On Sports Fix with D'Arcy Waldegrave and Jason Pine for 7 May 2026, today it was announced that Steve Lancaster will become the next permanent CEO of New Zealand Rugby, this follows a six month period where he served as the interim CEO upon the departure of Mark Robinson late last year. Gregor Paul is a rugby writer with the New Zealand Herald and he joined D'Arcy to discuss.
D'Arcy shares his thoughts on Melbourne banning watch parties for the FIFA World Cup in Federation Square due to anti-social behaviour.
And D'Arcy and Piney discuss Steve Lancaster being appointed CEO of New Zealand Rugby and the squad named for the Black Caps test series in Ireland and the UK.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks ed B
follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
This is Sportsfix. Howard by News Talk said.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Be hello there and welcome into the Sports Fixed podcast.
It is Thursday, May the seventh, as we charge headlong
towards another sporting weekend. It's quite a good time to
talk about about it. I'm Jason Pinte, my.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Name is Darcy Waldgrave, and I'm charging absolutely. I don't
walk toward pressure. I run at it and try and
take its head off.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Yeah and sometimes, well if you let anything like me,
sometimes it takes your.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Head off as well. I wasn't going to mention that that, yes,
very true.
Speaker 4 (00:46):
All right.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
A couple of things to get through today, some quite
big meaty issues to kick around. We've got a new
New Zealand rugby CEO, well a permanent one anyway. Steve
Blancaster has been upgraded from being interim to the main gig.
I want to talk about that. The black Cat squad
has been named for the upcoming Test matches against Ireland
and England. Exciting times fans of red ball cricket, as
far as a different voice on the pod, who a
(01:08):
we're hearing from today, biney.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
I'll be having a chat with Gregor Paul, one of
my colleagues, the New Zealand Herald rugby writer. This is
right in his wheelhouse.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Fantastic and the latest sports news coming to Let's get
it like the way he is said.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
Lancaster has been up great. This is Steve Lancaster two
point zero.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Well, I guess we're going to find out. I guess
we are going to find out. Let's get into it.
In other news, Let's kick you off as always with
a look at some of the big sports stories around today.
Nine pace bowlers, but no specialist spinner, have been picked
for New Zealand on their Test cricket tour of Ireland
and England, which starts in Belfast on the twenty seventh
of May. Twenty eight year old uncapped spinning all round
(01:48):
a Dean Foxcroft takes the spot of the injured Mitchell Senter.
Some players might not I to blesss Rian War, but
for me, I think it's obviously I want to put
off the formast of New Zealand. Blues and All Blacks
winger Caleb Clark has poured cold water on any idea
he might follow the lead of Lester fy Inger Muku
and move into the loose forwards. No, but I saw
(02:09):
someone make a video about us. Yeah, outside can play
in the.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
Lucias and they started naming off out sous and I
hope my name before No, keep you on that to
know where I can run away from those guys.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
And Paris Jamanas through to a second straight Champions League final.
They've advanced to meet Arsenal in the finale in Budapest
on the thirty first of May after a six y
five aggregate semi final win over Byern Munich. Fine, we're
given late hope and leg two courtesy of a Harry
Kane stoppage time goal. Davis Cain Scots maybe too late,
(02:42):
it was too late, and Paris Saint Jermain go through
to the final.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Use and a villion. It's Sportsfix with Jason Pine and Dussy,
Walter Grave and.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
If Welcome to the Sports Fix podcast. Now to New
Zealand Herald Rugby scribe mister Gregor Paul as we look
at the appointment of nz r's CEO.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
Gooday, Gregor, welcome in, Thanks for having me, Darcy.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Great to talk about.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
This is right in your wheelhouse. He must be having
a hell of a day writing all this up. Now
that we've got a brand new CEO. I say brand new.
He's been around for six months, but not in that role.
Happy days for Steve Lancaster. And I suppose if anyone's
going to be able to talk into this, it would
be you, Gregor. What was your initial reaction when he
got the job?
Speaker 4 (03:28):
Double take? I was a wee bit surprised. I knew
that the New Zealand Rugby board were happy with the
way he had been performing as interim CEO, which he
was made in November last year. But my understanding, and
it was entirely this that he was really definitely one
(03:50):
hundred percent and interim CEO, that he wasn't seen internally
as a potential candidate to be put in that role permanently.
And you may recall, Darcy, there was a press release
that New Zealand Rugby in March this year to that
the high Performance Manager Chris Lendrun was leaving New Zealand
(04:13):
Rugby that had led to restructure A new role of
I think it was called Chief Rugby Officer was being created. Yeah,
it was, and the relief said, and Steve Lancaster will
move into that role when his time as interim CEO
comes to an end. So going by that, even internally,
(04:33):
the board had no intent or belief that they were
going to be promoting Steve Lancaster at that time because
he was clearly destined to move into a different job.
So they were actively, presumably actively looking for someone else.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Well, what do we read into this? They simply couldn't
find anyone else, or when they stepped back that went,
hold on, he's been right under our those what are
we doing. We've been going through this process kicking boxes
to make sure we've got the right guy. What do
you read into it?
Speaker 4 (05:05):
Well, a bit of both. I don't want to be
disparaged and unkind about Steve. That is unfair, But I
think when you look at the process that they went through,
they start off saying New Zealand Rugby. When Mark Robinson
stood down, they said, right, we're going to begin a
global search where you know, we're looking for a you know,
(05:25):
a heavyweight player, someone who's got heavy duty corporate sports experience. Yes,
they need to be ingrained and under and across the
grassroots world. That will be part of the job. But
we're really looking for someone that can drive this organization.
It's a complex one. It has a private equity investor.
It has money sitting there that is to be invested
(05:47):
in revenue generating streams that we do not know, you
know what exactly they are. They've got to be able
to negotiate broadcast agreements, be across sponsorship agreements, you know,
be the face of the organization. Look it was. It
was sold as a really really big corporate job. They
were clearly looking outside of New Zealand for handed it.
(06:09):
In the end, if you looked at where they started,
no one would have said that Steve Lancaster was the
guy for them. So without being ruined, you have to
put two and two together and go did they just
simply not find who they were looking for? And we're
a bit exhausted by the search and decided, do you
(06:29):
know what what's worth? And definitely worth me mentioning here,
Darcy is that simultaneously u zaidh Rugby were also recruiting
at the same time for a chief financial officer and
a chief commercial officer, both of which were filled in
February this year. And my gut feel here is that
they hit gold with those two appointments. They've got two
good guys. I think they got exactly what they wanted there.
(06:52):
They've come into the organization and the board has going,
you know what, we can actually rescale the rema of
the chief exec and say, look, we've got really capable
financial guy who can handle the complex instruments and relationship
with our private equity investors, silver Lake, you know, make
sure that the money side of the business has taken
(07:12):
well care of the accounting. They've got a chief Commercial
officer who will be doing the you know, the major
sponsorship deals, the broadcast negotiation when that comes around. So
they've gone great. Well, he's highly competent too. So you know,
Steve is going pretty well as CEO interim. Why don't
we just we haven't found anyone else, Why don't we
(07:33):
just promote him and maybe rescale the job a little
bit and put a heavier emphasis on the CEO being
the champion of community rugby, you know, the guy that
pieces the guy that links the corporate side of the
game to the to the community side of the game.
And because we don't have that represented it over well
through the CFO or c CEO, and I think that's
(07:56):
why they've landed on.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Him dissecting the sporting agenda. It's Sports Fix with Jason
Vine and Darcy Waldgrave.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
And you thought new Zille head issue with the fun Police.
Let's check out Victoria, specifically Melbourne. Katrina Sedgwick, the chief
executive of the Melbourne Arts Precinct, which manages Federation Square,
says the behavior of some fans led to his decision
(08:27):
not to host World Cup watch parties, the biggest sporting
event on the planet Australia one of the iconic sporting
destinations Melbourne even more so, so what have they decided
to do based on the terrible behavior of a handful
(08:47):
of fans. They're going to blow the entertainment for everybody.
This is a shocking decision. Football Australia have come out
and said, look, it's the biggest sporting event of the
world and it unites Australia's multicultural communities, which reinforce our
national identity. This is from Football Australia Chief Executive Martin Kugler.
(09:10):
Live sites create iconic moments for Australian sports fans. Look,
a vast majority of people are going to be enjoying
the football World Cup aren't going to be there. It's
a physical impossibility. Most people are going to be watching
it on the Delhi. Would you rather watch it in
your lounge room or maybe down at the local football club,
(09:33):
or maybe with thousands and thousands of like minded individuals
who want to celebrate the wonder of the beautiful game.
You know, and a couple of people have chosen to
take flares into these events. A couple of people who
have behaved in an anti social manner, A couple of
people whose decision making has been very poor have ruined
(09:57):
it for everybody. And the Melbourne Arts Precinct have sided
with the idiots. This is not a decision based on
public safety. This is a decision and cowering to the
pathetic minority of individuals who don't understand the concept of
community spirit. Don't ban it from Federation Square. Don't destroy
(10:21):
the joy of tens of thousands of people who want
to celebrate this extraordinary event based on the behavior of idiots.
You're the idiot here. This is dumb. You think New
Zealand have problems with the fun police, You ain't seen
nothing yet.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
The Chamber is now in session on Sportsfax and of
the chamber, we go, well will it be?
Speaker 2 (10:45):
Steve Lancaster two point zero New Zealand Rugby has confirmed
today he is the organization's permanent chief executive. He's been
in the interim role for six months and has been
on the Governing bodies executive team since twenty twenty. This
has obviously been the most successful audition in the history
of this role. He was given the interim role. I
(11:05):
think it was even stated he's not really our man,
not really who we're looking for. Clearly who is who
they're looking for?
Speaker 3 (11:11):
Well, I asked him at the start of the week
when they had him on here talking about something else,
that all you guys have got to do now is
sort out your CEO. Are you getting any close? Goes Oh, well,
that's not for me to talk about. You know, that's
much higher.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
So he knew then, right, Well yeah, and I mean
and good on him, because it must be quite a
challenging situation, your interim CEO. You've been told privately and
quite publicly actually that you're not really the right fit
for the job permanently, but you still have to go
forward and run business as usual at the at the organization,
(11:42):
but also look ahead to some pretty chunky pieces of business.
Clearly he's made a very good fist of it, and
they've said, you know what, I don't think we're going
to get better than this, Steve take the job.
Speaker 3 (11:51):
What do you read into the fact that they've claimed
that they've gone globally, they've looked the best of the best,
They've looked at CEO, some all different industries, yet they've
landed on the guy just down the hall in the
office there. Does that say to you they couldn't find
anyone better, and so they've gone back to type or
(12:13):
across the board. They looked at him and you know what,
he is our man based on what else we've found
out in that six months.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
I think it's a combination. But I think they genuinely
thought they would be able to find, you know, and
without denigrating Steve Lancaster to somebody who ticked more boxes
than he did, and it was the search for a unicorn?
Dos you and I've spoken about this a lot. The
perfect candidate does not exist, and clearly the candidate who
ticks more boxes than Steve Lancaster for the money that
(12:41):
is on offer also does not exist. So they're back
to Steve and I think clearly he hasn't made a
dog's breakfast of the interim role. Otherwise we wouldn't be
having this conversation. He's clearly done a very good job
and shown the board of New Zealand Rugby that they
do have a safe pair of hands in him, and
hopefully not just a safe pair, but a strategic pair
(13:02):
of hands as well. So it's probably a couple of things,
like some people will say, oh, one of the global
searches have slip down the hall. Is that really a
global search at all? Or actually is this a good
outcome because you know that there was there was no
one at his level who was willing to come and
take the role.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
I think there's any doubt that he's got relationships and
he knows everybody involved as far as coaches and players
and administrators and so on and so forth. Do you
look to see what nine years, ten years has been
around now experience at a fiscal level with a different
company and understanding the mechanations behind dealing with sponsors and
(13:41):
getting more money on board and so on and so forth.
Is that an area maybe where you might go, Have
they got the right.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Bro that feels that that feels as though it's the
not the blind spot, but the work on area. He's
been a former Crusaders player, so he's got the playing background.
He's been involved in high performance at New Zealand Rugby, Crusaders,
Rugby Canada, Nimball New Zealand. Yeah, so outside of rugby,
so he's got all of that. He used this pray again,
(14:08):
ticks all of those boxes. You're right. The commercial acumen
sitting across the table from high level sponsors and trying
to convince them to sign away big sums of money
to align themselves with New Zealand rugby is probably the
area that they had the most concern about. Well, we're
going to find out whether he's got that in his
locker or not.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
And we'll find out in due course. Everyone's there now, right,
they've got chief financial officers, they've got all of the
site they need, they've got the coach, the assistant coaches.
What have I missed out? Everybody else?
Speaker 2 (14:39):
Don John Don trigger had a high performances there as well,
So yeah, you're right. The new ELT executive leadership team
I think that stands for, is in place now with
a chair David Kirk, who I'm sure, we'll still have
a big say yeah we can. Well, we can move
bravely into the future. Now this is the team that's
going to take us forward. I guess we now wait
(14:59):
to see how they go and get them behind them
just before we do leave the chamber. I wanted to
chet quickly about the black Caps squad name for the
upcoming test tour of Irelandland and England. Nine pace bowlers.
Jacob Duffiy not among them because his wife is about
to give birth to their first child, so he's staying home.
No specialist spinner Mitchell Center is injured. No room for
Ajas Pattel. Dean Foxcroft is effectively taking the place of
(15:24):
Mitchell Sanner as the spin bowling or rounder option is
there how you read it.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
He's a batting all round her, isn't he. That's what
he does and he bowls off break, but definitely focus
on what he can do with the willow. It does
seem slightly risky, but what are their expectations around what
the deck's going to be doing over in that part
of the world. A lot the Santana Claus may well
come back. I think that Foxcroft is only in there
(15:52):
up until the first test, whether he plays or not.
So they've got other guys coming back to from competitions
that may work on in But what do they expecting
condition wise? I mean, maybe it will be a seam
as paradise and they don't need the tweakers.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
I think of it. I think of your name nine
seam bowlers as your clue, doesn't it with Henry Smith, Tickner, Folks,
Ray Sears, Clark Jamison and also O'Rourke. I reckon they're
expecting seam friendly condition stars. That'll be what i'd take
from that.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
I deduced that plainly, didn't I that what's going to
happen with the strengths of the scene, bolic, Let's hope
it spikes around and the English are absolutely terrified of quicks.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
Yeah, look, well it'll be I'm regardless of what happens.
I cannot wait. I love my red Bull cricket. I
know you do as well, both of us burn the
midnight oil and with these tests starting and sort of
the late evening and going through the night, there will
be a few matchticks and eyes in the chamber in
the in the month or so ahead. But looking forward
to it, and yeah, look if Dean Foxcroft gets the
(16:55):
chance to make a Test debut against Ireland. Perhaps he
strikes me as the kind of looker would relish that opportunity.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
Well, he's a guy who's in his late twenties. He
knows his game. He can app from the Republic what
ten years ago, and when you get guy developing and
you get to that age, they do know what they bring.
And we've seen huge success with black Caps who have
been in that same position, right, So a lot of
faith in.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
Him, indeed, a lot of faith in him and a
lot of exciting times ahead and far as far as
Red Ball Cricket is concerned, that will know us in
the chamber today.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
Leading a vix. We've got just the ticket. It's Sports Fix,
Power Blay, News Talks.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
IVY and that'll blow the final. We're still on Sports
Fix for today as well. Thank you for downloading, thank
you for subscribing, thank you for listening, thank you for
telling your friends a fresh episode is a new podcast
feed same time tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
And thank you for the old school or the current
school or the radio school for listening to both Jason
and our News Talk z B. We've got Sports Talk
Monday through Friday. Seven eight pm. Piney's got the Monday shift.
I've got the rest of the week, and then we
hand it over to mister pine for the weekend's funning games.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
Indeed weekend sport. It's called twelve till three on Saturday,
twelve till three on Sunday. We greatly appreciate you listening
and on the podcast or on the traditional radio. See
you tomorrow, Dars.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
For more from News Talk sed 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 ed B
follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
This is Sportsfix. Howard by News Talk said.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Be hello there and welcome into the Sports Fixed podcast.
It is Thursday, May the seventh, as we charge headlong
towards another sporting weekend. It's quite a good time to
talk about about it. I'm Jason Pinte, my.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Name is Darcy Waldgrave, and I'm charging absolutely. I don't
walk toward pressure. I run at it and try and
take its head off.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Yeah and sometimes, well if you let anything like me,
sometimes it takes your.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Head off as well. I wasn't going to mention that that, yes,
very true.
Speaker 4 (00:46):
All right.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
A couple of things to get through today, some quite
big meaty issues to kick around. We've got a new
New Zealand rugby CEO, well a permanent one anyway. Steve
Blancaster has been upgraded from being interim to the main gig.
I want to talk about that. The black Cat squad
has been named for the upcoming Test matches against Ireland
and England. Exciting times fans of red ball cricket, as
far as a different voice on the pod, who a
(01:08):
we're hearing from today, biney.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
I'll be having a chat with Gregor Paul, one of
my colleagues, the New Zealand Herald rugby writer. This is
right in his wheelhouse.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Fantastic and the latest sports news coming to Let's get
it like the way he is said.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
Lancaster has been up great. This is Steve Lancaster two
point zero.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Well, I guess we're going to find out. I guess
we are going to find out. Let's get into it.
In other news, Let's kick you off as always with
a look at some of the big sports stories around today.
Nine pace bowlers, but no specialist spinner, have been picked
for New Zealand on their Test cricket tour of Ireland
and England, which starts in Belfast on the twenty seventh
of May. Twenty eight year old uncapped spinning all round
(01:48):
a Dean Foxcroft takes the spot of the injured Mitchell Senter.
Some players might not I to blesss Rian War, but
for me, I think it's obviously I want to put
off the formast of New Zealand. Blues and All Blacks
winger Caleb Clark has poured cold water on any idea
he might follow the lead of Lester fy Inger Muku
and move into the loose forwards. No, but I saw
(02:09):
someone make a video about us. Yeah, outside can play
in the.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
Lucias and they started naming off out sous and I
hope my name before No, keep you on that to
know where I can run away from those guys.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
And Paris Jamanas through to a second straight Champions League final.
They've advanced to meet Arsenal in the finale in Budapest
on the thirty first of May after a six y
five aggregate semi final win over Byern Munich. Fine, we're
given late hope and leg two courtesy of a Harry
Kane stoppage time goal. Davis Cain Scots maybe too late,
(02:42):
it was too late, and Paris Saint Jermain go through
to the final.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Use and a villion. It's Sportsfix with Jason Pine and Dussy,
Walter Grave and.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
If Welcome to the Sports Fix podcast. Now to New
Zealand Herald Rugby scribe mister Gregor Paul as we look
at the appointment of nz r's CEO.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
Gooday, Gregor, welcome in, Thanks for having me, Darcy.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Great to talk about.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
This is right in your wheelhouse. He must be having
a hell of a day writing all this up. Now
that we've got a brand new CEO. I say brand new.
He's been around for six months, but not in that role.
Happy days for Steve Lancaster. And I suppose if anyone's
going to be able to talk into this, it would
be you, Gregor. What was your initial reaction when he
got the job?
Speaker 4 (03:28):
Double take? I was a wee bit surprised. I knew
that the New Zealand Rugby board were happy with the
way he had been performing as interim CEO, which he
was made in November last year. But my understanding, and
it was entirely this that he was really definitely one
(03:50):
hundred percent and interim CEO, that he wasn't seen internally
as a potential candidate to be put in that role permanently.
And you may recall, Darcy, there was a press release
that New Zealand Rugby in March this year to that
the high Performance Manager Chris Lendrun was leaving New Zealand
(04:13):
Rugby that had led to restructure A new role of
I think it was called Chief Rugby Officer was being created. Yeah,
it was, and the relief said, and Steve Lancaster will
move into that role when his time as interim CEO
comes to an end. So going by that, even internally,
(04:33):
the board had no intent or belief that they were
going to be promoting Steve Lancaster at that time because
he was clearly destined to move into a different job.
So they were actively, presumably actively looking for someone else.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Well, what do we read into this? They simply couldn't
find anyone else, or when they stepped back that went,
hold on, he's been right under our those what are
we doing. We've been going through this process kicking boxes
to make sure we've got the right guy. What do
you read into it?
Speaker 4 (05:05):
Well, a bit of both. I don't want to be
disparaged and unkind about Steve. That is unfair, But I
think when you look at the process that they went through,
they start off saying New Zealand Rugby. When Mark Robinson
stood down, they said, right, we're going to begin a
global search where you know, we're looking for a you know,
(05:25):
a heavyweight player, someone who's got heavy duty corporate sports experience. Yes,
they need to be ingrained and under and across the
grassroots world. That will be part of the job. But
we're really looking for someone that can drive this organization.
It's a complex one. It has a private equity investor.
It has money sitting there that is to be invested
(05:47):
in revenue generating streams that we do not know, you
know what exactly they are. They've got to be able
to negotiate broadcast agreements, be across sponsorship agreements, you know,
be the face of the organization. Look it was. It
was sold as a really really big corporate job. They
were clearly looking outside of New Zealand for handed it.
(06:09):
In the end, if you looked at where they started,
no one would have said that Steve Lancaster was the
guy for them. So without being ruined, you have to
put two and two together and go did they just
simply not find who they were looking for? And we're
a bit exhausted by the search and decided, do you
(06:29):
know what what's worth? And definitely worth me mentioning here,
Darcy is that simultaneously u zaidh Rugby were also recruiting
at the same time for a chief financial officer and
a chief commercial officer, both of which were filled in
February this year. And my gut feel here is that
they hit gold with those two appointments. They've got two
good guys. I think they got exactly what they wanted there.
(06:52):
They've come into the organization and the board has going,
you know what, we can actually rescale the rema of
the chief exec and say, look, we've got really capable
financial guy who can handle the complex instruments and relationship
with our private equity investors, silver Lake, you know, make
sure that the money side of the business has taken
(07:12):
well care of the accounting. They've got a chief Commercial
officer who will be doing the you know, the major
sponsorship deals, the broadcast negotiation when that comes around. So
they've gone great. Well, he's highly competent too. So you know,
Steve is going pretty well as CEO interim. Why don't
we just we haven't found anyone else, Why don't we
(07:33):
just promote him and maybe rescale the job a little
bit and put a heavier emphasis on the CEO being
the champion of community rugby, you know, the guy that
pieces the guy that links the corporate side of the
game to the to the community side of the game.
And because we don't have that represented it over well
through the CFO or c CEO, and I think that's
(07:56):
why they've landed on.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Him dissecting the sporting agenda. It's Sports Fix with Jason
Vine and Darcy Waldgrave.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
And you thought new Zille head issue with the fun Police.
Let's check out Victoria, specifically Melbourne. Katrina Sedgwick, the chief
executive of the Melbourne Arts Precinct, which manages Federation Square,
says the behavior of some fans led to his decision
(08:27):
not to host World Cup watch parties, the biggest sporting
event on the planet Australia one of the iconic sporting
destinations Melbourne even more so, so what have they decided
to do based on the terrible behavior of a handful
(08:47):
of fans. They're going to blow the entertainment for everybody.
This is a shocking decision. Football Australia have come out
and said, look, it's the biggest sporting event of the
world and it unites Australia's multicultural communities, which reinforce our
national identity. This is from Football Australia Chief Executive Martin Kugler.
(09:10):
Live sites create iconic moments for Australian sports fans. Look,
a vast majority of people are going to be enjoying
the football World Cup aren't going to be there. It's
a physical impossibility. Most people are going to be watching
it on the Delhi. Would you rather watch it in
your lounge room or maybe down at the local football club,
(09:33):
or maybe with thousands and thousands of like minded individuals
who want to celebrate the wonder of the beautiful game.
You know, and a couple of people have chosen to
take flares into these events. A couple of people who
have behaved in an anti social manner, A couple of
people whose decision making has been very poor have ruined
(09:57):
it for everybody. And the Melbourne Arts Precinct have sided
with the idiots. This is not a decision based on
public safety. This is a decision and cowering to the
pathetic minority of individuals who don't understand the concept of
community spirit. Don't ban it from Federation Square. Don't destroy
(10:21):
the joy of tens of thousands of people who want
to celebrate this extraordinary event based on the behavior of idiots.
You're the idiot here. This is dumb. You think New
Zealand have problems with the fun police, You ain't seen
nothing yet.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
The Chamber is now in session on Sportsfax and of
the chamber, we go, well will it be?
Speaker 2 (10:45):
Steve Lancaster two point zero New Zealand Rugby has confirmed
today he is the organization's permanent chief executive. He's been
in the interim role for six months and has been
on the Governing bodies executive team since twenty twenty. This
has obviously been the most successful audition in the history
of this role. He was given the interim role. I
(11:05):
think it was even stated he's not really our man,
not really who we're looking for. Clearly who is who
they're looking for?
Speaker 3 (11:11):
Well, I asked him at the start of the week
when they had him on here talking about something else,
that all you guys have got to do now is
sort out your CEO. Are you getting any close? Goes Oh, well,
that's not for me to talk about. You know, that's
much higher.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
So he knew then, right, Well yeah, and I mean
and good on him, because it must be quite a
challenging situation, your interim CEO. You've been told privately and
quite publicly actually that you're not really the right fit
for the job permanently, but you still have to go
forward and run business as usual at the at the organization,
(11:42):
but also look ahead to some pretty chunky pieces of business.
Clearly he's made a very good fist of it, and
they've said, you know what, I don't think we're going
to get better than this, Steve take the job.
Speaker 3 (11:51):
What do you read into the fact that they've claimed
that they've gone globally, they've looked the best of the best,
They've looked at CEO, some all different industries, yet they've
landed on the guy just down the hall in the
office there. Does that say to you they couldn't find
anyone better, and so they've gone back to type or
(12:13):
across the board. They looked at him and you know what,
he is our man based on what else we've found
out in that six months.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
I think it's a combination. But I think they genuinely
thought they would be able to find, you know, and
without denigrating Steve Lancaster to somebody who ticked more boxes
than he did, and it was the search for a unicorn?
Dos you and I've spoken about this a lot. The
perfect candidate does not exist, and clearly the candidate who
ticks more boxes than Steve Lancaster for the money that
(12:41):
is on offer also does not exist. So they're back
to Steve and I think clearly he hasn't made a
dog's breakfast of the interim role. Otherwise we wouldn't be
having this conversation. He's clearly done a very good job
and shown the board of New Zealand Rugby that they
do have a safe pair of hands in him, and
hopefully not just a safe pair, but a strategic pair
(13:02):
of hands as well. So it's probably a couple of things,
like some people will say, oh, one of the global
searches have slip down the hall. Is that really a
global search at all? Or actually is this a good
outcome because you know that there was there was no
one at his level who was willing to come and
take the role.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
I think there's any doubt that he's got relationships and
he knows everybody involved as far as coaches and players
and administrators and so on and so forth. Do you
look to see what nine years, ten years has been
around now experience at a fiscal level with a different
company and understanding the mechanations behind dealing with sponsors and
(13:41):
getting more money on board and so on and so forth.
Is that an area maybe where you might go, Have
they got the right.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Bro that feels that that feels as though it's the
not the blind spot, but the work on area. He's
been a former Crusaders player, so he's got the playing background.
He's been involved in high performance at New Zealand Rugby, Crusaders,
Rugby Canada, Nimball New Zealand. Yeah, so outside of rugby,
so he's got all of that. He used this pray again,
(14:08):
ticks all of those boxes. You're right. The commercial acumen
sitting across the table from high level sponsors and trying
to convince them to sign away big sums of money
to align themselves with New Zealand rugby is probably the
area that they had the most concern about. Well, we're
going to find out whether he's got that in his
locker or not.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
And we'll find out in due course. Everyone's there now, right,
they've got chief financial officers, they've got all of the
site they need, they've got the coach, the assistant coaches.
What have I missed out? Everybody else?
Speaker 2 (14:39):
Don John Don trigger had a high performances there as well,
So yeah, you're right. The new ELT executive leadership team
I think that stands for, is in place now with
a chair David Kirk, who I'm sure, we'll still have
a big say yeah we can. Well, we can move
bravely into the future. Now this is the team that's
going to take us forward. I guess we now wait
(14:59):
to see how they go and get them behind them
just before we do leave the chamber. I wanted to
chet quickly about the black Caps squad name for the
upcoming test tour of Irelandland and England. Nine pace bowlers.
Jacob Duffiy not among them because his wife is about
to give birth to their first child, so he's staying home.
No specialist spinner Mitchell Center is injured. No room for
Ajas Pattel. Dean Foxcroft is effectively taking the place of
(15:24):
Mitchell Sanner as the spin bowling or rounder option is
there how you read it.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
He's a batting all round her, isn't he. That's what
he does and he bowls off break, but definitely focus
on what he can do with the willow. It does
seem slightly risky, but what are their expectations around what
the deck's going to be doing over in that part
of the world. A lot the Santana Claus may well
come back. I think that Foxcroft is only in there
(15:52):
up until the first test, whether he plays or not.
So they've got other guys coming back to from competitions
that may work on in But what do they expecting
condition wise? I mean, maybe it will be a seam
as paradise and they don't need the tweakers.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
I think of it. I think of your name nine
seam bowlers as your clue, doesn't it with Henry Smith, Tickner, Folks,
Ray Sears, Clark Jamison and also O'Rourke. I reckon they're
expecting seam friendly condition stars. That'll be what i'd take
from that.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
I deduced that plainly, didn't I that what's going to
happen with the strengths of the scene, bolic, Let's hope
it spikes around and the English are absolutely terrified of quicks.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
Yeah, look, well it'll be I'm regardless of what happens.
I cannot wait. I love my red Bull cricket. I
know you do as well, both of us burn the
midnight oil and with these tests starting and sort of
the late evening and going through the night, there will
be a few matchticks and eyes in the chamber in
the in the month or so ahead. But looking forward
to it, and yeah, look if Dean Foxcroft gets the
(16:55):
chance to make a Test debut against Ireland. Perhaps he
strikes me as the kind of looker would relish that opportunity.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
Well, he's a guy who's in his late twenties. He
knows his game. He can app from the Republic what
ten years ago, and when you get guy developing and
you get to that age, they do know what they bring.
And we've seen huge success with black Caps who have
been in that same position, right, So a lot of
faith in.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
Him, indeed, a lot of faith in him and a
lot of exciting times ahead and far as far as
Red Ball Cricket is concerned, that will know us in
the chamber today.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
Leading a vix. We've got just the ticket. It's Sports Fix,
Power Blay, News Talks.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
IVY and that'll blow the final. We're still on Sports
Fix for today as well. Thank you for downloading, thank
you for subscribing, thank you for listening, thank you for
telling your friends a fresh episode is a new podcast
feed same time tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
And thank you for the old school or the current
school or the radio school for listening to both Jason
and our News Talk z B. We've got Sports Talk
Monday through Friday. Seven eight pm. Piney's got the Monday shift.
I've got the rest of the week, and then we
hand it over to mister pine for the weekend's funning games.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
Indeed weekend sport. It's called twelve till three on Saturday,
twelve till three on Sunday. We greatly appreciate you listening
and on the podcast or on the traditional radio. See
you tomorrow, Dars.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
For more from News Talk sed B, listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
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