October 9, 2025 • 23 mins
On Sports Fix with Jason Pine and D'Arcy Waldegrave for 10th October 2025, The NPC is reaching is climax, Commentator and former All Black James Parsons joins the podcast to discuss the quarterfinal matchups
Piney praises another solid outing for the All Whites, but wants more wins from the team
And D'Arcy and Piney are in the chamber ahead of the biggest weekend of the year for petrol heads, they preview the Bathurst 1000
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks ed B
follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
This is Sportsfix. Howard by News Talk said.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Be hello there, and welcome to the back end of
your Monday to Friday week the front end of the
sporting weekend, and into a fresh episode of sports Fix,
the podcast which it's your podcast feed Monday through Friday
in association with G. J. Gardner Holmes, New Zealand's most
trusted home builder, talking sport.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
I'm Jason Pine, I'm Darcy Watergrave. Fresh as a freezer?
Are they not the most beautiful flowers during spring? The
smell is exceptional.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
See of all the questions I thought you would open with,
that wouldn't have been in the top fifty for this podcast.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
I've got freezers outside of my house and so when
I leave the building in the morning, I can big
sniff of spring and I revelent it because the weather
hasn't been very spring at all today. Spring also sees
the advent of some pret good rugby, and we're going
to talk about that during the program. Got the quarter
finals coming up, Jason of the MPC. Right the way
(01:16):
through the weekend, James Parson, Jip and the Skipper, a
legend of North Harbor to time all Black. He joins
us to take a look ahead at the four Games
and I think we're gonna have a whale that as well,
aren't we?
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Yeah, we will indeed. And also some thoughts on the
All Whites this morning are one nill lost to Poland.
How should we assess this as far as the latest
chapter on the Road to the World Cup is concerned,
and the latest and sports news too, So busy old pod.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
Let's get into it in other news.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
There we go with some of the big sports stories
around today. The All Whites have gone down one nill
to Poland. In course of the hosts slotting the winner
and the forty ninth minute, it's a lovely turn you
can drive and it's the opening goal Peter Zelenski. The
All Whites play Norway on Wednesday. A thriller has unfolded
in the women's fifty over Cricket World Cup pull match
(02:07):
between South Africa and hosts India. The protein is hauled
in two hundred and fifty two, having recovered from eighty
one for five number eight. Nadine de Klerk belting the
winning six as part of eighty four not out from
fifty four balls.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
Backs away from the stumps and South Africa make it
three out of three and kick and welcoup matches against
LA and this may well be one of.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Their best chasers.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
And Silver Ferns vice captain Kelly Jackson is calling for
social media speculation to stop regarding the ongoing dispute between
coach Dame Nolin Todua and Netborn New Zealand.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Everything was done with good intent.
Speaker 4 (02:49):
The only way out of this is for people on
the outside just to respect everyone in the situation.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
Including the New Zealand, including Noles, including the players. Dissecting
the sporting agenda. It's Sportsfix with Jason Fine and Darcy Waldgrave.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
It's all about the NPC now here on Sports Fix podcast.
We are joined by former All Black, former Blue, former
MPC player commentator podcast host mister James Parsons. Get a James,
get a dath mate. How are we? I'm very happy
big weekend. We're getting down to the crunch quarter finals
of the MPC and before we look at those games individually,
(03:29):
stats coming out this morning that things are looking pretty
healthy for the MPC it's not exploded, but it's getting
a lot more traction across social media and also across
viewers and people going to the games. This probably doesn't
come as a surprise to you, but what would you
put that down to. Why is there more interest now?
Do you think?
Speaker 4 (03:50):
I think with both MPC and Super Ugly this season,
it's that unpredictability of result. It just makes it extremely interesting.
You know, I suppose in the NPC you're going to
get high scoring fixtures and I see no different this weekend.
In the quarter finals. I mean, at one stage I
think there was four or five points between first and eighth.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
That's reasonably large, and you've got comeback kids as well.
As you said, you don't really know what's going to happen.
You look at the turnaround I think the North Harbor
And hate to say this because you're in a former
North Harbor player, but that was the turning point for
Counties for example, who've just suddenly put along a tear recently,
haven't they?
Speaker 4 (04:33):
Oh, they certainly have. I mean it's one of those
strange things this weekend, like when you think about picking
certain opposition to win, you know it could literally be
an upset every game, and I even mean that for
the Canterbury Counties game. I feel like Counties is probably
the biggest threat for Canterbury losing this. I feel like
(04:54):
if they get past this weekend, it's theirs to lose.
But Counties are just so strong with ball in hand.
They can score heaps of points. Yep, they leak plenty,
but they managed to score so high and I think
they've averaged around forty nine points the last five weeks,
so that sets them up, I suppose with a bit
of wind in their sail, so to speak, and that
(05:16):
can be very dangerous.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
The fact that these games are shed and wear their
scheduled that's got to help as well. Afternoon rugby really
helps and I suppose a bit of free to wear
fun too. It's helping out the whole ecosystem. Yeah, massively.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
I still think there's plenty of growth in terms of
probably bums on seats at the ground, but in terms
of viewership and connection via social media and other mediums
these days. And I do think the game of rugby
is feeding to the new generation around how they like
to view their footy in terms of short highlights or
(05:54):
even on skyg they cut it up into ten or
twenty five minutes, and you know, like that has probably
peaked interest a lot more to probably push people towards
going to the games. But I mean, we'd love to
get back to the glory days. It may be a
little bit far fetched, but I suppose everyone's still all
(06:14):
hands for the pump to try and try and make
that a reality.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
It's a bit of an old school because people have
got this real connection with their own clubs and their
own clubs with of course three PC sides, so there's
that that tribalism still there. And let's add to it
the funning games of the Ranfilly Shield this season, that's
got a whole new level of interest because people are
going to tune into that. That log has got a
(06:38):
huge pull.
Speaker 4 (06:40):
Oh mate, it is so big, like even as a player,
it was probably the most important trophy, you know, Like
everyone loves winning competitions, don't get me wrong, but I
don't know, there's something about the mystique of the Ramfilly
Shield and it can derail seasons. You know, as we
probably saw the South in the season they are going
really well and then sometimes when you get the shield it,
(07:02):
you know, it's pretty exciting and you may be party
too long, but I think that's the beauty of the
Ramfley Shield is when it's moving around, I think it
engages every run into the NPC, which you know, I
still think is probably the best form of footy to watch.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
The way it's been officiated, the way it's been reefed
and looked out there, I think that that's helped out
because we saw that in Super Rugby, didn't we Certainly
it wasn't all about being a stickler for the laws.
It was about creating a spectacle. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (07:32):
Look, I think a lot of critic goes to the officials.
I think Chris Pollock and his team are doing a
fantastic job. You know NPC in particular, they have full
sort of control and rain and all the refs are
either've just been exceptional in terms of allowing play to flow.
But also I think the most important thing is they're
making decisions when tries are scored or not and it's
(07:53):
just move on. You know there is going to be
human error, but I think everyone's getting to grips that
the quicker the game moves on, the better, and I agree.
I think Super Rugby was the same. We probably don't
have the autonomy that we have an MPC, but no
doubt we will get there. And yeah, you're totally right,
Dar Polly and his team have done a fantastic.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Job they have and it makes an engaging product and
that's all people really want. And I think it was
a bit of an overcorrection for a while. It's nice
to see it dragging back again. People understanding that referees
are human and we'd rather have the odd mistake, but
a free flowing game as opposed to waiting forever and
ever and ever for the eighth match official to make
(08:35):
a decision about something happened eight phases ago. We don't
want that anymore, and I think that's been shown.
Speaker 4 (08:40):
Yeah, yeah, And I think also it's meant players just
move on quite quickly as well, you know, like I
was probably some of the worst. I wouldn't stop chatting
trying to negotiate my way out of a penalty or something.
So I think like players have got that concept down
pad as well, Like it just moves on and you
know you've got to disagree and commit sports FACX.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
The All Whites had a narrow loss to poll In
this morning in their latest football friendly as they continue
their build up and their journey to the twenty twenty
Sea World Cup in June and July next year in
the United States, Canada and Mexico. And while some might
say yes, it's an excellent result against a team rated
a lot higher in the world, the fact remains it's
(09:20):
still a loss. We'll talk about it a bit more
in the chamber shortly, But it's the job of these
players to win football matches. That is what they're paid
to do for their clubs, and when they come into
the international setup, that same mentality should exist and does exist.
So anybody thinking that the All Whites will be in
any way satisfied with defeat to Poland, or be it
(09:41):
a team ranked thirty first in the world and a
lot higher than they are, is misguided. They want to
win the game and they'll be disappointed that they didn't.
A bright spot though, of the All Whites in recent times,
has been the return of Ryan Thomas, a player of
supreme quality who has been absolutely unlucky, so unlucky with
(10:04):
injuries over the past several years, some career ending injuries
to knees and other parts of his body that have
wrecked what would have been an absolutely spectacular, I'm sure
club and international career, but the bright spot is that
he is still young enough to come back and make
a contribution. Ryan Thomas this morning just showed that he
(10:25):
has a touch of quality about him. It's just the
little things often that he does on the football pitch,
The way that he controls the ball and then moves
into space in the same motion, the way that his
eyes are always up scanning for the next parss, scanning
for where his opponents and his teammates are. His first
touch is done without even thinking. It's like breathing for
(10:47):
Ryan Thomas and a New Zealand side with him in
it is a much better proposition than it has been
without him. We have been building some excellent depth and
some high quality players in recent years, but the reintroduction
of Ryan Thomas for the games against Australia last month
and fingers crossed from now on until the World Cup
(11:07):
has been a re or boost to this side. He
just adds a touch of class, a touch of quality.
It is great to have Ryan Thomas back. Now let's
win some football matches.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
The Chamber is now in session on Sportsfax.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
End of the Chamber, we go well James Parsons has
given us his expert view time for an amateur view.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
I reckon we've seen more MPC than he has because
he's spent far too much nine with his head down
on his ass up playing right. I'm grasping its straws
by me.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Yeah, you got a couple, You got a couple? Can
I ask you this? I know you've got skin in
the game. I haven't, so I can answer this totally authentically.
Speaker 3 (11:51):
Can we just start that?
Speaker 4 (11:51):
So?
Speaker 3 (11:52):
Why have you not got any skin in the game?
What happened to the lions?
Speaker 2 (11:56):
Yes, it's a very good question and probably a discussion
for another day. But from NPC champions to not making
the top eight, a record of three wins from ten,
it was yeah, in my memory, the worst NPC season
for quite some time. But it leaves me without a
horse in this race. You've still got your red and
Blacks there, if you can just for a second take
(12:17):
them out of it. If they weren't to win it,
who would you want to win it?
Speaker 3 (12:22):
Hawks? Bay, Hawks Bay. You know why I said that? No,
because my producer, my new producer only the last couple
of months, Corbyn Boyd. He's a Hawk's Bayer. That's where
he comes from, and so why not climb on that bandwagon? Right?
Speaker 1 (12:38):
I suppose you could. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
I mean it's good rationale, and it's all very good
collegiality as well with your new producer who's doing a
fine job by the way, not just corraling you, but
in general in general work duties as well.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
They're not going to win, so I'm happy that Canterbury
have got it. I was looking at some old Canterbury
results recently and there was a time back in the
kind of mccaud sam Broomhall era where there was an
NPC side that Canterbury put down. There were fifteen all
blacks starting in that game.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Incredible fifteen. Yeah, I saw. I saw a graphic. You
might have seen the same one on one of the
social media feeds today with exactly that, a lineup of
fifteen all blacks and a Canterbury NPC side. Who do
you think I want to win?
Speaker 3 (13:21):
Oh? I think you want to go close? Wouldn't you
want to go the Naki Nope? Would you like to
go your neighbors over the ditch Tasman?
Speaker 1 (13:32):
No?
Speaker 3 (13:32):
Would you like to come on? Stop this Northland? What
about South?
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Then?
Speaker 3 (13:37):
What I don't know. Well, no they're not. So it's
a bit of a streets, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
I want Otago to win, okay, I want Otargo to win.
I feel as though there might be some sort of
renaissance happening down there provincially. Obviously they've had a very
good season. The shield is there and they finished second
on the table. It earns them hosting rights, of course,
at least through until the semifinals. If they make that
and then on to the final, maybe I just feel
like I want I want a return to the glory
(14:05):
days of the Blue and Gold. You know the Lorry
mains coach Otago sides that we talk about the Canterbury
teams being stacked. Man, there were some stacked Otago teams
back in the day. And if that can flow on
to a good season for the Highlanders and a rejuvenation there,
then I think it's a good thing so Otago. For me,
They've got white cut off tonight, which isn't the easiest
of quarterfinals. They should be okay though, shouldn't they?
Speaker 3 (14:27):
I hope. So I look at the you know, the
great Otago players from back in the day, and of
course my favorites David Latter for what he did in
that Shield game. Sorry sorry, I.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
Guess the hardest one to pick of the four would
be Hawks Bay against Taranaki, wouldn't it if you look
at if you say, okay, the home teams by virtual
of finishing in the top four should be favorite for
each of the games. I think Taranaki could go to
Napier sad As. I am to say it for your producer, Corbyn.
I reckon the Balls could go and beat the Magpies.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
I'd say on the day they all can you look
at the turnaround? I really like this County's moundle coach situation.
Even though they're taking on the Red and Blacks on
Sunday and it gets underway half after the start of Batheist.
I can't quite cope with that one. But anyway, what
counties have done and what they've achieved. They started the
season zero to five and then something clicked. I think
(15:18):
it was Harbor their first game up against North Harbor
that actually started turning things around, because they got wallopped
by a tigo the week before that. You know, they've
averaged like fifty five something on points in the last month.
I mean they're on fire these guys, so it can
be done.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
Yeah, momentum. You talk about momentum and coming right at
the right time of the season. Bay have plenty. Tasman's
the other interesting one tomorrow afternoon, this one in Toadong.
Are Steamers fans obviously looking to repel the incoming muck
or I quite like the idea of this confrontation as well.
I'm not quite sure I can pick which way this
(15:55):
one will go either.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
Okay, so what you need to do is put a
phone call into Mark Kelly and ask him.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
Well, you're going to get one answer there, and he'll
be on the road to Toadonga to be in attendance
at this game. So otago, why cuto Tonight they have
plenty Tasman and Hawks Bay Tuller Nucky tomorrow Canterbury against
Counties Manico on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
Those around like Tasman because they got shocked up awe
by Counties and they'll be looking at themselves going we've
got a superstar team on Earth. Happened, so maybe they
just re establish that dominance. But I really I'm not
going to put any money anywhere on anything. Isn't that
the glory of the NPC. Isn't good to see as
well that the profile has lifted, not not dramatically, but
(16:35):
like I think a nine percent increase in people watching
the games. It's like three percent InCrest some people going
to the game. So it's nice to see it's bubbling
along and it still has interest. Like it warms my heart.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
And mine as well. In the irony of the scheduling,
as far as you're concerned, is that your team Canterbury
kick off against County's Manico. By my math's about twenty
five minutes up the bathroom starts.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
I just set downs for that, you know. But I'm
lucky in the fact that I've got independent moving eyes
so I can actually watch two things at well. I
had one being a candad then moved to Auckland had
to have another one reinserted, so I blended in with
the locals, and of course when I did that, I
was like, well can we control this separately?
Speaker 2 (17:16):
I'm like, I didn't have this on our schedule to
talk about today. But while I've got you in two
eyed mood, Matt Paine, I think is the key with
who we think has the best chance here. But Ryan
Wood's been tearing it up and practice, hasn't he?
Speaker 3 (17:30):
Yeah, Ryan Wood is an interesting process. And when he
turned up at Supercarts, a big noise around him and
what he could do. And you cast your mind back
a couple of years when he started the twenty four
season and they had two Bathurst races. It wasn't the
big one thousand, but they opened the series at Bathurst
with a couple of shoulders race and the first thing
he did was sticker his car into the scenery at
(17:52):
the first corner and he had out a DNF and
the second race as well, So he's got a weave
it to turn around after that experience. But I'm noticing
that have you seen this. He's gone through an immense
fitness campaign. He's dropped a whole lot of kilograms. He's
trimmed right up. And I suppose with races you talk
to them, the fitty you are, the betterer concentration is,
(18:14):
the longer you can drive for, the more accurate you
can say. He's really taken that on board and gone right,
I've got to get fit if I want to be
a decent supercar driver. So good on him, absolutely right.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
Well, I've taken your advice from the pod yesterday, and
I've I've decided I'm on the radio till three o'clock
on Sunday, but from three until four I'm going to
use that as my hour of my first hour anyway,
by which stage is the way about an hour and
fifteen into the race. You said yesterday that if you
sit down and watch an hour of Bathtist you'll learn heaps,
even if you don't know a lot about supercars, a
(18:46):
lot about motor racing. So there you go. That's my
undertaking to you. I will be watching at least between
three and four on Sunday afternoon. Well I see Matt Pain,
will I see Ryan Wood, will I see maybe another
Keiwi near the front, and challenge.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
Coultard as a co driver as well. He's finished what
second and third at bath theirst, so he's looking for
that first and then yeh, there's six Keiwi's involved, So
a lot of skin, a lot in the game for
all of us. But you'd see you're not going to
be watching any football. There's obviously no football on between
that time. But you did this morning. You watch the
all Whites ranked what mid eighties in the world against
(19:20):
Poland mid thirties and by all reports they had a
pretty good job. Then he got defeated one mil. What
did you see?
Speaker 2 (19:29):
Yeah, I saw a pretty good performance. Unfortunately, I saw
the continuation of a bit of a worrying trend, and
that the All Whites play well and compete with teams
that are much higher ranked on the FIFA rankings than
they are, but don't score a goal and end up
with a noble loss. And that in days gone by
might have been Okay, it might have been we might
(19:50):
have said, hey, Shivers, that's a great result against a
team that's ranked forty places high. But this is exactly
the kind of game that New Zealand's going to get
at the World Cup next year, a game against a
higher ranked opponent who is very good defensively and who
knows how to take the chances that they get on attack.
And it's no good that All Whites going to the
World Cup next year, they have genuine designs on getting
out of the group and having noble losses. You know,
(20:13):
they have to somehow find a way to do two things,
score goals and win matches one nill instead of losing
them one nil. I think, you know, they'll take some
good lessons from today and some confidence into Wednesday's match
against Norway. But at some point good performances and impressive
outings have to be replaced by results, as you know,
(20:35):
as the product of that, So that would be the
only thing I'd say. I thought they played well for
large periods, didn't create a heck of a lot, but yeah,
I think they'll certainly use it as another building block
along the road to the World Cup.
Speaker 3 (20:47):
It's mental block. There's something in there that's stopping them
from accelerating, from moving on. Is it merely physical, Is
it tacnical of the midfield doing enough or do they
not believe in their harder hearts that they've got enough
to do it, because as you mentioned, these close wins
or close losses. Sorry that it's not good enough, and
I'm sure this team in professional is getting quite frustrated this.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
Yep, because these guys are paid to win football matches
with their club. That's what they're paid to do. That's
their job, and so when they come into the national
team it should be exactly the same. I don't think
it's a mental block. I think they do have the
mental capacity to feel exactly that we belong here. We
want to win this game. I just think if we
break it down very, very quickly, I just think they're
lacking a real cutting edge up top. Defensively good in midfield.
(21:30):
Ryan Thomas back has been tremendous, along with the likes
of Marco Staminich and others. I just think the cutting
edge is still something that remains elusive. Chris Wood only
came on at the end today, so that might be
part of that. But if Chris Waterson's scoring goals, then
where do the goals come from? That's the biggest part
of it. We don't have any more time to discuss it,
but I'm sure we can do it at a later
date to us because we've run out of time in
(21:50):
the chain.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
Don't you dare ring me on Sunday to reevaluate that comment.
I'm not interested. I want to answer the phone. Okay,
all right, Ay, you needing a vex.
Speaker 1 (21:59):
We've got just the ticket. It's Sports Vex powered by
News Talks IVY and with.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
That we bring the curtain down, We blow the final
whistle and the Sports Fix podcast for today. Huge thanks
to GJ. Gardner, Homes New Zealand's most trust at home
builder for continuing to support us in the Sports Fixed
podcast and to you of course as well for downloading,
for listening, and in particular for those of you who subscribe.
Speaker 3 (22:21):
Yeah without EA is there's no point in doing it.
And if you'd like to join Piney or I in
engaging in sport Talk, you can on sport Talk. It's
Monday through Friday. It is seven to eight pm on
News Talk z B. Love to take your calls. Piney's
got Monday. I've got the rest of the week and
of course Piney gets the big job. You've got the
hospital pass because I get to watch, you get to talk.
(22:43):
What are you doing?
Speaker 2 (22:44):
I don't mind talking actually about it. I've got weekend
sport mid data three tomorrow. There'll be race cars on
Sunday mid day to three. There'll be a race cars
and other bits and pieces as well. Go and reach
yourself into the couch when you can to us and
let's catch up next week.
Speaker 3 (22:57):
I'm going to rub myself and duck fat and enjoy
the whole afternoon. It's a powerful mental imit, isn't it.
Speaker 1 (23:05):
For more from News Talk zed B, listen live on
air online and keep our shows with you wherever you
go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks ed B
follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
This is Sportsfix. Howard by News Talk said.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Be hello there, and welcome to the back end of
your Monday to Friday week the front end of the
sporting weekend, and into a fresh episode of sports Fix,
the podcast which it's your podcast feed Monday through Friday
in association with G. J. Gardner Holmes, New Zealand's most
trusted home builder, talking sport.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
I'm Jason Pine, I'm Darcy Watergrave. Fresh as a freezer?
Are they not the most beautiful flowers during spring? The
smell is exceptional.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
See of all the questions I thought you would open with,
that wouldn't have been in the top fifty for this podcast.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
I've got freezers outside of my house and so when
I leave the building in the morning, I can big
sniff of spring and I revelent it because the weather
hasn't been very spring at all today. Spring also sees
the advent of some pret good rugby, and we're going
to talk about that during the program. Got the quarter
finals coming up, Jason of the MPC. Right the way
(01:16):
through the weekend, James Parson, Jip and the Skipper, a
legend of North Harbor to time all Black. He joins
us to take a look ahead at the four Games
and I think we're gonna have a whale that as well,
aren't we?
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Yeah, we will indeed. And also some thoughts on the
All Whites this morning are one nill lost to Poland.
How should we assess this as far as the latest
chapter on the Road to the World Cup is concerned,
and the latest and sports news too, So busy old pod.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
Let's get into it in other news.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
There we go with some of the big sports stories
around today. The All Whites have gone down one nill
to Poland. In course of the hosts slotting the winner
and the forty ninth minute, it's a lovely turn you
can drive and it's the opening goal Peter Zelenski. The
All Whites play Norway on Wednesday. A thriller has unfolded
in the women's fifty over Cricket World Cup pull match
(02:07):
between South Africa and hosts India. The protein is hauled
in two hundred and fifty two, having recovered from eighty
one for five number eight. Nadine de Klerk belting the
winning six as part of eighty four not out from
fifty four balls.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
Backs away from the stumps and South Africa make it
three out of three and kick and welcoup matches against
LA and this may well be one of.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Their best chasers.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
And Silver Ferns vice captain Kelly Jackson is calling for
social media speculation to stop regarding the ongoing dispute between
coach Dame Nolin Todua and Netborn New Zealand.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Everything was done with good intent.
Speaker 4 (02:49):
The only way out of this is for people on
the outside just to respect everyone in the situation.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
Including the New Zealand, including Noles, including the players. Dissecting
the sporting agenda. It's Sportsfix with Jason Fine and Darcy Waldgrave.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
It's all about the NPC now here on Sports Fix podcast.
We are joined by former All Black, former Blue, former
MPC player commentator podcast host mister James Parsons. Get a James,
get a dath mate. How are we? I'm very happy
big weekend. We're getting down to the crunch quarter finals
of the MPC and before we look at those games individually,
(03:29):
stats coming out this morning that things are looking pretty
healthy for the MPC it's not exploded, but it's getting
a lot more traction across social media and also across
viewers and people going to the games. This probably doesn't
come as a surprise to you, but what would you
put that down to. Why is there more interest now?
Do you think?
Speaker 4 (03:50):
I think with both MPC and Super Ugly this season,
it's that unpredictability of result. It just makes it extremely interesting.
You know, I suppose in the NPC you're going to
get high scoring fixtures and I see no different this weekend.
In the quarter finals. I mean, at one stage I
think there was four or five points between first and eighth.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
That's reasonably large, and you've got comeback kids as well.
As you said, you don't really know what's going to happen.
You look at the turnaround I think the North Harbor
And hate to say this because you're in a former
North Harbor player, but that was the turning point for
Counties for example, who've just suddenly put along a tear recently,
haven't they?
Speaker 4 (04:33):
Oh, they certainly have. I mean it's one of those
strange things this weekend, like when you think about picking
certain opposition to win, you know it could literally be
an upset every game, and I even mean that for
the Canterbury Counties game. I feel like Counties is probably
the biggest threat for Canterbury losing this. I feel like
(04:54):
if they get past this weekend, it's theirs to lose.
But Counties are just so strong with ball in hand.
They can score heaps of points. Yep, they leak plenty,
but they managed to score so high and I think
they've averaged around forty nine points the last five weeks,
so that sets them up, I suppose with a bit
of wind in their sail, so to speak, and that
(05:16):
can be very dangerous.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
The fact that these games are shed and wear their
scheduled that's got to help as well. Afternoon rugby really
helps and I suppose a bit of free to wear
fun too. It's helping out the whole ecosystem. Yeah, massively.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
I still think there's plenty of growth in terms of
probably bums on seats at the ground, but in terms
of viewership and connection via social media and other mediums
these days. And I do think the game of rugby
is feeding to the new generation around how they like
to view their footy in terms of short highlights or
(05:54):
even on skyg they cut it up into ten or
twenty five minutes, and you know, like that has probably
peaked interest a lot more to probably push people towards
going to the games. But I mean, we'd love to
get back to the glory days. It may be a
little bit far fetched, but I suppose everyone's still all
(06:14):
hands for the pump to try and try and make
that a reality.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
It's a bit of an old school because people have
got this real connection with their own clubs and their
own clubs with of course three PC sides, so there's
that that tribalism still there. And let's add to it
the funning games of the Ranfilly Shield this season, that's
got a whole new level of interest because people are
going to tune into that. That log has got a
(06:38):
huge pull.
Speaker 4 (06:40):
Oh mate, it is so big, like even as a player,
it was probably the most important trophy, you know, Like
everyone loves winning competitions, don't get me wrong, but I
don't know, there's something about the mystique of the Ramfilly
Shield and it can derail seasons. You know, as we
probably saw the South in the season they are going
really well and then sometimes when you get the shield it,
(07:02):
you know, it's pretty exciting and you may be party
too long, but I think that's the beauty of the
Ramfley Shield is when it's moving around, I think it
engages every run into the NPC, which you know, I
still think is probably the best form of footy to watch.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
The way it's been officiated, the way it's been reefed
and looked out there, I think that that's helped out
because we saw that in Super Rugby, didn't we Certainly
it wasn't all about being a stickler for the laws.
It was about creating a spectacle. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (07:32):
Look, I think a lot of critic goes to the officials.
I think Chris Pollock and his team are doing a
fantastic job. You know NPC in particular, they have full
sort of control and rain and all the refs are
either've just been exceptional in terms of allowing play to flow.
But also I think the most important thing is they're
making decisions when tries are scored or not and it's
(07:53):
just move on. You know there is going to be
human error, but I think everyone's getting to grips that
the quicker the game moves on, the better, and I agree.
I think Super Rugby was the same. We probably don't
have the autonomy that we have an MPC, but no
doubt we will get there. And yeah, you're totally right,
Dar Polly and his team have done a fantastic.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Job they have and it makes an engaging product and
that's all people really want. And I think it was
a bit of an overcorrection for a while. It's nice
to see it dragging back again. People understanding that referees
are human and we'd rather have the odd mistake, but
a free flowing game as opposed to waiting forever and
ever and ever for the eighth match official to make
(08:35):
a decision about something happened eight phases ago. We don't
want that anymore, and I think that's been shown.
Speaker 4 (08:40):
Yeah, yeah, And I think also it's meant players just
move on quite quickly as well, you know, like I
was probably some of the worst. I wouldn't stop chatting
trying to negotiate my way out of a penalty or something.
So I think like players have got that concept down
pad as well, Like it just moves on and you
know you've got to disagree and commit sports FACX.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
The All Whites had a narrow loss to poll In
this morning in their latest football friendly as they continue
their build up and their journey to the twenty twenty
Sea World Cup in June and July next year in
the United States, Canada and Mexico. And while some might
say yes, it's an excellent result against a team rated
a lot higher in the world, the fact remains it's
(09:20):
still a loss. We'll talk about it a bit more
in the chamber shortly, But it's the job of these
players to win football matches. That is what they're paid
to do for their clubs, and when they come into
the international setup, that same mentality should exist and does exist.
So anybody thinking that the All Whites will be in
any way satisfied with defeat to Poland, or be it
(09:41):
a team ranked thirty first in the world and a
lot higher than they are, is misguided. They want to
win the game and they'll be disappointed that they didn't.
A bright spot though, of the All Whites in recent times,
has been the return of Ryan Thomas, a player of
supreme quality who has been absolutely unlucky, so unlucky with
(10:04):
injuries over the past several years, some career ending injuries
to knees and other parts of his body that have
wrecked what would have been an absolutely spectacular, I'm sure
club and international career, but the bright spot is that
he is still young enough to come back and make
a contribution. Ryan Thomas this morning just showed that he
(10:25):
has a touch of quality about him. It's just the
little things often that he does on the football pitch,
The way that he controls the ball and then moves
into space in the same motion, the way that his
eyes are always up scanning for the next parss, scanning
for where his opponents and his teammates are. His first
touch is done without even thinking. It's like breathing for
(10:47):
Ryan Thomas and a New Zealand side with him in
it is a much better proposition than it has been
without him. We have been building some excellent depth and
some high quality players in recent years, but the reintroduction
of Ryan Thomas for the games against Australia last month
and fingers crossed from now on until the World Cup
(11:07):
has been a re or boost to this side. He
just adds a touch of class, a touch of quality.
It is great to have Ryan Thomas back. Now let's
win some football matches.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
The Chamber is now in session on Sportsfax.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
End of the Chamber, we go well James Parsons has
given us his expert view time for an amateur view.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
I reckon we've seen more MPC than he has because
he's spent far too much nine with his head down
on his ass up playing right. I'm grasping its straws
by me.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Yeah, you got a couple, You got a couple? Can
I ask you this? I know you've got skin in
the game. I haven't, so I can answer this totally authentically.
Speaker 3 (11:51):
Can we just start that?
Speaker 4 (11:51):
So?
Speaker 3 (11:52):
Why have you not got any skin in the game?
What happened to the lions?
Speaker 2 (11:56):
Yes, it's a very good question and probably a discussion
for another day. But from NPC champions to not making
the top eight, a record of three wins from ten,
it was yeah, in my memory, the worst NPC season
for quite some time. But it leaves me without a
horse in this race. You've still got your red and
Blacks there, if you can just for a second take
(12:17):
them out of it. If they weren't to win it,
who would you want to win it?
Speaker 3 (12:22):
Hawks? Bay, Hawks Bay. You know why I said that? No,
because my producer, my new producer only the last couple
of months, Corbyn Boyd. He's a Hawk's Bayer. That's where
he comes from, and so why not climb on that bandwagon? Right?
Speaker 1 (12:38):
I suppose you could. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
I mean it's good rationale, and it's all very good
collegiality as well with your new producer who's doing a
fine job by the way, not just corraling you, but
in general in general work duties as well.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
They're not going to win, so I'm happy that Canterbury
have got it. I was looking at some old Canterbury
results recently and there was a time back in the
kind of mccaud sam Broomhall era where there was an
NPC side that Canterbury put down. There were fifteen all
blacks starting in that game.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Incredible fifteen. Yeah, I saw. I saw a graphic. You
might have seen the same one on one of the
social media feeds today with exactly that, a lineup of
fifteen all blacks and a Canterbury NPC side. Who do
you think I want to win?
Speaker 3 (13:21):
Oh? I think you want to go close? Wouldn't you
want to go the Naki Nope? Would you like to
go your neighbors over the ditch Tasman?
Speaker 1 (13:32):
No?
Speaker 3 (13:32):
Would you like to come on? Stop this Northland? What
about South?
Speaker 2 (13:36):
Then?
Speaker 3 (13:37):
What I don't know. Well, no they're not. So it's
a bit of a streets, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
I want Otago to win, okay, I want Otargo to win.
I feel as though there might be some sort of
renaissance happening down there provincially. Obviously they've had a very
good season. The shield is there and they finished second
on the table. It earns them hosting rights, of course,
at least through until the semifinals. If they make that
and then on to the final, maybe I just feel
like I want I want a return to the glory
(14:05):
days of the Blue and Gold. You know the Lorry
mains coach Otago sides that we talk about the Canterbury
teams being stacked. Man, there were some stacked Otago teams
back in the day. And if that can flow on
to a good season for the Highlanders and a rejuvenation there,
then I think it's a good thing so Otago. For me,
They've got white cut off tonight, which isn't the easiest
of quarterfinals. They should be okay though, shouldn't they?
Speaker 3 (14:27):
I hope. So I look at the you know, the
great Otago players from back in the day, and of
course my favorites David Latter for what he did in
that Shield game. Sorry sorry, I.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
Guess the hardest one to pick of the four would
be Hawks Bay against Taranaki, wouldn't it if you look
at if you say, okay, the home teams by virtual
of finishing in the top four should be favorite for
each of the games. I think Taranaki could go to
Napier sad As. I am to say it for your producer, Corbyn.
I reckon the Balls could go and beat the Magpies.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
I'd say on the day they all can you look
at the turnaround? I really like this County's moundle coach situation.
Even though they're taking on the Red and Blacks on
Sunday and it gets underway half after the start of Batheist.
I can't quite cope with that one. But anyway, what
counties have done and what they've achieved. They started the
season zero to five and then something clicked. I think
(15:18):
it was Harbor their first game up against North Harbor
that actually started turning things around, because they got wallopped
by a tigo the week before that. You know, they've
averaged like fifty five something on points in the last month.
I mean they're on fire these guys, so it can
be done.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
Yeah, momentum. You talk about momentum and coming right at
the right time of the season. Bay have plenty. Tasman's
the other interesting one tomorrow afternoon, this one in Toadong.
Are Steamers fans obviously looking to repel the incoming muck
or I quite like the idea of this confrontation as well.
I'm not quite sure I can pick which way this
(15:55):
one will go either.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
Okay, so what you need to do is put a
phone call into Mark Kelly and ask him.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
Well, you're going to get one answer there, and he'll
be on the road to Toadonga to be in attendance
at this game. So otago, why cuto Tonight they have
plenty Tasman and Hawks Bay Tuller Nucky tomorrow Canterbury against
Counties Manico on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
Those around like Tasman because they got shocked up awe
by Counties and they'll be looking at themselves going we've
got a superstar team on Earth. Happened, so maybe they
just re establish that dominance. But I really I'm not
going to put any money anywhere on anything. Isn't that
the glory of the NPC. Isn't good to see as
well that the profile has lifted, not not dramatically, but
(16:35):
like I think a nine percent increase in people watching
the games. It's like three percent InCrest some people going
to the game. So it's nice to see it's bubbling
along and it still has interest. Like it warms my heart.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
And mine as well. In the irony of the scheduling,
as far as you're concerned, is that your team Canterbury
kick off against County's Manico. By my math's about twenty
five minutes up the bathroom starts.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
I just set downs for that, you know. But I'm
lucky in the fact that I've got independent moving eyes
so I can actually watch two things at well. I
had one being a candad then moved to Auckland had
to have another one reinserted, so I blended in with
the locals, and of course when I did that, I
was like, well can we control this separately?
Speaker 2 (17:16):
I'm like, I didn't have this on our schedule to
talk about today. But while I've got you in two
eyed mood, Matt Paine, I think is the key with
who we think has the best chance here. But Ryan
Wood's been tearing it up and practice, hasn't he?
Speaker 3 (17:30):
Yeah, Ryan Wood is an interesting process. And when he
turned up at Supercarts, a big noise around him and
what he could do. And you cast your mind back
a couple of years when he started the twenty four
season and they had two Bathurst races. It wasn't the
big one thousand, but they opened the series at Bathurst
with a couple of shoulders race and the first thing
he did was sticker his car into the scenery at
(17:52):
the first corner and he had out a DNF and
the second race as well, So he's got a weave
it to turn around after that experience. But I'm noticing
that have you seen this. He's gone through an immense
fitness campaign. He's dropped a whole lot of kilograms. He's
trimmed right up. And I suppose with races you talk
to them, the fitty you are, the betterer concentration is,
(18:14):
the longer you can drive for, the more accurate you
can say. He's really taken that on board and gone right,
I've got to get fit if I want to be
a decent supercar driver. So good on him, absolutely right.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
Well, I've taken your advice from the pod yesterday, and
I've I've decided I'm on the radio till three o'clock
on Sunday, but from three until four I'm going to
use that as my hour of my first hour anyway,
by which stage is the way about an hour and
fifteen into the race. You said yesterday that if you
sit down and watch an hour of Bathtist you'll learn heaps,
even if you don't know a lot about supercars, a
(18:46):
lot about motor racing. So there you go. That's my
undertaking to you. I will be watching at least between
three and four on Sunday afternoon. Well I see Matt Pain,
will I see Ryan Wood, will I see maybe another
Keiwi near the front, and challenge.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
Coultard as a co driver as well. He's finished what
second and third at bath theirst, so he's looking for
that first and then yeh, there's six Keiwi's involved, So
a lot of skin, a lot in the game for
all of us. But you'd see you're not going to
be watching any football. There's obviously no football on between
that time. But you did this morning. You watch the
all Whites ranked what mid eighties in the world against
(19:20):
Poland mid thirties and by all reports they had a
pretty good job. Then he got defeated one mil. What
did you see?
Speaker 2 (19:29):
Yeah, I saw a pretty good performance. Unfortunately, I saw
the continuation of a bit of a worrying trend, and
that the All Whites play well and compete with teams
that are much higher ranked on the FIFA rankings than
they are, but don't score a goal and end up
with a noble loss. And that in days gone by
might have been Okay, it might have been we might
(19:50):
have said, hey, Shivers, that's a great result against a
team that's ranked forty places high. But this is exactly
the kind of game that New Zealand's going to get
at the World Cup next year, a game against a
higher ranked opponent who is very good defensively and who
knows how to take the chances that they get on attack.
And it's no good that All Whites going to the
World Cup next year, they have genuine designs on getting
out of the group and having noble losses. You know,
(20:13):
they have to somehow find a way to do two things,
score goals and win matches one nill instead of losing
them one nil. I think, you know, they'll take some
good lessons from today and some confidence into Wednesday's match
against Norway. But at some point good performances and impressive
outings have to be replaced by results, as you know,
(20:35):
as the product of that, So that would be the
only thing I'd say. I thought they played well for
large periods, didn't create a heck of a lot, but yeah,
I think they'll certainly use it as another building block
along the road to the World Cup.
Speaker 3 (20:47):
It's mental block. There's something in there that's stopping them
from accelerating, from moving on. Is it merely physical, Is
it tacnical of the midfield doing enough or do they
not believe in their harder hearts that they've got enough
to do it, because as you mentioned, these close wins
or close losses. Sorry that it's not good enough, and
I'm sure this team in professional is getting quite frustrated this.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
Yep, because these guys are paid to win football matches
with their club. That's what they're paid to do. That's
their job, and so when they come into the national
team it should be exactly the same. I don't think
it's a mental block. I think they do have the
mental capacity to feel exactly that we belong here. We
want to win this game. I just think if we
break it down very, very quickly, I just think they're
lacking a real cutting edge up top. Defensively good in midfield.
(21:30):
Ryan Thomas back has been tremendous, along with the likes
of Marco Staminich and others. I just think the cutting
edge is still something that remains elusive. Chris Wood only
came on at the end today, so that might be
part of that. But if Chris Waterson's scoring goals, then
where do the goals come from? That's the biggest part
of it. We don't have any more time to discuss it,
but I'm sure we can do it at a later
date to us because we've run out of time in
(21:50):
the chain.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
Don't you dare ring me on Sunday to reevaluate that comment.
I'm not interested. I want to answer the phone. Okay,
all right, Ay, you needing a vex.
Speaker 1 (21:59):
We've got just the ticket. It's Sports Vex powered by
News Talks IVY and with.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
That we bring the curtain down, We blow the final
whistle and the Sports Fix podcast for today. Huge thanks
to GJ. Gardner, Homes New Zealand's most trust at home
builder for continuing to support us in the Sports Fixed
podcast and to you of course as well for downloading,
for listening, and in particular for those of you who subscribe.
Speaker 3 (22:21):
Yeah without EA is there's no point in doing it.
And if you'd like to join Piney or I in
engaging in sport Talk, you can on sport Talk. It's
Monday through Friday. It is seven to eight pm on
News Talk z B. Love to take your calls. Piney's
got Monday. I've got the rest of the week and
of course Piney gets the big job. You've got the
hospital pass because I get to watch, you get to talk.
(22:43):
What are you doing?
Speaker 2 (22:44):
I don't mind talking actually about it. I've got weekend
sport mid data three tomorrow. There'll be race cars on
Sunday mid day to three. There'll be a race cars
and other bits and pieces as well. Go and reach
yourself into the couch when you can to us and
let's catch up next week.
Speaker 3 (22:57):
I'm going to rub myself and duck fat and enjoy
the whole afternoon. It's a powerful mental imit, isn't it.
Speaker 1 (23:05):
For more from News Talk zed B, listen live on
air online and keep our shows with you wherever you
go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio.
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