Transcript
JERMOE KAINO: Being involved with the test match that was over there with the All Blacks and Manu Samoa, that was a huge occasion for the country and for us just seeing how the whole samoa got behind it. And seeing hat we have here with the Blues we have a huge Polynesian group in our team and a lot of them are Samoans as well, and what it would mean for these boys and to go and play in front their families in the Blues jersey, you know that would be special. But it also coincides with the [50th anniversary] of the independence of Samoa and that'll make it even more special with a lot of people getting in behind the game. So Samoa will be buzzing at the time and [we're] really excited to take the game there.
VINNIE WYLIE: What are those differences between the test match and this game? Because obviously the All Blacks is another thing all together and it's as big as it gets.
JK: It's still special. i think it adds a bit of spice to the season and it changes things up. So i think for us players there's a similar feel to a test match and Samoans live and breathe rugby, where it's a test match or a Super rugby match when it comes on TV. It's really rare for them to see a Super rugby game in Apia so they'll get behind it just as much as they did for the test match. For us there's a lot of rugby to be played before we get there, but I'm sure the boys will be chomping at the bit to be involved.
VW: The Crusaders played last year against the Chiefs in Fiji of course, did you have chats to some of your friends or colleagues about what that was like?
JK: Yeah, the boys really loved it. They thought it was good to change the venue. The only weird thing for them as playing a Super Rugby game in a really warm climate. But it added excitement to their season seeing how the Fijians really got in behind it and supported the game which created excitement in their team. So i think it'll be much the same with us in Samoa in a different environment and having a home game over there seeing how they accept it.
VW: Yeah and I guess, as you say, the strong connections with the Auckland region - the biggest Polynesian city in the world - so if anyone was going to go to Apia in Super Rugby, it really should be the Blues.
JK: Yeah, for sure and we're really proud of that fact that we are pioneers and we are able to take [the game] to Samoa and that we are the first franchise to take it there and it was only fitting that we were the team who were going to do that.
VW: Is this something that you think could be a regular thing? Has that been talked about?
JK: I mean, I hope so. I don't think it's been talked about too much, but the possibility of having a fixture in the islands every year is very special for us, but also in at home back in Samoa, Fiji, whatever nation it is, they offer so much to us in the game here in New Zealand and it's time for us to give back in that kind of way and take games over there.
Blues and All Blacks flanker Jerome Kaino.
