Chay Fihaki: Crusaders outside back on the team's clash against the Brumbies

The Crusaders have arrived in the Australian Capital Territory.

Their final regular season game is against the Brumbies - and the winner of that match could end up on top of the table going into the playoffs.

Crusaders outside back Chay Fihaki spoke to D'Arcy Waldegrave on Sportstalk.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Duncy Wildergrave
from News Talks.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
It'd be let's talk some super duper rugby now and
we go across the oct So we're joined by Safe
Hackey as we look ahead at their game Brombers taking
on at the Crusaders tomorrow night, and Shade joins us.
Now say, how's life treating you over in the Australian

(00:31):
Capital Territories and treating you well.

Speaker 3 (00:34):
Yeah, that's awesome weather here in the Capitol and a
little bit chilly in the morning, but nice days here.

Speaker 2 (00:42):
You live in Christis, you can't complain about it being
cold in the morning. You'd only know that too well,
wouldn't you.

Speaker 3 (00:48):
Yeah, obviously we think of Showy is a nice hot place,
but OUs not right here in the capital. So enjoying it.

Speaker 2 (00:57):
Well, you've got well, you've got a big game, haven't
you tomorrow night? I say big. But in the general
wash up, you're all guaranteed semi final positions. You're all
going to qualify and go through. I'm talking of course
the Chiefs, yourselves and the Brumbies. What does that bring

(01:18):
to the game or take from the game? You think
without that extra Jeopardy added in.

Speaker 3 (01:25):
Oh, it's obviously nice knowing that we've got extra week
for next week. That still game and we were fully
prepared to yeah coming in and win and still obviously
it's still preparing like a game. So yeah, looking forward
to all the boys are ready to go, and yeah,

(01:47):
you can't wait.

Speaker 2 (01:48):
You'd be fairly fizzing after what happened last week actually
having to watch that that was tight. We know you
can't write the Highlanders off, but you think you guys
be a little antsy, a little passy even about what
happened last week. What's the general feeling the theory being
around what went well? You won, but what didn't quite

(02:11):
work for you all?

Speaker 3 (02:14):
Yeah, obviously it wasn't on the field, but yeah, we
knew that the Highlanders were going to soth hat us.
Obviously it's a big game for Highlanders and Crusaders. Yeah,
we were expecting that things obviously didn't go away, but
obviously happy with the win. We'll take it. Within any

(02:35):
of the other leaks, Yeah, just sadly you get you.

Speaker 2 (02:40):
Get chanced back and again shay to play and you
only want to play And are you looking forward to
national representation? Because you have been looked at by Scott
Robertson who you've Yeah, I'm sure you know because you're
a melve. Last year you got dragged into the squad,
didn't you. That gave you a taste or a teaser

(03:01):
to possibilities.

Speaker 3 (03:04):
Yeah, I was got a little test of last year.
But at the moment I just want to, yeah, do
well for this team and if we get the result
they were they were looking for obviously to get to
the finals and stuff. But yeah, first things first, because
as you pay well for the Crusaders and be a

(03:24):
good teammate.

Speaker 2 (03:26):
Yeah, you've signed to the end of next to you
to stay with Canterbury and to stay with the Crusaders.
Beyond that, you don't know ideally you'd like to go
on longer you and negotiations at all. Where does that
sit as far as your commitment And he's in on
Rugby Live show.

Speaker 3 (03:47):
Yeah, I haven't really thought that far ahead. Obviously taking
the taking it year by years and I haven't really
thought that far. I'll just get that hand hand itself
with obviously the way I pay for the next coup
for this year next year, So you're not really looking
too far ahead.

Speaker 2 (04:06):
Wasn't a great year last year. There's an understatement for
the Crusaders. The coach Rob Penny was retained, which was
which is a good move in my opinion. It's plainly
working for you. What you can see where you're standing,
what's changed dramatically between last season and this season.

Speaker 3 (04:28):
Yeah, obviously a lot of learning from last year and
I think the boys just obviously took that on board.
And yeah, really now the off season and our connections
as the team and we want to get to this year.
So yeah, lit proud of the boys' efforts this year

(04:49):
and turning it around, and yeah, we're obviously looking forward
to the game this weekend. And yeah, of.

Speaker 2 (04:58):
Course your own personal development and you've come through the
stages because you're an AWKND boy, aren't you shut off
down to Canterbury and you've set up camp down there. Yeah,
but the help of Rob Penny for your development playing
at that level, How instrumental has he been to get
you to the stage where you get plucked to you know,

(05:20):
go and join the squad for a bit. So something's working.
What was he done specifically, Rob Penny?

Speaker 3 (05:27):
He's just he's just let me be myself obviously, and yeah,
that's kind of what makes me perform and what makes
me feel comfortable in this team. So he's just, yeah,
it made me feel a lot more comfortable in the team.

(05:47):
And yeah, that's pretty much the main one that he's
obviously brought into teams for me, especially.

Speaker 1 (05:56):
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