The Blues and Chiefs will be facing off before a packed-out Eden Park for the Super Rugby Finals.
The game kicks off at 7:05pm this Saturday, tickets for the match selling out within a couple of hours.
Former All Blacks coach and Blues Board Member John Hart told Kerre Woodham that to have a full sellout crowd within a few hours of tickets going on sale shows that there’s a lot of enthusiasm for the game.
He said that there’s been a lot of negativity surrounding New Zealand rugby this year, and people have forgotten what’s happening on the field.
The changes have made a fantastic product, Hart said, and he thinks people have recognized that this game is something very special.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the carry Wood and Mornings podcast from
News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
He'd be This Saturday, the Blues will play the Chiefs
in the Super Rugby Pacific Final in a front of
a packed stadium. Eden Park sold out in just a
couple of hours, forty seven thousand people. John Hart, former
All Black coach, member of the Blues board, Gosh, you
(00:31):
must be thrilled with that.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Yeah, it's a great outcome, Carrie for the game. I mean,
I think to have a full sellout crowd within hours
of going on sale just shows there's a lot of
enthusiasm for the game and I think the competition really
warrants to sendoff.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Oh. Absolutely, Like the two semis I thought were fantastic,
fantastic displays of rugby and varying types of rugby. But
you have been picking a Blues Chiefs final since way
back when. What made you so certain that it'd be
these two teams in the.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Well? I just thought, I'm very really happy with what
I've seen with the Blues, the growth this year. I
think they've you know, under Vernecotta, he's done a fantastic
job and we've got a squad that's really responded well.
And I see a great culture and as a result
of that, I always thought we were going to be
a lot harder to beat this year. And I've got
(01:28):
a huge respect for Clayton mcmonan as a coach, a
huge respect for the Chief squad, and to be quite honest,
any team that's got Damien McKenzie playing at the power
of its game, you know, they came to be very
hard to beat. And it's set up to be a
fantastic final. I mean, the Semis were great, but this
could go to another level. But two teams who are
(01:48):
stacked with talent totally.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
And speaking of talent, Patrick Tuopilotto was all out and
done and dusted enough to have an early winter holiday.
But he's back.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
Yeah, well I've just been watching training and he's still participating,
and so that's a great sign. I mean, I must
say I sent I'm a text when he got injured
to say how sorry I was for him that he
was going to miss the rest of the game. But
I said, I was praying for a miracle, and I
looked at that Texas morning and I talked to him today,
but the miracles might have come along. So you know,
he's a talisman for the Blues and an inspirational leader.
(02:22):
He's a fantastic man and he's just passionate about this
team and he's made such a big effort to get
himself here. So you know, it'd be great to see
him lead the Blues out on Saturday night.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Oh my goodness. Yes, I mean, even if he's only
there for ten minutes, just having that manner on the
field is fantastic.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Yeah, we're hoping you get through the game and you know,
move forward there to be all Blacks hopefully.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Yeah. Absolutely. With the chief he's down to, like I
think their third choice hooker still still very solid. But
boy that I mean obviously getting through the season it
takes its toll on the players. But given how strong
your forwards are, some way you want to exploit, you
think come the game.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Well, look, I don't underestimate the Chiefs pack. I think
the chief pack has grown all year, and young Tyrone Thompson,
the hooker who's coming, has played some really good games
for them as well this year, so he's not you know,
he's not totally new. He'll do his job. Look, I
think this is just going to be a classic clash
and I have a. You know, it's going to come
(03:28):
down to who can get the ball going forward, who
can get on the front foard, who can take the opportunities,
who keeps their discipline? You know, Look, it's set up
to be a fantastic game, and I'm sure it will be.
But the Chiefs are some aside that I really respect,
and so I don't underestimate them at all. I think
they're forward pack. You know, they will be a very
(03:50):
difficult forward pack to master on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
How many forward Rangers do you think are coming up
over the bomb base with the cow bells clanging out
the side? How many of them will be packing Eton
Park do you think?
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Well, my daughter will be happy to hear the Ford Rangers,
so that's good. So look, I clearly there's going to
be a lot and that's fantastic. That makes the game
even better. But I'm just hoping. I'm hoping Aucklanders get
out there and blue and you know, and we drown out,
drown out the cowboy and cowbells because you know that
(04:25):
passionate supporters and that's what makes this game so special. Yeah,
you know, we've got forty sellout crowd. Everyone there will
be there for the right reasons, and you know, we've
got our neighbors, so it couldn't be better in many ways.
So it's it's set up to be a very special
occasion and you know, I hope the chief supporters have
(04:45):
a great night until the last last minute.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
It really is just just in somethings. I know you're busy,
but it really is. Two fingers to the naysayers about
the state of New Zealand rugby, isn't it. I mean,
when you when you can. I mean, honestly, I didn't
think you'd sell out Eden part, you know, at least
until they've been a number of pushes and maybe right
at the last minute on Saturday night, but it was
sold out within hours.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Yeah, and that's that's a great sign. I mean, the
game's had a lot of negativity around it all year,
around this governance dispute, and people have forgotten what's happening
on the field, and you know, the Super Rugby Commission
have done a great job in creating a game which
they changed some of the rules. They've sped the game up,
they put the ball and play more. They've taken the
tomo backwards so he just plays a role rather than
(05:33):
a dominating role. As a consequence, a product been fantastic
and it's been seen on you know, a television. Figures
are through the roof, so that's been great. The crowds
have slowly grown, and you know, I think people have
recognized just that this game is something very special, and
I think it's great for the game, and it's a
great way for us to lead into an all Black season,
(05:56):
you know, two weeks away.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
It's going to be a hell of a game. All right,
Oh my god, it's very exciting. Are you going to
give me a score, a final score?
Speaker 3 (06:07):
No, no, I won't give you a final score. I
think this will be a very close encounter and it
could go either way, and I think it's you know,
the one thing I do know in the past, you've
seen Blues teams probably get to the situation and maybe,
you know, not go forward. There's no way that they'll lose.
(06:28):
If they do lose on Saturday, they will give it
every best shot they've got and that will mean that
the Chiefs deserve to win. So, you know, I just
hope it's a great game and in the end, obviously
I love a Blues victory, but the game's really important
at the moment, and I hope it's a quality equality
game for everyone to enjoy it.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Yeah, I'm sure it will be. I'm just thinking when
you said that, like the Blues when they came out
against the Brumbies looked like they'd rolled up their sleeves
and they were there to do the bloody business and
they weren't going to stop till it was done. And
that's exactly what the Chiefs looked like against the Hurricanes.
They just went there and they were not going to lose,
and that's how they came onto the field, and that's
(07:05):
how the Blues came onto the field, and it is
it's great to see.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Well, it will be really important how both teams start,
you know, because you know, as you saw last week,
the starts dominated the game in the end, the Blues
started so well and got their authority on the game
and so did the Chiefs and so you know this
will be a game we're both will be looking for
that early advantage. So plenty to watch, and you know
it's exciting times too, with an all back site named
(07:31):
on on Monday. You know, I'd say you've got at
least half the All Blacks playing in this game. So
you know it's an all back trial, and I know
that the Scott Robinson this team will be just praying
that everyone gets through well and fit and so they
can go forward into the All Blacks. But meanwhile, it's
all eyes on Eden Park Saturday night.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Lovely to talk as always John, Oh, it's going to
be so cool, John Hart, form all back coach and
member of the Open Blues Board. And yeah, as a
former Hamilton girl, as a lover of good rugby, love
the Blue whose it's one one one for me. It's
going to be fantastic. It'll be an invasion of Waikato fan,
says a Texter. When we took the children off them
(08:14):
years ago, they were out number four to one. Go
the chiefs, says one. Well, not so sure this time around.
Carry my two favorite teams. Only one can win, but
I won't be upset. I've enjoyed watching them both the
CSS Dave go you
Speaker 1 (08:28):
For more from carry Wood and Mornings, listen live to
news Talks it Be from nine am weekdays, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the carry Wood and Mornings podcast from
News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
He'd be This Saturday, the Blues will play the Chiefs
in the Super Rugby Pacific Final in a front of
a packed stadium. Eden Park sold out in just a
couple of hours, forty seven thousand people. John Hart, former
All Black coach, member of the Blues board, Gosh, you
(00:31):
must be thrilled with that.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Yeah, it's a great outcome, Carrie for the game. I mean,
I think to have a full sellout crowd within hours
of going on sale just shows there's a lot of
enthusiasm for the game and I think the competition really
warrants to sendoff.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Oh. Absolutely, Like the two semis I thought were fantastic,
fantastic displays of rugby and varying types of rugby. But
you have been picking a Blues Chiefs final since way
back when. What made you so certain that it'd be
these two teams in the.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Well? I just thought, I'm very really happy with what
I've seen with the Blues, the growth this year. I
think they've you know, under Vernecotta, he's done a fantastic
job and we've got a squad that's really responded well.
And I see a great culture and as a result
of that, I always thought we were going to be
a lot harder to beat this year. And I've got
(01:28):
a huge respect for Clayton mcmonan as a coach, a
huge respect for the Chief squad, and to be quite honest,
any team that's got Damien McKenzie playing at the power
of its game, you know, they came to be very
hard to beat. And it's set up to be a
fantastic final. I mean, the Semis were great, but this
could go to another level. But two teams who are
(01:48):
stacked with talent totally.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
And speaking of talent, Patrick Tuopilotto was all out and
done and dusted enough to have an early winter holiday.
But he's back.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
Yeah, well I've just been watching training and he's still participating,
and so that's a great sign. I mean, I must
say I sent I'm a text when he got injured
to say how sorry I was for him that he
was going to miss the rest of the game. But
I said, I was praying for a miracle, and I
looked at that Texas morning and I talked to him today,
but the miracles might have come along. So you know,
he's a talisman for the Blues and an inspirational leader.
(02:22):
He's a fantastic man and he's just passionate about this
team and he's made such a big effort to get
himself here. So you know, it'd be great to see
him lead the Blues out on Saturday night.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Oh my goodness. Yes, I mean, even if he's only
there for ten minutes, just having that manner on the
field is fantastic.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Yeah, we're hoping you get through the game and you know,
move forward there to be all Blacks hopefully.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Yeah. Absolutely. With the chief he's down to, like I
think their third choice hooker still still very solid. But
boy that I mean obviously getting through the season it
takes its toll on the players. But given how strong
your forwards are, some way you want to exploit, you
think come the game.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Well, look, I don't underestimate the Chiefs pack. I think
the chief pack has grown all year, and young Tyrone Thompson,
the hooker who's coming, has played some really good games
for them as well this year, so he's not you know,
he's not totally new. He'll do his job. Look, I
think this is just going to be a classic clash
and I have a. You know, it's going to come
(03:28):
down to who can get the ball going forward, who
can get on the front foard, who can take the opportunities,
who keeps their discipline? You know, Look, it's set up
to be a fantastic game, and I'm sure it will be.
But the Chiefs are some aside that I really respect,
and so I don't underestimate them at all. I think
they're forward pack. You know, they will be a very
(03:50):
difficult forward pack to master on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
How many forward Rangers do you think are coming up
over the bomb base with the cow bells clanging out
the side? How many of them will be packing Eton
Park do you think?
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Well, my daughter will be happy to hear the Ford Rangers,
so that's good. So look, I clearly there's going to
be a lot and that's fantastic. That makes the game
even better. But I'm just hoping. I'm hoping Aucklanders get
out there and blue and you know, and we drown out,
drown out the cowboy and cowbells because you know that
(04:25):
passionate supporters and that's what makes this game so special. Yeah,
you know, we've got forty sellout crowd. Everyone there will
be there for the right reasons, and you know, we've
got our neighbors, so it couldn't be better in many ways.
So it's it's set up to be a very special
occasion and you know, I hope the chief supporters have
(04:45):
a great night until the last last minute.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
It really is just just in somethings. I know you're busy,
but it really is. Two fingers to the naysayers about
the state of New Zealand rugby, isn't it. I mean,
when you when you can. I mean, honestly, I didn't
think you'd sell out Eden part, you know, at least
until they've been a number of pushes and maybe right
at the last minute on Saturday night, but it was
sold out within hours.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Yeah, and that's that's a great sign. I mean, the
game's had a lot of negativity around it all year,
around this governance dispute, and people have forgotten what's happening
on the field, and you know, the Super Rugby Commission
have done a great job in creating a game which
they changed some of the rules. They've sped the game up,
they put the ball and play more. They've taken the
tomo backwards so he just plays a role rather than
(05:33):
a dominating role. As a consequence, a product been fantastic
and it's been seen on you know, a television. Figures
are through the roof, so that's been great. The crowds
have slowly grown, and you know, I think people have
recognized just that this game is something very special, and
I think it's great for the game, and it's a
great way for us to lead into an all Black season,
(05:56):
you know, two weeks away.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
It's going to be a hell of a game. All right,
Oh my god, it's very exciting. Are you going to
give me a score, a final score?
Speaker 3 (06:07):
No, no, I won't give you a final score. I
think this will be a very close encounter and it
could go either way, and I think it's you know,
the one thing I do know in the past, you've
seen Blues teams probably get to the situation and maybe,
you know, not go forward. There's no way that they'll lose.
(06:28):
If they do lose on Saturday, they will give it
every best shot they've got and that will mean that
the Chiefs deserve to win. So, you know, I just
hope it's a great game and in the end, obviously
I love a Blues victory, but the game's really important
at the moment, and I hope it's a quality equality
game for everyone to enjoy it.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Yeah, I'm sure it will be. I'm just thinking when
you said that, like the Blues when they came out
against the Brumbies looked like they'd rolled up their sleeves
and they were there to do the bloody business and
they weren't going to stop till it was done. And
that's exactly what the Chiefs looked like against the Hurricanes.
They just went there and they were not going to lose,
and that's how they came onto the field, and that's
(07:05):
how the Blues came onto the field, and it is
it's great to see.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Well, it will be really important how both teams start,
you know, because you know, as you saw last week,
the starts dominated the game in the end, the Blues
started so well and got their authority on the game
and so did the Chiefs and so you know this
will be a game we're both will be looking for
that early advantage. So plenty to watch, and you know
it's exciting times too, with an all back site named
(07:31):
on on Monday. You know, I'd say you've got at
least half the All Blacks playing in this game. So
you know it's an all back trial, and I know
that the Scott Robinson this team will be just praying
that everyone gets through well and fit and so they
can go forward into the All Blacks. But meanwhile, it's
all eyes on Eden Park Saturday night.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Lovely to talk as always John, Oh, it's going to
be so cool, John Hart, form all back coach and
member of the Open Blues Board. And yeah, as a
former Hamilton girl, as a lover of good rugby, love
the Blue whose it's one one one for me. It's
going to be fantastic. It'll be an invasion of Waikato fan,
says a Texter. When we took the children off them
(08:14):
years ago, they were out number four to one. Go
the chiefs, says one. Well, not so sure this time around.
Carry my two favorite teams. Only one can win, but
I won't be upset. I've enjoyed watching them both the
CSS Dave go you
Speaker 1 (08:28):
For more from carry Wood and Mornings, listen live to
news Talks it Be from nine am weekdays, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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