Super Rugby Pacific got off to a strong start this week, with the Chiefs and Crusaders claiming victory last night.
The Crusaders beat the Blues 36-20 at their new stadium in Christchurch, while the Chiefs outlasted the Reds in Brisbane, winning 31-21.
Sky Sport Rugby Commentator Tony Johnson joined D’Arcy to review the two games and look forward to tonight’s clashes.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldgrave from Youth Talk SEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Tony Johnson as always great to have you on board. Gee,
has been a couple of weeks, Tony, do you still
love me?
Speaker 3 (00:22):
I respect you? Good morning, I respect you?
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Okay, that's fine, that's good. What about Super Rugby? Has
your respect for that at the moment because it's coming
to a pretty sensational ian there's a few weeks to
go now, but these classes that they're meaning a lot,
especially on the New Zealand side. I think last night
we saw a lot of passion, the return of a
horse's and a crusader's side through the bizarre feats of
(00:49):
one lester firing a nuki getting the job done over
the blues. What did you read into that, fext.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
You, mate, Well, first and foremost, what we've got is
we've got different battles going on. I suppose you've got
the battle at the top to find who's going to
get position. Just confirming up those three spots in the
top three, which are going to be really important for
at least the first round of the playoffs when there's
home advanted. But then there's another battle going on. I
(01:19):
don't know, I've got a funny feel and we might
have our top three. That the cap that's between third
and fourth, what is it now? It's yeah, it's not
a huge gap at six points, but the Genda teams
of course playing each other. And then there's another battle
going on where there's a couple of teams just simply
(01:40):
refusing to bow out of the race for the top six.
And we'll see those all in action today. So it's
becoming quite compelling. The quality of the rate has been good.
But again it was just to me a great way
to start the weekend, just the sight of that full
crowd in that stadium and christ you're watching. Really, I
(02:01):
think a Blues Crusaders game that lived up to many
of the great ones, perhaps the romantic finish that we've
seen in the days of say Carlos Spencer running the
length for field, all that sort of thing, but it's
still it was an epic contest between two sides. One
of them are trying to fight its way to the
top of the table, the other desperately trying to win
itself more rugby in that stadium, and I thought it
(02:24):
was a terrific game. And then later on in the
evening a very good win for the Chiefs in Brisbane,
a controversial had to a match that's being deemed as controversial,
but you know, a valuable win. And just this question
mark over the Australian teams, are they going to be
able to mount some sort of meaningful threat which seems
(02:46):
to be dwindling a little bit at the moment. So
there's a lot going on, a lot to unpack.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
When you look at the Crusaders game last night, are
you still vaguely astonished at what excuse me, Lester fining
a Nuku is doing in that seven jersey. He just
appears to be getting better and better. Do that little
outside kick from a right foot for the try for
cev Reesee. It's a freak shape, right.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
Yeah. Look, it started off being a bit of a punp.
You know, we knew he'd played there a little bit
late in games in France, so it became a sort
of a novelty to see him playing there, and then
it became a bit of an eye catcher. Gosh, yeah,
this has got possibilities, and now it's sort of getting
to the point where I'd say a week ago I
(03:33):
would have been thinking, Yeah, in terms of the All Blacks,
you've got him in your twenty three. You bring him
off the bench where he can fill multiple roles. Now
you're starting to look at him and think, well, gosh,
if he's playing that well and he's doing so many things,
you're almost starting to think of him in terms of
a starter. Now. Look just to go through some of
(03:55):
his achievements last night, Darcy. I know the stets don't
tell everything, but six defenders beaten, that's a game high.
And when you consider that he's doing a lot of
running in traffic, that's not too bad at all. He
topped his team's tackle counts. He made sixteen tackles, no missus.
He won three ruck and mall turnovers. He's been officially
(04:17):
credited with two triassists. I'd give them three. He had
those death kicks that we saw you as you said,
the one off the outside of the boot to break
open a defence. It was quite extraordinary what we're seeing.
And I guess the only question remains now is we
(04:38):
know he's going to be in the All Black frame,
how they use him. I was thinking maybe the Moven
might have made his credentials in terms of the all ASTs.
It lessen his credentials as a wing more center, but
he ended up there anyway last night, which is the
value I guess that he can bring. There's so many
(04:58):
tools in that box and it is just fun to
watch a blues band and it.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Wasn't of these up against a terrible loose forward trio either.
They are a place a blues side and what they
can do. I love the way you said that, no,
mister tackles. To me, that's the most important thing. Couple
of Dames games today. What do you like the look
of their first up at four point thirty, we've got
the Holanders.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Yeah, Heighland is against the war Retars, and I think
from whoever loses this game, it's Curtains, Warritas and Heighlands,
both on twenty points, both what eighth and ninth on
the table. I think it's just a points differential between them.
So I just think whoever loses its potentially going to
(05:46):
fall seven, eight nine points out of the top six.
Be very hard to get that back. So there's a
heck of a lot at Staate. War Retars don't have
a bad record in Duneaton over the years, but this
is just one of those games where the Highlanders in
front of their home fans that is going to stand
up and be counted, because if not, they're not going
to be in it for the count.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
After that, we've got Mouana Passifica that they're hosting the
Hurricanes and on paper it looks terrifying for Moan Passificer
plainly not the greatest season, and then have got all
the off field drama about where they're going next year
will they survive? Who's to blame to keep focused for
(06:27):
ton of Umana to keep his team focused against this
marauding Canes team who have got some astonishing tri scores
in their side. Fining offer, of course, is the main one.
This doesn't auger well does it for MP No.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Look, the last two weeks have certainly been competitive. They
put up a good scrap against the Highlanders and then
last week they were right in the game at halftime,
but they just seem to fall away in the second half.
It isn't the strongest Hurricans team obviously. The concerning injury
to Tam Lily Guard because I mean he's just so
(07:04):
far away well become the most important players in the
New Zealand game. So they'll be hoping that that's not
too bad. Jordy Barrett was playing in a professional golf
tournament this week, so he's not playing. He was doing
all black rest and that enabled it to play in
(07:24):
the golf tournament. I hastened to add he didn't pull
out so he could play in it. That doesn't happen,
but sorry.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Thank you for stressing that.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, but I'm sure people will be comedy.
So it gives him a different look to their back
line with an at nine Lucas cash for at ten.
Because Rubin Love's not playing either, Johnny Rover comes into
the midfield. He's been playing really well off the bench,
but it's not as strong that the spark and talent
(07:58):
is still there. Obviously Josh Morby and Fetti for the
Neang and NORFWA were playing outstandingly well, but it's not
the strongest Hurricane team and there's always got to be
a little bit of a risk and that as well.
And maybe you know mine, I've been saying I've got
one more win. I'm not sure whether it'll be this one,
but boy, it's not a game to stub your toe
on if you're there in a great position being top
(08:20):
of the table with the game in hand. You don't
want to blow that. So look, I need to play well,
just as I say. It's that Kenda said more ieted
to fall away in the third and fourth quarters. That's
the real problem.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
And on that note, we'll let you get on with
your day. I'm sure you are flat out and busy,
as as I know you always are. Tony Johnson, thanks
so much for your time and for your loves mate.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
For more from the All Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave,
listen live to News Talk Said Be on Saturday mornings,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldgrave from Youth Talk SEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Tony Johnson as always great to have you on board. Gee,
has been a couple of weeks, Tony, do you still
love me?
Speaker 3 (00:22):
I respect you? Good morning, I respect you?
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Okay, that's fine, that's good. What about Super Rugby? Has
your respect for that at the moment because it's coming
to a pretty sensational ian there's a few weeks to
go now, but these classes that they're meaning a lot,
especially on the New Zealand side. I think last night
we saw a lot of passion, the return of a
horse's and a crusader's side through the bizarre feats of
(00:49):
one lester firing a nuki getting the job done over
the blues. What did you read into that, fext.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
You, mate, Well, first and foremost, what we've got is
we've got different battles going on. I suppose you've got
the battle at the top to find who's going to
get position. Just confirming up those three spots in the
top three, which are going to be really important for
at least the first round of the playoffs when there's
home advanted. But then there's another battle going on. I
(01:19):
don't know, I've got a funny feel and we might
have our top three. That the cap that's between third
and fourth, what is it now? It's yeah, it's not
a huge gap at six points, but the Genda teams
of course playing each other. And then there's another battle
going on where there's a couple of teams just simply
(01:40):
refusing to bow out of the race for the top six.
And we'll see those all in action today. So it's
becoming quite compelling. The quality of the rate has been good.
But again it was just to me a great way
to start the weekend, just the sight of that full
crowd in that stadium and christ you're watching. Really, I
(02:01):
think a Blues Crusaders game that lived up to many
of the great ones, perhaps the romantic finish that we've
seen in the days of say Carlos Spencer running the
length for field, all that sort of thing, but it's
still it was an epic contest between two sides. One
of them are trying to fight its way to the
top of the table, the other desperately trying to win
itself more rugby in that stadium, and I thought it
(02:24):
was a terrific game. And then later on in the
evening a very good win for the Chiefs in Brisbane,
a controversial had to a match that's being deemed as controversial,
but you know, a valuable win. And just this question
mark over the Australian teams, are they going to be
able to mount some sort of meaningful threat which seems
(02:46):
to be dwindling a little bit at the moment. So
there's a lot going on, a lot to unpack.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
When you look at the Crusaders game last night, are
you still vaguely astonished at what excuse me, Lester fining
a Nuku is doing in that seven jersey. He just
appears to be getting better and better. Do that little
outside kick from a right foot for the try for
cev Reesee. It's a freak shape, right.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
Yeah. Look, it started off being a bit of a punp.
You know, we knew he'd played there a little bit
late in games in France, so it became a sort
of a novelty to see him playing there, and then
it became a bit of an eye catcher. Gosh, yeah,
this has got possibilities, and now it's sort of getting
to the point where I'd say a week ago I
(03:33):
would have been thinking, Yeah, in terms of the All Blacks,
you've got him in your twenty three. You bring him
off the bench where he can fill multiple roles. Now
you're starting to look at him and think, well, gosh,
if he's playing that well and he's doing so many things,
you're almost starting to think of him in terms of
a starter. Now. Look just to go through some of
(03:55):
his achievements last night, Darcy. I know the stets don't
tell everything, but six defenders beaten, that's a game high.
And when you consider that he's doing a lot of
running in traffic, that's not too bad at all. He
topped his team's tackle counts. He made sixteen tackles, no missus.
He won three ruck and mall turnovers. He's been officially
(04:17):
credited with two triassists. I'd give them three. He had
those death kicks that we saw you as you said,
the one off the outside of the boot to break
open a defence. It was quite extraordinary what we're seeing.
And I guess the only question remains now is we
(04:38):
know he's going to be in the All Black frame,
how they use him. I was thinking maybe the Moven
might have made his credentials in terms of the all ASTs.
It lessen his credentials as a wing more center, but
he ended up there anyway last night, which is the
value I guess that he can bring. There's so many
(04:58):
tools in that box and it is just fun to
watch a blues band and it.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Wasn't of these up against a terrible loose forward trio either.
They are a place a blues side and what they
can do. I love the way you said that, no,
mister tackles. To me, that's the most important thing. Couple
of Dames games today. What do you like the look
of their first up at four point thirty, we've got
the Holanders.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Yeah, Heighland is against the war Retars, and I think
from whoever loses this game, it's Curtains, Warritas and Heighlands,
both on twenty points, both what eighth and ninth on
the table. I think it's just a points differential between them.
So I just think whoever loses its potentially going to
(05:46):
fall seven, eight nine points out of the top six.
Be very hard to get that back. So there's a
heck of a lot at Staate. War Retars don't have
a bad record in Duneaton over the years, but this
is just one of those games where the Highlanders in
front of their home fans that is going to stand
up and be counted, because if not, they're not going
to be in it for the count.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
After that, we've got Mouana Passifica that they're hosting the
Hurricanes and on paper it looks terrifying for Moan Passificer
plainly not the greatest season, and then have got all
the off field drama about where they're going next year
will they survive? Who's to blame to keep focused for
(06:27):
ton of Umana to keep his team focused against this
marauding Canes team who have got some astonishing tri scores
in their side. Fining offer, of course, is the main one.
This doesn't auger well does it for MP No.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Look, the last two weeks have certainly been competitive. They
put up a good scrap against the Highlanders and then
last week they were right in the game at halftime,
but they just seem to fall away in the second half.
It isn't the strongest Hurricans team obviously. The concerning injury
to Tam Lily Guard because I mean he's just so
(07:04):
far away well become the most important players in the
New Zealand game. So they'll be hoping that that's not
too bad. Jordy Barrett was playing in a professional golf
tournament this week, so he's not playing. He was doing
all black rest and that enabled it to play in
(07:24):
the golf tournament. I hastened to add he didn't pull
out so he could play in it. That doesn't happen,
but sorry.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Thank you for stressing that.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, but I'm sure people will be comedy.
So it gives him a different look to their back
line with an at nine Lucas cash for at ten.
Because Rubin Love's not playing either, Johnny Rover comes into
the midfield. He's been playing really well off the bench,
but it's not as strong that the spark and talent
(07:58):
is still there. Obviously Josh Morby and Fetti for the
Neang and NORFWA were playing outstandingly well, but it's not
the strongest Hurricane team and there's always got to be
a little bit of a risk and that as well.
And maybe you know mine, I've been saying I've got
one more win. I'm not sure whether it'll be this one,
but boy, it's not a game to stub your toe
on if you're there in a great position being top
(08:20):
of the table with the game in hand. You don't
want to blow that. So look, I need to play well,
just as I say. It's that Kenda said more ieted
to fall away in the third and fourth quarters. That's
the real problem.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
And on that note, we'll let you get on with
your day. I'm sure you are flat out and busy,
as as I know you always are. Tony Johnson, thanks
so much for your time and for your loves mate.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
For more from the All Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave,
listen live to News Talk Said Be on Saturday mornings,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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