Full Show Podcast: 21 December 2025

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks EDB, the only place to discuss the
biggest sports issues on and afterfield. It's all on weekends
Forward with Jason Vain on your home of sport.

Speaker 2 (00:25):
Use YORKSBB by the Cure to Good Afternoon. Welcome into
the Sunday edition of Weekend Sport on News Talks EDB.
Last one before Christmas, December twenty one, Happy forty eighth
birthday to fifty six test All Black and former All
Blacks assistant coach Leon McDonald. I'm Jason Pine Show produced
today by Isaiah Aberdingo. We're here till three talking sport.

(00:45):
What a time it's been for Kiwi skier Alice Robinson
to World Cup Giant slalom wins. Then last weekend she
won her maiden World Cup title in the fastest Super
G discipline. With the Winter Olympics fast approaching, this is
all looking very exciting for her. Alice Robinson on the
show today after one will also check in with General

(01:06):
Manaja of High Performance at Snowsports New Zealand Luke Hetzel
to get a wider view on his hopes for the
upcoming Winter Games, Alice Robinson has to be a huge
medal chance, so to Zoe Sadowski Sinnate, who's already of
course won three Winter Olympics medals. What about the others
on the roster? How optimistic I issy that this could

(01:28):
be our best Winter Games ever? First up today, though,
World Rugby will trial a lower legal tackle height during
the twenty twenty six Under twenty World Championship in Georgia.
World Rugby's Chief Player, Welfare and Rugby Services Officer Mark
Harrington is standing by the chat with us about this
major development? Are we headed this way in test rugby?

(01:51):
This has been trialed in the community game in many
countries around the world, including New Zealand's. Now it's going
into the Under twenty World Championship next year. So how
far down the path are we to this actually being
picked up at test level? I know you have some thoughts.
I'm very keen to hear those other matters around today.
Extraordinary performance from the Wellington Phoenix women yesterday their biggest

(02:14):
ever win seven nil over Sydney FC. Head coach Bev
Priestman with us. Can the men emulate the women when
they play the Central Coast Mariners this afternoon, while Phoenix
fans will certainly be hoping so. Captain Alex Rufer on
the show, and new Auckland FC signing and one of
our country's brightest young talents, Isa Prinz is also with
us to quite a bit of football for you after two.

(02:35):
We've also got some Auckland FC tickets to give away
for their game on New Year's Day. James mcconey is
along as well in his regular Sunday slot Live Sport
this afternoon. Test cricket on both sides of the Tasman
Day four of the third and final cricket Test between
the black Caps and West Indies under way at Bayoval.
As you heard in our Sports news to West Indies

(02:56):
all out for four hundred and twenty after resuming this
morning at three point eighty one for six. A pretty
good mop up job by New Zealand Jacob Duffy four
wickets a Jazz Betel three. That is a lead of
one hundred and fifty five with well over five sessions
remaining in this Test match. Regular updates from Andrew Alderson
at Bayoval. We're with them actually for the first time

(03:17):
this afternoon. In the next half hour or so and
across the Tasman. Day five of the Third Ashes Test
starts in about twenty minutes or so at the Adelaide Oval.
England resuming two hundred and seven for six in their
second innings, they need two hundred and twenty eight more
runs to win the Test and keep the Ashes alive.

(03:38):
Australia need just the four wickets to take an unassailable
three nil series lead. We'll keep eyes on that for
you this afternoon and get your live to Adelaide this
hour as well. Please join the Shaft if you would
like to, in whichever fashion suits you best. Lines open
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(04:02):
It is ten and a half past mid.

Speaker 1 (04:04):
Day analyzing every view from every angle in the Sporting
World Weekend Sport with Jason Viive Call eight hundred and
eighty eighty US Talk z eNB.

Speaker 2 (04:15):
World Rugby will trial a lower legal tackle height during
the twenty twenty six Under twenty World Championship in Georgia.
The tackle height will move from the shoulder to the sternum,
marking the first time this measure has been tested at
elite level. It follows two seasons of community trials across

(04:35):
eleven different countries, including New Zealand, which showed changes in
player behavior and reports from some unions of reduced concussion
rates over a single season. The Under twenty Championship will
also trial some associated law measures. To find out more.
We're joined by World Rugby's Chief Player Welfare and Rugby

(04:55):
Services Officer Mark Harrington. Mark, thanks for joining us here
on weekend Sport tell us about the results you've seen
in the community game in eleven countries, including ours, which
have led to you extending the trial of a lower
legal tekele height to the Under twenty World Championship next year.

Speaker 3 (05:14):
Yeah, good morning, Jason, and thanks for having me so listen.
We've known for a long time. There's a bit of
background that you know, if you look at a ball
carrier's body, the most dangerous place to be tackled is
kind of stern them upwards, so covering the head and neck.
The safest place is in the middle, you know, is
in the mid riff, and then kind of amber. If

(05:34):
you're looking at traffic lights would be hips and down.
So we've been striving for a while to see what
we can do to reduce the tackles in the most
dangerous area. So, in partnership with eleven major unions, so
all of the Sansai Unions and the Six Nations and Japan,
we undertook the biggest tackle study of its its kind.
So we analyze one hundred and fifty thousand tackles both

(05:57):
pre lower height and post lower height and the findings
we're telling actually so across all of those if you
aggregate all of the data, we found that in that
time we reduced the number in the red zone by
eight percent. We improved the number of ben at the
waste tacklers, so the technique that was improved in men

(06:18):
by by seven percent. And then obviously, whilst those numbers
aren't massive, if you if you roll that out over
all the games of community, that's significant.

Speaker 4 (06:28):
Amount of tackles per game.

Speaker 3 (06:30):
What it's also shown us in some countries that have
managed to complete their injury surveillance is big gains in
terms of normal injury but especially concussion. So in Irish
club rugby men's community reduced by fifty two percent and
the women twenty percent. We saw forty three percent reduction
in the Varsity Cup in South Africa and then smaller

(06:53):
but still benefits in England who published as well. There
have been some communities like Schoolboy Rugby in Ireland where
there's been no difference, but look there are variances across them.
And then we also seeing variants in what it means
to the game and the match metrics if you like.
So whilst there's been slight increase in the number of tackles,

(07:15):
there's been improvements in the number of passes, offloads and
general kicks in play.

Speaker 4 (07:22):
So there are some impacts on the game.

Speaker 3 (07:25):
Certainly the most positive come out of France who they
chose to go even lower than Stone and they went
to Waste, which is interesting that they've been at it
the longest they've been at this five years now.

Speaker 4 (07:35):
So yeah. Look, so the way we.

Speaker 3 (07:39):
Work in welld Rugby we have a number of stakeholder
engagement sessions, so we'll have like a shape of the
Game session each year where we have all of the
player voices, coaches, match officials, all of our committees, the
chief executives base it down and we catch up with
where the game's at we identify areas that need further exploration,

(08:00):
we might set up some working groups and we'll go
look at stuff. So there was a tackle height working
Group four with the likes of comrade Smith on it,
and they've been monitoring these community.

Speaker 4 (08:11):
Trials for a while.

Speaker 3 (08:13):
They were the feedback came back and the Community Rugby
Committee are happy. Now we're going to recommend that this
goes to fall law in the community game globally, and
the eleven unions who were part of the trial all
absolutely on board. So that answers one part of your question.
The other part the elite end, there has never been

(08:35):
a full trial in elite rugby. Part of the challenges
are certainly in the North, the players probably playing in
two or three at least different competitions, so it's very
difficult to flip flop between one trial and another. Part
of the reason for choosing the twenties is that the
young players involved will be involved competition wise.

Speaker 4 (08:57):
That's five six week competition.

Speaker 3 (08:59):
They'll probably have a month in the lead up, so
you're talking a dedicated ten to twelve week where they're
not hopping off to other competitions, so they can really
focus on this and when we pulled a group together
of coaches and match officials will be involved, the feedback
from the coaches was really positive. They were, you know,
a the young players have already been playing with a
lower tackle height essentially, and they felt over that ten

(09:21):
week window they could instigate real change. So yeah, look,
we're excited by it's it's interesting that it's not just
as simple as oh, it works in community, must work
in elite. We've outside of lower in the tackle height
in the last two three seasons because we track all
of elite rugby, we've actually seen really good improvements in

(09:43):
lower in the tackle and.

Speaker 4 (09:45):
Technique of the tackler.

Speaker 3 (09:47):
And look, though some of those numbers I talked about earlier,
we're seeing less upright tackles by about in the men's
game by about five percent, and we're seeing even better
bent at the waste results, so that's been positive. We
have to recognize the environment. Elite environment is very different.
Like whilst in commu unity you might have one reath,

(10:08):
you've got maybe a couple of hours practice a week.
In the elite environment, you know, they're in a daily
training environment.

Speaker 4 (10:15):
You've got specialist.

Speaker 3 (10:16):
Coaches, match day, you've got four or five match officials, cameras,
you've got medical specialists, you've got you know, all of
the HIA, coach intervention programs, all sorts of things around
the game. So the you know, we needed a harsher
lever for community. But what we don't know is if
you ally the daily training environment and the specialists alongside

(10:39):
a lower height, will that have even greater benefits. So look,
we're really really interested and genuinely open to seeing what
comes with this trial.

Speaker 2 (10:47):
Wow, well, fantastic overview, Mark. I'd like to just throw
all down into a couple of things. The other twenty
Championship also going to trial associated law measures. Now, whenever
we talk about lowering tech or heard on the radio,
there's always the people who say, what about situations close
to the line pickn go where applyer goes in you
can't tackle below the sternum and those situations you're making

(11:11):
allowances for that.

Speaker 3 (11:14):
Yeah, essentially, and again this came from those meetings I
mentioned with the coaches and match visuals. You know, we've
decided to take a very kind of common sense approach
to this.

Speaker 4 (11:25):
We know that.

Speaker 3 (11:27):
Pick and goes and often close contact try scoring, that
the are less prone to injury than other elements of
the game.

Speaker 4 (11:38):
So there's a couple of things we've done.

Speaker 3 (11:39):
We've said, where is a pick and go within a
meter or two of a ruck, then the same laws
don't apply.

Speaker 4 (11:46):
Think more about the sternham height.

Speaker 3 (11:48):
Being applicable in open field play, right and similarly in
the act of try scoring or trying to deny a try,
it won't apply. Then the other thing we've agreed to
do is, you know, we're trying to minimize the amount
that tmo's come in, so the tomos won't be check
to check all the way. They won't have the ability
to come in that so any decisions about a tackle

(12:10):
being too high will have to be made by the
on field referee with the support of his ars so
and the TML will just be left for acts of
foul play or try scoring. So that should should help
as well. Yeah, the other associated rule we've said is
double tacklers will be will both be you know, have

(12:32):
to respect the sternham. But if a second tackler comes
and wants to rip the ball or set them all up,
then that won't be deemed as a high shot. So yeah,
that we're trying to take as common sense approach to
this as we can.

Speaker 2 (12:44):
And rightly so. The other one I see here, Mark
is ball carriers who lead dangerously with their head will
be penalized. How is that going to be officiated? Because
ball carriers are coach, don't they They get their body
height nice and low.

Speaker 3 (12:58):
Absolutely, I think what we're looking at there are the
guys who who perhaps dip at the last minute, late
and low and lead with their head. That's what we're
trying to avoid because we know that's that scenario actually
puts football carrier in danger as well as his opponents.
So yeah, I mean where a guy is maybe there's

(13:19):
head contact, but he's leading with a with a fend
or there's a shoulder that absolutely carry on. I think
it's the rarity and the analysis we've done. You're only
talking less than one again, but there are certain players
who are prone to carry the ball in two hands
and literally lead with their head, and that that's because
we know that act is dangerous, we're going to try

(13:40):
and get rid of it.

Speaker 2 (13:42):
So is this a step along the path to changing
the law at e lite level?

Speaker 4 (13:48):
Jason, We genuinely don't know.

Speaker 3 (13:50):
Look, this is this will be a trial we'll see
what comes of it, if if off the back of it, and.

Speaker 4 (13:56):
Look, we'll analyze both.

Speaker 3 (13:57):
The game analytics will analyze the the metrics of you know,
all stuff like ball in play, past tackle rate, offloads.
We'll analyze the injury metrics, what does it do to
concussion rates and general injuries. The players will be wearing
instrumented mouthguards. They've done so the last couple of season,

(14:18):
so we'll also have a great idea of what it's
doing to the number of head acceleration events, the head impacts.
Does it reduce those and that will be quite compelling.
We'll do some stakeholder perception surveys so players, coaches, match
officials see what they think. And after all of that,
we'll get the dedicated groups like the tackle hype group,

(14:39):
like the high performance groups to consider them. And then
you know, it might be further down the track that
we look for more elite competition to try it in.
But look, we certainly won't be saying, oh the twenties
in Georgia was a great success.

Speaker 4 (14:53):
The whole elite game is going to change.

Speaker 3 (14:55):
This will be as it has to be, will be
a very careful and considered approach over a period of.

Speaker 2 (15:00):
Time, Mark, did you find that in the community leve
l trials there referees were pretty early on wanting to,
you know, to enforce these new rules, but then found
a middle ground. So some tackles, particularly low and pecked
ones in the chest, were not penalized.

Speaker 3 (15:19):
Absolutely that that's consistent across the globe. Actually, yeah, very
high sanction rate to begin with, and then that that
slowed over time. But I mean, look it's and you know,
some people get obsessed with, oh this tackle that contact
was below was above the line. Actually, if you think
about it, what we're actually trying to do. If the

(15:39):
tackle height is the shoulder and it goes wrong, you're
going to make head contact.

Speaker 5 (15:42):
Right.

Speaker 3 (15:43):
If the tackle height is the sternam and it goes
slightly wrong, you're going to make shoulder contact, which is
less dangerous than previously. So it's about adjusting the amount
of those big shots that go wrong up top, because look,
we know most of the head contacts in community anally
aren't purposeful, you know, they're just it might be a

(16:03):
timing issue somebody is there's a big change direction, something
changes in the split second two effect that when they're
initially aiming to tackle. So, yeah, it's your thoughts are
exactly right. Match hours in that space you.

Speaker 2 (16:18):
Talked before about the different tackle zones and the ember
zone below the waste. Now presumably this is for the
tekla rather than the ball carrier. So is there a
need for ongoing coaching of correct tackle technique below the
white so the players aren't getting their heads in the
wrong places.

Speaker 4 (16:37):
Absolutely?

Speaker 3 (16:37):
Yeah, you know, we we we hope through you know,
we've we've for a long time in the elite game
had a coach intervention program. So let's say a player
against a red card for a for head contact or
let's say he's been cited, they will, they'll they'll get
let's say they get four week four match ban, they
can they can get a reduction if the player and

(17:00):
the coach shows that they've done some there's been a
coach intervention to improve their technique, so that you know,
there's some great submissions from from the coaches and players
of both classroom and field based sessions to try and
improve their their technique and their decision making and lots
of reflection from the guys, and that that's been a
very positive and step. And look what we're really trying

(17:22):
to do is get a better tackle culture. But you
mentioned the if you like the amber zone, the the
hips downwards. We have seen an elite rugby a tendency
for sometimes the ball carrier and the tackler to both
lower in open field. Uh And and even if the

(17:45):
tackler goes in that amber zone hips down you know
that that can can lead the benefits that we talked
about earlier can be offset a little bit if everything
is too low, because knees and hips are also dangerous,
but not as dangerous as the worst. The most dangerous
tackle of all is upright high speed too. I think

(18:07):
offer line out off the top two players in midfield
out of control flying into each other. That that's what
the event we probably see as most injuries with.

Speaker 2 (18:17):
The lowering to the sternham. Then have you considered a
visual indicator of the sternham rather on on playing jerseys
to help out players in referees?

Speaker 4 (18:29):
Yeah, and it's been used in training certainly.

Speaker 3 (18:32):
The French are very proactive in pushing such at all.
Part of the challenge in the in the elite game
is obviously, you know, if you look at the twenties,
all of the unions have their own dedicated sponsors, which
that's prime space. There's a long leading to get manufacturers
to produce kit that may be something to look out

(18:53):
further down the track. But also the feedback from the
referees is if you have something so definitive as a line,
you make every single tackle decision very open to debate,
you know in the.

Speaker 2 (19:06):
Indeed, and finally mark from a wider sense, how do
you balance the very necessary focus on player welfare with
the unique character and physical nature of the game of
rugby that we all love to watch and the players
love to play.

Speaker 5 (19:25):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (19:25):
Look, part of our role at World Rugby is to
is to acknowledge the dangers that are inherent in the game.
Our job is to try and make the gamers as
safe as possible without getting rid of the fantastic elements
of contact and collision that are in there. So we
spend our life like looking at how can we develop

(19:48):
injury prevention programs, what can we do with the laws
that retain the spirit of the sport but yet make
players as safe as possible.

Speaker 4 (19:54):
And then you know, how do we work.

Speaker 3 (19:56):
With things like HIA to make sure the medical care
host event is as good as possible. Look, I must
say that the cooperation and support we get from Ends
and up employees like Steve Lancaster and Mike Caster in
the medical department Karen Rasmusum is excellent, so there's a
really good collaboration.

Speaker 2 (20:14):
Then great to hear Mark, You've given us a terrific
insight into what is to come. We'll look forward to
seeing the results of the Under twenty World Championship trial
next year and look forward to staying in touch. Thanks
for your time today, Merry.

Speaker 4 (20:27):
Christmas, pleasure, Jason, thanks very much, No.

Speaker 2 (20:30):
Thank you very much. Indeed, Mark, that is Mark Harrington,
World Rugby's Chief Player, Welfare and Rugby Services Officer. Very interesting,
your chance to react if you'd like, eight hundred eighty
ten eighty and it was a little bit of an
unseasonal time to be talking rugby. But this is a
topic which obviously has come into our consciousness in the
last week with the announcement of this that the tackle

(20:52):
height will be lowered from shoulder to sternham for the
Under twenty World Championship next year. Best part of what
I heard in that whole interview from Mark Harrington. No
TMO intervention on this rule because when I first heard it,
when I first heard that this was being done, my
immediate thought was that TMO intervention, which is already far

(21:17):
too regular, would be exacerbated even more. But no, as
Mark said, then all decisions on this rule are to
be made by the on field referee. Now, obviously, once
there's you know, the status quo will remain for headshots
for when contact has made with their head. But if

(21:38):
there is an adjudication to be made on whether a
player has tackled above the sternum, then that is for
the onfield referee only. Thank goodness for that, Thank goodness,
common sense will prevail there. So this will happen globally
going forward in the community game. Mark said that this

(21:58):
is going to be the new way in the community game.
Eleven different countries have tried it, including ours. The results
have been almost universally positive. So club rugby, school rugby,
everything below rep level, the tackle height. In the future
that's going to change. It'll be the sternum and then
community game. That is not the case ship but will be.

(22:20):
And so to the elite game. The big question around
this NPC Super Rugby Test Rugby, as Mark Harrington said,
they genuinely don't know whether this is a step along
the path to making the sternum the highest tackle point
in elite rugby. This is a very different environment, and

(22:45):
just because it works in the community game doesn't mean
that it'll work in the elite game. But having invested
all of this resource in trialing it in the community game,
and now expanding that trial to an elite competition the
under twenty World Championship next year, there is clearly an
appetite to see if this can be expanded into at

(23:10):
least parts of the elite game, if not the entire
elite game. Proof of the pudding will be how it's
interpreted by the referees. Now, the reading I've done is
that referees, as I mentioned to Mark, initially officiated this
really strictly. They were very very quick to penalize anything
in that area or just above that area. But then

(23:30):
they found a middle ground and they didn't necessarily penalize
low impact contact above the sternum. They found a happy medium. Look,
I think you have to commend World Rugby on looking
for ways to improve safety in the game, in particular
in the community game. If we just take test Rugby

(23:51):
super rugby out of it for a sec. I think
for the community game this is good, isn't it? For
amateur players, for players who play on a weekend but
have regular jobs and families and other things during the week,
I think this is a good thing. As Mark Harrington said,
if you get a tackle to the shoulders wrong, you

(24:11):
hit the head, get a tackle to the sternum wrong,
you hit the shoulders, that's clearly a better outcome. So
for the community game, big tick, very happy with it.
The elite game, what will it mean? Will there be
a feeling out period? Clearly you'd have to try it.
If they're going to move it into the elite game
at test level, well they're not going to have time
before the next World Cup. That's far too close. They
don't have enough time to get it all squared away

(24:34):
by then. I think a lot of people will be
watching with great interest what happens at the World Championship
next year and whether will we further expansion of this
keen you here thoughts. I eight hundred eighty ten eighty
is our number nine two nine to two for your text.
A few ticks coming through, but happy to kick this
around with you. I know it's nearly Christmas. I know
that there's lots of other things going on, but if

(24:55):
you do have the inclination pick up the phone. I
eight hundred eighty ten eighty twenty nine away from one
new stalk, sa'd be.

Speaker 1 (25:02):
The biggest things in sports are on weekends for it,
we'd say some time and GJ. Gunnerholmes, New Zealand's most
trusted home builder, News talks.

Speaker 2 (25:11):
They'd be news talks. There'll be twenty six to one
going to get you to bay Oval and also the
Adelaide Oval in the next twenty minutes or so. Australia
need four wickets to retain the Ashes. Meantime, New Zealander
building a lead at Bayoval. They're ten without loss and
their second innings a lead of one hundred and sixty
five with all ten second innings wickets in hand. Peter

(25:32):
says this assumes only ball runners get head injuries. I
got can cast more as a tackler when I played,
Thanks Pete. Yeah, and talking to Mark Harrington there clearly
there is work to be done, ongoing work to be
done around the tackler as well.

Speaker 6 (25:46):
Hello Phil, gooday pony, how are.

Speaker 2 (25:49):
You very good? Thanks mate? How you getting on?

Speaker 7 (25:52):
Not too bad? Thanks, not too bad. I thought I
heard you talking to the lady the Sunday Show when
she was doing before your show. I thought I was
going to be saying, oh, miss your show and tools
next year, But you're going right through.

Speaker 2 (26:08):
Yeah, yeah, I'm not taking phil. If you're not taking
a break from listening, then I won't take a break
from talking. How's that?

Speaker 7 (26:15):
That sounds good? You keep talking and I'll keep listening.

Speaker 2 (26:18):
Fair enough, mate, enough? What do you think about this?
What do you think about these these tackle height changes?
What are your initial thoughts having listened to Mark Harrington
at a World Rugby.

Speaker 7 (26:29):
Well, I just I'll put another little equipp in there
as well, pointing no rest for the work at as
they say, absolutely, yeah, no, I think it's quite good. Actually,
I quite like what they're doing. I thought that. I
thought that, you know, like you said, how it's gonna

(26:51):
work in elite rugby. They don't know at the stage,
but I think it's a good move in all other cases,
because I was thinking that the one thing that it'll
do too is it'll promote good habits when you go
into the elite rugby. You know of tackling, tackling lower

(27:13):
down and cutting out the high shot maybe the high
shot things. It will promote good technique in that, you know,
and safer technique as you go up the grades, which
if you're lucky enough to make it at an elite level,
which will then just naturally take into an elite level,
you know. So I thought that would be a good thing,
and that must be a good thing. With so many
countries trial and what was an eleven and have been

(27:34):
doing it for a while and mostly it's been a
pretty positive outcome.

Speaker 6 (27:39):
So yeah, I.

Speaker 7 (27:41):
Thought it can't do any harm, you know. And if
it's if it's gonna helicopter has just gone over, so
I hope that doesn't.

Speaker 8 (27:49):
No.

Speaker 2 (27:50):
Well, while it's there, I'm going to keep you on.
But you make a great point about learning tackle technique,
because obviously players coming through will start in the community game,
they'll start in club rugby, school rugby, and as you say,
the ones who progress will move into the elite system.
So even if this isn't expanded into the elite game,

(28:11):
the very fact that any new player to the game
will be learning to tackle stern him down, I think
is a good thing. Phil. I think you've landed on
a really good point there.

Speaker 7 (28:23):
Yeah, yeah, I think so. I I just blood he
lost me chain. I thought too, because I had a
couple of other things that were related to Oh, that's right,
you'll thank God for that's come back. The wise connectors reconnected.
And I thought it was a great thing too that
he said that the TMO is not going to have
any say in it, because, like you, I was thinking, Jesus,

(28:44):
the TMO got to say, and this will be stopping
every two minutes and be debating every second, you know,
every two seconds about whether tackle was figh or lower
above the threshold or whatever.

Speaker 9 (28:54):
You know.

Speaker 7 (28:54):
So I was thinking, that's great that the TMO is
not going to be involved as well.

Speaker 2 (28:59):
Yeah, that was the main thing for me, Phil, Honestly, Phil,
that was the main thing for me when I heard it.
I said that before when I heard about that, and
I thought, Okay, any change like this, any significant change
like this, I could just see, you know, endless stoppages
as as a TMO said to a referee, you might
want to look at that one that's above the sternum

(29:20):
or that's you know. I'm just so thankful that common
sense will prevail and I mean listen, female will still
you know a judge headshots that the referee misses, but
thank goodness, they're not going to be can't be able
to come in and say, hey, that one was you know,
a couple of centimeters above the sternum. If the referee
has had a good look at it and hasn't seen
anything wrong with it, then it's play on for me.

(29:40):
It is play on for me. Hey, pil I've got
to get to Andy and Adelaide. Hope you have a
great Christmas mate, No doubt we'll talk. We might even
talk next week before the new year. But I've enjoyed
your calls and your conversation immensely in twenty twenty five. Phil,
I hope you have a very relaxing we break. And
if you flick the phone down and flip the radio
back on, you'll hear your great mate Andy McDonnell, who

(30:00):
was currently watching the you'd have to think closing stages
of the retention of the ash Anne McDonald Adelaide Oval,
how's the weather today? Looks a bit cloudy on Telly.

Speaker 9 (30:11):
Biny I tell you what, this is the coldest twenty
four degrees I've ever been and I've been rocking thing
and studies all five days, avoiding maybe to avoid sunburn.
It's cool. I'd say it's a bit of a north westerly,
which is weird to say in Australia that it's cool,
but yeah, it is cool, a little bit of drizzle

(30:31):
and pretty dark. They've just put the lights on here
at the Oval, which has sort of almost come as
a bit of a bit of a shock to the
system to me. But it's I mean, I imagine conditions
like this will probably only only benefit the second new ball.
I forget to that point.

Speaker 2 (30:48):
You've got the full experience of the blazing heat and
now a bit of a cloud and the lights on
there at Adelaide. What on earth were England doing yesterday?
What on earth was Harry Brook doing yesterday? Can you
unpack that for me?

Speaker 9 (31:00):
Well, I've been asking myself for that for several years. Actually,
this is the thing with Harry Brook though, as it's
worked the whole time until until now, and the absolute
pressure cooker of trying to win the ashes from the
most unlikely spot. I look back to the Travis Hid
dropping Travis hit on ninety nine and I just think

(31:22):
if that cost them what seventy one runs. If they
were seventy one runs closer, shot like that will be
put away. They can easily defend that or actually leave that,
leave that ball. It's not it's not going to take
a wicket and he might still be out there being
Stokes would still get an absolute and absolute worldy of
a delivery from Nathan Lyons, so he'd be dismissed. But

(31:44):
those dismissals when you're trying to there's no more bigger
pressure than trying to win the ashes. And and if
you're doing that, whether you're back against the wall, but
a chance to break a record to stay alive in
the series, You've just got to really wonder where he
hits that and how much actually that he got to him.

Speaker 2 (32:04):
I'm just looking at the the stats runs and balls
faced and I know these are more middle to lower
order players than Jamie Smith and Will Jack's Smith nine
off thirty nine, Jack's eleven or forty one. They're probably
the least bas ball numbers you'll ever see from England batters,
regardless of where they are. They can't possibly win or

(32:25):
save this Test, can they?

Speaker 9 (32:29):
I might not leave Adelaide if they somehow win this Test,
so I might actually be sharing for them so in
the Test because love in the city, but I can't
see it happening. An interesting note on those basbeall numbers.
I'm pretty sure Zach Crawley, the poster boy for basball,
got eighty five years today. But he started his sinning
to one off I think about twenty eight balls. So

(32:50):
you don't need basballs and shouldn't be about heading from
ball one. You don't need to put the pressure on immediately.
You've actually it's a Test match. You've got time to
play yourself into the game. And he had a how
an innings unfortunately came to an end, and I can't
help but think his wicket as well, possibly was one

(33:11):
that probably wouldn't have fallen if he didn't have the
pressure of four hundred and thirty oddj jects. If it
was just three hundred and sixty then then it would
have been a lot better.

Speaker 2 (33:21):
Indeed, I've got to get to waters at bay Oval.
You'll have noticed that I've gone orders you have. You've
led all this. I didn't want to throw you over
that bus again two days in a row. By having
what I must say, I must say as far as
a as a cricket report goes, it's right up there.
In fact, if this game is still going in a
couple of hours, I might get you back on two

(33:42):
fifteen for six. Currently England they need four thirty five.
Australia need four wickets. Anny McDonnell live at the Adelaide
Oval for US Normal Show producer now I Show corresponded
in South Australia. Good to chat to you mate, seventeen
to one. We'll take a break and come back and
get to Bay Oval where Andrew Ordison will update us
on the fourth day of the black Caps against the

(34:02):
West Indies.

Speaker 1 (34:03):
Don't get caught up side weekends for us with Jason
Pain and GJ. Guvnerhops New Zealand's most trusted home builder.

Speaker 2 (34:12):
News Dogs ENV fourteen away from one Bay Oval in
Mount Morganu and New Zealand twenty five without loss in
their second innings a lead of one hundred and eighty
after bowling the West Indies out this morning in their
first innings for four hundred and twenty. Andrew Ordison is
our man then Mount Morganui. Before we talk about what
might be set in terms of a total orders, tell
us about the new Zealand bowling effort today to snare

(34:34):
those last four West Indies wickets fairly.

Speaker 10 (34:36):
Quickly grettings finey, Yes, I thought, well some of the
highlights probably Jacob Duffy, who's really taken on this spearhead
roll with the attack if you like, and ending up
with what four for eighty six and his thirty five overs,
but coming and giving a couple quick clickings so early,
and then I just fortell I was able to get
one Michael Ray another to wrap it up. But I

(34:59):
think Duffy's just ended that venam. I suppose it was
needed and in a bit of impetus to move that
innings on. From the Western News perspective, Shay Hope coming
to the wicket, tottering to the wicket if you like,
after this food poisoning Bout was only able to add
four before hooking and it was caught by Zach Folks
at a fine leg. But I think if you're looking

(35:19):
ahead in this Test match, promising signs from news end
have been three four, one hundred and thirteen from forty
one overs. Ags Ptel has left arm orthodox and the
pitch at the mount end or at least Hotel bowling
from the city end towards the mountains starting to break
up now and some variable bounc here a couple of

(35:40):
popping couple keeping low, and I think that bodes well
for New Zealand's chances bowling in that four thinnings.

Speaker 2 (35:46):
It's a small example size, only five previous test matches
at bay Over the highest fourth innings total there is
two seventy one all out by Pakistan in late twenty
twenty the summer of twenty twenty one. What should New
Zealand look to set.

Speaker 5 (36:01):
Well?

Speaker 10 (36:02):
Look, I think it's almost the time factor Piney. To
be honest, I would think they will want least three
and a half sessions at the West Indies given it's
meant to be fine with the tomorrow. So I'm thinking
they'd probably have an hour at the West Indies tonight
and if they go to decent tempo they should be
able to they get another couple of hundred from here,
they'd have three eighty at least. They would actually be

(36:22):
well enough just from what you say there with fourth
in things chases and small sample sizes, but it might
be enough of a hint or a bit of sort
of a whiff or a cent for the West Indians
as well, given how well they have battered over the
course of this tour. So I would think it's more
the time based scenario.

Speaker 2 (36:40):
Could the West Indies win this teast match, Yes.

Speaker 10 (36:44):
I think they could, might depend on Shay Hopes well
being or his fitness or from having overcome this food poisoning,
or you think about what Justin Graves has achieved over
the course of the serials as well, with certainly some
pluck in that West Indies lineup. So that's why I
think the black Caps have want to be well assured

(37:04):
of what they have but on the board and if
you're able to get these runs I mean open it's
pretty solid so far as they saw as they were
able to produce them the first thing twenty five without Moss,
Conway and Lake and Conway, seventeen late and five, and
I think I'll just keep on in that manner in
the next three while hitting to lunch.

Speaker 2 (37:24):
And I know you have to do some lunch filing
for our ZB network, but can you just talk a
little bit about js pttel eighty five wickets off. Sure
he finally got one on home sal yesterday, dded another couple.
He must have been pretty pleased, was he to break
that duck of home wickets?

Speaker 10 (37:41):
Well, I think the smile said at all at the
press conference after they's played.

Speaker 7 (37:45):
It's the sure for as Betel.

Speaker 10 (37:46):
I mean, he's been waiting for that one for some
time and it was a real anomaly, wasn't it, just
given what he has achieved overseas and in buying New
Zealand to that Test victory in Mumbai, but also of
course with the fourteen wickets in the other game there
with the ten for one hundred and ninety. But he
was just I think that's been praying on his mind

(38:07):
for a long time and that was just great to
see m be able to actually achieve that goal. And
I think it's unshackled them but two and he's taken
three in the first things here and I expect a
lot more from in the second things as well. I
think he's got them and it's sort of playing into
his strengths if you like with it breaking.

Speaker 2 (38:24):
Up orders off to other duties for you. Thanks mate
as always for joining us. We'll get you in a
couple of hours as well. As New Zealand continue to
build a lead in their second innings there twenty five
without loss, or just being played through the covers, which
might reach the band of twenty nine without loss. Lay
them on five Conway, who seems to have rediscovered some
of his best forms now unbeaten on twenty one New

(38:45):
Zealand twenty nine without loss. This is in their second things.
Of course, really impressive to get through the West Indies
for four hundred and twenty in double quick time this
morning to give themselves, as Andrews said, the most time
to set a total. So as I say, there haven't
been that many test matches at bay Oval. This is
only the sixth one and in that time clearly there

(39:07):
have only been I don't think in fact all four tests,
all sixcess having gone to a fourth inning. So like
I say, Pakistan may two seventy one there in the
fourth innings in the summer of twenty twenty twenty twenty one.
As Andrews said, if New Zealand can bat through to
let's say Tea or just after, they should have a
healthy lead. They lead by one to eighty four at

(39:27):
the moment another couple one hundred, be close to four hundred.
That should be more than enough, more than enough, and
give them what a little bit of the last session
today and all of tomorrow to try and bowl the
West and he's out eight away from one. News talks dB.

Speaker 1 (39:44):
The Scoon from the track fields and the court on
your home of sort the weekend sport.

Speaker 2 (39:49):
Where's Jason Vine?

Speaker 5 (39:50):
The US talks eNB.

Speaker 2 (39:51):
It's five to one. Just keeping eyes on what's happening
in Adelaide as well. This is probably the best England's
bad at all series. These two are Jamie Smith the
wicket keeper and Will Jacks, the spinning all rounder. What
have they added so far? Six one ninety four of
our I did thirty eight for the seventh wicket, two
hundred and thirty two for six currently. Wouldn't it be

(40:12):
great if England won this Test match? They could. They've
got enough time. I mean, if they stay out there
all day, they'll win the Test. They only need another
couple of hundred, must say, only another couple of hundred
and there's plenty of overs. They need two hundred and
three runs and there's eighty three overs. It's not even
three and over. It's just staying out there that's the issue.
But that would be enormous for the narrative of the ashes.

(40:34):
If somehow England could win this Test. We'll keep eyes
on it for you, and no doubt I've completely jinxed
it now. There'll be a couple of wickets over the
news break and I'll report back afterwards that England are
close to losing the Test thirty four. With that last
meantime New Zealand as they continue to build a lead
in their second innings up at Bay Oval in Mount Montnganuy,

(40:56):
with Devon Conway and Tom Latham of course together at
the crease, another boundary off the bat of Devon Conway
through the cover area. He's looking very very good, Devin Conway.
Great to see him return to form. After one o'clock
we're going to go Winter Olympics, a double dose of
Winter Olympics for you. Alice Robinson is our guest straight
after one o'clock. She is having a terrific time of

(41:17):
things at the moment. Giant slalom wins and also a
first ever Super g win for Alice Robinson last weekend
in Switzerland and also joined by the head of high
Performance at snow Sports New Zealand, Luke Hetzel. He's going
to talk to us about the hopes for New Zealand
at the upcoming Winter Games.

Speaker 1 (41:38):
The only place for the big names, the big issues,
the big controversies, and the big conversations. It's all on
Weekend Sport with Jason Pin on your home of Sport
News Talks. It be.

Speaker 2 (41:55):
Hi there one O seven. This is Weekend Sport until three.
I'm Jason Pine. Isaiah Aberdingo is producing the show today,
snow Sports this Hour. Alice Robinson standing by the chat
to us. We'll also get a wide of you from
the head of high Performance at Snowsports New Zealand, Luke Hetzel.
Alice Robinson looking a real chance, a real chance for

(42:16):
a medal at the very least at the Winter Games,
and who knows what color might be. Zoe Sadowski Senators
going back again for a will her fourth games? Will
it be her fourth games? Maybe? Third?

Speaker 11 (42:27):
No?

Speaker 2 (42:28):
Third? Third? God, I don't think she would have been
around long enough for that. But she's won medals, a
bronze in twenty eighteen and a gold and a silver
in twenty twenty two. Say you're the last. This is
a third game, Zoe, so she's got to be a
chance again. But what about the others, the ones we
haven't heard of the ones, or we might have heard

(42:48):
of but might be pushing for a podium place. Luke
Hetzel on that James mccony in studio this hour as well.
I hope your Christmas shopping's going well if that's what
you're involved in. Look, I hope we can help you
get from place to place. As I said yesterday, if
you just want to hang out in the car and
listen to us, great Whilst I mean, if you're buy yourself,
that probably doesn't help much with the Christmas shopping. But

(43:08):
if there's a team of you and you'd rather let
the rest of the team go and do it, look,
just stay with us, happy to keep you occupied while
the Christmas shopping is done by other people. Australia looking
for four wickets to retain the Ashes two forty one
for six England. They are now within two hundred. They
only need four hundred and thirty five. So what's that

(43:31):
another one hundred and ninety four runs to win, right,
one hundred ninety four they're six down. Jacks and Smith
are starting to mount a case. There's a bit of
light drizzle falling in Adelaide as well, just to make
things interesting. So we'll keep eyes on that for you.
And as you heard during our Sports News lunch at
Bay Oval on day four of the last or the
third and final Test between the black Caps in the

(43:51):
West Indies, New Zealand are thirty five without loss at lunch.
That is a lead currently of one hundred and ninety
with all ten second innings wickets and hand and five
fall sessions remaining in this Test match. Now, before we move,
if you're going to be around Auckland on New Year's Day,
we have for you six tickets to potentially win to

(44:14):
go along to watch Auckland FC take on the Newcastle
Jets at go Media Stadium. It's on New Year's Day,
January one. So if you are going to be there,
we can't get you to Auckland, but if you are
going to be in and around there, we'd love to
put you in the draw for these tickets. All you
have to do pretty simple text AFC and your name
to nine two nine two. That's it, AFC. Your name

(44:36):
to nine two nine two. You're in the draw. Wall
back to draw. I think tomorrow. I think I got
the word that tomorrow the draw will be made. You'll
know before Christmas whether you've got the six tickets or
not go Media Stadium Auckland f C against Newcastle Jets
AFC and your name to nine two niney two will
put you into the draw. With the Winter Olympics fast approaching,
what a time it has been recently for Kiwi skier

(44:59):
Alice Robinson FIS World Cup Giant slalom wins at Copper
Mountain in the United States and Plants in Canada, and
a second podium in Canada as well to lead the
Giant slalom standings after four of ten events, and then
last weekend she won her maiden World Cup title in
the faster Super G discipline at Saint Maritz in Switzerland,

(45:22):
the first ever Super G World Cup podium let alone
win by a New Zealander.

Speaker 5 (45:29):
Robertson's nailed.

Speaker 12 (45:30):
Robertson undiges margin and arlist Robinson. We'll take the lead
here today by.

Speaker 5 (45:36):
A touch free mile.

Speaker 2 (45:38):
It's you see it, It's again, Alice Robinson joins us
on Weekend Sport. Can we start with that super G
one your first ever? How significant was it to win
your first Super G World Cup title?

Speaker 10 (45:54):
Hi?

Speaker 13 (45:54):
Thanks for chatting. No, it was amazing, it was Yeah,
I mean, SUPERG.

Speaker 8 (46:00):
It's something I've been kind of chipping away out in
the background for a few years now, and I feel
like I've never had a run that I was just like, Wow,
that was awesome with no mistakes. You know, it's really tough,
it's different, it's fast, it's only one run, and yeah,
to get a win in the first race, I was
not expecting it at all, and I just had such

(46:20):
a good feeling on the day. I didn't wasn't scared
at all.

Speaker 13 (46:22):
I just really wanted to go.

Speaker 2 (46:23):
For it so good. So, just for the benefit of
our listeners, super G has widely spaced gates for higher speeds,
while Giant Slalom has closer gates, more technical, tighter turns.
You've been doing Super G for a while, but this
was your first podium, let alone your first wins. So
he's your focus on the Giant Slalom being in some
ways at the expense of your Super G racing.

Speaker 8 (46:47):
Yeah, I think obviously GS has always been has been
my priority, just because it's been my main event, and
I was never going.

Speaker 13 (46:53):
To sacrifice GS results for Super G.

Speaker 8 (46:56):
But I have been shipping away and it's different because
you know you're going up to like one hundred and
twenty k's you've got big jumps, so it's and every
is so different, it's hard.

Speaker 13 (47:09):
To be consistent. In Sufuji, I would say, And.

Speaker 8 (47:12):
I think everything just lined up on Sunday for It's
be a really great day for me.

Speaker 13 (47:17):
And you know, I've put in a few good training
days on.

Speaker 8 (47:20):
It and I've felt so solid just from my gs
as well. And I did the downhill as a bit
of training for Sufigi too, and I just really felt
like I was in a good spot.

Speaker 13 (47:29):
Yeah, it was like the day for me.

Speaker 2 (47:30):
I think, well, it certainly was. You ended up on
top of the podium and in your giant slalom wins.
What a start to the World Cup season it's been
for you, Alis. Why are things going so well?

Speaker 13 (47:42):
Honestly? Yeah, I mean this is a lot of people
have asked me this and I don't really have an answer.
I think it's just kind of been.

Speaker 8 (47:48):
We haven't really done anything that special this offseason. I
think everyone's just been working really hard, my whole team
on trying to just you know, everything no stone goes unturned.

Speaker 13 (47:58):
I think we had a great you know, I worked
really hard in the gym this off season.

Speaker 8 (48:01):
And then we also had an amazing prep period in
New Zealand summer training. I think we had better conditions
than we've had in the previous years, and I think everyone's.

Speaker 13 (48:10):
Just been putting in so much effort to make.

Speaker 8 (48:12):
Everything as the best it can be. And I think
this is just kind of a show of you know,
all of us putting in all the work and just
you know, accumulation two.

Speaker 13 (48:21):
Of consistent results over the last couple of years.

Speaker 8 (48:24):
And then mixing in you know, better training, more training,
and everything's just starting to work out.

Speaker 2 (48:29):
Yeah. Well, your timing is absolutely impeccable. With the Winter
Olympics fast approaching in the first couple of months of
next year, there will be your third Winter Olympics. Will
it help that you're a bit more familiar with the
conditions in Melanaquotina compared to the last two games in
Korea and in China.

Speaker 13 (48:48):
Yeah, I think I'm so. I have such a different
feeling going.

Speaker 8 (48:51):
Into these Olympics than I did the previous too. I
think also just being a different stage of my career.
I think the first ones I found out I was
going when I was sixteen, like two weeks before the
second Olympics was a bit of a disaster.

Speaker 13 (49:03):
Year for me during COVID. You know, I got COVID
just before the Olympics and just wasn't really in a
good I was not in shape heading to the Olympics.
And it was also in career.

Speaker 8 (49:13):
In China, which were two completely.

Speaker 13 (49:16):
Foreign places for ski races.

Speaker 8 (49:17):
I never raced there in either of them before getting there,
And I think Cortina it feels so almost like a
second The dollar mights me.

Speaker 13 (49:24):
I've spent so much time now they almost be like
a second home.

Speaker 8 (49:28):
It's a beautiful part of the world. It's just a
place I'm really familiar with. You know, we raced there
every year. So I'm definitely heading to Cortina with slightly
different the last two Olympics.

Speaker 2 (49:38):
And will you compete in both Giant slalom and Super
g at the Winter Games.

Speaker 13 (49:43):
Yeah, yeah, that's a plan.

Speaker 5 (49:44):
Good.

Speaker 2 (49:44):
Good to hear. You have a connection, of course with
an Aaliza Coberger, who became the first athlete from the
Southern Hemisphere to win a meddle at the Winter Games
when she won silver for New Zealand and the slalom
in France in nineteen ninety two. She is the sister
of your coach, so surely you emulate her or even
go one better thirty four years later.

Speaker 13 (50:06):
I mean I would love to.

Speaker 8 (50:07):
I think, yeah, honestly, that connection is so special, and
I mean, for sure, going to Olympics, my goal is
to is to where I think everyone's go going to
Olympics is that? And I think, you know, there's still
a lot of I mean, I mean like there's still
like two months.

Speaker 13 (50:21):
To wear there, so I've got to kind of.

Speaker 8 (50:23):
Keep my head down and just stay focused on the
races coming up in the training and just try and
go to Cortina with a clear, confident head.

Speaker 2 (50:30):
If we go back to the start of your career,
it would be fair to say you burst onto the scene.
You won your first World Cup giant slalom event in
twenty nineteen. You were only seventeen years of age. Then
alis did that happen earlier than you had imagined it might?

Speaker 13 (50:45):
Yeah, for sure, I think I was.

Speaker 8 (50:47):
I think I came onto the World Cup just with
so much talent as a youngster, and I won so soon.

Speaker 13 (50:53):
It was like it.

Speaker 8 (50:54):
Almost made it seem so easy for me because it
happened so quickly. But yeah, it was not expected at all.
I think that kind of propelled me into, you know,
professional sports so quickly, and there.

Speaker 13 (51:06):
Are any things that you have to learn along the
way that differently.

Speaker 8 (51:08):
It's not a linear pass. It hasn't been a linear
pass since then at all.

Speaker 2 (51:12):
Well, it tortinly was to start with, though, wasn't it.
You had five giant slalom podiums in your first two years,
including three wins, but then no podiums for two and
a half years before a second placing at Killington in
the United States in November of twenty twenty three. So
our challenging was that podiumless period for you?

Speaker 13 (51:35):
Yeah, it was really tough.

Speaker 8 (51:37):
It was definitely I hit like my rock bottom I
would say, maybe not rock bottom, but I fell out
of the top thirty in GS after the Olympics.

Speaker 13 (51:45):
I think that whole year was challenged.

Speaker 8 (51:47):
Was that whole year was quite challenging for me, and
I think I then switched equipment and then I was
kind of just trying to build my way back up
to the following year. And then I think after that
following year, I got Nils and Tim the KEYWI coaches back,
and that's when I kind of started hitting the podium
again consistently, and then since then it's just kind of
been building together as a team and you know, learning

(52:08):
more and more about my skiing and growing up too
and maturing and figuring out my processes and what.

Speaker 13 (52:14):
Makes me ski fast. So for sure, it's been.

Speaker 8 (52:19):
A crazy start to my career, a little dip, and
now I feel like I'm kind of hitting.

Speaker 13 (52:22):
My strides again.

Speaker 2 (52:23):
Meil, it was a really successful period after that podium
in the US, several more podiums across twenty twenty four
into January of this year where you won at kron
Plutz in Italy. I remember you've been very emotional after that,
your first race win in nearly four years. How significant
and emotional a moment was that for you?

Speaker 13 (52:45):
Yeah, it was very emotional.

Speaker 8 (52:46):
I think, you know, i'd been hadn't one in nearly
four years, and it just kind of reminded me of
the hard times during a you know, the at that
like Olympic.

Speaker 13 (52:57):
Year, when I just the thought of ever winning.

Speaker 8 (53:00):
A race just felt so impossible with how low I
was and how hard everything seemed. To kind of see
myself watch myself back, kind of rebuilding my foundation and
my love for skiing and my drive to competition again
and to finally get back to where I wanted to be.

Speaker 2 (53:17):
Just was so special during the most challenging times. Did
there come a point where you just didn't enjoy ski
racing anymore?

Speaker 13 (53:25):
Yeah, for sure.

Speaker 8 (53:26):
I think when people are struggling in sport, like there
was days where I really didn't want to go. I
remember after Olympics, I really didn't want to keep skiing
for the rest of the season because I was just
so kind of destroyed.

Speaker 13 (53:36):
But you just had to.

Speaker 8 (53:37):
And I was strong enough that I just kept picking
myself up and giving it a crack even if it
didn't work out.

Speaker 13 (53:43):
I kept I didn't miss any.

Speaker 8 (53:44):
Races, I didn't skip any trainings.

Speaker 13 (53:47):
I just kept showing up even if.

Speaker 8 (53:49):
The results weren't there, which I'm really proud of myself
looking back on it now, And yeah, I mean that's
when I kind of now I love racing and competing
and everything so much it's hard to look back on.

Speaker 2 (54:01):
Yeah, well, you're well and truly out the other side now.
World Championships in Februry and Austra silver medal the final
of the World Cup Giant Slalom in Sun Valley, your
second in the overall season standings. You've started this season.
As we've mentioned brilliantly, this all feels like it's coming
together at the right time. Do you feel as though
the next few months could be really significant for you?

Speaker 8 (54:25):
Yeah, I mean, for sure, there's so many incredible opportunities
coming up, and so many chances to do some really
special things. But I guess to me, I'm just kind
of trying to focus on each week as it comes
and not looking too far ahead and not thinking about
what's going to be happening at the end of the
season with globes, or looking too far into February. I'm

(54:45):
just trying to take each week as it comes and
just keep producing really good skiing, and then I'm sure
the rest will take care of itself.

Speaker 2 (54:51):
Yeah. The globe you mentioned there, the Crystal Globe, of course,
for a season long giant slalom championship. I know this
is probably an impossible question to answer, but would you
rather win that or a Winter Olympics gold medal, which
would mean more?

Speaker 8 (55:07):
I know ever I've been asked this, and honestly, it's
it's really tough because they both mean such different things.
I think, you know the Olympics is you have that
kind of recognition from outside the.

Speaker 13 (55:21):
Sport because it's an Olympics gold medal.

Speaker 8 (55:25):
But I think true sports fans know that it's more
of a feat and more impressive to win a crystal
globe because it's you're the best over the whole seat,
over ten races, not just one day.

Speaker 13 (55:37):
So I think if you're a die hard.

Speaker 8 (55:38):
Ski racing fan, you'd be more impressed.

Speaker 13 (55:40):
By a crystal globe. But obviously just.

Speaker 8 (55:41):
The kind of blingbling of the Olympics gold.

Speaker 13 (55:44):
Medal is really special too.

Speaker 8 (55:47):
So obviously it's really hard to decide, but I think
for me, with looking at my own skiing, i'd probably
rather have a crystal globe because I know that it's
harder to get.

Speaker 2 (55:55):
Yeah, well it's just a hypothetical question. Of course, you
don't have to decide, you just go and when both don't.

Speaker 13 (55:58):
You that'd be nice.

Speaker 2 (56:01):
Yeah, who knows what might lie here? Ellis, It's been
such a pleasure adding to you. Congratulations on your stunning
recent form and ahead of a very exciting time, we
just can't wait to see how you go across the
rest of this northern winter and of course at the
Winter Olympics as well. Thanks so much for chatting to us.

Speaker 13 (56:18):
Today, No worries, Thank you, Bye.

Speaker 2 (56:21):
Bye bye, Alice. Thanks so much. Alice Robinson there, what
a delight she is and what a triumph of resilience
and not giving up. That was a long period without
podiums for her, and without World Cup wins and the
Giant Slam. What was it four years between winds, two
and a half years without even getting on the podium,

(56:42):
dropping out of the world's top thirty after such an
amazing start. There's such a young skier to then come
up against that sort of versity, to fight through it.
As you heard her say, there were times you didn't
want to go, just didn't want to train today, I
didn't want to do it anymore, but battled on and
is now reaping the rewards of that. Just just love

(57:04):
stories like that, love story like that. Alice Robinson has
to be a huge, huge chance, doesn't she at the
Winter Olympics. Luke Hetzel is the head of pipe performance
at snow Sports New Zealand, going to have a chat
to him very shortly about not only Alice Robinson but
the other kiwis who might feature at the Winter Games
in terms of podium chances. It's just raining ever so

(57:27):
slightly at the Adelaide Oval, so they're off for a bit.
It's not I've just had a look at the TV pictures.
It was just a shower that passed through. They got
the covers on, but I can see a lot of
blue sky and sunshine, so they'll be back out there soon.
This I don't know. I don't. I seriously don't want
to jinx it. I probably did be four, but England
need one hundred and ninety four more runs. There are
still eighty overs to go, so they don't even need

(57:51):
to go at three and over. They just need to
go two and a bit over and they will win
this test match. They are six down, but the two
at the crease are showing probably more fight and more
resilient and more backbone than a lot of England batters have,
not only in this test, but in the series. Jamie

(58:13):
Smith is there on twenty five, not out. Will Jacks
is unbeaten on twenty one. They came together at one
ninety four for six, so they're closing in on a
fifty partnership and these two combat. Jamie Smith has a
test high score of one hundred and eighty four not
out couple of Test hundreds and six further Test fifties.
He's got close to five thousand first class runs, so

(58:36):
Jamie Smith's credentials are certainly pretty impressive and will jacks.
While he hasn't played a lot of Test cricket, this
is only I think his third Test match in first
class cricket, He's got four first class hundreds and an
average of close to thirty five, so he is well
and truly and all rounder. So who knows? He who

(59:00):
knows two forty one for six are further one hundred
and ninety four needed for victory. Let's hope they get
back out there soon and yeah, this could be a
fairly intriguing watch. Having said that Nathan Lyon might get
them both out soon and all of a sudden it's
a very different story. We'll let you know what happens.
One twenty four News Talks here, be back with more
from our snow Sports head of High Performance.

Speaker 1 (59:23):
After this the Voice of Sport on your home of
Sport Weekend Sport with Jason Kyne gj Gunnos, New Zealand's
most trusted oh Builder News TALKSB.

Speaker 2 (59:34):
News Talks B one twenty seven. Luke Hetzel is General
manager of high Performance at snow Sports New Zealand. Look,
thanks for joining us on Weekend Sport. We've just heard
from Alice Robinson. Clearly she's doing amazing things as the
Winter Olympics draw closer. How excited are you about her
recent form?

Speaker 6 (59:52):
Yeah, we're well, I've still digesting, really, so Alice has
had quite a run with giant slalom and on an
absolute tear and tracking really well for the Olympics, and
then all of a sudden first place in Super G
and kind of proving she's a double double metal threat
and first podium and that discipline and yeah, yeah, digesting

(01:00:15):
really it's awesome.

Speaker 2 (01:00:16):
It really is. You've kind of alluded to my next question.
She's obviously a huge chance in the giant slalom, which
I guess you'd call her specialist event, but might she
also contend for the podium and Super G.

Speaker 6 (01:00:31):
Yeah, so Alice has been really focused on giant slalom
this Olympic quad, but she said she had quite a
history of Super G as well, and with the coaching
team she was with in the last Olympic squad. She
put a fair bit of effort into super G, so
a lot of experience there, and you know it's it's
not they are different sports. Superg's fat, disciplined, Supergs faster

(01:00:55):
and things are spaced out a little bit more. But yeah,
she's still Alice Robinson, She's still on skis, so they're
not so far different that we wouldn't see cross over
skill and we've seen that now it's the podium so
so you know it's not the same as GS. She
hasn't done ten podiums in a row or wherever, see
that now, but certainly put herself on the radar.

Speaker 2 (01:01:18):
And chatting to her, she seemed to think, and I
guess it's natural that the location of these games, Milan
Cortina is going to be a lot more familiar than
the last two in China and in South Korea. Will
that also be the case for the other athletes who
go from a New Zealand point of view, more familiarity
with those conditions.

Speaker 6 (01:01:39):
Yes and no, so the park and pipe athletes, all
of the facilities are brand new builds, so no one
skied there before, and usually organizers build the course or
our course in those venues the year before and we
have what's called a test event, so they make sure
the cameras work and that security works and things like that.

Speaker 10 (01:02:01):
But we didn't.

Speaker 6 (01:02:01):
We didn't get that the squad. So it's a familiar
location in the world. We're close to Switzerland where we
do quite a bit of training, but brand new courses.
You know, we haven't stayed in Levino before. So yeah, yes, and.

Speaker 2 (01:02:18):
No Snowboard has always said, ASKI Senate already has three
Olympic Middles incredibles. She's gone half of all of our
Winter Olympic Middles, one of h KLA. I mean, you
must feel confident that she can add to that hole
in the in the big air and slip stall.

Speaker 6 (01:02:35):
Yeah, yeah, of course. You know, there's always a really
established competitor and when when she's at World Cups or
World Champs or Olympics, you're you know, you're you're optimistic.
But yeah, she's taken things extremely seriously. She's got some
stiff competition, so she and her coach Sean are working

(01:02:57):
really hard to make sure she peaks at the Games.
And you know that's why you'll hear hit the ground
running in the new year. And she's been really focused
on making sure she's in that fighting fitnition to get
a peak in Milan in venue.

Speaker 2 (01:03:09):
It seems like she's been around for Reva. I guess
she was very young when she when she won too
bronze middle in twenty eighteen. But here she is still,
you know, doing amazing things. And your experience, Luke, you know,
what is the lifespan, like, could she go to another
Winter Olympics two more? What's the situation there?

Speaker 6 (01:03:27):
Yeah, so what we generally see with parking pipe athletes
as they do achieve at an early age, sixteen's a
little earlier than normal. But you know, Zoe's not. She's
kind of anything but normal, and a lot of park
and pipe athletes can sustain longer. But we are seeing,

(01:03:47):
you know, with the the advent of new training facilities
like the dry slope that we've got now in the
landing bag. You know, it's accelerating the learning curve for
younger athletes and it is a gymnastics sport. So yeah,
I think Zoe could definitely hang on and keep at
that top winning level for another four years. We'd have

(01:04:09):
to ask her if she wants to go for eight,
but yeah, at some point the youngsters and that gymnastic
ability does does catch up to you.

Speaker 2 (01:04:17):
So apart from Ellis and Zoe's, six other athletes confirmed
at the moment, you got free stall ski as, Ruby Starr,
Andrew's been Bicklay, Luca Harrington, Luke Harold, Finn Melville Ives
and snowboarder Cam Melville Ives. What are your hopes for them?

Speaker 6 (01:04:35):
Hopes are really high. You know, all those athletes are
working super hard and they're all targeting spots in the podium.
You know, particularly look at Finn Ives and Louke Harroll
who are sharing podiums at the moment and half pipe
and have shared podiums before at the Youth Olympic Games,
and Finn's the world champion, So you know, it's the Olympics,

(01:04:59):
Isn't isn't completely different? You know, it's not a whole
new field, it's not a new course. The rules don't change,
so it's it'll be about managing pressure and managing a
first time Olympic experience for those guys. But they're absolutely
in the podium and a winning conversation in that regard.

Speaker 2 (01:05:16):
Then do you have a middle target for the Games?
You don't have to tell us what it is necessarily,
But but do you do you, you know, in private conversations
have a middle target.

Speaker 6 (01:05:26):
Yeah, I don't think we We don't have sort of
a we must get this or go over what you know,
It's more what I've just said is, you know it
kind of have We have athletes who are achieving now,
and we have athletes who are targeting metals, so a
little bit of a range and you know, you kind
of have your your upper end that you're optimistic and
and and that and the aim and the other end

(01:05:47):
where you're saying, okay, this is this is sort of
proven and but it all comes down to on the day.
It's an individual sport, you know, whether it's a factor.

Speaker 9 (01:05:58):
Yeah.

Speaker 6 (01:05:59):
So yeah, we we certainly have our hopes and you
know I think that yeah, you know, I think we'll
be hitting targets that we're happy with.

Speaker 2 (01:06:10):
All Right, Well, I can see a twenty eighteen to
two two three, I'm gonna say four. I'm gonna say four.
Would you be happy with four kids?

Speaker 6 (01:06:19):
We'd be happy and we'd be happy with four and
you know, I just I'm just really happy and for
the athletes, you know, in general, and it's kind of
one of those things. You get there and it's all
up to them, right, They're the ones who are standing
in the stargate and they have to drop in and
they have to win the medals. So I'm just happy
for happy for them and proud of them for making

(01:06:39):
it there and putting in so much an effort. And
I kind of think that's one of the mindsets that
snowsports does really well, and that turns into medals. You know,
we don't really it's not so black and white that
they must achieve this or do that and we have
a minimum target. It's like, hey, let's focus on getting
better and focus on progression and being the best we
can and you know, lo and behold. That turns into happy,

(01:07:02):
healthy athletes.

Speaker 2 (01:07:04):
Who win, great system and eight athletes, as we've mentioned,
name to compete so far. Might we have more than that? Well?
Is there the possibility others could be added, you know
during the European winter or is eight the final number?

Speaker 6 (01:07:19):
No, we will assuredly have more athletes. So the final
election will be on January thirteenth, give or take. Internally,
and public announcement will be closer to the games in
late January, but we will definitely have more. It's an
interesting system. So the qualification events run right up until

(01:07:40):
the beginning of the Games, and so we only select
athletes when they've met a threshold that we think people
couldn't overtake them. So some athletes get that early and
other athletes need to wait for the whole qualification period.

Speaker 2 (01:07:54):
All right, look forward to seeing who gets added in
the new year. Look great to get your update. Thanks indeed,
an exciting time ahead. We can't wait for the Winter
Olympics to roll around, as I'm sure you can't either.
Thanks for taking the top. Thanks for taking the top
for a chat Worries.

Speaker 6 (01:08:06):
Thanks Jason, I'm good one.

Speaker 2 (01:08:07):
You're good one. To Luke, thanks indeed. Luke Hetzel, general
manager of high Performance at snow Sports New Zealand. So
the Winter Games, they're actually not that far away. They
start on Friday, the sixth of February and run through
to Sunday, the twenty second of February, so by the
time we get through Christmas and New Year there'll be
just a month away. So very much looking forward to

(01:08:28):
seeing how we go. I reckon falls realistic. You look
at Zoe for starters, she could get two by herself.
Alice Robinson certainly has to be a contender in Giants Lalom,
if not super Ger as well.

Speaker 5 (01:08:38):
That's full.

Speaker 2 (01:08:40):
I've given you four already and then there's everybody else
in the team. Look at it'll be. I'd have to
think it would be our most successful Winter Games ever,
given the fact that it took so long to get
one that was Anneliza Coburger in nineteen ninety two, and
then beyond that it took ages to get our next
ones twenty eighteen Nico Porteus and Zoe Sadowski Senate and
then those two again Meddling in twenty twenty two. It

(01:09:04):
just goes to show the rise, doesn't it, of snow
sports in New Zealand. Just it seems like every week
one of these mainly young athletes is doing amazing things
on the World Cup circuit up in the European winter.
So who knows what the Winter Olympic Games might hold.
In Milana, Courtina on February sixth through twenty two, covers

(01:09:26):
are off at the Adelaide Oval. The sun is out,
there was just a brief rain shower. England will resume
shortly at two thirty. What did I say? Two thirty
I need to check two forty one was it for six?
Two forty one for six, needing one hundred and ninety
four more runs, and they're heading back out onto the
playing surface at Bay Oval as well, with New Zealand
resuming in their second innings after lunch thirty five of

(01:09:48):
that loss E eleven, one hundred and ninety over the
West Indies as they look to set a total and
try and bowl the Windy's out for a two mill
Series one. I guess the Windys must feel as though
they could win the Test match. It feels unlikely that
they will bowl New Zealand out, although stranger things have happened.
But they can keep those runs down perhaps and restraint
them and then give themselves half an opportunity tomorrow. Who knows?

(01:10:10):
Who knows? Twenty two away from two, it's take a
break come back. James mcconey in his regular Sunday slot,
joining us live in studio.

Speaker 1 (01:10:18):
The Big Issues on and after Fields Call Oh eight
hundred eighty ten eighty Weekends Forward with Jason Pain and GJ.
Gunner homes New Zealand's first trusted home. Miilder News talks a.

Speaker 2 (01:10:29):
Baby nineteen away from two for the final time this year,
but certainly I hope anyway not the final time ever.
I'm looking at extending his contract into twenty twenty six.
My people are talking to his people. James mcconey live
in studio.

Speaker 12 (01:10:42):
Hello, mate, you were in negotiations, I guess and talks
and hopefully, you know, we can come to an amicol agreement.
But hey, look, I know that there's been trade talks
as well, but I can't confirm nor deny any of that.
I'm very happy to be part of the show.

Speaker 2 (01:10:59):
You know. I don't see anybody at any competing radio
stations who I would bring in or certainly I wouldn't
release you to a competing radio station either.

Speaker 5 (01:11:08):
Thanks.

Speaker 2 (01:11:08):
I just hope we can. I just hope we can
take the learnings from twenty to twenty five.

Speaker 5 (01:11:12):
Wow, we did need to do that with sporting cliches.

Speaker 2 (01:11:15):
Yes, few, Where should we start? Last couple of days
we've had a couple of vacancies open up at our
national sporting organizations Netborn New Zealand and New Zealand Cricket.
We still do and have a CEO for New Zealand Rugby,
so three pretty big jobs without anybody in those chairs
as we head into the new year.

Speaker 12 (01:11:35):
Yeah, well, obviously I've dusted off the CV applying for
both both gigs. I don't think I'll be too successful.
After one of my previous shows with you, Piney talking
about the consortium that rolled the CEO of New Zealand
cricket behay always here to help and in the case
of netball, I guess you could see that one coming

(01:11:56):
too from further away. The cricket one, though, I do
find a little bit tricky because you know, Scott Win
seemed to be doing a good job but then got
offside with the wrong people, and that's what can happen.
And I thought you made a really good point yesterday Piney,
when you're saying, ultimately, these people are servants there to

(01:12:17):
serve and the board give them their direction and if
they lose the room, let's say the boardroom, they run
the risk of being ousted.

Speaker 5 (01:12:29):
And that's what's happened with Scott Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:12:32):
Do you think I don't know someone was saying him.
I can't remember what it was about about former players,
and I think cricket, probably more than some other sports,
has had former players at the helm. The likes of
David White. Justin Vaughan was another one. I'm sure there
have been others who have headed up New Zealand cricket,
do you think and Mark Robinson of course with the

(01:12:52):
New Zealand rugby job, the former All Black. I just
feel like that Paul is so small though. Isn't it
of former players who have the commercial acumen to be
able to do the gig.

Speaker 12 (01:13:04):
Yeah, there's in the case of cricket that they did
need something, you know, sort of a breath of fresh air,
and I think Scott provided that. But in many ways
you have to bring everybody with you. And when I
was listening to your monologue yesterday, you are serving the
sport as a whole and I think a lot of people,

(01:13:24):
even cricket fans, could see that. Look, the Super Smash,
which is what the consortium wants to rejuvenate, needed something,
it needed, it needed something new. I think he probably
would have been on board with that, but we'll never know.
And so now I sort of feel like if we're
getting down the nuts and bolts of what fans want
to see, they want to see big players playing at

(01:13:47):
home more often, and the players themselves want to want
to be paid really well for that. So hey, I'm
all for a rejuvenated super Smash, hopefully with the longest
throw competition between the things that would really pique my interest.
Everybody remembers the kid who had the longest throw at school,
don't they?

Speaker 2 (01:14:04):
For me?

Speaker 12 (01:14:05):
It was Alistair peak at tell me to intermediate. Shout
out to Alistair. Do you remember your the longest thrower
at your school?

Speaker 2 (01:14:11):
But I do remember the guy with the longest kick
because I went to a Do you remember Cubs? Do
you remember cubs the four runners to Scouts.

Speaker 5 (01:14:20):
I was scout.

Speaker 2 (01:14:21):
I was a Cub. I went to Cub camp and
the competition to kick, and it was to kick a
football a soccer ball as we caught it back then
as far as you could. And David Nelson, very good
football player, he was winning. And then one of my
best mates, Matt Kelly, who was a rugby player, kicked
it further. And the head of the Scouts, the Cubs
are Kayla, was a big rugby man, and he celebrated

(01:14:44):
that one of the rugby playing Cubs had beaten one
of the soccer playing cubs in the longest kick.

Speaker 5 (01:14:51):
Yeah.

Speaker 12 (01:14:51):
See, that's the thing. Everybody remembers that kind of stuff,
So I think they do need to bring back that
sort of festival atmosphere to domestic cricket, and I'm sure
the Consortium are making moves to do that, so good
on them for that. But the one thing I'd like
to see is that for New Zealand, for New Zealand
to have a team in the Big Bash, both men's
and women's. I think it's still if you can do both,

(01:15:12):
why can't we have both? Like the old El Paso
taco ad, you know the Little Girl? Can we have
soft shell or hard shell tacos?

Speaker 2 (01:15:21):
You know, I don't think anything shall be off the
table when you're looking to innovate, Yes, and when we
wait to see what happens. Hey on the field. They're
back on the field at both the Adelaide Oval where
there was a brief break for rain and also at
Bay Oval in Mount Monganui. So New Zealand to currently
head one hundred and ninety one, what would you want
to get to before you pulled out and gave West

(01:15:41):
Indies a run chase?

Speaker 12 (01:15:43):
Well, they famously chased down I think three fifty eight
and nineteen sixty nine. Not that I want to blind
you with a stat like that Piney Cigar Fi that team.

Speaker 5 (01:15:53):
Yeah, yes, yeah, what a chase. It was.

Speaker 12 (01:15:55):
A chaser was a batsman called Seymour Nurse, which does
sound like a carry on movie character. But I'd say
you want to be well clear of three point fifty.
I guess you know time will be a factor, but
you know, New Zealand and in a great spot. What
I really wanted to touch on with the Black Caps
is how well the openers have have done this series

(01:16:18):
and really sort of set a platform. So you know,
we've had Latham in the previous test get a big
ton and now with Devin Conway getting that double ton
opening in New Zealand. They say that is the toughest
ask for for any better. You know, the conditions in
New Zealand with the green seema at the start, So

(01:16:38):
just seeing those guys do that was was so heartening,
and you know, you love that good opening, the good
opening stand so really Conway, I think I thought that
he was possibly a candidate for the chop, but you know,
the life there with Devon absolutely well.

Speaker 2 (01:16:56):
Three hundred and fifty two runs before listenings and another
twenty five today, so he's up three seventy seven. He
could bring up four hundred runs for the series today.
You know, for a guy who have, as you say,
was probably in doubt in terms of a spot in
the team, he's he's responded in the best possible way.
The other one, I know what you want to get
to your sporting highlights of the year, but Jacob Duffy

(01:17:16):
eighteen wickets across the series shall have another bowling innings
of course in this Test. I mean for a guy
who has played very little Test cricket to step up
and lead the attack in the absence of Matt Henry,
Nathan Smith, Blair, will I rok a lot of these guys.
I've just loved watching Jacob Duffy bowl in this series.

Speaker 5 (01:17:36):
Yes exactly.

Speaker 12 (01:17:37):
And I think Duffy has shown that when we go
to England you keep him.

Speaker 5 (01:17:41):
He's a keeper.

Speaker 12 (01:17:41):
I know that they've been filling in and you know
with Will O'Rourke will come back, but Duffy looks the
goods and I'm happy to see it. And we want
to be seeing New Zeland play for a while. So
you will have to watch thestic domestic cricket out there
and the we've talked about a lot about batters, but
there's an all rounder out there for Auckland, Simon Kean,
who I like the look of so maybe keep an

(01:18:02):
eye on him for the future. But yeah, it's just
been a really solid effort and if they carry on
this way, it's good points towards the Test Championship as
well the World Test Championship.

Speaker 2 (01:18:13):
Absolutely all right. At the end of any year, we
always look back on the year. So you've got your
twenty twenty five highlights, a sporting podium if you will,
So shall we start with the bronze.

Speaker 12 (01:18:23):
Medal, Yes, a bronze. I'm coming in with the number sevens.
I couldn't separate them because they all did something special.
But Georgia Miller bursting onto the scene looking like the best.

Speaker 5 (01:18:33):
Player in the world was just amazing.

Speaker 12 (01:18:35):
She got a hamstring injury which slowed her role somewhat
at the World Cup, but wow, what a player. And
then Ardie Savier playing what some are calling the greatest
ever Super rugby game of all time Wina pacifica versus
the Blues I think, and that was just where. I
mean everything he touched turned a goal gold, including a

(01:18:57):
turnover to win the game, right at the death at
North Harbor Stadium there and then of course Lucas Casey,
the young flanker for Otago pretty much just winning the
shield with two incredible solo tries, one where he stepped
the fullback left them like a statue. I just thought, okay,

(01:19:17):
those number sevens are in bronze. I'll move on to silver.
Show pony, yes if I may. Yes, Lecqua hala Seema's
last minute try for the wars over Newcastle.

Speaker 5 (01:19:28):
Let's be honest, last second.

Speaker 2 (01:19:30):
Yes, there was no hope there, No, you totally what
you forget, isn't it. But when you as soon as
you said it, I thought, yes, it all came sort
of flooding back.

Speaker 5 (01:19:39):
Yeah, and everybody watched that.

Speaker 12 (01:19:40):
What a what a privilege, what a buzz to see
that happen, just shot out of a cannon that the
speedy had, but the step as well at pace to
get around. I mean, you know, Christian Cullen, name your
favorite hot stepper, Sean Johnson, you know, go back to
Johnny Schuster. There's there was a beautiful piece of footwork
and Lecqua Halasima just winning that game and getting the

(01:20:03):
Warriors back on track because they're in a bit of
a mid season five, so that's mass Silva and.

Speaker 2 (01:20:09):
For gold, who's on top of the twenty twenty five
podium for you?

Speaker 12 (01:20:13):
Well, look, with apologies to Hamosh Kerr because he is
an all time great of high jump, but his New
Zealand Athletics teammate Jordy Beamish where winning the three thousand
meters steeple chase at the World Champs in Tokyo. That
is my gold medalist, the literal gold medal.

Speaker 2 (01:20:28):
Yes, and look, I don't think you'll get too many arguments.
You know, first ever, our previous golds all field events,
weren't they? And the fact that he got stood on
in the heat the story stood on the face and
he got up, caught up, made the final and then
charged down to beat to beat the double defending Olympic
and World champion Sufian Elba Kali. It's an incredible story

(01:20:50):
from He's a bit quirky, isn't he would have met
Jordy Beamish, she's a bit quirky.

Speaker 12 (01:20:54):
Yeah, I do like Jordi Bemis. They say he's a
good hang. He's actually just really relaxed, you know, he's
just a lovely guy. From the from a farm in
Hawks Bay, fun of fun of Valley, shout out to
them west of Hastings there at the bottom of the
Huahina Rangers. That's where he's from. And in factor, his
father won an award this year for environmental farming. So

(01:21:17):
great year for the Beamishes because last year Jordie was
guarded after Paris. He just wouldn't even want to talk
about it, and so he carried that really heavily, and
you can see that's the heart of a champion. It's
stung not to do well in Paris, although he did
have I think it was called a stress, a pelvic
stress reaction, which is something I haven't had for some time.

Speaker 2 (01:21:39):
Pony right, Well, on that note, maybe we should finish
twenty twenty five. Look, it's been amazing having your contributions
on the show at around about this time every Sunday.
Look ahead to twenty twenty six. I feel us though
in the middle of next year, you and I should
maybe plan to be stateside. I'd love to be there
with you for the FIFA World Cup. Of our respective
organizations can make that happen, do you reckon? We could

(01:22:01):
hang a bit in the US.

Speaker 12 (01:22:02):
Poney I've already made room for you in my accommodation
and Vancouver we will be topping and tailing and that
could be the name of our podcast.

Speaker 2 (01:22:12):
Why not. A Merry Christmas to you and yours, James,
thanks for everything this year, mate.

Speaker 12 (01:22:16):
Cheers, thanks to you and thanks to all the listeners.
Love of love being a part of the zeb Farnos,
So cheers.

Speaker 5 (01:22:22):
Have a great Christmas everyone.

Speaker 2 (01:22:24):
Tom Man, James James mcconey a huge part of our
sundays here on Weekend Sports seven Away from two, News
Talks EDB.

Speaker 1 (01:22:32):
When it's down to the line, you made a call
on eighty Weekend Sports with Jason Pine, News Talks B.

Speaker 2 (01:22:40):
Four to two. Already after the two o'clock news, Big
football out for you, Bev Priestman leads us off. Wellington
Phoenix women's coach after a record win for her side
yesterday seven nil they beat Sydney FC. Incredible stuff at
Potty to a Park. How does she reflect on that
and did she see this coming? Then we'll look ahead
to the Wellington Phoenix men's match this afternoon, just over

(01:23:02):
an hour until they kick off against the Central Coast
Mariners at Sky Stadium in the Capitol. Alex Rufe of
the Captain with us and I Suprince, one of New
Zealand's rising football stars. He signed for Auckland FC. He's
on the show too, and we'll keep our eyes on
the cricket in Mount Montganui and Adelaide.

Speaker 1 (01:23:19):
The only place to discuss the biggest sports issues on
and after fields. It's all on Wi James Ford with
Jason Vaide on your home of Sports Used talksb.

Speaker 2 (01:23:32):
Allo, Theniss Weekend Sport on News Talks ed B for
the final time before Christmas two o seven. We're here
till three. Then Tim Beverage will take over with the
Weekend Collective. Put a football for you. This out quite
a bit in fact, Beef Priestman standing by the chat
to us, what about that from Wellington Phoenix yesterday in
the Women's A League seven nil seven nil They beat
Sidney FC. Biggest ever win by the Wellington Phoenix women.

(01:23:54):
Biggest ever winning margin by either the men's or the
women's teams at Wellington Phoenix. So how's Beef Priestman feeling today?
Pretty good? I'd imagine she's along shortly Alex Rufer ahead
of the Phoenix men's game against the Maria Is starting
at three o'clock. Is a prince, one of our rising
stars of football. He signed with Auckland FC. Have a
chat term about that and we will keep eyes obviously

(01:24:15):
on the cricket as well. I'm getting more and more
invested in this Ashes Test. I have to say. England
have just brought up there two hundred and fifty. They're
back after a bit of a rain delay. They're chasing
four hundred and thirty five, so what's that another one
hundred and eighty five to win. Jax and Smith are
looking good, both into the twenties. They're playing sensibly, which

(01:24:37):
hasn't always been the case by England batters in this series,
and starting to edge well, who knows towards the possibility
conversation could they win this Test match? Could they really?
The new ball is not far away. That might be
if it's all point in this game. Meantime, at Bay Oval,
New Zealand sixty three without loss in their second innings,

(01:25:00):
leading by two hundred and eighteen against the West Indies,
looking to set a totals to stay four of course
of this Test match. Tom Lai them unbeaten on sixteen.
Devin Conway, continuing his good recent form. He's forty three
on out New Zealand sixty three without loss our leaders
to say of two hundred and eighteen. So we'll keep
eyes on that for you and even actually get you
back to the mount before we close at three o'clock.

(01:25:21):
But as we always do it around about this time,
which is two eight, it is time to catch you
up with some of the things you might have missed
a bumper edition of In case you missed it, can
I tell you? Starting on the track, Double Olympian Sam
Tanner winning the feature five thousand meter event at the
Night of Fives in Auckland last night, Here goes Sam Tana,

(01:25:43):
two hundred minutes to go.

Speaker 11 (01:25:45):
Let's see that kick absolutely hits.

Speaker 14 (01:25:48):
Top care Here comes Sam Tana.

Speaker 15 (01:25:51):
He's your champion over the five k.

Speaker 14 (01:25:53):
Here at the kidnaight the five wow Sam Ruth right
behind yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:26:00):
Teenage runner Sam Ruth setting two New Zealand age group
records as he finished second running the five thousand meters
for the first time competitively. He's broken the national under
nineteen and under twenty records to Ali Pally two big
upsets in the second round the World Dance Champs, with
former winner and former world number one Michael Smith knocked

(01:26:21):
out Tess for a massive when vanils on al.

Speaker 14 (01:26:26):
There's much darts, joy, tastyopics and rot. Theforman studies for
helzo Ol never been beyond this round, So Michael Smith
out and last year's semi finalist or one of them,
Chris Dobie also out beaten by Andrew Gilding.

Speaker 2 (01:26:46):
Forty That is its buyer performance from Andrew Gilding. But
no such problems for another of the beaten semi finalists
last year. Four seat Stephen Bunting. He's got another one here.

Speaker 16 (01:27:02):
And Stevens shuts this time around.

Speaker 2 (01:27:07):
Look by it winds in straight seats.

Speaker 11 (01:27:10):
Steven Bunsing will be back in the post Christmas.

Speaker 2 (01:27:13):
Action and plenty of football to cover off, starting in
the A League Women's Incredible scenes in potty Doer yesterday.

Speaker 11 (01:27:19):
Let's it back inadvertently good scale?

Speaker 2 (01:27:22):
Oh oh is it that over?

Speaker 14 (01:27:24):
Note? Wait a second, it has it is a seventh
Can you believe it?

Speaker 11 (01:27:30):
The referee has given the goal and Wellington Phoenix.

Speaker 2 (01:27:34):
Have a seventh year. The Phoenix beating Sydney FC seven
nil yesterday. More on that shortly when Nick's coach Bev
Priestman joins us to the A League Men's Newcastle made
it back to back wins with an impressive two nil
home victory over Sydney FC. Turton Cello us to drive
it through the medal.

Speaker 17 (01:27:52):
It stills back for Battalato Burton Cello ball.

Speaker 2 (01:27:57):
It's a beauty to nil the final score of the
Jets Melbourne victory. Meantime left it late to win the
Melbourne Derby over City. Grimaldi's struck out and he's done it.

Speaker 11 (01:28:09):
He's beaten Patrick Beach Truck twenty five.

Speaker 14 (01:28:12):
Meters out in the first minute of stuff.

Speaker 2 (01:28:14):
It's time one nil the final score of victory, and
at Laigh United had also beat Perth Glory one nil
away to move back into the top six.

Speaker 16 (01:28:22):
Fact to Goodwin extracted the ball nicely and now he's
wouldn't to spread through.

Speaker 12 (01:28:25):
The left Goodwin, he's done it, pin point great.

Speaker 2 (01:28:30):
Goodwin fires in.

Speaker 16 (01:28:32):
He has looked sharp from the off tonight and it's taken.

Speaker 2 (01:28:35):
Him just twelve minutes to break through and to the
Premier League Manchester. So he went briefly to the top
of the table with a comfortable three nil win over
West and no surprises. Who was on the score sheet.

Speaker 17 (01:28:46):
Who is to Savinia and he's got health here in
a former Prico Lewis and Harland maybe instead it's just
inevitable when it rolls his way.

Speaker 5 (01:28:59):
There's only ever.

Speaker 17 (01:29:00):
Really one results two for Harland's, three for Manchester City
and three.

Speaker 2 (01:29:05):
Nil the final score. But Enal retook top spot with
victory over Everton. The only goal coming via the penalty spot.

Speaker 16 (01:29:12):
Is Yochares and it's the butchet that eight for Arsenal.
There's been a few question marks about the suite, but
it was a confident penalty.

Speaker 2 (01:29:23):
Meantime, Liverpool moved into the top five with a two
to one went over Tottenham, who entered the game with
only nine men. Here's a conceit j for Liverpool and
his charity. Two calls for the Rain exampions and this
second half is Vicginty to take up for them now.
And an All Whites defender was on the score sheet
for his Championship side Sheffield United. There are six in

(01:29:44):
red shirts to around the penalty spot.

Speaker 14 (01:29:46):
One of them is a rising Taylor Bindon who tells
the header over the pack over the goalkeeper.

Speaker 1 (01:29:56):
The voice of Sport on your home of Sport weekends
Ford with Jason Hine News.

Speaker 2 (01:30:01):
Talks in me yes, well, let's mention during in case mister,
the Wellington Phoenix women have kick started their Ninja A
League season in record breaking style. What about that?

Speaker 11 (01:30:14):
What about that performance from Wellington Phoenix. The final whistle
has gone. The funds are absolutely loving it. Quite rightly too,
because this is a win for the ages for the Phoenix.
They've come away here with a seven nail win over.

Speaker 2 (01:30:33):
Sydney after scoring just three goals and they're opening five
matches of the season and none in the last two games.
The Phoenix have recorded the biggest win in the team's history,
beating SYDNEYFC seven nil at Potidawa Park yesterday, the biggest
winning margin in Phoenix club history men or women, and

(01:30:54):
the heaviest defeat the five time champion SYDNEYFC women's side
have ever suffered. Nepalie strykers A Beetra Bandari or Samba
as she is widely known, and football firm Grace Jarlay
both scored twice. Manaia Elliott was also on the score
sheet along with two late own goals. Phoenix head coach
Beev Priestman as well as BEV. Congratulations on an outstanding result.

(01:31:17):
You see during the week that you thought someone at
some stage was going to be on the end of
a good hiding from your side, But could you have
possibly imagined that it would be as emphatic as that.

Speaker 18 (01:31:30):
No, I mean, in reality, I think to score seven
goals off the back of you know, we're arguably the
team's confidence just in terms of goal scorering could have
been law I think. Yeah, all credits of the players
all week. You can imagine we've worked on putting the
ball in the back of the net and yeah, I mean,
what are we the center people offer for their Christmas break?

Speaker 2 (01:31:51):
Man? Elliott opened the scoring after just three minutes. How
important do you think that early goal was, as you say,
having worked on that during the week and not been
able to find the net in the last two games.

Speaker 18 (01:32:01):
Yeah, I think it set us on our way race.
I think, to be honest, in the last two games
that we've played away, if we'd got the early goal,
I'm sure those results would have been different based on,
you know, the dominating performances. But I think, yeah, you're
spot on there. I think the yearly goal got us underway,
and then I think people just you know, got into
the rhythm and a flow that you know, allowed us

(01:32:23):
to go and do what we did.

Speaker 2 (01:32:25):
There seem to be a real intent and energy right
from the start. Look, I know no team goes out
there to start, you know, in laid back fashion, but
was there a particular focus? Yes, did I to start
fast with big energy?

Speaker 18 (01:32:39):
And you know, I would say that even the last
time we were at Parua Park.

Speaker 2 (01:32:43):
I didn't talk about that.

Speaker 18 (01:32:44):
Right the last time we were here, give we didn't
just give the fans a game, We gave them a moment.
And I think a real intent of you know, the
fans come every week yellow fever ments and so I
talked about that a little bit in the you know,
in the pre meeting. But I also think generally across
the season, we've we've started well. It's actually been the
last parts of games where maybe we've had light a

(01:33:06):
bench and things. That's probably you know, teams have worked
their way into the game. But I think what I
was most pleased with we just kept going right and
we didn't think our foot off the gas. We defended well,
and yeah, just they're put in a big shift to
be fair.

Speaker 2 (01:33:19):
So yeah, well halftime you're throwing up. So, look, things
are going really well at halftime. How did you ensure
your players didn't let up when they went out after halftime?

Speaker 18 (01:33:30):
To be honest, I got after them a little bit
because I felt in the first half I were defending
habits weren't as strong as they needed to be. And
what I do know about people and humans, and you know,
when you offering neil, it's very easy to take your
foot off the gas, and so I made sure that,
you know, I demanded the same standards that demand every
week from them, and I.

Speaker 2 (01:33:50):
Knew more goals would come.

Speaker 18 (01:33:51):
I had a feeling, but I want to make sure
we kept the clean sheet, and we kept all the
great work that they have done, and you know, kept going.
And so I think we've just got to set real
high standards for this group. And they they rose to
the occasion, which is great.

Speaker 2 (01:34:05):
And even at the end of the game, they ten
minutes to go, it's five nil, the points are safe.
How pleasing was it to watch your side continue to
push forward even at five nil ahead. Yeah?

Speaker 18 (01:34:16):
Absolutely, I think clean sheet right, So I think that
you might heard you from the sidelines like demanding the
clean sheets, I think, yeah, but I've seen these games
where maybe you conceived one or two at the end
and it's so frustrating. But yeah, I think it was
just a real intent. I think we wanted to send
a message. You know, there's a lot of talk about
this team, you know, can't score and all the rest

(01:34:37):
of it. I knew it was coming in terms of,
you know, the performances and data doesn't lie, but also
the data in the box doesn't lie, and so we
had to put some more attention on that. And yeah,
they did it.

Speaker 2 (01:34:48):
So Samba so bit for Bandara or Nipalese import. She
came with a big reputation. She's been hugely supported everywhere
she's gone, but no goals in her first three appearances.
How much of a white do you think that'll be
off her shoulders that she is now off the mark
and with two yesterday, Yeah, and.

Speaker 18 (01:35:06):
I think probably more than she's let on. Right, But
I think every striker wants to score, the one being
known for goal scoring. But I think the pleasant thing
is with somebody you see what else she brings to
the team. She's not just a goalscorer. She is a
bit of a handful, right, and in many ways if
people are occupied with her with freeze others up to
But yeah, I've got no doubt about her. Right every
strike that wants to score goals and a new one

(01:35:29):
she got one. She'll be underway now that's her.

Speaker 2 (01:35:32):
You mentioned it a little bit before, but I just
want to get a bit more insight into it. The
nil is as impressive probably as the seven. You know,
the clean sheet and defense has been a hallmark of
this side. Just the four goals considered in your first
six games, and really other teams have had very few
scoring opportunities. How much do you pride yourself on that base,
that defensive base, which yesterday was the springboard for you know,

(01:35:55):
a lot of goals at the other end.

Speaker 18 (01:35:57):
Yeah, And I think when I took over with the team,
I talked about anybody that wants to beat this team
has to have a really, really good game and performance
to do that. Now you'd argue maybe in the last
two games necessarily it hasn't been that for the opposition,
but they have scored in the football in the back
of the neck. But I do think, like anybody that
puts on a Phoenix shirt, and I'm going to demand

(01:36:19):
that they work hard, right, That's that's the bare minimum.
And I think what you're seeing is a collective effort
from a group of players who want to work hard.
They believe in the way that we're setting up, and
they're all sticking to it and facing in the right direction.
So I think it's the collective effort and just demanding,
you know, like every recovery runs a sprint, and yeah,
I mean you look at the captain, right CG boss.

(01:36:40):
I mean, that's that's where it starts. And I think
the team really prides themselves on that.

Speaker 2 (01:36:44):
I'd imagine that I was going to tain that one
seven nil, I'd be up this morning, I'd beginning my
team gear on, I'd be I'd be swaggering around and rightly, so,
you have to enjoy these moments. But how do you
keep your side grounded after such a messive win?

Speaker 18 (01:36:59):
Yeah, and I think that's it, right. I think what
I've learned in this game, never too high, never too low.
But at the same time, what I've also learned is
you've got to enjoy enjoy these moments because often they
can be few and far between as well. So I
think for us, you know, in the review tomorrow. I'll
do exactly the same as I do every week and
not get too carried away, but do let them, you know,
enjoy Christmas, because I do think it's been a They've

(01:37:21):
put a real shift in. We've had some stepbacks along
the way and then be fresh and ready to go.
And I think for us now we have to go
and back this up right. It can't be a one
off performance, not necessarily performance, but results. And now we've
got to go away and we've got to get rewarded
for the hard work we put in when we were
lost away and hopefully you know, I've seen some of
the stats on the away record, but I think I

(01:37:43):
do have faith that the performances when we were away
were good enough to go and win. And so yeah,
it's onto the next one now.

Speaker 2 (01:37:50):
Yeah, I was going to ask you about the the
away games coming up. You're a white Western Sydney and
then Brisbane just after New Year. As you say, away points,
little one ones have been hard to come by. Are
you any closer to cracking this or do you think
it is just that you will eventually be rewarded for
your performances.

Speaker 5 (01:38:06):
On the road.

Speaker 18 (01:38:07):
Yeah, listen, i'd be concerned, Piney, if you know, I
didn't think we started slow. You know, I think in
the Melbourne City game we were on top output, you know,
a number of shots and number of touches in the
box to their one shot. I think the away performances
have been winning performances that just for some reason hasn't.

Speaker 13 (01:38:24):
Fallen with us.

Speaker 18 (01:38:25):
And to be honest, we've switched off in a critical moment,
particularly in that City game. So for me, I think
we've done a lot of little things that I think
can go a long way on away trips and all
the little details that matter, And there was nothing in
them away trips to me that felt, you know what,
we started sluggish, and you know, we felt overly like
it was too much about away performance. And so that

(01:38:46):
gives me a lot of I guess positives moving forward
and especially building off the back of this big win.

Speaker 2 (01:38:52):
All right, So at ten die break now before Western
Sydney on the thirtieth. So what does Christmas look like
for you?

Speaker 16 (01:38:57):
Ken?

Speaker 18 (01:38:57):
We Christmas for you, Yes, k we Christmas down in
christ Church with the players and the staff. Have got
a three day break. We've got some christ of the
Christmas singing tomorrow with the groups and we'll see how
see other different groups perform. Yeah, there's there's a few
players I can see that they're really looking forward to that.

Speaker 2 (01:39:17):
Well, a wonderful one yesterday. Just it felt like a
real watershed moment for this team. BF, congratulations and overseeing
a record winning the club's history. May there be many
more goals and many more ones like that. Thanks for
taking the time for a chat. No, thank you, BF.
Bev priestsman there, coach of the Wellington Phoenix women who
put seven past Sydney FC yesterday. It was quite incredible

(01:39:39):
and just the most impressive part, as I said to Bev,
was that when the points were safe at four nil,
at five nil, they kept going we want more, we
want more, and they protected their own end as well,
because you know, as Pev said it, you know if
you win seven nil or seven one, seven two, the
points are still yours, but there's just that little nagging,
you know, frustration that you haven't been able to keep

(01:40:02):
a clean shit at the other end. Seven nil utterly comprehensive.
So the me can they emulate that? I mean, they'll
be happy with a win. I would say just two
in their first eight games of the season in around
thirty five minutes from now, they'll take on the Central
Coast Marins at Sky Stadium. How are they feeling? I
spoke with their captain Alex Rufer earlier this week. We'll

(01:40:24):
hear from him when we come back. Just checking on
the cricket, ninety three without loss. New Zealand. They lead
by two hundred and forty eight. Now Devin Conways brought
up as fifty. He is fifty eight and unbeaten. Lathan
there on twenty seven. So New Zealand building this lead.
It's just a matter of how much they'll need, how
many they'll want before they pull out. And in the Ashes,

(01:40:44):
England continue these two Jamie Smith and Will Jacks two
seventy six for six now two seventy six for six
as they mount what is a really unlikely unlikely case
for victory. Another one hundred and fifty nine needed with
four second innings wickets in hand. Australia just need the

(01:41:04):
four wickets to retain the Ashes. We'll keep eyes on that.
Two twenty four Back in a.

Speaker 1 (01:41:09):
Moment, one Grudge Hold engaged Weekend Sport with Jason Hym
and GJ.

Speaker 9 (01:41:15):
Gunner Homes New.

Speaker 2 (01:41:17):
Zealand's first trusted home builder News talk to Bailey two
twenty seven. Big Game of A League Men's football at
Sky Stadium this afternoon. The Wellington Phoenix, who have slipped
to the bottom of the A League Ladder with just
two wins in eight games, up against second bottom Central Coast,
but happily the tight nature of the table means a
win could jump the Phoenix up from twelfth to seventh.

(01:41:41):
I spoke with Phoenix captain Alex Ruffer during the week
and asked how the feeling is in the playing squad
after a disappointing loss to Newcastle a week ago and
a fairly challenging start to the season.

Speaker 19 (01:41:52):
Well, there's disappointment for sure.

Speaker 4 (01:41:56):
We know where we're at.

Speaker 19 (01:41:57):
Obviously in the season it's been our games and we've
been up and down. I think as a group we've
recognized some of the mistakes that we've you know, continued
to make and you know it's frustrating. But the good
thing is is that every week we keep working on
it and I'm sure we'll tend it around.

Speaker 2 (01:42:16):
Other mistakes some easily fixable.

Speaker 19 (01:42:21):
Well you'd like to think so, but look, it's put
it this way, it's not from a lack of trying
and effort and the right intent. I think the biggest
mistakes that we're making are costing us goals and costing
us points, which you know hurts you a lot. And look,
it's not doom and gloom. Like I said that, the

(01:42:43):
group is very frustrated and very disappointed with some of
the results, but we know and we believe will turn
it around. So we have to focus now game by game,
week by week, and make sure that we do everything
we can during the training week to prepare us for
the game in the weekend.

Speaker 2 (01:42:56):
A lot of guys in this team, particularly the younger guys,
they haven't you know, necessarily experienced, you know, setbacks like
this in their career. They've always come up and been
best player in the team and top teams that are
winning all the time. Have you had to in any
way get around them and make sure that their disappointment
doesn't go too far.

Speaker 19 (01:43:16):
Yeah, I think that's part of being you know, the
leader and the captain. There's a lot of other experience
players in our group too that help with that, so,
you know, I also do think disappointment is a good
thing and frustration is a good thing because you know,
we want to win and we haven't been doing that,
especially at home recently, so we need to take responsibility

(01:43:40):
and turn it around and make changes. And like I said,
the boys are focused on that and focused on improving,
and you know, so we're doing everything we can to
make sure that we do do that.

Speaker 2 (01:43:53):
The defensive setup. Is there a general confidence in the
system itself, even though as you say, it has cost
your goals on occasion.

Speaker 19 (01:44:01):
Of course, I think. Look, it's when you change to
any system, there's always a little bit of time that
it takes to adapt, you know, and this is no different.
I think the difference is is that when people watch
this is because no one in this part of the
world or in this league does it. I do believe
that our mistakes that we're making aren't due to the

(01:44:24):
high line or to how we play. I think it's
just comes down to concentration and focus little things that
we can change as players on the field that are
making the decisions that will you know, in turn help us.
The belief with how and what we're doing is there
for sure, because I also think it's how we've dominated

(01:44:44):
games with the ball, So there's that trade off I
think now for us, it's making sure that we do
eliminate the mistakes in the areas that we do make
and then putting in a nine minute performance.

Speaker 2 (01:44:55):
How challenging is it also to have players swapping in
a out those positions through suspension and injury unavailability. I
guess ideally moving parts should all be interchangeable, but it's tough,
especially for a young player like Jaden Smith on starting debut.

Speaker 19 (01:45:09):
Look, it is always difficult. And look, every year you're
going to have injury, suspensions, sickness, you know whatever. I
think the most important thing is that when players do
give their opportunity, they perform. And that's why you train.
You train to make sure you're ready. And you know,
talking about Jamee Smith, I thought he had a solid game. Now,

(01:45:32):
he's a young kid, it was starting debuted, and yes,
it's never easy, but I thought he played well, so
I was happy for him. And you know, now it's
about making sure we keep his feet on the ground
and make sure that he keeps, you know, keeps working
hard and keeps improving.

Speaker 2 (01:45:48):
The Mariners on Sunday, does this feel a little bit
like going into the Adelaide game, A game you guys played.
I think you're probably best performing to the season going
in off the back of probably, you know, a performance
you wouldn't have been that proud of. Does it feel
like a similar scenario on Sunday.

Speaker 19 (01:46:06):
Yeah, Look, I think for us again, we just need
to focus on a good performance, a good training week.

Speaker 5 (01:46:16):
We can't look behind us.

Speaker 19 (01:46:17):
I think we've been a little bit inconsistent, which we
know and we've addressed. So for us now, we need
to just take it game by game like I said earlier,
and make sure that our mentality is to win and
I'm confident we can do that. We need to be aggressive,
especially at home, and I'm sure the game will take
care of itself.

Speaker 2 (01:46:38):
Paula Ritchro haven't seen him the season?

Speaker 5 (01:46:39):
Is is he back?

Speaker 18 (01:46:40):
Kind of?

Speaker 15 (01:46:40):
You know?

Speaker 2 (01:46:41):
Close to? He's training with the team, isn't he? Is he?
I know you don't pick the team, but is he available?
Do you think for selection on Sunday? Look, he's training.

Speaker 19 (01:46:48):
Like you said, I don't obviously picked the players and
pick the team, but look, he's training, he's training well,
and you know it's been a tough time for him. Obviously,
injuries is never easy. But he's an experienced player and
he adds a lot of quality to our team. So
it's really good to have him back around the team
and involved in training. So hopefully he gets some minutes
this weekend, all.

Speaker 2 (01:47:06):
Right, And special moment for you walking out on Saturday
for the first time as a dad. I guess in
that scenario, how was that? Oh?

Speaker 19 (01:47:16):
Look pretty special. Obviously had some special times at you
here in Wellington and as a player, but look as
a father now and walking out with my daughter was
definitely up there.

Speaker 5 (01:47:29):
So it was a good feeling.

Speaker 2 (01:47:30):
That is Alex Ruther, captain of the Wellington Phoenix. Yeah,
he carried his young baby daughter Harper out as part
of the pre match last Sunday. Whether that happens again today,
won't wait and see. It's not that far away, twenty
seven minutes away from three when kickoff will take place
at Sky Stadium. Just feels like a big game for
the Phoenix, just feels like one. They just got to

(01:47:51):
find a way to win, Just have to win. It
doesn't matter, how, doesn't matter if it's not seven nill
like the women yesterday, one nill in the ninety fourth minute.
Just find a way to win the game. England have
lost a work at having done all the hard work,
all of that hard Jamie Smith has kinnor thrown his
wicket away in many ways. He's out for sixty skying

(01:48:13):
one off the bowling of Mitchell Stark. Will Jacks is
still there on thirty two. Brighton cast has come out
England two eighty eight for seven and now the target
seems a heck of a lot further away. With Smith gone,
England need one hundred and forty seven to win the Test.
Australia need just three wickets to retain the Ashes. Staying

(01:48:33):
with football, Auckland, Auckland FC, you have snapped up one
of New Zealand's most promising young footballers for their upcoming
oceany A Pro League campaign, Wellington Olympic midfielder iSER Prince.
He was named this year Central League Player of the Year.
He scored a goal, had two assists and was named
man of the match in the Chatham Cup final and

(01:48:53):
was on the score sheet and last weekend's National League
Championship final. Across the year, he scored twenty goals in
thirty games for Wellington Olympic Ier Prince as we as
Ia congratulations on this move too, Auckland FC. How did
it all come about?

Speaker 20 (01:49:09):
Thank you so much for having me.

Speaker 15 (01:49:11):
First off, it was probably it was probably after the
Chatham Cup final. I heard well, my coach Pauliffe was
trying to get my name out there, and I think
that really kicked it off, just the way I played.

Speaker 20 (01:49:24):
Just being out in Auckland.

Speaker 15 (01:49:25):
I think maybe a coach or two were there and
they were able to watch me play, and I think
that's kind of where it all started.

Speaker 20 (01:49:31):
But it was really like low key at the time.

Speaker 15 (01:49:34):
But as it kept going on, as I kept playing
in the National League, I think that's when it really
did some men and I started getting calls.

Speaker 2 (01:49:42):
And once they had made it clear to you that
they were keen to sign you, was it a pretty
easy yes for you?

Speaker 20 (01:49:49):
Yeah, definitely, definitely. I don't think I hesitated.

Speaker 2 (01:49:53):
I'm sure you didn't. I'm sure you didn't. That's a
terrific move for you. This is a contract, of course
for the Oceania Pro League, which is starting in January.
That's an exciting competition in itself and I want to
talk a bit more about that. But do you see
through this contract ice a pathway into perhaps the A
League side at Auckland FC as well.

Speaker 15 (01:50:13):
Yeah, definitely, I feel like I feel like I've got
told that if I do well in the FC, then
there as a pathway to be able to maybe sit
on the bench for the A League train with the
A League side.

Speaker 20 (01:50:25):
A lot of things can definitely branch out.

Speaker 15 (01:50:28):
Especially playing for Auckland, and they do have that opportunity
where like you know, midweek if they need a training player,
one of us could get called in there.

Speaker 2 (01:50:35):
You know, that's great news. So twenty twenty five a
terrific year for you with Wellington Olympic. Couldn't quite cap
it with the National League Championship last weekend after a
dramatic final, But in general terms, how do you look
back on twenty twenty five as a footballer?

Speaker 20 (01:50:51):
I think I think it was great.

Speaker 15 (01:50:53):
I really enjoyed last season, especially playing with Olympic, playing
with a bunch of good people, a bunch of good fans.
I feel like there's no good a place to do it,
especially since it's really showed that Olympic can create that pathway.

Speaker 2 (01:51:07):
And you've been coached by, as you mentioned before, a
bit of a phoenix legend and Paul Eifel, what does
he specifically helped you with.

Speaker 15 (01:51:15):
Oh, well, I'm more of an attacking player, so I
feel like every single aspect of attacking, you know, not
at all. So yeah, you know, there's no bit of
person that could have taught me the way I've been
properly poor at the time.

Speaker 20 (01:51:31):
So yeah, it's just just everything pretty much.

Speaker 2 (01:51:35):
Tell us about your journey. I so when did you
first start kicking the ball around? And you know, tell
us about the development of your of your still very
young football career.

Speaker 15 (01:51:47):
Well, I started off at Upper Heart when I was
up in two hours about fifteen, and then I started
playing under seventeens at stop Out. And when I left
Upperhart and I went to Stop Out, I think I
played about a season for the under seventeens.

Speaker 20 (01:52:01):
The first team was in.

Speaker 15 (01:52:03):
Not centrally but the league just below, and I remember
in Colden to go train and then I ended up
playing signing and then we got promoted, and that's kind
of where it all kicked off, where I think.

Speaker 20 (01:52:15):
We burst Olympic stop up Verst Olympic and.

Speaker 15 (01:52:23):
And I remember I played really well that game and
Brukler got me International League. I started one game against
Paul Eifle, played really well against christ Church, Paul wanted
to keep me. So I think it's just it all
just came down to one game really at the time.

Speaker 2 (01:52:38):
What are your football ambitions?

Speaker 15 (01:52:41):
I just want to make it as far as I can.
I want to just I feel like I always have
room to improve and I just want to be the
best player I can be. I want to beat myself
every day.

Speaker 2 (01:52:53):
And when you look back at I guess the last
couple of seasons where your development has started to really
you know, find a pretty big trajectory. Where have the
big improvements come in your game in the last couple
of years.

Speaker 15 (01:53:07):
I'd say definitely just like, not the stuff on the ball,
but definitely the stuff off the ball. I feel like
playing at Olympic and playing and means football that you
realize that, like it's not just all about what you
can do on the ball, it's how much hard work
you can put in off the ball. And I feel
like it's definitely mindset, Like if you've I feel like

(01:53:29):
I've got a lot more like aggression than I used to.
I feel like I have a lot more like passion
to play. But yeah, pretty much just just all the
running and stuff off the ball that really just got
me to where I am.

Speaker 2 (01:53:40):
Now, what about the physicality of football at senior means level?
Has that been an adjustment that you've managed to make
pretty quickly.

Speaker 20 (01:53:49):
Yeah, definitely. I feel like I feel like it's just
a given.

Speaker 15 (01:53:52):
Like you when you're younger, you're just like you're wanting to, like,
you know, get to go to the gym and stuff.
So I remember getting a gym membership when I like
three years ago, and you kind of just fall in
love with it. So it just becomes sick of nature.
You just go there every second day, every day and
just muck around there. Even if you're not doing the
right things, at least you get something out of it.

Speaker 2 (01:54:13):
You're, as you mentioned, been based in Wellington for a
long time. Had you had contact with the Phoenix about
possibly joining them?

Speaker 15 (01:54:22):
Unfortunately not, which was a bit disheartening, but that is Yeah,
it's all right.

Speaker 20 (01:54:29):
I don't really mind now.

Speaker 2 (01:54:32):
Well, the path of the head now is clear with AUCKLANDFC,
the O League or the Oceania Pro League. Have you
started thinking about what that might be like in terms
of the styles you're going to come up against against
some of these Pacific Island sides. Have you had much
experience playing against sides from the Islands at all.

Speaker 11 (01:54:49):
No, not at all.

Speaker 15 (01:54:50):
But from what I've heard and from what I've watched,
I feel like it's definitely going to be.

Speaker 1 (01:54:56):
Well.

Speaker 20 (01:54:56):
There's going to be a lot of factors, and I
thought they're definitely going to be very physical.

Speaker 15 (01:55:00):
They're going to be They're going to be really good
with the heat that we're about to play in over
on the Islands.

Speaker 20 (01:55:06):
So I think it's going to be a good season,
a good interesting season to see how we can adapt
to the heat and the way that they play.

Speaker 2 (01:55:15):
And have you have you officially joined up with the
rest of the team yet or when do you officially
link up with your teammates and start really preparing.

Speaker 20 (01:55:23):
Yeah, well I left.

Speaker 15 (01:55:26):
I left the day after the National League Final, and
I came up to do all of my medical and
stuff with the club, and that's when I started meeting
the boys because yet they were training.

Speaker 20 (01:55:38):
But I'm on break at the moment.

Speaker 2 (01:55:41):
And so what early in the new year. It starts
on about the seventeenth of January, doesn't it your first game?
So presumably you'll get together not long after Christmas to
start really preparing.

Speaker 15 (01:55:50):
Yeah, we start training on the twenty eighth, which is
not much too much after Christmas, So I'm going to head.

Speaker 20 (01:55:57):
Back home tonight. Actually, then I'll go.

Speaker 15 (01:56:01):
See my family over Christmas and then drive back up
on the twenty eighth.

Speaker 2 (01:56:04):
How BIG's your family been in all of this? How
important have they been in your journey?

Speaker 20 (01:56:08):
Oh?

Speaker 15 (01:56:09):
They mean everything, you know, Like before this, I was
just a twenty year old who was working his ass
off as well as playing football.

Speaker 20 (01:56:17):
You know, I was working a job, having to pay
ren at home.

Speaker 15 (01:56:20):
But I feel like they definitely supported me throughout the journey,
and it's just something that I'm grateful for, you know.

Speaker 2 (01:56:25):
Yeah, Well, it's an exciting time ahead for you made
a very exciting time and d congratulations on signing with
Auckland FC. Can't wait to see how you go in
the Old League to start with, and then who knows
beyond that ICEA All the best youre mate. Thanks for chatting.

Speaker 20 (01:56:39):
Thank you so much for having me. I appreciate it.

Speaker 2 (01:56:41):
No, I appreciate you joining us. I well done. Indeed,
I a prince. I would encourage you to remember that name.
I get the feeling he will he will be somebody
who does pretty well in this game of football, seventeen
and a half away from three. Take a break, come back,
head to Bay Oval. Update you on the fourth day
of the Third Test black Caps v West Indies. Andrew

(01:57:03):
Ordison back with us after this.

Speaker 1 (01:57:06):
Be the TMO. Have your say on eight hundred and
eighty ten eighty Weekends Sport with Jason him and G. J. Jubnerholmes,
New Zealand's most trusted home builder news Dogs.

Speaker 2 (01:57:16):
There'd be coming up fourteen away from three. Let's get
you back to Bay Oval. Andrew Ordison watching on as
New Zealand start to build a fairly sizeable lead. They're
having a drink at the moment. You've abstained from that
for the meantime orders. What's the latest the greetings Piney.

Speaker 10 (01:57:32):
We have got to one hundred and twenty two of
our moss let's lead at two hundred and seventy seven
and it looks like that will it accelerated the last out.
I think eighty seven runs coming between Tom Waits and
Devin Comway, and I will look to have a bowl
again at listing tonight to be giving themselves for a
time here with that acceleration, and I'm thinking that at
least and now possibly even more given there how much

(01:57:53):
they've worked at it. Just from a stats watch perspective, Piney,
this is the second time in a Test match that
there's been two opening stands in the same Tests by
New Zealand openers, and the last time the only connection
here Rod Latham and Mark great Batsch in bulaway Agan,
Zimbabwe in nineteen ninety two. So just a little bit

(01:58:15):
of a point of note there for you and your listeners.

Speaker 2 (01:58:18):
You know, I love the stats And just on Conway,
it seems an age ago that you've got a duck
in the first innings in christ Church, since that thirty seven,
sixty twenty eight not out, two hundred and twenty seven
and now seventy one not out. Great to see Devin
Conway return to the form. I guess we always knew
that he had.

Speaker 10 (01:58:35):
It's certainly a purple patch, isn't it. And if you
look at Conway, I mean now he's moved on to
seventy one late and forty two. Conways to give that
second century joined a fairly alites club as well of
two centuries in a Test match featuring Jeff Howard, Glenn Turner,
Andrew Jones, Peter Fulton and Caine Williamson. So that's still
on the horizon this afternoon.

Speaker 2 (01:58:56):
Illustrious company indeed. So I guess it's just a guessing game.

Speaker 11 (01:59:00):
Really.

Speaker 2 (01:59:00):
You mentioned to us a couple of hours ago when
we chatted that it's more about leaving enough time rather
than getting to a particular target with regards to runs.
Whatever the West Indies are chasing, will they have a
go at it or would they be more like they
were on the final day in christ Church and just
sort of play out for an honorable drawer. What do
you think their approach will be?

Speaker 10 (01:59:21):
Look, I think they'll probably go for it, but you've
got a sort of dangle of bait, don't you. And
I think if it goes the lead, well we're talking
about the lead of two seventy nine at the moment
with another couple of runs added, but if it's beyond
four hundred and of course they're loose of four hundred
and eighteen, the world record fourth innings chase. I think
it starts to there's a defensive mindset. There isn't that,
although you're trying to play us a side out of

(01:59:41):
a Test. But I think if you keep it under that,
maybe under four hundred, there'll be some incentive there and
that's what they might be looking at. So yeah, there's
I mean that the pitch is certainly deteriorating, particularly as
I'm looking at the moment at the mount end, if
you're volving from the city, and I think that's probably
where they put as Ftel heading into a fourth innings
and trying to get the most out of the rough

(02:00:01):
with those footmarks still building and going into a fifth day,
and you seem to have played this pretty tactically well,
I think going into the entire duration of the Test,
if you look at it that way, given they couldn't
enforce a fool on, they've got themselves in a pretty
decent set of circumstances.

Speaker 2 (02:00:18):
I guess you always gravitate towards the spinners, don't you,
in the fourth innings on a deteriorating pitch. But you
look at Jacob Duffy's numbers in this series, Ordustry, I've
been impressed with them, eighteen wickets. Might he also be
quite a key figure in the fourth innings of this Test?

Speaker 10 (02:00:34):
I do, I think indeed, just just because of the
I guess the venom that he's brought really on occasion
bullocking in Jacob Duffy as he does, and just with
the variable bounce we're seeing as the test goes on,
and it's going to be a handful regardless, and I
think you would probably bowl him if you're looking at
probably your top two bowls in that lineup Duffy, and
he could tell as I'm looking at it anyway, you'd

(02:00:56):
take Duffy bowling from the mountain end of the city
end perhaps where he'd had all the success over the
course of this test.

Speaker 2 (02:01:04):
Now, just before you go, you've been in christ Church,
in Wellington and now in Mount Monganui, and I know
you've always been a keen connoisseur of catering at test venues.
Are you able have you come up with a winner
or a podium of sorts in terms of the catering
you've availed yourself of over the last three weeks or so.

Speaker 10 (02:01:26):
Well, being the self of our gourmet that I am piety. Look,
I'm gonna I'm I'm just going to say this quietly
between you and I'm giving it to the mount. Actually
they take that, they take first prize, absolutely outstanding, probably
Hagley second. And I'm sorry to say that Wellington third
that that's just that's this one man's view. But honestly

(02:01:47):
in the mount we have been absolutely treated. I think
probably a standout would be the Lamb Curry yesterday.

Speaker 2 (02:01:53):
All right, well we can't win a trick here in
the Capitol, I'll tell you.

Speaker 10 (02:02:00):
I have to give answer.

Speaker 2 (02:02:02):
Well, at least we've got a Test victory, diplomatic one, no,
not an all that is great to get your reports
across the across the weekend and across the year. All
the best to you and the Ordison far No for
a wonderful Christmas and relaxing holiday season. Look forward to
catching up in twenty twenty six.

Speaker 10 (02:02:18):
Likewise of the Pines, good on you, mate.

Speaker 2 (02:02:20):
Andrew Ordison joining us from Bay Oval, New Zealand one
twenty six without loss, a lead of two hundred and
eighty one, Devin Conway seventy three not out closing in on,
as Andrew said, a fairly well rare milestone innings or sorry,
Test centuries in both innings of a Test match. Only
five others have done it for New Zealand. Could Devin

(02:02:41):
Conway become the sixth? At the other end, Tom Latham
just a bit more Sedate forty four unbeaten, Conbo seventy
three New Zealand one twenty six without loss. That's a
lead of two hundred and eighty one. Quick check on
what's happening across the Tasman. It's all sort of been
a bit deflating since the dismissal not long ago of
Jamie Smith, but Will Jackson Brighton Carser giving it a

(02:03:02):
crack three hundred and eight for seven three hundred night
for seven, one hundred and twenty seven. Further runs needed
if England are to pull off the most unlikely of
test victories. Eight away from three News Talk shit.

Speaker 1 (02:03:16):
Me from breaking down the Hail Mary's and the every
fails Weekends fort with Jason n News Talk ZENB.

Speaker 2 (02:03:26):
Five to three. That's US four today and for the weekend.
On Weekendsport Tim Beverage in after three with the Sunday
edition of the Weekend collect A huge thanks to Za
for producing last couple of days. Have enjoyed your company, mate,
thanks indeed for all your help. Thank you for your
company as well over the last couple of days. Weekend
Sport us back next weekend. We're not taking a break.
We're back next weekend. Including a week from today Sunday,

(02:03:49):
the twenty eighth of December, our year in review show,
looking forward to bringing you that a week from now.
Just remains for me to wish you and your family
a RESTful and relaxing and and very peaceful Christmas. We
will be back, as I say, after Christmas, so look,
I just hope you enjoy the next few days taking

(02:04:10):
us out. While I was resisted the urge to play
Christmas music, I've decided instead to pay tribute to what
the Wellington Phoenix women did yesterday seven goals in the
back of Sydney FC's net so taking us out the
Fleetwood Mac classic Seven Wonders see an next slay. Merry Christmas.

Speaker 15 (02:05:06):
The News.

Speaker 1 (02:05:15):
For more from Weekends Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talks at b Weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio

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