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January 11, 2025 • 121 mins

On the Weekend Sport with Jason Pine Full Show Podcast for 12 January 2025, Black Caps captain Mitchell Santner on the squad named for the ICC Champions Trophy.

Aussie Rugby journalist Christy Doran on whether Joe Schmidt will extend his contract with Aussie Rugby.

And Tennis commentator Craig Gabriel previews the Australian Open.

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Episode Transcript

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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Pine
from News Talks, EDB cricket.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
Legend Richie richardson do you remember that the burgundy wide
brimmed hat he used to wear? Former heavyweight world champion
boxer Joe Fraser also born on this day in nineteen
forty four. I'm Jason Pine. Shoe producer Anny McDonald here too.
We are with you talking sport until three. The fifteen

(00:33):
man black Cap squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy in
Pakistan and the UAE has been named. Captain Mitchell Sentner
standing by to chat through the squad with us. Some
interesting talking points which you might want to pick up
on as well. I think there's one very very unlucky
player in particular. Other matters around this afternoon, plenty of tennis.

(00:55):
The Aussie Tennis Open starts today. Craig Gabriel from Melbourne.
He first covered the Australian Open in nineteen eighty one.
So what's this is? Forty five OSSI Tennis Open. The
ASP Tennis Classic Meantime wrapped up yesterday. Lee Radovanovitch on
the victory for thirty eight year old Gail Montfie there's

(01:18):
still no real clarity and this is a very unseasonal
look at rugby. But there's no real clarity over Joe
Schmidt's future as Wallaby's rugby coach. He has committed to
guiding the side in this year's series against the British
and Irish Lions. Beyond that things are very unclear. We'll
get you to Australia for some insight into that. We're

(01:40):
a week away from sale GP. Auckland can't wait to
be broadcasting the show live from sal GP next Saturday
and Sunday. We'll get you inside the Black Foyles camp
with their coach Sam Meech this afternoon. Real mixed bag
for football fans yesterday, in fact, not a mixed bag.
It was very much an empty bag for Auckland FC

(02:01):
and the Phoenix they both lost yesterday. We'll cover those
off and preview the Phoenix women's clas with Adelaide United
later on tonight. James mcconey along as well in his
regular slot. But a live sport for you today too,
the super Smash in Palmerston North. I don't know what
the weather is like in Parmiston North. If you're listening
from Palmi Flickers a quick weather report to nine two,

(02:22):
nine to two CD against Otago. The women go from
twelve forty the men to follow the Aussie Tennis Open.
As mentioned, the first matches underway at one o'clock this afternoon.
They'll be playing across all of the arenas. Yeah, we'll
get to the Tennis Open in more detail as the
show goes on, but it starts at one this afternoon

(02:45):
New Zealand time. In the NFL, we're into the wild
card games. Now, what these basically are our knockout games
as we head towards Super Bowl. These are effectively knockout matches.
Just think of them in those terms. And at the
moment in Houston, Texas, it is the Texans against the
Ala Chargers, and the Houston Texans ahead by ten points

(03:07):
to six as we approach halftime. And that one from
two o'clock this afternoon in Baltimore it's the Ravens up
against the Stealers. So we'll keep you across exactly what
happens there. We'd love you to join the show at
any time for any reason, well, any sporting reason, anyway,
anything that catches your ear you'd like to make comments on.
You can do that on the phone. Oh eight hundred

(03:28):
eighty ten eighty free call nine two nine two for
your thoughts via text or on email and to me
Jason at NEWSTALKSEDB dot co dot Nz. It's eleven past.

Speaker 1 (03:38):
Midday analyzing every view from every angle in the sporting
world weekends for it with Jason Vie.

Speaker 3 (03:45):
They call eighty news talks.

Speaker 2 (03:48):
eNB Whether in Parmeston North overcast but all good, thank you,
unnamed texter. Overcast instill in PARMEI says Alan overcast and
calm with a few a few spits of rain in
Parmeston North, all right, so there's some there's some varied
weather forecasts. Overcast was used in all three of those texts,

(04:10):
so I think we can safely assume there's a bit
of cloud cover in Parmeerston North right now. Fast Bowl
of Ben Sears will make his international return after being
named the Black Cap squad for Crickets Champions Trophy coming
up in Pakistan and the UA next month. He's been
on the sidelines with a knee injury for eight months,
but has come back for Wellington in the Super Smash

(04:32):
this week. Has been enough to convince the selectors that
ben Sears is ready to go. His inclusion leaves Jacob
Duffy as the unlucky man to miss out. Will O'Rourke
and Nathan Smith are the other two players to play
at their first World tournament. It's a squad dominated by
pace bowlers. Matt Henry Lockey Ferguson also being picked despite

(04:56):
his lack of a national central contract. Mitchell Santon is
the only specialist spinner. Battis Kane Williamson and Devon Conway
have also been named without central contracts, although they both
have casual playing agreements with New Zealand Cricket. So here's
the team. Mitchell Santon is the captain, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman,
Devin Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham who will

(05:19):
be the only wicket keeper, Daryl Mitchell, Will O'Rourke, Glenn
Phillips right in, Ravendra ben c Is, Nathan Smith, Kin
Williamson and Will Young. The black Caps have a try
series against Pakistan and South Africa starting on the eighth
of February. Their Champions Trophy opener is against the hosts
in Karachi on the nineteenth of February. Captain Mitchell Santner

(05:42):
is with us on Weekend Sport. Thanks for joining us, Mitchell.
How happy are you with the mix of the squad
that you've pulled together for the champions Trophy?

Speaker 4 (05:51):
Yeah?

Speaker 5 (05:51):
Very I think like you said, there's obviously a mix
of you know, a lot of experienced guys with a
few I guess younger faces coming through. You know, the
balance we've got, you know his I think we're in
a good spot, you know, in those in those conditions
we're probably going to get in Tuckstan and do.

Speaker 2 (06:06):
But what are the main things that come into your
thinking when you're putting a team like this together? Because
there are more than fifteen guys in contention obviously, so
what rationale do you use when you're finalizing the list?

Speaker 6 (06:20):
Yeah, it's obviously hard.

Speaker 5 (06:21):
I think, you know where we're out of the moment
as we have a lot of guys you know, knocking
on the door, and I guess that's a good thing
for the New Zealand career going forward. You there's always
going to be a couple of guys who are disappointed,
and I think, yeah, there was that kind of that
mix of you know a little bit of an experience
with with a lot of experience and you know, guys
who have been there, performed on the big stage and

(06:44):
ICC events before. I think, you know, we've got a
good mix there and you know we've got some guys
we've got we've actually picked a lot of I guess
fast bowlers who can you know, can she got quick
on those wickets where it might you know, not offer
a lot of swing and nip. So yeah, I think
we've got a good mix of obviously spend in pace.

Speaker 2 (07:03):
Yeah, so just just drilled down that for us because
you're rise are drawn to Lockie ferguson ben Ce as
guys with you know, with real pace. Is that is
that at the bedrock of your thinking that pace is
going to be very important on these wickets.

Speaker 5 (07:18):
Yeah, I think we were you know, we've been to
Puckstan in the past and Du Bay where I think
you know, the pitches are pretty pretty docile, pretty slow,
so I think you know a little bit of airspeed,
there's always handing. We've seen teams who have done well
over there. You know, Pakistan have always gone on the
four you know quick. So I think we've got you know,
we've got good past fine stocks at the moment, we've
got Willow Rourke who's different again for bounce Matt Henry

(07:40):
can can nip it on past, so he's he's gone,
you know how good he is. And then you know
we've got four I guess spin options as well. With
the board, there is you know a little of assistant
on you know, I think in Pakistan, you know, the
pitches can change depend on where we are and we
play you know, in two different two different spots in Pakistan.
So yeah, I think we've got kind of all all
bases covered.

Speaker 3 (07:58):
Really.

Speaker 2 (07:59):
Was it a tough conversation to have with Jacob Duffy.

Speaker 7 (08:03):
Yeah it was.

Speaker 5 (08:04):
You know, he's obviously put his hand up for Summer
and Bold extremely well. But yeah, I think you know,
he's he's a guy who's who's stepped up and he's
taken his opportunities. Obviously a guy you know going forward.
So yeah, there's always going to be you know, some
tough conversations to have. And he was the guy that
was really knocking on the door and did and did
nothing wrong, especially the time Smoy's Bold outstanding, and I

(08:28):
guess it's one of those things where you know, he's
very close and if someone goes down, he could be there.

Speaker 2 (08:33):
Obviously. In terms of the spin options, you'll bowl the
ten overs, you know for the most part, all things
being equal, But how many overs do you expect out
of the likes of Michael brace Wallglen Phillip's right and
Ravendra Would any of them, for example, be in line
to Bold ten overs in any match?

Speaker 7 (08:49):
Yeah?

Speaker 5 (08:49):
I think again it depends, you know what we're going
to face. We obviously have the scene bowl and cover
all around, couple of Nathan Smith if we like we
we've done in a couple of games here in New
Zealand if we wanted to go that way, but traditionally
it is a little bit slower than can spin a touch.
So we've got you know, Michael Braceleo does a great
job for us. But then also having Glenn and Rush

(09:10):
and to spend both ways, so there is options and
both of Bold you know well when they've needed in
white ball cricket. So I feel like we've got you know,
all four canvolved a majority of voters just depending on
I guess the surface.

Speaker 2 (09:24):
Tom Latham is going to keep wicket for you. Was
there ever a thought of taking Mitch Haigh for example,
as a backup work at keeper or are you confident
you've got that covered with somebody like Devin Conway.

Speaker 5 (09:35):
Yeah, it was definitely a discussion, but I think you know,
Conway showed that he is very capable of the gloves
and he's you know there if needed. You know, I
guess if there's always an injury, you can always sub someone.
But I think, you know, to make up that, you know,
we've got Chappie as well, who's who show you know
how how good he is with the bad as well.
So I think that kind of inclusion of another batter,

(09:59):
you know, we just thought Dev can do a very
good job as with the gloves as needed, So you got.

Speaker 2 (10:04):
The fifteen to get it down to eleven for matchday.
He's look at a guy like Mark Chapman, who is
it a terrific series against lank eti oord yesterday off
the back of some good knocks in the first two.
He's in good form. But then you look down the
list and you seekin Williamson there. So you know, what
do you say to Mark Chapman at the moment?

Speaker 5 (10:22):
Yeah, I know, it's it's it's you know, I guess
that's the nature of I guess these guys being away
at the moment, but you know it's you know, Mark's again,
he's like Jacob Duff. He's done nothing wrong. He's put
his hand up when he's needed, and you know he
can kind of slip anywhere in that order. And you
know we're shown that he's better middle order as well
when he when he's taker's opportunity. But yeah, I think

(10:44):
I guess going forward, Yeah, he's kind of that three
four roll and he's and he showed us, you know,
in his last series that he can't do that very well.

Speaker 2 (10:53):
How have you assessed Nathan Smith's elevation to international cricket.

Speaker 5 (10:59):
Yeah, I think he's I think he is a good player.
He's Yeah, I think he hasn't probably shown with about
how good he is. I've seen and the Mister Cricket,
how good is with the bat. But I think with
the boys, he's definitely shown he can perform at this level.
We saw it, you know in the test matches. A
little bit unlucky in those tests, but probably should have
got a few more polls. But even in these last

(11:21):
couple of series, you know, I think all seamers of
the series has done a great job for us and
kind of lead you know, up front with Maddy Henry
and you know Daft, Will O'Rourke and Making Smith has
definitely shown they.

Speaker 6 (11:34):
Are very capable.

Speaker 2 (11:35):
Have you, Mitchell, developed a blueprint for how you would
like New Zealand to play fifty over cricket under your captaincy?

Speaker 5 (11:44):
I guess you have kind of a you know, we
talk about how we want to operate. You know it's
going to change probably slightly in New Zealand and well
over there. I think we used to be very we
wanted to be at certain stages at the game. But
I think that the match ups are still quite important.
If guys you know, see a match up and think
that's a good, good chance for us to get ahead

(12:06):
of the game, that's still a great option for us.
And I think, yeah, we do. We talk about you know,
adapting and so conditions as cook as we can, and
we like to We were very we want comms throughout
the innings of you know, the guys can relay messages
back to the group what they think are good scores
and then you kind of go from there. But I

(12:27):
think again with Karachi can be different to rather than
be which is going to be different to do buy
and so I think on any given day you want
to assess as quickly as you can and just you know,
you just got to outplay your your your opponent on
that game and then and then move on pretty quickly.

Speaker 2 (12:44):
Are you enjoying being captain?

Speaker 5 (12:47):
Yeah, it's it's obviously a different challenge, but I've I've
enjoyed it and it's made easier with you know, the
group we've got at the moment. And yeah, I guess
you know, when when guys are flowing, it makes my
mind job a little bit easier.

Speaker 2 (12:59):
But what and is there stuff that you didn't I'm
sure you knew what you were getting into and you
know you've got to do more interviews yet take this
vocal for starters, But are there other things that come
with the captain say that that you that you hadn't expected?

Speaker 5 (13:15):
Yeah, just more of this stuff, I'd say that's part
of the job in it, I guess, being more involved
with you know, selection stuff. But it's more I guess,
you know, the way I want this team, I guess
under my kind of leadership to play going forward. And
you have a real opportunity now to you know, I
guess kind of build and where you want the team

(13:35):
to go and the next kind of well, however long
I played for I guess And just.

Speaker 2 (13:40):
To finish, you've had a try series leading into the
champions Trophy in February. What will we today the twelfth
of January. Well, guys go back to Super Smash for
a little bit, some of them, all of them. What's
the situation there?

Speaker 5 (13:51):
Yeah, I think everyone will play to some extent. You know,
a few guys who have played less cricker want to
play more than others. I think we've kind of tree
as individual cases where guys probably might want a few
days off free. But I'd say everyone will be will
be playing. You know, we're Spanish at some stage, you know,
at least probably two games each other day. And you know,

(14:13):
I think it's great for the complin when all these guys.

Speaker 8 (14:15):
Can come back.

Speaker 5 (14:16):
I don't know what, kenn are you going to do
with their team and they've got all these guys coming back,
it's going to be it's going to be a challenge
for them.

Speaker 2 (14:23):
Yeah, they've stacked it down there, haven't they. Hey Mitchell, Thanks,
But it's exciting side looking forward to seeing how the
Champions Trophy goes. Thanks for taking the time for a chat.
Thanks mate, No thanks Mitchell. Mitchell Santner, that captain of
our white ball side, captain of the Champions Trophy side
that's going to head off and try and win some
silverware in Pakistan and the UAE in February and into March.

(14:43):
Are going to open the lines on the squad eight
hundred and eighty ten eighty. You've heard from Mitchell Santy,
you've heard some of the rationale. I'll go over the
squad again in a minute, just so you've got full
possession of the facts. The unlucky guy and there's always
unlucky players and any squad because as I said to
Mitchell Santner, you know there's more players than there are spots.

(15:05):
But the unlucky guy is, without a doubt, Jacob Duffy.
He has been excellent, excellent for New Zealand this summer
in both white ball formats, done everything asked of him.
But he's been overlooked and it's only because of pace.
You've got a feel for me. He just he just

(15:27):
finally got the chance with Tim Southey having exited to
lock down a place in the side and now he's
left out because they've gone for pace over swing. Now,
don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of the
selection and the rationale is obvious, and Mitchell Santas said

(15:48):
it himself. They've gone for pace over swing. That's why
we've got Sears and Ferguson in this team along with O'Rourke.
I think was always going to go Matt Henry our
best bowler. So when the music stops, there's only so
many chairs and there isn't one for Jacob Duffy. I

(16:09):
note that he is the backup player. That's even been
mentioned in the release that he's the backup player should
anybody get in juredle So there's a possibility that when
I read this, that Lockie Ferguson might be unavailable because
of twenty twenty playoff commitments. So it might be that

(16:33):
if Lockie Ferguson goes deep into the twenty twenty stuff
that he's involved in at the moment, that he can't
come to the Champions Trophy. And it again raises this debate,
doesn't it about picking guys who don't have central contracts

(16:53):
and there are three in this team. Lockie Ferguson Devin
Conway and Kane Williamson. Now Devin Conway and Kane Williamson
both have casual playing contracts, which is one step down
from a central contract. A casual playing contract and the
reason they didn't take up central contracts Devin Conway and
Came Williamson is because they're playing in the South African

(17:15):
T twenty competition which has gotten underway this weekend, and
participation in that meant that they were unavailable for the
last segment of the white ball summer, the T twenty
and one day matches against Sri Lanka, and therefore couldn't
take up a central playing contract. However, both played Test
matches and will play Champions Trophy and will be available

(17:40):
pretty much for every international series apart from anything that
was played in the calendar month of January. Locky Ferguson
a completely different kettle of fish. I actually didn't think
they'd pick him when I put down when I said
yesterday on the show what I thought the squad would be.
I didn't have Locky ferguson the squad eyed Jacob Duffy

(18:00):
in there. The other one is the lack of a
backup wicket keeper and they've just decided that Devin Conway's
your man as far as a backup wicket keeper is concerned.
Mitchell Sander said that I found out that Devin Conway
can do a good job. Look, I think you know
it's not his favorite thing. It's absolutely not his favorite thing.

(18:22):
I think he is a reluctant wicket keeper. He broke
his thumb, didn't he when he did it? Recently? Having
said all of this, there are only three guaranteed games,
hopefully five. You play three Paul games, finish in the
top two, you go into the semis. When that you

(18:43):
go into the final. So it's not as though this
is an elongated World Cup kind of format where you
play eight or nine games. Only five games, so I
reckon they'll pick the eleven and probably stick with the
eleven with the odd tweak here and there. But ken
to know your thoughts. Oh eight hundred and eighty ten
to eighty. Lots of thoughts coming through on text. I'll
try to get to those if I can. But the

(19:05):
best way to give voice to europe opinion is on
the phone. A spare line for you if you'd like it. Oh,
eight hundred eighty ten eighty twelve, twenty seven talking the
black Caps Champions Trophy Squad. When we come back on Weekend.

Speaker 1 (19:15):
Sport, the Big Issues on and after Field Call oh
eight hundred eighty ten eighty Weekend Sport with Jason.

Speaker 2 (19:23):
Pain and GJ.

Speaker 1 (19:24):
Gunnerholmes, New Zealand's most trusted home builder, News Talks EDBB.

Speaker 2 (19:29):
Half past twelve on News Talks EDB. Houston lead the Chargers.
The Houston Texans lead the LA Chargers by ten points
to six. This is in the NFL's Wildcard AFC Wild
Card Game. They're thirteen and a half minutes left in
the third quarter. There By the sounds of things, it's okay.
In Palmerston North for a start at twelve forty between

(19:49):
the Central Hins and the Otago Sparks. Otago have won
the toss and sent Central into bat So twelve forty
at the Herbert Park in Palmerston North Great Ground twelve
forty this afternoon. That game will get underway and at
one o'clock it is going to be all action. In Melbourne,
the Ossie Tennis open at starting Mike says Piney can't

(20:12):
or don't want to say I told you so, but
I told you so Jacob Duffy not there. Thanks. Mike
Shirley says Duffy should be very disappointed. He should be
in there. That is I think the general consensus text
here says, I don't think Jacob Duffy was overlooked. I'm
sure he was considered and ruled out for various reasons,

(20:32):
but certainly not overlooked. Yeah, Dave, you're right, not overlooked,
but not in the squad. So I guess by definition
of the word, he has been overlooked. But you're right,
that doesn't mean that he wasn't. In the conversation, Absolutely
he was, and he's probably sixteenth man, isn't he sixteenth man?
Just the squad again, so we can chat about it

(20:54):
with a degree of certainty. Will get to your calls
in a moment. Satan's the captain obviously, Mitchell Santner, Michael Brace,
will Mark Chapman, Devin Conway, Lockey, Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham,
Darrel Mitchell, Willow rowk Glen Phillips, and Raven Rabens. Nathan
Smith came, Williamson and Will Young. I'm going to give
you my eleven out of that fifteen. In a moment,

(21:15):
but let's get to the lines. What do you make
of the squad?

Speaker 9 (21:17):
Phil got Jay, You're good.

Speaker 2 (21:22):
I'm good, thanks Phil, very good mate.

Speaker 9 (21:25):
Yeah, not bad on the whole, not bad on the whole.
I was actually I was just saying to Andy, I
was actually going to ring it yesterday when you were
talking about it, to say, who do you think you
know when you were doing your selection and what did
you think? What do you think? I was going to say,
I think ben Sears might get in, which I see
has because.

Speaker 2 (21:44):
I should have put you on the AFL. I should
have put you on the A yesterday Phil, and you
could have. You could have said, piney, I told you so.

Speaker 9 (21:50):
Yeah, Well it was my fault because I didn't actually
end up ringing about that when I was thinking and
I was going to ring in to say that, but
I might have given it a go but not got
through right about near the end of your hour or something.
But the yeah, but I thought that because I thought,
you know, he's a young, up and coming bowler, so
that we're looking at for the future. So I thought, well,

(22:11):
I think and now that he's fit, you know, seemingly fit,
I think he'll get a go, you know, because of
looking towards the future and building a team.

Speaker 6 (22:19):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (22:20):
Only the only my only, my only concern is that he,
as you say, fell, he's only just come back, and
he's only he's been out for eight months. He's only
come back into the T twenty stuff. I just hope, like,
for example, if he's one of three pace bowlers and
I think they'll play probably three past bowlers I'd say
Matt Henry and two others, and I just hope he

(22:41):
can get through ten overs.

Speaker 9 (22:42):
Okay, Yeah, because I did actually wonder that too. In
the back of my mind, I did think, well, maybe
it might be a bit of a push too soon,
you know, when he's just come back from the injury
bit off for so long, because it was sounds like
it was a bad one. But I'll tell you what
a couple of things to say. I watched the cricket
yesterday and well the whole games, I've watched them all,

(23:05):
and I'm we were really impressed with Old with the
fellow Chapman, which I think he's only a young fellow too,
and as a batter. I really like the way he
plays his cricket and he plays his shots like they
were going out left right center yesterday in stupid fashions
even there so called top water batters and their good batters.
But he just played great, great classic cricket shots to

(23:29):
build that innings. And in the end he went out
a bit silly, I think, because he might have thrown
his work it away and they made a bit of
a decision there. I think they got it wrong at
the end. We probably we were in with a slim chance.
But then I think he sort of should have backed
the batter that came in. I can't think of who
it was might have been, Was it Duffy? And he

(23:49):
seemingly sort of thought he didn't kind of back because
he didn't run. You know, they hit those runs and
he just stayed there instead of running taking the one.
But never mind. That was that. But I really liked
the look of him in his batting, I think too. Yeah,
I think I feel really sorry, sorry sorry for Duffy because,
like you said, very unlucky. And I think there is

(24:12):
a case there to be argued that well, someone like
Lucky Ferguson as good as he is, you know, and
with his crack and pace, when you've got a guy
like Duffy who's always in the wings, he's stuck with
New Zealand, he's got that central contract that he's played well,
and he's put his hand up after waiting so long.
Then yeah, I think even though Ferguson's been a go

(24:34):
to the past and that and played well for New Zealand,
if he hasn't got that central contact, and surely, yeah,
you think, I think he's got to reward the or
it's certainly a good argument to reward the guy that
has shows the loyalty, especially when he's starting to fire
up and going well.

Speaker 2 (24:49):
I'm sure these things that are discussed around the selection
table fell And look, there's a wide school of thought
that says that before you even get to non contracted players,
you need to go through your contracted players and work
out whether you have what you need from that list.
And clearly in this discussion, it's obviously come down to
the choice between that central contracted players and pace. And

(25:14):
they've looked at Locki Ferguson and said you've got the
pace that we need and therefore you're the guy who
we're going to go with. And look again, like Lockie
Ferguson hasn't played you know, a heck of a lot
for New Zealand and recent times from memories had injuries.
I think a lot of us thought he would play
test cricket, you know, but but it hasn't really done that.

(25:35):
But they've clearly just decided that the overriding selection criteria
this time is pace.

Speaker 9 (25:44):
Yeah, I think we've got that though with because I
think we have the pace with Sears and O'Rourke. I
think that's enough.

Speaker 1 (25:51):
You know.

Speaker 9 (25:53):
I wonder two about the batting. What do you think
about the batting? Like I sort of after watching that
last game like yesterday, and you might say it might
be just a one off sort of thing where you
have one of those bad performances at every so often.
But is there a couple of batter as there, Like
I hate to say, because Conway's being so good and
he's coming back, but even maybe Phillips and maybe Young,

(26:15):
you know, some of those bad as it's kind of
aren't kind of performing as good as they could be.
You know, I don't know a my sort of off
the track there.

Speaker 2 (26:25):
Well, Well, Will Young got ninety not out in the
first game, so I think he's probably okay. But then
again I don't know where the he'll play in the
best eleven Phil others year. Look, I'm sure these guys
who and I think we can probably right yesterday off.
I think we can look at yesterday and say they
would tuned it up. It didn't really matter, but you
still would have liked a bit more backbone in the batting.

(26:47):
Absolutely it would have, and apart from Mark Chapman, we
didn't get that at all. You look at the top order,
Young a duck, Ravendra won, Mitchell two, Phillips, no score,
Latham a duck and they'd want to get some runs
at some point too. Tom Latham one and nought in
the two games he's had for the black Caps against
Sri Lanka in this later series. We know how classy

(27:10):
he is, and obviously he's the wicket keeper as well,
but yeah, he'd want to get some runs. The good
thing about this, thanks for you call for the lawys.
Enjoy chatting to you, mate. The good thing about the
next little wild heading into the Champions Trophy is the
black Caps have a try series. They play Pakistan in
Lahore Saturday the eighth of February, two days later South
Africa at the same ground, and then if they make

(27:33):
it into the final, I think South Africa and Pakistan
obviously play each other. I'd say on the Sunday or
maybe on the Tuesday, what doesn't matter. There's a final,
so that could be another game. And then there is
a warm up game against Afghanistan as well on the
sixteenth of February before the Champions Trophy proper starts on
the nineteenth. So three and possibly four games to kind

(27:56):
of get you know, get ready, which you know we've
always said, we've always bemoaned the lack of warm up
matches for New Zealand and various different regards. Well, they're
not going to be short of a gallop. I've got
four games I'll play with a super smash and no
it's only t twenty before they go. And then these
four matches, three or four matches heading into the Champions Trophy.

(28:17):
Here's what I reckon the team will be. I don't
think Mark Chapman will make the eleven unfortunately for him.
Incredible to think this, because you look at Mark Chapman
and his latest series against the tril Ankins twenty nine
not out, sixty two and eighty one. He's been our
best batter by far, and yet I don't think he's
going to get a place because Cain Williams is going
to be there. I think Devin Conway and Ruch and

(28:40):
Ravenger will probably open the batting, so I think Will
Young might miss out. Came Williamson, Darrell Mitchell, Tom Latham.
I think that's the top five. Then Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell,
Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry Lockey, Ferguson, Will o' rourke. That's
the eleven that I would pack. That leaves out Mark Chapman,
Will Young, Ben Sears and Nathan Smith. Now Sears may

(29:03):
come in and out for someone like Ferguson, for example.
It might be that they decide who they want there.
But as I say, there are only three guaranteed games,
I reckon they pick their eleven and go with it.
I think they'll have spinning all round us through the
middle order. Phillips brace Will Satan and will Satana plays
his captain. I think Phillips and Bracewell will probably both play.

(29:26):
I'm not sure that there's a natural position for Nathan
Smith and the s eleven. Certainly if they're prioritizing pace,
he does give you more solidity with the bat yes,
than a guy like Lackey, Ferguson, Ben Sears, even Matt Henry.
But I just don't know whether there's a natural place
for Nathan Smith on this side. But I think the
unlucky guys Mark Chapman, I just don't know that he

(29:49):
gets a game because came Williamson, as I've often said,
lives above the selection line. When he is fit, he plays. Hello, Rich,
how are you mate? I'm all right. I don't mind
the squad. Actually I feel sorry for Jacob Duffy, but
I can see why they've done it.

Speaker 8 (30:08):
Yeah, yeah, you can, you can see that.

Speaker 10 (30:10):
I mean, it's just the unsaying game, Isn't it funny that, unfortunately,
you know, we're in that rock and hard place when
it comes to contracted players and non contracted players. I mean,
Bergson just provides that pace. But you know, I've been
listening to what you're talking about planning. It's just like, like,
how many people are actually excited about this tournament? I mean, hey, yeah,

(30:31):
I mean it will be interesting, but I just, yeah,
it's just another tournament that you know, when we go
look at the calendar year, you know, the teeth when
he worl cups every two years and then you've got
the IDEO World Cup and then this one comes along.
It's just like, yeah, it's just just more saturation of
white fool cricket, isn't it.

Speaker 2 (30:50):
Yeah I must have met this one. Did sneak up
on me, you know, like I think for knowing when
the big tournaments are. But yeah, that's what it was like.
Oh we've got a chair Bean's Travia and it was
confirmed of it later in the piece. But look, funnily enough, mate,
and I know, you know, we spoke about it. Oh
do I cricket yesterday and its relevance and all that
sort of thing, particularly with regard to Bilateral series. But look,

(31:11):
I'm actually quite interested, and I wouldn't say on the
edge of my seat excited, but certainly interested. I don't
mind the format. You know, it's three games in a
pool and the semis in the final. It doesn't drag
out for weeks and weeks on end, you know, I
don't I don't mind. I think I will watch it, yes.

Speaker 10 (31:31):
Yeah, I mean when you go look at the time difference,
I think it's it's early evening into the night, so
you know it we'll be interesting to see what happens there, Pioneer.
It will be interesting to see what kind of leaven
we'll put put out and meant whether you know, you've
got your calm way and your revenge, or you know,
whether they just go with Young's. It will be interesting.

(31:52):
But as to yesterday, Piney, I mean, yeah, it was
kind of twenty for five. It was like, jee, what's
going on here? But I was just amazed by I mean,
we won the series and you go look at people's
comments online. It's just like everyone's saying, you've got to
drop disgraceful. It's just, you know, we just we just
thralled them. They don't we know.

Speaker 6 (32:17):
That's right.

Speaker 2 (32:18):
Yeah, the third game in the series that you've already
won two nil, it doesn't really matters much, folks. I
think you may need just keep scrolling, just keep scrolling
without comment. I think that's probably the best way to
go about it. Mate, Hey, great to chat. I got
to move, but you know, let's let's chat again. As
this series, this no not not a series, this this
tournament gets closer. Rich, look forward to your your comments

(32:40):
over the next little while. A lot of people are
having me up about Devin Conway, and I get it.
I do. I get it, and it may well be
a live conversation there. The Devin Conway's place in this
one day side is not beyond question. People saying well,
Mark Chapman should be there ahead of Devon Conway. If
that's the case, then he's probably going to have to

(33:02):
open the batting and maybe that's okay because there aren't
too many natural openers here. Tom Latham, I guess could open.
I'm not sure that that is exactly what you're after
in one day cricket from Tom Latham. I'm not sure
you really want them opening the batting. Maybe you do,
but you know, if you are going to reward form,

(33:22):
then Mark chapmanshire your hot hand. Here's your form batter
in fifty over crickets. So he probably has to play,
and if he does, somebody else clearly is not playing,
and that would likely be Devin Conway. You know, that
would have been unthinkable a little while ago. Devin Conway's form,
his ability had him, you know, almost above the selection

(33:44):
line like Caan Williamson. I know that's not the case now,
doubly so because he's not centrally contracted. Be very interesting
to see what they do there sixteen away from one.
Grant with you right after this eight hundred and eighty
ten eighty more on the cricket when we come back
on Weekend Sport, No.

Speaker 1 (34:00):
One grudge hold Engage Weekend Sports with Jason Fame and
GJ Gunner, New Zealand's I.

Speaker 2 (34:07):
Was Trusted home Builder News Talk News Talk twelve and
a half away from one. I was just checking on
Lockie Ferguson. I know he's been playing with the Sydney
Thunder and the Big Bash, but he's now gone to
this Ilt twenty competition with the Desert Vipers. I've lost
track of all of these T twenty franchise legs. I
have to say, I've lost track of all of them,

(34:29):
but the so that's the reason why he might not
be available for this for this champions Trophy if indeed
his team, the Desert Vipers of which he is the captain,
go deep into it. Elt Ilt twenty is the name
of the competition. Anyway, that's all ahead of us. Grant,
you've got a bolterer to open the batting.

Speaker 7 (34:52):
Wow, maybe it's not such a boulter at the moment,
because I think those Texters have stole with my thunder
and you mentioned it just before the break, and that
is that to my mind, Chapman open the batting in
the top eleven with Forvenda Vendra, with the form that
he's on at the moment, and with Conway. We can't

(35:15):
keep referring back to his fantastic form in the first
part of his career, and his form was fantastic the
last couple of years, his form has gone downhill. And
in the last year, to my mind, he didn't even
warrant selection in the games that he played in. So
I think that, you know, first eleven, Chapman opens, I mean,

(35:41):
he's been betting number three, so it's too much difference.
Opens with Ravendra. What do you reckon?

Speaker 2 (35:47):
Well, it's one thing. I'm sure they will consider. Grant.
I'm sure they will. He's never done it. Mark Chapman
doesn't say he couldn't do it, but it would be
unfamiliar for him. Yeah, they may look at it. They
may look at Chapman and Revendra. Still think Devin Conway's
in the conversation, Hey Dobbo, how are you.

Speaker 11 (36:09):
Ye poney?

Speaker 2 (36:10):
And do you Dobbo?

Speaker 11 (36:12):
Just a couple of bullet points, really, because I know
a lot of people have said some good thoughts. Firstly,
unlike the T twenty World Cup, which was a debarcle
because Stealing Company did not have warm up games and
they packed undercook players. At least we've got, as you mentioned,
four maybe five games, and they've just got to pick
on form. They just have to. So I think the

(36:35):
questions that are being asked will be answered in those
lead up games. And horses for course that you have
to pick Chapman. If there's anywhere on God's green Earth
that he does well, it's Pakistan, and so I think
he must play huge question marks on some dead would
I'm sorry for me Latham, what did he get? Nortan

(36:59):
won in this series? Strike rates okay, yes he plays
well spin Asia, but he has to prove himself and
these warm up games. Phillips is another. His batting has
been disappointing. He does offer some spin options and Conway
was magnificent till he broke his somemb and when he

(37:20):
broke his some as we know, he went to the
IPL didn't play. They picked him cold to go into
the T twenty World Cup and he and Williams and
others who were water boys or didn't play much in
the IPL, just did a perform and we had no
warm up games. Pliny, we have warm up games. Let's
find our best eleven there rather than going with the

(37:43):
Old Boys Club kicking whoever the coach and captain wants,
whether they're inform or not. We had two years of
Tim Southing not in form, getting a wonderful ride where
we sacrificed the Test series against the Pomps so that
he can have a send off when statistically he didn't
deserve it. We can't make those mistakes with this World Cup.

(38:05):
So thankfully, Binney, we've got five warm up games. Let
the players pick themselves in the Old Boys Network, stand
back and honor performance not loyalty.

Speaker 2 (38:19):
You will not get an argument from me, Dobbo. You
will not get an argument from me. Let's see if
they do exactly as you suggest. I've got those games,
as you say, to try a couple of things to
give Mark Chapman a go at the top of that's
what they decide to play around in the middle order
to even if they decide to leave lay them out
and give Conway the gloves, they've got the chance to

(38:39):
do that as well. So let's see what they do.
Good to chat mate, Always enjoy your comments. Eight Away
from One News Talks dB.

Speaker 1 (38:47):
Let's go from the track, field and the court on
your home of sort weekends for It with Jason Vine.

Speaker 2 (38:53):
Talk five to one. Let's wrap the cricket chat with
some comments from Gary Steed, head coach. How tough was
it to omit Jacob Duffy from the Champions Trophy squad.

Speaker 4 (39:03):
Yeah, I mean it's a tough decision because I mean
Jacob duff he's been I guess probably the one people
would say it is hard done by. He's been very,
very good in what he's played for us. I think
the way to look at it though, is if some
of these guys, perhaps like a lucky Ferguson, we're available,
Jacob Duffy may not have got the opportunity. So for
us it's a real positive story. But although Jake's missed,

(39:26):
I mean, it's still positive that we're growing that depth
to the long term for our team.

Speaker 2 (39:32):
And is there any concern over the selection of Ben
c has given his lengthy layoff with injury.

Speaker 11 (39:37):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (39:38):
Look, we've been a little conservative in Ben's return to plays,
but we always had an eye that we thought he
would be part of this Champions Trophy squad. He's one
of those guys I think when you look at places
like Pakistan, a pure speed is something that you're looking for,
and he certainly has that. A young terrorway is always
nice to see and we're excited to have.

Speaker 3 (39:59):
Him in the squad.

Speaker 2 (39:59):
There you go. That's the voice of Gary Staed on
the announcement this morning of the squad for the ICC
Champions Trophy. More to come on this across the afternoon
if we get a bit of time. Approaching news at
one Central Hines fifteen without loss at the end of
the fourth overbatting first against the Otago Sparks and Parmeston
North Book Keep an eye on that for you. The
Ossie Tennis Open about to get under way after two

(40:22):
o'clock this afternoon. Craig Gabriel will join us with a
decent preview asb Tennis Classic after one and Joe Schmidt
two Tennis Classic men's singles. Also, there's a reporting the
Herald this morning from our good mate Michael Burgess that
plans to upgrade the Auckland Tennis Center are well and

(40:43):
truly on track, and I put a roof on it
increased capacity for spectators, all that sort of thing. You
can read that at Enzi Herald, dot co, dot nzet.
Also this hour James mcconey Rugby shortly. I know it's
January twelve, but we do have some Rugby to discuss.
It's from across the Tasman. They still don't know whether

(41:03):
Joe Schmit's going to carry on beyond the Line Lions tour.
He was supposed to tell them last month. These sort
of dilly deallying a little bit. What does this mean?
Does it mean that he'll perhaps stay on and guide
the Wallabies to the next World Cup, which is of
course in Australia in twenty twenty seven. They would love
it if he did. He's always said that he won't.

(41:24):
Mighty Christy Doran on that very shortly. Let's update you
on live sport from around the place. Parmeerston North fits
Herbert part to be precise. Dream eleven Super Smash Women
Central Hindes thirty four with out loss having men senzin
by Otago seven overs in Holy Armitage has been one
of the better batters going around the women's Super Smash
this summer twenty one off nineteen balls leading the charge there.

(41:45):
The Aussie Tennis Open is underway. The first matches are
in progress. We're going to get the chance today to
see the women's top seat well later on tonight anyway arena.
Sablenka is on Rod Laver Arena later on tonight. I
think she starts the night session. Yes, she does on

(42:08):
Rod Labor tonight and also in action tonight Alexander Zverev,
who is the men's second seed. We'll keep eyes on
that and as far as the NFL has concerned, the
wild card game taking place at the moment in the AFC,
the Texans looking pretty good in Houston up against the
La Charger three quarter a time. They lead by twenty

(42:29):
points to six. We'll keep you across all of that.
As the afternoon goes on. Coming up ten past one, it.

Speaker 12 (42:35):
It's out for Jorgansen, Max Jorvison, Max Jargison.

Speaker 3 (42:39):
No, they didn't.

Speaker 10 (42:40):
Oh my goodness me.

Speaker 2 (42:42):
Oh, it's unbelievable.

Speaker 13 (42:46):
It's one of the greatest moments in Wallaby's history and
it belongs to Jorganson.

Speaker 2 (42:54):
They have stunned England. Yeah, that was the Wallabyes beating
England at Twickenham. As part of the end of year
tour last year, but of a bright spot and what
was another challenging year for Australian rugby. Oo Schmidt of
course was at the Helm, but still no real clarity
over Joe Schmitt's future as Wallaby's coach. He has committed
to guiding the side in this year's series against the

(43:17):
British and Irish Lions, which is mid year. Beyond that,
even into the Rugby Championship, things are unclear. Rugby Australia
want them to stay. They want them to stay on
until the Wallabies host the Rugby World Cup or Australia
do anyway on home soil in twenty twenty seven, but
that seems to be very much in the hands of
Joe Schmitt himself. Let's bring in rugby editor at the

(43:40):
raw dot com dot au, Christy Dooran Christy Good to
get the chance to chat to you about this. Joe
Schmitt was supposed to let Rugby Australia know of his
plans in December, but he didn't. Do you think that
means that he's more likely to stay on beyond twenty
twenty five or do you think it's it's more likely
that he will go. What does this delay in the

(44:01):
announcement actually mean?

Speaker 14 (44:05):
Very good warning to you. It's a really interesting question
because as a journal you're constantly trying to make phone
calls and work out what's happening, and it's really just
swung with it every passing week almost what's he going
to do? And you're right put him He put this
timeline on himself and Rugby I show they weren't expecting
him to come out in a paper and say you

(44:26):
know what, yeah by December or have a decision, so
they've actually put it back on him and gone, you
know what, we don't mind. You know, he can take
as long as he wants. They're not trying to put
any pressure on him because they know that he's the
man that they want to guide through the twenty twenty
seven World Cups. So it's a fascinating one I think,

(44:49):
and I've been even throughout the last week thinking what
way is this going. I still think that he's very
unlikely to be the head coach beyond twenty twenty five.
I wrote just recently that he could go throughout the
Rugby Championship starts just two weeks after of the third
Jewish and Irish Lions Test two weeks in South Africa.

(45:11):
We know how difficult it was for New Zealand to
go over there in twenty twenty four and try to
come away with a win, let alone the Wallabies, who
of course haven't had a winning year since twenty fifteen.
So yeah, so much riding on this, But I think
the decision will come in the next week or so.

Speaker 2 (45:27):
Yeah, because it has to come soon, doesn't know, Christy
Man judgment can't just keep you know, Rugby Australia hanging
on Canny can't keep them on tenterhooks as you've written,
you know, he has to allow them to come up
with a contingency plan if he decides to call it
a day, either after the lines or after the Rugby
Championship this year.

Speaker 14 (45:46):
Yeah, that's exactly right. Like it's fascinating though as well,
because in twenty thirteen Robbie Deans was sacked after the
third Test in Sydney and a couple of weeks later
New and mackenzie was there and he walks straight into
it and everyone it was the worst kept secret that
new and McKenzie are going to become the next coach.

Speaker 8 (46:03):
To the all of you so look, these decisions.

Speaker 14 (46:06):
Can happen on a whim really quickly. So in many
respects you go, well, why do you have to make
a decision seven months beforehand? But I think given what
Joe Schmid has said about his coaching future, with obviously
the health of his son, that there's probably a little
bit more expectation that this is why it's going to
come out out quicker. The rugby world's moved on a

(46:26):
little bit as well. You think about all the pressure
that clubs that overseas clubs are putting on Australia and
New Zealand clubs to try to get their players, their
top players, even their middle tier players up into Japan,
into France. There's million dollar contracts being handed out left,
right and center. So players want clarity. And the other
thing about this is Bobbie James's coach for five six

(46:49):
years between twenty and eight and thirteen, the Wallabis have
had three coaches in three years. So if Joe Schmidt
moves on in August this year, it'll be a fourth
coach in four years coaching the Wall of You. So
for a nation that desperately needs stability, that's why this
is so because there's been none of it. All the
players have had ever since they've come on to their

(47:12):
professional careers, with the exception of James Slipper, who's still
ticking along. His instability is negative headlines. And finally it
seemed like there was a bit of a pulse on
the end of season two last year when the well
of his beat England at Twickenham. The nation really came
with the Wallabies and that's why it's important now. And

(47:32):
I found it really surprising last week where Lannie Gleason,
young kid, twenty three year old, he's played thirteen to
fourteen test matches, he signs with Montpelliger. It's not yet official,
but he does so, and as a result, the Wallabs
and Rugby say thanks that, no thanks, he's not now
welcome at the preseason camp where he was included as

(47:52):
one of pretty playoffs. I found that really surprising, especially
given the fact that Joe Smith's been noncommittable about what
his own future is. He's not going to stand himself down,
is he if he decides to go after the lines too.
But that's what you're effectively doing with other players if
they don't kick on beyond this year.

Speaker 2 (48:12):
Yeah, I read with interest your article or your your
peace on that. Yeah, about the ruthless message, but yeah,
the slight hypocrisy around players and coaches. Christy, is there
any chance that Joe Schmidt will do a one eighty
here and say, you know what, I will stay to
twenty twenty seven?

Speaker 14 (48:31):
Look, you have to think there's a slight one. You know,
why has it taken this long? You know we're into
the third week of January now, well second, just about
the third. Anyhow, everyone that you speak to, from those
worked with him in Ireland, those that know him very well,
know that rugby is Joshuph's identity, isn't it. You take

(48:52):
that away and then where's the meeting in life that
you get the excitement, the desire to get up out
of bed. And they think that, look, why wouldn't he
You know, he hasn't taken a coach, sorry, a team
as head coach to the World Cup and gone past
the quarterfinal. Obviously he was with you All Blacks last
year and they go through to the final. But he's

(49:12):
an assistant coach, so you know that maybe there's a
bit of a legacy, but that he wants to rewrite there.
But that's probably looking from the external view, isn't it
Joe SMI's got a decision about with his family whether
or not he can do it himself, justify it, and
if he can, then then Rugby Australia will be desperate
to have him, and I know that the nation will

(49:35):
as well, because he's unassuming kind of guys and he's
got a lovely smile. He's a nice bloke. But I
don't know if the media they don't know him. He
didn't do an interview when he was with your Blacks.
He's not like a Dave or any will go out
of his way to have you know, with a bloke

(49:55):
or go to the pub to catch up or come
over during training and say you guys. He's he's very
much himself and I've seen him in a sense going
you know what, I've got a one and a half
year mission in Australia. I'm going to do it myself.
I'm going to kick on now, I'm going to have
my head down now. I'm going to try to turn
the fortunes around off the Wallabies because the world Ruggy
desperately needs it. That's been my gut feeling right from

(50:18):
the outset and what sources have told me as well.
I'd be surprised if he kicks on to twenty seven,
but jeez would love it if.

Speaker 2 (50:27):
He were to finish. If he does finish, who are
the candidates to take over post the Lions or post
the Rugby Championship.

Speaker 14 (50:35):
Well, Let's Kiss has been the favorite for a long time.
He's got a great working relationship with Joe, having spent
time with him in twenty thirteen, fourteen and fifteen with Ireland.
Let's Kiss there only just returned to the Reds. He's
going into his second years. Princeland Rugby want him to
continue on, but he's definitely one and there'd be an
arrangement that could be made which would be pretty easy.

(50:57):
I think were easy enough. Dan mchel has just returned
after a stint at Lester and we know that he
had some successful rele of success the Brumbies anyway, Consistent, disciplined,
hard working, lots of great characteristics for a coach. I
still think it's perhaps a year or two two premature
for dam but Michael Checker, you can't rule him out that.

(51:21):
Whilst Phil will is the Rugby show to CEO, I'm
not sure if he's the sort of person that they'd
be looking at because he's a guy that does things
his way. But at the moment he's not despite the
faith that less the Tigers are going very well, having
a great win at home right now at the moment
in the European champions Cup, and I don't think that

(51:43):
Phil will have him come back, and it's set up
here perfectly for him a one to two year hit
and run job. He's done it everywhere. He did it
with the Wallas in twenty four and fifteen and turned
around their fortunes. But he's the sort of guy that
Rugby Show is still a little bit spooched by by
how things ended up under raylank Castle in twenty eighteen

(52:04):
twenty nineteen where he was somewhat out of control, and
still all was a board member there at the time
of twenty eighteen or nineteen, so it's really fascinating. The
real left field one to finish up is Leon McDonald.
He's clearly finished up with the All Blacks at the
start of the Rugby Championship. He's got a great relationship

(52:26):
with Joe Schmitt. Does he bring him on board at
the moment this year there was only four assistant coaches
like a four man coaching team this year with Joe
s Mint, so they can definitely have space for another person.
Schmid was doing the attack with Liam McDonald's at the
attack and then perhaps they're very a bit of a
transition period for Leon. So there's definitely scope and coaches

(52:50):
out there. It wouldn't be all doing gloom if Joe
smnt left, but for his consistency and what he's done,
and he's detail around the game. That's the thing. The
missing element that of Shane Roby's needed for some time.

Speaker 2 (53:02):
Leon McDonald and town to the Wallaby as well well.
What interest from over the side of the Tasman. Christy,
thanks so much for joining us and giving us your expertise.

Speaker 14 (53:11):
Yeah, it's a pleasure.

Speaker 2 (53:12):
Cheers, No, thanks Mane. That's Christy Dran. You can read
him at the raw dot com dot au. He's rugby
editor there. Leon McDonald in charge of the Wallabies. Tell
you what stranger things have happened? It may well happen.
Is a good coach without a job gets on well
with Joe Schmidt? Is this the reason for the delay?

(53:32):
Are they starting to just to put these things together?
How the Australian rugby public go I've already got one,
or they've had plenty of New Zealand coaches, haven't they,
Dave Rennie, Robbie Deans, now Joe Schmidt. Would they tolerate
another one? And Leon McDonald? I think they probably would
be another interesting storyline. Last year we had Joe Schmitt

(53:53):
coming up against his former team and the All Blacks
as Wallaby's coach. Who knows what the future might hold
As far as Leon McDonald is concerned, could he also
be there singing as advance Australia fair against the All Blacks. Looky,
they could do worse than Lionel McDonald. They could do
a lot worse the Wallabies than Leon McDonald. We will

(54:14):
certainly keep eyes on that for you, as we will
on live sport happening around the place. The Central Hines
fifty five for two, just past the midway point of
their innings against the Otago Sparks in Palmerston North, fifty
five to two in the eleventh over. It's three quarter time.
We're just gone three quarter time in the AFC wild
card match. In the NFL, the Houston Texans twenty three

(54:36):
six ahead of the La Chargers. These are effectively knockout games.
The winners go through to the divisional games next week, which, again,
if you want to put it into parlas that we understand,
are basically quarter finals for the Super Bowl. So Texans
twenty three Charges six at two o'clock this afternoon in
Baltimore is the Ravens up against the Steelers. Will keep

(54:59):
eyes on that for you as well. And the Aussie
Tennis Open is underway. It's underway officially and soon to
be underway on rod Laver Arena as well. I think
the first game is set for one thirty on rod
Lava Arena. Yes it is. I'm just checking that on
the on their website. Anchor Todoni the unseeded Romanian up

(55:22):
against another unseeded player, the Chinese. No, not unseated fifth seed,
my apologies, fifth seed Kid ween Jing the fifth seeded
Chinese player, So she's got the honor of being the
first seeded player out onto rod Laver Arena. In the
twenty twenty five Australian Open, cusperlud to follow he is
the men's sixth seed. And in the night session tonight

(55:44):
Arena Sabalinka against Sloan Stevens Sabolenka, the two time defending
champion and top seed, and then Alexander Zverev, the second
seeded German, will follow as he opens his campaign to
try and get a breakthrough win. Has Alexander Zverev won
a major? I should know this, I should have checked.

(56:06):
It's well. He'll start his campaign for this one against
the Frenchman Lucas Pui, who is unseated with had him
at the ASP Classic, haven't we a few times? Lucas
point one twenty four News Talks edb speaking of the
ASB Classic. Garmol Fee, another Frenchman, won at yesterday at
the age of thirty eight, first time he's won the

(56:26):
ASB Classic, A very popular winner on center court there
yesterday at the Auckland Tennis Center. Le Radovanovitch was covering
it for Sky as part of their team. He'll join
us with a review of that and maybe I look
ahead to what the future of this tournament might look
like with the upgrade of the facilities in Auckland. So tennis.
When we come back here on News Talks, heb.

Speaker 3 (56:49):
You be the TMO.

Speaker 1 (56:50):
Have 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 (56:59):
NB Championship point for Garman Face.

Speaker 12 (57:08):
Finally go on Face Masters the ASP Classic. It's Lucky
number thirteen at Stanley Street.

Speaker 2 (57:22):
Here Frenchman garm On fisas one Auckland's ASB Tennis Classic
for the very first time, beating Belgian qualifier ziezu Bergh's
sixty three, sixty fourth and just over an hour and
a half yesterday to take the crown. Mont Feast broke
Berg's serve early in both sets to allow him to
control the match. It's his thirteenth ATP Tour title and

(57:44):
he becomes the oldest player to win on the tour
since it began in nineteen ninety, at the ripe old
age of thirty eight. Former pro Lee Radovanovitch was watching
on as part of Sky Sports commentary team. He joins
us now, thanks for joining us two days in a row,
leite to review this one. Now. Did gam On Feast

(58:04):
always look in control of the final?

Speaker 6 (58:08):
He did. He seemed in control from the first point
in the first game. I think when we spoke yesterday
I mentioned that this might be another day at the
office for on feast, because you know, he's been in
seventy three semifinals, he's been into semifinals of Grand Slams,
He's won a tournament every year of his nineteen year career.

(58:28):
He just came out right from the start, found his range,
he was composed, didn't make many errors, so he can't
well not kind of. He absolutely put in a flawless performance.

Speaker 2 (58:42):
Was zizu Berg's in any way to your eye overruled
by the occasion. He's already just arrived after all.

Speaker 6 (58:49):
Yeah, so I said in the build up, he's got
the game to beat mont feat. So it was quite
a good matchup for him in terms of how they
operate technically and physically.

Speaker 8 (58:57):
But being that it was his first final.

Speaker 6 (58:59):
He wasn't able to just find the mental focus for
him to be able to allow himself to play his
best tennis like we had seen in the previous five
matches to the two qualifying matches plus around a thirty
two quarterfinal semifinal. He was in the zone in the final.
He was battling with himself mentally. You could see it.

(59:21):
He was frustrated at times because the forehand wing of
his which is his weapon. Let him down from memory.
He might have been nineteen or twenty unforced erahs on
that forehand, and every time he had a half chance,
it felt like he missed that forehand. So when your
best SHOT's not going for you and you're mentally struggling

(59:41):
with yourself, it's very difficult.

Speaker 2 (59:44):
Is the improvement of mental focus as a tennis plus
something that can only come with experience.

Speaker 6 (59:52):
I'd say generally yes, but sometimes no. Because we've had
three nineteen year olds here this week could have done really,
really well and are inside the world's top fifty. So
some of the guys can be where they need to be.
Right Wait, Bergs is twenty five years old, and if
you were his coach, you would say that was the

(01:00:13):
one thing that he needs to improve on to get
into the world's top twenty, top thirty, something like that.
Just stay on task, stay focused, i get frustrated with
the crowd, focused on what you're doing, and try and
win as many points as you can. One of the
issues for him yesterday was he would play one good
point and he followed that up with a loose point.
He wasn't able to string four or five points together

(01:00:35):
in a row where Montfeese was able to just keep
the ball in the court allow the Belgian play to
self destructed make errors.

Speaker 2 (01:00:44):
Whose side was the crowd on yesterday?

Speaker 6 (01:00:48):
I think definitely Montfees. I mean the crowd was loving it.
Even though it doesn't seem like it was tight on
the score line, you can feel the intensity of the match.
Montfees is absolutely the crowd favorite. They loved it when
he won. He had a huge celebration and had a
couple of really long match interviews and speeches. He's a

(01:01:09):
craft favorites of the way that he plays. He's got
shopped the players don't generally try. He throws in the
cheeky drop shot from a place where he shouldn't really
be doing that, or he's got a big fourhand on
the run out of the blue that the crowd just
gets up off the seats for.

Speaker 2 (01:01:25):
And you mentioned yesterday that he doesn't need the money anymore,
does he. He doesn't need the agulation, he doesn't need to
do anything for a sense of achievement anymore. He's he's
pretty much done at all. Do you sense that, you know,
just a joy of the game of tennis? If there
is such a thing at this level.

Speaker 11 (01:01:39):
I think so.

Speaker 6 (01:01:40):
Yeah. I think he's got to that point where he
knows he's not going to be a Grand Slam winner,
but he's won thirty six million in prize money, so
he's just fine. He's playing because he loves it and
he's you know, getting another opportunity to one another tournament
means the world to him. And he's just played in
a care free fashion out there on set accord in

(01:02:00):
the final, composed more than comfortable in that space that
he was.

Speaker 2 (01:02:05):
In a report on the Herald this morning, Rada, you
may have seen it and have no doubt heard talk
of this development of the venue with a roof plan.
That's the ambition of the organizers to help future proof
the event, make a bigger, better take. Whether out of
the equation of course, is there something that you know
almost has to happen if this tournament is to continue

(01:02:26):
on an upward trajectory.

Speaker 6 (01:02:29):
I certainly have to happen. You know, that's asarily old
center there, and they do a really good job to
pull it all together. But you know, I don't take
the organizers MND be saying there's a lot of scaffolding
a lot of piecemealing going on around the stadium. I
think that as imperative they do it. Hopefully they can

(01:02:49):
get the money. I believe they're on their way towards
doing that. I believe they have consent to do it.
One interesting thing is one factor reading the stadium is
that some of the players complain that the distance between
the baseline and the back it is too short. Because
as men tennis is changing over the years, players are

(01:03:11):
playing further further hind the baseline, so they need to
link to that to make more space between the baseline
and that fix is kind of interesting.

Speaker 2 (01:03:21):
Yeah, that is there a well there must I'm sure
there's a there's a you know, a minimum that's allowed.
But what I mean what a player say, we'll apply
look at it and say, well, I won't come and
play in Auckland unless there's more room behind the baseline.

Speaker 8 (01:03:35):
Oh yeah, absolutely, yep.

Speaker 6 (01:03:37):
Because most of the other or a lot of the
other stadiums or courts around the world are probably newer,
so they've got more room. You know, they've got the
clay quarters, the out and out clay quarters. They want
to be three four or five meters pint the baseline.

Speaker 8 (01:03:48):
They don't want to.

Speaker 6 (01:03:49):
Be up close because it's not not where they're comfort donors.
So look a short story. Yes, they need to read
to the stadium hopefull that they can get it done.
And I'm sure this tournament setled out every single year.
It's so popular people come back year after year. I'm
sure if they can increase capacity, they'll sell that out,
no problems because there's such great quality.

Speaker 2 (01:04:10):
Indeed, and just finally, Ossie Open starts today. You will
be uh, I guess on your couch. You're certainly keeping
an eye on things over the next two weeks or
so as time permits. A Yanick Center arena, Sabolenka defending champions,
top seeds. Do they appeal to you as firm favorites
for the next couple of weeks?

Speaker 3 (01:04:27):
She does.

Speaker 6 (01:04:27):
Sablinka for sure is a firm favorite for me, no doubt.
I actually think she'll get that done. She's in great
form physically, just such a weapon and sinner. I would say,
you've got you've got two options, the Yannick Center or
our cras I think of the two standout players that
will see go deep into the week. I would love
to see that Djokovic go on a run and get deep.

(01:04:50):
I'm sure he'll go close, but I don't know. I
really want to. Well, yeah, I don't know that he's
got another Grand Slam left them. These younger guys that
are coming through are now making him look just half
a step slow, which is why he hasn't been winning
the big ones.

Speaker 2 (01:05:06):
Or that the headlines there isn't it twenty five and
twenty five. Whether it gets written or not over the
next couple of weeks, I guess, remains to be seen. Lee,
great to chat tennis with you as always, Thanks for
taking the time. Pay Thank you mate. That's Lee Radovanovitch,
former pro now Skysport commentator and analyst and a good
friend of the show. I always enjoy talking tennis with
Rado Sgamon feasts at the age of thirty eight winning

(01:05:28):
his first ASB Tennis Classic yesterday.

Speaker 11 (01:05:30):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:05:30):
Interesting article in The Herald this morning. You can read
it online Inxine Herald dot co dot nz about the
potential upgrade to the ASB Classic Tennis Auckland revealing plans
for a fifteen million dollar covered stadium at Stanley Street.
This has been reported by Michael Burgess, who knows plenty
about these things Injet Herald dot co dot nz to

(01:05:52):
find out more as Michael reports that the twenty twenty
seven ASB Classic could be played under a roof inside
a redeveloped, larger stadium. That is the ambitious vision of
tournament organizers as they look to future proof the event,
make it bigger and better and take weather out of
the equation. And according to tennis Auckland, writes Michael Burgess,

(01:06:13):
this is a realistic goal rather than a lofty dream.
The large portion apparently off the fifteen million dollar price
tag has already been committed, so this is excellent news.
Just while we're on the subject of tennis, Nick Kyrios
will take to the Australian Open tomorrow. I thought they
might put him on Rod Labor, They've obviously decided not to.

(01:06:36):
He will play the night session on John Cain Arena
tomorrow night, up against the unseeded British player Jacob Fernley.
Is it Jacob Fernley? Is that his name? It is
Jacob Fernley. So how is Nick Kyrios enjoying being back
at the Aussie Open having been out of tennis for

(01:06:57):
a while with injury.

Speaker 15 (01:06:58):
Today this morning was out there feeling pretty good. And
then I'm actually hitting again this afternoon, so to test
it out a little bit and see how it feels.
But as of right now, because we've got, you know,
three days before the tournament starts for me, and yeah,
I'm just taking a day by day and just enjoying
all the moments again of being part of the tournament,
going through all the hallways of the locker room, seeing everyone again.
It's been an emotional time for me the last couple

(01:07:21):
of weeks. But yeah, I'm just enjoying being back.

Speaker 2 (01:07:23):
Of course, the cameras follow Nick Currios wherever he goes.
The practice session he had there was a bit of
conjecture about whether it should have been a closed session,
closed off to the cameras or not. There were cameras
keeping eyes on Nick Currios as he was practicing at
the Aussie Open. How does he feel about the media
attention that he attracts?

Speaker 15 (01:07:43):
The media loves me for some reason. I'm not too
sure why, So I'm not surprised that I saw cameras
and things out there, But it wasn't actually supposed to
be a closed session at all. I think it was
a misunderstanding. I mean, I didn't mind seeing the cameras
and people out there. It was good to create a
bit more of an atmosphere and a vibe. And you know,
anytime I get to play, you know, whether it's a
match or practice in front of these fans, there were
so many kids out there. I mean, I think that's
as special for me that you know, I have noticed

(01:08:04):
that on a bit of a role model for these kids.

Speaker 11 (01:08:07):
So it was good.

Speaker 3 (01:08:08):
No, I didn't mind it at all.

Speaker 15 (01:08:10):
But yeah, my body's feeling okay after today's session, and
I'm going again with Pericard at four point thirty.

Speaker 2 (01:08:14):
And how does he feel about being the center of
media attention and does he feel as though his presence
in the game is actually good for the game of tennis.

Speaker 15 (01:08:24):
I mean, we watched sport because we want personalities, you know,
I think, you know, we love you know, we watch
tennis as well, so that one on one aspect of
you know, now the's coaching allowed. But I really loved,
I really enjoyed tennis because there was one v one
you had to watch that person figure it out over
a four or five hour period, and you saw the
amount of emotions that one person goes under and it's

(01:08:45):
like drama, it's like theater. So for me personally, me
being back, I think it adds a bit of question
marks to like what's going to happen today?

Speaker 3 (01:08:54):
Where that's like I love.

Speaker 15 (01:08:55):
That, Like I don't know whether you every time I
step out in court, I don't know if I'm going
to be super controversial a good or bad way, which
I mean throughout my career it hasn't always been good,
but it's added a lot of excitement to the game.
I think I think it's important because there's so many
good players on the tour now, but I think there's
not so many contrasting personalities. So I think it's healthy
that you know, I'm barking, I'm playing. It doesn't really

(01:09:19):
waih on me though. I've always been someone that's that's
played my brand of tennis, and I guess my personality
I haven't changed since I was ten years old. Anyone
that knows me knows that.

Speaker 2 (01:09:28):
That's the voice of Nick Kerrios, who plays Jacob Fernley
in the night Session on John Caine Arena tomorrow night
at the Australian Tennis Open. James On text says Krios
prefers John Caine Arena. He always plays there and loves
the crowd and direction he gets. Well, there you go
tomorrow night bound to be a full house at John
Cain Arena as Nick Kurrios opens his Australian Open campaign

(01:09:50):
for twenty twenty five after two o'clock, we'll drill down
more into the Australia Open when Craig Gabriel joins us
from Melbourne. Next up, though it's our regular catch up
on a Sunday with James mcconey.

Speaker 1 (01:10:02):
It's more than just a game weekend sport with Jason
and TJ gunnerhomes New Zealand's most trusted home builder.

Speaker 2 (01:10:10):
News Talks MB seventeen to two on News Talks THEREB
Sunday afternoons mean a lot of things, including James mcconey's
contribution to the show. How are you mate, I'm.

Speaker 8 (01:10:21):
Good, thanks mate, Piney. Yes, I've been enjoying some summer
weather tripping around the Upper North Island. Yeah it's been
nice yourself.

Speaker 2 (01:10:30):
Well, very good. Yes, No, I can't say I've gone
as far as you haven't. Haven't got on any big roadies,
but no. Enjoying the start of twenty twenty five. Hey,
the Australian Tennis Open. We've just been chatting a bit
about that. Is that on your sports sports viewing list
over the next couple of weeks.

Speaker 8 (01:10:47):
Absolutely, And for anyone else who's sort of been forced
back to work quite early, it's always quite nice in
the Australian Open rolls around because you know, if you
come home on Sky you've got a bit of Aussie
Open to keep your company into the wee hours. You know,
the five seaters over there finished sometimes two in the morning,
even later. So I'm looking at the Aussie Open and

(01:11:11):
I was just checked in to see how Cam Nori
what his drawer looks like. And I can confirm it's terrible.
He has to play with Bertini from from Italy, so
I mean I consider a Makiwi, right, he's from East Auckland.
Come on, Cam, yeahtain now, but yeah, it doesn't look good.
I think that's a that's as tough of draw as

(01:11:32):
you can get for someone ranked as high as Cam.

Speaker 2 (01:11:35):
Yeah, it will be difficult for him to progress. I'm like,
I'm the same as you even you know, I don't
feel like I've been forced back to work, but you're
right when the Aussie opens on. There's all, you know,
I just flicked through the channels at night. That's just
my evening activity. I just flicked through the channels, and
I know that I can always find the tennis in

(01:11:55):
January exactly.

Speaker 8 (01:11:58):
And look, I mean, it's it's such a lottery now.
Like Yannick Center is considered the top seed, but Novak
Djokovic with Andy Murray as his coach, I feel like
Novak realizes, you know, it's you know, time is of
the essence for him. Father time is catching up. He
needs a few more I guess you could call it

(01:12:19):
like titles, just to make sure he's out in the clear.
But there's I mean, I still think Novak's a very
good shout if he can stay fit. On that side,
Yannick Center is the top seed there. But then on
the women's side, I just think it's so so wide open.
Sable Linka is going for a three piece, and then

(01:12:39):
if you look further down, all the players are you know,
Grand Slam winners, all very capable of that. We're still
waiting for Coco Golf, I guess, to reach her full potential.
But then you know, if if we hadn't had that
injury to Naomi al Saka, I think that there would
have been a really good chance for her to to

(01:13:02):
maybe do something. She's quite wide out in the in
the odds there, I mean, she injured thin the stomach
muscle of domino muscle and the finally had to pull
out in Auckland. But then keep an eye on her
because she's as good as anyone in that field. And
then Nick Curios, if you want a true wild card,
the wildest of wild cards, he's back playing. He's at home.

(01:13:24):
Who knows what you'll get, but he is musty TV.

Speaker 2 (01:13:27):
Yeah, box office stuff. And just for lu Luson as well,
she's been drawn against the unseated player from Monte Negro,
Danka Covenich. Don't know anything about Danka Kavanich, so lu
Luson will keep an eye on her in her first
round singles match, which is scheduled for tomorrow. Hey, now,
the black Caps Champions Trophy squad's been named Jacob Duffy
the unlucky Man. They've clearly gone for pace with the

(01:13:50):
likes of Sears and Ferguson and O'Rourke ahead of the
likes of Jacob Duffy.

Speaker 8 (01:13:56):
Yeah, how brutal is it on duff Man's I mean
he just looked the pick of the bowl is on
in a couple of those games. But then you know,
we are in an era where we're back players and
these people that they probably know they're just filling in
until everyone's back at full strength. But one day cricket
is our best discipline. I think the Black Caps, this
is really where we can do something and we were

(01:14:19):
close to it in the last World Cup. I think
our batting lineup with will Young, you know, basically cementing
his spot in there, looks as steady and as good
as strong as anybody in one day cricket. So we
just need I guess those key players Kain Williamson, Rutchan

(01:14:40):
Mavendra to still carry on in b World class like
the last time we played in the big tournament. So
Russian really interesting to see how he goes. I guess.
The one thing about this tournament which is really sad
is that it's in Pakistan. But if India make the final,
the final will have to be played and do Bai
because they are not playing any games in Pakistan because

(01:15:03):
of security concerns. It's so sad. Add that it just
has to beat this. It's a dark cloud over an event,
and they'll play all their games in Dubai.

Speaker 2 (01:15:14):
Yeah, it's a shame, you reckon Will Young open? I
wonder whether they'll go with Devon Conway. You reckon, Will
Young's done enough to stave off the returning Devon Conway
to open the batting well.

Speaker 8 (01:15:24):
I think Will Young. My feeling is he has to play.
I don't know if you'll open. I just think that
what it does is it gives you players who you
know have kind of turned the corner in terms of
their development. And Will Young it will be very harsh
to see him not in the in the lineup somewhere.

Speaker 3 (01:15:41):
It is.

Speaker 8 (01:15:42):
Yeah, it's tricky really because I think Rutch and they
moved him up, didn't they. And he actually batted better
at three from memory in the in the One Day
World Cup. So I would probably say save wrenching a
bit further down and let him do his or three
or four wherever. He scored those tons and and you

(01:16:04):
noticed it. I think when we played our big be final,
I think he got out for not many. Yeah, protect
him a little bit. He is, he's a match winner
if he gets it right.

Speaker 2 (01:16:14):
That's so interesting. Decisions to be made around around the
makeup of the eleven for the ICC champions Trophy. And
finally today we're into the part of the year where
it's the wild card games in the NFL. I'm just
keeping an eye on the Texans against the Chargers. Texans
are pretty much home in host thirty two twelve with
only about three minutes to go. Yeah, yeah, again, you're
a fan of the NFL and your keep eyes on this.

Speaker 8 (01:16:37):
Yes, I do, Pony, I'm a Lions fan and we've
got to buy It's been the Lions best ever season
so far regular season, but notoriously ranked one of the
worst ever teams in the NFL history. When I say
teams clubs, you know, just overall their record, never made
a super Bowl, never gone very far at all, and

(01:16:59):
so this is where I think the Lions, without too
many stars could perhaps do something. But looking at the
games today, I mean, it's it's interesting because justin Herbert,
who's the sort of he's got the quarterback out of
remember the Titans, you know Sunshine, remember how Locks, And

(01:17:22):
he's sort of he's got that old school quarterback look.
But he just had a bit of a shocker today,
So how go the Chargers? But look again, it just
feels like any of these teams could win it. The
Bills look good, They've got a you know, Josh Allen,
the quarterback is an absolute star. And then the Eagles

(01:17:42):
and Packers are playing in a wildcard round game tomorrow
and they both either of those teams could actually win
the Super Bowl have been that good this year. So yeah,
there's there's plenty to like about it. But if you
really want to go for the most exciting or the
most watchable team, you have to go for the Vikings,
who have done several dance celebrations, from the dance scenes

(01:18:04):
from high school musical White Chicks. You name a movie
that's got a big dance scene and they've done it.
I think, yeah. They they're on fire with their with
their celebrations, and it drives people nuts or the real
sort of like the conservative fans nuts on the social media.

Speaker 2 (01:18:23):
Well, oddly enough, I know this because the Minnesota Vikings
are my son's team, and therefore, by default my team.
I watched them being dealt to by your lines last
week actually with a growing sense of impending doom. But
yet I've enjoyed watching the Vikings. It is now the
time of the years. I mean, these are basically knockout games,
aren't they. So yeah, the Vikings, I think on Tuesday

(01:18:45):
afternoon have the La Rams in Los Angeles. That'll be tough,
but we'll look out for that one and their dance moves.
And we will chat again with you around about the
same time next Sunday if it fits your travel schedule.

Speaker 8 (01:18:57):
Yeah, I'll slap you in always Piney, don't you worry.
Wherever I am, as long as I can get some reception,
I'll find you brilliant stuff.

Speaker 7 (01:19:06):
We'll find.

Speaker 2 (01:19:06):
Thanks James, James mcconey, he's part of our Sundays here
on news talks. He'd be finding across the social media
and as part of the Alternative Commentary collective as well.
It's away from two news Talks. Heb.

Speaker 1 (01:19:18):
When it's down to the line, you made a call
on eighty ten eighty Weekend Sport with Jason Hine News Talks.

Speaker 2 (01:19:26):
Heb it's five to two to part Miston North, where
the game between the Otago Sparks and the Central Hines
has has taken a bit of a turn. The Central
Hines were going along very nicely there were thirty eight
without loss in the eighth over and going well, they're
now eighty nine for eight, eighty nine for eight, I've

(01:19:47):
lost what's that? Eight for fifty one now Eden Carson
is having an absolute day. Five for eighteen, Eden Carson,
five for eighteen for Otago and the Central Hines in
a bit of a hole eighty nine for eight. Dave
asks on text Sale GP looking for Auckland next weekend.

(01:20:09):
I can tell you it is looking absolutely magnificent and
happily we've secured a spot there for weekend Sport next
Saturday and Sunday. Really looking forward to broadcasting the show
live from sale GP next weekend right across both days
and chatting with many of the key participants. Speaking of which,

(01:20:30):
after two o'clock we're going to do exactly that. The
Black Foils are looking to back up their win and
do BAI in the season opener just before Christmas. Sam
Meech is the coach of the Black Foils. He's going
to join us for a chat. We'll also get you
across to Melbourne for a decent preview of the Australian Open,
which is now underway. Craig Gabriel also going to join

(01:20:50):
us between two and three.

Speaker 1 (01:20:53):
The only place for the big names, the big issues,
the big controversies and the big conversations kids, all on
Weekend Sport with Jason Vain on your Home Sport Hu's Talks.

Speaker 6 (01:21:08):
It'd been.

Speaker 2 (01:21:10):
Coming up eight past two. Welcome in to Weekend Sport
or the final hour of it. We'll hand over to
Wilhelmina Shrimpton after three o'clock for summer afternoons slash evenings.
I'm not sure whether three o'clock through till six or
whenever Wilhelmina is on the air until is an afternoon
or an evening. I'm not sure that it really matters
should be looking after you after three o'clock. Before we

(01:21:32):
get there, we've got some sale gp to cover off.
Sam meach is the new coach of the Black Foils
with sal gp Auckland coming up next weekend Saturday Sunday.
Simply cannot wait for this, broadcasting the show live from
there both days next weekend, so Sam, meet you along.
Shortly we'll get across to Melbourne where Craig Gabriel is

(01:21:54):
about to start covering by my count his forty fifth
Australian Tennis open remarkable from Craig Gabriel, who might be
the favorites in his eyes for the men's and women singles,
and how far mke Nick Kurios go. We've got football
as well, both of A League. The New Zealand men's

(01:22:15):
sides in the A League had losses yesterday The Phoenix
lost to Adelaide United and then late last night against
all expectation Auckland FC, who have been flying against Perth
Glory who have been pretty bad. The tables will turned
Perth Glory winning that one one Neil last night, so
we'll get the thoughts of both coaches and also looking
ahead to the Wellington Phoenix women's game against Adelaide United

(01:22:35):
a bit later on tonight Live Sport. Well The Texans
have eaten the Chargers in the AFC wild Card game.
The first one thirty two points to twelve about to
start in Baltimore between the Ravens and the Steelers in
the Super Smash the women's game in Palmerston North. The

(01:22:57):
Central Hines, who were thirty eight without loss, have been
bowled out for ninety So what's that losing all ten
wickets for fifty two, five of those going the way
of Eden and five for eighteen, so the Otago Sparks
shortly will begin their chase for ninety one to beat
the Central Hines in Parmaston. North of Men's game is
to follow. But as we always do it around about

(01:23:18):
this time on weekend sport, it is time to get
you up to date with the stuff that might have
escaped your attention. There is quite a bit of sport
going on at the moment and we kind of feel
as though there's no way you can stay across all
of it as it's happening in real time. That's why
we put together for you every Saturday and Sunday in
case you missed it. Starting with the Big Bash one

(01:23:40):
hundreds galore last night, Steve Smith leading the way for
the Sydney Sixers, chops away to.

Speaker 16 (01:23:46):
The offside crowd on their feet, he stops on the
single and he's one hundred. Steady Smith is thirty the
Big Bash. He's just too good. He's a start, absolute star,
this man. They came to set it back and Steve
Smith has delivered.

Speaker 2 (01:24:01):
The six is beating the Perth Scorches by fourteen runs
and Max Short providing a captain's knock for Adelaide leading
his team to a fifty six run win over Brisbane
and that we'll get to the boundary that.

Speaker 10 (01:24:16):
Will bring up.

Speaker 2 (01:24:17):
Sidley a magnificentth century to the captain. That short to
the Australian National Basketball League and the Breakers sorry season
continued a lost to Illawarra and to a New Zealand perspective,
they won't win today, but at least they fought hard
in the second half. They're gonna get obliterated. Instead, they
put one hundred points on the board and trailed by

(01:24:38):
only eight. They lose by only eight Yeah, one o
eight to one hundred. The loss for the Breakers last
night in fact a tough day and night as it
turns out for kiwe teams in Australian competitions. As mentioned
a short time ago, the Wellington Phoenix falling to Adelaide United,
his side looked to find the coe Head goal here

(01:24:58):
Forius helps it in, Josh Lamy drops.

Speaker 17 (01:25:01):
It and looka Yovanovich councs no second invitation needed and
in beg to bet matches, Luka Ivanovitch.

Speaker 2 (01:25:12):
Scores the goal that plots air laid United two one
ahead and that was the final score. Means I'm Auckland
FC stunned by Perth Glory.

Speaker 3 (01:25:20):
It got speed in a waiver klucha wins it back Perth.

Speaker 13 (01:25:23):
Time shot for Penn Rifles it past Telex Polston at
this time. That is the glory in futs what's a
strike by.

Speaker 2 (01:25:33):
Chatlan Kevin Perth Glory one nil. Winners there Finally to
the FA Cup. It took one hundred and twelve minutes
for Stoke City and Sunderland to find a winner in
their third round match. Edis driving forward here with a reel.

Speaker 17 (01:25:49):
Chair scorekeeper committed himself and Ennis Strokes it home at
Stoked City in front for the second time today Jake
Smart Robbins a step closer to a Round four of.

Speaker 2 (01:26:00):
This season's FA Cup, Stoke advancing two to one, and
Manchester City relentless against Salford City.

Speaker 1 (01:26:07):
Worked it to Grealish passes it in and the has
number eight and it's a It's.

Speaker 9 (01:26:13):
A great feeling for.

Speaker 17 (01:26:15):
James bucker Tee who gets himself up on to his feet.

Speaker 3 (01:26:19):
Hav he's got a hatchet.

Speaker 1 (01:26:21):
The suits from the trag field and the court on
your home of Sport Weekend Sport with Jason Vine's talking.

Speaker 16 (01:26:29):
And they will get it foremo Suspina Spain claims season four.

Speaker 2 (01:26:35):
It is official. That was the moment Spain clinched the
sale GP title last year and what was season four?
Season five is underway New Zealand winning the season opener
in Dubai at the back end of last year. Event
to sale GP Auckland next weekend. Huge anticipation around about

(01:26:55):
this event. Sam Meach is Blackfoil's coach. He joins us. Now, Sam,
what will the week ahead look like as you head
towards sale GP in Auckland next weekend.

Speaker 18 (01:27:06):
It's a big week for us. We've had a lot
of sailing days. Usually we only get a couple of
days practice before the racing starts, and this week we've
got all week. So we've got new foils coming on
line with two foils, so there's gonna be a lot
to learn and a lot of a lot of analyzing
and debriefing. How the boat's going with the with the
new equipment.

Speaker 2 (01:27:23):
Yeah, well, tell us about that, the new foils. You know,
I guess that there's probably some jargon that most of
us won't understand. But in general terms, does it does
it mean you'll go faster?

Speaker 6 (01:27:34):
It does?

Speaker 18 (01:27:35):
That's exactly what it means. The boats are going to
be quicker and the racing just that little bit more exciting.
But it's it's a lot the teams to learn in
just a few days before racing. So yeah, it's very
exciting and we're looking forward to challenge.

Speaker 2 (01:27:49):
What will the learning process be? What what is it
that you really have to try and perfect in the
next six or seven days.

Speaker 18 (01:27:59):
Well, it's essentially it's it's not going to be too different.
It's just the boat's going to react a little bit
and like you say, quicker speeds and the maneuvers will
all feel a little bit different. So it's going to
be a lot of work, especially for the wing trimmer
and and the flight controller to kind of just get
in sync and see how it behaves differently to the older,
older foils. And then you know, these boats have so

(01:28:22):
much data coming off them that will be able to
really look into everything and compare how the other boat's
going as well.

Speaker 2 (01:28:28):
At higher speed. Are the margins for era smaller?

Speaker 18 (01:28:33):
Oh, they definitely are. And you've got to think so
far ahead before you make a decision. You know, you're
you know the strategists and the how and I've got
to have their plan before they go around the mark,
and they've got to know exactly what they're going to do, because, yeah,
your decisions, decisions seem to be so far advanced now
you're going this quick.

Speaker 2 (01:28:50):
So Dubai a winning start in the first event of
the new season. What were your big sort of lessons
and takeaways from from Dubai?

Speaker 3 (01:28:59):
Oh?

Speaker 18 (01:29:00):
I think Devi just showed how how close the racing is,
you know, like a mixed up teams winning pretty much
every different race.

Speaker 6 (01:29:07):
Just little things, small margins.

Speaker 18 (01:29:09):
Like you say, seem to make the difference, and you
know it's going to be a very competitive season.

Speaker 2 (01:29:14):
Some new faces aboard the Black Floors this year, yours
included obviously, how's the integration gone for you? For starter, Sam,
have you enjoyed your integration? I know you know these
guys pretty well and girls pretty well, but how's the
integration gone into the Black floors for you?

Speaker 19 (01:29:30):
Yeah?

Speaker 18 (01:29:30):
I mean I know everyone really well. We've been sailing
against and with each other for probably ten ten or
so years now, so that was good. But it's a
different format, it's a different style of sailing that I'm
used to, and it was a big week in to
buy for me, trying to trying to learn the roads,
learn the technology, and I think this week will be

(01:29:52):
really cool to try and cement what I learned and
move forward. And we've also got Leo taking on the
flight control, so it's his second event as well, so
I know it's exciting. We're learning lots and yeah, developing
the team.

Speaker 2 (01:30:06):
How steep would the learning curve have been for Leo
taker Hashi as the new flight controller.

Speaker 18 (01:30:12):
I think he's a great sailor and he's actually done
done quite a bit before, but it's different if your
team sales slightly differently. And yeah, I think he's done
a lot of work looking looking at the data and
spending his time reading all the team's notes, and I
mean this team is so organized and well structured that
I think he had a lot of good information coming

(01:30:32):
in and obviously was able to do a fantastic job
for the team at the first event.

Speaker 2 (01:30:36):
What are the real specifics of your role, Sam as coach?

Speaker 18 (01:30:41):
Well, the really cool thing about these events is as
the coach, you can talk to the athletes on the water.
So you've got a microphone and you've got a foot
pedal and you can have back and forth conversations during
the race, which is completely different to any other sort
of coaching I've tried to before. So even just learning
that that technology and how to use it and the

(01:31:01):
timing of when to use it so you're providing good
information to the boat. We can see a lot, you know,
from off the water, and you know you've got all
the data coming off the boat. So it's it's pretty
exciting and I really think it's a cool challenge.

Speaker 2 (01:31:15):
That must be so interesting for you because who do
you talk to everybody? Do you talk to Peter Berling, Blairchuke,
do you talk to Leo? Do you talk to live Mackay?
Who do you talk to me? And how do you
decide when they can all hear me?

Speaker 18 (01:31:31):
So you want to you want to try and time
it well and and like you know, there's a lot
of a lot of conversation on the boat, but you
really need to make sure it's your targets and at
the right times and not trying to speak when someone
else is speaking. So like it is, it's quite a
it's quite a challenge to you know, work with everyone
and work out what needs to be said by who

(01:31:53):
and when and you know, it's it's cool being able
to talk to them, but yeah, if you provide the
wrong information or the right information but at the wrong time, you.

Speaker 8 (01:32:01):
Know, it's it's actually going to make things harder.

Speaker 18 (01:32:03):
So yeah, if the team works a lot on the
communication across the boat and you're having having coach in
the booth who's having to contribute to that, it's quite
good fun.

Speaker 2 (01:32:13):
Absolutely on the boat. Is Peter Burling the driver, Is
he the one who who talks the most or not?

Speaker 18 (01:32:20):
It's actually it's actually a pretty even balance across the boat.
Pete Pete probably does speak the most, but you know,
you've got live feeding in a lot of strategy, and
then Blair talking a lot about like how the boat
feels and the speed and what he can see coming,
and then you've got the booths adding kind of tactical
information from an overlay from that. So it's yeah, everyone

(01:32:42):
really does have to pull their weight for the team
to be able to sell these boats as quick as
they do, and they made the right decisions.

Speaker 2 (01:32:49):
Sol GP, it's a it's tremendously exciting to watch and
I'm sure to sail and the start, Sam, how important
is the race start? In cell gph.

Speaker 18 (01:33:00):
In every sailing race, the start is everything. You know,
if you can if you can get it around that
first mark and shape, then you know the race is
actually pretty easy. But if you're around in the mid back,
you know, if you're in somewhere around third or fifth,
then life is very hard. And it's it's it's just
as easy to move backwards as as to go forwards.
And if you make run wrong decision, then it's very

(01:33:22):
easy to go backwards. So if you don't get off
that start line, then you know you've got a very
hard race ahead.

Speaker 2 (01:33:28):
What's the course like in Auckland.

Speaker 18 (01:33:30):
It's going to be tight racing. You know, the Auckland
harbor is pretty small, so it's going to be it's
gonna be pretty action packed and that starts going to
be absolutely critical.

Speaker 2 (01:33:40):
And in terms of racing in your home events, I
know there are a lot of races you get to
go to a lot of cool places, but is there
something a little bit extra special about your home event.

Speaker 18 (01:33:50):
Oh, it's so special, and it's to race in front
of our home fans is something that you always dream of.
So yeah, we're very excited to have be ab to
host these eleven other teams and get racing this weekend,
do you reckon?

Speaker 2 (01:34:04):
The Black Flails are favorites and not just for this
event but for the whole thing.

Speaker 18 (01:34:09):
I mean it's a very strong team. I you know,
obviously they performed well last year, but things things changing
like foils and new people. But yeah, I think I
think we've got always got a strong chance every race
week start on the start line.

Speaker 2 (01:34:25):
Well, can't wait for next weekend Sam. It's going to
be such a spectacle. I've seen the grand stand going up,
within eight thousand people in a grand stand watching close up. Look,
it's going to be a truefic event. Thanks so much
for joining us on weekend Sport. All the best for
the week ahead and done, and all the best for
Auckland next weekend. Looking forward to it, well, looking forward
to it to Sam. Thanks indeed, Sam Meach there, coach

(01:34:45):
of the Black Foil. So Sale GP Auckland next Saturday
and Sunday at win yard Point. Just just absolutely really
looking forward to this. We went to christ Church last
year for Sale GP and you'll probably remember there was
no racing on the Saturday, but on the Sunday it
was just spectacular and said to be exactly the same

(01:35:06):
when SALGP hits Auckland next Saturday and Sunday afternoon. So
join us on Weekend Sport for all the color, the
insight the key participants as they all join us on
the show next Saturday and Sunday afternoon to twenty two.
Let's take a break when we come back across to Melbourne,
will go. The Australian Tennis Open for twenty twenty five

(01:35:27):
is underway. Craig Gabriel going to pick his favorites for
us when we come back.

Speaker 1 (01:35:32):
The tough questions off the turf. Weekend Sport with Jason
hin and GJ. Gunnerholmes, New Zealand's most trusted home builder News.

Speaker 2 (01:35:40):
Talk V two twenty five from Belon Text up on
it just hits up. The New Zealand super Stock champs
are on this afternoon in Nelson. The first of three
races was last night before being rained off final two
races today. Maximum points from the races becomes the prized
one in z Yes, I know they love their speedway
and Nelson in fact right around the country. So all
the best to the to the drivers in the New

(01:36:02):
Zealand super Stock Championships. This afternoon in Nelson. The twenty
twenty five Australian Tennis Open starts today fifteen.

Speaker 11 (01:36:17):
Three and set Sun stationed away to Janack Center.

Speaker 14 (01:36:23):
So in the Australian Open, here's Maldan Major chappins in Melbourne.

Speaker 11 (01:36:31):
They will never.

Speaker 2 (01:36:34):
So I get this name. That's Janick Center winning in
twenty twenty four. He is the top seed and obviously
defending champion for twenty twenty five. Craig Gabriel joins US
from Melbourne. Craig, before we look at the tournament, you've
covered the Australian Open for quite some time. Your first one,
as I understand it, nineteen eighty one. Johann Creek and

(01:36:57):
Martina Navratilova were champions that year. You've covered them all
since then. Is it your favorite major, the Australian Open.

Speaker 19 (01:37:06):
Well, it's certainly one of the highlights of the year,
there's no two ways about it. There's this time of
the year, the Australian summer period, and then I guess
the other part would be middle of the year when
we start with the French Open and finish with Wimbledon.
I mean, that's also a really thrilling time to be
on the tour. Look, there are a lot of highlights

(01:37:26):
right through the season, but those are the two parts
that really stand out.

Speaker 2 (01:37:30):
Let's look in my mind, yes and date. Let's look
at the twenty twenty five means singles to start, means
top seed, defending champion, Yannick Center, He's in first round
action tomorrow. How firm a favorite do you assess him
to be?

Speaker 19 (01:37:45):
I think he's certainly as the defending champion, as the
world number one, and the incredible run that he had
in twenty twenty four would have to make him the
leading favorite. Certainly, there's a lot of other players that
are in a perfect position to challenge him and challenge
him incredibly.

Speaker 3 (01:38:05):
Well, it's difficult to exclude somebody.

Speaker 19 (01:38:09):
Like a ten time champion in Novak Djokovic, who is
this year trying to also win his twenty fifth major,
which would break the record he shares with Margaret Court,
and he's I guess he could go with the slogan
of twenty five in twenty five near Carlos al karaz
who won two of the four majors along with Sinner

(01:38:31):
last year. And you know Alexander Zverev trying to make
that break through to finally win a major. He's been
in the US Open final it was the COVID year
on one occasion. So you know, as far as hard
court finals are concerned, So you know, there are a
lot of players that are in there in the mix,

(01:38:52):
but certainly Sinna would be the main favorite.

Speaker 2 (01:38:55):
Yeah, he won, as you say, last year, the Estriday
and open end the US Open. What makes you anicksin
a so effective on hard courts?

Speaker 19 (01:39:04):
Look, I think his powers each his mind and good
people around him. I mean I know both his coaches
pretty well. Dan Calee has been a long long time
friend and more recently Simoni Vagnozzi, who's a really good guy.
And what I think is so impressive with Yannick is

(01:39:25):
that mindset that he's got. There's so much stuff going
on around him at the moment, the controversies with Water
et cetera, which I refer to as what a dysfunctional
authority that is, and you know, for him to still
have that mental strength to go through and win a
US Open with that controversy and the year end championships

(01:39:48):
and tak the Davis Cup will lead it lead to
the Davis Cup championship.

Speaker 3 (01:39:52):
That's incredibly impressive.

Speaker 2 (01:39:54):
Tamos Elkris won Wimbledon and the French Open last year
but has never got past the quarterfinals in Melbourne? Could
he this year?

Speaker 3 (01:40:03):
Should he this year? Absolutely?

Speaker 14 (01:40:05):
Yeah?

Speaker 3 (01:40:07):
Consider how incredible this young man is.

Speaker 19 (01:40:10):
He's twenty one and he's got the chance of claiming
a career Grand Slam. This is the only one of
the four that he hasn't won the Australian Open. But
to think that at the by the age of twenty one,
he turns twenty to the beginning of May to achieve.

Speaker 3 (01:40:27):
Something like that, that is really phenomenal.

Speaker 19 (01:40:30):
And he's such a down to earth, humble individual, just
like Yannick is in fact that, Yeah, he's in with
a shot big time, and he's changed his service motion
as well, and he's sporting this new haircut which is
short back insides. He had his haircut and then he
said he thought after three days that had grown a

(01:40:51):
bit that he would have had to cut again. So yeah,
some of these guys, seriously.

Speaker 2 (01:40:57):
Novak Djokovitch LEAs talk about the ten time chanion twenty
five and twenty five, as you say, could be his slogan.
He's only the seventh seed. What do you predict for
Novak and twenty five.

Speaker 19 (01:41:08):
Well, he said he's got. He's playing more tournaments this
year than he did last year. Last year he had
one focus. I mean, obviously he'd want to win any
major that he was in, but he had one focus
and that was to win the Olympic gold medal, which
he ended up doing in Paris. So I think he's
probably got, you know, the monkey off his back. You know,

(01:41:28):
there's no nothing on his shoulders, and he has to
be considered a threat at any one of these you know,
he's not Joe Smoe from Provo. Let's face it. You know,
he's arguably the greatest tennis player that's ever lived, and
he has to be in with a chance on any
of these majors. And taking on and taking Andy Murray

(01:41:51):
on board. I think everybody's curious to see how that
pans out, that relationship. They're one week apart in birthdays,
they're at the same age, and you know, he says
Andy was one of his greatest and knows his game
inside out, back to front, upside down, every which way.

Speaker 3 (01:42:13):
And you know he's also still played a lot of
the younger ones. So he's he's a good, good brain
for Novak to add to his own brain.

Speaker 2 (01:42:25):
Just before we move to the woman, Nick Carrios, the
crowds will turn up to watch. I'm sure John Kine
Arena tomorrow night. How deep do you think Nick Carrios
could go?

Speaker 3 (01:42:38):
Nick is taking on the mantle of the human headline.
He really is.

Speaker 19 (01:42:43):
I mean, I love Nick, but Nick needs to stop
with all this stuff regarding Sinner. It's not doing himself
any favors. And he's the only one voicing all this stuff,
his these views and opinions on Sinner, and I think
that maybe may just detract something from him.

Speaker 3 (01:43:02):
You know, I love Nick.

Speaker 19 (01:43:03):
I've known him since he was a kid, and he's
incredibly talented. He is thrilling to watch. He's so exciting.
He is Forrest Gump's box of chocolates. You don't know
what you're going to get, seriously, so I would expect
him to get through. Jacob Fernley of Great Britain, who

(01:43:25):
was saying yesterday that he's excited for these sort of
opportunities and he admitted to being a big fan of
Nick Curios's.

Speaker 3 (01:43:32):
So look, Nick will get through.

Speaker 19 (01:43:34):
I think he's got the ability to get through to
the third round at this stage.

Speaker 3 (01:43:38):
And then more than likely he'll run into Alexander.

Speaker 2 (01:43:41):
Sverret Arena Sabalinka, two time defending champion in the women's
headlining the opening night session on Rod Labor tonight. What
chance she makes at three in a row, Well.

Speaker 19 (01:43:55):
Very very few women in the Open era have done that,
to win three Australian Opens in a row. The last
one was Martina Hingetz in nineteen ninety nine. Yeah, you've
got the likes of Yvonne Gulagong, Stephie, Martina. It's pretty
amazing company to be in. And yes, she's got the

(01:44:17):
ability to do it. I think the draw she's got
is not too bad. She's got Sloan Stevens in the
first round tonight, and you know, while Sloane Stevens was
an amazing player reached won the US Open Championship a
few years ago, she's not the player that she once was.

Speaker 3 (01:44:38):
So while there may be a couple of tricky moments
in that, I.

Speaker 19 (01:44:42):
Don't expect Staberlenka to lose that match, and I think,
you know, looking at her draw, I think it opens
up pretty well, should open up pretty well for her,
and it would not surprise me if she joined that
club and won the championship for a third year in
a row.

Speaker 2 (01:44:59):
Of those who might challenge your third, said Coco Golf
second seed Igasfionti both played tomorrow, are either the main
two d I think, Craig, or is there somebody else
who might might go quite deep and challenge challenge?

Speaker 14 (01:45:10):
Are in it?

Speaker 19 (01:45:12):
Oko is the challenge and they're in the same half
of the draw, but they wouldn't meet till the semi finals,
and that's really where I think the main challenge would
be for work for saber Lenka. And as far as
egishe and take us concerned, the only time she can
meet her would be in the final. So it's no
point Saberlenka even thinking about her at this stage when

(01:45:35):
the first ball hasn't even been struck.

Speaker 2 (01:45:38):
Two intriguing weeks of tennis ahead. Craig, thank you so
much for joining us for a preview. Look forward to
your coverage across the next fortnight.

Speaker 3 (01:45:44):
Thanks Jason, looks forward to it.

Speaker 2 (01:45:45):
Yeah, we look forward to it to Craig. Thanks someday, Craig.
Gabriel There from Melbourn where the Australian Tennis Open is
underway and over the next couple of weeks, we look
forward to the storylines being written in both the men's
and women's singles. Lulu Sun incidentally will play tomorrow. She
has her first round match in the women's singles tomorrow
twenty five to three. We'll take a break after this football.

(01:46:07):
We'll look ahead to the Wellington Phoenix women's match against
Adelaide United in a few hours and look back at
losses for both the Wellington Phoenix men and Auckland FC's
men yesterday. That's next on Weekend Sport.

Speaker 1 (01:46:20):
The biggest seams in sports are on Weekend Sports with
Jason Pain and GJ. Gunnomes, New Zealand's most trusted home
builder News Talks NB.

Speaker 2 (01:46:30):
Coming up twenty one to three. I don't forget. You
can always get in touch with us via text nine
two ninety two or on email Jason at Newstalk SHADB
dot co dot NZ, as Leon has done from Melbourne
one of his regular emails, which I always enjoy receiving,
Can I piney. I respect James mcconey's comments on the NFL,
but unfortunately this time he's wrong. Sorry James, your vikings,

(01:46:50):
that's my vikings are on the Road against the La Rams.
They have a slightly better chance of winning with the
game being moved to Phoenix because of the wildfires. That said,
the NFC will have to go through Detroit as the
number one seed, with my early pick being the Lions
against the Eagles. On the other side, the AFC will
have to go through Kansas City as the number one seed,
with the early unbiased pick being the Chiefs against the Bills.

(01:47:14):
You say unbiased, Leon, because I know the Chiefs are
your team, and Leon carries on. I'm still quietly confident
my Chiefs can pull off the unprecedented three peat. It'll
be tough, but they are peaking at the right time.
The remaining game should be compelling viewing. Nonetheless, thanks indeed, Leon,
great to hear from you, as always on email. Let's
go to football. We'll get to the men's A League shortly,

(01:47:34):
but let's start with the women. The Wellington Phoenix women
are up into the top four on the table and
tonight take on Adelaide United in Adelaide. This off the
back of a really impressive performance on Thursday evening when
they put three past the Western Sydney Wanderers to win
three nil and move in to the top four. Assistant

(01:47:55):
coach of the team is Amy Sheppard, who joins US. Now, Amy,
have you ever been part of a team that was
so dominant? You look at the stats that night and
I know they had a play a cent off, but
in terms of every stet you were so dominant. Have
you ever been part of a team that was was
so on top and a game?

Speaker 20 (01:48:13):
Yeah, I think the first the first twenty minutes especially,
I just thought we were, Yeah, we were really on top.
Probably a bit of a shame we didn't. It's all
like capitalize on that sort of pressure and that dominance.
But ultimately, I mean we've got a clean sheet and
three points, so at the end of it, it was
you know, it was a great result and a good
win for us. But yeah, a very very dominant formance
and a lot of a lot of positive good things
that we've been well kind of training really now coming

(01:48:33):
out in games.

Speaker 2 (01:48:34):
So it's a quick turnaround for you though, Amy, to
back up again tonight, but as that in some ways
a good thing to have a quick turnaround after getting
momentum and that when the.

Speaker 20 (01:48:43):
Other night, Yeah, I think it was tough to back up,
and I think, you know, you've got to take in
recovery and prep, but you know, we're prepared for anything,
so I don't think it's any necessarily a good time
or a bad times play those back to back games,
and especially as we're on good form. I think it's
a good opportunity for us, and I think Adelaide was
our turning point initially when we first played them, and
we you know, we got that win, so after a
bit of a shaky start at the beginning of the season,

(01:49:04):
so we're really looking forward to playing them again and they're.

Speaker 3 (01:49:06):
They're doing really well.

Speaker 20 (01:49:07):
They're also a good side and we obviously joined on points,
so hopefully it will be a really really good game
to enjoy for everyone.

Speaker 2 (01:49:13):
Yea, it was a turning point, wasn't it. Three losses
to start the season, but your night round you beat
Adelaide United one nill. How big was that win in
terms of the context of the season so far.

Speaker 20 (01:49:23):
Yeah, I think it was huge. I think we all
knew we were seeing bits. I think I even look
back to those first two games of the season and
results aside, I think some of the stats from them
games are probably still one of our best in terms
of like box entries and the way we played, so
we knew that it was coming together, and I think
once we got that first result, it just yeah, it's
just given the girls a little bit of confidence and belief,

(01:49:43):
and yeah, now we were shying a really good run.
So just hopefully we can just keep that up and
like I said, to keep taking each game as it comes.
Each game at the.

Speaker 2 (01:49:50):
Time and the nature of the game. The other night,
you were able to give Annale Longer, your captain, a
bit of a ration near the end, bring her off
and I guess receed to her legs. She's had a
pretty big workload lately. It was nice to be able
to do that, to give some players who have had
a lot of minutes a bit of a recent near
the end of the game the other night.

Speaker 20 (01:50:05):
Yeah, definitely, I think that was a good opportunity for
us to sort of really take care of some players minutes.
So yeah, it was nice to be an opportunity to
do so. So hopefully now we can get them guys
rested and back on good form.

Speaker 19 (01:50:17):
So yeah, it was good.

Speaker 20 (01:50:19):
It was a good opportunity that.

Speaker 2 (01:50:19):
We had that the first goal the other night seven
seconds into the second half, and you actually made it
back to the dugout in time to see Alyssa William's goal.

Speaker 8 (01:50:28):
Yes, yeah we did.

Speaker 20 (01:50:29):
Everyone was back there and yeah, it's yeah, it's great
to see. She's a great character. And yeah, like I said,
she said at the end of the game, she does
that all the time in training and she always just
looks just as shocked whenever the ball goes in the
back of the net from long range. So yeah, I
did like the running around like Flea's dogs. She run
a bit around like Tiger at the end there. But no,
it's brilliant to see, and yeah, what what a finish

(01:50:49):
And we're really really proud and happy for Alyssa.

Speaker 2 (01:50:51):
What do you think it'll do for her confidence moving forward?

Speaker 20 (01:50:55):
Oh, look, she's been on grateful and I think the
last sort of three games she's been excellent and she's
just been growing and growing and I can even see
it from the beginning of the season to now how
much she's just yeah, really taken this season in her stride.
And I think it will do, yeah, really really good
work for her moving forward. So hopefully she keeps building
on that, she keeps performing well and more so just
as a person just keeps him those really good spirits
because she's great when.

Speaker 2 (01:51:14):
She's like that, and beg to tonight and Adelaide United,
what do you perceive their specific strengths to be.

Speaker 20 (01:51:22):
Yeah, look, they're obviously they're also in good form and
they're getting some good results. The result against Central Best
Mariners was a good one for them again sort of
like in that same pack in the table. They've definitely
got some strengths and playing through central areas and they
haven't changed too much. I think they've really sort of
like nailed down their formation and their system and style
of play. So they're also looking pretty set, so I
anticipated to be very similar to the last time we

(01:51:44):
played them.

Speaker 2 (01:51:44):
All right, well, all the best tonight, Amy, thanks for
joining us. Amy Sheppard, assistant coach of the Wellington Phoenix
women's side seven thirty Tonight they take on Adelaide you know,
ied looking to consolidate their place in the top four. Unfortunately,
the Wellington Phoenix men couldn't do the same against Adelaide
United yesterday, going down two one. We'll get to that
in a sick but late last night New Zealand time.
All the way over in Western Australia, Auckland if he

(01:52:06):
took on Perth Glory. That was the first time they've
had to travel all the way over to Perth for
a game and unfortunately it did not turn out the
way they hoped, going down one nill to Perth Glory
last night. Steve Corricker as head coach. He was asked
afterwards for his overall thoughts on the game.

Speaker 21 (01:52:23):
We lost the game in the first half, simple as
that we didn't play well. We didn't compete well. They
went along, it was what we expected them to do,
but you know, we weren't winning any second balls and
they were picking up a lot of balls and made
it difficult for us.

Speaker 3 (01:52:38):
It's caught a good goal, but also you know the.

Speaker 21 (01:52:41):
Goal needs could have been stopped by a little bit
of pressure on the player on the ball on the
outside of the box. Whole night we had four very
good chances. I think they're either blocked, keeper made a
great safe or you know, we put the ball over
the over the bar and we can't afford to do that. Obviously,
in tight games like this, you got to take your

(01:53:03):
chances when they come, especially when you when you're behind,
to get back into the game, and we didn't.

Speaker 3 (01:53:07):
We didn't do that.

Speaker 2 (01:53:08):
Steph Curriker was then asked about the possibility of complacency.
Auckland f C were top of the table, had the
had the ability to stay there, whether it went over
Perth Glory who had been very, very poor right across
the season, and we're at the other end of the
table sort of battling around at the foot of the ladder.
Was it hard for Auckland f C to guard against

(01:53:29):
complacency ahead of this game.

Speaker 21 (01:53:32):
I'll put that down to that in the first half
because it's not what we planned on, wasn't what I expected.
But we shouldn't have any complacency because you know, we
were at the top and all the other teams won
around us, and you know, there's no bigger motivation to
actually to keep winning. So we went wrong in the
first half, like I said, and disappointed with the performance

(01:53:54):
and the way we went around the round around the game.
And you know, second half was a big improvement obviously,
and we changed a few players and we started to to.

Speaker 2 (01:54:04):
Win the second balls.

Speaker 21 (01:54:05):
We started to play a little better with the ball
as well, and we created chances, which was really positive.
But yeah, it's a ninety minute game. If you don't
be ready for the start of the game. It's it's
going to be a different, difficult afternoon. And you know
we weren't ready for the start, even though you know
we've gave ourself the best preparation to We were here

(01:54:26):
a couple of days to make sure. You know, time
difference is a big problem for us.

Speaker 3 (01:54:30):
But there's no excuses. Really, we were ready.

Speaker 21 (01:54:35):
You know, they played a few days ago as well,
so you could see how tired they looked in the
second half as well. But you know, if you give
away a goal I've had in the first half and
it's difficult to come back.

Speaker 2 (01:54:45):
And that is Steve Kyaker. After Resides one loss to
Perth Glory last night, it means that Auckland FC are
now third on the ladder. Both Adelaide United and Melbourne City,
who both won last night, have gone past them only
just Though Melbourne City have twenty four points Adelaide twenty four,
Auckland FC have twenty three and they have a game
in hand over Melbourne City, so if they would win

(01:55:06):
that they would go back above Melbourne City. In fact,
their next game is against Melbourne City. It's back at
go Media Stadium this coming Saturday, so they'll look to
turn things around back on home soil. Adelaide United, meantime,
has mentioned before, got a two to one win over
Wellington Phoenix in Wellington yesterday. Both goals were really the

(01:55:30):
product of Wellington Phoenix mistakes. The first was an own
goal and the second came when goalkeeper josh Olawayemi dropped
what looked to be a fairly straightforward catch to the
feet of Adelaide striker Luki Yovanovitch, who who fired at
home for two to one. Gihon Calo Ittaliano's head coach
of the Wellington Phoenix men's side. He was asked afterwards

(01:55:52):
whether the fact that the goals were from their own
mistakes did that make it more frustrating or is it
easier to accept when the opposition only score through his mistakes?

Speaker 22 (01:56:05):
Losing is never a is it accepts or even you know,
to rationalize through it. Again, we could play every game
from now to the end of the season, lose every game,
but if our focus is on the outcome, we're not
going to go anywhere. As a team. Last year we'll
so successful because we stuck to the process and what
we believe. We kept executing and you know it's snowball.

(01:56:27):
We had momentum this year. You know, it's a little
bit different things, you know, not getting the rub of
the green, we're not building momentum and so on. But
I can't rationalize conceding a goal is conceding a goal.
Whether it's you know, the goal we can set against Wanderers,
a last goal from forty or sorry, twenty five minutes
outside the box, whether it's an own goal, it's the same.

Speaker 3 (01:56:50):
It hurts the same.

Speaker 22 (01:56:52):
But again, I think from where we've been the last
couple of weeks, all I wanted to see today was
a good performance, consistent performance, one where we were trying
to take the initiative and for a large part, again,
I can't fault the team just to that.

Speaker 2 (01:57:06):
How does gien Callo Taliano now feel about the team
moving forward?

Speaker 22 (01:57:10):
I'm the internal optimist. After today, I feel like there's
some fight still left in this team, irrespective of who's playing,
who's available. I think today we showed that there is
a backbone to the team and that we can do things.
It's just, you know, I have to carry and build
that belief in the squad, and you know, we could
lose another couple of games. But again, I think today's

(01:57:31):
performance put us in a position where, you know, even
you know, I think the group will reflect on it.

Speaker 3 (01:57:40):
Last week we.

Speaker 22 (01:57:41):
Were definitely out of the game, Okay, I can say
that categorically, you know, and I take a large plane
for that because tactically they execute what asked. But this
week we went back down to a more simpler message,
being a little bit more organized, a little bit clearer
roles and so on, and they were good for large parts.
And again when I'm relying on Nathan Walker and Luke

(01:58:02):
Brooks Smith at the end in Corbyn Piper who hasn't
played a league, and they're giving me those efforts and
we you know, we're definitely on the front foot.

Speaker 18 (01:58:10):
I'm very proud.

Speaker 2 (01:58:11):
And finally from Giancloteliano, he mentioned there about backbone. Was
he all concerned over the last little while, which has
been a challenging period for the team, that actually there
was no backbone in the side.

Speaker 11 (01:58:24):
No.

Speaker 22 (01:58:24):
I was more concerned about the fact that when you
have PAINEI RUFA out your senior players, than you're starting
to be short of those leaders. So for me, I
was more worried about who's going to step up and
take the initiative and you know, help us grind through

(01:58:44):
these games. And I don't think leadership is about words, right,
Leadership is about action. And so like today I watched
Palo Retro. Palo Retro last week was angry and he
showed some fight. And this week he got on the
ball every time I asked and he didn't have to
say much. He just led by getting on the ball.
For me, those sort of players emerging when you know

(01:59:05):
things get tough, you know, it's very easy to fold
and just like give up and go like, you know,
we've got this happening, We've got that happening. A need
place to step up now that take that next that
next step and bring the team forward. And I feel
like now I have some of those that are ready
for that challenge.

Speaker 2 (01:59:21):
It's the voice of John Caloertaliano. The Phoenix don't have
much time to lick their wounds after the lost yesterday.
They are back in action on Wednesday night. The visitors
are Sydney FC. Rare MIDWEK game seven o'clock Wednesday night
at Sky Stadium as the Wellington Phoenix Men take on
Sydney FC, coming up eight to three, News Talk Zippy.

Speaker 1 (01:59:40):
Breaking down the Hail Mary's and the Olympic Fields. Weekend
Sport with Jason Lyme, News Talk ZB.

Speaker 2 (01:59:49):
Five to three. That's us for weekend sport, for another
Sunday and another weekend will I'm in a Shrimpton. We're
going to keep you company after three o'clock for the
rest store the next little bit of your Sunday anyway,
Thank you for listening in. Thanks to Anny McDonald for
producing the show. Just are reminder next weekend both days
will come to you live from sale GP in Auckland,
our purpose built studio there just right on the water.

(02:00:11):
Can't wait to be bringing you the show from sale
GP next Saturday and Sunday. Thank you for tuning in
an exit song today. While we've had all of tennis
on the show, the Australian Tennis Open is underway. The
ASP Classic over the last couple of weeks has again
been a success. So the only song I could think
of about tennis or with tennis, and the title was

(02:00:34):
of course Lord's hit from twenty thirteen went all the
way to number one year simply titled tennis Court. Here
it is, well the last little bit of it. See
you next weekend, I'll follow it.

Speaker 3 (02:00:56):
Eukuat's from your window.

Speaker 1 (02:00:59):
Maybe be the class.

Speaker 8 (02:01:01):
Cloudy Clean says, it's a new ipot.

Speaker 6 (02:01:06):
So people love you week here.

Speaker 11 (02:01:10):
We're so hippy we if we're more a smile now
I fear.

Speaker 18 (02:01:16):
Let's go down to it's senna, score it and so
get up by yeah here and so get up by
yeah and suck.

Speaker 9 (02:01:23):
It up by yeah.

Speaker 1 (02:01:26):
Let's go down to the sena.

Speaker 21 (02:01:28):
Score it, and so get up by yeah and socket
up by yeah, and so get.

Speaker 9 (02:01:34):
Up Mike yeah.

Speaker 22 (02:01:37):
Let's go down to the senna, score it.

Speaker 2 (02:01:39):
And so get up by yeah.

Speaker 1 (02:01:43):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to news Talks It'd be weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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