Full Show Podcast: 07 December 2025

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks dB. The only place for the big names,
the big issues, the big controversies and the big conversations.
It's all on Weekend Sport with Jason Vine on your
home of Sport News Talks ed B.

Speaker 2 (00:30):
Hello, Deck, you're a good afternoon and welcome into the
Sunday edition of Weekend Sport on News Talk s V
for December seven. I'm Jason Pine, the show produced by
Andy McDonald. We're here until three o'clock this afternoon. Outgoing
New Zealand rugby CEO Mark Robinson leads us off today
with what we'll call his Weekend Sport exit interview. Six

(00:52):
years in the role, what's he proudest of? How does
he reflect on it? Would he have done anything differently
given his time again? And why can't they find somebody
to take his place? I'm keen for your view on
a couple things as well, Mark Robinson's legacy and the
most important issues facing his successor whoever. That might be

(01:14):
an hour of rugby to start other matters around today.
Man an F one promoter's dream The twenty twenty five
Formula One drivers championship will be decided in Abu Dhabi
tomorrow morning. Going to break it down with award winning
Formula One journalist, broadcaster and former general manager with Williams
and Ferrari, Peter Windsor, Max Verstappens on poll Lando Norris

(01:37):
also on the front of the grid. All Norris has
to do, and it's perhaps making it sound simple, is
get on the podium. That is all Lando Norris has
to do. Finish on the podium, and he for the
first time will be Formula One champion. So how will
he do it? What will the tactics be? From Verstappen,

(01:58):
What might happen around the Abu Dhabi course? Peter Windsor
after one and we'll hear from many of the contenders
after today's qualifying. Liam Lawson down in thirteenth for his
final left one of the season. Can you get your
thoughts too, particularly motorsport fans among you. What do you
see playing out in Rbu derby tomorrow morning, another thrilling
New Zealand football derby. Yesterday Auckland FC three Wellington Phoenix

(02:22):
won five from five in the derby's for Auckland f C.
Going to break it down with former All White striker
Nol Barkley. The Black Caps in westernis have drawn the
first Test in christ Church the wind. He's batting out
the final day against an under strength Black Cabs bowling attack.
One of those bowlers, New Zealand fast pace bowler Zach
Folks on the show and yet more records for this

(02:45):
incredible rising running star Sam Ruth. Yesterday he clocked three
minutes thirty eight point six y two in the heats
of the fifteen hundred meters at the National Secondary School
Track and Field Champs and Hastings. That broke a thirty
six year old record in that event, and earlier today
he also broke the New Zealand Secondary school's eight hundred

(03:06):
meters record, previously held by Ben Mathis, who said it
in twenty eleven. Ben Ruth, that's his dad, Sam Ruth,
three point six seconds faster over eight hundred meters than
the previous record. Incredible. His dad Ben, incidentally a former
elite runner himself, was on the show after the final
of the fifteen hundred, which is scheduled for about two
o'clock this afternoon. James mcconey and his regular slot as well,

(03:29):
but a live sport to keep eyes on while we're
on the air as well. The final roll round of
Golf's Australian Open is well underway at Royal Melbourne. Daniel
Hillier tied for six at fourteen under, four shots off
the lead. He gets underway around about twenty to two
this afternoon. Ryan Fox is six under in a tie
for fifteenth. He t's off shortly. The other three Kiwis

(03:51):
are well underway in their final rounds. Tyler Hodge won
over through five holes to be one under for the tournament.
Nick Vogue won over through four holes to be one
under for the tournament. They're in a tie for forty seventh.
Kerry Mountcastle has won over today through seven holes, one
over for the tournament, in a tie for fifty fifth.
Day three plunkets your cracket action to keep eyes on
as well in Auckland, Hamilton and in Napier. As always,

(04:14):
your contributions are encouraged, warmly welcomed this afternoon on the
phone eight hundred eighty ten eighty nineteen ninety two. For
your text you can send emails to Jason at newstalkzb
dot co dot nz. It's eleven past midday when.

Speaker 1 (04:30):
It's down to the line you made a call on
eight hundred eighty ten eighty Weekend Sport with Jason Pine
News Talks VB.

Speaker 2 (04:38):
Mark Robinson is about to leave New Zealand Rugby, having
taken on the role of CEO in January of twenty twenty.
He'll leave at the end of this month after six
years in charge, so for probably the last time, certainly
in this role. It's a pleasure to welcome Mark Robinson
into Weekend Sport. Mark, thanks for taking the time after
you made the call to resign mid year. How long

(05:01):
did it take you to find peace with that decision?

Speaker 3 (05:06):
Okay, I think I was very at peace with it,
you know, at the at the time. Pioneered obviously put
a bit of thought into it, and you know, my
family were on Australia at the time, and and it
became a pretty pretty clear decision for me back in
back in May May June, I think it was. It

(05:27):
seems a long time ago now. I always thought i'd
have a lot more time to wrap a few things
up and say a few farewells in that. But it's
certainly I'm rolled around quite quickly, and I guess the
other things sitting in at the two, you know, the
couple of major work streams that I talked about at
the time around the international calendar which we've which we've
signed off, all the all the major competitions I was

(05:49):
talking about, probably some of the last few years have
have come to fruition, which we're extremely excited about. And
the other thing was the sort of reset of the
financial model in New Zealand, which we're getting very close
to as well. So you know, all those things weighed
up together between the things had left to take off
my own mind along with family, and it's that's great.
I'm really looking forward to the next step.

Speaker 2 (06:11):
Well, can we go back to the start. You were
probably given a few hospital passes by your midfield partners
during your time on the field. How much of a
hospital pass was taking this role just as COVID hit.

Speaker 3 (06:24):
Well, look, there's no doubt it was by far the
most challenging thing that i'd either can encountered personally, but
I think if you step back, it was probably the
most challenging thing rugged ever encountered sport for that matter,
and then the whole sort of you know, entertainment sports
industry as well as you know, for that matter of

(06:45):
the country when you think about it. So look, I
don't you know, talking to a lot of sort of
colleagues and leadership roles at that time and over the
last few years, has no doubt that it's by far
one of the most challenging things to teva, you know,
hit leaders I think in this country. And you know,
as I look back, I'm really proud with how we
came through that. You know, I don't think people can

(07:08):
appreciate the things we were sort of weighing up and
having to consider on a daily basis across those sort
of two two and a half years, and you know,
we've come out the other side of it, and you know,
I hope, I'm sure the new leadership coming in to
the role will very much be focused on going forward.
But yeah, it was a tough time.

Speaker 2 (07:26):
What stands out most when you reflect on your nearly
six years in this role.

Speaker 3 (07:34):
I've been massively proud to be in the role and
extremely privileged. I you know, as fortunate as you said,
to play the game and represent the all Blacks, and
I think, you know, probably playing the game nothing ever
surpasses that, but certainly this role is right up there
is something that's been very special to me, and you know,

(07:56):
there are a number of things around achievements that I'm
proud of. There's a number of things in terms of
challenges will reflect on, but every day throws up incredible opportunities,
be it you receiving you know, notes or messages from
people across the community game that are doing certain things

(08:16):
and are wanting to make your aware of seeing things
on the international stage that both associated with our teams,
but also you know, international colleagues around around the world
and working with them, we've driven you know, a huge
amount of growth and revenue across the six years, especially
coming out of COVID in the last three or four years,
you know, over over one hundred million dollar growth and

(08:38):
revenue per year. So some amazing partners we've got around
the world, which you know, we're grateful for their support,
but we've also made some incredible friendships. So I think
they asked me to sum up, there'd be two things.
Probably one one is the people we get to work
with on a daily basis. You know, we're really fortunate
in a sport that we love and it's highly scrutinized.
There's a lot of pressure, as you know, but the

(08:58):
people buy large, fantastic people to work was right across
all levels of the game. And I think the other
thing we've tried really hard at and you know, I've
got some success out of them as the focus we've
had on on the fans and working really hardly our
products and competition product on the field, I mean, and
competitions and our participants, you know, the players at community

(09:19):
will We've worked really hard at community and professional level
to tailor a game that players can really engage in
and want to be part of. So so some of
the reflections I guess over the last few years Ponty,
how much of.

Speaker 2 (09:31):
The role of New Zealand Rugby CEO in the modern
day Mark has to have a global focus.

Speaker 3 (09:39):
Oh, in my opinion it's it's a massive part of
the role, and I think on reflection it's something that
I'm not sure if people in New Zealand and our
stakeholders really appreciate. You know, when I when I came
into the role, domestic revenue revenue out of New Zealand
probably accounted for between seventeen eighty percent maybe more, of

(10:01):
all our revenue. Now, you know, the revenue from rest
to wild outside in New Zealand is probably close to that,
you know, it's probably sixty or seventy percent. And you
know this this comes back to some of the thesis
that supported the approach to have an investment partner like
silver Ac and the organization was that, you know, I
quickly realized that we couldn't sustain the future revenue growth

(10:25):
to support investment in all levels of the game that
we wanted to if we were going to sustain having
all of our best players play in New Zealand or
a vast majority invest in the community game to the
level we wanted invest into safety and things that are
really critical to the game, unless we took a different
approach to broaden out our fan base and drive you know,
a lot of revenue off the back of that. And

(10:47):
so in that time, you know, sponsorship's gone from circa
fifty million dollars perannum to I think it's around one
hundred and thirty million dollars, you know, across that time,
and it's by and large being supported massively by some
fantastic partners. On the international stage Japan, We've spent a
lot of time, as you're aware, of growing a memorand

(11:09):
of understanding there which has benefited our activity on the field,
but we've now got sort of four or five major
global partners out of that. At the US we're obviously
spending more time and now it's a little less developed
in the partnership that's in Japan, but it certainly you know,
we saw in Chicago that was a huge matchday revenue

(11:31):
game for US, and it's clear there'll be partnership opportunities
in the States emerging. We spend a lot of time
during that week with partners, potential partners on media outlets,
content collaboration with a whole lot of major sports franchises
across basketball, baseball, football, hockey, so you know, I could

(11:54):
go on. Obviously, Europe and UK is a bit more
of a traditional rugby market, so that has been slightly
we're not as difficult to work into to create partnerships.
But yeah, I think it's absolutely fundamental, and that's not
really even considering.

Speaker 4 (12:09):
The work with World Rugby.

Speaker 3 (12:12):
If we want to continue to sort of advocate for
the kind of game we want to see, which is
an entertaining one with less stoppages and less interventions you
know from officials, and more spectacular moments, and that takes
a lot of work on the international stage. We're not
like other codes closer to home that can now the
largely domestic focus can make changes like that, you know,

(12:34):
immediately in the space of a few days. So yeah,
I just think it's something that's absolutely pivotal to the
game now in New Zealand, and I think at any
given time outside of COVID, I spent between twelve fourteen
out to twenty weeks a year overseas and you know
that was a lot of time away from family obviously

(12:56):
and staff and people. But the gains from that, I
think are starting to become more and more clearly seen
when we reflect on some of the numbers I just
shared within some of the partnerships.

Speaker 2 (13:05):
We have in this role. You will never ever please everyone,
and if anything goes wrong in the game of rugby
and New Zealand, from grassroots to MPC to the All Blacks,
it's somehow your fault. How have you dealt with the
constant critique and criticism that comes your way in this role.

Speaker 4 (13:26):
I think early on, you know, it was something that you.

Speaker 3 (13:30):
Find quite challenging at times, but I think in the
last sort of four years, maybe four to five years,
even you probably first one or two years. It took
me to while to work this out that I became
really clear, and with our team, we became clear on
where we'd made you know, a genuine era or got
something wrong and we had to accept that and own

(13:52):
it and you know, learn from it quickly and move on.
And then there are a whole lot of things tiny
that I just knew we were on the right path
or knew the right decisions. Say, they either lined up
with strategy, or they lined up with a lot of
the information you know, we were receiving or seeing that
allowed us to make the decisions that you know, a
lot of the times. Unfortunately we can't share you know,

(14:15):
that information publicly in certain circumstances. So you just have
to you know, accept that, Yeah, if something goes wrong
and you've you've got it wrong, he's been an error
of judgment or wherever it may be, that you deserve,
you know, some criticism and certainty.

Speaker 5 (14:30):
That's the part of the the role.

Speaker 3 (14:32):
And people you know have a huge amount of ownership
and investment in rugby and New Zealand and that's the
way it should be, you know.

Speaker 6 (14:39):
But there are a lot of.

Speaker 3 (14:39):
Occasions where I was really comfortable with decisions we were
making and just had to keep going with them.

Speaker 2 (14:45):
If you had your time again, what would you have
done differently?

Speaker 4 (14:51):
Oh, it's a big question that point.

Speaker 7 (14:53):
I mean, I don't think.

Speaker 3 (14:55):
I think in terms of outcomes, you know, there wouldn't
be there wouldn't be too much. I you know, with
the with the circumstances we were speing us at time
and what we were dealing with in terms of major
strategic decisions, you know, I think we've got a lot
of those things right. There were certainly things in processes

(15:17):
when you're dealing with the scrutiny we are and really
complex stakeholder base at times that you might do things
differently around you know, processes, and we had a lot
of learning, especially in COVID, around that sort of thing.
But when I you know, when I step back and
I look at, like I say, the revenue growth, ibiliity

(15:38):
to invest so much more in a whole range of
areas important to the game, you know, we've we've clearly
got some things right there. There's some things and you
know them as well as I that were highly scrutinized
at the time. But like I said, one largely outcomes
I'm very comfortable with to be some things in processes
may be a little different.

Speaker 2 (15:54):
Yeah, you're talking, I presume about the All Blacks coaching
change that you oversaw. How do you reflect on that now?

Speaker 3 (16:02):
Well, I've said recently, I've been asked about this recently publicly.
I'm very comfortable. You know, that wasn't actually one of
the things I was, Well, it was one. There's probably
three or four, I guess over the time Pioneer were
major decisions for the game and on that basis or
effect on a really transformational time of the game, you know,

(16:24):
in some regards. So it's being a privilege being part
of that.

Speaker 4 (16:27):
But the All Blacks.

Speaker 3 (16:31):
Coach change, No, as I said, it's one of the
situations where we've got all the information coming to us.
We were across you know, campaign to campaign review from
players and management. We knew exactly what we were dealing with.
We knew what we were dealing with, you know, in
terms of scenarios of post twenty three. So I'm very
comfortable with that.

Speaker 2 (16:52):
Would you like the All Blacks to be slightly further
ahead on a trajectory arc two years after from a
world cup than they are.

Speaker 8 (17:00):
We always we.

Speaker 3 (17:01):
Always want, you know, the best of the all blacks,
and we always want you know, more from them, and
we have high expectations, don't we. So you know, I
think you know, Raisers reflected on this so of the
senior players that there's certainly a desire to understand, you know,
the periods of inconsistency we're having and learned to understand

(17:25):
what is that happening and to try and put that right. Look,
there are some really good signs that come out of
aspects of the game.

Speaker 4 (17:31):
There's some things there to.

Speaker 3 (17:32):
Say that are a little bit a little bit frustrating
at the moment, but I'm sure, you know, be a
great review undertaken over the next sort of fur of
six weeks and hopefully some of the things we're looking
forward in terms of answers to those questions will come through.

Speaker 2 (17:47):
Do you leave New Zealand rugby in a better place
than you found it?

Speaker 3 (17:52):
Look, I think so with all the context that we
talk about, and if you look at where the world's gone,
if you look at rugby unions around the world, and
for that matter, sporting organizations around the world, and provide
some context here around you know some of the challenges
that that rugby faces. I feel incredibly proud of loads

(18:14):
of things that we've done, some things that people you know,
are aware of, and a lot of things behind the
scenes they might not be so aware of. So so yeah,
I'm really comfortable. If you asked me at the start,
you know, being at peace, I certainly am with regards
to that question, and really proud of a lot of.

Speaker 4 (18:30):
Things we've done.

Speaker 2 (18:31):
Do you think you'll miss it?

Speaker 3 (18:34):
There were some things I probably will and there were
some things I definitely want, which is a good sign,
you know, in terms of being ready to move on.
You know, it's a job that you've got to be
fully invested in and engaged, and it's it's definitely twenty
four to seven and I've loved it, you know, I've
absolutely loved it. But look, I'm at at a different

(18:55):
stage in my career now, these different opportunities ahead, and
these different considerations with families. So it's the right time
for me to move on and pass to the to
the next person. But there are some things you just
you know, you just probably well I won't be able
to replicate, and future roles that come with being the

(19:15):
U Ziland, Rugby. You know some things that is a
huge amount of pride being part of, and a huge
amount of situations I've been in which are very very
unique and specially to be part of.

Speaker 2 (19:28):
Why haven't they been able to why haven't they been
able to find your successor.

Speaker 3 (19:33):
I've told you loads of times, Piney, this has nothing
to do with me. It's a board. It's a broad
appointment and yes, like I am. Yeah, I obviously had
a couple of conversations early on shared some insights from
from my perspective, but that was many months ago now

(19:54):
and largely it's been with the board to work through
and I I've got no doubt they're running a really
robust process and I get you know, the decision right obviously,
so they're taking the time they need, but hopefully that
can be tied it up soon.

Speaker 2 (20:11):
So what is next for you?

Speaker 3 (20:15):
A good break? I'm yeah, I'm going to my family's
gradually or coming back from Australia over the next little while.
I'm over and my youngest arrived in the last week
and my two eldest kids are home and the next
fortnight or so and we'll be in New Zealand until

(20:38):
late January and sort of early February, will be getting
back and being getting more settled in Australia, and I'm
going to try and take off until about May probably,
and then I've got a few things to sort of
make up my mind on this. You know, there's a
few things around sort of consulting or governance opportunities. There's

(20:58):
some stuff around executive roles, and hopefully I can make
a call on that in the next few weeks, but
not you know, all the next four to six weeks,
but not start until May sometime, which all allowed for
a nice break.

Speaker 2 (21:11):
Indeed, it will well whatever it is that comes next.
I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.
I want to thank you for your accessibility to me
and and to the News Talks dB audience during your
time in this role. You've never never turned down an
interview request to my knowledge anyway, so thank you for
your accessibility. I hope you and your family have a

(21:32):
relaxing holiday season and all the best for what comes next.

Speaker 3 (21:37):
Thanks, Bianie, and I guess I just reflect similarly back
to you. It's been a pleaser working with you, and
you've always allowed a great, fair but robust and often
challenging where it's appropriate for them for me to come
on and share our views with your listeners, and it's
been being privileged dealing with us.

Speaker 2 (21:55):
All the best to you too, Thanks indeed, listenings, Thanks indeed,
all the best you guys. Mark Robinson, outgoing New Zealand
Rugby CEO, really keen for your thoughts on a couple
of things there. Twelve twenty nine is the time lines open?
What are the biggest challenges facing the game here right now?
It can be anything from the All Blacks down to

(22:15):
grassroots rugby and everything in between. We've got a new
CEO presumably arriving sometime in twenty twenty six. If you
had to hand the incoming New Zealand Rugby CEO whoever,
that might be a list of priorities. What would be
on that list? Oh, eight hundred and eighty ten eighty.

(22:37):
If we start down at the grassroots participation numbers always
a focus. The base of the pyramid here has always
been crucial to what happens at the top end, but
those numbers have been dropping, particularly in male participation. Our
production line has always ensured we have high quality at
the top end. Plenty of players playing the game coming

(22:59):
through funneling up towards the top end, but with so
many options for young people now in terms of other
sport that they can play and other things that they
can spend their time on, and a focus in schools
on the first fifteen at the expense of other teams
and participation numbers. The numbers at the bottom end are
undoubtedly decreasing, and that flows into clubs which are the

(23:22):
backbone of the game but now have smaller numbers, fewer teams,
fewer people willing to volunteer, so that's grassroots NPC, Super Rugby.
I think the products are good, very watchable. Broadcast numbers
are good, attracting crowds at ground. Still a work on there,

(23:44):
So you might have some comments on NPC and Super Rugby.
And then we come to our elite sides, the All Blacks,
Black Ferns. To un less agree our seven sides, they
will always be crucially important. There's absolutely no doubt the
All Blacks in particular need to continue to be successful.
So much of our revenue and in particular our global

(24:07):
revenue is anchored on the legacy and the success of
the All Blacks and the ongoing tension between commercial imperatives
and high performance will continue to be a challenge. When
sponsors and broadcasters pay big money to align themselves with
the All Blacks, they want bang for their buck and
that means access basically, and every minute the All Blacks

(24:30):
spend doing commercial work is a minute that they can't
devote to high performance. It's a modern day reality, of course,
but it certainly remains a challenge to navigate. So as
Mark Robinson vacates the role, how is the game of
rugby placed here? And what are the major issues in
your mind for his replacement to focus on? Oh, eight

(24:53):
hundred eighty ten eighty is our number nine two nine
to If you'd like to send a text, it's twenty
eight to one back with your calls right after this.

Speaker 1 (25:00):
The figures seams in sports are on weekends for us
with Jason Pain and TJ are not New Zealand's most
trusted owen builder news.

Speaker 2 (25:09):
Dogs twenty five to one on News Talks AB this
is weekend sport.

Speaker 9 (25:13):
Can I g oh yeah, Plinny and were enjoyed the
chair with the CEO, But I think we're dropping the
ball big time as what's our coaching development of coaches
and especially the coaches going into the or Blecks in

(25:34):
the last two realms.

Speaker 2 (25:38):
Interesting ge okay, so you mean that the current assistant
coaching team and maybe the head coach of the or Blacks.

Speaker 9 (25:46):
Oh excuse me, Finally, what I meant was the head coaches.

Speaker 2 (25:50):
Yeah?

Speaker 9 (25:52):
Uh, I think you know, South Africa has got it
right now in terms of blooding people in but ensuring
that they have international coaching experience before they go in,
instead of getting into the job and then having a
babysitter looking after you when it starts getting a bit tough.

(26:16):
And that's what I've found in the last two rounds
with you know, these guys who were good coaches, but
when it came to international level, you know, we we
we fell over. But those are the two last coaches
we've had with the All Blacks, especially that we had
experienced coaches who had runs on the boards in terms

(26:41):
of what they've done internationally, and you know, we ignored them.
And you know, from my experience from watching the game,
you know, the coaches are the heart of the team.

Speaker 2 (26:55):
Oh, certainly a big part of it, Jay, without question.
So in your mind, in order to get the opportunity
to coach the All Blacks, either as a head coach
or even in an assistant role. International experiences is perhaps
something that hasn't been valued as much as you would
have liked.

Speaker 9 (27:12):
Yeah, when we had Tea in there, and when we
had Hanson in there and previously other coaches, you know,
they had their international experience, so you know when it
came to the hard games, they could go back. You know,

(27:34):
Dossy up, all that, all the background that came in
with what having is. You know, where we're getting people
and you know who seemed to have not notched up
their valuable international experience that your need, your need going

(28:00):
into just international games. I'm not not even talking about
more Cup games here. I've just seen you know, our
last two co worts going and just really struggling on
their front. And I'm just wondering also, Piney, you know,

(28:21):
teen years fifteen years ago, there was a pathway through
the clubs and through the schools, you know, to to
get into rep rugby and then make your way towards
you know, all that contention as a coach if you
had the skills. However, you know that's been taken away
from super you know, super rugby players as soon as

(28:44):
a as soon as they retire the you know, they've
given an assistant coaching role super Rugby. I think that's
another reason why people just said, hey, why going coaching
Club Rugby? You know there's no pathways for us anymore.

Speaker 2 (29:05):
Yeah, point, g it's a very interesting point. Thanks for
calling mate. You look to be fair to Weean Foster,
the predecessor to Scott Robertson, he had had a significant
amount of international experience as an assistant coach in the
All Black setup before he was made head coach in
twenty nineteen. But yeah, I think one of the big
question marks when Scott Robertson was appointed was his lack

(29:29):
of international experience and the fact that there were others around.
Jamie Joseph, I guess was the most obvious one who
had that international experience. Albeit with Japan and I guess
you can still call them a Tier two nation. I
don't think you'd call Japan a Tier one rugby nation. Yes,
they have wins here and there, but I don't think

(29:49):
they they are ever, for example, going to challenge for
the latter stages of a World Cup. But yeah, and
I see, look, I see, and you probably would have
seen this as well. G that South African Rugby have
offered Erasmus a contract extension for the next four years
after this World Cup. He has now been contracted until

(30:10):
the end of twenty thirty one, so they've seen what
they like in Rassi Erasmus and they've gone all in
on him. Tony Brown, of course, is part of that setup,
and I think a lot of people would love to
see Tony Brown involved in the All Blacks at some stage,
and the Jamie Joseph Tony Brown duo had a lot

(30:31):
to like about it. But if Rasi Erasmus has contracted
through to twenty thirty one and the success that he's
enjoyed as head coach there has been heavily reliant on
the likes of Tony Brown and others than if I'm
I'm saying a Tony come on the ride with me,
may well take Tony Brown out of contention until twenty
thirty one as well. Good to chat to your gee

(30:52):
drive safe mate, Hello Grant.

Speaker 10 (30:54):
Yeah, Pony. Overall, I think Mark Robertson has been a
good CEO. As he said, there's some things that could
have been handled a bit better, But I mean my
opinion The ideal combination for a good sports CEO is
to obviously have a good business background but also have
played that sport at top level, both of which Mark

(31:16):
Robertson has been as done. But I'd just like to
mention one particular situation which everyone in whose land I'm
sure will remember, the eve of the sacking of Ian
Foster as coach in South Africa. If they'd have lost

(31:36):
that game, the second Test against the spring Box at
Alice Park, I mean up till then the All Backs
would be played shockingly and there wasn't how I think,
I don't think there's anyone New Zealand that didn't think
that Ian Foster should be the first All Backs coach
to be sacked mid term and obviously worded got back
through the grapevine to the players and maybe they thought, oh,

(31:59):
we like Fossey as a coach, maybe we'll actually play
a good game, and they played the best game they
had played the year. Is then the next day Mark
obviously Razor was input on hold. Mark Robinson was on
TV the next day. You look like you hadn't slept,
looked about ten years older, and you know, I felt
really sorry for him.

Speaker 2 (32:20):
Then, you know, Yeah, that was a really unfortunate set
of circumstances. Not a happy chapter in New Zealand rugby, Grant,
if I'm honest, you know, Yeah, the fact that that's
effectively you know, depending on who you believe, and it's
never been made fully public, but I think you've got
the broad brush strokes of it that had the All
Blacks lost that second Test in South Africa in twenty

(32:40):
twenty two, then there would have been a change, you know.
And as it turned out, they didn't make the change,
and again Foster got us to within one point of
another Rugby World Cup. The other point you make so interesting,
you know, and I think this is why it's been
so hard to find the new CEO, is that you
have to find somebody who goes across the entire range

(33:03):
of the sport, not only here but internationally. Somebody who has,
as you say, Grant played the game. Mark Robinson was
an All Black, you know, had played club rugby, provincial
rugby and All Blacks rugby, but then had also become
an administrator and moved into the commercial space. How many
people like that exist, people who could comfortably walk into

(33:24):
a rugby club somewhere up and down New Zealand, lean
on the bar and have a chat about Club Rugby,
but also sit around board tables some of the biggest
sponsors internationally and try and convince them to align their
brand with the All Blacks. It's a very small pool.

Speaker 10 (33:41):
Yeah, and if you heard through the grape vine that
they are actually interviewing people at the moment. Because Mark
Robinson going at the end of the month, I'd like
to have a CEO at least the day or two
before he actually goes.

Speaker 2 (33:56):
I've got the interim arrangement going at the moment. Grant
Steve Lancaster has Well will assume the interim CEO role. Yes,
they are interviewing. I saw a report this week that
Sean Marks was one who had been approached Brooklyn Nets
general manager in the NBA. Of course, the other part
of this is that the job doesn't pay, you know,

(34:21):
I mean, relatively speaking, a heck of a lot. You know,
if you're looking for the skill set that thereafter for
a high quality CEO. You know, the estimation of Mark
Robinson's salary without knowing it is around seven to eight
hundred grand, which seems like a lot and to most
of us is a lot, but it is not as

(34:43):
high as what some you know, high quality executives in
the world of sport a runing. I heard one story
about a pretty high ranking corporate who's based in Australia
now who was approached about the New Zealand rugby job
and they could not get near the salary that he

(35:06):
was or he is currently on, and so the way
they pitched it was that it had to be a
passion project. Well, New Zealand Rugby CEO can't be a
passion project. It has to be it has to be
more than that. And if that's the way they're trying
to attract candidates, then I don't know they've They either

(35:27):
have to find more money or they have to reduce
the scope of the role. And you can't do the
second one twelve to forty five Aaron, hold their mate
with you right after this O eight hundred and eighty
ten eighty Back in.

Speaker 1 (35:37):
A moment, don't get caught off side call eight hundred
and eighty ten eighty Weekend Sports with Jason Paine and GJ.
Guvnohomes New Zealand's most trusted home builder news songs.

Speaker 2 (35:47):
They'd be twelve to one Steve says the average CEO
of an AFL or NRL club is on about seven
hundred K or a million per annum. Presumably that's Australian dollars,
so lifted up a little bit, Steve. I'm sure that's correct.
But the problem is why would you leave a club
to run an entire sport. You think about the brief
of the chief executive of the New Zealand Rugby compared

(36:08):
to the brief of the chief executive of the Sydney
Roosters for example, or Collingwood. Yes, big jobs, but you
can focus very much specifically on your club or that
having to worry about the health of the sport from
grassroots to elite level. I appreciate your your tech stave.
Thanks mate.

Speaker 7 (36:26):
Aaron High Yeah you get mate.

Speaker 2 (36:28):
How are you good things mate?

Speaker 11 (36:29):
Good?

Speaker 5 (36:30):
Yeah? Hey, look listening to everything that's going on, you know,
like I know they're looking off shore and they want
people with international experience and that I think we should
look in our own backyard. But that's some pretty cool
all as that are retired, you know. Like one person
that comes to mind, and the reason he comes to
mind because he's been there at the Highs and he's
been there at the lows and that's JK. I know

(36:51):
he was with the Japanese and I know they didn't
do very well, but that's also the calor of the
people they had playing. But I honestly think if we're
looking our own backyard, someone with the diversity and the experience,
someone like JK.

Speaker 6 (37:06):
John twan.

Speaker 5 (37:07):
You know he fumbled the ball. He knows what it
liked to hit rock bottom at the top of a sport.
But he also knows what it like what it's like
to walk at the top of the sport because he's
been there and done it.

Speaker 2 (37:18):
So you're suggesting him as you're suggesting him, I just
make sure we're on the same patre. You're suggesting him
as a CEO of New Zealand Rugby. Correct nice Well,
I mean it's a left field suggestion heron. I hadn't
thought of it myself. But well, if you're looking for
a guy, as you say, who has ridden the highs
and lows of this game of rugby, has played it
from grassroots up to the All Blacks, I'm not sure

(37:40):
about the commercial experience. And again, it's, as I said before,
pretty difficult to find somebody who ticks every box and
what they call a skills matrix these days. But yeah,
I don't know whether jakead want to do it.

Speaker 8 (37:51):
You know.

Speaker 2 (37:51):
That's the other point of this is, like, I mean, honestly,
would you want it? What do you want the job?

Speaker 5 (37:58):
But you know, like like idiot people around him that
that would be part of the media plan and you know,
re educated so to speak. It had the support around them.
But I personally think, you know, you want someone that's
got the passion, that's got the love of the sport
and and understands the highest points and the lowest points

(38:19):
of the sport. And I think that's bang on the
money with someone like JK.

Speaker 2 (38:23):
He absolutely ticks those boxes out without question, mate, Yeah,
without question. And that's and that's that's I guess, that's
I guess you know, maybe maybe the best idea is
to find that first and then try and learn the
other stuff, because you can't really teach the passion, can you.
You can't teach the rugby experience unless you've had the
rugby experience.

Speaker 5 (38:45):
Undred percent. You know, you've had to be there at
the bottom of the game. You have to be there
at the top of the game and you're never going
to be at the top of the game your entire career,
you know. And we all saw it all our arts.
Fow when JK fumbled that ball, and you look at
the way he hung his head so low, you know.
But hey, end of the day, he dug himself out

(39:07):
of a hole.

Speaker 6 (39:08):
And that's I think that's what you need as a leader.

Speaker 2 (39:11):
Good points well, Mike Erin. Thanks Mike good suggestion. I
wonder whether he's kean. I appreciate your call. High Tom.

Speaker 12 (39:18):
Go good.

Speaker 13 (39:20):
Hey, look if you looked at New Zealand rugby and
pointed to the reasons for our success in the past,
and I think we're going to have more difficulties the future.
We had a comparative advantage against other countries that actually
even have more playing numbers than us, like England and
South Africa and France. Even Japan is more rigid players
than us, and I'm speaking from coaching over there and

(39:41):
coaching versus in rugby and now involved another code. Our
comparative advantage was the way we played the game at
the LAYA ranks and pretty good coaching at LAA ranks
A bit other countries often not always great, but better
than other places I've seen, but our comparative advantage is
actually being eroded. And I'm not quite sure what the
answers are because we're facing massive challenges around injury issues,

(40:03):
challenge around having pathways because past ways to provide opportunities
for players, but they also drive players out of the
game if they don't see a pathway or if they
just haven't yet matured to be a contender for a pathway.
So that really applies to a lot of the Franks,
a lot of parking up boys and a black last
blackman coach. How do you have pathways and provide opportunity

(40:23):
without discouraging people as well?

Speaker 4 (40:25):
And he had no answer actually at the time.

Speaker 13 (40:28):
But the other big thing we face, I've dropped into
another code because my boys will play the round ball
game and it's very interesting coming into that and now
helping with a club.

Speaker 10 (40:42):
In that.

Speaker 13 (40:42):
I don't think rugby has the head around about what
even football is trundling along doing in this country. And
I had an idea because you've got clubs like cash
Check and Croster that have twelve hundred members.

Speaker 2 (40:52):
Yeah, time I have to go, man. I wish you
could talk to them for longer. But I've got to
get a breakaway. Let's search out again soon. It's seven
to one News Talks. Be okay. Here's a list of
texts that have come through with suggestions for the new CEO.
Chris Simpson, ex New Zeland basketball captain, now a successful businessman.
Rob Nickel from the Association. Martin Snedden's name is here,
Conrad Smith. He's a lawyer as well, isn't it Yes
he is and a very very smart man. And Richie

(41:14):
McCaw for CEO, says this one he's a winner all round.
I guess we wait and see. Thanks for all your
calls and feedback. One o'clock News next, and then the
Battle for the Formula One Championship.

Speaker 1 (41:26):
The only place to discuss the biggest sports issues on
and after fields. It's all on James Sport with Jason
Paine on your home of Sport in New York.

Speaker 2 (41:37):
B one seven. Welcome into weekend Sport on News Talks.
Heb I'm Jason Pine, Andy McDonald running the coutor we
had till three Mus on text?

Speaker 8 (41:44):
Pine?

Speaker 2 (41:44):
Are you going to talk about this new teenage running sensation?
He's incredible, He is incredible.

Speaker 5 (41:51):
Mus.

Speaker 2 (41:51):
His name is Sam Ruth. In the space of two days,
he has broken both the fifteen hundred meter and eight
hundred meter records at the New Zealand Secondary School Champs.
The fifteen hundred meter record had stood for thirty nine
years and he beat it in the heats yesterday by
eight seconds eight seconds, and then this morning in the

(42:14):
final of the eight hundred meters, he broke a fourteen
year old record by nearly four seconds over eight hundred meters.
These are massive margins, enormous margins. He runs the fifteen
hundred meter final and just under an hour from now.
Sam Ruth's gonna chat to his dad Ben, who was
himself a very very good elite middle distance runner. Must

(42:37):
be hard, ah, you know, watching your son but also
watching this incredible runner. So yes, mass to answer your question,
Yes we are. Next hour, was going to break down
the derby and talk some black Apps cricket. Next hour
to Formula one shortly, just gonna update you on the Gulf.
He heard Nathan in our Sports news talking about Daniel Hillyer.
He's underway in around half an hour or so from now.

(42:59):
He's in a TYPEH for sixth the Australian Open at
ten under. Ryan Fox is underway in his fourth round
and path through two holes to remain six under in
a tie for sixteenth. Nick Vogue even path through seven
holes to under for the tournament tied thirty ninth. Tyler
Hodge won over throughout hole eight holes one over one
under for the tournament tied forty fifth, and Kerry Mountcastle

(43:20):
the other key. We even path through ten holes even
part of the tournament tied fifty first. We'll get close
eyes on Daniel Hilea and Ryan Fox in particular as
the afternoon progresses at the Australian Open one nine. A
thrilling climax is in store at the season ending Formula

(43:40):
one Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi. After qualifying earlier today.

Speaker 14 (43:45):
Charlotte clad gets the third Charlotte Clan moves the third position.
Huge pressure on these corners with the McLaren drivers over
the line for Pastree, who finds himself with the fastest
final sector. He gets into second position with his best time.

Speaker 2 (43:59):
What can Lindo Norris do?

Speaker 14 (44:01):
Huge moments in the World Championship.

Speaker 2 (44:03):
Norris gets to second place.

Speaker 14 (44:05):
He improves to the front row max for Stappen though
on run number two on fire again on pole position
again and the McLarens can't deny him. But George Russell's
nearly dropped it out of the final corner. He's in
fourth place. He gave it everything and our top three
contenders for the title are in the top three positions

(44:27):
on the grid. Max for Stappen, with his eighth pole
of the year, he is the driver the McLarens will
go racing for the win in Abu Dabby.

Speaker 2 (44:37):
He's lit it up in Abu Dabby.

Speaker 14 (44:40):
He's taken pole for the final Grand.

Speaker 2 (44:42):
Prix of the season. There you go, Max for Stappen
pole position. He's qualified fastest ahead of title rival Lando Norris,
his McLaren teammate and fellow contender Oscar Pastree. Third on
the grid. Now, Norris leads for Steppen by twelve points
going into the final race of the season. Oscar Pastre
is a further four points behind. What that means, in

(45:05):
very very sim terms, is that Norris will be champion
if he finishes on the podium, regardless of what help
happens elsewhere. So Lando Norris just has to finish in
the top three. Max for Stapan would win what would
be a fifth consecutive driver's title if he wins the race,

(45:26):
and Lando Norris is fourth or lower. Liam Lawson's qualified
thirteenth teammate Isaac Hadjar, finishing four spots ahead in ninth position.
Let's bring an award winning Formula One journalist, broadcaster and
former general manager with Williams and Ferrari. Peter wins up. Peter,
appreciate your time and expertise. This afternoon, Lando Norris is

(45:47):
to say only has to finish on the podium to
claim his first ever drivers championship from second on the grid.
How likely is that, Well, it's pretty likely.

Speaker 8 (46:00):
But you know, I'm sure you follow a lot of sport.

Speaker 15 (46:02):
We all watch sport, and it's not easy actually trying
not to win and instead just trying to finish third.

Speaker 8 (46:08):
That's not an easy thing to do.

Speaker 15 (46:10):
So and Lando's a relatively sensitive emotional guy and he
does get a bit flustered sometimes, and I suspect that's
going to be the weakest part of his day on Sunday,
is actually working out how to be a sure third
without actually blowing it.

Speaker 8 (46:26):
If you see what I mean.

Speaker 15 (46:27):
You know, it's a bit like when you're in a
tennis match when one of the players goes off for
you know, an injury timeout and comes back with bandages
all over his leg. The other guy always thinks, oh yeah,
I've got this match one, and inevitably they end up
losing the match. You know, it's sport's a funny thing.
If you don't try and win all the time, it
bites you back sometimes. So you know, it only takes

(46:48):
Max to get the lead and then drive relatively slowly
in the front of the race, just enough to stay
in front, bunch the field up to the point where
maybe oscars in front of Lando. At this point, maybe
the McLaren tires start to suffer because they're in traffic
and there's turbulence and they maybe have to come into
the pits a little bit earlier than they plan, and
when they.

Speaker 8 (47:07):
Come out, they're in a bit of traffic which holds
them up.

Speaker 10 (47:09):
You know that.

Speaker 15 (47:10):
You know, you've got a George Russell and there a
Charlotte Clerk, You've got a few other jokers in the pack,
so you know it's possible. But in theory it should
be an easy win for Lando. It should be in italics.

Speaker 2 (47:22):
Yeah, what a great inside and the first answer. But
I'm interested about McLaren. Will Pistree and Norris be told
to work together to ensure Norris gets on the podium.

Speaker 8 (47:37):
Well, that's a very good question, isn't it. I'm sure.

Speaker 15 (47:40):
I'm sure Oscar's still remembering what happened in the first
corner in Singapore when Lando came down inside him and
almost took him out, and things have not really been
the same since the year. They shake hands in front
of the cameras and they smile as they have to
because they're highly paid professionals, But at the end of
the day, I don't think there's much love lost there
in terms of from Oscar's side of the garage, that's
for sure.

Speaker 8 (47:59):
I think.

Speaker 16 (48:00):
Yeah.

Speaker 8 (48:00):
I mean, if it's Oscar, you've.

Speaker 15 (48:02):
Got no chance to win the championship, this is your
move to help Lando secure it now, to stop red
Bull move over.

Speaker 8 (48:08):
Please.

Speaker 15 (48:09):
Yeah, I can see that happening, but it's not going
to happen if Oscar's got any.

Speaker 8 (48:13):
Chance still of potentially winning the championship himself.

Speaker 15 (48:16):
I mean, imagine if Oscar's second behind Max and Lando's
say fifth, what would happen then when McLaren might say
to Oscar, Oscar, will you drop back to sixth place
to give P four to Lando, but Oscar's going to say, well,
I'm not going to give up my chance of winning
because Max might run out of fuel on the last lap.

Speaker 8 (48:36):
Anything could happen, So you know, it's McClaren got themselves
in a difficult.

Speaker 15 (48:40):
Situation really all year by running these two really quick
guys and having a great car and not really having
any understanding of how to keep the piece between them.
And it's you can't blame the drivers because they just
want to be as quick as they can and they
want to win the championship quite obviously, so it's not easy,
you know. And McLaren, interestingly, they've got two new sets
of hard tires going into the race, so the only

(49:02):
team that's sort of focused on having the hard tires
ready two new sets, which means that's where the focus is.
But the hard tire is not really a quick tire,
and I think they've done that because they just want
to have a really conservative approach to the race. In case,
for example, there's a safety car early on and on
this occasion the penny drops and they do actually come
in and change tires, and then they got a hard

(49:24):
tire that could take them through to the rest of
the race without a pit stop or something like that.
But that's a very conservative way of going into a
Grand Prix weekend, or indeed a Saturday Sunday weekend. Everybody
else has got two new sets of mediums, which is
the quicker tire, So already McLaren looking a little bit
over conservative. I think they've I don't think Lando gave
it one hundred percent today. I think he was there

(49:45):
just to make sure that he was in the top three,
and I think that's okay in qualifying for one lap.

Speaker 8 (49:53):
But in the race, you know, it's a different thing.
So many other factors can come into play.

Speaker 2 (49:57):
You alluded to the tactics that next the step and
might use earlier, bunching the field up, not necessarily just
shooting away and winning it from from you know, from
grid to chick and flag. Can you just unpack for
a minute how he might do that, how he how
he can bunch the field behind him.

Speaker 8 (50:15):
Oh, it's not difficult to go. I mean Max is
the best guy in the world at what we call
managing the tires.

Speaker 15 (50:22):
And still being very quick on the overall lap, and
so Max every race and even doing a lot of
the practice sessions. Is not taking every kink on the
on the circuit flat, is not taking every quick corner flat.
He's maybe backing off a little bit just to look
after the tires, keep the tire temperatures down because the
perellis are always on the edge, and that's something he

(50:43):
does incredibly well. So in the race, if what he
wants to do is just drive as slowly as possible
without anybody overtaking him, he'll be be quick in a
straight line, and the Red Bull does have a slight
speed advantage in a straight line over the McLarens. And
then he'll start lifting the throttle on some of the
corners where it's impossible to overtake, and just be in it.
From his perspective, he's looking after the tires, which is

(51:05):
a good thing, and from an the perspective, he's keeping
the you know, the field bunched up behind him.

Speaker 8 (51:09):
It's not a difficult thing to do at all.

Speaker 2 (51:11):
There's the second red ball driver, even though he's departing.
Could Yuki Sonoda play a role here or see too
far back at tenth on the grid?

Speaker 8 (51:20):
Well he could, I mean, says Joperez.

Speaker 15 (51:23):
Played a bit of a role in twenty twenty one
when he held up Lewis really comprehensively.

Speaker 8 (51:30):
In a pit stop situation.

Speaker 15 (51:32):
So yeah, I mean, if Lando came out of a
pit stop behind and he was behind Yuki, he has
yet to stop in track position and Yuki's tenth, he's
not you know, he's not fourteenth, He's tenth, which is
not bad, then Yuki could potentially make it a bit difficult.
The rules now for impeding another driver are really really tough,
but doesn't really matter in the last race. I mean,

(51:54):
they give Yuki a penalty.

Speaker 6 (51:55):
I mean that's it.

Speaker 2 (51:57):
No, No, you're right. How incredible, Peter, is it that
we're even having this conversation given how far behind Max
the step and was at one point in the season.

Speaker 15 (52:08):
Yeah, I think that's you know, that's one way of
looking at it, which is the half last fall way.
You know, this, this sort of comeback has never been achieved,
certainly in Formula one, not really in any form of motorsport,
and probably not in many other forms of sport at
all in general.

Speaker 8 (52:22):
I mean, where he was and where he is now
is just amazing.

Speaker 15 (52:25):
On the other side of the coin, you could say
where have Red Bull been all year? I mean, here
they are at the last race of the season. They
haven't made any changes to the car for the last
three or four races, and yet quite patently they have
a very very good racing car in Aberdabi.

Speaker 8 (52:40):
Not yet. Okay, maybe Lando wasn't one hundred percent flat out,
but the Red Bull's just there or thereabouts, and it
makes you say, well, where have they been them for
half the year? I mean there were some races.

Speaker 15 (52:50):
Where Max could barely get out of Q two that's
the middle qualifying session, and yet here he is on
the pole with two laps that would have put him
on the pole, and in the middle session Q two
he was right up there on a used set of piers.

Speaker 8 (53:05):
I mean, unbelievably quick.

Speaker 15 (53:06):
So you just have to say, what have Red Bull
been doing really to let you know, to drop the
ball as much as they have this year.

Speaker 8 (53:12):
That's the way I look at it, really.

Speaker 15 (53:14):
I mean if they hadn't, Max would have been world
champion easy in a car as good as it is
this weekend.

Speaker 2 (53:19):
Isaac Kadjar will move into the second Red Ball seat
next year. I mean, Yuki Sonoda hasn't been able to
drive that car to anywhere close to what Red Bull
were after. What indication is there, Peter, that Isaac Hadjar
will be able to.

Speaker 15 (53:34):
I think Isak is a is a much more refined
driver than Yuki Sonoda. Yuki's got only one way of
driving a car, which is really aggressive with the steering,
brakes and throttle, lots.

Speaker 8 (53:46):
Of car control, very brave, and that's about it.

Speaker 17 (53:50):
You know.

Speaker 15 (53:50):
He doesn't really hasn't really got any better over the
last three or four years. It's quick, you know, when
he's got a good set of tires and the car's balance,
but when the car's not in that state, he's not
really quick. He can't get the best from it. It
makes too many mistakes. Izak is a very different sort
of driver. He's got a much better feel, better softer touch.
He's more supple with his inputs. He can create a

(54:11):
bigger sweet spot around which to operate the car, so
he's not susceptible to losing so much time when he does.

Speaker 8 (54:16):
In every he make the odd mistake.

Speaker 15 (54:18):
And he's got a very good brain on his head,
which head on his shoulders rather, you know, which enables
him to learn. He's not afraid to learn and I
think alongside Max he'll learn a lot, and it'll probably
be in the area of being less emotional and just
sort of being a little bit more straightforward in the
way he lives his life and just just becoming quieter
and calmer. And he's very quick, he's very very good.

(54:40):
He's a driver of the stap and milk. I mean,
whether he'll ever be as good as Max is another question,
but he's definitely on that side of the globe at
the moment.

Speaker 2 (54:49):
And just the word on Liam Lawson has said at
racing balls for next year confirmed earlier this week, this
was widely expected. I think, what have you seen from
him in terms of his improvement this year? In what
would you like to see from Liam and twenty twenty six.

Speaker 8 (55:04):
Yeah, I think he's.

Speaker 15 (55:05):
Improved a lot in second half of the year in
that he hasn't really changed the way he drives. He
drives he's a bit sort of smoother, softer version of
your key Snoda, I think.

Speaker 8 (55:16):
And he's never really gravitated towards the.

Speaker 15 (55:19):
End of the spectrum in which Max and Izak Hajjar
and Charlotte Clarks it.

Speaker 8 (55:24):
But he's I think he's started to come to terms
with that, and he's.

Speaker 15 (55:28):
Starting to get the best from the way he does
drive with just more road dust on him, obviously with experience,
and also you look at Carlos Science drives in a
very similar way to Liam Lawson, and I guess he's
probably looking at Carlos and seeing how Carlos has managed
to package that now and.

Speaker 4 (55:43):
Make it work.

Speaker 15 (55:43):
And yeah, he's making fewer mistakes, He's doing a better
job on a consistent basis. He's not as quick as
is zak Kja for the reasons I was just talking about.
And I think next year he will continue to improve
because being the senior driver, which he obviously will be
at racing balls, I think, well, that will have that
will have an effect on his approach to racing, and

(56:04):
he'll become more mature and he'll be more circumspect about
the way he goes about racing and driving and thinking,
and I think he'll I think he'll definitely improve next
year and he could end up, you know, in the
Carlos Science category. Cabler winning Grand Prix in a good team,
in a good car, but not ever able to take
it to a Charlotte Clerk or a Lewis Hamilton Lewis

(56:27):
at He's peak that is, or a max or possibly
even in niezak Hajar.

Speaker 2 (56:32):
That's all to come. What we do have in the
next twenty four hours or soar as are thrilling into
this year, is a Grand Prix championship. Peter, You've given
us incredible insight. Thank you so much for joining us
across New Zealand.

Speaker 8 (56:42):
Ah, my pleasure, Thank you, Peter.

Speaker 2 (56:44):
Peter Windsor if one broadcaster and journalist, Yeah, well, I
mean terrific, terrific analysis there Formula one fans keen to
get yours, oh eight hundred and eighty ten eighty. Educate
the rest of us who don't quite have the in
depth knowledge of Formula one as you perhaps do, and
maybe expand on what you heard there from Peter Windsor,

(57:06):
because I guess you know, for those of us who
who take a you know, not a deep, deep interest
in the sport, but certainly know a passing interest in it.
It feels like for Lando Norris, starting second on the
grid gives you a great chance to finish in the
top three. Surely it's Lando Norris's championship to lose, but

(57:29):
holding your position in a sport of minuscule margins must
be a lot easier said than done, As you heard
Peter say there, Max Forstappin will probably try to bunch
the field behind him. He's got pole he I guess,
can control to a certain extent anyway what goes on
behind him. Lando Norris has a reputation for being a

(57:50):
bit shaky under pressure. Sometimes he's never been world champion.
This is all new, but it must feel close enough
for him to touch. What does that do to your mindset?
What will happen in this race? Would love your thoughts
if one fans could? I Fraser, how are you going good?
Thank you mate?

Speaker 18 (58:08):
I thought I thought Peter Windsor. I mean, he's obviously
a well known you know, he's always on YouTube and
I've watched a lot of stuff. But I really think
he's got it wrong about Lee.

Speaker 6 (58:18):
I think it's slowly not oh we've lost your Fraser.

Speaker 2 (58:21):
We'll try and get you back. I think you were saying, oh,
I think you were disagree and in fact we heard that,
but you were disagreeing with Peter Windsor about Liam and
the fact that I guess and we'll get you back
on and he's just trying to get you reconnected that
what Peter was saying about the ceiling for Liam Lawson
was perhaps and your view Fraser a bit low, that
he actually does have the ability to do better. We'll

(58:43):
try hard to get to get Fraser back. If you
have some thoughts though on Liam, or perhaps on this race,
I would love to hear them. I just want to know,
you know, like I say, Lando Norris will wake up
over there and think, man, I've got this, I've got this.
All I'm going to do is finish in the top three.
But then if you are focusing on that and trying

(59:03):
not necessarily to win the race, but just to not
finish outside the top three, that's got to be a
different mindset, doesn't it. Phraser, we got your bag. You
were you were saying, I presume you were saying that
you think you think in your view, Liam's got a
higher ceiling than Peter Windsor thinks he has.

Speaker 18 (59:20):
I mean, I've known him very very well over the
years he's been involved in carding with effect. I mean,
you know, he's one of these kids. He was the
first kid that came up and introduced himself on our
very first day down at the Mount Wellington track and
look he's been He's an incredibly passionate, intelligent driver. Look
I know that that you know that that the ceiling

(59:41):
in the bar is very high in Formula one full stop.
But I mean I've seen him adapt and change. He
can get into anything and drive it. I just don't
think he's a one trick pony. I think he's had
a tough year. He wasn't given the chance that he
deserved and red Ball to really get, you know, get
the best out of himself in that car, to then

(01:00:02):
get thrown to the other side of the of the
racing balls Gara and have to familiarize himself with a
new team. And we saw the end of the end
of the season where he's really is matching with Hedge
are both in pace, qualifying in race. I think I
think it's a bit of a tough call on him.
And look, I'm gratefully said another year.

Speaker 2 (01:00:24):
Be interested on your view on on how it'll be
different for Liam next year given the fact that lin
Blood will come in, Well he's eighteen years old. So
Liam moves into a senior role, almost a mentoring role
at Racing Balls. Does that feel like the kind of
role that will suit him and allow him to also
flourish in that particular capacity.

Speaker 18 (01:00:43):
Look, I've seen him in in you know, in race
weekends where you know, I guess it's probably going to
be a new role to him to some degree. They're
both kind of fairly new this year. Whether that I
think that mentoring role is around is a drive you know,
like as not a driver coach, but kind of their headspace.

(01:01:05):
And that's for Lind bladd I don't know, the kid
is young. He has been. He has kind of been
escalated into the seat fairly quickly. But at the same time,
Liam Lee. I think where Liam's maturity will come will
be very much around his approach to the car, set up,
his feedback and data and you know, his approached the

(01:01:27):
race strategy because he's he has he's you know, he's
a very intelligent kid. He is an emotional kid. I
think his you know, I think he'll be able to
offer Lin Bladder a support in terms of that, you know,
having been there and you know, understanding the pressures that
come with with stepping into an F one seat. But look,
I think you know, we'll see how how we respond.

(01:01:49):
I think he's got a lot on his own plate.

Speaker 2 (01:01:53):
Fraser. Great to chet Tim, thanks for calling in. Please
call back any time. To chettyf one, I've loved hearing
from you. Thanks and Dow, I'm glad we've got your
back as well after I probably cut you off at
my end inadvertently that it was probably my fault. Got
on your Phraser. Good to hear from you, Daniel High mate,
Hey mate, what do you think is going to happen
in Abu Dhabi tomorrow?

Speaker 19 (01:02:14):
Well, I'd love to see another Max championship. Unfortunately it'll
look like it's Lando.

Speaker 2 (01:02:21):
It feels like it, doesn't it, But hell, will his
mindset be different or actually do you think he'll just
go out there and try and win the race, or
knowing he doesn't have to, will that play on his mind.

Speaker 19 (01:02:33):
I think knowing he doesn't have to, it's going to
actually be quite a big positive for him, you know.
I think Max is going to likely.

Speaker 6 (01:02:43):
Win the race.

Speaker 19 (01:02:43):
Like Abby Debbie last twelve years always won from whole position.
So I think Lando, he's going to know that he's
going to take the safest approach and while Max is
definitely one of the best, that probably going to be
able to like back up the field. I think Lando
will play it safe and he'll win. You know, that's
really my thought. But i'd love to, you know, see

(01:03:05):
before championship for Max.

Speaker 2 (01:03:08):
Well, well you may well you know, I mean, much
as it thinks, Daniel, much as it seems as though
it's Norris's championship to lose. Like I say, he knows
he doesn't have to win the race. He knows he
doesn't have to get past for steppin. And as you've
rightly pointed out, Daniel, this race is normally won by
the pulsitter. So if Norris had to win the race
to win the championship, that is an entirely different conversation.

(01:03:31):
But all he has to do is hold his position,
hold second place, even drop down to third, and he's
done it. Thanks Daniel, Ray. What are your thoughts on this?

Speaker 9 (01:03:42):
Oh, it's a pretty big race, isn't it.

Speaker 2 (01:03:44):
Yeah, Well, it's just awesome that it's come down to
the final race, isn't it promoter's dream?

Speaker 9 (01:03:50):
Yes, there's some of those fifteen years it's been a freeway.

Speaker 4 (01:03:53):
That awful title.

Speaker 2 (01:03:54):
Which way do you see it going?

Speaker 9 (01:03:57):
Uh?

Speaker 4 (01:03:59):
Max might have.

Speaker 2 (01:04:01):
So that'll that'll need well, that'll need Lando Norris to
do something well obviously negative, to negatively impact his chances.
Do you think he might he might just just bottle it.

Speaker 9 (01:04:13):
I'll tell you how I said it.

Speaker 20 (01:04:14):
I see Max wins the race into the first corner,
and then he backs them all up backs to pack up,
brings the rest of the field closer to Lando and Yastre,
and then they won't be able to box into space.

Speaker 4 (01:04:29):
And its interesting two stop shot.

Speaker 2 (01:04:31):
And he's going on, what about this first corner so much?
Just texted in here that there have been a number
of collisions at the first corner this year. Oscar Piastre
has been involved in them. You know, is there any
possibility that McLaren might actually be their own worst enemy
and Piastre and Norris might end up not helping one
another very much at all?

Speaker 20 (01:04:51):
They may well, because Oscar is starting on the clean
side of the grid, of course, right behind Max, so
you'd expect both of them to get better get away
than Lando.

Speaker 2 (01:04:59):
All right, right, thanks for calling in mate. Look, I
I just can't wait to see what happens. Two o'clock
tomorrow morning is race time. Jason the first corner tonight,
says Mark is going to be interesting will Lando try
and get past Max. We've had collisions before in title races.
In regards to Liam, the pressure is on him next
year being the senior driver. If he doesn't match as

(01:05:20):
co a younger driver, he'll be under pressure and they
might replace him as co. Younger driver is very good,
thanks Marky and Limblood is a great driver. But then
having said that, as I understand it, he's not the
fastest of the young guys coming through. He is a
good driver. But if you actually going for out and
out pace, there are other contenders for that seat, or were,

(01:05:41):
but they seem to be very very keen on little
Blood for a lot of reasons. But you'd be interesting
to see how Liam goes with a younger co driver.
And Mark makes a very good point. You're expected to
be if you're the senior driver and a team, you
would to be expected to finish ahead of the junior
guy on the team. Right, So if lindb Blood starts
to beat Liam, then what does that do to the

(01:06:04):
team dynamic? What does that do to Leam's mindset? The
other side of the corner is with a year of
full time driving under his belt, how much better a
driver will Liam Lawson. B we'll hear from some of
those at the front of the grid shortly. Your calls
are still welcome, though, O eight hundred and eighty ten
eighty twenty eight away from two.

Speaker 1 (01:06:22):
The Voice of Sport on your Home of Sport Weekend
Sport with Jason Vain and GJ. Gunner Homes New Zealand's
most trusted home builder News.

Speaker 2 (01:06:30):
Talks V one thirty five. Hi, Jason, with a number
of collisions oscars had on the first corner of the sheer,
Eric and Henlando will be out on the first lap,
says Steve. Interesting. Maxwell deliberately says this one can sde
the lead to Norris, then attack him relentlessly, hopefully bumping
him off during an overtaking maneuver. Yeah, Max, for Stappin's
approach to this will be extremely interesting. You know, if

(01:06:53):
he knew he just had to win the race, then
it's almost his because on Polan Abu Dhabi most of
the time, as a previous caller said, you'll win the race.
So how is Max for Stappin feeling heading into this one?

Speaker 8 (01:07:05):
Hey?

Speaker 21 (01:07:05):
Max, we'll consider where the car was earlier this weekend.
How pleased with it?

Speaker 5 (01:07:08):
Your way?

Speaker 21 (01:07:09):
That you were able to get not one but two
laps to get enough for pup today.

Speaker 16 (01:07:12):
Yeah, I think the whole weekend we were fairly happy,
but not entirely happy with the car, and I think
then heading into qualifying some final changes brought it into
the right window and then then yeah, we could push
a bit more. So that was definitely very positive. And
of course you're very happy with the with the labs
that we did, especially in.

Speaker 21 (01:07:31):
Q three he was able to help you with the
toe today. What kind of special things are you going
to be able to do tomorrow to try and find
a way to win this championship.

Speaker 16 (01:07:38):
Yeah, I mean that was of course great from Yuki
has been of course an incredible team player as well,
so thank you to him for that in the first run.
And yeah, tomorrow, I mean, we want to go out
there and win, and we know, of course, even if
we win, we need a bit more luck. But let's see,
let's open a bit of Abu Dabie.

Speaker 2 (01:07:56):
Magic, some Avu Dhabi magic. Who knows. Let's go to
Lando Norris his fifteenth front row start of the season,
the most in Formula One, but he's never won a
race from second on the grid. Lando Norris, not that
he has to, of course, he only has to finish
on the podium. How was Lando Norris feeling there after?

Speaker 21 (01:08:14):
Well, look like a little bit of a difficult starting
Q one, you please with how you kind of progressed
through it and kind of at least got the front
row at the.

Speaker 22 (01:08:19):
End of the day.

Speaker 23 (01:08:20):
Yeah, I mean I'm pretty happy. It could have been
a lot worse. So, like I expected to be even
closer honestly into Q three, and I say the Quali
battle then was between me and Oscar. Max was too
far ahead. Just they were too fast. We didn't quite
just have the speed in the car today, So yeah,
tough one to take. But otherwise, you know, I think

(01:08:40):
we got everything out of it. I think both of
Like Oscar did a pretty good lab and I thought
I did a pretty good lab from yeah, just not
fast enough come qualifying. But tomorrow's a new.

Speaker 21 (01:08:50):
Day, so obviously a great starting spot for tomorrow. How
are you feeling about the day you've been waiting for
all year tomorrow at that race?

Speaker 12 (01:08:57):
That, yeah, remarkably normal.

Speaker 23 (01:09:04):
Yeah, I guess like to feel the same, like a
little bit disappointed we couldn't get first, even though it
was just out of reach today. So it's just always
nice to end the season on top like we did
last year. You know, it didn't win the championship last year,
but it was just nice to end with a win.
That's what I would like to do tomorrow in either
of cases. So yeah, no, I feel good and we'll

(01:09:26):
go and do everything the same as normal.

Speaker 2 (01:09:28):
That's Landa Norris sounding remarkably calm. The other driver in
this equation is Lando Norris is McLaren teammate Oscar Pstree.
He's third on the grids of the top three. In
the top three positions, Oscar Pstree really needs to win
the race and have the other to not finish if
he is to become world champion. Show how was Oscar
Pstre's mindset?

Speaker 21 (01:09:49):
Hey, Oscott, I appreciate you're going to be annoyed out
to be on poll today, but you're still in a
really good starting spot for tomorrow. How do you kind
of rate how qualifying I'm void of you today?

Speaker 12 (01:09:57):
I think honestly pretty good.

Speaker 17 (01:09:59):
I think you know Q one, I got a nice
slap on the board and there's the first good lap
I've done weekend, So it was nice to kind of
set myself a baseline for the rest of PAULI.

Speaker 12 (01:10:12):
I think in Q three things felt good.

Speaker 17 (01:10:14):
You know, my lap was pretty good, and you know,
I think Lando's lap was pretty good, So I think
that was more or less all we had, so.

Speaker 12 (01:10:23):
Of ultimately pretty pretty pleased.

Speaker 21 (01:10:26):
Have you found your feet kind of with the car
and compared to yesterday and does that give you the
confidence to really go after it because that's what you
got to do tomorrow revenue.

Speaker 12 (01:10:34):
Yeah, definitely.

Speaker 17 (01:10:34):
I think we made some good improvements from practice yesterday,
even from.

Speaker 12 (01:10:39):
Practice this morning.

Speaker 17 (01:10:40):
On this afternoon, I felt much happier with the car,
and I felt like I was driving a lot better
as well, which helps. So I think we're in a
reasonable place with that. Obviously not quite quick enough to
be max today, but.

Speaker 12 (01:10:54):
Yeah, I think we did everything we could.

Speaker 2 (01:10:56):
So those are the top three. Let's got to Liam Lawson.
He'll start the final race of the season and thirteenth.
After missing out on a place in the top ten,
his future confirmed this week, of course, confirmation he'll remain
withing balls. He was just point zero four to three
seconds away from advancing to the final qualifying session.

Speaker 21 (01:11:12):
Hailey and such more margins out there. How frustrating is
it to miss out on Q three.

Speaker 12 (01:11:17):
Yeah, it's frustrating.

Speaker 24 (01:11:18):
I think we had a very quick car and I
think we just played it a bit too conservative today.
We took three sets in Q one, which honestly we
didn't need to do, and I think it's hurt us
we missed Q three by such a small margin, and yeah,
taking a use high there is it's not ideal before
before the last run. So it's frustrating, but something I

(01:11:38):
think we'll learn from and definitely learned from going into
next year.

Speaker 21 (01:11:41):
We worried then Hendon into this session that it would
be super tight to get out of Q one.

Speaker 24 (01:11:45):
I mean, we knew it was going to be tight,
and we were The thing is that's so close that
that there's always a chance, So we were concerned a bit.
But I think honestly, after missing P one yesterday, a
lot of our data was from P two, where it
was the first session in the car for me, and
I think honestly, maybe we just overreacted a little bit
because that, you know, all through the first part of

(01:12:05):
quality we were quite come me three Q one and
then yeah, just missed out.

Speaker 6 (01:12:09):
On Q three.

Speaker 2 (01:12:09):
As Lem Lawson from thirteenth on the grid will start
the final race of the season and I get through
it okay, and then refresh, reflect and come back for
racing balls. In twenty twenty six, the race goes at
two Tomorrow morning, New Zealand. Time for Stappen, Norris and Pastre.
You get the feeling that there'll be a couple more
storylines written before the Formula One Drivers Championship is handed out.

(01:12:32):
Nineteen to two. We'll take away, come Back, James mcconey
in his regular Sunday slot.

Speaker 1 (01:12:37):
The Big Issues on and after Fields Call oh eight
hundred eighty ten eighty Weekends Forward with Jason.

Speaker 2 (01:12:43):
Tyme and GJ.

Speaker 1 (01:12:44):
Gunnerhomes New Zealand's most trusted homebuilder News Talks It BB
sixteen Away from two Sunday Afternoons.

Speaker 2 (01:12:51):
James mccony time, Hello mate.

Speaker 6 (01:12:54):
Good a pony, How are you very good?

Speaker 2 (01:12:55):
Very good? A few topics to kick around with you today?
Can we start at Hagleyoval in christ Church where a
depleted Black Caps attack just could not get through the
West Indies. Did you feel us though, have lost an
opportunity to go one lil up here?

Speaker 11 (01:13:09):
Yeah, one hundred percent. I mean injuries are injuries, right,
It's rare to see them decimated bowling attack like that
in a Test match, but it is the attack wasn't
quite you know, at full strength when you consider what
Will O'Rourke was doing last year, and even we're still
waiting for the return of Kyle Jamison if you like,

(01:13:31):
you know, the second coming because he was so talented
when we won the World Test Championship final. It is
still a brave effort. But that was incredible from the
West Indies and probably has given something to this Test
series that didn't really have a lot of fire to
it beforehand.

Speaker 2 (01:13:49):
I agree. I think we all sort of, you know,
perhaps you know, rather disparagingly thought that the West Indies
will be a bit of a walkover, would have a
couple of three and four day Test matches. I just
thought the way that they dug in yesterday, albeit as
I say, against a depleted bowling attack, with Henry and
Smith not able to bowl on the final night, you're
still got to stay in in one hundred and sixty
three overs out there, You're still going to stay in.

Speaker 11 (01:14:11):
Yeah, And that four hundred and fifty seven for six
in the fourth innings of a Test is madness. They're
calling it the second highest. It really is the highest
in a five day test because I think that it's
only behind a timeless Test from nineteen thirty nine when
they kept on batting in South Africa. I think it
was England for nine days or something, you know, like
it was timeless tests a thing of the past. But

(01:14:34):
seeing them go out there with the double times. I
mean we have seen some incredible Test matches, you know,
India's miracle at the Gabba. I actually think Test match
cricket is really keeps on giving and it's just that
New Zealand has to prepare for, you know, life after Kine. Really,
when is it going to hold on to the Australian
series next year? It's the big mystery. There are a

(01:14:56):
lot of people preparing for a retirement.

Speaker 2 (01:14:58):
Sooner than that, you reckon it might be before that,
you don't reckon he'll he'll make next summer's Australian Test series,
because I guess I would like to think, and it
could be well off, that that might be his swan song,
a four ties series against Australia away.

Speaker 11 (01:15:13):
I'm hoping that is it will be. I think he
probably will hang on, it probably won't be the best.

Speaker 6 (01:15:19):
For the average.

Speaker 11 (01:15:19):
He hasn't done that well against Australia in the past,
but not terrible. It's just it is a tough ask.
I mean, we just saw Joe Roots score his first
Test down a Test century down under. It that's how
hard it is. But yeah, I mean that is it
still means that it's imminent and we still need to
look for new talent coming through and I've got my

(01:15:42):
own a few, and I've heard there's a young better
from Otago called Hugo Bog who we should all keep
an eye on Outher nine teams at the stage. But
still we do need players of rare talent, not just
to keep the team, you know, in that I guess
in the elite level that we that we like to
think we are, it's also just to have big names

(01:16:03):
that excite other nations, because that's that's how you get tours.

Speaker 2 (01:16:08):
I think these days it's generally accept that, isn't it.
Your best batsman goes in at three. So when came
Williamson comes out of the team whenever that is, I
feel like rightch and Revender just goes up one, doesn't
he he's the heir apparent at three, isn't he.

Speaker 11 (01:16:20):
Yeah, well, Rautchen's average we went up from forty two
to forty five fans. That ains the one seventy sixty scored.
So that's just the impact because he's still quite early
in his career. That's the difference that can make to
your average. So he's also tracking ahead of Kay Williamson
for the same number of tests early in his career.

(01:16:41):
But of course Kane had an incredible purple patch for
four or five years. But then that's good signs for
Rutchen really because I think he is world class and
they probably held him back the right amount of years.
I mean, we always we're talking about him, but now
he's just the mainstay of the team, which is pretty

(01:17:01):
heartening because you know, we've lost a few in the
past few years with you know, Taylor and.

Speaker 6 (01:17:06):
McCain and the likes of those.

Speaker 2 (01:17:08):
To the ashes at the Gabbert and Brisbane Day four today,
Australia eventually dismissed yesterday for five hundred and eleven. England
were doing all right, they were ninety for one and
then they've just I don't know, just inexplicable one thirty
four for six they are, they're still forty odd short
of making Australia bad again. There are two days to go.
This probably won't go much past the first session tonight.

Speaker 11 (01:17:32):
Yeah, it's tough for England, but then I don't think
their batterers have too much excuse. This is a depleted
Australian attack. Yeah, Mitchell Stark one of the all time greats,
now the top wick at taking left arbor and cricket
going pasty, cimchrim. But what's your other excuse?

Speaker 4 (01:17:49):
England?

Speaker 11 (01:17:49):
Come on now? You turn up with guys who are
pretty much really highly tilted, with Joe Ruth, Harry brook
Stokes as well, who's we've seen him some of the
innings that he can play. They have to really find
another way because I actually don't think they're bowling attack
is that great at the moment, So it's up to
their batters to do something special and they just didn't behave.

(01:18:12):
There's still a few embers in the ashes. But it
is a fantastic watch, I must say, just the drama
and you know, even the personality is the crowd, everything
about it. This has another level up. It's kind of
like watching State of Origin in some ways, you know,
just the the hoopla around it.

Speaker 2 (01:18:31):
Yeah, I agree, I agree. Speaking of hoopla, the draw
for the World Cup, the FIFA World Cup. This this
was made yesterday, eventually after some pageantry. We know the
all whites. We'll play against Belgium, Egypt and Iran. We
know that the first of those games will be in
Los Angeles, that one is against Iran, and then up
to Vancouver where they'll play the remaining two. This is

(01:18:52):
a good draw for us, isn't it.

Speaker 11 (01:18:54):
It's not too bad, you know. I'm happy with Belgium,
Egypt and Iran.

Speaker 4 (01:19:00):
A ran so far.

Speaker 11 (01:19:03):
I could and yeah we yeah, flock a seagull there
for anybody whose generation X will know what I'm singing about.
But I actually think it's fine. Belgium a sort of
not necessarily past the use by date, but they are
on the decline when you look at the likes of
Lakaku and de Bruyna into their mid thirties. And you
could say the same for most Salah given Liverpool's season.

(01:19:25):
But hey, Mossala is so good all I ask for
anyone who has to mark Mosala has mark that left foot.
Yeah he might score off as right, but he will
score off his left if you give him a chance.
So if Libby Cacacci, I think we've got a good
left back there. Piney, I'm not too unhappy with the

(01:19:46):
left side, I guess with Salah playing in that inverted
right wing position and then Iran, I mean, look, it could.

Speaker 4 (01:19:52):
Have been a lot worse.

Speaker 2 (01:19:54):
It could have It could well have been a lot worse.
I think it's a group we can approach with a
degree of optimism. Hey, just before you go, have you
been keeping eyes on Sam Ruth?

Speaker 11 (01:20:04):
Oh my goodness, this run Sam Ruth just breaking all records.
Another one today, the eight hundred meetings. I think the
schools were under eighteen record that this is a great
thing about the resurgence. It's a renaissance and running in
New Zealand. And I think someone like Nick Willison needs
to take some credit here. His bronze medal upgraded to
silver in the Beijing Olympics was amazing, and then of

(01:20:29):
course he repeated the dose in Rio, so that I'm
sure that had an impact on this generation. With Jordy
Beamish and now Sam Ruth and all those guys, so
neck takeabow. I know that there was always a tough
fact to follow when you've got the likes of Snell
and Walker in the in the history of middle distance running.
But now New Zealand is a genuine contender. Jordy Beamish

(01:20:51):
that gold medal in the steeplechase, it was always thought
unheard of to see a medalist outside of Africa in
that event. And so I mean in back country Hawk's Bay,
we've got the best in the world. And now from
Todung Sam Ruth, you love.

Speaker 6 (01:21:06):
To see it.

Speaker 11 (01:21:07):
Let's us hope that he can keep up the pace
that he's set because it's just unbelievable, scorching.

Speaker 2 (01:21:12):
Yeah, it is unreal. And Sam's dad been on with
us in the next hour. He used to run against
Nick Willis, so yeah, they know each other pretty well
and by the sounds of it, and Nick has been
very helpful in the early stages of Sam's career as well.
Great to chat as always, James, thanks for taking the time,
James mcconey, big part of our Sundays seven Away from
Two news Talks Ebek.

Speaker 1 (01:21:32):
Breaking down the Hail Mary's and the epic fails weekends
for it with Jason Hine.

Speaker 2 (01:21:38):
News Talk ZENB coming up four to two after the news.
At two into the final hour of the show, we're
going to hear from Ben Ruth, as I mentioned before,
the dad of Sam, who's about to line up in
the final of the fifteen hundred meters at the New
Zealand Secondary School Champs. This, of course after smashing the
national secondary school's record by eight seconds yesterday, so what
could he break it again in the final? Who knows?

(01:21:59):
Eight hundred meter final this morning? He broke the record
there too. We'll also here from Zach Folks out of
the black Caps they couldn't quite get the job done
against the West Indies and christ Hutch yesterday, and breakdown
another thrilling New Zealand football derby, James mcconey's put this
song in our heads Iran one of the teams will
play in the World Cup. A flock of seagulls taking

(01:22:20):
us out.

Speaker 1 (01:22:36):
The only place to discuss the biggest sports issues on
and afterfield. It's all on win Kend Sport with Jason
Vane on your home of sport US Talk.

Speaker 2 (01:22:48):
Hello there, welcome to Weekend Sport. Welcome back to Weekend
Sport too. I seven, I'm Jason Pine with Andy McDonnell
writing shotgun. We're here till three talking sport. Then Tim
Beveridge will take over the Sunday edition of the Weekend Collective,
said to be another award winner. Of what I can
see through the glass of Tim's preparation, has anything to
go by before we hand over the rains, I want

(01:23:09):
to break down yesterday's a leg Darby, another win for
Auckland FC. That's five from five now, but it was
another thrilling encounter at Mount Smart. Any number of talking
points and cracking goals, a red card, clutch of yellows, handbags, emotion,
so much to break down. Former All Whites striking Noel

(01:23:31):
Barkley was there in the sunshine at go Media. He's
going to give us his take, speaking for yours as well.
Speaking of sunshine and a bit of wind, plenty of
that in christ Church yesterday as the black Caps toiled
unsuccessfully as it turned out, and the first cricket Test
against the West ind He's finished in a drawer the wind.
He's really digging in on day five and scoring the

(01:23:54):
highest or it is the second highest fourth innings of
all time in a Test match. The highest is a
timeless Test and James mcconey referenced it before two England
against South Africa. It went for nine days. The only
reason that test stopped was because England had to get
the boat home. Those were the days you just keep

(01:24:15):
playing till there was a result, or till the boat
comes to take your home. Zach folks out of the
black Caps, going to have a chat to us and
Sam Ruth has comfortably won the fifteen hundred meters at
the New Zealand Secondary School's Track and Field Champs and Hastings.
This after absolutely obliterating the national record and the heats
yesterday by eight seconds. He got himself quite away in

(01:24:39):
front of the final and cruise down the home straight,
so obviously never in his mind to try and break
the record again, he had already done that. His dad
Ben Ruth, going to join us as Sam Ruth continues
to turn heads at his tender age of just sixteen.
Your causing correspondence welcome. As always, we'll keep you up

(01:24:59):
to date with live sport as well. In fact, just
a quick look at the Australian Golf Open before we
move on. Daniel Hilliot has unfortunately dropped a shot on
the first whole of his last round to go down
to nine under. He started the day to typher six
at ten under Rasmus neerguard. Peterson now has the outright
lead fourteen under Camsmith, the local boy thirteen under the cart.

(01:25:22):
Ryan Fox is a bit further down. He has dropped
a shot through six holes, five under the cart and
a type for twenty second mokeupies on that for you
for the next hour or so. But as we took
over nine past two, as we always do at this
time on weekend sport, let's bring you up to date
with some of the things you may have missed. In

(01:25:43):
case you missed it. The Breakers have moved into the
Australian National Basketball League's top six with their third winn
in a row. PJC as the bully hand Steve Milk
all the.

Speaker 25 (01:25:56):
Time off the court and then most like the ice
the game.

Speaker 2 (01:26:00):
Once again he puts the icing on the cake. With
the New Zealand Breakers starting to get a bit of
momentum the break, the ninety nine eighty six went over
the jack Jumpers, surging them into playoff contention. A tough
round for the All Black Sevens, losing two and Paul
play in Cape Town, including a thrashing at the hands
of Fiji.

Speaker 12 (01:26:20):
He's gonna do it himself.

Speaker 2 (01:26:22):
He's got it all in his locker. I know to
try for the playing Pigeons they move into the playoffs
now for fifth. But no such struggle for the Black
Ferns seven, who went undefeated again and will play the
semis lane sets it up.

Speaker 13 (01:26:36):
You can just see coasting of Alana say, but that
opens up straight up the middle.

Speaker 2 (01:26:43):
For Georgia Melan, she's gonna.

Speaker 12 (01:26:44):
Get the hat trick.

Speaker 2 (01:26:46):
She just enjoys her rugby. This kid to Football's Premier
League leaders, Arsenal have fallen at the very last minute
to aston Villa Sansa Tenomans.

Speaker 26 (01:26:56):
Today quin Dere tonight quin Dere again came.

Speaker 12 (01:26:59):
Yet a go chaotic scenes Quen kicking again.

Speaker 2 (01:27:13):
Be credible, isn't the game?

Speaker 8 (01:27:16):
That's the goal that we'll see Hanski.

Speaker 12 (01:27:18):
Beating for just the second time this season.

Speaker 2 (01:27:21):
And in another last minute heist Leeds United stealing a
point from Liverpool.

Speaker 26 (01:27:28):
Nice delivery chase for two home James in a row,
he produces, then chuckles, I'm Johnny again.

Speaker 2 (01:27:44):
Three three there at Alan Roaden. Finally, Australia have again
exerted their dominance over England. And now look even firmer
favorites to defend cricket's ashes.

Speaker 27 (01:27:57):
Heretiful stark side Australia's celebrates. They cannot stop pitching. Start
at the moment, England now crumbling.

Speaker 1 (01:28:09):
At the Gabba, analyzing every view from every angle in
the sporting world. Weekends fort with Jason Vyell.

Speaker 2 (01:28:19):
Talks newstalksb just on twelve past two, just before he
moved to football. Daniel Hillier has got that shot back.
He bogeyed the opening hole of his fourth round. He
has birdied the second to move back to ten under
the card and in now a typh for seventh with
his great mate from Australia, min wou Lee who's also
ten under heath through a couple of holes as well.

(01:28:40):
Rasmus nearguard Peterson is the leader at fourteen under Sir
Daniel Hillier, keeping himself well and truly in contention. There
another drama filled New Zealand Derby and Football's a League
has ended in another Auckland FC victory. Guy Goss cleat
of feats brings Kisa and Omai and the two subs

(01:29:03):
combining pulls it back for Reno A from Alawayommy He's
been spectacular this afternoon. Still there for Dibrees coscreat Betty
Door off the hinges in Auckland f C and my

(01:29:23):
ching towards up the tarvi Va Tree, which they achieved.
The home side, Auckland f C winning three to one,
that's five wins from five against their rivals Wellington Phoenix.
Lachland Brook opening the scoring early for the Black Knights
before the Phoenix had center back man Dracer James sent
off after thirty seconds in the second half, but Wellington

(01:29:46):
Phoenix captain Alex Ruffer equalized with a brilliant strike. Then
Auckland f C were awarded two penalties Wellington keeper josh Olawai.
He saved the first one. He also saved the second,
but the rebound fell to the taker Francis DeVries, who
followed up to score. Gizuomo Mai made the points safe
with ten minutes to go. Watching on in the sunshine

(01:30:07):
at go Media Stadium among a big crowd of nearly
twenty four thousand was former All White striker Noel Barkley,
who joins US now. Noel, thanks for taking the time
to break this one down for us, Although I'm not
too sure where to start with so many talking points.
Did Auckland FC deserve to win the game?

Speaker 6 (01:30:26):
I think so, but you know, there was calamity all
the way through the game. I think one of the significant.

Speaker 22 (01:30:33):
Moments was I can't remember it was one or two
to one to Auckland, when well Michael Belt came to
pick one up and back in the middle and Phoenix
Smith it was like a simple tap in header to
go to two or two to one and that was
mad changed again. But I think I mean Rufer scoring
at one one really sort of turned the game because

(01:30:53):
Auckland had stopped playing in that dad possession and had chances,
but when they went back to one one, they really
started to sort of flex the muscles. And I think
if you look at the number of seals that Llawen,
he mad and it is incredible. He had an absolute blind.

Speaker 6 (01:31:06):
Of a game.

Speaker 22 (01:31:07):
He'd want to obviously wanted to sort of met good
in that very first derby where he cost the Phoenix
the game. So a cracking game and lots of great
individual battles and it sort of was the big disaider
in the game.

Speaker 2 (01:31:20):
Indeed, Yeah, it was a real battle, and I know
the incident you're referring to yeah, Ramy nagerine it was
a great chance in hindsight, and Auckland almost stopped, didn't
they as I got to the line pulled it back
and it was quite chaotic, wasn't it? Is that a
good word to describe it?

Speaker 17 (01:31:36):
Well?

Speaker 22 (01:31:36):
I think these derby Yeah, absolutely, I think these Derbies
are sort of bringing something a bit special. I think
we saw it last week too in the Sydney Derby.
Was there wasn't lots of goals, there was lots of
isshoes and the intensity again was a different you know,
twenty odd thirst and people again, it just changes everything.

Speaker 6 (01:31:52):
And certainly the port were.

Speaker 22 (01:31:54):
Really up for it, as you could see with the
tifo and the songs and the chants, so they really
sort of came up for the moment. Good to see
a good contingent at Wellington there. Then they were loving
it when Alex scored. Oh yeah, the Darbies are a
bit special, you know. I mean it was good to
see the numbers back up again close to twenty three.

Speaker 6 (01:32:11):
Thirsion.

Speaker 22 (01:32:12):
We're in from Oakland's perspective, they've been a bit down
and some of the performances have been a bit done
as well. But yesterday it was business as usual, and
I mean really yem and I think the chances that
were messed obviously disallerged goals to.

Speaker 6 (01:32:25):
Penal these not taken. Yeah, game really had everything.

Speaker 22 (01:32:29):
Yeah, I guess it just had a little bit of
a problem with Wellington with the fullbacks capt getting the
ball and if they was really showing in the channels,
But the number of times they checked out and went
square was incredible for me. I've always watched the names
and easy was showing in the channel all the time
and they just needed to clip one down there and
at least you know, they're sort of thirty forty yards

(01:32:51):
further forward, not quite sure, and that young man must
be pretty frustrated indeed.

Speaker 2 (01:32:56):
Yeah, and that's a good observation. They always well out
and always seem to face forward and play forward, don't they.
I think the Phoenix are quite quite of that state
of mind. The penalty snow who given to walk on?
And d f C what did you make of them?

Speaker 6 (01:33:09):
The first one? I had no idea.

Speaker 22 (01:33:11):
Obviously you mean it because that was obviously picked up
by v I R and nobody else seemed to pick
it up. So I mean, Virs vi Ir is your
friend one day and your enemy the next, and not
sure about the first one.

Speaker 6 (01:33:22):
The second one definitely looked like that.

Speaker 22 (01:33:25):
Cosgrove was certainly making the most of every situation and
and and as a defender gets.

Speaker 6 (01:33:29):
Sucked in, well they deserve all the get. And I
think that the pinnacle of the game really was.

Speaker 22 (01:33:34):
Decided on the Cosgrove James battle because Cosgrove definitely got
the better of him. He's you know, there's been question
marks about him, certainly with his hold up play and
so on.

Speaker 6 (01:33:44):
He was winning a lot of flicks.

Speaker 22 (01:33:45):
Yesterday he sort of sucked James into, you know, a
booking and then and then ascending off and of course
he got booked himself, which means he suspended as well.
So that was the big changing part of the game
because having losing James really sort of that in Numerica
that and he just upened made it pay. And and
again that's in the later stages. You know, my scored
from a from a Cosgrove flick.

Speaker 6 (01:34:06):
His best game. He's probably needed a good one yesterday,
and he was.

Speaker 22 (01:34:10):
Very influential and this sounds a bit happy with them
what they have been.

Speaker 2 (01:34:14):
Indeed, and Lachland Brooke went into a slightly different role
for him in that number ten, Logan Rogerson starting, which
I know a lot of people were very happy to see.
Did you like that brook and the teen and Rogerson
back in the starting side.

Speaker 22 (01:34:27):
I can never understand why Rogerson didn't start at the
start of the season. He had such a fantastic year
last year and I always seen him as a as
a as an All White squad member and hasn't helped
himself of course in Wellington getting sent off, so very
place to see him come back in. He seemed to
link up well with Cam Eyot again I thought had
a super game and Brooke he's got you know, he's

(01:34:47):
very clever and very good on the ball, and I
quite liked him in the ten. Obviously didn't work so
good last week with Cam howits and he's got a
little bit more Criss Brooks.

Speaker 6 (01:34:57):
So we like the changes.

Speaker 22 (01:34:59):
I like to see my coming up Maya as the
as the game breaker for Oakland and having him fit
and having him link up with Cosgover. The White Men's
definitely the way forward. They're weird that the draw is weird,
you know. Auckland and I have five away games out
of six. I don't quite know what they're doing with
the draw or Wellington's seemed to be home and away,
home and away, So yeah, that's going to be tough

(01:35:20):
and be interesting to see where they sit in six
weeks time.

Speaker 2 (01:35:23):
It has been something of an inconsistent last couple of
weeks for Auckland. F see a drawer against Brisbane, the
lost in Newcastle, albeit in torrential rune last week. Now
did yes, did I feel like they were getting back
to the form we saw from them last season?

Speaker 3 (01:35:37):
Yeah?

Speaker 22 (01:35:38):
I think you could just see it after the game
on people's faces, you know, in people like Ali and
they were just bouncing yesterday in the in the lounge
after the game. And we haven't seen that this year.
I mean even the wins have been a bit scrappy.
So yeah, there was definitely the signs and again that
affected the crowd came out and probably quite good. Did
they get a break after having three at home? Not
easy for a club to keep the numbers up, So yeah,

(01:36:00):
there was there was the signs. Competition for places now
in the Auckland team, you know, Gallias not getting game,
not getting a start, and lots of options in wide players.
Rogerson back playing he'll start again next week. I can't imagine,
and I really like to see him have a bit
of a run and push his way into that World
Cup that we're all waiting.

Speaker 2 (01:36:19):
For and day don't want to get to that in
the second actually, But just on the derby, Steve Carriker,
Auckland FC head coach, intentionally embraces the magnitude of these games.
He's not of the school of thought art. You know,
they're all games are the same, it's just another three points.
Do you like the fact that he embraces the Derby's
the way he does well? I think that comes from
who he is really.

Speaker 22 (01:36:40):
You know, he's a winner and when you hear him speak,
he's very passionate about every game. But you know, having
come from Sydney and experienced the whole, you know the
Sydney Derby thing where you know it is massive.

Speaker 6 (01:36:51):
You know, they.

Speaker 22 (01:36:51):
Absolutely detest each other. I don't think we're quite at
that stages in New Zealand. Most of the Auckland fans
still support the Phoenix in some way.

Speaker 6 (01:37:00):
But yeah, look he.

Speaker 22 (01:37:02):
Loves it and he fires the players that we actually
bumped into Louis for Stratton during the week at a
restaurant and funny he was just saying, Oh, we're up
for it, we really want to win this, and that
was that was interesting because he's quite a quiet lad
and we walked away with the impression that it was
all going to happen. And so then so, yeah, Carter's
done a great job in those derbies, five in a

(01:37:22):
row for it's going to be tough. And what is
it sort of like twenty second of February or something
like that.

Speaker 2 (01:37:28):
Yeah, do you think the Fighters will eva win one
of these?

Speaker 6 (01:37:31):
Yeah, they will. It's inevitable, it'll happen.

Speaker 22 (01:37:36):
But you know, I think that if you know, certainly
with the game down there again, they need to get
people along, They need to get people on board. They've
got a couple of home games now, I think fairly,
you know it is it Kentra Coast and Jets games
that you know winnable again. They need to start winning
those games if they're going to start of you know,
the GET numbers are really awful and we all want

(01:37:57):
them to be up around the ten thousand mark. There's
no reason why it shouldn't be. Yeah, yesterday was a
bit disappointed because I thought they could have done more.
I mean to here really, like in the first few weeks,
the sort of went a bit missing. Yesterday he did nothing.
I prefer them out wide where he can actually sort
of clip balls down their land and get some crosses into.

Speaker 6 (01:38:14):
The likes that they see. He sort of went missing
from me.

Speaker 22 (01:38:17):
But I think they're better than that, and and they've
got some good young players, but they need they need
to be a little bit more direct and getting the
ball forward.

Speaker 2 (01:38:25):
And you alluded to it before, nol. Yeah, five of
Walkland FC's next six games are in Australia. They're back
for one game on New Year'sday against the Jets. Otherwise
they're away for the best part of the next six
to seven weeks. I guess the positive is they'll have
time together on the road, which is always good for
team bonding. But it will present a challenge mind up
with all that travel.

Speaker 6 (01:38:45):
You know.

Speaker 22 (01:38:45):
And they're not easy games either. You know, they've got
some tough ones and that Sydney and as well. Yeah,
but I think it worked in their favor last year
with having all the home games early on, and that
meant they've got you know, lots of wins and a
bit of the lead, which we ended up needing in
the end, but certainly, certainly it'll be a bit of
test and you know, obviously cosgo vout next game. I

(01:39:05):
think the injury suspensions start to be an issue, and
it's harder going to Australia. I mean, even though they
go to three days early and it's just different, you know,
But you know, I think it'd be it'll be you
a couple of draws and went here and there, and
I think they'll be sort of still in that comfortably
sort of one two three position when they get some
home games early in the new year, all.

Speaker 2 (01:39:25):
Right, And just to finish the all Whites World Cup
group confirmed yesterday of course Iran, Egypt and Belgium. How
do you judge the your wat's ability to get out
of that group.

Speaker 6 (01:39:36):
I love the draw, Jason, I absolutely love the draw.
I love the locations.

Speaker 22 (01:39:41):
It's two locations, it's get easy flat to La and yes,
yes it's a fans dream really and and you know,
all of a sudden it's become affordable. So I would
love to think that there'd be lots of key Wes
thinking well I might go to this now, whereas before
you could be all over the show and the teams.
You hell, at Belgium, we know, but you know they're
on the slide a little bit around, you know, obviously

(01:40:03):
that's that's that's the game. You want to pick the
win and maybe you try and get a draw against Egypt.
So yeah, very positive in lad of our performances in
the last basically the last sort of twelve to eighteen months.
I think that we're don't fear of those two teams
and we you know, we get Woodsy fat hopefully, and
we just need to set us eleven players on the
pitch and I think we give we give a really

(01:40:24):
good account of ourselves. And when I'm reading today that
we come second in Australia comes second, we play them
in their own thirty two game, which would be incredible.

Speaker 2 (01:40:32):
How good would that be in the World Cup? Exciting
times ahead, incredible nol thanks for joining us today with
your analysis, so I look forward to catching up again.

Speaker 6 (01:40:39):
Soon, treasured Painty.

Speaker 2 (01:40:41):
Thanks mate. That is Noel Barkley, their former All White
striker and a vary astute analyst of the game of football.
A bit more from the darby Steve Coricker and John
Callowertaliana of course, did their post Match Media. Steve Coricker
aukor left C coach was asked about his emotions when
Alex Rufer put a ten man Wellington Phoenix back level

(01:41:02):
with his equalizer after fifty five minutes.

Speaker 25 (01:41:06):
Frush right about that, because you know Lewis Strade should
have cleared the ball, Lockey Brooks should have cleared it,
and then you know it was a good finish. But yeah,
there there was that little bit of sloveness crept in
after they went down to ten men, which I didn't like,
but yeah it happened and we got on with her

(01:41:26):
and obviously we got the It was a good.

Speaker 21 (01:41:28):
Win in the end.

Speaker 25 (01:41:29):
It's another Darbing wins, very pleasing. Scored three goals. Good
Lockie's goal was excellent. I think Logan had a very
good game. It could have him back and Samue's causing
havoc for him up top us where the two pens
came from.

Speaker 2 (01:41:45):
Plenty of talking points in the second half, just on
the two penalties and also the red card two men
Draker James early in the second half. What did Steve
Corriker make of those incidents.

Speaker 25 (01:41:54):
I think it's a red card definitely, Yeah, he's throw
on goal it was outside the box obviously, but to
be honest, the two the two penalties I didn't really.

Speaker 2 (01:42:08):
See, so I can't really comment on.

Speaker 25 (01:42:10):
Obviously, they looked at him afterwards, and you know, we
got the in favor, our first penalty ever, two penalties
and we missed both of them. So it's not a
good track record, is it. But it was nice that
Francis obviously got the rebound and tucked it away.

Speaker 2 (01:42:27):
So what about Giancarlo a Taliana, What did he make,
the Wellington Phoenix coach, of the two penalties awarded against
his side, Well, I think the first one with was
a pen.

Speaker 28 (01:42:37):
From I mean I didn't see it until after they
gave the pen so I only saw the first incidant.
It looked like they he grabbed from behind it and
from my understanding, grabbing and you know, falling on a
player with intention is a foul. Straight away, I felt
as though, okay, that's that's fair. But the second one,
I mean, Sam and Dan don't even know where the

(01:43:00):
ball is. You know, Dan's half the size of Sam
and Sam's already the ground.

Speaker 15 (01:43:07):
I just felt like that was really soft, you know,
like I just again, you know, so minimal contact.

Speaker 2 (01:43:12):
So there were the two coaches. Finally from Steve Coricker,
winning three to one and bouncing back from two games
without a win. Was it their best attacking performance of
the season.

Speaker 25 (01:43:23):
Yes, at times I think we looked really really good.
But also they had ten men in the second half
I think, so maybe that helped us well. But yeah,
it was a little bit free flowing. It was nice
to see obviously, you know, the first goal was was great,
really pleased with the way they performed in the first half.
That was the most important thing that we didn't concede

(01:43:44):
in the first half and we defended really well. We
got our goal and just got a little bit sloppy,
like I said, when they went down to ten men
and gave on that opportunity, and they had one other
opportunity as well to actually level I think the level
of the game up. You know, they would have been
interested into that one.

Speaker 2 (01:44:03):
In there's Steve Coricker and also Gian Calotaliana, head coaches
of Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix respectively. So the win
for Auckland f C took them for the meantime anyway
to the top of the table. Sydney FC also won
last night, so they've gone back to the top. They
have fifteen points to Auckland f C's fourteen. The Phoenix
stay outside the top six just they are seventh at
the moment on eight points. And the Phoenix women back

(01:44:26):
in action this afternoon from five o'clock. They are away
at Melbourne City looking to get a springboard from their
first win of the season a week ago when they
beat Melbourne Victory two twenty eight. Let's update you from
the golf. Daniel Hilly is still registering a score of
ten under par. He is through just two holes, a
bogie and a birdie today for Daniel Hilly ten under

(01:44:48):
four shots off the lead. Scrolling down to find Ryan Fox,
he is one over throughout eight holes. He dropped back
to fight under the card. He is in a tie
for twenty third. When we come back, we'll head down
to christ Church where the Black Cats are about to depart.
After unsuccessful toiling away yesterday to try and get the
West Indies out. Couldn't do it. First Test drawn. Second

(01:45:11):
Test starts on Wednesday at the base in Reserve. Zach
Folks played his first Test on home soil on his
home ground. How does he reflect on yesterday? He is
with us right after this one.

Speaker 1 (01:45:21):
Crutch Hold Engage Weekend Sport with Jason Pain and GJ.
Gunnerhomes New Zealand's first trusted home Milder News Talk.

Speaker 2 (01:45:30):
To B twenty eight to three. The first New Zealand
West Indies cricket Test has finished in a drawer in
christ Church, the Windy's finishing four fifty seven for six,
seventy four run short of what would have been a
world record chase of five hundred and thirty one. As
it was the four fifty seven for six the second
highest fourth innings ever in the history of Test cricket.

(01:45:50):
It was against a depleted black Caps attack no Matt
Henry and no Nathan Smith on the final day. They
toiled hard in blustery conditions, but the Windy's unshakable, Justin
Graves completing a career best innings of two hundred and
two not out. Keemar Rode also scored his highest evertes
score fifty eight. They added an unbroken one hundred and

(01:46:12):
eighty for the seventh wicket. That was after rookie pace
bowler Zach Folks had dismissed Tevin Imlak cheaply.

Speaker 27 (01:46:22):
Given quickly given by umpire rifle.

Speaker 29 (01:46:26):
All three reds got a delivery from Zach Folks. Good
standing delivery, beautiful sam visitation, swings back sharp, Zach Folks
with the breakthrough.

Speaker 2 (01:46:38):
Zach Folks is with us the wind. He spanned for
what one hundred and sixty three overs in their second
and in Zach that is a long time to be
out in the field and you bowled thirty three of
those overs. Has the body today, Yeah, bodies a little
bit sore.

Speaker 4 (01:46:52):
I think Duff had about ten overs on me as well,
so I'm sure he's woken up a bit worse for
as morning as are.

Speaker 2 (01:46:58):
How challenging was it knowing both Matt Henry and Nathan
Smith would be unable to bowl on the final day.

Speaker 4 (01:47:04):
Yeah, obviously you never want to see guys go down.
We also had tom tom Blundell out as well, so
Tommy had to had to be behind the stumps. I
think he was on the field for the last three
days of that Test match. So here's a few few
wounded soldiers this morning, but we'll look to recover the
next few days and then go again in Wellington.

Speaker 2 (01:47:25):
Of course, and usual circumstances you wouldn't have had to
bowl that many overs. So at the start of yesterday,
how did you prepare yourself knowing that it was going
to be a heavier workload for you.

Speaker 4 (01:47:36):
Yeah, we knew it was going to be a tough flog. Obviously,
that second new ball was pretty crucial, and yeah we
didn't didn't really we got two with it, but yeah,
it didn't really get to get the in roads that
we would have liked. But yeah, it's great toil from
Duff and brace well bowling. I think best bowled fifty
fifty something sets, which was outstanding.

Speaker 2 (01:47:58):
When you're out there and it is to for Gould.
It was a belter of a pitch on on day five.
You know, hard to get any assistance as a pace bowler.
What is your mindset as you're running in ball after ball,
over after over, just trying to you know, trying to
find that breakthrough.

Speaker 4 (01:48:13):
Yeah, I think we went through a few different plans.
We had straight fields for a little bit and then yeah,
a little bit of dounce of stuff majority from Duff.
But yeah, I think it was a great cricket work.
We saw on day one and two a lot in
it for the bowlers and then sort of swung around
and the baddest favor of the last two and a
half days. Yes, I think a great, great cricket work

(01:48:35):
at barn at Hagley.

Speaker 2 (01:48:38):
In hindsight, you know, I know it's always twenty twenty,
but could you have done anything differently as a team yesterday?

Speaker 4 (01:48:45):
Yeah, I think obviously the standout as we dropped dropped
a couple of catches. Myself guilty as well, Yeah, which
is obviously a shame. We created doubtunis but just didn't
quite get it right on the day which was a
little bit of shame. But yeah, I think curn't really
fault the effort of all the guys. Yeah's tough slog

(01:49:05):
out there to the end. They betted very very well
Shay and Justin and then yeah, at the end of
the a keema as well facing serny five or something
balls where they run at the end, which was seriously impressive.

Speaker 2 (01:49:20):
Josh, your second Test match, of course, your first in
New Zealand. How special a moment.

Speaker 4 (01:49:24):
Was it for you? Yeah? It was awesome, family and
friends watching, Yeah, it was a great occasion. Just been
around my parents' house and there they had a great
week at the Hagley Oval, don't think Dad missed the ball,
which was awesome, and then Mum, mum and brothers yeah,
came and watched grandparents. Yeah, it was awesome to have

(01:49:45):
them down there.

Speaker 6 (01:49:46):
Love that.

Speaker 2 (01:49:46):
Love that man, that's so cool. We saw your debu
of course for New Zealand and the white ball sides
last year. How keen have you been to be an
all format cricketer for New Zealand?

Speaker 4 (01:49:56):
Yeah, I think I definitely put Red Bull up the
top of my priority. I think there's nothing better than
a hard fought Red Bull win. Yeah, and hopefully I
can contribute to winning Test match cricket in the next
next couple of games.

Speaker 2 (01:50:10):
Do you like the basin you were to bowl a
few times domesticly? Do you like it as a as
a cricket ground and as a wicket to bowl on?

Speaker 8 (01:50:17):
Yeah?

Speaker 4 (01:50:17):
I love it as a cricket ground. Fingers crossed the
winds not.

Speaker 2 (01:50:20):
To calm down, mate, come on.

Speaker 4 (01:50:24):
Yeah, I think it would be pretty similar to this
Hagley wicket. Hopefully it offers a little bit for the
bowlers in the first couple of days and then tends
to flatten out. So yeah, I think it could be
could be quite similar to Hagley and that in that regards.

Speaker 2 (01:50:37):
And news today to cover for the injuries to Matt
Henry and Nathan Smith. You can every teammate Michael Ray
joining the squad for the second Test. Can you give
us some insight into his strengths as a bowler.

Speaker 4 (01:50:48):
His massive strength is his heart. He just keeps keeps
on running and keeps on running, and he'll bring a
lot of a lot of energy and yeah, try try
bowl as fast as you can, which is which will
be awesome to see if he gets to go.

Speaker 2 (01:51:03):
All right, Well, we look forward to the second Test.
Just before you go, it's a busy so of cricket
ahead in a lot of different formats. Is the T
twenty World Cup sitting there in the back of your mind.

Speaker 4 (01:51:14):
I'm just trying to play each game as it comes.

Speaker 25 (01:51:16):
Really.

Speaker 4 (01:51:17):
If that happens, it happens. If it doesn't, I'm sure
I'll turn out for Canterbury and put my best foot
forward for them. But at the moment, you're just trying
to We're each game at the time.

Speaker 2 (01:51:27):
Great toil yesterday, Zach travel safe. May look forward to
seeing you at the base from reserve for the second Test.

Speaker 4 (01:51:33):
Awesome.

Speaker 2 (01:51:33):
Thanks Tony No, thank you, Zach Zach. Folks there out
of the black Caps camp. So first Test drawn at
Hagley Oval. Second Test based from Reserve and Wellington starting
on Wednesday, and I think most of us were probably
a little bit pleasantly surprised by the West Indies backbone
in this Test match. I think coming into this Test series,
a lot of us thought that it would be you know,

(01:51:56):
I guess, a three nil sweep for the black Caps.
We didn't really I don't think give the West Indies
the credit that they clearly deserved in terms of their
ability to dig in and play test cricket. There's been
a lot of talk about how they've fallen off from
the glory days, and yes they have, but yesterday was
an example of what they can do when they apply themselves.

(01:52:16):
So this Test series is level heading to the second
Test in Wellington starting on Wednesday twenty one away from
three will take a break, come back and zoom in
on the rising star of New Zealand track and field,
Sam Ruth, who over the last couple of days has
broken both the eight and fifteen hundred meter secondary school
records at the National Secondary School's Track and Field Champs

(01:52:39):
and Hastings. His dad, Ben Ruth, himself a former elite
middle distance runner, is going to join us after this.

Speaker 6 (01:52:46):
You be the TMO.

Speaker 1 (01:52:48):
Have your say on eight hundred and eighty ten eighty
Weekend Sports with Jason Pin and GJ. Guvnerholmes, New Zealand's
most trusted home builder News Dogs.

Speaker 2 (01:52:57):
They'd be eighteen to three two more records the Kwei
teenage running star Sam Ruth. Yesterday he clocked three minutes
thirty eight point six two seconds in the heats of
the boys fifteen hundred meters at the National Secondary School
Track and Field Champs and Hastings to break a thirty
six year old record in the event. In fact, he
obliterated the mark set by Richard Potts in nineteen eighty

(01:53:19):
nine by more than eight seconds. That was yesterday. Earlier today,
he also broke the national eight hundred meter record, clocking
one forty six point eighty one to beat the previous
mark set by Ben Mathis in twenty eleven by three
point six seconds. In March, at the age of fifteen,
Sam Ruth became the youngest person ever to run a

(01:53:39):
sub four minute mile. In the last hour or so,
he has run and comfortably won the final of the
fifteen hundred meters Dad Ben Ruth, himself an elite middle
distance runner, is with us now. Ben, how big a
target were they fifteen hundred and eight hundred meter records
for Sam? This weekend.

Speaker 7 (01:53:59):
I had been thinking about them, I guess for a
little bit since Arian's of fourth mile is talk about
him having a crackit Richard's record, and Richard just an
incredible guy. He comes from. His mother actually ran at
the Comonwealth Games in the final in nineteen seventy with
Sam's grandmother. Rosemary won that final in a very type
finish and Sylvia Pops came fifth in that final. So

(01:54:22):
there's a little bit bit of family history there, I guess.
And Richard who's given his life and time to the sport,
making it grow here it's his home track in Hastings
and he was standing holding the watch calling the splits
each lap, knowing that it was picking down. So just
an incredible guy and just an incredible thaught of the
ethnic community like his parents were tooth. It was a

(01:54:44):
special moment, Oh, I.

Speaker 2 (01:54:45):
Bet it was. What a great little layer to it,
But as I say, it wasn't just a matter of
half a second or a second, eight seconds off the
mark set by Richard pottsback in nineteen eighty nine. Did
you believe that that Sam had that time in him?

Speaker 7 (01:55:02):
No, I had that Richard Pop time. I ran national
secondary schools in middles in the fifteen hundred and nineteen
ninety seven and at the time that record was eight
years old, and we thought that the clocks must have
been broken in the nineteen eighty He's mien it could
have ran that time because it was so outrageous and
nobody's got under three fifty. I don't think it got

(01:55:24):
within three seconds of it in thirty six years so,
and certainly not solo. So he decided he'd do it
in the heats, which would take all the pressure off
the final. And then also today he's got the eight
hundred final, the fifteen hundred final and he's still got
four by four hundred meters Togo, So doing it doing
it yesterday I meant that he's going to be a
bit fresher for his team in the four by four
this afternoon. So no, I didn't think he was going
to run that. He was actually only he got the

(01:55:45):
New Zealand. He got ten is under twenty New Zealand's
fifteen hundred meter record at the same time, and he
just missed out in the world's fastest time for a
sixteen year old five point six of a second by
cam Myers and that was so he's going to have
a crack at that. Obviously better in the season when
he's actually a race of pacemakers and you know, in
the evening with better conditions, et cetera.

Speaker 2 (01:56:06):
How do his times that he's running at the moment compare,
if you know with what our great middle distance runners
Peter Snow, John Walker, Rod Dix and Nick Willis, we're
running at a similar age, you see, faster than they were.

Speaker 7 (01:56:20):
Yeah, yeah, he's faster than they were at the same age, definitely.
But to give you some comparison, it ain't had a
meter time today of one minute forty six. Sam Tanner's
fastest than his life is one minute forty six. Nick
wollas as fast and his life was just before the
two thousand and four Olympics he ran one forty five.

(01:56:40):
John Walker was the one forty five runner in his career.
So running one fifth forty six as a score kids
not very common, and I think it's twelve all time
from New zeand the time they're in today, and I
think that's fifteen hundred. Yeah, I'm not sure actually where
that ranks, but yeah, maybe inside the top top twenty
all times.

Speaker 2 (01:57:01):
When you're watching him, can you watch purely as a
proud dad or are you constantly analyzing how he's running?

Speaker 7 (01:57:11):
I don't coach him at all, so we have quite
a clear Craig kirk quit as as coach. And Craig
develops Hayden to Hadden wild to Olympic medals obviously, and
he developed Sam Tanner to be one of the best
athletes on the planet. So Craig does all of the coaching.
I'm great mates, Craig, but I don't feel like I'm
watching him as a dad. I'm watching him as a

(01:57:31):
fan really, and I just enjoy it. I just enjoyed
it bold And the same with my daughter running today.
She just had a crack and yeah, it's just I
just enjoyed watching it and going along for the ride.

Speaker 2 (01:57:42):
Really, yeah, your daughter days. He's Sam's sister has also
won today. She won the under sixteen fifteen hundred meters
Designer Standards a year nine, so you're another one in
the family.

Speaker 7 (01:57:52):
So Sam when he was a year nine came second.
So Davey was pretty choked to.

Speaker 2 (01:57:56):
Something and awesome, awesome.

Speaker 7 (01:57:58):
Something and running that Sam hadn't done and in a
crawl twist of fate, I made the National Singery School's
final as it as an under sixteen and year nine
and I was stoked with my time around a PB
of four thirty two and Daisy today around four thirty one.
So their records held by Tony Hodkinson out of four

(01:58:18):
twenty nine. Tony obviously around the Olympic final, I think
ninety ninty six in Atlanta day you've got another year
in the grade. But yeah, she's doing really well and
she was bold and had a crack from a long
way out. I was just pleading to see them challenge
themselves and be bold.

Speaker 2 (01:58:37):
Really, Sam's feat's on the track are turning heads everywhere.
As I'm sure you've worked out have you had to
keep his feet on the ground in any respect.

Speaker 7 (01:58:46):
He's Sam's just I don't know, I don't know why,
but maybe it's a combination of I've justed myself. So
Jess is just as really good at all the things
that I'm not good at I used to. I relish
the sport, love the sport, and I always used to
get carried away and train too hard. For as she's
really disciplined, focused, follows the rules, make sure all the

(01:59:06):
all things in the right place, and she puts all
her energies into the right areas and somehow the kids
have sort of got the spots of us. And Sam's
just he doesn't get carried away at all. It's just
he just enjoys it and disciplined and doesn't he wouldn't
know really that he broke the national records. He's just
just loves the sports and loves hanging out with his

(01:59:27):
mates and they're all happy. And I think having a
boards college have won seven gold medals here on the
track out of I don't know how many, but they've
all done really, really well. It's just a great culture
and environment and a group of group of boys that
coming Boys College and Craig Kirkford has got going.

Speaker 2 (01:59:43):
So what is the plan? Then over summer here and
then into twenty twenty six for Sam, he's got.

Speaker 7 (01:59:50):
Quite a lot coming up. So too many times he's
going to five to Northland where there's an outside shot
that he's got a chance that Jack Finger Britain's five
thousand meter what record for a sixteen year old of
thirteen thirty five. He's never run a five thousand meter race,
but his strength seems to be quite quite at the moment.
I think it's only three three current news on ethicts

(02:00:11):
that have run a certain thirty five and one forty six,
and that's Sam Tanner, Nickolas and John Walker. So if
he could pull that off in two week space, that
that will be recalled. And he's got crack at the
one k national age group record in January in Taringer.
Then so we popped back here in Hastings on the tenth, sorry,
the seventeenth January wan going to be mile where the
world records ages three fifty five and snow broke the

(02:00:32):
world record running three fifty five and ten or one
last year and three fifty five. So it's going to
be a big, big crack. And we go to the
US for four weeks for indoor racing in Boston and
North Carolina.

Speaker 2 (02:00:41):
Wonderful stuff, all all mapped out, mate, while I've got
your text has come through Piney. Good to hear the progress,
Young Sam. Ruth is making, but the menchin of his
dad's name gives me PTSD. I was a rugby playing runner,
fast enough to compete regionally at high school in the
fifteen hundred, but Ben was the king as far as
Wellington was concerned, obliterated the field in ninety seven. Awesome

(02:01:02):
to get second place to the Wellington College road running
team back then, knowing how fast Bare was. That's from
a nine nine old boy who is now in recovery,
that ti sais So you're well remembered for your feats
back in the capital as well.

Speaker 7 (02:01:14):
Mate, Yeah, what do you say about that? It's all
just enjoyable, isn't it life challenging yourself and challenging others,
and hopefully you push yourself and they push you and
I hope you get a bit of fat. So it's
just I love the sport for a long time and
it's just a pleasure to be able to watch it
from the sidelines.

Speaker 2 (02:01:30):
Now, great stuff, Ben, thanks for chatting to us, mate,
Always a pleasure, brilliant thanks, funny thanks mate, That has
Ben Ruth. Yeah, an elite runner in his day, a
terrific runner in his day. You know, Nick willis kind
of areas when he was in and around the Wellington
region at the same time. But yes, Sam and now
Daisy by the sounds of it as well. Another one
to keep an eye on great jeans in that family.

(02:01:51):
Nine to three new stalks INB.

Speaker 1 (02:01:54):
The school from the track field and the court on
your home of sort weekends for it with Jason vine News.

Speaker 2 (02:02:01):
Talks in B six away from three Loss of life
Misses just coming through about Sam Ruth, but also about
Ben Ruth. Yeah, it's often often the case, isn't it.
When you find a particularly a young up and coming
sports person, you look at the family that they come
from and it immediately tells you a lot about why
they're having the success that they are. Would be easy
for Ben Ruth, wouldn't it to get heavily involved in

(02:02:23):
the coaching of his own son, given the fact he's
got a background in track and field himself, a very
very good background in it. But to give up the
reins to a coach Craig Kirkwood, who has been said
has had great success with the likes of Hayden Wilde
and others, must take a lot. But it also must
be so cool just to sit back and watch your
son do what he's doing and as he mentioned as

(02:02:44):
well as daughter to names to keep keep an eye on. Finally,
before we go, Daniel Hilly, You're through four holes in
at the Australian Open in Melbourne? Are they in Melbourne? Yes?
Royal Melbourne Golf Club, four under through sorry even part
through four holes ten other for the tournament, four shots
off the lead. Ryan Fox is a bit further down

(02:03:05):
the leaderboard but still there or thereabouts one over three
nine holes, five under four the tournament. Huge thanks to
Annie McDonald for producing the show today. Thanks mate. Enjoy
a relaxing afternoon in the Auckland sunshine. Thank you for
listening in this afternoon. Tim Beverage will take over after
three with the Sunday edition of the Weekend Collective Exit Song. Today. Well,

(02:03:26):
all roads lead to Abu Dhabi tomorrow morning at around
about two o'clock, when the Formula One Drivers Championship will
be decided for twenty twenty five, Lando Norris, can you
finish on the podium and claim his maiden Formula One
Drivers Championship or has Max for Stappan got one more
trick up his sleeve for twenty twenty five and the

(02:03:48):
chance to make it five on the bounce. The talking
is pretty much all done, or will be soon. These
guys can now just shut up and drive. See tomorrow
night on Sports Talk.

Speaker 12 (02:04:06):
Up and Down.

Speaker 1 (02:04:31):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live
to News Talks it B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio

All Episodes

Episode Transcript

Popular Podcasts

Dateline NBC

Are You A Charlotte?

Stuff You Should Know

.css-15opob5{left:0;position:absolute;top:0.8rem;} All Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Full Show Podcast: 07 December 2025

Episode Transcript

Popular Podcasts

.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}Dateline NBC

Are You A Charlotte?

Stuff You Should Know

All Episodes

Full Show Podcast: 07 December 2025

Dateline NBC