Full Show Podcast: 15 March 2026

0:00You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Pine from News Talks at B The only place for the big names the big issues the big controversies and the big conversations It's all on Weekend Sport with Darcy Walgrave on your home of sport News Talks at B Seven after midday Good afternoon It's a Sunday 15th March 2026 my name's Darcy Walgrave of Stolen Jason Pine's at seat for the entire Weekend of at Weekend Sport. I'm having a whale of the time I hope you're enjoying your weekend of sport as well before we tell you what's coming up of the next of three hours Happy birthday to Kyle Mills. Oh Kyle You'll always be remembered won't you for your time in the yellow vest Gobbing off of the South Africa's. I'm sorry

1:02I had to bring that up, but that was one of the outstanding that Arguably was what turned the tables for the black caps and who they are now so well done on that one there Great night sport plenty going on and we'll touch on quite a lot of that today We'll sort of preview some clashes coming up six nations They've given up playing defense interest and to see that's going to make the The nation's championship coming up being something else as the irony of that always accused of playing Flash Harry run rugby and suddenly that's what the Northern hemisphere are doing as well six nations are playing that game France are the six nations champions and For island well, they've got Something going on they managed to pick up the triple crown So it's great results for that over the weekend bit of formula one the happening as well a bit of rugby union But we'll touch on all of that in the program will be joined by Dan Perrin assistant coach of the Crusaders

2:08How on earth did they get away with that last night against the Highlanders? 30 minutes with only 14 players you are counting me We'll catch up with Cain Williamson up after one o'clock James Mccony has a world We're talking a bit of timber sports as well with Shane Jordan beat up one of his younger brother Yes today who incident he wants the world champion Michael a Monato if I a formula one accredited journalist Joins us to look back at qualifying and the sprint race in Shanghai and ahead to the formula one race tonight At eight o'clock Nathan Smith we talk a wee bit of cricket because the Five match t20 series the double headers both ferns and the caps that commences today and cold force Is a bit of a grudge match today at Eden Park 335 It's the rivals It's Tarnarumanga's men that Moana Pussyficker up against the blues. It's a lot on this

3:12It should have a wee bit of friction a bit of a rust around it It'll be great looking forward to that as well We've got plenty we've got plenty on the program You can always call through as well. Love your opinions. 0800 8010 80 free phone number nationwide You can text too by all means 9292 ZB ZB a standard text charge however Does apply it is 10 past 12 When there's a line call it's your call we can sport with dusty wall to grave youth talks at V It's ticked over 11 past 12 day for any as you know the new all blacks head coach the next question is Who will his assistance be rumours plainly have started to help us to get to the bottom of those rumours And a man who's got an ear on the nature of New Zealand rugby specifically all black rugby is Gregor Paul from the New Zealand Harold

4:15He's a chief rugby writer. He's got the inside word and we're going to go to him now and find out What's happening with the assistant coaches Good afternoon Gregor. I trust you well I'm very well. Thanks. That's what I like to hear our big day today Where's a wonderful cross town rivalry. I think that some petrol has been poured on this fiery rivalry by a ton of umanga This is more one up Pacifica up against the blues, but that's the one side We're focusing now on where to now for Dave Renny. We know who the all black coaches What is he doing with his assistance because I believe this decision is imminent I think we'll get Maybe a confirmation at the end of the week coming that's the plan It might it might push on until the next week depending how Intricate difficult contracts are to actually put signatures on But you know, I think he's chosen as people. I think he knows who he wants

5:17There's clearly Because it's been written about by myself and issue With one of his choices that user on rugby is not so much pushing back again But encouraging him to consider retaining incumbent Assistant coach Scott Hanson So this is a question here of Dave Renny is keen on my fellow Scotsman fellow Edinburgh Academy boy Mike Blair To bring him in as the attack coach But it's not that New Zealand are going all xenophobic on this choice I think they're just pushing back against that and saying Scott Hanson's here. He's he's rated Very well with the players. He's got rapport with the players Many of the players think he's a good technical tactical coach Could you find a way to keep him or or or just certainly challenge Dave to say let's not throw this guy away Just yet have you truly considered what he might bring to your setup

6:19So I don't think it's forcing Dave to keep Scott Hanson. I think it's a process here of saying Let's do a due diligence. Let's make sure that you two have talked to each other that you've had a chance to see if you could work together And if at the end of that you're still pretty sure that you don't want to keep Scott and you want to work with Mike Then then fair enough How important is it for the all blacks that Dave Renny essentially gets his way with the assistant coaches? Well, it's not about getting his way It's about getting a team that he's comfortable with that he's happy with that he's sure Can help him deliver The success that he's hoping to have with the old legs. It's about making sure That everyone is in the on the same page and they've got the right people the best people and that everyone's convinced They've got the best people. So yeah, look at it's hugely important if you look at what happened You know with Ian fostered back in 219 they had a process to point him whereby he had and his

7:21rival candidate Scott Robertson had to do the same thing We both had to Prevent to the board as part of their head coach application. They had to say and look I will come with these coaches here now that became a problem because it became a bit playground desk where Both you know both parties had to sort of scrap around and you and my team and if you're a my team you can't be in his team type thing And foster was also hampered in the end because he had Jamie Joseph and Tony Brown lined up to be in his team But the process took so long to go through that by the time he came to be interviewed Joseph and Tony Brown had both pulled out because they've been offered a heap more money to stay in Japan So foster was scrambling around for two assistants late in the piece which he did He found John Plum Tree and Bride Moore And we know what happened there. They they turned out to to not quite be up to standard And they had to be late goal midway through the tenure. That was a high drama moment. It was disruptive And look with with razor when he got the job in 23

8:24I don't think there was any scrutiny on his choice of assistance and Five test matches into his reign Leon McDonald one of his assistants walked out and Jason Holland who was also part of the team didn't seek an extension on his contract at the end of last year Again a signal that not all was quite right with that setup So I think it's hugely important that there's a lot of scrutiny that there's good due diligence Then New Zealand rugby puts a bit of pressure on Dave to challenge His choices, but ultimately Dave has to be comfortable with what he gets And New Zealand rugby have to be comfortable with what Dave wants Top brass and very important positions in NZI you'd suggest that situation's Three to bear at best at the moment, but you think who's around and making these decisions They're cognizant of what happened over the last three years They're not bearing their head in the sand like an ostrich that they've actually learned something that they can apply to this current situation

9:26Yeah, well, I think so the fact that they're putting a bit of heat on him To consider his options to not just get the wake gloves on and weave through what he wants But nor are they necessarily demanding that he do something he doesn't want to do So I think it's a good compromise agreement that they've reached here that that Dave's to do a bit Yeah to do a bit more Confeleration of what New Zealand rugby wants without being forced into Doing what they want. So it is a kind of look at the end of it If both NZR and Dave can walk away going Yeah, we had a really good process there. We dug deep into all the All the characters all the names that were put forward And you say the rugby puts forward a name Dave has his own people that he puts forward at the end of it As long as everyone sort of dug into it Felt that they've they've looked at everyone fairly deeply and reasonably and that Dave's choices were made

10:26You know with it with it with a deep process of knowledge and you say then rugby's acceptance that that's that's what happened Then it makes a huge difference because I don't think that's what's happened in the last two regimes clearly because assistant coaches didn't go the distance It's a balance of power that is Going to be key in these decisions and you get the feeling that is going to happen with maybe nobody having the I suppose that the final judgment out decent involvement with the other and I look to that with the Players be their coaches to what the players or the coach want an assistant coach I mean how important is that balance it I suppose it has to be the coaches the boss but the players Are they going to play under these guys right and they've got to know what they want so again and another Balance situation has to be sorted Yeah to to degree I don't think you can hand it over too far to the players about you know how much say in control I think the

11:28player input Why do feedback from a whole different variety of players not just current all blacks but former all blacks people They've played super rugby they all fed into the head coaching Process to inform the decision. It wasn't the players getting what they wanted It was New Zealand rugby asking players of all different types of players as I've just mentioned Uh, you know what their assessment was and Dave reney what their assessment was of Jamie Joseph because these guys have user experience So that the best people to go to ask to like what's he really like how well does he coach and if you're a senior all black You know When you've encountered a good coach You know when you have encountered a coach that you don't think's quite up to it These guys are really good at making assessments about coaches So in terms of the head coaching thing that definitely happened I don't think you would hand over too much around the assistance or go too deep and getting players feedback Or extensive players feedback around those guys

12:28You might ask a few questions or a few players who might have coached with people But I think the critical issue here is there's a nuance in that specifically Dave has worked Quite considerably with Mike Blair. So Dave has a relationship with Mike So Dave's comfortable there might notice how Dave wants to play the game. There's currently working together at Kobe So they've got that trust that instant rapport that knowledge of one another But the but the players don't know Mike New Zealand's players don't know Mike Mike doesn't know New Zealand players So on the other side of this equation is Scott Hanson who does know the players who has worked with old Lexi is currently contracted effectively to the old Lex So that's bringing a bit of value. So the question is Does Scott Hanson's rapport and knowledge with the players outrank Uh Mike's relationship with Dave which one's more important relationship with the players or relationship with the incoming head coach

13:30So I think that's the balance that New Zealand rugby and the question that they're getting Dave to ask himself About which one carries the greater currency you're supposed and you're going to be careful about making decisions by committee because That never ends up well does it Gregor Paul New Zealand hero that rugby writer joins us You mentioned before that he's got his team. Who is it? Who do you believe is going to be selected and Tana Umanga who's managed to fend off these Questions around is it going to be him he's plainly up there or is he who do you like who do you think? Well, I think Tana's clearly been approached Uh by Dave and that would make sense Uh, they've got a they go way back to 2000 when Tana played for Wellington Under Dave's again as a relationship I think they may have overlapped in other places but I can't think where so clearly there's a there's a better of mutual respect between one another Uh Tana is currently head coach with Moana, but he's been a defense coach

14:31Separately with the blues. I think am I right in thinking that he did that for a wee while And look he he was clearly one of the best Defensive footballers I've ever seen he was a brilliant defender on the field so there's no doubt that in understanding How defense systems need to be set up Tana would be right up there Whether he's proven himself Uh as a own out outstanding defensive coach ready to step up to the old blacks Don't know genuinely don't know, but I'm a big fan of Tana and I think put him in that environment and I think he Under Dave's watch for why I think he will be a good defensive coach for the old blacks I think he will end up in that coaching team He's a he's a pacific rugby icon. I think I could put it that way Uh in in a team that is probably has been in the last couple of years about 75% All of the team have been pacific or Maori so don't overlook the importance of that

15:33That is a big factor of having a guy that's you know highly connected in that world hugely respected I think that's the big things. I think he will find a way into that coaching group I think Neil Barnes has been a big factor in Dave's coaching for a long time and I think they're keen to Uh reconnect and you know Barnes brings a fairly direct Approach people that know him say hell of a smart guy He he's got colorful language, which we all saw in that six nations documentary which Yeah, it was was was funny at times and cringey at other times But he's a guy that knows rugby and I think there's no harm in having a really direct sharp shooter direct talker Encouraging forwards to put you know shut the gobs put the heads down and the buns up and get on with it I think that's not a bad thing. So I think he'll come in and then We're probably looking at either Mikey Blair or Scott Hanson to lead the attack and I suspect it will be Mike that gets the nod in the end

16:35And maybe Andrew Strawbridge Oh, and he's going to keep Jason Ryan from the existing crew as well To focus more on scrimmaging and mollying And then maybe Andrew Strawbridge as a skills coach who's previously been with the chiefs And it's kind of working as a contracting Gunn for hire at the moment and doing you know doing a lot of good work with England in the past and I think he's in Japan at the moment The pacifika connection is important Dave Rene I asked him about that when he got given the job of the press conference and he was like no everybody's important It's not just necessary Marty and pacifika, but to have that connection I think is huge. So you add Dave Rene's ton of umanga. I don't think you can go wrong No, it is huge. I mean, Dave's point is he's got to connect with all you know if he's got 43 players on his squad or whatever the number is He's taking so that's because he's got to connect with all of them the culture has to be You know all inclusive for every single player

17:37But but to your point there is a specific element here of the predominant heritage of the players as pacifika and Māori And I think it's just important and in previous old black regimes It you know, it's been an entirely Caucasian coaching team guys that I've maybe Maybe one of the faults of the previous regime was They just didn't connect with all the diverse Elements of the old black group. They'd been used to coaching in the crusaders They had a way of doing it down there Uh, and they had a very kind of narrow view of the world that didn't necessarily translate all that way to the old blacks I think having Tana having days with a real understanding of who the people are that are in the in the playing group Um, I think that'll be huge on with you and I agree Onwards and upwards very much looking forward to these appointments in fact appointments right across the board And you said on rugby. I really hope they managed to stitch up that three beer nature on that Gregor Paul

18:40And you said on her rugby rider. We thank you very much for your time. You're insight your expertise look after yourself We'll do thanks Darcy I thank you very much to Gregor NZ hero dot co dot NZ if you want to read more of what's lurking in Gregor Paul's rugby mind is well worth it is 12 26 contact the studio we'd love to hear from you on here 0800 8010 80 that's a free phone number if you want you can see the texts in 9292 that's a zbzb A standard text charge does apply so questions out of that interview the importance of either rainy getting his way With who he wants in these roles The importance of NZ are getting their way with the continuity of scot Hanson in that role But I suppose over top of it all from your point of view What do they actually need in their assistance coaches What's the most important aspect of what these men will bring to the role to aid and a bit

19:47Dave Rene and his drive to pick up a world cup short amount of time I don't believe it's too short amount of time to win the world cup Just look at the south african experiment name is two things around reasonably fast You don't need a four-year lead in but the nature Of his staff hugely important I think it comes down to a couple of things plainly buy him with Dave Rene They've got to understand what he wants to do and they have to buy and they have to be as minions for want of a better word Continuity from the last all black Coaching stuff. I don't think that's important. NZ are according to Gregor Paul this is that scot Hanson's well respected the players like it means that are like him So they maybe want to see him in that role the big problem with Mike Blair as he's a foreigner I don't have any issue in the coaching staff We're having Mike Blair and he's got a relationship with Dave Rene

20:48They're working a quarterback together now. They worked over in Scotland together too So the coaching staff barns. I'm a huge fan of what Neil Barnes brings strawberry Blair or Hanson Jason Ryan That is not so bad for you What do you want? I want Reliability. I don't want The coaching staff been fractured by an assistant deciding he doesn't like it anymore And he's walking away in the last two all black coaches have had players or sorry coaches walk away Um and more or less importantly but more interestingly with Ian Foster That coaches assistant coaches that he's jettison because they weren't coming to the party Reliability that's what I'm looking for. What are you looking for? 0800 8010 80 or you can send your text to 9292 standard text charge does apply and gives rank love to talk to you my name is Darcy It is 12 29

21:50On news talk zb right we're going to go to our callers now and we go Straight into flip high. How are you? Oh, hi Darcy Good things look as a question. I really want to ask you because you as a crusader's man Might know it and it's is about Scott Hanson Is that this I would say that I'll be willing to bet that 80% of the Followers of the all blacks Thought that when thought that razor rovers him was the right guy for the job And that he was a guy who had been told he had innovative ideas and he had to come up with to win games and We all thought he was going to be the one who had get the all blacks back to being head and shoulders above the rest of the world That way they were and times gone by And um it was It was just gobsmackingly astonishing to I think most of us maybe not you people who are really into sport and I mean got

22:54Deep links in there, but to most of us I'll be willing to be 80% of all black fans that to learn that Scott Robinson razor roverson wasn't actually doing the coaching of the all blacks He had armed that off to his off-sider Scott Hanson Dan was the Feeling and that's what he said in that interview But I think man management over top of it that's really the role he was in and probably is what he did with the crusaders The biggest mistake he made was telling everybody that look actually the day-to-day, but he does that I think it was generally known, but maybe to reveal that probably wasn't the smartest thing he said Yeah, but Duffy I mean rugby is a game that can be played You can skin a cat in very different ways as rugby farm more than a lot of other sports and clever coaches have come And round everywhere have have have one games one championships because they had good rugby Brains that could think out new strategies to defeat the opposition and we I would be willing to be 80% of all black followers

24:00Maybe 90 or 95 thought that Scott Robinson razor roverson was got was the man for that and he was going to do that job And and it was just utterly astonishing to learn that he wasn't doing that job Scott Hanson was doing it apparently And the question I have for you is this as your crusaders man and have connections there I suppose I'm looking at all of the nearly 30 years my connections are fairly brittle to be fair Yeah, okay. Yeah, okay. Well Who was response who was the architect of the crusaders seven wins under Scott Robinson razor roverson's coaching I don't know there was a number of distant Assistant coaches during that time fit and thank you very much for your call But as the overarching head coach who dealt with culture dealt with selection and over saw the defense in the attack and it's Scott Robinson And I think a lot of us I was very pro Robinson quite surprised when it didn't work out the way we thought it would

25:07I don't think he should have been Exited stage left. I think he needed more time. So be it. We're going to new guy now. We get a hundred percent behind it So what we do with the coaching staff the assistant coaching staff I asked you 1810 80 lines are open. I just want reliability. I want them to stay for more than two years This is news talks there be it's 1232 Summer wouldn't be the same without cricket, huh? And why that might be stumps on holiday beach cricket South Africa Is in the country and they're taking on our white ferns and our black caps and look we know how it works, right? You check forecast five six times the day before But here's something pretty cool. You don't have to worry about the forecast right if you've got tickets to a white ferns Black cap stubble here because that's what's happening over these five T20s in the unlikely issue event that a game in march is abandoned due to rain You're not out right because brick vale union have this thing called rain assurance

26:08So basically you take your match ticket into selected super liquor stores the very next day And you can redeem it for a brick vale union prize pack So you're still winning rain or shine right which means you can head along you can back the team soak up the atmosphere And not spend the whole day stressing about the weather radar rain assurance from brick vale union if it rains They pour the Biggest names in sport talk to Darcy we can sport with Darcy water grave and GJ gardener homes New Zealand's most trusted home builder news talk said B drop 36 who joined by Greg a Paul to open the show talking about the Coaching selection the assistant coaches that davirini would like take your calls on that now Phil Welcome to the show. We're leaning on this one Um, I just want to say first of all um, Darcy thanks for sticking up for me yesterday when I couldn't pronounce a name Rachel put that picture about paste and white male

27:09It's a bit angry about that, but thank you. I'm a pasty white male. It's okay But I'm not ever I can get it right okay if I was doing it problems, but Phil assistant coaches Ah assistant coach I had with Greg a Paul was really good to listen to that was a great interview Yeah, I'm with you. I I'm with you and I just want reliability and continuity and I think like Greg a Paul highlighted the point there with the last two thing last two appointments, and I didn't know about En Foster with his two Is two fellas that he wanted that he couldn't get with Tony Brown and and because the process took so long with Jamie Joseph and then with razor and his Guys His fellow leaving and the other fellow not renewing a contract to me at this really highlights The importance of like calm Greg a Paul said about taking the time to get that whole Coaching unit and assistant coaches right, you know to get everything right So you're all jailed together and there's none of these problems down the road where One gets frustrated with the other and decides to walk out halfway through

28:11Well, you know a few months after being in the job because that just throws a Upheaval everything enough evil doesn't it in the players You don't they get um I'm happy Unset all our unhappy and they you know probably can't have trouble concentrating on that because all this internal stuff It's going on whether trying to get things down and That so yeah really important. I think that is the biggest thing a and if they can if the players Happy you like I got no problem with the foreign person coming in as it might that's work with Dave Renny that Is working with now and bringing them man. I've got no problem with that either But if the players really like um Hanson as well Scott Hanson and and they would like him to stay there Then I think it would be important for them to for them to convince Dave Renny to somehow keep him in there because It's a very important like we've seen with what happened with raise of that Like um Greg a Paul said the players shouldn't have the bill end all stay But it is important in the environment for the content you and in happiness and to keep it a harmonious environment

29:16To have the players happy as well I think that is important. You got to understand Phil and thanks very much for your call that As far as control of the ultimate control of the team and what happens it has to sit with the coach Because he's the guy whose head is on the block and as you point it out And I know I laughed about committee because when you make a decision via committee it never works Information the more information you can get before you make a decision The better and you'd like to think that lessons have been learned by NZR Of what's happened in the last few years. I don't know if that's too much to ask but we'll find out good. Hey, Pete. How are you? You're good. I reckon start fresh, you know, it's like a new company. You know They take over another company and they manage to say as well That was the previous company the leaders of the company maybe Are we going to run it my way and how are we going to ease the coach now? So it should be up to him who decides he wants to be his assistant coaches

30:17I reckon they want to keep your nose out of it the Yeah, the head what like David Care can just let him let him decide he wants to take on like all the players are going to know also Some of those players aren't going to be all black as they were under a razor That is going to be a whole new change in the whole whole scenario really so it's just going to bother bulletin Let him decide Pete that's all or after a bit of opinion for you AT-1080 this is a news talk ZBs 20 minutes to one feel free to ring on through. Hi Richie. What do you make of the situation? So I don't see hey look got I rang up a while ago when Razor was getting the bullet and I said to one of the key things that we felt about Razor's regime is what was his game plan Nobody really had any idea what his game plan was And then everybody was saying well Scott Hanson's is a tech coach and everything and I can't help thinking You might be like by the players, but you couldn't get his message across clearly

31:19And that's my two cents worth what would you say was the attack? What was the point of attack? So you said the clarity wasn't there So if we don't get it how the player is supposed to get it and I suppose if you've been critical What are the all blacks attack look like for a great part of a time? He was so called running it Was it really that good? We didn't have one precisely. We didn't have one There you go because there was no player no player stayed the same for any game in a row really and secondly You know there was no idea you're trying to take it up through the senders you're trying to put it out to the wing fast You know what he what exactly was he trying to do and if he's the attack coach he didn't get that message across Hunt it into the opposition fallback. That's what their plan was Richard. Thanks very much for your time It is 18 minutes to one this is news talks there be lines ripen 0 880 10 80 or black assistant coach where does that sit for you And coming up after one o'clock. We're gonna be joined by mr. Kane Williamson

32:24You may remember him handy cricketer back in the day when I say back in the day He's still playing right came Williamson joins us Up after one. This is news talks there be Don't stay on the sidelines call 0 880 1080 we can sport with dassy water rave and gj garden homes New Zealand's most trusted home builder news talks there be 12 45 on weekend at sport we've Got a bit of a turn about we're going to go to timber sport now We're going to Shane Jordan a bit of a shock in the world of timber sport the world champion Jack Jordan younger brother of he's been beaten and they're still in New Zealand timber sport championships By older brother shane 10 years between them that means jack won't be able to defend his world title later this year It could be awkward around the dinner table Shane joins us now mr. Jordan you must be stoked to get one in for the old boys

33:25Yeah, definitely like um jacks Oh, he's pretty hard to beat at the best of times and yeah, it's definitely pretty good yesterday to get one over top of him So what was the trick because you got a number of different disciplines running through the day where did you get the edge on that do you think Well, we're both tied coming into the last event the hot sore um we both tied on points and he had a slightly faster overall fine Which meant I had to go first and all I knew is I had to put up a really good time and then sort of put the pressure back on him And yeah lucky enough, it all just sort of worked out just right like me training was pretty good in the hot sore and Sort of just been for it and yeah put up a 5.7 which is yeah right up there and meant the pressure to go back on him and he yeah It was obviously just a little bit too much and he just made a bit of a mistake pulled that sore up a little bit High when he started and cut a tooth thicker ring and then he was sort of in struggle street after that When it comes to all of the disciplines because there's a number of different to to make up this this top prize to win the competition Is there a favorite discipline won the excel in? Oh, well at there's six six events the first three events are single points and then it goes to double points on the next two

34:31And then triple points on the hot sore so the hot sore definitely is one of the most important But if you're having a bad day you don't get through the others sort of it's not out as you go as well So they start they start off with ten and then they drop two after the first three and then they drop another two after the Um the next event so yeah Definitely got to be going pretty good all day and pretty consistent to sort of get there at the end to have a shot at it This far is the the mental state and you touched on it just then plainly a strength size Technique is huge, but it mentally how much do you have to dial in for this do you think? Yeah, it is it's probably the most mental out of all the wood shopping Sort of events we do just because you've got six events that are also different Um, there's the really tighten the really really technical ones And then there's the ones that aren't probably quite as technical but sort of the brawn strength and that sort of come to it a big part So by the end of the day you're absolutely rigged Always like the standing block that always fascinated me as a kid something you rivalent

35:33Yeah, definitely that's my fate. That's my favorite out of picking sort of any event would be the standing block It's probably the one I train the most and have probably had the most success and um So yeah, the standing box definitely yeah right up there. So what caught you into it? Why did you start attacking bits of timber for fun? Oh sort of something we did we went um got off the bus after skill went to a guy called Bruce Reichard Just out of Douglas. He had a sort of a bit of a school going for a whole lot of us young fellas and yeah We just sort of went there and started doing it and from there Went over to a guy called Johnny McKenzie and Taapo I was living over there at the time and sort of he pushed me along and you know the right direction and yeah Just sort of went from there. That is a direct result your younger brother 10 year younger brother ways slightly heavier and slightly taller He doesn't get to go and defend his world championship does he? No, no, he doesn't um he'll be going over in the team to Cut with us and the teams event um over there, but yeah, definitely He won't be going in for that individual spot this year Is he like a an angry individual? Is he gonna like not talk to you for months on end or

36:38No, he's pretty good sort of last year. I was on the receiving end like I made pretty much the same mistake as what he did last year Um and got decud and sort of that sort of yeah Pretty much very similar to being the same as this year and the way of points coming up to that last event But no jack's project pretty good. He's um, you know I could see he was hurt and I sort of felt his pain yesterday So I didn't talk to him too much or sort of um, but yeah, it'll take a few days to sort of process it all and yeah But definitely he'll be on my side when we you know hit over there and try to get that world championship And the last thing for him. Thanks so much for joining us Shane Jordan The strength of timber sports in New Zealand when you look back at such great names like when you bolstered them alike Is it still looking like that? Are we still right at the top of the world? Yeah, definitely I we've got a lot of um a lot of extra guys coming through now like it was probably quite weak Probably five years ago, but now we've got a real good group of guys that are really pushing pretty hard um, so to to represent the country

37:41And on that note, we'll let you go Congratulations make go well and sit down have yourself a brew and a hearty feed of steak and we'll talk on another day I'm sure Hey, thank you very much. Well, thank you very much. Shane that Jordan thoroughly likable a older brother of world champion jack Jordan And he beat New Zealand champs yesterday well done to that man nice to know they're both going to be traveling away overseas together Not too much of a ruckus between the characters. It's nine away from one coming up after one o'clock Kane williamson is going to join the program He has released a new box, but also plenty to talk about in the wonderful wide world of cricket Thanks very much for your texts coming through around who is going to be the assistant coach under Dave reney are plenty of them There's someone here completely attacking What the attack was like under Hanson. I can't read those words. I'll be removed from my seat

38:43So I shunned ends it are in the dark ages. It's this character pick global Or completely destroyed destroyed the brand and the more I think about this Hanson has too much baggage from the last regime. They've already got right in there He's going to stay. So I think a cling cut is probably the best thing And when you look at the relationship that Mike Blair has got with Dave reney I could be still just so you know I sitting at the top of the table And when it comes to Japan top 14 at rugby. So they're going all right as a team and what is wrong With a different accent. What is wrong with a foreigner rolling in at a coaching level I just don't think there's any issue with that. We've seen that at super rugby level two Bringing in a different headspace a different thought process a different attitude Because New Zealand rugby can get a tad insular and this way will escape that problem

39:47And on that note looking forward to the latest in new sport and weather Which is coming up next here at news talk zb. Up after that. It's Cain Williamson Analyzing the plays and getting the insight we can sport with does he want to grave news talk zb It's four minutes away from news a couple of quick text for you more as interesting what you have to say 9292 zb zb a standard text charge does apply think about that Before you send it in tiny very simple request What he wants from the assistant coaches. I just want success Is that too much to ask? No, it's not you're a fan as you should reny should bring Mike with them Hanson is too headstrong and would crash with reny. It's too important to have fractures within the leadership Renny needs to surround himself with people he trusts and And mother says

40:49Have you seen the price of steak does he more likely you'd probably grab some mints? I would think and I get that completely That's our number one of weekend sport hour number two moments away. This is news talk zb The only place to discuss the biggest sports issues on And off the field It's all on weekend sport with does he want to grave on your home of sport News talks in me Seven after one on a Sunday afternoon 15th of March 2026 on does he want to grave sitting in that for Jason Pine here on Weekend sport two hours to go Of all the fun of the sporting circus coming up over the next couple of hours here We'll go to motorsport up after two o'clock Michael Lamanato joins us on Australian the FIA accredited formula one writer around the action tonight at eight o'clock

41:49Have the Shanghai Grand Prix or the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai Nathan Smith black cap joins the program Forbes blues rugby player joins the program and coming up in this hour before we get to my old mate James My county before we get to Dan Perrin assistant coach of the successful crusaders from last night We're gonna talk with the goat of New Zealand cricket and I can say that because I believe it is true He's involved now in a new business venture Kane Williamson's decided to release a new piece of Protective cricket equipment. You know exactly what I'm talking about It's a box Kane Williamson joins the program at now afternoon. How are you Kane? I'm good. Thanks Good to chat. How are you? Yeah, and I good. It's great to have you on board as well It'll be gonna be talking now about this new box that you have helped design

42:52And create I'd best not tell people about it because I don't know Lay it on the line. Kane. What have you been doing? What is this? Yeah, well, that's that's Basically it we've been designing developing a growing guard harness system It's been five years in the making and I mean the origin stories probably you might remember I certainly do which was getting hit In that region by Dale Stain about 14 years ago and sort of splitting my Box in half And then sort of going on the journey of Of getting had a few more times and and other people that that I know in Cricket getting hit and getting sort of quite severely injured and Kind of thinking there's got to be something out there that can Make the demands and the standards of the highest level and And so that's kind of how it started and then went from from an idea to then meeting with the developer and and really sort of

43:54Trying to come up with something that that would work and that's that's been our journey and We're now here today ready to launch the product which is a really exciting moment for us as is a business and the business is called cover Um, and so yeah, it's quite a big moment for us Maybe sent one to Dale Stain because he was the guy who split your box in half in the first place Yeah, um, he's actually sent a video through he remembers it as well Not only split it in half, but he Make sure he let me know as well that he was going to try and hurt me out So hopefully this will help in the future if he comes at me again Um, but no, it's yeah, it's been a really exciting journey and and a new space for me personally, which is Um, the business area, you know, a small startup but um with a big vision and an ambition to to kind of modernize Sporting equipment and and really try and take it to another level and and so this is the start of that

44:57If you put it on and had someone fire a ball at you out of a cannon to make sure it works We're looking for the people to test it. Yeah, if you put your hand up. No, look at we've done a whole lot of testing We had to build different testing rigs because It was quite hard to to do it accurately with equipment that was out there So it's really quite specific different angles trying to work out all the different failure modes and obviously the The quality of the box Taking the impact is is one of those but making sure that it's held in place by You know a really supportive and comfortable harder system that is also you know key to that and so There's been a few of us wearing it in the international game for the last kind of six months or so Yeah, we've really gone through quite a rigorous process to make sure that it's really what makes me laugh that Boxes have been in vogue for over a hundred years But we only just worked out we needed a helmet shows what men find important The Johnson all their brains and finally it's their Johnson so

46:01Yeah, anyway, don't move on But I think I can work out what you just said. Yeah, that's right I mean we we're quick to um to really try and develop the helmet that any any mention that There's some humor involved when other people get hit in this region But certainly when it's you it that's not the case and And uh and in fact doing a lot of research about it You ask anybody in terms of what they value protecting and and the helmet is Is right up there have been placed in in second places is the growing region. So You know, it's sort of made a lot of sense in a big gap in the market with the Existing standard that's being you know about 50 something kilometers an hour with a A drop test which um clearly for for the Elite level of it The not only that that which implies getting hit at high speeds, but But also spinners can cause you know injury as well. And we saw that with a couple of my You know a real injury that that needed Surgery and other things to to come but come back. So

47:02Yeah, it's been a real journey outside of protecting mr. Happy you said you've been wearing your box You've been playing as well. What what's your future looking like at the moment? Can not wear a heading what if you got locked in over the next like six months to a year Yeah, so i mean i Have been playing a lot obviously about the home summer here where we finished with a test series and then Went straight over to South Africa and play them in that Tournament over there the s820 and from there for a quick trip to Bangladesh and I come home and having a little bit of a break before IPL and then on the horizon with the England test series over there in June so A bit going on but nice to have a little bit of a quiet period and And focus on a few other bits and pieces and cover being you know one of those things I know the lot of the fans and I include myself was one of those Can you we've missed we've missed home games haven't really played since what December What do you think the future's looking like as far as playing at home There's all sorts of discussion going on around where the future lies with New Zealand cricket playing

48:06You're gonna play a part of that whatever aspect that is but how do you think it's tracking at the moment? Do you think it's working and going in the right direction with people involved at a higher level? Look i think it has to be the focus There are there are obvious challenges at the moment and and i think when you finish a world event there's There's always a few things That can be a bit frustrating we've got a you know a biological series Coming up which um, you know against South Africa. So there's there's a bit of content there But I know that there's a big focus to to try and keep the international bilateral cricket relevant and and play some context on it so that's a Yeah, there's there's a no shortage of cricket, but it's that That constant sort of grapple with how everything fits With franchise space international space and amongst world events So look at i know that is the conversations that are ongoing and they're trying to come up Lou That's the challenge If you got any involvement of these conversations are there going to go can you quite handy? What are you reckon?

49:12Um And formally uh here the odd the odd conversation and um you know a little bit through Perhaps that the players association but there's a there's a lot of moving parts At the moment which i'm sure you're aware of and so they're they're looking to sort that out I suppose and then get on to some of these pressing topics Yeah in essence i think there has to be an international program put in place with with possibly Windows so we know when we're playing and then the guys can go off and play Franchise cricket does that seem like the correct shape if it can get organized in your opinion Yeah, I think it needs space so then whatever cricket is on it's prioritise at the moment is There's just so many clashes, you know of cricket and it makes i think fans and and and people wanted to watch it makes it a bit complex. So I know that's the focus. It's tough. There's there's a lot of challenges You know amongst different nations and some wanting to play others more etc and

50:13Um yeah, so I think you're you're right in some respects. It's trying to find windows um where You know the priorities Where you are which is you know the international game and not having to kind of Have this this situation where you know you don't have your players available and I know that's been probably a little bit frustrating and recent times but something that that we hope to to sort but you know There's a lot of other people that have a lot of power and and and shaping that picture Hey, do you have a question? Sorry to ask No dramas eight so do you have a preference around what format uh the Franchise cricket takes in New Zealand because there's big discussions around four different formats No one knows where it stands. Do you lean in a particular direction around this And which format? Yeah, I either the NZ 20 or the super smash or carrying on a big basher I think the NZ 20 is a super exciting prospect and I think it'll be fantastic for for the game and in our country and

51:18You know, we're probably the last I think we are the last international country to International playing nation really to to have our own Franchised competition which kind of gives it You know that's own energy and and I think it'd be fantastic to have a Demester competition in our own country that that could um get some great support And I think it'd be great for the fans as well. So Let's see there's a bit going on Can I quickly squeeze in the last one? What have you made of the black caps failing again at the final hurdle? G it's frustrating isn't it Kane? Yeah, look they I thought they were they were outstanding throughout that competition I really thought You know they played in all the all the different conditions that you might expect in two different countries in India and then in Sri Lanka and They they had a clear pattern with how they wanted to do it and that was to go with it You know the stronger sort of depth in their batting and and I really think it paid off and

52:19They sort of elevated. I thought their their performance throughout and then to to go into a semi and In achieve what they did there It was magnificent to meet with Jagga Nord of India On a on a on a good day for India is Is it an incredibly tough assignment for anyone and and frustrating that that I guess that Happened to be the case. I mean they are They did go into the tournament is favorites and when they played at their full potential that's That is the case and and they'd managed to do that in the semi final and the final you know scoring 250 plus and both of those games it's From their perspective they couldn't have done it anymore perfectly So male perspective very frustrating, but look we we continue to put ourselves in the right parts of competitions and You know, I've got no doubt that there's there's a great pathway there that the team keeps improving They keep slightly adjusting their style of cricket to take on the world and that's what we saw Um, yeah, I know it's

53:21It's not ideal, but our time will come and it's great to see where we're heading I believe it as well I tell you what thanks so much for your time came Williamson for that you can strap a box on me and fire a cannon at me And I'll take the hit for you bro. Thank you. I don't I'm just waiting Darcy's signed up for testing as well. Thanks mate I may live to regret that We will see it is 20 minutes after one Sunday afternoon came that Williamson former black caps skipper and Possibly the greatest cricket a that New Zealand has ever produced. It's got a New thought process that I'd quite like to protect my family jewels and he's climbed it right into it So I'm the proof of the pudding is in the ET not that I'm going to eat a box But maybe I'm going to get the cannon fired at me. I'll find it if it works and I interesting words are from Kane around What happens next with the t-20 format here in New Zealand? We spoke about that yesterday

54:22With Justin foreign former CEO of NZ cricket he suggested we Take our time be patient be well advised before we fall into it Increasing it looks like NZ 20 is the way this is going to go Right then right there you just heard came Williamson essentially fully endorse NZ 20 That's the way he wants to go oh 880 1080 free phone number nation wide you can text 9292 ZB ZB instead of text charge does apply is that enough for you If Kane Williamson says we go NZ 20 Do we just throw our hands in the air and go you came you've studied the ship You are completely right we're running with you just a thought give us a tinkle it's It's one 21 Where the weekends biggest calls to me We can sport with dusty water grave and gj garden homes New Zealand's most trusted home builder news talks ZB

55:29It's one 24 weekend sport here on the news talk ZB my mind what a game of rugby union last night We hadn't super rugby pacific the hinders basically pulled the pants down on the crusader Is it round one went down like a cup of cold sick and read a black land So they tuned around and attempted to do something about it The ball's gone behind at the plate and Nick is flexed out the back that's gone forward and it is wild And that'll be it folks The crusaders They have then said to feet in round one against the highlanders Here in a polyp project stadium by 29 points to 18 Yeah, it was a bit clunky and when you spend 30 minutes of your game with only 14 players on the park You could also that was quite lucky that result we go now I took the coaching staff of the crusaders assistant coach Dan Perrin joins the program now So Dan after that you'd be feeling pretty relieved

56:32Yeah, morning dusk. Yeah, and I very very handy for the boys Don't reach a little bit of hurt near from round one and the last time we were at home The brumbies taught us a lesson So We would sort of delve into that throughout the week sort of a bit of internal motivation there for us So for the boys to go out there and it wasn't pretty it wasn't clean Plan with 14 players for 30 minutes probably didn't help the cause either but You're just really proud of some of the effort that they put in the key they showed to Protect your protect our home Imagine what you could do if you actually had a full complement for the full 80 minute Oh, mate. It's it's been the story to see that I think we've had that might be five yellow cards in total now already So yeah, it's a nearer the game we need to Need to tidy up. I think four of those have been been high shots as well. So Yeah, I think uh between that the coaching crew and Matt Todd there might be a little bit of tackle technique

57:34Craft happening this week, but yeah, like you said if we can keep 15 on the field and definitely going to help our rhythm and Um, yeah, see a piece of particular as well because you have further moving forward Yeah, we can tell players till you're blue in the face don't do it What does it take for them to actually take that advice to click that over when it's got to come from an internal four process Or is it just wrote learning repeating how do you go about doing this and saying no Yeah, we spent a lot of time on tackle technique and you know We walk it we talk it we run it we do it live like the boys do put hours and hours Into their craft and I guess what we've got to understand is it's a pretty dynamic game and things can Pictures can change and split second and you know, I look back to dom gardeners and the earlier rounds. I look at shea fihakis On the weekend My boss was one that you know, you could have um, you know, mitigated that was a bit of decision there

58:36But yeah, a lot of it's happening in split seconds. I've just lowering out lowering our body height and general around the field I think and making sure we target beneath the ball is that second shoulder is Tackless is something we work on a lot. So uh, but yeah Our reactions split second decision making, but we need to be there because yeah, it's gonna it's gonna close us dearly at some point So tell us about the condition of your players who's come through who hasn't what kind of state of the boys in and we're looking forward Of course to mine a possibility if you're isn't it next week Yeah, a lot better off than what we were this time last week. So uh, the injury reports just come in there's three or four on the air Um, they've all got green dots beside their name, which is good So I think yeah, you're winning definitely helps um, but now we've had some boys that have put in I had to play tough on the week in a Some of our second rowers were getting pretty light there with um Jamie Hinner and Liam checkout. So really proud of Antonio Shelfin and Taylor K. He'll Taylor K. We actually played with the uh

59:41A broken um Uh Bone and his chest um, so yeah, he played played for pretty tough and had a great performance in Antonio Will Tucker as well Both runder injury clouds throughout the week. So they've all come through with flying colors and Yeah, we'll assess a couple um, you hopefully do back this week as well. So Yeah, stocks are on the rise a little bit from the injury front and I think Yeah, after Moana, we've got the boy week and um, it's going to come at a pretty handy time for us You a former muckle player see you be looking to the Tasman players that are out there smiling from air to air And their contribution to the crusaders uh over many years has been gold Looks like you found another one. Hey, he's a crotch kid. He's from Christchurch. He's moved up to Sunnyland Tell us a wee bit more about what they're calling him Ethan blackheader part two Yeah, that's uh dead ranger uh for Ethan actually and

1:00:43Yeah, like I like it uh, we've been tracking Johnny for a wee while right through um, you know, his days at cross college and Yeah, I think he made the move, you know, there were quite a few flankers around and Kennebury with uh Corey Kahlo and Tom Christie at the time. So, you know, he's seen an opportunity to get up there in Tasman just to get game to him But in PC and a bit more exposure to higher level and you know, it's work at the New Zealand under 20s and world cup a couple years ago was I think he started almost played every minute of every game on that So he's got a massive engine. He's a big body. He has some athlete and character mate he has A big set ranger for Ethan blackhead. It just loves the groin loves the unseen if it Has work ethic not just uh, you know in the game, but you know in the gym on the computers extremely diligent and yeah, just a great human that You know wants to be better and wants to make the people around him better So uh, we've got a lot of time for Johnny's got a massive future and yeah, we're just really proud of um

1:01:47You know as if it's throughout the week to set himself up and um And get a crack at the big time. It it's been planned extremely well throughout development 15 probably the player of the game And all four of those fixtures. So he deserves the opportunity and we really represent. Yeah, Johnny Lee looks something else He looks like hey, yeah, Hesse and bag full of elbows shoulders and knees too. I wouldn't want to tackle that Yeah, but we'll stay away from him when we're holding hit shields. That's for sure Um, there's a laid claim that he's probably the hardest hitter and toddy still likes to hold the hit shields just to Get a feel for these guys tackling and uh, you're Johnny's right up there when he hits those things That that was a positive Claiming the cards were in negative. What else do you look toward after that game and go? Hey, you know what They're actually settling really well after what's been a pretty tumultuous season Yeah, just just the rhythm You know, we were our own was enemy and the first four rounds You know, even looking at that chiefs game. We got away with a couple there

1:02:51Um, after a poor start So We've just been focusing on ourselves and you know our error rate was far too high and those early parts are super ugly um, you know that It was better on the weekend There's still some areas are with our handling and decision-making that we need to tidy up But for the most part Yeah, decision-making obviously discipline would be no. Okay. I think 13 penalties three yellow cards is as an area We really have to tidy up as we spoke about before and um, you know, in an area that You know, I'm in charge of around the line out. I think it was your best line out performance of the Of the season so far as well So there'd been a few honest conversations throughout the week and yeah Really stoked for the boys and and have a line out operated at um yet 10 out of 10 on the weekend So Couple areas to tidy up in a couple of areas there that we're really proud of yeah Dare I say it he really couldn't go much further back with the line out now could you Sorry, but it wasn't looking great And uh, we were actually we won 94% of the ball against the blues, but you got to look at the whole picture and the quality of ball that we were delivering and

1:03:58Uh, one line out got pushed out over the side line which just you know isn't good enough And then three deliveries to our halfback whether The halfback it overrun it or our delivery from the top of the line out wasn't wasn't great So, you know, it's Winning the balls one thing but delivering top quality ball and or applying pressure through your mall You know is the big picture. So uh, you know some really honest conversations on on Monday morning with the whole four pack around Um, you know our diligence to the line at the work we're putting in and It wasn't one specific area it was it was everything across the board So it was uh, it was great to see the players respond the way they did this weekend and you know the trajectories are on the way up Of the leaves so uh, yeah, I'm really proud of them Dan Perrin, thanks so much for your time as always Wishing you the best of best weeks get gusts stuck in and maybe keep the locks in the props separatio I forget that you didn't work for us during the week or I say get give us more of it

1:05:01Okay, Dan We will see. I just make sure I won't film it and report back to it Dan Perrin, the assistant coach of the crusaders. I'd suggest a billion because they managed to pick up a win We've been pretty awful going into the sixth round with only one win, but as it happens there two and three So working out okay for the crusaders for the red and black you got a comment on that performance I'd love to hear from you. Oh 188 You can text 9292 ZB ZB Sanatex charge does apply how on earth this team played for 30 minutes with only 14 players is beyond me and how good was Johnny Lee? Uh-oh Another madly see coming out of the canterbury region. Well, he is initially from Christchurch I know he's moved up to the muckle now, so Kids in Nelson can claim him Absolutely still to come in the program will be chatting without regular correspondent of a sunday mr. James McConee

1:06:04Shortly and as a heads up for you around the AFC who doesn't want to go and see Auckland football after what happened yesterday and they managed to beat I believe Newcastle that's the first time they've been beaten this year So that was a great result from Auckland FC yesterday They take on MacArthur FC next Saturday March 21st go media stadium if you're going to be in Auckland and you'd like to be at the game I've got a six ticket family pass up for grabs six ticket family pass If you'd like that just text AFC and your name to 9292 and you are in the draw Let's just whip through a couple of texts for you now Typical crusaders performance last night that to basics good defeats better line out And when you put a star like Will Jordan and you look out for Johnny Lee He's going to be one to watch yet. I completely Agree interesting thoughts around Cody Taylor from this text are bads

1:07:08He Cody Taylor attracts yellow cards by stupid actions and tight situations He not only gives away yellow cards and super rugby but he does it regularly in test matches I've got like no numbers behind me to either confirm or deny that I think a lot of these players play right on the edge And as a direct result sometimes they fall foul discipline. No Is the keyword Long-term list is long time list is to my program Over the week Sports talk on it news talk zb We'll know how hot I am on discipline. They go back to a conversation. I had with Todd black at it Back in the day and talking about the winning in the losing of a super rugby final between the blues and the crusaders And he said it boils down to one thing discipline. That's it. That's the winning in the losing of the game Right there. It's got to be of utmost import especially tackle height

1:08:10This is not a new law People haven't found out in the last child that they're going to get punished for cleaning people's heads out And that's a dynamic game. Yes, I get it. I understand But the onus is on the players not to get yellow carded right And after that match after the crusaders won Text message the next morning from Todd black at it and it just said Discipline It's one that thirty seven. This is weekend sport here on it news talk zb change mccony from the crowd goes wild And the ACC he joins us next cover off bit of wires but six nations but super duper rugby maybe even NZ 20 I don't know I don't know what's going on in that cavernous mind of his but I'm very keen to explore it Coming up next and I'll make sure I take my spulking helmet and some crampons to boot This is news talk zb 137 No tmo no drs just your call on

1:09:130800 80 1080 weekend sport with dorsi water grave and gj garden homes new sealant's most trusted home builder news talk zb 20 to two this is weekend sport on that news talk zb coming up after two o'clock We're talking formula one stick around for that but right here right now We've got them on loan for the best part of automates say ten at minutes Rolling out from the ACC and the crowd goes wild ladies and gentlemen. I bring to you mr. J Mccony Can I mate? Oh, thanks dorsi. What an intro. See that was wonderful Um, I make sure I'm away to Eden park shout out to Eden park because uh hosting a few of my workmates Some sky who don't normally get to go to the rugby some of the customer service people but we're going up into the lounge where they've got this quiz The believe it or not quiz and it's my goal So win that tv i'm not saying i'm competitive, but you know what i'm like dorsi It's going to be if my teammates don't deliver and pick pick up on some of those

1:10:14You know those other categories and i'm a little bit weak on it's just say science. Let's just get it out there My advice to you is keep away from the bar before you start your quiz Yes Well, but you and i have hosted quizzes then they get out of control I don't know why some quizzes have 10 categories Yeah, but by category six is people dancing on the tables right so The only good thing about my job at night. I can't get to quizzes anymore because i don't finish the later clock So i don't have a chance to embarrass myself on those quiz no one cares about that dare i say except us People do care about the mighty warriors now They're averaging over 40 points in game so far And if not been playing celaduanos have they james No, and just the depth i mean we've got Tana boy didn't there while luke met kaf is slowly getting back to the full fitness that this is the whole thing that The wires with their depth are a scary team and dare i say at liquor how to see me who is this burgeoning superstar

1:11:14Just doing liquor things and um he is the hardest man to handle in the NRL currently And uh with him on our side and a few other i mean that left edge Which has seemed so clinical with uh Chanel Harris divida roger two vassas shake the way they all combine It's just the thing of beauty right now the warriors and much why net I know he's leaving Auckland. I mean a lot of us want to leave Auckland. I'm good on your match But look um at the moment um every every poster is a winner for them So uh things are looking up now Would still get a chance to fall away though We know it that's the nature of dealing with the warriors and when i was about talking Last week I was interested that Mr. Clark said we're really good now at leaving that behind we just go that was great Let's get away and this is something that's been repeated by coach Webster as well just like Aaron Clark said to me celebrate for 10 minutes then we got work to do Yeah, I think we could handle a few injuries. You know there are some teams that can't

1:12:17Um cope with that It's just and we'll get to that soon what one team in particular like the crusaders with you know Will Jordan's not in there. It's a different side But I think the warriors can weather that the one thing that caught my eye and league though Of course, which a lot of us would have watched was Alex Johnston taking the all-time NRL try record off Kenevon Eskord is 213th try and um and it was amazing Absolute scenes about 500 maybe to a thousand people including the prime minister stormed the pitch Over and and Sydney and one poor guy got arrested by security You can see him just getting tackled and held down while everyone else streamed on the field and it was an incredible moment in sport Yeah, and you know, I say I was that guy and he'll keep the video I'm sure way into the future look look what happened to me. I was the only goose that to target someone right Yeah, I know How that that's when you know you like his band, but I mean I actually applauded I think it was just a great thing to see and even funnier to see a rooster stand the first one to get on and

1:13:19Can graduate him in an advantage roosters juicy and and I actually quite like that the roosters got up on one that because the I think that celebration sort of stung the roosters into action. So you know Um, I'm always happy to see someone like Napa who white out of kielston. We stalking doing well for them So, you know, even on on was all day Since day one I still love seeing Kiwi's doing well on that stage Kielston my neighbors and grameed and always got time for some kielston crew six nations What is the six nations? I thought it was supposed to be a hard grind physical man tight point scoring In this bonkers six nations so fun congratulations to France We've seen some ridiculous blowouts and almost defense free rugby No, no, they're playing the beautiful game while we're struggling around with our sort of box kick scenario here in New Zealand So I take my hat off to all those nations including Italy who You know up to beat Scotland beat England. That was just basically um, you know the big giant killers of but the bit the story is

1:14:24Really how france held on because England should have toppled them at park Stud the france this morning and somehow somehow they got a penalty is pretty much a 50 meter kick for Almost Rama suit and he's a lot of the goal But what a disaster though The france wearing these vintage baby blue jerseys that clashed with England's white jerseys So I mean I was just thinking are they going to get undone by a wardrobe malfunction not a Janet Jackson one But just the of their own making where they almost needed to go to the merch store it started france and by the The classic dark blue because it was just a it was a joke out there for a while This has been Constant as long as I've been Stinking out the airwaves and sport radio and beforehand We've had issue With clashes with uniforms. Isn't that hard to sort out On the biggest game of the season as well, but look france I hope they send a decent team down down here this year. They have got um again speaking of depth

1:15:25They put a they had a player out there on they boot which is so free. It's isn't it biggest game of the season Biggest game of the year out you go Hey, they held on and I'm glad England are going through tough times because to be honest They had their moment to get to New Zealand and really they celebrated so hard like they'd won everything And this is what they get there come up. It's indeed not unusual for them It is 13 minutes away from two James the Coney yet joined us as we look at a Weekend of sports super duper rugby you said you're going off to Eden Park Are the staff to know to watch more on our posse figure? I take on the blues. What else have you taken out of this weekend's exchanges? Well, I look at the hurricanes and I think if they can put together a great 80 minutes It's going to be hard for teams to live with them But that's the the asterix by that side. They they seem to have this beautiful flowing rugby if you think think about that Something that is amazing and much cannot win the metadol in june I guess is the question

1:16:26I think the hurricanes are starting to deflect a little but the crusaders This is where I look at that game. You're a crusaders fantasy with will Jordan back just running that team I haven't seen a player that influential just one player I remember Aaron Smith and Ben Smith being so crucial to that that championship winning Highlanders team back in 2015 But I look at the way will Jordan influences that crusaders team. It's it's massive right now Can they can they do it again? Well, I think they probably can because they have they're getting You know some big forwards back I think Scott Barrett will be back for the business end up for you guys in crusader country It's it's not it's not all roses is it? No, but we've got Johnny Lee without an earth and other one The guys are freak as I described before to Dan Peron is in Hesse and bag full of elbows and knees and skulls is huge and fast and Really difficult and this is the new man coming through in the seven judy amazing

1:17:26Yeah, I thought Johnny Lee is deserved a shot for a while I've looked at him playing for Tasman and hope that maybe when the crusaders went and got Oli Mathis from Waikato And and tilt him down to crusader country. I thought well, what's that saying to a player like Johnny Lee? You know come up come up to chiefs country mate. We'll look after you If they're going to sign a seven over the top of you don't don't you worry We've got we've got a playing judy here for you, but hey look it's I hope they treat him well. I hope they appreciate him because he looks the goods and Here I say it. He's a total hybrid between Ethan blackout a richie McCore and and a few other great crusaders of the past And he's like any good man of his age. He's got a sick lid and that's for those out there slightly longer in the teeth He's got a wicked haircut. He's got a sick lid right tell me I'm wrong James. I know He looks in those years as well proper rugby years. It's about time we saw some of those There's that look today. But one of this is blue is it's going to be a fascinating game because it you know

1:18:27Tana is pretty much sounds like he's going to go and join Dave Renny and then you know Moana have been have been making waves in this city So it is really a derby match and that there's even more and more feeling Everytime these teams play so I'm looking forward to that 330 kickoff Should be magnificent and just before we end on super rugby that a tech saying Darcy He was the ref last night. He let the game flow lead to a great spectacle For which the Highlanders also deserve credit and then someone else has written are they basically stooped to violence The crusaders and the wrong team one and just for your information Jordan way was the whistle blower there and before we wander on off Mr McHoney NZ 20 came Williams and just told us on the show. That's his preference. So like that's it all bets are off. It's happening right If Cain says NZ 20 should happen then I think it should I I think that Hopefully there's a space for NZ 20 and the calendar that doesn't affect what the black caps are doing because

1:19:29You know and and there are players who want to play in the big bash as well And we're in huge money and you can't deny them that so look if they can bring people home That's great But I also think saying the opportunity of having a franchise in New Zealand franchise and the big bash would be Crazy to pass up. So somehow I think they've got to try and do both a bit like the old Al Paco ad with a girl wants besides between Crunchy or soft tacos. Why can't we have both? Indeed and it's all to me due diligence As long as the researchers being done they understand what the possibility of disaster or success could be And then move into it and the parent of that decision is coming out this week and bringing Texas and it great The black caps out of our series is being played by b teams and that's the problem the game faces right now Still needs to be addressed and on that mr. James McConey we bet you farewell. We thank you very much for your time And look forward until he met again my friend Awesome cheers Darcy have a great one. Thanks mate. Oh will always intend to have a great one. We're

1:20:34Now rapidly approaching the latest in new sport and weeter. It's close But not right here right now. It is eight minutes to two The biggest names in sport are here. We can sport with dusty wall grave new talks at B It's five to two the latest in sport news and a weather is on its way up after that the third hour of Weekend sport myself Darcy water grave. Thanks very much Jason Pine for letting me still your seat for the afternoon We'll be covering off a bit of formula one in the next hour with Michael Lamanato He's an FIA accredited formula one writer as we look toward the Chinese Grand Prix tonight We'll also look back at qualifying And the sprint race in Shanghai yesterday Nathan Smith Join us as we talk a cricket double heater getting underway 245 this afternoon the ferns play south Africa and at 715 it's the black caps turn to have a crack and then Cole Forbes joins us on the show

1:21:39Cole Forbes is in action 335 that's when that Moana Pacifica match kicks off. That's MP versus the blues at Eden Park plenty to get across Including some highlights from last night if you missed it We've got that as well all that more still to come here on news talk ZB I hope you're enjoying the program as much as I'm enjoying it bringing it to you still can't quite get over They pay me to sit here and do this but I'll take it this is news talk ZB The only place for the big names the big issues the big controversies and the big conversations It's all on weekend sport with dusty water wave on your home of sport news talks there be We can sport on the news talk ZB parts three

1:22:39My name is Darsi Watergrave is hitting a adjacent pine. Thanks very much for your time Your attention you love indeed if we're getting it yet Seven minutes after two. It's a Sunday afternoon. It's 15th of March 2026 coming up in the next hour We'll talk a bit of cricket with Nathan Smith Double header is up and running at 245 the white fins take on south afragan and t20 And it's 715 the blokes get their turn as well Cole Forbes on the show Head of Moana Pussyfecker taking on the blues ad Eden Park and we'll get amongst a bit of Formula 1 shortly with Michael Laminato. He's a Formula 1 writer with accreditation through the FIA Four Formula 1 he knows what he's talking about That raced at 8 p.m. tonight, but before we do any of that We're gonna hold on to this so this is all about Catching up with what happened last night and in case too misted We were there

1:23:42And a happy day in Wellington And on a happy day you can't beat it. Was that a good day? Oh, it's an everything day Wellingtonians are celebrating the football first the famous women beating up on the Brisbane Raw Don't you walk it? No one's task but works Will not be denied Sheeran misses in the first half But she bends in the third It's 3-0 and surely 3 points to the Wellington team And whatever the white henna can do that time they can have a crack the mean Winning for the first time and quite some time to Jacob Spoonley will pull rifle to keep an eye on what's happening is is a And it's in There's in an own goal That doubles the advantage Met some looks to the heavens And I think it's a defensive wonder To zip over Perth congratulations to Chris Greeneke And it's been an all-grifcee

1:24:42They've closed the gap on new castle Atop of a table clash Resulted in Auckland beating new castle 2-1 Randall uses him to breeze with that cross backfires Cosgrove this time he makes no mistake Well less than two minutes after completely mishitting Hercyne Auckland extract The maximum penalty they lead to one And off now to the National Rugby League The in our L the Tigers This was something else the Tigers They've begun their season worth one A hell a hell of statement A bamboozled UK Heavy The short move to Rubar That three-end space Skeleton this time for the corner 10-3 I think he gets it this time One day Jerome Skeleton Give him another shot He gets him right 44-16 over the Cowboys that like out all out of feel for my old mate Michael Luck

1:25:43Still over there in Cowboys lands In mind lucky it's the way things roll and pain worth Have blown the sharks away in Bethes tackle five comes out the back Cleary It's on It's dead because of him he's got a double Everything is sticking here for parents Betweigh there's plenty of points and more The storms into the dragons Get in the sea 46-20 To Munster Far Longer Digging Patrick Spin Round Zoa Far Longer Scream his name What a player What a prospect What a performer to die for the Melbourne storm And producer Macdonald You should know that they would never say Pen with the sharks get in the sea Because that's where the sharks like to be It would be pointless And of making defense That's right to write me now And drew a they defended home against the Brumbies and Watts

1:26:47Some as I'm on the right Kicking your head Needs the balance Was he taken without the ball? It doesn't matter Now it doesn't because he popped it up And it is a try To the feed G and G And the reds far too good For the war of times Carter Gordon, let's try the last Carter Gordon gets him behind He already has run track Can you make it to him? Get it to him Yeah and we've touched on them before The Northern Hemisphere France won a thriller A defenseless thriller And in doing so they claimed the Six Nations title Thomas Ramos A man for clutch moments France's record point scorer For the title He's got it He's got it Always what's the kicker England, in despair France Champions again And Thomas Ramos With 80,000 eyes in the stadium

1:27:50And millions elsewhere Lands the blow That delivers the championship to France Analyzing the plays And getting the insight We can sport With Dusty Waldegrave Newtalk ZB Talking Formula One on the program Now Liam Lawson Yesterday picked up his first points of the season This battle still going on behind Liam Lawson will make it to the line Just ahead Of Oli Baman Who claims the final points place And finished four tenths A head of Max Verstappen We're joined in now by Michael Lemanato He's Formula One right If I accredited taboo Out of Australia Talking about the Formula One Michael, welcome on board Always great to talk race cars with you So, if we learned anything After sprint and qualifying yesterday Well we've learned I think that a lot of lessons We gained in Australia Still holding even at this very different Fact that his Mercedes is very fast

1:28:52That was a little less so In charge of the more conventional circuit But also accounting for the fact that every team Learned quite a bit in Melbourne Was able to optimize things a little bit more I think we can say after the sprint That Ferrari's race pace isn't so far though It was interesting to hear Charlotte Claire took afterwards about We're acknowledging that But then saying they don't really know why And they can't explain it So there's a bit of up and down in that as well And then we've got a bit of a gap to McLaren But then a massive gap To Red Bull Racing At least to the track like this They're pretty much down in the midfield They were outqualified by Alpine And that was the same in the sprint Max was definitely the downcast after The sprint set is pretty sweet We're really going wrong Get going wrong, they've got their pace Car doesn't work, they're bound to There's a huge list of problems So still to say more Do I think from Australia We've learned a little bit more about the detail And we're exactly those cars They're all sitting in China What also we picked up That Liam Walson given half a chance Isn't that bad a pedler And his decision doors

1:29:53Team's decision to run A hard compound during that It worked pretty well for him Maybe the safety car kind of helped Or maybe it hindered I'm not really sure at the end of that Where did you see that going? Because You think he could have lasted a bit longer Maybe he could have come I simply don't know Michael Yeah, it's tough to say Because he essentially held the position That he had before the safety car at the flag But Then you can get caught out in In the pit stop drama Of course most cars Pitted so the pit lane was very busy I'm having started on the hard tire I meant that he didn't need to pit anyway So you may as well have had to go But it was interesting to see Because that would have been around Sixteen laps deep into the sprint His tires were still feeling pretty Eight by the time that the race Three started and a couple of drivers passed Me as a bit still scored points Which is important for racing But that doesn't mean He's got one fewer hard going into the ground Free And given the how high how high tire You see towards in that sprint Including as I said on him on the hard tire

1:30:54We'll have to see how that pans out For him in the ground But considering that You know points on the border are important They saw a chance to get points in the sprint He got that point in the sprint We've got a couple of points in the sprint The outcome is kind of there And now it's up to them to see what they can make of the race As far as surprises in qualifying Look we look at the top six cars We all saw that coming Pure gasoline Got to be a surprise Mentioned and the L-peen popping in Ahead of the step And but Are you look at the performance of Of Berman Of Hulkenberg They put in a pretty good show Didn't they At least I forget Mr. Ben Ochen We love the hard team Yeah We're three 11 places In a row for Niko Hulkenberg And all of them I have to try to remember what it was in Australia But all of them really narrow I think it was two Thousands of a second That he missed out on the top 10 So Audi actually doing I think a lot better than preseason expectations Suggested they would be They're right on the cusp Of course, got points Last weekend as well So They're looking really good

1:31:54But our peen as you say A little bit of a surprise based on Australia And where they were kind of just a bit No, but then I guess we should remember That Australia being a bit No, it was also a bit of a surprise Because they looked good in preseason testing So this was a bit more It's probably a little bit better But it would be our qualifying A red ball race to go But Being in the top 10 Probably feels a bit more Our peen's thought They would be in hopes They would be at the start of the season He executed really well And then when you give Here Gasly a car he can drive He tends to get the most out of it If it doesn't have too many problems I know exactly what happened Here comfortably out qualified At least teammate Franco Collapino Who did get out of Q1 though It's a little bit of success for him there And then All of the peen and Esteban Ocon He's an increasingly I think Interesting comparison Even early in the season Peen and another top 10 He really looks like he stepped up from last year When he was clearly fast But we haven't really seen any big mistakes In this year and the way we did last year And he's really shading Esteban Ocon Now I know Ocon Think he would have made the top 10 Had the yellow flag not come out Late for Gabrielle Portellero in Q2

1:32:56He was up We don't know if he would have made it But he certainly was up on his best lap time up to that point But it's just again that he's being beaten By this driver much younger And much less experienced than him In a brand new car where Why it's a bit up for debate But generally speaking We think experienced drivers Have a bit of an effort When the rules change like this It's an interesting position for Ocon to be And still very early days of course For only halfway through second round of the season But that's a sort of developing storyline Already I think this year Interesting theory though That the new drivers Especially the singular rookie in the park They don't know what the other cars were like So this is all they know in Formula One So if anything When it comes to adaptation They're probably in the box seat Michael I think there is a degree of that Like we see David Lindblad that one rookie He's been pretty good this year He's had a bit of a patchy weekend This weekend But I think that really stems from the fact That he was out of practice One practice session I think about 15 minutes in And the laps just count for so much With these cars With their learning so much every lap

1:33:57I think actually And I think the rookie thing counts The younger drivers have tended to be good But we haven't seen that The younger guys suddenly disappear In fact we've probably seen the opposite for most of them But I think it's the drivers Who understand How they drive the car Who are the ones getting the most out of Because they're the ones who can adapt It's the drivers perhaps who Have historically just got in the car And driven it And I don't know why they're fast Can't un-pick their driving styles To make sure they work with this car We can still see a lot of learning going on In that sense anyway I think it was interesting to hear It may have been all of a bit of a Now they cast my one back To a couple of days ago Who was sort of saying You know what he's last lap in qualifying He just crashed the car Like it would have been an old car Went slower So it's things like that Where drivers have to If they understand what they're doing They're getting games But if they're not understanding How their driving style Communicates with these cars Then they end up a bit lost I don't think that'll That'll unfold the more we More, more Several sizes we get The more races we go through Back to the Australasians Oscar Piaestry

1:34:59First This is Well I'm not quite sure what to make of Oscar And he's probably scratching his head as well But look He's on the grid He's sitting in fifth place He feels his room for him to move Of course Landon Norris And the fence of his championship Not looking great But his only early doors Right there and thereabouts From an Australian point of view Where does Oscar sit Yeah, I mean it's good first of all For him to have got some laps on the board After crashing out of the reconnaissance laps last week So he's he started He's season He's got a couple of points as well So good news for him But unfortunately this The story of this weekend There's been on the one hand The Claren feels like They have made progress Based on last week And qualifying times If just they have They've got closer to Mercedes But there's still nowhere near Mercedes And this is the problem They're in this sort of Singular group of Just him and Landon From Oscar Piastry's perspective That they're a little bit behind Ferrari At this rate certainly a hit of Red Bull They were roughly on par with Red Bull in Melbourne And that's just reflective

1:36:00Of where the car is And I think He's sort of listening to Landon Norris Or Oscar Piastry talk They're not so unhappy with the car So if the car is driving badly This is just where it is You know, it's just not as fast Doesn't have the same group Still doesn't have the same power of the Mercedes But they've closed that gap a little bit By understanding the engine a little bit more So unfortunately Without some chaos up front And we do have teammates Starting side by side with Mercedes and Ferrari Which tells 10 to some times Brief chaos Our podium is probably out of the question From McLaren this weekend And then like you say Bad news for Landon Norris' title defends Because right now It's going to need some big steps From McLaren just to get into that mix We're joined by Michael Lamanato From Fox Sport And if I accredited Formula One Right Liam Lawson squeezed Into Q2 Couldn't quite get up He possibly could have done But of course as you touched on before Colin Pinto drove off the track And that kind of scup it as chances Because those laps were getting faster And faster as you'd expect

1:37:00With the end of Q2 Yeah exactly right But the yellow flag Prevented quite a few drivers In that Q2 zone from progressing So we didn't get the ultimate order I suppose Of exactly where everyone sits in terms of pace But I think it's been positive For Liam and for racing bulls That they are In that mix It always feels like a bit of a A bit of a guessing game Trying to place that team at the start of the season Because you know they're never going to be quiet on red bull racing's pace But occasionally They kind of look like they're actually very close Especially when regulations change like this And they inevitably buy a lot of A lot of parts from their sister team So that's sort of interesting in its own case But yeah he's been moving really positively He's been getting a lot out of the car I think the test of course is He's against Lim Blad And like we've said Lim Blad's been probably half a step behind this weekend But as long as he can keep ahead of him Because Red Bull's been quite impressed With Lim Blad's a rookie They reckon he's as He's roughly where Isaac Hadjar is And obviously Hadjar's been promoted to the senior team Then that'll be really important for Lawson to To rebuild his reputation I guess not that he has a bad reputation But obviously the baddering last year

1:38:00Having to change teams And having to rebuild himself a little bit Because I think as we've said before Notwithstanding Red Bull's under different management these days Very rare for a driver to go Quite in fact unheard of for a driver to go back to the senior team So to continue his F1 career In the next couple of years He's likely going to have to find it outside the Red Bull family So every little success he has now Will contribute to that Angry Max first happened And sitting down Oh look he's got his teammate Right next to him But watching him tear through the I'm sure they don't like it But off the grid Watching him tear through everybody else At least we get some good entertainment Even though Max is entirely unhappy With what he's got underneath him Yeah of course he'd much prefer not to have to be doing that To be fair most of his comeback was because he had a terrible start I guess that's the second time a Red Bull driver has had a terrible start Right because Lawson had one in Melbourne But being interesting to see if there is a link there But he was down to 20th by the first lap So I had quite a few cars to pass But he was getting he ended up finishing just outside the points in nine

1:39:01But it felt like already at that point It was kind of topping out a little bit That the pace was getting harder and harder The manager because he was getting too faster And faster cars The safety car of course helped necessarily either It'll be interesting to see in the race today Starting in the same place He was a little bit closer He was a less than a second off pole Which is I mean that sort of illustrates Two Red Bull racing is normally continuing for pole To be just less than a second off But he's nothing to shout about But he's really been as you said really downcast Doesn't love where the cars are The team suggested that it could be actually Because this track is Let's say more normal in the sense the energy The electrical energy is not at a massive premium The cars are actually working really well with this track As opposed to Melbourne where it was all about the battery But there's a lack of advantage in Red Bull And that maybe the Red Bull engine is very good at recovering energy And that's why it looks competitive in Melbourne But maybe this is actually more where it really is at an average track That obviously boats even worse Considering the average track is more common over the course of the season But we'll get more information as is the case With this year and these new rules over the first couple of races

1:40:04Touched on the battery and how that is working I find it a distraction for the drivers I don't know if they need to be concentrating on that As opposed to just driving Is there any truth in my heart take? To a degree like some drivers Are paying more attention to that They said this is that in Melbourne That they were paying more attention to Just having the battery at the right level at the right time I think it's going to be very track dependent And China it seems like that's much less the case In qualifying it certainly was You know we talked about Oliver Behrman a little bit earlier He decided on his last qualifying lap Not to think about the manager but it ended up going slower So I think in qualifying it is and that To my mind still a problem because qualifying Even in China where if you look at an on-board lap It looks close to normal You can still see areas where the car is just really not being pushed towards limits And I think that is the shame In the race though based on the sprint And we'll wait and see with the Grand Prix as well today Because that'll of course look a little bit different I think it's less so in a track like this With a battery over the course of a race He's just able to recharge itself without the drive

1:41:06Is having to do anything different In that case they kind of race pretty much Normally of course we got this The boost button that we saw a lot of overtaking Between Hamilton and Russell is just one example I expect that to still play a role But as long as that doesn't mean that they're overthinking that I don't see that as too much different to DRS Which admittedly wasn't the most organic kind of racing anyway But it was understood and has become part of the show Over more than a decade I'm hopeful that this race will actually look more normal From us the spectator point of view But also from the drivers in the cockpit point of view But we'll have to wait and see And last quite literally but not least Pulling up the tail you've you'd expect this Cadillac a devastated Ashton Martin I don't know how that year is bowling out Williams as well And they'd be a little downcast around that But I suppose we've got to celebrate Valtteri Bottas Because he's coming and he's put a Cadillac A head of Ashton Martin That's great news and he's such a great He's coming on a wonderful drive I'm really pleased for him Yeah, it's really good to see Bottas back on the grid

1:42:07It always felt like he's career didn't finish in the right way Having been dropped back to the Salva team Which just got less and less competitive because he went I'm an even Sergio Perez I think he's own sake He doesn't want Red Bull chapter to have been his last Lots of problems for his car None for Valtteri Bottas Which is good that does seem like And this goes for every team But especially the brand new team Cadillac The more laps they get building into the weekend Generally the better that car is going to go Which is not that surprising You self-evident But I think we've got the result Give it Bottas out qualifying Lance Stroll Does it say more about the Cadillac Than it does Lance Stroll I'll leave that to your imagination Because Lance Stroll is more than half a second slower Than Fernando Alonso He was a couple of places up the grid But the bottom line is I mean we've certainly Ashton Martin does not Did not want to be here To not expect to be here Way at the back competing competing with the new team The team that's entered one and a half races so far And it's history That is grim They'll be thankful for the longer break We're about to get in April Because the two Middle eastern round have been cancelled That might give them the chance to at least replenish their spa

1:43:08Their spare parts stocks And then Williams as well you touch on there This is absolutely not the way they thought that you started The season The car is really overweight That's the first problem But it also just seems like the car generally isn't that good It's not producing the same kind of grip On Alex Alonso I was very unhappy Described as terrible in one word on his pull down lap So those three teams What no I should say two of those teams That's the modern Williams With serious problems But Cadillac I still think performing pretty much in the way you'd expect a new team to Not quite there A hundred percent But by the end of the year I'm expecting to be looking much more things to do I'm really happy for the teams I'm not happy for Formula One That they've got to not be in the Middle East But I'm happy that the hardworking guys and girls That were nothing Actually get a bit of time off to speed With their families And I reckon you could out quantify Lance, Stroll, Michael Thanks very much for your time mate Thank you, mate, at anytime And it will be too Because I'll be pissed again Trust me Love what you have to say And I think you should too Michael Lemonato

1:44:09He's a Formula One writer Out of Fox Sport That also officially accredited by the FIA To write Formula One And it's 228 This is weekend sport on news talk ZB That's the motor sport We're still got cricket And rugby union to come Cole Forbes later in the piece But up next It is Nathan Smith As we now deal with Five games of T20 Double headers Both the black caps And the white ferns are in action This is news talk ZB Hard tackles Harder opinions We can sport with Dossie Watergrafe And GJ Garden Homes New Zealand's most trusted home builder Newtalk ZB And 231 news talk ZB I'm Dossie Watergrafe filling in for Jason Pine On weekend sport cricket On the menu right here right now Black caps back on New Zealanders shores They play South Africa

1:45:09And their first T20 at the Mount Tonight that's staffed seven o'clock And coming up in about Or 15 minutes time The white ferns take on their South African counterpants They're all double headers All five of these T20 Experiences Nathan Smith He's at a horrible old time with injuries Now hopefully he'll be back today Like he joins us now How are you mate? I'm good. Thanks. How are you? Yeah, no magnificent I tend to try and be Way All the time. It's the nice thing But you You're finally back playing again Nathan Smith One day cricket There is a test cricket And then he had to have a cup of tea And lie down because his side fell apart So you've been out for quite some time Talk us through the injury You're recovering from how it went through Yeah, so fully recovered now Initially you know during the test match Thought it was a side strain But um Turned into a little bit more of a Ribbon pinchment type injury

1:46:10Which was Like if you're You're sort of you know You're eating eating some spare ribs And you kind of get to the bone And there's that little bit of like sheath on the bone I pulled a little bit of that off my ribs So That took a little bit longer to heal Unfortunately, but um We're back now and playing some domestic cricket For the last sort of Months six weeks and um Yeah, looking forward to this The series against Africa So you're one handy right? You're back if you've been on a You're bold you've battered from time to time And everything's working Yeah, yeah, we're good as gold Yeah I'm never going to be able to eat spare ribs again Because all I want to think about is Pulling your spare ribs off of your body And chewing on Nathan Smith So thanks for Running it that way so Form wise how how are you playing right now Because there's that like real interesting space When there are so many Quicks who are aiming for that same spot So where are you at playing wise? Um yeah, that's the way it's a tough one Results sort of come and go Which is um It's the nature of the sport we play They're pretty fickle Um some days you can ball really well

1:47:12And You know not get wickets in other days You get lucky Bowling a few half track as they get caught at deep square So um In terms of the outcomes you know I'm not trying to ride that too much But I'm feeling pretty good The ball's coming out well The rhythm The rhythm took a couple of games to come back But I feel like it's there now And I'm You know I'm hitting the crease hard And with the bat I've spent a bit of time in the middle And the plunk it with the plunk It's shielded over the last sort of You know two weeks I'm starting to feel pretty good Right so middling it Good good timing You know your place So when you play For the black caps next time And it may well be tonight We don't know the naming of the team yet You feel you're going to better contribute You're on All your cylinders Yeah yeah I'm feeling good Feeling good dassy Like the traveling up there There was a pain in the back side Though it wasn't I think you had a bit of a journey To even actually Get here in the first place That's got to put a bit of strain on you Oh yeah you know We sort of we sort of used to that now though Um when you're playing the subcontinent You usually get You usually get 3a in flights in between

1:48:12In between I mean we had it in the champions trophy Didn't we we sort of had to get up at 3a in And fly between Dubai and Pakistan So you know We were used to this now We just adapt and we we get on with it Are you good at watching the black caps play When you're not involved Do you do that or you just run and hide No no I do watch I checked in during the World Cup Which was awesome to see how well they did there You know unfortunately Couldn't get over the line of the final But it was there was an awesome campaign to follow And um yeah Everyone was behind them And they can be really proud of that That World Cup campaign A few people have ripped on the fact That the bowl was took a bit of tap But I choose to look in the other direction That was India at home defending a title And they were giving everybody a bit of tap They battered It was another that wasn't cricket The way they were playing It was on another level wasn't it Yeah and it's not just It's not just India You know those Those pitches are Not conducive to To seem bowling anyway And I mean 250 is becoming so common now

1:49:13Like how often are we seeing 250 and we're going I that's kind of you know Whereas like 200 back in the day We were like far out 200 You know so it's just It is I understand the batting has gone To another to another planet But um The scene bowling is tough But I think potentially you know Bowlers are going to have to find ways And you're probably going to see it over the next few years A bowl is trying to You know find either Either work on the execution Or find different different ways to try to be effective What are you trying? You're looking at that You know you're going to have to deal with these Bats and on the way they roll Look at what South Africa managed To do before they fold it in that semi What are you looking at How are you going to go about your business Yeah, I mean there's an element of There's an element of what I bring to the table And then there's the you know The conditions you're playing with Um you know there's so many variables But I think Let's give the scattings a main thing And then I guess it comes down to What's the pitch offering you at the time And then To be honest with you It's just a game of execution really You know I suppose you see

1:50:14Look at bomber he goes at six and over And India because he can nail a Yorker And he's got a great slob all So it's like You know if you get if you can execute And you can You can be nice and calm under pressure Then I think you can be effective For me it's you know Doing what I do really well Running in hitting the look at heart Nailing a Yorker And then and then being smarter around my Around my slob all So You know I think it's It looks something like that When I'm playing well So hopefully I can replicate that if I get a run Nathan Smith that joins us And I suppose you can't just have one different delivery You've got to have a number of different weapons In your quiver, don't you? You do you do need you do need a few But Um if they're just if they're just okay as well Then and they don't have any deception Then you know the bad is too good They're going to they're going to put you away So I think you know that's that's where the skill With the bowl is is really important And and keep to keep working on that execution So you know you're developing You know some world-class deliveries That you can go to it sort of anytime That's sort of the

1:51:14I mean that's it at it's at it's very best So hopefully You know Hopefully we can keep working on that And I can sort of you know push my way into this t20 team Nathan do you bristle when people say This is not a proper black caps team Because most of the players are off having a cup of tea And lie down before they head back to India again How do you feel about that accusation? Oh I've I personally haven't heard that Accusation but I'm assuming I'm assuming you know Do you talk back radio mate? Yeah yeah I'm assuming Well the way at the way I see it is for me It's you know it's a great opportunity To play for New Zealand and t20 cricket And you know ultimately I want to I want to play all three formats for New Zealand So yeah hopefully I can go do well And you know it is one of this I guess really the guys have just played an amazing World Cup campaign And they've got IPL commitments Which is you know it's pretty pretty agreed upon So for me it's just you know I sort of reap the rewards of that and get to play a few games for New Zealand hopefully

1:52:15Well there's no such thing as an 11 that plays every format anymore There's there's 30 you guys out there We can do it and I'm t20 represent If you've got a line on what has to happen for New Zealand cricket As far as our domestic t20 competition is concerned Because there are options everywhere Do you lean toward any of those now? Are you talking sorry you're talking about Will the way New Zealand cricket is going to go next year? Well yeah with a super smash the adjusted super smash With a big bash or the NZ 20 There's a lot of options out there do you lean in any of them? Yeah I definitely I think in New Zealand 20 would be the best option for players Within New Zealand and for New Zealand cricket Yeah I think it's the best way to grow the game in New Zealand Get the backing behind and then yeah It should be pretty fun I think As it goes ahead Well there's a chance next year The lot of the tests might have to be curtail removed at that window That doesn't concern you at all Oh that's a bum that's above my pay grade

1:53:16It's scheduling But yeah I think whatever decision they make The players are going to be happy There's a lot of chat around best players not playing Super smash as it is So hopefully You know after games all the games are still going to go ahead So hopefully they can find a result there But yeah I think all the players will be happy regardless Especially if this comp goes ahead Well let's hope you get the nod more importantly for the evening And you tear it up Nathan Smith Thanks so much for joining us As per mate you look after yourself Cheers Darcy thanks mate Yeah thank you for your time 2245 the women start their first of 5T20s They're all double headers 715 the men get underway It's 20 minutes to 3 New Zealand's most trusted home builder Newstalks ZB 244 on their newstalks ZB and weekends It's sport one of rugby's newest arrival Rees writes another chapter today

1:54:17The Blues host minor pacifika at Eden Park The side they're joining us now Blues fall back Cole Forbes Cole how are you Did you be a cover well from last week's niggle? Yeah that all well got through training All good this week and yeah Stayed to be back in the lineup To take on the rivals Yeah so we talk about a niggle What how big a niggle I mean when do you realise it was only a little Or did you freak out last week and go This could be worse or what was the deal around there? I was sort of just a rolled ankle And the bumbees game And then yeah sort of Yeah that wasn't too worried And then you got through back in And it was still sort of Not 100% so sort of Just have one week to rest And then yeah get back to training this week And yeah all all as well Good to go really But it got a good thing isn't it? I'm not that you want to miss out on a game But just to have that mental rest for a week Give you a wee bit of revving When you get back in there again You make the most of that opportunity Or am I completely wrong?

1:55:19Yeah it is It is a good mental rest But you're missing out on playing And seeing the boy do that to the crusaders Always makes you happy But yeah it's obviously a good mental reset And it's a long season So don't want anything to Nippie in the nose But back into the season So what did you pull out of that game? Not obviously went playing But you would have been working On all week with Vin and the like About what actually worked here Against the crusaders Because you shook them And you can tell Yeah I think You sort of know the crusaders there DNA is sort of Take you to set P And then sort of Win that like quite battle In the physical area of the game And sort of we Preview that or we We knew what was coming And sort of just Where you knew after I was sort of Performed as a game to brumbies That we played well in patches But we didn't String it together consistently So the main goal was just sort of Nail well Game plan and out DNA for the whole 80 minutes So I think We really did that And obviously the result showed on the weekend

1:56:20When you look to that success last week That's all well and good But you're professional So you'll dig through the weeds of that And what didn't work And what you have to improve on And am I right? I'm sure that Verne celebrated But he looked one side again Now but you need to do this Better boys Yeah, yeah, definitely Like your team You look at it And obviously you want to Get better And follow and work I think a big one We've focused on this week Has been Discipline sort of yellow cards Against the brumbies And the crusaders Of sort of hand For us that's when we've leaked our points So Big Big mark on discipline This week not coming away Stupid penalties And giving Winery second chances It's a constant isn't it Coach is talking about Discipline Plainly it's a lot more difficult Than people realize Well, what do you think it makes It's such a stretch Because Guys are always getting Carded and happens right The way through the season And when people do they go Oh, you got carded But we've got to watch our discipline Why is this What why do you guys fall into this

1:57:22No, yeah It is a cliche Every coach Every team you talk about But I think it's just in the heat of the moment There you get those boys And it's sort of Oh, should I have a Jackal should I go at the ball And you sort of in the heat of the moment You make that split second decision And then you look I've got it on the boot And you allow Why do I do that But I think yeah, There's just something You've got a I think that you've got a train So you've got to be Discipline at training Because we've sort of noticed Like we haven't been as hard That on each other In training And then it's creeping into the game So I think That's sort of been the shift This week just sort of If we're going to Pull each other up And train them It's going to help us in the weekend What's your disciplinary record Like Cole I think I'm pretty squeaky clean I've had a few yellow cards I think But that's about it Nothing The old typical outside back So I have down ones And yeah I don't have a couple of those But nothing Nothing too bad I don't think That not the problem You Right In front What you are though Use a problem for Zan Sullivan

1:58:22He's been playing the house down But he's on the beans now That you've come back You guys still mates Yeah Yeah, now he's there He's been playing really well It's good to see him Healthy Because he's had a few injuries The last couple of seasons It's sort of just Hended him sometimes But it's really good to see him Get some game time And It's got a huge left boot And he's got that good running game So it's been good to see him Playing And then Yeah, you've got Cody Bye as well Also had a buddy Good run on the wing So it's Good healthy competition And the back three It's exciting Blues rugby at the moment You'd be feeling That energy I mean If you ever stop training Or like Stop eating Do you actually get the idea Around the general public That there's Something happening Yeah, I think the Especially the The last couple of home games There's been a good little buzz Around the You sort of feel the atmosphere And the buzz before you're walking in And stuff And it Has been those To pull like Good crowds And everything It's like The boys That like You know Feed off that And sort of Yeah, I wanted to Make a good run Of the competition this year

1:59:23What's your drive For the season Cole, what do you look to achieve What do you want to do What do you want to clean up What do you want to work with I definitely I think every player What's the one championship So that's probably Our main goal as a group is When You know When a title And you know We've got to definitely go For the squad And we're heading In the right direction So I think there's nothing Nothing stopping us Really just ourselves And your Place Your place In this whole structure Where do you see You Or leading or assisting What does Cole Forbes need to do to Help Rest that title away from the Crusaders I think just Yeah, there's just nailing sort of Whatever my role is for the week If it's on the wing If it's at fullback If it's on the bench Or if it's in the non-23 Just Doing my job each week And you know Getting the boys ready for how Over that may be But I think yeah We're heading in the right direction So I'm just going to do what I can really To keep that Winning ways gone You got a preference

2:00:23Where do you like to play I know what you're going to say And say As long as I'm playing I'm as long as I'm picked I don't mind but really We would you rather play I think yeah That Crusader is definitely You'd rather be In the starting line I've been sitting in the stand So that Yeah, it's probably the first one And then yeah Probably I'll be predominantly Of my career over At fullback I think But in the last couple of seasons I've had a decent amount of game Climb like on the wing So I'd say I'd say I'd probably prefer Fullback but enjoy Winner's Row You know Just cut a little bit different Sort of styles But similar at the end of the day Do you dare think about higher on us Personally I think it's just Worried about making the 23 for the blues at the moment Like like you said You got zoned Kater boy Kater Clark And then a few boys Waiting in the wing So it's just about I'm getting some games on Before you I think about anything else And tell us about the approach to Moana Pussyficker They can't explode into acts And then shred you a try

2:01:24But they can also Fold pretty fast Where do you see their weaknesses Where do you see their strengths Um Yeah, I mean their strengths Obviously like If you want to make play a physical game Let them get their Tails up with winning collisions And sort of Making a scrappy game Or I'd be I think that's where they They're strongest Sort of I think Where they're probably not as strong As probably we can take them And sort of those Set piece areas And keep the game sort of structured And not kick away Minerally kick away position And give them sort of Easier And for the game So I think And then obviously like We should just before I discipline And we can watch You've a penalty So we're going to be Getting pegged back quite a bit Well, I really thank you for Joining us That promises so much Let's hope that you stay High when you're defending You get to that ball Because it's very much the Flavor of rugby these days And make it really hard For Zahn Sullivan To get a spot bet Will you, Cole? Oh, yeah Do my best on the fence

2:02:24And he will Put on a show Yeah, get him angst it Thanks very much for your time That game gets And away At 345 No, 335 Excuse me Cole Forbes, thanks very much For your time The news talks there be It's eight away from three The big names And the big calls On your home of sport We can sport With Dusty Waldegrave News talks there be And that winds up the program Another day Another 50 cents Thanks very much For listening Thanks for your calls Thanks for your texts Your participation Even if it's just with your ears Is why we do this So we thank you so much To say we Myself and Animate Donald He is the executive producer Of the program Jason Pine will be back next weekend Tim beverage Join us next And we're going out With a A favorite band of mine From way back When it's called tack head And this is a track Called The game This is the celebrator With football and success From New Zealand teams

2:03:24Over the weekend Good day So effective And so effective For more From weekend sport With Jason Pine Listen live To news talks It be We cans from midday Or follow the podcast On iHabRadio