June 20, 2025 • 6 mins
The Crusaders are wary of losing momentum in tonight's Super Rugby final showdown against the Chiefs in Christchurch.
The Chiefs had a points differential of plus 231 after the regular season, more than 120 points better than any other team.
Crusaders wing Sevu Reece joined D’Arcy Waldegrave to preview the clash.
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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 Dancy
Waldgrave from Used talks'b.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Good morning, Good morning.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
Excitement levels huge for you and the team. This time
last year, you wouldn't have even dreamed about appearing in
the finals, now, would you.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
No, Like you said, excitements honestly through the roof, and yeah,
you nailed at the on the head. This time last year,
we were just all sitting on our couches and yeah,
getting ready to watch the Blues and the Chiefs flaying
the final. Our season was finished a long time ago.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Did you carry that feeling like hold it and go
that was horrible? Never again? Is that something you've nursed
throughout the entire season this year?
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Yeah, one hundred percent. I know. It's like a big
motivator for us. It's that, you know, we know what
we're capable of, and to finish our season off like
last year was just yeah, you just we were just
not happy at all, you know, because we know we're
way better than that. And I think it just shows
this year, like when we get up, you know, mindset right,
(01:07):
play the game that we know we can play. Yeah,
and here we are another finals footy.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
What's impressed you the most about the campaign this season
across the team, the coaching staff is the one stand
out part of what you're doing that really underlines why
you've got to the final.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Well one, I mean it's probably the obvious one. Like
we've got everyone healthy and fit, you know, all most
of our players. Last year we were quite unlucky with
with injuries, so you know, having all the boys back
on board as a massive boost for us. And I
think also the accountability as well. You know, boys just
owning their you know, their roles and just you know,
I guess everyone doing their part to obviously add to
(01:49):
the to the goal, which is making playoffs. And yeah,
and obviously we're called to to lift at trophy. But yeah,
like I said, in our coaching staff sort of just
you know, we've they've had like a really good plan
and obviously how we want to play this year was
starting out this year and you know, everything's all paying off.
So you know, hats off to each and everyone, not
(02:09):
just the players, but you know, coaching staff for just
how you know, just all that hard we're It's going
to be a good class.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
I'd say that your ability to defend your try line
has been absolutely epic. That is some tough play, and
that's faith in your insides and your outsides and your
structure as well, knowing that you're not going to miss
your tackles, you are going to set them on their
backsides and you're not going to get penalized. I mean
(02:37):
that is massive in the last teen to five minutes
of a game, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Yeah, one hundred percent, like we've I think, so there's
like a record that we've set those years about two
hundred and ninety five tackles or something. I think that's
the most tackles ever made. Yeah, And like you know,
we pride ourselves ourselves on defending our line, and you know,
obviously we don't want to be defending that long. I
would love to be, you know, have ball in hand
(03:02):
and scoring tries. But like we know that we can
go deep into the phase count and obviously all the
boys are happyta role this leaves up and go to work.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Defense is one side attacks another. You've had quite a
handy year with the ball. What are you sitting there
right at the very top of super rugby try scoring?
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Yeah, Like I said, you know, it's pretty cool set
of right at the top there. But you know, like
I'm enjoying every moment off, you know, being the top
to I scorer. But you know, at the same time,
I know you know someone will one day beat it.
So while I'm still up the top there, I'll enjoy it,
and I hope I can add to a few more.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
Looking forward, looking at where you are and what you're doing,
do you care if you're at an eleven or fourteen
on your back because things have changed. Unfortunately Chap hockey
is out, which is a huge both of you guys.
So Mac a springer, he's quite handy, scoring tries himself.
He's on the other wing. You've swapped across. Much of
a problem for you.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Cib No, No, honestly, I'm at the stage now where
you know, I've played lots of rugby on the left
and letously lots of ruggle on the right, So honestly,
don't mind. As long as I'm on the field, I'm
not going to complain. And yeah, you're right, that's handy
having McCAT as well, and it's his quirk. You know,
he's tall, so yeah, pretty excited for him to as well. Obviously,
(04:18):
you know I'm unlucky for Shay with the head knock,
but yeah, great opportunity for Mecca to get to start
in the finals. So yeah, I wait to see how
it goes as well.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
For sure, Hey thirteen, which is great, you've touched on
that as well. But welcoming back the lights of that
monster to Mighty Williams. It's got to make everybody quite Hey,
you got Fletcher nielback, he's an absolute machine, but now
you got these two guys and your hook us quite
handy as well. That's a great way to start any
attack on a title, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Oh yeah, you know it's always obviously hitting into finance
finance footy. It's a messive boost having everyone healthy and playing.
But yeah, and saying that we've got a good we've
got good DiPT in the squad as well. But you know,
having begged to Mighty Deer and obviously Fletcher and Cody
there obviously, and you've got you know, George Bauer off
(05:08):
the bench, you know, it's you can't ask anything better
than that. It's yeah, we we're very lucky with the
depth of got fishally up front and yeah, I know
these boys will be busy. Comes from time and more time.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
You shush the crowd last week when you beat the Blues.
What's all that about? Come on mate?
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Oh? Honestly, yeah, well it was just, you know, had
some Blues fans all just you know, giving it to
me from the stands sort of right behind me. So
then I sort of just winning their game. Wh It
was pretty cool when yeah, sort of just in that moment,
you know, I just gave them a little Yeah, hey.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
One last thing practice and you'll be getting thrashed with
a stick by Rob Penny and the like. What's it
like when you have to tackle to mighty Williams because
you're not the biggest fella in the world, are you?
And he is immense? How does that work?
Speaker 2 (05:59):
Honestly? Just oh, they just put it this way. You've
got a bus and you've got a motorbike. Yeah, you
face them to each other and then you let them,
you know, go full steam at each other. Who do
you think is going to win? You know, so you
have a motorbike and a bus.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
I think the trick is just get tangled in his
legs exactly exactly.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Honestly, I would not want to want to be tackling him,
so I would probably you know, run to the other
side of the field and just hang around here.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
So anyway, hey Sevo, thanks for joining us on the
All Sport Breakfast tonight. There's going to be epic Chiefs Crusaders.
It's live and free on Gold Sport and a good.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
One mate, go well perfect. Thank you so much, cheers,
thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
For more from the All Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave,
listen live to News Talk said Be on Saturday mornings,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Dancy
Waldgrave from Used talks'b.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Good morning, Good morning.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
Excitement levels huge for you and the team. This time
last year, you wouldn't have even dreamed about appearing in
the finals, now, would you.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
No, Like you said, excitements honestly through the roof, and yeah,
you nailed at the on the head. This time last year,
we were just all sitting on our couches and yeah,
getting ready to watch the Blues and the Chiefs flaying
the final. Our season was finished a long time ago.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Did you carry that feeling like hold it and go
that was horrible? Never again? Is that something you've nursed
throughout the entire season this year?
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Yeah, one hundred percent. I know. It's like a big
motivator for us. It's that, you know, we know what
we're capable of, and to finish our season off like
last year was just yeah, you just we were just
not happy at all, you know, because we know we're
way better than that. And I think it just shows
this year, like when we get up, you know, mindset right,
(01:07):
play the game that we know we can play. Yeah,
and here we are another finals footy.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
What's impressed you the most about the campaign this season
across the team, the coaching staff is the one stand
out part of what you're doing that really underlines why
you've got to the final.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Well one, I mean it's probably the obvious one. Like
we've got everyone healthy and fit, you know, all most
of our players. Last year we were quite unlucky with
with injuries, so you know, having all the boys back
on board as a massive boost for us. And I
think also the accountability as well. You know, boys just
owning their you know, their roles and just you know,
I guess everyone doing their part to obviously add to
(01:49):
the to the goal, which is making playoffs. And yeah,
and obviously we're called to to lift at trophy. But yeah,
like I said, in our coaching staff sort of just
you know, we've they've had like a really good plan
and obviously how we want to play this year was
starting out this year and you know, everything's all paying off.
So you know, hats off to each and everyone, not
(02:09):
just the players, but you know, coaching staff for just
how you know, just all that hard we're It's going
to be a good class.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
I'd say that your ability to defend your try line
has been absolutely epic. That is some tough play, and
that's faith in your insides and your outsides and your
structure as well, knowing that you're not going to miss
your tackles, you are going to set them on their
backsides and you're not going to get penalized. I mean
(02:37):
that is massive in the last teen to five minutes
of a game, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Yeah, one hundred percent, like we've I think, so there's
like a record that we've set those years about two
hundred and ninety five tackles or something. I think that's
the most tackles ever made. Yeah, And like you know,
we pride ourselves ourselves on defending our line, and you know,
obviously we don't want to be defending that long. I
would love to be, you know, have ball in hand
(03:02):
and scoring tries. But like we know that we can
go deep into the phase count and obviously all the
boys are happyta role this leaves up and go to work.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Defense is one side attacks another. You've had quite a
handy year with the ball. What are you sitting there
right at the very top of super rugby try scoring?
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Yeah, Like I said, you know, it's pretty cool set
of right at the top there. But you know, like
I'm enjoying every moment off, you know, being the top
to I scorer. But you know, at the same time,
I know you know someone will one day beat it.
So while I'm still up the top there, I'll enjoy it,
and I hope I can add to a few more.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
Looking forward, looking at where you are and what you're doing,
do you care if you're at an eleven or fourteen
on your back because things have changed. Unfortunately Chap hockey
is out, which is a huge both of you guys.
So Mac a springer, he's quite handy, scoring tries himself.
He's on the other wing. You've swapped across. Much of
a problem for you.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Cib No, No, honestly, I'm at the stage now where
you know, I've played lots of rugby on the left
and letously lots of ruggle on the right, So honestly,
don't mind. As long as I'm on the field, I'm
not going to complain. And yeah, you're right, that's handy
having McCAT as well, and it's his quirk. You know,
he's tall, so yeah, pretty excited for him to as well. Obviously,
(04:18):
you know I'm unlucky for Shay with the head knock,
but yeah, great opportunity for Mecca to get to start
in the finals. So yeah, I wait to see how
it goes as well.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
For sure, Hey thirteen, which is great, you've touched on
that as well. But welcoming back the lights of that
monster to Mighty Williams. It's got to make everybody quite Hey,
you got Fletcher nielback, he's an absolute machine, but now
you got these two guys and your hook us quite
handy as well. That's a great way to start any
attack on a title, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Oh yeah, you know it's always obviously hitting into finance
finance footy. It's a messive boost having everyone healthy and playing.
But yeah, and saying that we've got a good we've
got good DiPT in the squad as well. But you know,
having begged to Mighty Deer and obviously Fletcher and Cody
there obviously, and you've got you know, George Bauer off
(05:08):
the bench, you know, it's you can't ask anything better
than that. It's yeah, we we're very lucky with the
depth of got fishally up front and yeah, I know
these boys will be busy. Comes from time and more time.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
You shush the crowd last week when you beat the Blues.
What's all that about? Come on mate?
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Oh? Honestly, yeah, well it was just, you know, had
some Blues fans all just you know, giving it to
me from the stands sort of right behind me. So
then I sort of just winning their game. Wh It
was pretty cool when yeah, sort of just in that moment,
you know, I just gave them a little Yeah, hey.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
One last thing practice and you'll be getting thrashed with
a stick by Rob Penny and the like. What's it
like when you have to tackle to mighty Williams because
you're not the biggest fella in the world, are you?
And he is immense? How does that work?
Speaker 2 (05:59):
Honestly? Just oh, they just put it this way. You've
got a bus and you've got a motorbike. Yeah, you
face them to each other and then you let them,
you know, go full steam at each other. Who do
you think is going to win? You know, so you
have a motorbike and a bus.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
I think the trick is just get tangled in his
legs exactly exactly.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Honestly, I would not want to want to be tackling him,
so I would probably you know, run to the other
side of the field and just hang around here.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
So anyway, hey Sevo, thanks for joining us on the
All Sport Breakfast tonight. There's going to be epic Chiefs Crusaders.
It's live and free on Gold Sport and a good.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
One mate, go well perfect. Thank you so much, cheers,
thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
For more from the All Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave,
listen live to News Talk said Be on Saturday mornings,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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