On Sports Fix with D'Arcy Waldegrave for 1st April 2026, earlier today, an article was released by the New Zealand Herald detailing Ardie Savea's dealings with New Zealand Rugby over the past couple years which culminated in him asking for an early release of his contract at the end of 2025. Rugby writer Gregor Paul wrote the article, and he joined D'Arcy to discuss.
D'Arcy shares his thoughts on the GODZONE adventure race being held at Aoraki/Mount Cook next year.
And D'Arcy and Newstalk ZB rugby commentator Elliott Smith discuss what's been going on with Ardie Savea and Italy not making it to the FIFA World Cup for the third consecutive time.
Get 'Sports Fix' every weekday afternoon on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
This is Sportsfix howard By News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Welcome on into the Sports Fixed podcast. I'm Darcy Waldgrave.
Is the first of April twenty twenty six. It is
a Wednesday, and this is the Sports Fitz podcast. Plenty
lined up for you in today's podcast, including a chamber.
We open the doors to our rugby editor commentator mister
at Rugby, Elliot Smith, to talk about the Gregor Paul piece,
(00:43):
and on that subject, Gregor Paul himself is going to
join us to talk about the article inside All Blacks,
Lucy's relationship with the team and New Zealand Rugby. It's
all about Ardie Safia. Thanks very much, as always the GJ.
Gardner Holmes for your continued support of this podcast. Your
New Zealand's most trusted home builder for a reason. So
(01:05):
without further ado, Liz get them. In other news and
the Sporting Headline today, Braxton the ghost Runner, Sorenson McGee
who yesterday recommitted to New Zealand Rugby and both the
sevens and fifteens of Spaces but the workload won't overwhelm
her and sees New Zealand Rugby Women's High Performance boss
(01:26):
Hannah Porter. We have checks and balances, no golden goose
slaughtering here.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Have you talked to the players.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
There's a warrant to do everything but factoring and making
sure that the last season, making sure that it's a preseason,
and being really clear around what the opportunities are of
both programs.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Melbourne Storm at middle for Josh King isn't doing some
assaults over the news that will what a weapon Warbrick
is off to the Warriors next season. Is not happy,
but he's a mate and you've got to be empathetic, right.
Speaker 4 (01:56):
It's from a player and a mates exact that's really disappointed,
I guess, but for there to be a thing in
life and just regular league. And he's got a really
close connection to both his culture and his family, so
I think for him, if that's the best thing for
him and his family at this point in time, we
totally respect that.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
And at party time and the Democratic Republic of the Congo,
the Africans have beaten Jamaica in a lasted effort to
qualify the thiefs at the World cut the ones. That
result means they returned to the tournament for the first
time since nineteen seventy four. Desoe with the commentary and
in Swinging Fall Sports in your Parks.
Speaker 5 (02:30):
Next is Brocket through for the r COO what now.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
An extra time? And that's sport today use Keenomy.
Speaker 5 (02:44):
It's Sportsfix with Dancie Valdegrave.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
And it's a warm welcome out of the Sports Fix
podcast to New Zealand Heralder rugby writer mister Gregor Paul.
And it's warm welcome now to the Sports Fix podcast
to New Zealand Helder rugby writer mister Gregor Paul. Good eh, Gregor,
Hey Godshi, thanks very much for joining us here. We're
going to look at the story that came out today.
(03:10):
It's a rather long story, well worth READO New Zealand
here dot co dot in Z and of course you
can pick it up in the newspaper. First in there's
obviously a considerable amount of research I've been working on
for a number of years. What's the general thrust of
this article. It's entitled Inside the All Blacks Lucy's relationship
with the team in New Zealand Rugby. So that kind
(03:31):
of sums it up, But the thrust of the whole article,
how do you summarize.
Speaker 6 (03:34):
It like it's the story of how in November last year, Irdsa,
here arguably the New Zealand's best player, approached New Zealand
chair David Kirk in Edinburgh to say, look, I've got
two years left to run on my contract, but I
don't want to. I don't want to do it. I
want to find a way out. I am mostly my family.
(03:58):
I've lived in nomadic lifestyle because he'd been playing in
sabbatical seasons in Japan, then he joined Mowana, all of
which meant his family been living in well in him
without him, and he basically said, look, I can't really
go on without some sort of change or some sort
of break as well, because I'm quite tired. That was
in November before the All Blacks played Scotland, and the
(04:21):
story really plays out on Okay, he effect if he
wants to leave the o Blecks. How did New Zealand
Rugby persuade him to stay?
Speaker 2 (04:31):
How certain was it in ADDIE's mind? Do you believe
that he was actually going to leave? Was he super close?
Was he that fit up with the exhausting, the time
away and the like.
Speaker 6 (04:42):
It's hard to tell us a level of confusion about
It's a bit like the Trump's conflicting Iran at the moment.
What's it trying to achieve? What's the end goal type thing?
What was already hoping for because he met David Kirk
in early in November to say, look, I don't think
I can carry on. By mid December, he or is
(05:05):
certainly his representation was sitting around the table with New
Zealand Rugby's appropriate figures talking about what they could do
to keep him, and he was relatively confident, or New
Zealand Rugby rather were relatively confident by mid December that
they were going to be able to come to an
agreement to keep him. So it wasn't a very long
(05:26):
period if you think about it, that's about five weeks.
So the fact that he came back to the table
relatively quickly, he was willing to accept that, you know,
there were no leavers as such that New Zealand Rugby
could pool because they provided him with two sabbatical options
and two of his contracts. He'd taken both of those.
(05:47):
He'd chosen to play in Kobby and earned a lot
of money by doing that. But as a result, he'd
probably my gut feel here is that he just overstretched himself.
He'd underestimated his calendar and playing, you know, playing at
the World Cup in twenty three, going straight to Japan,
coming home and going straight into an all Blacks campaign,
(06:08):
moving up to Mowana and basing himself in Auckland, and
what that campaign took out of him as well, because
he you know, it was a huge Campaign's probably the
best super rugby campaign anyone's ever had to go back
into the Oblack. So he spent a long time away
from home living that life. He put a lot of
effort into his rugby and he just probably underestimated the
(06:32):
impact of all that. And at thirty two, I think
he is I think he just probably hit the wall
a little bit and he just didn't really know what
to do.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
Where does the blame sit now? I don't want to
apportion blame or blamestorm if you will around here, But
when you look at both sides of the story, Ardie
Saviah bid off a little more than he could chew.
But in saying that insider let him do it, they
acquiesced to that So should someone have been stronger initially
and said, look, this can't happen. This is what's going
(07:03):
to happen long term, so injured, I gave him the
opportunity to take that break, did take it, but then
he added more work to a so called sabbatical which
is supposed to be a race. You see what I'm
aiming at here? Where is the blank live?
Speaker 6 (07:17):
Well, look, you're absolutely right he needed to be. There's
probably a problem. Is that a fair term problem? Not
sure with Ardi and that he represents himself largely or
he or he certainly was representing himself in these negotiations
around his contract. And I have a feeling that if
he had, you know, if he was with one of
(07:39):
the big houses, with the guys that you know that
they do and arrange big, big contracts for the likes
of Bowden, Barrett, Dan Carda richly recall guys of that
caliber who you know already sits comfortably in that company,
if he'd let you know, someone with that kind of
knowledge negotiate on his behalf, I don't think this would
(07:59):
have happened. First up, I think they would have said
to him, look that that's not a good idea. Yeah.
You know, even McCall couldn't play three to thirty five
years old as he did without taking six months off.
You know, he had a sabbatical contract which saw him
take a break completely from rugby and he needed that to,
you know, to get himself to two point fifteen. Artie's
(08:21):
probably no different and that he needed a break, but
he also wanted the money. And now people can judge
him for that, but I don't because he's got a
very short earning window and who are we to say
it's wrong to, you know, to prioritize taking money and
banking a lot of it. And that is something that
(08:41):
you know, he is a family man and people might
sell what's contradictory that you want to spend time away
from your family to earn money, But isn't provision of
money Exactly what family man do you know? They go
out and earn and they put food on the table.
And he's done that in a way that will bring
his family generational opportunity because that money will go a
long long way in the Savvier family. So you can't
(09:05):
judge him for making money. He made a mistake. He
overreached with a good advice. He didn't get any good
advice because he didn't have an agent and he overreached.
But to your point, what would New Zealand Rugby.
Speaker 5 (09:17):
Doing dissecting the sporting agenda? It's sportsfix with Darcy Waldgrave
any sport.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
I do not believe there is a more difficult prospect
than taking on the tyranny the magnificence of the God
Zone Adventure Race. The thirteenth edition of the God Zone
is to be centered around the magnificence of Old Raki,
Mount Cook and the surrounding McKenzie Basin. This is a
(09:46):
truly iconic part of the New Zealand's landscape and the
New Zealand psyche. To hold a God Zone in a
place like that really summarizes the import, the strength, the size,
the overwhelming nature of the God's Zone Adventure Race. Let
me summarize it for you and try not to get
(10:06):
the stitch or forty kne exhaustion by just listening to
what these athletes put themselves through. They are teams of four,
They race across six hundred kilometers non stop over eight days.
They only sleep when they can, they only eat when
they can. They are canoeing, they are tramping, they are running,
(10:30):
they are cycling, They are doing whatever they can to
traverse the terra firma in order to finish in first place.
It is absolutely relentless. I don't think there's a bigger
test of endurance, of strength, of application, of human design,
of fitness, of mental capacity than the God's Own Race.
(10:52):
It stands alone, not unlike Oaki Mount Cook. It is
an absolute behemoth in the sporting world. It stands alone
and it attracts the best adventure races in the world.
It is an extraordinary Richie McCaw from, an All Black
captain and arguably the goat of rugby union, has competed
(11:15):
in a few times. This time he's part of the
organizing committee. He is how he describes God's Own and
where it's going to be played out. This alpine environment
is like no other. From the high mountain reaches down
to the valley floors, rivers and lakes, there is adventure
wherever you turn. We chose Odaki Mount Cook as the
(11:37):
backdrop for chapter thirteen because it's a spectacular showcase of
the type of terrain that is very special to New Zealand,
with an incredible legacy of adventurous spirit from the likes
of Sir Edmund Hillary and Sir Harry Wigley, who pioneered
much of the adventure in this area and in Richie's case,
(11:57):
said as a place he spent a lot of time
hovering over, as he is an accomplished glider pilot. God's
own thirteen set to go around Odaki Mount Cook in
the mc kenzie basin. What an iconic area for an
iconic race.
Speaker 5 (12:13):
The chamber is now in session on Sportsfax, swinging the
chamber doors open and revealing Dun, Dun, dun the beast,
No hold on, this is not the chaser.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Elliot Smith joins us here in the chamber. He is
our Rugby commentator, Rugby editor Rugby. He is Rugby here
at news talk to Bday Rugby. Hell are you okay?
Speaker 3 (12:32):
Darci? Very well? Thank you.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
The big story today Gregor Paul. And it's quite the time,
isn't it. There's a lot of information and it's basically
breaking down what's happened with Ardie Savia and how close
he was to up and sticks and leaving the game forever.
Now we can talk about this for twenty five minutes.
Probably not a good idea. What did you pull out
(12:54):
of that piece.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
Well, look, five thousand words. It was a great piece
of journalism from Gregor. I lucky enough to have a
sort of advanced copy and I sat down last night
with a cup of a cup of tea and biscuit,
Yeah exactly, and needed a refill halfway through. I mean,
it's a pretty big examination of I guess where things
went wrong to a certain point. It's a microcosm of
(13:17):
I guess the bigger issues in the All Blacks that
have obviously presented themselves and have changed, you know, in
terms of the coaching staff, but also just where Ardie
Sarviga's head was last year. And it paints a picture
of a player that was pretty much done with international rugby,
at least from an All Blacks perspective, and it would
have been catastrophic had he chosen to leave two years
(13:39):
out from a Rugby World Cup. Fortunately, they've managed to
mend the fences and managed to build a bridge and
have come to an agreement that we'll see him play there.
But you know, I think we had pretty close to
losing Artissarva full stop.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Interesting part of the story is that a lot of
people have connected the removal of Raser Robertson from the
post with Artie Sarva being the driving force behind this
player revolt. He's vehemently denied this all of the time.
Gregor reading the article that two separate situations that are
(14:13):
conveniently melded by opinion.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
Yeah, that's right, I mean, and it's a human reaction
and natural to draw a line between the two because
on one side you've got this and the other side
you've got that, and you go, okay.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
Well I'm given the captain c.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
Yeah, absolutely, and look at it doesn't seem like that
was indeed the case, and the New Zealand Rugby have
come to this decision around Scott Robertson independently of all this.
But what it does paint is someone that I think,
with the Arty, maybe stretched himself a little bit too thin.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
Maybe well that's one of the huge takeaways.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
But again he is solely responsible at the same time
for any contract he signs. Now, obviously, no one wants
to be away from their family, no one wants to
have to spend time on the road. Some of that
is part of being a professional footballer and well compensated
for doing so. But if he wanted to spend more
time with his family. Well, there two options there. He
(15:09):
could have taken the family up to Japan and signed
a full time deal there. I'm sure that Kobe weren't
just wanting one year out of him and then a
gap year and then him came out for another year.
You know, Richie Morng has gone up and spent a
full contract cycle up there, So that was one possibility.
The other is that he could have relocated family to Auckland.
But there are a number of if buts and maybes
(15:30):
in this regardless though, you know, I think it had
a player at sort of breaking point, and fortunately they've
been pulled back from the brink.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
Maybe not going to one A PACIFICA might have helped.
Being in Auckland. The family's in Wellington. We don't understand
the family dynamical, and I'm not for a second saying
I'm went amongst it. However, that only happened because the
hurricane said, you're going on a sabbatical. We're not going
to employ you for one. You have a year off
an employee if you know that. No, so he was
forced to go somewhere. So his arm, well his hand
(16:01):
was forced.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
Well that's right, yeah, I mean there's a domino effect here.
And look, he obviously went to Mourner Pacifica and but
then was you know, willingly negotiating with the Hurricanes before
a certain point before it emerged he had another sabbatical.
So while he's obviously painted himself and and you know,
did very very well with Mowana last year, it was
the second option, let's not forget that. And the Hurricanes
were his first because he was negotiating with them until
(16:23):
they seemingly withdrew from this. So there's been all sorts
of you know, domino effects and knock ons here that
have changed the course of things. But ultimately, maybe you know,
I think the player has to be responsible for the
contract that they signed. They're not happy with it, well,
you know, to me personally, you weighed out your contract
there and go I'm gonna give my dartest until the
(16:43):
end of it. But clearly he was looking for a
way out and the New.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
Zealand Rugby's arms. Though you've got this, surely you're aware
of what those contracts would have done or could have done,
or have indeed done. Where is your duty of care?
Did they maybe sit them down and go your nuts?
Speaker 6 (16:59):
Mate?
Speaker 2 (16:59):
You can't do this.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
Well, I did say don't go to Wada PACIFICA or
they basically seriously didn't want them to. Yeah, absolutely, they
didn't want him to go to Wider Pacificus, so that
was part of it. They basically said that, you know,
you'll be not subject to the standout periods that are
built in for all blacks at the five Foundation franchises.
So there's all sorts of little official.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
Kobe thing too, though, isn't it Corbey. I just don't
say Kobe, it's corbet with that. They gave him an
opportunity to take a sabbatical. He took it so in
essence that they served that to him. He spiked it
back and you take opportunity, you can get it right, Well, yes,
but elicit I think yes.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
But he also did sign with this contract with New
Zealand Rugby that allowed him to do the two sabbaticals.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
So this contract and they gave him the opportunity, and
maybe they shouldn't.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
Have done maybe, but then he maybe not have resigned
with decided to go to Kobe. And again if he
wanted to go to Kobe and decided to do that
after the twenty three worked up and signed a four
year deal, which you know, maybe that was on the table.
I don't know, but that could have well been a possibility.
So there's all sorts of note this was first, and
this was first, and who's who's fault. Well, ultimately, you know,
(18:06):
there's probably a bit of fault on both sides. But
ultimately we've got ardisav fortunately committing through the World Cup,
which was contracted for anyway.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
And you'd expect probably the end of that World Cup
you'll probably leave. Anyway, maybe a coaching staff would have
done it. They've got eighteen months taking this into account,
do they just give them the captaincy?
Speaker 3 (18:24):
Well, can you give them the captaincy? As Gregor Paul's
piece suggested today, will it sounds like he's probably going
to miss the fair chunk of this All Black season
to get him through to that World Cup.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
To recover from all of the work he's been doing.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
So can you make him the captain when say he
may not play at all in July or maybe play
the one game potentially. I don't know if he's going
to be a part time captain. I'm not sure that's
the best thing for this All Blacks team. So yeah,
I think the jury's out on that question.
Speaker 6 (18:51):
For sure.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
We're going to find out. I love the stories. It's
better and better. It's rolling down. It's definitely not gathering
any moss. Well, the biggest story if you're in Italy,
it's their national football team hasn't qualified for the World
Cup again. They won at four times at full times,
and this is the consecutive year or just the third year.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
No third consecutive they have the last time in twenty fourteen,
missed twenty eighteen, twenty two, and now twenty twenty six.
So it's going to be sixteen years assuming they qualify
twenty thirty, which is no sure thing, but maybe they'll
expand it to one hundred and twenty eight teams by
that point and there should be a fair chance of
making it.
Speaker 2 (19:25):
But they have not made it.
Speaker 3 (19:27):
And this is one of the glamour teams of world
international football not there again, and people up in arms
going you know, curisar things there and all these other
small nations. Well, it is a World Cup, it's not
just a European Cup now.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
It's designed to represent the whole world, just the best
fifty teams.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
Atlee had a phole opportunities to qualify directly out of
their pool into the direct qualifiers. They missed another opportunity
this morning in their sudden death knockout against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
They just went good enough.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
And when Bush comes to shave, when people say it
should be the best forty or fifty team, do you
know what happens at the end of World Cup tournaments.
There is one winning that is it and they will
eventually get through regardless. And one last thought, do you
trust him, Fantino? As far as you can throw them?
Do you really think that Iran are actually going to
tune up to America and play a game at the
(20:18):
World Cup against New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (20:20):
I look between him and the inaugural Fief Peace Prize
winner and Donald Trump. I'll wait and see. You know,
the truth must be out there somewhere.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Yeah, my side, your side, and somewhere in the middle
is the truth. And with that, mister Elliot Smith, thanks
very much for your time.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
Ben a pleasure needing a Vex.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
We've got just the ticket.
Speaker 5 (20:39):
It's Sports Fix powered by News Talks IVY.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
Thanks very much for listening to the Sports Vex podcast.
I'm Darcy WATERGRAVEJJ Garden Homes and Sellings most trusted at
home Builder. Thanks very much for getting in behind. Hey,
you've enjoyed what you've heard. Tell your friends, Tell everyone
you know if they like sport that is, and get
them to climb in and subscribe. And if you haven't,
you should as well. That way, this podcast turns up
in your inbox on a week daily basis. If you
(21:05):
like to be on the radio, well you can, You've
got the opportunity. It's called Sports Talk. It's on News
Talks EBB Monday through Friday from seven to eight pm,
taking your calls, your text your opinions. Jason Pine's got
the Monday show, I've got Tuesday through Friday, and then
Jason Pine Rules the Roost come Saturday Sunday from twelve
midday to three o'clock with weekend at Sport. We'd love
(21:28):
you to join both of these programs. I hope you've
enjoyed the podcast. I'm looking forward to bringing you another
one tomorrow from us at the Fax on News Talks EZB.
Speaker 1 (21:41):
For more from News Talk ZEDB, listen live on air
or online and keep our shows with you wherever you
go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio,
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
This is Sportsfix howard By News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Welcome on into the Sports Fixed podcast. I'm Darcy Waldgrave.
Is the first of April twenty twenty six. It is
a Wednesday, and this is the Sports Fitz podcast. Plenty
lined up for you in today's podcast, including a chamber.
We open the doors to our rugby editor commentator mister
at Rugby, Elliot Smith, to talk about the Gregor Paul piece,
(00:43):
and on that subject, Gregor Paul himself is going to
join us to talk about the article inside All Blacks,
Lucy's relationship with the team and New Zealand Rugby. It's
all about Ardie Safia. Thanks very much, as always the GJ.
Gardner Holmes for your continued support of this podcast. Your
New Zealand's most trusted home builder for a reason. So
(01:05):
without further ado, Liz get them. In other news and
the Sporting Headline today, Braxton the ghost Runner, Sorenson McGee
who yesterday recommitted to New Zealand Rugby and both the
sevens and fifteens of Spaces but the workload won't overwhelm
her and sees New Zealand Rugby Women's High Performance boss
(01:26):
Hannah Porter. We have checks and balances, no golden goose
slaughtering here.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Have you talked to the players.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
There's a warrant to do everything but factoring and making
sure that the last season, making sure that it's a preseason,
and being really clear around what the opportunities are of
both programs.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Melbourne Storm at middle for Josh King isn't doing some
assaults over the news that will what a weapon Warbrick
is off to the Warriors next season. Is not happy,
but he's a mate and you've got to be empathetic, right.
Speaker 4 (01:56):
It's from a player and a mates exact that's really disappointed,
I guess, but for there to be a thing in
life and just regular league. And he's got a really
close connection to both his culture and his family, so
I think for him, if that's the best thing for
him and his family at this point in time, we
totally respect that.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
And at party time and the Democratic Republic of the Congo,
the Africans have beaten Jamaica in a lasted effort to
qualify the thiefs at the World cut the ones. That
result means they returned to the tournament for the first
time since nineteen seventy four. Desoe with the commentary and
in Swinging Fall Sports in your Parks.
Speaker 5 (02:30):
Next is Brocket through for the r COO what now.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
An extra time? And that's sport today use Keenomy.
Speaker 5 (02:44):
It's Sportsfix with Dancie Valdegrave.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
And it's a warm welcome out of the Sports Fix
podcast to New Zealand Heralder rugby writer mister Gregor Paul.
And it's warm welcome now to the Sports Fix podcast
to New Zealand Helder rugby writer mister Gregor Paul. Good eh, Gregor,
Hey Godshi, thanks very much for joining us here. We're
going to look at the story that came out today.
(03:10):
It's a rather long story, well worth READO New Zealand
here dot co dot in Z and of course you
can pick it up in the newspaper. First in there's
obviously a considerable amount of research I've been working on
for a number of years. What's the general thrust of
this article. It's entitled Inside the All Blacks Lucy's relationship
with the team in New Zealand Rugby. So that kind
(03:31):
of sums it up, But the thrust of the whole article,
how do you summarize.
Speaker 6 (03:34):
It like it's the story of how in November last year, Irdsa,
here arguably the New Zealand's best player, approached New Zealand
chair David Kirk in Edinburgh to say, look, I've got
two years left to run on my contract, but I
don't want to. I don't want to do it. I
want to find a way out. I am mostly my family.
(03:58):
I've lived in nomadic lifestyle because he'd been playing in
sabbatical seasons in Japan, then he joined Mowana, all of
which meant his family been living in well in him
without him, and he basically said, look, I can't really
go on without some sort of change or some sort
of break as well, because I'm quite tired. That was
in November before the All Blacks played Scotland, and the
(04:21):
story really plays out on Okay, he effect if he
wants to leave the o Blecks. How did New Zealand
Rugby persuade him to stay?
Speaker 2 (04:31):
How certain was it in ADDIE's mind? Do you believe
that he was actually going to leave? Was he super close?
Was he that fit up with the exhausting, the time
away and the like.
Speaker 6 (04:42):
It's hard to tell us a level of confusion about
It's a bit like the Trump's conflicting Iran at the moment.
What's it trying to achieve? What's the end goal type thing?
What was already hoping for because he met David Kirk
in early in November to say, look, I don't think
I can carry on. By mid December, he or is
(05:05):
certainly his representation was sitting around the table with New
Zealand Rugby's appropriate figures talking about what they could do
to keep him, and he was relatively confident, or New
Zealand Rugby rather were relatively confident by mid December that
they were going to be able to come to an
agreement to keep him. So it wasn't a very long
(05:26):
period if you think about it, that's about five weeks.
So the fact that he came back to the table
relatively quickly, he was willing to accept that, you know,
there were no leavers as such that New Zealand Rugby
could pool because they provided him with two sabbatical options
and two of his contracts. He'd taken both of those.
(05:47):
He'd chosen to play in Kobby and earned a lot
of money by doing that. But as a result, he'd
probably my gut feel here is that he just overstretched himself.
He'd underestimated his calendar and playing, you know, playing at
the World Cup in twenty three, going straight to Japan,
coming home and going straight into an all Blacks campaign,
(06:08):
moving up to Mowana and basing himself in Auckland, and
what that campaign took out of him as well, because
he you know, it was a huge Campaign's probably the
best super rugby campaign anyone's ever had to go back
into the Oblack. So he spent a long time away
from home living that life. He put a lot of
effort into his rugby and he just probably underestimated the
(06:32):
impact of all that. And at thirty two, I think
he is I think he just probably hit the wall
a little bit and he just didn't really know what
to do.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
Where does the blame sit now? I don't want to
apportion blame or blamestorm if you will around here, But
when you look at both sides of the story, Ardie
Saviah bid off a little more than he could chew.
But in saying that insider let him do it, they
acquiesced to that So should someone have been stronger initially
and said, look, this can't happen. This is what's going
(07:03):
to happen long term, so injured, I gave him the
opportunity to take that break, did take it, but then
he added more work to a so called sabbatical which
is supposed to be a race. You see what I'm
aiming at here? Where is the blank live?
Speaker 6 (07:17):
Well, look, you're absolutely right he needed to be. There's
probably a problem. Is that a fair term problem? Not
sure with Ardi and that he represents himself largely or
he or he certainly was representing himself in these negotiations
around his contract. And I have a feeling that if
he had, you know, if he was with one of
(07:39):
the big houses, with the guys that you know that
they do and arrange big, big contracts for the likes
of Bowden, Barrett, Dan Carda richly recall guys of that
caliber who you know already sits comfortably in that company,
if he'd let you know, someone with that kind of
knowledge negotiate on his behalf, I don't think this would
(07:59):
have happened. First up, I think they would have said
to him, look that that's not a good idea. Yeah.
You know, even McCall couldn't play three to thirty five
years old as he did without taking six months off.
You know, he had a sabbatical contract which saw him
take a break completely from rugby and he needed that to,
you know, to get himself to two point fifteen. Artie's
(08:21):
probably no different and that he needed a break, but
he also wanted the money. And now people can judge
him for that, but I don't because he's got a
very short earning window and who are we to say
it's wrong to, you know, to prioritize taking money and
banking a lot of it. And that is something that
(08:41):
you know, he is a family man and people might
sell what's contradictory that you want to spend time away
from your family to earn money, But isn't provision of
money Exactly what family man do you know? They go
out and earn and they put food on the table.
And he's done that in a way that will bring
his family generational opportunity because that money will go a
long long way in the Savvier family. So you can't
(09:05):
judge him for making money. He made a mistake. He
overreached with a good advice. He didn't get any good
advice because he didn't have an agent and he overreached.
But to your point, what would New Zealand Rugby.
Speaker 5 (09:17):
Doing dissecting the sporting agenda? It's sportsfix with Darcy Waldgrave
any sport.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
I do not believe there is a more difficult prospect
than taking on the tyranny the magnificence of the God
Zone Adventure Race. The thirteenth edition of the God Zone
is to be centered around the magnificence of Old Raki,
Mount Cook and the surrounding McKenzie Basin. This is a
(09:46):
truly iconic part of the New Zealand's landscape and the
New Zealand psyche. To hold a God Zone in a
place like that really summarizes the import, the strength, the size,
the overwhelming nature of the God's Zone Adventure Race. Let
me summarize it for you and try not to get
(10:06):
the stitch or forty kne exhaustion by just listening to
what these athletes put themselves through. They are teams of four,
They race across six hundred kilometers non stop over eight days.
They only sleep when they can, they only eat when
they can. They are canoeing, they are tramping, they are running,
(10:30):
they are cycling, They are doing whatever they can to
traverse the terra firma in order to finish in first place.
It is absolutely relentless. I don't think there's a bigger
test of endurance, of strength, of application, of human design,
of fitness, of mental capacity than the God's Own Race.
(10:52):
It stands alone, not unlike Oaki Mount Cook. It is
an absolute behemoth in the sporting world. It stands alone
and it attracts the best adventure races in the world.
It is an extraordinary Richie McCaw from, an All Black
captain and arguably the goat of rugby union, has competed
(11:15):
in a few times. This time he's part of the
organizing committee. He is how he describes God's Own and
where it's going to be played out. This alpine environment
is like no other. From the high mountain reaches down
to the valley floors, rivers and lakes, there is adventure
wherever you turn. We chose Odaki Mount Cook as the
(11:37):
backdrop for chapter thirteen because it's a spectacular showcase of
the type of terrain that is very special to New Zealand,
with an incredible legacy of adventurous spirit from the likes
of Sir Edmund Hillary and Sir Harry Wigley, who pioneered
much of the adventure in this area and in Richie's case,
(11:57):
said as a place he spent a lot of time
hovering over, as he is an accomplished glider pilot. God's
own thirteen set to go around Odaki Mount Cook in
the mc kenzie basin. What an iconic area for an
iconic race.
Speaker 5 (12:13):
The chamber is now in session on Sportsfax, swinging the
chamber doors open and revealing Dun, Dun, dun the beast,
No hold on, this is not the chaser.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Elliot Smith joins us here in the chamber. He is
our Rugby commentator, Rugby editor Rugby. He is Rugby here
at news talk to Bday Rugby. Hell are you okay?
Speaker 3 (12:32):
Darci? Very well? Thank you.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
The big story today Gregor Paul. And it's quite the time,
isn't it. There's a lot of information and it's basically
breaking down what's happened with Ardie Savia and how close
he was to up and sticks and leaving the game forever.
Now we can talk about this for twenty five minutes.
Probably not a good idea. What did you pull out
(12:54):
of that piece.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
Well, look, five thousand words. It was a great piece
of journalism from Gregor. I lucky enough to have a
sort of advanced copy and I sat down last night
with a cup of a cup of tea and biscuit,
Yeah exactly, and needed a refill halfway through. I mean,
it's a pretty big examination of I guess where things
went wrong to a certain point. It's a microcosm of
(13:17):
I guess the bigger issues in the All Blacks that
have obviously presented themselves and have changed, you know, in
terms of the coaching staff, but also just where Ardie
Sarviga's head was last year. And it paints a picture
of a player that was pretty much done with international rugby,
at least from an All Blacks perspective, and it would
have been catastrophic had he chosen to leave two years
(13:39):
out from a Rugby World Cup. Fortunately, they've managed to
mend the fences and managed to build a bridge and
have come to an agreement that we'll see him play there.
But you know, I think we had pretty close to
losing Artissarva full stop.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Interesting part of the story is that a lot of
people have connected the removal of Raser Robertson from the
post with Artie Sarva being the driving force behind this
player revolt. He's vehemently denied this all of the time.
Gregor reading the article that two separate situations that are
(14:13):
conveniently melded by opinion.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
Yeah, that's right, I mean, and it's a human reaction
and natural to draw a line between the two because
on one side you've got this and the other side
you've got that, and you go, okay.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
Well I'm given the captain c.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
Yeah, absolutely, and look at it doesn't seem like that
was indeed the case, and the New Zealand Rugby have
come to this decision around Scott Robertson independently of all this.
But what it does paint is someone that I think,
with the Arty, maybe stretched himself a little bit too thin.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
Maybe well that's one of the huge takeaways.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
But again he is solely responsible at the same time
for any contract he signs. Now, obviously, no one wants
to be away from their family, no one wants to
have to spend time on the road. Some of that
is part of being a professional footballer and well compensated
for doing so. But if he wanted to spend more
time with his family. Well, there two options there. He
(15:09):
could have taken the family up to Japan and signed
a full time deal there. I'm sure that Kobe weren't
just wanting one year out of him and then a
gap year and then him came out for another year.
You know, Richie Morng has gone up and spent a
full contract cycle up there, So that was one possibility.
The other is that he could have relocated family to Auckland.
But there are a number of if buts and maybes
(15:30):
in this regardless though, you know, I think it had
a player at sort of breaking point, and fortunately they've
been pulled back from the brink.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
Maybe not going to one A PACIFICA might have helped.
Being in Auckland. The family's in Wellington. We don't understand
the family dynamical, and I'm not for a second saying
I'm went amongst it. However, that only happened because the
hurricane said, you're going on a sabbatical. We're not going
to employ you for one. You have a year off
an employee if you know that. No, so he was
forced to go somewhere. So his arm, well his hand
(16:01):
was forced.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
Well that's right, yeah, I mean there's a domino effect here.
And look, he obviously went to Mourner Pacifica and but
then was you know, willingly negotiating with the Hurricanes before
a certain point before it emerged he had another sabbatical.
So while he's obviously painted himself and and you know,
did very very well with Mowana last year, it was
the second option, let's not forget that. And the Hurricanes
were his first because he was negotiating with them until
(16:23):
they seemingly withdrew from this. So there's been all sorts
of you know, domino effects and knock ons here that
have changed the course of things. But ultimately, maybe you know,
I think the player has to be responsible for the
contract that they signed. They're not happy with it, well,
you know, to me personally, you weighed out your contract
there and go I'm gonna give my dartest until the
(16:43):
end of it. But clearly he was looking for a
way out and the New.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
Zealand Rugby's arms. Though you've got this, surely you're aware
of what those contracts would have done or could have done,
or have indeed done. Where is your duty of care?
Did they maybe sit them down and go your nuts?
Speaker 6 (16:59):
Mate?
Speaker 2 (16:59):
You can't do this.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
Well, I did say don't go to Wada PACIFICA or
they basically seriously didn't want them to. Yeah, absolutely, they
didn't want him to go to Wider Pacificus, so that
was part of it. They basically said that, you know,
you'll be not subject to the standout periods that are
built in for all blacks at the five Foundation franchises.
So there's all sorts of little official.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
Kobe thing too, though, isn't it Corbey. I just don't
say Kobe, it's corbet with that. They gave him an
opportunity to take a sabbatical. He took it so in
essence that they served that to him. He spiked it
back and you take opportunity, you can get it right, Well, yes,
but elicit I think yes.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
But he also did sign with this contract with New
Zealand Rugby that allowed him to do the two sabbaticals.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
So this contract and they gave him the opportunity, and
maybe they shouldn't.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
Have done maybe, but then he maybe not have resigned
with decided to go to Kobe. And again if he
wanted to go to Kobe and decided to do that
after the twenty three worked up and signed a four
year deal, which you know, maybe that was on the table.
I don't know, but that could have well been a possibility.
So there's all sorts of note this was first, and
this was first, and who's who's fault. Well, ultimately, you know,
(18:06):
there's probably a bit of fault on both sides. But
ultimately we've got ardisav fortunately committing through the World Cup,
which was contracted for anyway.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
And you'd expect probably the end of that World Cup
you'll probably leave. Anyway, maybe a coaching staff would have
done it. They've got eighteen months taking this into account,
do they just give them the captaincy?
Speaker 3 (18:24):
Well, can you give them the captaincy? As Gregor Paul's
piece suggested today, will it sounds like he's probably going
to miss the fair chunk of this All Black season
to get him through to that World Cup.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
To recover from all of the work he's been doing.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
So can you make him the captain when say he
may not play at all in July or maybe play
the one game potentially. I don't know if he's going
to be a part time captain. I'm not sure that's
the best thing for this All Blacks team. So yeah,
I think the jury's out on that question.
Speaker 6 (18:51):
For sure.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
We're going to find out. I love the stories. It's
better and better. It's rolling down. It's definitely not gathering
any moss. Well, the biggest story if you're in Italy,
it's their national football team hasn't qualified for the World
Cup again. They won at four times at full times,
and this is the consecutive year or just the third year.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
No third consecutive they have the last time in twenty fourteen,
missed twenty eighteen, twenty two, and now twenty twenty six.
So it's going to be sixteen years assuming they qualify
twenty thirty, which is no sure thing, but maybe they'll
expand it to one hundred and twenty eight teams by
that point and there should be a fair chance of
making it.
Speaker 2 (19:25):
But they have not made it.
Speaker 3 (19:27):
And this is one of the glamour teams of world
international football not there again, and people up in arms
going you know, curisar things there and all these other
small nations. Well, it is a World Cup, it's not
just a European Cup now.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
It's designed to represent the whole world, just the best
fifty teams.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
Atlee had a phole opportunities to qualify directly out of
their pool into the direct qualifiers. They missed another opportunity
this morning in their sudden death knockout against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
They just went good enough.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
And when Bush comes to shave, when people say it
should be the best forty or fifty team, do you
know what happens at the end of World Cup tournaments.
There is one winning that is it and they will
eventually get through regardless. And one last thought, do you
trust him, Fantino? As far as you can throw them?
Do you really think that Iran are actually going to
tune up to America and play a game at the
(20:18):
World Cup against New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (20:20):
I look between him and the inaugural Fief Peace Prize
winner and Donald Trump. I'll wait and see. You know,
the truth must be out there somewhere.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Yeah, my side, your side, and somewhere in the middle
is the truth. And with that, mister Elliot Smith, thanks
very much for your time.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
Ben a pleasure needing a Vex.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
We've got just the ticket.
Speaker 5 (20:39):
It's Sports Fix powered by News Talks IVY.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
Thanks very much for listening to the Sports Vex podcast.
I'm Darcy WATERGRAVEJJ Garden Homes and Sellings most trusted at
home Builder. Thanks very much for getting in behind. Hey,
you've enjoyed what you've heard. Tell your friends, Tell everyone
you know if they like sport that is, and get
them to climb in and subscribe. And if you haven't,
you should as well. That way, this podcast turns up
in your inbox on a week daily basis. If you
(21:05):
like to be on the radio, well you can, You've
got the opportunity. It's called Sports Talk. It's on News
Talks EBB Monday through Friday from seven to eight pm,
taking your calls, your text your opinions. Jason Pine's got
the Monday show, I've got Tuesday through Friday, and then
Jason Pine Rules the Roost come Saturday Sunday from twelve
midday to three o'clock with weekend at Sport. We'd love
(21:28):
you to join both of these programs. I hope you've
enjoyed the podcast. I'm looking forward to bringing you another
one tomorrow from us at the Fax on News Talks EZB.
Speaker 1 (21:41):
For more from News Talk ZEDB, listen live on air
or online and keep our shows with you wherever you
go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio,
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Kingdom of Fraud
It’s the unlikeliest of criminal partnerships: a devout polygamist from an insular Utah sect joining forces with a shadowy Armenian tycoon from LA. The result - a billion dollar fraud conspiracy. In Kingdom of Fraud, investigative reporter Michele McPhee traces the origins of the extraordinary alliance between Jacob Kingston and Levon Termendzhyan. Together, the two men trigger the largest tax investigation in American history and weave around themselves a web of dirty cops, influential political relationships and transnational money laundering. All this is set against the backdrop of Jacob Kingston’s clan – The Order. A powerful and secretive polygamist organization in Salt Lake City. To whom Jacob is desperate to prove his worth. Kingdom of Fraud is produced by Novel for iHeart Podcasts. For more from Novel, visit https://novel.audio/. You can listen to new episodes of Kingdom of Fraud completely ad-free and 1 week early with an iHeart True Crime+ subscription, available exclusively on Apple Podcasts. Open your Apple Podcasts app, search for “iHeart True Crime+, and subscribe today!