1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,427 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 US Talks B. 3 00:00:12,707 --> 00:00:14,747 Speaker 2: We've gone to one side of the shield challenge, so 4 00:00:14,947 --> 00:00:19,147 Speaker 2: let's go to the other. From the Muckle to the Magpies. 5 00:00:19,267 --> 00:00:22,787 Speaker 2: Brock James, head coach of Hawk's Bay, joins US. Now, 6 00:00:23,147 --> 00:00:25,787 Speaker 2: gem mate doesn't get much easier, does it in this tournament. 7 00:00:25,787 --> 00:00:28,307 Speaker 2: The longer you've got the shield, the more people want 8 00:00:28,347 --> 00:00:29,547 Speaker 2: to pride off you. 9 00:00:31,387 --> 00:00:36,307 Speaker 3: Yeah, we're looking forward to a pretty tough challenger. So yeah, 10 00:00:36,667 --> 00:00:38,507 Speaker 3: entering to see how it plays out. 11 00:00:39,027 --> 00:00:42,107 Speaker 2: So how does it play out for you? Your five 12 00:00:42,307 --> 00:00:46,907 Speaker 2: on the bounce this season? So are Tasman. So you 13 00:00:46,947 --> 00:00:49,267 Speaker 2: guys don't know how to deal with defeats so far. 14 00:00:49,347 --> 00:00:52,307 Speaker 2: Does that help or hinder you moving into this match? 15 00:00:53,347 --> 00:00:55,867 Speaker 3: Obviously? I think the team probably takes quite a bit 16 00:00:55,867 --> 00:00:58,507 Speaker 3: of confidence out of getting a few wins for early 17 00:00:58,587 --> 00:01:02,067 Speaker 3: in the season. So yeah, it'll be entering to see 18 00:01:02,107 --> 00:01:04,507 Speaker 3: how how we shape up. I think we've we've actually 19 00:01:04,507 --> 00:01:09,107 Speaker 3: played pretty similar teams the way, so both US and Tasman. 20 00:01:09,227 --> 00:01:11,147 Speaker 3: So yeah, shaving up to be a good. 21 00:01:11,027 --> 00:01:14,907 Speaker 2: One as far as the strengths of your opposition go, 22 00:01:15,307 --> 00:01:16,827 Speaker 2: just the tile of the tape because I'm not going 23 00:01:16,907 --> 00:01:18,267 Speaker 2: to lie to you until you I've watched every game 24 00:01:18,307 --> 00:01:21,987 Speaker 2: of the NPC because I haven't. But I know looking 25 00:01:22,027 --> 00:01:27,107 Speaker 2: at the stats, Tasman have got an outrageous defensive record. 26 00:01:27,427 --> 00:01:30,547 Speaker 2: Four games, They've only led in forty six points. That 27 00:01:30,867 --> 00:01:33,507 Speaker 2: is a cause for concern for you. 28 00:01:33,547 --> 00:01:36,627 Speaker 3: How do you approach that, Brock No, that's obviously a 29 00:01:36,627 --> 00:01:39,667 Speaker 3: big challenge for us. We know as we get deeper 30 00:01:39,707 --> 00:01:41,907 Speaker 3: into the season we need to be as accurate as 31 00:01:41,947 --> 00:01:46,347 Speaker 3: we can. So obviously, whatever opportunities present themselves to us, 32 00:01:46,427 --> 00:01:49,507 Speaker 3: or whatever opportunities we can create during the game, we 33 00:01:49,547 --> 00:01:50,787 Speaker 3: know we're going to have to take them because there 34 00:01:50,787 --> 00:01:51,987 Speaker 3: won't be a lot of them. 35 00:01:52,427 --> 00:01:55,627 Speaker 2: And you do take opportunities. You've scored plenty of tries 36 00:01:55,667 --> 00:01:59,747 Speaker 2: so far this season, You've scored nearly two hundred points, 37 00:01:59,747 --> 00:02:03,307 Speaker 2: so you definitely know how your attack sets right now. 38 00:02:03,547 --> 00:02:05,907 Speaker 2: Does anything change come the shield? 39 00:02:07,547 --> 00:02:10,227 Speaker 3: Obviously there'd be a bit more pressure on both sides 40 00:02:10,267 --> 00:02:14,227 Speaker 3: going into this game. So yeah, like I said, taking 41 00:02:14,227 --> 00:02:16,627 Speaker 3: those opportunities and the accuracy that we can have around 42 00:02:16,667 --> 00:02:18,867 Speaker 3: that's going to be really important. But I think something 43 00:02:18,947 --> 00:02:21,187 Speaker 3: that's really developed over the first five games for us, 44 00:02:21,187 --> 00:02:24,107 Speaker 3: as we talk about the strength of tasms defenses our 45 00:02:24,147 --> 00:02:27,307 Speaker 3: defense as well. I think from where we where we've 46 00:02:27,347 --> 00:02:28,987 Speaker 3: come from over the last couple of years, I think 47 00:02:28,987 --> 00:02:30,947 Speaker 3: we've taken some big strides in the in the early 48 00:02:30,987 --> 00:02:34,987 Speaker 3: part of this season. So yeah, we'll be relying quite 49 00:02:34,987 --> 00:02:36,587 Speaker 3: heavily on that part of our game as well. 50 00:02:36,787 --> 00:02:38,747 Speaker 2: You've got a weakness, Brook that you want to share 51 00:02:38,747 --> 00:02:39,227 Speaker 2: with us. 52 00:02:40,267 --> 00:02:43,907 Speaker 3: Absolutely not, but you know you've. 53 00:02:43,707 --> 00:02:45,787 Speaker 2: Got one, right, there is some area you thinking out 54 00:02:45,947 --> 00:02:47,947 Speaker 2: out all they might be to count through us. 55 00:02:48,467 --> 00:02:50,507 Speaker 3: Oh, look, there's plenty of There's always plenty to work 56 00:02:50,547 --> 00:02:53,627 Speaker 3: on from week to weekend. I guess the different challenges 57 00:02:53,627 --> 00:02:57,467 Speaker 3: that teams throw at you pose different problems. So yeah, 58 00:02:57,987 --> 00:03:00,507 Speaker 3: there's obviously we haven't had a perfect game yet, We've 59 00:03:00,507 --> 00:03:03,267 Speaker 3: not held anyone scoreless or we'll scored on. Don't know 60 00:03:03,267 --> 00:03:05,307 Speaker 3: how many tries you need to score for a perfect game, 61 00:03:05,387 --> 00:03:07,987 Speaker 3: So yeah, there's there's obviously bits and pieces that we're 62 00:03:08,027 --> 00:03:11,707 Speaker 3: working on as we go through the season. So yeah, 63 00:03:12,027 --> 00:03:14,507 Speaker 3: I guess in a season like the NPC, there's only 64 00:03:14,547 --> 00:03:17,547 Speaker 3: ten games until he gets the playoffs, so it's quite 65 00:03:17,547 --> 00:03:21,547 Speaker 3: a short season. You tend to focus more on yourself 66 00:03:21,587 --> 00:03:26,267 Speaker 3: than your opposition. So yeah, we're con continually working on 67 00:03:26,307 --> 00:03:28,267 Speaker 3: those points where we think we need to get better. 68 00:03:29,427 --> 00:03:31,587 Speaker 2: Can you tell us that you won't tell us your weakness? 69 00:03:31,627 --> 00:03:33,307 Speaker 2: Where do you need to be better? How about that? 70 00:03:33,387 --> 00:03:34,507 Speaker 2: Will you give me that pleasure? 71 00:03:35,387 --> 00:03:36,467 Speaker 3: Are they one and the same? 72 00:03:37,947 --> 00:03:41,227 Speaker 2: I don't know. You're the coach, not me, Brock James 73 00:03:41,267 --> 00:03:43,627 Speaker 2: joins us he is their head coach of Hawk's Bay. 74 00:03:43,827 --> 00:03:46,907 Speaker 2: Defending a shield? How does it go as far as 75 00:03:47,747 --> 00:03:51,667 Speaker 2: whipping the players up into a frenzy because the shield's 76 00:03:51,667 --> 00:03:54,587 Speaker 2: on the line when you play at home? Like every time, 77 00:03:54,747 --> 00:03:57,227 Speaker 2: do you have to adjust much of the way because 78 00:03:57,227 --> 00:04:00,227 Speaker 2: I know the opposition coming in, they're like fully focused 79 00:04:00,267 --> 00:04:02,707 Speaker 2: on what this actually means. So how does that work 80 00:04:02,827 --> 00:04:04,347 Speaker 2: on your side of the fence. 81 00:04:05,067 --> 00:04:07,187 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's a big challenge for us each each time 82 00:04:07,187 --> 00:04:11,147 Speaker 3: we play at home. How it's probably more tempering the emotions. Really, 83 00:04:12,387 --> 00:04:14,867 Speaker 3: most of the guys in our squad have have been 84 00:04:14,907 --> 00:04:18,147 Speaker 3: involved or been around the around fairly shield more than 85 00:04:18,187 --> 00:04:20,427 Speaker 3: I have been, so that they've got much more experience 86 00:04:20,427 --> 00:04:24,267 Speaker 3: than I actually do around it. So we're kind of 87 00:04:24,267 --> 00:04:28,107 Speaker 3: guided quite a bit by them and how they've gone 88 00:04:28,107 --> 00:04:31,907 Speaker 3: through previous seasons having to play for the shield. So, 89 00:04:32,867 --> 00:04:35,587 Speaker 3: like you say, it's something pretty special in New Zealand rugby, 90 00:04:35,707 --> 00:04:37,627 Speaker 3: and for us to have the opportunity to play for 91 00:04:37,667 --> 00:04:42,707 Speaker 3: it again on Saturdays massive for us and the responsibility 92 00:04:43,227 --> 00:04:46,347 Speaker 3: that goes with that and the opportunity that actually is. 93 00:04:48,147 --> 00:04:50,867 Speaker 3: The players are very well aware of that, so it's 94 00:04:50,907 --> 00:04:54,307 Speaker 3: probably not so much trying to get them up for 95 00:04:54,347 --> 00:04:58,787 Speaker 3: the game. It's probably more tempering those emotions to use 96 00:04:58,827 --> 00:04:59,787 Speaker 3: them at the right time. 97 00:05:01,187 --> 00:05:04,827 Speaker 2: Is the short team around problematic, It's only six days 98 00:05:04,867 --> 00:05:06,267 Speaker 2: since you last turned up. 99 00:05:08,587 --> 00:05:10,307 Speaker 3: They were getting used to it. I don't know who 100 00:05:10,347 --> 00:05:12,707 Speaker 3: did the schedule give. All of our home games are 101 00:05:12,747 --> 00:05:16,267 Speaker 3: six day ten rounds. So yeah, look, we find out 102 00:05:16,307 --> 00:05:18,147 Speaker 3: what that drawer is quite early on in the piece, 103 00:05:18,187 --> 00:05:21,427 Speaker 3: and so we spend quite a bit of time trying 104 00:05:21,427 --> 00:05:22,507 Speaker 3: to make sure our planning is. 105 00:05:22,587 --> 00:05:23,187 Speaker 1: Right and. 106 00:05:25,027 --> 00:05:27,947 Speaker 3: Figure out what we put into our weeks, especially when 107 00:05:28,307 --> 00:05:31,027 Speaker 3: we do have one day less to prepare. So it's 108 00:05:31,107 --> 00:05:34,547 Speaker 3: probably more pressure on the planning of the week rather 109 00:05:34,587 --> 00:05:38,547 Speaker 3: than rather than anything else. So as I said, though, 110 00:05:38,547 --> 00:05:40,707 Speaker 3: we've had that, we've had the schedule for quite quite 111 00:05:40,707 --> 00:05:42,467 Speaker 3: a while, so it's been a bit of thought, a 112 00:05:42,467 --> 00:05:45,147 Speaker 3: bit of a bit of time put into the planning 113 00:05:45,187 --> 00:05:46,067 Speaker 3: of those weeks. 114 00:05:46,307 --> 00:05:48,987 Speaker 2: How banged up are you mean after the first five 115 00:05:49,107 --> 00:05:52,667 Speaker 2: rounds and reasonable condition, Well, coming. 116 00:05:52,467 --> 00:05:54,867 Speaker 3: Off the back of a storm week, it's pretty tough. 117 00:05:54,907 --> 00:05:57,947 Speaker 3: We've been quite lucky in that the depth of our 118 00:05:57,947 --> 00:06:00,067 Speaker 3: squad is quite good and the quality that we have 119 00:06:00,227 --> 00:06:03,667 Speaker 3: throughout the whole squads quite a high high standard. So 120 00:06:04,147 --> 00:06:06,987 Speaker 3: we've been able to rotate, well, not necessarily rotap but 121 00:06:07,067 --> 00:06:10,507 Speaker 3: we've used the majority of our squad throughout the storm week, 122 00:06:10,627 --> 00:06:13,187 Speaker 3: so that's probably made it a little bit easier for 123 00:06:13,307 --> 00:06:17,627 Speaker 3: us in that we haven't at this stage anyway sustained 124 00:06:17,747 --> 00:06:21,787 Speaker 3: any kind of long term injuries for where we're at 125 00:06:21,787 --> 00:06:22,747 Speaker 3: in this part of the season. 126 00:06:23,787 --> 00:06:26,387 Speaker 2: You beat up on Canterbury in their backyard. That must 127 00:06:26,427 --> 00:06:28,227 Speaker 2: have been pleasant in the middle of your week. 128 00:06:30,907 --> 00:06:33,587 Speaker 3: I'll make sure everyone knows that that's your comment, not mine. 129 00:06:35,147 --> 00:06:37,387 Speaker 2: Hey, I'm born and breed down there. I can even 130 00:06:37,467 --> 00:06:39,227 Speaker 2: let it go. I'm sorry about it matter how long 131 00:06:39,267 --> 00:06:41,947 Speaker 2: I live in Auckland. I'm still reading black. But that hurt. 132 00:06:41,947 --> 00:06:44,227 Speaker 2: But it must have been lovely for you guys. 133 00:06:44,667 --> 00:06:49,307 Speaker 3: Yeah, Look, it's something in hindsight now looking back at it. 134 00:06:49,587 --> 00:06:52,867 Speaker 3: We're only the second team in fifty sixty years from 135 00:06:52,907 --> 00:06:54,667 Speaker 3: Hawks Bay that have gone down there and won. So 136 00:06:55,827 --> 00:06:59,347 Speaker 3: that's something that we've come very close to doing quite 137 00:06:59,347 --> 00:07:01,627 Speaker 3: a few times over the last five six years and 138 00:07:02,907 --> 00:07:05,107 Speaker 3: not quite got over the line. So it was good 139 00:07:05,147 --> 00:07:07,347 Speaker 3: to get there and get down there and get the results. 140 00:07:07,827 --> 00:07:10,867 Speaker 2: Hawk's bade locals. Are they piling into McLean Park and 141 00:07:10,987 --> 00:07:13,067 Speaker 2: enduring this run that you're on right now? You think 142 00:07:13,107 --> 00:07:15,387 Speaker 2: you've you've got the city? 143 00:07:16,227 --> 00:07:18,667 Speaker 3: Oh look, we've been well supported so far this season 144 00:07:18,707 --> 00:07:22,227 Speaker 3: and everything's pointing to a decent crowd turning up tonight 145 00:07:22,267 --> 00:07:27,707 Speaker 3: as well. Obviously, Tasman undefeated and pose a big challenge. 146 00:07:27,747 --> 00:07:30,307 Speaker 3: So the more people we get in and get behind. 147 00:07:30,027 --> 00:07:32,907 Speaker 2: Us for better then always asked and sometimes I get 148 00:07:32,947 --> 00:07:35,867 Speaker 2: and sometimes I don't. Give us a superhero who's been 149 00:07:36,027 --> 00:07:39,747 Speaker 2: extra proud of so far this season, who's really represented 150 00:07:39,787 --> 00:07:42,147 Speaker 2: the Magpies particularly well, do you believe? 151 00:07:43,267 --> 00:07:46,027 Speaker 3: I think Nick Grigg's been unreal for us this year 152 00:07:46,107 --> 00:07:49,947 Speaker 3: so far. He's defensively held those outside channels together and 153 00:07:50,747 --> 00:07:53,827 Speaker 3: he's given us some really good direct to go forward 154 00:07:53,867 --> 00:07:56,707 Speaker 3: through that midfield as well. So he's been one that's 155 00:07:56,707 --> 00:07:59,667 Speaker 3: been really good for us. Another one is Franklinhawes. 156 00:07:58,987 --> 00:07:59,507 Speaker 1: Kind of. 157 00:08:02,307 --> 00:08:06,147 Speaker 3: Not playing out of position at six but he's taken 158 00:08:06,187 --> 00:08:09,467 Speaker 3: on challenge of playing that role and I've done quite 159 00:08:09,507 --> 00:08:10,427 Speaker 3: well with it so far. 160 00:08:11,707 --> 00:08:16,627 Speaker 2: Five past seven gets underway, should be huge. Tesman wants 161 00:08:16,627 --> 00:08:19,187 Speaker 2: some someone's oh has got to go. Four on the 162 00:08:19,227 --> 00:08:21,507 Speaker 2: trot for them, five on the trot for you. This 163 00:08:21,547 --> 00:08:23,907 Speaker 2: should be bigger in Texas. Thanks very much for your time, 164 00:08:23,947 --> 00:08:25,667 Speaker 2: Brock James, you look after yourself. 165 00:08:26,507 --> 00:08:27,267 Speaker 3: Thank you very much. 166 00:08:28,507 --> 00:08:31,667 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 167 00:08:31,787 --> 00:08:35,067 Speaker 1: to news Talks at B weekends from midday, or follow 168 00:08:35,107 --> 00:08:36,747 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio