February 3, 2025 • 20 mins
On Sports Fix with D'Arcy Waldegrave for Tuesday 4 February 2025, former All Blacks captain Richie McCaw talks about the return of the world renowned multisport 'Godzone' event to New Zealand, and what the Crusaders chances are like under Rob Penny this season.
D'Arcy delivers an opinion piece on Super Rugby Pacific's new 'fan' engagement idea.
Plus, Newstalk ZB sports news director Clay Wilson joins the panel to discuss Basketball NZ's big upcoming series against Australia.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our Wide Ranger podcast now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
This is Sportsfix Howard By News Talks ed B.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Gooday, mate, welcome on into the Fix. Here it is
again your bite size, wrapped up piece of sport. All
you need in a sporting podcast. My name is Darcy
Water gave with you through the entirety and coming up
in the podcast today. Richie mccaugh joins the program. Note
not Rugby, all about God's Zone. That iconic adventure race
(00:45):
is back, sorely missed, a fantastic excuse to run around
in the jungles of New Zealand. Richie talks about that
and the savior of that big event. I'll get some
opinion around the Super Rugby Pacific's brand shiny new concept
of player of the Year. And Clay Wilson, director of
Sport for News Talks HEB, joins us in the chamber
(01:07):
as we talk about some of the big sports stories
of the day. Looking forward to it, you are as well.
All right, let's get down and on into it. The
Sports Fix for Tuesday, the fourth of February twenty twenty five.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Let's go in other news and a sport.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Today, a trans Tasman rivalry renewed on the hard world. Yeah,
the Tour Blacks and the tool Ferns will each take
on their Australian counterparts in a three game basketball series
in May. It'll be the first time the New Zealand
men have posted the Boomers and close to a decade basketball.
New Zealand boss Dilan Boucher seees it's been in the
works for a couple of years.
Speaker 4 (01:48):
Certainly, conversation has started earlier about really wanting to ignite
that rivalry between New Zealand and Australia, to have something
for two dearies, Tool Funds and tool Blacks to be
able to play on a regular basis as something that
we've really been craving for, especially on home soil and innovation.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
To drive interest in Super Rugby Pacific, organizers have announced
a player of the season be crowned. Captains and coaches
will vote on their top three players from the opposing
team on a three to one basis after each match.
Super Rugby Pacific boss Jack Mesley explains the move.
Speaker 5 (02:21):
Fans have told us they are looking for more ways
to engage and media have also told us that they
want more ways to be able to engage with the
stories within the comp It's also great toil for fans
to get to know more players from other teams as well.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
And finally can Lulusun rise again on the women's tennis tour.
After breaking an almost six month long winning drought, the
world number forty five has beaten Caroline Garthia in straight
sets to advance to the second round of the Arbu
Dhabi Open. Soon says there's been no consistent reason for
his string of defeats.
Speaker 6 (02:55):
Every tournament is a different outcome, different experience and different opponents.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Obviously, so you have to just keep going and keep fighting.
Leading a vix We've got just the ticket.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
It's sportsvix Now, News Talks IVY.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
God'szone is returning. God's Oone is one of the most
iconic adventure races there is held over seven eight days
across some of the wildest terrain that New Zealand can offer.
It's not a race for the faint hearted. It is
a team based race and a man that's behind the
return of God's Own and indeed someone who's competed in
(03:31):
it four times himself. His former All Black skipper Richie mccare. Richie,
things are very very well, and for you things are fantastic.
God's Zone is back and absolute icon of a race,
something I'll never touch, but you quite like, don't you
sucker for punishment?
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Mate?
Speaker 3 (03:51):
So first up, tell us about why god Zones had
that hiatus and why it's back now.
Speaker 6 (03:56):
Well, the first thing was when it did obviously come
to a start. You know, my personal point view, it's
kind of love hate. You know, there's some times when
you're doing the race you go why. But it's an
iconic events will class event and the guys that run it,
you know, they run a pretty good, pretty good event,
and you know I was lucky enough to have a
crack at them. But when it started was sort of like,
(04:17):
oh yeah, the disappointment. So a few of us got
together and thought, you know, is a way of giving
it a new lease of life, you know, under a
different structure and but you know, still having the elements
of what the competitors see the same as what it was,
you know, been a tough race that caters for the
very best, and and also you know people that are
(04:39):
just getting into it, you know you can really challenge themselves.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
And so we've got to the point where we think.
Speaker 6 (04:44):
We can we can do it, and we've got, you know,
the support of some key people and key well like
have one New Zealand on board as a naming right
sponsored doc have said that they're going to be supportive
all those sort of things.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
We think we can put together a good race.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
So it collapsed because it wasn't a financial issue. Why
did it actually stop being run?
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Rich? I think it's various reasons.
Speaker 6 (05:08):
I think that there's you know, running these events aren't easy.
You know, there's a lot of things you've got to
get right, and you know, and the margins are pretty tight,
you know, as a competitor, but you know you've got
to line everything up and any need to you know,
not get the access you want, to get the course
you want, you know, and there's always you know, by
(05:30):
and large I've got that each time, but you know,
just to certainly around those things, you know, COVID, all
those sort of challenges.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
I think it just just got to the point where
it was just came but hard.
Speaker 6 (05:41):
So hopefully you know, with a few of us that
you put together the trust I guess oversee it and
then get the right people in the spots with energy
and excitement and passion for it, you know, give a
new lease of life. We can get it up and
running again. So yeah, that's that was the main reason.
And you know the guys that ran it before have
(06:03):
passed on all their knowledge to us. Are the good
and the bad things to watch for and not watch
war which has been awesome. So you're hopefully where you
can get it into the spot we want.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
You've been involved in four so I'm presuming you're tied
in to do it again. You've got a rough idea
where you're going this time around, because some of the
places in New Zealand that you try and check off,
it's quite stunning.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
They are they are.
Speaker 6 (06:25):
We've got we've got an announcement of where we are
potentially where it's going to be. So I'm not going
to jump the gun on that, but come on, Richie, go.
Speaker 5 (06:33):
On, mate.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Well we'll find out in due course, but it will
be your back.
Speaker 6 (06:37):
You're right, because you could name a whole lot of
places around that would you could just go, well, you
could do an amazing course here, whether I'm racing or not,
or whether I'm going to be helping helping the race run.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
We'll wait and see, but you never know.
Speaker 6 (06:51):
I don't know any details of what the course might be,
so it is potential to still race.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
I suppose original mccaud joins us and Richie you plainly
having you on, considering your history and rugby to be
nuts of me not to chuck a couple of super
questions there, you like, for a start, how's retirement? Plainly
you're still busy and you don't miss it? You ever
miss chugging around the place. When I go back and help.
Speaker 6 (07:13):
The Crusaders, I miss I miss watching, you know, he
sit down on a Friday Saturday night and send the
boys run out in the field.
Speaker 5 (07:20):
You go.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
That was That was pretty fun while I did it.
Speaker 6 (07:22):
But I saw a couple of the lads down here
in Wanaka just after the.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
New year and they heading back to pre season training.
It was about that point and I was I'm quite.
Speaker 6 (07:32):
Pleased not to be doing that, still keeping third and
doing all those sort of things. But I still love watching,
watching the game and following obviously the Crusaders and then.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Later in the year the Abs.
Speaker 6 (07:43):
How they're going so always a challenge this time year
to see where everyone's going to be at.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
And that's one moving for good competition. Last year Blues
managed to actually win it, and it looks like it's
really coming together. I thought the quality of the rugby
last year was outstanding. Of course, it all funnels into
Razor Robertson and what he's doing. He's got quite a job.
Are you know him pretty well? You think he's up
for that?
Speaker 6 (08:05):
Yeah, well, I think last year, you know, you'd say
everyone's probably had a good learning you know, it wasn't.
You know, it was a pretty good year by and large,
but you'd probably say there's a lot of things that
you'd learned from that. And you know, with your bit,
with your matter, what you've done beforehand, the fact you
get in there the international levels different and I'm sure
you know, another year on they'll even better prepared and know.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
What they're in for.
Speaker 6 (08:30):
So but you look across the talent we've got across
these young all the super teams and what funnels into
the all backs.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
It was still in pretty good shape like that, and
you know there's no reason why we can't.
Speaker 6 (08:41):
You know, the expectation of going and keeping a performance
at the top level and most teams off or all
teams off there's no reason why we can't, I don't think.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
And one last thing, A Save has been named as
the captain of Minor Pussy Fiker. There's been a big move,
hasn't it across to that team. I think ultimately really
good for the competition, good for Pussy Fiker and watching
already run the ship. I think there'd be a lot
of eyeballs on that franchise this year.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
You well, yeah, it's a pretty smart move from some one.
Speaker 6 (09:12):
So a good getting caught like that, because you're right, yeah,
it's put some real uh yeah, people wanting to see
how it goes, so yeah, and I think from what
I can hear that the support of the team yahe, the.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Base is only growing and.
Speaker 6 (09:27):
They've got some people, pretty smart people you know, overseeing it.
So yeah, it'd be interesting to see see how they
progress this year to it have a got like as
you kept, and there's a big statement for them.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
It is and plainly the big adventure race and one
New Zealand god Zone. You've got to give them the
sponsors love because obviously their contribution has been huge. People
want to find out more about that. I think they
can go to Godzoonadventure dot com without that, I believe
that is the website unless you can tell me anything different.
Speaker 6 (10:01):
No, No, I'm pretty sure that's that's the That's where
you're going to find out. There's going to be Obviously
we've announced it's back, and over the next not too
will be saying where and when and when the entries open,
So I keep keep your eyes peeled.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Yes, it's going to be exciting.
Speaker 6 (10:15):
But just just in what you say about having one
News on as a title sponsor, you know, but after
you know, not being going for a couple years heavy
support was really encouraging and really grateful for that.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
And on that Richie McCaul, thanks so much for joining
us here on News Talk ZB of Cracking twenty twenty five.
You stay fit and you stay supporting those Red and blacks.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
I'll do that, good man. Thanks does he.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
This is Sportsfix, your daily does of sports news, how
news talks.
Speaker 3 (10:47):
Super Rugby Pacific have got a brand new toy. It's
the Super Rugby Player of the Year. No, not the
most interesting name, No, not the most stimulating name. In fact, guys,
you can do a lot of work on that name.
I've got some ideas for you later on my piece.
He's basically how it works. They looked at the NRL,
they looked at Delian when you know what, that's a
(11:08):
we need one of those. So it's been initiated. At
the end of each game in Super Rugby, the opposition
sides I the captains and the coaches nominate their best
three players on the other team. Three two one points
are allotted respectively. These points are all tallied up and
then at the end of the year you've got the
(11:29):
Super Rugby Best Player, as voted by the coaches and
the captains. I think they still work to be done
on the end. The beauty of the dally M is
that it goes private after a while and nobody actually
knows where the voting stands. Look maybe they want it
stripped back and naked. Maybe that's something the fans are
after so they can track their best player and see
(11:52):
what they have to do to pick up the gong.
You've got to say, well done, Super Rugby. You're trying something.
You're trying something new. You're trying to, as they say,
put the fan at the center of the room. You're
trying to drum up some interest in this competition, which
of course begs the question we're on earth is Super
Rugby Pacific Fantasy. This was promised and we're in the
(12:16):
shadow of the start of the competition and there's still
no hide nor hair of the fantasy competition. But in
the meantime we've got the Super Rugby Pacific Player of
the Year.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
I only go back to.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
The name Dali mb Ye go all about one of
the greats of the game of rugby league player of
the Year. That's Dulla's dishwater. I've got a few suggestions
for them. What about the pine tree, you know where
I'm going with this. What about the nepier, the Murdoch joking,
what about the mccare or what about this the player
(12:51):
of the Year and Super Rugby should be awarded the
Jonah Lomu Medal. Just a couple of ideas that I
thought i'd share.
Speaker 1 (12:59):
The chamber is now in session on Sportsfax.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
Here we are in the chamber. Klay Wilson, sports News
director News Talk, said, be good day to you, sir.
I trust you all well and full of opinion.
Speaker 7 (13:13):
I am always greeting. Star said what I like to hear.
Speaker 3 (13:16):
Okay, So I saw on the idea around just before
about the Super Rugby Player of the Year and maybe
calling it the Jonah Lomu Medal, maybe the Pine Tree,
maybe the But this is essentially flawed in your opinion.
Speaker 7 (13:31):
Well, to me, if it's if you're naming an award
about a competition, has to be someone associated with that competition,
So I can get on board with John Olomu. I
wonder if my thought with John Olmo is that perhaps
I see him being named his name being attached to
a slightly bigger award because he was such a sort
(13:53):
of a giant of the game globally. I mean, look
what he did for will for rugby as a global sport.
To attach him it's beneath them.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
And that sounds awfully cruel. Also, you don't have to
and then sat It.
Speaker 7 (14:06):
Was just such. He was so massive for the game. Yes,
is he an iconic player of the Super Rugby competition? Absolutely,
we all remember him, well, me particularly most fondly. And
those super baggy cotton.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
Amurrican people holding on to them as who's running and
they're like skiing along the.
Speaker 7 (14:24):
Back instead of them dragging them, dragging them along for
dear life. But you know, I guess look, you look
at the competition now it's New Zealand, it's Australia, it's Fiji,
it's the Pacific Islands. Is the one person that kind
of fits into that we were joking about James O'Connor,
former Queensland red now playing for the Crusaders.
Speaker 3 (14:41):
What about the brad Thorn. Is he played across both
or just that he's coached in the Reds and he
played for the Crusaders. Maybe that's onny game.
Speaker 7 (14:49):
I don't mind that the brad Thorn Player of the Year,
super Rugby player of the Year.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
I don't.
Speaker 7 (14:54):
I don't necessarily mind that, but you feel like it's
it's got to have a name.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
Do you think because player of the Year, you don't go,
oh wow, I can't wait to see who has won
the Super Rugby pussy figure players.
Speaker 7 (15:04):
Listen to people say the NRL Player of the Year.
Speaker 3 (15:07):
No, they the dealy m that's what it's all about.
But is there somebody is you quite correctly point out
that actually covers it all across Australia and New Zealand
and Fienji And we'll bustly figure with Mowana too. Maybe
that's why it's just called the Player of the Year
because no one can make their mind up.
Speaker 7 (15:25):
Yeah, I mean I think if anything, speaking to the
CEO of Rugby Pacific Jack Measley this morning about this,
So do you want to call it the measly?
Speaker 3 (15:33):
Sorry?
Speaker 2 (15:34):
Moving on.
Speaker 7 (15:34):
No, But they're very adaptable and open to where this goes.
So maybe they are looking at a name. It's not
a question. I probably should have asked them that I
didn't get around to asking it. Maybe you know, they're
open to that, they're looking at that they want to find,
take their time to find the right name to attach
it to. But I think, nonetheless a great idea. People
love the Dalm. I love the dalim, you know, the.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
Ability to copy, copy, though they're kind of like, well,
like what you're doing, So we'll just pinched the idea.
Speaker 7 (15:59):
But if it works so well for the and super
Rugby is trying to find ways to get bring fans back,
to bring new fans in, to get people engaged, why
not do something that's tried and true in another code,
especially another code so similar similar, like the NRL. So
I happen to really love it. I love they're going
to release the points every weekday.
Speaker 3 (16:17):
They're not going to close it down? Are they gone?
To twelve twenty rounds or however long it is. So
it's very transparent, it's very nude as opposed to Dali
M's They put it under cover towards the end of
the camp, right, yeah.
Speaker 7 (16:28):
And I think that they have their reasons for that.
And you know, there's no perfect way to format an
award like this. I think they've gone to the players,
the players Association. They've come up with what they think
they think is best. The players and the coaches are
going to vote on this that potentially has some of
its own pitfalls, but I think they're pretty confident that
the players and the coaches will be genuine And you know,
(16:51):
players love nothing more than the respect of their peers,
So in that way, I see why they've come up
with this format.
Speaker 3 (16:56):
Now, players like winning competitions. They couldn't care less about
their peers.
Speaker 7 (17:00):
Well after winning competitions.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
Just how don't we name it after a referee? Okay,
this is just getting stupid.
Speaker 7 (17:06):
Steve Walsh.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
Upset everybody, no matter where you are.
Speaker 7 (17:13):
Not a great idea.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
Let's run with that. Hey, let's move on to our
next topic. Oussie Boomers three match series against New Zealand
last time they played in New Zealand soil was a
decade ago. Why don't we see more of it? And
why don't we see more trans Tasman battles across all sport?
Quite frankly, yeah.
Speaker 7 (17:32):
And is this the big brother little brother thing? And
that quite often they don't care speaking about things being
beneath people or organizations. Sometimes for Australian teams perhaps they
look at than their New Zealand counterparts and it doesn't work.
I mean football is a great example, right, definitely doesn't
help that those two teams, the all Whites the soccer
(17:53):
us are in different confederations. Yeah, but across other sports, yeah,
it's a good point. Why does this not happen more
often when it comes to basketball specifically? I'm not sure exactly.
You know, the Boomers are certainly a couple of not
just above where the tall Blacks are the tall Ferns
the same when it comes to well we do it.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
We've got it in cricket to a kind of degree.
But I don't know how much money is or isn't
in there. There's got to be some transfer. But my
issue here is there's no overarching body that says you've
all got to play each other once a year for
this Grand trans Tasman Trophy. So trying to get it initiated, No,
I'm possible.
Speaker 7 (18:29):
And sometimes it just comes down to dollars and cents,
like a lot of these things do, right, Like does
it make money for basketball Australia and basketball in New
Zealand to do this for obviously, for the last decade,
for whatever reason, it hasn't made that kind of financial
sense or logistical sense. Now they seem to think they've
worked out away to make it make sense. I think
it's great. I mean, we have the NBA already, right,
(18:51):
we have the women's NBL, which a lot of New
Zealand players playing from the Tall Ferns, So why not
have the national teams actually play each other? I mean,
and I'm sure you remember some of the some of
those battles from beyond a decade ago, when you know,
like Sir Pau Leonardi, Kirk Penny, Phil Jones, those kind
of guys that era of players got to play against
(19:12):
the Australian teams and they had some great battles. And
I think you look at the NBL and the current
Tall Blecks team, they would probably you know, give the
give the Boomers a decent, decent run for their money.
But I mean, we love a trans tasment battle so
so so now that they basketball bringing it back, great news.
Speaker 3 (19:27):
Well, increased profile of the game as well. You know
how popular it is, how many kids are actually playing
the game.
Speaker 7 (19:33):
Travel selling tickets to that game in Hamilton.
Speaker 3 (19:35):
I wouldn't think so. I think it's great. Hey, good
on you, Clay. Always a pleasure to have you in
the studio. The Steve Walsh Medal. Oh my lord, what
a note to go out.
Speaker 7 (19:45):
On dissecting the sporting agenda.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
It's Sports Fix with Jason Vine and Darcy Waldgrave.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
And that's it. Another day, another dollar, another saint dust
that it is that it's the Fix for Tuesday, the
fourth of February twenty twenty five. I'm Darcy Waldgrave. And
if it's more of this year after subscribe that means
the Fix will drop in to your inbox on a
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tell your friends, tell your family they can subscribe as
(20:16):
well and we can be one great, big, happy family.
Of course, we've got more sport on News Talk zeb
between Monday and Friday, seven to eight pm, you can
engage in this one oh eight hundred and eighty ten
eighty to talk back in the name of the program,
what else would it be? Sports talk? And on weekends
if you want more of it between twelve mid day
(20:36):
and three pm, Jason Pine has got weekend sport. I
have a wonderful rest of your day, and we'll catch
you again tomorrow here on the Fix.
Speaker 1 (20:46):
For more from News Talk zed B, listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcasts on Irradio.
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our Wide Ranger podcast now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
This is Sportsfix Howard By News Talks ed B.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Gooday, mate, welcome on into the Fix. Here it is
again your bite size, wrapped up piece of sport. All
you need in a sporting podcast. My name is Darcy
Water gave with you through the entirety and coming up
in the podcast today. Richie mccaugh joins the program. Note
not Rugby, all about God's Zone. That iconic adventure race
(00:45):
is back, sorely missed, a fantastic excuse to run around
in the jungles of New Zealand. Richie talks about that
and the savior of that big event. I'll get some
opinion around the Super Rugby Pacific's brand shiny new concept
of player of the Year. And Clay Wilson, director of
Sport for News Talks HEB, joins us in the chamber
(01:07):
as we talk about some of the big sports stories
of the day. Looking forward to it, you are as well.
All right, let's get down and on into it. The
Sports Fix for Tuesday, the fourth of February twenty twenty five.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Let's go in other news and a sport.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Today, a trans Tasman rivalry renewed on the hard world. Yeah,
the Tour Blacks and the tool Ferns will each take
on their Australian counterparts in a three game basketball series
in May. It'll be the first time the New Zealand
men have posted the Boomers and close to a decade basketball.
New Zealand boss Dilan Boucher seees it's been in the
works for a couple of years.
Speaker 4 (01:48):
Certainly, conversation has started earlier about really wanting to ignite
that rivalry between New Zealand and Australia, to have something
for two dearies, Tool Funds and tool Blacks to be
able to play on a regular basis as something that
we've really been craving for, especially on home soil and innovation.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
To drive interest in Super Rugby Pacific, organizers have announced
a player of the season be crowned. Captains and coaches
will vote on their top three players from the opposing
team on a three to one basis after each match.
Super Rugby Pacific boss Jack Mesley explains the move.
Speaker 5 (02:21):
Fans have told us they are looking for more ways
to engage and media have also told us that they
want more ways to be able to engage with the
stories within the comp It's also great toil for fans
to get to know more players from other teams as well.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
And finally can Lulusun rise again on the women's tennis tour.
After breaking an almost six month long winning drought, the
world number forty five has beaten Caroline Garthia in straight
sets to advance to the second round of the Arbu
Dhabi Open. Soon says there's been no consistent reason for
his string of defeats.
Speaker 6 (02:55):
Every tournament is a different outcome, different experience and different opponents.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Obviously, so you have to just keep going and keep fighting.
Leading a vix We've got just the ticket.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
It's sportsvix Now, News Talks IVY.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
God'szone is returning. God's Oone is one of the most
iconic adventure races there is held over seven eight days
across some of the wildest terrain that New Zealand can offer.
It's not a race for the faint hearted. It is
a team based race and a man that's behind the
return of God's Own and indeed someone who's competed in
(03:31):
it four times himself. His former All Black skipper Richie mccare. Richie,
things are very very well, and for you things are fantastic.
God's Zone is back and absolute icon of a race,
something I'll never touch, but you quite like, don't you
sucker for punishment?
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Mate?
Speaker 3 (03:51):
So first up, tell us about why god Zones had
that hiatus and why it's back now.
Speaker 6 (03:56):
Well, the first thing was when it did obviously come
to a start. You know, my personal point view, it's
kind of love hate. You know, there's some times when
you're doing the race you go why. But it's an
iconic events will class event and the guys that run it,
you know, they run a pretty good, pretty good event,
and you know I was lucky enough to have a
crack at them. But when it started was sort of like,
(04:17):
oh yeah, the disappointment. So a few of us got
together and thought, you know, is a way of giving
it a new lease of life, you know, under a
different structure and but you know, still having the elements
of what the competitors see the same as what it was,
you know, been a tough race that caters for the
very best, and and also you know people that are
(04:39):
just getting into it, you know you can really challenge themselves.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
And so we've got to the point where we think.
Speaker 6 (04:44):
We can we can do it, and we've got, you know,
the support of some key people and key well like
have one New Zealand on board as a naming right
sponsored doc have said that they're going to be supportive
all those sort of things.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
We think we can put together a good race.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
So it collapsed because it wasn't a financial issue. Why
did it actually stop being run?
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Rich? I think it's various reasons.
Speaker 6 (05:08):
I think that there's you know, running these events aren't easy.
You know, there's a lot of things you've got to
get right, and you know, and the margins are pretty tight,
you know, as a competitor, but you know you've got
to line everything up and any need to you know,
not get the access you want, to get the course
you want, you know, and there's always you know, by
(05:30):
and large I've got that each time, but you know,
just to certainly around those things, you know, COVID, all
those sort of challenges.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
I think it just just got to the point where
it was just came but hard.
Speaker 6 (05:41):
So hopefully you know, with a few of us that
you put together the trust I guess oversee it and
then get the right people in the spots with energy
and excitement and passion for it, you know, give a
new lease of life. We can get it up and
running again. So yeah, that's that was the main reason.
And you know the guys that ran it before have
(06:03):
passed on all their knowledge to us. Are the good
and the bad things to watch for and not watch
war which has been awesome. So you're hopefully where you
can get it into the spot we want.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
You've been involved in four so I'm presuming you're tied
in to do it again. You've got a rough idea
where you're going this time around, because some of the
places in New Zealand that you try and check off,
it's quite stunning.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
They are they are.
Speaker 6 (06:25):
We've got we've got an announcement of where we are
potentially where it's going to be. So I'm not going
to jump the gun on that, but come on, Richie, go.
Speaker 5 (06:33):
On, mate.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Well we'll find out in due course, but it will
be your back.
Speaker 6 (06:37):
You're right, because you could name a whole lot of
places around that would you could just go, well, you
could do an amazing course here, whether I'm racing or not,
or whether I'm going to be helping helping the race run.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
We'll wait and see, but you never know.
Speaker 6 (06:51):
I don't know any details of what the course might be,
so it is potential to still race.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
I suppose original mccaud joins us and Richie you plainly
having you on, considering your history and rugby to be
nuts of me not to chuck a couple of super
questions there, you like, for a start, how's retirement? Plainly
you're still busy and you don't miss it? You ever
miss chugging around the place. When I go back and help.
Speaker 6 (07:13):
The Crusaders, I miss I miss watching, you know, he
sit down on a Friday Saturday night and send the
boys run out in the field.
Speaker 5 (07:20):
You go.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
That was That was pretty fun while I did it.
Speaker 6 (07:22):
But I saw a couple of the lads down here
in Wanaka just after the.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
New year and they heading back to pre season training.
It was about that point and I was I'm quite.
Speaker 6 (07:32):
Pleased not to be doing that, still keeping third and
doing all those sort of things. But I still love watching,
watching the game and following obviously the Crusaders and then.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Later in the year the Abs.
Speaker 6 (07:43):
How they're going so always a challenge this time year
to see where everyone's going to be at.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
And that's one moving for good competition. Last year Blues
managed to actually win it, and it looks like it's
really coming together. I thought the quality of the rugby
last year was outstanding. Of course, it all funnels into
Razor Robertson and what he's doing. He's got quite a job.
Are you know him pretty well? You think he's up
for that?
Speaker 6 (08:05):
Yeah, well, I think last year, you know, you'd say
everyone's probably had a good learning you know, it wasn't.
You know, it was a pretty good year by and large,
but you'd probably say there's a lot of things that
you'd learned from that. And you know, with your bit,
with your matter, what you've done beforehand, the fact you
get in there the international levels different and I'm sure
you know, another year on they'll even better prepared and know.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
What they're in for.
Speaker 6 (08:30):
So but you look across the talent we've got across
these young all the super teams and what funnels into
the all backs.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
It was still in pretty good shape like that, and
you know there's no reason why we can't.
Speaker 6 (08:41):
You know, the expectation of going and keeping a performance
at the top level and most teams off or all
teams off there's no reason why we can't, I don't think.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
And one last thing, A Save has been named as
the captain of Minor Pussy Fiker. There's been a big move,
hasn't it across to that team. I think ultimately really
good for the competition, good for Pussy Fiker and watching
already run the ship. I think there'd be a lot
of eyeballs on that franchise this year.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
You well, yeah, it's a pretty smart move from some one.
Speaker 6 (09:12):
So a good getting caught like that, because you're right, yeah,
it's put some real uh yeah, people wanting to see
how it goes, so yeah, and I think from what
I can hear that the support of the team yahe, the.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Base is only growing and.
Speaker 6 (09:27):
They've got some people, pretty smart people you know, overseeing it.
So yeah, it'd be interesting to see see how they
progress this year to it have a got like as
you kept, and there's a big statement for them.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
It is and plainly the big adventure race and one
New Zealand god Zone. You've got to give them the
sponsors love because obviously their contribution has been huge. People
want to find out more about that. I think they
can go to Godzoonadventure dot com without that, I believe
that is the website unless you can tell me anything different.
Speaker 6 (10:01):
No, No, I'm pretty sure that's that's the That's where
you're going to find out. There's going to be Obviously
we've announced it's back, and over the next not too
will be saying where and when and when the entries open,
So I keep keep your eyes peeled.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Yes, it's going to be exciting.
Speaker 6 (10:15):
But just just in what you say about having one
News on as a title sponsor, you know, but after
you know, not being going for a couple years heavy
support was really encouraging and really grateful for that.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
And on that Richie McCaul, thanks so much for joining
us here on News Talk ZB of Cracking twenty twenty five.
You stay fit and you stay supporting those Red and blacks.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
I'll do that, good man. Thanks does he.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
This is Sportsfix, your daily does of sports news, how
news talks.
Speaker 3 (10:47):
Super Rugby Pacific have got a brand new toy. It's
the Super Rugby Player of the Year. No, not the
most interesting name, No, not the most stimulating name. In fact, guys,
you can do a lot of work on that name.
I've got some ideas for you later on my piece.
He's basically how it works. They looked at the NRL,
they looked at Delian when you know what, that's a
(11:08):
we need one of those. So it's been initiated. At
the end of each game in Super Rugby, the opposition
sides I the captains and the coaches nominate their best
three players on the other team. Three two one points
are allotted respectively. These points are all tallied up and
then at the end of the year you've got the
(11:29):
Super Rugby Best Player, as voted by the coaches and
the captains. I think they still work to be done
on the end. The beauty of the dally M is
that it goes private after a while and nobody actually
knows where the voting stands. Look maybe they want it
stripped back and naked. Maybe that's something the fans are
after so they can track their best player and see
(11:52):
what they have to do to pick up the gong.
You've got to say, well done, Super Rugby. You're trying something.
You're trying something new. You're trying to, as they say,
put the fan at the center of the room. You're
trying to drum up some interest in this competition, which
of course begs the question we're on earth is Super
Rugby Pacific Fantasy. This was promised and we're in the
(12:16):
shadow of the start of the competition and there's still
no hide nor hair of the fantasy competition. But in
the meantime we've got the Super Rugby Pacific Player of
the Year.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
I only go back to.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
The name Dali mb Ye go all about one of
the greats of the game of rugby league player of
the Year. That's Dulla's dishwater. I've got a few suggestions
for them. What about the pine tree, you know where
I'm going with this. What about the nepier, the Murdoch joking,
what about the mccare or what about this the player
(12:51):
of the Year and Super Rugby should be awarded the
Jonah Lomu Medal. Just a couple of ideas that I
thought i'd share.
Speaker 1 (12:59):
The chamber is now in session on Sportsfax.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
Here we are in the chamber. Klay Wilson, sports News
director News Talk, said, be good day to you, sir.
I trust you all well and full of opinion.
Speaker 7 (13:13):
I am always greeting. Star said what I like to hear.
Speaker 3 (13:16):
Okay, So I saw on the idea around just before
about the Super Rugby Player of the Year and maybe
calling it the Jonah Lomu Medal, maybe the Pine Tree,
maybe the But this is essentially flawed in your opinion.
Speaker 7 (13:31):
Well, to me, if it's if you're naming an award
about a competition, has to be someone associated with that competition,
So I can get on board with John Olomu. I
wonder if my thought with John Olmo is that perhaps
I see him being named his name being attached to
a slightly bigger award because he was such a sort
(13:53):
of a giant of the game globally. I mean, look
what he did for will for rugby as a global sport.
To attach him it's beneath them.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
And that sounds awfully cruel. Also, you don't have to
and then sat It.
Speaker 7 (14:06):
Was just such. He was so massive for the game. Yes,
is he an iconic player of the Super Rugby competition? Absolutely,
we all remember him, well, me particularly most fondly. And
those super baggy cotton.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
Amurrican people holding on to them as who's running and
they're like skiing along the.
Speaker 7 (14:24):
Back instead of them dragging them, dragging them along for
dear life. But you know, I guess look, you look
at the competition now it's New Zealand, it's Australia, it's Fiji,
it's the Pacific Islands. Is the one person that kind
of fits into that we were joking about James O'Connor,
former Queensland red now playing for the Crusaders.
Speaker 3 (14:41):
What about the brad Thorn. Is he played across both
or just that he's coached in the Reds and he
played for the Crusaders. Maybe that's onny game.
Speaker 7 (14:49):
I don't mind that the brad Thorn Player of the Year,
super Rugby player of the Year.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
I don't.
Speaker 7 (14:54):
I don't necessarily mind that, but you feel like it's
it's got to have a name.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
Do you think because player of the Year, you don't go,
oh wow, I can't wait to see who has won
the Super Rugby pussy figure players.
Speaker 7 (15:04):
Listen to people say the NRL Player of the Year.
Speaker 3 (15:07):
No, they the dealy m that's what it's all about.
But is there somebody is you quite correctly point out
that actually covers it all across Australia and New Zealand
and Fienji And we'll bustly figure with Mowana too. Maybe
that's why it's just called the Player of the Year
because no one can make their mind up.
Speaker 7 (15:25):
Yeah, I mean I think if anything, speaking to the
CEO of Rugby Pacific Jack Measley this morning about this,
So do you want to call it the measly?
Speaker 3 (15:33):
Sorry?
Speaker 2 (15:34):
Moving on.
Speaker 7 (15:34):
No, But they're very adaptable and open to where this goes.
So maybe they are looking at a name. It's not
a question. I probably should have asked them that I
didn't get around to asking it. Maybe you know, they're
open to that, they're looking at that they want to find,
take their time to find the right name to attach
it to. But I think, nonetheless a great idea. People
love the Dalm. I love the dalim, you know, the.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
Ability to copy, copy, though they're kind of like, well,
like what you're doing, So we'll just pinched the idea.
Speaker 7 (15:59):
But if it works so well for the and super
Rugby is trying to find ways to get bring fans back,
to bring new fans in, to get people engaged, why
not do something that's tried and true in another code,
especially another code so similar similar, like the NRL. So
I happen to really love it. I love they're going
to release the points every weekday.
Speaker 3 (16:17):
They're not going to close it down? Are they gone?
To twelve twenty rounds or however long it is. So
it's very transparent, it's very nude as opposed to Dali
M's They put it under cover towards the end of
the camp, right, yeah.
Speaker 7 (16:28):
And I think that they have their reasons for that.
And you know, there's no perfect way to format an
award like this. I think they've gone to the players,
the players Association. They've come up with what they think
they think is best. The players and the coaches are
going to vote on this that potentially has some of
its own pitfalls, but I think they're pretty confident that
the players and the coaches will be genuine And you know,
(16:51):
players love nothing more than the respect of their peers,
So in that way, I see why they've come up
with this format.
Speaker 3 (16:56):
Now, players like winning competitions. They couldn't care less about
their peers.
Speaker 7 (17:00):
Well after winning competitions.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
Just how don't we name it after a referee? Okay,
this is just getting stupid.
Speaker 7 (17:06):
Steve Walsh.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
Upset everybody, no matter where you are.
Speaker 7 (17:13):
Not a great idea.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
Let's run with that. Hey, let's move on to our
next topic. Oussie Boomers three match series against New Zealand
last time they played in New Zealand soil was a
decade ago. Why don't we see more of it? And
why don't we see more trans Tasman battles across all sport?
Quite frankly, yeah.
Speaker 7 (17:32):
And is this the big brother little brother thing? And
that quite often they don't care speaking about things being
beneath people or organizations. Sometimes for Australian teams perhaps they
look at than their New Zealand counterparts and it doesn't work.
I mean football is a great example, right, definitely doesn't
help that those two teams, the all Whites the soccer
(17:53):
us are in different confederations. Yeah, but across other sports, yeah,
it's a good point. Why does this not happen more
often when it comes to basketball specifically? I'm not sure exactly.
You know, the Boomers are certainly a couple of not
just above where the tall Blacks are the tall Ferns
the same when it comes to well we do it.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
We've got it in cricket to a kind of degree.
But I don't know how much money is or isn't
in there. There's got to be some transfer. But my
issue here is there's no overarching body that says you've
all got to play each other once a year for
this Grand trans Tasman Trophy. So trying to get it initiated, No,
I'm possible.
Speaker 7 (18:29):
And sometimes it just comes down to dollars and cents,
like a lot of these things do, right, Like does
it make money for basketball Australia and basketball in New
Zealand to do this for obviously, for the last decade,
for whatever reason, it hasn't made that kind of financial
sense or logistical sense. Now they seem to think they've
worked out away to make it make sense. I think
it's great. I mean, we have the NBA already, right,
(18:51):
we have the women's NBL, which a lot of New
Zealand players playing from the Tall Ferns, So why not
have the national teams actually play each other? I mean,
and I'm sure you remember some of the some of
those battles from beyond a decade ago, when you know,
like Sir Pau Leonardi, Kirk Penny, Phil Jones, those kind
of guys that era of players got to play against
(19:12):
the Australian teams and they had some great battles. And
I think you look at the NBL and the current
Tall Blecks team, they would probably you know, give the
give the Boomers a decent, decent run for their money.
But I mean, we love a trans tasment battle so
so so now that they basketball bringing it back, great news.
Speaker 3 (19:27):
Well, increased profile of the game as well. You know
how popular it is, how many kids are actually playing
the game.
Speaker 7 (19:33):
Travel selling tickets to that game in Hamilton.
Speaker 3 (19:35):
I wouldn't think so. I think it's great. Hey, good
on you, Clay. Always a pleasure to have you in
the studio. The Steve Walsh Medal. Oh my lord, what
a note to go out.
Speaker 7 (19:45):
On dissecting the sporting agenda.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
It's Sports Fix with Jason Vine and Darcy Waldgrave.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
And that's it. Another day, another dollar, another saint dust
that it is that it's the Fix for Tuesday, the
fourth of February twenty twenty five. I'm Darcy Waldgrave. And
if it's more of this year after subscribe that means
the Fix will drop in to your inbox on a
week daily basis. And of course, if you've really loved it,
tell your friends, tell your family they can subscribe as
(20:16):
well and we can be one great, big, happy family.
Of course, we've got more sport on News Talk zeb
between Monday and Friday, seven to eight pm, you can
engage in this one oh eight hundred and eighty ten
eighty to talk back in the name of the program,
what else would it be? Sports talk? And on weekends
if you want more of it between twelve mid day
(20:36):
and three pm, Jason Pine has got weekend sport. I
have a wonderful rest of your day, and we'll catch
you again tomorrow here on the Fix.
Speaker 1 (20:46):
For more from News Talk zed B, listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcasts on Irradio.
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