Daniel Rona: Chiefs midfielder on the team beating the Brumbies and making it to the final

The Chiefs' man with the golden boot is finding his feet at the right time as another Super Rugby final looms.

First-five Damian McKenzie was instrumental in the Chiefs semi-final win over the Brumbies, scoring 22 points to set up a final with the Crusaders in Christchurch. 

Chiefs midfielder Daniel Rona joined Piney to recap the action.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks ed b in.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
The Chiefs through to their third consecutive Super Rugby Final
in pretty dominant fashion, beating the Brumbies thirty seven seventeen
in their semi in Hamilton last night. Quincy Pie first receiver.

Speaker 1 (00:23):
Oh, he beats one, he beats two, about five out
balls quickly going a dry.

Speaker 3 (00:27):
Fine the light it pick it up. He scored. It's
fine seven, the righter out and nothing.

Speaker 2 (00:32):
He's done with Simmy Reese and he scored twenty two
points off the boot of Damien McKenzie. Pretty crucial both sides,
scoring three tries. Let's bring a chief midfielder Daniel Daniel
congratulations for the third year in a row. You've got
a Grand Final to prepare for. What do you reckon?
The coaching staff and the players will be most happy
about after last night's performance and result.

Speaker 3 (00:55):
Yeah, I think we defended really well last night. Had
to go some big beat hits there Autotoice, especially early on,
and think the boys stood up intensive believe so sure
that we really put out offics on defense.

Speaker 2 (01:11):
Obviously, you had a pretty intense game against the Blues.
Last weekend. Was it equally intense out there last night?
Did you feel like it ramped up you know the
rugby during during finals football?

Speaker 3 (01:22):
Yeah, okay, finals, very it's really really physical. Obviously boys
a boy a lot harder. So yeah, that's just what
you can expect. Yess with finals footage, it's good.

Speaker 2 (01:37):
But they scored just after halftime that made it nineteen
seventeen to you. But then a burst of eighteen unanswered
points in eighteen minutes from the Chiefs. What do you
think was behind that little period of play which basically
won you the game?

Speaker 3 (01:54):
I mean, per last night put us in the right
here in the field and obviously was really good off
the team, so he's definitely personally it was probably a
big reason why that was the case. But yeah, I
think we just went with the storm in the first
half and then turning our fire and yeah, I just yeah,

(02:20):
just played really well.

Speaker 2 (02:21):
So did you get a decent view of Damien McKenzie's
tri saving tackle on Tom Wright.

Speaker 3 (02:28):
No, I didn't do. I was crossed on the side
of the field, so I wasn't too short. It's gone.
I thought we were coming in and they definitely scored
and then what's them going? They were chicking something and
I thought they must have been checking something from earlier
in the player, like pay but it was pretty pretty unbelievable.

Speaker 2 (02:46):
I was ta, yeah, righteous stuff. So for about the
I think five or six the game in a row,
or certainly in recent times, you've been in midfield with
Quintin Pie again last night. How much you enjoyed that partnership.

Speaker 3 (03:02):
No, I love it. I think he's such a class player,
and I think we really really work well. You know,
he's a leader in our background, and he's playing some
really really good football, So I really enjoying it.

Speaker 2 (03:19):
Has Anton Lennart Brown still been in and around the group,
even though he now can't play with that injury he's picked.

Speaker 3 (03:25):
Up Yeah yeah, yeah, essfinitely stalling them around the group
and has been saying in the week to week he's
just started getting back into a little bit of training
with us, running the defense defense against us, and I'm
pretty sure I have doing the game again this week,

(03:45):
which really good.

Speaker 2 (03:46):
You must. I mean, obviously it's it's misfortune for Anton,
but for you, it's opened up that thirteen jersey which
you've you've grabbed hold of. You must be enjoying having
a decent run in the side in that jersey, are
you Yeah, obviously.

Speaker 3 (04:00):
It must be playing footy in the position that I
enjoyed the most. Obviously not great supers that prounsanded, but
it's just happened. That's all for me. Get more time
than a jersy which spots.

Speaker 2 (04:17):
How much did last weekend and the loss of the
Blues sting the playing group?

Speaker 3 (04:24):
Yeah, it's definitely hurting the felling and changing the boys
as all week it was. It was a big week
and the boys crepped really well and the palty was
just a big edge through the week and we're going
to put out a good performance last night. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (04:46):
And as you look ahead to the week ahead, as
I say, this is the third year in a row
you'll be preparing for a Grand Final. I mean everyone's
heard the stats. It's very very difficult to beat the
Crusaders in christ you to come knockout time. Will your
preparation be any different this week? And what do you
think the main focus will be?

Speaker 3 (05:06):
M Well, i'd table we'll keep a Princeton. There's no
point trying to change change our weeks for our bread
just because a grand final. Trust the work that we've
done and the week that's got us here so far,
and just really enjoy the week. I guess the finals

(05:27):
don't come around too often. Been about really enjoying the
week and getting that body gian and and then just
getting out of our detail and getting down a crist
which where you go.

Speaker 2 (05:39):
I'm sure Clayton McMillan hasn't made this about him at all,
but has have the players talked, you know, at all
about wanting to send off your coach as a Super
Rugby champion?

Speaker 3 (05:53):
Uh No, there hasn't been been too much about that,
but I guess that's always in the back of everyone's minds,
you know, taking Bunks done so much for his club
and he's been a massive part of the club ground
and well what we've been a three four Grand finals
in the last five years to say, and it's it

(06:15):
comes down to a lot to do with bank and
be nice in and out on the win.

Speaker 2 (06:21):
And famously, of course you were pouring concrete full time
before you picked up your your first Chiefs contractor are
presuming you you're not missing being on the tools.

Speaker 3 (06:32):
Hobofinitely not. They obviously I missed because I was doing
it with a couple of good mates and so I
missed going to work with them, but definitely definitely miss
them all. It is.

Speaker 2 (06:46):
Well, you've earned yourself another Monday, another week to prepare
for a Grand Final. Congratulations on the win last night,
Daniel and your pardon it all the beast for the
week you hit as you prepare to go to christ
and try and win the Super Rugby title. Yes much perfect, No,
thanks for joining us, Daniel. Daniel Rhana there out of
the Chiefs camp. Another very good performance from him last night.
He's he's stepped up, hasn't he, Daniel Roner, Yeah, he

(07:09):
was pouring croncred. He was included in the wider training
group from memory in twenty twenty three, came in, did
really well enough to win a deal, so no more concreting.
It's rugby for Daniel Roner in a nice partnership. He's
forming with Quintu Pie in the Chiefs midfield with Antony
Lennart Brown out for the season.

Speaker 1 (07:28):
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