April 24, 2025 • 8 mins
A Super Rugby fixture that D'Arcy Waldegrave is insisting on calling 'the Purple Clash' is happening tomorrow night.
The Blues are playing the Reds at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane
Blues openside flanker Anton Segner spoke to D'Arcy Waldegrave on Sportstalk.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talks'd Be.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
We're joined now by open side Flanker out of the
Blues and Ton Signet to discuss good a ant.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
On are you? How are they going? All right? Going? Well?
Speaker 2 (00:22):
More's the point? What are you and your team up to?
You finally managed to turn around the ship. Things are
starting to look up. Look, you didn't get the win
last time out, but it looks like you're playing Blues
rugby again.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Yeah, yeah, exactly. No, I think the main thing is
us as a group as a unit.
Speaker 4 (00:38):
You know, we're getting a lot closer as a team
in it and it's starting to show on field as well,
which is nice.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
So obviously, as you say, we didn't get the.
Speaker 4 (00:46):
Result and last time out down and down and Kroschurch,
but yeah, that was a bettle for sure and one
that could have easily gone either way.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
And we'll definitely take a lot of positives out of there.
Speaker 4 (00:55):
But their class side as there always are, so we
have to give give credit where credits you to be honest.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Look, I'm reading black, but I gotta say you guys
had the upper hand in essence the way that game
rolled out. You should have won that one, really, should
you have done. It's just they managed to squeak away
right at the very end. So there's a lot of
good to take out of that.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Yeah, yeah, exactly.
Speaker 4 (01:13):
I think all the stats were in our favorite apart
from the points one, which at the end of the
day is the one that I've met it, So I
guess you have to give them credit. I think their
goal line d or their defense inside of their twenty
two was pretty remarkable to keep us out for quite
a while there. But pleasing from outside is that we
are able to dominate a game that well. And yeah,
obviously this week's focus has been us us on the
tech inside their twenty two so that we can make
(01:36):
sure that we leave with more points.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
What about your own personal mession?
Speaker 3 (01:39):
What is that?
Speaker 2 (01:40):
What's Vern given you? What's his instructions been around what
he expects from you?
Speaker 4 (01:44):
On the open side, he's been pretty pleased with hav
been playing, obviously rewarding me with some good game time there.
But yeah, he just tells me keep being physical and
keep playing my game, keep having a good piece presence
as well, and yeah, keep being one of the guys
that brings the team together because yeah, I obviously try
before a scrum, you know, the props.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
The props keep pretty tired there, so I have to try.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
And use my energy and feed it over to them
by tapping them on the back and coming in.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
To push out.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
So yeah, not just keeping my energy levels high when
I'm playing, and you just keep doing what I'm doing.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Really, Anton, I thought you said to me you were
going to whip out and get in the front row.
I thought that's keen.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
No, not quite, not quite at that point.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Not going to happen. When you look at the nature
of the Reds, what do they bring? Look, they're at
sun Corp, this is a place they love to play.
And here's a fun fact for you. Not one New
Zealand side in Super Rugby Pacific this year has actually
beaten an Australian side over there. So you could break
(02:49):
a duck. What do you have to do to roll
the Reds?
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Yeah, well there you go. No, this is a big
weekend for them.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
Well that's that's just added more fuel to our phad
to be honest, but obviously we've it's a it's the
it's the ANZAC Tests. And as you say that, the
Reds at sun Corp and after and they're just come
at the end of the bow week two, so they'll
definitely come out firing. And I think they've named a
six to two split on the bench too, so they'll
definitely look to knock down the front door.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
So yeah, us as forwards, we're going to have to
front up.
Speaker 4 (03:16):
But yeah, I think it's sort of plays into a
hands a bit because Yeah, Blues rugby is quite reliant
on the forwards doing well, and yeah, we're going to
embrace that challenge. And we've been talking about physicality all
week and that's what ruins rugby games, So that's our
focus going into it.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
It's something that you didn't really lay down on the
field initially. It wasn't the Blues team that we'd seen
last year doing it I was supposed to do. Was
that lack of focus or application or a change in
coaching or what do you put that down to?
Speaker 3 (03:46):
Anton?
Speaker 4 (03:47):
Yeah, I guess at the start, I say that the
parts of our games that we if we want to
play the game that we want to play in the
game that we play now, that have to be strong.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
They weren't. They weren't as strong there.
Speaker 4 (03:59):
Whether it was the lack of focus or a lack
of execution or whatever it was, but more for example,
there was something that we like to hang I had
on last year and still do now, so we've been
going away to do quite a bit of work on that,
and then our defense as well, which has taken huge
strides over the last week while. So yeah, I guess
it's just dialing into those parts of the game that
(04:19):
we know are hugely important for us because we can use,
for example, a rolling more or a good scrum, or
a good kicking game or good defense to either get
back into the game if we feel like we're losing
grip on the game, or to finish teams off as
well if we can smell blood in the water.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
You know, we just go to what we're good at
and use those strengths to really put a full stop
to it.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Must have been pretty grim around the Sheds start of
the season and hard for you guys to drag your
way through because so many tickets put on you guys
after what happened what you're defending. So getting out of
that rut, how does that work within the group?
Speaker 4 (04:55):
We obviously, like obviously wasn't nearly the start that we
were looking for during the season.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
But it sounds cliche, but tough times do.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
Bring you closer as a group, and I think we're
reaping those awards. But now that those tough weeks at
the start of the season or before our biwik which
was a couple of weeks ago now and I think
it's really brought us closer together as a group because
although we were losing all those games, we knew the
potential that we still have and I think, yeah, each
week so far, we can getting closer and closer to
(05:24):
fulfilling and reaching that potential of this group, because yeah,
we are a good bunch of group of players. It's
just a matter of putting it out there on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Yeah, ripped your gears though, when you were losing games
by one point, that is that is frustration personified.
Speaker 4 (05:41):
Yeah, no one, because yeah, those close those close losses
are definitely some of the toughest ones to take. But
then I think there was one one Wellington game at
home which I think was a bit of a turning
point for us where where they came to Eden Park and.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
It was a close game as well and we got
out on top.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
So yeah, that was the first time, we sort of
felt that we were on the right side of a
close game. And then that one Pacific game at home
afterwards as well boosted our confidence a little bit more
and I think I might be getting mixed up here,
But then there must have been another game after that,
So yeah, as you say, there have been a whole
bunch of close games. So I guess that goes to
show that we are good enough to take it.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
The whole way.
Speaker 4 (06:19):
It's just a matter of executing in those crucial moments
of games, because that's what that's what this competition comes
down to, is who can perform better underpression and when
the big moments are on.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
It was the Hurricanes. It was again only one point.
It was a couple of rounds ago to get that done.
So drawing all the strength and next guys didn't become
a bad rugby team over like did.
Speaker 4 (06:40):
You Yeah, no, no exactly, It's just yeah, as I say,
in those big moments, that's that's when it comes down
to who can perform better and that's usually the team
that comes out on top.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
What's the thought process in the side when it comes
to traveling overseas to a place like Queensland, on, presuming
you guys embrace it. You really like being away from
the distraction of well, the New Zealand media and everything else.
Speaker 4 (07:06):
Yeah, No, it's always a good opportunity for us because
this is our first trip outside of New Zealand as well.
So yeah, it's a good opportunity for us as a
group to sort of spend more time around each other
because obviously Auckland, you know, it's a big city, it's
it's spread out, these boys living all over the place,
so we don't really get to hang out around each
(07:27):
other and unless it's at training. So yeah, it's pretty
cool to be able to all be in one hotel together.
And for these I don't know, for we're here for
almost three days, so for three days to be able
to get together and spend time with.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Each other helps too.
Speaker 4 (07:41):
And yeah, as you say, we've been talking about the Anzac,
about the history of it quite a bit this week,
so that's another sort.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
Of a bit of motivation for tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Yeah, and who's the past when it comes to going
on to who does no one want a room with?
Speaker 4 (07:57):
I think the fact that Angus tavor I've got his
own room this trip probably answers that question.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
He's such a good rooster. He's one of the most
died and interesting props that I've ever mixed an interview.
I find that unbelievable. Went on, what's he done?
Speaker 4 (08:13):
No, no, not that he's actually one of my closest
mates on the team.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
That's why he's a very good bloke. And yeah, you
can have some good chats with him, so he's good
for a laugh, that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Absolutely. And are you giving any of your teammates any
grief for disappearing off at the end of the season
and going to apply their trade on the other side
of the world because the media can't get hold of them.
Are you guys giving them rip and bust Old, Rico
and Mark.
Speaker 4 (08:41):
No, we just tell them fair enough, you know, like
they're off on another experience, but they've got a job
to do with us first, undre. So that's what we
try and tell them, is to make sure that they
put their best foot forward for us first before they
head off.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
So yeah, that's the focus for us.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks
it'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talks'd Be.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
We're joined now by open side Flanker out of the
Blues and Ton Signet to discuss good a ant.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
On are you? How are they going? All right? Going? Well?
Speaker 2 (00:22):
More's the point? What are you and your team up to?
You finally managed to turn around the ship. Things are
starting to look up. Look, you didn't get the win
last time out, but it looks like you're playing Blues
rugby again.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Yeah, yeah, exactly. No, I think the main thing is
us as a group as a unit.
Speaker 4 (00:38):
You know, we're getting a lot closer as a team
in it and it's starting to show on field as well,
which is nice.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
So obviously, as you say, we didn't get the.
Speaker 4 (00:46):
Result and last time out down and down and Kroschurch,
but yeah, that was a bettle for sure and one
that could have easily gone either way.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
And we'll definitely take a lot of positives out of there.
Speaker 4 (00:55):
But their class side as there always are, so we
have to give give credit where credits you to be honest.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Look, I'm reading black, but I gotta say you guys
had the upper hand in essence the way that game
rolled out. You should have won that one, really, should
you have done. It's just they managed to squeak away
right at the very end. So there's a lot of
good to take out of that.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Yeah, yeah, exactly.
Speaker 4 (01:13):
I think all the stats were in our favorite apart
from the points one, which at the end of the
day is the one that I've met it, So I
guess you have to give them credit. I think their
goal line d or their defense inside of their twenty
two was pretty remarkable to keep us out for quite
a while there. But pleasing from outside is that we
are able to dominate a game that well. And yeah,
obviously this week's focus has been us us on the
tech inside their twenty two so that we can make
(01:36):
sure that we leave with more points.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
What about your own personal mession?
Speaker 3 (01:39):
What is that?
Speaker 2 (01:40):
What's Vern given you? What's his instructions been around what
he expects from you?
Speaker 4 (01:44):
On the open side, he's been pretty pleased with hav
been playing, obviously rewarding me with some good game time there.
But yeah, he just tells me keep being physical and
keep playing my game, keep having a good piece presence
as well, and yeah, keep being one of the guys
that brings the team together because yeah, I obviously try
before a scrum, you know, the props.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
The props keep pretty tired there, so I have to try.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
And use my energy and feed it over to them
by tapping them on the back and coming in.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
To push out.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
So yeah, not just keeping my energy levels high when
I'm playing, and you just keep doing what I'm doing.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Really, Anton, I thought you said to me you were
going to whip out and get in the front row.
I thought that's keen.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
No, not quite, not quite at that point.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Not going to happen. When you look at the nature
of the Reds, what do they bring? Look, they're at
sun Corp, this is a place they love to play.
And here's a fun fact for you. Not one New
Zealand side in Super Rugby Pacific this year has actually
beaten an Australian side over there. So you could break
(02:49):
a duck. What do you have to do to roll
the Reds?
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Yeah, well there you go. No, this is a big
weekend for them.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
Well that's that's just added more fuel to our phad
to be honest, but obviously we've it's a it's the
it's the ANZAC Tests. And as you say that, the
Reds at sun Corp and after and they're just come
at the end of the bow week two, so they'll
definitely come out firing. And I think they've named a
six to two split on the bench too, so they'll
definitely look to knock down the front door.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
So yeah, us as forwards, we're going to have to
front up.
Speaker 4 (03:16):
But yeah, I think it's sort of plays into a
hands a bit because Yeah, Blues rugby is quite reliant
on the forwards doing well, and yeah, we're going to
embrace that challenge. And we've been talking about physicality all
week and that's what ruins rugby games, So that's our
focus going into it.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
It's something that you didn't really lay down on the
field initially. It wasn't the Blues team that we'd seen
last year doing it I was supposed to do. Was
that lack of focus or application or a change in
coaching or what do you put that down to?
Speaker 3 (03:46):
Anton?
Speaker 4 (03:47):
Yeah, I guess at the start, I say that the
parts of our games that we if we want to
play the game that we want to play in the
game that we play now, that have to be strong.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
They weren't. They weren't as strong there.
Speaker 4 (03:59):
Whether it was the lack of focus or a lack
of execution or whatever it was, but more for example,
there was something that we like to hang I had
on last year and still do now, so we've been
going away to do quite a bit of work on that,
and then our defense as well, which has taken huge
strides over the last week while. So yeah, I guess
it's just dialing into those parts of the game that
(04:19):
we know are hugely important for us because we can use,
for example, a rolling more or a good scrum, or
a good kicking game or good defense to either get
back into the game if we feel like we're losing
grip on the game, or to finish teams off as
well if we can smell blood in the water.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
You know, we just go to what we're good at
and use those strengths to really put a full stop
to it.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Must have been pretty grim around the Sheds start of
the season and hard for you guys to drag your
way through because so many tickets put on you guys
after what happened what you're defending. So getting out of
that rut, how does that work within the group?
Speaker 4 (04:55):
We obviously, like obviously wasn't nearly the start that we
were looking for during the season.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
But it sounds cliche, but tough times do.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
Bring you closer as a group, and I think we're
reaping those awards. But now that those tough weeks at
the start of the season or before our biwik which
was a couple of weeks ago now and I think
it's really brought us closer together as a group because
although we were losing all those games, we knew the
potential that we still have and I think, yeah, each
week so far, we can getting closer and closer to
(05:24):
fulfilling and reaching that potential of this group, because yeah,
we are a good bunch of group of players. It's
just a matter of putting it out there on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Yeah, ripped your gears though, when you were losing games
by one point, that is that is frustration personified.
Speaker 4 (05:41):
Yeah, no one, because yeah, those close those close losses
are definitely some of the toughest ones to take. But
then I think there was one one Wellington game at
home which I think was a bit of a turning
point for us where where they came to Eden Park and.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
It was a close game as well and we got
out on top.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
So yeah, that was the first time, we sort of
felt that we were on the right side of a
close game. And then that one Pacific game at home
afterwards as well boosted our confidence a little bit more
and I think I might be getting mixed up here,
But then there must have been another game after that,
So yeah, as you say, there have been a whole
bunch of close games. So I guess that goes to
show that we are good enough to take it.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
The whole way.
Speaker 4 (06:19):
It's just a matter of executing in those crucial moments
of games, because that's what that's what this competition comes
down to, is who can perform better underpression and when
the big moments are on.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
It was the Hurricanes. It was again only one point.
It was a couple of rounds ago to get that done.
So drawing all the strength and next guys didn't become
a bad rugby team over like did.
Speaker 4 (06:40):
You Yeah, no, no exactly, It's just yeah, as I say,
in those big moments, that's that's when it comes down
to who can perform better and that's usually the team
that comes out on top.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
What's the thought process in the side when it comes
to traveling overseas to a place like Queensland, on, presuming
you guys embrace it. You really like being away from
the distraction of well, the New Zealand media and everything else.
Speaker 4 (07:06):
Yeah, No, it's always a good opportunity for us because
this is our first trip outside of New Zealand as well.
So yeah, it's a good opportunity for us as a
group to sort of spend more time around each other
because obviously Auckland, you know, it's a big city, it's
it's spread out, these boys living all over the place,
so we don't really get to hang out around each
(07:27):
other and unless it's at training. So yeah, it's pretty
cool to be able to all be in one hotel together.
And for these I don't know, for we're here for
almost three days, so for three days to be able
to get together and spend time with.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Each other helps too.
Speaker 4 (07:41):
And yeah, as you say, we've been talking about the Anzac,
about the history of it quite a bit this week,
so that's another sort.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
Of a bit of motivation for tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Yeah, and who's the past when it comes to going
on to who does no one want a room with?
Speaker 4 (07:57):
I think the fact that Angus tavor I've got his
own room this trip probably answers that question.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
He's such a good rooster. He's one of the most
died and interesting props that I've ever mixed an interview.
I find that unbelievable. Went on, what's he done?
Speaker 4 (08:13):
No, no, not that he's actually one of my closest
mates on the team.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
That's why he's a very good bloke. And yeah, you
can have some good chats with him, so he's good
for a laugh, that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Absolutely. And are you giving any of your teammates any
grief for disappearing off at the end of the season
and going to apply their trade on the other side
of the world because the media can't get hold of them.
Are you guys giving them rip and bust Old, Rico
and Mark.
Speaker 4 (08:41):
No, we just tell them fair enough, you know, like
they're off on another experience, but they've got a job
to do with us first, undre. So that's what we
try and tell them, is to make sure that they
put their best foot forward for us first before they
head off.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
So yeah, that's the focus for us.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks
it'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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