Kurt Eklund: Blues hooker ahead of their Super Rugby clash against the Fijian Drua side

The Blues insist they're ready for whichever Fijian Drua side emerges from under the Eden Park tunnel tonight in their Super Rugby Pacific quarter final. 

The Drua haven't managed a road win this season, with their six wins all coming in Fiji. 

Kurt Eklund joined D'Arcy Waldegrave to preview their clash.  

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldgrave from News talks'd be got a.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
Final football we're talking at now Super Rugby Pacific Kurt
Ecklund that joins us as we look forward to tonight,
CIJ Andrew are coming to town. Kurt? Does that freak
you out? Their big scary fast men.

Speaker 3 (00:24):
Yeah, oh, good morning. First of all, how's it going good? Good?
And yes they're scary full of athletes that are got
resolute score tries from anywhere. So you know, there's a
little bit of nerves hanging a belt. But I think
nerves are good because it means we care, so we're

(00:44):
looking forward to it.

Speaker 2 (00:45):
How do you counter an opposition like that? Because Nigga,
as you said, throw the ball around from all over
the shop. They've got such enthusiasm and vervein and such size.
Do you have to dramatically change what you set up
as mirthful stern vern changed anything?

Speaker 3 (01:01):
Uh, not a hell of a lot, to be honest.
I think we're just trying to get better what we're
going and I think that's been working throughout the season.
So obviously there's a few things if it needed to
be aware old and the Fiji lads fuck to play
nice and fast foody. But you know, if we just
stick to our guns. It's the old cliches, isn't it that?
You know, we play what you're good at and hopefully

(01:23):
come out on top.

Speaker 2 (01:24):
You're at home, got to like that sleep in your
own beat all I presume you do anyway as a
post on a park bench if you had a big
night out, Kurt, but that's got to help.

Speaker 3 (01:32):
Yeah, usually in the own bed, unless Mumsy gets a
little bit angry man and I find myself on the couch.
She usually goes to be easy on me, especially you know,
nights before a game of footage. She knows how important
a good sleepers. So yeah, now looking forward to being
to eaton park mate. It's you know, they talk about
the home turf advantage and you're looking like running out
in front of our own fans and friend the family

(01:55):
to get the boys up. And we had some pretty
good crouches of mates. You know. Hopefully tonight doesn't change.

Speaker 2 (02:01):
What do you make of these playoff situations? The way
it operate. So you get one chance, so you finished
top two and it doesn't really matter you get a
home final but if you drop the ball, it's it's
goneberg And we had a lot of discussion about that
on air. Are you comfortable with the way it works
right now because they're looking at changing it.

Speaker 3 (02:16):
Yeah, yeah, I'm not too sure. It's it's quite interesting.
Like you said, I think, well, each win four games
and still make playoffs, which you know like, which is great,
but then the teams who have you been performing week
in week out. It comes down to the water. But
I think that's what's exciting about find us free as well.

(02:38):
If any team on the day could win it, and
hopefully we're on the right side of it tonight.

Speaker 2 (02:44):
No, I don't want to bring it up, Kurt Ekam,
but I will because I'm the media and we like that.
How did you guys deal with that last minute annoyance
that took away the number one spot from you? I'd
suggest you'd be filthy.

Speaker 3 (02:56):
Yeah, that one hurt, especially because we're so close. You know,
it's a bit like kissing your cousin.

Speaker 2 (03:04):
Well, I don't know. I've never kissed my car, and of.

Speaker 3 (03:06):
You you're lying to me, made your bounds of kissy cousin.
Everybody does it. Once, let's move.

Speaker 2 (03:14):
Away from that this is getting dangerous territory.

Speaker 3 (03:16):
So yeah, yeah we're fealthy. It wasn't the greatest right where,
you know, left a bitter taste in the mouth afterwards.
You know, we wanted that number one spot and obviously
we didn't end up with it, But that's just the
way it goes sometimes, and it sort of control we
can moving forward. How do you deal with it?

Speaker 2 (03:38):
What kind of process do you go through?

Speaker 3 (03:42):
I don't know. I think like at the time, you know,
definitely hurt. We're some good free pitches as well, and
you know, we still being a decent chue side, so
like there are a lot of positives we could take
out of that game. And you know, if they had
been a quarter final or a semi final when all
you have to do is win, then you know we

(04:02):
would have been spoke. But just unfortunately they were going
to get the bonus point at.

Speaker 2 (04:05):
The style of play you mentioned. Just then you're you're
happy with what you're doing. The Blues all season have
been consistent in what they do, and look the reason
people are turning up for these games. Is it exciting
to watch?

Speaker 3 (04:17):
Kirk? Yeah, we're pretty happy with the way things ago,
and I think you know, we've definitely got a style
of footing that we're playing this season and we're working
for us. So, like I said, you know, we can't
be begging too much, but just hopefully keep the ball rolling.

Speaker 2 (04:35):
Does anyone change in the build up to this must
win game? You get an idea around training around the
sheds about people that deal with the stress in different manner.
Is there anyone freaking out or got an extra call?

Speaker 3 (04:46):
Or yeah, hot Dog hasn't seen his girlfriend for the
last two weeks. It doesn't want any distractions. So that's
that's one person who's changed leading up to the finals.
But other than that, everyone else is more more or
so the same.

Speaker 2 (05:03):
There we've gotta ask who's hot Dog?

Speaker 3 (05:06):
Oh? Myself? Myself, sir? All right.

Speaker 2 (05:12):
Now you've released his secret to the entire world. Wow,
the audience anyway of news talk ZB are watching you
the best for tonight and promises so much and duor
brings some excitement, some razzle dazzle. But what you guys
have done so far this yere has been impressive. Don't
let Josh Guanni's tricks from last week get you all down.

(05:33):
You get up and get into them curtain. Thanks for
your time all.

Speaker 3 (05:36):
Thanks for the call. Mate.

Speaker 1 (05:38):
For more from the Your Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave,
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