November 27, 2025 • 20 mins
On Sports Fix with Jason Pine and D'Arcy Waldegrave for 28th November 2025, The finalists of the NZ Rugby awards have been announced. Commentator Tony Johnson joins the podcast to analyze the finalists and look back on the year in rugby
D'Arcy is certain Peter Burling will do everything he can to get on the boat to try win the Black Foils first Sail GP title
And Alex Powell is in the chamber discussing whether Liam Lawson will have an F1 seat next year
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our Wide Ranger podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
This is Forcefix Howard by News Talks.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
EDB, Greekings, Greegings, Greetings, Welcome one into the Sports Fix podcast.
My name is Darcy Waldgrave. I'm with you right the
way through the next fifth day and twenty minutes. Jason Pine,
he's gone a while. He's probably slipped down the back
of the couch. We'll find him eventually, but I reckon
I can hold this together. On the cast today, Tony Johnson,
(00:41):
well respected voice of New Zealand Rugby, joins us to
look at the annual All Black the New Zealand Rugby
Awards and who goes where and why. I've got some
opinion around sale GP. It's got its very last round
up this weekend. And then we'll be joined in the
chamber by Alex Powlis, sports writer for New Zealand Herald,
(01:02):
as we look predominantly at the fun and games of
Formula one. So any rumors, so little confirmation will do
more with Alex Powell in the chamber. All of this
brought to you an association with Fine Folk at GJ.
Gardner Homes New Zealand's most trusted home builder, and with
that we move.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Forward in other news.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
And in short sports wipes today. If one driver Liam
Lawson has spoken ahead of the penultimate round of Formula One,
that's the weekend DKATA. He's looked back at the constant
learning process that he goes through in the Grand Prix circus.
Speaker 4 (01:43):
I think it's important that you obviously reflect on each
weekend and you try and take the positives and try
and learn from each weekend. But to go through this
many weekends and trying to not get stuck up on
something or caught up at emotion is very tough.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
The Tall Blacks take on the Boomers tonight in the
first of two legs in the Basketball World Cup qualifiers.
He's taking on the Boomers in Tasmania and on Monday
night returning to New Zealand's coach, Judd Flabble is clear
with his expectations well overall vision, I guess is to
get to the World Cup and do perform.
Speaker 5 (02:17):
Well and get ourselves doing ourselves a spot to the
Olympics in La.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
Japaias Selby Ricket is set to play in the Aussie
Netball Super League, the sixty six cap Silver fern Is
teenas to test herself against the cream of Australian netball
and the nine Kiwis that are building up there too.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
I started off as a young player playing against a
lot of these girls and a lot of the.
Speaker 5 (02:39):
Legends like Laura Guy. So to be able to come
back at the end of my career and play against
some of the best in the world, I think it's
going to do wonders for my game.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
And that's your sport today, dissecting the sporting agenda. It's
Sportsfix with Dancy Waldgrave.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
That is big. Hello to Tony Johnson here on the
Fixed podcast. Tony, of course lifelong commentator for the All
Blacks and Super Rugby and MPC. Of course he's been
doing the hard yards over in and he's been part
of the not a Grand Slam Tour, really a part
of the Northern Tour. He joins us now to talk awards.
(03:16):
He's back, fresh back from the Northern Hemisphere. Tony Johnson,
Hello mate.
Speaker 6 (03:21):
Well, I wouldn't say fresh.
Speaker 7 (03:23):
I think the body still thinks it's some time in
the night, but yeah, no quite nice to be home
and some sunshine.
Speaker 6 (03:30):
And what have you.
Speaker 7 (03:31):
And yeah, very interested in the Rugby Award finalists that
come out today. I'm no longer a judge, so I
step down from that after about ten years being a
judge and convener for half of them.
Speaker 6 (03:43):
So it'd be quite nice to talk freely.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Yes, it would let yourself go. Look, there are a
number of different categories and we're not going to go
through them all. Be here all night before we look
into those. When you were running the show and you're
part of a judge, did it the voting work to
your liking the way it was sorted out? The way?
I don't know how they did it points for lots
of the players, what they did, How did that process
(04:06):
operate and was it satisfactory?
Speaker 7 (04:08):
Well, first of all, yeah, I think it did work well.
It's a formula that's been in use for quite a
long time. And the most important thing is that you
would meet throughout the year so that when Super Rugby
came to an end, you would probably have some sort
of meeting, not necessarily in person, sometimes in person, sometimes
it would be a zoom meeting something like that, so
(04:30):
when it was still fresh in the mind so that
you weren't getting to October and November and scratching your
head and thinking, oh, who played well in Super Rugby.
So you'd have two or three, maybe four meetings throughout
the year and a final one after the last matches
were played and you go back over. There are criteria
that go with each awards and they are quite specific.
(04:53):
For some awards, there are certain things like if you've
sort of misbehaved publicly or even done some heinous things
on the field, then it might make you.
Speaker 6 (05:03):
Eligible not ineligible for an award.
Speaker 7 (05:06):
There are certain category that are very specific. For the
Tom French Cup, for example, that's a really important one
and it has as you'd imagine for Marti Player of
the Year, it would have its very specific set of criteria.
But I thought it was always pretty well laid out
in front of you, and you just had to go
through and throw names into the ring and you would
slowly whittle them down to finalists and then you would
(05:28):
come up with a winner of each category. It was
a very democratic process. And I'm not quite sure who's
on the judging panel this year. I know Elliott Smith
and he's been an outstanding member of the judging panel.
And it was always done in a pretty good and
efficient and workman like manner. So yeah, I never had
(05:52):
any great problems with the process at all. And I
can also tell you that not every time do you
get your way. I mean, there was a few times
where the person I wanted to win didn't win it,
but you just accept that that was the decision of
the panel as a whole. So you might get a
three v one or sometimes the two v one and whatever.
Speaker 6 (06:14):
But yeah, it's it's a good process.
Speaker 7 (06:17):
And you know, every single decision that was ever made
while I was involved, and I stood by.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
The big gone Fabian Fabian excuse me, Holland cam roygard
Adisavia Quinn to Pia, I know where I'm leaning. What
about you, Tony and why?
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Yeah?
Speaker 7 (06:34):
Interesting you say Fabian Fabian because I've heard I've heard
him say both, so I think it's probably from at
home or sorry, where he comes.
Speaker 6 (06:44):
From in Holland, you know, in the Netherlands.
Speaker 7 (06:46):
I should say it's probably it is Fabian there, but
I think he's people are calling him Fabian here, Fabian Fabian.
Speaker 6 (06:52):
Whichever. Boy, what an absolutely phenomenal year.
Speaker 7 (06:56):
He has gone from being a rookie to a guy
who's just one of the first names I would have
thought penned into the team. So yeah, a tough one.
Retains the ability to come up with the really big
plays in the biggest moments, and we saw that, for
example at Eden Park against the spring Box, we saw
(07:18):
it when they were defending the Bledislow Cup, and we
saw it on the Northern Tour as well. And I
think that's one of the things that makes him the
great player that he is, is just his ability to
make crucial plays at crucial moments.
Speaker 6 (07:33):
Holland is say phenomenal.
Speaker 7 (07:35):
Cam Royguard is now a guy that he's probably one
of the most indispensable players in the All Blacks because
when he plays, they are a better side. And that's
no slight on the backup guys. They're all good halfbacks.
But he's a world class player and he was named
in the World Dream Team, wasn't he. And when you
think about what else is around in terms of half
(07:55):
backs at the moment, that's something.
Speaker 6 (07:57):
And Quintu Pyot to me, had his best every year
in rugby.
Speaker 7 (08:00):
He really this year came of age as a Test
All Black.
Speaker 6 (08:05):
He's been around the scene. Of course, he had that
terrible layoff after that dreadful injury that he suffered in
Australia a couple of years ago, and he deserves to
be in the top four. But to me it's probably
between Savia and Holland.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
Supports excess excess.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
So Pete Berling's managed to slash his index finger while
he is messing around on boats, and people who have
messed around on boats their entire life. That's just part
of the hazards of being a sailor. You're going to
injury yourself, You're gonna cut yourself up from time to time.
So he's got a big old bandage on his finger.
(08:41):
He believes that if he can't be the helmsman in
the sale GP the Black Foils boat, he has got
a woman who can do it. Live McKay is the
strategist on the boat. He's a woman's America's cup sailor.
She's been around the team now for a couple of years.
She's got what it takes and it's lovely to see
(09:03):
that Peter Berling has ultimate trust and live to get
the job done. Should she take over the running of
the boat, If you will and live though as a
strategistic it's a number of other roles on the boat
or I believe will slip into this leadership role like
a hand and a glove. I got no problems. However,
(09:23):
I would be absolutely stunned if Peter Berling doesn't helm
the Black Foil boat this weekend at the final. This
is a spectacular season the Sale GP. This is something
that Peter Berling hasn't won. As the CEO of the
Black Foils Sale GP team. He wants, he needs, he
(09:47):
desires to win. This series is uber important to Pete Berling.
I'd say that inject them with whatever they can as
far as painkillers, they wrap ten splints around that hand.
They will do whatever they can to make sure that
Pete Berling is on that boat. This is not just
any old series of race. This is the final of
(10:10):
the Sale GP and he is within touching distance of
winning that title, something he hasn't done and something he
passionately desires. So I believe that regardless short of losing
an arm, the state that Peter Berling is in, he'll
be on that boat over the weekend and he'll rip
shit and bust in the light airs of Abu Dhabi.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
The Chamber is now in session on Sportsfax.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
Welcome into the chamber. I feel like I need Vincent
Price to do this voice of you Know Something had
a thriller from Michael Jackson. We joined in the chamber
by Alex Powell, sports journalist for the New Zealand Herald.
As we predominantly look at the wonderful wide world of motorsport.
Because if there's a room and mill that's bigger and
more severe than Formula one, I have never ever seen it.
(11:01):
It's going on. Are we any the wiser to what's
happening around?
Speaker 5 (11:04):
Liam Lawson Afternoon? Does we made how we're to be
on a front to be sure? No, we are none
the wiser. We have the timeline now that red Bulls
say will be You've done there before, I've done that before.
Who knows? What do you make of Yuki Sonoda's pre
weekend comments though, well.
Speaker 3 (11:21):
His comments and you have a listen and the tone
and what he said suggests is a guy without a drive.
Speaker 5 (11:28):
Doesn't he Yeah, it did not sound for anyone who's
not really listened too much. It's been on the grid
for four years. He's very brash, he's very confident, he
believes and he just sounds beaten right now. He knows,
you know, he's.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
Not going to be a racing ball pilot next year. Well,
it's looking like it's going to be Laws, and it's
looking like Limblood, who was actually out here running the
ct Frock series as well, who's been a bit touch
and go hot and cold and if too, but he's
the future, they believe.
Speaker 5 (11:59):
Well, he's been what you expect from a guy on
his first year n F two. But whether or not
that's enough to earn a seat in F for one
is really the question we'll have to ask themselves.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
Well, they're coming out and they say they're gonna after
Cutter after this weekend, we'll.
Speaker 5 (12:13):
Know they sang immediately after Katar.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
With a pinch of salt. Why not do it before Cutter?
Speaker 6 (12:17):
Why?
Speaker 5 (12:18):
Why are they I think they got quite burned last
year with the Laws and v peris of a Sonoda
decision because they left it until after the season, and
that meant that by the time they could make that decision,
it was too late because they could have had Carlos
signs in that car and then would you have had
the problems I've had this year? Probably not, But a
they didn't want to make that call that early. And
be the politics or Carlos signs not getting on with
(12:38):
the Verstapen camp didn't really work for them anyway.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
So the Stapen's got his job. The Stapen will be
there next year.
Speaker 5 (12:44):
Well, Isaac Hadjar has now said he's going to be
there as well next year as well. We believe, well,
that's a very easy assumption. You know, he has outside
of the Stapanie has been red Bull's best driver.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
And I've got Yuki Sonoda what he eight points a
drift of Liam Lawson speaks volumes to me about the car,
not so much about Yuki Sonoda. He's had a crack,
but the car you're you're shrugging there again, you're not
one hundred percent sure.
Speaker 5 (13:12):
He's had twenty one races in that car to get
used to it. You know, if they'd given Liam Lawson
twenty odd races in that car, he would not be
where Yuki Sonoda.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
Is got he got two on tracks he'd never raced
on before, No none preseason in that either.
Speaker 5 (13:26):
But that was the whole point was it's where you
are relative to your teammate, and Yuki Sinoda is finishing,
you know, a minute behind Maximstappen.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
And he's not qualifying well at all, so even with
an open track, so I.
Speaker 5 (13:38):
Know that's that's not quite true, is it, Because that
was Sergio Peis's issue was that he would actually qualify, sorry,
he wouldn't qualify well, but he'd make up places in
the race, but he was just starting from too far back.
Liam Lawson was slightly the same in a much smaller window.
Was Yukis Sno's other round. He actually does qualify okay,
but he goes Q.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
Ones as he actually got out of though I seem
to think he keeps getting knocked out at Q one,
which six Q one elimination for a car like that,
that really q ones.
Speaker 5 (14:04):
It's unacceptable, it is, But he always goes backwards in
the race as his mainsh he'll lose places, which.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
Is not good when at the back of the grid
full stop. The other assue around Formula one right now
that I'm absolutely fascinated with is Adrian Niewie arguably the
greatest car designer in Formula One, well recent history anyway.
Speaker 5 (14:25):
I wouldn't say arguably, he'd say definitely.
Speaker 3 (14:29):
There you go. He's now the team principal over the
road at Ashton. This is huge for that team.
Speaker 5 (14:36):
They're making a play for the Stapan here. Surely we
know how much of the Stapins Lovenui. We know how
much of the Stapins don't want Christian Horner, and it
was reported that Christian Horner was and talked to Aston Martin.
That's now gone quite We know that Neiwi and Horner
don't get on and that's why I nearly left Red Bull. God,
that's going to be exciting for the next year, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (14:55):
Is he going to be an okay team principal? You've
read the book. I've read his book and How to
Build a Car. He doesn't strike me as a guy
who would be particularly subtle around his directions or expression
of what's going on. It might be a bit of
an eye on fist, but I'm suppose to look at
tott to Wolf and say, well, I suppose it works.
Speaker 5 (15:13):
Yeah, But Toto Wolf's quite a good man manager like
I don't know if you remember that clip they posted
before the Immola Grand Prix with Kemmy Ansnelly and George
Russell and Kemmy and Snelly. You know eighteen year old
kid Toto Wolf's got the arm around the shoulder, saying
it's your first race at home. Don't listen to all
the hype. Just do what you have to do. And
then George Russell says what about me? And he says,
you are twenty seven years old, you are the senior driver.
You don't need me to tell you anything. But Adrian
(15:36):
Knew he doesn't come across as the arm around the
shoulder type. He expects excellence at all times, you know,
and if he's not getting that, especially from one Lance Stroll.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
Now that is a whole new story that Lance Stroll
can't drive a race car. But Daddy Stroll has got
all the money, so he's still there. How long would
Adrian Knew he put up with a guy like that
in the seat About thirty seconds, I'd suggest, Well.
Speaker 5 (16:00):
It depends who's signing the checks. If it's still Laurence Stroll,
imagine he might have to sit there and take it.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
You have one driver like the stepping, then it doesn't
matter if you've got a second driver who's not much
chopped because Vshtavan has been doing that his whole career
driving cars designed by.
Speaker 5 (16:13):
Adrian New There you go should be huge.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
Hey, just quickly away from Formula one because it's a
cutter this weekend then it is Adubbi. It's the end
of the season. What a long season it's been. That's
coming up, but a season starting this weekend is the sevens.
And this is something that's almost flown past all of us,
which is a real shame. But sevens is it's detached.
(16:38):
It's been cut off, hasn't it. The un umbilical cords gone.
Speaker 5 (16:41):
You remember what an important part of the New Zealand
rugby ecosystem. Sevens used to be huge. You know, we
had Wellington. It was a place where you remember seeing
a young Victor Veto, you know, tearing up in Wellington.
Then it was the Yowani brothers. But now it's just
been gusted. We don't have an event on the sevens.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
So you go back before that, the Calm Games, when
the likes of the Lolomus and the and the Rushes
and there were so many the Cullens, there were so
many players.
Speaker 5 (17:08):
Jane been Smithly, a Messing, you know, Sunny Bell for
a bit. But now it's just sort of you look
at the super rugby ecosystem and it's sort of what
thirty guys thirty guys per squad and then you do
that five times and you chuck mine a pikron there.
So you look at that sort of the top one
hundred and eighty odd players in New Zeander or going
to those teams, which means anything outside of that is
(17:29):
how you're getting for sevens and that's.
Speaker 3 (17:31):
Not I don't think that. But sevens has been treated
very well by New Zealand rugby interspace. That was the
long term problem that Good and Tenchen's always had with them.
I can't get the best players.
Speaker 5 (17:40):
Although I'm saying that we are talking about the men's
game there. The women's sevens program is flying. It always does,
back to back gold medalist. They're going to be a
great shot at a third in LA.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
Yeah, because it's in the middle of the night, though,
isn't it predominantly these.
Speaker 5 (17:53):
More often than not? Yet and Kiwis aren't good supporters
in that regard of watching something that's not on right
in front of us.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
They talking about the players you mentioned before doing this
that the ghost runner, as I like to call it,
this will never catch on. None of my nicknames ever do,
but I keep running with it. Braxton Sirrenson McGee is
going to be key and influential, and Georgia Miller.
Speaker 5 (18:15):
Braxon signs and men must be naked.
Speaker 3 (18:18):
This was the first tired it's artis avi it well?
Speaker 5 (18:21):
This is the first proper year of fifteen. She goes
to she does brilliantly for the Blues and siparabyoup again.
Then she gets into the Black Ferns. She shines at
the World Cup. One's World Rugby's breakthrough player. There has
a couple weeks off and now she's back in the seventh.
Speaker 3 (18:34):
She's young, she's still a teenagert all the energy in
the world, then, haven't.
Speaker 5 (18:37):
You, I hope so?
Speaker 3 (18:38):
So you're breaking big things for this side. They'll probably
be the go to Can you name any of the
men sevens play?
Speaker 5 (18:45):
Scott Curry is not there anymore, as they think, Andrew
new Stubbs not there anymore. You're right, it's tough to
name a men's sevens player.
Speaker 3 (18:52):
Makes it difficult, but maybe not the women. Look we'll, we'll,
we'll look from afar and when it is being played
at the highest level it is a spectacular game. But
all it does to me is reiterate and underlines that
as you said, a part of the rugby ecosystem in
this country has for all, in tents and purposes gone.
Speaker 5 (19:10):
Thanks world Rugbyeah good on you guys.
Speaker 3 (19:12):
Thanks very much for taking it away. And on that
note we will release you from your duties in the chamber.
Alex Panell, thank you very much for your time and expertise.
Speaker 5 (19:20):
Thanks having me mate. Have a good weekend news and
a billion.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
It's Sportsfix with Darcy Valdegrave, signed, sealed delivered. That is
the Sports Fix podcast for another day, Friday, the twenty
eighth of November twenty twenty five. I'm Darcy Watergrove. Thanks
very much for listing, and of course thanks to GJ.
Gardner Homes New Zealand's most trusted home builder for being
(19:45):
a part of this program. If you've liked what you've heard,
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Thursday Friday. If you want to get involved with sports talk,
you can on the sports talk program News Talk ZB
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(20:07):
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Sport Tweld mid Data three o'clock Saturday and Sunday. We
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and the joy of sport, and as we know, it's
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(20:30):
Here on the Fix.
Speaker 1 (20:32):
For more from News Talk sed B, listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
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You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our Wide Ranger podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
This is Forcefix Howard by News Talks.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
EDB, Greekings, Greegings, Greetings, Welcome one into the Sports Fix podcast.
My name is Darcy Waldgrave. I'm with you right the
way through the next fifth day and twenty minutes. Jason Pine,
he's gone a while. He's probably slipped down the back
of the couch. We'll find him eventually, but I reckon
I can hold this together. On the cast today, Tony Johnson,
(00:41):
well respected voice of New Zealand Rugby, joins us to
look at the annual All Black the New Zealand Rugby
Awards and who goes where and why. I've got some
opinion around sale GP. It's got its very last round
up this weekend. And then we'll be joined in the
chamber by Alex Powlis, sports writer for New Zealand Herald,
(01:02):
as we look predominantly at the fun and games of
Formula one. So any rumors, so little confirmation will do
more with Alex Powell in the chamber. All of this
brought to you an association with Fine Folk at GJ.
Gardner Homes New Zealand's most trusted home builder, and with
that we move.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Forward in other news.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
And in short sports wipes today. If one driver Liam
Lawson has spoken ahead of the penultimate round of Formula One,
that's the weekend DKATA. He's looked back at the constant
learning process that he goes through in the Grand Prix circus.
Speaker 4 (01:43):
I think it's important that you obviously reflect on each
weekend and you try and take the positives and try
and learn from each weekend. But to go through this
many weekends and trying to not get stuck up on
something or caught up at emotion is very tough.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
The Tall Blacks take on the Boomers tonight in the
first of two legs in the Basketball World Cup qualifiers.
He's taking on the Boomers in Tasmania and on Monday
night returning to New Zealand's coach, Judd Flabble is clear
with his expectations well overall vision, I guess is to
get to the World Cup and do perform.
Speaker 5 (02:17):
Well and get ourselves doing ourselves a spot to the
Olympics in La.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
Japaias Selby Ricket is set to play in the Aussie
Netball Super League, the sixty six cap Silver fern Is
teenas to test herself against the cream of Australian netball
and the nine Kiwis that are building up there too.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
I started off as a young player playing against a
lot of these girls and a lot of the.
Speaker 5 (02:39):
Legends like Laura Guy. So to be able to come
back at the end of my career and play against
some of the best in the world, I think it's
going to do wonders for my game.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
And that's your sport today, dissecting the sporting agenda. It's
Sportsfix with Dancy Waldgrave.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
That is big. Hello to Tony Johnson here on the
Fixed podcast. Tony, of course lifelong commentator for the All
Blacks and Super Rugby and MPC. Of course he's been
doing the hard yards over in and he's been part
of the not a Grand Slam Tour, really a part
of the Northern Tour. He joins us now to talk awards.
(03:16):
He's back, fresh back from the Northern Hemisphere. Tony Johnson,
Hello mate.
Speaker 6 (03:21):
Well, I wouldn't say fresh.
Speaker 7 (03:23):
I think the body still thinks it's some time in
the night, but yeah, no quite nice to be home
and some sunshine.
Speaker 6 (03:30):
And what have you.
Speaker 7 (03:31):
And yeah, very interested in the Rugby Award finalists that
come out today. I'm no longer a judge, so I
step down from that after about ten years being a
judge and convener for half of them.
Speaker 6 (03:43):
So it'd be quite nice to talk freely.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Yes, it would let yourself go. Look, there are a
number of different categories and we're not going to go
through them all. Be here all night before we look
into those. When you were running the show and you're
part of a judge, did it the voting work to
your liking the way it was sorted out? The way?
I don't know how they did it points for lots
of the players, what they did, How did that process
(04:06):
operate and was it satisfactory?
Speaker 7 (04:08):
Well, first of all, yeah, I think it did work well.
It's a formula that's been in use for quite a
long time. And the most important thing is that you
would meet throughout the year so that when Super Rugby
came to an end, you would probably have some sort
of meeting, not necessarily in person, sometimes in person, sometimes
it would be a zoom meeting something like that, so
(04:30):
when it was still fresh in the mind so that
you weren't getting to October and November and scratching your
head and thinking, oh, who played well in Super Rugby.
So you'd have two or three, maybe four meetings throughout
the year and a final one after the last matches
were played and you go back over. There are criteria
that go with each awards and they are quite specific.
(04:53):
For some awards, there are certain things like if you've
sort of misbehaved publicly or even done some heinous things
on the field, then it might make you.
Speaker 6 (05:03):
Eligible not ineligible for an award.
Speaker 7 (05:06):
There are certain category that are very specific. For the
Tom French Cup, for example, that's a really important one
and it has as you'd imagine for Marti Player of
the Year, it would have its very specific set of criteria.
But I thought it was always pretty well laid out
in front of you, and you just had to go
through and throw names into the ring and you would
slowly whittle them down to finalists and then you would
(05:28):
come up with a winner of each category. It was
a very democratic process. And I'm not quite sure who's
on the judging panel this year. I know Elliott Smith
and he's been an outstanding member of the judging panel.
And it was always done in a pretty good and
efficient and workman like manner. So yeah, I never had
(05:52):
any great problems with the process at all. And I
can also tell you that not every time do you
get your way. I mean, there was a few times
where the person I wanted to win didn't win it,
but you just accept that that was the decision of
the panel as a whole. So you might get a
three v one or sometimes the two v one and whatever.
Speaker 6 (06:14):
But yeah, it's it's a good process.
Speaker 7 (06:17):
And you know, every single decision that was ever made
while I was involved, and I stood by.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
The big gone Fabian Fabian excuse me, Holland cam roygard
Adisavia Quinn to Pia, I know where I'm leaning. What
about you, Tony and why?
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Yeah?
Speaker 7 (06:34):
Interesting you say Fabian Fabian because I've heard I've heard
him say both, so I think it's probably from at
home or sorry, where he comes.
Speaker 6 (06:44):
From in Holland, you know, in the Netherlands.
Speaker 7 (06:46):
I should say it's probably it is Fabian there, but
I think he's people are calling him Fabian here, Fabian Fabian.
Speaker 6 (06:52):
Whichever. Boy, what an absolutely phenomenal year.
Speaker 7 (06:56):
He has gone from being a rookie to a guy
who's just one of the first names I would have
thought penned into the team. So yeah, a tough one.
Retains the ability to come up with the really big
plays in the biggest moments, and we saw that, for
example at Eden Park against the spring Box, we saw
(07:18):
it when they were defending the Bledislow Cup, and we
saw it on the Northern Tour as well. And I
think that's one of the things that makes him the
great player that he is, is just his ability to
make crucial plays at crucial moments.
Speaker 6 (07:33):
Holland is say phenomenal.
Speaker 7 (07:35):
Cam Royguard is now a guy that he's probably one
of the most indispensable players in the All Blacks because
when he plays, they are a better side. And that's
no slight on the backup guys. They're all good halfbacks.
But he's a world class player and he was named
in the World Dream Team, wasn't he. And when you
think about what else is around in terms of half
(07:55):
backs at the moment, that's something.
Speaker 6 (07:57):
And Quintu Pyot to me, had his best every year
in rugby.
Speaker 7 (08:00):
He really this year came of age as a Test
All Black.
Speaker 6 (08:05):
He's been around the scene. Of course, he had that
terrible layoff after that dreadful injury that he suffered in
Australia a couple of years ago, and he deserves to
be in the top four. But to me it's probably
between Savia and Holland.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
Supports excess excess.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
So Pete Berling's managed to slash his index finger while
he is messing around on boats, and people who have
messed around on boats their entire life. That's just part
of the hazards of being a sailor. You're going to
injury yourself, You're gonna cut yourself up from time to time.
So he's got a big old bandage on his finger.
(08:41):
He believes that if he can't be the helmsman in
the sale GP the Black Foils boat, he has got
a woman who can do it. Live McKay is the
strategist on the boat. He's a woman's America's cup sailor.
She's been around the team now for a couple of years.
She's got what it takes and it's lovely to see
(09:03):
that Peter Berling has ultimate trust and live to get
the job done. Should she take over the running of
the boat, If you will and live though as a
strategistic it's a number of other roles on the boat
or I believe will slip into this leadership role like
a hand and a glove. I got no problems. However,
(09:23):
I would be absolutely stunned if Peter Berling doesn't helm
the Black Foil boat this weekend at the final. This
is a spectacular season the Sale GP. This is something
that Peter Berling hasn't won. As the CEO of the
Black Foils Sale GP team. He wants, he needs, he
(09:47):
desires to win. This series is uber important to Pete Berling.
I'd say that inject them with whatever they can as
far as painkillers, they wrap ten splints around that hand.
They will do whatever they can to make sure that
Pete Berling is on that boat. This is not just
any old series of race. This is the final of
(10:10):
the Sale GP and he is within touching distance of
winning that title, something he hasn't done and something he
passionately desires. So I believe that regardless short of losing
an arm, the state that Peter Berling is in, he'll
be on that boat over the weekend and he'll rip
shit and bust in the light airs of Abu Dhabi.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
The Chamber is now in session on Sportsfax.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
Welcome into the chamber. I feel like I need Vincent
Price to do this voice of you Know Something had
a thriller from Michael Jackson. We joined in the chamber
by Alex Powell, sports journalist for the New Zealand Herald.
As we predominantly look at the wonderful wide world of motorsport.
Because if there's a room and mill that's bigger and
more severe than Formula one, I have never ever seen it.
(11:01):
It's going on. Are we any the wiser to what's
happening around?
Speaker 5 (11:04):
Liam Lawson Afternoon? Does we made how we're to be
on a front to be sure? No, we are none
the wiser. We have the timeline now that red Bulls
say will be You've done there before, I've done that before.
Who knows? What do you make of Yuki Sonoda's pre
weekend comments though, well.
Speaker 3 (11:21):
His comments and you have a listen and the tone
and what he said suggests is a guy without a drive.
Speaker 5 (11:28):
Doesn't he Yeah, it did not sound for anyone who's
not really listened too much. It's been on the grid
for four years. He's very brash, he's very confident, he
believes and he just sounds beaten right now. He knows,
you know, he's.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
Not going to be a racing ball pilot next year. Well,
it's looking like it's going to be Laws, and it's
looking like Limblood, who was actually out here running the
ct Frock series as well, who's been a bit touch
and go hot and cold and if too, but he's
the future, they believe.
Speaker 5 (11:59):
Well, he's been what you expect from a guy on
his first year n F two. But whether or not
that's enough to earn a seat in F for one
is really the question we'll have to ask themselves.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
Well, they're coming out and they say they're gonna after
Cutter after this weekend, we'll.
Speaker 5 (12:13):
Know they sang immediately after Katar.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
With a pinch of salt. Why not do it before Cutter?
Speaker 6 (12:17):
Why?
Speaker 5 (12:18):
Why are they I think they got quite burned last
year with the Laws and v peris of a Sonoda
decision because they left it until after the season, and
that meant that by the time they could make that decision,
it was too late because they could have had Carlos
signs in that car and then would you have had
the problems I've had this year? Probably not, But a
they didn't want to make that call that early. And
be the politics or Carlos signs not getting on with
(12:38):
the Verstapen camp didn't really work for them anyway.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
So the Stapen's got his job. The Stapen will be
there next year.
Speaker 5 (12:44):
Well, Isaac Hadjar has now said he's going to be
there as well next year as well. We believe, well,
that's a very easy assumption. You know, he has outside
of the Stapanie has been red Bull's best driver.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
And I've got Yuki Sonoda what he eight points a
drift of Liam Lawson speaks volumes to me about the car,
not so much about Yuki Sonoda. He's had a crack,
but the car you're you're shrugging there again, you're not
one hundred percent sure.
Speaker 5 (13:12):
He's had twenty one races in that car to get
used to it. You know, if they'd given Liam Lawson
twenty odd races in that car, he would not be
where Yuki Sonoda.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
Is got he got two on tracks he'd never raced
on before, No none preseason in that either.
Speaker 5 (13:26):
But that was the whole point was it's where you
are relative to your teammate, and Yuki Sinoda is finishing,
you know, a minute behind Maximstappen.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
And he's not qualifying well at all, so even with
an open track, so I.
Speaker 5 (13:38):
Know that's that's not quite true, is it, Because that
was Sergio Peis's issue was that he would actually qualify, sorry,
he wouldn't qualify well, but he'd make up places in
the race, but he was just starting from too far back.
Liam Lawson was slightly the same in a much smaller window.
Was Yukis Sno's other round. He actually does qualify okay,
but he goes Q.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
Ones as he actually got out of though I seem
to think he keeps getting knocked out at Q one,
which six Q one elimination for a car like that,
that really q ones.
Speaker 5 (14:04):
It's unacceptable, it is, But he always goes backwards in
the race as his mainsh he'll lose places, which.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
Is not good when at the back of the grid
full stop. The other assue around Formula one right now
that I'm absolutely fascinated with is Adrian Niewie arguably the
greatest car designer in Formula One, well recent history anyway.
Speaker 5 (14:25):
I wouldn't say arguably, he'd say definitely.
Speaker 3 (14:29):
There you go. He's now the team principal over the
road at Ashton. This is huge for that team.
Speaker 5 (14:36):
They're making a play for the Stapan here. Surely we
know how much of the Stapins Lovenui. We know how
much of the Stapins don't want Christian Horner, and it
was reported that Christian Horner was and talked to Aston Martin.
That's now gone quite We know that Neiwi and Horner
don't get on and that's why I nearly left Red Bull. God,
that's going to be exciting for the next year, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (14:55):
Is he going to be an okay team principal? You've
read the book. I've read his book and How to
Build a Car. He doesn't strike me as a guy
who would be particularly subtle around his directions or expression
of what's going on. It might be a bit of
an eye on fist, but I'm suppose to look at
tott to Wolf and say, well, I suppose it works.
Speaker 5 (15:13):
Yeah, But Toto Wolf's quite a good man manager like
I don't know if you remember that clip they posted
before the Immola Grand Prix with Kemmy Ansnelly and George
Russell and Kemmy and Snelly. You know eighteen year old
kid Toto Wolf's got the arm around the shoulder, saying
it's your first race at home. Don't listen to all
the hype. Just do what you have to do. And
then George Russell says what about me? And he says,
you are twenty seven years old, you are the senior driver.
You don't need me to tell you anything. But Adrian
(15:36):
Knew he doesn't come across as the arm around the
shoulder type. He expects excellence at all times, you know,
and if he's not getting that, especially from one Lance Stroll.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
Now that is a whole new story that Lance Stroll
can't drive a race car. But Daddy Stroll has got
all the money, so he's still there. How long would
Adrian Knew he put up with a guy like that
in the seat About thirty seconds, I'd suggest, Well.
Speaker 5 (16:00):
It depends who's signing the checks. If it's still Laurence Stroll,
imagine he might have to sit there and take it.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
You have one driver like the stepping, then it doesn't
matter if you've got a second driver who's not much
chopped because Vshtavan has been doing that his whole career
driving cars designed by.
Speaker 5 (16:13):
Adrian New There you go should be huge.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
Hey, just quickly away from Formula one because it's a
cutter this weekend then it is Adubbi. It's the end
of the season. What a long season it's been. That's
coming up, but a season starting this weekend is the sevens.
And this is something that's almost flown past all of us,
which is a real shame. But sevens is it's detached.
(16:38):
It's been cut off, hasn't it. The un umbilical cords gone.
Speaker 5 (16:41):
You remember what an important part of the New Zealand
rugby ecosystem. Sevens used to be huge. You know, we
had Wellington. It was a place where you remember seeing
a young Victor Veto, you know, tearing up in Wellington.
Then it was the Yowani brothers. But now it's just
been gusted. We don't have an event on the sevens.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
So you go back before that, the Calm Games, when
the likes of the Lolomus and the and the Rushes
and there were so many the Cullens, there were so
many players.
Speaker 5 (17:08):
Jane been Smithly, a Messing, you know, Sunny Bell for
a bit. But now it's just sort of you look
at the super rugby ecosystem and it's sort of what
thirty guys thirty guys per squad and then you do
that five times and you chuck mine a pikron there.
So you look at that sort of the top one
hundred and eighty odd players in New Zeander or going
to those teams, which means anything outside of that is
(17:29):
how you're getting for sevens and that's.
Speaker 3 (17:31):
Not I don't think that. But sevens has been treated
very well by New Zealand rugby interspace. That was the
long term problem that Good and Tenchen's always had with them.
I can't get the best players.
Speaker 5 (17:40):
Although I'm saying that we are talking about the men's
game there. The women's sevens program is flying. It always does,
back to back gold medalist. They're going to be a
great shot at a third in LA.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
Yeah, because it's in the middle of the night, though,
isn't it predominantly these.
Speaker 5 (17:53):
More often than not? Yet and Kiwis aren't good supporters
in that regard of watching something that's not on right
in front of us.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
They talking about the players you mentioned before doing this
that the ghost runner, as I like to call it,
this will never catch on. None of my nicknames ever do,
but I keep running with it. Braxton Sirrenson McGee is
going to be key and influential, and Georgia Miller.
Speaker 5 (18:15):
Braxon signs and men must be naked.
Speaker 3 (18:18):
This was the first tired it's artis avi it well?
Speaker 5 (18:21):
This is the first proper year of fifteen. She goes
to she does brilliantly for the Blues and siparabyoup again.
Then she gets into the Black Ferns. She shines at
the World Cup. One's World Rugby's breakthrough player. There has
a couple weeks off and now she's back in the seventh.
Speaker 3 (18:34):
She's young, she's still a teenagert all the energy in
the world, then, haven't.
Speaker 5 (18:37):
You, I hope so?
Speaker 3 (18:38):
So you're breaking big things for this side. They'll probably
be the go to Can you name any of the
men sevens play?
Speaker 5 (18:45):
Scott Curry is not there anymore, as they think, Andrew
new Stubbs not there anymore. You're right, it's tough to
name a men's sevens player.
Speaker 3 (18:52):
Makes it difficult, but maybe not the women. Look we'll, we'll,
we'll look from afar and when it is being played
at the highest level it is a spectacular game. But
all it does to me is reiterate and underlines that
as you said, a part of the rugby ecosystem in
this country has for all, in tents and purposes gone.
Speaker 5 (19:10):
Thanks world Rugbyeah good on you guys.
Speaker 3 (19:12):
Thanks very much for taking it away. And on that
note we will release you from your duties in the chamber.
Alex Panell, thank you very much for your time and expertise.
Speaker 5 (19:20):
Thanks having me mate. Have a good weekend news and
a billion.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
It's Sportsfix with Darcy Valdegrave, signed, sealed delivered. That is
the Sports Fix podcast for another day, Friday, the twenty
eighth of November twenty twenty five. I'm Darcy Watergrove. Thanks
very much for listing, and of course thanks to GJ.
Gardner Homes New Zealand's most trusted home builder for being
(19:45):
a part of this program. If you've liked what you've heard,
subscribed that way it'll turn up in your inbox Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday Friday. If you want to get involved with sports talk,
you can on the sports talk program News Talk ZB
seven to eight pm Monday to Friday. Piney has got
the Monday shift. I do Tuesday through Friday, and then
(20:07):
Piney's got the berg Cheft all through the weeken Weekend
Sport Tweld mid Data three o'clock Saturday and Sunday. We
both love you to join either broadcast to talk sport
and the joy of sport, and as we know, it's
far too important to take seriously, so keep smiling, look
after yourself and we'll be with you again on Monday.
(20:30):
Here on the Fix.
Speaker 1 (20:32):
For more from News Talk sed B, listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
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