September 6, 2025 • 10 mins
It's been a big weekend for the All Blacks, as they continued their Eden Park streak and beat the Springboks.
The Kiwi side walked away with a 24-17 victory, a departure from their earlier loss in Buenos Aires.
Former All Black Frano Botica joined Piney to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk zed B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Twenty seven games for the All Blacks during one of
our most successful periods back into the eighties. Then over
two hundred top level games of rugby league for Wigan,
the Warriors, Castleford, several games for the Keywi was as well, Fronobodka,
How are you mate?
Speaker 3 (00:27):
One of us made.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Very good thanks. Were you involved in an All Blacks
reunion of sorts over the last few days?
Speaker 3 (00:34):
I certainly was. Yes, it was very good too.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
That's gonna say. How were the stories? How are the stories?
And who was telling most of them?
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Oh? Charles Reichelman likes to tell a few stories. You know,
He's always good for that. Otherwise we all reminisce and
stretch the stories we all.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Know brilliant love it. Just before we get onto what
happened last night? That team, that All Blacks team of
the late eighties. You were led by Buck Shelford, unbeaten
from what eighty seven right through to the first bit
of No. Nineteen ninety? What was it like being in
that team?
Speaker 3 (01:11):
It was amazing, you know. Look, I was for a
lot large period of that I was always on the bench,
you know, but being part of it was was awesome.
Certainly wouldn't take it. I have fond memories or memories
of it which I won't forget, you know. You know,
sure I would have liked to have played more games,
(01:32):
but you know it was it was a very competitive
team with a lot of good players who were sitting
on the bench as well, So you will never forget that.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Yeah, I love watching that team. And as you say,
you just need a grant fox or pull a hamstring
or two. Didn't you and you would have got more games,
But watching those you know.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Good to be very di deserve to be in front
of me.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Well, I think a lot of people just like the
way you played the game, and we saw we saw
it mainly on those those tours where you played midweek games,
and and yeah, we're just anyway, we don't want to
remin us too much. You've been doing that over the
last week or so, so let's move to the present day.
What did you make of the win last night by
the All Blacks over the spring Box.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
I thought it was It's exactly what we needed. I
think that most of us were of the same opinion
that it was going to be a tough game. It
was always going to be a close game, and there
would be some small mistakes that would cost either side.
You know. Unfortunately, we got off to a fantastic start
and managed to hold on there. But then we also
(02:36):
could have lost it in those last few minutes if
it wasn't for our our savior of h Savia. You know,
he pulled out, he pulled something out of the out
of the bag by stealing their ball, and and you know,
they could have been a drawer.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
What do you make of box kicking? Franto and and
and teams using it quite regularly. Now a lot of
our listeners are big fans of the box kick, what
about you?
Speaker 3 (03:06):
No, no, I'm not. It's not quite a bit. It's
every time. And obviously this spring boxer a lot better
with the ball in the end than we are, and
they're probably better than any other team in the in
the world. You know, there are a couple of times
in the game where I thought we you know, we
got to turnover ball. One was in our own twenty
(03:28):
two and they had like three or four big forwards
out in the back line and we had three backs
behind the scrub and a couple of backs out wider
when we and those are the sort of opportunities that
we need to look at, whether it's at that level
or not, and go, well, the chances of us breaking
here are pretty good and if if not then we'll
(03:50):
get tackled. We'll secure the try and secure the ball
and then kick it. But but they should you know,
this is my own opinion, but they should actually look
to have a go first and if it's not on
then then then try something else. But yeah, I mean
the French, for example, do a lot of those little
chip kicks. Body does it every now and then and
(04:11):
you know it's done well. They're very effective.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
What about under the high ball as a as a
defender front, you know you had to had to field
a lot of high kicks in both codes. What what
what are the main things you need to do well
to be good as a defender under the high ball?
Speaker 3 (04:30):
Well, obviously you need to keep your eye on the ball.
It depends how much momentum you have coming into the ball.
If you're standing there and trying to jump, then the
person running at you and and jumping is always going
to get higher. Or add one more mean to towards
the ball than you are, so it's tricky, and especially
(04:51):
if you're a little fuller, it makes it a lot harder.
You've got to time it so that you can run
into it and jump as well.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
You know, you you got to keep your eye on
the ball, it.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
Seems would I would say, well, although I was I
had the opportunity to catch a number of balls, I
wouldn't say I was the greatest. We didn't practice as
much as they do these days to catch it. So
I've got an excuse. I didn't practice as much those fellows.
But these fellow's got nothing else to do training, get
practice there and a few other things.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
You must say. You keep on the ball. That's very
good advice. But but when they when you got guys
hearing at you at you know, we're just waiting for
you to catch it, hit the ground and then they're
gonna bang hit. Yeah, you must have a wee. Look
do you to see these guys coming?
Speaker 3 (05:37):
You're the ones who have a wee? Look? Are the
ones who drop it? Love it?
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Hey?
Speaker 3 (05:45):
I mean look, last night was hard. It was it
was flippery. You know, the rain came in. We were
hoping the rain. I was yesterday morning, sitting at home
and it was raining and I was going if it
continues to rain, I don't know whether I'll be going
to watch the rugby. But it's cleared up, so our
minutes to get there good.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
It was good to have you there. Do you find
yourself watching more rugby union or rugby league these days?
Speaker 3 (06:10):
These days I watched I watch. I'm a bit of
a sports stuff, you know. I like to watch all sports,
and because of that, I watch a lot of highlights
twelve minutes, twelve and a half minute highlights of most things,
just because like otherwise, otherwise you could spend the whole
(06:32):
weekend sitting in front of your TV watching you know. Yeah,
so I would say I watch. I watched the highlights
of the Warriors men and women, and then I watch
probably half of the IT and Cup stuff. Obviously I
watch your blacks, I watch any any golf that are
(06:52):
kiwis in. I watch the cycling, so I've got a
feel bit to watch mate.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Yeah, do you say you could spend the whole weekend
on the couches though? That's a bad thing, you know.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
Oh well you knows. Gives me to about nine o'clock.
So I'm going to have editing for this by nine
and then you know, so you know I'm under I'm
under pressure. Yeah, under the I get over watching too
much rugby or too much league, you know. I just
watched the key things and this about it.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Are you doing any coaching?
Speaker 3 (07:26):
No? No, I finished coaching two years ago. I just
coached for north Shore for about ten years. So that
was my That was enough for me.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
So what are you doing to stay foot and active now?
Speaker 3 (07:38):
At the moment, I'm not a lot. I do do
a wind trainer in my garage and a few like
two of the missus wakes really like little things and
just do a whole lot of high repetition stuff. But
I was never won for waights anyway. Not my cup
of tea, I thought, you know, no, I don't like gym's.
(07:59):
I only went to gym. I only went to gym
because I got told I had to stuff. As soon
as I didn't have to, that was me done.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
What was it lot you must have when you were
playing league though over in the UK? That would have
you? Wo had been in the gym a lot over there,
wouldn't you? Uh?
Speaker 3 (08:14):
Yeah, yeah I was. I had to be and I
had a you know, I used to get pushed around
by Shelford because I was cheeky all the time. So
when I got to Wigan Dean Bells, I remember him
saying that you're pathetic when I when when I first
went into the gym, he said, you're pathetic, you're letting
your country down. You need a help. So he took
(08:36):
me under his wing and thrashed me in the gym
so I could do it properly.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
Good man, Well, I'm glad you have a great You've
had a great weekend. I'm sure the stories went long
until last night, and that you made the game as well.
A little bit of rain didn't keep you away front.
It great to chat to your mate. I mean, honestly,
I remember, well those teams are the you know obviously
Baby Blacks and then into the late eighties and yeah,
I think a lot of people wanted you to get
more of a crack than you did in that teen Jumper,
but as you say with Foxy there, it's a bit difficult.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
But yeah, memory, I always wish i'd got a little
bit more as well, but you know, the way it goes.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
To just move on and the good The chant here Fronto.
Thanks for taking our call mate.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
Cheers, Bundy, all the best.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
Front of Bodica, the one and only. What a player, man,
what a player? He kind of redefined first five play
around that time, most first fives at that time. I'm
not telling you anything, you don't already know what we're like.
Grant Fox, you know, and Grant Fox absolutely magnificent player,
don't get me wrong, But Franto was just a bit
He was more. I guess it was the Carlos Spencer
(09:35):
before Carlos Spencer came along. He you know, you just
didn't know what he was going to do at first five.
You know, he was as likely to run as he
was to kick. If he saw something, even a half chance,
he'd go for it. An interesting We're not interested. Not
surprising that he still thinks the same. There is you know,
have a go, have a crack. I know it's not
(09:57):
always possible, but yeah, Frontobodica One and only.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live
to news Talk said b Canes from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk zed B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Twenty seven games for the All Blacks during one of
our most successful periods back into the eighties. Then over
two hundred top level games of rugby league for Wigan,
the Warriors, Castleford, several games for the Keywi was as well, Fronobodka,
How are you mate?
Speaker 3 (00:27):
One of us made.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Very good thanks. Were you involved in an All Blacks
reunion of sorts over the last few days?
Speaker 3 (00:34):
I certainly was. Yes, it was very good too.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
That's gonna say. How were the stories? How are the stories?
And who was telling most of them?
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Oh? Charles Reichelman likes to tell a few stories. You know,
He's always good for that. Otherwise we all reminisce and
stretch the stories we all.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Know brilliant love it. Just before we get onto what
happened last night? That team, that All Blacks team of
the late eighties. You were led by Buck Shelford, unbeaten
from what eighty seven right through to the first bit
of No. Nineteen ninety? What was it like being in
that team?
Speaker 3 (01:11):
It was amazing, you know. Look, I was for a
lot large period of that I was always on the bench,
you know, but being part of it was was awesome.
Certainly wouldn't take it. I have fond memories or memories
of it which I won't forget, you know. You know,
sure I would have liked to have played more games,
(01:32):
but you know it was it was a very competitive
team with a lot of good players who were sitting
on the bench as well, So you will never forget that.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Yeah, I love watching that team. And as you say,
you just need a grant fox or pull a hamstring
or two. Didn't you and you would have got more games,
But watching those you know.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Good to be very di deserve to be in front
of me.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Well, I think a lot of people just like the
way you played the game, and we saw we saw
it mainly on those those tours where you played midweek games,
and and yeah, we're just anyway, we don't want to
remin us too much. You've been doing that over the
last week or so, so let's move to the present day.
What did you make of the win last night by
the All Blacks over the spring Box.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
I thought it was It's exactly what we needed. I
think that most of us were of the same opinion
that it was going to be a tough game. It
was always going to be a close game, and there
would be some small mistakes that would cost either side.
You know. Unfortunately, we got off to a fantastic start
and managed to hold on there. But then we also
(02:36):
could have lost it in those last few minutes if
it wasn't for our our savior of h Savia. You know,
he pulled out, he pulled something out of the out
of the bag by stealing their ball, and and you know,
they could have been a drawer.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
What do you make of box kicking? Franto and and
and teams using it quite regularly. Now a lot of
our listeners are big fans of the box kick, what
about you?
Speaker 3 (03:06):
No, no, I'm not. It's not quite a bit. It's
every time. And obviously this spring boxer a lot better
with the ball in the end than we are, and
they're probably better than any other team in the in
the world. You know, there are a couple of times
in the game where I thought we you know, we
got to turnover ball. One was in our own twenty
(03:28):
two and they had like three or four big forwards
out in the back line and we had three backs
behind the scrub and a couple of backs out wider
when we and those are the sort of opportunities that
we need to look at, whether it's at that level
or not, and go, well, the chances of us breaking
here are pretty good and if if not then we'll
(03:50):
get tackled. We'll secure the try and secure the ball
and then kick it. But but they should you know,
this is my own opinion, but they should actually look
to have a go first and if it's not on
then then then try something else. But yeah, I mean
the French, for example, do a lot of those little
chip kicks. Body does it every now and then and
(04:11):
you know it's done well. They're very effective.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
What about under the high ball as a as a
defender front, you know you had to had to field
a lot of high kicks in both codes. What what
what are the main things you need to do well
to be good as a defender under the high ball?
Speaker 3 (04:30):
Well, obviously you need to keep your eye on the ball.
It depends how much momentum you have coming into the ball.
If you're standing there and trying to jump, then the
person running at you and and jumping is always going
to get higher. Or add one more mean to towards
the ball than you are, so it's tricky, and especially
(04:51):
if you're a little fuller, it makes it a lot harder.
You've got to time it so that you can run
into it and jump as well.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
You know, you you got to keep your eye on
the ball, it.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
Seems would I would say, well, although I was I
had the opportunity to catch a number of balls, I
wouldn't say I was the greatest. We didn't practice as
much as they do these days to catch it. So
I've got an excuse. I didn't practice as much those fellows.
But these fellow's got nothing else to do training, get
practice there and a few other things.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
You must say. You keep on the ball. That's very
good advice. But but when they when you got guys
hearing at you at you know, we're just waiting for
you to catch it, hit the ground and then they're
gonna bang hit. Yeah, you must have a wee. Look
do you to see these guys coming?
Speaker 3 (05:37):
You're the ones who have a wee? Look? Are the
ones who drop it? Love it?
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Hey?
Speaker 3 (05:45):
I mean look, last night was hard. It was it
was flippery. You know, the rain came in. We were
hoping the rain. I was yesterday morning, sitting at home
and it was raining and I was going if it
continues to rain, I don't know whether I'll be going
to watch the rugby. But it's cleared up, so our
minutes to get there good.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
It was good to have you there. Do you find
yourself watching more rugby union or rugby league these days?
Speaker 3 (06:10):
These days I watched I watch. I'm a bit of
a sports stuff, you know. I like to watch all sports,
and because of that, I watch a lot of highlights
twelve minutes, twelve and a half minute highlights of most things,
just because like otherwise, otherwise you could spend the whole
(06:32):
weekend sitting in front of your TV watching you know. Yeah,
so I would say I watch. I watched the highlights
of the Warriors men and women, and then I watch
probably half of the IT and Cup stuff. Obviously I
watch your blacks, I watch any any golf that are
(06:52):
kiwis in. I watch the cycling, so I've got a
feel bit to watch mate.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Yeah, do you say you could spend the whole weekend
on the couches though? That's a bad thing, you know.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
Oh well you knows. Gives me to about nine o'clock.
So I'm going to have editing for this by nine
and then you know, so you know I'm under I'm
under pressure. Yeah, under the I get over watching too
much rugby or too much league, you know. I just
watched the key things and this about it.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Are you doing any coaching?
Speaker 3 (07:26):
No? No, I finished coaching two years ago. I just
coached for north Shore for about ten years. So that
was my That was enough for me.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
So what are you doing to stay foot and active now?
Speaker 3 (07:38):
At the moment, I'm not a lot. I do do
a wind trainer in my garage and a few like
two of the missus wakes really like little things and
just do a whole lot of high repetition stuff. But
I was never won for waights anyway. Not my cup
of tea, I thought, you know, no, I don't like gym's.
(07:59):
I only went to gym. I only went to gym
because I got told I had to stuff. As soon
as I didn't have to, that was me done.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
What was it lot you must have when you were
playing league though over in the UK? That would have
you? Wo had been in the gym a lot over there,
wouldn't you? Uh?
Speaker 3 (08:14):
Yeah, yeah I was. I had to be and I
had a you know, I used to get pushed around
by Shelford because I was cheeky all the time. So
when I got to Wigan Dean Bells, I remember him
saying that you're pathetic when I when when I first
went into the gym, he said, you're pathetic, you're letting
your country down. You need a help. So he took
(08:36):
me under his wing and thrashed me in the gym
so I could do it properly.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
Good man, Well, I'm glad you have a great You've
had a great weekend. I'm sure the stories went long
until last night, and that you made the game as well.
A little bit of rain didn't keep you away front.
It great to chat to your mate. I mean, honestly,
I remember, well those teams are the you know obviously
Baby Blacks and then into the late eighties and yeah,
I think a lot of people wanted you to get
more of a crack than you did in that teen Jumper,
but as you say with Foxy there, it's a bit difficult.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
But yeah, memory, I always wish i'd got a little
bit more as well, but you know, the way it goes.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
To just move on and the good The chant here Fronto.
Thanks for taking our call mate.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
Cheers, Bundy, all the best.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
Front of Bodica, the one and only. What a player, man,
what a player? He kind of redefined first five play
around that time, most first fives at that time. I'm
not telling you anything, you don't already know what we're like.
Grant Fox, you know, and Grant Fox absolutely magnificent player,
don't get me wrong, But Franto was just a bit
He was more. I guess it was the Carlos Spencer
(09:35):
before Carlos Spencer came along. He you know, you just
didn't know what he was going to do at first five.
You know, he was as likely to run as he
was to kick. If he saw something, even a half chance,
he'd go for it. An interesting We're not interested. Not
surprising that he still thinks the same. There is you know,
have a go, have a crack. I know it's not
(09:57):
always possible, but yeah, Frontobodica One and only.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live
to news Talk said b Canes from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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