November 12, 2024 • 8 mins
Crusaders coach Rob Penney's addressed his re-appointment for the first time since surviving a post mortem into their catastrophic Super Rugby season.
Halfback Kyle Preston, first five James O'Connor and flanker Xavier Saifoloi are among several new additions to the squad that suffered a four-win-ten-loss campaign.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Duncie Wildergrave
from News talks Be.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
We're joined now by the head coach the Crusaders, Rob Penny.
Of course, today all the Super Rugby squads have been
announced for Super Rugby Pacific next year. Rob, welcome to
the Pragram. First up than you boys. Who are the
new kids on the block that excite you?
Speaker 3 (00:27):
Yeah, fantastic, Thanks. Without going through them name by name,
there's a number of new faces in there that are
going to contribute, we feel, massively to the environment. It's
going to make it very competitive and very stimulating at
the same time, which you know, which is a nice
freshness I guess about it.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Of course, not only do you have the new follows,
you've got a very solid core of extraordinary experienced players
as well, who I expect you'll lean on quite heavily
throughout the year.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Rob, Well, that's the key. Any successful group has critical,
massive experience and talent across at Tosick. This we just
hope we can have access to those top line boys
as you're alluding, more regularly than we were able to
last year, and you know they can assist us and
(01:20):
you know, getting some of those clutch moments that we
weren't quite able to get over the line last year.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
How's the condition of all of the players selected?
Speaker 2 (01:28):
Of course the ever present specter of injury does hang around,
but how have they started?
Speaker 4 (01:34):
How are they looking?
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Best of knowledge, you know, the guys over in Europe,
which is I think one or two extras have been
at and over the last forty eight hours, so I
think we've got over a dozen there now. They're in
good shape. There's another four or five coming back from
the New Zealand fifteen games. So we haven't had any
issues that we're aware of, except Cody's head not which
(01:58):
hopefully that won't be a long term think bread on
en Ors, just how do we clean up of a
wrist injury which will preclude him from the first couple
of months of the post Christmas activity, which is a
real shame based you know, because he had the aco
recovery last year. But looking forward to getting him back
into the mix. But apart from that, we do have
(02:18):
two middle rowers, and Jamie Henner had had a shoulder
recon and Quintin Strange had a peck reattachment. So they
won't they'll be they'll be on the cusp of the
first game availability. Jamie's probably a little bit longer, but yeah,
we've got a couple of little injuries, but hopefully nothing
that's going to be too substantial unlike last year.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Tell us about the driver behind the selection of your
new crew. What do they do as a unit, not
individually that smashed the way back into the team.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Across the board, we have seen new faces. There's a
level of experience, depth and breadth that you need in
all positions to cover for the unforeseen, which you were
alluded to there around injuries that always the potential for growth.
We've noticed some things and some of those new boys
that we're really excited about, and in one in particular,
(03:14):
you know, with James O'Connor's edition giving us some real
surety and experience and quality of talent in the inside backs.
You know, should we have a bit of an injury
catastrophe like we had last year and you know, not
having to compromise Dave Havilli's ability to be the best
midfielder he can be by nudging him up into a
into a closer position than he was. So yeah, we're
(03:37):
excited about the new faces coming in and the competition
that that will provide for us across the board.
Speaker 4 (03:45):
Massive review, Robert Penny.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
At the end of last season, you and your staff
under the blow torch for the poor performance in the
twenty twenty four season. Plainly you would have learned a
lot out of that. What are the primary takeaways for
you and your coaching staff.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
The main takeaways and it was done with a high
degree of integrity is expect from the Crusaders and it
was it was a pleasure to be a part of
the main takeaways were that there were merely many small
elements that ended up with an incremental I guess outcome
of areas that we can be better at across the board.
(04:24):
And that's not only us as coaches, but in every
area of the professional game. So there, you know, without
stipulating in any detail what a few of those might be,
just just be rest assured that they were small, they've
been addressed and are currently still going to be addressed
(04:47):
due to the fact that it's important for us to
nail those those small margins because the you know, the
difference between success and failure, and at this level and
sport as narrow as we know, so well, we'll be
better across the board and a number of a number
of areas we're excited about the opportunity to implement those.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Twenty twenty four is a pretty treacherous year for you
and your team, Rob this is your second season, well
it will be so you've got your feet well and
truly under the desk. Even the support, the very vocal
and prominent support of the likes of CEO Colin Mansbridge,
must be enormous for you heading into.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
What will be well a huge year. And as an understatement,
oh without that.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
As I said, the organization runs a high integrity model,
the highly integrated in the whole program across the board.
You know when when some people were calling for radical
change and you know the chopping block to come out,
you know, calm heads rule day. We're able to look
(05:55):
forward now with a high degree of positivity. As you say,
first year in for me, first year in for Matt Todd. Again,
we've lost one of our coaching group, which was a great,
a wonderful thing for Tomody Allison to be elevated to
the all black environment. So we've got an another new
coach coming into the environment. So you know, there's a
bit of transition happening. There's a few staff that have
(06:19):
been elevated and we're rejoicing that as well. So all
those things taken into consideration. You know, it's really nice
to have an understanding and committed board and management that
see the good work that went on, the hard work
that went on, and the reality is at this level,
you don't have to be far off not to not to,
(06:41):
you know, achieve what you're trying to achieve. And that
was the realization post last season. And I've got some
I can guarantee on your show, Darcy will be better
for it.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
How's your brand new stadium looking there? Rob still a
while away.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
From getting some bodies in it, but this is a
bright light shining in you and Crusaders and Canterbury's future.
Speaker 4 (07:02):
Surely.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
Yeah, organizationally, it's going to make it significant front. You know,
the passionate people of the Crusaders region and the asset
that it's going to be for christ Church, it's very special.
It's the icing on the cake in terms of the
infrastructure and the capacity of this great little city to
really mature and come of age. And everyone's really excited
(07:26):
about what it's going to bring and do do for
the city and we just need a couple and more
hotels to cater for all the people that will be
filling it, you know, the Crusaders and all other sports
teams and arts people that will utilize that to Kaha
will be just so lucky to have it as part
of our infrastructure.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
And rob how about the quality of Super rugby when
you take into account they're hammering all the Southern Hemisphere
teams meet it out to the Northern Hemisphere teams over
the weekend. Says a lot about what's building at the
bottom of the world.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
Surely, Yeah, without doubt. Yeah, you've highlighted a really strong point. Obviously,
all Blacks plant France this week. France would be deemed
to be the best team in Europe at the moment.
I guess I know Ireland a number one rank, but
beating France and France is always a fantastic challenge. The
all Bleckxil rise to that, and then the Aussie performance
(08:18):
against England last week, how good was that it was?
You know, it was a great credit to Joe and
his team. Good to see Kronos sprinting around like a
like a born and bred Australian on the sideline, hugging,
hugging his team. Yeah, it's been a tough gig that
Australian won and they've obviously done from great things with it.
So yep, Ozzie Rugby is on the app and that's
(08:39):
good for Super Rugby as well. And as they're alluding,
you know, the Southern Hemisphere are having a good run
up there at the moment, but it's still two years
out from two and a half years out from a
World Cup, so let's not peak too early.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
For more from sports talk, listen lived and news Talks.
They'd be from seven pm weekdays. We'll follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Duncie Wildergrave
from News talks Be.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
We're joined now by the head coach the Crusaders, Rob Penny.
Of course, today all the Super Rugby squads have been
announced for Super Rugby Pacific next year. Rob, welcome to
the Pragram. First up than you boys. Who are the
new kids on the block that excite you?
Speaker 3 (00:27):
Yeah, fantastic, Thanks. Without going through them name by name,
there's a number of new faces in there that are
going to contribute, we feel, massively to the environment. It's
going to make it very competitive and very stimulating at
the same time, which you know, which is a nice
freshness I guess about it.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Of course, not only do you have the new follows,
you've got a very solid core of extraordinary experienced players
as well, who I expect you'll lean on quite heavily
throughout the year.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Rob, Well, that's the key. Any successful group has critical,
massive experience and talent across at Tosick. This we just
hope we can have access to those top line boys
as you're alluding, more regularly than we were able to
last year, and you know they can assist us and
(01:20):
you know, getting some of those clutch moments that we
weren't quite able to get over the line last year.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
How's the condition of all of the players selected?
Speaker 2 (01:28):
Of course the ever present specter of injury does hang around,
but how have they started?
Speaker 4 (01:34):
How are they looking?
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Best of knowledge, you know, the guys over in Europe,
which is I think one or two extras have been
at and over the last forty eight hours, so I
think we've got over a dozen there now. They're in
good shape. There's another four or five coming back from
the New Zealand fifteen games. So we haven't had any
issues that we're aware of, except Cody's head not which
(01:58):
hopefully that won't be a long term think bread on
en Ors, just how do we clean up of a
wrist injury which will preclude him from the first couple
of months of the post Christmas activity, which is a
real shame based you know, because he had the aco
recovery last year. But looking forward to getting him back
into the mix. But apart from that, we do have
(02:18):
two middle rowers, and Jamie Henner had had a shoulder
recon and Quintin Strange had a peck reattachment. So they
won't they'll be they'll be on the cusp of the
first game availability. Jamie's probably a little bit longer, but yeah,
we've got a couple of little injuries, but hopefully nothing
that's going to be too substantial unlike last year.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Tell us about the driver behind the selection of your
new crew. What do they do as a unit, not
individually that smashed the way back into the team.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Across the board, we have seen new faces. There's a
level of experience, depth and breadth that you need in
all positions to cover for the unforeseen, which you were
alluded to there around injuries that always the potential for growth.
We've noticed some things and some of those new boys
that we're really excited about, and in one in particular,
(03:14):
you know, with James O'Connor's edition giving us some real
surety and experience and quality of talent in the inside backs.
You know, should we have a bit of an injury
catastrophe like we had last year and you know, not
having to compromise Dave Havilli's ability to be the best
midfielder he can be by nudging him up into a
into a closer position than he was. So yeah, we're
(03:37):
excited about the new faces coming in and the competition
that that will provide for us across the board.
Speaker 4 (03:45):
Massive review, Robert Penny.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
At the end of last season, you and your staff
under the blow torch for the poor performance in the
twenty twenty four season. Plainly you would have learned a
lot out of that. What are the primary takeaways for
you and your coaching staff.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
The main takeaways and it was done with a high
degree of integrity is expect from the Crusaders and it
was it was a pleasure to be a part of
the main takeaways were that there were merely many small
elements that ended up with an incremental I guess outcome
of areas that we can be better at across the board.
(04:24):
And that's not only us as coaches, but in every
area of the professional game. So there, you know, without
stipulating in any detail what a few of those might be,
just just be rest assured that they were small, they've
been addressed and are currently still going to be addressed
(04:47):
due to the fact that it's important for us to
nail those those small margins because the you know, the
difference between success and failure, and at this level and
sport as narrow as we know, so well, we'll be
better across the board and a number of a number
of areas we're excited about the opportunity to implement those.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Twenty twenty four is a pretty treacherous year for you
and your team, Rob this is your second season, well
it will be so you've got your feet well and
truly under the desk. Even the support, the very vocal
and prominent support of the likes of CEO Colin Mansbridge,
must be enormous for you heading into.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
What will be well a huge year. And as an understatement,
oh without that.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
As I said, the organization runs a high integrity model,
the highly integrated in the whole program across the board.
You know when when some people were calling for radical
change and you know the chopping block to come out,
you know, calm heads rule day. We're able to look
(05:55):
forward now with a high degree of positivity. As you say,
first year in for me, first year in for Matt Todd. Again,
we've lost one of our coaching group, which was a great,
a wonderful thing for Tomody Allison to be elevated to
the all black environment. So we've got an another new
coach coming into the environment. So you know, there's a
bit of transition happening. There's a few staff that have
(06:19):
been elevated and we're rejoicing that as well. So all
those things taken into consideration. You know, it's really nice
to have an understanding and committed board and management that
see the good work that went on, the hard work
that went on, and the reality is at this level,
you don't have to be far off not to not to,
(06:41):
you know, achieve what you're trying to achieve. And that
was the realization post last season. And I've got some
I can guarantee on your show, Darcy will be better
for it.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
How's your brand new stadium looking there? Rob still a
while away.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
From getting some bodies in it, but this is a
bright light shining in you and Crusaders and Canterbury's future.
Speaker 4 (07:02):
Surely.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
Yeah, organizationally, it's going to make it significant front. You know,
the passionate people of the Crusaders region and the asset
that it's going to be for christ Church, it's very special.
It's the icing on the cake in terms of the
infrastructure and the capacity of this great little city to
really mature and come of age. And everyone's really excited
(07:26):
about what it's going to bring and do do for
the city and we just need a couple and more
hotels to cater for all the people that will be
filling it, you know, the Crusaders and all other sports
teams and arts people that will utilize that to Kaha
will be just so lucky to have it as part
of our infrastructure.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
And rob how about the quality of Super rugby when
you take into account they're hammering all the Southern Hemisphere
teams meet it out to the Northern Hemisphere teams over
the weekend. Says a lot about what's building at the
bottom of the world.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
Surely, Yeah, without doubt. Yeah, you've highlighted a really strong point. Obviously,
all Blacks plant France this week. France would be deemed
to be the best team in Europe at the moment.
I guess I know Ireland a number one rank, but
beating France and France is always a fantastic challenge. The
all Bleckxil rise to that, and then the Aussie performance
(08:18):
against England last week, how good was that it was?
You know, it was a great credit to Joe and
his team. Good to see Kronos sprinting around like a
like a born and bred Australian on the sideline, hugging,
hugging his team. Yeah, it's been a tough gig that
Australian won and they've obviously done from great things with it.
So yep, Ozzie Rugby is on the app and that's
(08:39):
good for Super Rugby as well. And as they're alluding,
you know, the Southern Hemisphere are having a good run
up there at the moment, but it's still two years
out from two and a half years out from a
World Cup, so let's not peak too early.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
For more from sports talk, listen lived and news Talks.
They'd be from seven pm weekdays. We'll follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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