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 --> 00:00:13,227 Speaker 1: from News Talks b Fallback. 3 00:00:13,347 --> 00:00:17,107 Speaker 2: Finn Hurley has inspired the Highlanders to come from behind 4 00:00:17,187 --> 00:00:20,827 Speaker 2: twenty nine twenty one Super Rugby Pacific win over the 5 00:00:20,827 --> 00:00:24,427 Speaker 2: Blues in Dunedin. The Blues led fourteen to three late 6 00:00:24,427 --> 00:00:27,267 Speaker 2: in the first half before a brace of tries from 7 00:00:27,307 --> 00:00:30,347 Speaker 2: Finn Hurley saw the Highlanders storm home for their first 8 00:00:30,347 --> 00:00:32,347 Speaker 2: one of the season. Will there, Christy looking for it early, 9 00:00:32,347 --> 00:00:35,707 Speaker 2: He's got the mouse, he goes o the past, will life. 10 00:00:36,307 --> 00:00:40,387 Speaker 2: It's a great try. Individual brilliance certainly was. Finn Hurley 11 00:00:40,547 --> 00:00:42,267 Speaker 2: is with us out of dneed in the day after 12 00:00:42,347 --> 00:00:44,187 Speaker 2: the game. Finn, thanks for taking the time for a chat. 13 00:00:44,227 --> 00:00:47,307 Speaker 2: Two tries for you, three off loads, one hundred and 14 00:00:47,347 --> 00:00:50,987 Speaker 2: sixty two meters run with ball in hand. Not a 15 00:00:51,027 --> 00:00:52,547 Speaker 2: bad night's work for you, mate. 16 00:00:53,387 --> 00:00:58,587 Speaker 3: Yeah, pretty surreal moment out there and just it couldn't 17 00:00:58,587 --> 00:01:00,427 Speaker 3: have been any better being able to do it at 18 00:01:00,427 --> 00:01:03,347 Speaker 3: home in front of hate for passionate fans. 19 00:01:03,587 --> 00:01:06,467 Speaker 2: How significant a win is this for the Highlanders? 20 00:01:09,107 --> 00:01:11,307 Speaker 3: Yeah? I think it gives the boys a lot of 21 00:01:11,307 --> 00:01:14,187 Speaker 3: belief and also just their supporters a lot of beliefs. 22 00:01:14,267 --> 00:01:19,067 Speaker 3: So especially after last week having a tight loss and 23 00:01:19,107 --> 00:01:21,787 Speaker 3: then being able to come out and put a performance 24 00:01:21,867 --> 00:01:23,627 Speaker 3: like that out there. I think, yeah, it gives us 25 00:01:23,667 --> 00:01:26,107 Speaker 3: a lot of beliefs going going forward. 26 00:01:26,387 --> 00:01:28,947 Speaker 2: It was a game of a lot of ebbs and flows. 27 00:01:29,427 --> 00:01:32,027 Speaker 2: What were the conversations you guys were having out there 28 00:01:32,027 --> 00:01:33,667 Speaker 2: when you were fourteen to three down. 29 00:01:35,867 --> 00:01:38,627 Speaker 3: I was just yeah, sticking to our game, getting the 30 00:01:38,627 --> 00:01:40,347 Speaker 3: ball on the right part of the field, and then 31 00:01:40,507 --> 00:01:43,347 Speaker 3: just just holding onto the ball and getting points when 32 00:01:43,347 --> 00:01:48,027 Speaker 3: we entered their twenty two, and then yeah, just keeping 33 00:01:48,067 --> 00:01:49,667 Speaker 3: on stacking moments. 34 00:01:50,187 --> 00:01:53,547 Speaker 2: So talk us through your first try the blues kicker downfield. 35 00:01:53,747 --> 00:01:55,987 Speaker 2: You gather it just outside your twenty two, so pick 36 00:01:55,987 --> 00:01:57,387 Speaker 2: it up for us from there. 37 00:01:59,507 --> 00:02:02,907 Speaker 3: You just sort of how do we look? And it 38 00:02:02,627 --> 00:02:04,587 Speaker 3: was there was a week of a space behind the 39 00:02:04,627 --> 00:02:08,027 Speaker 3: initial defense line, so chuck their own and then got 40 00:02:08,027 --> 00:02:10,987 Speaker 3: a I wasn't actually the bounce I was looking for, 41 00:02:11,187 --> 00:02:13,747 Speaker 3: but they actually turned out better than it could have 42 00:02:13,787 --> 00:02:17,187 Speaker 3: ever expected, So it worked out perfectly. 43 00:02:17,227 --> 00:02:19,707 Speaker 2: Yeah, presume you're expecting it to bounce back towards you 44 00:02:19,827 --> 00:02:21,747 Speaker 2: rather than continue to roll forward. But you're kind of 45 00:02:21,787 --> 00:02:23,427 Speaker 2: I guess steam passed where I think it was Finn 46 00:02:23,467 --> 00:02:25,907 Speaker 2: like Christian managed to gather. So from there you're always 47 00:02:25,907 --> 00:02:28,387 Speaker 2: confident you had the legs to get to the line. 48 00:02:28,987 --> 00:02:31,747 Speaker 3: Yeah, I heard someone cooling on the inside, but never 49 00:02:31,787 --> 00:02:32,307 Speaker 3: really much. 50 00:02:33,387 --> 00:02:35,987 Speaker 2: That's optimistic from that's optimistic from whoever. 51 00:02:36,107 --> 00:02:36,547 Speaker 1: That was. 52 00:02:38,867 --> 00:02:41,467 Speaker 2: Well And the second of the second try in the 53 00:02:41,507 --> 00:02:44,667 Speaker 2: second half, at the end of a flowing, counter attacking move, 54 00:02:44,867 --> 00:02:46,587 Speaker 2: do your instincts just kind of get you in the 55 00:02:46,627 --> 00:02:48,307 Speaker 2: right place to receive that final past? 56 00:02:50,707 --> 00:02:53,427 Speaker 3: Yeah, I just sort of the boys, but he made 57 00:02:53,427 --> 00:02:55,107 Speaker 3: a big break and I just sort of had to 58 00:02:55,227 --> 00:02:57,427 Speaker 3: put the foot down to get the spot to be 59 00:02:57,507 --> 00:03:01,187 Speaker 3: an option, I suppose, which yeah, led to that, I feel. 60 00:03:01,547 --> 00:03:04,587 Speaker 2: So then you go down to fourteen men on about 61 00:03:04,587 --> 00:03:07,027 Speaker 2: the hour mark, you're only your head by two points. 62 00:03:07,227 --> 00:03:09,387 Speaker 2: What sort of conversations are happening at that point? 63 00:03:11,547 --> 00:03:14,427 Speaker 3: Yeah, it was more of the same, just getting playing 64 00:03:14,427 --> 00:03:16,147 Speaker 3: in the right part of the field and holding onto 65 00:03:16,187 --> 00:03:19,467 Speaker 3: the ball, and then they're just taking points whenever we 66 00:03:19,507 --> 00:03:22,187 Speaker 3: could get a penalty because we ended up having thirteen 67 00:03:22,307 --> 00:03:26,507 Speaker 3: because of the Golden Oldest scrum. That's that's right, Yeah, 68 00:03:26,547 --> 00:03:30,107 Speaker 3: which we had a scrum and I was looking outside. Man, 69 00:03:30,307 --> 00:03:32,027 Speaker 3: we'd sent two backs into the scrum, and I only 70 00:03:32,067 --> 00:03:34,267 Speaker 3: had about three backs out with us. What are we 71 00:03:34,347 --> 00:03:39,507 Speaker 3: doing here? Boys? It was yeah? Good? 72 00:03:39,787 --> 00:03:42,627 Speaker 2: Oh man, what a what a moment, you know, to 73 00:03:42,707 --> 00:03:45,547 Speaker 2: win under that sort of pressure. I just want to 74 00:03:45,587 --> 00:03:47,347 Speaker 2: ask you about a couple of players in your team. 75 00:03:47,387 --> 00:03:52,067 Speaker 2: Timothy Wi what a monumental game from him. How big 76 00:03:52,067 --> 00:03:53,587 Speaker 2: an influence is he on your side? 77 00:03:54,667 --> 00:04:00,067 Speaker 3: Yeah? Man, just leads by example, goes out there, he 78 00:04:00,147 --> 00:04:03,427 Speaker 3: gets turnovers like he's a floord and just keeps going. 79 00:04:04,427 --> 00:04:04,627 Speaker 2: Yeah. 80 00:04:04,747 --> 00:04:06,947 Speaker 3: I can't can't ask too much more out of that 81 00:04:07,027 --> 00:04:07,507 Speaker 3: met Yeah. 82 00:04:07,507 --> 00:04:09,427 Speaker 2: I thought he was an outside back. It turns out 83 00:04:09,467 --> 00:04:10,227 Speaker 2: he'sid midfielder. 84 00:04:10,907 --> 00:04:15,667 Speaker 3: Yeah, he's made a week transformation there and he's thriving. 85 00:04:16,227 --> 00:04:17,307 Speaker 2: And the other guy I want to ask you about 86 00:04:17,307 --> 00:04:19,947 Speaker 2: actually is Jamie Joseph. Yeah, your head coach. He was 87 00:04:19,987 --> 00:04:21,827 Speaker 2: in and around the team last year. Obviously is in 88 00:04:21,867 --> 00:04:24,547 Speaker 2: a director of rugby role. I think he prefers to 89 00:04:24,547 --> 00:04:27,147 Speaker 2: get his hands dirty in a coaching role. What has 90 00:04:27,187 --> 00:04:29,267 Speaker 2: he brought to the Highlanders this season. 91 00:04:30,787 --> 00:04:34,587 Speaker 3: Yeah, he's bought. He's built a really good culture within 92 00:04:34,627 --> 00:04:39,787 Speaker 3: the side and just yeah, it all started throughout pre 93 00:04:39,947 --> 00:04:43,067 Speaker 3: season and he's pretty much laid down how he wants 94 00:04:43,067 --> 00:04:46,907 Speaker 3: to play. And then it's just flowed through. So no, 95 00:04:47,107 --> 00:04:50,387 Speaker 3: it's I think we're going in the right direction anyway. 96 00:04:50,427 --> 00:04:53,707 Speaker 2: Now, it certainly looks like it's very poignant moment. Pregame 97 00:04:53,747 --> 00:04:56,907 Speaker 2: as well with a tribute to your former teammate Connor 98 00:04:56,987 --> 00:04:58,787 Speaker 2: garden Baship. How special a moment was that? 99 00:05:00,187 --> 00:05:04,987 Speaker 3: Yeah, it was pretty special. Awesome initiative from the Highlanders 100 00:05:04,987 --> 00:05:08,907 Speaker 3: and who ever made that happen, And yeah, awesome to 101 00:05:08,947 --> 00:05:12,947 Speaker 3: be able to pay her respects in that way to yeah, Connor. 102 00:05:13,747 --> 00:05:15,107 Speaker 2: How good was the crowd last night? 103 00:05:16,307 --> 00:05:18,987 Speaker 3: No, it was outstanding. In the warm up there was 104 00:05:19,027 --> 00:05:22,107 Speaker 3: a like band playing and he couldn't hear anything, and 105 00:05:22,147 --> 00:05:24,467 Speaker 3: I was thinking, Jesus, this bit of Bloody caught down 106 00:05:24,547 --> 00:05:27,947 Speaker 3: or even otherwise, I'm gonna kind of better Bloody talked anyone? 107 00:05:29,187 --> 00:05:30,667 Speaker 2: And what was it like? It was? It was? It 108 00:05:30,707 --> 00:05:32,667 Speaker 2: difficult to hear because I'm obviously the roof there makes 109 00:05:32,667 --> 00:05:35,867 Speaker 2: it even you know, even more sort of intil you know, 110 00:05:35,907 --> 00:05:38,987 Speaker 2: were there times when you're wor struggling to hear your teammates. 111 00:05:39,547 --> 00:05:44,187 Speaker 3: Definitely, like during like during play and stuff. It's hard 112 00:05:44,227 --> 00:05:46,547 Speaker 3: to communicate with anyone really, but once you come in 113 00:05:46,587 --> 00:05:48,947 Speaker 3: and get tight, you can get a few messages across 114 00:05:48,947 --> 00:05:49,467 Speaker 3: to each other. 115 00:05:50,507 --> 00:05:53,907 Speaker 2: All right, well it's it's a it's a terrific result. 116 00:05:54,467 --> 00:05:55,747 Speaker 2: I guess you do have to keep your feet on 117 00:05:55,787 --> 00:05:57,187 Speaker 2: the ground a little bit, though, don't you. It's only 118 00:05:57,227 --> 00:05:59,467 Speaker 2: one game and I'm sure you'll get that message a 119 00:05:59,507 --> 00:06:01,507 Speaker 2: loud and clear from Jamie Joseph as you prepare for 120 00:06:01,627 --> 00:06:04,027 Speaker 2: one to pacifica next weekend. But you feel like this 121 00:06:04,107 --> 00:06:06,187 Speaker 2: is a team that will stay pretty grounded even though 122 00:06:06,387 --> 00:06:07,987 Speaker 2: if you've achieved something pretty special here. 123 00:06:09,067 --> 00:06:12,387 Speaker 3: Yeah, definitely, I'd say, yeah, we'll be back to the 124 00:06:12,507 --> 00:06:16,227 Speaker 3: drawing board tomorrow and yeah there was a bit more 125 00:06:16,227 --> 00:06:18,627 Speaker 3: hard work put in before for that next game. 126 00:06:18,707 --> 00:06:21,707 Speaker 2: Or how was the octagon last night? Did you venture out? 127 00:06:23,267 --> 00:06:26,587 Speaker 3: You went for a wee look, nothing too crazy, pulled 128 00:06:26,627 --> 00:06:29,427 Speaker 3: up million marks this morning, so it's the main thing. 129 00:06:30,747 --> 00:06:32,787 Speaker 2: I love it. Good stuff, and hey, well, congratulations on 130 00:06:32,827 --> 00:06:35,187 Speaker 2: a terrific performance from you and from the team last night. 131 00:06:35,227 --> 00:06:38,187 Speaker 2: I think everybody apart from Blue supporters loved it very much, 132 00:06:38,187 --> 00:06:40,747 Speaker 2: so congratulations mate, and thanks for taking the time for 133 00:06:40,787 --> 00:06:41,147 Speaker 2: a chat. 134 00:06:41,667 --> 00:06:42,707 Speaker 3: No problem, thank you much. 135 00:06:42,987 --> 00:06:47,147 Speaker 2: Thanks mate. Fin Hurley there out of the Highlanders, scorer 136 00:06:47,187 --> 00:06:50,267 Speaker 2: of two tries last night, big part of the Highlanders performance, 137 00:06:50,267 --> 00:06:52,387 Speaker 2: but it was built on more than just what Finn 138 00:06:52,427 --> 00:06:55,547 Speaker 2: Hurley did. I just really enjoyed watching it. I just 139 00:06:55,587 --> 00:06:58,547 Speaker 2: thought it was terrific. I mean, we all want every 140 00:06:58,747 --> 00:07:01,027 Speaker 2: New Zealand team to be strong, right and in recent 141 00:07:01,147 --> 00:07:05,907 Speaker 2: years the Highlanders have already struggled. You know that that's not 142 00:07:06,027 --> 00:07:08,307 Speaker 2: going to come as a shock to you. But when 143 00:07:08,507 --> 00:07:12,187 Speaker 2: the Blues, the defending champions, hit town last night and 144 00:07:12,227 --> 00:07:16,107 Speaker 2: we're ahead fourteen to three in the first half, you think, Okay, 145 00:07:16,547 --> 00:07:19,027 Speaker 2: I've seen this movie before. I know how this one's 146 00:07:19,027 --> 00:07:22,427 Speaker 2: gonna go. I can see the script. Yeah, the Highlanders 147 00:07:22,467 --> 00:07:25,627 Speaker 2: all be plucky and they'll put up, you know, some resistance, 148 00:07:25,667 --> 00:07:26,947 Speaker 2: but at the end of the day, the Blues are 149 00:07:26,947 --> 00:07:28,507 Speaker 2: going to win the game, well, not a bit of it. 150 00:07:29,507 --> 00:07:31,507 Speaker 2: Highland is twenty nine Blues twenty one. 151 00:07:32,267 --> 00:07:35,467 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 152 00:07:35,587 --> 00:07:38,867 Speaker 1: to News Talk said Be weekends from midday, or follow 153 00:07:38,907 --> 00:07:40,507 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.