September 10, 2026 • 7 mins
James McNamee gives a further update regarding his travels following the All Blacks on their "Greatest Rivalry" tour.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
This is the muster on Hokanui. Before we wrap up
for the week, we're away over to New York. Catching
up with James McNamee, of course, of Garston Hops. He's
been following the All Blacks around on the Greatest Rivalry Tour.
He's been over at the UK for the past couple
of days, and this morning, New Zealand time actually, just
landed in New York, making his way to Baltimore. James, firstly,
(00:29):
good afternoon, and Garston Hops, congratulations. You guys got an
accolade during the week.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Oh, we did, actually. Yeah, that was really, really good.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
We've tried for that one for a few years, and
referee's law is we won it when I was a, Well,
I was away, but it still means we're very excited
to have it, though.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
Yeah, well done. So, firstly, before we talk about being
in New York on quite a poignant day, Soweto, the
big stadium there, Soccer City, whatever they call it, like
93,000 people. What was it like?
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Yeah, intimidating, exhilarating, and pretty good.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Yeah, and it's just literally in the middle of nowhere,
and they bus you in... safely and get you out safely.
But it was pretty impressive.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
How would you explain the feeling in there as opposed
to Alice Park? Yes, the All Blacks won that game,
but that many people in that ambitheatre must be terrific.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
I think they expected to win more. And the first
couple of games was probably a little bit nice. They
must have been nice to each other. And then we've
had one game each, so the third game was definitely
the gloves were off.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
So they definitely.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
thought they were going to win, and I actually thought
we were going to win as well. But the Nazis
had faded a little bit, but it was still a
pretty good banter.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
So you're on your way to Baltimore. What do you
make of this game? A lot of people are saying
it's a dead rubber. Arguably, the tournament, the series, sorry,
finished last week in Soweto. Do you still think there's
a lot on stake on the line with this game,
just bragging rights perhaps?
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Oh, absolutely.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
We might be clutching the straws a little bit. to
go for a draw, but it is a four-match series.
They chose to have the fourth game here. So Africa
are taking it very, very seriously. I think it's the
first time for many years they've kept the same team
consistently through. They're definitely up to win it. It's good
(02:29):
for the public to try, and America to try and
raise the profile of the game.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
I don't know if it's working. We looked at the
website before.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
There's a lot of tickets still left for sale, so
hopefully there's some Hopefully it's the same fills, but it
might not be as full as I hoped it would be.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
So are you in New York at the moment? Is
that correct?
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Correct. Yep. No, landed.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
So this morning I got up and visited a couple
of breweries in London. So I dealt with London sharing
stations and tube station. I dealt with the M25. If
anyone listening understands.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
What the M25 is.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
No, the M25, yep.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
It's a special treat in itself, dealing with the M25. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
Got myself to Heathrow got the reverse injection and then
came over to New York and then I dealt with
the New York system so pretty close to Times Square
at the moment just had a couple of sharpeners to
revive after the trip and about to go out and
have a look around Times Square in the town and.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Have something to eat I love the way you talk
about going and visiting breweries on the way to the
airport in your line of work it's essential.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Well it is Absolutely, yes.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
I'm trying to think of a nice way to explain that,
but essential is a good word, Andy.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
9-11, it's in New Zealand at the moment. You guys
there obviously a little bit behind due to time zones,
but quite a poignant moment. Have you seen anything at
all on your journey to date to actually understand that
the stay is close over there?
Speaker 3 (04:02):
I haven't seen anything yet, but when I was boarding in...
Last time I was in New York, I went and
visited the World Trade Centre and the sites they've done,
and they've done a really good job, actually, of doing
that and, I guess, memorising the people and the first
supporters and live people that came and helped them in
those days.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
It's a pretty good set-up.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
It would be a very sobering moment, I'd imagine, too,
visiting that memorial.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
I was lucky enough to get up the towers while
they were still there, So that was pretty cool and
then go there and realise they're not there anymore and
just understand where they were, how big they were and
they had nowhere to fall really apart from causing a
lot of damage.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
So what's the plan? Watch the game in Baltimore a
couple of days over there then back home is it
to do some work?
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Yeah, work is definitely calling. Once I finish here I
need to get back on a call back to the farm.
The hops have broken out of dormancy probably a little
bit earlier than we expected. So they're on their way.
So we need to sort some stuff there to get
ready for building a new garden. But, yeah, the plan
is tomorrow take the train from Penn Station down to Baltimore.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
We've got a rental car. We'll go and see a
couple of breweries because, as you said, it's essential. It's
your job. See a couple of breweries tomorrow night.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
It's a cool description. And then get ready for the game.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
The game originally was lunchtime on Saturday, but they pushed
it back to 5 o'clock.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
So you can have a sleep with Andy.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Oh, good to know. Hey, now you've got a mate
over there as well. He is 100th game watching the
All Blacks, and he had a special presentation by a
couple of AB legends.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
Yeah, so all the group are over here. Steve and
I did 100th game in 2019.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
We got A.J. Whitten.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
We were lucky enough for A.J. to come and do
our jersey, so. We were wondering what to do for Grant,
and lucky enough, we managed to arrange three World Cups.
Can present his jersey for him in Cape Town, Richie
McCool and David Kirk. So they met us in a
hotel in Cape Town and gave Grant his jersey. So
(06:20):
it was pretty cool, and they were really nice about it.
Good talking to them.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
They had a busy schedule, so it's good that they
took their time to do it.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Good on you, James. Better leave it there. Go the
ABs on Sunday. Happy travels. Sounds like a hell of
a journey you're continuing with, and we'll catch up in
due course, mate.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Perfect. Sounds good. Thanks, Andy.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
RIP to my neighbour. He told me his wife was
going out to get some sewing thread, but spent the
day in the pub. Gone, but not forgotten. Right, that's
us over and done with. The podcast will be up shortly,
thanks to iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
I'm Andy Muir.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
The show's brought to you by Peter Genetics. Go the stags,
go the ABs, up the wars.
This is the muster on Hokanui. Before we wrap up
for the week, we're away over to New York. Catching
up with James McNamee, of course, of Garston Hops. He's
been following the All Blacks around on the Greatest Rivalry Tour.
He's been over at the UK for the past couple
of days, and this morning, New Zealand time actually, just
landed in New York, making his way to Baltimore. James, firstly,
(00:29):
good afternoon, and Garston Hops, congratulations. You guys got an
accolade during the week.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Oh, we did, actually. Yeah, that was really, really good.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
We've tried for that one for a few years, and
referee's law is we won it when I was a, Well,
I was away, but it still means we're very excited
to have it, though.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
Yeah, well done. So, firstly, before we talk about being
in New York on quite a poignant day, Soweto, the
big stadium there, Soccer City, whatever they call it, like
93,000 people. What was it like?
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Yeah, intimidating, exhilarating, and pretty good.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Yeah, and it's just literally in the middle of nowhere,
and they bus you in... safely and get you out safely.
But it was pretty impressive.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
How would you explain the feeling in there as opposed
to Alice Park? Yes, the All Blacks won that game,
but that many people in that ambitheatre must be terrific.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
I think they expected to win more. And the first
couple of games was probably a little bit nice. They
must have been nice to each other. And then we've
had one game each, so the third game was definitely
the gloves were off.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
So they definitely.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
thought they were going to win, and I actually thought
we were going to win as well. But the Nazis
had faded a little bit, but it was still a
pretty good banter.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
So you're on your way to Baltimore. What do you
make of this game? A lot of people are saying
it's a dead rubber. Arguably, the tournament, the series, sorry,
finished last week in Soweto. Do you still think there's
a lot on stake on the line with this game,
just bragging rights perhaps?
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Oh, absolutely.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
We might be clutching the straws a little bit. to
go for a draw, but it is a four-match series.
They chose to have the fourth game here. So Africa
are taking it very, very seriously. I think it's the
first time for many years they've kept the same team
consistently through. They're definitely up to win it. It's good
(02:29):
for the public to try, and America to try and
raise the profile of the game.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
I don't know if it's working. We looked at the
website before.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
There's a lot of tickets still left for sale, so
hopefully there's some Hopefully it's the same fills, but it
might not be as full as I hoped it would be.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
So are you in New York at the moment? Is
that correct?
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Correct. Yep. No, landed.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
So this morning I got up and visited a couple
of breweries in London. So I dealt with London sharing
stations and tube station. I dealt with the M25. If
anyone listening understands.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
What the M25 is.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
No, the M25, yep.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
It's a special treat in itself, dealing with the M25. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
Got myself to Heathrow got the reverse injection and then
came over to New York and then I dealt with
the New York system so pretty close to Times Square
at the moment just had a couple of sharpeners to
revive after the trip and about to go out and
have a look around Times Square in the town and.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Have something to eat I love the way you talk
about going and visiting breweries on the way to the
airport in your line of work it's essential.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Well it is Absolutely, yes.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
I'm trying to think of a nice way to explain that,
but essential is a good word, Andy.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
9-11, it's in New Zealand at the moment. You guys
there obviously a little bit behind due to time zones,
but quite a poignant moment. Have you seen anything at
all on your journey to date to actually understand that
the stay is close over there?
Speaker 3 (04:02):
I haven't seen anything yet, but when I was boarding in...
Last time I was in New York, I went and
visited the World Trade Centre and the sites they've done,
and they've done a really good job, actually, of doing
that and, I guess, memorising the people and the first
supporters and live people that came and helped them in
those days.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
It's a pretty good set-up.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
It would be a very sobering moment, I'd imagine, too,
visiting that memorial.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
I was lucky enough to get up the towers while
they were still there, So that was pretty cool and
then go there and realise they're not there anymore and
just understand where they were, how big they were and
they had nowhere to fall really apart from causing a
lot of damage.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
So what's the plan? Watch the game in Baltimore a
couple of days over there then back home is it
to do some work?
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Yeah, work is definitely calling. Once I finish here I
need to get back on a call back to the farm.
The hops have broken out of dormancy probably a little
bit earlier than we expected. So they're on their way.
So we need to sort some stuff there to get
ready for building a new garden. But, yeah, the plan
is tomorrow take the train from Penn Station down to Baltimore.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
We've got a rental car. We'll go and see a
couple of breweries because, as you said, it's essential. It's
your job. See a couple of breweries tomorrow night.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
It's a cool description. And then get ready for the game.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
The game originally was lunchtime on Saturday, but they pushed
it back to 5 o'clock.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
So you can have a sleep with Andy.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Oh, good to know. Hey, now you've got a mate
over there as well. He is 100th game watching the
All Blacks, and he had a special presentation by a
couple of AB legends.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
Yeah, so all the group are over here. Steve and
I did 100th game in 2019.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
We got A.J. Whitten.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
We were lucky enough for A.J. to come and do
our jersey, so. We were wondering what to do for Grant,
and lucky enough, we managed to arrange three World Cups.
Can present his jersey for him in Cape Town, Richie
McCool and David Kirk. So they met us in a
hotel in Cape Town and gave Grant his jersey. So
(06:20):
it was pretty cool, and they were really nice about it.
Good talking to them.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
They had a busy schedule, so it's good that they
took their time to do it.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Good on you, James. Better leave it there. Go the
ABs on Sunday. Happy travels. Sounds like a hell of
a journey you're continuing with, and we'll catch up in
due course, mate.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Perfect. Sounds good. Thanks, Andy.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
RIP to my neighbour. He told me his wife was
going out to get some sewing thread, but spent the
day in the pub. Gone, but not forgotten. Right, that's
us over and done with. The podcast will be up shortly,
thanks to iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
I'm Andy Muir.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
The show's brought to you by Peter Genetics. Go the stags,
go the ABs, up the wars.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!