The Crusaders have revived their Super Rugby dynasty, while inflicting further heartache on the Chiefs.
The red-and-blacks have come from behind to win the final 16-12 in Christchurch, for a 15th title.
Newstalk ZB rugby commentator Elliott Smith unpacked the highs and lows of the match - and unpacked the Crusaders' strategy.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudkin
from News Talks, EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Fifteenth Super Rugby title for the Crusaders beating the Chiefs
sixteen twelve last night, and Christy it was redemption for
Crusaders coach Rob Penny.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
It's a very emotional time. You know, it's just so
good to have the stadium rocking like it is, and
the boys really wanted you to be like this and
it's really a dream come true.
Speaker 4 (00:35):
It's unreal.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
But heartbreak for the Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan, the team
suffering their third straight final loss.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
You know it hurts it. We've been to the last dancing,
you haven't quite got the job done there or you know,
they will sit deep in the stomach for a while.
But on the balance, I'm really proud of this men.
They keep dancing back every year and I don't imagine
what these meaning things are going to change.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
To talk about the final and to look ahead to
tomorrow's all black squad naming, I'm joined by Zedby lead
rugby commentator Elliott Smith. Good morning, Elliott Morning. Francisca of
teenth title, eighth and nine seasons for the Crusaders. Jeez,
what is it about this franchise?
Speaker 4 (01:11):
Well, it's a ridiculous record, Isn't it really in any
professional sports league to have that sort of domination. But
I thought it was interesting hearing Rod Penny talk last
night on the postgame TV coverage just about the culture.
There's no golden ticket, there's no secret formula. It's just
about people. And that's what he emphasized last night, is
that they get the culture right and then the rugby
(01:33):
follows on the park. In all the way back to
sort of the nineteen nineties, that's been how the Crusaders
have managed to do it is how to build titles
as first with the people, and you get that right
and on the paddock it becomes a little bit easier.
But last night, you know, it was a very very
fine margin, and to use a cliche, it could have
gone either way.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
And you can't ignore the contrast between this season and
last season. I mean, last year, Rob Penny took a
lot of hate and for them to turn it around
a wind again this year is pretty.
Speaker 4 (02:01):
Impressive, absolutely, and they were a revel at times last
year they looked a shadow of it that had won
so many titles between twenty seventeen and twenty twenty three.
I think everyone expected a down year last year after
all the changes in terms of the coaching personnel, playing personnel.
But they looked on a different planet last year, and
you know, they looked breast of confidence at times. They
(02:23):
looked as they didn't have a game plan, They looked
as they didn't have team culture. And that was why
Rob Penny was in the gun, because everything that the
Crusaders had built up had seemingly fallen away in one
off season. But credits to him, he's managed to turn
that around in the space of a year with help
from the senior leadership players, and you know, proved that
(02:44):
perhaps he wasn't a bad appointment at all, and also
underlined that the Crusaders were right not to get rid
of him. They dug really deep into the analytics last year,
all the stats, everything that was telling them that they
were creating enough chances, just not finishing them. They rebuilt
the or reset the culture a little bit in the
off season, is my understanding, and that's been enough to
get them the title. It's a remark contrast, because yeah,
(03:07):
he could have been sacked after one year, and here
he is winning a title at the end of his
second year. He's not contracted beyond this period, so he's
currently out of contract, but you'd have to suspect that
the Crusaders would be moving quickly to get him to
sign another one.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
I was pretty guarded for the Chiefs their third straight
final defeat. Why can't they get it over the line?
Speaker 4 (03:26):
They just haven't been able to own the big moments
in finals, and I think that's been the running theme.
They lost in twenty twenty two, sorry twenty twenty one,
and the Super Rugby Old had all final twenty twenty
three against the Crusaders. They just had a few too
many yellow cards and the Crusaders scored i think all
of their points while the Chiefs were reduced to fourteen
(03:47):
men on that night. Last year they were blown away
by a very very good Blues team. But last night
again it came down to winning the key moments and
in the second spell, after they've managed to close the
game to a one point fixture at halftime, they just
couldn't get down the right areas of the park. The
Crusaders weren't scoring points, but the Chiefs are playing it
the wrong end of the park, and just every time
(04:09):
they were clearing the ball, it felt like they were
restarting again. The Crusaders we are beginning that cycle of
putting the Chiefs under pressure once more. And the Chiefs
didn't really cite the Crusaders twenty two. For most of
that second spell. It was all about owning the big moments,
and the Crusaders players stepped up when they needed to.
They put the Chiefs under aerial pressure. They forced knock ons,
they forced eras, and that's what good teams do. And
(04:30):
that's the lesson for the Chiefs is that, Yep, you
won the regular season. You're clear the best team for
the fifteen or so rounds in the regular season, but
finals foot is a bit different, and when the squeeze
came on, the Crusaders were just that little bit too
good for the Chiefs in the end.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Okay, So turning to the team naming tomorrow afternoon, what
are you expecting.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
What's gonna be fascinating, isn't it to see whether the
players from last night or over the course of the
ploffs have managed to force their way in. And there's
a few logjams in certain areas. I think loose forward
is one where there's a number of players that are
putting their case forward. Christian Leo Willie last night I thought,
was again ex for the Crusaders and must be very
very close to being in for a call up for
(05:11):
the first time. There's a Duplessy Kadifi out of the
Hurricanes who's been a strong performer this year as well.
I think there's a real logjam at loose ford and
whether you know the likes of Dalton Papa Lee who
have been there and done the job for the All
Blacks before Luke Jacobson, whether they go back to him
as well, I think there's going to be a real
squeeze applied to that loose forward area, so that's going
to be fascinating. I think midfield as well is going
(05:34):
to be a real area of a pressure point for selectors.
You know Rico Yuwani, Jordi Barrett, you could probably pencil
those two in, Billy Proctor as well. But then there's
David Harvelli, Quinta pie to Marthy Tavia Tava Nawai from
the Highlanders who was putting his case forward as well.
And outside back is a real area of contention as well.
So if there's going to be new names, I would
(05:55):
suspect they would come in the loose forwards, the midfield
and potentially in the outside backs as well. So look,
I think what we saw over the course of the
playoffs there's a lot of the all black players, so
I wouldn't expect too many big names to go missing.
It's just a matter of how many new faces they
can sprinkle in. And tomorrow's naming and.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
The announcement has been held at Scott Barrett's Coastal Rugby
Club and Tartannaki, so that's surely a sign that he's
going to be the captain again.
Speaker 4 (06:21):
I'd say a fairly positive sign. The Scott Barrett's going
to be named cat, it'd be very very awkward. I
think it'd be yeah, awkward afternoon out at Coastal. If
that is not the case, I would expect that to
be indeed the case, and yes, special afternoon. The Barretts
obviously will be named. I think Josh Lord might be
from around here as well. I might be wrong on
that front, but certainly a lot of history going through
that club, so it promises to be a pretty special afternoon.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Thank you so much for your time. Elliott, appreciate that
are going to be all over this tomorrow afternoon, and
of course we'll be covering this on News Talks. He'd
beg for.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
More from the Sunday session with Francesca Rudgin. Listen live
to News Talks there'd be from nine am Sunday, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudkin
from News Talks, EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Fifteenth Super Rugby title for the Crusaders beating the Chiefs
sixteen twelve last night, and Christy it was redemption for
Crusaders coach Rob Penny.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
It's a very emotional time. You know, it's just so
good to have the stadium rocking like it is, and
the boys really wanted you to be like this and
it's really a dream come true.
Speaker 4 (00:35):
It's unreal.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
But heartbreak for the Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan, the team
suffering their third straight final loss.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
You know it hurts it. We've been to the last dancing,
you haven't quite got the job done there or you know,
they will sit deep in the stomach for a while.
But on the balance, I'm really proud of this men.
They keep dancing back every year and I don't imagine
what these meaning things are going to change.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
To talk about the final and to look ahead to
tomorrow's all black squad naming, I'm joined by Zedby lead
rugby commentator Elliott Smith. Good morning, Elliott Morning. Francisca of
teenth title, eighth and nine seasons for the Crusaders. Jeez,
what is it about this franchise?
Speaker 4 (01:11):
Well, it's a ridiculous record, Isn't it really in any
professional sports league to have that sort of domination. But
I thought it was interesting hearing Rod Penny talk last
night on the postgame TV coverage just about the culture.
There's no golden ticket, there's no secret formula. It's just
about people. And that's what he emphasized last night, is
that they get the culture right and then the rugby
(01:33):
follows on the park. In all the way back to
sort of the nineteen nineties, that's been how the Crusaders
have managed to do it is how to build titles
as first with the people, and you get that right
and on the paddock it becomes a little bit easier.
But last night, you know, it was a very very
fine margin, and to use a cliche, it could have
gone either way.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
And you can't ignore the contrast between this season and
last season. I mean, last year, Rob Penny took a
lot of hate and for them to turn it around
a wind again this year is pretty.
Speaker 4 (02:01):
Impressive, absolutely, and they were a revel at times last
year they looked a shadow of it that had won
so many titles between twenty seventeen and twenty twenty three.
I think everyone expected a down year last year after
all the changes in terms of the coaching personnel, playing personnel.
But they looked on a different planet last year, and
you know, they looked breast of confidence at times. They
(02:23):
looked as they didn't have a game plan, They looked
as they didn't have team culture. And that was why
Rob Penny was in the gun, because everything that the
Crusaders had built up had seemingly fallen away in one
off season. But credits to him, he's managed to turn
that around in the space of a year with help
from the senior leadership players, and you know, proved that
(02:44):
perhaps he wasn't a bad appointment at all, and also
underlined that the Crusaders were right not to get rid
of him. They dug really deep into the analytics last year,
all the stats, everything that was telling them that they
were creating enough chances, just not finishing them. They rebuilt
the or reset the culture a little bit in the
off season, is my understanding, and that's been enough to
get them the title. It's a remark contrast, because yeah,
(03:07):
he could have been sacked after one year, and here
he is winning a title at the end of his
second year. He's not contracted beyond this period, so he's
currently out of contract, but you'd have to suspect that
the Crusaders would be moving quickly to get him to
sign another one.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
I was pretty guarded for the Chiefs their third straight
final defeat. Why can't they get it over the line?
Speaker 4 (03:26):
They just haven't been able to own the big moments
in finals, and I think that's been the running theme.
They lost in twenty twenty two, sorry twenty twenty one,
and the Super Rugby Old had all final twenty twenty
three against the Crusaders. They just had a few too
many yellow cards and the Crusaders scored i think all
of their points while the Chiefs were reduced to fourteen
(03:47):
men on that night. Last year they were blown away
by a very very good Blues team. But last night
again it came down to winning the key moments and
in the second spell, after they've managed to close the
game to a one point fixture at halftime, they just
couldn't get down the right areas of the park. The
Crusaders weren't scoring points, but the Chiefs are playing it
the wrong end of the park, and just every time
(04:09):
they were clearing the ball, it felt like they were
restarting again. The Crusaders we are beginning that cycle of
putting the Chiefs under pressure once more. And the Chiefs
didn't really cite the Crusaders twenty two. For most of
that second spell. It was all about owning the big moments,
and the Crusaders players stepped up when they needed to.
They put the Chiefs under aerial pressure. They forced knock ons,
they forced eras, and that's what good teams do. And
(04:30):
that's the lesson for the Chiefs is that, Yep, you
won the regular season. You're clear the best team for
the fifteen or so rounds in the regular season, but
finals foot is a bit different, and when the squeeze
came on, the Crusaders were just that little bit too
good for the Chiefs in the end.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Okay, So turning to the team naming tomorrow afternoon, what
are you expecting.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
What's gonna be fascinating, isn't it to see whether the
players from last night or over the course of the
ploffs have managed to force their way in. And there's
a few logjams in certain areas. I think loose forward
is one where there's a number of players that are
putting their case forward. Christian Leo Willie last night I thought,
was again ex for the Crusaders and must be very
very close to being in for a call up for
(05:11):
the first time. There's a Duplessy Kadifi out of the
Hurricanes who's been a strong performer this year as well.
I think there's a real logjam at loose ford and
whether you know the likes of Dalton Papa Lee who
have been there and done the job for the All
Blacks before Luke Jacobson, whether they go back to him
as well, I think there's going to be a real
squeeze applied to that loose forward area, so that's going
to be fascinating. I think midfield as well is going
(05:34):
to be a real area of a pressure point for selectors.
You know Rico Yuwani, Jordi Barrett, you could probably pencil
those two in, Billy Proctor as well. But then there's
David Harvelli, Quinta pie to Marthy Tavia Tava Nawai from
the Highlanders who was putting his case forward as well.
And outside back is a real area of contention as well.
So if there's going to be new names, I would
(05:55):
suspect they would come in the loose forwards, the midfield
and potentially in the outside backs as well. So look,
I think what we saw over the course of the
playoffs there's a lot of the all black players, so
I wouldn't expect too many big names to go missing.
It's just a matter of how many new faces they
can sprinkle in. And tomorrow's naming and.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
The announcement has been held at Scott Barrett's Coastal Rugby
Club and Tartannaki, so that's surely a sign that he's
going to be the captain again.
Speaker 4 (06:21):
I'd say a fairly positive sign. The Scott Barrett's going
to be named cat, it'd be very very awkward. I
think it'd be yeah, awkward afternoon out at Coastal. If
that is not the case, I would expect that to
be indeed the case, and yes, special afternoon. The Barretts
obviously will be named. I think Josh Lord might be
from around here as well. I might be wrong on
that front, but certainly a lot of history going through
that club, so it promises to be a pretty special afternoon.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Thank you so much for your time. Elliott, appreciate that
are going to be all over this tomorrow afternoon, and
of course we'll be covering this on News Talks. He'd
beg for.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
More from the Sunday session with Francesca Rudgin. Listen live
to News Talks there'd be from nine am Sunday, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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