November 25, 2024 • 12 mins
NZR is hoping to lure Richie Mo’unga back over to the New Zealand side in 2025.
The former All Black left for Japan after last year's World up - and signed a three-season club contract.
Former All Black Pita Alatini joined Adam Cooper to discuss if some eligibility rule changes are needed for NZ rugby.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Now the rugby year, I guess has officially come to
a close, but I think there's one story that's just
going to keep nagging away through the summer and well
into next year. Is Richie Moonger Will he be back
next year? Really interesting comments today and the Heralds Rugby
Insider with Gregor Paul from former All Blacks captain now
(00:34):
coach of Tasheba and Japan Todd Blackadder around New Zealand
rugby and their eligibility rules. Of course, Blackatter now is
in a bit of a drill with New Zealand Rugby
over his current Tshiba player Richie Monger, who we know
n Zidar are trying to lure back early from instant
over there to join the All Blacks next year, which
(00:54):
at that point would be a year out from his
three year Japanese deal expiring. We know that contracts will
have to be broken for that to happen. We know
that New Zealand Rugby would like to have to break
its own All Black eligibility and player sabbatical rules to
bring Molonger back, just to quickly summarize what Tod Blackadder
has set. He's taken aim at the fact Zidar have
(01:16):
got themselves into a position where these are their own rules,
but they're always trying to break them. He's unhappy with
nzdar's head of Professional Rugby, Chris Lendrom's public comments about
breaking contracts and honoring them as well, but then again
he's trying to find loopholes to their own eligibility rules
ie players getting selected in the All Blacks while not
(01:36):
playing super rugby. Blackadder says ZDR needs to prioritize what's
important to them, whether it's the domestic or international game
and even the sabbatical criteria. So it's the All Black
season winds down following the messy and rather forgettable win
over Italy yesterday, let's chat this and a review of
(01:59):
the twenty twenty four Test season. Former All Black Peter
ar Latini is with me here on Sports Talk tonight.
To your Pete now as we cast our eyes ahead
to twenty twenty five, I just want to get your
gauge on this. How much of a priority do you
think z R should be placing on getting things across
the line. With Richie Monger, Well, I think.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
That's it's differently apparently. I suppose for Scott Robinson the
things probably led the charge on us as such as
as Mango has been one of his key players for
a long time, obviously with the success of the Crusaders.
But for myself, I think it's important that what we've
built so far this year in terms of DMC and
(02:43):
body been back in the frame and obviously one player
we have miss those perfect and he hasn't had much
of an opportunity both obviously you can play fullback and ten,
but he's very good as well. So it's pretty tough
to kind of to really jump in at the bat
until you get some certaency to where it is. But
more importantly you I suppose you know what it could
(03:06):
around talk for we're b MAC and those at the moment,
and you know, and unless it's confirmed, I still think
this is a big player that we should keep supporting
the two that we have, all the three members that
we have in the squad today.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Yeah, and can you just give us a bit of
an insight from a former player's perspective, how will they
be finding the continued chatter around what is clearly an
aim by the coach and and the governing body to
bring Richie Bonger back.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
That would be tough, mate. There's a player and having
having the constant reminders around there, it would be tough,
There's no doubt about that. And I suppose the only
thing you could think that that will either as the
transparency in terms of communication or from raised through the
boys and where it all sets as such, I suppose,
(03:59):
and that's probably what we're kind of not proby too
so that is. But as a player, of course, no
doubt that would definitely plan your wind knowing that you're
per current in the jersey. But the constant chats, I
suppose we'll give you a feeling of that they haven't
got really your back as such and needs this player
(04:20):
to come back through. But you know, those boys have
been in the position before and no doubt there's some
flights for them to carry it on the journeys as
they go through the next season.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Obviously, if Richie Monger was going to be brought back here,
there have been New Zealand Rugby sort of breaking and
having to make an exception to its own rules. One
of those is the seventy tests for a sabbatical because
if he was to come back, they're like they're going
to have to give them a sabbatical at some point.
Or the general rule around all Blacks availability for people
who haven't played the domestic season in New Zealand's from
(04:53):
a former all Blacks perspective, Where do you think these
rules sit right now compared to I guess that the
rugby ecosystem at the moment, it.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Really is one point that needs to be up for discussion.
And I've been a real support of making sure we
keep a place here and and we want to make
sure we support them throughout our current system that we
have and the competitions, But in terms of international at
the top level, I just feel that we're lacking behind.
You know, the competition, Our Super Rugby competition is just
(05:27):
not as I suppose as forthcoming as there has been bought.
Our players are today and the earning capacity, remembering the
earning capacity for our players overseas is really huge. So
I think there needs to be a discussion that there
has to be is it a special arm competition for
those that have it in New Zealand and having those rules,
(05:48):
you know, I think the Ausies had to get a
rule around overseas players being being able to be selected
in that situation should should have got to be that
kind of rule that that you know, play someone comes
to New Zealand, that that they become available. But I
think there needs to be a serious discussion that because
we are losing good players at a prime age around
twenty five to and six to venture out and that's
(06:11):
no faul on their own to venture out in the
financial game overseas because because you know, as we know
New Zealand rugby over here can can not suffice that.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Yeah, and even just you know Harry Plumber's news during
the week he's off and again he's probably one of
those ones you mentioned he's in his prime twenty six
years old. What is the solution here? Because when you
have you know, various choices of various people tohead of you,
how can you keep them in the zeale?
Speaker 3 (06:38):
Unfortunately you can't. I just you just know you can't.
Because I think there's definitely we still have got our
young talent that are all coming through. It it's you know,
as we know, it's it's those guys like the Plumbers
were coming off age. You know, they've played a lot
of seasons in Super Rugby and MP service. So we're
(06:59):
losing a lot of good experience overseas to go and
imply this trade. But more like I said, it's a
intil game that they get to go across and for
some of that age they want to actually play in
a different competition. If you've had only Super and NPC,
especially the Super without the South Everton side, and you
(07:19):
know it's not as spectacles as Sayer Top fourteen in
France where aliens and soccer and you as a player,
you'd love to experience some of that. So I think
there's there's still an ability. I think that it's tough
to hold holdland hebble, whereas we can for Align to
say look, you still available selection if you're in that
(07:40):
a realm as.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Such, Peter, we obviously saw a pretty senior and very
experienced All Blacks teams selected for that match against Italy
over the weekend. You'd probably have expected a score line
far Gracer, and I guess last week there might have
been a few more people expecting some of those younger
players that you talk about that have been waiting in
the wings, that have been part of the All Black
(08:00):
squad this year that really haven't had some time on
the field at all. Had you expected less of a
conservative approach from Scott robertson heating into last week, Yes, so.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
I would have. I would have, especially knowing you know,
some some really great young players that have have had
a great season and and just has deserved a crack
at the end of his tour to have a go
and and and you know, you know, I think we're
all it's been tough on Raizer. I know he's had
(08:31):
the big year that he's the head is a new
round for him and being in being in this position
international rugby coaching. But you know, I'd love to see
would have loved to see a little bit more boldness
to give these guys a go. Knowing full well as well.
But the boys that that had started week and recounted
pretty much both three tough quality international sides pulling off
(08:56):
too and merely coming away with with the one against France.
So there were a lot of in you know, I
think around from that from that performance. You know, I
think myself included amongst the people are hoping that we
would have seen a bit more young talent or all
the boys that have been pretty much I call them
holding the pads up and being the you know, the
(09:18):
beginning takes for the week for your test to have
a test runn against Italy.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
Any glaring concerns from the scend of year two. I've
we've talked a little bit through the year about various problems.
Is there any any consistencies you know, in terms of
what you've noticed from uh, you know, the last of
a handful of tests that have wrapped up the year
that you think should be an issue of focus heating
into next year early on.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
I think a big one, A big one for us
as our discipline. I think we're sent to be just
you know, the yellow cards, the constant penalties and letting teams,
you know, just just really kind of almost kind of
back in the game. But by by asking your discipline
and to me, I think, I mean sometimes when that happens,
(10:03):
is there a lot of trust or buying of what's
been coached because because a first a man of times
it's it's it's a bit of a panic approach to
some players or or just probably just a poor decision
making and crucial times for some of those players. So
discipline for me has been been a huge letdown for
(10:26):
his voice and kind of working all that. But I
suppose it's just the guys really really trying to really
buy into some of the things that have been coached
to them so that we can can kind of feel
more connected. And you know, and when they have done that,
you know, we've we've had the great results against England
and we've had injured in different times. Although you know
that those games were up for down to the final final.
(10:51):
Why but I still felt there was enough the boys.
If they've stuck to it and keep keep writing at it,
there's there's nothing there to be successful going forward.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
Yeah, it's a team wins four losses from the fourteen
tests year. Just to sum up, Peter, what kind of
I guess Grave, maybe out of team? Are you giving
the widest season? We're looking at it as a whole.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
Oh look, I'll give the team. I'll give the team.
Got good solid seven mate. I think we've kind of
it's been a new niche of your coaching. To me,
is probably the biggest, biggest area where we're we're hoping
that that they're all kind of aligned and looking forward
to this season. The Brayers, I feel will react to
(11:34):
that and getting the right mix of our I suppose
twenty three. You know, we were in those early parts,
we were seeing it that we weren't really closing off games.
But coming to the end, you know, I think we
had some great mitch to finish off a couple of
those games. So for me, solid seven, because I think
I'll be real bit more critical this time next year
(11:57):
when they take on when they finish up next year,
knowing that that that raising as coaching group has been
on the helm for two.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
Years, all right, well, well look for to that when
the season rolls around next year. Peter, Thanks for all
your time through the rugby year this year. It's been
great having your insights both with our commentaries and some
of our shows here on New News Talks EB and
the Sports Fixed podcast. I really appreciate your time and
enjoy your summer's break and not that we'll be we'll
be back talking rugby again soon.
Speaker 3 (12:22):
Always a pleasure and always looking forward to brother.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
Thank you, Take it easy, Peter, Thanks very much. Seventeen
Tier still black. Peter Alatini with us here on News Talks.
It'd be on Sports Talk tonight
Speaker 1 (12:34):
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 Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Now the rugby year, I guess has officially come to
a close, but I think there's one story that's just
going to keep nagging away through the summer and well
into next year. Is Richie Moonger Will he be back
next year? Really interesting comments today and the Heralds Rugby
Insider with Gregor Paul from former All Blacks captain now
(00:34):
coach of Tasheba and Japan Todd Blackadder around New Zealand
rugby and their eligibility rules. Of course, Blackatter now is
in a bit of a drill with New Zealand Rugby
over his current Tshiba player Richie Monger, who we know
n Zidar are trying to lure back early from instant
over there to join the All Blacks next year, which
(00:54):
at that point would be a year out from his
three year Japanese deal expiring. We know that contracts will
have to be broken for that to happen. We know
that New Zealand Rugby would like to have to break
its own All Black eligibility and player sabbatical rules to
bring Molonger back, just to quickly summarize what Tod Blackadder
has set. He's taken aim at the fact Zidar have
(01:16):
got themselves into a position where these are their own rules,
but they're always trying to break them. He's unhappy with
nzdar's head of Professional Rugby, Chris Lendrom's public comments about
breaking contracts and honoring them as well, but then again
he's trying to find loopholes to their own eligibility rules
ie players getting selected in the All Blacks while not
(01:36):
playing super rugby. Blackadder says ZDR needs to prioritize what's
important to them, whether it's the domestic or international game
and even the sabbatical criteria. So it's the All Black
season winds down following the messy and rather forgettable win
over Italy yesterday, let's chat this and a review of
(01:59):
the twenty twenty four Test season. Former All Black Peter
ar Latini is with me here on Sports Talk tonight.
To your Pete now as we cast our eyes ahead
to twenty twenty five, I just want to get your
gauge on this. How much of a priority do you
think z R should be placing on getting things across
the line. With Richie Monger, Well, I think.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
That's it's differently apparently. I suppose for Scott Robinson the
things probably led the charge on us as such as
as Mango has been one of his key players for
a long time, obviously with the success of the Crusaders.
But for myself, I think it's important that what we've
built so far this year in terms of DMC and
(02:43):
body been back in the frame and obviously one player
we have miss those perfect and he hasn't had much
of an opportunity both obviously you can play fullback and ten,
but he's very good as well. So it's pretty tough
to kind of to really jump in at the bat
until you get some certaency to where it is. But
more importantly you I suppose you know what it could
(03:06):
around talk for we're b MAC and those at the moment,
and you know, and unless it's confirmed, I still think
this is a big player that we should keep supporting
the two that we have, all the three members that
we have in the squad today.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Yeah, and can you just give us a bit of
an insight from a former player's perspective, how will they
be finding the continued chatter around what is clearly an
aim by the coach and and the governing body to
bring Richie Bonger back.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
That would be tough, mate. There's a player and having
having the constant reminders around there, it would be tough,
There's no doubt about that. And I suppose the only
thing you could think that that will either as the
transparency in terms of communication or from raised through the
boys and where it all sets as such, I suppose,
(03:59):
and that's probably what we're kind of not proby too
so that is. But as a player, of course, no
doubt that would definitely plan your wind knowing that you're
per current in the jersey. But the constant chats, I
suppose we'll give you a feeling of that they haven't
got really your back as such and needs this player
(04:20):
to come back through. But you know, those boys have
been in the position before and no doubt there's some
flights for them to carry it on the journeys as
they go through the next season.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Obviously, if Richie Monger was going to be brought back here,
there have been New Zealand Rugby sort of breaking and
having to make an exception to its own rules. One
of those is the seventy tests for a sabbatical because
if he was to come back, they're like they're going
to have to give them a sabbatical at some point.
Or the general rule around all Blacks availability for people
who haven't played the domestic season in New Zealand's from
(04:53):
a former all Blacks perspective, Where do you think these
rules sit right now compared to I guess that the
rugby ecosystem at the moment, it.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Really is one point that needs to be up for discussion.
And I've been a real support of making sure we
keep a place here and and we want to make
sure we support them throughout our current system that we
have and the competitions, But in terms of international at
the top level, I just feel that we're lacking behind.
You know, the competition, Our Super Rugby competition is just
(05:27):
not as I suppose as forthcoming as there has been bought.
Our players are today and the earning capacity, remembering the
earning capacity for our players overseas is really huge. So
I think there needs to be a discussion that there
has to be is it a special arm competition for
those that have it in New Zealand and having those rules,
(05:48):
you know, I think the Ausies had to get a
rule around overseas players being being able to be selected
in that situation should should have got to be that
kind of rule that that you know, play someone comes
to New Zealand, that that they become available. But I
think there needs to be a serious discussion that because
we are losing good players at a prime age around
twenty five to and six to venture out and that's
(06:11):
no faul on their own to venture out in the
financial game overseas because because you know, as we know
New Zealand rugby over here can can not suffice that.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Yeah, and even just you know Harry Plumber's news during
the week he's off and again he's probably one of
those ones you mentioned he's in his prime twenty six
years old. What is the solution here? Because when you
have you know, various choices of various people tohead of you,
how can you keep them in the zeale?
Speaker 3 (06:38):
Unfortunately you can't. I just you just know you can't.
Because I think there's definitely we still have got our
young talent that are all coming through. It it's you know,
as we know, it's it's those guys like the Plumbers
were coming off age. You know, they've played a lot
of seasons in Super Rugby and MP service. So we're
(06:59):
losing a lot of good experience overseas to go and
imply this trade. But more like I said, it's a
intil game that they get to go across and for
some of that age they want to actually play in
a different competition. If you've had only Super and NPC,
especially the Super without the South Everton side, and you
(07:19):
know it's not as spectacles as Sayer Top fourteen in
France where aliens and soccer and you as a player,
you'd love to experience some of that. So I think
there's there's still an ability. I think that it's tough
to hold holdland hebble, whereas we can for Align to
say look, you still available selection if you're in that
(07:40):
a realm as.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Such, Peter, we obviously saw a pretty senior and very
experienced All Blacks teams selected for that match against Italy
over the weekend. You'd probably have expected a score line
far Gracer, and I guess last week there might have
been a few more people expecting some of those younger
players that you talk about that have been waiting in
the wings, that have been part of the All Black
(08:00):
squad this year that really haven't had some time on
the field at all. Had you expected less of a
conservative approach from Scott robertson heating into last week, Yes, so.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
I would have. I would have, especially knowing you know,
some some really great young players that have have had
a great season and and just has deserved a crack
at the end of his tour to have a go
and and and you know, you know, I think we're
all it's been tough on Raizer. I know he's had
(08:31):
the big year that he's the head is a new
round for him and being in being in this position
international rugby coaching. But you know, I'd love to see
would have loved to see a little bit more boldness
to give these guys a go. Knowing full well as well.
But the boys that that had started week and recounted
pretty much both three tough quality international sides pulling off
(08:56):
too and merely coming away with with the one against France.
So there were a lot of in you know, I
think around from that from that performance. You know, I
think myself included amongst the people are hoping that we
would have seen a bit more young talent or all
the boys that have been pretty much I call them
holding the pads up and being the you know, the
(09:18):
beginning takes for the week for your test to have
a test runn against Italy.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
Any glaring concerns from the scend of year two. I've
we've talked a little bit through the year about various problems.
Is there any any consistencies you know, in terms of
what you've noticed from uh, you know, the last of
a handful of tests that have wrapped up the year
that you think should be an issue of focus heating
into next year early on.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
I think a big one, A big one for us
as our discipline. I think we're sent to be just
you know, the yellow cards, the constant penalties and letting teams,
you know, just just really kind of almost kind of
back in the game. But by by asking your discipline
and to me, I think, I mean sometimes when that happens,
(10:03):
is there a lot of trust or buying of what's
been coached because because a first a man of times
it's it's it's a bit of a panic approach to
some players or or just probably just a poor decision
making and crucial times for some of those players. So
discipline for me has been been a huge letdown for
(10:26):
his voice and kind of working all that. But I
suppose it's just the guys really really trying to really
buy into some of the things that have been coached
to them so that we can can kind of feel
more connected. And you know, and when they have done that,
you know, we've we've had the great results against England
and we've had injured in different times. Although you know
that those games were up for down to the final final.
(10:51):
Why but I still felt there was enough the boys.
If they've stuck to it and keep keep writing at it,
there's there's nothing there to be successful going forward.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
Yeah, it's a team wins four losses from the fourteen
tests year. Just to sum up, Peter, what kind of
I guess Grave, maybe out of team? Are you giving
the widest season? We're looking at it as a whole.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
Oh look, I'll give the team. I'll give the team.
Got good solid seven mate. I think we've kind of
it's been a new niche of your coaching. To me,
is probably the biggest, biggest area where we're we're hoping
that that they're all kind of aligned and looking forward
to this season. The Brayers, I feel will react to
(11:34):
that and getting the right mix of our I suppose
twenty three. You know, we were in those early parts,
we were seeing it that we weren't really closing off games.
But coming to the end, you know, I think we
had some great mitch to finish off a couple of
those games. So for me, solid seven, because I think
I'll be real bit more critical this time next year
(11:57):
when they take on when they finish up next year,
knowing that that that raising as coaching group has been
on the helm for two.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
Years, all right, well, well look for to that when
the season rolls around next year. Peter, Thanks for all
your time through the rugby year this year. It's been
great having your insights both with our commentaries and some
of our shows here on New News Talks EB and
the Sports Fixed podcast. I really appreciate your time and
enjoy your summer's break and not that we'll be we'll
be back talking rugby again soon.
Speaker 3 (12:22):
Always a pleasure and always looking forward to brother.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
Thank you, Take it easy, Peter, Thanks very much. Seventeen
Tier still black. Peter Alatini with us here on News Talks.
It'd be on Sports Talk tonight
Speaker 1 (12:34):
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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