Stephen Perofeta: Blues First five‐eighth on his return to playing, previews the clash with Moana Pasifika

Finishing halves strong is a key focus for the Blues as Super Rugby Pacific approaches its business end. 

The Aucklanders conceded 26 of their 33 points to the Reds in the last 10 minutes of each half at Super Round, a week after conceding 21 points to the Highlanders in the same time frame. 

This weekend they’re travelling across the bridge to take on Moana Pasifika at North Harbour Stadium.  

Stephen Perofeta is making his starting return to the side after sitting out since round three, and joined D’Arcy to preview the clash. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldgrave from News Talk SEDB.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
The Blues, talking about aucklumb based ball sport team suffered
a late scare against the Reds at Souper Round last weekend,
but they did come out on top thirty six, thirty
three and a super point showdown Dunt don't darn. But
this weekend they travel across the Bridge to tack on
More one PACIFICO very important game as they head back

(00:33):
into the end of super season with three New Zealand.
Darby's Stephen pedal Fetter is making his starting return to
the side after setting out since around three with injury.
Played a bit at half back last week. Back first five,
he joins us now Marina Stephen.

Speaker 3 (00:53):
Good morning, Darcy.

Speaker 2 (00:55):
I'm very well looking forward to the action tonight. I'm
sure you are as well. Are you go back to
a slightly more familiar role. You're starting at ten, first
time you started since what round three, and well you're
coming out of half back. So how did that treat you?
In christ Juts last week playing essentially in the nine jersey,
if you will.

Speaker 3 (01:16):
It was certainly a surprise. It was something I didn't
prepare for So it was I guess learning on the
run a we'll call it. But man, it just confirmed
even more that the respect I have for the for
the work the mine's do. And yeah, I'm happy that
I got through the ten minutes I played at nine

(01:38):
because to be fair, I wouldn't have lasted any longer.

Speaker 2 (01:41):
What was the challenging part of it? What tested you
the most? Do you think?

Speaker 3 (01:44):
I think it was more my awareness that I needed
to be at every single ruck, and I found I
learned really early on. I wanted to have a snipe
around the ruck and took that, but then realized that
I've got to be at the next ruck to pass
the ball. So yeah, it was more the where of

(02:06):
the borgoes, like that's where I'm needed. So now it's
it's a big workload for mine and I understand a
lot more. Why you know, you know, most of the
time minutes managed around how much of the lines are playing.
So but then you see, you know, some players go
to full aiding, so full respect and yeah, I'll be

(02:29):
more prepared now that I've had to go out at once.

Speaker 2 (02:32):
What was it like being monstered by the loose forwards?
You must have had half an eye on them all
the time.

Speaker 3 (02:36):
Surely, Yeah, it was. It was later in the game,
so there could have been you know, slight fatigue sitting
and I was able to not get clobbered, although I
was involved in a couple of ruckside to clean. But
you know that's rugby, so no, it was. It was.

(02:57):
I did enjoy most.

Speaker 2 (02:58):
Of it, the recovery from the calf tier that you had,
so plainly your body is fine. About the lungs after
first time back and again you think you're back up
to speed against.

Speaker 3 (03:11):
Even that'll take some work and some game time for sure.
It's something training a week training, can you know simulate?
So these are a game and it's a crucial heading
into back end the season to get that game fitness
back up. But no, each week I'm ensuring that you know, pushing,

(03:33):
the pushing the legs and the lung so that I'm
getting a good workout on the field so that I
am in a better place for the game. But I
must say, I'll still yeah, I'll still be feeling it,
but we'll be moving forward.

Speaker 2 (03:47):
You're playing at first five eighth, which is one of
your preferred positions. I can't tell would you rather be
at teen or at fifteen? Does it even matter to you?
But plainly being that pivot, it's a very important role
now that Darboden Barrett's back on the bench. So is
it your favorite role? Would you rather be out the back?
Are you going to approach us? What's stern vern been

(04:08):
telling you?

Speaker 3 (04:09):
The view I've got on this, Darcia's at the stage
I'm I'm honestly not bothered in wherever the team needs me.
I'll play there with it's ten or fifteen. But this
has given me the not at ten, so you know
I'll take I'll take that and make sure that I
don't waste opportunity to be there for this week. So yeah,

(04:35):
look either all, but I'll put my best foot forward
wherever I am.

Speaker 2 (04:39):
What presents in front Maana Pussyfeker. On the face of it,
they've had a rotten year. They've only won the one game.
You get the feeling though, that it has to come right,
and maybe you've got the fear around it coming right
against you, Blakes, because it's happened before, right.

Speaker 3 (04:56):
For the mless of their their big game of the year.
We were taught a good lesson last year and they're
sicking game over over the shore as well around You know,
they can turn up and when they're on their a game,
they're big pack. You know, they're physical and once they
get a roll on there, you know they're hard to
stop momentum wise. So we know one is currently you know,

(05:20):
where they sit on the table is not a reflection
of I guess performance, a good performance they could put
out there. So we're preparing like we're playing, you know,
the this NSED team in New Zealand. So yeah, that's
on us to front up first and ensure that we
close out any parts of their game they can get.

Speaker 2 (05:39):
Going to make your boss Carl Budge cause a bit
of a ruck as he quite fancies the idea of
stealing the soup around off Christ Judge, and after what
happened last week, good luck to him, I say, but
you've got to admire the balls. Excuse my French of
Carl Budge to go. You know what, we can do
it here and we can do it better. Do you
feel the same way.

Speaker 3 (05:58):
Or I like the endeavor gussive But that's a subject
probably over my head, and personally I enjoyed it down
there in Christchurch and it was a great weekend. There
was an awesome turnout to all five games, good buzz
in general around the city. So and look, I was

(06:20):
very happy for the city on christ Church after you know,
a long curd of where you know this was coming
together and it's finally you know, come to fruition. So
if it's a good thing, keep it going. And look,
if there's any interest stuff up here in Auckland or
I'm I'm just going to roll with the punters here.
And yes it happens, it happens. But I loved it

(06:42):
down there and Christchurch, and I hope it does stay
down there.

Speaker 2 (06:45):
Friendly words from a blue to Crusader's Lane. So I
think I've heard it all now after all of this time,
Stephen perrit starting at ten, it's three plays eleven but
every one of these games, regardless of who you're playing,
they're all of huge import leading into the finals. Time
and Stephen always thank you for your time, mate, really
appreciate it.

Speaker 3 (07:06):
Thank you Darcy for having me.

Speaker 1 (07:08):
For more from the All Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave.
Listen live to News Talk set B on Saturday mornings,
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