1 00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:05,880 Speaker 1: Kyoda. 2 00:00:05,960 --> 00:00:09,119 Speaker 2: I'm Chelsea Daniels and this is the Front Page, a 3 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:16,920 Speaker 2: daily podcast presented by the New Zealand Herald. All Blacks 4 00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:20,959 Speaker 2: head coach Scott Raiser Robertson is out of the role 5 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:25,640 Speaker 2: just two years into his four year contract after reports 6 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:30,160 Speaker 2: of widespread frustration from players and staff and a damning 7 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:36,000 Speaker 2: internal review. Questions remain, what went so wrong for Razor, 8 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:39,839 Speaker 2: what does this mean for our World Cup campaign? And 9 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:43,000 Speaker 2: who will have the job of cleaning. 10 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:43,839 Speaker 3: Up this mess? 11 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:47,680 Speaker 2: The All Blacks drama spells the beginning of a huge 12 00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:51,440 Speaker 2: year for sport. Twenty twenty six sees hopes of a 13 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:54,840 Speaker 2: record medal hole for New Zealand at the Winter Olympics 14 00:00:55,040 --> 00:00:57,600 Speaker 2: and a chance to cheer on the All Whites on 15 00:00:57,720 --> 00:00:58,800 Speaker 2: the world stage. 16 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:01,720 Speaker 3: And of course we're all curious. 17 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:05,280 Speaker 2: To see how Natbow and Z will rebuild public trust. 18 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 2: All this and more today on the Front Page with 19 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:11,240 Speaker 2: Herald Sports reporter Alex Pound. 20 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:16,039 Speaker 3: So, Alex, a major. 21 00:01:15,880 --> 00:01:19,080 Speaker 2: Start to the year, obviously, the sporting year that is, 22 00:01:19,120 --> 00:01:25,760 Speaker 2: with Razor being cut. How surprising or unsurprising is this news? 23 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:28,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's a weird one, isn't it, Because in a 24 00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:30,840 Speaker 1: way it's sort of the only thing that makes sense 25 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:33,560 Speaker 1: if what's been put out there is true about the 26 00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:36,600 Speaker 1: play on happiness and the failings of the environment. But 27 00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:40,000 Speaker 1: at the same time this is really uncharted territory for 28 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:40,800 Speaker 1: the game in New Zealand. 29 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:45,720 Speaker 2: Is that because it's two years into a four year contract. 30 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 1: No, it's never been. You don't know, we have never 31 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:51,240 Speaker 1: outright sacked a coach. You know. You remember the twenty 32 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:54,080 Speaker 1: two Women's World Cup. Glenn Moore left at the start 33 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:56,520 Speaker 1: of that year, but that was his choice because of 34 00:01:56,600 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 1: you almost similar findings and unhappiness within the playing But 35 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:04,240 Speaker 1: this one being two years out does give a bit 36 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:06,800 Speaker 1: more time. You remember the twenty nineteen World Cup when 37 00:02:06,880 --> 00:02:09,080 Speaker 1: South Africa won it, at the start of twenty eighteen 38 00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:11,360 Speaker 1: they changed coach and like that sort of scene is 39 00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:13,760 Speaker 1: now the absolute latest you can do it. If you 40 00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:16,119 Speaker 1: do want to salvage a World Cup campaign, you sort 41 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:18,120 Speaker 1: of have to give yourself at least two years. 42 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:21,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, And because people do say, well, the World Cup 43 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:25,880 Speaker 2: is eighteen months out seems like a miles away, but 44 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:28,919 Speaker 2: in rugby world it's really not an especially given that 45 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:31,959 Speaker 2: the All Blacks Tour in South Africa as due this year. 46 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 1: Hey, yeah, absolutely, like the way rugby is now was 47 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:36,840 Speaker 1: not just those two. But you have also got the 48 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:39,720 Speaker 1: New Nations Championship and no one knows how seriously that's 49 00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:41,280 Speaker 1: gonna be taken walk that'll efty the game, like you 50 00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:44,320 Speaker 1: don't really have much room to breathe. It's always something 51 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:46,720 Speaker 1: into something into something and if it's now, you know 52 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:48,680 Speaker 1: with a World Cup at the end of twenty seven, 53 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:51,359 Speaker 1: New Zealand rugby kind of have been backed into a 54 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:52,639 Speaker 1: corner here and. 55 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 2: Scott Robertson he was really lauded as being like, this 56 00:02:56,600 --> 00:02:59,520 Speaker 2: isn't a major opportunity for the All Blacks when he 57 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:02,120 Speaker 2: came and took over the side as head coach. 58 00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:05,800 Speaker 3: Can we pinpoint where he lost his edge? 59 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:11,200 Speaker 1: I think the disappointing thing is that what New Zealand 60 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 1: rugby and what fans saw in Super rug beat the 61 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:16,359 Speaker 1: Crusaders was never reproduced with the All Blacks and obviously 62 00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:19,239 Speaker 1: Super rugby and Test rugby are two completely different environments. 63 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:22,079 Speaker 1: But if Super Rugby is the proven grounds to step 64 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:24,600 Speaker 1: your way into Test rugby, no one had done what 65 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:27,680 Speaker 1: Scott Robinson did you know the amount of titles the 66 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:30,920 Speaker 1: Crusaders won in a row and the All Blacks just 67 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 1: never looked like being able to be as successful as 68 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:34,679 Speaker 1: the Crusaders were. 69 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:35,240 Speaker 3: And why not. 70 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:39,280 Speaker 1: I think the test game and the club game are 71 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:41,840 Speaker 1: just so different and maybe now we do actually have 72 00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:44,880 Speaker 1: evidence of that. You remember, you know, so Graham Henry 73 00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:47,400 Speaker 1: and Steve Hanson were both incredibly successful Black coaches, but 74 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:50,120 Speaker 1: they both had to go and fail with other countries 75 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:52,160 Speaker 1: before they were able to step into the They both 76 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:55,400 Speaker 1: had really difficult times of Whales, but that what it 77 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:57,360 Speaker 1: did was it grounded them and how the international game 78 00:03:57,400 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 1: actually works before they could take the big job. 79 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:03,920 Speaker 2: In terms of who could be set to replace him, 80 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:05,720 Speaker 2: are there any early contenders? 81 00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:09,080 Speaker 1: You can think of Jamie Joseph Looms as the big one. 82 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:12,520 Speaker 1: You know, he missed out to Scott Robertson after twenty 83 00:04:12,560 --> 00:04:14,400 Speaker 1: twenty three to actually take that job. He was in 84 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 1: the running in twenty nineteen, when's the Steve Hanson stepped down. 85 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:21,960 Speaker 1: He's come back to New Zealand to take on the 86 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:23,920 Speaker 1: job with the Highland as he was in Japan for 87 00:04:23,960 --> 00:04:27,240 Speaker 1: the last for a better part of a decade. Last 88 00:04:27,279 --> 00:04:29,080 Speaker 1: year he was given the All Blacks fifteen jobs, so 89 00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:31,600 Speaker 1: effectively the side beneath the All Blacks as a way 90 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:33,279 Speaker 1: of I guess, keeping him in the picture and maybe 91 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:35,560 Speaker 1: putting a bit of pressure on Scrubs and saying, hey, look, 92 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:38,160 Speaker 1: if you can't do it, we do have someone else here. 93 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:41,680 Speaker 1: So he would loom I guess for many people. As 94 00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:43,560 Speaker 1: the next gave off the rank, he would probably bring 95 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:46,040 Speaker 1: Tiny Brown with him, those who have a very good relationship. 96 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:48,120 Speaker 1: Tony Brown is currently with the Springbook. So if you 97 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:50,680 Speaker 1: can strengthen yourself and weaken your opponents at the same time, 98 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:53,120 Speaker 1: New Zealand Rugby would be silly to not explore that 99 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:55,880 Speaker 1: you've got a guy like Dave Rennie who has also 100 00:04:55,920 --> 00:04:58,360 Speaker 1: been in the All Blacks running at one point or another. 101 00:04:58,440 --> 00:05:00,920 Speaker 1: He's now offshore in Japan. You've got a guy like 102 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 1: Vancotta who's got test experience currently Blues, so there won't 103 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:05,400 Speaker 1: be a shortage of options with this. This is a 104 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:08,400 Speaker 1: job that any coach worth their salt will want, you know, 105 00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:11,799 Speaker 1: to coach the All Blacks. So it's just about making 106 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:13,520 Speaker 1: sure they get the process right. And that's the other 107 00:05:13,520 --> 00:05:16,800 Speaker 1: thing is New Zealand Rugby would be really foolish to 108 00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 1: act and make this decision if they didn't have someone 109 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:21,919 Speaker 1: else lined up. But it would be a very unneeded 110 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:23,160 Speaker 1: on rugby like thing to do. 111 00:05:23,279 --> 00:05:24,960 Speaker 3: So we're not going to see an add out onseek 112 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:25,480 Speaker 3: or anything. 113 00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:27,880 Speaker 1: Maybe I mean search the pay bands and see what's 114 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:28,400 Speaker 1: playing the month. 115 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:38,159 Speaker 4: But yeah, yeah, And of course you know by now 116 00:05:38,279 --> 00:05:42,800 Speaker 4: who our new head coach for the All Blacks from 117 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:46,080 Speaker 4: twenty twenty four is Scott Robertson. So I want to 118 00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:50,760 Speaker 4: congratulate Scott on his appointment. It's come following presentation to 119 00:05:50,839 --> 00:05:54,240 Speaker 4: the board at our board meeting this morning and I 120 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:57,920 Speaker 4: confirm that the board was unanimous in supporting Scott as 121 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:01,640 Speaker 4: our incoming coach from twenty twenty four. 122 00:06:03,960 --> 00:06:07,120 Speaker 2: What kind of pressure will be on the shoulders of 123 00:06:07,160 --> 00:06:08,000 Speaker 2: whoever comes in. 124 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:10,760 Speaker 1: Next, I mean it's going to be huge, isn't it. 125 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:12,800 Speaker 1: You know you think of where the All Blacks have 126 00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:15,359 Speaker 1: always been historically a team that wins ninety percent of 127 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 1: the games, and they just haven't done that for you know, 128 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:21,680 Speaker 1: basically since twenty twenty. You know, that's six years of 129 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:24,640 Speaker 1: a team not at the level the fans expected them. 130 00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:27,080 Speaker 1: I think that's really been interesting to see New Zealanders 131 00:06:27,080 --> 00:06:29,279 Speaker 1: have to adjust to that, and a lot of them haven't. 132 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:31,240 Speaker 1: You know. You think of where South Africa are you 133 00:06:31,279 --> 00:06:33,720 Speaker 1: think of where Ireland have been wear England are. So 134 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:36,480 Speaker 1: the pressure on the next coach, whoever that is is, 135 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:37,839 Speaker 1: is going to be huge and it's going to have 136 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:40,200 Speaker 1: to be an immediate improvement because you know, the New 137 00:06:40,279 --> 00:06:42,440 Speaker 1: Zealand rug beib sament says they don't have a coach, 138 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:45,480 Speaker 1: So that's really interesting to make this kind of move 139 00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:47,880 Speaker 1: and not know what the next one is or do 140 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:51,279 Speaker 1: they well you'd think that has have a short list 141 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:54,360 Speaker 1: of course, you know, but now having to actually act 142 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:55,920 Speaker 1: on it, you know, are they going to have to 143 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:58,359 Speaker 1: get someone out from an overseas contract to come and 144 00:06:58,360 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 1: be an assistant. You know, if it is Jamie Jo's 145 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:02,359 Speaker 1: from Tiny Brown, Tiny Brown's currently with South Africa, that 146 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:05,440 Speaker 1: won't be cheap. A guy like Dave ENnie, he's in Japan, 147 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:07,640 Speaker 1: that won't be cheap. So yeah, I think there's going 148 00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:09,080 Speaker 1: to be pressure not just on the airbacks but on 149 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:10,800 Speaker 1: Newzealand Rugby to really get this right. 150 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:14,880 Speaker 2: Have you heard anything about those internal frustrations from player 151 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:16,560 Speaker 2: players and head starts. 152 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:18,800 Speaker 1: I think that's probably going to be the most frustrating 153 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:21,400 Speaker 1: thing for Scott robertson. This isn't really new like we 154 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:24,200 Speaker 1: had the review that would have happened at the end 155 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:27,760 Speaker 1: of last year, which Liam Apim, my colleague wrote earlier 156 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:30,920 Speaker 1: this week that that did not reflect well on Scrubson. 157 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:35,280 Speaker 1: You had Ardie Savia, you know, reportedly considering his future 158 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:36,720 Speaker 1: if he still wanted to ben All Black, is it 159 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:40,560 Speaker 1: worth going overseas? Because let's not forget being an All 160 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:43,560 Speaker 1: Black as a professional is not in your financial interest. 161 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:45,840 Speaker 1: You can make so much more money going overseas. You know, 162 00:07:45,840 --> 00:07:48,320 Speaker 1: we saw it with Richie Moyng. I've seen it with Shanafrazell, 163 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:50,880 Speaker 1: Harry Plummer who was a fringe All Black and is 164 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:53,800 Speaker 1: now making exponentially more money in France. So for a 165 00:07:53,840 --> 00:07:58,400 Speaker 1: guy like Ardie to actually have that up his sleeve, 166 00:07:58,720 --> 00:08:00,440 Speaker 1: I think it really would have set a lone bells 167 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:01,840 Speaker 1: off at New Zealand Rugby. 168 00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:04,600 Speaker 2: And in terms of when we hear about it the public, 169 00:08:04,640 --> 00:08:06,880 Speaker 2: I mean, and I say we because I'm the public 170 00:08:06,880 --> 00:08:09,840 Speaker 2: when it comes to sports journalism. As you know, when 171 00:08:09,880 --> 00:08:14,040 Speaker 2: I read something like that Ardia Savias stuff from the 172 00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:18,800 Speaker 2: back end, when the information gets to you, how solid 173 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:20,960 Speaker 2: is it when it ends up on the site? 174 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:21,680 Speaker 3: Do you know what I mean? 175 00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:24,560 Speaker 1: I mean, as a general rule, not just with rugby, 176 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:26,680 Speaker 1: but with all sort of sports him. If you can 177 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:29,240 Speaker 1: get it from sort of two places that don't have 178 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:31,800 Speaker 1: anything to do with each other, you've generally got something 179 00:08:31,840 --> 00:08:34,400 Speaker 1: that you feel is worth going on. So, I mean, 180 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:36,840 Speaker 1: I can't speak for haw Liam goes about doing his stories, 181 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:40,120 Speaker 1: but he's not silly and now he does this. 182 00:08:40,240 --> 00:08:43,880 Speaker 2: Yes, So generally when you see Ardie Savier's looking overseas 183 00:08:43,880 --> 00:08:46,360 Speaker 2: at other interests, he really actually probably is. 184 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:49,400 Speaker 1: You know, he's already in Japan right now, He's been 185 00:08:49,400 --> 00:08:52,080 Speaker 1: there a couple of years ago. Like the desire from 186 00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:55,000 Speaker 1: both parties to continue that relationship would be very strong. 187 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:57,199 Speaker 1: You know, Japanese rugby would get one of the best 188 00:08:57,200 --> 00:08:59,680 Speaker 1: players in the world playing in their league. Ardie Savia 189 00:08:59,679 --> 00:09:02,040 Speaker 1: would have a much easier life. While let's not forget 190 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:04,800 Speaker 1: the physical demands of playing in Japan is so different 191 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:07,800 Speaker 1: to playing in New Zealands. You're playing for much less time. 192 00:09:08,320 --> 00:09:10,040 Speaker 1: By playing in Japan, he wouldn't be alible for the 193 00:09:10,040 --> 00:09:11,959 Speaker 1: All Blacks, so they wouldn't have to worry about that. 194 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:15,680 Speaker 1: So if that's the sort of the way Ardie Savid 195 00:09:15,800 --> 00:09:18,040 Speaker 1: would want to go, it would absolutely be open to him. 196 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:21,160 Speaker 3: And in terms of Razor what next for him? 197 00:09:21,520 --> 00:09:23,559 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean I imagine he won't jump straight into 198 00:09:23,559 --> 00:09:26,079 Speaker 1: another job. He has always said he wanted to win 199 00:09:26,120 --> 00:09:29,480 Speaker 1: the World Cup with two different countries, okay, which I 200 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:31,480 Speaker 1: mean fair play, Like I mean win it with one 201 00:09:31,480 --> 00:09:32,360 Speaker 1: country first, Razor. 202 00:09:32,559 --> 00:09:33,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, has he? 203 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:37,280 Speaker 1: But Scott Robinson finished his playing career in France. You 204 00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:39,840 Speaker 1: know he speaks fluent French like there has always been 205 00:09:40,280 --> 00:09:43,480 Speaker 1: a French connection, if you pardon the pun. So I 206 00:09:43,520 --> 00:09:46,080 Speaker 1: can see him getting a nice club job over there, 207 00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:49,679 Speaker 1: like club sides will not hesitate to get Scott Robertson in. 208 00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:52,679 Speaker 1: You know, as soon as anyone is made or any 209 00:09:52,720 --> 00:09:55,079 Speaker 1: possison is made available, they'll go for Scorobson. He'll be 210 00:09:55,120 --> 00:09:56,360 Speaker 1: at the top of a lot of clubs. I remember 211 00:09:56,400 --> 00:09:58,000 Speaker 1: before he got the All Blacks job, there was talk 212 00:09:58,080 --> 00:10:00,959 Speaker 1: England wanted them, Fiji put in a bid for him, 213 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:02,480 Speaker 1: and he came out and said buller at the start 214 00:10:02,480 --> 00:10:04,000 Speaker 1: of a pressure was just to sort of give ins 215 00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:06,000 Speaker 1: at Irishov and say if you don't hire me, someone 216 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:09,040 Speaker 1: else will. Whether or not what's happened with the All 217 00:10:09,080 --> 00:10:11,800 Speaker 1: Blacks has scarred him, it doesn't change the fact that 218 00:10:11,840 --> 00:10:14,679 Speaker 1: he's a very good motivator. Of a group. 219 00:10:14,880 --> 00:10:15,080 Speaker 4: You know. 220 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:17,440 Speaker 1: You hear about his time at the Crusaders, you know, 221 00:10:17,480 --> 00:10:18,880 Speaker 1: and what he was able to do there, Like, they 222 00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:20,120 Speaker 1: hadn't won a title for years. 223 00:10:20,160 --> 00:10:21,800 Speaker 3: Well, it was legendary to say the least. 224 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:23,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, they hadn't won a title for a 225 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:25,720 Speaker 1: decade when he turned up, and then they only won 226 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:26,400 Speaker 1: when he was there. 227 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:29,720 Speaker 2: Well, I moved to christ Church originally, and I thought, well, 228 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:32,760 Speaker 2: and that was around his time at the Helm, and 229 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:34,960 Speaker 2: I thought, oh, amazing, I'm going to go for. 230 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:37,960 Speaker 3: The Crusaders because they obviously win all the time. But 231 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:41,120 Speaker 3: I've come in at the point where Razor turned it around. 232 00:10:41,160 --> 00:10:43,520 Speaker 1: I think there was a stat so the first year 233 00:10:43,760 --> 00:10:47,640 Speaker 1: Raiser wasn't at the Crusaders, and the Crusaders struggled under 234 00:10:47,679 --> 00:10:51,000 Speaker 1: Rob Penny. There were children in year three in christ 235 00:10:51,080 --> 00:10:53,640 Speaker 1: Church who had never lived in an era where the 236 00:10:53,679 --> 00:10:55,480 Speaker 1: Crusaders weren't super rugby champions. 237 00:10:55,679 --> 00:10:57,439 Speaker 3: Yeah, you know what I mean. 238 00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:06,960 Speaker 1: The medals for the twenty twenty six Winter Olympic Games 239 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:07,920 Speaker 1: have now been revealed. 240 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:11,920 Speaker 5: Today, organizers unveiled the medals for the Milan Courtina Winter Games. 241 00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:14,800 Speaker 5: The big reveal comes about two hundred days before the 242 00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:18,200 Speaker 5: start of the games. The medals designed by the Italian 243 00:11:18,360 --> 00:11:22,319 Speaker 5: state Mint and Polograph against Jude are made from recycled 244 00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:26,200 Speaker 5: medals using renewable energy. Each one features a split design 245 00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:31,120 Speaker 5: to symbolize both Olympic Paralympic values. The game start February 246 00:11:31,200 --> 00:11:34,160 Speaker 5: sixth Paralympic Games, so follow in March. 247 00:11:35,960 --> 00:11:39,280 Speaker 2: Anyway, if we move on, twenty twenty six is going 248 00:11:39,320 --> 00:11:42,240 Speaker 2: to be a massive year for sports anyway. You look 249 00:11:42,280 --> 00:11:45,960 Speaker 2: at it Winter Olympics, Alex, do you think we will 250 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:48,520 Speaker 2: likely get our best medal count ever? 251 00:11:48,800 --> 00:11:49,840 Speaker 3: We're hoping for it. 252 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:52,559 Speaker 1: New Zealand's still relatively quite young in terms of the 253 00:11:52,559 --> 00:11:54,760 Speaker 1: Winter Olympics. So you remember the last one out in 254 00:11:54,880 --> 00:11:57,920 Speaker 1: Beijing was you know, as the benchmarking now because you 255 00:11:57,960 --> 00:12:01,040 Speaker 1: had you know, Zoysidowski, Senter and Nikols both win gold. 256 00:12:01,640 --> 00:12:04,319 Speaker 1: So I don't think it's realistic to come out before 257 00:12:04,320 --> 00:12:06,120 Speaker 1: a Winter the mix and say we need to be 258 00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:07,679 Speaker 1: doing this, this and this and we'll have our best 259 00:12:07,679 --> 00:12:10,120 Speaker 1: every games. Like it's just not really Hell's obviously Za 260 00:12:10,160 --> 00:12:13,320 Speaker 1: Sadowski Senate is going to be there again. Alice Robinson 261 00:12:13,520 --> 00:12:16,400 Speaker 1: does loom as a metal hopeful this time of maybe 262 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:19,760 Speaker 1: even a medal favorite. So it's you can never really 263 00:12:19,800 --> 00:12:22,600 Speaker 1: say this is what should happen at any Olympic Games 264 00:12:22,640 --> 00:12:25,000 Speaker 1: or winter all summer. But I mean it's always the hope, 265 00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:25,360 Speaker 1: isn't it? 266 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:27,760 Speaker 3: And what about COMM Games in Glasgow? 267 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:30,400 Speaker 1: The Comm Games is weird? 268 00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:33,960 Speaker 3: Does anyone watch it anymore? Or is that naughty to say? 269 00:12:34,040 --> 00:12:36,120 Speaker 1: It's probably as naughty to say, but you're saying it 270 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:37,760 Speaker 1: on the grounds like no one wants to host it. 271 00:12:37,760 --> 00:12:39,800 Speaker 1: You know, you remember all the drama with everyone dropping 272 00:12:39,840 --> 00:12:42,719 Speaker 1: out and now you know they've they've found somewhere to 273 00:12:42,760 --> 00:12:45,760 Speaker 1: host it. But it does feel as though we're moving 274 00:12:45,800 --> 00:12:49,480 Speaker 1: into an era where the Commonwealth Games just might not 275 00:12:49,800 --> 00:12:51,520 Speaker 1: carry any sort of weight. But I mean saying that 276 00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:53,760 Speaker 1: I can't watch set the civil furns too after all. 277 00:12:53,720 --> 00:12:56,680 Speaker 2: That last year exactly, Hey, they'll be the one to watch, 278 00:12:57,240 --> 00:12:58,520 Speaker 2: especially in the COMM Games. 279 00:12:58,559 --> 00:13:00,240 Speaker 3: How do you think that they'll go around? 280 00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:03,400 Speaker 1: I think if they can get to the gold medal 281 00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:07,600 Speaker 1: match against Australia, you know, let's be honest, I think 282 00:13:07,640 --> 00:13:10,040 Speaker 1: that's sort of the bare minimum of where the side 283 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:12,960 Speaker 1: should be. I mean, obviously all the fallout from last 284 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:15,160 Speaker 1: year as we're still yet to see how that'll all 285 00:13:15,240 --> 00:13:18,320 Speaker 1: be resolved, but I think that is always the expectation 286 00:13:18,400 --> 00:13:20,199 Speaker 1: where a silver Fern side into a Commonwealth Games. And 287 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:21,800 Speaker 1: I've just said we can't go into an Olympics and 288 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:25,760 Speaker 1: think for expectations, but silver ferns Commonwealth Games like it 289 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:28,280 Speaker 1: is an event that New Zealand have historically performed in. 290 00:13:29,559 --> 00:13:32,560 Speaker 2: Another one football World Cup. It'll be a big one 291 00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:36,160 Speaker 2: this year given the all Whites will be there and 292 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:38,360 Speaker 2: we'll be able to cheer them on on the world stage. 293 00:13:38,440 --> 00:13:40,880 Speaker 3: What are their chances overall. 294 00:13:40,559 --> 00:13:43,200 Speaker 1: Though, that's another interesting one. Like the last time they 295 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:46,640 Speaker 1: were there in twenty ten, the New Zealand got out 296 00:13:46,679 --> 00:13:49,200 Speaker 1: with three drawers. It wasn't enough to advance, but that 297 00:13:49,360 --> 00:13:51,200 Speaker 1: was such a huge moment to you know, they were 298 00:13:51,200 --> 00:13:54,160 Speaker 1: the only unbeaten team in the whole tournament. You know Spain, 299 00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:57,720 Speaker 1: who won, had lost the game. This time. Around New 300 00:13:57,800 --> 00:14:01,400 Speaker 1: Zealand football, you would say probably stronger position, like there 301 00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:04,280 Speaker 1: are so many more players playing and good overseas leagues 302 00:14:04,280 --> 00:14:07,760 Speaker 1: than there were in twenty ten. Football at home is 303 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:10,079 Speaker 1: obviously a lot stronger now with the Phoenix and Auckland 304 00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:14,200 Speaker 1: FC having two teams in the Australian League. But World 305 00:14:14,280 --> 00:14:16,800 Speaker 1: Cups are just so special like this isn't just the 306 00:14:16,840 --> 00:14:19,440 Speaker 1: pinnacle penny down. This is the pinnacle for maybe even 307 00:14:19,480 --> 00:14:20,960 Speaker 1: all the sport. Like I don't think there's a bigger 308 00:14:20,960 --> 00:14:23,040 Speaker 1: sporting event on the planey bar the Olympics then the 309 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:25,680 Speaker 1: Football World Cup. They're going to have a tough time 310 00:14:25,720 --> 00:14:27,000 Speaker 1: of it with the group. You know, it seems like 311 00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:29,080 Speaker 1: Belgium will. 312 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:31,080 Speaker 3: Be, you know, very difficult. 313 00:14:31,240 --> 00:14:32,960 Speaker 1: They got the chief of but Belgium aren't as strong 314 00:14:32,960 --> 00:14:35,320 Speaker 1: as they were, you know, four eight years ago with 315 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:37,360 Speaker 1: the last couple of World Cups. So I mean, you 316 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:39,440 Speaker 1: never know that these things we've seen, like you remember Morocco 317 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:41,240 Speaker 1: at the last World Cup noms, especially them, and then 318 00:14:41,280 --> 00:14:42,640 Speaker 1: they got as far as they did. 319 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:43,480 Speaker 3: Yeah that's right. 320 00:14:43,600 --> 00:14:44,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, so who knows. 321 00:14:45,080 --> 00:14:47,440 Speaker 2: And it's the Cup, the first Cup to be held 322 00:14:47,480 --> 00:14:51,480 Speaker 2: by three nations. You've got the United States, Mexico and Canada. 323 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:55,000 Speaker 2: And I've seen some stuff online, especially about there's apparently 324 00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:59,680 Speaker 2: going to be the first halftime show and people talking 325 00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:04,880 Speaker 2: about this americanization of football and people are not really 326 00:15:05,160 --> 00:15:07,640 Speaker 2: into it. The fact that they're probably going to be 327 00:15:07,680 --> 00:15:10,480 Speaker 2: calling it soccer the entire time, we'll probably get. 328 00:15:10,280 --> 00:15:12,920 Speaker 3: On people's nerves. What are your feelings about. 329 00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:15,880 Speaker 1: That I'm definitely in the against camp there, like are you. 330 00:15:16,160 --> 00:15:18,480 Speaker 1: That's the whole point of football is that it's not 331 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:21,520 Speaker 1: America's thing. Yeah, like I know that, Like the US 332 00:15:21,560 --> 00:15:25,200 Speaker 1: has such high representation in football at all levels because 333 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:27,880 Speaker 1: you know, there's such a big influx of immigrants and 334 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:29,240 Speaker 1: second generation. 335 00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:34,160 Speaker 3: So it's not we had David Beckham at LA Galaxy. 336 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:37,360 Speaker 1: Look at some of the the players playing and there domestically. 337 00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:39,640 Speaker 1: Now the women's team is incredible. Oh yeah, you know 338 00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:42,200 Speaker 1: they they win everything, but it still just feels a 339 00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:45,760 Speaker 1: bit wrong. Yeah, like you have your own sports America. 340 00:15:45,840 --> 00:15:46,560 Speaker 1: This is our thing. 341 00:15:46,920 --> 00:15:49,280 Speaker 2: It'll bring him big money though, and if the Super 342 00:15:49,280 --> 00:15:52,160 Speaker 2: Bowl was anything to go by, AKA, the. 343 00:15:52,120 --> 00:15:54,440 Speaker 1: Super Bowl is always a misnomer of people saying, oh 344 00:15:54,480 --> 00:15:56,800 Speaker 1: it's super bowldruin this many viewers and brings them as much. 345 00:15:56,960 --> 00:15:59,480 Speaker 1: It's there are so many like for America. Sure, because 346 00:15:59,480 --> 00:16:01,720 Speaker 1: you're only really comparing it to the NBA, Major League 347 00:16:01,760 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 1: Baseball hockey. But when you compare American football with football football, 348 00:16:08,840 --> 00:16:09,960 Speaker 1: it's chalk and cheese. 349 00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:14,160 Speaker 3: Let's talk cricket. The black Caps will perform in England, 350 00:16:14,280 --> 00:16:17,000 Speaker 3: Ozzie and the T twenty World Cap. How do you 351 00:16:17,040 --> 00:16:17,600 Speaker 3: reckon they'll go. 352 00:16:18,320 --> 00:16:20,320 Speaker 1: The England tour is really interesting because it'll be the 353 00:16:20,320 --> 00:16:23,520 Speaker 1: first one post the Ashes for England. Obviously a lot 354 00:16:23,520 --> 00:16:26,560 Speaker 1: of pressure on the captain and coach Ben Stokes and 355 00:16:26,560 --> 00:16:27,560 Speaker 1: Brenda mccllum. 356 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:29,200 Speaker 2: And I was in Australia over Christmas, so I know 357 00:16:29,280 --> 00:16:29,960 Speaker 2: a lot about that. 358 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:32,560 Speaker 1: I think that the World Cup comes before that, so 359 00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:34,960 Speaker 1: there might even be a scenario where McCullum gets fired. 360 00:16:35,520 --> 00:16:35,800 Speaker 2: Yeah. 361 00:16:36,040 --> 00:16:37,960 Speaker 1: In terms of New Zealand, look, there are so many 362 00:16:38,040 --> 00:16:40,280 Speaker 1: tournaments crack it now. There's one a year until twenty 363 00:16:40,320 --> 00:16:42,040 Speaker 1: thirty one out the Earls at least one a year, 364 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:45,880 Speaker 1: so the ability to come in and perform on that 365 00:16:45,960 --> 00:16:48,840 Speaker 1: stage isn't really anything new to any of the teams. 366 00:16:48,920 --> 00:16:50,640 Speaker 1: This will be the first one under Rob Walter, the 367 00:16:50,680 --> 00:16:53,800 Speaker 1: new coach. He was impointed last year, so I have 368 00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:56,440 Speaker 1: high hopes for the team. Walter with South Africa took 369 00:16:56,600 --> 00:16:59,120 Speaker 1: his team to the final and they'd only been together 370 00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:01,680 Speaker 1: for three days before that, so you never know what 371 00:17:01,760 --> 00:17:04,560 Speaker 1: can happen. But it's just such an interesting time with 372 00:17:04,640 --> 00:17:07,760 Speaker 1: the amount of tournaments and credit now the Australia too. 373 00:17:07,760 --> 00:17:09,000 Speaker 1: At the end of the year, like you remember than 374 00:17:09,040 --> 00:17:11,240 Speaker 1: twenty nineteen I'm sure you do. You're a huge cricket fan, Shiel. 375 00:17:12,600 --> 00:17:15,160 Speaker 1: New Zealand went to Australian in twenty nineteen with high 376 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:16,840 Speaker 1: hopes that was the best New Zealand team in a 377 00:17:16,840 --> 00:17:19,600 Speaker 1: long time and they got absolutely smashed. Yeah, there'll be 378 00:17:19,600 --> 00:17:21,800 Speaker 1: similar things this year, not just that. But this is 379 00:17:21,840 --> 00:17:24,200 Speaker 1: a very old Australian side. Like I think there's only 380 00:17:24,280 --> 00:17:27,800 Speaker 1: one player in the starting eleven under thirty, maybe two 381 00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:32,800 Speaker 1: if the start a well to go to Australia and 382 00:17:32,840 --> 00:17:34,840 Speaker 1: when is about so much more than being better than 383 00:17:34,880 --> 00:17:36,760 Speaker 1: that cricket. You have to have so many things go 384 00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:40,400 Speaker 1: your way and everything go against them. But if there's 385 00:17:40,440 --> 00:17:43,200 Speaker 1: no real better time than now, and last. 386 00:17:42,880 --> 00:17:48,000 Speaker 2: But not least, the controversial enhanced games will be this year. 387 00:17:48,160 --> 00:17:51,680 Speaker 2: That's the one which permits performance enhancing drugs. 388 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:55,080 Speaker 3: Encourages it, doesn't it encourages it? First off, what are 389 00:17:55,080 --> 00:17:56,600 Speaker 3: your thoughts on I don't know. 390 00:17:56,640 --> 00:17:58,760 Speaker 1: It's one of those things that I want to see 391 00:17:58,760 --> 00:17:59,399 Speaker 1: what it looks like. 392 00:17:59,520 --> 00:18:01,879 Speaker 3: You want to see what it looks like. You're intrigued 393 00:18:01,960 --> 00:18:03,240 Speaker 3: or you're completely outraged. 394 00:18:03,359 --> 00:18:05,159 Speaker 1: Yeah, if someone's you know, lining up on the one 395 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:07,359 Speaker 1: hundred meters start line, they're hard explodes from all the 396 00:18:07,480 --> 00:18:10,879 Speaker 1: drugs they've taken. Then, I'm sure that'll be bad, but 397 00:18:11,000 --> 00:18:12,639 Speaker 1: you just want to see records broken, and that's their 398 00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:15,200 Speaker 1: whole rationale for doing it in the first place. 399 00:18:15,320 --> 00:18:18,680 Speaker 2: Alex, give me your wildest prediction. 400 00:18:18,359 --> 00:18:18,920 Speaker 3: Of the year. 401 00:18:19,640 --> 00:18:23,679 Speaker 1: Oh, I mean, I can't say Scott Robinson's No, I 402 00:18:23,720 --> 00:18:26,320 Speaker 1: don't know, silver ferns when Commonwealth Games gold? 403 00:18:27,080 --> 00:18:29,560 Speaker 3: Right? Is it that that's the wildest? 404 00:18:30,040 --> 00:18:31,520 Speaker 1: Well, I mean you've put me on the spot, hedge 405 00:18:31,520 --> 00:18:34,080 Speaker 1: else I was not warned. I mean, well, okay, what's 406 00:18:34,119 --> 00:18:34,439 Speaker 1: your thing? 407 00:18:35,080 --> 00:18:41,960 Speaker 2: I would say our cares sinner in a majority, if 408 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:44,520 Speaker 2: not all Grand Slam finals. 409 00:18:44,240 --> 00:18:46,520 Speaker 1: The two of them against each other. Yeah, okay, yeah, 410 00:18:46,600 --> 00:18:47,080 Speaker 1: I like it. 411 00:18:47,440 --> 00:18:50,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, they're the next crop, the cream of the crop, right, yeah. 412 00:18:50,680 --> 00:18:52,359 Speaker 1: I mean, tennis is in a really interesting place now 413 00:18:52,359 --> 00:18:55,800 Speaker 1: in the post Nadal Federer, I mean, Jokovic is still there, murray, 414 00:18:56,119 --> 00:18:59,000 Speaker 1: So it really is rife for the next generation to 415 00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:00,600 Speaker 1: come through. I mean here, So. 416 00:19:01,560 --> 00:19:06,600 Speaker 3: Thanks for joining us, Alex, Thanks having me. That's it 417 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:08,960 Speaker 3: for this episode of the Front Page. 418 00:19:09,320 --> 00:19:12,840 Speaker 2: You can read more about today's stories and extensive news 419 00:19:12,880 --> 00:19:17,360 Speaker 2: coverage at enzidherld dot co dot nz. The Front Page 420 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:20,600 Speaker 2: is produced by Jane Ye and Richard Martin, who is 421 00:19:20,640 --> 00:19:25,359 Speaker 2: also our editor. I'm Chelsea Daniels. Subscribe to the front 422 00:19:25,359 --> 00:19:28,879 Speaker 2: page on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts, and 423 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:32,360 Speaker 2: tune in tomorrow for another look behind the headlines.