The Country 19/06/25: Hamish McKay talks to Jamie Mackay

We preview the Super Rugby final with The Country’s new fill-in host.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
So today is Rowena Duncan's last day. We're going to
let her close out the show. But the bloke who
will be replacing Rowena as a replacement for me, we
thought we would swap like for like, Jamie McKay for
Hamosh McKay, champion broadcaster of course, famous for as TV
three and rugby commentary days. Hamish, I want to talk
to you today about the Super Rugby Final. How fizzed

(00:23):
up are you?

Speaker 2 (00:24):
I am Jamie? Thank you? And by the way, there's
a further complication in there, because isn't Hamish Scottish for
Jamie as well? So chee, we're just about one hundred
for one hundred percent.

Speaker 1 (00:35):
Well we could be doppel gangles. Although you're a bit
you're a bit skinnier than me. Now I used to
be a bit skinnier than you, but you've you've transformed yourself.

Speaker 2 (00:44):
Oh the wonders of modern surgery had a bit of
a say in that. But yeah, but it's given me
my mojo back that it wasn't too good. Put it
this way, I would have laughed at about thirty seconds
in the Super Rugby Final of one hundred and thirty
five kgs now I'm an a KG winger.

Speaker 1 (00:59):
Yeah on you, mate, It's good to see firing on
all cylinders. Look, okay, I'm going to throw my ideas
at you and I'm going to get you to comment
on them. Now. I just wonder if the Crusaders might
have an advantage in the front row with an all
all black front row. Will the Chiefs loose forwards perhaps
have an advantage over a very good Crusaders loose Ford trio.

(01:20):
Will Jordan brilliant You can never account for that, But
I think the big one for me anyhow, is Damien
McKenzie versus Rivers Rayhannah, and I think Damien McKenzie might
carry the day. What do you say?

Speaker 2 (01:33):
So beautiful? Beautifully put so? I think the front row
really impressive, the progress of a guy like Bolly Norris,
and they've got great competition for their front row positions
in that chief side. But the loose forwards I think
they cancel themselves out. I think Jacobson is one of
the most underrated potty players going around. So who can
make the most based on what you said there, Jordan

(01:54):
or d Mac. I think that for the Chiefs is
we're where I think it bang on I think that's
where that little bit of mercurial influence there, and he'll
get good enough for the chief packer, a great pack.
I think it'll be sort of fifty to fifty up front,
he's got that against the young fuller. Ray has come on.

(02:15):
He's come on and leaps and bounds make no mistake.
But yeah, I think that the DMAC will just because
he has that beautiful thing of a ten, which is
opposition guessing as the whatch you're up. There's nothing predictable
about the Chiefs. They are steely out, they'll be they'll
be you know, they chess dropping dropping their bundle against

(02:37):
the Blues in that first one, No doubt it would
like to have been a fly on the wall postmatch
discussions on that, but yeah, so it comes down to that.
So it's to be a time advantage versus d MAC.

Speaker 1 (02:47):
Yeah, And I think the other thing is, while Murray Deker,
there's another great sports broadcaster, Hamish used to say, the
first person you're picking your team is the goalkicker. The
next person you pick as you reserve goal kicker. And
at the moment in New Zealand, we haven't got a
better goal kicker in my mind than Damien Mackenzie, Rivers, Rayhannah. Yeah, okay,
but unproven at the highest level, So I think that

(03:10):
could also make a big difference. This could come down
to denominations of three points.

Speaker 2 (03:17):
Yeah, and given the defense capabilities of both these teams,
I mean they just you know, I mean, obviously their
patterns are fantastic, but it's also the caliber of the
guys that are continually making the tackles and you know,
as you're sure from the Crusaders sucking it up, laid
against the Blues. But yeah, three points. It's kind of

(03:40):
almost come back into fashion, hasn't it. Just you know,
it'll be one of those It will be one of
those occasions. It doesn't look like you're at the moment, don't.

Speaker 1 (03:51):
It sounds like our forty days back in the day.
Always take the three points when they're on off. I
always play with the wind that you're back. Hey listen,
I've got to go, so thank you very much for
your time. You will be the official Fellain we've been
Rowena farewell. Really looking forward to you being the host
of the country when I'm swining off, which will be
more frequent than it has been in the past.

Speaker 2 (04:13):
You do that whenever you like, Jem and I'm really honest.
Thank you. Cheers.

Speaker 1 (04:17):
Good on your Hamish go well.

Speaker 2 (04:18):
Cheers.