August 19, 2025 • 19 mins
On Sports Fix with D'Arcy Waldegrave for 19th August 2025, the Blues are looking at Mount Smart Stadium as a possible home ground for up to two games during the 2026 Super Rugby Season. Blues player Craig Dowd spoke to D'Arcy about what he thinks of this plan.
D'Arcy offers his thoughts on the exodus of Silver Ferns from the ANZ Championship.
And D'Arcy and NZ Herald journalist Alex Powell discuss the Blues possible change of home grounds and if the Auckland NPC side should follow suit.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks ed B
follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
This is Stsfix. Howard by News Talk said.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Be welcome on into the Sports Next podcast. I'm Darcy
Wadergrave and over the next fifteen minutes or so, I'm
going to give you all you need to now about
the wonderful wide world on sport on today, Tuesday, the
nineteenth of August twenty twenty five, in association of course
with JJ Gardner Holmes, New Zealand's most trusted home builder.
(00:41):
What have we got lined up with? I'm going to
chat with cragg Down, former All Black, former Autron player,
former Blue about the possibility of the Blues upping sticks
from Eden Park and disappearing off to Mount Smart. I've
got some very positive thoughts on the nature of need
for here in New Zealand. Yet another couple of players
(01:03):
by the dust, Well they do here anyway, They'll be
fine over at Australia and in the chamber will be
joined by Alex Powell, sports news writer for Musier Herald.
That's what we're doing, so glad you can join us here.
Speaker 4 (01:18):
On the Fix.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
In other news.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Mike out mouth On in sport today All Blacks coach
Scott Robertson won't have Anton, Lennart Brown or Patrick took
blood to at his disposal this weekend. Al we have
a concussion and it's coming home. Paddy's on his way
home too with a broken face and he's out for
six weeks. That Wallace Adit and To Mighty Williams are
(01:41):
both looking good for selection.
Speaker 5 (01:43):
The a really good training week, said the low Tom
will feat the Scomagini obviously, the To Mighty and the
running meetings for Wallison's think really critical quest and I've
hit those, I mean obviously it's sort of management that
they're not going to go eighty are.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
Then come on faces. On his way back to Auckland,
the veteran tennis player is keen to defend his ASB
Classic title. If he does, he'll be only the third
man to do so, behind Droyd Emerson, Nie Parent and
David Ferreer. Regardless, he loves the city of Sales.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
This data means a lot for me.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
I love the tournament, I love the energy, So for me,
it was a definitely a week that we never forget.
Former Wellington Phoenix number one. Ollie Sale has signed the
line with Auckland FC for the A League. He was
top of the tree when it came to being the
All Whites goalkeeper, but he's slipped down the pecking order somewhat.
(02:37):
This is a move in order to get him back
to the top of his game.
Speaker 5 (02:41):
My decision to leave and I did and moved to
per I've ended up going from number one keeper and
the Allites to probably till three. So it's responsibility now
to follow that role for.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
The team and push to get that number one jersey back.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
New sc Apion, It's Sportsfix with Dancy Waldegrave.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
We joined now in the Sports Fixed podcast by former
Auckland player, former Blue, former All Black prop monster by
the name of Craig Doubt. Craig news out today that
there is the potential, the possibility, the probability that the
Blues are going to be moving two of their games
from Eden Park across to of all places, the Warriors
(03:24):
home ground and the Auckland FC home ground. Are this
I don't think shocking news, but what's your reaction to
the fact that maybe it's starting to leak away rugby
action from Garden of Eden? One of the great antitheaters
of rugby joy for the Auckland City.
Speaker 6 (03:43):
Yeah, and New Zealand Rugby two, I suppose, But look,
I suppose it's the.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Way of the future.
Speaker 6 (03:48):
You know, we can't keep you know, so looking back
over our shoulder or what used to be. I mean,
they've got to look at financially, what's been official for
the Blues.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
You know, what's the fan experience going to be the
game to experience And hopefully.
Speaker 6 (04:01):
They've consulted the players about, you know, taking what is
a home game somewhere else and whether or not that
could become a second home. But ultimately I'd like to know,
keep eating parks as their main venue.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Eaten Park when it's not full isn't the best place
to play. You'd remember that, But when it is full
it's probably peerless, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Yeah, that's right, and I suppose that. Well.
Speaker 6 (04:26):
I've had some fond memories when the Super Rugby first
started and it was new, we'd have a full Eating
Park and it was just then most incredible experience of
plan in front of a crowd like that. But you know,
it can be quite sad when you look at sort
of the way it is now when you get half
not even half court, maybe maybe five seven, eight, ten
thousand people there, it's a it's a bit of an
empty sort of the stadium and it won't create a great.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Sort of environment for you. It's a plan of Blues
super rugby.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
It lefts for the players when the place is stacked
with punters. Conversely, how does it feel as a player
when all you can see is empty stands in empty seats.
Speaker 6 (05:06):
Yeah, and that's as not a good feeling. I mean,
you want to hear the roar of the crowd. You
want to hear them getting behind you. When you're playing
your home ground, you're sort of playing for your fans,
you know, and and they they're giving you, they're all
for you as well. So it's a it's a real
special experience. And you know it's maybe they can get
(05:26):
that at go Media. We've seen with what Warriors can
provide and you know, hey, maybe maybe look for the
future do a double banger with with the Warriors could
be on the cards.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
When you look at the facilities eating part compared to
the facilities though at go Media mark a difference. Look,
the place is more apt for a game of rugby
because you're closer, There's no doubt about that. But when
you look at the changing rooms and the media facilities
and the concourse and the food, that also is a
(05:58):
pretty good reason to stay there.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Is it not?
Speaker 6 (06:02):
Yeah, but if you can, can you afford that? If
you if you're not get the numbers along to full stadium,
you know, is the cost of the lights, is the
cost of security. There's the cost of the staff that
have to run the size of Eden Park, and you're
not getting the people coming up to watch the game.
So yeah, I suppose the accounting side of it of
(06:22):
running a professional sport, you've got a way up. Shall
we take fifteen twenty thousand people to go media? But
have it shocker, you know, and have the environment, but
you have your cost is not so high. You've got
less outlay.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
In case of build it and they will come. And
if I say build, I mean Blues success. The team
is successful, you're going to get bodies, but you're probably
not going to get bodies right the way through regular season.
The attraction of rugby union or Super Rugby simply isn't
there anymore, is it, Craig.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
It's a two way street, Darcy.
Speaker 6 (06:56):
You know, it's the fans go along to support, but
then again they want the players to deliver what they
want to see, which is winning rugby and exciting rugby.
You know, it's a great spectacle and you know if
we've seen it with with the other sports, you know
it's with the Warriors the ending of this year and
Auckland f C.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
You put on a good experience, you put on a
good game and the fans just get them behind you.
And whether that's even park or whether that's going media.
Speaker 6 (07:23):
Yeah, if it's only two games and they're going to
try it, you know, I'm sure they've they've they've gone
through the what if and hopefully they've consult with the
players too, because you know, there their input's pretty important.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Accessibility Eden Park. Everyone knows where it is, what it provides,
how to get there, maybe going all the way to
go media? Is there a streets rom I just being lazy.
Speaker 6 (07:45):
No, you're just being lazy. That's just I mean the
end of the day that you know there is a
fan base. Orkan is a big place, doesn't matter. You've
got to get it from Oney into the other. You've
got to get in the car and you're going to
have to deal with that traffic. That's just you know,
it's what Orcand.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Has to face. But they've done it to North Harbor.
They've taken two.
Speaker 6 (08:01):
Games up there and played them up there, so it's
you know, it's no different going going south than it
is going north.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
Date the sporting agenda, it's SPORTSFX with Dancy Waldegrave.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
The am Z Premiership has been decimated. Whitney Senis Karen
Berger are the two athletes named today that have decided
to ply their trade over in Australia for next season.
Of course, the floodgates were open when New Zealand Netball
decided they would issue an eligibility to play for the
(08:34):
Silver Ferns when players move over to Australia, should they
see fit so Kate Heffer and Clond on board to
Pious Selby, Rickett clond on board, Tiana maturo Is on board,
Callie Jackson, Maddy Gordon, Jane Watson and of course Grace
Wicki the woman who started it at all. On the
face of it, this would seem all bad. I don't
(08:56):
believe in all bad though things are good. Even if
it's bad, it is still good. There is a silver
lining to this cloud. It's called developing the youth. We
don't know where the A Z Premiership is going to go.
We don't know how long it's going to last. A
number of these athletes have pointed that out. This is
(09:16):
why they're keen to get over to Australia, to get
into a team, to bang some coin, because they don't
know what the future holds. So those players have kissed
goodbye to A and Z Premiership Netball next year anyway,
not necessarily the silver ferns. Where's the shining light? It's
really easy. We've seen it in rugby union, We've seen
(09:38):
it through the NPC Super Rugby and beyond. When players
leave the greener pastures, other players grow in their place.
This is not rocket science, This is not new This
is called opportunity. Even though everything might look dark for
New Zealand netball, they're in a situation now where the
(10:00):
young players have space and room to breathe. The other positive,
of course, is the silver Ferns will be considerably stronger
with the defection of some of our top players. That
can only be good. The youth coming through and getting
experience at premiership level can only be good. Will we
lose the entirety of the silver ferns. Of course we won't.
(10:23):
There's only a handful of players that will be granted dispensation.
So again, that is good. Don't accentuate the negatives, don't
look towards reason to drop to your knees and sob
look up, look out, and look at what goodness is
ahead for everybody in netball. See smiling.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
The chamber is now in session.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
On Sportsfix, we open a chamber door now here and
on the other side of said door, Alex Powell sports
new journalists out of the New Zealander Herald.
Speaker 4 (10:54):
Get it made God afternoon, Darthy, no formula one to
talk about.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
Nevermind, we've got a couple of weeks off.
Speaker 4 (10:59):
I'm lost.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
Yeah, me too. I don't know what we can do rugby.
We can do venues, sleep, Let's do venues. The story
by Mike Burge. It's come out talking about the possibility
of the Blues taking two of their games across to
a league ground, a football ground. Mount Smart say it
ain't so do you not like it? I don't mind
(11:22):
either way. I know that accessibility for me because I'm
very lazy. I'd much prefer Eden Park. I can get
a train, I can climb out of the train straight
from my house and go there.
Speaker 4 (11:33):
Getting down there though dramatic, and it's one of Auckland's
great flaws, isn't it like why we're still having this
conversation in twenty twenty five while we didn't do the
Downtown Waterfront Stadium. Every time it comes up, we seem
to just say, no, you.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
Want to hold a hold of there's a downtown stadium
where that set forty thousand people. The Blue still wouldn't
play there because they didn't turn up. Watch right, make
no difference?
Speaker 1 (11:54):
Right?
Speaker 4 (11:54):
Would it needs to be forty thousand?
Speaker 3 (11:56):
Well, I don't know.
Speaker 4 (11:57):
New Zealand's too small for a forty thousand seat stadium.
We see, you know, forty thousand seat stadiums in London
that barely get filled.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
So a downtown stadium it's only thirty thousand. People say
it's too small, it's too What.
Speaker 4 (12:08):
Are you doing?
Speaker 3 (12:09):
Either go hard or go home?
Speaker 4 (12:10):
It's the car thirty five year.
Speaker 3 (12:13):
Thirty five at a street might have been a bunch
of few more people in there.
Speaker 4 (12:16):
Forsyth bars about thirty thousand.
Speaker 3 (12:18):
Let's not go to Christy to an even Let's stay
here true focus. The Blues and the Blues. For me,
if it's packed and it's full, and it's a semi
or it's a final, it's a site to behold. You
would never do that at Mount Smart, You'd only do
that at Eden Park. But that can you straddle? That's
the thing from a fan base. Would they endure? Would
(12:39):
they put up? Would they tolerate the fact that their
team is playing in two venues?
Speaker 4 (12:43):
I feel like the fair weather rugby fan would not
get on board with this because they don't really get
to board with Eden Park either, Like it's become so
easy now to watch rugby from home that that's what
people do. You know, you're not paying for parking, you're
not paying for food when you're out, you're not paying
for drinks. You've already got her all at home.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
It's not the same experience though, is it live game
of rugby when it's going off? Is you can't replicate
that in your living room unless you've got a huge
living with a lot of mates.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
Forty thousand mates good luck. No, it's very much a
way and says like we know Mount Smart like Eden
Park when it's full, it's great. The issue is how
often's it going to be full and for the Blues
and for Super Rugby, like, don't worry about Auckland is
Super Rugby games full? Ever doesn't feel like it.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
Point when you look at what more on a Pussifiker
achieved they had a product that people wanted to see.
No one ever thought they'd cut all those people to
the north shore and they did. So is it then
you or is it product?
Speaker 4 (13:39):
Is it both? I think it's both. I think we've
this is a New Zealand Rugby's problem is that we
get told from the minute we first watch rugby that
the All Blacks is the bill and end all and
everything else is a pyramid to that. And if you
are telling your fans or i mean one of a
better word, your customers, that what you're putting in front
of them is not the highest product it can be
or the highest level, then of course people are going
(14:01):
to vote with their feet. You know, if Super Rugby
is just to path into the All Blacks and to
test rugby and then people don't go, You've sort of
done that to yourself.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
The wrong way round. Shouldn't Auckland MPC side should have
gotten first because that is desolate. You just don't you
do not get crowds at eagn Park when it comes
to Auckland MPC and they need to go somewhere else,
don't they do?
Speaker 4 (14:21):
You remember when I played at Grammar last year at
Auckland Grammar, how did it go?
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (14:24):
I mean it was great. You what two and a
half thousand turnout? But that's all you need.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
It's MPC for you. Right the way around. We're seeing
that right over all the provinces. They're going to smaller grounds.
I'm surprised that Auckland MPC haven't disappeared up the road earlier.
Speaker 4 (14:38):
I don't know, but that's like what you see in
the States when you have a college basketball team in
a city where they don't have an NBA team, of
course they gonna be packed out because that's what you have.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
You know.
Speaker 4 (14:47):
Of course Tasman and Taranaki are going to be filled
because they don't really get regular, super humid games. So
I don't know, Like so many people have had these
discussions over so many years about what do you do
with Auckland and we don't seem to have an answer.
But if the Blue is taking games to Mount Smart
as a bit of a barometer as to how it
could work.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
I'm all for it.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
Let's move to something quite different. The All Blacks are
not quite different, a wee bit different. The All Blacks.
They've got the job done over the weekend. Sadly they've
lost a couple of their troopers. Ain'ton. Leonard Brown put
a concussion, he'll be fine. But Patrick tw he pu
a lot too, broken face, can't buy a trick. How
much of this is problematic for the All Blacks.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
I think you look at what that position is at
the moment Locke, where you've got Scott Barrett's Banka Fabian
Holland has turned out to be probably you know, the
story of the year so far. Then you've got Patrick
Tuoplelot two, you've got Samdarry, You've got Josh Lord. So
it's not as though they don't have the stocks there.
Josh Lord's over an Archerteaina with them help probably come
onto the bench if they need to make that change.
(15:50):
But for Patrick tuper Law too, this is just such
a bad setback, like this guy has had it so
coo against them. You know, he was stuck behind two
of the greatest to ever do it in Brodie Retallic
and Sam White.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
Locke.
Speaker 4 (16:01):
He gets a bit of clean air, you know, and
now he just can't seem to stay furt like Patrick.
I've I really like Patrick tuper Lot because a he
speaks well as a player and as a captain for
the Blues. He speaks well as a leader on behalf
of the game. You remember when we had the whole
governance issues issues reform midway through last year, he spoke
on behalf of the players and basically said, look, we've
(16:23):
got what they voted for and now we have to
get on with it. But to see him ruled out
over something that is just such a freak injury, you know,
because you don't get a broken face every time you
play rugby. It's just one of those things you don't.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
I think you'll be missed predominantly because of his senior leadership, experience, voice,
you call it whatever, because Sam Dowry brilliant young player,
Josh Lord, brilliant young player. We've got Fabian Holland brilliant
young player. But what they need is experiential horsepower to
get the job down because the proverbia will hit the
fan at some stage and you're going to need guys
(16:56):
like that to be there and when he comes on
the second half leader of menage calm massive. Yeah, it's
really really calm, so huge loss. But we're getting two
blokes back again. Yeah, how good, well, very good.
Speaker 4 (17:09):
I mean to Mighty Williams and wall of the Tti
both were bracketed to be fit and available for the
second Test. They're fit and available for the second Test.
Would you start them?
Speaker 3 (17:17):
I think that in the case of to Mighty Williams
you probably would, But in the case of what a
Satiti you probably wouldn't. Would he even get in the
twenty three? When you look at what they're doing, they're
trying to develop players. I saw it on I'm thinking
on my feet they're developing players. It is Argentina. We've
already put a marker in the sand. Yeah, how are
you started?
Speaker 4 (17:36):
I'm the other way around. I'd start Wallace and bring
to Mighty off the bench because that's such a specialist
role coming on as a prop. But like to Mighty
Williams is out. Probably he's our number one number one
at the moment.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
Isn't he.
Speaker 4 (17:48):
I don't know. You look at what the Rugby Championship
is now though, and after South Africa got turned over
to Australia. The All Blacks really do have a chance
to go and just take control of this championship. Now
you know they can afford to drop a game, but
they're not going to want to given they haven't played
South Africa yet. So if they come out and just
name the strongest side, being the one that won last weekend,
I think that's what they'll do.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
Well. They're close to putting in a perfect performance, but
worrying about who's injured and who is and let's worry
about discipline, not dropping a ball and maybe slightly more
accurate pars them. But they'll get there. It's a work
in progress. Alex Pal. Thanks very much for your time.
Now back to your typewriter. Do they still have typewriters
and bash out some stories for us injured Herald dot
(18:29):
co dot z can't do mate. Thanks having me Sportsfix signed,
the sealed and delivered. That's the Sports Fix podcast. Another day,
another couple of bucks. It's the nineteenth of August twenty
twenty five. Thanks for listening, Thanks for sharing, and thanks
for subscribing. That way, this comes straight to it inbox
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(18:52):
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(19:15):
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Speaker 1 (19:31):
More from News Talk st B. Listen live on air
or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you
go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks ed B
follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
This is Stsfix. Howard by News Talk said.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Be welcome on into the Sports Next podcast. I'm Darcy
Wadergrave and over the next fifteen minutes or so, I'm
going to give you all you need to now about
the wonderful wide world on sport on today, Tuesday, the
nineteenth of August twenty twenty five, in association of course
with JJ Gardner Holmes, New Zealand's most trusted home builder.
(00:41):
What have we got lined up with? I'm going to
chat with cragg Down, former All Black, former Autron player,
former Blue about the possibility of the Blues upping sticks
from Eden Park and disappearing off to Mount Smart. I've
got some very positive thoughts on the nature of need
for here in New Zealand. Yet another couple of players
(01:03):
by the dust, Well they do here anyway, They'll be
fine over at Australia and in the chamber will be
joined by Alex Powell, sports news writer for Musier Herald.
That's what we're doing, so glad you can join us here.
Speaker 4 (01:18):
On the Fix.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
In other news.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Mike out mouth On in sport today All Blacks coach
Scott Robertson won't have Anton, Lennart Brown or Patrick took
blood to at his disposal this weekend. Al we have
a concussion and it's coming home. Paddy's on his way
home too with a broken face and he's out for
six weeks. That Wallace Adit and To Mighty Williams are
(01:41):
both looking good for selection.
Speaker 5 (01:43):
The a really good training week, said the low Tom
will feat the Scomagini obviously, the To Mighty and the
running meetings for Wallison's think really critical quest and I've
hit those, I mean obviously it's sort of management that
they're not going to go eighty are.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
Then come on faces. On his way back to Auckland,
the veteran tennis player is keen to defend his ASB
Classic title. If he does, he'll be only the third
man to do so, behind Droyd Emerson, Nie Parent and
David Ferreer. Regardless, he loves the city of Sales.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
This data means a lot for me.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
I love the tournament, I love the energy, So for me,
it was a definitely a week that we never forget.
Former Wellington Phoenix number one. Ollie Sale has signed the
line with Auckland FC for the A League. He was
top of the tree when it came to being the
All Whites goalkeeper, but he's slipped down the pecking order somewhat.
(02:37):
This is a move in order to get him back
to the top of his game.
Speaker 5 (02:41):
My decision to leave and I did and moved to
per I've ended up going from number one keeper and
the Allites to probably till three. So it's responsibility now
to follow that role for.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
The team and push to get that number one jersey back.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
New sc Apion, It's Sportsfix with Dancy Waldegrave.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
We joined now in the Sports Fixed podcast by former
Auckland player, former Blue, former All Black prop monster by
the name of Craig Doubt. Craig news out today that
there is the potential, the possibility, the probability that the
Blues are going to be moving two of their games
from Eden Park across to of all places, the Warriors
(03:24):
home ground and the Auckland FC home ground. Are this
I don't think shocking news, but what's your reaction to
the fact that maybe it's starting to leak away rugby
action from Garden of Eden? One of the great antitheaters
of rugby joy for the Auckland City.
Speaker 6 (03:43):
Yeah, and New Zealand Rugby two, I suppose, But look,
I suppose it's the.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Way of the future.
Speaker 6 (03:48):
You know, we can't keep you know, so looking back
over our shoulder or what used to be. I mean,
they've got to look at financially, what's been official for
the Blues.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
You know, what's the fan experience going to be the
game to experience And hopefully.
Speaker 6 (04:01):
They've consulted the players about, you know, taking what is
a home game somewhere else and whether or not that
could become a second home. But ultimately I'd like to know,
keep eating parks as their main venue.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Eaten Park when it's not full isn't the best place
to play. You'd remember that, But when it is full
it's probably peerless, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Yeah, that's right, and I suppose that. Well.
Speaker 6 (04:26):
I've had some fond memories when the Super Rugby first
started and it was new, we'd have a full Eating
Park and it was just then most incredible experience of
plan in front of a crowd like that. But you know,
it can be quite sad when you look at sort
of the way it is now when you get half
not even half court, maybe maybe five seven, eight, ten
thousand people there, it's a it's a bit of an
empty sort of the stadium and it won't create a great.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Sort of environment for you. It's a plan of Blues
super rugby.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
It lefts for the players when the place is stacked
with punters. Conversely, how does it feel as a player
when all you can see is empty stands in empty seats.
Speaker 6 (05:06):
Yeah, and that's as not a good feeling. I mean,
you want to hear the roar of the crowd. You
want to hear them getting behind you. When you're playing
your home ground, you're sort of playing for your fans,
you know, and and they they're giving you, they're all
for you as well. So it's a it's a real
special experience. And you know it's maybe they can get
(05:26):
that at go Media. We've seen with what Warriors can
provide and you know, hey, maybe maybe look for the
future do a double banger with with the Warriors could
be on the cards.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
When you look at the facilities eating part compared to
the facilities though at go Media mark a difference. Look,
the place is more apt for a game of rugby
because you're closer, There's no doubt about that. But when
you look at the changing rooms and the media facilities
and the concourse and the food, that also is a
(05:58):
pretty good reason to stay there.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Is it not?
Speaker 6 (06:02):
Yeah, but if you can, can you afford that? If
you if you're not get the numbers along to full stadium,
you know, is the cost of the lights, is the
cost of security. There's the cost of the staff that
have to run the size of Eden Park, and you're
not getting the people coming up to watch the game.
So yeah, I suppose the accounting side of it of
(06:22):
running a professional sport, you've got a way up. Shall
we take fifteen twenty thousand people to go media? But
have it shocker, you know, and have the environment, but
you have your cost is not so high. You've got
less outlay.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
In case of build it and they will come. And
if I say build, I mean Blues success. The team
is successful, you're going to get bodies, but you're probably
not going to get bodies right the way through regular season.
The attraction of rugby union or Super Rugby simply isn't
there anymore, is it, Craig.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
It's a two way street, Darcy.
Speaker 6 (06:56):
You know, it's the fans go along to support, but
then again they want the players to deliver what they
want to see, which is winning rugby and exciting rugby.
You know, it's a great spectacle and you know if
we've seen it with with the other sports, you know
it's with the Warriors the ending of this year and
Auckland f C.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
You put on a good experience, you put on a
good game and the fans just get them behind you.
And whether that's even park or whether that's going media.
Speaker 6 (07:23):
Yeah, if it's only two games and they're going to
try it, you know, I'm sure they've they've they've gone
through the what if and hopefully they've consult with the
players too, because you know, there their input's pretty important.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Accessibility Eden Park. Everyone knows where it is, what it provides,
how to get there, maybe going all the way to
go media? Is there a streets rom I just being lazy.
Speaker 6 (07:45):
No, you're just being lazy. That's just I mean the
end of the day that you know there is a
fan base. Orkan is a big place, doesn't matter. You've
got to get it from Oney into the other. You've
got to get in the car and you're going to
have to deal with that traffic. That's just you know,
it's what Orcand.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Has to face. But they've done it to North Harbor.
They've taken two.
Speaker 6 (08:01):
Games up there and played them up there, so it's
you know, it's no different going going south than it
is going north.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
Date the sporting agenda, it's SPORTSFX with Dancy Waldegrave.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
The am Z Premiership has been decimated. Whitney Senis Karen
Berger are the two athletes named today that have decided
to ply their trade over in Australia for next season.
Of course, the floodgates were open when New Zealand Netball
decided they would issue an eligibility to play for the
(08:34):
Silver Ferns when players move over to Australia, should they
see fit so Kate Heffer and Clond on board to
Pious Selby, Rickett clond on board, Tiana maturo Is on board,
Callie Jackson, Maddy Gordon, Jane Watson and of course Grace
Wicki the woman who started it at all. On the
face of it, this would seem all bad. I don't
(08:56):
believe in all bad though things are good. Even if
it's bad, it is still good. There is a silver
lining to this cloud. It's called developing the youth. We
don't know where the A Z Premiership is going to go.
We don't know how long it's going to last. A
number of these athletes have pointed that out. This is
(09:16):
why they're keen to get over to Australia, to get
into a team, to bang some coin, because they don't
know what the future holds. So those players have kissed
goodbye to A and Z Premiership Netball next year anyway,
not necessarily the silver ferns. Where's the shining light? It's
really easy. We've seen it in rugby union, We've seen
(09:38):
it through the NPC Super Rugby and beyond. When players
leave the greener pastures, other players grow in their place.
This is not rocket science, This is not new This
is called opportunity. Even though everything might look dark for
New Zealand netball, they're in a situation now where the
(10:00):
young players have space and room to breathe. The other positive,
of course, is the silver Ferns will be considerably stronger
with the defection of some of our top players. That
can only be good. The youth coming through and getting
experience at premiership level can only be good. Will we
lose the entirety of the silver ferns. Of course we won't.
(10:23):
There's only a handful of players that will be granted dispensation.
So again, that is good. Don't accentuate the negatives, don't
look towards reason to drop to your knees and sob
look up, look out, and look at what goodness is
ahead for everybody in netball. See smiling.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
The chamber is now in session.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
On Sportsfix, we open a chamber door now here and
on the other side of said door, Alex Powell sports
new journalists out of the New Zealander Herald.
Speaker 4 (10:54):
Get it made God afternoon, Darthy, no formula one to
talk about.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
Nevermind, we've got a couple of weeks off.
Speaker 4 (10:59):
I'm lost.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
Yeah, me too. I don't know what we can do rugby.
We can do venues, sleep, Let's do venues. The story
by Mike Burge. It's come out talking about the possibility
of the Blues taking two of their games across to
a league ground, a football ground. Mount Smart say it
ain't so do you not like it? I don't mind
(11:22):
either way. I know that accessibility for me because I'm
very lazy. I'd much prefer Eden Park. I can get
a train, I can climb out of the train straight
from my house and go there.
Speaker 4 (11:33):
Getting down there though dramatic, and it's one of Auckland's
great flaws, isn't it like why we're still having this
conversation in twenty twenty five while we didn't do the
Downtown Waterfront Stadium. Every time it comes up, we seem
to just say, no, you.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
Want to hold a hold of there's a downtown stadium
where that set forty thousand people. The Blue still wouldn't
play there because they didn't turn up. Watch right, make
no difference?
Speaker 1 (11:54):
Right?
Speaker 4 (11:54):
Would it needs to be forty thousand?
Speaker 3 (11:56):
Well, I don't know.
Speaker 4 (11:57):
New Zealand's too small for a forty thousand seat stadium.
We see, you know, forty thousand seat stadiums in London
that barely get filled.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
So a downtown stadium it's only thirty thousand. People say
it's too small, it's too What.
Speaker 4 (12:08):
Are you doing?
Speaker 3 (12:09):
Either go hard or go home?
Speaker 4 (12:10):
It's the car thirty five year.
Speaker 3 (12:13):
Thirty five at a street might have been a bunch
of few more people in there.
Speaker 4 (12:16):
Forsyth bars about thirty thousand.
Speaker 3 (12:18):
Let's not go to Christy to an even Let's stay
here true focus. The Blues and the Blues. For me,
if it's packed and it's full, and it's a semi
or it's a final, it's a site to behold. You
would never do that at Mount Smart, You'd only do
that at Eden Park. But that can you straddle? That's
the thing from a fan base. Would they endure? Would
(12:39):
they put up? Would they tolerate the fact that their
team is playing in two venues?
Speaker 4 (12:43):
I feel like the fair weather rugby fan would not
get on board with this because they don't really get
to board with Eden Park either, Like it's become so
easy now to watch rugby from home that that's what
people do. You know, you're not paying for parking, you're
not paying for food when you're out, you're not paying
for drinks. You've already got her all at home.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
It's not the same experience though, is it live game
of rugby when it's going off? Is you can't replicate
that in your living room unless you've got a huge
living with a lot of mates.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
Forty thousand mates good luck. No, it's very much a
way and says like we know Mount Smart like Eden
Park when it's full, it's great. The issue is how
often's it going to be full and for the Blues
and for Super Rugby, like, don't worry about Auckland is
Super Rugby games full? Ever doesn't feel like it.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
Point when you look at what more on a Pussifiker
achieved they had a product that people wanted to see.
No one ever thought they'd cut all those people to
the north shore and they did. So is it then
you or is it product?
Speaker 4 (13:39):
Is it both? I think it's both. I think we've
this is a New Zealand Rugby's problem is that we
get told from the minute we first watch rugby that
the All Blacks is the bill and end all and
everything else is a pyramid to that. And if you
are telling your fans or i mean one of a
better word, your customers, that what you're putting in front
of them is not the highest product it can be
or the highest level, then of course people are going
(14:01):
to vote with their feet. You know, if Super Rugby
is just to path into the All Blacks and to
test rugby and then people don't go, You've sort of
done that to yourself.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
The wrong way round. Shouldn't Auckland MPC side should have
gotten first because that is desolate. You just don't you
do not get crowds at eagn Park when it comes
to Auckland MPC and they need to go somewhere else,
don't they do?
Speaker 4 (14:21):
You remember when I played at Grammar last year at
Auckland Grammar, how did it go?
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (14:24):
I mean it was great. You what two and a
half thousand turnout? But that's all you need.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
It's MPC for you. Right the way around. We're seeing
that right over all the provinces. They're going to smaller grounds.
I'm surprised that Auckland MPC haven't disappeared up the road earlier.
Speaker 4 (14:38):
I don't know, but that's like what you see in
the States when you have a college basketball team in
a city where they don't have an NBA team, of
course they gonna be packed out because that's what you have.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
You know.
Speaker 4 (14:47):
Of course Tasman and Taranaki are going to be filled
because they don't really get regular, super humid games. So
I don't know, Like so many people have had these
discussions over so many years about what do you do
with Auckland and we don't seem to have an answer.
But if the Blue is taking games to Mount Smart
as a bit of a barometer as to how it
could work.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
I'm all for it.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
Let's move to something quite different. The All Blacks are
not quite different, a wee bit different. The All Blacks.
They've got the job done over the weekend. Sadly they've
lost a couple of their troopers. Ain'ton. Leonard Brown put
a concussion, he'll be fine. But Patrick tw he pu
a lot too, broken face, can't buy a trick. How
much of this is problematic for the All Blacks.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
I think you look at what that position is at
the moment Locke, where you've got Scott Barrett's Banka Fabian
Holland has turned out to be probably you know, the
story of the year so far. Then you've got Patrick
Tuoplelot two, you've got Samdarry, You've got Josh Lord. So
it's not as though they don't have the stocks there.
Josh Lord's over an Archerteaina with them help probably come
onto the bench if they need to make that change.
(15:50):
But for Patrick tuper Law too, this is just such
a bad setback, like this guy has had it so
coo against them. You know, he was stuck behind two
of the greatest to ever do it in Brodie Retallic
and Sam White.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
Locke.
Speaker 4 (16:01):
He gets a bit of clean air, you know, and
now he just can't seem to stay furt like Patrick.
I've I really like Patrick tuper Lot because a he
speaks well as a player and as a captain for
the Blues. He speaks well as a leader on behalf
of the game. You remember when we had the whole
governance issues issues reform midway through last year, he spoke
on behalf of the players and basically said, look, we've
(16:23):
got what they voted for and now we have to
get on with it. But to see him ruled out
over something that is just such a freak injury, you know,
because you don't get a broken face every time you
play rugby. It's just one of those things you don't.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
I think you'll be missed predominantly because of his senior leadership, experience, voice,
you call it whatever, because Sam Dowry brilliant young player,
Josh Lord, brilliant young player. We've got Fabian Holland brilliant
young player. But what they need is experiential horsepower to
get the job down because the proverbia will hit the
fan at some stage and you're going to need guys
(16:56):
like that to be there and when he comes on
the second half leader of menage calm massive. Yeah, it's
really really calm, so huge loss. But we're getting two
blokes back again. Yeah, how good, well, very good.
Speaker 4 (17:09):
I mean to Mighty Williams and wall of the Tti
both were bracketed to be fit and available for the
second Test. They're fit and available for the second Test.
Would you start them?
Speaker 3 (17:17):
I think that in the case of to Mighty Williams
you probably would, But in the case of what a
Satiti you probably wouldn't. Would he even get in the
twenty three? When you look at what they're doing, they're
trying to develop players. I saw it on I'm thinking
on my feet they're developing players. It is Argentina. We've
already put a marker in the sand. Yeah, how are
you started?
Speaker 4 (17:36):
I'm the other way around. I'd start Wallace and bring
to Mighty off the bench because that's such a specialist
role coming on as a prop. But like to Mighty
Williams is out. Probably he's our number one number one
at the moment.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
Isn't he.
Speaker 4 (17:48):
I don't know. You look at what the Rugby Championship
is now though, and after South Africa got turned over
to Australia. The All Blacks really do have a chance
to go and just take control of this championship. Now
you know they can afford to drop a game, but
they're not going to want to given they haven't played
South Africa yet. So if they come out and just
name the strongest side, being the one that won last weekend,
I think that's what they'll do.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
Well. They're close to putting in a perfect performance, but
worrying about who's injured and who is and let's worry
about discipline, not dropping a ball and maybe slightly more
accurate pars them. But they'll get there. It's a work
in progress. Alex Pal. Thanks very much for your time.
Now back to your typewriter. Do they still have typewriters
and bash out some stories for us injured Herald dot
(18:29):
co dot z can't do mate. Thanks having me Sportsfix signed,
the sealed and delivered. That's the Sports Fix podcast. Another day,
another couple of bucks. It's the nineteenth of August twenty
twenty five. Thanks for listening, Thanks for sharing, and thanks
for subscribing. That way, this comes straight to it inbox
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(18:52):
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(19:15):
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Speaker 1 (19:31):
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