June 9, 2025 • 43 mins
Jason Pine returns to recap a full day in the world of sport! Highlights for tonight include:
Ryan Fox's coach Marcus Wheelhouse on Fox winning the RBC Canadian Open.
All Whites defender Tommy Smith on watching Fix during the Canadian Open.
NZR head Mark Robinson on his decision to step down at the end of the year.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildegrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Hello, good evening, Koona, and welcome and thanks for joining
us on Monday night Sports Talk for June ninth. I'm
Jason Pine Shop producer Anny McDonald. We're here talking sport
until eight one. A morning of golf.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
The fantastic mister Fox here is the King of Canada.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
He is the King of Canada. Ryan Fox surviving a
test of endurance to win his second PGA too event,
four weeks on from his first one. He held his
nerve this morning to Pip sam Burns on the fourth
playoff hole at the Canadian Open in Toronto. He earns
two point nine two million New Zealand dollars for his
efforts and guarantees entry into this week's US Open, the
(01:02):
year's third major in Pennsylvania. His coach, Marcus wheel House
is standing by to chat to us. And among the
gallery today members of the All Whites who also happen
to be in Canada right now, so we'll chat to
one of them, Tommy Smith, who watched it all play
out from the eighteenth Green. Today's other big story the
resignation of New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson. He's going
(01:26):
to leave the role at the end of this year.
He will join us on the show tonight to reflect
on his six year tenure as boss of New Zealand
Rugby and Monday Night, of course, means Piney's Power rankings.
We rate the best, the worst and the in between.
Bits from the sporting weekend past. But a live sport
while we're on the air are rare. Monday Night NURL match.
It's King's Birthday over there. So the Bulldogs are playing
(01:49):
the Eels in Sydney. They're five minutes into the second half.
It's all locked up at twelve apiece. The Bulldogs would
go top of the NRL Ladder if they were to
go on and win this one and the final game
in Round five of Neples A and Z Premiership this
evening the bottom two desperate for a win. Stars v.
Magic at Paul Arena sent to pass around seven thirty
wal Keep eyes on that for you as well. Please
(02:11):
join the show if you would like to. The invitation
is there, Oh, eight hundred and eighty ten eighty. We'll
get to throw on the phone nine two ninety two
if you'd like to send a text or an email
off to me. Jason at Newstalk saidb dot co dot
Nz just got eight past seven.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
No need for the DMO. We've got the breakdown on
sports talk call oh eight hundred eighty.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
News Talk said, what a morning of golf viewing for
us here as Ryan Fox displayed patients and grits and
belief and plenty of golfing skill to win his second
PGA Tour event in less than a month. He held
his nerve and pipped Sam Burns on the fourth playoff
hole at the Canadian Open in Toronto. Back to three
(02:55):
wood all over it. Now we're attacking. What a beautiful shik.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Two putts for a second PGA Tour when and you'll
take them? The fantastic mister Fox is the King of Canada.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
It is the first time a kiwi has won two
events in a single season on the PGA Tour since
Sir Bob Charles won the Houston Classic and the Open
Championship all the way back in nineteen sixty three. Let's
bring in Ryan Fox's coach, Marcus Wheelhouse. Marcus, thanks for
joining us this morning. Were you this evening rather? Were
you more nervous this morning watching the closing stages of
(03:43):
the Canadian Open, Or were you more nervous watching Myrtle
Beach a month ago?
Speaker 4 (03:50):
I think Myrtle Beach, to be honest, but yeah, no,
I look both of them pretty yeah, just like hopeful
and all those things, but you know, a little bit nervous.
I've got absolutely like a great can I.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Ask about the seventeen foot birdie part on his second
seventy second hole of the tournament, the eighteenth hole of
his fourth round. It took him to eighteen under and
a share of the lead, forcing the playoff. Can you
talk us through mark a share view and assessment of
that part.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
Look, I mean he'd been and I just talked to
him like he'd been. Like what I was proud of
him was he'd been incredibly patient all day. And I
think that's, you know, something that maybe wouldn't have happened
even a month ago, but in that space of those
thirteen fourteen holes in the early parts around you know,
he did he just showed that real nice resolve and
(04:46):
and just didn't you know, his attitude was good. He
didn't get didn't get down on himself, et cetera. So
I wasn't surprised that he hold that. I thought that
he was probably juy. You know, he had a good
chance on seventeen, didn't he. So yeah, no, look, I
think it was it was a perfect pace part that
showed us new wasn't too bad and in the lock
(05:08):
obviously it was. It was.
Speaker 5 (05:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (05:10):
You just that's what you want, right, You want to
put to get a playoff or win a golf tournament,
and he and he done it, So I think you
can take a huge amount of confidence out of that.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Just before we talk about the playoffs, you mentioned patients
there and and I wonder how much has winning his
first PGI Tour event at Myrtle Beach changed Ryan's mindset?
Is patients? The main thing you see, Well, I.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
Think the biggest thing about any player is that you
that you want to be out on a tour and
you want to be playing with not a lot of
pressure on yourself, and you want to feel like you've
belonged there. And I think that's what you know, we
certainly sort of talked about that, you know a month
aside a girl when I was up there. It's just
you know, just being comfortable out on the US tour.
(05:57):
And what does that mean and what does that look
like and all those things around you know that and
being a winner, I think you sort of do walk
around and the band that you belong there and that's
you know, so that's a big part of you know,
a golfer, and I think in sports person, you know,
the confidence that you have, the feeling of belonging and
all those things that good things that come with winning,
(06:18):
which is you know, you know, a job for a
couple of years, which he's got now. So yeah, he
really didn't, you know, put a lot of pressure on himself,
Yester today and because he knew, you know, he was
already on the right. So I think that was a
big part of today. It was just he sort of
went out there and just played and if he won,
he won. If he didn't, you know, still wake up
the next morning and say good out of his kids.
(06:40):
You know that That's the sort of attitude he had today,
which was which was fantastic.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Yeah, that's terrificant insight. He did need four playoff holes
this time. What were you what were your feeling as
you saw them make power what three times each on
the first three playoff holes? What they moved the pin,
didn't they know. How are you feeling during the playoff?
Speaker 4 (06:58):
Yeah, I've never seen the move a pin. Look I think, well,
I was just talking to a friend of mine just now,
and you know the second when he hit the three
wood and he sort of puffed it up under the breeze,
I was pretty nervous there. I thought that that wasn't
an am well but but did he got lucky And
that's what's what winning golf sort of some time takes.
(07:21):
But yeah, I was surprised that Sam Burns missed that
first part and which was a recently shortest Boody put
But you know, you get a sniff and you know, Fox,
he's had a couple of sort of plauffs go not
go his way in the df Tour back in the
day and and and from now. To have two PGA
Tour playoff wins is as great he's getting as he's
(07:44):
getting someone or someone's on the side of a they fantastic.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Yeah, that shot that you talk about, the three wood
off the off the fairway leaving basically leaving him but
a makeable putt for Eagle. Really, I know he didn't
need it, but I think he's called it the best
shot of his life, and it came at a pretty
good time. You weren't sure about the club selection, the
shot choice, I was.
Speaker 4 (08:05):
I was actually talking about the first three? Would he
hit when he puffed it up?
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Gotcha?
Speaker 4 (08:08):
Second old, yeah, gotcha? I mean that that last one
he hit was as pure as the driven snow. I
mean that was like a career shot. I think he'll
he'll be able to shirt in his memory and and
uh and and draw on that and many times in
his in his career. And so yeah, that last that
last shot he hit into that, into that into that
night was Yeah, that was pure as true as you'll get.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
When he had he had two parts to win it
after sam Burn, so he kind of had to chase
the eagle, didn't He put it a bit far past
and then needed two parts coming back. So Ryan had
two parts to to win it. Did you know that
he was going to use them both? Was that always
what he would have been thinking?
Speaker 6 (08:45):
Mate?
Speaker 4 (08:45):
I was just I was just happy when he was
when he hit the trophy in the sands.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Oh, there's wonderful, wonderful the fourth round itself. I mean
he shot five under on the front nine in his
third round, would he have been disappointed in any way
to make the tune today, It just one under through
that that front nine.
Speaker 4 (09:01):
Well, I think you know, like like I said before,
you know, he did struggle a little bit at things,
and I haven't you know, he was I didn't want
to sort of spoil the moment, but yeah, we'll probably
talk about it in some of the stages. But he
certainly didn't, you know, play his best golf on that
front nine. But like I said before, that's that I
was really proud that he just stuck in and he
(09:22):
and he was patient enough and kept his kept his
bottle and and you know, just still didn't he knew
he wasn't out of the golf tournament even though he
wasn't playing his best and and that's what golf is,
you know, You've got to ride those bad times and
and and make them or make the damage as little
as possible. And that's what he did. And then when
things did start to clicking, and you know, he had
(09:43):
a couple of great shots down the stretch, you know,
he found himself obviously with a chance, which which is
what happened. So where you know, I think probably maybe
a player of yesteryear might have you know, he would
have got a little bit frustrated with the fact that
he wasn't making goodies and everybody is, you know, because
the score was pretty hot, and and might have had
a different sort of outlook to that. And and and therefore,
(10:06):
when you have that, you know you haven't quite got
the game. And check and then you do make a
couple of aggressive decisions, and you can make a couple
of silly bogies. He had a great save on nine,
which I think was really pivotal to make car from
where he was. And and then yeah, and then then
you know, those bodies in the back nine just obviously
got them to got them to within a chance, and
(10:27):
then and then the rest is history.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Yeah, there's that patience again. So the one season qualified
for the US Open, third major of the season after Oakmont.
Now for that, what is it twenty years exactly since
Michael Campbell won the US Open? What chance Ryan emulates
them two decades later?
Speaker 4 (10:43):
Well, mate, i'd say, what you know, I was up
there a couple of weeks ago, as you know, three
weeks forwards ago now and then again last week. So
you know, who knows, mate, it's when you're when you've
got a player, you know, riding a wave. But you know,
all we can do look is just gone, you know,
find the golf, fallon, hit it and find it again.
And I think that, you know, for him to have them,
(11:06):
he's had this phenomenal to won twice on the PGA Tour.
As you say, no, he's done that since the Great
subob So yeah, look it's the funnel. I mean, well,
you know, God's speech him this week at the Open
looks at really brutal test. But who knows.
Speaker 6 (11:22):
Man.
Speaker 4 (11:22):
I just wish more best obviously, and we'll see what happens.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
And your recent visit up there, Marcus, you saw him
type for sixtieth at an event in Texas. Since then
he won Myrtle Beach, tied twenty eighth of the PGA Championship,
then twentieth and another win today. Sounds like the trip
was well worth it. Are you got to take your
fair share of credit too.
Speaker 4 (11:41):
Yeah, And I went up, I went I was up
at Mirryfield as well, so it looks like I'll be
going back up there next week. So we're im back.
We're back full time now, so there's no I'm not
the part time as they say, say, I'm back in
full time, so I'm happy to be involved, you know,
more and more. So it's going to be my passport's
going to get a little bit of a hammering. But
(12:02):
that's that's a that's a good problem to have.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
That is a great problem to have. Congratulations on your
obvious part in this, Marcus. Thanks for giving us some
analysis this evening where everyone's just delighted obviously for Ryan.
He is such an easy, easy sportsperson to like and
it's wonderful to watch him succeed. Thanks for taking the
time for a chat tonight.
Speaker 4 (12:20):
Thanks Bnning Tuesley.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
Thank you, mate. That's Marcus Wheelhouse. There you go, full
time coach now of Ryan Fox. So up to the
US Open they go. Yeah, two thousand and five at Pinehurst,
number two, Michael Campbell winning the US Open twenty years later?
Is there some serendipity here? Ryan Fox man? How good's
he going? It's funny, isn't it? You know it took
(12:41):
them all that time to win one, and then another
one came along almost immediately. London buses you wait ages
for one and then to turn up at once. Long mate,
continue for Ryan Fox, and as I just said that
to Marcus Wheelhouse. He is such an easy sports person
to want the best for because he is just so likable.
He's so I said this to Heather earlier on. I
(13:04):
think we see in Ryan Fox many of the qualities
that we want to think we display as kiwis humility,
very down to worth, doesn't get too worked up about anything,
really gets on with a wide variety of people. Always speaks,
(13:25):
you know, with a gentle tone, but with a firm
focus as well. There's so much about Ryan Fox to
like and so to see him succeed like this, and
it hasn't been a straight line. Let's all remember this.
You know, he's now he could now play the FedEx
Cup at the end of the year. You know, I'm
sure as aim at the start of the year was
(13:46):
just to keep his tour card. We's got the freedom
of that now having won these two tournaments, and let's
just hope it continues to go up and up from here,
because as I said, it hasn't been a straight line
for Ryan Fox. He's had peaks and troughs. As a
lot of sports people do. A big peak for him
this morning in Toronto, and among those watching, you might
(14:06):
have seen this on TV the final round were members
of the All Whites. Now they're currently in Canada for
international matches. In the latest fief for Window they beat
Ivory Coast won nil yesterday and play Ukraine on Wednesday morning.
But on a day off. Chris Wood, the captain, along
with Alex Rufer, Ben Wayne, Ben Old, Matt Garbett, Tyler Binden, Eli,
(14:30):
just Callen Elliott and Tommy Smith were all there to
watch Ryan Fox win at TPC Toronto this morning our time.
Tommy Smiths on the line from Canada. How was that experience,
Tommy watching Ryan Fox win the Canadian Open.
Speaker 6 (14:45):
We obviously knew he was in a good spot heading
into today, so we just followed him round for the
majority of his round this afternoon. And obviously the culminators
in the win, which was excellent. By the standout moment
for us was that Birdie part on eighteen to put
him into the playoffs. That was an amazing feeling. And yeah,
just where we got to from was amazing, and yeah,
(15:08):
just a great day all round.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
Yeah, it looked amazing from what we could see on
TV from where you were. Were you on the eighteenth
green at the end for that boody pat you just
talked about, and then the playoff holes.
Speaker 6 (15:19):
After that, we had a contact Mark Williams, who works
for the PGA. He's a key WE guy who kindly
gots access to that media. So it was the CBS
sort of media overlook of the Eighteenth Green, which was
obviously a fantastic view of everything, and we had the
TV screen in there as well for the shots that
we couldn't quite see. So again, an amazing experience and
(15:40):
something that we'll all cherish for a long long time.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Yea is so good. So the boody pat you mentioned
got Ryan a share of the lead obviously feed them
into a playoff and normally these things maybe take one
or two holes four playoff files out of the nerves
during those four playoff holes for you and the boys, oh.
Speaker 6 (15:59):
No, we kept saying that we were more nervous watching
him play those playoff holes than we are when we
play football, So I can't imagine what he was feeling.
And then not obviously that three would hit on the
whole that he won at the end as a sensational shot.
And we're all avid golfers and we will we can
only have a dream of being shots like that, So
to see that live and obviously for it to come
(16:22):
out and winning the tournament was sensational.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
And I've seen some photos you obviously had the chance
to catch up with Ryan afterwards, obviously had a few
words whether that must have been a pretty special moment
for you all as well?
Speaker 6 (16:34):
Yeah, absolutely, you know he's a real top guy as well,
and he took the time out of his day. Obviously
it would have been absolutely buzzing and his family with
their way for him, his wife and two kids, So
for him to take the time out of his day
to come and have a picture and a catch up
with us was really kind.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Of yeah, very very cool. And you mentioned that you're
all keen golfers, avid golfers. Who would win a round
of golf between the all whites players? And I've been
Old obviously famously was almost a child prodigy of golf.
Would he be favorite or who else is in this conversation.
Speaker 6 (17:05):
Let's obviously golf a game you can use your handicap in,
so I'm not bad, but yeah, your favorites would probably
be in this squad that's assembled here and soon Old
he would definitely be the whole favorite. I would imagine.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
All right, Hey, thanks for joining us on Sports Talk.
Tommy really appreciate it and great to see you and
a bunch of others from the All Whites supporting Ryan
Fox today and Toronto. That's Tommy Smith. It was great
that the TV coverage picked up on that. Obviously they
were in the CBS tent, so there would have been
that knowledge pass to the camera people. And yeah, just
to watch them cheering them on like that. There's something
(17:38):
special about about seeing, you know, elite athletes from another
code cheering on you know, somebody from a completely different sports.
That's why the Olympics are so good. When you see,
you know, our Olympians they compete in their event and
then they go and support their fellow Kiwi's in a
completely different event. When you see Kiwi's supporting Kiwi's overseas,
(18:02):
there's something a bit special about that. Yeah. The All Whites, well,
they had their own success with a one nil went
over Ivory Coast yesterday morning, off to play Ukraine. When
I say off to, I think it's the same venue
in Canada on Wednesday morning at around nine o'clock. So
great news for Ryan Fox. We look forward to tracking
him at the US Open at Oakmont in the weekend ahead.
(18:22):
We'll certainly be coping a keeping rather a very close
eye on Ryan Fox seven twenty four. Your thoughts were welcome. Oh,
eight hundred and eighty ten eighty. Anything that stood out
as you're watching him negotiate the Canadian Open over the
last four days. I must have been. When I woke
up this morning, it was he was underway about five
forty five. I sort of got and got into it
(18:44):
in the sort of the early holes.
Speaker 5 (18:45):
And.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
I kind of thought it might not be his day,
particularly given the fact I remember and speaking to Phil
Tarto Angi on the show yesterday, I said, look, is
he going to have to shoot low to win this?
And yeah, it was Phil's view that there was a
lot of scoring to be done out there, a lot
of shots to be picked up. So when he was
through the front nine had only one under, only one under,
(19:11):
having been five under the previous day, I just worried.
I thought, maybe maybe he's only going to shoot one
or two under and that might not be enough. As
it happened, he shot four under and that was enough
to get him in that playoff with a Bodie on
the very last time. What a bit of drama, What
a bit of drama right near at the end good
day Mark.
Speaker 5 (19:29):
Tiny, I was on.
Speaker 7 (19:31):
I jump on the Twitter and I have the American
feed and bottom of the right hand corner of the
screen comes up trending Ryan Fox yep, and I'm like,
what what what so clicking clicking on the trend It's like,
(19:51):
so I'll dash into the lounge, click on the flick
on the on the jelly and it was coming down
and it burns lining up that part on the eighteenth
and the the drunket.
Speaker 2 (20:04):
It was all over yep.
Speaker 7 (20:06):
And I haven't done this since I was a primary
school child. I yelled out as he hit it miss.
Speaker 5 (20:15):
Kittles and he missed the bloody thing.
Speaker 7 (20:23):
And I'm like, the gods are here, the gods are
hit for how many?
Speaker 5 (20:27):
What more holes?
Speaker 4 (20:29):
Four more whiles?
Speaker 7 (20:30):
I was Look. That was phenomenal. Theater of sports at
its finest. It was outstanding. Look obviously two part to finish,
a bit of a bit of an antiot, but my godness,
the journey that golf can take you on, and seeing
(20:53):
the all whites I sit in there going how the
CBS going to talk about the I thinkled the All
Whites and New Zealand football team.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
All I come up, ye you did this.
Speaker 7 (21:08):
An interview on online on on on YouTube where his
big My Report talks to them in the booth and
the boys that look, it was great seeing the fellas there.
Speaker 5 (21:19):
I will say Tommy said.
Speaker 7 (21:20):
The year about about there will be ever golfer when
they are When CBS asked to asked him because he
was speaking for the boys about who's the best golfer,
none of them said a word.
Speaker 5 (21:31):
They all looked at each other, so like you know,
you know that competition is serious amongst those boys that
met the squad when they get out there on on
on on the on the links. But what look hey,
as I heard, it wasn't Ryan looked last year off
the end of the day you're European and he looked
wasn't going well? Was the talk of a potential.
Speaker 7 (21:55):
Wind down of the career and and if things hadn't
gone well, it was like a we'll look to another avenue.
And now am I right about this?
Speaker 4 (22:06):
Was he saying something like that?
Speaker 2 (22:08):
I know that he was considering as options. Yeah, I
know he was considering his options and he had to
really battle on the on the PGA Tour last year
to hold on to his card, which he did and
and yeah, I want I you know, traveling around so much,
and when he didn't have that that guaranteed tour card
which he now has having won these two tournaments, he
kind of had to go everywhere Mark, you know, and
(22:29):
he had to drag his family, you know, here, there
and everywhere to a lot of these far flung tournaments
that weren't paying as much as the top ones just
to kind of get his points and try and keep
his card. Now it doesn't have to worry about that.
You know, he knows he's got his tour card for
two years. As Marcus said, he's got a job for
two years, and he can and he can really play
just the tournaments that suit him. And he doesn't have
(22:50):
to drag him in the drag his family to every
far flung corner of the United States and beyond.
Speaker 4 (22:55):
You know, when you look at it, I heard Marcus
so what he said.
Speaker 7 (23:00):
I thought, Yeah, the boss has just won five and
a half million bucks in the last he's got a
coin of Ale.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
Yeah, you're right made, he's got he's got the full
time job and he knows as he knows his boss
can pay him great talking to you, Mark, love your enthusiasm,
make good on you. Oh eight, one hundred and eighty ten.
Eighty's our number. It's seven twenty nine. Gonna take a break,
come back and Mark Robinson will join us today announcing
his resignation as New Zealand Rugby CEO, effective at the
end of this year. How does he reflect on his
(23:31):
time in charge and how does he assess the state
of the game right now? Across a number of facets,
Mark Robinson on the show right after this forget the ref's.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
Call, You make the call of eighty eighty Sports Talk
on your home of sport his talks EBS Talks.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
Seven thirty two. New Zealand Rugby Chief Executive Mark Robinson
is leaving the role at the end of this year.
It'll bring to an end and almost six year tenure,
which included the COVID pandemic right at the start of
it and significant change during it, including the introduction of
the Silver Lake Equity d Mark Robinson plans to relocate
to Australia, where his family are currently living. He joins
(24:12):
us now, Mark, thanks for your time on Sports Talk tonight.
How long have you been mulling this over, hi Pony
and hid listeners.
Speaker 8 (24:18):
I look probably over the last a couple of months.
As you rightly said, you know, my family has been
based over in Australia for a little bit longer than that,
and when I waited up the fact that I wasn't
not able to see a lot of them at the
moment at a pretty critical stage of our children's life
(24:38):
and of our stage of family, combined with what I
guess that the remaining six months of the year looked
like in the critical opportunities around trying to create a
new financial model for the game domestically here in New
Zealand and finish off all of that work that we've
been doing with the international calendar, those two things ideally
(24:59):
coming to a conclusion, then this seemed perfect time to
step away.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
Just want to unpack a couple of those things in
a moment. But in general terms, how do you reflect
on your five and a half years in the role
up to this point?
Speaker 8 (25:12):
In general terms, I look incredibly proud, Pinty. You know,
as you said, it was it was an extremely challenging start.
I think I was a few weeks and when COVID
hit overseas at the time with international meetings, coming back
into New Zealand soon to be lockdown was a really
challenging start and you know, we said certainly was an
(25:34):
impact on the organization the way the sport ran and people.
You know, we lost a lot of very good people
during that time. But you know, I look at the
way we've come back, and I'm also extremely proud with
what we've done, be it you know, commercial revenue growth,
but the way we've led a lot of law reform
which we're seeing play through now with our on field
(25:54):
product around Super Rugby, sort of unprecedented investment into the
community game and getting back to community numbers which are
at those pre pre COVID levels. With led a lot
of the work on the global stage around player welfare
and and banning concussion research, and we've grown our fan
(26:15):
base internationally clearly, you know, and we're seeing some of
the fruition of that coming through with the revenue growth
was seeing at the moment by virtue of the teams
being involved in different markets around the world, which again
is an initiative we've led globally. So I'm really proud.
There's still you know, I think in any case in
this role, Pioney, you would have sort of you know,
(26:36):
I would have things that could could be better or
different and there's always something to do.
Speaker 4 (26:40):
But the time feel was.
Speaker 8 (26:41):
Right for me.
Speaker 2 (26:43):
You mentioned COVID, and yeah, nobody would would wish that
as a start of a tenure on anybody. But as
you say, you came through it. What were the other
most challenging parts of the role for you?
Speaker 8 (26:57):
Oh, look, any any time where we're working through significant
change processes or doing things which were a departure from
the way they been done historically, and clearly taking an
investment from an investment partner to invest in, you know,
the future of fans, both domestically and globally, and that's
what the Silver investment was about, really was about creating
(27:20):
opportunities to create differently and in a better way with fans.
That was certainly, you know, challenging any any change process,
as I said, you know is, but certainly something that
was that different was you know, we worked through changes
around the All Blacks, and we were very clear in
our decision making that, you know, preserving the best interests
(27:42):
of the team and taking a team approach winning and
getting the best performances. Out of them was where we
had our major folkus, so we made some calls there
which we absolutely stand by, and we also made a
call in terms of the future appointment with Scots, which
was again a departure from the past, but we felt
(28:04):
needed to happen and mis seeing you know, the benefit.
But it's now then when I look at the national
team environments, with the way the All Blacks, Black Ferns,
sevens and fifteen's are all connecting and working together, the
interaction we have with superclubs and that sort of thing,
there's a great deal of alignment and collaboration in that
area which has been really positive as well. So there
were definite, you know, definite challenges around some big decisions,
(28:26):
but I think in the fullness of time, when we
look at the things that were just described coming out
of the back of that and where we sit now,
I'm really positive about.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
Yeah, you touched on the All Blacks coaching change, which
I wanted to ask about, and I think we can
probably all agree that the outcome was the right one.
Are you happy with the way that process played out,
how it was conducted?
Speaker 8 (28:47):
Oh, look, you know, there was certainly some there was
certainly frustration wasn't he by in terms of some of
the decisions around their actions, but by and large in
terms of that we arrived.
Speaker 4 (29:03):
At the decisions.
Speaker 8 (29:03):
There were two aspects of this. One was to get
the team in a position to win the World Cup,
and we pushed really hard to have the posing of
the final by a point. But by and large we
felt like we gave the team every chance to succeed
with the team they had around them from a coaching perspective.
And then we wanted to obviously think about the medium
(29:25):
to long term and we felt the time was right
to think about why to change there. And yes, you know,
I think that was the right process and the right decision,
not just around that but across the entire length of
your tenure.
Speaker 2 (29:38):
If you had your time again, is there anything you
would do differently?
Speaker 8 (29:43):
I think on a you know, on a day to
day basis, we're working through, you know, processes on big protects.
There's always time, Pioney, where you would think differently about,
you know, the way you work through things. But in
terms of, you know, the decision to take investment, to
(30:04):
invest in fans and create some brilliance around the game,
that's given us, you know, a balance sheet where we
clearly have options now to do make choices in any
range of different areas, and we were definitely probably ahead
of our well, we were ahead of our time as
it related to doing that, but behind a lot of
other sports and codes and franchises who have been doing
(30:26):
this for years in terms of vesting and fans, and
that's one of the challenges that rugby has to be
catching up in a lot of those areas. So the
overall principle and behind the decision stand by, but there's
always things you could do slightly differently. And if you're
talking about the All Blacks decision, exec exactly the same
stand behind the outcomes that we had. There's always things
(30:46):
within those processes that might be managed slightly differently.
Speaker 2 (30:49):
You touched on it earlier that the pride you feel,
what are you proudest of?
Speaker 8 (30:56):
I just think the overall change in our sport and
the direction that we're heading in, in the excitement I
have for the future of the game. They've always big
significant challenges, Binny. People you know reflect on our game,
you know, often through the lens of how it used
to be. You know, if we go back through you
(31:18):
know well into last century and through that time where
you know, our society was completely different than our media
cycles aside, it's so different how the amount of rival
codes in New Zealand was so different. So it is
always going to be different and evolving now. But I
think the way we've tried to initiate and drive change
in a range of areas and their overall principle of
(31:41):
that as part of my leadership, I've been proud of it.
As you point before, it doesn't mean we've got everything
absolutely right along the way, because change in a traditional
sport that's one hundred and thirty years old like ours
is always going to have challenges as it relates to change.
But when I think of the big markers in our
sport now, the recent revenue growth and the announcements around
(32:05):
Toyota and Gallagher's Globe partners recently, the product we've got
on display with Super Ruggy Pacific has been phenomenal and
the best if not ever for.
Speaker 4 (32:13):
Many many years.
Speaker 8 (32:15):
The work we're doing in the community game were we're
leading change in terms of formats and rules to make
sure that the you know, the sport is more tailored
to the participant. The calendar we've started in terms of
the international calendar for the next five years is a
phenomenal calendar around South Africa. All Blacks Too is the
nation's cart two Lines two is here the inaugural Women's
(32:36):
lines too. We pushed hard for the growth of women's
rugby overall, Pinty, we could always do more in that space,
but the change and traductory of change in that space
has been increarly positive. So you know, the whole lot
of highlights for me there, but it's probably that overall
tenor we've tried really hard to introduce change and acknowledge
that the fans and the participants should be right at
(32:57):
the center of that.
Speaker 2 (32:58):
So you've got to finish line now. So what will
the next six months hold for you?
Speaker 8 (33:04):
Well, I'm as I said, the two key areas are
looking at the domestic model. The financial model of the
game in New Zealand is really important to us. We've
grown revenue, as I say, by well over sixty percent
on a perandom basis, you know, over the last few years,
but we've got a historical cost model which is hard
(33:26):
to make work. So we're getting all our stakeholders together
at the moment. I think there's a really keen appetite
to try and address that model, to get us on
a more sustainable footing more more regularly. And then the
international calendar. We've done a lot of good work again
is another area. Would like to tidy up all these
competitions and lock them in for twenty six and beyond.
And then the Black Ferns obviously, you know, we're really
(33:49):
looking forward to supporting that campaign where we can and
making sure they're well resourced and we can do everything
that we can to help them win.
Speaker 5 (33:56):
The probably the three.
Speaker 8 (33:57):
Things that stand out, But you know alongside that, you
know we've got things like broadcast deals, we've got all
Blacks with another massive campaign, We've got a whole lot
of great stuff, a role out in communities. We've got
to debrief our Super Rugby Pacific Tournament and take some
learnings and make sure we grow year on year on that.
There's the work need have done and there's always something
to get better at. But I'm pretty satisfied with a
(34:18):
lot of things and the growth of those in the
last few years.
Speaker 2 (34:21):
Ponty, Are we close to a new broadcast deal? We're
getting there.
Speaker 8 (34:25):
Yeah, I'll give you the same sort of boring answer
I've given a lot of people today. Unfortunately, you know
that we're chipping away and it's really constructive. So hopefully
we've got more to report and we'll talk about that when.
Speaker 2 (34:35):
We can look forward to that. So you'll reacquaint yourself
with your family early in twenty twenty six on a
full time basis. What about after that? I mean, you're
not just going to sit on the counts for the
rest of your life. I wouldn't imagine what do you
reckon you might do next?
Speaker 8 (34:49):
Oh look, I hadn't thought too much about it, Piney.
You know, I'm really focused on finishing well and really
making sure we deliver on those few projects that I
talked about earlier. I guess as it gets closer to
the end of the year, you know, I might too
much into a little bit more. But yeah, I'm looking
(35:09):
forward to a break with with and over and the
kids over Christmas and into the new year in Australia,
and then yeah, we'll see what We'll see what pops
into the into the intro maybe, or see what kept
up conversations between now and then.
Speaker 2 (35:23):
A career in broadcasting perhaps, who knows.
Speaker 8 (35:27):
I don't know if that's suit in finding and there's
really good people doing it.
Speaker 2 (35:30):
Didn't you know that? No, Now I'll see if I
can find some. I'll see if I can find some. Mark.
Thanks for joining us today. Look, I know no doubt
that you'll sprint towards that finish line with a busy
six months ahead. Thanks for being accessible as always, We'll
catch up no doubt before you do, before you do depart.
Speaker 8 (35:46):
Thanks Tony, and thanks all the listeners out there for
the love of the game. And thanks also for you
for you know, staying engaged and curious about a sport.
Speaker 4 (35:53):
I really appreciate the chances they have.
Speaker 5 (35:55):
To check with you too.
Speaker 2 (35:56):
No thanks indeed, Mark. Mark Robinson then leaving his role
as New Zealand Rugby CEO at the end of twenty
twenty five, so I guess recruitment now arts in earnest.
There will be many many, I'm sure, dusting off their
CV to have a crack at that role. Pretty high profile,
pretty what's the word prestigious, I think is probably the
(36:22):
word of after pretty prestigious, but high pressure under the spotlight.
But there'll be a lot of people having a crack
at it. Seven forty five on News Talks. When we
come back, it's Piney's Power Rankings.
Speaker 1 (36:36):
Power Rankings.
Speaker 2 (36:40):
Yes, indeed, Monday Night means Piney's Power Rankings as we
rate the best, the worst and the in between. Bits
from the Sporting Weekend. Let's go Tottenham Hotspur Football Club
with one of the more inexplicable decisions in recent memory.
Speaker 1 (36:56):
Breaking news to bring you that angshpostera Cooglu is going
to be sacked by Tottenham Hotspur as their head coach.
Speaker 2 (37:03):
This is the head coach who guided them to this
a couple of weeks ago. The waiter Silvar is over
the moment you've been waiting for his hair.
Speaker 6 (37:14):
Tona Watcher are the Awaita Erot winners.
Speaker 2 (37:18):
So, just to check my notes, Spurs have sacked the
first manager to win them a trophy in seventeen years. Utterly,
utterly bizarre. Nine Quemi Supercars driver Ryan Wood monstrous time.
Speaker 8 (37:32):
An exiblating moment for the young guy from.
Speaker 9 (37:35):
Wellington in New Zealand just twenty one years of eight.
Speaker 2 (37:39):
Yea first out a Supercars race win for Ryan Wood
at Perth over the weekend. Geez, it's the All Whites
an impressive one nil win over Ivory Coast excellent went
for New Zealand. That's the eighty sixth ranked team.
Speaker 9 (37:53):
In world football, beating the forty first ranked and the African.
Speaker 2 (37:58):
Champions, Elijah just scoring the only goal. The r Whites
now face Ukraine on Wednesday seven. Kimi cyclist Ali Wall
claiming her first victory at a major stage race, winning
the Tour of Britain.
Speaker 9 (38:11):
Arlie Williston haven't seen third place on the stage has
sealed the deal.
Speaker 6 (38:15):
And goes home as the Lloyd's two Written Women winner.
Speaker 2 (38:18):
The two time Olympic medalist and double track world champion,
making up a three second deficit on the fourth and
final stage to win by four seconds overall six the
Crusaders who, unfortunately for everybody else, are now the Crusaders again,
and the Crusaders.
Speaker 9 (38:36):
Are through to the semifinals at their almighty hope playoff
record remains.
Speaker 2 (38:43):
It does at thirty straight finals matches victories and they
can now win Super Rugby without having to leave christ
Church five. The Blues defying the odds and staying alive
in Super Rugby. Why try, Bear's gonna try? Just be's
got it? The Megala preaches out and dumps it down
(39:04):
all the victory. That's all either in the Blues of one,
a last gasp went over the Chiefs, keeping the Blues
title defense alive against all expectation. Sure the epic French
Open Men's singles final Yarnick Sinner and Carlos el Karez
one for the ages. It's Charles Alkola's defense his title
(39:30):
roll Caro Si surely one of the greatest matches ever
played on Philip Chatrier anix center won the first two sets,
al Karez won the third and then had to save
three match points in the fourth before winning that and
securing the final set tiebreak ten to two. An absolutely
(39:51):
extraordinary final.
Speaker 4 (39:53):
Three.
Speaker 2 (39:54):
Big Tom Walsh a Diamond League shot put champion. That's
pretty good as well. Very close to twenty two meters now,
that would be as good as he's done. All yeah,
so far, point to the camera. There you go, Tom
wash early on setting a mark here twenty one point
eight nine meters with his first throw, enough to claim victory.
(40:14):
In Rome, the Warriors and absolute she lacking of the
Sharks on Saturday nights. It was all the Warriors tonight.
They've left the Sharks on.
Speaker 8 (40:27):
The sharks hatch every Webster he's been a thoroughbred with
the rains in his hands this season.
Speaker 2 (40:35):
The Warriors are indeed the real deal in twenty twenty five,
but of course they're not number Who else could it
be but fantastic Ryan Fox? Back to three wood all
over it. Oh, now we're attacking. What a beautiful shark.
Speaker 3 (41:01):
Two putts for a second PGA Tour win and he'll
take them. The fantastic mister Fox is the king of
Karnada and number one on Piney's power rankings. Did you
think the Crusaders should have been higher than six.
Speaker 9 (41:23):
Any other week year, Piney? But you know there's quite
a lot that was worthy to go ahead of them.
I just have a comment to make on the Ciner
al Kaath thing. Do you remember I think it was
early twenty ten's where Murray, Djokovic, Nadal Federer were pulling
off marathon like finals one after the other.
Speaker 2 (41:41):
Do you remember that time?
Speaker 1 (41:42):
I do?
Speaker 9 (41:43):
And then they're all starting to go and we're worried,
Oh no, what's going to happen to these sorts of games?
And now Cinner and al Kaath have arrived and all
is fine in the tennis world. Yes, that's pretty good.
Eight it is good and tennis needs rivalries they do.
And one final thing as well. I'd like to apologize
to Ryan Wood and his family for them being down
at nine. Unfortunately, it's just one of those.
Speaker 2 (42:04):
Everything was good power rankings, indeed it was, but you
might get higher in the weeks and months ahead. Ryan Wood.
Party's power rankings back next Monday, six to eight, three
and a half away. I just wanted to close with
the news today. Yeah, the very sad news that former
All Blacks captain and winger Stu Wilson passed away over
the weekend. One of our great wingers, eighty five games
for the All Blacks, thirty four test matches, eighty nine
(42:26):
games for Wellington, fifty four tries for Wellington, and just
an absolute character of the game, highly sought after after
dinner speaker once his playing days came to an end,
and had the very good fortune of being involved in
a couple of functions with Stu Wilson. He had the
audience in the palm of his hand and brought the
(42:46):
house down a wonderful racon tour. He will be missed.
All the best to the friends in Farno Off Sue Wilson,
Thanks to Andy for producing Andrew Dickens After eight, We'll
see you on Saturday.
Speaker 1 (42:59):
For more from sports talk, listen live to news talks
it'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio uh
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildegrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Hello, good evening, Koona, and welcome and thanks for joining
us on Monday night Sports Talk for June ninth. I'm
Jason Pine Shop producer Anny McDonald. We're here talking sport
until eight one. A morning of golf.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
The fantastic mister Fox here is the King of Canada.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
He is the King of Canada. Ryan Fox surviving a
test of endurance to win his second PGA too event,
four weeks on from his first one. He held his
nerve this morning to Pip sam Burns on the fourth
playoff hole at the Canadian Open in Toronto. He earns
two point nine two million New Zealand dollars for his
efforts and guarantees entry into this week's US Open, the
(01:02):
year's third major in Pennsylvania. His coach, Marcus wheel House
is standing by to chat to us. And among the
gallery today members of the All Whites who also happen
to be in Canada right now, so we'll chat to
one of them, Tommy Smith, who watched it all play
out from the eighteenth Green. Today's other big story the
resignation of New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson. He's going
(01:26):
to leave the role at the end of this year.
He will join us on the show tonight to reflect
on his six year tenure as boss of New Zealand
Rugby and Monday Night, of course, means Piney's Power rankings.
We rate the best, the worst and the in between.
Bits from the sporting weekend past. But a live sport
while we're on the air are rare. Monday Night NURL match.
It's King's Birthday over there. So the Bulldogs are playing
(01:49):
the Eels in Sydney. They're five minutes into the second half.
It's all locked up at twelve apiece. The Bulldogs would
go top of the NRL Ladder if they were to
go on and win this one and the final game
in Round five of Neples A and Z Premiership this
evening the bottom two desperate for a win. Stars v.
Magic at Paul Arena sent to pass around seven thirty
wal Keep eyes on that for you as well. Please
(02:11):
join the show if you would like to. The invitation
is there, Oh, eight hundred and eighty ten eighty. We'll
get to throw on the phone nine two ninety two
if you'd like to send a text or an email
off to me. Jason at Newstalk saidb dot co dot
Nz just got eight past seven.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
No need for the DMO. We've got the breakdown on
sports talk call oh eight hundred eighty.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
News Talk said, what a morning of golf viewing for
us here as Ryan Fox displayed patients and grits and
belief and plenty of golfing skill to win his second
PGA Tour event in less than a month. He held
his nerve and pipped Sam Burns on the fourth playoff
hole at the Canadian Open in Toronto. Back to three
(02:55):
wood all over it. Now we're attacking. What a beautiful shik.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Two putts for a second PGA Tour when and you'll
take them? The fantastic mister Fox is the King of Canada.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
It is the first time a kiwi has won two
events in a single season on the PGA Tour since
Sir Bob Charles won the Houston Classic and the Open
Championship all the way back in nineteen sixty three. Let's
bring in Ryan Fox's coach, Marcus Wheelhouse. Marcus, thanks for
joining us this morning. Were you this evening rather? Were
you more nervous this morning watching the closing stages of
(03:43):
the Canadian Open, Or were you more nervous watching Myrtle
Beach a month ago?
Speaker 4 (03:50):
I think Myrtle Beach, to be honest, but yeah, no,
I look both of them pretty yeah, just like hopeful
and all those things, but you know, a little bit nervous.
I've got absolutely like a great can I.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Ask about the seventeen foot birdie part on his second
seventy second hole of the tournament, the eighteenth hole of
his fourth round. It took him to eighteen under and
a share of the lead, forcing the playoff. Can you
talk us through mark a share view and assessment of
that part.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
Look, I mean he'd been and I just talked to
him like he'd been. Like what I was proud of
him was he'd been incredibly patient all day. And I
think that's, you know, something that maybe wouldn't have happened
even a month ago, but in that space of those
thirteen fourteen holes in the early parts around you know,
he did he just showed that real nice resolve and
(04:46):
and just didn't you know, his attitude was good. He
didn't get didn't get down on himself, et cetera. So
I wasn't surprised that he hold that. I thought that
he was probably juy. You know, he had a good
chance on seventeen, didn't he. So yeah, no, look, I
think it was it was a perfect pace part that
showed us new wasn't too bad and in the lock
(05:08):
obviously it was. It was.
Speaker 5 (05:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (05:10):
You just that's what you want, right, You want to
put to get a playoff or win a golf tournament,
and he and he done it, So I think you
can take a huge amount of confidence out of that.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Just before we talk about the playoffs, you mentioned patients
there and and I wonder how much has winning his
first PGI Tour event at Myrtle Beach changed Ryan's mindset?
Is patients? The main thing you see, Well, I.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
Think the biggest thing about any player is that you
that you want to be out on a tour and
you want to be playing with not a lot of
pressure on yourself, and you want to feel like you've
belonged there. And I think that's what you know, we
certainly sort of talked about that, you know a month
aside a girl when I was up there. It's just
you know, just being comfortable out on the US tour.
(05:57):
And what does that mean and what does that look
like and all those things around you know that and
being a winner, I think you sort of do walk
around and the band that you belong there and that's
you know, so that's a big part of you know,
a golfer, and I think in sports person, you know,
the confidence that you have, the feeling of belonging and
all those things that good things that come with winning,
(06:18):
which is you know, you know, a job for a
couple of years, which he's got now. So yeah, he
really didn't, you know, put a lot of pressure on himself,
Yester today and because he knew, you know, he was
already on the right. So I think that was a
big part of today. It was just he sort of
went out there and just played and if he won,
he won. If he didn't, you know, still wake up
the next morning and say good out of his kids.
(06:40):
You know that That's the sort of attitude he had today,
which was which was fantastic.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Yeah, that's terrificant insight. He did need four playoff holes
this time. What were you what were your feeling as
you saw them make power what three times each on
the first three playoff holes? What they moved the pin,
didn't they know. How are you feeling during the playoff?
Speaker 4 (06:58):
Yeah, I've never seen the move a pin. Look I think, well,
I was just talking to a friend of mine just now,
and you know the second when he hit the three
wood and he sort of puffed it up under the breeze,
I was pretty nervous there. I thought that that wasn't
an am well but but did he got lucky And
that's what's what winning golf sort of some time takes.
(07:21):
But yeah, I was surprised that Sam Burns missed that
first part and which was a recently shortest Boody put
But you know, you get a sniff and you know, Fox,
he's had a couple of sort of plauffs go not
go his way in the df Tour back in the
day and and and from now. To have two PGA
Tour playoff wins is as great he's getting as he's
(07:44):
getting someone or someone's on the side of a they fantastic.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Yeah, that shot that you talk about, the three wood
off the off the fairway leaving basically leaving him but
a makeable putt for Eagle. Really, I know he didn't
need it, but I think he's called it the best
shot of his life, and it came at a pretty
good time. You weren't sure about the club selection, the
shot choice, I was.
Speaker 4 (08:05):
I was actually talking about the first three? Would he
hit when he puffed it up?
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Gotcha?
Speaker 4 (08:08):
Second old, yeah, gotcha? I mean that that last one
he hit was as pure as the driven snow. I
mean that was like a career shot. I think he'll
he'll be able to shirt in his memory and and
uh and and draw on that and many times in
his in his career. And so yeah, that last that
last shot he hit into that, into that into that
night was Yeah, that was pure as true as you'll get.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
When he had he had two parts to win it
after sam Burn, so he kind of had to chase
the eagle, didn't He put it a bit far past
and then needed two parts coming back. So Ryan had
two parts to to win it. Did you know that
he was going to use them both? Was that always
what he would have been thinking?
Speaker 6 (08:45):
Mate?
Speaker 4 (08:45):
I was just I was just happy when he was
when he hit the trophy in the sands.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Oh, there's wonderful, wonderful the fourth round itself. I mean
he shot five under on the front nine in his
third round, would he have been disappointed in any way
to make the tune today, It just one under through
that that front nine.
Speaker 4 (09:01):
Well, I think you know, like like I said before,
you know, he did struggle a little bit at things,
and I haven't you know, he was I didn't want
to sort of spoil the moment, but yeah, we'll probably
talk about it in some of the stages. But he
certainly didn't, you know, play his best golf on that
front nine. But like I said before, that's that I
was really proud that he just stuck in and he
(09:22):
and he was patient enough and kept his kept his
bottle and and you know, just still didn't he knew
he wasn't out of the golf tournament even though he
wasn't playing his best and and that's what golf is,
you know, You've got to ride those bad times and
and and make them or make the damage as little
as possible. And that's what he did. And then when
things did start to clicking, and you know, he had
(09:43):
a couple of great shots down the stretch, you know,
he found himself obviously with a chance, which which is
what happened. So where you know, I think probably maybe
a player of yesteryear might have you know, he would
have got a little bit frustrated with the fact that
he wasn't making goodies and everybody is, you know, because
the score was pretty hot, and and might have had
a different sort of outlook to that. And and and therefore,
(10:06):
when you have that, you know you haven't quite got
the game. And check and then you do make a
couple of aggressive decisions, and you can make a couple
of silly bogies. He had a great save on nine,
which I think was really pivotal to make car from
where he was. And and then yeah, and then then
you know, those bodies in the back nine just obviously
got them to got them to within a chance, and
(10:27):
then and then the rest is history.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Yeah, there's that patience again. So the one season qualified
for the US Open, third major of the season after Oakmont.
Now for that, what is it twenty years exactly since
Michael Campbell won the US Open? What chance Ryan emulates
them two decades later?
Speaker 4 (10:43):
Well, mate, i'd say, what you know, I was up
there a couple of weeks ago, as you know, three
weeks forwards ago now and then again last week. So
you know, who knows, mate, it's when you're when you've
got a player, you know, riding a wave. But you know,
all we can do look is just gone, you know,
find the golf, fallon, hit it and find it again.
And I think that, you know, for him to have them,
(11:06):
he's had this phenomenal to won twice on the PGA Tour.
As you say, no, he's done that since the Great
subob So yeah, look it's the funnel. I mean, well,
you know, God's speech him this week at the Open
looks at really brutal test. But who knows.
Speaker 6 (11:22):
Man.
Speaker 4 (11:22):
I just wish more best obviously, and we'll see what happens.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
And your recent visit up there, Marcus, you saw him
type for sixtieth at an event in Texas. Since then
he won Myrtle Beach, tied twenty eighth of the PGA Championship,
then twentieth and another win today. Sounds like the trip
was well worth it. Are you got to take your
fair share of credit too.
Speaker 4 (11:41):
Yeah, And I went up, I went I was up
at Mirryfield as well, so it looks like I'll be
going back up there next week. So we're im back.
We're back full time now, so there's no I'm not
the part time as they say, say, I'm back in
full time, so I'm happy to be involved, you know,
more and more. So it's going to be my passport's
going to get a little bit of a hammering. But
(12:02):
that's that's a that's a good problem to have.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
That is a great problem to have. Congratulations on your
obvious part in this, Marcus. Thanks for giving us some
analysis this evening where everyone's just delighted obviously for Ryan.
He is such an easy, easy sportsperson to like and
it's wonderful to watch him succeed. Thanks for taking the
time for a chat tonight.
Speaker 4 (12:20):
Thanks Bnning Tuesley.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
Thank you, mate. That's Marcus Wheelhouse. There you go, full
time coach now of Ryan Fox. So up to the
US Open they go. Yeah, two thousand and five at Pinehurst,
number two, Michael Campbell winning the US Open twenty years later?
Is there some serendipity here? Ryan Fox man? How good's
he going? It's funny, isn't it? You know it took
(12:41):
them all that time to win one, and then another
one came along almost immediately. London buses you wait ages
for one and then to turn up at once. Long mate,
continue for Ryan Fox, and as I just said that
to Marcus Wheelhouse. He is such an easy sports person
to want the best for because he is just so likable.
He's so I said this to Heather earlier on. I
(13:04):
think we see in Ryan Fox many of the qualities
that we want to think we display as kiwis humility,
very down to worth, doesn't get too worked up about anything,
really gets on with a wide variety of people. Always speaks,
(13:25):
you know, with a gentle tone, but with a firm
focus as well. There's so much about Ryan Fox to
like and so to see him succeed like this, and
it hasn't been a straight line. Let's all remember this.
You know, he's now he could now play the FedEx
Cup at the end of the year. You know, I'm
sure as aim at the start of the year was
(13:46):
just to keep his tour card. We's got the freedom
of that now having won these two tournaments, and let's
just hope it continues to go up and up from here,
because as I said, it hasn't been a straight line
for Ryan Fox. He's had peaks and troughs. As a
lot of sports people do. A big peak for him
this morning in Toronto, and among those watching, you might
(14:06):
have seen this on TV the final round were members
of the All Whites. Now they're currently in Canada for
international matches. In the latest fief for Window they beat
Ivory Coast won nil yesterday and play Ukraine on Wednesday morning.
But on a day off. Chris Wood, the captain, along
with Alex Rufer, Ben Wayne, Ben Old, Matt Garbett, Tyler Binden, Eli,
(14:30):
just Callen Elliott and Tommy Smith were all there to
watch Ryan Fox win at TPC Toronto this morning our time.
Tommy Smiths on the line from Canada. How was that experience,
Tommy watching Ryan Fox win the Canadian Open.
Speaker 6 (14:45):
We obviously knew he was in a good spot heading
into today, so we just followed him round for the
majority of his round this afternoon. And obviously the culminators
in the win, which was excellent. By the standout moment
for us was that Birdie part on eighteen to put
him into the playoffs. That was an amazing feeling. And yeah,
just where we got to from was amazing, and yeah,
(15:08):
just a great day all round.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
Yeah, it looked amazing from what we could see on
TV from where you were. Were you on the eighteenth
green at the end for that boody pat you just
talked about, and then the playoff holes.
Speaker 6 (15:19):
After that, we had a contact Mark Williams, who works
for the PGA. He's a key WE guy who kindly
gots access to that media. So it was the CBS
sort of media overlook of the Eighteenth Green, which was
obviously a fantastic view of everything, and we had the
TV screen in there as well for the shots that
we couldn't quite see. So again, an amazing experience and
(15:40):
something that we'll all cherish for a long long time.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Yea is so good. So the boody pat you mentioned
got Ryan a share of the lead obviously feed them
into a playoff and normally these things maybe take one
or two holes four playoff files out of the nerves
during those four playoff holes for you and the boys, oh.
Speaker 6 (15:59):
No, we kept saying that we were more nervous watching
him play those playoff holes than we are when we
play football, So I can't imagine what he was feeling.
And then not obviously that three would hit on the
whole that he won at the end as a sensational shot.
And we're all avid golfers and we will we can
only have a dream of being shots like that, So
to see that live and obviously for it to come
(16:22):
out and winning the tournament was sensational.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
And I've seen some photos you obviously had the chance
to catch up with Ryan afterwards, obviously had a few
words whether that must have been a pretty special moment
for you all as well?
Speaker 6 (16:34):
Yeah, absolutely, you know he's a real top guy as well,
and he took the time out of his day. Obviously
it would have been absolutely buzzing and his family with
their way for him, his wife and two kids, So
for him to take the time out of his day
to come and have a picture and a catch up
with us was really kind.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Of yeah, very very cool. And you mentioned that you're
all keen golfers, avid golfers. Who would win a round
of golf between the all whites players? And I've been
Old obviously famously was almost a child prodigy of golf.
Would he be favorite or who else is in this conversation.
Speaker 6 (17:05):
Let's obviously golf a game you can use your handicap in,
so I'm not bad, but yeah, your favorites would probably
be in this squad that's assembled here and soon Old
he would definitely be the whole favorite. I would imagine.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
All right, Hey, thanks for joining us on Sports Talk.
Tommy really appreciate it and great to see you and
a bunch of others from the All Whites supporting Ryan
Fox today and Toronto. That's Tommy Smith. It was great
that the TV coverage picked up on that. Obviously they
were in the CBS tent, so there would have been
that knowledge pass to the camera people. And yeah, just
to watch them cheering them on like that. There's something
(17:38):
special about about seeing, you know, elite athletes from another
code cheering on you know, somebody from a completely different sports.
That's why the Olympics are so good. When you see,
you know, our Olympians they compete in their event and
then they go and support their fellow Kiwi's in a
completely different event. When you see Kiwi's supporting Kiwi's overseas,
(18:02):
there's something a bit special about that. Yeah. The All Whites, well,
they had their own success with a one nil went
over Ivory Coast yesterday morning, off to play Ukraine. When
I say off to, I think it's the same venue
in Canada on Wednesday morning at around nine o'clock. So
great news for Ryan Fox. We look forward to tracking
him at the US Open at Oakmont in the weekend ahead.
(18:22):
We'll certainly be coping a keeping rather a very close
eye on Ryan Fox seven twenty four. Your thoughts were welcome. Oh,
eight hundred and eighty ten eighty. Anything that stood out
as you're watching him negotiate the Canadian Open over the
last four days. I must have been. When I woke
up this morning, it was he was underway about five
forty five. I sort of got and got into it
(18:44):
in the sort of the early holes.
Speaker 5 (18:45):
And.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
I kind of thought it might not be his day,
particularly given the fact I remember and speaking to Phil
Tarto Angi on the show yesterday, I said, look, is
he going to have to shoot low to win this?
And yeah, it was Phil's view that there was a
lot of scoring to be done out there, a lot
of shots to be picked up. So when he was
through the front nine had only one under, only one under,
(19:11):
having been five under the previous day, I just worried.
I thought, maybe maybe he's only going to shoot one
or two under and that might not be enough. As
it happened, he shot four under and that was enough
to get him in that playoff with a Bodie on
the very last time. What a bit of drama, What
a bit of drama right near at the end good
day Mark.
Speaker 5 (19:29):
Tiny, I was on.
Speaker 7 (19:31):
I jump on the Twitter and I have the American
feed and bottom of the right hand corner of the
screen comes up trending Ryan Fox yep, and I'm like,
what what what so clicking clicking on the trend It's like,
(19:51):
so I'll dash into the lounge, click on the flick
on the on the jelly and it was coming down
and it burns lining up that part on the eighteenth
and the the drunket.
Speaker 2 (20:04):
It was all over yep.
Speaker 7 (20:06):
And I haven't done this since I was a primary
school child. I yelled out as he hit it miss.
Speaker 5 (20:15):
Kittles and he missed the bloody thing.
Speaker 7 (20:23):
And I'm like, the gods are here, the gods are
hit for how many?
Speaker 5 (20:27):
What more holes?
Speaker 4 (20:29):
Four more whiles?
Speaker 7 (20:30):
I was Look. That was phenomenal. Theater of sports at
its finest. It was outstanding. Look obviously two part to finish,
a bit of a bit of an antiot, but my godness,
the journey that golf can take you on, and seeing
(20:53):
the all whites I sit in there going how the
CBS going to talk about the I thinkled the All
Whites and New Zealand football team.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
All I come up, ye you did this.
Speaker 7 (21:08):
An interview on online on on on YouTube where his
big My Report talks to them in the booth and
the boys that look, it was great seeing the fellas there.
Speaker 5 (21:19):
I will say Tommy said.
Speaker 7 (21:20):
The year about about there will be ever golfer when
they are When CBS asked to asked him because he
was speaking for the boys about who's the best golfer,
none of them said a word.
Speaker 5 (21:31):
They all looked at each other, so like you know,
you know that competition is serious amongst those boys that
met the squad when they get out there on on
on on the on the links. But what look hey,
as I heard, it wasn't Ryan looked last year off
the end of the day you're European and he looked
wasn't going well? Was the talk of a potential.
Speaker 7 (21:55):
Wind down of the career and and if things hadn't
gone well, it was like a we'll look to another avenue.
And now am I right about this?
Speaker 4 (22:06):
Was he saying something like that?
Speaker 2 (22:08):
I know that he was considering as options. Yeah, I
know he was considering his options and he had to
really battle on the on the PGA Tour last year
to hold on to his card, which he did and
and yeah, I want I you know, traveling around so much,
and when he didn't have that that guaranteed tour card
which he now has having won these two tournaments, he
kind of had to go everywhere Mark, you know, and
(22:29):
he had to drag his family, you know, here, there
and everywhere to a lot of these far flung tournaments
that weren't paying as much as the top ones just
to kind of get his points and try and keep
his card. Now it doesn't have to worry about that.
You know, he knows he's got his tour card for
two years. As Marcus said, he's got a job for
two years, and he can and he can really play
just the tournaments that suit him. And he doesn't have
(22:50):
to drag him in the drag his family to every
far flung corner of the United States and beyond.
Speaker 4 (22:55):
You know, when you look at it, I heard Marcus
so what he said.
Speaker 7 (23:00):
I thought, Yeah, the boss has just won five and
a half million bucks in the last he's got a
coin of Ale.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
Yeah, you're right made, he's got he's got the full
time job and he knows as he knows his boss
can pay him great talking to you, Mark, love your enthusiasm,
make good on you. Oh eight, one hundred and eighty ten.
Eighty's our number. It's seven twenty nine. Gonna take a break,
come back and Mark Robinson will join us today announcing
his resignation as New Zealand Rugby CEO, effective at the
end of this year. How does he reflect on his
(23:31):
time in charge and how does he assess the state
of the game right now? Across a number of facets,
Mark Robinson on the show right after this forget the ref's.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
Call, You make the call of eighty eighty Sports Talk
on your home of sport his talks EBS Talks.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
Seven thirty two. New Zealand Rugby Chief Executive Mark Robinson
is leaving the role at the end of this year.
It'll bring to an end and almost six year tenure,
which included the COVID pandemic right at the start of
it and significant change during it, including the introduction of
the Silver Lake Equity d Mark Robinson plans to relocate
to Australia, where his family are currently living. He joins
(24:12):
us now, Mark, thanks for your time on Sports Talk tonight.
How long have you been mulling this over, hi Pony
and hid listeners.
Speaker 8 (24:18):
I look probably over the last a couple of months.
As you rightly said, you know, my family has been
based over in Australia for a little bit longer than that,
and when I waited up the fact that I wasn't
not able to see a lot of them at the
moment at a pretty critical stage of our children's life
(24:38):
and of our stage of family, combined with what I
guess that the remaining six months of the year looked
like in the critical opportunities around trying to create a
new financial model for the game domestically here in New
Zealand and finish off all of that work that we've
been doing with the international calendar, those two things ideally
(24:59):
coming to a conclusion, then this seemed perfect time to
step away.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
Just want to unpack a couple of those things in
a moment. But in general terms, how do you reflect
on your five and a half years in the role
up to this point?
Speaker 8 (25:12):
In general terms, I look incredibly proud, Pinty. You know,
as you said, it was it was an extremely challenging start.
I think I was a few weeks and when COVID
hit overseas at the time with international meetings, coming back
into New Zealand soon to be lockdown was a really
challenging start and you know, we said certainly was an
(25:34):
impact on the organization the way the sport ran and people.
You know, we lost a lot of very good people
during that time. But you know, I look at the
way we've come back, and I'm also extremely proud with
what we've done, be it you know, commercial revenue growth,
but the way we've led a lot of law reform
which we're seeing play through now with our on field
(25:54):
product around Super Rugby, sort of unprecedented investment into the
community game and getting back to community numbers which are
at those pre pre COVID levels. With led a lot
of the work on the global stage around player welfare
and and banning concussion research, and we've grown our fan
(26:15):
base internationally clearly, you know, and we're seeing some of
the fruition of that coming through with the revenue growth
was seeing at the moment by virtue of the teams
being involved in different markets around the world, which again
is an initiative we've led globally. So I'm really proud.
There's still you know, I think in any case in
this role, Pioney, you would have sort of you know,
(26:36):
I would have things that could could be better or
different and there's always something to do.
Speaker 4 (26:40):
But the time feel was.
Speaker 8 (26:41):
Right for me.
Speaker 2 (26:43):
You mentioned COVID, and yeah, nobody would would wish that
as a start of a tenure on anybody. But as
you say, you came through it. What were the other
most challenging parts of the role for you?
Speaker 8 (26:57):
Oh, look, any any time where we're working through significant
change processes or doing things which were a departure from
the way they been done historically, and clearly taking an
investment from an investment partner to invest in, you know,
the future of fans, both domestically and globally, and that's
what the Silver investment was about, really was about creating
(27:20):
opportunities to create differently and in a better way with fans.
That was certainly, you know, challenging any any change process,
as I said, you know is, but certainly something that
was that different was you know, we worked through changes
around the All Blacks, and we were very clear in
our decision making that, you know, preserving the best interests
(27:42):
of the team and taking a team approach winning and
getting the best performances. Out of them was where we
had our major folkus, so we made some calls there
which we absolutely stand by, and we also made a
call in terms of the future appointment with Scots, which
was again a departure from the past, but we felt
(28:04):
needed to happen and mis seeing you know, the benefit.
But it's now then when I look at the national
team environments, with the way the All Blacks, Black Ferns,
sevens and fifteen's are all connecting and working together, the
interaction we have with superclubs and that sort of thing,
there's a great deal of alignment and collaboration in that
area which has been really positive as well. So there
were definite, you know, definite challenges around some big decisions,
(28:26):
but I think in the fullness of time, when we
look at the things that were just described coming out
of the back of that and where we sit now,
I'm really positive about.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
Yeah, you touched on the All Blacks coaching change, which
I wanted to ask about, and I think we can
probably all agree that the outcome was the right one.
Are you happy with the way that process played out,
how it was conducted?
Speaker 8 (28:47):
Oh, look, you know, there was certainly some there was
certainly frustration wasn't he by in terms of some of
the decisions around their actions, but by and large in
terms of that we arrived.
Speaker 4 (29:03):
At the decisions.
Speaker 8 (29:03):
There were two aspects of this. One was to get
the team in a position to win the World Cup,
and we pushed really hard to have the posing of
the final by a point. But by and large we
felt like we gave the team every chance to succeed
with the team they had around them from a coaching perspective.
And then we wanted to obviously think about the medium
(29:25):
to long term and we felt the time was right
to think about why to change there. And yes, you know,
I think that was the right process and the right decision,
not just around that but across the entire length of
your tenure.
Speaker 2 (29:38):
If you had your time again, is there anything you
would do differently?
Speaker 8 (29:43):
I think on a you know, on a day to
day basis, we're working through, you know, processes on big protects.
There's always time, Pioney, where you would think differently about,
you know, the way you work through things. But in
terms of, you know, the decision to take investment, to
(30:04):
invest in fans and create some brilliance around the game,
that's given us, you know, a balance sheet where we
clearly have options now to do make choices in any
range of different areas, and we were definitely probably ahead
of our well, we were ahead of our time as
it related to doing that, but behind a lot of
other sports and codes and franchises who have been doing
(30:26):
this for years in terms of vesting and fans, and
that's one of the challenges that rugby has to be
catching up in a lot of those areas. So the
overall principle and behind the decision stand by, but there's
always things you could do slightly differently. And if you're
talking about the All Blacks decision, exec exactly the same
stand behind the outcomes that we had. There's always things
(30:46):
within those processes that might be managed slightly differently.
Speaker 2 (30:49):
You touched on it earlier that the pride you feel,
what are you proudest of?
Speaker 8 (30:56):
I just think the overall change in our sport and
the direction that we're heading in, in the excitement I
have for the future of the game. They've always big
significant challenges, Binny. People you know reflect on our game,
you know, often through the lens of how it used
to be. You know, if we go back through you
(31:18):
know well into last century and through that time where
you know, our society was completely different than our media
cycles aside, it's so different how the amount of rival
codes in New Zealand was so different. So it is
always going to be different and evolving now. But I
think the way we've tried to initiate and drive change
in a range of areas and their overall principle of
(31:41):
that as part of my leadership, I've been proud of it.
As you point before, it doesn't mean we've got everything
absolutely right along the way, because change in a traditional
sport that's one hundred and thirty years old like ours
is always going to have challenges as it relates to change.
But when I think of the big markers in our
sport now, the recent revenue growth and the announcements around
(32:05):
Toyota and Gallagher's Globe partners recently, the product we've got
on display with Super Ruggy Pacific has been phenomenal and
the best if not ever for.
Speaker 4 (32:13):
Many many years.
Speaker 8 (32:15):
The work we're doing in the community game were we're
leading change in terms of formats and rules to make
sure that the you know, the sport is more tailored
to the participant. The calendar we've started in terms of
the international calendar for the next five years is a
phenomenal calendar around South Africa. All Blacks Too is the
nation's cart two Lines two is here the inaugural Women's
(32:36):
lines too. We pushed hard for the growth of women's
rugby overall, Pinty, we could always do more in that space,
but the change and traductory of change in that space
has been increarly positive. So you know, the whole lot
of highlights for me there, but it's probably that overall
tenor we've tried really hard to introduce change and acknowledge
that the fans and the participants should be right at
(32:57):
the center of that.
Speaker 2 (32:58):
So you've got to finish line now. So what will
the next six months hold for you?
Speaker 8 (33:04):
Well, I'm as I said, the two key areas are
looking at the domestic model. The financial model of the
game in New Zealand is really important to us. We've
grown revenue, as I say, by well over sixty percent
on a perandom basis, you know, over the last few years,
but we've got a historical cost model which is hard
(33:26):
to make work. So we're getting all our stakeholders together
at the moment. I think there's a really keen appetite
to try and address that model, to get us on
a more sustainable footing more more regularly. And then the
international calendar. We've done a lot of good work again
is another area. Would like to tidy up all these
competitions and lock them in for twenty six and beyond.
And then the Black Ferns obviously, you know, we're really
(33:49):
looking forward to supporting that campaign where we can and
making sure they're well resourced and we can do everything
that we can to help them win.
Speaker 5 (33:56):
The probably the three.
Speaker 8 (33:57):
Things that stand out, But you know alongside that, you
know we've got things like broadcast deals, we've got all
Blacks with another massive campaign, We've got a whole lot
of great stuff, a role out in communities. We've got
to debrief our Super Rugby Pacific Tournament and take some
learnings and make sure we grow year on year on that.
There's the work need have done and there's always something
to get better at. But I'm pretty satisfied with a
(34:18):
lot of things and the growth of those in the
last few years.
Speaker 2 (34:21):
Ponty, Are we close to a new broadcast deal? We're
getting there.
Speaker 8 (34:25):
Yeah, I'll give you the same sort of boring answer
I've given a lot of people today. Unfortunately, you know
that we're chipping away and it's really constructive. So hopefully
we've got more to report and we'll talk about that when.
Speaker 2 (34:35):
We can look forward to that. So you'll reacquaint yourself
with your family early in twenty twenty six on a
full time basis. What about after that? I mean, you're
not just going to sit on the counts for the
rest of your life. I wouldn't imagine what do you
reckon you might do next?
Speaker 8 (34:49):
Oh look, I hadn't thought too much about it, Piney.
You know, I'm really focused on finishing well and really
making sure we deliver on those few projects that I
talked about earlier. I guess as it gets closer to
the end of the year, you know, I might too
much into a little bit more. But yeah, I'm looking
(35:09):
forward to a break with with and over and the
kids over Christmas and into the new year in Australia,
and then yeah, we'll see what We'll see what pops
into the into the intro maybe, or see what kept
up conversations between now and then.
Speaker 2 (35:23):
A career in broadcasting perhaps, who knows.
Speaker 8 (35:27):
I don't know if that's suit in finding and there's
really good people doing it.
Speaker 2 (35:30):
Didn't you know that? No, Now I'll see if I
can find some. I'll see if I can find some. Mark.
Thanks for joining us today. Look, I know no doubt
that you'll sprint towards that finish line with a busy
six months ahead. Thanks for being accessible as always, We'll
catch up no doubt before you do, before you do depart.
Speaker 8 (35:46):
Thanks Tony, and thanks all the listeners out there for
the love of the game. And thanks also for you
for you know, staying engaged and curious about a sport.
Speaker 4 (35:53):
I really appreciate the chances they have.
Speaker 5 (35:55):
To check with you too.
Speaker 2 (35:56):
No thanks indeed, Mark. Mark Robinson then leaving his role
as New Zealand Rugby CEO at the end of twenty
twenty five, so I guess recruitment now arts in earnest.
There will be many many, I'm sure, dusting off their
CV to have a crack at that role. Pretty high profile,
pretty what's the word prestigious, I think is probably the
(36:22):
word of after pretty prestigious, but high pressure under the spotlight.
But there'll be a lot of people having a crack
at it. Seven forty five on News Talks. When we
come back, it's Piney's Power Rankings.
Speaker 1 (36:36):
Power Rankings.
Speaker 2 (36:40):
Yes, indeed, Monday Night means Piney's Power Rankings as we
rate the best, the worst and the in between. Bits
from the Sporting Weekend. Let's go Tottenham Hotspur Football Club
with one of the more inexplicable decisions in recent memory.
Speaker 1 (36:56):
Breaking news to bring you that angshpostera Cooglu is going
to be sacked by Tottenham Hotspur as their head coach.
Speaker 2 (37:03):
This is the head coach who guided them to this
a couple of weeks ago. The waiter Silvar is over
the moment you've been waiting for his hair.
Speaker 6 (37:14):
Tona Watcher are the Awaita Erot winners.
Speaker 2 (37:18):
So, just to check my notes, Spurs have sacked the
first manager to win them a trophy in seventeen years. Utterly,
utterly bizarre. Nine Quemi Supercars driver Ryan Wood monstrous time.
Speaker 8 (37:32):
An exiblating moment for the young guy from.
Speaker 9 (37:35):
Wellington in New Zealand just twenty one years of eight.
Speaker 2 (37:39):
Yea first out a Supercars race win for Ryan Wood
at Perth over the weekend. Geez, it's the All Whites
an impressive one nil win over Ivory Coast excellent went
for New Zealand. That's the eighty sixth ranked team.
Speaker 9 (37:53):
In world football, beating the forty first ranked and the African.
Speaker 2 (37:58):
Champions, Elijah just scoring the only goal. The r Whites
now face Ukraine on Wednesday seven. Kimi cyclist Ali Wall
claiming her first victory at a major stage race, winning
the Tour of Britain.
Speaker 9 (38:11):
Arlie Williston haven't seen third place on the stage has
sealed the deal.
Speaker 6 (38:15):
And goes home as the Lloyd's two Written Women winner.
Speaker 2 (38:18):
The two time Olympic medalist and double track world champion,
making up a three second deficit on the fourth and
final stage to win by four seconds overall six the
Crusaders who, unfortunately for everybody else, are now the Crusaders again,
and the Crusaders.
Speaker 9 (38:36):
Are through to the semifinals at their almighty hope playoff
record remains.
Speaker 2 (38:43):
It does at thirty straight finals matches victories and they
can now win Super Rugby without having to leave christ
Church five. The Blues defying the odds and staying alive
in Super Rugby. Why try, Bear's gonna try? Just be's
got it? The Megala preaches out and dumps it down
(39:04):
all the victory. That's all either in the Blues of one,
a last gasp went over the Chiefs, keeping the Blues
title defense alive against all expectation. Sure the epic French
Open Men's singles final Yarnick Sinner and Carlos el Karez
one for the ages. It's Charles Alkola's defense his title
(39:30):
roll Caro Si surely one of the greatest matches ever
played on Philip Chatrier anix center won the first two sets,
al Karez won the third and then had to save
three match points in the fourth before winning that and
securing the final set tiebreak ten to two. An absolutely
(39:51):
extraordinary final.
Speaker 4 (39:53):
Three.
Speaker 2 (39:54):
Big Tom Walsh a Diamond League shot put champion. That's
pretty good as well. Very close to twenty two meters now,
that would be as good as he's done. All yeah,
so far, point to the camera. There you go, Tom
wash early on setting a mark here twenty one point
eight nine meters with his first throw, enough to claim victory.
(40:14):
In Rome, the Warriors and absolute she lacking of the
Sharks on Saturday nights. It was all the Warriors tonight.
They've left the Sharks on.
Speaker 8 (40:27):
The sharks hatch every Webster he's been a thoroughbred with
the rains in his hands this season.
Speaker 2 (40:35):
The Warriors are indeed the real deal in twenty twenty five,
but of course they're not number Who else could it
be but fantastic Ryan Fox? Back to three wood all
over it. Oh, now we're attacking. What a beautiful shark.
Speaker 3 (41:01):
Two putts for a second PGA Tour win and he'll
take them. The fantastic mister Fox is the king of
Karnada and number one on Piney's power rankings. Did you
think the Crusaders should have been higher than six.
Speaker 9 (41:23):
Any other week year, Piney? But you know there's quite
a lot that was worthy to go ahead of them.
I just have a comment to make on the Ciner
al Kaath thing. Do you remember I think it was
early twenty ten's where Murray, Djokovic, Nadal Federer were pulling
off marathon like finals one after the other.
Speaker 2 (41:41):
Do you remember that time?
Speaker 1 (41:42):
I do?
Speaker 9 (41:43):
And then they're all starting to go and we're worried,
Oh no, what's going to happen to these sorts of games?
And now Cinner and al Kaath have arrived and all
is fine in the tennis world. Yes, that's pretty good.
Eight it is good and tennis needs rivalries they do.
And one final thing as well. I'd like to apologize
to Ryan Wood and his family for them being down
at nine. Unfortunately, it's just one of those.
Speaker 2 (42:04):
Everything was good power rankings, indeed it was, but you
might get higher in the weeks and months ahead. Ryan Wood.
Party's power rankings back next Monday, six to eight, three
and a half away. I just wanted to close with
the news today. Yeah, the very sad news that former
All Blacks captain and winger Stu Wilson passed away over
the weekend. One of our great wingers, eighty five games
for the All Blacks, thirty four test matches, eighty nine
(42:26):
games for Wellington, fifty four tries for Wellington, and just
an absolute character of the game, highly sought after after
dinner speaker once his playing days came to an end,
and had the very good fortune of being involved in
a couple of functions with Stu Wilson. He had the
audience in the palm of his hand and brought the
(42:46):
house down a wonderful racon tour. He will be missed.
All the best to the friends in Farno Off Sue Wilson,
Thanks to Andy for producing Andrew Dickens After eight, We'll
see you on Saturday.
Speaker 1 (42:59):
For more from sports talk, listen live to news talks
it'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio uh
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