Rob Penney: Crusaders Coach ahead of the Super Rugby Pacific final against the Chiefs

The Crusaders’ current Super Rugby season is like chalk and cheese when compared to the las. 

They missed the playoffs in 2024, with just four wins in 14 matches. 

In contrast, this year sees them host the grand final against the Chiefs – clashing at the Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch on Saturday. 

Coach Rob Penney told Mike Hosking the Chiefs have beaten them twice this year, but neither team is the same team as they were on those occasions. 

He says it’s going to be another tight match, and the team that holds its composure the longest, prepares the best, and plays the best will be the ultimate victors.  

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Super Rugby Final time this long weekend as the comp's
two best chiefs and the Crusaders work out who wins
it all. But the Crusaders, well, they weren't here last year.
They had four wins from fourteen matches, of course, and
the new coach at the time, Rob Pennie, he was
under fire. So what a difference the season makes? Rob
Penny is with us. Good morning, Good morning to you, Mike.
How's the season gone for you? I mean, obviously you're
in the final, but as a season compared to last season,

(00:21):
how's it gone for you?

Speaker 2 (00:24):
Oh? Well, I think it's pretty obvious. Talk and cheese
would be the analogy. But you know, although we were
really disappointed in our outcomes last year, there was lots
of good things happening and this year's really flowed on
from I guess some seeds that were set last year
and proofs and the putting. Herege say, we're in the

(00:45):
final and wrapped to be there.

Speaker 1 (00:47):
How difficult was it for you personally to deal with
last year? Oh?

Speaker 2 (00:52):
Look, it was very challenging, felt as though there was
a real agenda to try to try to move me on.
But you know, those that know were oil and trusting
and just so grateful to get the opportunity I guess
to you know, to assist the group to be where

(01:14):
they are today. And you know, the biggest disappointment last
year really was around the non achievement really for the boys,
because you're only in it for the you know, for
the boys to have a lot of joy and express
themselves and and loving what they do. And it was
a tough it was it was a tough segment of

(01:37):
their careers. And but anyway, we've overcome that and as
I say, we've got a great occasion happening here on set.

Speaker 1 (01:43):
It Indeed, the lead up this week, how's that been
been really good?

Speaker 2 (01:47):
Thanks. We've the whole organization, like from the medical team,
the performance team through the back office has been really
humming for the last months and just just build towards
this and you know, we've got a great group of
players representing the Crusaders, and you know, the coaching staff

(02:09):
in particular have done an enormous amount of work to
prepare the group for what will be a massive occasion.

Speaker 1 (02:17):
What's your observation on Super rugby in general, the quality
of the crowds that may or may not have turned
up the television viewing the tightness of the games as
a camp. How do you think it's gone.

Speaker 2 (02:29):
Well, I think it's been a real highlight. I think
from a personal point of view, we've had great crowds
through the season here at christ Jets and in some
abysmal weather at times, and the loyalty has been unreal
And where we've gone and traveled equally, the crowd have
been really supportive of their home team and a lot

(02:51):
of them, you know, are traveling Crusader supporters too, which
has been a joy to be a part of. But
I think the competition, the closeness Ossie's going back to
down to four teams has created a lot of depth
and every game was a was a you had to focus,
You had to be prepared well because you were going
to get knocked off if you didn't didn't do the

(03:12):
preparation to a to a really deep level. And I
think that that was shining in the in the table.
You know, the Blues, who were eminently capable just squeaked
into the top six, and you know everyone was capable
of beating everybody at that stage.

Speaker 1 (03:27):
Yeah, indeed the Chiefs can beat you, and we know
that but you don't lose in a final at home,
So how do you balance those two ideas up?

Speaker 2 (03:37):
No doubt, it's two Titanic teams gone head to head.
Sport as you know, you know, we hear every Monday
morning about your ebb and flows and emotions around the
warriors and how they're doing it. Can you know it can?
It can throw up some curve balls and it's it's
not always linear. It's never linear. And you know, the

(03:59):
beauty about sport is just that that's why we love
it so much. And the challenges within that are you know,
there's the physical ones obviously, but there's the emotional mental
challenges that go along with the depth of preparation that
you need to go to do in all those areas
to have the outcome. So, yep, the Chiefs they know

(04:20):
how to win. They've beaten us twice this year. But
neither team's the same team as we were at those occasions,
and finals are separate thing all together. They're a beast
all of their own, and yeah, it's I guess it's
going to be another tight one. And the team that
holds its composure the longest and prepares the best and
plays the best will will that be the ultimate victis.

Speaker 1 (04:43):
I've been talking to my mum who's been telling me
how cold, but Sonny it is. Does any of that
matter or not? Not?

Speaker 2 (04:49):
Now I know the Chiefs have been playing in this
sort of condition. I think all the teams are capable
of playing all weather, particularly when you've got the level
of talent that the Chiefs do. We do numerous all
blacks that have played all around the world and in
different situations, and you know they'll be the key mend
that will drive both sides on Saturday night, and so

(05:13):
conditions will be it'll be won't be barmie, it'll be
dewey and cool, but I think it'll be clear, not raining,
So that's that's a bonus.

Speaker 1 (05:21):
The Crusaders, then rob By how many.

Speaker 2 (05:26):
I would never be as arrogant to state that. I
just think it'll be such a great contest. It'll be
all the things that will be expected of a of
a great tournament, and it'll be an international level because
there's you know, the category of the players involved on
both sides that and you know, probably be arrogant enough

(05:47):
to say it's the best two teams in the world
at the moment.

Speaker 1 (05:50):
That's probably true. Yeah, all right, go well mate, Rob
Heenny Coach of the Crusaders. Nice guy, any nice guy.
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