September 22, 2025 • 11 mins
We mix high-performance sport with high-performance agribusiness on today's panel with a former Wallabies manager and the current Crusaders Coach.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
You get some interesting emails on this job. A few
weeks ago, I got one from a guy by the
name of Rob Penny, and I'm thinking, where the hell
have I heard that name before? Can't be the same
bloke who's coaching the Crusaders. It turns out it was
he wanted to connect me up with one of his
Zozzie mates who's got a really interesting background and high
performance not only in sport but also in agribusiness. Let's
(00:22):
start with you, Chris Webb. What's your relationship with Rob Penny?
And why is Rob Penny emailing me out of the blue?
Speaker 2 (00:30):
It's a big question, joby. Yeah, a Rob and I
used to stare each other across the sideline when I
was a team manager of the Waratars and he was
at the Crusaders, and then when he came to the Waratars,
we were connected a little bit. We also both worked
in Japan at the same time. A Rob was a
(00:51):
head coach of one of the company teams and I
was involved with the Sumbules, which was the Super Abi
franchise in Japan at the time, as well as the
as well as the national team, and obviously we had
a lot of cross over in connection with players, and
so Rob and I became mates, and we both have
(01:11):
a rural background, so there's a little bit of connection there.
But obviously great rugby break through the years and a
very successful one. And I always loved calling the Rod
because I used to learn a lot and so we
stayed connected over the years. I decided to bring a
group to New Zealand that was a high performance theme
farm tour that incorporated sports knowledge as well as agri
(01:33):
business and.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
I bounced it off Rob over a copper coffee.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
In Double Bay in Sydney one day and he said, mate,
I'd love to be a part of that. So here
we are.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
This is just a group of well heilled Ossie farmers
who are on the booze for the Blederslow Chris.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Be honest pretty much mate, we're maskarating it very very well.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
Rob Penny, what's your rural background? Because once we'd exchanged
a few emails and I got to formally identify you.
You see, do you listen to the country I was tofed?
Speaker 3 (02:03):
Well, I do, yeah. I really enjoy the royal aspects
and my family were all of them except for me,
were born out in Kurwee on the family farm and
then my parents came to town and I was an
afterthought and popped out. And I've got a lot of
relations up Oxford that are in dairy and mixed cropping
(02:25):
and have a big interest in it. Yeah, and still,
you know, I think about the rural community and the
and the way and Wisord impacts on our economy and
you know, if we can I still think we've got
the capacity to do all things, do the right thing
by the ecology and the economy, and I just think
we've got to get better at mixing those two things up.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
And yeah, we can do all things so well, Rob Penny.
Everyone needs a life after rugby or foddy. In your case,
maybe you could buy a farm because you're making lots
of money as a professional rugby coach.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
Most of the good farming land there at planted and
pine trees mate, which is a bit of concern, so
getting access to some decent land might be an issue.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
Yeah, you made a very good point there, Rob Penny. Chris,
we're back to you. What's the connection. We know your
sporting connection and connection with Rob, but how does the
agribusiness tie and what's your background there?
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Yeah? No, thanks Jamie. We always laugh and I often
say when I had a real job before professional rugby.
I was the son of a Stockham station agent on
the mid north coast of New South Wales and we
had to be cattle property as well. I became a
rural property valuer and I worked in a regional and
rural New South Wales as a property valuer. And when
(03:45):
I stopped with rugby full time because I needed to
probably spend a little bit more time at home, I
wanted to reconnect with my old mates, and so we
decided to get back into the agri sector. And I
think the learnings that I've had over the year years
through a sport and high performance principles, it's easily relayed
to the agribusiness sector and a lot of the people
(04:09):
will definitely in New Zealand, but also Australia as well
as rugby people. And Rob and I discovered that today
that the interest in the relayability I suppose of what
we do in high performance sport or in any matter
really can definitely convert to agribusiness around getting a little
bit better and I suppose squeezing a bit more juice
(04:31):
out of the lemon.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Well, as we speak, you're just finishing a tour to
the Black Origin Farm. I don't know where it is,
but I think Andy Ellis another good Canterburry rugby names
involves there. You're about to have lunch and methan and
then you're off to Terrace Downs this afternoon. You're bringing
your golf clubs with you. You'll be hoping those winds die
(04:53):
down a bit in Canterbury christ We definitely are.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
We're sporting all the right gear for it. I'm pretty
sure we're going to have to buy a few extra
boxes of balls because ourselves. He's used to those highland conditions.
But listen, we're having a fantastic time. We've been had
some amazing hosts who have showed us a few of
time and we're really enjoying it.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
Made so we.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Couldn't be happier with you know, the type of people
that are welcoming us and learning off as well.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
So it's been bad for us.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
You arrived in christ Church last Friday. Did you get
to the Shield Challenge on Saturday?
Speaker 2 (05:30):
We absolutely definitely did. We had the whole group plus
a few mates. Andy Ellis and his family joined us
and a couple of farmers. The rights from from down
at Mount Summers joined us as well and we were
sitting in the Andrew Merton suet and it was a
fantastic game of rugby, but we all had our Canterbury scarfs.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
On and.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
The ran fairly shield went south unfortunately, but we get
got to see a streaker and some fantastic rugby, so
it was an amazing experience.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
Wow, Rob Penny, I know you won't agree with me.
It's good to share the love around scent it to
some of the smaller places.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
Look, I'm a big advocate. Loved the shield, being involved
with it a lot and had the honor of being
on the right end of it and the wrong end of
it several times. But the beautiful thing about it that's
trying traditions to that loga would have remained strong throughout
all the provinces. And I know, you know you made
(06:28):
the comment that it may not be as appreciated in Kennibrary.
I can guarantee there's some heartbroken boys wandering around the
Canterbary environment this week, and there was last week in
Tasman when they got within one point and as you know,
you know, it'll lift the lift the spirits of Otago too.
They'll be rejoicing in the glove at the moment.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
Rob Penny, did you enjoy catching up with all those
well high profile, large scale Assie farmers yesterday.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
Yeah. They are highly intellectual but over the top. For me,
I'm a pretty simple bloke. But they really nice bunch
of men. And you know, once you get the dust,
the yellow or the gold off them, you know they're
just genuine people at the end of the day and
love the fuddy and love the farming and that's a
(07:20):
great combo.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
Chris Roeb, what does the rest of the week hold
for your touring group of Ossie farmers. I know it's
going to culminate with the Bledderslope Cup game in Auckland
and Eden Park on Saturday. What's on between Tuesday lunchtime
and then.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Yeah, we've got a couple more places to look at.
Tomorrow we're going up into the gorge on the Mount Hut.
We're going to Mount Hut Station and another group called
Cleardale Station which is an Angus brood of their bloke
by the name of Ben Todd Honn. They've been fantastic
to us, so we spend a little bit of time
with them, we're going to enjoy a bit more nice
(07:59):
red meat as well as some red wine too. I
hope Thursday we play up to Auckland, we take the
group up there, and Friday we're spending some time with
some old rugby mates as well. With the group including
some of the Wallaby tourists. There's a couple of players
not traveling with the team, so Nick White and Tommy
Right are actually going to spend some time with us,
(08:20):
and then maybe we can't wait to watch the game
on Saturday at Eden Park. For rugby followers, coming and
getting a seat over here for a Brither's Cup is
an amazing experience that every wealthy fan wants to experience.
So with a bit of luck, the boys play well
and we put in a good showing. But that's what
the rest of the week looks like for us.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
Hey, Rob Penny, All Blacks are never played two tests
badly in a role history would suggest they don't. Eden
Park is their fortress. I reckon and Chris won't agree
with us. They'll win the Bledisload Cup game in Auckland,
But God my goodness, should I say it's going to
be game on and Perth. What do you reckon.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
I think it's going to be a good contest anyway.
But I agree with you Auckland such a tough place
for oppositie insides to come and try to win, particularly
after the way you went down against South Africa there
in Wellington. So I think the All Blacks will bounce.
I think there'll be a lot of emotion around that
and Scoot is just the man to lead them. He's
an incredible player and Scott Barrett and he'll have the
(09:22):
boys right where they need to be. But as you say,
there's a bit of travel heading across to Perth. Not
the easiest place to play. It's a long travel over there,
and the Aussies will be backing themselves there, I'm sure yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
And some of the critics of Scott Barrett are forgetting
that a few weeks ago, only a few weeks ago,
he was arguably the man of the match in that
defeat of the spring Box at Eden Park. I'm with you,
I reckon he'll bring it again, okay. Chris Web final
word for you as a former Aussie rugby manager twice,
I think you've managed Eddie Jones twice. That must have
been fun along with Dave Rennie. What do you reckon?
(09:58):
How do you reckon this is going to play out
for you and your Aussie mates on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
Well listen, any contest against the All Blacks we look
forward to. I was lucky enough to be with the
team and been part of the group that's played at
Eden Park over many years. I have to say we
only ever won there once and I was with the
Warratahs and it was in the lead up to the
two eleven World Cup with it actually knocked a stand down,
(10:23):
so I'm pretty sure our boys didn't think they were
actually playing there, but we managed to get it. We
up against Auckland, but I listen, it's a hell of
a fortress and the Auckland supporters you know they are
Black through and through. But I can't wait to see
them play. You know, our boys are having a proper
crack at the moment. I think they will put them
(10:43):
under the All Black team under some pressure, but it's
just whether they can sustain that.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
Chris Webb, a former Wallaby's manager, also high performance man
and not only agri business but sport. I wish you
all the best and hope you get a bonus point,
Rob Penny, thank you very much for listening to the Country.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
We'll keep you on Love. It's a pleasure. I really
enjoy it. Let everyone in the rural community keep that
stuff because the country needs them more than you.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
But
You get some interesting emails on this job. A few
weeks ago, I got one from a guy by the
name of Rob Penny, and I'm thinking, where the hell
have I heard that name before? Can't be the same
bloke who's coaching the Crusaders. It turns out it was
he wanted to connect me up with one of his
Zozzie mates who's got a really interesting background and high
performance not only in sport but also in agribusiness. Let's
(00:22):
start with you, Chris Webb. What's your relationship with Rob Penny?
And why is Rob Penny emailing me out of the blue?
Speaker 2 (00:30):
It's a big question, joby. Yeah, a Rob and I
used to stare each other across the sideline when I
was a team manager of the Waratars and he was
at the Crusaders, and then when he came to the Waratars,
we were connected a little bit. We also both worked
in Japan at the same time. A Rob was a
(00:51):
head coach of one of the company teams and I
was involved with the Sumbules, which was the Super Abi
franchise in Japan at the time, as well as the
as well as the national team, and obviously we had
a lot of cross over in connection with players, and
so Rob and I became mates, and we both have
(01:11):
a rural background, so there's a little bit of connection there.
But obviously great rugby break through the years and a
very successful one. And I always loved calling the Rod
because I used to learn a lot and so we
stayed connected over the years. I decided to bring a
group to New Zealand that was a high performance theme
farm tour that incorporated sports knowledge as well as agri
(01:33):
business and.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
I bounced it off Rob over a copper coffee.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
In Double Bay in Sydney one day and he said, mate,
I'd love to be a part of that. So here
we are.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
This is just a group of well heilled Ossie farmers
who are on the booze for the Blederslow Chris.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Be honest pretty much mate, we're maskarating it very very well.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
Rob Penny, what's your rural background? Because once we'd exchanged
a few emails and I got to formally identify you.
You see, do you listen to the country I was tofed?
Speaker 3 (02:03):
Well, I do, yeah. I really enjoy the royal aspects
and my family were all of them except for me,
were born out in Kurwee on the family farm and
then my parents came to town and I was an
afterthought and popped out. And I've got a lot of
relations up Oxford that are in dairy and mixed cropping
(02:25):
and have a big interest in it. Yeah, and still,
you know, I think about the rural community and the
and the way and Wisord impacts on our economy and
you know, if we can I still think we've got
the capacity to do all things, do the right thing
by the ecology and the economy, and I just think
we've got to get better at mixing those two things up.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
And yeah, we can do all things so well, Rob Penny.
Everyone needs a life after rugby or foddy. In your case,
maybe you could buy a farm because you're making lots
of money as a professional rugby coach.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
Most of the good farming land there at planted and
pine trees mate, which is a bit of concern, so
getting access to some decent land might be an issue.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
Yeah, you made a very good point there, Rob Penny. Chris,
we're back to you. What's the connection. We know your
sporting connection and connection with Rob, but how does the
agribusiness tie and what's your background there?
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Yeah? No, thanks Jamie. We always laugh and I often
say when I had a real job before professional rugby.
I was the son of a Stockham station agent on
the mid north coast of New South Wales and we
had to be cattle property as well. I became a
rural property valuer and I worked in a regional and
rural New South Wales as a property valuer. And when
(03:45):
I stopped with rugby full time because I needed to
probably spend a little bit more time at home, I
wanted to reconnect with my old mates, and so we
decided to get back into the agri sector. And I
think the learnings that I've had over the year years
through a sport and high performance principles, it's easily relayed
to the agribusiness sector and a lot of the people
(04:09):
will definitely in New Zealand, but also Australia as well
as rugby people. And Rob and I discovered that today
that the interest in the relayability I suppose of what
we do in high performance sport or in any matter
really can definitely convert to agribusiness around getting a little
bit better and I suppose squeezing a bit more juice
(04:31):
out of the lemon.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Well, as we speak, you're just finishing a tour to
the Black Origin Farm. I don't know where it is,
but I think Andy Ellis another good Canterburry rugby names
involves there. You're about to have lunch and methan and
then you're off to Terrace Downs this afternoon. You're bringing
your golf clubs with you. You'll be hoping those winds die
(04:53):
down a bit in Canterbury christ We definitely are.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
We're sporting all the right gear for it. I'm pretty
sure we're going to have to buy a few extra
boxes of balls because ourselves. He's used to those highland conditions.
But listen, we're having a fantastic time. We've been had
some amazing hosts who have showed us a few of
time and we're really enjoying it.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
Made so we.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Couldn't be happier with you know, the type of people
that are welcoming us and learning off as well.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
So it's been bad for us.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
You arrived in christ Church last Friday. Did you get
to the Shield Challenge on Saturday?
Speaker 2 (05:30):
We absolutely definitely did. We had the whole group plus
a few mates. Andy Ellis and his family joined us
and a couple of farmers. The rights from from down
at Mount Summers joined us as well and we were
sitting in the Andrew Merton suet and it was a
fantastic game of rugby, but we all had our Canterbury scarfs.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
On and.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
The ran fairly shield went south unfortunately, but we get
got to see a streaker and some fantastic rugby, so
it was an amazing experience.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
Wow, Rob Penny, I know you won't agree with me.
It's good to share the love around scent it to
some of the smaller places.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
Look, I'm a big advocate. Loved the shield, being involved
with it a lot and had the honor of being
on the right end of it and the wrong end of
it several times. But the beautiful thing about it that's
trying traditions to that loga would have remained strong throughout
all the provinces. And I know, you know you made
(06:28):
the comment that it may not be as appreciated in Kennibrary.
I can guarantee there's some heartbroken boys wandering around the
Canterbary environment this week, and there was last week in
Tasman when they got within one point and as you know,
you know, it'll lift the lift the spirits of Otago too.
They'll be rejoicing in the glove at the moment.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
Rob Penny, did you enjoy catching up with all those
well high profile, large scale Assie farmers yesterday.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
Yeah. They are highly intellectual but over the top. For me,
I'm a pretty simple bloke. But they really nice bunch
of men. And you know, once you get the dust,
the yellow or the gold off them, you know they're
just genuine people at the end of the day and
love the fuddy and love the farming and that's a
(07:20):
great combo.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
Chris Roeb, what does the rest of the week hold
for your touring group of Ossie farmers. I know it's
going to culminate with the Bledderslope Cup game in Auckland
and Eden Park on Saturday. What's on between Tuesday lunchtime
and then.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Yeah, we've got a couple more places to look at.
Tomorrow we're going up into the gorge on the Mount Hut.
We're going to Mount Hut Station and another group called
Cleardale Station which is an Angus brood of their bloke
by the name of Ben Todd Honn. They've been fantastic
to us, so we spend a little bit of time
with them, we're going to enjoy a bit more nice
(07:59):
red meat as well as some red wine too. I
hope Thursday we play up to Auckland, we take the
group up there, and Friday we're spending some time with
some old rugby mates as well. With the group including
some of the Wallaby tourists. There's a couple of players
not traveling with the team, so Nick White and Tommy
Right are actually going to spend some time with us,
(08:20):
and then maybe we can't wait to watch the game
on Saturday at Eden Park. For rugby followers, coming and
getting a seat over here for a Brither's Cup is
an amazing experience that every wealthy fan wants to experience.
So with a bit of luck, the boys play well
and we put in a good showing. But that's what
the rest of the week looks like for us.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
Hey, Rob Penny, All Blacks are never played two tests
badly in a role history would suggest they don't. Eden
Park is their fortress. I reckon and Chris won't agree
with us. They'll win the Bledisload Cup game in Auckland,
But God my goodness, should I say it's going to
be game on and Perth. What do you reckon.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
I think it's going to be a good contest anyway.
But I agree with you Auckland such a tough place
for oppositie insides to come and try to win, particularly
after the way you went down against South Africa there
in Wellington. So I think the All Blacks will bounce.
I think there'll be a lot of emotion around that
and Scoot is just the man to lead them. He's
an incredible player and Scott Barrett and he'll have the
(09:22):
boys right where they need to be. But as you say,
there's a bit of travel heading across to Perth. Not
the easiest place to play. It's a long travel over there,
and the Aussies will be backing themselves there, I'm sure yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
And some of the critics of Scott Barrett are forgetting
that a few weeks ago, only a few weeks ago,
he was arguably the man of the match in that
defeat of the spring Box at Eden Park. I'm with you,
I reckon he'll bring it again, okay. Chris Web final
word for you as a former Aussie rugby manager twice,
I think you've managed Eddie Jones twice. That must have
been fun along with Dave Rennie. What do you reckon?
(09:58):
How do you reckon this is going to play out
for you and your Aussie mates on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
Well listen, any contest against the All Blacks we look
forward to. I was lucky enough to be with the
team and been part of the group that's played at
Eden Park over many years. I have to say we
only ever won there once and I was with the
Warratahs and it was in the lead up to the
two eleven World Cup with it actually knocked a stand down,
(10:23):
so I'm pretty sure our boys didn't think they were
actually playing there, but we managed to get it. We
up against Auckland, but I listen, it's a hell of
a fortress and the Auckland supporters you know they are
Black through and through. But I can't wait to see
them play. You know, our boys are having a proper
crack at the moment. I think they will put them
(10:43):
under the All Black team under some pressure, but it's
just whether they can sustain that.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
Chris Webb, a former Wallaby's manager, also high performance man
and not only agri business but sport. I wish you
all the best and hope you get a bonus point,
Rob Penny, thank you very much for listening to the Country.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
We'll keep you on Love. It's a pleasure. I really
enjoy it. Let everyone in the rural community keep that
stuff because the country needs them more than you.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
But
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