Full Show Podcast: 28 September 2025

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Episode Transcript

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

Speaker 2 (00:29):
Hi, there god a good afternoon, Welcome into Weekend Sport
on News Talks. He'd be Sunday, September twenty eighth on
Jason Pine and a McDonald writing Shotgun, producing the show.
We're here till three. Bletter's Low Cup retained, Eden Park,
Fortress defended.

Speaker 3 (00:45):
And the wall of these huffed and puffed, but they
can't quite flow. The Fortress down at Eden Park, the
Bletters low pup and All Black hands for another year
victory The Way of the All Black thirty three twenty.

Speaker 2 (00:59):
Four not vintage, but certainly needed. Lots of talking points
for us to get stuck into. All Black's assistant coach
Thomas the Ellison standing by to chat with us former
All Blacks halfback and News Talks. He'd be expert analyst
and storm with us after one. Plenty of time for
your reaction as well. Lines open immediately and right across
the afternoon other matters around today, Nee Fisher Black, as

(01:21):
you've heard in our Sports news, has become the first
key we writer male or female to get on the
podium at the Road World Championships, second in the Elite
road Race and Rwanda going to put that into context
with Dell Woodford a bit later on this afternoon. The
Melbourne storman to the NRL Grand Final Brisbane against Penrith Tonight,
Mouth Water and clash for the right to face the

(01:43):
Storm next Sunday. Brad Walter going to preview that one
for us. And this Wednesday is the fiftieth anniversary of
boxing's Thriller in Manila, regarded by many as the greatest
prize fight of all time, the third and final professional
bout between Mhammad Ali and Joe Fraser for the heavyweight
championship of the World. One of the most prolific and

(02:04):
respected boxing writers and journal of all time. Thomas Houser
on that after two James mccony as usual on a
Sunday as well Live Sport. The New Zealand Under twenty
men's football side have just kicked off their World Cup
campaign against the hosts Chili. Going to keep you updated
on that match nil all after seven minutes round nine

(02:25):
of the MPC six B seven. They have plenty why
cut to win Todong up from five past two counties
Manecow hosting Manawatu and Pocacoe at the same time. Both
need to win to keep their slim Top eight chances alive.
But it is your show to contribute to. Oh eight
hundred and eighty ten eighty will get you throw on
the phone nine two ninety two via text you send

(02:46):
your emails to Jason at newstalkzb dot co dot ENZ
nine and a half past midday.

Speaker 1 (02:52):
Breaking down the hail Mary's and the epic fails weekend
Sport with Jason hin News Talk zenb Now.

Speaker 3 (03:01):
Jordie Perrett popped up the past, the quinter pie has,
the port has the port? How great camp?

Speaker 4 (03:07):
Right?

Speaker 5 (03:07):
Guards?

Speaker 3 (03:08):
Get that right?

Speaker 5 (03:10):
Thirty one twenty four.

Speaker 2 (03:11):
That is the try that sealed victory for the All
Blacks last night, scored by the game's standout player, cam
Roy Guard or Black's assistant coach Tamat Ellison. As with us, Tomody,
thanks for your time this afternoon. What was your overriding
emotion at the final whistle last night.

Speaker 6 (03:29):
You good question that grateful really, you know, like grateful
for the week, in the in the team thing and
coming together and you know, great to share the last
game here in his Zellain the were the betters of
captain and with families in Prinson and the team.

Speaker 2 (03:48):
What were the keys to your victory last night?

Speaker 6 (03:51):
I think by the balance of the year. You know,
early in the game when it was drary, it probably
on the year really well. You got to target and
kind of to the strategy. They come back really well though,
they've got a greater tacking shape, and I think that
the resilience and need to hang in there.

Speaker 2 (04:14):
How much did you work on the aerial game after
the two South African tests.

Speaker 6 (04:20):
It's a constant, you know, like the working week's pretty
pretty defined. You've got to get your big blocks and
you got to make sure you are clear on the
real fundamentals of the game. So some of it's individual skills,
some of its strategy around you know, who goes where
and how we structure things. But it's a constant work
on for a number of you know, the teams for sure,

(04:41):
especially around the rules. Now we could continue to adjust
to the battles in the air, you know, no longer
able to kind of protect that catcher and bubble them.
But it's a real battle in the air now.

Speaker 2 (04:54):
So just up filling that you came out of the
blocks really quickly a try after four minutes and three
tries in the first twenty four minutes. What gave you
instant momentum at the start of the game.

Speaker 6 (05:07):
I think we were we had intended to start really
really fast. We were conscious that they had come out
the blocks also, so you know, we had to have
a clear plane around where we wanted to go, and
Ice saying Will Jordan lost a lot so greasy on
the field, but he actually said that it was quite dry,
like we have to grip the ball, so they were
the boys were really fearless and moving the ball and

(05:29):
I think, you know, they're pretty confident that throughout the game.

Speaker 2 (05:32):
What was your assessment of the last ten minutes in
the first half when Australia scored a couple of tries
to close the margin from seventeen down to three.

Speaker 6 (05:40):
As it's a part of the game they do well,
and I think we were struggled to get a second
shoulder on and then they allowed to get a wee
bit of momentum through the middle and they're really good
when they do that. So we've spoken about that just
on the field and specially had half time to get
two shoulders and to stay in front of them.

Speaker 2 (06:00):
And at the end, well near the end, they score
a try with ten to go, you're only ahead by two.
What do you look for or who do you look
for or look to in situations like that to take control?

Speaker 6 (06:13):
I think yeah, obviously the leaders. I think the key
part is what the actual strategy is. I was really
impressive Artie last night, just so conscious of what's what's
happening around them, you know, considering the amount of collisions
he's in or you might have seen his face head
we've got a blooding out the top of his eye.

(06:34):
But to be really clear in the moment around what's required,
and in that moment I thought they did that. Well.

Speaker 2 (06:41):
How influential and important has cam Roy Guard become to
your side?

Speaker 6 (06:47):
Ah, he's he's a rugby player, Cameray Guard. Well, you know,
super impressive, just a real threat around the rucks. You know,
as a defensive coature, you plan for you know, your
your big ball carriers. But if you have a nine
like that that can carry just as strong around the
middle of the of the ruts as messive for your

(07:09):
attacking game.

Speaker 2 (07:10):
And you mentioned Will Jordan having a chat to him
the Leroy Carter, Caleb Clark, Will Jordan back three first
time we've seen that that combination. What did you make
of it?

Speaker 6 (07:22):
It was great to have taylb back. You know he's
he's had a bit of a bumpy kind of ride
with injuries and getting pressure. This week training was it's
good skin, especially back Eden Park and you see what
a moment to have Eroni's singing their national infem as
well was getting better and better and Will Jordan's as

(07:45):
confident as ever.

Speaker 2 (07:47):
So how will you now go about Tomat finding consistency,
the consistency that's been a bit elusive during the Rugby
Championship and go to Perth and win there as well.

Speaker 6 (07:56):
I think that game being really clear around the strategy
and having a week where we're really connected at Fitts
go away as a group again now and be clear
what parts of the game that we really need to
nail down and you know, the real visions to be
just as honest different areas last night. If we need
to get right so so that'll be you know, get

(08:19):
on the plane in a couple of hours and then
get our reviews done and look forward to another mess
of game up then through.

Speaker 2 (08:26):
How top was the aftermath of the Springboks taste in Wellington?

Speaker 6 (08:33):
Yeah, I think the challenges, you know, everyone looks at
the individual areas. It's part of the role, you know,
the standards that the all bit Jersey demands, so it's
always going to be tough. I think that the key
part now is making sure we keep driving those standards

(08:54):
regardless of outcome and performances that have fall in love
with the process. It's a game. We have a good
break now, I'm sure even you know it has the
morning with their families and then be real clear on
a lot of next week and.

Speaker 2 (09:07):
A couple of injury problems. Ethan de Grut went off
with the HIA which I think he failed. He presumably
won't be there next week. Boden Barrett was in a
sling for an ac joint injury. Are you unlikely to
be without him? Well, are you likely to be without
him next week? Body?

Speaker 6 (09:23):
I'm sure that kind of I think the midicles will
be hitpening as we speak, and you know, walking a
wrap up of who's coming and who's not, and it's
in every week thing funny as you know, like the
physicality of the game and health quick injury scamp and
so again it's importantly we stay really connected and it's

(09:46):
the next man up. We sit there, next man up
to really per form.

Speaker 2 (09:50):
Congrats on last night retaining that bled us slower. It
looked like they were filling it up last night. A
couple of photos I saw seemed like it got filled up,
okay last night in the sheds.

Speaker 6 (09:59):
Yeah, I think less part less part of it as well.
Funny love it.

Speaker 2 (10:05):
Congrats again, thanks for your time afternoon, safe travels.

Speaker 6 (10:07):
Dounety yeah, thank you best funny thanks.

Speaker 2 (10:10):
Mate, That said Tumty Ellison, assistant coach of the All
Black Sure chance to react now, I eight hundred eighty
ten eighty anything you want to pick up on, anything
you heard there from Timothy Ellison, anything that has jumped
to the front of your mind when you've thought about
this game this morning. Lines open for your thoughts. I
eight hundred eighty ten eighteen.

Speaker 7 (10:27):
Now.

Speaker 2 (10:27):
First, thing's first, that New Zealand national anthem o Ronnie
Clark absolutely nailing it. His son, Caleb only realizing halfway
through that it was his dad on the mic, and
when he did realize who it was, finding himself unable
to control his emotions. Pretty special stuff to see Ronnie

(10:49):
Clark just belting out the anthem in such magnificent fashion
before the game, and then great to see Caleb Clark
back out there on the grass for his first test
of the year and early try to sett all his
nerves set our nerves. A bit shame to see him
limp off in the second half with an ankle injury,
but hopefully it is not too serious. Cam Royguard, My goodness,

(11:11):
how the All Blacks have missed him. His performance last
night was just utterly superb. The way he clears the ball,
his robust effectiveness at rucktime, the ability to snipe close
to the line or just take a quick tap from
a penalty and take off and catch the opposition napping.
His kicking game. He maybe wasn't quite on the button

(11:32):
every single time with his box kicks, but that is
probably splitting hairs just a little bit. His long kicking
is great, a fifty twenty two couple of tries. I
also love the fact that he played seventy six minutes.
So often you see halfbacks replaced after sixty sixty five,
seventy for no real reason that I can understand now.

(11:53):
If they had taken cam Roygard off before they did,
he wouldn't have been there to run inside Quintapie's shoulder
and score that decisive late try. Incredible to think that
a bloke who's only played what teen test matches can
be so important to the side. Leroy Carter thought he
had another good test. Energetic, went looking for the ball,

(12:13):
ferocious on defense for someone who's not that big here
it's hard that back three last night of Caleb Clarke,
Leroy Carter, Will Jordan, It's got a lot to like
about it. I liked that combination. I thought quintu Pire
actually did a really good job too, had a strong
game when he came on on the left wing, which
of course isn't his position. But every time Quinta Pie
plays for the All Blacks, you think to yourself, you
know what, he's mounting a case for potential inclusion in

(12:37):
the starting fifteen. His issue is that he plays the
same position as Jordy Barrett, who seems to have the
twelve jersey sewing up I know he can probably play
thirteen as well, or you might do a reshuffle. But
Quinta Pie continues to impress every time he wears the
Black jersey and Artie Captain Artie. When the subject of
the All Blacks captaincy comes up, I've often said you

(12:57):
don't need an arm band to lead, but as the
side's official captain, last night Ardie Savia put in another
monumental shift. Tackles, turnovers, ball carries, post contact meters. Those
are just the numbers. His influence on the game is,
of course far greater than that, and who could possibly say,

(13:19):
on the evidence of last night and most nights that
he shouldn't be the one leading the site out oh
eight hundred and eighty ten eighty ninety two ninety two.
If you would prefer correspond by text, kick us off, Henry,
how are you?

Speaker 8 (13:32):
Hey?

Speaker 9 (13:32):
Good mate?

Speaker 7 (13:33):
Hey?

Speaker 10 (13:34):
Oh he's what a game?

Speaker 8 (13:36):
You know?

Speaker 11 (13:36):
But Ken, you know King say Jason, you know he
I mean already played well back three were good, Kunda fire.
But you know that Kim Boyer is just he's just
like what Dean harter.

Speaker 8 (13:49):
W was to your work.

Speaker 11 (13:50):
You know, he's just the men, you know, the magic
means Henry.

Speaker 2 (13:53):
It's a good description. And the other thing about him,
I think, and whether this is a good or bad thing,
is that he's so far ahead of anybody else in
that position available to Scott Robinson right now that when
he's not there, as he has been for the last
what three or four Test matches, you really notice his
absence just as much as you do when he's there
and think, man, it's so good to have him back.

Speaker 11 (14:14):
I hope that young boy Preston does and I hope
his career school goes through Jason. I hope they ain't
just quite of you know.

Speaker 2 (14:21):
About you know, Yeah, I think Cole Preston. I think
he did enough in his time in camp. He came
on in the last what ten minutes against South Africa
last time at Eden Parke didn't he know. I think,
you know, mate gave a pretty good account of himself.
But I think in camp he was impressive. From the
reports that you hear, it's a bit of a crowded
field with Noah Hope them to come back of Courts,
Latima there, cam roy Gard obviously, but yeah, I think

(14:43):
Cole Preston will be in that conversation as a young
boy down in Otago called Dylan Pledger, who's also got
a lot of fans. So I think we're pretty well
stocked for the guys chasing roy Gard. But Henry, I
think they are chasing him. He just seems to be
miles ahead.

Speaker 8 (14:57):
Yeah, no, he is, he is, mate.

Speaker 11 (14:59):
You know, one little thing to Roy go what the
hell is heaving into Wellington? You know they won the
Abacy last year, Jason knowing what's what's wealth with Welling?

Speaker 2 (15:06):
I don't know the answer to that, Henry. I wish
I did, but it hasn't been a banner season to
back up last season. You're right, it's been very disappointing.
They're missing a couple of guys. I wonder actually if
one of the main things is that Duplasi Kodithi isn't there.
He has played for Wellington for the last several seasons,
but of course in the All Blacks this time, so

(15:27):
not there for Wellington. I just wonder whether that's a
part of it. Good to chat to you, Henry, Thanks
for kicking us off. Twelve twenty two or eight hundred
and eighty ten eighty spear line to jump aboard if
you'd like to give us your thoughts. I see the
Australian fans are blowing up deluxe about the refereeing. It's
all I've read this morning when I'm reading Australian websites
is how bad the referee was. I thought he was

(15:50):
all right. I thought he had a reasonable game. A
lot of penalties, and I guess when you have I
think it was fifteen penalties against Australia. I guess when
you have fifteen penalties against you, you say, hey, well
we're not getting the rubb of the green here. But
then you've got to look at the reasons. I referee
PRD was blowing up so much. And the Harry Potter

(16:13):
yellow card, there seems to be debate over whether it
was a yellow card or not. To me, it's just
a clear yellow card. They're on a warning. He's coming
to this ruck with Will Jordan and got his hands
in there. Before that, he's put his hand on the

(16:34):
ground to support his body weight, which is also not
allowed to do. So I'm not quite sure what the
argument is. I don't really want to talk about the officiating,
but you know, there were a lot of penalties last night.
But I see a lot of the Australian analysts on
their broadcasters over there are saying that he was appointed
an error by World Rugby. He shouldn't be given a

(16:56):
game of this magnitude, that he was out of his depth,
all these sorts of things. I thought he was all right.
Twelve to twenty four News talk to her beat It's
takes some more calls a eighty ten eighty back with
more after this.

Speaker 1 (17:09):
The Voice of Sport on your Home of Sport. It's
Weekend Sport with Jason Vane and GJ. Gunner Homes New
Zealand's most trusted home builder. News talks Evy.

Speaker 3 (17:19):
All left hand site all black swinging through hands, looking
for the opportunity away and left Wing Tuxlin's like handler
fl left Wing bought up back in the side Dancings,
the Anthem get the first try, five.

Speaker 2 (17:31):
Mila dancings, The Anthem gets the first try, and nice
stuff from Elliott Smith Caleb Clark there. I had a chat,
very quick chat to him after the final whistle, which
I'll play for you in a moment. But yeah, he
didn't know that his dad was doing the anthem. They
kept it secret from him, but he still didn't know
when the anthem started he must you know you because
over the public address system they say, you know, the

(17:54):
anthems to be sung by I can't remember the name
of the singer who sung the Australian national anthem very
very well incidentally, and then they said, and the New
Zealand anthem to be sung by Ronnie Clark, and everyone goes,
whow Ronnie Clark, We're all black, the dad of Caleb Clark.
But Caleb himself didn't pick up on that until halfway

(18:15):
through the anthem it went from the Mali version to
the English version. He apparently looked up at the screen
and thought it was my dad. Brilliant piece of theater.
Just before we go back to the lines, Pinty, can
we make the Bledisloe Cup best of three? It's frustrating
being just two. I think the All Blacks deserved to win,
but also thought they had the rubb of the Green
with penalties. Yeah, I mean, the whole best of three

(18:37):
thing would be great, wouldn't it Always used to be
the last time, outside of the COVID years, we had
three Bledislow Cup tests was twenty eighteen, long time ago.
I didn't think it had been that long ago. But
the trick is to fit in the third one, isn't it.
We get the two in the Rugby Championship, it's a
matter of whether the third one can be scheduled. And
I think that's why there's a bit of this clamor

(18:59):
for the Anzac Day Bledisloe Cup Test, because you can
play it in April. Yes, it has to fit in
and around Super Rugby, but you could play it in
April and then the other two as part of the
Rugby Championship and therefore achieve your three tests. I know
there's a lot of discussion around why an Anzac Day

(19:20):
Test match wouldn't work in terms of the players you'd
have to bring out of Super Rugby, how long the
players would have to be together, how many matches they'd
missing their Super Rugby competitions. But at least it would
achieve three games. Anyway, maybe we can talk about that
as well. Oh eight hundred and eighty ten eighty is
our number? Hello, Phil, what did you make of it?

Speaker 12 (19:39):
Oh?

Speaker 13 (19:39):
Well, for a start, Yeah, what a tear jerkin moment
that was with old Caleb Clarke well right, and his
old man singing the anthem. I didn't know he could
sing so well, he was bloody good.

Speaker 2 (19:48):
Well I didn't know either. Funny, I wasn't absolutely shocked
because he's a very classy individual. It doesn't surprise me
that he's got more strings to us both than just rugby.
But I didn't know he could belt out an anthem
like that.

Speaker 13 (20:00):
Phil, Yeah, no, I needed that.

Speaker 6 (20:03):
I quite enjoyed.

Speaker 13 (20:04):
It was quite a surprise. And yeah, I don't blame
his son folk shedding bit of water works flowing would
be pretty pretty hard.

Speaker 7 (20:11):
Not to.

Speaker 13 (20:13):
Yes, well I'll get I'll try and get through it.
Quicks and a lot. I'll say, for a start, I'm
not one hundred percent confident that we will go into
Australia next next week and win. And I think the
Aussis will be feeling that they're well well capable of
beating us in Aussie and doing it next week. So
I think they've got that belief in them now, Like

(20:37):
I think that sort of have to accept kind of
the fact of the days of the All Blacks winning
all the time, or you know, that kind of mentality
of thinking we're going to win and go on that
invincibility of like, wow, we're not going to lose sort
of things over, But I go on to the players
individually's yeah, jeez, camera regard, what a hell of a

(20:59):
player he is, Like he's got everything, you know, like
you say, quick, speed, thinking, intelligence, jinking, he's tackles, got
his defenses good. Yeah, so he sees something else in
the league of his own. And I think also Cody Taylor,
like you said, like we really what a difference having
those two guys back made like you know, the line
out went great again and it was then Cody Taylor

(21:20):
was right on the money with the throws and everything.
So I think Cody Taylor's equally as important as a
camp as Cam Wigart in that regard. Artie Severe, I think, yeah,
leader all the way. Nothing against Scott Barrett. He does
a great job when he's on the field and plan.
But as a leader, I think Artie Severe he just demonstrats,

(21:42):
but he doesn't even have to lay down the law,
you know. He's that kind of that He's got that
leadership quality where he doesn't have to lay down the
law even if he had to, but he just leads
on by example on the field with his own performances
as well, which is a key thing for a leader too.
Carter Leroy Carter fantastic and showing great defense at capabilities

(22:02):
as well, and just yeah, really good. And the fellow
I keep forgetting his name that came on the wing
to replace Caleb Clark, I think I think he's got
to be there too, because he was fantastic when he
came on as well, even though that wing was in
his normal position, but shows he can play it and
maybe they can put him in a center or something
like you said, But he was really good, well he

(22:24):
was on the field, So yeah, that's my thought's piny, it's.

Speaker 2 (22:27):
A good summary, Phil, Thanks mate. Yeah, quintapies Man who
came on off the bench to replace Caleb Clark on
the wing that already of course, brought Damien McKenzie on
to replace Bowden Barrett after his injury which looked like
a really innocuous incident when he went back to force
the ball for a goal line dropout and all of

(22:48):
a sudden he's clutching his shoulder and the doctor or
one of the sideline physios medics tom just after halftime
that it was an ac joint. And have just actually
heard from our rugby editor Elliot Smith, who's been out
at the airport with the All Blacks. Boden Barrett will
not try to Perth. Ethan Groot will not travel to Perth,

(23:10):
and that's I think we knew that because he failed
as Hia. So that's the mandatory twelve day stand doown.
So Ethan to group won't be going, Bodhen Barrett won't
be going. Tavita Muffelel has been called in to cover
in the front row too. Paul Vi, Scott Barrett, and
Caleb Clark are all traveling to Perth. So Caleb Clark

(23:33):
had that ankle injury which we just mentioned, that's the
reason he came off and kuldn't Apai came on last night,
but that's clearly okay. Scott Barrett has also clearly recovered
from the shoulder injury which kept him out of this one.
And to Vite, he had a bit of a tweak
on his knee, so that was his issue last night
and I remember seeing it happening. It's amazing what you

(23:54):
pick up down at grand level. I'm so lucky to
get the chance to do our sideline commentary on z B.
The stuff you pick up and you just see guys
and just the wincing on their faces and say yes,
but two polite Scott, Barrett, Kay look Clarke all traveling,
no boat in Barrett, no Ethan de Groot. So Damien
McKenzie does he get the run at first five?

Speaker 7 (24:14):
Or or.

Speaker 2 (24:17):
I don't know, do they give Ruben Love a go?
Or is that just the Hurricanes bias in me? I
don't know Whyatt Crockett has texted the show always listening
in white from the top of the South, he says,
And you've got to believe what an all black and
a crusader of his pedigree, says camin Ardi. Great, But
how good was our bench? They all came on, lifted
the performance. We've often struggled in the second half. This week.

(24:39):
We came home very strongly White. Thank you, mate, It's
always good to hear from you. I hope you're keeping
well and of course you're right. The bench did a
brilliant job, Quinta Pia being the most obvious in the
back line anyway, and I think the front row reserves
also did a good job.

Speaker 14 (24:57):
Mark I mate, lucky you know I was selected Piney.
I think the Hurricanes would make up most of the
squad somehow, No, I think.

Speaker 2 (25:04):
You're probably right. I think you're probably right. Ma, I'd be,
I'd be, I'd be certainly, i'd be certainly, you know,
mounting a case for them. No, I think they'll probably
play Damien McKenzie next week, and you know, at first five,
I think that he's the He's the backup first five,
isn't he? But OK, yeah, I know, I know, yeah,
I know, another point mate, But sorry, I just I

(25:24):
just wanted to say about Damian McKinnie. I thought when
Boden Barrett went off last night, that was around the
half hour mark, that was just when things went a
little bit sort of well skill worth. That's when Australia
got those two tries at the back end of the
first half. I just thought it was, Yeah, the two
things correlated to me anyway, Sorry to cut you off.

Speaker 14 (25:41):
Yeah, I think if Bothing had stayed on, I think
they'd probably honestly would have won that game quite comfortably.
I think Love's going to get a chance, and he's
got to get some experience, probably at top level before
the next World Cup, because I mean, you know, we
only have to look at as far as Beaver coming
on after go and White baiting to know that you know,
the number tens could fall by the wayside pretty quickly.

(26:01):
And he is a quality player. I mean love, he
is going to be a future All Black. I guess
maybe we take a bit longer than cam Roy Guard
but I mean, yeah, I think cam Roygards is sort
of generation of players. I was going to throw a
bit of a spinner in the words, I think Australia
need a proper number teen. And I was just wondering
whether you know they're getting these players Mark and the
one near to Wise's coming over and I mean, do

(26:24):
you think they could look to rugby league and get
like a quality number ten and maybe put some stocks
into their forwards. I mean, to me, this next Rugby
World Cup is really important for this part of the
world that Australia does really well to get the players
coming through over there and to sort of make our
Super rugby competition competitive. And I was just wondering whether

(26:47):
you think someone I don't know, I'm just I know
earlier in the year it came about that Clary was
sort of they talked about him going right, but do
you think the player of his caliber could could transition
to league? I mean, I know Benji Marshall was a disaster,
but I think that's probably more to do with Benji
Marshall converting a player from from rugby league.

Speaker 2 (27:06):
Yeah, I think they think Clary could. I think he's superhuman.
I think he would be one who definitely could. And
then you start thinking about others who have given it
a go and in different positions. Admittedly, Roger to I Vasaschek,
I think you'd probably say that was a failed experiment.
I think rugby league is his natural home. Benji Marshall.

(27:27):
You mentioned brad Thorn though came across and he was
very very good at rugby union, a World Cup winner
of course, so there is Yeah, it would have to
be a key we guy mark and I'm just wondering
who that would be. You know, maybe there are suggestions
out there.

Speaker 14 (27:43):
I'm thinking for the Australians, like bringing players into their squad,
like like Payne Hears, you know, players like that to
bolster their boards or you know, as you say Cleary,
I mean, if you could get Cleary to come over.
And I mean I think rugby in Australia has got
a bit of money at the moment. I mean I
think they really need to invest it because they just

(28:04):
haven't got the debts. Let's face that you saw or
last night with James A gone On playing number ten,
it just it just didn't work. And I mean if
they had a player like Richie Muwana or Boden Bear
at the number ten, it would have been probably a
completely different game last night, I reckon. And I think
in a rugby team you need a number ten. It's
not like ragby league. You needed a good number seven

(28:25):
to lead your team around and make decisions. And I
just don't think Australia have got.

Speaker 2 (28:29):
Yeah, Sorr, I misunderstood your mark. I thought you were
talking about the New Zealand side. Yeah no, I think, yeah, no, no,
you're right. I mean, and James O'Connor I think, probably
by his own admission, had an unhappy night last night.
He made a couple of aras, he missed touched with
a penalty which was actually a bit of a turning
point really. It led to a couple of penalties against
Australia and they marched down the other end. So yeah, no,
they may well look at that. I know they spent

(28:50):
a lot of money on suit earity and you know
that seems to be bearing fruit. Because I think he's
he's already made an impact in the fifteen man code,
so yeah, they may well be, and they've got a
couple of years.

Speaker 7 (29:03):
You know.

Speaker 2 (29:04):
I think they're building quite a nice side though, Mark.
You know I I they ran the your Blacks close
last night. They may well win the game in Perth.
Who knows. They are starting to build and it was
a low base when Joshmitt took over from the shambles
of Eddie Jones and the wreckage he left behind. But
he's done a very very good job Josement with with
that team as good on you, Mark, good to chat

(29:27):
to you, mate. Oh eight hundred and eighty ten eighty
is our number. There's a text before about the refereeing.
Now let me just see if I can find it
in amongst all of the other ones that have come
there ever ago. It's from Mike Jason. You need a
new pair of glasses if you think the referee was okay.
In my opinion, he ruined the game and was one
of the worst performances I've seen for a long time.
He made a series of mistakes that cost Australia. It

(29:50):
didn't affect the result, but could have as soon as
I heard the referee was from Italy, I thought there
could be a problem. Major nations should have referees from
the UK, South African, New Zealand, Australia, et cetera. Thanks
for your text, Mak. I'm probably gonna need some specific examples.
When you say a series of mistakes that cost Australia,
I didn't see that, but i'll you know, I'll stand
correct that if I if I hear or see some

(30:11):
specific examples. And as far as referees coming from emerging
nations to referee games of this caliber concernable. Joe Schmitt
was asked that afterwards and he said, I don't think
we should call Italy an emerging nation. Maybe he was
sort of using a bit of misdirection to not have
to talk about the referee. But then you look at
the Georgian referee, Nika Armasha Kelly. He's done a lot

(30:34):
of test matches and I think is now starting to
really develop. If you don't develop these guys, how do
they develop? If you don't give them big games, how
do they develop?

Speaker 7 (30:44):
Now?

Speaker 2 (30:45):
I know the other part of this, The other layer
to this is that the same referee from last night
was also the referee in the second Lions Test between
Australia and the British Irish lines, and there was a
lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth after that game.
You'll remember that he didn't give a penalty and the
British and Irish line scored right at the end and
won that second Test and won that series. So yeah,

(31:06):
I mean, i'd like to say, I'd like to have
some examples. I've got Aunt Strawn on after one o'clock.
Maybe ask him if he saw anything from up high.

Speaker 10 (31:14):
Hey Dean, Hello there, pony. You know I didn't talk
about the breakdown, but that is the big The breakdown
is a big thing when you penalize them, how long
they're to lay there, whether they're protecting the ball. I
mean sometimes it is a lottery.

Speaker 8 (31:31):
Now.

Speaker 10 (31:31):
I felt a few times last night that at the
breakdown he was wrong.

Speaker 2 (31:35):
So hell weever that's me who No, No, Dean, that's
no no, you know as much as all of us,
I think, if that's you, if that's what you saw
in it, it's it's one of those where it's not
black and white, isn't it. You know, It's not like
has the ball gone out or not? You're referring the
breakdown at the best lives can be a bit of
a dog's breakfast when I can see very much.

Speaker 14 (31:54):
So.

Speaker 10 (31:54):
The thing that can sern me about the All Blacks lately,
and that's happened in more than one game when they
get down to the opposing backlan opposing gone, how long
it takes them to score. Where as they got down
twice and they scored straight away and the spring Box
do the same. We don't seem to be able to
do that finish. I don't know what it is, funny,

(32:17):
but when we get down there time and time again,
we don't do it. We knock it on or throw
a bad path, or lose the ball in contact. That's
an area that concerns me.

Speaker 2 (32:28):
Yeah, it's interesting that, Dean. That's the skills under pressure,
I guess, or in the really important parts of the game,
when you know the catch and pass leads to tries
and things like that. It's interesting, isn't it. When you
get to this level, you just expect these guys to
be able to do that, you know, ninety nine times
out of one hundred.

Speaker 10 (32:46):
Yeah, But when they've gone all the effort to get
down the amount of effort they're putting in. I mean
it's freighted me. The way they charge them with their heads.
I don't know how their hector can take it continually
just crashing into people and driving them off the ball.
I mean, man, it's mortal. It's brutal, absolutely brutal.

Speaker 2 (33:06):
I saw I saw, yeah, I saw Wallace Atititi run
with the ball into Harry Wilson last night, Dean the
two number eights. It was like a car crash. It
was like these two massive men just running headlong into
one another. I actually physically winced myself on the sideline
when they came together.

Speaker 10 (33:25):
Well, when you're on the sideline, Pony, you see it
even more, don't you, As you said you said, And
when you think of it, they're running round about if
you you know, I'm not talking about a fast back,
but before running about eighteen twenty miles an hour, you
get two people running at that speed into each other.
That's a forty mile in our collision and a car
into a lamp past. That's your brain knocking against your

(33:47):
head without it being hit, just the jolt of you
being stopped. Both of them.

Speaker 2 (33:52):
It's a good thing. We're both just watching Dean, isn't
it good thing? We're just on there on the sideliner,
on the couch, made.

Speaker 12 (34:00):
Good.

Speaker 10 (34:01):
We do, we do lack a bit. I mean our tries,
most of our tries. I know that the Caleb scored one,
but tries to being scored by a fullback who's the
only guy, Jordan with a little of that extra pace
than when he gets in a gap. But we're shoveling
it along the back line expecting someday someone to make

(34:24):
a break or to get now on the outside. And
I think you've got to do more than that today.
All the other teams are and that's why they're so dangerous.
The spring box and the spring box even in the
Super fifteen team like they were doing it, teams like
a Whitecado and Taranaki were doing it, you know, number eights,

(34:46):
loose forwards, full decks coming into the line and creating
instrument and rolling around each other, and it's hard to
know who you're going to tackle. Yes, and they're just
passing it from men to men.

Speaker 2 (34:57):
You need more than that, Dane. Good thoughts by you, well, mate,
thanks indeed for calling mate. We'll talk again soon, I'm sure. Look,
I think Caleb Clarks try last night was ball through hand,
catch and pass, a bit of misdirection in midfield and
then Caleb Clark on the outside, similar to Leroy Carter
against South Africa. So yeah, there are those occasions, but
I think defensive systems are so refined now and so

(35:19):
just metronomic that it is hard to find that space.
But I guess it's up to a tech coach is
to to find it. Twelve forty five Dave Pete, please
hold with you after this talking All Blacks, Oh eight
hundred and eighty ten eighty.

Speaker 1 (35:32):
The Big issues on and after fields call Oh eight
hundred eighty ten eighty Weekendsport with Jason.

Speaker 7 (35:38):
Fain and GJ.

Speaker 1 (35:40):
Gunner Homes New Zealand's most trusted home builder, News Talks Baby.

Speaker 2 (35:44):
Twelve minutes away from one. Just updating you from the
Football Under twenty World Cup. Our under twenties are taking
on Chili, the host's opening game of the Under twenty
World Cup nil all approaching halftime in that one, Dave,
thank you for holding good afternoon.

Speaker 9 (35:57):
You got richiemong A back, so we add more depth
to the All Blacks is going back to New Zealand soon?

Speaker 2 (36:03):
Yes, Yes, next year. Yep, we'll have them back. That's
another one to add. And well Boden Barrett injured for
this coming test, Dave, so yeah, we'll see. I guess
if they go with Damien McKenzie again, which I presume
they will.

Speaker 9 (36:16):
And Patrick Baldo. God, he's a master, isn't he. He's
got some much experience and he's a great, great, great
lock in me, and they stopped moaning. The referee was
there at both sides. Both sides got penalis. I'd expect
a referee to get experience. I thought there was nothing
wrong with them. He just both sides gave where penalties

(36:37):
that he was pretty fair and Patrick didn't he but
he's a master lock and me.

Speaker 2 (36:42):
Yeah, I really like Patrick Typolo too, Dave, and having
him coming off the bench like he was last night
just added real impact and leadership as well. I think
there's a really interesting little conversation to come around our
locks and how you get them all in the team.
Scott Barrett is traveling to Perth, so he's back in
the mix, and he's your captain so he plays. And

(37:05):
then you've got Patrick Twey, plot two, Fabi and Holland,
who I thought had a good game last night, and
as the emerging man, and then to Paul Vte, who
was our best forward full stop last season. So how
do you get four locks into a twenty three man squad.
Your can't is the answer. Two starters and one off
the bench. You never have two locks on the bench
unless you have two pu vits lock loose forward cover.

Speaker 8 (37:27):
So there's some.

Speaker 2 (37:27):
Decisions to be made. Thanks for your call, Dave, appreciate it.
Hello Pete again.

Speaker 15 (37:32):
There, Poney, that's a good game last night. I reckon
ref was fear meself. I reckon decisions that he made
was correct. I think that he's just a little bit
sad leaders and it comes to that side of it.
But yeah, I still reckon old Savy. He's a leader.
He's like a worry and a trench and he fights
to the bitter end. Personally, Scott is a nice guy,

(37:53):
but I still reckon he's a better captain. He's just
he's got that power. He's he's strong, he's tough, he's
he's not scared of getting hurt, and that's what you
need as a leader. And I reckon he's got a
little bit more upper hand and the Scottie good guy
as the captainbody, he's also a good speaker. That's just
my point of view. And when it comes to the
try lines, they always get skimmed.

Speaker 16 (38:15):
And it comes to the all blacks.

Speaker 15 (38:17):
Sometimes they try too hard and they lose the ball
or whatever. They got to slow down when the try
eyes right in the front of the eyes and sometimes
it I was at the bar last night, I think
I should have go and have another drink. Are they
going to get it over a lot of times?

Speaker 2 (38:30):
And what's my choice? Do I stay and watch if
they see to say, if they score a try to
go and get another beer? That was your choice?

Speaker 7 (38:39):
Was yeah, pretty much?

Speaker 15 (38:41):
I'm not just true that you watch it. You watch
the other teams.

Speaker 17 (38:43):
They always winning, even like all the other teams, when
they're that fight, when they're at that try line, they
fight and most of the time they did it over
They got that a little bit more discipline and will power.

Speaker 15 (38:56):
We're going to get that over line. Sometimes you all
blacks and like that, they panic, they rush into it
and they throw it up.

Speaker 2 (39:03):
Good to chat to your petate, Hope you had a
great night night. By the sounds of it, you're dead
And yeah, this seems to be divided opinion on the refereeing.
And look, someone's made the point to me. You know
that if it was the other way around, we'd be
blying up deluxe ourself ourselves about the refereeing. That doesn't
seem to be a lot of argument about the yellow card,
although last night I saw some rhetoric that the Harry

(39:23):
Potter yellow card wasn't a yellow card. Well, I've watched
it about a thousand times this morning just to try
and find out, you know why people think that it wasn't.
But it was a yellow card. He's not supporting his
body weight, he puts his hands on the ground. Then
Will Jordan arrives the ruck forms he sweeps the ball
back with his hand. That's hands in the ruck. It's

(39:45):
a deliberate infringement and they're on a warning. It's a
yellow card. Ate away from one. News Talks V.

Speaker 1 (39:53):
When it's down to the line, you made a call
on eighty Weekend Sports with Jason Hine, News Talks.

Speaker 2 (40:00):
B, News TALKSB five to one. Here's my chat with
Caleb Clark after the final whistle last night, and first
of all on the fact that it was his dad
singing the National anthem.

Speaker 16 (40:09):
Yeah, it was pretty crazy.

Speaker 18 (40:10):
I actually didn't know he was going to sing the
national anthem. I didn't even hear the announcement.

Speaker 2 (40:13):
Saying he was singing it.

Speaker 18 (40:15):
I was probably midway through the English part of the anthem,
and I went, I know this voice, and I try
to hold myself together and not cry, even before I
knew it was him. But once I looked at the
screen and I went, bah, got me, man, it got
me good. So it was real special and yeah, pretty
special occasion.

Speaker 19 (40:33):
For the both of us.

Speaker 2 (40:34):
Absolutely love that. And then you get out there score
a try on your return.

Speaker 16 (40:37):
How was that?

Speaker 7 (40:37):
Oh?

Speaker 5 (40:38):
Man? That was crazy.

Speaker 18 (40:38):
Just sort of all the emotions of the year came
out at one point. I wish I could get more
into the game. I wasn't lost, but I was just
just trying to find my feet again an international forty
So again little niggle, but that's alright. We're happy to
be out there again.

Speaker 2 (40:53):
And speaking of your feet, you've got one vote off
you okay.

Speaker 18 (40:55):
Yeah, just got hip dropped and sort of injured that
same ankle that happened all those weeks ago.

Speaker 2 (41:00):
So it's not as bad as how it was before.

Speaker 18 (41:02):
I got up straight away and was still jogging on it,
which was a good sign. And then we'll just see
the viziers and the doctors and for a prayer. Sibi.

Speaker 2 (41:09):
Great to have you back, Caleb, Thank you so much.
That is our Caleb Clark. Shortly after the final whistle
last night, just a magical moment with a Ronnie singing
the national anthem, and I'm sure you've seen the vision
of Caleb tearing up once he realized it was his
dad on the mic one o'clock news next then and
Strawn with his analysis and more of your calls on
the All Blacks.

Speaker 1 (41:28):
True the only place to discuss the biggest sports issues
on and after field.

Speaker 7 (41:35):
It's all on Weekend.

Speaker 20 (41:36):
Sport with Jason Vade on your Home of Sport used
one seven Welcome in Toto Weekend Sport on News Talk
said be welcome back if you've been with us for
a wee while we're talking rugby, and Strang standing by
with his analysis of last night.

Speaker 2 (41:52):
Chance for a few more calls and texts as well.
James mccony this hour after two. It's fifty years on
Wednesday that the rumble in the jungle, not not the
rumble and jungle, the th and Manilla, Wrong One, Wrong One,
Andy Sorry. Thriller in Manila fifty years Arli Fraser, Mark

(42:12):
three took Place, Bruce will Fight Iconic. Thomas Hauser is
a prolific boxing writer and journalist. Going to join us
after two to put into context the thriller in Manilla
and just why it continues to be talked about half
a century. On a couple of text to mop up

(42:35):
before we get to anstorm kid. They Piney thought Billy
had a really good game last night, and by the way,
says Marshy, we still have the second best number nine
in the country playing for the Bay at the moment
you're talking about your man for our fuck It'sava there, Marsha.

Speaker 7 (42:49):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (42:49):
Well, I mean we're quite well soon for half backs,
aren't we. I think they're all chasing came Roy Guard
for that top spot, but courtiez Latimer, Noah Hotham, Finlay,
Christine Kyle Preston for our fucker Taval, although I get
the feeling that they're not picking him so that he
can play for the country of his birth instead, which

(43:09):
I think is a good idea. Dylan Pleager who's getting
big ramps and it's like the locks, isn't it. I
was mentioning the locks before Scott Barrett to Paul Vai,
Fabian holland Patrick Tuwey Poloto didn't even mention Sam Dowry,
who's coming back, Josh Lord and there too. So there's
a couple of positions where we are starting to build
a little bit of depth. Cameroy Guard's pass is just perfect,

(43:35):
says Al, Just like Aaron Smith's fast, precise, exactly on point.
It arrives right in front of the recipient to accelerate
onto no having to reach up or behind or check
and stop. He has pure class and all. You won't
get an argument from me, and Dave says I thought
Jordi Barrett played among his best games for the All
Blacks last night. Totally nullified the Ozzy midfield on defense,

(43:57):
passed very well and kicked accurately. He was wonderful, Thanks Davin.
Vicky says Ponty. Sorry, but when even the New Zealand
commentators were questioning the referee, you know there were issues.
I hate talking about the officials having a couple in
the family, says VICKI, but I actually think the Aussies
are justified feeling hard done by interesting. I guess I
only heard our commentary, so I'd be interested to hear

(44:21):
what Ans Strawn has to say, so I'll ask him that.
In the moment, coming up ten past one, on.

Speaker 3 (44:25):
The right hand side of the All Blacks, directly under
the uprights, roy Guard texts and goes himself tem right
guard back, Cam right Guard stores.

Speaker 2 (44:35):
And Strawn former All Blacks half back, our expert analyst
and news talks. There be commentary last night and good
to chat to you the day after. Can we start
with the man in the nine jersey, the man we
just heard score that try Cam Roygart. How influential was
he last night on his return to the Black.

Speaker 5 (44:50):
Jersey man, You'd probably take us five to ten minutes,
but this one. But to sum him up, so instrumental
in everything they did. He bought energy to the group,
he bought confidence. Just his ability to keep kissing the
Australian def events. I think for mine is one of
those things that.

Speaker 8 (45:09):
He takes pressure off others and.

Speaker 5 (45:11):
For the most he made a lot of really smart decisions.
He scans early very confident in his own ability and
I just thought overall his game was pretty clinical and yeah,
just the energy and what he brings to this group.

Speaker 8 (45:24):
It is actually now as we look.

Speaker 5 (45:25):
At it, I know we've got some good nights run
around the country made, but he is head and shoulders
above the pack and probably the only here he really
doesn't need to continue to work on it, just that
box kicking, because we're running a lot of contestables now
from the base and it just had a couple of
rope goes last night, but.

Speaker 2 (45:41):
Overall a wonderful performance even after just thirty tests. And
is he now among the most important players in this
all black setup?

Speaker 8 (45:50):
I think so. I mean, we're in the development phase.

Speaker 5 (45:52):
I even knew some public hate to hear that, but
you know, we've lost all that experience after the last
World Cup and we're now building a group as you
head to the next one, you know, and the pivotal roles,
and nine is one of those.

Speaker 8 (46:04):
Is so important. And it's great to know we've got
dets and talent and youth.

Speaker 5 (46:10):
But once you settle on a player who is so
critical to the way you play the game, not just
offensively but defensively as well.

Speaker 8 (46:17):
He's a good.

Speaker 5 (46:18):
Defender, you know you could start building your units, your
blocks around your team to have a really strong collective group.
And yes, I mean it belies belief that you know,
the thirteen games he's played. He looks like a thirty
footy Kish veteran out there. And I know, you know,
the ball provided from last night we played on top

(46:38):
of a lot. I thought the cleaner carry clean was
good too, so he got a good platform. But you know, look,
I totally agree he you know, he's so critical to
us moving forward.

Speaker 2 (46:47):
Speaking of platforms, what were the foundations for the All
Blacks when last night?

Speaker 8 (46:51):
For you, well, I think the set piece, well, it
was a bit ropie. We certainly had parity, if not better.

Speaker 5 (46:57):
So you know, as you know, mate, you have to
be clinical with your execretion around set piece.

Speaker 8 (47:04):
You've got to have a strong.

Speaker 5 (47:05):
Scrum so you can launch that a lineout as well,
but also some strums and lineus where you can put
some pressure on the opposition. I thought that was better,
certainly than Wellington. I really liked the way they attacked.
I think we mentioned in commentary last night a few times.
Their ability to get the bull that wit quickly was
was phenomenal and we really did stretch the Wallabies out
wide and they just kept going there and as nice

(47:27):
as he catered Clark with his hands on the ball
a lot Leroy Trder got involved as well, and that's
it didn't come to us when he got involved as well.

Speaker 8 (47:33):
So getting the ball to the edges and exposing the Wallabies,
I thought it was one thing, and it was nice
the way they got it there. It wasn't just catch
pass every time.

Speaker 5 (47:42):
Sometimes they ran some nice layers through the middle, those
little second man plays we talk about all the time.
So the attack coach should pat himself on the back
this morning.

Speaker 8 (47:50):
So I thought that was very good.

Speaker 5 (47:52):
And also we continued to be really well disciplined. You
remember four three four TESTSA we got fined by the
referee and we turned the ball over a lot with
our discipline. We thought of that out as well, and
I thought Addie Savia set the standard physically for us
and the rest of that forward pack as follow suit.
Was a brutal game, as you mentioned, but I thought, yeah,

(48:13):
just how I believe to contest the collisions to give
us a platform to get to the width was.

Speaker 8 (48:18):
Really really good.

Speaker 2 (48:19):
Just on the referee. And there's been a bit of
chat about his performance and in particular a few complaints
on the other side of the Tasman about the number
of penalties that were handed out, the yellow Karta, Harry
Potter and other decisions made last night. What was your
evaluation of the referee?

Speaker 5 (48:34):
And she thought it was really good because he was proactive.
You know, we could often hear his voice down the
ways in terms of explaining what's happening as the game
is unfolding, So he wasn't blowing it up and then explaining.
He was giving some productive vocals to the players, and
I thought that was really good. He's never going to
get through a Test match with the way the ruckers

(48:55):
so complicated these days, but he thought, you know, for
the most part, he got things right. He penalized teams.

Speaker 8 (49:01):
For entry a lot, some of the guys who were
losing feet, but also the side entry both teams in
that phase. He tied it up.

Speaker 5 (49:09):
He needed to tackle area and I think the game
flowed pretty well.

Speaker 8 (49:13):
I mean, it was some really nice attacking.

Speaker 5 (49:15):
Movements throughout the game from both teams, and you know
referee contributes to that flow.

Speaker 8 (49:19):
So look, if I thought he.

Speaker 5 (49:21):
Lets you a really good game, I can't understand, you know,
when a team gets penalless more than the other you
strutgnize a lot more closely what a referee does.

Speaker 8 (49:28):
But you know I gave him a big tech mark,
big tip pastmer Well, what did.

Speaker 2 (49:32):
You see happen in that ten minutes just before halftime
when Australia came back from what they were twenty points down, sorry,
seventeen points down and they scored those two converted tries
and close the gap to three? What did you see
from the Wallabies? What didn't perhaps you see from the
All Blacks in that period?

Speaker 8 (49:48):
And I think you nailed it.

Speaker 5 (49:49):
You know, as soon as body Barrett was at a
knockious injury to his ac joint went off, it would
just like to puff went out of the team and
it was almost like saying, now who's stepping up and
taking control? You know, who's vocally going to lead this
team to really keep pushing beyond the twenty to three
leads and.

Speaker 8 (50:08):
Just screw them down all the way through the halftime.

Speaker 5 (50:11):
And I just thought we just were in a bit
passive across the park vocally, physically, execution wise, we just
went flat and it's a real concern for mine. I mean,
it was a good win in the end, but it
was a concern for mine that we just got so
soft and that ten to twelve minutes to half time,

(50:31):
and it is about day management. And you mentioned as
you say that Barrett went off, not that but Kens
he's not good enough to take the reins there. But
we went flat and how are we going to get
out of that?

Speaker 8 (50:42):
So that we don't know?

Speaker 5 (50:43):
Cop up fourteen points or whatever it was in a
very short space of time and we lost a lot
of momentsa through it.

Speaker 2 (50:49):
A guy whose name you mentioned a few times last night,
whether the praise was Quinta Pia who came on in
an unfamiliar position on the left wing when Caleb Clark
went off of that England jury. Do you think Quinta
Pie's pushing for a starting spot on this team?

Speaker 8 (51:02):
Yeah?

Speaker 7 (51:02):
I do.

Speaker 21 (51:03):
I mean everything he's done so far and a dismatches.

Speaker 5 (51:05):
With his came on games against Out Africa when they
wanted the fortress a few weeks ago.

Speaker 8 (51:10):
His ability to carry, he's a good footwork, he's very
powerful ball in hand. He was playing on the wing.

Speaker 5 (51:14):
I mean, I think he's played a lot of wing
in his life. He did a job there. I'll be
being awful a little while. Man I think they should
put it back at twelve. And that's no discredit to
what Billie Barrett's been doing in that role. But I
still just think he's a fallback. I think you can
pop you know, Will Jordan on the wings. I know
that would be tough for Carter and or Clark, who
also had a really good game last night. Ronnie, Sorry,

(51:36):
Caleb Clark got a bit of an injury. But yeah,
I just think Quinn will give us something at twelve,
which we've probably been lacking, into the consistency of what
our twelve does, getting gainline, getting post contact meters. He's
a good, in your face defender. And also I thought
Billy Proctor, she probably had another really, really good game.
I thought he took a step up. His defense was superb.

(51:59):
He swum away from situations to pick up guys in
behind the attacking line. I think he was good Bull,
and he hardly made an error last night, you know,
so he's growing.

Speaker 8 (52:10):
Week by weeks.

Speaker 5 (52:11):
I just wonder whether he'd be better with quinter Pie
sitting inside him, all.

Speaker 2 (52:14):
Right, just to finish and look ahead. I guess the
trick now is consistency, isn't his? And they bet Argentina
lost to Argentina beat South Africa lost to South Africa
beat Australia. How do they make sure over the next
seven days they go to Perth and went over there.

Speaker 5 (52:28):
Well, there's some new challenges, I think Piney. I mean
they'll be able to sit down and look at that
flat patches in the game.

Speaker 8 (52:35):
They need to fix that.

Speaker 5 (52:36):
I think they need to reflect on the way they're
playing and I think it's a successful way that there
will to be more expecting now to.

Speaker 8 (52:42):
Play the width. So my question is as they go
up to Perth, it'll be hot airs up there. You know,
the long traveler, it is taxing to get all the
way up to Perth.

Speaker 5 (52:52):
Do they have any just variations about just rather than
go to width again, so reinforce the good things.

Speaker 8 (52:58):
Bring a little bit more variation in.

Speaker 5 (53:00):
But you know, definitely work out some way some strategy
of stopping those flat patches and games, because the Wallabies will.

Speaker 8 (53:10):
Take a lot of confidence from the game.

Speaker 5 (53:11):
Finally enough, I thought they scrambled defensive man brilliantly at
the time. They held us up from many occasions. So
they take that confidence away back to Perth and they'll
come hissing in front of a big home crowd, I'd imagine.

Speaker 22 (53:24):
So.

Speaker 5 (53:26):
The orblects you have to work on those primary those
flat patches.

Speaker 2 (53:30):
Always enjoy chatting rugby with you and working alongside you, mate,
Thanks for your time this afternoon. Thanks and Andron our
expert analyst jee. He provides some incredibly good insight. Every
time I have the opportunity to do a radio commentary
with Ant up in the box alongside Elliott Smith, he
just gets such a deeper understanding of the game. He's

(53:53):
just got such an astute rugby brain, an straw and
he's in the Herald now writing regular articles.

Speaker 5 (53:57):
There.

Speaker 2 (53:59):
Really really astute, all right, one nineteen. Look, I'm not
saying you're not a stude. I'm not saying or not
entitled to your opinion on the game as well. We've
got a few, well a few moments. It's quite a
few more minutes actually, James McConney jew around one forty five.
So between now and then we can we can mop
up the rest of the Rugby chat anything in particular

(54:19):
that you want to pick up on last night. We
couldn't get everybody on the air last hour, but there
is the opportunity now for you eight hundred and eighty
ten eighty, and maybe we look ahead as well at
what you might do six days from now in terms
of the All Blacks team, What would you be doing?
No Boatom Barrett. We know that he's not on the plane.
The ac joint, the shoulder injury he suffered last night

(54:42):
will keep him out. And no Ethan de Groot either
he also suffered an HIA or had a hia last night,
failed at twelve days stand down, so he's not going
to be there either. So what do you do at
first five? Presumably it's Damien mackenzie. Is anybody else there
last night who you would like to see given a go,
given a crack? I really like the back three, I

(55:05):
have to say. I like the jaw Gorden Clark Carter
back three. I think Leroy Carter is doing a terrific
job at becoming an All Black, isn't he? I really
like the guy.

Speaker 4 (55:18):
Hello Julie, Oh hello there. I just wanted to say
that I'm a bit of a paid of McKenzie and
I know that Barrett Scott, sorry not Scott, he missed
several kicks, so when Mackenzie came on, he got three

(55:40):
out of three kicks and they went. They were quite
quite kicks were quite back away, so I think he
did really well. And I also think that a lot
of the teams now, the main teams like Australia, South
Africa and Argent Tita, but a sort of catching, you know,

(56:03):
there's not a lot between the teams sometimes and means
that's my feeling. I'm also pleased with the Chiefs that
are in the All Blacks, really pleased with Parker and
Lee Roy. I think he's had about two tries the
last two tests, so he deserves his place. And I
think most of them did really well and the caitancy

(56:26):
was very good. Sorry about the ones that got injured,
but I'm finding it really really Yeah, I just really
enjoy the games now. And yeah, that's about all I
had to say. But yeah, I think Mackenzie's definitely got
a part to play. And you know, his goal kicking

(56:48):
was really topped last night.

Speaker 2 (56:50):
Yep, Julie, I agree, he did kick well. I'm not
sure what's happening with Biden Barrett's goal kicking at the moment.
Obviously he's injured now, but that was that happened after
his kicks a goal obviously last night. Yeah, it's just
a bit off at the moment. I'm not sure why,
but yeah, Damien came on and kicked, well he did.
I don't think you'll lose anything. In fact, you'll probably
gain it in terms of goal kicking. By heaven, Damien. There,

(57:12):
Thanks Julie, appreciate your call. Hey Ben, Yeah, very good, Ben,
very good.

Speaker 16 (57:19):
Yep, I'll just turned the alreadio down there so the
eko doesn't happen. Hey, nitpicker, nitpicker alert, go on. I
thought I thought we were doing the bonus point tries
and trying to get the points at Rachel, you know,
to think about the championship and whatnot. And I saw

(57:41):
the South Africans play and they did the same to
the to the argis uh well yeah, and you know,
coming from a from that time when we used to
be a second half team, I mean it was we
used to always go down and half time under and

(58:02):
you know know we're a second half team.

Speaker 8 (58:06):
Look.

Speaker 16 (58:07):
But yeah, individual performances out of the gate, don't get
me wrong, mere, and hey we won, so you know,
is Larry just.

Speaker 2 (58:17):
On the bonus point stuff? Is just being just on
just on the bonus point stuff that you were mentioning there.
So you've got to score three, three more tries than
your opposition to get the bonus points. So yeah, so
what I mean we got four last night they got three,
So that was never really on the table or did
you think that we should.

Speaker 16 (58:38):
I just thought that, hey, we've got this Championship Cup
still in the cupboard, providing that we do well against
Australia and leave the door open third and Argentina to
do well against the spring Box, you know, And yeah
that didn't happen.

Speaker 6 (58:55):
So yeah, n that.

Speaker 16 (58:59):
It's time positive, funny and perfect that you know, we
have to set the bar as far as rugby goes
in this world and and it's humbling to see the
other teams come up to that. We've got to answer
Beck you know, Kidwell Smith and Tony Brown in the mix.
It's tumbling, you know, but it's yeah, yeah, not.

Speaker 2 (59:22):
Being here mate, We need to be Yeah yeah, sorry, Ben,
I'm sorry mate. I do need to move. We've got
some other course to get to. But no, I think
we all need to accept that that there are a
lot of good rugby teams now, you know, there really are,
and you look at the rugby Championship table, and yes,
it is out of our hands. All we can do

(59:42):
is beat Australia next week. South Africa the state of
the table after five games each, South Africa fifteen points,
New Zealand fourteen, Australia eleven, Argentina nine. So if New
Zealand were to beat Australia next week with a bonus point,
what's that nineteen points? We would need South Africa to
either lose to Argentina or win without a bonus point.
Their points differential is plus fifty five. Ours incredibly is

(01:00:05):
minus six. I guess that's a result of losing by
such a big margin in Wellington. But yeah, the Rugby
Championship is still there for New Zealand to win, but
we need help from Argentina in their game against South Africa. Mike, Hi, Yeah,
I get a piney.

Speaker 21 (01:00:20):
I've got a big selection kind of point out there
to put the Josh Jacob on the reserve bench and
the Perth Test to come off the bench. He's one
of the form first five in New Zealand and I
think he's done enough to warrant selection.

Speaker 2 (01:00:39):
Yeah, he won't be there, Mike, but I think he
may be in the conversation for the Northern Tour. They
haven't taken him to Perth. They've gone with what they've
got from what we can understand. They haven't called in
any first five cover. But I think Josh Jacob is
mounting a really strong case to be on that Northern Tour.

Speaker 21 (01:00:59):
Yeah, I think because we need to get past Bowden
because you know, he's thirty five now, but he's still
a good player. But we need to build some depth
first five. But I don't think McKenzie's the answer. He's
a bench player and he can't control a match for
eighty minutes.

Speaker 2 (01:01:11):
You know, he's too erratic, you know, I like, I
like Damian McKenzie in twenty three.

Speaker 8 (01:01:17):
I do.

Speaker 2 (01:01:17):
I think that's his role to play. And look, more
than once this year, including last night, he's had to
come on, you know, as an injury replacement rather than
as an impact player, and I honestly think that there
was just a bit of a drop and composure last
night when he came on and Bowden went off. Josh
Jacob seems like a very very steady first five to me, Mike.

Speaker 21 (01:01:39):
Yeah, he's the future, and he's composed and he's a
good kind of background in the Taranicky area, and you
know they we're doing really well.

Speaker 8 (01:01:49):
He's managing the game.

Speaker 21 (01:01:50):
He puts them in the corners and they set up
a camp on bline, the very very patient and they
go about their business methodically.

Speaker 10 (01:01:57):
You know, Yeah, I do.

Speaker 2 (01:01:58):
It's good to Yeah, it's good to have that option
because we do have to keep regenerating. You're right, Mike,
I mean, yeah, Boden's you know, he's coming towards the end.
Damie McKenzie's not a young guy either. Even when Richie
Moonga comes back, you know, it's not as though he's
a he's a twenty one twenty so year Rold. We
did need to have these guys coming through like Jacob,
like Reuben Love others as well. So yeah, like I said,
I would look out for Josh Jacob's name on the

(01:02:21):
on the list for the end of year too, mate.
And yeah, let's chat again when that happens and he
gets an all black stabut potentially appreciate you call Mike Denny, Hi, Hi,
here's it going.

Speaker 8 (01:02:31):
There, parady?

Speaker 2 (01:02:32):
Very good Denny, good good good.

Speaker 23 (01:02:34):
Hey, you just watching the game last night, and you
know I watched a Satiti and I saw him break
the line a few times, and every time he gets
that ball he always gets an offload. Yeah, and I reckon,
I personally reckon that you could actually play Satiti like
a Marano at sick.

Speaker 2 (01:02:48):
And five and put him out in the begs, you reckon, Denny.

Speaker 23 (01:02:51):
Yeah, put him out in the backs and have him
crashing like a Marnanu. But I'd actually have them when
they're on attack. I'd have him actually back a little
bit further so when they're running at that line, they've
got more speed. It's hard to stop the big guy
at speed, you know.

Speaker 2 (01:03:03):
Yeah, yeah, a lot. It's It's funny, isn't you know,
And that a guy like Wallace to tit with the
ball skills he has. You know, maybe he doesn't quite
have the top end speed to be in the backs, Danny,
but you're certainly right he can get his hands freehi
and get the ball away. I reckon. If you said
to him, look, we're going to give it a crack,
he'd probably okay, I'll ever go.

Speaker 23 (01:03:21):
At that absolutely, you know. I mean the faster boys
have to be fair of route back, you know, and
you know, like with Evil and Jordie, I mean fall
back big tall guy, got a big kick on him.
He'd be my last line of defense.

Speaker 6 (01:03:37):
In the right place.

Speaker 2 (01:03:38):
Yeah, absolutely good on your Danny. Hey, I'm interesting to
hear and straw and say as well he likes Quinta
Pier or the idea of Quinta pie getting a start
at twelve and Jordi back to fall back Will Jordan
onto the wing. There may still be some some shuffling
to do there. I don't think we've landed on our
best back three. I think that is probably the if
you look at combinations, whether it be a loose forward

(01:03:59):
triover locking combination of midfield combo. I think the back
three is still a very live conversation. I think we
know Will Jordan's one of the three, but I don't
think we can say with any degree of absolute certainty
that he's going to be fallback. He could end up
on the wing. The back three is a live conversation,
and I say i'd say will be until the next
Rugby World Come one twenty nine. Good to chat, dwnny

(01:04:21):
I one hundred and eighty ten eighty back with more
after this one.

Speaker 1 (01:04:24):
Crouch hold Ngage Weekend Sport with Jason Tame and GJ.
Gunner homes New Zealand's first trusted home, Milder news TALKSB
news talks.

Speaker 2 (01:04:34):
There have been a bunch of texts coming through Piney
Haggle was two pie when he came on. I think
he deserves a start, but also Proctor definitely getting better
as well. Agree on both fronts.

Speaker 24 (01:04:43):
Hello, Dave, Yeah, good Amen, Oh good game. They got
it out so they could do it in the last
twenty minutes for seven done for most.

Speaker 8 (01:04:50):
Of the year.

Speaker 2 (01:04:50):
Yeah, good point, good points.

Speaker 24 (01:04:52):
A couple of observations before I get onto the main
game yesterday. You think I only's going to be coming
back and maybe Reese. I think the days are done.

Speaker 2 (01:05:02):
Yeah, I can't see sever reefs coming back. Dave, I
just don't see scenario under which he is among the
top five outside backs anymore.

Speaker 6 (01:05:11):
So no for him.

Speaker 2 (01:05:12):
I think Ricco Yoani still has a role to play
for the All Blacks. I just don't quite know what
it is.

Speaker 6 (01:05:17):
Just to get a shed together.

Speaker 24 (01:05:18):
I think that's the problem my impersonal opinions.

Speaker 2 (01:05:23):
I don't Yeah, I don't know. I can't get inside
Ricca Yoani's head, so I don't know. It's it must
have been difficult for him to have to go back
onto the wing. I know, you do what is best
for the team, but he's played so often at center
in the last what three four five years to go
back out on the wing, it just looked like it
was taking him a bit of time to adjust. Maybe
he's lost a yet of speed. I don't know, but

(01:05:43):
but yeah, now I just wonder what his role to
play in the All Blacks are still very experienced. Still
a role to play, I'm sure, I just.

Speaker 24 (01:05:49):
Don't know what it is.

Speaker 8 (01:05:50):
Be interesting. Now on to the main game.

Speaker 5 (01:05:52):
Yes, I you go on.

Speaker 2 (01:05:54):
I actually thought North Harbor were going to take that
bloody shield.

Speaker 24 (01:05:56):
You know, well, well here's the first Oh yeah, was
it you a couple of days ago or the other
guy saying it? North Haven might just make your season?

Speaker 5 (01:06:05):
And one.

Speaker 24 (01:06:07):
Jeff Awson with your heckmands.

Speaker 2 (01:06:09):
Absolutely And I watched some highlights of this game, and
Otager were better. I mean, at North Harbor have had
a pretty grim season, haven't they. But funny things happen
when that log is sitting on the sideline. And I
thought they and they did initially, Dy'd get up for it.
You know, they were ahead. I think they scored the
first try. Then there were fourteen seven ahead. But then
once the Tiger got their noses in front, it was
kind of one way traffic and I'm pleased. I must
say for my many good friends in the Dunedin region

(01:06:32):
that you're going to get the shield you know, to
enjoy across the across the summer months.

Speaker 24 (01:06:35):
Now the warning the young guy before you're saying that
you know South Africa and we're only one point behind him.
If you've seen the heights of that going, South Africa
has just taken another step up from the orbitacks. It's
coming sixty three points, unbelievable and Argentina is supposed to
be right now.

Speaker 2 (01:06:51):
Yeah, Argentina are pretty good defensive side. Normally they fell
off a few tackles at the end.

Speaker 24 (01:06:55):
But did you see yeah, yeah leading it at some stage.

Speaker 2 (01:06:59):
Did you see that Cheeseln Colby incident when he dropped
the He did a little drop kick pass from behind
the in the end goal area and the referee team
the deem that it was a yes. So what happens
So the ball gets comes back chessln Cobby forces the
ball for the line dropout and then he he kicks
it to one of his teammates who he who was
going to then do the do the line dropout, but

(01:07:21):
he drop kicked it to his mate. The ball went
into the field of play Argentina. Guy picks it up,
dives over and scores a try. They go back and
look at it and say, yeah, Chesslin, that counts as
a line dropout, mate, it's a try.

Speaker 24 (01:07:35):
Oh interesting referee decisions unless it was one of Ready's
official plays with.

Speaker 6 (01:07:40):
The line out.

Speaker 7 (01:07:41):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:07:41):
I guess what you'd say is if Cheslyn Cobby had
drop kicked it into the into the arms of his
own teammate the run length of the field, it would
have been hailed as genius. Dave good to chat mate,
enjoy the shield.

Speaker 10 (01:07:52):
Andrew High High spoke to yesterday for the game in
the scand zone.

Speaker 2 (01:07:59):
Yes, good, oh good mate, it was good to good
to get the chance to chat face to face with you.
I'm just trying to remember your prediction and I think
you might have been quite close.

Speaker 25 (01:08:08):
As I said fifteen plush did.

Speaker 2 (01:08:11):
I was just trying to be nice Andrew, Sorry, mate.

Speaker 26 (01:08:14):
Yeah, I said I had had a call every before,
so yeah, I said, I call through and yeah, it's
a pretty good game on TV yet, but not at
the game.

Speaker 25 (01:08:24):
I actually thought that we were It was pretty even matched.
I don't really feel like we were that dominant. A
lot of the commentary and talk today is that we
were dominant. But I have to watch it on TV.

Speaker 2 (01:08:35):
I guess, yeah, I didn't as I was watching it.
It's funny, isn't it. You you're a bit like me.
You watch the game live and then you get so
used to watching games on TV, don't you, And you
get all the angles and the analysis and all that
sort of thing, and you often have to watch it
back if you if you're at the game, watch it
back to sort of catch up on a few things.
I felt it felt like an even game to me
as well. Andrew. I thought there was a period early

(01:08:55):
in the second half. Was it when James' kinda didn't
find touch with that penalty and then Australia had a
couple of penalties against them and all of it. I
just felt like the momentum of the game shifted at
that stage.

Speaker 8 (01:09:05):
Yeah.

Speaker 25 (01:09:06):
Yeah, And I think the Wallabies will kind of feel
like they let one slip together us because they were
right out at the year really, so I think they'll
be a bit disappointed, but I was kind of expecting
you after that lost a couple of weeks ago. I
thought the All Blacks sort of had to come out
and really dominate and had a big victory, not in
terms of points, but just be dominant for the majority

(01:09:28):
of the game, and just didn't really see that.

Speaker 14 (01:09:30):
So got a little bit.

Speaker 25 (01:09:32):
Yeah, a little bit disappointed, but you know, a win's
a win, and something got to take it.

Speaker 2 (01:09:36):
Yep, absolutely right. Hey, nice to meet you yesterday. Mate,
Thanks for stepping up to the mic and things. For
giving us a bell today. May I'm sure we'll talk
again at some stage in the next a little while.
They will do us for All Blacks talk. I think
I think we've got to move. Yes, we do. Thanks
for everybody's trying to get throw on the phones and
all the text as well. Just a couple of final ones. Hey,
they're pinety happy to get the win, even though I
thought for most of it we were seeking best, says Luke.

(01:09:57):
My big concern is protecting our own ball at the breakdown.
Sure we're winning a few on defense, but without looking
at stats, I'd say we're losing more than we're winning.
Nice to see the women arraysed last week and finished third.
Indeed it was luke, thanks mate. Chile are wonder ahead
of New Zealand. This is the Under twenty World Cup,
the opening match. This is in Chile, so it's the
host nation. Big crowd there. New Zealand had a really

(01:10:17):
good chance at nilaw to open the scoring accordn't. Chili
went down the other end and scored there. I had
one nil with twelve minutes ago. And this is the
first group match for New Zealand at the Under twenty
World Cup in Chile. James mccony up next, You be
the TMO.

Speaker 1 (01:10:34):
Have yours say on eight hundred and eighty ten eighty
Weekends Sport with Jason Paine and GJ. Gunnerholmes, new Zealand's
most trusted home builder News Talks.

Speaker 2 (01:10:43):
They'd be news Talks had been Weekend Sport. It's coming
up eighteen away from two Sunday afternoons. James mcconey Hello, James, Hello.

Speaker 27 (01:10:51):
Piney, saw you last night and doing great work. Obviously,
there's ZBAT team right beside the ACC team at Eden Park.

Speaker 2 (01:11:00):
The ACC team just does I did. I did enjoy
a social media post. I'm not sure if you've seen,
and you probably have of the comparison between your lead
caller at the ACC, Mike Lane and his team notes
in front of him, which is basically just a list
of names, alongside Elliott Smith, the z B caller. With
a bit more detail, you might.

Speaker 27 (01:11:21):
Say, yeah, we were pretty much cheating, like you do,
you know, like you shouldn't do in an exam off
Elliott's notes, which are impressive, and thank goodness, the glasses
right there so we can see him. We've really just
got nicknames listed for everybody. We won't have to go
through those today. But how good was Cam Roygard? Oh goodness?

Speaker 2 (01:11:43):
Honestly, I just you know, you don't want to sort of,
I guess credit the upswing of a team. You know,
we'll credit one guy with the upswing of a team.
But man, how much have we missed that guy? And
how much further ahead of all of the other halfbacks
is he at the moment?

Speaker 8 (01:12:00):
Yeah?

Speaker 28 (01:12:00):
I know.

Speaker 27 (01:12:01):
It's interesting because after only thirteen tests, is so important
to the All Black Chiff to go back to people
like Michael Jones and Joan oh Lomo, even Andrew Mertins
early towards was really crucial to the All Blacks right,
and so that's where cam Royguard is right now. And
it's great. We're watching an athlete peaking and his confidence

(01:12:21):
as an stram mentioned is at another level, just confidence
in his game. The good thing is that he's twenty four,
so twenty six at the next World Cup Ardiot the
one after that. We hoped we've got a few more
years of cam Royguard, but you know, in a bigger
halfback as well, when everyone else seems to be going smaller.
Of the major nations Ireland and France and South Africa,

(01:12:45):
even Australia quite small, you know, so he bucks the trend.
He's a freak, yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:12:50):
Just and yeah, that robust nature that he brings to
to his play in all areas and just as little
it had I'd forgotten. I watch the highlights back this morning.
A little little tap and go from a penalty, just
you know, putting down in the mind of the opposition.
He snipes for the tribe that Lee Roy Carter scored.
The second one he snips, bring a couple of defenders
in and makes it a room for Leroy Carter. He's

(01:13:11):
just he's just at the scene of the crime every
time New Zealand have a significant moment.

Speaker 27 (01:13:16):
Yeah, And next on Leroy Carter and Simon Parker. I
just wanted to give a shout out to him because
that's taking on a lot early in their careers. And
I thought Leroy Carter's tackle on Corey Tool in full
flight when I mean Corey Tool is so rapid and
he was sidestepping Lero Carter read it and meet him
and absolutely planted him in the ground. So you know,

(01:13:37):
having a defender like that is great out wide. And
Simon Parker, you can't underrate, overrate you know what he's
done because he's he's freeing out Artie Savia, he's freeing
up while he's doing the graft and and he's doing
it well. So shout out to them. And also I
thought out midfield, you know, played well shutting down Sole

(01:14:00):
Jordi Barrett. I like that hybrid role from fullback, you know,
to second five. I mean why not first fives are
always in the backfield. And Quinty Pye coming on was fantastic.
But there was one moment Poney and I know that
you played a clip earlier of Caleb Clark when he
realized he was surprised by a Ronnie Clark, his dad

(01:14:23):
singing the anthem. What the voice of an angel? But
I know that you spoke to him, but he also
spoke the sky and this caught my attention, so herriots.

Speaker 18 (01:14:31):
I had my eyes closed for most of us, I
wasn't crying, but then thought the English part, probably halfway
through the English part of the anthem, I'm like, I
know this voice.

Speaker 5 (01:14:39):
I know this voice.

Speaker 2 (01:14:40):
And the whole time while he's next to.

Speaker 18 (01:14:41):
Me tapping me on the shoulder, going yes bro, and
I was like, I opened my eyes and I look
at the screen.

Speaker 2 (01:14:46):
I see my dad.

Speaker 28 (01:14:47):
I went.

Speaker 18 (01:14:49):
That's when I just sort of bawling my eyes out.
So I was real special. I was just talking to
my family. None of them knew.

Speaker 2 (01:14:55):
Either, so that was real cool.

Speaker 8 (01:14:57):
I love that.

Speaker 2 (01:14:58):
I love that. It's so authentic, isn't it.

Speaker 27 (01:15:00):
Yeah, It's just an amazing moment. And you think, like,
you know, how Americans do that, do that quite well,
just you know, making things poignant. Whitney Houston singing the
national anthem at the Super Bowl, things like that, and
that was another level. So we are owning it in
terms of theatrics, feeling the fields. We got everyone in

(01:15:23):
the fields with that I defy anyone not to have
felt something when they saw a Ronnie singing and Caleb crying.
Come on, now, it's one of the great moments in
New Zealand sporting history.

Speaker 2 (01:15:34):
And tens of thousands, if not more, of people have
said that video is gone. As they say, James, it's
gone viral. So yeah, it's everywhere. It's everywhere, and you're right,
a very very special and very poignant moment. Now, can
the Broncos beat the Panthers tonight or not?

Speaker 27 (01:15:51):
Well, it's interesting because you've got the two most influential
players on both sides similar roughly the same size, Nathan
Cleary and Reese Walsh, and they will have their hands
on everything. And you couldn't think of two players who
are more different. Just you know, lightning in a bottle.
He is reslightning, he's you know, mercurial. Sometimes things don't

(01:16:13):
come off, but he's really got you know, he's shot
out of a cannon speed. He's just so dangerous. And
then Nathan Cleary is the master at this level, just
the puppet master, pulling the strings and and so I'm
I'm thinking the Panthers can get up and and I
like that because I know some people want the Broncos

(01:16:35):
to go through, but for me, it's like heavyweight boxing,
you're only the champ if you beat the champ. So
I actually do want the Storm to play the Panthers.

Speaker 2 (01:16:45):
It's funny at the start, sort of at the start
of the season, even halfway through the season, we're like, hey,
there's some you know, different teams. Canberra is going to
you know, do Well, and Brisbane are there or thereabouts,
and the Bulldogs and who knows even the Warriors. But
here we are one week away from having the Storm
against the Panthers again.

Speaker 27 (01:17:00):
Yeah, and that's a great narrative because I like the
fact that the cream rises to the top. You don't
want to have to have somebody who can't handle the
enormity of the Grand Final because that's even more pressure, right,
So yeah, bring on the heavyweights and of course if
whoever goes through to that Grand Final. Now that jar
Orham Hughes is combining with Harry Grant, I mean, there's

(01:17:22):
two of the best in history. And I think Jerome
is I mean as a KIWIS player, I mean, and
myself as a Kiwis fan watching them all out there
contributing I mean there's about five on each side, you know,
five kiwis, maybe more.

Speaker 2 (01:17:38):
Yeah, it's good to see the kiwi's involved in the
business end, even if the Warriors aren't to be Hey
are the women's are black Ferns come home with a
bronze medal from the Rugby World Cup, beating France in
the game for third and fourth this morning. How do
you think they'll reflect on their tournament.

Speaker 27 (01:17:57):
Yeah, they'll be bummed out because they definitely had the
potential to go and trouble England. I don't know if
they would have got up and beaten England, but that
was really good to see them, you know, get it together,
just put there's some Champagne rugby. I mean, the try
Rene home score is a beautiful team try So the

(01:18:18):
school level is elite and I think there's a few
players who really stood out, and of course we're just
waiting for someone like Georgia Miller is a bit like
cam Royguard in terms of her influence on that team
already you know, early doors and she's pretty much the
best player, so what's you know, her development with interest.
But I was caught by the fact that John Mitchell

(01:18:41):
a redemption story for Mitch who coached the England women
to World Cup glory.

Speaker 7 (01:18:46):
And I know that.

Speaker 27 (01:18:47):
You know he was made fun of when he was
with the Old Blacks talking about the journey and also
when he was Western Force coach. He really wanted this.

Speaker 2 (01:18:56):
A proper rectangular stadium. I repeat, a proper rectangular stadium.

Speaker 27 (01:19:05):
Well he got what he wanted, Pony.

Speaker 8 (01:19:07):
He was in Twiking and you know what that is.

Speaker 27 (01:19:10):
It's a proper rectangular stadium and he brought it home.
So and he talked about it in the press conference
that it was like climbing a mountain. So he hasn't
let go of the journey at all. He's just going
up instead of across. So good on you, Mitch. He's
one of my childhood heroes when he was captain of
Ye Cuttle and I as a fan, I actually sends

(01:19:31):
him a lot of faxes back in the day. You
remember that I actually got found guilty of Mitch faxing,
so had.

Speaker 8 (01:19:38):
To stop that.

Speaker 2 (01:19:39):
Just before you go, are you keeping an eye on
the Ryder Cup?

Speaker 27 (01:19:42):
Yes, Scottie Scheffler has just got the worst record ever,
the first player in Ryder Cup history to go oh
and for the first four sessions, so I can't believe that.
So yes, Europe incredible. It's hard to remember the golf
because everyone's pulling focus from wags to fans. But it's
a good theater and it finishes tomorrow morning, so if

(01:20:02):
you can get up early, it still might be worth
a watch.

Speaker 7 (01:20:05):
I reckon James.

Speaker 2 (01:20:06):
Always good chatting to you. Great to see you in
person as well a couple of days ago. Hopefully that
happens again soon. Our will chat next Sunday if that
works with your very busy schedule.

Speaker 27 (01:20:15):
Oh, I was as emotional as Caleb seeing you at
sky It was great for me mate, beautiful, beautiful moment.

Speaker 2 (01:20:21):
Thanks good to chat as always, James mcconey, huge part
of our Sundays about this time every Sunday afternoon on
Weekend Sport ninety two.

Speaker 1 (01:20:30):
The good from the track, field and the court on
your home of sort Weekend Sport with Jason Vine News.

Speaker 2 (01:20:37):
Talk News Talks b just on five and a half
away from two, just circling back to the rugby quickly,
Cam Roy Guard the standout performer for the All Blacks
last night. I think I saw one Man of the match,
Player of the day, Standout performer Poll that had him
at sixty five sixty six percent of the votes that
had come through for the most Influential player out there.
This off the back, of course, a period where he

(01:20:59):
was on the sidelines through injury. How was cam Roy
guard after the game last night?

Speaker 5 (01:21:04):
It was awesome.

Speaker 22 (01:21:05):
Yeah, to replicate Test match footy and you know against
the Wallabies.

Speaker 2 (01:21:09):
We've had some quality of Test matches in.

Speaker 22 (01:21:11):
The past and yeah, this one was no different where
the whole had to go, the whole eighty. You know,
they're a team that's got a lot of heart, especially
under Joschmit's coaching, and yeah, I guess put out the
performance there close it out was pretty special.

Speaker 2 (01:21:24):
It looked pretty special when you score that try at
the end of their but of a botion wrapped around
that one. Yeah, that's right.

Speaker 22 (01:21:28):
I was pretty nervous once I threw the ball away.
I was pretty aware of the shot clock. I didn't
want to do any stitch ups, so any muck ups
for the butt dmak any more pressure than he was under.
But yeah, I might get might get a word to
after after the game, I think, But yeah, it's hard
hard to beat a moment like that.

Speaker 2 (01:21:44):
Scoring pretty much under the post in front of a
Pat gad and park. How have the last four or
five weeks been for you watching the team not being
able to help. Yeah, pretty frustrating. And I guess, you
know the emotion of my not being in the group.
I was probably writing it like a fan, you know.

Speaker 22 (01:21:59):
And there are some performances obviously the South Africa tests
that we didn't get right, and it hurt a lot
to be able to I guess, not add my value
and being able to be a part of that, And yeah,
I guess it's just so grateful to be back, and yeah,
moments like this is what it's worth us while we
work hard, and yeah, just pretty stoked.

Speaker 2 (01:22:18):
That is cam Roy Guard after the final whistle last night.
It's approaching four to two after two o'clock. Nee Fisher Black,
She's become the first Key WE writer male or female
to get on the podium at the Road World Champs.
Second in the Elite road race in Rwanda this morning.
Going to put that into context for you with dal
Woodfoot and it's coming up fifty years since the Thriller

(01:22:40):
in Manila, the third and final professional bout between Muhammad
Ali and Joe Fraser for the Heavyweight Championship of the World.
We're still talking about it half a century later. Prolific
boxing writer Thomas Hauser.

Speaker 7 (01:22:52):
On that.

Speaker 1 (01:22:55):
The only place to discuss the biggest boards issues on
and after fields, It's all on Winter and Ford with
Jason Paine on your Home of Sport.

Speaker 8 (01:23:05):
What used to.

Speaker 2 (01:23:08):
Six minutes past two? I'm Jason Pine. This is Weekend Sport.
Annie McDonald is producing the show. We're here for another hour,
then Tim Beveridge takes over to the Weekend Collector. Before
we get there, I want to talk some boxing. The
fifty year anniversary of the Thriller in Manila coming up
this week. I want to relive that with Thomas Houser,
prolific boxing writer and journalist. I want to cover off

(01:23:32):
Neave Fisher blacks history making podium at the UCI World
Championships in Rwanda. First time any key we male or
female has ever got on the podium at an elite
road race at a UCI World Championship. Cycling expert Dell
Woodford going to talk to us about that and NRL

(01:23:53):
as well, with Brad Walter, the Melbourne Stormer through to
the Grand Final. Who joins them Broncos or Panthers will
preview that one for you as well. Email here from
Glenn Jason. Hello, I know the All Blacks will be
your focus today. Spare a moment to mention the incredible
Crystal Palace. This morning was a meeting of the only
two unbeaten sides in the Premier League. Now there's only one.

(01:24:17):
Palace will almost denied their rightful and deserved win by
a late Liverpool equalizer. But we are a serious team,
fearing nobody. When our eighteen games unbeaten in all competitions,
twelve in the Premier League, that is no fluke, says Glenn.
After decades of angst and often misery as a Palace fan,

(01:24:37):
it is now a joyous and exciting experience every time
they take the field. Come on you, Palace, says Glenn.
Good on you, Glenn, glad you enjoyed that. As a
Liverpool fan, I didn't enjoy it quite so much, but
I'm delighted for you, my friend. Thank you for taking
the time to email. You might even find your team
showing up in our next feature, which of course always

(01:24:59):
comes around it about this time on Weekend Sport. We
like to get you up to date with some of
the stuff that might have scatted your attention some of
the sporting moments from the last twenty four hours or
so that you might have missed in Casimist. It's starting
with the Australian National Basketball League and another disappointing outing
for the Breakers, falling to the Wildcats at home last night.

(01:25:21):
You're on the longest road trip in the NBL.

Speaker 3 (01:25:24):
Here's really pop put me in the game. I've got
him and the Wildcats of Rally, New Zealand led seventy
four sixty four.

Speaker 2 (01:25:35):
It's twenty's of four since then. Good night too little,
says ad else. So the Breakers zero and three, desperately
searching for their first win under new ownership. On the
subject of Glenn's email, it took ninety seven minutes, but
Crystal Palace are now the only undefeated team in the
Premier League.

Speaker 18 (01:25:57):
Hold him by lubber good trajectory on that shoes has
a katy.

Speaker 7 (01:26:06):
He's been.

Speaker 2 (01:26:08):
Crystal Palace toupled.

Speaker 5 (01:26:11):
The Chapions leave the eighth minute at stuffage time.

Speaker 2 (01:26:16):
He never calls un beating start to the season. He's
surely over Big Tree for Crystal Palace. Yes, they're very
late when are handing Liverpool their first defeat of the
season to the Australian Rules Final thumping performance saw the
Brisbane Lions go back to back in the AFL pick up.
Here by lecture super for hands for McCluggage and meal.

Speaker 7 (01:26:38):
He says, you run, You're better of this than I have.

Speaker 28 (01:26:41):
He can sneak one here a clogging tram, He's got another.

Speaker 2 (01:26:47):
This celebration is kicked on mcclaggage. He's gotta be in
the voting. This is one of the great Grand Fold
victories that I've ever seen. One two seventy five the
Brisbane Lions over Geelong. Meantime, closer to home, the Ranfurley
Shield has been locked away for the summer up and
right touch Jeffer Chase, where's the belt? Who's going to

(01:27:09):
get it?

Speaker 5 (01:27:10):
Oo?

Speaker 2 (01:27:11):
O'tago have sport? And there's that Dyler Pledge wonder Voyer.
Unbelievable stuff from this magic man Otiger winning forty one
twenty six, leaving North Harbor oh and nine just one
last chance to register a win this NPC season. The
spring Box smashed Argentina on the back of a thirty
seven point outing for their star first five.

Speaker 5 (01:27:34):
Playing on advantage still Young hundred vessels and fine bergem
Bamazulu and.

Speaker 2 (01:27:43):
He has a hat trick, So a hat trick forr
Sasha find the Gamasulu in German the first tree driers
of his chest career sixty seven point thirty. The final
score to South Africa over Argentina. The Black Ferns at
least leave their Rugby World Cup with some silverware.

Speaker 22 (01:28:02):
Does well to get the skipper to Grackson Science and
McGee who puts her ears downe and finds.

Speaker 19 (01:28:08):
Georgia Mala, Georgia Mala. She's done it in a.

Speaker 2 (01:28:13):
Fall tournaments Altos Laura Bayfield and they go back to back,
two back to back, vading France in the third place
play off forty two to twenty six. But it was
England finally, who are women's rugby World champions? Had did
it been their line? Now they have got eyes on
Canada's Eddie Ward goes once more. Eddie Ward is close away.

(01:28:35):
It comes on netews.

Speaker 3 (01:28:41):
Ellas nephews the seak and try in the final perhaps
the one the line steed at home.

Speaker 1 (01:28:51):
When it's down to the line. You made a call
on eight hundred and eighty ten eighty Weekend Sport with
Jason Pine News Talks.

Speaker 2 (01:28:58):
EB News TALKSB Weekend Sport twelve minutes past two October
fe This coming Wednesday will mark the fiftieth anniversary of
the Thriller in Manila. Regarded by men, he is the
greatest prize fight of all time. The third and final
professional bout between Muhammad Ali and Joe Fraser for the
heavyweight Championship of the World.

Speaker 7 (01:29:20):
Hurt Radri's badly hurt.

Speaker 28 (01:29:28):
That was the biggest round of the fight for anybody.
Fraser was within in a bunch or two going down.
The doctor comes up and looks at Fraser. I think
it's going to be over.

Speaker 7 (01:29:43):
It's all over.

Speaker 12 (01:29:48):
Muhammad Ali is pretty well spenced who has retained this title,
and I think he needs a little air because this
has to have been one of the most cruising heavyweight
championships of all time.

Speaker 2 (01:30:00):
It certainly was. Fraser had beat an Ali at Medicine
Square Garden in nineteen seventy one. Ali Fraser three years
later at the same venue. This was the final and
by far most brutal of their three bouts. Some sources
estimated it was watched by one billion viewers. Ali won
by corner retirement when Joe Fraser's team asked the referee

(01:30:21):
to stop the fight after the fourteenth of fifteen scheduled rounds.
Thomas Hauser is one of the most prolific and respected
boxing writers and journalists of all time. Among as many
many books on boxing, he wrote Muhammad Ali, His Life
and Times, The Definitive Biography of Muhammad Ali. Thomas Hauser
was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in

(01:30:42):
twenty nineteen and joins us from New York. Thomas is
great to have you on news Talks, EDB. Can you
put the thriller in Manila into context for us in
terms of where it sits among the most significant bouts
in boxing history.

Speaker 7 (01:30:57):
Okay, well, for first, it is very nice to be
with you. Thank you for having me. You said before
that it was for the heavyweight championship for the world,
but it was really for something much more important than that,
which is that Muhammad Ali and Joe Frasier were fighting
for the championship of each other. They were bitter rivals,

(01:31:20):
they were universally regarded as two of the best heavyweights
other and while to the outside world, yes, this was
for the heavyweight championship, for those two men. It was
intensely personal. This was between the two of them. This
was going to determine who was champion between them and

(01:31:42):
forget the rest of the world. And as you said,
it was a horribly brutal fight, with back and forth,
very destructive action the whole way. The heat and humidity
were sweltering, and neither man ever fully recovered from the

(01:32:03):
physical damage that they inflicted on each other that day.
I had many remarkable experiences with Mohammed and a lot
of gratifying ones. And one of the most gratifying things
is while I was working on Mohammed Ali's life and times,
Ali sat and watched videos of all of his fights together,

(01:32:27):
and we'd sit on the sofa in either my living
room or the sofa on his living room in his home,
and we watched the tapes of his fights one by
one in chronological order, and he enjoyed most of those,
even when times were hard. I mean, when Henry Cooper
knocked him down with that callacious left took Ali's open wide,

(01:32:50):
and then even the first fight against Fraser, which Mohammed lost,
and the first fight against Ken Norton, when Mohammad's straw
was broken we're safely ensconced in the annals of history.
But sitting on the sofa next to Mohammad while we
were watching the Thriller and Manila, Mohammed physically winced years

(01:33:17):
three years later as he watched Joe land some of
those punches. And when we finished watching the tape, Muhammad
turned to me and said, Fraser quit just before I did.
I didn't think I could fight anymore now. Actually it
wasn't Joe Fraser who quit. It was Eddie Fudge, who
was Joe's chief second, who stopped the fight. Joe could

(01:33:40):
not see out of one eye. He was having trouble
seeing much of anything out of the other. He was
bleeding badly from the mouth. And that's when fighters get
even more seriously damaged than those two men were, and
so Eddie Fudge stopped it. If the bells around fifteen

(01:34:02):
had come, I think Mohammad would have gone out for
the round. He was as courageous as any fighter whoever lived.
But if you look of at a video of that fight,
after the fight is stopped, Mohammed stands up and raises
his arm in triumph, and then he sort of oozes

(01:34:23):
to the ring canvas So would it have been like
Sugar Ray Robinson against Joey Maxim at Madison Square Garden
when Robinson was well ahead of the scorecards. This was
back in nineteen fifty two, and the heat was one
hundred and four degrees at Madison Square matt Yankee Stadium,

(01:34:44):
let me correct myself Yankee Stadium that night, and Robinson
just collapsed in his corner after the thirteenth round and
couldn't go on. So you know, on some cosmic measuring scale,
you can say that Ali Fraser III was a draw,
but Mohammed won it in the record books. That's the

(01:35:06):
way it stands forever.

Speaker 2 (01:35:09):
At what stages of their respective careers were Ali and
Fraser in nineteen seventy five, Both of them.

Speaker 7 (01:35:17):
Were well passed their prime. Ali was at Joe never
fought Ali at his best. Ali was at his best
before the exile from boxing, when he was young, when
he had his legs, when he was fighting Cleveland Williams
and Ernie Terrell and Zora Foley. By the time he

(01:35:37):
came back to fight Joe Fasier the first time, Muhammad's
legs were gone, and that first fight against Ali took
so much out of Joe that he was never the
same fighter again Ali. After the layoff. Ali was probably
at his best inn Zi year against George Foreman. Then
he began to decline. So by the time they met

(01:36:00):
for the third time in Manila, neither of them was
the fighter he had won and spin physically, but their
downward arcs coincided is just the right time, so they
were evenly matched and they still had that incredible warrior
spirit both of them.

Speaker 2 (01:36:21):
Was there any respect between the two or did they
just outright dislike one another?

Speaker 7 (01:36:26):
Well, Muhammad had respect for Joe as a fighter. Joe
despised Muhammad, and I understand that. You know, Joe Frazier.
Let's go back a step. When they fought the first time,
Muhammad was the most famous person in the world, and

(01:36:53):
Joe won that first fight. But that fight was really
looked on as a metaphor the struggle between racist warlike
elements on one side and seeking peace and social justice
on the other. You know, the right wing in American politics,
you know, wanting Joe to beat Ali, and the anti

(01:37:16):
war protesters and people who who were seeking justice through
the civil rights movement supporting Ali. Joe didn't want to
be a symbol and Joe just wanted to be a fighter.
But their first fight, Ali branded Joe and uncle Tom.

(01:37:40):
The second fight, he branded him as ignorant. The third
fight he made fun of him as a gorilla with
all of the ugly racial stereotypes that come with that.
And even though Manila wasn't about Ali's social and political beliefs,
the narrative had quieted.

Speaker 8 (01:37:59):
By then.

Speaker 7 (01:38:01):
Joe bore a huge amount of resentment towards Mohammad. He
did until the very end.

Speaker 4 (01:38:07):
You know.

Speaker 7 (01:38:07):
From time to time as the years went by, they
get together, usually for an economic incentive to appear at
some event. But Joe's hatred remained. And one of the
things that Ali said to me, and he said it often,
was that he was sorry that Joe was angry at him.
And what Mohammad said, very, very, you know, directly, was

(01:38:30):
if God ever calls me to a holy war, I
want Joe Fraser fighting beside me.

Speaker 2 (01:38:37):
Amazing how different or not Thomas were Ali and Fraser
as fighters.

Speaker 7 (01:38:44):
Well, they both had an extraordinary warrior spirit. Beyond that,
they were completely different as fighters. Mohammad relied on footwork
and speed when he was at his best, and he
didn't want to get hit. You know, it was drabbed
straight right hand. Those were his two best punches. Joe

(01:39:07):
was happy to take two punches to land one. He
came straight forward, you know, bobbing and weaving to try
to evade the punches. But Joe took more punches than
he gave out. But he could take a great punch
and he could dish out a ferocious punch. But they

(01:39:27):
were completely different styles. And you know, there's that old
saying in boxing styles make fights, and hear their styles
meshed perfectly in their first and third encounters for incredible action.
The second fight wasn't that entertaining. In the second fight,
Ali was able to use his speed, his footwork and

(01:39:49):
jab to negate pretty much anything that Joe wanted to do.
But by the third fight, Ali had slowed too much
that he couldn't move the way he once did, and
he got tired. And as you said earlier, there were
just horribly brutal extrangers.

Speaker 2 (01:40:09):
Why did the fight take place in the Philippines.

Speaker 7 (01:40:12):
The fight took place in the Philippines for the same
reason that Ali versus George Foreman took place in Zayir,
That there was a dictator in a foreign country who
was willing to put up a huge amount of money
to bring the fighters over there, to boost his profile

(01:40:34):
at home and around the world. And there's an irony
in that, because Ali, perhaps more than any athlete ever
stood for personal freedom. But there were times when he
made accommodations with dictators, and certainly the accommodation with Bhutu

(01:40:55):
and Zayir and Ferdinand Marcos and the Philippines was one
of them. Now, Muhammad was not a sophistic political thinker,
and I don't think that he understood the full ramifications
of those decisions. But yeah, the reason it took place
in the Philippines was money, plain and simple.

Speaker 2 (01:41:15):
All right, Well, it's been such a such a delight
to JETTYA. Thomas about your memories, your recollections and your analysis.
Ali and Fraser never reconsoled, did they. You mentioned before
that they had public appearances to get up Ali perhaps
softened on Fraser. Did Fraser ever soften on Ali or not?

Speaker 7 (01:41:32):
There were times when Joe was I said, they did
public appearances together from time to time. There were times
when Joe seemed to be softening a bit. But let's
put it in context. Joe once. Joe and I were
once talking about Muhammad's physical condition, which as you know,

(01:41:53):
was very bad in a lot of years of his life,
and Joe, with great satisfaction on his face, said to me,
I did that to him? Now? Was that ugly? Yeah?
Do you need to know anything more?

Speaker 2 (01:42:09):
No, tell us about your latest book. You still go
and goodness me, I don't know how many there must
be in that bookcase of yours. Now, The Most Honest
Sport two more years inside Boxing is your latest.

Speaker 7 (01:42:21):
It is every year or two I bring out a
book with all of the boxing articles that I wrote
in the preceding twelve or twenty four months. The Most
Honest Sport is the most recent of those books and
apropos of what we've been talking about. There was a
long essay about the fiftieth anniversary of the Rumble in

(01:42:42):
the Jungle Muhammad Ali versus George Foreman. It's in the
Most Honest Sport. There's a lot about the contemporary boxing scene,
about what appears to be the Saudi takeover of boxing,
the big fights of the two years in question, and
my email address is out there for those who don't

(01:43:05):
have it. Thomas Houser Waiter at gmail dot com. And
if anybody wants to read the book and shoot me
an email about it, I promise I'll respond to them.

Speaker 2 (01:43:17):
Wonderful Thomas, It's been wonderful chatting to you. Thank you
for joining us across New Zealand today. I really appreciate
your time.

Speaker 7 (01:43:23):
Thank you for having me.

Speaker 2 (01:43:24):
Thank you for joining us. Thomas Thomas, how's of their
prolific boxing author, writer, journalist and analyst On the eve
of the fiftieth anniversary of the Thriller in Manila two
twenty seven, it is updating you on some live sport
MPC action. They have plenty ten doll ahead of White Cuttle,
that game taking place in Toadonga and both sides still

(01:43:47):
in contention for the top eight counties Manico and Munawatu
clashing at Pookakoee. Both of these sides really need to
win this game if they're to stay on top a contention,
and that's still a slim chance. County seven five ahead.
In fact, they've just gone twelve five ahead with a
kick to come against Munawatu. When we come, we'll look
ahead to tonight's mouth watering second preliminary final in the NRL.

(01:44:11):
The Melbourne Stormer already into next Sunday's Grand Final. Will
it be Brisbane? Will it be Penrith Brad Walter are
going to preview that one for us when we come back.

Speaker 7 (01:44:20):
It's more than just a game.

Speaker 1 (01:44:22):
Weekend Sport with Jason Fine and GJ. Garnhoves, New Zealand's
most trusted home builder, News Talks.

Speaker 2 (01:44:29):
B News Talks AB Sunday afternoon, two thirty. The Melbourne
Stormer through to their tenth NRL Grand Final tonight.

Speaker 3 (01:44:35):
Utoy Kamado's splashing off the defense there and he's goes
through cheers in the cliff.

Speaker 7 (01:44:40):
Here's goes for it?

Speaker 2 (01:44:42):
Drive, Heres makes sense?

Speaker 13 (01:44:45):
Dreds All drive Jims, there's such a.

Speaker 28 (01:44:49):
Good try storer.

Speaker 8 (01:44:51):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:44:51):
That was Friday night, the Storm beating the Sharks twenty
two fourteen in their preliminary final in Melbourne. Kiwis, Will
Warbrick and Jerome Hughes. As you heard, they're crossing for
first half tries for the Storm. They'll face the winner
of tonight's second preliminary final between the Broncos and Panthers
at sun Corp Stadium and Brisbane, a repeat of the
twenty twenty three Grand Final, the Panthers just eighty minutes

(01:45:11):
away from a sixth consecutive Grand Final appearance and a
chance at a remarkable five pete. The Broncos, though, have
won nine of their past ten Finals matches at sun
Corp and have scored one hundred and twenty eight points
in their last three home games. Vastly experienced NRL journalist
Brad Walter is with us bread. Let's look at Friday first.
Did it always feel like the Storm were in control

(01:45:35):
of that game?

Speaker 7 (01:45:36):
Look?

Speaker 19 (01:45:37):
Yeah, Jesson, it felt like the Storm. It felt like
they were in control and they were on top, but
they weren't. Sort of, they didn't have it within their grasps,
if you know what I mean. The Sharks were like
they always kept with it, you know, kept close enough
to make you think, oh, you know, this game could turn.
And I have to say that probably about midway through

(01:45:58):
the second half, I started to think that the Sharks
had the momentum that they were getting on top and
that had happened to the Storm when they played the
Broncos a couple of weeks ago.

Speaker 2 (01:46:14):
Oh, we seem to have just lost you there, moment
surely tread. Let's see if we can get Brad back
online there, Andy, we don't want to. I don't want
to cut this short after just the one question. And
so if we can get Brad back on the line
fourteen to five Counties lead Munaward two, I can tell
you after twenty five minutes of their game and poker
Koe ten nilta bay of plenty over way cuttle at

(01:46:39):
at Podo on a domain in their game. Just hoping
to get Brad Walter back up here to give us
some more insight into this NRL preliminary final. I wonder
whether we can get Brad back, and he's just trying furiously.
It looks like we've got him back. You were talking
about the Sharks. I think when we lost you their
bread and how you thought it at one stage in

(01:47:01):
the second half they might be might be good for
the win.

Speaker 19 (01:47:03):
Yeah, And I just thought the storm storm might be underdone.
They had I think they had five players who hadn't
played a lot of football for a long time, including Hughes.
But he was magnificent, wasn't he? Jerome Music. It's incredible
to think that he broke his wrist three weeks three
weeks ago and here he was coming back and I
saw the Roosters doctor on social media saying, you know,
basically what Jerome Hws has done is going to make

(01:47:25):
every coach Now, I think that three weeks is the
standard for returning from a broken arm. So he was incredible.
The Storm that I mean, what can you say about them,
to be honest, they you know, their record is phenomenal.
They know how to win, win the big games. You know,
Craig Bellamy is a coach. It's just like it's it's

(01:47:48):
just amazing. You know, they're absolute phenomenon. But like Penrith
have actually got the better record or the more recent
record as well. So we're witnessing a couple of clubs
that are, you know, probably as good as has ever
been in the history of rugby league. And you know,
we're eighty minutes away from finding out whether we've got
another Panther Storm Grand Final.

Speaker 2 (01:48:09):
Well let's talk about that eighty minutes because the second
preliminary final isn't a few hours time, Brisbane against the Panthers.
I mean, you just feel as though the Panthers are
going to win this one, don't you. But the Broncos,
I mean, they are a good team, aren't they Brad,
They're getting there. Adam Reynolds back, Reecee Walsh. They could
win this game, couldn't they? The Broncos for sure, they
could win the whole thing.

Speaker 5 (01:48:29):
Like they are.

Speaker 19 (01:48:31):
They've got incredible momentum at the moment, they're going to
be playing before a absolutely packed sun Corps Stadium that
it'll be, you know, chock full of Broncos fans who
will be cheering them. It's hot up there. It's about
thirty degrees at the moment so in Brisbane, so you
know it's still going to be really quite up there
at kickoff time. I said, they've got momentum. Reee Walsh

(01:48:54):
is in like unbelievable for me. Can you know the
game's never done? I mean what were they down sixteen
points against the Raiders and they came back Reshbawks after
being sinning bid came back and instigated that incredible comeback.
Adam Reynolds there captain and spiritual leader and like one
of the best kickers in the game. Is in returning
after a long layoff with with a hamstring injury. Ezra Man,

(01:49:16):
who you know also was injured before the Finals series.
He's back and he's going to be on the bench
or hit. There's no doubt he'll come on and make
some impact. If you remember the twenty twenty three Grand
Final between these two teams, that looked like Ezra Man
was basically give him the Clive Churchill Medal. He'd won
the Grand Final for the Broncos before Nathan Cleary's you know,
absolute master class in the last twenty minutes. So yeah,

(01:49:39):
there's there's a lot of reasons why the Broncos can
win and they're they're up against and they've had a
week's break as well, they're freshing up. The only thing
I think going against him is that Pat Carrigan's out suspended,
but like paid halfs best best front rower in the game,
you know, Michael mcgui will have them absolutely primed. There's
there's so many reasons why why the Broncos will win.

(01:50:02):
But they're up against the panther side that they that
was running last in round twelve, like half through the competition.
They will last and they managed to get their way
into seventh spot and like nobody wants to play them,
you would there's no way you'd want to play them.
You wouldn't back against them winning a disconsecutive premiership. You know,
they've had a turnover of players. It's been really well documented,

(01:50:23):
Jerome Lowy, James Fisher, Harris in particular. But mate, they're
there again. They're there again in about eighty minutes away
from another Grand Final. Nathan Cleary's there's some incredible stats.
You know, Nathan Cleary hasn't lost a game in daytime football.
I think it's twenty six games in a row since
twenty nineteen. You know, Reece Walsh has never won a

(01:50:45):
game against the Panthers, so he's none from seven, you know.
So I don't know if those stats will mean anything
after today, but yeah, Doc, yeah, there's going to be
a hell of a game. I suppose that's what we know.
It's going to be a cracking game. We've seen some
great games of rugby league this year and during the
finals that Broncos Raiders game was as good as it gets.
And yeah, here we are this afternoon. I don't know,

(01:51:08):
I don't know who wins bored. I do know is
it's going to be a great Grand Final. That's the
other thing. Bronco's v Storm or Panthers v Storm. It's
going to be an absolute cracking Grand Final.

Speaker 2 (01:51:17):
But if Penrith were to go on and win today
and then win the Grand Final from seventh, where would
that sit among their recent championships.

Speaker 19 (01:51:26):
That would be their greatest achievement. I've got no doubt
about that. The players that they've lost, and I mean
the players they've lost over you know, over over recent years.
You know, each year they lose players and they replenish them.
But they lost like two absolute leaders in Fisher, Harris
and Lewi this year, like the guys that you can't
really replace, and I'm not saying they have replaced, but

(01:51:46):
replace them. But other guys have stepped up and like
Casey McLain for example. You know young Kiwee center, he's
been outstanding this year, Like he wasn't even a regular
first grader, but he's got his chance. Based Halongi, who
they recruited from Paramatta, I think everyone knew he was
going to be a good football, but at the beginning
of the year it was sort of there was a
lot a lot of question marks about whether he was

(01:52:06):
the guy and obviously big shoes to feel and he's
done the job and mostes Leota, I think he's probably
really you know gone to another level this year in
the absence of Fisher Harris because he's had to so.
But yeah, like I would say, would be their greatest
achievement to come from last midway through the competition, to
have lost those players, and you know, there are a
lot of question marks. Basically everyone was saying they couldn't

(01:52:29):
do it, and here they are, you know, and they
have but just unbelievable confidence and self belief. Ivan Cleary,
You've got to say he's one of the greatest coaches
of all time. What he's done to turn to to
you know, turn this Panthers team into well, you know,
the greatest team of my lifetime, greatest achievement of my lifetime,

(01:52:53):
to win four in a row, playing five Grand Finals
and possibly you know, possibly that runs not over. And
he's done it. And they've done it mainly with like
if you go back to the beginning of their run
six years ago, a lot of those players weren't they
weren't superstars there and they were they were mainly kids
that had come out of the Panthers area or players

(01:53:13):
like Fisher Harris had been been spotted at a young
age and brought over and put in the penrift system
and now they're just a well a machine. And as
I said, they lose superstars like Stephen Crichton and Philly
Army Kickour and Uppy corus Our every year and they
and they just keep replacing and replacing them with usually

(01:53:35):
with local talent, just someone else filling the filling the
jumping in and filling filling the spot and becoming a
star player themselves. So they're an incredible, incredible incredible club,
incredible team.

Speaker 2 (01:53:46):
Yeah, just a triumph of regeneration and development as well.

Speaker 24 (01:53:49):
Well.

Speaker 2 (01:53:50):
As you say, Brad, we're going to get a cracking
game today and regardless of wins that, we're going to
get a cracking Grand final as well. So thanks for
joinings across New Zealanders always.

Speaker 19 (01:53:58):
Yeah, and look, I Worries are in the New South
Wellest Cup Grand Final as well today. If they win that,
they'll be playing the Burly Bears next Sunday before the
in oural you and an Url Grand Finals. So and
so there's a Cleary connection there too, with Jack Cleary
in the in the Warriors side, so you'll see what
happens there. I think there are a very good chance
of winning, so it could be some Warriors representation on
Grand Final day.

Speaker 2 (01:54:19):
Fantastic always good chatting Brad. Thanks indeed Brad Walter there,
longtime NURL journalist and a familiar voice on Weekend Sport
as well. Broncos against the Panthers seven oh five tonight,
New Zealand time and the winner to go through to
the Grand Final against the Melbourne Storm next Sunday evening
coming up nineteen to three. We'll take a break, come
back and unpack this incredible achievement by Nelson cyclist Neve

(01:54:43):
Fisher Black, the first ever Kiwi to stand on a
podium at a UCI World Championship road race. So we'll
talk about that with Dell Woodford when we come back.

Speaker 1 (01:54:55):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live
to News Talk zed B weekends from midday or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio