On Sports Fix with D'Arcy Waldegrave for 7th April 2026, on Sunday afternoon in Miami, Carlos Ulberg is set to become the second UFC fighter who represents New Zealand to fight for an undisputed title in the leading MMA promotion. He is set to take on former champion Jiří Procházka at UFC 327. Ulberg joined D'Arcy to discuss.
D'Arcy shares his thoughts on the never say die attitude of the White Ferns following the South Africa series and the depth that's being built.
And D'Arcy and Newstalk ZB rugby commentator Elliott Smith discuss Shannon Frizell returning to New Zealand Rugby and what it means for the eligibility rules, as well as the Warriors squad being named later tonight.
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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 podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
This is Sportsfix, Howard by Newstalks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Welcome on into the Sports Fixed podcast.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Good day to you.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
My name is Darcy Walter Grave and this is The Fix.
But Tuesday, the seventh of April twenty twenty six featured
on today's podcast. I'm going to have a chat with
Carlos Alberg this weekend. He has got a title fight
in the UFC, yet another one from a long line
of extraordinary fighters out of a city Kickboxing Jim. We'll
(00:46):
catch up with him shortly. I'll have a chat with
Elliott Smith, our rugby editor and commentator. It's from News
Talks EBB around the return of Shannon Frazel, what it means,
will it last? Is he going to be in all black?
All that and more, And I'll get some opinion as
well around the magnificence of the summer of cricket with
the white ferns. Lock it and enjoy it. This is
(01:08):
the Fix Neu Stork zb and in Sport Today, through
the alarynxes of the parties concerned, Shannon Brazel is coming home.
The Monstrous Blindside will return from Japan to play with
the Tasman Marko before the Highlanders, who open their doors
for him, find his way back into the All Blacks.
Lander's coach Jamie Joseph can hardly contain his joy to
(01:33):
a position.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
I guess where his goal for coming back home to
switch his way back into the ORB team.
Speaker 5 (01:39):
Current Fighters with our Goals.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Even quote his play like Channon coming back. So experience
confidence coming into the group's going to be good for
Tiger Woods won't be playing at the Masters this weekend
after a small issue of self control, or lack thereof.
He's been charged with operating a vehicle under the influence
for my Golf World number one Jason Day accepts as humans,
(02:03):
we're all fallible, but a line was crossed. I look
at it and go, He's just a human being like
everyone else, and we have struggles and it's unfortunate.
Speaker 5 (02:12):
The only thing that I would you know, that I.
Speaker 6 (02:15):
Don't understand is that it's a little bit selfish of
him to drive and put other people that in harms
way as well.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Super Rugby Pacific chair Kevin Malloy has laid out why
the Easter week ind schedule was a little anemic. The NRL,
the A League and the AFL partied hard over the
Chocolate Festival period. SRP and a piece of the carrab
Six grounds were also unavailable and a couple of teams
didn't want to play because of their upbringing.
Speaker 6 (02:44):
I think the fact that our clubs have struggled to
get crowds and that's a bit part of their revenue
is a government, you know, strategically it made it seems
to basically give the teams breakover this weekend.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
And that's Sport Today.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
Use and Avidion. It's Sportsfix with Dancy Valdegreve.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
That's welcome into the Sports Fix podcast to mixed martial artists.
You have seen Man of the Hour Carlos Uberg. Good eight,
Carlos mate, nice.
Speaker 5 (03:15):
To hear, Nice to hear, a very local voice.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
You're not local to where you are right now on
the other side of the world. Preparation, let's talk about this.
You've got something that you probably couldn't have imagined ten
years ago, but it's right in front of you. Now.
What kind of mental process are you going through to
prepare yourself for this huge brawl?
Speaker 5 (03:37):
Mental process I mean, like, I guess it comes down
just to me being sticking to the same formula. Really
it's I mean, I've seen it all before. Man, I'm
not going to let this mountain of an opportunity or
a thing take its told on me. It's just another
fight and all it is is just another person across
from me, and my mission is to get that gold,
(03:59):
get the win, and come home with it belt. That's
all it is is mental I guess. I mean, right now,
we've got a good team around me right now. A
few of the boys flew over from from home back home,
so we've got a good full house at the moment,
stealing a nice villain in Miami, so it's pretty cool.
We feel like I'm in Cuba, and all that is
(04:20):
is just surrounding myself with the right people, right team,
good coaches around me and h and making sure that
we're getting in the work. So a lot of planning
has been done throughout the weeks. But again it's just
it's just the same formula, doing the things that got
me here and and and not trying to reinvent the wheel.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Did the crew come over from the West coast, because
there was quite a number of them one there over
in Seattle. Did you get Eugene did? Did is he
come over? And did the crew get over there?
Speaker 5 (04:55):
Bro? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (04:55):
Man, there's there's quite the boys.
Speaker 5 (04:57):
They've been doing quite a bit of They're racking up
the airports, that's for sure, man. So yeah, I mean
the boys have gone through different parts of the country.
I think they were in I think Mike and Eugene
were in in London and then they went to Seattle.
Now back here in Miami, so they've.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
They've done a fair bit of flying man.
Speaker 7 (05:17):
And yeah, I mean.
Speaker 5 (05:19):
It's it's just nice that everyone's willing to do all
that and be able to do this all together as
a team.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
When you look toward your sparring and how much time
you see nothing's going to change to have? Have you
got to spa worth? Who's you's your partner there?
Speaker 5 (05:35):
Yeah? At the moment, we've got never who's just come
off a fresh wind an amazing win?
Speaker 3 (05:41):
How good was that?
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Sorry just to stop?
Speaker 3 (05:43):
How good was that?
Speaker 2 (05:44):
You must be stoked?
Speaker 5 (05:47):
I mean we're like, we're all just because we had
my last spider on that Sunday and then he was
playing just after us, so we're on high and yeah,
man stove for his wind, got the finish and an
amazing finish as well. So and I think he's gearing
up to fight again pretty soon. So amazing man. And
he was able to come out and help me out here.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
So we've got her.
Speaker 5 (06:09):
And then we've also got Fergus Jenkins who's come out.
We've got Addie he from from Tahiti who's pretty quick,
So a lot of different guys who who can give
me a different looks. Kevin du Say is also flying
over pretty soon, so we've got a good number of guys.
Dab Or who's also coming over to give me some
(06:32):
some some help. So quite a good number of guys, man.
And that's what you need, is the team to come
along because you can't do it alone, the man. So yeah,
very blessed to be able to have that.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Okay, so you've got your warm prop opposite you, because
that's basically what your opposition is. It's just a body
for you to attack. But what do we know about Protska?
What kind of fighter is he?
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (06:57):
Man, a guy that fights in the fire. He loves
it and he loves the chaos. He's not there's no
there's no secret that.
Speaker 7 (07:05):
He loves the chaos and yeah, man, I mean all
that is is chaos versus someone who chaos. There's a
bit of fire there, so I mean it it depends
on whether you fight fire with fire or you play
the game.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
You've got a calm enough to mean and when you
get there, you said you don't want to change everything.
So when you're doing that the Gone walk and going
out there, what space do you need to put yourself in, Carlos?
Speaker 5 (07:32):
What space do I put myself in?
Speaker 7 (07:34):
In terms of, well, what.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
You're doing in your head and you want to repeat
the same thing over and over again. So when you're
approaching the outgone, you've got that warm in a hit,
where do you get to? Where is the ideal space
for you mentally to be?
Speaker 3 (07:49):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (07:49):
Yeah, I mean like it's it's just putting myself in
in different positions, were in my own putting myself in
my own head and knowing what I'm fighting for, what
it is that I'm I'm doing here, And obviously this
is this is the gold, this is the moment, this
is the world title, the this is everything that you
(08:09):
know career wise that I've been working myself for. I
haven't been doing this camp over a few weeks months.
This has been a lifetime of hard work. And you know,
my my life story, my my upbringing was you know,
it wasn't a very easy upgoing upbringing, but but you know,
we fought through. And I think I apply the same
(08:30):
mentality to life as to this fight. When I when
I'm when I'm stepping into that octagon, I'm thinking about
what I'm fighting for, what I've what I've sacrificed, and
and and who I'm fighting for.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
So it's there's a lot of there's a there's.
Speaker 5 (08:49):
A lot to prepare myself going into such a big
fight like this. But again, it's it's not letting the
mountainous thing that it is overwhelmed me and staying focused,
staying prepared, staying calm, and keeping my calmness because that's
where I like to operate best, and I I'll break
myself best out of it.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
Dissecting the sporting agenda, it's Sportsfex with Dancy Waldegrave.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
The seemingly endless summer off cricket finally wound up for
the women. For the men, it doesn't stop. They've got
another series starting again in ten days. But the women
wound things up on Sunday with a sound beating of
the South African tourists, and what a beating it was
the best thing around. This was the way that the
(09:38):
White Ferns picked themselves up off the deck without the
magic of mealy Kerr and set a very defendable total
and then rolled the South Africans sixty six runs short.
So who are the heroes. No bait's gone for a duck,
no plumber gone for only one and of course the
superstar cur gone for nought as well. It's more of
(10:00):
the old school that came to the party. Now you
could be concerned about that. Maddie Green and a Brook
Halliday are hardly spring check pickens, but they showed the
hard nosed attitude, the never say die attitude that mealy
Kerr has showed throughout her time. Indeed, Sophie Devine Susie
Bates earlier in the piece. So that attitude, that aggression,
(10:23):
that confidence is being continued by these players. And you'd
like to think that once the likes of Green and
Halliday choose to retire, we've got some young players who
will come up and fill in the void and learn
these lessons under the watchful eyes of these senior players.
You look at Georgia Plummer, you're expecting big things.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
You look to the izzies.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Both gays and sharp. The future is looking sound for
New Zealand women's cricket and the example they're setting for
the next generation coming through. And I'm talking about the ten, eleven,
twelve and thirteen year olds that are watching these ladies
play and play at their best, impressing people with the
controlled aggression and application that they show to their chosen role.
(11:11):
They are the defending T twenty I Women's World at
champions They're going to go back and defend that title.
And i'd suggest the way they are right now, the
way they've been playing, the way they've continued to rise
and rise under the watchful eye of Mealy kerr Aug
as well for the future of cricket. Here for the
Wahni in our congratulations White Ferns that it's all proud,
(11:36):
sensational to watch and wonderful to be a part of.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
The Chamber is now in session on Sports Fix.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Time now for our daily session here on the Sports
Fix in the Chamber, and this Tuesday we're joined by
Elliott Smith. Conveniently so because there's a large rugby story
floating around. Is Elliott, our head rugby commentator, rugby editor,
man of the hour when it comes to the egg
ball code here at news Talks therebu.
Speaker 3 (12:04):
Mage, Hello, Darcy, thanks the invitation.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
Thanks very much for coming in and joining us. Stick this,
Shannon Frazel on the way back. This opens up all
sorts of worm cans, doesn't it. It's a really interesting
prospect potentially.
Speaker 4 (12:17):
Yes, although it's similar to the Richie Mungas saga when
he's coming back. We just known about this for a
little bit longer, but there are similar factors to that.
They're both came back around the same time. They both
came back to try and win a Rugby World Cup.
They've got a sense of unfinished business. They've done three
years in Japan at the same club to Siba, so
it's really pretty much a mirror image between those two
(12:38):
and coming back. We may see more of this though.
Players that go and play test rugby for a few years,
then go abroad and plan Japan then leave the door
open for trips to come home, potentially for a head
and run mission for a World Cup. So look, I
don't begrudge Shannan Frazel coming back. He was in some
really good form in twenty twenty three when he left.
(13:03):
He's been bossing the Japanese competition by all reports. So look,
if you can throw them into the mix. This is
what it's all about for the Rugby World Cup, next
to your Darcy putting the best team on the paddic
and if that's going to help for the All Blacks,
then then so be it.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Well, the currency for the All Blacks is winning World Cups,
isn't it. It used to be everything else bledders Lie,
it's not so much currency anymore at spare change. That
may change, but it is all about winning the World
Cup and everything has to be focused toward that. The
question it raises is the standard of Japanese rugby enough
to keep players in the right state of mind and
(13:36):
physicalities when they come back Marco first and then off
to Super rugby the Highlanders I'd suggest it is, and
a lot of people went, nah, it's not quite good enough.
Speaker 4 (13:46):
Well as the standard of Super rugby when you're running
over Mona Pacificer by fifty points or the Fiji and
draw by fifty points any better?
Speaker 3 (13:53):
Now?
Speaker 4 (13:53):
The better games and Super Rugby are better the closer
games the Darbies, and from a New Zealand perspective of
no doubt better and more comparable to Tests rugby. But
Super Rugby's got some major issues around that and preparing
for test rap players for Tests rugby. We know this,
We've talked about it for a number of years. So
I don't think we can be too high and mighty
about the strengths of Super Rugby and keeping players here
versus Japanese rugby. No doubt, you come back from Japanese rugby,
(14:16):
perhaps a little bit fresher. There are longer breaks in
the season. They've got a bye week coming up this
week for example, in the midst of their season. So
is he better prepared, Well, maybe he's a bit fresher
than he would have been having to basically to carry
the Highlanders on his back for the last three seasons.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
Potentially, but fresh when you consider that back from Japan
play for Tasman markl then having a slight break slight
break before suiting up for the Highlanders and then going
to the All Blacks and then going to the World Cup.
Is that mat will that make these players a little stale?
Speaker 4 (14:50):
It could do, It could well do, and look, he's
gonna have to fight for his juicy because similarly to
Richie Moong, he's not going to be able to go
straight back into the All Blacks. He wasn't on a sabbatical,
he was on a Japanese deal, so he's going to
have to come back, similar to lestifying Anuku last year
where he played for Tasim then got called into the
All Blacks and four see a scenario where that happens
with mu Wonga, but also Shannon Frazel this year that
(15:13):
injuries before the All Blacks and all of a sudden
they get a call up, perhaps earlier than they are expecting.
But he's going to have to prove himself. What is
good from a perspective of Shene of Razzel is that
the All Blacks coach is Dave Rennie, who was currently
coaching in Japan, so he will know what's what Frazel
has been able to do for to sheep It in
the last few seasons, whether he is up to All
(15:34):
Black standard and how quickly he might be able to
get him in.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
And what he needs to do to get up to speed.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
So that is a positive if you are Shannon Frazel,
Your coach has been watching more of you than he's
probably been watching the New Zealand based Sixers for the
last few seasons.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
Six not exactly light on the ground. Are we not
quite sure who our loose Ford trio are going to be?
But we've got a lot of handy, big bruising buggers
out there, haven't we.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
Well, that's right, but we've got no definitive This is
the dead seat locked him in. You know, this isn't
kind of McCaw reid. You know there are players there
that are well capable of jerseys, but you know, sav
we don't know which jersey really suits him best. What
if the Tidi has been a very good player, but
he's had some injury issues. Simon Parker made some claims
(16:16):
last year, but I don't think he's played his best
rugby so far in Super Rugby. So you know, Ethan Blackadder,
there are dup lucky. There are players with claims, but
no one putting their hand up definitively. And that's where
it might help someone like a Shannon Brazzel going Okay,
none of you have actually locked down this. Jusey I
left three years ago, so I'm just going to come
back and take it.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
The other issue around this is now it basically gives
a flag to players going, you know what, I'm going
to leave the All Blacks for a couple of years
ago and make Thiss have a whole pile of money
in that competition, and if I'm good enough, I can
come back and run at a World Cup again. So
that that is an unintended circumstanced.
Speaker 4 (16:51):
Yeah, but there's also the fact that they may not
ever come back. You know, Shannon Frazzel may have decided
to go and resign for TASIB, resigned for a couple
more years, or they may have gone and tried something different,
gone to France or something like that. So there's no
guarantees that come back. But I guess it does leave
the door open that goes I can make a better
money and if I'm feeling good enough to steal player
(17:11):
in quality rugby at the back end, you know, eighteen
months out from a Rugby World Cup, maybe I can
go to it. So this may be what we see
more of in the future, potentially that players decide to
spurn sabbatical deals like Ardie save Has, which gave him
two opportunities to go a Brawl Bowl still being contracted
to New Zealand Rugby, and instead just go to the
full hole and go I'm going to go to Japan
(17:32):
for three years and if I'm feeling in the mood
then I'll come back for a World Cut mission.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
One last thing on Miss Elliot Smith. Do the players
that have got I suppose eyeballs on the six jersey
packet herssy fit if the guy like this comes back
and flogs their jersey out from underneath them or not.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
Well, they might do, but it's not going to help
the cause of being an All Black, is it? And
I don't think Reny like.
Speaker 4 (17:57):
Exactly one hundred percent. What would Neil Barnes's reaction be. Look,
I think ultimately it gives the All Blacks the best
possible player mix for the World Cup next year. Jamie
Joseph spoke to media today talk about depth. We need
depth in this competition from a Highland this perspective. We
haven't had it without wanting to take a jersey away
from some of their promising young loose forwards. But they
(18:17):
need depth and if he can they add that into
the mix, it's an option for Dave Ronnie.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
They've got a Warrior's team coming out tonight. They were
the absolute toast of the town. They really were, and
then suddenly the toast got burnt and crumbled.
Speaker 4 (18:34):
This has been the warrior is for how long they
get your hopes up and then they let you down drastically,
And this is just happening all over again.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
Yeah, two consecutive defeats, and possibly the second one was worst,
well I.
Speaker 6 (18:49):
Think it was.
Speaker 4 (18:50):
Yeah, they didn't seem to learn you the lessons from that.
The week prior, the Halves didn't work again. Everything that
worked for them in those opening three weeks where they
were playing some just front foot systems rugby league. Now
they're trying to basket play all around the edges and
do things before earning the right to do it. And
I can't figure out what the game plan is. I
(19:12):
don't think Halves are working with that combination either. So
there's gonna be some interesting selections there. Nicol Crooks has
not a center that we can cast that aside, you know,
so some big decisions here for Andrew Webster, because you're right,
the seam was rolling and now they've come to a
very sudden halt.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
That's the beauty of momentum. It can be stopped. It's
not perpetual.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
Well and the good thing is they play the Storm
this week. Who they have?
Speaker 1 (19:35):
Is that good?
Speaker 4 (19:36):
They haven't beaten? And what no they surely they can't
lose the Storm eighteen times in a row. It's been
seventeen in counting, so you know, surely no, no one
beats the Warriors eighteen times.
Speaker 3 (19:46):
In a row.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
As I always say, you can't say it's our year
until it's finished.
Speaker 3 (19:52):
It's all the trophy is in their hands.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
It's a retrospective statement.
Speaker 5 (19:55):
It was.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
Hey, thanks very much for joining us in the chamber,
Elliott Smith, the pleasure was mine.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
I'm glad leading a vex. We've got just the ticket.
It's Sports Vex powered by News Talks IVY.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
Thanks very much for listen to the Sports Fix podcast.
If you've liked what you've heard, tell your friends and
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(20:28):
to stick with the radio, and I completely understand why
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o'clock is Jason Pine on Weekend Sport. Thanks very much
(20:48):
for joining us today on the Fix. Looking forward to
doing it all again tomorrow
Speaker 1 (20:56):
For more from News talks'd 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 Newstalks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Welcome on into the Sports Fixed podcast.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Good day to you.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
My name is Darcy Walter Grave and this is The Fix.
But Tuesday, the seventh of April twenty twenty six featured
on today's podcast. I'm going to have a chat with
Carlos Alberg this weekend. He has got a title fight
in the UFC, yet another one from a long line
of extraordinary fighters out of a city Kickboxing Jim. We'll
(00:46):
catch up with him shortly. I'll have a chat with
Elliott Smith, our rugby editor and commentator. It's from News
Talks EBB around the return of Shannon Frazel, what it means,
will it last? Is he going to be in all black?
All that and more, And I'll get some opinion as
well around the magnificence of the summer of cricket with
the white ferns. Lock it and enjoy it. This is
(01:08):
the Fix Neu Stork zb and in Sport Today, through
the alarynxes of the parties concerned, Shannon Brazel is coming home.
The Monstrous Blindside will return from Japan to play with
the Tasman Marko before the Highlanders, who open their doors
for him, find his way back into the All Blacks.
Lander's coach Jamie Joseph can hardly contain his joy to
(01:33):
a position.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
I guess where his goal for coming back home to
switch his way back into the ORB team.
Speaker 5 (01:39):
Current Fighters with our Goals.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Even quote his play like Channon coming back. So experience
confidence coming into the group's going to be good for
Tiger Woods won't be playing at the Masters this weekend
after a small issue of self control, or lack thereof.
He's been charged with operating a vehicle under the influence
for my Golf World number one Jason Day accepts as humans,
(02:03):
we're all fallible, but a line was crossed. I look
at it and go, He's just a human being like
everyone else, and we have struggles and it's unfortunate.
Speaker 5 (02:12):
The only thing that I would you know, that I.
Speaker 6 (02:15):
Don't understand is that it's a little bit selfish of
him to drive and put other people that in harms
way as well.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Super Rugby Pacific chair Kevin Malloy has laid out why
the Easter week ind schedule was a little anemic. The NRL,
the A League and the AFL partied hard over the
Chocolate Festival period. SRP and a piece of the carrab
Six grounds were also unavailable and a couple of teams
didn't want to play because of their upbringing.
Speaker 6 (02:44):
I think the fact that our clubs have struggled to
get crowds and that's a bit part of their revenue
is a government, you know, strategically it made it seems
to basically give the teams breakover this weekend.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
And that's Sport Today.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
Use and Avidion. It's Sportsfix with Dancy Valdegreve.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
That's welcome into the Sports Fix podcast to mixed martial artists.
You have seen Man of the Hour Carlos Uberg. Good eight,
Carlos mate, nice.
Speaker 5 (03:15):
To hear, Nice to hear, a very local voice.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
You're not local to where you are right now on
the other side of the world. Preparation, let's talk about this.
You've got something that you probably couldn't have imagined ten
years ago, but it's right in front of you. Now.
What kind of mental process are you going through to
prepare yourself for this huge brawl?
Speaker 5 (03:37):
Mental process I mean, like, I guess it comes down
just to me being sticking to the same formula. Really
it's I mean, I've seen it all before. Man, I'm
not going to let this mountain of an opportunity or
a thing take its told on me. It's just another
fight and all it is is just another person across
from me, and my mission is to get that gold,
(03:59):
get the win, and come home with it belt. That's
all it is is mental I guess. I mean, right now,
we've got a good team around me right now. A
few of the boys flew over from from home back home,
so we've got a good full house at the moment,
stealing a nice villain in Miami, so it's pretty cool.
We feel like I'm in Cuba, and all that is
(04:20):
is just surrounding myself with the right people, right team,
good coaches around me and h and making sure that
we're getting in the work. So a lot of planning
has been done throughout the weeks. But again it's just
it's just the same formula, doing the things that got
me here and and and not trying to reinvent the wheel.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Did the crew come over from the West coast, because
there was quite a number of them one there over
in Seattle. Did you get Eugene did? Did is he
come over? And did the crew get over there?
Speaker 5 (04:55):
Bro? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (04:55):
Man, there's there's quite the boys.
Speaker 5 (04:57):
They've been doing quite a bit of They're racking up
the airports, that's for sure, man. So yeah, I mean
the boys have gone through different parts of the country.
I think they were in I think Mike and Eugene
were in in London and then they went to Seattle.
Now back here in Miami, so they've.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
They've done a fair bit of flying man.
Speaker 7 (05:17):
And yeah, I mean.
Speaker 5 (05:19):
It's it's just nice that everyone's willing to do all
that and be able to do this all together as
a team.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
When you look toward your sparring and how much time
you see nothing's going to change to have? Have you
got to spa worth? Who's you's your partner there?
Speaker 5 (05:35):
Yeah? At the moment, we've got never who's just come
off a fresh wind an amazing win?
Speaker 3 (05:41):
How good was that?
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Sorry just to stop?
Speaker 3 (05:43):
How good was that?
Speaker 2 (05:44):
You must be stoked?
Speaker 5 (05:47):
I mean we're like, we're all just because we had
my last spider on that Sunday and then he was
playing just after us, so we're on high and yeah,
man stove for his wind, got the finish and an
amazing finish as well. So and I think he's gearing
up to fight again pretty soon. So amazing man. And
he was able to come out and help me out here.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
So we've got her.
Speaker 5 (06:09):
And then we've also got Fergus Jenkins who's come out.
We've got Addie he from from Tahiti who's pretty quick,
So a lot of different guys who who can give
me a different looks. Kevin du Say is also flying
over pretty soon, so we've got a good number of guys.
Dab Or who's also coming over to give me some
(06:32):
some some help. So quite a good number of guys, man.
And that's what you need, is the team to come
along because you can't do it alone, the man. So yeah,
very blessed to be able to have that.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Okay, so you've got your warm prop opposite you, because
that's basically what your opposition is. It's just a body
for you to attack. But what do we know about Protska?
What kind of fighter is he?
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (06:57):
Man, a guy that fights in the fire. He loves
it and he loves the chaos. He's not there's no
there's no secret that.
Speaker 7 (07:05):
He loves the chaos and yeah, man, I mean all
that is is chaos versus someone who chaos. There's a
bit of fire there, so I mean it it depends
on whether you fight fire with fire or you play
the game.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
You've got a calm enough to mean and when you
get there, you said you don't want to change everything.
So when you're doing that the Gone walk and going
out there, what space do you need to put yourself in, Carlos?
Speaker 5 (07:32):
What space do I put myself in?
Speaker 7 (07:34):
In terms of, well, what.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
You're doing in your head and you want to repeat
the same thing over and over again. So when you're
approaching the outgone, you've got that warm in a hit,
where do you get to? Where is the ideal space
for you mentally to be?
Speaker 3 (07:49):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (07:49):
Yeah, I mean like it's it's just putting myself in
in different positions, were in my own putting myself in
my own head and knowing what I'm fighting for, what
it is that I'm I'm doing here, And obviously this
is this is the gold, this is the moment, this
is the world title, the this is everything that you
(08:09):
know career wise that I've been working myself for. I
haven't been doing this camp over a few weeks months.
This has been a lifetime of hard work. And you know,
my my life story, my my upbringing was you know,
it wasn't a very easy upgoing upbringing, but but you know,
we fought through. And I think I apply the same
(08:30):
mentality to life as to this fight. When I when
I'm when I'm stepping into that octagon, I'm thinking about
what I'm fighting for, what I've what I've sacrificed, and
and and who I'm fighting for.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
So it's there's a lot of there's a there's.
Speaker 5 (08:49):
A lot to prepare myself going into such a big
fight like this. But again, it's it's not letting the
mountainous thing that it is overwhelmed me and staying focused,
staying prepared, staying calm, and keeping my calmness because that's
where I like to operate best, and I I'll break
myself best out of it.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
Dissecting the sporting agenda, it's Sportsfex with Dancy Waldegrave.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
The seemingly endless summer off cricket finally wound up for
the women. For the men, it doesn't stop. They've got
another series starting again in ten days. But the women
wound things up on Sunday with a sound beating of
the South African tourists, and what a beating it was
the best thing around. This was the way that the
(09:38):
White Ferns picked themselves up off the deck without the
magic of mealy Kerr and set a very defendable total
and then rolled the South Africans sixty six runs short.
So who are the heroes. No bait's gone for a duck,
no plumber gone for only one and of course the
superstar cur gone for nought as well. It's more of
(10:00):
the old school that came to the party. Now you
could be concerned about that. Maddie Green and a Brook
Halliday are hardly spring check pickens, but they showed the
hard nosed attitude, the never say die attitude that mealy
Kerr has showed throughout her time. Indeed, Sophie Devine Susie
Bates earlier in the piece. So that attitude, that aggression,
(10:23):
that confidence is being continued by these players. And you'd
like to think that once the likes of Green and
Halliday choose to retire, we've got some young players who
will come up and fill in the void and learn
these lessons under the watchful eyes of these senior players.
You look at Georgia Plummer, you're expecting big things.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
You look to the izzies.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Both gays and sharp. The future is looking sound for
New Zealand women's cricket and the example they're setting for
the next generation coming through. And I'm talking about the ten, eleven,
twelve and thirteen year olds that are watching these ladies
play and play at their best, impressing people with the
controlled aggression and application that they show to their chosen role.
(11:11):
They are the defending T twenty I Women's World at
champions They're going to go back and defend that title.
And i'd suggest the way they are right now, the
way they've been playing, the way they've continued to rise
and rise under the watchful eye of Mealy kerr Aug
as well for the future of cricket. Here for the
Wahni in our congratulations White Ferns that it's all proud,
(11:36):
sensational to watch and wonderful to be a part of.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
The Chamber is now in session on Sports Fix.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Time now for our daily session here on the Sports
Fix in the Chamber, and this Tuesday we're joined by
Elliott Smith. Conveniently so because there's a large rugby story
floating around. Is Elliott, our head rugby commentator, rugby editor,
man of the hour when it comes to the egg
ball code here at news Talks therebu.
Speaker 3 (12:04):
Mage, Hello, Darcy, thanks the invitation.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
Thanks very much for coming in and joining us. Stick this,
Shannon Frazel on the way back. This opens up all
sorts of worm cans, doesn't it. It's a really interesting
prospect potentially.
Speaker 4 (12:17):
Yes, although it's similar to the Richie Mungas saga when
he's coming back. We just known about this for a
little bit longer, but there are similar factors to that.
They're both came back around the same time. They both
came back to try and win a Rugby World Cup.
They've got a sense of unfinished business. They've done three
years in Japan at the same club to Siba, so
it's really pretty much a mirror image between those two
(12:38):
and coming back. We may see more of this though.
Players that go and play test rugby for a few years,
then go abroad and plan Japan then leave the door
open for trips to come home, potentially for a head
and run mission for a World Cup. So look, I
don't begrudge Shannan Frazel coming back. He was in some
really good form in twenty twenty three when he left.
(13:03):
He's been bossing the Japanese competition by all reports. So look,
if you can throw them into the mix. This is
what it's all about for the Rugby World Cup, next
to your Darcy putting the best team on the paddic
and if that's going to help for the All Blacks,
then then so be it.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Well, the currency for the All Blacks is winning World Cups,
isn't it. It used to be everything else bledders Lie,
it's not so much currency anymore at spare change. That
may change, but it is all about winning the World
Cup and everything has to be focused toward that. The
question it raises is the standard of Japanese rugby enough
to keep players in the right state of mind and
(13:36):
physicalities when they come back Marco first and then off
to Super rugby the Highlanders I'd suggest it is, and
a lot of people went, nah, it's not quite good enough.
Speaker 4 (13:46):
Well as the standard of Super rugby when you're running
over Mona Pacificer by fifty points or the Fiji and
draw by fifty points any better?
Speaker 3 (13:53):
Now?
Speaker 4 (13:53):
The better games and Super Rugby are better the closer
games the Darbies, and from a New Zealand perspective of
no doubt better and more comparable to Tests rugby. But
Super Rugby's got some major issues around that and preparing
for test rap players for Tests rugby. We know this,
We've talked about it for a number of years. So
I don't think we can be too high and mighty
about the strengths of Super Rugby and keeping players here
versus Japanese rugby. No doubt, you come back from Japanese rugby,
(14:16):
perhaps a little bit fresher. There are longer breaks in
the season. They've got a bye week coming up this
week for example, in the midst of their season. So
is he better prepared, Well, maybe he's a bit fresher
than he would have been having to basically to carry
the Highlanders on his back for the last three seasons.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
Potentially, but fresh when you consider that back from Japan
play for Tasman markl then having a slight break slight
break before suiting up for the Highlanders and then going
to the All Blacks and then going to the World Cup.
Is that mat will that make these players a little stale?
Speaker 4 (14:50):
It could do, It could well do, and look, he's
gonna have to fight for his juicy because similarly to
Richie Moong, he's not going to be able to go
straight back into the All Blacks. He wasn't on a sabbatical,
he was on a Japanese deal, so he's going to
have to come back, similar to lestifying Anuku last year
where he played for Tasim then got called into the
All Blacks and four see a scenario where that happens
with mu Wonga, but also Shannon Frazel this year that
(15:13):
injuries before the All Blacks and all of a sudden
they get a call up, perhaps earlier than they are expecting.
But he's going to have to prove himself. What is
good from a perspective of Shene of Razzel is that
the All Blacks coach is Dave Rennie, who was currently
coaching in Japan, so he will know what's what Frazel
has been able to do for to sheep It in
the last few seasons, whether he is up to All
(15:34):
Black standard and how quickly he might be able to
get him in.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
And what he needs to do to get up to speed.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
So that is a positive if you are Shannon Frazel,
Your coach has been watching more of you than he's
probably been watching the New Zealand based Sixers for the
last few seasons.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
Six not exactly light on the ground. Are we not
quite sure who our loose Ford trio are going to be?
But we've got a lot of handy, big bruising buggers
out there, haven't we.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
Well, that's right, but we've got no definitive This is
the dead seat locked him in. You know, this isn't
kind of McCaw reid. You know there are players there
that are well capable of jerseys, but you know, sav
we don't know which jersey really suits him best. What
if the Tidi has been a very good player, but
he's had some injury issues. Simon Parker made some claims
(16:16):
last year, but I don't think he's played his best
rugby so far in Super Rugby. So you know, Ethan Blackadder,
there are dup lucky. There are players with claims, but
no one putting their hand up definitively. And that's where
it might help someone like a Shannon Brazzel going Okay,
none of you have actually locked down this. Jusey I
left three years ago, so I'm just going to come
back and take it.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
The other issue around this is now it basically gives
a flag to players going, you know what, I'm going
to leave the All Blacks for a couple of years
ago and make Thiss have a whole pile of money
in that competition, and if I'm good enough, I can
come back and run at a World Cup again. So
that that is an unintended circumstanced.
Speaker 4 (16:51):
Yeah, but there's also the fact that they may not
ever come back. You know, Shannon Frazzel may have decided
to go and resign for TASIB, resigned for a couple
more years, or they may have gone and tried something different,
gone to France or something like that. So there's no
guarantees that come back. But I guess it does leave
the door open that goes I can make a better
money and if I'm feeling good enough to steal player
(17:11):
in quality rugby at the back end, you know, eighteen
months out from a Rugby World Cup, maybe I can
go to it. So this may be what we see
more of in the future, potentially that players decide to
spurn sabbatical deals like Ardie save Has, which gave him
two opportunities to go a Brawl Bowl still being contracted
to New Zealand Rugby, and instead just go to the
full hole and go I'm going to go to Japan
(17:32):
for three years and if I'm feeling in the mood
then I'll come back for a World Cut mission.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
One last thing on Miss Elliot Smith. Do the players
that have got I suppose eyeballs on the six jersey
packet herssy fit if the guy like this comes back
and flogs their jersey out from underneath them or not.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
Well, they might do, but it's not going to help
the cause of being an All Black, is it? And
I don't think Reny like.
Speaker 4 (17:57):
Exactly one hundred percent. What would Neil Barnes's reaction be. Look,
I think ultimately it gives the All Blacks the best
possible player mix for the World Cup next year. Jamie
Joseph spoke to media today talk about depth. We need
depth in this competition from a Highland this perspective. We
haven't had it without wanting to take a jersey away
from some of their promising young loose forwards. But they
(18:17):
need depth and if he can they add that into
the mix, it's an option for Dave Ronnie.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
They've got a Warrior's team coming out tonight. They were
the absolute toast of the town. They really were, and
then suddenly the toast got burnt and crumbled.
Speaker 4 (18:34):
This has been the warrior is for how long they
get your hopes up and then they let you down drastically,
And this is just happening all over again.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
Yeah, two consecutive defeats, and possibly the second one was worst,
well I.
Speaker 6 (18:49):
Think it was.
Speaker 4 (18:50):
Yeah, they didn't seem to learn you the lessons from that.
The week prior, the Halves didn't work again. Everything that
worked for them in those opening three weeks where they
were playing some just front foot systems rugby league. Now
they're trying to basket play all around the edges and
do things before earning the right to do it. And
I can't figure out what the game plan is. I
(19:12):
don't think Halves are working with that combination either. So
there's gonna be some interesting selections there. Nicol Crooks has
not a center that we can cast that aside, you know,
so some big decisions here for Andrew Webster, because you're right,
the seam was rolling and now they've come to a
very sudden halt.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
That's the beauty of momentum. It can be stopped. It's
not perpetual.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
Well and the good thing is they play the Storm
this week. Who they have?
Speaker 1 (19:35):
Is that good?
Speaker 4 (19:36):
They haven't beaten? And what no they surely they can't
lose the Storm eighteen times in a row. It's been
seventeen in counting, so you know, surely no, no one
beats the Warriors eighteen times.
Speaker 3 (19:46):
In a row.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
As I always say, you can't say it's our year
until it's finished.
Speaker 3 (19:52):
It's all the trophy is in their hands.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
It's a retrospective statement.
Speaker 5 (19:55):
It was.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
Hey, thanks very much for joining us in the chamber,
Elliott Smith, the pleasure was mine.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
I'm glad leading a vex. We've got just the ticket.
It's Sports Vex powered by News Talks IVY.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
Thanks very much for listen to the Sports Fix podcast.
If you've liked what you've heard, tell your friends and
your family and your workmates and all the rest of them,
and get then to subscribe, which is what you should
do as well. That way, this Sports Fix podcast comes
into your inbox on a week daily basis Monday through
to Friday. And if you're old school and you want
(20:28):
to stick with the radio, and I completely understand why
you would, being old school myself. We've got Sports Talk
between seven and eight pm Monday to Friday. Jason Pine's
got the Monday shift. I'm Tuesday through Friday, and then
over the weekend Saturday and Sunday, twelve midday to three
o'clock is Jason Pine on Weekend Sport. Thanks very much
(20:48):
for joining us today on the Fix. Looking forward to
doing it all again tomorrow
Speaker 1 (20:56):
For more from News talks'd b listen live on air
or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you
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