1
00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,547
Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine

2
00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:12,907
Speaker 1: from News Talks, edb in.

3
00:00:12,827 --> 00:00:15,627
Speaker 2: To Finals weekend and Super Rugby Pacific.

4
00:00:15,227 --> 00:00:18,987
Speaker 3: Back to Sibu rees and he boots it over the

5
00:00:19,187 --> 00:00:23,427
Speaker 3: South Brand stand and the Crusaders are through to the

6
00:00:23,467 --> 00:00:30,667
Speaker 3: semifinals and their almighty Hope playoff record remains thirty wins

7
00:00:30,747 --> 00:00:34,747
Speaker 3: of the Trots and Finals football at christ Church full

8
00:00:34,827 --> 00:00:36,707
Speaker 3: time thirty two place twelve.

9
00:00:36,787 --> 00:00:39,107
Speaker 2: Yeah, goodwin by the Crusaders last night. Always great to

10
00:00:39,147 --> 00:00:41,427
Speaker 2: get the chance to catch up with Super Rugby Pacific

11
00:00:41,587 --> 00:00:44,627
Speaker 2: CEO Jack Mesley. Now, Jack, you didn't come across for

12
00:00:44,667 --> 00:00:47,587
Speaker 2: this game. You're off to Canberra this afternoon to watch

13
00:00:47,627 --> 00:00:51,507
Speaker 2: the Brumbies against the Hurricanes tonight. You wisely chose, I

14
00:00:51,587 --> 00:00:55,067
Speaker 2: think anyway, not to be in a very chilly christ

15
00:00:55,107 --> 00:00:57,227
Speaker 2: News last night. You're happy to dodge that bullet.

16
00:00:57,867 --> 00:01:00,627
Speaker 4: It was very cold, wasn't it. It looked it looked

17
00:01:01,467 --> 00:01:06,067
Speaker 4: very tough. I mean, I think the Crusaders fans had

18
00:01:06,027 --> 00:01:09,827
Speaker 4: got out there should should be congratulated because looking on

19
00:01:09,867 --> 00:01:12,067
Speaker 4: the TV, they were rugged up and they look like

20
00:01:12,107 --> 00:01:15,587
Speaker 4: they're about to go for go for a ski. You know,

21
00:01:15,947 --> 00:01:17,227
Speaker 4: I thought it was a great game. I mean, the

22
00:01:17,267 --> 00:01:20,187
Speaker 4: Crusaders were clinical in that first half and what to

23
00:01:20,227 --> 00:01:24,147
Speaker 4: turn around from last season to this. But the new stadium,

24
00:01:24,227 --> 00:01:26,427
Speaker 4: how good is that going to be down in in

25
00:01:26,667 --> 00:01:30,667
Speaker 4: christ Church? So that so that all those mad Cantabrian

26
00:01:30,707 --> 00:01:33,787
Speaker 4: fans don't have to sit out in the freeze in

27
00:01:33,787 --> 00:01:34,507
Speaker 4: the freezing cold.

28
00:01:34,627 --> 00:01:37,107
Speaker 2: Yeah, can't come quickly enough. I think everybody you talk

29
00:01:37,147 --> 00:01:39,187
Speaker 2: to in that part of the world says so, so

30
00:01:39,267 --> 00:01:41,987
Speaker 2: look forward to that next season. Before we look at

31
00:01:41,987 --> 00:01:46,587
Speaker 2: the games today and the finals in general. How happy

32
00:01:46,627 --> 00:01:49,267
Speaker 2: were you Jack with the way the regular season played

33
00:01:49,307 --> 00:01:52,067
Speaker 2: out in terms of the measures which are most important

34
00:01:52,107 --> 00:01:52,387
Speaker 2: to you.

35
00:01:53,587 --> 00:01:56,347
Speaker 4: Yeah, we're really pleased with the season. I think all

36
00:01:56,427 --> 00:02:00,147
Speaker 4: teams should be congratulated, you know, for the for the

37
00:02:00,307 --> 00:02:03,787
Speaker 4: style of rugby and the closeness and competitiveness of the competition.

38
00:02:04,827 --> 00:02:08,347
Speaker 4: Probably the one that one stat that I think kind

39
00:02:08,387 --> 00:02:11,747
Speaker 4: of sums up the season was the fact that we've

40
00:02:12,187 --> 00:02:14,427
Speaker 4: you know, the number of points and the ladder between

41
00:02:14,547 --> 00:02:19,147
Speaker 4: first and last is the is the tightest it's been

42
00:02:19,187 --> 00:02:21,947
Speaker 4: since two thousand and four. So I think that sort

43
00:02:21,947 --> 00:02:25,067
Speaker 4: of tells the story largely about just how competitive it's been.

44
00:02:25,107 --> 00:02:28,347
Speaker 4: And the high Landers on the bottom were great and

45
00:02:28,827 --> 00:02:31,827
Speaker 4: had so many matches where they won a bonus point

46
00:02:31,867 --> 00:02:34,187
Speaker 4: for being within seven but just couldn't get enough wins. So,

47
00:02:34,867 --> 00:02:37,027
Speaker 4: you know, I think that that was really really pleasing

48
00:02:37,027 --> 00:02:39,467
Speaker 4: to see, and I think that's what we all sort

49
00:02:39,467 --> 00:02:42,987
Speaker 4: of experienced with with the closeness of games, the high

50
00:02:43,027 --> 00:02:46,987
Speaker 4: try scoring and closeness of ladder. So we're really pleased.

51
00:02:47,027 --> 00:02:50,027
Speaker 4: And that's all reflected in all of our our audience

52
00:02:50,147 --> 00:02:52,587
Speaker 4: data and our ten data, our digital data, which is

53
00:02:52,627 --> 00:02:53,507
Speaker 4: which is great.

54
00:02:53,427 --> 00:02:56,267
Speaker 2: And the rugby that was being played. If a casual fan,

55
00:02:56,787 --> 00:02:59,067
Speaker 2: you know, dipped in and out of Super Rugby, you

56
00:02:59,107 --> 00:03:02,227
Speaker 2: reckon that'd be happy with what they saw game to game,

57
00:03:02,267 --> 00:03:02,747
Speaker 2: week to week.

58
00:03:03,547 --> 00:03:05,867
Speaker 4: Yeah, I really think so. I mean I think that

59
00:03:05,867 --> 00:03:09,667
Speaker 4: that common nation of a high point, high points scored,

60
00:03:11,227 --> 00:03:15,467
Speaker 4: and closeness of of game was excellent. And then you know,

61
00:03:15,627 --> 00:03:20,147
Speaker 4: in terms of the style, we had high high try scoring,

62
00:03:20,587 --> 00:03:24,787
Speaker 4: we had really fast play ball in playtime was was

63
00:03:24,787 --> 00:03:27,707
Speaker 4: was really good as well. So you know, I think

64
00:03:27,747 --> 00:03:31,147
Speaker 4: as a as a casual observer, hopefully you watch some

65
00:03:31,227 --> 00:03:34,387
Speaker 4: grouping rugby and are coming coming back to Super Specific

66
00:03:34,427 --> 00:03:34,907
Speaker 4: more often.

67
00:03:35,307 --> 00:03:37,227
Speaker 2: How happy have you been with the officiating?

68
00:03:38,707 --> 00:03:41,747
Speaker 4: Oh? Really happy? Yeah, I think the guys have done

69
00:03:42,147 --> 00:03:46,307
Speaker 4: a great job, you know, we've we've made some decisions

70
00:03:46,307 --> 00:03:51,267
Speaker 4: around you know, their role is super important in in

71
00:03:51,427 --> 00:03:54,227
Speaker 4: getting the game going, in moving it forward quickly, and

72
00:03:54,267 --> 00:03:57,107
Speaker 4: I think they've done a great job in that, you know,

73
00:03:57,187 --> 00:03:59,947
Speaker 4: and in doing that, we've taken away some of their tools,

74
00:03:59,987 --> 00:04:02,667
Speaker 4: Like we've we've limited the ability of the TMO to

75
00:04:02,747 --> 00:04:06,187
Speaker 4: come in throughout the game. And in doing so, you know,

76
00:04:06,507 --> 00:04:09,947
Speaker 4: we know where we're not necessarily setting those guys up

77
00:04:09,947 --> 00:04:11,987
Speaker 4: for success all the time because they don't have all

78
00:04:12,027 --> 00:04:17,707
Speaker 4: the technology and interference at their fingertips. So with that,

79
00:04:17,787 --> 00:04:20,947
Speaker 4: you know, we accept sometimes clearly, like all of us,

80
00:04:20,987 --> 00:04:23,027
Speaker 4: we're not going to get it right one hundred percent

81
00:04:23,027 --> 00:04:25,387
Speaker 4: of the time. But I think I think it's very excellent.

82
00:04:25,707 --> 00:04:27,987
Speaker 2: The finals format. There's been a bit of chat about this,

83
00:04:28,067 --> 00:04:30,467
Speaker 2: and now that we're here, probably the chat's got a

84
00:04:30,507 --> 00:04:33,027
Speaker 2: bit louder the fact that tonight's game between the Brumbies

85
00:04:33,027 --> 00:04:35,947
Speaker 2: and the Hurricanes could be in, if you want to

86
00:04:36,027 --> 00:04:38,987
Speaker 2: use a cliche, a dead rubber in some ways. If

87
00:04:38,987 --> 00:04:41,027
Speaker 2: the Chiefs beat the Blues, the Brumbies and the Hurricanes

88
00:04:41,067 --> 00:04:43,747
Speaker 2: both know they'll be playing next week in regardless of

89
00:04:43,747 --> 00:04:46,467
Speaker 2: what happens tonight. What's your what's your response to to

90
00:04:46,787 --> 00:04:50,027
Speaker 2: the you know, any any criticism of the finals format.

91
00:04:51,307 --> 00:04:53,907
Speaker 4: Yeah, well, I mean I think, you know, like everything,

92
00:04:54,387 --> 00:04:57,507
Speaker 4: we will listen and we'll sit back at the end

93
00:04:57,507 --> 00:05:02,587
Speaker 4: of it and and do a few a full review. Yeah.

94
00:05:02,587 --> 00:05:06,267
Speaker 4: In terms of the scheduling of this weekend, we know

95
00:05:06,467 --> 00:05:09,907
Speaker 4: we had a difficult set of circumstances here in where

96
00:05:09,947 --> 00:05:13,707
Speaker 4: to play the Brumby's Canes match or when when to

97
00:05:13,747 --> 00:05:16,787
Speaker 4: play it. Sorry, you know, and there are a few

98
00:05:16,827 --> 00:05:22,507
Speaker 4: competing forces there. Friday night, the local rugby all got

99
00:05:22,547 --> 00:05:25,987
Speaker 4: moved to Friday night because of the long weekend in Australia.

100
00:05:26,027 --> 00:05:28,467
Speaker 4: So had we played it Friday night, we would have

101
00:05:28,507 --> 00:05:31,187
Speaker 4: been going up against the John I. Dent Cup and

102
00:05:31,267 --> 00:05:35,187
Speaker 4: all the local rugby. And then so had we played

103
00:05:35,187 --> 00:05:37,747
Speaker 4: it early Saturday, two thirty on a Saturday on a

104
00:05:37,747 --> 00:05:41,507
Speaker 4: long weekend in Australia, you know, we'd be playing it

105
00:05:41,547 --> 00:05:44,987
Speaker 4: in front of no one on television. So there's some

106
00:05:45,027 --> 00:05:48,267
Speaker 4: of the some of the kind of I guess tensions

107
00:05:48,307 --> 00:05:51,427
Speaker 4: of you know. We ultimately decided to try to put

108
00:05:51,467 --> 00:05:53,947
Speaker 4: it in front of as many people as we can,

109
00:05:55,067 --> 00:05:57,907
Speaker 4: but in doing so, we ran the possibility that it

110
00:05:58,507 --> 00:06:02,227
Speaker 4: may mean the less. It's not a dead rubber. Obviously,

111
00:06:02,267 --> 00:06:05,627
Speaker 4: who plays who's still important and where you play is important.

112
00:06:06,587 --> 00:06:08,427
Speaker 4: Some of the kind of tensions that were behind it,

113
00:06:08,467 --> 00:06:12,987
Speaker 4: and ultimately, you know, we made that call, but you know,

114
00:06:13,067 --> 00:06:16,227
Speaker 4: in practice, when we're when we're trying to run this

115
00:06:16,387 --> 00:06:20,707
Speaker 4: structure across multiple time zones, it is it is a

116
00:06:20,707 --> 00:06:22,627
Speaker 4: bit difficult, and we don't have all the all the

117
00:06:22,667 --> 00:06:24,387
Speaker 4: freedom that we would like with that obviously.

118
00:06:24,747 --> 00:06:27,307
Speaker 2: So just to confirm Jack the finals format and having

119
00:06:27,307 --> 00:06:32,267
Speaker 2: the six teams that that was to guarantee an extra

120
00:06:32,347 --> 00:06:34,747
Speaker 2: game on weekend one of the finals, is that right,

121
00:06:35,547 --> 00:06:36,147
Speaker 2: it's to play.

122
00:06:36,347 --> 00:06:39,787
Speaker 4: Yeah, it's just to maximize the amount of premium content

123
00:06:40,067 --> 00:06:45,547
Speaker 4: in the maximum amount of locations throughout throughout that final series.

124
00:06:45,627 --> 00:06:49,347
Speaker 4: So you know, we've only got a nineteen week competition.

125
00:06:50,027 --> 00:06:54,427
Speaker 4: We have two buys for every team. You know, in

126
00:06:54,507 --> 00:06:57,187
Speaker 4: some ways it's counterintuitive to then be resting out their

127
00:06:57,267 --> 00:06:59,467
Speaker 4: teams at the most important team at the time of

128
00:06:59,507 --> 00:07:01,507
Speaker 4: the year. So I think that's some of the some

129
00:07:01,587 --> 00:07:05,147
Speaker 4: of the theory behind it. You know, that's that's kind

130
00:07:05,147 --> 00:07:08,467
Speaker 4: of where where we needed out as to this final series.

131
00:07:08,667 --> 00:07:10,667
Speaker 2: All right, And just a quick look ahead the next season.

132
00:07:10,947 --> 00:07:14,547
Speaker 2: You mentioned christ Church Stadium before all reports have it

133
00:07:15,187 --> 00:07:18,627
Speaker 2: ready sort of March April time next year for action,

134
00:07:19,027 --> 00:07:22,067
Speaker 2: but a chat about a possible Super Round in Canterbury,

135
00:07:22,107 --> 00:07:23,867
Speaker 2: anything you can tell us.

136
00:07:23,867 --> 00:07:27,827
Speaker 4: Jack, Yeah, we're working really hard to make that a reality.

137
00:07:28,707 --> 00:07:31,547
Speaker 4: So I think it'd be, you know, such a great

138
00:07:31,587 --> 00:07:34,947
Speaker 4: event to bring all of super rugby down to christ

139
00:07:35,067 --> 00:07:40,547
Speaker 4: Church to help open that amazing stadium. So yeah, we're

140
00:07:40,547 --> 00:07:44,827
Speaker 4: working hard on that. We're working hard with a number

141
00:07:44,827 --> 00:07:47,587
Speaker 4: of government bodies to make that a reality and we

142
00:07:48,107 --> 00:07:50,387
Speaker 4: really hope that things can come off and that we

143
00:07:50,427 --> 00:07:54,387
Speaker 4: can announce that soon. It would be you know, it

144
00:07:54,507 --> 00:07:57,267
Speaker 4: had been around the ANZAC weekend as well, which I

145
00:07:57,347 --> 00:07:59,627
Speaker 4: think would just be a fantastic event.

146
00:07:59,907 --> 00:08:03,547
Speaker 2: I will book my tickets tentatively to be there for that, Jack,

147
00:08:03,547 --> 00:08:07,427
Speaker 2: because I know you will as well. Congratulations on getting

148
00:08:07,467 --> 00:08:10,547
Speaker 2: us the finals weekend. Yeah, I think by most measures,

149
00:08:10,547 --> 00:08:13,987
Speaker 2: by all measures, it's been a terrific season for viewers,

150
00:08:14,187 --> 00:08:17,067
Speaker 2: so spectators for listeners to this show anyway. Always good

151
00:08:17,067 --> 00:08:18,587
Speaker 2: to catch up mate, Let's do it again before the

152
00:08:18,587 --> 00:08:19,107
Speaker 2: Grand Final.

153
00:08:19,867 --> 00:08:22,827
Speaker 4: Yeah, that'd be great, pony, thanks mate, and yeah, looking

154
00:08:22,907 --> 00:08:25,187
Speaker 4: forward to the games of Afternoon who have you got.

155
00:08:25,627 --> 00:08:27,787
Speaker 2: Well, I mean I'm a Hurricanes fan, so I've got

156
00:08:27,827 --> 00:08:29,907
Speaker 2: you know, I've got in camera where you are. I

157
00:08:29,947 --> 00:08:33,027
Speaker 2: don't expect you to chair for my Hurricanes, but that's

158
00:08:33,027 --> 00:08:36,147
Speaker 2: how I've got and look I much as Yeah. I

159
00:08:36,267 --> 00:08:38,627
Speaker 2: just don't see anybody beating the Chiefs in Hamilton. I

160
00:08:38,707 --> 00:08:40,187
Speaker 2: just can't see it. I don't know what you think

161
00:08:40,187 --> 00:08:42,067
Speaker 2: of me the Blues. I think if anybody was going

162
00:08:42,107 --> 00:08:43,627
Speaker 2: to beat them, it might be the Blues. But I

163
00:08:43,667 --> 00:08:44,987
Speaker 2: don't know. I've got the Chiefs, what about you.

164
00:08:45,867 --> 00:08:48,987
Speaker 4: Yeah, I think it's a good match up. Actually, I think, yeah,

165
00:08:49,027 --> 00:08:50,867
Speaker 4: the Blues are probably one of the few sides that

166
00:08:50,907 --> 00:08:54,187
Speaker 4: could do it. So yeah, we look forward to kick

167
00:08:54,227 --> 00:08:56,867
Speaker 4: off this afternoon DWN in Hamilton and then and then

168
00:08:56,867 --> 00:08:57,787
Speaker 4: in Canberra following.

169
00:08:57,907 --> 00:08:59,747
Speaker 2: Good stuff. Great to check Jack, Thanks for your time,

170
00:09:00,307 --> 00:09:04,467
Speaker 2: Thanks Pony, Thanks Jack, Jack Messli super Rigby Pacific CEO

171
00:09:04,827 --> 00:09:07,227
Speaker 2: joining us. That is new information think about christ Church,

172
00:09:07,267 --> 00:09:09,987
Speaker 2: isn't it. In terms of super Round, I hadn't heard that.

173
00:09:10,027 --> 00:09:12,947
Speaker 2: I'd heard it rumored, As I said to Jack Measley there,

174
00:09:12,947 --> 00:09:15,747
Speaker 2: I'd heard rumors that they want to bring super Round back.

175
00:09:16,427 --> 00:09:18,227
Speaker 2: You know, they had it in Melbourne. Never going to

176
00:09:18,267 --> 00:09:20,747
Speaker 2: work there, right, never going to work there. Didn't have

177
00:09:20,787 --> 00:09:23,947
Speaker 2: it this year, but from what Jack just said then

178
00:09:24,467 --> 00:09:27,867
Speaker 2: they are keen to have it back and are targeting

179
00:09:28,747 --> 00:09:31,227
Speaker 2: the new Stadium in christ Church for Super Round and

180
00:09:31,347 --> 00:09:37,027
Speaker 2: twenty twenty six across a Zach weekend. How good would

181
00:09:37,067 --> 00:09:37,307
Speaker 2: that be?

182
00:09:38,307 --> 00:09:41,507
Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live

183
00:09:41,627 --> 00:09:44,907
Speaker 1: to News Talk Said B weekends from midday, or follow

184
00:09:44,947 --> 00:09:46,547
Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio