Full Show Podcast: 07 June 2025

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks EDB. 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 EDB.

Speaker 2 (00:30):
Hello there you, good afternoon, Welcome into Weekend Sport on
News Talks v June seven, Happy birthday and a corner covert.
Happy Birthday Shane Bond and happy birthday birthday, former All
Black and now our foremost rugby analyst here on ZEDB
and Strawn. I hope you're having a great day mate.
I'm Jason Pine, Andy McDonald's show producer. We're talking sport

(00:51):
with you until three. The Crusaders have officially put twenty
twenty four behind them, back.

Speaker 3 (00:57):
To Sibery rees and he boots it over there South
Bridstad and the Crusaders through to the semi finals and
their almighty hope playoff record remains thirty wins of the
Trots and finals. Football at christ Church full time thirty

(01:18):
two plays twelve.

Speaker 2 (01:19):
Yeah, good luck anyone going to christ Church next weekend
and trying to win a game of Rugby. That could
be the Blues, could be the Brumbies, could be the Hurricanes.
Depending on tonight's results, we'll cover off Crusaders Reds for
you after one. Super Rugby Pacific CEO Jack Mesley is
also on the show today to explain this finals format.
Why aren't they gone this way with the lucky loser

(01:40):
and the Chiefs knowing that regardless of tonight they'll go
through all of that stuff. We'll get you to Hamilton
as well before we close the show to preview that
latest installment of the Battle of the bomb Bays Chiefs Blues.
Our match commentator Graham Minty Mead will set the scene
for you before three o'clock. Leading us off today though,

(02:01):
is new black Caps coach Rob Walter. He's standing by
for a chat about his appointment, the challenges ahead, the
priorities he sees as he takes the job on, and
I'm very keen to get your views on the legacy
of Gary Stead as black Caps coach. He leaves with
a record better than any of his predecessors, but oddly

(02:22):
enough he's still somewhat polarizing, isn't he? Your thoughts on
Gary Steed's legacy This hour other matters around today. Tom
Walsh has won the men's shot put at the latter's
Diamond League events in Rome. He's in for a chat
the All Whites in Canada for matches against Coache du
Voir tomorrow morning. Ukraine. On Wednesday, veteran defender Michael Boxel

(02:42):
on the show after two Adam Peacock on Australian sporting
matters including the sacking by Tottenham of Australian coach and
Posta Cooglu overnight. What has Adam Peacock make of all
of this? Paul Colet semi final band at the British
Squash Open, He's beaten England's Marwan el Shaw Bargee in
straight games and their quarter finals is going to take

(03:03):
on second seed Diego Elias and the semi early hours
of tomorrow morning, New Zealand time from the tennis as well,
just updating them on all this stuff.

Speaker 4 (03:11):
Really.

Speaker 2 (03:11):
Yannick Sinner dashing Novak Djokovic's hopes of a record breaking
twenty fifth Grand Slam, the Italian winning in straight sets
and their freendch Open semi and so Sinner will face
defending champion Carlos el Karaz in the final on Monday morning.
Women's final tonight Arena Sabalenka against Coco Goff. So the
top two seeds have made the final in both the

(03:34):
men's and women's singles, so I've clearly got the seedings right.
We'll get you to Paris tomorrow on the show. And
we haven't forgotten the Warriors. Don't worry, we haven't gotten
the Warriors. We know that they play the Sharks in
Sydney tonight at seven thirty. Again, we will cover that
for you on the show tomorrow. We would love for
you to join us if you'd like to via phone
O eight one hundred and eighty ten eighty on our

(03:57):
text machine nine two nine two will get your thoughts
through there or emails into Jason at newstalksb dot co
dot Enzi coming up eleven past midas.

Speaker 1 (04:08):
The scoop from the track field and the court on
your home of Sport Weekend Sport with Jason vine Youth talks.

Speaker 5 (04:15):
Me wide of the grease.

Speaker 6 (04:17):
Taylor whips it away on the onside out towards the boundary.
It's going away for four and New Zealand have won.
The team in the dressing room are celebrating stand tall
for the black Caps. Salutes the first ever World Test
Championship winners. Our team is at the top of the world,

(04:38):
a title they richly deserve and it'll be an emotional
moment for them.

Speaker 2 (04:43):
Yeah. The undoubted high point of Gary Stead's seven year
tenure as black Caps cricket coach the World Test Championship
win in twenty twenty one. But now there is a
new man at the helm. Rob Walter appointed as new
black Caps head coach through until the end of twenty
twenty eight. He's previously been head coach of both the

(05:05):
Otago Vaults and the Central Stags, winning silverware with both provinces.
He also coached the men's New Zealand A squad in
India in twenty twenty two, and was most recently the
head coach of South Africa's men's white ball teams. Rob
Walter is with us on the weekends for congratulations on

(05:25):
the appointment.

Speaker 7 (05:26):
Rob.

Speaker 2 (05:26):
First of all, what sort of shape do you perceive
the black Caps are in as you take over as
their head coach?

Speaker 4 (05:34):
Thanks?

Speaker 5 (05:35):
So, I appreciate that, Jason.

Speaker 8 (05:37):
I look, I suppose results really speak for themselves. I
think Garry's an amazing job to leave the team in.

Speaker 5 (05:45):
A great position.

Speaker 8 (05:47):
I've done some pretty iconic things in the last six years.
So yeah, from my point of view, the teams in
a really good space and really big for me to
come in and see how I can add a little
bit to that and really build on the moment.

Speaker 5 (06:03):
And that's already there.

Speaker 2 (06:05):
And I guess that is a nice lead into my
next question, because if the team was a dumpster fire,
a complete shambles, you'd come in and you'd be a
mister fix it. But that's, I guess not really what
you need to do here. So how will you approach
it and and put your own stamp on it without
you know, undoing you know a lot of the good
work that has already been done.

Speaker 8 (06:26):
I think it's exactly that I think it's to come
in and you know, obviously I know a number of
the players relatively well.

Speaker 5 (06:34):
I know the system relatively well. But I think you.

Speaker 8 (06:37):
Only really appreciate, fully appreciate, you know, what's going on
internally when you when you're in the students. So just
allow myself the time to do that and to observe
and connect with, you know, with the players and and
see how they operate and really you know internally what
has made them so strong over the last you know,
a little while without sort of theorizing it myself and

(06:59):
having prepared to play against them at at international level.

Speaker 5 (07:04):
And then once that becomes fair, just.

Speaker 8 (07:06):
Aware of, you know, what are the little things that
that I can bring that will you know, hopefully take
this team to the next level.

Speaker 5 (07:13):
And you have an idea in your mind as to
what that might be. But I think you only truly
know when you when you're when you're on the tools.

Speaker 2 (07:21):
Do you have an overriding coaching philosophy.

Speaker 8 (07:28):
Yeah, I think probably a few things that make it up.
But firstly and most importantly, I was asked to see
my job is fundamentally to create the best you know,
the best environment for for players to thrive and and
play the best kid for their country. So you know,
there's an element of support in that, and there's an
element of challenge when required, and that's built really on

(07:50):
some relationships. And you know, you can only truly influence
someone if there's a if there's a relationship of trust there.
So it's to build, you know, to build a relationships
to all the trust and and and yeah, in a
position to help grow people's games and growth can either
be it's being more consistent of the strength or adding
a few thinks to the bow. But yeah, I mean

(08:12):
that be my fundamental philosophy around coaching.

Speaker 2 (08:16):
At the elite level, the elite international level, which is
obviously what this is, and even at the other levels
you've coached, you know, first class, et cetera. How much
technical coaching are you die presume you're not not teaching
guys how to play a better cover drive or or
to bowl a better in swinger or are you.

Speaker 5 (08:35):
I guess depends on what level. You know.

Speaker 8 (08:37):
At provincial level, you've probably got a spectrum of experience
and young, very young guys coming in who probably just
learning about themselves in their game, and then the game
will challenge them and and you know, puts them to
improve their games or understand how to improve their games.
And you're more experienced campaigner who's probably become aware of

(08:59):
hard to delivery performance. But as you know, sort of
you know performance ebbs and flows, and there's often a
lot of work to.

Speaker 5 (09:06):
Be done there.

Speaker 8 (09:08):
At international level, you know, obviously you have your specialists.

Speaker 5 (09:12):
Who are your technicians, do you know who spend a
great deal of time with the guys.

Speaker 8 (09:16):
On their skills specifically and and obviously to dip into
the space of performance.

Speaker 5 (09:23):
This largely is mental.

Speaker 8 (09:25):
So for me it's really you know, managing the process
of performance and understanding what his person might require. Will
you will you be picking covered drives? Probably not most
of the time, but as I said, you know, I
think to keep into guys games. It's my job to
be aware along with the Supports office, to what that
might be and just been sure that every time you

(09:47):
run out onto the park as the float for the
black Caps, you you're in the piece, the best position
to perform and you've been given the best science and
platform to do that.

Speaker 2 (09:55):
It's an ever changing cricketing landscape, as we know, with
more and more players turning down central contracts. How will
you navigate the the ever changing cricketing landscape as it
relates to the Black Caps.

Speaker 8 (10:10):
I mean, I suppose your your point is a valid
one and that it's changing all the time and pretty quickly,
and so it's it's really important for us to be
flexible and just to be looking to evolve and even
be ahead.

Speaker 5 (10:22):
Of the evolution.

Speaker 8 (10:23):
And what is obvious is that the cricket will it
is very different now to what it was, and our
understanding of of things needs to change and be cognizant
of that.

Speaker 5 (10:33):
Obviously, the leagues or a big full factor. But yeah,
you know, you you still.

Speaker 8 (10:39):
Want to believe that playing for the black Caps is
the pinnicle and priority for everyone.

Speaker 5 (10:44):
You know, it's our job to ensure that that's how
the players.

Speaker 8 (10:47):
Skill and coming back to players to get for the
black Caps is something is the priority which is into
the case now, and work hard to maintain that understanding
that you know that the reality around the financial pulls
towards league ticket and you're not gonna you're not going
to be able to over throw that, and so you
really have to coexist rather than resists. And so yeah,

(11:11):
getting that balance right will obviously be tough. It's unknown territory,
so we have to be really expectable with that. But
as I said, you know, maintaining the culture which says
that comes first and players really want to be part
of that.

Speaker 2 (11:26):
To that point, then will you look to give selection
preference to your centrally contracted players.

Speaker 5 (11:34):
No, I don't necessarily think that has to be the case.

Speaker 8 (11:36):
I mean, obviously the essentially contracted players have submitted themselves
to playing for New Zealand and we respect that and
the guys that haven't obviously do that for various reasons,
you know, so yes, prior toy will be given to
them in a manner, but making sure that, as I said,
that we stay flexible and that we understand the landscape

(12:00):
and we try and manage it. And I think you
said you figured they've really been at the forefront of
trying to manage you know what contry acting can potentially
look like in the stitue with the you know, the
creation of the casual playing contract and those so you know,
those are contracts in a manner, and we've seen over
the last twelve kty months sety three different players have

(12:20):
been used. So it's inevitable that players will be picked
out of side of the contract group know, whether that's
down into the.

Speaker 5 (12:27):
Domestic space or guys that outside of that.

Speaker 8 (12:30):
I mean that remains to be dem but certainly hot
to acknowledge the people recommitted in a way playing for
the black Caps.

Speaker 2 (12:39):
One of the criticisms aimed most often at your predecessor,
Gary Stead was he was too loyal to certain players.
What is your general philosophy rob on selection and striking
the balance between loyalty and making change when it's needed.

Speaker 5 (12:57):
Yeah, I really think it's you know, at the end
of the day, if you look back and.

Speaker 8 (13:01):
You look at the results to be hard press to criticize,
but I do understand that comes with the territory. I
think from a players point of view, you you always
want to look in front of you and see.

Speaker 5 (13:15):
Yourself being backed.

Speaker 8 (13:17):
You're happy to see other players getting back knowing that
when your turn comes to due, you know you have
the same great givens. The game is a tough one
at times, and inconsistency is part of it. So I
think you're understanding that, and then the balance is also
understanding that performance is important.

Speaker 5 (13:36):
It is a game of performance. Ultimately, we compete to win.

Speaker 8 (13:40):
And understanding how we you know, the team together in
order to give us the best plances is important. But
I don't think you lose out of out of really
backing guys and and and sticking.

Speaker 5 (13:51):
With them for a period of time. And you know
how long is too long?

Speaker 8 (13:55):
Well, you know how long we pissed the string Ultimately
a beach coast to decide what they look like and
really make the best decision for the seam at the
end of day, which is which is fundamentally what you're doing.

Speaker 2 (14:06):
Usual and Cricket have obviously made the decision to keep
one coach over both or rather all three formats, both
color balls. Do you have a view on on on
splitting the red and white ball responsibilities? I mean, were
you always keen on doing all three?

Speaker 5 (14:25):
Yeah? Absolutely I was.

Speaker 8 (14:26):
I mean really appearist of the game at heart, so
have a huge respect for the for test figures. You know,
it is the toughest sporting coach in the world I
reckon in terms of requirements, so nothing.

Speaker 5 (14:40):
Quite like it.

Speaker 8 (14:41):
So, as I said, really, you know, the opportunity to
do both formats of the game was an awesome.

Speaker 5 (14:50):
Talk due to the job.

Speaker 8 (14:52):
Absolutely, you know, I think from a split seaching point
of view, I don't think you can throw a blanket
over over whether it's rights or wrong, because I don't
think that's the case. I think you've got to sort
of acknowledge his environment and decide what's best. And in
this instance, obviously News even decided that that single coaches

(15:13):
is the best way forward given the the landscape of
cricket and the player turnover given, you know, given the
franchise league, except for et cetera, I think it is
in officials to have one leadership figure who's sort of
managing the whole process and then obviously behaviors, just advice
supports staff when.

Speaker 2 (15:32):
He's be in cricket, obviously the coach captain relationship is
probably more important than it is in a lot of
other sports. How important will it be that you forge
good relationships with Red Bull captain Tom Latham and your
White Bull skipper Mitchell Center.

Speaker 5 (15:49):
Ah, yeah, I mean it's really a non negotiable at
the end of the day.

Speaker 8 (15:52):
You know, the decision making importance of the skiff is
huge and their influence in the team is massive, and
out on the field, you know they're doing ninety five
percent of the decision making and the work. So it's
fairly to understand how we operate together.

Speaker 4 (16:09):
How can our.

Speaker 8 (16:10):
Best support the captains to give ultimately give them and
put them in the best position, you know, to deliver
for the team. So your relationships so important that everyone so,
and players and everyone you know so. But then as
you say, the skipped ultimately you know they really are

(16:32):
important to the the way everything runs and so making
sure that our ships are really good, that I give
them great clarity they are there to to do where
I stand and what I think. And then deflectively, are
the collaborative units going to make a business out there?

Speaker 5 (16:51):
All right?

Speaker 2 (16:52):
So just to finish, you're ready for the increased spotlight
that comes with us role. I mean, obviously you had
the South Africa means white ball teams and they love
their cricket in South Africa. You've done provincial cricket here,
but uh, there's nothing like a national coach to get
the talk back lines ringing, Rob.

Speaker 8 (17:11):
Yeah, I mean, as you said, unfortunately I have the
you know, the experience of South Africa under the belt,
fully understand what comes with the gig and fully understand
you know the responsibilities of it. I mean, you know,
the what as you call it is always going to
be there as all opinions be. And that's part of it,

(17:32):
and it's all you know. It doesn't detract from the
from the one the responsibility, but two opportunities.

Speaker 2 (17:40):
Well, congrats Rob on being a pointed black Caps coach.
Look forward to chatting often over the next few years.
Thanks for your time this afternoon.

Speaker 5 (17:47):
I look forward to take it.

Speaker 2 (17:49):
No, you take care to Rob Thanks and day. That's
Rob Walter, Bland, new Black Caps coach. Your chance to
react to what you heard. There are eight hundred and
eighty ten eighty. I liked them. First chance I've had
to chet to Rob Walter, I liked them. Keen to
see how he goes. It's not a rock star appointment, right.
It's not Stephen Fleming or a Brenda McCallum or Daniel Vettori.

(18:09):
This isn't a rock star appointment. But he stands out
as a very good candidate given his track record, and
I liked what he was saying there. It's a very
difficult cricketing landscape to navigate for any for any national
cricket coach, the proliferation of T twenty leagues and the

(18:33):
balance you have to strike between international cricket and franchise cricket,
and the increasing number of guys who were saying, you
know what, I appreciate you offering me a central contract,
but I don't want it. I would rather free myself
up from that in order to play franchise cricket.

Speaker 9 (18:55):
Or more of it.

Speaker 2 (18:56):
You can still do both, of course, you can many
on the centrally contracted list that was released during the
week will play franchise Cricket and New Zealand Cricket enable that,
but guys like Kan Williamson and Devin Conway have said no, no,
no central contract for me. I'll play if you want
me to and it fits, but no, no, no central

(19:17):
contract for me. Thanks. So that's a difficult challenge to navigate,
but one that Rob Walter comes into with his eyes
wide open, wide open. Oh eight hundred and eighty ten
eighty just on Gary Stead as well. His record is
very very very good Test matches. Inaugural World Test Championship winners,

(19:40):
first team to clean sweep India three nilo in a
Test series in India. He oversaw the first Test Series
victory away to Pakistan since nineteen sixty nine, first eve
of New Zealand Test Series victory over South Africa with
the white ball. I don't want to rake over old
coals and trigger you necessarily. But twenty nineteen Cricket World

(20:03):
Cup runner up on boundary countback, run up in the
T twenty World Cup in twenty twenty one, runner up
in the Champions Trophy this year, semi finals at a
couple of other World Cups. New Zealand will ranked number
one in test matches and One Day Internationals at various
points during Gary Steed's reign as coach. But he was
still polarizing, wasn't he. There's no argument about that, and

(20:27):
I think there are a couple of reasons for that. First,
his greatest strength Gary Stead, or one of his greatest strengths,
was his loyalty. He kept faith with players when there
was a clamor for change, mainly from us as cricket fans.
Often your weakness is your overplayed strength. Here's John Bracewell

(20:49):
on that loyalty.

Speaker 10 (20:50):
He received a lot of criticism over his loyalty to
Nickel Kim Saudi in the end, but that's the thing
that has bound that team together for quite a long time,
is that consistency, selection that faith and that trust in
the players.

Speaker 2 (21:03):
The other factor I think is that Gary Stead wasn't
any effusive character. I don't think he loved the media.
I don't think he loved doing that part of the job.
He did it, but I don't think he loved it,
and not everybody does. He wasn't what you'd call a
dynamic speaker, a charismatic person. But again that doesn't necessarily matter.

(21:25):
But I just think, you know, cricket fans found it
hard to connect with him for that reason. How will
you remember the legacy of Gary Stead as Black Caps coach? Oh,
eight hundred and eighty ten eighty ninety two, ninety two.
If you would like to send a text, love to
hear your thoughts. Let's get straight to the lines. BEVN

(21:45):
Hi mate, Hey Joseon.

Speaker 11 (21:48):
Yeah, I just I just found Gary. There was a
bit of a transparency thing for me. There was a
relationship with him and Kan Williamson around not selecting spinners.
And I don't know, and I think you've you've mentioned
this like over the last two three four years, why
you know, Aged Patow and then all of a sudden,

(22:09):
now we've got Mitch Santon's quite ironic right as the leader.
I sort of felt that there was too much of
a connection, too much of a cozy relationship between the
captain and the coach. What do you reckon?

Speaker 4 (22:21):
Yeah?

Speaker 2 (22:21):
And I think that relationship has to exist, you know,
more so on credit, I think, and I've mentioned that
to Rob more so on credit probably than a lot
of other sports. And that the you know, the captain
is basically a selector along with the coach, especially when
you're on tour. Yeah, I understand what you're driving at
Bevan and look the I know, you know came Williamson

(22:43):
was famous for not really throwing the ball to his
spinners very often. Wasn't he particularly any spinners selected?

Speaker 11 (22:51):
And I look, I don't want to cause conspiracy theories,
but I reckon that he had, you know, he had
a lot of influence over that kind of decision. But
the other thing I just kind of wanted to mention
was that in the future that you had David White.
He was in my opinion, he was there for far
too long and the hierarchy of New Zealand cricket was

(23:13):
kind of I thought a little bit damaged, and it
could possibly happen with New Zealand rugby with Mark Robinson.
I reckon, there should be a period of time you're
there for, you know, that long like in the corporate
world I work, and you know you're only there for
a period and then you're gone, right, But they sort
of hung around too long, and I think that it
can actually be detrimental to the progress of the team.

Speaker 2 (23:38):
Yeah, I agree with that I agree with any ceo
who hangs around for too long. Bevan, Absolutely, you're supposed
to come in, aren't you for seven or eight years,
make your mark and then move in any industry sports,
no different. Yeah, so yeah, Scott winning, I think is
early in his tenure. I think he's doing a good job.
He's got to oversee this appointment and we wait to

(23:59):
see how that goes. New director of high performance as well,
you know, the changing landscape. But yeah, the coach captain
relationship is so important, and cricket isn't it more so
perhaps than you know, if you think of the All
Blacks or the All Whites or the Silver Ferns or
any other team. Cricket is a game in which I
think the coach probably takes more of a backward seat

(24:21):
than a lot of other sports. That they're often not
the one who's making all the decisions on the field,
you know, at halftime in a rugby match, I'm sure
the coach is the loudest voice at a tea breaker,
a lunch breaking. Cricket, I doubt that it is the
coach very different, I know, but yeah, that's that's my
guard on it. I eight hundred and eighty ten eighty.

(24:43):
Take a couple more calls in a moment, get a
breakaway twenty nine away from one there risk one s
be a line there. I eight hundred and eighty ten
eighty back in just a moment.

Speaker 1 (24:51):
One crutch hold Ngauge Weekend Sports with Jason Tame and GJ.
Gunner Homes, New Zealand's host Trusted home Builder News Talks
to Baby.

Speaker 2 (25:01):
News Talks a B twenty six to one. Lee says
Jason listening to Rob, I like him. Seems well balanced
and not eligible all the best time. Yeah, I agree.
Thanks for your text.

Speaker 12 (25:09):
Hello Allen, Yeah, Hi funny, how are you good?

Speaker 2 (25:12):
Thanks many?

Speaker 12 (25:14):
I am just talking about I guess his legacy states legacy.
I think we've really got a benchmark any coach's performance
against our very first coach, which was Glenn Turner, because
under his oversight, New Zealand won two Test series overseas

(25:36):
against opponents that we hard had ever beaten before, and
that was Australia in England and they had some really
good players and he was a strong personality and nowadays
was you know, cricket so fragmented as it is across
the formats. You wonder whether what the coach is there

(25:59):
to do?

Speaker 4 (25:59):
You know, And.

Speaker 12 (26:03):
It's almost like with the Australian cricketers, you know, marsh
and Lilly used to say that they thought the team
coach is what they drove them to get to the
ground and that they pretty much sort of ran things
the way they wanted because really players don't seem to
They have to take responsibility for their own individual performance

(26:26):
in terms of techniques and strengths and weaknesses. So what
is the coach there to do now?

Speaker 4 (26:32):
You know?

Speaker 12 (26:32):
Is he there for strategy or what?

Speaker 4 (26:37):
So?

Speaker 12 (26:38):
You know, how hard is it to be a good
coach when it''t really hard to define what the role
is compared to what it used to be when you
just had a coach Alah, Glen Turner, you know, there
were no other people involved. They didn't even have bowling coaches,
they just had the coach. So what is the coach

(26:58):
there to do these days?

Speaker 2 (26:59):
Yeah, it's a great question. Could I suggest that they
are an enabler? I think is trying to just yes,
And you look at Brenda mccullums influence in the England
team Allen and the way he's enabled them and energized
them and basically let them play unencumbered under a strategy
that I'm sure he's come up with. So I think

(27:20):
in enabler Yeah, Like I said, I don't think they're
teaching them how to play a better cover drive or
bowler better and swinger. I think a lot of it
is to do with just just enabling them to be
the best they can be, by creating an environment and
a framework within which that can be possible.

Speaker 12 (27:37):
So they're not really a coach, then, are they?

Speaker 2 (27:39):
I don't think so. No, not in the typical sense. No,
I think you're did right.

Speaker 12 (27:43):
They might be a facilitator or something like that, perhaps
because of the resources that are available now. Whereas my
point is that Glen Turner was the coach and so
he drove a lot of the ways that the team performed,
whereas stead, yeah, it facilitates, and I guess the new

(28:06):
guy got to do the same and massage egos, I guess,
and get people on board.

Speaker 2 (28:11):
Do you reckon Glenn Turner on those tours that you
talked about, eighty five in Australia, eighty six to England,
you know, periods of real success with the red ball.
Do you think he was coaching during that time. Do
you think he was and Martin Crowe was magnificent during
that period. Do you think he was working with Martin
crow on his batting during that time?

Speaker 4 (28:29):
I presume he was, without doubt.

Speaker 12 (28:31):
I mean, without doubt he would have been working with
batsman for technique against fast bawling, for sure and captaincy
because he had probably the most experience in a professional
capacity and probably still has of any other player that's

(28:52):
represented New Zealand, maybe Hadley excluded, but across a professional
career at a time when I guess we were in
transition from amateur to professional. Without doubt, was a very
strong personality, and I think there were some clashes, you know,
especially with Hadley, and I think Coney was probably as

(29:14):
captain alongside Glenn Turner more in terms of the strategy,
but he definitely said the way things started on the field,
no question.

Speaker 2 (29:24):
Interesting then, as an opening batsman, how would he have
for example, during that time you mentioned Richard Hadley and
I'm not sure he needed a lot of coaching, but
younger bowlers coming into the team during that time, how
would Glenn Turner have gone? You know, because he was
an opening batsman, he never Bowld to my knowledge, how
would he have gone coaching bowlers under more traditional coaching sense.

Speaker 12 (29:46):
Probably in terms of their thought processes, and perhaps Hardley
had something to.

Speaker 4 (29:51):
Do with that.

Speaker 12 (29:51):
I don't know. I mean, who do we have? We
had Charlie Chatfield, Gary Truth, Danny Morrison? Who else was
there at the time.

Speaker 2 (29:59):
And that eighty five sort of Yeah, Martin Sender was
in and around that time. Yeah, chats as you say,
Lance Ken's you know, those that was a pretty experienced cohort,
wasn't it? As I say their names.

Speaker 12 (30:13):
Those guys were driven. I mean they had you know,
as we well know as well documented.

Speaker 4 (30:18):
He didn't need to be told what to do because.

Speaker 7 (30:20):
He was.

Speaker 12 (30:22):
Very well programmed into what he what he felt he
needed to do in terms of professional targets and attitude.
And I think that rubbed off on some of the players.
But a guy like Charlie Chatfield, I mean, how do
you coach a metronome, you know, because that's what he
was and he was a perfect oil for I mean,
he was probably responsible for about one hundred of Hadley's

(30:45):
wickets because of the perfection that he brought to his game.
So I think that in terms of teaching batsman how
to play fast bowling as a top batsman. And we've
got to remember this guy. He's in the top fifty
of all time runs scored.

Speaker 4 (31:06):
In history.

Speaker 12 (31:07):
So you can't not listen to a guy like that.
But also that would feed off on the bowlers. By definition,
talking and understanding how batsman should be defending and attacking
fast bowling also gives you an insight as a bowler.
So I think they probably collectively picked up a lot

(31:28):
of information and then feed off the attitudes of the professionals,
which there were only two John Wright and Richard Hadley
that were full time professionals in that squad the rest.

Speaker 2 (31:39):
Ellen. Yeah, so I've got to move mate, But great
points well made. Thank you for calling in. I'm enjoyed
listening to you. Yeah, you've made some very good points.
And yeah, you know what, I'd forgotten that Glenn Turner
was the coach in nineteen eighty five when they went
over and beat Azzie over there, you know the Hadley series.
I'd forgotten there his coach, which goes to Joe perhaps

(31:59):
or proves the points. Ellison, Hello, were you're.

Speaker 13 (32:02):
Still publishing a halo? You didn't really one of the rated. Congratulations,
thank you Ellison. Yeah, I love you, Enthuviasan for the
football head and all those commentaries, and you're fantastic doing
all that, and I've got to say they'd be very successful. Well,
I don't know why they couldn't split it between the
two of them there. I think because they split the
captaincy on those ones for the for the team, why

(32:24):
couldn't they split the coaches. I couldn't understand why they
couldn't have done that.

Speaker 2 (32:27):
Now I guess the reason the reason they gave, Yeah,
or there's a couple of reasons that they gave. I
think that the fact, well, there was a couple of
that I heard anyway, Eliston. One was that we got
quite a small player, Paul, so a lot of players
do cross over among the two, so that's, you know,
the chance for those players to hear the one voice.
The other point that was made, and I thought this
was interesting by John Bracewell when I heard him during
the week on the radio, was that he thought that

(32:48):
there might be the possibility that that if there was
two coaches, one for White and one for Red, that
they would almost be in competition with one another for
the players.

Speaker 13 (32:59):
Could be but a little bit there. Yep, yep, just
quite to say quite about the tap boyts, right are
the tactics Ali Bergert one hundred percent the other day
fantastic stick and looking forward to the playing today and
in the tennis, I'll say, go Coca, I think Coco Goth.
I hope she wins the tennis. Fine, I think he's fantastic.

Speaker 2 (33:16):
I do too, Ellison. I hope she wins as well.
And I'm sure she'll remember her rackets, which she didn't
in her first round match. They eventually turned up. Yep.
She'll play Arena Sabalinka in the in the final of
the women's singles in the early hours of tomorrow morning.
Great text through here from Charles Jason gary Stead. There's
only one metric look at the results. Do we criticize

(33:36):
the late Sir Edmund Hillary because he was driven? No,
we remember his feats as the conqueror of Everest. Stead
conquered his Everest three nil against India in India. He
towers over all other coaches and guide in New Zealand
cricket through its golden age. Allow the man as foibles
and weaknesses, but honor his strength on bended knee love it, Charles,

(33:57):
great text, Thank you very much, indeed I really appreciate it.
Of course there are other counterpoints. A text through here
after a fantastic and gritty career from someone who changed
country allegiances, says John. The treatment of Neil Wagner by
Stead was unforgivable.

Speaker 7 (34:18):
Yep.

Speaker 2 (34:18):
I think that is probably a misstep in his career.
And to finish from Peter in regards to step, to
my mind, his results are even more remarkable because of
the small depth of the player pool he had to
work with. Thank you, Peter, much appreciator. Thank you for
all your calls and your correspondents. I get a breakaway
when we come back. We're off to Rome where Tom

(34:39):
Walsh has won the Diamond League shot Port events. This morning,
a few hours ago he did. He's standing by the chatoists.
Tom Walsh on the radio after.

Speaker 1 (34:46):
This, you be the TMO and your say on eight
hundred and eighty ten eighty Weekends Sport with Jason Hin
and GJ. Garvnerholmes, New Zealand's most trusted home builder News Talks.

Speaker 2 (34:58):
There'd be news talks, He'll be Tom Walsh has won
the men's shot put at the latest Diamond League event
in Rome.

Speaker 14 (35:04):
This is Tom Walsh, the New Zealander, still in great form.
Of course, that's pretty good as well.

Speaker 15 (35:12):
Very close to twenty.

Speaker 14 (35:13):
Two meters now, that would be as good as he's done.
All yeah, so far, pointing to the camera, said there
you go, Tom Walsh, early on setting a mark here.

Speaker 2 (35:24):
One or two of the big names.

Speaker 14 (35:25):
Have yet to really get the season going.

Speaker 2 (35:27):
Twenty one eighty nine for the New Zealander. That puts
him in an early lead here, which he held on
to a season base twenty one point eight nine meters
for Tom Walsh. She joins us. Now, thanks for joining us, Tom,
congratulations mate. How do you evaluate what played out in
Rome earlier tonight? Your time?

Speaker 7 (35:44):
Thank you?

Speaker 16 (35:44):
Thanks finding mate. Look, it was I was really happy
with it. I think you will Chim Sashira in September,
so quite late. So I think a lot of guys
are in the same boat with us, figuring it out again,
figuring out how to make it go a long way.
And you know what I wanted from today's comp was to,
you know, give myself six good, good goals, are throwing
it a long way, and that's exactly what I managed.

Speaker 4 (36:05):
To do.

Speaker 7 (36:06):
I did.

Speaker 16 (36:07):
I did fiddle with one in round two that wasn't
the greatest, but the other five throws were a real
good roll of the dice and in a real good
attempt at making the ball go a long way. So yeah,
well twenty one eight nine was you was your winning throw.
That was your first throw. That is that typical for
you that you throw your furthest.

Speaker 2 (36:25):
On the first.

Speaker 16 (36:28):
It's a real mixed bag with me, mate, So it's
really just whatever what really just whatever happens. So yeah,
as I said, I just wanted to have some good
cracks at the throwing a long way and that's exactly
what I managed to do. I didn't manage to put
them together, but there was some real good parts of
some of the other throws and some not so good parts.
So yeah, it was It's a good, good comp mate,

(36:51):
good good step in the right direction.

Speaker 2 (36:52):
Can you just unpack that for us? Tom, You know
you've got your twenty one to eight nine, So then
for the next five throws, so what sort of things
are you doing? Are you? Are you slightly tweaking things
in each of those? Just unpacked that for us?

Speaker 16 (37:03):
Yeah, I guess what I'm trying to really do mate
is not try I'm trying to let it go. I'm
trying to essentially just attack it and have a good
crack at it, in a free crack at it, because
as soon as I start fiddling with things, which I
did in round two, it's never a good thing as
soon as I start trying. So it's just about you know,

(37:25):
trying to move without freedom and that flow state that
people talk about and try and make that shot put
go as far as it can without trying to have.

Speaker 2 (37:34):
That's yeah, because like shot put to the most of
us and be like, you've got to give it everything.
You've got to try as hard as you possibly can.
I know it's different for you. Is that flow? Straight up? Flow?
Is that flow state something you can find yourself in
more consistently now?

Speaker 16 (37:51):
It's it's the ever elusive thing, right, So it's what
we're trying to get to all the time. And you know,
the first throw it was really close to being you know,
really good and nailing that flow state, but I just
didn't quite put it together the rest of the time.
So it's yeah, it's it's the thing that we're all chasing,
the thing that we're all trying to do or trying

(38:12):
trying not to do, if that makes sense.

Speaker 17 (38:14):
But it's it's just so tricky.

Speaker 16 (38:16):
It's just like in cricket, right, if you're a fast bowler,
it's when you're bowling the fastest.

Speaker 17 (38:20):
It's not when you're trying to bowl the fastest. It's
when your your rhythm and your timing is on you.

Speaker 2 (38:25):
A looser flow state that a lot of athletes are chasing. Well,
it's a great result for you, Tom. So you meet
your World Champs in September. What about between now and then,
What's what's next for you?

Speaker 16 (38:34):
Yeah, So I've actually got essentially two months off now
until I come back over to Europe and August. So
I've actually got two months in America training there and
and kind of regrouping and doing a little bit of
a reload phase in the gym, along with probably some
more technical throwing stuff, but also you know, trying to
get into that into that you know, rhythm of throwing

(38:58):
you know well, and and trusting trusting the work that we've.

Speaker 17 (39:02):
Done and making it ball go a long way.

Speaker 16 (39:04):
And then I've got you know, four or five comps
and back in Europe you know in August to get
ready to Tokyo in September.

Speaker 2 (39:12):
And have you committed to Los Angeles twenty twenty eight.

Speaker 16 (39:17):
I sure have, mate, You've got to put up with
me for another four years.

Speaker 2 (39:20):
There is nothing I would prefer more than chatting to
you for the next three or four years as we
head to Los Angeles. Congrats on what happened in Rome
this morning, Tom, awesome to watch it play out. Thanks
for the chat mate cool Thanks Bunny, No, thank you Tom,
Tom whilst they're Diamond League champion in Rome at twenty
one point eight nine meters with his first throw the
flow state, the elusive flow straighter flow state, if I

(39:43):
could say it, I love talking to athletes about that
when they get to the point where it just all
happens naturally for them. Other kiwis involved in the Diamond
League event this morning in Rome included Hamish Kerr, who
unfortunately couldn't couldn't get it done this morning. He missed
all three attempts at two meters twenty three to finish

(40:04):
sixth in the men's high jump. Imaginaris was also involved
in the women's pole vault. She finished eighth in that
event seven and a half to one. News Talk set be.

Speaker 1 (40:14):
Breaking down the Hail Mary's and the every fails weekends
for it with Jason yin news Talk zenby four to one.

Speaker 2 (40:23):
Dave says, Jason, police help. If the Chiefs and Hurricanes
win tonight, do the Chiefs host the Brumbies and the
Seams and the Crusaders host the Hurricanes. And if the
Blues beat the Chiefs and the Hurricanes beat the Brumbies
to the Crusaders, then host the Blues and the Chiefs
host Arganes in the Semis. It's very confusing, says Dave. Dave,
You're right, it's a bit confusing, but I think you're
right on both fronts. What I've got is the is

(40:44):
the scenarios which can play out tonight. There are four
possible scenarios tonight, Chiefs and Brumbies win, Chiefs and Hurricanes win,
Blues and Brumbies win, Blues and Hurricanes win. So those
are the four scenarios. Here's one thing we know for
absolute sure. I'll break this down for you after one
James Marshall coming up at Sidentley assisting coach of the Crusaders.

(41:07):
But here's one thing we know for certain. The Crusaders
and the Chiefs will host the semi finals next weekend,
regardless of what happens tonight. That might sound odd because
the Chiefs could lose, but they will still host a
semi next week. It is a bit hard to unpack.
Don't worry, we'll do that.

Speaker 1 (41:25):
After one's the only place to discuss the biggest sports
issues on and after field.

Speaker 9 (41:32):
It's all on weekends Ford with Jason Pade on your
home of Sports News Talks.

Speaker 2 (41:40):
News Talks, AB and Weekend Sport one oh seven. I'm
Jason Pine Andy McDonald as the show producer. We're n
till three after two. We'll get here to Canada where
the All Whites are. First time they've played the Whites
since they earned World Cup qualification back in March. They're
in Canada for a Canadian Shield tournament, which is quite
a cool idea. They take on Cote de Voirs the

(42:03):
Ivory Coast tomorrow morning at eleven, and then on Wednesday morning,
New Zealand time at nine they'll play Ukraine. These are
two good games for the All Whites. Both those sides
are ranked in the top forty ee in the world,
so a good gauge for Darren Baisley on where his
sight is at and for the all whites players, everybody

(42:24):
wants to be on that plane next year, don't they
to the World Cup in the US? Mexico and Canada
ran about this time next year, Racu, You're only about
a year away. So every time the All Whites come
together now those players know they absolutely have to do
everything in their power to make sure that they are
in that squad next year. We don't know exactly yet,

(42:45):
and this is odd. I'll see this on the JO before.
How big the squad is for the World Cup. It's
normally twenty three and Katsa the last time it was
twenty six, but those were COVID times or just coming
out the back of COVID, so travel was still a
bit restricted around getting replacement players there. So they said, well,
you can take twenty six. Whether they stay at twenty
six or go back to twenty three remains to be

(43:07):
absolutely confirmed. Even if it is twenty six, good players
are still missing out on that squad. At twenty three,
even more good players are missing out. Michael box is
on the show after two o'clock to have a chat
about that and in particular his position. There are so
many good center backs around at the moment, so even
someone as established as Michael Boxel still has to do

(43:29):
it day in day out inside an All Whites camp.
I'm sure, so football for you after two rugby's our focus.
There's our James Marshall from the Crusaders along shortly. To
answer Dave's question from before one o'clock, let me try
and simplify this in terms of the Super Rugby scenarios
as they stand. As I mentioned before, one, we now
know that the Crusaders and the Chiefs will host the

(43:53):
two semi finals next weekend. One will be in Hamilton,
one will be in christ Church. Regardless of what happens tonight,
we know the semis are in christ Church and Hamilton.
Not quite sure which one will be on Friday, which
one will be on Satday, but those will be the venues.
The only way the Hurricanes and the Brumbis can miss
out is if the Blues beat the Chiefs. All right,

(44:18):
If the Chiefs beat the Blues tonight, the Hurricanes and
the Brumbies will both play semifinals. Regardless of the results
in their game later on, the winner would travel to
christ Church to play the Crusaders. The loser would head
to Hamilton to face the Blues face the Chiefs. As
far as the Blues are concerned, the Blues must win
tonight or they are out, and that has pretty much

(44:42):
been the case all along. So for Blues, it's last
chance saloon tonight. They simply must go to Hamilton and
beat the Chiefs if they are to continue in the
competition and continue with their title defense. That would not though,
knock the Chiefs out. The Chiefs cannot be knocked out tonight.
They will host a semi final next weekend regardless of

(45:05):
what happens tonight, But the Crusaders have booked a home
Super Rugby Pacific semi finalist.

Speaker 3 (45:12):
Pass had just said to Kyle Preston, who won't be stopped,
let me do it once. A pit of a shame
for the Reds, but the exclamation point for the Crusaders.

Speaker 2 (45:24):
Here Carl Preston scoring the fifth and final try for
the Crusaders last night, and they're pretty comfortable thirty two
to twelve win over the Reds in christ Church. Crusader's
assistant coach James Marshall is with us. Have you thought
out yet?

Speaker 7 (45:39):
Yeah?

Speaker 4 (45:40):
It was a cold night.

Speaker 18 (45:41):
My kid's feet is still to trusting. They left at halftime.
It was too much for them. But it was a
very cold night, probably suited us a little bit more
than it suited them, And yeah, we got the result.

Speaker 2 (45:53):
It always felt comfortable. James Will watching on anyway, be
interested to know how how you were feeling. Was there
any point during the game at which you thought you
were going to lose the game?

Speaker 18 (46:04):
No, there wasn't. Actually it felt like we were in
full control. We were really dominant up front, which there's
always a good start in a game like that when
you know it's going to be quite heavy, set piece,
sort of orientated game. And I thought we kicked really
well as well, and once we got out to a lead,
they never really looked to threadn too much, so few

(46:25):
late tries, but by then we'd paied the bench and
rested the guys who were coming for the first came back,
got them off the field, and got through it pretty unscathed,
which was good.

Speaker 2 (46:37):
Yeah, we reached the seventeen minute mark and they were
still on nil, at which point you were twenty seven
nil ahead. They only scored when you went down fourteen.
What was the the foundation for such a good defensive
performance last night?

Speaker 18 (46:52):
I feel like our defensive band's been growing every week.
Met Tod's done a really good job there and I
think it was probably the least amount of tackles we've
had to make this year. Usually we've been getting through
some huge numbers on but I think just the way
we kicked and controlled the set piece definitely helped. We
weren't having to make too many peoples in our own

(47:13):
twenty two, which has been a bit of a trend
for us, especially the last month. So we were making
the tackles of the area of the field and it's
always a bit easier around halfway than when you're just
stepped from your goal one.

Speaker 2 (47:28):
Indeed, the nine ten combo Noah Hootham, Rivers, Ray Harner,
the have had three or four games starting in nine
and ten. For you, now, how do you think that
partnership is developing.

Speaker 18 (47:39):
Yeah, they're going really well, soaked with how Rivers has
come back, obviously got an opportunity with Tahar's knee injury,
and Noah's just gone strength to strength. I thought it
was awesome last night. Kicked well, such a strong carrier
and really good for us defensively. So I think he's
been a big part of that defensive shift, and I

(48:00):
know a lot of teams will try and target her
half back, but man, he's so strong and so good
at the contact that he sits in back pre pretty quickly.

Speaker 2 (48:10):
How much better is your team with Will Jordan in it?

Speaker 4 (48:15):
Yeah?

Speaker 18 (48:16):
Much better? He's I think we've seen that influence this year.
We obviously missed him last year. That not just what
he does on the field, but throughout the week. He's
such a smart rugby brain and a lot of the
calling has sort of done through him just because he
understands the game so well. So he's very influential for us.

(48:38):
Wasn't really the game that suited him last night. He's
obviously hard and fast. Deck really suits him. But then
I thought it was awesome for us under the high ball,
some big efforts when we needed him, and just really
organized that backfield really well for us. So awesome to
Heaven back at this time of year and hoping for
a couple more big ones from him.

Speaker 2 (49:00):
And as your team also, you know, just a bit
better with David Harvilli there.

Speaker 18 (49:04):
Too, Yaw. Davey's such an influential character for us, just
his leadership. The boys love them, They respect him. They
voted him man of the match last night, like they
just they just love playing with him. He's the way
he speaks and leads this group is pretty special. And yeah,

(49:25):
he's got such a good skill set too. Who saw
some of the kicks he put in last night and
some of his intent and his carries and cleans. Yeah,
the boys love and we love having him out there.

Speaker 2 (49:36):
To Mighty Williams. He injured his knee early on, battled
on score to try, but then came off. Any update
this morning, James.

Speaker 18 (49:44):
No, I haven't had an update, but I'm hoping for
the best. Just the way he was able to keep
playing through it sometimes it's a good sign. So fingers
crossed with him. He is an influential player for us
as well. He was dominant scrumtime last night, and yeah,
fingers crossed we get him back next week. But we'll

(50:05):
have to wait and see for that one.

Speaker 4 (50:06):
I guess.

Speaker 2 (50:06):
Speaking of front rowers, the only bloke who's played all
fifteen games for you is George Bauer. Five of them,
starts ten off the bench. He feels, I don't know
a little bit unsung. I guess how much has he
appreciated internally George Bauer.

Speaker 18 (50:21):
Oh massively. He's put in some big shifts for us too,
a couple of eighty minute games, which is never an
easy ask for a front row of these days. But yeah,
and he also not just what he does on the field.
He's a real energy man for our group, brings in
all the vibes and lots of good jokes and gets
a team song humming, and he's one of those guys

(50:43):
which everyone loves seven on the team.

Speaker 2 (50:46):
How much was the disappointment of last year used as
motivation for this year?

Speaker 18 (50:55):
I don't know if it was really used as motivation.
We just knew that we had to be better. We
knew that we were a better side than what we
put out there last year. Everyone was really disappointed, but
it was more solution based and what we needed to
do there to go better this year. And like, obviously,
like the winning can be contagious. I think there's probably

(51:18):
been four or five games that we would have lost
this time last year, a couple of close ones, and
a lot of the games won or lost in such
small margins. And when winning becomes a habit, it just
sort of rolls on and you start winning those games
that you don't when you're when you're in a losing

(51:38):
rat So it's nice to be on the winning side.
This year was obviously tough times last year, but we've
got two more to go to make it count.

Speaker 2 (51:47):
Really, and you've won thirty straight finals matches in christ Yes,
that was number thirty on the trot last night finals
matches at home? How allwhere are you of that? And
how proud are you of that?

Speaker 4 (52:01):
Yeah?

Speaker 18 (52:01):
I wasn't aware of it until I saw the twenty
nine before last night on the personal Elia. But that's
an that's an impressive stat, Like I didn't realize. I
knew it would have been high, just the amount of trophies,
so one down here, But yeah, that's a pretty incredible stat.
And long that continue.

Speaker 2 (52:22):
Long that continue. Indeed, you must be looking forward to
the completion of the new stadium. It'll be about warmer
for starters.

Speaker 18 (52:29):
I was thinking that last night, when obviously it was
a relatively disappointing crowd. But you can't you can't really
complain too much when they've got to sit in that
stadium and freezing cold, rain pouring, and it just doesn't
make it an attractive proposition to take your kids along.
Or especially when you can sit at home and the

(52:49):
warm and watch it on TV. But there'll be no
excuses next year. And driving past the stadium on the
way to the stadium last night, it just made me think, Man,
I cannot wait for that thing to be open. And
from a tech coach point of view as well, I'd
love to be able to plabit more rugby and these
crunch games. And I suited us last night, but it

(53:10):
probably wasn't the most enjoyable spectacle for many fans. But
next year, hopefully we can play a bit more expensive rugby.

Speaker 2 (53:20):
Looking forward to that. So I guess you cheer the
Blues against the Chiefs tonight, don't you, Because that would
mean that you would take over top ranking spot on
the Semis. You're already hosting one next week, but it
would mean that if you won that you would also
host the finals. So you're all in on the Blues tonight.
That must be a bit.

Speaker 18 (53:35):
Tough, Yeah, to be fair, I'm just going to I'm
looking forward to sitting down and just watching both of
these games. I think they're going to be two crackers
and just seeing seeing them all better at that. Hopefully
they both got a extra time and Golden Point and
then to the kickoff and yeah, then see who we've

(53:57):
got next week. But yeah, the Hurricanes Rumby's game is
going to be a cracker as well. I'm looking forward
to seeing how they go over there, and yeah, see
see who we end up with next week.

Speaker 2 (54:09):
Yeah, well, congrats on sealing your place in the in
the semis. Can I just say before you go your
podcast as a cracker man? What a lad? It is
just a beauty. I don't know how you find time
to prep them because I know how much this, how
much these sorts of things take and amongst all of
your other family responsibilities, coaching responsibilities. It's a beauty man.

Speaker 18 (54:30):
Oh, I appreciate that. Yeah, it is a bit of
a jug at this time of year. I try and
bank as many episodes as I can before the season
and just let them roll out as we get through it.
But I didn't have minister to record maybe three or
four throughout the season. And I enjoy doing them, and
I always appreciate when I get feedback on them and

(54:50):
how much other people have enjoyed them or how much
it's help them or the son who's trying to be
a professional ag blower whatever they're trying to do, so
something I want to keep trying to do. And good mate,
probably your one of your good mate Scott waldram On
coming out to morning, so I'm looking forward to releasing
that when.

Speaker 4 (55:09):
He was a good yarn.

Speaker 2 (55:11):
Yeah he's a very good man, and you're good Willington boy,
good Evalon boy. They're struggling a bit in club rugby
at the moment up here in Wellington, so I hope
you haven't sort of delved too deeply into the Evlon
side of things. But they always enjoyed listen and always
enjoyed chatting rugby with you, James. Thanks for taking the time.

Speaker 18 (55:26):
Mate, Hey, cheers mate, always good to chat.

Speaker 2 (55:29):
Thanks James. James Marshall, assistant coach of the Crusaders. So
let me go through these scenarios for you. In terms
of that, there are four possibilities right. There are two
games tonight, so four possibilities. Number one, the Chiefs and
the Brumbies win. Okay, the games the Chiefs Blues, Brumbi's

(55:49):
Hurricanes Scenario one, The Chiefs and the Brumbies win, so
the semi finals would be Chiefs Hurricanes, Crusaders Brumbies scenario two,
the Chiefs and the Hurricanes win tonight, the semis would
be Chiefs, Brumbies, Crusaders Hurricanes. Scenario three, the Blues and

(56:11):
the Brumbis win tonight, the semifinals would be Crusaders v. Blues,
Chiefs v. Brumbies, And scenario number four, the Blues and
the Hurricanes win tonight, the semis would be Crusaders v. Blues,
Chiefs the Hurricanes. So the Lockton part of this, As

(56:34):
I said before, are the venues for the semifinals. We
know they will be Hamilton and christ Church. I don't
know which way round they'll be, but I suspect that
the Crusaders game will be the Friday night given the
fact they played last night and the Chiefs played tonight.
I get the feeling it'll be the same next weekend,

(56:56):
but I don't know that for sure, so don't put
any stock in that. If you're thinking of booking tickets
to either of those two cities, don't do it just yet.
But those are the scenarios they'll play out. It is unusual, right,
It's different from normal in that you can lose tonight
if you are the Hurricanes or the Brumbies and still

(57:16):
go through and they'll know by the time they kick
off whether that is possible or not. If the Blues, though,
do get up tonight, and they might, then the Hurricanes
and the Brumbies know that their game is sudden death.
But if the Chiefs were to beat the Blues, and
that is I guess the most likely outcome, because the
Chiefs are the Chiefs. If the Chiefs win tonight, then

(57:38):
the Hurricanes and the Brumbies know that going into their
game they will not be eliminated. They're playing basically for
who they play against next week. And I was just
thinking to myself, if you're the Hurricanes, right, and you're
thinking to yourself, right, we know we're not going to
get knocked out. If we win, we go to christ
Church to play the Crusaders. If we lose, we go

(58:00):
to Hamilton to face the Chiefs. The Hurricanes have already
beaten the Chiefs this year, albeit in Wellington. As I've
just said to James Marshall and to all of you,
that is thirty straight finals matches wins in christ Church
for the Crusaders. It's a pretty good record. It's an
unprecedented record. So really, would you want to be going

(58:22):
to christ Church, or if you the Hurricanes, would you
actually secretly prefer to go to Hamilton? But having said that,
who wants to play the Chiefs right now? So you
know what, there's no perfect outcome is there. Whoever placed
the Chiefs is going to be up against it. Whoever
placed the Crusaders is going to be up against it. Oh,

(58:44):
eight hundred and eighty ten eighty the crowd in christ
Church last night and James picked up on it. I mean,
it was a horrible night.

Speaker 10 (58:54):
I saw.

Speaker 2 (58:54):
I was coming back from Auckland yesterday morning and I
saw a couple of the sky crew who were headed
for christ Church and they were telling me the high yesterday.
The forecast high in christ Church yesterday was seven degrees.
I got in touch with Nick Beauley, our commentator on
gold Sport, and he said it is absolutely arctic. He

(59:20):
was four jackets and a beanie because down there in
christ Church at the stadium there at the moment, they
don't they're not undercover. The commentary team is sitting out
and amongst everybody else, so they're not undercover. So it
is absolutely freezing. Corey Flynn, who used to do commentary
with us down there, the former All Black hooker hard

(59:41):
Man used to bring an electric blanket along and plug
it in underneath the desk with an electric blanket on
goodness me. So yeah, you can't blame people for not
turning up last night in christ Church. You really can't,
because it was horrible and they probably knew, right. I

(01:00:02):
think most people knew that the Crusader were going to
win that game, so they thought, you know what, We'll
wait until next week when we'll have a game against
either the Brumbies, Hurricanes or Blues, which they will and
I would imagine they'll turn out in much bigger numbers
for that, and I'll be cheering the Blues tonight Crusaders fans,

(01:00:23):
because if the Blues beat the Chiefs, then the Crusaders
take over top ranking and would host the final if
they made it. Oh eight hundred and eighty ten eighty nine,
two ninety two on text one twenty six back with
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Speaker 1 (01:01:34):
It's more than just a game weekends for it with
Jason Hine and GJ Gardner Homes, New Zealand's most trusted
home builder news Dogs, they'd.

Speaker 2 (01:01:43):
Be bang on one thirty to the lines in a moment,
but let me answer some of these texts Bindy, that
can't be right. If the Chiefs lose, surely the winner
of the Brumbies Hurricanes would host a semi. You'd think,
wouldn't you, But no, that is not the case. If
the Chiefs lose, they drop down one ranking place, so
at the moment they're ranked first, they drop down one
ranking place to second. So the Chiefs would still host

(01:02:06):
a seen final. Finishing top comes with that advantage. So no,
the Chiefs would still host a semi. So the Blues win,
they play in christ Church next week. Either way, Yes,
that is correct. If the Blues win, they will play
the Crusaders in christ Church. If the Blues lose, they're out.

(01:02:26):
So yes, that is correct. Bang on. If the Blues win,
they will play the Crusaders next week in christ Church.
Tony says Jason. If the Canes and Blues end up
in the final, we can have a home final. And
Tony's a Hurricanes fan. Yes, that is correct, Tony. If
the Hurricanes and the Blues end up in the final,

(01:02:46):
it would be in Wellington. Now for that to happen,
the Blues and the Hurricanes would both have to win tonight,
and then they would both have to win next weekend
as well. It doesn't seem to me Tony to be
the most likely scenario, but it's possible. And if Super
Rugby this year's shouts anything, it's that anything is possible.

(01:03:08):
Someone says you've got scenario two and three wrong, the
teams are reranked. I don't think I've got it wrong.
I'm pretty sure the scenario's eye outlined will right if
you the lucky loser drops a ranking position. All right,
So whoever the lucky loser is tonight, and that will
either be the Chiefs, the Brumbies or the Hurricanes. They

(01:03:30):
drop one ranking place. Now. The Hurricanes can't drop any further.
They are they'd be the lowest ranked. The Brumbies can
drop below the Hurricanes if they were to lose, and
that is why the Hurricanes would then go to christ
Church and not to Hamilton. And if the Chiefs were
to lose, they drop down one ranking position to second,

(01:03:51):
and the disadvantage there, of course would be that they
would not host the final if they made it. All right,
I know it's a bit confusing, but hopefully I've tried
to I've tried to unpack it for you. Let's get
to the lines. Phil Crusaders super rugby favorites are still
the chiefs.

Speaker 19 (01:04:12):
I thought she's a complicated system, all right, pointing and
it's still bloody cold down here in christ Rot, So
I think that winds coming straight out of the Southern
Ocean like a back home and go.

Speaker 2 (01:04:23):
Yeah, there's some cold days. There's some cold days down
there for as you know, they sure do.

Speaker 19 (01:04:29):
Yeah but yeah, but yeah, now after they're going to
say the winter effect, it feels like about Wine's twenty.
But I might be excaired to right get a bit
soft living here and Canny will be his Now we're
not the hard Southern, not the hard Southern man.

Speaker 7 (01:04:42):
I used to be.

Speaker 19 (01:04:45):
But yeah, but no, after last night's performance watching the Crusaders,
yeah I think they I think they could be champions.
I was a bit doubtful. I was a bit doubtful
when they are last week when they played the Brumbies,
because they actually shouldn't have won that game. You know,
the Brumbies had it all I of them in the

(01:05:06):
second half and with that, you know, with that content
with the ref miss and that knock on and that
they actually should have won the Brumbery. So that kind
of knocked me confidence in the Crusaders a bit, and
I thought, well, maybe they aren't. They aren't, they haven't
got it to go all the way. But last night
restored the faith. That was just a magnificent performance defense, attack,

(01:05:30):
individual players, solid players like Tom Christie, you know again,
just another great performance out of the line, like just
doing the stuff for the hard yards in the engine
room in his position, and then the flare of guys
like Jordan's last night. Even though he didn't get the
players the big running game that he used likes to play,

(01:05:52):
still there was little bits and touches of brilliance. The
the the guy that kicked the ball through and the
guy had him by this jersey and he still managed
to get a chip kick off and then ran and
scored the try chasing his own kick. I just can't
think of his name. No hope them, yes, no, hope them,

(01:06:13):
you know that. But an individual brilliance, so you had
collectively you had the whole t Blackadder was fantastic as well.
Like the assistant coach said that you were talking to,
they just powered it up front and set up set
it all up up front with the with the big
boys and the forwards you know, the one hundred and
forty kg he fell of magnificently went off there. But yeah,

(01:06:38):
they I actually, yeah, they just overpowered the Reds and
them beat them up basically upfront and that, you know,
and they just couldn't get it going. They had a
couple of opportunities and that was about it. They just
shut them out up front with the forwards and then
you know, the back's done their stuff as well. All
build off that great performance by the big boys. But

(01:07:00):
I actually, I actually I don't know why, but I'm
kind of thinking, even though I'd love to see the
Crusaders take it, I'm actually I've actually got a thinking
thinking that the Hurricanes might do it. You know, the
last couple of games that I've watched the Hurricanes, I've
been so impressed with their back line especially, and so

(01:07:22):
I've got to be thought in my mind that even
though the Chiefs are the favorites, I think in a
lot of people's minds, because they've just been playing so
well defensively in an attack, I just I'm going to
be back on the Hurricanes. I think I think the
Hurricanes could come through and do it.

Speaker 2 (01:07:38):
And now you're speaking my language. Film as you know,
Hurricanes fan died in the wall like me. What that
would require is for the Hurricanes to go to either
Hamilton and beat the Chiefs or christ Church and beat
the Crusaders. That's tough, man, Both of those are tough.
But as you say, it's possible. Yes, I think the

(01:07:59):
way the Hurricanes are playing at the moment, they're coming
right at the right time in the season. Right And
if momentum is a thing, and not everybody believes that
it is, but if it is, then they certainly have that.
They've won their last five games unbeaten in their last
six after that seventeen all draw against the Force, they've
beaten the Chiefs in that time. They've lost twice to

(01:08:21):
the Crusaders this year. So whether that plays into their thinking,
I don't know. But yeah, Phil, I love the way
the Hurricanes are playing and I'm very much looking forward
to the next three weeks. A Patahamer says, so, Piney,
if the Chiefs lose, who becomes top seed? The Crusaders

(01:08:43):
do a Patahammer. So, if the Chiefs were to lose tonight,
they drop down a ranking. Okay, they're currently top ranked.
If they were to lose tonight, they would become second ranked,
so the Crusaders would take over as the top seed.
Grant says, could the Hurricanes rest some players? They could,
I guess, Grant, but I don't know what the point
would be. I guess could as well. You've got to

(01:09:08):
name your team on the Wednesday, and so both teams
have been named. But there's nothing to stop you changing it,
you know. I mean, teams have to change all the
time because of injury. But yeah, I mean the Brumbies
or the Hurricanes could if they wanted to. Once they
know the result from Hamilton cut their cloth to suit.
But I don't know what you'd cut. What cloth would

(01:09:28):
you be cutting. I think you just basically go out
to win the rugby match, don't you, especially were both
sides the Hurricanes, you know, win another one. That's six
in a row. Yeah. Finally, the best defensive size sets
ken is the Blues. We all know the old saying
defense wins titles. The Blues will win, go on, Ken,

(01:09:51):
the Blues will win. Well, they could they could because
I'll tell you what I reckon. If you said to
the Chiefs, who would you rather play in Week one
of the finals, would you rather play the Blues or
would you rather play the Reds. They'd play the Blue
other any day of the week. By finishing top, they
played the team that finished sixth. They just didn't think.

(01:10:11):
I don't think anybody did that. The Blues could finish sixth.
But the Blues could beat the Chiefs. Absolutely they could.
They could go down that little stretch of highway and
they could win. They're coming off the back of a
good performance against the Waratahs, who were terrible, but even

(01:10:34):
so forty six to six. They've got pretty much everybody back.
They're not missing too many players. They've got their first
choice wingers out there, and Clark and Talaya, Boat and
Barrett running the cutter, Papalis or Tutu and the lusis
that they're pretty much full strength. Plus they're also, you know,

(01:10:54):
saying goodbye to some pretty important players from the past
little while to layer included Ricky Ricottelli. Harry Plummer's going
of course, so there's that emotion and wrapped up in
that as well. The Blues could beat the Chiefs tonight
and then play them again in the final and beat
them again. Yes, that is another possibility. Absolutely they could.

(01:11:18):
So the Blues. You see, the Blues might have to
play the Chiefs in Hamilton twice in three weeks. That
could happen. That could happen. If the Blues win tonight
and then go to christ Church and beat the Crusaders
next week, they'd go back to Hamilton and play the
Chiefs in the final. If the Chiefs won their semi
there's a lot of wat ifs. James made that point

(01:11:40):
a whole program on What If Not worth listening to.
Sorry to Lose You, Jane, Sorry to Lose You. And
finally on the rugby from Hamish, the Canes beat the
Chiefs without Dmac. The Chiefs are one hundred percent with
d mac at ten this year and thirty three percent
without them and over the last three years, says Hamish,

(01:12:01):
and I can only believe this to be true. The
Chiefs are eighty three percent ent when Damian Mackenzie starts
at ten and twenty percent when he doesn't. Home is
that is some stat That is some stat and points
to the influence of Damien Mackenzie, who yes, will start

(01:12:23):
at first five for the Chiefs tonight. Full commentary of
both games can be found on gold Sport and iHeartRadio
seven oh five, Chiefs Blues nine thirty five, Brumby's Hurricanes
nineteen to two. When we come back, We'll cross the Tasman.
Adam Peacock our regular Australian correspondent with lots of sporting matters,
including Ange Posta Cogloo being sacked by Tottenham. Adam Peacock

(01:12:46):
after this.

Speaker 1 (01:12:47):
The tough Questions Off the Turf Weekend Sport with Jason
Kine and GJ. Gunnerholmes, New Zealand's most trusted home builder News.

Speaker 2 (01:12:55):
Dogs B sixteen to two. Lots happening in Australian sport
plenty to chat about, as always, Where our Australian correspondent,
Adam Peacock. Who joins us now? And can we start
with Ange Postera coglu Tottenham have sacked him as head
coach after two seasons, despite the fact he leads Spurs
to Europa League's success last month and got them their

(01:13:18):
first trophy in seventeen years. What do you make of
spurs sacking? Big Nge.

Speaker 20 (01:13:25):
Surprised that not shocked if that makes sense?

Speaker 7 (01:13:27):
Pint it doesn't make Yeah it does? It does?

Speaker 4 (01:13:30):
It does? Man? Yeah?

Speaker 20 (01:13:31):
Surprised that, Like why like you want a trophy, but
shocked because of Daniel Levy, the guy who runs Spurs,
the chairman and appointed by the owners to run it
really tightly, and you just don't know what he's after.
I've like in him this morning. Have you seen the
movie Annie? Have you been subjected to that?

Speaker 2 (01:13:52):
I have seen any I have.

Speaker 7 (01:13:54):
Yes.

Speaker 20 (01:13:55):
Miss Hannigan who runs the Orphanage, Yes, I know her. Yes,
she's really really hard to please.

Speaker 2 (01:14:00):
Yeap, gotcha. I was wondering where you were going with
the analogy. Now I get it.

Speaker 20 (01:14:06):
Yeah, Look, it's such a shame Cange. I mean, but
the thing is that he walks away. It was like, well,
you know, almost feeling like you've got up a hand.
It's like you're sure about this, You're gonna let me go,
so you're breaking up with me. So yeah, he'll go
and find somewhere else. But Spurs, Seriously, I mean, what

(01:14:26):
do you want? He could have finished sixth or seventh.
Hasn't been pointed out on social media. Buy a lot
of Spurs fans this morning. You could have finished six
or seventh, not want a trophy, and they would have
been happy with that. And he keeps his job, wins
a trophy like basically from march On brushes off the
Premier League in the way, this is not our priority

(01:14:46):
and results accordingly, which is why they finished. It wasn't
good enough seventeenth. But they want a trophy that they
prioritize the fact that they want to give their chance
something to remember for a very long time. And Andree
did that. He engineered that, and they let him go.
It's just that on that basis, it's just a crazy decision.

Speaker 2 (01:15:04):
Yeah, it's very hard to find them. So is there
any indication do you have a gut feel about where
ange Pasta Cooglu will pop up next?

Speaker 20 (01:15:14):
He'll be linked with every half major to major job
that comes up now, whether or not he goes for it,
whether the conditions are there, probably he would have learned
a lot about who he wants to work for. I'd
say give him this experience. But there's not many likes
and Daniel Levy, so it doesn't need to worry about
too much. I've quickly done the rounds on what's available

(01:15:36):
out there's a few apparently into ma Lan's job is open,
but they probably want someone up already. Pina in Italy,
there's RB Leipzig, which should be intriguing in Germany and
the bundeslig A, big big clubs around Europe. What I'm
saying here is that in now the top table, So
his agent has got a much easier job now that
he's want that Europa League to get hand into another place,
and he will. He'll manage somewhere else, but I'm not

(01:15:58):
sure it's going to be the Premier League. That last
week and there was second managers sacked in the Premier League,
so job open, jobs open up all the time. But
whether or not he before then go somewhere else from
but he won't be able to work for very long,
I wouldn't imagine.

Speaker 2 (01:16:10):
So no, we watched with interest to see where he
pops up. Staying with football, your Soccaros are on the
cusp of World Cup qualification yet again. A one n'll
win over Japan in Perth on Thursday night. They left
it late but got the job done. So they hit
this out of Arabia now Wednesday morning, early hours, so
they have to avoid defeat by five clear goals. Have
I got that right?

Speaker 4 (01:16:31):
Yeah? Yeah? Five five?

Speaker 20 (01:16:32):
Neal trustics back into the report change if you like.
The next rounds of qualified So it doesn't mean total disaster,
but look, yeah, we've got to go there get an
okay result. When I'm okay it's a one near loss
or whatever like that. It'd be interesting to see the
mentality of the squad and what is a tricky coaching
proposition because all the players would know that equation. So

(01:16:55):
does that kind of twist how Tony Povits goes about
it and sets up your team and the principles that
he wants the team to play with. But the point
is it's very much in our own destiny. After that,
it was the Smith's smashing grap against Japan. We were
about it and Japan, as is the case with them
for a very long time, they just couldn't get it
together in the eight and yard box of the opposition.
We'll go up the other around nine minutes they could

(01:17:16):
shot on target, score a golf thanks very much. So, yeah,
it was a good, great moment, not a great performance,
but great that we're joining you guys out there and
hopefully we get to play in Mexico because I love
my Sequila.

Speaker 2 (01:17:29):
Yeah, I was gonna say, you'd be you'd be a mixer,
a fan of visiting Mexico. I've been sort of thinking
about where the all whites might end up as well,
and now you say that, I wonder where the Mexico
might be the best thing. Maybe they'll end up in
the same group. Who knows. I think that's I think
that's possible, isn't it. Yeah?

Speaker 20 (01:17:44):
Oh yeah, yeah, we'd all be wearing Crevit Chapel T
shirt everything.

Speaker 18 (01:17:48):
It would be fantastic.

Speaker 2 (01:17:50):
Love that all right. We wait to see what happens
on Wednesday morning, but it looks like the soccer who's
all but through Hey to other matters. Cricket Ash's tickets
went on sale this week matches in Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide,
Melbourne and Sydney. Late November through December early January. Two
hundred and twenty thousand tickets sold on the opening day.

Speaker 20 (01:18:08):
Yeah, it's the ticket website wasn't the most popular thing
in Australia a.

Speaker 4 (01:18:14):
Couple of days ago.

Speaker 20 (01:18:15):
It's kept on crashing and sending you back to the
back of the qubit. It speaks volume for what the
summer will be with the cricket and look England. I've
got a massive Test series just about the start over
there in England against India. Which I can't wait to
watch personally, like just for Bulmer in English conditions, in
what he did out here last summer, that will be magnificent.
But yeah, Ashes are always built up and they become

(01:18:37):
something a little extra now with this Brenda McCullum factor
and how England play, and it's impossible to ignore.

Speaker 4 (01:18:43):
It's impossible not.

Speaker 20 (01:18:44):
To admire how they go about. Is it the smartest
thing that, like Asposta Codlar, how he goes about setting
up his d a little cavalier and open, opening yourself
up for things to go wrong, but it's you can't
look away. So yeah, that's why all those tickets went
so quickly, and they'll keep on selling before they get here.

Speaker 2 (01:19:01):
Absolutely, and I know a few on the side of
the Tasman too have taken advantage. Producer Andy has got
got tickets to Adelaide by the sounds of things, so
he's done well there. And yeah, a lot of people
will take the short hop across the Tasman to catch
some Ashes action at the back end of the year. Hey,
just to finish, melman Inger has been unveiled as the
inaugural coach of the new Perth Bears NURL franchise when

(01:19:23):
they enter the comp in twenty twenty seven. Is that's
a good appointment.

Speaker 20 (01:19:27):
It's yeah, it's divided opinion a little. You look at
it through the bottom of what that franchise needs in
Perth and it's to be recognizable because it's not a
Ropy League market and Malmanninger is one of those people
who very rare people who cut through the AFL wall
that is up if you like, in terms of knowledge

(01:19:48):
that AFO people know who Maltaininger is big now member
him from State of Vitagen back in the day. So yeah,
he's a larger than a live character in that regard.
But the flip side is that people think, well, he
hasn't club coached in twenty five years. He's had Queensland,
state of origin had it, all those legends towards all
that success that they had, So how is it going

(01:20:08):
to work? And the big thing is will be his
coaching staff who's going to help him and not say
mount be hands on coach. What I'm saying is that
he will probably set up a structure and a system
which he is a figurehead, but others do a lot
of the hands on which happens a lot now in
Rauguay League and all sorts. But yeah, now, very good organizationally,

(01:20:32):
very good knowledge, very good motivating factors. I don't mind
the appointment. A few people are hopping on it saying
you can't coach, but it's changed now that role of
coach has changed and now might be the perfect fit
for what they need over there in the West.

Speaker 2 (01:20:45):
Because the old time in Australian sport. Adam, thanks for
updating us as always, have a great weekend. We'll chat
again next Saturday.

Speaker 20 (01:20:50):
You too, finding two mate.

Speaker 2 (01:20:51):
No, thank you, Adam. Adam Peacock, our Australian correspondent O
this time every Saturday. So you're those Ashes tickets two
hundred and twenty thousand on one day of pre sales.
The previous record was about half that and amongst the
two undred and twenty thousand, Annie McDonald es Adelaide.

Speaker 21 (01:21:10):
Yes, I'm off to Adelaide, Piney, myself and my old
man are going along. I've got no affinity with either teams,
but you can't say no to the Ashes win in
this closely around so often it doesn't really matter. But yeah,
how long did you have to wait for? How long
did it take you to get tickets. No, it was
pretty quirk. Actually it's only about fifteen or so minutes.
I waited half an hour in the que to get

(01:21:31):
Pelican's tickets in Melbourne. But earlier in the week, last
week's I've spent a lot, a lot of my meager
salary on tickets to Australia for sports.

Speaker 2 (01:21:40):
At the moment, I don't mind it. What else are
you going to spend it on booze anyway? Seven to
two News talks.

Speaker 1 (01:21:47):
MBACH analyzing every view from every angle in the Sporting World.

Speaker 9 (01:21:52):
Weekend Sport with Jason Fine call Us talks eNB.

Speaker 2 (01:21:58):
Just on four to two. Quite cold, isn't it. I'm
just having a look at met Services map of New Zealand.
I can't find anywhere really that's much above about twelve
thirteen degrees. So hope you're ragged up we are. Oh,
here you go Todonger, Toadonger, fourteen degrees. What a surprise
that in one of the sunshine centers of New Zealand
is a with the sun. Well done to the good
folk of Todonger. After two o'clock, Michael Boxel out of

(01:22:21):
the All Whites, Jack Measley, Chief executive of Super Raguby
Pacific and Minty Meat our chiefs commentators.

Speaker 1 (01:22:28):
The only place to discuss the biggest sports issues on
and after fields.

Speaker 9 (01:22:33):
It's all on Wi Jin Sport with Jason Paine on
your home of Sport.

Speaker 2 (01:22:41):
Hello and welcome back into the show. I'm Jason Pine,
Andy McDonald. The show produces This is our Weekend Sport
until three when Tim Beveridge charges in and takes over
Saturday edition of the Weekend Collective and all the goodness
wrapped around that particular show from Daniel, you were talking

(01:23:01):
to Adam Peacock about Saudi Arabia needing to beat Australia
five clear goals to deny them that spot at the
World Cup. Daniel says, I remember the nineteen eighty one
all Whites had to beat Saudi Arabia five nil to
qualify to play China for a place at the eighty
two World Cup. You did, rite, Daniel. Daniel goes on

(01:23:23):
to say we were up five nil at halftime, had
to sweat through the second half. It finished five nil.
Winton Rufer with a couple of the goals you did, right.
I remember getting up to watch that game. If we
won six nil, we would have gone straight to the
World Cup. The fact that it finished five nil meant
that we had to play China and that playoff in

(01:23:45):
Singapore in early nineteen eighty two got there. Winton Roof
got a goal that day too. Good memory, Michael, very
good memory. This hour, speaking of football, we're inside the
All Whites camp Michael Boxel out of Canada, where the
All Whites will tomorrow morning play the Ivory Coast and
then on Wednesday morning play Ukraine. Two very good games

(01:24:07):
I think for the All Whites right now as they
start their build up rarely to the World Cup next year.
It's a year away now, Journe July next year, so
and this time next year will be in World Cup mode. Outstanding.
The draws made in December, so we'll know then who
the All Whites are playing. Anyway, they're playing Ivory Coach
tomorrow morning, Ukraine on Wednesday. Michael Boxil shortly moreg before

(01:24:28):
you as well. Jack Mesley, chief executive of Super Ragby Pacific,
just some thoughts on this finals format which has got
us all talking, but also the success of the round
robin segment of Super Rugby Pacific and Graham Minty Mead
as always will be behind the mic for Chiefs home games,
or has been this year and will be tonight when
the Chiefs take on the Blues. Gold Sport and iHeartRadio

(01:24:50):
Graham Minty Mead with a scene set of for us
before we close at three o'clock. You can continue to
get in touch in the way that is most suitable
for you. Oh eight hundred and eighty ten eighty will
get you throw on the phones nine two nine two
via text emails to Jason at Newstalk SDB dot cot
ont inzad. But it's nine past two, so as we

(01:25:11):
always do at around about this time, let's get you
across some of the stuff you might have missed, some
of the sporting things that have played out over the
last twenty four hours or so. In case you missed it,
there were a couple of big blowouts in the NROL
last night. First the Storm celebrating coach Craig Bellamy's contract extension,

(01:25:31):
running hot all over the Cowboys. When is their friend?
Here is a friendship back at Coats. Coats goes again.

Speaker 3 (01:25:39):
From Zuwana wishar Whisha.

Speaker 2 (01:25:41):
We'll go for the line a score.

Speaker 3 (01:25:45):
Zavia Coats brilliant Tyrant Wisher departure to tell the finishing start.

Speaker 2 (01:25:51):
A thirty eight to fourteen win for the Storm over
the Cowboys. Then at sun Corps Stadium, the Dolphins putting
up a scarcely believable scoreline against the Dragons. We're going
to move to night and it's going to keep piling
on the points. Here nick A rima outfoot Bosto.

Speaker 3 (01:26:08):
Lovely ball into the backfield back.

Speaker 19 (01:26:11):
For the Hemmer.

Speaker 2 (01:26:11):
Once again.

Speaker 9 (01:26:12):
What a show.

Speaker 4 (01:26:13):
This is.

Speaker 15 (01:26:16):
The Dolphins turning it on like.

Speaker 2 (01:26:18):
They rarely have. He and I went at fifty six
points to six. As you heard earlier in the show,
Tom Walsh has won the means shot put at the
latest Diamond League events in Rome.

Speaker 14 (01:26:30):
This is Tom Walsh, the New Zealander, still in great
form of boss.

Speaker 2 (01:26:36):
That's pretty good as well.

Speaker 14 (01:26:37):
Very close to twenty two meters now, that would be
as good as he's done all yeah, so far. Pointing
to the camera say there you go, Tom Walsh early
on setting a mark here. One or two of the
big names have yet to really get the season. Going
twenty one to eighty nine for the New Zealander.

Speaker 2 (01:26:56):
That puts him in an early lead and he held
on to that lead to win in Rome to the
French Open at Roland Gaross and the Means single semi finals.
Yannick Center has beaten Novak Djokovic and straight sets.

Speaker 22 (01:27:11):
Books his ticket to the Rolling Jarros Final. He takes
out the former champion under the lates here in Paris
to record a twentieth successive when at a major.

Speaker 2 (01:27:26):
And it may be Novak Djokovic's last ever matchic Roland Garros.
We wait and see, but for Yannik he'll be up
against the leg Agendas. Mussetia has been dished.

Speaker 22 (01:27:41):
Out, So Carlos Alkas a return to the final.

Speaker 2 (01:27:47):
Carlos Elkrezen to the final, the Prince of Clay with
a chance to defend his title. And finally, it may
sound like de javu, but in Game one of the
NBA Finals, the Indiana Pacers were behind for the entire
game until Tyrese Haliburton showed up a Pacis little.

Speaker 3 (01:28:06):
Chance winning five circond still fouls to Joe Haliburton, looking
Haliburton driving poss up.

Speaker 2 (01:28:12):
Jump shot Let's.

Speaker 3 (01:28:14):
Goal with three turns of a second.

Speaker 2 (01:28:16):
Remaining time out. Okay, see Tyrese Haliburton.

Speaker 1 (01:28:20):
Does it again, breaking down the Hail Mary's and the
epic fails weekend sport with Jason Pine New Stork Zenvy.

Speaker 2 (01:28:31):
It's thirteen pasted to the All Whites in action tomorrow
morning for the first time since they earned World Cup
qualification earlier this year. Tavreze drops it on the goal line.

Speaker 14 (01:28:42):
It and its time at New Zealand had their goal,
and Michael Poxel, who has never.

Speaker 2 (01:28:49):
Scored for the All Whites, comes up back with it
matters most fifty fifth international for the oldest statesman at
this site, his first international goal and New Zealand taking
one near lead. The scorer of that goal Whites defend
him called Boxil as well as Michael. Thanks for your time.
Has the camp been as you build towards these games,

(01:29:11):
coach Deuvoir Ivory Coast tomorrow morning and then a game
against Ukraine on Wednesday.

Speaker 17 (01:29:18):
Yeah, it's been great. The first couple of days.

Speaker 23 (01:29:19):
Obviously still waiting on one or two arrivals, but yeah,
the first couple of days of training have have gone,
have gone well. Obviously, everyone's still kind of riding on
the high after the night of Eden Park in March,
so where Yeah, we're looking forward to to getting on
the field again.

Speaker 2 (01:29:35):
I was going to ask that, actually, is there a
bit of a buzz now, an extra buzz around the
group knowing that every time you get together now it's
a step towards your participation at the World Cup in
about a year from now.

Speaker 23 (01:29:46):
Yeah, absolutely, I think it's. Yeah, there's the expectations have
kind of risen, and I think the group is kind
of well aware of what's on the horizon. And yeah,
there's not too many windows left for us to really
prepare for the type of opposition we're going to face.
And obviously this week this weekend is going to be
a tough one against Ivory Coast. So yeah, everyone's excited

(01:30:08):
to move forward, and yeah, just make sure everyone's still
taking over really well so that everyone's in the best place.

Speaker 17 (01:30:16):
Come Dune twenty twenty six.

Speaker 2 (01:30:18):
You, of course scored your first goal for New Zealand,
and that ofc finally against New Caledonia allowed us all
to take a bit of a sigh of relief after
an hour of hour of goal all. So should we
now expect many more goals from you?

Speaker 23 (01:30:32):
I wouldn't help my breath of oz you, bunny, but no, no,
I think yeah, I think we're obviously doing other work
on the field, and I think if, yeah, the occasion
arises on another set piece or whatnot, I'd love to
double my quota for the national team.

Speaker 17 (01:30:47):
For sure.

Speaker 2 (01:30:49):
You've got fifty five caps. Now a few more and
you'll move into the top ten all time appearance makers
for the All Whites. How do you reflect back in
general terms on what's now been nearly a decade and
a half in the national side.

Speaker 23 (01:31:03):
Oh, I think for me, it's kind of the journey
I've been on. I think mostly with Woodsy and Smithy,
who've kind of been there the whole way. For me,
I think just seeing how all three of our journeys
have kind of unraveled and cross pass here at cross
paths here and there, and yeah, I think as with

(01:31:26):
all three of us have have recently become fathers as well.
I don't know, just the journey on and off the
on and off the football pitchers has been a special
one with with those two guys, and obviously Woodsy has
had a hell of a year and then we're we're
hoping this the next twelve months is there's got to
be another special one for for all three of us
as well. So yeah, seeing seeing a lot of lowers

(01:31:51):
and a few highs more recently. So yeah, it's just
been a journey I'm grateful for and yeah, hoping hoping
the body sticks together for another twelve months that continues.

Speaker 2 (01:32:02):
I'm sure. I'm sure it will. If past history is
anything to go by, there's no problem. They want to
get to that in a minute. But you talked about
Chris Wood and Tommy Smith. I guess the difference is
they went to the twenty ten World Cup. You debut
for New Zealand the following year in twenty eleven, just
after that. How much would going to a World Cup
mean to you?

Speaker 23 (01:32:23):
I think it's kind of the icing on the cake, really,
I think, Yeah, obviously been playing professionally for fifteen years
and played on some pretty big stages, obviously the Olympics
once or twice, a few kind of hope profile.

Speaker 17 (01:32:39):
World Cup playoffs. But I think to.

Speaker 23 (01:32:44):
I don't know who knows if it's the end, but
to towards the end of my career, to have this
World Cup there with yeah, friends, family, my children in
attendance will be a special one.

Speaker 17 (01:32:54):
Absolutely.

Speaker 2 (01:32:55):
And you have you know, you're famous for your level
of fitness and the way you look after yourself, the
way that you're still you know, playing every single week
for Minnesota. I did. Look, I'm not saying I mean,
I'm not saying you're old by any streets, but you know,
you're probably closer to the You're probably closer to the
end of your career than the start of it. But

(01:33:16):
what have been the strategies you've employed, particularly in the
last few years that have kept you so fit, so competitive,
so consistent.

Speaker 23 (01:33:26):
I think I really noticed probably the difference around like
when COVID hit is kind of obviously everything shut down,
and that's when like I pretty much have given up alcohol.
Since then, I've noticed a huge difference in that. And
then just having children, you just you kind of give
up going a restaurant, so just cooking healthy meals at home.

Speaker 17 (01:33:48):
So I think those two things, and.

Speaker 23 (01:33:53):
Obviously we've spoken to four about about the regiment I
always do with coach sins that I carry into my
season and particularly the off season just in the weight
room a lot. So I'd say, yeah, those those three
things kind of have have helped me stay healthy. And yeah,
I think being in and around all the younger players

(01:34:15):
on the national team kind of keep you rejuvenated and
excited to keep keep pursuing the game and getting after
the challenges as is pretty awesome as well.

Speaker 4 (01:34:26):
Well.

Speaker 2 (01:34:26):
I guess that's a feature of this current squad is
the is the high quality cohort of center backs that
you have in the national team. Now, competition for those
places is pretty fierce. How do you approach that? I mean,
everybody wants to play, you know, there's no there's no
denying that, But how do you how do you still
employ a team first mentality with so much competition for

(01:34:50):
those positions in central defense?

Speaker 23 (01:34:53):
I think first and foremost just doing your job at
at club level to making sure that when we do
show up for these windows of what it's four or
five times a year, that you're you're really firing. And
then it's yeah, it's up to pace to make those
make those decisions, and I think, yeah, this this obviously
Finn's been he's had a great start to his life

(01:35:16):
in the MLS. Obviously Tyler Binnon's had a great year
in League one. So yeah, we just do our best
to make those decisions as it's difficult from as possible,
and then at the end of the day, All I
want is what's best for the national team, and obviously
I can.

Speaker 17 (01:35:31):
Yeah, I just want to see us.

Speaker 23 (01:35:32):
If we can get out of the group stage next year,
they'll be absolutely amazing. And whatever part I play, obviously
I'll work hard to make sure I'm one of the eleven.
But if not, then those guys are going to be
more than ready as well. So yeah, do you just
want to see this team do well on that stage.

Speaker 2 (01:35:51):
You've had the chance to play alongside Tyler for the
national side a few times now. How have you evaluated
his development as a footballer.

Speaker 23 (01:36:01):
I think it's growth, particularly in the last i'd say
eighteen months, has been been pretty huge.

Speaker 17 (01:36:06):
I think looking back to.

Speaker 23 (01:36:09):
Much of last year against Egypt where he I think
playing against Mamus Well just after that got to move
to Man City and he was playing fullback against those
types of wingers and I did not look out of place.
And then obviously another is what he's so young and
played over one hundred games in the English leagues, which

(01:36:32):
is no easy feat. So he's yeah, come on immensely,
and I think his personality is such a good fit
for this group. He's obviously he loves the work, loves
to put his body on the line. But then it's
such an awesome grounded could as.

Speaker 2 (01:36:46):
Well fantastic they've got your rooming worth or do you?
Are you now at the stage where you get your
own room?

Speaker 17 (01:36:52):
Yeah, I'm fortunate enough where yeah I'm on my own.

Speaker 2 (01:36:56):
Love well seen you already does have its benefits. That's
good to know. Brilliant hy boxing. Great to catch up
ahead of these two games. Always enjoy having a chat
made all the against Ivory Coast and Ukraine and look
forward to to seeing how you guys get on.

Speaker 17 (01:37:11):
Thank you mate, Always appreciate catching up with you now.

Speaker 2 (01:37:14):
You take care to Michael things. Indeed, Michael Boxele there
one of the senior members of the squad but still
in supreme shape. But yeah, you look at those center
backs that Darren Basley has to choose between in the squad.
He's got Michael Boxell, Tyler Binden who's just had a
superb season at Reading and has now joined Nottingham Forest

(01:37:35):
in the Premier League. Finn Sermon, who I see yesterday
his coach at Portland Timbers. Phil Neville, former Manchester United
and England defender who's a pretty good judge of a player,
said Tyler Binden. Sorry, Finn Sermon is the best defender
in the MLS. That's the top American competition. So there's him,

(01:37:56):
then Nando Pinnaker who's had an outstanding season for Auckland FC,
and Tommy Smith, the veteran who's been there for fifteen years.
Five top quality center acts and Darren Basley more often
than not plays are back four. So there's only two
central defensive spots available, so much competition for places. Ivory

(01:38:17):
Coast tomorrow morning, that game's actual eleven o'clock New Zealand time.
They are forty first in the world at the moment,
and then on Wednesday morning at nine o'clock it is
Ukraine who are currently twenty fifth in the world. So
this is a really good gauge for New Zealand's Look.
FIFA rankings, you know, pack them with a grain of salt,

(01:38:37):
particularly when you get down below about number forty on
New Zealand to eighty sixth for example, But would beat
a lot of sides I think in the sort of
the fifty to eighty range. But how will they go
against a couple of sides a bit higher up Ivory
Coast forty first Ukraine twenty fifth. These will be good
games for Darren Basley's side as they prepare for the
World Cup next year. Two twenty three it is We're

(01:38:59):
going to take a great comeback and get back into
rugby mode. Before three o'clock we'll talk to our commentator
in Hamilton, Graham Minty Mead ahead of Chiefs Blues next up,
though Super Rugby Pacific CEO Jack Mesley is with us.

Speaker 9 (01:39:13):
The biggest seams in sports are on Weekend Sports with
Jason Pain and GJ.

Speaker 1 (01:39:18):
Gunnerhomes New Zealand's most trusted home builder News Talks MB.

Speaker 2 (01:39:23):
What are we two twenty six on News Talks THEREB
We're into finals weekend and Super Rugby Pacific.

Speaker 17 (01:39:27):
Back to Subu Reese and he boots it over the.

Speaker 3 (01:39:31):
South brandstand and the Crusaders are through to the semifinals
and their almighty Hope playoff record remains thirty wins of
the Trots and finals football at christ Church full time
thirty two place twelve.

Speaker 2 (01:39:49):
Yeah, goodwin by the Crusaders last night. Always great to
get the chance to catch up with Super Rugby Pacific
CEO Jack Mesley. Now, Jack, you didn't come across for
this game. You're off to Canberra this afternoon to watch
the Brumbies against the Hurricanes tonight. You wisely chose, I
think anyway, not to be in a very chili christ
News last night. You're happy to dodge that bullet.

Speaker 4 (01:40:10):
It was very cold, wasn't it. It looked it looked
very tough. I mean, I think the the the Crusaders
fans that got out there should should be congratulated because
looking on the TV, they were rugged up and they
looked like they're about to go for go for a ski.
You know. I thought it was a great game. I mean,
the Crusaders were clinical in that first half and what

(01:40:32):
to turn around from last season to this. But the
new stadium, how good is that going to be down
in christ Church? So that so that all those mad
Cantabrian fans don't have to sit out in the freeze
in the freezing cold.

Speaker 2 (01:40:47):
Yeah, can't come quickly enough, I think everybody you talked
to in that part of the world says, so, so
look forward to that next season. Before we look at
the games today and the finals in general. How happy
were you Jack with the way the regular season played
out in terms of the measures which are most important
to you.

Speaker 4 (01:41:06):
Yeah, we're really pleased with the season. I think all
teams should be congratulated, you know, for the for the
style of rugby and the closeness and competitiveness of the competition.
Probably the one that the one stat that I think
kind of sums up the season was the fact that
we've you know, the number of points and all that

(01:41:26):
of between first and last is the is the tightest
it's been since two thousand and four. So I think
that sort of tells the story largely about just how
competitive it's been. And the Highlanders on the bottom were
great and had so many matches where they won a
bonus point for being within seven, but just couldn't get
enough wins. So you know, I think that that was

(01:41:48):
really really pleasing to see, and I think that's what
we all sort of experienced with with the closeness of games,
the high try scoring and closeness of ladder. So we're
really pleased. And that's all reflected in all of our
you know, our audience data and our ten data, our
digital data, which is which is great.

Speaker 2 (01:42:06):
The rugby that was being played. If a casual fan,
you know, dipped in and out of Super Rugby you
reckon they'd be happy with what they saw game to game,
week to week.

Speaker 4 (01:42:16):
Yeah, I really think so. I mean, I think that
that combination of a high point, high points scored, and
closeness of game was excellent. And then you know, in
terms of the style, we had high high try scoring,
we had really fast play ball in playtime was was

(01:42:37):
was really good as well. So, you know, I think
as a as a casual observer, hopefully you watch some
grouping rugby and are coming coming back to super specific
more often.

Speaker 2 (01:42:48):
How happy have you been with the officiating?

Speaker 4 (01:42:51):
Oh? Really happy? Yeah? I think the guys have done
a great job. You know, we've we've made some decisions
around you know, their role is super important in in
getting the game going, in moving it forward quickly, and
I think they've done a great job in that, you know,
and in doing that, we've taken away some of their tools,

(01:43:12):
Like we've we've limited the ability of the TMO to
come in throughout the game, and in doing so, you know,
we know where we're not necessarily setting those guys up
for success all the time because they don't have all
the technology and interference at their fingertips. So with that,
you know, we accept sometimes clearly, like all of us,

(01:43:33):
we're not going to get it right one hundred percent
of the time. But I think I think it's been excellent.

Speaker 2 (01:43:38):
The finals format. There's been a bit of chat about this,
and now that we're here, probably the chat's got a
bit louder the fact that tonight's game between the Brumbies
and the Hurricanes could be and if you want to
use a cliche, a dead rubber in some ways, if
the Chiefs beat the Blues, the Brumbies and the Hurricanes
both know they'll be playing next week in regardless of
what happens tonight. What's your what's your response to to

(01:43:59):
the you know, any any criticism of the finals format?

Speaker 4 (01:44:04):
Yeah, well, I mean I think, you know, like really
we will listen and we'll sit back at the end
of it and and do a few a full review.

Speaker 11 (01:44:15):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (01:44:15):
In terms of the scheduling of this weekend, we you know,
we had a difficult set of circumstances here in where
to play the Brumby's canes match or when when to
play it. Sorry, you know, and there are a few
competing forces there. Friday night, the local rugby all got
moved to Friday night because of the long weekend in Australia.

(01:44:38):
So had we played it Friday night, we would have
been going up against the John I. Dent Cup and
all the local rugby and then so had we played
early Saturday two thirty on a Saturday on a long
weekend in Australia, you know, we'd be playing it in
front of no one on television. So there's some of
the some of the kind of I guess tensions of

(01:45:01):
you know, we ultimately decided to try to put it
in front of as many people as we ten, but
in doing so, we ran the possibility that it may
mean the less. It's not a dead rubber. Obviously, who
plays who's still important and where you play is super important.
But there's some of the kind of tensions that were
behind it, and ultimately, you know, we made that call.

(01:45:25):
But you know, in practice, when we're trying to run
this structure across multiple time zones, it is a bit
difficult and we don't have all the freedom that we
would like with that obviously.

Speaker 2 (01:45:37):
So just to confirm Jack the finals format and having
the six teams that was to guarantee an extra game
on weekend one of the finals.

Speaker 4 (01:45:47):
Is that right, it's to play. Yeah, it's just to
maximize the amount of premium content in the maximum amount
of locations throughout that final series. So you know, we've
only got a nineteen week competition. We have two buys
for every team. You know, in some ways it's counterintuitive

(01:46:08):
to then be resting out their steams at the most
important team at the time of the year. So I
think that's some of the some of the theory behind it,
you know, that's that's kind of where we're where we
net it out as to as to this final series.

Speaker 2 (01:46:21):
All right, and just a quick look ahead the next season.
You mentioned christ Church Stadium before all reports have it
ready sort of March April time next year for action,
But a chat about a possible Super Round and Canterbury
anything you can tell us.

Speaker 4 (01:46:36):
Jack, Yeah, we're working really hard to make that a reality.
So I think it'd be, you know, such a great
event to bring all of super rugby down to christ
Church to help open that that amazing stadium. So yeah,
we're working hard on that. We're working hard with with

(01:46:57):
with a number of government bodies to make that a
reality and we really hope that things can come off
and that we can announce that soon it would be
you know, it had been in around the ANZAC weekend
as well, which I think would just be a fantastic event.

Speaker 2 (01:47:12):
I will book my tickets tentatively to be there for that, Jack,
because I know you will as well. Mate. Congratulations on
getting us the finals weekend. Yeah, I think by most measures,
by all measures, it's been a terrific season for viewers,
for spectators, for listeners to this show anyway. Always good
to catch up mate, Let's do it again before the
Grand Final.

Speaker 4 (01:47:32):
Yeah, that'd be great, pointy, Thanks mate, and yeah, looking
forward to the games off. Who have you got well?

Speaker 2 (01:47:38):
I mean I'm a Hurricanes fan, so I've got you know,
I've got in camera where you are. I don't expect
you to chair for my Hurricanes, but that's how I've
got and look I much as Yeah, I just don't
see anybody beating the Chiefs in Hamilton. I just can't
see it. I don't know what you think of me,
the Blues. I think of anybody was going to beat them.
It might be the Blues, but I don't know. I've
got the Chiefs, what about you?

Speaker 4 (01:47:58):
Yeah, I think it's a good match up. Actually, I
think yeah, the Blues are probably one of the few
sides that could do it. So yeah, we look forward
to kick off this afternoon, Dan and Hamilton and then
and then in Canberra following.

Speaker 2 (01:48:10):
Good stuff. Great to Jack, Jack, thanks for your time,
Thanks Tony, Thanks Jack, Jack Mesley, super rakby Pacific CEO
joining us. That is new information I think about christ Church,
isn't it? In terms of super Round? I hadn't heard that.
I'd heard rumored, as I said to Jack Mesley there,
I'd heard rumors that they want to bring super Round back.
You know, they had it in Melbourne, never going to

(01:48:31):
work there, right, never going to work there, didn't have
it this year. But from what Jack just said, then
they are keen to have it back and are targeting
the new stadium in christ Church for super Round and
twenty twenty six across and Zach Weekend. How good would
that be? How good will that be? I'm pretty sure

(01:48:52):
there's no confirmation yet about what the first ever event
at the stadium in christ Church will be. It's due
to open tentatively. From what I remember talking to the
Powers that be earlier this year, sort of March April
time is when they're going to look at opening it.
I've heard rumors that they might look at opening it
with a concert of some sort, but as far as

(01:49:15):
the first ever although and they might have Crusaders games
there right in March in early April, just to kind
of test run the place. But super Round in christ
Church Anzac weekend twenty twenty six. You'd love to see it.
You'd love to see it, Lyle, says Jason. The new
stadium may be great for Crusaders supporters, but not necessarily

(01:49:36):
for the team. The frigid outdoor conditions have I think,
says Lyle, been worth at least to convert a try
to the Crusaders against all comers, an advantage they will
lose next year. Lyle, it's a good point. I wonder
whether we could track back to the pre fullscyth Bar
Stadium days and work out whether actually playing at Carrisbrook

(01:49:58):
was an advantage for the Highlanders which they have given
up since going under the roof. We know how hard
the Otago teams, those famous Otarget teams of the nineties
were to beat at Carrasbrook. It's not a bad point, Lyle.
You do have to put the fan in the middle
of these conversations though, don't you and you know going

(01:50:21):
along there? Last night, I got a couple. I watched
the game, I watched the replay of it. I couldn't
watch it live. I watched the replay of it, and
I've got sent a couple of photos from our commentary
team in Christchick And there weren't that many people there
were there, but can you blame them? Arctic conditions just
not a very pleasant place to watch on a cold night.

(01:50:43):
You'd have to think that, you know, a lot more
will turn up for that same fixture if it's under
the roof of a brand new stadium next year. Kensys
Pinety heading down to Hamilton soon. I've got my granddaughters.
Must be done. We've got all the gear awesome, can't wait.
Good on you, Ken, You just fly those Blues flags
with vigor. Mate. The Blues could beat the Chiefs. The

(01:51:07):
Blues could beat the Chiefs. You know that's not a
bold claim. The Chiefs have been excellent. We all know this.
The Blues could go there tonight and win. You know,
it wouldn't be the biggest shock in the world. It's
not the favored way. It's not the most likely scenario.
But you know what it could happen. And I just wonder,

(01:51:28):
and I'm going to ask him and to he made this.
Actually he might have some insight here he's on with
a shortly had match commentator. I just wonder. You know,
the Chiefs know. The Chiefs know that whatever happens tonight,
they're playing next week at home, right They know that's

(01:51:48):
the finals format, as we're outlined all afternoon. They know
that if they lose tonight, it doesn't matter. The only
thing they give up is home advantage for the final
if they make it, and that might be enough. Also,
knocking the Blues out would be a good idea, and
no team goes out there to obviously not to give

(01:52:08):
their absolute best. But the Chiefs just know in the
back of their minds that this is not the end
of their season. Regardless of what happens tonight, they will
host a semi next weekend. So I wonder whether that
plays into their mindset even just a little bit. Where
the Blues are drinking at the Last Chance saloon and

(01:52:29):
all of the desperation that comes with that will be
something they have and the Chiefs do not. Paul season text,
this is good from you Paul Bye, It'll never happen.
The Maui Dolphins will be endangered. So the lady van
to play half the games at gross here, Paul, that's

(01:52:50):
not bad from you. That is not bad from you.
Let's get a breakaway. It's twenty to three. Graham Minty
meat out of Hamilton in just a moment.

Speaker 1 (01:52:58):
Don't get caught off side eight Weekend Sports with Jason
Paine and GJ. Gunnomes, New Zealand's most trust to home
build a News DOGSB.

Speaker 2 (01:53:08):
Two forty three demo says on test Under Warriors playing
on Antac Day in christ Jech next year party demo.
They are playing in christ Church next year, but not
necessarily on Anzac Day, as you'll know earlier this year
they signed on for three more years in christ Church
one New Zealand Stadium. Of course is the name of
the stadium. What's a sponsor on it? Anyways? Of course

(01:53:31):
are also the sponsor in front of Warriors jerseys. Yes,
they will play next year twenty seven and twenty eight
in christ Church, but not necessarily on Anzac Day as
they did this year against Newcastle, wasn't it. But yeah,
so super Round I think is probably to take priority

(01:53:51):
and the Warriors will play a different round there. But
it's a very good question and a very good point
that you make Super Rugby semi Finals this afternoon or
evening rather five past seven Chiefs Blues nine point thirty
five Brumby's Hurricanes. Regardless of what happens in those games,
we will wrap them for you as our lead tomorrow
on weekend Sport. Of course, the Blues have already been

(01:54:14):
to Hamilton once this season.

Speaker 15 (01:54:17):
Matima, there's the whistle.

Speaker 6 (01:54:19):
Cradam is going to do one thing with us into
this thing that goes, and it's going.

Speaker 4 (01:54:23):
To be the Takes thirty two points Blue thirty one points.

Speaker 7 (01:54:27):
What a game of rugby here in Emilton.

Speaker 2 (01:54:29):
There, What a game of rugby. It was just the
one point win for the Chiefs over the Blues two
or three months ago. That was the voice of Graham
Minty Mead, who was again, of course behind the mic
for us on Goldsport and iHeartRadio tonight. How's the weather?
First of all, Minty.

Speaker 7 (01:54:44):
Been pretty wet all week Piney. But today and since
about eight o'clock this morning after I got out of
the studio, it's been fine. The sun's out a little
bit of cloud round. It's going to be a bit cool,
but we're going to have a hard and fast surface.

Speaker 2 (01:54:57):
Good to hear, Good to hear. That's excellent news. First up. Now,
it doesn't matter, as you know, it doesn't matter if.

Speaker 9 (01:55:04):
The Chief.

Speaker 2 (01:55:06):
Let me finish my question, but I know how you're
going to answer it now. It doesn't matter if the
Chiefs lose tonight. They will still host a semi final
next weekend. You know you'll be back there with your
fine team. You'll find commentary team next weekend, regardless. Any
chance that sits at the back of the Chief's minds tonight.

Speaker 7 (01:55:27):
No, no, no, they we talked about it a few
weeks ago with the team after with the coaching staff,
and they said, to win this title, they've got to
go across the top of the Highlanders, the Blues, the
Hurricanes and the Crusaders. They knew they have to win
four games to win it, and they wanted to home.
There's no way they're taking the foot off the traight tonight.
It's at home. The places them they're sold out, Piney. Yeah,

(01:55:49):
they want to win four. They don't want to have
a home. They don't want to miss a home Final
on a chance of taking it easy tonight.

Speaker 2 (01:55:55):
Yeah, that's and that's the other part of this. You're right.
If they were to lose tonight, they drop a ranking,
which would mean that if they made the final, they
almost certainly begin to christ Use because the Crusader would
take top ranking. So yes, that is motivation. Also, I
wonder Minty, how desperate will they be to send Clayton
McMillan off as a Super Rugby winner given the fact

(01:56:16):
that they've made the Grand Final last two years and
not been able to win the whole thing.

Speaker 7 (01:56:21):
They're pretty motivated at the moment. Plus tonight it's Aiden
Ross's hundredth game as well, so that's another bit of
motivation for him to start tonight. Playing's a top local.
He didn't say a lot. He gets on and does
the job. He has a laugh and a smile. He's
got a passion that he hides inside him pretty well.
But yeah, they want to do the job right. I
think the only thing we're going to miss tonight Piney
is probably our best player on the Padic all year,

(01:56:43):
and that's Flinty pay a big cut last week and
just taking precaution, but he's been solid in midfield. He's
been playing the best footage. I think I've just about
any second five in the country with him and David
Harvely fading for a spot.

Speaker 2 (01:56:54):
Yeah, and Gideon Rapling's coming into that twelve jersey. What
have you made of him this year and his I mean,
you've had a few appearances I think three starts, another
seven off the bench, so he's had had ten games.
What have you made of him and his ability to
step into the into the twelve jumper tonight.

Speaker 7 (01:57:11):
He's a big lad. Look, he's a big unit unit
of a bloke. He's learned a lot from the players
around him. He'll go okay. He's got good ball handling skills,
he's fast, he's solid, and he's learning. He's still young
even though he's a Yeah, there's a lot of young
fellows around. I think he'll do all right. But he's
up against an inside back pairing of Jouanne and Lamb
that are that are pretty tidy, and they're going to

(01:57:33):
run at Rona and Gampling remplan all night.

Speaker 2 (01:57:35):
I think indeed. Okay. Damien McKenzie, of course, is always
a key to any rugby team that he plays and
got a stat sent through to me earlier in the
show that said that the Chiefs are one hundred percent
when he started in the ten jumper this year and
eighty three percent across the last three years when he
started at first five. I'm not sure there are any

(01:57:56):
new ways are there to describe his influence on this team.

Speaker 7 (01:58:02):
Yeah, look, he's magic and we'll give him that. But
tonight it's about who's going to be all first five
and if Barrett and McKenzie, both sides will want to
shut both of those down because Barrett's on fire. He's
as dangerous as McKenzie as he's got the best kicking
game in super rugby at the moment. Mackenzie is a freak.
I'll give him the jew. He cuts back and I've
been running the cutter. Well, those two I think are

(01:58:22):
going to make the outcome of the game. It's Barrett
versus mackenzie, who gets the dominance, who gets the big
forwards turned around and going backwards? And to be honest,
you look at the whole side, Blue versus chief I
think they cancel each other out and it's going to
be probably a one or two point game like last time.

Speaker 2 (01:58:37):
Yeah, I feel as though the Chiefs have the advantage
in the forwards, though, Mintid that might be quite a
bold claim given the fact that you look at the
Blues forward pack and there's guys like Ricotelli, Rinata two,
we pull lot to Papolice or too too. But I
just feel as though the Chiefs have a better forward pack.
Am I am I way off there? Or do you
like the front eight as well?

Speaker 7 (01:58:56):
Look, I'm really impressed with the front eight, probably the
front twelve, to be honest, with what comes off the bench.
They did go down to christ Church a few weeks
ago and they didn't give an all black front row
much anything. Actually, they sort of took them right out
of the game, and that was good for the Chiefs
to see that they confront it with a big pact
like that, and they've been pretty dominant all year. Olenirahs,

(01:59:17):
Aden Ross, George Dye has been an absolutely rock solid
and we got Tacki Ahoe back to his boisterous best.
So yeah, you're probably right. I think the front five
are probably a little bit more aggressive. We've got enough
to Rekoi and Tupu Vai and Vai has been an
absolute leader this year. Louise Forward's wealth if you pick
him and you want to play, and Auckland probably got
the same amount. So I'm just it's going to be

(01:59:39):
a stonker a game. Let's be honest, Piney, It's going
to be a.

Speaker 2 (01:59:41):
Stonker well that quick. I don't think anybody can wait
for it. I think it's going to be an absolute cracker,
just on your Lucy's obviously. Wallace the Titi last year
burst into our into our consciousness, became an All Black
and was All Black's Player of the Year. A lot
of mail around about Simon Parker this year. Do you
think he could potentially be on that list of names

(02:00:02):
that gets read out by you know, by the All
Blacks coaches until a three week's time.

Speaker 7 (02:00:07):
Well, Simon's been He's been identified years ago and under
twenties and all sorts of things. But he had a
real horrible run of injuries. He just every time he
turned around something went wrong. This year, he's hard, he's fit,
he's huge, like he's bulked up, and he's injury free
and he's as good as you get on a pad actor.
The battle between him and Summer Penny Fee now, I'm
told at trainings is probably more physical than an All

(02:00:30):
Black South African test and Simon park is huge, like
he is massive. You walk beside him and I feel
like I'm a little tiny bloke and I'm six two,
So yeah, he's He's a great bloke too, always says hello.
But I wish, I really do hope he gets in there.
I'm looking for fee now and Parker to make the
all blacks at Sex. That's I think that's the best
ones in New Zealand at the moment.

Speaker 24 (02:00:50):
Just not buy us, so not of use, not a well,
speaking of what speak speaking of which, if the chief
if the Chiefs do win tonight, they would play the winner, sorry,
the loser of the of the Brumbies Hurricanes game, wouldn't they.

Speaker 2 (02:01:05):
I think that's the way it works out. So so
I mean you'd want to avoid the Hurricanes, mate, you'll
never beat us.

Speaker 7 (02:01:11):
Well, I'd really like to play the Hurricanes because you've
got a half back that we borrowed to you, that
we've you made, you made pretty good. But you know
he was born, he was born and he was born
in Karapiro. Let's be honest. Come on. Then his father
and I are good friend, so you can't claim him
were just on borrow you know we aren't going there,
but Hanny been playing good footy though. How if you

(02:01:32):
look at them, let's let's go about half backs, both
them Roy Guard and Rama, three White Hiadow products playing
some of the best footy in the country.

Speaker 2 (02:01:42):
I like your man's avir Row too, I must say,
I think the one two punch is great. Yeah, therefore,
I mean you're hogging all the best Number nine.

Speaker 7 (02:01:51):
Well, that's because we're a good breeding ground for rugby players, Jason.
You know, you've just got to understand that we borrow
them to other places around the country and we make
the New.

Speaker 9 (02:01:59):
Zealand rugby better.

Speaker 2 (02:02:00):
Who do you think just just I mean, I know
you don't like I can't argue. Who do you think
will win the Brumbies Hurricanes game tonight? You'll get home,
I guess to watch a little bit of it. You
Reckon's going to win that.

Speaker 7 (02:02:12):
If you ever been to Canberra in winter, it's frigging cold,
but Dowseie worse than christ Church and depending on the
conditions that the Hurricanes should win it. But they've been
hot and cold at times this year. They've been brilliant
and sometimes they drop the ones. A couple of times
like the Chiefs have they shouldn't, so it's going to
depend a lot on camera regard and him in that

(02:02:33):
first five combination and the midfield. Yeah, I don't know,
but Brumby they're a good side, the big side, hey
that they've got a lot of beef in them. But
they're at home and at home you just don't believe
how big home advantage is.

Speaker 2 (02:02:46):
The church yep. Who's your team alongside you tonight for commentary, I.

Speaker 7 (02:02:52):
Got Steeney Gordon, he all whack and he's just had
his bicyp reattached because he thought he'd be strong and
he pulled his biceap off his left arm and kJ
the grass whisperer from FMG Stadium. He's on sideline.

Speaker 2 (02:03:02):
What a team Mint, He can't wait for your call.
On Gold Sport and Nightheart Radio always love chatting Mate
Graham and t Mead alongside Steve Gordon and Carl Johnson's
sideline What a team Gold Sport and Iheartradios coverage of
Super Rugby Pacific just after seven o'clock tonight that game
kicks off and then commentary of Brumby's Hurricanes to follow
at nine thirty five, seven to three News TALKSIB.

Speaker 9 (02:03:23):
When it's down to the line, you make the call.

Speaker 1 (02:03:25):
On ten eighty Weekend Sports with Jason Pine News TALKSB.

Speaker 2 (02:03:31):
That's us. We're back tomorrow rapping Super Rugby and the Wars.
Thanks to Any McDonald for producing What's He Exit Song?

Speaker 21 (02:03:36):
Mate, Yeah pinety, Well done on the radio award as
well Mate the exit song boys Light Up Australian Crawl
based on all my Australian adventures that I'm about to
send myself on with these sporting events a very good choice.

Speaker 15 (02:03:48):
See tomorrow.

Speaker 1 (02:04:09):
For more from Weekends Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live
to News Talks at B Weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio

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