Time is running out for the Crusaders | The Breakdown, April 21, 2024

The Breakdown crew tackle all of the news and results from Round 9 of DHL Super Rugby Pacific!

CREDIT: @skysportnz

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like y whoa whoa whoa Mary Mary marshy
you’ve been here three weeks and you
think you can get promoted to seat
number one wait wait wait wait wait
don’t get up don’t get up David please
can you give me a favor what’s going
[Laughter]
on oh well it’s it’s me put them
[Music]
this is alreadying in super and here we
go
with jny bar and over go lose right
for it’s the biggest Reds win against
the Highlanders in
27 years oh it’s a loose ball
Bo it has been a no contest the blues
wore them down and then blew them apart
go a
try first time in over a decade the
Western Force have rolled the Crusaders
Koto C welcome to the breakdown of
pleasure to have your company with us
this evening Jeff Wilson Taylor Johnson
Justin Marshall on the show and you
might have noticed you might have
noticed another guest as well yes that
was Olympic weightlifter David Ley he
will be on with us a little bit later on
as well marshy you’ve recovered from
that you’re okay I have I feel like I’ve
been put in my place for sure geez three
three weeks on the bounce I thought I
could play musical cheairs but obviously
I couldn’t I had nothing to do with that
nothing whatsoever Jim K’s producer of
the breakdown absolutely 100% him okay I
don’t I don’t want to kind of you know
take away from the smoking mirrors there
Jeff but actually I think it was you who
was putting your hand up to go me me let
me boot Mary out of his seat thank you
was putting my hand up to get lifted I
that I tell you I did for for this
weekend I actually did feel light he
lifted me up
with ease he did that’s his strength
that’s his strength yeah that’s that’s
right yeah he’s he’s used to lifting big
weights there is a reason you were
chosen for this Mar I’m just going to
say sky sport of course is the home of
the Olympics this year 96 days to go we
cannot wait so David on the show in a
little bit plenty more to come as well
we’ve got our form super 15 since we’ve
uh ticked over the halfway part of the
regular season we’ve also got our list
of who you would sign longterm based on
Super Rugby performances this weekend
but let’s just uh let’s just start with
the round we’ve seen first of all shall
we because it’s it’s been interesting to
say the least and Maria I actually just
wanted to start with you just from a
purely emotive perspective how did you
feel watching that Crusaders performance
last night yeah obviously like many
Crusader supporters and former players
are disappointed but but that’s been the
way this season’s trending hasn’t it so
you you’ve got to accept that this team
is in a bad place and it’s getting worse
um so yeah it wasn’t a nice feeling I I
must admit I felt down sat down um and
didn’t feel confident that they could
win but I thought they had enough within
them and had the resources to win there
but it was always going to be tough it’s
a hard place to play uh down in Perth
and you’re always going to get a
tenacious Force side so look it wasn’t
the unexpected but it was still another
body blow it really was I’m going to say
it’s great for the competition I know
you don’t want to hear there but like
last year I would not have even watched
this game I would have watched the
highlights the next morning I wouldn’t
have stayed up till midnight to watch
The Force pay the Crusaders but I was
thinking this could be close and the
force pulled off what people think they
couldn’t do and they beat them and they
played with so much confidence and
that’s what happens when the Crusaders
are that low on the table the force when
they played the blues they they looked
scared they didn’t look as confident as
they looked up against that Crusaders
team last night they never actually
looked like losing to be fair so that
was great I me the Highlanders losing to
the Reds was also I wouldn’t have
watched that either I wouldn’t have
watched that either but again I watched
it and I love that the Australian teams
are doing well we needed that everyone
needed that the conversation was at the
bottom of the screen does it say
Crusaders have hit rock bottom had
nothing to do I’m just saying I enjoy
watching the rug this week and say about
the hollanders just like they had on the
scoreboard which was nothing look the
Crusaders there’s a lot of things to
consider in this performance and what it
means but if I look at the force and I
have to give them credit and they’ve
made some significant signings in the
offseason and that started to come to
fruition and when they picked up curly
Beal midseason that’s a really valuable
asset into their side and they looked as
though they’re a team that can pick up a
few more scalps yeah Nick white Ben Ben
Donaldson both picked up kly Beal like
you mentioned Mara you’ve been looking
pretty closely at this I believe you’ve
got some analysis for us I have I have
so Crusaders Crusaders Crusaders defense
defense defense that’s what I’ve had a
look at and ultimately good Crusaders
sides regardless of being on a rout that
this current one is in or not um always
defend well and at the moment
unfortunately for this side they are not
defending well and that’s what’s the the
hard part of watching them is so if
we’re going to have a look at this
imagery this is from line out now it
starts off okay so as we roll it on this
is just from a standard line out so you
can see here this is the setup
defensively they got backs and forwards
looking to defend the Midfield now they
throw a lot of options to the force at
the Crusaders here now it’s not a bad
umbrella C ree worries me a little bit
that he’s been hooked in a little bit
too much but in general it’s not bad
defense you see the trans transition
Runner out the back for the force as it
rolls on you can see good defense
they’ve made their tackles there they
come back onto the right hand side the
force now what I want to highlight here
is the Crusaders players who are
actually on their feet now yes they’re
ball watching a little bit but they got
enough players to defend the threat on
the left as it plays on again think
about SE race now as we pause it here
he’s been hooked in again so
unfortunately for the Crusaders as we
roll it on with that narrow type of
Defense it’s just mandatory hands fakis
in no man’s land and finished by Chase
teer tier now look ultimately as much as
I know the
Crusaders the key to rugby is teams are
going to score points against you but if
you can restrict them from scoring
points then obviously you make it a lot
easier the amount of points you have to
score and at the moment two driving more
line out um wins for the force where
they got tries from to me leaking points
is not helping the Crusaders cuz they’re
struggling to score points themselves
and discipline is leading them to
putting them positions where they’re
also considering territory giving the
opposition an opportunity to attack
their line and I think when I look at
that I totally agree with you the fact
that some of their decision- making
defensively but also they’re not having
the same impacts defensively they’re
certainly not having the impact on the
ball and the nature of the way the
game’s being played at the moment
whether it’s this emphasis on attack and
rewarding the attack it makes it even
more difficult for them they got
penalized for offsides a number of times
under all sorts of pressure I’ll flip it
and look at their attack there is very
little momentum going forward there’s
very little I suppose front foot ball
that this backline can operate of they
are getting met at the gain line and
they’re getting driven back now if you
can’t carry hard and create momentum for
your halfback first five or even
multiple carries you’re not putting any
pressure on the defense you’re not
forcing them backwards if you’re getting
slowed down you’re getting beaten at the
contact area there is no post contct
Mets being won here all of a sudden it’s
virtually impossible to put good
defenses under pressure and the force
have become a good defensive team and
the thing on attack as well is the
Crusaders of all their Counterattack was
so lethal you never wanted to turn the
ball over in your own 22 because you
knew that the Crusaders would score and
even you wouldn’t kick it back to them
either to their back three because their
Counterattack was so fluid they played
fearlessly and they’re not playing with
that same Fearless passion that that
they used to I think cuz it’s that uh in
their heads you know that they know that
they need to score they need to stick to
some structure that the unstructured SL
structured play that they used to play
with um isn’t there anymore in broken
play they’re not as Danger they’re just
kind of reverting to carry clean carry
clean and as you say the carries aren’t
getting over the advantage line and then
the ball gets turned over so I think
yeah they just missing that fearlessness
we used to see them attack with I wanted
to pick you up on that actually the
fearlessness because Rob Penny after the
game actually spoke about kind of the
mental toll saying you know the the
pressure on them and the confidence
Factor he was starting to see those
things negatively impact some of the
players once you get to that stage in a
season or in a team tailor where do you
go from there yeah like no one goes out
there to lose they don’t want to lose
and I think people just you know they
they’re killing them in the comment
sections I mean you know I reference the
Highlanders again they even turned off
their comment section because they knew
what was going to come towards their
players and look it’s really tough when
you are at the bottom and that’s when
you just have to stay tight and and
Trust the process which is such a cliche
thing to say but you just have to trust
that your systems are going to pay off
um and really rely on your your
teammates just be the force they’re in
the same spot do you know what I mean
like that they were bottom of the table
but they went out there they just had a
a slightly more energetic attitude and
they were more proficient in certain
areas and they won a game where they
would have been low on confidence they
would have been getting slaughtered by
their supporters but they found a way
yes they are at home which is a massive
Advantage but there’s no reason why the
Crusaders yes I get it Rob I get the
confidence is low I get the players are
struggling but you have to be mentally
tough enough to find a way okay let’s
talk Rob because that is one of the big
questions that has been posed at the
moment you look at the comment sections
you mentioned people are banging for
blood inevitably a lot of that is going
to fall on the coach is he the right man
at the moment for the
Crusaders I say 100% yes because he
needs to be given the benefit of the
doubt about the whole season he needs to
get the benefit of Doubt when he gets
some of his cattle and his stock back
the players who are returning from
injury if they don’t make the playoffs
then they’ll go through a thorough
review and then they’ll have to have the
question marks because this team this
squad is clearly good enough to make a
playoffs in the Super Rugby competition
so I think you’d have to have that
conversation there but for right now the
fact he’s got a few games a couple of
games at home in particular Rebels and
reds coming up they’re critical games in
the course of their season but
ultimately I think where he sits going
forward was if they make the playoffs
and he’ll have a fit and healthier Squad
next season I think he should be
comfortable and should get the
opportunity to go again if they don’t
make the playoffs though I think that’s
when the conversation has to be well we
need to review exactly how this season
unfolded yeah you look at who still back
from you know from injury yes he doesn’t
have the cattle um from last year but
the players who did return you know the
Tate Williams the Scott barretts David
hares they’re still on the sideline you
know and they only need two wins in the
next six games to actually Propel
themselves into that top eight it’s a
very tight competition yes they’re at
the bottom but um you know everyone has
had these tight games and there’s no one
here that they can’t beat like like
Justin said they just have to have faith
in themselves because when you look at
their team on paper and you look at
other teams on paper they can beat them
in certain positions in certain areas
it’s just that belief and then flicking
the switch they’re not traditionally a
franchise to panic uh and and and that
would be a move of panic to sack the
coach and say it’s completely his fault
uh that all the peripheral stuff is is
regardless of that you know it’s your
responsibility see you later and then
it’s like you got to go find somebody
else it’s not the way they operate it’s
not in their DNA to do that um there’s a
that’s a family that that franchise and
yes they’ll be feeling the pain at the
moment but I’d be very very surprised if
they make a dramatic decision like that
just lastly uh before we move on from
this topic I just want to read you out
the Crusaders games to come and I know
you’ve spoken about this a couple of
weeks ago as well but they’ve got six
games left Rebels Reds Highlanders
brumes Blues Moana Pacifica do they make
the eight from here yeah they’re very
capable of winning all those games like
they have been some games previous to
the one they played at the weekend
including the weekend but yes they are
more than capable particularly with the
majority of them are being at home they
haven’t played any real games in Christ
Church and what they need is their fans
to make sure that they stay behind you
know what one I canans are like my
goodness gracious speak come on guys
yeah we wouldn’t be having this
conversation had they they were in the
wars you know they soaked up a couple
more seconds with the kick so you know
the game you know it could go either way
like there were games that they could
have won in the season that they didn’t
so it’s not like they’ve been getting
their butts kicked every week and they
haven’t they have been tight contest so
it just hasn’t they haven’t had the
rubber the green which is odd for a
Crusaders team well that’s what I was
going to say you know that’s the thing
they haven’t won those games though
those Close Encounters that you would
normally expect them to it’ll be
interesting to watch for the next few
weeks and anyway let’s move on to the
blues shall we absolutely dominant a
park over the bres uh were you surprised
by just how dominant why are we talking
about the bottom team in the competition
when we’ve just watched two teams over
the weekend one and two played really
really well and you know I look at the
blues performance um last night against
the brumes and I don’t think anyone
expected this because the brumes were
the number three team in the competition
had chance and Real Steel going into
this game but this was a demolition job
and you have to give all of the credit
to the blues and ver Cotter and whatever
he’s got them doing in preparation for
these games it’s leading to the best
defense in the competition is leading to
them dominating up front I couldn’t be
more impressed by this and individuals
putting up their hand this was a
surprise yeah I I like faki I we’ve got
got so many good halfbacks he’s he’s
putting his hand up as well fak he’s I’m
really enjoying his time at nine but
when he went to the bin and the blue
scored and the brmes didn’t I knew that
it was game over from them because they
just played with such courage they
didn’t you know didn’t care that their
half they had gone to the bin um but the
Ford pack were incredible and kind of
what Jeff was just saying um the
difference with the Crusaders that they
get over that Advantage line their carry
meters and contact a contact are huge
because um they’re just big solid boys
and and they’re going to work and it’s
it’s impressive to watch it was a
demolition job it was but and agree but
the messaging as well is consistent you
know we we interviewed Hoskins straight
after the game ver Caleb Clark none none
of them are saying really anything
different from each other that they are
all very in tune with their game plan
you know they were very focused on
physicality carry clean you know um
quick Rock speed ball and just go at
them tough and they KN they all knew
where they needed to go the zones they
wanted to attack the brumbies in so that
that RS of really good coaching and
really good understanding from the
players and the leaders in that team
they are very well drilled they are
methodical and they are very much a
force to be reckoned with let’s get a
little bit more into that Ford pack
somewhat reminiscent of the power that
they had in the late 90s you guys both
played against teams Blues teams with
very good four packs how ominous a sign
is this for everyone else in the
competition the late 90s MH I’ve got
nightmares about the late ’90s and
saying that I was a part of that I I
think when you look at what ver has done
and I’m with you Mar on the fact there’s
a real clarity about how they can play
but also they know what they’ve got and
they know how to use it and other teams
can’t play like this the fact they’ve
got a number of people who can put up
their hand to carry the ball but then
there’s a versatility and skill set
amongst that forward pack that I think
is really important and and Patrick
taloto I think is the heart and soul of
that for pack when he plays they’re a
different breast at scrum time and carry
but all of a sudden you’re seeing what
Hoskin suut to at Super Rugby level has
done really well for the last couple of
years and then their backline is making
really really good decisions on the
great work that’s being done inside them
so I I think about the clarity and
understanding of exactly what their
roles are marshy Taylor the fact they
know exactly who they are what they are
and the expectations of them and then
that Synergy between them and the back
line where this is the right option
we’re going to keep carrying but then
you start getting an offload game going
because of this momentum going forward
and these are in challenging conditions
I think to me that was what was most
impressive it would have been quite easy
to not play they still played some rugby
so they did it up front they did it
through the middle of the park they did
it on the edges it was a complete
performance okay can I play bad cop go
on then we love a bad cop okay that’s
cool yeah don’t often play good cop to
be honest but anyway but that that’s
that’s against a team that won’t take
them on physically the Hurricanes will
take them on physically and when they
last played you said last week they get
all their own way you said last week the
Australian teams were more physical
they’ve uped their game yeah they well
that was the best Australian team that
we’ve got on this
competition failed they failed quick
fire question who’s got the better pack
the blues or the canes go quick kan’s
Kane blues oh I love it I love I love it
hey I also wanted to touch uh on the
blues you can’t do that on our show Wily
nearly field don’t give us a chance
to SC this is one of these in week two
in week two I just as comfortable as
Marsh has a wake
through me there that’s fine now let me
move on thank you because I do want to
talk about the defense as well because
I’ve got a St here for you since they
lost to the canes in round three the
blues have conceded 34 points and five
games mathematicians it’s less than
seven points a game defense wins
championships you were talking about it
with the Crusaders and how it’s
completely lacking so what are you
seeing and what they are building there
yeah I think we we give credit to the
four pack as well but their backs the
ability to read play is really strong as
well they all know where they need to be
you know the Midfield out on the wings
on the edges their defense patterns are
really strong equally like on attack
their shape is really nice and you can
see they’re always in shape that even on
Counterattack they know what the plan is
and on defense as soon as they’re in
that transition period and they go to
defense they’re in the right spots and I
think obviously after that hurricane
game they would have reviewed their
defense but I think again they’re just a
well drilled team and they’re well
connected Scramble for me like they
scrambled back a couple of times last
night was outstanding I think plumber
got back faki got back offline breaks
from the brumbies that that’s the
attitude of a team you know never give
up always defend your line bust to get
back on line breaks that that that
that’s uncoachable that’s just players
wanting to work on defense and get back
and defend your line yeah I I just I
just think they know who they are right
now and they’ll keep doing and playing
like that until someone comes up against
them and matches them up front you know
um whether it’s the Hurricane’s going
forward but I think they’re they’re
aside they’re a contender you know
they’ve been a contender for a few years
now though last year it got ugly when it
came down to it it came in a knockout
game they’ll have an eye on what they’ve
got and they’ve got a really difficult
finish to this competition four Derbies
before you go into the playoffs so they
needed to get some jobs done early in
the competition they’ve done that really
well yeah Mark May 11 in the calendar
because that is when the blues take on
the hurricanes and that is going to be
an absolute doozy let’s move on to the
canes though because speaking of
impressive wins their ability to go over
to Fiji and do what very few teams can
do and win there yes it was in Suba not
La toer it was at night not in the
middle of of the afternoon but it is
their eighth straight win they’re the
first team to beat the drawer in Fiji
this season is the cane train pretty
much Unstoppable at this point tyor I
think it’s important to note that it was
at night time because that that does
make a huge difference when you’re in
Fiji but yes they trained well for it
and thank goodness for their facilities
like if you watched um the news articles
they were training in the heat they were
B hardening themselves because they
didn’t want to you know be shell shocked
when they landed but um again they
didn’t send over some key players and
they still performed really well um the
drawer that they just seem to have a
plan for the because the drawer are
always going to be really difficult to
handle on attack they they break but
again the scramble D was really good
when it needed to be it was yeah like we
all gave it the little little chuckle
under a tops with you’ve got to go to
Fiji and beat the drawer who won who won
nine on the bounce good luck uh but good
teams put all all that behind them the
peripheral stuff doesn’t matter made
changes as well which there was a bit of
banter about that h are they taking this
a little lightly just again a really
well coached well drilled side with
players that are competing for jerseys
guy like aen Morgan gets this
opportunity plays really well you know
kify gets a chance in the seven jersey
just goes and does what he does every
week and players across the board all
getting opportunities O’Reilly you know
how good was he yeah so yeah they can be
very satisfied with what is a very
difficult place to go and play and win
pretty comfortably to be fair and some
of those players have been given an
opportunity early in the season as well
to give them some confidence and it was
a dominant performance I think they
played in palon North so it’s not like
they’ve been on the outer and you’ve
thrown them in the deep end you’ve
clearly kept them involved I think it
was a really important win for them uh
the way they went about it when you get
down to 13 men and you don’t concede
points and some of that scramble defense
you talked about on their line and then
finding a way to stay in the contest and
then I think just the composure the late
in the game Jordi Barrett kicks that
penalty from 40 m to to pretty much ice
it you’re thinking to yourself cuz you
knew the Drew had something in them if
they scored once they could qu e and
scored twice but they kept that margin
just nice and clear I just all the
things you want to see out of that group
rotating a players um they’re looking
really great Ford pack by the way who I
said who was bit of the for
pack you put me on the spot but it’s one
of those things you don’t get to come
back to it and just I do get to come
back to it I do because you you think
about the two Ford packs and there’s
nothing between them and that’s well
there was five you had one you had the
other and if you had time to think about
it you might swap but I I I I can
understand exactly where you’re coming
from but I tell you what um I can’t wait
to see exactly how they go about their
next challenge rumes right yeah he’ll be
hurting and they need to perform so
we’ll see what happens I reckon I’ve Had
The Producers say let’s go to the break
now about five times in my ear while so
they want to pay the bills because they
want to pay the bills let them pay the
bill very B stay with us there’ll be
much more to come after this including a
halfway stage Super Rugby form 15
welcome back to the breakdown and if it
wasn’t already this is where the tension
really starts to ramp up apparently we
were fine before though don’t worry
about it it’s fine uh that is because
Jeff stop it’s my time man he said he
said in my seat he sat in my seat early
to start the show so it is time for our
Super Rugby form 15 now the rule is uh
as I understand it no players who are
injured and out for the season can make
the 15 so that is why you won’t see a
cam royard in the mix for anyone at this
stage but Taylor take it away yes I am
up first and I have gone um with an all
hurricanes front row I saw what they did
to the Chiefs when they played last week
and they have all been outstanding um
particularly just around the park as
well not just at set peace time so they
don’t need any further explanation these
two have been impressive for me Lan
maguo obviously left the Chiefs to go to
the blues to fill a void Patty tupes had
been injured um and he’s taken that
starting opportunity um to hands uh y I
put him at 6 he has played there because
he’s he’s moved around that board pack
Peter ly another outstanding Hoskins to
22 again has you know top TR scorer in
the competition um Cortez latima and
Damen McKenzie nine and 10 got to go for
them um obviously no royard uh Barrett
and Proctor have been a formidable
Midfield Jew we’ve seen them throughout
the season there’s so many hurricanes
players in here you she would have
picked this many Kenny n and Caleb Clark
two very powerful Wingers who just
busting through Defenders and Shan
Stevenson I think you know is that
fullback because you know no one else
has really stood out as much as he has
for me but I think Stevenson um yeah is
is the guy there so that’s a good side
Taylor actually my side’s going to have
to try and do very well just take it on
but we’ll give it a go um equally I’ve
been very impressed with obviously the
the Hurricanes front row and um Ty roll
and it sa new me I’ve gone a little bit
left field with Ricky ricelli but I
think his consistency and the way that
he’s playing he’s in the best form of
his career Jamie Hanner I think when
we’re look into future eyes and where we
need to go in the Locking Department I
think he’s been outstanding in a team
that’s been struggling and to palat’s
been simply outstanding His leadership’s
Brilliant samini fenale for me is just
the out andout Jerry Collins type style
flank flanker Blindside absolutely love
him Yos has been on fire Billy Harmon in
a struggling side that’s really hard to
stand out and I think he just gets R
rolls his sleeves up each week and get
stuck in in the halves I’ve gone from TJ
panata I think the way that he’s come
back into the game his competitiveness
his attitude the type of rugby playing
has been outstanding and he’d be a good
combo with Damen McKenzie and speaking
of combos Jordy and obviously Billy
Proctor have been superb together and
not just an attack defensively man the
Hurricanes out and those channels have
been great at defending threats s race
trying uh scoring tries like going out
of fashion Ruben love has been so
impressive at fullback and for me Caleb
Clark another one from the blues is in
the best form of his career like both
those teams love both those teams only
got a few differences in mind
interesting how I said the blues and the
Hurricanes we told I’ve got a lot of
hurricanes in my forth pack funny enough
the 15 so this is a bit awkward isn’t it
all right so the front row N amua and
Low Max asafa Amura uh his status in
terms of his injury we’ll see where he’s
at but love the front row same as you
Mari I think two palotto and Hannah have
been fantastic the sou season even
though Patrick’s only played three games
you know the three games he’s played and
made a huge huge difference Hoskins two
to at number eight I think he elevated
after last weekend last night Peter L I
really love the way he started the
season took a bit of license here and
moved Braden y here I think he’s been
too good not to get an opportunity in
lose forwards I believe he can play six
let’s see whether that might happen in
the future interesting at halfback
understand with TJ panar what you’re
saying really like the inside pairing CZ
ratma whether it’s been off the bench or
starting I think he’s the future for
them starting at half back and Damen
McKenzie’s just been too influential for
the Chiefs Midfield speaks for itself
Barrett and Proctor we’ll talk a little
bit more about them and the outside
Becks interesting I’ve gone a bit of a
wild card here as well Clark and see
race forms there but Josh mby as good as
Ruben love has been I’ve seen Mor at
fullback enough this year I really like
the balance to his game as caner
attacking option as positional players
really really good different type of
player to Ruben love but with his
versatility to play in the wing I’ve
been really really impressed so that’s
probably a little bit little bit left
field but I think good enough right now
to start the season a few things to pick
you all up on there let’s start with
what you alluded to which was the Billy
proor part because all have you had him
uh as your starting center is that a
result of his individual play or his
partnership with Jordy or both mine’s
partnership with Jordi um because you do
look at the lights of Rico he hasn’t put
a foot wrong necessarily but I think
when you look at the cohesiveness that
those two play off um that’s why I
picked him there um but yeah we’ve we’ve
definitely got other options like Rico
but as a pairing that was my my decision
yeah I pretty much did process of
elimination to say you know if Rico was
out and obviously Anton’s been injured a
lot you know whose slots in there you
know if if it’s a crisis what’s what’s
that jersey look like and Billy Proctor
to me and the combination doesn’t hurt
with the likely 12 for the All Blacks
having Synergy knowing each other um
knowing each other’s strengths and
weaknesses and the way they’ve been
defending like I know everyone always
likes to look at the razzled Dazzle but
for me you know defense wins your games
as well so yeah that was where I where I
got to with that combo great scramble
Defender Billy proter he just continues
to work continues to resarch situation
really well saw a beautiful step off his
right foot to accelerate through a gap
against the Fijian dra which essentially
ice the game I think it was it was a
beautiful piece of play I I look at him
and I like the standard he setting but
we could in the last seven years if we
were to put down a form 15 there’d be a
lot of Crusaders in it because the team
cohes the way they’re playing the
combinations all of those things add to
form that’s what the hurricanes have got
right now whether it’s a front row
whether it’s the Midfield backs it’s
those combinations of players so I think
that’s the loose forwards right they’ve
got their Synergy they they know exactly
what each other can do and that’s that
balance between Jordy and Billy is
really nice all right I started that
nicely by giving you someone you could
all agree on let’s look at fullback
because all three of you had different
ones Ruben loves Sean Stevenson morie
what are you each seeing in each of
those positions and feel free to just
fight it out I’ll sit back and
relax well I think Jeff described morby
really well I totally agree like the
guy’s in good form so it’s like weird as
if slot in when you’ve got to put C
Reese and Caleb clar in the best form of
their career so you kind of compromise
SL him at full bit because you know he’s
going to play really well there so I
don’t disagree with that decision
because form is form and that’s what
we’re picking on but ultimately for me I
just think when you think of the style
of player that will Jordan is who’s
missing out of our game at the moment
Ruben love really reminds me of him and
he reminds me a bit of Christian Cullen
the way he used to play like his
explosive step that he’s got and the
ability of him to think about
Counterattack first not to think when he
gets kicked the ball okay I’ll kick it
back it’s like can I open up this
defense by running at them and taking on
a Defender that I can seees compromised
I just love that attitude and I think
his spark and his energy is a big part
of why the hurricanes are so dangerous
particularly on Counterattack I pick sha
because he can unleash his Wingers
really well he he he’s got a good boot
um and he’s like the ma at the back um
and without him the Chiefs are different
as well you know probably not as much as
when we take Damen McKenzie out but when
Sean sevens is not there you can tell
the difference with their attacking
proess and so I think he’s he’s a very
strong Contender but all great fullbacks
can I put my hand up then so no you can
usually just just thanks all right
well did you do that at school I don’t
think you did it in Mata what you
doing excuse me and then the first time
I’ve ever seen that I just wanted I
wanted to ask a question and I know I’m
not the presenter so I’m like oh but I’m
in there now so anyway um right I I’m
the only guy that picked an out out
Blindside
flanker do you guys not think that we
have got a Blindside flanker that can
fulfill that position so you you put a
number eight in that Jersey I don’t
think we’ve seen the Samy Penny fale I I
think the job description I don’t think
we’ve seen the best of him yet and I
don’t think he’s in been better form as
other players I think I play that
position now I understand what you’re
saying like we haven’t picked a someone
who’s played out that there I have in
Braden your say but I just think I’ve
got no doubt I think he can play that
position he’s a different type of player
um then like you say that that Jerome
Kano the Shannon friselle player we’re
trying to replace yeah and from that
point of view if in in listening to the
way you’re talking about your team if
they all put on the black Jersey right
now the balance of the team looks 100%
right the positions they’ve been playing
and the way they’ve been playing it
looks like a I’m not saying this is the
all black team we’re picking but what
I’m saying is on the form I like what
we’re saying so I understand where
you’re coming from I’ve just decided I
want to see this guy and I think he’s
capable on his form today yeah he has
played six as well though you know for
the turbos and also um for the
Hurricanes but in the WhatsApp chat that
no one’s privy to I did say somea just
missed out for me in that six
position I got you you know I saw it
it’s in the chat it’s in the chat been a
lot of chat today been a lot of chat
what going on to say um no one even
started on the Highlanders with you
that’s fine let’s go now to who we’ll be
looking at this in the wake of Jordi
Barrett signing news at the players that
you would sign longterm if you were New
Zealand Rugby so we’re long-term
emphasis on that all right so what four
or five years Taylor you go okay this is
my five players and I looked at key
positions as opposed to just the key
players 10 is a massive key position and
I chose dmac but we probably need to
sign another young 10 and I just don’t
know who that is as of yet you look at
the Highlanders and the Crusaders and I
know Jeff’s going to disagree with me
but they’re missing a key 10 and they
need someone long term and I don’t know
who that is I was close to picking seven
pet feta but I wasn’t too sure if he is
the 10 that they’re looking at just yet
but we definitely need one so dmax my
guy there t Lomax I mean front row is a
really crucial he’s someone who is good
around the park good at his you know
bread and butter which is scrummaging so
I think we need to keep him around
longterm cam royard um speaks for
himself everyone I think would have
picked um cam ASA more I think this time
last year I would have picked sum Penny
um sum P suon Tokyo um but I think
asaf’s just gone another level this year
um he stood up no Dan CO’s obviously and
he’s getting more game time he looks fit
um and then Tov another key position um
you know a lock uh an out and out lock
and he’s he’s been good in the in the
competition he’s um in the top 10
turnovers one um he’s he’s really busy
when it comes to around the park hitting
the rck so those are five that I would
lock in purely in key positions that we
need to grow teams around like just uh
the explanation there that’s very good
Mary for you did you have any crossover
there well yeah it’s quite hard being
put on the spot isn’t it because you’re
obviously thinking about wanting to sign
quite a lot of players because there’s a
lot of talent in this country but when
you get asked to pick five yes I had
cross over with Cam royard ultimately
when I looked at it and thought right
how am I going to answer this question
I’m going to answer in a way when even
though I’m a very very much a I want the
All Blacks winning every test match not
World Cups every single one and I’m very
very very focused on that however these
were the players that I thought if we
have signed at the next Rugby World Cup
then it’ll go a long way to us winning
it so obviously will Jordan world class
Mark Talia he’s still an amazing form
he’ll be slightly uh just in his 30s at
32 um but obviously cam Roy guard that’s
a tie over from you Taylor tomighty
Williams I think is crucial to the the
you know the stocks in the future the
way he plays the game and obviously
Scott Barrett who could more than likely
be even the captain so I kind of looked
at him that way but I’d be really happy
with the New Zealand R Union if they
haven’t signed those guys up so just um
putting it out there have you got some
insolid oil on the captain not at all oh
okay just in case you Scott Barrett
being the captain of the All Blacks I’m
not sure L breaking news that’s a
possibility years time I was saying it’s
not right now right because he’s one of
the five I’ve picked as well SC I think
he’s critical I looked at positions I
thought would be really really hard to
replace if you didn’t have that going
forward and he was certainly one of
those here’s my five and I think Damen
McKenzie is critical yes we’ve got
Bowden Barrett coming back but he’s
getting on in years if you think of four
years down the track and to you you’re
right to you you’re right about we want
to win in the meantime um I think tied
prop is critical I think Tyro LX has
been outstanding he’s been a rock he’s
become a world class player um the Ruben
love one is definitely a now end in the
future he’s a guy that’s going to
continue to develop um you you know
picked him as you formed 15 I just love
the way his game transcends the fact you
mentioned and compared him to Christian
Kellen that’s that’s that’s high bar and
he’s got some of those traits but you
know I think it to me reminds me of
early Bowden Barrett same thing ball in
hands ready to go there’s that
leadership with Scott Barett and then
the loose forwards I just looked at
someone I thought I really like the way
Peter laaya started his his super rugby
season this year 21 years old um he’s
got a long and big future in front of
him time to develop him we’ve got a lot
of guys who are already on contract but
he was certainly one of those it was an
interesting conversation now I didn’t
have Cam Roy go to will Jordan and and
and I didn’t have Mar Maria is 28
Wingers generally for the All Blacks
don’t and and and we’ve got plenty of
guys who play on the outside backs if we
talk about Caleb Clark and S re and I’m
and and a 10ur we got plenty of guys who
can play on the wing these are guys I
was looking at I don’t want a risk going
overseas in two years time you know I
think there’s plenty of guys to a place
well on that that’s why I didn’t pick
any Wingers because we always have a
multitude of Wingers coming through
every couple years there’s one that’s
putting their hand up so I picked key
positions where I think we don’t have a
lot of rotation and and the reason why I
didn’t pick Wingers is because we have
so many good ones did the same at Hooker
though I didn’t pick any hookers for
that very reason we seem to find hookers
you know but this is just a philosophy
of of what how you see where these
players are at right now but when you
start thinking about it we see it all
slightly different CH you there some
serious Talent right that we’re looking
at and to all those 85 other players out
there we want you as well
just that’ll be
handy next week it’ll be the breakdowns
list of 10 players just so no one gets
offended and flies the C it’ll be good
hey exciting uh time for me at the
moment because I do get to do my very
first trivia question for the show uh
and it is this a trivia question for you
the viewers uh and you can send in your
answers but we will have the answer
after the break and the question is
which All Blacks prop was named in the
1980 Olympic Squad see that cross over
there because we’re also celebrating the
Olympics David L’s in studio next I’ll
write something down okay oh Jeff’s got
a twinkle in his eye oh the blank
Lookers for a reason come with something
the answer to that question as as well
as David Ley in the house coming up
next welcome back to the breakdown the
answer to the trivia question that we
gave you before the break the question
was which old blacks promp was named in
the 1980 Olympic Squad the answer St
McDale y
wrestling he was a wrestler close that’s
right Jud yeah yeah no close close but
that’s on a mat so that’s fine yeah yeah
he never actually made the Olympics
though he was named in the squad never
made the Olympics with the New Zealand
team boycotted David this is the part of
the show will you nod as if you
absolutely knew that that’s what I was
doing yeah I know you told me about it
too
so what sort of deal are you guys doing
and welcome to the show Zealand David
great to have you on here 96 days till
the Olympics sky sport of course your
home of the Olympics how’s all the
buildup going uh it’s good um thinking
about it my build up to the last
Olympics uh I came out of it a little
bit um broken a little bit so we we
finished this build up uh within the
next few days and I actually feel like
I’m at my best shape ever so um I’m only
excited to um build up again for for
Paris and and see what we can we can do
when you say broken was that around Co
or was that something else no uh I I’ve
never actually caught Co before um I
somehow sidest stepped that for some
reason um but yeah uh I came out with a
shoulder injury after my last uh
qualifier in in Italy 2020 early 2020 um
and I was like yeah so glad that it was
postponed one year cuz I got time to fix
myself and and build Again David I want
to ask you so when you’re go to the
competition in Paris or you’re going to
a competition is there a little bit of
um a bit of a Psy out with the other
athletes around you know because I mean
you’re you’re in a competitive
environment where clearly mentally
you’ve got to get into the right space
what’s your what’s your mindset in the
back room before you do the the big
stride out and when you get out there
what what’s what are the things you’re
focusing on when I started going into
nationally with weightlifting it was
kind of hard for me to understand why I
was there um what am I doing how is this
GNA end up um and just over the years
I’ve I’ve kind of learned to just be
myself I’m there because I deserve it
I’ve worked hard to be there um and in
2018 come off games when we were out the
back I decided to have fun so I had
music in my ears I had two songs on
repeat um and I was just like singing
and you know doing what I wanted uh then
all the other athletes were so serious
they didn’t know what to do and they
were kind of just looking at me like
funny and so I guess that kind of played
in a part where they were mentally
confused and not focusing on their
lifting um and yeah history goes and I
wi gold and now I’m having fun of what I
do and they’re all out the back with
their headphones on is that what they’re
doing now is that has that changed at
all has it changed no everybody’s still
so serious so yeah in terms of your
rugby how how serious were you at your
rugby and what what tell everybody what
was your position and kind of how did
you transition from rugby into what
you’re doing now uh rugby
it’s yeah I I played
uh a total of four years um not complete
I just took up rugby because I wanted to
play with my boys I was one of those
kids who just played um lamp time rugby
school and the concrete basketball court
and all that stuff so we thought why not
we’ll make team so we can go and play
and have fun in the weekends and um yeah
managed to play in Oakland on 16’s teams
and trial for the 18s and unfortunately
got injured um and that same time was um
weightlifting came around yeah so it was
um it was hard for me to decide if I
wanted to be better at rugby or carry on
weightlifting because I had already made
an international team wow what teams do
you still follow close mostly like do
you follow the teams with your old
teammates you know cuz there’s some
people in the Oakland are the 16 teams
who have kicked on or you know who do
you who do you support and do you kind
of still keep up to date with rugby yeah
I mean I mean yeah rugby is still going
to be one of the sports that I love um I
do see some of the the boys that I
played with um on TV sometimes and um
yeah it makes me happy cuz they carried
on and and they chased the dream that we
were trying to chase um but yeah um I’m
a big fan of the Blues um I’m a big fan
of uh Richie Monga as well so I I watch
uh Chris sometimes too but uh yeah I
rugby these days I actually don’t really
keep up of many sports I’m more into
boxing than anything else nice when it
comes to your sport though can you just
for for those of us who are a least well
initiated when it comes to weight
lifting right you’ve got the snatch
you’ve got the clean and J can you just
talk us through the differences between
those and how you actually train for it
so we got the two lifts uh the first one
is a snatch is a wider grip um from the
floor to overhead uh it’s kind of like
as fast as you can really um so what’s
this one here this that’s the snatch uh
basically takes like 2
seconds oh so you train for years on end
to snatch 2 seconds
yeah what weight would that uh I think
that was 2020 two come off games that
was
170 yeah is that a bit like what you’re
lifting
today I show to do the
bath like wow I was actually going to in
a really nice way ask you your weight
because I was after a bit of payback but
I’m thinking I don’t think I could get
you out of that chair to be perfect yeah
a lot of people are surprised cuz
um yeah I’ve got heavy dense tongue and
Bones so I’m currently sitting at 186
kilos so wow yeah no I can’t get that up
and the cleaning jerk before Mar gets
any ideas in the favor can you talk us
through how that works and what you left
there so the cleaning Jer is a two
movement type of lift um from the floor
to to your chest which is also a closer
grip and then from your chest to
overhead keeping your elbows as straight
as possible recovering your feet keeping
them aligned and uh yeah once the judg
gives you the buzz you can drop it so
what are your PBS on each of them uh
snat 185 and clean and jerk is uh
236 so so there you know obviously
you’re pumped right though absolutely
when when you nail something and and you
go to the next you go to the next one I
mean that feeling there what’s it like
when you succeed on something when you
know that you’ve got two seconds to get
it right mean that feeling when you get
it right it’s um it’s very
nerve-wrecking when you start because if
you missed all three of your attempts
and each lift you’re disqualified so you
must get at least one in each one um and
well the plan is open up safe get closer
to our PB and then try and smoke your
best so those are your three attempts
and you do that in both um and so when
you do hit a PB it’s um it’s a relief
and you’re happy to you know kind of
celebrate cuz you worked hard uh uh the
same with rugby you know when you get a
win you have a few after the game with
the boys cuz you deserve it it’s been a
long week and yeah you’re here to that
some great great train skills and you
know will we ever see you you know
playing some social social games after
you finish you know thought about I
thought about going back into rugby so
um I’m not sure I’m not sure it would be
fun to go back into rugby but at the
moment now um yeah for going to the
[Applause]
Olympic just focus on you can do that um
stay right here because we will keep
talking to you through the show now
though it is time for Mill’s moments and
filling in for Mills are very own Goldie
bought to you by another cargle High
School alumni which is where Mills went
to when he was younger uh we’re going to
talk about my five moments for the
Olympics now this is very specific to me
these are not anybody else’s the ones of
the moments that affected me because
this is controversial cuz in the end you
got to pick five and there’s been so
many great ones but I’m going to start
with the stories that I grew up with the
legendary Sur Peter Snell that’s in 1964
at Tokyo those Olympics on the 21st of
October to Peter Snell he does the
double the 800 M the 1500 M two Olympic
Golds just a wonderful wonderful moment
and I sort of grew up with that the
track and field that was the guy that we
talked to had so many Legends so I
follow on from that who followed on in
that tradition with then it’s Ser John
Walker and the fact you think about him
in Montreal 1500 met once again carried
on that great legacy of our middle
distant running don’t think we had Nick
Willis later on getting a silver in the
Olympics just that silver Fern that
iconic moment so many of them and then
I’m going to stay track and field
because to me when I think of the
Olympics it’s track and field and Dame
Valerie Adams backto back gold medals in
the shot board and clear shot puto and
clearly I was a shot putter growing up
to be fair that’s what I was when I was
a lot younger look like it it looks like
it technique technique specialist I know
technique specialist but this was
remarkable back toback goals how
passionate she was for her sport how
inspirational she has been for me was
just absolutely magnificent and you see
how this New Zealand is around the world
that to me is the Olympics now this now
I got to see this man train firsthand
into Den need at Moana Po and if you
ever saw Daniel loer swimming it just
it’s like it wasn’t fair he just was
lightning in the pool and for him to win
two gold medals in 1996 in the freestyle
glamour events 200 M 400 me 400 m I
think to me when I think of the Olympics
and what I suppose the pool meant to so
many people and so many great countries
but for us to compete at a little old
denen at Moana pool to go and do that
and compete on the biggest stage now
this the last was hard cuz there was so
many but I went on aing that dominated
for years unbeaten for it seemed like
forever 2012 2016 London Rio de Janeiro
the men’s coxless Piers these two guys
just went to work you talk about a team
in Synergy HH Bond and Eric Murray the
two of them they were just iconic they
just continued to dominate for years on
end and when I think about that so for
me those were my five and you could talk
about this uh the Dame Lisa Carrington
of course you’ve got heish Carter who
who can forget that um Sarah Alma so
clearly I’m wrong and let some people
down I get that I apologize but those
were the five that had an impact on me
what about for you David is there any
one moment that had a real impact on
inspiring
you uh with Olympics no
no uh not really but I um yeah the same
as him uh Valerie is a big part of the
um motivational factors that drive me to
to try and be one of the best athletes
to ever come out of New Zealand um and
yeah hopefully live up it’s a big shoe
to feel but yeah um how special is it
because n none of us have uh competed in
the Olympics to the best of my knowledge
correct me if I’m wrong oh yeah team but
what what is it like to just be in that
moment to know that you are an Olympian
I know no the rings on your forearms
before it must be something really
special
um it’s like one of those things when
like uh same as rugby every kid wants to
be an all black you know um when you’re
in
sports every everybody that’s in a sport
that’s a Olympic sport they want to be
at the Olympics it’s the number one
Dream It’s the number one goal so being
able to go to Japan for my first one um
was an honor it’s a privilege um to to
have the f on my chest uh to you know
support and to to represent New Zealand
represent Tonga represent my family and
everybody who supported me um it’s a
privilege it’s an honor and I always
tell people uh it’s it’s such a blessing
to be able to put your heart into one
thing and be good at it cuz not many
people can do that so when I think about
what it is to what it takes or what it
means to me to be an Olympian it’s that
it’s a blessing
well said thank you very much David it
has been such an honor to have you on
the show with us plenty uh to come of
course next weekend as well as we go
back to rugby Super Rugby the next round
all the teams back in action the bi
weeks are over find it out hard actually
team to pick which one is the game of
the round Crusaders rieles maybe game of
the last game of the round right here
here on the breakdown been a pleasure
having your company with us here tonight
on the breakdown have a good night
kak way of things changed my life a lot
especially winning gold at the come off
games in
2018 they qued a unexpected win uh cuz I
was ranked fourth coming into this
competition and so when I kind of won it
was it was a big surprise for everybody
um and
that changed my life
dramatically I started getting kids
shouting at me on the road um kids
yelling out oh David hi you’re a big fan
it’s one of those things where I’m
excited to be out there to perform and
to compete as a weight lifter because I
hope somebody’s watching and thinking
man I want to be like him and do good
for not only for themselves but for
their family and Community as well