1
00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,387
Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine

2
00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:12,027
Speaker 1: from Newstalk ZB.

3
00:00:12,707 --> 00:00:17,347
Speaker 2: Only way the Hurricanes and the Brumbis can miss out

4
00:00:17,747 --> 00:00:22,627
Speaker 2: is if the Blues beat the Chiefs. All right, If

5
00:00:22,627 --> 00:00:26,347
Speaker 2: the Chiefs beat the Blues tonight, the Hurricanes and the

6
00:00:26,387 --> 00:00:30,347
Speaker 2: Brumbis will both play semi finals, regardless of the results

7
00:00:30,387 --> 00:00:34,707
Speaker 2: in their game later on, the winner would travel to

8
00:00:34,787 --> 00:00:36,987
Speaker 2: christ Church to play the Crusaders. The loser would head

9
00:00:37,027 --> 00:00:39,947
Speaker 2: to Hamilton to face the Blues face the Chiefs. As

10
00:00:39,987 --> 00:00:42,107
Speaker 2: far as the Blues are concerned, the Blues must win

11
00:00:42,187 --> 00:00:45,827
Speaker 2: tonight or they are out, and that has pretty much

12
00:00:45,907 --> 00:00:49,267
Speaker 2: been the case all along. So for Blues, it's last

13
00:00:49,347 --> 00:00:54,427
Speaker 2: chance saloon tonight. They simply must go to Hamilton and

14
00:00:54,467 --> 00:00:56,627
Speaker 2: beat the Chiefs if they are to continue in the

15
00:00:56,627 --> 00:01:00,267
Speaker 2: competition and continue with their title defense. That would not

16
00:01:00,467 --> 00:01:04,307
Speaker 2: though knock the Chiefs out. The Chiefs cannot be knocked

17
00:01:04,347 --> 00:01:07,627
Speaker 2: out tonight. They will host a semi final next weekend

18
00:01:07,707 --> 00:01:12,107
Speaker 2: regardless of what happens tonight, But the Crusaders have booked

19
00:01:12,387 --> 00:01:15,267
Speaker 2: a home Super Rugby Pacific semi final.

20
00:01:15,827 --> 00:01:16,667
Speaker 1: Skip pass it.

21
00:01:16,747 --> 00:01:20,587
Speaker 2: To set to Kyle Preston, who won't be stopped let's

22
00:01:20,627 --> 00:01:23,547
Speaker 2: tell me to it, folks. A bit of a shame

23
00:01:23,787 --> 00:01:28,267
Speaker 2: for the Reds, but the exclamation point for the Crusaders

24
00:01:28,707 --> 00:01:31,547
Speaker 2: here Carl Preston scoring the fifth and final try for

25
00:01:31,587 --> 00:01:34,787
Speaker 2: the Crusaders last night, and they're pretty comfortable. Thirty two

26
00:01:34,907 --> 00:01:38,907
Speaker 2: twelve win over the Reds in christ Church. Crusader's assistant

27
00:01:38,987 --> 00:01:41,947
Speaker 2: coach James Marshall is with us. Have you thought out yet?

28
00:01:43,747 --> 00:01:46,107
Speaker 3: Yeah, it was a cold night. My kid's seat is

29
00:01:46,147 --> 00:01:48,987
Speaker 3: still to trosting. They left at halftime. It was too

30
00:01:49,027 --> 00:01:52,027
Speaker 3: much for them. But it was a very cold night.

31
00:01:52,147 --> 00:01:54,387
Speaker 3: Probably suited us a little bit more than it suited them.

32
00:01:54,427 --> 00:01:56,507
Speaker 3: And yeah, we got the result.

33
00:01:57,427 --> 00:02:00,587
Speaker 2: It always felt comfortable. James will, from watching on anyway,

34
00:02:00,787 --> 00:02:02,987
Speaker 2: be interested to know how you were feeling. Was there

35
00:02:02,987 --> 00:02:05,827
Speaker 2: any point during the game at which you thought you

36
00:02:05,867 --> 00:02:07,067
Speaker 2: were going to lose the game?

37
00:02:08,627 --> 00:02:10,787
Speaker 3: No, there wasn't. Actually it felt like we were in

38
00:02:10,867 --> 00:02:14,587
Speaker 3: full control. We were really dominant up front, which there's

39
00:02:14,627 --> 00:02:16,627
Speaker 3: always a good start in a game like that when

40
00:02:16,667 --> 00:02:19,707
Speaker 3: you know it's going to be quite heavy, set piece,

41
00:02:19,747 --> 00:02:22,467
Speaker 3: sort of orientated game. And I thought we kicked really

42
00:02:22,467 --> 00:02:24,707
Speaker 3: well as well, and once we got out to a lead,

43
00:02:25,667 --> 00:02:29,107
Speaker 3: they never really looked to threadn too much, so few

44
00:02:29,227 --> 00:02:33,827
Speaker 3: late tries, but by then we'd paid the bench and

45
00:02:33,907 --> 00:02:38,027
Speaker 3: rested the guys who were coming for the first game back,

46
00:02:38,307 --> 00:02:40,787
Speaker 3: got them off the field and got through it pretty unscathed,

47
00:02:40,787 --> 00:02:41,387
Speaker 3: which was good.

48
00:02:41,867 --> 00:02:44,307
Speaker 2: Yeah, we reached the seventeen minute mark and they were

49
00:02:44,307 --> 00:02:47,107
Speaker 2: still on nil, at which point you were twenty seven

50
00:02:47,187 --> 00:02:50,387
Speaker 2: nil ahead. They only scored when you went down to fourteen.

51
00:02:51,027 --> 00:02:54,187
Speaker 2: What was the the foundation for such a good defensive

52
00:02:54,187 --> 00:02:55,227
Speaker 2: performance last night.

53
00:02:56,827 --> 00:03:00,867
Speaker 3: I feel like our defensive game has been growing every week.

54
00:03:00,907 --> 00:03:03,147
Speaker 3: Met Too has done a really good job there, and

55
00:03:03,307 --> 00:03:05,227
Speaker 3: I think it was probably the least amount of tackles

56
00:03:05,227 --> 00:03:09,427
Speaker 3: we've had to make this year. Usually we've been getting

57
00:03:09,427 --> 00:03:11,587
Speaker 3: through some huge numbers on d but I think just

58
00:03:11,627 --> 00:03:15,827
Speaker 3: the way we cacked and controlled the set piece definitely holped.

59
00:03:15,827 --> 00:03:17,787
Speaker 3: We weren't having to make too many tackles in our

60
00:03:17,827 --> 00:03:20,667
Speaker 3: own twenty two, which has been a bit of a

61
00:03:20,707 --> 00:03:24,347
Speaker 3: trend for us, especially the last month. So we're making

62
00:03:24,387 --> 00:03:26,907
Speaker 3: the tackles that the only area of the field, and

63
00:03:27,947 --> 00:03:30,947
Speaker 3: it's always a bit easier around halfway than when you

64
00:03:31,307 --> 00:03:32,187
Speaker 3: just step from your goal.

65
00:03:32,827 --> 00:03:36,627
Speaker 2: Indeed, the nine ten combo Noah Hootham rivers Ray Harner.

66
00:03:36,667 --> 00:03:39,747
Speaker 2: They've had three or four games starting in nine and

67
00:03:39,867 --> 00:03:42,027
Speaker 2: ten for you. Now, how do you think that partnership

68
00:03:42,067 --> 00:03:42,627
Speaker 2: is developing.

69
00:03:43,987 --> 00:03:46,987
Speaker 3: Yeah, they're going really well. Stoked with how Rivers has

70
00:03:47,027 --> 00:03:51,507
Speaker 3: come back. Obviously got an opportunity with Tahars knee injury,

71
00:03:51,547 --> 00:03:54,747
Speaker 3: and Noah's just gone strength to strength. I thought it

72
00:03:54,787 --> 00:03:57,907
Speaker 3: was awesome last night. Kicked well. Such a strong carrier

73
00:03:58,507 --> 00:04:02,347
Speaker 3: and really good for us defensively. So I think he's

74
00:04:02,467 --> 00:04:05,027
Speaker 3: been a big part of that defensive shift. And I

75
00:04:05,027 --> 00:04:07,107
Speaker 3: know a lot of teams will try and target a

76
00:04:07,187 --> 00:04:10,067
Speaker 3: half back, but man, he's so strong and so good

77
00:04:10,067 --> 00:04:14,147
Speaker 3: at the contact that he sits him back pretty quickly.

78
00:04:15,107 --> 00:04:18,067
Speaker 2: How much better is your team with Will Jordan in it?

79
00:04:20,187 --> 00:04:24,627
Speaker 3: Yeah? Much better. He's I think we've seen that influence

80
00:04:25,027 --> 00:04:28,067
Speaker 3: this year. We obviously missed him last year. That not

81
00:04:28,107 --> 00:04:30,507
Speaker 3: just what he does on the field, but throughout the week.

82
00:04:30,987 --> 00:04:33,987
Speaker 3: He's such a smart rugby brain and a lot of

83
00:04:33,987 --> 00:04:38,547
Speaker 3: the calling has sort of done through him just because

84
00:04:38,547 --> 00:04:41,267
Speaker 3: he understands the game so well. So he's very influential

85
00:04:41,307 --> 00:04:45,787
Speaker 3: for us. Wasn't really the game that suited him last night.

86
00:04:45,787 --> 00:04:49,507
Speaker 3: He's obviously hard and fast. Deck really suits him. But

87
00:04:49,547 --> 00:04:51,587
Speaker 3: then I thought it was awesome for us under the

88
00:04:51,667 --> 00:04:54,307
Speaker 3: high ball, some big efforts when we needed him, and

89
00:04:54,667 --> 00:04:57,507
Speaker 3: just really organized that backfield really well for us. So

90
00:04:58,787 --> 00:05:00,547
Speaker 3: awesome ta nim back at this time of year and

91
00:05:01,347 --> 00:05:04,627
Speaker 3: hoping for a couple more big ones from him, and.

92
00:05:04,627 --> 00:05:08,147
Speaker 2: As your team also just a bit better with David

93
00:05:08,187 --> 00:05:09,067
Speaker 2: Havily there too.

94
00:05:10,587 --> 00:05:15,587
Speaker 3: Yeah, Davey's such an influential character for us, just his leadership.

95
00:05:15,667 --> 00:05:18,707
Speaker 3: The boys love them, they respect him. They voted him

96
00:05:19,187 --> 00:05:21,707
Speaker 3: Man of the Match last night, like they just they

97
00:05:21,787 --> 00:05:25,507
Speaker 3: just love playing with him. He's the way he speaks

98
00:05:25,587 --> 00:05:29,827
Speaker 3: and leads us groups was pretty special. And yeah, he's

99
00:05:29,867 --> 00:05:32,067
Speaker 3: got such a good skill set too. We saw some

100
00:05:32,107 --> 00:05:34,707
Speaker 3: of the kicks he put in last night and some

101
00:05:34,747 --> 00:05:37,707
Speaker 3: of his intent and his carries and cleans. Yeah, the

102
00:05:38,467 --> 00:05:40,187
Speaker 3: boys love and we love having him out there.

103
00:05:40,987 --> 00:05:43,667
Speaker 2: To Mighty Williams. He injured his knee early on, battled

104
00:05:43,707 --> 00:05:47,107
Speaker 2: on score to try, but then came off. Any update

105
00:05:47,187 --> 00:05:48,427
Speaker 2: this morning, James.

106
00:05:49,147 --> 00:05:51,787
Speaker 3: No, I haven't had an update, but I'm hoping for

107
00:05:51,867 --> 00:05:54,507
Speaker 3: the best. Just the way he was able to keep

108
00:05:54,587 --> 00:05:59,107
Speaker 3: playing through it sometimes it's a good sign. So fingers

109
00:05:59,107 --> 00:06:02,907
Speaker 3: crossed with him. He's an influential player for us as well.

110
00:06:02,947 --> 00:06:07,107
Speaker 3: He was dominant scrumt on last night, and fingers crossed

111
00:06:07,147 --> 00:06:09,907
Speaker 3: we get him back next week. We'll have to wait

112
00:06:09,947 --> 00:06:10,627
Speaker 3: and see for that one.

113
00:06:11,067 --> 00:06:13,307
Speaker 2: Oh, you're speaking of front rollers. The only bloke who's

114
00:06:13,307 --> 00:06:16,627
Speaker 2: played all fifteen games for you is George Bauer. Five

115
00:06:16,627 --> 00:06:18,787
Speaker 2: of them, starts ten off the bench. He feels that,

116
00:06:18,867 --> 00:06:21,067
Speaker 2: I don't know a little bit unsung. I guess how

117
00:06:21,147 --> 00:06:24,147
Speaker 2: much has he appreciated internally George Bauer.

118
00:06:25,507 --> 00:06:27,947
Speaker 3: Oh, massively. He's put in some big shifts for us too,

119
00:06:28,587 --> 00:06:31,667
Speaker 3: a couple of eighty minute games, which is never an

120
00:06:31,667 --> 00:06:35,747
Speaker 3: easy ask for a front row of these days. But yeah,

121
00:06:35,827 --> 00:06:38,747
Speaker 3: and he also not just what he does on the field.

122
00:06:39,027 --> 00:06:42,347
Speaker 3: He's a real energy man for our group, brings in

123
00:06:42,387 --> 00:06:44,907
Speaker 3: all the vibes and lots of good jokes and gets

124
00:06:44,907 --> 00:06:47,587
Speaker 3: a team song humming. And he's one of those guys

125
00:06:47,627 --> 00:06:50,387
Speaker 3: which everyone loves seven on the team.

126
00:06:51,107 --> 00:06:54,867
Speaker 2: How much was the disappointment of last year used as

127
00:06:54,947 --> 00:06:56,107
Speaker 2: motivation for this year?

128
00:06:59,467 --> 00:07:01,347
Speaker 3: I don't know if it was really used as motivation.

129
00:07:01,627 --> 00:07:03,787
Speaker 3: We just knew that we had to be better. We

130
00:07:03,867 --> 00:07:06,347
Speaker 3: knew that we were a better side than what we've

131
00:07:06,547 --> 00:07:11,267
Speaker 3: out there last year. Everyone was really disappointed, but it

132
00:07:11,387 --> 00:07:13,547
Speaker 3: was more solution based than what we needed to do

133
00:07:13,667 --> 00:07:19,187
Speaker 3: to go better this year. And like, obviously, like the

134
00:07:19,387 --> 00:07:23,827
Speaker 3: winning can be contagious. I think there's probably been four

135
00:07:23,867 --> 00:07:26,307
Speaker 3: or five games that we would have lost this time

136
00:07:26,387 --> 00:07:29,427
Speaker 3: last year, a couple of close ones, and a lot

137
00:07:29,467 --> 00:07:32,387
Speaker 3: of the games won or lost in such small margins.

138
00:07:32,427 --> 00:07:37,187
Speaker 3: And when when winning becomes a habit, it just sort

139
00:07:37,227 --> 00:07:39,307
Speaker 3: of rolls on and you start winning those games that

140
00:07:40,827 --> 00:07:43,147
Speaker 3: you don't when you're when you're in a losing rat

141
00:07:43,307 --> 00:07:47,467
Speaker 3: So it's nice to be on the winning side this year.

142
00:07:47,587 --> 00:07:50,707
Speaker 3: Was obviously tough times last year, but we've got two

143
00:07:50,707 --> 00:07:51,827
Speaker 3: more to go to make it count.

144
00:07:51,867 --> 00:07:56,707
Speaker 2: Really, And you've won thirty straight finals matches in Christ

145
00:07:56,747 --> 00:07:59,587
Speaker 2: Jes That was number thirty on the trot last night

146
00:07:59,667 --> 00:08:02,627
Speaker 2: finals matches at home? How will where are you of that?

147
00:08:02,707 --> 00:08:04,187
Speaker 2: And how proud are you of that?

148
00:08:05,787 --> 00:08:07,867
Speaker 3: Yeah? I was aware of that until I saw the

149
00:08:07,947 --> 00:08:10,547
Speaker 3: twenty nine before last night on the person either. But

150
00:08:11,227 --> 00:08:16,907
Speaker 3: that's an that's an impressive stat, Like I didn't realize.

151
00:08:16,907 --> 00:08:18,907
Speaker 3: I knew it would have been high, just the amount

152
00:08:18,907 --> 00:08:23,307
Speaker 3: of trophies, so one down here, but yeah, that's a

153
00:08:23,307 --> 00:08:27,267
Speaker 3: pretty incredible stat And long that continue.

154
00:08:26,947 --> 00:08:29,467
Speaker 2: Long that continue indeed, you must be looking forward to

155
00:08:29,547 --> 00:08:31,667
Speaker 2: the completion of the new stadium. It'll be about warmer

156
00:08:31,827 --> 00:08:32,507
Speaker 2: for starters.

157
00:08:34,107 --> 00:08:36,587
Speaker 3: I was thinking that last night, when obviously it was

158
00:08:36,627 --> 00:08:41,347
Speaker 3: a relatively disappointing crowd. But you can't you can't really

159
00:08:41,827 --> 00:08:43,667
Speaker 3: complain too much when they've got to sit in that

160
00:08:43,747 --> 00:08:48,307
Speaker 3: stadium and a freezing cold rain pouring, and it just

161
00:08:48,427 --> 00:08:52,107
Speaker 3: doesn't make it an attractive proposition to take your kids along,

162
00:08:52,307 --> 00:08:54,147
Speaker 3: or especially when you can sit at home and the

163
00:08:54,187 --> 00:08:56,827
Speaker 3: warm and watch it on TV. But there'll be no

164
00:08:56,867 --> 00:08:59,587
Speaker 3: excuses next year. And driving past the stadium on the

165
00:08:59,627 --> 00:09:02,787
Speaker 3: way to the stadium last night, it just made me think, Man,

166
00:09:02,867 --> 00:09:04,907
Speaker 3: I cannot wait for that thing to be open. And

167
00:09:05,627 --> 00:09:07,587
Speaker 3: from a tack co point of view as well, I'd

168
00:09:07,587 --> 00:09:10,307
Speaker 3: love to be able to play a bit more rugby

169
00:09:10,347 --> 00:09:12,707
Speaker 3: and some of these crunch games, and I suited us

170
00:09:12,787 --> 00:09:17,747
Speaker 3: last night, but it probably wasn't the most enjoyable spectacle

171
00:09:17,827 --> 00:09:22,787
Speaker 3: for many fans. But next year, hopefully we can play

172
00:09:22,787 --> 00:09:24,147
Speaker 3: a bit more expensive rugby.

173
00:09:24,587 --> 00:09:26,307
Speaker 2: Looking forward to that. So I guess you cheer the

174
00:09:26,307 --> 00:09:29,107
Speaker 2: Blues against the Chiefs tonight, don't you, because that would

175
00:09:29,187 --> 00:09:32,347
Speaker 2: mean that you would take over top ranking spot on

176
00:09:32,347 --> 00:09:34,907
Speaker 2: the Semis. You're already hosting one next week, but it

177
00:09:34,907 --> 00:09:37,427
Speaker 2: would mean that if you won that you would also

178
00:09:37,467 --> 00:09:39,547
Speaker 2: host the finals. So you're all in on the Blues tonight.

179
00:09:39,547 --> 00:09:40,427
Speaker 2: That must be a bit tough.

180
00:09:43,307 --> 00:09:45,027
Speaker 3: Yeah, to be fair, I was just going to I'm

181
00:09:45,067 --> 00:09:47,587
Speaker 3: looking forward to sitting down and just watching both of

182
00:09:47,627 --> 00:09:49,507
Speaker 3: these games. I think they're going to be two crackers

183
00:09:50,467 --> 00:09:53,227
Speaker 3: and just seeing seeing them all better at that hopefully

184
00:09:53,267 --> 00:09:57,707
Speaker 3: they both got a extra time and golden point and

185
00:09:57,747 --> 00:10:01,507
Speaker 3: then to the kickoff and yeah, then see who we've

186
00:10:01,547 --> 00:10:05,467
Speaker 3: got next week. But yeah, the Hurricanes Rumby's game is

187
00:10:05,467 --> 00:10:08,427
Speaker 3: going to be a cracker. Look for to seeing how

188
00:10:08,467 --> 00:10:12,547
Speaker 3: they go over there, and yeah, see see who we

189
00:10:12,587 --> 00:10:13,547
Speaker 3: end up with next week.

190
00:10:14,147 --> 00:10:17,507
Speaker 2: Yeah, well, congrats on sealing your place in the in

191
00:10:17,547 --> 00:10:20,707
Speaker 2: the Semis. Can I just say before you go your

192
00:10:20,747 --> 00:10:23,667
Speaker 2: podcast as a cracker man, what a lad? It is

193
00:10:23,867 --> 00:10:25,427
Speaker 2: just a beauty. I don't know how you find time

194
00:10:25,867 --> 00:10:27,787
Speaker 2: to prep them because I know how much this, how

195
00:10:27,867 --> 00:10:29,667
Speaker 2: much these sorts of things take, and amongst all of

196
00:10:29,707 --> 00:10:33,587
Speaker 2: your other family responsibilities, coaching responsibilities. It's a beauty man.

197
00:10:34,947 --> 00:10:36,827
Speaker 3: Oh, I appreciate it. Yeah, it is a bit of

198
00:10:36,867 --> 00:10:38,747
Speaker 3: a jug at this time of year. I try and

199
00:10:38,827 --> 00:10:42,107
Speaker 3: bank as many episodes as I can before the season

200
00:10:42,147 --> 00:10:44,787
Speaker 3: and just let them roll out as we get through it.

201
00:10:45,547 --> 00:10:48,107
Speaker 3: But I didn't have minister to record maybe three or

202
00:10:48,107 --> 00:10:51,547
Speaker 3: four throughout the season, and I enjoy doing them and

203
00:10:52,427 --> 00:10:55,067
Speaker 3: I always appreciate when I get feedback on them and

204
00:10:55,107 --> 00:10:58,147
Speaker 3: how much other people have enjoyed them, or how much

205
00:10:58,187 --> 00:11:00,907
Speaker 3: it's help them or their son who's trying to be

206
00:11:00,907 --> 00:11:02,907
Speaker 3: a professional rag blower, whatever they're trying to do. So

207
00:11:03,867 --> 00:11:07,347
Speaker 3: something I want to keep trying to do. And good mate,

208
00:11:07,427 --> 00:11:10,507
Speaker 3: probably one of your good mates, Scott waldram On coming

209
00:11:10,507 --> 00:11:14,027
Speaker 3: out tomorrow morning, so I'm looking forward to releasing it.

210
00:11:14,107 --> 00:11:15,467
Speaker 3: When he was a good yarn.

211
00:11:16,027 --> 00:11:18,147
Speaker 2: Yeah, he's a here, a very good man, and you're

212
00:11:18,147 --> 00:11:20,307
Speaker 2: a good Willington boy. Good Everlon boy. They're struggling a

213
00:11:20,307 --> 00:11:22,467
Speaker 2: bit in club rugby at the moment up here in Wellington,

214
00:11:22,587 --> 00:11:24,787
Speaker 2: so I hope you haven't sort of delved too deeply

215
00:11:24,827 --> 00:11:27,387
Speaker 2: into the everl on side of things. But I always

216
00:11:27,467 --> 00:11:29,827
Speaker 2: enjoyed listen and always enjoyed chatting rugby with you, James.

217
00:11:29,827 --> 00:11:31,387
Speaker 2: Thanks for taking the time, mate.

218
00:11:31,907 --> 00:11:33,187
Speaker 3: Hey cheers mate, Always good to.

219
00:11:33,187 --> 00:11:36,747
Speaker 2: Chat, Thanks James. James Marshall, Assistant coach of the Crusaders.

220
00:11:37,347 --> 00:11:40,507
Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live

221
00:11:40,627 --> 00:11:43,907
Speaker 1: to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow

222
00:11:43,947 --> 00:11:45,507
Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio