Full Show Podcast: 04 July 2026

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine
from New Stalks ed B. Today, history arrives in christ Church,
not just the first test of the year, not just
the opening chapter of a new international competition, but the

(00:31):
first ever All Blacks Test at New Zealand's newest sporting cathedral.
The challenge is real, the expectations are enormous, and the
road to the twenty twenty seven Rugby World.

Speaker 2 (00:46):
Cup starts over.

Speaker 1 (00:49):
After months of anticipation and endless debate, Dave Rennie begins
his tenure as All Black's head coach, bringing you to
the center of the conversation with leaders of the game,
legends of the jersey and the stories you won't hear
anywhere else. We can Sport with Jason Pine live at
the Clubhouse and Robbie's on Lichfield and christ Church on

(01:12):
your home of Sport News.

Speaker 3 (01:14):
Talks AB Yes Adie John, Good afternoon and welcome to
a very special Saturday edition of Weekend Sport on News
Talks EDB. Coming to your lif from the fantastic Robbie's
Bar and Restaurant in Lichfield Courtyard, right in the heart
of christ Church, right in the shadow of one New
Zealand Stadium at Tekaha in the new addition to this
wonderful venue, the Clubhouse. As always, we greatly appreciate the

(01:38):
hospitality of Mark and his team here at Robbie's. This
city is buzzing ahead of one of the biggest sporting
occasions of the year, because tonight the All Blacks are
back in the Garden City, a new test season begins,
a new era begins, and the spotlight falls on Dave
Rennie as he takes charge of the All Blacks for
the first time standing in their way France, one of

(02:00):
the All Blacks great rivals under the roof at has
sold out One New Zealand Stadium at Tekaha off ten
past seven tonight, so from now until three will bring
you everything you need ahead of what promises to be
a memorable occasion. World Cup winning All Blacks captain and
New Zealand Rugby chair David Kirk leads us off shortly.
Our other guests this afternoon include former All Blacks Bill

(02:21):
Bush and Casey laal Lala and former Crusaders coach Rob Penny,
among others. As always, we want you to be part
of the show too. How excited are you about this
new chapter under Dave Rennie. What are your expectations for
the All Blacks in twenty twenty six and how do
you think they'll fair against what could be a dangerous
French side Tonight, Get in touch whenever you like, We'd

(02:41):
love to hear from you, Settle and otherwise wherever you
may be listening around the country. A massive day for
New Zealand rugby. We're live in christ Church right in
the middle of it, all nine and a half past.

Speaker 1 (02:52):
Midday, analyzing the plays and get in the inside Weekend
Sport with Jason Vine News talksb one.

Speaker 3 (03:01):
Of the biggest days on the twenty twenty six sporting
calendar of the All Blacks beginning new Test season tonight
again France, here in christ Church with it comes to
the start of a new era under head coach Dave Rennie.
So who better to lead us off than one of
the most influential figures in New Zealand rugby both past
and present. He played thirty four times for the All
Blacks seventeen Test matches and led us to victory at
the inaugural Rugby World Cup in nineteen eighty seven. Posters

(03:25):
playing days He's built an outstanding international business career and
today sits at the very heart of the game as
Chair of New Zealand Rugby, helping shape not only the
future of the All Blacks, but the future of rugby
in this country. Great pleasure to welcome for All Blacks
Captain Chair of New Zealand Rugby, David Kirk MBE till weekend.
Sportyodo David, Hi Jason, Great, great to have you here, mate,

(03:47):
Thanks for joining us. Today sees the start of a
new Test season, new era under Dave Rennie. The first
Test at this brand new stadium. How significant does today feel?

Speaker 4 (03:57):
Well, it's judging by my nervousness, it must be significant.
I haven't felt this nervous before a Test for a
long time. Yeah, I think it is. It is the
beginning of a new era. Dave's done a lot of
ground work. He's a very meticulous person and we've had
a wonderful Super Rugby season, so we're coming and off
a domestic high.

Speaker 5 (04:16):
But we just we just don't know Dave.

Speaker 4 (04:19):
Dave and his fellow coaches have got to put together
a Test team and they've got a with a pretty
limited build up. But Dave's not complaining about that they got.
They gotta put on the park because this French team
is going to be good.

Speaker 3 (04:31):
So when you say the nerves are there, and I'm
sure they are ahead of any test match, is it
the uncertainty that's driving that nervousness.

Speaker 4 (04:37):
I think it's just the stakes. You know, the stakes
are high. I think it's a first test, you know whatever,
But the stakes are high. This team needs to play
well and we need to see the The early stands
is in a in a new style of rugby, in
a new chapter for New Zealand, and it obviously runs
on forever, but in a sense it runs into a
South African tour, it runs into a World Cup next year,

(05:00):
and this is the first step on that journey.

Speaker 5 (05:02):
So we want to make that very positive.

Speaker 3 (05:04):
How will you assess year one? If we're sitting here
in December, you and I were chatting on the phone,
what would have had to have happened for you to
be relatively satisfied with twenty twenty six?

Speaker 4 (05:15):
Well, winds will be important, but you know that needs
to be also balanced with the sense of momentum behind
the team, the building, the fact that they're building into
a World Cup year and the sense that the players
and the coaches are on the on the same wave
length and had the same ideas about where they're going

(05:37):
and where they need to do to get there. At
different times, coaches and players will take need to take responsibility,
and both need to listen to each other, and it
needs to be a team that works well together, so
we will know. I mean, there is a little bit
of a vibe, a little bit of a you can't
really define it. When teams are really they have momentum,

(05:57):
they're growing, they're developing. You'll see it in flashes of
play and you think, wow, if they could do that
for longer or better, then this is going to be
great team. We will know by the end of the
season if this is going to be a beginning of
a new era of greatness in all black rugby, and
it'll be. It'll be what they put on the part.

Speaker 3 (06:16):
I guess the difference around this one in terms of
the World Cup cycle is it's a much shorter runway
to the Rugby World Cup next year. Every World Cup cycle.
As to balance winning with alsoe building a bit of
depth and building for the tournament itself, how do you
strike that balance over a much shorter period.

Speaker 4 (06:32):
Well, that's really a question for the coach more than
me as a chief administrator, in terms of what what
is the right thing to the right way to develop
this team, including it's it's the style and the approach
that they want to play traded off potentially against wins.
Hopefully not hopefully the two are complimentary, but there will
be some trade offs at times, and there will be

(06:54):
some need to blood younger players and the woman need
some need to take some risk with the style of
play or the players that are on the field, so
that the coaches need to trade off all of that,
and I certainly support them judgment and doing that.

Speaker 3 (07:07):
Since you made the appointment and installed Dave Rennie into
the head coaching role, what have you seen from him?
What have been the nature of your conversations. How are
you feeling about the appointment now that it's done and
he's in the big chair.

Speaker 4 (07:20):
Well, first, it's an appointment of the New Zealand Board,
so the whole board was across this and there were
a whole range of different inputs to the appointment and
so delighted that the board was unanimous and appointing Dave.
And what was the second part of questions.

Speaker 3 (07:33):
I just wonder what it's been like having him there.
From him, he's been great.

Speaker 4 (07:37):
But he's but you know, as all coaches do, all
coaches do. Head coaches in particular, once you give them
a mantle, they take it and they're off. They're not
over their shoulder, you know, sending emails to administrators like me.
He's putting together their team, involving with the players, are
deciding what style of play they want to play. They're
doing all the analytics they have to do. So Day
has been running really hard for a fair while and

(08:00):
they lead up to this build up to this first
Test match, So he has He and I have.

Speaker 5 (08:04):
Not been consoled on discussing much.

Speaker 4 (08:06):
He's got a job to do and he's he's up.

Speaker 3 (08:08):
And running fantastic. I just noted, actually, just to change
the subject completely, it's forty years and six days since
you captained the Baby Blacks to victory over France in
this city.

Speaker 6 (08:20):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (08:20):
How vivid is that now? Four decades on?

Speaker 4 (08:23):
Very vivid. That's hard to you. I'll never forget that
in my whole life. Was it was a very tumultuous period.
People will remember that the Cavaliers had just gone off
and they just come back and then they've been banned
for three matches and no two matches sorry, and so
they had to pick a new team. And so we'd
had this build up of this week here in christ Church,

(08:44):
a Test week, same as any other Test week, only
there was a whole lot of people who'd never played
for the For the All Blacks, there was a whole
lot of debutantes and I think only two or three players.
I'd played about six tests and I was the second
most capped player. I think John Cowan was the most
gap player. So but you know, we took it as
seriously as any All Black team would do, and we
and we went. We played to win, and we had

(09:05):
a clear an approach to win and it was the
five Nations champions France that were on the field, the
great Surge Bunco and all of those guys, and of
course we pulled.

Speaker 3 (09:15):
It off incredible. And then a year later you're lifting
the William Webb Alis Trophy Captain of New Zealand to
victory at the inaugural Rugby World Cup. We know the
story of Andy Dalton, obviously, and still that lovely image
of the two of you holding up the trophy.

Speaker 5 (09:28):
Do you think there are.

Speaker 3 (09:29):
Lessons from when you played test rugby that still apply today.

Speaker 4 (09:34):
Well, there's a real continuity about test drug. But it's
not about the style of play. It's not about the
individual players. It's not about the laws and how you
have to adapt to those. It's about what it means
to us to win and what it means to us
to be for each team to be contributors to the
legacy that they inherit. That will never change. And as

(09:56):
long as the team understands what the all black jersey
asks of them, then there's nothing different from the way
we did it to way this team will do it.

Speaker 3 (10:07):
How much greater do you assess the scrutiny to be
on the modern day all black compared to in your
day way.

Speaker 4 (10:12):
Way, way, way, way, way.

Speaker 5 (10:14):
More.

Speaker 7 (10:30):
Bridges, roundy stepping, and again you are listening to news
talks as he'd be. Unfortunately, we seem too similar to
Vancouver last week, have lost connection with Jason.

Speaker 4 (10:40):
Different era and environments and much more challenging for the players.
It was much easier in my day just to be
a little bit anonymous and have a good time when
no one was looking.

Speaker 3 (10:49):
All right, we'll take a break and come back with
David Kirk in just a moment here from Robbie's at Litchfield.
This is Weekend Sport on News Talks.

Speaker 2 (10:55):
He'd be counting down to the old Lacks v.

Speaker 1 (10:58):
France live from the clubhouse that Robbie's on Lichfield and
christ Church. It's the Weekend Sport with Jason Vine and
the Volkswagen V Sex Uncompromised Capability on sale from eighty
nineteen News Talks MB.

Speaker 3 (11:12):
Twelve twenty one. Here on News TALKSZB Weekend Sport coming
to your life from christ Church from Robbie's Litchfield. Chair
of New Zealand Rugby David Kirk is with us as chair. David,
your focus goes far beyond the all blacks, of course.
What's your assessment of the overall health of the game
of rugby in New Zealand at the moment?

Speaker 5 (11:27):
Pretty good.

Speaker 4 (11:28):
We've got four major strategic priorities winning teams in black
and the health of that is we think stronger than
it has been in the last couple of years, but
that will be proved by results and performances this year.
A thriving community game. We've we've got a growing number
of younger people moving into the game, but that's an
ongoing challenge and lots of it's a many many headed beast,

(11:52):
the thriving community game. But we're looking forward to strong
NBC as well, and then we've got a successful, profitable
and growing business. And that's definitely the case, but lots
of challenges. There, lots of challenges to make it, you know,
to balance things, to make sure that we've got the
cost base and the revenue base right, but also to grow,
to invest in growth and develop our international brands and.

Speaker 2 (12:15):
Who we are.

Speaker 4 (12:17):
And finally it's to be aligned and engaged with the
whole game from top to bottom. And I think we're
doing pretty well there. I know, I really pray.

Speaker 7 (12:49):
You're still listening to News Talk zeb Apologies, we've just
had some more technical difficulties, but it appears we might
have Piney and David Kirk back.

Speaker 4 (12:57):
People just come into the game, young people, and out
of that will develop the great players that will go
on to play for the All Blacks. But just getting
young people into the game, are getting them off screens
and into doing team sports in particular, whatever that might be.
I think there's a real challenge in that there's a
lot of things that distract them. And then as they
sort of move down and get older, whether they stick

(13:20):
with rugby or they get introduced to rugby at a
later time, that's up to us. We've got a lot
of ways in which we can engage with the community
to get people into the game. And I think when
people get to that sort of eighteen nineteen twenty, when
they try and they are good enough to play professional
rugby or rugby league, that's when we need to make
sure we keep our best players in the system. The

(13:41):
challenge for us is money and that the NRL is
just a it's got a very limited focus on building
that doesn't have the same national community game that we
have and the investment that's required and that so all
of their money goes into the professional tournament, which is
the NRL tournament everyone knows about, and they have money

(14:04):
left over, plenty of money to to throw at players.
A lot of players get opportunities to go to clubs
in Australia and for me it doesn't work out and
they end up sort of just just dropping out of
the system. So, you know, rugby we need to be
competitive at that level. We need to be able to
sell the benefits of our game. And that's of course
the international footprint that we have in the Rugby World

(14:26):
Cup every year, but going to play on Twickenham, going
to play in South Africa on Ellis Park, you know,
there's all of that.

Speaker 6 (14:33):
That and also the.

Speaker 4 (14:34):
Family that rugby is and I think from community rugby
in New Zealand, through professional rugby, we offer players development
pathways and a real rugby family to engage with.

Speaker 3 (14:45):
Commercially, how do you, as you say you need more money,
how do you how do you monetize the All Blacks
or bring new revenue streams into New Zealand rugby without
losing sight of the of the core traditions of the game.

Speaker 4 (15:03):
Yeah, well, the best thing for us is to focus
on where we make money out of the media, media
deals obviously all around the world with the games that
we that we that we play in, and also sponsorship,
so we use that the game. We use all the
games and all the major players to get the best
sponsorships we can, particularly the front of Jersey sponsorship. So

(15:26):
all of that goes on in parallel with the team.
The team is definitely needed that mostly they needed to
win to continue winning and to continue that the mystique
that is the All Blacks and also the Black fans.
But we also need them to engage with sponsors, and
we need them to engage in a way which is
refreshing and engaging and build fan base because in the end,

(15:48):
it's all it's all based on a fan base, and
we're the only real brand rugby brand in the world.
The All Blacks is the only rugby brand in the
world that's genuinely global. So we have we have fans
in the United States and Japan and Europe and the UK,
so plenty of We just need to build that fan base.
So the players need contribute to that by the way
they play and the way they comport themselves off the field,

(16:10):
and just when we need them to be engaged with sponsors.

Speaker 3 (16:13):
All right, I know I've got other commitments, but just
to finish on a day like today, All Blacks running
out in christ Church New Stadium, France. Does a day
like today still stir something inside you, even after everything
you've done in the game on and off the field.

Speaker 4 (16:26):
Well, today does actually quite Sometimes in test matches I
don't feel any sort of jeopany if you like, But
today I do I feel a bit nervous and I
feel a bit of the jeopardy. I really want us
to play well, I really want us to win, so
I'm very invested in today.

Speaker 3 (16:41):
Fantastic David. It's great to get the chance to spend
some time with you. Thank you for joining us. As
I say, I know you've got other things to do today.
Enjoy tonight and look forward to catching up next time.
Thanks very much, Jason, Thanks David. David Kirk. They're the
chair of New Zealand Rugby. Former All Blacks captain of
course rugby World Cup winning captain in nineteen eighty seven
and forty years ago, was the captain of the Baby

(17:02):
Blacks here in christ Church when they took on France
and it was that famous victory at the old Lancaster
Park by eighteen points to nine. News Talks B and
Weekend Sport twelve twenty seven. Want to take your calls,
take your feet back, take your take your your hopes,
your fears, your dreams. I think for tonight, oh eight
hundred and eighty ten eighty let's talk some All Blacks

(17:23):
test rugby. We'll take your calls when we come back
here on News Talks B Weekend Sport coming to your
life from Robbie's at.

Speaker 1 (17:28):
Lichfield, Play from the Clubhouse and Robbies on Lichfield ahead
of All Blacks v.

Speaker 2 (17:35):
France.

Speaker 1 (17:35):
It's Weekend Sport with Jason Vine and the Volkswagen Amarak
B Sex Car and Comfort combined on sale now on
your home of Sport News talks B.

Speaker 3 (17:46):
It has banged on twelve thirty Here at News Talks
HEB Weekend Sport coming to your Live from the wonderful
Robbies Lichfield right in the shadow of One New Zealand
Stadium at the car right. Let's talk about this game tonight.
Let's let's, on the day of the first All Blacks
Test match of twenty twenty six, come together and perhaps
give give each other a bit of a support. I'm

(18:07):
not sure we need the support. I can't see a
scenario under which the All Blacks lose this Test match tonight.
It feels to me as though there is far too
much on the line in so many ways for them
to come out and not perform in the first Test
of twenty twenty six, the first Test of the Dave
Rennie era. It just doesn't feel at all likely that

(18:29):
they will drop the ball tonight literally and figuratively. It's
a really interesting side that Dave Rennie has named the
eyebrow Rais. I guess was around the number seven jersey
and Luke Jacobson coming into that jersey. Ardie Savier, who
I think a lot of us thought would be wearing
the seven jersey tonight, will pack down at number eight.

(18:50):
And Peter Larkeye, who hasn't worn the number six jersey
at all in my recollection for the Hurricanes or certainly
for the All Blacks, is going to wear the blind
side flanker jersey tonight. But Dave Rennie has said during
the week that it actually doesn't matter which number the
loose forwards are wearing. He wants them to go out
there and do a job. Ruben Love keys to the

(19:12):
car number ten. I think that became an almost irresistible
proposition to Dave Rennie. He said he was going to
pick on Form and the Form first five and Super
Rugby certainly towards the back end of the season was
Ruben Love. So I'm not sure that there was any
other choice that he could make around that. I eight
hundred eighty ten eighty keen to take a cause, can
to get your thoughts, anything about the test tonight that

(19:33):
is top of your mind, or you'd like to bring
to the table. I eight hundred eighty ten eighty phil
kick us off in your hometown.

Speaker 8 (19:41):
Okay, it should be a good one.

Speaker 9 (19:43):
Ah.

Speaker 10 (19:44):
You just never know what's going to happen with the
Friends or which makes it Which is the wonderful thing
about it, It makes it exciting. Let you say they
I'm confident with the team, you know. I like the
team that Dave Rennie's picked. I'm glad he picked. So
I'm just out walking, so excuse me if I get

(20:04):
a bit of short breath there.

Speaker 11 (20:06):
Point.

Speaker 10 (20:08):
I'm glad that he put number ten Reuben Love and
at number ten over Damien McKenzie. That I would have
done that, Not that I get the knowledge he does,
but I would have went for that. And I like
his philosophy of picking on form rather than just putting
people in positions that have been there in the past,

(20:29):
you know, because of played and which I think is good,
which I think maybe Raising might have tended to do
a wee bit, But I think Friend's philosophy is better,
and I like interesting for me the selection of Jordan
on the wing I think he's better at fullback, but

(20:50):
he's having said that he's not a bad winger either.
You wouldn't say no, no, we don't want to on
the wing of eating if he wanted to play there.
But and interesting Mackenzie in the fullback position. I think
with Damien I would probably I'd probably make them an
impact bench player rather than starting. But we'll see, because

(21:14):
like Rens has got the brain. So yeah, but and
he lose wards. Yeah, interesting with Jacobson coming at seven,
already at eight and as you say that Larcoy at
six should be in the rest to see how they
go against the French forwards because they're usually big boys
of French forwards. So and I think that's what he

(21:36):
was sort of wanting, was bigger bodies, especially going over
to South Africa, you know where. And that was one
of the reasons why maybe Duplace missed out on that
number seven plus bness. They said that they've seen him
as a specialist as well, and they were sort of
looking for players to be a bit more multi move about.

Speaker 12 (21:56):
So yeah, so oh.

Speaker 10 (21:58):
Yeah, watching it with interest, can't wait?

Speaker 13 (22:00):
Should be good?

Speaker 3 (22:01):
Good summary, Phil, Thanks, but I enjoy the rest of
your walk. You didn't get out of breath at all.
If they see all this is holding up very well.
Thanks indeed, mate, oh eight hundred and eighty ten eighty
is our number nine two nine two v tex s
bell on there everyone to jump aboard.

Speaker 14 (22:13):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (22:14):
The if you look at the selections and I guess
I mean, we can talk about this and you know,
in greater detail, with more clarity once the game has
been played tonight. But when you look at a team
and you think, okay, well, there's always an expectation of
what I guess you would have done and what you
think the coach would have done. And I think, as
I say, the eyebrow raise around the number seven jersey

(22:35):
was probably the most significant. You know, as I say,
I think most of us thought that Ardie Savilla would
slip nicely into that seven jersey. That Peter Larkeye I
think absolutely is worthy of a place in the loose trio,
but most of us thought that was going to be
at number eight, where he has played mainly for the

(22:57):
Hurricanes this year. Seven and eight insteadies in the sixth jumper.
And then Luke Jacobson comes in and of course dav
and he was asked about him and he said, Look,
we like Luke Jacobson. We like his physicality, we like
what he brings. He's tough, he's the kind of loose
forward that we're very very keen on seeing more of.
And look, Luke Jacobson has been a very very fine

(23:21):
servant to Chiefs rugby in particular, but also to all
Blacks rugby over quite some period. Now he's had really
bad luck with concussion, with injury and such like, but
I'm really interested to see how he goes tonight. Dave
Rennie likes a certain type of rugby player and he
likes the cut of Luke Jacobson's gent He does clearly,

(23:43):
otherwise he wouldn't have picked him to start the first
Test match of his era. Craig, how are you mate?

Speaker 11 (23:48):
Yeah?

Speaker 9 (23:49):
Good mate?

Speaker 13 (23:49):
How are you very good?

Speaker 15 (23:50):
Craig, that's a story. I just want to throw my
pipe since with them here, and you know, I think
Luke Jacobson at number eight fantastic player. Never been a
fan of playing players out of their position. When you've
got it, when you've got who instinctively have played in
those positions all their life, they don't have to think

(24:12):
about where they are.

Speaker 9 (24:13):
On the pitch.

Speaker 15 (24:15):
I seem to remember Graham Henry a few years ago
played on a number of players out of position and
it didn't work, and so they they reverted back to titan.
I'm just not a fan and so hey, look, I
hope like how the boys go well tonight, But yeah,
I'm just not sure about playing guys out of position.

Speaker 3 (24:37):
Yeah, I guess it depends on how much you think
the three positions in the loose forward trio are interchangeable,
and indeed how interchangeable you think other parts of the
rugby field Arc Craig for example, the back three. Like
I think we were quite surprised Will Jordan, who many
people believe is the best fullback in the world, isn't
playing with the fifteen on his back, So again, what

(24:57):
does that mean? And get you're often here, Well, actually,
the back three are kind of interchangeable anyway. There aren't
too many wingers who can't also play fullback, and Will
Jordan's the best example of that. But yeah, the loose
four trio, I think you're right, a. I mean, they
all seem I mean, there's a lot of six eighths,
a lot of guys who played six and eight, and
I thought Luke Jacison was a six eight, but he's

(25:18):
he's wearing that. He's wearing that. And the other thing
about the seven jersey that weighs heavy on an All Black,
I'm sure because you look at some of the guys
who have worn that jersey in the past.

Speaker 15 (25:27):
Yeah, one hundred percent. You know, I just come back
to the instinct comment that I made. Will Jordan playing
from fullback? We agree, best fullback in the world. Why
would you unless you start.

Speaker 13 (25:39):
For looking to.

Speaker 15 (25:41):
Throw those positions out there to give the boys something,
you know, an opportunity somewhere else on the field. So
he's got a little bit of flexibility going forward. But
I think we've got a little bit of depth at
the moment. I don't see that we need to do that.

Speaker 16 (25:56):
I think we need to.

Speaker 15 (25:57):
Be very focused on where we're going with you know, I.

Speaker 3 (26:04):
Know a lot a lot, Greg, You've watched a lot
of rugby. Clearly, this is what we're here for. I mean,
this is the conversations we have as rugby fans right
throughout the week.

Speaker 15 (26:15):
I've got one more thing I'll throw and there I
think it's going to be a seventy point plus. Yeah,
that are try scoring team, both of them try scoring teams.
I think it's going to be a I think it's
going to be a book scored.

Speaker 17 (26:28):
And that's for anybody.

Speaker 15 (26:30):
And I'm not a punter, but for anybody punting, I'd
be putting money on seventy plus. There's my high sets for.

Speaker 3 (26:36):
Piney Craig YouTube brother. I'll write that down, Craig says,
seventy points plus and we can always get you back
on if that doesn't happen and people have punted on
your advice, look under the roof in christ Church. Clearly
you know the conditions are going to be absolutely perfect
for running rugby if that's indeed what these two sides
want to do. I think anybody who's watched France play

(26:58):
rugby at any level at any time in the last
i don't know, four decades, even going back to the
Baby Blacks days that we were talking about with David Kirkby,
knows that they are the most dangerous side in the
world when it comes to broken play. The try from
the end of the Earth, let's not forget that. You
know that was a try cooked up from absolutely nothing

(27:20):
through about twelve sets of hands that won them a
Test match you know when was that nineteen ninety four?
I want to say nineteen ninety four. There's nothing to
suggest that they won't do exactly the same tonight. Running
the ball from unexpected positions is in France's DNA, that's

(27:40):
what they do. O eight hundred eighty ten eightys our number.
Craig's given us a a bit of a bit of
insight there into his thinking. Yours is welcome as well.
We'll talk All Black rugby at various stages this afternoon,
he have. We've quite a bit guestless to get through.
So if you're wanting to make a point about the
game tonight, then keen to hear from you right now.
I eight hundred eighty ten eighty couple here on text.

(28:01):
Make my mistake. This is a French B team, Paul,
I mean, Paul, I take your point. I do. But
I remember when the French came here last year and
we all thought, okay, well I think we were calling
it a French sea team last year, and yet they
still turned up and gave the All Blacks a heck
of a fright and patches of all three test matches.

(28:25):
Yes we won all three, but you cannot underestimate a
rugby play when they put the French rugby jersey on.
There is far too much history.

Speaker 7 (28:49):
You're still on newstalk be apologies. We seem to have
once again lost Jason pine We've got our text doing
our best to work through those issues we're experiencing at
the moment, but it looks like we may have Piney back,
so I'll do it my best to throw back to
on Piney.

Speaker 3 (29:04):
Have we got you? Yeah, I'm here Andy, Thanks mate. Yeah,
we're just trying to sort things out at the end
in terms of the connection dropouts. We are we are
working on on how we can fix this. Our apologies
to you, but as I think I was saying at
the time, any French player who wears that, who wears
that jersey is going to be it's going to be
fully one hundred percent on this afternoon. A couple of

(29:26):
other texts here are the All Blacks locks Underpowered. Well,
I know we've got a we've got a couple of
injuries in the locking department, haven't we. We know that
there's no top Orva with his concussion, there's no Fabian
Holland with his long term injury. So for Sam Dowry
and Josh Lord tonight. It's it is a really big
night for both of those players. George, how are you

(29:48):
feeling about it?

Speaker 13 (29:48):
All bloody excited Pinier for the start of a new
new era. I thought Petty Gower did a great piece
through the week on sky Sport with Ready he did. Yeah,
I mean it's at Sean Rennie in a really great light.
I think he's certainly a guy who's going to val
you hard work and and work rate. I can't have
the thing that's that's the key reason he's gone gone

(30:11):
For Jacobson, I think he wants a Lucy in that
mix who's just going to get through a whole heap
of work. And the game has become quite focused on
who's going to come on at the fifty minute mark
and add to and increase the momentum of the game.
So I think for that reason, so Titi and lark
I stand out as impact players, and Parker and Jacobson

(30:34):
might because that actually start.

Speaker 5 (30:36):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (30:37):
Yeah, it's a very good point, George. You know, there's
all sorts of different ways for a twenty three man
squad to be used, and I guess we think to ourselves, Okay, well,
those who start are for some reason inherently more important
than those who finish the game. But it ain't the case.
I mean, the South Africans have shown us, haven't they
with their bomb squad exactly what is possible in terms
of the use of your twenty three And look at

(30:58):
our front row reserves tonight, Lomax numya al Moore, the
Hurricanes front row. I mean they could be on in
the forty fifth fiftieth minute.

Speaker 13 (31:06):
You know, no, I think he did right, even selections
around guys like Kyle Preston. I think there's a there's
a few areas where guys like him had been picked
with an impact player viewing mind. You know, what can
they do to bring bring impact on the field, because
it has become you know, a really really important part
of the modern game is reserves coming on and listening

(31:28):
the intensity. So really excited there interested that they've gone
for Jordan on the wing. I would have a lot
under the under the roof. Would have been quite good
to see him sort of running around at fullback. But
maybe it's a case of first game and not trying
to not trying to play your.

Speaker 12 (31:45):
Hand too much.

Speaker 13 (31:47):
But I don't think We'll get conditions in Wellington that
will suit the outside and tonight could have been a
great night to swing it wide. Just hopefully Mackenzie plays
the traditional fullback role.

Speaker 3 (31:58):
Yeah, good man, George great to gent has always mate.
Seeing Wellington next week eight hundred eighty ten eighty Piney,
I knowe you've mentioned the conditions in christ will be
perfect for running rugby, which is true. It was always
perfect in Dunedin as well. Almost every game was entertaining,
but they never got as many Test matches as they deserved.
I hope christ Church gets the game they deserve, but
I kind of feel sorry for Dunedin.

Speaker 18 (32:20):
Oh.

Speaker 3 (32:20):
I've said this a few times that if you if
you were divvying out test matches in July, you'd obviously
give one to christ Church right now because it's brand
new stadium, but you'd also give one to Dunedin for me,
you know, I think if any venue is under threat
for test rugby at this time of the year, it's Wellington.
You know, play play your rugby under a roof in

(32:40):
the coldest months of the year. We've got two options now,
Dunedin and christ Church. I know the argument around infrastructure
around accommodation around all of those things. But Dunedan's a
great place to watch a game of rugby, a test match,
and I just hope that they do get further opportunities
to show what they can do in terms of a
Test match. Twelve forty five Newstalks, NB oh eight hundred

(33:01):
and eighty ten, eight years and we're back in a
sec here on Weekend'sport.

Speaker 1 (33:04):
Counting down to Dave Rennie's first Tests All Blacks coach
live from the Clubhouse and Robbie's on.

Speaker 2 (33:09):
Litchfield and christ Church.

Speaker 1 (33:11):
It's Weekend Sport with Jason Vine and the Volkswagen amarak
V Sex on sale now from eighty nine nine on
your home of Sport News Talks NB.

Speaker 3 (33:21):
Coming up eleven away from one our guest after one
o'clock is icon of All Black Bill Bush joining us
here at Robbie's Litchfield. John Good the mate good, John Good.

Speaker 11 (33:32):
Good Good.

Speaker 19 (33:34):
You know, I just wondered what happened to the the
best first five.

Speaker 3 (33:39):
In the world. Who are you talking about? John Richie Mulonga. Yeah,
well he's not available obviously for the All Blacks yet
he will be eligible once he plays a bit of
NPC there's still I think I thought that they might
try and get him in for the South African tour
at the moment. You might have heard Steve Lancaster on

(33:59):
the show a couple of months ago saying we need
him to play at PC before he plays for the
All Blacks. He'll be he'll be available at the moment
anyway for the Bledisloe Cup tests at the back end
of September October.

Speaker 19 (34:12):
Yeah, and do you reckon he's better than this young
fellow that's going to play tomorrow tonight.

Speaker 3 (34:17):
Very different players, John, I think you know, Richie Wong
has been around for a long time. He's got a
very experienced head on his shoulders. You know, he's been
a lot of rugby. Ruben Love is a is a
terrific young talent, and I think he'll rise to the
occasion tonight. Look, I think, John, we're lucky to have
have four options now at first five with those two
Damien McKenzie and Bowden Barrett. So yeah, it's a bit

(34:40):
of an embarrassment of riches.

Speaker 11 (34:41):
Now that Richard Malong are still in Japan.

Speaker 3 (34:45):
I know he's back now. I believe he was obviously
playing in Japan up until a month or so ago.
His contract there has now come to an end. So
they've decided though that before he can play for the
All Blacks, he has to come back here place some
NPC and then he may go to South Africa as
an injury replacement. But he won't be named, as I
understand it, in the in the initial squad for the

(35:08):
South Africa.

Speaker 19 (35:10):
Used to play for the Crusaders, didn't he He did.

Speaker 3 (35:12):
He was a very good Crusader and guided them to
many many championships. A terrific rugby player. John a really
really good first five eight and I for one, I'm
looking forward to him coming back into the fold. We
will wait and see, I guess from a point of
view of his time away and how much that has

(35:34):
affected him.

Speaker 7 (35:35):
Or once again we seem to have lost Piney down
in christ Jutures making quite quite good points actually about
Richie Monger. Oh, I believe was meant to line up
for lynn Woods this weekend. I think we've got Piney

(35:57):
back there? Have we got you there?

Speaker 3 (35:58):
Poney? We have Andy And the good news is that
after one o'clock we're going to move to a much
more stable place here at Robbie's. Our apologies for the
dropouts that we've been experience and sync. But yeah, as
I was saying, some players go away and come back better.
Other players go away and they don't necessarily recapture what
they had when they were here. Ponni had noticed that

(36:19):
the Canes went okay on a stormy night in the
Super Rugby Finals. Is this one? Yeah, that's absolutely true.
They were very good. And look, I'm not saying that
you can't play well if there's no roof, but it's
you know, you think of this one New Zealand Stadium
at Taka and Forsyth Bar and the conditions of being

(36:40):
able to run under a roof. When you know that
there's no danger, you can prepare for the test match
right across the weak knowing that there's not going to
be a weather factor that's going to play its part,
whether it's going to be the rain or the wind
or whatever it is. With a roof on and I'm
not telling you anything, you don't know. This is not
rocket science, but with a roof, you know that it's

(37:03):
going to be a dry night, you know that it's
going to be a calm night. You know that things
are going to be okay. When it comes to moving
the ball quickly through the hands. So look, the other
part of this, obviously is that Christchurch just waited a
long time for the stadium. They have had to go
through a heck of a lot since twenty eleven, you know,

(37:27):
our heck of a lot. And this again is not
telling you anything.

Speaker 7 (37:44):
We're just still working on those technical issues. The Piney
will be back momentarily. It's seven away from one o'clock
on news talks. It'll be the good news. As Piny
mentioned before, we will be moving to hopefully a more
stable location down at Robbie's on Lichfield and christ which
ahead of this all Blacks test against France, I will
just take a quick rebreak here on news talks. Ye

(38:06):
be seven minutes to one.

Speaker 20 (38:11):
Here's my anecdotal view for what it's worth. Despite all
the misery around the news cycle, the war for many
hasn't actually changed a lot. Most people have work, most
people are on top of their finances, and a lot
of businesses that are good at what they do are
doing fine, thank you very much. And given the Iran deal,
that can only improve from here on in. When we
get to the GDP numbers for Q two they will
be flatt of not slightly backwards. But what today will

(38:32):
show is the war wasn't on us. We didn't start it.
We just had to suck it up like everyone else,
and as such we were tracking nicely. We will track
nicely again. The fundamentals are all there, which means they
will kick back in. It's not like we're starting again.
The hard work has already been done. We paused, we
held our breath, We got through and out the other side.

(38:53):
Damage done, emergency avoided. We can get back to business GDP.
Today is a picture of what was and what will
be again before you know it, and broadly speaking, it's
a pretty solid picture.

Speaker 2 (39:06):
Was a news Talk zeb extra.

Speaker 7 (39:09):
Six away from one here on news Talk z B.
Piney's just trying to reconnect, so it's Andy taking over
for the next couple of minutes. So we'll just go
through a few texts here your thoughts on the game
mentioned conditions in christ Church will be perfect for running rugby.
Its incredible, what the what the roof is doing for
the confidence of the fastball playing down in christ and

(39:34):
it should be a very good game. Again, It's it's
a weakened French team, but they did come fairly fairly
well close to actually upending us last year, which, as
Piney mentioned, was in fact people were being described as
a sea team. Are the Kinges went okay on a
stormy night in the final year. It's with that back line,

(39:54):
Cam Royguard, Ruben Love, Jordi Barrett, firm underfoot. I think
they'll be They should be piling, piling on the points
against the French. Got to be excited for Sam darry
starting in his hometown cantab Lad through and through Reckon.
He will have a Royaler cheers of one eye can
tab Yeah, the the locking Joe darry Lord. I'm not

(40:19):
sure what the availability of two po VI was actually
because he would have been my bolted on lock.

Speaker 3 (40:25):
There.

Speaker 7 (40:25):
Keep your texts coming through nine two nine two. As mentioned,
Piney down at Robbie's courtyard in Lichfield Street, christ sheats
just across the road litteral stone throw from from one
New Zealand Stadium at Ta Kaha. So if you want
to actually pop along say hello to Piney, get a
picture with him. We'll have Bill Bush, iconic Cantabrian all

(40:46):
black joining after one o'clock. We might also hear from
Canterbury local himself, Zach Folks, pivot away from rugby for
a little bit if we can, If we can get
him down talking about the incredible win over England in
the in the Test series.

Speaker 3 (41:03):
After two o'clock Hill we got.

Speaker 7 (41:04):
After two o'clock we've got man who led the Crusaders
for the past few years, Rob Penny Hill. Stop him
for a chat with Piney as well and Casey La Lala,
who I believe was the only man to score a
try in the Fog Final back in two thousand and six.
So I hope I haven't triggered that for Hurricanes fans.
He'll be joining as well. After two o'clock, it's just
coming up to the new Sport weather here on News

(41:26):
Talk ZBB, three minutes away from one, bringing.

Speaker 2 (41:30):
You the build up, the battle and the fans all
Blacks under real pleasure as.

Speaker 1 (41:35):
We count down to the first All Blacks Test match
of the year. It's Weekend Sport with Jason pine Lave
from the New Clubhouse and Robbie's on Lichfield and Christchurch
on your home of Sports Talk z B.

Speaker 3 (41:50):
Welcome into News TALKSB and Weekend Sport on the day
of the first All Blacks Test of twenty twenty six.
We're coming to your life from Robbie's, Litchfield and christ
Church in the shadow in the very shadow of One
New Zealand Stadium at Takaha, and excitement is definitely building
across this city as the fine folk of the Canterbury

(42:11):
region get the chance to watch All Blacks rugby in
their brand new home, and as they prepare to launch
the new Test season against France. It's the perfect time
to reflect on what it means to wear the black jersey,
as our next guest did thirty seven times in one
of international rugby's toughest eras the mid to late nineteen seventies.

(42:32):
Are proud Cantabrian, a respected figure in multi rugby, someone
who's never been afraid to speak candidly about the game
and his experiences in it. Former All Blacks front rower
rugby icon Bill Bush is with us.

Speaker 6 (42:45):
How are you, Bill, I'm fine, Thanks, I'm good.

Speaker 3 (42:48):
It's great to have you here. When you think back
on your All Blacks career, Now, what are the moments
that stand out most vividly to you?

Speaker 6 (42:56):
Well, for me getting in the All Blacks start, I
was pretty nerve wracking and trying to stay in the
team because I was in and out quite a bit.
But yes, great experience, wonderful experience.

Speaker 3 (43:15):
You played in an era when being a front row
forward was as much about being tough as a water
back technique. How do you reckon the modern day front
row forwards would have gone in your era in the
nineteen seventies.

Speaker 6 (43:30):
Well, I don't know. If you get knocked over and
you laid it on the ground, the boys just said
get up, yes whatsoever, and you jumped up straight away
and put eyes on your head, and the bit of
water and the way you carried on. So but we
trained pretty hard, like you know, we were twelve months

(43:50):
of the year we were playing. If you got the
orb blocks on a long tour. So you're playing club rugby,
you start at Christmas time, presses and training. Club rugby
started around about March. Canary started August all Blacks. Then
you went on a long tour, so you're pretty foot.

Speaker 3 (44:07):
How much was technique though, a part of of what
your game was based on, particularly, I guess it's set
peace time at scrum time.

Speaker 6 (44:15):
Well, our coach called US concrete mixers, US Type five
and we stayed together for a long time. A long
period of time. You know, we were together for about
seven years, so you knew how one of the Frank
Oliver played he sort of. Yeah, it was different from today.
I mean, say, we've probably been red carded, probably been

(44:37):
locked up in jail, even the things we got up
to you. But the referee you stand back and say,
you boys want to play rugby and carry it on
and the spring box. They appreciate it. Pimes didn't too much.
But that's the way it was played, and that's sort
of missing out of the game of it. Don't have

(44:57):
to be how we played. It was quite ruthless, really
a lot of it.

Speaker 3 (45:02):
How important was it, though, to impose yourself physically on
your opponent till them know that you wouldn't take a
backwards step. How important were the first five or ten
minutes of a test match in your day?

Speaker 6 (45:12):
Well, any young guy come up because he psyched out already,
so that's hard.

Speaker 3 (45:17):
The job was done.

Speaker 6 (45:19):
But yeah, a lot of young guys coming through. Yeah,
they always used to tell me, but yeah, well you
have to be tough. I mean, I say, he had
long tours and I hardly got injured. To him in
South Africa, I never got injured and she was right now.
It was pretty pretty, pretty vicious. And I hear that

(45:40):
coach you're saying now to her talking with this all
black team, that he wanted them to be ruthless. And
that's the key. I think up to type five to
be ruthless, not necessarily be dirty today, but you know,
use your body, leg drive and use your elbows and
you know that sort of play. It's sort of missing,

(46:02):
and I'm afraid I don't know if we've got it.
I see they got the old front row from a
few years back, so they're pretty they know all about it.
Cody Taylor and the two props. I like Jacobson. He's
a ruthless man, good captain.

Speaker 3 (46:22):
I think I was going to ask you about because
I guess has has been the selection that's raised most eyebrows.
You know that maybe there was a school of thought
that Artie would play at seven, maybe Peter Larkeye at eight,
maybe Simon Parker at six. But you like the way
Luke Jacobson goes about things.

Speaker 6 (46:36):
Yes, I think he's I think he's a very good
captain for the Chiefs. And well they got blown away
by the so did we. We got blown away so
did the Brumby. So this's a topsy turvy. But good
on well ending taken that out. But it worries me
about the type five. If we do the job up

(46:59):
front tonight, the wind out of their sales visit of French,
it's the best word to beat them, kid them early,
and then our backs. No matter who we put in
the back line, we go good back line, We'll got
good backs. But the type five worries me.

Speaker 3 (47:14):
Bill Bush is our guest on Weekend Sport. The nineteen
seventy six tour of South Africa one of the most
controversial in rugby history. Looking back, What did that to
teach you, both as a rugby player but also as
a person.

Speaker 6 (47:29):
Well, I didn't know too much about apartheid, but I
went there to find out for myself and it wasn't good.
But I also went there too as a colored kid.
I suppose he could have called me. I was five
that went with Brian Williams as well. We weren't there
as ordinary citizens, but I wanted to beat them on
their in soil and to say us colors can play

(47:52):
the game as well. And then we played them in
nineteen eighty one, which I kept in the side and
we drew t and all, which was controversial dropkick whether
it went over or not. I think it was twelve
nine at the time. Yeah, yeah, So that's what I
wanted to do. And you know Lorel Mary players going

(48:14):
back to Ben Couching them, all those good players, Tiny Hill,
they weren't allowed to go to South Africa, you know,
and that was a problem. That not a controversy about
going there. But I wanted to find out for myself
what I was like, wasn't wasn't nice at all?

Speaker 3 (48:30):
What was it like?

Speaker 6 (48:32):
How were you try? They was segregot it. I wasn't
treated any different, but the segregation sort of thing. You know,
the Indians place there, black their colors there, White's there,
and no one was allowed to go to either side
until seven o'clock in the morning. I said, they won't
come into the city.

Speaker 3 (48:53):
I mean, I know you've spoken openly about feeling targeted
by South African opponents and officials because of your Maori
heritage over there, and you have spoken about it in
the in the time since. Did it always feel important
that you, you you know, told that story publicly, that
you let people know what it was like for you.

Speaker 5 (49:11):
Back then.

Speaker 6 (49:13):
Quite often in hotels and of course after mass functions,
say they always spoke Afrikaans, were better now and then
they spoke English, and then we all knew what was
going on. And quite often in the hotels you really
hear his people say something and I'll say to some guy,
what did they say? And he said, oh, just saying

(49:34):
now there's that dirty bastard.

Speaker 3 (49:37):
Wow.

Speaker 6 (49:38):
You know those sort of things. But you know, I
didn't take too much notice of it. You know it
speaking Afrikaans, and but they are good people that just
hated you for eighty minutes after that there, you know,
nice guys. And because I went back there as a

(49:58):
tour guy after up in his plain and got to
know the clerk and and one guy, the other lockmowner
around the head and he cried, he cried his eyes
there when he saw me, and he thought I was
a dirty bass. I had a real good Funoy's yeah,
well that's quite funny.

Speaker 3 (50:17):
Actually we're here in christ Yitch. What is this region
meant to you? Rugby wise and in your and in
your life? Bill?

Speaker 6 (50:25):
I come down here in nineteen sixty eight for the weekend.
Never really played rugby at school. I was a good swimmer,
never played rugby at all, but I went to fungar
A for four years when I finished school and got
a job up there door refining, and then I played
social rugby and I think I was getting noticed because
I got picked for the longer rips by half back

(50:47):
from Otaga. I played for Lindsay Townsend, but I didn't
go to training on a Sunday, so they booted me out.
But I was only fifteen years old, you know, it
was only very young. Sixteen. I come down here and
I played for Suburbs and my friend of mine played
for Suburbs. And I didn't know who the how well
away and cultural was, or Lynn Davis and Alistair Hopkins

(51:09):
and of old people. There's a little lesson from him,
but I don't know. I sort of played rugby here
and they spent standing bloody All Blacks and the mason
Wan Gray said, how do you get in that bloody team? Well,
the guys at school said, you're useless at school. How
the hell are you getting that? Dem I said, cool

(51:29):
hidden talent.

Speaker 3 (51:32):
Well it didn't stay heading for very long because how
did they how did they tell you you were in
the All Blacks? Was it one of those where it
just gets read out on the radio or something.

Speaker 6 (51:40):
A little park after a black troll and I'm sitting
next to bar bar and of course Doug Bruce's name
comes out first. I don't know who, somebody want to
be nave, But then the bees, Doug Bruce, Bob Barber,
and he started crying on my shoulder, and then Bill Bush,
and I'm trying to push him away, don't cry on
my shoulders. That he's very emotional guy. You know you

(52:01):
got in the o bles and and yeah, yeah, we're
told under the round stand and you never heard of
you got to drop. You heard normally on the radio.

Speaker 3 (52:13):
I'm not the team anymore. You're always known for your
uncompromising standards. The phrase that we used to hear Billy
Bush rules discipline standards. Do you think those values are
just as relevant today, even though the game is now
fully professional?

Speaker 11 (52:33):
Yeah?

Speaker 6 (52:34):
Well, you know, I find that Kyate boring watching the
game today, and I think, take put Rucking back in,
then take out everything else. It could be a better game.
But we seem to be going back with you know,
we're leasing at of young players to the league. The

(52:55):
game is more defensive today and and I always say
if you went up front, you've got a good show
winning the game. We used to play ten man Ray
and Grizzls coach and captain. We'd pay ten man rug
We're going to get to the backs and still win.
So you could win like that. But if we win

(53:15):
the ball today, I think we'll we get the backs.

Speaker 3 (53:18):
To So when you watch the All Blacks play now,
does it still stir the same emotions and you as
as it did when you were reply yourself.

Speaker 6 (53:30):
Oh, yeah, certainly, I am. I certainly, I am. I
know how they're feeling. And today it's all new. They
get a new hierarchy, you know, with the chairman and
the CEO and the captain and the coach. Tana I
don't know how he got in there. He hasn't won

(53:51):
an argument, but you know he's in there for cultural reasons.
He had Henry or old school, so he's Traidie car
Croas to chefs coach Ronie and he's picked the old

(54:12):
old guys, the old front row and yeah.

Speaker 3 (54:19):
And brand new stadium. Have you had the chance to
watch the game of right now?

Speaker 6 (54:22):
Yeah, I've been in three times. Yeah, very similar to
Alisa park Or Alisa Parks is ten times twenty times higher.
But you're looking straight down on the players, especially if
we're on the on the Barbados street side, the east
side quite steep to climb up, but I get up
there no problem. We got set by the pigeons, so

(54:45):
it's easy to get up there and come down. Good
rails for us, old fellows. Good view up there, good view,
very good view, very good view. I'm going to say
for concert and you're sitting right on top of the bands,
marvelous bell.

Speaker 3 (54:59):
It's great to have you here. Thanks for stopping and
to reminisce with us a little bit your legacy as well,
and truly secure a lot of peop will remember you finally, mate,
So thanks for taking the time to chat to us today.
Bill Busch joining us on weekend sport. Great to have
him along on Test match Saturday here in christ Church.
Oh eight hundred eighty ten eighty is our number. If

(55:21):
you'd like to add your two cents worth, we'll we'll
move to a cricket shortly. Zach Folks is going to
join us after his heroic performance as a concussion substitute
in the trent Bridge Test match in England. In the
last week or so. But if you want to give
us your thoughts on tonight, on where you think the
All Blacks will, we'll have it over the French. If

(55:43):
you've got any fear, any trepidation about tonight, anything like that,
Oh eight hundred eighty ten A. We got a bit
of time to take some calls, if that's if there's
something you'd like to do, get a. Bill says this one.
I remember you playing for the All Blacks in the
nineteen seventies and the mold of All Blacks. What a player. Yeah,

(56:03):
he's an icon, isn't he, Bill Bush. He's still a
pretty good I have to say, looking at him here
at Robbie's is Yeah, still looks like he could back
down in a front raff. I'm honest, got to be
excited for. Sam Dowry says this one. Starting this hometown
of Canterbury, A Christ jag lad through and through Rick
and heell have a great game. That's from a one

(56:25):
eyed cantab on text Oh eight hundred and eighty ten
eight in number one twenty one here on Newstalks there
B and Weekend Sport com into your life from Robbie's.
Let's Field.

Speaker 1 (56:33):
We're back in a moment Hive from a clubhouse that
Robbie's on Litchfield and christ Church ahead of the first
Test match of the year. It's Weekend Sport with Jason
Vine and the Volkswagen Amarak V Sex Uncompromised Capability Premium
Comfort News talks the B.

Speaker 3 (56:49):
One twenty five first Test match of the year.

Speaker 19 (56:51):
Good O, Dave, can I Poorny, I'm joining your show.

Speaker 3 (56:55):
Thanks Do.

Speaker 19 (56:57):
I'm just wondering whether you should have invited Buck Shelford.
He knows all about how the French.

Speaker 3 (57:04):
Quiet certainly does. A certain body part of his knows
all about it. Dave.

Speaker 19 (57:11):
I'm sure it does. I'm sure it does. And I
was fortunate enough or unfortunate enough to be at the
nineteen ninety nine World Cup when French France beat US.
I think we were up twenty sixteen at one stage
and they took it out. So I've got a lot
of respect for the French and I don't think they
should be underestimated at any cost. So I'm really looking

(57:34):
forward to the game tonight, especially with the new squad.
I like the team and I think the boys will
go well.

Speaker 3 (57:41):
I don't want to bring up old old memories, bad memories.
But what was it like there in ninet? I mean
you brought it up, Dave, to be fair, What was
it like there? What was it like there in nineteen
ninety nine that day?

Speaker 19 (57:53):
Oh well, it was oh, pretty disappointing when he's spent
a lot of money to get there and think that
we were going to take it out and then all
of a sudden just to see it taken away from us,
especially when we had people like Jana there and we
always thought that we were going to be in with
that one. And yeah, I know that it was pretty

(58:15):
pretty gut wrenching. I remember turning around to a group
of French supporters behind us, and I dished out some
silver ferns and the little badgers. Yeah, I dised them
out and I gave them to them. I'm sure today
I bet they've still got them.

Speaker 3 (58:30):
I bet they have one. I mean, that's that's extremely magnanimous,
I think, is the word, Dave. You know, the way
that you were able to, even in defeat, you know,
hand over a little touch in New Zealand to them.
I remember watching that back here. It was kind of
you know, sort of early early morning. I think I'm
four o'clock, five o'clock, let's say, and just not being

(58:52):
able to believe what I was seeing in terms of
as you say, we were twenty four to ten ahead
in that game Rugbyople Cup semi final, and watching with
just the sense of growing doom that we we're going
to lose the game.

Speaker 19 (59:08):
Oh, I know, I know, so you know. So I
think the point I was going to make is just
we can't underestimate the French at any time, and I'm
sure the boys know that, and I think that's what's
going to make it such a great game tonight. So
I'm real looking forward to it, and in the new
stadium especially, it looks fantastic down there. I'd love to
go down and watch at some stage. But yeah, and

(59:30):
I wish the boys all the best.

Speaker 3 (59:32):
Good Man, Dave's great call, mate, thanks for calling in
and chadding twenty twenty six and nineteen ninety nine. Good
on you, mate, And I'm sure those French supporters do
still have the memorability that you gave them that day.
Great to hear from your mate, Go Ma, hello.

Speaker 17 (59:46):
Good a mate.

Speaker 18 (59:46):
Are we very good?

Speaker 3 (59:48):
Very good yourself? You sound up and excited for the test.

Speaker 18 (59:51):
Match.

Speaker 9 (59:53):
Oh mate, it should be a good even only only
Dellnstider thing made as I think Jacobson should be in
at six. Mate. He's more beef. Black Eye's got more pace,
you know, so that's great, But yeah, I I just
doubt that Jacobson, you know, has the legs like Lackeye.
You know, Peter Larchey's got way faster, yeah, better hands,

(01:00:16):
and our traditional six has always been the you know,
the bigger person, Jerry Collins, Jerome Kino, et cetera.

Speaker 3 (01:00:22):
Haang on going. I just wondered, then, if you've got
them both out there, lark Eye and Jacobson, does it
actually matter that one's got six and ones got seven?
Do they just do the stuff that makes them strong
rugby players? For example, are we going to see Peter
Larkeye be more like a seven tonight even though he's
got six on his back?

Speaker 9 (01:00:40):
Well hopefully they you know, they've sort of adopted a
plan playing maybe left right, you know, instead of you know,
one always on the open side and one on blind.
But yeah, I ford tack looks good. I just hope
that we can return to our like you know, all
blacks are always known for our for tac dominance our
aggression and man, we've just for some reason we want

(01:01:03):
to go back football all the time and I don't
understand it when we're picking and going, we're going one
off the ruck, earn the right to go forward and
then go boys.

Speaker 3 (01:01:14):
I'm surprised it's taken you so long to call the show.
This is brilliant from you. Why has it taking you
so long to ring up and chat rugby with me?
How you lost for words? I'm not quite sorry, mate,
I just this is just brilliant stuff from you. And
I don't think we've jetted on the year before.

Speaker 9 (01:01:33):
Oh well, I come under.

Speaker 17 (01:01:35):
I love a name, but yeah, yeah, Like I said,
it's a big passion of fan of all blacks made
and I just hope that you know, Dave Brinne can
get them up and you know, we forget about old
Razor and Foster, who were just chokers.

Speaker 3 (01:01:49):
I have great to hear from you, mate, I don't
care what name you use, callback anytime, mate, Great to
talk to you. I eight one hundred and eighty ten
one twenty nine first All Blacks Test of the year, Simon,
how are you feeling good?

Speaker 12 (01:02:02):
Good?

Speaker 8 (01:02:02):
Thanks? Finy Hey, that was a fantastic inter do well, boys,
thank you very much for that. I always remember him
as being a hard but fair man and he was
baked by the opposition and he did react from time
to time. And Reese had some very good comments. And
in regards in the game tonight France, there's no B team.
We give them full respect because they have the opportunity

(01:02:24):
to deliver a huge psychological blow to us if they win.

Speaker 3 (01:02:28):
Oh, Simon, without doubt. And look, it would not be
the first time, would it that a French side who
we underestimate beats us. You know, I like it feels
like the most obvious or the most likely outcomers we win.
But I'm sure I felt that before every Test we
played against France, when in fact they beat us.

Speaker 8 (01:02:48):
Yes, yeah, and they can always fall back on the
BC team thing if they win, So it's all psychological really,
But those guys put their jersey on, they will go
blood for their country and they want to wear that
jersey again, so they will give it everything.

Speaker 3 (01:03:02):
Good man, Simon, are you still confident though you Ricky
will win?

Speaker 9 (01:03:06):
Oh?

Speaker 8 (01:03:06):
Absolutely, that's that's a gat mate.

Speaker 3 (01:03:09):
Well done. Eight hundred and eighty ten eighty one thirty
talking all blacks. Ryan. Now you've got a bit of
divided loyalty. Understand that your partner is French.

Speaker 21 (01:03:18):
Yeah, that's right, mate. We been together for a long
time now, sort of over twenty years, so I've I
missed the ninety nine experience with her, but I got
the two thousand and seven one plus the father in
law down the phone.

Speaker 3 (01:03:29):
So no, man, how was that?

Speaker 21 (01:03:35):
So my French was basic and he was on existence
and he all he wanted was to talk to me.

Speaker 3 (01:03:45):
Man, We've had some grim times were against the French
at you know the ninety nine oh seven. I mean
we've got I mean twenty eleven, Cause what were you
doing in twenty eleven for that final? How did that go?

Speaker 21 (01:03:56):
I didn't expect you to ask this question, but I've
got the best story ever and I should have been
on a woman's day.

Speaker 3 (01:04:02):
Tell it, Tell it now?

Speaker 8 (01:04:03):
Okay.

Speaker 21 (01:04:04):
So I had a cafe and a rest. We get
a cafe bistro and tikiwitty and that we for for
whatever reason, we were it was our final night. We
were closing the business down and it was a World
Cup final, So French or Black final on French. She's
kiwi the whole community knows us, so we had all
community in there. My wife at the time was pregnant
and baby was due the following week. We wake up

(01:04:27):
that Sunday morning and she so, yeah, long story short,
she was she was ready and that the midwife came
around and said, and this is in Tikawiti. So there's
a hospital in Tikawitty.

Speaker 5 (01:04:39):
So we.

Speaker 21 (01:04:41):
And they loved the footage down there, and she the
midwife came around and goes, look it's coming. We can
either we can either I'm sure my wife won't worry
about this now, but we can either break the waters
and get it and get it out and watch the game,
or we can wait and I might kick it up
in a couple of days. And so I had I

(01:05:02):
had my business set up with TV's and bar and
invited all the low fools and all the regulars, and
I was I was expecting the best night of my life,
which it turned out to be, of course. And yeah,
long story short, eight forty five out came my first
born remy nine o'clock kickoff and just my wife, myself,

(01:05:25):
the midwife and the doctor came in just.

Speaker 12 (01:05:27):
To do the.

Speaker 21 (01:05:30):
Finishing touches for a bit of a bit of description
and yeah, so I had to sway the little baby
at and of course I was watching the game. I
was I had him for the Harker, so I grab
I look, I need him, I need him for this.
So I had him for the Harker and they had
to give him back while they did all their bits
and pieces, and we watched the second half together as
a family, just just as a first firstborn, and the

(01:05:54):
I was just going, at least I've got at least
my firstborn's out or I kept on trying to just
take away from the fact that I thought we were
going to lose.

Speaker 3 (01:06:04):
That a brilliantlliant story. So so literally minutes after he
enters the world, you are holding him for the hakka
before a Rugby World Cup final. That is amazing.

Speaker 21 (01:06:18):
Man at home French, all blacks, and there's all his
stories in women's days in order.

Speaker 6 (01:06:25):
That pretty was.

Speaker 21 (01:06:26):
I mean, Pitty had a great tournament and he was
kids being named this and that and everything else. I
kept on thinking, surely my story is better than that.
But modesty got the bet of me and I held
it back. But you've brought it out of me.

Speaker 19 (01:06:37):
Party there it is.

Speaker 5 (01:06:38):
I love it.

Speaker 3 (01:06:39):
So what So what's he now? Is be what nearly
fifteen years old? Now?

Speaker 21 (01:06:43):
Yeah, so twenty third, twenty fe of October, so he's
forty and a half mate, I'll tell you what he's
He doesn't say rugby anymore, but he's he's made the
under fifteen development team for this you softball good? So yeah,
so he's he's still sporty.

Speaker 8 (01:06:57):
He's a manager.

Speaker 21 (01:06:58):
So I coached my young I'm in Poka cooey, so
I coached my younger boys team. He's eleven and he's
like our manager for that. So but loves the rugby.
I mean he loves watching. He just doesn't play anymore.
But he's recorded every single match of the World Cup
since then, like since he knew what they were real numbers.

Speaker 3 (01:07:16):
Guy.

Speaker 21 (01:07:17):
So but yeah, it's uh. He would just told me
before I look, I'm just going down the road to
get a few supplies for better for a better reason.
And he descended to his mama, we're gonna we're gonna
waste you. And I was like, and that's why I
thought I'd better give you guys, because I've been here before.
I I I'm on record now on national radia that

(01:07:37):
I expect to win, but I'm I'm not you know,
I'm not being boisterous about it.

Speaker 3 (01:07:42):
Love it, Ryan, what a call togain mate, Thanks for
taking the time to chat to us. Made and you
know that's a that is a brilliant story. I hope
we can we can chat again sometime.

Speaker 8 (01:07:50):
Oh Matt, I.

Speaker 21 (01:07:51):
Uh yeah, I've called hi a couple of times, but
I did enjoy that when we're in a different way
than I expected.

Speaker 3 (01:07:55):
But then, love it Ryan, thanks mate. Oh eight hundred
eighty ten eighty is our number. What a story? What
a story. Surely that surely the baby born closest to
kickoff in the twenty eleven Rugby World Cup Final, Ryan's
Ryan's now fourteen and a half year old son. Tremendous stuff.
One thirty six it is. I'm just trying to think, well,

(01:08:19):
whether we should we should take a break or okay,
we're gonna okay, we're gonna take a break shortly. We
do still have a bit of time to take some
rugby calls though, so if you are able to join us.
Adam Peacock is going to join us, our Australian correspondent,
I have no idea what frame of mind. He will
be in because just a few hours ago he watched
his beloved soccer Ruse lose to Egypt at the at

(01:08:41):
the Football World Cup and a penalty shootout. I'll watched
this game this morning as well. I kicked off around
about six o'clock this morning, New Zealand time, and Egypt
scored early and one nil at halftime, and then the
Aussie's got an own goal just after just after halftime,
and it's one all, and we get to ninety minutes
and we get to a penalty shootout and sorry extra time,

(01:09:02):
the penalty shootout, and I don't know, for some unknown reason,
just before the end of extra time, Tony Popovitch, the
Australian coach, puts on a well, he brings a different
goalkeeper on and it's Matt Ryan, who's played one hundred
games for the Soccer US. But I've always thought that

(01:09:23):
that is fraught with real peril if it doesn't work.
And Matt Ryan didn't get a hand on any of
Egypt's penalties. Anyway, Adam Peacock will have him view on
that ross. I know you you heard our interview with
Bill Bush. Do you know him? Did you know him?

Speaker 16 (01:09:41):
Well, I met him once. We were in Britain in
nineteen seventy nine and there was a team came across
to play called the Cantabrians, and then that team was well,
there was some young guys like Bernie Fraser, but there
were older guys like Billy Bush said going. It was

(01:10:05):
a real mixture of up and comers and all blacks.
And they were playing against Pontypool. So we decided we'd
go over and watch, and we watched that game and.

Speaker 8 (01:10:18):
Then we were We were in our in our.

Speaker 16 (01:10:23):
Van outside their hotel the next morning, and next thing
we get a banging on the roof and it's Billy
Boyce telling us to wake up because they're going.

Speaker 3 (01:10:36):
That's great. Was he nice about Was he nice about it?

Speaker 13 (01:10:39):
Yeah?

Speaker 16 (01:10:40):
He was nice. He was just saying, come on, you guys,
wake up, we're leaving.

Speaker 3 (01:10:44):
So love it, love it. Yeah, it was great to
meet the great man. Obviously a bit of an icon,
bit of a cult hero. Good story. Ross, thanks mate, Um.
Just going to Glenn, Greg.

Speaker 22 (01:10:55):
Glenn, Yeah, Gray, I just watching the soccer World Cup
and I noticed all the teams put their hands on
their heart. Do you think that should come back for
the all Blacks.

Speaker 3 (01:11:08):
I think it's probably a personal thing, Glenn, I would say,
I mean, I know a lot of them do bring
their hand up and hold the crest. I don't think
it's compulsory necessarily. Would you like to see it as
a as them all do it? Is that what you're suggesting?

Speaker 22 (01:11:23):
Well, look, I just look at it. We've got a
lot of Polynesian people coming into the game, and Ardie
and his interview said, we're all Polynesian or we'rell from
the Pacific. So I'm thinking, is there a bit of
a change in mind? And I know Caleb knd klat
puts his hand on his heart every time, but you
don't always see someone like Ardie Savia, who's our captain.

Speaker 3 (01:11:45):
Yeah, I think it's very much. Sorry, Glen, carry on.

Speaker 22 (01:11:48):
So all I'm saying is I noticed after interviews quite
often he'll speak in his foreign language before you'll speak
in the all black jersey. And I'm just wondering whether
that's a little bit of a downfall for the all Blacks.

Speaker 3 (01:12:02):
I think it's the opposite, Glenn. If I'm honest, I
think it's the opposite. I think the way that Ardie
Savia brings the different cultures in the all blacks together
and is very happy and comfortable speaking in someone before
he answers questions in English. I think that's a that's
a superpower, a lot of downfall and as far as

(01:12:25):
as far as holding onto the crest when the anthem's playing,
I feel that's very much a personal choice. That is. Yeah,
that is something that if you decide to do it,
you should. If it feels right for you, you should.
But I don't think there should be any obligation to
do it. Good to hear from Glen, Thanks mate, Robert High.

Speaker 11 (01:12:43):
Hi, Jason Gounn Mint And so for me, just some
French resurrections. I think, did they come to New Zealand
nineteen sixty one and we thought there are fantastic plans
or I'm mixing it up with another tour.

Speaker 3 (01:12:54):
No, I think they did. They didn't come here, Yeah,
they came here in sixty one. I think there was
when I think that was when Pierreville pru kicked a
goal at a penalty at Athletic part from about sixty
five meters.

Speaker 11 (01:13:07):
And I recoon. I was on the sideline on the
eastern Siglod by the Grand Center. It was somewhere just
over the ten mark on the other side that moving
right along. Nineteen ninety nine, I was at the Faithful
game at Trickenham, the semifinal. As you know, we were

(01:13:28):
well up at half time, and as I recall that game,
we had players playing wrong for this, so I think
Collen was at center and the back line was sort
of mixed up with it, and if it wasn't for
Ginal we would have been threshed by even more. But
I was sitting in the stand about half way up
and we had a lot of English people around us
or in front of us, and they were sort of

(01:13:49):
interested this end, and up behind us a lot of
French and they all seeing La blo and was going
to fight out When it got to the second half
and the French started to get in front the English.
The poems all started cheering the French, and I thought,
what happened to the British Commonwealth? The English are supposed
to hate the French and vice friends. So I go
to I've been in the front many times and I

(01:14:10):
speak it pretty well, and I thought, what am I
doing here?

Speaker 2 (01:14:13):
You know?

Speaker 11 (01:14:13):
And I've got it back to front of something. Anyway,
we got beaten. And the next year the or Bucks
had a tour of France and I saw two chests
in the first time was in the Marseille and there
was I went with a group from a New Zealand
group organized by William and Trevell, who did a lot
of it in those days, and the Marseille, which was
in a soccer ground or football surrounded by barbed wire

(01:14:36):
between the crowd and the players. But we got beaten,
and I think it was a close game that I
spoke with some French free gus. I said, oh, don't worry,
that was the work. You're so good with yours. You're
the or Backs are the best team in the world.
Don't worry. You know some were we were just a
bit lucky and that sort of thing.

Speaker 3 (01:14:52):
Yeah, Robert, I do have to go because I've got
to get Assie correspondent at a peak hot com but
good to hear recollections. Seventeen away from two News talked.

Speaker 1 (01:14:59):
Counting down today Rennie's first test as All Blacks coach,
Live from the Clubhouse and Robbie's.

Speaker 2 (01:15:04):
On Lichfield in christ Church.

Speaker 1 (01:15:06):
It's weekend Sport with Jason Vine and the Volkswagen amarak
V six, on sale now from eighty nine nine on
your home of sports news Dogs.

Speaker 3 (01:15:15):
NB Heartbreak for Australia the fief for World Cup beaten
on penalties by Egypt, demonstrating correspondent Edam Peacock's with us
undoubtedly a silly question, mate, but how are you feeling finey?

Speaker 12 (01:15:26):
Not great? Let's be honest. I don't know if you've
ever copped a blow, beat, a block shot or a
boot or something like that to the reproductive organs. It's
pretty much out of fields right now. Unfortunately, I'd love
to put it in a nicer term, in a more
elegant way, but yeah, just a hammer a hammer blow

(01:15:46):
to lead us to the point of what if? That's
the problem, that's the issue. It's what if this? What
if that? What if you didn't sell the goalkeeper? What
if the eighteen year old didn't take the fourth ten,
and what if the central defender didn't take the first ten?
What if we actually kept playing? And how did we
drop off a cliff after seventy five minutes? Because on balance,

(01:16:07):
overall Egypt were a better site. But how much was
that down to Egypt playing out of their skin and
us not capitalizing on the momentum that we had in
the game. I think it's a bit of both. So
that's that's the feelings at the moment. Pineyer gets can
get a sorrowful couple of days, but we'll get off

(01:16:28):
with life and yeah, look forward to whatever comes next.
Is there's always looked forward through. But in isolation this hurts.

Speaker 3 (01:16:36):
Yeah, I bet. And I think your description's perfect industrial
though it may be, it is absolutely perfect. A lot
of wat ifs there. Just on the decision to substitute
Patrick Beach who'd had a good game and made one
absolutely world class save right near the end of extra time,
obviously bringing Matt Ryan on for penalties. Hindsight's always twenty

(01:16:57):
twenty years. We know Adam he didn't save any of them.
What was the feeling when that substitution was made?

Speaker 12 (01:17:03):
Fell off a chair. I couldn't believe it. And then
because I've always obviously I've spent a lot of time
with Mark Bosnich and he's always said there's nothing better
as a goalkeeper than pulling off a worldy because you
feel invincible. So I'm like, with that in mind, and
I've just done another I've just done a podcast with
Bosa and he's just basically double down on those thoughts.

(01:17:25):
And it's why on earth do you take off a
goalkeeper who has just pulled off save with the tournament
and it was save the tournament. And there was another
one actually off a block shot, a shot that ended
up getting blocked that was covered by him. He was
going to pick it out of the top corner. So
I don't know. I think maybe they've ever thought it.
Maybe they've just based themselves on what's going on at

(01:17:47):
the training ground with penalties and gone with that and
not taken into account the adrenaline that hits every sports
person when they do something good.

Speaker 3 (01:17:55):
Who played well for Australia today beach dead obviously. Who
else played well today?

Speaker 12 (01:17:59):
Harry Souter excellent, Lucas Harrington for the most part, although
got a little bit caught out a position for the
goal for Egypt. He was very good. But our problems
I think overall stemmed from the fact that there was
not a lot of attacking depth. Like Christian Volpato was
probably our best attacking threat. We'd lost one of our
real weapons, Jordan Boss at halftime. He's done something bad

(01:18:21):
to his knee, so you know that was a setback
that was like a blow that kind of get lost
in the fog of the disappointment right now. But all
these things contributed Nesri and Kunda. It's interesting what he's
doing with necessary he's playing him is a central nine,
and he's kind of his weapons are a little bit
blunted by playing there. But I think, and this kind

(01:18:44):
of sums uptoning Popa. He looks for the balance in
things a lot, and he's obviously looked at the balance
of playing Nestry on a wing and attacking wise, it
might help us, but it might hurt us more defensively.
So yeah, it's a really tough one.

Speaker 6 (01:19:00):
Look.

Speaker 12 (01:19:00):
Oddly enough, Scott McDonald, a form of soccer EO, was
texting Indur in the game as well, and guess what
he said, Piney, you love this? He goes, what we
really need is Chris Wood as our number nine?

Speaker 3 (01:19:11):
Now?

Speaker 12 (01:19:11):
Can we have him? Can we swap you for something?

Speaker 3 (01:19:17):
Is there a Chris Wood like player in the soccer rus.

Speaker 12 (01:19:23):
There's not as good as Chris Wood and Mitch Juke
could admit to this, But there's Mitch Juke and he
left him out, and I don't know why he left
him out. But he didn't use Tete Yangi in the game.
Motore looked out of sorts. I don't know what happened
to him after the first game. That needs to be
discussed and investigated because he looked like he was going
to have a great World Cup, but then we barely

(01:19:44):
saw him again. I don't know if he was injured.
We don't know. That could be a possibility, but that
absolute define position where if you're going to play this system,
you need someone like a Chris Wood as the glue
because otherwise you don't get up the pitch otherwise you
strike his way too isolated necessary. A couple of times
in that second half he's trying to make half chances

(01:20:05):
into full chances with one brilliant touch, and half the
time it's not come out because the defending is very
good and it's very very difficult for a young play
like that with his physical profile to hold off defenders.
So yeah, a lot of frustration, but this is a
good thing about This is the opportunity now for all
of us in Australia and you've seen it with a
wide lens with the A League. Now is the time

(01:20:27):
to have the conversations about how we get better. Let's
be fair thinking like not just go where unlucky seeing
four years Manna, manna, Let's all get together and let's
get some sharp minds together to add to what we've got,
because it's an impressive, youthful looking squad that could be
better in four years time. But let's work on it.

Speaker 2 (01:20:48):
Man.

Speaker 3 (01:20:48):
You could be talking about the all whites. Same conversation
going on over here. We're a bit behind you, but
same conversation. Hey, just to finish again, I mentioned this
see you last week. The traveling support from the Australian
fans looked absolutely amazing. I mean, the sea of yellow.
What was it like being amongst the Elsie fans.

Speaker 12 (01:21:08):
Yeah, unreal, it's time of your life and the Kiwi
fans who went over there and saw them score goals
at a World Cup. Obviously it did work out get
out of the group, but you've still got those moments
that actually lived with you for the rest of time.
I still remember when Tim Cahill scored against the Netherlands
in twenty fourteen and just jumping over strangers sitting seated
next to me. They didn't want to be jumped on,

(01:21:30):
but they didn't have a choice. In the matter, but
you lose your mind. There's nothing like it. And yeah,
the traveling support, they'll go away from this. I obviously
pissed right off. And you know, having a discussion about
the coach's choices, which should happen. It happens everywhere else.
Why should we just kind of sit in the fence
and go, oh no, all good, we have nothing to
see here. But they should be discussed. It's a passionate game,

(01:21:50):
as we all know. We're passionate about our sport as
long as it doesn't go with the bounds of respectfulness,
and I don't think it will over here. So the yeah,
best time of your life. And I can only stay
to your listeners given that the twis have pretty much
got the guarantee now with the automatic spot Mosiania. If
you get the chance to go, welcome to it. You
will not regret it.

Speaker 3 (01:22:11):
Start saving now. Thanks for bringing your passion to the airwaves,
has always Adam, Safe travels made and dumb. I don't
know where you'll be next Saturday, but I hope to
catch up then, madam.

Speaker 12 (01:22:19):
I mean back in Sydney. So I was sitting in
my landro and by myself this morning so scoring at
the television in the dark.

Speaker 3 (01:22:24):
But anyway as I go, good to hear, make great
to Jed as always well chet you next week She's funny.
Let's Adam Peacocks seven to two News Talks head Beat
coming up three and a half away from two. This
is weekend' sport on News Talks head Be coming to
your life from Robbie's Litchfield. The show continues after the
two o'clock news. We're joined by former All Black Casey
La La La to get his thoughts on what he

(01:22:45):
thinks might play out tonight. And also joining us after
two is Rob Penny, former Crusaders coach, ready keen to
hear his thoughts as well. That's to come after two.

Speaker 1 (01:22:57):
Today, History arrives in christ Church. Yeah we not just
the first chest of the year, not just the opening
chapter of a new international competition, but the first ever
All Blacks test at New Zealand's newest sporting cathedral. The
challenge is real, the expectations are enormous, and the road

(01:23:21):
to the twenty twenty seven Rugby World Cup.

Speaker 9 (01:23:23):
Starts sober your Black's movements position.

Speaker 1 (01:23:26):
After months of anticipation and endless debate, Dave Rennie begins
his tenure as All Black's head coach.

Speaker 7 (01:23:32):
I'm excited for the new players for the squad we've assembled,
bringing you.

Speaker 1 (01:23:37):
To the center of the conversation with leaders of the game,
legends of the jersey and the stories.

Speaker 2 (01:23:43):
You won't hear anywhere else.

Speaker 1 (01:23:45):
It's Weekend Sport with Jason Vine live at the Clubhouse
and Robbie's on Lichfield.

Speaker 2 (01:23:50):
And christ Church on your home of sports, New storms abb.

Speaker 3 (01:23:57):
Yeah, welcome back into the show too. I seven. This
is Weekend Sport on New Storks hebb until three at
Robbie's Litchfield. The stadium is literally a stone's throw from
a year and as the next few hours unfold, expect
this place to get a lot busier. Biggest day on
the New Zealand rugby calendar the All Black's picking off
their Test season against France right here in christ Jurch

(01:24:17):
before the action gets underweight, joined by someone who knows
exactly what it's like to put the black jersey on form.
All blacksmidfielder, key member of some outstanding Crusaders and Canterbury teams,
and the scorer of one of the most iconic Super
Rugby Grand Final tries, Hold out. It's a bit messy

(01:24:38):
for the Crusaders, but they've got it. Now are they
changing the I think it's so.

Speaker 2 (01:24:48):
Jubulation everywhere?

Speaker 3 (01:24:51):
Casey lao lala it is.

Speaker 2 (01:24:53):
It's a crucial try at the stage of the game.

Speaker 3 (01:24:56):
It took Nispol and TJ and Mix a little while
to work out it was fog final try scorer. Casey
la lala. How are you mate?

Speaker 5 (01:25:04):
Thanks? He has a really really good thing and great
to be here today. Man, the fog final.

Speaker 3 (01:25:09):
Wow, twenty years ago. Can you believe that twenty years ago?
That fog far age? Well not really, because you're still
looking like you could play today. What do you remember
most about that night?

Speaker 5 (01:25:19):
All I remember there was a the day was a
really nice day, so we thought, oh, it's going to
be a cracker tonight. Obviously two really really good size
I was going up against uh I think Conrad or
autanaeh and as well as that team, so we were
you know, we've had some great battles through the years

(01:25:39):
with those guys and when Tana, especially when Tanna was playing,
because we've all kind of grew up looking at Tanna
and how he played the game. So yeah, no, it
was it was a nice day and by six o'clock
this fog just came down and literally just blind everyone,
including the stadium. And I remember we Robbie said, Robbie

(01:26:01):
was really really great at keeping the protecting the team,
and I think he got up, he got us into
the zone or just getting ready. You know, you just
never know. And there were talks about postponing the game
the next day. The one that that was mentioned as well,
I was hovering a hell a helicopter in the fog away,

(01:26:25):
So think about think about it now back then as
the bunkers.

Speaker 3 (01:26:31):
So once the game start of gentital for a couple
of guys and the Hurricanes team. Channon Pucker was one
he played that day. He was out white. He couldn't
even see the ball. You're a bit closer, But what
was it like, was like, could you see much at all?

Speaker 5 (01:26:46):
I think it was about five meters in front of us,
so you had no idea what was going on on
the other side. Yeah, it was. It was quite thick
as well, and they just stayed there. And I remember
when I scored that chart, it was a one three cut.
And people that knows Rokey well, is that the tenthst
of ball and in the thirty and cuts behind the

(01:27:08):
twelve and the ten, and in my I know that
Jerry's on the other side, thank goodness, he was packing
the scrum on the other side.

Speaker 3 (01:27:17):
You don't want to go that one.

Speaker 5 (01:27:18):
But also know that Christmas saw is uh is on
this on the open side. And then who was numberin again,
just trying to think.

Speaker 3 (01:27:27):
Her the number right there, I'm going back. We're going
back far too far for brand shields. Marsay colins so yellow, yeah.

Speaker 5 (01:27:35):
So yellow, yeah, yeah yeah, so yeallow And and I
thought I remember vividly I went out to that, come on,
let's do one three cut, you know, yeah, give me
the ball. So anyway, got got the ball out one
three cut, and all I told myself was that when
you go in, make sure that you come back out.
And trying to get to Pitty and thankfully Petty was

(01:27:58):
I think Petty saw me really really late. He couldn't
even see me, see me coming down his channel, so
thankfully through Yeah, my parents came from came down to
watch the game, and obviously the top part of the stadium,
you know, they couldn't see a thing. So but heyes,
my claim to fame now I think that will live

(01:28:20):
on for a while and I can I can claim
that one.

Speaker 3 (01:28:23):
It was just one of the one of the outstanding
Crusaders teams. You were a part of what made those
teams so successful year after year after year.

Speaker 5 (01:28:33):
A lot to go with the you know how Robbie
and obviously the whole management team ran the team. I
think Robbie was as such a consistent person and what
he does, and it's all about the team. The team
always comes first and one thing coming up with different
values of what a Crusader man is is another thing
living them each day and also outside of rugby itself,

(01:28:56):
So for him was looking out for the families, the wives,
obviously the girlfriends, and that was the biggest strength. And
I think you see the love because ultimately the little
things that you do outside the game, those are the
things that you can see, the little things that nobody
sees but Bobbie and then the team sees that kind

(01:29:19):
of and we used to have an award after game.
It's not so much who scores the triice. It's called
the sacrificial act. So I could be scoring the try
or say we could gear we'll score the try. On
the other end, o Ralfie. But Robbie will go back
or go back to a rock that was two or

(01:29:41):
three phases before and pick out why that ball was
able to clear that ball out was because all you
can see someone say Breadthorne, running from ten to fifteen
minut meters away to clean that ruck. So that for
that and those are the little things that really count
when it comes to big games. Is you can tell

(01:30:02):
someone to make say five, seven to ten tackles, but
it won't make them do that extra effort to cover
the ball and make the last secle that saves a
try so, and I think that was his strength as
teams comes first and living those each day with little

(01:30:27):
little actions.

Speaker 3 (01:30:27):
I love that. The sacrificial act man, I love that. Yeah,
that is that is quintessential Crusaders Rugby to me. Let's
bring it forward to twenty twenty six, Jordi, Barrett, Quinte
Pier the midfield per Tonight you like that?

Speaker 5 (01:30:42):
Yeah? I think those boys have been outstanding throughout the season.
I really love the way Hurricane has been playing this
this year. I think a lot of eyes up rugby
but still have real structure in their game. With those two,
they've got real X factors and they become real good
defenders as well as you know, if you're in the midfield,
you've got to be a really really good defender, and

(01:31:04):
both of them defend really really well. And I think
it's time to build a partnership now heading into the
World Cup. Yeah, I think that's another thing that we
should look at, soltifying that part of I mean, you've
just got to look at mar and Conrad a partnership
and that's built on their time in the Hurricanes and

(01:31:27):
then obviously in the All Blacks and and those who
are exciting to watch as well.

Speaker 3 (01:31:33):
Yeah, they certainly are. And so I mean it is
a short runway to the next Rugby World Cup. It's
fifteen months away casee. You know, so normally a new
All Blacks coach if they take over, has four years
Rens Dave Reny has fifteen months. So do you feel
as though he can't really experiment too much He has
to quite quickly land on what he thinks his combinations
will be in certain areas.

Speaker 5 (01:31:54):
Yeah, I think it's already it's pretty obvious in some
of the positions, and I think the loose forward probably
there's a few people that you know they can put
up their hands, but I think when it comes to
a first five is another crucial position. I think we
but again I think the most important thing is is

(01:32:16):
is getting them to play for each other. And obviously
if they do that, you know, we all know that
there's this pressure that comes with the black jersey. But
I think protecting the boys and and and make them
feel safe and be themselves. You know, the byproduct of
that is obviously doing for the better picture, which is
which is for the nation. And you know, when you

(01:32:38):
when you when you yourself in any situation, you express yourself.
You know, And in through the years we've we've also
said to ourselves that pressure is a privilege. And how
that sort of interpret that, you know, there's different people,

(01:32:59):
different people interpret that in different ways, but it's a
beautiful thing when you get it right.

Speaker 3 (01:33:04):
Casey Lala is a guest on Test Match set in
christ Church. What's it like being an all Black?

Speaker 5 (01:33:09):
Oh? My goodness, you know what. It's hard to explain
as many moons ago now, but you always dream as
being an all black, but you never thought you'd get there.
I think sometimes when when you do get in the
possession of wearing the black jersey. Sometimes you get in
our own way, and I think once I got out

(01:33:31):
of the way and having the right people and it
became a reality. I remembered when I got my jersey.
I went up I was rooming with Milsmilia in in Cardiff.
I went up to the room and I took my
jersey and went to the into the bathroom looking at
the mirror, and I started my tears, I started running
down my eyes. It was more that you start to

(01:33:55):
reflect on the journey and what it meant, and then
you think about your parents and I think and then
again you you still got a job to do her
the next day. But it was everything to me, and
I think it's one of those things you look back

(01:34:15):
and you can sell the grandkids and and be proud
of and know only dad, also for my dad and
my mum.

Speaker 3 (01:34:24):
Yeah, let's just say the journey and I think, I mean,
there'll be a couple of guys tonight who will do
it for the first time save you to me and
all four you know, Anton Signer and Josh Morby will
wait there too. And you know it's some it's an
exclusive club, as you say, it doesn't have many members.
But everybody's journey is different. But at all the thing
when I talk to guys about becoming an all Black,

(01:34:45):
it's it's it's the journey and the people who made
it possible for them that jump to the front of
their mind when that moment arrives.

Speaker 5 (01:34:51):
Yeah, I think this is through the journey as well.
A lot of time reduilt yourself, and I think there's
a lot of people through that journey that believe in
yourself and push you into the right direction some and
sometimes also it's the a lot of trauma in a
lot of that comes into play. So it's how you
push through those to make something out of yourself and

(01:35:13):
not so much prove people wrong, but prove to yourself
because that's at the end of the day, that's more important.
It's like I've given been given this talent and now
I've grabbed with both hands and I'm able to squeeze
every ounce of of work and and capacity out of it.
So no, it's pretty it's pretty sweet looking back now.

Speaker 3 (01:35:34):
Can you believe man is still playing?

Speaker 5 (01:35:36):
Oh? I sent him a message the other day a
couple of weeks now, I was like, you keep finding
that flag for us because we're trying to hold on
needs together and you're still playing against he's twenty year
olds and uh wow, honestly, but that's a real testament
to him though A and never in a million years

(01:35:57):
I think you'll carry on and become the person the
play that he was and still is playing now because he.

Speaker 4 (01:36:04):
Was just.

Speaker 5 (01:36:06):
Yeah, he was just wild from the outside looking in,
it was just you know, it gave us so much
trouble on the field against the Hurricanes. He looked like
he was short fused, but man, it was a challenge.
You know that you have to turn up otherwise you'll
just run rings around you. So no fear played him
as we say, And you're.

Speaker 3 (01:36:24):
Joining with a few of your former All Blacks teammates
to to get to the game tonight. You're looking forward
to you want have been to the stadium for a
super right by game already, I'm sure have you?

Speaker 4 (01:36:32):
Yes?

Speaker 5 (01:36:32):
Yes. The Crusaders they do very welcome back to My
story is like it's a It's another thing that we've
noticed is that even US X players, the Crusaders still
make sure that we're well looked after. It is so amazing.
And they did a guard of honor for us the first,
the first game here every year, we they contact us

(01:36:56):
that we've got this gathering that we're going to put
on something for you. Come to the game, because life
goes on and most of us have just moved on
and and but to be able to be acknowledged from
and then it goes back to the to to what
the Crusaders is about. And when you still lived that

(01:37:19):
still and maintain that true to them, to what it's about.
It's pretty really special. And yeah not because Crusade's did
it for us. And now the All Blacks I fear
play the All Blacks has done that as well. Although
we have to do something. It's not a handout, guys,
come on.

Speaker 3 (01:37:38):
Of Provo works.

Speaker 5 (01:37:41):
Tab at the church. Hey, look, whatever it takes, but
we're happy to do that. And so get amongst that.
You know, we're fans of the team and the All
Blacks and obviously just get around and everyone. And I'm
taking my son as well, which is so special.

Speaker 3 (01:37:58):
Amazing. Yeah, Casey, great to meet your mate, Great to
see you. Thanks for stopping and enjoy the rest of
of today and and thanks for having a bit of
a wonder Dan memory name with us.

Speaker 5 (01:38:09):
Thank you for having me and God the EPs go
the Avs.

Speaker 3 (01:38:12):
Indeed, Casey La Lala joining us at Robbie's Litchfield on
Test Match Saturday to twenty two when Ween come back.
Rob Penny will join us here on Weekend Sport.

Speaker 2 (01:38:20):
Counting down to the Old Lacks v.

Speaker 1 (01:38:22):
France Lave from the Clubhouse of Robbie's on Lichfield and
christ Church.

Speaker 2 (01:38:26):
It's Weekend Sport with Jason Vine and.

Speaker 1 (01:38:29):
The Volkswagen Amarak V Sex Uncompromised Capability on sale from
eighty nine to ninet nineteen.

Speaker 2 (01:38:34):
News Talks MB.

Speaker 3 (01:38:36):
Two twenty five Here at News TALKSB Weekend Sport coming
here from Robbie's Litchfield Test Match Saturday. There aren't many
coaching jobs in world rugby that come with greater expectation
than leading the Crusaders. Rob Penny took on the role
at the end of one of the club's great errors
and during a difficult first season when the Crusaders missed
the playoffs, but then responded in the best possible way,

(01:38:56):
guiding the side back to the Super Rugby title in
twenty twenty five.

Speaker 23 (01:39:01):
How the Crusaders have done it? The redemption Arks you please,
the worst Penny side, the Crusaders returned to clocker Bilve.
What the final sixteen points to twelve?

Speaker 3 (01:39:24):
Yeah, one tonight that was in christ Yet a couple
of years ago. After three seasons in charge, you stepped aside.
Scott Hanson set to takeover, bringing to an end of
fascinating chapter in one of New Zealand rugby's most successful organizations.
Rob Penny is here with us. Great to see you mate.
How now you've had a bit of time to think
about it, how do you reflect on you on your
time as Crusader's head coach.

Speaker 14 (01:39:45):
I've often well, I've been asked that question. The greatest
privilege there is for me being a local lad and
getting the opportunity to be involved with that great organization
and the young men and the yeah, the whole the
whole group. Really it was just a really a real privilege.

Speaker 3 (01:40:02):
When you came in, did you did you understand how
challenging it was going to be to follow Razor into
that role?

Speaker 14 (01:40:11):
Oh yeah, seven in a row, probably unrepeatable. And you know,
the Razor and the coaching group and the and the
players that they had deserve an incredible amount of credit,
Like it's such a such an achievement uh yeah. Following

(01:40:31):
on from that, you know, we had you know what, really,
I guess made it most challenging of war was was
a couple of critical injuries, particularly to Fergus Burke who
broke down and then back into the NPC, so it
wasn't available to us, and we really scrambled for a ten.
Taha Kimura was still cutting his teeth and but I

(01:40:56):
guess the experience for Taha, he just needed more time
credit Fergus Burke came back in and we won the last three,
nearly nearly got our noses over the line to get
a playoff, but it wasn't to be. But the experience
of twenty four was crucial for a number of reasons.
You know, we had to do a lot of work

(01:41:17):
around our second tier leadership. They got exposed as much
as anything, and organizationally did a fantastic job of really
I guess, sitting in place the foundations for those young
leaders to go on and win carry the team through
in twenty five, and that group fundamentally went on and
won the NPC that year as well, which Canterbarry hadn't

(01:41:39):
done that since twenty seventeen. And I just think that
the two correlate really really nicely in terms of the
development of that group and from twenty four to twenty
five to win and then win the NBC, because that's
not easy to do.

Speaker 3 (01:41:53):
I remember speaking to you, I can't remember whether it
was after twenty four or sometime in twenty five, and
I asked you whether you ever lost faith that you
were the right man for the job, and you were
dial and saying no, I'm the right man for the
job and I've got the right system around me. Were
there challenging times though in twenty twenty four when you

(01:42:14):
look back.

Speaker 14 (01:42:15):
Now, oh, particularly around some media moments Thomas Meade interview
that will go down and in for me, Unfortunately, that
wasn't pleasant, of course, I like, I guess the couple
of things that were really important to me was the

(01:42:36):
trust that the ceoon Colin Ainsbridge Angus Gardner as the
general manager, had and the feedback and support I was
getting internally from the players just so critical. If it
had been a whisper that I was the problem, I
was never going to be staying and that wasn't the case,

(01:42:59):
and I was just you know, it was just I
guess a bit of a barrage on social media and
in the media itself, which was unfortunate, and I just
hope no one has to go through that because it's
not pleasant. And you know, the interesting thing around, you know,
the whole aspect of people being passionate about sport and

(01:43:20):
wanting to have their view and is I guess when
the blow torch is on an individual like it was
on me for that period of time, you know, there's
lots of chats around mental well being and dealing with
anxiety and all that sort of stuff seems to take
a back seat. No one cares. They want to brutalize
the individual. I'm just really fortunate that I'm highly optimistic,

(01:43:42):
and I guess I've been around the traps a bit.
I've got a bit of gray here and a few wrinkles,
so I you know, I just turned a collar up
and got on with my job and was able to
deal with it. But a young coach just would have
been it would have been horrific and it would have
been so unfair. And I just hope there's a wee
bit of learning there somewhere for people around the traps

(01:44:04):
twenty twenty five.

Speaker 3 (01:44:05):
Then where does that sit in your coaching career.

Speaker 14 (01:44:10):
Yeah, well it's it's got it. It's right up there.

Speaker 11 (01:44:14):
You know.

Speaker 14 (01:44:14):
I've been fortunate enough to coach some semi finals in
the Heineken Cup as it was back with Munster against
two French teams. You know, that was the great experience.
Think of won the Nfhilly Shield four times and lost
at five roller coaster that shield. Yeah, been involved in

(01:44:37):
five NBCs SO victories the but it was very very special,
special for the group because they just bonded so well.
You know, we've got a lot of things right. The
coaching group were tremendous. Jane marsh Marshall leading our attack,
young young attack coach, deserves a lot of credit the

(01:44:59):
way you know he puts that team together and we
all need our best players available at the important times
of the year and that that kind of just this
year injuries again, but James got the timing right, got
their tech working really well.

Speaker 2 (01:45:12):
And.

Speaker 14 (01:45:14):
Matt Tied as a young defense coach, and Geeze had
that group humming. I think in the semi final against
the Blues we had six minutes on defense something like twice.
We got nearly three hundred tackles in a game and
that's sort of unheard of, but there was the resilience
piece that the boys really dug deep for each other
and it was just a wonderful experience. Yeah, pretivate privilege.

Speaker 3 (01:45:37):
What about this new house yours, this new stadium. I
know again I'll heard you talk about it in glowing
terms when it finally got stood up super Round and
then the home games she had here. What was it
like playing at one New Zealand stadium.

Speaker 14 (01:45:52):
Yeah, well, it's a special occasion. There was a lot
of chatter around this is going to be an equalizing
factor for opposition.

Speaker 3 (01:45:59):
Tent we thought.

Speaker 14 (01:46:01):
There was a lot of chat about and the boys,
you know, our group coming into the Warritars for the
super Round, and just a lot of credit to Caroline
Harvey Tear and her group at venuez Oa Tahi to
get us set up so well into the new stadium.
And we were very nervous about what it was going

(01:46:23):
to be like to play under it for the first time,
and we've done a lot of research, but really you
can only experience it in real life because you know,
there's only a few stadiums around the world with the
roof on them, and so we prepared really well, first
half it was got a bit messy, but I think
we came at halftime going, if we just relaxed, now

(01:46:44):
settle into our work, we're going to be able to
play on this and it's going to be really exciting.
And that first second half we unleashed and it was
we've got a talented group.

Speaker 5 (01:46:54):
And then you know, the.

Speaker 14 (01:46:56):
Desire of the men to not be beaten at home
and make sure they leave a legacy for the next
year's group to carry on the great traditions. And then
getting a home quarter against the Blues again, the Crusaders
have never lost a home playoff game, so the pressure
went on again and did the job there. And you know,

(01:47:18):
if we look at the type of game that the
leads were able to play under the roof, all the
things that you want to see, movement, high intensity, passion,
the crowds right there with you, and we were blessed.
You know, the public just kept coming and kept coming,
kept coming, and the boys fed off it. And we're

(01:47:39):
so as I said, we're so privileged to play in it,
so privileged to have great community behind us and just
beaming and red and black and it's going to go
black this weekend, which is so lovely.

Speaker 3 (01:47:50):
Certainly, Well, how do you think the Crusaders are placed
heading into twenty twenty seven.

Speaker 14 (01:47:56):
I think they've got a great coaching that I've already
mentioned two of them, and Dan Perrin and Ryan Crotty
Hour is forging his way Brad Moore. There's a lot
of experience there under the helm would helmship of Scottie Henson,
who's vastly experienced, knows the organization intimately. So I think
they're in really good shape. We've we've got a little
bit of I guess Thinness and the roster around the midfield.

(01:48:19):
We've had some fantastic players there and now move on.
Obviously our skipper, as David Harville, can't speak holdly enough
of her and his contribution to the to the group,
and but he leaves it in good fettle. There's a
couple of really exciting young lads coming through in that
area and all it means is the emphasis will have

(01:48:40):
to probably just go off the midfield a little bit
while you know, the outsides and the forwards take on
a more a more dynamic role as as some of
those younger men come into, you know, come on stream and.

Speaker 3 (01:48:55):
What about the year, Rob, What is what is on
the agenda for you? Now?

Speaker 14 (01:49:04):
Watch a bit of cricket. I've got a couple of
leads out are builders and I've been on the job
site for the last couple of weeks, which has been
really refreshing. I'm just the dog body, but that's all right,
you know, And and I look, I love Rugby passionately,

(01:49:27):
and you know, I'm not seeking anything anymore. You know,
I'll get to the age where there's a lot of
exciting young coaches that are passionate and have the ability
to push on. I don't want to be a handbrake
for them, but if there's an opportunity to support, you know,
to carry on supporting someone that might need a hand on,

(01:49:48):
yeah I'll be there and yeah, we'll just see where
it leeds. I've got a very open mind. But I'm
also you know, I've been doing it for a long
time and a fresh on up will be equally as exciting, brilliant.

Speaker 3 (01:50:00):
Well, I'm glad to know that we're not losing you
from the game altogether. Just to finish and do you
reckon the All Blacks wil go tonight really good.

Speaker 14 (01:50:07):
I'm excited about the group. They've got, you know, one
guy that hasn't been spoken about a lot that because
he's got an injury at least to Fainuku and how
he he got our player of the year and he
dominated the season for us in that hybridy role and
it would have been beautiful to see him in the MAX,

(01:50:28):
but he's not there at the moment.

Speaker 5 (01:50:30):
But I think.

Speaker 14 (01:50:32):
Sounds like there's a really good buzz inside the group
and they're excited to be here and just just a
wonderful experience to see the all black jersey run out
under the roof and just you know, be able to
watch it from afar with the you know, the deep
desire for New Zealand rugby that I have.

Speaker 3 (01:50:50):
Love it, Rob, love it. It's good to see you mate.
You're looking well. It must be the building site and
being told what to do by your boys. I'm not
sure I could handle that. Butts on a great tenure
with a crusader's mate and in a show of real
resilience in that role. And thank you for always picking
up the phone to me as well. You've always been
willing to chat and that is greatly appreciated. Great to
see you, mate, Yeah, thank you. It's always been a pleasure.

(01:51:12):
Rob Penny joining us at Robbie's Litchfield on weekend sport.
Right a sporting chance with the tab. If you want
to play, you know how the game works. Oh, eight
hundred and eighty ten eighty or one hundred and fifty
dollars bonus bet from the tab to give away. We'll
take call a.

Speaker 1 (01:51:26):
Number five lay from the clubhouse and Robbie's on Litchfield
ahead of All Blacks v.

Speaker 2 (01:51:31):
France.

Speaker 1 (01:51:31):
It's Weekend Sport with Jason Vine and the Volksweigen Amarak
v sex Power and Comfort combined on sale now on
your home.

Speaker 2 (01:51:39):
Of Sport News talks B. It's time for a sporting chance.

Speaker 3 (01:51:45):
Thanks to TB, they're going to chat to one of
the great content creators in our country. Shortly but time
to play a sporting chants with a tab. I'm gonna
give Kath three options to choose from Kath. All you
have to do is choose which one you want will
place the bet and if it comes home, you'll get
the winnings. Does that sound okay?

Speaker 11 (01:52:04):
That sounds wonderful?

Speaker 3 (01:52:05):
Tiny okay, Caath, I've got three options for you. Short
evens and long so short. This is called the Australian
Pile Up Special Wallabies Island. It's for Ireland to win
the match tonight. This is after the All Blacks France game.
It's paying a dollar sixty five. You would win ninety
seven dollars fifty. That is your short option. The evens

(01:52:29):
is a Football World Cup option Canada against Morocco. This
is tomorrow morning. It's for Canada to win, paying three
dollars five. You would win three hundred and seven dollars fifty.
That is Evans and your long as a I love
this kid special All Blacks France, Reuben Love to be

(01:52:52):
the first or second tri scorer and New Zealand win
by thirteen plus. It's paying fifteen dollars. You would win
two thousand, one hundred. So let me recap for you.
Kath Ireland to beat the Wallabies win ninety seven to fifty.
Canada to beat Morocco, you'd win three hundred and seven
dollars fifty. Ruben Loved to be the first all second

(01:53:15):
try scorer and the All Blacks to win by thirteen plus.
You'd win two thousand, one hundred. Which one would you
like to go with?

Speaker 19 (01:53:24):
Oh?

Speaker 11 (01:53:27):
I think I think maybe the evens. I mean, Canada
is going to be desperate to be in there.

Speaker 3 (01:53:33):
They definitely are. They want to stay in their home
World Cup, don't they. Yeah, yeah, yeah, Morocco are a
good team, but maybe that home advantage, even though they're
in the States not Canada, might might play in their favors.
So you want to go with Canada to beat Morocco?

Speaker 11 (01:53:46):
And yeah, yeah, I will.

Speaker 3 (01:53:48):
All right, Yeah, I mean you don't had one hundred
percent certain, but I mean I don't think you ever
can be in these situations. But we will place the
bit for you on your behalf and if it comes home,
the three hundred and seven dollars fifty will be all yours.
We'll keep our fingers crossed. We'll do it again next
week thanks to our mate to the TB. CAS just
told there and he's going to make sure he's got
all your details. If you're keen for more action on

(01:54:09):
sports and racing, join tab. They'll match your first deposit
up to fifty dollars in bonus cash. Put in fifty,
you'll have one hundred to get your bet on Decency
Supply R eighteen. As always, please bet responsibly, whether it's
an All Blacks test, an NRL blockbaster, or one of
sport's most iconic moments. Chances are you've seen one of
his incredible creations online. He's built a reputation as one

(01:54:32):
of New Zealand's leading sports graphic designers and digital artists,
taking the emotion of a single photograph and transforming it
into a stunning piece of artwork. His work has been
shared by some of the biggest names in sport, followed
by fans all over the world. He's carved out a
unique career combining creativity, technology and a passion for sport.

(01:54:53):
Pleasure to welcome to the show one of the country's
most innovative content creators. Blake Western.

Speaker 18 (01:54:58):
Great to see you, mate, Yeah, thanks for having me.

Speaker 3 (01:55:00):
It's quite the niche that you have carved out. A
lot of sports fans will have seen you work on
online without necessarily knowing who created it. Can you just
give us a description of what it is that you do.

Speaker 18 (01:55:12):
Yeah, Basically, I've always been a sports designer and I
wanted to try and find a new way of doing this.
So basically I wanted to see a challenge of trying
to do this whole process in the space of one
game live at the stadium. So I go and photograph
the first half of a game, then I go find
a seat somewhere in the stadium the second half and
try and speed create this artwork and with the idea
of going back down onto the field at full time

(01:55:33):
to show the player what I've created. In Yeah, it's
been something that's been like so amazing. The players have
loved it. I've loved it, and it's been such a
cool way of going around the country and doing this
all all my sporting idols really so yeah.

Speaker 3 (01:55:46):
So when you when the game starts, do you know
the player who you're going to do the piece of
artwork for? Or do you take a bunch of photos
on the first forty and then decide.

Speaker 18 (01:55:56):
Yeah, I genuinely have no idea during the game who
I'm going to do it for. There's there's always like
other media people on the side during the game, and
they'll come over and whisper to me about the thirtieth minute,
being like, oh, how are you going to do today?
And I still genuinely don't know half the time, So
it's normally half time I make the decision. I quickly
scan through the photos and see how I've got packs
of and what I think I'll be able to make best,
and then yeah, give myself kind of forty minutes to

(01:56:18):
get it done.

Speaker 3 (01:56:19):
That's a huge time pressure, isn't it. I'd imagine that
it is. So can you walk us through the process
from deciding who it is that you're going to use
the photo you're going to use, to the finished artwork.
What happens in the second half? For example?

Speaker 18 (01:56:32):
Yeah, so at halftime, I go through edit all the
photos that I've got of that player, once I've made
the decision. Then second half, once I'm sending the stands,
basically cutting out the images, editing them, putting all the
lighting on the backgrounds, the textures, making it look like
a piece of artwork. And then yeah, constantly checking the
clock and trying to gauge if I'm tracking on time
or how I'm getting on and yeah, just hoping I'm

(01:56:54):
going to get it done by full time.

Speaker 3 (01:56:55):
So, as you're aim to finish, do you want to
give yourself a bit of time up your sleeve, Like
do you want to finish it the seventy minute mark
or are you often still working up until the final whistle?

Speaker 18 (01:57:03):
Yeah, I'd say probably nine times out of ten, I
finish in seventy eight to seventy ninth minute and then
I just straight away ear drop it to my iPad
and then just got it back down to the field.
So yeah, it's always very close. So it's it's probably
becoming a thing where people think that it's a guarantee
I'm gonna get it done, but honestly, every time it
comes down to the wire, So it's yeah.

Speaker 3 (01:57:25):
And the best bit of it must be the reveal
must be must be taking it up to the player
for who you have captured this amazing piece of digital
art and showing it to them. What sort of reactions
do you typically get?

Speaker 18 (01:57:37):
Yeah, so that still seems so surreal for me because
I've been a sports fan my whole life and it's
literally a way where I get to meet my sporting
idols and show them my craft and my work and
they give us so much joy week and week out
as fans, and it's like a cool way of me
using my craft to help give something back to them.
And yeah, it still seems surreal just even thinking tonight,

(01:57:58):
I'm going to be showing an All Blacks player one
of the greatest teams in the world something that I'm
creating for them tonight. So yeah, it's always been very
special showing in the artwork and the reactions are always
very kind and very genuine, and yeah, they always seem amazed.

Speaker 5 (01:58:12):
By what they do.

Speaker 3 (01:58:12):
And it's not just the All Blacks you've covered. I
mean you've done this, you know, for a lot of
different sports and sports people. What are some of the
more memorable days that you've had.

Speaker 18 (01:58:21):
Yeah, so we did it at souper a Round, which
was five days, five games back to back across three days.
We've done the Wars twice and another crazy one not
necessarily sport, but it was six sixty, which was trying
it in a whole new industry and again meeting to
one of the greatest bands of end Zed of all time.
So there's been some very very memorable ones as across

(01:58:43):
the last couple of months. It almost seems every week
or every fortnight there's a new team that we're flying
to go do, which has been very special.

Speaker 3 (01:58:49):
And you build a big following across your platforms. I
think over one hundred million views on your artwork. I mean,
it's incredible what you've achieved. Did you ever imagine that
you would reach audiences of that scale.

Speaker 18 (01:59:01):
No, well, probably a year ago one of our best mates,
Lewis's massive on so sure. See he kind of spoke
to us about the power of a personal brand. And
I've always just posted my artwork behind a logo on
my page. No one really knew what it looks like,
who I am or what I do then, so from
he's a big inspiration to me, and from then I
started kind of posting one video a day with my

(01:59:21):
face on it and kind of being a bit more
vulnerable and showing how I was. And yeah, it's just
crazy now walking around when I'm photographing a game and
people calling out from the stands being like Blake or
Western and then like asking for photos one of like
Southeast with me, and it's yeah, just a still seems surreal.
And then how many people are seeing the videos as
as called, like the one creating artwork on the plane

(01:59:43):
for sever Reese. I think that's reached five million people
and everyone comes up and they're like, oh, I saw
you saw that one you did for Sevoo. So it's
always a yeah, still very surreal and very amazing feeling.

Speaker 3 (01:59:53):
The technology is evolving so rapidly, isn't it in your industry,
in every industry, particularly with AI becoming part of the
creative landscape. Do you see that as a as a
useful tool. Is it a threat in any way or
is it simply another another part of your toolkit.

Speaker 18 (02:00:08):
I feel like I've always just gone about my craft,
not really worrying about any outside influence or other competitors
or things like that. I just know what I like
to do and how I like to do it, and
so I don't use AI. I don't. I don't think
it's a great thing and design, and I think I
think what I do is special in the sense that
it's such an emotional piece that you then get to

(02:00:29):
show the player, and it's something that's done live, it's
artwork created from a particular moment with real photos, like
a real artwork, and give them the show a real person.
And yeah, I don't think you'll ever be able to
beat that connection.

Speaker 3 (02:00:41):
So a dream client, a dream sports person, a dream
event you want to get to.

Speaker 18 (02:00:48):
I want to go to the Olympics and do this
at the Olympic Games.

Speaker 11 (02:00:52):
Yep.

Speaker 18 (02:00:53):
Any athlete in particular, any athlete in particular.

Speaker 3 (02:01:00):
It sounds like there is one which I think is
all a bad thing, right.

Speaker 18 (02:01:03):
Yeah, honestly, if we had been able to make it
work for the World Cup, the dream is that Christianna,
Ronaldo Leonard Messi again that whether with your career is
coming to an end shortly, whether or not that'll be possible.
But again, everything that I've put out there has come
to fruition so far, so I think there'll be away
in the next year or two that I will get
to meet either Ronaldo or Messy stuff.

Speaker 3 (02:01:24):
So you're just going there's a night to one New
Zealand studiument to Kaha. You'll take up your position at
the start of the game, you will take a bunch
of photos and then literally, I know I asked you
this question before, but literally you'll then decide which photo
is going to be the base of your artwork tonight.

Speaker 5 (02:01:40):
Yeah.

Speaker 18 (02:01:40):
Yeah, So we try and get and normally try and
get four or five photos of each kind of player
that I'm thinking might be there, and very much dependent
on how the game's going, who's scored a try, who's
playing well, and then yeah, halftime, I'll make the decision.
Then There's honestly been times where I've started the second
half creating it for one player, and then I've circled

(02:02:01):
back and changed my mind ten minutes into the second
half and made it even harder for myself because I think, no,
those photos aren't as good as these photos or this
players have gone on to score a third or fourth try,
so then pivot. Yeah, I always like giving myself a challenge.

Speaker 3 (02:02:14):
You're a sports fan who loves creativity, obviously, Is there
a genuine pathway to build a career like this now
for young people listening who love sport, love creativity? Is
this a pathway that is available now to young Kiwis Yeah,
one hundred percent.

Speaker 18 (02:02:30):
I think it's very understand and people don't understand the
opportunities that can come from being in sport and just
following your passion. So literally, it all began because I
just one day made a piece of art for a
team and sent it to them, and from their team
after team just kept reaching out and I managed to
build my business from there. So there's like so many
ways and the only thing stopping people is that a

(02:02:53):
lot of people were scared to be vulnerable and put
themselves out there and make that first step. But honestly
is as scary as it was posting my first video.
For the second piece around the content creation, it's everything
that's come from it has made it so worth it.
And all someone needs to do is just start and
not be afraid of other people will think when they
start posting their content. And I guarantee you whatever you
put out to the world will come back to you.

Speaker 3 (02:03:15):
Where do we find you on socials best.

Speaker 18 (02:03:17):
Places, Instagram and if you search at Western design Sport
and that's Western with W E S T O N.
And we'll be posting some live stuff tomuch in the
game as well, and stay tuned for what we create.

Speaker 3 (02:03:29):
Great to see you, mate, Thanks for stopping him Blake,
no worries. Thank you Like Western a content creator with
a real niche which is growing all the time. Siving
away from three new Stalks, NB.

Speaker 1 (02:03:39):
Lay from the Clubhouse and Robbie's on Lichfield ahead of
all Blanks V France. It's Weekend Sport with Jason Vine
and the Volkswagen Amarak V Sex Our and Comfort combined
on sale now on your home of Sports News TALKSB.

Speaker 3 (02:03:54):
That'll do us. Thanks for listening. Thanks are huge. Thanks
to Andy McDonald for pulling the show together. What's our
exits on Mate?

Speaker 7 (02:04:00):
Finally too much of a habit of me jumping on
here Miley Cyrus Today, It's fourth of July in the USA, Finn.

Speaker 3 (02:04:07):
To us up lovely, see you tomorrow, Direct your Blacks Taste, spopping.

Speaker 1 (02:04:11):
Out for more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen

(02:04:39):
live to news talks it be weekends from midday, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.

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