September 1, 2025 • 20 mins
On Sports Fix with Jason Pine for 1st September 2025, the All Blacks enter the week of their biggest test match of 2025 with a long injury list which has prompted Scott Robertson to recall Leicester Fainga'anuku earlier than expected. NZ Herald rugby editor Liam Napier joins the podcast to discuss how big of a concern all the injuries are.
Piney addresses the need for real change in rugby's thinking around head knocks after Shane Christie's death last week.
Plus, Elijah Fa'afiu joins the peoples chamber to recap a tough loss for the Warriors that all but ended their top 4 hopes.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our wide range of podcast now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
This is Sportsfix Howard By News Talks ed B.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Hi there and welcome into a berg sporting week with
a massive sporting weekend at the end of it. This
is the Sports Fix podcast in association with G. J.
Gardner Holmes, New Zealand's most trusted home builder. First day
of September, first day of Spring twenty twenty five. I'm
Jason Pine. Great to have you along. It is a
rather worrying casualty ward for the All Blacks. We learned
(00:44):
this morning to Mothy Tavatavanahwa is going to miss the
rest of the Rugby Championship and in fact is out
for twelve weeks. Cam Roygard and Patrick Twey pilot to
won't play against South Africa, neither will Noah Hotham and
Cortez Ratima is continuing to be assessed. On the plus side,
a couple of guys coming back, Anton Lennont Brown, Tyre
Lomax and this afternoon Lester Feightinger Anukul has been firm
(01:08):
to join the All Blacks as well. The new Zealand
Rugby Board has signed off on his return, with his
eligibility previously understood to not allow him to play in
the Rugby Championship. New Zealand Herald senior rugby writer Liam
Night be gonna kick this around with me shortly on
the podcast Elijah Few pops into the Chamber and the
latest sports news as well, so let's get into it.
(01:30):
In other news, let's kick things off some of the
big sports stories around today. The Black Ferns have secured
a Rugby World Cup quarter final birth beating Japan sixty
two nineteen at Exeter, outscoring their opponents ten tries to three.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
Lord Pod just asking if time is up, getting the
yes from referee as Alou and Remain Holmes makes no
mistake McLaren's Oscar pastre.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
He has taken control and the race for the Formula
One Drivers Championship thirty four points ahead. Now after victory
at the Dutch Grand Prix.
Speaker 5 (02:04):
Oscar Pstree, When's the Dutch Grand Prix to extend.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
His lead in the Formula One World Championship.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
And Dominic s of oz Lai has given Liverpool a
one nil win over Arsenal to take them to the
top of the Premier League.
Speaker 5 (02:18):
It's the Wick supports Lie somon An except side illumin
xt Afternoon.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
In Unfils dissecting the sporting agenda.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
It's Sportsfix with Jason Bene on.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
The Sports FX podcast and earlier than expected All Blacks
recall for Leicester fighting Anuku. The seven Test Wings been
called into camp ahead of Sunday showdown with the spring
Box at Eden Park, replacing his Tasman teammate to Maty
Tavia Tavanaway, who's out for twelve weeks after suffering a
broken forum in the Marcos win over Otago at the weekend.
He's back playing in the MPC after two years in
(02:58):
France Leicester, but wasn't expected to be eligible for an
All Blacks return until after the Rugby Championship. New Zealand
Herald senior rugby writer and co host of the Rugby
Direct podcast, Liam Napier is with us. Liam. Do you
think now that lesterfying Anuku is back in the squad
that he actually might play on Saturday Night?
Speaker 6 (03:17):
Well, Scott Robinson Evening Boney was asked about this at
his prescurrence today and he certainly didn't dismiss it.
Speaker 7 (03:24):
So I don't think it can be ruled out.
Speaker 6 (03:28):
Scott Robinson's shown a capacity to make surprise selections this year.
He knows lesterifying Anoukho extremely well, having coached him for
years at the Crusaders, and look what a potential asset
to bring off the bench. I think I would be
surprised if he was thrown straight into start. He only
(03:48):
came into All Blacks camp on Sunday evening, so we'd
still have you know, you'd think a wee bit of
time to get up to speed around how they want
to play the game and the like. But for a guy,
a big, powerful, strong athlete you saw the Trey scored
playing for Tasman against Otaga at the weekends. A guy
who can cover seconds second five center wing to bring
(04:13):
off the bench massive impact against the potentially tiring Springbok sides.
Speaker 7 (04:20):
I don't think you can rule that out of the
equation this week.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
Given the aerial problems that the All Blacks had in
particular in the last Test against Argentina, but really for
periods of all five Test matches this year, and given
the fact that Leicester is pretty good in the air,
do you think there would be a temptation for Scott
Robertson to put him straight into the back three somewhere.
Speaker 7 (04:42):
I think they'd certainly consider it.
Speaker 6 (04:46):
Yeah, I don't know how much highball work Lester would
have done in recent times. His two years in France
were predominantly spent in the midfield playing center, but he
did play a lot for the Crusaders on the wing,
and he played for the All Blacks on the wing,
so it's not as if you'd be throwing them in
(05:07):
the deep ense, but that's certainly where that South Africans
are going to come for the All Blacks. Grant Williams
is one of the most effective accurate box kickers in
modern rugby. Andre Pollard's will hoist to the heavens all
night long. We know how he plays and that area
is massively in the spotlight. As you mentioned, that's been
(05:29):
an Achilles' heel for the All Blacks this year and
the Wings selections massively in the spotlight we know. I'm
quite surprised Caleb Clark hasn't been ushered straight back into
this team. He made his return for Auckland at the weekend,
but Scott Robinson is saying today he wants him to
get at least two matches in the NPC before bringing
him back. For me, he is the All Blacks' best
(05:50):
exponent aerial exponent that they have great in the air,
not just receiving high balls, but off the kickoffs as well,
So I am quite surprised they're not looking to utilize him.
But I think it'd be very surprised if there aren't one,
if not two changes to the All Blacks wings this week.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
All Right, we'll get to that in the moment, because
the All Blacks casualty ward update was pretty comprehensive today
and there was quite the list. Apart from Tavatavana Wi,
two of the others who definitely won't play against South
Africa in either test are cam roy Guard and nah Hootha.
And I think there were hopes that Royguard might recover.
That's not the case. And on top of that, Cortez
Artima is in a race against time to be ready
(06:29):
after a whack on the ribs. What's your gut telling you?
What did you see from Razor today? Is Cortez a
chance or not?
Speaker 6 (06:38):
I think he's an outside chance. He Robertson didn't wouldn't
rule Courtiers out talked about his toughness, and I think
we saw that in Argentine. He's got a fractured rib.
I've had one of those previously. You know, just playing
club footy and bloody hurts. You think about rugby as
a contact sport, every sort of collision, you do feel that.
(07:00):
And we saw Cortez at Artima try and play on
for I think it was ten minutes after that injury
eventually came from the field.
Speaker 7 (07:07):
It's only two weeks.
Speaker 6 (07:09):
I'd say a fractured rob would generally take at least
a month to fully heal. So look, there's a chance
he gets a jab or some sort of pain medication
to play, but it's a massive risk. I would have
thought to throw a guy in there who is carrying
their injury, who could potentially take another knock against some
of the biggest bodies in world rugby and then you're
(07:32):
you know, you're down one man for the rest of
the game. The All Blacks will weigh that up against
I got Finlay Christie who has experienced against bringing Kyle Preston,
a rookie into such a massive occasion, arguably the biggest
on New Zealand Shore is certainly since the Lion's tour,
but arguably since the twenty eleven you know, World Cup final.
(07:53):
So look at his unfortunate for the or Blacks, isn't it.
They've been hard in one area, as you mentioned with
the Royguard Hotham Ratma, it is an area of strength
and depth, but they are really digging deep. For me,
when I look at it from the outside, the fact
I've called an Xavier rose just to me that Courtees
won't play this week, but Razers said today they are
(08:16):
giving him every chance to prove his fitness. Court is
this week.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
What do you think they'll do in the back three?
Speaker 6 (08:24):
I think I would like to see Ammonia Laaua come
into the mix. Look, there's an argument that Will Jordan's
probably the All Black's best wing, but I don't think
they'll move him from fullback, so he stays there.
Speaker 7 (08:37):
They do need to.
Speaker 6 (08:38):
Support him because he was left isolated on many occasions
against the Pumas, So I think Will Jordan's at fullback.
I think maybe Ammonia Laraua comes on one wing and
maybe they retain Rikulwhanny. But look, he Rico really needs
to improve, not just as high ballwork defensively, but also
(09:02):
chasing and contesting kicks, because that's just as much an
issue for the All Blacks for me at the moment,
because they're not winning back those contestable kicks. So look,
Razor is a very loyal selector up into a points
but the form of the All Blacks wingers is massively
in the spotlight and we know how the Springboks are
(09:23):
going to play, we know they're going to be targeted there.
So the other element to this pointy is Wayne Smith
is in camp this week and one of his strengths
is counterattack, and so can the All Black If the
Ablacks can diffuse some of those kicks from the Springboks,
they could potentially conditions dictating use it to their advantage
(09:44):
by sparking some form of counterattack. And I think Wayne
Smith might have a few nuggets of gold there. We
know Caleb Clark's not going to be there, leicestifying a look,
who's an outside chance. I don't see them throwing lee
Roy Carter into the mix, just a rookie on that
occasion being peppered. He's not the biggest wing going around,
(10:05):
so that would be high risk as well.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
Some very interesting decisions to be made by Scott Robertson
and his selectors ahead of a fascinating prospect at Eden
Park on Saturday night. Liam, thanks for joining US mate
Liam Napier, senior rugby writer with The New Zealand Herald
on Sports Fix with US Sports tax of the very
sad news last week of the passing of former New
Zealand Multi Highlanders and Tasman flanker Shane Christie had the
(10:30):
chance on the radio yesterday to chat with Alex Popham,
former Welsh international rugby player and the co founder of
Head for Change, a charity pioneering positive change to prioritize
brain health in sport. In very simple terms, it feels
to me as though the time for denial is now over.
Much as it's a confronting conversation to have, we must
(10:51):
now accept the irrefutable link between collision sport and the
long term effects of traumatic head injury on players and
those closest to them. Look, you'll never remove the physical
element from rugby, and no one wants to. That's not
what this is about. The physical battle is one of
the things that makes rugby what it is. Why we
love to watch it, why millions around the world want
(11:13):
to play it, but the long term effects of head
collisions need to be unequivocally understood and mitigated in any
way possible. We need actual, quantifiable change from those in
charge of the game. Mandatory standouts must be longer, full
contact trainings need to be reduced. To be honest, players
(11:34):
probably need to play fewer games, and decisions definitely need
to be taken out of their hands because I'm almost
certain there's a feeling among many of our top players
that they would rather return to play as soon as possible,
and that's entirely natural. Why wouldn't they want to play?
Who would want to miss an important match in a
(11:54):
professional era? Who wants to give up their spot to
somebody else? But at what cost? When Billy Goidon passed away,
we said something had to be done. Shane Christy tried
to bring the issue into the spotlight, but he came
up against walls and resistance to his pleas and I
count many of us on the sports media in the
group that preferred to look the other way, preferred to
(12:16):
ignore some of the inconvenient truths of this issue. Shane
Christy wasn't the easiest guy to listen to. But he
needed to be listened to and now he can't be
So do we just wait for the next one, or
do we take some action now?
Speaker 2 (12:32):
The Chamber is now in session on Sportsfax.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
This is the sports Fix podcast, and into the Chamber
we go to kick around a couple of sporting issues.
Monday's Chamber is the People's Chamber, with a larger few
as always joining me for a bit of a chin wag,
a bit of a casualty ward at All Blacks HQ
et Larja. We probably don't have a have enough time
to run down the entire list of those who aren't available,
but Lester faighting Aku will now be available for the
(13:01):
All Blacks against the spring Box on Saturday night at
eating Part. Do you think we'll get a run?
Speaker 8 (13:05):
I certainly hope, though I'm not sure how. I know
there was the whole deal about the eligibility for Leicester
to play, but I know there was news that he
wasn't supposed to be available until the end of your tour.
But now he's been made available after playing some NPC rugby,
so hopefully he does get a run. And I assume
that because his injury cover for Tava Tavanawa that he
(13:27):
will be used more likely in the midfield rather than
on the wing, but he does have that versatility so
gives Scott Robertson some options there. But yeah, I think
it's certainly great to see Lester back in the All
Blacks fold and I would love to see him get
a run against the spring box.
Speaker 3 (13:40):
Yes, so would I, So would I. And it's just
such a moving feast, isn't it. There are guys who
are in the squad, there are guys who are injury cover.
I'm not sure whether one is better than the other
or not. I just know that Lester will be putting
his hand up nice and high. He's good in the
air and that's been a bit of a worry for
the All Blacks and the most recent test matches against
(14:00):
Argentina also against France. So yeah, I don't think there's
too much argument that he would add to the side.
I'm most worried though, Elijah, about half back. No Cameroy guard.
We know that, no, Noah Hope, we knew that potentially
no Corte. Are we going into the biggest Test match
(14:21):
outside of a World Cup for many many years with
finnl like Christy and Kyle Preston is the halfbacks here.
Speaker 8 (14:26):
Yeah, I think that is very concerning, and that was
always going to be the big concern whether or not
Cam Royguard was going to be fit. Now we know
that he's still a while away, and Cortez Rasima he
is in some doubts. Hopefully a miracle happens he's gone
to Fiji or something to fix his chest, but that's
looking unlikely at this point. So yeah, it looks like
(14:48):
we are going to run with Finna, Christian and Kyle Preston.
It would have been nice if we had the opportunity
to recall a veteran like Aaron Smith back into the fold.
I know the spring Box recalled Faft the Clerk into
their squad for this upcoming series. So yeah, and it's
unfortunate loss, but hey, we'll we'll go off the soldiers
that we have and hopefully Finlay and Kyle do a
great job.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
Yeah, and nothing against either of them, And what a
moment it could be. In particular for Kyle Preston, he
couldn't possibly have imagined debuting in a test match you
know like this, as I say, a massive test like this,
But who knows he may well come off the bench
on Saturday night and play his first All Blacks test
in the pressure cooker that will be Eden Park on
(15:30):
Saturday night. Interesting that Caleb Clark, who played the NPC
yesterday is going to play NPC again this weekend before
being considered for the second Test in Wellington. I just,
I guess assumed that if he got through yesterday okay'd
be back in the All Blacks.
Speaker 5 (15:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 8 (15:46):
I would have thought so too, And I think I
guess the issue around the wingers isn't that big of
a crisis of Caleb. If they're happy for Caleb Clark
to play another week of MPC rugby, I would have
liked to see him get back into the game again.
The action against the spring Box this week, particularly with
the spring Box possibly peppering ther of high balls, and
(16:09):
Caleb Clark is such a weapon under the high ball
he would have been quite handy in that those situations.
So yeah, very interesting decision. But we'll see what Rasor
goes with in terms of those options at the back
three yep.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
Thursday morning is when the team is announced, so we'll
get some real crystal clear thinking or crystal care idea
of Razors thinking when that team is released on Thursday,
can we go to the NRL where after the results
over the weekend. The Warriors have a pretty simple equation.
I'm not saying it's simple to achieve, but the equation
(16:41):
is simple. If they're to finish fourth, they have to
beat Manly, the Storm have to beat the Broncos and
the Bulldogs have to beat the Sharks. All those three
things could happen, couldn't they They could, but.
Speaker 8 (16:52):
It's very unlikely because the Storm and the Bulldogs they're
pretty much locked in where they are on the ladd
in second and third, So they could pull it a
Penrith like they like Penrith did last week, and decides
to arrest their first grade players, which would make the
job for the Broncos and the Sharks a lot easier
and a lot harder for the Warriors. So I'd say
that is very much against the Warriors right now. And
(17:14):
in terms of the Warriors, their opponents this week are
the Manley Seagulls, who are a very slim chance of
making the eights. But it's also Daldy Cherry Evans likely
has his final game in Manley colors, So you think
that that side would be fueled by and motivated to
send DCE out on the high. So a lot going
against the Warriors. But again, it's not impossible, but I'd
(17:35):
say it's the chances are very slim.
Speaker 5 (17:37):
Now.
Speaker 3 (17:37):
I think what's worrying most people is the fact that
if things stay as they are, if the table positions
stay as they are, which they might, the Warriors are
going to end up welcoming the Panthers to go Media
Stadium in Week one of the finals in a knockout match.
I'm not sure how I feel about that. How do
you feel about that? You're not even a Warriors fan?
That should Warriors fans feel about that?
Speaker 8 (17:59):
Yeah, I mean it's only the four time defending champions
coming into mounts Art hoping to, you know, end your season.
So yeah, it's a little bit scary thought there if
your Warriors fan. And as we've seen this season or
even the last couple of months, Mount Smart isn't as
big a much of a fortress as it's been talked
up as over the last couple of years. So it's
(18:22):
got to be a very tall task. But hey, let's
not think about that right now. Let's think about this week.
If you're the Warriors and at least trying to get
the job done and getting building some sort of momentum
heading into the finals.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
I just reckon. They'll look back on that Eels game.
You know, they should have won that game, really, all
things been considered. I'm not saying the way they played
they should have won it the bunker at the end,
all of that sort of stuff, But in such a
big game, I just feel as though they should have
given a better account of themselves. They should have turned
up and won that game. They would have gone on
to thirty six points, they would have retained their top
(18:54):
four destiny, and they would have gone to Manly with
that momentum. I just I was just really gutted they
didn't beat the Eels.
Speaker 8 (19:02):
There were some lapses there and concentration and execution that
really let the Warriors down, which is not what you
want when you're about to head into finals footy. I
think that they were down twenty to four at one point.
It was great that they managed to make this comeback,
but they should not have been in that situation in
the first place. They let through a couple of soft tries.
I mean that length of the field tried to Josh
(19:24):
Adoca where he beat a couple of defenders coming out
of his in his goal line that shouldn't have happened.
So it's moments like those that the Warriors need to
sort of erase. And yeah, they've got this week against
Manley to fix that, especially if the Panthers are going
to be coming to town in the finals.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
Yeah, well, they'll know by the time they play on
Friday night potentially whether they have a chance of the four,
because the Broncos play the Storm Thursday night, don't they
And if the Broncos were to win that game, that
eliminates the Warriors from top four contention. Have we got
the maths right there?
Speaker 8 (19:53):
Sounds about right, boy. We'll see how the final out
of shakes out at.
Speaker 3 (19:56):
The end, indeed, and then the Bulldogs of course against
the Sharks that is later on on Saturday evening. By
Sunday night, we'll know who's playing who in Week one
of the finals. At least the Warriors will be there
after finishing thirteenth last year. As we've said a few times,
most fans would have bitten your hand off for a
sixth placed finish in twenty twenty five. Always great chatting
(20:17):
sport with you in the chamber, Elijah. Let's do it
again next Monday for sure.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
Thank you, bindon needing a fix, We've got just the ticket.
It's Sports Fix powered by News Talks V.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
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Speaker 1 (20:49):
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Speaker 2 (00:17):
This is Sportsfix Howard By News Talks ed B.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Hi there and welcome into a berg sporting week with
a massive sporting weekend at the end of it. This
is the Sports Fix podcast in association with G. J.
Gardner Holmes, New Zealand's most trusted home builder. First day
of September, first day of Spring twenty twenty five. I'm
Jason Pine. Great to have you along. It is a
rather worrying casualty ward for the All Blacks. We learned
(00:44):
this morning to Mothy Tavatavanahwa is going to miss the
rest of the Rugby Championship and in fact is out
for twelve weeks. Cam Roygard and Patrick Twey pilot to
won't play against South Africa, neither will Noah Hotham and
Cortez Ratima is continuing to be assessed. On the plus side,
a couple of guys coming back, Anton Lennont Brown, Tyre
Lomax and this afternoon Lester Feightinger Anukul has been firm
(01:08):
to join the All Blacks as well. The new Zealand
Rugby Board has signed off on his return, with his
eligibility previously understood to not allow him to play in
the Rugby Championship. New Zealand Herald senior rugby writer Liam
Night be gonna kick this around with me shortly on
the podcast Elijah Few pops into the Chamber and the
latest sports news as well, so let's get into it.
(01:30):
In other news, let's kick things off some of the
big sports stories around today. The Black Ferns have secured
a Rugby World Cup quarter final birth beating Japan sixty
two nineteen at Exeter, outscoring their opponents ten tries to three.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
Lord Pod just asking if time is up, getting the
yes from referee as Alou and Remain Holmes makes no
mistake McLaren's Oscar pastre.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
He has taken control and the race for the Formula
One Drivers Championship thirty four points ahead. Now after victory
at the Dutch Grand Prix.
Speaker 5 (02:04):
Oscar Pstree, When's the Dutch Grand Prix to extend.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
His lead in the Formula One World Championship.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
And Dominic s of oz Lai has given Liverpool a
one nil win over Arsenal to take them to the
top of the Premier League.
Speaker 5 (02:18):
It's the Wick supports Lie somon An except side illumin
xt Afternoon.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
In Unfils dissecting the sporting agenda.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
It's Sportsfix with Jason Bene on.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
The Sports FX podcast and earlier than expected All Blacks
recall for Leicester fighting Anuku. The seven Test Wings been
called into camp ahead of Sunday showdown with the spring
Box at Eden Park, replacing his Tasman teammate to Maty
Tavia Tavanaway, who's out for twelve weeks after suffering a
broken forum in the Marcos win over Otago at the weekend.
He's back playing in the MPC after two years in
(02:58):
France Leicester, but wasn't expected to be eligible for an
All Blacks return until after the Rugby Championship. New Zealand
Herald senior rugby writer and co host of the Rugby
Direct podcast, Liam Napier is with us. Liam. Do you
think now that lesterfying Anuku is back in the squad
that he actually might play on Saturday Night?
Speaker 6 (03:17):
Well, Scott Robinson Evening Boney was asked about this at
his prescurrence today and he certainly didn't dismiss it.
Speaker 7 (03:24):
So I don't think it can be ruled out.
Speaker 6 (03:28):
Scott Robinson's shown a capacity to make surprise selections this year.
He knows lesterifying Anoukho extremely well, having coached him for
years at the Crusaders, and look what a potential asset
to bring off the bench. I think I would be
surprised if he was thrown straight into start. He only
(03:48):
came into All Blacks camp on Sunday evening, so we'd
still have you know, you'd think a wee bit of
time to get up to speed around how they want
to play the game and the like. But for a guy,
a big, powerful, strong athlete you saw the Trey scored
playing for Tasman against Otaga at the weekends. A guy
who can cover seconds second five center wing to bring
(04:13):
off the bench massive impact against the potentially tiring Springbok sides.
Speaker 7 (04:20):
I don't think you can rule that out of the
equation this week.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
Given the aerial problems that the All Blacks had in
particular in the last Test against Argentina, but really for
periods of all five Test matches this year, and given
the fact that Leicester is pretty good in the air,
do you think there would be a temptation for Scott
Robertson to put him straight into the back three somewhere.
Speaker 7 (04:42):
I think they'd certainly consider it.
Speaker 6 (04:46):
Yeah, I don't know how much highball work Lester would
have done in recent times. His two years in France
were predominantly spent in the midfield playing center, but he
did play a lot for the Crusaders on the wing,
and he played for the All Blacks on the wing,
so it's not as if you'd be throwing them in
(05:07):
the deep ense, but that's certainly where that South Africans
are going to come for the All Blacks. Grant Williams
is one of the most effective accurate box kickers in
modern rugby. Andre Pollard's will hoist to the heavens all
night long. We know how he plays and that area
is massively in the spotlight. As you mentioned, that's been
(05:29):
an Achilles' heel for the All Blacks this year and
the Wings selections massively in the spotlight we know. I'm
quite surprised Caleb Clark hasn't been ushered straight back into
this team. He made his return for Auckland at the weekend,
but Scott Robinson is saying today he wants him to
get at least two matches in the NPC before bringing
him back. For me, he is the All Blacks' best
(05:50):
exponent aerial exponent that they have great in the air,
not just receiving high balls, but off the kickoffs as well,
So I am quite surprised they're not looking to utilize him.
But I think it'd be very surprised if there aren't one,
if not two changes to the All Blacks wings this week.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
All Right, we'll get to that in the moment, because
the All Blacks casualty ward update was pretty comprehensive today
and there was quite the list. Apart from Tavatavana Wi,
two of the others who definitely won't play against South
Africa in either test are cam roy Guard and nah Hootha.
And I think there were hopes that Royguard might recover.
That's not the case. And on top of that, Cortez
Artima is in a race against time to be ready
(06:29):
after a whack on the ribs. What's your gut telling you?
What did you see from Razor today? Is Cortez a
chance or not?
Speaker 6 (06:38):
I think he's an outside chance. He Robertson didn't wouldn't
rule Courtiers out talked about his toughness, and I think
we saw that in Argentine. He's got a fractured rib.
I've had one of those previously. You know, just playing
club footy and bloody hurts. You think about rugby as
a contact sport, every sort of collision, you do feel that.
(07:00):
And we saw Cortez at Artima try and play on
for I think it was ten minutes after that injury
eventually came from the field.
Speaker 7 (07:07):
It's only two weeks.
Speaker 6 (07:09):
I'd say a fractured rob would generally take at least
a month to fully heal. So look, there's a chance
he gets a jab or some sort of pain medication
to play, but it's a massive risk. I would have
thought to throw a guy in there who is carrying
their injury, who could potentially take another knock against some
of the biggest bodies in world rugby and then you're
(07:32):
you know, you're down one man for the rest of
the game. The All Blacks will weigh that up against
I got Finlay Christie who has experienced against bringing Kyle Preston,
a rookie into such a massive occasion, arguably the biggest
on New Zealand Shore is certainly since the Lion's tour,
but arguably since the twenty eleven you know, World Cup final.
(07:53):
So look at his unfortunate for the or Blacks, isn't it.
They've been hard in one area, as you mentioned with
the Royguard Hotham Ratma, it is an area of strength
and depth, but they are really digging deep. For me,
when I look at it from the outside, the fact
I've called an Xavier rose just to me that Courtees
won't play this week, but Razers said today they are
(08:16):
giving him every chance to prove his fitness. Court is
this week.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
What do you think they'll do in the back three?
Speaker 6 (08:24):
I think I would like to see Ammonia Laaua come
into the mix. Look, there's an argument that Will Jordan's
probably the All Black's best wing, but I don't think
they'll move him from fullback, so he stays there.
Speaker 7 (08:37):
They do need to.
Speaker 6 (08:38):
Support him because he was left isolated on many occasions
against the Pumas, So I think Will Jordan's at fullback.
I think maybe Ammonia Laraua comes on one wing and
maybe they retain Rikulwhanny. But look, he Rico really needs
to improve, not just as high ballwork defensively, but also
(09:02):
chasing and contesting kicks, because that's just as much an
issue for the All Blacks for me at the moment,
because they're not winning back those contestable kicks. So look,
Razor is a very loyal selector up into a points
but the form of the All Blacks wingers is massively
in the spotlight and we know how the Springboks are
(09:23):
going to play, we know they're going to be targeted there.
So the other element to this pointy is Wayne Smith
is in camp this week and one of his strengths
is counterattack, and so can the All Black If the
Ablacks can diffuse some of those kicks from the Springboks,
they could potentially conditions dictating use it to their advantage
(09:44):
by sparking some form of counterattack. And I think Wayne
Smith might have a few nuggets of gold there. We
know Caleb Clark's not going to be there, leicestifying a look,
who's an outside chance. I don't see them throwing lee
Roy Carter into the mix, just a rookie on that
occasion being peppered. He's not the biggest wing going around,
(10:05):
so that would be high risk as well.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
Some very interesting decisions to be made by Scott Robertson
and his selectors ahead of a fascinating prospect at Eden
Park on Saturday night. Liam, thanks for joining US mate
Liam Napier, senior rugby writer with The New Zealand Herald
on Sports Fix with US Sports tax of the very
sad news last week of the passing of former New
Zealand Multi Highlanders and Tasman flanker Shane Christie had the
(10:30):
chance on the radio yesterday to chat with Alex Popham,
former Welsh international rugby player and the co founder of
Head for Change, a charity pioneering positive change to prioritize
brain health in sport. In very simple terms, it feels
to me as though the time for denial is now over.
Much as it's a confronting conversation to have, we must
(10:51):
now accept the irrefutable link between collision sport and the
long term effects of traumatic head injury on players and
those closest to them. Look, you'll never remove the physical
element from rugby, and no one wants to. That's not
what this is about. The physical battle is one of
the things that makes rugby what it is. Why we
love to watch it, why millions around the world want
(11:13):
to play it, but the long term effects of head
collisions need to be unequivocally understood and mitigated in any
way possible. We need actual, quantifiable change from those in
charge of the game. Mandatory standouts must be longer, full
contact trainings need to be reduced. To be honest, players
(11:34):
probably need to play fewer games, and decisions definitely need
to be taken out of their hands because I'm almost
certain there's a feeling among many of our top players
that they would rather return to play as soon as possible,
and that's entirely natural. Why wouldn't they want to play?
Who would want to miss an important match in a
(11:54):
professional era? Who wants to give up their spot to
somebody else? But at what cost? When Billy Goidon passed away,
we said something had to be done. Shane Christy tried
to bring the issue into the spotlight, but he came
up against walls and resistance to his pleas and I
count many of us on the sports media in the
group that preferred to look the other way, preferred to
(12:16):
ignore some of the inconvenient truths of this issue. Shane
Christy wasn't the easiest guy to listen to. But he
needed to be listened to and now he can't be
So do we just wait for the next one, or
do we take some action now?
Speaker 2 (12:32):
The Chamber is now in session on Sportsfax.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
This is the sports Fix podcast, and into the Chamber
we go to kick around a couple of sporting issues.
Monday's Chamber is the People's Chamber, with a larger few
as always joining me for a bit of a chin wag,
a bit of a casualty ward at All Blacks HQ
et Larja. We probably don't have a have enough time
to run down the entire list of those who aren't available,
but Lester faighting Aku will now be available for the
(13:01):
All Blacks against the spring Box on Saturday night at
eating Part. Do you think we'll get a run?
Speaker 8 (13:05):
I certainly hope, though I'm not sure how. I know
there was the whole deal about the eligibility for Leicester
to play, but I know there was news that he
wasn't supposed to be available until the end of your tour.
But now he's been made available after playing some NPC rugby,
so hopefully he does get a run. And I assume
that because his injury cover for Tava Tavanawa that he
(13:27):
will be used more likely in the midfield rather than
on the wing, but he does have that versatility so
gives Scott Robertson some options there. But yeah, I think
it's certainly great to see Lester back in the All
Blacks fold and I would love to see him get
a run against the spring box.
Speaker 3 (13:40):
Yes, so would I, So would I. And it's just
such a moving feast, isn't it. There are guys who
are in the squad, there are guys who are injury cover.
I'm not sure whether one is better than the other
or not. I just know that Lester will be putting
his hand up nice and high. He's good in the
air and that's been a bit of a worry for
the All Blacks and the most recent test matches against
(14:00):
Argentina also against France. So yeah, I don't think there's
too much argument that he would add to the side.
I'm most worried though, Elijah, about half back. No Cameroy guard.
We know that, no, Noah Hope, we knew that potentially
no Corte. Are we going into the biggest Test match
(14:21):
outside of a World Cup for many many years with
finnl like Christy and Kyle Preston is the halfbacks here.
Speaker 8 (14:26):
Yeah, I think that is very concerning, and that was
always going to be the big concern whether or not
Cam Royguard was going to be fit. Now we know
that he's still a while away, and Cortez Rasima he
is in some doubts. Hopefully a miracle happens he's gone
to Fiji or something to fix his chest, but that's
looking unlikely at this point. So yeah, it looks like
(14:48):
we are going to run with Finna, Christian and Kyle Preston.
It would have been nice if we had the opportunity
to recall a veteran like Aaron Smith back into the fold.
I know the spring Box recalled Faft the Clerk into
their squad for this upcoming series. So yeah, and it's
unfortunate loss, but hey, we'll we'll go off the soldiers
that we have and hopefully Finlay and Kyle do a
great job.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
Yeah, and nothing against either of them, And what a
moment it could be. In particular for Kyle Preston, he
couldn't possibly have imagined debuting in a test match you
know like this, as I say, a massive test like this,
But who knows he may well come off the bench
on Saturday night and play his first All Blacks test
in the pressure cooker that will be Eden Park on
(15:30):
Saturday night. Interesting that Caleb Clark, who played the NPC
yesterday is going to play NPC again this weekend before
being considered for the second Test in Wellington. I just,
I guess assumed that if he got through yesterday okay'd
be back in the All Blacks.
Speaker 5 (15:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 8 (15:46):
I would have thought so too, And I think I
guess the issue around the wingers isn't that big of
a crisis of Caleb. If they're happy for Caleb Clark
to play another week of MPC rugby, I would have
liked to see him get back into the game again.
The action against the spring Box this week, particularly with
the spring Box possibly peppering ther of high balls, and
(16:09):
Caleb Clark is such a weapon under the high ball
he would have been quite handy in that those situations.
So yeah, very interesting decision. But we'll see what Rasor
goes with in terms of those options at the back
three yep.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
Thursday morning is when the team is announced, so we'll
get some real crystal clear thinking or crystal care idea
of Razors thinking when that team is released on Thursday,
can we go to the NRL where after the results
over the weekend. The Warriors have a pretty simple equation.
I'm not saying it's simple to achieve, but the equation
(16:41):
is simple. If they're to finish fourth, they have to
beat Manly, the Storm have to beat the Broncos and
the Bulldogs have to beat the Sharks. All those three
things could happen, couldn't they They could, but.
Speaker 8 (16:52):
It's very unlikely because the Storm and the Bulldogs they're
pretty much locked in where they are on the ladd
in second and third, So they could pull it a
Penrith like they like Penrith did last week, and decides
to arrest their first grade players, which would make the
job for the Broncos and the Sharks a lot easier
and a lot harder for the Warriors. So I'd say
that is very much against the Warriors right now. And
(17:14):
in terms of the Warriors, their opponents this week are
the Manley Seagulls, who are a very slim chance of
making the eights. But it's also Daldy Cherry Evans likely
has his final game in Manley colors, So you think
that that side would be fueled by and motivated to
send DCE out on the high. So a lot going
against the Warriors. But again, it's not impossible, but I'd
(17:35):
say it's the chances are very slim.
Speaker 5 (17:37):
Now.
Speaker 3 (17:37):
I think what's worrying most people is the fact that
if things stay as they are, if the table positions
stay as they are, which they might, the Warriors are
going to end up welcoming the Panthers to go Media
Stadium in Week one of the finals in a knockout match.
I'm not sure how I feel about that. How do
you feel about that? You're not even a Warriors fan?
That should Warriors fans feel about that?
Speaker 8 (17:59):
Yeah, I mean it's only the four time defending champions
coming into mounts Art hoping to, you know, end your season.
So yeah, it's a little bit scary thought there if
your Warriors fan. And as we've seen this season or
even the last couple of months, Mount Smart isn't as
big a much of a fortress as it's been talked
up as over the last couple of years. So it's
(18:22):
got to be a very tall task. But hey, let's
not think about that right now. Let's think about this week.
If you're the Warriors and at least trying to get
the job done and getting building some sort of momentum
heading into the finals.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
I just reckon. They'll look back on that Eels game.
You know, they should have won that game, really, all
things been considered. I'm not saying the way they played
they should have won it the bunker at the end,
all of that sort of stuff, But in such a
big game, I just feel as though they should have
given a better account of themselves. They should have turned
up and won that game. They would have gone on
to thirty six points, they would have retained their top
(18:54):
four destiny, and they would have gone to Manly with
that momentum. I just I was just really gutted they
didn't beat the Eels.
Speaker 8 (19:02):
There were some lapses there and concentration and execution that
really let the Warriors down, which is not what you
want when you're about to head into finals footy. I
think that they were down twenty to four at one point.
It was great that they managed to make this comeback,
but they should not have been in that situation in
the first place. They let through a couple of soft tries.
I mean that length of the field tried to Josh
(19:24):
Adoca where he beat a couple of defenders coming out
of his in his goal line that shouldn't have happened.
So it's moments like those that the Warriors need to
sort of erase. And yeah, they've got this week against
Manley to fix that, especially if the Panthers are going
to be coming to town in the finals.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
Yeah, well, they'll know by the time they play on
Friday night potentially whether they have a chance of the four,
because the Broncos play the Storm Thursday night, don't they
And if the Broncos were to win that game, that
eliminates the Warriors from top four contention. Have we got
the maths right there?
Speaker 8 (19:53):
Sounds about right, boy. We'll see how the final out
of shakes out at.
Speaker 3 (19:56):
The end, indeed, and then the Bulldogs of course against
the Sharks that is later on on Saturday evening. By
Sunday night, we'll know who's playing who in Week one
of the finals. At least the Warriors will be there
after finishing thirteenth last year. As we've said a few times,
most fans would have bitten your hand off for a
sixth placed finish in twenty twenty five. Always great chatting
(20:17):
sport with you in the chamber, Elijah. Let's do it
again next Monday for sure.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
Thank you, bindon needing a fix, We've got just the ticket.
It's Sports Fix powered by News Talks V.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
And that'll do it for Sports Fix today. Thank you
so much for tuning in, for subscribing, and for downloading.
Subscribers to the Sports Fix podcast will know by now
that a fresh episode will appear in your feed at
around about the same time tomorrow afternoon. And for more
from News Talks AB sports, check out Sports Talk weeknights
between seven and eight and Weekend Sport midday to three
Saturday and again on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
For more from News Talks EDB, listen live on air
or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you
go with our podcast on iHeartRadio.
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