Nick Bewley: Crusaders Commentator recaps the semifinal clash against the Blues

The Crusaders are into another Super Rugby final after defeating the Blues 21-14. 

Will Jordan scored the deciding try in the 70th minute of the semi-final in Christchurch after scores were locked at 14-all at halftime. 

Crusaders Commentator joined Piney to recap the clash. 

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Episode Transcript

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

Speaker 2 (00:11):
Ed B says, what a heart stopper. The fighter no
here list, But it's the Crusaders who fight the way
Where don't they fight the way?

Speaker 3 (00:28):
Here?

Speaker 2 (00:28):
At christ Churs a playoff rugby. They'll host the final
next week. They've been at the Blues tweety what points
to forte?

Speaker 4 (00:37):
That is the voice of Nick Beiley, Well the the
slightly shattered voice of Nick Bili, a match commentator for
Crusader's home games, brilliantly capturing the action as always. You've
got a final to course seven nights from now, neck,
Will that'd be enough time for your voice to recover?

Speaker 3 (00:55):
Good afternoon, Finer. Yeah, I'm just that's a pretty croaky
nick yullie there last night. A couple of couple of
lemon and honey teas. Since then, I sort of back
to back to normal. But gee, was on an occasion
it was it was hard not to get caught up
and the emotion and the excitement of it. A couple
of Titans just going toe to toe what was it

(01:16):
thirty eight thirty nine phases? They're deep into injury time.
Could have easily gone to extra time, but just what
we want in semi finals football is an absolute ripper.

Speaker 4 (01:27):
Yeah, you captured a beautifully an absolute armrest. Well, none
of this forty seven thirty nine defense optional rugman we've
seen at some stages of the round robin. What sense
did you get about the intensity lift in this game
compared to previous ones.

Speaker 3 (01:42):
I was huge, and talking to some of the players postmatch,
they said it was right up there in terms of
super rugby sort of knocking on the door as to
what they come up with or come up against when
they put on an All Blacks jersey, which says plenty,
and it was right from the outset. Finally, I thought
the way that the Blues just started after how they

(02:02):
performed in Hamilton the previous week, they were right up
for it, jumping out to that fourteen erl lead. Every collision,
you know, they were just fighting to get over the
advantage line. Both teams big hits. Of course, we saw
a couple of unfortunate instances where you know, body position
wasn't great from the defender and there were yellow cards,

(02:23):
but it was just yeah, it was some of the
collisions were just you could almost hear them up in
the commentary position, and that just extended. It spilled over
even a couple of occasions where you know, the emotions
perhaps got the better of both teams, but it was
it was just something I haven't witnessed certainly this season

(02:44):
in terms of the intensity, the physicality, and no doubt
that will continue into next week.

Speaker 4 (02:50):
Yeah, and driven by as you say, the emotion there
does There does seem to be some real feeling out there,
a number of skirmishes, the reef having to ask the
captains to calm their teams down severese shushing the Blues
at the end, is that fierce Auckland Canterbury rivalry that
rugby has been built on for many decks in this
country actually real again.

Speaker 3 (03:10):
Yeah, it's a really interesting point you make, because I
get the sin. So I got the sin pre game
that in this era of professionalism where you know everyone
or there's a lot of crossover and you know, in
a few weeks time when the All Blacks assemble in Bay, France,
you know these guys are teammates, not rivals that that
had maybe dissipated a touch, But it did feel last

(03:33):
night like a throwback to the halcyon days where there
was absolutely no love loss. You are my enemy and
I must get through you, and I will do everything
in my power to get the job done for my team.
And I know the crowd loved it. There was, you know,
a cacophony of booing when a Blues player would make
an era or a blunder, and just to just overwhelming

(03:57):
noise when the Crusaders did something well. And I think
they did feed off of that rivalry of the glory days.
And actually, speaking of Crusaders coach Brad Moore back in
the day, you know he was one who was just
saying during the week in the build up that you
know he was there in nineteen eighty five at Lancaster
Park with Auckland wrestled the ran from the Shield away

(04:18):
from Canterbury. You've got guys like Rob Penny, the Crusader's coach,
have been around that Canterbury and Crusader's environment now for
a long long time. So I think they did lean
into that red blue Canterbary Auckland rivalry and I think
it's probably fair to stay it, though there'll be a
bit of recency bias that there was another chapter to
that legacy.

Speaker 4 (04:39):
Indeed, and so the Crusaders into another final, which they
will host. With every passing week, twenty twenty four seems
more and more like an outlier and an inexplicable, unexplainable outlier.
What on earth happened there last year?

Speaker 3 (04:55):
Well, funny you should say that. It was actually put
to Rob Penny that very question last week and his
simple answer was, well, we didn't have about a dozen plays.
And the follow up question was is it as simple
as that? And he just said, yes, Look, I think
it goes a little bit beyond that. However, when you
take Will Jordan out for a season, He's scored two

(05:19):
tries last night, When you take Scott Barrett out for
the majority of a season, we take Cody Taylor out
for the majority of the season, the Crusaders were down
to their fifth choice, first five eighth, and we know
how critical that position is in terms of getting to
the final and lifting a Super Rapie Trophy. It is
not necessarily an excuse, but it is important context around

(05:43):
the Crusaders twenty twenty four season. Or if you look
even deeper, there were six games last year Piney that
the Crusader's lost by seven points or less, and that
has become such a staple of Crusader's rugby over the
last three decades that they find a way to win.
Losing actually became a habit after so many years of
winning being a habit. So look, they changed a few

(06:06):
they changed some personnel around the captaincy and the leadership group.
I think David Harvely has risen to that occasion. Not
to say that Scott Barrett hasn't still been a leader
up there for the Crusaders, but it's just easy to
workload off him and there's just a real purpose to
turn things around after what happened last year. And look,

(06:27):
you've got your hat to Crusaders at board level land
management too for perhaps you know, making it, making what
could have been a difficult decision at least externally, with
all the noise and pressure going around, to stay with
Rob Penny and the status quo to back this team.
And look where they are now. They're the proofers in
the putting.

Speaker 4 (06:47):
So the life cycle of the wonderful Apollo Projects Stadium
is extended by another week. I asked David Harvely this earlier,
this hour. I'll ask you as well, will any part
of you be sorry to say goodbye to Addington.

Speaker 3 (07:04):
Cooh my, look the core of me won't I have to.
I tend to thaw out for a couple of hours
after being at a Polo Project Stadium fining. But look,
I think Brad Moore actually made a really good point
earlier in the week reflecting on the history of Polo
Project Stadium and adding to big picture. Where would the
Crusaders be without what was formerly known as Ragpia League

(07:26):
Park posted twenty eleven earthquakes, with no Lancaster Park, no home.
They stood that stadium up in about one hundred days
and there's been some cherished memories there. Yes, it's a
tough sell for the punter. It is extraordinarily cold, particularly
at this time of the year. But yeah, I think

(07:50):
I will miss parts of it based on the memories
that have been made there. But look, it goes without
saying undeniably so I cannot wait to be in that
central city enclosed arena to Kaha this time next year
and and move forward into a new chapter with a
permanent home for the Crusaders and Canterbury Sport and Canterbury Events.

(08:14):
It's going to be fantastic.

Speaker 4 (08:15):
Well, A year ago you had to watch on as
other members of the Gold Sport commentary team got to
call finals matches. You will be last man standing in
twenty twenty five, so the rest of the voice terrific
work last night, look forward to your call of the
final seven nights from now mate.

Speaker 3 (08:29):
Thank you finding it's an absolute privilege and thanks to
the Crusaders doing their part so I can have that
on and next week can't wait.

Speaker 4 (08:35):
Good on you, mate, mcdilly, our Crusaders a commentator, Another
terrific call from him and the team last night.

Speaker 1 (08:42):
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