CSB - Finlay Christie - Super Rugby Pacific Final

Blues halfback joins the show to preview the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific final. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Talking super rugby now on the show Blues versus the
Chiefs five past seven Saturday night live commentary here on
gold Sport. Looking forward to it, were head into the
Blues camp. First up this morning of the man wearing
the number nine, Jersey Vin Lake Christie Morning fin late
morning he has a guard good thanks mate. Captain's run today,

(00:20):
then the big dance tomorrow night. Preparation ahead of the final.
Does it change or is it sort of same old,
same old? At training?

Speaker 2 (00:28):
No more of the same old, same old.

Speaker 1 (00:32):
Far along with seats.

Speaker 2 (00:33):
We sort of know what we need to do and
what works for us, so it's actually been a bit
lighter and I guess more mental clarity then, I guess
for little works out on the training field. So it's
been good and yeah, the boys are in a good
spot first.

Speaker 1 (00:48):
Year under new coach Vern Cotter. What's Vern brought to
the team.

Speaker 2 (00:52):
Yeah, I guess the main thing is probably just simplified
the way I play down a bit, which I guess
is quite easy to see from a fan point of view,
the way we would probably a little bit more direct
in our play style, and yeah, just try to keep
it a bit simpler for the players, which seems to
be working.

Speaker 1 (01:12):
Can you remember the first team meeting sort of going
back maybe January of this year, setting the goals maybe
making the final? Was that there?

Speaker 2 (01:22):
Yeah, exactly, that's always the plan, But I guess you
sort of got a small step something that the first
I guess goals making the playoffs, and then you sort
of go from there. But yeah, I guess every team
obviously wants to be in this week, and we're I
guess lucky we've made it this far and hoping to
go one more.

Speaker 1 (01:40):
It's been a real season of attrition this year, lots
of teams having injuries in saying that, how great is
it to have captain Patrick twey Paloto back for the final?

Speaker 2 (01:51):
Yeah exactly, awesomely have him come back pretty early from
a knee injury and seeing him train this week seem
pretty good. I guess up listening for the lads, it's
always good when you've got to I guess the leader
of the team off his cale, who coming back in
Ben in the mix of just I guess he's that confidence.

Speaker 1 (02:10):
Were you as surprised as us to see him named
in the starting fifteen for the final? Oh?

Speaker 2 (02:15):
Yes, and no, he's a He's a tough bastard, that's
for sure. And I guess he he thought his knee
wasn't feeling too bad and I was willing to give
it a crack. So I guess that's the that's the
type of leader that we love, and like I said, yet,
it's awesome to see him give him them crack.

Speaker 1 (02:33):
In last week's game, we saw Dalton Papalii take a
not I think, losing a tooth in the process. Dalton
looking okay for tomorrow.

Speaker 2 (02:41):
Yeah, he's all good. He yeah, copped on in the
mouth I think, and passed all all his stuff and
no concushion or anything, So yeah, he's sweet.

Speaker 1 (02:50):
Airs Finnily. How much is a sold out crowd at
Eden Park going to help bring the boys home?

Speaker 2 (02:57):
Yeah, I think it's going to be awesome atmosphere. And obviously,
I guess playing the boys from down the road the
Chiefs is probably going to be a few more away
supporters as well, maybe a few cowbows and whatnot. But
whatever the atmosphere is, like guess, I guess it's going
to be great for both teams. And like you said, yeah,
playing in front of a sold out in the park,

(03:18):
it doesn't get much better than their news and rugby,
so it's exciting times for the lads and for both teams.

Speaker 1 (03:25):
Has it been spoken about that much that the Blues
haven't won a titles for over twenty years?

Speaker 2 (03:32):
Oh, it's been sort of dripped fed and every now
and then we need a bit of I guess, extra
bit of motivation or a bit of a rack up,
and I guess everyone sort of knows without needing to
say as well. So it's been a goal for everyone
here and obviously there's a few few boys that have
been here for quite a long time and ridden through
those rough times over the last sort of ten years,

(03:56):
and yeah, we just sort of need to get go
one more, hopefully get the rue.

Speaker 1 (04:03):
On the other side of the field, facing the Chiefs,
what do they.

Speaker 2 (04:05):
Do well, Yeah, they're obviously you saw last week the
game against the Hurricanes. They're obviously very physical, big prisons
at the breakdown and when their decks get the ball running,
they're they're really elusive and you know they can light
you up from anywhere. So they're a great team and
obviously in the final for a reason. And we're going

(04:27):
to have to be right on our game. If we
want to want to come away with it, and a.

Speaker 1 (04:31):
Big thing for the big player for the Chiefs tomorrow,
stopping Damien McKenzie, who's in cracking form, isn't he.

Speaker 2 (04:39):
That's the one He's He's a world class player and
obviously sort of the heart of their team on the tech.
So yeah, the boys are going to have to be
on and yeah, it's going to be a good.

Speaker 1 (04:50):
One and you personally for late form right up with
the best of your career this season. First, all backs
squad gets named on Monday afternoon. Has that been in
the back your mind?

Speaker 2 (05:02):
Oh, I'm just happy to be back out there after
a head a bit of an injury and I guess
two months off midway through the season. So my main
goal was just trying to get fit again and get
back out there, and I guess now that I've strung
three games together, it's yeah, just about trying to do
that again for the Blues this weekend. My sole folks
at the moments, just yeah, trying to get through this

(05:24):
one and yeah, hopefully be lifting that trophy on the
weekend and then I'll take whatever comes after that.

Speaker 1 (05:31):
Thanks for joining us, mate, Thanks mate, cheers for that