Full Show Podcast: 21 June 2025

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 News Talks EDB. After sixteen rounds and the elimination finals,
it all comes down to this.

Speaker 2 (00:19):
Here we go.

Speaker 3 (00:19):
It's all on here.

Speaker 1 (00:20):
Two giants of Super Rugby go head to head for supremacy.

Speaker 4 (00:24):
The Cruise Side Catos.

Speaker 1 (00:27):
The Crusaders Rugby Royalty chasing their fifteenth title, unbeaten and
finals at Hose Fortress Legacies.

Speaker 5 (00:37):
But the Chiefs are.

Speaker 1 (00:37):
Coming with fire and their bellies and revenge on their minds.

Speaker 6 (00:41):
I can't them all steaming and right great.

Speaker 1 (00:44):
After two years of heartbreak, they're ready to rewrite the script.

Speaker 6 (00:48):
Three two bunk Building.

Speaker 1 (00:50):
Up to the Super Rugy Pacific Brand Final. It's Weekend
Sport with Chasin pine Li from the rock Pool Gastropub
in Christchurch on your home of Sport News Talks.

Speaker 7 (01:02):
EDB, Sindee kiotoget Upternoon. Welcome into a very special edition
of Weekend Sport on News Talks v Super Rugby Pacific
Grand Final Day for twenty twenty five and just under
seven hours from now, the Crusaders and Chiefs will go
head to head at Apollo Project Stadium for the title

(01:23):
of Super Rugby Champions. The show is coming to your
live today from christ Church. We're being very generously and
warmly hosted at the wonderful Rock Paul. Since nineteen ninety five,
they have been christ Church's original in the city Gastro
Pub at eighty five Hereford Street. As you'd expect, a
huge part of the show today is dedicated to tonight's game.

(01:44):
We'll get you inside both camps. Sean Stephenson and Noah
Hotham both with us this hour. Wallace a Titi's on
the show today, Crusaders Legend and seven times Super Rugby
Champion Reuben Thorn. After one o'clock and after two we're
joined live here at Rock Paul by a trio of
Super Rugby CEO's Super Ragby Pacific CEO Jack Mesley and

(02:06):
the respective bosses of the Crusaders and the Chiefs, Colin
Mansbridge and Simon Grafis will be here with us now.
While I'm in christ Church, I've been fortunate enough to
be invited to check out two of the city's newest
sporting facilities now Tekaha, the new stadium here in the
Garden City, which is set to open early next year,
is rising proudly in the CBD block boarded by Madras, Hereford,

(02:29):
Barbados and Chewham Streets. So exciting to walk or drive
past and see it rising up. They're going to get
a tour tomorrow, so I'll bring you that one on
tomorrow's show. This morning though I visited the Patachiorti Recreation
and Sports Center. It'll be the largest aquatic and indoor
recreation and leisure venue of its kind in New Zealand

(02:51):
when it opens later this year. More on that after
two thirty today. Now, tonight's game, as you probably know,
is a sellout, so I'm not quite sure how this
has happened, but we have what I believe to be
the last two tickets available for the game to now
we can't get you to christ Church. If we can't
fly you here or get you here, we can't accommodate

(03:13):
you tonight. But if you can get to the game,
text the word final to nine two nine two and
we'll do a draw before the end of the show
to send somebody and somebody who was close to them
off to the final tonight. And every half hour the
fine folk here at rock Pool, we'll give one of
our texters a one hundred dollars hospitality voucher to spend

(03:37):
on food and beverage. So text anytime text the word
final to nine two nine two and you're in the
draw for the tickets and also every half hour for
the food and beverage voucher. Please join us on the show.
We'd love to see you. You can pop in to
the rock Pool and say today we're at eighty five
Hereford Street. Heaps the Chiefs fans around. Actually, I have

(03:57):
to say, I suppose, as I said before, they don't
live here. They've got to fill their day somehow. The
Crusaders fans I'm sure will come out later. You can
find us oh eight hundred and eighty ten eighty nine
two niney two for text messages and emails into Jason
at newstalksedb dot co dot nz. Coming up eleven past midday.

Speaker 1 (04:17):
A game of two halves weekend sport with Jason Fine
live at the Rock Ball in a city Gastropadan christ
Church News talks'd be.

Speaker 7 (04:28):
Okay? Can I tell you that we already have over
one hundred texts, over one hundred texts with the word
final in them. They are flying and so don't miss
out text the word final to nine two nine two.
And as I say, you can actually enter on behalf
of somebody else as well. If you know somebody in
christ Church, that's totally okay, you can. You can assign

(04:50):
the tickets. They'll be emailed out, all right. So if
you know somebody in christ Church who would love to
go to the game with somebody else, text the word
final to nine two nine two. And then there were
two Super Rugby Pacific twenty twenty five kicked off here
in christ chur CHOHn Valentine's Day, and just over four
months later, we return to the very same venue tonight

(05:13):
for the climax of a thrilling eighteen week competition. Following
a forgettable and inexplicable twenty twenty four, the twelve time
full champion Crusaders are back in the Big Dance, seeking
redemption for last year and a return to the top
of the podium which has been so familiar to them
in the last couple of decades. They're joined in the

(05:35):
decider by the best team across the regular season and
I think almost certainly the most consistent team across the
last three years, the Chiefs, contesting a third straight final
and desperate to break their duck and send off a
couple of the club's most popular figures in style. It
is the Grand Final, Several we're hoping for the Grand Final.

(05:56):
Many predicted the Grand Final. Most would agree as an
accurate representation of the current professional power basis of trans
Tasman and Pacific Right Ugby. No more matches, no more mondays,
no more second chances, Just delight and delirium for the winners,
desolation and despair for the vanquished. Once more, into the

(06:18):
breach for the Crusaders and the Chiefs, as irresistible force
meets immovable object in a mouth watering finale to a
magnificent Super Rugby season. One of the many potential game
breakers tonight is Chiefs fall back Shawn Stephenson.

Speaker 8 (06:36):
Big open field on the back to Mackenzie.

Speaker 9 (06:39):
He goes it to Stephenson and under the post, what
a great behind the back.

Speaker 8 (06:44):
Well fin't no out for hate.

Speaker 7 (06:47):
Sewan Stevenson joins us on Weekend Sport. Thanks so much
for taking the time, Sean. You've been cleared to play,
which is the main thing after your head knock and
you failed Hia last weekend? Was it friendly fired? Did
you collide with your mate Cortez Latimer as you tried
to stop that try early in the second half, A.

Speaker 2 (07:06):
Big moldy head got me a good one, so I
think I gave him a couple of suches and I
just got a big, big eg on my head. So yeah,
but a friendly fire, and yeah, I think it was
marginal my test. I mean, they could have gone either way.
But yeah, I'm just happy that I've come out all
good with the protocols and ready to go.

Speaker 7 (07:29):
What is the nature of the h I a test
that they give you in situations like that when you
go down the tunnel.

Speaker 2 (07:36):
It's actually pretty tricky.

Speaker 8 (07:37):
I'm not going to lie whether.

Speaker 2 (07:39):
Yeah, it's it's pretty tricky. Ten words. So they'll list
off ten words and you can say they can any order,
and then you see if you do that three times,
and you obviously have to have a certain threshold because
you do a baseline at this other year, so they
normally refer but back to that. And then after those
three I guess there's three lots of ten words, you

(08:03):
go to numbers, so they'll say, for example, two one
sex and then you have to say backwards, so six
one two, so you do three numbers, four numbers, five numbers,
six numbers, all backwards in the right order, and then
one leg thirty seconds, so one leg, got one leg
on the ground, your non dominant foot with your eyes closed,

(08:24):
so you have to hold that for twenty seconds without
trying to move everywhere. And then one form in front
of it. Well, yeah, one your dominant so your dominant
foot in front of your non dominant foot, close your
eyes another twenty seconds, and then two minutes rest, and
then they get you to say those ten words. We'll

(08:45):
try at least the name all those ten words. You
sit at the start, and that's it. So yeah, it's
I mean, if you've got a high baseline at the
start of the year, obviously it's pretty tricky because sometimes
even on a on a day that you feel like
you're on it's still pretty tricky trying to get everything right.

Speaker 7 (09:02):
I was just gonna say that even without a bangle
on their head, that's pretty tricky.

Speaker 2 (09:07):
Yeah, yeah, one hundred. So the trek is to try
probably not have such a high baseline at the stud
of the year. So when you do get to these
situations like that, that's your freshold's got too high.

Speaker 7 (09:19):
All right, Well, all's well that ends. Well, you're okay
to play and as the Chiefs, you've got the blueprint
to beat the Crusaders. You've done it twice this season,
including in christ. Will some of the stuff that worked
in the regular season be valuable to you tonight?

Speaker 2 (09:36):
Yeah, I mean we can take great conference two wins,
and I guess the last one being down there as
well at the home ground. Obviously it's a different different
story now it's final time. I guess in some capacity
that you know, it does change a lot. Probably game
gets a bit tighter, as many moments I guess they're.

Speaker 6 (09:58):
Going to.

Speaker 2 (10:00):
You know, it gets be free. But then there's also
going to be moments, a couple of moments that teams
are going to have to ice when it really matters.
So but yeah, we can take a great conference even
from the I guess I guess the game means the
Brumby's in the last couple of times we've played against
the Staders.

Speaker 7 (10:19):
I think we all probably know that in finals football,
this isn't going to be an open, free scoring affair.
We're not looking at a sort of a forty nine
to forty two situation tonight. It'll be a lot tighter
than that. I think everybody expects anyway you reckon, you'll
do quite a bit of kicking in this one tonight.

Speaker 2 (10:34):
Yeah, I think both teams will, to be honest, there's
part of Finals forty is no one wants to be
playing down in the air, you know, this side of
the half, even once we're playing down the other end.
Both teams got awesome full packs, which you know you don't.

Speaker 10 (10:50):
Want to.

Speaker 2 (10:51):
Be putting pressure on then when from necessaries. So yeah,
there's gonna be a lot of kicking from both sides.
So you try to use our boot as much as
possible and put us down the right end of the field.

Speaker 7 (11:04):
Everybody knows the Crusade Finals record in christ Church. They've
never lost a finals game down, they're thirty one without defeat.
Do you use the fact that you can be the
ones to break that long standing record as a bit
of extra motivation.

Speaker 2 (11:19):
Yeah, it's an exciting challenge. Yeah, well we've talked about it,
you know, we've talked about it the other week, and
I guess that's the whole I guess the who doo a,
you know, bringing a couple of finals and we've lost,
so hey, I think we're mentally prepared for this week.
We're just going to win each day, each moment, each oil,

(11:40):
each minute we're in camp here, and do you just
compare as much as best as possible. We know we've
got the team to do it, so that's an exciting
challenge ahead. So yeah, yeah, just one the weekend then
just ripping in.

Speaker 7 (11:57):
A slightly unique, in fact very unique situation for you, Suan.
It'll be your one hundred and tenth and final match
for the Chiefs before you head off to Japan. And
have you had time to reflect on your time with
the Chiefs and its entirety or will that likely come
after the weekend?

Speaker 2 (12:14):
Yeah, that come come after the weekend. I mean, hey,
I'm not gonna sales a little bit of emotional I
guess driving and see from the stadium for the last time,
and yeah, I guess that they're really hit home that
this was going to be the last time playing home
after the State's bit the Blues. But yeah, that's that
was just I guess, a chance to soak up the

(12:34):
last time playing on that stadium. And obviously it doesn't
didn't turn up the probably the way that I wanted to.
And in coming off, but it was still it was
still I guess, unbelievable feeling, just soaking that up, but yeah,
we've got a job to do this week and then
once over the time after the final. Yeah, definitely probably

(12:54):
the bed a couple of times I've probably ever. Yeah,
I guess they're beeta to stay around, you know, all
the good times and what the last ten years it
meant to me?

Speaker 7 (13:05):
Has it struck you all this week that every time
you do something it'll be the last time that you
do it. The last gym session, the last team meeting
on a Wednesday, the last captain's run, all of that
sort of thing. Has that kind of struck you this week?

Speaker 2 (13:20):
Yeah, one hundred percent. I mean you don't really think
about it time and then sometimes it just pops into
your head. And last Tuesday gym session, you know, like
that's going to be my last ever. But yeah, I
guess it's just going to move with the times and
stand the present. So yeah, it's a weird feeling, but
a good feeling as well, knowing it's Grand Final week

(13:43):
and hopefully you can go out to winner and.

Speaker 7 (13:46):
You're not the only one who's leaving the franchise. You
coach Clayton McMillan is off too, to his next adventure
at Munster. You're probably the wrong person who asked this question,
but do you think the other members of the squad
will use your departure and Clayton's departure as any sort
of extra fuel for them?

Speaker 2 (14:01):
No, I don't think. No, I don't think as well
specially I can speak for myself, but I think as
well as for Teithon as well, that we just want
the boys to get the week right. You know, the
celebrations will come after the after the game, and we
don't want to be you know, it's not about us.
It's about the team and our fans, our family, our friends.

(14:24):
You know, it's as much about them as as it
is about us. So yeah, we went really touched on
on that at all. So yeah, we're just going to
go by our week when each like I said, one
each day, enjoy, enjoy the moment, enjoy what we're doing
with each other, because yeah, it is the last time.
But yeah, we'll celebrate accordingly after the game.

Speaker 7 (14:47):
And I know you are only focused on the Grand Final, Sean,
but your next adventure will take you to Japan. You
had some time there earlier this year, and that's your
next your next full time rugby challenge. How much are
you looking forward to the next chapter.

Speaker 2 (15:03):
Yeah, I'm looking forward to the next adventure for sure.

Speaker 11 (15:06):
Me.

Speaker 2 (15:06):
Yeah, I guess that's all I've known as Chiefs Rugby
the last ten years, and I've absolutely loved that. I
met so many great people along the way, So many
of you were people to think and yeah, I think
the best way to probably do that is to come
out of a champion this weekend, so yeah, they'll Yeah,
it's exciting, but yeah, like you said, I was going

(15:29):
to focus on this week again and then I will
turn my attention to Japan. So yeah, it's gonna be exciting,
but also very cool to I guess I enjoyed this
last week as a Chief.

Speaker 7 (15:43):
It feels like we should have seen you much more
often in an All Blacks Jersey, especially in twenty twenty
three when you were superb for the Chiefs, just utterly brilliant.
Is there any sense of disappointment at all that you
played just the one test?

Speaker 2 (16:00):
Yeah, yeah, I think there's always disappointment, but I guess
one test as one more than you know most people,
so I can be very proud that I did get
the opportunity to represent the all blacks. Obviously you're very
good at that. I couldn't get any more test matches.
But I'm not the I'm not the coach, I'm not
the selectors, so that's that's up to them. So yeah,

(16:23):
I mean, yeah, like I said, that's that it was
a dream come true to represent all bleacks. And even
though it was the only the one test, that's you'd
like to see one more tests and I could ever
dream of. So yeah, thank you. With a better green
of salt, I guess. But yeah, it's one of those
things and you just keep moving on, moving on with
his life, and you just yeah, just keep moving forward.

Speaker 7 (16:48):
Great attitude, mate, great attitude. Thanks so much for chatting
to us on on game day, Sean. All the best
tonight for the game and for your swan song from
the Chiefs. Really appreciate you taking the time for a chat, mate.

Speaker 2 (16:59):
No, awesome, mate, Appreciate the chat, and thank you very much.

Speaker 7 (17:03):
No, thank you, Sean. Sean Stevenson there joining us on
that day out of the Chiefs camp. Your chance to
react to what you heard there and to predict what's
going to happen tonight, you've been thinking about it all week. Well,
if you like me, you have oh eight hundred and
eighty ten eighty who wins this one?

Speaker 8 (17:18):
And why?

Speaker 12 (17:19):
Now?

Speaker 7 (17:20):
I know that there are Crusaders fans who you know
are going to obviously have skin in the game, Chiefs
fans who are going to have skin in the game.
And of course you can ring and give us your
reasons why you are confident about tonight or perhaps a
bit worried about tonight. But for the rest of us
who don't have any particular allegiance in this fight tonight,

(17:45):
I just feel like it's a coin flip, an absolute
coin flip. It could well be a game decided on moments.
So then you look at the players who might provide
those moments and who might be the most influential when
those moments present themselves. And you look at the forty
six names who will take the field at some point tonight,
the starting fifteens and respective benches, and you keep coming back, well,

(18:09):
I do, any way, to one name. You keep coming
back to the man and the ten jersey for the Chiefs,
Damien McKenzie. It is the one position where there is
a definite advantage for the Chiefs Rivers. Rayhanna has had
a good second half of the season which he came
in to replace the Jitah Kimata, but he's not Damien McKenzie.

(18:33):
So if the Chiefs pack can get a bit of
parity or even advantage and advantage tonight and set a
platform for their playmaker, it could be a huge part
of their game. But then then you look at the
Crusaders and there steadfast refusal to lose finals matches at home,

(18:54):
and rather than any sort of burden, as Vern Kotter
tried to paint it last week, it feels to me
as though the Crusaders wear their home record like a
badge of honor. They welcome anybody in, they welcome all
comers to their patch of grass, and then they send
them away with very little to show for their endeavors.

(19:18):
So who have you got on eight hundred and eighty
ten eighty and who or what are going to be
the defining factors tonight? And the cow bell thing, Just
wanting to get your thoughts on this, The cow bell thing.
The cow bell ban here in christ Church, absolute classic,

(19:39):
absolute classic from the Crusaders to ban cow bells tonight
it's to me anyway. It's the it's a little bit
of extra niggle that this competition needs. It's created another
layer of conversation ahead of this game. Cody Taylor said
during the week Crusaders Hooker said, bring them, bring them.

(20:00):
We don't care, is it what he say? If we're
If we're worried about cow bells, then there's something wrong
the cruise Zada's organization has said, you can try, you
can try and bring them, but you won't get them in. Look,
my view is that the Chiefs could have had cow
bells at the final. All they had to do was
win in week one and we'd be in Hamilton tonight.

(20:22):
We wouldn't be in christ Church. We're being Hamilton and
bring along as many cow bells as you like to
your heart's content. It's called home advantage for a reason.
It's the Crusader's house, the Crusaders home, and they make
the rules. Oh eight hundred eighty ten eighty nine two
ninety two. If you would like to correspond by text,

(20:45):
Neil says, Bindey, welcome to christ Church. I learned lots
from listening to your show. I'll enjoy the rugby today. Unfortunately,
I can't make it to the game, so I'm looking
forward to listening to the show. Good David with us,
Neil ready, good to have you with us. Other one says,
can you please play cow bells sounds throughout the broadcast today?
We'll eat you. I saw in the news last night

(21:06):
you can get you can get a thing on your phone,
virtual cow bells. I mean they're not like the real thing,
are they. I mean a chief stands really gonna going
to hold up their phones as cow bells tonight? I
don't know. Good o, Jeff, How are you.

Speaker 13 (21:33):
Great?

Speaker 8 (21:34):
Jeff?

Speaker 7 (21:34):
I'm just having a bit of trouble hearing you there.

Speaker 8 (21:36):
Mate.

Speaker 7 (21:37):
I'm going to pop your back on hold and Andy
is going to see if he can get you to
a part of your house or or wherever you are,
which is a bit more conducive. The Chiefs all the way,
says Judy. Judy says, anybody but the Crusaders. That's from
a Hurricanes to board. I think we touched on this
last week, didn't we. We said, I think we had

(21:59):
a text that said that that people in the South
Islands will will support the Crusaders because it's the same island.
And then we've got a whole lot of texasy. That's
not the case at all that there's no way that
anybody outside of christ you which is supporting the Crusaders, Cheff,

(22:20):
and we've got your back.

Speaker 13 (22:22):
Yeah about that? So outly young put the my books right, must.

Speaker 7 (22:37):
Think, Yeah, Jeff, Unfortunately, Mad don't think we're just gonna
have to leave it where We're not going to be
able to carry on with that.

Speaker 3 (22:47):
Mate.

Speaker 7 (22:47):
I just can't quite hear. There's a bit of a
problem with your fine mate, unfortunately. Oh, eight hundred eighty,
ten eighty. Hamish's too many dishes noises in the background. Well,
we are at a pub, Hamish, We are at a pub.
So it's called ambiance. Hope you can hear me. Okay,
Oh eight hundred and eighty ten eighty. Let's take a break,
come back after this with more of your thoughts. Noah,
hope in be four one o'clock. But if you've got

(23:08):
some thoughts on the game tonight where it might be
one and last the most the most important players tonight,
Oh eight hundred and eighty ten eighty or nine to
nine to two on text, back after this on news Talks.
They've been live from The Rock Pol and christ.

Speaker 1 (23:20):
Church scouting down to the Super Rugby Pacific Final. Weekend
Sport with Jason Pine Live from the Rock full and
christ Church with GJ. Gardner Holmes, New Zealand's most trusted
home builder News Talks.

Speaker 7 (23:35):
They'd be news Talks, they'd be in Weekends Sport Comany.
You're live from the Rock Pol on Hereford Street in
christ Church, christ Church's gastro pub experience since nineteen ninety five,
and they're giving us some one hundred dollars hospitality vouchers
to give away all afternoon. We've drawn our first one.
This is almost that's a bit of a consolation prize,
I guess you'd say, because we have two tickets to

(23:56):
tonight's game to give away. If you text the word
final to nine to nine two. That's the word final
to nine to nine two, you're in the draw for
two tickets for the game tonight. You must be able
to get there. We can't get you here, but if
you can get it get to the game, then text
the word final to nine two ninety two and every
half hour will give away a one hundred dollars hospitality

(24:17):
voucher from the team at the Rock pol I'm a
Crusaders fans is this text? I think the cowbell ban
is pity and small minded. The atmosphere at most games
in New Zealand is low key and a bit boring.
Cow Bells really add to the atmosphere. Yeah, I'm sure
that some some will get in tonight. I get the
feeling that some people will take it as a as
a challenge to get a cow bell into the game. Tonight,

(24:40):
Get a Phil.

Speaker 14 (24:42):
Gety?

Speaker 8 (24:43):
How are you? Very good? Phil? Very good?

Speaker 14 (24:46):
Excellent, excellent. I thought of popping down. I need to say,
get eighty since you're in my hometown.

Speaker 7 (24:51):
Oh why didn't you?

Speaker 8 (24:52):
You should have?

Speaker 14 (24:53):
Oh I haven't?

Speaker 2 (24:54):
Yeah?

Speaker 14 (24:54):
Yeah, yeah, well you're there or three anchers, so maybe maybe.

Speaker 7 (24:58):
All right, all right mate, Well what's on your mind
at the moment? What are you reckon about tonight?

Speaker 1 (25:03):
Yeah?

Speaker 14 (25:03):
I was going to say maybe they could have had
many cow bells if they worried about safety. But yeah,
I think the cowbell thinks a bit of a shame
that they banned it, because I think that would have
added to the atmosphere. You know, when it intensified it
and just made it, what would you say, lifted it?
You know, so I would have wouldn't have had a problem,

(25:24):
like the hooker said, you know, wouldn't have worried me.
I think like you, I think it's an absolute coin tooss.
To be honest with you, I think it could go
either way. Like last week, I think the only sort
of advantage that I could see if the Crusaders had
one was that, you know, they were just planning at

(25:45):
home in their hometown, at home stadium, you know, without
having to travel and that sort of thing. But I
think too, like you say, it could come down. I
thought it was a good point that you said it
could come down to Damian McKenzie, the number ten man
versus the Crusaders number ten? Is it Rayhana? Is that
number ten?

Speaker 2 (26:04):
Yep?

Speaker 7 (26:04):
Yep, yep, Rayhna yep.

Speaker 14 (26:06):
Yeah, Because last week when I watched the game, he
didn't start off that well. He had a couple of
sort of whoopses, as they say, a couple of moments,
but then he came right. But I don't think Damian
McKenzie will do that because he's so seasoned, you know,
professional that he'll probably be on the mark straight away.
And again, you know, like his flare and creativity and
like they say, sometimes his own players don't even know

(26:28):
what he's going to do when he creates something. But
it's good to have the Big Guy back to Mighty Williams.
Is it one hundred and forty kg man him?

Speaker 5 (26:36):
Because I think that's.

Speaker 15 (26:38):
Yeah.

Speaker 14 (26:39):
I may be wrong because I'm not as good with
my rugby knowledge as a lot of the callers are,
that caoll In. But I think the forwards for the
Crusaders may be another part, another area where they might
have a bit of an edge. Like I said, could
be wrong, but they're scrum and the forwards like Blackadder
and the Tom Kresty, who to me is an unsaying

(27:03):
hero and probably will have another brilliant game and go
under the radar and Aaron he would have had and
done a lot of great stuff. And so you've got
black Adder and Barrett and that and and like I said,
the Big Guy and Tom Christinette. So maybe, and this
scrum is so solid even when they're outweighed, they still

(27:24):
managed to overcome other scrums when they're even a bit heavier.
So maybe there they could maybe pick up at advantage.
I'm not sure what you think.

Speaker 7 (27:33):
Yeah, I mean they often say, don't they fill. I'm
a bit like you, you know, I often defer too
far greater rugby minds in my own. That's I'm I
always enjoy hearing from from them. Yeah, they all say
it starts up front. This isn't going to be an
expensive game tonight. I wouldn't imagine, even though you look
at the respective back lines and the and the and
certainly the back three for both teams, and you think, man,

(27:54):
if the likes of you know, Maca Springer, Sever Reese
and Will Jordan can get some ball out wide in
a bit of space, and if the likes of Leroy Carter,
Immani Nadawah and Seawan Stevens and who we just spoke
to can do the same, then they could wrekha it.
But I just don't feel like it's going to be
that sort of game. This isn't going to be a

(28:15):
tri fest. It feels very much like a single figure margin.
And I'm not really not really making a bold claim
there because finals often are that way. But I just
can't see it being anything other than a real arm wrestle,
and the blokes of arm wrestle are normally the ones
in the smaller number of jerseys Phil, if you can

(28:36):
make it down to the rock, Paul, be four to
three mate, we'd love to meet you in person. Seems
like we've spoken on the phone often enough. If you
can make it down and it's not too much trouble,
we'd love to get the chance to meet you. Thanks
for calling him. Oh eight hundred and eighty ten eighty
die hard chief supporter here, says Ross. Unashamedly biased as
you should be.

Speaker 8 (28:53):
Ross.

Speaker 7 (28:54):
Very confident we will win, says Ross. The mystique surrounding
the other team, not even calling them the crusaders. Ross.
The other team has gone, it was destroyed last year.
We've beaten them twice already this season, says Ross. And
on the cow bells not bothered, Not bothered. We have
the tunny for unleash the tunny fer Thanks thanks, Ross, brilliant, brilliant,

(29:20):
This text says, great show. The Chiefs have found a
way around the cow bell ban. A virtual cow bell
available at cowbell dot co dot z, so fans at
the game can still make that noise. Oh tremendous. But
Beth says, I'd hate to supicide someone with a cow bell.

(29:41):
It would hurt your ears and spoil the game. Got
on them for banning them. Good on your bed, Thanks
for your call, Thanks for all your calls. Now, Calvin,
surely you're I mean you're calling from Chiefs Country.

Speaker 16 (29:52):
So what are you thinking Aboutwell, thing that's great here, Jacent.
First of all, from the time I first saw h
forgot the McKenzie. What's his first name again, Damien, Damien him,
I'm getting old, Damien. First time I saw Damien McKenzie

(30:12):
playing rugby union on the TV, I thought, my goodness,
he's definitely a game changer.

Speaker 10 (30:17):
And I do agree with you.

Speaker 16 (30:18):
The carabells definitely add to the atmosphere, and so I
thought I'd try and add a little bit of atmosphere
to your program. Now, that's then.

Speaker 7 (30:30):
It sounds.

Speaker 16 (30:31):
Now that care bell, that's a genuine care bell. It's
about half the size of a pounder butter. The colors
on it at the top red then yellow, then black,
and it's got magic which is magic netball. Of course,
fifteen dollars I bought it for and the smaller than

(30:51):
the larger ones at rugby matches, but they still make
a lot of noise. Good friends indoors in the stadium.
But the whole thing with the Chiefs in that it's
an enormous size there because it covers Taranaki as well.

Speaker 7 (31:04):
Now, Calvin, I need to hear that sound and again
I need to hear that sound again. I wasn't ready
for it the first time.

Speaker 17 (31:09):
Can we hear it again?

Speaker 7 (31:15):
I think many people will be pleased. We're not going
to hear that tonight, Calvin, Good on your mate. I
appreciate you calling in nineteen away from one New Stalks.
There'd be back with more of your calls after this.
Oh eight hundred and eighty ten eighty, don't forget. You
can text the word final to nine two ninety two
a double pass to tonight's Grand Final. The last two
tickets available, we have them here. If you can make

(31:36):
it to the game nine two nine to two, text
the word final and every half hour will also give
way a one hundred dollars hospitality voucher from the fine
team here at Rock Paul, who are hosting us this afternoon.
Had a text from before Rock Paul's awesome CS Leon
my loc will go to lunch venue and always great staff. Well,
I've only been here for a couple of hours long
and I wholeheartedly agree. Oh eight hundred and eighty ten

(31:58):
eighty back.

Speaker 3 (31:59):
In a mote.

Speaker 1 (32:01):
Game play from christ Church's original in a City Gastropark
the rockall Eraphin Street. It's weekend sport with Jason Pine
and GJ gun Homes, New Zealand's most trusted home builder.

Speaker 7 (32:13):
News Talk said, be sixteen away from mine, coming to
your life from Rock, Paul and christ You ahead of
tonight's game, heaps the Chiefs fans around, in fact, so
many that I wonder anyone from the Crusaders has come
into the game tonight, Daniel. Great to see your mate,
Great to meet you. Now, where are you from originally? Mate?

Speaker 18 (32:30):
Actually yep, yep, born and bred to Hoong and live
in til Mudu at the moment.

Speaker 7 (32:35):
So when did you make the decision to come to
christ Church for the Grand Final.

Speaker 18 (32:38):
AH halftime halftime last week?

Speaker 8 (32:40):
Actually?

Speaker 1 (32:41):
Yeah?

Speaker 7 (32:42):
Will you worry take me back a week to the
loss of the Blues, because I'm sorry to break over
these old coals with you. But if you weren't that
we're and we're in Hamilton this weekend, I'm on your pants.
Yeah yes, so so, I mean, how much of a
disappointment was that that you don't get to host a
Grand Final.

Speaker 18 (33:00):
Look, it's almost been a sweet like it's good to
be able to travel, and the boys have been traveling well,
so it's yeah, it doesn't really phase us no matter
where we are. Would be good to be at home,
but yeah, wherever we go, we'll make the most of it.

Speaker 7 (33:15):
Well you're here now. So last weekend in the semi final,
as it was you half time book your tickets.

Speaker 10 (33:20):
That was that.

Speaker 7 (33:21):
That's your plane.

Speaker 18 (33:21):
Tickets, plane and accommodation.

Speaker 7 (33:23):
Yet so what about match tickets? Did you so you
didn't absolutely know you were going to be able to
get them at that point.

Speaker 18 (33:28):
No, no, no, So we had like everyone, there's a
group of four of us and we're all on our
laptops trying to well, yeah, a couple of us had
to take it half a day off and then yeah,
hitting the refresh Brunton and we actually had to join
the Crusaders website thing pretend we were Crusaders to try
and get tickets. So the lenks were gone through actually

(33:50):
quite extraordinary. But you got the boquet, Yeah we got
We're all seated apart from each other, okay, but we
we're going to be there and yeah, yeah we'll make most.

Speaker 7 (33:59):
Of it, now, would you if you had been allowed to,
would you have brought a cow bell with you?

Speaker 18 (34:04):
We actually did bring a cowbell.

Speaker 7 (34:05):
Good ball. Yeah yeah, so you've actually got yourrick and
you'll get it in. Oh yeah, we'll figure it away. Yeah,
and uh, let's talk about the game. I mean, you
can't possibly be be unbiased or objective about this, but
do you feel us though this is your time? It
has to be? Does it is outside?

Speaker 8 (34:25):
Yeah?

Speaker 5 (34:25):
Yeah, definitely.

Speaker 2 (34:26):
All right.

Speaker 7 (34:26):
Well you're you're parked up here at rock Ball. It's
quarter to one, the games at seven. You're going to
get to seven o'clock, all right.

Speaker 18 (34:32):
Yeah, we've still got the worriers to get through yet,
so yeah, yeah, I know we're just going to quietly
piece ourselves.

Speaker 7 (34:37):
And we'll be all right. Good on you, Janel, Hey, great,
thanks for stopping by for a chat. Made all the
best tonight. I'll look out for you in the crowd.

Speaker 8 (34:43):
Yeah, thank you.

Speaker 7 (34:44):
Good on you mate. You go got Chiefs fans here
at rock Ball, and many of them as well. If
you are a Crusaders fan and you want to want
to pop by, we'd love to have a chat to
you as well. Peter Peter Hollow, Mate, you.

Speaker 19 (34:57):
Know who's win the game, don't you?

Speaker 7 (35:00):
You tell me? Well, I think it's going to be
the Chiefs.

Speaker 8 (35:04):
I feel like it is.

Speaker 7 (35:06):
I feel like it is.

Speaker 19 (35:09):
Bitten them before as we know, and because of what
they're doing with the bells, I hope there's going to
backfire them for being bed sponsorship.

Speaker 6 (35:16):
So it's a guarantee Chips winner.

Speaker 2 (35:20):
All right.

Speaker 7 (35:20):
So so you reckon the it's almost a uh as
you say, reverse psychology kind of thing that banning the
cowbells will be bad calm, a bad juju for the
for the crusaders.

Speaker 19 (35:33):
It comes around, goes around, and I reckon that what's
his name is, Daniel whatever his name, that guy that
made the call, he's eating a take and loser, and
I hope you hope, yeah, they give him a bell
taking choke on it.

Speaker 7 (35:45):
Well. I won't use quite a strident of the languages here,
but I love it, mate. Thanks indeed. Now, Graham, Hello,
I thought you might pop down and see me. Graham,
what's going on?

Speaker 20 (35:57):
Yeah, I've been a bit disorganized today, Finals day. I'm
pretty yeah good, a bit to do, but yeah, yeah
there or three o'clock here.

Speaker 7 (36:06):
I am three Look, I don't expect you to go
out of your way to come down and see me, Grahame,
and we can chat on the phone. That doesn't need
to be a face to face conversation. But are you
Are you in any way concerned worried about the game?

Speaker 20 (36:22):
I'm not pid No, not no way pessimistic. I'm always
worried and nervous because that's part of I know. I
know how good the Chiefs are. But yeah, I mean
I felt more confident of the week's gone on start
of the week. It was a lot to talk about
the round robin, and you know, people keep like all
the callers from the White Kado naturally or the Chief

(36:42):
Country naturally talk about beating us twice. But yeah, I
think I think we've got the edge in the forwards.
I think, to Mighty Williams playing, that's George Bowers, fantastic
and he's on the bench, And yeah, I like the
way Christy Blackadder and Leo Willie are playing. I just
think they they they're the form loose forwards at the moment,

(37:04):
and I think our type five was to Mighty back.
Well it's them.

Speaker 7 (37:10):
Gram I do want to move. I've got a couple
of others to get to. But look, I wish you
all the best. As you know, I've got no skin
in this game. I wish you all the best. And look,
everybody knows how much of a die hard Crusaders fan
you are. You've never seen them lose a knockout game
in your city. You know who knows what will happen tonight.
Good to chat to your mate, win or lose. Give
us a bell tomorrow.

Speaker 21 (37:29):
Hello, Henry, Hey, Jason, Hey, d make and Will Jordan.

Speaker 16 (37:33):
I think you know to be standing out players that
can you know, could do it for Idan team.

Speaker 7 (37:39):
Yeah, it's a great point, Henry, You're so right. I
mentioned Damian McKenzie before, but you're so right. Will Jordan
has been so influential. The only reason I think that
d mac might be more influential is because he's closer in.
But then about him, and Ian checks himself from anywhere,
so you're dead right to land on him as he and.

Speaker 16 (37:59):
God, it sounded like my nephew you were talking to before, Daniel.

Speaker 7 (38:02):
Oh is that right? Yeah?

Speaker 13 (38:03):
He is?

Speaker 7 (38:04):
He a friendly fellow with a big bed.

Speaker 2 (38:08):
Uh?

Speaker 3 (38:08):
Is that him? Yeah?

Speaker 7 (38:10):
He's got a bed.

Speaker 22 (38:13):
You know, he like crazy?

Speaker 7 (38:15):
But well I may well have been. I'll tell him.
I'll tell him that his uncle Henry has has rung
up the radio as well. Good on you mate being
hello mate.

Speaker 10 (38:24):
Hey pony, how you mean tonight?

Speaker 6 (38:26):
And then water game?

Speaker 10 (38:27):
Bumbling up Water game? For the hell you don't. It
doesn't get any better. I'm just trying to keep myself busy,
so by by the time, by the time, but I
get and get this game up. But look, I reckon
it's it's going to be this Crusaders tonight just because
of the fact that they hit the straps a couple
of weeks ago, and I think the Cheeks have done

(38:49):
the old horizon on on the on the fall, I'm
sorry to say. And yeah it's at home for the
so yeah, Crusaders tonight and that we saw now the
the issues from last year. I know the Cheeks have
been bit but a bit frustrated over the Aukland game
and losing the home finals. So though there it's going
to be a great game, but natcha say this tonight man.

Speaker 7 (39:12):
Good on your bench, great succinct and incisive thoughts from you, mate,
Really appreciate it. Always enjoyed the checkers. Yell tomorrow, mate,
we can, we can review. We will review tomorrow between
midday and one, probably for the whole show, I would say,
but we'll start between twelve and one and see how
we go eight and a half away from one. On
Saturday Game Day News Talks, there be live from the
Rock Paul and christ juch Back in a.

Speaker 1 (39:32):
Moment breaking down the Hail Mary's and the epic fails
weekends for it with Jason Paine. News Talk zemb.

Speaker 7 (39:43):
Five to one. Come into your Life from the Rock,
Paul and Christ urch Ian. Thanks for holding good afternoon.

Speaker 12 (39:48):
That's okay, Jason. Thanks for looking good. Big dance tonight, mate,
so looking forward to it. Put the money on, so
we're all ready to go Chiefs tonight. I don't know
what your last caller was talking about.

Speaker 15 (40:01):
Mate.

Speaker 12 (40:01):
They're not going to win, mate, The Chiefs are.

Speaker 7 (40:03):
Going to win it. Supremely confident me. And have you
placed a large wager or have you been a bit
more conservative than that?

Speaker 12 (40:12):
I put a fairly big wager on them Jays, because
I think this is the night I'm going to get
a little rich.

Speaker 7 (40:22):
Well, I mean many would say it's a very bold strategy.
I and given you know the fact that that most
people can't separate these two. But look, I like the
way you're thinking. And if at nine o'clock tonight you're
the one laughing, then you know I can only congratulate you.

Speaker 16 (40:37):
Yeah.

Speaker 12 (40:37):
Well, look you have a great day down there and
enjoy it.

Speaker 7 (40:40):
Mate, Good on your Ian. Always good to chat to
your mate, Piney Blue supporter here. I don't care who
wins tonight as long as it's not the Crusaders. Thank you, Devin,
Thanks very much. Indeed, I know, I hope I'm on
the show after one o'clock. Incidentally, we're coming to your
Life from christ Hees today seven o'clock kick off. Tonight
we have a commentary on Gold Sport and iHeartRadio with

(41:00):
build up from six and then Nick Buley, John Haggett
and Craig Kerr will bring you the commentary from five
past seven. We're broadcasting this afternoon from Rock Paul at
eighty five Hereford Street. It is christ Church's original gastro
pub experience. I've only been here for just over an
hour and I absolutely loved the place already. It's terrific,
staffer friendly, the punters are loving it. A lot of

(41:22):
Chiefs Jerseys, I can tell you text the word final
to nine two ninety two and we've got two tickets
to give away before three o'clock to one of our
lucky textas, and every half hour, which is just about
to expire, we'll also give away a one hundred dollars
hospitality voucher to spend here at rock Pool. One o'clock
News next and then Crusader's half back Noah Hotham.

Speaker 1 (41:46):
It's the game day get building up to the Super
Rugby Pacific Grand Final live at the Rock Ball, christ
Church's original inner city gastropub. It's Weekend Sports with Jason
five on NEWSTALKSBB.

Speaker 7 (42:01):
One O seven. Welcome in. This is News Talks MB
and Weekend Sport. Come into your live from the Rock
POL eighty five Hereford Street in christ Church, the city's
gastro pub experience since nineteen ninety five. A few punters
are getting some some fortification and for later, shall we
say you're getting some getting some carbs, mainly chief supporters

(42:24):
of the state. A few Crusaders fans floating around as well.
We have two tickets to the game tonight. If you're
just tuning in, we have what I believe to be
the final two tickets for this sold out contest at
Apollo Project Stadium. If you can make it to the
game tonight under your own steam, we can't help you
get there, but if you can get there yourself, text

(42:45):
the word final to nine two ninety two the word
final to nine to ninety two, and before three o'clock
this afternoon, we will let you know who's won the tickets.
And every half hour the fine folk here at the
Rock pol are giving one of our texters one hundred
dollars worth of food and beverage. We had Madison and

(43:05):
Norma as out who winners in the first hour. You're
still in the draw for the tickets, you too. Don't
worry just because you've won the hospitality vouch, it doesn't
mean you can't also win the tickets nine two nine
to two on text. Simply text the word final and
we will make We will make a drawer before three
o'clock a couple of texts before we get to know

(43:26):
our hope and final. You're looking forward to the game.
I just hope tomorrow we're not talking about a controversial
decision in the game that decides that I think Anger's
Gardner is the man for the job, so hopefully the
TMO has a quiet night. I hope the same thing, Gunna,
says Finny. In my eyes, eight simple letters will undo
Chiefs victory tonight. Discipline, of course, they will conceive penalties,

(43:48):
it's the dumb penalties which eventually lead to yellow cards.
If they can control that part of the game, I'm
confident they will have one hand on the trophy. Dmac
will be the difference, especially with the tactical and goalkicking responsibilities.
With respect to the Crusaders, they're not an all conquering
Crusaders team of old my Chiefs, but I would be
happy with a one point margin, says Gonna and Carlos.

(44:11):
I think Chiefs twenty two nineteen, they went it in
the last quarter nine and ten of the keys. For me,
as long as they get parody up front, I think
the bench is stronger. Oh, eight hundred and eighty ten
eighty is our phone number nine two ninety two on text, Yeah,
text the word final for the tickets, but also text
your thoughts through. We've got lots to get through, but
let's get you inside the Crusaders camp well and truly

(44:33):
establishing himself as the number one half back for the
Crusaders this season has been Noah Hotham.

Speaker 9 (44:40):
Leo Willie picks it, goes over the adviser, so I
gets it off by free to Hope and he takes it,
chases and is no.

Speaker 8 (44:46):
One of the back to the pool interday it's the
Crusaders there.

Speaker 7 (44:55):
Yeah, Noah Hotham has been a big part of this
team and joins us now. Noah, thanks for taking the
time on game day. Let's look back all week. How
much satisfaction did the team take from the semi final
went over the Blues line weekend, in particular holding on
for what forty plus phases after the siren to secure
the win and secure home advantage for tonight's final.

Speaker 2 (45:17):
Yeah, it's pretty special, very special.

Speaker 23 (45:20):
Firstly, it's against the Blues, big ravel of our Secondly,
it's our home in front of all our fans and
it's a semi finals so's to show that much care
at the end towards the hooder was real special to say.

Speaker 7 (45:35):
Everybody knows your home finals record. Everybody's been talking about
it this week. I'm sure you haven't been able to
escape it. Unbeaten in finals matches in christ Here it's
thirty one straight finals matches down there without losing any
of them. Do you in any way embrace that record
as part of your prep and almost use it as
a bit of a badge of honors.

Speaker 23 (45:58):
I don't think the record or the stats is something
we ever talk about. It's more the fact that, as
I alluded to, where at home in front of our
home supporters, in front of our fans, and the last
game at our home stadium is more something that we
take a lot of pride in and feel a lot
of support with. So it's something that we hold close

(46:19):
to our hearts here.

Speaker 7 (46:20):
Of course, this is the last time we'll see you
at Apollo Projects Stadium at Addington. You've got a flash
new stadium to move to next year into Kaha. Any
party you're going to be sad to leave Addington.

Speaker 8 (46:31):
Yeah, for sure. It's a place where.

Speaker 23 (46:36):
There's been a lot of history there and even before
hours watch teams have success down here at Loft, trophies
in that stadium and bring a lot of love and
care to the community.

Speaker 2 (46:48):
So it's definitely going to be messed.

Speaker 23 (46:49):
But on the other hand, it's a double ed sword
and we're excited to see the new stadium and how
it brings the community together.

Speaker 7 (46:57):
All right, let's look at this game. It'll be your
first Grand Final, nuller, So how have you managed the
week with such a big game at the end of it?

Speaker 23 (47:07):
Yeah, I think just simplifying it. It's every moment matters,
I guess, and it's us for the Chiefs. Take the
final out of it. It's just us for the Chiefs,
and we've got to take that pretty personally. So just
keeping everything simple and just making sure I'm nailing my EWE.

Speaker 7 (47:25):
There must be a bit of a balance to strike
that as well, because you know, as you can say,
when you can say just another game, we go through
the same processes as we would any other game, but
it's a Grand Final, there's no getting away from that.
Do you also intentionally embrace the magnitude of the occasion
and how big this game is.

Speaker 23 (47:44):
Yeah, I think more so in enjoying each other's company,
like this is the last last game of the season.
It's a week where we can really stay connected, enjoy
each other's company, from the marketing team to communications team,
to the management and the players and really get close
together and have a lot of fun.

Speaker 7 (48:06):
The half back dynamic at the Crusaders, three high quality
half backs, yourself, Kyl Preston and Mitch Trumed of course,
who just recently brought up one hundred and fifty games
for your franchise. Everybody wants to play, there's no denying that.
How do you make sure that you also are all
doing what's best for the team.

Speaker 23 (48:25):
Yeah, it's pretty special. It's a pretty special group, and
there's been I've been fortunate to see some pretty special
players come before us.

Speaker 2 (48:32):
To lead the way.

Speaker 8 (48:34):
But it's a great group to be part of.

Speaker 23 (48:36):
We push each other and compete for that spot, and
that's how we make each other better. So, as I
said earlier, we just got to now our own role,
whatever that is during the week, and the boys are
really good about it. At the end of the day,
it's about the group having success.

Speaker 8 (48:53):
Not one of us.

Speaker 7 (48:54):
Do you take pride though, in winning the half back battle?
Do you look across at the opposition number nine Cortes
Latima in this case and thinks of yourself, Okay, that's
my battle to win, and if I can win that
bat well, then then I'm doing my job or part
of my job.

Speaker 2 (49:09):
Yeah, for sure.

Speaker 8 (49:11):
I think.

Speaker 23 (49:13):
Anytime that you converse a great halfback. Is awesome opportunity
and it's always really exciting for me.

Speaker 2 (49:21):
Versu in Cortez this weekend, so.

Speaker 5 (49:24):
It's really exciting.

Speaker 23 (49:26):
And the Chiefs has some quality nights, so that's exciting
for our Nines group and a great challenge that we're
we're looking to step into.

Speaker 7 (49:35):
You've had the opportunity this season Tho to forge some
partnerships and the halves with a couple of guys Taha
Kma until he suffered that unfortunate injury and after that
Rivers Rayhanna. How much of you enjoyed combining with those
two guys.

Speaker 2 (49:48):
Yeah, it's been awesome.

Speaker 23 (49:50):
It's it's come full circle and most you see how
much scrutiny we probably got last year, and then to
turn it around a little bit and just really take
the learnings from from those lessons that we got taught
and and just grow as people go as players and
go as game drivers.

Speaker 7 (50:11):
Just on last year. It's probably a difficult question to
answer succinctly, but what has been so different this year
compared to last year?

Speaker 2 (50:24):
I could I don't think I could put my finger
on one.

Speaker 23 (50:27):
I think where at the end of games we're finding
ways to win, and that's a big thing. There was
many games last year where we had the game and
the balance and we didn't take advantage of moments that
could have taken the game. And that's probably the biggest
change this year. We've took those hard lessons, had a

(50:47):
hard look in the mirror as a whole organization, and
come out, who do you get better?

Speaker 7 (50:55):
I bet you were fizzing for the start of the
new season, and then unfortunately for you, you sup with
that ankle injury in the very first game, didn't you,
and it ruled you out for a few games after that.
How frustrating a time was that for you?

Speaker 23 (51:06):
Yeah, it was very frustrating, But that's that's pretty I
guess you got to you got to take the highs
of the lows, and there's just another opportunity for me
to work on areas of my game that needed improvement
and reflect on how fortunate I am to be in
the job I am, and made me really hungry to

(51:29):
get back on the field.

Speaker 7 (51:30):
And the nature of the modern day game is that
as a half back, it's very rare for you to
play eighty minutes all you nearly did last weekend as
a starting halfback, though, do you at the start of
the game have a general idea of when you're going
to be replaced in the second half or does it
really depend almost entirely on the match situation.

Speaker 8 (51:50):
No, yeah, you don't really have any idea.

Speaker 23 (51:53):
You kind of you assume you're getting if you're starting
in you were getting a little bit past half time,
and then anyway after that, as a bonus, you just
keep working and not think about it.

Speaker 5 (52:09):
It just makes sure you're enjoying.

Speaker 23 (52:11):
Yourself and having a good cracks out there as long
as you can.

Speaker 14 (52:14):
I guess.

Speaker 7 (52:14):
Yeah, and I know you're only focusing on tonight's game,
but you got your All Black stabut last year off
the bench against Fiji. How much did that week your
appetite for more time in the All Blacks environment?

Speaker 6 (52:26):
Oh?

Speaker 23 (52:27):
That was a huge Jay made me so so hungry
for more, create a big bonfire within my stomach.

Speaker 5 (52:32):
I wanted to get back there and.

Speaker 2 (52:35):
Prove what I could do.

Speaker 23 (52:37):
But as I said, yeah, as you alluded to, it's
about this week and not looking past.

Speaker 7 (52:43):
Yeah, well, I'm sure the rest will naturally follow. No,
a great chat to you, made all the best. Tonight
is your farewell Addington and try and keep that proud
Crusaders record alive. Really appreciate you taking the time for
a chat.

Speaker 2 (52:54):
A jeers, thank you very much.

Speaker 7 (52:56):
Jas No thank you know what? Noah hop them there
out of the Crusaders camp joining us on match day
set to play a key role. And well, you'd have
to think he'll be named and the All Black squad
on Monday around midday that announcement is made. We'll have
a have a decent look at that tomorrow on the
show actually run about this time, just after one o'clock,
we'll be we'll be chatting to Leadham Napier about the

(53:19):
All Black squad named midday in Taranaki on Monday. I
you'd have to think, Noah Hotham, we'll be there with
Qurtes l Artima his opposite tonight and camroy Gard. Of
course there I've named the halfbacks for you. That was
That was one of the easier parts. There are some
other positions which will need much greater discussion. Oh eight
hundred and eighty ten eightyese number. We connect some more

(53:39):
calls on the game tonight? Where's it won and lost?
How confident are you chiefs fans? How confident, are you
Crusaders fans? Don't forget. We have two tickets to give
away to the game. Nine two ninety two is our
text line. Text the word final and I should have
mentioned this and Lindsay has helpfully reminded me on text
that if you are outside of christ Church you are

(54:01):
able to transfer the ticket. So if you know somebody
in the christ Church region or the wider Cantery region
who can get to the game tonight, you can enter
on their behalf. So we're gonna send We're gonna email
out the tickets to you and you can just forward
it onto them. So we are not including accommodation, We're

(54:22):
not including flights, none of that stuff. We've just got
two tickets to the game tonight, the last two available
text nine to ninety two. Just text the word final
and we'll choose a winner before three o'clock. And we
will also every half hour give one of our texts
one hundred dollars to spend on food and beverage here
at the Wonderful Rock Paul and christ Church. Couple of

(54:44):
text thoughts, Goose says Piney, you can talk Mackenzie up
over Rayhanna. But as we've seen at all Blacks level
and sometimes at super level. He often doesn't deliver when
it really matters. The cow Bell ban is a complete
screw up. I hope a bunch of them sneak in.
We'll hopefully get a great game between easily the best
side this season over easily the most winning final side

(55:05):
in any domestic professional competition. Go the Mighty Crusaders, says
goose Nevill says Piney. I'm a lifelong Hurricane supporter, but
I am supporting the Crusaders tonight. I don't want the
Chiefs to win because of the traitorous Taranucky Union changing franchise.
Go the Crusaders.

Speaker 8 (55:23):
Good on.

Speaker 7 (55:23):
You never appreciate that James's Piney. Haven't cow Bell's been
banned in Wellington for ten years now? Yes, they have James,
they have this is I just think this is a
just another little narrative right of this of this game.
I don't mind the niggle. I don't mind it at all.
I really don't sure what Hello.

Speaker 15 (55:44):
Hello, Piney, Piney. I just think that you've been referring
to a very important aspect of tonight's game, and I
don't think it can be referred to enough and that
is that this game is the last game at that venue,
and when you consider how well the Crusaders have performed
at that venue and how much value and appreciation they

(56:08):
have to it that they're going to be hugely motivated
to go out on top at that particular venue before
they go to the new covered stadium.

Speaker 7 (56:16):
Yeah, great point Sherwood. I mean, much as it's maligned,
I think, probably more by the fans than anybody else.
You're right, they've never lost a finals game there. It's
been their home since after the earthquakes. They were a
bit of a nomadic side for a while, so they
found their new home. So wat since twenty twelve, You're right,
it's been their home some In fact, almost all of
these Crusaders players only know that they never played at

(56:39):
the previous Jade Stadium or Lancaster Park as it was
known before. So yeah, farewelling that was going to say
they're temporary home, They're permanent home for the last twelve years.
I'm sure there'll be a bit of that about tonight's game. Yeah.

Speaker 15 (56:53):
Well, the supersedes in the individual. It's a collective thought
and it must be such a motivating one for them all.

Speaker 7 (57:01):
Love it, Sherwood, thank you for making that point. Yeah,
it says that is there anybody in this Crusaders team
that predates Addington? I don't think so. Cody Taylor's only
ever played there, you know, the older members of the side.
He'd be among the older ones. I can't think that
there's anybody who predates predates Addington. Just run a night

(57:24):
down the list of players tonight. Scott Barrett wouldn't, Cody
Taylor wouldn't. Mitchell Drummond would he? He's not in the
twenty three tonight. Would he predate Addington? Only? Just if
he does a long time ago, fourteen years. Maybe Mitch
Drummond does. He might have played at the previous one

(57:49):
O eighty ten eighty Wayne asks Spiny, do you reckon?
Rob Penny will be breakdancing after the win tonight? Wayne,
I get the feeling that that will be the furthest
thing from Rob Penny's mind tonight. I don't think he's
a breakdancer as such. And yeah, and I get a
feeling Clayton McMillan won't be either. I saw him on

(58:10):
the news this week saying he might he might do
a bit of a moonwalk. The older Michael Jackson moonwalk.
But yeah, I think I think Rob Penny is a
very different character from Scott Robertson. But who knows. Maybe
if he's given maybe, if he's given enough encouragement from
his players, he might bust a move or two. It

(58:33):
almost be worth the Crusaders winning to see that happen.
A couple of other texts before you go to a break,
Canterbary Rugby have two roles piney be a good host
and win the title. They've already failed the first one
and has made them look a bit petty and christ
Church look as if they're returning to their pre quake
intolerance of visitors. You know, they could still achieve the

(58:56):
second one, couldn't they. They could still win the game.
They could still win the game. And this one, he
says what a load of wrote about only christ Church
people supporting the Saders. I'm from the West Coast and
I want them to win. We're a very proud island
and we support all the winners who come from the
three Thanks indeed, oh eight hundred and eighty ten eightys
our number nine, two nine to two. After two o'clock

(59:17):
we're joined live here at Rock paul By, Jack Mesli
who was the CEO of Super Rugby Pacific, Colin Mansbridge
who is Crusaders CEO, and Simon Grafis who is Chief's CEO.
So a Super Rugby CEO, super panel for you. After
two o'clock when we come back though, we'll talk to
a genuine Crusaders legend, a seven time Super Rugby winner

(59:40):
with the Crusaders four of those as Captain Reuben Thorn
going to join us on the show right after this.
Start to your journey today with a GJ Gardner Home.
The team at GJ Gardner Homes are great supporters of sport,
from grassroots through to the main stage. With GJ Gardner,
you're dealing with a local team, meaning you get the
best of both worlds, the attention you'd expect from a

(01:00:02):
local owner and the reliability and support of a national group.
As a network of locally owned and operated family businesses,
the GJ team are proud to support their fellow New
Zealanders on all the courts, tracks, fields and pitches around
the country. Since nineteen ninety seven, GJ have built over
twenty thousand homes in New Zealand, so backing to build

(01:00:22):
choose New Zealand's most trusted building team GJ Gardner Homes.
GJ Gardner proud to be New Zealand's most trusted homebuilder.
Here to dub dub dub dot Gjgardner dot co dot Nz.
We'll call and talk to one of their experienced team
on eight hundred and forty two forty five forty six
that website again dubdubdub dot Gjgardner dot co dot Nz.

Speaker 1 (01:00:44):
Building up to Crusaders VGUS play for the rockboul gastro
Govern christ Church. It's Jason Vine on Weekend Sports with
GJ Gardner Homes, New Zealand's most trusted homebuilder, News Talks.

Speaker 7 (01:00:56):
NB coming up one twenty nine on News Talks NBS
and need. As the man said, we are broadcasting live
from Rockpool and christ Church eighty five Hereford Street, Christ
Churches Gastrope Experience since nineteen ninety five, giving away hospitality
vouches right across the afternoon. If you text the word
final to nine two ninety two, not only are you
in the drawer to win the last two tickets to

(01:01:18):
Tonight's Super Rugby Final at Apollo Project Stadium, but every
half hour will draw a winner to win one hundred
dollars worth of food and beverage from the team here
at Rock Paul. Let's bring in though a true Crusaders legend.
Reuben Thorn debuted for the team in nineteen ninety seven.
He was part of seven Super Rugby title wins ninety eight,

(01:01:38):
ninety nine and two thousand, then two, five, six and eight,
the last four of those as captain. In his debut
season as Crusaders skipper in two thousand and two, the
team completed a perfect season with thirteen wins from thirteen games,
beating the Brumbies in the final yeap opening up for.

Speaker 9 (01:01:56):
Hakwell came up Road ten, A beout, they wait, catchin.

Speaker 11 (01:02:04):
They got and do it again.

Speaker 6 (01:02:05):
They're gonna pick up.

Speaker 8 (01:02:06):
I've done it every time.

Speaker 5 (01:02:11):
There he goes to siren and.

Speaker 7 (01:02:16):
Again time. Yeah, that's the Crusaders winning the final in
two thousand and two. Ruben Thorn played one hundred and
twenty nine Super Rugby games in red and black, and
last year was inducted into the Crusaders Hall of Fame.
Let's not forget he also played fifty one times for
the All Blacks. Fifty of those were tests and he
was captain and twenty two of them went to three

(01:02:38):
World Cups. Rubin Thorn is with us. Ruben, thanks for
joining us on Grand Final day. Thinking back to your
time and the team and the huge success that you had,
what were the hallmarks of that prolonged success that you
enjoyed during your time with the Crusaders.

Speaker 6 (01:02:56):
Well, I think it was just the teenness of the group,
if that makes sense, because there was obviously a lot
of talents players, there's some, but it was the way
that we were able to be a team, you know,
a true team players a team and rather than just
be a group of talented individuals, it was all about
putting a team first and coming together and playing as

(01:03:19):
a really solid team, particularly in those type moments where
games can sort of go either way. It's the team
that plays most like a team that often comes through
rather than the team with the talent.

Speaker 3 (01:03:30):
Yeah.

Speaker 7 (01:03:30):
You run an eye down the list of some of
those teams and they're just chock full of some of
our best ever all blacks. When you were captaining those sides.
What was the best way to lead such an experienced,
talented group.

Speaker 3 (01:03:45):
For me, it was.

Speaker 6 (01:03:48):
I guess I just had to be authentic myself and
try to do the best job I could do. But
with that sort of caliber of people around you, you
use them, you encourage them, you let them leave in
your way. I always felt like it was a collaborative,
collaborative type of environment that we had where people could
expressed themselves and lead in their areas. So you know,

(01:04:10):
we just sort of encouraged that and that made a
lot easier for me as well.

Speaker 7 (01:04:15):
Does any of the titles stand out above the others
for you?

Speaker 6 (01:04:21):
I get out there quite a bit, but it's actually
really hard, a hard one to pick. I mean, one
of my favorite ones is all the very first title
that we won against the Blues in ninety ninety eight,
just because it was, I guess the start of something
and the way it came about. In the team that
we played in the final was an outstanding Blues team.
I mean, they should have probably beaten us on paper

(01:04:43):
every day, but you know, we went up there and
we had to fight really hard that season to get
through and we won that final and it was I
still have some incredible memories of that moment and the
aftermath of that, just the celebrations and the sort of
euphoria of actually winning one title, but that sort of
led us into this sort of dynasty. I guess that

(01:05:04):
the Crusaders of bil from there.

Speaker 7 (01:05:05):
He certainly had the first of three in a raw,
and then you took over as captain that two thousand
and two team that went through unbeaten. Was that the
best Crusaders side you played in?

Speaker 6 (01:05:19):
Again, another really tough question. I mean that that was
a very good team and we played something outstanding rugby,
a really enjoyable brand of rugby, and you know, we
just found a way to win a lot of really
tight games, because there was a lot of games we
played that year that were we won, but not by much.
So that that was one of the things that team

(01:05:41):
had was a lot of character as well as you know,
some exciting young talent coming through. Guys who were sort
of coming becoming household names if you like, like the
Dan Carters, Richard mccaws and the Chris Jacks and those
young talented players who were just at the sort of
early stages of their careers that's when they sort of
made their mark, well started to make their mark on
the scene. So it was a great team to.

Speaker 7 (01:06:03):
Be part of, and we played with rugby, the unbeaten
winning streak and home finals. This status been thrown around
a lot in the last couple of weeks. Thirty one
straight finals games in christ Yet or at home without
ever losing any of them. You were obviously part of
building that at the start. As you were building it,
were you aware of it and did it ever come

(01:06:25):
with any pressure?

Speaker 6 (01:06:28):
Well, I know we weren't really aware of it at
the time. I mean not something that we've talked about it,
I guess now over such a long period it's built
up to this incredible number thirty zero thirty one tozer.

Speaker 9 (01:06:41):
Beck.

Speaker 6 (01:06:41):
When I was playing, it wasn't really an issue. We
just had real pride in playing at home in front
of our home people. That was what we focused on
giving back to them and putting our performances that we
could be proud of as a team and that we
wanted to our supporters to be proud of as well.
And that was more of a focus than than the
stats or the numbers behind it.

Speaker 7 (01:07:01):
You won seven titles, but you lost a couple of
finals as well, three to the Blues so four to
the Brumbies. How deflating are Super Rugby Final defeats.

Speaker 6 (01:07:12):
Yeah, they're pretty disappointing. Yeah, I mean for both sides.
You go all the way through, you put a huge
amount of work into getting giving yourself that opportunity, you
pour your heart and soul into it, and to fall
short at their last hurdles, really it is deflating. It
is disappointing. Yeah, even though you can look back and say, well,

(01:07:33):
we made a final and it's a great achievement, but
you don't want to just make it. You know, you
want to go there, you want to win the title.
And yeah, it's definitely a totally different feeling if you don't.

Speaker 7 (01:07:45):
Vet and your Crusader's coach is Wayne smith initially and
then Robbie Dean's. Can you tell us about their respective styles?

Speaker 6 (01:07:52):
Yeah, Look, Smithie, I think his influence is still there today.
You know, he started, in my opinion, he started a
lot of the coaching sort of methodology that modern coaches use,
particularly guys like Razor in Robbie Deans who followed after
Smoothy around theming seasons and getting to that sort of

(01:08:13):
real mental skill space. There was a massive part of
what he sort of introduced, and for me as a
young player, it was the first time might ever come
across it. So it was it was huge for us,
and it's, you know, that's part of building a culture
and getting buy in from the whole group and the
whole organization and doing all those sorts of things that
are not just run catch pass stuff. It's it's all

(01:08:36):
the other stuff off the field, around the team environment,
around the mental skill space, and all of that that
the great coaches sort of bring to.

Speaker 7 (01:08:44):
A group and to the modern day. Reuben, what has
been so different in twenty twenty five compared to twenty
twenty four.

Speaker 6 (01:08:55):
Look, I think twenty twenty four for Rob pen anyway,
it was I want, I don't want to call it
a hospital pass, but I think he sort of he
came in late. The team had been sleeped that they
had a preseason already organized, and he sort of came
into it, and they went over to Europe, as you'll remember,
and I think they just got that that part of
it wrong, the whole transition to a new coach and

(01:09:17):
new coaching group in the preseason side of it wrong.
So they started a little bit on the back foot
and just never were able to quite get out of it.
And I know this year they put a lot of
emphasis on getting that part of it right starting the
season well, and you know, I'm building the team the
way that it should have been done last year, but
just for various circumstances, they couldn't couldn't do.

Speaker 7 (01:09:38):
It in the final tonight the Chiefs. It just feels
like a coin flip. You know, any anyone who doesn't
have skin in the game as far as being a
Crusaders or Chief supporter will tell you that. I mean,
I've got no idea how how this game is going
to go. Do you have a have an idea of
what might decide it tonight? What the small you know,
but the small but large factors might be.

Speaker 6 (01:09:59):
I feel very much like you. I mean, the Chiefs
are an outstanding team. They really, they really are that.
It's an incredible group. They're playing great rugby. They've dominated
the Crusaders in the round robin, but the Crusaders at
home again for a final, so it's really tough one
to perk. And you know, I really hope it's a
great game. Obviously, I'm a Crusaders supporter, so I hope

(01:10:22):
they'll do it, and I think home advantage will be
will be a factor but they are up against a
hell of a good team and the Chiefs, and you
know they've got a lot of motivation behind how they've
come to the final as well.

Speaker 7 (01:10:37):
So yeah, it'll be exciting well well, in a brand
new stadium to look forward to next year. You know,
you come to christ Church now and you see it there,
and I'm sure Cantabrians have been excited watching its construction.
What will the new stadium do for the city and
for the rugby community in christ Church?

Speaker 6 (01:10:54):
Well, you're right there, there's a huge amount of excitement
around it and it's such a you know, if you,
as you say, you come to christ each now, it's
a massive part of the of your eyeline almost. It's everywhere.
There's not many places you can look to the city
and not see out of it. So it's just really exciting. Look,
I just think having a really world class home base

(01:11:16):
for rugby and other events in the city is going
to be massive and that whole side of town. Yeah, Look,
it's just coming along so much now and everyone's excited
about it. The current stadium has done a fantastic job
and has created its own bit of history there, but
I think people are really looking forward to getting to
this new stadium and it's it's looking like it's going
to be a world class. We've got some ex Crusaders

(01:11:39):
who are working on it actually, so they've been sending
us updates and photos of the changing rooms and other
bits and pieces and it's it looks incredible. So you know,
having a facility like that will be amazing for the
city and obviously for for rugby and the Crusaders.

Speaker 7 (01:11:54):
Who have your former teammates is on the tools.

Speaker 6 (01:11:57):
I met Musters in there. He's he's got a plumbing
business and he's doing a lot of the fit outwork
on the inside. So's he's been showing us around a
wee bit brilliant stuff.

Speaker 7 (01:12:07):
You ain't miss Addington. You aint miss turning up at
Eddington and you know and the beaning and eight layers
to watch.

Speaker 6 (01:12:13):
No, no, look, it's been great, Like the surface is
great there and it's it's not a bad place to
view rugby, but you know, having a roof on and
being closed and just the yeah, a real world class
quality stadium will make a mess of difference and I
think people are super excited about it.

Speaker 7 (01:12:30):
Can't wait. Well, one more game, dear old Addington tonight.
I hope it goes the way that Crusaders stands. So
thanks for taking the time for a chat today, Rubin.
Thank you, cheers, thank you, reubend Rubin thorn Gee, what
success the Crusaders had with him and that team. A
seven time Super Rugby champion during his time in the side.
What about tonight O eight one hundred and eighty ten

(01:12:51):
eighty nine two ninety two on text couples through here
both tabs here and in Australia have the chief says
favorite yep. I noticed that during the week when they
opened the odds, it was a dollar ninety each. That's
how they opened and it stayed that way for a while,
and about Wednesday Thursday, the Chiefs came down to a
dollar eighty and the Crusaders are at two dollars. So

(01:13:13):
that's the weight of money. Of course, those odds dictated
largely by how much money comes in on the two sides.
Larl says Jason Demack had a terrible final in twenty three.
He also wasn't great last year in a couple of
high stakes games. He has to prove he's not just
a dirt track hero that he's now psychologically bulletproof and
can be the All Black starting first five. Loll I

(01:13:35):
totally agree. I think tonight what better stage for Damien
McKenzie to prove that he is the All Blacks starting
first five than this coming to christ Church and guiding
his team around Apollo Projects Stadium and basically guiding them

(01:13:57):
to victory. If he can do that tonight, if he
plays a significant role, then clearly he has to have
the inside running to be the All Blacks starting first
five in a couple of weeks, and that's all. It
is a couple of weeks away. Two weeks today will
be in Dunedin for the first test of the year.
That's rushed up incidentally on the show next weekend while

(01:14:18):
we're talking about the future. Scott Robertson is with us
next Sunday for an hour between one and two next
Sunday afternoon, Scott Robertson All Backs Coach Live and studio
taking your calls. So maybe make a note of that,
a mental note or even a physical one raiser in
studio with us next Sunday between one and two, eighteen

(01:14:40):
away from two, We're coming to your live from Rock
Paul and christ Urch Dy five Hereford Street, christ Church
as Gastro pub experience. As we build towards the final tonight,
we'll take a bit of a break from the rug
been a moment hit across the Tasman. Catch up with
our Australian correspondent Adam Peacock.

Speaker 1 (01:14:56):
Kicking off the afternoon live from the Rock Ball in
christ Church. It's weekend sport with Jason Pyne and GJ.
Gun Homes New Zealand's US Trust at Home NEWSTALKSB.

Speaker 7 (01:15:08):
On News Talk ZB is always on a Saturday, we
crossed the Tasman and catch up with the latest in
Australian sporting issues and news with Adam Peacock. How are
you mate?

Speaker 16 (01:15:17):
Fin yourself?

Speaker 7 (01:15:18):
Yeah good, I'm actually broadcasting from a bar this afternoon.
So perks of the job, mate, perks of the.

Speaker 21 (01:15:23):
Job, as you do on a Saturday hot boat.

Speaker 2 (01:15:26):
We all took what time do.

Speaker 21 (01:15:27):
You have your first one? At eight o'clock?

Speaker 7 (01:15:30):
Come now mate? No, no, I'm very professional as you know.
Wait at least wait till after I've spoken to you anyway.
So let's get into that. Let's get into that. Starting
the State of Origin game two Wednesday night in Perth,
Queensland squaring it up with a twenty six twenty four win,
although they did their best to let New South Whies

(01:15:51):
back into it was the fact that they won this
game a surprise to most people.

Speaker 21 (01:15:56):
Yeah, I think so, and the New South will a
couple of factors that they could control and they field.
There was a couple of factors that they couldn't control.
The contributed to being down twenty six I think it
was twenty six six at half time. They scored the
first try as well, so twenty six unanswered points to Queensland.

Speaker 13 (01:16:13):
It was.

Speaker 21 (01:16:13):
Yeah, they weren't at their best. Nathan Cleary came into
the game hindered by a thigh injury or a quad pain.
Hearts was nearly a late withdrawal as well. They still
played pretty well those two, but they weren't out there
similating best. And couple with that that they just looked
into clinking and stuff. Well it's a couple of that
was the fact that Ashley khen gove Queensland nine straight

(01:16:34):
penalties to start the game just into the second half.
So yeah, news Ow was run over the moon about that.
Discipline was an issue for them, But it was the
fact that Queensland were perfect apparently in the eyes of
the referee, which didn't make sense. It cannot make sense.
It is without logic, that kind of thought. So yeah,
but then they came roaring back. So yeah, it's all
set up for Game three.

Speaker 7 (01:16:56):
What's the early mail on Game three? We're in Sydney,
aren't we? So home for New South whiles Queensland would
still be favorite though, wouldn't they? Or I no, sorry
New South Wales, which shall be favorite even if it
us anywhere there. They're the better team, aren't they?

Speaker 21 (01:17:11):
Yeah, they are, they are. I mean you look at
the series so far and of the four halfs of
football news up, I have clearly been better in three
and clearly they get it right for you know, seventy
five percent of the game. So one half and half
of another half they win the game. There's no question
about that. It's just whether they can execute and Queensland

(01:17:33):
or just hanging around. They'll just do enough, I'd say
to ask questions. In their first half, yeah, they were
helped by the continual penalties that they receive, but they
have to still take advantage of that and they did.
They were good enough to do so, so they're dangerous,
but news Well is very much the fact option in
game three in Sydney on July ninth.

Speaker 7 (01:17:50):
All right, I look forward to that very much now.
Of course, the players now disperse back to their clubs,
but not quickly enough for many of them to feature
this weekend Panther's Warriors later on today, the Warriors will
miss Kurt cape Well, but Penrith will have five Origin
players not available Ivan Cleary. He's not too happy about this, unsurprisingly,
does he have a point.

Speaker 21 (01:18:10):
I mean, rope the day the draw came out and this, like,
obviously you don't jump up and down. I think there's November.
The draw comes out, no one really cares then, but
when it's about to happen, that's when everyone cares.

Speaker 14 (01:18:23):
It's ridiculous, completely ridiculous that you.

Speaker 21 (01:18:26):
Play a game in Perth and you put any any
game with audue respect to you guys over there on
the other side of the planet. Basically, like it's just dumb.
It wouldn't have mattered who they played, Like even if
it was a case of you guys playing against someone
with no Origin representatives, you guys are still weakened by
being without capable So it's it's just stupid. I don't

(01:18:48):
know why. And there's been some weird things in the
drawer this year, like teams playing each other twice by
round six. I mean why, Like everyone says it's a
really complicated thing to do it draw It can't be
that complicated, absolutely not. So yeah, they have to sort
that out. And I dare say, if they haven't played
an Origin game in Perth again, hey guys, maybe not
schedule a game three days later in Auckland just to

(01:19:10):
help out the game.

Speaker 7 (01:19:12):
Yeah, it makes make It seems to be common scenes.
Maybe that's the problem, far too much common scenes that
at play here. I want to finish with the Australian
cricket team. They're about to begin a three test series
in the West Indies. Marnus labor Shane has been dropped
from the test team. Sam Constace will take his place again.
Was this a surprise or has Marnus just just run
out of a run out of runs?

Speaker 21 (01:19:34):
Basically a bit of a shock that it happened so abruptly,
and then not only so abruptly, but so far away
from the start of the test. It wasn't like it
sounds like they planned this all along, that it was
going to happen no matter what Marnas did at Lord's. Okay,
if he scored a double cart, it might have changed
their changed their thinking. But more I think about it, Yeah,

(01:19:54):
Marnus hasn't been his best, but Usban Kowaj is coming
towards the end. Yeah, I suppose it was he because
of his double tone in Sri Lanka. But I'm just
looking at Ashes and Marnas and Uzzi Ashes time is
a pretty tight call. So they've gone this way now.
But it doesn't mean the end for Marnas going into

(01:20:14):
the Ashes later in the year, but he might struggle
to get a game in the West Indies because it
sounds like they're going to stick solid with Constant and
give him a fair crack, not just you know, two
part years and he's gone back out of the team.
So yeah, they're certainly throwing it forward a bit against
a weaker opponent than what they'll face later in the year.
But yeah, it's course cause the favorit of debates over here.

Speaker 7 (01:20:35):
And know Steve Smith, either at least for the first Test,
probably that you got that finger injury we spoke about
last last week in the World Test Championship final is
he I mean, what's the word? Will he play any
part in these three tests?

Speaker 12 (01:20:47):
Yeah?

Speaker 21 (01:20:47):
He should be back for Test two, if not Test three.
It's not so much the injury now, it's more about
the actual cut and getting the cut to heel because
if that splits again, it's back to square one, so
got to be careful. He'll obviously want to try and
field in the lips, but that seems like a ridiculous
and holding the bat as well. So once all the

(01:21:08):
swelling goes down and the cup which is pretty extreme
and they've needed stitches obviously because it was a compound dislocation,
that he should be should be ready to go for
the second test.

Speaker 2 (01:21:19):
I dare say, all right, good to hear.

Speaker 7 (01:21:22):
Hey, great to chat to you, mate. I'm the smell
of steak and chips and the odd beverage is wafting
towards my broad past position here mate, you probably you
can probably smell it through the radio. So it's great
to get the chance to chat to yours. Hal's mate.
We'll be I'll be back in the in the confines
of the studio when we chat next Saturday.

Speaker 21 (01:21:41):
Sounds good mate, and yeah, enjoy the evening and enjoy
the afternoon.

Speaker 7 (01:21:45):
If you can get through, it should be okay. Thanks mate.
Adam Peacock, our Australian correspondent here them at this time
or thereabouts every Saturday afternoon here on New Stalks. He'd
be just on seven and a half to two. Don't
forget we have the final two tickets to the Super
Rugby Grand Final to give away before three o'clock. If
you text the word final tonight to nine two. Just

(01:22:07):
simply the word final to nine two nine two, you
are in the draw, provided we receive it before. I
don't know I'm gonna say, look, Andy's in charge. I
don't know what time we're going to close it off,
but send it now and you'll be fine. And then
every half hour the team at Rock Paul have put
up a one hundred dollars food and beverage voucher, a
hospitality voucher for you to win.

Speaker 12 (01:22:29):
Now.

Speaker 7 (01:22:29):
I do need to make the point that if you
can't make it to the game tonight, you can assign
the tickets to someone in christ Church. Text final to
nine two ninety two seven to two four away from two.
The show is coming here from Rock Paul and christ Church.
After two o'clock. It's a Super Rugby CEO Super panel.
Jack Mesley, CEO of Super Rugby Pacific, Colin Mansbridge CEO

(01:22:52):
of the Crusaders, Simon Grafis, CEO of the Chiefs. All
three are here. They've all had their lunch. I can
reports they should be nice and full and ready to
have a chat to us after two o'clock and we'll
also reveal our winner of the two tickets. Text final
to nine two nine two.

Speaker 5 (01:23:13):
It's game day.

Speaker 1 (01:23:15):
We get building up to the Super Rugby Pacific Grand
Final lave at the rock Ball, christ Church's original.

Speaker 5 (01:23:21):
Inner City Gastropub.

Speaker 1 (01:23:23):
It's Weekend Sport with Jason five on News TALKSB.

Speaker 7 (01:23:29):
At two o seven. We're getting closer. What are we
five hours away? We've got you through the first couple
of hours as part of the first couple of hours
of our show. We'll give you another hour and then
Tim Bebreis takes over for the Weekend Collective on News
Talks HEEDB. Don't forget live commentary on Gold Sports and
iHeartRadio tonight. We'll build up from six. The game is
scheduled to begin at five past seven. Our commentary team

(01:23:51):
Nick Gorli, John Haggett and Craig Kerr bringing you the action,
Gold Sport and iHeartRadio build up from six kickoff at
seven oh five tonight very shortly, a super Rugby CEO
super panel, Jack Mesley, Colin Mansbridge, Simon grafis all set
to have a chat to us. I'm not quite sure

(01:24:11):
what I'll have to do in that time. I'll just
let them talk. I think they all have pleaded to
say and are delighted. I'm sure that we've found ourselves
in christ Church for the Grand Final. Wallas to Titi
this hour as well. Don't forget you can continue to
text the word final to nine two ninety two to
be in to win our two tickets to the game tonight.

Speaker 12 (01:24:30):
It's all.

Speaker 7 (01:24:31):
There is no other tickets anywhere unless you're willing to
pay well over the odds outside the ground to someone
who's got some and wants to scalp them to you.
These ones are free. All you have to do is
text Final to nine two nine two and we'll draw
a winner this hour for those tickets. Oh e one
hundred and eighty ten eighties and number is always nine
two nine two. For your thoughts on text on any

(01:24:51):
matter but eight past two is the time, and as
we always do at around about this time on weekend Sport,
it's time to catch you up with a few things
that you might have missed. In case you missed it.
As the name of the feature, another tough outing for
Auckland City FC at the FIFA Club World Cup. This
morning we lift edition, lift dick so penalty. It is

(01:25:14):
for bat Vika at Kaltivadia.

Speaker 24 (01:25:18):
Stocks at home.

Speaker 1 (01:25:19):
A relentless spread tide, but it's full tide here in Orlando, Florida.

Speaker 2 (01:25:28):
Six dell the final margin.

Speaker 7 (01:25:31):
The victory, yeah heavy, six zero loss in the hands
of Ben Ker. The Indiana Pacers have extended the NBA
Finals into a seventh and deciding game.

Speaker 25 (01:25:43):
It's all Williams sixteen point scores and away Harbot comes
up with him cross court. See you can pull a Sudam.
It's deppening in here. A twenty point loose.

Speaker 7 (01:25:58):
And absolutely dominant showing over Oklahoma City forcing a winner,
takes all. Game seven on Monday to the NRL, the
Raiders have ridden a whole start. It's a victory over
the West Tigers.

Speaker 9 (01:26:09):
He likes what he says, and then there's that quick
pass he coo straight gam the week back inside for Starling.
Then the crumber Mere bodies come on Lions No Starling scouts.

Speaker 7 (01:26:23):
Yeah they shout out to a sixteen nil Lady early,
but I had to hold on to grind out the
sixteen twelve victory and finally a famous win for the
Pumas over the British and Irish Lions this morning, no
margin for our whatsowever, eighty third minute of again nice
Hounds at the park to the still of options joy
Why Toby Freeman comes in to protect Marcus Smith, but

(01:26:45):
away to win it? It would be here Pollock Gerald.
They've patient Rodrigo Escross Steves the Broom of Humors have
a massive victory.

Speaker 25 (01:26:57):
Against the Lions in Dublin.

Speaker 1 (01:27:00):
The scoos from the track fields and the court on
your HomeOS Sports Weekend, Sports Ways Talks.

Speaker 7 (01:27:07):
In teen past two on News Talks, he'd be on
Super Rugby Pacific Final Day. We're coming to your live
from Rock Paul eighty five, Hereford Street in the heart
of christ Church as CBD. We have assembled a Super
Rugby CEO, Super Panel. Super Rugby Pacific CEO Jack Measley
is here today. Jack, get nice and close to the
mike you guys, so we can hear you behind the

(01:27:28):
with the on Beyonce in the background. Crusader's CEO, Colin
Man's Bridge is here today.

Speaker 8 (01:27:33):
Mate, mate, how are you going?

Speaker 17 (01:27:34):
Very good?

Speaker 7 (01:27:35):
And Chief CEO Simon grafis hello, mate, good to see
you all here.

Speaker 10 (01:27:39):
Jack.

Speaker 7 (01:27:40):
We think back to early February when Game one was
played here in christ Yuch Valentine's Day was christ Church?
Where you thought you'd be on Grand Final weekend?

Speaker 26 (01:27:49):
Well, with the history of this joint, you cannot rule
it out, can you. So it's right up there every year. Yeah,
I guess we were sort of hoping we might visit
somewhere else. But it's great to be here. What a
great city and these two teams serving to be in
this match.

Speaker 7 (01:28:08):
Simon, how are your emotions as you contemplate a third
straight Grand Final?

Speaker 24 (01:28:13):
Oh, we're as pretty grateful to be here at this
time of the season. So, yeah, the work's been done
and see what happens on the park tonight.

Speaker 7 (01:28:20):
What what sort of connection do you have with the
team today? Do you kind of leave them, leave them
to it and you'll see them afterwards, or have you
connected with them today.

Speaker 24 (01:28:30):
Only in passing, but I think it's important just to
leave the boys to do their stuff today.

Speaker 17 (01:28:35):
And yeah, they've got a job to do tonight, so
pretty focused on that.

Speaker 7 (01:28:38):
Colin. Great to have you hosting us in your city
back here. Twenty twenty four must have been tough for
you watching everybody else play finals. For such a proud
team like yours.

Speaker 11 (01:28:47):
It doesn't make much fun watching others play, so it's
actually nice to be in it. But actually I saw
Simon's coaching group today walking around Hagley Park as I
was going for a jog around there, so I've managed
to get in their heads a bit before they've turned
up today, So don't worry about that, Pinning.

Speaker 7 (01:29:02):
Can we get the cow bell thing out of the way, really,
what have you brought any downside to start with?

Speaker 17 (01:29:07):
Oh heck, I'm actually hoping Colin wat smuggled them for me.

Speaker 11 (01:29:19):
There's only one person that we're going to be searching
at the gate today and that's the one that you've
just seen.

Speaker 7 (01:29:26):
Hey, Jack, before we talk about the game specifically, what
is your assessment of Super Rugby twenty twenty five and
do to leave it also with the benefit of some
hard data as well.

Speaker 26 (01:29:36):
Yeah, It's been a great season and I think undeniably
one of the best seasons for many years, but importantly
another year.

Speaker 8 (01:29:44):
Of growth on last year, which also grew.

Speaker 26 (01:29:46):
So at the start of the season, we kind of
had three key measures to look at.

Speaker 8 (01:29:51):
You three key pillars.

Speaker 26 (01:29:52):
One was about the quality of the products between the
white stripes, the level of competitiveness in the latter, and
then engaging fans with more things, more tools around that
and across all of those things we've seen really great
growth and you know, ultimately we want that to translate
into more fans watching us more often. And you know,
all the data is showing that, so really pleasing season,

(01:30:15):
but you know it comes down to this point. You know,
tonight and today is all about culminating a great season
with a great Grand Final. And I've got no doubt
these two teams will give us one tonight.

Speaker 7 (01:30:25):
Look absolutely, I think we can all agree the two
best teams are in the final. Across the season, your
sides were the most consistent during round robin eleven wins
from fourteen, dominant through the final series. Colin and triested,
how much pressure did you come under after last season
to make a coaching change A lot.

Speaker 11 (01:30:45):
Of external pressure, Piney. But it's interesting. You know, high
performance is about very small margins. I mean, if you
look at the table this year, I think Jack was
mentioning yesterday Highlanders were in the thing till the very
very end of this competition. So you're always there or thereabouts,
which shows you how close the margins are in high performance.
But when you go through and you look at the
whole organization, and then you look at all the things

(01:31:07):
you could have done better, everybody pulls a lever or
two and you go from where we were to we
are and so so I think internally the pressure wasn't
as severe as what it was exter and I got
plenty of the bite.

Speaker 8 (01:31:19):
It's very hard to go to the pub on occasion,
but yeah, not so bad now.

Speaker 7 (01:31:23):
All right, well you've clearly made the right decision because
here we are, Simon, you're going to make a coaching
change soon. Can you just talk a bit about Clayton
McMillan's impact on your organization as he prepares for his
final game in charge.

Speaker 24 (01:31:36):
I love Clayton's a pretty special individual and as record
speaks for itself, you know, four finals and five years,
but what he has brought to is just that connection
to what's important to us, to the region, to the people,
to culture, and so he leaves us in a much
better space. And you know, obviously with saying about once chief,

(01:32:00):
always a chief, he's always going to be a chief,
he's always going to be held on the highest honor,
and he's always welcomed back. So yeah, we're being blessed
to have them.

Speaker 8 (01:32:08):
Yeah.

Speaker 7 (01:32:08):
Well, certain cats have been let out of certain bags,
I think by some of your former players. Actually, in
terms of your new coach, when will you make the
official announcement on that.

Speaker 24 (01:32:17):
Well, yes, interesting, Actually I'd hope to be part of
that process, which we haven't done yet so I'm not
quite sure what those guys are on. But we'll go
through a process postseason. You know, if we had foreseen
us getting to this point, perhaps we would have made
some decisions sooner. But yeah, the best thing you can

(01:32:38):
do is focus on on the season and get that.
Get that out of the way, all right.

Speaker 7 (01:32:41):
So you haven't given it to John O Gibbs yet.

Speaker 17 (01:32:43):
Then absolutely not.

Speaker 24 (01:32:45):
So like I said, postseason will run a process and yeah,
but get it. Getting to this point helps helps helps
us make a decision too.

Speaker 7 (01:32:54):
Jack, we spoke a few weeks ago and you were
keen to look at the possibility of Super Around here
in christ Church with the new stadium, which I know
you've seen it. It's hard to miss a's nutg It
looks good as you walk past it and you can
edge and games in there. But are you still caen
to to you know, pursue that.

Speaker 8 (01:33:10):
Yeah, absolutely, Yeah, we're working hard.

Speaker 26 (01:33:12):
We want Super Around to be a part of our
fixture every year and we'd love to bring it to
New Zealand for the first time.

Speaker 8 (01:33:19):
So yeah, we really hope we can.

Speaker 26 (01:33:21):
There's still a bit to do on it, but hopefully
we can get that sorted in the next couple of weeks.
And just while we're just talking about Clayton and probably
Rob as well, I just want to say that beyond
the great work they do on the field, amazing work
to support our efforts off the field as well. And
you know, I think both coaches, coaching teams as well

(01:33:44):
as all of the rest of the clubs have just
really worked hard to you know, give fans access. If
you think about the Chiefs documentary as a great example,
and so you know, I think it's also acknowledging the
work those guys are doing off the field as well
as the great work they do on the field.

Speaker 7 (01:34:00):
Can I just endorse that from a media point of
view as well? And I know this might be a
bit of a house, but you know, dealing with the Chiefs,
the Crusaders, but also the Blues, the Hurricanes and the Islanders,
it has been nothing but seamless as far as the
media is concerned. And I know that's not the most
important thing, and I know players would rather do other
things than talk to us, but I mean, I know
it start to the top, so so clearing the way

(01:34:22):
for that to be possible as well as greatly appreciated.
Colin to Kaha G. You must be looking forward to
getting in there. What will it do to boost your
team but also boost this community.

Speaker 11 (01:34:32):
I think the excitement already, you know, people are putting
their hands up to get memberships, sponsors, looking to get
into suites and hospitality. It's already the demands already there.
You know, well over jew, well over done. But it's
very very special. It's a beautiful place when you get
in there and you walk around it. Jack and I

(01:34:52):
have walked around it together and you're actually you're closer
than you are at where we are at Addington now.
So Addington's a really intimate stadium. I think you know,
when we see a go and we're sad to see
her go, there's an intimacy and a closeness. You're right
right on the field seeing what's going on. Well, this
new place, one New Zealand sat make you closer. You'll

(01:35:13):
feel like you're when you're doing a commentary or making
an observation, you'll feel like you're going to catch the ball.

Speaker 8 (01:35:18):
It's that close. It's just it. It'll be the venue
in this part of the region. Yeah, no doubt about it.

Speaker 7 (01:35:25):
Oh, saying before, I don't think there's any crusader who
predates Eddington, but Mitch Drummond might.

Speaker 8 (01:35:29):
I don't know, No, No, I think Sam was ours.
I think Sam was our last.

Speaker 11 (01:35:33):
So yeah, so fourteen years and this thing here, so yeah,
it's so that's the interesting thing. These players have only
ever played here, and so that's all they know, and
that they're really grateful for the opportunity to have played here,
and it is home and they're really stoked about it,
and they'll be sad to see it go. But I reckon,
they play one game in the new one and they'll go,

(01:35:54):
oh my goodness, what have we been missing out for
for over a decade?

Speaker 7 (01:35:58):
Simon, Surely this is your year. Surely, I mean two
Grand Final losses in the last two years twenty twenty three.
I think we can all agree, even you Colin, that
you were the best team across the regular season before
the Crusaders came to Hamilton that night. Do you have
to lose two to win one? Is that how this works?

Speaker 24 (01:36:16):
I don't know if there's any formula to that one.
I think the best teams and I to win, and
you know we've got we've got another chance. So you know,
we always want to be there, be there or thereabouts,
and we've got an outstanding group of group of men
that will that will, that will give their best. And
I just hope that the winner tonight. You know, it's

(01:36:36):
it's a good result and it doesn't come down to
any contentious decisions, and both teams are worthy to be there,
and we know there's a real rivalry that goes back
a long time now. And yeah, I look, I've got
a group that I think can do the job. And
if they play as well, as they can. They'll be Yeah,
they'll give it a good note tonight, and I'm pretty
confident that they will do.

Speaker 7 (01:36:56):
Your coaches and even yourself and other members of the
organization talk to your players about their all black aspirations
or is that more a product of the process they
go through as chiefs.

Speaker 17 (01:37:07):
I certainly don't.

Speaker 24 (01:37:08):
I mean, I think the coaches, I mean, you know,
the all black coaches come into all our environments, and
I think they probably give some direction around what they
what they're wanting to see. But our coaching groups have
all all got things they're trying to achieve too, And
I think the best thing you can do for you
all but o.

Speaker 17 (01:37:22):
Despirations is deliver on the park. And we've got a few.

Speaker 24 (01:37:26):
You know, there's lineups across the park for probably all
black positions, and so it's not just a championship, it's
also all black jerseys that are at stake tonight. That
just adds another I mentioned to it, doesn't it?

Speaker 2 (01:37:37):
It does?

Speaker 7 (01:37:37):
It does well? The Yeah, the all Black squad or
first one of the year named on Monday, Yeah, I mean,
goodness me, any number of these players tonight could hear
their names called out. Some of them for the first time.
I look at a guy like Leroy Carter, you know
what a season? He said, could he be read out?
And then there's the others who have been in and
around the team for a long time. Jack, anything this
season that surprised you? Did you did you? Were you

(01:37:58):
surprised in any way by any part of the season.

Speaker 26 (01:38:01):
Yeah, I've learned a hate, you know, and great to
now have a full season under my belt as we
go into another planning phase, you know, and it's important
that you sort of do take that opportunity to really learn.
So yeah, I've been surprised, learnt a lot, you know.
But I think the really pleasing thing that I've learned

(01:38:22):
is that we've got a really great group of stakeholders
that all want the same thing, and we've now got
a bit of permission and license to go and with
that momentum and with that collective desire to go and
continue to.

Speaker 8 (01:38:37):
Take this competition forward.

Speaker 26 (01:38:40):
You know, we have no KPIs to do with the
international teams, going back to the all Black discussion. You know,
our focus is on this competition and I'm making this
competition as best it can be.

Speaker 8 (01:38:52):
We know if we do that that will help the
national unions that are in and around our competition do well.

Speaker 26 (01:38:58):
But our focus is absolutely about, you know, taking the
collective group of stakeholders and continuing to grow this competition
and can continuing to add value to our stakeholder.

Speaker 8 (01:39:08):
Those are our.

Speaker 26 (01:39:09):
Owners of our clubs, our fans, our broadcasts and media
partners and our sponsors. So you know, yeah, lots of
learnings and we'll sit down and and really dissect a
lot of those in detail, whether that's the shape of
game where we have a great group of people that
represent all of the different parts of that ecosystem that

(01:39:31):
will review the laws, the interpretations of the match officials.
You know, that's just one example. We'll have a whole
lot of groups that will go to work now and
take those learnings forward, you know, and and and you know,
the feedback we've got, we really welcome that.

Speaker 11 (01:39:47):
You know.

Speaker 26 (01:39:47):
I know there's been some discussion about the final series,
you know, and that's great, you know, we really it's
a really.

Speaker 8 (01:39:53):
Good series for final series.

Speaker 17 (01:39:58):
So that so you know, here we go.

Speaker 8 (01:40:00):
So we got we got two teams here who love
the final series.

Speaker 26 (01:40:04):
But but you know, I mean, that's the difficult My
job is we'll have a whole lot of different feedback,
but we like the feedback, We welcome the discussion, and
my commitment to all of our stakeholders is, you know,
we will do the work, we'll look at those things
and and we'll come forward with a solution. Now, not

(01:40:25):
everyone will be happy, right because you know, for every
piece of feedback there's an opposite and equal piece of feedback.

Speaker 8 (01:40:33):
But all I'd say is that we are listening.

Speaker 26 (01:40:35):
Our intention is to grow this for everyone and continue
to make this the greatest club rugby.

Speaker 8 (01:40:40):
Competition in the world.

Speaker 11 (01:40:42):
I think point is, well, just before we go off Jack,
I think Jack's arrival, we all talk about it amongst
ourselves that the CEOs when we get together or when
we're on calls. His arrival has been outstanding because I
think we're on a call the other day and he
bang Simon in my head together about some things and
suggests that we could do some things better.

Speaker 8 (01:41:01):
He's just passionate about how it shows up for the fans.

Speaker 11 (01:41:05):
So it's actually really neat that we've got someone who
is just myopically focused on how this thing goes for fans.
So his impact has been quite quite significant. I think
we should take a moment and say thanks man. I
think you've done a really good job.

Speaker 8 (01:41:19):
Man, thank you.

Speaker 7 (01:41:19):
Great to hear it, great to hear it. I want
to finish on tonight's game, but just before I do,
I'm being in christ Church.

Speaker 8 (01:41:24):
Man.

Speaker 7 (01:41:25):
This city's been through a lot, Colin, hasn't it. And
had the chance to have a look at Padocky early
this morning the new indoor facility. I'm going to have
a little tour of Tikaha tomorrow. I spoke about it before.
How much does the Crusaders mean to this city? How
much do they mean and how much do they bond
the city together through what has been a difficult decade
and a half.

Speaker 11 (01:41:44):
I'm just going to get a few cheers and prickles
up the back of the neck, Piney. When I first
started here at Crusaders, a member came up to me
one day and he said he told me a story
about how the earthquakes he couldn't he couldn't function, he
couldn't go to work, he couldn't get out of bed.
And then he watched the Crusaders play that season, and
yes they didn't win the championship, but they went all
away and they never compromise on anything. And he said

(01:42:07):
to me, I was in real danger of doing harm
to myself. Then he said, the thing that inspired me
to get out of bed every day was the fact
your lad's got out of bed every day and did that.
And I think that to me that moment there was
oh shit, I've got in the right job here. That
they do mean a lot to this place, no doubt
about it.

Speaker 7 (01:42:23):
All Right, let's talk some rugby to finish the same
question for both Colin and Simon. Colin, who was the
most important player for the Chiefs tonight?

Speaker 8 (01:42:34):
We all know the answer for that, don't we.

Speaker 11 (01:42:35):
Yeah, and hopefully it's very cold and he pulls a
handstring we do something like that. So but yeah, no,
there's one very good player there, and I think he
should have come through our academy system.

Speaker 8 (01:42:45):
I think he was neck to what it was near
by the Chiefs.

Speaker 7 (01:42:48):
Maybe there's a discussion for another day. Who's most important
Simon for the Crusaders tonight?

Speaker 8 (01:42:52):
Do you think?

Speaker 17 (01:42:53):
Great question? But uh, there's probably a couple.

Speaker 24 (01:42:56):
I think I probably can't split it between Cody Taylor
and Scott Arrett, and I think those two of their
tellismen so yeah, if they if they get up for it,
which I'm I assume they will, it'll be it'll be
a tough night. So yeah, I'm not sure between those two.

Speaker 7 (01:43:10):
To be fair, all right, a type five battle, many
people would think that will Jordan, but maybe doesn't get
out that far. Maybe it's played. They say, it all
starts up front. All right, let's finish with you, Jack,
who wins this tonight?

Speaker 8 (01:43:20):
Mate?

Speaker 26 (01:43:20):
I've just given you a big compliment, A big compliment,
well for the for the listeners. That card says I
am sitting between these two, and for fear of my
own safety, I might dodge it. I mean, I'd love
an extra time. I must say, I don't want to
go to the kickoff, but I'd love it to go
deep into extra time.

Speaker 8 (01:43:41):
Keep fans on the edge of this. See good.

Speaker 11 (01:43:43):
If it's a kickoff and Jock finished it off with
the final kick, that would be pretty good, wouldn't it.

Speaker 8 (01:43:49):
Don't think we don't want to kick off.

Speaker 7 (01:43:52):
I don't think we want to kick off. I think
we want to gain that is worthy of the occasion,
and I'm sure that is exactly what we're going to get.
Great to see you guys, Colin Mansbridge, Simon Graphis, Jack Measley,
Enjoy the game, guys, and thanks for stopping him to
rock Paul this afternoon seven five Kick off everyone, seven
oh five. Indeed a random applause from the team here
at Rockfall for our super panel of super rugby CEOs

(01:44:13):
to twenty seven. We're back after this. The legendary Sports
Cafe is back, but not as you know it. Now
officially an award winning podcast, Sports Cafe Ish is a
return to form for hosts ricks Alito, Lee Hart and
Mark Ellis tackling the big sporting issues of the day.
The Sports Cafe trio welcomes a stellar lineup of guests,

(01:44:36):
not limited to some of New Zealand's sporting elite, both
past and present. Expect limits will be pushed, havoc will
be created and plenty of laughs along the way. The
guys will reminisce and lay blame upon some of the
historic moments from the iconic Sports Cafe TV show. With
their unique blend of humor and insight, Sports Cafe Ish
promises to be a wild ride. Don't miss out on

(01:44:57):
the fun, the chaos, and the unforgettable memories. Tune into
Sports Cafe Ish now on iHeartRadio or wherever you get
your podcasts.

Speaker 1 (01:45:06):
Scouting down to the Super Rugby Pacific Final, Weekend Sport
with Jason Payne, lay from the Rock, full and christ
Church with GJ. Gardner Holmes, New Zealand's most trusted home
builder News Talks at b.

Speaker 7 (01:45:20):
Full Eye Commentary Tonight from six we build up on
Gold Sport and iHeartRadio kickoff at five past seven with
the team and other player set to play a significant
part in tonight's game as Chiefs and All Blacks loose.
Forward Wallace Stiti.

Speaker 9 (01:45:34):
Half the Citti reaches it over Walla Ctiti scores a try.

Speaker 7 (01:45:44):
Wallace a Titi joins us on Weekend Sport. Thanks for
taking the time on game day, Wallace. You had to
be very patient this year recovering from injury to make
it back for the Chiefs. Before you know, you've been
a pretty integral part of their side for the run.
And how do you reflect on that time off the
field at the start of the season.

Speaker 3 (01:46:03):
Yeah, first you think of having me Yeah, different season
for me personally compared to last year. I think I've
said a few times now we sort of use that
time as a blessing given ourselves time earlier in my
career and my young career to work and other stuff
for my body and turk on my game. And yeah,

(01:46:25):
like I said, we've used that time. I think I
use it to our advantage.

Speaker 7 (01:46:29):
Well, once you got back out there and playing, how
long did it take until you felt like you were
one hundred percent or close to one hundred percent?

Speaker 8 (01:46:36):
Again?

Speaker 3 (01:46:38):
Oh, I still I think I'm still trying to fund
my feet. But those first sort of two three games,
I think the first two off the bench, I didn't
got my first start. That's sort of when I was like, yep,
back into it now. So yeah, so I had to
learn quickly and get used to the pace and for
the Kenedy again. But yeah, there's nothing like being out
towards that was definitely enjoyable.

Speaker 7 (01:46:59):
And while you were on the sidelines and not playing,
were you able to stay well connected to the Chiefs
playing group during that time?

Speaker 3 (01:47:07):
Oh? Yeah, for sure. I think the Chiefs culture is
one of the best errors and they make everyone feel
at home here. And yep, well we're really tight group,
whether you're playing or not. And yeah, we really look
up to each other here.

Speaker 7 (01:47:21):
All right, Well, let's talk about this game. You went
to christ Church and beat the Crusaders just over a
month ago, that was your first start of the season.
Of course, can you use much from that game as
you prepare.

Speaker 2 (01:47:32):
For this one? Oh?

Speaker 3 (01:47:35):
Yes, said no, you know, we're a lot of our
boys have played the Crusaders multiple times, they've played them
in the final, and I think we know Crusada are
a different beast and when it comes to the finals.
So we'll take confidence from that performance a month or
so ago. But like I said, it's a different game
under I guess higher stakes. And yeah, well we'll prepare accordingly.

Speaker 7 (01:48:01):
Everybody loves to look at the battles within the game,
and everybody loves a good loose four battle. And man,
we've got one of those with yourself, some up any
female and Luke Jacobson up against Ethan Blackada, Tom Christie
and Christian Leo Willie. How do you prepare for a
loose forward battle like this?

Speaker 3 (01:48:19):
Yeah, I think there's some quality of lucies on the
other side on the team that we're playing this week
this weekend, and players that have performed and have really
come about them in the last sort of a few
weeks and when it really matters, and we'll be looking
forward to that. We'll be looking forward to that challenge.
I think we'll focus on ourselves for this and foremost. Okay, well,

(01:48:40):
we need to get what we need to need to
get done, chat about the things that we can expect,
and then if you go out there, put on the
performance they were proud of.

Speaker 7 (01:48:48):
How much did the loss to the Blues and weak
one of the finals sting the playing group?

Speaker 3 (01:48:55):
Uh, give me a hurt, I think mainly because of
the wive. We're ever Blues in the cheersehold and and
I guess it's just not a good It's not good
to start the final that way. But luckily enough we
will have their life and because therever we get another win.

Speaker 7 (01:49:13):
Look after beyond the Grand Final, of course, you've got
a couple of pretty key figures at Chiefs h Q.
Moving on your coach, Clayton McMillan off to Munster. Your
farewell one of your centurions as well, in Shan Stevenson.
Does the fact that they're going get used as as
motivation by the other players during the week.

Speaker 3 (01:49:32):
Oh, we did touch on it briefly. You know some
quality players, quality coach. That's leaving us and just moving
on to build things. And we'll be looking for We're
looking to putting on a performance that they can honor
them to two men that have served the Chiefs Jersey
for a very long time and have done some great service.

Speaker 13 (01:49:53):
In the Jersey.

Speaker 3 (01:49:54):
So we'll accordingly put on a performance, hopefully put an
performance at you know that, and that we can be
parallel and honored them.

Speaker 2 (01:50:02):
And yeah, we'll look forward to Saday.

Speaker 7 (01:50:05):
This time last year you didn't know, but you were
about to become an All Black. I don't think there's
any doubt obviously you're going to be in the All
Blacks mix again in twenty twenty five. I know you're
only focusing on tonight's game, Wallace, but have you thought
at all about the All Black season to follow?

Speaker 3 (01:50:21):
No, not too much. I'm firstly trying to find my
seat coming back from this injury and focus on this
week in hopily get a win and bring the city
of Hamilton some joy and some triumph.

Speaker 7 (01:50:35):
All right, well, all the best, as you said about
doing that and winning the Grand Final tonight, All the
best to you and the rest of the Chiefs Wallace.
Thanks for taking the time for a chat.

Speaker 3 (01:50:43):
Thank you very much.

Speaker 2 (01:50:44):
You take care.

Speaker 7 (01:50:45):
You take care as well, Wallace. Thanks indeed, Wallace Satiti
one of the nicest men going around. To correlate that
with the destruction that he rereaks on the rugby field.
Looking forward to seeing his influence on the game tonight.
It's twenty three away from three. We're coming to your
live from rock Pool in christ Church eighty five Hereford Street,
christ Church is Gastro Pub Experience and since nineteen ninety

(01:51:07):
five and across the afternoon, we've been giving you the
opportunity to text the word final into nine two ninety
two to win the final two tickets to tonight's Gamer.
I think once these two are gone there are no
more left. I don't think that. I didn't think they
were really left before today, but here we are, and
from all of the Texters into the show. Andrew, it's

(01:51:30):
you mate.

Speaker 22 (01:51:31):
You've won them chess No awesome been yeah, really look.

Speaker 10 (01:51:35):
Forward to it.

Speaker 7 (01:51:37):
Have you got somebody who I was gonna say, you've
got someone who can take along? Will you be able
to decide who to take with you tonight?

Speaker 22 (01:51:44):
I'm about to make up the phone calls and I'm
sure I'll come up with something.

Speaker 7 (01:51:47):
I was gonna say, are you going to offer them
out and see what you see? Who gives you the
best offer in return? Or something like that.

Speaker 22 (01:51:54):
Well it's possible as possible, yep, yep.

Speaker 7 (01:51:57):
All right, Well it's great to know.

Speaker 22 (01:51:59):
Yeah, Crusaders all the way.

Speaker 7 (01:52:01):
So, Chris, I was going to say, we're living here
in christ here. I get the feeling that that would
be the way you would go. I mean, it's a
it's probably a silly question to ask a Crusaders fan,
but are you are you supremely confident? Are you mainly confident?
Are you in any way nervous about the challenge of
the Chiefs tonight?

Speaker 22 (01:52:19):
Probably nervous anticipation. I suppose I've taken twelve a number,
so yeah, yeah, nervous anticipation.

Speaker 7 (01:52:28):
Nervous anticipation. That's the best way to go to a
game of rugby. I reckon, Andrew. I hope you can
find a willing partner in crime for you tonight. You
are the winner of the final two tickets to go
along to this game tonight. Thank you for text again.
You're one, and I have to say, one of one
of several hundred, if not thousands, of Texters who tried
to get through. So it's a lucky day mate, you
and somebody else after the game tonight.

Speaker 22 (01:52:50):
I'm sure I'm the phone to be going hot. Thank
you very much, and yeah, really enjoyed the show.

Speaker 7 (01:52:56):
Good on, Andrew. Hold there, mate, and my Andy, my producer,
will talk to you a bit more in a moment.
Make sure those tickets get to you. Our thanks to
everybody who texted and Andrew. You're off to the game
tonight to witness what I'm sure you will hope will
be another Crusader's win, twenty one away from three. Best
take break when come back. I had the chance this
morning to visit Patachiorti, the recreation and sports center being

(01:53:19):
constructed in christ Church, going to be the largest of
its kinds when it is completed later this year. I'm
going to tell you a bit more about that when
we come back.

Speaker 1 (01:53:29):
Game Day live from christ Church's original inner city Gastropark,
The Rock Call on Hereford Street. It's Weekend Sport with
Jason Pine and GJ. Gunn Homes, New Zealand's most trusted
home builder, News Talks.

Speaker 7 (01:53:42):
EDB News Talks hed Been Weekend Sport. Great to be here,
in christ Church, a city I've always loved, having spent
some time here in my early twenties. When construction is
completed later this year, the Padochiorti Recreation and Sports Center
here in christ Church will be the largest aquatic and
indoor recreation and leisure venue of its kind in New Zealand.

(01:54:03):
It'll feature a ten lane fifty meter competition hall with
seating for one thousand spectators, are twenty x twenty five
point four meter diving pool and aquatic leisure facility with
five hydro slides, multi purpose indoor courts with the capacity
for nine network courts and other indoor sports codes, a
show court with two and a half thousand retractable spectator seats,

(01:54:26):
a high performance sports center with facilities for coaching and training,
a shared administration area for regional sport, and a heck
of a lot more. I had the chance to tour
the Pardachioti facility this morning, guided by John o'hagen, CEO
of Crown Infrastructure Delivery. We chatted afterwards and I asked
John how long Pardochiorti had been in the planning.

Speaker 4 (01:54:48):
Look, thanks for your time today too. We're really excited.
We're very, very close to finishing. As you can see.
The planning started really in the blueprint development back in
twenty twelve when the government with Scrocia City Council developed.

Speaker 5 (01:55:04):
The blueprint for what the new Croach at CBD was
going to look like.

Speaker 4 (01:55:09):
And this site was chosen for Particuri Metro Sports facility
that was known at the time but Particuurary Sports and
Rec Center. The location was chosen because it's proximity to
the hospital for health reasons and the synergies between this
facility and the hospital Hagley Park so people can do

(01:55:31):
the walking, biking, et cetera, come here, finish it off
with a gym kind of event or dip in the pools.
So very strategic location. Again, just the blueprint woods to
regenerate parts of the city and putting the and that's
what the anchor projects before and to put these this
facility here help regenerate this corner of the CBD.

Speaker 7 (01:55:54):
Well, let's talk about the facility because it's very much
all purpose. There's a day to day element to it,
but also a high performance development element to it. In
terms of the day to day it's there are so
many features to this. As you sit here today in
an empty in an empty center. Can you can you

(01:56:15):
visualize what it will be like when all parts of
the center are being used by the by the Canterbury community.

Speaker 4 (01:56:21):
You can you can hear, you know, we walked through
the wet bar just before. That's where the swimming pools are.
You can when I walk through there now seeing you know,
the thing almost finished. You can hear the screams of
the kids, the fun and the joy of the kids
bombing into the bomb pool, the timing starting guns of
the swimming pool. You know, you can visualize it, you

(01:56:42):
can see it. You can you know, you can feel
that we're almost there. Same with the community courts. We
walked in there. It's a large space empty now, but
you imagine Saturday morning, kids playing the netball, basketball, fitts
or wherever their sport is, and the next group queuing
up outside in that community hubby area, ready to come
in for the next wave. So you know, it's very exciting.

(01:57:05):
You can you can really see it. And then, like
you say, you know, you could be doing that in
the morning, tactics are playing. In the afternoon or evening,
you have your lunch here because there's going to be
a cafe, you do all your bits and pieces, come
and watch the Tactics play in the afternoon and you
haven't left the place.

Speaker 5 (01:57:20):
It's pretty cool.

Speaker 7 (01:57:21):
Yeah right, We're sitting here overlooking the show court, which
has community courts on it when needed, but also can
become a show court for the likes of the Tactics
the Canterbury Rams. How important was it to have to
have the high performance element to the center.

Speaker 5 (01:57:36):
It looked really important.

Speaker 4 (01:57:36):
It was very again quite strategic to include high performance
in here.

Speaker 5 (01:57:41):
We wanted to have sports on display.

Speaker 4 (01:57:44):
We wanted to have young people coming into the facility,
bumping into their idols that play for the Tactics or
for the Rams to see, you know, the Cannery based
olympians training here at the facility. They have to come
in the front door, like you know Joe Public needs
to come into the front door. So having that was
really really important. There's also you know, the high performance

(01:58:08):
athletes need their privacy and you know that they do
have that, but to be able to see them through
kind of there's a lot of glazing, so to see them,
see them doing their jobs and working from from the outsiders,
it was really really important.

Speaker 5 (01:58:26):
And they brought into the idea as well.

Speaker 7 (01:58:28):
Let's talk about the aqualit facility, full sized pool, a
diving pool with the ten meter platform which you were
kind enough to take me up to the top of
very briefly, I might I might add, are we likely
to see national swim champs here? Is that the speck
of the of the facility.

Speaker 5 (01:58:45):
Yeah, look, definitely national competitions here.

Speaker 4 (01:58:50):
The facilities also of international standards, so you know we
could we could hold it an international event, but we
we are looking for national events to be held here
and regional events.

Speaker 5 (01:59:04):
So the pool is internationally spect so.

Speaker 4 (01:59:10):
Records can be recorded here, World records can be recorded here.
So that's something that's really really special for the for
the facility and.

Speaker 7 (01:59:17):
The diving facility. I know the team at dive ins
that are pretty pretty excited about it all. And you
pointed out some harnesses to me which which I never
really thought of. I guess when you practice diving, you
dive into the pole, but there's there's harnesses. But also
you've got a you've got a dry poll where they
can practice their moves into a foam pit.

Speaker 5 (01:59:34):
That's it.

Speaker 4 (01:59:35):
Again, an important part of upcoming divers is to be
able to get their routines sorted and do it correctly
and obviously you know, not get not get hurt. So
having the dry dive facility again was really important. They
there's harnesses that they can be hooked into. They can
practice there, there's somersaults and the and their twils whatever
they do again into the drive the dry foam pit

(01:59:59):
again without injury. And we've also got harnesses on the
dive tower as well.

Speaker 5 (02:00:04):
So again how helps them practice their routines before they
hit the water.

Speaker 7 (02:00:10):
What about things like water polo, canoo polo? Are those
going to be seen here as well?

Speaker 5 (02:00:14):
Yes, they will.

Speaker 4 (02:00:15):
We've got within the fifty minute meter competition pool we
can there's a movable boom, so we can split that
into any length, including up to having two twenty five
meter length pools in there, so we can have water underwater, hockey,
water polo, canoe polo, yeah, you name it, water event

(02:00:35):
we can have it in there.

Speaker 7 (02:00:36):
We shouldn't forget the hydroslides. We should mention those five
of them.

Speaker 5 (02:00:39):
Five hydro slides, various degrees of excitement.

Speaker 4 (02:00:44):
We do have a vertical drop one which gets you
up to about forty kilometers an hour. I will not
be doing the first first one of those, but look
down to raft slides, so there's something here for everyone
on the hydroslides, but also in that leisure hall we
have the country's largest indoor kind of kids play area
and included in that for the little ones, there's a

(02:01:05):
couple of slides there, so introduction to the hydroslide that
slides before they hit the main hydroslides themselves.

Speaker 7 (02:01:12):
You more than anyone will know the history of the
city with the earthquakes and the amazing work you did
following them. Is the facility in any way geared towards
being earthquake proof? Are are there things in place that
you've had to think about post twenty eleven?

Speaker 5 (02:01:28):
Certainly has been the ground.

Speaker 4 (02:01:30):
The site that was chosen for this facility was the
right location, but it was a very very challenging site.
So to make the foundation's earthquake proof, there was a
lot of work done to stabilize the ground. We spent
about eighteen months just doing groundworks before we got out
of the ground.

Speaker 5 (02:01:49):
So the ground with.

Speaker 4 (02:01:52):
Mitigated liquefaction potential, which was a bit of a problem
for this part of the city. The building itself is
as you can see this heavy structure, so it's designed
to cope with a quite large earthquake event. But an
interesting fact about the pools. The pools are a mirth
of pool. They come from Italy. It's a stainless steel

(02:02:12):
pool which is made up in components and the components
can be mechanically adjusted, so for in an earthquake we
get out of alignment, we can readjust the pools to
get them back to exact dimensions for competition.

Speaker 7 (02:02:26):
Partakiori the name, Where did the name come from?

Speaker 5 (02:02:29):
Yeah, great name. It was a name gifted to us
by Nitohunri. They are the ebby for the Central christ Church.

Speaker 4 (02:02:37):
Partakiori was the son of the founder of the Kaiapoy
pie Chairopour had just been.

Speaker 5 (02:02:42):
North here of christ Church and he was known for
his strength and speed.

Speaker 4 (02:02:45):
So again fitting for a community facility with sport as
the focus to have a name like that. So very
proud of having that name included and to be gifted
to us and being included in the name.

Speaker 7 (02:02:58):
And the last and most obvious question is when when
are we going to be sitting here and hearing the
children jumping into the pool and watching the kids their
Saturday morning sport. What's what's the target date for opening?

Speaker 4 (02:03:10):
So look we've got a construction completion date, so look,
we need to get this thing finished.

Speaker 5 (02:03:15):
As you can see, you can touch it, you.

Speaker 4 (02:03:17):
Feel that, you can see it almost there where we're
gunning for October for a construction completion. But at that stage,
as you can see, it's a large complex facility. Krosshat
City Council where be gifting that to cross At City Council.

Speaker 5 (02:03:31):
They need to then get themselves familiar with it.

Speaker 4 (02:03:34):
There will be some overlap between the construction completion and
Crosshat City Council coming in and doing what they need
to do to get ready for it. But the opening
data is a cross At City Council. They'll make that call.

Speaker 7 (02:03:46):
Well, it's been amazing to get the tour John today.
Thank you so much for accommodating me. I can't wait
to come back here when it's when it's fully functional
and see and see it in full action. Thanks for
your time.

Speaker 5 (02:03:56):
Today, pleasure, and I'm glad you're able to see it.

Speaker 7 (02:03:58):
Thanks that is that is John o'hagen, CEO of Crown
Infrastructure Delivery, really appreciated the opportunity to get a tour
of Pudicky Eudi this morning. Thanks to Michael Park and
also for making it possible. Looking forward to seeing it
in an operation hopefully a little bit later on. In
twenty twenty five, seven to three News Talks EDB. That's
our show four to three huge. Thanks to the team

(02:04:20):
at Rock Paul for hosting us this afternoon. On site
technical assistance huge from Ben Humphrey. Thanks mate. Thanks to
Anna McDonald for producing back in the studio. What's our song?

Speaker 3 (02:04:28):
Mate?

Speaker 2 (02:04:28):
Yeah?

Speaker 7 (02:04:28):
Pioney, one of Crusader Canterbury's favorite sons, scribe as song
a theme from The Crusader from his album The Crusader.
We know how I'm going for now, don't we?

Speaker 6 (02:04:37):
We do?

Speaker 7 (02:04:38):
Indeed we always knew. We'll see tomorrow we'll wrap the
final and preview the all Black squad naming. Thanks for
joining us. It's in beverage after three.

Speaker 1 (02:04:57):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, Listen live
to News Talk said B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.

All Episodes

Episode Transcript

Popular Podcasts

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

The Breakfast Club

The Joe Rogan Experience

.css-15opob5{left:0;position:absolute;top:0.8rem;} All Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Full Show Podcast: 21 June 2025

Episode Transcript

Popular Podcasts

.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}On Purpose with Jay Shetty

The Breakfast Club

The Joe Rogan Experience

All Episodes

Full Show Podcast: 21 June 2025

On Purpose with Jay Shetty