1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:03,519 Speaker 1: Big Super ri weekend playoff time Chiefs kick us off tonight. 2 00:00:03,520 --> 00:00:07,800 Speaker 1: We've got the Reds, Hurricanes, Rebels, Blues, Drooer, Hilander's brumby, 3 00:00:07,840 --> 00:00:11,879 Speaker 1: Sky TV's Tony Johnson's whether there's Tony morning boy Miking. 4 00:00:12,160 --> 00:00:15,200 Speaker 2: Congratulations to you and all your teams. Are your awards 5 00:00:15,280 --> 00:00:15,720 Speaker 2: last night? 6 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:17,439 Speaker 1: Very kind of you to say I haven't talked to 7 00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:18,520 Speaker 1: you for ages. Are you aging? 8 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:21,639 Speaker 2: Well? Oh I'm not doing too bad mate. 9 00:00:21,880 --> 00:00:25,080 Speaker 1: Good you're doing another season. You've enjoyed it or not? 10 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:28,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, I have. I know there was a bit of 11 00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:32,080 Speaker 2: negativity about it when it all started, but it just 12 00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:34,360 Speaker 2: it's grown. I think the rugby has been really good 13 00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:35,680 Speaker 2: and I think they've got to give a bit of 14 00:00:35,680 --> 00:00:38,159 Speaker 2: credit to the rest for that because after all the 15 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:40,080 Speaker 2: shenanigans that we saw at the World Cup with the 16 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:41,800 Speaker 2: rest seemed to think some of them seem to think 17 00:00:41,800 --> 00:00:43,519 Speaker 2: they were seen to stage. They've taken it back with 18 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:47,360 Speaker 2: step of the players decide the games and you know 19 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:50,120 Speaker 2: we haven't had the TMO coming in every thirty seconds, 20 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:52,080 Speaker 2: and you know we've seen some good footing. I think 21 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:54,080 Speaker 2: it's grown as it's come on. The crowds have gotten 22 00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 2: better and you know it's heading towards a pretty good climax. 23 00:00:57,520 --> 00:01:00,960 Speaker 1: I think, good well the Rebels, I mean, what's that 24 00:01:01,040 --> 00:01:03,720 Speaker 1: done for the Super Rugby in general? Their problems? I mean, 25 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:06,479 Speaker 1: does that affect anything going forward? Apart from the obvious. 26 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:09,120 Speaker 2: I think you've got to give them credit for the 27 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:12,280 Speaker 2: way they're boxed on despite all this turmoil it's been 28 00:01:12,319 --> 00:01:14,319 Speaker 2: going on. What it'll mean next year we won't have 29 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:17,320 Speaker 2: this situation where we have eight teams out of twelve 30 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:19,960 Speaker 2: qualifying for the playoffs, so I think they'll have to 31 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:22,400 Speaker 2: cut it back to six where they'll probably the top 32 00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:25,120 Speaker 2: two will take a week off and then they'll have 33 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:28,880 Speaker 2: a minor semi final and I think that'll probably be good. 34 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:31,480 Speaker 2: And it also it's probably going to help the Australian 35 00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 2: challenge in a way because they won't be trying to 36 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:37,480 Speaker 2: spread their butter over so many pieces of toast and 37 00:01:37,880 --> 00:01:41,639 Speaker 2: they'll have stronger teams as a consequence. So that's probably 38 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:43,920 Speaker 2: the silver lining of it. But it's been messy, and 39 00:01:43,920 --> 00:01:45,760 Speaker 2: you've had all the mess going on here when his 40 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:48,240 Speaker 2: Yen and trying to sort out its own constitutional problem. 41 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:51,240 Speaker 2: So yeah, the backdrop hasn't been great, but I don't 42 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:54,640 Speaker 2: think it's really affected the players too much. And as 43 00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:57,000 Speaker 2: I say, I think what we've seen in terms of 44 00:01:57,000 --> 00:01:59,200 Speaker 2: the quality and that the entertainment value of the rugby 45 00:01:59,200 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 2: has been really good. 46 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:04,920 Speaker 1: Yeah call it Chiefs, Reds? Is it Chiefs, Hurricanes, Blues? 47 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:07,720 Speaker 1: What do you say? Highland is Brombie's Which way does 48 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:08,760 Speaker 1: that go? 49 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:10,919 Speaker 2: Gosh? This is that there's one big name missing out 50 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:11,799 Speaker 2: all that, isn't there? 51 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:15,600 Speaker 1: Mike, Yes, you're yes, there is, Tony act. I was 52 00:02:15,639 --> 00:02:17,520 Speaker 1: going to ask you, did we spend too much time 53 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:19,519 Speaker 1: talking about the demise of that and not celebrating the 54 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:20,480 Speaker 1: ones who actually did well? 55 00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:24,800 Speaker 2: Oh? No, it's a big story when the team's dominated 56 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:28,200 Speaker 2: the landscape to the extent that they have. No. I 57 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:30,120 Speaker 2: think it's fair enough that you know it was such 58 00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:34,640 Speaker 2: a big talking point. But I think the game that is, 59 00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:36,120 Speaker 2: the one that could go either way is the one 60 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 2: we've got tonight in Hamilton Chiefs against the Reds. Reds 61 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:40,240 Speaker 2: won that game earlier on in the year. I think 62 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:42,520 Speaker 2: they are a better team than their fifth on the 63 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:44,680 Speaker 2: table indicates. They just had a bit of a slump 64 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:46,720 Speaker 2: in the middle of the season where their discipline went 65 00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:49,040 Speaker 2: to pieces. They lost a couple of games that they 66 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:53,080 Speaker 2: shouldn't have. I think that the Chiefs will remind themselves 67 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:55,160 Speaker 2: they got beaten up up front when they played them 68 00:02:55,160 --> 00:02:57,400 Speaker 2: at sun corpor and round three, and they'll have to 69 00:02:57,400 --> 00:02:59,840 Speaker 2: be a lot better than that because, as I say, 70 00:02:59,840 --> 00:03:02,880 Speaker 2: I think that's the game that probably could go either way, 71 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:04,600 Speaker 2: and I think this game was the most interest in 72 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:05,240 Speaker 2: it this weekend. 73 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:08,160 Speaker 1: Okay, can we say ultimately it'll be Hurricanes Blues or not. 74 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:11,680 Speaker 2: Well, that's got to be that. The forum's got to 75 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:14,280 Speaker 2: indicate that. I do love the way the Hurricanes have 76 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:17,520 Speaker 2: played this year. Mike have played a fearless brand of rugby. 77 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:20,600 Speaker 2: I think Clark laid Law coming from his sevens background, 78 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:23,840 Speaker 2: and he's done a terrific job and galvanizing the team, 79 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:26,320 Speaker 2: allowing them to play the sort of rugby that they 80 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:28,840 Speaker 2: like to play, but with perhaps just a little bit 81 00:03:28,919 --> 00:03:33,480 Speaker 2: more structure to it. And you know, they've been terrific. 82 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:36,640 Speaker 2: I don't think the Rebels will go out inspire because 83 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:39,120 Speaker 2: this will be their last game they don't win it, 84 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:43,240 Speaker 2: so you know that could make the contest. But the Blues, yeah, 85 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:46,160 Speaker 2: they'll be still. I think they'll be disappointed with the 86 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:48,120 Speaker 2: way they let a bonus points slip on top of 87 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:51,080 Speaker 2: the table last week that the Drew have been two teams. 88 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:55,160 Speaker 2: They've been the team that played love talking, very difficult 89 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 2: to beat, and the team that play away. And if 90 00:03:57,760 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 2: the team that has been playing away turns up, then 91 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:01,040 Speaker 2: I'll get a bit of a hiding. 92 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:04,040 Speaker 1: You go well this weekend, make nice to catch up. 93 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:07,320 Speaker 1: Appreciate it very much, turning you. Johnson Sky Rugby commentated. 94 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:10,520 Speaker 2: For more from News Talk st B, listen live on 95 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:13,560 Speaker 2: air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever 96 00:04:13,600 --> 00:04:16,159 Speaker 2: you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio.