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 --> 00:00:11,787 Speaker 1: from Newstalk zed B. 3 00:00:12,627 --> 00:00:15,707 Speaker 2: And Sir John Kerwin. Leaving Sky Sport as a rugby commentator, 4 00:00:15,747 --> 00:00:18,267 Speaker 2: panelist and analyst ninety six matches for the All Black 5 00:00:18,307 --> 00:00:21,067 Speaker 2: sixty three of those test matches. He joined Sky in 6 00:00:21,107 --> 00:00:23,787 Speaker 2: twenty fifteen, but after a decade as part of their 7 00:00:23,787 --> 00:00:26,507 Speaker 2: coverage both in game and then studio, he won't be 8 00:00:26,587 --> 00:00:29,867 Speaker 2: back on our screens in twenty twenty five. JK. We've 9 00:00:29,867 --> 00:00:31,827 Speaker 2: been talking about this for the last half hour, all 10 00:00:31,867 --> 00:00:34,547 Speaker 2: sorts of texts coming in saying don't retire. What's going on? 11 00:00:34,587 --> 00:00:38,787 Speaker 3: Mate? Yeah, well, you know where the stars align. You 12 00:00:38,907 --> 00:00:42,067 Speaker 3: just got to sort of to listen to the voices 13 00:00:42,107 --> 00:00:44,267 Speaker 3: and bolly a gat. You know, my dad always said that, 14 00:00:45,547 --> 00:00:47,467 Speaker 3: you know, don't let your brain get in the way 15 00:00:47,507 --> 00:00:49,307 Speaker 3: of what your gut's trying to tell you. So I 16 00:00:49,387 --> 00:00:52,427 Speaker 3: just think, you know, a few things have lined up, 17 00:00:52,507 --> 00:00:55,507 Speaker 3: and so I just decided it was time to move on. 18 00:00:55,627 --> 00:00:57,667 Speaker 3: You know, I don't want to I don't want to be, 19 00:00:58,187 --> 00:01:00,907 Speaker 3: you know, ten years from now, because I'm sixty now. Pioneer, 20 00:01:00,947 --> 00:01:03,427 Speaker 3: which is which is a which is an INTERESTINGCT challenge 21 00:01:03,427 --> 00:01:04,827 Speaker 3: in it's own right. I don't want to be ten 22 00:01:04,867 --> 00:01:06,667 Speaker 3: years we're now saying, oh should I watch that? Done 23 00:01:06,667 --> 00:01:09,067 Speaker 3: that and listened and that. So but I had a 24 00:01:09,067 --> 00:01:11,547 Speaker 3: blast Pine. It's been it's been a it's been an amazing, 25 00:01:11,827 --> 00:01:15,667 Speaker 3: amazing nine years or ten years or whatever. So I'll 26 00:01:15,667 --> 00:01:16,347 Speaker 3: miss it for sure. 27 00:01:16,787 --> 00:01:19,147 Speaker 2: Was broadcasting something you thought about doing when you were 28 00:01:19,187 --> 00:01:20,067 Speaker 2: playing or coaching. 29 00:01:22,147 --> 00:01:25,987 Speaker 3: It's something that I always felt, you know, I was 30 00:01:25,987 --> 00:01:28,267 Speaker 3: brought up in an era where media was sort of 31 00:01:28,787 --> 00:01:32,747 Speaker 3: viewed often as the enemy, but you know, I believe 32 00:01:32,827 --> 00:01:35,827 Speaker 3: that it was always part of the game, and we 33 00:01:35,827 --> 00:01:39,947 Speaker 3: were all teammates, so I always enjoyed the media side 34 00:01:39,947 --> 00:01:42,467 Speaker 3: of it. And you know, I remember very early in 35 00:01:42,507 --> 00:01:45,067 Speaker 3: the piece when I first made the when I first 36 00:01:45,067 --> 00:01:46,627 Speaker 3: made the All Blacks, and I was a bit scared 37 00:01:46,627 --> 00:01:48,867 Speaker 3: about doing interviews and Dad just said to me that, 38 00:01:49,427 --> 00:01:51,267 Speaker 3: you know, just pretend you're talking to me sitting on 39 00:01:51,307 --> 00:01:53,707 Speaker 3: the couch and the lounge, and that sort of advice 40 00:01:53,787 --> 00:01:57,267 Speaker 3: I've taken through. You know, it's it's it's a it's 41 00:01:57,307 --> 00:02:01,507 Speaker 3: a privilege to be able to commentate, to get people 42 00:02:01,707 --> 00:02:05,107 Speaker 3: in their lounges listening to sport, seeing and seeing stuff 43 00:02:05,107 --> 00:02:07,627 Speaker 3: that they might not necessary see by being at home. 44 00:02:07,747 --> 00:02:11,427 Speaker 3: So I've always thought that it was a really really 45 00:02:11,467 --> 00:02:14,907 Speaker 3: important pard for the success of the game. When I 46 00:02:14,947 --> 00:02:16,467 Speaker 3: first got out at that Pine, it was a bit 47 00:02:16,587 --> 00:02:18,627 Speaker 3: nerve racking, you know, like I'd had a little bit 48 00:02:18,627 --> 00:02:21,067 Speaker 3: of experience in Italy because when I was coaching the 49 00:02:21,067 --> 00:02:24,947 Speaker 3: Italian team, you know, if we got knocked out of 50 00:02:24,947 --> 00:02:28,347 Speaker 3: the World Cup, then Sky Italy would would ask me 51 00:02:28,427 --> 00:02:30,067 Speaker 3: to go out and do comments and all that sort 52 00:02:30,067 --> 00:02:32,347 Speaker 3: of stuff. So that was I found a whole lot 53 00:02:32,387 --> 00:02:35,227 Speaker 3: of fun. When you first start, it can be a 54 00:02:35,227 --> 00:02:37,987 Speaker 3: bit nerve racking because you know there's there's a lot 55 00:02:38,067 --> 00:02:41,867 Speaker 3: more to it than just you know, sitting here and 56 00:02:41,947 --> 00:02:43,147 Speaker 3: throwing out a theory or two. 57 00:02:44,147 --> 00:02:48,747 Speaker 2: How din'd you go about the process of critiquing players? 58 00:02:50,867 --> 00:02:56,027 Speaker 3: Well, when I played, I always felt that if the 59 00:02:56,067 --> 00:03:02,267 Speaker 3: person that was critiquing me was talking about talking about 60 00:03:02,267 --> 00:03:07,147 Speaker 3: the game, talking about instances where maybe a than playing well, 61 00:03:07,187 --> 00:03:10,707 Speaker 3: but it wasn't personal, then you know, while it might 62 00:03:10,747 --> 00:03:14,507 Speaker 3: have grated against me, I only had respect for that person. 63 00:03:14,587 --> 00:03:18,987 Speaker 3: So I've tried to keep it as honest as open, 64 00:03:19,547 --> 00:03:24,067 Speaker 3: but also not bringing the personality, but also trying to 65 00:03:24,107 --> 00:03:27,587 Speaker 3: do a little bit of re search what is going 66 00:03:27,627 --> 00:03:31,187 Speaker 3: on in that particular player or in the life of 67 00:03:31,227 --> 00:03:34,387 Speaker 3: a player, you know, because often poor performance might be 68 00:03:34,707 --> 00:03:36,947 Speaker 3: you know, holding a little bit of an injury or 69 00:03:37,227 --> 00:03:39,787 Speaker 3: you know, tiredness or whatever. So tried to keep the 70 00:03:40,467 --> 00:03:43,267 Speaker 3: personal stuff out of it and have as much informed 71 00:03:43,827 --> 00:03:44,907 Speaker 3: information as I could. 72 00:03:45,307 --> 00:03:47,427 Speaker 2: Did you ever get any blowback? The players or coaches 73 00:03:47,467 --> 00:03:49,427 Speaker 2: ever get in touch with you and call you out 74 00:03:49,467 --> 00:03:50,347 Speaker 2: on anything you ever said? 75 00:03:51,427 --> 00:03:52,907 Speaker 3: Yeah, I had a few phone calls. I had a 76 00:03:52,987 --> 00:03:57,027 Speaker 3: few phone calls from a few people, you know, or 77 00:03:57,147 --> 00:03:58,827 Speaker 3: you know a little bit of a little bit of 78 00:03:58,827 --> 00:04:01,907 Speaker 3: a r they walked past me, you know, when someone's 79 00:04:01,947 --> 00:04:06,347 Speaker 3: not happy with you, when the people had pick up 80 00:04:06,467 --> 00:04:08,227 Speaker 3: the phone. That was always thought that was a good 81 00:04:08,267 --> 00:04:12,787 Speaker 3: thing because it gives both of us to voice our opinion. 82 00:04:12,827 --> 00:04:15,907 Speaker 3: But you know, you're in the long night. I've been 83 00:04:15,947 --> 00:04:19,867 Speaker 3: in the game for a long long time, and constructive 84 00:04:19,947 --> 00:04:21,747 Speaker 3: criticism is all part of it. 85 00:04:22,227 --> 00:04:24,747 Speaker 2: What about in general life, because you're a pretty recognizable 86 00:04:24,747 --> 00:04:27,307 Speaker 2: person in New Zealand, do you get stopped at airport's 87 00:04:27,387 --> 00:04:29,427 Speaker 2: much and sort of drawn into rugby conversation? 88 00:04:30,747 --> 00:04:32,787 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's what I missed the most. You know, I 89 00:04:32,547 --> 00:04:36,827 Speaker 3: have had some fantastic you know, walking to the to 90 00:04:36,867 --> 00:04:39,187 Speaker 3: the lounge or walking walking to the plane, you know, 91 00:04:42,347 --> 00:04:45,467 Speaker 3: around people throwing out their theories. And you know, I 92 00:04:45,467 --> 00:04:47,627 Speaker 3: all missed that the most because I sort of tried 93 00:04:47,667 --> 00:04:50,707 Speaker 3: to take as much of the public voice and those 94 00:04:50,747 --> 00:04:55,387 Speaker 3: conversations not only to Sky but also to the New 95 00:04:55,467 --> 00:04:59,867 Speaker 3: Zealand Rugby Union. So just let people, you know, let 96 00:04:59,907 --> 00:05:03,747 Speaker 3: the house to be understand what the rugby public and 97 00:05:03,787 --> 00:05:07,827 Speaker 3: the Sky surpribers are actually feeling and how they feel 98 00:05:07,867 --> 00:05:10,227 Speaker 3: about the game. So I always tried to be the 99 00:05:10,307 --> 00:05:12,587 Speaker 3: voice of the public, and that's probably what I missed 100 00:05:12,627 --> 00:05:16,307 Speaker 3: the most, you know, you know from being on Sky 101 00:05:16,427 --> 00:05:20,307 Speaker 3: would be you know, to give people the opportunity to 102 00:05:20,427 --> 00:05:21,027 Speaker 3: talk through me. 103 00:05:21,827 --> 00:05:23,387 Speaker 2: Can you put something to bed for us? Something I 104 00:05:23,427 --> 00:05:25,627 Speaker 2: hear a lot is the idea that Sky commentators are 105 00:05:25,667 --> 00:05:27,787 Speaker 2: told not to be critical of the sport they're covering. 106 00:05:28,307 --> 00:05:30,347 Speaker 2: Have you ever been told by your bosses at Sky 107 00:05:30,507 --> 00:05:31,707 Speaker 2: what you can and can't say? 108 00:05:32,787 --> 00:05:35,627 Speaker 3: Nah, that I would have walked away five years ago 109 00:05:35,667 --> 00:05:40,187 Speaker 3: if that was the case. You know, I think that 110 00:05:40,907 --> 00:05:43,987 Speaker 3: we have an we have an obliquam o the game. 111 00:05:44,507 --> 00:05:47,307 Speaker 3: And where there's a fine line is when you know 112 00:05:48,827 --> 00:05:51,467 Speaker 3: I was waking the six nass, this morning. Point to 113 00:05:51,547 --> 00:05:54,947 Speaker 3: the nineteenth minute of the game against the Tilly and 114 00:05:55,147 --> 00:05:59,947 Speaker 3: the Italian half act puts the ball under the you know, 115 00:06:00,187 --> 00:06:03,267 Speaker 3: under the second row's foot. I mean, is that a 116 00:06:03,347 --> 00:06:05,307 Speaker 3: rugby league scram? Or is that a rugby scrum? You 117 00:06:05,387 --> 00:06:07,587 Speaker 3: know what I mean? Like what into putting fair, contest 118 00:06:07,627 --> 00:06:09,867 Speaker 3: putting it in straight? Things like that really annoy me. 119 00:06:10,147 --> 00:06:12,787 Speaker 3: So I'll have a crack at something like that, because 120 00:06:13,907 --> 00:06:16,867 Speaker 3: you know, it's not it's not right. But as far 121 00:06:16,947 --> 00:06:20,667 Speaker 3: as is being critical of the game, no one's ever 122 00:06:20,747 --> 00:06:23,187 Speaker 3: said to me, you know, you shouldn't say this or 123 00:06:23,187 --> 00:06:24,107 Speaker 3: you shouldn't say that. 124 00:06:25,387 --> 00:06:26,747 Speaker 2: So what are we going to do? Well, what are 125 00:06:26,747 --> 00:06:28,307 Speaker 2: you going to do with all the gaps in your diary? 126 00:06:28,387 --> 00:06:32,547 Speaker 3: Now, Oh, that's a beautiful thing. That's a beautiful thing. 127 00:06:32,787 --> 00:06:34,427 Speaker 3: Well put it this way. I just went for a 128 00:06:34,467 --> 00:06:37,107 Speaker 3: surf fighting, So I apologize because you were supposed to 129 00:06:37,147 --> 00:06:39,467 Speaker 3: ring at the eleven and I forgot went for a surf. 130 00:06:41,867 --> 00:06:47,027 Speaker 3: And my my wife has been incredible person in my life. 131 00:06:47,107 --> 00:06:51,107 Speaker 3: She sacrificed so much. I'm about, you know, leaving her 132 00:06:51,227 --> 00:06:54,747 Speaker 3: country and coming here, going to Japan and that sort 133 00:06:54,787 --> 00:06:57,107 Speaker 3: of stuff. So we promised ourselves that would spend more 134 00:06:57,107 --> 00:07:00,547 Speaker 3: time in Italy, so you know, that's one of the things, 135 00:07:00,667 --> 00:07:03,067 Speaker 3: one of the one of the stars that aligned was 136 00:07:03,107 --> 00:07:09,387 Speaker 3: you know, every Sunday every weekend from now until December. 137 00:07:10,027 --> 00:07:13,227 Speaker 3: So you know, I haven't made any decisions. I still 138 00:07:13,267 --> 00:07:14,787 Speaker 3: like to be a voice in the game. I don't 139 00:07:14,827 --> 00:07:18,907 Speaker 3: know what I'm doing moving forward. We'll see what comes 140 00:07:18,907 --> 00:07:22,227 Speaker 3: out of the woodwork, and but I'll be around around 141 00:07:22,227 --> 00:07:24,867 Speaker 3: the game. And the game has been incredibly good to 142 00:07:24,907 --> 00:07:27,667 Speaker 3: me and you know I love it with a passion, 143 00:07:27,747 --> 00:07:29,547 Speaker 3: so I don't think I'll be able to not have 144 00:07:29,587 --> 00:07:30,147 Speaker 3: an opinion. 145 00:07:32,187 --> 00:07:34,347 Speaker 2: We hope to see you back on our screens well, 146 00:07:34,387 --> 00:07:38,267 Speaker 2: certainly somewhere with an ability your platform to force those opinions. 147 00:07:38,347 --> 00:07:38,547 Speaker 3: JK. 148 00:07:38,747 --> 00:07:41,667 Speaker 2: Great tenure mate, a decade and in broadcasting is to 149 00:07:41,707 --> 00:07:44,187 Speaker 2: be congratulated. As you know, it's not the most stable 150 00:07:44,227 --> 00:07:46,187 Speaker 2: of industry. So thanks for taking the time for a 151 00:07:46,227 --> 00:07:47,547 Speaker 2: chat made and I hope you get a lot more 152 00:07:47,587 --> 00:07:47,987 Speaker 2: surf again. 153 00:07:49,107 --> 00:07:50,467 Speaker 3: Appreciate it, mate, have a good one. 154 00:07:50,547 --> 00:07:52,547 Speaker 2: You tell you all the best. Thanks JK. So John 155 00:07:52,587 --> 00:07:54,707 Speaker 2: Kerwin joining us there. 156 00:07:55,067 --> 00:07:58,267 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Faine. Listen live 157 00:07:58,387 --> 00:08:01,787 Speaker 1: to News Talk ZEDB weekends from midday or follow the 158 00:08:01,827 --> 00:08:03,267 Speaker 1: podcast on iHeartRadio,