June 17, 2025 • 18 mins
On Sports Fix with D'Arcy Waldegrave for Tuesday June 17, 2025 Jack Mesley is the CEO of Super Rugby Pacific and he’s overseen arguably the best version of Super Rugby over the last decade. Why? What’s worked? What hasn’t? What next? A few days out from the big dance, Jack reflects.
D’Arcy eats humble pie, crow, whatever. He got it wrong around the World Test Championship final and says he’s sorry.
In the Chamber, D’Arc and NZ Herald writer Alex Powell have a yarn around Ardie’s sabbatical (yup, another one), Sophie’s retirement and the infighting at the Canadian Grand Prix.
Big thanks to GJ Gardner Homes – New Zealand's most trusted home builder.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks. Ed be
follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
This is Sportsfix Howard by News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
It'd be greet Things, Great Things, Greek Things. Welcome to
the Sports Fixed podcast, to a home of all the
short good that you need to know on a week
daily basis here on the wonderful wide world of sports.
My name is Darcy Walter Grave. It is a Tuesday.
It's the seventeenth of June twenty twenty five. Lined up
for you. In this cast, we're going to be talking
(00:41):
with the CEO of Super Rugby Pacific, mister Jack Messy,
the successes, the failures and what next? How about those mouthguards.
We're also going to have in the chamber my mate
Alex Powe, who's a writer for the New Zealand Herald.
As we look at Ardie Savian and a couple more
of the daily issues. I've got some opinions and I've
(01:04):
got an apology around the World Test Championship, the Ie,
some cry on week, some humble pie, but that's okay,
that's what happens in this job. We'd like to thank
DJ Gardner Holmes as perfectly continued investment in this show.
They are New Zealand's most trusted home dealers, right, let's
(01:24):
do it.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
In other news.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
From the mouths of the newsmakers, New Zealand's at White
Fern Colossus, Sophie Divine is stepping down after years of
ups and downs and everything in between. She thinks her
time has come in the next World Cup. One day
Internationals will be her international swan song.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
There's been some ugly fears, has been some angered, there's
been some fair I think it's special to know though,
but it's not over yet, and then I get to
sort of walk away on my term.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
It's a watching brief as a scourge of live sports
steps up ahead of this weekend's Super Ruggie Pacific. Finally,
christ jed that scalpers are out, but Crusader's CEO Colin
Mansbridge says there ticketing is onto it.
Speaker 4 (02:10):
I'll be able to offer us some support to make
sure that people aren't sort of scalping their way through it.
If you're a bit disappointing us. Too many people are
making too much money out of fans at expense.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
Of getting on to support us again, that would be disappointing.
Speaker 5 (02:22):
You need a bigger stadium, that's right, or some Chiefs
skipper Luke Jacobson smashed his team's rear view mirror off
and the wing mirror's second place in Super Rugby was
then this is now.
Speaker 6 (02:36):
It hurts losing the final for the boys that were there.
It's still in the back of your mind a little bit,
but at the same time, it's the new year, new competition.
We want to win and it doesn't really matter what's
happened in the past.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Thanks Colin and Sophie and Luke Blood you work.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
You scanopion it's Sports X.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
With Dancy Waldegree. I'm sorry I made it. Boo boo wow.
It was an opinion that I had around the World
Test Championship and watching the way that unfold over the
final day, I felt terrible about what I said. Look,
sports broadcasts, we're paid to have an opinion. We don't
(03:16):
get it right all of the time. We'd like to
think we get it right most of the time, but
not all of the time. I wanted the World Test
Championship to be played at the home of the highest qualify.
I wanted the fans to climb on and enjoy that experience.
I wanted a reward for the top team over two
years of Test cricket. I wanted crowds of people turning
(03:40):
up and charing. I wanted so much, But in the
end what happened at Laud's was more than enough. Look,
there were no invested fans per se because England weren't there.
They get themselves the best chance, don't there with ten
thousand Test matches a year, but they weren't there. It
was South Africa up against Australia. The diaspor from both
(04:02):
countries turned up on mass It was a splendid game.
It was a true amendis game of cricket and South
Africa didn't choke. South Africa did what they had to
do against the team on Australia that maybe you thought
they just had to turn up to win. Well, that
turned around and bit them on the back side did it.
(04:22):
So for all of my complaints, all of my wishes,
I was completely and utterly wrong. The World Test Championship
Final at Lord's was a triumph for the game and
I thank you very much for listening to this. I'm sorry.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
Dissecting the sporting agenda. It's SPORTSFX with Darcy, Waltergrave.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
And The Fix. Now welcomes into the podcast, Jack Messley.
He's the CEO of Super Rugby Pacific. Looking back now,
I must have been a tremendous competition. Good a Jack,
you will good. It's the end of Super Rugby Pacific,
only a couple of days to go before you can.
(05:05):
I suppose put a bow on it and call it
done widely. When you're a flip back at the season,
it's the CEO of the competition. What is your initial
takeaways as to what occurred?
Speaker 4 (05:15):
Yeah, well, I remember you and I talking pre season,
and you know what, what we were talking about there
was that we wanted to play a fast, more exciting
brand a rugby. We wanted some more unexpected results and
we've seen in the past, and we wanted people to
have fun with some of the new tools that we
put into play, like fantasy. And so sitting here with
(05:38):
just the big dance yet to play out, we're really
pleased with how those three things have come to life.
Still a long way to go, We've still got a
heap of work to do, but we're really pleased with
how the season's gone.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
So what has to happen between now and next season
as far as what you need to do, you've got
anything in place as to the must do's the must have?
Speaker 4 (05:59):
Yeah, well, I mean we're really we've already started work
on next season. That all starts with the fixture and
getting that right. So we think there's some little wins
to be had out of just sort of optimizing the fixture,
so we're working on those things. We've seen the benefit
you know, this season of afternoon rugby, so we want
(06:21):
to do what we can to get more afternoon rugby
played throughout the fixture. And you know, there's some things
like some timeslots and things like that that we just
need to iron out for more consistency. We just got
to make it super easy for fans to know when
a game of Super rugby is on and you can
tune in at that time every week and watch a
great game. So it starts with the fixture. We've got
(06:42):
a survey out live now around fantasy, so we're getting
heaps of feedback from people about what they'd like to
see with Fantasy next to you, so we'll continue to
look to improve on that. So, yeah, there's a couple
of things we're looking at. It's been documented. We're working
hard to try to make super Round reality in New Zealand,
so we hope that also becomes a really key part
(07:04):
of the fixture into twenty six.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Talk of benefits, how do they rear their head? Benefits
for yourself, the competition, the clubs, the athletes, the people
at home or in the stands. What are you looking
at there?
Speaker 4 (07:17):
Yeah, well, I mean that's the beauty of what we do, right,
It's it's the beauty in the curse because it's all
of those people, right, we want, we want all of
those people to benefit from from the work we do.
And I guess our role really is to prioritize, you know,
the things that we could do with the resources we have,
to drive the optimal benefit for all of those all
of those stakeholders, if you like, you know, I think
(07:40):
what we're what we're really focused on is making sure
that you know, we've talked a lot about it, that
the fan is in the room with those other stakeholders
when we're making those decisions. So yeah, that's really really
important for us, and I hope people have felt and
seen that this season, and that's our that's certainly our intendors,
(08:00):
we as we do our work now to finalize what
next to you looks.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
Like mouthguard issues. Now, there'll be a lot of people
out there panics that maybe that might come into play
come the final It's the last thing anyone needs. Have
you got to the bottom of the errant beeps if
you will? What's happening there.
Speaker 4 (08:18):
Jack, Yeah, we had got to the bottom of that issue.
It was nothing to do with the actual mouthguard technology itself.
It was a protocol issue just in the transfer of
information from the people that sort of that goes through.
So we've we've owned out that protocol ahead of the
weekend to make sure that the right being leads to
(08:42):
the right person going off to the assess. So, yeah,
a slight error there that we've we've worked on and
ironed out.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Not happened before. Kind of what happened in the very
last week. I'm presuming a data input or where did
it actually come from to just rear its head right
then and there.
Speaker 4 (09:02):
Yeah, So, I mean all season we've been using the
technology and it's a great for us to help manage
head knocks and make sure player safety is important. It
was just an error not in the actual technology. It
was more in the pathway of Okay, it gets notified.
We then go through referees, team management, the onfield ref
(09:25):
to get the right person on. And I think what's
happened is just a miscommunication along that pathway. Rather than
Scott Barrett being taken off, Blackada was taken off. So yeah,
it was just a communication issue which the protocols now
in place where written communication will be passed along that
chain to make sure that make sure that era doesn't
(09:48):
happen again.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
The chamber is now in session on Sportsfix.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
It's swing open the doors to the chamber mid aparicle,
of course, because we actually don't have any physical doors
on this building. Alex Powell Sports Jam out of the
Herald joins.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
It's going to Alex afternoon mate.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
How are you? Yeah? Always looking forward to what's going
on of a week, and it started off with a
bit of a bang, a retirement well coming up November
and yet another sabbatical and of course race cars. But
let's talk about the sabbatical. Ardisavia is off to Japan.
So what's this is second sabbatical in how many years?
Speaker 3 (10:22):
Three years? Yeah, it's a funny one, isn't it. Because
Ardisavia has been the standout seb rugby player. We've seen
what a new lease of life he has playing at
one of p Soifica. But as going back to Japan,
I mean, by the sounds of it, this was organized
well in advance, and you know when he signed us
in his own rugby contract through the end of next year,
but that means he'd have spent half of that contract
playing in Japan, which I don't know. Like you never
(10:45):
begrudge players the opportunity to go and earn money and
support their families and set themselves up for life, but
it just short changes the fans.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
Sabbatical take a year, take a season, take half the
next four years. This is what I'm struggling to carry.
That seems like a lot of time. Yep, He'll make
the money and yes, arguably he's the best rugby player
in the world right now. I get it with what
he wants, but as you said, the fans sort changed.
(11:12):
What about the coaching staff is not having access to
him and the lead up to the World Cup. I
don't like that at all.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
We'll be back for ttween twenty seven.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
Yeah, but he's not gonna be around super rugby, is he.
He's not gonna be around doing what we need him
to do ahead of a World Cup.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
I think that's ultimately the question that New Zealand Rugby
asked themselves. Is it worth having Ardi Savier for two
years out of four or is it just not worth
having Ardie Savia not at all.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
Don't even care about president any mortals and it doesn't
even matter. They just look at each individual case and go, well,
this guy's got this, so we'll whacquiesce.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
I think that is what they're going to do and
the future with these things. But it's like, if you
don't make an exception for Ardie Savia, who do you
make one for? You know, this guy has probably earned
the right to dictate his own terms, as horrible as
that might sound, because New Zealand rugby has always been
sort of one size fits all, But now we are
into this modern era where a guy like Ardie says
(12:04):
this is what I want to do, Like when we
saw that with his move to my winneup so Goo,
like I don't think any other player New Zealand would
have got that. Keven that Morana is not a New
Zealand team.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
So next year they've lost half their team and their
talismanic skipper. This is difficult for Mowana. What a great year,
but is it going to fall away?
Speaker 3 (12:21):
I mean, we'll have to see who they recruit, like
they win have like, let's not forget the players they've lost.
I think you look at maybe a Nisi, you've got
time Way Flowers. Only two of those first that fifteen
group that were released, so it's not a lot of
genuine first time it's just a few of those guys
who were there for the first year and then signed
on and have been through until now. But we've seen
the wave of Moana, all right. We've seen when Ardie
(12:43):
Savia announced the reaction to that and players from all
over the place saying congrats bro, guys with you know,
Salmon and Tom and heritage. That example has been set
now they know that joining Moana is not you know,
you're going to come in and play for the bottom
of tail team. They can compete. And we saw this
year when Ardie Savier wasn't playing, Mowana didn't drop. You know,
they were still performing.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
Proof of this pudding is in the eating. I suppose it.
We'll have a feed next year when Super Rugby comes back.
Sophie divine. I use the words titan and colossus of
women's cricket here in New Zealand. I don't think that's
an overstatement.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
I don't think we as New Zealanders understand how good
Sophie Divine is. You know, you look at any time
there's a sort of a franchise auction or a draft,
she is always one of the first pact, you know,
and there are some bloody good cricketers that are going
to these things, and Sophie Divine is always there. Captain
the White fans to that World Cup last year. You know,
(13:38):
she's obviously finishing up on her own terms. You know,
she'll accept a casual contract with New Zealand Cricket, which
will effectively mean playing for the White fans. Isn't her job,
so she can go and do whatever she wants.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Well, we talk about Adie Savia though deserving this. She
deserves us and this has already been set up by
what happens with your Trent Bolts and so on and
so forth, so it wasn't not out of the ordinary.
Mat She deserves this.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
Yeah, yeah, I don't think any genuine fan of New
Zealand cricket could begrudge Sophie Devine for taking this step.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
So who's next? What leaving no no, just having a
casual contract in the women's side.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
Oh, I mean, you'd probably say Amelia occurs, that one standout.
The sad reality is not a lot of our white
fans do get picked up in these overseas competitions. You've
got Divine, Susie Baits and Ameliaccur Susie Bates another one's
probably got more Yesterday's than tomorrow's in her careers. Whereas
Amelia occur, the future is very much still in front
of her.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
Like all Miss Sophie, because she's so upfront, she's always
keen to talk. There's never oh no, I can't, all no,
I won't. It's like, yes, absolutely, Hey, your team have
been playing terribly. What's going on? What are you doing?
And she fronts those and she answers the question. She
has no fear, which is fantastic from a Leger's point
of view. I hope.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
The one thing about Sophie Devine that's never forgotten is
how or not easy, but how open she's been with
her own mental health and stepping away when she needs it.
I think, you know the way things are now, with
work and life and all that, people do just sort
of keep pushing when they shouldn't. Sophie Devine ovi system
of athletes. But setting that example of saying, hey, I'm
(15:12):
not okay, I need to get help. I'm going to
do this, I think as more a sort of it.
You know, it means more than anything she's achieved on
the cricket field.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Absolute stand up. I'm fully behind that. Mental health. Everyone's
got to like look after themselves. Look out, look up,
look after yourself. Super important, Alex Powell. One last thing Montreal,
besides the dead rabbit? What stood out for you? And
that I tell you.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
I know we come in here all the time talk
about them Lawson. But oh my lord, the too McLaren's
fighting each other.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
What happened? I mean I watched that Tavy go. This
is not oh wow, they actually hit it. Well, they
didn't hit each other. Orlando drove into the back of Oscar.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
But he's done that because he's not been told you
do not race Oscar. You are the number one driver,
you are the number two driver. This could really change.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
They didn't do that last year either. You think they'd
learn by it now They.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
Did do it last year they told Oscar he was
number two, but now but as it.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Got closer it was still a bit kind of race.
But yeah, I it's going to have to be Oscar
out or not.
Speaker 3 (16:11):
Well, they had it this year or this week even
because there was a new front wing, but they only
had one, so they had to choose which driver and
it looks like they gave it to Oscar Pastri.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
We only had one. How does that work?
Speaker 3 (16:20):
That's just how these things go. You can't pay to
have all these upgrades come at the same time. You've
got to do it one by one.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
I want one just like that, but you sorry, I
only built the one control p that so that's McLaren
and that I suppose. George Russell and Knacks stapid again
carry on arguing, Hey, this is fantastic lot to read
into this.
Speaker 3 (16:40):
Yeah, I don't.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
Know what we're going to expect to come Austria in
a week and a half's time, but if it's anything
like what happened in Montreal, it's going to be fine.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
In games Huh, Yeah, I can't wait. I love Austria.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
Yeah, it's a great track and just one on Liam
probably the most cursed Formula One driver there is. You
cannot buy a trick that guy.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
Can you feel for him? And like it's it's now
into one where it's not fair. You know, we know
how good he is and Redbell know how good he
is too, But like that clock is tacking now there
is a real there's gonna be a real race for
those twenty twenty six seats.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
I wonder if someone from Red Bull though, has to
sit down racing balls and go, what are you doing?
What are you actually doing? Because that's the problem the engineer,
the way they're going about what they're doing, the way
they're timing their pit starts, way they're releasing him. You've
got to say, it's down to the people running racing
bulls his engineer. So he's in for me, he's in
the gun. And that's it for the chamber. Alex Pell
(17:34):
always a pleasant to Thank you, my friend, Thank you
having me.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
This is sports Fix, your daily does of sports hues,
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Speaker 2 (17:44):
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(18:07):
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Speaker 1 (18:27):
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follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
This is Sportsfix Howard by News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
It'd be greet Things, Great Things, Greek Things. Welcome to
the Sports Fixed podcast, to a home of all the
short good that you need to know on a week
daily basis here on the wonderful wide world of sports.
My name is Darcy Walter Grave. It is a Tuesday.
It's the seventeenth of June twenty twenty five. Lined up
for you. In this cast, we're going to be talking
(00:41):
with the CEO of Super Rugby Pacific, mister Jack Messy,
the successes, the failures and what next? How about those mouthguards.
We're also going to have in the chamber my mate
Alex Powe, who's a writer for the New Zealand Herald.
As we look at Ardie Savian and a couple more
of the daily issues. I've got some opinions and I've
(01:04):
got an apology around the World Test Championship, the Ie,
some cry on week, some humble pie, but that's okay,
that's what happens in this job. We'd like to thank
DJ Gardner Holmes as perfectly continued investment in this show.
They are New Zealand's most trusted home dealers, right, let's
(01:24):
do it.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
In other news.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
From the mouths of the newsmakers, New Zealand's at White
Fern Colossus, Sophie Divine is stepping down after years of
ups and downs and everything in between. She thinks her
time has come in the next World Cup. One day
Internationals will be her international swan song.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
There's been some ugly fears, has been some angered, there's
been some fair I think it's special to know though,
but it's not over yet, and then I get to
sort of walk away on my term.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
It's a watching brief as a scourge of live sports
steps up ahead of this weekend's Super Ruggie Pacific. Finally,
christ jed that scalpers are out, but Crusader's CEO Colin
Mansbridge says there ticketing is onto it.
Speaker 4 (02:10):
I'll be able to offer us some support to make
sure that people aren't sort of scalping their way through it.
If you're a bit disappointing us. Too many people are
making too much money out of fans at expense.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
Of getting on to support us again, that would be disappointing.
Speaker 5 (02:22):
You need a bigger stadium, that's right, or some Chiefs
skipper Luke Jacobson smashed his team's rear view mirror off
and the wing mirror's second place in Super Rugby was
then this is now.
Speaker 6 (02:36):
It hurts losing the final for the boys that were there.
It's still in the back of your mind a little bit,
but at the same time, it's the new year, new competition.
We want to win and it doesn't really matter what's
happened in the past.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Thanks Colin and Sophie and Luke Blood you work.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
You scanopion it's Sports X.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
With Dancy Waldegree. I'm sorry I made it. Boo boo wow.
It was an opinion that I had around the World
Test Championship and watching the way that unfold over the
final day, I felt terrible about what I said. Look,
sports broadcasts, we're paid to have an opinion. We don't
(03:16):
get it right all of the time. We'd like to
think we get it right most of the time, but
not all of the time. I wanted the World Test
Championship to be played at the home of the highest qualify.
I wanted the fans to climb on and enjoy that experience.
I wanted a reward for the top team over two
years of Test cricket. I wanted crowds of people turning
(03:40):
up and charing. I wanted so much, But in the
end what happened at Laud's was more than enough. Look,
there were no invested fans per se because England weren't there.
They get themselves the best chance, don't there with ten
thousand Test matches a year, but they weren't there. It
was South Africa up against Australia. The diaspor from both
(04:02):
countries turned up on mass It was a splendid game.
It was a true amendis game of cricket and South
Africa didn't choke. South Africa did what they had to
do against the team on Australia that maybe you thought
they just had to turn up to win. Well, that
turned around and bit them on the back side did it.
(04:22):
So for all of my complaints, all of my wishes,
I was completely and utterly wrong. The World Test Championship
Final at Lord's was a triumph for the game and
I thank you very much for listening to this. I'm sorry.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
Dissecting the sporting agenda. It's SPORTSFX with Darcy, Waltergrave.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
And The Fix. Now welcomes into the podcast, Jack Messley.
He's the CEO of Super Rugby Pacific. Looking back now,
I must have been a tremendous competition. Good a Jack,
you will good. It's the end of Super Rugby Pacific,
only a couple of days to go before you can.
(05:05):
I suppose put a bow on it and call it
done widely. When you're a flip back at the season,
it's the CEO of the competition. What is your initial
takeaways as to what occurred?
Speaker 4 (05:15):
Yeah, well, I remember you and I talking pre season,
and you know what, what we were talking about there
was that we wanted to play a fast, more exciting
brand a rugby. We wanted some more unexpected results and
we've seen in the past, and we wanted people to
have fun with some of the new tools that we
put into play, like fantasy. And so sitting here with
(05:38):
just the big dance yet to play out, we're really
pleased with how those three things have come to life.
Still a long way to go, We've still got a
heap of work to do, but we're really pleased with
how the season's gone.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
So what has to happen between now and next season
as far as what you need to do, you've got
anything in place as to the must do's the must have?
Speaker 4 (05:59):
Yeah, well, I mean we're really we've already started work
on next season. That all starts with the fixture and
getting that right. So we think there's some little wins
to be had out of just sort of optimizing the fixture,
so we're working on those things. We've seen the benefit
you know, this season of afternoon rugby, so we want
(06:21):
to do what we can to get more afternoon rugby
played throughout the fixture. And you know, there's some things
like some timeslots and things like that that we just
need to iron out for more consistency. We just got
to make it super easy for fans to know when
a game of Super rugby is on and you can
tune in at that time every week and watch a
great game. So it starts with the fixture. We've got
(06:42):
a survey out live now around fantasy, so we're getting
heaps of feedback from people about what they'd like to
see with Fantasy next to you, so we'll continue to
look to improve on that. So, yeah, there's a couple
of things we're looking at. It's been documented. We're working
hard to try to make super Round reality in New Zealand,
so we hope that also becomes a really key part
(07:04):
of the fixture into twenty six.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Talk of benefits, how do they rear their head? Benefits
for yourself, the competition, the clubs, the athletes, the people
at home or in the stands. What are you looking
at there?
Speaker 4 (07:17):
Yeah, well, I mean that's the beauty of what we do, right,
It's it's the beauty in the curse because it's all
of those people, right, we want, we want all of
those people to benefit from from the work we do.
And I guess our role really is to prioritize, you know,
the things that we could do with the resources we have,
to drive the optimal benefit for all of those all
of those stakeholders, if you like, you know, I think
(07:40):
what we're what we're really focused on is making sure
that you know, we've talked a lot about it, that
the fan is in the room with those other stakeholders
when we're making those decisions. So yeah, that's really really
important for us, and I hope people have felt and
seen that this season, and that's our that's certainly our intendors,
(08:00):
we as we do our work now to finalize what
next to you looks.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
Like mouthguard issues. Now, there'll be a lot of people
out there panics that maybe that might come into play
come the final It's the last thing anyone needs. Have
you got to the bottom of the errant beeps if
you will? What's happening there.
Speaker 4 (08:18):
Jack, Yeah, we had got to the bottom of that issue.
It was nothing to do with the actual mouthguard technology itself.
It was a protocol issue just in the transfer of
information from the people that sort of that goes through.
So we've we've owned out that protocol ahead of the
weekend to make sure that the right being leads to
(08:42):
the right person going off to the assess. So, yeah,
a slight error there that we've we've worked on and
ironed out.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Not happened before. Kind of what happened in the very
last week. I'm presuming a data input or where did
it actually come from to just rear its head right
then and there.
Speaker 4 (09:02):
Yeah, So, I mean all season we've been using the
technology and it's a great for us to help manage
head knocks and make sure player safety is important. It
was just an error not in the actual technology. It
was more in the pathway of Okay, it gets notified.
We then go through referees, team management, the onfield ref
(09:25):
to get the right person on. And I think what's
happened is just a miscommunication along that pathway. Rather than
Scott Barrett being taken off, Blackada was taken off. So yeah,
it was just a communication issue which the protocols now
in place where written communication will be passed along that
chain to make sure that make sure that era doesn't
(09:48):
happen again.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
The chamber is now in session on Sportsfix.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
It's swing open the doors to the chamber mid aparicle,
of course, because we actually don't have any physical doors
on this building. Alex Powell Sports Jam out of the
Herald joins.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
It's going to Alex afternoon mate.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
How are you? Yeah? Always looking forward to what's going
on of a week, and it started off with a
bit of a bang, a retirement well coming up November
and yet another sabbatical and of course race cars. But
let's talk about the sabbatical. Ardisavia is off to Japan.
So what's this is second sabbatical in how many years?
Speaker 3 (10:22):
Three years? Yeah, it's a funny one, isn't it. Because
Ardisavia has been the standout seb rugby player. We've seen
what a new lease of life he has playing at
one of p Soifica. But as going back to Japan,
I mean, by the sounds of it, this was organized
well in advance, and you know when he signed us
in his own rugby contract through the end of next year,
but that means he'd have spent half of that contract
playing in Japan, which I don't know. Like you never
(10:45):
begrudge players the opportunity to go and earn money and
support their families and set themselves up for life, but
it just short changes the fans.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
Sabbatical take a year, take a season, take half the
next four years. This is what I'm struggling to carry.
That seems like a lot of time. Yep, He'll make
the money and yes, arguably he's the best rugby player
in the world right now. I get it with what
he wants, but as you said, the fans sort changed.
(11:12):
What about the coaching staff is not having access to
him and the lead up to the World Cup. I
don't like that at all.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
We'll be back for ttween twenty seven.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
Yeah, but he's not gonna be around super rugby, is he.
He's not gonna be around doing what we need him
to do ahead of a World Cup.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
I think that's ultimately the question that New Zealand Rugby
asked themselves. Is it worth having Ardi Savier for two
years out of four or is it just not worth
having Ardie Savia not at all.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
Don't even care about president any mortals and it doesn't
even matter. They just look at each individual case and go, well,
this guy's got this, so we'll whacquiesce.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
I think that is what they're going to do and
the future with these things. But it's like, if you
don't make an exception for Ardie Savia, who do you
make one for? You know, this guy has probably earned
the right to dictate his own terms, as horrible as
that might sound, because New Zealand rugby has always been
sort of one size fits all, But now we are
into this modern era where a guy like Ardie says
(12:04):
this is what I want to do, Like when we
saw that with his move to my winneup so Goo,
like I don't think any other player New Zealand would
have got that. Keven that Morana is not a New
Zealand team.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
So next year they've lost half their team and their
talismanic skipper. This is difficult for Mowana. What a great year,
but is it going to fall away?
Speaker 3 (12:21):
I mean, we'll have to see who they recruit, like
they win have like, let's not forget the players they've lost.
I think you look at maybe a Nisi, you've got
time Way Flowers. Only two of those first that fifteen
group that were released, so it's not a lot of
genuine first time it's just a few of those guys
who were there for the first year and then signed
on and have been through until now. But we've seen
the wave of Moana, all right. We've seen when Ardie
(12:43):
Savia announced the reaction to that and players from all
over the place saying congrats bro, guys with you know,
Salmon and Tom and heritage. That example has been set
now they know that joining Moana is not you know,
you're going to come in and play for the bottom
of tail team. They can compete. And we saw this
year when Ardie Savier wasn't playing, Mowana didn't drop. You know,
they were still performing.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
Proof of this pudding is in the eating. I suppose it.
We'll have a feed next year when Super Rugby comes back.
Sophie divine. I use the words titan and colossus of
women's cricket here in New Zealand. I don't think that's
an overstatement.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
I don't think we as New Zealanders understand how good
Sophie Divine is. You know, you look at any time
there's a sort of a franchise auction or a draft,
she is always one of the first pact, you know,
and there are some bloody good cricketers that are going
to these things, and Sophie Divine is always there. Captain
the White fans to that World Cup last year. You know,
(13:38):
she's obviously finishing up on her own terms. You know,
she'll accept a casual contract with New Zealand Cricket, which
will effectively mean playing for the White fans. Isn't her job,
so she can go and do whatever she wants.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Well, we talk about Adie Savia though deserving this. She
deserves us and this has already been set up by
what happens with your Trent Bolts and so on and
so forth, so it wasn't not out of the ordinary.
Mat She deserves this.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
Yeah, yeah, I don't think any genuine fan of New
Zealand cricket could begrudge Sophie Devine for taking this step.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
So who's next? What leaving no no, just having a
casual contract in the women's side.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
Oh, I mean, you'd probably say Amelia occurs, that one standout.
The sad reality is not a lot of our white
fans do get picked up in these overseas competitions. You've
got Divine, Susie Baits and Ameliaccur Susie Bates another one's
probably got more Yesterday's than tomorrow's in her careers. Whereas
Amelia occur, the future is very much still in front
of her.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
Like all Miss Sophie, because she's so upfront, she's always
keen to talk. There's never oh no, I can't, all no,
I won't. It's like, yes, absolutely, Hey, your team have
been playing terribly. What's going on? What are you doing?
And she fronts those and she answers the question. She
has no fear, which is fantastic from a Leger's point
of view. I hope.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
The one thing about Sophie Devine that's never forgotten is
how or not easy, but how open she's been with
her own mental health and stepping away when she needs it.
I think, you know the way things are now, with
work and life and all that, people do just sort
of keep pushing when they shouldn't. Sophie Devine ovi system
of athletes. But setting that example of saying, hey, I'm
(15:12):
not okay, I need to get help. I'm going to
do this, I think as more a sort of it.
You know, it means more than anything she's achieved on
the cricket field.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Absolute stand up. I'm fully behind that. Mental health. Everyone's
got to like look after themselves. Look out, look up,
look after yourself. Super important, Alex Powell. One last thing Montreal,
besides the dead rabbit? What stood out for you? And
that I tell you.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
I know we come in here all the time talk
about them Lawson. But oh my lord, the too McLaren's
fighting each other.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
What happened? I mean I watched that Tavy go. This
is not oh wow, they actually hit it. Well, they
didn't hit each other. Orlando drove into the back of Oscar.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
But he's done that because he's not been told you
do not race Oscar. You are the number one driver,
you are the number two driver. This could really change.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
They didn't do that last year either. You think they'd
learn by it now They.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
Did do it last year they told Oscar he was
number two, but now but as it.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Got closer it was still a bit kind of race.
But yeah, I it's going to have to be Oscar
out or not.
Speaker 3 (16:11):
Well, they had it this year or this week even
because there was a new front wing, but they only
had one, so they had to choose which driver and
it looks like they gave it to Oscar Pastri.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
We only had one. How does that work?
Speaker 3 (16:20):
That's just how these things go. You can't pay to
have all these upgrades come at the same time. You've
got to do it one by one.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
I want one just like that, but you sorry, I
only built the one control p that so that's McLaren
and that I suppose. George Russell and Knacks stapid again
carry on arguing, Hey, this is fantastic lot to read
into this.
Speaker 3 (16:40):
Yeah, I don't.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
Know what we're going to expect to come Austria in
a week and a half's time, but if it's anything
like what happened in Montreal, it's going to be fine.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
In games Huh, Yeah, I can't wait. I love Austria.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
Yeah, it's a great track and just one on Liam
probably the most cursed Formula One driver there is. You
cannot buy a trick that guy.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
Can you feel for him? And like it's it's now
into one where it's not fair. You know, we know
how good he is and Redbell know how good he
is too, But like that clock is tacking now there
is a real there's gonna be a real race for
those twenty twenty six seats.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
I wonder if someone from Red Bull though, has to
sit down racing balls and go, what are you doing?
What are you actually doing? Because that's the problem the engineer,
the way they're going about what they're doing, the way
they're timing their pit starts, way they're releasing him. You've
got to say, it's down to the people running racing
bulls his engineer. So he's in for me, he's in
the gun. And that's it for the chamber. Alex Pell
(17:34):
always a pleasant to Thank you, my friend, Thank you
having me.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
This is sports Fix, your daily does of sports hues,
cower By News Talks EB.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
That's it for the Sports Fix podcast. I hope you've
enjoyed it. If you have, by all means subscribe it,
which means it'll turn up in your inbox on an
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Amongst spread the good word of the Sports Fix JJ
Gardner Holmes, he's hell on its most trusted home builder.
(18:07):
Thanks very much for your time. I'm Darcy Waltergrave. I'm
on nightly Tuesday, Winnter Thursday Friday on Sports Talk between
seven and eight. Jason Pine has got the Monday shift,
and of course he's all over the airwaves on News
Talk zb with weekends sport from midday through until three
pm Saturday and Sunday. Get Amongst for.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
More from News Talk ZEDB. Listen live on air or online,
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