Tony Johnson: Sky Sport Rugby Commentator reviews the Crusaders v Hurricanes, Highlanders v Waratahs
February 14, 2025 • 10 mins
The Crusaders have overcome early adversity to beat the Hurricanes 33-25 in the Super Rugby Pacific opener in Christchurch.
The hosts went down to 14 men after just four minutes —with lock Scott Barrett yellow-carded— and trailed 14-nil.
Coach Rob Penney has praised his side's fight.
Sky Sport rugby analyst and Commentator Tony Johnson joined D'Arcy Waldegrave to review the two opening games.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldgrave from News Talk SEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Six minutes after eight. Let it be known that producer
Andy Duff is not a Crusaders fan. He's playing this
music to calm me down. It's worked well. Let's talk
Super Rugby Pacific now, and we're joined by one of
my fames, Tony John said, Marina to you.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
But in a Darcy you didn't like that music?
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Did you double your strained voice?
Speaker 3 (00:48):
No, mate, it's I think they'll be very happy in
Crusader Land after what happened last night. But more than that,
I just thought it was a terrific start to the season.
I mean the Highlanders, you know that they'll be feeling
a bit miserable coming back on the plane because there
was a game there that they might might well have
won and didn't quite manage to do it in the end.
(01:11):
But yeah, I thought we had both games I thought
were outstanding value, thirty.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Three to twenty five. The first win. The first game
the Crusaders taking the Biscuits, but after getting Scott Barrett
cartered within four minutes and going down forty nil, that
didn't look likely, did it?
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Yeah? I made. I don't be I'm having a crack
at this the fantasy rugby and the season's four minutes
old and I'm down five points because my Locke's been
sent to the sin bin. And you know, I said
to I said to my wife last night, this fantasy
rugby is going to do them ahead in because you know,
you're watching a game at home and you're thinking, oh,
(01:49):
you know, there's a tackle made by someone so or whatever.
You know, but look, they didn't make a great start
and you think, oh boy, you know, here we go
again if you're a Crusaders fan. But you know the
way they came back and as I say, just just
turned it into terrific contest. And I mean there was
there was some standout players and perhaps you know, from
(02:12):
players you weren't expecting, and Kyle Preston wouldn't have seen
himself playing such a huge part in the game, and
it just shows what a very good acquisition he's been.
I thought, you only mine and another one you know
who found himself as the front line hookup. He had
a tremendous game. But I was also really impressed by
(02:33):
Will Jordan. Will Jordan, we know, you know, making those
you know, searing breaks and finishing off tries and things
like that. I thought he played the creator really well
last night. I thought he just looked like he's expanded
this game a bit where you know, he's always been
able to open things up for others, but this time,
you know, he really was. You know, some of the
(02:55):
passes he threw, just some of the decisions he made.
You know, I thought he had a terrific game as well.
And they were the sort of guys, you know, some
of the under and there were other unsung heroes. Team
that got the livered the line against the Hurricanes team
that you know early on just looked fantastic.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
They were run beautifully by Roy Guard And you mentioned Jordan.
He scored sixty one Fantasy points. I'm glad I had
him on my team as well. They got the points.
It's a great way to start the season. A powpable
relief in Rob Penny. He almost couldn't believe it because
after the first teen to fifteen minutes he had been
crying into his hands, wouldn't.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
He Yeah, look, I don't think he's the sort of
guy to get too upset too quickly, and you know,
you know, he would have had faith that his guys
could come back from that. You know, I thought, you know,
as I say, the Hurricanes when you consider the injury
issues that they've had around the ten slot in particular,
and I thought Harry Godfrey had a really good game.
(03:52):
I mean, Roy Guard has just shown you know, he
is our number one half back now. And you know,
the part one mistake, I think, and that was the
thing with the Hurricans, just little mistakes times in the game.
And there was that long kick that he made with
the wind behind him that went dead, you know, and
(04:13):
there was just a couple of other sort of erarors
that from you know, the other parts of the team
that cost them probably that just a chance to grab
a hold of the game. But you know, to me,
what the other thing that I was really impressed with
about the Crusaders was that, you know, during their dynasty,
their rugby was often quite conservative, that it was about
(04:37):
dominating up front. It was just about you hammering away
and keeping a hold of the ball. And I know
that Dave and I really said after the game that
the instruction at halftime was make sure they hung onto
the ball. But I actually liked the way they kept
the ball alive and again Jordan was you know, one
of the key factors in this but they're you know,
popping off loads, players going to ground and looking for
(04:59):
a support runner instead of just taking it into a ruck.
I thought their willingness to keep the ball alive, you know,
it was a key factor in the game. You know.
The other young player that I thought Sean in this
match to the Hurricanes finangernofl who they've got from the
New Zealand sevens team. I thought both he and Caleb
(05:20):
Tungytaw for the Highlanders showed that you know they're going
to step out of sevens and I think they're going
to both be players to really keep an eye of
the really exciting players new to Super Raguy this year.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
And a quick word on the Highlanders. Do we preview
after that the Highland as well? Eight nine lead changes
that was phenomenal. Might be stripped that they let it
go in the last thirty seconds.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
Yeah, and I thought that a bit unlucky at the end.
I thought there was more than a suspicion of a
knock on and the lead up to that final warataz
try and just going to be a little bit careful
with this willingness to keep the game moving, which I
thought both referees did superbly last night. There was no
mucking around, you know, line out, scrum, you know, bang bang,
(06:04):
It just kept the game. And so but you're just
got to be careful that, I think, you know, especially
those big calls right at the end of a game
that will decide the match. They've still got to have
a look at them and make sure they get them right.
And I just thought there was more than a suspicion
of a knock on right at the end. But look,
you know, the Heighlighters, they did well themselves to get
themselves into a position where they could order should have
(06:27):
won the game. But that's a huge result for the Warriors,
that any sort of win for the Tars to get
their season off to a winning start when you consider
what they were like last year. You know, Australian rugby
needs a successful team or two this year. The whole
competition needs it. And so you know, the war Atars,
I think they'll be pretty happy to get you know,
(06:47):
with that one. And again it was just a fantastic contest.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Today there's three games on two of great concern, well,
one of great concern to us, and I suppose we'll
focus purely on that. Mo One Passifico are playing the
Force and Drawer are taking on the Brumbies. But tonight
it's five past seven on old Sport, a repeat of
last year's final. This could be huge and based on
the last two games, you'd hope it provides.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
Yeah, and I'm sure will I mean, conditions will be
absolutely perfect here that you know, there's a pretty good
crowd that they've got going to Eden Park. I mean,
I'm sure there will still be tickets. And but look
the Blues and the Chiefs final last year that the
Blues actually you ended up with. People in Chiefs Country
probably want to forget the score, but I think it
(07:36):
was like a forty one to ten school line. I
don't expect anything like that that both teams, although obviously
everyone at the moment has got those early season injuries
and nickels and players that they are wisely looking after
rather than throwing them into the mix. So both sides,
you know, missing some key players, but there's still two
very strong and I thok quite even looking lineups there.
(07:59):
The Blues starting his favorites for this competition. In fact,
I think that they are about a dollar forty six
as against the Chiefs at two sixty five, and the
Chiefs fans might be interested in that, but as you know,
it's all set up. As I say, that's the beauty
of super ragby two. You're playing the game in such
great conditions and it's just you know, the Blues, you
(08:22):
know how they're going to They played it so well
last year. They had a blueprint for success which was
based on physicality and hard ball carrying. But there's also
a lot of talent on that side as well. Lethal
back three with Bowden Barrett back in the mix. Just
ironic that the two guys we're talking about, you know,
now that the dust has settled on this Richie, mylonga business,
(08:44):
the two guys that you're expecting to battle for the
all black number ten jersey, you're both playing fifteen and.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
A role where Will Jordan's established to himself dominant. Go figure, Hey,
Taran sixty five points in my first round so far.
I'm looking to add to that with Rickettelly tooy Plot,
Popa Lee and Taliah form the Blues side, and I've
got a couple of Chiefs in there as well. Good
luck when you're punting there, mate. Thanks Tony Johnson.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
As always, I got two hundred and twenty one. So
do you got more than me to sixty five? Two
sixty five? Well most of my most of my players
still get to play.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
Yeah, no, granted, well I've got a Jacobson turning up
to play as well. So let's look at the possibility of.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
Miss Yeah, forty forty two. Jordan's sixty one.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Yeah, that's the two I picked up as well. My
captain ed Med didn't make much, but I'll take that.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
It doesn't bettle. I got twenty seven for bell Bar
at twenty three. Of course that five points cost and
the sin ben there.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Hey, hold on, stop there, and he Duff's going oh
liosten a couple of boomers playing fantasy. I wouldn't answer
us call ever again, Tony Johnson, thanks for your time, mate,
Go well, okay, sixteen minutes after eight boomers. Now, I'm
born in nineteen sixty nine. I'm not a boomer. I
am generation exual. You stop that whatever you are.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
For more from the Your Sport Breakfast with Dusty water Grave.
Listen live to News Talk set B on Saturday mornings,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio,
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldgrave from News Talk SEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Six minutes after eight. Let it be known that producer
Andy Duff is not a Crusaders fan. He's playing this
music to calm me down. It's worked well. Let's talk
Super Rugby Pacific now, and we're joined by one of
my fames, Tony John said, Marina to you.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
But in a Darcy you didn't like that music?
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Did you double your strained voice?
Speaker 3 (00:48):
No, mate, it's I think they'll be very happy in
Crusader Land after what happened last night. But more than that,
I just thought it was a terrific start to the season.
I mean the Highlanders, you know that they'll be feeling
a bit miserable coming back on the plane because there
was a game there that they might might well have
won and didn't quite manage to do it in the end.
(01:11):
But yeah, I thought we had both games I thought
were outstanding value, thirty.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Three to twenty five. The first win. The first game
the Crusaders taking the Biscuits, but after getting Scott Barrett
cartered within four minutes and going down forty nil, that
didn't look likely, did it?
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Yeah? I made. I don't be I'm having a crack
at this the fantasy rugby and the season's four minutes
old and I'm down five points because my Locke's been
sent to the sin bin. And you know, I said
to I said to my wife last night, this fantasy
rugby is going to do them ahead in because you know,
you're watching a game at home and you're thinking, oh,
(01:49):
you know, there's a tackle made by someone so or whatever.
You know, but look, they didn't make a great start
and you think, oh boy, you know, here we go
again if you're a Crusaders fan. But you know the
way they came back and as I say, just just
turned it into terrific contest. And I mean there was
there was some standout players and perhaps you know, from
(02:12):
players you weren't expecting, and Kyle Preston wouldn't have seen
himself playing such a huge part in the game, and
it just shows what a very good acquisition he's been.
I thought, you only mine and another one you know
who found himself as the front line hookup. He had
a tremendous game. But I was also really impressed by
(02:33):
Will Jordan. Will Jordan, we know, you know, making those
you know, searing breaks and finishing off tries and things
like that. I thought he played the creator really well
last night. I thought he just looked like he's expanded
this game a bit where you know, he's always been
able to open things up for others, but this time,
you know, he really was. You know, some of the
(02:55):
passes he threw, just some of the decisions he made.
You know, I thought he had a terrific game as well.
And they were the sort of guys, you know, some
of the under and there were other unsung heroes. Team
that got the livered the line against the Hurricanes team
that you know early on just looked fantastic.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
They were run beautifully by Roy Guard And you mentioned Jordan.
He scored sixty one Fantasy points. I'm glad I had
him on my team as well. They got the points.
It's a great way to start the season. A powpable
relief in Rob Penny. He almost couldn't believe it because
after the first teen to fifteen minutes he had been
crying into his hands, wouldn't.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
He Yeah, look, I don't think he's the sort of
guy to get too upset too quickly, and you know,
you know, he would have had faith that his guys
could come back from that. You know, I thought, you know,
as I say, the Hurricanes when you consider the injury
issues that they've had around the ten slot in particular,
and I thought Harry Godfrey had a really good game.
(03:52):
I mean, Roy Guard has just shown you know, he
is our number one half back now. And you know,
the part one mistake, I think, and that was the
thing with the Hurricans, just little mistakes times in the game.
And there was that long kick that he made with
the wind behind him that went dead, you know, and
(04:13):
there was just a couple of other sort of erarors
that from you know, the other parts of the team
that cost them probably that just a chance to grab
a hold of the game. But you know, to me,
what the other thing that I was really impressed with
about the Crusaders was that, you know, during their dynasty,
their rugby was often quite conservative, that it was about
(04:37):
dominating up front. It was just about you hammering away
and keeping a hold of the ball. And I know
that Dave and I really said after the game that
the instruction at halftime was make sure they hung onto
the ball. But I actually liked the way they kept
the ball alive and again Jordan was you know, one
of the key factors in this but they're you know,
popping off loads, players going to ground and looking for
(04:59):
a support runner instead of just taking it into a ruck.
I thought their willingness to keep the ball alive, you know,
it was a key factor in the game. You know.
The other young player that I thought Sean in this
match to the Hurricanes finangernofl who they've got from the
New Zealand sevens team. I thought both he and Caleb
(05:20):
Tungytaw for the Highlanders showed that you know they're going
to step out of sevens and I think they're going
to both be players to really keep an eye of
the really exciting players new to Super Raguy this year.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
And a quick word on the Highlanders. Do we preview
after that the Highland as well? Eight nine lead changes
that was phenomenal. Might be stripped that they let it
go in the last thirty seconds.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
Yeah, and I thought that a bit unlucky at the end.
I thought there was more than a suspicion of a
knock on and the lead up to that final warataz
try and just going to be a little bit careful
with this willingness to keep the game moving, which I
thought both referees did superbly last night. There was no
mucking around, you know, line out, scrum, you know, bang bang,
(06:04):
It just kept the game. And so but you're just
got to be careful that, I think, you know, especially
those big calls right at the end of a game
that will decide the match. They've still got to have
a look at them and make sure they get them right.
And I just thought there was more than a suspicion
of a knock on right at the end. But look,
you know, the Heighlighters, they did well themselves to get
themselves into a position where they could order should have
(06:27):
won the game. But that's a huge result for the Warriors,
that any sort of win for the Tars to get
their season off to a winning start when you consider
what they were like last year. You know, Australian rugby
needs a successful team or two this year. The whole
competition needs it. And so you know, the war Atars,
I think they'll be pretty happy to get you know,
(06:47):
with that one. And again it was just a fantastic contest.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Today there's three games on two of great concern, well,
one of great concern to us, and I suppose we'll
focus purely on that. Mo One Passifico are playing the
Force and Drawer are taking on the Brumbies. But tonight
it's five past seven on old Sport, a repeat of
last year's final. This could be huge and based on
the last two games, you'd hope it provides.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
Yeah, and I'm sure will I mean, conditions will be
absolutely perfect here that you know, there's a pretty good
crowd that they've got going to Eden Park. I mean,
I'm sure there will still be tickets. And but look
the Blues and the Chiefs final last year that the
Blues actually you ended up with. People in Chiefs Country
probably want to forget the score, but I think it
(07:36):
was like a forty one to ten school line. I
don't expect anything like that that both teams, although obviously
everyone at the moment has got those early season injuries
and nickels and players that they are wisely looking after
rather than throwing them into the mix. So both sides,
you know, missing some key players, but there's still two
very strong and I thok quite even looking lineups there.
(07:59):
The Blues starting his favorites for this competition. In fact,
I think that they are about a dollar forty six
as against the Chiefs at two sixty five, and the
Chiefs fans might be interested in that, but as you know,
it's all set up. As I say, that's the beauty
of super ragby two. You're playing the game in such
great conditions and it's just you know, the Blues, you
(08:22):
know how they're going to They played it so well
last year. They had a blueprint for success which was
based on physicality and hard ball carrying. But there's also
a lot of talent on that side as well. Lethal
back three with Bowden Barrett back in the mix. Just
ironic that the two guys we're talking about, you know,
now that the dust has settled on this Richie, mylonga business,
(08:44):
the two guys that you're expecting to battle for the
all black number ten jersey, you're both playing fifteen and.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
A role where Will Jordan's established to himself dominant. Go figure, Hey,
Taran sixty five points in my first round so far.
I'm looking to add to that with Rickettelly tooy Plot,
Popa Lee and Taliah form the Blues side, and I've
got a couple of Chiefs in there as well. Good
luck when you're punting there, mate. Thanks Tony Johnson.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
As always, I got two hundred and twenty one. So
do you got more than me to sixty five? Two
sixty five? Well most of my most of my players
still get to play.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
Yeah, no, granted, well I've got a Jacobson turning up
to play as well. So let's look at the possibility of.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
Miss Yeah, forty forty two. Jordan's sixty one.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Yeah, that's the two I picked up as well. My
captain ed Med didn't make much, but I'll take that.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
It doesn't bettle. I got twenty seven for bell Bar
at twenty three. Of course that five points cost and
the sin ben there.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Hey, hold on, stop there, and he Duff's going oh
liosten a couple of boomers playing fantasy. I wouldn't answer
us call ever again, Tony Johnson, thanks for your time, mate,
Go well, okay, sixteen minutes after eight boomers. Now, I'm
born in nineteen sixty nine. I'm not a boomer. I
am generation exual. You stop that whatever you are.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
For more from the Your Sport Breakfast with Dusty water Grave.
Listen live to News Talk set B on Saturday mornings,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio,
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