November 1, 2025 • 7 mins
James McOnie from The Crowd Goes Wild joined Piney to discuss the All Blacks's victory over Ireland - and whether there's more global demand for rugby than expected.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine
from NEWSTALKSB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Seven forty five, Saturday evening in Chicago. How's it looking,
James mcconi, Thanks for joining us.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
It's nippi in Chicago.
Speaker 4 (00:21):
I think the All Blacks are about to fly out
straight away, so they're not even going to enjoy the
nights here where they definitely deserve to enjoy a few
celebratory beverages because it was it was actually a pretty
good performance given that I think the ref was a
little bit dodgy and the first half was very stop start,
but hayy was the fourth quarter with the All Blacks dominated.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
It's what they've wandered for a long time.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Yep, that's the point we've been We've been saying over
and over back here, James. Good to know we're aligned
on this.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
But you're right.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
The last twenty minutes was what we used to expect
and love about the All Blacks. You know, a last
quarter performance that sealed Test match victories. What's what Soldier
Field like?
Speaker 4 (01:02):
By the way, it's kind of it's weird because it's
not really covered stands. As you can see, they just
sort of go up it's just almost a sheer drop
you wouldn't want to sort of like fall backwards. It's
like a one of those a Mayan sacrifice, you know,
and one of those pyramids from Apocalypto. Great movie by
the wall Mel Gibson five stars, but I I think
(01:25):
or he was a director. But really the atmosphere was
it was very pro Irish and then when the All
Blacks were struggling, you can actually sense the Ireland. The
Irish team were just hanging out in there and the
All Blacks really you would have noticed this, we're giving
them too many chances.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
There were tries that went begging and.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
If they lose this test, they'll hate the video analysis
because they left a few out there. But it was
more that the young ones who are starting to become
too mature as players. I was really happy for Peter Archy,
for Camroy Guard and Wallace Atisi coming on.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Just you know Peter Larkar. It's a tough it's a
tough gig that All Blacks number eight shirt.
Speaker 4 (02:10):
But yeah, he's he's definitely, he's definitely playing well.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
I know you're a big Simon Parker fan, but what
about t t Savia Lakeye six seven eight.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
Well, they're all they're not massive. You know, they're all
shorter than New Pony.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
And I know that you're you know, you're you're like
High Tower from Police Academy again, great movie.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
Five stars. But the thing is I think that really,
you know, Simon Parker.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
Is in there because he is a big body, that
that's a really solid lineout option. But games are about
finishers now, and that's what teams actually call their bench,
don't they, you know, the finishers, And I think you
need some of those players to come on when the
when the gaps appear. I actually think there are more
(02:58):
gaps even in the first half now, and and Razor
will be We'll be thinking of ways to exploit them
because you know, just even Damien McKenzie, a player like
him as perfect for when the game breaks up. So
as much as there's lots of DMAK fans out there,
it actually works him being off the bench.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
So Tz yes, like he could be.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
He looks like he's getting back to his best first
all back try.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
But I mean it worked for them.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
If they actually got stuff right in the first half,
they should have been well in the league.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
I thought as Chicago's I mean it's a big city.
What's got I think the city itself about two point
seven million, the wider metropolitan area nine and a half million.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
Was there?
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Like advertising was there? Was it obvious that there was
an All Blacks Island test match going on, you know
in the lead up to the game?
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Not really.
Speaker 4 (03:54):
And I even had a chet to David kirk good
old Kirky after the game, and I said, you know,
I think it's about time that that New Zealand rugby
and even Sky reached out to ESPN and said, look,
this is one of our big products and why not.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Why not do something with us? Why not collab?
Speaker 4 (04:15):
Because I think it was a little bit of a
too much of a willcap kept secret.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
It was all.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
Expats and rugby fans from around America coming, you know,
gathering really like a pilgrimage, but from the city you
couldn't really tell, not until today catching the the L
train that's the l as they call it, and going
to the game, could you actually see, Okay, this is
something big happening. But yeah, that's something that's to work on.
(04:43):
I think it's the if you really want to push
the brand, you should be trying to get it on
all the channels over here, but ESPN seems like a
logical fit because you know it's it's on every single
hotel room and and you get the message out.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Have you had the chance to go to to anything else?
Have you been to watch your Chicago Bulls game?
Speaker 3 (05:06):
I've been to two, Pinty. I went one as a fan,
in one is working media.
Speaker 4 (05:10):
So I was there last night throwing a few questions
at Josh Guiney and the coach Billy Donovan. I was
pretty impressed with Josh Getty, giving that he's just this
Aussie kids, you know, six foot seven, but he just moves.
He's so slick with his movement and he's got a
bit of a clunky shot on him, but even that's improving.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
So he's a budding superstar.
Speaker 4 (05:32):
And even I asked Billy Donovan, you know what's the
ceiling and he goes, oh, he can be an All
Star for sure, which would make him the greatest ever
Ossie basketballer. I think if he goes, if he's heading
in that direction, and you know, it's a strange that
they're five and oh they're on a high, the Bulls.
But the one thing that I think kiwis will take back.
(05:52):
Take away from that is just how engaging an entire
night at the basketball is never a dull moment, always
thinking about the fans. And if you are ever watching
a basketball game, if you can, like I go on
NBA part and you can get the in stadium experience,
so you see kiss cam and look alike cam and
the whole lot, and it's actually it's kind of cool. Really,
(06:15):
it's a great way to watch sport as well on TV,
but in stadium it's hard to beat.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Absolutely all right, to finish our Baseball World Series Game seven,
deciding Game seven, top of the third at the moment,
still no runs between the Dodgers and the Blue Jays.
Are great that this is going the distance. Any predictions
who's lifting who's lifting the World Series in a couple
of hours or maybe a bit longer if the other
day's anything to go by.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
Look, the bases were loaded for Toronto and then they
didn't capitalize. So that feels to me that you cannot
give an opportunity show he's about to warm up to
come into bat, he's pitching as well.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
I mean, it's so box office, isn't it.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
This whole series is going to bring people to baseball
because you're watching really the greatest of all time. It's
a pretty great time in sport. I mean you and
I as football fans, we feel lucky to have watched,
you know, Lionel Messi and Ronaldo sort of jeweling right
over the past decade or so. Well, now baseball has
got that, it's got its moment, it's got an absolute superstar,
(07:19):
and now people will probably find out about all the
other stars and the sport because of him.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Absolutely right. Hey, thanks for joining us. I could hear
the sirens in the background. I presume they weren't. They
weren't for you, weren't for you. You haven't been some
of that.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Well, we don't know yet. Party.
Speaker 4 (07:35):
I'm just I'm not quite sure what I've done wrong,
but I did jaywalk earlier today.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
I'm not proud of myself, but I had places.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
To be travel safe.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
Mate.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
James McCarney joining us live from Chica Governor's regular slot
here on Weekend Sport.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fain, listen live
to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine
from NEWSTALKSB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Seven forty five, Saturday evening in Chicago. How's it looking,
James mcconi, Thanks for joining us.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
It's nippi in Chicago.
Speaker 4 (00:21):
I think the All Blacks are about to fly out
straight away, so they're not even going to enjoy the
nights here where they definitely deserve to enjoy a few
celebratory beverages because it was it was actually a pretty
good performance given that I think the ref was a
little bit dodgy and the first half was very stop start,
but hayy was the fourth quarter with the All Blacks dominated.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
It's what they've wandered for a long time.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Yep, that's the point we've been We've been saying over
and over back here, James. Good to know we're aligned
on this.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
But you're right.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
The last twenty minutes was what we used to expect
and love about the All Blacks. You know, a last
quarter performance that sealed Test match victories. What's what Soldier
Field like?
Speaker 4 (01:02):
By the way, it's kind of it's weird because it's
not really covered stands. As you can see, they just
sort of go up it's just almost a sheer drop
you wouldn't want to sort of like fall backwards. It's
like a one of those a Mayan sacrifice, you know,
and one of those pyramids from Apocalypto. Great movie by
the wall Mel Gibson five stars, but I I think
(01:25):
or he was a director. But really the atmosphere was
it was very pro Irish and then when the All
Blacks were struggling, you can actually sense the Ireland. The
Irish team were just hanging out in there and the
All Blacks really you would have noticed this, we're giving
them too many chances.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
There were tries that went begging and.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
If they lose this test, they'll hate the video analysis
because they left a few out there. But it was
more that the young ones who are starting to become
too mature as players. I was really happy for Peter Archy,
for Camroy Guard and Wallace Atisi coming on.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Just you know Peter Larkar. It's a tough it's a
tough gig that All Blacks number eight shirt.
Speaker 4 (02:10):
But yeah, he's he's definitely, he's definitely playing well.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
I know you're a big Simon Parker fan, but what
about t t Savia Lakeye six seven eight.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
Well, they're all they're not massive. You know, they're all
shorter than New Pony.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
And I know that you're you know, you're you're like
High Tower from Police Academy again, great movie.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
Five stars. But the thing is I think that really,
you know, Simon Parker.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
Is in there because he is a big body, that
that's a really solid lineout option. But games are about
finishers now, and that's what teams actually call their bench,
don't they, you know, the finishers, And I think you
need some of those players to come on when the
when the gaps appear. I actually think there are more
(02:58):
gaps even in the first half now, and and Razor
will be We'll be thinking of ways to exploit them
because you know, just even Damien McKenzie, a player like
him as perfect for when the game breaks up. So
as much as there's lots of DMAK fans out there,
it actually works him being off the bench.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
So Tz yes, like he could be.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
He looks like he's getting back to his best first
all back try.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
But I mean it worked for them.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
If they actually got stuff right in the first half,
they should have been well in the league.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
I thought as Chicago's I mean it's a big city.
What's got I think the city itself about two point
seven million, the wider metropolitan area nine and a half million.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
Was there?
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Like advertising was there? Was it obvious that there was
an All Blacks Island test match going on, you know
in the lead up to the game?
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Not really.
Speaker 4 (03:54):
And I even had a chet to David kirk good
old Kirky after the game, and I said, you know,
I think it's about time that that New Zealand rugby
and even Sky reached out to ESPN and said, look,
this is one of our big products and why not.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Why not do something with us? Why not collab?
Speaker 4 (04:15):
Because I think it was a little bit of a
too much of a willcap kept secret.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
It was all.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
Expats and rugby fans from around America coming, you know,
gathering really like a pilgrimage, but from the city you
couldn't really tell, not until today catching the the L
train that's the l as they call it, and going
to the game, could you actually see, Okay, this is
something big happening. But yeah, that's something that's to work on.
(04:43):
I think it's the if you really want to push
the brand, you should be trying to get it on
all the channels over here, but ESPN seems like a
logical fit because you know it's it's on every single
hotel room and and you get the message out.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Have you had the chance to go to to anything else?
Have you been to watch your Chicago Bulls game?
Speaker 3 (05:06):
I've been to two, Pinty. I went one as a fan,
in one is working media.
Speaker 4 (05:10):
So I was there last night throwing a few questions
at Josh Guiney and the coach Billy Donovan. I was
pretty impressed with Josh Getty, giving that he's just this
Aussie kids, you know, six foot seven, but he just moves.
He's so slick with his movement and he's got a
bit of a clunky shot on him, but even that's improving.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
So he's a budding superstar.
Speaker 4 (05:32):
And even I asked Billy Donovan, you know what's the
ceiling and he goes, oh, he can be an All
Star for sure, which would make him the greatest ever
Ossie basketballer. I think if he goes, if he's heading
in that direction, and you know, it's a strange that
they're five and oh they're on a high, the Bulls.
But the one thing that I think kiwis will take back.
(05:52):
Take away from that is just how engaging an entire
night at the basketball is never a dull moment, always
thinking about the fans. And if you are ever watching
a basketball game, if you can, like I go on
NBA part and you can get the in stadium experience,
so you see kiss cam and look alike cam and
the whole lot, and it's actually it's kind of cool. Really,
(06:15):
it's a great way to watch sport as well on TV,
but in stadium it's hard to beat.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Absolutely all right, to finish our Baseball World Series Game seven,
deciding Game seven, top of the third at the moment,
still no runs between the Dodgers and the Blue Jays.
Are great that this is going the distance. Any predictions
who's lifting who's lifting the World Series in a couple
of hours or maybe a bit longer if the other
day's anything to go by.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
Look, the bases were loaded for Toronto and then they
didn't capitalize. So that feels to me that you cannot
give an opportunity show he's about to warm up to
come into bat, he's pitching as well.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
I mean, it's so box office, isn't it.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
This whole series is going to bring people to baseball
because you're watching really the greatest of all time. It's
a pretty great time in sport. I mean you and
I as football fans, we feel lucky to have watched,
you know, Lionel Messi and Ronaldo sort of jeweling right
over the past decade or so. Well, now baseball has
got that, it's got its moment, it's got an absolute superstar,
(07:19):
and now people will probably find out about all the
other stars and the sport because of him.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Absolutely right. Hey, thanks for joining us. I could hear
the sirens in the background. I presume they weren't. They
weren't for you, weren't for you. You haven't been some
of that.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Well, we don't know yet. Party.
Speaker 4 (07:35):
I'm just I'm not quite sure what I've done wrong,
but I did jaywalk earlier today.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
I'm not proud of myself, but I had places.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
To be travel safe.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
Mate.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
James McCarney joining us live from Chica Governor's regular slot
here on Weekend Sport.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fain, listen live
to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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