February 26, 2026 • 8 mins
Nick Bewley of Newstalk ZB looks at the start of Super Rugby and he ponders the amount of kicking that has occurred over the start of the competition.
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Speaker 1 (00:11):
The artist is Dom Dollar. I don't know how often
we've played that on Hokkunui before. It could be your
first time for everything one of the artists featuring an
electric avenue up at christ It's just this weekend we're
we heading to now Nack Bewley out of news Talk ZB,
Good afternoon, Nack. I suppose he's too much sport on
your calendar as well as everything else to worry about
(00:31):
going along to electric Avenue.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Good afternoon, Andy. Yes, I feel like I am one
of the few in the christ Church office who isn't
going to Electric Avenue, perhaps showing my age there also,
although I see split ends the Future Act tonight, so
it's certainly attracting different generations. But no, as you say,
(00:54):
too much sport for me to salivate over that. I'll
save my pennies for events and attractions in our great
city for perhaps later in the year when our stadium
opens and we've got supercars and yeah, plenty has ripen too.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
But later on, Yeah, that stadium looks so good. And
from your perspective anyway, are you beginning to wonder if
the Crusader's base at the moment is cursed? Knowing that
you're zero and two heading into round three.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Ah. I look, the Crusaders have had any success in
that temporary stadium, but there is certainly something to be
read into the early season form. And you know, over
the course of their history, their thirty year history, even
in championship years, they've started slowly. I can't quite put
my finger on why it has happened this time around.
(01:42):
I don't think it's any great disgrass to lose to
the Brumbies. Quietly, I think Stephen Larkin has built a
very good team, very well balanced team across I'm particularly
impressed with his loose forward trio. But to have fifty
put on you at home for the first time and
have fifty foot on you for the first time home
(02:03):
and away and I think two thousand and one, Yeah,
a few alarm bells certainly ringing, and I think particularly
around the country outside of the Canterbury region, people were
taken quite a bit of joy and seeing the Crusaders
had some early season struggles. But I know they'll be better.
They've got so much class across the park. They got
some mighty Williams back starting tomorrow night against the Chiefs
(02:27):
Lester Fining Anook at his first start on the midfield.
They don't have Cody Taylor, which is a blow, but
look at it's certainly I've had some interesting conversations in
around classures over the course of the week. Some a
little bit worried that reeks of the twenty twenty four
season when they didn't even make the finals. Others are
going she came down. It's February. It's still we should
(02:49):
be talking about the New Zealand Golf Open or talking
about the cricket. But yeah, it'd be interesting to see
how they front tomorrow. I know, you know, they would
have had some stern and honest conversations. I personally think
the and I don't know about you, but that Chiefs
team in terms of their debts and look, I don't
think they've reached any great heights either in the opening
two weeks, but they've got a serious squad on paper.
(03:12):
You know, the fact that they're able to trot out
Wallace Satiti on the bench, Sama Vene Fina on the
bench as well. They still don't have courts at Artema
or they haven't seen Damien McKenzie yet this season on
both on paternity leave. But they are traditionally very strong
in the regular season, and that the Chiefs has won
(03:34):
five of the last six regular season games against the Crusaders,
So I can certainly see a scenario where the Crusaders
are staring at an oh and three hole to start
the year, and they've got the Blues next week as well,
so a tricky start for them. And I just hope
for the sake of that stadium they're going to move
into Andy that I'd quite like to have some finals
(03:55):
football in there, but who knows, might not happen.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
It's early days, but I mean Super Rugby two rounds.
In consensus, general consensus anyway of the people I speak,
do we just say that there's far too much kicking
in the game.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
Now, yeah, I'd subscribe to that. One hundred percent of
the games I called the Brumbys Crusaders on Golds for
three point thirty kickoff, there wasn't as much kicking in
terms of contestable kicking as well, and there was a
slight end on end breeze, but particularly those games at
ForSight Bar Stadium and dened and under a roof no
excuses in terms of conditions, you know, should be promoting
(04:32):
running rugby, expansive rugby and anything but the Crusader's Highland
His game. There was eighty two kicks in an eighty
minute contest. Far too many there was in the high
seventies for the Chiefs Highland His game as well. I
don't know what it is, you know, I've spoken to
a couple of assistant coaches and around the traps over
the last year. Well, yeah, basically since those those laws
(04:54):
were changed around the blockers from a defensive standpoint, at
least to allow a lane for a kickchase to get
these contestable contests. So they're trying to capitalize on that,
and they're trying not to exert as much energy, and
from a ball carrying perspective, they see a fifty to
fifty contest as a win. But in terms of a product, yeah,
(05:20):
it is tough to watch, and I'd love the balance
to be struck where players are just a little bit
more willing to have a crack. You know, look at
the pictures that have been presented defensively, there's so many
exciting players. And I look at your Highlanders team Andy,
guys like Caleb Tunguytow. You know, you only touched the
(05:41):
ball on a handful of occasions last week. But look
how good he is with ball in hand. I've already
seen a couple of outstanding finishes for him. I'd just
like to see guys like that presented with more opportunity
and just across the border, a willingness to be a
little bit more expansive. And I think, tell you what,
looking at the Brumbies and the warratas a couple of
(06:02):
oddie teams are in there top of the table. Brumbies
have put fifty on the fourth and the Crusaders they're
not kicking the leather off the ball. They're really having
a crack. Now.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
The Black Camps have got one and a half feet
into the semifinals the T twenty Cricket World Cup. I
mean they're plucky battlers at the best of times, always
making the semifinals. What chance they can go through though,
knowing they've got to play the pro Tears who are
looking ominous and India.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Great question. Look, I think T twenty cricket it is
so fickle in terms of yes, you can get momentum
or carry a bit of form, but it's such a
moment's game you've got to take your catches. You got
to take your opportunities. You've got to try and strike
early with the ball and get away with a fly
(06:50):
at the bat. There's certainly capable as we've seen, and
it is quite the track record now that New Zealand
is forming at these white ball ICC two elements in
terms of their consistency that has made the top four.
But yeah, time will tell to see if they can
get over the hump. I think they've got the players.
I really like, you know, the way they've gone about
(07:13):
in these spin friendly conditions. You know, they use of
Cole McConkie as an example, opening the bowling for the
rescue mission with him and Mitch Santner to get that
win over stri Lanka a couple of days ago. So
I think in terms of an eleven they're not over
reliant on on one rock start to get things done,
which is always a good place to be. But as
(07:34):
you say, South Africa, Ominous India, what was it this morning?
Just sort of you know, nonchalantly clobbering two hundred and
fifty six in a T twenty like it's just you know,
light work. So there's some there's some tough teams there
but they've done the hard part in terms of well
bearing or barring. You know, something crazy happening over the
(07:57):
next forty eight hours where England would have to thrash
New Zealand, I think Pakistan have to thrash. Is it Zimbabwe?
Whoever they've got on their final game. I think New
Zealing to miss out. But they're there and they've given
themselves an opportunity. So yeah, fingers crossed. It's been tough
time zone to keep an eye on the full duration
(08:19):
of his teeth when he's handy, but by all accounts
they're tracking well and as I say, they've given themselves
an opportunity.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
Absolutely, Nick Bewley, always appreciate your time on the muster.
Enjoy the sporting weekend you too, mate, Nick Bewley out
of Newstalk ZB Next Thomas Ravage. We're going to ask
him about his award winning sausage which came to fruition
in more ways of one yesterday
The artist is Dom Dollar. I don't know how often
we've played that on Hokkunui before. It could be your
first time for everything one of the artists featuring an
electric avenue up at christ It's just this weekend we're
we heading to now Nack Bewley out of news Talk ZB,
Good afternoon, Nack. I suppose he's too much sport on
your calendar as well as everything else to worry about
(00:31):
going along to electric Avenue.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Good afternoon, Andy. Yes, I feel like I am one
of the few in the christ Church office who isn't
going to Electric Avenue, perhaps showing my age there also,
although I see split ends the Future Act tonight, so
it's certainly attracting different generations. But no, as you say,
(00:54):
too much sport for me to salivate over that. I'll
save my pennies for events and attractions in our great
city for perhaps later in the year when our stadium
opens and we've got supercars and yeah, plenty has ripen too.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
But later on, Yeah, that stadium looks so good. And
from your perspective anyway, are you beginning to wonder if
the Crusader's base at the moment is cursed? Knowing that
you're zero and two heading into round three.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Ah. I look, the Crusaders have had any success in
that temporary stadium, but there is certainly something to be
read into the early season form. And you know, over
the course of their history, their thirty year history, even
in championship years, they've started slowly. I can't quite put
my finger on why it has happened this time around.
(01:42):
I don't think it's any great disgrass to lose to
the Brumbies. Quietly, I think Stephen Larkin has built a
very good team, very well balanced team across I'm particularly
impressed with his loose forward trio. But to have fifty
put on you at home for the first time and
have fifty foot on you for the first time home
(02:03):
and away and I think two thousand and one, Yeah,
a few alarm bells certainly ringing, and I think particularly
around the country outside of the Canterbury region, people were
taken quite a bit of joy and seeing the Crusaders
had some early season struggles. But I know they'll be better.
They've got so much class across the park. They got
some mighty Williams back starting tomorrow night against the Chiefs
(02:27):
Lester Fining Anook at his first start on the midfield.
They don't have Cody Taylor, which is a blow, but
look at it's certainly I've had some interesting conversations in
around classures over the course of the week. Some a
little bit worried that reeks of the twenty twenty four
season when they didn't even make the finals. Others are
going she came down. It's February. It's still we should
(02:49):
be talking about the New Zealand Golf Open or talking
about the cricket. But yeah, it'd be interesting to see
how they front tomorrow. I know, you know, they would
have had some stern and honest conversations. I personally think
the and I don't know about you, but that Chiefs
team in terms of their debts and look, I don't
think they've reached any great heights either in the opening
two weeks, but they've got a serious squad on paper.
(03:12):
You know, the fact that they're able to trot out
Wallace Satiti on the bench, Sama Vene Fina on the
bench as well. They still don't have courts at Artema
or they haven't seen Damien McKenzie yet this season on
both on paternity leave. But they are traditionally very strong
in the regular season, and that the Chiefs has won
(03:34):
five of the last six regular season games against the Crusaders,
So I can certainly see a scenario where the Crusaders
are staring at an oh and three hole to start
the year, and they've got the Blues next week as well,
so a tricky start for them. And I just hope
for the sake of that stadium they're going to move
into Andy that I'd quite like to have some finals
(03:55):
football in there, but who knows, might not happen.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
It's early days, but I mean Super Rugby two rounds.
In consensus, general consensus anyway of the people I speak,
do we just say that there's far too much kicking
in the game.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
Now, yeah, I'd subscribe to that. One hundred percent of
the games I called the Brumbys Crusaders on Golds for
three point thirty kickoff, there wasn't as much kicking in
terms of contestable kicking as well, and there was a
slight end on end breeze, but particularly those games at
ForSight Bar Stadium and dened and under a roof no
excuses in terms of conditions, you know, should be promoting
(04:32):
running rugby, expansive rugby and anything but the Crusader's Highland
His game. There was eighty two kicks in an eighty
minute contest. Far too many there was in the high
seventies for the Chiefs Highland His game as well. I
don't know what it is, you know, I've spoken to
a couple of assistant coaches and around the traps over
the last year. Well, yeah, basically since those those laws
(04:54):
were changed around the blockers from a defensive standpoint, at
least to allow a lane for a kickchase to get
these contestable contests. So they're trying to capitalize on that,
and they're trying not to exert as much energy, and
from a ball carrying perspective, they see a fifty to
fifty contest as a win. But in terms of a product, yeah,
(05:20):
it is tough to watch, and I'd love the balance
to be struck where players are just a little bit
more willing to have a crack. You know, look at
the pictures that have been presented defensively, there's so many
exciting players. And I look at your Highlanders team Andy,
guys like Caleb Tunguytow. You know, you only touched the
(05:41):
ball on a handful of occasions last week. But look
how good he is with ball in hand. I've already
seen a couple of outstanding finishes for him. I'd just
like to see guys like that presented with more opportunity
and just across the border, a willingness to be a
little bit more expansive. And I think, tell you what,
looking at the Brumbies and the warratas a couple of
(06:02):
oddie teams are in there top of the table. Brumbies
have put fifty on the fourth and the Crusaders they're
not kicking the leather off the ball. They're really having
a crack. Now.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
The Black Camps have got one and a half feet
into the semifinals the T twenty Cricket World Cup. I
mean they're plucky battlers at the best of times, always
making the semifinals. What chance they can go through though,
knowing they've got to play the pro Tears who are
looking ominous and India.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Great question. Look, I think T twenty cricket it is
so fickle in terms of yes, you can get momentum
or carry a bit of form, but it's such a
moment's game you've got to take your catches. You got
to take your opportunities. You've got to try and strike
early with the ball and get away with a fly
(06:50):
at the bat. There's certainly capable as we've seen, and
it is quite the track record now that New Zealand
is forming at these white ball ICC two elements in
terms of their consistency that has made the top four.
But yeah, time will tell to see if they can
get over the hump. I think they've got the players.
I really like, you know, the way they've gone about
(07:13):
in these spin friendly conditions. You know, they use of
Cole McConkie as an example, opening the bowling for the
rescue mission with him and Mitch Santner to get that
win over stri Lanka a couple of days ago. So
I think in terms of an eleven they're not over
reliant on on one rock start to get things done,
which is always a good place to be. But as
(07:34):
you say, South Africa, Ominous India, what was it this morning?
Just sort of you know, nonchalantly clobbering two hundred and
fifty six in a T twenty like it's just you know,
light work. So there's some there's some tough teams there
but they've done the hard part in terms of well
bearing or barring. You know, something crazy happening over the
(07:57):
next forty eight hours where England would have to thrash
New Zealand, I think Pakistan have to thrash. Is it Zimbabwe?
Whoever they've got on their final game. I think New
Zealing to miss out. But they're there and they've given
themselves an opportunity. So yeah, fingers crossed. It's been tough
time zone to keep an eye on the full duration
(08:19):
of his teeth when he's handy, but by all accounts
they're tracking well and as I say, they've given themselves
an opportunity.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
Absolutely, Nick Bewley, always appreciate your time on the muster.
Enjoy the sporting weekend you too, mate, Nick Bewley out
of Newstalk ZB Next Thomas Ravage. We're going to ask
him about his award winning sausage which came to fruition
in more ways of one yesterday
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