All Blacks legend-turned-All Blacks Tour Guide Ian Jones joined Canterbury Mornings ahead of the first test against the French in Chirstchurch.
Jones now wears many hats, one of them is being the General Manager for the All Blacks Experience in Auckland - taking tourists and rugby tragics alike through the motions of what an All Black or Black Fern experiences before a test match.
He also touched on the improvements in awareness of mental wellbeing in the game, with his perspective of how things were back in the day compared to now.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Canterbury Mornings podcast with John McDonald
from News Talk z'b.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Yeah, good morning John, Good morning Canterbary listeners.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
Now, Police Minister Mark Mitchell's been in the news this
week after breaking a couple of ribs at that charity
rugby match last weekend. And I gather you were coaching
the team he was playing against. Was that one of
your tactics.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
No, My tactics are simply if you wore black jersey,
pizza tanou, that's how you get the ball to as
simple as that. It's the guy outside. You represented our
country passing the ball.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Pretty clear, pretty good, good, good instructions.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Yeah, good good, simple tactic that the Mark Mitchell was
getting stuck in and is now called the Minister of Defense.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Very good. These days. In your day job, you're the
general manager of the All Blacks Experience in Auckland. For
those of us who haven't been to see it, What
is it and what is it all about?
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Yeah, beautiful thing, very much join. It's an incredible well,
it's a legacy of all our teams in black. That's
what it was. Then, So we take people through this
incredible New Zealand story of what it takes you make
you know, how we fall in love with that game
in the grassroots level dispectively different to the world. How
you shape that love and the coming an elite sports person.
(01:28):
So we've had a lot of interactive games and then
finally take people into changing rooms and I want them
to feel what it's like being and all black or
being a black fan sitting in those changing rooms. How
do the players feel? What's your emotion for me? Could
have done any more on the preparation for this test match, No,
(01:49):
I was ready to go. You know, it's become very
anxious and nervous, and then there's a knock on the door. John,
walk down the tunnel where you start to hear the
crowd noise, a little bit of the anthem, start to
feel the weight of the chersey before going up to
the field to watch both the All Backs and the
Blacks and hackers. It's incredibly moving, very emotional and something
(02:14):
all New Zealanders should be very very proud of.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Does it take you back?
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Yep, absolutely takes me back, and I do it daily.
We have a lot of former players hosting tours form.
Every eye's journey is different into that jersey, even feelings
pre match are quite different. And yeah, absolutely it's a
special time, John, And you know, only the players who
(02:39):
have worn that jersey actually know what it takes and
feels to wear that jersey. So it's nice for us
to be able to kind of reflect and give our
view how we felt, how it shaped our lives. But
more than that, it's also this very powerful cultural story
of how we and we should be proud of us
(03:01):
use our guide it by our culture, o multi culture
and everything we do. It certainly fits the tone. And
we had the All Black team here last Thursday actually
leading up to this game on the weekend and hand
them back over that beautiful Moody Stone that they travel with,
gifted of course by No Tartu, this beautiful bit of
(03:25):
pone army that travels the world. And really Cody Taylor
is now the Kakiaky, the guardian of that stone for
the All Blacks. So passed it back to the or back.
It will be at the stadium on game day and
it's how you connect with the team. When you touch it,
you pass on you're wide, you pass on your money
and the team will do the same. I'll match that
(03:48):
beautiful connection between New Zealand former players hands and the
All Blacks themselves.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Where if we go back to nineteen ninety five and
that all faded World Cup tournament in South Africa. I
was reading recently that you've actually never watched a replay
of that final. Why is that?
Speaker 2 (04:07):
I know the outcome? Yeah, I know, I know the result.
Yeah it's yeah. You look back and you're effect and
you think, God, what could we have done differently? How
could we have changed the call of that game? And
you often think like that. I mean, it's a mindset
I guess of a of an all back or a
(04:29):
New Zealand representative, isn't it? So now I haven't seen it.
I believe they made a movie once again, not on
my watch list. But that's just me.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
So are you over it? We're still getting over it?
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Ah, Yeah, I don't know if I'm over it's to
be honest and yeah, listen, you know you've played over
one hundred and five games with all backs and it's
the ones that you you know you've your last, that
you're regretting and say, what could we have done different
What could we have learned from there? How did that
(05:03):
could we have changed the course of that game. I
guess that's what representing the legacy of this study is
all about, how to give so much of yourself.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
Your oldest son, Flynn, has been playing club rugby for Takapuna.
I gather how much pressure do you think there is
on all Blacks kids to follow in their father's footsteps.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Well, it all sends on the kids to how the
kid handles that comparison or you know those jibes of
you know, you've got to be like your dad, or
you got to train hard to do this or do that.
And we know with they of New Zealand rugby with
so many fathers and nominations of some fourish in that environment,
(05:48):
others tough on the kid, but you know you support
are your kid like every other father up there to
let them enjoy what they do. Actually broke a finger recently,
so now coaching an under fourteen team up here, so
getting as passion for a game in that way. But
(06:11):
I love standing on the sidelines and watching schoolboy watching
junior rugby and that's how we make our players that
make it all back love our game.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
Your other son, Noah again is an ambassador for the
im Hope organization. You know, when when you were an
all black mental health was probably something that wasn't discussed much.
Do you think we do a bit of job of
that these days?
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Yeah? Absolutely, I'm so proud of No He's an incredible
young man and the work that Mike King and Gunbert
Friday and I hope do to kind of sharing those
messages of you be who you are, but yourself, share
and talk because often when we will find we're anxious
(06:55):
about something, you feel you alone. But when you share,
you know there's other people feeling the same way, or
other people can help you and support you and whatever
stage of your life you are. So yeah, no, we
are a lot better. The team and society kind of
helped each other inside these team environments. Why team environments
(07:18):
are so important, aren't they for New Zealanders for that Madship,
for that Comarderie. So in I'm state with young Norah
and and anyone out there who's supporting people on a
mental health journey, it's it's well worth talking about standing
up and you know we'll our family will reach out
(07:42):
and help anyone.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
Because I was talking. I was talking to Cameron George
from the Warriors the other week and he was telling
me that that's a big thing for them, making sure
young players are well supported to deal with the pressures
of professional sport. How did how did you deal with
it when you first got into it.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Yeah, I don't know if I felt was it that way?
You know, you're so kind of anxious And I look
back now in effect and thinks I wish I'd maybe
enjoyed some of those moments more because there's always at
the next job, the next week. What do I have
to do to improve? So I think that's one of
the big lessons we've learned in time, isn't it just
(08:19):
kind of in the moment living and now enjoy the
goals that you achieve after the setting, and you know,
you just take some time out to celebrate those little
successes along the way. Look back, I think maybe I
could have done a better job then, but that's hindsight
(08:42):
and hopefully a little bit better at doing that now.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
Before you became a little black, you were an electrician
igether did you or have you kept your registration up?
You're still doing the odd job.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
It's a side hustle. I don't need a ladder, but no,
I mean, you wouldn't want me knocking on your door
with my toolkit in hand, saying I'm here to fix
your when you're big inditioning. No, if that happens, it's
not gone too well for you. My brother in law,
(09:16):
who I did my time were there's still electrician and
we have scenes in that industry and you know you
get a trade said of will that was a message
from my family. Ended up being an all back young
and saw the world that way.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
Just before you go, we're very excited here about one
New Zealand stadium. Do you reckon we will ever see
another Rugby World Cup here in New Zealand, I hope.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
So we're fantastic hosts. This is a bucket list destination
for so many people and when they go to any tournament,
whatever sport you play, you want to be able to
seal the vibe of that country. North Southeastern were and
they'll do that in New Zealand. Really the country to
(10:03):
get around. We have the Domi one media outlets. As
a player or as a fan, you know you're kind
of getting that same vibe and view and message. So yeah,
I hope. So we've got so much we can offer,
beautiful country to come to as a farm and tourism.
We talk to people every day who's always to come
(10:26):
here and blile away by the hospitality, the openness, the friendliness,
how safe New Zealanders. So yep, I really hope encourage
whoever it is that we part of that process, that
put our hand up because we will do a fantastic job.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
We know that, hey, fantastic. It is brilliant to talk
to you and enjoy the match tomorrow night.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
Yep, take care of enjoys.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
For more from Canterbory Mornings with John McDonald, listen live
to news Talks It'd be christ Church from nine am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Canterbury Mornings podcast with John McDonald
from News Talk z'b.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Yeah, good morning John, Good morning Canterbary listeners.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
Now, Police Minister Mark Mitchell's been in the news this
week after breaking a couple of ribs at that charity
rugby match last weekend. And I gather you were coaching
the team he was playing against. Was that one of
your tactics.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
No, My tactics are simply if you wore black jersey,
pizza tanou, that's how you get the ball to as
simple as that. It's the guy outside. You represented our
country passing the ball.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Pretty clear, pretty good, good, good instructions.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Yeah, good good, simple tactic that the Mark Mitchell was
getting stuck in and is now called the Minister of Defense.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Very good. These days. In your day job, you're the
general manager of the All Blacks Experience in Auckland. For
those of us who haven't been to see it, What
is it and what is it all about?
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Yeah, beautiful thing, very much join. It's an incredible well,
it's a legacy of all our teams in black. That's
what it was. Then, So we take people through this
incredible New Zealand story of what it takes you make
you know, how we fall in love with that game
in the grassroots level dispectively different to the world. How
you shape that love and the coming an elite sports person.
(01:28):
So we've had a lot of interactive games and then
finally take people into changing rooms and I want them
to feel what it's like being and all black or
being a black fan sitting in those changing rooms. How
do the players feel? What's your emotion for me? Could
have done any more on the preparation for this test match, No,
(01:49):
I was ready to go. You know, it's become very
anxious and nervous, and then there's a knock on the door. John,
walk down the tunnel where you start to hear the
crowd noise, a little bit of the anthem, start to
feel the weight of the chersey before going up to
the field to watch both the All Backs and the
Blacks and hackers. It's incredibly moving, very emotional and something
(02:14):
all New Zealanders should be very very proud of.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Does it take you back?
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Yep, absolutely takes me back, and I do it daily.
We have a lot of former players hosting tours form.
Every eye's journey is different into that jersey, even feelings
pre match are quite different. And yeah, absolutely it's a
special time, John, And you know, only the players who
(02:39):
have worn that jersey actually know what it takes and
feels to wear that jersey. So it's nice for us
to be able to kind of reflect and give our
view how we felt, how it shaped our lives. But
more than that, it's also this very powerful cultural story
of how we and we should be proud of us
(03:01):
use our guide it by our culture, o multi culture
and everything we do. It certainly fits the tone. And
we had the All Black team here last Thursday actually
leading up to this game on the weekend and hand
them back over that beautiful Moody Stone that they travel with,
gifted of course by No Tartu, this beautiful bit of
(03:25):
pone army that travels the world. And really Cody Taylor
is now the Kakiaky, the guardian of that stone for
the All Blacks. So passed it back to the or back.
It will be at the stadium on game day and
it's how you connect with the team. When you touch it,
you pass on you're wide, you pass on your money
and the team will do the same. I'll match that
(03:48):
beautiful connection between New Zealand former players hands and the
All Blacks themselves.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Where if we go back to nineteen ninety five and
that all faded World Cup tournament in South Africa. I
was reading recently that you've actually never watched a replay
of that final. Why is that?
Speaker 2 (04:07):
I know the outcome? Yeah, I know, I know the result.
Yeah it's yeah. You look back and you're effect and
you think, God, what could we have done differently? How
could we have changed the call of that game? And
you often think like that. I mean, it's a mindset
I guess of a of an all back or a
(04:29):
New Zealand representative, isn't it? So now I haven't seen it.
I believe they made a movie once again, not on
my watch list. But that's just me.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
So are you over it? We're still getting over it?
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Ah, Yeah, I don't know if I'm over it's to
be honest and yeah, listen, you know you've played over
one hundred and five games with all backs and it's
the ones that you you know you've your last, that
you're regretting and say, what could we have done different
What could we have learned from there? How did that
(05:03):
could we have changed the course of that game. I
guess that's what representing the legacy of this study is
all about, how to give so much of yourself.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
Your oldest son, Flynn, has been playing club rugby for Takapuna.
I gather how much pressure do you think there is
on all Blacks kids to follow in their father's footsteps.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Well, it all sends on the kids to how the
kid handles that comparison or you know those jibes of
you know, you've got to be like your dad, or
you got to train hard to do this or do that.
And we know with they of New Zealand rugby with
so many fathers and nominations of some fourish in that environment,
(05:48):
others tough on the kid, but you know you support
are your kid like every other father up there to
let them enjoy what they do. Actually broke a finger recently,
so now coaching an under fourteen team up here, so
getting as passion for a game in that way. But
(06:11):
I love standing on the sidelines and watching schoolboy watching
junior rugby and that's how we make our players that
make it all back love our game.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
Your other son, Noah again is an ambassador for the
im Hope organization. You know, when when you were an
all black mental health was probably something that wasn't discussed much.
Do you think we do a bit of job of
that these days?
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Yeah? Absolutely, I'm so proud of No He's an incredible
young man and the work that Mike King and Gunbert
Friday and I hope do to kind of sharing those
messages of you be who you are, but yourself, share
and talk because often when we will find we're anxious
(06:55):
about something, you feel you alone. But when you share,
you know there's other people feeling the same way, or
other people can help you and support you and whatever
stage of your life you are. So yeah, no, we
are a lot better. The team and society kind of
helped each other inside these team environments. Why team environments
(07:18):
are so important, aren't they for New Zealanders for that Madship,
for that Comarderie. So in I'm state with young Norah
and and anyone out there who's supporting people on a
mental health journey, it's it's well worth talking about standing
up and you know we'll our family will reach out
(07:42):
and help anyone.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
Because I was talking. I was talking to Cameron George
from the Warriors the other week and he was telling
me that that's a big thing for them, making sure
young players are well supported to deal with the pressures
of professional sport. How did how did you deal with
it when you first got into it.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Yeah, I don't know if I felt was it that way?
You know, you're so kind of anxious And I look
back now in effect and thinks I wish I'd maybe
enjoyed some of those moments more because there's always at
the next job, the next week. What do I have
to do to improve? So I think that's one of
the big lessons we've learned in time, isn't it just
(08:19):
kind of in the moment living and now enjoy the
goals that you achieve after the setting, and you know,
you just take some time out to celebrate those little
successes along the way. Look back, I think maybe I
could have done a better job then, but that's hindsight
(08:42):
and hopefully a little bit better at doing that now.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
Before you became a little black, you were an electrician
igether did you or have you kept your registration up?
You're still doing the odd job.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
It's a side hustle. I don't need a ladder, but no,
I mean, you wouldn't want me knocking on your door
with my toolkit in hand, saying I'm here to fix
your when you're big inditioning. No, if that happens, it's
not gone too well for you. My brother in law,
(09:16):
who I did my time were there's still electrician and
we have scenes in that industry and you know you
get a trade said of will that was a message
from my family. Ended up being an all back young
and saw the world that way.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
Just before you go, we're very excited here about one
New Zealand stadium. Do you reckon we will ever see
another Rugby World Cup here in New Zealand, I hope.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
So we're fantastic hosts. This is a bucket list destination
for so many people and when they go to any tournament,
whatever sport you play, you want to be able to
seal the vibe of that country. North Southeastern were and
they'll do that in New Zealand. Really the country to
(10:03):
get around. We have the Domi one media outlets. As
a player or as a fan, you know you're kind
of getting that same vibe and view and message. So yeah,
I hope. So we've got so much we can offer,
beautiful country to come to as a farm and tourism.
We talk to people every day who's always to come
(10:26):
here and blile away by the hospitality, the openness, the friendliness,
how safe New Zealanders. So yep, I really hope encourage
whoever it is that we part of that process, that
put our hand up because we will do a fantastic job.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
We know that, hey, fantastic. It is brilliant to talk
to you and enjoy the match tomorrow night.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
Yep, take care of enjoys.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
For more from Canterbory Mornings with John McDonald, listen live
to news Talks It'd be christ Church from nine am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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