June 4, 2025 • 6 mins
The Super Rugby playoffs are here!
The Crusaders and the Reds kick things off in Christchurch on Friday night.
Crusaders coach Rob Penney spoke to D'Arcy about the game, and what he makes of the new playoff system.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from news Talk zedb.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Rugby Pacific. Getting down to the very point. I mean
that now read's taking on the Crusaders on Friday night,
and you're talking now to the head coach or the
Crusaders at Robert Penny Good Evening looking forward to the weekend.
Again another understatement, because we've reached critical mass. This is
where things start really counting. How are you guys prepped
(00:39):
going into this? You've ticked everything, You've done, your dots
on your eyes and your crosses on your teas.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Yeah, pretty much. The group's got enough experience and at
that table to you know, just obviously there's some some
pressure moments and there's a few new guys to this occasion,
but overall coaching group have done an amazing job and
the players have embraced it and excited about Friday night.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
How tailored is your coaching towards the younger guys who
haven't experienced that or the rest of your coaching staff.
Take a bit of time and it doing something a
bit different for these guys that are I suppose dipping
a town.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
If you will, No, not really, I mean everyone's just
got a lift. That's the reality of the position. So no,
and we've got a very capable group. So I just
embraced it and we're getting into it.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
What did you pull out of last week? Anything key
that you need to apply to the to the mean
head of Friday.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
I think you know, it's been a bit of a
similar theme for us over the last month or so,
that we're not as clinical as we'd like to be
after halftime getting ourselves into reasonably good positions and then
just not being able to quite nail a couple of things.
But we're capable and we're aware. So yeah, just getting
that element more consistent would be a real good start,
(02:03):
so that.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
The team apply that. You've got to set them up
the rest of your coaching stuff. You altered anything at
all rob that you think might help out that that
that sag that bag of a period that you have
where things don't quite work, You don't you can't dominate.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
Oh yeah, yeah, there's been lots and lots of different
really applied and you know, some have worked and some
not quite there. But got faith that the group will
you embrace it Now that we're in a point part
of the season, where those lapses, if you like, will
(02:36):
be more you know, more valuable in terms of the
opposition scoring points. So they just can't exist.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
You've had return rob of some amazing troops. You've got
new All back with the biggest engine in front row
in New Zealand, You've got Haveverely back, you got Will
Jordan back. This is just the right time. I'm presuming
you're going to hit the ground running. They're all in
a good state to play this key match.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
Yeah, yeah, they wouldn't be such an important fixture and
we've got a really strong group and you know, making
sure that they're able to function it one hundred percent
critical for us. They are in really good physical and
mental shape and yeah, training that was flowed nicely with
those guys added back into the mix.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Looking at the playoffs and it's relatively simple. It's not
the most simplistic idea in the world, but that's eleven
teams for you. How do you feel the way the
playoffs have developed and worked out? Is this fit for
purpose the system that Super Rugby Pacific've got right now?
Speaker 3 (03:41):
Absolutely? Yeah. I think it's you know, it's an intriguing
system and you know everyone's still up in the air
right through the competition knowing who's going to be in
the top six, and then from this point onwards, the
nature of the playoffs is that no one's going to
be certain until after the last game exactly who lies.
(04:01):
We're so yeah, cudos to those that came up with it.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
For those who say there are some games that might
be a little dead, there's no point in them because
it's not going to adjust the table at all. What
would you say to the m rod.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Well, it's not an adjust the table, but there's consequences
depending on who you would rather maybe meet down a
week later, So the consequences for you through the playoff round.
So we're aware of that and we just got to
do what we can do and manage our own backyard
and make sure we do a good job there and
got a great Reds team coming across. It will be
(04:36):
really challenging. And you know, they proved time time again
how worthy they are and we're not worried about anything
beyond that stage.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Reads. You've had a great history with the Reads right
the way through Super Rugby, Super Rugby, Pacific, Supertensi, Top
whatever it was called, that they're definitely worthy opponents. What
do they bring that is of not prime concern but
of interest to you? What do you have to focus on?
Speaker 3 (04:59):
Rob Well, they've got a combative pack with the outstanding
loose Ford trio two world class seven and eight in particular.
You know they would bless the team at international level
very well, and then particularly at nine and through the midfield.
They've got lots and lots of strength and they've got
tons of pace in the outside. So you know they
(05:20):
haven't gone into well, they haven't got into the position
they're in through luck their quality side, and we've got
a lot of respect for them.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Those big killogion areas up the front, I mean, those
lucies that can peel and gas. Are you going to
fight fire with fire? Do you meet them where they stand,
because you're hardly short of that power yourself either.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
No, it's going to be a great contest. You know,
we've got world class lucies ourselves, very very capable men,
and so it's going to be titanic. You know, it's
going to be a big old tussle. And you know
the weather looks like it's going to be a bit
in clement, so that therefore you know that puts more
onus on the department to be top notch a bit.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
In Clement, it's a Canteens way of saying it's going
to be horrible, and I suppose next to you won't
be worried about that. You'd be under a roof. But
does this represent, if it is that bad, a clear
and present advantage to you guys? Do you feel you've
got that more in hand if you're playing in less
than ideal weather conditions?
Speaker 3 (06:21):
Oh? No, it can be pretty wet in Queensland played
in some torrential. The temperature might be different, but the
conditions can be pretty hard. With the A quality side,
they've got internationals. You know, they're blessed with internationals right
across their playing roster and this won't be intimidating the
weather for them. It won't be the tumining factor. It
is what it is this time the end. No matter
(06:42):
where you play, you're inclined to get a bit of
moisture and it won't be I don't think it'll be
an set to either side or a detriment. You've just
got to adjust and play and both teams will be
capable of that.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
For more from Sports Talk, listen lived and news talks.
It'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from news Talk zedb.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Rugby Pacific. Getting down to the very point. I mean
that now read's taking on the Crusaders on Friday night,
and you're talking now to the head coach or the
Crusaders at Robert Penny Good Evening looking forward to the weekend.
Again another understatement, because we've reached critical mass. This is
where things start really counting. How are you guys prepped
(00:39):
going into this? You've ticked everything, You've done, your dots
on your eyes and your crosses on your teas.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Yeah, pretty much. The group's got enough experience and at
that table to you know, just obviously there's some some
pressure moments and there's a few new guys to this occasion,
but overall coaching group have done an amazing job and
the players have embraced it and excited about Friday night.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
How tailored is your coaching towards the younger guys who
haven't experienced that or the rest of your coaching staff.
Take a bit of time and it doing something a
bit different for these guys that are I suppose dipping
a town.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
If you will, No, not really, I mean everyone's just
got a lift. That's the reality of the position. So no,
and we've got a very capable group. So I just
embraced it and we're getting into it.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
What did you pull out of last week? Anything key
that you need to apply to the to the mean
head of Friday.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
I think you know, it's been a bit of a
similar theme for us over the last month or so,
that we're not as clinical as we'd like to be
after halftime getting ourselves into reasonably good positions and then
just not being able to quite nail a couple of things.
But we're capable and we're aware. So yeah, just getting
that element more consistent would be a real good start,
(02:03):
so that.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
The team apply that. You've got to set them up
the rest of your coaching stuff. You altered anything at
all rob that you think might help out that that
that sag that bag of a period that you have
where things don't quite work, You don't you can't dominate.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
Oh yeah, yeah, there's been lots and lots of different
really applied and you know, some have worked and some
not quite there. But got faith that the group will
you embrace it Now that we're in a point part
of the season, where those lapses, if you like, will
(02:36):
be more you know, more valuable in terms of the
opposition scoring points. So they just can't exist.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
You've had return rob of some amazing troops. You've got
new All back with the biggest engine in front row
in New Zealand, You've got Haveverely back, you got Will
Jordan back. This is just the right time. I'm presuming
you're going to hit the ground running. They're all in
a good state to play this key match.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
Yeah, yeah, they wouldn't be such an important fixture and
we've got a really strong group and you know, making
sure that they're able to function it one hundred percent
critical for us. They are in really good physical and
mental shape and yeah, training that was flowed nicely with
those guys added back into the mix.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Looking at the playoffs and it's relatively simple. It's not
the most simplistic idea in the world, but that's eleven
teams for you. How do you feel the way the
playoffs have developed and worked out? Is this fit for
purpose the system that Super Rugby Pacific've got right now?
Speaker 3 (03:41):
Absolutely? Yeah. I think it's you know, it's an intriguing
system and you know everyone's still up in the air
right through the competition knowing who's going to be in
the top six, and then from this point onwards, the
nature of the playoffs is that no one's going to
be certain until after the last game exactly who lies.
(04:01):
We're so yeah, cudos to those that came up with it.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
For those who say there are some games that might
be a little dead, there's no point in them because
it's not going to adjust the table at all. What
would you say to the m rod.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Well, it's not an adjust the table, but there's consequences
depending on who you would rather maybe meet down a
week later, So the consequences for you through the playoff round.
So we're aware of that and we just got to
do what we can do and manage our own backyard
and make sure we do a good job there and
got a great Reds team coming across. It will be
(04:36):
really challenging. And you know, they proved time time again
how worthy they are and we're not worried about anything
beyond that stage.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Reads. You've had a great history with the Reads right
the way through Super Rugby, Super Rugby, Pacific, Supertensi, Top
whatever it was called, that they're definitely worthy opponents. What
do they bring that is of not prime concern but
of interest to you? What do you have to focus on?
Speaker 3 (04:59):
Rob Well, they've got a combative pack with the outstanding
loose Ford trio two world class seven and eight in particular.
You know they would bless the team at international level
very well, and then particularly at nine and through the midfield.
They've got lots and lots of strength and they've got
tons of pace in the outside. So you know they
(05:20):
haven't gone into well, they haven't got into the position
they're in through luck their quality side, and we've got
a lot of respect for them.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Those big killogion areas up the front, I mean, those
lucies that can peel and gas. Are you going to
fight fire with fire? Do you meet them where they stand,
because you're hardly short of that power yourself either.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
No, it's going to be a great contest. You know,
we've got world class lucies ourselves, very very capable men,
and so it's going to be titanic. You know, it's
going to be a big old tussle. And you know
the weather looks like it's going to be a bit
in clement, so that therefore you know that puts more
onus on the department to be top notch a bit.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
In Clement, it's a Canteens way of saying it's going
to be horrible, and I suppose next to you won't
be worried about that. You'd be under a roof. But
does this represent, if it is that bad, a clear
and present advantage to you guys? Do you feel you've
got that more in hand if you're playing in less
than ideal weather conditions?
Speaker 3 (06:21):
Oh? No, it can be pretty wet in Queensland played
in some torrential. The temperature might be different, but the
conditions can be pretty hard. With the A quality side,
they've got internationals. You know, they're blessed with internationals right
across their playing roster and this won't be intimidating the
weather for them. It won't be the tumining factor. It
is what it is this time the end. No matter
(06:42):
where you play, you're inclined to get a bit of
moisture and it won't be I don't think it'll be
an set to either side or a detriment. You've just
got to adjust and play and both teams will be
capable of that.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
For more from Sports Talk, listen lived and news talks.
It'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio
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