June 6, 2025 • 11 mins
The Crusaders have recorded their 30th consecutive home playoff win, beating the Queensland Reds 32-12 to advance to next week's Super Rugby Pacific semi-finals.
The hosts led from the jump and out-classed the Reds five tries to two – Ethan Blackadder's 69th minute yellow card for a high tackle rendered meaningless.
Assistant Coach James Marshall joined Piney to unpack their victory.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk ZB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Only way the Hurricanes and the Brumbis can miss out
is if the Blues beat the Chiefs. All right, If
the Chiefs beat the Blues tonight, the Hurricanes and the
Brumbis will both play semi finals, regardless of the results
in their game later on, the winner would travel to
(00:34):
christ Church to play the Crusaders. The loser would head
to Hamilton to face the Blues face the Chiefs. As
far as the Blues are concerned, the Blues must win
tonight or they are out, and that has pretty much
been the case all along. So for Blues, it's last
chance saloon tonight. They simply must go to Hamilton and
beat the Chiefs if they are to continue in the
(00:56):
competition and continue with their title defense. That would not
though knock the Chiefs out. The Chiefs cannot be knocked
out tonight. They will host a semi final next weekend
regardless of what happens tonight, But the Crusaders have booked
a home Super Rugby Pacific semi final.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
Skip pass it.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
To set to Kyle Preston, who won't be stopped let's
tell me to it, folks. A bit of a shame
for the Reds, but the exclamation point for the Crusaders
here Carl Preston scoring the fifth and final try for
the Crusaders last night, and they're pretty comfortable. Thirty two
twelve win over the Reds in christ Church. Crusader's assistant
(01:38):
coach James Marshall is with us. Have you thought out yet?
Speaker 3 (01:43):
Yeah, it was a cold night. My kid's seat is
still to trosting. They left at halftime. It was too
much for them. But it was a very cold night.
Probably suited us a little bit more than it suited them.
And yeah, we got the result.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
It always felt comfortable. James will, from watching on anyway,
be interested to know how you were feeling. Was there
any point during the game at which you thought you
were going to lose the game?
Speaker 3 (02:08):
No, there wasn't. Actually it felt like we were in
full control. We were really dominant up front, which there's
always a good start in a game like that when
you know it's going to be quite heavy, set piece,
sort of orientated game. And I thought we kicked really
well as well, and once we got out to a lead,
they never really looked to threadn too much, so few
(02:29):
late tries, but by then we'd paid the bench and
rested the guys who were coming for the first game back,
got them off the field and got through it pretty unscathed,
which was good.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Yeah, we reached the seventeen minute mark and they were
still on nil, at which point you were twenty seven
nil ahead. They only scored when you went down to fourteen.
What was the the foundation for such a good defensive
performance last night.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
I feel like our defensive game has been growing every week.
Met Too has done a really good job there, and
I think it was probably the least amount of tackles
we've had to make this year. Usually we've been getting
through some huge numbers on d but I think just
the way we cacked and controlled the set piece definitely holped.
We weren't having to make too many tackles in our
(03:17):
own twenty two, which has been a bit of a
trend for us, especially the last month. So we're making
the tackles that the only area of the field, and
it's always a bit easier around halfway than when you
just step from your goal.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Indeed, the nine ten combo Noah Hootham rivers Ray Harner.
They've had three or four games starting in nine and
ten for you. Now, how do you think that partnership
is developing.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
Yeah, they're going really well. Stoked with how Rivers has
come back. Obviously got an opportunity with Tahars knee injury,
and Noah's just gone strength to strength. I thought it
was awesome last night. Kicked well. Such a strong carrier
and really good for us defensively. So I think he's
been a big part of that defensive shift. And I
(04:05):
know a lot of teams will try and target a
half back, but man, he's so strong and so good
at the contact that he sits him back pretty quickly.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
How much better is your team with Will Jordan in it?
Speaker 3 (04:20):
Yeah? Much better. He's I think we've seen that influence
this year. We obviously missed him last year. That not
just what he does on the field, but throughout the week.
He's such a smart rugby brain and a lot of
the calling has sort of done through him just because
he understands the game so well. So he's very influential
(04:41):
for us. Wasn't really the game that suited him last night.
He's obviously hard and fast. Deck really suits him. But
then I thought it was awesome for us under the
high ball, some big efforts when we needed him, and
just really organized that backfield really well for us. So
awesome ta nim back at this time of year and
(05:01):
hoping for a couple more big ones from him, and.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
As your team also just a bit better with David
Havily there too.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
Yeah, Davey's such an influential character for us, just his leadership.
The boys love them, they respect him. They voted him
Man of the Match last night, like they just they
just love playing with him. He's the way he speaks
and leads us groups was pretty special. And yeah, he's
got such a good skill set too. We saw some
(05:32):
of the kicks he put in last night and some
of his intent and his carries and cleans. Yeah, the
boys love and we love having him out there.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
To Mighty Williams. He injured his knee early on, battled
on score to try, but then came off. Any update
this morning, James.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
No, I haven't had an update, but I'm hoping for
the best. Just the way he was able to keep
playing through it sometimes it's a good sign. So fingers
crossed with him. He's an influential player for us as well.
He was dominant scrumt on last night, and fingers crossed
we get him back next week. We'll have to wait
(06:09):
and see for that one.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
Oh, you're speaking of front rollers. The only bloke who's
played all fifteen games for you is George Bauer. Five
of them, starts ten off the bench. He feels that,
I don't know a little bit unsung. I guess how
much has he appreciated internally George Bauer.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
Oh, massively. He's put in some big shifts for us too,
a couple of eighty minute games, which is never an
easy ask for a front row of these days. But yeah,
and he also not just what he does on the field.
He's a real energy man for our group, brings in
all the vibes and lots of good jokes and gets
a team song humming. And he's one of those guys
(06:47):
which everyone loves seven on the team.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
How much was the disappointment of last year used as
motivation for this year?
Speaker 3 (06:59):
I don't know if it was really used as motivation.
We just knew that we had to be better. We
knew that we were a better side than what we've
out there last year. Everyone was really disappointed, but it
was more solution based than what we needed to do
to go better this year. And like, obviously, like the
winning can be contagious. I think there's probably been four
(07:23):
or five games that we would have lost this time
last year, a couple of close ones, and a lot
of the games won or lost in such small margins.
And when when winning becomes a habit, it just sort
of rolls on and you start winning those games that
you don't when you're when you're in a losing rat
So it's nice to be on the winning side this year.
(07:47):
Was obviously tough times last year, but we've got two
more to go to make it count.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Really, And you've won thirty straight finals matches in Christ
Jes That was number thirty on the trot last night
finals matches at home? How will where are you of that?
And how proud are you of that?
Speaker 3 (08:05):
Yeah? I was aware of that until I saw the
twenty nine before last night on the person either. But
that's an that's an impressive stat, Like I didn't realize.
I knew it would have been high, just the amount
of trophies, so one down here, but yeah, that's a
pretty incredible stat And long that continue.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Long that continue indeed, you must be looking forward to
the completion of the new stadium. It'll be about warmer
for starters.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
I was thinking that last night, when obviously it was
a relatively disappointing crowd. But you can't you can't really
complain too much when they've got to sit in that
stadium and a freezing cold rain pouring, and it just
doesn't make it an attractive proposition to take your kids along,
or especially when you can sit at home and the
(08:54):
warm and watch it on TV. But there'll be no
excuses next year. And driving past the stadium on the
way to the stadium last night, it just made me think, Man,
I cannot wait for that thing to be open. And
from a tack co point of view as well, I'd
love to be able to play a bit more rugby
and some of these crunch games, and I suited us
last night, but it probably wasn't the most enjoyable spectacle
(09:17):
for many fans. But next year, hopefully we can play
a bit more expensive rugby.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Looking forward to that. So I guess you cheer the
Blues against the Chiefs tonight, don't you, because that would
mean that you would take over top ranking spot on
the Semis. You're already hosting one next week, but it
would mean that if you won that you would also
host the finals. So you're all in on the Blues tonight.
That must be a bit tough.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Yeah, to be fair, I was just going to I'm
looking forward to sitting down and just watching both of
these games. I think they're going to be two crackers
and just seeing seeing them all better at that hopefully
they both got a extra time and golden point and
then to the kickoff and yeah, then see who we've
got next week. But yeah, the Hurricanes Rumby's game is
(10:05):
going to be a cracker. Look for to seeing how
they go over there, and yeah, see see who we
end up with next week.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Yeah, well, congrats on sealing your place in the in
the Semis. Can I just say before you go your
podcast as a cracker man, what a lad? It is
just a beauty. I don't know how you find time
to prep them because I know how much this, how
much these sorts of things take, and amongst all of
your other family responsibilities, coaching responsibilities. It's a beauty man.
Speaker 3 (10:34):
Oh, I appreciate it. Yeah, it is a bit of
a jug at this time of year. I try and
bank as many episodes as I can before the season
and just let them roll out as we get through it.
But I didn't have minister to record maybe three or
four throughout the season, and I enjoy doing them and
I always appreciate when I get feedback on them and
(10:55):
how much other people have enjoyed them, or how much
it's help them or their son who's trying to be
a professional rag blower, whatever they're trying to do. So
something I want to keep trying to do. And good mate,
probably one of your good mates, Scott waldram On coming
out tomorrow morning, so I'm looking forward to releasing it.
When he was a good yarn.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Yeah, he's a here, a very good man, and you're
a good Willington boy. Good Everlon boy. They're struggling a
bit in club rugby at the moment up here in Wellington,
so I hope you haven't sort of delved too deeply
into the everl on side of things. But I always
enjoyed listen and always enjoyed chatting rugby with you, James.
Thanks for taking the time, mate.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
Hey cheers mate, Always good to.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
Chat, Thanks James. James Marshall, Assistant coach of the Crusaders.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk ZB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Only way the Hurricanes and the Brumbis can miss out
is if the Blues beat the Chiefs. All right, If
the Chiefs beat the Blues tonight, the Hurricanes and the
Brumbis will both play semi finals, regardless of the results
in their game later on, the winner would travel to
(00:34):
christ Church to play the Crusaders. The loser would head
to Hamilton to face the Blues face the Chiefs. As
far as the Blues are concerned, the Blues must win
tonight or they are out, and that has pretty much
been the case all along. So for Blues, it's last
chance saloon tonight. They simply must go to Hamilton and
beat the Chiefs if they are to continue in the
(00:56):
competition and continue with their title defense. That would not
though knock the Chiefs out. The Chiefs cannot be knocked
out tonight. They will host a semi final next weekend
regardless of what happens tonight, But the Crusaders have booked
a home Super Rugby Pacific semi final.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
Skip pass it.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
To set to Kyle Preston, who won't be stopped let's
tell me to it, folks. A bit of a shame
for the Reds, but the exclamation point for the Crusaders
here Carl Preston scoring the fifth and final try for
the Crusaders last night, and they're pretty comfortable. Thirty two
twelve win over the Reds in christ Church. Crusader's assistant
(01:38):
coach James Marshall is with us. Have you thought out yet?
Speaker 3 (01:43):
Yeah, it was a cold night. My kid's seat is
still to trosting. They left at halftime. It was too
much for them. But it was a very cold night.
Probably suited us a little bit more than it suited them.
And yeah, we got the result.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
It always felt comfortable. James will, from watching on anyway,
be interested to know how you were feeling. Was there
any point during the game at which you thought you
were going to lose the game?
Speaker 3 (02:08):
No, there wasn't. Actually it felt like we were in
full control. We were really dominant up front, which there's
always a good start in a game like that when
you know it's going to be quite heavy, set piece,
sort of orientated game. And I thought we kicked really
well as well, and once we got out to a lead,
they never really looked to threadn too much, so few
(02:29):
late tries, but by then we'd paid the bench and
rested the guys who were coming for the first game back,
got them off the field and got through it pretty unscathed,
which was good.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Yeah, we reached the seventeen minute mark and they were
still on nil, at which point you were twenty seven
nil ahead. They only scored when you went down to fourteen.
What was the the foundation for such a good defensive
performance last night.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
I feel like our defensive game has been growing every week.
Met Too has done a really good job there, and
I think it was probably the least amount of tackles
we've had to make this year. Usually we've been getting
through some huge numbers on d but I think just
the way we cacked and controlled the set piece definitely holped.
We weren't having to make too many tackles in our
(03:17):
own twenty two, which has been a bit of a
trend for us, especially the last month. So we're making
the tackles that the only area of the field, and
it's always a bit easier around halfway than when you
just step from your goal.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Indeed, the nine ten combo Noah Hootham rivers Ray Harner.
They've had three or four games starting in nine and
ten for you. Now, how do you think that partnership
is developing.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
Yeah, they're going really well. Stoked with how Rivers has
come back. Obviously got an opportunity with Tahars knee injury,
and Noah's just gone strength to strength. I thought it
was awesome last night. Kicked well. Such a strong carrier
and really good for us defensively. So I think he's
been a big part of that defensive shift. And I
(04:05):
know a lot of teams will try and target a
half back, but man, he's so strong and so good
at the contact that he sits him back pretty quickly.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
How much better is your team with Will Jordan in it?
Speaker 3 (04:20):
Yeah? Much better. He's I think we've seen that influence
this year. We obviously missed him last year. That not
just what he does on the field, but throughout the week.
He's such a smart rugby brain and a lot of
the calling has sort of done through him just because
he understands the game so well. So he's very influential
(04:41):
for us. Wasn't really the game that suited him last night.
He's obviously hard and fast. Deck really suits him. But
then I thought it was awesome for us under the
high ball, some big efforts when we needed him, and
just really organized that backfield really well for us. So
awesome ta nim back at this time of year and
(05:01):
hoping for a couple more big ones from him, and.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
As your team also just a bit better with David
Havily there too.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
Yeah, Davey's such an influential character for us, just his leadership.
The boys love them, they respect him. They voted him
Man of the Match last night, like they just they
just love playing with him. He's the way he speaks
and leads us groups was pretty special. And yeah, he's
got such a good skill set too. We saw some
(05:32):
of the kicks he put in last night and some
of his intent and his carries and cleans. Yeah, the
boys love and we love having him out there.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
To Mighty Williams. He injured his knee early on, battled
on score to try, but then came off. Any update
this morning, James.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
No, I haven't had an update, but I'm hoping for
the best. Just the way he was able to keep
playing through it sometimes it's a good sign. So fingers
crossed with him. He's an influential player for us as well.
He was dominant scrumt on last night, and fingers crossed
we get him back next week. We'll have to wait
(06:09):
and see for that one.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
Oh, you're speaking of front rollers. The only bloke who's
played all fifteen games for you is George Bauer. Five
of them, starts ten off the bench. He feels that,
I don't know a little bit unsung. I guess how
much has he appreciated internally George Bauer.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
Oh, massively. He's put in some big shifts for us too,
a couple of eighty minute games, which is never an
easy ask for a front row of these days. But yeah,
and he also not just what he does on the field.
He's a real energy man for our group, brings in
all the vibes and lots of good jokes and gets
a team song humming. And he's one of those guys
(06:47):
which everyone loves seven on the team.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
How much was the disappointment of last year used as
motivation for this year?
Speaker 3 (06:59):
I don't know if it was really used as motivation.
We just knew that we had to be better. We
knew that we were a better side than what we've
out there last year. Everyone was really disappointed, but it
was more solution based than what we needed to do
to go better this year. And like, obviously, like the
winning can be contagious. I think there's probably been four
(07:23):
or five games that we would have lost this time
last year, a couple of close ones, and a lot
of the games won or lost in such small margins.
And when when winning becomes a habit, it just sort
of rolls on and you start winning those games that
you don't when you're when you're in a losing rat
So it's nice to be on the winning side this year.
(07:47):
Was obviously tough times last year, but we've got two
more to go to make it count.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Really, And you've won thirty straight finals matches in Christ
Jes That was number thirty on the trot last night
finals matches at home? How will where are you of that?
And how proud are you of that?
Speaker 3 (08:05):
Yeah? I was aware of that until I saw the
twenty nine before last night on the person either. But
that's an that's an impressive stat, Like I didn't realize.
I knew it would have been high, just the amount
of trophies, so one down here, but yeah, that's a
pretty incredible stat And long that continue.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Long that continue indeed, you must be looking forward to
the completion of the new stadium. It'll be about warmer
for starters.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
I was thinking that last night, when obviously it was
a relatively disappointing crowd. But you can't you can't really
complain too much when they've got to sit in that
stadium and a freezing cold rain pouring, and it just
doesn't make it an attractive proposition to take your kids along,
or especially when you can sit at home and the
(08:54):
warm and watch it on TV. But there'll be no
excuses next year. And driving past the stadium on the
way to the stadium last night, it just made me think, Man,
I cannot wait for that thing to be open. And
from a tack co point of view as well, I'd
love to be able to play a bit more rugby
and some of these crunch games, and I suited us
last night, but it probably wasn't the most enjoyable spectacle
(09:17):
for many fans. But next year, hopefully we can play
a bit more expensive rugby.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Looking forward to that. So I guess you cheer the
Blues against the Chiefs tonight, don't you, because that would
mean that you would take over top ranking spot on
the Semis. You're already hosting one next week, but it
would mean that if you won that you would also
host the finals. So you're all in on the Blues tonight.
That must be a bit tough.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Yeah, to be fair, I was just going to I'm
looking forward to sitting down and just watching both of
these games. I think they're going to be two crackers
and just seeing seeing them all better at that hopefully
they both got a extra time and golden point and
then to the kickoff and yeah, then see who we've
got next week. But yeah, the Hurricanes Rumby's game is
(10:05):
going to be a cracker. Look for to seeing how
they go over there, and yeah, see see who we
end up with next week.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Yeah, well, congrats on sealing your place in the in
the Semis. Can I just say before you go your
podcast as a cracker man, what a lad? It is
just a beauty. I don't know how you find time
to prep them because I know how much this, how
much these sorts of things take, and amongst all of
your other family responsibilities, coaching responsibilities. It's a beauty man.
Speaker 3 (10:34):
Oh, I appreciate it. Yeah, it is a bit of
a jug at this time of year. I try and
bank as many episodes as I can before the season
and just let them roll out as we get through it.
But I didn't have minister to record maybe three or
four throughout the season, and I enjoy doing them and
I always appreciate when I get feedback on them and
(10:55):
how much other people have enjoyed them, or how much
it's help them or their son who's trying to be
a professional rag blower, whatever they're trying to do. So
something I want to keep trying to do. And good mate,
probably one of your good mates, Scott waldram On coming
out tomorrow morning, so I'm looking forward to releasing it.
When he was a good yarn.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Yeah, he's a here, a very good man, and you're
a good Willington boy. Good Everlon boy. They're struggling a
bit in club rugby at the moment up here in Wellington,
so I hope you haven't sort of delved too deeply
into the everl on side of things. But I always
enjoyed listen and always enjoyed chatting rugby with you, James.
Thanks for taking the time, mate.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
Hey cheers mate, Always good to.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
Chat, Thanks James. James Marshall, Assistant coach of the Crusaders.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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