November 22, 2024 • 6 mins
The Wellington Phoenix will be without starting fullbacks Tim Payne and Sam Sutton for Sunday's A-League match against Melbourne Victory, through injury.
Captain Alex Rufer joined Adam Cooper to discuss the impact this has on the team, and how they're preparing for the match following the international break.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Let's talk the Wellington Phoenix though, and as party mentioned
your Night Round this weekend, the Phoenix men back in action.
Obviously before the international break, they had a great three
nail went over the Central Coast Mariners and tomorrow it's
Melbourne victory in Sydney. As part of the Night Round. Well,
one of the players that has been in the All
Whites camp that's back in the Phoenix colors now is
(00:20):
skipper Alex Rufer who joins us now. Alex, morning to ye,
thanks for your time and firstly, just give us your
take on how things panned out in the All Whites camp.
A couple of big wins over Vonawatu and a couple
of wins away from a fifth of World Cup spot.
Did you enjoy your time in the national team.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Yeah, really happy. You know, it's always a massive honor
to represent New Zealand. You know, we dealt with the
games extremely professionally while we were in camp. We did
what we had to do and obviously now back at
club football and we'll focuses on this weekend.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Yeah, how do you sort of juggle the different commitments
and there's been a obviously a couple of All Whites
games and fixtures scattered through that the early part of
the A League season. Do you see it as a
benefit getting a different environment or is a bit of
a distraction to the start of the club campaign.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
No, it's only a benefit. I only look at it positively, mate. Look,
of course, missing some preseason training and fixtures is obviously
not ideal for your club, but for the individual it's obviously,
like I said, a massive honor, a massive bonus to
go and represent your country and play football matches, and yeah, look,
(01:30):
I think it's also a great indication that the players
are performing and the club's programs are doing well.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Yeah great, Just before we move on to talk more
Phoenix matters. It's always great to see now, Alex, And
it hasn't always been the case, I guess over the years,
but just seeing how much all the top key we
guys yourself included, from around the world want to be
part of this national team, there doesn't seem to be
too much problem getting the likes of Chris Wood and
all the others scattered around the world to want to
be part of an all whites campaign.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Yeah. Look, it's like you said, it's always the massive
honor and every player is extremely proud to have in
their country. And look, it's you know, it's an extremely
important time for the national team obviously, like you know,
it's it's World Cup qualification matches, so you know, big
players want to be involved in all these games and
(02:18):
that's really important for us. And you know, I'm sure
it all start like that.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Moving forward, Yeah, great and getting back into the Phoenix season. Obviously,
the most recent outing was that that pretty solid result
a couple of some days ago, three nil over the
Central Coast Mariners. I'm sure as you guys left for
international duties, you would have been pretty pleased with where
we left things with the Phoenix.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Yeah, extremely happy, you know, a great, great result, great performance,
you know, a good turnaround you could say from the
disappointing defeat the week before. But look, we only now,
we're only looking forward. We're only looking forward to the
next match, and that's Melviurn Victory. They're a good team,
They're going to cause us some problems and I know
(03:00):
we're heading to this game with a lot of confidence,
so the boys are ready.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
I guess people would look at the Malburn victory's name
and for a lot of people, I guess cast their
minds back to the semi final a few months back. Now,
is that you know, does it bring back many memories
as a player? Obviously you know, new setups in both sides.
So does it draw your mind back at all to
I guess the last time you played them?
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Not not really. That was an amazing night with the
fans and the atmosphere and the occasion. Of course, wasn't
it ended you know, negatively, and it wasn't how we
wanted the fairy tale to end. But look, it doesn't
bring that back too many memories. If anything, it probably
makes us more hungry just to make sure we get
(03:40):
a result against them this weekend.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Personnel we know, But what is different about the Phoenix
now than what they were with different players? You know,
at the end of the end of the last campaign.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Look like you've seen, we've we've signed some really good players.
We've managed to recruit well obviously, Look, it's still taking
time because some of those players haven't you know, played
four minutes and haven't even featured as of yet. Much
so I think once we have you know, our strongest
team playing and all the players available, I think you'll
really see. But look, I think we've been much more.
(04:13):
I wouldn't say I'm not saying we were negative last year,
but I think we've probably had a lot more position
this year, and in good areas I think now for
us are challengers, you know, to really punish teams with
that position. I think we've we've broken through teams quite well,
and I think we've probably not punished teams as well
as we can. But that's you know, look that that's
(04:34):
all going to come. Like I said, when players get
used to playing with each other and that connection comes,
you know will only get better. So that's also very promising.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Yeah, great, I'm obviously some news to the defensive lineup.
We know that Tim Payne was out from the All
Whites camp, hearing obviously about Sam Sutton's injury from training,
which which we've heard chiefly say that you know, pretty
unlikely he'll be on the plane. How much does that
change things from a defensive mindset for you guys getting
into this one.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
Oh, look, it's not idea obviously when you both your
fallbacks are injured. But look, I'm sure the players that
come in will do a good job. We've got good
depth and you know, all the players that are that
are fit and playing have to make sure they do
their job and and I'm confident and I'm sure the
coaching staff are confident that will do that.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Tell us about the strategy for defenders that that's been
injected in this team obviously, you know the likes of
the scenarios that we saw, you know, Sam Sudden pushed
right up and score a goal in that central coast.
When has there been a sort of slight change in
plans from from a coaching perspective for the guys at
the back when you're in those attacking situations this year, I.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Think you should know. I think it's all about balance.
You know, starts and painting are both extremely dangerous going forward.
They're also very good defensively. But chief he definitely has
you know, pushed both of them probably harder this year
to really get involved with goal scoring and making sure
(05:59):
that they're you know, sometimes on the end of crosses.
So that's been really positive and a big threat for us.
But I think what's also good is we still have
a really good balance without getting too carried away with
everyone trying to you know, run towards the goal. We've
still got a good balance and I think that's important.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
Alex always appreciate your time here on News Talks dB
mate and all the best and yeah, keeping that momentum
up from from where things are left off at Central
Coast a couple of weeks ago.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Really appreciate your time awesome, Thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Cheers Alex Rufer Phoenix Captain with us here on the
All Sport Breakfast three thirty kickoff our time tomorrow against
Melbourne Victory. For more from News Talks the'b listen live
on air or online, and keep our shows with you
wherever you go with our podcast on iHeartRadio
Let's talk the Wellington Phoenix though, and as party mentioned
your Night Round this weekend, the Phoenix men back in action.
Obviously before the international break, they had a great three
nail went over the Central Coast Mariners and tomorrow it's
Melbourne victory in Sydney. As part of the Night Round. Well,
one of the players that has been in the All
Whites camp that's back in the Phoenix colors now is
(00:20):
skipper Alex Rufer who joins us now. Alex, morning to ye,
thanks for your time and firstly, just give us your
take on how things panned out in the All Whites camp.
A couple of big wins over Vonawatu and a couple
of wins away from a fifth of World Cup spot.
Did you enjoy your time in the national team.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Yeah, really happy. You know, it's always a massive honor
to represent New Zealand. You know, we dealt with the
games extremely professionally while we were in camp. We did
what we had to do and obviously now back at
club football and we'll focuses on this weekend.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Yeah, how do you sort of juggle the different commitments
and there's been a obviously a couple of All Whites
games and fixtures scattered through that the early part of
the A League season. Do you see it as a
benefit getting a different environment or is a bit of
a distraction to the start of the club campaign.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
No, it's only a benefit. I only look at it positively, mate. Look,
of course, missing some preseason training and fixtures is obviously
not ideal for your club, but for the individual it's obviously,
like I said, a massive honor, a massive bonus to
go and represent your country and play football matches, and yeah, look,
(01:30):
I think it's also a great indication that the players
are performing and the club's programs are doing well.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Yeah great, Just before we move on to talk more
Phoenix matters. It's always great to see now, Alex, And
it hasn't always been the case, I guess over the years,
but just seeing how much all the top key we
guys yourself included, from around the world want to be
part of this national team, there doesn't seem to be
too much problem getting the likes of Chris Wood and
all the others scattered around the world to want to
be part of an all whites campaign.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Yeah. Look, it's like you said, it's always the massive
honor and every player is extremely proud to have in
their country. And look, it's you know, it's an extremely
important time for the national team obviously, like you know,
it's it's World Cup qualification matches, so you know, big
players want to be involved in all these games and
(02:18):
that's really important for us. And you know, I'm sure
it all start like that.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Moving forward, Yeah, great and getting back into the Phoenix season. Obviously,
the most recent outing was that that pretty solid result
a couple of some days ago, three nil over the
Central Coast Mariners. I'm sure as you guys left for
international duties, you would have been pretty pleased with where
we left things with the Phoenix.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Yeah, extremely happy, you know, a great, great result, great performance,
you know, a good turnaround you could say from the
disappointing defeat the week before. But look, we only now,
we're only looking forward. We're only looking forward to the
next match, and that's Melviurn Victory. They're a good team,
They're going to cause us some problems and I know
(03:00):
we're heading to this game with a lot of confidence,
so the boys are ready.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
I guess people would look at the Malburn victory's name
and for a lot of people, I guess cast their
minds back to the semi final a few months back. Now,
is that you know, does it bring back many memories
as a player? Obviously you know, new setups in both sides.
So does it draw your mind back at all to
I guess the last time you played them?
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Not not really. That was an amazing night with the
fans and the atmosphere and the occasion. Of course, wasn't
it ended you know, negatively, and it wasn't how we
wanted the fairy tale to end. But look, it doesn't
bring that back too many memories. If anything, it probably
makes us more hungry just to make sure we get
(03:40):
a result against them this weekend.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Personnel we know, But what is different about the Phoenix
now than what they were with different players? You know,
at the end of the end of the last campaign.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Look like you've seen, we've we've signed some really good players.
We've managed to recruit well obviously, Look, it's still taking
time because some of those players haven't you know, played
four minutes and haven't even featured as of yet. Much
so I think once we have you know, our strongest
team playing and all the players available, I think you'll
really see. But look, I think we've been much more.
(04:13):
I wouldn't say I'm not saying we were negative last year,
but I think we've probably had a lot more position
this year, and in good areas I think now for
us are challengers, you know, to really punish teams with
that position. I think we've we've broken through teams quite well,
and I think we've probably not punished teams as well
as we can. But that's you know, look that that's
(04:34):
all going to come. Like I said, when players get
used to playing with each other and that connection comes,
you know will only get better. So that's also very promising.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Yeah, great, I'm obviously some news to the defensive lineup.
We know that Tim Payne was out from the All
Whites camp, hearing obviously about Sam Sutton's injury from training,
which which we've heard chiefly say that you know, pretty
unlikely he'll be on the plane. How much does that
change things from a defensive mindset for you guys getting
into this one.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
Oh, look, it's not idea obviously when you both your
fallbacks are injured. But look, I'm sure the players that
come in will do a good job. We've got good
depth and you know, all the players that are that
are fit and playing have to make sure they do
their job and and I'm confident and I'm sure the
coaching staff are confident that will do that.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Tell us about the strategy for defenders that that's been
injected in this team obviously, you know the likes of
the scenarios that we saw, you know, Sam Sudden pushed
right up and score a goal in that central coast.
When has there been a sort of slight change in
plans from from a coaching perspective for the guys at
the back when you're in those attacking situations this year, I.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Think you should know. I think it's all about balance.
You know, starts and painting are both extremely dangerous going forward.
They're also very good defensively. But chief he definitely has
you know, pushed both of them probably harder this year
to really get involved with goal scoring and making sure
(05:59):
that they're you know, sometimes on the end of crosses.
So that's been really positive and a big threat for us.
But I think what's also good is we still have
a really good balance without getting too carried away with
everyone trying to you know, run towards the goal. We've
still got a good balance and I think that's important.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
Alex always appreciate your time here on News Talks dB
mate and all the best and yeah, keeping that momentum
up from from where things are left off at Central
Coast a couple of weeks ago.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Really appreciate your time awesome, Thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Cheers Alex Rufer Phoenix Captain with us here on the
All Sport Breakfast three thirty kickoff our time tomorrow against
Melbourne Victory. For more from News Talks the'b listen live
on air or online, and keep our shows with you
wherever you go with our podcast on iHeartRadio
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