1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,587 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,787 Speaker 1: from newstalk EDB. 3 00:00:13,547 --> 00:00:15,707 Speaker 2: Last player of the game now is Missie Johnson giving 4 00:00:15,707 --> 00:00:20,387 Speaker 2: it too white me A Cordy was there now Fisher 5 00:00:20,467 --> 00:00:26,547 Speaker 2: Harris and that'll get it done in this game. Australia 6 00:00:26,667 --> 00:00:28,027 Speaker 2: is to click it too too good. 7 00:00:27,827 --> 00:00:30,307 Speaker 1: In this fash air in the vice James. 8 00:00:32,147 --> 00:00:35,187 Speaker 2: As they get the game done by twenty two points 9 00:00:35,227 --> 00:00:35,587 Speaker 2: to ten. 10 00:00:36,027 --> 00:00:39,067 Speaker 3: That was last week. The Pacific Nations Cup continues tonight 11 00:00:39,227 --> 00:00:42,427 Speaker 3: Mount Smart Stadium. It is the Kiwis against Tonga with 12 00:00:42,547 --> 00:00:45,427 Speaker 3: a kickoff at five past eight. The winner will go 13 00:00:45,507 --> 00:00:48,347 Speaker 3: on to meet Australia in the final in Sydney next Sunday. 14 00:00:48,387 --> 00:00:52,867 Speaker 3: The loser faces the possibility of relegation. Let's bring in 15 00:00:52,947 --> 00:00:56,547 Speaker 3: Kiwi's assistant coach Steve Price. Steve, last week, what were 16 00:00:56,547 --> 00:01:00,387 Speaker 3: your main takeaways from the Test against Australia. 17 00:01:00,467 --> 00:01:04,307 Speaker 4: I thought the boys are really courageous, you know that 18 00:01:04,427 --> 00:01:07,947 Speaker 4: thought thought really hard. They put themselves in a good 19 00:01:07,987 --> 00:01:11,987 Speaker 4: position to give themselves a chance to win the game. 20 00:01:11,987 --> 00:01:13,787 Speaker 4: At the back end of the game, I was sixteen 21 00:01:13,867 --> 00:01:18,547 Speaker 4: ten with eight minutes to go and unfortunate, you know, 22 00:01:18,627 --> 00:01:23,027 Speaker 4: we just had to I had a fundamental error over 23 00:01:25,307 --> 00:01:28,227 Speaker 4: the run our left edge. But yeah, it was really 24 00:01:28,347 --> 00:01:35,267 Speaker 4: really positive display. You know five deputies. I thought Keana 25 00:01:35,347 --> 00:01:38,547 Speaker 4: fall back at had a superb game and you know 26 00:01:38,947 --> 00:01:41,667 Speaker 4: Phoenix Phoenix Crosslin, so there was a Yeah, there was 27 00:01:41,667 --> 00:01:44,827 Speaker 4: a number of good takeaways we can take from the game. 28 00:01:44,907 --> 00:01:46,707 Speaker 3: Well, I guess the way the competition works, Davis, if 29 00:01:46,707 --> 00:01:49,707 Speaker 3: your beat Tonga this evening, you will play Australia again 30 00:01:49,747 --> 00:01:51,867 Speaker 3: in the final. So if that happens, would you fancy 31 00:01:51,907 --> 00:01:55,067 Speaker 3: your chances of beating them? 32 00:01:55,107 --> 00:01:57,907 Speaker 4: To be honest, we're not looking too far ahead. You 33 00:01:57,947 --> 00:02:00,827 Speaker 4: know it's going to be a really tough game against 34 00:02:00,827 --> 00:02:04,747 Speaker 4: tom of the quality outfit. You know they've got some 35 00:02:05,307 --> 00:02:08,347 Speaker 4: big mobile many many in the turm. It can cause 36 00:02:08,347 --> 00:02:13,467 Speaker 4: a bit of destruction. So you know we're looking at 37 00:02:13,947 --> 00:02:17,347 Speaker 4: keep going our game defensively and looking at a few 38 00:02:17,347 --> 00:02:22,227 Speaker 4: little tweaks offensively we can make some inroads. So we're 39 00:02:22,227 --> 00:02:26,107 Speaker 4: not looking too far ahead past past Toma. To be honest, how. 40 00:02:26,067 --> 00:02:29,787 Speaker 3: Much of this week has been about recovery. 41 00:02:29,867 --> 00:02:33,947 Speaker 4: Every every Test match is you know, high intensity and 42 00:02:34,427 --> 00:02:36,547 Speaker 4: you know we've got a fantastic high performance start here 43 00:02:36,547 --> 00:02:40,387 Speaker 4: in the Kowis and you manage their training roads quite well, 44 00:02:41,307 --> 00:02:43,787 Speaker 4: but in saying that still you still need to get 45 00:02:43,787 --> 00:02:46,987 Speaker 4: some volume volume into the boys and get some intensity 46 00:02:47,027 --> 00:02:48,747 Speaker 4: with the training which we have. We felt like we've 47 00:02:48,747 --> 00:02:52,907 Speaker 4: got the week right. We've got a couple of days 48 00:02:52,907 --> 00:02:54,907 Speaker 4: off too, so you know the tank to be filled 49 00:02:54,987 --> 00:02:58,027 Speaker 4: up and we'll be ready to throw down hard again. 50 00:02:58,387 --> 00:03:01,827 Speaker 3: So you've stuck with the same starting thirteen. In fact, 51 00:03:01,827 --> 00:03:04,587 Speaker 3: the only changes on the bench where Leo Thompson returns 52 00:03:04,947 --> 00:03:06,907 Speaker 3: from a suspension here Colonel week one of the n 53 00:03:06,987 --> 00:03:10,547 Speaker 3: r L finals. Was there any temptation to tinker any 54 00:03:10,587 --> 00:03:12,187 Speaker 3: further with the with the side? 55 00:03:13,787 --> 00:03:17,747 Speaker 4: I think Stacey was really happy with the performance of 56 00:03:18,147 --> 00:03:21,547 Speaker 4: all seven A members last week. You know, there's a 57 00:03:21,627 --> 00:03:24,467 Speaker 4: number of guys who hadn't played for you know, a 58 00:03:24,507 --> 00:03:27,427 Speaker 4: few weeks for the guys who didn't make the semifinals 59 00:03:27,467 --> 00:03:29,187 Speaker 4: in the n r L. So it's good to get 60 00:03:29,227 --> 00:03:31,107 Speaker 4: one game under the belt. You get a little bit 61 00:03:31,107 --> 00:03:35,987 Speaker 4: of more continuity with with the with the same, same 62 00:03:36,267 --> 00:03:39,347 Speaker 4: same side except Leo coming in. So that's going to 63 00:03:39,347 --> 00:03:42,107 Speaker 4: be really positive for from a cohesion point of view. 64 00:03:42,427 --> 00:03:44,707 Speaker 3: What sort of challenge are you expecting from Tonga tonight? 65 00:03:46,267 --> 00:03:49,067 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's going to be a really physical game. It's 66 00:03:49,067 --> 00:03:52,627 Speaker 4: going to be a brutal start. It's important that we 67 00:03:53,107 --> 00:03:54,987 Speaker 4: play with our heads and play with our smarts and 68 00:03:56,347 --> 00:03:59,507 Speaker 4: you know, play with control. I think that's really important. 69 00:03:59,507 --> 00:04:04,067 Speaker 4: And you know, you know, our keeping game last week 70 00:04:04,107 --> 00:04:07,187 Speaker 4: I thought was really strong with with sewn and so 71 00:04:07,347 --> 00:04:10,627 Speaker 4: you know it's important that we keep growing that. And 72 00:04:10,147 --> 00:04:12,587 Speaker 4: you know, defentially, we've got to be really really strong. 73 00:04:12,627 --> 00:04:16,107 Speaker 4: We've got a number of you know, quality backgrounds in 74 00:04:16,147 --> 00:04:19,347 Speaker 4: their team in Elie Katara and a lot of Kuwasu, 75 00:04:19,467 --> 00:04:23,467 Speaker 4: and so we need to be really strong around defensively 76 00:04:23,507 --> 00:04:26,707 Speaker 4: on those edges. And the young ki Kato at half facts, 77 00:04:27,627 --> 00:04:29,307 Speaker 4: you know, the conductor there to him, so we're going 78 00:04:29,347 --> 00:04:32,707 Speaker 4: to have to be on high leader around him. 79 00:04:32,707 --> 00:04:36,347 Speaker 3: Also, your specific brief in this coaching set up Stever's defense. 80 00:04:36,707 --> 00:04:40,747 Speaker 3: How much will the defense of patterns change this week 81 00:04:40,747 --> 00:04:43,187 Speaker 3: against Tonga compared to last weekend against Australia. 82 00:04:44,547 --> 00:04:46,147 Speaker 4: Yeah, you don't really have a lot of time to 83 00:04:47,307 --> 00:04:49,907 Speaker 4: change too much. It's important that you just get the 84 00:04:49,947 --> 00:04:54,347 Speaker 4: basic principles right with you, you know when you're first 85 00:04:54,347 --> 00:04:57,747 Speaker 4: coming in the camp and put your foundation off your 86 00:04:57,827 --> 00:05:01,627 Speaker 4: off your basic principles and keep going. Cohesion amongst the 87 00:05:02,227 --> 00:05:04,627 Speaker 4: personal there. So I like to think that we can 88 00:05:04,787 --> 00:05:08,227 Speaker 4: keep going a strong cont amongst amongst the group. At 89 00:05:08,227 --> 00:05:12,387 Speaker 4: the end of the day, they're elite players and they've 90 00:05:12,387 --> 00:05:14,707 Speaker 4: come from really strong foundations from there in our clubs. 91 00:05:14,707 --> 00:05:17,907 Speaker 4: It's just about marrying that up and putting them in 92 00:05:17,947 --> 00:05:22,667 Speaker 4: a basic foundation to get the guys connecting together. 93 00:05:23,147 --> 00:05:25,787 Speaker 3: How's Stacy Jones going as Keywis head coach. 94 00:05:27,027 --> 00:05:29,427 Speaker 4: Yeah, fantastic. You know, the boys are really brought into 95 00:05:29,907 --> 00:05:34,707 Speaker 4: what Stacey's about. He's you know, he's a will, calm, 96 00:05:35,227 --> 00:05:40,307 Speaker 4: calm coach, a very clear purpose and certainly knows what 97 00:05:40,347 --> 00:05:42,867 Speaker 4: he what he wants from the team and what it 98 00:05:42,867 --> 00:05:46,627 Speaker 4: looks like to be able to go out there and play. 99 00:05:46,747 --> 00:05:49,467 Speaker 4: So yeah, he's been great, great in camp and you 100 00:05:49,467 --> 00:05:52,027 Speaker 4: know the boys have been love love being coached by it. 101 00:05:52,347 --> 00:05:55,387 Speaker 3: And no doubt a big crowd tonight and there will 102 00:05:55,427 --> 00:05:57,507 Speaker 3: be a lot of Tongue and fans as well as 103 00:05:57,547 --> 00:05:59,307 Speaker 3: you know, Steve. You know they turn up to watch 104 00:05:59,307 --> 00:06:01,587 Speaker 3: our tongue player as much as they do to watch 105 00:06:01,587 --> 00:06:04,067 Speaker 3: the Kiwis play. So yeah, it might be a real 106 00:06:04,547 --> 00:06:07,467 Speaker 3: cauldron there this evening. How much will you or will 107 00:06:07,467 --> 00:06:09,987 Speaker 3: the players feed off the energy of the crowd. 108 00:06:10,667 --> 00:06:14,467 Speaker 4: Yes, certainly, you know it's important that hopefully we can 109 00:06:15,227 --> 00:06:18,307 Speaker 4: you know, take you know, take the noise away by 110 00:06:18,827 --> 00:06:21,987 Speaker 4: controlling the game. But you know, I'm sure there's going 111 00:06:22,027 --> 00:06:24,227 Speaker 4: to be plenty of red jerseys and red plagues about 112 00:06:24,227 --> 00:06:27,027 Speaker 4: and hopefully we can get a lot of black flags 113 00:06:27,067 --> 00:06:28,907 Speaker 4: and black jerseys also. So yeah, it's going to be 114 00:06:29,067 --> 00:06:32,107 Speaker 4: a great spectacle and hopefully we get a big roll up, 115 00:06:32,747 --> 00:06:35,387 Speaker 4: you know, see two good teams going at it. 116 00:06:35,467 --> 00:06:37,867 Speaker 3: Yeah, great occasion in coming. Thanks Steve, appreciate your time 117 00:06:37,867 --> 00:06:41,027 Speaker 3: on match day. That's Steve Price, assistant coach of the Keywiks. 118 00:06:41,347 --> 00:06:44,347 Speaker 3: They take on Tonga tonight Mount Smart five past eight. 119 00:06:44,627 --> 00:06:46,347 Speaker 3: As I say, the winner will meet Austraighter in the 120 00:06:46,347 --> 00:06:48,547 Speaker 3: final in Sydney next Sunday. 121 00:06:49,147 --> 00:06:52,307 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 122 00:06:52,427 --> 00:06:55,707 Speaker 1: to News Talk z B weekends from midday or follow 123 00:06:55,747 --> 00:06:57,307 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.