Full Show Podcast: 13 July 2024

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

Speaker 2 (00:30):
Yeah, goody, Good afternoon, and welcome into the Saturday edition
of Weekend Sport on News Talks d B. July thirteenth,
Happy birthday to South African cricketer FAF too, plus c
E and to all of these All Blacks current All
Black in morning, Nutawa and former players Marty Berry, Mark
Hammett and Xavier Rush all blowing out candles today. I'm
Jason Fine, True producer Andy McDonald. We're here until three

(00:53):
and the show is coming to you from Eden Park,
scene of Test two of the All Black season tonight
just after seven, England again the opponent. We build towards
that Test match this afternoon. It is a cracking day
in Auckland, absolutely beautiful, and the forecast is for much
of the same over the next seven to ten hours

(01:15):
or so. So in terms of conditions that will greet
these players when they arrive here at Eden Park and
the forty seven thousand fans who are scheduled to also
at ten tonight. They could not be better. It is
going to be a beautiful night for a big, big
rugby test. Eden Park as always looking an absolute picture.

(01:35):
Looking down now on the grass, the ground staff are
just putting the finishing touches on their manicure work. They're
just painting in the twenty two and ten meter lines
at the moment. There's a few catering staff around and
some broadcast technicians, but otherwise this cavern that is Eden
Park is pretty empty at the moment, but give it

(01:58):
six or seven hours and it will be full to
the broom. Join shortly by All Black Centurion and now
Skysport COmON Potato Mills Mullyana to run an eye over
prospects for this one. After one o'clock we're joined by
RFU CEO Bill Sweeney. He is here following the England
team and taking part in a bunch of meetings over
here as well. He's basically Mark Robinson's counterparts at the RFU.

(02:22):
He's going to join us to talk about rugby in
the Northern Hemisphere, the issues facing his union and the
game globally and lots of other interesting topics too. Your
calls and feedback welcome right across the afternoon obviously, as
we build towards kickoff other matters around today. Key we
tennis player Lulu Sun took us all on a magnificent

(02:43):
ride at Wimbledon these past two weeks, reaching the quarter finals.
She joins us after two o'clock today to reflect on
that and to look ahead to the Paris Olympics where
she'll play doubles with Aaron Rautliffe. So Lulusun just after
two the sale GP final this weekend in San Francisco.
We'll get you inside the Black Foyles camp with Peter

(03:03):
Berling and one of the rising stars of New Zealand football,
Ben Old, has in the week past confirmed a move
to top French club Saint ettie En. He's going to
join us after two o'clock to talk about dan Adam
Peacock from Australia in his regular slot around one forty
five as well. But this is your show really and
we'd love to have you be a part of it.
If that's what you decide to do, you can do

(03:25):
that on phone oh eight hundred and eighty ten eighty.
Lines are open right across the afternoon. If you'd prefer
to send us your thoughts via text, that's easy. Fire
them off to nine two nine two or emails to
me Jason at newstalkseedb dot co dot enz. Coming up
eleven minutes past midday.

Speaker 1 (03:42):
Cutting down to All Blacks v England on your Home
of Sort Weekend Sport Live from eden Park with Jason
five and GJ. Gardner Holmes, New Zealand's most trusted home builder.

Speaker 2 (03:54):
News Talksibby second test of Razes rain tonight, Eden Park,
five past seven. Full commentary for you here on News
Talks EDB Elliott Smith and Frank Bunce in the commentary box.
I'll wander up and down the sideline and get a
close up view. So a build up begins from six
with kickoff just after seven o'clock. England are again the opponent.

(04:14):
After the sixteen fifteen win for the All Blacks a
week ago in Dunedin. Fabak runs into two point five.

Speaker 3 (04:22):
Still there Forandland other Perry Old Blacks holding on, holding on,
there's a summer around there the show, but the Old
Blacks who went That's first test of the year.

Speaker 2 (04:33):
Penaly holding on the right.

Speaker 4 (04:35):
Golding properly was a man. They caught the pennery and
now the Old Blacks need just to get it into touts.
Everyone needs to take a eighth breath. Damien McKenzie texts
takes it at the touch. A new era of All
Black rugby begins with an old fashioned Test match time
wrestle New Zealand sixteen in fifteen full time at full

(05:00):
Side bart Stadium in Donedum. The Old Blacks won it
by one.

Speaker 2 (05:05):
Yeah, I're gonna see more of the same tonight. Let's
find out. Let's bring an All Blacks test Centurion. Rugby
commentator and analyst co host of The Breakdown on Sky Sport,
Mills Mullyana is with us Mills, how different a Test
match or not do you expect tonight compared to what
we saw last weekend in Dunedin.

Speaker 5 (05:24):
Oh.

Speaker 6 (05:24):
I think it'll be a couple of changes really Obviously.
The first test meents last week is a little bit
of sort of suppose feeling out in terms of the
way that both teams sort of played. Man, it was
it was pretty physical last week, particularly on the English side,
and they TechEd the breakdown. But a week in an
All Blacks camp and another week, should I say, considering
the how they've come they came together nine days or

(05:46):
ten days before that first sort of test, I think
we'll just allow them, you know, enough time again to
sort of analyze what happened in the game and perhaps
you know, come up with some you know, some some solutions.
I mean, the big positives for the All Blacks is
the fact that they actually won there on the right
side of the scoreboard. But there's there will be a
lot of things that would have looked at and hopefully

(06:08):
trying and implement that tonight.

Speaker 2 (06:10):
You talked about solutions there and I guess England's rush
defense was well in evidence last weekend. How do you
combat the rush defense?

Speaker 6 (06:17):
Well, I think they obviously recognized last week they needed
to carry a lot better. They're not t bone as much,
you know, the big forwards sort of started to sort
of stay up a little a little bit longer. But
it often comes back also to the playing on the
right side of the field in a position I don't
think we kicked as well as what parents who would
we would have wanted where we're England did. We played

(06:39):
a lot of rugby inside that sort of I suppose
between our twenty two to our our team meter chan
or our team met a line forty out, So sixty
out should I say from the opposition, And I guess
that's where England are really tough. They're tough out wide now.
They slowed our ball down out wide and then they
just got massive line speed and they absorbed a lot
of numbers. So I think technically we need to be

(07:03):
a little bit more sound, but also the risk reward
we're probably a little bit still in super rugby modent
in some cases, you know, just outside of the twenty two,
thinking that you know where we could we could try
and you know, and and break from there. But definitely
I think from a technical point of view, you'll probably
see a lot a lot more kicking from from the
All Blacks to try and you know, get the English

(07:24):
down and then probably force force to kick out. But
even after that, you know, making sure that.

Speaker 7 (07:28):
They hit the lineouts.

Speaker 6 (07:29):
And that was that was pretty evident last week that
they missed golden opportunities to really put pressure on the English.

Speaker 2 (07:36):
Just the one enforced change for the All Blacks with
with them like Christie coming into half back with t
J Pettana's injury, Steven Peifetza and fall back EANs another start.
How impreved were you with him last week?

Speaker 6 (07:47):
I was really impressed, was Steve given the fact that
he has He's hardly had any sort of ragby during
Super Raby with injury. He's come into the sort of
sort of role as positional play with outstanding particularly at
the back. And I know I didn't give any many kicks,
you know to him. You know, Damien McKenzie was pretty
isolated in terms of the English sort of tactic. But

(08:08):
I think he steps up at the right time and
he will grow in confidence. He will grow confidence in
terms of his role with with within this you know,
this this this side, and in particularly his combination with
with Damian McKenzie when when you know he needs to
step up. Also this is a Betifeta in terms of
relieving some pressure of him, you know, because he knows,
we know he can play that for his that pivot role.

(08:31):
It's just it's just about time in the settle, really
know his footwork when it when it came and then
set up that try so he'll grow from that and
looking forward to the way he sort of continues his
growth in that all breat Jersey And what.

Speaker 2 (08:43):
About Damian McKenzie mills. What would his week have consisted
of in terms of what he might want to improve
on or do differently tonight?

Speaker 6 (08:50):
Oh, I think he was. He was pretty tough. One
aspect is that that's been talked about. It's obviously quicking
up as goal clicks because we don't want to We
don't want to get to that.

Speaker 8 (09:01):
But I.

Speaker 6 (09:03):
I think you know he'll want to, but clean aboard.
There's definitely opportunities out there. And again the combinations coming together,
the communication about how to get that ball out wide,
but also the fact that he's in that kind of
role and seeing different pictures, you know, getting us down
at the right end of the park and forcing the

(09:23):
English to perhaps not kick so well, and when I
say not kick so well, you know, giving us kicks
that we can actually carry attack because you know, we
gave the English that last week we kicked out and
gave him an opportunity to in the mindset, you know
inside whilst it was inside the behalf, but when you're
sitting around your sort of you know, forty meter mark,
that's that's your mindset changes to attack and that's the

(09:48):
kind of kicks we want to retrieve from the English
and you know, we know we can we can play
from that that sort of area. But I think technically
for Damien you know, a bit more time in terms
of the whole week preparing and controlling this forwards, but
also you know the connection from the guys out wide
and hopefully you know, getting a bit more flowing in

(10:09):
the game.

Speaker 2 (10:10):
Well likely to see a Test day both for Cortes
off the bench tonight, how do you assess his ability
to take the step up to Test rugby from what
you've seen from him at super rugby level.

Speaker 6 (10:19):
You know, an awesome, fantastic that Courtiers gets an opportunity.
Yes it is off the back end of TJ being injured,
but he's got real energy and you know, often in
this role, particularly when you're playing against you, because there's
those half opportunities, he'll go out there if he gets
an opportunity and your passon delivered. He's got a very
good pass But sometimes when when you're that young and

(10:42):
you're enthusiastic, I mean, you have to look on the
other side. With Fan Bexter, the way he's sort of
came one, I mean his debut and gee, he was
he was immense. There's opportunities that arise, and given the
environment that he's in and the coaching staff that he's
got there, you know, you're just sort of picking the
fact that something opens up he'll go and he's he's
certainly explosive and doing that. A real talent and I'm

(11:05):
sure once when he gets on, he'll be really good.

Speaker 2 (11:08):
England were forced into a late change yesterday fall back
George Fairbank being ruled out with a back injury. That's
a loss, isn't it. I thought he was quite good
last week.

Speaker 9 (11:16):
Very good.

Speaker 6 (11:17):
I mean, he was strong in his carries, he was
threatening when he sort of brought the war back, but
defensively as well. He didn't mind putting the shoulder on.

Speaker 10 (11:25):
I mean.

Speaker 6 (11:27):
But Stillard comes into it. You know, he's no stranger
in this environment. He's a very big man. He's to
I think he's got one point ninety six it was
two meters, you know, and got under the high ball.
Perhaps hasn't got the attacking prowisses what through Bank does,
but he'll still be pretty strong. So I think they've
lost a bit there, But certainly in terms of the replacement.

(11:47):
You know, he's pretty sound as well.

Speaker 2 (11:50):
Will there be any thought mells in England's mind that
they missed a big chance last week to get a
win in New Zealand? I mean, if they're going to
win anywhere more likely to need in the need and
Park where no one's done for ages, will they in
any way be demotivated by their lost opportunity a week ago.

Speaker 6 (12:06):
I don't think so. I think, yeah, hey, it could
have easily been. They could have easily won that game.
There's this moment where they where they possibly could have,
but I think this this week it would have actually
pumped them up to game. There's opportunity here, you know.
And and a lot of it was talked about the
fact that they're going to play the old sort of style,
the rolling mauls in a kicking game, but there is

(12:28):
a bit of a balance in terms of the way
they play and also the mindset in terms of, hey,
well we can ever go as well the very good
over the board. Defensively, I think for them it's about, hey,
we know we can put the All Blacks under pressure
and if we continue to, if we can do that
and come out of the break and then enforce them,

(12:50):
force them mistakes, particularly when the All Blacks will want
to possibly try and play earlier on. I think they're right,
and so I think they'll be highly motivated after last
week to say, hey, well then we're physical and we
can we can try and beat them up. But also
so if you want to play the expensive game, perhaps
we can we can go that far as to hey

(13:11):
we can stick with you. Whereas I think you know,
before no one would have thought they'd be able to
stick with it with an All Blacks of the game.
That's sort of that opens.

Speaker 2 (13:19):
Up and the eden Park Fortress that has become thirty
years since anyone beat the All Blacks in a tested
Aden Park. You were part of a lot of test
matches at Eiden Park. When you ran out there, did
you just expect to win on that patch of grass?

Speaker 6 (13:33):
I know there is that comfort, right, that's that you're
there in eden parkers So there is that comfort of
as a fortress. Not so much to affectate it, it
was a given, but it gives you that a little
bit a bit more confidence that you know you are
Eden Park. It's a I suppose the fortress in itself,

(13:55):
but the surroundings too that but also you know those
sort of records are made to be broken and the
All Blacks you know, they're very well aware of it.
Don't want to go out there, different sort of different
sort of team. You still have the comfort of that historically,
but the English will be highly motivated to make sure
you know, they break it. They have money for twenty

(14:16):
one years also, so next motivation in itself. Whilst it
gives you comfort, this is going to be a massive
Test match and you cooked for both sides.

Speaker 2 (14:25):
Tom and Mills, thanks for your preview. Made always love
chatting rugby with you. We'll see it but later on tonight.

Speaker 6 (14:30):
Yeah, great cheating painting, good on you mate.

Speaker 2 (14:32):
Thanks indeed that's Mills mullyana there with his thoughts. Yours
are well and truly welcome your chance to react now
to anything you heard there from Mills or anything that's
been occupying space in your brain this week. Oh eight
hundred and eighty ten eighty is the number A few
questions for me or from me ahead of tonight's second Test?

(14:53):
What would have been the biggest areas of focus for
the All Blacks this week? For me, the collision areas
England certainly Trump the All Blacks there last week too,
finding a way to combat the rush defense. And this
I think is one for greater mind than mine. Maybe
your mind might have an idea. Cross kicks a one way,
of course, but quicker slicker ball is another, a different

(15:13):
approach perhaps, or a slightly different approach. Let's not forget
that both teams now have a frame of reference after
last week. They have some intel, and they have the
ability of have had the opportunity this week to look
back at what went well and what didn't and then
find them some solutions and three lineouts for the All
Blacks not that great last week, both with connections and

(15:34):
even just throwing the ball in Cody Taylor Auer more
have big nights ahead. I wonder whether Damien McKenzie will
change his kicking routine tonight after being timed out last weekend.
I doubt he will. Kickers just tend to have a
pre kick routine that they stick to religiously. And he'll

(15:56):
also have the shot clock on the big screen tonight.
I'm not sure if he caught up with his news.
You probably did that there will be a shot clock
on the big screen at Aden Park tonight, so there's
a visual queue for the kick is that the sixty
seconds is starting to run out, so that'll be there tonight.
How will Corties will have to go on debut good?
I think he's been a quality super rugby halfback for

(16:18):
a while. Now looks every inch of player who will
go very well on the Black jersey. It'd want to
as well because Noah Hothams in the mix now, isn't he?
With TJ Peinada out for a short period, Cam roy
Guard's on the improve, competition for those half back spots
is about to intensify, and will England blake break rather
the Eden Park Fortress. It just seems unlikely, doesn't it.

(16:40):
Something happens to the All Blacks and to visiting teams
on this patch of grass out here in front of me.
I mean, how else can you explain the last thirty
years only six of the current All Blacks twenty three
were even born when France scored that try from the
end of the earth here in nineteen ninety four. It
just feels like England's chance was last weekend. So who

(17:04):
wins a boy? How many? I've got the All Blacks
tonight more comfortably than the one point victory that started
raises rain and dneed and a week ago. I've got
them by ten tonight. You might have some thoughts on
that too, oh eight hundred eighty ten eighty. You can
send a text to nine two nine two or emails
to Jason at NEWSTALKSEB dot co dot Nz. Twelve twenty five.

(17:24):
We're back with your calls right after this on Weekend
Sport Lave from Eden.

Speaker 1 (17:28):
Park on your home of sport Weekend Sport with Jason
five and gj under Hooves, New Zealand's most trusted home
builder News Talk zed B.

Speaker 2 (17:38):
Twelve twenty seven, taking your calls live from Eden Park
as we build towards tonight's second Test between the All
Blacks and England. Five past seven. Are going to get
to the calls in just a second. Piney, When or
what is the actual trigger of the kicktimer? Very good question.
I can tell you it is when the referee points
at the posts. So the kicker comes up says to

(17:59):
the referee we're going to take a shot at goal.
Either the kicker or the captain says that. As soon
as the referee points up at the posts to say right,
they're taking a kick. That is when the sixty second starts,
all right, so that's you know up until now the
ref and the referee will still do that tonight. It's
Snickberry tonight, isn't it. He will still run his own

(18:19):
timer and that is the sole judge of time. What
we're seeing on the screen is really just it's for
us at the game, but also for the kicker a
visual queue to look up and say, oh shivers, I'm
running out of time here. But for us in the ground,
and I think that's it, isn't it. It's as much
for us as it is for the kickers. And you
know that when it gets to ten, if the kick

(18:42):
hasn't been taken, people are going to start They're gonna
start counting it down. How are you Mark?

Speaker 11 (18:49):
Yeah, good buddy.

Speaker 10 (18:51):
Unfortunately I'm not on a plane today, but never mind.

Speaker 2 (18:54):
Well, well I can tell you if you were Mark,
you'd be arriving in a beautiful, beautiful city on a
beautiful beautiful day.

Speaker 11 (19:01):
Yeah, it's beautiful and road too, not too bad.

Speaker 10 (19:04):
The two points j So, first of all, the last
time I was an Eden Park when the All Black loss.

Speaker 11 (19:09):
Was when Greg corn Nelson scored the four tries against the.

Speaker 2 (19:12):
All Bracks seventy eight or something like that, seventy six
seventy eight, and he scored all four tries at the
same end. I think, yeah, I'm just old enough to
remember the Test. I don't think I watched it.

Speaker 6 (19:30):
Oh.

Speaker 2 (19:30):
I certainly wasn't a leading park like you, but I
remember it's such a famous test when a big number
I didn't even a head band and a big b
at Greg Cornelson scoring the four tries.

Speaker 10 (19:39):
Yeah yeah, yep. You just put that point up again
about the shot clock.

Speaker 11 (19:45):
I googled it last week. I couldn't get on on Google.

Speaker 10 (19:48):
It actually states the shot clock starts when the player
indicates he's taken a shot, but you've only got about
one second delay before the referee points.

Speaker 2 (20:01):
Now yeah that's right. Yeah, I mean you know what
it's like out there, Mark yeah.

Speaker 11 (20:05):
Points yeah, okay, so that's when the shot clock starts.

Speaker 2 (20:11):
All right, so when the player points, So it's basically simultaneous,
isn't it bark because as soon as the player yeah yeah,
plus there's the referee it yeah yeah.

Speaker 11 (20:22):
So anyway, Greek Cornelson, was he at number eight or
a or a flanker.

Speaker 2 (20:27):
I've seen to remember he was a big number eight Mark. Yeah,
I think he's a big number eight. Others will remember
as well, may have even been there too, But yeah,
it's it always. I always love coming to these grounds
and doing the shows from here because you look out
at Eden Park and you just think to yourself, out here,
that happened out here, the try from the end of
the Earth on the third of July nineteen ninety four,

(20:48):
that gave France the win. Out here, Beaver's kick in
the Rugby World Cup Final twenty eleven. I'm looking down
exactly all exactly, but where I estimate he was when
he took that kick. I'm looking over over to my right.
I can see the green seat where they've they've made
a green seat for where Grant Elliott's six landed in

(21:11):
the Cricket World Cup semi final against South Africa. They've
painted that seat green so you forevermore will know where
that six landed. Just the history is just seeping out
of the pause of Eden Park. How are you, Ellen?

Speaker 8 (21:27):
Yeah, how are you?

Speaker 12 (21:27):
Why don't that change the kicker to Bowden?

Speaker 13 (21:30):
He's in the team, bring him.

Speaker 14 (21:31):
Forward and use him as the main kicker.

Speaker 2 (21:35):
I think you mean Jordy. I'm given his starting Yeah, well,
I guess they all as I understand it, Alan, they
just in the week leading up they say, right, who's
because they all practice obviously, Geordie a week practicing, so
will Damien, so will Stephen Petti, Fedner probably and Bowden
for when he comes on, and they just decide, okay,

(21:56):
who's taking the kicks? And I get the feeling the
first kick that gets lined up tonight or with Damien
McKenzie again.

Speaker 15 (22:03):
Of course, he actually missed quite a few last week,
and they were ever so close. We kept on saying,
looking at the tally hocket for and I think they
need to possibly rotate if he starts missing again, they
need to definitely rotate the kickers.

Speaker 2 (22:21):
Yeah, the ones he missed last week, Ellen were sideline conversions,
weren't they, So perhaps we can let him off those.
And then there was obviously the one that got timed out,
which won't happen again. So yeah, I think they'll, like
I say, I think he'll he'll be there from the
start tonight when they get the first opportunity. And if,
as you say, if things aren't going well, it's nice
to have a fallback option. The other thing that Jordy

(22:41):
Barrett has, of course, is greater distance. So if they
got a penalty on halfway they want to have a shot.
Might be Jordy Barrett who steps up rather than Damien McKenzie.

Speaker 15 (22:50):
Yeah, but he doesn't have to only take the long shots, like,
if he's more consistent, use them.

Speaker 14 (22:56):
We're there to win.

Speaker 2 (22:58):
Very good point, Yep, yep, very good point. Ellen. We'll
wait and see what happens tonight. Mate, as I say,
the resk of repeating myself like I get the fair
it'll be Damien McKenzie from the start tonight. I don't
think they'll change that from last week, even with the
two missed conversions. I don't see that there'll be a
change necessarily made. But Jeorlie Barrett, you know good goalkicker

(23:18):
Stephen Petefetter. I saw him taking some shots at goal
during the captain's run yesterday. Same for Bodham Barrett. So
there are goalkicking options there if need be. Surely the
kicker won't see that on the screen. Isn't it just
merely another distraction from kicking? Wouldn't it be better to
have audio a beeping sound that changes pitch as it

(23:39):
gets closer to the end. That's not a bad point.
I think it's just a glance up though, isn't it.
It's just a glance up to say, all twelve seconds,
I'm on track. It's just a visual cue for him
rather than just an estimation in their minds. And I
know a lot of people have said, yes, the referee
last week was telling Damien McKenzie, you've got twenty, you've

(24:01):
got ten, but I don't reckon. He heard him. We
hear that through the effects, Mike, if you listening on
the radio or on television, we hear that because the
reef is micd up. I don't reckon. Damien McKenzie heard him.
I really don't. How are you, James?

Speaker 16 (24:15):
Yeah?

Speaker 3 (24:15):
Good?

Speaker 7 (24:16):
I mean last week as well. But I'm one of
the most iconic memories I have of Eden Park. There's
nine eighty one spring Box the test there, Yes, the
Garrant Knight being knocked out by a flower bomb. That
had all the drama. The country was on edge because
the country was in turmoil. But the winning of that

(24:38):
game meant a lot to me. Mark Donaldson's quick tap
led to the penalty for Alan Newston to step up
got three points on the spring box in the series
that was just so hero raising. I will never forget that.
It was one of the best moments in sporting history
in New Zealand.

Speaker 2 (24:54):
I think because the iconic, iconic stuff.

Speaker 7 (24:58):
Yeah, really good, amazing, amazing end to what was turmoil
and a test match, a rugby test match series.

Speaker 12 (25:08):
I remember going to.

Speaker 7 (25:09):
Lancaster part to the first Test and walking out of
the Embankment pub and walking towards the ground and the
protesters on either side of a shame, shame, shame, and
we were all doing that. Shame, shame, shame, you're not
going for the game. It was just thinking back now,
okay we were divided, but in a way we were

(25:32):
all united because we were just going to watch the
springbox getting back into the ground.

Speaker 2 (25:37):
Great memories, James One, not not great memories, but memories,
iconic memories. As you say, everything rapped around nineteen eighty one,
just on the rugby. I remember Alan Houston when he
stepped up to take that cat because he missed a
couple and he hadn't been great. Even the commentator. I
remember that the radio commentator then from memory was John Howson,
and I remember John Howson saying something to the effect
of Alan Houston. You've made mistakes all day. Now now

(26:00):
it's your chance to be a hero.

Speaker 7 (26:01):
And he was, and the way he punched the air
at the end, it was like a big relief.

Speaker 2 (26:11):
Yeah, good stuff, James, Yeah, it really was. I'm getting
I'm getting goosebumps even just talking about it with you.
I listened to that game on the radio. Would have
been eighty one. I would have been ten years old.
I remember I listened to it on the radio and
then went out to the back garden and recreated it all.

Speaker 17 (26:28):
You know.

Speaker 2 (26:29):
That's that was the power of it. And I say
this a lot on the show, but I can't remember
quite big details of last week, and I don't always
remember which day the bins go out, but I can
remember sporting events from nineteen eighty one, just like you can, James.
How are you, Peter?

Speaker 18 (26:48):
Oh good ada, Jacent. I like to recall when England
did when at eden Park sevent in September seventy three, Yeah,
sixteen ten from.

Speaker 2 (27:00):
From not from memory, but I had a look at
this during the week, Peter, sixteen ten. Were you you
were to eden parkins tventy three?

Speaker 19 (27:06):
Were you?

Speaker 16 (27:07):
No? No?

Speaker 18 (27:08):
But I was at the game and the Athletic Park
on the fifth of September when we beat the England
team twenty five sixteen, and that team, the England team
actually played four games on the tour and they only
won one game and they lost three and that one

(27:33):
was just out of the clouds. Really. The England team, well.

Speaker 2 (27:39):
They've only won twice in New Zealand, Peter, that's the
crazy thing. They've only beaten the Billblacks twice, that one
you're talking about. And then a game you might have
also been at in two thousand and three at Sky
Stadium or Westpac Stadium as well, was there fifteen thirteen
and England at one point only had thirteen guys on
the field.

Speaker 18 (27:59):
Yes, quite incredible to bring up these things. I remember
Grant Grant Batty scored a try in the test that
we lost for New Zealand. But yeah, we had an
off day that day.

Speaker 2 (28:16):
Well what happens, Peter, doesn't it? Everybody has an off day.
Do you expect there to be history made tonight? Can
you see England winning again as they did back in
nineteen seventy three out here at Eden Park?

Speaker 18 (28:29):
No, I reckon that we've we've learnt our lesson we're
always slow on the on the first test of a season,
and I reckon, we've learned our mistakes and we'll we'll win.
The England losing that good fallback they had last time
too is a bit of a you know that that

(28:52):
will suffer a little bit there, But anyway, I'm an
All Black supporter and we're going to win.

Speaker 2 (28:58):
Good Man, Peter, always good to chat to you. Thanks. Indeed,
somebody asked, Chris asks, what happens if the wind blows
the ball over? As I read it in the rules
that the clock doesn't stop. So if the ball is
blown off the tea, the time it takes to put
it back on the tea is included in the sixty seconds.
So that's another little layer of interest. Twelve thirty nine

(29:24):
oh eight hundred and eighty ten to eighty calls are
coming in, but there is a spare line if you
want to jump aboard any aspective tonight, anything you learned
last week, or anything that worries you about what you
saw last week or inspires you with confidence. No changes
to the All Black side, apart from the enforced change
at half back. How do you reckon Finlay? Christie you'll go.
How do you reckon courties? What Artima might go in

(29:44):
his test day boot tonight, which is almost inevitable, very
rare for a half back to play eighty minutes, and
you think Cortes would get on at some point? Chiefs
fans in particular, what have you seen from your man
that inspires you with confidence that he'll make a good
fist of his test day boot tonight? More calls after
this twenty to one come into your life from eden Park.

Speaker 1 (30:02):
Counting Towns to all Blacks v England on your home
of sort in the sport My from eden Park with
Jason five and GJ. Gardner Homes New Zealand's most trusted
home builder used dog Zibby.

Speaker 2 (30:15):
Seventeen to one. What asks this text if it takes
a long time to get the tea out, Yeah, that's
part of it. That's part of it. So you've got
to be quick, said last week. You need to get
Zoe Hobbs to sprint it out there. She'll be in
Paris at the moment preparing for the Olympics or somewhere nearby. Hello, Carlos,
you after them?

Speaker 8 (30:33):
Piney?

Speaker 19 (30:34):
How are you good?

Speaker 2 (30:34):
Thank you mate?

Speaker 8 (30:36):
Good looking forward to tonight and Jabs. Of course. I've
got a couple of memories about the Garden of Eden.
They're both losses. The first one was I think it
was seventy three. The English came over here and they
lost every blooming game and they won one, and that
was the test metch against us.

Speaker 2 (30:54):
Yeah, and that was someone Peter was just talking about. Yeah,
sixteen ten no, no, no, no, it's good to you.
Good to have a reinforced ah.

Speaker 8 (31:03):
Right, yeah, and I think that was Laurie Manz's day,
to be honest, Bobb Ingram I can't remember, sorry, Bobby
Livingrindam or Lourie Mains anyway. The next one I've got
is nineteen seventy nine. I broke a wrist and in
the morning and had to go to Auckland Hospital. Anyway,

(31:24):
long story short, they did that. They took me to
an ambulance to Eden part and it was best steel
day and the French beat us for the first time
over here. And to be honest, I've never stood up
and clapped the opposition. And they came round to the
lap of honor. I'll never forget a Jean Pierre Reeve
and it was just incredible and I don't think too

(31:45):
many people left the ground and discussed. It was just
amazing and it was best still day for the French.

Speaker 2 (31:52):
So hang on, So you hang on. What was the
first part of that story? You were in hospital and
then what they gave you a lift to the ground.

Speaker 8 (31:59):
I was, yes, correct, I broke a wrist and they
went in there and my father said, you know, we
were like, you know, going to Headon Park and anyway,
they reset my wrist and everything like that got them
plays through and all the ball shite, and they took
me in the hangulments because.

Speaker 19 (32:16):
To the bloody ground them back, I know, I know.
So I went straight and dad Dad had to drive
a bloody car and get back whatever. But I got
I got shunted straight isn't there And they had the
tickets and they took me to miss and everything.

Speaker 8 (32:30):
It was just unbelievable.

Speaker 2 (32:32):
Yeah, it's best, It's best the best deal day tomorrow
July fourteen.

Speaker 8 (32:38):
I wasn't too sure the day whether it was the
seventeenth fourteenth was it? Well, there you go and they
have a look at that. It was best Steel Day
in nineteen seventy nine, so was.

Speaker 2 (32:45):
There forty five years ago tomorrow incredible.

Speaker 8 (32:48):
Yeah, and it was the French and talking about the
French betterest the last time there you go, and it's ironic,
you know, the last time to bet I said it
was the garden of Edam. So there you go.

Speaker 2 (32:57):
God on your calors. Great to chat my love chatting
love chatting with you. Enjoy the game tonight. Oh one
hundred and eighty ten, you get a carl Hello.

Speaker 20 (33:05):
Buye you so mate. I think if you look at
last week's game, England went quite well because they had
quite a dominant scrum. That's the only time there second
five looked. Okay, I don't rate them as an international
second five, but yeah, going going hard up in the

(33:29):
scrum kind of gave England that front foot fourth once
Joe Miler came off the field, and I think he's
an exceptional scrummer. There was a bit more parody and
you saw that Damie McKenzie was obviously trying to run
it a bit more.

Speaker 3 (33:50):
So.

Speaker 20 (33:50):
Yeah, I'm interested to see how the New Zealand scrum goes,
whether they can actually be dominant. This will set the
platform for how well New Zealand go tonight. If they
have more parity in the scrum.

Speaker 2 (34:08):
I actually thought they were good for for periods of
last week. In the scrum, Carl, I think early was.
I think the first scrum there was a scrum penalty
against New Zealand from memory. And you're right about Joe Marhler.
He's a he's a gnally front row ford who knows
his way around a scrum. When he went off and
actually when from Bexter came on for what I think
was his debut, he was okay too. But what they

(34:30):
all say, don't they It starts up front?

Speaker 20 (34:33):
Yeah, Well this is it. I think it's very important
to see how these young lad the groups and Lomac,
to see how well they go that. You know, you
haven't got time to settle in. You've got to actually
be going the first scrum. You've got to be right
up and in your face. But this is not a

(34:54):
timpy where game, someone.

Speaker 2 (34:56):
Said, Room Munger, his famous word scale. You're right, this
ain't tilly wings and it won't be out here on
Eden Park tonight. Thanks for your call, Carl, Hello Bob,
how are you Yeah?

Speaker 21 (35:06):
Your previous caller answered part of my question basically getting
the tea out to the out to the kicker yes,
somebody said that last time that for that kick that
he was timed out, it took about twenty seconds before
before he had the tea in his hand. You remember
anything about that?

Speaker 17 (35:22):
I do?

Speaker 6 (35:22):
I do.

Speaker 2 (35:23):
Yeah, I had a look at it. I kind of
forensically examined it last week, Bob, to look at timings.
I didn't think from my account and from my memory
of a week ago, Damian McKenzie had the ball on
the tee until forty seconds.

Speaker 21 (35:36):
Because I looked, I actually timed it myself from the
you know, I recorded the match and looked at it after,
and I reckon he was timed out about two with
about two seconds to go. But that was only from
the clock on the you know, the time o'clock on
the field. I don't know that could have been stops
and gaps and things in it, but I recorded it
had happened, and I reckon he was two shirt two

(35:57):
seconds early. But who's responsible to getting the tea out
to the kicker?

Speaker 2 (36:02):
The tea carrier? Look and you know, like you know,
they had the water boys, don't they The players who
aren't involved in the twenty three Bob, somebody gets that responsibility,
so it'll be somebody outside the All Blacks twenty three
who who has the responsibility of getting the tea out
And I'll tell you what, with what happened last week,
they will be sprinting with all their might, Yeah, to

(36:24):
get it out there, he said.

Speaker 21 (36:26):
But it'll be somebody.

Speaker 22 (36:27):
It will be.

Speaker 21 (36:28):
I mean, I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but it will
be somebody who is an All Black supporter rather than
an English supporter, you know their own.

Speaker 2 (36:40):
It's not just an All Black supporter, Bob, but somebody
from within the camp.

Speaker 19 (36:44):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (36:44):
They'd be interesting to have a neutral, wouldn't it, and
see if they know mysteriously pulled a hamstring on the
way out, if they didn't want one of the other
kickers to get it over. I had a great suggestion
last week. I think it was either last Sunday or
on Monday night Sports Talk, that the referee have the
tea and wear it as a hat so it's always
out there.

Speaker 19 (37:04):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (37:04):
I can't see it happening. Confidence levels. I am make
confidence levels tonight.

Speaker 12 (37:13):
Oh yeah, pretty good. It'll be interesting overall. I think
it'll be just interesting to see how the team adapts
under under Racers, Rangers, Raiders, coaching, you know, just to
get past the defense and it'll be interesting to see
whether he can make a change. He certainly made a
change as far as the clock on the on the

(37:34):
school board went pretty fast, didn't he. I just want
to if I can.

Speaker 14 (37:39):
Say one thing to you finally about it, maybe yours,
Miles Davis. It's going to be the most disloyal football
fan I've ever heard. He said it'd rather Spain win
the UEA cap than England the way England's playing, and
I'm just thinking it doesn't make me feel too bad
as a sports fan in New Zealand teams.

Speaker 2 (38:02):
I've seen those comments from him as well. I think
I don't Mark. I think it'd be fair to say
our mate Miles Davis is not the biggest fan of
Gareth Southgate. I think that's what's at the heart of this.

Speaker 23 (38:14):
But I mean, I mean, you know better than anyway.
But it's like you've got to be kidding me. You
mean you'd want to see the downfall of their coach
rather than your team went to the first time and
what sixty or seventy years you know, Come on, then,
come on, Miles, skin on board me bring it home in.

Speaker 2 (38:32):
England sports fandom does funny things to people. Mark good
on your mate, great to ched as always. Nine Away
from One News talks edby.

Speaker 1 (38:41):
Live from Eden Park on your home of Sport Weekend
Sport with Jason Pive and tg under Hooves, New Zealand's
most trusted homebuilder.

Speaker 2 (38:50):
News talk zedby just on five and a half Away
from One. We'll open the lines again after one o'clock.
Straight after the one o'clock news though, we're joined by
Bill Sweeney. He is the CEO of the RF You so,
as I said at the top of the show, effectively
Mark Robinson's counterpart with England Rugby. He's going to join
us for a chat about all sorts of things really,
the issues facing the global game, how much alignment there

(39:12):
is between Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere rugby thinking and
whether he thinks and I'm sure he does, England can
break this thirty year who do at Eden Park? And
in square this two match series tonight. A couple of
texts before we go to the news. Ponte, I'm a
chief supporter, so maybe only looking at this with one
eye open, but surely it must have been a thought
in the coach's mind to start Cortez tonight, having him

(39:35):
played such a long time alongside Damien McKenzie. There's nothing
like having a partnership anyway. We'll see him when he
gets on the field. Hopefully he plays a blinder and
gets the next game starting as opposed to being off
the bench. Just my thoughts win and they're good thoughts,
and I think that's whatd have had to have come
into their minds. Tough to throw them in in such
a big Test on his debut. I get the partnership thing,

(39:58):
and I really think I'm so looking forward to seeing
Cortes allow to make it on tonight, and I think
you're right. I think he may well get the start
next week against Fiji in San Diego. They might do
a swap and have Christy come off the bench, or
I guess they feasibly could give Noah Hotham a Test
deboo next weekend, couldn't they. I think they're more likely
to stick to Latima and Christy given they are the

(40:20):
two halfbacks who were selected initially, but it's not beyond
the realms of possibility. Jason Mashaane. The All Blacks haven't
played South Africa at Eden Park since twenty thirteen. Given
how up and down the All Blacks were at times
between twenty sixteen and twenty twenty three, the eden Park Hudoo,
would all probability be gone. Robert's a good point. Yeah,

(40:42):
I haven't played South Africa here very often. As I say,
After one o'clock Bill Sweeney will join us. Keep your
calls and correspondents coming. We'll open the lines again and
after two o'clock this afternoon. Just a reminder if you
want to go out and pop back after two Lulu
Sun is on the show here after two o'clock.

Speaker 1 (41:01):
The only place to discuss the biggest sports issues on
and Masterfield. It's all on weekends Ford with Jason Vane
on your home of Sport when.

Speaker 7 (41:12):
News Talk.

Speaker 2 (41:14):
Welcome in seven past one on Jason Pine broadcasting live
from eden Park where in around six hours will be
underway in the second Test between the All Blacks and England.
For commentary here on News Talk SEDB. So don't have
to change the channel at all, just leave it here
on z B and you'll get commentary tonight build up
from six commentary from seven o'clock. Charlie says Piney, do
you know when the junior All Blacks are playing France.

(41:36):
I do Charlie, I do know when they're playing France.
This is in the World Under twenty Championship semifinals five
o'clock Monday morning, New Zealand time. Five o'clock Monday morning,
New Zealand time is when you can I guess tune
in or that's when that game is. The other semi
final England against Ireland slightly earlier in the morning two

(41:58):
thirty Monday morning, then New Zealand against France, and the
final is next weekend from memory. So I hope that's
answered your question. Adam from across the Tasman this hour
with his regular Australian update. Lots of sport happening over
that side of the ditch as well. The Wallabies and
Wales have their second test of their two match series
tonight in Melbourne. State of Origin coming up of course

(42:18):
as well, so we'll break down all of the big
Australian issues with Adam Peacock don't forget in around an
hour or so. Lulu Sun is on the show following
her terrific fortnight at Wimbledon, going all the way to
the quarter finals in the women's singles. We're going to
open the lines of course across the afternoon, as we
always do. You can call and make your point or

(42:39):
make it via text on nine two nine two whenever
you like as well. But it is eight and a
half past one and it is an enormous pleasure to
welcome into weekends sport across New Zealand. RF you CEO
Bill Sweeney, who's here with the England rugby team on
their tour of New Zealand. Bill, great to have the
chance to chat to you on news talks, he'd be

(42:59):
how are you enjoying your time in New Zealand.

Speaker 24 (43:02):
That's been fantastic and it's great to see you the
other day in Dunedin down there as well. Obviously the
lead up and the build up to that test was good.
You're a mad rugby loving nation, so I've had the
chance to drop into a few rugby clubs during the
trip as well. It's it's been a really really good tour.

Speaker 2 (43:16):
One to get an indication from you about, you know,
the landscape that you work with in the Northern Hemisphere
rugby wise, in broad terms, how would you describe the
current state of rugby in the Northern Hemisphere and the
big challenges that you'll facing.

Speaker 24 (43:29):
Yeah, i'd say we're in a bit of a sort
of recovery mode coming out of COVID, and COVID hit
all of us and you guys have know that down
here as well, but it hit our premiership club's pretty
hard and we went through a really painful period where
three of them became insolvent with Worcester and London Irish
and that was a really painful period and those three
had particular stresses in their business models, so they're a

(43:49):
bit more vulnerable perhaps than some of the others, but
that was a major shakeup in terms of how do
we govern the game. So we're probably, i'd say on
the professional league side, we're probably in a bit of
a recovery period. It's been a great season so attendance
as a backup. We had an amazing final with Northampton
and Bath to a and was full eighty two thousand
for a final there was incredible. So we're seeing some

(44:10):
real sort of signs of recovery. And then also i
think from the community side, because you can't you know,
you've got to link the two as well. It's really
gratifying now to see our community participation numbers getting back
up to where they were pre COVID, and we've actually
had our best year I think in ten years in
terms of kids coming into the game. So on balance
for that then I'd say it is difficult time, tough times,
but we feel run our way back.

Speaker 2 (44:32):
How did you deal with the challenges of the COVID period,
the fallout afterwards, that sort of thing that there must
have been a very challenging time for the whole Rugby ecosystem,
So what were the main strategies for dealing with there.

Speaker 24 (44:44):
I think the period post COVID was the hardest because
when you're in a crisis like that, everybody pulls together.
So government were pretty good to us and we work
really closely with them, and you go into crisis mode
and you have all sorts of little sort of working
groups set up to get yourselves through it, and everyone
pulls together. But then coming out of COVID, people's people's
memories go quickly and they just think we're back to normal.
But we've had massive cost increases coming out of that,

(45:06):
inflations really high in the North, so have all the
pressures and challenges of coming out of COVID still trying
to get the revenue side up to speed, but you've
got these increased costs, so we've just had to really
knuckle down and focus and get it done. But I
think we're through the worst of it now.

Speaker 2 (45:21):
In terms of how you judge your performance. You know
here in New Zealand, obviously we love it when the
All Blacks went and often New Zealand Rugby are quite
too the All Blacks. Is it similar in England? How
key a Metrica is the succeeds of of your elite sides.

Speaker 24 (45:35):
Yeah, it's really important. You know, winning matters and the
world's a different place when you're winning. You know, we
went through we went through a couple of difficult years
at the end of Eddie's tenure there and we had
a couple of tough Six Nations championships coming in fourth
and fifth, and it definitely it changes the mood and everything.
It changes the conversation you're having with your business partners,

(45:55):
it changes the conversations you're having with the community game.
Nobody likes to see you struggling. They all expect you
to do much better. And then Steve's come in and
we had we had a soso start to the last
six Nations but finish really strongly, and then to get
onto this tour and see us playing a really exciting
brand of rugby which is maybe different than people normally
expect from us. There's a real buzzer around the country

(46:16):
now about this squad and Steve and the coaching team with.

Speaker 2 (46:19):
Sport is obviously you know, I guess historically you're going
to win fifty percent lose fifty percent or thereabouts when
you're dealing with commercial partners, You know, how do you
make sure that that your commercial partnerships are not entirely
dictated by whether the team's wunning or not.

Speaker 24 (46:35):
I think we're quite fortunate, you know that the partners
we've gone and mean, look at O two, they've been
with us for over thirty years. Yeah, that's a really
long standing relationship. And I'd say all all the commercial
partners that we work with, they understand the game, and
they understand the pressures of high performance sport, and they
know you're not going to have you know, can be
winning hundred percent of the time. So if you're winning
seventy seventy five percent, that's a pretty good, pretty good
win ratio. I think from their perspective. They just want

(46:57):
to They want to be comfortable you're doing all the
right things to head in the right direction, whether it's
the women's game or the men's game, and so we
were pretty transparent and telling them about our plans and
we're where we're heading towards. I think as long as
they feel you've got things under control, they're pretty supportive.
In terms of selection for the England rugby team, it's
identical to here in New Zealand. You must be playing
in Super Rugby to be eligible for the All Blacks

(47:18):
for England. Got to be playing in England to play
for England. What's the main rationale for that? Is it
similar to what we head down here. Yeah, it's a
controversial one with a lot of people. A lot of
people feel that we should be just have a completely
open system and you slip players from ever they are.
I think there's really two main reasons why we feel
that's important. When the game went professionally ninety five, all

(47:40):
of the different unions chose to go a different way
in terms of how they structure the game, and every
model is slightly different. So the Irish have probably got
the most extreme in terms of central control for provinces
they employ, all the players, employ all the coaches, one
hundred percent control there and ourselves in the French should
be quite similar in the sense that entrepreneurs came in
owned the clubs, they own the player contracts and we
kind of lease them back. And we've found to be

(48:03):
competitive in international rugby you've got to have a greater
degree of So we're on the verge of signing a
thing at the moment called the Professional Game Partnership, and
that will give Steve a lot more direct control over
a core group of twenty five players, so he'll have
say in control over things like strength and conditioning, rec periods,
individual development programs for the players, a much higher level
of control, and he'll have that taking us through the

(48:25):
age grade as well, so under eighteens, under twenties into
the A team and then the senior team. Aligned to that,
we just feel that you want those players, you want
your best players based in your home country because you
just got greater accessibility. If you're playing in France, you
don't have that quite same relationship perhaps with directors of rugby,
and what Steve's really good at having been head coach
of Leicster he knows all the directors of rugby, He's

(48:46):
got good relationships there and it's really a two way
partnership in terms of what's best for the players, best
for the club and also of the country. So having
them based domestically, we think from a pure performance point
of view is major advantage. And then you've got the
commercial one, which is we want our Premiership league. We
want our clubs to be successful and it's tough if
your best players have gone abroad. So we're pretty fixed

(49:07):
on that policy of only selecting players that are playing
in England. We think that's the right thing to do.

Speaker 2 (49:12):
Is there a constant discussion though? I know down here there,
as you've probably there won't be a surprise to you.
You're right. There are people who think just open it up,
doesn't matter where you're playing, you should still be eligible
for the All Blacks. Richie Moring is up in Japan.
We'd love to have them playing at ten. But now
that you know injured are pretty firm on their stance
and have been on record as saying we're not anywhere
close to even tweaking it a litt alone changing it.

Speaker 24 (49:31):
Is that your mindset as well? Yeah, it is and
I think if you look around, look around the world,
look around the unions. The Irish do it, you do it,
we do it, the French do it. Now there's always
the exception to the rule. And of course whenever I
say that, I'll guess it. We'll look at South Africa.
You know, they pick players from all over the place.
I think they're a bit of an outlier. I mean,

(49:52):
they've got such a conveyor belt of players and they've
got such depth of selection. I think they can afford
to do that. So if that works for them, that's fine.
But we believe it's the right model for us and
we'll stick to that. Twicking a great place to watch
a game of rugby. It's undergoing some innovation at the moment,
I understand. Can you tell us a bit about that. Yeah,
it's not going under renovation yet. We're looking at twenty seven.

(50:12):
So you know, we've got different models north and south.
So you don't own your stadium down here. I've heard
this talk about possibly that happening in Auckland, but you
don't own the stadium. Now for us, the ownership of
the stadiums of a core pillar of our of our
commercial strategy. So we generate eighty five percent of our
revenue comes from the commercial side of the men's senior team.

(50:34):
Of that, fifty percent is match day revenue and the
rest is sponsorship and broadcast rights. So if we're going
to do that, you've got to have a stadium that's
fit for purpose. And if you look at if you
look at England at the moment, you'll see stadiums like
Tottenhotspur Stadium at whiteheat Lane, major major renovation. I think
they spent one point two billion or something. Old Trafford's
going to be renovated fairly soon. I know we're talking

(50:55):
about football, not rugby, but you've got to keep up
in terms of the product you're offering your fans. And
Twoklam's a great place, loads of history and loads of legacy,
but she needs a bit of a facelift. So it's
not gonna be it's not gonna be cheap. And we're
going through that whole process now in terms of design concepts.

Speaker 8 (51:09):
What will it look like?

Speaker 19 (51:10):
What do we do?

Speaker 24 (51:11):
Prior to that, we went through a whole range of options.
Do you knock it down and start from scratch, do
you move it to the center of the country more
geographically accessible to the rest of the country, or do
you renovate Twickenham, And all of the financial analysis we
did said that the best thing to do was really
stay in Twickenham and build the and build three of
the stands there up to match the stand and that
still allows you to access that commercial center of London.

(51:33):
So that's the route we're going down. We've got a
big meeting in January for the next phase of the program,
but hopefully we'll kick off in twenty seven and we'd
kick it off in a year when you've got no
autumn internationals, so we do when you've got your warm
up matches, which is which commercial point of view is
a better thing for us? Were you ever close to
really like adding, Yeah, we took it seriously, We looked
at it. There were a couple of things. There was

(51:53):
talk about a possible joint venture with Wembley. Government were
quite keen on that, the idea of one national stadium,
but it didn't work for us. Again from the point
of hospitality and capacity to do that there, so that
didn't quite work. Is not that easy to get to
and you're always also thinking about the tradition of the
game and the home of English rugby and all of
that history and whatever. So you don't move away from

(52:15):
that lightheartedly. You've got to take that really seriously.

Speaker 2 (52:18):
But no, we did look at it.

Speaker 24 (52:19):
We looked at Birmingham, great location, easier for fans to
get to from around the country, but on balance we
ended up with stay where we are.

Speaker 2 (52:27):
A couple of other issues. I want to get your
views on talk that the soon to begin Nations Championship
might have its finals weekend and Cutter, can you tell
us where those discussions are at.

Speaker 24 (52:37):
Yeah, we started off the conversations on the Nations Cup
in March of twenty twenty. I remember them kicking off
and it was just pre COVID and I thought, oh yeah,
and I was relatively new, so I came in in
twenty nineteen, so I thought we'll polish this off in
probably about six months. So in typical rugby fashion, things
sometimes to take a long time to get done. So
here we are still talking about it. But great progress
on the Nation's Cup as a competition as a format,

(53:00):
really good alignment with North and South, and we worked
really well together actually in Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere
and then out of the Blue A couple of months
ago we had none solicited bid came in from the
Middle East. We're all under NDA so we can't talk
too openly. There's a lot of confidentiality around it. But
I think as you'd expect us to do, we need
to take every proposal seriously. We're all under massive financial

(53:22):
pressure the game as a whole globally worldwide. We need
to generate more revenue and that needs to be invested
back into the game. But it's got to be the
right decision as well, So the obvious questions come up.
Will fans travel there? Is it the right place to
go to? Are there other options to do? So we're
in that situation now, just really evaluating all the different
as possible aspects to it, and then we'll make a

(53:43):
joint decision.

Speaker 2 (53:44):
What do you think the main things that will inform
that decision will be.

Speaker 24 (53:48):
I think fan interest is really important, so we need
to we need to understand what the fans want and
really have a good sense of how they feel about that.
I don't know how much coverage you got down here,
but we had the situation in European football with the
Super League where they were going for and that they
were sort of sort of went off in that direction
pretty quickly, and then things unfolded quite quickly as well.

(54:10):
So I think taking the fans on that journey and
really understanding how they'll react to it and what's the
right product for them as well is important. And then
the financials of the financials, you know, you'll do all
your normal financial analysis and say is that you know?

Speaker 2 (54:21):
Is that worth move? Interested about the challenges facing or
not the challenges? Sorry, the the frame of mind around
the Northern hemisphere rugby compared to Southern hemisphere rugby. We
often hear you know, you know north east south, is
there a northeast south or are there actually more areas
of alignment? Then we realize I.

Speaker 24 (54:44):
Think it's probably more alignment. I think I think on
things like competition formats and how do you drive greater
value through because the challenge you face with rugby, it's
not like cricket where you can just throw up a
new format of the sport and you can have players
playing three hundred and twenty days a year. You just
can't do that in rugby. Your best players are limited
the number of games they can play. So we've got
an obligation to drive as much value as possible through

(55:05):
the same volume. Less you're never going to get more
matches in place, So we work together really well in
terms of that commercial aspect of things. I think we're
a lot closer now in terms of where we want
to get to with the shape of the game. Personally,
I think the biggest challenge we face as a sport
globally is attracting a younger audience. And I think sometimes
we're a little bit too traditional. And you guys down here,

(55:27):
particularly New Zealand, you're very outspoken about speed of game,
style of play, regulation and law changes to facilitate that,
and we're a lot closer than people might imagine on that. Personally,
I'm in favor of in favor of a revision to
the red card situation, but I'm speaking that in this case.
I'm talking about that personally. That's not the shared view

(55:48):
of a lot of people in the RF. You I'd
say we're probably split fifty to fifty, and you get
that player welfare conversation versus the product you've got on.
But I just think at the moment, you know, God
forbid you tonight you get a red card. Nearly stage
of the game. It just it changes the atmosphere in
the crowd and it changes expectation there. So I think
we need to really is he look at that and
we're very much aligned from then exec point of view

(56:09):
with New Zealand. I think the other piece where we're
very aligned is how we market the game. Yeah, I
just think we've got up our game there in terms
of use of information, explaining why decisions happen on the pitch,
communicate with the crowd, a more contemporary, more youth focused
way of building the game, and we're pretty much aligned
on that.

Speaker 2 (56:27):
How does Mark Robinson go in global you know Rugby
conversation you said before that, you know, is he a
bit outspoken?

Speaker 8 (56:33):
As he is?

Speaker 2 (56:33):
He he banged the table a bit, does he?

Speaker 5 (56:34):
Or he does?

Speaker 24 (56:35):
Yeah, he's very He does a good job protecting your interests.
So he's not slow in coming forward with his views,
which is great and I'd say ninety percent of the
time we're probably probably in agreement, so that's fine. But no, No,
he's very He's passionate about the game. He's played the
game at the highest level. He wants to see a
good game in place, and most of the things he

(56:56):
talks about are really in the best interest of the game,
So I think he does a great.

Speaker 5 (56:59):
Job for you.

Speaker 2 (56:59):
Do you feel optimistic about the future of the game
of rugby, Yeah, I really do, I really do.

Speaker 24 (57:03):
I think I think COVID hit us a lot more
more than people realize, you know, and we got through
it and we're still in that sort of kind of
recovery phase.

Speaker 17 (57:11):
Now.

Speaker 24 (57:12):
We saw a great World Cup in France. We've just
come off for an outstanding six Nations. I think if
we can get this Nation's Cup done and in the
right format, I think that's really really important. We do
need to address the marketing and the communication of the game,
but it's I personally, I still think it's the best
game in the world, and I'm really optimistic that we'll
get these things right and we'll drive it forward. And

(57:33):
it's time for rugby to re establish itself.

Speaker 2 (57:35):
And most importantly, the thirty year drought of Eden Park.
Is that going to fall tonight? I hope tonight.

Speaker 24 (57:42):
It's a brilliant game. I hope it's an entertaining product
for the fans and they love it in the reg
of their seats. I'd like us to square the series
up tonight and then we can see you again on
the second of November and twicken and when we call
that the decider yep, but no injuries, no red cards,
stunning event, people loving it, walking away feeling they've really
enjoyed the evening. Then that's the main objective.

Speaker 8 (58:04):
Meet.

Speaker 2 (58:04):
Look, I think we can all agree on that.

Speaker 19 (58:06):
Bill.

Speaker 2 (58:06):
It's been great to get the chance to chat. Thanks
for taking the time, pleasure always good to see you now.
Good to see you too, Bill thinks. Indeed, Bill Sweeney,
there are if you CEO very open on a number
of topics there you might want to pick up on
something that you heard from Bill Sweeney. I eight hundred
eighty ten eighty nine two nine two. If you would
prefer to correspond by text, we're going to open the
lines again. Got to get to Adam Peacock at around

(58:28):
one forty five for our regular look at Australian sport,
but we're coming to your life from Eden Parks. If
you want to pick up on anything, as I say,
you heard from Bill Sweeney, or anything that perhaps you
wanted to get across last hour and couldn't get through
on I eight hundred eighty ten eighty mussys Piney, I'm
not actually sure how we're going to go tonight. Mate.
We normally go in with ninety nine point nine percent

(58:50):
confidence that will thrash whoever it is, but I'm undecided.
I don't know if I like it. Come on us,
Mike says Jason. I'm not that confident. I hope the
All Black swim, but I don't think the English team
fears this group of players. Apart from Ardie and Bow,
I believe we'll look back in a few years and
not really remember some of the player's names. There are

(59:11):
no real icons go back a few years or even
last year, we had names that stood out. We don't
necessarily in this team. Thanks Mike. I think it's still
a pretty decent All Black side and I still think
we'll win the game of rugby tonight. But if you
want to pick up on anything that you heard last hour,
this hour, we've got some opportunity for you eight hundred

(59:32):
eighty ten eighty nineteen nine to two on text one
twenty five back with your calls right after this on
Weekend Sport.

Speaker 1 (59:40):
The pitch is ready. Are you live from dyn Park?
Ahead of All Blacks v. England It's Weekends for with
Chason Vive and GJ. Gunderhove's New Zealand's most trusted hope
builder used talk ZIBB.

Speaker 2 (59:53):
One twenty eight talking any aspect of tonight's rugby that
you want to pick up on. Eight hundred eighty ten
eighty is our number. You can tell us how confident
you are or not.

Speaker 13 (01:00:02):
Get a Chris yet a mate a from Australia. I'm
a fifty to fifty on this Test match because that's
a really good English four pack and I'm, you know,
normally very confident in the All Blacks, but we've got
a few key players out and a few people in

(01:00:25):
positions that I don't particularly think should be there. So
this is going to be a humdinger of a Test
and it's going to be tight, just like last week.

Speaker 2 (01:00:38):
Yeah, did you feel the same way pre last week?

Speaker 17 (01:00:40):
Chris?

Speaker 2 (01:00:40):
Is that how you felt? If we take it back
exactly a week last Saturday afternoon? Do you feel more
or less optimistic having seen them play once?

Speaker 13 (01:00:53):
I would say less because the English would do their review.
They missed a lot of kicks and you know a
lot of kickers that haven't played at that stadium. Down
and Dunedin do miss a lot of kicks because of
all the the structure of the stadium being white instead
of a gray they do miss goalkicks. So I think

(01:01:14):
the English team are going to be up for this game.
So for the confidence going into this next game, yes,
I'm always confident in the All Blacks. At the same time,
if anyone's going to trip us up at Eden Park,
I think this will be this English team today.

Speaker 25 (01:01:32):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:01:32):
Look, it's not beyond the realms of possibility, Chris, obviously.
And every time you know, two decent teams play one another,
one possible result is that is the other decent team
beats our decent team. I just I don't know, I
feel I don't I wouldn't say fifty to fifty. I
kind of feel like a seventy thirty. But then that
might just be completely biased on my part.

Speaker 14 (01:01:53):
Hey, look, I.

Speaker 13 (01:01:55):
Love the confidence, and we've got that good home ground
record at the Garden of Eden as has been mentioned,
But like that's the type of thing that a sports
player would want to to beat. I mean, it was
the French that got us last time there in ninety four,
and these English players, they didn't come to New Zealand
to lose to il So for me, I'm looking at

(01:02:19):
the way the English played, and they lost that Test
to us in Dunedin because they missed more kicks, so
then they shut us down in the second half. So
this is going to be a Titanic Test match.

Speaker 8 (01:02:33):
You know.

Speaker 13 (01:02:34):
We've been used to thinking of England the yeah, we
can just beat them, and that's how we go about things.
And the only real true enemy in the last few
years has been the Irish and the South Africans. But
the English have got themselves right up there now, so
you know, I will take the win no matter how

(01:02:54):
we get it.

Speaker 2 (01:02:56):
I love your cool head at analysis, Chris. I love
it made fantastic from you. If you get the opportunity
to call us tomorrow, mate, let's have a chat in
twenty four hours and see how it all plays.

Speaker 13 (01:03:07):
No dramas unless we lose. Then I'll be crying myself
for the.

Speaker 11 (01:03:11):
Scrower good man.

Speaker 2 (01:03:15):
Oh so good mate, so good. Thanks for calling in
from Australia.

Speaker 8 (01:03:18):
Chris.

Speaker 2 (01:03:18):
Love chatting sport with you. Oh one hundred and eighty
ten eighty spear line. If you want to jump a board,
pick up on anything like I say, I feel more well.
I don't know whether I feel more optimistic. I'm just
trying to remember how I felt when I was bringing
you the show from Forsyth bar Stadium a week ago.
Whether I felt more optimistic then than I do now.

(01:03:39):
I think it's about the same, if I'm honest. I'm
not sure that I can say that I was vastly
more confident then or today. I think we'll win, but
then I think the All Blacks will win every Test match.
That's just how I feel as an All Blacks fan,
especially at home, especially at Eden Park, where as we know,
nineteen ninety four was the last time anybody came out

(01:04:01):
here played the All Blacks in a Test and won.
Really interesting though the English approach to this during the
week when asked about the record at Eden Park and
whether it's something that factors into their thinking, and a
couple of them have said, look, that's not our record,
that's the All Blacks record, that's their record to worry about.

(01:04:21):
We're not factoring it in at all to our thinking.
This is the All Blacks record to defend. We're just
treating it as another Test match, which I guess they're
going to say, aren't they they're not going to come
out and say, you know, we're scared stuff of playing
at a place where no one's won for thirty years.
But I also wonder whether at some point it becomes

(01:04:43):
not a burden necessarily, but an unnecessary distraction. Perhaps. Do
you go out there thinking, Man, we haven't lost ever
so long. I don't want to be part of the
all Black side that loses at eden Park. At some
point history tells us at some point these records fall
could be tonight.

Speaker 26 (01:05:02):
Is there a point pointing where we've gone over the
limit of being confident at Eden Park?

Speaker 19 (01:05:06):
Now?

Speaker 26 (01:05:06):
Were scared ourselves of Eden Park? Because I don't think so?
Because oh no, what if we lose? We're one so
often here? Are we so embarrassing?

Speaker 2 (01:05:16):
Yet?

Speaker 26 (01:05:16):
Yet the embarrassment really is unwarranted because we haven't lost
here for thirty years. I've not been alive for a
All Blacks Eden Park lost Piney.

Speaker 2 (01:05:25):
That is amazing. Well, you're you're you're in the majority
as far as the All Blacks are concerned, as well
of the twenty three Tonight seventeen when it weren't born
in ninety four either. I don't know what it feels
like to be alive when the All Blacks have lost
at Eden Park. I mean there was that that line's
drawer a few years ago, and that that felt weird
for me. Think, man, I thought we were invincible here,

(01:05:48):
but that's what happens when all the home nations combined.
So yeah, but again, like I said, are we scared, Well,
I'm not scared. Are you scared? Of course not. I
just I didn't think you were. You're pretty indestructible when
it comes to this sort of thing. Andy. The other draw. Incidentally,
I was reminded during the week the other draw, because

(01:06:12):
there have been forty eight test matches here since that
defeat by France. Two of them have been draws. The
one that Andy was just talking about the fifteen all
draw with the touring British and Irish Lions in twenty seventeen.
The other one was the test immediately following the lost
to France. It was an eighteen all draw with South

(01:06:33):
Africa in nineteen ninety four, the first test at Eden
Park following the lost to France. So they lost to
France and the next time they came back they drew
with South Africa. But they've won forty six of forty
eight here since that day in July. It's actually thirty
years and ten days ago, so you know, give or take,

(01:06:54):
it's basically thirty years Tony Errick. And there could be
a draw tonight.

Speaker 8 (01:07:00):
I reckon it's a possibility, so it's strange it.

Speaker 13 (01:07:03):
Things have happened.

Speaker 2 (01:07:06):
That's true. That's true. Look like last week sixteen fifteen
shows how close these two teams are. Absolutely and some
some has also said they pointed it out last week
as well, Tony, And I'm sure this hasn't a scaped
your attention. If England had had kicked the points on
offer and New Zealand had kicked the points on offer,
which was including the time to out kicked by Damien McKenzie,

(01:07:28):
it would have been a drawer.

Speaker 8 (01:07:30):
That's true.

Speaker 17 (01:07:32):
And I think I can't remember how long had I
started doing it. It was certainly before the last World Cut,
and there were any number of draws, and the draws,
I mean the draw tonight's being over one hundred bucks.

Speaker 2 (01:07:47):
Sorry I just missed that last but that Tony, I
was just getting a bit of information in my year,
what was one hundred bucks?

Speaker 17 (01:07:52):
Well, the draw tonight is over one hundred bucks at
the CB for one hundred, sorry, one hundred for five dollars,
twenty dollars for the draw?

Speaker 2 (01:08:06):
Have you got Have you got your five dollars on
at Tony?

Speaker 17 (01:08:09):
I think I think I'm just going to check on that.
I yes, I got my ticket. England they pay eighteen
dollars and the draw.

Speaker 18 (01:08:18):
No, it's.

Speaker 5 (01:08:20):
What is it?

Speaker 11 (01:08:21):
Twenty one dollars for the draw?

Speaker 2 (01:08:23):
Yep? So what's one hundred and five bucks on your
five dollar bit?

Speaker 16 (01:08:26):
Yeah?

Speaker 17 (01:08:26):
Now it's not so silly. Remember there that there was
some silly drawers in the World Cup, and I recall
getting several hundred dollars off one draw. It might have
been Argentina or did Argentina beat us or something like that?

Speaker 2 (01:08:40):
Well, Argentina bad Us a couple of years ago in christyitch,
I remember that? Well?

Speaker 12 (01:08:44):
Right?

Speaker 18 (01:08:45):
Yeah?

Speaker 17 (01:08:45):
So, and I've put five dollars on the opposition and
five dollars on the draw every All Black Test match
and I'm streets ahead.

Speaker 2 (01:08:55):
You sound like you're an England supporter anyway, Tony.

Speaker 17 (01:08:57):
Well, no, no, I've lived here. I'm a New Zealand
citizen and I've lived here for over fifty years. Love
it well, I learned watching watch in England play its
Athletic Park in the old Millard Stand.

Speaker 2 (01:09:10):
Oh wow, how good? Speaking of nostalgia. Yeah, I was
talking to somebody about about Athletic Park during the week.
You know how steep the Millard Stand was. It almost
felt like you were going to topple forward. Forsyth Bar
Stadium is pretty similar actually in terms of it of
its gradients as you as you walk down. It reminded

(01:09:32):
me last week actually of the Millard Stand.

Speaker 17 (01:09:34):
Yeah, and I think, well, I don't know how long
it's been gone it's been, because I mean we're going
back a few decades now. But I used to work
at the Tramway Hotel which you may remember, yes, and
then I finished finished work a bit after the morning
shift whatever it was, and just walked up to the
park and I only lived up the hill in Kingston.

Speaker 2 (01:09:55):
Amazing, well Tony. I hope, I hope for your wallet
that it's a drawer, because that's a nice little collect
for you. The other one, which obviously a few people
collected on last weekend was the draw. You can bet
on a drawer at half or full time, and of
course last week it was ten all at half time,
so you collect on the halftime draw. Of course, a

(01:10:16):
lot of people talked about that that the All Black
should have kicked the ball out gone and at ten
to seven ahead, didn't gave away a penalty which was
kicked and all of a sudden it is a draw
at half time. I feel like I feel like the
All Blacks will win tonight, but I said that before Tony.
It's not a bad bet the draw. Thanks for calling him, mate,
I hope you enjoy the game tonight. Naki chopped from

(01:10:37):
the nack. He says, we'll thrace them. Don't panic. England
won't approve much, but we will.

Speaker 18 (01:10:42):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:10:43):
I get the feeling. England, just like us, have a
frame of reference.

Speaker 19 (01:10:46):
Now.

Speaker 2 (01:10:47):
Barry says, we don't give England the credit they're due.
They beat Ireland. They should have bet in South Africa
in the World Cup semi final. It was only a
one point lost last week, Barry, three very good points.
I think we made those points last week in the
lead up to the first Test. This is not a
bad side, it's a very very good rugby team. Lisa

(01:11:09):
says Jason. This week you are displaying confidence for an
All Black swim. However, last weekend you were more of
a cocky confident. So I do see a little bit
of difference between this week and last week. Lisa, that
is excellent from you. That is excellent. I didn't mean
to be cocky last week, but obviously came across in

(01:11:29):
that way. I appreciate very much your call. So maybe, yeah,
maybe that's it. Maybe last week I was cocky. Today
I'm just confident. It's twenty to two. We'll take a break,
come back and get across the Tasman. Adam Peacock out
of Australia right after.

Speaker 1 (01:11:44):
This lay from the Fortress eden Park, It's weekend Sport
with Jason Fine and gjcun the Homes, New Zealand's most
trusted home builder news Talks.

Speaker 2 (01:11:56):
It'd be just on sixteen and a half away from
two broadcasting Life from eden Park, All Blacks, England. Tonight,
Let's get you across the Tasman, though our Australian correspondent
Adam Peacocks with us. I feel like every week now
I need to ask you about the weather, but I
do it with a sense of impending doom.

Speaker 9 (01:12:12):
Sunday today, Pinee, what that's the exact opposite, the polar
opposite to the standard of golf that I provided draw
a long route this morning. It was garbage anyway, it
was put it this way. Eddie Jones is coaching tenure
as the Wallabies that just finished last year was better
than my golf today.

Speaker 2 (01:12:33):
Well that is quite the low bar. That is quite
the low bar.

Speaker 19 (01:12:38):
All right.

Speaker 2 (01:12:38):
Well let's start there actually with the Wallabies they take
on Wales tonight. Joe Schmidt's tenure as Wallaby's coach started
with victory last weekend. Confidence that that he'll make it
two from Tuban Melbourne tonight against Wales.

Speaker 9 (01:12:51):
Yeah, pretty high. I mean, let's face that Wales aren't
the best that's coming down from the Northern Hemisphere and
end of a long season for them as well. But
it was just a solid start. Didn't exactly think, oh wow,
this is the the you rejuvenation of the Wallabies that
we've all been craving. It's just a little step in
the right direction. But he's had to shuffle around this

(01:13:14):
week week to week given international rockey being so physically,
you expect a week to week when you're paying back
to back test. But James Slipper comes back in as captain.
He was asked actually midweek about Eddie's famous line on
that stand Sport Dot about how that Wallaby's not being
tough enough. James politely declined to get reinvolved in that

(01:13:34):
and let it go. But yeah, I think that's what
exactly behind the scenes that they're trying to trying to build.
It's just steady base and then operate off the back
of that. But depth is an issue to the new
guy and it always will be in Australian rug everyone
back to the Michael Checker days, like he was copying
it for not playing the right people. But man, you

(01:13:55):
just don't have a hell of a lot of cattle
to choose from. So yeah, they should get through tonight.
But see how they build for the Rugby Championship.

Speaker 2 (01:14:01):
Indeed, we'll look forward to watching that after the All
Blacks England game here on the side of the Tasman
as we'll look forward to the State of Origin decider
on Wednesday. What's the mail around, what's the three or
four day out from the game? Talk centering around.

Speaker 9 (01:14:17):
Yeah, it's got a bit dormant. Early in the week
it reignited that Gordon tallis Queensland legend, came out and
said that the Blue's got a big grubby with some
of their antics in the second game. I mean, I
don't how grubby you can be when you're thirty four
mil up. There are other issues for Queensland to worry about.
I would have thought out of the back of that
first half down at mcg but I get his point

(01:14:39):
a little niggaly because are on top and emotion high
and everything like that. And then basically if Michael a
guy used the same line as he did to Billy
Slater about glass House saying that Gordyckbody didn't mind have
been a nigga himself. That dominated the first few days.
But since then it's been pretty quiet, and I think
it's become before what will be in a mighty still

(01:14:59):
next Wednesday. It would be some game, but footy at
some uncorporstating because Queensland will be better and whether or
not your supp Wales will be as good will define
what happens with this. That of origin series.

Speaker 2 (01:15:09):
Home advantage is a big advantage, and I think we
spoke last week about how long it's been since New
South Wales one a deciding Game three in Brisbane. So
I don't know, what do you say, is it a
four point five point advantage. What does it actually you
know does how does it translate?

Speaker 9 (01:15:25):
I can't put a point differential on it, but what
I can do is say that one hundred quick kilo
prop like a Ruben Codder will probably play like one
hundred and twenty kilo wrecking ball because of the enthusiasm
that will be surrounded by sun Corpse Stadium. They'll play
above themselves the Queensland pack. They need to because they
were completely and I'm just saying they're beaten. They were

(01:15:46):
obliterated in the game in Melbourne right through the middle.
That's when you South Wales just put a gap between
themselves and the opposition. So if queens Bank can find
a way to get parody by any way they want,
whether it be their own performances or writing that emotion,
they just have to. They simply cannot come up with
a performance like they did in that first half in
Melbourne because it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter how New

(01:16:10):
South I was playing. With Queensland get blown away in
the middle of the rock with the rest of the game,
well that they're no hope. So yeah, that will what
the forwards for Queensland do will pretty much determine what happens.

Speaker 2 (01:16:21):
With the contest compulsory reviewing Wednesday night for that one.
The Olympics are rushing up fast. The Australian Olympics team
has been finalized forty six medals last time out, including
seventeen gold in Tokyo. Does it feel like that will
be surpassed in Paris?

Speaker 9 (01:16:39):
I don't know about the gold I was doing some summers,
especially with the swimming yesterday, crunching the numbers because swimming
is an easy one to kind of define, because nothing's
going to jump out from the top five in the
world generally. And then suspicions or eyes if they are
so your times from your trials, especially now that Australia
has our trials pretty close to I've got a lockdown.

(01:17:00):
Unless there's a catastrophe, we win five gold medals in
the pool, and the outer limit of the expectation is
fifteen gold medals in the pool alone't now, I'm not
saying that's going to happen, but if everything went right
and a few things went wrong with other countries that
that that is an outside, outside chance. I think yeah,
around the fifteen gold mark all up for the team
and then I think we can better our metal tally

(01:17:22):
because it's a bigger team, a lot of depths even
in sports like athletics. Rowing will be good at pick
up a few metal cycling they need to lift a bit,
but a few here and there sports as well. I
think where we can crack the half century in terms
of overall metal camp. What's what's the go over? The
key is that again I noticed that they've got like
I don't have the depth that they've got. They've got

(01:17:42):
a good swimmer or two, they've got a good roller
or two. It's always the case with you guys.

Speaker 2 (01:17:46):
Indeed. Yeah, and we'll chuck sevens rugby in there. We
always seem to meddle in both the men's and the
women's there. Yeah, I think we was twenty in Tokyo.
That seems optimistic this time around, I have to say,
but who knows? And what always happens, as you know,
and these are this is the beauty of the games,
is that somebody who no one expects will get on
that podium, you know, and and and the other thing

(01:18:08):
I love is that we all become experts in wrestling
and tramp and that's becomings dharm chair experts of these
things we never ordinarily watch.

Speaker 9 (01:18:19):
Oh, like, you wouldn't believe how much I know about
DMX freestyle. It's amazing. So it is right, it's just
I love it. I love I love the World Cup
obviously football Rugby union, yes, even though it's become a
bit of the Northern's not nemessphere star mate with the
way that rugby union World Cups are won. But Olympics

(01:18:40):
is just something special because it throws so much at
you in a short amount of time. So yeah, sixteen
days of beliss Yeah, it's gonna.

Speaker 2 (01:18:47):
Be absolutely awesome. Just before you go. It was really
sad to see Alex demon Or have to withdraw from Wimbledon.
But a background on this. He had he was going
to be playing Novak anyway, wasn't he So that would
have been that would have been tough. But he had
to pull out even before the game.

Speaker 9 (01:19:00):
Yeah, so he made the quarterfinal. But in his in
his fourth round match, he was all over his appartment
and just win Arterfield the Frenchman, and he was threat
points from the end. He said he felt a crack
in his hip. So he's done a like a little
it's like a labrium tears like a cartilage in his hip,
which hasn't completely gone, but if he kept going, it

(01:19:23):
would have completely gone. And three four weeks becomes three
four months and he wasn't willing to do that, which
is fair enough. Unfortunately it probably cost him a spot
at the Olympics. Demon and it's even worse because he
was a punch his chance against Novak. He needed to
play above himself and needed to take Novak out of
his comfort zion. But yeah, it wasn't a good one

(01:19:45):
to see because he's in career best forms. So a
big wad if for Demon and I hope he can
get back to full fitness and do something in the
US Open.

Speaker 8 (01:19:52):
That's so.

Speaker 2 (01:19:53):
Enjoy the sunshine, mate, and let's check again next Saturday.

Speaker 11 (01:19:57):
Sounds good?

Speaker 10 (01:19:57):
Look it in?

Speaker 2 (01:19:58):
Yes? Adam Viacock, our Australian correspondent here, ran about this
time every Saturday afternoon here on weekend sport always get
to catch up with what's happening sportswise across the Tasman Sea.
Eight and a half away from two news talksby.

Speaker 1 (01:20:12):
The pitch is ready? Are you live?

Speaker 8 (01:20:14):
From edyin Park?

Speaker 1 (01:20:15):
Ahead of All Blacks v England it's Weekends Ford with
Jason Vine and TJ. Garnderhove's New Zealand's most trusted home
builder US Dorks Ebby.

Speaker 2 (01:20:25):
It's five to two misses through here on text pint.
Did you see Dane Coles turned out for PoTA Potamo
rugby club last weekend? Yes, I did see that. That
was terrific. Dane Coles of course called it a day
on his Hurricanes career last year, then as All Black's
career after the Rugby World Cup. Then he took up
that contract in Japan, but he couldn't resist one final

(01:20:46):
last hurrah for his club team on the Carpety Coast.
He played at number eight for Potopo Amu in their
final game of the season against Levin Athletic last weekend.
Potapu won forty two to thirty nine. In fact, no,
I'm sorry they lost forty two to thirty nine, but
Dane Cole's got four tries.

Speaker 8 (01:21:05):
Love it.

Speaker 2 (01:21:06):
He always said that he wanted to finish back in
the grassroots game and that is it now. He assures everybody,
Dane Coles will not be playing anymore rugby. He's had
his final game for the Hurricanes, final game for the
All Blacks, his final professional hurrah in Japan and now
his final club game. So Dane Cole's done, all done

(01:21:27):
as far as rugby is concerned. What's the time, four
to two. We're broadcasting live from Eden Park. We hope
that we sort of help you through your afternoon. Bill
Sweeney just said to me when he left before that
it's always the hardest thing is to get through to
game time. You've got all these hours to fill and
not quite sure how you do it. And hopefully we
can help to fill those gaps for you as part

(01:21:49):
of your build up towards tonight after two o'clock, going
to chat to luluson what a wonderful Wimbledon she had
all the way to the quarterfinals, first New Zealander to
make the quarterfinals at Wimbledon since Chris Lewis in nineteen
eighty three. She is on the show. We'll also talk
to Ben old Wellington, Phoenix youngster but not anymore. He
signed for Saint Ettie En in France. Elevi Chat to

(01:22:11):
us and the sale GP Grand Final this weekend in
San Francisco. Peter Berling on the show.

Speaker 1 (01:22:18):
The only plays for the big names, the big issues
the big controversies and the big conversations. It's all on
Weekend Sport with Jason Vain on your home of Sport
News Talk said, be.

Speaker 2 (01:22:35):
So seven, welcome back into the show. We're here for
another hour and then the weekend Collective Saturday edition hosted
today by Tyler Adams. He's in the chair from three
through until six, and then our build up towards the
test begins. I'll be back pretty much in the same
seat I think, from six o'clock bringing you build up
towards kickoff at seven. Elliott Smith, our rugby editor and

(01:22:58):
lead commentator with Frank Bunt's iconic All Blacks Center alongside
fifty five test matches, sixty nine games and all Frank
Bunces for the All Blacks. What a player. He's in
our combox tonight on It Down Sideline. We'll have full
coverage for you, and then tomorrow we'll break it all
down with your help. We'll still take your calls this hour.

(01:23:19):
If you have some thoughts that you'd like to project
to a wider audience, I will try and squeeze you
in amongst the other guests we have this hour, and
it's a good guest list. As well. Lulu Sun standing
by to chat with us after her run to the
quarterfinals at Wimbledon and the women's singles. She will team
up with Aaron Routliffe in the women's doubles at the

(01:23:40):
upcoming Paris Olympics. And Aaron Routliff herself is actually having
a really nice time of things at Wimbledon. She's through
to the women's doubles final. So Lulu Sun shortly Ben
Old what a season he had for Wellington Phoenix had
caught the eye of a number of clubs around the world,
including Saint Ettie Enn in France. They're in the top

(01:24:01):
French league League uh is what it's called. He's joined
them Old and will join us this out and the
sale GP Grand Final is in San Francisco across the
next couple of days. It's when it takes all when
it gets to the Grand Final. One race, three boats,
two million dollars in prize money up for grabs. But

(01:24:23):
they still have two days of fleet racing before that.
So New Zealand are the only team guaranteed in the
Grand Final. So how do they play it across fleet racing?
I just stay off to the side. I just stay
out of trouble. But that is not the Black Foil's way.
Peter Burling with us this out as well. So all
of that to get through in the next a little while.

(01:24:43):
Let's get into it. It's the time ticks towards nine
past two. As we always do, we like to make
sure that you're right up to date with things that
might have escaped your attention. I mean, you can't keep
your eyes on everything. It's impossible, but Annie McDonald does
and he produces. In case you missed it, Every Saturday

(01:25:03):
and Sunday we start in the NRL. The West Tigers
absolutely mauled at the hands of the Cronulla Sharks last night.

Speaker 7 (01:25:12):
Must consort community hearing up Ramian two on two radio
for the light Radian scores.

Speaker 22 (01:25:20):
That's a half century for Pranulla.

Speaker 2 (01:25:22):
He deserves that. Jesse Rabian the Sharks fifty eight the
Tigers six. In the NRL last night to Wimbledon, Carlos
al Karez is through to the men's singles final and
on Higgles.

Speaker 25 (01:25:36):
The dream of the title defense is still alive before
on the Spanish flags flying on centre courts again.

Speaker 2 (01:25:46):
And he will square off against none other than inevitably
Novak Djokovic straight sets Jokovic. The man's on mission. Karas
on Sunday is the deep and staying at wimbled and
Lulu Sun. Maybe up. That doesn't just mentioned one key.
We still mains. Aaron Routleff through to the women's doubles final.

(01:26:10):
Yeah you're sapin champions last Sun the Stradian kee duo.
Let's stay up in the Northern Hemisphere. It was a
day for the sprinters on the latest stage of the
Tour de France. Here goes this grind. Phillipson is there.

Speaker 5 (01:26:25):
It's Phillipson and wa van Art's shoulders, his shoulder. Nikiasan
is there, but it's going to be all the way
to the finish line this time. Yaspa Phillipson is flat out.
Pascal Ackeman is looking to get on turns. It is
going to be yas Pah Phillipson. Two wins in this
year Turner.

Speaker 2 (01:26:40):
France and finally England cricket have seen goodbye to one
of their all time greats. O that is a beauty,
what an absolute beauty.

Speaker 20 (01:26:51):
That is the best of Jimmy Anderson for number seven
hundred and four.

Speaker 27 (01:26:57):
If you want to know what makes Anderson great, just
watch that delivery. A batter trying to turn it to
leg has nicked. It always been touched by greatness.

Speaker 1 (01:27:09):
Live from dyn Park on your home of sport, Weekend
Sport with Jason five and DJ Underhobes, New Zealand's most
trusted home builder News Talk ZB.

Speaker 2 (01:27:19):
It is eleven minutes past two on Weekend Sport. Ke
We tennis player Lulusun has taken us all on a
magnificent ride at Wimbledon these last two weeks, reaching the quarterfinals.
We're going to see an.

Speaker 28 (01:27:33):
Awful more of the New Zealander Lulu Sun to qualify
that has lit up this tournament. She'll be around fifty
in the world on Monday's rankings and we look forward
to seeing as that at Wimbledon next year.

Speaker 2 (01:27:48):
Lulusun joins us here on Weekend Sportloader. Congratulations on a
terrific fortnight that we all were totally enraptured with back
here in New Zealand. How do you yourself reflect on
the last fortnight?

Speaker 16 (01:28:00):
In general terms, it's been a worldwide of emotions and experiences,
new experiences and a lot of lessons learned, and I
can only you know, thank everyone that helped me and

(01:28:20):
supported me through all these weeks, and I'll just continue
working and continue, you know, trying to level up for
future future events.

Speaker 2 (01:28:32):
Yeah, to even get into the mind Draw, you had
to play qualifying, didn't you. You had your three rounds
of qualifying to get into the mind Draw. Once you
reached the mind draw, what were your goals your aspirations?

Speaker 16 (01:28:45):
Well, coming from already playing passing qualifying in Australian Open,
I was hoping this time to pass the first round
so it could be better, you know, one more step
than Australian Open. So yeah, I mean I didn't have
a lot of expectations, but obviously, you know, you want

(01:29:10):
to do well at the same time, so I was
just taking it match by match, and after my first one,
I was like, okay, let's go go work on the
next one, and then the next one and then the
next one. So it kind of spiraled and I'm just
super happy I was able to experience all that against

(01:29:31):
super players as well.

Speaker 2 (01:29:33):
How much confidence were you building during this time? How
much how much more confident did you become with each
match that you won?

Speaker 16 (01:29:40):
Definitely, I mean even with with any win you know,
you get you build up your confidence and your sureeness
in your game and what you're doing, and it also
brings up momentum to you as well. So I think
it definitely brought up each round.

Speaker 2 (01:29:59):
Yeah, across the tournament, Lulu, what do you think contributed
most to your sixth What were you doing particularly well
across all your matches at Wimbledon that got you all
the way through to the quarterfinals.

Speaker 16 (01:30:13):
I think having an aggressive grame was definitely helping. And
obviously my servant forehand were you know, the the helpful
strokes that I had in my game. So I mean
on grass, obviously you have to be aggressive and come
to net because it you know, when you're aggressive, you

(01:30:36):
get advantages more on the net. To be able to
come in more opportunities as well, and to be able
to finish in the net also helps you because sometimes
if you don't, then the rally might continue.

Speaker 2 (01:30:47):
So yeah, but that's not an adjustment for you, is it? Necessarily?
From what I can see and have read and have seen,
that's your game, isn't it? The aggressive game, the serve
and volley coming to the net, And it clearly worked
for you at Wimbledon. So this surface, and this tournament
probably probably searched your game, does it.

Speaker 16 (01:31:06):
Yeah, it does, I've I've played it only a few
times before, and so but I enjoy my time on
grass always because it's a short, short season Montanna's unfortunately,
But I enjoy each surface as well because you you
have to adapt a little bit on each surface, a

(01:31:30):
little bit of your game, a little bit of how
you move as well. So it's it's this adaptability game always,
and so I really enjoy that.

Speaker 2 (01:31:40):
Tell us about the experience of center court, playing on
center court for the first time, and not only on
center court, but against local darling Emma Radicanu, who obviously
had a whole nation behind her, but not only playing
it there against her, but winning that match.

Speaker 7 (01:31:58):
What was that like?

Speaker 16 (01:32:01):
I mean, first of all, I was just really stoked
to play on center and to be able to play
in such a big of a crowd was amazing. And
to play a player like Emma, it was you know,
even if I lost, I would I would take it
all in and I would learn from it. So I

(01:32:22):
just really came in to play each point at one
hundred percent and until the very last and so I mean,
it was insane but obviously with the roof closed, everything
was echoing and it was hard to hear when people
were aplauding. But I kind of knew that was going

(01:32:45):
to happen beforehand, so I think it was okay.

Speaker 2 (01:32:49):
Yeah, okay, more than okay. What a what an experience
for you to de beat Emma Ratakana and get through
in a lovely reception as well that you received from
the crowd, even though they were obviously barracking for Emma,
you know, for you to go back out there and
get that lovely reception, I thought that was that was
just awesome. So now, Lulu, you don't really a lot
of time to relax because the Paris Olympics are fast approaching.

(01:33:11):
You're going to play doubles there with Aaron Rautliffe. How
much you're looking forward to that, to playing with the
silver Fern, you know, at the Paris Olympics in the
next couple of weeks.

Speaker 16 (01:33:20):
I'm so looking forward to it. I'm really excited to
play doubles with Aaron, you know. I know she has
a lot of experience, more experience than me obviously, so
I'm going to take everything she says and I'm gonna
try to prepare as best as I can before and

(01:33:42):
just you know, give it all.

Speaker 2 (01:33:45):
Yeah, well, if it's anything like Wimbledon, you're going to
take us on a heck of a ride. Lulu, congratulations
on a wonderful couple of weeks. You had everybody back
here as I'm sure you know, barracking for you and
watching every match and just willing you on and to
reach the quarterfinals. First key we to do it since
Chris Lewis back in nineteen eighty three is I'm sure
you know, was wonderful. Best for what is ahead, including

(01:34:08):
the Paris Olympics. Will be watching with interest back here.
Thanks so much for taking the time for a chat.
Really appreciate it.

Speaker 16 (01:34:14):
Thank you so much.

Speaker 2 (01:34:15):
Thank you, LULUs on that good to get the chance
to chat to our latest tennis star. She'll jump up
into the fifties in the women's singles rankings when those
rankings are re released after Wimbledon. But yeah, her next
point of business is the Paris Olympics. Just on Aaron
Routliffe into the final of the women's doubles now that

(01:34:36):
is on Center Court tomorrow, so Saturday in the UK
overnight tonight for us. But it's the third. It's the
third match on center court. The women's singles is first
and that starts at one am New Zealand time. That'll
be followed by the men's doubles and then the women's doubles.

(01:34:58):
So it could well be around depending on, of course,
how those other games go. It could be around breakfast time,
maybe slightly earlier than that that Aaron Routcliffe, Aaron Rautliffe,
my apologies. Eron Ratliffe and her doubles partner Gabriella Dobrowski
of Canada make it out onto center court to take

(01:35:18):
on the opponents, who are Katarina sinea Kova from the
Czech Republic and the American player Taylor Townsend. Now Eron
Ratliff and her partner are the second seeds up against
the fourth seeds, so the favoritism is in the Kiwi's court,
if we can put it that way. So that'll be

(01:35:39):
early hours of tomorrow morning, getting towards breakfast time tomorrow morning,
as I say, depending on the length of the other
two games, the women's singles final and the men's doubles
final will be when Aaron Ratliffe makes it out. So yeah,
we'll certainly keep a very close eye on how she goes.
News talksb and Weekend Sport. We're coming to your live
from eden Park. It's two twenty We're going to take

(01:36:01):
a break. When we come back, it's to France and
to Ben Hold, who has signed a professional football deal
with Saint Ettien in the top flight of French football.
What a season he had for Wellington Phoenix. What a
move for this young man. How did it all play
out and how does he reflect on his season with
the Phoenix, his time at the Phoenix and what lies

(01:36:23):
ahead for him. Ben Old is with us on Weekend
Sport when we come back here on Newstalk Sedby.

Speaker 1 (01:36:29):
Live from dyn Park on your home of Sport Weekend
Sport with Jason Pie and TJ gunder Hooves New Zealand's
most trusted home builder, News Talks Edby.

Speaker 2 (01:36:39):
It is two twenty three at Newstalks edby. Another young
Kiwi footballer has signed a deal with a top European club.
Following Phoenix goalkeeper Alex Paulson's move to Premier League side
Bournemouth last month, standout midfielder Ben Old has signed for
top flight French club Saint ettienn on a five year
deal old in the middle of crayer Foriemy Barbarus.

Speaker 3 (01:37:03):
This spodes ben old straits the point perfectly.

Speaker 2 (01:37:08):
Yeah, what a season he had which turned heads all
over the place, including those at Saint Etienne. Obviously been
older is with us out of France. Massive congratulations being
on this significant move in your football career. Can you
give us the background? How did this all come about?

Speaker 29 (01:37:24):
Yees? So happened quite quite a long time ago. Actually,
it was just after we finished our semi final game,
second semi final game which we got knocked out. My
agent called me and to be honest, he was quite
astonished it who messaged him like, We've had a bit
of interest before that, and there wasn't really anything clicking

(01:37:46):
for me at that time. I was thinking maybe it
might be might be another season for me at the Phoenix.
I was never in a rush to leave. And then
when we got interest from them and I was able
to speak to them for the first time, I was
instantly hooks like their detail and the project that the
leading through. Obviously at that time they hadn't even gotten

(01:38:07):
to Liguan, But even at this time I would have
still signed for them, even if they said in league too,
because I know the project, I know the history and
the fans and everything about this club I love, so
I'm really happy to be a safetyty and play now.
Wasn't the easiest thing to go through, but I'm so
glad it's all being sorted out now.

Speaker 2 (01:38:28):
Has this happened a bit quicker than you thought it might?
The move overseas?

Speaker 22 (01:38:32):
I mean, yeah, yeah, for sure.

Speaker 29 (01:38:35):
Like probably twelve months ago, I was coming off the
back of my injury and just signed a three year
deal with the Phoenix alongside Alex. So I think if I,
if I had the confidence or like I knew that
I was going to be able to leave that season,
I would have just let my contract run down. But
I was and no rush to league whatsoever, because I
knew there was so much more I could develop at

(01:38:56):
the Phoenix and I had to prove myself. But not
only from myself personally, but from the team's perspective. We
created history, So I think it was a great time,
not only for me, but for a lot of the
other players, because not only we all had such great seasons,
but the team has such a great season, and that
obviously got the attention of a lot of a lot

(01:39:16):
of clubs, which hints is why there's so many teams
coming for our players. So I definitely didn't expect it,
to answer your question, but also I think it's a
great time for me to move, and I think it
is a good I've learned as much as I can
in the A League and I think I'm ready for
that next step.

Speaker 2 (01:39:34):
Tell us about the Saint Ittian Club, your dealings with
them putting this deal together. What have they been like
to deal with?

Speaker 29 (01:39:41):
Yeah, they've been amazing. I think the biggest worry that
I had, which I think a lot of people is
probably question you'll ask, it will be the language barrier.
I always thought that that might be a problem, but
coming here, they all speak very very good English, so
they all seem to have learned it at school. So
they've all been so welcoming and even though they might

(01:40:02):
struggle at times, are so open and wanting to learn
to speak English with me. And they've just been so
easy through this whole process. Like I said, it's not
been the easiest in terms of getting all the stuff
done with the medical because there's so much stuff to
get done, especially over here, but They've been amazing. They
put me up in hotels and been perfect for me,

(01:40:23):
and now that it's all been sorted, it's been amazing,
definitely making it an easy and much easier process for me.

Speaker 2 (01:40:31):
And you were welcome to the club through their social
media team with this amazing welcome video which featured an
artist painting a picture of Yahko.

Speaker 29 (01:40:39):
Was that, Yeah, I know, it's very cool, Like obviously
we see it a lot with a lot of signings
over in Europe, but you never really expect it to
be done for yourself. And they briefly mentioned it to
me before going over that they wanted to do something special,
but I had no idea what it was going to be.
And I just turned up because I said, oh, we're

(01:41:00):
going to do some media stuff. And I turned up
and walked around the corner and I saw the paintings.
So it was just as much of a surprise for
me as it was for you guys when it got released,
And it was such an amazing experience for me, and
I think it just adds on top of how great
the experience has been for me since coming here.

Speaker 2 (01:41:15):
Yeah, so cool. So have you started training with the
club yet, have you met your teammates.

Speaker 29 (01:41:22):
Unfortunately not. I've I've just finished, like I said, all
the medical work and I had my first official day here.
But I picked up a bit of an ankle problem
at the Nation's Cup. Nothing serious at all, but they
picked it up during the medical work, and they really
want me to be able to go to the Olympics,
so they're not wanting me to risk anything. And I

(01:41:43):
think that's another testament to them, is that they could
quite easily be like, oh, we prefer you're not to
go go to the Olympics, or just want me to
train and just be like suck it up. By the
they're doing exactly what is best for me, and even
though it might be not be the best for them,
they know this is such an important thing for me

(01:42:03):
to go to the Olympics, and this on my side
completely with that. So they've been amazing and hopefully I'll
be able to train with them within the next couple
days or so.

Speaker 2 (01:42:12):
Good stuff. So what your gut feel been on game
time for the first team. I mean, you're not going
to go out on loan or anything. You're you're going
to be training with the first team squad, pushing for
minutes what's your gut feel on how quickly you'll be
able to stake your claim for some minutes.

Speaker 29 (01:42:27):
Yes, it's a hard, hard question to answer because I
would never want to say I'm going to be playing
or not playing. But I think one of the biggest
things for me was when picking a club was that
it was going to be a place where I could develop,
but most importantly be playing, because I've missed a lot
of game time over the last year and a half
because of my injury, and I don't want to go

(01:42:47):
back into that side coin I think for my develop
development right now, I need to be able to play.
So even though I can't guarantee anything and I wouldn't
expect to, especially starting in a league league on side,
i think from the talks that I've had with them,
I've got that opportunity to be able to start for them,
and I think if I prove myself, which I think
I can, I've got a great chance to be able

(01:43:09):
to be playing a lot and league on But again,
there's a lot of games in these seasons and including
the Cup, so I'm not expecting to just go out
and play every single minute. But I think there's definitely
a lot of opportunity to get a lot of game
time in this first season.

Speaker 2 (01:43:24):
You talked about about your time at the Phoenix before that,
the latter part of it, but you were there for
a long time, being, you know, from your academy days,
playing out at Freight To Park for the reserve team,
and then an a league debut during the COVID period
and then obviously an integral part of the side in
the season that's just finished. How do you reflect on
your time with Wellington Phoenix the whole time there.

Speaker 29 (01:43:46):
Yeah, as a whole, it's been amazing. I think I
mentioned it and my release that there's been ups and downs,
which has been like that for any plan. I think
without those downs, I don't think I would have been
been the player that I have been. But since going
through the academy and through my three years as a professional,
it's all been so amazing. I've learned so much from

(01:44:07):
everyone that's coming gone, so I've got nothing to complain
about it at all. Like I said, I had the
injury which put me out for a long time, but
I learned so much during that and I would easily
say that I don't think i'd be where I am
today without the injury, because I think I've learned so
much and developed as a player from that. So there's
been a lot of ups and downs, but I don't

(01:44:28):
think i'd change anything and those six years so I've
really enjoyed my time with the academy and the first
team and definitely going to miss it.

Speaker 2 (01:44:36):
You mentioned the Olympics there, You're off to the Olympics shortly,
don't have to go very far. They're in Paris. Of
course you're already in France. But how exciting a prospect
is wearing that silver fern at an Olympic Games for
New Zealand.

Speaker 29 (01:44:49):
Yeah, it's funny because we're contemplating whether I even train
down there, it's that close. But no, it's such an
amazing opportunity for myself and a lot of players, Like
there's so many Phoenix players involved in this Olympic side,
which is amazing. But I was obviously involved with the
previous Olympics in Tokyo, but I wasn't able to play.

(01:45:11):
So I can't wait to get into this group and
hopefully be able to get a good amount of game time.
And we created the history last Olympics, and I think
we can do even better this time. I know we've
got a very difficult pool, but I think with the
team that we've got and the chemistry we have, we
could do do very well. So I can't wait to
be able to represent the Fern again and be able

(01:45:32):
to play against some of the best players in the world.

Speaker 2 (01:45:34):
Yeah, I can't wait. And just to finish, you mentioned
it slightly before and that you can communicate in English
with most of your teammates and the others there, but
you are living in France, so get the feeling you'll
be speaking some French ship. Did you take it at school?
Have you got any any kind of rudimentary, you know,
background in the French language to fall back on.

Speaker 29 (01:45:53):
No, I'm literally from square one. So everyone's wanting to
make bets with me about how long it's going to
take for me to become fluent. I made it a
little side that with the one of the owners actually
here because he's learning it as well. So I've said
within six months that I'll be hopefully fluent, so that
I've put it out there now, so hopefully I'll be

(01:46:15):
able to be fluent pretty quickly. I think being immersed
with it all is going to help me. But it's
definitely something that's tough and it's hard to talk to
a lot of people, but like I said, they're very
open to speaking English, and I think it'll be quite
rewarding what I learned French to be able to talk
to them them all properly.

Speaker 2 (01:46:31):
Absolutely, well, it's terrific news for you, Ben Well earned
an amazing A League season you had, and Eve earned
this move and yeah, we just can't wait to see
how you go. It's itty in and of course at
the Olympics, which are rushing up pretty fast. Really you
take I appreciate you taking the time.

Speaker 5 (01:46:47):
For a chat.

Speaker 2 (01:46:48):
Thanks and all the very best mate, Thank you very much.
It's been Old, former Phoenix player now a Saint itty
En player. I just can't wait to see how he goes.
I've got the chance to watch Ben Old for pretty
much his entire Phoenix career through the academy and then
into the first team, and he always just seemed like
he had some special about him. This isn't a surprise,

(01:47:08):
I'm sure to anybody who has watched Ben Old play
text for what an impressive young guy. He is very
impressive off the field as well. You can hear him
chat there is only what twenty one. I think he
is so like it. You know, he speaks, you know,
with such maturity and just the way he plays. If
he's a name to look out for, ben old Alan says, piney,

(01:47:28):
can you help me? Is bojed ark Krajev still a
Phoenix player or has he moved Allan? They haven't quite
come to a conclusion on that one yet. Bojered Arkrayev
is the only player actually who is not from last
season squad either confirmed as staying or going. I think
they really want him to stay. They're very, very keen
on getting bojed Ar Krajev to extend his contract. It's

(01:47:50):
just whether they can afford it or not. So yeah,
watch this space is all I can tell you on that.
What are we in terms of time? Twenty five to three?
We'll take another break and then we'll go to We'll
arrive over the place, aren't We've been to Wimbledon to France.
Next we'll get to San Francisco where this week it
is the sale GP Grand Final. The Black Foils are

(01:48:10):
there and they are the only team guaranteed a spot
in the two million dollar Grand Final showdown. What's this
all about how does it all play out over the
fleet racing ahead of the big Grand Final and how
confident are New Zealand that they can for the first
time win sale GP Black foils co CEO and driver

(01:48:30):
Peter Birling on the show right after.

Speaker 1 (01:48:32):
This, cutting down to All Blacks v. England on your
home of Sport Weekend Sport Live from Eden Park with
Jason five and GJ. Gardner Holmes, New Zealand's most trusted
home builder, us Talks EDB.

Speaker 2 (01:48:46):
Twenty two away from three Yes, Eden Park is our
broadcast location this afternoon as we built towards a five
past seven kickoff. Tonight. Built up on ZEDB starts at
six o'clock as we look forward to the second test
between the All Blacks and England tonight here at eden Park.
Full live commentary on News Talks EDB. GP's season Grand

(01:49:08):
Final is this weekend on San Francisco Bay. The full
f fifty fleet will race five fleet races. After that
the points are recalculated and the top three will go
into the winner takes all two million dollar Grand Final showdown.
Now with five event wins already this season, New Zealand's

(01:49:28):
the only team already qualified for the three boat shootout.
Black Foyle's co CEO and driver Peter Berling is with
us out of San Francisco. Pettic, Can I just clarify
that I've got that exactly right. You're confirmed in the final.
It's a one off, winner takes all race late on
Sunday local time.

Speaker 25 (01:49:49):
Yeah, So the first five races are what steemed the
San Francisco GP, So there's actually a winner half of
those first five races for the San Francisco event, and
then that gets added onto your season total four and
then the top three from the season going to the final.

Speaker 22 (01:50:05):
So it's one way shootout.

Speaker 2 (01:50:08):
So how will you approach things? Is there any temptation
just to take it easy, stay out of trouble and
just you know, find out who you're facing in that
in that three boat final.

Speaker 22 (01:50:19):
I mean there's always temptation, but yeah, what's how this
league works.

Speaker 25 (01:50:24):
You've got to won that last race to so when
the when the league, So you've got to actually put
your best forward and trying to make sure you're the form.

Speaker 22 (01:50:31):
Boat going into that.

Speaker 25 (01:50:32):
So we'll be pushing, pushing as hard as ever these
first five races to try and make sure to try
and get a win firstly, but also trying.

Speaker 22 (01:50:42):
To make sure we're ready to go for that that
last race.

Speaker 2 (01:50:44):
Australia and Spain sit second and third currently, Do they
feel like the two most likely to be in the
final with you?

Speaker 25 (01:50:54):
Yeah, well both of them have got a pretty comfortable
get back to France and fourth. Yeah, if you're betting men,
I think it's it's pretty likely to be that way around.
But you know, you've seen plenty of thrones things happened
in the sports, so yeah, I think we won't take
anything for granted and just be ready for who we've
got a face on it come Sunday.

Speaker 2 (01:51:15):
In many ways, will it be quite fun watching the
others battle it out for the right to join you
in the final?

Speaker 16 (01:51:20):
Law?

Speaker 2 (01:51:21):
Will you be two too busy concentrating on what you're
doing yourself?

Speaker 25 (01:51:25):
Oh, we're trying to take the one ourselves. But yeah,
it'll be interesting to see if there's any any games
to get played. Obviously, last year when we came in
a second, third and fourth were virtually equal, so it
was kind of we want to take all between them. Yeah,
there's plenty plenty of action going on between between what

(01:51:45):
was France and GB that time round, so yeah, it'll
be interesting to see if there's anything like that this stuff.

Speaker 2 (01:51:52):
All right, tell us about conditions. What are you expecting?
What can we expect to see?

Speaker 22 (01:51:58):
Yeah, conditions wise, it's looking h else would be windy.

Speaker 25 (01:52:03):
Yeah, we're actually for Friday, we're going on the high
speed configuration, so small wing and high speed foils, so
that'll be really interesting. It's been over years since we've
sailed on that configuration, so it'd be really cool. And
then yes, Saturday sound they look pretty similar to that,
so I'm pretty sure they'll they'll.

Speaker 22 (01:52:22):
Have a look see how things have gone tomorrow and
be into it, be into it for the weekend.

Speaker 2 (01:52:27):
Did you say it's been a year since you sailed
on the high speed configuration now.

Speaker 25 (01:52:33):
Just the full entirety of the high speed configuration, Yeah,
with the with the small wing. Yeah, the last time
we sailed with it was actually back in Sydney last season,
so yeah, we haven't sailed this configuration yet this season,
so it's definitely going to be exciting to get out
on it for sure.

Speaker 2 (01:52:49):
In broad terms, PET across a range of conditions in
all of these locations across season four, what has got
you into this position at the top of the leaderboard.

Speaker 25 (01:53:00):
I think just being consistent, you know, selling the boat
really well and just doing everything to a reasonably high level.
You know, across the season, we've got reasonably good starts
who've always been one of the fastest boats out there,
and just tried to really minimize the mistakes. And you
obviously had our big wobble early on in the season
with a big structural failure which was pretty unlucky and

(01:53:23):
nothing to no fold of the teams, but you know,
it took us right to the back of the centerpe
event and then we missed even after that, so that
was something that was really hard to bounce back from.
But seeing the resilience of the group to bounce back
from there when when three events on the trial and
we'll get our season title up to five, something that

(01:53:44):
we're all pretty proud of.

Speaker 2 (01:53:45):
You're so close. Now, have you let yourself think about
about crossing the line first, you know in the Grand Final?

Speaker 25 (01:53:53):
I mean you can always think about it, but you've
it's more around planning as to how you're actually gonna
go out and put your best forward and make sure
you give it your best shot, and you know, something
that obviously is a bit of an element of luck
in there in the fifteen minute shoot out in the
yacht race. But you know, I'm saying that you make
your own luck and you've got to really really planned

(01:54:16):
to the instagree of trying to make sure you give
yourself every shot of winning it.

Speaker 2 (01:54:19):
And just finally, obviously the season five calendars out a
New Zealand League in Auckland confirmed how important is it
to you in the Black Foils organization to be able
to race an event and sell GP on home waters.

Speaker 25 (01:54:32):
Oh, I mean, it's incredibly important to us to have
a home event, you know, for all our fans, everyone
that chair us on around the world. We're obviously having
to travel around to be farthered to do that anywhere
but home, so you know, it means a lot to
have our fans there, you know. And christ Its last
season we got over twenty thousand people through the event

(01:54:53):
village and you know, I'm sure we'll be out of
top that this season in Auckland, So going to be incredible, Yeah,
something that we're actually stoked to have that on the
calendar and this first release.

Speaker 2 (01:55:05):
Yep, we're looking forward to it as well. Looking forward
to San Francisco this weekend. We'll all be watching and
cheering you on from back here. Petter, all the best
to you in the Black Foils.

Speaker 22 (01:55:12):
Awesome. Hey, thanks mate, it's awesome.

Speaker 2 (01:55:14):
No, thank you, pet It's Peter Burling of course, joining
us out of the Black Foils camp. And I'm actually
now on the ground. I as that interview was taking place,
sort of made my way down onto the grass here
at Eden Park, which is where I'm now broadcasting from.
I'm standing about a meter from the touchline on the

(01:55:37):
broadcast side of Eden Park. So if you've watched a
game of rugby from Eden Park where the cameras are,
I'm down on that side. I can see the player
benches here, you might be able to hear in the
background they're just doing their anthem tests at the moment.
At the moment that was God Defend New Zealand, just
coming through the speakers here at Eden Park. They've done
God Save the King. So getting everything ready, let me

(01:55:59):
painting the picture for you down here pitch side. The
grass itself, the playing surface is just immaculate. Although actually
having said that, this is ill said. If I can
get a little bit closer without security taking me out
and a crash tackle. There are the odd little there's
the very very tiny little divots I think mainly from

(01:56:21):
the captain's run yesterday when the two teams had the
chance to run out here on Eden Park, as is
always the case before a Test match, so you can
see some little divots that have been taken out by bootmarks,
and both of the teams had goal kicking practice and
all that sort of thing. But that does not take
away from the fact that this is a terrific playing surface.
It is as we you know, as we know and

(01:56:43):
often say, it's one of the great rugby grounds in
New Zealand, probably one of the great rugby grounds in
the world. Now, looking across to the other side of
Eden Park, what stands out from other times I've been
here are the temporary seats. They weren't here for the
All Blacks tests last year. I don't think there weren't
any last year, were they because of the Women's World Cup?
But certainly the year before in the Test against Irelands,

(01:57:06):
the the temporary seats weren't there. They are there tonight
to get a few one hundred or maybe a couple
more thousand, and I think capacity to night's forty seven thousand.
Every seat has been sold, not a ticket to be had,
so you can see the temporary seats on the other
side looking upwards. Now it is an absolutely cracking day

(01:57:26):
in Auckland. You could not order a better day for
a game of rugby than that which has been produced
here in Auckland today, clear blue skies, sunshine. Really. I mean,
I'm from Wellington, so I'm used to a bit of wind,
but not a breath of wind. And the only people
here really are the caterers, the sky crew, including world

(01:57:47):
class stage manager or ground manager or floor manager. Richard
Hodges has just walked past me and punched me in
the side, so thanks Hodgy. I enjoyed that. And also
those who are working on the anthems and the pre
match entertainment and all that sort of thing. So those
are the people who are here at the moment. It's
always really interesting to be around a rugby ground as

(01:58:10):
it's getting prepared for a big match like this. We've
all been to big games where you know, the crowds
are just packed in, but all the preparation that goes
into getting the ground ready to dressing it, I guess
you'd say, getting all the advertising signage and the speakers
for the ground announcers to use, and every little detail

(01:58:31):
that goes into producing a Test match like tonight. There
are just one thousand and one different things that need
to be done before that whistle blows tonight and the
two teams run out. But I can report as I say,
conditions will absolutely not be a problem tonight. It is
one out of the box in Auckland. The gates will
open presumably about ninety minutes before kickoff and then just

(01:58:53):
after seven it'll be the All Blacks up against England.
They'll go at one another with great vigor and enthusiasm
I would imagine, and well, may the best team win.
May the best team win. It's just on coming up
eleven away from three on News Talks at B We'll
take one final break, come back and wrap the show
from on the grass here at Eden Park and find
out what andyes exit song is for today back in

(01:59:15):
a moment on Weekend Sport.

Speaker 1 (01:59:19):
Lay from the Fortress, Eden Park. It's Weekend Sport with
Jason Vine and GJ Gun the Homes, New Zealand's most
trusted home builder.

Speaker 2 (01:59:28):
News Talks at B Yes Coming here from the Fortress,
coming here from the grass at Eden Park. As we
closed the show today, I always, as I said at
the top of the show, look out at arenas like
this one and this one probably more than any other,
and just envisage all of the amazing sporting moments that
have happened on this very patch of grass. And we

(01:59:50):
talked about the Springbok test of nineteen eighty one earlier
in the show and the flower bombs that flew well
came out of the sky and Gary Knight got hit
by a flower bomb. I'm standing not far from where
the Try from the End of the Earth had its genesis,
its origins back in nineteen ninety four, thirty years and

(02:00:11):
ten days ago. And one of my favorite parts of
Eden Park to visit is the seat that has been
painted green. We Grant Elliot hit that mighty six against
South Africa off Dalstane in the twenty fifteen Cricket World
Cup semi final. It's where the ball landed, or that's
what they're estimating anyway, and it is forever more easy

(02:00:32):
to find because they've painted that seat green. Everything else
here is gray, but there is the green seat that
was the final resting place of Grant Elliot six in
that Cricket World Cup semi final back in twenty fifteen.
All Right, Any McDonald, thanks for producing the show.

Speaker 26 (02:00:46):
Your prediction for tonight, yes, well, Piney, I was pretty
confident last week. I believe I predicted a thirty five
point win, so on it. I'm going even more confident
this week. Fifty three points to three. The All Backs
win by exactly fifty, that would.

Speaker 2 (02:01:03):
Be quite the occasion. It sounds like the Crinulla Sharks
West Tiger's NRL match from last night. I'm not going
to be quite as confident. I think the All Blacks
will win, not quite as bullish as you. I'll go
a ten point one. Whatever happens, it will be an occasion.
We'll bring it to your live here on News Talk,
said B. And don't forget to join us tomorrow on
Weekend Sport just after midday when we break it all
down and we need your help with that. So make

(02:01:25):
a couple of notes mental or actual physical notes as
you're enjoying the game tonight, and let's have a chat
about it on Weekend Sport tomorrow from midday.

Speaker 26 (02:01:33):
What have we got in terms of a song to
take us out today and pining. I've got so many
options I could choose from. I could choose from the
last time England beat the All Blacks on New Zealand
soil two thousand and three June fifteen. Number one then
was twenty one questions fifty cent featuring Nate Dog.

Speaker 2 (02:01:47):
Do you know that song? I don't know that song.

Speaker 26 (02:01:49):
I haven't gone for that, don't worry ninety four third
of July. Last time we lost on Eden Park's halloed turf,
that was I swear by all for one.

Speaker 2 (02:01:59):
I know that song.

Speaker 26 (02:02:00):
Yes, I'm not choosing that one either, And nineteen seventy
three September fifteen, which was the last time England beats
the All Blacks at eden Park, which was a Delta
Dawn by Helen Reddy.

Speaker 2 (02:02:12):
Do you know that I know that song?

Speaker 26 (02:02:13):
I know that's so I haven't chosen that one either.
I've chosen a song entitled nineteen seventy three. It's by
James Blunt. A fun fact, James Blunt was actually born
in nineteen seventy four, so he hasn't been alive for
an All Blacks loss to England at eden Park.

Speaker 2 (02:02:27):
So what a fact there I absolutely love the rationale.
Thanks for listening, folks. Commentary tonight from seven after a
build up, starts at six. Weekendsport back tomorrow for midday.
We will talk to you then.

Speaker 8 (02:02:54):
I'll call you ever Saturday, Henry and wouldn't both stay out.

Speaker 15 (02:03:00):
Till the morning light and we're saying.

Speaker 2 (02:03:05):
Here we go, oh again.

Speaker 27 (02:03:10):
And the time goes by?

Speaker 29 (02:03:12):
How long wais?

Speaker 2 (02:03:13):
Beat and cub with you and nineteen seventy three singing.

Speaker 19 (02:03:20):
Here we Go again?

Speaker 18 (02:03:26):
I would call you them sad best by both stay
up till the morning light the sid.

Speaker 2 (02:03:36):
Here we go gap.

Speaker 17 (02:03:41):

Speaker 27 (02:03:43):
Our long wastbat and Sime with you when it's nineteen
seventy three singing.

Speaker 18 (02:03:52):
Here go again.

Speaker 11 (02:03:57):

Speaker 29 (02:03:59):
I was long waist beat in a Fly with you
and ninety Scene seven.

Speaker 1 (02:04:14):
For more from Weekends Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to news talks at b weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio

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