March 15, 2025 • 8 mins
The Chiefs remain top of the Super Rugby ladder after recording their fourth victory of the season with a 32-31 win over the Blues in Hamilton.
Commentator Graeme Mead joined Piney to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine
from News Talks ed B Table Topping.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Chiefs have hung on for a thirty two to thirty
one win over the Blues in Hamilton, making it two
from two over the defending Super Rugby champions.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Curling it back, curling it back, it off.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
It was up the post and missus Oh, he did
everything right and hits the post and bounces back into
the field to play. You gotama has it.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
There's the whistle, there's the thing.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Radham is going to do one thing with us into
this stand that goes and it's going to be the
takes thirty two points, Blue thirty one points. What a
game of rugby here in Hamilton?
Speaker 2 (00:47):
What a game of rugby? And d That is the
voice of Graham Minty Mead, who calls Chiefs games for
us on Gold Sport and iHeartRadio. Were you willing that
last conversion hit the Postminty?
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Were you by that time? Piny? I had no idea
what was going to happen? Numb. It was one of
those games you just sat back in war and thought,
what's just gone on? It was nearly four minutes before
the first stoppage after the kickoff and it didn't stop.
Intense footy and wow, what a win for the Chiefs.
But how good were the Blues too?
Speaker 2 (01:18):
They were they were very good and it was like
on the table, it was top the bottom pretty much.
But it certainly didn't look like that and it was
never going to be when the Chiefs play the Blues.
I mean, they're defending champions. Do you think, you know,
having given up the overnight test and on the across
the eighty odd minutes, do you think the Chiefs deserve
to win?
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Well? I think that rugby was so intense. There are
lots of mistakes. There were lots of errors we got.
The Chiefs got a couple of lucky tries that McKenzie
won where the ball went behind him and both to
Ali and Jouanni ran past him and he grabbed the
ball and dipped around and scored. That was a fortunate try.
It wasn't anything too flash, but some of the crossfield
(01:59):
kicking to the wingers, there was some special rugby in
that fining and I just thought I've never come away
from a game so probably naked. Was Gordy was the
same David Fox? They said that was just an incredible
game of footy and whoever one I deserved it.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Do you think the Blues have what it takes to
get out of this sort of slump that they are in.
I mean they're defending champions after all, but you look
at the table played five, one, one, last four. Do
you think they're still a top six side?
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Well they should be, Let's just be honest. They lost
ton A Farsi and Caleb Clark just before kickoff last
night and the Chiefs like Anton Lennard Brown and I
think that made a bit of difference to their prep.
But man, they've got some talent out there, young Cam Christy,
this number six, the North Harbor Locke's playing on the flank.
I think he was dynamic last night for a twenty
year old. And they've got the gears that just needs
(02:48):
to click and I'm not sure what's causing it not
to click. But if we're going to get rugby like
that every week, I'm all for that.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Look yeah, I think Look they'll they'll be fine. I
really believe they'll be fine. And they've had a pretty
tough start of it the Chiefs twice for a start,
But as I say, Crusaders next week. But just on
the Chiefs, Damie McKenzie obviously stands out and when he plays,
they look a different outfit. But who else caught your
(03:17):
eye in a Chiefs jersey last night.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
Well he took the Damien McKenzie. I'm a but worried
about the kicking that's going on in Super Rugby this time.
It seems to be affecting them all. The kicking's not
good from anyone. But I still look at Quincy Pie
the guy. He was working around the rucks and mauls
at second five. He's reinvented himself since that bad injury
he's got. He's just aggressive and solid in that second five.
(03:40):
And probably you look down at and they go Jerome
Brown as in Anne McAllister from the Crusaders and Jerome
Brown II. If they are not the two best buyers
of the season, the Chiefs have picked up, I go
he They have really just slotted into this the side
and made the places their own.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
I think there was probably a bit of not concern,
maybe mild concern that Wallace Atzi wasn't going to be
there for you this season, given what a huge impact
he had last season. But you're right, mate, you know
you loose forwards, they've hardly skipped a beat now, they
even off the bench. When a guy like you know,
some of Penny Female comes off the bench and makes
a massive difference, the loose forward cohort would probably be
(04:18):
the envy I think of most of the other teams.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
Well, I think you're right. When when wallis a TEDI
opted out for the season with the injury, we thought,
who's going to replace this kid? Because he is he's
a freak, he's there's something absolutely special about him. And
suddenly upsteps Simon Parker, Luke Jacobson steps up. We've got
Jerome Brown coming, We've got Samma penny Fee now, and
the list just goes on. And these guys are really
(04:42):
playing well. And Xavier Row spoke to me yesterday morning.
He said it's just he said, it's lovely to have
the protection he's got from the forwards as a halfback,
and you don't hear that very often. So they have
stepped up. I think that's the bones of it. And
Tupu Vai he's been part captain this year. He's gone
another leg man is he's strong and playing good rugby.
He's becoming to Brady Rettalick. He's now starting to get
(05:03):
that maturity and he's just getting better and better.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
How do you I think these Chiefs guys are handling
it with Clayton McMillan clearly, you know, using players in
different roles. You talked about Summer Penny Female, Xavier ro
started Cortez Latimer probably has a very good case to
start rugby matches given the fact that he's an All
Black and Xavier Row is not. I look at Summersuni TALKIYO.
He's come back in, but he's starting off the bench.
(05:26):
How do you think these players are dealing with the
fact that Clayton McMillan doesn't mind mixing and matching his
starting fifteen with his reserves.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
Well, we talked to them. Clayton's got a plan, and
he's got a plan that involves the whole name squad
and they've got specific jobs and he's finding at the
moment Ratham are and eph Female and Tacky Ajo coming
off the bench or a bit like a small version
of the South African Bomb Squad, and they're coming in
and making a different type of play, which is enabling
enabling the Chiefs to do some different things, and we'll
(05:56):
see Rathama probably start next week. We'll see sammer Penny
get his start shortly. But they've got a really solid
player and Roger Randall, Clayton McMillan, David Hill, they've got
a super player for the year of how they want
to inject their players into games against different opposition. It's
quite cool.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
I was going to say that next week they he
might look at resting a couple of guys against Moina Pacifica,
but you probably can't do that now given the way
more Ina Pacifica played against the Hurricanes. Was that last
weekends and there is the buy to follow. So do
you get the feeling that Clayton will just just go
with the big guns again against Mona Pacifica on Friday night?
Speaker 3 (06:31):
I think so. I did the game pre season up
at Paula k Wina Pacifica and the Chiefs, and that
minor Pacific side is a hell of a good side,
lots of talent. I don't think Clayton will rest too many.
He might have some bay injury alone, but they're about
winning a competition and I think if you start playing
the resting game and stretching it back down too much.
It can come round and bite you in the backside
(06:52):
pretty quickly.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
All right. Just to finish mintee, the Chiefs have been
you know well, I think they were the best side
two years ago. I think they were close to the
best side. Last year they made the Grand Final both times,
beaten both times. Is this going to be third time lucky?
As a as a farewell gift to Clayton McMillan, I
have a.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
Few stance then on the ground to incriminate, but I'm
certainly hoping. So I am most certainly hoping, so Piney.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
And actually, just before you go, do you have a
prediction for the for the Carabeur Cup, the League Cup
final tomorrow morning between a side that I know you follow,
Newcastle United, and aside that I follow Liverpool. And again,
you don't have to answer if you think it's going
to incriminate, you.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
Turn two wonderful magpies. It's our year, we're having a cup.
Your fellows have got too much going on in your
place at the moment. We need to win and you
should bring England and say just let them win one,
just to make them feel better.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
I'm not sure I've got the power, Graham, but I'll
be watching as I know you have the power. A
great call again last night, Minty. Thanks thanks for chatting
to us mate. We'll catch up again soon.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
Yeah, you have a safe week Piney, and cheers.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
For the call for the best. Graham Me Minty to everybody,
our caller for Chiefs games and again on the mic
last night with Steve Gordon former All Black alongside. They
do a great job for us. Next up of the
Chiefs Majaana Pacifica on Friday night that starts round six.
More WAA Pacifica coming off the buye this weekend and
I'm sure still high on confidence after their win over
the Hurricanes last weekend.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk sed B weekends from midday or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine
from News Talks ed B Table Topping.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Chiefs have hung on for a thirty two to thirty
one win over the Blues in Hamilton, making it two
from two over the defending Super Rugby champions.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Curling it back, curling it back, it off.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
It was up the post and missus Oh, he did
everything right and hits the post and bounces back into
the field to play. You gotama has it.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
There's the whistle, there's the thing.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Radham is going to do one thing with us into
this stand that goes and it's going to be the
takes thirty two points, Blue thirty one points. What a
game of rugby here in Hamilton?
Speaker 2 (00:47):
What a game of rugby? And d That is the
voice of Graham Minty Mead, who calls Chiefs games for
us on Gold Sport and iHeartRadio. Were you willing that
last conversion hit the Postminty?
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Were you by that time? Piny? I had no idea
what was going to happen? Numb. It was one of
those games you just sat back in war and thought,
what's just gone on? It was nearly four minutes before
the first stoppage after the kickoff and it didn't stop.
Intense footy and wow, what a win for the Chiefs.
But how good were the Blues too?
Speaker 2 (01:18):
They were they were very good and it was like
on the table, it was top the bottom pretty much.
But it certainly didn't look like that and it was
never going to be when the Chiefs play the Blues.
I mean, they're defending champions. Do you think, you know,
having given up the overnight test and on the across
the eighty odd minutes, do you think the Chiefs deserve
to win?
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Well? I think that rugby was so intense. There are
lots of mistakes. There were lots of errors we got.
The Chiefs got a couple of lucky tries that McKenzie
won where the ball went behind him and both to
Ali and Jouanni ran past him and he grabbed the
ball and dipped around and scored. That was a fortunate try.
It wasn't anything too flash, but some of the crossfield
(01:59):
kicking to the wingers, there was some special rugby in
that fining and I just thought I've never come away
from a game so probably naked. Was Gordy was the
same David Fox? They said that was just an incredible
game of footy and whoever one I deserved it.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Do you think the Blues have what it takes to
get out of this sort of slump that they are in.
I mean they're defending champions after all, but you look
at the table played five, one, one, last four. Do
you think they're still a top six side?
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Well they should be, Let's just be honest. They lost
ton A Farsi and Caleb Clark just before kickoff last
night and the Chiefs like Anton Lennard Brown and I
think that made a bit of difference to their prep.
But man, they've got some talent out there, young Cam Christy,
this number six, the North Harbor Locke's playing on the flank.
I think he was dynamic last night for a twenty
year old. And they've got the gears that just needs
(02:48):
to click and I'm not sure what's causing it not
to click. But if we're going to get rugby like
that every week, I'm all for that.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Look yeah, I think Look they'll they'll be fine. I
really believe they'll be fine. And they've had a pretty
tough start of it the Chiefs twice for a start,
But as I say, Crusaders next week. But just on
the Chiefs, Damie McKenzie obviously stands out and when he plays,
they look a different outfit. But who else caught your
(03:17):
eye in a Chiefs jersey last night.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
Well he took the Damien McKenzie. I'm a but worried
about the kicking that's going on in Super Rugby this time.
It seems to be affecting them all. The kicking's not
good from anyone. But I still look at Quincy Pie
the guy. He was working around the rucks and mauls
at second five. He's reinvented himself since that bad injury
he's got. He's just aggressive and solid in that second five.
(03:40):
And probably you look down at and they go Jerome
Brown as in Anne McAllister from the Crusaders and Jerome
Brown II. If they are not the two best buyers
of the season, the Chiefs have picked up, I go
he They have really just slotted into this the side
and made the places their own.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
I think there was probably a bit of not concern,
maybe mild concern that Wallace Atzi wasn't going to be
there for you this season, given what a huge impact
he had last season. But you're right, mate, you know
you loose forwards, they've hardly skipped a beat now, they
even off the bench. When a guy like you know,
some of Penny Female comes off the bench and makes
a massive difference, the loose forward cohort would probably be
(04:18):
the envy I think of most of the other teams.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
Well, I think you're right. When when wallis a TEDI
opted out for the season with the injury, we thought,
who's going to replace this kid? Because he is he's
a freak, he's there's something absolutely special about him. And
suddenly upsteps Simon Parker, Luke Jacobson steps up. We've got
Jerome Brown coming, We've got Samma penny Fee now, and
the list just goes on. And these guys are really
(04:42):
playing well. And Xavier Row spoke to me yesterday morning.
He said it's just he said, it's lovely to have
the protection he's got from the forwards as a halfback,
and you don't hear that very often. So they have
stepped up. I think that's the bones of it. And
Tupu Vai he's been part captain this year. He's gone
another leg man is he's strong and playing good rugby.
He's becoming to Brady Rettalick. He's now starting to get
(05:03):
that maturity and he's just getting better and better.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
How do you I think these Chiefs guys are handling
it with Clayton McMillan clearly, you know, using players in
different roles. You talked about Summer Penny Female, Xavier ro
started Cortez Latimer probably has a very good case to
start rugby matches given the fact that he's an All
Black and Xavier Row is not. I look at Summersuni TALKIYO.
He's come back in, but he's starting off the bench.
(05:26):
How do you think these players are dealing with the
fact that Clayton McMillan doesn't mind mixing and matching his
starting fifteen with his reserves.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
Well, we talked to them. Clayton's got a plan, and
he's got a plan that involves the whole name squad
and they've got specific jobs and he's finding at the
moment Ratham are and eph Female and Tacky Ajo coming
off the bench or a bit like a small version
of the South African Bomb Squad, and they're coming in
and making a different type of play, which is enabling
enabling the Chiefs to do some different things, and we'll
(05:56):
see Rathama probably start next week. We'll see sammer Penny
get his start shortly. But they've got a really solid
player and Roger Randall, Clayton McMillan, David Hill, they've got
a super player for the year of how they want
to inject their players into games against different opposition. It's
quite cool.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
I was going to say that next week they he
might look at resting a couple of guys against Moina Pacifica,
but you probably can't do that now given the way
more Ina Pacifica played against the Hurricanes. Was that last
weekends and there is the buy to follow. So do
you get the feeling that Clayton will just just go
with the big guns again against Mona Pacifica on Friday night?
Speaker 3 (06:31):
I think so. I did the game pre season up
at Paula k Wina Pacifica and the Chiefs, and that
minor Pacific side is a hell of a good side,
lots of talent. I don't think Clayton will rest too many.
He might have some bay injury alone, but they're about
winning a competition and I think if you start playing
the resting game and stretching it back down too much.
It can come round and bite you in the backside
(06:52):
pretty quickly.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
All right. Just to finish mintee, the Chiefs have been
you know well, I think they were the best side
two years ago. I think they were close to the
best side. Last year they made the Grand Final both times,
beaten both times. Is this going to be third time lucky?
As a as a farewell gift to Clayton McMillan, I
have a.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
Few stance then on the ground to incriminate, but I'm
certainly hoping. So I am most certainly hoping, so Piney.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
And actually, just before you go, do you have a
prediction for the for the Carabeur Cup, the League Cup
final tomorrow morning between a side that I know you follow,
Newcastle United, and aside that I follow Liverpool. And again,
you don't have to answer if you think it's going
to incriminate, you.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
Turn two wonderful magpies. It's our year, we're having a cup.
Your fellows have got too much going on in your
place at the moment. We need to win and you
should bring England and say just let them win one,
just to make them feel better.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
I'm not sure I've got the power, Graham, but I'll
be watching as I know you have the power. A
great call again last night, Minty. Thanks thanks for chatting
to us mate. We'll catch up again soon.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
Yeah, you have a safe week Piney, and cheers.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
For the call for the best. Graham Me Minty to everybody,
our caller for Chiefs games and again on the mic
last night with Steve Gordon former All Black alongside. They
do a great job for us. Next up of the
Chiefs Majaana Pacifica on Friday night that starts round six.
More WAA Pacifica coming off the buye this weekend and
I'm sure still high on confidence after their win over
the Hurricanes last weekend.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk sed B weekends from midday or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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