The Chiefs are relishing in their victory against the Highlanders in last nights clash, ticking up vital points as the Super Rugby season slowly draws to a close.
Their 42-12 win came at the expense of injured fullback Damian Mackenzie, who was knocked out in the second half after copping a boot to the chin, while the Highlanders lost Caleb Tangitau to a non-contact knee injury at the end of the match.
The result shifts them back near the top of the ladder, putting them on track to host the playoffs as the end of the season draws near.
The Chiefs have made it to the grand final three times in the past, but have yet to claim the title, and first five Josh Jacomb told Piney if they’re lucky enough to reach the final then they’ll have to address it, but also understand that it’s in the past.
“All we can focus on is what’s in front of us.”
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Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from newstalk z EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Chiefs have gone back to the top of the Super
Rugby table after a crushing forty to twelve home win
over the Highlanders in Hamilton. There's seventh victory on the bounce.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Now there's the turnover the Chiefs that turned it over,
Jacob Jacob give it Tomorroy for lo our, Tomoy Filou,
Tomorroy Flour inside ball at the back of her hand.
Carl Brown scores fourteen points to twelve. Out the back
door goes Tomy Flour and Carl Brown says I'll have
that full time here in Hamilton. Forty two to twelve.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Yeh, Minty Graham, Minty Mead and Steve Gordon McCall. Last
night on Newstalk ZEDB Sport Chiefs first five. Josh Jacob
is with us the day after. Thanks for giving up
some of your time, Josh. Pretty convincing performance from the Chiefs.
What do you reckon the coaching stuff in the playing
group will be most pleased about with with what happened
last night in Hamilton.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
Yeah, I think the school board potentially doesn't reflect the
feeling of the game. To be quite honest, I think
the Highlanders came out firing and both both half to
start to start both half. Sorry, I think we adjusted
well in moments, but there were some key messages, especially
(01:27):
on field around where we could have been a bit
better last night, in particular around our discipline that probably
allowed the Highlanders to get a bit of a flow on.
So I'm sure there'll be a boot talking point once
we connect again leading into this weekend against the Crusaders.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
You got to start at first five, looked really comfortable
steering things around. How are you feeling about your own
form when you get these opportunities in the ten Jersey.
Speaker 4 (01:59):
Yeah, I'm firstly always grateful to be out there, especially
in the Ten Jersey, and I think just when those
opportunities come, just to be really calm and have a
bit of poise about my presence in particular my voice.
In terms of how I'm feeling, feeling really comfortable, I
(02:22):
think the biggest thing for me is just getting a
few more instances maybe with hands on ball and just
so I can feel like I can get a bit
of a flow on sometimes. Obviously, the how the game is,
how the game is going those opportunities might be a
(02:44):
bit slim, but more so just focusing on a saar
slim or there's this opportunities, making sure that when I
do have hands on ball, I'm being really accurate with
what I'm trying to do.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
So, yeah, is that decision making that you're talking about
there and that accuracy is that? Is that an evolution
of you as a play right? You know? As I say,
from from us looking in, you look really assured all
the time. But do you feel that's an evolution that
your decision making is improving week one week the more
often you get the opportunity to play in that in
that jersey?
Speaker 4 (03:20):
Yeah, I think so. I think that's a good way
to put it. Sometimes less is more, And like I
said just before, if it is less less opportunities or
less hint, less instances with the ball and hand, it's
being really accurate. So yeah, I don't want to make
(03:44):
I don't want to be out there searching, but searching
and trying to make things happen off the cuffs. So
just being patient, knowing where I can influence the game,
and yeah, when those opportunities come, just making sure I'm
really accurate with what I'm.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Doing some some quite worrying scenes when Damien was was
down and was knocked out cold for a bit. Was
he okay afterwards? Did you see him afterwards? How did
he seem?
Speaker 4 (04:14):
Yeah, no, it was it wasn't nice at all. When
I was running back on and seeing the position he
was in, it was You never want to see anyone
in a position like that, especially a teammate and someone
new care for, in someone new respects. So I did
(04:34):
get to see him after the game on the field.
It was good to see him on his own two feed.
And yeah, there was a period of time in our
conversation that when we were talking about the game he
couldn't quite remember, which is almost expected with the circumstance
he found himself in. But overall, I think initial signs
(04:59):
is that it was good to see him on his
own feed. It was good to see him out on
the field, and good to see him in a reasonable
space of mind. So really happy, happy to see that personally,
and for the rest of our team as well. I
know he's a massive part of our squads, so I
(05:23):
know everyone was happy to see him being able to
one walk off the field on his own and to
be out there amongst us once the final whistle went, good.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
To hear, good to hear equally grim scenes with Caleb
Tunguetae leaving the field injured. I'm not sure if you've
seen the footage of this, but he looks absolutely distraught.
How hard is it to see a fellow player go
through that. I mean, it's not your team mate. Next
year he will be, But how tough is to see
any player go down like that and be so distraught
(05:55):
as they have to leave the field.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
Yeah, No, I feel for Caleb. He I think everyone
in New Zealand knows how well he was playing, but
I think when you push rugby to the side, and
I know him, I guess well enough as a player
and as a person. Got to play together on that
(06:19):
All Black fifteen tour at the end of last year,
and just feel for him, gutted for him really, and
I knew it was pretty serious when he was running
in front of me and he dropped before anyone had
touched him and the ball rolled into my hands. So yeah,
I just sent him a message late last night just
(06:42):
to let him know I was thinking of him, and
I was gutted for him, and order for the next
steps of his recovery. As I just wished him, I
do wish him all the best, and I've got no
doubt that when that time comes that he's back on
the field, he'll pick up right where he left off.
So it just condolences to him as partner, his family
(07:05):
and the Highlanders, so I know he's a missed part
of this squad as well.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Yeah, very well said mate. As I mentioned before, you're
heading to the Highlanders next season. Of course that'll be
your team next year. Was that an interesting dynamic last
night or were you able just to put that to
one side and say, look, I'm the chief now and
I've got a job to do here.
Speaker 4 (07:23):
Yeah, that's exactly it, mate. Obviously it's common knowledge that
it's where I'll be hitting next year. But right from
that decision was made, I made it very clear to
John O and the rest of the coaches that I'm fully,
(07:44):
fully locked in with the Chiefs. Obviously I'm here, but
more and more so mentally, Yeah, I'm like I said,
I'm fully locked in and I'm ready to do whatever
the team needs each week, if it's fill in a
role in the starting jersey or off the bench or
(08:09):
preparing the boys throughout the week. If I'm not playing
whatever role I'm handed with each week, I'm just making
sure that the Chiefs get the best out of me.
And yeah, I guess making sure. I'm just doing what
I can do to show that unful we're committed to
this CUB for the remainder of the season, which could.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Go quite deep. I mean, you're looking good again the Chiefs.
It seems likely that you'll go deep into the finals again,
another Grand Final. Maybe. It seems like I ask every
Chiefs player who I talk to the question about about
whether there's this monkey on the back to you know,
you've had three Grand Finals that winning one? You know,
it does. It doesn't sit there. And the second part
of the question is how do you make sure that
(08:50):
you win one of these things?
Speaker 4 (08:54):
Yeah, you're not wrong, Pioneer. It's definitely. It's definitely something there,
like it's important to address the elephant in the room.
If we get to that. If we get to that stage,
obviously there's two more games for us and a round
robin and then and it's business time, so we've got
(09:16):
to get there first, one week at a time. But
I think if we are lucky and fortunate, fortunate, fortunate
enough so to reach that Grand Final. Then I think, yeah,
it's important to probably address it, but also understand that
(09:36):
it's in the past and all we can focus on
is what's in front of us and making sure we're
keeping our feet on the ground and taking the rest
of the hopefully what is the next five weeks week
by week and if we get there. When we get there,
we can put it out of performance and get a
result not only us as players and coaches can be
(10:00):
proud of, but our whole franchise, our whole club and
our supporters as well.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Good Man, Josh, well, congratulations on the latest step good
win last night against the Highland is all the best
as you recover and look forward to next week. Made
always appreciate you taking the call and having a chat
to me.
Speaker 4 (10:17):
Yeah, no, cheers mate. Always enjoy jumping on and join
the sit with your mates. So cheers for the call
and have a good one.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
You have a good one too, Josh. Thanks indeed, Josh,
Jacob there out of the Chiefs, so mission accomplished for
them last night forty two points to fourteen the bonus
point wins, so they go to forty five points, the
same number of points as the Hurricanes have. The Chiefs, though,
are top, And I get this question a lot and
look needs to be posted somewhere. People say, why are
(10:45):
the Chiefs top and the Hurricanes are sick? And they've
got the same number of points, and the Hurricanes have
a better points differential, so surely the Hurricanes should be
ahead of the Chiefs. And it's not just the Hurricanes
and the Chiefs, whichever two sites. The first separator for
teams who are echron points is the number of wins.
So the Chiefs have had ten wins. Hurricanes have had
(11:07):
nine wins, albeit from one fewer game. That is why
the Chiefs at the top of the tape. So if
the Hurricanes were to win or even get a point
later on today against the Blues, they would go to
forty six and they would be top. But that is
the reason why when teams are level at the top
or level anywhere on the table, that the team with
the most wins is listed above the other team. All right,
(11:28):
that's how it works. Anyway, Chiefs back to the top,
forty five points, seven straight wins. The Hurricanes up against
the Blues. That game is at Eden Park, tonight five
past seven. You can hear a full commentary on news Talks.
He'd be sports of that one. That is the middle
game today the Fiji and Drewer up against the Warratars.
That game is in Suva just after four point thirty.
(11:51):
And then later on tonight after the Canes and the
Blues out Western Perth, it's the Force against the Reds.
This is round fourteen of sixteen in the Super Rugby
Pacific season. No game for the Crusaders or Muwana PACIFICA
across this weekend of course, also the Red so those
three teams have the buye next week. If we just
(12:12):
want to quickly look ahead Friday night, Crusaders, Chiefs under
the roof, that'll be a Cracker, Warre Tars, Brumbies. And
then Saturday more on a PACIFICA, Reds, Hurricanes, Thilander, Force
against the Drawer.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk said B weekends from midday or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from newstalk z EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Chiefs have gone back to the top of the Super
Rugby table after a crushing forty to twelve home win
over the Highlanders in Hamilton. There's seventh victory on the bounce.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Now there's the turnover the Chiefs that turned it over,
Jacob Jacob give it Tomorroy for lo our, Tomoy Filou,
Tomorroy Flour inside ball at the back of her hand.
Carl Brown scores fourteen points to twelve. Out the back
door goes Tomy Flour and Carl Brown says I'll have
that full time here in Hamilton. Forty two to twelve.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Yeh, Minty Graham, Minty Mead and Steve Gordon McCall. Last
night on Newstalk ZEDB Sport Chiefs first five. Josh Jacob
is with us the day after. Thanks for giving up
some of your time, Josh. Pretty convincing performance from the Chiefs.
What do you reckon the coaching stuff in the playing
group will be most pleased about with with what happened
last night in Hamilton.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
Yeah, I think the school board potentially doesn't reflect the
feeling of the game. To be quite honest, I think
the Highlanders came out firing and both both half to
start to start both half. Sorry, I think we adjusted
well in moments, but there were some key messages, especially
(01:27):
on field around where we could have been a bit
better last night, in particular around our discipline that probably
allowed the Highlanders to get a bit of a flow on.
So I'm sure there'll be a boot talking point once
we connect again leading into this weekend against the Crusaders.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
You got to start at first five, looked really comfortable
steering things around. How are you feeling about your own
form when you get these opportunities in the ten Jersey.
Speaker 4 (01:59):
Yeah, I'm firstly always grateful to be out there, especially
in the Ten Jersey, and I think just when those
opportunities come, just to be really calm and have a
bit of poise about my presence in particular my voice.
In terms of how I'm feeling, feeling really comfortable, I
(02:22):
think the biggest thing for me is just getting a
few more instances maybe with hands on ball and just
so I can feel like I can get a bit
of a flow on sometimes. Obviously, the how the game is,
how the game is going those opportunities might be a
(02:44):
bit slim, but more so just focusing on a saar
slim or there's this opportunities, making sure that when I
do have hands on ball, I'm being really accurate with
what I'm trying to do.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
So, yeah, is that decision making that you're talking about
there and that accuracy is that? Is that an evolution
of you as a play right? You know? As I say,
from from us looking in, you look really assured all
the time. But do you feel that's an evolution that
your decision making is improving week one week the more
often you get the opportunity to play in that in
that jersey?
Speaker 4 (03:20):
Yeah, I think so. I think that's a good way
to put it. Sometimes less is more, And like I
said just before, if it is less less opportunities or
less hint, less instances with the ball and hand, it's
being really accurate. So yeah, I don't want to make
(03:44):
I don't want to be out there searching, but searching
and trying to make things happen off the cuffs. So
just being patient, knowing where I can influence the game,
and yeah, when those opportunities come, just making sure I'm
really accurate with what I'm.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Doing some some quite worrying scenes when Damien was was
down and was knocked out cold for a bit. Was
he okay afterwards? Did you see him afterwards? How did
he seem?
Speaker 4 (04:14):
Yeah, no, it was it wasn't nice at all. When
I was running back on and seeing the position he
was in, it was You never want to see anyone
in a position like that, especially a teammate and someone
new care for, in someone new respects. So I did
(04:34):
get to see him after the game on the field.
It was good to see him on his own two feed.
And yeah, there was a period of time in our
conversation that when we were talking about the game he
couldn't quite remember, which is almost expected with the circumstance
he found himself in. But overall, I think initial signs
(04:59):
is that it was good to see him on his
own feed. It was good to see him out on
the field, and good to see him in a reasonable
space of mind. So really happy, happy to see that personally,
and for the rest of our team as well. I
know he's a massive part of our squads, so I
(05:23):
know everyone was happy to see him being able to
one walk off the field on his own and to
be out there amongst us once the final whistle went, good.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
To hear, good to hear equally grim scenes with Caleb
Tunguetae leaving the field injured. I'm not sure if you've
seen the footage of this, but he looks absolutely distraught.
How hard is it to see a fellow player go
through that. I mean, it's not your team mate. Next
year he will be, But how tough is to see
any player go down like that and be so distraught
(05:55):
as they have to leave the field.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
Yeah, No, I feel for Caleb. He I think everyone
in New Zealand knows how well he was playing, but
I think when you push rugby to the side, and
I know him, I guess well enough as a player
and as a person. Got to play together on that
(06:19):
All Black fifteen tour at the end of last year,
and just feel for him, gutted for him really, and
I knew it was pretty serious when he was running
in front of me and he dropped before anyone had
touched him and the ball rolled into my hands. So yeah,
I just sent him a message late last night just
(06:42):
to let him know I was thinking of him, and
I was gutted for him, and order for the next
steps of his recovery. As I just wished him, I
do wish him all the best, and I've got no
doubt that when that time comes that he's back on
the field, he'll pick up right where he left off.
So it just condolences to him as partner, his family
(07:05):
and the Highlanders, so I know he's a missed part
of this squad as well.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Yeah, very well said mate. As I mentioned before, you're
heading to the Highlanders next season. Of course that'll be
your team next year. Was that an interesting dynamic last
night or were you able just to put that to
one side and say, look, I'm the chief now and
I've got a job to do here.
Speaker 4 (07:23):
Yeah, that's exactly it, mate. Obviously it's common knowledge that
it's where I'll be hitting next year. But right from
that decision was made, I made it very clear to
John O and the rest of the coaches that I'm fully,
(07:44):
fully locked in with the Chiefs. Obviously I'm here, but
more and more so mentally, Yeah, I'm like I said,
I'm fully locked in and I'm ready to do whatever
the team needs each week, if it's fill in a
role in the starting jersey or off the bench or
(08:09):
preparing the boys throughout the week. If I'm not playing
whatever role I'm handed with each week, I'm just making
sure that the Chiefs get the best out of me.
And yeah, I guess making sure. I'm just doing what
I can do to show that unful we're committed to
this CUB for the remainder of the season, which could.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Go quite deep. I mean, you're looking good again the Chiefs.
It seems likely that you'll go deep into the finals again,
another Grand Final. Maybe. It seems like I ask every
Chiefs player who I talk to the question about about
whether there's this monkey on the back to you know,
you've had three Grand Finals that winning one? You know,
it does. It doesn't sit there. And the second part
of the question is how do you make sure that
(08:50):
you win one of these things?
Speaker 4 (08:54):
Yeah, you're not wrong, Pioneer. It's definitely. It's definitely something there,
like it's important to address the elephant in the room.
If we get to that. If we get to that stage,
obviously there's two more games for us and a round
robin and then and it's business time, so we've got
(09:16):
to get there first, one week at a time. But
I think if we are lucky and fortunate, fortunate, fortunate
enough so to reach that Grand Final. Then I think, yeah,
it's important to probably address it, but also understand that
(09:36):
it's in the past and all we can focus on
is what's in front of us and making sure we're
keeping our feet on the ground and taking the rest
of the hopefully what is the next five weeks week
by week and if we get there. When we get there,
we can put it out of performance and get a
result not only us as players and coaches can be
(10:00):
proud of, but our whole franchise, our whole club and
our supporters as well.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Good Man, Josh, well, congratulations on the latest step good
win last night against the Highland is all the best
as you recover and look forward to next week. Made
always appreciate you taking the call and having a chat
to me.
Speaker 4 (10:17):
Yeah, no, cheers mate. Always enjoy jumping on and join
the sit with your mates. So cheers for the call
and have a good one.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
You have a good one too, Josh. Thanks indeed, Josh,
Jacob there out of the Chiefs, so mission accomplished for
them last night forty two points to fourteen the bonus
point wins, so they go to forty five points, the
same number of points as the Hurricanes have. The Chiefs, though,
are top, And I get this question a lot and
look needs to be posted somewhere. People say, why are
(10:45):
the Chiefs top and the Hurricanes are sick? And they've
got the same number of points, and the Hurricanes have
a better points differential, so surely the Hurricanes should be
ahead of the Chiefs. And it's not just the Hurricanes
and the Chiefs, whichever two sites. The first separator for
teams who are echron points is the number of wins.
So the Chiefs have had ten wins. Hurricanes have had
(11:07):
nine wins, albeit from one fewer game. That is why
the Chiefs at the top of the tape. So if
the Hurricanes were to win or even get a point
later on today against the Blues, they would go to
forty six and they would be top. But that is
the reason why when teams are level at the top
or level anywhere on the table, that the team with
the most wins is listed above the other team. All right,
(11:28):
that's how it works. Anyway, Chiefs back to the top,
forty five points, seven straight wins. The Hurricanes up against
the Blues. That game is at Eden Park, tonight five
past seven. You can hear a full commentary on news Talks.
He'd be sports of that one. That is the middle
game today the Fiji and Drewer up against the Warratars.
That game is in Suva just after four point thirty.
(11:51):
And then later on tonight after the Canes and the
Blues out Western Perth, it's the Force against the Reds.
This is round fourteen of sixteen in the Super Rugby
Pacific season. No game for the Crusaders or Muwana PACIFICA
across this weekend of course, also the Red so those
three teams have the buye next week. If we just
(12:12):
want to quickly look ahead Friday night, Crusaders, Chiefs under
the roof, that'll be a Cracker, Warre Tars, Brumbies. And
then Saturday more on a PACIFICA, Reds, Hurricanes, Thilander, Force
against the Drawer.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk said B weekends from midday or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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