1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,440 Speaker 1: Super Rugby Final time this long weekend as the comp's 2 00:00:02,440 --> 00:00:04,920 Speaker 1: two best chiefs and the Crusaders work out who wins 3 00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:07,640 Speaker 1: it all. But the Crusaders, well, they weren't here last year. 4 00:00:07,680 --> 00:00:09,559 Speaker 1: They had four wins from fourteen matches, of course, and 5 00:00:09,600 --> 00:00:11,159 Speaker 1: the new coach at the time, Rob Pennie, he was 6 00:00:11,280 --> 00:00:14,000 Speaker 1: under fire. So what a difference the season makes? Rob 7 00:00:14,040 --> 00:00:16,919 Speaker 1: Penny is with us. Good morning, Good morning to you, Mike. 8 00:00:17,079 --> 00:00:19,200 Speaker 1: How's the season gone for you? I mean, obviously you're 9 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:21,880 Speaker 1: in the final, but as a season compared to last season, 10 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:22,759 Speaker 1: how's it gone for you? 11 00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:27,400 Speaker 2: Oh? Well, I think it's pretty obvious. Talk and cheese 12 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:31,600 Speaker 2: would be the analogy. But you know, although we were 13 00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:35,960 Speaker 2: really disappointed in our outcomes last year, there was lots 14 00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:39,559 Speaker 2: of good things happening and this year's really flowed on 15 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:42,800 Speaker 2: from I guess some seeds that were set last year 16 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:45,760 Speaker 2: and proofs and the putting. Herege say, we're in the 17 00:00:45,800 --> 00:00:46,960 Speaker 2: final and wrapped to be there. 18 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:49,800 Speaker 1: How difficult was it for you personally to deal with 19 00:00:49,880 --> 00:00:52,279 Speaker 1: last year? Oh? 20 00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:56,040 Speaker 2: Look, it was very challenging, felt as though there was 21 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:59,080 Speaker 2: a real agenda to try to try to move me on. 22 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:05,440 Speaker 2: But you know, those that know were oil and trusting 23 00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:10,520 Speaker 2: and just so grateful to get the opportunity I guess 24 00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:14,240 Speaker 2: to you know, to assist the group to be where 25 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:18,040 Speaker 2: they are today. And you know, the biggest disappointment last 26 00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:24,399 Speaker 2: year really was around the non achievement really for the boys, 27 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:27,600 Speaker 2: because you're only in it for the you know, for 28 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:30,840 Speaker 2: the boys to have a lot of joy and express 29 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 2: themselves and and loving what they do. And it was 30 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:36,920 Speaker 2: a tough it was it was a tough segment of 31 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:41,400 Speaker 2: their careers. And but anyway, we've overcome that and as 32 00:01:41,480 --> 00:01:43,520 Speaker 2: I say, we've got a great occasion happening here on set. 33 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:45,600 Speaker 1: It Indeed, the lead up this week, how's that been 34 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:47,160 Speaker 1: been really good? 35 00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:52,200 Speaker 2: Thanks. We've the whole organization, like from the medical team, 36 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:56,240 Speaker 2: the performance team through the back office has been really 37 00:01:56,320 --> 00:02:00,560 Speaker 2: humming for the last months and just just build towards 38 00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 2: this and you know, we've got a great group of 39 00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:09,320 Speaker 2: players representing the Crusaders, and you know, the coaching staff 40 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:12,960 Speaker 2: in particular have done an enormous amount of work to 41 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:17,440 Speaker 2: prepare the group for what will be a massive occasion. 42 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:21,360 Speaker 1: What's your observation on Super rugby in general, the quality 43 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:23,640 Speaker 1: of the crowds that may or may not have turned 44 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:26,280 Speaker 1: up the television viewing the tightness of the games as 45 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:28,480 Speaker 1: a camp. How do you think it's gone. 46 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:32,079 Speaker 2: Well, I think it's been a real highlight. I think 47 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:36,279 Speaker 2: from a personal point of view, we've had great crowds 48 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:38,880 Speaker 2: through the season here at christ Jets and in some 49 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:41,840 Speaker 2: abysmal weather at times, and the loyalty has been unreal 50 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:46,640 Speaker 2: And where we've gone and traveled equally, the crowd have 51 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 2: been really supportive of their home team and a lot 52 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:54,079 Speaker 2: of them, you know, are traveling Crusader supporters too, which 53 00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:55,480 Speaker 2: has been a joy to be a part of. But 54 00:02:56,320 --> 00:02:59,640 Speaker 2: I think the competition, the closeness Ossie's going back to 55 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:02,400 Speaker 2: down to four teams has created a lot of depth 56 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:06,720 Speaker 2: and every game was a was a you had to focus, 57 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:08,840 Speaker 2: You had to be prepared well because you were going 58 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:12,600 Speaker 2: to get knocked off if you didn't didn't do the 59 00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:16,240 Speaker 2: preparation to a to a really deep level. And I 60 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:18,840 Speaker 2: think that that was shining in the in the table. 61 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:22,480 Speaker 2: You know, the Blues, who were eminently capable just squeaked 62 00:03:22,520 --> 00:03:25,519 Speaker 2: into the top six, and you know everyone was capable 63 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:26,920 Speaker 2: of beating everybody at that stage. 64 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:30,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, indeed the Chiefs can beat you, and we know 65 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:32,359 Speaker 1: that but you don't lose in a final at home, 66 00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:34,760 Speaker 1: So how do you balance those two ideas up? 67 00:03:37,080 --> 00:03:40,800 Speaker 2: No doubt, it's two Titanic teams gone head to head. 68 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 2: Sport as you know, you know, we hear every Monday 69 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:48,840 Speaker 2: morning about your ebb and flows and emotions around the 70 00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:53,560 Speaker 2: warriors and how they're doing it. Can you know it can? 71 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:56,040 Speaker 2: It can throw up some curve balls and it's it's 72 00:03:56,080 --> 00:03:59,160 Speaker 2: not always linear. It's never linear. And you know, the 73 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:01,400 Speaker 2: beauty about sport is just that that's why we love 74 00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:06,120 Speaker 2: it so much. And the challenges within that are you know, 75 00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:09,000 Speaker 2: there's the physical ones obviously, but there's the emotional mental 76 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:12,040 Speaker 2: challenges that go along with the depth of preparation that 77 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:15,160 Speaker 2: you need to go to do in all those areas 78 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:20,240 Speaker 2: to have the outcome. So, yep, the Chiefs they know 79 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:22,200 Speaker 2: how to win. They've beaten us twice this year. But 80 00:04:22,279 --> 00:04:24,960 Speaker 2: neither team's the same team as we were at those occasions, 81 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:28,640 Speaker 2: and finals are separate thing all together. They're a beast 82 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:33,240 Speaker 2: all of their own, and yeah, it's I guess it's 83 00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:36,400 Speaker 2: going to be another tight one. And the team that 84 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:39,440 Speaker 2: holds its composure the longest and prepares the best and 85 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:43,800 Speaker 2: plays the best will will that be the ultimate victis. 86 00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:45,359 Speaker 1: I've been talking to my mum who's been telling me 87 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:47,560 Speaker 1: how cold, but Sonny it is. Does any of that 88 00:04:47,640 --> 00:04:49,320 Speaker 1: matter or not? Not? 89 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:52,719 Speaker 2: Now I know the Chiefs have been playing in this 90 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:55,479 Speaker 2: sort of condition. I think all the teams are capable 91 00:04:55,480 --> 00:04:58,559 Speaker 2: of playing all weather, particularly when you've got the level 92 00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:01,680 Speaker 2: of talent that the Chiefs do. We do numerous all 93 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:03,760 Speaker 2: blacks that have played all around the world and in 94 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:08,960 Speaker 2: different situations, and you know they'll be the key mend 95 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:13,560 Speaker 2: that will drive both sides on Saturday night, and so 96 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:16,919 Speaker 2: conditions will be it'll be won't be barmie, it'll be 97 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:20,400 Speaker 2: dewey and cool, but I think it'll be clear, not raining, 98 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 2: So that's that's a bonus. 99 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 1: The Crusaders, then rob By how many. 100 00:05:26,480 --> 00:05:30,760 Speaker 2: I would never be as arrogant to state that. I 101 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:33,159 Speaker 2: just think it'll be such a great contest. It'll be 102 00:05:34,279 --> 00:05:36,640 Speaker 2: all the things that will be expected of a of 103 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 2: a great tournament, and it'll be an international level because 104 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:42,520 Speaker 2: there's you know, the category of the players involved on 105 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:47,680 Speaker 2: both sides that and you know, probably be arrogant enough 106 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 2: to say it's the best two teams in the world 107 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:49,719 Speaker 2: at the moment. 108 00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:53,040 Speaker 1: That's probably true. Yeah, all right, go well mate, Rob 109 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:55,760 Speaker 1: Heenny Coach of the Crusaders. Nice guy, any nice guy. 110 00:05:56,480 --> 00:05:59,360 Speaker 1: For more from the Mic Asking Breakfast, listen live to 111 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:02,560 Speaker 1: news Talk It'd be from six am weekdays, or follow 112 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:04,159 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.