Full Show Podcast: 01 February 2025

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks d B. The only place for the
big names, the big issues, the big controversies and the
big conversations. It's all on Weekend Sport with Jason Vine
on your home of Sport News Talks ed by.

Speaker 2 (00:30):
To get afternoon. Welcome in to the Sevenday edition of
Weekend Sport on News Talks. It'd be welcome to February,
first day off forty four years since this.

Speaker 3 (00:39):
It looks to me is if they're going to go
under arm off the last ball. Rod marsh is saying
no mate, but I'm sure he is going to buy
on an under armed delivery if the umpires have been told.
But that's going to have been told, and this is
possibly a little bit disappointing. We're going to vath an
under armed where I've believed it. That's a disappointing finish,

(01:05):
disappointed prime.

Speaker 2 (01:06):
Through the crowd coom here one of the all time
great understatements from Bill Laurie and that piece of commentary.
This is possibly a little bit disappointing. It led in
the immediate aftermath to one of the all time great
closing addresses from Richie Benno.

Speaker 4 (01:21):
Let me just tell you what I.

Speaker 5 (01:22):
Think about it.

Speaker 4 (01:23):
I think it was a disgraceful performance from a captain
who's got his sums wrong today, and I think it
should never be permitted to happen again. We keep reading
and hearing that the players are under a lot of pressure,
and that they're tired and jaded, and perhaps their judgment
and their skill is blunted. Well, perhaps they might advance
that as an excuse for what happened out there today.
Not with me, they don't. I think it was a

(01:44):
very poor performance, one of the worst things I have
ever seen done on a cricket field.

Speaker 2 (01:49):
But still a very cheery good night from Richie Benno
at the end, Happy under arm day to those who celebrate.
I'm Jason pineshow producer Andy McDonald here too. We're talking
sport until three. How good are Auckland f C guing
right now? Midway through their very first season top of
the al Gladder at home again this afternoon in front
of what will be another burg big crowd at go

(02:11):
Media Stadium. Head coach step Corrick is here. He stopped
in on game day for a chat. He'll lead us
off shortly. Keen to hear from you as well, Auckland
FC fans, how much are you enjoying this ride other
matters around today. Dame Sophie pasco with us after one
following news this week she's bringing the curtain down on
her incredible swimming career. Super Raby now less than a

(02:33):
fortnight away. I'm not lying. It starts on the fourteenth
of feb All six New Zealand based teams have pre
season games this weekend on a Pacific Cup, and the
Highlanders played yesterday, so did the Crusaders and the Blues.
Crusader's coach Rob Penny with us to look ahead to
his side's campaign. The Hurricanes and Chiefs meet in New
Plymouth this afternoon. Israel Aardisigner returns to the octagon tomorrow morning.

(02:55):
He takes on narsuden Imovov in Saudi Arabia, his first
fight since August. Ravend Hernia from Skysport, gonna preview that
for US. Adam Peacock along in his regular slot with
sporting matters from across the Tasman around one forty five
Live Sport. While we're on the air, Big the Basin
Elimination finals in the T twenty Super Smash, and the

(03:16):
women's game Wellington v Northern underway at twelve forty. We'll
keep eyes on that for you. The men's knockout game
is from four to twenty five Northern against Canterbury. The
finals are tomorrow. The Otago women are there, the CD
men are there. We'll get you inside both of their
camps this afternoon as well. And the Chiefs, as i mentioned,
play the Hurricanes from two o'clock this afternoon in New

(03:38):
Plymouth in Super Rugby preseason action. You can join us
on the show whenever you like. There are a few
ways to do that. Oh eight hundred eighty ten eighty
is the free phone number nine two nine two. Via text,
you can send emails to Jason at Newstalk SEDB dot
co dot nz. Coming up eleven past midday.

Speaker 1 (03:57):
Analyzing every view from every angle in the Sporting World.
Weekend Sport with Jason vine Nicall Oh eight hundred and
eighty and eighty News Talks.

Speaker 2 (04:06):
The Auckland FC juggernaut just keeps rolling on.

Speaker 6 (04:09):
It's a late chants here for Auckland's navy Moreno hits
it with thirty seconds to go the Super sob has
done it again and Auckland's are gonna go.

Speaker 2 (04:22):
Home with it three points. At the midway points of
their very first season, Auckland FC top of Football's A
League by two points. They have the best defense in
the competition, They've got an uncanny knack of scoring late
goals to win matches or to earn points, and they're
attracting really good crowds. Over fifteen thousand expected again at

(04:43):
go Media Stadium this afternoon for the visit of fourth
placed MacArthur. Kick Off in that game is at five o'clock.
Auckland FC head coach Steve Coricker has joined us in studio. Steve,
thanks so much for popping in on game day midway
through the season. Your top of the A League. What
have been the one or two really key reasons do
you think for your really good form and success so far.

Speaker 7 (05:07):
I think consistency. You know, we started wonderful with six
or seven straight wins. Obviously that builds a lot of
confidence and then the players start believing, yeah, we can
do this. You know, it was a really hard preseason
as well. I think they're looking very fit, as you know.
With the late goals, I think that's a lot of
it's got to do with our fitness that we just

(05:29):
keep going and keep going until you know, something happens.
And yeah, I think obviously very pleased with the start
of the season and you know it's over halfway now
and yeah, we're looking good at the moment.

Speaker 2 (05:41):
I want to come back to those late goals because
there's such a talking point. But speaking of goals, no
doubt you sit them with the team preseason. Have you
had to reset your goals?

Speaker 7 (05:51):
No, I think you know, our focus was and you
know a lot of people probably laugh, but we're here
to win trophies. You know, I've come from Australia, We've
got a lot of staff from Australia, and you know,
the owners very ambitious. I spoke about it before or
he wants to win a trophy, you know, it doesn't
you know whether it's this year, next year, the year after.

(06:11):
You know, he's ambitious and he wants a New Zealand
football to do really well. You know, we try to
get a really good base of New Zealand players and
you know it's and we're in a good position. Still
a long way to go, but the aim was still
to win a trophy. And you know, I think you know,
the players believe they can do it now. It took

(06:32):
them a little while to start believing that, but you
know they're a good team. We are a young team
as well, so there should be still improvement to go.
But you know, I can't complain the way we've started.

Speaker 2 (06:46):
It's an interesting approach because I think you ask most
A League coaches players, you know, wats your preseason ambition.
Most of them say, we want to make the top
six and go from there. You set your goals higher
than that deliberately. Was that driven mainly by Bill Foley
or did you feel the same way too.

Speaker 7 (07:02):
I think it's obviously Bill, But I've always been my
last club. Obviously, you know they want to win trophies
and I'm motivated by that obviously. You know, if I've
won a few already before in the A League, and
to come to a new franchise, startup club, different country,

(07:22):
it's it's been really enjoyable and exciting, but still my
aim is still to win.

Speaker 2 (07:29):
Let's look at the team. You've got a core of
eight or nine players who, you know, all things being equal,
play week and week out of the fit. The main
thing ring you've done is in the attacking third. So
when you are putting eleven together and deciding who starts
and who provides impact, what's front of mind when you're
making those decisions.

Speaker 8 (07:46):
Well, Louis Vustrade is your first pick.

Speaker 2 (07:48):
That's certainly my certainly the guy I put down first.
We can get to them in the moment.

Speaker 7 (07:54):
No, obviously, you know form boys that have done well
for me in the past. You know, I think we're
still finding our feed in attack. Really, there's players been
coming in and out of that of that front four,
if you want to call him that. But I think
we've had a really good back line. Obviously, Dan Hall
got injured early on, and then Tommy's come in and

(08:17):
he's done a great job, and you know, it's been seamless. Really,
he's experienced player. He actually brings something else to the
team with his leadership skills. The midfield has you know,
pretty much been the same most of the time. Obviously,
now Jake's dropped down a little bit deeper in midfield
as well, which you know helps us with the ball.
I think he dominates and he makes play for us.

(08:38):
So but yeah, it's just for me, it's about consistency.
If you want to you know, do well in the
A League, you have to be consistent defensively but also
in attack.

Speaker 2 (08:47):
Would you like to be scoring more goals?

Speaker 7 (08:51):
I would if we weren't defending so well, so you'd
probably need to score more goals. But I think because
we're defending so well at the moment, you know, one
goal maybe is enough.

Speaker 8 (09:01):
But you know that I think that's the.

Speaker 7 (09:03):
Hardest bit in football. You know, it's hard to teach
scoring goals. It's more about you know, getting plays into
the right positions, you know, getting balls into the box,
and then really it's just execution. And you know, I
think we've been scoring goals. You know, I don't think
we're a low scoring team, but I think we can

(09:23):
score more goals.

Speaker 2 (09:24):
The late goals, as I mentioned before, such a talking
point nine after the eighty third minute, five after the
ninety minute mark, This is now more than a coincidence.
You've talked at length about why you think it happens,
But do you think the more it happens, the more
it's likely to happen that the guys go, hey, it
might be the ninety fifth minute, but we know we
can we can score.

Speaker 7 (09:43):
Yeah, it's just a never give up, never give in
motto really, and you know, I think once it happens,
once you know, and then it happens again, then you
know they know they can do it. You know, there's
been obviously set pieces in that as well, which you know,
the quality of the delivery as well helps, but you've
got to be in the right place to do that

(10:04):
and momentum and you know, we really dominated most of
the second halves and you know, by doing that, I
think that creates more pressure on the defending team and
at some stage it's going.

Speaker 2 (10:14):
To give you're the best defensive team in the competition
by you by metrics, but also on just looking at
the competition. What are the key strategies to your to
your defensive formation.

Speaker 7 (10:27):
Well, it's pretty simple really a four four two. But
you know, I think you know for me that that's
the key. I think again, if you want to be
successful in the A League, you have to defend well.
And it's not we're not talking about the back four
and the goalkeeper. We're talking about the whole team. And
I think if you watch he's probably one of the
hardest working players in our team defensively. Max matters also

(10:51):
come in, so they're they're front two of the wide players.
They they've got a tough job. I expect them to
do a lot of running and and that's probably why
we change them players a little bit, because I do
ask them to do a lot of running in attack
and defense, and you know, it takes us toll and
then we take them off and we bring fresh players
on and it works.

Speaker 9 (11:11):
Well.

Speaker 2 (11:11):
Have you deliberately looked for physicality in your defensive players,
It looks that way because we've got a big team.

Speaker 8 (11:19):
Yeah, so it didn't really, Yeah, no, not really.

Speaker 7 (11:23):
Obviously we needed some height at the back, but I
think with Louis Vustrate in midfield as well, he's a
big boy, you know, even Cam Howison when he plays.
So we do have a lot of hide, actually probably
more than my other teams before that I've had, which
does come in, you know, into favor. You know, when
you want to look for crosses into the box, set

(11:44):
pieces as well, it's a big bonus. And you know,
we've been doing extremely well on set pieces as well.
I think we're number one in the league as well,
scoring them and defensively as well, so that you know
that that helps out with the scoring as well.

Speaker 2 (11:58):
We haven't conceidered a hittd goal, so obviously working well.
Louis Vustrata. Yeah, like on record, I've liked him since
the first day I saw him. What specifically do you
see him bringing to your team.

Speaker 7 (12:12):
You know, when we did speak to him, when when
we were trying to bring him to the club, he
summed himself up. He is more about defense. Obviously, he
wants to break play up and you can see it
in his in his play, he enjoys that. You know,
he loves having that physical battle with the with the
player around him. He likes to be physical. He he

(12:33):
loves that kind of work as well. And not people
not a lot of people do like that work, you know,
they're more on the attacking side. But also I think
he's very good on the ball as well. He can
switch to play is you know, we're talking about rest
defense as well a lot, which he's you know, is
the main person for that, I think, because he sees
situations to break up play and it's very important. But

(12:55):
also you know, with the ball, we wanted to be
you know, our midfielder is to get on the ball
and create play for us.

Speaker 8 (13:00):
And I think he's doing all of that.

Speaker 2 (13:02):
He certainly is. You've brought in one player since the
windows open. Australian attacker Marley francois, are you pretty happy
with the squad, Steve, any any more additions coming.

Speaker 7 (13:12):
We were looking at maybe trying to bring in a
center back in to replace Dan Hall, because he's still
got another five games I think out, but at this
stage it doesn't look like that's going to happen. We
had one or two that we were looking at, but
you know, we obviously want to bring players in for
a reason to strengthen the squad, and if we don't
think that's possible, then you know, I think Tommy's doing

(13:33):
a great job, Nando's doing a great job. If we
have to change any of them at some stage, obviously
Heroic can play there as well and call and Elliott
can come in, so we do have options it. It'd
be great to have Dan back as well in five
weeks because he had an amazing start to the season
and there was a lot of talk about him how
well he's doing, and you know, maybe getting.

Speaker 8 (13:52):
To call up for the soccer US as well.

Speaker 2 (13:54):
It's been clear from your sideline emotions this season. How
much this team means to you already. It hasn't been
that long, only a few months. Has it surprised you
how much this team means to you so early in
your time here?

Speaker 7 (14:10):
Obviously, I spent a long time at Sydney nineteen years
and I still, you know, have really strong feelings for them.
But when it comes to football and you know, playing
against them for instance, you know, I want to win.
And you know we've, like I said, we've had a
great start here. But you know when I come here
for a reason and you know, I get right into it.

(14:32):
We've worked extremely hard to this point, not not just myself,
but you know, we have a great coaching staff. I
think we've brought in the right players. There are great,
great people and they're willing to sacrifice and to work
hard for the for everybody, and you know it's going nicely.
But yeah, I'm just you know, happy to be here.

(14:53):
And you know, really the supporters have been amazing as well.
You know, turning up at you know, their home stadium
today is going to be amazing against MacArthur. They've always
turned up the port and all the other supporters and
got right behind and you know, people are talking about
football now in.

Speaker 2 (15:08):
Auckland team culture. I just want to ask you briefly
about that. Every team says, oh hey they want it.
A lot of teams say hey we've got it. Auckland
if appear to have it, and it's not something that
can happen immediately. How and why do you think the
culture has happened so quickly within your playing group and
within your football club.

Speaker 7 (15:27):
Well, like I said, you bring good people in. I
think they buy into the culture. We're a new club anyway.
I think the culture starts from the top, you know,
starting from the owner, the CEO, and then it filters down.
Obviously my part to playing is massive as well as
a coach and Arry mcflinn as director of football and
you know, we want to bring out the best in

(15:49):
players and we want them to believe in what we
can achieve for New Zealand football. You know, we want
to be the first team from New Zealand to win
the A League. And you know, by bringing in the
right people, the culture I think is pretty simple. You
know that they want to be better, they want to
you know, win, so it makes it quite easy for us. Really,

(16:11):
if you've got the right people, you know, especially the
more senior players as well, and they buy into it,
you know everyone. You know, we've got a lot of
young players as well. They're really happy to be in
a professional environment. You know, that's probably the biggest thing
because a lot of them haven't been in this professional
environment before. And there's a lot to learn for these
younger boys, but you know, they're coming along really well.

Speaker 2 (16:31):
When a game finishes, When the game finishes tonight and
you've done your media, what do the next few hours
look like for you? Do you go home or watch
the game? What's your postmatch routine?

Speaker 7 (16:42):
We're not going to get together with the staff and
have a little bite to eat because we're starving by then,
and maybe a little drink if we if we win
as well, and talk about the game. You know, I
think you know, you talk about everything really how good
the supporters are, but also you know what's happened during
the game, and hopefully it's been a good game and
we've won and everyone's excited, and then you know, obviously

(17:04):
the next couple of days is more about looking out
the game again and doing a review and you know,
picking up little little points where we can improve. That's
the main thing. I think you learn a lot from
you know, winning and losing. They say a lot more
from losing, but I think, you know, it's it's important
to look back at the games and to make sure

(17:25):
the players know when they're not in the right position.
Do you normally sleep okay though once you're hut, I do, Yeah,
I do. Actually it's been mainly when Steve so I'm sure.

Speaker 2 (17:34):
I'm sure you do.

Speaker 10 (17:35):
Yeah.

Speaker 7 (17:36):
I think you know, we've had obviously a great start,
but we did go through a period that you know,
we we didn't pick up a lot of points, and
you know that's normal, that's going to happen during the season.
I was, I was quite happy with the response of
our players and how they wanted to get back on track.
And you know, after a loss, you know, we bounced back,
which was which was great, and we've played some tough teams.

Speaker 8 (18:00):
We've played most of the top teams now, I think
we have.

Speaker 7 (18:04):
And you know, it's about making sure we turn up
every game. The A leagues none of the get no
games are easy. You know, we got turned over by Perth,
which were down the bottom, and you know you have
to turn up every game and make sure you're ready
otherwise you know it could be a different difficult day.
And if they do that, I think they've showed before
they can beat anywhere.

Speaker 2 (18:24):
So you reckon you can win the whole thing.

Speaker 7 (18:26):
Of course, I believe that, you know, and I think,
like I said, the players are starting to believe it now,
and you know there's they're growing in confidence and belief
and you know, hopefully you need a bit of.

Speaker 8 (18:39):
Luck, as chief would say, you know you do.

Speaker 7 (18:46):
You need a little bit of luck along the way
within injuries and and you know sometimes in matches that
you know that they don't take their chances when when
they come. And I think we've had a little bit
of that, and if we can keep going in that
department and and keep everyone fit, I think we have
a good shot.

Speaker 2 (19:03):
Great half season so fast. They've all the best against
MacArthur this after don't they. Thanks for us stopping them
for a chat.

Speaker 8 (19:07):
Thank you.

Speaker 2 (19:08):
It's Steve Corickett, head coach of Auckland FC, with us
in studio here on Weekend Sport twelve twenty six, five o'clock.
This afternoon they take on MacArthur at Go Media. You've
heard from Steve Corikeet. He gave us plenty of his
time on match day. Auckland f C fans, can I
please read your pulse on this season? Are you actually
starting to believe something truly special is in the offering here?

(19:30):
I know we're only halfway through the season, let's not
get too carried away, but are you feeling as though
this is no flash in the pan anymore? I remember
at the start of the season when they were five
six games unbeate and hardly conceded a goal. I remember
thinking to myself, Okay, let's get through January and see
where they are there, because January was a tough month

(19:52):
on the fixture list for Auckland f C. Here we
are on the first of February and they're still top.
Are you starting to believe something special is happening here?

Speaker 11 (20:00):
Oh?

Speaker 2 (20:01):
Eight hundred and eighty ten eighty, let's take some calls
on this. Even if you're not an Auckland f C fan,
just a football fan and you're watching from afar or
even from close up, what are you seeing from the
side that has led to this incredible start to the
season or half season now? And are you feeling And
this is particularly for those in the Auckland region a

(20:22):
ground swell of support building for this team. I'm in
Auckland today and have been here for the last couple
of days and being around our Zebbie office yesterday heard
two or three people say that their kids are now
getting into Auckland FC because it's the thing to do.
It's cool, it is cool to support this team. Is
that something you're seeing as well?

Speaker 4 (20:43):
Oh?

Speaker 2 (20:43):
Eight hundred and eighty ten eighty and just on the
late goals. Auckland FC have scored twenty two goals this season.
Eleven of those twenty two so half beyond the seventy
minute mark in a ninety minute match. Nine of those
eleven have come after the eighty three minute mark, and

(21:04):
five of those nine beyond the ninety minute mark. So
we reach the ninety minutes, we go into added time
and five times Auckland FC have scored a goal beyond
the ninety minute mark. And these are not just goals
to inflate score lines. These are crucial match winning or
match saving goals. I saw a fact during the week

(21:26):
of every Auckland FC game had stopped at ninety minutes,
they would not be in the top four. The goals
they've scored in added time have earned them eight points.
Without those eight points they would be fifth. Instead they
are top. Now you can drill down into the reasons why.

(21:47):
Superior fitness and never say die attitude, moments of inspiration
from certain players. There's no one reason why this is happening.
But as I said to Steve Corriker, the more it
happens you feel like the more it's likely to happen
when Auckland FC go beyond ninety minutes. Now they know
from a repeated experience they can score goals, and almost
as importantly, the opposition know that as well. If they're

(22:09):
ahead as the clock ticks past ninety minutes, there's more
than a shred of doubt in the back of the
opposition's mind that the points aren't safe. It's just one
reason for Auckland FC's success, but it's one which has
and will continue to be pretty integral I think to
how the rest of their first season plays out. One

(22:30):
thing is for sure. If you go along to an
Auckland FC game, you do not leave early because you'll
probably miss something. Oh eight hundred and eighty ten, eight twelve,
twenty nine. It is let's talk some football, Hollo Todd.
You Are you aboard the Auckland FC bandwagon?

Speaker 12 (22:46):
I certainly am. I'm the when I say I convert.
I've been a football fan whole life and I still
play for the geriatric League actually over forty fives.

Speaker 2 (22:55):
Yes, I know the one.

Speaker 12 (22:56):
I know the one we have ZIM I call it
the zimmer Fame League or the Moldy Aldies. We have
our crutches and wheelchairs, but get stuck in the grass
a bit. But I'm that we're still running around. It's
great Auckland Auckland United. Actually, I'm a new fan. I've
never really watched the AEFC much the Aussie League March

(23:18):
until the Auckland teams got involved. I went for the
first time to Mount Smart. I'm what was that three
or four weeks ago? We won three nil against City yep,
and I was so impressed the speed the football that
you know, two world class goals if my memory serves
me right, and I think there's a real ground scroll.

(23:40):
I think people are really loving it.

Speaker 2 (23:43):
It's so interesting to hear yourself not interesting, Todd. In fact,
it's not a surprise to me to hear that, because
you're one of a number of voices. I'm hearing around this.
You know, Auckland hasn't had a professional team, as we
know since the demise of the New Zealand Knights all
the way back in what two thousand and seven, And
even when Auckland FC were being mooted, people say, oh,
you know, is it just going to be the same again.
You know they might at a thousand couple of thousand

(24:05):
turn up. Right from day one, this team has just
had a support base. And as you've said, now you're
a new fan, I beat You're one of hundreds, probably thousands,
so have given it a crack and thought, you know what,
this is a good day out.

Speaker 12 (24:21):
Oh for sure. And look the feeling in the crowd.
I haven't been to the next games. I'm trying to
get to one of those. But I mean that's even
more so, right, but they were really good, crowd, really
full and people were just into it and the port
just watching them. I'm just going to come to watch them,
I think.

Speaker 2 (24:36):
The football, yes, well that's the thing I hear. If
you get bought board with the football for a bit,
you just watch the fans.

Speaker 12 (24:41):
Todd comment, if I may, I don't know, but look
I'm a believer. I think we can go all the way.
It's early days still, you know, halfway through. But if
it wasn't for those two late goals and that cracker,
that late goal and then the unmarked header the game
before and Ossie, where would we be sitting and and

(25:03):
I just hope the momentum continues and we that the
wills don't fall off. You know, I shouldn't say that,
should I?

Speaker 10 (25:09):
No?

Speaker 3 (25:09):
No?

Speaker 2 (25:10):
But I mean I love it that you're calling us
we already Todd, so you're on board. I love that. Yeah,
Look without the look without the goals that scored beyond
ninety minutes, including the two you've just talked about Nata,
I don't know's the other day that got them, the
one they'll win over Western Sydney and Logan Rogerson's header
that got them, the two all draw late laid on
against Adelaide. Without all of the goals, that's Gordon at

(25:31):
a time that have eight fewer points, they would be
fifth instead. They're time right.

Speaker 12 (25:36):
Right, But that's what champions do, right, They grind it out,
they score at the end. I mean, you look at
Manchester United. I don't even want to mention that name.
I'm a Liverpool fan but you know all those years
ago with Sergia the goals, they would score an injury
time and after and that's what champions do and that's
what we're going to be hopefully absolutely right.

Speaker 2 (25:52):
Todd, good stuff mate, Great to have you a calling
up mate. If you get into the game this afternoon, enjoyed.
If you're not, I don't know. You'll be back put
a ring around the twenty second of February as well.
Three weeks from today that's the derby, the third Derby
with Wellington Phoenix coming to go Meet Stadium. And yes
they've had a challenging season, but I can tell you
what they will come to Auckland in three weeks. It

(26:12):
will be another I would say, sold out game. So
if you're if you're keen on getting along, I would
get a ticket to that quick, smart because I can say,
without any fear of contradiction, that game will sell out.
On the twenty second of February. It's twelve thirty three.
We're taking some calls and texts on the football I
eight hundred eighty ten eighty. If like Todd, you're a convert,

(26:34):
if you have thought, I'll give this a go, you know,
tell us about your experiences and like I say, what
about your kids? Are they coming home and instead of
wanting a Warrior's jersey or a Blues jersey, are they saying, hey,
can I get one of those Auckland FC jerseys? And
how far are people traveling? If you're traveling to the game,
maybe you're coming from I don't know, somewhere Topoor North.

(26:55):
I'm not sure you'd come any further than that. What
do you you might if you're traveling to the game today?
Tell us where from eight hundred and eighty ten eighty
twenty six to one, back with more of your calls
after this. On News Talks, heb.

Speaker 1 (27:06):
Voice of Sport on Your Home of Sport Weekend Sport
with Jason Lyne and GJ. Gunner Homes New Zealand's most
trusted home builder, News.

Speaker 2 (27:15):
Talk twenty three to one talking football and in Auckland
f C and fans of Auckland f C. Hello, die,
oh hi, how you going? I'm doing well? Are you
a fan? A sort of a new fan of Auckland
f C.

Speaker 13 (27:32):
Oh, look, I'm a football window on the weekend. My
husband's from England and he watches football from four o'clock
in the morning, any day or night, and one of
our lovely daughters brought us, took us to go and
see the or from football on the eighteenth for his birthday.
It was the best reason we've ever had. We had
the time of our lives. I've never been to a

(27:54):
big match. I've that before in my life except in England,
and it's on a part of going and watching them
at Wembley was just brilliant. The crowd was fantastic and
is destroy us, you know. It's brilliant, really lovely, great
for families. Saw a lot of kids off and the
kids zone having a great time.

Speaker 14 (28:13):
Yeah.

Speaker 13 (28:14):
And when they support the Bamiami supporters came in coming
down the steps. God, they look magic, you know. And
they didn't say I don't know what they're on, but
they didn't stop chanting the whole game. So it's just incredible.

Speaker 15 (28:27):
Loved it.

Speaker 2 (28:28):
Yeah, I die. This is I love that word joyous.
That is such a brilliant description. It is that way,
isn't it. If you your husband obviously and you you've
watched games in England, how does your husband find the quality?
Because it'd be spoilt watching the likes of the Premier
League and such like.

Speaker 13 (28:45):
I think he thought it was right up there, you know.
Mind you he does follow Tottenham.

Speaker 12 (28:50):
So.

Speaker 2 (28:52):
He's having a tough time of it at the moment.

Speaker 13 (28:56):
Goodness me, challenging time, challenging time, and that's the conversation
I have to not listen to at home.

Speaker 12 (29:04):
But you know he.

Speaker 13 (29:05):
Could the quality and you can see where the manager's
coming across with his team. They believe in him and
he believes in them, you know. And I managed a sport.
I managed archery at a college and it's the same thing.
If you have a buy in with your coaches and
your management side together and you bring it together, everyone's
fecial confidence. Everyone follows on and they have a great time.

(29:27):
They enjoy their sport and a bit on the side,
we go down to Buddings as everyone does quite often
done Roy Lake and yeah, and there's this gorgeous guy
who runs the kitchens down there. He's from the Middle
East and he goes. He's the one that brought us
into it, so he goes every week since they started,

(29:49):
and he just gets so much enthusiasm and feeling part
of it. You know, it's just neat you talk to something.

Speaker 2 (29:57):
They're really eying it archery and secondary school? Is that?
Is that getting bigger?

Speaker 9 (30:05):
Oh?

Speaker 13 (30:06):
I tell you, if you ever free on a Wednesday
afternoon and February March, go up to Auckland Archery Club,
One Tree Hill and Monk Kitty and you will see
so many sports. I think we've got about forty scores competing.
And also up at Mount Talbert where the bear boat
teams go and is beautiful to watch. I'm from a

(30:27):
girls college and we're very, very strong with our archery
who love beating the boys. We're up against all the
big colleges are all there from throughout Auckland, from the
north Shore out west south central. It's fantastic. It's giving
a fabulous alternative sport to a lot of young people
that maybe don't want to do competitive contact sports.

Speaker 2 (30:51):
Love it. I love it. We need to do a
feature on archery. I'm going to get Andy to write
that down.

Speaker 11 (30:58):
Hey.

Speaker 2 (30:58):
In the meantime, Die, I hope you enjoy the game
this afternoon. I hope things swing upwards for Tottenham as
well for your husband's sake, and I think it's so
much for calling in this afternoon. We should definitely do
something on archery on Obviously I knew it was a sport,
but forty schools that I say are involved in it.
And as she quite rightly pointed out, what a good
alternative to contact sport. If that's not something that you

(31:19):
know you're into, we'll do something on archery. I think
we'll write that down. Andy Great All Blacks teams of
the past, says this text used to score in the
dying stages of a game to win a game. Yeah, look,
it's a It's not necessarily the hallmark of all great teams,
but Todd, I think it was earlier mentioned. Manchester United
in their heyday under Alex Ferguson or Sir Alex, they

(31:42):
used to call it Fergie Time, the minutes beyond the
ninety that Manchester United would inevitably score in to win
games or to rescue games. Like I say, the stats
are there for all to see. Without the goals beyond
the ninetieth minute, Auckland FC would not be in the
position they are. They would be outside the top four.

(32:03):
Not only would they not be top they wouldn't even
be in the top four if it weren't for the
goals that they have scored beyond the ninetieth minute. We
tried to get tickets, says Phil, to the derby a
few weeks ago. They were sold out. Loving Auckland FC.
They're a breath of fresh ae F in New Zealand football. Phil,
get on and get tickets for the derby. On the
twenty second of fed mate, it's going to be a cracker.

(32:24):
We've traveled to three Auckland FC games from Hamilton, says
this one. We already have our tickets to the derby.
We watch the games every week, a great afternoon out,
good value for money. Our kids absolutely love it. Just
on eighteen to one, Grant hold there with you. After
this a speareline. We're talking football at Auckland f C
until one o'clock here on News Talks EDB and Weekend
Sport back after.

Speaker 1 (32:43):
This the big issues on and after fields call oh
eight hundred and eighty ten eighty Weekends Sport with Jason.

Speaker 5 (32:50):
Fine and GJ.

Speaker 1 (32:51):
Gunner Homes New Zealand's most trusted home builder.

Speaker 16 (32:54):
News Talks EDBB.

Speaker 2 (32:56):
It's caught it to one talking Auckland f C. Hello Jackie,
you off to the game today? Yeah, good on you.
How old are you mate?

Speaker 11 (33:04):
I'm eleven?

Speaker 2 (33:06):
And how many games. Have you been to two?

Speaker 9 (33:09):
This is my third?

Speaker 2 (33:10):
Amazing? So what do you like about it?

Speaker 17 (33:14):
I like the atmosphere from the pourt wonderful?

Speaker 2 (33:19):
Do you do you join in with the singing?

Speaker 12 (33:21):
Ah?

Speaker 11 (33:22):
Yeah?

Speaker 9 (33:23):
So Jack?

Speaker 2 (33:24):
Who do you who do you normally go with? Do
you go with family or some friends? Who takes you along?

Speaker 9 (33:28):
Yeah?

Speaker 14 (33:29):
I usually go with my dad.

Speaker 9 (33:32):
And my sister and our last two games have been
free because I did the halftime show and Savannah got
to walk on.

Speaker 14 (33:41):
With the players.

Speaker 2 (33:41):
Amazing, amazing, How cool? So do you think have you
got Have you got like a Have you got like
a shirt? The blue and black shirt to wear?

Speaker 14 (33:50):
Yeah?

Speaker 2 (33:50):
Good stuff. You need to tell Dad that there are
lots of other ones he could buy you, okay, Jack?
Or I'll look out for you this afternoon at the game? Mate?
Do you think? What do you think the score is
going to be today?

Speaker 11 (34:04):
Love it?

Speaker 9 (34:05):
Jack?

Speaker 2 (34:05):
Good on your thanks for calling in. You keep on
supporting that team. Sing loud and proud, mate. Good to
have you on the show with us.

Speaker 11 (34:11):
Grant Hi, Yeah, finally, I'm a rugby fan, but I
have been watching the every game that Auckland played live
start then delayed slightly on free to wear. I'm a pensioner,
so I can't afford Sky. So the channel fifteen for
anyone that doesn't have Sky and is not going to

(34:32):
the game, Channel fifteen one to five Sky Open Live
start at five o'clock again, and then after about ten
minutes they have an a the ad break and then
it's slightly delayed. They know you don't miss anything, you know,
they just stop the pretty or button stop the video
and it resumes from the throwing or whatever, and okay,
the game finishes a sort of cord of an hour

(34:53):
after it actually finishes. That doesn't matter because you don't
know the score. So fantastic. I'm really enjoying it.

Speaker 2 (34:59):
Excellent. So you actually have been watching You're obviously a
rugby man, but you're enjoying it. You should try and
I know you know, I'm not sure where what part
of the country you and Grant Auckland have you been
along to a game? Have you've actually physically been to
a game.

Speaker 11 (35:12):
I am a pensioner.

Speaker 2 (35:15):
I've seen pinsions there. I've seen I've seen pensions there.

Speaker 11 (35:20):
Well. With my situation, I can barely afford to pay
groceries at the supermarket, so unfortunately I can't. But well,
I mean, I guess. So if it's the Aukland FCRE
listening and they want to arrange for a free ticket,
I'll be a starter.

Speaker 2 (35:36):
I love grum Well. Funnily enough, I know Auckland's this
FC are listening because I've just sent me a message
about the derby. In terms of tickets, about eight hundred
general admission tickets are left in the South stand. That's
all everywhere else oh sorry, everywhere else very limited but
not yet sold out. All right, so I didn't mean
to give the impression that it had sold out. Still

(35:59):
three weeks away it will sell out, but thanks to
other team at Auckland FC, so eight hundred general admission
tickets and limited tickets elsewhere. It's the south stand for
GA tickets. Thank you Ian from Auckland FC for updating us.
Good to know that you're you're listening in as well.
Uh let's get a tom hate.

Speaker 15 (36:18):
Tim say piney. This is a dead serious question. I'm
sort of a general fan, but nothing obsessed. But I've
been rugby boy because I've made nearly sixty All my life,
I've watched soccer on the periphery or football as you
call it, heroin God's name. Do they have hundreds and
hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars and national bodies
and interventions and restructures and overlooking boards. Yet Foley and Co.

(36:44):
Come along out of the blue and fill the stands
full of the very fans that rugby should want. We
all believe that we can't fill our rugby sands, super
twelve of us every year there's an excuse for the problems.

Speaker 9 (36:56):
Of the game.

Speaker 15 (36:57):
These guys so professionally come along, organize it. The very
kid you just had on of a next generation of
listeners for forever. They're all loving it, They're all converted,
and they're still in the stands. One standard that would
be more than a rugby cloud for the whole season.
How can it be? How of all the resources and
a national sport of rugby, shall we be so disjointed

(37:19):
and so far off having our finger on the pulse.
And that's not a criticism of Soccrs's incredible what they've done.
They just walk on and we have never even had
an Auckland team, and within six months we're organized, halfway
leading the league. They've got every can in Auckland's game
and everybody's looking forward to the game. You don't hear
of punch ups, violence, anything. It's just incredible what they've done.

Speaker 2 (37:41):
Tim. It's a great summary from you to answer your question,
how's this happened? Look, there's probably a couple of reasons
I can pick up on. One is that Auckland football
fans have waited a long time for this, so it
is new and you know that I guess the proof
of that pudding will be in six, seven, eight, nine
years are they still turning up in such big numbers?

(38:02):
So it's new, which helps. The second part of it,
I think is the experienced people get when they go
along to a game. It's more than just what happens
on the grass. And you know, you look at the
Blues they won it last year. The rugby they're playing
as good or if not better than any of the
other teams. But it's all about what else happens. I think,
especially for younger people, when they get to the game.

(38:24):
What sort of atmosphere are they going to get caught
up and what sort of occasion are they going to
be a part of that? Those are two things I
immediately would pick up on. Yeah, I'm still here, I
hope you heard all that. I was just giving you
the explanation to I hope you got that. But look,
it's a challenge for those in Auckland, not just for

(38:46):
the Blues but for the Warriors as well because their
season is going to start soon and some people, you know,
in fact, a lot of people don't have the discretionary
income to go to everything they want to. They can't
go to the Blues and the Warriors and Auckland FC,
all three of who over the next few months are
going to be playing in their competition and Super Rugby

(39:07):
starts in two weeks. Win is in ourl start any
about a month away from the NRL starting and the
A League season goes through until May, so in sort
of March April May, all three teams in the Auckland
region are going to be playing. So people won't be
able to afford to go to them all, so they're
going to choose. And I tell you what, it's a

(39:29):
battleground for eyeballs and for discretionary spending dollars, and Auckland
FC are doing great in that battle. They really are.
Eight to one. US talks eb.

Speaker 1 (39:40):
The scoop from the track fields and the Court on
your home of sorts the Weekend Sport with Jason Vine TALKSB.

Speaker 2 (39:48):
Five to one, just mopping up the final couple of
texts before the news and the battle for Auckland spectators
is this one largely? I think Warriors fans won't go
to Auckland FC games and vice versa, but rugby fans
would go to both. Therefore Rugby will be the loser.
It's interesting, be interesting to do it, be fascin to
do one of those what are they called Venn diagrams

(40:10):
when you overlay fans of each of them, because I
guess I always assumed I believe this to be true
that Blues fans would go to the Warriors and vice versa.
Some would just go to one, some would just go
to the other. But rugby and rugby league quite similar
to one another, aren't they. Football is very different, so
as there as much of a crossover between football and

(40:31):
rugby league, or football and rugby. And sometimes he there
makes because they're winning. If their bottom no one would
be going. Look if the Warriors last year showed us anything,
it's that it doesn't matter. The Warriors sold out every
home game last season and had a very ordinary season.
They found the holy grail of getting people along regardless

(40:52):
of results. You can't rely just on what happens on
the field or on the court. If you're a professional
sporting organization, your success cannot be that's your commercials suc says,
cannot be, you know, exclusively tied to the on field results,
because it's affect of life. You can't win every week.

(41:15):
The Warriors of Cracked at Auckland FC are a wee
way along that track as well. After one o'clock, Dame
Sophie Pasco is with us this week she announced her
retirement from competitive swimming. Our greatest ever Olympian.

Speaker 16 (41:28):
After one's the only place to discuss the biggest sports
issues on and after field. It's all on Winter and Ford.

Speaker 1 (41:37):
With Jason Vane on your home of.

Speaker 2 (41:40):
Sport in New York. Welcome into the show one o seven.
I'm Jason Pine, Andy McDonald's show producer. We're talking sport
until three updating live sport as well across the afternoon
in about an hour or so. If we can get
any score reports, I don't know whether we can or
whether they even mean anything. Super Rugby preseason New Plymouth

(42:02):
Hurricanes Chiefs the Hurricanes are taking forty seven. Came forty seven?
Goodness me anyway. We'll keep you updated with that as
we will from the base in Reserve, where it's the
elimination finals in both the men's and women's Super Smash
competitions today are waiting the winner of the women's game

(42:24):
are the Otago sparks. Eden Carson with us in about
an hour or so, one of the real stars of
New Zealand cricket, best bowler in the women's Super Smash
in terms of wickets taken with eighteen. She's on with
us in an hour or so. But at the moment
it's Wellington against Northern for the right to play Otago tomorrow.

(42:45):
Northern won the toss and sent Wellington into bats and
in the seventh over there fifty three for two, so
going along okay in terms of run rate. So the
sevens or eights and over the cursed Sisters are in,
which is a good thing for Wellington cricket fans. Amelia
Kerr opened the batting. She's twenty one not out, joined
by a Jess, her sister, who is unbeaten on five

(43:05):
at the moment, so fifty three for two in the
seventh over. We'll keep you updated with that. As far
as the men's elimination finalists concern that also features Northern
against Canterbury are stacked Canterbury team ten internationals in that team.
The winner of that will face the Central Stags tomorrow.
Jaden Lennox from the Central Stags actually on the show

(43:26):
this out, so we'll keep you across that as well.
Just before we move on from the football, Justin on
techs Pine, I'm a father of a rugby mad family,
five kids in the far far North. We're going to
try and get some tickets for the twenty second and
the head down. Normally try to get a couple of
Blues or Chiefs games in, but never ever been to
a live game of football. The kids though, are all

(43:49):
talking about how good in the Auckland FC are and
we've been trying to watch all the games. I never
thought I would see the day I would even consider
going to watch a football match. Good on you, Justin.
I guaranteemate if you come down, especially for the derby,
you will absolutely love it and your kids will too,
and that's probably the most important thing. Thanks for getting

(44:10):
in touch mate, and numbers eight hundred and eighty ten
eighty text line ninet two nine two Get in touch
whenever you like if anything catches your ear. If anything
catches your ear, then get in touch. The opportunity and
invitation is there coming up. Teen past one. Our greatest
Olympian is bringing the curtain down on her incredible career.

Speaker 18 (44:31):
Sophie Pasco. It is all about the keyw as she
brings it home. Ten meters to go, Sophie Pasco, good
stroke rating, dragging it out.

Speaker 2 (44:40):
She's only got half of this.

Speaker 18 (44:41):
A wee bit of a response coming from one of
the Australians, But Pasco touches first. No problem, Sophie Pasco one,
eighteen point oh nine.

Speaker 19 (44:49):
It is gone for New Zealand. A second gold in Nepal, but.

Speaker 18 (44:53):
Sophie Pasco from christ Church delight for her messive smile.

Speaker 2 (44:59):
Yeah, we've got to know that mess of smile. Quite
a lot. Didn't wear nineteen Paralympic medals across four Paralympic Games.
Eleven of those nineteen medals were gold, including four in
succession in her specialty two hundred individual medley, twenty seven
World Championship medals, five Commonwealth Games gold medals over a

(45:22):
dozen world records, and in twenty twenty two she was
made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Who else but Dame Sophie Pasco who joins us now,
Dame Sophie, thanks for taking the time for a chat.
How did you come to this decision?

Speaker 19 (45:37):
Look, I think it was a pretty natural evolution for me.
You know, the day of retirement is always obviously going
to be upon an athlete at some stage, and yeah,
you know has taken some serious thought. You know, I
haven't made this decision lately. I still obviously intended to
go to World Championships in twenty twenty three and then

(45:59):
the Paris Paralymic Games in twenty four. You know, I
felt pregnant with my son, and it just became a
natural evolution that actually, you know, I couldn't go to
Paris and I couldn't go to the World Championships due
to my sickness. But then also postpart in and last year,

(46:22):
when I had the opportunity to present the Paralympic Games
alongside Scotti Stevenson with TVNZ's it actually sort of helped
my decision. I felt really content where I was. I
felt like I was still part of the team, but
in a different capacity. But also I was right where
I needed to be, which was to be a mother

(46:42):
to my son and to be a wife and just
be a family unit. But I also have the opportunity
to still have a voice for the Paralympic movement and
to showcase our incredible athletes. So that sort of definitely
helped cement my decision. But obviously I've taken this time
post the twenty twenty four Parliament Games to really make

(47:04):
a decision around this next four year cycle, because absolutely
I could go through LA but right now my focus
has shifted into wanting to be a mother and give
one hundred percent to that and really focus on you know,
bringing my son up and being a family unit.

Speaker 2 (47:24):
Well, it sounds like a pretty good rationale to me.
So having made the decision, what were your overriding emotions?

Speaker 19 (47:32):
Look, there's definitely you know, I don't stay my retirement
with sadness. You know, I say it with celebration that
it's been an incredible twenty year plus journey. You know,
the biggest of the biggest part of it being the
people that have been involved in this journey and the
friendships and the family that I've created, it's you know,

(47:55):
I couldn't have done this on my own. And the
fact that I've had a huge support network that's been
able to be standing by my side through every step
of the journey. You know, I feel very fortunate. I
feel like I've left the sport proud and proud knowing
that you know, I've made an impact not just within

(48:16):
the pool, but also out of the pool. The fact
that sport can change people's lives and I've just been
a small contribution to that.

Speaker 2 (48:26):
What are your fondest swimming memories?

Speaker 19 (48:31):
Look, the biggest, one of the biggest memories and probably
one of my biggest achievements that I veshed the pool
with is in two thousand and eight. You know, my
first Paralympic Games. I was fifteen years of age. I won,
when I touched the wall and won and also had
a world recognise to it. Standing up on the podium

(48:51):
was the first time I heard the national anthem play
for me, and you.

Speaker 17 (48:57):
Know, at the moment of.

Speaker 19 (48:59):
Pride, it's you know, I had a dream of it
when I was a young child, wanting to represent New
zeal And where the affirm and that moment came true.
But then also up in the stands with my family
and you know, a father who doesn't shed a lot
of emotion, who was part of the accident on the
day which created an image for him of a young

(49:21):
disabled girl, And in that moment I got to change
that into a world champion. And that's one of the
greatest things that I get to walk away with that.
It does go to show that sport can change people's lives,
and I've been able to do that for my family
and for myself and people with disabilities that sport doesn't sorry,
that a disability doesn't define who you are. And yeah,

(49:45):
I'm proud.

Speaker 11 (49:46):
Of that time.

Speaker 2 (49:47):
So if you've operated in a high pressure, high performance
environment for so long, now, how much do you reckon
you'll enjoy not being in that environment.

Speaker 17 (49:58):
Absolutely.

Speaker 19 (49:58):
I think there's also been another contributing factor to my decision.
You know, I have been in a high performance environment
for twenty years, and.

Speaker 17 (50:09):
You know, to now, you know, have that.

Speaker 19 (50:12):
Pressure release a little bit, it is it is really enjoyable.
I am far more relaxed, for sure. I mean I'm
definitely on my toes all the time with bringing up
a son who's you know, nearly one and running around
and he's throwing new challenges at me that I have
to navigate. But I love it. You know, this is

(50:32):
the beauty of motherhood and it's just incredibly rewarding to
know that, you know, he is worth more than a
gold medal in title to me right now and he
sees me as mum, you know, he doesn't put me
on a pedestal and see me as Sophie Pasco and
you know, it's just it's a really rewarding position to

(50:56):
be in and I'm absolutely loving motherhood.

Speaker 2 (50:58):
Brilliant stuff. Well, apart from your exploits in the pool
which have been absolutely magnificent, you've been driving for in
the Paralympic movement. I look at you know what the
Paralympic movement looked like when you entered it and how
it looks now and it's just streets ahead and a
lot of that is down to the trial you've blazed
so well. Your advocacy of the Paralympic movement continue even

(51:22):
though you're now retired as an athlete.

Speaker 19 (51:25):
Absolutely, it doesn't leave me, you know, Yes, it's goodbye
to following a black line and seeing me in the water,
But I certainly still will use my voice to you know,
relish the platform that I've been able to create to
enhance the Paralympic movement and you know, be an advocate

(51:45):
for inclusion and equality.

Speaker 17 (51:48):
It will never leave me.

Speaker 19 (51:49):
You know, I have a huge passion for the sport
and the Paralympic community, and yeah, I'm here to continuously
use that voice that I've been able to create over
the years and empower others and share what the disabled
community can do on a world and global stage.

Speaker 2 (52:09):
I know there'll be things that you won't miss, and
you've outlined a few of them, But what do you
think you'll miss the most?

Speaker 19 (52:15):
I think what I miss the most is the friendships
and the racing. You know that seeing my friends overseas
getting in the race togs and feeling that adrenaline rush. Absolutely,
and most of all, I'm going to miss going into
you know, the gym and the pool every day and

(52:37):
seeing my other family. But you know, I've created lifelong
friendships with all those people that I've mentioned, and you know,
I know that I will still be able to connect
with them and share the new chapter and life's journeys
with them.

Speaker 2 (52:52):
Well, Dame Sophie you've been, as I mentioned, an absolute
trailblazer in the Paralympic movement, a role model to so
many people, and an exceptional athlete in our history. Congratulations
on everything you've achieved. All the best for the next
chapter on. It'll be an exciting one for you and
your family. Thanks so much for joining us today. Thank

(53:12):
you so much, No, thank you. Dame Sophie. Dame Sophie
Pasco announcing this week that the curtain is coming down
on her elite swimming career. Where does she sit among
our absolute grades?

Speaker 11 (53:26):
For you?

Speaker 2 (53:28):
Oh, eight hundred and eighty ten eighty, if you've got
a view. Nineteen nineteen Paralympic medals. No one has that many,
not even close. Eleven of those are gold, twenty seven
twenty seven World Championship medals. Where on earth would she
keep them?

Speaker 9 (53:45):
All?

Speaker 2 (53:47):
Five Commonwealth Games goals, over a dozen world records. She
has been, apart from an elite athlete right at the top,
the very top of her sport, an absolute trailblazer for
the Paralympic movement. So who picks up that mental now?
He's still going to be an advocate, obviously, but who

(54:09):
picks up that mental now? As a current athlete. I
think Anna Grimaldi is the obvious one. We've had Anna
Grimordy on the show a few times, what an absolute
diamond of a human being she is. But like Dame
Sophie Pasco, actually, because every sport needs its poster athletes
and Paralympics, I say, probably more than many other sports.

(54:31):
They're the ones who, through their deeds and their words
and their actions, show those who might believe that sport
is not for them, that sport can be for them. Oh,
eight hundred and eighty ten eighty nine two ninety two
is our text line on text she is a champion

(54:53):
individual first and foremost. Yeah, I mean that's that's really obvious,
isn't it? From listening to Dame Sophie that she is
a quality human being as well. And you know, often
you hear, don't you, great humans become great sports people.
I'm sure there are dickheads who do okay in sport,

(55:18):
but the vast majority of top top sports people, I say,
are quality of humans.

Speaker 10 (55:24):
Helloween, good afternoon, Jason. Listen, how you going there? But
my friend Oran great?

Speaker 2 (55:30):
Thanks very good? Yeah, really good? How about you?

Speaker 10 (55:33):
I'm all right now? Yeah, I had a bit of
a couple of weeks ago. I had a bit of
the old heart trick, but I was just on the andy.
It's all right now, things are coming right. Well, that's good.

Speaker 2 (55:42):
Looks good to hear. Look, and I'm so pleased that
off the back of that, you've decided to give us
a call.

Speaker 10 (55:47):
I haven't rang it for a while. Made that was
part of it. Because the rugby is still starting, Jayce,
So listen. Sophie Pasco miracle, fantastic, lovely woman, one of
the best, a para Olympic woman. I didn't realize until
she started swimming at fifteen years years old that girl
had a bad leg or had done some damage to

(56:09):
that leg. And she's just a miracle maker, mate. She's
just brought all these other say people that are weabit
handicapped and helped them out swimming whatever. You know, she's
a fantastic woman, mate. I just wanted to give my
regards to her and the little baby and to her family. Mate.

Speaker 2 (56:26):
Good on you, Ian and so great to hear your voice. Mate.
You look after yourself. We need you around for a
lot longer yet. Mates. As you say, rugby season just
started or about to. I know we'll chat again soon.
I think she has shown people what is possible and
I think you know, most of us know the background
to how you know she, you know, came to be

(56:49):
a para athlete. In terms of the accident that she suffered.
Her dad basically, you know, ran over her league with
a lawna. I imagine that from a father, the absolute
guilt you would feel for having inflicted such an her rena,
this injury on your daughter. But then for Dame Sophie Pasco,

(57:10):
she has always said, and she even said just in
that chat just now, that she wanted to show her
dad what good has come from it. And my goodness,
nineteen Paralympic medals, twenty seven World Championship medals, every time
she meddles, every time she competes. Her dad must be
so proud, so proud, I mean, I'm sure he'll never

(57:30):
ever completely get over what happened all those years ago.
But talk about turning into a positive for Dame Sophie Pasco. Simon,
you would have had a bit to do with Dame
Sophie at some stage, no doubt, during your elite photography
years which are still ongoing on my day.

Speaker 5 (57:47):
Yeah, thanks Piney I've been a flying on the war
around Dame Sophie. Like we've never had a conversation, but
boy have I been impressed with her, both in the
pool and outside that, mainly out of the pool. You
know's a there's a vision I have of national swimming

(58:08):
championships in Henderson. Must have had a good ten twelve
years ago where she was it. You know, the mid
career New Zealand Swimming brought Ian Thorpe over to be
a role model and an advocate for swimming at that time,
and she and and Ian four took center stage, but

(58:35):
she took center stage in a much more subtle, humble
sort of way. People gravitate to Dave Sophie and and
she treats everybody with absolute equality. And you know that
that adversity question that she has, you know she passes

(58:56):
that on and in such a lovely way. And you
know she would be one of the greatest sports people
that New Zealand has ever seen. And and what she
continues to do. You just listen to her speak to
your pony and it's so uplifting.

Speaker 2 (59:14):
Yeah, A great word, great word, That's how I felt.

Speaker 5 (59:18):
That's as to her, Yeah, it doesn't matter actually, whether
it's sport or anything else, she's that phenomenal advocate for
a life and what how how life treats you? You
you you've overcome that and you have that ability to
overcome that, you know. I just think she she's magnificent

(59:41):
and just as you said, Pine, just this wonderful human
being and that you know, not only yeah, we're just
so proud of her. I think anybody that's come into contact.

Speaker 2 (59:54):
With her with no her quality, well said Simon, well said,
make drive safe, look forward to catching up so and
thanks for calling in with your your observations. Look, yeah,
I think anyone who's seen Dan Sophie as you say,
most of us have probably you know, just watched her
from afar, marveled at her feets in the water. Look,
I've had, you know, the very very happy privilege of

(01:00:16):
chanting to her like in an interview like the one
we just did, and others as well, and you never
ever get anything other than articulate, uplifting answers from Dame Sophie.
Thanks Simon, all the best team mate, Ellison, you're from
christ he which where Dame Sophie's from.

Speaker 20 (01:00:32):
It's oh absolutely inspiration always so positive. And I remember
when she came when the comraft As so many years ago,
when the Comrast Games, and she carried a baton and
the children just loved her. They were swarming around her.
And she's always so well happy. And when she presented
the the co presenting, she mentioned that didn't you at
the Paradlemic game you land so much about all the

(01:00:53):
other competitors, not just the promise, but she knows them all,
like Anna Grimaldi and will Step and all the other ones.
And she's so supportive of all those other athletes. And
I just think she's fantastic. I went to see years
ago her book Laint as well, and she's always been
inspirational and I put her at the top of the
list at the stage. I mean others may come after here,

(01:01:14):
but at this stage I would definitely say. And I
must have mentioned particularly her grandmother. I think he's pass
away a couple of years ago, Evon, And she was
such a wonderful supporter also Sophie, and the dedicator she's
kept phones, she met all other people like which you
were call all over refred in that. But she was
such a lovely inspiration too to Sophie.

Speaker 2 (01:01:33):
Wonderful Yeah, good on you, Ellison, well said, and I
think what will happen is that, or what has happened,
is that some of the athletes you've mentioned there have
probably taken inspiration from Dame Sophie and there will be
many more in the years to come who have been
shown what is possible, because, like I say, the Paralympic
movement has come a long long way, a long long

(01:01:53):
way that now, as I say, people who thought, hey,
sport might not be for me, sport can be for you.
It can be. And Dame Sophie, I mean, whatever she
ends up doing, and officially and unofficially, she just strikes
me as a force for good, somebody who can have
a real influence, a positive influence on whatever she channels

(01:02:17):
her energy towards. At the moment, that's being a mum,
and anyone who's been a mum or been a parent
knows that that is a challenge in itself, and she's
tackling that head on at the moment, John says, Sophie
pasco legend. Hopefully she'll eventually get the o n Z
Award Humble, dignified, inspiring, simply the best. Thanks John, agree,

(01:02:37):
totally going to move in a minute one twenty eight
updating you from the base in reserve where Merely Kurr
is out. So that's a massive wicket for the Northern
Brave as they look to try and restrict the blaze.
There's seventy nine for three and the twelfth over Merely
curR out for twenty nine of twenty four balls. Another
good contribution from her, Jess curstill out there, Maddie Brown

(01:03:00):
has joined her arm and Wellington's seventy nine eighty now
for three, eighty for three and the twelfth over. Jamie
says piny center. But unfair that the Otago Sparks finished
top and may have to play Wellington in Wellington in
the final. I think in this situation they should get
the advantage of automatically winning the toss in the final.

(01:03:23):
Goodness me, Jamie, they would have pair to hand them
quite a big advantage. But as you say, having to
play in Wellington potentially against Wellington, if that's your reward
for finishing top, obviously the reason, and I know you know,
is that they've given finals weekend to one venue, so
elimination finals today, grand finals tomorrow, so four games a

(01:03:44):
cricket across the two days and presumably they put out
a tender or said hey, who wants these games? And
I suppose everybody would have said, yep, we're in for this,
and for whatever reason, the Basin reserve was chosen. The
men aren't going to be there. The Wellington Firebirds haven't
made it through to the elimination final, so they're not
going to be there. So yeah, for Wellingtonians, they're hope

(01:04:06):
is that the Blaze can win today and contest the
final tomorrow, Jamie. Just to finish on that too. Otago
have already played Wellington once at the Basin this season
and Otago won that game by seven wickets, really really
comprehensive win. So I don't think they'll fear playing the
Blaze at the Basin tomorrow if that comes to pass.
Thanks for your text, though, mate, one point thirty. Speaking

(01:04:27):
of cricket, the Central Stags already into the final of
the men's competition by virtue of finishing top of that table,
so they now sit back and wait for their opposition,
which you'll be found later on today. Jayden Lennox has
been really really good for them, the left orthodox spinner,
terrific fielder as well. He is with us shortly as

(01:04:48):
he looks forward to tomorrow's Super Spanish Men's final at
the Basin. Jayden Lennox after this on news Talk Sepek.

Speaker 1 (01:04:54):
No One Grudge hold Ngage Weekends for It with Jason
Thame and GJ. Gunner Homes New Zealand's first trusted home
builder News Talk Zibibi.

Speaker 2 (01:05:04):
Just on twenty seven to two are well in Loost
another wicked other think, said Maddie Brown, Maitland Brown. Of course,
Maitland Brown. She's out though, so that is not great
for her. Out for five. Jess Courstall there on twenty
joined by Jess mcfagen and Wellington eighty three for four
and the thirteenth over so they gon okay in terms
of run rape, but four wickets down. Now Wellington against Northern.

(01:05:26):
You might have just before we move on back to
the cricket, you might have heard Grant speaking with us
be four one o'clock. We were talking Auckland FC and Grants.
You look, I've never been to a game and probably
can't afford to Grant. Just give us a quick buzz mate,
because we've had a caller who and this is here's
the ZB audience for you who rung off air and
said to Andy Hay, if Grant's keen, I'm keen to shout,

(01:05:47):
I'm a ticket to the game. So Grant, the next
is not today, Not today, mate, the next game. So
give us a l. Andy'll put you in touch with
our caller and we'll leave you to make the arrangements.
But yeah, here go, it's the said b audience for you,
absolutely treminous. Grant, give us l you know the number,
pull it off on enough. Twenty six to two, the

(01:06:10):
Central Stags have qualified directly for tomorrow's Super Smash Men's final.
They finished well clear at the top of the regular
season table six wins, two losses, two no results. They
now await the winner of the elimination final this afternoon
between Northern and Canterbury. Jaden Lennox has played a key
role in the Stags run to the final. Yeah, oh

(01:06:30):
that's brilliant. That is really good from Jaden Lennox, claims
about tape and that's got to be close that.

Speaker 18 (01:06:39):
Yeah, everything's coming up roses for Jayden Lennox.

Speaker 2 (01:06:44):
Indeed, he was the side's most economical bowler across the competition,
also picking up nine wickets. He took nine catches as well,
including a Stag's record four in one game against the
Northern Brave. In that same innings, he had his season's
best figures of three for fourteen. Jayden Lenox is with us.
Jayden numb Well, congrats on your season. For you and
for the Stags would have been the main keys to

(01:07:06):
the side Guide's success during the round robin segment.

Speaker 9 (01:07:11):
I suppose it's pretty hard to put your finger on
one thing. I think where we're probably tracking nicely, and
we're probably tracking a little bit more confidently confidently than
we have in the I suppose the past couple of years.
It feels like when we get ourselves into a little
bit of a tangle, that we're sort of trusting our
own games and trusting each other enough to just kind
of take the games as deep as we need to.
We're in the past, we've kind of panicked a little

(01:07:32):
bit and we've been chasing Niglie totals. We've kind of
fallen a stepar too short. So I think the fact
that we've kind of grown in confidence and that we're
started to win hard games, there's probably a huge area
of progression for us this season.

Speaker 2 (01:07:43):
Does that confidence you talk about there, does that come
really only with experience?

Speaker 11 (01:07:50):
Yeah.

Speaker 9 (01:07:50):
I think if if you look through our sort of
eleven or twelve players that have played the majority of
this campaign, there is a lot of experience there, and
I think the guys that are less experienced are kind
of leaning on the guys with a shipmoad of experience.
So yeah, I think it's one of those things that
there's there's a good balance of experience and a little
bit of youth and an experience there which is kind
of lights the fire and everybody and kind of getting

(01:08:11):
your arm around some of the guys with this experiences
cool when you know that when there's advice is falling
on good shoulders.

Speaker 2 (01:08:17):
I guess now, even though you didn't actually, as it
turns out, need the win in your last game to
finish top, how much confidence did you take from the
victory over Auckland on Wednesday, especially taking forty five off
the last sixteen balls to win that game.

Speaker 10 (01:08:34):
Yeah.

Speaker 9 (01:08:35):
We've spoken about momentum a lot this season, and I
think it was really nice to obviously know that we
didn't need to win that game, but the fact that
we sort of pulled that out of the fire a
little bit. And that's kind of the games that we've
been speaking about is in the past, we've done a
way to lose those games. We've had our backs up
against the wall. But we've kind of found a little
bit of a method about taking the game a little
bit deeper than in the past, and we're kind of

(01:08:56):
proving it to ourselves that we can do that. And YEA,
for the last couple of seasons, as I say, we've
kind of struggled in those situations. So to win those
games and get a little bit more momentum. I think
before that Auckland game, we hadn't played in nine days
because of two rain So to get on the park
and get a win that's pretty crucial to getting back
on the winner's side of the table was pretty cool.

Speaker 2 (01:09:18):
Let's talk a little bit about your bowling. What's been
the secret or what of being the keys of your
economy in the T twenty comp this season.

Speaker 9 (01:09:29):
I don't really know. I think it's probably a combination
of experience and sort of I do quite a bit
of work on the analytics of the game and kind
of figure out little niche areas where I can save
one or two runs against most betters, so I kind
of let those one percenters kind of stack up a
little bit. But I think it's just a combination of

(01:09:49):
being experienced now and working closely with the guys around
me to kind of formulate a plan and figure out
how I can kind of try and have my impact
on the game.

Speaker 2 (01:09:58):
Are you trying to take wickets out there? Like would
you be happier with I don't know, would you be
happy with two for thirty or none for twenty eight.

Speaker 9 (01:10:07):
It's probably a little bit depends on the game scenario.
But I think kind of my role with it within
our team at the moment is to kind of be
the glue in the middle that can kind of restrict
whatever the situation is. So the fact that I'm going
to less runs and a lot of other people that's
my avenue and trying to provide a little bit of

(01:10:28):
control and when there's a big over, Tom can kind
of throw them the ball and he'll know more or
less what he's going to get. And I suppose knowing
that people are allowed to have their day with the
bed as well, so not being too hard on yourself
and you don't have those good days, it's probably the
key to my role because you're never going to bowl
done to twenty or two to thirty every day. There's
going to be days where you go for fifty, So

(01:10:51):
just accepting that's probably a big part of it as well,
and being at ease with knowing that these days that
the betters are going to take you down.

Speaker 2 (01:10:57):
At the start of a bowling innings, do you have
a general idea of which overs you're likely to bowl
or does that very much depend on how the innings
pans out? Saying the power.

Speaker 9 (01:11:05):
Play, Nah, I think we're we'd probably like to say
that everybody should have a good idea, but the nature
of twenty twenty cricket, especially in yelmba game, the game
progresses pretty quickly, so sometimes you get a little bit
of a right, who shall we bowl here? And then
you have a bit of a midfield conference with Tom
and you decide, right, it's it's time to try and

(01:11:27):
shut shutting over down inside the power play, which typically
i'd kind of go sort of maybe seven, oh, the
seventh over, maybe the eleventh and thirteenth, and then somewhere
around the eighteenth. So yeah, you just got to be
really it's kind of one of those games and you
sass to be prepared to bowl every year over the game.

Speaker 2 (01:11:43):
You mentioned Tom Bruce there before. He's I mean, he's
a terrific T twenty player, isn't he. How keys has
batting been and the batting of of a guy like
Jack Boyle to your success this season.

Speaker 9 (01:11:53):
Yeah, it's been. It's been all we've had. I suppose
we've had one one guy in the past going well
in the tournament. It's kind of and that always contributes
to games. When you get somebody that can average sort
of I suppose you get somebody that can average fifty
throughout the tournament. That's pretty special for for somebody to
do across sort of the eleven game tournament. But to
have have two or three guys that are contributing to

(01:12:13):
winning games for us consistently, it just means that you're
not losing wickets at both ends. And sometimes when you lose,
a look at both ends and you don't really find
ways to get momentum through the middle. So the fact
that we've got three or four guys that are all
of a pretty rich of veniform of moments, it's really
co and we've got a lot of confidence with the
lower order as well, like when we saw the other

(01:12:35):
night that Curtis came out in a different role at
number six or seven, got us across the line with Shwsey,
who's a gain pretty inexperience. It's cool to see because
we're all backing each other as well. So the fact
that everybody's leaning on each other within Satting unit, it's
pretty cool and it's something that we've kind of pride
ourselves on for this campaign especially. We worked seriously hard
and we had some pretty tough conversations posts Super Smash

(01:12:58):
last year about how we just didn't quite hit our
straps and we weren't prepared to take the games deep
enough so we can come out trumps up to the
stages pretty broading.

Speaker 2 (01:13:08):
Absolutely. Have you had a bat yet?

Speaker 11 (01:13:10):
Have you?

Speaker 2 (01:13:10):
Have you betted you haven't had one yet?

Speaker 5 (01:13:12):
I haven't.

Speaker 9 (01:13:12):
No, I've had to put the pads on twice, I think,
but it wasn't even I wasn't even close to going out,
which is that's pretty cool to know that sort of
I don't even think Blair is bettered and he's won
in front of me, so nineteen eleven haven't had to bat.
It's kind of shown the prowess of our top order,
which is yes, it's an awesome, awesome thing to be
part of it.

Speaker 2 (01:13:32):
The moment, Yeah, it really has. Do you think you're
a team that prefers to chase in T twenty I
it's a very general question, but I mean, you have
won a lot of games chasing the summer. Is that
your preference?

Speaker 9 (01:13:43):
Typically I would say no, but I think this season, yeah,
I think we definitely have figured out a little bit
of a GreenPrint to go out there and chase scores.
And I think just because of the nature of the wickets,
the wickets have been a little bit more abrasive, so
I think it has been difficult to sort of bat
first and know what a good scorer is. No, if

(01:14:04):
you've gone hard enough or if you've gone too hard,
you can sometimes leave yourself short. So I think going
out there and getting good read We've got a pretty
experienced bowling attack, so we're pretty attuned to giving some
pretty good feedback to the betters and knowing what they
can do in terms of chasing scores down. And I
think that's that experience coming to the floor as while
everybody's comfortable chasing scores and the fact that we're trusting
our own games and each other's means that we're actually

(01:14:28):
chasing scores pretty comfortably.

Speaker 2 (01:14:30):
And beyond this weekend, Jaden is back to FORLL Trophy
and Planket Shield. You're featured for the Stags and both
of those competitions before Christmas. You're keen to be an
all format player for CD.

Speaker 10 (01:14:40):
Yeah.

Speaker 9 (01:14:41):
Yeah, that's kind of a goal. That's I've worked worked
tirelessly to get my red ball game up to a
level where I can come compete for spots. A second,
if there's a second spinner, I've kind of tried to
homee my craft enough to be I suppose that second
spinner roll and for Ages is away with the black
Caps to be the one that's picked. So yeah, I'm

(01:15:01):
definitely keen to keep donning the baggy green and go
out there and performing cricket.

Speaker 2 (01:15:07):
Good Man, Well, you've got the white ball stuff to
get out of the way first, mate, All the best
tomorrow and the final against whoever it's against, either Northern
or Canterbury. Jayden Lennox from the Central Stags, the side
who finished top in the regular season and earned direct
entry into tomorrow's final, seventeen to two. Let's take a
break when we come back across the Tasman, Adam Peacock,
our Australian correspondent.

Speaker 9 (01:15:27):
Should you be the.

Speaker 1 (01:15:28):
TMO have your say on eight hundred and eighty ten
eighty Weekend Sport with Jason Pine and GJ. Gardnerholmes, New
Zealand's most trusted home builder news Dogs, they'd.

Speaker 2 (01:15:38):
Be thirteen to two. Let's get you across the Tasman,
our regular Australian correspondent Adam Peacock as well as Adam,
I know it's been done and dusted, but with the
benefit of a few days hindsight after the Australian Tennis
Open that you were deeply involved in the coverage of,
how do you regard the twenty twenty five edition?

Speaker 21 (01:15:55):
Awesome Piney, Yeah, I really enjoyed it. It didn't have
thinking about it, didn't have the incredible, amazing viral moments
if you like, throughout and you know, in part towards
the fact that Nicurious lost in the first round and
he didn't play the doubles, and yeah, various other reasons
that the crescendo on the weekend for two different reasons.
The women's final was just a n epic contest and

(01:16:17):
Madison Key's really heartwarming story that she got it done,
and then the performance of the annex Cenna goes down
as one of the great Grands Sman Final performances of
all time. To not even face a break point against
the second best player in the world, it's just it's
insane tennis. So, for varying reasons, the final weekend was
bloody enjoyable in terms of watching high level.

Speaker 8 (01:16:38):
Sports, great stuff.

Speaker 2 (01:16:39):
Loved your coverage of that. Let's move to the other
big summer sport. In both of our country's cricket. Both
of your men's and women's teams are in action at
the moment and both absolutely dominating their opposition. Let's start
and gaul Australia six hundred and fifty four for six
declared Sri Lanka one hundred and thirty six for five.
Goodness me, yeah.

Speaker 22 (01:16:59):
A bit of a gap between the two sides. Unfortunately, though,
the weather looks to kind of help the Slannkins yesterday
and knows what the weather's going to serve up in
the next two days, So Australia basically have two days
to take fifteen wickets. I can't imagine that we've had again,
unless something extraordinary happens. But yeah, it's a tough ass.
They're well rested. I guess though the ball was after

(01:17:21):
missing out for most of Day three. But yeah, total domination.
Didn't expect this. The way that we bat it was
so impressive and that wicket probably didn't suit the Shrilankans
as well as it might have. And I dare say,
I think they're going to play in the same deck
in the second Test, so who knows what they're going
to serve up And that one could be one of
those lossteries that we've seen in Pakistan in the last
couple of years, where they put all kinds of things

(01:17:45):
on the pitch to dry it out and make it
turn from ball one on day one. But at the moment,
Australia in a commanding position and bat it so well.
It was mccawajhor the best of them with two hundred plus.

Speaker 2 (01:17:56):
His opening partner Travis hid Sam Constace of course, turned
plenty of head to the back end of the series
against India. A surprise to you he wasn't selected to
open here.

Speaker 22 (01:18:06):
A little bit like if we're looking at it and
saying that, okay, we want sam Flosis to be part
of the test set up for the next fifteen years
and essentially a dead rubber test because it doesn't mean
anything for making World Test Championships. Why don't we give
him a go? But then you point it back to
Australia just wanting to win every Test and picking the
best possible team available at that moment, and you can't

(01:18:28):
argue with Josh English the man to come in. They
push Travis Het up to the top of the order
and they put Josh Engliss in at five. Really it
gives him an opportunity to impress on turning decks and
he did that with a Runnaball century. So the selectors
over here they have over the journey in and be
saying over there they picked someone who's against the grain

(01:18:50):
or it's not with public opinion, and that kind of
everyone blows up. But the selectors in the last few
years they made right choice after right choice and they've
got it right again.

Speaker 2 (01:18:58):
To you, and closer to home, the women's ashes is
happening in Australia. This has been utterly lopsided. There were
three internationals or one by Australia, three T twenty internationals,
or one by Australia and in the sold teast to
day nighter in Melbourne, England all out one seventy Australia
four twenty two for five.

Speaker 22 (01:19:18):
Yeah, these are the top of tours that at the
end of it, one team celebrates and the other one
goes home and has an independent review. Not so much
just like a heart to heart chat in the dressing
room after, like we're talking at board level, what the
hell is going on? And I think that's going to
happen with England out of the back of this one.
This has been a complete disaster from their perspective, and

(01:19:40):
it shouldn't happen because they've got a really strong domestic
setup on paper and they've got a competition which is
attracting players from all around the world called one hundred
that they have every year, so their cricket should be
better and just hasn't been. In Australia, who were just
prodded into action after missing out at the last World Cup.
They've come back and just absolutely given it to the English.

(01:20:02):
So it's good from an Australian perspective, but yeah, England
have a lot, a lot to consider when they may
get home after this tour.

Speaker 2 (01:20:10):
Have people been checking this out, have they been turning
up to watch or watching on TV?

Speaker 22 (01:20:14):
Yeah, yeah, good ratings on TV. And look that they've
held this one at the MCG. They've taken a bit
of a throw at the stumps and when it was
raining yesterday it got all the cricketing viewers on the
eyes of the ashes and I think a lot of
people realize that why they're having this at the end.
They have the Test at the end of the multi
format series. It kind of feels like a bit of

(01:20:35):
a dead rubber.

Speaker 9 (01:20:35):
Now.

Speaker 22 (01:20:36):
Conversely, if you end up with all the play for
and it's eighty six in terms of points going into
the last Test, which is worth four points, it's a
complete opposite. But I kind of agree with the summation
that maybe the Test match should be at the front
if we're going to prioritize that. But whatever the case,
yeah it is. It is getting good, really good viewership
on television and pretty handy crowds throughout.

Speaker 5 (01:20:57):
Although it doesn't look a bit empty they're having a
game like this at the.

Speaker 22 (01:20:59):
MCG, there's still some healthy crowds coming through the gate,
which is good to see.

Speaker 2 (01:21:03):
Yeah, good to hear. I believe today might have been
your first off all year, so thank you for taking
at least ten minutes out of a to jet to us. Mate,
I'm sorry to disturb you. Will get you back on
next surnay.

Speaker 22 (01:21:13):
That suits sounds good, Mate, sounds good.

Speaker 2 (01:21:16):
Cheers man. That's Adam Peaclock, our Australian correspondent, even on
his day off, joining us here on News Talks. Heb
with all of the big sports stories from across the
Tasman seven and a half to two News Talks. Heb
when it's down to the line.

Speaker 1 (01:21:29):
You made a call on eight ten eighty Weekend Sports
with Jason Hine News Talks.

Speaker 2 (01:21:34):
Heb just on four and a half away from two.
Eden Carson leads us off after two. She is the
leading wicket taker across the men's and women's competitions in
the Super Smash eighteen wickets across both the men's and women's. Well,
that's the most across the two. She's taken eighteen and
led Otago all the way to the final tomorrow. So

(01:21:55):
Eden Carson with us after two will also look at
Israel Adasanya's return to the octagon. He is in action
tomorrow at UFC Fight night in South Arabia. That's tomorrow morning,
New Zealand time. Nasadene Imeovov is his opponent. It's the
first time he's been in the ring since August when

(01:22:16):
he submitted in the fourth round against Treecus duples C.
So a long time between bounce for Israel and he's
off back to back defeats. Actually, so what's his mentality
heading into this one? Updating you from the Basin Reserve
and the Women's Super Smash elimination final. The Blaze one
hundred and twelve for five and the eighteenth Over one
hundred and twelve for five with two and a bit

(01:22:38):
overs to go, trying to set a total for the
Brave to chase down for the right to face Eden
Carson and Otago in the final. Tomorrow News Next at.

Speaker 16 (01:22:46):
Two, The only place for the big names, the big issues,
the big controversies and the big conversations heads all on
Weekend Sport with Jason Vaime on your home of Sport
News Talks had been two seven.

Speaker 2 (01:23:04):
This is Weekend's fourth for the first day of feb
We had till three. Tim Beveridge ready to take over
after three set of the edition of the Weekend collective
hosted by the Great Man before we get the chance
to hand over the quite a bit of sport to
get through between now and three o'clock, including a chat
about Israel Aardissonna's return to the octagon tomorrow morning against

(01:23:26):
a nasudin imevov Raven de Hernia from UFC on Sky
going to preview that for US. Eden Carson very shortly
out of the Otago cricket team, and we're going to
chat to a man this hour who has many talents,
not least of which he is a very accomplished marathon
swimmer and will shortly look to complete the New Zealand

(01:23:49):
Marathon swimming triple crown. He's donecooked straight, He's swum the
length of Lake topor Fovo straight is the one remaining
and he's just waiting for the weather to come to
the party so he can do that. His name is
doctor Dave Edgar, fascinating bloke. He's on the show this
hour as well. We'll continue to update you on live sport.

(01:24:10):
In fact, we can tell you the Blaze have clocked
up one thirty three for six in their twenty overs
batting first against the Northern Brave in the Women's Super
Smash elimination final at the basin one thirty three for
six off twenty overs. The Brave need one thirty four
to win that game and progress through to tomorrow's Women's

(01:24:30):
Super Smash Final. The Blaze obviously need to restrict them
to less than that. We will keep you up to
date as I say, oh, eight hundred and eighty ten
eighty is our number nine two ninety two if you
would prefer to send a text. But as we tick
past eight pass two, as we always do on weekend sport,
it is time to keep you or bring you perhaps
up to date with some of the sport you might

(01:24:51):
have missed in case you missed it. Every Saturday and
Sunday at this time we start in the A League.
The Western Sydney Wanderers have continued to inflict more misery
on Brisbane Raw during their dreadful A League season. Stif
think as well as is called and headed in the.

Speaker 6 (01:25:11):
Opening goal arrives. It's quasi dark triads. You've got great connection,
great direction.

Speaker 9 (01:25:20):
And there was nothing the Brisbane defense could do.

Speaker 2 (01:25:22):
The former Phoenix player Bosja Kray have scoring the goal
on a one nil win. Brisbane have won just one
of their fourteen games this season to cricket. India have
wrapped up their T twenties series against England with a
game to spare thanks to a couple of big knocks
from Hardek Pandya and Shivan Tube. I've told you that

(01:25:44):
he hauled.

Speaker 16 (01:25:45):
His ship and Hardrick Bunder has got.

Speaker 2 (01:25:48):
To an extraordinary half century without seeming to bludget the
ball and he's at four sixes.

Speaker 19 (01:25:54):
Beats the man at coma two fifty comes up?

Speaker 18 (01:25:57):
What you bub don beyonest come back to the Indian side.

Speaker 2 (01:26:00):
India winners by accountable fifteen runs. Meantime, a dream knock
in the women's ashes for Australia's Annabelle Sutherlands. Here she
is at the mcg of Victorian on ninety nine, cuts
away for four, from sparkly eye to childhood.

Speaker 1 (01:26:18):
Dreams to a moment that we'll be cherished for a lifetime.

Speaker 2 (01:26:24):
Parenting's ending when he was bold for one hundred and
sixty three. Australia currently lead by two hundred and fifty
two runs at the end of two days. Maybe a
nervous night's sleep for Beth Mooney. She finished the day
unbeaten on ninety eight and the Six Nations is underway
for twenty twenty five and it was a near cricket
score as France ran over the top of Wales forty

(01:26:46):
three nil. The cross keck and Gayton's waiting for it.

Speaker 18 (01:26:52):
He's only been on a match of seconds and France
have another try the vision of the woman and Tomac.

Speaker 2 (01:27:01):
It is becoming a demonstration from.

Speaker 1 (01:27:04):
France from the track fields and the court on your
home of Lord Sport with Jason Vine News.

Speaker 2 (01:27:12):
Talk eleven past two. Why are saying the sports news
thirteen straight defeats? Now for Wales thirteen straight defeats? Andy
had a quick check, not that we didn't believe. Why no,
But the last time Wales won a rugby match, when
did you say? It was at the twenty twenty three
Rugby World Cup. They beat what Georgia and Paul Play.

(01:27:33):
Was the last time they won?

Speaker 23 (01:27:34):
Yeah, they beat Georgia and Paul Play in the twenty
twenty three Rugby World Cup. So they went all last year.
I've got the things in front of me. They win
all last year. They lost three times, I believed to Australia,
which that's not good. One of them was a fifty
two to twenty loss. Then then the previous game before
this one forty three zero. They lost to South Africa

(01:27:55):
forty five twelve to finish the year, so they're pretty
bad scores. They lost to Fiji last year. They also
lost to Italy. They lost everyone absolutely.

Speaker 2 (01:28:06):
I don't know actually what's worth the losing streaks bad.
Shipping forty points is bad, but not scoring any nil
in rugby is so uncommon now nil.

Speaker 23 (01:28:17):
It's been nearly an entire year since they've last scored
points in the Six Nations pine ha, Yes, yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:28:23):
I mean you can. You can use stats and calendar
facts any way you like. I think the fact is
Warren Gatland has to be a man under pressure if
he wasn't already. As soon as you lose four or
five six games in a row, questions start getting asked.
Thirteen straight defeats for Wales astonishing. Well, we'll actually wrap
the Six Nations tomorrow. There are two more games tomorrow morning.

(01:28:45):
Are Martin Gillingham going to join us about this time?
Actually tomorrow on the show to wrap the first weekend
of Six Nations? Be keen to hear how much pressure
Wales coach Kiwi Warren Gatland is actually under thirteen past two.
Any chance asks this text of the occasional update on
the Hawk Cup cricket challenge, currently into its second day
in AP I can do that. I can do that

(01:29:05):
for this the Hawk Cup. It's very famous trophy in
sort of districts cricket, not provincial cricket, but the one
below that, regional cricket. I'm not quite sure what the
right definition is. Any I can tell you this is
a very odd scoreboard. Hawks Bay hold the Hawk Cup.
They're trying to fend off a challenge from Tartanaki. Hawks
Bay in their first innings fifty nine for seven declared

(01:29:29):
fifty nine for seven declared very odd innings. Tatanaki then
came out well bowled out for one fifty seven and
in their second innings Hawks Bay are fifty one for five.
So they're the holders of the Hawk Cup. They took
it off Canterbury Country last summer, fend it off challenges
from Mulawit to County's Manico, Canterbury Country again, then South Canterbury.

(01:29:49):
But they trail by forty seven runs with just five
second innings wickets left. So yeah, it's looking as though
the Hawk Cup might be headed to Tananaki. Well occup
eyes on that for you as well. Thank you for
asking the question. Hopefully that the answer that you were after.
Hope you're not a Hawk's Bay fan, but maybe you are.

(01:30:11):
Maybe you're a ton of nicky fan and waiting for
the Hawk Cup to come home. Staying with cricket, the
Otago Sparks straight into tomorrow's final of the women's Super Smash,
winning seven of their ten games to secure top spot
on the regular season. They now wait the winner of
the current game between Wellington and Northern Otago Sparks been
Eden Carson, the top wicket taker across both the men's

(01:30:33):
and women's competitions.

Speaker 24 (01:30:35):
That's a big top edge as it found space. No,
it hasn't just found the safe hands of Hayley Jensen.
How do you build Teshua through dots and ones? That's
a great shout, smack bang in front. It's two wickets
for the over and Eden Carson and she has turned
this game on its head. Yes and straight through disrupts

(01:30:56):
the off stump and Eden Carson.

Speaker 9 (01:30:59):
What a come back.

Speaker 2 (01:31:00):
Eighteen wickets across the regular season for Eden Carson, including
a best of five for eighteen against the High and
Palmerston North, and she went across the competition for less
than six and a half runs over on average. She
also affected four runouts and took three catches. Pretty decent
regular season for Eden Carson who joins us. Now what
a supersmash has been for you, eat An and for

(01:31:21):
the Sparks. What do you put the team's success down
to in the regular season?

Speaker 24 (01:31:26):
Hi?

Speaker 14 (01:31:27):
Yeah, I think you know, we've been the similar team
in the past couple of years, and I think that
was so comes down to our coach k Cumming. He's
been a big anchor within this team of you know,
where we've come from. When you first amates the team,
we were onto both in streets. So yeah, for him
to come in and kind of change every thing up

(01:31:48):
and then for us to be as successful as we
have been in the last three years, we put it
down to him and then just a senship that we
have within the group on NASA.

Speaker 19 (01:31:56):
Field as well.

Speaker 2 (01:31:57):
As the success has come across the season, has that
helped to you know, to continue the momentum if you like?
You know that does winning actually lead to a winning
more often?

Speaker 14 (01:32:08):
Yeah, definitely, I think that is true. I think you know,
we didn't start off the season as we would have liked,
having a loss against a good Cannibory side. So yeah,
I think coming back harder against I think we had
the Hinds next, or no, we had the open Hearts next,
So we came out a bit harder then, and then
we started winning some more games and then you know,

(01:32:30):
kind of slapped off a little bit and then we
came back winning. So yeah, I think being able to
carry that momentum of winning a game to the next
game kind of helped us throughout the season and you know,
got us where we are now being able to go
straight through to their final ones someday.

Speaker 2 (01:32:42):
So even winning seven out of ten and T twenty,
that's pretty good. I mean, you know how volatile a
game it can be. So, you know, as consistency something
that you guys as players and Craig Is your coach,
have been pretty happy with.

Speaker 14 (01:32:54):
Yeah, definitely, a consistency is something that we talk about
as a group with you know, in field, with the
ball and with the bats. So yeah, to be able
to be consistent throughout the season has got to where
we are. You know, we would have had I would
have liked to have a few more wins, but you know,
see seven out of ten we're pretty heavy worth, especially
with also been in the HBJ with six on sex

(01:33:16):
as well in that format. So no, we've we're on
the right track for both formats at the moment, which
is pretty proud something to be proud of in the group.

Speaker 2 (01:33:24):
Absolutely. Of course, Wellington have been the flag bearers for
this competition and for women's cricket in the last little while.
But you had two comfortable wins over them, seven wicket
wins in both of your matches against them. How much
confidence do you take from from taking down the Blaze.

Speaker 14 (01:33:40):
Yeah, I think you know that Blaze Steam has had
a target on their back for a few years now
from all teams in the comps, so you know, to
be able to get two wins against a quality side
like them, you know, it's pretty special for some of
the girls as well. I think when we bet them
the first twenty, I don't I think since I've been
in the team, we've only met them once and before that,

(01:34:02):
so yeah, it was a long time coming. So it
was pretty nice to get one over them. And then
I think someone my girls are walking the other day,
it'd be pretty nice to face them against face them
in the final and potentially get one over them in
the SUPERSMA final, which would be nice. But you know
that whoever shows up on the day and it could
be nd we could be playing and on Sunday, so
you know, Watchever team, I'm looking forward to that.

Speaker 2 (01:34:24):
Battle your own bowling, Eden. How much has your bowling
changed the way you bowl in tee twenty in the
time that you've been playing the game, which is which
is a few years now.

Speaker 14 (01:34:35):
Yeah, definitely, I think my game has evolved a lot.
I'm always learning on the job, especially even since I
got my Micpans contract, been able to work with you know,
call of the Spring coaches such as Paul Waite on
which he's been based had a lot of technique changes.
You know, a lot of technical stuff has gone into
that game. So yeah, there's always learning on day and

(01:34:58):
then you know taking that into their each game against
different betters.

Speaker 2 (01:35:02):
Now five wicket bags pretty rare and T twenty cricket
only bowl four over or what went so well for
you that day in Palmi?

Speaker 14 (01:35:11):
Yeah, I think just setting to my plans throughout that
whole day. You know, it's almost nice to grab work
out to be able to grab five was pretty special
and just kind of doing my bubble in the day,
but really it wasn't all around performance that day. I think,
you know, Central Hinds are really good side and I
think they've been pretty unlucky throughout this year. So yeah,

(01:35:32):
great bowling team in a great batting side. So to
be able to get five wickets, to get some quality
batters was you know, I'm pretty happy with Are.

Speaker 2 (01:35:41):
You going out now in T twenty with the express
intention of taking wickets or is it still about restricting runs?

Speaker 11 (01:35:49):
Yeah, I think.

Speaker 14 (01:35:49):
Still restricting runs because the restricting runs comes wickets from
the bit of pressure. But yeah, I kind of just
want to do my job on the day and I
hope not with the bat, I hopefully I don't have
the bat, but in the with the ball and in
the field. So yeah, we're I can do my dramas
I hope to be best at.

Speaker 2 (01:36:10):
You know absolutely well, you're a big part of the
White Ferns when at the T twenty World Cup. How
much confidence did you take from that into the summer
with Otago.

Speaker 14 (01:36:20):
Yeah, I think coming out of that woman had a
lot more confidence within my game and my bowling because
I've been kind of in and out of that team
are the White Ferns for a few tours. I'd been
packed for not really playing just for the conditions and
matchups and things like that. But I feel like I
took my opportunity when I was given it, which I'm

(01:36:41):
pretty proud of. And you know, coming off when a
lot of people didn't think that would be able to do,
and then coming back to domestic, you know, there's that
little bit of pressure to perform well. But I was
just happy to be back with the Sparks. As you know,
I love playing for the Sparks and for my region.
A bit of blood run blue and gold down here.

Speaker 17 (01:36:59):
So yeah, do you.

Speaker 2 (01:37:02):
Still think back to that T twenty World Cup? I
mean like often or a you now got to the
point where I only occurs to you occasionally.

Speaker 14 (01:37:10):
Yeah, sometimes just pops up in my mind just randomly
during the day. I was like, oh my god, we
did that, Like who would have thought because I didn't
think that initially. And then you know, I'm just like,
we will champs, and I'm like that is.

Speaker 11 (01:37:23):
Crazy, very cool.

Speaker 2 (01:37:26):
Yeah, So you're the best bowler in the comp merely
curves the best batter in the comp How much do
you enjoy bowling to her when you get the opportunity.

Speaker 14 (01:37:34):
Yeah, I we always to all we battle Merely and
I come from also having battles in the nets when
we have white friends camps, and you know, sure it's
gives me a bit of stick saying oh that's a
fort for and I'm like no, So it'll be interesting
if she does that against stuff, hopefully on Sunday. But

(01:37:55):
now it's always a good competition against merely. You know,
we have a bit of chat on the field and
things like that, so yeah, got to bolt her. You know,
one of the best surrounders in the world as well.
So and I some player of the year, so that
adds to it a bit. So hopefully looking for her
worck at good stuff.

Speaker 2 (01:38:12):
Well, I guess you have to wait and see whether
it's Wellington or Northern you come up against on Sunday.
Congress on a great season with the Sparks so far,
Eden and all the best with whoever you come up
against on Sunday. Yeah, thank you very much, thank you,
Eden Carson. They're out of the Otago Sparks, so they
wait patiently or maybe impatiently for their opponent to be confirmed,
and it'll be confirmed in the next hour and a

(01:38:33):
half or so. Northern Brave chasing one hundred and thirty
four to beat the Blaze at the base and they've
started pretty well fourteen without loss. At the end of
the second over. Jess Watkins come out and got all
fourteen of their runs. She's decided to take the long
handle and has had a couple of boundaries. So the
Northern Brave looking good at the moment. That never count
the Blaze out. They've got a few game changes when

(01:38:55):
it comes to their bowling attack as well. The Brave
fourteen without loss is at the end of the first over.
It is not the second over, the first over, so
it's yeah, it's been a red hot start by Jess
Watkin and the Northern Brave. Two twenty three, we're going
to take a break. We've got some UFC for you
before three o'clock with Israel adiss On. You're back in

(01:39:16):
the octagon tomorrow. But next a man of many talents
who is about to try and complete the triple Crown
of marathon swimming in New Zealand by crossing the Fovo Strait.
Doctor Dave Edgar with us after this on Weekend Sport.

Speaker 16 (01:39:31):
He's more than just a game.

Speaker 1 (01:39:34):
Weekend Sport with Jason Vine and TJ Garnomes New Zealand's
most trusted home builder news Dogs MB.

Speaker 2 (01:39:41):
Two twenty six on news DOGSB and Weekend Sport. Doctor
Dave Edgar is a man of many talents. He's a
major in the New Zealand Army, currently Officer Commanding Physical
Performance Squadron. He has an extensive background working in rugby
as a strength and conditioning coach for Whitecuttle, the chiefs
man of some More, and also in Japan. And He's

(01:40:01):
an accomplished marathon swimmer and endurance athlete. He'll what they
look to complete the New Zealand Marathon Swimming triple crown
by swimming Fovo straight. He's already completed the length of
Lake Topor and Cook straight. He's also on a mission
to conquer the Ocean seven, which I'm keen to find
out more about. He's doing all of this to help

(01:40:22):
raise awareness for dyslexia and those with learning challenges. Doctor
Dave Egger as well as Dave, this is amazing. Let's
start with your upcoming swim. What are the specific challenges
of swimming the Fovo straight.

Speaker 9 (01:40:36):
Hey get it at Piney. Great to be here and mate,
thanks for the awesome intro. Yeah, look the Fovo. The
big challenges is, look, we've got the tide window. It's
always the weather. So I'm talking with the boat captain
down there daily at the moment to try and nail
the ideal day it's looking like next Tuesday or Friday.

(01:40:56):
And then around that just the winds, trying to get
the best winds to ride across and water temperature. I've
done a heck of a lot of cold water training.
And probably the other thing that's in the back of
the mind is the old great things float around in
the water down there.

Speaker 2 (01:41:09):
Yes, I would imagine that'd be something you'd like to avoid.
So when you are looking for ideal conditions and you've identified,
as you say, a window that might be your perfect day,
what does that day look like?

Speaker 9 (01:41:22):
Okay, what does that look like? Yeah, I guess we
target these windows pretty early out and it goes off
the tides. You want to eb tide, which is the
I guess the lowest tide of the month or one
of the lowest of the months, so there's less water
pushing you around. You still go on the high tide,
so you get the flow, so you can target that
you know months out going off different predictions and tides

(01:41:43):
and knew and whatnot. The challenging point then becomes obviously
the weather. You can follow weather patterns, but you're not
sure exactly what's going to happen at that time. So
really it's just being ready to go, confident that you
can do it, and hoping the stars align a little bit,
because if it doesn't come off, you know, you've got
that risk. You've invested so much. Do you jump in

(01:42:04):
and do it or do you just hold off a
few more weeks, a few months or wait till the
next year.

Speaker 2 (01:42:09):
Do you have a target time in mind to swim sover?

Speaker 9 (01:42:14):
Yeah, I've looked at this and it's an interesting one
because you can put a target time on it, but
you really, I don't want to have a set target
time in my head and then things don't quite go
to plan and you're getting pushed, you know, one way
or the other, and it's taking a bit longer. But
I really think it's achievable in sort of that eight
to ten hours, all going well closer to the eight

(01:42:36):
and it's just you know, sticking to a plan, listening
to your crew, and just pushing as hard as can.

Speaker 2 (01:42:40):
How does that compare it to swimming Cookstraight or Lake Topoor.

Speaker 9 (01:42:45):
Yeah, I guess I've had been asked that quite a bit.
I mean, the difference between the fresh water and the
salt water, for a start, is that when I look at, say,
I compare cook Straight to Lake Talpo, I was probably
a lot more beaten up swimming Lake Talpo Wow Wow,
because you sit lower in the water, you don't have
the buoyancy and you just swim in a one straight

(01:43:06):
line all day. And on that swim, I got through
it no worries, but my I had one of my burser,
my left bursa, and my shoulder sort of started to
not play the game with about two hours to go,
So that was sort of quite agony because you're sitting
lower in the water, You're reaching up and I was
really sore. The cook Straight not so sore. Body was
in good nick, but I was just really tired, probably
from being pushed around a little bit more on the tide.

(01:43:29):
So yeah, with the FOVO, same sort of thing. Tapering.
Now I've done a heck of a lot of strength work,
conditioning work obviously, lots and lots of swimming. Now some
you know, pretty decent swims over the summer upwards of
sort of twenty four to twenty five ks and yeah,
just getting his best neck as I can and freshening
up just to be ready to go.

Speaker 2 (01:43:48):
So how long did cook straight take you? What was
the time for that?

Speaker 9 (01:43:52):
My cook straight time was eight hours forty seven?

Speaker 2 (01:43:55):
Okay, so about the same, about the same as what
you're aiming for for five Oh yeah.

Speaker 9 (01:43:58):
About the same. And again, like I say, you've got
to be prepared for everything. Point to point, cook straight
was twenty three kilometers. I swam eight hours forty seven,
but I covered forty four k's that day.

Speaker 2 (01:44:08):
Oh wow, Yeah, eight forty.

Speaker 9 (01:44:11):
Seven was still a pretty damn good time, and there
was a few people didn't even get across this summer.

Speaker 2 (01:44:16):
So yeah, what is it about marathon swimming that appeals
to you?

Speaker 9 (01:44:21):
Oh?

Speaker 5 (01:44:22):
Yeah, I get asked this a lot.

Speaker 9 (01:44:23):
Look, it's I guess I've always been an endurance an
indurance athlete and endurance junkie probably more so, and it's
opened up another whole world for me because I mean,
I'm fifty two. Now I've represented I have represented New
Zealand and trython an Ironman, an Ironman Trithon was my sport.
Did Hawaii iron Man and that was me, it's going
to be a pro. And I had this career laid out,
but then my knees sort of didn't play the game.

(01:44:45):
Maybe too many years in the military and caring packs
and whatnot what we do didn't help. But now open
the water swimming, because I find, regardless of age, it's
not as tough on the body, it's not as pounding,
and it's tiny. It's opened up this whole new world
to me. In that triathlete. You know, we prided ourselves
on being skinny and lean. It's a whole different world
I've had to put on in fact, just to stay

(01:45:07):
warm in the water, the time in the water, the
mental challenges, dealing with the cold, dealing with currents, dealing
with you know, sea light, just all these different challenges
that are all down to you to push through on that.
That self challenge.

Speaker 2 (01:45:20):
Amazing. So tell us about the Ocean seven.

Speaker 9 (01:45:24):
Yeah, the Ocean seven. So that's it's I guess it's
it's a series or it's you know, it's that it's
a challenge that it's the toughest seven ocean swims in
the world. Any one of them on the given day
is a tough one. So that's sort of the real
benchmark of open water international swimming. There's sorry, was that.

Speaker 2 (01:45:44):
No, I was going to ask you how far and
wide you'll have to go if you if you are
to achieve that.

Speaker 9 (01:45:49):
Yeah, No, she's she's pretty decent. I've done the cook straight.
That's one. Then you've got In Europe, there's a few.
So there's the English Channel, the Northern Channel, which is
Ireland to Scotland. In Europe, there is the Gibraltar which
is pretty much Europe to Africa, Catalina which is Catalina
Islands to San Francisco, cold waters and chucks to sue

(01:46:11):
you straight in Japan which is the mainland of Japan
to Hakkaido, and Malachai Channel in Hawaii, so all over
the place. I'm really cold, some really warm.

Speaker 2 (01:46:22):
Amazing. What a challenge for you. Why does the raising
of awareness for dyslexia when you're doing all of this
resonate particularly with you, Dave.

Speaker 9 (01:46:32):
Well, pretty simple, really dyslexic, and I've faced a heck
of a lot of challenges in my time. Man. I
guess it sort of goes hand in hand something that
maybe I used to try and hide or put to
the side and not want people to know. But I've
found ways to get through it. And I mean the
endurance sport, the swimming has just been a really really

(01:46:52):
good platform to use that I'm pushing this area. You know,
I pushed myself physically but mentally as well, so hence
you know I have a platform. I swim off doctor
Dave swims. And that's because even as you know, the
early challenge as I faced, I managed to achieve getting
my PhD. I never thought i'd have a degree, let
alone a PhD. I'm a proud born and bred took

(01:47:14):
it all boy, left school, worked in a bush gang.
I was pretty proud of that. But I just, you know,
early on, I thought this is okay, but I can
achieve some cool stuff. And I just kept pushing through.
Joined the military, got a degree, and just sort of
pushed from there. So advocating learning that we can achieve.
We've just got to find pretty much our own way
to achieve.

Speaker 2 (01:47:32):
The end loop amazing and all of us you've worked
about in rugby as well. Tell us about that.

Speaker 9 (01:47:38):
Yeah mate, Yeah, I've had a pretty cool career. I
again talked about my endurance sport and I went to
Otiger University when I first left the military, and you know,
as we do, I sort of thought I'm going to
get a job an endurance and then realized that New
Zealand actually did very few jobs, so rugby was the
way to go. I played rugby when I was younger.
I always I was a pirates man, pirates teper. Yeah,

(01:48:00):
and I thought pretty early this is the way to go.
So yeah, straight, I've managed to work at the university clubs,
had degree and I was lucky enough to get my
first rugby job was back with my boyhood team of
Whitekato and that was in the early days when Warren
Gatlan come back. So had some success there assistant trainer
with the Chiefs, and then journey sort of carried on.
I was lucky enough to get the job with Sarmore.

(01:48:22):
I was the manage some wore head strength conditioning coach
for four years, did the two eleven World Cup, and
then off the back of that, managed to go to Japan.
I was actually I was employed by Eddie Jones at
Suntery to look after the Suntry Club. Had two years
there and had some success and that was a pretty
cool journey. Another couple of years around Japan, and then

(01:48:45):
sort of headed back to New Zealand for my kids
to do high school and relinked for some more. So
it's been a pretty cool journey. And I've done three
World Cups now with Somemore and now sort of trying
to bring a lot of that high performance work into
the defense force as well with rugby and within my jobs.
So trying to the bridge bridge the performance world's into
defense and rugby and everything as we go.

Speaker 2 (01:49:05):
Amazing, what journey it's been, and much more to come
by the sounds of it, Dave. The immediate point of
business is swimming fovo straight. Let's hope the window opens
for you and stays open. People can find out more
at your website. What's the website?

Speaker 9 (01:49:18):
Yeah, look at my website ww dot doctor Dave Swims
dot org dot inz. Also look on Facebook, doctor Dave Swims.
I've got a Facebook page and I'm promoting the swim
but also trying to teach people about it. You know,
why we do cold water of ours and how does
nutrition work and all the crazy stuff that goes with
it that people don't understand, so you have a look

(01:49:39):
at that.

Speaker 2 (01:49:40):
Been a great pleasure catching up with your Dave. All
the best for FAU vote and look forward to tracking
your progress as your head towards the guts of Ocean
seven as well. Been a pleasure to catch up.

Speaker 9 (01:49:49):
Thanks Tony, really appreciate it. And if people want to
get on to that site and have a look, I'll
have the GPS tracker up so you can watch me
chasing those sharks all day or swimming away from those sharks.

Speaker 2 (01:49:58):
All the let's open that one. Good to chab mate,
all the best, Thanks mate, thank you very much, No,
thank you Dave. Doctor Dave Edgar there marathon swimmer and
extremely good rooster. You could pick up from that chat
doctor Dave Swims. That's Dr Daveswims dot org dot nzd
Dave Swims dot org dot NZEV or just look for

(01:50:19):
doctor Dave Swims on Facebook. What a good man, What
a really good man? What are we twenty three away
from three? Updating you from the basein reserve where Northern
have lost a couple of quick wickets. They're twenty eight
for two, Jess, what can they were still there? I
get the feeling this whole game hinges on how long
she can stay out there. They're actually thirty two for two.

(01:50:39):
Now thirty two for two, Jess, what Cain has twenty
five of those runs? So cheap? It feels to me
holds the key for this. One hundred and thirty four
is the target for Northern if they are to make
tomorrow's final against the Otago Sparks. We'll keep eyes on
that for you. Israel Adissonna is back in the octagon
tomorrow morning, his first fight since August. What's it all about?

(01:51:01):
Who's he up against? Should he win? And win? Mike
Israel decide? You know what? Enough is enough? He's thirty
five now, so I wonder when that time might be.
Ravender Hunia from UFC on Sky joining us on Weekend
Sport right after this.

Speaker 1 (01:51:15):
The Tough Questions off the Turf Weekend Sport with Jason
Tyne and GJ. Gunnerholmes, New Zealand's most trusted.

Speaker 16 (01:51:22):
Home builder.

Speaker 2 (01:51:24):
Nineteen away from three three. Israel Adisona returns to the
octagon tomorrow morning against Nasaudene imevov At UFC Fight Night
in Saudi Arabia. It'll be his first fight since August
when he submitted in the fourth round against Drinka's duplace.

Speaker 5 (01:51:40):
Bit right hand three a ro old for Duke plus
and now drags out of Signia down straight to thrown
one hook in.

Speaker 2 (01:51:47):
Let's see if Oh, he's got the two.

Speaker 12 (01:51:49):
He's got the two.

Speaker 2 (01:51:51):
Du plus?

Speaker 12 (01:51:53):
Yes, good, Africauntry we plus remains the band? What any five?

Speaker 9 (01:52:02):
Yeah?

Speaker 2 (01:52:03):
So that was the last time he was in the
ring or in the ok again. Rather, you can watch
UFC Fight Night in Saudi Arabia live on ESPN and
stream on skysport now from six o'clock tomorrow morning. Let's
bring in Ravenda Hernia from UFC on sky Revender, thanks
for taking the time to chat to us. As always,
Israel comes in after losing back to back fights for

(01:52:24):
the first time in his twenty eight bout professional MMA career.
What sort of mindset and mentality will he bring into
this one?

Speaker 11 (01:52:32):
Oh?

Speaker 17 (01:52:32):
I think here will come into this obviously wanting a win.
That's what any fighter would want in this situation. But
I think the pressure of not having to be fighting
for his title is a pressure that he probably welcome.
He's been fighting the last twelve fights straight title fights.
I mean, they're still a main event, but it's not
a pay per view, so that pressure is off of him.
He's fighting nazadin Imovov, who is number five in the division,

(01:52:55):
and he's just made a bit of a name of
himself having three successful fights last year against top ten guys.
So I think that the pressure is off this fight,
and I think he can, you know, maybe a coach.
This fight was a little more freedom.

Speaker 2 (01:53:08):
Do you think he feels he has something to prove
after successive defeats.

Speaker 11 (01:53:12):
Oh?

Speaker 17 (01:53:13):
Absolutely, And I think even if he wasn't defeated, he
still feels like he has something to prove it. You know,
that's the name of the game. But I think for
him it'll be motivating, uplifting and a win could you know,
definitely bring up the spirits. But you know, at the
same time, the reality of this one means that he's another,
you know, one fight or two maybe away from another

(01:53:35):
title shot, which is absolutely where he would want to be.

Speaker 2 (01:53:37):
I saw some of the media he did in the
lead up to tomorrow morning, and one of the things
he said, which I thought was interesting was this one's
for me. I'm doing this for me. I often fight
for other people from a team, a family, et cetera.
This one's for me. Did that kind of resonate with
you as well?

Speaker 12 (01:53:51):
Yeah?

Speaker 17 (01:53:51):
Absolutely, And he hasn't kind of been in that mindset
for a little while. So, you know, when he fought
Sean Stricklan, when he fought Richistuplasi and was unsuccessful. You know,
he was going through having made a movie, having you know,
things were going on externally. For him to come into
this prone and say that this is for me, and
you know, having that to prove and nothing else kind

(01:54:12):
of you know, being a hindrance on him makes an
absolute difference in terms of his mindset coming in, even
though we know that when he comes into these fights
psychologically he's always so very strong or that's the way
he likes to, you know, perceive himself to the public.

Speaker 2 (01:54:24):
We just seem to have lost Ravi the right midstream.
We'll get Andy to get her back because we wanted
to get we wanted to get the rest of that.
So we're just trying to get Ravi back on the line.
Let's just say if we can do that. So tomorrow
morning from six on ESPN as where you can pick

(01:54:44):
up UFC Fight Night in Saudi Arabia with Israel Disuna
fighting the French with a bit of Russian background. Nasu
Deen Imovov at Fight Night in Saudi Arabia. I think
we've got Ravi back, so we can we can bring
her back in I think maybe just a bad reception

(01:55:05):
area or something some so let's yep, we can bring
it back. Rab We were just lost it there. But
I was just going to ask about whether there was
ever a chance in your mind that Israel might have
called her a day. What's seven years in UFC mighty
have called her a day?

Speaker 12 (01:55:20):
Yeah?

Speaker 17 (01:55:21):
Possibly, I mean seven years at any job is as
a long fought battle. But you know, when you think
about the sport and the demand that that has on
your body and you know it where's you're down, it
really does. And then when you kind of get to
the pinnacle, you know, when you're the champion, you've been
a champion for so long, and then you get a
couple of losses, you're kind of, you know, looking on

(01:55:41):
the other side of things. So I wouldn't I wouldn't
blame him, you know, obviously, financially he's probably set up
for life. He's helped set his family up too, So
what is there no kind of left to prove? And
I think but now, like you said, he wants to
prove something to himself. It's no longer about you know,
I need to do this for my family, I need
to do this for the fans. To Smith's math, it's
basically just him and the love of the sport.

Speaker 2 (01:56:03):
So let's talk about his opponent tomorrow. Nasadine Imovov joined
at UFC in twenty twenty, a seven and two record,
one not contest. What sort of fighter is he and
what are the main threats that he poses?

Speaker 17 (01:56:16):
Well, you know, despite being you know, from Dugastan, where
we all know, you know, the best wrestlers in the
will come from, and the likes of Kabebza Makachev, he's
very much a stand up fighter. He's based in France
and has you know, come together with a new team
to kind of fine tune those skills. He's a striker,
he's a stand up fighter, but he is quite competent

(01:56:36):
on the ground as well. We saw that against the
likes of Brendan Allen. Brendan Allen in his last fight
is a grappler in the middleweight division, and he totally
nullified anything that Brendan Allen brought to him, which shows
that he has great defensive skills for takedowns. But we
know that Israel a desk when he doesn't bring that
kind of fight either, so I'm expecting a stand and bang.

(01:56:57):
Nobody Invov likes to fight a little bit shorter. He
has a long reach seventy five, whereas I think as
he has the advantage of five inches there, so I'm
expecting a stand and bang. But Nasadin he's not afraid
to get into the pocket. He's not afraid to get close.
He's happy to, you know, have those punches coming his
way to give what he needs to do. He's very
slick on was his boxing. So I'm expecting a stand

(01:57:20):
and bang. But I wouldn't be surprised coming up against
a fighter like israela deaths on you where we've seen
a blueprint there for takedowns. Obviously, his last fight he
lost by a renneckad choke to drink Astiplasi, so some
ground game could be expected, but I think Nazadi Imovov
will would definitely want to prove that he has fire
in his hand.

Speaker 19 (01:57:38):
As well as is He.

Speaker 2 (01:57:39):
Yeah, how big a foight is this for Imovov? Because
I feel like anyone who fights is He, it's a
big fight for them, maybe their biggest EMBI fight.

Speaker 17 (01:57:47):
Yeah, and you know, on the Shark UFC on Sky
this week, my co host Dan Hooker described it as
life changing for Imovov and he said to us in
an interview that he's been preparing for israela Dstonia long
before he came into the UFC in twenty twenty. And
of course, when we think back at that time, Israel
was at as absolute pique as the champions. So this
will be life changing. And to have a fighter like

(01:58:09):
Israel adesks on you're on your CV, serves you. Well,
I don't want to call Israel a desk On, you're
a gatekeeper, but man, a win over Israel is an
absolute you know, he's going to have his name in
title talks in the next couple of fights if he
can get through Israel. So it's absolutely life changing if
you know Imovov can get the job.

Speaker 2 (01:58:27):
Done, all right, Ra, But well, just before you go,
regardless of what happens tomorrow morning, Israel adis sonya as
thirty five years old, now, what do you predict for him?
How much longer will he go on?

Speaker 22 (01:58:39):
I think that's up to him.

Speaker 17 (01:58:40):
You know, like we've seen fighters go. I mean some
fighters go well, you know, well into their forties and
you think to yourself, oh jeez, maybe you should hang
up the gloves. But you know, he's he's one of
those fighters when you think of like and he likened
himself early on in his career like Floyd Mayweather, where
he likes to you know, throw out hits and not
be hit back, you know. So defense has always been

(01:59:02):
something that has served him well to not take those hits,
which means you know, long give in the game. So
I mean it's totally up to him. But yeah, I
just think that that is up to him. But you know,
when you're thinking realistically, like I said before, in a
sport like MMA, it does wear you down.

Speaker 10 (01:59:17):
You know.

Speaker 17 (01:59:18):
Israel, he's doesn't have a family, you know, children or
things like that, and that might be an aspect that
he wants to think about too, about settling down in
life outside of the UFC. And he's absolutely set himself
in his family.

Speaker 10 (01:59:28):
Up for life.

Speaker 17 (01:59:30):
But no, I think, you know, I think that this
is his possibly last run at trying to get back
on top and leave on a good note from the UFC.
He's an absolute superstar and the sport and will be
no matter how long he stays in the game.

Speaker 2 (01:59:42):
All right, let's see what happens tomorrow morning, early start
for all of us six am coverage starts tomorrow morning
on ESPN and Skysport now Rave thanks for joining us
as always with your great analysis.

Speaker 17 (01:59:52):
Thank you for having me.

Speaker 2 (01:59:53):
All the best. Robinda Hernia there you can catch her
on UFC on Sky one of the best voices going
around in terms of your knowledge and insight into UFC
and mixed martial arts. Six am tomorrow morning. UFC Fight
Night in Saudi Arabia featuring Israel Adissonna against Narsadene Imeovov.
It's the headline act on the card tomorrow morning. Coming

(02:00:13):
up ten to three. News Talk's headbu.

Speaker 1 (02:00:15):
Breaking down the Hail Mary's and the epic fails weekends
for it with Jason Lyme.

Speaker 2 (02:00:22):
News Talk ZENB coming up seven and a half away
from three. Let's update you from the basin where Jess
Watkin is out and in fact the Blaze have just
taken a fourth wicket fourth Brave wicket sixty for four,
now sixty for four in the eighth over, so seventy
four more runs needed for the Brave to win this one,

(02:00:43):
six wickets in hand and twelve overs to do it.
Merely Kurz just come on and taking a wicket I
think with her first ball. So it's the way to
make an impact from the captain. So yeah, a tight
tussle going on at the basin as the Blaze and
the Brave go head to head for the right to
face Otago in tomorrow's final. That is US four Weekend

(02:01:03):
Sport for today. We're back tomorrow after midday. Tomorrow's John
Kerwin joins us on the show. You might have caught
the news yesterday that after a decade with Sky Sport
he is stepping away from that role. Very mutual by
the sounds of things between he and Sky Sports. So
how do Sir John Kerwin reflect on his time in
broadcasting And I want to drill a bit deeper into

(02:01:23):
the role of particularly former players in the broadcast of sports.
So that's tomorrow. We'll also talk some more cricket, a
little bit of rugby as well as we review the
first weekend of six Nations. Thank you so much for
tuning in. It's been a please to bringing you the show.
Tim Beverage after three with the Saturday edition of the
Weekend Collective song to take us Out. Thanks to you

(02:01:45):
Andy for all your work today. What have you chosen?

Speaker 23 (02:01:49):
Yes, I don't know if you caught the news this
week Piney Toto, great band returning to New Zealand. So
of course that leads to the obvious choice of Africa
to lead us out today.

Speaker 2 (02:02:00):
I think the only song in history with the word
Culliman Jarro in it, I stand to be corrected. Thanks
for that fact. Look, it's it's all the facts I've
given you. It's the most recent ones, and I'm not
saying it was a fact. I think you're probably right,
all right. Enjoy the last bit of Africa from title
We'll see them Mark.

Speaker 12 (02:03:03):
Boy.

Speaker 11 (02:03:03):
She's reading that.

Speaker 2 (02:03:09):
You're thinking the way.

Speaker 16 (02:03:15):
A matter undred men of lot.

Speaker 5 (02:03:17):
Ever, I best the lays down.

Speaker 16 (02:03:22):
In as a Forgot. I'm best aways.

Speaker 7 (02:03:26):
Down in as Africot, I best grays down in Asta.
I guess the rays down in as a forgot.

Speaker 13 (02:03:40):
I guess the.

Speaker 5 (02:03:41):
Rays down in a forgot.

Speaker 16 (02:03:46):
It takes some time to do about things.

Speaker 9 (02:03:48):
And never.

Speaker 2 (02:04:36):
For more from Weekends Sport with Jason Fine.

Speaker 1 (02:04:38):
Listen live to news talks it be Weekends from midday,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio

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