June 6, 2025 • 6 mins
Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan says they can't afford to take the Blues lightly in today’s Super Rugby Pacific qualifying final in Hamilton.
The Chiefs beat the Blues twice this season, although their previous meeting was a one-point win.
McMillan feels they can't read much into the Blues' recent form but acknowledges the threat of the defending champions.
Tonight’s game is a rematch of last year’s final, in which the Blues claimed victory 41-10.
Chiefs scrum-half Xavier Roe joined D’Arcy Waldegrave to preview the clash.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldgrave from News talks'b.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Good morning, Darcy, huge day, and there is an absolute understatement.
This is where the Peterwitz the meat or what what
an evening's rugby? Mate. If you weren't that excited, you'd
probably be a little concerned because the Blues didn't come
down to the last shower, now did they?
Speaker 3 (00:27):
No, they didn't. It's kind of the perfect storm really.
Obviously a rematch from last year's final and I'm sure
it's going to be a going to be a cracker.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Is there anything you can take from that or it's
just pointless Just just look back to the start of
this year and look at those match up instead.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Yeah, I think I think you kind of just leave
that in the past. I think we've obviously learned a
lot from it as a team from that final, and
yet we've obviously played them twice this year as well.
But as we know finals footy, it's it's a different beast.
But no, we're excited for it.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
As far as what you picked up at a last
week and that was quite impressive. The Highlanders inatially look
like they are going to cause a bit of an
ups seat, but then the turbo came on and see
you ladder right, yeah, yeah, whole.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Is a team with nothing to lose. You know, they
obviously couldn't make the quarterfinals, so we know it was
going to be a we know it's going to be
a tough, tough night under the roof, and yet we
were just start to get the win and get the
first place to the top of the table.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
As always, coach is never happy. They set you out
afterwards and they moan about what you did right? Did
you right? And is Clayton actually liked.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
That or not?
Speaker 2 (01:32):
I don't know. I mean, I've never been coached by
the guy.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
Plainly, I wouldn't I wouldn't call it moaning. I think
it's just we want to get better every every week.
You know, we obviously want to be building, building us
strongly into these finals. So I think I think we're
all pretty pretty picky, even as players, but we just
want to be building into these last few rounds and
hopefully we can get some good form game.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
I can't say a few rounds, right, You're just got
to look at what's happening tonight. You start looking beyond
that and you're going to get slapped.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Yeah, yeah, exactly exactly. We've obviously been at the top
of the table. I've got a semi final, but yeah,
there's obviously we've got to worry about this week. First,
it's been.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
An amazing season. I haven't met anyone who disagrees, and
if they do, they haven't been watching it. And what
what's happened at the end is anyone can meet anyone
in these finals games. So even though you're right up
the top, there's still a chance, isn't there that you
might get touched up.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
Well. Yeah, we've got the Blues obviously, so it's defending champs,
you know, and they've they've done well to get into
the playoffs and you know, the big rivalry game for us,
so I'm sure they're not gonna They're definitely not going
to roll over easily on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
So it's not just me and fans that are impressed.
I'm presuming you've enjoyed this camp as well.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
Xavier, Yeah, yeah, definitely. I think obviously the Milano who
have obviously put in some good, good games during the year,
and then obviously with the Rebels obviously bowing out for
this year, it's obviously maybe the Australian teams a lot
more competitive. So it's been an awesome season, probably one
of the better ones that I've been a part of,
(03:10):
that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Half Backs are everywhere. There's quite a fight, isn't there
to get to the top of that ladder and it
kind of comes and goes and comes and goes. How
are you thinking about your form this season?
Speaker 3 (03:21):
Yeah, I've been happy. I've been happy with my form.
Obviously got to have had a few starts and I
feel like I've been pretty pretty consistent, which which is
the main thing. But yeah, like you say, there's a
lot of good nines around, and there's a lot of
good nines here at the Chiefs with whether courtiers and
the toid or as well. So but I enjoy the competition,
(03:42):
you know, That's what rugby is all about, coming into
work and competing every day. So I'm enjoying it.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Do you guys pick each other's games apart you half back,
so you get together and have a bit of a crack.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Yeah, we obviously love competing and we're obviously all good
mates as well. You know, I've been my im pairing
with the quartiers for probably six or so seasons now,
so we know each other real well, and we know
each other I know each other's game real well. So
you know, I think it's been a good combination this year.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
As a whole. For yourself. Plainly, you know where you
have to lift up from a coach's point of view,
but your internal drivers a VI would be more. It
would be stronger than what any coach could say. What
what what's your gut telling you about what you have
to do coming out in the game tonight.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
I think I think I'm just gonna do my job.
I don't I don't feel like I need to do
anything more than you know, put the put the forwards
in the right parts of the field, and obviously just
give a quick ball to our backs. We've obviously got
a lot of backs that can can score tries from anywhere.
So yeah, it helps a lot. When you've got guys
like Damien McKenzie and Sean Stevenson, Quinta Paia all outside you,
(04:53):
you definitely feel pretty comfortable passing then the ball.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
I wouldn't say playing super rugby's easy, but you say
it like that, it sounds like it. Just get the
ball from the big Fels and give it to the
rocket chips out the back and see what happens here.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
Yeah, pretty much. And yeah, our Fords have been laying
an awesome platform for US nine all year and it
definitely makes our job a lot easier at halfback when
the Fords are going forward and they've got an awesome
set piece, So yeah, big ups to them as well.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Your I won't say favorites because the Blues are on
a tear right now, but all year you guys have
been providing. Is that a comfortable situation for you all
to carry?
Speaker 3 (05:33):
I'm not sure if you'd say comfortable, because, like I
said before, you know, in finals anything can happen. But
there's a company and feeling that we've been in good
form most of the year and hopefully we can play
our best footy a Saturday.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Do it and I'm looking forward to it. Should be huge.
The whole season's been magnificent. Xavier Row, thanks very much
for your time.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
Get in there and cause a ruckus awesome Darcy.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
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 ARD Radio
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldgrave from News talks'b.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Good morning, Darcy, huge day, and there is an absolute understatement.
This is where the Peterwitz the meat or what what
an evening's rugby? Mate. If you weren't that excited, you'd
probably be a little concerned because the Blues didn't come
down to the last shower, now did they?
Speaker 3 (00:27):
No, they didn't. It's kind of the perfect storm really.
Obviously a rematch from last year's final and I'm sure
it's going to be a going to be a cracker.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Is there anything you can take from that or it's
just pointless Just just look back to the start of
this year and look at those match up instead.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Yeah, I think I think you kind of just leave
that in the past. I think we've obviously learned a
lot from it as a team from that final, and
yet we've obviously played them twice this year as well.
But as we know finals footy, it's it's a different beast.
But no, we're excited for it.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
As far as what you picked up at a last
week and that was quite impressive. The Highlanders inatially look
like they are going to cause a bit of an
ups seat, but then the turbo came on and see
you ladder right, yeah, yeah, whole.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Is a team with nothing to lose. You know, they
obviously couldn't make the quarterfinals, so we know it was
going to be a we know it's going to be
a tough, tough night under the roof, and yet we
were just start to get the win and get the
first place to the top of the table.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
As always, coach is never happy. They set you out
afterwards and they moan about what you did right? Did
you right? And is Clayton actually liked.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
That or not?
Speaker 2 (01:32):
I don't know. I mean, I've never been coached by
the guy.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
Plainly, I wouldn't I wouldn't call it moaning. I think
it's just we want to get better every every week.
You know, we obviously want to be building, building us
strongly into these finals. So I think I think we're
all pretty pretty picky, even as players, but we just
want to be building into these last few rounds and
hopefully we can get some good form game.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
I can't say a few rounds, right, You're just got
to look at what's happening tonight. You start looking beyond
that and you're going to get slapped.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Yeah, yeah, exactly exactly. We've obviously been at the top
of the table. I've got a semi final, but yeah,
there's obviously we've got to worry about this week. First,
it's been.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
An amazing season. I haven't met anyone who disagrees, and
if they do, they haven't been watching it. And what
what's happened at the end is anyone can meet anyone
in these finals games. So even though you're right up
the top, there's still a chance, isn't there that you
might get touched up.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
Well. Yeah, we've got the Blues obviously, so it's defending champs,
you know, and they've they've done well to get into
the playoffs and you know, the big rivalry game for us,
so I'm sure they're not gonna They're definitely not going
to roll over easily on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
So it's not just me and fans that are impressed.
I'm presuming you've enjoyed this camp as well.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
Xavier, Yeah, yeah, definitely. I think obviously the Milano who
have obviously put in some good, good games during the year,
and then obviously with the Rebels obviously bowing out for
this year, it's obviously maybe the Australian teams a lot
more competitive. So it's been an awesome season, probably one
of the better ones that I've been a part of,
(03:10):
that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Half Backs are everywhere. There's quite a fight, isn't there
to get to the top of that ladder and it
kind of comes and goes and comes and goes. How
are you thinking about your form this season?
Speaker 3 (03:21):
Yeah, I've been happy. I've been happy with my form.
Obviously got to have had a few starts and I
feel like I've been pretty pretty consistent, which which is
the main thing. But yeah, like you say, there's a
lot of good nines around, and there's a lot of
good nines here at the Chiefs with whether courtiers and
the toid or as well. So but I enjoy the competition,
(03:42):
you know, That's what rugby is all about, coming into
work and competing every day. So I'm enjoying it.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Do you guys pick each other's games apart you half back,
so you get together and have a bit of a crack.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Yeah, we obviously love competing and we're obviously all good
mates as well. You know, I've been my im pairing
with the quartiers for probably six or so seasons now,
so we know each other real well, and we know
each other I know each other's game real well. So
you know, I think it's been a good combination this year.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
As a whole. For yourself. Plainly, you know where you
have to lift up from a coach's point of view,
but your internal drivers a VI would be more. It
would be stronger than what any coach could say. What
what what's your gut telling you about what you have
to do coming out in the game tonight.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
I think I think I'm just gonna do my job.
I don't I don't feel like I need to do
anything more than you know, put the put the forwards
in the right parts of the field, and obviously just
give a quick ball to our backs. We've obviously got
a lot of backs that can can score tries from anywhere.
So yeah, it helps a lot. When you've got guys
like Damien McKenzie and Sean Stevenson, Quinta Paia all outside you,
(04:53):
you definitely feel pretty comfortable passing then the ball.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
I wouldn't say playing super rugby's easy, but you say
it like that, it sounds like it. Just get the
ball from the big Fels and give it to the
rocket chips out the back and see what happens here.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
Yeah, pretty much. And yeah, our Fords have been laying
an awesome platform for US nine all year and it
definitely makes our job a lot easier at halfback when
the Fords are going forward and they've got an awesome
set piece, So yeah, big ups to them as well.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Your I won't say favorites because the Blues are on
a tear right now, but all year you guys have
been providing. Is that a comfortable situation for you all
to carry?
Speaker 3 (05:33):
I'm not sure if you'd say comfortable, because, like I
said before, you know, in finals anything can happen. But
there's a company and feeling that we've been in good
form most of the year and hopefully we can play
our best footy a Saturday.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Do it and I'm looking forward to it. Should be huge.
The whole season's been magnificent. Xavier Row, thanks very much
for your time.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
Get in there and cause a ruckus awesome Darcy.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
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 ARD Radio
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