The Blues impressive Super Rugby season is entering the playoffs.
They’re playing the Fijian Drua in their quarter final tonight from 7pm.
Piney caught up with assistant coach Greg Feek to find out what's made the team so successful this season.
He told him that they’ve brought in the whole team, and the whole squad is really excited about the brand of rugby and style they have.
“We’ve built our game really nicely.”
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
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 News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Following which we go to Eden Park five past seven
tonight the Blues up against the Fiji and drew up
in quarter final number three in Super Rugby Pacific for
twenty twenty four. These two met in the very first
game of their respective seasons.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Flings it on this right hand type of plumb. We
wrap around from Peter Fetter. You're one it Lea Sullivan.
Sullivan for the right wing corner, scores It's second of
the afternoon. Back to Peter Fetter and enter the seven
off stadium stands and full time top done for the
Blues thirty four to ten.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Thirty four ten in the first game of the season
knockout forty. Now though, Blues scrum coach is Greg Feek,
who joins us now, Greg, how happy are you with
the way the side's developed and progressed across the fourteen
games of the regular season.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
First of all, yeah, I think we've built our game
really nicely. We've edited a few things in players that
really bought in the whole management, the whole squad, you know,
really excited about the brand of rugby and the style
we have, So that's that's really exciting for us. And
there's a few guys have actually you really put their
hands out in terms of starting positions and leadership and
(01:22):
so hopefully we can transfer that now and keep building.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
How much have you enjoyed working alongside Verne Cotter.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
Yes, it's been really good. Like for me, I'm in
and out a bit from and that's been really good
in terms of connecting with him. And he's got a
really clear, solid, directive way of how he wants things.
You know, there's no like lurd lines, there's no lack
(01:49):
of clarity. We don't exactly what it is. And the
good thing is we all have our inputs into our
areas and all that, and he knows what he wants.
So I think the players they leave a meeting and
they're really clear and exactly where they stand. There's consistent
messages and you know, it's just making sure we get
the quality and trainings.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
How aligned are you and Verncotta and your views on
the importance of set piece. He's he's well across it
as well, knows how important it is. Obviously you do,
but he does as well.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
Yeah, and I think sometimes people forget that, like you
have your you have your defense, you of your tech,
you have your set piece, lineouts and whatever. But when
the head coach ties it together and drives it and
he wants something done like that in those areas in
a specific way, I think you get more of a
buying with that too, you know. And he does it
in a way that's so passionate, and it'll give the
(02:43):
reasons why not just do this as why I want it,
you know. And it might change a little bit weak
to week, but there's usually consistent message as to why,
and that makes our job. I suppose you puts us
on our toes as well.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Do the loss of the Crusaders a couple of weeks
ago lead to any major self evaluation by the team, Well, I.
Speaker 4 (03:05):
Think when you play the crussee is down there and
we had a good run. It was our first loss
in the while. If you just respect them in any
area for one or two seconds, they bite you badly,
you know what I mean. And so for me it
was some great lessons, hard lessons, but some great lessons
run some combinations around those moments and games, particularly in
(03:28):
contact areas of the scrum and things like that you
just switch off slightly, you're gone, you know. And so
that was a good reminder if we want to be
finals contenders, that we need to get their stuff right.
And you know that that's the consistency after Now, it's
not just throwing the word consistency around, but just being
like like really on and aware of what's needed in
(03:49):
those key moments.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
At your most consistent, how do you reckon? Your scrum
matches up to the others in the comp.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
Pretty good, I think, but probably not where i'd like
them to be yet. But I think, you know, I
think we're building. Like I said, we're building nicely. We're
getting some combo, some good under ending, and yeah, I'm
happy with the progress, particularly from that week. So this week,
I think if the things weren't getting fixed, all the
players weren't buying in, that's always an issue, but there's
(04:18):
no issues there around solutions and around how we can
get better. So that's what you do, you know, that's
just every day. So it's exciting.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
I don't want to focus just exclusively on the scrum,
but I've always wondered about the loose forwards and a scrum.
How big is their role or is it really the
type five who do most of it.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
Oh well, for me, I include the nine on it
as well, you know, so that's a nine man thing.
That's you've got the you got me coaching it, but
you've got everyone else around that. That's like the number
of the different piece of the puzzle and rugby that
that help certain areas get better, you know. And I
think even how sincere medical contribute massively to that, you know,
(04:58):
but loose forwards go make for you said now they
I think, you know, they add probably another well from
my that I've done you another fifteen percent, you know,
and that can be the difference in a massive game
that one switch off can cost you.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
After last weekend the the late try that allowed the
Hurricanes to just sneak in the top spot, Verncott has
said something along the lines of, you know, sometimes if
you're on top, your feet can leave the ground. I
get the feeling that might also be the case when
you're playing a game against the team you really should
on any given day beat fairly comfortably. So have you
(05:35):
kept the feet on the ground ahead of this game
against the drawer?
Speaker 4 (05:40):
Yeah, I think you've got to respect any team you play,
and we have to respect the drawer. There good team,
so it's going to be a good battle.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
You know.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
If we let them into the game and let them
play their game as well, then it will be close.
We've got to make sure that we get things right
and then you focus on yourself. So what is it
that we need to do? What are our stands in
the key areas of the breakdown? Set peace? And then
obviously backs will do their thing. You know, we get
those things right with our we we've been tracking this
(06:09):
year at our consistent standards around even our stats, then
we should we should be good and real good. So
that's that's our goal. Is you have your your position analysis,
you look at the threats and all that, but it
comes back to what you do, you know, in the
those key moments and then they may even come down
to some critical decisions as well, you know. So the
(06:35):
good good for us?
Speaker 2 (06:36):
How niggly was it not being able to finish top?
Speaker 4 (06:41):
Look? I think I think for us, it's like you
can't just blame that one game. If you look at
it through the whole season, there's bonus points that were
left out there quite a bit, you know what I mean.
So that's just the way it's a it's a tough
old season to get to that point, and it just shows, okay,
how tired it was with the top two teams, you know,
and yep, and we who knows who's going to be
(07:02):
in the final, and we've got to get the next
game right, So I think it's our focus. We didn't
get that, honest point. Okay, move on, We're going to
win the quarter and we won that, we got up
on the semi and then you're away. So there's no
you're not taking it for granted. You know it's going
to be the end.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
How do you reflect back on your time with the
All Blacks Greek?
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (07:23):
Really? Finally, I felt like the reason why I'm still
I put my hand up for a part time role
at the Blues was my passion for coaching. It actually
got increased. I was I was just like, I just
couldn't give it up. I don't want to give it up.
And there was an opportunity here to come in and
work with VC and and so the Bullbecks has done
(07:44):
me a favor in terms of that and got me
better keep my passion for the game, and you know,
I'd love to do more and and see what that
what the future hold is so much learning is working
with the best players in New Zealand and going to
a walk up with them and seeing how and why
they were so good in the past. So the stuff
(08:06):
will stay with me forever.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Brilliant good stuff. Is it true you grow your own vegetables.
Speaker 4 (08:12):
Yeah, well it's a good analogy. Yah, you know, if
you can grow your own vegetables, you know, you know,
it's chiefing them by the supermarket a bit like you know,
I know we're going with this. It's a bit like, Yeah,
instead of buying players left right and send them putch,
you just developed them and key for them and nurture
them and do it properly and then they stay with it,
(08:32):
you know. So that's a good, little, short, sharp analogy
that actually a little deeper meaning to it. But that's
really That's another thing that's got me excited is when
you're working internationally, you don't get that development part, getting
guys young and bringing them in. So there's been something
else that has really got me excited these different ways
(08:52):
of coaching too, you know. So yeah, it's good for
the player and good for the club.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Top man, Greg, I love chatting to you. Mate, thanks
for taking the time. All the Beast against the Drew Tonight.
Speaker 4 (09:04):
Mate Appre said it.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Thanks great. Fike there, I was asked to ask him
that question. I actually thought it was about vegetables. The
media manager at The Blue said, look, ask Greg think
about growing his own vegetables. I didn't realize it was
an analogy for growing your own talent, but I like it.
Seven o five Tonight Blues the Fiji and Drewer.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
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 News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Following which we go to Eden Park five past seven
tonight the Blues up against the Fiji and drew up
in quarter final number three in Super Rugby Pacific for
twenty twenty four. These two met in the very first
game of their respective seasons.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Flings it on this right hand type of plumb. We
wrap around from Peter Fetter. You're one it Lea Sullivan.
Sullivan for the right wing corner, scores It's second of
the afternoon. Back to Peter Fetter and enter the seven
off stadium stands and full time top done for the
Blues thirty four to ten.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Thirty four ten in the first game of the season
knockout forty. Now though, Blues scrum coach is Greg Feek,
who joins us now, Greg, how happy are you with
the way the side's developed and progressed across the fourteen
games of the regular season.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
First of all, yeah, I think we've built our game
really nicely. We've edited a few things in players that
really bought in the whole management, the whole squad, you know,
really excited about the brand of rugby and the style
we have, So that's that's really exciting for us. And
there's a few guys have actually you really put their
hands out in terms of starting positions and leadership and
(01:22):
so hopefully we can transfer that now and keep building.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
How much have you enjoyed working alongside Verne Cotter.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
Yes, it's been really good. Like for me, I'm in
and out a bit from and that's been really good
in terms of connecting with him. And he's got a
really clear, solid, directive way of how he wants things.
You know, there's no like lurd lines, there's no lack
(01:49):
of clarity. We don't exactly what it is. And the
good thing is we all have our inputs into our
areas and all that, and he knows what he wants.
So I think the players they leave a meeting and
they're really clear and exactly where they stand. There's consistent
messages and you know, it's just making sure we get
the quality and trainings.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
How aligned are you and Verncotta and your views on
the importance of set piece. He's he's well across it
as well, knows how important it is. Obviously you do,
but he does as well.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
Yeah, and I think sometimes people forget that, like you
have your you have your defense, you of your tech,
you have your set piece, lineouts and whatever. But when
the head coach ties it together and drives it and
he wants something done like that in those areas in
a specific way, I think you get more of a
buying with that too, you know. And he does it
in a way that's so passionate, and it'll give the
(02:43):
reasons why not just do this as why I want it,
you know. And it might change a little bit weak
to week, but there's usually consistent message as to why,
and that makes our job. I suppose you puts us
on our toes as well.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Do the loss of the Crusaders a couple of weeks
ago lead to any major self evaluation by the team, Well, I.
Speaker 4 (03:05):
Think when you play the crussee is down there and
we had a good run. It was our first loss
in the while. If you just respect them in any
area for one or two seconds, they bite you badly,
you know what I mean. And so for me it
was some great lessons, hard lessons, but some great lessons
run some combinations around those moments and games, particularly in
(03:28):
contact areas of the scrum and things like that you
just switch off slightly, you're gone, you know. And so
that was a good reminder if we want to be
finals contenders, that we need to get their stuff right.
And you know that that's the consistency after Now, it's
not just throwing the word consistency around, but just being
like like really on and aware of what's needed in
(03:49):
those key moments.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
At your most consistent, how do you reckon? Your scrum
matches up to the others in the comp.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
Pretty good, I think, but probably not where i'd like
them to be yet. But I think, you know, I
think we're building. Like I said, we're building nicely. We're
getting some combo, some good under ending, and yeah, I'm
happy with the progress, particularly from that week. So this week,
I think if the things weren't getting fixed, all the
players weren't buying in, that's always an issue, but there's
(04:18):
no issues there around solutions and around how we can
get better. So that's what you do, you know, that's
just every day. So it's exciting.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
I don't want to focus just exclusively on the scrum,
but I've always wondered about the loose forwards and a scrum.
How big is their role or is it really the
type five who do most of it.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
Oh well, for me, I include the nine on it
as well, you know, so that's a nine man thing.
That's you've got the you got me coaching it, but
you've got everyone else around that. That's like the number
of the different piece of the puzzle and rugby that
that help certain areas get better, you know. And I
think even how sincere medical contribute massively to that, you know,
(04:58):
but loose forwards go make for you said now they
I think, you know, they add probably another well from
my that I've done you another fifteen percent, you know,
and that can be the difference in a massive game
that one switch off can cost you.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
After last weekend the the late try that allowed the
Hurricanes to just sneak in the top spot, Verncott has
said something along the lines of, you know, sometimes if
you're on top, your feet can leave the ground. I
get the feeling that might also be the case when
you're playing a game against the team you really should
on any given day beat fairly comfortably. So have you
(05:35):
kept the feet on the ground ahead of this game
against the drawer?
Speaker 4 (05:40):
Yeah, I think you've got to respect any team you play,
and we have to respect the drawer. There good team,
so it's going to be a good battle.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
You know.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
If we let them into the game and let them
play their game as well, then it will be close.
We've got to make sure that we get things right
and then you focus on yourself. So what is it
that we need to do? What are our stands in
the key areas of the breakdown? Set peace? And then
obviously backs will do their thing. You know, we get
those things right with our we we've been tracking this
(06:09):
year at our consistent standards around even our stats, then
we should we should be good and real good. So
that's that's our goal. Is you have your your position analysis,
you look at the threats and all that, but it
comes back to what you do, you know, in the
those key moments and then they may even come down
to some critical decisions as well, you know. So the
(06:35):
good good for us?
Speaker 2 (06:36):
How niggly was it not being able to finish top?
Speaker 4 (06:41):
Look? I think I think for us, it's like you
can't just blame that one game. If you look at
it through the whole season, there's bonus points that were
left out there quite a bit, you know what I mean.
So that's just the way it's a it's a tough
old season to get to that point, and it just shows, okay,
how tired it was with the top two teams, you know,
and yep, and we who knows who's going to be
(07:02):
in the final, and we've got to get the next
game right, So I think it's our focus. We didn't
get that, honest point. Okay, move on, We're going to
win the quarter and we won that, we got up
on the semi and then you're away. So there's no
you're not taking it for granted. You know it's going
to be the end.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
How do you reflect back on your time with the
All Blacks Greek?
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (07:23):
Really? Finally, I felt like the reason why I'm still
I put my hand up for a part time role
at the Blues was my passion for coaching. It actually
got increased. I was I was just like, I just
couldn't give it up. I don't want to give it up.
And there was an opportunity here to come in and
work with VC and and so the Bullbecks has done
(07:44):
me a favor in terms of that and got me
better keep my passion for the game, and you know,
I'd love to do more and and see what that
what the future hold is so much learning is working
with the best players in New Zealand and going to
a walk up with them and seeing how and why
they were so good in the past. So the stuff
(08:06):
will stay with me forever.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Brilliant good stuff. Is it true you grow your own vegetables.
Speaker 4 (08:12):
Yeah, well it's a good analogy. Yah, you know, if
you can grow your own vegetables, you know, you know,
it's chiefing them by the supermarket a bit like you know,
I know we're going with this. It's a bit like, Yeah,
instead of buying players left right and send them putch,
you just developed them and key for them and nurture
them and do it properly and then they stay with it,
(08:32):
you know. So that's a good, little, short, sharp analogy
that actually a little deeper meaning to it. But that's
really That's another thing that's got me excited is when
you're working internationally, you don't get that development part, getting
guys young and bringing them in. So there's been something
else that has really got me excited these different ways
(08:52):
of coaching too, you know. So yeah, it's good for
the player and good for the club.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Top man, Greg, I love chatting to you. Mate, thanks
for taking the time. All the Beast against the Drew Tonight.
Speaker 4 (09:04):
Mate Appre said it.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Thanks great. Fike there, I was asked to ask him
that question. I actually thought it was about vegetables. The
media manager at The Blue said, look, ask Greg think
about growing his own vegetables. I didn't realize it was
an analogy for growing your own talent, but I like it.
Seven o five Tonight Blues the Fiji and Drewer.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, Listen live
to News Talk said B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!