October 30, 2025 • 21 mins
On Sports Fix with Jason Pine and D'Arcy Waldegrave for 31st October 2025, With Mark Robinson heading out the door the clock is ticking for NZR to appoint a new CEO. NZ Heralds rugby editor Liam Napier joined the podcast to discuss why it's taking so long to find a new CEO.
Piney discusses the how important it is for the All Blacks to go undefeated on their Northern tour.
And D'Arcy and Piney are in the chamber discussing Liam Lawson, and whether his seat is safe with reports Yuki Tsunoda will be heading to IndyCar.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
This is Sportsfix Howard by News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Hello, the welcome into the back end of the Monday
to Friday week the front end of the Friday to
Sunday sporting weeken and welcome to Sports Fix and association
with G. J. Gardner Homes, New Zealand's most trusted home builder.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
I'm Jason Pine.
Speaker 4 (00:36):
My name's Darcy Waldgrave and the better never stops. The
week never stops, the weekend never stops.
Speaker 5 (00:41):
It just keep going.
Speaker 4 (00:42):
Sports sports, sports, sports, sport addicted much.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
I am addicted as I know you are.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
And what's quite fortunate actually that we are because our
jobs tend to rely on that, on that level of
addiction to what is going on on the sporting fields
and the racetracks and the other bits and pieces around
the country and around the world. Hey, all Blacks against
Ireland in the I was gonna say the early hours
of Sunday morning for a civilized time of nine o'clock,
very civilized wan who I want to get some thought
(01:08):
from you on the team that was named this morning.
Other things to kick around as well, and as always
we have a guest on sportsbooks who we're hearing from today.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
Piney will be joined by Liam Napier, one of the
rugby scribes from n zed M meme that's fun of
about four guys from the office have gone over there thing.
Liam will talk about the Test match coming out and
some news around the next CEO for en zed are.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Looking forward to that and the latest sports news too.
Let's get into it.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
In other news, Let's get things going with a look
at some of the big sports stories around today. All
Black coach got Robertson has rewarded form with number eight
Peter Larkey and center quin To Bayer keeping their starting
spots for Sunday mornings rugby Test against Ireland in Chicago.
Speaker 6 (01:56):
Both pay great footy you know that last test event
the opportunity to go in.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
India have completed the highest chase in women's One Day
International cricket history with their five wicked World Cup semi
final victory over Australia in Mumbai.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
Show shy be the greatest run sas in the distree
of women's one dagueternationals.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Given the contacts, India hauling in three hundred and thirty
nine with nine balls to spare to eliminate the defending
champions and a special trip for Kiwi's lock Joseph Tappene
and his family. Prior to Sunday Specific Championship contest against
Tonga at Eden Park, the Canberra Raider remained in New
Zealand during the team's week off to reconnect with his roots.
Speaker 5 (02:43):
The work in my daughter.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
We hid down the door to kick tomormorrow and got
to show my daughter that and mass my second time
I need maximums.
Speaker 6 (02:49):
I was four or five use Heavinion.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
It's Sports Fix with Jason Hyne and Dussy Walter Grave.
Speaker 4 (02:57):
We're joined now by Liam Napier n z M New
Zealand Herald described he's following the All Blacks on the
Northern Tour over in Chicago right now. Lim's just published
a story around a new interim CEO for the n
z ARE. His name is Steve Lancaster, familiar to all
of you rugby fans out there through his role as
(03:19):
community head in Rugby. Liam, Welcome to the show. So
what's the guts? What's happening?
Speaker 6 (03:25):
Yeah, So I've appointed Steve Lancaster the Community Rugby General
Manager to an interim capacity, and that's basically because any
appointment they make is not going to be in place
before April next year, so they need someone in the chair.
Mark Robinson furnishes up in December this year and look,
(03:47):
it's been four months since he resigns and a number
of people that the global recruitment company Sheffle that they approach.
Speaker 7 (03:56):
Have declined to apply.
Speaker 6 (03:58):
That includes people like one in New Zealand's CEO Jason
Parris Kiwibank's CEO Rayland Castle. So a number of people
that have been tapped up this job haven't applied. But
my understanding is former New Zealand Cricket CEO David White
has been shortlisted and one of the favorites for the
(04:20):
role at this point is the Sixth Nation CEO Tom
Harrison I think his name is. He was the former
CEO of English and Welsh cricket boards. So interesting, very
interesting because there would be a massive cultural shift for
a brick to come in and take the reins of
New Zealand rugby, So very interesting to see where that
(04:42):
goes in the coming months. But a lot of moving
parts there. You've got an interim ceo to I guess
hold the fort for a couple of months while they
try and make an appointment behind the scenes.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
Is this represented a job that no one wants or
the fact that the recruitment company are turning over every
stone to try and get the best possible in time
is not an issue because you think after four months
that have someone ready to go. So is this a
good thing or a bad thing?
Speaker 7 (05:12):
Friends that are Look, it's probably the combination that two does.
Speaker 6 (05:16):
I think if you're a big time CEO in a
small New Zealand market, you're ending good coin. You're probably
going to have to take a massive haircut in reality
to come and lead in New Zealand Rugby it's a role,
isn't it. As you know that's leading a national sport
that comes with a massive degree of scrutiny of you know,
(05:40):
public facing role. It's pretty unforgiving at times. You're living
your life in the public space. So if you're taking
a massive pay cut with a lot more scrutiny, there's
a lot of people in high paying roles that they
probably don't want to make that shift. So yeah, there's
probably questions about the desirability of that role. But I
(06:01):
think there's a lure as well for some people to
shape the national sport, to have an influence, but a
lot of people that they have tapped up are not
willing to take on that chumpan to make that leap.
So it's going to be very interesting to see who
they end up with because it is a very demanding role.
(06:21):
You're looking at, you know, negotiating broadcast steals, dealing with
multinational companies bringing in a lot of revenue.
Speaker 7 (06:32):
But then on the local scene, you're trying.
Speaker 6 (06:34):
To traverse the politically charged world between professional and amateurs worlds,
you know, walk into a clubrooms and deal with the
professional unions who have a big say in the governance
and the running.
Speaker 7 (06:49):
Of New Zealand.
Speaker 6 (06:50):
So they're probably looking for a unicorn ultimately that's not
out there.
Speaker 7 (06:55):
And then there's some big appointments that will flow on
from once they get a CEO on board, looking for.
Speaker 6 (07:01):
A chief financial officer, a chief commercial officer, to some
really big appointments in the works for New Zealand Rugby
and they really need to get a move on and
get some some relevant people's some credible people, and it's
really going to be you know, imperative to the shape
(07:22):
of the game going forward.
Speaker 5 (07:25):
To the rugby.
Speaker 4 (07:26):
That's what you're there after all, not just whining and
dining and hob nobbing with everybody. But the team is
out now, the Irish team is out. Now what do
you on the front of it make of what the
All Blacks have offered up? What's Scott robertson see what
does it say to you this twenty three that he's.
Speaker 7 (07:43):
Named load of great surprises? Does?
Speaker 6 (07:47):
I think probably the two talking points of the fact
he's back Quinter Pyre at sinster and Peter Luckeye at
number eight. So the two guys that are that are informed,
that have really forced their way into their squad. You've
got Boden Barretts, Caleb Clark and Ethan de Grook coming
back from injury.
Speaker 7 (08:06):
So so no surprises there. They're really st than the
All Blacks team.
Speaker 6 (08:10):
But this is the start of the Aubecks Grand Slam
Tour and it's one of their massive challenges. You know
that they need to start this well, it's one or
bus and that's the case for it for every match.
And I think Scott Robinson, you know he we've heard
from him this week it was very evident.
Speaker 7 (08:29):
I think that.
Speaker 6 (08:30):
There's a lot of pressure there. He didn't seem comfortable.
He seem quite nervous and there's a lot of pressure
on this All Black team. They haven't been convincing this year.
They put back to back performances together against the Wallabies,
but it was a pretty turbulent Rugby Championship campaign. So
this is a massive tour for the credibility of Scott
(08:52):
Robinson senior.
Speaker 7 (08:53):
There's a lot on the line.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
Stacks nine down, four to go for the All Blacks.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
In twenty twenty five, the first of the end of
year Test matches, of course, Sunday morning, Soldier Field in Chicago,
just after nine o'clock.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
You can turn in on news talks.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
They'd be to hear that one, followed by Scotland in Edinburgh,
England at Twickenham and Wales in Cardiff to end the year.
So is there anything other than four from four that'll
make this a successful year for the All Blacks. Well,
let's look at it in context. Up until now nine
Test matches, three against France in July, none of which
(09:33):
were really entirely convincing from the All Blacks, Apart from
perhaps the first half and the second Test in Wellington.
They never rarely dominated what was a second string French
team in the way that most of us thought that
they would, so a pass mark for the French series.
Then on to the Rugby Championship, the win in Argentina
followed by a first ever defeat to Argentina on their
(09:57):
home soil, so certainly across there. Back to New Zealand,
the big win against South Africa, not big in terms
of margin, but big in terms of the occasion at
Eton Park. But then that horror in Wellington in mid
September forty three points to ten, in case you'd forgotten,
the biggest ever defeat by an all Black side. They
did bounce back well to win both Bledisloe Cup Tests.
(10:19):
But as they head off on their Northern Hemisphere tour
with a stopover in Chicago, of course you really think
to yourself, they have to win all four of these,
They have to complete the Grand Slam. They have to
finish the year with an eleven win two lost record,
because if they were to lose any of these four
(10:40):
Test matches, and God forbid more than one of the four,
then I think you would be starting to ask yourself
two years into Scott Robertson's reign as All Blacks head coach,
are we tracking okay towards the next Rugby World Cup?
And after last year when there were ten wins from
fourteen test matches, if there were to be any less
(11:01):
than eleven from thirteen this year, then question marks would
certainly continue.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
To be apparent.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
So let's have on the positive side, wins over Ireland, Scotland,
England and Wales to complete a Grand Slam at the
back end of twenty twenty five would at least send
us off into summer with, if not a hugely optimistic
absolutely we're going to peek out our chests and and
be all comers in twenty twenty six and twenty seven,
(11:29):
and then certainly at least a mood of quiet optimism
as we attack the second half of the World Cup cycle.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
The Chamber is now in session on Sportsfax.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
Into the Chamber we go, where the first thing we'd
ask about Dars is the All Blacks team. We spoke
about it yesterday. What we expected might happen when.
Speaker 4 (11:50):
Day we get it right, or what did we get
it right? Or what like a stopped clock right twice
a day we got it. We had it bad was good?
Speaker 3 (11:59):
I'm not sure that there was.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
There was a huge degree of unpredictability about it. Having
said that, you're right, you got it right, you did.
You picked it, You picked the you pick the fifteen.
You also picked the fact that there is specialist lock
and cover on the bench. However it comes to the
form of Josh Lord and not Sam Dowry. But I
know yesterday you were very keen, weren't you on having
a specialist lock forward on the bench.
Speaker 4 (12:21):
That makes perfect sense if somebody goes down early doors
even later in the piece, you really needs someone to
stabilize that line out.
Speaker 5 (12:29):
Because we know what happens.
Speaker 4 (12:31):
The All Blacks have had a testing time with the
line out toward the end.
Speaker 5 (12:35):
Of the game.
Speaker 4 (12:36):
So I think that is a very wise move by
raising you'd agree, right, I.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Do agree, I totally agree. I also want to know
is whether you think will win the rugby match. Do
you think we'll win the rugby match?
Speaker 4 (12:48):
Yes?
Speaker 5 (12:48):
I do, Well why do you think that? I don't know?
Speaker 2 (12:54):
I look at Ireland right, and you think to yourself, right,
they haven't played as a full team anyway since March.
They had a couple of games mid year, but eighteen
of their guys with the British and Irish Lions, so
very much a second string Irish team games against Georgia
and Portugal, so certainly nothing you can.
Speaker 3 (13:08):
Take too much notice off.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
So Iland haven't played since March, We've been sort of
playing Rugby Championship, et cetera. Are they underdone or are
they fresh? And I tend to lean a little bit
on the underdone Dace, I don't know, combinations have to
be forged. There's a couple of guys out and the
Island team with injuries and guys who haven't had a
heck of a lot of test rugby, Whereas this team
that you know we rightly predicted yesterday is a.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
Good Old Blacks team. I just I feel like we'll
win this game.
Speaker 4 (13:35):
Well, I'm not so much on the underdone, although that's
very relevant. What I like is the fact that the
Rugby Championship this year was highly competitive. There were no
easy games. We know that because of the losses that
the team suffered. So I would say this tool has
been sharpened by the Rugby Championship had a couple of
breaths back into it again.
Speaker 5 (13:56):
So I think the All.
Speaker 4 (13:58):
Blacks are in a great place to do very very well,
not so much that the Irish aren't in a very
good place.
Speaker 5 (14:04):
Is that fair enough?
Speaker 7 (14:06):
It is?
Speaker 6 (14:06):
It is.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
I heard also something I became free of you on
this that the fact that this is a neutral venue
doesn't advantage the All Blacks, because I've heard it said
that when they go into enemy territory like Dublin, like Twickenhim,
like anywhere in Australia, South Africa, the hostile nature that
(14:27):
of the of the crowd galvanizes the All Blacks. They
won't necessarily have that in a neutral venue of Chicago.
Does that hold water or not?
Speaker 4 (14:39):
I'm just kind of you warn me about this when
I'm just chewing it around in my head right now.
I dealt with the All Blacks. They they go into
that siege mentality because they're the best in the world,
and in somewhere like Chicago, where they've got a checkered
history of the Irish. I don't think the crowd come
(15:00):
into it. I think it's internal for the All Blacks
and they won't mind. I mean, remember poor ol Rico's
not there, but remember what he did in face of
the Irish at home and how the all Blacks turn
that around and forty kains that that seede?
Speaker 5 (15:17):
Maybe that's more the point.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
Yeah, No, it's a very good it's a very good observation.
Particularly it's just given I dropped it on you without
any with any notice. But then thinkin that's what you're
supposed to do. You're supposed to react. You're supposed to react. Now,
what is your reaction to this?
Speaker 7 (15:31):
Then?
Speaker 2 (15:31):
Because as soon as I saw this news, I thought, right,
I need to ask Darcy about this. Yuki Sonoda reportedly
set to join Indy Car and the dale Coin Racing
team next year. First of all, is this actually a thing?
And second of all, if it is, does this mean
Liam is racing in a in a red ball slash
or racing ball next year.
Speaker 5 (15:52):
I think he is, but I think he is not.
Speaker 4 (15:54):
Only for that reason, and this is not confirmed yet,
we believe it is the truth. Yuki's off to dell
Coin Racing. It's a Honda powered car, and of course
Yuki's tied up with Honda, who are no longer involved
with red ball or racing balls next year. The other
reason I think that a Liam is very safe and
I wouldn't beat my house on it, mainly because I
don't own one. I mean, you try living in Auckland
(16:14):
and owning a house. But they released some social media
clip a couple of weeks ago promoting Ford.
Speaker 5 (16:25):
Now Ford are the engine.
Speaker 4 (16:26):
Suppliers for Racing Ball Red Ball next year, and part
of that promotional material was isazak Haja and Liam Lawson.
They shot all this material, they released it on social media.
Another one dropped today worth eazak Haja and Liam Lawson.
Now companies don't pour a whole lot of money into
(16:48):
advertising like that and setting up the shoots and then
putting out on social media. If the guy concerned, one
of the two keys in the advert in the commercial
break isn't going to be racing next year for the
same company. So I think that alone says to me,
he's staying at Racing Ball and that's not a problem.
Speaker 5 (17:06):
So that you can use.
Speaker 4 (17:07):
I thought, well, that just.
Speaker 5 (17:08):
Further strengthens it. It underlines it for me just quickly.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
Then why would Sonoda go to IndyCar. Isn't that a
step down from Formula one or is it not?
Speaker 4 (17:17):
Jose you could argue is a sideways step. There's no
way that IndyCar is as big as Formula One globally,
but it does represent a wonderful place for Honda and
of course a Honda driver as Yuki Sonoda, to expand
their reach right across the American series. And of course
(17:38):
it's it's over racing, it's it's street racing, it's circuit racing,
it's just a it's just a really different kind of racing.
I'm presuming that Yuki Sonoda, if he does go over there,
wants to pretend to be Takumisato, who raced Formula One
for a while, ended up being the first Japanese to
win an IndyCar race, and beyond that, he won the
(18:00):
Indy five hundred twice. So you can understand maybe why
Yuki Sonoda might want to go over there.
Speaker 5 (18:07):
But not interested in Yiki gain to IndyCar and IndyCar.
Speaker 4 (18:11):
I'm only interested in Scott Dexa and its Scott McLaughlin
and Marcus Armstrong et.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
Absolutely the kiwis in the in the IndyCars areas. We
wait to see whether there is confirmation of the news
of Sonoda across to IndyCar.
Speaker 5 (18:25):
You can't keep trying questions at me.
Speaker 4 (18:27):
I want to launch one back at you how disappointing
is a six nil defeat.
Speaker 5 (18:31):
At the hands of the Americans, quarrel Mark Main.
Speaker 4 (18:34):
I mean he was like he was pulling out all
stops to try and get some good out of that
three nil after the first forty five six still at
the end of it.
Speaker 3 (18:43):
That's a hammering, mate, Yeah, it's I'm in two minds
over it.
Speaker 6 (18:48):
Right.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
The USA are a very good team, you know, they're
in the upper echelons of women's football. But when I
look at it as a three game window, I see
the six nil to the US off the back of
two nil and one nil against Mexico, a team that
New Zealand really should be a lot more competitive against
the common denominated dars, the nil, one nil, two nil,
(19:09):
six nil three games now goals and the odd adages
you can't win football matches without putting the ball in
the back of the net. So that is I think
the bigger concern the USA game is what it is.
It's not, you know, a cause to push the panic
button and throw everybody out and start again. They are
a very very good women's football team, but this team
(19:29):
needs to start finding a way to regularly score goals.
And it's been a bit of a blight on them
for a while. Now I look back at at their matches,
you know, previous to this, and the goals have not
come in a flood. They beat Venezuela two to one
back in June, after losing three to one to them
at a couple of canceled games earlier in the year.
They you know, they don't seem to me to have
(19:51):
what it takes to really unlock top quality defenses. Don't
really have time to talk too much more about it today,
but there you go. I've given you. I've given you
my answer. I'm not worried really about the six nil
to the US. I'm worried about how they find a
way to score goals against whoever they come up again.
Speaker 4 (20:08):
Right, I'm glad I've got to throw something at you.
Sounds like we're evening things up, all wee b at Pine.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
It is, well, it's we are here for a even
share of voice. But the chamber, the chamber egg timer
has right out.
Speaker 4 (20:21):
We're out.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
Dissecting the sporting agenda.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
It's Sports Fix with Jason Pine and Darcy Walter Grave.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
And that brings to an end, blows the final whistle
on sports Fix for today. We greatly appreciate the support
of GJ. Gardner Holmes, and we greatly appreciate your support
and listening in and downloading and subscribing to Sports Fix.
Speaker 5 (20:40):
It's all about your support.
Speaker 4 (20:41):
Without your ears, there's no point in doing this, although
I'm saying that Piney and I'll probably talk to each
other in a soundproof booth throws on end, not really
caring who listens. It's the nature of our beast. If
you've enjoyed it, subscribe, tell your friends, tell your family,
get amongst and if it's regular radio that you'd like
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(21:02):
eight Monday to Friday.
Speaker 5 (21:03):
Piney's got the Monday gig.
Speaker 4 (21:04):
I do Tuesday through Friday, and then we drop the
four on the big shows over the weekend.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
Pony Well, I don't know that they're any bigger than
the ones on weeknights, but they're certainly there twelve to
three Saturday, twelve to three on Sunday as they are longer.
The maths is correct weekend Sport Tomorrow and again on Sunday,
and Sports Fixed returns on Monday.
Speaker 3 (21:26):
Have a great weekend us.
Speaker 5 (21:27):
The please has been mine Thank you for
Speaker 1 (21:29):
More from News Talks at b Listen live on air
or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you
go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
This is Sportsfix Howard by News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Hello, the welcome into the back end of the Monday
to Friday week the front end of the Friday to
Sunday sporting weeken and welcome to Sports Fix and association
with G. J. Gardner Homes, New Zealand's most trusted home builder.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
I'm Jason Pine.
Speaker 4 (00:36):
My name's Darcy Waldgrave and the better never stops. The
week never stops, the weekend never stops.
Speaker 5 (00:41):
It just keep going.
Speaker 4 (00:42):
Sports sports, sports, sports, sport addicted much.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
I am addicted as I know you are.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
And what's quite fortunate actually that we are because our
jobs tend to rely on that, on that level of
addiction to what is going on on the sporting fields
and the racetracks and the other bits and pieces around
the country and around the world. Hey, all Blacks against
Ireland in the I was gonna say the early hours
of Sunday morning for a civilized time of nine o'clock,
very civilized wan who I want to get some thought
(01:08):
from you on the team that was named this morning.
Other things to kick around as well, and as always
we have a guest on sportsbooks who we're hearing from today.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
Piney will be joined by Liam Napier, one of the
rugby scribes from n zed M meme that's fun of
about four guys from the office have gone over there thing.
Liam will talk about the Test match coming out and
some news around the next CEO for en zed are.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Looking forward to that and the latest sports news too.
Let's get into it.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
In other news, Let's get things going with a look
at some of the big sports stories around today. All
Black coach got Robertson has rewarded form with number eight
Peter Larkey and center quin To Bayer keeping their starting
spots for Sunday mornings rugby Test against Ireland in Chicago.
Speaker 6 (01:56):
Both pay great footy you know that last test event
the opportunity to go in.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
India have completed the highest chase in women's One Day
International cricket history with their five wicked World Cup semi
final victory over Australia in Mumbai.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
Show shy be the greatest run sas in the distree
of women's one dagueternationals.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Given the contacts, India hauling in three hundred and thirty
nine with nine balls to spare to eliminate the defending
champions and a special trip for Kiwi's lock Joseph Tappene
and his family. Prior to Sunday Specific Championship contest against
Tonga at Eden Park, the Canberra Raider remained in New
Zealand during the team's week off to reconnect with his roots.
Speaker 5 (02:43):
The work in my daughter.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
We hid down the door to kick tomormorrow and got
to show my daughter that and mass my second time
I need maximums.
Speaker 6 (02:49):
I was four or five use Heavinion.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
It's Sports Fix with Jason Hyne and Dussy Walter Grave.
Speaker 4 (02:57):
We're joined now by Liam Napier n z M New
Zealand Herald described he's following the All Blacks on the
Northern Tour over in Chicago right now. Lim's just published
a story around a new interim CEO for the n
z ARE. His name is Steve Lancaster, familiar to all
of you rugby fans out there through his role as
(03:19):
community head in Rugby. Liam, Welcome to the show. So
what's the guts? What's happening?
Speaker 6 (03:25):
Yeah, So I've appointed Steve Lancaster the Community Rugby General
Manager to an interim capacity, and that's basically because any
appointment they make is not going to be in place
before April next year, so they need someone in the chair.
Mark Robinson furnishes up in December this year and look,
(03:47):
it's been four months since he resigns and a number
of people that the global recruitment company Sheffle that they approach.
Speaker 7 (03:56):
Have declined to apply.
Speaker 6 (03:58):
That includes people like one in New Zealand's CEO Jason
Parris Kiwibank's CEO Rayland Castle. So a number of people
that have been tapped up this job haven't applied. But
my understanding is former New Zealand Cricket CEO David White
has been shortlisted and one of the favorites for the
(04:20):
role at this point is the Sixth Nation CEO Tom
Harrison I think his name is. He was the former
CEO of English and Welsh cricket boards. So interesting, very
interesting because there would be a massive cultural shift for
a brick to come in and take the reins of
New Zealand rugby, So very interesting to see where that
(04:42):
goes in the coming months. But a lot of moving
parts there. You've got an interim ceo to I guess
hold the fort for a couple of months while they
try and make an appointment behind the scenes.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
Is this represented a job that no one wants or
the fact that the recruitment company are turning over every
stone to try and get the best possible in time
is not an issue because you think after four months
that have someone ready to go. So is this a
good thing or a bad thing?
Speaker 7 (05:12):
Friends that are Look, it's probably the combination that two does.
Speaker 6 (05:16):
I think if you're a big time CEO in a
small New Zealand market, you're ending good coin. You're probably
going to have to take a massive haircut in reality
to come and lead in New Zealand Rugby it's a role,
isn't it. As you know that's leading a national sport
that comes with a massive degree of scrutiny of you know,
(05:40):
public facing role. It's pretty unforgiving at times. You're living
your life in the public space. So if you're taking
a massive pay cut with a lot more scrutiny, there's
a lot of people in high paying roles that they
probably don't want to make that shift. So yeah, there's
probably questions about the desirability of that role. But I
(06:01):
think there's a lure as well for some people to
shape the national sport, to have an influence, but a
lot of people that they have tapped up are not
willing to take on that chumpan to make that leap.
So it's going to be very interesting to see who
they end up with because it is a very demanding role.
(06:21):
You're looking at, you know, negotiating broadcast steals, dealing with
multinational companies bringing in a lot of revenue.
Speaker 7 (06:32):
But then on the local scene, you're trying.
Speaker 6 (06:34):
To traverse the politically charged world between professional and amateurs worlds,
you know, walk into a clubrooms and deal with the
professional unions who have a big say in the governance
and the running.
Speaker 7 (06:49):
Of New Zealand.
Speaker 6 (06:50):
So they're probably looking for a unicorn ultimately that's not
out there.
Speaker 7 (06:55):
And then there's some big appointments that will flow on
from once they get a CEO on board, looking for.
Speaker 6 (07:01):
A chief financial officer, a chief commercial officer, to some
really big appointments in the works for New Zealand Rugby
and they really need to get a move on and
get some some relevant people's some credible people, and it's
really going to be you know, imperative to the shape
(07:22):
of the game going forward.
Speaker 5 (07:25):
To the rugby.
Speaker 4 (07:26):
That's what you're there after all, not just whining and
dining and hob nobbing with everybody. But the team is
out now, the Irish team is out. Now what do
you on the front of it make of what the
All Blacks have offered up? What's Scott robertson see what
does it say to you this twenty three that he's.
Speaker 7 (07:43):
Named load of great surprises? Does?
Speaker 6 (07:47):
I think probably the two talking points of the fact
he's back Quinter Pyre at sinster and Peter Luckeye at
number eight. So the two guys that are that are informed,
that have really forced their way into their squad. You've
got Boden Barretts, Caleb Clark and Ethan de Grook coming
back from injury.
Speaker 7 (08:06):
So so no surprises there. They're really st than the
All Blacks team.
Speaker 6 (08:10):
But this is the start of the Aubecks Grand Slam
Tour and it's one of their massive challenges. You know
that they need to start this well, it's one or
bus and that's the case for it for every match.
And I think Scott Robinson, you know he we've heard
from him this week it was very evident.
Speaker 7 (08:29):
I think that.
Speaker 6 (08:30):
There's a lot of pressure there. He didn't seem comfortable.
He seem quite nervous and there's a lot of pressure
on this All Black team. They haven't been convincing this year.
They put back to back performances together against the Wallabies,
but it was a pretty turbulent Rugby Championship campaign. So
this is a massive tour for the credibility of Scott
(08:52):
Robinson senior.
Speaker 7 (08:53):
There's a lot on the line.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
Stacks nine down, four to go for the All Blacks.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
In twenty twenty five, the first of the end of
year Test matches, of course, Sunday morning, Soldier Field in Chicago,
just after nine o'clock.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
You can turn in on news talks.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
They'd be to hear that one, followed by Scotland in Edinburgh,
England at Twickenham and Wales in Cardiff to end the year.
So is there anything other than four from four that'll
make this a successful year for the All Blacks. Well,
let's look at it in context. Up until now nine
Test matches, three against France in July, none of which
(09:33):
were really entirely convincing from the All Blacks, Apart from
perhaps the first half and the second Test in Wellington.
They never rarely dominated what was a second string French
team in the way that most of us thought that
they would, so a pass mark for the French series.
Then on to the Rugby Championship, the win in Argentina
followed by a first ever defeat to Argentina on their
(09:57):
home soil, so certainly across there. Back to New Zealand,
the big win against South Africa, not big in terms
of margin, but big in terms of the occasion at
Eton Park. But then that horror in Wellington in mid
September forty three points to ten, in case you'd forgotten,
the biggest ever defeat by an all Black side. They
did bounce back well to win both Bledisloe Cup Tests.
(10:19):
But as they head off on their Northern Hemisphere tour
with a stopover in Chicago, of course you really think
to yourself, they have to win all four of these,
They have to complete the Grand Slam. They have to
finish the year with an eleven win two lost record,
because if they were to lose any of these four
(10:40):
Test matches, and God forbid more than one of the four,
then I think you would be starting to ask yourself
two years into Scott Robertson's reign as All Blacks head coach,
are we tracking okay towards the next Rugby World Cup?
And after last year when there were ten wins from
fourteen test matches, if there were to be any less
(11:01):
than eleven from thirteen this year, then question marks would
certainly continue.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
To be apparent.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
So let's have on the positive side, wins over Ireland, Scotland,
England and Wales to complete a Grand Slam at the
back end of twenty twenty five would at least send
us off into summer with, if not a hugely optimistic
absolutely we're going to peek out our chests and and
be all comers in twenty twenty six and twenty seven,
(11:29):
and then certainly at least a mood of quiet optimism
as we attack the second half of the World Cup cycle.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
The Chamber is now in session on Sportsfax.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
Into the Chamber we go, where the first thing we'd
ask about Dars is the All Blacks team. We spoke
about it yesterday. What we expected might happen when.
Speaker 4 (11:50):
Day we get it right, or what did we get
it right? Or what like a stopped clock right twice
a day we got it. We had it bad was good?
Speaker 3 (11:59):
I'm not sure that there was.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
There was a huge degree of unpredictability about it. Having
said that, you're right, you got it right, you did.
You picked it, You picked the you pick the fifteen.
You also picked the fact that there is specialist lock
and cover on the bench. However it comes to the
form of Josh Lord and not Sam Dowry. But I
know yesterday you were very keen, weren't you on having
a specialist lock forward on the bench.
Speaker 4 (12:21):
That makes perfect sense if somebody goes down early doors
even later in the piece, you really needs someone to
stabilize that line out.
Speaker 5 (12:29):
Because we know what happens.
Speaker 4 (12:31):
The All Blacks have had a testing time with the
line out toward the end.
Speaker 5 (12:35):
Of the game.
Speaker 4 (12:36):
So I think that is a very wise move by
raising you'd agree, right, I.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Do agree, I totally agree. I also want to know
is whether you think will win the rugby match. Do
you think we'll win the rugby match?
Speaker 4 (12:48):
Yes?
Speaker 5 (12:48):
I do, Well why do you think that? I don't know?
Speaker 2 (12:54):
I look at Ireland right, and you think to yourself, right,
they haven't played as a full team anyway since March.
They had a couple of games mid year, but eighteen
of their guys with the British and Irish Lions, so
very much a second string Irish team games against Georgia
and Portugal, so certainly nothing you can.
Speaker 3 (13:08):
Take too much notice off.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
So Iland haven't played since March, We've been sort of
playing Rugby Championship, et cetera. Are they underdone or are
they fresh? And I tend to lean a little bit
on the underdone Dace, I don't know, combinations have to
be forged. There's a couple of guys out and the
Island team with injuries and guys who haven't had a
heck of a lot of test rugby, Whereas this team
that you know we rightly predicted yesterday is a.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
Good Old Blacks team. I just I feel like we'll
win this game.
Speaker 4 (13:35):
Well, I'm not so much on the underdone, although that's
very relevant. What I like is the fact that the
Rugby Championship this year was highly competitive. There were no
easy games. We know that because of the losses that
the team suffered. So I would say this tool has
been sharpened by the Rugby Championship had a couple of
breaths back into it again.
Speaker 5 (13:56):
So I think the All.
Speaker 4 (13:58):
Blacks are in a great place to do very very well,
not so much that the Irish aren't in a very
good place.
Speaker 5 (14:04):
Is that fair enough?
Speaker 7 (14:06):
It is?
Speaker 6 (14:06):
It is.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
I heard also something I became free of you on
this that the fact that this is a neutral venue
doesn't advantage the All Blacks, because I've heard it said
that when they go into enemy territory like Dublin, like Twickenhim,
like anywhere in Australia, South Africa, the hostile nature that
(14:27):
of the of the crowd galvanizes the All Blacks. They
won't necessarily have that in a neutral venue of Chicago.
Does that hold water or not?
Speaker 4 (14:39):
I'm just kind of you warn me about this when
I'm just chewing it around in my head right now.
I dealt with the All Blacks. They they go into
that siege mentality because they're the best in the world,
and in somewhere like Chicago, where they've got a checkered
history of the Irish. I don't think the crowd come
(15:00):
into it. I think it's internal for the All Blacks
and they won't mind. I mean, remember poor ol Rico's
not there, but remember what he did in face of
the Irish at home and how the all Blacks turn
that around and forty kains that that seede?
Speaker 5 (15:17):
Maybe that's more the point.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
Yeah, No, it's a very good it's a very good observation.
Particularly it's just given I dropped it on you without
any with any notice. But then thinkin that's what you're
supposed to do. You're supposed to react. You're supposed to react. Now,
what is your reaction to this?
Speaker 7 (15:31):
Then?
Speaker 2 (15:31):
Because as soon as I saw this news, I thought, right,
I need to ask Darcy about this. Yuki Sonoda reportedly
set to join Indy Car and the dale Coin Racing
team next year. First of all, is this actually a thing?
And second of all, if it is, does this mean
Liam is racing in a in a red ball slash
or racing ball next year.
Speaker 5 (15:52):
I think he is, but I think he is not.
Speaker 4 (15:54):
Only for that reason, and this is not confirmed yet,
we believe it is the truth. Yuki's off to dell
Coin Racing. It's a Honda powered car, and of course
Yuki's tied up with Honda, who are no longer involved
with red ball or racing balls next year. The other
reason I think that a Liam is very safe and
I wouldn't beat my house on it, mainly because I
don't own one. I mean, you try living in Auckland
(16:14):
and owning a house. But they released some social media
clip a couple of weeks ago promoting Ford.
Speaker 5 (16:25):
Now Ford are the engine.
Speaker 4 (16:26):
Suppliers for Racing Ball Red Ball next year, and part
of that promotional material was isazak Haja and Liam Lawson.
They shot all this material, they released it on social media.
Another one dropped today worth eazak Haja and Liam Lawson.
Now companies don't pour a whole lot of money into
(16:48):
advertising like that and setting up the shoots and then
putting out on social media. If the guy concerned, one
of the two keys in the advert in the commercial
break isn't going to be racing next year for the
same company. So I think that alone says to me,
he's staying at Racing Ball and that's not a problem.
Speaker 5 (17:06):
So that you can use.
Speaker 4 (17:07):
I thought, well, that just.
Speaker 5 (17:08):
Further strengthens it. It underlines it for me just quickly.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
Then why would Sonoda go to IndyCar. Isn't that a
step down from Formula one or is it not?
Speaker 4 (17:17):
Jose you could argue is a sideways step. There's no
way that IndyCar is as big as Formula One globally,
but it does represent a wonderful place for Honda and
of course a Honda driver as Yuki Sonoda, to expand
their reach right across the American series. And of course
(17:38):
it's it's over racing, it's it's street racing, it's circuit racing,
it's just a it's just a really different kind of racing.
I'm presuming that Yuki Sonoda, if he does go over there,
wants to pretend to be Takumisato, who raced Formula One
for a while, ended up being the first Japanese to
win an IndyCar race, and beyond that, he won the
(18:00):
Indy five hundred twice. So you can understand maybe why
Yuki Sonoda might want to go over there.
Speaker 5 (18:07):
But not interested in Yiki gain to IndyCar and IndyCar.
Speaker 4 (18:11):
I'm only interested in Scott Dexa and its Scott McLaughlin
and Marcus Armstrong et.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
Absolutely the kiwis in the in the IndyCars areas. We
wait to see whether there is confirmation of the news
of Sonoda across to IndyCar.
Speaker 5 (18:25):
You can't keep trying questions at me.
Speaker 4 (18:27):
I want to launch one back at you how disappointing
is a six nil defeat.
Speaker 5 (18:31):
At the hands of the Americans, quarrel Mark Main.
Speaker 4 (18:34):
I mean he was like he was pulling out all
stops to try and get some good out of that
three nil after the first forty five six still at
the end of it.
Speaker 3 (18:43):
That's a hammering, mate, Yeah, it's I'm in two minds
over it.
Speaker 6 (18:48):
Right.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
The USA are a very good team, you know, they're
in the upper echelons of women's football. But when I
look at it as a three game window, I see
the six nil to the US off the back of
two nil and one nil against Mexico, a team that
New Zealand really should be a lot more competitive against
the common denominated dars, the nil, one nil, two nil,
(19:09):
six nil three games now goals and the odd adages
you can't win football matches without putting the ball in
the back of the net. So that is I think
the bigger concern the USA game is what it is.
It's not, you know, a cause to push the panic
button and throw everybody out and start again. They are
a very very good women's football team, but this team
(19:29):
needs to start finding a way to regularly score goals.
And it's been a bit of a blight on them
for a while. Now I look back at at their matches,
you know, previous to this, and the goals have not
come in a flood. They beat Venezuela two to one
back in June, after losing three to one to them
at a couple of canceled games earlier in the year.
They you know, they don't seem to me to have
(19:51):
what it takes to really unlock top quality defenses. Don't
really have time to talk too much more about it today,
but there you go. I've given you. I've given you
my answer. I'm not worried really about the six nil
to the US. I'm worried about how they find a
way to score goals against whoever they come up again.
Speaker 4 (20:08):
Right, I'm glad I've got to throw something at you.
Sounds like we're evening things up, all wee b at Pine.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
It is, well, it's we are here for a even
share of voice. But the chamber, the chamber egg timer
has right out.
Speaker 4 (20:21):
We're out.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
Dissecting the sporting agenda.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
It's Sports Fix with Jason Pine and Darcy Walter Grave.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
And that brings to an end, blows the final whistle
on sports Fix for today. We greatly appreciate the support
of GJ. Gardner Holmes, and we greatly appreciate your support
and listening in and downloading and subscribing to Sports Fix.
Speaker 5 (20:40):
It's all about your support.
Speaker 4 (20:41):
Without your ears, there's no point in doing this, although
I'm saying that Piney and I'll probably talk to each
other in a soundproof booth throws on end, not really
caring who listens. It's the nature of our beast. If
you've enjoyed it, subscribe, tell your friends, tell your family,
get amongst and if it's regular radio that you'd like
to engage, and you can sports talk between seven and
(21:02):
eight Monday to Friday.
Speaker 5 (21:03):
Piney's got the Monday gig.
Speaker 4 (21:04):
I do Tuesday through Friday, and then we drop the
four on the big shows over the weekend.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
Pony Well, I don't know that they're any bigger than
the ones on weeknights, but they're certainly there twelve to
three Saturday, twelve to three on Sunday as they are longer.
The maths is correct weekend Sport Tomorrow and again on Sunday,
and Sports Fixed returns on Monday.
Speaker 3 (21:26):
Have a great weekend us.
Speaker 5 (21:27):
The please has been mine Thank you for
Speaker 1 (21:29):
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