1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,507 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,747 Speaker 1: from News Talk ZEDB. 3 00:00:12,867 --> 00:00:15,627 Speaker 2: Sunday afternoon means James mcconey. 4 00:00:15,307 --> 00:00:18,227 Speaker 3: Hello mate, Hello, Piney. How are you. 5 00:00:18,587 --> 00:00:21,787 Speaker 2: I'm good. I'm good. We've had some very invigorating All 6 00:00:21,827 --> 00:00:24,827 Speaker 2: Blacks discussion in the last hour and three quarters. I've 7 00:00:24,907 --> 00:00:27,147 Speaker 2: enjoyed it. What did you make of this morning? What 8 00:00:27,187 --> 00:00:29,387 Speaker 2: do you make of twenty twenty five? What a wide 9 00:00:29,467 --> 00:00:30,627 Speaker 2: ranging question that is? 10 00:00:31,307 --> 00:00:34,227 Speaker 3: Well this morning, I'm happy to answer it, Piney. This 11 00:00:34,267 --> 00:00:37,467 Speaker 3: morning All Blacks versus Wales test matches are almost scripted, 12 00:00:37,507 --> 00:00:40,787 Speaker 3: aren't they? The same thing happens every time. It's like 13 00:00:40,827 --> 00:00:44,107 Speaker 3: a rom com where you know that they'll end up together, 14 00:00:44,307 --> 00:00:47,787 Speaker 3: you know, like a Kate Hudson movie. Yep, And you 15 00:00:47,947 --> 00:00:51,907 Speaker 3: know that the All Blacks are gonna sort of basically 16 00:00:53,547 --> 00:00:56,987 Speaker 3: push out in the fourth quarter and to a comfortable win. 17 00:00:57,067 --> 00:00:59,147 Speaker 3: But up until then there's a little bit of intrigue. 18 00:00:59,427 --> 00:01:02,067 Speaker 3: You think that Kate might not end up with Matthew McConaughey, 19 00:01:02,427 --> 00:01:04,867 Speaker 3: but in the end she does. I mean, it's just 20 00:01:04,907 --> 00:01:07,067 Speaker 3: the way it is, and so I think it was 21 00:01:07,187 --> 00:01:09,827 Speaker 3: just part of the course really to beat Wales like that. 22 00:01:10,027 --> 00:01:12,747 Speaker 3: But happy to see Ruben Love and a few others 23 00:01:13,107 --> 00:01:16,307 Speaker 3: out there play really well and wanted to Teetie suddenly 24 00:01:16,507 --> 00:01:20,187 Speaker 3: just hitting his straps running at full pace, which is 25 00:01:20,267 --> 00:01:20,947 Speaker 3: nice to see. 26 00:01:21,267 --> 00:01:23,707 Speaker 2: Yeah, and look, he had a terrific season last year, 27 00:01:23,747 --> 00:01:25,507 Speaker 2: as we know, and it was good to see him 28 00:01:25,547 --> 00:01:28,827 Speaker 2: recapture some of that form. What chance do you think 29 00:01:28,867 --> 00:01:32,267 Speaker 2: that a rookie wins All Blacks Player of the Year 30 00:01:32,307 --> 00:01:35,067 Speaker 2: for a second year in a row. Fabian Holland has 31 00:01:35,187 --> 00:01:38,907 Speaker 2: been awarded World Rugby's Breakthrough Player of the Year. Could 32 00:01:38,947 --> 00:01:41,187 Speaker 2: he be the All Blacks Player of the Year for 33 00:01:41,227 --> 00:01:41,827 Speaker 2: twenty five? 34 00:01:42,787 --> 00:01:45,867 Speaker 3: Well, I think so. I mean, I think I don't 35 00:01:45,867 --> 00:01:48,547 Speaker 3: know if you remember that my contributions to your show, Pony, 36 00:01:48,627 --> 00:01:51,947 Speaker 3: but you know, because there's so many right. But a 37 00:01:51,947 --> 00:01:53,907 Speaker 3: few weeks ago, I was talking about the stats at 38 00:01:53,907 --> 00:01:57,787 Speaker 3: that incredible Test where he won fifteen or fifteen lineouts 39 00:01:57,787 --> 00:02:01,467 Speaker 3: thrown to him and there's only one other lineout won 40 00:02:01,507 --> 00:02:04,067 Speaker 3: by the All Blacks and Patrick tupel Or who took 41 00:02:04,107 --> 00:02:06,187 Speaker 3: that one. So I've never seen a stat like that 42 00:02:06,387 --> 00:02:09,827 Speaker 3: in my time covering rugby and so but the fact 43 00:02:09,867 --> 00:02:11,627 Speaker 3: that it's a rookie doing that, and I think it 44 00:02:11,667 --> 00:02:14,907 Speaker 3: was a Bitterzo Test or possibly the South Africa Tests 45 00:02:14,987 --> 00:02:17,787 Speaker 3: at Eden Park where he did that, and that is 46 00:02:17,947 --> 00:02:21,987 Speaker 3: just incredible to think that he's playing that kind of 47 00:02:22,027 --> 00:02:24,707 Speaker 3: hand as a first year All Black. So yep, he's 48 00:02:25,147 --> 00:02:28,067 Speaker 3: He'd be my pick for All Black of the year. 49 00:02:28,987 --> 00:02:31,267 Speaker 3: I mean, you know, cam Reguard has obviously shown that 50 00:02:31,307 --> 00:02:36,667 Speaker 3: he's world class and he's World fifteen material, but Holland 51 00:02:36,707 --> 00:02:39,467 Speaker 3: has been an absolute find. But I do notice that 52 00:02:39,547 --> 00:02:42,467 Speaker 3: on your show that a lot of people were definitely 53 00:02:42,467 --> 00:02:44,747 Speaker 3: pretty critical of Raisers, So it feels like the sort 54 00:02:44,747 --> 00:02:49,467 Speaker 3: of season where people aren't necessarily that and amid with 55 00:02:49,547 --> 00:02:51,147 Speaker 3: the way the All Blacks have been playing. 56 00:02:51,627 --> 00:02:54,427 Speaker 2: No, I think you're right, and I think that's probably 57 00:02:54,547 --> 00:02:57,427 Speaker 2: fair given you know, I think the gut feel for 58 00:02:57,467 --> 00:03:01,547 Speaker 2: most people and a bicking for yours, is that they 59 00:03:01,547 --> 00:03:05,867 Speaker 2: don't feel overly optimistic about twenty twenty seven. I do 60 00:03:06,027 --> 00:03:08,267 Speaker 2: know it seems odd, but we do go from World 61 00:03:08,307 --> 00:03:10,907 Speaker 2: Cup to World Cup. How do you feel about whether 62 00:03:10,867 --> 00:03:13,067 Speaker 2: the All Blacks are in the midpoint of the World 63 00:03:13,067 --> 00:03:13,667 Speaker 2: Cup cycle. 64 00:03:15,067 --> 00:03:18,507 Speaker 3: I feel confident in the talent that's been developed, and 65 00:03:18,547 --> 00:03:21,227 Speaker 3: I think as a development job, I think RAS has 66 00:03:21,227 --> 00:03:25,187 Speaker 3: done that really well. So you know, I'm probably an 67 00:03:25,227 --> 00:03:29,107 Speaker 3: advocate for the way he has brought plans and although 68 00:03:29,627 --> 00:03:32,227 Speaker 3: I am a I'm a big Ruben Love fan and 69 00:03:32,427 --> 00:03:34,707 Speaker 3: I feel like having him just carrying the tackle backs 70 00:03:34,747 --> 00:03:38,027 Speaker 3: for most of the tour was a wasted opportunity, you know. 71 00:03:38,787 --> 00:03:41,387 Speaker 3: So and next year he's getting Richie M Warner back, 72 00:03:41,467 --> 00:03:44,227 Speaker 3: So we may never find out how good Ruben Love 73 00:03:44,467 --> 00:03:46,387 Speaker 3: it can be as a first five at test level. 74 00:03:46,787 --> 00:03:49,787 Speaker 3: But that's fine. I mean, I think that he's had 75 00:03:49,827 --> 00:03:52,107 Speaker 3: a lot on his plate in terms of getting new 76 00:03:52,147 --> 00:03:55,507 Speaker 3: all blacks up to scratch. The big problem is one 77 00:03:55,547 --> 00:03:57,627 Speaker 3: that a lot of your listeners has identified for me. 78 00:03:57,667 --> 00:04:01,987 Speaker 3: As well as the strategy, the attack strategy, the will's 79 00:04:01,987 --> 00:04:05,507 Speaker 3: come off a lot. You saw against England last week, 80 00:04:05,947 --> 00:04:11,187 Speaker 3: you know, ugging the blind that's crowded, basically becoming you know, 81 00:04:11,947 --> 00:04:14,867 Speaker 3: turnover fodder when you don't have enough people in support, 82 00:04:15,227 --> 00:04:20,587 Speaker 3: enough cleaners they're called. So I think in terms of changes, 83 00:04:20,947 --> 00:04:23,987 Speaker 3: I think there should be someone to come in. We 84 00:04:24,027 --> 00:04:26,587 Speaker 3: can't get Tony Brown obviously, and you did mention that 85 00:04:26,627 --> 00:04:30,147 Speaker 3: he's contracted through the twenty twenty seven for South Africa, 86 00:04:31,107 --> 00:04:34,107 Speaker 3: which is a huge bummer. But I think we need 87 00:04:34,147 --> 00:04:36,707 Speaker 3: to find the next best thing to Tony Brown to 88 00:04:36,787 --> 00:04:37,467 Speaker 3: run our attack. 89 00:04:38,307 --> 00:04:41,827 Speaker 2: All right, some questions to be answered and some discussions 90 00:04:41,827 --> 00:04:44,947 Speaker 2: to be had. Can we move to the Ashes? I 91 00:04:44,987 --> 00:04:47,107 Speaker 2: was looking forward to day three of the Ashes when 92 00:04:47,147 --> 00:04:48,947 Speaker 2: I finished the show today. I was going to settle 93 00:04:48,987 --> 00:04:51,547 Speaker 2: in and double screen bit of Auckland f C a 94 00:04:51,547 --> 00:04:55,427 Speaker 2: bit of Ashes. But there aren't any more Ashes deliveries 95 00:04:55,467 --> 00:04:57,747 Speaker 2: to be had in Perth all over in two days. 96 00:04:58,667 --> 00:05:01,147 Speaker 3: I know. I can't believe that. I'm not going to 97 00:05:00,667 --> 00:05:03,027 Speaker 3: I don't want to compare this to another movie, but 98 00:05:03,107 --> 00:05:05,987 Speaker 3: it was over before it started, Pony. And the weird 99 00:05:06,027 --> 00:05:10,267 Speaker 3: thing is that I like bas Ball because it's you know, 100 00:05:10,307 --> 00:05:13,067 Speaker 3: it's frantic and high risk and it feels dangerous, you know, 101 00:05:13,107 --> 00:05:16,747 Speaker 3: and it's just it says Brendan McCullum all over it. 102 00:05:16,827 --> 00:05:20,507 Speaker 3: Really But when does dads, when does bas Ball become 103 00:05:21,027 --> 00:05:24,787 Speaker 3: m Acazi cricket? That's the question, you know, And I 104 00:05:24,947 --> 00:05:29,147 Speaker 3: think the answer is after lunch yesterday, That's when. Because 105 00:05:29,227 --> 00:05:33,907 Speaker 3: England were in a really good spot. They were in 106 00:05:33,947 --> 00:05:37,227 Speaker 3: a really good spot yesterday they had Pope and there 107 00:05:37,627 --> 00:05:43,107 Speaker 3: it was the partnership together. Sorry, I'm just looking at 108 00:05:43,227 --> 00:05:46,027 Speaker 3: notes Pope and duck It and they were in a 109 00:05:46,067 --> 00:05:49,027 Speaker 3: good spot and they should have flipped the script there 110 00:05:49,027 --> 00:05:52,387 Speaker 3: with men and gone anti bas and just dug in, 111 00:05:52,827 --> 00:05:55,067 Speaker 3: and I think they would have come away with at 112 00:05:55,147 --> 00:05:59,627 Speaker 3: least a tough ask for Australia, if not a victory. 113 00:05:59,827 --> 00:06:02,467 Speaker 3: And instead it was Baars all the way and you 114 00:06:02,547 --> 00:06:04,307 Speaker 3: live by the bars, you die by the bears. 115 00:06:04,667 --> 00:06:07,867 Speaker 2: You're right though, they were sixty five for one when 116 00:06:07,947 --> 00:06:10,347 Speaker 2: Duckett and Pope were together, and as you say, they 117 00:06:10,387 --> 00:06:14,347 Speaker 2: weren't Baars balling it necessarily, but they were starting to 118 00:06:14,387 --> 00:06:17,427 Speaker 2: build what could have been a fairly handy lead. But 119 00:06:17,467 --> 00:06:21,387 Speaker 2: from sixty five for one to all out one sixty four, 120 00:06:21,427 --> 00:06:23,627 Speaker 2: what's that nine for ninety nine, you've lost. 121 00:06:24,267 --> 00:06:26,947 Speaker 3: Yeah, it was an absolute disaster. And that's why at 122 00:06:27,027 --> 00:06:29,467 Speaker 3: lunch time it just would have been a perfect time 123 00:06:29,507 --> 00:06:32,547 Speaker 3: to say, okay, let's dig in now. Because the thing 124 00:06:32,547 --> 00:06:35,587 Speaker 3: about Australian bowlers is they never go away. And oh 125 00:06:35,627 --> 00:06:37,467 Speaker 3: there's a couple of times when you do notice that 126 00:06:37,467 --> 00:06:39,667 Speaker 3: they I mean, I remember when Ross Taylor sort of 127 00:06:40,027 --> 00:06:42,267 Speaker 3: pounded them into submission a few years ago when he 128 00:06:42,347 --> 00:06:46,427 Speaker 3: got two ninety over there in Perth. But they could 129 00:06:46,467 --> 00:06:49,307 Speaker 3: still see hope, there's still grass on the pitch, probably 130 00:06:49,347 --> 00:06:53,347 Speaker 3: too much grass. I interviewed the great Jeff Thompson the 131 00:06:53,387 --> 00:06:55,507 Speaker 3: other day and he was saying there's so much grass 132 00:06:55,507 --> 00:06:58,267 Speaker 3: on these Test wickets that even he at seventy five 133 00:06:58,347 --> 00:07:01,627 Speaker 3: could take some wickets, and of course I laughed, haha. 134 00:07:01,667 --> 00:07:04,267 Speaker 3: And then I watched the Test and what, Actually, maybe 135 00:07:04,267 --> 00:07:08,387 Speaker 3: you're right, Jeff, because it was treacherous out there. But yeah, 136 00:07:08,547 --> 00:07:10,747 Speaker 3: this is the whole thing. Those Aussie bowlers knew there 137 00:07:10,827 --> 00:07:13,947 Speaker 3: was still hope and they still had the you know, 138 00:07:14,347 --> 00:07:16,547 Speaker 3: the bit between their teeth, and they came back and 139 00:07:16,627 --> 00:07:19,867 Speaker 3: just absolutely plowed through England. So I think that's one 140 00:07:19,867 --> 00:07:22,027 Speaker 3: that got away, and maybe that they need to mix 141 00:07:22,107 --> 00:07:25,947 Speaker 3: up that strategy from bads to anti bans just every 142 00:07:25,987 --> 00:07:27,507 Speaker 3: now and then. I agree. 143 00:07:27,587 --> 00:07:31,947 Speaker 2: Now, one of the proudest sporting regions in New Zealand 144 00:07:32,027 --> 00:07:35,387 Speaker 2: is Marlborough and you had the opportunity to m see 145 00:07:35,427 --> 00:07:37,227 Speaker 2: their sports awards over the weekend. 146 00:07:38,147 --> 00:07:41,227 Speaker 3: Oh poney, what a night to be down there. I 147 00:07:41,227 --> 00:07:43,667 Speaker 3: probably will never get invited back, but was great to 148 00:07:43,667 --> 00:07:48,587 Speaker 3: be in Blenham and a fantastic crowd there. I loved it, 149 00:07:48,627 --> 00:07:50,467 Speaker 3: you know, like this is one of those things where 150 00:07:50,707 --> 00:07:54,227 Speaker 3: I know that you're seeing the Nelson Awards next week 151 00:07:54,267 --> 00:07:56,707 Speaker 3: and I'm sure you'll you'll hit it out of the park. 152 00:07:56,787 --> 00:08:00,227 Speaker 3: But look, there's some incredible athletes that have come through 153 00:08:00,267 --> 00:08:02,587 Speaker 3: there and you kind of forget Lance Kins. You know, 154 00:08:03,787 --> 00:08:07,427 Speaker 3: there's Joe Sullivan of course, a gold medalist rower of his, 155 00:08:08,227 --> 00:08:12,747 Speaker 3: Anton Oliver and others you know who've just been luminaries 156 00:08:12,787 --> 00:08:14,547 Speaker 3: of the Mulborough sporting scene. 157 00:08:16,067 --> 00:08:17,587 Speaker 2: Leon McDonald was a mulber boy. 158 00:08:17,667 --> 00:08:21,467 Speaker 3: I think, yes, Leo McDonald, David Hill, there's lots of 159 00:08:21,507 --> 00:08:24,187 Speaker 3: them that have come through there. But the Supreme Award 160 00:08:24,227 --> 00:08:29,067 Speaker 3: winner last night was Tomurthy Taveta Nahweyo, so he turned 161 00:08:29,147 --> 00:08:31,787 Speaker 3: up for Fiji and Marlborough. And the great thing about 162 00:08:31,787 --> 00:08:34,227 Speaker 3: it is like, look, there were other really cool athletes 163 00:08:34,267 --> 00:08:37,467 Speaker 3: as well. I should mention before get into Timurthy and 164 00:08:39,747 --> 00:08:43,747 Speaker 3: the victory acceptance speech. It's just that there was a 165 00:08:43,747 --> 00:08:46,667 Speaker 3: two young cyclists we should look out for, brother and sister, 166 00:08:47,107 --> 00:08:51,227 Speaker 3: Finn and Neve McKenzie watched this space, both under nineteen 167 00:08:51,387 --> 00:08:54,507 Speaker 3: or nineteen years old and both doing incredible things on 168 00:08:54,547 --> 00:08:57,827 Speaker 3: the world stage. And then Meig Flanagan, a roller who's 169 00:08:57,947 --> 00:09:01,427 Speaker 3: very talented and under twenty three crews currently at university 170 00:09:01,507 --> 00:09:04,827 Speaker 3: of Tennessee with his sister Emma, an equally talented rower, 171 00:09:04,867 --> 00:09:07,627 Speaker 3: so look out for them. But Mothy couldn't be there. 172 00:09:07,667 --> 00:09:11,907 Speaker 3: He's getting in his knee operation done. And a guy 173 00:09:11,987 --> 00:09:15,067 Speaker 3: called Bill Matthews, Uncle Bill they call him, who looked 174 00:09:15,067 --> 00:09:18,027 Speaker 3: after Tomaty as soon as he arrived, and Marlborough made 175 00:09:18,027 --> 00:09:20,387 Speaker 3: the speech. And there's something to be said for having 176 00:09:20,507 --> 00:09:23,347 Speaker 3: real salt of the earth people getting up on stage 177 00:09:23,427 --> 00:09:28,347 Speaker 3: and telling inappropriate stories. It actually works, Piney because everyone 178 00:09:28,387 --> 00:09:32,067 Speaker 3: else is saying the normal lip service stuff, positive things 179 00:09:32,147 --> 00:09:35,667 Speaker 3: and blah blah blah. But honestly, Bill brought the house 180 00:09:35,707 --> 00:09:38,547 Speaker 3: down and I'm not going to tell the inappropriate stories 181 00:09:38,587 --> 00:09:41,507 Speaker 3: today on zeb But he did tell one story about 182 00:09:41,827 --> 00:09:43,867 Speaker 3: how he wasn't that keen on fitness in the early 183 00:09:43,947 --> 00:09:45,947 Speaker 3: days to Morthy and he said the equivalent of his 184 00:09:46,027 --> 00:09:48,587 Speaker 3: idea of fitness was just to lie on the bed 185 00:09:48,627 --> 00:09:51,307 Speaker 3: and then he'd tell him to get up out of bed, 186 00:09:51,307 --> 00:09:55,867 Speaker 3: and he'd just open one eye like a tuatara, he said, 187 00:09:55,907 --> 00:09:59,747 Speaker 3: And that was that was the most exercise he said 188 00:09:59,787 --> 00:10:02,267 Speaker 3: in the early days. But he turned it around and 189 00:10:02,307 --> 00:10:03,387 Speaker 3: then became a champion. 190 00:10:04,067 --> 00:10:06,027 Speaker 2: Wonderful stuff. I'll get you to send me all your 191 00:10:06,027 --> 00:10:08,987 Speaker 2: notes with including your jokes that I can use a 192 00:10:09,067 --> 00:10:11,587 Speaker 2: Nelson in a week's time. Jim Boy's good to chat 193 00:10:11,627 --> 00:10:13,707 Speaker 2: mate James mccaroney part of our Sunday. 194 00:10:14,187 --> 00:10:17,387 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 195 00:10:17,467 --> 00:10:20,787 Speaker 1: to News Talk set B weekends from midday, or follow 196 00:10:20,787 --> 00:10:22,427 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio