 --> 00:00:28,427 Speaker 3: Here? 7 00:00:28,467 --> 00:00:32,227 Speaker 2: At christ Churs a playoff rugby. They'll host the final 8 00:00:32,387 --> 00:00:36,667 Speaker 2: next week. They've been at the Blues tweety what points 9 00:00:36,707 --> 00:00:37,387 Speaker 2: to forte? 10 00:00:37,707 --> 00:00:40,787 Speaker 4: That is the voice of Nick Beiley, Well the the 11 00:00:40,827 --> 00:00:44,067 Speaker 4: slightly shattered voice of Nick Bili, a match commentator for 12 00:00:44,187 --> 00:00:48,467 Speaker 4: Crusader's home games, brilliantly capturing the action as always. You've 13 00:00:48,467 --> 00:00:51,027 Speaker 4: got a final to course seven nights from now, neck, 14 00:00:51,107 --> 00:00:53,547 Speaker 4: Will that'd be enough time for your voice to recover? 15 00:00:55,107 --> 00:00:58,187 Speaker 3: Good afternoon, Finer. Yeah, I'm just that's a pretty croaky 16 00:00:58,267 --> 00:01:01,547 Speaker 3: nick yullie there last night. A couple of couple of 17 00:01:01,667 --> 00:01:04,947 Speaker 3: lemon and honey teas. Since then, I sort of back 18 00:01:04,987 --> 00:01:08,267 Speaker 3: to back to normal. But gee, was on an occasion 19 00:01:08,307 --> 00:01:10,467 Speaker 3: it was it was hard not to get caught up 20 00:01:10,507 --> 00:01:14,027 Speaker 3: and the emotion and the excitement of it. A couple 21 00:01:14,067 --> 00:01:16,867 Speaker 3: of Titans just going toe to toe what was it 22 00:01:16,987 --> 00:01:20,787 Speaker 3: thirty eight thirty nine phases? They're deep into injury time. 23 00:01:20,827 --> 00:01:24,147 Speaker 3: Could have easily gone to extra time, but just what 24 00:01:24,187 --> 00:01:27,227 Speaker 3: we want in semi finals football is an absolute ripper. 25 00:01:27,307 --> 00:01:30,067 Speaker 4: Yeah, you captured a beautifully an absolute armrest. Well, none 26 00:01:30,067 --> 00:01:33,387 Speaker 4: of this forty seven thirty nine defense optional rugman we've 27 00:01:33,467 --> 00:01:36,147 Speaker 4: seen at some stages of the round robin. What sense 28 00:01:36,187 --> 00:01:39,467 Speaker 4: did you get about the intensity lift in this game 29 00:01:39,507 --> 00:01:40,987 Speaker 4: compared to previous ones. 30 00:01:42,147 --> 00:01:45,187 Speaker 3: I was huge, and talking to some of the players postmatch, 31 00:01:45,947 --> 00:01:47,947 Speaker 3: they said it was right up there in terms of 32 00:01:47,947 --> 00:01:50,107 Speaker 3: super rugby sort of knocking on the door as to 33 00:01:50,147 --> 00:01:53,787 Speaker 3: what they come up with or come up against when 34 00:01:53,827 --> 00:01:56,027 Speaker 3: they put on an All Blacks jersey, which says plenty, 35 00:01:56,907 --> 00:01:58,907 Speaker 3: and it was right from the outset. Finally, I thought 36 00:01:58,947 --> 00:02:02,947 Speaker 3: the way that the Blues just started after how they 37 00:02:02,987 --> 00:02:05,987 Speaker 3: performed in Hamilton the previous week, they were right up 38 00:02:06,027 --> 00:02:10,267 Speaker 3: for it, jumping out to that fourteen erl lead. Every collision, 39 00:02:10,387 --> 00:02:12,587 Speaker 3: you know, they were just fighting to get over the 40 00:02:12,587 --> 00:02:15,947 Speaker 3: advantage line. Both teams big hits. Of course, we saw 41 00:02:15,987 --> 00:02:20,587 Speaker 3: a couple of unfortunate instances where you know, body position 42 00:02:20,707 --> 00:02:23,147 Speaker 3: wasn't great from the defender and there were yellow cards, 43 00:02:23,187 --> 00:02:26,307 Speaker 3: but it was just yeah, it was some of the 44 00:02:26,387 --> 00:02:28,787 Speaker 3: collisions were just you could almost hear them up in 45 00:02:28,827 --> 00:02:32,987 Speaker 3: the commentary position, and that just extended. It spilled over 46 00:02:33,067 --> 00:02:35,987 Speaker 3: even a couple of occasions where you know, the emotions 47 00:02:36,027 --> 00:02:39,107 Speaker 3: perhaps got the better of both teams, but it was 48 00:02:39,307 --> 00:02:43,107 Speaker 3: it was just something I haven't witnessed certainly this season 49 00:02:44,267 --> 00:02:48,627 Speaker 3: in terms of the intensity, the physicality, and no doubt 50 00:02:48,667 --> 00:02:50,027 Speaker 3: that will continue into next week. 51 00:02:50,147 --> 00:02:52,507 Speaker 4: Yeah, and driven by as you say, the emotion there 52 00:02:52,507 --> 00:02:54,707 Speaker 4: does There does seem to be some real feeling out there, 53 00:02:54,707 --> 00:02:57,147 Speaker 4: a number of skirmishes, the reef having to ask the 54 00:02:57,187 --> 00:03:00,987 Speaker 4: captains to calm their teams down severese shushing the Blues 55 00:03:01,027 --> 00:03:04,587 Speaker 4: at the end, is that fierce Auckland Canterbury rivalry that 56 00:03:04,667 --> 00:03:07,147 Speaker 4: rugby has been built on for many decks in this 57 00:03:07,227 --> 00:03:09,427 Speaker 4: country actually real again. 58 00:03:10,307 --> 00:03:13,267 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's a really interesting point you make, because I 59 00:03:13,347 --> 00:03:15,827 Speaker 3: get the sin. So I got the sin pre game 60 00:03:16,067 --> 00:03:20,707 Speaker 3: that in this era of professionalism where you know everyone 61 00:03:20,987 --> 00:03:22,667 Speaker 3: or there's a lot of crossover and you know, in 62 00:03:22,707 --> 00:03:25,867 Speaker 3: a few weeks time when the All Blacks assemble in Bay, France, 63 00:03:25,987 --> 00:03:29,787 Speaker 3: you know these guys are teammates, not rivals that that 64 00:03:29,907 --> 00:03:33,387 Speaker 3: had maybe dissipated a touch, But it did feel last 65 00:03:33,467 --> 00:03:36,907 Speaker 3: night like a throwback to the halcyon days where there 66 00:03:36,947 --> 00:03:40,387 Speaker 3: was absolutely no love loss. You are my enemy and 67 00:03:40,427 --> 00:03:42,667 Speaker 3: I must get through you, and I will do everything 68 00:03:42,707 --> 00:03:45,547 Speaker 3: in my power to get the job done for my team. 69 00:03:45,587 --> 00:03:49,227 Speaker 3: And I know the crowd loved it. There was, you know, 70 00:03:49,267 --> 00:03:52,907 Speaker 3: a cacophony of booing when a Blues player would make 71 00:03:52,947 --> 00:03:57,547 Speaker 3: an era or a blunder, and just to just overwhelming 72 00:03:57,707 --> 00:04:00,987 Speaker 3: noise when the Crusaders did something well. And I think 73 00:04:01,027 --> 00:04:05,707 Speaker 3: they did feed off of that rivalry of the glory days. 74 00:04:05,787 --> 00:04:08,707 Speaker 3: And actually, speaking of Crusaders coach Brad Moore back in 75 00:04:08,707 --> 00:04:10,627 Speaker 3: the day, you know he was one who was just 76 00:04:10,747 --> 00:04:13,987 Speaker 3: saying during the week in the build up that you 77 00:04:13,987 --> 00:04:16,267 Speaker 3: know he was there in nineteen eighty five at Lancaster 78 00:04:16,307 --> 00:04:18,627 Speaker 3: Park with Auckland wrestled the ran from the Shield away 79 00:04:18,627 --> 00:04:21,747 Speaker 3: from Canterbury. You've got guys like Rob Penny, the Crusader's coach, 80 00:04:21,787 --> 00:04:24,987 Speaker 3: have been around that Canterbury and Crusader's environment now for 81 00:04:25,427 --> 00:04:28,107 Speaker 3: a long long time. So I think they did lean 82 00:04:28,187 --> 00:04:33,507 Speaker 3: into that red blue Canterbary Auckland rivalry and I think 83 00:04:33,707 --> 00:04:35,627 Speaker 3: it's probably fair to stay it, though there'll be a 84 00:04:35,627 --> 00:04:38,387 Speaker 3: bit of recency bias that there was another chapter to 85 00:04:38,427 --> 00:04:39,467 Speaker 3: that legacy. 86 00:04:39,147 --> 00:04:42,507 Speaker 4: Indeed, and so the Crusaders into another final, which they 87 00:04:42,547 --> 00:04:46,787 Speaker 4: will host. With every passing week, twenty twenty four seems 88 00:04:46,787 --> 00:04:52,027 Speaker 4: more and more like an outlier and an inexplicable, unexplainable outlier. 89 00:04:52,107 --> 00:04:54,707 Speaker 4: What on earth happened there last year? 90 00:04:55,787 --> 00:04:58,507 Speaker 3: Well, funny you should say that. It was actually put 91 00:04:58,667 --> 00:05:03,067 Speaker 3: to Rob Penny that very question last week and his 92 00:05:03,227 --> 00:05:06,707 Speaker 3: simple answer was, well, we didn't have about a dozen plays. 93 00:05:06,787 --> 00:05:09,707 Speaker 3: And the follow up question was is it as simple 94 00:05:09,747 --> 00:05:12,107 Speaker 3: as that? And he just said, yes, Look, I think 95 00:05:12,147 --> 00:05:15,547 Speaker 3: it goes a little bit beyond that. However, when you 96 00:05:15,627 --> 00:05:19,507 Speaker 3: take Will Jordan out for a season, He's scored two 97 00:05:19,507 --> 00:05:22,707 Speaker 3: tries last night, When you take Scott Barrett out for 98 00:05:22,787 --> 00:05:24,907 Speaker 3: the majority of a season, we take Cody Taylor out 99 00:05:24,907 --> 00:05:26,987 Speaker 3: for the majority of the season, the Crusaders were down 100 00:05:27,467 --> 00:05:30,547 Speaker 3: to their fifth choice, first five eighth, and we know 101 00:05:30,587 --> 00:05:33,747 Speaker 3: how critical that position is in terms of getting to 102 00:05:33,867 --> 00:05:38,147 Speaker 3: the final and lifting a Super Rapie Trophy. It is 103 00:05:38,867 --> 00:05:43,147 Speaker 3: not necessarily an excuse, but it is important context around 104 00:05:43,347 --> 00:05:45,387 Speaker 3: the Crusaders twenty twenty four season. Or if you look 105 00:05:45,427 --> 00:05:50,427 Speaker 3: even deeper, there were six games last year Piney that 106 00:05:50,427 --> 00:05:53,067 Speaker 3: the Crusader's lost by seven points or less, and that 107 00:05:53,147 --> 00:05:57,267 Speaker 3: has become such a staple of Crusader's rugby over the 108 00:05:57,307 --> 00:05:59,867 Speaker 3: last three decades that they find a way to win. 109 00:06:00,147 --> 00:06:02,907 Speaker 3: Losing actually became a habit after so many years of 110 00:06:02,947 --> 00:06:06,267 Speaker 3: winning being a habit. So look, they changed a few 111 00:06:06,667 --> 00:06:09,747 Speaker 3: they changed some personnel around the captaincy and the leadership group. 112 00:06:09,787 --> 00:06:12,627 Speaker 3: I think David Harvely has risen to that occasion. Not 113 00:06:12,667 --> 00:06:15,787 Speaker 3: to say that Scott Barrett hasn't still been a leader 114 00:06:15,827 --> 00:06:17,747 Speaker 3: up there for the Crusaders, but it's just easy to 115 00:06:17,787 --> 00:06:22,747 Speaker 3: workload off him and there's just a real purpose to 116 00:06:22,867 --> 00:06:26,907 Speaker 3: turn things around after what happened last year. And look, 117 00:06:27,987 --> 00:06:31,747 Speaker 3: you've got your hat to Crusaders at board level land 118 00:06:31,747 --> 00:06:35,187 Speaker 3: management too for perhaps you know, making it, making what 119 00:06:35,227 --> 00:06:38,667 Speaker 3: could have been a difficult decision at least externally, with 120 00:06:38,667 --> 00:06:41,427 Speaker 3: all the noise and pressure going around, to stay with 121 00:06:41,987 --> 00:06:44,387 Speaker 3: Rob Penny and the status quo to back this team. 122 00:06:44,867 --> 00:06:47,187 Speaker 3: And look where they are now. They're the proofers in 123 00:06:47,227 --> 00:06:47,547 Speaker 3: the putting. 124 00:06:47,827 --> 00:06:52,427 Speaker 4: So the life cycle of the wonderful Apollo Projects Stadium 125 00:06:52,987 --> 00:06:56,467 Speaker 4: is extended by another week. I asked David Harvely this earlier, 126 00:06:56,507 --> 00:06:59,147 Speaker 4: this hour. I'll ask you as well, will any part 127 00:06:59,187 --> 00:07:02,827 Speaker 4: of you be sorry to say goodbye to Addington. 128 00:07:04,307 --> 00:07:08,347 Speaker 3: Cooh my, look the core of me won't I have to. 129 00:07:08,627 --> 00:07:10,667 Speaker 3: I tend to thaw out for a couple of hours 130 00:07:10,707 --> 00:07:14,387 Speaker 3: after being at a Polo Project Stadium fining. But look, 131 00:07:14,667 --> 00:07:16,787 Speaker 3: I think Brad Moore actually made a really good point 132 00:07:17,027 --> 00:07:19,427 Speaker 3: earlier in the week reflecting on the history of Polo 133 00:07:19,427 --> 00:07:23,347 Speaker 3: Project Stadium and adding to big picture. Where would the 134 00:07:23,347 --> 00:07:26,827 Speaker 3: Crusaders be without what was formerly known as Ragpia League 135 00:07:26,867 --> 00:07:30,667 Speaker 3: Park posted twenty eleven earthquakes, with no Lancaster Park, no home. 136 00:07:31,907 --> 00:07:35,987 Speaker 3: They stood that stadium up in about one hundred days 137 00:07:36,827 --> 00:07:41,427 Speaker 3: and there's been some cherished memories there. Yes, it's a 138 00:07:41,507 --> 00:07:46,347 Speaker 3: tough sell for the punter. It is extraordinarily cold, particularly 139 00:07:46,347 --> 00:07:50,627 Speaker 3: at this time of the year. But yeah, I think 140 00:07:50,667 --> 00:07:53,307 Speaker 3: I will miss parts of it based on the memories 141 00:07:53,307 --> 00:07:56,067 Speaker 3: that have been made there. But look, it goes without 142 00:07:56,147 --> 00:08:00,267 Speaker 3: saying undeniably so I cannot wait to be in that 143 00:08:00,347 --> 00:08:05,667 Speaker 3: central city enclosed arena to Kaha this time next year 144 00:08:05,987 --> 00:08:09,587 Speaker 3: and and move forward into a new chapter with a 145 00:08:09,627 --> 00:08:14,107 Speaker 3: permanent home for the Crusaders and Canterbury Sport and Canterbury Events. 146 00:08:14,147 --> 00:08:15,147 Speaker 3: It's going to be fantastic. 147 00:08:15,427 --> 00:08:18,187 Speaker 4: Well, A year ago you had to watch on as 148 00:08:18,187 --> 00:08:20,307 Speaker 4: other members of the Gold Sport commentary team got to 149 00:08:20,347 --> 00:08:23,787 Speaker 4: call finals matches. You will be last man standing in 150 00:08:23,827 --> 00:08:26,147 Speaker 4: twenty twenty five, so the rest of the voice terrific 151 00:08:26,147 --> 00:08:28,147 Speaker 4: work last night, look forward to your call of the 152 00:08:28,187 --> 00:08:29,747 Speaker 4: final seven nights from now mate. 153 00:08:29,947 --> 00:08:32,467 Speaker 3: Thank you finding it's an absolute privilege and thanks to 154 00:08:32,467 --> 00:08:34,627 Speaker 3: the Crusaders doing their part so I can have that 155 00:08:34,707 --> 00:08:35,787 Speaker 3: on and next week can't wait. 156 00:08:35,827 --> 00:08:39,787 Speaker 4: Good on you, mate, mcdilly, our Crusaders a commentator, Another 157 00:08:39,867 --> 00:08:42,067 Speaker 4: terrific call from him and the team last night. 158 00:08:42,627 --> 00:08:45,827 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Paine, listen live 159 00:08:45,907 --> 00:08:49,227 Speaker 1: to News Talk zed B weekends from midday or follow 160 00:08:49,267 --> 00:08:50,867 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio