Full Show Podcast: 6 October 2024

On the Weekend Sport with Jason Pine Full Show Podcast for 10 October 2024, The All Blacks end of year tour squad is set to be named, with questions surrounding a few players. Sir John Kirwan offers his thoughts on who should be on the plane for the northern tour

Piney has one of his regular catch ups with NZR CEO Mark Robinson and they discuss the report of France planning on sending a weak team to New Zealand next year

And Ryan Girdler and Tawera Nikau preview the NRL Grand Final

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine
from News Talks EDB.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
It's in eighty one.

Speaker 3 (00:13):
Let me just tell you what I think about it.
I think it was a disgraceful performance from a captain
who got his sums wrong today and I think it
should never be permitted to happen again. We keep reading
and hearing that the players are under a lot of pressure,
and that they're tired and jaded and perhaps their judgment
and their skill is blunted. Well, perhaps they might advance
that is an excuse for what happened out there today.

Speaker 4 (00:34):
Not with me, they don't. I think it was a very.

Speaker 3 (00:36):
Poor performance, one of the worst things I have ever
seen done on a cricket field.

Speaker 4 (00:41):
Good Night.

Speaker 2 (00:42):
My favorite part of that is after he's given Australian
absolute serve, he still manages a cherry good night at
the end of it. The late Great Richie Beno. I'm
Jason Pine, Andy McDonald sharp producer, So we're with you
until three o'clock. New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson on
the show after one talking the range of issues are
a weakened French touring side coming here next year reportedly

(01:06):
the possibility of an ANZAC Dave Bledisloe Cup Test, the
All Blacks touring South Africa, among other things. Leading us
off today though Sir John Kerwin standing by to talk
a couple of selection conundrums for All Blacks coach Scott
Robertson as he prepares to unveil his squad to tour
the Northern Hemisphere. That squad is announced at two o'clock tomorrow.

(01:27):
Will Sam Kine and or TJ Peanada be on the plane? So,
John Kerwin on that and other aspects of the selection.
Your thoughts are absolutely welcome and in fact encouraged on
this as well other matters around today. Massive night coming
up at a Core Stadium in Sydney the NRL Grand Final,
Melbourne Storm, Penrith Panthers, former Storm and kiwi's forward Tawada,

(01:50):
Nico and Penrith double centurion and NRL winner Ryan Girdler
after two. Of course, Tawoda also won the NRL with
the Melbourne Storm, so a very good look at this
NRL Grand Final for you after two. All White striker
Ben Wain's on the show ahead of New Zielland's World
Cup qualifiers over the next few weeks and James mcconey
checking in his regular slot around one forty five Live

(02:13):
Sport this afternoon ran Furley Shield Rugby Tasman defending the
log against the Amber and Blacks of Tallanaki from five
past two in Nelson. A win for Tasman would see
them lock up the Shield for the summer and secure
top spot going into the NPC playoffs. Tallanaki don't have
a pretty good shield pedigree. I'll be going to Nelson

(02:33):
with one thing on their minds, and that's resting away
the log of wood, which they would then hold for
the summer with no more challenges to come. In twenty
twenty four. We'll have a preview of that game around
one thirty. Keep you up that on progress once it
kicks off. Round two Action and the Men's and Women's
National Football League to keep an eye on as well.
Please get involved in the show if you would like
to anything that catches your ear or anything you like

(02:53):
to make make a point about, or pass some judgment on,
or give an opinion on. Oh eight hundred eighty ten
eighty nine two ninety two is the text number and
emails into Jason at Newstalk SEDB dot co dot NZ
on eleven past midday.

Speaker 1 (03:08):
Analyzing every view from every angle in the sporting world.
Weekends for it with Jason Hill, news Talks, mb.

Speaker 5 (03:17):
Fine's Mackenzie text it over the touch line, the Capital
Pairs ends and the All Blacks when Sampagne's one hundredths
final on home soil, TJ Penanas Final on home soil
thirty three point thirteen over the Wallabies at sky Stadium.

Speaker 2 (03:35):
The final test on home soil for Sam Cain and
for TJ Peninada. But will that be their final test?
Full Stop Your Black squad for the end of season
two revealed at two o'clock tomorrow for test matches against Japan, England, Ireland,
France and Italy. It's a tough tour. Scott Robertson will
name a thirty six man touring party, while a twenty

(03:57):
nine man All Blacks fifteen squad will also be named
for matches against Munster and Georgia. That side to be
coached by Clayton McMillan. There has also been word and
Scott Robertson confirmed this that there may well be movement
of players between the two squads. So what are we
sixty five players? There are going to be announced in
one of those two squads tomorrow afternoon. Let's bring in

(04:19):
sir John Kerwin, ninety six match All Black, former international coach,
now a major part of sky Sports coverage of the
All Blacks through commentary, analysis and his role on the breakdown. JK,
thanks for joining. What's going to start with the halfbacks?
Do you think TJ Petinata will go on this Northern Tour?

Speaker 6 (04:38):
No? I don't. I think that With Rougard coming back,
I believe that it's time possibly to take some risks.
TJ's been amazing signed with Japan. I put him in
the same category as Sam Kane at some stage, I
think we've got to give some of these younger guys
a bit more of an opportunity, you know. So for me,

(05:03):
both Sam Kin and TJ perrinard Us might miss out
and might be time to move on.

Speaker 2 (05:09):
So is that that that's your view? What do you
think Razor will do? Because if he doesn't take TJ,
he's got camera Guard five test matches, Cortez eight test matches. No,
I hope in one game off the bench. Does he
leave himself a little bit light at half back?

Speaker 6 (05:21):
Yeah? Totally. I don't think he leaves himself light. He
leaves himself light on experience. So you know, I think
it's a massive question if he decides to take them.
I get that as well, because what he's trying to
do is, you know that by the end of the season,
this is an incredibly difficult northern tour. You know, you
start with Japan, which they're not going to take some
of the more experienced guys, They're going to send them

(05:43):
straight to the UK. Then you've got England, Ireland, France
and Italy. So you know, I think I would understand
if he took them. But then, so you know what
did you mention roy Guard five? Yeah?

Speaker 2 (05:58):
Yeah, no, one year? Yeah.

Speaker 6 (06:00):
So when they get back from Europe, what do you
want their numbers to be? You know, do you want
them to have seven? Ten? Know, they sort of say
that to win World Cups you need to have sort
of twenty eight to thirty test matches under your belt
to understand what it's all about. So, you know, I
think it's a massive call. I think it's the most
interesting part of the selection and possibly lock you know,

(06:23):
what's he going to do with Locke? You know, I
think to Poive was probably my player of the series
from an improvement point of view, you know, sort of
the line outs. You know, it was great around the field,
so I think that's a real positive. But then do
you take Josh Lord, do you take Sam Dowry? You know,
what do you do at lock? Where I think there's
a little light And then the loose forwards is really interesting.

(06:45):
I don't know what happened to Dalton. I watched Counties
last night and he got injured late, sort of limped off,
you know. So what are we going to do it
loose forward? Are we going to take some of the
young guys like you know, like your sir Lackey, or
are we going to are going to stick with Sam Kaine?
So I think it's time, mate, I think it's time.

(07:05):
You know where two years away from a World Cup,
so that's what I'd be doing, all right.

Speaker 2 (07:10):
So Sam Kine's an interesting one to me. With halfback,
you've got Roy Garder up to my hope theme. So
you've got guys queuing up. Who is the number seven
beyond this year? Let's say Kane goes in plays but
he's not there next year. Who is the All Blacks
open side flanker in twenty twenty five and moving through
the next World Cup cycle.

Speaker 6 (07:28):
I think it's Dalton. I think it's Dalton because of
our loose forward mix, you know. I think Satiti has
come on as we all know. You know, Artie is
playing well at number eight, and I think what the seven,
how we used to have our traditional seven.

Speaker 7 (07:44):
Has now changed.

Speaker 6 (07:45):
Our seven is now playing like a six, like when
you think about Sam Caine, incredibly defensively, incredible work late
around the ruck, but probably not a bull carrier anymore,
you know, So they're leaving the bull carrying to Satiti
and to Ardi, which makes our seven then like our
six used to be so very tight, you know, a

(08:08):
very tight individual who's doing that hard work, which then
gives us the balance to free up other guys. So
I think Dalton is best suited if that's the role
we're going to play. And then I think from a
pressure point of view, you know, we've got some of
these these young guys coming through loc I your sir,
guys like that that are probably more multi talented, you know,
they can play in many positions. But I think the

(08:30):
interesting thing about the last test metch No. One really
played out of position. You know, we had Will, We
had Will at full back, we had bot In at ten,
we had you know, antonlinea Brand at twelve, Rico at thirteen.
Everyone was playing in their specialist position, which I think
is a good thing.

Speaker 2 (08:46):
What's happened to Matt Telaya this year?

Speaker 6 (08:50):
I just think he's tired. I just think he's I
was thinking about that the other day. I wonder whether
you know, they need to have a look at it
is fitness program. I just think he looked like he's
a little bit tired and lost a little bit of
that zing and sometimes that could be trained, sometimes that
can be just tiredness. So you know, I think the

(09:10):
outside backs is another real good one. You know, you
said Mark come off a little bit of form and
then Caleb come into form. So I think that's another
real interesting position out wide.

Speaker 2 (09:21):
So Damien McKenzie goes, Boden Barrett goes. I want to
get to who starts at ten in a moment, but
who goes out of Stephen Petefetta and Harry Plummer.

Speaker 6 (09:28):
I think Stephen Pedofetta will probably go. I mean, Plumber
plays twelve whereas Parafetas are fifteen ten. But I think Stephen,
you know, is probably their preferred option in that ten
fifteen cover, and so I think he'll go.

Speaker 2 (09:46):
Who do you think we'll start at first five against
England in four weeks time?

Speaker 6 (09:50):
I think it depends on what style of rugby you
want to play. I think that Damien's done an amazing job.
I think Damien's been really really good. Does he need
to learn to control the last twenty probably yes, you know,
and he'll learn that. But I also loved him coming
off the bench. You know. I've always said that he

(10:11):
probably won't like this, but I always think he's you know,
we've missed him coming off the bench, and he did
the same last week. So I think it'll be about
a style of play that they want, and I think
they'll be able to use that as an option, you know,
against England. What sort of ten do you want versus Ireland?
You know?

Speaker 2 (10:30):
And just to finish ja kay, let's assume the all
blacks we should be Japan and Italy. What's an acceptable
win loss ratio and the other three England, Island, France
and consecutive weekends.

Speaker 6 (10:43):
Oh look, I think I think for me it's coming
down to the wire. Something that I don't think Super
Rugby is setting ourselves up for anymore. I think we've
got to go down to the wire and beat these sides,
you know, So for me getting down winning a game
by two or three points would be will be ideal.

(11:05):
I think if we can beat Ireland, that's going to
be pretty heated in one of England or France, and
I think France is going to be incredibly difficult at home.
So if we can come away lose one and win
the rest, I think that'll be outstanding. But if we
lose two, then down to the wire and it's maybe
a kick, so we know that we're there and competing

(11:27):
in this young siders learning, you know, that pressure game
in the last fifteen minutes.

Speaker 2 (11:32):
All right, JK, thanks for your thoughts this afternoon. Appreciate
it very much. Indeed, Sir John Kerwin there, former all
black member of the panel on the breakdown on Sky.
No doubt they'll have more to say on that tonight.
Keen to hear your views. Now let's get your reaction
to anything you heard there or anything you want to
pick up on in terms of this squad. Oh eight
hundred and eighty ten eighty opening the lines for this

(11:55):
particularly interested on your view on TJ. Pettinada and freshly
crowned centurion Sam Kaine. Should we move on from them
or give them one last hurrah on this tour. Neither
of them, we know, are going to be here next
year as they leave to take up contracts in Japan,

(12:16):
but both have indicated they are available for this tour
if selected. TJ even said after the Test in Wellington,
this is why we play. We're never going to turn
down the opportunity. Now. We all know we need to
find the balance between results now on what will be
a pretty tough tour and building for the future. And
I must say I've got a slightly different view from

(12:39):
Sir John Kerwin. I feel like the best way to
approach this is to take out any discussion about building
for the future and ask a pretty simple question, do
these players right now justify their place in a thirty
six man squad. Is TJ Peinada one of the best

(12:59):
three half backs right now? And the answer is yes,
he Cameroy and Cortes. What Artemas should go Nowah Hotham's
had one test this year off the bench and he'll
play many more. Of course, he will he'll be in
the mix from next year onwards. But TJ's played seven
of the eight tests, well sorry, seven of the nine

(13:21):
tests this year. Five of those have been starts. I'd
take him, Sam Kine. Is he one of our best
loose forwards again? The answer is yes. He started at
number seven in the last four Test matches and contributed
in as committed a fashion, particularly on defense, as he

(13:42):
always has. And unlike halfback, where there is a log
jam of young talent coming through, there's no obvious heir
apparent for the open side flankers rollers there. I mean,
there's clearly a decision to be made around who the
contenders are to wear that jersey next year and on
towards the next World Cup. JK said there Dalton Papaliti
is the guy he thinks has the inside running. Then

(14:05):
you look at a guy like Peter Luck and you
wonder whether he'll go on this tour. He'll certainly be
on one of those two touring parties. You'd have to
imagine Peter Larkey, maybe the All Blacks, maybe that All
Blacks fifteen squad. But I feel like finding the air
apparent for the number seven can wait. The next Ruby

(14:25):
World Cup is still three years away. For the here
and now, Sam Kine and TJ. Peinada are well worthy
of their places in that thirty six man squad. I
would be taking them both, but that's just my opinion.
What would you do, oh eight hundred eighty ten eighty
nine two nine two if we would prefer to send
a text Arthur, Hello, Hi.

Speaker 8 (14:46):
There you're talking about the first five eights. Now there
hasn't been mentioned lately. He's selected in the squad and
hasn't been talked about. Is Reuben Love did think he's
got any chance? And going by Steve Perceedo, I've watched
him here in Taranaki and I personally think he's better
foo that he is at first five.

Speaker 2 (15:08):
All right, let's address the two things. The first one,
Arthur Ruben Love's being injured, but I did see I
was at the Wellington game yesterday against Hawks Bay and
I saw him doing laps doing you know, pro the game.
He was there running up and down. So I think
he'll be named, but I think I think if he
does play, it's more likely to be at fullback initially
than first five. I know there's a there's a school

(15:29):
of thought that he might be okay in the ten
Jersey hasn't played there a lot for the Hurricanes, if
at all, so I think if he plays, it'll be
at fullback and Stephen Petafetta. Yeah, look, I think he
is probably a fullback as well. I think his value
is that he covers ten and fifteen. So yeah, he's
probably the third first five you take after Mackenzie and Barrett.

(15:50):
I would imagine, yep, yep, okay, then thank you, no,
thank you other thanks for calling in Oh, eight hundred
and eighty ten eighty is our number. Spell line there
if you want to jump aboard, text line open two
nine two nine two twelve twenty four back with more
of your calls on the All Blacks selection after this,
lots of analysis, All right, shangxy, Sam Kine, TJ Pernana

(16:11):
won both or neither?

Speaker 9 (16:15):
Yeah, I guess, I guess.

Speaker 10 (16:16):
I mean fundamentally I agree with you make that you
pick the team based on wanting to you know, hear
it now and wanting to win these big tests first
and foremost and then you know and that's so, so
what your preference is there? I mean, my my personal preferences.
I definitely take Sam Kane I'm a little bit on
the fence with t J. Pernar has been there all
this year obviously, and you know that experience is great.

(16:40):
I thought he didn't have the best game last week
at Wellington, but I probably would lean more towards taking him.
And I guess I was just going to mention as well,
this whole thing, which I've had a beef for the
last few years, this all black fifteen type squad that
they've got going on, and you know, everythe's kind of
gone on, you know, we want to do, you know,

(17:00):
go back to old school tours, and I just felt
like this is a good opportunity to have a bit
of old school to go up. Right, let's go to
having you know, the All Blacks playing and then having
the you know, the you know, that bigger squad that
plays the midweek games, and that way, I feel like
you almost get in the best of both wheels if
you're able to, you know, integrate these wider guys into
the squad. And remember back in the day, you know,

(17:22):
how many blacks were there that just you know, a
bunch of all blacks that played games for the All
Blacks but hadn't played tests. And I don't know. I
don't see there being anything wrong with that, and particularly
with a game like I thought I saw the other
day they're playing Monster, this All Blacks fifteens team playing Monster,
and of course everyone knows the history with that, you know,
I don't know, I don't even know. Way back when
when you know, the All Blacks lost to Munster and

(17:44):
it's a big famous thing and they play things about
two thousand and eight or nine, the All blacksmen played
the Midwek and it was the All Blacks playing in
a midweek game. And I feel like you're getting that traditional,
you know, old tour thing with the dirty dirties and
the midweek and then you know, you could bring some
of these wider guys like a Noah hos them on there,
and again they're not playing tests, but they're in that

(18:04):
wider squad though, traveling them And yeah, just I know,
just just a bit of a thing with me about
coming back to kind of you know, you know this
whole you know advertisy, you know, spreading the All Black
brand across all these other teams that I've got a
problem with them. Yeah, I just feel like if they
were to go with that old school tour and have
a midweek game every week and go around and play

(18:26):
these you know, you know, these big club sides around
where that they're going. I feel like, you know that
that would be a better way to integrate these fringe
guys into the squad without them actually playing tests.

Speaker 2 (18:38):
Yep, I think what got Mark Robinson after one I'm
going to ask them this about the about the South
African tour and twenty twenty six chanksy, which I'm sure
you've caught up on. Sounds like they're going to do
a full scale tour with three tests and another five
midweek games. I think it is so yeah, And I
get what you're saying, mate, And it feels as though
the twenty nine who are going up with the All
Blacks fifteen are almost like, yeah, you have them up

(19:00):
there just in case you need to bring somebody in.
But as you say, integrating guys into an all Blacks environment,
you know, I think that there's great value on that.
Like the way they've taken apprentices in the past and
sort of given them a taste of it without, as
you say, actually having to play test matches.

Speaker 10 (19:17):
Yeah, I think aided them in the early days. And
I remember thinking the same thing, like, it'd be great
to bring those guys along and actually have them play,
you know, playing you know all Blacks games that aren't tests,
that are still with an all Blacks team. They'd probably
be fringe guys who are experienced all Blacks. They get
experienced that way, and they just playing the Midwek game
down again to bring back that tradition of the old
school tour. I think that, like I said, they played

(19:40):
months of US all Blacks fifteen teams. Imagine if they
were kind of you know, you know they're going to
England and they play one of the big English club
sides out in bart or Bristol. Imagine what it would
do for that area you have, but they pack it
out for a proper all Blacks team. Likewise, France, you
know you go down and play to lone or to
lose or you know, start to France, you know midweek
and all the stuff that comes off that. I just

(20:01):
feel like it would Yeah, bringing a big you know,
it took a number of boxes.

Speaker 2 (20:07):
Indeed, good man Shanksy, thanks for calling out. Good to
chat to you as always. O. E. One hundred and
eighty ten eighty couple on text before we move on.
There is a there is obviously there are opposing views
here and that's that's good. That's good. TJ and Sam
should not go, says Nigel. Let the young guys go,
Raiser inherited a new bunch. Let them go. It doesn't matter.

(20:28):
Aarly at seven for the World Cup. Need a line
that jumper at eight maybe Cullen Grace, I agree with you,
says this one. Noah Hotham came in when they dropped
Christy say, you'd have to think Peranara, Latima and Royguard
are the top three halfbacks. They'll need to take TJ overall,
just for experience. And that's that said. I think, like

(20:49):
I said at the top, take out the discussion. If
you take out the discussion, if you choose to, like
I have, take out the discussion about balancing looking to
the future with results, and you just ask a very
simple question, are these guys worthy of a place in
the squad on like any like any player who you
think of. If you just take out of the equation

(21:12):
the fact that they're not going to be here next year,
then I think they both earned their place in the
thirty six man squad. They certainly have earned their place
in the Rugby Championship squad and the squad for the
games against England and Fiji. So clearly Razer thinks they're
worth their places. Then nothing really has changed. I don't
think either of them have played their way out. Yes,

(21:33):
I've had a few texts both into nine two niney
two and also to my own number from friends of
mine have said, hey, don't forget TJ. I didn't never
a good game against Australia and Wellington. Correct by his
own admission, he didn't. But I still think he's in
the top three halfbacks. Nothing really has changed since the

(21:54):
Rugby Championship squad was named. The only thing that will
change is if Razor decides now is the time to
look to the future. Murray. I think we spoke yesterday.
Did we hash your health well?

Speaker 11 (22:09):
And look, I want to say to you that if
the girls had taking that shot at goal, they would
have won.

Speaker 2 (22:16):
Which shot? Oh right? Oh yes, yes, yes, yes it
would have been Were your boys did the right last night?
I quite I quite enjoyed watching them beat the way
odo side last night. Murray, you would have enjoyed that too.

Speaker 12 (22:33):
I always enjoyed a blank or a black and white
one isn't one of the Oh now I want to
put a bulky an. It's player plaid one.

Speaker 2 (22:48):
Murray, Murray is gonna have to sort your phone out,
making I don't want to miss your bowl. Take get
your phone up to your mouth, mate, I need to
hear who your bolt was.

Speaker 11 (22:55):
Okay, one one, one game or one test for the
All Blacks? Do you know who he is?

Speaker 2 (23:04):
Is he your first fight?

Speaker 11 (23:05):
Still playing?

Speaker 2 (23:06):
Yes, still playing, and he's played one test for the
All Blacks at first five.

Speaker 11 (23:12):
I'll make it easier for you. I'll give you another clue.
X Crusader.

Speaker 2 (23:18):
Ex crusader has played one, has played one to Bret Cameron.

Speaker 13 (23:24):
Exactly right, mate, he's my boulder because he'll play full
back too. He'll be adding one of those two squads.

Speaker 2 (23:37):
Okay, Look, I hadn't thought of Brett Cameron in my
in my thoughts around the first five position. I guess
I just assumed that we've moved on from Brett Cameron. Yes,
he had a serviceable Super Rugby campaign for the Hurricanes
who went all the way to the semi finals, and
I think at times he was very good. I just
I don't know that he's got the triple threat that
they're after kicking game good, passing game good. Doesn't take

(23:59):
it the line on much. Maybe that's not important. I
look around the other first fives and I think, okay,
if they take three up to the on the All
Blacks tour, so Boden Barrett, Damien McKenzie plus one. Maybe
that's Perefetta, Harry Plummer maybe goes on the All Blacks fifteen.
Perhaps there's room for one more. Maybe brit Cameron snakes
in there. Potentially. Good to chat to your Murray. Thanks

(24:23):
for taking the time, Dallas.

Speaker 14 (24:25):
How are you money? I agree with you. I think
we need experience. You know what it's like in playing
the Northern Hemisphere. There'll be tight games, there'll be for
brutal ford exchanges in the mad paths positively and the
crowds were there against us. We need experience. I think

(24:47):
that last team that went out at Wellington was our blueprint.
We need Anton at Sema. I think we've found our
center at Santon. Stick with him. He's a playmaker, and
I agree with you that TJ. He's tough as he's
but the reason they like TJ, he's like an next
to lose four he's so strong, but we need his

(25:09):
experience too.

Speaker 6 (25:11):
On too.

Speaker 14 (25:12):
He has to has to shove of the mouth a
bit because otherways to get whistled off the park up
in the little of the heatersphere. So cain Kine as well.
It's just good to have these guys with experience on
the northern two, you know what it's like.

Speaker 2 (25:24):
I'm there, Dellas, I totally agree, and that's why I
have him. I think I think we all agree. Royguard
and Latima and Hotham probably as well are the future
and those three are gonna are going to battle it
out over this World Cup cycle. I mean I think
roy Guard, you know, all things being equal, is probably
your number nine moving forward with Ratama and Hotham. But
between them, as I said to JK, eight tests for Ratima,

(25:46):
five for roy Guard, just the one for Hope them
off the bench. And that was only when he was
brought in as an injury replacement for TJ. Actually, so
I'd have TJ up there, even if it's just to
look after these guys in a in a mentoring capacity.
And yeah, I think the experience is vital.

Speaker 7 (26:03):
He's worth his weight in gold.

Speaker 14 (26:04):
And the other thing is is qustion mark over Roy. God,
he's just come back and you know we shouldn't put
too much weight on his shoulders. He's come back from
a massive injury, so you know it's another reason to
take t J.

Speaker 2 (26:17):
I think, did you see Cameroy guard play for Counties yesterday?

Speaker 6 (26:21):
No?

Speaker 15 (26:21):
How did he go?

Speaker 2 (26:22):
Oh, Dellas, he was terrific man, he was, oh straight away,
you've got a couple of tries. I got to try
this first touch and then he's then he's picked one
up on a halfway and he's stepped a couple of guys.
I thought, if you, if you've got if you, if
you're worried about your knee, you're not doing a big
messive of side steps. But he didn't seem to care.
He looked really good, Dellais. I think you'll enjoy watching
him back in a black jersey.

Speaker 14 (26:41):
Mate, excellent, excellent, Good on your Dellas.

Speaker 2 (26:45):
Great to Chetty mate, thanks for calling him. Oh eight
hundred and eighty ten eighty is our number, all right?
Phil sam Kine, TJ Peranada. What are you doing with
those two? But they on your plane?

Speaker 16 (26:55):
Ah well they weren't for a start, pointy, but I
think you've changed my mind.

Speaker 2 (27:00):
Have I convinced you have? I convinced you have I
have I swayed your view?

Speaker 16 (27:05):
I think you might have brought me over to the
dark side, as the fighters said over your father.

Speaker 2 (27:12):
I thought that over here. Look, I just think I
think the experience of the both of them will be
invaluable on this tour, which is a tough tour England Island,
France and consecutive weeks fell Eric, and you need some
some some experience and you know, and some leadership that
both of those two will provide.

Speaker 16 (27:30):
Yeah, yeah, Because initially I was thinking, and I just
want to touch on a call call yesterday tour. If
we've got time, we'll get through this. But initially I
was thinking sort of like j K I was in
Jakay's camp, because I was initially thinking, now I'd be
starting to look to build towards the World Cup. But
then when you started talking about it, you said, oh,
it's still three years out now and that, and I

(27:51):
started thinking, well, ye, still plenty of time. So maybe
you're right, because they have earned their place as far
as I'm concerned to go on the tour. I just
was starting to think about building for that future. But
like I say you, I think you've changed my mind,
and they both I think deserve to be on that tour.
It's not like they haven't earthed their place like you said.

(28:13):
So yeah, maybe we will take him, and we've still
got plenty of time to build for the younger players
coming up towards that World Cup team.

Speaker 2 (28:23):
Let me ask you this, fell, because there's obviously opinion
of what we would do if we're in charge, and
that's always a lot of fun playing selector. But the
points being made that that Razor obviously has to try
and win these test matches as well, maybe even more
so given the fact that of the nine so far
he's had three losses England. I mean, let's say they
beat Japan and Italy, that should be okay, but England, Island,

(28:44):
France though all three of those tests are losable for
the All Blacks. So you wouldn't want to lose six
of your fourteen test matches in your first year as
All Blacks coach. So you know whether whether that that
I guess I'll ask you, would that be would raise
it be more likely to take guys like Caanaan Peranada
just to just to ensure that he has the best

(29:05):
chance of winning these tests.

Speaker 16 (29:08):
Well, it's hard to say with Raiser, because I think
he probably I don't know if he would worry so
much about the court of popular opinion as they say,
and what is when record, how that would go down
and what it would look like. But then but then yeah,

(29:29):
maybe as a confidence boost, you know, get the New
Zealand public behind him that because he's regardless of his records,
he's always going to have people that didn't want him there,
you know, that didn't want him there and don't like
him sort of thing. But yeah, yeah, there could be
a factor. He might be wanting to play a bit
safe and give himself the best chance because like you say,
we should beat Japan, and we should beat Italy in

(29:51):
the Big three is England, France and Ireland, and like
you say, we have every chance of losing any one
of those matches because they are three great teams. So yeah,
maybe he might play it safe and think, oh well,
when I say plant safe, not plat safe. But he
might think I'll give myself the best chance of putting
the best winning team on there, and I'll take those

(30:12):
players with the experience like TJ. And Sam Kanu are
still playing well and we'll give me the best chance
of winning those big type matches because they will be
the big type matches. You know, the other guys should
be able to beat the Japan and Italy type thing.
But can I also say Piney just quickly want to touch.
Yesterday there was a cooler set about, a really interesting

(30:35):
cool about New Zealand teams in general, a trend coming
through with the netball cricketers and that of not having
the ability to put the foot on the throat, so
to speak. And I thought that was quite good because
I think you might have had on something there because
you look at the Aussie cricket team, they've always had
that ability to put the foot on the throat, you know,

(30:56):
we might call it have the money in them. And
the same with their netballers, the Aussie netballers. And I think,
like you look at the netboard, think Air Netbull girl,
he's taken over the Kiwi's. I think she's trying to
install that somehow. I don't know how you teach it,
but you know you're getting beaten by one or two
points and trying to teach that ability to put the

(31:18):
foot on the throat when it really need to bring
it home with the wind, because like I think, Kiwis
are a bit, like you said, we're a bit too
soft for our own good. And you look at that
America's Cup that time, and we lost it to spit
all when we sort of shot ourselves in the foot
because we made a time you know, you can make
the rules when you're the challenger, and we put a

(31:38):
time limit on that race that we lost, whereas if
we held out it might have taken a while, but
we were in the lead and we probably would have
won that and we would have won that America's Cup.
And then we also gave them a rest day, allowed
them a rest day, and they brought the English spell
of the best sailer in the world at the time,
and then they offered their boat and again, you know,
it all towards beating us. So I thought, yeah, I

(32:01):
think somehow we're too we're a bit too good, too
kind for our own good, and somehow we need to
learn how to like the Aussie teams and there put
their foot on the scrow and yeah.

Speaker 2 (32:16):
Yeah, well, yeah, we spoke about it. I think the
word I used was too nice. I'm not sure soft
is right. I think too nice was what I said.
But yeah, they're they're they're clearly is a there's a
there's a school of thought that yeah, just as a
nation where you know, and I think in general terms,
it's probably not a bad way to be labeled that
were you know, we're we're we're generally nice to people.

(32:37):
But yeah, on the sporting field, maybe something has to
change around our our mongrel as you call it. Good
to chatter you as always, oh eight hundred and eighty
ten eighty, just take a text before we go to
go to a break, Collins is why not ask both
TJ and Cain to go on the second team tour?
They could teach the youngsters how to become class players
and people. So yeah, look, I think it's a it's

(33:00):
a good point. So where is their best use for
building for the future? I feel like do that next year? Right,
France are going to send an understrength team here in June,
so why don't we built for the future then England
Island France and consecutive weeks are three tough test matches,
all losible, all losible. Give yourself the best chance of winning,

(33:21):
especially when you've had three losses from nine already sixteen
to one back with more calls after this Don't.

Speaker 1 (33:25):
Get caught Offside call eight hundred and eighty ten Weekends
for US with Jason Paine and GJ. Gardner Homes New
Zealand's most trusted home builder News Dogs.

Speaker 2 (33:35):
NB thirteen to one. On text from Baker, I think
it's time to bring Peter Larkeye through to the All Blacks.
I watched the Wellington game yesterday and while he played
number eight, his form was becoming irresistible. One hundred percent
will be the starting seven at the Rugby World Cup
twenty twenty seven. Imagine, says b K. Larkey. So Titty
and ARTI in the back crow. It's a Philly mouthwatering prospect,
doesn't it. Let's go back to the Lions, Adam.

Speaker 17 (33:55):
High heday mate. So based off upon the word experience,
Peter Larks I won't get in no.

Speaker 2 (34:01):
Well, I mean, I guess you can mix it up, right,
but if you if it's a choice between Cain and
Larkeye and you're picking on experience, then year clearly Kine
is the guy they take.

Speaker 17 (34:12):
Yeah, this is how I see it. So in sport,
if you let's say you're in the top three of
a position regardless of experience, don't you deserve to be chosen?

Speaker 11 (34:22):
Yep, yep, yeah.

Speaker 17 (34:24):
I don't think experience means much. We've already lost three
Test matches this year based on experience.

Speaker 2 (34:32):
Do you say, yeah, yeah, okay, well let's let's talk
specifics then. So, and this is a very opinion based
but for you, as TJ one of the top three halfbacks.

Speaker 17 (34:42):
No, not anymore. And that's fine. He's you know, he
gets older, he's slowed down. That it's just reality what
happens in sport. At some point you're just not good enough.
You were good, you're just not quite there anymore. I'd
be I'd be dragging three young guys and cam Roy Guard.
I mean, the guy was just saying, oh, he's only
just got back into it. He was phenomenal yesterday the

(35:03):
one game.

Speaker 2 (35:04):
Yeah, it was amazing.

Speaker 17 (35:06):
Yeah, he's already the first staff back in New Zealand
after one game.

Speaker 2 (35:10):
That's the crazy thing as well, Adham. I was thinking
about this yesterday when I was when after a chantut
to Cameroy Guard and think to myself, has there ever
been a player with so few Test matches under his
belt and last year of the World Cup, you remember,
I didn't even play the big games, didn't play beyond
the group stages. He's had five Test matches, but off
the back of a super rugby form this year. Has
there ever been any player who's only played less than

(35:33):
half a dozen Tests who's been such a red hot
first choice?

Speaker 17 (35:37):
Yeah, and I absolutely agree. I mean he's X factory
and he may be the missing link in that back line.
The other thing is i'd be changing Stenter. I don't
necessarily agree with Anton Lett Brown. I'd be putting Billy
Procter there. What's wrong with Billy Proctor?

Speaker 2 (35:55):
No, you won't get an argument from me. You will
not get an argument for me. Yeah, I think I
think moving forward, and we don't know about Jordi yet.
Anton Leonard Brown can cover twelve and thirteen obviously, and
he played twelve against the Wallabies with Rico at thirteen.
I think moving forward, you've got to give Jordi. Barrett
and Billy Proctor are cracked together in midfield for the
All Blacks.

Speaker 17 (36:15):
I think Billy Proctor is too creative to leave out.
And I just don't understand why we persist with Rico
Wani at center, given that he was an absolute world
class wing who was scoring effectively what one and a
half tries per test there for a while. Just madness
that he's been pushed into center. I mean I heard
a comment from I mean, we do things like that

(36:37):
a lot. It turned him into a center. Maybe he
wanted to go there. That's fine, but you've got to
be good enough. I'm not sure he is. I think
there are better created players. He's quite a big body,
but he's got sheer pace. You put him on the
outside and let someone create for him. Who was saying
was it Isaac Both? Yeah, he was saying that cam

(36:59):
Roy guards can play first five. Did you know that?

Speaker 2 (37:01):
Yeah, I heard him say that as well. Yeah he's
I think he played a bit of first five growing up. Yeah,
and yeah, look I mean he's he's Yeah, what a freak.
He's probably good at golf as well. At him, If
if you gave him a golf club, he'd probably be
good at that as well. It's one of these annoying
guys who's good at everything.

Speaker 17 (37:19):
Just put him at crop maybe.

Speaker 2 (37:22):
Yeah, I'm not sure that would be necessarily the right choice,
but good points, mate, Adam. Thanks mate, will be interesting
to see what Razor does. This is, this is I
think the big talking point tomorrow is what he does
in the half back spot with because he's only going
to take three. And look, the All Blacks fifteen is
there as well, so TJ will be going north. It's
just a matter of which plane he'll be on. For me,

(37:43):
I'd have him at the All Blacks, others would have
him in the All Blacks fifteen Raisers Viewers, really all
that matters. Grant, thanks for holding on, mate, what's on
your mind?

Speaker 9 (37:52):
He yeah, Piney one hundred percent agree with you and
disagree with the last score about TJ's form. But I mean,
the World Cup is three years away, not next year,
so plenty of time for build up, and to my mind,
the best way to build up this year for the
World Cup is to play the best team possible in
the big test matches and win as many of those

(38:12):
as possible. And although Sam and TJ have had the
odd game where they haven't been at their best, I
think overall both of them are the number one at
the moment in their position and so not only would
I take Sam and TJ on the All Blacks or
in Neill Black squad. I would start them in the
games against Ireland, England and France.

Speaker 2 (38:32):
So this is why opinion is so great. Grant. You know,
compared to the previous caller, Adam, you would have TJ starting.
He hasn't got TJ in his first three half backs.
So that's what it's all. That's what it's That's what
it's all about some opinions. And as I say, Raisers
is rarely the only one that counts. And we'll find

(38:52):
out what's on his mind tomorrow afternoon at two o'clock
when these squads are named seven to one stalksp what's

(40:48):
part of our commentary team on Gold Sport and Nightheart Radio.

Speaker 18 (40:51):
He's going to have a chat to us.

Speaker 2 (40:53):
Mark Robinson, New Zealand, Rugby City. I'm just sick. I
just want to get through a couple of teks I
didn't get to last hour. Regarding All Black selection, antony
Le Brown has to be in the midfield for the
All Blacks either at twelve or thirteen. He a twe
Billy Procter at thirteen. If he's at thirteen, Jordy Barrett
at twelve, He's like a key who unlocks us outsides.

(41:14):
He's like a more skilled version of Conrad Smith. Goodness
me a more skilled version than Conrad Smith. He's like
glue holding the back line together. Thank you for that text,
Steve says, Piney, think another position. We need to look
at his hooker. Cody Taylor's been brilliant, but other than him,
questions need to be asked. See I wonder what they'll

(41:38):
do with the third hooker, whether George Bell is your
man Summer saun he talk Yahoo out till next season.
I don't know whether I've said enough from George Bell
this year to suggest that he is the third All
Blacks hooker. If Cody Taylor was to be in jeed
a suffer, one more presumably would start. Would George Bell
be your man Ricky Ricertelly Kurt Ecklund but more experienced.

(41:59):
There's that word again. So again the All Blacks fifteen
hookers and the All Blacks hookers will be interesting. Have
a look at tomorrow races, Pineyer. I hope Plumber plays
out of his skin today and shows what he's got
and what he could do on this tour. Thanks Ray
from Alex, I can see per Andarra going on the tour.
It's easy to accommodate a veter in his third half back.

(42:21):
Hotham and Roy Guard both need game time, so I
can see one of them being picked for the All
Blacks fifteen instead of just running drinks. Yea, that's likely
to be Noah Hotham, I would say. And Noah Hotham
if he goes on the All Blacks fifteen too, we'll
probably start both tests against or both games. Georgia and
Munster text lines open all afternoon nine two nine two

(42:42):
oh eight hundred and eighty ten eighty gets you through
on the phone approaching eleven past one. Every couple of
months we shared you in a chat with New Zealand
Rugby CEO Mark Robinson on various rugby issues, and there
are a few around Today's that day. Thanks for your time, Mark,
fresh chat this week, let's start with this that France
may send an under strength side here next year for

(43:04):
three test matches. Us with your French counterparts. I know
you've been chatting to them over the last couple of days.
Have you been able to get any more clarity on this?

Speaker 15 (43:14):
We got good as fine and hide all the listeners. Yeah,
we were, as we said in a statement through the week.
We were a little bit surprised to find this out
earlier in the week, and so initially there's a conversation
with World Rugby around what's you know what what was
happening with regards to this and checking in on some

(43:35):
of the some of the regulations, and then as you said,
had a chat with my French counterfait yesterday. Look, they're
going to have a think about where things are at
in relation to their position. But you know, I think
the key thing out of this is to recognize that,
regardless of what happens through this process, is a massive

(43:56):
amount to look forward to for the fans for next
year in terms of the quality of position we're going
to face. France will still send, you know, incredibly strong
side of had great success in under twenty eleven in
recent years and clearly they're one of the top teams
in the world. So that combined with South Africa at
home and Australia at home means that you know, we're
going to have an incredible series. But yeah, we've got

(44:17):
a little bit more work to do, Piney to start
to stand the options here and let France come back
to us after only probably a fifteen to twenty minute
chat yesterday morning with their CEO.

Speaker 2 (44:26):
I think we all would love to see Antoine de
Pond here, right, We'd all love to see, you know,
a player of his caliber and others in that French
team come down. Do World Rugby have any rules around
making yourself available at certain times for national tours?

Speaker 15 (44:40):
The regulation nine, you know, sets out the windows where
we hope that all national unions treat with respect in
terms of making sure that teams are at full strength
when they tour different destinations. So that's obviously one and
a few other things that we just need to check

(45:01):
in and to understand here before we have further discussions.
But you know, I think by and large we've all
got to respect that when we look at Ireland here
in twenty twenty two, we look at England here this year,
both you know, took fantastic approaches to touring with full
strength sides. Certainly the Nation's Cup, which have been working
on one of the way, as you mentioned, sets up

(45:25):
a competition in July and November where you know, every
international team will be encouraged to be sending their best
teams to compete for what's going to be a highly
regarded and highly contested competition. So so yeah, there are
some things and play around that. But like a lot
of things on the international game and in the different
forums were work and you know, there are processes and

(45:46):
compromises to work through.

Speaker 2 (45:47):
All right, let's hope for some clarity and some positivity
around that when discussions continue. Sounds like you're also close
to signing off on a three test eight match tour
of South Africa twenty twenty six. Can you give us
any update there?

Speaker 12 (46:02):
Yeah, we are.

Speaker 15 (46:02):
We're making really good proviss Piney. We obviously had I
was in South Ara, South Africa for about ten days
around the two test matches and definitely there's been some
really good advancement with that. There's just a few things
to work for around you know, the commercial arrangements and
the final schedule. But i'd like to think, you know,

(46:23):
we're getting closer closer to that in the coming weeks
and you know, maybe up to six to eight weeks
sort of thing.

Speaker 2 (46:29):
How about that a fake the Rugby Championship.

Speaker 15 (46:31):
Well, we're working on different models for that with with
Australia and Argentina at the moment, and that's in time.
That will probably be more for Sandsada comment on you know,
when when everything's finalized. But we certainly, you know, want
to make sure that our partners in the Sands r
JV have great schedules and great competition, and there's a

(46:53):
whole range of different things being talked about about there
in twenty six and twenty thirty. Obviously twenty six or
in twenty thirty will obviously be you know, more change
than maybe some of those intervening years where some of
the previous models are being looked at, as well as
some other concepts around touring, and you know, we just
need a little bit more time on that. In twenty

(47:14):
twenty six and twenty thirty, maybe there's a possibility to
include other nations, a lot of the likes of you know,
maybe Fiji in Japan, and also the possibilities of us
still playing regular.

Speaker 6 (47:26):
Fictures, specially like the Letterslows.

Speaker 15 (47:28):
So there's in our mind when you combine, you know,
those tour concepts what we're looking to finalize with the
Rugby Championship as well as the two lines tours, a
World Cup in this part of the world and in
the Club World Cup that we're working on for twenty
twenty eight, there's still a massive amount of opportunity for
fans and a lot of excitement for people in this

(47:49):
part of the world to follow rugby.

Speaker 2 (47:50):
Are you suggesting that Japan or Fiji might replace the
All Blacks in the Rugby Championship?

Speaker 15 (47:55):
No, no, no, not at all. I'm just saying that
in some of those weeks where we are where in
twenty six and twenty thirty, there might be the possibilities
for them to be involved in extras.

Speaker 19 (48:06):
That's to be works for I guess.

Speaker 15 (48:07):
I mean, you've got to realize that in twenty twenty
six of the Nation's Cup begins, the possibility that countries
like fig in Japan will be involved at international, top
tier international level already, so you know, a natural extension
of that in years such as South Africa All Blacks tours,
they might be other opportunities as well.

Speaker 2 (48:29):
Are we going to see an Anzac day Bledisloe Cup
test moving forward?

Speaker 15 (48:33):
Look, we're you know, we remain open minded on it.
We you know, we certainly had a lot of good
time in Australia when I was in Sydney for the
Bledisloe one this year to talk through some of those
things and we just need a little bit more time
with it. There's there's obviously some potential impacts to think
about as it relates to Super Rugby, and we just

(48:57):
need to understand like a lot of these things, the
commercial model, the player wellfare considerations and how it fits
into the over or calendar. So we had a really
good discussion about it. There seems to be certainly some
fan interest and following, you know, things like social media
and media and that sort of thing. So so we

(49:17):
just need a little bit more time on that.

Speaker 2 (49:19):
Pinting is this is this in a way plicating Australia
given the fact you might be touring South Africa by
the looks of it, so you know, maybe less Rugby
Championship content for example. Is this the way of applicating
the Australians by saying, okay, we'll play a Bledisloe Cup
test on ENZGG day as a as a quid pro
quoil or similar No.

Speaker 15 (49:40):
I don't think so. I mean we're we're working through
an arrangement in the current work with Santa that we
would continue to play the two Bloodstone matches that we
do at present, you know, going forward, the two matches
we play currently around the Rugby Championship. I think, you know,
this is something new and interesting that clearly is is

(50:03):
resonated with fans. It's a it's a really important you
know date in both the New Zealand and Australian calendars,
and it's it's something that is certainly worth consideration of
its own merits.

Speaker 2 (50:15):
What have you made of the All Blacks first nine
Test matches under Scott Robertson.

Speaker 15 (50:21):
I look overall the direction of Trevor we're really encouraged by.
But you know, as a team as a razor and
teams acknowledge, you know, no one around the All Blacks
are in and the organization likes to lose, and so
there's clearly some disappointment there. But overall, when you think
of the you know, the change you've had in management
and the playing group, and you combine that with an

(50:44):
extremely tough schedule when you look at you know where
we're where we've toured in terms of South Africa, England
at home, a top sort of five team, a team
in the world as well, and then the kind of
end of years two we've got. Overall, we're really encouraged by,
Like the unknowthing of some really really great young talent.

(51:05):
Definitely some you know, I think everyone can see the
progression in the in the game of the team, so so.

Speaker 6 (51:09):
Overall we're pretty happy.

Speaker 15 (51:11):
But always as there are in all of our teams,
and Black Environce has always work to do and they're
always really demanding, so we'll just keep supporting them all
we can. But you know, absolutely we think it's been
a pretty solid start a.

Speaker 2 (51:22):
Year out from their World Cup. How worried should we
be about the Black Foods?

Speaker 12 (51:27):
Oh?

Speaker 15 (51:27):
Look, I think you know when we when we saw
the game, I was up twicking them for the game
against England, and there were some really encouraging signs here
as well. I think everyone would acknowledge she had been
some really positive shifts in large, you know, many aspects
of the of the player of the team. And clearly
the game against Ireland was a disappointment again the senior

(51:48):
players and Allen clearly frustrated by that. But I think
again the overall trajectory were still you know, twelve months
or so to go again, emergence of a lot of
good young talent, a full Super Rugby o picking season
in front of us, and two more tough tough tests
and coming days. We still think that preparing well, but yeah,

(52:10):
there'll be you know, when the team gets home, we
will have to take the time to review those you know,
this campaign and understand how we can help them to
improve going into next year.

Speaker 2 (52:18):
All right, a couple of water issues. Where are we
with the twenty minute red card and international rugby.

Speaker 15 (52:26):
We hope that'll go back to council with World Rugby
in mid November for a vote. At that stage, you know,
I think there's been there's been some countries and in
one in particular in France obviously, who are very clear
in the aviews. But I think overall there seems to
be an acknowledgment that would be a good thing for
the game, and there's a couple actually sort of small

(52:49):
alterations being looked at to give confidence to more nations
around the world. That's the right thing for the game.
But again we just we just have to work through
that when we get up into the Northern Hemisphere in November.

Speaker 2 (53:01):
The process for the appointment of the new New Zealand
Rugby Board, I say there were some updates on that today,
with Dame Patsy already confirming she won't restand we have
a process for the appointment of a new board, hopefully
before the end of the year. Is this something you
just keep an eye on you work in the operational space,
obviously this is a board thing. Do you have any

(53:22):
involvement in this at all?

Speaker 15 (53:24):
No, No, I don't. Yeah, there's a governance and stakeholder
panel set up to help support the appointment of a
appointments and remuneration to me which sort of selects the
the board, and I'm not involved in any of those discussions.

Speaker 2 (53:46):
Have you read Johnny Sexton's book, No, I haven't.

Speaker 15 (53:50):
I there's a bit of noise about that through the week.
I'm sure he's sold a few more more versions of
it as a result of the you know, the going
between him and him and Rico. But oh, look, you know,
I think to the media early in the week where
I just said this is this is being rightly or wrongly.
It's been part of the game for a long time,
and I think, you know, normally it's certainly left on

(54:12):
the field. Clearly you know that's not the case this
time around. But you know, we don't really get involved
in it too much. It's certainly been great for the
fans to sort of speculate on and have your views on.
And it's just another one of the interesting stories going
on around the game at present.

Speaker 2 (54:26):
All right, and you're Amber and Black should beloved. Amber
and Black's have a crack at winning the logeroolf Tasman.
I think most people want it to stay in Tasman,
don't they.

Speaker 15 (54:33):
Mar Well, yeah, I've had a couple of people tip
me away through the week about why the Barrett Boys
up playing, and I've sort of said I'm a little
bit more removed it from that. Go and go and
talk to raisers. So look, it's great, isn't There's been
some amazing scenes down in the in the top of
the South through the year, and you know, we're delighted
to see so much passion around the competition as we

(54:54):
always here. It's got very pivotal part in the in
the game in New Zealand, and it's just great to
see so much good coverage around it in great provincial
rivalries and some of those histories being brought to bought
twyphon any community. So it's all good stuff.

Speaker 2 (55:08):
Always appreciate your availability to me and to our audience. Mark,
enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Speaker 15 (55:12):
Thanks buddy, take you.

Speaker 2 (55:13):
Take care to Mark Mark Robinson, then CEO of New
Zealand Rugby, you might have some views on some of
the stuff that was talked about there. Eight hundred and
eighty ten eighty is our number. ANZAC Day Test, this
has been talked about. I think this will happen. It
feels as though it will. What will it mean for
Super Rugby. It'll have a major impact ANZAC DAR of
course being in April, which is kind of in the heart,

(55:35):
right in the heart of Super rugby. And it won't
just be players coming out for a weekend, It'll be
the week leading in the week after for recovery, that
sort of thing. There's all sorts of protocols around this
sort of thing. So an ANZAC day Test, like I say,
it just feels to me as though it's something that
New Zealand Rugby have thrown to Rugby Australia as a
bit of a bone. Throw them a bone because here

(55:58):
we are New Zealand Rugby and South African Rugby planning
for these tours in twenty twenty six, all Blacks to
go there presumably the other way in twenty thirty and
Australia are kind of on the outside of that looking in,
so I feel as though the Anzac Day Test is
a way to plicate them, give them because the biggest,

(56:20):
the biggest draw card for the Wallabies is playing against
the All Blacks, no question about it. It's the biggest
draw card for fans, for broadcasters, for sponsors, all that
sort of thing. So I feel as though that's been
put in there so that there's something for them. While
the All Blacks in South African rugby plan for this tour,
which by the sounds of it is three test matches

(56:42):
and five midweek games, or or maybe a Saturday three
Test matches in mid week games, whatever however they stack
it up. Looking forward to it, a lot of us
have missed the days of tours, old fashioned tours, and
that looks like it's going to be. It's going to
be locked in and France next year sending a we

(57:06):
can side down here. I think this is new either.
This was reported a few months ago that this may
well happen. Compare it to the way that Ireland sent
a team down here in twenty twenty two. England sent
a team down here this year. The problem is the
French clubs have far too much power, far too much power.
That's the issue here. They you know, they they rolled

(57:28):
the roost over there. I think the what I read
or saw was that whoever or any players who are
playing in the Top fourteen final for any of those
French clubs won't come. Andy told me yesterday, producer Andy,
that Antoine DuPont has only played I think, he said.
And I'm like, he's just on the phone at the moment.
I might get him to clarify this. Andy, you told

(57:51):
me yesterday Antoine DuPont has played very few test matches
outside of Europe? Was it one or two? Correct?

Speaker 20 (57:59):
But well not as four as According to my calculation,
he played one of his first few tests in twenty
seven against South Africa and then he played three tests
in Japan in the twenty nineteen Rugby World Cup. And
I think that's it outside of Europe.

Speaker 18 (58:14):
Wow.

Speaker 20 (58:15):
And this goes along with all of his clubs, club
games and whatnot. So he's probably played over two hundred
professional games of rugby faster has a yest in Europe
and four outside of it.

Speaker 2 (58:26):
That's mental. That is crazy, what a crazy stat. Was
he afraid of flying?

Speaker 20 (58:31):
I Mentionine, not of what he does on the rugby field.
I don't think he has any fear, to be honest,
but you can't. I mean, I rate him as probably
the best player in the world, but there's still that
shadow hanging over thee.

Speaker 2 (58:42):
If you're the best, you you've.

Speaker 20 (58:44):
Got to be able to go away from home a
long way and one and if you think about that
South Africa Test as well, that's not even in a
different time zone. So he's really only had three tests
where he's had to travel and do the body clock
stuff that a lot of the All Blacks and a
lot of other rugby players actually have to do when
they go on tour.

Speaker 2 (59:06):
To see him, he wouldn't. I think we all want
to see him here. We want to see a full
strength French side, just like you know when Ireland came here,
when England came here early this year for two really
good test matchers. We'd love to see a full strength
French side here, but by the sound of it, there's
no hope of it unfortunately, Thanks mate. That is a
that is quite the glaring gap though. In Antoine du
Pont's c V.

Speaker 14 (59:26):
Hello Caine, that's why you would be the coat I
recon Yeah, I reckon.

Speaker 7 (59:34):
When I listened to ras on his interviews, he reminds
me of doc mad scientists from Back to the Future
and anything like, Well, it'd be great for Raise somehow
try and plan for Rico. I need be to be
their five scorer of the first Test. How good woul
that'd be.

Speaker 2 (59:56):
Against against against Ireland? Yeah, well there's already a great
storyliners in there around around that. I mean, you can
you imagine the reception Rico Yan is going to get
in Dublin in the odd lags play Island.

Speaker 7 (01:00:08):
I would feel it all the way back here, and
a mate, we would, we would feel it all the
way back here. And Ulothy also if we could somehow
work we go into the first try of the Irish
states of the first day and they'll just be right
out the ruin out of the block. So they were
really everybody but older one seeing the other one's playing

(01:00:30):
actually against the big three because no bigger tastes you
know then the big three really because they are the
big three of Europe. So seeing the likes of you know,
but I mean saving I mean, if the same kind
of story and he's still the same in the same kin.
So got sort of denying him, you know, and t
J may be pretty much on his way out, so yeah,

(01:00:52):
I mean I I would have one seeing proper and
Kowani actually Georg a bit of a break.

Speaker 2 (01:00:58):
Yeah, I guess, yeah, I guess the issue the kind
of Yeah, I guess the issue there is that that
neither of them is a second five eight both centers,
So yeah, that would be problematic. I think moving forward,
Billy Proctor is going to put massive pressure on Riki
Yuwani for that thirteen Jersey. I watched him play yesterday
for Wellington, the first time he's played a game of

(01:01:20):
rugby for a long time. He played in that Test
match against Fiji up in San Diego. That was on
the twentieth of July. What's that three months ago? Nearly
he might have played the odd game for Wellington. I
think I remember him playing one or two games, but
the way he played yesterday, and I know it's a

(01:01:41):
step down to the NPC, but he's a terrific player,
Billy Proctor. I feel like he has to get one
of those big test matches he'll play against Japan. I
would say, I get the feeling the team that plays
against Japan will be very similar to the team that
played against Fiji in San Diego, and they're going to
send a bunch of players on to get ready for

(01:02:01):
the England Test. But I feel like Billy Proctor is
one of those players who hasn't had a lot of
open tunity this year who should be putting real pressure
on on Rico Yoanni and on Scott robertson to you know,
to pick him one point thirty shares, says Pinety. You
obviously didn't see George Bell playing for Canterby last night.

(01:02:23):
I didn't, actually, I watched the back end of that game.
I tell you who I did like was that Isaac Hutchinson.
Did you see him, the Canterbury fullback. He looks like
a player, doesn't he. I don't think he's even I
think he is. He twenty. He looked really good, Isaac Hutchinson.
But no, I didn't watch George Bell play, Shares By

(01:02:44):
the sounds of it from your text, he had a
good game, so that's good to hear. He'll clearly be
on in one of these squads tomorrow as well. We
don't have a heck of a lot of hookers really,
with Tokyaho and adjured, and you know others who I
don't think are in the frame at all. I think
George Bell will be on one of those two planes.
It's just a matter of which one. Twenty nine to
two we're back in a moment. Renfielly shield on the

(01:03:06):
line for the last time in twenty twenty four at
Trafalgar Park and Nelson. This afternoon, Tasman we'll try and
see off a defense from Tartanuki. Well have we preview
of this game coming up shortly in the rat and
Ferly shields the mighty old log of wood.

Speaker 21 (01:03:19):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:03:19):
That was Tasman's first successful defense against Wellington on Wednesday
night in the rain. They also repelled Auckland's challenge. Their
third defense and the last one of the year, is
this afternoon against Tartanucky in Nelson. It'll also be the
final match for both sides in the NPC round robin
before the playoffs. They'll both be there as things stand,
Wellington forty points from ten games, Tasman thirty seven from nine,

(01:03:42):
Tartanuky thirty five from nine. Bay of plenty thirty three
from nine. They play Auckland this afternoon. All of those
four Wellington Tasman Taranucky and Bay of Plenty will host
a quarter final. It's just which order the'll finish in
and who they'll play against. Five, six, seven and eight
are seat Hawks, Bay, Canterbury, White, Cuttle Counties Manico in
that order. Live commentary of Tasman Taranuky Goldsport and iHeartRadio

(01:04:05):
from five past two this afternoon. Malcolm Jordan has to
call with long time rugby coach and analyst Sam Ward.
Alongside Sam, it feels like Tasman a favorites. Is that
how you see it?

Speaker 11 (01:04:17):
Oh?

Speaker 21 (01:04:17):
I think Pony they have to be based on the
rugby that they're playing this season. Obviously they've lost a
few guys in the form of Strange and Hicks up
front in their lineout, but I think that the way
that they all seem to be on the same page,
they're really clear around how they want to play. I
think there's balance to their game. They know when to
kick the door and through the middle of the park

(01:04:39):
and they know when to I suppose unleash cover and
I think the ballot of their game is really nice
at the moment.

Speaker 2 (01:04:46):
Having the red Fairy shild on the line has to
be a factor too, doesn't it.

Speaker 7 (01:04:49):
Sam.

Speaker 2 (01:04:49):
I mean, of course, if they win, they also finish top,
so it's a bit of a double punch. But that
log award just adds something, doesn't it.

Speaker 21 (01:04:56):
It certainly does. I think it's certainly heightened their focus,
which isn't a bad thing heading into finals footy. It'll
be easy to be worried about placings, et cetera. But
I think I think today just needs to be a
first job's first focus and make sure they hold.

Speaker 15 (01:05:10):
Onto that log Paraak.

Speaker 2 (01:05:11):
You could win, though, couldn't. They're not a bad side
of the Amber and Blacks.

Speaker 21 (01:05:15):
They're a very good side. Neil Barnes has done an
awesome job getting that pack.

Speaker 11 (01:05:19):
Up and running.

Speaker 21 (01:05:20):
They obviously won it last year and while they haven't
been I suppose at the top for the whole of
this year, they're warming into their work nicely. They'd be
good to see Slater come in to the front row.
Obviously they've made a few changes up front, and they've
got an unbelievably exciting back line with Jacob obviously running
the cutter and the three feet ends at the back
in space it could be deadly.

Speaker 2 (01:05:39):
What about the All Blacks who are coming back and
do you expect them to have a large impact on this.
Yes and no.

Speaker 21 (01:05:46):
I mean yesterday we saw Royguard and Papoli coming in
for counties. Both scored and obviously there'll be a big
lift to the local boys. But I mean teams have
been I suppose working hard for ten close to ten
weeks now nine ten weeks including a pre season, so
they found their rhythm and their cohesion. So as long
as the All Blacks can add to what they're doing

(01:06:07):
and not shaking up too much, then obviously they'll be
in a good space.

Speaker 18 (01:06:11):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:06:11):
You look at it and you say Ethan Blackett A Noah,
hope them. David HARVILLI that's some pretty good cattle coming
back for Tasman. I don't think no Hopem's in the
starting is he? I think he's I think Hopem's on
the benches and with Christie starting again, which is probably
fair enough.

Speaker 21 (01:06:23):
Yeah, and that's probably just a sign of that cohesion
that that thereafter. It's obviously been working with them. How
Zilly the young has been searing the ship really well
and obviously having his brother outside him's going to be
teriostictive for them.

Speaker 2 (01:06:35):
Who do you reckon? Whin's the whole thing. I know
this is probably a difficult question to ask before we
even get to quarter finals, but who do you I mean,
Tasman are clearly going to be there or thereabouts Tallerannaky,
We've talked about what about Welling? What about my Wellington?

Speaker 22 (01:06:45):
Sam?

Speaker 2 (01:06:46):
Can you give us any optimism there? Because well they
were twenty one kneeled down after quarter of an hour yesterday,
I've eentually got up and won it. Could Wellington sort
of be there or thereabouts when the Grand Final rolls around?

Speaker 21 (01:06:56):
I think Wellington has got that typical Hurricanes Wellington power.
There are obviously a big side who can absolutely light
it up. They love going through the front door and
not around the side, and I think has done a
really good job with him. He's got them looking pretty
well organized. But obviously couplus care if he is a
massive influence for them. When they're pails up there, really

(01:07:18):
dangerous team and they say they're a bit there about
to come finals time, then they're going to give themselves
every opportunity. They just need to get it right.

Speaker 2 (01:07:24):
On the day you mentioned cam Roy Guard yesterday. I'm
not suggesting counties are going to win the whole thing.
But wasn't it so good to seek him back out
there yesterday. It's like he'd never left. You know, those
side steps are on, you know, on what are clearly
fully functioning knees. Now he looked good, didn't he fantastic?

Speaker 21 (01:07:41):
And obviously with a big injury like that, you're never
sure how gods are going to come back, and obviously
be a bit achey for him through, but he's obviously
put together a really strong return to play plan and
is as the call mentioned, he went a left side
to score that try and he looked pretty strong.

Speaker 2 (01:07:58):
Good man, Sam, So who you got this afternoon? You
got Tasman.

Speaker 23 (01:08:02):
Ah, it's going to be it's going to be a
beer knuckles scraped and I reckon Tatsman will turn the
corner with about twelve minutes ago and get the job done.

Speaker 2 (01:08:12):
Good man, Sam, look forward to you call alongside Malcolm Jordan.
Thanks for your time this afternoon.

Speaker 11 (01:08:16):
Appreciate it.

Speaker 2 (01:08:17):
Chests Bonnick Well the best Bete. That's Sam Ward. You
can hear them on Gold Sport and iHeartRadio alongside Malcolm Jordan.
I'll have the call for you from just after two
o'clock this afternoon. I will keep an eye on it
for you as well. Trafalgar Park and Nelson Final a
game of the round robin. For these two sides, they
will both, as I say, be involved in quarter final action.
They will both host a quarter final. You look at

(01:08:38):
the table and let's say if Tasman win, they go top,
they will have hosting rights all the way through the
final series. They'd go to forty one points, where a
win forty two with a bonus point. Wellington currently on forty.
If Taranaki were to win, they would go above Tasman
into second place. They're on thirty five points at the moment.

(01:09:00):
They would go above Tasman into second if they got
a bonus point, they'd go to forty, which would be
equal with Wellington. However, the first separator of sides that
are equal on points as the head to head result,
and Wellington beat Taranaki in round robin, so Tlanachi cannot
finish top. They can, however, finish in the top two,
and of course if they win this afternoon they have

(01:09:22):
the Ramfilly Shield to take home with them. Bay of
Plenty are on thirty three points. They face Auckland this afternoon,
who cannot make the top four. This game is being
played at Auckland Grammar School, which is something a bit interesting.
But if Bay of Plenty were to win this afternoon,
they would go to at least thirty seven and potentially
thirty eight points, so they would jump over. Unless it's

(01:09:45):
a draw between Tasman and Taranaki, they would jump over
one of the two of them, so they could get
themselves up unto the top three. Again, though I'm not
sure that Bay of Plenty could finish in the top two.
I don't think there's a way that that can happen
because even if they were to get to thirty eight
points and Tasman stayed on thirty seven with a loss,

(01:10:06):
I make you would go past them, So your Bay
Penny can't finish top two. So the quarterfinal matchups will
be confirmed at around six thirty seven o'clock tonight, but Wellington, Tasman,
Taranaki and Bay of Plenty will host a quarterfinal next
weekend and they'll play against one of Hawks Bay, Canterbury,
White Cuttle Counties. Manico, those are your top eight confirmed

(01:10:28):
in the Bunnings MPC nineteen to two. Let's get a breakaway.
James mcconey on the other side.

Speaker 1 (01:10:34):
The big issues on and after Fields Call eight hundred
eighty ten eighty Weekends Forward with Jason.

Speaker 2 (01:10:40):
Paine and GJ.

Speaker 1 (01:10:42):
Gunnerhomes New Zealand's most trusted home, Milder News, talks a baby.

Speaker 2 (01:10:46):
And coming up quarter to two. Let's get to James
mcconey in his regular Sunday slot. How are you mate?

Speaker 19 (01:10:52):
I'm good, Thanks, Finny.

Speaker 23 (01:10:53):
How's things with you?

Speaker 2 (01:10:54):
Very good? Very good. I want to start with the
Farah Palmer Cup final. I thought White Cutter were firm favorites.
In fact, I know they were Canterbury Random pretty close
yesterday in Hamilton.

Speaker 19 (01:11:04):
See they did it was very those two points in it.
White Cuts are winning twenty seven to twenty five. But
the thing about this rivalry is it's one for the ages.
Every game is a classic and no different yesterday in Hamilton.
So Whye Cuts all year they were you know, they
were a stacked team this year. But what happens is
you see the intensity and the physicality and immediately it

(01:11:27):
passes the eye test. You know that this game is
something special, with something. But it's a bit like when
you watch Origin and you go okay, there's a bit
more feeling in this and what they've got though with
that rivalry is something to really I mean for rugby
as well as to sell. You think that that that's
something you could probably turn into a series. Why not
turn it into a Bara Palmer State of Origin type thing?

Speaker 6 (01:11:51):
Yeah?

Speaker 2 (01:11:52):
Why not? Because I think earlier in the season it
was a pretty tight game. I think Canby might have
even beaten White Cut It was at ten to seven
earlier in the season. So they're clearly pretty eavenly matched,
and so in hindsight, I think why kind of were
paying a dollar team to win that game yesterday? Six
dollars for Canterbury.

Speaker 19 (01:12:07):
Yeah, Well, Canterbury have nullified them so many times. It's
always a heartbreak, it's always a one score game and
at the end there's always people players on their knees.
It just means so much. So, I mean, you're just
going to congratulate the team and the competition for having
an occasion like that as a final just I mean,

(01:12:28):
can you remember when Victoria Edwards was White Attil captain
the last time they won and she dropped an F
bomb on TV, probably the greatest F bomb in New
Zealand TV history. I'd say, all right.

Speaker 2 (01:12:38):
Well, there's something to aspire to for future generations. Perhaps
now the All Blacks will name their team or the
squad tomorrow for the Northern Tour. Chatted about this last hour.
What's your view, James on Weather, TJ Petnada and Sam
Kaine will be among the All Black squad.

Speaker 19 (01:12:57):
I well, it all changes when you see Cam Ruger
playing yesterday, doesn't it.

Speaker 7 (01:13:02):
Oh wowsive wow.

Speaker 6 (01:13:04):
Yeah.

Speaker 19 (01:13:04):
Just if you can go and look at the highlights
on the sky Sport now and or YouTube and you
just go, okay, this this guy Royguard just looks so
impressive and he is shot out of a cannon. He's
so quick. Now he's got the legs of a velociraptor.
It's just it's unfair really, But if they if they're

(01:13:25):
true to giving him more time, then you'd take him
on the on the All Blacks fifteen tour and let
TJ stay in that role that he's had which is
mainly off the bench. Well it's become that really with
of course he's an emerging and having that the insurance,
so I would still take TJ Pet and Arda. I

(01:13:47):
just know that Dan Royguard needs those extra few games
on the Northern tour and then bang he's in and
he might even leap frog them.

Speaker 2 (01:13:55):
All right, Oh, I think he just seems like the one,
doesn't he And I heard him say during the week
that he feels exactly the same as he did before.
He you know, the injury happened, didn't seem to be
any trepidation and stepping off the injured knee a couple
of times when he scored that second try did there?
So yeah, looking forward to seeing what he can produce.
Whichever jersey he's wearing at the back end of the year,

(01:14:18):
he'll no doubt be a big part of the All
Blacks next year. By the sounds of it, though, France
are sending a week inside down here. What do you
make of this?

Speaker 19 (01:14:25):
Look France? Clearly they don't care. They shrugged their shoulders
a lot. That's what they do. They go like that.
It's not really a word. But and remember in the
past they've sent experimental teams. I think it totaled over
forty players when they sent one experimental team that came
close to breaking the Eden Park Hudu. Then they brought

(01:14:46):
the reinforcements for game two and they were absolutely terrible.
Clearly enjoying business class a bit too much on the
way down. But that's got about Antoine DuPont. Only playing
is at fortest away from home?

Speaker 15 (01:14:57):
Is that right?

Speaker 2 (01:14:58):
Crazy? Yeah, crazy, just unbelievable.

Speaker 19 (01:15:01):
Yeah yeah, that times up. We've never seen them at
full strength here. They just messing around and they don't care,
they care about their club competition. I think we should
invite another European team as well, invite Scotland. I've looked
this up on the All Black's website and the last
time they toured here is the year two thousand, pinty.
What's crazyn How good they are?

Speaker 2 (01:15:22):
Absolutely and the fans that bring a Scottish you know,
the Scottish fans spending time down here, that'll be brilliant.

Speaker 19 (01:15:30):
I know, I just couldn't believe. I'm on the All
Black stats website and I've had to sort of double
take it, but that is incredible. Really half the players
are even born then, So this is something that needs
to be rectified immediately. But I think that's actually not
a bad way if World Rugby allows it. So they
will send two teams to Northern Hemisphere teams down because

(01:15:52):
you know, we can do the same and play our
experimental players against France and then and give Scotland top billing,
you know when they come down. So that's something that
needs to be sorted out straight away. And just while
we're on the All Black before we move on, I
was going to say, in the hooker position, it's so
tough working out who plays. And even though Ricky Ricky

(01:16:13):
Tully probably deserves a nudge at All Blacks level, I
just don't want him to become a player who goes
in and then goes out and doesn't get a chance
to play international rugby. He qualifies for three nations, Piney,
New Zealand, Italy obviously and then USA as well, so
I feel like he should maybe just choose Italy and

(01:16:35):
just play fifty tests.

Speaker 2 (01:16:36):
Yeah, i'd look, yeah, and why wouldn't he. I think
a lot of people thought he might get the NOD
this year as the third hooker, but that clearly hasn't happened.
So yeah, we wait to see what lies in his future. Hey,
just before you go in a couple of weeks, it's
only two weeks away, in fact, less than two weeks
until Auckland FC's debut in the A League. Reports this

(01:16:57):
week that they might be looking at building a purpose
built stadium at what at Western Springs.

Speaker 19 (01:17:02):
Yeah, that would be massive. I mean there's been so
much back and forth about Western Brings currently the home
of podsomb Rugby and also Speedway, but that apparently expires
next year, so both those leases and now I mean
it's been talked about as a test cricket ground as well.
But clearly they thought that the waterfront stadium was a

(01:17:24):
good option until they saw how dysfunctional that process was.
So I think that scared off the billionaire owner Bill
Foley and his thoughts along with the other owners. How
can we actually just control this and do our own thing?
And this looks to be the easiest, cost effective way
to get an eight thousand see that. I'm all for this, Parney.
This actually might work because if you can make it

(01:17:47):
probably needs to be a bit more than eight thousand,
but if you can, if you can find a home there,
then it just solves that all those problems that you
have with those empty seats and just having your own
boutique stadium in the heart.

Speaker 2 (01:18:01):
Of absolutely like, I feel like ten to twelve might
be more what you'd be after, but you's so right
A rectangular, purpose built boutique stadium. Yeah, I mean it's
what I mean. You remember the Phoenix owners, you know,
sort of toyed with the idea of doing it a
Patoni and even had some plans drawn up, but that
didn't come to anything. So hopefully the owners of Auckland

(01:18:22):
FC can make it happen. Hey, thanks James, always good
to chat. I hope you have an enjoyable rest of
you Sunday, and we'll chat again next week, shall we?

Speaker 19 (01:18:30):
Cheers Plony go to Panthers, the.

Speaker 2 (01:18:33):
Panthers, why not? Why not ate away from two news talks?

Speaker 18 (01:18:36):
He'd beat.

Speaker 1 (01:20:58):
Legally cleefully, my dear God shows and it's taken eight minutes.

Speaker 2 (01:21:04):
Deletely it is destroyed and that's all I one nil
lover fall over Crystal Palace, nipping at their heels.

Speaker 15 (01:21:09):
Arsenal shuss Up prints it forward here for Arsenal as
Martinelli to his left so.

Speaker 6 (01:21:19):
Much so take care of that.

Speaker 2 (01:21:21):
He had three one winners over Southampton were the Gunners
defending champions Manchester City? There too, options gathering in the
middle efanties itself. Oh that is fantastic. Probably Seat of
Philip City worth three two winners over Fulham to rugby.
A happy return yesterday for cam Roy Guard.

Speaker 24 (01:21:40):
Yeah they're on the half flight pricking guy Probabian off
lad and the tackle for Papally and now Roy Guard
for the sick work, the class and the finish beautifully
done by doctor Papa Lee. A water finish from Roy
Guard who looks like he hasn't mister minute.

Speaker 2 (01:21:59):
Yeah, County's forty five two twenty six Wellington. Meantime he
had to come from twenty one nil down after fifteen
minutes to eventually beat Hawks Bay. First receiver up towards
the five minute line. Jillian somebody at busting awards the
try lined over.

Speaker 24 (01:22:13):
What a good try by.

Speaker 2 (01:22:14):
Julian Savia Wellington forty six, Hawks Bay twenty eight and
Southland had an absolute field day against North Harbor down South.

Speaker 24 (01:22:23):
It was twenty one milk after about ten minutes.

Speaker 2 (01:22:27):
As the Boors is going to bounce up and.

Speaker 24 (01:22:29):
It's going to be a try to Jake Shan.

Speaker 5 (01:22:32):
It has been that kind of afternoon for the South and.

Speaker 2 (01:22:35):
Stag fifty nine thirty five they won yesterday. The Stags
in Canterbury very impressive against way Cutt a boy yer peet.

Speaker 4 (01:22:44):
Cross your check.

Speaker 2 (01:22:45):
Oh the spit back six.

Speaker 25 (01:22:48):
He's got himself a hat trick that'll.

Speaker 2 (01:22:51):
Do it for Canterbury thirty six nineteen to Canterbury in
the NPC. But the fortunes were flipped when way Cuttle
and Canterbury met in the Fara Palmer Cup Premiership Final.

Speaker 26 (01:23:01):
Balls there, it's gonna go, and it's gonna be Canipia
kicks it out and the game is over. Wait Gadow
Hovey FVC Champions twenty seven points to twenty five. OHI,
everybody's going on fire down on the sideline.

Speaker 1 (01:23:19):
When it's down to the line. You made a call
on eight eighty Weekend Sport with Jason Hine News Talk.

Speaker 2 (01:23:26):
Zib eleven pass to a mouth watering NRL Grand Final
and prospect. Tonight Minor premieer is the Melbourne Storm the forty.

Speaker 22 (01:23:34):
Two and away in is a bolt stunt bat of
Botsta again.

Speaker 6 (01:23:40):
No Votster's get another.

Speaker 5 (01:23:44):
Melburn Road finalists Melbourne are they premiership favorites based.

Speaker 2 (01:23:52):
On this and they'll take on three time defending champions
the Penrith Panthers.

Speaker 6 (01:23:56):
Is re why the right foot.

Speaker 5 (01:23:57):
Kick Martius and exclamation mark for the Panthers as they.

Speaker 2 (01:24:03):
Marched on to the first Sunday hit up. What a
game in prospect, tarwar Nico was one of our best
ever rugby league players. After time with Canterbury Bankstown, he
spent several years in the UK before coming back to
the NRL with Cronulla in nineteen ninety eight. He joined
the Melbourne Storm in the club's inaugural year, helping them

(01:24:23):
to a third place finish in the Minor Premiership and
a place in the finals before they lost eventually to
the premiers Brisbane Broncos. The following year, nineteen ninety nine,
the Storm finished third again, this time went on to
win the Grand Final twenty eighteen over the Saint George
Illawarra Dragons to claim their first championship. Among his many
other awards and accolades, tawad Nico was last year inducted

(01:24:47):
as a life member of the Melbourne Storm. He joins
us now Tawda, Let's go back to nineteen ninety eight.
How fondly do you remember your time with the Storm.

Speaker 22 (01:24:57):
Oh, it was a great time. They really enjoyed being
part of the Storm in the inaugural team going down
neilwaypak in twenty five years ago. In now Pint it's
a long time mate, so still living off that wasn't
from the Wondering Final, but it was a great time
in regular league and a great opportunity, so you know
going over there, going down to Melbourne, you know, the

(01:25:19):
new frontier I suppose, and being very successful in a
short amount of time. So it was absolutely fantastic.

Speaker 2 (01:25:25):
What was it like at the very start of this
club that has become something pretty special.

Speaker 22 (01:25:30):
We were very lucky and finally we had you know
a CEO guy called John Reebo Reeves. You know, it
was really instrumental and setting up the club in a
great fashion. You know, Chris Anderson the coach, you know,
really really strong coach, really family orientated coach, and we're
very proud of the history and the culture that we
initiated in those early days and it's something that's under

(01:25:53):
Craig Bellamy's gone to a whole new level. So you know,
really outstanding, but great with the administrators but also the
players and the end players that came for an opportunity
and really made a great effort over the those first
couple of seasons.

Speaker 2 (01:26:07):
That ninety nine Grand Final what stands out most vividly
when you think back why did you say twenty five
years now?

Speaker 22 (01:26:14):
Goodnessman, Well, I think finally one of the main things
about that was, you know, the crowd. I think that
was the biggest rugby league crowd because it was just
before the Olympics. We played nineteen ninety nine at the
Away cour Stadium and now, but I think it was
one hundred and seven thousand people did and I played

(01:26:34):
at Wembley earlier in my career, but it was about
ninety ninety nine thousand there. But just the noise, the crowd.
But the real camaraderie that the boys built up in
those first couple of seasons was fantastic.

Speaker 6 (01:26:46):
You know.

Speaker 22 (01:26:46):
The second year ninety ninety nine, we had Steve Kearney
came from the Warriors, really added some five power to
our forward pack and then you know that sort of
gave us a lot of impetus and momentum into that
first Grand Final win against Saint George.

Speaker 2 (01:26:59):
You were down the way fourteen at halftime, you were down.
You are widely credited along with a couple of others,
for sparking the second half comeback. What was said at
half time and what changed in the second half.

Speaker 22 (01:27:10):
Yeah, we had the funny thing is we hadn't beaten
San George all year. You know, they were one of
those teams. They had some amazing players, Nathan Blacklock, you know,
Anthony Mundine, Jamie ains co. They just had this realist
strike and we struggled to play them because they used
to come down the middle of the rock and we
had a big forward pack. But I think one of
the good things about you know, just having that self

(01:27:31):
belief that we had in ourselves because nobody gave us
a chance in the first couple of years. They said
we're going to fail, we weren't going to be any good,
and even when we got to the finals, they were
writing us off anyway. So you know, we had nothing
to lose. We just said we had some great leadership
in the organization from our coach Chris Anderson and our
captain Glen Lazarus. You know, it was outstanding leadership and

(01:27:51):
part of that. But I think in the second half,
I remember going into the changing sheds at halftime and
me and Steve Kearney and I said, Steve, mate, we've
got forty minutes left. Let's just get out there and
rip him to these guys, and we sort of came
out changed the momentum, we got on a bit of
a role, we scored a couple of tries and then
you know we came home with it. We'd sales. So

(01:28:11):
you know, that's all folk law and history now pinting,
but you know it stands as the first ever premiership
premiership for the Melbourne Storm final. So yeah, let's itched
in folklore.

Speaker 2 (01:28:23):
Indeed it is even now and will be for many
many more years. But let's fast forward to now to
the present day. The Storm won the minor premiership this year,
nineteen wins from their twenty four games. They got rid
of the Sharks and the Roosters fairly comfortably in their
finals matches. Would you have them as favorites against the
Panthers tonight the Storm.

Speaker 22 (01:28:41):
Well, it's a tough one.

Speaker 6 (01:28:43):
You know.

Speaker 22 (01:28:43):
The last the Panthers have been in the last five
Grand finals, the last team to beat them in the
Grand Final is the Melbourne Storm, so it all aug
as well. But if you look back, you know this
year they've been the best two teams. I think the
Storm have probably gone to you know, and it's a
tough one because Nathan Cleary hasn't played too much of them.

(01:29:04):
I watched the game last week with the Sharks and
there was a couple of little cracks here for Penrith,
which you know, usually they're very, very clinical, they don't
make too many years, but they made a few years.
So you know, it's going to be a tough game.
But I just think with the spine that the Melbourne
Storm have in the form that Jerome Hughes, Harry Grant,
Ryan Pepperhousen and also Caaron Munster in it's going to

(01:29:27):
be a tough game, could go anyway, but I'm tipping
the Storm to win this one tonight.

Speaker 6 (01:29:31):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:29:31):
Jerome Hughes delim won a popular winner two during the week.
How important How integral is he to the Storm side?

Speaker 22 (01:29:40):
Yeah, it's really interesting And I don't know if you
saw the daily speech and he talked about you know
how he's sort of grown into their role and done
really well. But he credits Craig Bellamy's given him some confidence.
He credits been part of the New Zealand Kiwi team
last year. You know, he's really grown into this role
as a leader and he's really got their confidence now
to lead from the front. So I think, you know,

(01:30:01):
with Monthster, there over the last couple of years he
was just sitting back. He's quite shy in terms of that,
but you know he's really stepped that up and I
think and I heard Craig Bellamy talk to him earlier
in the year about him taking the leadership role, on
him owning the games, and you know he's just thrived
in that this year and gone to another level. So
when you think about you know, Ivan Carey has been

(01:30:22):
probably the best player Ivan, I mean Nathan Carey the
last two or three seasons. You know, Jerome's on a
part probably this season is probably you know, edged out
in front of him, but it's hard to beat Penriff.
You know, they've been there the last there's the fifth
Green Final in the row, so you know, I've got
some experience, but they've lost a bit of experience too,
So you know, these things catch up with you when

(01:30:42):
you're playing finals, when the pressure comes on. You know,
you've just got to keep in the grind. And I
think with Melbourne and you've seen that over the last
two you know, the final series, they've gone about their
business very very well. Melbourn don't really beat themselves. You've
got to do something extraordinary to beat them because they're
defensively they're really good, and they're fit. They're very fit,
so they can manage that hang in the contest for

(01:31:03):
big minutes. I think the game against the Shark they completed,
was it fifty six out of fifty eight sets or
something ninety five percent something like that account It was
something some astronomical number in terms of that. So and
now they expect that they have as Craig Bellamy, you know,
he just continues to evolve and adapt and you know,

(01:31:24):
give these players and I think Poney, if you look
at a couple of their back rows, Sean Blaw played
two years at the Tigers and was a wooden spoon
Ali kator now the last couple of years came from
the Warriors. Yeah, he had a bit of talent, but
they'd both gone to another level. So you know, when
you think about players in what they can do in

(01:31:45):
the environment that they create, you know, Craig Bellamy's and
master at doing that.

Speaker 2 (01:31:50):
Yeah, fascinating Grand final and prospect and I could be
one of the best ever to what a great chatting
ragby league with you mate, Thanks for taking the time.

Speaker 22 (01:31:56):
Why is it privileged Pinty? No, worries and go the
mighty Storm.

Speaker 2 (01:31:59):
We go the storm are right you? I suppose there's
your old team, Isn't that That's fair enough? Good on
your tower. Thanks indeed, Talta Nico Ryan Girdler with a
panther point of view in just a moment to Trafalgar
Park and Nelson courtesy of gold Sport.

Speaker 27 (01:32:11):
It's pick and go from the Taranucky Fords looking to
use their mite. They're under advantage again as they swing
it wide.

Speaker 28 (01:32:18):
Daniel Rona to Josh setto right running ball and it's
under the crossbar for Taranucky.

Speaker 6 (01:32:26):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:32:27):
Daniel Rona the try scorer Josh Jacob converting seven nil
to Taranaky after seven minutes. But then William Harvelly kicked
a penalty for Tasman seven to three after eleven minutes.
But just in the last minute or so Josh Jacob
has converted another penalty. So with fifteen minutes gone at
Trafalgar Parker Nelson Tasman three, Taranuky ten. In this ran

(01:32:50):
Fury Shield Challenge and also the final match in the
round robin of the Bunnings NPC, we will keep you
right up today two twenty Ryan Girdler on the NRL
Grand Final when we come back Melbourne Storm v Penrith
Panthers nine point thirty kickoff at a Core Stadium. Please
you to wellman Ryan Girdler, New South Wales, state of
origin and Australia international representative, over two hundred games for

(01:33:13):
the Penrith Panthers and winner in the side that picked
up the two thousand and three NRL Premiership beating the
Roosters eighteen points to six in the final. Ryan, thanks
for joining us across New Zealand on News Talk ZB.
Can we start in two thousand and three? Can you
remember your emotions heading into that Grand Final?

Speaker 11 (01:33:32):
Oh?

Speaker 29 (01:33:33):
Look, yeah, absolutely. It was the first Grand Final that
the club had been in for some years. Obviously ninety
one was our last premiership before that. So you know,
like at the community, you've just been spoiled, haven't they
the last five or so years on this on this
brilliant run that they've had. But back then, you know,
it was slim pickings for Panthers fans and we kind

(01:33:53):
of sort of came from nowhere, finished out of the
eight in two thousand and two and had some sort
of junior pathway development players come through the Luke Lewis's
and the Rooneys and the Waterhouses and the Rodney's, and
then we had a trial game. We played your boys
actually over there and I don't know where it was,

(01:34:15):
it might have been on the South Island are as,
an exhibition game early on in the season. Had a
good result and your guys were sort of obviously in
the Grand Final of the year before, so got a
little bit of confidence out of that. Then went in
and started the season. I went too, and thought here
we go again, and then yeah, just found some form
and then sort of was able to maintain that that

(01:34:38):
momentum throughout the season and then ended up in you know,
being minor premiers and going into the finals in good
touch and won our major like the first semi against
the Broncos and then beat the you know for Warriors
in the pre limp and we were able to go
on and get the Ruses in the GF. So it was, yeah,
it's obviously a while ago, but it was the back

(01:34:59):
end of my career, so I was old enough to
kind of know how important that experience was and how
rare it was, you know, chief premiership glory in a
club that wasn't used to having that sort of success.

Speaker 2 (01:35:13):
And ahead of such a big occasion, Ryan, how did
you and the other players keep the emotions and the
excitement and check? How do you just try and approach
it like any other game, if that's possible.

Speaker 29 (01:35:25):
It was interesting.

Speaker 4 (01:35:26):
You know.

Speaker 29 (01:35:26):
We had a few guys like myself that had a
fair bit of experience in bigger games, in origins and
test matches and World Cup, so we kind of knew
what it was about and what it represented. But as
I said, you know, we had all these young guys
coming in that had really no expectations. We're just going
out there bringing lots of energy and just taking it literally,

(01:35:49):
you know, each week at the time. So as we
got into the finals, there was still a lot of people,
you know, writing us off. We played a Broncos side
in that first final that had like Talis and Lockier
and Sailor and Webke and Thorn, and it was like,
you know, like we didn't even go into that game
the favorite after being minor Premierships, and after winning that,
we went straight through and met your boys again. You know,

(01:36:11):
expectation was, well, can they continue on this run? And
then you know we met the Roosters who won the
company year before in the Grand Final, and again all
the pressure seemed to be on them because no one
really expected us to be where we were. So, you know,
there was a couple of the older guys that knew
how rare this opportunity was because you know, I played
fourteen years at the club before we had any sort

(01:36:33):
of success, so I kind of knew that this was,
you know, an opportunity that need to be taken. But
the young guys probably just thought, well, this is what
happens every year, and how good was playing. You know,
the NRL had the dream run, So I think it
was a combination of all that allows us to contain
all those emotions and not get overwhelmed. And then I
guess it was you know, all the outside noise about

(01:36:54):
you know, the Roosters and the Warriors and these other
teams that were going to beat us and end up
not being able to and and that was kind of
like the story of our run that year.

Speaker 2 (01:37:03):
Well let's bring it to the present day. This is
already you buy any measure a great penrith side. What
would a fourth straight title do to further solidify one
of the great NRAL dynasties.

Speaker 29 (01:37:15):
Yeah, well, I mean, you know, sometimes you've just got
these these clubs that have these brilliant individual players that
play a lot of origin and rep football and are
just dominant, you know, like as I spoke about that
that that Bronco side in the late nineties, early two thousands,
you know, with those names that I just mentioned, you know,
individual wise, and you'd have to say that, you know,
those guys are probably a better side of individuals. And

(01:37:38):
then you have just this this group at the moment
that are just a great team. You know, like they're
just a fantastic, fantastic team that work really hard and
have found that you don't need to be a whole
team full of individual stars to have success, sustained success.
They've got the secret, you know, they obviously each year
for me, the surprise is the fact that they've already

(01:38:01):
got two or three rings and they find a way
to have more desire than everyone else that's chasing them,
and they they're the hunted every year, and they seem
to kind of like it. They seem to you know,
continually outwork other teams and the model that they've used
to had all that success, which is really hard to maintain,
which is the standards in which they keep a training
and in their preparation. They've just got those sort of

(01:38:25):
characteristics individually that you know, just put them in that
position every year and they just find a way continually
even after you know, losing the quality of players. And
everyone mentions the kickours and the chorus ours and the critons,
but you know they're losing guys at pathways as well.
You've got guys that haven't even played a lot of
first grade, like the lock forward that went over to

(01:38:49):
Paramatta Is year and end up playing Origin, you know,
like he came he came out of the system, you know.
So and then there's the Cape Wells and the other
guys that people forget about that you see what sort
of impact he had when he left the Broncos as well.
So it's just an incredible story in history. Given cap

(01:39:10):
in place, you'd have to credit the whole organization for
recruitment and retention and the whole other side of the
business that a lot of people don't really think about.
But the whole club has just done a wonderful job
and given that community so much joy over the last
five or six years. I've just love watching it.

Speaker 2 (01:39:26):
The Clearies coach Ivan playmaker Nathan such an important player,
such an important coach. Are you able to articulate Ryan,
how integral the Clearies are to this club?

Speaker 29 (01:39:38):
Well, I think what people really respect like they know
that they're not paying a juniors, although you know Nathan
spent a fair bit of time out there, because I
haven't been out there, and obviously I haven't spent a
lot of time over your way as well, and Nathan
was over there, So I feel like, you know, what
the people really respect is how they've embraced the community
and how even though they might live there or you know,

(01:40:01):
they might have spent a lot of time out there
in the past, while they're out there, they've really embraced
their connection with the community and with the people out there,
and I think that's been really why the fans have responded.
And then obviously on the back of their success. You know,
as easy as you know to be a supporter when
you know things are going well, it's easy to spend

(01:40:22):
your heart earned when you're going down there on a
Sunday or a Saturday night and you know that the
team's going to make you and your family feel good
and there's going to be plenty to celebrate. So yeah,
I just think and people respect it. You know, it's
a hard working community. People respect hard work and they
see the hard work that those guys put in to
be able to maintain the levels that they do and

(01:40:44):
for long distance and long periods of time. So they
just fit in in so many different ways. They seem
very humble.

Speaker 6 (01:40:51):
You know.

Speaker 29 (01:40:51):
The way that they communicate through the media to their
fans is always I believe, done in a manner in
which the fans respect it. And even though they can
have a little bit of swagger and they can be
a little bit cocky on the field, you know, they've
they've been in the last five Grand Finals, so they're

(01:41:12):
walking in the walk, they're talking the talk, and the
people out there just love them.

Speaker 2 (01:41:15):
Let's talk about the Melbourne Storm then, how do you
write their chances of stopping this Panthers machine tonight.

Speaker 29 (01:41:21):
Yeah, Look, you know, I think they are a really
good chance. I thought the Broncos were a really good
chance last year and they did go really close, and
you know, I think the Melbourne Storm go in in
probably better form. Their finals form has probably been a
little bit better than Penis you know they've got you know,
their key personnel in those key positions are all in

(01:41:41):
great form that they've got a really the way that
they play really threatened Penrith defensively, you know, with running
halves and a fullback that you know has so much
variation and speak to his game as well, and probably
the most creative dummy half in the league. So they're
certainly going to be a handful for Penrith. And this

(01:42:04):
kind of like to me, looks more like an origin
than it does like an NRL game. When you've got
you know, all these key players and all these representative
players from both teams that have had so much success
at all different levels. They go out and usually it's
one in a couple of moments because they both have
the same sort of attributes. They play at high intensity

(01:42:25):
for long periods of time, which is I think what
sort of stood them above from everyone else in the
competition this year. You know, people teams just couldn't go
with them. They would just literally get them in the
cycle and just like you know, just burn them out
and you know, just be relentless, and other sides just
couldn't go with them for long periods. And these two

(01:42:46):
sides are the best of that. So if they both
go out there with that mentality, which I'd imagine they will,
it's going to come down hopefully not referee decisions, but
big moments owned by you guys like Clearing and Munster
and Grant and Edwards and Yo. So it's a top
of a coin. To be fair, I really have no
idea who's going to get the job done, but I
think it's going to be one hell of a content.

Speaker 2 (01:43:07):
Yeah, look, I totally agree. Just to finish Ryan, it
always felt like we were hitting for a storm Panther's
Grand Final. Even from a long way out during the
regular season, these two felt like they were the best
two teams by some distance. Has that taken away any
of the jeopardy, any of the excitement, the interest in
the regular season in the final series?

Speaker 29 (01:43:27):
Oh look, I think the NRL, if you look at
the numbers, you know, the gate that you know, bums
on seats and also through their broadcasters, you know, you know,
the game has just gone to another level. I think,
you know, with how they're the administration, the premission to
Baker the last couple of years has been exceptional, and yeah,
you know, it's it's more popular than ever over here. Obviously,

(01:43:49):
no one really mentions the Wallabies anymore because of you know,
where they're at in their cycle of development. So and
the AFL has sort of finished last week. So yeah,
I think the RLS NRL is more popular than ever.
With different social media platforms and so many different broadcast
there's so much much information, you know, coming out about
the game and the players. You know, there's lots of

(01:44:12):
characters in the game at the moment, and yeah, I
think there's a lot of interest. As you said, this
has been the game that I think everyone's been waiting
to see, especially since probably you know, later around in
the competition. I think any everyone forecasted this Grand Final
at the beginning, you know, when the finals started, and
I think it would have been disappointing to see, you know,

(01:44:33):
anyone else get there. So there's yeah, even though Penrith
have sort of had that run. And I think people appreciate,
you know, when they're alive to witness greatness and that's
what they're seeing and they might might be another fifty
years before we see another team go through like a
cycle like this, So I think everyone's just enjoying it.

(01:44:55):
You know, it's hard not to respect and and honor
what they've done as a as a footy club. And
obviously everyone you know likes, you know, some of those
Melbourne guys. There's a lot of characters in their side
and they're well respected for what they do on a
weekly basis. So yeah, I think there's a hell of
a lot of interest in this game on the weekend,

(01:45:17):
and I don't think too many people will be too
worried about which way the result goes either. As long
as it's a good contest and the players decide who
gets the cup, I think everyone will be happy.

Speaker 2 (01:45:27):
Yeah, I think you're probably right.

Speaker 6 (01:45:28):
Ryan.

Speaker 2 (01:45:28):
Hey, great to get your expertise and your memories as well.
Thanks mate, Ryan Girdler Premiership winner with Penrith in two
thousand and three over two hundred games for the Panthers.
Panthers Storm tonight. I don't think there's any way separating
these two. You can make arguments for both sides, you
can look at the odds that have the Storm slightly favored,

(01:45:49):
but really it's just a clash of two absolute powerhouses
of modern day rugby league going out it tonight from
nine point thirty. Let's just hope that the contest lives
up to all of the hype tonight it is twenty
four away from three. Let's get you back to Trafalgar
Park courtesy of gold Sport.

Speaker 27 (01:46:06):
Only seven eight meters from their own try line. Tasman
I may want to find touch shortly to get out
of the red zone because there's danger of footsolds on
with Taranaki, who's attacking heart at the moment for Lake Christie,
they go away.

Speaker 11 (01:46:20):
To the right.

Speaker 27 (01:46:21):
Has that been knocked one?

Speaker 28 (01:46:22):
It's loose ball and it's a try Michael left.

Speaker 2 (01:46:26):
Yeah, that's Tananaky scoring their second try of the contest.
It was converted by Josh Jacob who has also kicked
a penalty. So with what have we got about? Thirty
four minutes gone now as Tasman just about scored their
first try but held up over the line. Taranaky twenty
points to three ahead of Tasman. Sorry, thirty one minutes gone.

(01:46:51):
Thirty one minutes gone at Trafalgar Park, but certainly not
the score line that well sery. Tasman fans weren't after
and I don't think many expected, but Taranuky the Amber
and Blacks twenty points to three, ahead of the of
the Tasman muck. Not only the Ranfilly Shield on the line,
but also Tasman could relinquish top spot on the playoffs

(01:47:11):
if they don't win this one, Wellington would finish top
and take hosting rights through There's a long way to go.
Thirty one and a half minutes gone, tutanlucky twenty Tasman three.
We will keep you updated. Twenty two and a half
away from three. Will take a break, come back, change
the shape of the ball to football. Ben Wayne, part
of the All White squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers,

(01:47:32):
about to hop on a plane in the UK and
head back this way. They'll have a chat to us
right after this.

Speaker 3 (01:47:37):
You be the TMO.

Speaker 1 (01:47:39):
Have your say on eight hundred and eighty ten eighty
Weekend Sport with Jason Paine and GJ. Guvnerholmes, New Zealand's
most trusted home builder news Dogs.

Speaker 2 (01:47:48):
They'd be nineteen away from three to thirty five minutes
gone and Nelson Tartanucky still lead twenty points to three
to make matters worse for Tasman. Timothy Tavatava Nahway, who's
been one of their standouts during this NPC campaign is
not playing, and in fact I was just seen a
photo which shows Timothy Tavatava Nahway sitting watching the game

(01:48:08):
with his league in a brace. So I'm not sure
what that does for his chances of a call up
perhaps to the All Blacks fifteen. I think he's well
and truly in the frame for that, if not the
All Blacks Tavataranahway after the NPC campaign he's had. We'll
wait for more clarity around that. The All Whites begin
their World Cup qualifying campaign this week to try and

(01:48:28):
make it to the twenty twenty six Football World Cup.
They play Tahiti this coming Friday. That game is in Vanawatu,
and then on Monday they play a friendly against Malaysia
at North Harber Stadium, Albany. In November, it's van Watu
in Hamilton and Samoa in Auckland and New Zella Football
have made the tickets really cheap for these games, so

(01:48:49):
they should be hopefully accessible to just about everybody. Adults
twenty dollars kids just five plus ticketing fees for the
games here in New Zealand. Malaysia a week tomorrow at Albany,
then Van no whah To in Hamilton and Samoa in
Auckland in November. All Whites striker in Wayne, of course,
is a big part of this side.

Speaker 30 (01:49:09):
He's getting backs and x with Mackenzy has to get
a shot to over to keep one out in New
Zealand of levels the Church's goal, Ben Wayne, the substitute
takes advantage and it's one one.

Speaker 2 (01:49:26):
We're two minutes left to play. Yeah, that was the
last time the All White's played a one all draw
against the United States. I want to ask you about
that goal in a minute, Ben, actually, but thanks for
joining us. So you're currently on loan at Mansfield Town
from your parent club Plymouth Argyle. So how's it going
at Mansfield Town.

Speaker 4 (01:49:42):
Yeah, it's really good.

Speaker 25 (01:49:44):
The last couple of weeks have been been really easy,
to be fair, getting into a new team and everyone's
been friendly and to get off to mark the other
day and then we had another two nil wind this afternoon.

Speaker 4 (01:49:58):
Yeah, we're flying at the moment. So it's awesome.

Speaker 6 (01:49:59):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:50:00):
I so you scored your first goal against Crawley midweek.
Does that take the weight off your shoulders at all
at a new club getting the mark with your first.

Speaker 4 (01:50:07):
Goal, Yeah, yeah, big time. No, I've been.

Speaker 25 (01:50:10):
I've been working hard with the with the time I've
had and to be able to come on and score
the other day was it was really special and like
you said, massive, massive weight off the shoulders.

Speaker 2 (01:50:19):
Your manager at Mansfield is Nigel Cloth, who was a
fairly handy striker in his day. How helpful has he
been to you as a as a fellow striker?

Speaker 4 (01:50:27):
Yeah, yeah, hugely.

Speaker 25 (01:50:30):
I'd say he's definitely a bit more old school for
his coaching, but it's to be honest, it's really refreshing
some of the tips and stuff he's been given me.
The information has been just really straightforward and it's stuff
they haven't really thought about as well before. So it's no,
it's been it's been really really good.

Speaker 2 (01:50:46):
So you're on loan at Mansfield. What's the situation around
Plymouth Ardgle your parent club. How much contact do you
retain with them and what's the nature of that content?

Speaker 12 (01:50:57):
Yeah?

Speaker 25 (01:50:57):
No, very good contact to be fair. The one of
the physios will always stay in touch with me just
to make sure everythink's okay. And there's a there's a
one of the coaches called Nance who's Plymouth our goal
through and through and he he keeps in touch with
me as well, So no, the relationships I'm still really strong.
Everyone agreed me going on loan was the best thing
for me and then hopefully it can potentially benefit Plymouth

(01:51:20):
in the future.

Speaker 2 (01:51:21):
So yeah, so you've been playing in the UK for
a while now, I've been there a couple of years.
Is playing in the United Kingdom playing for Plymouth, Aurgal
and Mansfield Town? Is it what you expect that it
would be?

Speaker 25 (01:51:33):
Yeah, and and a lot more as well. I knew
it was going to be absolute cardadge coming over here.
The amount of games and and the level as well,
it's it's different. The intensity is extremely high and sometimes
it can be a bit like pimball as well.

Speaker 4 (01:51:47):
So getting used to that, I'm not gonna lie, it
took me.

Speaker 25 (01:51:51):
It took me probably over a over a season and
a bit to even get used to that, and then
we jumped leagues, so it's it's been My whole time
has been spent adapting and adapting. So now I feel
like I'm at a place where I've learned some vital
lessons in terms of how to adapt and what are
the best things to do in these situations.

Speaker 4 (01:52:09):
So I think it's going to pay off.

Speaker 2 (01:52:11):
Good to hear back in with the national team now
though for the next seven to ten days. I know
you're looking forward to that. What's it like when you
all get back together. You're all spread far and wide, now,
what is it like when you come together in the
national team.

Speaker 25 (01:52:23):
Oh, it's amazing. It's really really good as well, because
you know, you've got points from the Phoenix that we've
all gone our super ways now, you know. But I've
played with those lads for a decent amount of time
and to be able to see what they're doing and
then come back together and play together again as special
And yeah, I'm driving out tonight to go stay at

(01:52:44):
their hotels. I'm looking forward to, looking forward to catching
up with you run and when.

Speaker 2 (01:52:49):
You do get together, i'd imagine it's similar to any
bunch of guys getting together who haven't seen each other
for a while but spend time together. In a situation
like this, do you just sort of slip back into
the old the old banter, the old ways.

Speaker 25 (01:53:00):
Yeah, under saying, I think that's down to Sam Sun
as well. He's straight on as soon as we're back together.
So yeah, it's it's really good. That it's like that,
you know, it's like we haven't been apart, so it's
really good.

Speaker 2 (01:53:13):
So the last time was quite recently, actually a window
which involved games against Mexico and the United States. The
drawer against the US your goal later on talk us
Throb It.

Speaker 4 (01:53:25):
Just a classy goal.

Speaker 12 (01:53:26):
Really.

Speaker 25 (01:53:28):
It was one of those ones that you're probably never
ever going to score again, but just a result of
putting players under pressure and a little bit of hard work,
and you know sometimes you get those rewards. And the
funny thing is, as soon as the defender kicked it
into my chest, I just knew. I think you can
see the video. I've run off with my hand up.
As soon as it sent my chests, I've gone.

Speaker 4 (01:53:49):
But that's going in.

Speaker 25 (01:53:50):
And do you score some of those throughout a career
and you take them one hundred percent? But I like
to think it's also a result of grafting art results.

Speaker 2 (01:53:59):
Absolutely, but also all joking aside, do you take pride
in having to be there because you know ninety nine
times had one hundred You make that run and put
pressure on the defender and nothing happens, right, they clear it,
But thee hundredth of time it does so do you
take pride in being in the right place and putting
pressure on the opposition defenders?

Speaker 25 (01:54:17):
Yeah, exactly, And I think, to be fair, it's something
that Chris Greenecker used to always tell me.

Speaker 4 (01:54:23):
It's not necessarily in that situation.

Speaker 25 (01:54:25):
He did not coach me in that situation, but more
so just receiving the ball off across or whatever.

Speaker 4 (01:54:31):
Nine times out of ten, the ball's not going to
come to you.

Speaker 25 (01:54:33):
But the time you don't make the movement or you
do that action, you guarantee the ball's going to be there.
So it's you know, it's just a matter of repetition
and numbers and constantly doing it. And yeah, law of averages,
I guess is the best way to put it.

Speaker 2 (01:54:47):
Indeed, when you're inside ther Whites camp in how much
help and assistance and guidance and advice do you get
from Chris Wood?

Speaker 25 (01:54:55):
Yeah, I get a decent amount, to be fair, He's
just really open person in terms of, you know, you
can feel comfortable to go and ask him about certain situations,
which I do. I don't piss him all the time,
don't get me wrong, but if something comes to mind
or he sees something, then he will say it, But yeah,
I like to have that relationship with him where I

(01:55:16):
know I can ask him for advice when I need
it and he keeps in contact as well, which is
really nice.

Speaker 2 (01:55:22):
So the path to the next World Cup is, on
the face of the things anyway, a lot more straightforward
for New Zealand a direct entry for Oceania or the
winner of the Oceania competition into the next World Cup
in twenty twenty six. So as I say, that seems
a lot more straightforward. And you know, I guess most
people would expect you to account for the other Oceanian

(01:55:43):
nations fairly comfortably. How do you avoid complacency though, you know,
not just expecting to turn up and win these games.

Speaker 25 (01:55:48):
Yeah, that's a very good question and I think the
best way to look at it is what we did
at the Nation's Cup.

Speaker 4 (01:55:56):
You could have seen it as well.

Speaker 25 (01:55:57):
There wasn't other than a trophy, There was no qualifying
or anything off the back of that. But I think
the way we handled ourselves in terms of every game,
we try to keep ours standards as high as we could,
never let up and just continued to go and go
and go, and just made sure that we held ourselves accountable.

Speaker 4 (01:56:14):
I think that was the biggest thing, and you saw
what happened.

Speaker 25 (01:56:17):
So look, I'm not going to say it's going to
be easy and we're going to go and we're gonna win,
but obviously you would like to think so. But the
biggest thing is we've we've done it before and we
know what what we have to do. I think that, Yeah,
I think that's probably the biggest point.

Speaker 2 (01:56:32):
Of course, you're beating in the Olympic Games as well.
You played for New Zealand at the recent Olympics and
Paris scored the winner against Guinea. That was a goal
that was much more your your own work. How do
you reflect back on the Olympic campaign with New Zealand.

Speaker 25 (01:56:43):
Yeah, it was it was awesome and a great start.
I mean, obviously the score is always amazing. There was
something I really wanted to take off a goal at
the Olympics. But obviously a bit of a shame in
terms of we couldn't get out of the group. But
we came up against some really really good opposition. But
at the end of the day it wasn't meant to be.
But it was just nice to also have that have

(01:57:03):
that responsibility to be that strike that's leading the line
as well. I think I really enjoyed having that kind of.

Speaker 4 (01:57:10):
Role on the team.

Speaker 2 (01:57:10):
Fantastic. Well, it's an exciting time ahead for fans of
New Zealand football and for the players i'm sure as well,
with the World Cup qualification path to begin this coming Friday. Ben,
travel safe to more the side of the world. Look
forward to seeing you over here. Thanks for taking the
time for a chat. Awesome, Thanks plady, Thanks Ben, Ben
waying there from the All Whites game on Friday against

(01:57:31):
Tahiti in Vanuatu and then the friendly against Malaysia in
Auckland on Monday, and then games in November and Hamilton
and Auckland against Vanowa to and some more respectively. Ticket
price is yeah, pretty cheap twenty bucks for adults, five
for kids plus ticketing fees so pretty accessible really nine
to three Back to Trafalgar Park on gold Sport.

Speaker 27 (01:57:51):
Molly, no throz and sale down near the back of
the line. Out takes it rolling more. It's been smuggled
back to Molly a couple of tries this season. Now,
Christy's got it rolling well, going nowhere right running ball
David Harveli to William harvellly puts the cross kick in.
It's taken by the right wing.

Speaker 30 (01:58:07):
It great, who's gonna score.

Speaker 2 (01:58:12):
In the right wing corner?

Speaker 24 (01:58:14):
Jack Gray try number six?

Speaker 2 (01:58:17):
Friends up mate, Yeah, So finally Tasman are into the
game well with a try anyway, their first try of
the contest. That was after thirty seven minutes. Josh Jacob though,
did kick a penalty just before halftime, so at the
break it's Taranaki twenty three Tasman eight. So I better
work to do for the Tasman muckel in the second

(01:58:38):
half if they had to hold onto the ran Furley
Shield and finished top in the regular season of the
Bunnings NPC ight away from three News Talk sp

Speaker 1 (02:00:07):
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(02:01:19):
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