1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,547 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,907 Speaker 1: from News Talks edb. 3 00:00:12,667 --> 00:00:14,867 Speaker 2: Ritchie Moore Wonger signing an eighteen month to heal from 4 00:00:14,867 --> 00:00:16,947 Speaker 2: mid next year through to the end of twenty seven. 5 00:00:16,987 --> 00:00:20,267 Speaker 2: He'll play NPC for Canterbury before becoming eligible for the 6 00:00:20,267 --> 00:00:23,387 Speaker 2: All Blacks from next October. He has of course been 7 00:00:23,427 --> 00:00:26,627 Speaker 2: playing the last two years in Japan, where he has 8 00:00:26,707 --> 00:00:30,667 Speaker 2: led to Siba to back to back titles. Let's bring 9 00:00:30,707 --> 00:00:33,347 Speaker 2: in former World Cup winning All Blacks coach and current 10 00:00:33,387 --> 00:00:38,427 Speaker 2: head coach at Japanese side Toyota ver Blitz So Steve Hanson. Steve, 11 00:00:38,427 --> 00:00:41,387 Speaker 2: thanks for joining us with your insight. First of all, 12 00:00:41,467 --> 00:00:44,427 Speaker 2: is this a good outcome for New Zealand Rugby, for 13 00:00:44,467 --> 00:00:47,627 Speaker 2: the All Blacks and for Richie Moore Ononger himself. 14 00:00:48,587 --> 00:00:51,907 Speaker 3: It's obviously a good outcome for Richie because he's agreed 15 00:00:51,907 --> 00:00:55,187 Speaker 3: to do it, so he's probably very happy with it. Look, 16 00:00:55,267 --> 00:00:59,387 Speaker 3: I think he's another quality player that's available for the 17 00:00:59,387 --> 00:01:02,827 Speaker 3: All Blacks, so it's a great outcome for them as well. 18 00:01:02,867 --> 00:01:05,507 Speaker 4: And we know he's a quality player. 19 00:01:05,587 --> 00:01:11,187 Speaker 3: He's he's won many many titles and you know five 20 00:01:11,227 --> 00:01:14,187 Speaker 3: eights your main computer. 21 00:01:13,867 --> 00:01:15,987 Speaker 4: So he's obviously doing a good job. 22 00:01:15,827 --> 00:01:18,387 Speaker 3: In the team he's in, and he's had a third 23 00:01:18,427 --> 00:01:21,467 Speaker 3: and a second out of World Cup, so you know 24 00:01:21,507 --> 00:01:23,867 Speaker 3: he's obviously performed at those levels as well. 25 00:01:23,907 --> 00:01:26,547 Speaker 4: And it adds to the depth, you. 26 00:01:26,507 --> 00:01:30,347 Speaker 3: Know, with Boden playing really well, McKenzie playing well and 27 00:01:30,467 --> 00:01:31,627 Speaker 3: Richie coming back, so. 28 00:01:33,547 --> 00:01:35,987 Speaker 4: You need depth to be able to win World Cups. 29 00:01:36,507 --> 00:01:39,307 Speaker 2: The big question I think that everybody would like to 30 00:01:39,307 --> 00:01:41,907 Speaker 2: know the answer to, and you're perfectly positioned to give 31 00:01:41,947 --> 00:01:45,827 Speaker 2: us some insight, is whether he'll be prepared for Test rugby. 32 00:01:45,867 --> 00:01:48,547 Speaker 2: He'll come back play, but the inn PC off the 33 00:01:48,547 --> 00:01:51,867 Speaker 2: back of two seasons in Japan, Steve, how prepared will 34 00:01:51,907 --> 00:01:55,907 Speaker 2: he be to return to Test rugby here? 35 00:01:56,027 --> 00:02:00,667 Speaker 3: Be prepared like you've seen Ardie Severe come back and play. 36 00:02:00,707 --> 00:02:03,107 Speaker 3: You've seen Vodenbert come back and play, and both of 37 00:02:03,107 --> 00:02:08,027 Speaker 3: them have played well. So I think there's a bit 38 00:02:08,027 --> 00:02:12,707 Speaker 3: of a myth from years gone by about Japanese rugby. 39 00:02:12,547 --> 00:02:16,387 Speaker 4: Is not strong enough for preparing you for Test footy. 40 00:02:16,427 --> 00:02:22,027 Speaker 3: But there's a lot changed up here and the coaching, 41 00:02:23,267 --> 00:02:26,667 Speaker 3: the depth of player quality across all the teams. It's 42 00:02:26,707 --> 00:02:30,787 Speaker 3: a very very competitive competition and you know, to be 43 00:02:30,907 --> 00:02:32,947 Speaker 3: in a winning team like he has. 44 00:02:34,147 --> 00:02:36,507 Speaker 4: You've got to be playing well and you've. 45 00:02:36,307 --> 00:02:40,787 Speaker 3: Got to be doing commitment to your standards and the 46 00:02:40,867 --> 00:02:43,987 Speaker 3: stuff that you and your team needs you to be doing. 47 00:02:44,067 --> 00:02:50,667 Speaker 3: So I've got no doubt you'll come back and play well. Obviously, 48 00:02:51,507 --> 00:02:55,027 Speaker 3: Test rugby is a big step up from Super rugby 49 00:02:55,147 --> 00:02:58,427 Speaker 3: or even Japanese rugby. You know that doesn't matter where 50 00:02:58,467 --> 00:03:01,827 Speaker 3: you go. The step ups big and you've got to 51 00:03:01,867 --> 00:03:03,787 Speaker 3: be prepared for it. But we know that he's been 52 00:03:03,827 --> 00:03:07,987 Speaker 3: there before and he's done the job before. So yeah, 53 00:03:08,027 --> 00:03:10,467 Speaker 3: I think of people like Jerome Kiner came back and 54 00:03:10,747 --> 00:03:13,787 Speaker 3: was a superstar when he came back. Yeah, Adie Severe 55 00:03:13,827 --> 00:03:15,227 Speaker 3: played particularly well as well. 56 00:03:15,627 --> 00:03:17,867 Speaker 2: Yeah, I've got Jerome down actually because he is a 57 00:03:17,867 --> 00:03:20,867 Speaker 2: specific successful example of a guy. I went to Japan, 58 00:03:20,907 --> 00:03:22,667 Speaker 2: played a couple of seasons there, came back to New 59 00:03:22,747 --> 00:03:25,827 Speaker 2: Zealand part of your World Cup winning side in twenty fifteen. 60 00:03:26,747 --> 00:03:30,387 Speaker 2: What were the reasons it worked so well for a 61 00:03:30,427 --> 00:03:32,867 Speaker 2: plant like Jerome Kinel, Well. 62 00:03:32,787 --> 00:03:35,907 Speaker 3: Jerome was pretty beat up when he left, so you know, 63 00:03:36,067 --> 00:03:41,307 Speaker 3: just getting the opportunity to be mentally being a different 64 00:03:41,347 --> 00:03:48,427 Speaker 3: place and have different stimuli I think refreshed and recharged 65 00:03:48,467 --> 00:03:50,747 Speaker 3: his batteries and you know, I'm sure. 66 00:03:52,307 --> 00:03:54,307 Speaker 4: If you look at Richie the same thing's happening with 67 00:03:54,427 --> 00:03:55,067 Speaker 4: him mentally. 68 00:03:55,507 --> 00:03:59,507 Speaker 3: I know, talking to Bowden quite frequently, you know just 69 00:03:59,547 --> 00:04:04,307 Speaker 3: how much he loved the Japan stints that he's had, 70 00:04:04,347 --> 00:04:07,747 Speaker 3: because you know, it is front and the stimuli is 71 00:04:07,867 --> 00:04:11,507 Speaker 3: different and you come back and I wouldn't call it 72 00:04:11,547 --> 00:04:15,107 Speaker 3: a grind, but it's you know, you're under that constant 73 00:04:15,187 --> 00:04:17,627 Speaker 3: pressure when you're backing in z whereas here you just 74 00:04:18,027 --> 00:04:20,307 Speaker 3: you know, a body, not somebody. 75 00:04:21,067 --> 00:04:25,227 Speaker 2: Man management around this Steve, you know every coach has 76 00:04:25,227 --> 00:04:28,267 Speaker 2: to manage their players. How much of a man management 77 00:04:28,347 --> 00:04:31,787 Speaker 2: challenge will raise in our faces? He as he as 78 00:04:31,867 --> 00:04:36,387 Speaker 2: Boone Baron Damien McKenzie. Richie's not back till next year, 79 00:04:36,427 --> 00:04:38,947 Speaker 2: So how does he manage those two before Richie gets 80 00:04:38,987 --> 00:04:40,347 Speaker 2: back and then after he gets. 81 00:04:40,107 --> 00:04:42,467 Speaker 4: Back, Well that's a million dollar question. 82 00:04:43,347 --> 00:04:49,147 Speaker 3: How well he does that job will really showing how 83 00:04:49,227 --> 00:04:51,507 Speaker 3: how well all three of them come back into the group. 84 00:04:51,587 --> 00:04:54,707 Speaker 3: And you know, you've just got to be upfront and 85 00:04:54,787 --> 00:04:58,947 Speaker 3: honest and make your selections based on on good cry 86 00:04:58,987 --> 00:05:01,987 Speaker 3: to your ear, and if everyone's playing well, then it 87 00:05:01,987 --> 00:05:05,587 Speaker 3: becomes a really tough selection question. If someone's not playing well, 88 00:05:05,627 --> 00:05:10,347 Speaker 3: then yeah, it makes it harder for you to get picked. 89 00:05:10,067 --> 00:05:10,387 Speaker 4: Doesn't it. 90 00:05:10,627 --> 00:05:13,467 Speaker 3: Well, exactly, you definitely have to have good conversations and 91 00:05:14,027 --> 00:05:16,107 Speaker 3: be honest and upfront, and I'm sure he will. 92 00:05:15,987 --> 00:05:19,747 Speaker 2: Be yeah and well again, you know, without knowing the 93 00:05:19,747 --> 00:05:22,507 Speaker 2: conversations that go on if I'm bowed em barried or 94 00:05:22,507 --> 00:05:24,827 Speaker 2: I'm Damien McKenzie. Am I looking across up my All 95 00:05:24,827 --> 00:05:28,027 Speaker 2: Blacks coaches thinking to myself, he'd actually prefer if another 96 00:05:28,067 --> 00:05:29,467 Speaker 2: bloke was in the ten Jersey, not me. 97 00:05:30,787 --> 00:05:33,627 Speaker 3: Look, I think their questions you have to ask Bone 98 00:05:33,747 --> 00:05:37,987 Speaker 3: and Damien, you know, like stuff. I can't answer that 99 00:05:38,027 --> 00:05:42,427 Speaker 3: for you because but both those young men are good 100 00:05:43,587 --> 00:05:46,907 Speaker 3: all they're great All Blacks, and they're good men who 101 00:05:46,987 --> 00:05:50,347 Speaker 3: have always put the team first. So they'll be looking 102 00:05:50,387 --> 00:05:54,987 Speaker 3: to play really, really well and and make it really 103 00:05:55,027 --> 00:05:58,227 Speaker 3: difficult for someone like Richie to get back in the team. 104 00:05:58,427 --> 00:06:02,427 Speaker 3: I wouldn't think it's a given that Richie just walks 105 00:06:02,427 --> 00:06:05,307 Speaker 3: straight back in. I think he has to earn the right, 106 00:06:05,427 --> 00:06:07,987 Speaker 3: just like the other two boys having doing the right. 107 00:06:08,067 --> 00:06:12,027 Speaker 3: But again, the conversations you probably should have with Razor 108 00:06:12,147 --> 00:06:16,467 Speaker 3: and Damien, and. 109 00:06:15,347 --> 00:06:18,987 Speaker 2: Indeed, as Richie really stood out over there the last 110 00:06:18,987 --> 00:06:21,907 Speaker 2: couple of seasons, has he been among the best players, 111 00:06:21,907 --> 00:06:24,187 Speaker 2: if not the best player there the last couple of years. 112 00:06:24,347 --> 00:06:28,267 Speaker 4: Well, there's a lot of good players here, so you know, 113 00:06:28,387 --> 00:06:30,467 Speaker 4: at times his performances have been. 114 00:06:32,547 --> 00:06:33,547 Speaker 2: Very very good. 115 00:06:34,827 --> 00:06:38,507 Speaker 3: When I've seen him play, but there's other players that 116 00:06:38,987 --> 00:06:41,427 Speaker 3: are very very good too, so it's hard to say 117 00:06:41,547 --> 00:06:42,907 Speaker 3: he's been the outstanding player. 118 00:06:42,947 --> 00:06:46,107 Speaker 4: But again, when you look at. 119 00:06:46,027 --> 00:06:48,667 Speaker 3: The results, he's in a team that's won the competition twice. 120 00:06:49,267 --> 00:06:52,427 Speaker 3: He's the team, he drives that team, so he's obviously 121 00:06:52,467 --> 00:06:57,507 Speaker 3: playing well and that's a great sign for him, and 122 00:06:57,547 --> 00:06:59,427 Speaker 3: it's a great sign for when he goes back to 123 00:06:59,427 --> 00:07:01,467 Speaker 3: New Zealand if he continues to do that. 124 00:07:02,667 --> 00:07:04,747 Speaker 2: And after the next World Cup, he'll be thirty three. 125 00:07:04,907 --> 00:07:08,347 Speaker 2: So if he chooses, would he still command good interest 126 00:07:08,427 --> 00:07:10,947 Speaker 2: back in Japan if he chose to come back, say 127 00:07:10,987 --> 00:07:12,387 Speaker 2: in twenty twenty eight. 128 00:07:13,267 --> 00:07:16,147 Speaker 3: Well, thirty three is a new twenty three with these 129 00:07:16,507 --> 00:07:18,827 Speaker 3: looks like they're all seem to be playing forever. 130 00:07:19,027 --> 00:07:25,107 Speaker 4: So and you know, the recovery and the system of. 131 00:07:26,827 --> 00:07:29,147 Speaker 3: S and C has changed so much that you know 132 00:07:29,187 --> 00:07:31,267 Speaker 3: the guys can play for a long long time. 133 00:07:31,347 --> 00:07:34,147 Speaker 4: And thirty three's he's just a baby. 134 00:07:35,067 --> 00:07:37,547 Speaker 2: And just on the standard you mentioned before about where 135 00:07:37,547 --> 00:07:39,427 Speaker 2: it sits now, you know League one in Japan, So 136 00:07:39,707 --> 00:07:42,787 Speaker 2: is it now Is it close to Super Rugby, Steve? 137 00:07:42,867 --> 00:07:46,427 Speaker 2: Is it between NPC and Super Rugby in general terms 138 00:07:46,747 --> 00:07:47,827 Speaker 2: in terms of its strength? 139 00:07:49,347 --> 00:07:52,547 Speaker 3: Well, it depends really if you allow the clubs to 140 00:07:52,667 --> 00:07:54,147 Speaker 3: play with no. 141 00:07:55,587 --> 00:07:58,667 Speaker 4: Criteria around this foreign players. 142 00:07:59,027 --> 00:08:02,667 Speaker 3: See over here you only allowed six foreign players in 143 00:08:02,707 --> 00:08:03,947 Speaker 3: your squad of twenty three. 144 00:08:05,467 --> 00:08:07,027 Speaker 2: So but. 145 00:08:08,587 --> 00:08:12,187 Speaker 4: That puts you know, if we had to play under. 146 00:08:11,947 --> 00:08:14,707 Speaker 3: Those circumstances and Super Rugia, No, I don't think it 147 00:08:14,787 --> 00:08:15,427 Speaker 3: is the same. 148 00:08:15,307 --> 00:08:16,347 Speaker 4: Level as Super Rugby. 149 00:08:16,867 --> 00:08:19,547 Speaker 3: However, with the squads have got and they're training with, 150 00:08:19,747 --> 00:08:22,227 Speaker 3: I think their training. 151 00:08:22,427 --> 00:08:24,747 Speaker 4: Squads are definitely Super. 152 00:08:25,787 --> 00:08:29,787 Speaker 3: Rugby level, and you know some of the very top teams, 153 00:08:30,587 --> 00:08:33,027 Speaker 3: some of the lesser teams down the bottom probably aren't. 154 00:08:33,067 --> 00:08:35,067 Speaker 4: And you know, you can get a few injuries and 155 00:08:36,427 --> 00:08:37,427 Speaker 4: they're going to drop off. 156 00:08:37,467 --> 00:08:41,547 Speaker 3: But we saw pre season a couple of years ago 157 00:08:41,707 --> 00:08:46,107 Speaker 3: Panasonic competed beat teams. I'm not sure if anyone else 158 00:08:46,147 --> 00:08:48,427 Speaker 3: one I think there might have been, I can't remember 159 00:08:48,467 --> 00:08:49,467 Speaker 3: now my memory is going. 160 00:08:50,427 --> 00:08:52,787 Speaker 4: But because the quality. 161 00:08:52,427 --> 00:08:57,667 Speaker 3: Of squads that is deep and and it's just getting 162 00:08:57,707 --> 00:09:00,547 Speaker 3: better and better all the time, and you got. 163 00:09:00,467 --> 00:09:02,547 Speaker 2: Mark to lay coming your way, it'd be a pretty 164 00:09:02,547 --> 00:09:03,987 Speaker 2: decent pick up, wouldn't he go? 165 00:09:04,027 --> 00:09:04,147 Speaker 1: Well? 166 00:09:04,227 --> 00:09:04,627 Speaker 4: Up there? 167 00:09:05,587 --> 00:09:08,067 Speaker 3: Well, I hope, So that's where we picked him. 168 00:09:09,307 --> 00:09:12,987 Speaker 4: We're looking forward to having him and what he brings 169 00:09:13,027 --> 00:09:14,067 Speaker 4: to our team. 170 00:09:14,107 --> 00:09:18,507 Speaker 3: And you know, again, it's an exciting time for him 171 00:09:18,667 --> 00:09:21,027 Speaker 3: and his family and exciting time for the club to 172 00:09:21,027 --> 00:09:22,867 Speaker 3: introduce him to Japanese rugby. 173 00:09:23,067 --> 00:09:25,147 Speaker 2: Looking forward to seeing how he goes. Really appreciate your 174 00:09:25,147 --> 00:09:27,387 Speaker 2: time and your insight this afternoon, Steve, Thanks for joining us, 175 00:09:27,587 --> 00:09:28,547 Speaker 2: No problem. 176 00:09:28,267 --> 00:09:31,747 Speaker 1: Thank you for more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. 177 00:09:31,867 --> 00:09:35,147 Speaker 1: Listen live to News Talks it B weekends from midday, 178 00:09:35,427 --> 00:09:37,507 Speaker 1: or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.