CSB - Xavier Roe - Super Rugby Pacific Final

Chiefs halfback joins the show to look at tomorrow night's Super Rugby Pacific final against The Blues. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Continuing with our preview of the Super Rugby Pacific Final
Blues Chiefs five past seven Saturday night, hitting into the
Chiefs camp now and catching up with halfback Xavier Row Morning.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
Xavier dear morning, how's it going very well?

Speaker 1 (00:15):
Mate? More importantly though, how you feeling? Just one sleep
to go?

Speaker 2 (00:19):
It's it's obviously pretty exciting. I messed out on the
final last year through to injuries, so to get back
here and into a finals, oh, it's pretty special.

Speaker 1 (00:31):
It was a physical game last week in the Semis
against the Hurricanes for the Chiefs. His training been a
bit lighter this week or as Clayton still had you
working real hard?

Speaker 2 (00:42):
No, no, we've just kept it the same, really, No,
we haven't. We haven't changed too much since it's since
the final. But like you said, it was a very
physical game, very physical game last week, so it's going
to be the same this week.

Speaker 1 (00:57):
Other than SAMASONI did everyone else get out of that
game injury free?

Speaker 2 (01:03):
I think when it's the last game of the season,
you're always going to have injuries in that so there
are a few couple of niggles, but overall, you know,
we're we're pretty.

Speaker 1 (01:14):
Pressing, really dominant quarter final went over the Reds a
hot start to put away the Hurricanes last week in
the semi. What seems to be clicking for the Chiefs
in the last couple of weeks.

Speaker 2 (01:26):
I think it's just a lot of us have played
finals put it before, and we know obviously from last
year you don't have to be the best team during
the regular season to get the win in the finals.
So I think we've just had a slight confidence about
our game. And yeah we've We've showed that the last
two weeks, so I'm sure we will again this week

(01:47):
as well.

Speaker 1 (01:48):
Does preparation change much with it being a final or
is it much of the same at training?

Speaker 2 (01:53):
No, I think preparation stays the same. I don't think
you want to change anything coming into you last week.
We've but we've been in training since since December, so
nothing much has really really changed. I'm sure it'll be
another physical day today.

Speaker 1 (02:12):
On the other side of the half, what do the
Blues do well? I mean, what will you need to
take away for that game to beat them? Well?

Speaker 2 (02:18):
I think it's going to be a big, big day
for our forwards. They obviously like the player, a big,
physical power game and kind of go through the through
the front door. So I think we've just got to
match the match the physically up front and then obviously
let our let Our Resley backs to the do the
scoring hopefully, and your back.

Speaker 1 (02:38):
Line led by Damien McKenzie had someone on the show
a day or two ago describing him as a check
in the box. He just pops up all over the place,
doesn't he does?

Speaker 2 (02:48):
He does, Damon. He's He's obviously awesome to to play
a player play alongside, and yeah, he's definitely something someone
that you that you love having next year when you're
when you're lacing up the boots game and.

Speaker 1 (03:00):
I sold out Eden Park. How much of an added
challenge is playing the final at an away ground?

Speaker 2 (03:06):
Yeah, I guess you could say it's an away game,
but I'm sure, I'm sure there's a lot of Chief
supporters coming up the road. Obviously it's only a hour
and a half really to eat and park, and we've
got a lot of support and Wellington as well. There
there were Chiefs charts going on late in that second half,
so no, I'm sure there's going to be a lot
of Chief fans cheering for us. But yeah, it's obviously

(03:27):
going to be a big night obviously at Eden Park,
and there'll be forty odd thousand which will which will
add to it. But I think we've just got to
kind of relish that opportunity and yeah, take that, take
that in and you and use it as well.

Speaker 1 (03:43):
And for you personally, Exaviot finishing up your fourth season
with the Chiefs. Are you're happy with how your game
is progressing?

Speaker 2 (03:50):
Yeah, I'm happy. Yeah. Yeah, So every year I've I've
got I've definitely got better, and also also in the
gym as well, I've put on a couple of kilos
since I since I first came into the Chiefs. But no,
I'm I'm real happy. Obviously there's obviously other good nines here.
It's good competition which obviously makes me want to do

(04:11):
better as well. So definitely definitely happy with with our
things are going.

Speaker 1 (04:17):
That's great, mate, Well, all the very best for tomorrow night.

Speaker 2 (04:21):
No worries, mate, Thanks for having me