On Sports Fix with D'Arcy Waldegrave for Tuesday 22nd April 2025, Head of NZR Women’s High Performance, Hannah Porter joins us to look at the streamlining of women’s rugby pathways -from the professional youth of 15s (only three years old!) to the more stable world of 7s – 13 years in the pro game
D’Arcy buys into Wisden’s latest annual, as the most respected almanac in cricket punches the ICC in the face. 'The World Test Championship looks as it was designed on the back of a fag packet' writes the editor. Ouch.
The Chamber is infested by D’Arcy andNZ Herald sports journo Alex Powell. F1 inequalities and Portia Woodman-Wickliffe are the main points of discussion.
Thanks GJ Gardner Homes for getting involved, we love your work!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks. Ed be
follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
This is Sportsfix Howard by News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
It'd be wellcommand to the shortest of the shortest weeks.
This is the Sports Fixed, News Talk ZB Sporting podcast
or We Need to Know and bite size chunks around
the one of the wide world of sports. It is Tuesday.
It is the twenty second of April twenty twenty five.
My name is Darcy Waldgrave and coming up in this
(00:40):
program courtesy of our mates at GJ Garden the Holmes,
New Zealand's most trusted home builders. We've got Hannah Porter
joining us season New Zeland Rugby's head of women's high
performance as we talk about the integration of sevens and fifteens.
Of course, hot on the back of the news that
Porsche Woodman Wickcliffe is back in the fifteens back for
(01:01):
eight months. I've got some opinions around the glory of
Indian cricket and I will be joined in the chamber
by Alex Palell sportsmans journalists out of the New Zealand Herald,
as we look at some of the biggest sports stories
of the day, indeed of the weekend just gone. That's
what we plan on doing. So that indeed is what
(01:22):
we're going to do. Let's go in other news spitting
sport now poor shower Woodman at work Cliffe Mean's forth
known by this predictable but worthy name. In my opinion,
p double dub a game maybe not. She's back the
black Burns. She's keen on carrying on her deliance with
the thirteen Jersey. The electric pace of youth is we
(01:46):
a bit of a worry for it.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
I love seeing that people have got on the wing
chest and the start to field out right.
Speaker 4 (01:50):
But then I love winger because I have made before
and I'm a little bit more confidence in my positioning.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
So I like both positions.
Speaker 4 (01:57):
I really want to learn more since, especially on the international.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Stage, She's just signed an eight month contract to pull
her back in line with the black Ferns. Chris would
be all wives are Skipper and boss. Marksman has finally
scored again for a rare flat Patch and the NPL,
so of course the injury sustained at international level. The
Knots Forest striker scored his nineteenth goal this season as
(02:21):
Tottenham went down to one Forest manager Nuno Esprito Santo.
Wood's impact was significant and will continue to be so
as the drive for Champions League qualifying continues.
Speaker 5 (02:35):
This nasty injury that he had a national team push
him back lass week, we push him in the pitch,
but today I think physical back felt more comfort in
the pitch and we're going to need everything that he
agreed us to give us.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
And illegal international sports gambling is on the up and up.
Rebecca rolls At, CEO of New Zealand's Sport Integrity Commission, says,
our time zone makes us a perfect target.
Speaker 6 (03:01):
You don't play sport at a time in the rest
of the world to sleep those people who do want
to bet on something. We want to be able to
obviously do that Linella and the post of Australia playing
sports that time and say anything that's online or streams
or live in any way creates the market.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
And there's some sporting verbals for you.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
New Scandavidian It's Sportsfix with Dancie Valdegrave.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
We'll join now in the SPORTSFX podcast by anys On,
Rugby's head of women's high Performance, Hannah Porter. Hannah good Day,
Welcome to the show.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
Hey Darcy, how are you going.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
I'm going very well, probably not quite as good as
Porscha Woodman Wickler for ip double D as I like
to call it, which I probably shouldn't. But back into
the fold again of the black Ferns, which is massive
news for the defense of the Cup, but it does,
I suppose, bring more into perspective the nature of pathways
through to that top level with the way he because
(03:59):
from what I can gather right now, it's not exactly
straight forward from sevens maybe to league, the back to MPC,
maybe super rugbio opicky to the black ferns. Is there
a particular path that ends are are working on or
working with to get the best out of our way?
Speaker 4 (04:16):
In athletes, look, I think that there's different pathways. Right
there's those that have been professionals for thirteen years, which
is the likes of Porsche and and firstly just on
Porsche wrapped. To have her back in the fold show
we incredible if I obviously still needs to make the team,
but incredible in whatever kind of environment she's in, both
on and off the field. Brings a whole lot of
leadership and been there and done that mindset, which is
(04:39):
really helpful.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
Obviously when you're working on Pinnacle events.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
So there's the likes of how do we how do
we provide opportunities for those athletes that have been in
the game for a long time and it's not like
the men's game where at the end of their career
they go overseas and sit in southern France and earn
a bit of cash and drink some wine. So how
do we make sure that they get experiences in more
than one environment when they are playing. So that's that's
one part of the pathway, and the second part is
(05:04):
and we're still pretty young in it, if I'm honest,
So we've only been professional in the fifteen game.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
We're coming up.
Speaker 4 (05:09):
Three years now, so until three years ago, our pathways
were still very amateur.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
We're still FPC non paid.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
We're still going through kind of the under sixteens, under
eighteens in our provincial unions, which they've done an amazing job.
But what we're trying to do is turn that into
a high performance pathway. So it's really clear from when
you start at school, or you start at junior club,
or you come in from another sport at kind of
that younger age grade, what the steps are in the pathway,
and so we're two years into that and look really
(05:38):
pleased with we've got to We're in our third year
of our under twenties campaign, which is camp spased at
this stage. For the first year ever, we'll have an
under eighteen's campaign which will be camp spased this year.
We're going to combine coming up and we're just about
to announce something pretty exciting for our development athletes shortly
as well. So we are building it out, but it
(05:59):
has taken a little time.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Where do the sevens players fits into that. They're in
a different area but the same place, if that makes sense,
So where do they fit into this pathway? Is there
a direction for fifteens to move in to move back again,
trying to keep it separate. How does that combination exist?
Speaker 4 (06:18):
Yeah, so we've been pretty clear on I suppose our
intention that we want our very best players playing in
pinnacle events. So whether that be the Olympics or will
that be Rugby World Cups. We want our very best athletes,
so they could be playing sevens or fifteens. We think
we can transition between the two programs easily. We think
we've got the athletes that we can do that. So
if they're coming from sevens into fifteens or vice versa.
(06:39):
I think the difference with our sevens athletes is I
suppose what I mentioned to start off with that our
thirteen years professional and so fifteens is just catching up.
So what you see now is I suppose the transition
I think moving forward you'll see I suppose more of
a transition from our fifteens into the sevens campaign as
they catch up on professionalism, and the same with our
sevens into our fifteens.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
And it may not just be around Rugby World Cups.
Speaker 4 (07:02):
I think the change of the global calendar allows our
sevens athletes to come into fifteens easier than it has
done before, and so you might see again our very
best athletes not only just coming over at Rugby Cups
or Olympic events.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
You may see that transition happening more often.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Is that necessarily fair on the dedicated fifteens player that
run through for example, this year they run through Opiki,
They put on their work in there and then a
seven star just rolls in and swipes their position.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
We wouldn't class it as that.
Speaker 4 (07:31):
I think again, if we're really serious about winning Punic dance,
we need our best players. So I think in the
fifteens game, what you'll see is you'll have fifteen specialists
at athletes. But again we're three years into it. I
think we're still a cycle away, so we're full four
years away from I think having a really specialist fifteens
players that will only play fifteens, and then you'll have
a bunch of crossover athletes, but no different tolw knocking
(07:56):
on the door and asking for our players because they
are the best in the world at the moment.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
It's they're a want to draw of it in together
though from the players too, to have those things running
simultaneous sleep but still being able to combine as something
that players are interested in being engaged with.
Speaker 4 (08:14):
Yep, and we talk to them often about it, so
there is a real openness. I think Alan Bunting's done
an amazing job this year. Was I supposed to transparency
of our sevens athletes coming in. This is a third
time we've done it, this is a third World Cup
they've come in. Everyone's been really aware of the plan
to start off with. So there's real transparency within the
two groups of athletes. And you've got two groups of
(08:35):
athletes that want to do everything right, and not just
everything in rugby, but everything every woman's sport. You've got
some real, really motivated athletes that actually just want to
be the best they can be in a whole lot
of different things.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Dissecting the sporting agenda. It's Sportsfax with Darcy Waldgrave.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Wisdom's annual Cricket Bible is out this week. This is
the be all and end all when it comes to
the game of cricket on an annual basis, and boys,
it fired some shots through the writings predominantly of the
Wisdom editor Lawrence Booth. He's come out talking about the
World Test Championship, suggesting it is a shambles and I
(09:18):
quote the World Test Championship is a shambles masquerading as
a showpiece. He goes on to say that it feels
like it was designed on the back of a fag packet.
He is relentless when it comes to his attacks on
the man who is now controlling World cricket, the ICC chair.
(09:38):
His name is Jay Shah, who was formerly the Secretary
of the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The
Communal Shrug, writes Booth that met Shah's appointment confirmed a
sorry truth. Twenty twenty four was the year cricket gave
up any claim to being properly administered with checks, balances
and governance for the many, not the few. India already
(10:02):
had the monopoly. Now they have the hotels on Park
Lane and mayfair whether this will reverberate around the halls
of power, the ICC or the BCCI is yet to
be seen. In fact, the matter is that one of
the biggest voices in world cricket, the longest standing voices,
the most respected annual publication there is in this beautiful game,
(10:27):
has stood up and said enough is enough. India, you
can't control this anymore. It has to be a global game.
It has to be for the world. And when you
look at the World Test Championship and you look at
the situation that finds South Africa in the final, even
though they had a tiny diet of two match series
(10:50):
and they haven't faxed England nor Australia en route to
the final, it is a mess. And if you add
to that the chaos that was the Indian national men's
team refusing to play in Pakistan, therefore having the easiest
route through to the In the recent Champions Trophy. I
(11:11):
think it says enough about the control of world cricket
by the Indians. It has to stop.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
The Chamber is now in session on Sports Fix.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
That's a big welcommend to the Chamber. Two Alex Palell
sports news journalists out of the New Zealander Herald with
a ponchon for Formula one. Funny that that's why it's
in the studio. Hey, look, nothing happened yesterday. It was
a public holiday where here and now. And there's a
lot of stories as you would expect running around in
Formula one. The latest one let's talk about Liam Lawson
(11:42):
surprise surprise, what he got hit with in Saudi Arabia
at Jedda and how that'sat because Chris Reeves come up
with the story in the New Zealand held around that
of course you all I like a rash Alex.
Speaker 7 (11:55):
Yeah, I mean to go overlean. Lawson was hit by
a ten second penalty for an overtake on alpn's Jack
doing on the main strait going to turn one. He
actually overtakes him on the strait and then by the
time they get to the turn he's come from in front,
but he leaves the track and that's of course, and
a lot of instance that is a punishable offense. You
can't leave the track and gain advantage in doing so.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
He was, Well, the debate is did he actually get
an advanceage by leaving the track thing because he'd long
since passed doing right.
Speaker 7 (12:20):
That's part of it. But the other issue is that
Liam Lawson was with a ten second penalty. Max has
stappened at to losc A Piastre on lap one and
was given a five second penalty for the same offense
at the same spot on the track, And basically the
stewards have come out and said, well, we were more
leniar on maxis stapping because his was on turn one
or sorry lap one, turn one where you expected a
bit a bit of chaos. But I mean, I don't
(12:41):
know about you, but that doesn't sit right with me.
You've got to have consistency for these things.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
There isn't any There isn't any with the f A,
with Formula one, particularly how that looks. I think that
Liam's stomached that, But that was a place, wasn't it
ten seconds v? Five seconds? For him? Yeah?
Speaker 7 (12:56):
I mean, and they wouldn't have changed things too much.
He would have finished eleventh and still missed the points
by one place. But he needs to be finishing his
heart in the Grits again. He would have only been
won back from his teammate in that instance and said
he was two. But it's like you said, it's just
frustrating to watch, you know, because we've seen how hard
Liam's had it this season. Everything that can go against
him has gone against. Remember he got two penalties in
(13:17):
Bahrain because that was the only way he was overtaking,
but was to just dive on the inside.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
But it shows intent and that's what I enjoy about
what I'm seeing here. He's not sitting back going I
lost my job to Yuki. Oh poor me. He's going right,
here's my right, here's my car. What can I do?
I got to drive its wheels off, And that's what
he's trying to do.
Speaker 7 (13:34):
That's the big thing, isn't it. If I'd be more
worried if he wasn't doing things like that, because then
you know he's not a racer, and we know.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
He's a raser.
Speaker 7 (13:40):
He's he's not a driver, He's a racer interested.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
In Ambushtappan though, and that first that off because I
look at that, well, there's a clear advantage towards he
pushed off. Did he drive himself off in the first place?
That's still very dice he as to whether he should
have given that place back or no.
Speaker 7 (13:55):
I absolutely thought that he was in the wrong there.
Oscar Pstree did deserve that place. That was such a
good win from oscopy Stree. That's the first time since
what katar last year that the driver that hasn't started
on poles won erase, which is an incredible run and
an incredible thing to do. If that's the clear advantage
that's given.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
In Pstree, let's look at where he's at at the
moment as well, like he's on the upper up. Do
you think they actually put team orders in McLaren because
they blew that last year.
Speaker 7 (14:18):
I nearly said a swear word just then to mad
Oscar pas three. I honestly think he could be one
of the greatest drivers we ever see in the sport.
I think he is so far in front of everyone else,
Barva Stappin. I think I see a lot of max
for Stappen and Oscar Pistro. I don't feel the same,
but the way they react and like there's stuff you
hear from Paddocks that this is going to get so
nerdy for someone to possibly edit out. But Pstree reacts
(14:39):
to the car in real time and gives feedback and
fixes things while he's driving without looking at any of
the data. And that is incredible.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
That's something that Liam Lawson does as well, like he's
picked up faults and simulators, which is extraordinary. Look, we
won't geek you out on it too much. We're going
to wait now for the next GP after three on
the bounce, but when push comes to shove, the new
generation coming through. There's a lot to like about these
young drivers. And if I'm an Alonzo or a Hamilton,
(15:08):
all those great names of the past, they think they
are great names for the past, and maybe it's time
to jog on. And I don't believe I've said that
about them anyway, should move on?
Speaker 7 (15:18):
Yes, for you to fame any other multiple world It wasn't.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
That was okay, fine, let's go to Porscha Woodman Wickcliffe,
Porscha double dub I wor great signing back for New
Zealand Rugby. We all knew it was going to happen.
I've just got turned away from the NRL. How big
is this for us?
Speaker 7 (15:36):
Huge? You look at the Black Ferns sevens and where
they've been really successful and it's having access to these
world class athletes like New Zealand rugby did have such
a head start on most other nations barring France and
England about having professionals in the fifteens game, but where
they did do it first with sevens and that's where
players like Porsche Wobin, like Sarah hid and he like
a Tyler what's Tyler Keg Now? Isn't it a Stacey Whiker?
Speaker 5 (16:00):
You know?
Speaker 7 (16:00):
And to have access to as many of them as
they can, it is only going to be a good
thing for this World Cup push.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
Well that's what the head of high performs for a
women had a port of. It's just before what's happening
now over the next few weeks months as they're desperately
trying to integrate the sevens and the fifteen so everybody
gets the best shot at the best athletes to keep
New Zealand's level up. Now, it's thirteen years ago that
sevens became professional. Fifteen's has only been professional for three years?
Speaker 7 (16:27):
Is it thirteen years ago?
Speaker 2 (16:29):
According to Hannah. I'm not going to say that she's lying.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
I don't think she is wetting.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
It's quite a disparity, isn't there. Really?
Speaker 7 (16:35):
I think that, especially when you compare to the women's gamers,
you have to acknowledge how much farther along the men's
game is. And like we say all this thing, but
we'll say we people say things like that it's the
superrugbio pick. He isn't as good to watch it was it? No,
because Super Rugby Pacific has had thirty years to get
that jump on it, you know, so you have to
appreciate Superobiopicky for what it is, and that's largely you're
(16:55):
going to learn through failure and they'll get this competition
wrong as many times as they get it right. But
just to put them back on you, though, do you
think this is fair that players like Porchelman come in
and take Spot like you look like a Braxton Science
and McGee of the Blue who for me, I don't
think I've been as excited about an his own rugby
player for a long time as I am about her.
And while I don't think any black fern spot will
(17:17):
be in jeopardy for her, for those other players it
might be, do you think that's the right call.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
It's long as it's stated clearly out in front of
the players and they know their expectations and their wants
and what they can settle into. And that's what we're
talking about with Hannah as well, how this actually gets
aligned in the future so that decision isn't there, so
they get paid, they know where they're going, no one's
standing on anyone's toes, and we get the best out
(17:43):
of our athletes, which arguably that's all we.
Speaker 7 (17:45):
Want, right Yeah, absolutely, I mean, just to go back
to the start poorsha Woodman. Wortcliffe is one of the
greatest rugby players to come from this country. You know,
she is on par with Jonah, with Dan, with Richie
that you recognize them by one name, you know, you
say Porsche, you don't need to say anything else. So
to have her in a World Cup, unless I remember
(18:06):
she missed largely missed that last Wild Cup, she's got
knocked out. Yeah, so she's going to want another crack
at it and to go and do three in a row.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
That's incredible. It will and the phalanx of other top
players that are going to join. It's a lot of
excitement around this upcoming defense. I might say it, although
I say that you don't defend it, you try and
want it again. But the Women's World Cup's going to
be huge. Alex Powell out of New Zealand Herald. As always,
thanks for your time and expertise.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
Thank you for having me nute.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
This is Sportsfix, your daily dose of sports news powered
by News Talks EB.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
And that's it for the Sports Fix podcast. Thanks very
much for listening. Don't forget our mates A GJ. Gardener
Homes New Zealand's most trusted home builders. If you like
more of this, but shows that you can talk back
in when you can, of course, Sports Talk between that
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(19:01):
as the whole shooting match. That's weekend Sports Saturday and
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Tell your friends, tell your family, tell the whole world,
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(19:22):
Thanks for joining us. Catch you again here tomorrow on
the Fix.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
For more from News Talks, ed B, Listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks. Ed be
follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
This is Sportsfix Howard by News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
It'd be wellcommand to the shortest of the shortest weeks.
This is the Sports Fixed, News Talk ZB Sporting podcast
or We Need to Know and bite size chunks around
the one of the wide world of sports. It is Tuesday.
It is the twenty second of April twenty twenty five.
My name is Darcy Waldgrave and coming up in this
(00:40):
program courtesy of our mates at GJ Garden the Holmes,
New Zealand's most trusted home builders. We've got Hannah Porter
joining us season New Zeland Rugby's head of women's high
performance as we talk about the integration of sevens and fifteens.
Of course, hot on the back of the news that
Porsche Woodman Wickcliffe is back in the fifteens back for
(01:01):
eight months. I've got some opinions around the glory of
Indian cricket and I will be joined in the chamber
by Alex Palell sportsmans journalists out of the New Zealand Herald,
as we look at some of the biggest sports stories
of the day, indeed of the weekend just gone. That's
what we plan on doing. So that indeed is what
(01:22):
we're going to do. Let's go in other news spitting
sport now poor shower Woodman at work Cliffe Mean's forth
known by this predictable but worthy name. In my opinion,
p double dub a game maybe not. She's back the
black Burns. She's keen on carrying on her deliance with
the thirteen Jersey. The electric pace of youth is we
(01:46):
a bit of a worry for it.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
I love seeing that people have got on the wing
chest and the start to field out right.
Speaker 4 (01:50):
But then I love winger because I have made before
and I'm a little bit more confidence in my positioning.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
So I like both positions.
Speaker 4 (01:57):
I really want to learn more since, especially on the international.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Stage, She's just signed an eight month contract to pull
her back in line with the black Ferns. Chris would
be all wives are Skipper and boss. Marksman has finally
scored again for a rare flat Patch and the NPL,
so of course the injury sustained at international level. The
Knots Forest striker scored his nineteenth goal this season as
(02:21):
Tottenham went down to one Forest manager Nuno Esprito Santo.
Wood's impact was significant and will continue to be so
as the drive for Champions League qualifying continues.
Speaker 5 (02:35):
This nasty injury that he had a national team push
him back lass week, we push him in the pitch,
but today I think physical back felt more comfort in
the pitch and we're going to need everything that he
agreed us to give us.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
And illegal international sports gambling is on the up and up.
Rebecca rolls At, CEO of New Zealand's Sport Integrity Commission, says,
our time zone makes us a perfect target.
Speaker 6 (03:01):
You don't play sport at a time in the rest
of the world to sleep those people who do want
to bet on something. We want to be able to
obviously do that Linella and the post of Australia playing
sports that time and say anything that's online or streams
or live in any way creates the market.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
And there's some sporting verbals for you.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
New Scandavidian It's Sportsfix with Dancie Valdegrave.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
We'll join now in the SPORTSFX podcast by anys On,
Rugby's head of women's high Performance, Hannah Porter. Hannah good Day,
Welcome to the show.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
Hey Darcy, how are you going.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
I'm going very well, probably not quite as good as
Porscha Woodman Wickler for ip double D as I like
to call it, which I probably shouldn't. But back into
the fold again of the black Ferns, which is massive
news for the defense of the Cup, but it does,
I suppose, bring more into perspective the nature of pathways
through to that top level with the way he because
(03:59):
from what I can gather right now, it's not exactly
straight forward from sevens maybe to league, the back to MPC,
maybe super rugbio opicky to the black ferns. Is there
a particular path that ends are are working on or
working with to get the best out of our way?
Speaker 4 (04:16):
In athletes, look, I think that there's different pathways. Right
there's those that have been professionals for thirteen years, which
is the likes of Porsche and and firstly just on
Porsche wrapped. To have her back in the fold show
we incredible if I obviously still needs to make the team,
but incredible in whatever kind of environment she's in, both
on and off the field. Brings a whole lot of
leadership and been there and done that mindset, which is
(04:39):
really helpful.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
Obviously when you're working on Pinnacle events.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
So there's the likes of how do we how do
we provide opportunities for those athletes that have been in
the game for a long time and it's not like
the men's game where at the end of their career
they go overseas and sit in southern France and earn
a bit of cash and drink some wine. So how
do we make sure that they get experiences in more
than one environment when they are playing. So that's that's
one part of the pathway, and the second part is
(05:04):
and we're still pretty young in it, if I'm honest,
So we've only been professional in the fifteen game.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
We're coming up.
Speaker 4 (05:09):
Three years now, so until three years ago, our pathways
were still very amateur.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
We're still FPC non paid.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
We're still going through kind of the under sixteens, under
eighteens in our provincial unions, which they've done an amazing job.
But what we're trying to do is turn that into
a high performance pathway. So it's really clear from when
you start at school, or you start at junior club,
or you come in from another sport at kind of
that younger age grade, what the steps are in the pathway,
and so we're two years into that and look really
(05:38):
pleased with we've got to We're in our third year
of our under twenties campaign, which is camp spased at
this stage. For the first year ever, we'll have an
under eighteen's campaign which will be camp spased this year.
We're going to combine coming up and we're just about
to announce something pretty exciting for our development athletes shortly
as well. So we are building it out, but it
(05:59):
has taken a little time.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Where do the sevens players fits into that. They're in
a different area but the same place, if that makes sense,
So where do they fit into this pathway? Is there
a direction for fifteens to move in to move back again,
trying to keep it separate. How does that combination exist?
Speaker 4 (06:18):
Yeah, so we've been pretty clear on I suppose our
intention that we want our very best players playing in
pinnacle events. So whether that be the Olympics or will
that be Rugby World Cups. We want our very best athletes,
so they could be playing sevens or fifteens. We think
we can transition between the two programs easily. We think
we've got the athletes that we can do that. So
if they're coming from sevens into fifteens or vice versa.
(06:39):
I think the difference with our sevens athletes is I
suppose what I mentioned to start off with that our
thirteen years professional and so fifteens is just catching up.
So what you see now is I suppose the transition
I think moving forward you'll see I suppose more of
a transition from our fifteens into the sevens campaign as
they catch up on professionalism, and the same with our
sevens into our fifteens.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
And it may not just be around Rugby World Cups.
Speaker 4 (07:02):
I think the change of the global calendar allows our
sevens athletes to come into fifteens easier than it has
done before, and so you might see again our very
best athletes not only just coming over at Rugby Cups
or Olympic events.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
You may see that transition happening more often.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Is that necessarily fair on the dedicated fifteens player that
run through for example, this year they run through Opiki,
They put on their work in there and then a
seven star just rolls in and swipes their position.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
We wouldn't class it as that.
Speaker 4 (07:31):
I think again, if we're really serious about winning Punic dance,
we need our best players. So I think in the
fifteens game, what you'll see is you'll have fifteen specialists
at athletes. But again we're three years into it. I
think we're still a cycle away, so we're full four
years away from I think having a really specialist fifteens
players that will only play fifteens, and then you'll have
a bunch of crossover athletes, but no different tolw knocking
(07:56):
on the door and asking for our players because they
are the best in the world at the moment.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
It's they're a want to draw of it in together
though from the players too, to have those things running
simultaneous sleep but still being able to combine as something
that players are interested in being engaged with.
Speaker 4 (08:14):
Yep, and we talk to them often about it, so
there is a real openness. I think Alan Bunting's done
an amazing job this year. Was I supposed to transparency
of our sevens athletes coming in. This is a third
time we've done it, this is a third World Cup
they've come in. Everyone's been really aware of the plan
to start off with. So there's real transparency within the
two groups of athletes. And you've got two groups of
(08:35):
athletes that want to do everything right, and not just
everything in rugby, but everything every woman's sport. You've got
some real, really motivated athletes that actually just want to
be the best they can be in a whole lot
of different things.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Dissecting the sporting agenda. It's Sportsfax with Darcy Waldgrave.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Wisdom's annual Cricket Bible is out this week. This is
the be all and end all when it comes to
the game of cricket on an annual basis, and boys,
it fired some shots through the writings predominantly of the
Wisdom editor Lawrence Booth. He's come out talking about the
World Test Championship, suggesting it is a shambles and I
(09:18):
quote the World Test Championship is a shambles masquerading as
a showpiece. He goes on to say that it feels
like it was designed on the back of a fag packet.
He is relentless when it comes to his attacks on
the man who is now controlling World cricket, the ICC chair.
(09:38):
His name is Jay Shah, who was formerly the Secretary
of the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The
Communal Shrug, writes Booth that met Shah's appointment confirmed a
sorry truth. Twenty twenty four was the year cricket gave
up any claim to being properly administered with checks, balances
and governance for the many, not the few. India already
(10:02):
had the monopoly. Now they have the hotels on Park
Lane and mayfair whether this will reverberate around the halls
of power, the ICC or the BCCI is yet to
be seen. In fact, the matter is that one of
the biggest voices in world cricket, the longest standing voices,
the most respected annual publication there is in this beautiful game,
(10:27):
has stood up and said enough is enough. India, you
can't control this anymore. It has to be a global game.
It has to be for the world. And when you
look at the World Test Championship and you look at
the situation that finds South Africa in the final, even
though they had a tiny diet of two match series
(10:50):
and they haven't faxed England nor Australia en route to
the final, it is a mess. And if you add
to that the chaos that was the Indian national men's
team refusing to play in Pakistan, therefore having the easiest
route through to the In the recent Champions Trophy. I
(11:11):
think it says enough about the control of world cricket
by the Indians. It has to stop.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
The Chamber is now in session on Sports Fix.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
That's a big welcommend to the Chamber. Two Alex Palell
sports news journalists out of the New Zealander Herald with
a ponchon for Formula one. Funny that that's why it's
in the studio. Hey, look, nothing happened yesterday. It was
a public holiday where here and now. And there's a
lot of stories as you would expect running around in
Formula one. The latest one let's talk about Liam Lawson
(11:42):
surprise surprise, what he got hit with in Saudi Arabia
at Jedda and how that'sat because Chris Reeves come up
with the story in the New Zealand held around that
of course you all I like a rash Alex.
Speaker 7 (11:55):
Yeah, I mean to go overlean. Lawson was hit by
a ten second penalty for an overtake on alpn's Jack
doing on the main strait going to turn one. He
actually overtakes him on the strait and then by the
time they get to the turn he's come from in front,
but he leaves the track and that's of course, and
a lot of instance that is a punishable offense. You
can't leave the track and gain advantage in doing so.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
He was, Well, the debate is did he actually get
an advanceage by leaving the track thing because he'd long
since passed doing right.
Speaker 7 (12:20):
That's part of it. But the other issue is that
Liam Lawson was with a ten second penalty. Max has
stappened at to losc A Piastre on lap one and
was given a five second penalty for the same offense
at the same spot on the track, And basically the
stewards have come out and said, well, we were more
leniar on maxis stapping because his was on turn one
or sorry lap one, turn one where you expected a
bit a bit of chaos. But I mean, I don't
(12:41):
know about you, but that doesn't sit right with me.
You've got to have consistency for these things.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
There isn't any There isn't any with the f A,
with Formula one, particularly how that looks. I think that
Liam's stomached that, But that was a place, wasn't it
ten seconds v? Five seconds? For him? Yeah?
Speaker 7 (12:56):
I mean, and they wouldn't have changed things too much.
He would have finished eleventh and still missed the points
by one place. But he needs to be finishing his
heart in the Grits again. He would have only been
won back from his teammate in that instance and said
he was two. But it's like you said, it's just
frustrating to watch, you know, because we've seen how hard
Liam's had it this season. Everything that can go against
him has gone against. Remember he got two penalties in
(13:17):
Bahrain because that was the only way he was overtaking,
but was to just dive on the inside.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
But it shows intent and that's what I enjoy about
what I'm seeing here. He's not sitting back going I
lost my job to Yuki. Oh poor me. He's going right,
here's my right, here's my car. What can I do?
I got to drive its wheels off, And that's what
he's trying to do.
Speaker 7 (13:34):
That's the big thing, isn't it. If I'd be more
worried if he wasn't doing things like that, because then
you know he's not a racer, and we know.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
He's a raser.
Speaker 7 (13:40):
He's he's not a driver, He's a racer interested.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
In Ambushtappan though, and that first that off because I
look at that, well, there's a clear advantage towards he
pushed off. Did he drive himself off in the first place?
That's still very dice he as to whether he should
have given that place back or no.
Speaker 7 (13:55):
I absolutely thought that he was in the wrong there.
Oscar Pstree did deserve that place. That was such a
good win from oscopy Stree. That's the first time since
what katar last year that the driver that hasn't started
on poles won erase, which is an incredible run and
an incredible thing to do. If that's the clear advantage
that's given.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
In Pstree, let's look at where he's at at the
moment as well, like he's on the upper up. Do
you think they actually put team orders in McLaren because
they blew that last year.
Speaker 7 (14:18):
I nearly said a swear word just then to mad
Oscar pas three. I honestly think he could be one
of the greatest drivers we ever see in the sport.
I think he is so far in front of everyone else,
Barva Stappin. I think I see a lot of max
for Stappen and Oscar Pistro. I don't feel the same,
but the way they react and like there's stuff you
hear from Paddocks that this is going to get so
nerdy for someone to possibly edit out. But Pstree reacts
(14:39):
to the car in real time and gives feedback and
fixes things while he's driving without looking at any of
the data. And that is incredible.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
That's something that Liam Lawson does as well, like he's
picked up faults and simulators, which is extraordinary. Look, we
won't geek you out on it too much. We're going
to wait now for the next GP after three on
the bounce, but when push comes to shove, the new
generation coming through. There's a lot to like about these
young drivers. And if I'm an Alonzo or a Hamilton,
(15:08):
all those great names of the past, they think they
are great names for the past, and maybe it's time
to jog on. And I don't believe I've said that
about them anyway, should move on?
Speaker 7 (15:18):
Yes, for you to fame any other multiple world It wasn't.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
That was okay, fine, let's go to Porscha Woodman Wickcliffe,
Porscha double dub I wor great signing back for New
Zealand Rugby. We all knew it was going to happen.
I've just got turned away from the NRL. How big
is this for us?
Speaker 7 (15:36):
Huge? You look at the Black Ferns sevens and where
they've been really successful and it's having access to these
world class athletes like New Zealand rugby did have such
a head start on most other nations barring France and
England about having professionals in the fifteens game, but where
they did do it first with sevens and that's where
players like Porsche Wobin, like Sarah hid and he like
a Tyler what's Tyler Keg Now? Isn't it a Stacey Whiker?
Speaker 5 (16:00):
You know?
Speaker 7 (16:00):
And to have access to as many of them as
they can, it is only going to be a good
thing for this World Cup push.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
Well that's what the head of high performs for a
women had a port of. It's just before what's happening
now over the next few weeks months as they're desperately
trying to integrate the sevens and the fifteen so everybody
gets the best shot at the best athletes to keep
New Zealand's level up. Now, it's thirteen years ago that
sevens became professional. Fifteen's has only been professional for three years?
Speaker 7 (16:27):
Is it thirteen years ago?
Speaker 2 (16:29):
According to Hannah. I'm not going to say that she's lying.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
I don't think she is wetting.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
It's quite a disparity, isn't there. Really?
Speaker 7 (16:35):
I think that, especially when you compare to the women's gamers,
you have to acknowledge how much farther along the men's
game is. And like we say all this thing, but
we'll say we people say things like that it's the
superrugbio pick. He isn't as good to watch it was it? No,
because Super Rugby Pacific has had thirty years to get
that jump on it, you know, so you have to
appreciate Superobiopicky for what it is, and that's largely you're
(16:55):
going to learn through failure and they'll get this competition
wrong as many times as they get it right. But
just to put them back on you, though, do you
think this is fair that players like Porchelman come in
and take Spot like you look like a Braxton Science
and McGee of the Blue who for me, I don't
think I've been as excited about an his own rugby
player for a long time as I am about her.
And while I don't think any black fern spot will
(17:17):
be in jeopardy for her, for those other players it
might be, do you think that's the right call.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
It's long as it's stated clearly out in front of
the players and they know their expectations and their wants
and what they can settle into. And that's what we're
talking about with Hannah as well, how this actually gets
aligned in the future so that decision isn't there, so
they get paid, they know where they're going, no one's
standing on anyone's toes, and we get the best out
(17:43):
of our athletes, which arguably that's all we.
Speaker 7 (17:45):
Want, right Yeah, absolutely, I mean, just to go back
to the start poorsha Woodman. Wortcliffe is one of the
greatest rugby players to come from this country. You know,
she is on par with Jonah, with Dan, with Richie
that you recognize them by one name, you know, you
say Porsche, you don't need to say anything else. So
to have her in a World Cup, unless I remember
(18:06):
she missed largely missed that last Wild Cup, she's got
knocked out. Yeah, so she's going to want another crack
at it and to go and do three in a row.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
That's incredible. It will and the phalanx of other top
players that are going to join. It's a lot of
excitement around this upcoming defense. I might say it, although
I say that you don't defend it, you try and
want it again. But the Women's World Cup's going to
be huge. Alex Powell out of New Zealand Herald. As always,
thanks for your time and expertise.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
Thank you for having me nute.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
This is Sportsfix, your daily dose of sports news powered
by News Talks EB.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
And that's it for the Sports Fix podcast. Thanks very
much for listening. Don't forget our mates A GJ. Gardener
Homes New Zealand's most trusted home builders. If you like
more of this, but shows that you can talk back
in when you can, of course, Sports Talk between that
seven and eight Monday to Fridays. Jason Pine's got it Monday,
I've got it Tuesday through till Friday, and then piney
(19:01):
as the whole shooting match. That's weekend Sports Saturday and
Sunday between twelve midday and three p If you've enjoyed
what you've heard, subscribe it now. That way, this will
come straight into your inbox on a week daily basis.
Tell your friends, tell your family, tell the whole world,
and hopefully they'll subscribe as well. I'm Darcy Walter Grave.
(19:22):
Thanks for joining us. Catch you again here tomorrow on
the Fix.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
For more from News Talks, ed B, Listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
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