September 7, 2024 • 8 mins
The Magpies have held tight to the Ranfurly Shield this season, but they now face a stiff challenge from the undefeated Tasman Mako.
The Tasman’s will be aiming to make history, claiming the Shield for the first time, while Hawke’s Bay will be fighting to keep their title.
Coach Brock James joined D’Arcy Waldegrave to discuss how the team plans to keep the Shield for another week.
“Whatever opportunities present themselves to us, or whatever opportunities we can create during the game, we know we're gonna have to take them because there won't be a lot of them.”
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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 Fine
from US Talks B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
We've gone to one side of the shield challenge, so
let's go to the other. From the Muckle to the Magpies.
Brock James, head coach of Hawk's Bay, joins US. Now,
gem mate doesn't get much easier, does it in this tournament.
The longer you've got the shield, the more people want
to pride off you.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Yeah, we're looking forward to a pretty tough challenger. So yeah,
entering to see how it plays out.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
So how does it play out for you? Your five
on the bounce this season? So are Tasman. So you
guys don't know how to deal with defeats so far.
Does that help or hinder you moving into this match?
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Obviously? I think the team probably takes quite a bit
of confidence out of getting a few wins for early
in the season. So yeah, it'll be entering to see
how how we shape up. I think we've we've actually
played pretty similar teams the way, so both US and Tasman.
So yeah, shaving up to be a good.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
One as far as the strengths of your opposition go,
just the tile of the tape because I'm not going
to lie to you until you I've watched every game
of the NPC because I haven't. But I know looking
at the stats, Tasman have got an outrageous defensive record.
Four games, They've only led in forty six points. That
is a cause for concern for you.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
How do you approach that, Brock No, that's obviously a
big challenge for us. We know as we get deeper
into the season we need to be as accurate as
we can. So obviously, whatever opportunities present themselves to us,
or whatever opportunities we can create during the game, we
know we're going to have to take them because there
won't be a lot of them.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
And you do take opportunities. You've scored plenty of tries
so far this season, You've scored nearly two hundred points,
so you definitely know how your attack sets right now.
Does anything change come the shield?
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Obviously there'd be a bit more pressure on both sides
going into this game. So yeah, like I said, taking
those opportunities and the accuracy that we can have around
that's going to be really important. But I think something
that's really developed over the first five games for us,
as we talk about the strength of tasms defenses our
defense as well. I think from where we where we've
come from over the last couple of years, I think
(02:28):
we've taken some big strides in the in the early
part of this season. So yeah, we'll be relying quite
heavily on that part of our game as well.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
You've got a weakness, Brook that you want to share
with us.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Absolutely not, but you know you've.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Got one, right, there is some area you thinking out
out all they might be to count through us.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
Oh, look, there's plenty of There's always plenty to work
on from week to weekend. I guess the different challenges
that teams throw at you pose different problems. So yeah,
there's obviously we haven't had a perfect game yet, We've
not held anyone scoreless or we'll scored on. Don't know
how many tries you need to score for a perfect game,
So yeah, there's there's obviously bits and pieces that we're
working on as we go through the season. So yeah,
(03:12):
I guess in a season like the NPC, there's only
ten games until he gets the playoffs, so it's quite
a short season. You tend to focus more on yourself
than your opposition. So yeah, we're con continually working on
those points where we think we need to get better.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Can you tell us that you won't tell us your weakness?
Where do you need to be better? How about that?
Will you give me that pleasure?
Speaker 3 (03:35):
Are they one and the same?
Speaker 2 (03:37):
I don't know. You're the coach, not me, Brock James
joins us he is their head coach of Hawk's Bay.
Defending a shield? How does it go as far as
whipping the players up into a frenzy because the shield's
on the line when you play at home? Like every time,
do you have to adjust much of the way because
I know the opposition coming in, they're like fully focused
(04:00):
on what this actually means. So how does that work
on your side of the fence.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
Yeah, that's a big challenge for us each each time
we play at home. How it's probably more tempering the emotions. Really,
most of the guys in our squad have have been
involved or been around the around fairly shield more than
I have been, so that they've got much more experience
than I actually do around it. So we're kind of
guided quite a bit by them and how they've gone
(04:28):
through previous seasons having to play for the shield. So,
like you say, it's something pretty special in New Zealand rugby,
and for us to have the opportunity to play for
it again on Saturdays massive for us and the responsibility
that goes with that and the opportunity that actually is.
(04:48):
The players are very well aware of that, so it's
probably not so much trying to get them up for
the game. It's probably more tempering those emotions to use
them at the right time.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Is the short team around problematic, It's only six days
since you last turned up.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
They were getting used to it. I don't know who
did the schedule give. All of our home games are
six day ten rounds. So yeah, look, we find out
what that drawer is quite early on in the piece,
and so we spend quite a bit of time trying
to make sure our planning is.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Right and.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Figure out what we put into our weeks, especially when
we do have one day less to prepare. So it's
probably more pressure on the planning of the week rather
than rather than anything else. So as I said, though,
we've had that, we've had the schedule for quite quite
a while, so it's been a bit of thought, a
bit of a bit of time put into the planning
(05:45):
of those weeks.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
How banged up are you mean after the first five
rounds and reasonable condition, Well, coming.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Off the back of a storm week, it's pretty tough.
We've been quite lucky in that the depth of our
squad is quite good and the quality that we have
throughout the whole squads quite a high high standard. So
we've been able to rotate, well, not necessarily rotap but
we've used the majority of our squad throughout the storm week,
so that's probably made it a little bit easier for
(06:13):
us in that we haven't at this stage anyway sustained
any kind of long term injuries for where we're at
in this part of the season.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
You beat up on Canterbury in their backyard. That must
have been pleasant in the middle of your week.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
I'll make sure everyone knows that that's your comment, not mine.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Hey, I'm born and breed down there. I can even
let it go. I'm sorry about it matter how long
I live in Auckland. I'm still reading black. But that hurt.
But it must have been lovely for you guys.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Yeah, Look, it's something in hindsight now looking back at it.
We're only the second team in fifty sixty years from
Hawks Bay that have gone down there and won. So
that's something that we've come very close to doing quite
a few times over the last five six years and
not quite got over the line. So it was good
(07:05):
to get there and get down there and get the results.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Hawk's bade locals. Are they piling into McLean Park and
enduring this run that you're on right now? You think
you've you've got the city?
Speaker 3 (07:16):
Oh look, we've been well supported so far this season
and everything's pointing to a decent crowd turning up tonight
as well. Obviously, Tasman undefeated and pose a big challenge.
So the more people we get in and get behind.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Us for better then always asked and sometimes I get
and sometimes I don't. Give us a superhero who's been
extra proud of so far this season, who's really represented
the Magpies particularly well, do you believe?
Speaker 3 (07:43):
I think Nick Grigg's been unreal for us this year
so far. He's defensively held those outside channels together and
he's given us some really good direct to go forward
through that midfield as well. So he's been one that's
been really good for us. Another one is Franklinhawes.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Kind of.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Not playing out of position at six but he's taken
on challenge of playing that role and I've done quite
well with it so far.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Five past seven gets underway, should be huge. Tesman wants
some someone's oh has got to go. Four on the
trot for them, five on the trot for you. This
should be bigger in Texas. Thanks very much for your time,
Brock James, you look after yourself.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to news Talks at B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine
from US Talks B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
We've gone to one side of the shield challenge, so
let's go to the other. From the Muckle to the Magpies.
Brock James, head coach of Hawk's Bay, joins US. Now,
gem mate doesn't get much easier, does it in this tournament.
The longer you've got the shield, the more people want
to pride off you.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Yeah, we're looking forward to a pretty tough challenger. So yeah,
entering to see how it plays out.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
So how does it play out for you? Your five
on the bounce this season? So are Tasman. So you
guys don't know how to deal with defeats so far.
Does that help or hinder you moving into this match?
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Obviously? I think the team probably takes quite a bit
of confidence out of getting a few wins for early
in the season. So yeah, it'll be entering to see
how how we shape up. I think we've we've actually
played pretty similar teams the way, so both US and Tasman.
So yeah, shaving up to be a good.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
One as far as the strengths of your opposition go,
just the tile of the tape because I'm not going
to lie to you until you I've watched every game
of the NPC because I haven't. But I know looking
at the stats, Tasman have got an outrageous defensive record.
Four games, They've only led in forty six points. That
is a cause for concern for you.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
How do you approach that, Brock No, that's obviously a
big challenge for us. We know as we get deeper
into the season we need to be as accurate as
we can. So obviously, whatever opportunities present themselves to us,
or whatever opportunities we can create during the game, we
know we're going to have to take them because there
won't be a lot of them.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
And you do take opportunities. You've scored plenty of tries
so far this season, You've scored nearly two hundred points,
so you definitely know how your attack sets right now.
Does anything change come the shield?
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Obviously there'd be a bit more pressure on both sides
going into this game. So yeah, like I said, taking
those opportunities and the accuracy that we can have around
that's going to be really important. But I think something
that's really developed over the first five games for us,
as we talk about the strength of tasms defenses our
defense as well. I think from where we where we've
come from over the last couple of years, I think
(02:28):
we've taken some big strides in the in the early
part of this season. So yeah, we'll be relying quite
heavily on that part of our game as well.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
You've got a weakness, Brook that you want to share
with us.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Absolutely not, but you know you've.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Got one, right, there is some area you thinking out
out all they might be to count through us.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
Oh, look, there's plenty of There's always plenty to work
on from week to weekend. I guess the different challenges
that teams throw at you pose different problems. So yeah,
there's obviously we haven't had a perfect game yet, We've
not held anyone scoreless or we'll scored on. Don't know
how many tries you need to score for a perfect game,
So yeah, there's there's obviously bits and pieces that we're
working on as we go through the season. So yeah,
(03:12):
I guess in a season like the NPC, there's only
ten games until he gets the playoffs, so it's quite
a short season. You tend to focus more on yourself
than your opposition. So yeah, we're con continually working on
those points where we think we need to get better.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Can you tell us that you won't tell us your weakness?
Where do you need to be better? How about that?
Will you give me that pleasure?
Speaker 3 (03:35):
Are they one and the same?
Speaker 2 (03:37):
I don't know. You're the coach, not me, Brock James
joins us he is their head coach of Hawk's Bay.
Defending a shield? How does it go as far as
whipping the players up into a frenzy because the shield's
on the line when you play at home? Like every time,
do you have to adjust much of the way because
I know the opposition coming in, they're like fully focused
(04:00):
on what this actually means. So how does that work
on your side of the fence.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
Yeah, that's a big challenge for us each each time
we play at home. How it's probably more tempering the emotions. Really,
most of the guys in our squad have have been
involved or been around the around fairly shield more than
I have been, so that they've got much more experience
than I actually do around it. So we're kind of
guided quite a bit by them and how they've gone
(04:28):
through previous seasons having to play for the shield. So,
like you say, it's something pretty special in New Zealand rugby,
and for us to have the opportunity to play for
it again on Saturdays massive for us and the responsibility
that goes with that and the opportunity that actually is.
(04:48):
The players are very well aware of that, so it's
probably not so much trying to get them up for
the game. It's probably more tempering those emotions to use
them at the right time.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Is the short team around problematic, It's only six days
since you last turned up.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
They were getting used to it. I don't know who
did the schedule give. All of our home games are
six day ten rounds. So yeah, look, we find out
what that drawer is quite early on in the piece,
and so we spend quite a bit of time trying
to make sure our planning is.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Right and.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Figure out what we put into our weeks, especially when
we do have one day less to prepare. So it's
probably more pressure on the planning of the week rather
than rather than anything else. So as I said, though,
we've had that, we've had the schedule for quite quite
a while, so it's been a bit of thought, a
bit of a bit of time put into the planning
(05:45):
of those weeks.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
How banged up are you mean after the first five
rounds and reasonable condition, Well, coming.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Off the back of a storm week, it's pretty tough.
We've been quite lucky in that the depth of our
squad is quite good and the quality that we have
throughout the whole squads quite a high high standard. So
we've been able to rotate, well, not necessarily rotap but
we've used the majority of our squad throughout the storm week,
so that's probably made it a little bit easier for
(06:13):
us in that we haven't at this stage anyway sustained
any kind of long term injuries for where we're at
in this part of the season.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
You beat up on Canterbury in their backyard. That must
have been pleasant in the middle of your week.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
I'll make sure everyone knows that that's your comment, not mine.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Hey, I'm born and breed down there. I can even
let it go. I'm sorry about it matter how long
I live in Auckland. I'm still reading black. But that hurt.
But it must have been lovely for you guys.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Yeah, Look, it's something in hindsight now looking back at it.
We're only the second team in fifty sixty years from
Hawks Bay that have gone down there and won. So
that's something that we've come very close to doing quite
a few times over the last five six years and
not quite got over the line. So it was good
(07:05):
to get there and get down there and get the results.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Hawk's bade locals. Are they piling into McLean Park and
enduring this run that you're on right now? You think
you've you've got the city?
Speaker 3 (07:16):
Oh look, we've been well supported so far this season
and everything's pointing to a decent crowd turning up tonight
as well. Obviously, Tasman undefeated and pose a big challenge.
So the more people we get in and get behind.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Us for better then always asked and sometimes I get
and sometimes I don't. Give us a superhero who's been
extra proud of so far this season, who's really represented
the Magpies particularly well, do you believe?
Speaker 3 (07:43):
I think Nick Grigg's been unreal for us this year
so far. He's defensively held those outside channels together and
he's given us some really good direct to go forward
through that midfield as well. So he's been one that's
been really good for us. Another one is Franklinhawes.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Kind of.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Not playing out of position at six but he's taken
on challenge of playing that role and I've done quite
well with it so far.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Five past seven gets underway, should be huge. Tesman wants
some someone's oh has got to go. Four on the
trot for them, five on the trot for you. This
should be bigger in Texas. Thanks very much for your time,
Brock James, you look after yourself.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to news Talks at B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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