August 22, 2024 • 10 mins
In Friday Sport, Weekend Sport host Jason Pine and All Sport Breakfast host Adam Cooper explain to Nick Mills why they believe the All Blacks sudden coaching change has been dealt with well.
They also discuss why the Wellington Pride and Lions are wearing special pink jerseys for Sunday's home Farah Palmer Cup and NPC matches in Porirua.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from News Talk SEDB. It's the Friday sport kickoff with
the glass shop servicing Wellington for over forty years.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Time to talk sports by your favorite work colleagues and
friends or Sports Breakfast host Adam Cooper Good Morning, Coops,
goodayck Weekend Sports Nationwide hosts Jason Pine Morning.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Pine Hello Neck.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Right.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Let's get cut to the chase. Because everybody on their
work sites, driving around town, sitting listen to the show,
we want to know. Come on, Piney, tell us what's
going on with the coaching change. Scott Robinson and Leon
McDonald part ways, you must know something. If you don't
know anything, nobody does.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Well, I'm not sure that's true. I think they're others
who are probably closer to both of these parties than
I am. But from the outside looking in, here's how
it looks to me. Not everything your try on's going
to fit. I think Leon McDonald went into this with
his you know, with the best intentions, as did Scott Robertson.
Otherwise they wouldn't have gone down this coaching route together.
Scott Robinson said yesterday, Yeah, if we'd known it was
(01:26):
going to end like this, we wouldn't have started it.
But like I say, you know, not everything that you
try is going to work for you. A lot of
people have taken on what they consider to be their
dream job and it hasn't turned out to be that
at all. So for me, the best thing about this
whole thing is that they've worked out quickly that this
is not a relationship that it works, that they have
(01:47):
different philosophies which can't really be reconciled, and so they've
parted ways and they've done it quickly. Look, it's like
it's like it's like being with a partner and you
just know it's not going to work. You can hang
in and hang in and surely before you got married,
you'd work out that this was going to be. Well,
this isn't this isn't a marriage. It's just like it
is kind Okay, let's take it back a step. Then.
(02:09):
I've been in this position. I've taken a job that
I think is my dream job. After a while, it's
it's become apparent to me that it's not my dream job.
So what do you do? Do You hang in and
hope against hope that it'll be it'll come right, or
do you fail quickly? And it's one of my favorite sayings.
Fail quickly. You know, it doesn't mean you've it doesn't
mean you've failed. It just means you've tried something on
(02:30):
which doesn't fit. And then you can you can move on,
and so can they. The All Blacks can move on,
Leon McDonald can move on.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Okay, where does it leave us?
Speaker 4 (02:38):
Adam Cooper, oh, well, one coach down and Tarmody Allison
and a couple of the other coaches picking up a
bit more responsibility. But I agree with Pinney. I think
if this was the situation that has been going on
for the first five tests, this leaves the All Blacks
now in the perfect position going to South Africa without
any possible lingering tension between the head coach and one
(02:59):
of his assistants. It's I'm quite pleased that whatever problems
have been going on have been eliminated by Leo McDonald
and Scott Robertson making this decision for the better of
the team. And I think that's what we have to
give them credit for. They're not trying to you know,
they knew that this is going to create some really
bad publicity and a real distraction for this team approaching
these two big tests against South Africa. They've put that
(03:21):
aside and thought, no, this is the best for the team.
It's getting this out in the open. It's making this big,
bold decision and moving on. And I think it's brilliant
that they've actually got to this decision ahead of these
two incredibly important and incredibly tough tests, so that can
be the only way forward.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Now, I'm going to upset some people by why I'm
next about to stay, but I looking at it, we've
now not got an all star coaching lineup. We've got
two assistant coaches who are blue collar at very best. Now,
I know you've probably disagree with what are you talking
about that? I'm talking about the old coach from the Hurricanes.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
And Jason Holland. Jason Holland got Hansoon, but you've a
got Jason Ryan and their Tumody Ellison, who keeps me in.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Jason Ryan to take him out of the equation because
he is good. But it's not an all star lineup?
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Well was it with Leo McDonald a bit better? Well? Maybe,
I mean he never won Super Rugby did he?
Speaker 2 (04:12):
He?
Speaker 3 (04:13):
You know, he turned the Blues into a very competitive outfit,
but it needed Vern Cotter for them to win Super Rugby. Look,
you know, I'll go back to what I said before.
This clearly wasn't working, ye, and so do you hang
in and hang in and let it fester and actually
make it worse? As Coop said, these are two massive
test matches. Nothing can be allowed to distract them. If
the distraction's done, now, they'll hop on a plane today,
(04:36):
get across to Joe bur By the time they land
and get off the plane, it's in the review mirror.
They can focus forward and look, I think a lot
of people are still yet to be convinced about Scott
Robertson as All Blacks coach. I don't think the first
five tests of the year have been as complete in
terms of the way they've played. And they've had a
loss here against Argentina as people thought after that unpressed
(04:57):
in its success Raiser had at the Crusaders. The jury
is still I think out. And so for him to
take somebody with him who he had doubts about and
who doubts about him would have been the wrong decision.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Okay, Coops, do you reckon? They'll bring in somebody like
an extremely well known respected coach to actually help with
this or do.
Speaker 4 (05:17):
You think they need it. I don't think they need it.
I mean I actually looked at the list of coaches
when it was all sort of put together. They added
the likes of Tombody Allison in and they've got you know,
several others Greek feature I think helping out too. So
there's a lot of people there already which I think
are very experienced to cover this void. And you know,
maybe there were just too many cooks in the in
the kitchen to try and make this this team work
(05:37):
and and they've they've tried to fix that. Also, Nick,
interesting for your thoughts on this. Can someone go from
being a head coach back to an assistant you know
well enough knowing that the buck doesn't stop with them anymore.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
There's an old saying, isn't it. The first assistant at
a college school was always a first assistant. The head
master is always a head master. So you know there's
there is that, there's that train of thought. But when
you step up a level, you always got to go
in an under and build his way up.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
So put it this way, could could raise they have
been an assistant coach and Ian Foster. No, so Leslee
on McDonald in the same boat. He's had to go,
as Coops said, quite rightly, he's had to go from
a head coaching job that he's have what four or
five years at the Blues to now be just just
an assistant. Maybe it just didn't sit right with them.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Okay, Now a function a couple of you got. You
both went to celebrate what Wellington Lions and Wellington Pride
are going to do this weekend. They're going to wear
a special pink jersey this weekend and party to a
park Doe see Cadifi. I want to talk about this
very very special young man because you know, people that
listen to the show know how I absolutely think he's
(06:39):
an amazing young person and player. Coops. He spoke, I
believe I've heard secondhand he spoke unbelievably.
Speaker 4 (06:48):
Yeah, it was an amazing function. As you know, Mills Albert,
the main sponsors of the Wellington Lions, dedicated the front
shirt whole placement of the front shirt logo not to
themselves but to the bally Full charity, which is absolutely
brilliant here. So it was a great function on Wednesday night,
out in the company coacht celebrating that, and you know,
alsome always to see the players embrace these things. You know,
(07:09):
often you wonder if the players actually, you know, do
they enjoy coming along to these things. But I think
every you know, one of the Lions and Pride players
that were there are absolutely all about this and there
just seems to be a real community focused with this
team and that's what they're really aware of and proud
of this year. So yeah, to see duplicy could he
fig get up speak from the heart with no notes,
thanking all those involved, you know, really getting behind the cause,
(07:31):
saying how important the Valleyful charity is to Wellingtonians and
young families was really special and I thought spoke very
impressively about, you know, the whole situation with the way
this has happened. So yeah, ready, cool pink jerseys. I
don't know if we've seen them much in the n
PC over the years from any team maybe North Harbor
maybe he might have had pink jerseys at one point,
(07:52):
but they'll certainly stand out. Both the Lions and Pride
against manu Wa two on Sunday afternoon, and I heard.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
The host did a pretty damn good job of it
as well, Piney.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
He was terrible. It was a great function though, as
Coop said, you can read the vibe in a room
like that, you know, and it was a great vibe.
And also just a word on Mills Albert as well,
I know, also sponsor the Wellington Saints and are deeply
entrenched in the community. A lot of sponsors, a lot
of corporates attach themselves to sports teams and say, hey,
we're you know, we're part of the team, We're part
of this community. Mills Albert are walking that walk. As
(08:24):
Coop said, they've given up the front of shirt, not
just for the Sunday, for the whole season, for the
whole season they're not having they don't have Mills Albert,
you know, emblazoned across the front. They've given that to
bally Fall, this charity that supplies food to families of
newborn babies who need a bit of assistance. And not
only that, they've also then created this charity jersey which
(08:45):
they're auctioning off. They auctioned off the other night. You
can buy a replica one and ten dollars goes to
bally Fall. Mills Albert have basically not just lended their
lended a hand. They're the ones in the middle of
this whole thing, with bally Fall, with Wellington, RAGBN, with
Paladin the apparel supplier. I think they're an extremely impressive
organization who absolutely entrenched themselves in the community within which
(09:09):
they operate one.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
Hundred percent, and I backed that one hundred percent. They
are amazing people to deal with quickly, really quickly, because
we've only got sixty seconds. Shawn Johnson's last game, Will
you go down quickly? I just want to say to you,
yes or no? Will you go down? As a great
of the game.
Speaker 4 (09:21):
Coops, great for the Warriors.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Yep, you know I created a game though.
Speaker 4 (09:25):
Yeah, overall, I think you have to you look at
his look at his record, look at his history. Absolutely
a legend. Yeah, he'll go into the NRAL Hall of Fame.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
Oh you reckon? Yeah, well, Benji Marshall did the other night,
so surely.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Oh my gosh, that's a big call.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
A do they say he's been around four ten years?
I think he goes in the Hall of Fame.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Oh okay, there you go, thank you both very much.
There of course, it's Adam Cooper and Jason Pine catch
them tomorrow and Someday for Coops. Sorry set tomorrow morning
for Coops and Saturday and Sunday for Jason Pine. It
is six minutes to eleven.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
The Wellington Mornings Friday Sport kickoff with the glass Shop
Superior Glass and Gleazing Surface Glass Shop dot co dot
in sid that's two p's and an E in shop
For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills. Listen live
to news Talks It'd Be Wellington from nine am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from News Talk SEDB. It's the Friday sport kickoff with
the glass shop servicing Wellington for over forty years.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Time to talk sports by your favorite work colleagues and
friends or Sports Breakfast host Adam Cooper Good Morning, Coops,
goodayck Weekend Sports Nationwide hosts Jason Pine Morning.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Pine Hello Neck.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Right.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Let's get cut to the chase. Because everybody on their
work sites, driving around town, sitting listen to the show,
we want to know. Come on, Piney, tell us what's
going on with the coaching change. Scott Robinson and Leon
McDonald part ways, you must know something. If you don't
know anything, nobody does.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Well, I'm not sure that's true. I think they're others
who are probably closer to both of these parties than
I am. But from the outside looking in, here's how
it looks to me. Not everything your try on's going
to fit. I think Leon McDonald went into this with
his you know, with the best intentions, as did Scott Robertson.
Otherwise they wouldn't have gone down this coaching route together.
Scott Robinson said yesterday, Yeah, if we'd known it was
(01:26):
going to end like this, we wouldn't have started it.
But like I say, you know, not everything that you
try is going to work for you. A lot of
people have taken on what they consider to be their
dream job and it hasn't turned out to be that
at all. So for me, the best thing about this
whole thing is that they've worked out quickly that this
is not a relationship that it works, that they have
(01:47):
different philosophies which can't really be reconciled, and so they've
parted ways and they've done it quickly. Look, it's like
it's like it's like being with a partner and you
just know it's not going to work. You can hang
in and hang in and surely before you got married,
you'd work out that this was going to be. Well,
this isn't this isn't a marriage. It's just like it
is kind Okay, let's take it back a step. Then.
(02:09):
I've been in this position. I've taken a job that
I think is my dream job. After a while, it's
it's become apparent to me that it's not my dream job.
So what do you do? Do You hang in and
hope against hope that it'll be it'll come right, or
do you fail quickly? And it's one of my favorite sayings.
Fail quickly. You know, it doesn't mean you've it doesn't
mean you've failed. It just means you've tried something on
(02:30):
which doesn't fit. And then you can you can move on,
and so can they. The All Blacks can move on,
Leon McDonald can move on.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Okay, where does it leave us?
Speaker 4 (02:38):
Adam Cooper, oh, well, one coach down and Tarmody Allison
and a couple of the other coaches picking up a
bit more responsibility. But I agree with Pinney. I think
if this was the situation that has been going on
for the first five tests, this leaves the All Blacks
now in the perfect position going to South Africa without
any possible lingering tension between the head coach and one
(02:59):
of his assistants. It's I'm quite pleased that whatever problems
have been going on have been eliminated by Leo McDonald
and Scott Robertson making this decision for the better of
the team. And I think that's what we have to
give them credit for. They're not trying to you know,
they knew that this is going to create some really
bad publicity and a real distraction for this team approaching
these two big tests against South Africa. They've put that
(03:21):
aside and thought, no, this is the best for the team.
It's getting this out in the open. It's making this big,
bold decision and moving on. And I think it's brilliant
that they've actually got to this decision ahead of these
two incredibly important and incredibly tough tests, so that can
be the only way forward.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Now, I'm going to upset some people by why I'm
next about to stay, but I looking at it, we've
now not got an all star coaching lineup. We've got
two assistant coaches who are blue collar at very best. Now,
I know you've probably disagree with what are you talking
about that? I'm talking about the old coach from the Hurricanes.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
And Jason Holland. Jason Holland got Hansoon, but you've a
got Jason Ryan and their Tumody Ellison, who keeps me in.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Jason Ryan to take him out of the equation because
he is good. But it's not an all star lineup?
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Well was it with Leo McDonald a bit better? Well? Maybe,
I mean he never won Super Rugby did he?
Speaker 2 (04:12):
He?
Speaker 3 (04:13):
You know, he turned the Blues into a very competitive outfit,
but it needed Vern Cotter for them to win Super Rugby. Look,
you know, I'll go back to what I said before.
This clearly wasn't working, ye, and so do you hang
in and hang in and let it fester and actually
make it worse? As Coop said, these are two massive
test matches. Nothing can be allowed to distract them. If
the distraction's done, now, they'll hop on a plane today,
(04:36):
get across to Joe bur By the time they land
and get off the plane, it's in the review mirror.
They can focus forward and look, I think a lot
of people are still yet to be convinced about Scott
Robertson as All Blacks coach. I don't think the first
five tests of the year have been as complete in
terms of the way they've played. And they've had a
loss here against Argentina as people thought after that unpressed
(04:57):
in its success Raiser had at the Crusaders. The jury
is still I think out. And so for him to
take somebody with him who he had doubts about and
who doubts about him would have been the wrong decision.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Okay, Coops, do you reckon? They'll bring in somebody like
an extremely well known respected coach to actually help with
this or do.
Speaker 4 (05:17):
You think they need it. I don't think they need it.
I mean I actually looked at the list of coaches
when it was all sort of put together. They added
the likes of Tombody Allison in and they've got you know,
several others Greek feature I think helping out too. So
there's a lot of people there already which I think
are very experienced to cover this void. And you know,
maybe there were just too many cooks in the in
the kitchen to try and make this this team work
(05:37):
and and they've they've tried to fix that. Also, Nick,
interesting for your thoughts on this. Can someone go from
being a head coach back to an assistant you know
well enough knowing that the buck doesn't stop with them anymore.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
There's an old saying, isn't it. The first assistant at
a college school was always a first assistant. The head
master is always a head master. So you know there's
there is that, there's that train of thought. But when
you step up a level, you always got to go
in an under and build his way up.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
So put it this way, could could raise they have
been an assistant coach and Ian Foster. No, so Leslee
on McDonald in the same boat. He's had to go,
as Coops said, quite rightly, he's had to go from
a head coaching job that he's have what four or
five years at the Blues to now be just just
an assistant. Maybe it just didn't sit right with them.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Okay, Now a function a couple of you got. You
both went to celebrate what Wellington Lions and Wellington Pride
are going to do this weekend. They're going to wear
a special pink jersey this weekend and party to a
park Doe see Cadifi. I want to talk about this
very very special young man because you know, people that
listen to the show know how I absolutely think he's
(06:39):
an amazing young person and player. Coops. He spoke, I
believe I've heard secondhand he spoke unbelievably.
Speaker 4 (06:48):
Yeah, it was an amazing function. As you know, Mills Albert,
the main sponsors of the Wellington Lions, dedicated the front
shirt whole placement of the front shirt logo not to
themselves but to the bally Full charity, which is absolutely
brilliant here. So it was a great function on Wednesday night,
out in the company coacht celebrating that, and you know,
alsome always to see the players embrace these things. You know,
(07:09):
often you wonder if the players actually, you know, do
they enjoy coming along to these things. But I think
every you know, one of the Lions and Pride players
that were there are absolutely all about this and there
just seems to be a real community focused with this
team and that's what they're really aware of and proud
of this year. So yeah, to see duplicy could he
fig get up speak from the heart with no notes,
thanking all those involved, you know, really getting behind the cause,
(07:31):
saying how important the Valleyful charity is to Wellingtonians and
young families was really special and I thought spoke very
impressively about, you know, the whole situation with the way
this has happened. So yeah, ready, cool pink jerseys. I
don't know if we've seen them much in the n
PC over the years from any team maybe North Harbor
maybe he might have had pink jerseys at one point,
(07:52):
but they'll certainly stand out. Both the Lions and Pride
against manu Wa two on Sunday afternoon, and I heard.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
The host did a pretty damn good job of it
as well, Piney.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
He was terrible. It was a great function though, as
Coop said, you can read the vibe in a room
like that, you know, and it was a great vibe.
And also just a word on Mills Albert as well,
I know, also sponsor the Wellington Saints and are deeply
entrenched in the community. A lot of sponsors, a lot
of corporates attach themselves to sports teams and say, hey,
we're you know, we're part of the team, We're part
of this community. Mills Albert are walking that walk. As
(08:24):
Coop said, they've given up the front of shirt, not
just for the Sunday, for the whole season, for the
whole season they're not having they don't have Mills Albert,
you know, emblazoned across the front. They've given that to
bally Fall, this charity that supplies food to families of
newborn babies who need a bit of assistance. And not
only that, they've also then created this charity jersey which
(08:45):
they're auctioning off. They auctioned off the other night. You
can buy a replica one and ten dollars goes to
bally Fall. Mills Albert have basically not just lended their
lended a hand. They're the ones in the middle of
this whole thing, with bally Fall, with Wellington, RAGBN, with
Paladin the apparel supplier. I think they're an extremely impressive
organization who absolutely entrenched themselves in the community within which
(09:09):
they operate one.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
Hundred percent, and I backed that one hundred percent. They
are amazing people to deal with quickly, really quickly, because
we've only got sixty seconds. Shawn Johnson's last game, Will
you go down quickly? I just want to say to you,
yes or no? Will you go down? As a great
of the game.
Speaker 4 (09:21):
Coops, great for the Warriors.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Yep, you know I created a game though.
Speaker 4 (09:25):
Yeah, overall, I think you have to you look at
his look at his record, look at his history. Absolutely
a legend. Yeah, he'll go into the NRAL Hall of Fame.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
Oh you reckon? Yeah, well, Benji Marshall did the other night,
so surely.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Oh my gosh, that's a big call.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
A do they say he's been around four ten years?
I think he goes in the Hall of Fame.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Oh okay, there you go, thank you both very much.
There of course, it's Adam Cooper and Jason Pine catch
them tomorrow and Someday for Coops. Sorry set tomorrow morning
for Coops and Saturday and Sunday for Jason Pine. It
is six minutes to eleven.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
The Wellington Mornings Friday Sport kickoff with the glass Shop
Superior Glass and Gleazing Surface Glass Shop dot co dot
in sid that's two p's and an E in shop
For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills. Listen live
to news Talks It'd Be Wellington from nine am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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