On Sports Fix with D'Arcy Waldegrave for 29 April 2026, after a strong starting debut as the openside flanker for the Crusaders at Super Round, Leicester Fainga'anuku has been retained the spot for their upcoming clash against the Hurricanes. Is this a possible selection that the All Blacks could ponder in the long term? Former Crusaders captain and loose forward Reuben Thorne joined D'Arcy to discuss.
D'Arcy shares his thoughts on the class of retiring players for the White Ferns following the upcoming women's T20 World Cup.
And D'Arcy and Newstalk ZB head of sport Clay Wilson discuss Jarome Luai signing with the Papua New Guinea Chiefs for the 2028 NRL season, and the squads named for the next round of Super Rugby Pacific.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our wide range of podcast now on iHeartRadio.
This is Sortsfix Howard by News Talks ed B.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Why Hello to you and rocom on in the Sports
Fixed podcast. My name is Darcy Walter Grave. I'm your
host the next fifteen twenty odd minutes as we look
across the wonderful wide world of sport, predominantly with the
New Zealand. I it is a Wednesday. It's the twenty
ninth of April twenty twenty six and our big interview
today is with ruben Thorn. Ruben Thorn, ruben Thorn, rubin Thorn,
(00:44):
of course, our former All Black skipper, a proud crusader
and Canterbury man. We're going to talk to him about
the transition of Lester Fangnuku from the midfield to the
open side. He did it well last week, He's going
to do it again this week. Ruben Thorn to discuss that.
I've got some thoughts on the magnificence that is the
(01:04):
defending T twenty world champion White Earns. That team was
out today. Be joined in the chamber by Director of
Sport News Talk ZBB Clay Wilson, that's the plan, let's
do it. In other news, fresh now from the Fixed
Sport Bureau, The quotes that really matter for Wednesday. The
White Fern's T twenty World Cup squad was released today,
(01:28):
featuring three athletes on Swan Song, Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates
and Leah to Huho, who says that they're not there
just to make up the numbers.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Taking that success two years ago, you want to be
able to have that again and you want to walk
away with the trophy now that you come and know
what that fields like, putting in a hell of a
lot of work to make sure that you're doing everything
you can, but that hopefully as a team we can
can succeed.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Former Keyley and Tiger's in our old coach Benji Marshall
has explained that Jerome Lewis moved to the chiefs at
Pappu and New Guinea's entry into the NRL wasn't just
about Jerome.
Speaker 4 (02:02):
We sent them there with our blessings to explore that
opportunity and Ida Go in my office has been broken
down emotional about making the decision that clearly wasn't just
about himself.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
No, it is probably about the one point two million
tax free Ossie dollars for a season, right, No shame
in that. And new breaker boomer and former Adelaide thirty
six er de Andrew Silovitch knows exactly what is expected
of him.
Speaker 5 (02:30):
I think the break is the last or second last
and three point percentage and not too many attempts.
Speaker 6 (02:35):
So hopefully I can kind of come in and play
a role of the.
Speaker 5 (02:37):
Sense of taking good three point shots and spreading the
floor a bit more and kind of playing like a
Kerpenny type of role.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
And that's the sound of spoken sport for you today, you.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Spavian, It's Sportsfix with Duncie Valdegreve and it's a.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Wilmer welcomes and Sports Fix podcast. Now to former flanker
and All Black captain mister ruben Thorn. It a mate,
I trust you. Well, you're probably still bouncing after what
happened over the weekend at the Super Round. I expect
most of christ Jets still are, right.
Speaker 6 (03:11):
Yeah, look, it was amazing, It really was. The stadium
just was so good, the experience was so good, the
city was buzzing from it, and yeah it was. It
was a really good weekend.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
You've got to come down and we're coming down to
the serious nature. Super rugby continues. But we've found now
that Lester farn Nuku has been selected again at open
side flanker. It's an interesting move, but you'd suggest it
works pretty well. Last week, what was it gut reaction
to a midfield of floating around like he does, which
he's been doing habitually. This is not unusual for him,
(03:44):
But how do you feel about that transition and what
he's achieved so far?
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Well?
Speaker 6 (03:49):
Look, to be honest, I had my doubts, and you know,
I talked to a few players leading into that last game,
former players and former loose forwards, and we're all like,
is this going to work or not? We just went
sure because it is quite a specialist position, requires a
big work create, you know, and all these other things
that someone who's spent their life playing in the backs
(04:11):
just wouldn't be used to. But he made a real
fist of it, and he did a good job and
he was involved, heavily involved. His defense seemed to be
pretty accurate, and he certainly made an impact with the
ball in hand, So you'd have to say overall it
worked pretty well.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
You said accurate, and that's probably the most important word
in amongst that, because when you are in the back line,
you come into that place, you haven't got a lot
of room to move, so you need to know that
you can be precise in your in your delivery and
plainly not pressured by the men coming straight at him,
and that that dense traffic in the middle around the ruck.
Speaker 6 (04:50):
Yeah, well that's right, that's I mean, it's totally different
from playing in the midfield. So there's lots of stuff
he would have had to learn through the week. You know,
there's lots of pressure defensively on an open side. You've
got to know your lines, you've got to know all
sorts of things. So I was concerned. But you know,
like I say, I think he actually did a really
good job. He was physical as he always is. Yeah,
(05:14):
he didn't seem to miss many tackles or miss any
that I'm aware of, And yeah, he was accurate. So
you'd say, give him another crack and see if he
can back it up.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
You couldn't go the other way. Could just stick a
flanker in the centers or second five and see if
that would work. That wouldn't transition very well at.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
All, would it.
Speaker 6 (05:32):
Reuben Well. There's lots of loose forwards that think that
our centers, so I mean, lots of guys would like
to try it. But yeah, I mean again, it's such
a different position with different requirements. You know, you've got
to understand the different nuances of defending in the midfield
and all sorts of different things like that, So it
would be a big challenge, that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
You said you were a little unsure about Lester coming
and playing at open side. You talked of nuance, and
that's in every position. If you look above an open
sides role, what do you think is the most important
part of what they do and the hardest thing to
fall into pretty much out of nowhere any particular aspect
(06:14):
of your play.
Speaker 6 (06:14):
Reuben Well's, there was sort of relentless nature of it,
particularly when you don't have the ball. You're a real
key part of that defensive line and you've got to
understand your roles there and everything you're doing. Same on
at tech you're generally the first one expected to be
in support at the breakdown. You've got to be really
accurate there because you've got to shift bodies or get
(06:36):
the threats off the ball, and then there's other things
around the scrum and the line out to you which
are quite specific and specialist. So you know, I take
my head off to him for learning all of those
things and really making go of it. So yeah, as
I said earlier, I think I think he nailed most
of it. And with more time in the seat and
more time at training, I expect him he's only going
(06:56):
to get better at it.
Speaker 7 (06:57):
So yeah, interesting, no disrespect to the opposition, but if
there was maybe a stronger loose ford treer who was
up against maybe he was playing up against the Hurricanes
or the Chiefs.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
What do you have been as effective? Do you believe?
Do think it was slightly easy for him? And now
I'm sounding like I'm hosing on the warrantors. I don't
mean to, but you know what I'm saying, there was
he was he tested enough, do you believe?
Speaker 6 (07:20):
Look, that's a pretty good re loose wards trios. I've
got the Charlie Gamble's a very good loose forward and
I've got some No, they certainly win an easy team.
But yeah, you know, every different looseward group presents a
slightly different challenge, So I think people will be maybe
more aware of him now in that role and maybe
(07:41):
you look at ways that they can shut him down
because he's such a big threat when he gets his
hands on the ball and being in that open side position,
you are generally very close to the ball all the time,
so teams will be analyzing that and looking for ways
of where they can maybe close them down with it.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Dissecting the sporting agenda, It's Sportsfix with Darcy.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Waldgrave one last hurrah. The curtain is coming down on
the careers of three outs standing cricketers in New Zealand.
The three I speak of Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine and
Lea to Who Who. These three players have contributed so
much to the national side over what seems like generations.
(08:23):
And before you say on being agist, I'm not. I'm
just saying experience comes to the fore and I'd like
to think that these three players to Who, as we
know is been dropped before but worked your way back
into the side. These three players will want to finish
their respective careers with a flourish. What could be more
of a flourish than defending their T twenty World crown
(08:45):
over in England. There are a couple of new players
as well that have been selected for the side, and
this is the beauty of this White Ferns team. It
is the end of the line for three outstanding players.
But within this collection of players who have been selected
to go to the T twenty World Cup, there are
fresh faces that have so much promise and a fresh
(09:05):
captain too who will arguably trump this statue what's the
call success. Both Sophie Divine and Susie Bates, the three
senior players, will be desperate not to blot their copybook,
to go out on a high and not feel like
they are being carried through this last hurrah of a tournament.
From what I know, they will bring their absolute best
(09:27):
to the park and they'll ride on that wave of
emotion to the positive, not to the negative. They're old
enough now to understand the best way to achieve that balance. Predominantly,
they play with joy. They play for the enjoyment of
the game, but they are also fully cognizant of the
weight of expectation around defending a T twenty World Cup,
(09:51):
the most important part of this English T twenty World Cup.
The ladies know they can do it. They know they
can win, They know they have the skills because they've
done it before. Really looking forward to this and what
will make it a very special tournament is if they
can beat Australia in the final, get amongst at ferns,
(10:11):
knowing you've got the support of the entire country.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
The Chamber is now in session on Sportsfax and the
rock doors fly open.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
And look who casts a shadow upon us here in
the chamber. It is Director of Sports for News Talks
there B Clay Wilson. I know why you got your
own staff to open your doors for you before you
came in. You're a man of great power.
Speaker 5 (10:36):
I wish I had that. May have to call on,
but no, always a pleasure to be here.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Does Let's talk about a couple of big things. Start
off with some Australian news because Jerome Lewi is going
to play over in Papua New Guinea's their major signing,
although you'd say Johnson's a pretty big signing as well.
What does that say to you about what Papua and
New Guinea are doing besides the fact they're disgustingly rich
(11:00):
and no one pays any tax.
Speaker 5 (11:02):
Yeah, well, I think you know, I think players are
quite often aware in the situation, and you could kind
of sense it in Jerome Lowi's press conference today about
trumpeting too much about the money side of things. But
I don't think anyone we're all you know, we're all
employees generally of unless you're own your own business. But
you know you're all trying to look out for number
(11:23):
one at the end of the day, aren't you. Most
of the time.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
It's a jill.
Speaker 5 (11:26):
And the fact that I think they say this is
the equivalent of a two point two million dollar deal
in the nrally's now on one point to a season
at the Tigers. It's a massive lure. The fact that
this has.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
One point two tax free, isn't it. That's the thing.
Speaker 5 (11:42):
It's one point two tax free. But I think they
worked it out at equates to two point two and
for any other team. And of course, you know, I
would be shocked to learn, honestly from Jerome Lowier that
wasn't the main factor. Of course, he's gone to Papa
New Guinea at the weekend. He's taken his family with him,
He's checked out the surroundings. There was, you know, some
questions around the safety there. He's obviously satisfied with that,
(12:05):
and of course, like there's a lure of being part
of a new team, being the leader of the first player,
you know, starting something a fresh and the opportunity to
do that. All of that plays in. But when you
put two point two million dollars on the table and
you say you don't have to pay tax on your
salary's that's a big thing. So, like I said, they
all plays into it. But you know, the tax free
(12:26):
kind of side of it, you'd have to say once
once that was kind of cleared and his interest was evident. Really,
the visit at the weekend was the last hurdle.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
To get over And you talk about safety and it
is one of the least safe places in the world
if you read all the reports around Port Moresby, Papa
and New Guinea. But he will be treated like a
superstar there. I talked to Steve Price. I talked to
him quite a lot. He said, you've never seen anything
like it. When you tour over there as part of
(12:57):
a national rugby league team, an absolutely awe of you.
It's like being a god. Yeah, so he'll get that
treatment and I'd like to think they'd keep them safe.
Speaker 5 (13:07):
But like can you if someone paid you two point
two million dollars to go and work the pup in
New Guinea, would you say no, That's the question I
would put to most people, especially like you, say, they
are going to be treated like God's Their security will
be of utmost importance. I'm sure the NRL or the
P and G Chiefs themselves will be acutely aware of
(13:28):
that and making sure the players are very well looked after,
their families are very well looked after in that sense.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
So when you think about that and all the benefits
that come and all the money that's been filtered in
the government money, there's not a chance that New Zealand
they're ever going to get a second NRL team, is
really well?
Speaker 5 (13:44):
I mean yeah, I mean, let's say, it's kind of
hard to know with the NRL, isn't it. And clearly,
you know we talk about the salary for Louie and
that's attracted him there. You know, the money that was
available to the NRL via the P and G Chiefs
was clearly a big factor. And then making them.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
Picked up four million eachs to they each club so
they got the payol or if they will, so hard
to kind of complain about what's happening because they all
benefit from it.
Speaker 5 (14:07):
Yeah, exactly, And you know, obviously there's going to be
some negative to that. Ask the Tigers and Tigers fans
about how they feel about the P and G Chiefs
today as opposed to how they felt about them yesterday.
Maybe their opinion might be a bit different. And you know, Touchwood,
he is hoping that no one from our neck of
the woods and with our team that's going quite well
(14:28):
gets picked up or approached as well, but that you know,
that may happen. And you know, at the end of
the day, you can't blame these players for wanting to
go and take a big take a big paycheck. The
the employees. They're paid to do a job. Yes it's
not a traditional job, but you know, I just I
don't think you can you can argue with that. And
(14:48):
he's going to see out his next eighting months of
his of his contract, so you know, it's not like
he's up upping sticks. He's not doing a sunny bill
and you know, jumping to the airport and and escaping.
He's you know, he's done this in a in a
kind of way that gives them, you know, they're having
a good season this year and they're going to have,
hopefully for their for their sake, a chance next ye
(15:08):
to do even more perhaps.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
And some massive draw card for the Chiefs Papua and
New Guinea to have a guy of his quality and
Johnston as well. Over there a lot of players will
go to actually hold on. This is quite the setup.
Maybe it might be a bit dangerous, maybe it might
be a bit far away from home, but we might
win something here and that's what they're relying and.
Speaker 5 (15:28):
That's the double win for the Chiefs here is not
only have they begged the signature of a great player,
a player who's likely potentially to be their captain. He's
going to leave a leader on and off the field,
but the fact that he signed now opens the door
for those other players who are thinking about it having
those conversations, Hey, he's there, why not me as well?
Speaker 2 (15:47):
Is there a sense Clay Wilson of a come down
this weekend after the magnificence in the glory of the
super rounder last week and Attai christ Jets. Do you
think it feel a bit flat after that?
Speaker 5 (15:59):
Well maybe from an occasion sense, but I do think
the Marquee game of this round is you know, on
paper at least far better than not that. The games
at the weekend down in christ huge. We're stinkers by
any measure, but you know top of the table Hurricanes
Crusader's coming off that that amazing weekend at their new stadium.
Of course they're all the hype around lesterfying and Nioko
(16:21):
being back at seven, the confidence they've placed in him
to put him back in the Jersey Friday night.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
Well, it's going to be a test, isn't it. Because
I don't want to say that the Waratahs aren't the
best in six, seven and eight, but when they come
up against this Hurricanes team, they're no slight loose forward treer.
They'll truly test and now they know what he can do,
they'll be eyes well and truly on them. And you've
been listening to comments from Larkey as well and coach.
Speaker 5 (16:51):
Cluk laid Lawd. Yeah, yeah, I think you know this has.
While it took it everyone by surprise initially, I don't
think the rest of the competition are particularly stunned about
how well he played there. On two fronts. One, he's
clearly a very good player. He clearly had a lot
of qualities that lean towards what a loose forward does.
(17:15):
But also listening to Peter Luckye talking today, saying that
in today's game, the modern game, the skill set is
quite similar. It's very similar. Outside of set piece. He
obviously has to pack down on the side of a scrum,
he has to be involved in some lineouts. Outside of that,
a lot of what you do is quite similar. So,
(17:36):
you know, Clark laid Law kind of reiterating like whether
he has a thirteen on his back, a fourteen or well,
particularly midfield, so thirteen or a seven, they kind of
expect his threat level to be the same. They kind
of expect him to be doing the same things on
the pitch. So while to perhaps the casual observer, you think, wow,
it's this big change, and you know, I don't want
(17:58):
to talk it down because it's a heck of a
feat to be able to do that at this level
certainly won't take the Hurricanes by surprise about.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
Back ma noweds about it, but maybe not. Conrad Smith, Yeah,
it depends what you're talking.
Speaker 5 (18:12):
It doesn't. Like I said, Lester has has already had
some of those qualities, which you know, suggested that he
might have the ability to do this, but hey, it's awesome.
You know, this is a massive Kiwi Dhabi and we've
got this added layer of having him there up against
dupless Carefi the form that he's in, Peter Luckey, you know,
Devin Flanders, that that have been perhaps the you know,
(18:33):
the inform loose Ford trio, like you say, of the competition.
So hey, man, like you know, super rugby these days
does take me a little bit to get up for sometimes,
but this this game on Friday night, it's got plenty
about it for sure.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
And the other fixtures, I mean, Moe Pacifica taking on
the Blues has been a change there to a major
change for the Blues.
Speaker 6 (18:53):
Clay.
Speaker 5 (18:54):
Yeah, so Boden bar on the bench. I'm not sure
how this works in terms of his all black situat
rest situation, if it fits into that mold, because he
is still obviously still in the twenty three. But Stephen
Peterfeta comes into the ten jersey there sort of more
importantly for the Blues, they get Colored Clark back and
you know how well he was playing, had had a
calf injury, been out for two or three weeks, comes
(19:17):
back into that side, and I think a player for
rugby fans in general in this country you want to
see doing well because when he was at his best
in that all black and when he is at his
best in that all black jersey, wow, what a player.
So you know, get him back. And you know, I
still I still think a bit of spice to this
this Darby. You know, there has been a bit of
chat around this season about these two while Milana now
(19:40):
we know it likely to be leaving the competition, about
how Milana trying to be kind of being treated as
second class citizens in this Auckland rivalry for Super Rugby.
So I think a bit of extra in there for
for Mowana particularly. And while on paper it might seem
obvious that the Blues are favorites, who knows they're out
at North Harbor there they beat them? Was it last
(20:00):
year they beat They beat them out there at North
Harbor and Ardie Severe got that got that turnover at
the end of the game. So I don't know, maybe
this is the this is this is the week that Milana,
the motivation miner needed to turn around that losing run
no left.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
The Blues managed to conspire to fall apart in the
last fifteen minutes like they do habitually. You never know
chance last week, didn't they Yeah, they did Red's Brumbies.
I don't think too many people care. All that's quite vitable,
both those sides. Wi Tar's force again drew a Highland.
Just a couple of words on this, because the Highlanders
and Drewer are close enough to qualifying but not quite
(20:36):
and so this has got a great balance about it,
this fixture and perhaps.
Speaker 5 (20:40):
The hardest game of the weekend to pick, especially over
there in Fiji. You know, drew aside quite unpredictable and
quite strong and free Fiji, and I highly decide who
have been a little bit up and down, Like I've
pushed some good teams have had a couple of wins,
but also have you know, been a bit lackluster at
times as well. But you know, I think I said
to you off here a team that can beat go
(21:02):
to Camber and beat the Brumbies like the Drewer did.
I mean? Who expected that? So the Highlanders certainly will
know what they're up against.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
Hold on what would be a bigger surprise, the Fijian's
going to the freezing cold climbs of Canberra and winning,
or the Highlander is going to the horrible warmth and
winning as well. They're probably just both as unlikely, aren't they.
Speaker 5 (21:24):
Yeah, I guess so. I mean, I'm sure to Marthy
Tavavnavo he'll be fine, but the rest of the island
of squad maybe.
Speaker 6 (21:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (21:31):
Look, it's it's it's it's a challenge for any team,
isn't it to go to Fiji and play the drawer.
And it's been evident since they very first came into
the competition their traveling form has been a bit less
less impressive. But any any team that goes to Fiji
to play them. So I'm sure the Highlanders will be
acutely aware of that. And also, like you say, the
kind of importance now to start getting some ones if
(21:54):
you want to be and that sucks coming into the
end of the season.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
I'm going to have your men open these huge oak
doors of the chamber now so you can walk away.
I see they're throwing rose pedals that you think. Man,
You've got some great staff and things. Very much for
your time, Clay Wilson.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
We've got just the ticket. It's Sports Fix powered by
News Talks IVY.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
Thanks very much for listening to the Sports Fix podcast.
I'm Darcy Walter Grad. If you've liked what you've heard,
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(22:37):
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three pm with weekend Sport. We'd both love to have
you join us on any of those programs. We love sport.
(23:01):
We know you do, so let's get a monks as
you have been on a Wednesday, the twenty ninth of
April twenty six Thanks for joining us here on the Fix.
Speaker 1 (23:12):
For more from News talkst 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 podcast now on iHeartRadio.
This is Sortsfix Howard by News Talks ed B.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Why Hello to you and rocom on in the Sports
Fixed podcast. My name is Darcy Walter Grave. I'm your
host the next fifteen twenty odd minutes as we look
across the wonderful wide world of sport, predominantly with the
New Zealand. I it is a Wednesday. It's the twenty
ninth of April twenty twenty six and our big interview
today is with ruben Thorn. Ruben Thorn, ruben Thorn, rubin Thorn,
(00:44):
of course, our former All Black skipper, a proud crusader
and Canterbury man. We're going to talk to him about
the transition of Lester Fangnuku from the midfield to the
open side. He did it well last week, He's going
to do it again this week. Ruben Thorn to discuss that.
I've got some thoughts on the magnificence that is the
(01:04):
defending T twenty world champion White Earns. That team was
out today. Be joined in the chamber by Director of
Sport News Talk ZBB Clay Wilson, that's the plan, let's
do it. In other news, fresh now from the Fixed
Sport Bureau, The quotes that really matter for Wednesday. The
White Fern's T twenty World Cup squad was released today,
(01:28):
featuring three athletes on Swan Song, Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates
and Leah to Huho, who says that they're not there
just to make up the numbers.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Taking that success two years ago, you want to be
able to have that again and you want to walk
away with the trophy now that you come and know
what that fields like, putting in a hell of a
lot of work to make sure that you're doing everything
you can, but that hopefully as a team we can
can succeed.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Former Keyley and Tiger's in our old coach Benji Marshall
has explained that Jerome Lewis moved to the chiefs at
Pappu and New Guinea's entry into the NRL wasn't just
about Jerome.
Speaker 4 (02:02):
We sent them there with our blessings to explore that
opportunity and Ida Go in my office has been broken
down emotional about making the decision that clearly wasn't just
about himself.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
No, it is probably about the one point two million
tax free Ossie dollars for a season, right, No shame
in that. And new breaker boomer and former Adelaide thirty
six er de Andrew Silovitch knows exactly what is expected
of him.
Speaker 5 (02:30):
I think the break is the last or second last
and three point percentage and not too many attempts.
Speaker 6 (02:35):
So hopefully I can kind of come in and play
a role of the.
Speaker 5 (02:37):
Sense of taking good three point shots and spreading the
floor a bit more and kind of playing like a
Kerpenny type of role.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
And that's the sound of spoken sport for you today, you.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Spavian, It's Sportsfix with Duncie Valdegreve and it's a.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Wilmer welcomes and Sports Fix podcast. Now to former flanker
and All Black captain mister ruben Thorn. It a mate,
I trust you. Well, you're probably still bouncing after what
happened over the weekend at the Super Round. I expect
most of christ Jets still are, right.
Speaker 6 (03:11):
Yeah, look, it was amazing, It really was. The stadium
just was so good, the experience was so good, the
city was buzzing from it, and yeah it was. It
was a really good weekend.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
You've got to come down and we're coming down to
the serious nature. Super rugby continues. But we've found now
that Lester farn Nuku has been selected again at open
side flanker. It's an interesting move, but you'd suggest it
works pretty well. Last week, what was it gut reaction
to a midfield of floating around like he does, which
he's been doing habitually. This is not unusual for him,
(03:44):
But how do you feel about that transition and what
he's achieved so far?
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Well?
Speaker 6 (03:49):
Look, to be honest, I had my doubts, and you know,
I talked to a few players leading into that last game,
former players and former loose forwards, and we're all like,
is this going to work or not? We just went
sure because it is quite a specialist position, requires a
big work create, you know, and all these other things
that someone who's spent their life playing in the backs
(04:11):
just wouldn't be used to. But he made a real
fist of it, and he did a good job and
he was involved, heavily involved. His defense seemed to be
pretty accurate, and he certainly made an impact with the
ball in hand, So you'd have to say overall it
worked pretty well.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
You said accurate, and that's probably the most important word
in amongst that, because when you are in the back line,
you come into that place, you haven't got a lot
of room to move, so you need to know that
you can be precise in your in your delivery and
plainly not pressured by the men coming straight at him,
and that that dense traffic in the middle around the ruck.
Speaker 6 (04:50):
Yeah, well that's right, that's I mean, it's totally different
from playing in the midfield. So there's lots of stuff
he would have had to learn through the week. You know,
there's lots of pressure defensively on an open side. You've
got to know your lines, you've got to know all
sorts of things. So I was concerned. But you know,
like I say, I think he actually did a really
good job. He was physical as he always is. Yeah,
(05:14):
he didn't seem to miss many tackles or miss any
that I'm aware of, And yeah, he was accurate. So
you'd say, give him another crack and see if he
can back it up.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
You couldn't go the other way. Could just stick a
flanker in the centers or second five and see if
that would work. That wouldn't transition very well at.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
All, would it.
Speaker 6 (05:32):
Reuben Well. There's lots of loose forwards that think that
our centers, so I mean, lots of guys would like
to try it. But yeah, I mean again, it's such
a different position with different requirements. You know, you've got
to understand the different nuances of defending in the midfield
and all sorts of different things like that, So it
would be a big challenge, that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
You said you were a little unsure about Lester coming
and playing at open side. You talked of nuance, and
that's in every position. If you look above an open
sides role, what do you think is the most important
part of what they do and the hardest thing to
fall into pretty much out of nowhere any particular aspect
(06:14):
of your play.
Speaker 6 (06:14):
Reuben Well's, there was sort of relentless nature of it,
particularly when you don't have the ball. You're a real
key part of that defensive line and you've got to
understand your roles there and everything you're doing. Same on
at tech you're generally the first one expected to be
in support at the breakdown. You've got to be really
accurate there because you've got to shift bodies or get
(06:36):
the threats off the ball, and then there's other things
around the scrum and the line out to you which
are quite specific and specialist. So you know, I take
my head off to him for learning all of those
things and really making go of it. So yeah, as
I said earlier, I think I think he nailed most
of it. And with more time in the seat and
more time at training, I expect him he's only going
(06:56):
to get better at it.
Speaker 7 (06:57):
So yeah, interesting, no disrespect to the opposition, but if
there was maybe a stronger loose ford treer who was
up against maybe he was playing up against the Hurricanes
or the Chiefs.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
What do you have been as effective? Do you believe?
Do think it was slightly easy for him? And now
I'm sounding like I'm hosing on the warrantors. I don't
mean to, but you know what I'm saying, there was
he was he tested enough, do you believe?
Speaker 6 (07:20):
Look, that's a pretty good re loose wards trios. I've
got the Charlie Gamble's a very good loose forward and
I've got some No, they certainly win an easy team.
But yeah, you know, every different looseward group presents a
slightly different challenge, So I think people will be maybe
more aware of him now in that role and maybe
(07:41):
you look at ways that they can shut him down
because he's such a big threat when he gets his
hands on the ball and being in that open side position,
you are generally very close to the ball all the time,
so teams will be analyzing that and looking for ways
of where they can maybe close them down with it.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Dissecting the sporting agenda, It's Sportsfix with Darcy.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Waldgrave one last hurrah. The curtain is coming down on
the careers of three outs standing cricketers in New Zealand.
The three I speak of Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine and
Lea to Who Who. These three players have contributed so
much to the national side over what seems like generations.
(08:23):
And before you say on being agist, I'm not. I'm
just saying experience comes to the fore and I'd like
to think that these three players to Who, as we
know is been dropped before but worked your way back
into the side. These three players will want to finish
their respective careers with a flourish. What could be more
of a flourish than defending their T twenty World crown
(08:45):
over in England. There are a couple of new players
as well that have been selected for the side, and
this is the beauty of this White Ferns team. It
is the end of the line for three outstanding players.
But within this collection of players who have been selected
to go to the T twenty World Cup, there are
fresh faces that have so much promise and a fresh
(09:05):
captain too who will arguably trump this statue what's the
call success. Both Sophie Divine and Susie Bates, the three
senior players, will be desperate not to blot their copybook,
to go out on a high and not feel like
they are being carried through this last hurrah of a tournament.
From what I know, they will bring their absolute best
(09:27):
to the park and they'll ride on that wave of
emotion to the positive, not to the negative. They're old
enough now to understand the best way to achieve that balance. Predominantly,
they play with joy. They play for the enjoyment of
the game, but they are also fully cognizant of the
weight of expectation around defending a T twenty World Cup,
(09:51):
the most important part of this English T twenty World Cup.
The ladies know they can do it. They know they
can win, They know they have the skills because they've
done it before. Really looking forward to this and what
will make it a very special tournament is if they
can beat Australia in the final, get amongst at ferns,
(10:11):
knowing you've got the support of the entire country.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
The Chamber is now in session on Sportsfax and the
rock doors fly open.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
And look who casts a shadow upon us here in
the chamber. It is Director of Sports for News Talks
there B Clay Wilson. I know why you got your
own staff to open your doors for you before you
came in. You're a man of great power.
Speaker 5 (10:36):
I wish I had that. May have to call on,
but no, always a pleasure to be here.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Does Let's talk about a couple of big things. Start
off with some Australian news because Jerome Lewi is going
to play over in Papua New Guinea's their major signing,
although you'd say Johnson's a pretty big signing as well.
What does that say to you about what Papua and
New Guinea are doing besides the fact they're disgustingly rich
(11:00):
and no one pays any tax.
Speaker 5 (11:02):
Yeah, well, I think you know, I think players are
quite often aware in the situation, and you could kind
of sense it in Jerome Lowi's press conference today about
trumpeting too much about the money side of things. But
I don't think anyone we're all you know, we're all
employees generally of unless you're own your own business. But
you know you're all trying to look out for number
(11:23):
one at the end of the day, aren't you. Most
of the time.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
It's a jill.
Speaker 5 (11:26):
And the fact that I think they say this is
the equivalent of a two point two million dollar deal
in the nrally's now on one point to a season
at the Tigers. It's a massive lure. The fact that
this has.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
One point two tax free, isn't it. That's the thing.
Speaker 5 (11:42):
It's one point two tax free. But I think they
worked it out at equates to two point two and
for any other team. And of course, you know, I
would be shocked to learn, honestly from Jerome Lowier that
wasn't the main factor. Of course, he's gone to Papa
New Guinea at the weekend. He's taken his family with him,
He's checked out the surroundings. There was, you know, some
questions around the safety there. He's obviously satisfied with that,
(12:05):
and of course, like there's a lure of being part
of a new team, being the leader of the first player,
you know, starting something a fresh and the opportunity to
do that. All of that plays in. But when you
put two point two million dollars on the table and
you say you don't have to pay tax on your
salary's that's a big thing. So, like I said, they
all plays into it. But you know, the tax free
(12:26):
kind of side of it, you'd have to say once
once that was kind of cleared and his interest was evident. Really,
the visit at the weekend was the last hurdle.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
To get over And you talk about safety and it
is one of the least safe places in the world
if you read all the reports around Port Moresby, Papa
and New Guinea. But he will be treated like a
superstar there. I talked to Steve Price. I talked to
him quite a lot. He said, you've never seen anything
like it. When you tour over there as part of
(12:57):
a national rugby league team, an absolutely awe of you.
It's like being a god. Yeah, so he'll get that
treatment and I'd like to think they'd keep them safe.
Speaker 5 (13:07):
But like can you if someone paid you two point
two million dollars to go and work the pup in
New Guinea, would you say no, That's the question I
would put to most people, especially like you, say, they
are going to be treated like God's Their security will
be of utmost importance. I'm sure the NRL or the
P and G Chiefs themselves will be acutely aware of
(13:28):
that and making sure the players are very well looked after,
their families are very well looked after in that sense.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
So when you think about that and all the benefits
that come and all the money that's been filtered in
the government money, there's not a chance that New Zealand
they're ever going to get a second NRL team, is
really well?
Speaker 5 (13:44):
I mean yeah, I mean, let's say, it's kind of
hard to know with the NRL, isn't it. And clearly,
you know we talk about the salary for Louie and
that's attracted him there. You know, the money that was
available to the NRL via the P and G Chiefs
was clearly a big factor. And then making them.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
Picked up four million eachs to they each club so
they got the payol or if they will, so hard
to kind of complain about what's happening because they all
benefit from it.
Speaker 5 (14:07):
Yeah, exactly, And you know, obviously there's going to be
some negative to that. Ask the Tigers and Tigers fans
about how they feel about the P and G Chiefs
today as opposed to how they felt about them yesterday.
Maybe their opinion might be a bit different. And you know, Touchwood,
he is hoping that no one from our neck of
the woods and with our team that's going quite well
(14:28):
gets picked up or approached as well, but that you know,
that may happen. And you know, at the end of
the day, you can't blame these players for wanting to
go and take a big take a big paycheck. The
the employees. They're paid to do a job. Yes it's
not a traditional job, but you know, I just I
don't think you can you can argue with that. And
(14:48):
he's going to see out his next eighting months of
his of his contract, so you know, it's not like
he's up upping sticks. He's not doing a sunny bill
and you know, jumping to the airport and and escaping.
He's you know, he's done this in a in a
kind of way that gives them, you know, they're having
a good season this year and they're going to have,
hopefully for their for their sake, a chance next ye
(15:08):
to do even more perhaps.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
And some massive draw card for the Chiefs Papua and
New Guinea to have a guy of his quality and
Johnston as well. Over there a lot of players will
go to actually hold on. This is quite the setup.
Maybe it might be a bit dangerous, maybe it might
be a bit far away from home, but we might
win something here and that's what they're relying and.
Speaker 5 (15:28):
That's the double win for the Chiefs here is not
only have they begged the signature of a great player,
a player who's likely potentially to be their captain. He's
going to leave a leader on and off the field,
but the fact that he signed now opens the door
for those other players who are thinking about it having
those conversations, Hey, he's there, why not me as well?
Speaker 2 (15:47):
Is there a sense Clay Wilson of a come down
this weekend after the magnificence in the glory of the
super rounder last week and Attai christ Jets. Do you
think it feel a bit flat after that?
Speaker 5 (15:59):
Well maybe from an occasion sense, but I do think
the Marquee game of this round is you know, on
paper at least far better than not that. The games
at the weekend down in christ huge. We're stinkers by
any measure, but you know top of the table Hurricanes
Crusader's coming off that that amazing weekend at their new stadium.
Of course they're all the hype around lesterfying and Nioko
(16:21):
being back at seven, the confidence they've placed in him
to put him back in the Jersey Friday night.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
Well, it's going to be a test, isn't it. Because
I don't want to say that the Waratahs aren't the
best in six, seven and eight, but when they come
up against this Hurricanes team, they're no slight loose forward treer.
They'll truly test and now they know what he can do,
they'll be eyes well and truly on them. And you've
been listening to comments from Larkey as well and coach.
Speaker 5 (16:51):
Cluk laid Lawd. Yeah, yeah, I think you know this has.
While it took it everyone by surprise initially, I don't
think the rest of the competition are particularly stunned about
how well he played there. On two fronts. One, he's
clearly a very good player. He clearly had a lot
of qualities that lean towards what a loose forward does.
(17:15):
But also listening to Peter Luckye talking today, saying that
in today's game, the modern game, the skill set is
quite similar. It's very similar. Outside of set piece. He
obviously has to pack down on the side of a scrum,
he has to be involved in some lineouts. Outside of that,
a lot of what you do is quite similar. So,
(17:36):
you know, Clark laid Law kind of reiterating like whether
he has a thirteen on his back, a fourteen or well,
particularly midfield, so thirteen or a seven, they kind of
expect his threat level to be the same. They kind
of expect him to be doing the same things on
the pitch. So while to perhaps the casual observer, you think, wow,
it's this big change, and you know, I don't want
(17:58):
to talk it down because it's a heck of a
feat to be able to do that at this level
certainly won't take the Hurricanes by surprise about.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
Back ma noweds about it, but maybe not. Conrad Smith, Yeah,
it depends what you're talking.
Speaker 5 (18:12):
It doesn't. Like I said, Lester has has already had
some of those qualities, which you know, suggested that he
might have the ability to do this, but hey, it's awesome.
You know, this is a massive Kiwi Dhabi and we've
got this added layer of having him there up against
dupless Carefi the form that he's in, Peter Luckey, you know,
Devin Flanders, that that have been perhaps the you know,
(18:33):
the inform loose Ford trio, like you say, of the competition.
So hey, man, like you know, super rugby these days
does take me a little bit to get up for sometimes,
but this this game on Friday night, it's got plenty
about it for sure.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
And the other fixtures, I mean, Moe Pacifica taking on
the Blues has been a change there to a major
change for the Blues.
Speaker 6 (18:53):
Clay.
Speaker 5 (18:54):
Yeah, so Boden bar on the bench. I'm not sure
how this works in terms of his all black situat
rest situation, if it fits into that mold, because he
is still obviously still in the twenty three. But Stephen
Peterfeta comes into the ten jersey there sort of more
importantly for the Blues, they get Colored Clark back and
you know how well he was playing, had had a
calf injury, been out for two or three weeks, comes
(19:17):
back into that side, and I think a player for
rugby fans in general in this country you want to
see doing well because when he was at his best
in that all black and when he is at his
best in that all black jersey, wow, what a player.
So you know, get him back. And you know, I
still I still think a bit of spice to this
this Darby. You know, there has been a bit of
chat around this season about these two while Milana now
(19:40):
we know it likely to be leaving the competition, about
how Milana trying to be kind of being treated as
second class citizens in this Auckland rivalry for Super Rugby.
So I think a bit of extra in there for
for Mowana particularly. And while on paper it might seem
obvious that the Blues are favorites, who knows they're out
at North Harbor there they beat them? Was it last
(20:00):
year they beat They beat them out there at North
Harbor and Ardie Severe got that got that turnover at
the end of the game. So I don't know, maybe
this is the this is this is the week that Milana,
the motivation miner needed to turn around that losing run
no left.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
The Blues managed to conspire to fall apart in the
last fifteen minutes like they do habitually. You never know
chance last week, didn't they Yeah, they did Red's Brumbies.
I don't think too many people care. All that's quite vitable,
both those sides. Wi Tar's force again drew a Highland.
Just a couple of words on this, because the Highlanders
and Drewer are close enough to qualifying but not quite
(20:36):
and so this has got a great balance about it,
this fixture and perhaps.
Speaker 5 (20:40):
The hardest game of the weekend to pick, especially over
there in Fiji. You know, drew aside quite unpredictable and
quite strong and free Fiji, and I highly decide who
have been a little bit up and down, Like I've
pushed some good teams have had a couple of wins,
but also have you know, been a bit lackluster at
times as well. But you know, I think I said
to you off here a team that can beat go
(21:02):
to Camber and beat the Brumbies like the Drewer did.
I mean? Who expected that? So the Highlanders certainly will
know what they're up against.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
Hold on what would be a bigger surprise, the Fijian's
going to the freezing cold climbs of Canberra and winning,
or the Highlander is going to the horrible warmth and
winning as well. They're probably just both as unlikely, aren't they.
Speaker 5 (21:24):
Yeah, I guess so. I mean, I'm sure to Marthy
Tavavnavo he'll be fine, but the rest of the island
of squad maybe.
Speaker 6 (21:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (21:31):
Look, it's it's it's it's a challenge for any team,
isn't it to go to Fiji and play the drawer.
And it's been evident since they very first came into
the competition their traveling form has been a bit less
less impressive. But any any team that goes to Fiji
to play them. So I'm sure the Highlanders will be
acutely aware of that. And also, like you say, the
kind of importance now to start getting some ones if
(21:54):
you want to be and that sucks coming into the
end of the season.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
I'm going to have your men open these huge oak
doors of the chamber now so you can walk away.
I see they're throwing rose pedals that you think. Man,
You've got some great staff and things. Very much for
your time, Clay Wilson.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
We've got just the ticket. It's Sports Fix powered by
News Talks IVY.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
Thanks very much for listening to the Sports Fix podcast.
I'm Darcy Walter Grad. If you've liked what you've heard,
tell more people, get them to subscribe as well as
you should, even though you probably have already. That way,
this podcast will turn up in your inbox automatically on
a week daily basis. We also do regular live radio,
which is that best quite frankly, It's called Sports Talk Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday,
(22:37):
Friday seven to eight pm, taking your calls at eight
hundred and eighty ten eighty and your text nine two
nine two. Jason Pine's got the show on Monday, I've
got the rest of the week, and then Piney takes
the stage come Saturday and Sunday from midday through the
three pm with weekend Sport. We'd both love to have
you join us on any of those programs. We love sport.
(23:01):
We know you do, so let's get a monks as
you have been on a Wednesday, the twenty ninth of
April twenty six Thanks for joining us here on the Fix.
Speaker 1 (23:12):
For more from News talkst B, listen live on air
or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you
go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
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