March 24, 2025 • 8 mins
The Blues' Super Rugby Pacific title defence is teetering on the brink of collapse after suffering a 42-19 hiding at the hands of the Crusaders at Eden Park.
It's their fifth loss from six games - their worst start to the season since 2019 - and leaves them 10th on the ladder.
Former All Black Mils Muliaina joined Elliott Smith to discuss.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Waldegrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
It has hardly been a dream start for the Blues.
Another loss on the weekend and to be honest, possibly
the worst performance of the season forty two to nineteen
losing to the Crusaders. They head into the buy now
with one win and five defeats to show for at
Former Blues player, All Black Centurion and Skysport commentator Mills
(00:33):
Muliaina joins us now on Sports Talk. Mills, thanks so
much for your time.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
No no worries any time.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Well, we head into the buy from a Blues perspective
with one win and five losses to start their title defense.
I don't think anyone saw this coming, did you.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
I didn't think it was going to be this bad.
It's not the start they anticipated, but I think earlier
on for preseason this team, they had a lot of
injuries coming into the season, but certainly they just haven't
quite clear. It's obviously the disappointment of only when in
picking up one game so far, I think that the
(01:11):
buyer has come at a you know, they always say,
come at a pretty good time for the.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Blues right now, fourteen injuries. How much does that impact
their campaign huge?
Speaker 3 (01:22):
You know, that's that's always the fact that you can't
really control, right, You've got to look at the depth
of your squad. But they're also injuries and key positions.
You know, the Boden Barrett a few weeks ago against
the Brumby. So you look at the locking department as well.
You know, you know, losing quite a few guys there,
Petrick through plow to pulling out, but also giving people
(01:43):
Fetter starting to come back, a lot of a lot
of injuries in disruptions. They certainly sort of upfront, I mean,
it's all about key positions, you know, the hooker. I mean,
they haven't sort of got someone that's there and well
established in that department at the moment, and so when
you kind of look at that, you know they're really
(02:03):
unsettled in. I mean, they'll be the first one to
admit as well. I think also the rules have impacted
the way they've been wanting to play. I think they
came into the season wanting to play a similar style
to last year, but that's just not the case this year.
We've got the faster looking game teams and wanting to
sort of explort you on the outside of these opportunities
to issue with ball in hand, and I think you
(02:27):
know they've they've picked up on that and in the
last two or three weeks, but they just seemed they
hadn't quite got the balance right or or quite connected
in the fact they do we play that game that
won us last year's their style or you know, we've
got the ability also to play an expensive game, and
that's where they're sort of missing out a little bit.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Last year they went very direct with their forwards, rolled
up the sleeve, put pressure on teams inside the twenty two.
But this year and said it and not probably being
the biggest example of that is that they struggled to
even into the Crusader's twenty so they weren't playing in
the right areas of the park.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
Yeah, exactly. And if you think about it, the kicking
is becoming from from teams that they're playing. It's you
now the Blues down in their own half and all
of a sudden becomes a different mindset to them. You know,
they they haven't quite got their kicking game right to
put themselves back or the patience to be able to say, well, hey,
we're not going to play anything in our own hearts.
So they've almost forced the Blues in there playing the game.
(03:23):
They're not sure they're comfortable with you. I think they
can play an expensive game. I just don't think the
perhaps got the confidence or the connections all that are
backing from everyone to say, hey, we can actually do
this and and have the skill set to be over
the door. But you're right that they're not getting themselves
in the right area of the parking you we want
(03:45):
to last year, anything around that halfway mark or into
your own hearth, and the Blues would just keep the
ball in hand, carry hard, and they wouldn't meet sides,
you know, they wouldn't give the ball back to any side.
And now all of a sudden this was disconnected and
their clean out. There's real opportunity to be able to
steal some right ball and slow them down there and
even frustrate them. So again, you know, I mentioned before
(04:08):
the fact that this is a good time for them
to go and establish what game they want to play.
I certainly still think they're going to they can make
the six. I think they've got the talent and some
returning sort of guys coming back that are in key roles,
and this is a tough competition. It's I mean tough
in the fact that it's so so close, and so
I still think that there's there's a there's a chance
(04:29):
that they'll make the six.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
What do they need to fixt Is it just as
simple as tweaking that game plan, going back to what
they did last year and resetting that way.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
Yeah, I mean, I think get a few key players back.
I think Bodin's not too far away once they establish
their five connection. Injuries are going to be a big
thing in healthy guys, I mean losing areas at the
beginning of the season, his aunt Sullivans of the world.
I'd like to see sort of those guys. But again,
you can't control when those guys are going to be
(04:58):
really but I think the balance of the game, it's
almost so to say over the weekend to reset, it
has to be you've got to forget the they've only
won one game. This is the next three weeks is
going to really define your season. And so getting on
the same page and by that, whether it's a Lea's
just reroute back to the old way and carry hard
(05:21):
and be really efficient at that or a week there
is ability. I mean you looked at the way they
came back insta Chiefs and Hamilton. I mean that's a
side that it can play open, open the style of rugby.
I'd like to see them play that, but unfortunately at
the moment they just are lacking the little the confidence
and the skill seat to actually go with it.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
The Crusaders are obviously beating the Blues on the weekend,
look to be back to some of the form that
they've previously had they I would have dismantled the Blues.
What have you made of the Crusaders sign to the season.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
They look really dangerous, and not because of the way
they dismantled the Blues, but I think they're a still
cleaned to come within the Crusaders that they weren't party
by all ends on on the weekend, but they will
give them confidence because there is still plenty left for
the Crusaders to be able to give. I think David
Harvilly has been he was an exceptional over the week
in the weekend many he has been leading into this
(06:17):
since he's been given the captain. See role they've got.
You know, they've always had plenty of depths, but you
know now they've sort of got themselves on a roll
that one away from home for the first time and
how many years, And that's a key thing. And if
we're the Crusaders, once they get a bit of sort
of momentum into their game and start tweaking a few things,
(06:39):
you know, they're definitely hard beasts to sort of stop.
But that dangerous and effect that they're still penny more
in terms of their game, that can fix.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
It's as you mentioned before, it's a really tight competition
this year. The Chiefs out on top, but we've seen
you know, they've lost to the drawer Milana. They had
a little stumble. Ultimately won that on the weekend by
fifteen points. But cheaper is this competition this year. Mills
is really tired, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
Oh Man? And when you're hearing he's hyping up over
over the other side of the ditch, ma, it's you know,
it's putting their sort of twenty seas or in as well.
I love it and this is I mean, it's the
beauty of this is what we've been wanting for possibly
the last four or five years. There hasn't been this
competitor for a very long time and hence the reason
why the BREU is still in it places. But you
(07:24):
know you talk about the Chiefs, you know they're fat
on the perfect game as well. The Hurricanes in a
similar boat. You know, they had to buy last weekend.
And then you see the teams like their Reds come
come to Toned and beat the Highlanders the way they
sort of have. So it's it's definitely wide open. They're
(07:45):
also had had a play in this and it's been outstanding.
But I mean you've been there for a very long time,
these competitions. By time and even before this, you know,
round three or four, you're starting to see the different
the expensiveness we certainly haven't seen that. I mean, it's
a very fiight game and then the teams are prepared
to chance around, which is which is so I think
(08:06):
it's pleasing to see.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
It certainly is. Mills Mulliaina, thank you so much for
your time with us on News Talks. It'd be appreciate it.
It's thank you very much, Mills Mullina joining us on
Sports Talk this evening.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
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 Waldegrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
It has hardly been a dream start for the Blues.
Another loss on the weekend and to be honest, possibly
the worst performance of the season forty two to nineteen
losing to the Crusaders. They head into the buy now
with one win and five defeats to show for at
Former Blues player, All Black Centurion and Skysport commentator Mills
(00:33):
Muliaina joins us now on Sports Talk. Mills, thanks so
much for your time.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
No no worries any time.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Well, we head into the buy from a Blues perspective
with one win and five losses to start their title defense.
I don't think anyone saw this coming, did you.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
I didn't think it was going to be this bad.
It's not the start they anticipated, but I think earlier
on for preseason this team, they had a lot of
injuries coming into the season, but certainly they just haven't
quite clear. It's obviously the disappointment of only when in
picking up one game so far, I think that the
(01:11):
buyer has come at a you know, they always say,
come at a pretty good time for the.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Blues right now, fourteen injuries. How much does that impact
their campaign huge?
Speaker 3 (01:22):
You know, that's that's always the fact that you can't
really control, right, You've got to look at the depth
of your squad. But they're also injuries and key positions.
You know, the Boden Barrett a few weeks ago against
the Brumby. So you look at the locking department as well.
You know, you know, losing quite a few guys there,
Petrick through plow to pulling out, but also giving people
(01:43):
Fetter starting to come back, a lot of a lot
of injuries in disruptions. They certainly sort of upfront, I mean,
it's all about key positions, you know, the hooker. I mean,
they haven't sort of got someone that's there and well
established in that department at the moment, and so when
you kind of look at that, you know they're really
(02:03):
unsettled in. I mean, they'll be the first one to
admit as well. I think also the rules have impacted
the way they've been wanting to play. I think they
came into the season wanting to play a similar style
to last year, but that's just not the case this year.
We've got the faster looking game teams and wanting to
sort of explort you on the outside of these opportunities
to issue with ball in hand, and I think you
(02:27):
know they've they've picked up on that and in the
last two or three weeks, but they just seemed they
hadn't quite got the balance right or or quite connected
in the fact they do we play that game that
won us last year's their style or you know, we've
got the ability also to play an expensive game, and
that's where they're sort of missing out a little bit.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Last year they went very direct with their forwards, rolled
up the sleeve, put pressure on teams inside the twenty two.
But this year and said it and not probably being
the biggest example of that is that they struggled to
even into the Crusader's twenty so they weren't playing in
the right areas of the park.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
Yeah, exactly. And if you think about it, the kicking
is becoming from from teams that they're playing. It's you
now the Blues down in their own half and all
of a sudden becomes a different mindset to them. You know,
they they haven't quite got their kicking game right to
put themselves back or the patience to be able to say, well, hey,
we're not going to play anything in our own hearts.
So they've almost forced the Blues in there playing the game.
(03:23):
They're not sure they're comfortable with you. I think they
can play an expensive game. I just don't think the
perhaps got the confidence or the connections all that are
backing from everyone to say, hey, we can actually do
this and and have the skill set to be over
the door. But you're right that they're not getting themselves
in the right area of the parking you we want
(03:45):
to last year, anything around that halfway mark or into
your own hearth, and the Blues would just keep the
ball in hand, carry hard, and they wouldn't meet sides,
you know, they wouldn't give the ball back to any side.
And now all of a sudden this was disconnected and
their clean out. There's real opportunity to be able to
steal some right ball and slow them down there and
even frustrate them. So again, you know, I mentioned before
(04:08):
the fact that this is a good time for them
to go and establish what game they want to play.
I certainly still think they're going to they can make
the six. I think they've got the talent and some
returning sort of guys coming back that are in key roles,
and this is a tough competition. It's I mean tough
in the fact that it's so so close, and so
I still think that there's there's a there's a chance
(04:29):
that they'll make the six.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
What do they need to fixt Is it just as
simple as tweaking that game plan, going back to what
they did last year and resetting that way.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
Yeah, I mean, I think get a few key players back.
I think Bodin's not too far away once they establish
their five connection. Injuries are going to be a big
thing in healthy guys, I mean losing areas at the
beginning of the season, his aunt Sullivans of the world.
I'd like to see sort of those guys. But again,
you can't control when those guys are going to be
(04:58):
really but I think the balance of the game, it's
almost so to say over the weekend to reset, it
has to be you've got to forget the they've only
won one game. This is the next three weeks is
going to really define your season. And so getting on
the same page and by that, whether it's a Lea's
just reroute back to the old way and carry hard
(05:21):
and be really efficient at that or a week there
is ability. I mean you looked at the way they
came back insta Chiefs and Hamilton. I mean that's a
side that it can play open, open the style of rugby.
I'd like to see them play that, but unfortunately at
the moment they just are lacking the little the confidence
and the skill seat to actually go with it.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
The Crusaders are obviously beating the Blues on the weekend,
look to be back to some of the form that
they've previously had they I would have dismantled the Blues.
What have you made of the Crusaders sign to the season.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
They look really dangerous, and not because of the way
they dismantled the Blues, but I think they're a still
cleaned to come within the Crusaders that they weren't party
by all ends on on the weekend, but they will
give them confidence because there is still plenty left for
the Crusaders to be able to give. I think David
Harvilly has been he was an exceptional over the week
in the weekend many he has been leading into this
(06:17):
since he's been given the captain. See role they've got.
You know, they've always had plenty of depths, but you
know now they've sort of got themselves on a roll
that one away from home for the first time and
how many years, And that's a key thing. And if
we're the Crusaders, once they get a bit of sort
of momentum into their game and start tweaking a few things,
(06:39):
you know, they're definitely hard beasts to sort of stop.
But that dangerous and effect that they're still penny more
in terms of their game, that can fix.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
It's as you mentioned before, it's a really tight competition
this year. The Chiefs out on top, but we've seen
you know, they've lost to the drawer Milana. They had
a little stumble. Ultimately won that on the weekend by
fifteen points. But cheaper is this competition this year. Mills
is really tired, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
Oh Man? And when you're hearing he's hyping up over
over the other side of the ditch, ma, it's you know,
it's putting their sort of twenty seas or in as well.
I love it and this is I mean, it's the
beauty of this is what we've been wanting for possibly
the last four or five years. There hasn't been this
competitor for a very long time and hence the reason
why the BREU is still in it places. But you
(07:24):
know you talk about the Chiefs, you know they're fat
on the perfect game as well. The Hurricanes in a
similar boat. You know, they had to buy last weekend.
And then you see the teams like their Reds come
come to Toned and beat the Highlanders the way they
sort of have. So it's it's definitely wide open. They're
(07:45):
also had had a play in this and it's been outstanding.
But I mean you've been there for a very long time,
these competitions. By time and even before this, you know,
round three or four, you're starting to see the different
the expensiveness we certainly haven't seen that. I mean, it's
a very fiight game and then the teams are prepared
to chance around, which is which is so I think
(08:06):
it's pleasing to see.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
It certainly is. Mills Mulliaina, thank you so much for
your time with us on News Talks. It'd be appreciate it.
It's thank you very much, Mills Mullina joining us on
Sports Talk this evening.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks.
It'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio,
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!