February 8, 2025 • 10 mins
There's still hope the Crusaders can turn their luck around for the next Super Rugby season.
The Highlanders have already beaten out the Crusaders 29-24 in the Super Rugby preseason game in Invercargill earlier in the week.
Crusaders head coach Rob Penney joined Piney to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Crusaders Country under Advantage.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
To Other's shorts one left, Tony mcco to Backers, Sprager,
where to Real with Precision at Pace at Bacus Spraguer
and tonight for sebu Ree skips himself. I think by
Crusaders ZEP seven and the party tricks are coming out.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
That was a rare bright spot for the Crusaders last year,
just the four wins from fourteen games and missing the
top eight for the playoffs. That off the back of
course of being seven time defending champions, a challenging year
for Crusaders fans and the Crusaders side as well. Head
coach Rob Penny is with us. Rob, if we start
by looking ahead to this year, you've had preseason games
(00:58):
against the Blues and the Highlanders. Did you get what
you wanted to out of those two games?
Speaker 4 (01:03):
In sum regards, yes, and and in some regards probably
not as much as we would have liked. But at
the end of the day, it is what it is,
and you know we're sending ourselves up for a great
occasion on Friday evening here on Valentine's Day for the
opening of Super.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Yeah, we can't wait. We can't wait. When you're looking
at managing your squad minutes in pre season, how do
you go about that.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
There's quite a few parameters trying to expose people to
as much as they can cope with without overloading. It's
not an exact science by any means, but you do
your best. And then there is some some parameters around
the All Black introduction where they play forty minutes and
their first hit out, So that was, you know what
(01:47):
we were what we got into the returning Crusaders last
week against the Highlanders in the first half. So we
got through that unscathed relatively with the All Blacks apart
from George Bell who had a significant injury in Dallas
McLeod who's got a bit of a hiplexa problem. But yeah,
we're in reasonable shape getting into round one.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Yeah, I saw that Dallas and George had gone off.
Can you give us any clarity on George in particular.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
There's a little bit of investigative work to be undertaken,
but it's weeks, not days anyway, I can give you that.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
All right, Well, we wish him the best and his
recovery Seb Calder and Finley Bruce. Of course, I mean
this is always the nature of it, Rob, isn't it.
The pre season does throw up the odd injury. Seb
Calder and Finley Bruce went off against the Blues. Are
they short or medium term prospects? What's the situation there?
Speaker 4 (02:45):
Yeah, Finnily, we're still undertaking some diagnostic stuff, so not sure.
That's again weeks not days. Seb's a lot better, so
that's awesome. He's going to reintegrate hopefully in the next
two or three weeks as his pain dissipates. So yeah,
that's those two boys.
Speaker 5 (03:06):
We've just had a bit of a endemic in.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
The front row, which is you know, last year we
had at inside backs and this year we've got it
in the front row. So it's just one of those things,
I guess, nature of the beast.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Indeed, well, let's talk inside backs. How did you assess
the contribution of James O'Connor over these two preseason games.
Speaker 5 (03:26):
Uh, it's been outstanding. I think anyone that watched the
performances seen as a quality player. And it's not only
what he's done on the grass, which is highly enthusiastic
and you know, really driving in his accuracy, but also
when he's doing.
Speaker 4 (03:42):
Behind the scenes with some of our younger blokes, and
you know that was that was part of the rationale.
And you know he's he's gone beyond our expectations both
on and off the grass. He's been tremendous.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
How will you make your decision about starting first five
between he Taha, Kamara, Revez Rayhanna, of course, how do
you make that decision?
Speaker 4 (04:03):
Well, Rivers has got a bit of an unfortunately three
weeks ago sustained a reasonably serious ankle injury which he's
probably three weeks away from returning on. So that unfortunately
takes them out of the equation. Tahas really matured and
grown immeasurably over the last six or eight months since
(04:24):
we had him in our environment last time, and so yeah,
there's a delicate decision to be made. Both boys are
performing well. So yeah, we're really fortunately post from last
year where we were really struggling in that area. We've
we've finally got a weave of depth, which is great.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
We wait to see who gets ten for the Valentine's
State clash. Inside there at halfback you've added Wellington's Kyle
Preston to your mix now a hope of Mitchell Drummond there.
How competitive do you expect competition for the nine and
twenty one jerseys to be?
Speaker 4 (04:54):
Yeah? Very They're all very competitive men in their own rights.
Noah's had some exposure there around the all Black environment.
He's got a massive future. And the other two boys
are you know, as you know, Kyle's led the Wellington
team to NPC victory last season and Drummy's Drummy. He's
(05:16):
one of the most competitive and you know, committed crusaders
he's ever been. And so, like you know, we'll be
a very competitive selectorial discussion around that area.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
You only got five games out of Ethan Blackhead of
last season. How's he come through pre season?
Speaker 4 (05:34):
Yeah, well, maybe there's a wee bit of a message
in this. Ethan's come in week two of our pre
season in November. He has come all the way through,
never had a problem at all, and he's had two
hit outs. He had thirty odd minutes against the Blues,
he had forty minutes last week against the Highlanders, and
his efficiencies as great as ever. And you know, he's
(05:55):
such an energizer around the group and his commitment to
the cause is unbelievable. And you know, having him in
the group and around the groups vice captain the shares
is tremendous and you know, the proofs of the putting
around the fact that he had a protracted conditioning block
(06:16):
during the pre season and we hope that will really
set him up for a great Crusades program and beyond.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
David HARVILLI will be your captain this year. How did
you arrive at that decision?
Speaker 4 (06:28):
After lots of negotiation and discussion with many many people,
many different components of the organization. It was clear early
on that Davy was a front runner. It was just
really I guess, ensuring that anyone that wanted to have
a view on it was able to express that. And
(06:48):
it was very clear early on that Davy was, as
I say, the front runner to take over from Scoot.
And you know he's really embraced the role. He played
tremendous on his forty minute spell against the Honders last
week and leading from the front he does, and he
set up the leadership group which is going to be
(07:11):
or allow him to play hopefully at his best and
also grow people around him, and it's an exciting transition
to a slightly different leadership staff.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
And you lost one of your coaching team, Tammoty Ellison
to the All Blacks and a full time capacity Brad
Moore though has rejoined the staff. How's he fitted back in?
Speaker 4 (07:31):
Yeah, Well, Tom's was a big, a big piece of
the puzzle, you know, taking away from the organization at
the end of last season, as you say, and we're
really proud of the fact that he's gone back or
gone into the All Black environment and established himself there.
But Brads quality coach, quality man. He's been in the organization,
(07:55):
he had success before, very smart rugby coach and in
combination with James Marshall, putting together you know, the offensive
side of the ball really really efficiency and excited about
the you know, the direction that we're taking and hopefully
(08:17):
you know, on the back of the work that they're
doing and the players import we can really you know,
establish something pretty special in that area.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Just to finish rob As you look forward to twenty
twenty five, what were the biggest lessons you learned in
twenty twenty four.
Speaker 6 (08:34):
Uh, every environment when you come into it, you know,
there's processes and systems and structures that are established, and
because of the sex the success.
Speaker 4 (08:50):
Of the organization in recent history. Raiser done an amazing
job with the staff and the organization that had you know,
seven in a row without you know, assumption to mate.
I guess that everything will roll on. With the removal
of some some iconic players out of the environment, changes
(09:12):
in the structure of TIMS went from defense coach to
attack coach. Toddy came in as a new defense coach.
You know, there was some there was some I guess,
some internal bits and pieces that just needed adjusting. The
off season has been been a powerful part of not
(09:36):
a not a massive revolution, but an evolution. I would
describe it as within the organization around the high performance area.
Speaker 6 (09:44):
And you know.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
I guess the outcomes on game day where everyone will
dictate whether it's been a success or not. But it
already feels like we've made progress in a number of areas.
And the work ethic of the people in the organization
is unquestionable. And so we put those combination of those
(10:08):
two things together and I'm really boyed and boyant about
what the future holds for the organization. And I'm sure
that the players will embrace what they need to to
be the best they can be every week for the Crusader.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
Fans can't wait to see you kick things off against
the Hurricanes to start the season. Rob, thanks so much
for chatting to us mate Pleasa.
Speaker 4 (10:30):
Yeah, looking forward to the Super Aquis. It's going to
be an exciting year.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Yeah, let's sap so Rob. Thanks and date Rob Penny,
Crusader's head coach.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to news talks ed 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):
Crusaders Country under Advantage.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
To Other's shorts one left, Tony mcco to Backers, Sprager,
where to Real with Precision at Pace at Bacus Spraguer
and tonight for sebu Ree skips himself. I think by
Crusaders ZEP seven and the party tricks are coming out.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
That was a rare bright spot for the Crusaders last year,
just the four wins from fourteen games and missing the
top eight for the playoffs. That off the back of
course of being seven time defending champions, a challenging year
for Crusaders fans and the Crusaders side as well. Head
coach Rob Penny is with us. Rob, if we start
by looking ahead to this year, you've had preseason games
(00:58):
against the Blues and the Highlanders. Did you get what
you wanted to out of those two games?
Speaker 4 (01:03):
In sum regards, yes, and and in some regards probably
not as much as we would have liked. But at
the end of the day, it is what it is,
and you know we're sending ourselves up for a great
occasion on Friday evening here on Valentine's Day for the
opening of Super.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Yeah, we can't wait. We can't wait. When you're looking
at managing your squad minutes in pre season, how do
you go about that.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
There's quite a few parameters trying to expose people to
as much as they can cope with without overloading. It's
not an exact science by any means, but you do
your best. And then there is some some parameters around
the All Black introduction where they play forty minutes and
their first hit out, So that was, you know what
(01:47):
we were what we got into the returning Crusaders last
week against the Highlanders in the first half. So we
got through that unscathed relatively with the All Blacks apart
from George Bell who had a significant injury in Dallas
McLeod who's got a bit of a hiplexa problem. But yeah,
we're in reasonable shape getting into round one.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Yeah, I saw that Dallas and George had gone off.
Can you give us any clarity on George in particular.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
There's a little bit of investigative work to be undertaken,
but it's weeks, not days anyway, I can give you that.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
All right, Well, we wish him the best and his
recovery Seb Calder and Finley Bruce. Of course, I mean
this is always the nature of it, Rob, isn't it.
The pre season does throw up the odd injury. Seb
Calder and Finley Bruce went off against the Blues. Are
they short or medium term prospects? What's the situation there?
Speaker 4 (02:45):
Yeah, Finnily, we're still undertaking some diagnostic stuff, so not sure.
That's again weeks not days. Seb's a lot better, so
that's awesome. He's going to reintegrate hopefully in the next
two or three weeks as his pain dissipates. So yeah,
that's those two boys.
Speaker 5 (03:06):
We've just had a bit of a endemic in.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
The front row, which is you know, last year we
had at inside backs and this year we've got it
in the front row. So it's just one of those things,
I guess, nature of the beast.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Indeed, well, let's talk inside backs. How did you assess
the contribution of James O'Connor over these two preseason games.
Speaker 5 (03:26):
Uh, it's been outstanding. I think anyone that watched the
performances seen as a quality player. And it's not only
what he's done on the grass, which is highly enthusiastic
and you know, really driving in his accuracy, but also
when he's doing.
Speaker 4 (03:42):
Behind the scenes with some of our younger blokes, and
you know that was that was part of the rationale.
And you know he's he's gone beyond our expectations both
on and off the grass. He's been tremendous.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
How will you make your decision about starting first five
between he Taha, Kamara, Revez Rayhanna, of course, how do
you make that decision?
Speaker 4 (04:03):
Well, Rivers has got a bit of an unfortunately three
weeks ago sustained a reasonably serious ankle injury which he's
probably three weeks away from returning on. So that unfortunately
takes them out of the equation. Tahas really matured and
grown immeasurably over the last six or eight months since
(04:24):
we had him in our environment last time, and so yeah,
there's a delicate decision to be made. Both boys are
performing well. So yeah, we're really fortunately post from last
year where we were really struggling in that area. We've
we've finally got a weave of depth, which is great.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
We wait to see who gets ten for the Valentine's
State clash. Inside there at halfback you've added Wellington's Kyle
Preston to your mix now a hope of Mitchell Drummond there.
How competitive do you expect competition for the nine and
twenty one jerseys to be?
Speaker 4 (04:54):
Yeah? Very They're all very competitive men in their own rights.
Noah's had some exposure there around the all Black environment.
He's got a massive future. And the other two boys
are you know, as you know, Kyle's led the Wellington
team to NPC victory last season and Drummy's Drummy. He's
(05:16):
one of the most competitive and you know, committed crusaders
he's ever been. And so, like you know, we'll be
a very competitive selectorial discussion around that area.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
You only got five games out of Ethan Blackhead of
last season. How's he come through pre season?
Speaker 4 (05:34):
Yeah, well, maybe there's a wee bit of a message
in this. Ethan's come in week two of our pre
season in November. He has come all the way through,
never had a problem at all, and he's had two
hit outs. He had thirty odd minutes against the Blues,
he had forty minutes last week against the Highlanders, and
his efficiencies as great as ever. And you know, he's
(05:55):
such an energizer around the group and his commitment to
the cause is unbelievable. And you know, having him in
the group and around the groups vice captain the shares
is tremendous and you know, the proofs of the putting
around the fact that he had a protracted conditioning block
(06:16):
during the pre season and we hope that will really
set him up for a great Crusades program and beyond.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
David HARVILLI will be your captain this year. How did
you arrive at that decision?
Speaker 4 (06:28):
After lots of negotiation and discussion with many many people,
many different components of the organization. It was clear early
on that Davy was a front runner. It was just
really I guess, ensuring that anyone that wanted to have
a view on it was able to express that. And
(06:48):
it was very clear early on that Davy was, as
I say, the front runner to take over from Scoot.
And you know he's really embraced the role. He played
tremendous on his forty minute spell against the Honders last
week and leading from the front he does, and he
set up the leadership group which is going to be
(07:11):
or allow him to play hopefully at his best and
also grow people around him, and it's an exciting transition
to a slightly different leadership staff.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
And you lost one of your coaching team, Tammoty Ellison
to the All Blacks and a full time capacity Brad
Moore though has rejoined the staff. How's he fitted back in?
Speaker 4 (07:31):
Yeah, Well, Tom's was a big, a big piece of
the puzzle, you know, taking away from the organization at
the end of last season, as you say, and we're
really proud of the fact that he's gone back or
gone into the All Black environment and established himself there.
But Brads quality coach, quality man. He's been in the organization,
(07:55):
he had success before, very smart rugby coach and in
combination with James Marshall, putting together you know, the offensive
side of the ball really really efficiency and excited about
the you know, the direction that we're taking and hopefully
(08:17):
you know, on the back of the work that they're
doing and the players import we can really you know,
establish something pretty special in that area.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Just to finish rob As you look forward to twenty
twenty five, what were the biggest lessons you learned in
twenty twenty four.
Speaker 6 (08:34):
Uh, every environment when you come into it, you know,
there's processes and systems and structures that are established, and
because of the sex the success.
Speaker 4 (08:50):
Of the organization in recent history. Raiser done an amazing
job with the staff and the organization that had you know,
seven in a row without you know, assumption to mate.
I guess that everything will roll on. With the removal
of some some iconic players out of the environment, changes
(09:12):
in the structure of TIMS went from defense coach to
attack coach. Toddy came in as a new defense coach.
You know, there was some there was some I guess,
some internal bits and pieces that just needed adjusting. The
off season has been been a powerful part of not
(09:36):
a not a massive revolution, but an evolution. I would
describe it as within the organization around the high performance area.
Speaker 6 (09:44):
And you know.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
I guess the outcomes on game day where everyone will
dictate whether it's been a success or not. But it
already feels like we've made progress in a number of areas.
And the work ethic of the people in the organization
is unquestionable. And so we put those combination of those
(10:08):
two things together and I'm really boyed and boyant about
what the future holds for the organization. And I'm sure
that the players will embrace what they need to to
be the best they can be every week for the Crusader.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
Fans can't wait to see you kick things off against
the Hurricanes to start the season. Rob, thanks so much
for chatting to us mate Pleasa.
Speaker 4 (10:30):
Yeah, looking forward to the Super Aquis. It's going to
be an exciting year.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Yeah, let's sap so Rob. Thanks and date Rob Penny,
Crusader's head coach.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to news talks ed b weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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