July 4, 2026 • 8 mins
James McOnie from The Crowd Goes Wild joined Piney to discuss the All Blacks' narrow win over France in Christchurch.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks edb.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Whose Talks heab James mcconey is what this? How are
you mate?
Speaker 3 (00:16):
I'm all right, thanks, pony. I'm coming to you live
from London town in it.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Oh good, Well they'll be looking forward to England v.
Mexico and the World Cup. We can get to that.
Even though you were in London, did you manage to
catch the All Blacks? Would have been breakfast time over there.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
I guess it was breakfast with Sean Fitzpatrick.
Speaker 4 (00:36):
Actually, look, I did enjoy the fact that it was
under a roof and there was flowing rugby and some
incredible tries scored by both teams, but really, when it
comes down to it, it.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Was a little bit patchy. And that is a France.
I call them France B plus and because they do
have a.
Speaker 4 (00:54):
Few stars that you'd recognize from their six Nations top
string side, but not many, if any. And I think
that they'll probably take a little bit of a moral victory.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Out of that.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Yeah, I think so. I think they'll be relatively pleased
despite the fact they didn't win the game. As far
as the All Blacks were concerned. Did you start to see,
even at this early stage, Dave Renny's game plan, his
fingerprints on what he wants the All Blacks to be.
Speaker 4 (01:18):
Yeah, And I did actually like the style of game
they've played.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
I loved that they ran strike moves from from set peace.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
I thought there that they were inventive and and Reuben
Love was was apart from getting sinpon, you could see
the space that he creates by playing square the way
he does and with his nice footwork.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
And you know, look, no roy Gard no win in many.
Speaker 4 (01:42):
Ways as well, but there Dave's you know, the buzzword
was brutality during the week.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Did you get a bit of that coming.
Speaker 4 (01:49):
Through your airwaves on ZB as well?
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Indeed, yeah, brutality. Optimism was the other one that I
heard a lot. Optimism And it doesn't it's not worth
that he are often associated with rugby, but I guess
it's about a confidence and you know, and a positivity
in the way that you play with ball and hands.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Yeah, like it.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
I don't mind that. One thing I would say is
that what rugby coach doesn't ask their team to be brutal,
you know, like if you're out there and you've got
a son who plays rugby or a daughter who plays rugby,
and by a certain age, their coach is telling them to.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
Go out there and.
Speaker 4 (02:27):
If them up, you know, because that is how rugby
is playing. I'm sorry to shock you, but that is
what coaches tell you to do. So I think brutality
has always been part of the lexicon and the vocap
of a rugby coach, so that to me was just
nothing new.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
It shouldn't be anything new.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
But yeah, the optimism and then there was composure, I
think was another one they're talking about. But after all that,
I watched that game and I thought, you can't tell
me that someone like Dupla Kaifi wouldn't add value to
that team and doesn't play with optimism, composure and brutal.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
Yeah he does. He does all of those things. But
I actually thought Luke Jacobson had a good game. I
think there was a bit of a bit of polarizing
views around who should wear the seven jersey. I'm not
sure everybody landed on Luke Jacobson, but it wasn't a
typical game from a seven. But I thought he brought
the brutality, made some big hits and then set up
Jordan right at the end four for the final try.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
Absolutely, I thought I thought Jacobson had a good game.
I think, you know, he delivered what was asked of him.
I just think that when it came down to it
in terms of an impact and whether I'm talking about
a bench roll for kidd ef, I just thought there
was nothing there to say that you wouldn't pick somebody
that outstanding from Super rugby, you know what I mean.
(03:47):
I thought, okay, show me what you mean. And Peter
Larco was fantastic as well.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
The Loose Trio did do a good job.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
But yeah, there's a few things there that I guess
the All Blacks probably needed a chance to show. And
even look it's it's a work in progress, it's early days.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
I probably would.
Speaker 4 (04:12):
Like to see some of Will Jordan given a chance.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
At fullback as well.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
And and you're just on that brutality thing. I was
going to say, Rugby coaches don't say to their teams, hey,
these guys have wives and kids.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
Can we just please not hurs anyone out there today? Please?
They just don't say that. I just want to make
that point.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
No, it's a good point. To make a good point
to make Hey World Cup before we talk about England, Mexico, Portugal,
Croatia Portugal go through. I don't know was there was
there a bit of a bit of controversy about that
decision right at the end. You know that that gave
gave Portugal the opportunity to win that game.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
Yeah, I think what it highlights and this is a
glancing heater.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Apparently that that meant that the Croatian player was offside.
I mean, look, it's.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
It's one of those decisions where it didn't seemed to
be that much conclusive evidence, but they did bring up
I didn't realize it was a snickometer. I mean, the
ball does have a microchip in it. But what I found,
I think in this World Cup is the refs. The
refereeing has been pretty inconsistent. There was a massive shove
in the back of a Senegalese player from a Belgian
from Teleman's when he scored the winning.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Goal, and they didn't come back for that at all.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
And then Germany scored a pretty good goal to win
and that was ruled out for what seemed like a
very minor obstruction on the keeper. So this is the
whole thing you do realize that some of these World
Cup refs aren't the best in the world. They just,
you know, it is a bit of a lolly scramble
to make sure everyone's represented. So there's a whole host
(05:52):
of refs from every single confederation. And I think that's
what cost New Zealand against Egypt. I thought that ref
was totally substandard and and cost them probably a chance
of le getting a draw in that game. But hey, look,
all I'm saying is that's part of the World Cup.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
But let's look forward.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
Let's talk about Mexico England at the Azteca at altitude.
I have great bears for England to get away with
a win.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
So do I. But I mean there, I was going
to say, they're eternally optimistic in England. They are until
they're team losers and then they tend to turn on them.
But do you sense in London an optimism? Are the
Saint George flags flying around town as you look forward
to this round of sixteen match in the July hours,
but definitely.
Speaker 4 (06:44):
Turning out like they turned out for the for the
Congo game. And I was at a pub in Islington,
a lot of people they're kind of very nervous as
Congo went ahead, won mell for a while.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
But I did notice Paul Skulls is a great one.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
Of the greatest midfielders they ever played the game for
England anyway, and he was saying that even the two
calls selects for England aren't quite right. He'd like to
see different selections. And so when you see somebody of
that caliber, even though England still seems to be going
through okay and qualifying and getting through the next round,
(07:19):
there's just seems to be a lot of unrest and
I wouldn't be surprised if there's a big pile line
and perhaps calling for Tookle's head if things don't go well.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
But Mexico are really a team.
Speaker 4 (07:31):
Of battler's when you consider the pedigree or Premier League, Bundesliga,
and of course Jude Bellingham at Real Madrid, so you
know there's it shouldn't be a contest really, but I
think in the Azteca Mexico is going to be really
hard to beat and that they are playing a really.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
Nice style at the moment.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Yeah, and haven't conceded yet in the tournament. James always
great to catch up enjoy it over there whatever happens,
and look forward to jetting again same time next week.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
The cheers, Poney and Yeah I'm up the abs.
Speaker 4 (08:03):
It was very good to see the first hit out
because a frid To no joke, so you know, good
on your day, really and.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Day James, Thanks to Day James mccaroney, part of our
Sundays on News talkshed.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
Be it for more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine.
Listen live to News Talkshed B weekends from midday, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks edb.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Whose Talks heab James mcconey is what this? How are
you mate?
Speaker 3 (00:16):
I'm all right, thanks, pony. I'm coming to you live
from London town in it.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Oh good, Well they'll be looking forward to England v.
Mexico and the World Cup. We can get to that.
Even though you were in London, did you manage to
catch the All Blacks? Would have been breakfast time over there.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
I guess it was breakfast with Sean Fitzpatrick.
Speaker 4 (00:36):
Actually, look, I did enjoy the fact that it was
under a roof and there was flowing rugby and some
incredible tries scored by both teams, but really, when it
comes down to it, it.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Was a little bit patchy. And that is a France.
I call them France B plus and because they do
have a.
Speaker 4 (00:54):
Few stars that you'd recognize from their six Nations top
string side, but not many, if any. And I think
that they'll probably take a little bit of a moral victory.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Out of that.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Yeah, I think so. I think they'll be relatively pleased
despite the fact they didn't win the game. As far
as the All Blacks were concerned. Did you start to see,
even at this early stage, Dave Renny's game plan, his
fingerprints on what he wants the All Blacks to be.
Speaker 4 (01:18):
Yeah, And I did actually like the style of game
they've played.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
I loved that they ran strike moves from from set peace.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
I thought there that they were inventive and and Reuben
Love was was apart from getting sinpon, you could see
the space that he creates by playing square the way
he does and with his nice footwork.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
And you know, look, no roy Gard no win in many.
Speaker 4 (01:42):
Ways as well, but there Dave's you know, the buzzword
was brutality during the week.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Did you get a bit of that coming.
Speaker 4 (01:49):
Through your airwaves on ZB as well?
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Indeed, yeah, brutality. Optimism was the other one that I
heard a lot. Optimism And it doesn't it's not worth
that he are often associated with rugby, but I guess
it's about a confidence and you know, and a positivity
in the way that you play with ball and hands.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Yeah, like it.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
I don't mind that. One thing I would say is
that what rugby coach doesn't ask their team to be brutal,
you know, like if you're out there and you've got
a son who plays rugby or a daughter who plays rugby,
and by a certain age, their coach is telling them to.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
Go out there and.
Speaker 4 (02:27):
If them up, you know, because that is how rugby
is playing. I'm sorry to shock you, but that is
what coaches tell you to do. So I think brutality
has always been part of the lexicon and the vocap
of a rugby coach, so that to me was just
nothing new.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
It shouldn't be anything new.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
But yeah, the optimism and then there was composure, I
think was another one they're talking about. But after all that,
I watched that game and I thought, you can't tell
me that someone like Dupla Kaifi wouldn't add value to
that team and doesn't play with optimism, composure and brutal.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
Yeah he does. He does all of those things. But
I actually thought Luke Jacobson had a good game. I
think there was a bit of a bit of polarizing
views around who should wear the seven jersey. I'm not
sure everybody landed on Luke Jacobson, but it wasn't a
typical game from a seven. But I thought he brought
the brutality, made some big hits and then set up
Jordan right at the end four for the final try.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
Absolutely, I thought I thought Jacobson had a good game.
I think, you know, he delivered what was asked of him.
I just think that when it came down to it
in terms of an impact and whether I'm talking about
a bench roll for kidd ef, I just thought there
was nothing there to say that you wouldn't pick somebody
that outstanding from Super rugby, you know what I mean.
(03:47):
I thought, okay, show me what you mean. And Peter
Larco was fantastic as well.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
The Loose Trio did do a good job.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
But yeah, there's a few things there that I guess
the All Blacks probably needed a chance to show. And
even look it's it's a work in progress, it's early days.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
I probably would.
Speaker 4 (04:12):
Like to see some of Will Jordan given a chance.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
At fullback as well.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
And and you're just on that brutality thing. I was
going to say, Rugby coaches don't say to their teams, hey,
these guys have wives and kids.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
Can we just please not hurs anyone out there today? Please?
They just don't say that. I just want to make
that point.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
No, it's a good point. To make a good point
to make Hey World Cup before we talk about England, Mexico, Portugal,
Croatia Portugal go through. I don't know was there was
there a bit of a bit of controversy about that
decision right at the end. You know that that gave
gave Portugal the opportunity to win that game.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
Yeah, I think what it highlights and this is a
glancing heater.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Apparently that that meant that the Croatian player was offside.
I mean, look, it's.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
It's one of those decisions where it didn't seemed to
be that much conclusive evidence, but they did bring up
I didn't realize it was a snickometer. I mean, the
ball does have a microchip in it. But what I found,
I think in this World Cup is the refs. The
refereeing has been pretty inconsistent. There was a massive shove
in the back of a Senegalese player from a Belgian
from Teleman's when he scored the winning.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Goal, and they didn't come back for that at all.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
And then Germany scored a pretty good goal to win
and that was ruled out for what seemed like a
very minor obstruction on the keeper. So this is the
whole thing you do realize that some of these World
Cup refs aren't the best in the world. They just,
you know, it is a bit of a lolly scramble
to make sure everyone's represented. So there's a whole host
(05:52):
of refs from every single confederation. And I think that's
what cost New Zealand against Egypt. I thought that ref
was totally substandard and and cost them probably a chance
of le getting a draw in that game. But hey, look,
all I'm saying is that's part of the World Cup.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
But let's look forward.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
Let's talk about Mexico England at the Azteca at altitude.
I have great bears for England to get away with
a win.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
So do I. But I mean there, I was going
to say, they're eternally optimistic in England. They are until
they're team losers and then they tend to turn on them.
But do you sense in London an optimism? Are the
Saint George flags flying around town as you look forward
to this round of sixteen match in the July hours,
but definitely.
Speaker 4 (06:44):
Turning out like they turned out for the for the
Congo game. And I was at a pub in Islington,
a lot of people they're kind of very nervous as
Congo went ahead, won mell for a while.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
But I did notice Paul Skulls is a great one.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
Of the greatest midfielders they ever played the game for
England anyway, and he was saying that even the two
calls selects for England aren't quite right. He'd like to
see different selections. And so when you see somebody of
that caliber, even though England still seems to be going
through okay and qualifying and getting through the next round,
(07:19):
there's just seems to be a lot of unrest and
I wouldn't be surprised if there's a big pile line
and perhaps calling for Tookle's head if things don't go well.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
But Mexico are really a team.
Speaker 4 (07:31):
Of battler's when you consider the pedigree or Premier League, Bundesliga,
and of course Jude Bellingham at Real Madrid, so you
know there's it shouldn't be a contest really, but I
think in the Azteca Mexico is going to be really
hard to beat and that they are playing a really.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
Nice style at the moment.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Yeah, and haven't conceded yet in the tournament. James always
great to catch up enjoy it over there whatever happens,
and look forward to jetting again same time next week.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
The cheers, Poney and Yeah I'm up the abs.
Speaker 4 (08:03):
It was very good to see the first hit out
because a frid To no joke, so you know, good
on your day, really and.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Day James, Thanks to Day James mccaroney, part of our
Sundays on News talkshed.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
Be it for more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine.
Listen live to News Talkshed B weekends from midday, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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