On Sports Fix with D'Arcy Waldegrave and Jason Pine for 8th October 2025, key figures have expressed concerns that kids coming through professional rugby pathways don't always have a plan B if playing professionally doesn't work out. D'Arcy spoke with Crusaders academy manager Paul Galland to see what measures the Crusaders have in place for helping their academy talents be successful after rugby.
'Arcy shares his thoughts on the F1 showing wives and girlfriends of drivers during the race, and not the race itself.
And D'Arcy and Piney discuss the big race Bathurst 1000 coming up this weekend and the All Whites' upcoming matches in the international window.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
This is Sportsfix Howard by News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Gooda there, and welcome into the Sports Fixed podcast, a
fresh episode of Thursday, nine October. Today, we're here in
association with G. J. Gardner Holmes, New Zealand's most trusted
home builder.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
My name's Jason.
Speaker 4 (00:34):
Pine and my name is Darcy walder Grave. We are
recipivists in sport. We are back again to talk it
all up because we don't know any better, right Jason,
we don't.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
It's the best way to fill in the day, I
find is to either talk about it or think about it.
Speaker 4 (00:48):
So well.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
It used to play it.
Speaker 4 (00:50):
It used to be play it, but like maybe not anymore. No,
But hey, I'm getting the tin taken out of my
knee next Wednesday, so hopefully with that I might be
able to place in sport. I think I'm going to
need a new me. But you know, it's the first
step towards.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Being baronic, Darcy King, We'll keep our tabs on yourgress
for sure on that particular topic. In terms of a
guest today who we're hearing from on Sports.
Speaker 4 (01:14):
Fix by Jason will be joined by Paul Gallant. He's
Crusader's academy manager. Looking at the development of kids who
are coming up through that professional space. You'd want to
be professional rugby players and I suppose how to deal
with that and the pitfalls as well.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Looking forward to that, I want to talk some race
cars with you. I want to talk some football as well,
and the latest and sports news all of that coming up,
so let's get into it. In other news, let's get
you underway as always, with a look at a couple
of big sports stories around today and historic passing night
from guard Parker. Jackson cart Right has helped the Breakers
snap a winless start for their Australian National Basketball League campaign,
(01:50):
trouncing the Illeworra Hawks one seventeen eighty eight in Auckland.
Jackson Cartwright posted twenty points and a franchise record seventeen assists.
Speaker 5 (01:59):
Using my advantage, using my speed, getting an open floor
and in the paints, play making for my teammates and myself.
Of course, in my career, I think that's what I've
done really well and this is no different.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Australia have been in Pakistan by one hundred and seven
runs at the Women's fifty over Cricket World Cup in Colombo.
Pakistan all out for one hundred and fourteen in the
thirty seventh over, chasing two hundred and twenty two to one.
Australia had slumped to one hundred and fifteen for eight
in the thirty fourth over before this changed the course
of the match.
Speaker 6 (02:31):
Beth Mooney with a memorable hundred here in Colombo, her
fifth hundred and one day Internationals and her first in
World Cup tournaments, and this has rescued Australia.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
And the opening practice session start at Bathurst this afternoon
at twenty past three for the drivers, ten to seven
for the co drivers.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Jackson Evans is back.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
At Mount Panorama for a fourth crack at the Great
Race on Sunday.
Speaker 7 (02:55):
Trying to make sure that comes Nday you've got a
car that you're comfortable driving and pushing for the limit.
Certainly a couple of sessions where we can run through
some pit stops and things like that, live in the
pit lane, but you know, just the processes. We want
to make sure that come race day and during the
where comfortable with all our procedures use.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
And a Villian. It's Sportsfix with Jason Pine and Dussy
Walter Grave and.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
It's welcome into the Sports Fixed podcast. Now to the
Crusader's Academy manager. His name is Paul Gallant, as we're
looking at the vulnerability and the progress of young players
and the professional sporting space.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
Get a Paul.
Speaker 6 (03:35):
Good.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
Great story in the Herald today by a bloke called
Jordan Smith talking about rugby professionalism hurting New Zealand's young men.
And you're in a position now at the academy where
you're very aware of this and you're trying to not
transition players out of rugby but let them understand there's
more to life than just rugby. Does that encapsulate it, well,
(04:00):
yeah it does.
Speaker 8 (04:01):
I think the academies across New Zealand at the moment
there's a massive emphasis on holistic development and that's making
sure that we look after the play inside these walls,
but also outside of that too. So all our academy
members are either studying or they're either working. We've got
systems in place with mental skills, nutrition, leadership, personal development
(04:22):
managers just to make sure that they are setting themselves
up for whatever life shows it them. And you know,
these young men that come into these programs that don't
always become professional players, but there's some great young men
that come out and do some extraordinary things as well.
So it's an awesome space to be well.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
At the development of this space. Where is it going?
Do you think what happens next? Because it's obviously a
movable feast, so you're always trying different ideas, so is
it still got a lot of water to go?
Speaker 8 (04:51):
We're constantly challenging ourselves as a staff and group and
as a management group to see what the next generation
is lik. You know, we've got Generation Z, Generation Alpha,
and there's different needs and different things societal pressures that
they deal with. So we're constantly pivoting around that to
see how we best support them, and you know, we
give it our all. And what an unbelievable opportunities some
(05:13):
of these guys get. And I remember going through school
and coming out and trying the sports avenue and it
wasn't successful at it, but there wasn't this wrap around supports.
It's unreal what they get, and you know, we're just
trying to help them live their dreams and sometimes their
dreams change as they go through too, and things that
can alter that as injury or selection or just sometimes
a bit of pivot in life. So there's been some
(05:35):
awesome young men do some great things, and you've got
to look in the current rugby circles. Christian Leo Willie's
a dentist. Conrad Smith was a lawyer, so there's a coincides.
I think it's awesome.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
Are they up for these young athletes when they come
through because we're talking relatively young men here, and I
can say that because I'm getting a bit long in
the tooth, but are they up for this? They accept this,
They're embracing this as something that's required for their future development.
Speaker 8 (06:01):
Yeah, they do. It's all choice, right, Like they choose
that they want to be part of this pathway. And
you know, professionalism does bring you lunches right and always
will do. There's no hiding the fact. And we always
try and help them understand that hard's okay and that
there will be times where it's hard. And the things
that we wrap around is that the persistence and patience
piece and handling hard well and making sure that they
(06:25):
understand build self awareness, and that we wrap around the
mental skills and tools to be able to deal with it,
because at the end of the day, it is a choice, right,
No one's twisting their arm. They do choose that they
want to play rugby. But what can help them was
holistically that helps them achieve that.
Speaker 4 (06:40):
Probably outside your sphere of influence. But how early do
you think this needs to start? Because I remember when
I was at school way back when in the mid eighties,
and the first fifteen were superstars. They could almost do
no wrong, burn the building down to be okay, it's
not that bad, granted, because they had that concept that
they were entitled and that didn't help. Now it's moved on,
(07:03):
it's been forty years since that. But do you think
it needs to start? Quite? Is it through the parents,
that through the schools or the clubs.
Speaker 8 (07:12):
But the schools do an awesome job like and setting
some of these guys up, Like there's some really really
good school programs. And I know that we can look
from the outside in and say, Jesus is a little
bit of burn out there. But again, the wrap around
support that some of these schools give them, and I've
seen firsthand, is awesome. And you just got to look
at the way that schools operate now, and you know,
there's mental health is a big thing, and making sure
(07:33):
that they're well rounded people is a big thing. And
I've got my five year old at school now and
they've got like a bit of a time out time
that they take just to reflect on the day. And
how good is that? That would have never been the case.
So yeah, in terms of your question, are they up
for it? Again, it's a choice and we've just got
to help them do that. And everyone's so different, Like
some guys come in and they've got a lot of
things nailed. Some guys come in and they don't have
(07:55):
a lot of nail, a lot of things nail. So
it's our job to help shape them and help guide
them and help a system. And the way that we
do that is probably through trust and care. We can
build their trust and we actually care for them, then
they're going to go a long way. But it's not
always rugby, you know. Like I said, these guys have
come out into some awesome things. Them come out to
(08:15):
be great coaches too. You know, they feel that that's
their pathway. So yeah, is it are they up for it?
Speaker 5 (08:21):
Yep?
Speaker 8 (08:22):
That's their choice and we're here.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
To help it use it's sportsfix with Dreve.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
Formula one driver Carlos at Signs has complained about the
nature of coverage of Formula one, specifically what's happened in
Singapore and appears to be happening with alarming regularity throughout
the coverage of the greatest spot in the world. I
don't mind saying so myself. His problem is the TV
(08:51):
coverage seems a little too fascinated with the wives and girlfriends.
They're more interested in pictures of these women in the pits,
standing in the garage, staring idly into space. Now, don't
get me wrong, I'm not saying I don't mind looking
at women who are wives and girlfriends. That's fine, but
(09:15):
I don't want that interfering the coverage of the race.
As he rightly points out, a number of his passing moves,
which is what Formula one is all about, were missed out.
We didn't get to see them because we were staring
at a supermodel or a TV celebrity or a whatever. Look,
if you want to do that, buy the women's magazines
(09:37):
by all means, take a look. Fill your boots. But
if I'm watching Formula one, I want to see the
key passes. I want to see the key pit stops.
I want to know what's going on, and I want
to know where the action is, how it's unfolding. I
take a look down the side of the screen at
the timing, I know where the competition is. You can
(10:00):
tell where the fights are. If the feed does not
provide me with what I want and what I pay for,
I'm not going to not watch. I'm an addict, but
I find that insulting to me as a motorsport fan
that you would spend your time pretending that you're paparazzi
(10:20):
as opposed to covering the motorsport. You've got one job,
get it right, and Carlos signs. You might complain a bunch,
but I'm with you one hundred percent. I don't care
who you're dating. I care about what you're driving.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
The chamber is now in session.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
On Sportsfax, into the chamber we go. All roads lead
to Mount Panorama. This we can for Bathhurst, the Great Race,
the Bathursts one thousand, of course on Sunday. Thus being
the motorsport expert, not just in this chamber, but really
around this entire building. Where does Bathhurst sit in terms
of its prestige among motorsport drivers of course supercars drivers,
(11:05):
but motorsport fans.
Speaker 4 (11:07):
We're not stral Asia. It's at the top of the heap.
I don't think you can go any further. That is it.
That's you said all roads lead to and it goes
up a mountain. And now I'll give you some advice
if you do go there, don't even go up to
the top of the mountain. It's a scary and feral place,
and I'd fear for your life, you know. You know,
people go up there and they dig huge holes. Because
(11:28):
you can access that road, you can drive around that
road when the race is not on. You stick to
the speed limit plainly. But they go up there with
shovels and they bury cases and cases of beer and
the like deep into the ground. So when they're up
on the top of the mountain, they didn't leave. They
just dig their hole and pull their beer out. I mean,
how good's that?
Speaker 3 (11:47):
That is great? What a tradition. You want to you
want to remember where it was.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
You want to have like a landmark, like an X
marks the spot, or maybe something not quite too obvious,
lest others try to dig where you've where you've stashed
your stashed your dash.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
Look.
Speaker 4 (12:01):
Look, it's massive and it means so much to New
Zealanders and Australians. I know rally people out there going wow,
you know Rally champions is big that today. Yes, absolutely
it is. But for a one off race, all roads lead.
This is something that most young drivers who want to
be engaged, they're not going to go open whelers, They're
going to go tin tops, which is what Van gisberg
And said to me years ago. I said, so shamee.
(12:24):
I presume you're on the way to Formula one or
Indy Carty is I want to raise taxis I'm going
to the supercars to raise tin tops. And he did
and he had some success, and now he's doing it
again at NASCAR. I think the big thing for me
about Bath first, plainly, it's very long. It's six hours plus.
It's a ridiculously long race. But the coverage, the coverage
(12:48):
is astonishing. If you don't know a great deal about
supercars or racing, just pluck an hour out of the
coverage and take a listen to the commentary. Look at
all of the cameras that they use, and every viewpoint
from every angle is covered. The coverage is spectacular. I'd
say second none in motorsport. If you don't know what's
(13:10):
going on, you don't understand it after watching an hour,
well maybe you need to seek help, you know, you
know it's that. Of course, we've got a fine history
in New Zealand as well. Maybe maybe not success wise,
but when you look at things, as you said, like
the Lap of the Gods, we're definitely etched in that.
(13:31):
So on Sunday gets underway just before two o'clock on
Sunday around the Mount Panorama. And what are we looking
at because last year was Brodieksticky. I think it was
Brodiekisticki who picked up the win his pole position as well.
But we're looking at the guys Matthew Payne, We're looking
(13:53):
at the likes of maybe andre Heimgartner might get it right.
They've got Ryan Wood who's had a bit of a
treacherous time at Bathurst, and then you got Jackson Evans
who's involved here as well. You've got Richie stand Away,
so there's a lot of key and Fabian call Tard's
coming back to co drive as well, so it's kind
of cool to see him because Fabian. I hate to
(14:14):
say this, and he will hate me if he hears this.
You got to remember that big off that he had
and he rolled and he rolled and he rolled at
the end of the chase spectacular coverage, and he's sick
to death of being reminded of it. So I apologize
now that this is must watch and no one rings
me the weekend anyways, and I watch sport. Don't even
think about it on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (14:32):
All right, you'll be wedged and you'll be wedged into
your couch. I'm going to take your advice and I'm
going to dip in and out for an hour. Yeah,
I know, I will, I will.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
I've obviously watched it before and you know, I've probably
sort of, you know, skimmed along the top of the highlights.
Had the opportunity to chat to Mark winter Bottom a
few weeks ago about his new book, and he talked
about winning Bathurst and how much it meant to interview.
Speaker 4 (14:55):
It was a fantastic interview. It was great. Actually did
that horrible radio thing where I wanted to go somewhere.
I was off to the supermarket and I had to
sit in the car park wait to the end of
the interview, So good going. You good at that, You're
better at football. So I'm not even going to tell
you what's going on with the All Whites, can you?
Speaker 3 (15:13):
I can try? Yes.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
Tomorrow morning they face Poland and the latest international window,
then Norway on Wednesday, so it's a good little window
for the All Whites. They've been basically or New Zilla
Football have committed to the All Whites playing in every
international window up to the World Cup next year, which
is June and July. We had Australia home and away
in the last window. You'll remember a couple of losses there.
(15:36):
But this is a really good little test for Darren
Basley's side against the world number thirty one Poland and
the world number thirty six Norway. In terms of the
team that's been selected, what he's done for the most
part is pick players because both of these both of
these games are up in Europe. He's picked mainly European
based players. There are very few A League players in
this All Whites squad because well next Wednesday when they
(15:59):
play Norway, three four days later, both Wellington Phoenix and
Auckland FC get their A League campaigns under way. So look,
you've got to play the game, get back, get over
your jet lag and play again. So I think this
is sensible from Darren Baseley. It's also give him the
opportunity to bring a couple of new faces in. George Stager,
whose dad was a Scottish rugby international who actually scored
a try at Eden Park would you believe for the
(16:20):
British and Irish Lions, gets his first call up, and
Owen Parker Price, a debutante out of Wellington. He's playing
his football in Sweden. So it's great for Darren Basely
to get a chance to widen that sort of playing
group a little bit, give guys opportunities as he tries
to nut out the squad that'll take to the World
Cup next year.
Speaker 3 (16:39):
Chris wood is there. No Liby Cacacci.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
Unfortunately he is injured, but one of the great parts
of this little window as well to US, Poland have
Robert Lewandowski, one of their greatest ever players. And then
when the All Whites play Norway, Earling Harland is going
to be leading the line and even you've heard of him,
the Manchester City Viking, the striking Viking.
Speaker 4 (16:59):
How can you not, guy, it's a fruit loop. So
as he doing is baslely doing a Robertson because Erasa
picked like I think, fifty five players this year. Is
he spreading his net that wide? I don't think he's
going quite that wide. He probably hasn't got as much
time as Razer. You know, you think, now what are
we October? The World Cup's in June.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
He's probably got a name his team in I would
say April or May, and he doesn't have a lot
of opportunity, so I think this will be the last
time he probably experiments. I think after this window, Dars,
I don't think there'll be anybody who hasn't played for
the Your Whites who will go to the World Cup.
I think he's got his paul of about sort of
forty fifty players. That wider squad, there's twenty three in
(17:39):
the squad, and I think the twenty three or twenty
six we still don't know the squad size. Incidentally, that
goes to the World Cup will come from the paul
he currently has, so seven forty five. Tomorrow morning they
take on Poland, and then on Wednesday slightly earlier start
a five o'clock New Zealand time start for the game
against Norway. So yeah, a couple of good little matches
for Darren Baseley's team.
Speaker 4 (17:58):
He will let to just quickly wrap it up as
far as positionally. Is there an area where a week
is there an area where he really needs to increase
that depth right across the eleven men?
Speaker 2 (18:08):
Or you know what I worry about to us is
if Chris Wood was to get injured. You know it's
he can do things no other player in the New
Zealand landscape of football can do. So what I think
Darren basically has to do and he has started doing this,
is to build different types of attackers. There's no point
having a guy who's kind of like Chris Wood but
nowhere near is good that kind of you know that
(18:28):
that traditional number nine. So he's better off getting guys
like Costa Barbarusis and like Elijah Justin, Callum macowartt and
Logan Rogerson and these sorts of guys. And because if
Wood was to get injured, there's no point doing a
team O Chris Wood, if you get my drift, you're
better off trying something different. So yeah, that's the kind
of the depth I'd like to see builds is different
(18:49):
ways of scoring goals. If Chris Wood isn't there.
Speaker 4 (18:52):
And I'd love to say rap him and cotton More,
we can't afford to lose him. But that's not Chris Wood.
You don't want to wrap himself in anything. He just
wants to keep on playing. It doesn't matter how far
he's got to travel. He wants that fern and you've
got to love that man. What a great New Zealander.
Speaker 3 (19:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
Absolutely, And just to finish that, if he plays both
of these games, which he probably will, he'll draw level
with Ivan Vissilitch as our most capped male footballer at
senior level.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
So that's our little milestone coming the.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
Way to exactly they Godfather and the wood Father. Shall
we say, I don't know, that's probably not even right.
Speaker 3 (19:23):
Who knows. Let's get out of the chamber.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
Dissecting the sporting agenda. It's Sportsfix with Jason Vine and
Darcy Walter Grave.
Speaker 3 (19:33):
And let's get out of the Sports Fix podcast for today.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
Anyway, we appreciate you downloading, listening in, and of course subscribing.
Subscribing to Sports Fix assures you of a fresh episode
dropping into your feed same time tomorrow and pretty much
every day Monday through Friday, and.
Speaker 4 (19:48):
If you'd like to involve yourself in Fix in a
strange kind of way, Sports Talk is on Monday to
Friday between seven and eight km on News Talk ZB
and you get to climb in and be a host
as well, but sometimes you can with me. You just
dominate the talk back. You more than welcome. Piney loves
it as well. He's got it on Monday. I've got Tuesday, Wednesdays, Thursday, Friday,
(20:09):
and then drum.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
Roll please the weekend Piney.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
Indeed, weekend sport where we welcome aboard all comers as
well midday through three Saturday, midday through three on Sunday.
So yeah, if you want sport, you've got it on
Sports Fix, and you've got it on the radio see
tomorrow us.
Speaker 4 (20:24):
Yeah, Old Will and just can you confirm Little Bird
tells me you've got explosive Joseph Jurassic Parker on the
program this weekend.
Speaker 3 (20:31):
I'll confirm that on Sports Fix tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
For more from News Talks ed 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 EDB. Follow
this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
This is Sportsfix Howard by News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Gooda there, and welcome into the Sports Fixed podcast, a
fresh episode of Thursday, nine October. Today, we're here in
association with G. J. Gardner Holmes, New Zealand's most trusted
home builder.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
My name's Jason.
Speaker 4 (00:34):
Pine and my name is Darcy walder Grave. We are
recipivists in sport. We are back again to talk it
all up because we don't know any better, right Jason,
we don't.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
It's the best way to fill in the day, I
find is to either talk about it or think about it.
Speaker 4 (00:48):
So well.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
It used to play it.
Speaker 4 (00:50):
It used to be play it, but like maybe not anymore. No,
But hey, I'm getting the tin taken out of my
knee next Wednesday, so hopefully with that I might be
able to place in sport. I think I'm going to
need a new me. But you know, it's the first
step towards.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Being baronic, Darcy King, We'll keep our tabs on yourgress
for sure on that particular topic. In terms of a
guest today who we're hearing from on Sports.
Speaker 4 (01:14):
Fix by Jason will be joined by Paul Gallant. He's
Crusader's academy manager. Looking at the development of kids who
are coming up through that professional space. You'd want to
be professional rugby players and I suppose how to deal
with that and the pitfalls as well.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Looking forward to that, I want to talk some race
cars with you. I want to talk some football as well,
and the latest and sports news all of that coming up,
so let's get into it. In other news, let's get
you underway as always, with a look at a couple
of big sports stories around today and historic passing night
from guard Parker. Jackson cart Right has helped the Breakers
snap a winless start for their Australian National Basketball League campaign,
(01:50):
trouncing the Illeworra Hawks one seventeen eighty eight in Auckland.
Jackson Cartwright posted twenty points and a franchise record seventeen assists.
Speaker 5 (01:59):
Using my advantage, using my speed, getting an open floor
and in the paints, play making for my teammates and myself.
Of course, in my career, I think that's what I've
done really well and this is no different.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Australia have been in Pakistan by one hundred and seven
runs at the Women's fifty over Cricket World Cup in Colombo.
Pakistan all out for one hundred and fourteen in the
thirty seventh over, chasing two hundred and twenty two to one.
Australia had slumped to one hundred and fifteen for eight
in the thirty fourth over before this changed the course
of the match.
Speaker 6 (02:31):
Beth Mooney with a memorable hundred here in Colombo, her
fifth hundred and one day Internationals and her first in
World Cup tournaments, and this has rescued Australia.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
And the opening practice session start at Bathurst this afternoon
at twenty past three for the drivers, ten to seven
for the co drivers.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Jackson Evans is back.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
At Mount Panorama for a fourth crack at the Great
Race on Sunday.
Speaker 7 (02:55):
Trying to make sure that comes Nday you've got a
car that you're comfortable driving and pushing for the limit.
Certainly a couple of sessions where we can run through
some pit stops and things like that, live in the
pit lane, but you know, just the processes. We want
to make sure that come race day and during the
where comfortable with all our procedures use.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
And a Villian. It's Sportsfix with Jason Pine and Dussy
Walter Grave and.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
It's welcome into the Sports Fixed podcast. Now to the
Crusader's Academy manager. His name is Paul Gallant, as we're
looking at the vulnerability and the progress of young players
and the professional sporting space.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
Get a Paul.
Speaker 6 (03:35):
Good.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
Great story in the Herald today by a bloke called
Jordan Smith talking about rugby professionalism hurting New Zealand's young men.
And you're in a position now at the academy where
you're very aware of this and you're trying to not
transition players out of rugby but let them understand there's
more to life than just rugby. Does that encapsulate it, well,
(04:00):
yeah it does.
Speaker 8 (04:01):
I think the academies across New Zealand at the moment
there's a massive emphasis on holistic development and that's making
sure that we look after the play inside these walls,
but also outside of that too. So all our academy
members are either studying or they're either working. We've got
systems in place with mental skills, nutrition, leadership, personal development
(04:22):
managers just to make sure that they are setting themselves
up for whatever life shows it them. And you know,
these young men that come into these programs that don't
always become professional players, but there's some great young men
that come out and do some extraordinary things as well.
So it's an awesome space to be well.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
At the development of this space. Where is it going?
Do you think what happens next? Because it's obviously a
movable feast, so you're always trying different ideas, so is
it still got a lot of water to go?
Speaker 8 (04:51):
We're constantly challenging ourselves as a staff and group and
as a management group to see what the next generation
is lik. You know, we've got Generation Z, Generation Alpha,
and there's different needs and different things societal pressures that
they deal with. So we're constantly pivoting around that to
see how we best support them, and you know, we
give it our all. And what an unbelievable opportunities some
(05:13):
of these guys get. And I remember going through school
and coming out and trying the sports avenue and it
wasn't successful at it, but there wasn't this wrap around supports.
It's unreal what they get, and you know, we're just
trying to help them live their dreams and sometimes their
dreams change as they go through too, and things that
can alter that as injury or selection or just sometimes
a bit of pivot in life. So there's been some
(05:35):
awesome young men do some great things, and you've got
to look in the current rugby circles. Christian Leo Willie's
a dentist. Conrad Smith was a lawyer, so there's a coincides.
I think it's awesome.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
Are they up for these young athletes when they come
through because we're talking relatively young men here, and I
can say that because I'm getting a bit long in
the tooth, but are they up for this? They accept this,
They're embracing this as something that's required for their future development.
Speaker 8 (06:01):
Yeah, they do. It's all choice, right, Like they choose
that they want to be part of this pathway. And
you know, professionalism does bring you lunches right and always
will do. There's no hiding the fact. And we always
try and help them understand that hard's okay and that
there will be times where it's hard. And the things
that we wrap around is that the persistence and patience
piece and handling hard well and making sure that they
(06:25):
understand build self awareness, and that we wrap around the
mental skills and tools to be able to deal with it,
because at the end of the day, it is a choice, right,
No one's twisting their arm. They do choose that they
want to play rugby. But what can help them was
holistically that helps them achieve that.
Speaker 4 (06:40):
Probably outside your sphere of influence. But how early do
you think this needs to start? Because I remember when
I was at school way back when in the mid eighties,
and the first fifteen were superstars. They could almost do
no wrong, burn the building down to be okay, it's
not that bad, granted, because they had that concept that
they were entitled and that didn't help. Now it's moved on,
(07:03):
it's been forty years since that. But do you think
it needs to start? Quite? Is it through the parents,
that through the schools or the clubs.
Speaker 8 (07:12):
But the schools do an awesome job like and setting
some of these guys up, Like there's some really really
good school programs. And I know that we can look
from the outside in and say, Jesus is a little
bit of burn out there. But again, the wrap around
support that some of these schools give them, and I've
seen firsthand, is awesome. And you just got to look
at the way that schools operate now, and you know,
there's mental health is a big thing, and making sure
(07:33):
that they're well rounded people is a big thing. And
I've got my five year old at school now and
they've got like a bit of a time out time
that they take just to reflect on the day. And
how good is that? That would have never been the case.
So yeah, in terms of your question, are they up
for it? Again, it's a choice and we've just got
to help them do that. And everyone's so different, Like
some guys come in and they've got a lot of
things nailed. Some guys come in and they don't have
(07:55):
a lot of nail, a lot of things nail. So
it's our job to help shape them and help guide
them and help a system. And the way that we
do that is probably through trust and care. We can
build their trust and we actually care for them, then
they're going to go a long way. But it's not
always rugby, you know. Like I said, these guys have
come out into some awesome things. Them come out to
(08:15):
be great coaches too. You know, they feel that that's
their pathway. So yeah, is it are they up for it?
Speaker 5 (08:21):
Yep?
Speaker 8 (08:22):
That's their choice and we're here.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
To help it use it's sportsfix with Dreve.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
Formula one driver Carlos at Signs has complained about the
nature of coverage of Formula one, specifically what's happened in
Singapore and appears to be happening with alarming regularity throughout
the coverage of the greatest spot in the world. I
don't mind saying so myself. His problem is the TV
(08:51):
coverage seems a little too fascinated with the wives and girlfriends.
They're more interested in pictures of these women in the pits,
standing in the garage, staring idly into space. Now, don't
get me wrong, I'm not saying I don't mind looking
at women who are wives and girlfriends. That's fine, but
(09:15):
I don't want that interfering the coverage of the race.
As he rightly points out, a number of his passing moves,
which is what Formula one is all about, were missed out.
We didn't get to see them because we were staring
at a supermodel or a TV celebrity or a whatever. Look,
if you want to do that, buy the women's magazines
(09:37):
by all means, take a look. Fill your boots. But
if I'm watching Formula one, I want to see the
key passes. I want to see the key pit stops.
I want to know what's going on, and I want
to know where the action is, how it's unfolding. I
take a look down the side of the screen at
the timing, I know where the competition is. You can
(10:00):
tell where the fights are. If the feed does not
provide me with what I want and what I pay for,
I'm not going to not watch. I'm an addict, but
I find that insulting to me as a motorsport fan
that you would spend your time pretending that you're paparazzi
(10:20):
as opposed to covering the motorsport. You've got one job,
get it right, and Carlos signs. You might complain a bunch,
but I'm with you one hundred percent. I don't care
who you're dating. I care about what you're driving.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
The chamber is now in session.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
On Sportsfax, into the chamber we go. All roads lead
to Mount Panorama. This we can for Bathhurst, the Great Race,
the Bathursts one thousand, of course on Sunday. Thus being
the motorsport expert, not just in this chamber, but really
around this entire building. Where does Bathhurst sit in terms
of its prestige among motorsport drivers of course supercars drivers,
(11:05):
but motorsport fans.
Speaker 4 (11:07):
We're not stral Asia. It's at the top of the heap.
I don't think you can go any further. That is it.
That's you said all roads lead to and it goes
up a mountain. And now I'll give you some advice
if you do go there, don't even go up to
the top of the mountain. It's a scary and feral place,
and I'd fear for your life, you know. You know,
people go up there and they dig huge holes. Because
(11:28):
you can access that road, you can drive around that
road when the race is not on. You stick to
the speed limit plainly. But they go up there with
shovels and they bury cases and cases of beer and
the like deep into the ground. So when they're up
on the top of the mountain, they didn't leave. They
just dig their hole and pull their beer out. I mean,
how good's that?
Speaker 3 (11:47):
That is great? What a tradition. You want to you
want to remember where it was.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
You want to have like a landmark, like an X
marks the spot, or maybe something not quite too obvious,
lest others try to dig where you've where you've stashed
your stashed your dash.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
Look.
Speaker 4 (12:01):
Look, it's massive and it means so much to New
Zealanders and Australians. I know rally people out there going wow,
you know Rally champions is big that today. Yes, absolutely
it is. But for a one off race, all roads lead.
This is something that most young drivers who want to
be engaged, they're not going to go open whelers, They're
going to go tin tops, which is what Van gisberg
And said to me years ago. I said, so shamee.
(12:24):
I presume you're on the way to Formula one or
Indy Carty is I want to raise taxis I'm going
to the supercars to raise tin tops. And he did
and he had some success, and now he's doing it
again at NASCAR. I think the big thing for me
about Bath first, plainly, it's very long. It's six hours plus.
It's a ridiculously long race. But the coverage, the coverage
(12:48):
is astonishing. If you don't know a great deal about
supercars or racing, just pluck an hour out of the
coverage and take a listen to the commentary. Look at
all of the cameras that they use, and every viewpoint
from every angle is covered. The coverage is spectacular. I'd
say second none in motorsport. If you don't know what's
(13:10):
going on, you don't understand it after watching an hour,
well maybe you need to seek help, you know, you
know it's that. Of course, we've got a fine history
in New Zealand as well. Maybe maybe not success wise,
but when you look at things, as you said, like
the Lap of the Gods, we're definitely etched in that.
(13:31):
So on Sunday gets underway just before two o'clock on
Sunday around the Mount Panorama. And what are we looking
at because last year was Brodieksticky. I think it was
Brodiekisticki who picked up the win his pole position as well.
But we're looking at the guys Matthew Payne, We're looking
(13:53):
at the likes of maybe andre Heimgartner might get it right.
They've got Ryan Wood who's had a bit of a
treacherous time at Bathurst, and then you got Jackson Evans
who's involved here as well. You've got Richie stand Away,
so there's a lot of key and Fabian call Tard's
coming back to co drive as well, so it's kind
of cool to see him because Fabian. I hate to
(14:14):
say this, and he will hate me if he hears this.
You got to remember that big off that he had
and he rolled and he rolled and he rolled at
the end of the chase spectacular coverage, and he's sick
to death of being reminded of it. So I apologize
now that this is must watch and no one rings
me the weekend anyways, and I watch sport. Don't even
think about it on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (14:32):
All right, you'll be wedged and you'll be wedged into
your couch. I'm going to take your advice and I'm
going to dip in and out for an hour. Yeah,
I know, I will, I will.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
I've obviously watched it before and you know, I've probably
sort of, you know, skimmed along the top of the highlights.
Had the opportunity to chat to Mark winter Bottom a
few weeks ago about his new book, and he talked
about winning Bathurst and how much it meant to interview.
Speaker 4 (14:55):
It was a fantastic interview. It was great. Actually did
that horrible radio thing where I wanted to go somewhere.
I was off to the supermarket and I had to
sit in the car park wait to the end of
the interview, So good going. You good at that, You're
better at football. So I'm not even going to tell
you what's going on with the All Whites, can you?
Speaker 3 (15:13):
I can try? Yes.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
Tomorrow morning they face Poland and the latest international window,
then Norway on Wednesday, so it's a good little window
for the All Whites. They've been basically or New Zilla
Football have committed to the All Whites playing in every
international window up to the World Cup next year, which
is June and July. We had Australia home and away
in the last window. You'll remember a couple of losses there.
(15:36):
But this is a really good little test for Darren
Basley's side against the world number thirty one Poland and
the world number thirty six Norway. In terms of the
team that's been selected, what he's done for the most
part is pick players because both of these both of
these games are up in Europe. He's picked mainly European
based players. There are very few A League players in
this All Whites squad because well next Wednesday when they
(15:59):
play Norway, three four days later, both Wellington Phoenix and
Auckland FC get their A League campaigns under way. So look,
you've got to play the game, get back, get over
your jet lag and play again. So I think this
is sensible from Darren Baseley. It's also give him the
opportunity to bring a couple of new faces in. George Stager,
whose dad was a Scottish rugby international who actually scored
a try at Eden Park would you believe for the
(16:20):
British and Irish Lions, gets his first call up, and
Owen Parker Price, a debutante out of Wellington. He's playing
his football in Sweden. So it's great for Darren Basely
to get a chance to widen that sort of playing
group a little bit, give guys opportunities as he tries
to nut out the squad that'll take to the World
Cup next year.
Speaker 3 (16:39):
Chris wood is there. No Liby Cacacci.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
Unfortunately he is injured, but one of the great parts
of this little window as well to US, Poland have
Robert Lewandowski, one of their greatest ever players. And then
when the All Whites play Norway, Earling Harland is going
to be leading the line and even you've heard of him,
the Manchester City Viking, the striking Viking.
Speaker 4 (16:59):
How can you not, guy, it's a fruit loop. So
as he doing is baslely doing a Robertson because Erasa
picked like I think, fifty five players this year. Is
he spreading his net that wide? I don't think he's
going quite that wide. He probably hasn't got as much
time as Razer. You know, you think, now what are
we October? The World Cup's in June.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
He's probably got a name his team in I would
say April or May, and he doesn't have a lot
of opportunity, so I think this will be the last
time he probably experiments. I think after this window, Dars,
I don't think there'll be anybody who hasn't played for
the Your Whites who will go to the World Cup.
I think he's got his paul of about sort of
forty fifty players. That wider squad, there's twenty three in
(17:39):
the squad, and I think the twenty three or twenty
six we still don't know the squad size. Incidentally, that
goes to the World Cup will come from the paul
he currently has, so seven forty five. Tomorrow morning they
take on Poland, and then on Wednesday slightly earlier start
a five o'clock New Zealand time start for the game
against Norway. So yeah, a couple of good little matches
for Darren Baseley's team.
Speaker 4 (17:58):
He will let to just quickly wrap it up as
far as positionally. Is there an area where a week
is there an area where he really needs to increase
that depth right across the eleven men?
Speaker 2 (18:08):
Or you know what I worry about to us is
if Chris Wood was to get injured. You know it's
he can do things no other player in the New
Zealand landscape of football can do. So what I think
Darren basically has to do and he has started doing this,
is to build different types of attackers. There's no point
having a guy who's kind of like Chris Wood but
nowhere near is good that kind of you know that
(18:28):
that traditional number nine. So he's better off getting guys
like Costa Barbarusis and like Elijah Justin, Callum macowartt and
Logan Rogerson and these sorts of guys. And because if
Wood was to get injured, there's no point doing a
team O Chris Wood, if you get my drift, you're
better off trying something different. So yeah, that's the kind
of the depth I'd like to see builds is different
(18:49):
ways of scoring goals. If Chris Wood isn't there.
Speaker 4 (18:52):
And I'd love to say rap him and cotton More,
we can't afford to lose him. But that's not Chris Wood.
You don't want to wrap himself in anything. He just
wants to keep on playing. It doesn't matter how far
he's got to travel. He wants that fern and you've
got to love that man. What a great New Zealander.
Speaker 3 (19:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
Absolutely, And just to finish that, if he plays both
of these games, which he probably will, he'll draw level
with Ivan Vissilitch as our most capped male footballer at
senior level.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
So that's our little milestone coming the.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
Way to exactly they Godfather and the wood Father. Shall
we say, I don't know, that's probably not even right.
Speaker 3 (19:23):
Who knows. Let's get out of the chamber.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
Dissecting the sporting agenda. It's Sportsfix with Jason Vine and
Darcy Walter Grave.
Speaker 3 (19:33):
And let's get out of the Sports Fix podcast for today.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
Anyway, we appreciate you downloading, listening in, and of course subscribing.
Subscribing to Sports Fix assures you of a fresh episode
dropping into your feed same time tomorrow and pretty much
every day Monday through Friday, and.
Speaker 4 (19:48):
If you'd like to involve yourself in Fix in a
strange kind of way, Sports Talk is on Monday to
Friday between seven and eight km on News Talk ZB
and you get to climb in and be a host
as well, but sometimes you can with me. You just
dominate the talk back. You more than welcome. Piney loves
it as well. He's got it on Monday. I've got Tuesday, Wednesdays, Thursday, Friday,
(20:09):
and then drum.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
Roll please the weekend Piney.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
Indeed, weekend sport where we welcome aboard all comers as
well midday through three Saturday, midday through three on Sunday.
So yeah, if you want sport, you've got it on
Sports Fix, and you've got it on the radio see
tomorrow us.
Speaker 4 (20:24):
Yeah, Old Will and just can you confirm Little Bird
tells me you've got explosive Joseph Jurassic Parker on the
program this weekend.
Speaker 3 (20:31):
I'll confirm that on Sports Fix tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
For more from News Talks ed B, listen live on
air or online and keep our shows with you wherever
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