June 24, 2025 • 19 mins
On Sports Fix with D'Arcy Waldegrave for June 24 2025, D'Arcy talks to NZ Herald sportswriter Liam Napier about the strange makeup of Scott Robertson's newly announced 35-man All Blacks squad - with only two wingers?
D'Arcy shoots off at the mouth about the Crusaders and Occam's razor.
And in The Chamber, NZ Herald sportswriter Alex Powell talks the latest with the All Blacks and the Warriors.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News talks Ed be
follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
This is Sportsfix Howard by News talks Ed be By.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Hello there a war mister all warmer, welcomes to you
and thanks for joining us here on the Fixed podcast.
We're giving you all you need to know about sport
of a day, that day being Tuesday, the twenty fourth
of June twenty twenty five. My name is Darsy Water
to goovin association with DJ Gardner Holmes, New Zealand's most
trusted home builder. We've got this lined up for you.
(00:44):
First start, we have Liam Napier, he's a rugby writer
for The New Zealand Herod, and we'll look at the
interesting situation around two wingers and piles of midfielders. How
on earth does that operatehi of course we'll wait in
with my opinion around the right of the Crusaders. Now
that runs focused on the All Blacks and we joined
(01:04):
the chamber by Alex Powell, sports news journalist.
Speaker 4 (01:07):
Adult the New Zealand.
Speaker 5 (01:09):
Here.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
That's what we're doing, so let's go do it in
other news tim Now for a tennis player sand Woods
by a couple of coaches. Will start with the all
black coach Raiser ray Are Robertson. He's all over anything
that earns money and exposes athletes to the best players
(01:29):
in the world. A Club World Cup has been mooted.
Put in the top super teams up against other top
global clubs, franchises, the clubs in anything in the game
that promotes us in its grobery and against international sponsors
and exposes our players to other competitions. It's good. Giano's
(01:50):
the finest tennis player. Lulu Sun has not the number
one seed and defending champion out of the Egsbawn Open
a wo Wooden lead an event. She toppled the world
number sixteen Daria Cozankina in three So will this victory
spur her on greater things at the Strawberries Cream and Pim's.
Speaker 5 (02:11):
Event next Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
I mean it's a great persona so when here at Eastbourne.
So I'm really happy with that and I'm gonna try
to continue. And Darlin not Watt to me is the
least in the arc can't buy a trick this season
the Warriors a wingman got had dropped during Saturday's loss
to the Panthers. Coach Andrew Websday has revealed that the
(02:35):
high ankle spring, we'll keep the flying at Mullet's sideline
for a few weeks, including a very candy bye week.
Hopefully that by produces that for three games or five
games whatever.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
He's in good spirits and scams doesn't need surgery. Specs coach, player, coach.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
That's some Sport Today news.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
It's Sports Fix with Dancy Waldegrave.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
There's a common phrase out there, kiss keep it simple, stupid.
Speaker 4 (03:06):
It's the way to go about.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Various plans, various methods to ideally create the result that
you're after. That's exactly what the Crusaders did on Saturday
night up against the Chiefs, not too dissimilar to what
they did against the Blues a couple of years ago.
A simple game plan, extraordinarily well executed, and we saw
(03:30):
it right in front of us. Unfortunately, for a lot
of the Crusader's side, it wasn't enough the championship to
get themselves.
Speaker 4 (03:39):
Picked for the All Blacks this year, but so be it.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
They'll be resting on the laurels of this championship for
a long long time. We're going to smash you up
the front and we're going to kick you until you
fall down. Not literally kick, but the aerial assault on
the Chiefs was simply too much for them to handle,
and it carried on. They were relentless in the way
(04:02):
they exposed the Chiefs and the way they put their
best foot or was the point their best pack forward.
They didn't change, they didn't alter, they just kept on
playing to this keep it simple, stupid plan. Huge amount
to be admired about that Crusaders effort. You do feel
sorry for the Chiefs to a degree that they couldn't
(04:25):
send coach Clayton McMillan off with a title, But so
be it.
Speaker 4 (04:30):
The road show that.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Is the Crusaders carries on, and if only other teams
could pick up this extraordinarily simple concept, do something well,
do it right, don't change, and the results will come.
You know, I love a good razor, which is a
saying basically designed to make life a little simpler, and
(04:52):
the one we like the most is the Ockham's razor.
The path with the least possible variables is generally the
correct path to travel on, and that's what we saw
with the Crusaders on Saturday night.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
We've got just a ticket. It's sports Vexed.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
And it's all welcome to the podcast too. And you
said on a herald at rugby journalist at Liam napier
As would take a look at and the squad that's
been named yesterday by Scott Razor Robertson. We've got a
pile of midfielders, a couple of omissions and two wingers. Liam,
How does that work?
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (05:32):
Great to be here? Does Look?
Speaker 6 (05:33):
It's an interesting squad, very intriguing on a number of fronts,
and you've picked up on one there. Unbalanced on first glance,
isn't it? In the back line? Six midfielders seems very bloated.
There's four second fives among that group and only two
specialist wingers. You do have a lot of versatility within
the squad. Guys like Will Jordan, Ruben Love Rikowanny can
(05:57):
all play wings, so it's not like the All Blacks
don't have, you know, really high caliber options there. Ricowani
of course started his career on the wing. Will Jordan's
played the vast majority of his test career on the wing,
so there is flexibility.
Speaker 5 (06:12):
But if you're an.
Speaker 6 (06:13):
Ammonia Nadaura or Lee Ry Carter, who both of whom
played brilliantly for the Chiefs this year.
Speaker 5 (06:20):
That'd feel hard done by.
Speaker 6 (06:21):
And then if you're a David Havili on the outside
looking in, after seeing six midfielders selected, you'd be pretty
aggrieved as well.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
What does this say about wing stocks or More's the
point the want for Scott Robertson to use players who
can cover many different positions. I don't know if this
has worked entirely well, especially when it comes to do
wingers in midfielders in the past. Are we satisfied with this?
Speaker 6 (06:50):
It does evoke a few historical anxieties, doesn't it. Dusk
when you think about putting square pigs and round the
holes are getting a wee bit clever with playing players
out of position.
Speaker 5 (07:03):
Particularly at World Cups.
Speaker 6 (07:05):
We won't go there tonight, and we keep everyone round's
heart rate at a certain level.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
I'm old enough I lived through that.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
You cannot do this to me again.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
But this is this is this not a huge issue.
Is this is the nature of the size of squads
and we just have to deal with it.
Speaker 6 (07:22):
Look, I think I would have liked to have seen
some more specialist wings in the squad you've only got
Severe Reese and Caleb Clark, and while there is that
that flexibility there, I do see it as a very
specialized position, so I think they are a bit lights
in that departments. But when it comes to the midfields,
I do like the composition of who they've picked. I
(07:45):
like the fact that they are picking big, powerful, destructive
ball carriers to punch over that game line. You've got
Jordy Barrett, Quinte Pier and Tava Tavanaha, who is an
absolute tank both over the ball and ball in hand.
So it's a bit of an experimental feel with guys
(08:06):
like Tavitavanawa. Bring him in see what he's capable of.
But then you've got someone like Quinta Pye, who makes
a comeback after three years out of the All Blacks
had that horrific knee injury from the Dog Act from
Darcy Swain, showed resilience and was an absolute standout for
the Chiefs this year. Very physical, very dominant on the
(08:29):
carry and on defense. So I do like that departments,
but I can't see them carrying six midfielders for the
whole season, so it is going to be about taking
your chances when they arrive.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
So you talk.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
About Rica Yuanni, he started out there. Many people think
that you can't just transform into a center, you grow
up in that position because it's such a nuanced role.
But he's coming and done it in all black, done
reasonably well, pushing him out to the wing and maybe
do we see him reverting back to where he started off?
Is this maybe what the writing on the wall is.
Speaker 5 (09:06):
I think that the oblae well.
Speaker 6 (09:09):
At the announcement yesterday, we asked Scott Hansen and Scott
Robertson about where they see Tava tavannahwah and it is
predominantly in the midfield and as a second five. And
this is a new position for him. Largely, he's very
raw in his transition from the wing to the midfield.
It's only happened this year really with the Highlanders, So
(09:30):
that is a bit of a punt, particularly from a
defensive point of view. He might may be caught out,
but he is a point of difference. He is built
like a tank. He had the most turnovers in Super
Rugby bar No One sously Creefy was a freak and
Tava Taawa had more turnovers.
Speaker 5 (09:49):
So if you're injecting a guy like that off the bench.
Speaker 6 (09:52):
There's a bit of risk, but there is potentially a
lot of upsides. And just with Rico, I think he's
been a center for a long time now, he's learned
that position, but he is under pressure from a guy
like Billy Propter, who will see more game time this
year than he did last. And there's also into Lennon
Brown on the squad, so I think you will see
(10:13):
Rico shift out to the wing a lot more this season.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
The Chamber is now in session on Sportsfix.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
We'll join now in the Chamber by recidivist Alex Powell.
He's also a sports news journalist for New Zealand Herald.
But I can say recidivus because you keep coming back
you okay, mate, I'm alright, because you keep asking me.
Speaker 4 (10:31):
Well, no I do I do?
Speaker 3 (10:32):
I appreciate your input into the chamber. Let's start where
everybody started this week. In essence, the All Black.
Speaker 4 (10:42):
Team is out.
Speaker 5 (10:43):
Feels round, now, doesn't it?
Speaker 7 (10:44):
Well, it does, and it feels like it's kind of
raises team as opposed to I've just put something out
there and hopefully want to tract too much slack.
Speaker 4 (10:54):
Has he got it right?
Speaker 8 (10:56):
It feels like there's a couple of areas where you're
just thinking, oh, there could be in trouble there, Like
you look at the outside backs and there's two specialist wingers.
Like you think of the history of New Zealand Rgby,
we're always strong on the wing. You know, you've got
a Jonah, You've got a Jo Kothoko, a Julian Sarba.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
You've always got someone.
Speaker 8 (11:12):
I don't know if I feel the same way about
Cale Clark, who admittedly is a very good player, hasn't
scored a try all year and then it's not set.
Speaker 4 (11:19):
The world on five on the flanks for the Blues.
Speaker 8 (11:22):
Now, No, he hasn't, but A they don't really play
a system that I feel gets the best out of him.
And B he has had a lot to deal with
off the field, and whether or not that's in fact
impacked him at all, you would forgive him if that's
been the case. And then sever reason you think, is
he really going to be there in tweeny twenty seven?
Because I don't know either way? Whereas normally you want
to lock guys in now, because that's what the first
two years of a World Cup cycle are. The first
(11:44):
two you're going this is who we've got. The third year,
you're going, this is how we're going to play. And
then the fourth years of the World Cup.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
Are we going to find centers out on the wing
as opposed to the traditional move, which is wingers into
the center. Is that what's going to happen? He said,
going Na, why and of course Ricco you.
Speaker 8 (12:01):
Want it feels that way, doesn't it? Like you can't
just have two wingers and expect to get.
Speaker 5 (12:05):
Through a whole sill.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
They get broken, they.
Speaker 8 (12:08):
Do, and well, no of that, they get old. You know,
you get overtaken very quickly if you're a winger. So
Carlo's about twenty seven, isn't it normally? Yeah, it stops.
And then you look at a guy like Mark Tlaire, I went, you, beauty,
I've got an offer in Japan. I I've probably probably
got two more years of this and I'm going to
take the money. Now, if you're looking at a guy
like a Leroy Carter at the Chiefs or he's not
eligible yet, but a current time Waifele Hour who I
(12:29):
mean at mone and Pacifica.
Speaker 4 (12:30):
But we'll go to the Chiefs. From what we.
Speaker 8 (12:32):
Understand, you're probably thinking tween twenty seven.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
Did you even say this is padding to it? Agree
and go, Okay, we know what's coming up. This is
what we've got right now, we'll run with it. Lester
farn and Nkoo on his way back, so he's there too,
So maybe it's just space saving com it sounds so cruel.
Sorry Caleb if you're listening, but you kind of think
maybe that might be the case.
Speaker 8 (12:54):
You don't want to say so because like luck with women,
we've said Calb Clark is a very good player. You know,
remember that when you first came into the All Blacks
how exciting he was. But like you're always once you're
in that seat as the incumbent, there's always someone else
who's impressing because wing is such an easy position to quantify.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
Well, make break school tries, right, Yeah, that's about it.
Speaker 8 (13:16):
And saying that though you look at that midfield six strong,
like definitely those guys are going to get around on
the word. Like Drazer spoke yesterday and said, like Damian
mckenzi in Boden Barrick can do a job on the wing,
which I don't want to see at all.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
Do it job?
Speaker 3 (13:27):
Hey, you bomb high for your winger. If it's McKenzie's,
it's not going to Happenen Boden may be, but you
look at the team, the structure of the makeup of
this team.
Speaker 4 (13:37):
It's going to change before the World Cup.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
So they're giving guys a place, and I suppose the
best thing around this from a non can table crusader's eye,
as he hasn't stuck with his mates. He's made some
pretty ballsy calls and he's got to be commended celebrated
for that.
Speaker 8 (13:52):
Yeah, Like I mean, he's not there to make friends.
He's there to win, and that's what he's always done,
doesn't matter where he's gone. You look at David Heveli
and you think, geez, you've had a bloody good season.
You look at Ethan black at her who admittedly does
have is shoes staying fit, but you show me a
better player and that Super Rugby Finals series, the Nathan Blackadder,
you know. You look at a guy like George Bell,
who they couldn't get into that team quick enough last
(14:13):
year as saying you're the guy for the future. They
picked him and had a ricky rocat Telly so much
other wrecky Rictelly's now seen the riding on the war
and he's off and now Bell's not in the side.
It's Brady McAllister. So you really do take your hat
off to not only Raiser but Scott Hansen and Jason
Ryan for making brave calls.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
And we'll see how brave those calls and if they
actually reverberate. Come the French, whatever style team it is,
be at a Yahoo bunch of frenchmen who are all
second division and couldn't care, or a bunch of guys
are going to tear us from limb to limb.
Speaker 4 (14:41):
I don't ever know with the French, and that that's
the glory of it, Isn't.
Speaker 5 (14:43):
It to be fair?
Speaker 8 (14:44):
They don't know either, Please.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
Move across the thirteen man Code's not a lot to
talk about over the weekend except I'm really glad the
Crusaders helped my night out because after their Warriors game,
I'm like, what on earth do you call that? But
teams have bad runs, it's going to happen. They're going
to drop a couple. No one's going to go unbeaten
through the whole season. But what the Warriors are dealing
with is key players who are not.
Speaker 4 (15:07):
Their on it.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
We saw the effect without him. Now we've got some more.
Speaker 8 (15:12):
Well so dla attenangles neck limbed off, so I'd say
he's out. Sounds like it's another it's a high ankle sprnkle.
Speaker 4 (15:18):
He'll be out for three or four weeks or maybe longer.
Speaker 8 (15:21):
Coming after he missed the first what ten rounds with
that broken by Tricker and then the wine thing is
it sounds like Kurt Capele might have a bit of
a bit of a concern around. But jeez, that's a
big gloss of Kirk cape I was out, Like I know,
you look at the stats and Kirk Caple doesn't really
jump off the page. But every time you talk to
the Warriors about him, and I know he is such
a good standard setter and things you just don't see
(15:41):
little one percenters. And I think that's why Andrew Webster
brought him over from the Broncos on a four year
deal as a player over thirty, like they needed him
at the club.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
This is not too dissimilar to Dylan Boucher, who, of
course former city of his own basketball in his back
with the Breakers. Again, he's a guy who never fills
up the stats sheets. There his box score, it doesn't
say anything, but everything he does in the club and
around the ball and off the ball is gold.
Speaker 4 (16:09):
All the players love them. So it's kind of similar
to that. I think in that Ilk Gear I love
Kirk Caple.
Speaker 5 (16:15):
I just want to be mates for them.
Speaker 8 (16:16):
You know, every time, every time you hear him talk,
you just go yes, yes, Cape. Remember you know this
is a guy who's played in two Grand Finals, one
with the Panther's one of the Broncos, and he wanted
to come to the Warriors. You know, it's very rare
you say that about Australian players who have other options,
like Kirt Cable would not have struggled to get another
club when he left Brisbane.
Speaker 3 (16:32):
Well, I've been interviewed a couple of times and just
got on the house on fires most stand up up front, dude.
Of course you're Australians have come over here. They've generally
got a big tick beside their name because they've chosen
to come on.
Speaker 8 (16:46):
Over absolutely like a hard agree like let's give them
like citizenship now all right, fine, it's done.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
Not that you're in government and you can't or another
Grand Prix coming up this week can be a remiss
of me.
Speaker 4 (16:57):
Not to mention Grand Prix with you in the studio.
I like this race. This is a good race track
coming out.
Speaker 5 (17:04):
Do you ever do this one on the PlayStation?
Speaker 8 (17:05):
The late breaking zones?
Speaker 7 (17:07):
Ah?
Speaker 4 (17:07):
God, it's fun. I don't remember.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
I haven't played a PlayStation since I was about twenty three,
so we're talking decade five years ago.
Speaker 4 (17:14):
Oh yeah, okay, fine.
Speaker 8 (17:16):
No, So Austrian Grand Prix this weekend Red Bulls home race.
So I mean bet of a positive for the two
Red Bull teams, including our own Lamb lawsome like who knows,
Like the way the European legs have gone this summer,
like it's so hot over there. The tire strategies that
is all over the place because no one can keep
them under temperature.
Speaker 3 (17:34):
And if there's going to be a bad tire strategy,
it's going to be Liams. That's all we want. It's
just because I'm a bit of slack. A tiny break please.
Speaker 8 (17:45):
Yeah, we'll see though. I mean, I've got him. He
has won there before, He's won in Austriia F three,
so he knows how to do it. It was a long
time ago, it's about twenty twenty. All our eyes will
be on him but Max for stapp and can he
keep away from being a naughty boy and not get
in the naughty chair and be able to carry on
running for the season. Just have to get through seventy
(18:05):
laps without barging it off the track, can I.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
Well? Good luck to him and thanks for coming into
the chamber.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
Alex Powell, go well anytime, mate.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
Thanks having me dissecting the sporting agenda. It's Sportsfix with
Darcy Waldgrave.
Speaker 3 (18:18):
And that's it for the Sports Fix podcast. Thanks for
tuning in. Twenty fourth June twenty twenty five. I Darcy
Walter Grave. If you've downloaded this, it's already come to
your inbox if you haven't downloaded, and it'll turn up
on a week daily basis. Tell you friends, tell your family,
tell everybody in the world. And if you want a
bit of interactive sports talk, we've got that for you
(18:41):
as well. Monday through Friday seven to eight pm on
News Talking ZB. Piney's got Monday, I've got Tuesday through Friday,
and then of course the Piney gets the big It's
coming out weekends Sports Saturday and Sunday between twelve pm
and three Thanks again to GJ. Gardner Holmes New Zealand's
most trusted home builder, for being associated with us here
(19:03):
at the Fix.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
For more from news talks, b listen live or online,
and
Speaker 1 (19:09):
Keep our shows with you wherever you go with our
podcasts on iHeartRadio
You're listening to a podcast from News talks Ed be
follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
This is Sportsfix Howard by News talks Ed be By.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Hello there a war mister all warmer, welcomes to you
and thanks for joining us here on the Fixed podcast.
We're giving you all you need to know about sport
of a day, that day being Tuesday, the twenty fourth
of June twenty twenty five. My name is Darsy Water
to goovin association with DJ Gardner Holmes, New Zealand's most
trusted home builder. We've got this lined up for you.
(00:44):
First start, we have Liam Napier, he's a rugby writer
for The New Zealand Herod, and we'll look at the
interesting situation around two wingers and piles of midfielders. How
on earth does that operatehi of course we'll wait in
with my opinion around the right of the Crusaders. Now
that runs focused on the All Blacks and we joined
(01:04):
the chamber by Alex Powell, sports news journalist.
Speaker 4 (01:07):
Adult the New Zealand.
Speaker 5 (01:09):
Here.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
That's what we're doing, so let's go do it in
other news tim Now for a tennis player sand Woods
by a couple of coaches. Will start with the all
black coach Raiser ray Are Robertson. He's all over anything
that earns money and exposes athletes to the best players
(01:29):
in the world. A Club World Cup has been mooted.
Put in the top super teams up against other top
global clubs, franchises, the clubs in anything in the game
that promotes us in its grobery and against international sponsors
and exposes our players to other competitions. It's good. Giano's
(01:50):
the finest tennis player. Lulu Sun has not the number
one seed and defending champion out of the Egsbawn Open
a wo Wooden lead an event. She toppled the world
number sixteen Daria Cozankina in three So will this victory
spur her on greater things at the Strawberries Cream and Pim's.
Speaker 5 (02:11):
Event next Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
I mean it's a great persona so when here at Eastbourne.
So I'm really happy with that and I'm gonna try
to continue. And Darlin not Watt to me is the
least in the arc can't buy a trick this season
the Warriors a wingman got had dropped during Saturday's loss
to the Panthers. Coach Andrew Websday has revealed that the
(02:35):
high ankle spring, we'll keep the flying at Mullet's sideline
for a few weeks, including a very candy bye week.
Hopefully that by produces that for three games or five
games whatever.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
He's in good spirits and scams doesn't need surgery. Specs coach, player, coach.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
That's some Sport Today news.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
It's Sports Fix with Dancy Waldegrave.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
There's a common phrase out there, kiss keep it simple, stupid.
Speaker 4 (03:06):
It's the way to go about.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Various plans, various methods to ideally create the result that
you're after. That's exactly what the Crusaders did on Saturday
night up against the Chiefs, not too dissimilar to what
they did against the Blues a couple of years ago.
A simple game plan, extraordinarily well executed, and we saw
(03:30):
it right in front of us. Unfortunately, for a lot
of the Crusader's side, it wasn't enough the championship to
get themselves.
Speaker 4 (03:39):
Picked for the All Blacks this year, but so be it.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
They'll be resting on the laurels of this championship for
a long long time. We're going to smash you up
the front and we're going to kick you until you
fall down. Not literally kick, but the aerial assault on
the Chiefs was simply too much for them to handle,
and it carried on. They were relentless in the way
(04:02):
they exposed the Chiefs and the way they put their
best foot or was the point their best pack forward.
They didn't change, they didn't alter, they just kept on
playing to this keep it simple, stupid plan. Huge amount
to be admired about that Crusaders effort. You do feel
sorry for the Chiefs to a degree that they couldn't
(04:25):
send coach Clayton McMillan off with a title, But so
be it.
Speaker 4 (04:30):
The road show that.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Is the Crusaders carries on, and if only other teams
could pick up this extraordinarily simple concept, do something well,
do it right, don't change, and the results will come.
You know, I love a good razor, which is a
saying basically designed to make life a little simpler, and
(04:52):
the one we like the most is the Ockham's razor.
The path with the least possible variables is generally the
correct path to travel on, and that's what we saw
with the Crusaders on Saturday night.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
We've got just a ticket. It's sports Vexed.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
And it's all welcome to the podcast too. And you
said on a herald at rugby journalist at Liam napier
As would take a look at and the squad that's
been named yesterday by Scott Razor Robertson. We've got a
pile of midfielders, a couple of omissions and two wingers. Liam,
How does that work?
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (05:32):
Great to be here? Does Look?
Speaker 6 (05:33):
It's an interesting squad, very intriguing on a number of fronts,
and you've picked up on one there. Unbalanced on first glance,
isn't it? In the back line? Six midfielders seems very bloated.
There's four second fives among that group and only two
specialist wingers. You do have a lot of versatility within
the squad. Guys like Will Jordan, Ruben Love Rikowanny can
(05:57):
all play wings, so it's not like the All Blacks
don't have, you know, really high caliber options there. Ricowani
of course started his career on the wing. Will Jordan's
played the vast majority of his test career on the wing,
so there is flexibility.
Speaker 5 (06:12):
But if you're an.
Speaker 6 (06:13):
Ammonia Nadaura or Lee Ry Carter, who both of whom
played brilliantly for the Chiefs this year.
Speaker 5 (06:20):
That'd feel hard done by.
Speaker 6 (06:21):
And then if you're a David Havili on the outside
looking in, after seeing six midfielders selected, you'd be pretty
aggrieved as well.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
What does this say about wing stocks or More's the
point the want for Scott Robertson to use players who
can cover many different positions. I don't know if this
has worked entirely well, especially when it comes to do
wingers in midfielders in the past. Are we satisfied with this?
Speaker 6 (06:50):
It does evoke a few historical anxieties, doesn't it. Dusk
when you think about putting square pigs and round the
holes are getting a wee bit clever with playing players
out of position.
Speaker 5 (07:03):
Particularly at World Cups.
Speaker 6 (07:05):
We won't go there tonight, and we keep everyone round's
heart rate at a certain level.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
I'm old enough I lived through that.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
You cannot do this to me again.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
But this is this is this not a huge issue.
Is this is the nature of the size of squads
and we just have to deal with it.
Speaker 6 (07:22):
Look, I think I would have liked to have seen
some more specialist wings in the squad you've only got
Severe Reese and Caleb Clark, and while there is that
that flexibility there, I do see it as a very
specialized position, so I think they are a bit lights
in that departments. But when it comes to the midfields,
I do like the composition of who they've picked. I
(07:45):
like the fact that they are picking big, powerful, destructive
ball carriers to punch over that game line. You've got
Jordy Barrett, Quinte Pier and Tava Tavanaha, who is an
absolute tank both over the ball and ball in hand.
So it's a bit of an experimental feel with guys
(08:06):
like Tavitavanawa. Bring him in see what he's capable of.
But then you've got someone like Quinta Pye, who makes
a comeback after three years out of the All Blacks
had that horrific knee injury from the Dog Act from
Darcy Swain, showed resilience and was an absolute standout for
the Chiefs this year. Very physical, very dominant on the
(08:29):
carry and on defense. So I do like that departments,
but I can't see them carrying six midfielders for the
whole season, so it is going to be about taking
your chances when they arrive.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
So you talk.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
About Rica Yuanni, he started out there. Many people think
that you can't just transform into a center, you grow
up in that position because it's such a nuanced role.
But he's coming and done it in all black, done
reasonably well, pushing him out to the wing and maybe
do we see him reverting back to where he started off?
Is this maybe what the writing on the wall is.
Speaker 5 (09:06):
I think that the oblae well.
Speaker 6 (09:09):
At the announcement yesterday, we asked Scott Hansen and Scott
Robertson about where they see Tava tavannahwah and it is
predominantly in the midfield and as a second five. And
this is a new position for him. Largely, he's very
raw in his transition from the wing to the midfield.
It's only happened this year really with the Highlanders, So
(09:30):
that is a bit of a punt, particularly from a
defensive point of view. He might may be caught out,
but he is a point of difference. He is built
like a tank. He had the most turnovers in Super
Rugby bar No One sously Creefy was a freak and
Tava Taawa had more turnovers.
Speaker 5 (09:49):
So if you're injecting a guy like that off the bench.
Speaker 6 (09:52):
There's a bit of risk, but there is potentially a
lot of upsides. And just with Rico, I think he's
been a center for a long time now, he's learned
that position, but he is under pressure from a guy
like Billy Propter, who will see more game time this
year than he did last. And there's also into Lennon
Brown on the squad, so I think you will see
(10:13):
Rico shift out to the wing a lot more this season.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
The Chamber is now in session on Sportsfix.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
We'll join now in the Chamber by recidivist Alex Powell.
He's also a sports news journalist for New Zealand Herald.
But I can say recidivus because you keep coming back
you okay, mate, I'm alright, because you keep asking me.
Speaker 4 (10:31):
Well, no I do I do?
Speaker 3 (10:32):
I appreciate your input into the chamber. Let's start where
everybody started this week. In essence, the All Black.
Speaker 4 (10:42):
Team is out.
Speaker 5 (10:43):
Feels round, now, doesn't it?
Speaker 7 (10:44):
Well, it does, and it feels like it's kind of
raises team as opposed to I've just put something out
there and hopefully want to tract too much slack.
Speaker 4 (10:54):
Has he got it right?
Speaker 8 (10:56):
It feels like there's a couple of areas where you're
just thinking, oh, there could be in trouble there, Like
you look at the outside backs and there's two specialist wingers.
Like you think of the history of New Zealand Rgby,
we're always strong on the wing. You know, you've got
a Jonah, You've got a Jo Kothoko, a Julian Sarba.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
You've always got someone.
Speaker 8 (11:12):
I don't know if I feel the same way about
Cale Clark, who admittedly is a very good player, hasn't
scored a try all year and then it's not set.
Speaker 4 (11:19):
The world on five on the flanks for the Blues.
Speaker 8 (11:22):
Now, No, he hasn't, but A they don't really play
a system that I feel gets the best out of him.
And B he has had a lot to deal with
off the field, and whether or not that's in fact
impacked him at all, you would forgive him if that's
been the case. And then sever reason you think, is
he really going to be there in tweeny twenty seven?
Because I don't know either way? Whereas normally you want
to lock guys in now, because that's what the first
two years of a World Cup cycle are. The first
(11:44):
two you're going this is who we've got. The third year,
you're going, this is how we're going to play. And
then the fourth years of the World Cup.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
Are we going to find centers out on the wing
as opposed to the traditional move, which is wingers into
the center. Is that what's going to happen? He said,
going Na, why and of course Ricco you.
Speaker 8 (12:01):
Want it feels that way, doesn't it? Like you can't
just have two wingers and expect to get.
Speaker 5 (12:05):
Through a whole sill.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
They get broken, they.
Speaker 8 (12:08):
Do, and well, no of that, they get old. You know,
you get overtaken very quickly if you're a winger. So
Carlo's about twenty seven, isn't it normally? Yeah, it stops.
And then you look at a guy like Mark Tlaire, I went, you, beauty,
I've got an offer in Japan. I I've probably probably
got two more years of this and I'm going to
take the money. Now, if you're looking at a guy
like a Leroy Carter at the Chiefs or he's not
eligible yet, but a current time Waifele Hour who I
(12:29):
mean at mone and Pacifica.
Speaker 4 (12:30):
But we'll go to the Chiefs. From what we.
Speaker 8 (12:32):
Understand, you're probably thinking tween twenty seven.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
Did you even say this is padding to it? Agree
and go, Okay, we know what's coming up. This is
what we've got right now, we'll run with it. Lester
farn and Nkoo on his way back, so he's there too,
So maybe it's just space saving com it sounds so cruel.
Sorry Caleb if you're listening, but you kind of think
maybe that might be the case.
Speaker 8 (12:54):
You don't want to say so because like luck with women,
we've said Calb Clark is a very good player. You know,
remember that when you first came into the All Blacks
how exciting he was. But like you're always once you're
in that seat as the incumbent, there's always someone else
who's impressing because wing is such an easy position to quantify.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
Well, make break school tries, right, Yeah, that's about it.
Speaker 8 (13:16):
And saying that though you look at that midfield six strong,
like definitely those guys are going to get around on
the word. Like Drazer spoke yesterday and said, like Damian
mckenzi in Boden Barrick can do a job on the wing,
which I don't want to see at all.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
Do it job?
Speaker 3 (13:27):
Hey, you bomb high for your winger. If it's McKenzie's,
it's not going to Happenen Boden may be, but you
look at the team, the structure of the makeup of
this team.
Speaker 4 (13:37):
It's going to change before the World Cup.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
So they're giving guys a place, and I suppose the
best thing around this from a non can table crusader's eye,
as he hasn't stuck with his mates. He's made some
pretty ballsy calls and he's got to be commended celebrated
for that.
Speaker 8 (13:52):
Yeah, Like I mean, he's not there to make friends.
He's there to win, and that's what he's always done,
doesn't matter where he's gone. You look at David Heveli
and you think, geez, you've had a bloody good season.
You look at Ethan black at her who admittedly does
have is shoes staying fit, but you show me a
better player and that Super Rugby Finals series, the Nathan Blackadder,
you know. You look at a guy like George Bell,
who they couldn't get into that team quick enough last
(14:13):
year as saying you're the guy for the future. They
picked him and had a ricky rocat Telly so much
other wrecky Rictelly's now seen the riding on the war
and he's off and now Bell's not in the side.
It's Brady McAllister. So you really do take your hat
off to not only Raiser but Scott Hansen and Jason
Ryan for making brave calls.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
And we'll see how brave those calls and if they
actually reverberate. Come the French, whatever style team it is,
be at a Yahoo bunch of frenchmen who are all
second division and couldn't care, or a bunch of guys
are going to tear us from limb to limb.
Speaker 4 (14:41):
I don't ever know with the French, and that that's
the glory of it, Isn't.
Speaker 5 (14:43):
It to be fair?
Speaker 8 (14:44):
They don't know either, Please.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
Move across the thirteen man Code's not a lot to
talk about over the weekend except I'm really glad the
Crusaders helped my night out because after their Warriors game,
I'm like, what on earth do you call that? But
teams have bad runs, it's going to happen. They're going
to drop a couple. No one's going to go unbeaten
through the whole season. But what the Warriors are dealing
with is key players who are not.
Speaker 4 (15:07):
Their on it.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
We saw the effect without him. Now we've got some more.
Speaker 8 (15:12):
Well so dla attenangles neck limbed off, so I'd say
he's out. Sounds like it's another it's a high ankle sprnkle.
Speaker 4 (15:18):
He'll be out for three or four weeks or maybe longer.
Speaker 8 (15:21):
Coming after he missed the first what ten rounds with
that broken by Tricker and then the wine thing is
it sounds like Kurt Capele might have a bit of
a bit of a concern around. But jeez, that's a
big gloss of Kirk cape I was out, Like I know,
you look at the stats and Kirk Caple doesn't really
jump off the page. But every time you talk to
the Warriors about him, and I know he is such
a good standard setter and things you just don't see
(15:41):
little one percenters. And I think that's why Andrew Webster
brought him over from the Broncos on a four year
deal as a player over thirty, like they needed him
at the club.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
This is not too dissimilar to Dylan Boucher, who, of
course former city of his own basketball in his back
with the Breakers. Again, he's a guy who never fills
up the stats sheets. There his box score, it doesn't
say anything, but everything he does in the club and
around the ball and off the ball is gold.
Speaker 4 (16:09):
All the players love them. So it's kind of similar
to that. I think in that Ilk Gear I love
Kirk Caple.
Speaker 5 (16:15):
I just want to be mates for them.
Speaker 8 (16:16):
You know, every time, every time you hear him talk,
you just go yes, yes, Cape. Remember you know this
is a guy who's played in two Grand Finals, one
with the Panther's one of the Broncos, and he wanted
to come to the Warriors. You know, it's very rare
you say that about Australian players who have other options,
like Kirt Cable would not have struggled to get another
club when he left Brisbane.
Speaker 3 (16:32):
Well, I've been interviewed a couple of times and just
got on the house on fires most stand up up front, dude.
Of course you're Australians have come over here. They've generally
got a big tick beside their name because they've chosen
to come on.
Speaker 8 (16:46):
Over absolutely like a hard agree like let's give them
like citizenship now all right, fine, it's done.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
Not that you're in government and you can't or another
Grand Prix coming up this week can be a remiss
of me.
Speaker 4 (16:57):
Not to mention Grand Prix with you in the studio.
I like this race. This is a good race track
coming out.
Speaker 5 (17:04):
Do you ever do this one on the PlayStation?
Speaker 8 (17:05):
The late breaking zones?
Speaker 7 (17:07):
Ah?
Speaker 4 (17:07):
God, it's fun. I don't remember.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
I haven't played a PlayStation since I was about twenty three,
so we're talking decade five years ago.
Speaker 4 (17:14):
Oh yeah, okay, fine.
Speaker 8 (17:16):
No, So Austrian Grand Prix this weekend Red Bulls home race.
So I mean bet of a positive for the two
Red Bull teams, including our own Lamb lawsome like who knows,
Like the way the European legs have gone this summer,
like it's so hot over there. The tire strategies that
is all over the place because no one can keep
them under temperature.
Speaker 3 (17:34):
And if there's going to be a bad tire strategy,
it's going to be Liams. That's all we want. It's
just because I'm a bit of slack. A tiny break please.
Speaker 8 (17:45):
Yeah, we'll see though. I mean, I've got him. He
has won there before, He's won in Austriia F three,
so he knows how to do it. It was a long
time ago, it's about twenty twenty. All our eyes will
be on him but Max for stapp and can he
keep away from being a naughty boy and not get
in the naughty chair and be able to carry on
running for the season. Just have to get through seventy
(18:05):
laps without barging it off the track, can I.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
Well? Good luck to him and thanks for coming into
the chamber.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
Alex Powell, go well anytime, mate.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
Thanks having me dissecting the sporting agenda. It's Sportsfix with
Darcy Waldgrave.
Speaker 3 (18:18):
And that's it for the Sports Fix podcast. Thanks for
tuning in. Twenty fourth June twenty twenty five. I Darcy
Walter Grave. If you've downloaded this, it's already come to
your inbox if you haven't downloaded, and it'll turn up
on a week daily basis. Tell you friends, tell your family,
tell everybody in the world. And if you want a
bit of interactive sports talk, we've got that for you
(18:41):
as well. Monday through Friday seven to eight pm on
News Talking ZB. Piney's got Monday, I've got Tuesday through Friday,
and then of course the Piney gets the big It's
coming out weekends Sports Saturday and Sunday between twelve pm
and three Thanks again to GJ. Gardner Holmes New Zealand's
most trusted home builder, for being associated with us here
(19:03):
at the Fix.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
For more from news talks, b listen live or online,
and
Speaker 1 (19:09):
Keep our shows with you wherever you go with our
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