Kurt Eklund: Blues hooker recaps their Super Rugby win over the Western Force

The Blues have moved into Super Rugby's Top 6 with a bonus point 40-19 takedown of the Western Force at Eden Park. 

The defending champions led 12-7 at halftime before scoring four tries in the second stanza to extend their advantage. 

Coach Vern Cotter says his side are starting to believe they can overcome a sluggish start to their title defence. 

Piney caught up with Blues hooker Kurt Eklund after their hard-fought win. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalks. D B.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
Blues are back in Super Rugby playoff contention and the
Blues get the bonus point and they're in the top
six playoff spots for maybe only twenty four hours. They
went at forty nineteen over the Force last night at
Edon Park. Blues hooker Kurt Eckland as with us Kirk,
Thanks for your time. How are the overall levels of
satisfaction after that win last night?

Speaker 3 (00:36):
Yeah, mate, mus been saying we've been working towards for
a while, and I think satisfaction, a bit of release
and you know, I think, you know, a little bit
of confidence to get out of that one as well.

Speaker 2 (00:45):
How needed was this win given the season that you've had.

Speaker 3 (00:50):
Yeah, big time, man, especially the position we've put ourselves in,
Like if we had to drop that game, you know,
like I'm not sure what it would have been like
trying to make them top six, But you know, I
think we're back in contention now and as long as
we win every game running into the playoffs in hopefully
we'll find ourselves playing in them. I suppose.

Speaker 2 (01:09):
Why do you think have you been able to put
your finger on why the season has been such an
inconsistent one for you.

Speaker 3 (01:17):
I think you added on the head there. It's just
the inconsistencies. Like, you know, we've had a few games
who we thought we've played a right and we've been
unfortunate to miss out a couple of points. And then
there's been other games that we haven't, you know, just
turned up and played at all. So I think the
inconsistency of the season is probably a big thing. And
you know, hopefully if we can build a few consistent

(01:39):
performances in the next few weeks and things to start
tender up or up for us.

Speaker 2 (01:44):
Are you employing a fairly similar game plan to the
one that was so successful for you last season.

Speaker 3 (01:51):
I think we've tried like a few little bits and
bobs and some variations throughout the season, and I think,
you know, it's the old cliches, mate, back to basics,
and I think that's really what works for us. And
I suppose any rugby teammate, you know, you're playing the
right end of the field and all that's the thing,
and things really start to work out for you. So
I think that's been a big focus for us. But

(02:12):
we still need to nail a little little bits along
the way as well. So yeah, just like you said
that consistency and trying to find that.

Speaker 2 (02:20):
Twelve seven are you lead at a half time last
night so fairly narrow halftime margin. Did something change in
the second half that allowed you to kind of stretch away?

Speaker 3 (02:30):
I think we just talked about a half time, you know,
plant to our potential, and we knew the force was
going to come out and you know, they've done it
every other game, you know that very competitive and their
first half showed that. But I think we had another
level to give and you know, like we just needed
that belief and someone has spark something and I think

(02:52):
A J's try first up really helped that. And then
sort of got a bit of momentum from there.

Speaker 2 (02:59):
And you're back in the side. Obviously. I know we
spoke earlier in the season. You had a pretty frustrating
time of things, didn't your first month or so, we're
out for the first four games, came back and then
there's another one. He enjoying being back on the side.
Next for getting a decent run without any injuries.

Speaker 3 (03:12):
Touch Wood, Yeah, touch with mate, You know, it makes
all the training worthwhile, you know, that's all we do.
And to be out in the panic, mate, you know,
that's that's the icing on the cakes. So yeah, we
just keep winning, mate, and keep smiling. So that's the plan.

Speaker 2 (03:27):
Really good stuff. It's up to Souber next day, the
Drewer then onea Pacific. I warrants us. They all seem winnable,
don't they all seem winnable those games?

Speaker 3 (03:36):
Yeah, well, you know every game is winnable, mate. But
you know, again these teams have shown that they can
play some good footy as well, so you know you
can't take anyone lightly, especially going to Suber. You know,
their home field advantage that they have over there and
the support that they get is going to be a
huge game for us. So one day we really need
to you know, get on top of and yeah, just

(03:57):
like I said, if we can get some back to
their performances and their consistency back in our game, then
we should be all right.

Speaker 2 (04:03):
Now, just before you go, what was Angus Taavar doing
at the end trying to get the ball out? What
happened there?

Speaker 3 (04:08):
Oh?

Speaker 1 (04:09):
Bro?

Speaker 3 (04:09):
Let us front rowers down, that's for sure. You know,
you usually you usually back in the kicker ball two
meters over the touch line. But you know again the
back into the cliches don't take you off the ball, mate,
you know. So yeah we'll have we'll have a big
chat with our front rollers. Meeting made and yeah really

(04:30):
let us down there. But you know it's work on
for him, so hopefully he'll be better off or if
he gets his opportunity.

Speaker 2 (04:35):
Again exactly his kicking the touch from two meters think
for the big fuller. Well last time mate, you got
you got the points. I hope it's say the start
of a good run, a good run towards the finals. Man,
thanks for taking the time for.

Speaker 3 (04:50):
A jet Thanks Matt, all right, thank you you too.

Speaker 2 (04:54):
Good etlamm st If you saw that at the end
the Blues had the ball and all they had to
do was kick it in the touch from but they
were inside their own twenty two. They're basically five meters
out and the ball spits out there, so so you
just got to pick up the ball and kick it
into touch. It literally two meters away from the touch line.
Angus Tartavas had a bit of a he's picked it
up and he's basically just gone to kick it into touch.

(05:16):
And he's just for some unknown reason not being able
to do it. It's kind of scuffed off his foot
and it stayed in. And the potential, I mean that
the Blues had the game won, but they had the
potential to lose the bonus point because they scored three
more tries than the Force did last night, so they
had the bonus point. Kick it into touch, you take

(05:37):
the bonus point, you take the five points. Instead, the
ball didn't go into touch. The Force got it and
they were were on a tech. I can only imagine
the talking to Angus Tartovo would have got had the
Force managed to score a try and deny what could
be a fairly important bonus point from the Blues. Didn't happen.
Everything okay, I'm sure we'll get plenty of good natured

(05:59):
ribbing from his teammates in the weak ahead.

Speaker 1 (06:02):
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