June 17, 2025 • 42 mins
D'Arcy Waldegrave returned to wrap another day of sports news! Highlights for tonight include:
Super Rugby CEO Jack Mesley on the successful season.
Talkback - How do you feel about Ardie Savea ditching us for Japan once again?
Sophie Devine on her retirement from ODI cricket.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Darcy Wildergrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
There we go again, get ai AI six after seven
on Tuesday evening seventeen to June twenty twenty five. I'm
Darcy Waldgrave. Whoop, here it is. We've got sport for
the next hour on the show. That's executive producer Ans Millicitch.
I think he objected to me pulling something from out
(00:35):
of the I don't know, late nineties, early aughts. I
don't even know how old.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
That is.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Tragic. Where were we now? We're going to be talking
sport funny that will take your calls on one hundred
eighty ten eighty free phone number nationwide. If you want
to send me a text, by all means it won't
necessarily get red because I love your voice, but you
can on two nine two ISBZB Center. Text charge will
apply to that. Sophie Divine is hanging up her gloves,
(01:03):
hanging up her boots, whatever she's hanging up. She's hanging
things up for the most part. She joins us up
before the end of the program to talk about her
decision not to take a Central contract. They're coming out
tomorrow and if indeed the upcoming one dance National World
Cup for Women is indeed her last dance at that level.
(01:27):
Sophie Divine joining us later in the piece. I spoke
with Jack Messley today, CEO of Super Rugby Pacific, around
the ups and the downs, the success of the competition,
the lack thereof the work ons, if you will, the learnings.
They didn't say that neither. Sorry, just came out. It's
(01:48):
been a long week in What did they pick up
out of this? What do they need to change? What worked,
what didn't? And what went on the mouthguards over the weekend? Oh,
the ghost in the machine Sidneny players started getting sent
off left, right and center. What was the issue there?
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Jack?
Speaker 2 (02:05):
What happened? Hopefully it's sold before the final check. Messley
joins us shortly. Then we'll take your calls on two things.
One for you. I know that what was uplifting was well,
I'm going to ask you what was uplifting about Super Rugby,
But conversey, because it's very important to have black and
white the shade. What needs to change? What needs to happen?
(02:25):
You looked at it all as a fan. If there
is one thing throughout that entire year, and you know what,
that sucked? Get it right next year because they're listening. Hi, Jack,
They're listening. They want to know what you putting a
fan at the center of the room. I actually want
out of this competition because surprise, surprise, someone finally worked
(02:46):
out that Super Rugby isn't about the clubs or the union,
or the franchise or the players. It's about us, the
people that watch it, the people that buy the jerseys,
the people that pay for sky, the people that turn up.
And it's about us. So what do we think? Oh,
(03:07):
eight hundred and eighty ten eighty after Jack Mesli and
you might want to chime in with a bit of ardie,
Savia as well has decided to go on another sabbatical. Okay,
this is getting stupid. I'll give you my opinions on
Matt and you can comment later on in the piece.
But before any of that, let's do this and in
(03:28):
sport today, Arii Savia is off again. The talismanic sometime
Mowana Pacificer leader has chosen to exercise his right to
arrest or a cash injection, or a sabbatical, as it's
often mistakenly called. He's called for the fans to keep
the movement alive even though he's leaving them to their
(03:49):
own devices.
Speaker 4 (03:50):
Can't wait to see the Japanese fans and go to
the Corby family, but also as well looking forward to
coming back to the Muana home and family to get
stuck into twenty seven. And then I guess the movement
that one is creating. I keep leaving, keep supporting. It
is the people's team.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Hold on. You don't believe or support either, You're going
away again st after turning up and propping them. Ay
anyway more than that maybe later. Why WA's clipboard holding
task master Andrew Webster has explained why k Cable won't
be select for this weekend's game against Pennmouth Rights. We've
got origin tomorrow night, and despite the calls for concrete drink,
(04:29):
Webster has laid down the law.
Speaker 5 (04:31):
Coach says, no, they could physically say that they're going
to arrive here in time, but it's very dangerous crossing
a seven hour flight, flying throughout the night across a
four hour time difference. It becomes unsafe and people sail
harden up a bit, but this too many injuries, a
dangerous crossing.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
It's like the sailing over Cooks straight anyway, James O'Connor
is bidding farewell to the Crusaders, the Australian First five
slash bench maestro, maybe saying goodbye, but he's taking plenty
from the club that showed him some veteran LF I.
Speaker 6 (05:07):
Came with a skill set and I guess a base
of knowledge and IQ of house or the game, and
different elements have rarely ripped that apart and taught me
new things and allowed me to double down on different
areas at the end of the day, like rugby's rugby,
but it has invigorated me.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
And Sophie Devine is walking from the ferns well well,
for the most part.
Speaker 7 (05:26):
There's been some ugly tears. He's been some anger, there's
been some fear. I think it's special to know though
that it's not over yet. And then I get to
sort of walk away on my term and.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
More on that later when she joins us. And that's
and we joined now by Jack Mesely, CEO of Super
Rugby Pacific after quite an uplifting year. You know, Jack,
you will good. It's the end of Super Rugby Pacific.
Only a couple of days to go before you can,
(05:55):
I suppose put a bow on it and call it done. Widely,
when you reflect back at the season, it's the CEO
of the competition. What is your initial takeaways as to
what occurred?
Speaker 3 (06:06):
Well, I remember you and I talking pre season, and
you know what we're what we're talking about there was
that we wanted to play a fast, more exciting brand
of rugby. We wanted some more unexpected results and we've
seen in the past, and we wanted people to have
fun with some of the new tools that we put
into play, like fantasy. And so sitting here with just
(06:27):
the big dance yet to play out, we're really pleased
with how those three things have come to life. Still
a long way to go, We've still got a heap
of work to do, but we're really pleased with how
the season's gone.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
So what has to happen between now and next season
as far as what you need to do? You've got
anything in place as to the must do's, the must have?
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Yeah, well, I mean we're really we've already started work
on next season. That all starts with the fixture and
getting that right. So we think there's some little wins
to be had out of just sort of optimizing the fixture,
so we're working on those things. We've seen the benefit
this season of afternoon rugby, so we want to do
(07:08):
what we can to get more afternoon rugby played throughout
the fixture. And you know, there's some things like some
timeslots and things like that that we just need to
iron out for more consistency. We just got to make
it super easy for fans to know when a game
of super rugby is on and you can tune in
at that time every week and watch a great game.
So it starts with the fixture. We've got a survey
(07:29):
out live now around Fantasy, so we're getting heaps of
feedback from people about what da'd like to see with
Fantasy next to you, so we'll continue to look to
improve on that. So yeah, there's a couple of things
where we're looking at. It's been documented we're working hard
to try to make super Round reality in New Zealand,
so we hope that also becomes a really key part
(07:49):
of the fixture into twenty six.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Talk of benefits, how do they rear their heat and
benefits for yourself, the competition, the clubs, the athletes, the
people at home or in the stands. What are you
looking at there?
Speaker 3 (08:03):
Yeah, well, I mean that's the beauty of what we do, right,
It's the beauty the curse because it's all of those people, right,
we want, we want all of those people to benefit
from from the work we do. And I guess our
role really is to prioritize, you know, the things that
we could do with the resources we have, to drive
the optimal benefit for all of those all of those stakeholders,
if you like, you know, I think what we're what
(08:24):
we're really focused on is making sure that you know,
we've talked a lot about it, that the fan is
in the room with those other stakeholders when we're making
those decisions. So yeah, that's really really important for us,
and I hope people have felt and seen that this season,
and that's our that's certainly our intend as we as
we do our work now to finalize what next to
(08:46):
you looks like before.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
You look back at the year, we'll look back only
a few days ago. Mouthguard issues. Now, there'd be a
lot of people out there panicked that maybe that might
come into play come the final It's the last thing
anyone needs. Have you got to the bottom of the
errant beeps if you will.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
What's happening there, Jack, Yeah, we had got to the
bottom of that issue. It was nothing to do with
the actual mouthguard technology itself. It was a protocol issue
just in the transfer of information from the people that
sort of go that goes through. So we've we've owned
out that protocol ahead of the weekend to make sure
(09:24):
that the right being leads to the right person going
off to the assess So, yeah, a slight era there
that we've we've worked on and ironed out.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Jaddabars throughout the season. They're a coupley toward the end.
I think some people were flummixed around the nature of
qualifying for the finals period. I was okay with it
because in the end it didn't mean much the way
things transpired, but I know that created a bit of
a ruckus around how that was set up. Are you
(09:55):
looking at reinnovating, redoing, changing that at all.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
Yeah, I mean we'll sit down and review the final
series as a whole at the completion of the season.
You know, I know there has been in a bit
of chatter about it, in particular, you know, the lucky
loser and how lucky should that loser be? If you like,
And people sort of have been commenting that potentially one
and two should sit out of the first round of
(10:20):
the final, So we'll go away and we'll do it.
We'll do a full review of that and come back.
I mean, what I what I'm really confident in is
that this final series has delivered some unexpected results, which
is which is what we want. And if I'm being honest,
what super rugby has been criticized of in the past,
So we have had some pretty big upsets throughout the
(10:42):
final and some unbelievable rugby. So you know, as soon
as you're sitting out some teams, then then you're potentially
inviting in more advantage into that rested team as long
as as well as the home advantage. So all of
these things have to go into the mix, and we'll
do that through the review. But we're listening and we're
certainly taking that on board as we'll do that review.
Speaker 4 (11:04):
Well.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
Roadstap available. When it comes to listening and talking and reviewing,
you mentioned the number of stakeholders involved in this. Do
you talk with the people who run the various franchise
that captains the broadcasters, who do you actually look to
sit down and talk to over this review process.
Speaker 3 (11:21):
Yeah, good, good, good question. Yeah, we will start with
our clubs and then so we'll engage both from a
team management point of view, but also then commercially at
a club level, So making sure we get both sides
of those equations. The broadcaster is really important throughout that.
And then you know, informally we're capturing the feedback that
(11:42):
we're hearing through the media, through our channels as well
our social media channels, and we'll put that all into
the melting pot to start to work through. Yeah, it
is quite complex. I mean, you know, there's rugby elements
to it, there's attendance elements to it. What will drive
the greatest attendance, what will drive the greatest audiences, And
(12:03):
we'll work through that. I mean, I think the good
thing is that everyone wants the same thing. We all
want a great final series that is well attended and
well watched, that delivers spectacular rugby. Where we start to
get into some nuanced differences is obviously the teams want
as much advantage as they can to win, which you
know I'm as you know, I'm a big big driver
(12:26):
of Jeopardy being really important for the competition. So the
closer matches we have, the more unexpected results, the better
for me. You know, clearly clubs would love to see
as much advantages as they can for finishing on top
or finishing towards the top of the ladder.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
The rebels disappearing at the last minute not ideal. That's
why we ended up with a final series the way
it is. Put it together the best you possibly can.
What's happening in that space to enlarge the competition, to
bring another team in, if anything at all, Jack.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
Yeah, at the moment, nothing, Our focus is on strengthening
the competition as it is. You know, we are we
have an eye on future, on the future in terms
of what that could mean in terms of expansion, and
we're starting to do some detailed work around you know,
what that could look like. But you know, we all
of the view that we need to really strengthen the
(13:21):
foundation here. We think there's a lot of upside to
be had. We've still got a lot of work to
do to make this as good as it can be,
So that's our immediate focus. So yeah, I mean we're
focused on our clubs today and the competition today and
continuing to improve upon you know, the last couple of years,
which have been relatively good in terms of growth. You're on,
(13:42):
You're on you, and we're really pleased with the results
we've seen in this season.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
As far as things that really could have gone better.
If you if there's an etcher trying to scratch, what
would it be? Can you look at yourselves and go, Wow,
we didn't get that one right? What do you have
to do internally? How critical are you on yourself and
your own management?
Speaker 3 (14:03):
Yeah, well, I think we're one area that we're certainly
working on now as a fixed string. I still think
there's some things that we can iron out there. We're
trying to really bring that process forward, because if we're
too late on then one of the issues we find
is that we have venue availability constraints, so that means
that we're not allowed we're not sort of able to
(14:24):
really optimize you know, who plays when and make sure
that we don't have things like we had in the
draw this year like minor specific era and the Blues
playing on the same weekend in Auckland, which you know,
to the fan doesn't really make sense. So yeah, I
mean that's where we'll start. There's some things that we
can do around that, we'll do a full review of
what we call shape of game, looking at the laws
(14:46):
of the game and looking at the match officials and
how they officiated the game. I think we took some
good steps there, but that requires a continued focus to
make sure that we're as good as we can be.
There one area that I don't think we got right necessarily.
I think we made some improvements, probably didn't get as
(15:07):
far as I would like, is how we present the game,
particularly the fans in stadium. So we're trying to get
rest decisions clearly articulated and heard in stadiums so that
you know, in those moments that are really high tension
that are often confusing, if it's a TMO intervention after
a try or with foul play, you know, we need
(15:29):
everyone in stadium to really clearly understand what is taking
place and why and have that clearly communicated to them.
So I think we've got it part of the way there,
but that's an area that we really need to improve upon.
It's such a great experience sitting at home watching on
TV where you as you have the rest mics clearly
(15:50):
available to you, you have experts explaining it to you,
We've got to really do continue to focus on that
in stadium experience to make sure the game is easy
to follow.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
As far as the rest concern, you already wanted to
make it a much faster high pace easily under stilled
games who made some adjustments to the rulings. What's the rest?
Have climbed onto written article today saying that maybe it's
getting a little too concerned around concussion and possibly the
finals have maybe slipped back into what world rugby would
(16:22):
be more interested in. Is there any truth in that?
Will rugby have any interference on the way this game
has been refereed?
Speaker 3 (16:31):
Jack, No, they don't. We work really closely with the
referees managers in New Zealand and Australia to really inform
and work with them to define how we want Super
Rugby to be officiated, and I think the referees have
done a really great job of following that digdum if
(16:51):
you like, and delivering that result. You know, there's no
doubt when we get into matches that mean more. In
finals also played in some pretty cold and wet condition
over the last couple of weeks, things do tighten up
a little bit in terms of how the teams are
expressing themselves how they're playing the game, and I think
that's what we're seeing. You know, it's still really compelling rugby.
(17:13):
It's you know, if you look at how close those
games have been and how how tight those contests have
played out. So I think it's more to do with
with the with the with the weather and just the
fact that they're these are finals, these are knockout matches.
People are going to sort of tighten up on that
risk reward curve from a style of playpoint of view,
(17:34):
and the match officials are referring what's in front of them.
You know, they've been As I said, I think they've
done stellar job this year, and will work closely with
them in the offseason again to really get clear about
how we want Super A look. And you know, I
think some people sort of sometimes think that we don't
have a lot of freedom because or it's all set
(17:56):
from World Rugby, But I just sort of say that,
you know, we put submissions to World Rugby every year
on some of the alterations we want from the laws,
and we tell them how we're going to officiate the game.
You know, for example, the free kickoff for not straight
line out is a variation that only we have in
Super and World Rugby are really supportive of that. So
we will continue to make sure that we're on the
(18:18):
edge of those things and trying to drive the game forward.
And it's great to see, you know, World rugby picking
up and making law some of the things that were
born and trialed in Super, like the twenty minute red card.
And we've got a job and we think it's our
job to make sure that we're pushing pushing the game forward,
and we'll continue to try to innovate through Super.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Twenty five past seven. Jack Messi, their CEO of Super
Rugby Pacific, looking back at a year that, for all
intents and purposes was a successful year for rugby here
in New Zealand and indeed across the ditch in Australia.
Know they've got no one in the Big Dance, the Final,
the two best teams in the compon potitional rightly they're
the chiefs taking on the Crusaders. Jack paints a pretty
(19:11):
picture of what Super Rugby Pacific has been more important
or what it could be if they carry on moving
on up. No laurel resting, no self conglag, congratulatory excuse
me messages around how good they've been. They want to
keep improving the product. So two questions for you, what
(19:34):
are they completely and utterly blow? What just did not work?
What do you think our guys really and what was
really successful that they need to carry on with? Now
you can say something is negative and is it going
to carry on? And what they need to do? You
say something's positive and they should carry on. But I
want to know from the fan centric point of view,
(19:57):
you people watching on the TV at home, which is
most of us, most of us watching on the TV
at home. We don't go to the game, James, what's
going to make it better for you? And what did
you really dislike about the whole time that I'd love
to hear from you. Oh, eight hundred and eighty ten
eighty lines are open. We can text in nine two
(20:18):
nine two that is z B z B and those
texts will costubrated standards a text charge might take some
words on artis harvire later on the piece too, Are
you kidding me? This is news talk, ZEDB.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
The right call is your call on eight hundred and
eighty ten eighty sports talk call on your home of
sports news Talks EDB.
Speaker 3 (20:49):
Words and getting what is hit me?
Speaker 2 (20:54):
Peter Bis in my mind right?
Speaker 8 (20:56):
Ants?
Speaker 2 (20:57):
Yep, it certainly is a past seven sports talk here
on news Talk ZEDB Jack Mesley Jordan Us before CEO
of Super Rugby Pacific talking about pretty what a good
year it was. It worked out very well for the
most part. I challenge anybody to tell me it hasn't
(21:18):
been an enjoyable season of quality rugby because it has
been first round, you get it, it's going to be
second round, Well, this is going well, third round, fourth round, Wow,
this is still going really, this is still really good.
And it kept on going. And there was a bit
of a hubbub around the nature of the playoffs which
were forced upon them because of the lack of an
(21:41):
even number of teams. They'll look to that, they'll look
to that next year, and they've heard a few things
about the lucky loser and what has to happen there.
But on's go back to my standard line on this.
You support your team. You don't support every team. You
support a team, and if your team keeps winning, they
get to the final, If they win that they're the champions.
(22:01):
Who cares where they sit on the table. Just support
your team to win, not odd predominantly this was good.
I'm not quite sure how much of the season was bad.
(22:23):
I'd struggle to pack holes in the season. Go well,
that could have been a bit of that could be better. Look,
it's the crowds at the games could be more granted.
And the idea of playing super rugby at smaller grounds
is a good one. It's a sound one. It's like
what they're doing at NPC. Take these games back, make
(22:44):
them smaller because the audience isn't sitting in the stands.
That's just in the film industry, enacting in TV, which
I was involved in many many, many, many, many, many
many men many years ago. They're extras warm props. That's
what the crowd is. They're warm props. They look good.
(23:06):
It's great to see and hear them. But most of
us watching on TV, they are getting big crowd numbers
and just concentrate the amount of crowd into a smaller ground.
There you go done. You're not looking at something so
horable as a massive stadium with basically yawning emptiness is
all you get. So that could be looked at a
(23:30):
concentration of the fans to smaller grounds. So maybe it
looks better on screen, not every game, and I think
that they're looking at the schedule, the general program, the
roster have that operates, and they can see ways to
improve that. I'm not concerned about the lack of numbers
at the games themselves would be nice, but an essence,
(23:54):
the bigger drivers us to pay for our sky by
the jerseys, and we're the eyeballs on the screen that
the advertisers sell. That's the important thing to me. And
maybe they could do to draw a little better just
to stop people winging.
Speaker 3 (24:10):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
Anyway, find out more about it. Come the final on
Saturday night as the Crusaders take on the Chiefs. I mean,
they've got like a whole hole. What's the collective now?
And for mountain gorillas? Is there one a toll on it?
Because of baboons? It's a troop of baboons, isn't it?
So what is the collective noun for mountain gorillas? Well,
(24:34):
whatever it is, the Chiefs have got the whole thing
on their back right now, after failing to get the
big prize for how many times now over how many years?
If this pressure doesn't crush them, nothing will. I'll go
through and win and it's a band of gorillas. Well,
thank you very much for that. Thank you very much
for that, Adie Savilla. Today it Aunty is going on
(24:56):
yet another sabbatical, Yet another sabbatical. It's the second one.
It's nice if you can get it. He said, it's
hard to leave. But he's going to miss Super Rugby
Pacific next to you. He's got it in his contract.
Now I've got to We've got to put this first
(25:16):
and foremost. He's been offered this by New Zealand Rugby
because of how good a player he is and how
important he is to the Black Jersey. You get offered
something like this, you'd have rocks in your head not
to take it right. But when you come out talking
(25:39):
about how important the competition, how important it is and
more on a pacific of this and what we've done
and what we've lifted out and how we need to
keep and then at the drop of a hat you
disappear over to Cobby Japan for the second time. And
it's not a sabbatical, it's not a sabbato. It's not
(25:59):
a year off reward to explore other avenues. It's a
way to make more money and Yep, you're a rugby
professional and by the time you're thirty four to thirty five,
you won't be to make anymore. I get it, and
most people I know, when they finish their careers, they
don't know what they're going to do next anyway, But
does that give them a reason during their time to
wrote whatever they can out of the company, or maybe
(26:20):
it does, I don't know. Disingenuous, it's we knew what
was going to happen. It's in his contract, he's allowed
to do it. But everything do that roar of Moinea, Passivika,
that huge fan base, the fact they're building and building
and building, and now he's off to Japan, it's hard
(26:44):
to stomach appreciate him as a rugby player. Love what
he does in the park is an absolute freak show.
But stuff like this leaves me cold, you know. Anyway,
you might have thoughts on that. One hundred and eighty
ten eighty got a motherload of texts on that. What
(27:04):
someone said, the collective nan is a troop troop of baboons.
This is from text trust, thanks very much. I'm pretty
sure it's a troop of baboons.
Speaker 9 (27:12):
I have done some more googling you have, Yeah, research
here is top notch and yeah, apparently troop.
Speaker 2 (27:16):
Has also used. The troopers also used so true. I
think gorillas in a troop for baboons.
Speaker 9 (27:21):
Yeah, I think I got too excited when I saw
a band of gorillas just because it sounds great. I
just which one's playing the bass. Probably probably true.
Speaker 2 (27:28):
I can see the photos for the album cover right now.
Seven thirty six Toddie Savia sit with you, Okay, I
don't know, oh, eight hundred eighty ten eighty. I don't
like it, but you know, he's not the captain of
(27:51):
my team. He didn't come and rescue it out of
nowhere and then just just leaving it there to get
on with itself before coming back magically for the world coming.
There's News Talks EB. Seven thirty seven lines are open, Oh,
eight hundred and eighty ten eighty seven sports talk on
(28:11):
News Talks EB go to the call shortly Savy Divine
that joins us later and the pieces kind of calling
it quits on her career. We're not taking up a
central contract and they're released tomorrow. Leave room for somebody
else in the end of the world. Come and see
what happens beyond that. So if he joins us soon.
A couple of quick texts before we get to you, Allen,
(28:34):
did you give Muwonga the same grief the least already
gave us some seasons here? No, no, no, it's probably not.
But he went for a year, and I think that
we know, and I've pointed this out. I've rolled this
out before. The contract system that ends at our work
means there are sabbaticals available. If you don't take them,
(28:56):
you're crazy. They they offer them, go and play not
as stressful rugby for a pile of money, why not?
But two two in the space of a couple of years.
Isn't that just taking the purse of weaver? Don't you
think too? After the comeback? And I wonder what Razor
(29:17):
Robertson thinks of this, Darcy, Yes, yes, yes, Take rugby
out to the mainstream. The grassroots is where our young
guns get the used to play. I want to take
super rugby out to the like. That's that's going too far.
Make it look more attended. Even though the eyeballs are
the main things that count. Real fans are in the regions.
(29:43):
They need to play more games in the smaller unions. Yeah,
I'd like that someone's a big fan of. While watching
Ottatoria play, someone here says that Jack Messi sounds like
a car salesman. Eight thousand empty seats and Hamilton for
a semi final, none of which were sold. Is it
based on that or eyeballs on the screens? I'm not sure.
(30:05):
I ask you to make a bit of get a
stadium with a roof, get a.
Speaker 8 (30:08):
Allen good evening, Darcy. So I've just picked up early
and you're talking about Artie Savia going to Japan next
year again. Okay, so this is a bit controversial in
my opinion. The problem of the All Blacks has been
(30:32):
the configuration of the loose forward trio. Okay, you know
we need a big blind side like a samba pino
fino or a frazell I mean was a brazil got.
Speaker 2 (30:45):
Sorry, how does this work with with with Ardie Savia.
Speaker 8 (30:48):
Well, he's a blind side, he's an open side flank.
He's not a number eight, so he won't be missive
if he's kept at number eight. We need to move
on from the guy to me. He's a player and
he's a wrecking ball, but he's not a team player.
He seems like a guy that wants to take the
whole thing on his own. He might be, so you know,
(31:10):
if he goes up, I won't miss him one bit.
To be honest, actually, I think there's players to come through.
He's been a great player. He's biggest problem. He was
an open side flanker and he got shifted to number eight.
And you know he's not a Sinzan Brook or a Buckshelf,
(31:31):
or a Karen Reid orra Murray Mixtead or a Brian Lahore.
He's an open side flanker. And there you go.
Speaker 2 (31:42):
That's my opinion, Allen, Thanks very much for sharing here
in New still ZB it is coming out a quarter
to eight, joined by Sophie Divine scene. Hey, Darcy used
to love listen to you. Now you just sound like
a sour puss who picks and chooses which player you
like to give grief to. You racist that he goes
(32:02):
on something. I don't know where you got that from, Maddie.
That is insane. I just say what I think. Isn't
that what sports broadcasters are supposed to that I'll find
my contract have an opinion. I agree with all your listeners. Whoops,
I got it wrong, racist bro Coming up next, Sapie
(32:25):
Devine joins the programs to talk about her walking away
from the White Ferns kind of it's coming up next
here and news talks there B thirteen minutes to eight.
Sabe Divine at ours today that she is not going
(32:48):
to have a central contract for the White Funds I
released tomorrow. Instead, she's going to have a casual contract.
So does that mean the end of the line for
Sophie Divine, Let's find out, She joins us. Now, Sophie,
I'm good, you've had enough. You're cutting and running come
(33:09):
the end of the next World Cup. I'm presuming that
this has been sitting around quite a long time before
you actually actioned it.
Speaker 10 (33:15):
Yeah, yeah, it has.
Speaker 7 (33:17):
I certainly think something like this, a decision like this,
deserves time to be made.
Speaker 10 (33:22):
And that's sort of what it's taken.
Speaker 7 (33:23):
It's taken twelve eighteen months of me sitting on this
and what does it look like? And I guess I'm
in a really fortunate position where I've got the choice.
I know it doesn't happen to many athletes, but yeah,
just really grateful for the opportunity that he's on credit. Firstly,
have supported me in this, but also to be able
to step away from the game sort of in a
bit of a stagger, which has been nice. Obviously, stepping
(33:44):
back from the tea twenty Captaincy are now stepping away
from the one day stuff.
Speaker 10 (33:47):
It's sort of slowly getting people used.
Speaker 7 (33:49):
To me not being around, and you know they can
get used to things being a bit quieter.
Speaker 2 (33:53):
Have you considered this deeply before? Have you come close
in the last couple of years to going no more
because you've been through some difficult times. You've taken a
break for your mental health, which is highly commendable and
good on you for doing. You went through a period
where the team couldn't buy a victory. You must have
juggled this previously.
Speaker 10 (34:12):
Oh absolutely.
Speaker 7 (34:13):
I think through different stages of my career sort of
certainly contemplate retirement and what does that look like. But
I always knew I felt like I had something more
to give, or there's always something just drawing me back.
Whereas now I feel really happy and content and in
a place where I'm ready to step away. I think
that's something that's Yeah, again, I'm pretty fortunate to be
in that position and to be able to make that
(34:35):
call myself is pretty cool. So the cool thing about
it now is as well as it's all out there,
it's public. Everyone knows sort of where I stand, and
that that I can just focus now on giving absolutely
everything to the white fans certainly till the fifty over
World Cup, and then we just see what happens after that.
Speaker 2 (34:50):
When you get to a stage where you're considering, you
don't know what you're going to do next, and look,
you said to me off air, I'm getting too old
for this. I get that even though you're only thirty five.
Quite frank, you've been a long long time. What's your
internal drive? What takes you up and pushes you on
to put yourself through this again?
Speaker 7 (35:09):
Well, in all honesty, knowing that there isn't any points soon,
isn't going to last for ever?
Speaker 2 (35:15):
Well, I'm talking about a couple of years back when
you were contemplating what will take you up and said,
I'm going to do this again. I'm going to keep going.
Speaker 8 (35:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (35:21):
Look, I think for me it's the people, and I
think I always had this drive and want to use
it on cricket to be better and for us to
keep striving because I know the potential that we've got
in this country. And you know, obviously the T twenty
World Cup last year was unbelievable and I think, you know,
it's every athletic streamers to win a pinnacle event and
to be able to take that off. But that's sort
of given me a bit of a driver now with
(35:43):
a fifty over wheel Cup a couple of months away,
is to just keep coming back and give it one
last red hot crack in terms of let's just give
everything to this now obviously coming up to twenty year career,
but yeah, it's cool. I think different motivations, but certainly
it's the people, the culture in this group. I think,
you know, I feel really proud to be a part
(36:03):
of this White fan's environment.
Speaker 2 (36:05):
Must have been tempting me here to finish the very top.
Go that's it. I've done my best. I'm out of here,
but not there's something in there that keeps you involved.
You say twenty years, Sophie Divine, when did you first
play for the White Funds.
Speaker 7 (36:18):
I know, well, two thousand and six was my first
series against Australia over in Brisbane. So yeah, coming up
next year it'll be twenty years, which as you mentioned before.
I'm thirty five, so I've spent half my life playing
in this team, so it is it's sort of like
a second family. And yeah, well absolutely their thoughts after finishing,
you know, last year's World Cup, do I pull the
pin there? But again I still had this itch and
(36:40):
you know, this urge and desire that again I wasn't
quite finished and I don't want to, you know, think
in a couple of years time, geez, I wish I
had had another crack. So for me, yeah, that motivation
and desire to still get better, which I think is
really important. You still want to be striving to be
the best that you can be. So for me, that's
sort of what's kept me going now for fifty over
stuff for another couple of months.
Speaker 2 (37:02):
You're a long time retired. What about talking to your teammates.
You've been with some of these women for a very
long time in this team. Did you seek counsel with
these people before you made that decision? Who else did
you speak to? Were you just sitting there in the
dark room going enough, I'm out on control of my
own destiny?
Speaker 3 (37:22):
Oh a lot.
Speaker 7 (37:23):
They certainly have been discussion, I think obviously, Susie Bates
is someone that I've played my whole career with and
she's someone that I had had a couple of chats
to around it in terms.
Speaker 10 (37:31):
Of what are we doing?
Speaker 7 (37:32):
I mean, I remember we were speaking before the Home
World Cup in twenty twenty two sort of saying, you know,
is this going to be us?
Speaker 10 (37:39):
What are we doing? Sort of thing?
Speaker 7 (37:40):
But yeah, I think it's really important that I sort
of touch base with a few different people, not just
in the cricket environment, but outside of it as well,
family friends, people from other codes as well as you say,
you're a long time retired So I think again, I've
been really fortunate with how this is panning out to
sort of do it in a staggered way. It's sort
of making it less blunt for me, which I think
(38:02):
I would have struggled with if I had to sort
of pulled the pin on everything in one fowl swoop.
So to be able to slowly step away it's hopefully
going to make it a little bit easier for me.
Speaker 10 (38:11):
I mean, yeah, I'm going to be sad and miss
this group.
Speaker 7 (38:14):
But to be able to do it this way, I
think hopefully it can sort of prepare me for whatever
comes next casual contracts.
Speaker 2 (38:20):
You're the first female I believe in your seeing Cricket
that's actually going to manage to pack up it after
the list has been put out tomorrow. What kind of
president does that set and what were your thoughts around
why you want to have a casual contract? Why did
you approach Oh?
Speaker 7 (38:37):
Look, I think a big part of it for me
was balance, certainly getting to this part of my career.
It was sort of like looking at what other opportunities
are out there still wanting to give to the white
fans and the support I've had from New Zealand Cricket,
from Ben Sawyer and Liz Green have been outstanding, and
I think at the end of the day, we all
wanted what's best for the team, and I guess by
(38:57):
me taking your caresual playing agreement, it actually gives someone
else an opportunity to be fully contracted, which I think
is really important. It gives someone else bad opportunity to
be supported financially, so to get all those services in support,
which is incredibly important.
Speaker 10 (39:09):
I think. You know, I've certainly had my fair share.
Speaker 7 (39:12):
Of support from New Zealand Cricket and to be able
to take up this casual playing agreement, it still offers
me the flexibility to train and be certainly obviously really
committed to the White Ferns, but also just to find
that balance.
Speaker 10 (39:23):
Outside of the international environment as well.
Speaker 2 (39:25):
So does that mean you might come back and play
for the Ferns again or this is just purely because
you can and you still get access to everything that
the Ferns get to when it comes to maybe you
playing for some of these pirate leagues as I like to.
Speaker 10 (39:38):
Call, Oh, look, the door's certainly been left the jar.
Speaker 7 (39:42):
And that sort of was the conversations that I've been
having with Ben and Lizz's I don't need to make
a decision now about my T twenty career. I think
we don't play again until next year, so we were
all in agreement that we didn't need to make a
decision on that, And again that gives me a bit
of freedom and space just to continue to see how
I feel.
Speaker 10 (39:59):
And that's a game.
Speaker 7 (40:00):
Why this casual playing agreement is so important to me
is it gives me that space to be able to
see where I'm at, you know, if I still desire
and want to, you know, still play international cricket and
I'm still good enough to be selected, then the opportunity
is there. But yeah, I think for me it's certainly
the door is left open. It's not a yes, it's
not a no. But at this stage, the focus is
fully on the fifty over World Cup coming up in
(40:22):
October November.
Speaker 1 (40:25):
TMO, We've got the breakdown on sports Talk, News Talk.
Speaker 2 (40:34):
It's it these talks. Ab he winds up Sports Talk
another day, another dollar, thirty cents, whatever you want to
put it. Not entirely sure, Sophie devines, So she's not
one hundred percent off, a little turning, cracking the door.
Weit of like coming through just in case she really
likes what happened and they win the World Cup. But
(40:58):
she's opening a space for someone else to come through.
And we know how important that is.
Speaker 10 (41:05):
We know why.
Speaker 2 (41:06):
And I hate this term, but like you use it.
What a great servant of the game she's been, and
I'd like to think she'd stick around and be involved
and engage with new czealand crackit for quite some time
after she departs. What a career, What a fantastic athlete,
a great human being. Af to what she's wrestled during
(41:27):
her time, terrible and of results for the Ferns before
they picked up won that T twenty World Cup. Mental
health anguish for her and she stood stepped away from
the game and she's, look, I can't do this. I
need a cup of teena lie down. Good enough for
doing it. More people need to do that and affward
to what happens in the one day it's a national
(41:50):
World Cup for women or winds up early November. I
think it is should be a good Thanks very much
for listening to the show, Thanks for texting, Thanks for
the call. I'm serious. I love the text. That's you know,
some of them are downright miserable, but that's okay. You
express yourself whoever you want. Most of them are very
uplifting and happy and quite sensible. And then'll allude. That's
(42:19):
News Talks EB. That's Middle six producing the program. I'm
dousing back tomorrow talk about of ours.
Speaker 1 (42:42):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks
it'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Darcy Wildergrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
There we go again, get ai AI six after seven
on Tuesday evening seventeen to June twenty twenty five. I'm
Darcy Waldgrave. Whoop, here it is. We've got sport for
the next hour on the show. That's executive producer Ans Millicitch.
I think he objected to me pulling something from out
(00:35):
of the I don't know, late nineties, early aughts. I
don't even know how old.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
That is.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Tragic. Where were we now? We're going to be talking
sport funny that will take your calls on one hundred
eighty ten eighty free phone number nationwide. If you want
to send me a text, by all means it won't
necessarily get red because I love your voice, but you
can on two nine two ISBZB Center. Text charge will
apply to that. Sophie Divine is hanging up her gloves,
(01:03):
hanging up her boots, whatever she's hanging up. She's hanging
things up for the most part. She joins us up
before the end of the program to talk about her
decision not to take a Central contract. They're coming out
tomorrow and if indeed the upcoming one dance National World
Cup for Women is indeed her last dance at that level.
(01:27):
Sophie Divine joining us later in the piece. I spoke
with Jack Messley today, CEO of Super Rugby Pacific, around
the ups and the downs, the success of the competition,
the lack thereof the work ons, if you will, the learnings.
They didn't say that neither. Sorry, just came out. It's
(01:48):
been a long week in What did they pick up
out of this? What do they need to change? What worked,
what didn't? And what went on the mouthguards over the weekend? Oh,
the ghost in the machine Sidneny players started getting sent
off left, right and center. What was the issue there?
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Jack?
Speaker 2 (02:05):
What happened? Hopefully it's sold before the final check. Messley
joins us shortly. Then we'll take your calls on two things.
One for you. I know that what was uplifting was well,
I'm going to ask you what was uplifting about Super Rugby,
But conversey, because it's very important to have black and
white the shade. What needs to change? What needs to happen?
(02:25):
You looked at it all as a fan. If there
is one thing throughout that entire year, and you know what,
that sucked? Get it right next year because they're listening. Hi, Jack,
They're listening. They want to know what you putting a
fan at the center of the room. I actually want
out of this competition because surprise, surprise, someone finally worked
(02:46):
out that Super Rugby isn't about the clubs or the union,
or the franchise or the players. It's about us, the
people that watch it, the people that buy the jerseys,
the people that pay for sky, the people that turn up.
And it's about us. So what do we think? Oh,
(03:07):
eight hundred and eighty ten eighty after Jack Mesli and
you might want to chime in with a bit of ardie,
Savia as well has decided to go on another sabbatical. Okay,
this is getting stupid. I'll give you my opinions on
Matt and you can comment later on in the piece.
But before any of that, let's do this and in
(03:28):
sport today, Arii Savia is off again. The talismanic sometime
Mowana Pacificer leader has chosen to exercise his right to
arrest or a cash injection, or a sabbatical, as it's
often mistakenly called. He's called for the fans to keep
the movement alive even though he's leaving them to their
(03:49):
own devices.
Speaker 4 (03:50):
Can't wait to see the Japanese fans and go to
the Corby family, but also as well looking forward to
coming back to the Muana home and family to get
stuck into twenty seven. And then I guess the movement
that one is creating. I keep leaving, keep supporting. It
is the people's team.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Hold on. You don't believe or support either, You're going
away again st after turning up and propping them. Ay
anyway more than that maybe later. Why WA's clipboard holding
task master Andrew Webster has explained why k Cable won't
be select for this weekend's game against Pennmouth Rights. We've
got origin tomorrow night, and despite the calls for concrete drink,
(04:29):
Webster has laid down the law.
Speaker 5 (04:31):
Coach says, no, they could physically say that they're going
to arrive here in time, but it's very dangerous crossing
a seven hour flight, flying throughout the night across a
four hour time difference. It becomes unsafe and people sail
harden up a bit, but this too many injuries, a
dangerous crossing.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
It's like the sailing over Cooks straight anyway, James O'Connor
is bidding farewell to the Crusaders, the Australian First five
slash bench maestro, maybe saying goodbye, but he's taking plenty
from the club that showed him some veteran LF I.
Speaker 6 (05:07):
Came with a skill set and I guess a base
of knowledge and IQ of house or the game, and
different elements have rarely ripped that apart and taught me
new things and allowed me to double down on different
areas at the end of the day, like rugby's rugby,
but it has invigorated me.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
And Sophie Devine is walking from the ferns well well,
for the most part.
Speaker 7 (05:26):
There's been some ugly tears. He's been some anger, there's
been some fear. I think it's special to know though
that it's not over yet. And then I get to
sort of walk away on my term and.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
More on that later when she joins us. And that's
and we joined now by Jack Mesely, CEO of Super
Rugby Pacific after quite an uplifting year. You know, Jack,
you will good. It's the end of Super Rugby Pacific.
Only a couple of days to go before you can,
(05:55):
I suppose put a bow on it and call it done. Widely,
when you reflect back at the season, it's the CEO
of the competition. What is your initial takeaways as to
what occurred?
Speaker 3 (06:06):
Well, I remember you and I talking pre season, and
you know what we're what we're talking about there was
that we wanted to play a fast, more exciting brand
of rugby. We wanted some more unexpected results and we've
seen in the past, and we wanted people to have
fun with some of the new tools that we put
into play, like fantasy. And so sitting here with just
(06:27):
the big dance yet to play out, we're really pleased
with how those three things have come to life. Still
a long way to go, We've still got a heap
of work to do, but we're really pleased with how
the season's gone.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
So what has to happen between now and next season
as far as what you need to do? You've got
anything in place as to the must do's, the must have?
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Yeah, well, I mean we're really we've already started work
on next season. That all starts with the fixture and
getting that right. So we think there's some little wins
to be had out of just sort of optimizing the fixture,
so we're working on those things. We've seen the benefit
this season of afternoon rugby, so we want to do
(07:08):
what we can to get more afternoon rugby played throughout
the fixture. And you know, there's some things like some
timeslots and things like that that we just need to
iron out for more consistency. We just got to make
it super easy for fans to know when a game
of super rugby is on and you can tune in
at that time every week and watch a great game.
So it starts with the fixture. We've got a survey
(07:29):
out live now around Fantasy, so we're getting heaps of
feedback from people about what da'd like to see with
Fantasy next to you, so we'll continue to look to
improve on that. So yeah, there's a couple of things
where we're looking at. It's been documented we're working hard
to try to make super Round reality in New Zealand,
so we hope that also becomes a really key part
(07:49):
of the fixture into twenty six.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Talk of benefits, how do they rear their heat and
benefits for yourself, the competition, the clubs, the athletes, the
people at home or in the stands. What are you
looking at there?
Speaker 3 (08:03):
Yeah, well, I mean that's the beauty of what we do, right,
It's the beauty the curse because it's all of those people, right,
we want, we want all of those people to benefit
from from the work we do. And I guess our
role really is to prioritize, you know, the things that
we could do with the resources we have, to drive
the optimal benefit for all of those all of those stakeholders,
if you like, you know, I think what we're what
(08:24):
we're really focused on is making sure that you know,
we've talked a lot about it, that the fan is
in the room with those other stakeholders when we're making
those decisions. So yeah, that's really really important for us,
and I hope people have felt and seen that this season,
and that's our that's certainly our intend as we as
we do our work now to finalize what next to
(08:46):
you looks like before.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
You look back at the year, we'll look back only
a few days ago. Mouthguard issues. Now, there'd be a
lot of people out there panicked that maybe that might
come into play come the final It's the last thing
anyone needs. Have you got to the bottom of the
errant beeps if you will.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
What's happening there, Jack, Yeah, we had got to the
bottom of that issue. It was nothing to do with
the actual mouthguard technology itself. It was a protocol issue
just in the transfer of information from the people that
sort of go that goes through. So we've we've owned
out that protocol ahead of the weekend to make sure
(09:24):
that the right being leads to the right person going
off to the assess So, yeah, a slight era there
that we've we've worked on and ironed out.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Jaddabars throughout the season. They're a coupley toward the end.
I think some people were flummixed around the nature of
qualifying for the finals period. I was okay with it
because in the end it didn't mean much the way
things transpired, but I know that created a bit of
a ruckus around how that was set up. Are you
(09:55):
looking at reinnovating, redoing, changing that at all.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
Yeah, I mean we'll sit down and review the final
series as a whole at the completion of the season.
You know, I know there has been in a bit
of chatter about it, in particular, you know, the lucky
loser and how lucky should that loser be? If you like,
And people sort of have been commenting that potentially one
and two should sit out of the first round of
(10:20):
the final, So we'll go away and we'll do it.
We'll do a full review of that and come back.
I mean, what I what I'm really confident in is
that this final series has delivered some unexpected results, which
is which is what we want. And if I'm being honest,
what super rugby has been criticized of in the past,
So we have had some pretty big upsets throughout the
(10:42):
final and some unbelievable rugby. So you know, as soon
as you're sitting out some teams, then then you're potentially
inviting in more advantage into that rested team as long
as as well as the home advantage. So all of
these things have to go into the mix, and we'll
do that through the review. But we're listening and we're
certainly taking that on board as we'll do that review.
Speaker 4 (11:04):
Well.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
Roadstap available. When it comes to listening and talking and reviewing,
you mentioned the number of stakeholders involved in this. Do
you talk with the people who run the various franchise
that captains the broadcasters, who do you actually look to
sit down and talk to over this review process.
Speaker 3 (11:21):
Yeah, good, good, good question. Yeah, we will start with
our clubs and then so we'll engage both from a
team management point of view, but also then commercially at
a club level, So making sure we get both sides
of those equations. The broadcaster is really important throughout that.
And then you know, informally we're capturing the feedback that
(11:42):
we're hearing through the media, through our channels as well
our social media channels, and we'll put that all into
the melting pot to start to work through. Yeah, it
is quite complex. I mean, you know, there's rugby elements
to it, there's attendance elements to it. What will drive
the greatest attendance, what will drive the greatest audiences, And
(12:03):
we'll work through that. I mean, I think the good
thing is that everyone wants the same thing. We all
want a great final series that is well attended and
well watched, that delivers spectacular rugby. Where we start to
get into some nuanced differences is obviously the teams want
as much advantage as they can to win, which you
know I'm as you know, I'm a big big driver
(12:26):
of Jeopardy being really important for the competition. So the
closer matches we have, the more unexpected results, the better
for me. You know, clearly clubs would love to see
as much advantages as they can for finishing on top
or finishing towards the top of the ladder.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
The rebels disappearing at the last minute not ideal. That's
why we ended up with a final series the way
it is. Put it together the best you possibly can.
What's happening in that space to enlarge the competition, to
bring another team in, if anything at all, Jack.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
Yeah, at the moment, nothing, Our focus is on strengthening
the competition as it is. You know, we are we
have an eye on future, on the future in terms
of what that could mean in terms of expansion, and
we're starting to do some detailed work around you know,
what that could look like. But you know, we all
of the view that we need to really strengthen the
(13:21):
foundation here. We think there's a lot of upside to
be had. We've still got a lot of work to
do to make this as good as it can be,
So that's our immediate focus. So yeah, I mean we're
focused on our clubs today and the competition today and
continuing to improve upon you know, the last couple of years,
which have been relatively good in terms of growth. You're on,
(13:42):
You're on you, and we're really pleased with the results
we've seen in this season.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
As far as things that really could have gone better.
If you if there's an etcher trying to scratch, what
would it be? Can you look at yourselves and go, Wow,
we didn't get that one right? What do you have
to do internally? How critical are you on yourself and
your own management?
Speaker 3 (14:03):
Yeah, well, I think we're one area that we're certainly
working on now as a fixed string. I still think
there's some things that we can iron out there. We're
trying to really bring that process forward, because if we're
too late on then one of the issues we find
is that we have venue availability constraints, so that means
that we're not allowed we're not sort of able to
(14:24):
really optimize you know, who plays when and make sure
that we don't have things like we had in the
draw this year like minor specific era and the Blues
playing on the same weekend in Auckland, which you know,
to the fan doesn't really make sense. So yeah, I
mean that's where we'll start. There's some things that we
can do around that, we'll do a full review of
what we call shape of game, looking at the laws
(14:46):
of the game and looking at the match officials and
how they officiated the game. I think we took some
good steps there, but that requires a continued focus to
make sure that we're as good as we can be.
There one area that I don't think we got right necessarily.
I think we made some improvements, probably didn't get as
(15:07):
far as I would like, is how we present the game,
particularly the fans in stadium. So we're trying to get
rest decisions clearly articulated and heard in stadiums so that
you know, in those moments that are really high tension
that are often confusing, if it's a TMO intervention after
a try or with foul play, you know, we need
(15:29):
everyone in stadium to really clearly understand what is taking
place and why and have that clearly communicated to them.
So I think we've got it part of the way there,
but that's an area that we really need to improve upon.
It's such a great experience sitting at home watching on
TV where you as you have the rest mics clearly
(15:50):
available to you, you have experts explaining it to you,
We've got to really do continue to focus on that
in stadium experience to make sure the game is easy
to follow.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
As far as the rest concern, you already wanted to
make it a much faster high pace easily under stilled
games who made some adjustments to the rulings. What's the rest?
Have climbed onto written article today saying that maybe it's
getting a little too concerned around concussion and possibly the
finals have maybe slipped back into what world rugby would
(16:22):
be more interested in. Is there any truth in that?
Will rugby have any interference on the way this game
has been refereed?
Speaker 3 (16:31):
Jack, No, they don't. We work really closely with the
referees managers in New Zealand and Australia to really inform
and work with them to define how we want Super
Rugby to be officiated, and I think the referees have
done a really great job of following that digdum if
(16:51):
you like, and delivering that result. You know, there's no
doubt when we get into matches that mean more. In
finals also played in some pretty cold and wet condition
over the last couple of weeks, things do tighten up
a little bit in terms of how the teams are
expressing themselves how they're playing the game, and I think
that's what we're seeing. You know, it's still really compelling rugby.
(17:13):
It's you know, if you look at how close those
games have been and how how tight those contests have
played out. So I think it's more to do with
with the with the with the weather and just the
fact that they're these are finals, these are knockout matches.
People are going to sort of tighten up on that
risk reward curve from a style of playpoint of view,
(17:34):
and the match officials are referring what's in front of them.
You know, they've been As I said, I think they've
done stellar job this year, and will work closely with
them in the offseason again to really get clear about
how we want Super A look. And you know, I
think some people sort of sometimes think that we don't
have a lot of freedom because or it's all set
(17:56):
from World Rugby, But I just sort of say that,
you know, we put submissions to World Rugby every year
on some of the alterations we want from the laws,
and we tell them how we're going to officiate the game.
You know, for example, the free kickoff for not straight
line out is a variation that only we have in
Super and World Rugby are really supportive of that. So
we will continue to make sure that we're on the
(18:18):
edge of those things and trying to drive the game forward.
And it's great to see, you know, World rugby picking
up and making law some of the things that were
born and trialed in Super, like the twenty minute red card.
And we've got a job and we think it's our
job to make sure that we're pushing pushing the game forward,
and we'll continue to try to innovate through Super.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Twenty five past seven. Jack Messi, their CEO of Super
Rugby Pacific, looking back at a year that, for all
intents and purposes was a successful year for rugby here
in New Zealand and indeed across the ditch in Australia.
Know they've got no one in the Big Dance, the Final,
the two best teams in the compon potitional rightly they're
the chiefs taking on the Crusaders. Jack paints a pretty
(19:11):
picture of what Super Rugby Pacific has been more important
or what it could be if they carry on moving
on up. No laurel resting, no self conglag, congratulatory excuse
me messages around how good they've been. They want to
keep improving the product. So two questions for you, what
(19:34):
are they completely and utterly blow? What just did not work?
What do you think our guys really and what was
really successful that they need to carry on with? Now
you can say something is negative and is it going
to carry on? And what they need to do? You
say something's positive and they should carry on. But I
want to know from the fan centric point of view,
(19:57):
you people watching on the TV at home, which is
most of us, most of us watching on the TV
at home. We don't go to the game, James, what's
going to make it better for you? And what did
you really dislike about the whole time that I'd love
to hear from you. Oh, eight hundred and eighty ten
eighty lines are open. We can text in nine two
(20:18):
nine two that is z B z B and those
texts will costubrated standards a text charge might take some
words on artis harvire later on the piece too, Are
you kidding me? This is news talk, ZEDB.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
The right call is your call on eight hundred and
eighty ten eighty sports talk call on your home of
sports news Talks EDB.
Speaker 3 (20:49):
Words and getting what is hit me?
Speaker 2 (20:54):
Peter Bis in my mind right?
Speaker 8 (20:56):
Ants?
Speaker 2 (20:57):
Yep, it certainly is a past seven sports talk here
on news Talk ZEDB Jack Mesley Jordan Us before CEO
of Super Rugby Pacific talking about pretty what a good
year it was. It worked out very well for the
most part. I challenge anybody to tell me it hasn't
(21:18):
been an enjoyable season of quality rugby because it has
been first round, you get it, it's going to be
second round, Well, this is going well, third round, fourth round, Wow,
this is still going really, this is still really good.
And it kept on going. And there was a bit
of a hubbub around the nature of the playoffs which
were forced upon them because of the lack of an
(21:41):
even number of teams. They'll look to that, they'll look
to that next year, and they've heard a few things
about the lucky loser and what has to happen there.
But on's go back to my standard line on this.
You support your team. You don't support every team. You
support a team, and if your team keeps winning, they
get to the final, If they win that they're the champions.
(22:01):
Who cares where they sit on the table. Just support
your team to win, not odd predominantly this was good.
I'm not quite sure how much of the season was bad.
(22:23):
I'd struggle to pack holes in the season. Go well,
that could have been a bit of that could be better. Look,
it's the crowds at the games could be more granted.
And the idea of playing super rugby at smaller grounds
is a good one. It's a sound one. It's like
what they're doing at NPC. Take these games back, make
(22:44):
them smaller because the audience isn't sitting in the stands.
That's just in the film industry, enacting in TV, which
I was involved in many many, many, many, many, many
many men many years ago. They're extras warm props. That's
what the crowd is. They're warm props. They look good.
(23:06):
It's great to see and hear them. But most of
us watching on TV, they are getting big crowd numbers
and just concentrate the amount of crowd into a smaller ground.
There you go done. You're not looking at something so
horable as a massive stadium with basically yawning emptiness is
all you get. So that could be looked at a
(23:30):
concentration of the fans to smaller grounds. So maybe it
looks better on screen, not every game, and I think
that they're looking at the schedule, the general program, the
roster have that operates, and they can see ways to
improve that. I'm not concerned about the lack of numbers
at the games themselves would be nice, but an essence,
(23:54):
the bigger drivers us to pay for our sky by
the jerseys, and we're the eyeballs on the screen that
the advertisers sell. That's the important thing to me. And
maybe they could do to draw a little better just
to stop people winging.
Speaker 3 (24:10):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
Anyway, find out more about it. Come the final on
Saturday night as the Crusaders take on the Chiefs. I mean,
they've got like a whole hole. What's the collective now?
And for mountain gorillas? Is there one a toll on it?
Because of baboons? It's a troop of baboons, isn't it?
So what is the collective noun for mountain gorillas? Well,
(24:34):
whatever it is, the Chiefs have got the whole thing
on their back right now, after failing to get the
big prize for how many times now over how many years?
If this pressure doesn't crush them, nothing will. I'll go
through and win and it's a band of gorillas. Well,
thank you very much for that. Thank you very much
for that, Adie Savilla. Today it Aunty is going on
(24:56):
yet another sabbatical, Yet another sabbatical. It's the second one.
It's nice if you can get it. He said, it's
hard to leave. But he's going to miss Super Rugby
Pacific next to you. He's got it in his contract.
Now I've got to We've got to put this first
(25:16):
and foremost. He's been offered this by New Zealand Rugby
because of how good a player he is and how
important he is to the Black Jersey. You get offered
something like this, you'd have rocks in your head not
to take it right. But when you come out talking
(25:39):
about how important the competition, how important it is and
more on a pacific of this and what we've done
and what we've lifted out and how we need to
keep and then at the drop of a hat you
disappear over to Cobby Japan for the second time. And
it's not a sabbatical, it's not a sabbato. It's not
(25:59):
a year off reward to explore other avenues. It's a
way to make more money and Yep, you're a rugby
professional and by the time you're thirty four to thirty five,
you won't be to make anymore. I get it, and
most people I know, when they finish their careers, they
don't know what they're going to do next anyway, But
does that give them a reason during their time to
wrote whatever they can out of the company, or maybe
(26:20):
it does, I don't know. Disingenuous, it's we knew what
was going to happen. It's in his contract, he's allowed
to do it. But everything do that roar of Moinea, Passivika,
that huge fan base, the fact they're building and building
and building, and now he's off to Japan, it's hard
(26:44):
to stomach appreciate him as a rugby player. Love what
he does in the park is an absolute freak show.
But stuff like this leaves me cold, you know. Anyway,
you might have thoughts on that. One hundred and eighty
ten eighty got a motherload of texts on that. What
(27:04):
someone said, the collective nan is a troop troop of baboons.
This is from text trust, thanks very much. I'm pretty
sure it's a troop of baboons.
Speaker 9 (27:12):
I have done some more googling you have, Yeah, research
here is top notch and yeah, apparently troop.
Speaker 2 (27:16):
Has also used. The troopers also used so true. I
think gorillas in a troop for baboons.
Speaker 9 (27:21):
Yeah, I think I got too excited when I saw
a band of gorillas just because it sounds great. I
just which one's playing the bass. Probably probably true.
Speaker 2 (27:28):
I can see the photos for the album cover right now.
Seven thirty six Toddie Savia sit with you, Okay, I
don't know, oh, eight hundred eighty ten eighty. I don't
like it, but you know, he's not the captain of
(27:51):
my team. He didn't come and rescue it out of
nowhere and then just just leaving it there to get
on with itself before coming back magically for the world coming.
There's News Talks EB. Seven thirty seven lines are open, Oh,
eight hundred and eighty ten eighty seven sports talk on
(28:11):
News Talks EB go to the call shortly Savy Divine
that joins us later and the pieces kind of calling
it quits on her career. We're not taking up a
central contract and they're released tomorrow. Leave room for somebody
else in the end of the world. Come and see
what happens beyond that. So if he joins us soon.
A couple of quick texts before we get to you, Allen,
(28:34):
did you give Muwonga the same grief the least already
gave us some seasons here? No, no, no, it's probably not.
But he went for a year, and I think that
we know, and I've pointed this out. I've rolled this
out before. The contract system that ends at our work
means there are sabbaticals available. If you don't take them,
(28:56):
you're crazy. They they offer them, go and play not
as stressful rugby for a pile of money, why not?
But two two in the space of a couple of years.
Isn't that just taking the purse of weaver? Don't you
think too? After the comeback? And I wonder what Razor
(29:17):
Robertson thinks of this, Darcy, Yes, yes, yes, Take rugby
out to the mainstream. The grassroots is where our young
guns get the used to play. I want to take
super rugby out to the like. That's that's going too far.
Make it look more attended. Even though the eyeballs are
the main things that count. Real fans are in the regions.
(29:43):
They need to play more games in the smaller unions. Yeah,
I'd like that someone's a big fan of. While watching
Ottatoria play, someone here says that Jack Messi sounds like
a car salesman. Eight thousand empty seats and Hamilton for
a semi final, none of which were sold. Is it
based on that or eyeballs on the screens? I'm not sure.
(30:05):
I ask you to make a bit of get a
stadium with a roof, get a.
Speaker 8 (30:08):
Allen good evening, Darcy. So I've just picked up early
and you're talking about Artie Savia going to Japan next
year again. Okay, so this is a bit controversial in
my opinion. The problem of the All Blacks has been
(30:32):
the configuration of the loose forward trio. Okay, you know
we need a big blind side like a samba pino
fino or a frazell I mean was a brazil got.
Speaker 2 (30:45):
Sorry, how does this work with with with Ardie Savia.
Speaker 8 (30:48):
Well, he's a blind side, he's an open side flank.
He's not a number eight, so he won't be missive
if he's kept at number eight. We need to move
on from the guy to me. He's a player and
he's a wrecking ball, but he's not a team player.
He seems like a guy that wants to take the
whole thing on his own. He might be, so you know,
(31:10):
if he goes up, I won't miss him one bit.
To be honest, actually, I think there's players to come through.
He's been a great player. He's biggest problem. He was
an open side flanker and he got shifted to number eight.
And you know he's not a Sinzan Brook or a Buckshelf,
(31:31):
or a Karen Reid orra Murray Mixtead or a Brian Lahore.
He's an open side flanker. And there you go.
Speaker 2 (31:42):
That's my opinion, Allen, Thanks very much for sharing here
in New still ZB it is coming out a quarter
to eight, joined by Sophie Divine scene. Hey, Darcy used
to love listen to you. Now you just sound like
a sour puss who picks and chooses which player you
like to give grief to. You racist that he goes
(32:02):
on something. I don't know where you got that from, Maddie.
That is insane. I just say what I think. Isn't
that what sports broadcasters are supposed to that I'll find
my contract have an opinion. I agree with all your listeners. Whoops,
I got it wrong, racist bro Coming up next, Sapie
(32:25):
Devine joins the programs to talk about her walking away
from the White Ferns kind of it's coming up next
here and news talks there B thirteen minutes to eight.
Sabe Divine at ours today that she is not going
(32:48):
to have a central contract for the White Funds I
released tomorrow. Instead, she's going to have a casual contract.
So does that mean the end of the line for
Sophie Divine, Let's find out, She joins us. Now, Sophie,
I'm good, you've had enough. You're cutting and running come
(33:09):
the end of the next World Cup. I'm presuming that
this has been sitting around quite a long time before
you actually actioned it.
Speaker 10 (33:15):
Yeah, yeah, it has.
Speaker 7 (33:17):
I certainly think something like this, a decision like this,
deserves time to be made.
Speaker 10 (33:22):
And that's sort of what it's taken.
Speaker 7 (33:23):
It's taken twelve eighteen months of me sitting on this
and what does it look like? And I guess I'm
in a really fortunate position where I've got the choice.
I know it doesn't happen to many athletes, but yeah,
just really grateful for the opportunity that he's on credit. Firstly,
have supported me in this, but also to be able
to step away from the game sort of in a
bit of a stagger, which has been nice. Obviously, stepping
(33:44):
back from the tea twenty Captaincy are now stepping away
from the one day stuff.
Speaker 10 (33:47):
It's sort of slowly getting people used.
Speaker 7 (33:49):
To me not being around, and you know they can
get used to things being a bit quieter.
Speaker 2 (33:53):
Have you considered this deeply before? Have you come close
in the last couple of years to going no more
because you've been through some difficult times. You've taken a
break for your mental health, which is highly commendable and
good on you for doing. You went through a period
where the team couldn't buy a victory. You must have
juggled this previously.
Speaker 10 (34:12):
Oh absolutely.
Speaker 7 (34:13):
I think through different stages of my career sort of
certainly contemplate retirement and what does that look like. But
I always knew I felt like I had something more
to give, or there's always something just drawing me back.
Whereas now I feel really happy and content and in
a place where I'm ready to step away. I think
that's something that's Yeah, again, I'm pretty fortunate to be
in that position and to be able to make that
(34:35):
call myself is pretty cool. So the cool thing about
it now is as well as it's all out there,
it's public. Everyone knows sort of where I stand, and
that that I can just focus now on giving absolutely
everything to the white fans certainly till the fifty over
World Cup, and then we just see what happens after that.
Speaker 2 (34:50):
When you get to a stage where you're considering, you
don't know what you're going to do next, and look,
you said to me off air, I'm getting too old
for this. I get that even though you're only thirty five.
Quite frank, you've been a long long time. What's your
internal drive? What takes you up and pushes you on
to put yourself through this again?
Speaker 7 (35:09):
Well, in all honesty, knowing that there isn't any points soon,
isn't going to last for ever?
Speaker 2 (35:15):
Well, I'm talking about a couple of years back when
you were contemplating what will take you up and said,
I'm going to do this again. I'm going to keep going.
Speaker 8 (35:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (35:21):
Look, I think for me it's the people, and I
think I always had this drive and want to use
it on cricket to be better and for us to
keep striving because I know the potential that we've got
in this country. And you know, obviously the T twenty
World Cup last year was unbelievable and I think, you know,
it's every athletic streamers to win a pinnacle event and
to be able to take that off. But that's sort
of given me a bit of a driver now with
(35:43):
a fifty over wheel Cup a couple of months away,
is to just keep coming back and give it one
last red hot crack in terms of let's just give
everything to this now obviously coming up to twenty year career,
but yeah, it's cool. I think different motivations, but certainly
it's the people, the culture in this group. I think,
you know, I feel really proud to be a part
(36:03):
of this White fan's environment.
Speaker 2 (36:05):
Must have been tempting me here to finish the very top.
Go that's it. I've done my best. I'm out of here,
but not there's something in there that keeps you involved.
You say twenty years, Sophie Divine, when did you first
play for the White Funds.
Speaker 7 (36:18):
I know, well, two thousand and six was my first
series against Australia over in Brisbane. So yeah, coming up
next year it'll be twenty years, which as you mentioned before.
I'm thirty five, so I've spent half my life playing
in this team, so it is it's sort of like
a second family. And yeah, well absolutely their thoughts after finishing,
you know, last year's World Cup, do I pull the
pin there? But again I still had this itch and
(36:40):
you know, this urge and desire that again I wasn't
quite finished and I don't want to, you know, think
in a couple of years time, geez, I wish I
had had another crack. So for me, yeah, that motivation
and desire to still get better, which I think is
really important. You still want to be striving to be
the best that you can be. So for me, that's
sort of what's kept me going now for fifty over
stuff for another couple of months.
Speaker 2 (37:02):
You're a long time retired. What about talking to your teammates.
You've been with some of these women for a very
long time in this team. Did you seek counsel with
these people before you made that decision? Who else did
you speak to? Were you just sitting there in the
dark room going enough, I'm out on control of my
own destiny?
Speaker 3 (37:22):
Oh a lot.
Speaker 7 (37:23):
They certainly have been discussion, I think obviously, Susie Bates
is someone that I've played my whole career with and
she's someone that I had had a couple of chats
to around it in terms.
Speaker 10 (37:31):
Of what are we doing?
Speaker 7 (37:32):
I mean, I remember we were speaking before the Home
World Cup in twenty twenty two sort of saying, you know,
is this going to be us?
Speaker 10 (37:39):
What are we doing? Sort of thing?
Speaker 7 (37:40):
But yeah, I think it's really important that I sort
of touch base with a few different people, not just
in the cricket environment, but outside of it as well,
family friends, people from other codes as well as you say,
you're a long time retired So I think again, I've
been really fortunate with how this is panning out to
sort of do it in a staggered way. It's sort
of making it less blunt for me, which I think
(38:02):
I would have struggled with if I had to sort
of pulled the pin on everything in one fowl swoop.
So to be able to slowly step away it's hopefully
going to make it a little bit easier for me.
Speaker 10 (38:11):
I mean, yeah, I'm going to be sad and miss
this group.
Speaker 7 (38:14):
But to be able to do it this way, I
think hopefully it can sort of prepare me for whatever
comes next casual contracts.
Speaker 2 (38:20):
You're the first female I believe in your seeing Cricket
that's actually going to manage to pack up it after
the list has been put out tomorrow. What kind of
president does that set and what were your thoughts around
why you want to have a casual contract? Why did
you approach Oh?
Speaker 7 (38:37):
Look, I think a big part of it for me
was balance, certainly getting to this part of my career.
It was sort of like looking at what other opportunities
are out there still wanting to give to the white
fans and the support I've had from New Zealand Cricket,
from Ben Sawyer and Liz Green have been outstanding, and
I think at the end of the day, we all
wanted what's best for the team, and I guess by
(38:57):
me taking your caresual playing agreement, it actually gives someone
else an opportunity to be fully contracted, which I think
is really important. It gives someone else bad opportunity to
be supported financially, so to get all those services in support,
which is incredibly important.
Speaker 10 (39:09):
I think. You know, I've certainly had my fair share.
Speaker 7 (39:12):
Of support from New Zealand Cricket and to be able
to take up this casual playing agreement, it still offers
me the flexibility to train and be certainly obviously really
committed to the White Ferns, but also just to find
that balance.
Speaker 10 (39:23):
Outside of the international environment as well.
Speaker 2 (39:25):
So does that mean you might come back and play
for the Ferns again or this is just purely because
you can and you still get access to everything that
the Ferns get to when it comes to maybe you
playing for some of these pirate leagues as I like to.
Speaker 10 (39:38):
Call, Oh, look, the door's certainly been left the jar.
Speaker 7 (39:42):
And that sort of was the conversations that I've been
having with Ben and Lizz's I don't need to make
a decision now about my T twenty career. I think
we don't play again until next year, so we were
all in agreement that we didn't need to make a
decision on that, And again that gives me a bit
of freedom and space just to continue to see how
I feel.
Speaker 10 (39:59):
And that's a game.
Speaker 7 (40:00):
Why this casual playing agreement is so important to me
is it gives me that space to be able to
see where I'm at, you know, if I still desire
and want to, you know, still play international cricket and
I'm still good enough to be selected, then the opportunity
is there. But yeah, I think for me it's certainly
the door is left open. It's not a yes, it's
not a no. But at this stage, the focus is
fully on the fifty over World Cup coming up in
(40:22):
October November.
Speaker 1 (40:25):
TMO, We've got the breakdown on sports Talk, News Talk.
Speaker 2 (40:34):
It's it these talks. Ab he winds up Sports Talk
another day, another dollar, thirty cents, whatever you want to
put it. Not entirely sure, Sophie devines, So she's not
one hundred percent off, a little turning, cracking the door.
Weit of like coming through just in case she really
likes what happened and they win the World Cup. But
(40:58):
she's opening a space for someone else to come through.
And we know how important that is.
Speaker 10 (41:05):
We know why.
Speaker 2 (41:06):
And I hate this term, but like you use it.
What a great servant of the game she's been, and
I'd like to think she'd stick around and be involved
and engage with new czealand crackit for quite some time
after she departs. What a career, What a fantastic athlete,
a great human being. Af to what she's wrestled during
(41:27):
her time, terrible and of results for the Ferns before
they picked up won that T twenty World Cup. Mental
health anguish for her and she stood stepped away from
the game and she's, look, I can't do this. I
need a cup of teena lie down. Good enough for
doing it. More people need to do that and affward
to what happens in the one day it's a national
(41:50):
World Cup for women or winds up early November. I
think it is should be a good Thanks very much
for listening to the show, Thanks for texting, Thanks for
the call. I'm serious. I love the text. That's you know,
some of them are downright miserable, but that's okay. You
express yourself whoever you want. Most of them are very
uplifting and happy and quite sensible. And then'll allude. That's
(42:19):
News Talks EB. That's Middle six producing the program. I'm
dousing back tomorrow talk about of ours.
Speaker 1 (42:42):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks
it'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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