Full Show Podcast: 23 March 2025

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

Speaker 2 (00:28):
EDB curd to Good afternoon, Welcome into the Sunday edition
of Weekend Sport on News Talks. It'db March twenty third.
I'm Jason Pine Show producer Anny McDonald. We're talking sport
with you until three o'clock this afternoon. Happy birthday, Kyrie Irving,
Happy birthday, Mo Farre, Good day for Middle Distant Front
is actually the world's first ever four minute miler. Sir

(00:48):
Roger Banister also born on this date in nineteen twenty nine.
One of the most iconic figures in boxing, George Foreman,
has passed away at the age of seventy six. So
many moments to remember, just as I said, and iconic
figure Rumble in the Jungle beating Fraser coming back at

(01:10):
the age of forty five to become world champion for
a second time. Leading boxing promoter Eddie hearn is with
us after one o'clock this afternoon to put into context
George Foreman's influence on the sport and the legacy that
he leaves your memories as well for those of you
of an age that you have memories of those fights

(01:31):
George Foreman against Arli and Fraser and others in the seventies.
First up today, though, keem We driver Liam Lawson will
start tonight's at Chinese Grand Prix from the back of
the grid after another disappointing qualifying session in Shanghai yesterday.
He can take solace though from finishing fourteenth in the
sprint race that was after he also started from the

(01:52):
back of the grid. In that one, he weaved his
way through past five or six cars, So who knows,
maybe that might beat a good omen for tonight. Australian
Motorsport Royalty Mark Webber is with us shortly to effect
on his Formula one and Endurance Racing carevital So how
to see as Seselee and Lawson's ability to deal with
the incredible pressure that comes with being a full time

(02:15):
Formula one driver. So Mark Webber standing by shortly your
thoughts on the F one as well other matters around today.
The Crusaders are back. The Red and Black are back.
To the delight of a couple in this studio, I
can tell you an absolute thumping of the defending not
me by the way of the defending champion Blues at
Eden Park last night forty two nineteen. Who saw that coming?

(02:36):
The Crusader's rookie hooker Yoanni Moanu had a standout game.
He'll join us to chat about the win. We're inside
the All Whites camp ahead of their final push to
next year's Football World Cup. They play New Caledonia tomorrow
night at eden Park. Vice captain Libby Cacaci along for
a chat, Head coach Darren Baisley as well. And speaking
of eden Park and last night at eden Park and

(02:57):
tomorrow night at eden Park and of course Friday at
eden Park, how does a sports ground host cricket, rugby
and football in the space of about eighty hours? Eden
Park is in little of that right now. Turf manager
Blair Christiansen on how they've managed it after two Our
top female rally driver Emma Gilmore also on the show today,
and James mcconey in his regular Sunday slot Live Sport

(03:20):
this afternoon. T twenty International double header in Mount Mongan,
Nui today White Ferns Australia followed by Black capsby Pakistan.
The women's game underway at two forty five. We'll keep
tabs on that for you. Three plunket shield cricket matches
to keep eyes on as well in Wellington, in Christchurch
and Dunedin and round two action in our National Basketball
League to keep tabs on as well. Jam pack show.

(03:42):
But plenty of room for you. Join us if you like, Oh,
eight hundred eighty ten eighty, we'll get your throw on
the phone nine two ninety two to send your text
messages and emails them to me Jason at Newstalk SEDB
dot co dot NZ ten and a half past midday.

Speaker 1 (03:58):
When it's down to the line if you made a
call on eight hundred eighty ten eighty. Weekend Sports with
Jason Hine News Talks said.

Speaker 2 (04:07):
A Porsche parade has rolled through Napier this weekend, led
by x Formula one Star and Motor Racing Royalty Australian
Mark Webber and.

Speaker 3 (04:16):
Now it's gonna be victory. So Mark Webber his first
in Formula one. Yeah, Mark Webber is a weather at

(04:38):
last in Formula.

Speaker 2 (04:39):
One old dessert.

Speaker 4 (04:42):
So they've topped in.

Speaker 5 (04:42):
A victory of that, there is no doubt.

Speaker 2 (04:47):
Well, that's what it means to win a Formula One race.
Mark Webber did it offen the Porsche Club of New
Zealand holding its fiftieth anniversary celebration in Napier over four
days ending this weekend. Mark Webber led the procession in
a rare Porsche Carrera GT. They're valued at around about
twollion dollars. Just quietly Mark with with us. Thanks for

(05:08):
joining us on weekend sports.

Speaker 6 (05:10):
Mark.

Speaker 2 (05:10):
You're a brand ambassador for Porsche, so how much do
you enjoy taking part in events like this one?

Speaker 7 (05:16):
Oh?

Speaker 8 (05:16):
Yeah, it's been a beautiful morning here mate. The coffee
is flowing. We've got families all milling around the cars.
You can hardly see the cars actually, and there's there's
an absolutely I don't know how many cars are it
must be it's definitely probably twoingred cars and stunning, stunning morning.

Speaker 9 (05:32):
And yeah, like I've done.

Speaker 8 (05:33):
Lots of Porsche clubs around the world as an ambassador
for the brand, but I'm so happy to come to
New Zealand and see all the passion and enthusiasm for
the brand down here. It's it's certainly very very genuine.

Speaker 2 (05:44):
I guess most people would be a but nervous driving
a car worth two million dollars, but that's probably no.
We're near the most valuable car you've been in, is it.

Speaker 9 (05:51):
Hah No, I'm still always nervous, mate.

Speaker 8 (05:54):
You know, it doesn't matter that the value, of course
might increase the nerves a little bit. But of course,
you know the owners of the car, you know, they
put a lot of trust in you to you know,
have a lot of mechanical sympath with a car, which
I of course endeavor to do and look after them.

Speaker 9 (06:10):
Like it's my own.

Speaker 8 (06:10):
And yeah, so I have driven some they've been lucky
enough to die some beautiful Porsches from the museum as
well from you know, some of the factory cars and
so and you know some of these owners, I mean,
they're not custodians for these cars. Of course, they want
them to be in tremendous condition for an extended period
of time. And while they have them, they really are

(06:32):
completely in love with the cars, and they really look
after and beautiful. It's the it's their piece of artwork,
which is which is really nice.

Speaker 2 (06:37):
You've got a deep relationship, of course with Porsche on
the World in Durance Championship twenty fifteen alongside our ken
we Brendan Hartley. Of course you had three years with
the team. What are your favorite memories of that time
in your life?

Speaker 8 (06:49):
Oh, you know, that wasn't work for me, mate. I
think that, you know, working for such a tremendous brand
like Porsche re entering back in the sports cars after
a bit of a gap they that they had through
that period there. It's the most winning brand at Lamont,
you know. And that's the ultimate test for any man
of machine is racing at Lamont sees the machine we
can get through such an arduous event flood out racing

(07:11):
for outright victory and Porsche have had such a tremendous
run there. So for me to be able to share
the car with Brendon, you know for three years, we
had such a great time together where we're in touch
weekly to this day, you know, And yeah, it's such
a great family and I enjoy spending time with him,
and yeah, we've we've struck up a great race relationship.

(07:32):
So whether it's spending time with him here in enz
or back over in Europe, where we live very close
to each other, so River Bloke and and you know
a great, a great ambassador for New Zealand motorsport.

Speaker 2 (07:43):
He has been the move from Formula one into the
Endurance Championship. Can you give us a bit of insight
into how you made that decision?

Speaker 8 (07:52):
Well, I think that you know, my time in F
one was you know, that's you know, it's much more
individual of course, you know, a lot more accountability and responsibility.
Of course, I had a long career there which you know,
really I was so lucky to work with great people
at Red Bull Race and you know, the Adrian new
Is of this world, and you know, it was awesome
for me to have. I suppose the success in the

(08:14):
back part of my former one career because I didn't
have you know, the podiums and wins and the start
of my career. I sort of had them more towards
the end of my career, so that I was looking
to sort of finish it at on my terms. Being
one action was finishing on my terms and be finishing
with really really good memories and Formula one so and
then sort of stepping stone across to porsious like if
you're going to go with any brands into sports car racing.

(08:36):
I think there's not a driver in the world that
would not love to race the Porsche. So then when
they approached me about having the opportunity to go and
re entering that championship, of course, we're a very different
you know. It's you know, sharing the car with teammates,
endurance racing, racing at night, also multi category. You know,
obviously we're in the fastest car or you know, outright category,
but you've got to share the track with gentlemen drivers

(08:57):
and some amateurs if you like. So that's really really
different def ones. So I needed to get my head
around that. But you know, the fun with my teammates
and having the success that we did, you know, it
was just a nice extending my career a little bit
but less. It was, like I said, it wasn't as
much work for me.

Speaker 9 (09:16):
It was.

Speaker 8 (09:16):
It was certainly a bit more enjoyable and I wouldn't
say relaxing, but it was. It was a nice way
to extend my career with such a tremendous brand.

Speaker 2 (09:23):
You alluded to it there in terms of your career
and if one it took your three years to get
your first podium, but by the end you were on
the podium regularly, forty podium finishers in your last five
seasons compared to just a couple in your first seven.
So is that a demonstration marker of just how important experiences?

Speaker 8 (09:42):
Yes, it was, I think, I mean, I think I
self ready for results earlier than that, but I just
didn't you know, I wasn't in a situation, you know,
with the team, and also it could have been here.
Of course, you're always the most experience you have is
the day you retire, you know, so you need to
be you know, you're trying to bring that knowledge as
far forward as you can early in your career, not

(10:04):
to be you know, at a race can be fast
on Monday morning, you wake up and go if I
did this, if I did that. You know, you have
to be able to action, you know, you deploy your
leadership and deploy your enthusiasm within the team and try
and get the people around you. I mean, these Formula
one teams now have over a thousand people working for them,
you know. So a racing driver has an immense amout

(10:25):
of responsibility and accountability to you know, leading the team
in certain directions. So for me, to it's just sliding doors.

Speaker 1 (10:34):
Mate.

Speaker 8 (10:34):
Maybe I wasn't ready for it earlier in my career
and I hung in there through I suppose a critical
period where I might have been on the ropes a
little bit, but then got through that rough period and
got some bigger results at the end of my career.
So yeah, I was lucky to achieve that.

Speaker 2 (10:50):
I'm not sure that is the main part of it,
but I'll take you a word for it. I'm laws
our man, of course, has had a challenging start to
life in the full time Formula one seat. How do
you assess as a billety to make the adjustments and
become a successful Leaf one driver? Yeah, look, you.

Speaker 8 (11:07):
Know he's he's in a top team obviously, you know
Red Bull of serial winners. They're used to, you know,
tremendous success. They have immense amount of depth and experience
within the organization from an engineering perspective and operationally, you know,
clearly world world class strategically, they're great. Obviously Max the
stapp and you know, current four time world champion, so

(11:30):
he will be of course leading the team. So for
Liam to have access to how Max operates will be
absolutely phenomenal them that's a very very good positive. But
you know, ifyone's not a finishing school, you know, I
always say when you arrive in F one, it's not
a finishing school. You've got to really try to get
up to speed as fast as possible and and put

(11:53):
the car on a sippy toes and be consistently on
the limit for the car. So I think that's where Liam.
You know, he he knows he's at the pinnacle now
Formula one. He has the chance read Bull have showed
the belief in him to give him a full contract,
and now he's just got to immerse himself into understanding that.
You know, his job is a racing driver and his

(12:14):
job is to get the absolute maximum out of himself
a FAP and that's what he needs to do. And
I'm sure he's of course he's trying to do that.

Speaker 2 (12:24):
How bright is the F one spotlight and how deep
is the pressure that comes with that?

Speaker 8 (12:30):
Of course, you know there's only twenty of them on
the grid, you know, and you know, I think that
you know, the the industry media, you know, obviously it's
very they're incredibly well educated, some more so than others,
of course, but they try to you know, they're always
looking for opportunities to maybe create some extra pressure or

(12:51):
certain scenarios and they might not have all the pieces
to the jigsaw. But you know, the team's under pressure,
the driver's under pressure, you know, because everyone's got goals
and standards. Everyone's going trying to get towards the front
of the grid. But as we know, there can be
only one one winner or one perceived group or teams
that are doing well. So right now, I mean, you know,

(13:13):
Ferrari and McLaren has come out of the blocks pretty
strong as Max. I mean, Max is there, so Liam,
you know, replaced Sir Joe because they needed those extra
points and start to contribute to the Constructors Championship because
that's huge for the teams. They need to consistent drivers.
So that's that's where you know the pressure can mount.

(13:33):
You know, as long as he's contributing to the points
in a healthy fashion, then then he will be under
no pressure.

Speaker 2 (13:40):
I know you want to get back or there will
be a lot of people wanted to chet to you there, Mark,
I just want to know though on behalf of our audience,
a lot of them, I'm sure I have thought about
you know, what it must be like inside and if
one car, how hard are they to drive, let alone
to win a race or races in one of them?

Speaker 8 (13:56):
Well, yeah, I mean, look, you know where it's like
anything in life. You know, people get very good at
you know, when you have experience, you know, which we
do through the junior categories and what do they say
at the ten thousand hour rule. When you've got when
you you know, you do so much practice and then
you you know you're at the arrowhead of operating. That is,
of course, the fastest car in the world. The Formula

(14:17):
one car is immenseally quick. The breaking capabilities, the corner
and capabilities just absolutely mind blowing how quick these cars are.
So the more that we have, you know, the training,
and then if you've got this word, which is obviously,
then you get skillful. You get highly skilled at your job.
And whether you're a musician or whether you're into other
sports rugby union, you guys are big on that is.

(14:38):
So when you get that skillful at your trade, you
become at one with the vehicle and then you're down
to the point you just mentioned there is about actually
then you're about execution and consistency, about how you know,
if you can do it's better than everyone else. Of course,
then you have a chance to have a mental results
and start to win races. So but when you're against

(15:00):
the last you know, two or three four in the world,
it gets there's some pretty handy boys around. So yeah,
but it's a highly technical sport, very challenging and one
where it's just it's it's incredibly popular around the world
right now, so it's it's in a good spot. And
I hope that you know, for for the Kiwi's sake
and all the motorsport fans in this country, because I

(15:22):
know one loves it, that Liam can have a good
start of the year soon and have some good the
Kiwi national anthem playing even Yeah.

Speaker 2 (15:29):
I know, yeah, wouldn't that be great? It's been such
an education talking to you Mark. Thanks for taking the
time and know the Porsche Club of New Zealand delighted
to have you here. Enjoyed the rest of your stay
in New Zealand and thanks for taking the time for
a chat.

Speaker 9 (15:40):
A good day cheers.

Speaker 2 (15:41):
Thanks you have a good day too, Mark.

Speaker 6 (15:42):
Thanks.

Speaker 2 (15:42):
Indeed, Mark Webber pretty famous. It just seems very down
to earth for such a such a famous bloke. You
won how many nine Grand Prix across twelve seasons. Then
it came across the Endurance Racing, won it with Brendan
Hartley in twenty fifteen with Porsche. Those numbers that I
that I put to Mark and he obviously knew them.

(16:03):
But I just hope that Liam Lawson gets the opportunity
to get used to this car because you look at
Mark Webber's Formula One career and even when he got
to Red Bull Racing, which is where he had most
of his success. He got there in two thousand and
seven and he had all his Grand Prix wins with

(16:23):
Red Ball, but it didn't happen straight away. In fact,
he had just one podium finish in his first two
seasons with Red Ball Racing. Now, they could easily have said, well,
you know, this isn't working, maybe we move on. They
obviously had a driver they had a lot of faith in.
But then you look at his next four years in

(16:47):
that car. He had eight podium finishes the following year, ten,
the one after that, ten, the one after that, and
then four the one after that and eight in his
final year. So as I said to him, you know,
hardly any at the start of his career in the
first five, six, seven years, so it obviously just takes
time to learn this car, and Liam Lawson is learning

(17:09):
in real time. So how much is this about just
actually letting him be for a bit. The issue is
the spotlight I think is probably I mean it was
harsh back then. The spotlight on Liam Lawson is so
harsh now. Honestly, if you want to find out how
much pressure Liam Lawson is under, simply go on to

(17:31):
social media and type his naming and you will feel
the wrath of thousands, tens of thousands of motorsport fans
who don't think he should be there. I mean, clearly,
if you're Liam Lawson, you stay off social media. But
the spotlight is so harsh upon him. Are you worried?

(17:54):
Motorsport fans? I've asked a lot of you in the
last little while to educate the rest of us. Should
we be worried about this? It's only the second race,
It's only early on. How far into the F one
season until we start to Okay, well, now he's he's
got himself behind the wheel, he's had four, five, six
Grand Prix. Should we now start expecting more from him?

(18:17):
I mean, he's alongside Max for staff and they are
desperate to win that Constructor's Championship again and for them
to do that, Liam Lawson has to pick up points,
so that is internal pressure for him. Oh eight one
hundred and eighty ten eighty ninet two ninety two. I
should have mentioned Western Springs. My apologies for not doing so.

(18:38):
A fantastic Auckland institution coming to an end last night,
curtain falling on ninety six years of speedway at Western Springs.
If you were there, let us know how it was.
I'm not really that o fay with the ins and
outs of this. I know that there are protests save
our Speedway still fighting this move to to move speedway

(19:01):
away from the iconic Western Springs location. But if you
were there last night, give us a yell. Undred and
eighty ten eighty don't worry. Crusaders fans. I haven't forgotten
about you. We'll get to the rug B as well.
But let's talk about a motorsport in the next little while.
Oh eight hundred and eighty ten eighty nineteen nine two one.
Text back with your calls after this.

Speaker 4 (19:18):
The biggest things in sports are on Weekend Sports with
Jason Paine and GJ.

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

Speaker 2 (19:28):
Twelve twenty NINEB talking Formula one. We've got Yoanni Moan
and from the Crusaders to Chapter before one. So if
you want to talk to Motorsport, now is the time
to do it. A Red Bull need to support Liam
Lawson more and give him the tools to get up
and running. The issue that he strikes obviously is that
he's in a team with Max for Stappan, who is
going to get a lot of resource. But as I say,
the Constructors Championship is really important to Red Bull, really important.

(19:56):
So they need to get into a position where Liam
Lawson can be picking up points. Because you can't just
have Max for Stephan picking up points. That won't be enough.
I've got to get him, pardon the pun, up to
speed now. I think Cam's called from China. Can you
don't live in China. You're over there on holiday for
the Grand Prix, are you?

Speaker 7 (20:16):
Yeah?

Speaker 10 (20:17):
Yeah, it's sort of a two week holiday living Wellington.
So my brother and I booked this on my dad's seventieth.
He couldn't make it, so yeah, it's just us too
over here and then just following it up with a
week tour around China as well.

Speaker 11 (20:30):
So the last two weeks up work.

Speaker 2 (20:32):
Why did you choose this particular Grand Prix? What did
you choose China?

Speaker 10 (20:36):
We thought about Melbourne, but we've been to Melbourne a
few times and China is a completely different culture. It's
early on in the season as well, and it's relatively
cheap to get too with a direct fight from Auckland,
so I was pretty pretty locked in from there.

Speaker 2 (20:51):
Pretty challenging day to day for Liam Lawson. What did
you see from your vantage point there on how Liam
you know went today? Yeah, Yeah, tough for him.

Speaker 4 (21:00):
In the qualifying.

Speaker 10 (21:02):
We showed a prose promise in that sprint race with
a lot of good overtakes around around the hairpin on
turn fifteen, which is we're sat right outside of it,
so managed to see a lot of his overtakes as
well as Pstree overtaking Max. So he showed good, good racing.

(21:22):
But yeah, just once again his his lap times. It
just seems to let him down, especially.

Speaker 4 (21:26):
In the qualifying.

Speaker 10 (21:27):
I mean, you're not going to win a lot when
you started at the back. But he showed good fight,
which is good yeah.

Speaker 2 (21:33):
That, and I think you're dead right. He's qualifying, he's
he's been right at the back of the grid, will
be again for the main race. But as you say,
when he was near the back of the grid for
the sprint race as well, wasn't he in you? And
you saw some promise there from some of the overtaking
you did? I think he made up five places overall.

Speaker 10 (21:48):
Yeah, yeah, five spots from the back, which which is
also really hard to do in a sprint race. It's
it's quite sure, it's quite fast, everyone's out there to
try and get into those points at the top of
the top of the position.

Speaker 12 (21:59):
So yeah, he did.

Speaker 10 (22:01):
I think he did bloody well and it showed what
he can do in a race situation, just hopefully in
the in the next in the next race going forward,
so you can start maybe middle of a bunch and
fight for some of those top positions.

Speaker 2 (22:13):
What is the event itself? Like cam, what's the Chinese
Grand Prix?

Speaker 4 (22:17):
Like it's outstanding one.

Speaker 10 (22:19):
I just can't get over the organization off this many people,
Like I heard there was two hundred thousand people at
this at this place, and you wouldn't even tell, like
there's a lot of people. It's busy, but there's just
brilliant organization. There's a lot of there's a car show
going outside the outside the event well, lots of facilities

(22:42):
for food.

Speaker 2 (22:43):
It's just amazing in terms of vantage points and things
like that. What do your tickets get you access to?
Do you have to stay in the same place? Can
you move around?

Speaker 10 (22:51):
No, So it's pretty it's pretty liberal where you can go.
Where we're stuck to our grandstand and what's called blockage,
but you've got access to pretty much everything outside the
grand stand. Can't quite get down to the pits, everything
that's all locked off and whether the paddocts have their
special VIP passes, but everything else is as long as

(23:13):
you've got a ticket in, you've got access to a
lot all the stuff that's free around the outside. So yes,
it's good and.

Speaker 2 (23:21):
No problem with you know, obviously I don't know whether
you speak fluent Chinese or not, but no problem making
yourself understood.

Speaker 12 (23:29):
No, not at all.

Speaker 10 (23:30):
They've got a good series of apps as well, which
if you did any translation, does a translation from English
through Chinese through speech also translates any photo that you
take as well. But where we are it's everything is
double signpost in English and Chinese. Every instruction English and Chinese.

(23:51):
It's been super easy. It was one of my concerns
coming over. I was like, how hard is this going
to be? Have we just shut ourselves in the foot,
But no, it's super easy and super super good.

Speaker 2 (24:00):
That's great. And what sort of field do you get
about the others? You know, the majority of people who
are there. Obviously there are a lot of Chinese nationals,
but does it feel as though there aren't a lot
of tourists like yourself as well?

Speaker 10 (24:12):
Yeah, there definitely are said around us in our little
spot where they right in front of us has made
the Chinese nationals, but we had a Polish guy on
on our lift side. We've got British on the right
hand side.

Speaker 4 (24:25):
There's a lot of tourists.

Speaker 10 (24:26):
Heah, but definitely the majority of are Chinese nationals. But
there are so many Ferraris. It's definitely a fan favorite here.

Speaker 2 (24:34):
Yeah, I know this. Hey Kem, thanks for calling in.
I think that's the first time anyone's ever called the
show from China. I appreciate your listening and giving us
the benefit of your real life experience and so you
can cheer Liam to a much better performance. But later
on today thanks for calling mate. Oh one hundred and
eighty ten eighty George, are you in China?

Speaker 7 (24:53):
No? No, no, I've just had a cup of tea
though that was in China.

Speaker 2 (24:58):
That's not bad George, that's not bad from you. What
are you thinking about the What are you thinking about
the inview? What do you think of that one?

Speaker 7 (25:08):
Well, I'm actually taking a bit of pity on Lawson
his first race in Melbourne.

Speaker 5 (25:13):
What happened?

Speaker 7 (25:14):
The car failed, That was the end of that. Couldn't
drive it anymore? So how could he win? And he can't?
So why I blame him? It's not his fault that
the car failed and he couldn't drive it. The second
race was that bucketed down with the rain? Was he
allowed to change his tires to wet track tires? No?
They made him run around on slips and aquaplane. That's
just nuts. That's not his fault. That's the manager's fault

(25:34):
for not allowing him to drive at his best on
tires that was suitable for the track. So I think
people that go on I always done no good on the
first couple of races, they've got to pull their heads in.
It's like running on a horse that's got no legs left,
you know, and the races and you complain about the jockey.
It just doesn't work. So I think this race coming
up now, he's going to actually if he's got his

(25:55):
car running properly and it doesn't do anything stupid and
he's able to actually grow into his car and become
part of it. And I'm gonna a ligne this to
one of my friends who was a cyclist and to
do bike races on the road, and he said, you
get to a point where you become part of the bike,
and you become part of the road, and you are
on that angle on the corners and there's no return

(26:17):
because of the angle that you're on. You can't straighten up.
If something happens, you're just going to go off. So
you live in the no return zone. And I think
Lawson is getting his car in that sort of area.
In the last lot of races he was with with
the other guys lived in that no return zone and
he's able to get through to the end and so

(26:38):
pass people and do well. He's still learning his car,
growing into it. But the flaming things not have been
performing for him. It's a team effort between the car
and the driver at the end of the day, and
that's all I can say is give them time, get
the car to work, get the computer program, the mapping

(26:58):
in the ECU and all that so that it actually
suits his drive and how he likes to drive, so
that he's got a car that can get out of
its optimum. That's where I'm getting to.

Speaker 2 (27:09):
No, it's a good point you make, George. And as
you know, the car is set up for Max for Staffan.
That's obvious. He's the world champion, full time defending world champion,
clearly number one in that team. And Liam knew going
in that he had to adjust to a car set
up that was set up specifically for Max for Stapphen.
But as you say, they've also got to set him
up to succeed, give him every opportunity, and I'm sure

(27:31):
they are. I'm sure they are giving him every bit
of resource because, at the risk of repeating myself, they
want to win the Drivers' Championship as well. To do that,
Liam Lawson needs to be picking up points. He picks
up points by finishing in the top ten. Let's see
how he goes a little bit later on today, Good
to chat to you, George. Twenty three away from one.
We're inside the Crusaders camp next as they're celebrating their

(27:51):
joint biggest ever away win over the Blues and their
first away win in the Rob Penny coaching era. Did
I get that right? I read that last night and
I thought, is that right? And then I thought back
the last season, thought yeah, it probably. In fact, the
last time they went away from home was ad Eden
Park in the twenty twenty three final. From memory anyway,

(28:13):
that's all by the Bye Yoanni Moana neuterific game last
night from the rookie hooker. Let's see how he reflects
on it when we come back.

Speaker 1 (28:21):
Don't get caught off side eight eight eighty Weekend Sports
with Jason Paine and GJ. Gardnerholmes, New Zealand's most trusted
home builder News Talk.

Speaker 2 (28:31):
Then B twenty to one. Look at everybody else. The
Crusaders are back.

Speaker 13 (28:34):
Crusaders too short now, wanting to sign off this match
with a try again on the right hand side they go,
Bouer has a crack. They're almost over the line away
on the right hand side. One more to go. The Crusaders.
Aren't they over that spot?

Speaker 14 (28:49):
Well, Jordan Shortan gets one.

Speaker 13 (28:53):
And the Crusaders forty two nineteen time up at Eden Park.

Speaker 2 (28:58):
Yea bonus point victory. The Crusader's up unto second on
the table, their first ever away win in the Rob
Penny era and their joint biggest way went against the
Blues in Super Rugby history. Let's bring in one of
the standouts last night, Crusaders hooker you any more? Anne,
who is with us? Congratulations on a terrific performance from
you on the team. You Wanni the smiles a mile

(29:19):
wide at the end. How special was that when last
night for you?

Speaker 9 (29:24):
Cheers?

Speaker 15 (29:24):
Mate?

Speaker 16 (29:25):
No, I was so good, so good to get to
win up pan Auckland and Eden Parkers aout of special
place to get it done. It was, Yeah, I was
were a good one from the voice.

Speaker 2 (29:34):
Did it feel like this performance was coming as you
were building up towards this game?

Speaker 14 (29:39):
Uh?

Speaker 16 (29:39):
Well, we had a good prep for the boys during
the week, made sure you know we had this this game,
you know, opening them out calendar and you meture this
week was was unwell and you know most and yeah,
came to the game and the boys just enjoyed themselves,
inc was just smiling and having fun, which is pretty good.

Speaker 2 (29:59):
Absolutely, When did you find out that you'd be starting
this one? Because I think Cody Taylor was was supposed
to start injury during the week. When did you find
out you'd be in the two jersey.

Speaker 16 (30:08):
Just before you're about to fly down to our fly
up to Auckland. I think he has that is ridiculous
and didn't go to wellful codes. But yeah, coaches just
came up to me and told me that I was
studying and I keep there from the same. Keep it simple,
you know, don't want to change too much.

Speaker 2 (30:27):
Because I don't think you started at all last season
or in twenty twenty three, but you got a couple
of starts at the beginning of this season. Again, of
course last night had does the role change when you've
got the number two one rather than the sixteen?

Speaker 16 (30:40):
For me, I try not over complicated and trying to
change too much. Just try and keep it real simple.

Speaker 7 (30:47):
You know.

Speaker 16 (30:47):
I back my grip that I've and throughout the week,
and I bet it the boys got my my records.

Speaker 2 (30:55):
Of how big a help has Cody Taylor been for you?

Speaker 16 (30:59):
Oh man, he's been so good, like just a knowledge
he has in the game and in how willing years
you know, to help us younger boys, you know, to
help us come through and you know give us, you know,
as much knowledge. It's like so I realized, honestly, so
good to have him, especially Belly as well one of
the other hookers as well, like too all black hookers

(31:21):
to learn off them. It's so good.

Speaker 2 (31:23):
Yeah, I guess at the start of the season you
might have wondered where your opportunities were going to come from.
But obviously with with George Bell's injury, that's a real
shame for him. But even with Cody available, are you
still pushing him every day to try and be the
starting hooker?

Speaker 16 (31:39):
Playing the suit the two jerseymen, I've actually really enjoyed it.
And I said when I first came down that you know,
I'm not here to just you know, be here and
sort of wait around. I'm here to come here and
challenge the boys and and trying to play as well
in training as well because I can. I don't know,
if I get better and the boys are getting better
as well, and that's better for the team.

Speaker 2 (32:01):
That's brilliant. Great attitude, man, you know, they say that
hookers need to be efficient and there core roles scrummaging
thrown into the line out. How hard do you work
on those things every day?

Speaker 16 (32:12):
Then I'm lucky you got the forwards coach Dan Pearns,
who used to be hook as well. So it's been
a real big help for me as well off the field. Yes,
big up callers as well, calling the right options.

Speaker 2 (32:27):
You know, you must love that when you get the
easy callers to line out. Fantastic. But I got to say,
not many hookers have a kicking game, but you do.
I saw a couple of last night. How did you
develop that?

Speaker 17 (32:45):
No?

Speaker 16 (32:45):
Man, I just know it was like an off turnover
board and I was like, there's no one at the back,
so I just give it a good boot.

Speaker 12 (32:52):
Can go brilliant.

Speaker 2 (32:54):
Growing up, was there was there a hooker who you watched,
you know, or even a player you watched growing up
who you modeled your game on or have tried to emulate.

Speaker 16 (33:04):
Yeah, well, I'm originally from Brookland, so it's just I
used to love watching Kevin. Yeah yeah, watching him growing
up was because one of my idols growing up, and
you used to love the way he plays how around
the field, how your agone was and how fast he was,
and then sort of like when I grew up and

(33:26):
now like being seen codes workers were like Katie Taylor,
it's yeah, motivation, I.

Speaker 5 (33:33):
I bet, I bet.

Speaker 2 (33:35):
And a couple of penalty turnovers too. You know, those
are obviously big moments in the game. Plenty of plenty
of charhooing going on as well. You know, the Crusaders
are going well when you're here there he must be.
It must be nice having a hype man like sev Reese.

Speaker 16 (33:47):
Yeah, yeah, Actually, you know, get off the energy and
it's good. You know, boys built off the energy and
you know, straight after that, you know we've got like
a war and went in for told it's pretty good,
you know, So feeling off the energy of the boys start.

Speaker 2 (34:02):
Hearing and I saw you cramping up there and I
was over on that side, and I think the ref
came up to you and said, look, if it's cramp
you've got to carry on. So what was the conversation
you had to head with the ref just before you
went off?

Speaker 16 (34:16):
Oh, I thought him, I am to stand up and
my cars are just lot tight, and was so gone.

Speaker 9 (34:23):
I toought him.

Speaker 16 (34:24):
I couldn't get up, and he was just like, it's
either you get up in you scrumb or you get
subbed off and you medical team just told me just
worth just going out now.

Speaker 2 (34:33):
It's no point in staying a congratulations again you only
on a on a terrific performance from you and for
the team as well. I know you won't get carried away.
It's just one game in a long season, but it
was a terrific performance last night. Congratulations, thanks for taking
the time for a chat mate, Thank you sir, Thank you.
Moanaknw there out of the Crusaders camp a bit of

(34:54):
a character. I enjoyed watching him last night.

Speaker 9 (34:56):
Man.

Speaker 2 (34:57):
I from behind, he looks like more He's the same build,
you know, that stocky, powerful hooker, but he a couple
of times you the board and just booted it downfield.
I don't think it's any hooker. Do that for Ages
Crusaders fans, your chance to react if you'd like. I
eight hundred eighty ten eighty Are you back? Is that
the performance last night that gives you real confidence that

(35:18):
actually last season was an outlier, an absolute anomaly in
this incredible dynasty that has been built over so many years.
Or are you still just waiting to see. Looking ahead
to the next couple of games, more on a pacificer
in the Fiji and Drewer for the Crusaders to come in.
Blues fans, are you a bit worried? I must say

(35:40):
I'm a bit worried about the super rugby defense, you know,
defending the championship of the Blues. They just looked a
shadow of their former selves last night, their title defense teetering.
I eight hundred eighty ten eighty nineteen nine to two
one text We'll take some rugby calls after this twelve to.

Speaker 1 (35:59):
One, analyzing every view from every angle in the sporting
world weekends for it with Jason Hie.

Speaker 2 (36:07):
Eight and a half to one talking about a super
rugby Greg, your Crusader's are back, mate, You're back.

Speaker 7 (36:15):
Yeah.

Speaker 15 (36:15):
We're just going to take it a week at a
time and don't look above ourselves and mutually carried away.
That's that's the Crusader's babe, humble and just take it.
You know's a couple of tough games coming up. We've
got the Dura, you know, doubt we'll encounter the Chiefts again. Yeah,
it was a good game last night. It was a
Weaver that way, did not casting the spursions on their kicker,

(36:35):
but about some of the kicking was a wee bit
of a worry. But no, it was good. Good to
see them come back, and it was all around performance.
You know, last year wasn't a good year, and everyone
will admit to that, but it was a big step,
a lot of injuries and you know after Raises Dynasty
and the New Men toll taken out. But no, it

(36:57):
was it was a good performance.

Speaker 16 (36:58):
It was good to.

Speaker 15 (36:59):
See and but I wouldn't write the Blues off. I'm
sure they'll home things out. Old cot was pretty astute,
but it was pretty tough for the Crusaders, is you know?
I sat there and I'm sitting here holding my Crusaders
hat with the old logo and those red and black sunglasses.
I'm pretty pretty pleased, like a lot of us are.

Speaker 2 (37:18):
Why not. I just thought you guys were tremendous. I
just I was lucky enough to be sidelined last last
night for our radio commentary. I just thought it was
a tremendous performance from the Crusaders. Yeah, you're right, you've
picked up on Camo's goalkicking. And I said during the
call like you don't want to leave too many points
out on Eden Park. But it didn't matter at the end.

(37:39):
But yeah, that's maybe one little thing that you think. Okay, Tom,
if he's going to keep taking the kicks, needs to
make him more, needs to make more of those kicks.

Speaker 15 (37:48):
Yeah, yeah, don't put the guy down. I mean, he's
sort of doing a bit of an apprenticeship and maybe
he should have a talk to DC, get a few
pointers off him or contact merch. But you know, hopefully
he'll find his feet. And O'Connor's pretty good. But even
the heat missed run at the end, and that's going
to happen even the best of them. It's a tight game.

(38:10):
You know, we were lucky last night. We had a
bit of a margin, but that's a real tight game.
It can be one or two points. That happened with
the Highlanders the Canes the other week. That drop goal
was missed. But you know there's a slight worry. But
hopefully they'll adjust that and Rob Penue will be on
to it. But it was good to watch, you know,
they're always great games for the Blues, and yeah, I

(38:34):
was pretty surprised, you know, I sort of thought when
the Blues got the first points, but then it was
all downhill after that, wasn't it.

Speaker 4 (38:41):
It was?

Speaker 2 (38:42):
It was all red and black after that. Greg, you
keep on wearing that merchandise, mate, Look and look you're
right to be measured, you know, after what happened last year.
But and tak Cam, I have to say, I really
like the kid. You know. Goal kicking is one thing,
but I just I just think he's got a bit
about him, you know, and he'll only benefit from being
alongside James O'Connor and signed that environment. Yeah, I they

(39:04):
can get a couple of the old boys back in
there now, someone like maybe you know, a Dan Carter
come to mentor him. Then, man, he could be anything.
Thanks for your call, Greg, good a, Chris, oh you
go Piney.

Speaker 18 (39:14):
Hey, look, I'm actually staggering over the years how much
success the Crusaders have had on Eden Park in playoffs, finals,
et cetera, compared to the Blues and Christis where their
records absolutely woeful. You know, it's surprising, really, Beth as
the Cantabrian, I think that's very nice.

Speaker 2 (39:33):
Well, not too many teams go, not too many visiting
teams go to Eden Park at international level, or super
level and consistently or even regularly win. But yeah, the Crusaders,
You're right. That was where they won the Super Rugby
title two years ago, wasn't it Back in the twenty
twenty three?

Speaker 18 (39:50):
Yeah, and ninety and then their first one ninety eight.

Speaker 2 (39:54):
Yes, that's of course. I remember that year. James Kerr
was it the try right at the end there? And yeah,
they you know, they don't seem to have any fear.
I think, you know, the Crusaders when they are at
the top of their game, and I'm not saying they're
there yet, but when they're back, they backed themselves to
win on any patch of grass.

Speaker 18 (40:10):
Yeah, I think the young Feller, I mean, in a
tight game that could cost them. But I mean, to
be fair to him, for twenty six years they had
Merton's Carter and Mwanga.

Speaker 2 (40:20):
Yes, right, I've had a couple of I had a
couple of good ones every though. Chris, Yeah, it's pretty
hard to compare him to those guys. But look, I'm
sure he will work on that. It'll be a work
on of course, it will. He'll look back, you know
today at the points he left out there and say, okay, cool, Well,
I'll work on that. That's a work on for me,
as they call it. Thanks for your call, Chris. Rob

(40:41):
Penny got bashed by the media for his run of
losses last year. Wise and vern Cott are getting the
same treatment. Even your avoiding the conversation, says Neil. I'm
not Neil really. I was actually preferring to focus on
the Crusaders. But vern Cott is under pressure. Of course
he is. I think what he has that Rob Penny
didn't last year is a bit of credit in the bank.
I mean, vern Cottter led them to a drought breaking

(41:02):
championship last season. Rob Penny I think came in off
the back of Razor and after all that success, I
think that was the reason he was under a harsh spotlight.
But no, I'm not diverting attention away from vern Cotter
at all. I'd also say that I think vern Cotter
has the wherewithal to turn this around and I look
forward to him doing it. Thanks for your calls. After
one o'clock we paid tribute to George Foreman, who passed

(41:25):
away yesterday with boxing promoter Eddie Hearn.

Speaker 1 (41:29):
The only place to discuss the biggest sports issues on
and after fields.

Speaker 4 (41:34):
It's all on w James Sport with Jason Vane on
your home of sport US talk.

Speaker 2 (41:42):
Hello there, welcome back into the show one O seven.
It is I'm Jason Fineandy McDonnell is executive producer of
the show. Eddie hearn standing by the chat to us
one of the biggest names in boxing globally, paying tribute
to one of the biggest names in globe in boxing globally,
George Foreman, sadly passing away yesterday at the age of

(42:05):
seventy six. Get to Eddie Hearne shortly just mopping up
a few residual texts from last hour regarding the Crusaders.
Finding this conversation just proves how important it is to
have the more experienced players in the team to help
guide the younger guys, which helps them know and get
to grips with the mentality side of the game, says Mars,

(42:27):
and I hate the Crusaders. Yeah, you're say right, though
you could tell from listening to Yoanni Muana Nut how
big a factor Cody Taylor's played in his development. Good point,
says full about the exceptional kickers the Crusaders have had
down the years, they certainly have have produced first fives
of elite quality down the years, haven't they? Merchants? Karter Moonga?

(42:54):
I mean three of our absolute greats it to factory
down there. Look, I'm not saying that Taha Kemada will
reach the heights that those two did all those three,
Rather I did. But he's in a pretty good finishing school,
isn't he at the Crusaders? And how good, says Nicholas,
is this potential midfield combo for the All Blacks. David

(43:16):
Harvilly at twelve, Jordi Barrett at thirteen. I don't know.
I look on David Hartvilly, he was for he was
man of the match for me last night. I thought
David harvillly is the glue that holds that Crusader's back
line together, particularly when you consider that the number ten

(43:36):
is we've just talked about. Taje Kemda is a rookie
in Super rugby. Kyle Preston has only really just arrived
in Super rugby as well, so his nine ten combo
is very inexperienced. He's got Dallas McLeod outside himho's been
around for a little bit longer, and then of course
severa Reese and Will Jordan a bit further out. But

(43:56):
every time I looked at David Harvilli last night, and
particularly when the Crusaders were defending, his was the loudest voice.
His was the or. He was the one who was
giving instructions, who was making sure everybody was in the
right place, who was basically guiding that back line, and
then with ball in hand, you know, he's a he's

(44:17):
a very very good player. I think David Havilli in
the last couple of years has kind of fallen off
the or falling down the pecking order for the All Blacks.
And there was that experiment of trying him at first
five last year because they didn't have any first five.
We had about seven of them. He was one of
them that didn't work. I think second five is definitely
his best position. He's been sort of moved around the

(44:38):
All Blacks back line as well, and maybe you know,
used for his utility value off the bench, but he's
a second five and look, would Jordie want to play center,
because I think Jordi Barrett is still the first choice
second five. But here there's a bit to like about
Avily Jordi Barrett combination. I think I think Jordie Shild

(44:58):
twelve and there's going to be a big conversation to
be had to at All Blacks number thirteen again this year,
as there seems to be every year. Ricca Yowane I
think would accept he didn't have one of his better
games last night on a side that was well beaten.
Billy Propter. We haven't seen for the Hurricanes yet but
hopefully will soon. Others are putting their hands up. As always.

(45:20):
Super Rugby is a wonderful place to judge and to
have a look at players who you think might wear
the black jersey. But later on the year anyway, that's
the rugby done and dusted. Although there is still a
super ab game to go this weekend. Isn't there a
game out out in Western Australia later on tonight this
ye I don't normally pay too much attention, but with

(45:44):
my fantasy rugby team containing a couple of force and
drawer players, I am interested in what happens at five
past seven tonight over and over in Perth, so I'll
be keeping eyes on that. Just quick look ahead to
next weekend where a bunch of teams have to buy
Hurricanes warri tas Friday Night down in Wellington, Brumby's Highlanders
to follow. We'll have both of those games for you

(46:05):
on Gold Sport and iheartraate you next Friday Night, then Crusaders,
Morena Pacifica and Red's Force on Saturday Night. Looking forward
to that twelve past one. Profound sadness in the boxing
world with legendary boxer George Foreman passing away yesterday at
the age of seventy six. The big punching American heavyweight

(46:26):
won Olympic gold at the nineteen sixty eight Mexico Games
when he was just nineteen, and became world champion for
the first time in nineteen seventy three, starning the then
undefeated Joe Fraser, knocking him down six times in the
first two rounds. I think he hurt Joe Fraser. I
think Joe is hurt.

Speaker 1 (46:47):
Angie Dune Dili's trainer ight next to me is saying that.

Speaker 17 (46:50):
You may hear him down.

Speaker 3 (46:51):
Goes Frasier, Down, Goes Frasier, Down, goes Fraser.

Speaker 4 (46:56):
The heavyweight champion is taking.

Speaker 3 (46:59):
The mandatory eight count and Farman is as poised as
can be in a new Joe Kinner.

Speaker 17 (47:05):
It is over.

Speaker 1 (47:06):
It is Wolva.

Speaker 19 (47:08):
It is Halva in the second round.

Speaker 17 (47:10):
George Crammon is the heavyweight champion.

Speaker 2 (47:13):
Up the round, You love the commentary. Then a couple
of years later, George Foreman lost to Muhammad Ali. That
was nineteen seventy four, in the still iconic Rumble in
the Jungle in Ziam.

Speaker 14 (47:26):
Maybe this is a bit of tactic Bali to let
the man watch him, so bod thirty seconds left and
round eight another speaking right, Henny worked.

Speaker 19 (47:37):
Over the shore with George.

Speaker 2 (48:03):
It was Foreman's first professional loss to Muhammad Ali. He
retired George Foreman in nineteen seventy seven, but then in
one of the great comebacks, he returned to boxing, and
in nineteen ninety four, at the age of forty five,
he became the oldest world heavyweight champion in history, knocking
out twenty six year old Michael Mora. Now Michael Moore,

(48:24):
is that.

Speaker 18 (48:24):
Goes far on a right hand, an.

Speaker 2 (48:27):
Unbelievably concert right hand shot?

Speaker 3 (48:32):
Ten?

Speaker 2 (48:35):
No good, it happens.

Speaker 14 (48:39):
It happened.

Speaker 2 (48:42):
I can't believe it. You know, this is a two
to one faith but in my mind.

Speaker 14 (48:47):
It was a gazillion to one that George Foreman could
have a win a.

Speaker 2 (48:50):
Heavyweight championship a game, so some of the old power
was still there after all. It was indeed overall, George
Foreman boasted and astonishing seventy six wins, including sixty eight
by knockout. That's almost double the number of my Humed Ali.
British boxing giant, chair of matchro in Boxing and the

(49:11):
world's leading sports promoter Eddie Hearn is with us to
remember George Foreman. Eddie, thanks for joining us across New
Zealand on weekend sport Hell. Will you remember George Foreman?

Speaker 20 (49:24):
Yeah, I mean iconic really in so many ways. I think,
you know, for me growing up, it was more about
the comeback, you know, this giant of an older man
really who seemed to have dynamite in his fists. And
I think the remarkable thing was obviously for me the
second phase of the career and doing it at that age.

(49:45):
I mean, you know, the older generations, probably my dad
and people like that, would really talk about, you know,
the fights with Fraser, particularly the first one in Jamaica.
I mean that was you know, he went over there
really as an opponent and knocked out Fraser in his
homecoming in Jamaica, obviously beat him twice. Of course the
rumble in the jungle, but for me kind of like

(50:05):
the second phase. And I think people forget about that
route to become world heavyweight champion for the second time.
It wasn't that he just came back in the ring
and had one or two fights. He went on a
long run, you know, ten years out of the ring
and then came back. Actually lost to Tommy Morrison in
the fight before Michael Morra when he become world heavyweight champion,
And I remember that fight so clearly watching that when

(50:27):
he knocked him out. I think Mara was twenty three
and a zero at the time. You know, he was
a a teddy Atlas fighter, very well regarded, and he
just flattened him with an uppercut and you know, became
a champion again. And you know, obviously people also know
him outside of the boxing world for his products and
his books and his grill and just just a sort

(50:49):
of big, cuddly bear really, but in the early days
of his career he was a real beast of a fighter,
you know, a strong, strong man and you know, cuddly George,
you know, lovable George. I met him once and he
was just just had a huge smile on his face
all the time.

Speaker 2 (51:05):
How important is the history of boxing, the iconic figures
like George Foreman, like Fraser, like Ali in modern times?
He how important is it that we still remember, you know,
the great of the sport from those glory years of
the sixties and seventies.

Speaker 20 (51:20):
Yeah, I mean, legacy is really only kind of evaluated
over time, and unfortunately sometimes through passing. You know, I
think in current sporting terms, you don't really talk about
the effect that a player or a fighter, or a
sportsman or an athlete has had under sport. It's only
really when you reflect on them. And sometimes it's at

(51:42):
moments like this and you sort of go back over
the history of time and there's very few people who
can walk in in that group that Foreman has walked in,
and it is you know, I mean, our league can
sometimes be a standout, but it is you know, Frasier
and listening, and Foreman was beyond those guys. You know,
Foreman carried himself for a long period of time. Foreman

(52:02):
came back to win you know, two heavyweight world champions.
He was an Olympic gold medalist as well, and you know,
he did a lot outside the ring as well, and
he'll be sadly missed.

Speaker 2 (52:11):
As far as coming back like he did. You alluded
to it before, but just how challenging must that have
been for him? How challenging is it for a forty
five year old to get back in the ring against
much younger men and win again.

Speaker 20 (52:27):
Yeah, I think it's the only division you can do
it is the heavyweight division. But again, you've never seen it,
you know, You've never seen a guy who's been iconic
and regarded as the best heavyweight work, you know, in
the world of the prime, and then come back ten
years later. I mean, I think I don't know the
exact time, but he didn't win the world championship ten

(52:47):
years after the comeback. The comeback was ten years later.
It took a good few years for him to challenge
for the world heavyweight tile, and he did it off
the back of a defeat, which is quite rare, you know.
And again he went into that Michael morri fire that
they picked George Foreman as a name for that fight.
When he came back, it was like he was the
best heavyweight in the world. People criticized his comeback actually,

(53:11):
you know, and said why is this guy coming back
now he's forty odd years old. It's dangerous, it's this
and that, and his performances were that not of a
normal forty year old, but certainly of a forty year old.
And actually there were times where I remember watching thinking
I don't want to see him by anymore, don't see
him take punishment. And they rolled him out against Michael

(53:32):
Mora as like, oh, he's a good name, you know,
that would be good for the record, and he knocks
him out to win, and it was just such a
mad moment. And if you haven't seen it, watch it
back and sort of look at his face. You know,
he didn't actually seem that surprised when he won that fight.
And yeah, it's never recommended to turn back to such

(53:53):
a dangerous boot at that age, but you know, he
did it, and what he did will always be remembered.

Speaker 2 (53:58):
You mentioned idiot met him once. What was he like
in person?

Speaker 20 (54:02):
Just like a big sort of you know, big bear,
really like had time for everybody, you know, big smile
on his face and one of those guys like it's
not I've been around boxing since I was There's very
few people that I would look at and go, oh
my god, look there's George, you know, and ask for

(54:23):
a photo as well, and he's definitely one of them.
And there's probably that's probably a list of five or
six fighters that you could read off, you know, Mike Tyson, Sugar,
Ray Leonard, probably Jeran Hagler, Lewis, Lens Lewis, you know,
George Forman. Like there's a very slight risk for me

(54:44):
around these people every day. But that was like, oh
my god, look there's George Foreman and that that says
it all.

Speaker 2 (54:49):
Really, it does?

Speaker 9 (54:50):
It does.

Speaker 2 (54:50):
Can you see heavyweight box and returning to those glamor
days of the fighters you've just reeled off?

Speaker 20 (54:57):
To be honest, I think when we talk about glamma
days again, that only comes when you look back. I
think we're actually in a wonderful period at the moment.
You know, we just had Fury you sick twice. You know,
you had Dubois Joshua in front of ninety six thousand
at Wembley. You know, but there's so many good contenders now,
Like you know, Caveat against Zang was great. Joseph Parker's
making a run, you know. I think during that time

(55:20):
when these guys are around, no one was really saying, wow,
this is a golden time. Wow that like, you just
look back at those fights over history in time and
say what a period that was. It's a bit like
the Four Kings, you know, Hagler, Herns and Leonard and Durant.
At the time, no one was going, oh what a
time this is for box this is a glory years.
But then you look back at those moments and say
what a period that was. And we get to do

(55:42):
that with Foreman, and I think we will do that
for the heavyweight division now. But you know, we've got
to keep making sure the best fight the best.

Speaker 2 (55:49):
And just to finis just while I've got you with
a New Zealand audience across our country. What do you
predict for Joseph Parker? I know, you know, I'm well,
this fight with Daniel Dubois didn't go ahead last month.
Will he get the chance to fight Usa Kez ordered
by the WBO? Do you think?

Speaker 20 (56:02):
I hope so? I mean he really deserves his shot.
I mean I'd love Joe in and out the ring.
I think he's just a tremendous man and he's worked
so hard and when you look at his recent victories,
you know Zier Laisin Bacoli just recently as well Deonte Wilder.
How can you not give him a shot? I would
like to see him fight Daniel Duboit. I mean that
fight was contracted, that fight was made, and Dubois pulled

(56:25):
out twenty four hours before the fight. So for me,
that fight should be rescheduled. And I think it can
beat Daniel Duboat. Whosik's a tougher ask. But Joe's in
great form, great spirits, physically, personally, emotion like you know,
and I think he could win the world heavyweight title.
So hopefully gets his shot.

Speaker 2 (56:42):
Type so it he appreciate your a very busy man
with a very busy shoede you. Oh Sydney last night,
how did that go?

Speaker 20 (56:48):
Amazing? Yeah, it was an amazing night, our first ever
show in Sydney. George Cambosa's returned for a young kid
from Queensland who just did not stop. I mean they
had an absolute war, and yeah, it was a great
night of boxing in Sydney. And now we're off on
the plane back to Manchester for a show on Friday.

Speaker 2 (57:06):
So it doesn't stop, it does not stop again. Thank
you so much for your time remembering George Foreman. Eddie
really appreciate you taking our call. Thanks, take care, you
take care to Eddie Hearn, the one and only on
George Foreman, and some cool comments at the end there
about Joseph Parker as well one twenty three boxing fans
and particularly those of you with a few more years

(57:27):
under your belt, shall we say, how do you remember
George Foreman? And Edy made such a good in fact,
he made thousands of good points, well a few anyway
in that chat. But the point about how when an
era is, when you're in an era, you don't actually think, oh,
what a wonderful time this is. It's only on looking
back that you think, wow, what a wonderful time that was.

(57:47):
But you think about those fights that George Foreman was
in Rumble in the Jungle, the first one against Joe Frasier,
knocking him down six times in two rounds, and then,
as Eddie Hearn just pointed out, his most vivid memory
is the comeback and become the oldest world heavyweight champion

(58:08):
in history, knocking out Michael Moore in nineteen ninety four.
But if you've got any particularly vivid memories of watching
George Foreman or just that era of boxing with Ali
and Fraser and the others. We'd love to hear from you.
Our eight hundred and eighty ten eighty is our number
nine two ninety two on text. Let's talk about of boxing.
We'll do that when we come back with some of

(58:28):
your course.

Speaker 1 (58:30):
Voice of Sport on your Home of Sport Weekend Sport
with Jason Vain and GJ. Gunners, New Zealand's most trusted home.

Speaker 2 (58:38):
Builder, News Talk one twenty seven remembering the life and
boxing career of the late George Foreman. Derek, I'm glad
you've called. What do you think of when you think
of George Foreman?

Speaker 17 (58:49):
Ah, Look, it's it's great now, of course, because we're
we've got the modern technology of YouTube and we can
look up all George Foreman's great fights and a lot
of the film is really good too, by the way,
you know some of the film that the nineteen seventy
seven fight before he decided to retire for the first
time against Jimmy Young was a fifteen round classic. He
ended up losing that fight in a very narrow decision,

(59:12):
but it was afterwards he decided to retire and then
to come back after that. And I remember this guy
at work once telling me that I was just listening
to late Night talkSPORT back in the nineties where somebody
was talking about the comeback of George Foreman, like he'll
ever come back and win a title. He came back,
and you know that Michael Morra fight. He would have

(59:32):
lost every minute of every round of that fight up
until the point that Michael Mora decided to take a
just a bit of a breath. That you see it
all the time in these long fights over a twelve rounds,
were a fighter who might be on top, he might
have thrown a lot of punches, they sort of coast around,
you know, try and take a bit of a break
and then accelerate the round after that. But while he
was taking a bit of a break in front of

(59:54):
George Foreman, you saw one of the best one twos.
That's always been the best combination in boxing. It's the
one two the left right down the middle. And that's
what he did. And that's my thing. He noticed when
he came back for a second stint boxing was just
to relax a bit more and throw punches down the
middle rather and then wait for his chance because as
he pointed out before, his knockout ratio is fantastic. I

(01:00:17):
think only only fighters like Archie More and maybe even
Sugar Ray Robinson, and from different divisions only they've got
a better knockout ratio than George Foreman. And of course
George waited until that till till Moore. It took a
little bit of a break the left right down the middle.
And look, I remember watching that fight. I never thought
for one moment that Michael Moore was going to get up.
I never thought. I mean, I saw Freddie Atlas, Teddy Atlas,

(01:00:40):
sorry in the corner, waving around for fanatically, you know,
at the side, telling him to get up, but he
was he was never going to get up because he
wasn't really a he wasn't really a full strength heavyweight.
He'd come up from I think more the cruiseweight division
or the junior heavyweight division and up against a real
hard banger, a man in that powerful punch in both hands.
Foreman had a punch in both hands. The problem is

(01:01:01):
you just didn't want to stand too close to it.
And I think a lot of people, unfortunately, rather than
remember George Foreman, they tend to get a little sidetracked
and start talking about talking about the Muhammad Ali fight,
where it was a funny situation because when he beat
when he beat Joe Fraser and Jamaica in two rounds,
that was a case of Joe Fraser thinking he was
further ahead of the pack than he actually was. That

(01:01:23):
he hearn just just talked about it before, and he
wasn't in the best shape he could have been. Joe
Fraser element that himself. Come nineteen seventy four, of course,
Muhammad Ali had already lost to Ken Norton, and he'd
already lost to Joe Fraser quite convincingly. But then when
Fraser and Norton both fought George Foreman, they were demolished
in two rounds each. So by the time he went
to fight Muhammad Ali, he wasn't in the best shape,

(01:01:45):
and he thought to himself, why should he be. He'd
already demolished two guys that had beaten Muhammad Ali. What
he didn't recognize that night, of course, was the heat
of Zaya and the.

Speaker 9 (01:01:54):
Fact that Uhammad Ali.

Speaker 17 (01:01:55):
We didn't realize at the time he had a great
shin and he took so much punishment against George Foreman
and that fight in seventy four so much punishment that
at the end of the day it sort of ruined
his life. And you look at George afterwards, the story
of a fighter, and we don't talk about this very
often about boxes after they finished fighting, becoming a financial success,
a tytoon, and I remember him coming out with this

(01:02:17):
tremendous reality show where his family got together, his son
was his manager, and they bought an India. I remember
they brought an IndyCar as well during the IndyCar series,
and of course he was worth so much money because
of George forman grill, and it was just just a
great story, not just the boxing career, which was successful,
but after the boxing career, and people that normally talk
about that sort of thing, and really you look at

(01:02:39):
other fighters compared to George Foreman, and it always makes
me laugh. Once a fighter has passed away, there's no
doubt that in certain magazines and certain websites now there'll
be people putting together our top ten greatest heavyweights of
all time. And I think there are a lot of
people out there. I'm in a top ten in no
particular order, but there are a lot of people out there. Now,
I would like to look towards the top ten and

(01:03:00):
just say, would George Foreman be in that top ten?
And I think there are quite a few people that
would say yes, would be maybe not for his furstont,
or maybe for his furstant or maybe for a second
Stent or maybe Boston's put together. I mean, would he
be in the top ten greatest heavyweights of all time?
I think it's it's a tremendous talking point. And now
that George has passed away, are really looking forward to

(01:03:20):
that debate? Had me?

Speaker 2 (01:03:21):
Yeah, Good on you, Derek. Good analysis from you as always, mate,
Thanks for taking the time to call in Dobo. Good
to Jet to you as well, mate. George Foreman, what
do you remember most?

Speaker 21 (01:03:31):
Yeah, just three quick points. I mean his story career
has been shared and you've covered a lot of ground
and Eddie Hearn was very fascinating. Just three quick points, mate,
Number one. We'll talk about his last fight. I think
it was ninety seven to ninety eight against Shannon Braggs,
the winner to take on the well the inconquerable Lennox Lewis,

(01:03:53):
and it was it was a stinker. Everybody thought Foreman
had won, and yet they gave you a Navis points
decision to Briggs and so Foreman picked up the microphone
and says, well, that's a shock. If you're going to
treat me like that, I'm going to retire again. And
that was the end of it. And what's what's fascinating, Poney,
was that just recently read an article about Lewis, who

(01:04:17):
was the undisputed king until finally use that came along.
All though, you know, just recently after quarter of a century,
we crowned our last undisputed heavyweight, and Lewis said that
there was one fighter he did not want to fight.

Speaker 4 (01:04:30):
Period.

Speaker 21 (01:04:30):
Of course, he beat Evander Holyfield, he beat Tyson k Tyson.
He didn't want to fight Foreman for two reasons. Number one,
if he beat the old man, he was an old man.

Speaker 9 (01:04:42):
And if he lost to the old man, he's an
old man.

Speaker 21 (01:04:47):
So Lewis didn't want to fight him and he's and
he said, oh, thank god, Briggs one. But it was
it was an absolute sham that points card was a shocker, mate.
And just finally George from Thrills to Spells to the Grill,
remember this, This current generation will remember him for the grill.

Speaker 2 (01:05:02):
Pony, yep, absolutely he was.

Speaker 21 (01:05:05):
He was a preacher, so he had the Evangelical Church
of the World on his side as well, so that
added to his icon status. Perhaps one of his most
unusual legalcies. I will leave you with this six sons
George Junior first, George Junior, second, George Junior, third, George Junior, fourth,
George Junior, fifth, George Junior six. And I had to
promised interview on once. I said, George, how do you

(01:05:27):
call your sons? He just calls them by their number six,
George sax.

Speaker 22 (01:05:32):
Dom.

Speaker 2 (01:05:32):
I love it, mate, love it. Great memories from you,
thanks for calling and outstanding stuff. We're talking George forman
ge grunt.

Speaker 22 (01:05:40):
Yeah, piney, Well, as you requested an old timer ringing
into boxing, you grant.

Speaker 2 (01:05:46):
I didn't look. I wasn't. I wasn't directing that comment
specifically at you, mate.

Speaker 22 (01:05:51):
No, no, there's nothing wrong with being called an old timer.
I mean you mean you've left lead a good enough
life to be still alized. That's right on the boxing. Yeah.
Unfortunately most of those major fights were on because they
had to fill in with American TV time on around
about sort of two o'clock in the afternoon on a weekday,

(01:06:14):
and so you know there'll always be who was some
people in the office and will be sneaking out, will
either go to the pub or or go go and
stand outside a TV shop and watch it on TV.
And now with George Foreman, that he'd have to be
one of the in the say the top three hair

(01:06:35):
hardest punches in my opinion and ever in boxing as
to whether he's number one, and you know that would
be debatable, but I mean it was such a nice
guy unless you are unless you are standing up against
them in the ring. And of course Muhammad Ali, you know,
he realized that he couldn't out box them in the

(01:06:58):
rumble in the jungle, so you know, did the old
rope it open? Basically George punched himself out and was
hardly stand up, so Muhammad knocked him out. So if
he hadn't punched them out, Yeah, it'd be interesting as
to how the fight would have gone.

Speaker 2 (01:07:16):
And Grant good to have an old timer on remembering
George Foreman. One more before we move, Patrick Hallo.

Speaker 23 (01:07:23):
Yeah, go Piney. How are you making very good?

Speaker 2 (01:07:24):
Patrick? Very good?

Speaker 7 (01:07:26):
Yeah? Good?

Speaker 23 (01:07:26):
Ring to tell you a bit of a quirky tale
about George Foreman. I was in seventy fourth the Rumble
in the Jungle. I was at menu we Wet Intermediate
School in Auckland for those of you outside Orchland area,
and school closed early for the day so could go
home and watch the fight. Brilliant I think, yeah, I
think we will let out about two or two thirty.
So it was a nice fine day from what I remember.

(01:07:49):
I went home, I closed the blinds and the lounge,
put on the little black and white TV and sat
in front of it and watched the fight. Because even then,
I love my boxing as a twelve year old say yeah,
and yeah, that's Derek Direk's always a hard act to
follow with his knowledge of boxing and football. And yeah,
he said, Arlie took it absolute pounding and then was
able to finish form and off. It was just, yeah,

(01:08:10):
it was just those are the days of boxing in
my opinion.

Speaker 2 (01:08:13):
Yeah. And like Eddie Hearn said, Patrick, you know, we
look back now, don't we, and we remember what has
come before and who knows, you know, Rather than say, hey,
will we ever reach those heights again, maybe we need
to give it a bit of distance, you know, around
what's happening now and look back. But yeah, it's hard
to imagine that we'll have the days of Ali and
Fraser and Foreman and others as well. Good to chat
to Patrick, It's a pleasure to hear from you. Twenty

(01:08:36):
three away from two James mcconey. Very shortly we can
tho bring you some breaking news and some sad news
that All Black Number six hundred and eighty eight Alex
Wiley grizz Wiley has sadly passed away forty matches for

(01:08:58):
New Zealand in total, including eleven test matches, and then
of course went on to coach the All Blacks through
an extremely success full era, including being part of the
World Cup winning team of nineteen eighty seven. He and
Brian Lahore and John Hart. The three of them together

(01:09:19):
guided the All Blacks in nineteen eighty seven and then
in nineteen eighty eight gris Wiley became head coach and
took the All Blacks through to the nineteen ninety one
Rugby World Cup the back end of the nineties. Just
a golden era of All Blacks rugby. But sad to
report that news today that All Black number six hundred
and eighty eight Alex Wiley, known almost universally as Grizz

(01:09:43):
has passed away at the age of eighty. More to
come this afternoon twenty two Away from Two News Talks
EB the.

Speaker 1 (01:09:50):
Big Issues on and off the Fields Call Oh eight
hundred eighty ten eighty Weekends Ford with Jason.

Speaker 4 (01:09:56):
Fine and GJ.

Speaker 1 (01:09:57):
Gunnerhomes New Zealand's first trusted home Miilder.

Speaker 2 (01:10:00):
News Talks ed BB nineteen Away from Two, Just our
final text on the life of George Foreman and the
Rumble and the Jungle. Steve says Piney in nineteen seventy
four for The Big Fight. I was ten years old.
My mum came home from work to find half my
class in our lounge. We were the first ones to
have a color TV. I got a litle bit of
trouble for that one. Got on your Steve, but your dad,
But well worth it. I'm sure well worth it. I

(01:10:22):
am sure just repeating the sad news we have just
learned of former All Black and All Black's head coach
Grizz Wiley. Alex Wiley has passed away over the overnight
at the age of eighty. Let's get you to our
regular Sunday catch up with James mcconey hello mate, good mate.

Speaker 9 (01:10:41):
That is really sad news. I really enjoyed Gris Wiley's
company the times that I met him, and yeah, my
thoughts and love go out to his family and friends.
And the last time I saw me as playing bowls
and it was live on. Actually he's representing his club
down in Canterbury. But you must, I mean, the thing

(01:11:02):
about Gres is he really was a pioneer in rugby.
Think about the rivalry between Canterbury and Auckland with John
Hart doing all the modern sort of fitness stuff with
Jim Blair as Wiley was really doing it grassroots style
with farmers on the hills and all that sort of thing,
but trying to make that Canterbury team as fit as

(01:11:23):
possible and as well drilled. And I stort of liking
it too, you know Rocky like he was doing the
Rocky version and Auckham was but the Ivan Drago, you know,
the Dolph langren Hape. This movie reference lands with you.

Speaker 2 (01:11:38):
It has landed with me, well said Maydland. Yeah almost fitting.
Actually that that last night the Crusaders, the evolution of
the old Canterbury teams, went to Eden Park and gave
them an absolute hiding the Blues. Did you watch that game?

Speaker 9 (01:11:52):
Yeah? I did, and look, it just shows that the
Blues they're just not the same beasts this year, are
they really? It's the game has sped up so they're
big crash bash burn ball does not really work in
the current climate of rugby what's happening. But there's there's
just a malaise through the Blues and I think whether
it's Caleb Clark with his pending court case over the

(01:12:15):
motorcycle incident, you know, fleeing the scene allegedly from the police.
Things like that I think can unsettle the team. I
think even Bostin Tout clearly has been trying to leave
New Zealand for the past six to eight months. And look,
there's just other things I think contribute with injuries too,

(01:12:37):
but they're just not the same team. And Canterbury or
the Crusaders, I should say, if there were power rankings
of the New Zealand teams on who's sort of in
the ascendant, it's the number one.

Speaker 2 (01:12:50):
Indeed, indeed they are and waking them up close last night, Yeah,
I think everybody should be a little bit worried about
what the Crusaders might do. And you know, you think
about last year and the injuries they had in the
players they didn't have, and even watching Will Jordan out
there last night, Man, what a player, what what a
player he is in could be?

Speaker 9 (01:13:09):
Yeah, Will Jordan has pretty much given any hope for
a young and sparring fullbacks. They just have to put
it on Pauds for the next five or six years
because he looks like that's his position, that's where he
wants to play. He's going to get that fifteenth Jersy
with Razor as coach. So that's that's what we can
see in the future for the All Blacks, but for

(01:13:29):
the Crusaders, even the likes of Shafee Hackey. I mean
we just saw Maka Springer score five tries for them
last week and he reminds me of Damian Penno, you know,
the French winger. And then you've got shafe Hackey comes
in and he looks, you know, a tall, rangey, long
striding winger. Therese are so many weapons and also great

(01:13:49):
to see David HAVELI look, he's just bossing the team around.
The Captaincy really agrees.

Speaker 2 (01:13:56):
With him one hundred percent. He was the other one
last night. I thought, man, he's just he's just a
force of nature there and just the glue in the
back line, you know some of who you know inside
him to camera and and you know Cayle Preston young,
you know, really young and super rugby terms. He's got
his mates Jordan and Rees out side. Then I have
rely's the glue in there. Just a while we're on
Super Rugby. I thought the Heglanders might beat the Reds.

(01:14:18):
But they didn't.

Speaker 9 (01:14:20):
No, they didn't. And this is the one thing that
we can say about the competition and the one swilling
point for Super Rugby this year is anybody can beat anybody.
It's as a really compelling competition, and I think the
style of play is great. I mean we didn't see
I thought we're going to see another Caleb Tangatao try,

(01:14:40):
but someone like him now with the game sped up
and the gaps opening up, we wouldn't have even been
mentioning his name a year ago. So I really feel
that the Highlanders are on the right track with what
they're doing. But I think they were probably they may
have overthought things by moving their probably their star up

(01:15:01):
to date. Tather Cover Nawai out to the wing. I'd say,
I mean he's co tapped and I'd say, you say
to him, what position do you want to play mate?
And he probably should have just stayed at twelve.

Speaker 2 (01:15:12):
I agree. Again, we're in passionate agreement today.

Speaker 21 (01:15:15):
Out.

Speaker 2 (01:15:15):
Well, let's see if we can find something to disagree on. Well,
if we stayed with Super Rugby, were the Chiefs lucky?
They were forty three seven ahead a half time and
only ended up winning, you know, much more narrowly than that.
I think the Miner Pacific I got with an eight.
Were the Chiefs lucky?

Speaker 9 (01:15:32):
Or no, what's you? We're all on using cliches on
this show time.

Speaker 2 (01:15:38):
I'm all for them, bring them on.

Speaker 9 (01:15:40):
Okay, it was a game of two hards go on
and by the way, that show has been revived. It's
on Sky Open Thursday nights at at pm. But the
thing is that the Chiefs should be worried by that
because they they were rumbled in the second half. The

(01:16:00):
Moana looked superb in their comeback and they should have
put that game away the Chiefs. But hey, it's interesting
sometimes when you see teams on attack, they look like
completely different beasts. But I would say that Damien McKenzie
has stepped it up a not this year. He's putting
his hand up for Razor. He wants that team jersey.
He's going to try and make Razor stop dreaming about

(01:16:23):
Richie m Wonner, which will be tough and it.

Speaker 2 (01:16:25):
Will be yeah, because those dreams are frequent and ongoing.
I'm sure in the mind of Scott Robertson, Hey cliches,
our year is a cliche. Our year, back to back
wins over the Sea Eagles and the Roosters for the Warriors,
our year, it does.

Speaker 9 (01:16:41):
Feel like our year. Now I didn't think it was
our year, but this does seem Is it a mirage
because it could be our year? But really it's probably
a massive transitional, turning point year for the Warriors because
I think on your show, even more than a year ago,
I was talking about Ali Lataua, just hoping that he

(01:17:03):
was going to be the X factor in the back line,
and it's taken him awhile to develop. You know, it's
frustrating when you're a Warriors fan watching teenagers like Bradman
Best or whoever else. Bronson Terry were his on drugs,
but you know other teenagers Lucky Galvin succeed for other
clubs and you're going, we've got one too, And he's
getting into his early twenties. Now, when is he ready? Well,

(01:17:25):
Aniela La Tawer is ready as a genuine X Factor center.
So that's great news. And you know we need a
couple of superstars because that's what the game requires if
you look at those big games. But you've got to
say Webby Webster is one of the best organizers and
he's got them so well drilled that there's a lot

(01:17:47):
to like about the Wars and the way they go
about their business.

Speaker 2 (01:17:49):
Absolutely, roll on the Tigers a week today over in Australia.
A couple of other matters. I want to get your
thoughts on Sam Ruth. Where had Nick Willis and Sam's
dad Ben Ruth on the show yesterday. This is quite
incredible what this very young kid is doing.

Speaker 9 (01:18:05):
This is massive. You know, his races go viral. Everybody
knows his name Sam Ruth around in the athletics world,
just in social media. But what it's done as well
is I feel like athletics is on the rise. There's
a renaissance in New Zealand athletics. You can see even
with Hamish to Zoe Hobbes, all the people who are

(01:18:26):
sort of starting to excel in the events other than
just the throwing. And I mean, let's be honest, shot
put tept this on the map. But it's great to
see what's happening now in nick Willison as well, of course,
but if you look at athletics, what the biggest resurgent
is also with run clubs. I mean, if you're not

(01:18:46):
on Tinder, you're going to a run club, right. It's
a way to meet people and it's bigger now as
a social sport then I don't know, you think about
the things that we've played piny seven of side soccer
touch you know, run clubs are massive, and I think
athletics if you got someone like Sam Ruth as your
pin up boy and the kids wanting to normally look

(01:19:07):
up like you and I locked up to John Walker,
well the kids are looking up to someone who's their
own age, which is amazing.

Speaker 2 (01:19:13):
Absolutely, I saw you there the other night. You were
there watching him do that. I become the youngest ever
sub formulut minor. Did I see your impressive form there
as well? Or did Was I mistaken?

Speaker 9 (01:19:26):
And that was me there?

Speaker 16 (01:19:27):
Yes?

Speaker 9 (01:19:27):
I was blocking out a bit of the floodlight.

Speaker 2 (01:19:29):
Not at all, not at all.

Speaker 9 (01:19:31):
We had our youth reporters working for Crago as Wild
and they did a sterling job Jewel and Sofia. Because
we thought, well it's a youth story and it's big,
so can we can we talk to our youth affairs desk.
We didn't have one, so we created one and they
did a great job for Crago as well.

Speaker 2 (01:19:46):
Fantastic. Just before you go, will I see you at
Eden Park tomorrow night for the All Whites final push
to the World Cup Next year?

Speaker 9 (01:19:54):
You will piney the atmosphere won't be as good as
two thousand and nine at the Canton, which still remains
probably the best atmosphere of any New Zealand sporting event
I've been at.

Speaker 2 (01:20:03):
For you as well, I'm so excited I turned my
mic off instead of on. Yes is the answer? Yes
is the answer?

Speaker 9 (01:20:11):
Well, that's the thing, and the one thing that it
cites me as well as a fan is this is
the first time since I was a kid, since ninety
eighty one eighty two, but I can actually name the
All Whites team, the starting lineup. I sort of had
a stab at it before they arrived. They got in't
camped and I pretty much got all the outfielders. I
just didn't get Max Croku. I thought that maybe they

(01:20:33):
might have given pulse in the nod but hey, when
we had an all whites team that you could nail
down an eleven, this is a great side. I know,
I'm hoping that they'd get through, but I think if
they can, they might be able to sneak out of
the group in the World Cup.

Speaker 2 (01:20:48):
I think that is absolutely achievable for them. And you're
right about the team. Darren basically seems to have landed
on his eleven. Going to chat to him next hour,
I actually find out if there have been any injuries.
But if there weren't any players who you know, didn't
come through the other night, I think it'll be the
same eleven tomorrow night, and that would probably be fair enough.
They say, you don't change your winning team, and I

(01:21:09):
don't think he will if everybody's at his disposal. And
you're so right, James. You know, next year at the
World Cup, let's say let's say they get there, you know,
an expanded competition. This is the kind of team that
could get out of a group well.

Speaker 9 (01:21:20):
I hope so, but I mean you and I will
be top on tailing. I guess when we're there, so
you know, well.

Speaker 2 (01:21:27):
I'll be hearing from New Caledonia then, and now.

Speaker 9 (01:21:32):
Come on, I'm looking forth to it.

Speaker 2 (01:21:36):
Al rval Anyway, let's see what happens tomorrow night and
then we can work out accommodation arrangements and that sort
of thing. Will that be okay?

Speaker 9 (01:21:44):
Fair enough? Yeah, but I think that's on the cards definitely,
So get used to it.

Speaker 2 (01:21:48):
All right, Thank you, James, I appreciate it. I will
start to get my head around that particular concept in
the next little while. James mcconey huge part of our Sundays.
Catch him on the Altimative Commentary Collective Crowd goes Wild
across your social media platforms as well. Seven to two
News talks.

Speaker 1 (01:22:06):
Down the Hail Mary's and the Epic Fails Weekend Sport
with Jason Vime News Talk ZENB four to.

Speaker 2 (01:22:14):
Two on News Talk NB after two o'clock on Weekend Sport,
We're going to pay tribute to Alex Wiley Gris Wiley,
who has passed away in the last twenty four hours.
All Black number six eighty eight eleven Tests and forty
matches for the All Blacks and then one of their
most successful head coaches at the back end of the
eighties taking the All Black cell or involved in the
coaching group anyway at the nineteen eighty seven and then

(01:22:35):
the nineteen ninety nine and ninety one Rugby World Cups,
passing away overnight at the age of eighty. John macbeth,
legendary rugby commentator, going to pay tribute to Alex Wiley
for us after two o'clock and how does a ground
host three different sports and one weekend?

Speaker 4 (01:22:51):
We'll find out the only place for the big names,
the big issues, the big controversies and the big conversations.

Speaker 1 (01:23:02):
It's all on Weekend Sport with Jason Vime on your
Hoe of Sport News Talks.

Speaker 2 (01:23:08):
It'd be seven past two. Welcome in. This is Weekend
Sport until three. I'm Jason Pine and McDonald's show producer.
Chris Wiley MBE has passed away Sad News in the
last few hours. We're going to pay tribute to Chris
Wiley shortly with John macbeth. Blair Christiansen, turf manager at

(01:23:30):
Eden Park. How do you get your grass ready for cricket?
Then rugby, then football in the space of eighty hours.
Going to find out we're inside the All Whites camp
and our top female rally driver, Emma Gilmore is also
on the show with us this hour. But as we
always do it around about this time, seven past two
is the time let's catch you up on some of
the stuff you might have missed over the last little while.

(01:23:50):
We call it in case you missed it, covering off
a whole bunch of things that might perhaps not have
entered your consciousness yet. In the Nral, the Sharks have
dominated the rabbit o's on the back of some enterprising play.

Speaker 13 (01:24:06):
Hero begins rother Lalla, sweets him, leaves the color.

Speaker 7 (01:24:10):
Of keepy Kennedy is there?

Speaker 18 (01:24:12):
Who I need him?

Speaker 2 (01:24:15):
Want to try putting late tests.

Speaker 7 (01:24:18):
Can't get the kail Hero. It begin with Walla Tello.

Speaker 2 (01:24:22):
And the Sharks go past to twenty seven to twelve,
the final score the Tigers, meantime going to from two.
Well the lover was.

Speaker 13 (01:24:30):
Back Coras Out goes himself do it scares the day clipsic.

Speaker 2 (01:24:36):
Try happy chorus.

Speaker 13 (01:24:38):
Out has taken over this contest and the Tigers knocking
on the door of a second straight.

Speaker 2 (01:24:45):
Pictory which they achieved thirty eighteen over the Dolphins and
the Titans, extending the Knight's Gold Coast drought with a
twenty six to six win. I bought underviz ud short thing.

Speaker 4 (01:24:56):
He's after the Feto taxa.

Speaker 13 (01:24:58):
For the titles, Dave, the Theata, the Blue Hell hout
of the scratch.

Speaker 2 (01:25:07):
The Knights haven't won on the Gold Coast now for
over a decade to I League Football. Another tough loss
for the Phoenix woman this week in.

Speaker 19 (01:25:15):
The competition and they cut a second well out. Couldn't
keep that one out. This is a lovely strike from Gomez.
Is it on the edge of the area and the
Mariners have another sucker punch for the Phoenix.

Speaker 2 (01:25:28):
Tunil to the Central Coast Mariners. The Phoenix's playoff chance
is now slipping away and a super rugbat. The Reids
continuing their good form with a win over the Highlanders.

Speaker 24 (01:25:37):
It runs a crossfield, having a go unto the halfway
found to get back inside the Harry Wilson chip and chase.

Speaker 2 (01:25:43):
Now the scramble's on. Ascot back there and the Reds.

Speaker 24 (01:25:46):
Roll over the top and getting the ball half a
meter short.

Speaker 13 (01:25:50):
So the Carla water on the gaving look for a
try and I'll have another go and they get the try.

Speaker 2 (01:25:55):
Try is scored and an upset. When in Sydney as
the Warriors, Hayes beat the brumby.

Speaker 20 (01:25:59):
So I said wife for Georgy said Georgianson puts it
in behind Toston toes it the head come it through it.

Speaker 2 (01:26:11):
He's cut the tried trying to get stuff from you.

Speaker 1 (01:26:17):
Analyzing every view from every angle in the Sporting World
Weekend Sport with Jason five Call.

Speaker 2 (01:26:25):
News Talks MB ten past two. As we've been reporting
in the last half hour or so, former All Black
and All Black's head coach Gris Wiley has passed away
at the age of eighty.

Speaker 4 (01:26:37):
Now cans even get this.

Speaker 13 (01:26:39):
The Carlin's all up at the ball comes this way
and that, But I said, Burgers can get there.

Speaker 2 (01:26:43):
Sinceidn't you kiss Alex Wade.

Speaker 18 (01:26:53):
Well, a Caunterbree captain.

Speaker 1 (01:26:56):
Up there at the precise moment to check what was
a precision pass.

Speaker 2 (01:27:01):
Alex Wiley played forty times for the All Blacks, including
eleven Test matches, over two hundred phearances for Canterbury, including
more than a century of games as captain. He was
part of the side that won the Randfurlly Shield in
nineteen sixty nine and nineteen seventy two, and captained his
province to wins over England, Scotland and Ireland on their
tours to New Zealand. He moved into coaching the Red

(01:27:22):
and Blacks in nineteen eighty two and led Canterbury to
the rand Philly Shield that year, successfully defending New Zealand
rugby's most prestigious prize for a record equalling at that
time three years, as well as the NPC title in
nineteen eighty three, and went over the touring British and
Irish Lions that same year, stepping up to the All Blacks.
Griswiley was an assistant to Sir Brian Lahore for New

(01:27:45):
Zealand's nineteen eighty seven Rugby World Cup victory and succeeded
him as head coach one year later. Alex Whiley coached
the All Blacks for sixty four matches fifty eight wins,
five losses and a draw between nineteen eighty eight and
nineteen ninety one, a success rate of ninety one percent.
Of those matches, twenty nine were tests, twenty five wins,

(01:28:05):
three lane and a drawer a win percentage in test
matches of eighty six point two percent. Of all the
coaches to lead the All Blacks on more than ten occasions,
only Fred Allen and Sir Steve Hanson boast a greater
winning percentage than Griswiley. He also led Argentina to their
first World Cup quarterfinal in nineteen ninety nine and returned

(01:28:27):
home to coach Marlborough and North Canterbury and away from rugby,
gris Wiley also represented Canterbury in lawn bowls during his
later years. Griswiley was eighty. Let's bring in one of
our foremost rugby commentators, John macbeth. John, thanks for joining
us at short notice. Let's start with gris Wiley the player.
What do you remember about gris Wiley as a player.

Speaker 11 (01:28:50):
As a player, I always thought to myself, I'm pleased
I'm not playing against them. You know, he was so
hard and there are so many stories about him, Jason,
about the fact that he was physical, he didn't take
a backward step. There's many an inside back in New
zeal All who were playing their early games and representative
player and they came up against Alex White, Alec Whitley,

(01:29:12):
and they just knew that they'd come off remembering that
for all the wrong reasons. He was a tough player.
He was really rugged of that Canterbury mold. He played
in the Canterbury teams which were renowned for being hard
forward players. The backs got the ball occasionally. So it
always surprised many people when he became a coach that

(01:29:35):
he encouraged and developed such wonderful back play within the
Canterbury team.

Speaker 2 (01:29:41):
When he was a player and then went on to
become a coach. You talked about as coaching philosophy, John,
But but when he became a coach, was did that
seem to you like a like a natural progression? Did
he always seem like he would go into coaching.

Speaker 11 (01:29:55):
I was always surprised about that, because you know, he
was busy man on the farm and things, and they'd
played two hundred plus games for Canterbury. He'd spent so
much time with Rugg and he took a bit of
time out. But then he immediately got back well, I
soon got back into his Glenmark club and then his
immediate success I think just inspired him to go a

(01:30:18):
bit further, and goodness me, what a great start he
had to his coaching career, you know, winning the ram
Thury Shield then Cannoby held it for a record equating
number of defenses. So alt Wiley from rough hard player
who only made a dozen I think appearances for the
All Blacks amidst great opposition from other high quality players

(01:30:41):
to step up and become a top quality a coach
really did catch some people by surprise.

Speaker 2 (01:30:47):
But Howby did such a good job of it, absolutely
and then onto the All Blacks first as Sir Brian
Lawhaw's assistant in eighty seven. But I don't know, John,
You've watched a lot of All Blacks rugby, but the
All Black sides under grows Wiley in nineteen eight, nineteen
eighty nine, I can't remember, certainly in my lifetime a
more exciting brand and of rugby at that time. How

(01:31:08):
do you assess Gross as an All Blacks head coach.

Speaker 11 (01:31:11):
Well, when he got off the out of the eighty
seven Rugby World Cup team when he was helping to
coach that and became the sole coach or not sold,
but certainly the head coach, he instigated a really different
regime for the players. And I you know, several of
us older people were away on the tour to Australia,

(01:31:34):
for example in nineteen eighty eight when they went so well,
they just drew one match against Australia, but they won
everything else under Whiley and they had some interesting training sessions,
you know, and it's been well documented that when the
players didn't play well, he worked on pretty hard. But
then he also bought in some unusual aspects of training,

(01:31:57):
such as rud o boys, we're going to have a
bnare And that was frowned upon by a lot within
the New Zealand Rugby Union and within the rugby fraternity,
but it had been a method that it worked for
him for Canterbury, and I don't think it was a
failure with the orbacks either. Some players weren't used to
it and some said what the hell's going on, but
eventually they would all say, you know, Gris had a

(01:32:19):
different method and on reflection it worked.

Speaker 2 (01:32:22):
What was his relationship like with the media, Well, I
had no hussles with them, you know.

Speaker 11 (01:32:29):
I think there's because he was gruff and he was
not the most eloquent, eloquent of people. He was one
of those people who just wanted to get in and
do the job and he knew he had a commitment
on obligation to the media to promote rugby and to
let people know what was going on, but he never
really felt comfortable with it, and there were many examples

(01:32:52):
of him looking to be a bit flustered up there
and not really wanting to talk any you know, to
any great extent. But getting him one on one was
a delight, you know, as a radio reporter back the time,
I had learned so much about what he was trying
to achieve, it about rugby in general, from just having
a sit down with him and occasionally that i'mvolved to

(01:33:15):
be it, and I found that I knew where he
was coming from with his reluctance to talk to the
media much. But it was mainly because he just felt
a but I don't think I'm inadequate, so we'd but
he just felt uncomfortable with it.

Speaker 16 (01:33:31):
He wanted to.

Speaker 11 (01:33:31):
He was a good coach, very good coach. The media
side of it wasn't quite so comfortable for him.

Speaker 2 (01:33:37):
And just to finish another of your great love's lawn bowls,
so he went into that as well. Was he a
handy lawn bowler?

Speaker 23 (01:33:44):
Oh.

Speaker 11 (01:33:45):
I played with him in the National championships down in
Alexandra four or five years ago with him and his
team from North Canterbury. He loved his bowls and I
did an interview with him about it and that he said,
you know, I just can't believe I never saw how
exciting and how invigorating bowls could be. Wish I'd started

(01:34:07):
playing it a hell of a lot earlier. He appeared
on the initial television series of Bowls three to five
with his partner Jenny Anderson and who herself a very
good bowler, and some of the guys from the wood
End Club in North Canterbury and Grizz. There'll be so
many bowlers out there now just nodding their heads and
say we played against him. He came to our tournament

(01:34:28):
up north, he came to our tournament down south. He
loved his bowls. And the bowling greens will be a
lot quieter and a lot more somble without Grizz around.

Speaker 2 (01:34:37):
John, Thanks for joining us to pay tribute to griz Waly.
I know you've got some balls to play or to oversea,
so let you get back to that. But thanks for
taking the time this afternoon.

Speaker 11 (01:34:45):
Just one moment, Jason say Am I'm still there. Just
on Saturday or so yesterday Gris sat there with his
family and they watched the Crusaders under twenty team win
their match and his grandson cind McCloud was playing number
eight for Canterbury so with a Crusaders so he would
have had a smile on his face towards the end.

Speaker 2 (01:35:04):
Brilliant stuff, John, Thank you joining us in what a
way to finish the chat. Really appreciate you taking the time.
John McBeth paying tribute to Gris Wiley, who passed away
overnight at the age of eighty two. Nineteen New stalk
shead beat Weak is.

Speaker 7 (01:35:19):
Well.

Speaker 2 (01:35:19):
In the space of four nights, Eden Park is hosting
three different elite sports. On Friday, a T twenty cricket
doublehead of the White Ferans and the Black Apps faced
Australia and Pakistan respectively. Last night Super Rugby Blues v. Crusaders,
and then tomorrow night the FIFA World Cup qualifier the
All Whites up against New Caledonia. How challenging is that

(01:35:40):
to achieve for the turf team. Let's find out. Eden
Park turf manager Blair Christiansen is with us. Blair, is
this the first time, you've had three different sports in
four days.

Speaker 12 (01:35:52):
Yep, it sure as jas, thanks for having me on. Yeah,
pretty challenging on paper. And you know, while we've done
all three codes pretty regularly here at the stadium, certainly
not three.

Speaker 9 (01:36:05):
And four days.

Speaker 2 (01:36:06):
What are the particular challenges that it presents to you
having such short turnarounds?

Speaker 12 (01:36:12):
Just just ensuring we get it right. We have some
pretty high expectations and so do the hires, and we
just want to make sure that, you know, we can
get the outcomes that you know, we've sort of done
repeatedly with you know, pretty reasonable lead times, but this
time we're sort of snapping from one to the next
to the next, and they're all pretty different.

Speaker 2 (01:36:31):
I'll tell you that I can imagine. Yeah, you know,
three different codes in terms of grass length, for a start,
was the grass shorter for the rugby last night than
it ordinarily would be because there had been cricket there
the previous night?

Speaker 12 (01:36:45):
Yeah, there was about half the height. So for you know,
a small ball code like cricket, we want that let
the ball running across the outfield pretty quickly, and so
we're down at say thirteen millimeter cutting heights for the cricket,
and then you know, at the moment, with the nutritional
program that we're running, we can sort of get about
five plus mills of growth today. So last night for

(01:37:07):
the Crusader's Blues we're up at about eighteen and then
hopefully on Monday night will be sort of you know,
in the mid twenties. And so for rugby mid season
and getting in towards autumn and say winter, we can
be up as high as thirty two milk, but last
night they were at about seventeen.

Speaker 2 (01:37:25):
So you can get natural grass growth that quickly.

Speaker 12 (01:37:28):
Yep, yeah, absolutely. I mean the programs that we run
with nutrition sort of are built around sort of creating
some resilience but also growth and recovery. So you know,
five mils isn't too much to ask in twenty four hours.

Speaker 2 (01:37:45):
Well, they often say, you know, it's like watching grass grow.
For you, it probably is, you know, something you've probably
enjoyed doing.

Speaker 12 (01:37:51):
Well, I'll tell you what I'm doing right now is
actually watching you know, grass grow and paint dry. So
not everyone gets to do that.

Speaker 2 (01:37:59):
Amazing. If it had been in a different order, Blair,
if it had been rugby, cricket, football, could you still
have done.

Speaker 12 (01:38:07):
A little bit more challenging just with the cricket element.
So you know, a good international cricket pitch takes us
around two weeks to prepare. And so while we do
have the portable pitch technology and you know, we bring
pitches in and out of the stadium, I prefer for
internationals to prepare them, you know, and sit you in
the ground and then you know, we can sort of
hope to have you know, a really high quality surface

(01:38:30):
bringing them in let's say after a winter code as such,
and then only having one day drop them in. I
just don't have that same confidence that we can get
the quality that you know, everyone would expect. So in
terms of the order, I think it was pretty good.
I mean, if it was an even better order, it
was probably if we'd had the football and second that

(01:38:52):
was been ideal. But fields pulled up really well after
last night souper rugby and it's looking pretty sharp.

Speaker 2 (01:38:59):
Yeah, And so you talked about watching some paint dry.
Clearly the ground, Mike, we don't. You don't need too
many for cricket, do you about for rugby and football?
You know, quite different ground markings. Is it possible like
tomorrow night at the football. Will we still see some
faint rugby markings?

Speaker 9 (01:39:16):
I hope not.

Speaker 12 (01:39:17):
We were out last night until after midnight, washing those
rugby sidelines and twenty two and you know every other
five and fifteen off and you know that field was
actually only in for around a total of nine hours,
so sort of put it in pretty late and then
washed it off pretty quick.

Speaker 9 (01:39:36):
So plan is not to.

Speaker 12 (01:39:39):
See any sort of resemblance of that game from last night.

Speaker 2 (01:39:43):
Outstanding. How many of your team are involved in this?
How bigs you work force?

Speaker 9 (01:39:46):
The whole team?

Speaker 12 (01:39:48):
You know, we've got seven guys on the ground and
you know everyone's been here. I haven't been home for
three days now, and that's the same as everybody else.
And we're sort of, you know, fully into it. We
hadn't done it before and want to make sure that
we sort of do everything we can to make sure
it's a success.

Speaker 2 (01:40:05):
So are you sleeping at the ground.

Speaker 12 (01:40:08):
Well, yeah, without being elon musk like, yep, I just
slept on my floor in my office for the last
two nights. And you know, we've had some pretty late finishes.
I think it was after moving the cricket pitch out
on Friday night, after the t twenties. That was close
to four am last night. By the time you sort
of do a bit of admin after all of it

(01:40:29):
on the groundwork, it's probably two and then back pretty early.
So to sort of make it a bit more efficient
than I'll just stay the night outstanding FIFA.

Speaker 2 (01:40:39):
That's a FIFA event tomorrow night, and they have a
reputation for wanting things to be just so have I
given you any specific requirements for tomorrow night?

Speaker 9 (01:40:50):
Oh?

Speaker 12 (01:40:50):
Yeah, everything FIFA is extremely precise and specific.

Speaker 9 (01:40:54):
Yep.

Speaker 12 (01:40:55):
So bull speed, surface firmness, precision with regard to line
marking has to be one hundred percent accurate. You know,
they've got their own hand and you know we're doing this.
Woman's fee for World Cup in twenty three. Was sort
of pretty familiar with that, so we know it to expect.
But I think it could be you know, a little

(01:41:16):
bit daunting for for some that may not have done
it before. So luckily we're well experienced in that space.

Speaker 2 (01:41:23):
And obviously you look after the turf, but there's the
advertising signage as well. How much does it help and
turn around as short as this to have electronic ground
signage rather than have to lug out you know, the
big bits of advertising hoardings they would have had to.

Speaker 12 (01:41:37):
Use to Yeah, no, it's critical to sort of having
this ability to slip from code to code. You know,
the virtual advertising now that you see on the field
is imperative, and you know, it just makes for such
a high, high quality surface, whereas previously, you know, there
were painted logos that were being removed, there was sort
of shadowing, masking. You know, just using technology now is

(01:42:02):
just you know, it's magnificent.

Speaker 6 (01:42:03):
I love it.

Speaker 2 (01:42:04):
Good stuff. Well, my tremendous what you've done up till now.
And I can just hear in your voice the confidence
you have that you'll execute tomorrow night as well. Could
you have done three and three days as the football
was tonight, could you have done it?

Speaker 12 (01:42:17):
Well, I'm looking at it now and we're probably ninety
percent through the line marks now and we're just sort
of been chipping away at today. I actually think we
could have done that with the singular game. Yeah, we
could have done that.

Speaker 2 (01:42:34):
Wonderful. And what's next? I think the Blues have got
to buy, haven't they? So no rugby for a lot?
Have you got a bit of a break.

Speaker 12 (01:42:39):
There's an away game for them or is that to
buy here? It might be next week to buy and
then they're back on the early April. We've still got
a bit of cricket going on the outer oval, so
you know, just mixing a match in between the two
venues and we'll get a rest in June and July
if it's of course, if the Blues don't make the finals,
which are sure on paper they probably still can, so

(01:43:02):
let's hope they do.

Speaker 9 (01:43:03):
Good man.

Speaker 2 (01:43:03):
But well, I've often heard that the most important man
in the room is the calmest man in the room,
and that sounds like you at the moment, my friends.
So thanks for taking our call. Hope you sleep okay tonight?
Are you going home tonight? Are you going to camp
in the office again?

Speaker 12 (01:43:15):
I did say we shouldn't go home until the final
whistle tomorrow night. I think we have to see people
at home that are saying what are you doing?

Speaker 9 (01:43:22):
Have you moved out?

Speaker 12 (01:43:23):
So now head home.

Speaker 2 (01:43:25):
Tonight, lovable great to jet mate, Thanks for taking the.

Speaker 12 (01:43:27):
Call, brilliant Okay, thanks Jase, all the.

Speaker 2 (01:43:30):
Best, mate, Cheers Blair Christens and they're tef manager at
Eden Park. What a what a top bloke and what
a very very organized man. He must be for cricket,
followed by rugby, followed by football tremendous to twenty seven.
Speaking of football, we're inside the All Whites camp with
Vice Captain Libby Cacacci.

Speaker 1 (01:43:46):
After this one crutch Hold Engage Weekend Sports with Jason
Tame and GJ gunder Homes, New.

Speaker 4 (01:43:54):
Zealand's first trusted home Milder News talk to Baby.

Speaker 24 (01:43:59):
New Zealand's All Whites ninety minutes from the Speaker World
Camp next year. Seven heaven tonight in Wellington, a hand
trick from their skipmer, their talisman, their main man, Chris Wood, goals.

Speaker 2 (01:44:17):
For seeing for payin for barbarusis and an own goal
on the mix as well. Here seven zero winners the
All Whites over fig on Friday night in Wellington that
has fed them into the Oceania World Cup qualifying final
tomorrow night at Eden Park seven o'clock kickoff. They will
take on New Caledonia for direct entry into next year's
expanded forty eight team FIFA World Cup. Let's bring in

(01:44:39):
All Whites Vice Captain Libby Cacacci. Let's start with Friday, Libby,
how happy were you and the rest of the players
with the way you played on Friday Night.

Speaker 9 (01:44:47):
It was a great performance.

Speaker 5 (01:44:50):
Zero buzz to the team right now. I'm off the
back of that and I think we put on a great,
great show for Wellington and the fans.

Speaker 2 (01:45:00):
Was it in any way challenging when you came into
camp not to think about the Monday game before you
played the Friday game, just to focus first on Fiji
and not think too far ahead.

Speaker 8 (01:45:12):
For sure.

Speaker 5 (01:45:12):
You know it's been it's been a long time obviously
since we've qualified and for the work up, and everyone's
obviously one to do it as soon as they can,
but you know they and then the stuff did really
well with us, you know, making sure that we're focused
on the game in hand, and we did that so
now we can really.

Speaker 8 (01:45:29):
Focus on on to my nice game.

Speaker 2 (01:45:31):
Do you think this White squad is starting to develop
its unique style? It's it's great to watch everybody enjoyed
Friday Night looks enjoyable to play in. Do you think
you're coming up with a with an all whites way
for the modern day game at the moment?

Speaker 5 (01:45:47):
Yeah, for sure, there's been a definite development since since
the last few few cycles, that's for sure. You know,
you can see with a lot of boys playing at
you know, such a high high level club wise, they
really produce it. With the national team, you can you
can see that and someone especially in the last game

(01:46:08):
some of the goals we scored. There was a real
game goal that we scored I think for the for
Costers goal, and yeah, hopefully we can keep producing that,
especially to my night.

Speaker 2 (01:46:19):
How good has it been having separate saying back in
the national side in recent games.

Speaker 5 (01:46:25):
Yeah, he's He's one player that I play on the
club level. Yeah, he just shows you know, those glimpses
of talent and that that he's always had. And you know,
I'm hoping he can stay an injury free and you know,
keep helping us like he's been doing.

Speaker 2 (01:46:42):
And Chris what of course, just seems to score goals
for fun these days. How would you describe his influence
though on the on the All Whites from a player's
perspective inside the playing group, Yeah, I wish I.

Speaker 5 (01:46:55):
Could have a bit of taste of that he's been
doing for Cloth and country. I'm glad, you know, he's
just he's producing that also for the national team. And
you saw what he was doing it, you know when
he got subbed off. He went to go to go
sign some autographs, and you know, it just just shows
what kind of person he is. You know, he puts

(01:47:15):
obviously the team before himself, and you know that's why
he's a captain, That's why he's you know, the the
leading voice for the for the team. And you know,
we're just trying to help him. Sit him up and
score as many goals as you can and.

Speaker 2 (01:47:29):
Obviously increase leadership responsibility for you as well as vice
captain of the side. Is that something that you that
you relish, you embrace a greater official leadership role in
the all Lies.

Speaker 6 (01:47:39):
Yeah, for sure.

Speaker 5 (01:47:40):
You know it's a mess of achievement for myself and
you know, I'm just trying to trying to help, you know,
take the load off off Woods here. But you know,
he's he's obviously got a lot of things to do,
and you know we see every everyone in the team
as leaders. But I'm just I'm just happy I can
kind of help the team in that regret.

Speaker 2 (01:48:00):
How different a threat do you think New Caledonia will
post here tomorrow night compared to Fiji on Friday.

Speaker 5 (01:48:06):
Yeah, most of the boys actually watched the game because
they were played before us, and you know it's a
team that we haven't faced obviously with they went at
the Nation's Cups. It will be it will be a good, good,
new kind of test that we've that we haven't really
faced before, you know, the physical side, and they've got
they've got some players that can hurt us. I've seen
all sort of recruited also Ceteria, so you know, you

(01:48:29):
know they've got definitely some some some fighter. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:48:33):
I was going to ask you about about coming up
against against Josh Anteria. I didn't get on the other night,
but I think I think the last time he played
at Eden Park he might have scored a goal for
the Phoenix. So I'm sure he's relishing the opportunity to
get on, just as you'll be looking forward to the
chance to stop him from doing so.

Speaker 5 (01:48:48):
I guess, yeah, for sure, Josh, he's a good line.
But you know, once once we crossed that white line,
you know we've we'll do anything to qualify. But yeah,
hopefully he doesn't do what he did last time he
was here at Eden Park and hopefully we keep that
keep that score or not.

Speaker 2 (01:49:05):
Conceived at the end, you would have been I think
nine years old, when the All Whites last went to
a World Cup in twenty teen. Do you remember watching
any of those games?

Speaker 9 (01:49:14):
Yeah?

Speaker 5 (01:49:14):
Actually it was known years old.

Speaker 22 (01:49:16):
I do.

Speaker 5 (01:49:16):
I do remember that because I was at the time.

Speaker 9 (01:49:19):
I was wet back.

Speaker 5 (01:49:20):
I was there at West Back Stadium. I was there
with my family up in the lounge and I remember
that I was all dressed up and white. Yeah, that
was a great mem and hopefully we can do I
can experience that feeling again tomorrow night.

Speaker 4 (01:49:37):
Any nerves, obviously, it's have nerves, but.

Speaker 5 (01:49:45):
I think I'm quite palm as a person, so I
think I'm more excited than nervous.

Speaker 2 (01:49:51):
Well, I think everybody who turns up there tomorrow it
will be quite excited and maybe a bit nervous as well.
All the best mate, can't wait to be there to
see you make the final push towards the World Cup
next year. Thanks for the chat, cheers, it was a
pleasant thank you, No, thank you. Letby Cacacci, vice captain
of the side, also standing by on whole as head
coach Darren Baisley base. Thanks for taking the call. Has
everyone come through Friday night? Okay, Yeah, you've got a

(01:50:13):
full squad to choose from for tomorrow.

Speaker 6 (01:50:16):
Yeah, we've Yeah, we've got a full squad. Everyone's gone
into the recoveries. You know, Eli's got a little shoulder
that we're monitoring at the moment that you know, from
that fall that he had on the on the pits,
So he's probably the one that's we're just sort of
monitoring at the moment. But yeah, everybody else straight into
recovery and we're in a good place.

Speaker 2 (01:50:34):
They say you shouldn't change your winning side. Will it
likely be largely the same eleven that starts tomorrow night?

Speaker 6 (01:50:42):
Oh, we we went obviouslyas into the recovery yesterday and
then we'll train this afternoon and make some decisions at
training and just after training around seeing how everybody is,
you know, post the game and post the recovery.

Speaker 2 (01:50:54):
How different a threat do you perceive New Caledonia to
be to you compared to Fiji the other night.

Speaker 6 (01:51:01):
Yeah, I think they're slightly different. You know, they've got
some really creative players, some flair, you know, they've got
some threats. They're going to probably be a counter attack
threat as well. So yeah, they are similar, but got
some slight variances in.

Speaker 2 (01:51:16):
As far as the way you'll approach the game, Bays.
You know the early goal the other night was was crucial.
You're looking to get on the front foot nice and
early against New Caledonia as well.

Speaker 6 (01:51:25):
Yeah, definitely. You know we always every game we play,
try and try and start strong, get on the front foot,
be positive and play our game.

Speaker 2 (01:51:33):
Yeah, how are your nerves and emotions today?

Speaker 6 (01:51:36):
I'm enjoying it. You know, I've got full confidence in
the boys, so I'm very lucky with what we have disposal,
and you know, I just get to sit and watch
them play, so I'm in a great place.

Speaker 2 (01:51:46):
And I must admit you always look very calm on
the sideline. Is that just a poker face or are
you actually pretty calm?

Speaker 6 (01:51:55):
Now? Pretty calm makes say we keep our emotions pretty
pretty level. It's just a pleasure working with these lads.
And you know, when we get to sit and watch
them play that type of football, it's you know, most
of the time me and TONI are just sitting watching
and enjoying it. That's great stuff.

Speaker 2 (01:52:10):
Well, all the best for the rest of their preparations.
Base look forward to tomorrow night and seeing if you
can make history with the All Whites once again.

Speaker 6 (01:52:16):
To Maam chos Pliny speak soon now speak so and
Darren thanks.

Speaker 2 (01:52:19):
Indeed Darren basically head coach of the All Whites with
Libby Cacacci his vice captain. Before that seven o'clock kickoff
tomorrow night, Eden Park, massive crowd expected. Last I heard
it was tracking well north of thirty thousand there tomorrow night,
heading up into the mid thirty thousands. Set to be
a wonderful occasion, a chance to watch New Zealand go

(01:52:41):
to a World Cup or certainly earned qualification for that.
We had the All Whites of nineteen eighty two. They
punched their ticket in Singapore. Of course, the twenty ten
All Whites did it against bah Rain in Wellington in
two thousand and nine. So for just the third time
New Zealand can earn direct entry into Canern entry anyway

(01:53:01):
into a World Cup by beating New Caledonia tomorrow night.
New Caledonia they know that if they win the match,
they're after the World Cup for the very first time.
Seven o'clock kick off tomorrow night at Eden Park, coming up,
twenty to three. We'll take a break, come back and
head back to motorsport and our top female rally driver,
Emma Gilmore She's involved in an event in Dunedin this weekend.

(01:53:25):
Talk to her about that and also about her career,
including being the first ever full time female factory driver
with McLaren Emma Gilmore.

Speaker 1 (01:53:33):
After this you be the TMO have your say on
eight hundred and eighty ten eighty Weekend Sport with Jason
him and GJ. Garnnerholmes New Zealand's most trusted home builder
News Dogs.

Speaker 2 (01:53:46):
They'd be seventeen to three. The Airburn Classic is on
this weekend. It's the first year of the festival at
Airburn and arrow Town, a mix of high end classic cars, entertainment,
country music and dining. Around two hundred classic cars on display,
around four thousand people expected through the gates. Female rally
star Emma Gilmore is speaking at the event and she

(01:54:08):
joins us between commitments. Emma, thanks for your time. What
a career it's been for you, with hopefully more to come.
See can we start on the present. What is your
schedule for twenty twenty five?

Speaker 23 (01:54:19):
Thank you well.

Speaker 25 (01:54:19):
Aside from speaking at Airbourn, the Tiger Rally, which is
the start of the New Zealand Rally Championship, is about
to kick off, so two weeks time we will be
rallying around Dunedin. So yeah, so just doing a full
New Zealand Championship program this year. Nothing overseas.

Speaker 2 (01:54:35):
You were third overall in last year's New Zealand Rally Championship,
a good result. How do you reflect on twenty twenty
four in general terms?

Speaker 25 (01:54:42):
Yeah, it was a bit of a tough here.

Speaker 12 (01:54:43):
Really.

Speaker 25 (01:54:45):
I had a massive crash when I finished rating with
McLaren in twenty three and it left me with a
pretty bad head injury and compassion, so I was still
pretty average really when the season started last year. So
I was really proud that we were able to do
the full season and by the end of the year
I was feeling fully healthy and being a lot more competitive,

(01:55:06):
So yes, so it was a bit of it. It
was a bit of a challenge last year overcoming that,
so yeah, so super stoked to be starting the season
healthy and with a bit more experience under my belt
in this car and yeah, ready to go.

Speaker 2 (01:55:18):
How much trepidation was there about getting back into the
car after such a bad accident.

Speaker 25 (01:55:24):
There was a lot.

Speaker 5 (01:55:25):
It was.

Speaker 25 (01:55:25):
It was a real because you've got that time to
reflect as well, you know, head injuries and concussions for
those that have experienced them know how tough they can be.
And you know, I al really had a lot of
time to reflect, to think, gosh, do I want to,
you know, have to go through this again if something
happened again, you know, what what do I want? And
I think, you know, for me, rallying has always been

(01:55:47):
my passion. It's what I love doing, and I feel
really comfortable and safe when I'm rallying. It was the
racing that I was doing overseas, where you're racing quite
unpredictable vehicles on quite unpredictable terrain, and I think if
I'd had to go back and race those I think
that would have been a question where I probably would
have said, no, I'll I won't do that. But rallying,

(01:56:08):
I was still very comfortable and felt that my passion
and my.

Speaker 17 (01:56:11):
Love for it was still there.

Speaker 2 (01:56:13):
Well, let's talk about your time with McLaren. In twenty
twenty two, you became McLaren's first female factory driver in
their Extreme E category. Can you tell us about that experience.

Speaker 25 (01:56:24):
I mean, gosh, the plus is still well outweighed the crash.
I mean, being part of McLaren, being part of McLaren's
history is just something really special with Bruce McLaren being
in New Zealander and you know, the legacy that he's
created is just amazing. And you know, I think there's
going to be some beautiful McLaren's on display this weekend,

(01:56:45):
so you know, just being able to see also what
McLaren did. You know, in twenty twenty two, they were
doing pretty poorly in the Formula one Championship. You know
that had changes of leadership, changes of drivers, they were
trying to get everything in place to improve. And then
to see what they did last year in twenty twenty
four to win the IF one Constructors Championship, it was

(01:57:05):
super to have been able to witness that and just
see how a great team works. You know, there was
the passion there they were putting all the processes in place,
and then to see it all come to fruition last
season was very cool. So yeah, to have been able
to see that and then you know, get to go
to Formula one events. You know, I got to meet
the King, which was just something that you would never

(01:57:26):
imagine getting to do. There was just so many moments.
You know, probably my highlight would have been competing at
the good Would Festival where I got to drive you know,
F one gtr which is a phenomenal vehicle and this
one had just sold to America for thirty million pounds,
so it was there were so many pinched me moments.
Sometimes I still think did that really happen? As I,

(01:57:48):
you know, sit here in Dunedin in my car dealership.
You know, it seems like a lifetime.

Speaker 2 (01:57:53):
Away as the first female driver at mclaar. And how
were you accepted?

Speaker 25 (01:57:59):
Yeah, usually it was very very cool. You know, Zach
who's the who's the boss at McLaren. He's very much
He's very proud of the heritage of McLaren, you know,
with Bruce's legacy there. So being the first female driver
and being from New Zealand, it was a really nice synergy.
And you know, especially the woman within the McLaren factory

(01:58:21):
and that having a woman represent the brand was really
well received. And then since that time they now have
the IF One Academy, which is an opportunity for young
if one type races so circuit races to also get
involved with the McLaren team. So there's a lot more
opportunities happening with the female side.

Speaker 2 (01:58:40):
Of things, and regardless of gender, Emma going into such
a storied franchise as McLaren, was that in any way daunting?

Speaker 1 (01:58:51):
Oh yeah, hugely.

Speaker 25 (01:58:54):
I've been Gosh. I remember the first week, and you know,
the pressure I felt was massive, you know, because all
of a sudden you're on the world stage and you're
representing a brand that you know, is it's synonymous with
you know, with motorsport, like there's not many names Biggers,
So you know, there was a lot of pressure that
came with it. But you know, I was just so

(01:59:16):
so proud and privileged to have had that opportunity.

Speaker 21 (01:59:19):
So good.

Speaker 2 (01:59:19):
Well, at the moment, of course, we're cheering on Liam Lawson,
challenging start for him to his full time F one career.
Have you been keeping an eye on Liam?

Speaker 25 (01:59:28):
Yeah, for sure. I mean I think it's amazing that
we have Liam competing, you know, alongside Max with stuff
and the Formula One. It's you know, I think I
felt really sorry for Liam. I thought it was a
very very tough opening round for him, you know, not
getting that seat time it's just crucial. I mean he's
already limited on seat time because he's a rookie to
the series and then to miss a whole hour of

(01:59:50):
track running when he missed out on the pre practice
three session, that was you know, hugely damaging to him
and his chances. But then you know, to then have
the rain on the Sunday, it was like, man, it
couldn't have got much harder for him. So I think
he did a really good job, and I think considering
all the things he was up against, and I think
we'll really see him fly this season. So I can't

(02:00:11):
wait to be sharing.

Speaker 4 (02:00:12):
Them on Yeah.

Speaker 2 (02:00:12):
Absolutely, we're all the same. We're all absolutely the same.
Now back to you, Emma. I know that obviously you've
made your name as a driver, but I know that
a questrian was your your first love. So I had
to go from four legs to four wheels.

Speaker 25 (02:00:28):
Yeah, yeah, still, you know, horse riding. I still take
my head off to those questions because you know, it's
a really gutsy sport, the three day of venting and stuff.
But yeah, I started when I was still horse riding.
I started by navigating in the rally car because my
sister and my cousin had started rallying, so that sort
of was where the door got opened for me and motorsport,

(02:00:49):
but the horse riding, it sort of all came to
a head one day when I had a young horse
that he didn't want to do something last of him,
and he started rearing up, and I jumped off because
I was scared. And then it sort of dawned on
me and I was like, hmm, I don't know if
I really want.

Speaker 4 (02:01:03):
To get back on.

Speaker 25 (02:01:03):
Yes, So that was how it kind of came to
an end in a paddock and yeah, and then once
I had to go in the driver's seat, it all
went from there. I was just I was hooked. You
know the buzz that you have driving a rally car
on gravel, you know, with its sliding and moving from
corner to corner dancing, It is like the best feeling
in the world. And it felt very similar to horse riding,

(02:01:25):
but for me, a more controllable in a more safe environment.

Speaker 2 (02:01:29):
I bet you, I can imagine that horses might have
a mind of their own on occasion. What you've told
us about what is ahead of you in twenty twenty five,
what about beyond that? Emma is rarely driving something you
want to be doing for for quite some time, yet
I think so.

Speaker 25 (02:01:43):
I think it's something that as long as I love
to do it and the opportunity is there, then it's
something that I will continue to do. I've been very
fortunate that I've had amazing partnerships and sponsorships throughout my career.
Vantage Windows and Doors have been with me for every
twenty years. So having a New Zealand company like that
that allows me to follow my passion is super cool.

(02:02:05):
And you know, I still would love to become the
New Zealand Rally Champion. That's definitely still on my bucket list.
But you know what we get to do. I feel
we're really really lucky and as long as that opportunity
is there having a road to myself and driving it
as fast as possible, I think I'll still be lining
up to do it.

Speaker 2 (02:02:23):
Wonderful stuff. Look forward to seeing what the future holds
for you. Emma, thanks for joining us, Thanks for taking
time out of your commitments at Airburn in Arrowtown over
the weekend. Hope that goes really well for you as well.
That's Emma Gilmore, Female Rally Star. It's eight to three
News talksb.

Speaker 1 (02:02:38):
The School from the trag Field and the Court on
your home Lord weekends for it where's Jason Vine.

Speaker 2 (02:02:45):
News Talks NB five to three, Just updating you on
the cricket which is underway at Mount Monganui. The White
Funds up against Australia ahead of the Black Caps against Pakistan.
Australia everyone the toss and the women's game elected to
bat first and they've started pretty well. Twenty two without
last in the first two over as Beth Mooney and
Georgia vol taking a liking to the bowling of New
Zealand a boundary off the second ball of the third

(02:03:05):
over as well. Oh so twenty six without loss. Australia
batting first against the White Ferns. That is us for
today on Weekend Sport. Thank you so much for joining us.
Hope Eve enjoyed our guests today. A huge thanks to
Anny McDonnell for pulling the show together. Don't forget if
you want to listen back, all of our interviews are
available in podcast form. If you want to listen back
to Mark Webber, you want to listen back to Eddie Hearn,

(02:03:29):
you want to listen back to John macbeth on Griswiley
or any of our interviews this afternoon, just search for
our Weekend Sport with Jason Pine on your podcast platform
and they will be there for you to listen to
Tim Beverage on the radio after three o'clock exit song
today is a song that's all about what we hope
will happen Tomorrow night at Eden Park is the All

(02:03:49):
Whites have one final push towards next year's FIFA World
Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Big crowd
expected and they're encouraging everybody to wear white if they
possibly can, to white out the stadium and support of
New Zealand's All Watts and bring a little bit of
what noise. We'll say next week can bomping out.

Speaker 1 (02:04:44):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live
to news talks it'd be weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio

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