April 7, 2025 • 42 mins
Jason Pine returns to recap a full day in the world of sport! Highlights for tonight include:
Rugby commentator Ken Laban on Moana Pasifika's back-to-back Super Rugby wins.
Piney's power rankings!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talk SEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Hello that on good evening and welcome in to Monday
night sports Talk on News Talk sad B. April seven,
daylight Saving all done, but darker, isn't it? But we're
here to brighten things up for you with an hour
of sport. I'm Jason Pine Show producers Andy McDonald. We
(00:43):
are here till eight. Speaking of bright sparks. What about
Morea Pacifica right now, it's been.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Defended so well so far, Tamia braks off, go back
to the lift, bustling it up, Sabia, can you get
the ball down?
Speaker 4 (00:54):
No?
Speaker 5 (00:54):
Just shaws if they can go?
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Now from st Over, how he's over the light type time.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
My water back to back wins for the first time,
just outside the top six and Super Rugby the competition's
real entertainers. Are they now genuine Super Rugby contenders? And
what has been behind this really impressive improvement by Mowana
(01:20):
Pacifica this year. Ken Laban on that shortly your thoughts,
welcome to on the rise and rise of Mowanna Pacifica
and where they might go and on a similar kind
of topic, where do the hearts and minds of Auckland
sports fans reside right now? We kind of chatted a
bit about this on Weekend Sport yesterday, didn't get the
(01:42):
chance to already delve into it, thought we might might
open that conversation again tonight with you know a number
of sports teams in the city. You can't go to
all of them. You know, what are you choosing? And
this doesn't just relate to Aucklanders. You look around the
country and you wonder, okay, what are you watching in
terms of you know, the teams from up there. There's
(02:03):
Auckland FC. Of course, there's the Warriors. They represent large
parts of the Warriors rips in the whole country. Auckland
FC one of two teams in the A League the
Super Rugby of course, what is it that you're watching?
And what is it that you're going along too? And
Monday Night of course means Piney's Power Rankings. We're going
to rate the best, the worst and the end between
bits from the Sporting Weekend and there's plenty of variety
(02:24):
for you. I can confirm our lines of communication never
close open right across the out oh eight hundred eighty
ten eighty will get you throw on the phone ninet
two nine two if you would like to send a
text message or an email and to me Jason at
Newstalk SEDB dot co dot ins bang on nine past seven.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
You hear it from the biggest names and sports men.
Have your sale sports Talk on your home of Sports News.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Talks b Slader's had a good game.
Speaker 6 (02:53):
On to Tyler.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
Oh my goodness, may the number it's gone all away,
so me see dood.
Speaker 5 (02:57):
Bo Tyler straight through passport offenders hed the numb right,
dot's down the crown of loving it times up to
Hona enter touch for Pellequini and there have won packed
to back.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Super Rugby days for the first time in franchise history.
They've blitzed the task in the second half. So when
forty five twenty eight at North Harber Stadium.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
And Nathan Lynn with the call on Saturday afternoon, Mowana
Pacifica have won consecutive games for the first time in
their history. They now sit on the cusp of Super
Rugby's top six after their historic win over the Crusaders
and christ Church last weekend. They came back from twenty
one to seven down at halftime on the weekend to
beat the Waratars forty five twenty eight. Let's bring in
(03:44):
long time commentator Ken Laban, who has a particular expertise
in Pacifica rugby can Thanks for joining us this evening.
What have you seen in overall terms from Mowana Pacifica
this season that's seen them pick up three wins, including
the last two back to back.
Speaker 7 (04:01):
Well, there was the biggest story in the offseason Windy
Jason when they signed Ardie Sai there arguably the top
loose forward in the world and also spent some time
with captain Emie or Blacks as well when Scott Barrow
was unavailable, So you know his influence on the field
and particularly Monday to Friday bring around some of those
(04:24):
players and giving them a necessary belief alongside as has
very very experienced for the IQ. You put that together
with a with a very good first five eight that
tanu Umanga has has recruited as well, and they're getting
good decisions made at the contact zone with they're being
dominant man, very good, very good decisions on the edge.
(04:47):
With that with the five eight Peroline who's been tabulous.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
What about the way that they're playing in terms of
meshing the typical and traditional sorry Polynesian flare with ball
in hand, with the structure needed to consistently compete with
the best sides in super rugby.
Speaker 7 (05:05):
Well, they've beaten three teams that are ahead of them
on a table and that doesn't happen unless you can
dominate the middle, dominate the line or whatever you want
to call it, or dominate the contact area. So that's
the first thing is that they need to take care
of business around there, whether they take the ball into
contact and where the opposition take the ball into contact.
And they have been very aggressive and very physical, in fact,
(05:27):
almost a carbon copy of what the Blues were last
year and it's working from one plusificer. And on the
back end of that, they're having some very very smart
decisions made about when they kick and when they run
in their pass election as well. And as you know,
coming down coming from twenty one to seven down against
the team with the experience of the Warrior tis what
(05:48):
have they got? Fourteen internationals and the team is a
fabulous performance and they are probably you know, they're not
their by a long shot, but they're definitely building for
the future.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
What have you made of kind of Umanu's development as
a rugby coach.
Speaker 7 (06:07):
Well, you know the brutal world of assessment of professional
sport plenty as you know, well, it's all about the numbers.
Then as you say, they sit, you know, so they're
three wins on I reckoning six wins, six wins will
give you inside the six seven, eight wins potentially will
we'll get you, We'll get you into the top four.
(06:30):
So based on based on how they're tracking, on how
they're tracking. Now he's doing he's doing a terrific job.
And you've got to understand as well, people forget pretty
quickly that they were in they you know, they weren't
always able to get ECO access to every player on
the market when they came into the competition. So it
wasn't like the Phoenix or Auckland FC, or the Melbourne
(06:52):
Storm or the Dolphins who essentially if they had the
money they could buy whoever they want. They were denied
the players that were already contracted to to Super Rugby,
so they had to start a long way back behind Abel. Obviously,
the exception to that has been the recruitment of of
Ardie Savia and and if the rumors that we hear
(07:13):
are true about what Richie moong is going to do
when he's done in Japan? You know they had they
could potentially be at the beginning of something very very special.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Are you hearing richiemi Wonga to Mouana PACIFICA?
Speaker 7 (07:24):
We not did that? Mate?
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Well? I have, but I just wondered how much credence
there was to it. But if you're saying it, then
it adds a lot more weight to it.
Speaker 7 (07:32):
Well, if you had to ask me, if you ask,
if you would ask anybody minor plus figure, if you
had to recruit a player, who would you go for?
Will it beat him? Wouldn't it?
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Well? Absolutely? I just I didn't know whether the whether
everything would match up to make it happen. I guess
I just assumed the Crusaders would be the team that
he would go back to. But goodness me, can you
imagine Richie moonger and they're more under pacifica shit? And
what about yeah? What about others? Can I mean there
must be others who see what's happening there and think, wow,
maybe I want a piece of that.
Speaker 7 (08:02):
Yeah, exactly. Well, you know, you look at the lives
of Stevenson, Mark t let Tavia Tava, Nawai, Peter and
Thomas U Munger Jensen h Richie, you know Titi, you
know Dalton, Dalton, Papali to Plou, Isaac Walkerley a Wedde
(08:24):
Who's party g and Parmori from Nati Purou. And you
know you're limited by you may suffer more. You're limited
by imagination potentially on on what they could have if
they're able to secure the resources and the necessary money
to make it attractive. Then obviously we're Tana being the
conduit near his knowledge of the game, his knowledge of
(08:45):
the Moldi and Pat speaker communities, as well as the
access to the players and the status in the game.
He's all of those things in his favor. And of
course Addie Savia wouldn't have found a minor part speaker
if it wasn't for Talma. So if there's anybody in
there's anybody in world Rugby that can secure an opportunity
for for Richie Moore or when he's done in Japan,
(09:07):
Tana Umana will be in that conversation.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
I guess they also too have to have to find
the balance, don't they can, and that they are also
a side that develops young emerging PACIFICA talent, and I
look at miracle Fai Alungi as an example of that.
I mean, I know he's not you know, he's emerged already,
hasn't he. But they'll they'll have to still find the
balance between providing opportunities for younger players.
Speaker 7 (09:31):
Yes, well, I guess well all of the teams, all
of the teams have got under twenty programs and they've
all got partway programs, and their players outside of the
top twenty three will have to be more have to
be in the system somewhere. So he would be very
Tana will be very mindful. That would be very mindful
of that. Well, but the bottom line and professional sport
(09:52):
is that you paid to win. Tanna understands that more
than anyone, and based on how they've started the twenty
twenty five campaign, they're well untrue, they're well on track
to make the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
I look at the stat that jumps out at me,
ken more, I want to Pacific I have scored the
most points this season, but they've also conceded the most points.
So if you're a neutral going along to a Malana
PACIFICA game, you're going to get entertainment? Is that something
though that that Tina will have to look at the
number of points they have conceded.
Speaker 7 (10:22):
Yeah, potentially, although I did read a stat a couple
of years ago, Jason where at one point it was
something like seventy two percent of Super Rugby titles had
been one with the team with the best attack at
the end of the Super Rugby round Robin and the
Crusaders particularly, they've probably never got the credit for how
(10:43):
good they were on attack. They were somehow typecast of
some kind of do aside who played this brand of
South Island rugby with a natural figure. You look closely
at the numbers, they scored more trinds and more points
than anyone rights through the round rights through their heyday.
So Tanah obviously will have some concerns about defensively how
(11:03):
many points they can see, but he'd be very happy
that they're the best tacking side of the comp knowing
what influence that has had in terms of success for
other teams in the past.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Do you think they are a Super Rugby title contender
this year?
Speaker 7 (11:17):
Well, they've beaten in the Crusaders, who are going to
be you know there, everybody's picked to be in the
top four. They beat the Hurricanes who won the round
robin last year, and they beat the Warriatas who by
some measure, you know, some people would ever believe that
they're the best Australian franchise couven they benefited the most
from the demise of the Rebels. So based on there's
(11:38):
three victories against teams ahead of them on the table,
all favored to be in and around the top four,
they are capable of making some noise in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
And just to finish, what about the hearts and minds
of rugby fans in Auckland Ken because this weekend it's
Blues the more Wanda Pacifica at Eden Park. Are we
in a situation where there might be more support for
more Ana Pacifica than the Blues on Saturday?
Speaker 7 (12:02):
Yeah, well, no franchise has done more for Pacifica rugby
than the Blues and Auckland historically they've always said a
fabulous pas figure base. Then I think that what Moana,
what mine have done all? You know, I think they're
just crystallized, crystallized that support and you know half half
(12:24):
of both teams are related to each other anyway, that's
the irony of it all, you know. That's that's the
thing we love about support. There's no family enough friends
on the field. You know, you're best at crap out
of each other and hug it out after. So it'll
be a great event on the on the weekend for sure.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
Absolutely great catching up with you, Ken, Thanks for leading
us your insight. Really appreciate it.
Speaker 7 (12:43):
It was a pleasure mate.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
Good on you, Ken, Ken Laban there joining us on
Sports Talk with some really interesting fourteen Perhaps a little
bit of a scoop there as well, just on the
Richie more on the thing i'd heard those roomors. I
think we probably all have you hear stuff like that
all the time. Don't you always going to go to
Morna Pacifica, uh, Ken Laban saying it gives it a
(13:04):
lot more credibility and it makes you think you're chanced
to react now, oh eight hundred and eighty ten eight
he can to open the lines on Winna Pacifica and
all things associated with this with this rugby team that
is just doing brilliant things right now. But Artie Savier's
move to Winer Pacifica could well be a game changer,
(13:25):
not just this year but moving forward. It could be.
As you know, if we teleport ourselves ten years into
the future and look back for a pivotal moment in
the life of this franchise, it may well be twenty
twenty five and Ardie Savier's decision to play for Wier Pacifica.
He's always said, always that he wants to give back
(13:48):
to Pacifica rugby. He's got some more heritage through his parents.
Now he couldn't do it by playing for some more
because he's all in with the All Blacks, But by
going to Mona Pacificer he has lifted every other player
in that team. Imagine walking out onto a rugby field
(14:10):
and seeing that bloke leading you out of the tunnel.
You just do everything you could for him, wouldn't you.
He elevates everybody around him, and by going there, he's
open the way for others to follow suit. Now, the
current rules are that Moner pacific Art can have up
to three New Zealand Rugby contracted players on their books,
(14:34):
so three, in other words, they could take Artie and
two more from super rugby teams if they so chose,
And you feel, don't you that the way they're going
at the moment, they are a rugby team that players
want to play for or would want to play for.
(14:55):
Since they've been around, and it hasn't been that long,
I don't think that they are such that they were
such an attractive proposition. In fact, I think a lot
of people when Artie went there, thought what's he doing?
In terms of a rugby sense. Everybody understood the reason
he went from his motivation to reconnect with his some
own heritage and give back to some mon in Pacific rugby.
(15:17):
But I think there was there was a lot of
speculation about whether or what it would do to his rugby.
So he's proven that wrong, hasn't he because he, as
per usual, has been the best player on the park
most of the time he plays the game of rugby,
(15:38):
so that fear has been dispelled. Again. You can't put
it entirely at the feet of one bloke, but ardisa
Ve's contribution absolutely pivotal, as I say, to this franchise,
because there is no doubt, no doubt that mon apecific
box office. Right now, when you look at the fixtures
(16:00):
for the weekend, if you're anything like me, you look
for your team, when's your team play? And then right
now I'm looking for Winner Pacifica. When are they playing?
Because I want to watch that game, and that didn't
used to be the case. Didn't used to be the
case at all it is now. So what are you
(16:22):
sensing from Mourner Pacifica And what about this Richie more
organ news? Have you heard this? Like I say, I
mean i'd heard this. I just assumed that there was
just you know, social media chat. Oh yeah, Richie, you'll
come to Richie'll come to you know, he'll come to
Ona Pacifica. You know, I just always assumed to go
(16:43):
back to the Crusaders. But then you think, well, the
bloke who kept him mainly at the Crusaders was Scott
Robertson and he's all blacks coach. Now, imagine Richie coming
back to Mojuna Pacifica because they got a pretty decent
first five there now and Patrick Palegrini. But then you think, well,
you know he's good, but he ain't Richie Morner. Oh
(17:03):
eight hundred and eighty ten eighty nine two nine to
If you would like to send a text, let's talk
about this team, what you've seen from them, and what
they might do. I still don't know whether I feel
as though they're their title contenders this year, but then
at the start of the year I didn't have them
anywhere near the top six at all, and now they're
(17:24):
just two points away. They've got the blues Necks, then
the Brumbies, then the Fiji and Drewer there'll be another
great contest. They've already beaten the Hurricanes, they've beaten the Crusaders,
and they've beaten the Watertas. In fact, the games that
they lost, and Peter has made this point on text,
the games they lost were narrow margins. They only lost
(17:47):
to the Force by one point, they only lost to
the Highlanders by two, so with a small degree of luck,
they could have won five out of six. They're also,
as I say, the competition's entertainers. Body has scored more
(18:07):
points than they have. Nobody has conceded more points than
they have. But Ken's made a very good point there.
He said, the team who wins Super Rugby is normally
the team that scores the most points, not necessarily the
one that concedes the fewest. They always say that defense
wins championships, right, but I don't know whether that is
(18:29):
true necessarily in Super rugby. Yes, you have to concentrate
on your defense. But if the stat that Ken brought
up is true, and I've got no reason to suggest
that it's not, then maybe it is. I mean, minor
Pacifica just say, look, if you want to get thirty,
we'll get forty. I mean that game against the Force.
The first two games they got eighty points and lost
(18:51):
them both. So yeah, they got forty five last the weekend,
just gone forty five. The week before that, even when
they lost the Chiefs, they got thirty five points. Let's
talk some more wit a Pacific on helloeen.
Speaker 4 (19:05):
Good, ay there, Jason, how are you mate? Long time
since I spoke to you, mate, I've I've got to
try and call him again one of these saturdays again.
How are your mate?
Speaker 2 (19:14):
A right, I'm very ill. And you know you're always
welcome and even if you even if you aren't there
for a little while, you're always welcome back. It's good
to hear your voice.
Speaker 4 (19:23):
Your program is all I love for now. Jason.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
That can't be right, No, that can't be right. There's
other good things in your life.
Speaker 4 (19:32):
I know that, Yeah, definitely, But you're the boy. Hey,
listen about Tama. Look he had a bit of a
rough spim with the Blues when he was coaching. I
do remember pieces in the paper about it, and h
might have been the herald actually year and he sort
(19:54):
of fell down a wee bit there. But this guy,
he was a hell of an all Black Jason, because
that's the guy I used to watch a lot on
the big games and he was my player. And he
comes not just because he comes from Wellington made. Listen,
he could come from Taranaki and be the same thing.
But no, he's he's done something there. I can't quite
(20:17):
put my finger on it. But as you said to
Ken Layman earlier on on your speech tonight, that guy
knows something about rugby can And also I'm giving Tanner
that we can make it to the you know, to
the four, the finals or something like that, because I've
(20:38):
got some money off them. They're doing, you know, good
for me in the money side of it. I mean
I got a big lot of them when they played
the Hurricane, so you know, I mean your team has
had a little bit of a up and down, Jase,
but they're all rugby teams made to me.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
Yeah, good on you, and look it's good to hear
your voice again, mate. Thanks for calling in.
Speaker 4 (20:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
Look, I was disappointed when my Hurricanes lost to Minor Pacifica,
just as I'm disappointed when my team lose to any
It loses to anybody, as every sports fan should be.
Look much as you like Mina Pacifica, you still chair
for your own team when they play against you, but
you cheer for them when they play another team. As
I was on the weekend, I said to Ryan Bridge
(21:20):
earlier today. When I left the studio on Saturday at
the end of my weekend sports show, it was halftime
in that game and the war Retars were twenty one
seven up, and I thought, Ah, that is such a
shame that they couldn't kick on Wina Pacifica from what
they did against the Crusaders in christ Church a week ago.
Such a shame that, you know, the consistency thereafter has
eluded them. Well, I checked back once once I hit
(21:43):
the opportunity about it now later and that scored what
thirty thirty eight points in the second half and won
at forty five twenty eight, So they did manage it.
The game against the Crusaders was based on an eighty
minute effort. The game against the Warritars clearly a forty
minute effort. But if they're forty minutes is good enough
(22:04):
to beat the war Retars. You know, if they can
continue to look for that consistency and find it, then
they are a match for anybody, including the Blues. This
weekend at Eton Park. A couple on text here before
we go to a break spear line, if you want
to jump on eight hundred and eighty ten eighty Ton
of Umanga says this one also has a strong coaching
(22:25):
group around him. Yep, without a doubt as to all
these super rugby franchises, they're not just about their their
head coach. The Chiefs aren't just about Clayton McMillan. They've
got a lot of very wise heads in that coaching box.
I love I love it when they go into the
coaching box on the TV coverage and you see the
different emotions during a game, but certainly after a game,
(22:47):
you know, the coaching box, the Whitor pacifica coaching box.
Certainly after the Crusaders game and again on the weekend
after the Warritars game, there were some very very happy
coaches in there. But then you now getting to the
point where they're not just happy and elated to win games.
The Crusaders was a bit of an outlier. Had you know,
I hadn't ever down there. You know, big team, big win.
(23:09):
I guess the Warritors are like, okay, yep, cool, we're happy,
but we're not absolutely elated because we got more work
to do. Richard says the Drewer must be the biggest
disappointment of the season. I totally agree, Richard. I think
the Fiji and Drawer have gone the other way. You
know there's a team that in the last couple is well,
they made the top eight last year, didn't they They they
made the quarter finals and their magic power was winning
(23:34):
at home. Well, the Crusaders went up there, good team
and went up there on the weekend. How many games
of the Drewer won the season one? I think yeah, one.
They've won one game and lost six for a team
that last year, as I say, they were seventh last year,
they had six wins out of their fourteen games last year.
(23:56):
The Drewer season before that, they made the top eight
with six wins from eight in their debut season not
quite as good. But the last two seasons the Fiji
and Drewer have been a playoff team Mowana Pacifica have
not it's flipped. It's flipped to be Yeah, there's some
(24:16):
thinking to do for the Fiji, And Drewer steven says,
I've got some reliable noise that two Port veighty is
going to Mawana Pacifica. He would be another very good
acquisition for them. And one here great insights from Ken Laban,
another star Scott's College old boy. Yes he is proud Wellingtonian,
proud man from Wanuiya Mutta closely tied to Scott's College
(24:37):
as well, of course, and just an all round good bloke.
Speaker 6 (24:40):
Really.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
Oh eight hundred and eighty ten eighty, let's talk some
more Iner Pacifica. Got some time in the next five
ten minutes or so if you'd like to jump on, oh,
eight hundred eighty ten eighty or nine two nine to
two one text back after this.
Speaker 1 (24:50):
The great call is your call on, Oh eight hundred
and eighty ten eighty Sports Talk call on your home
of Sports News Talk, Zibby.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
News Talks and Sports Talk twenty six away from eight
Pinty's Power rankings to come upfore. Eight bit of time
to talk from rugby though, and actually I want to
just get your view in a minute on crowds and
who people in the Auckland region and around the country
actually are focusing their attention on. If you were to
create a pecking order in your mind, what is it
(25:20):
that you're watching just on wine to PACIFICA though. I
spoke to head coach Tana Umanga on Weekend Sport a
week ago after the win over the Crusaders, and I
listened back to that chat today to see if what
he had said kind of resonated given the fact that
they came out the next week Saturday is gone and
one again. I asked them the same thing I asked
(25:41):
Ken really, which was about blending the pacifica flair with
the structure needed for consistency and how hard they'd been
working on that. Here's ten to last Sunday.
Speaker 8 (25:53):
You know, we know we can play the game, we
know we're exciting to watch and traditionally that's an US.
But we also know what the coaching group and the
playing group and the leadership that we have that we
can't just rely on that win games. And we want
to be more than just a teend that everyone loves
watching and a highlight real team. We want to be
(26:14):
a team that is consistent and can put out performances
that people are proud of, not losing sight of who
we are and what we can do. And we know
we've got that, but we want to show exactly what
you talked about around our work creating those effort areas
and also you know, the detail around what good teams
do to win games. And I think you know you
(26:36):
saw a bit of that last night, and it's great
to hear people talk around our work create not just
the flair that we naturally bring to games has.
Speaker 2 (26:43):
Done Umaga, who I also asked about whether the Crusaders
win would become a blueprint for them moving forward with
regard to the things he'd just talked about there.
Speaker 8 (26:56):
Yeah, we've had the blueprint for a while, as you know,
putting that plan in place, adhering to the plan, trusting
the plan it and you know, just you know, for
us as it's combining the emotion we have and all
that energy that we want to do well and understanding
that you know, we do this for a bigger purpose
(27:19):
than just ourselves as a group. But we've got to
channel that energy somewhere and channel channel it in a
way that you know, we're all doing it all doing
it for the same reason. And you know, as we
see we sing off the same hymn sheet, because we
know when we do that, when we channel that energy
(27:41):
in the right places at the right times, and as
a collective, then you know, we know we can get
more more results like we did last night.
Speaker 2 (27:49):
That is kind of among us speaking a week ago.
And so it proved the blueprints, while not necessarily completely
followed against the war Atars, particularly in the first half,
did come to fruition in the second. I've had a
pointed out to me by producer Andy and also a
couple of texts that the Drewers only win this season
was against the Chiefs, who have stuff at their only
(28:13):
loss against the drew That game was up in Latoka,
which look like I said, they tend to be far
more difficult to beat at home than away. But the
Crusaders went up there on the weekend, a place that
never won nothing. They lost two games up there last
couple of seasons, and they were able to get the win.
I thought to myself, Okay, was that a Chief side?
(28:33):
Did they? Did? They do the old they We're not
going to send our full team, but you look at
the team they put out that day. In it, you know,
it's all the stars are there. Damien McKenzie was injured,
he didn't go. He was the one exception. But the
back line was still you know, Cortez Latima, all black,
Josh Jacob highly promising, first five, Quinta pie Antonin, Lennont
(28:57):
brann and midfield both all blacks, Carter Rona and Nadawah.
The back three still pretty good side in terms of
the backs, the Fords, Norris Torcao all black, Dias tell We,
Rick at Vay all black female, all black Bowcheer and Tupor.
It's still a good side they put out. So I
don't know what's going on with the drewer. They probably
wish they knew what was going on with the drawer.
(29:20):
The other thing I wanted to mention was around crowds,
the holy grail of sports administrators' lives. How you get them,
how do you engage them, how do you keep them?
How do you grow them? These are the things that
occupy the minds I'm sure of upper management at all
(29:42):
elite sports teams. Yes they have to get sponsorship dollars,
Yes they have to get the best broadcast, The often
that's done above them, but crowds, fans bums on seats
one of the biggest KPIs, if we can call it that,
of sporting organizations. And again over the weekend there were
(30:04):
some stark contrast when it came to the crowds that
turned up for the elite sporting fixtures that were available.
Saturday night Eden Park Blues v Hurricanes, one of the
marquee fixtures of any Super Rugby season, a couple of
(30:24):
rivals from way way way back, even to the Auckland
v Wellington days, a couple of exciting sides chock full
of all blacks, always seemed to put on a show.
Love to run the ball, love to play entertaining rugby.
If you're going to turn up to watch a game
of Super Rugby in Auckland and you looked at the
fixture list and you chose one, you might have chosen
that one Blues v Hurricanes. And yet only eight or
(30:50):
nine thousand made the trip to Eden Park to watch
that game on Saturday night. Meantime, across town at go
Media Stadium, the new Boys on the bloc, Auckland FC,
with no history at all to draw on, attracted eighteen
and a half thousand for their game in the A
(31:13):
League against the Western Sydney Wanderers. Now I know there
are other things at play here. One is the kickoff
time five o'clock for the football, seven o'clock for the
rugby five o'clock, clearly a lot more palatable for families.
Another one is the ground, because try as you might,
(31:35):
it's really hard to mount an argument that Eden Park
is a good place to watch a game of rugby.
Its shape is wrong. You know, it can never be
as good as a rectangular ground. You're thirty forty to
fifty meters back from the action at go Media Rectangular.
You're right there, right on top of the players. The
(31:57):
atmosphere is always going to be a lot better. Now,
I don't think it's got anything at all to do
with the rugby itself. Think Super Rugby is as good
as it has ever been in terms of the product
on the pitch, the rugby that has been played, and
as we've said many many times, the evenness of the
(32:19):
competition now and Mowana Peceifica are a great example of this.
You really don't know from week to week who's going
to win the games. Tipping competitions are so difficult at
the moment. With Super Rugby, you simply cannot pick winners
from week to week because it is so even, and
that is one of the hallmarks of any great sporting competition.
(32:44):
The other thing is the broadcast of the games that
rugby is broadcast on television is world class. Here what
Sky sported doing for me is the equal of any
TV coverage of any sport anywhere in the world. And
maybe that's part of it. Just too easy to stay
home and watch it. But I think I think the
Blues have just been unable to do something which Auckland
(33:08):
FC and the Warriors have been able to, and that
is to engage their fan base and make being there everything,
because I think too many rugby fans are deciding, you
know what, I'll watch it from home on the couch
because I don't have enough reason to go along. Now
(33:28):
commit that to say Auckland FC and the Warriors, where
if you don't go to a game, you have that fomo,
that fear of missing out. Being there is everything, and
I think that's what the Blues and probably a few
of the other Super Rugby franchises have to create among
their fan bases a sense that unless you are actually there,
(33:49):
you are not getting the full experience. Tough one, but
as one they have to face head on because it
is a crowded sporting market and there's only so much
discretionary income to go around. So engage your fans or
(34:09):
continue to look at empty stands. I think that's probably
the easiest way to look at it. Got a few
minutes for a few more calls if you would like
to pick up the phone at eight hundred and eighty
ten eighty nine, two ninety two on text on email
from Leon Piney. I was listening to you guys this
morning on the Breakfast Show and throughout the day and
(34:31):
was somewhat surprised not even a mention was made of
our black Ferns. Over the weekend they won the Singapore leg,
thrashing Australia in the final and also winning the overall title.
We expect excellence from them and that consistently deliver the results.
I have to wonder that because they are so good
at what they do, we tend to take them for granted.
I feel their off and overlooked because we expect them
to win every time. The team and the coaching staff
(34:51):
at the top of their game and have a real
family feel about them both on and off the field.
These women are wonderful ambassador for our country. Let's give
them their flowers today when you release your power rankings,
all right, Leon, Well, let's see where they rank on
the power rankings when we get there. Richard, Hi, how's
it going good? Thank you? Richard.
Speaker 9 (35:09):
I was just ringing up about my I've fingted lots
and lots of Blues games yep, with kids, and just
recently been to I think three AFC games with my
son I made of mine and his kids, and they
just sort of what they've worked out is everybody's having
a good time. So there were two young girls who
(35:29):
are probably eleven. They just went off and they went
on the ferris wheel and had candy flocks and that.
The two boys they hung out with us till halftime
and they went behind behind the goal at the northern end.
Seems to be a big social area for kids and
they go and watch the soccer from the air and
bump into friends from school and me and my mate
we just hung out and had a couple of beers. So,
(35:51):
I mean, everybody was catered for and if you didn't
like the soccer or whatever, it was just a really
good day out and the other massive drivers. There's thousands
and thousands of kids playing soccer in Auckland and that's
what's driving my whole movement to football. And it's just powerful.
And when you go along there, it's all families, it's girlfriends,
(36:13):
it's mums, that's kids, and I've all got the shirts on.
Speaker 2 (36:18):
Yeah, they've very quickly created a community having they Richard
And yeah, from what you say there, I mean i'd
imagine that that what you've outlined there for you, you know,
your kids to go off and you know, and and
do other things when the game is on just doesn't
exist at Eden Park.
Speaker 9 (36:35):
No, I think most of most of the time I've
taken and maybe my sons aren't mad on rugby, but
they're just sort of get bored at where. I don't
know the AFC has somehow worked out everyone's having any
good time. I don't know how they've done. They're for everyone. No, it's.
Speaker 2 (36:55):
Yeah, yes they have, Yes they have, that's part of it,
of course, but yeah, but you're still got to you're
still got to spend it in the right places. And
I think You're right, Richard. They have They've they've created
a match to experience that people want to come back to.
You know a number of people I've heard say they
come to a game and go when's the next one?
For a variety of reasons. If their fans, their families,
they're just you know, they're just there for the occasion.
It's a it's a cool place to be, I think.
Speaker 9 (37:18):
Yeah, Tom and Richard.
Speaker 2 (37:20):
Thanks for your called make drive safe. Thirteen away from eight.
All right, let's take a break. When we come back,
it'll be Piney's Power Rankings for the night. Our rankings
Monday night time to rate the weekend. Piney's Power Rankings
rating the best, the worst, and the in between. Bits
(37:41):
from our sporting weekend. Let's go the Bay Oval flood lights.
They're timing impeccable.
Speaker 1 (37:49):
You know it's on here, don't you.
Speaker 3 (37:51):
Oh my goodness, they could not have cut out of
the way hardness.
Speaker 2 (37:56):
Oh that is serifying for the better. Well, this game
has got it all. Even the lights have given up
on it. Yeah, are blackout? A bit dangerous but quite
comical when it happened nine the Penrith Panthers four straight losses.
Speaker 10 (38:11):
The Cowboys have won for the second week in a row.
They've taken down the four time Chaps.
Speaker 2 (38:19):
Something not quite right there at the foot of the
Blue Mountains. Eight is Harry Potter. No, No, not that one,
this one.
Speaker 10 (38:28):
Nick White left running ball out into the center field
at Joe's. It's with Will Harris, Will Harris to Ben
Donaldson to Harry Potter and Harry Potter. It's gonna score
in the left hand corner and they hit the front.
Speaker 2 (38:42):
Here his wizardry leading the Western Force into the top four.
Speaker 1 (38:46):
Seven.
Speaker 2 (38:47):
Seven, the Blues.
Speaker 11 (38:49):
Prestige asking if it's time, and Giscarda says it is.
Speaker 1 (38:52):
He kicks it over the touch and the Blues.
Speaker 8 (38:55):
Hang on by one.
Speaker 2 (38:56):
Unconvincing, but they landed a much needed win over my Hurricanes.
Speaker 6 (39:01):
Six.
Speaker 2 (39:02):
Stay with me here, Bodily Fluids and Formula One drivers.
First of all, David Coulthard on the show yesterday talking
about being in a Formula One car for the first time.
Speaker 7 (39:15):
I was a puppy and aped in the carpet.
Speaker 2 (39:18):
And Max for step and talking about the Red Bull
car at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Speaker 6 (39:23):
If you want to drive the car and can give
it a go, I think you're gonna pook your pants.
Speaker 2 (39:27):
I'm not quite sure what has caused this fascination among
Formula one drivers. Five five has Ben Sears with back
to back five wicket bags.
Speaker 6 (39:37):
He's got one last chance, that is up and that
is out, and he's done it. Back to back five
wicket bags for Benceysir terrific stuff.
Speaker 2 (39:49):
A new Black Caps star growing before our eyes. Alexander Ovichkin,
the chasing Daser done.
Speaker 3 (39:57):
Alex Solvitchkin is the greatest gold.
Speaker 2 (40:00):
Scorer in the history of the NHL, going past the
great one Wayne Gretzky, stamping his name into n HL history.
A worthy record for an ice hockey legend. But Max
for stepping again, this time on the race track.
Speaker 3 (40:17):
Max for stapping started first, finish first, never in doubts.
Speaker 7 (40:23):
That's perfection, just perfection, fus fantastic.
Speaker 2 (40:29):
Not much more to say. A weekend that could hardly
have gone better for Max for stepping two, two and
down a place from last week. Mowana, Pacifica and.
Speaker 3 (40:40):
From Pellequini have won Vector Bax Super Rugby Dame for
the first time in franchise history.
Speaker 2 (40:46):
You have plenty of chat on the show tonight about
Mighty Mawana Pacifica marching on, but they are not number one.
Number one tonight the Black Fern sevens continuing to set
the standard for sevens rugby line.
Speaker 6 (41:06):
Well, I need not entertained and museum and hut Shandians
in Singapore again.
Speaker 2 (41:13):
I just realized I never found room for Sammy Maxwell.
I should have put Sammy Maxwell in there somewhere, but
I think there might be more success ahead for her.
How do you feel about the ten to one rankings tonight.
Speaker 11 (41:23):
Well, you see, Piney, I've worked it out. Formula one
drivers cool tards and the staff in both Red Bull
drivers Red Bull of course contain laxatives. You know what
happens there and sort of help you see your business
in the morning. If you get where I'm going with
that one, I do.
Speaker 2 (41:41):
And maybe we should stop there because I think it's
feed over explained already, probably worth leaving that behind. I
think you're I think you're right. Find his power rankings
back next Monday. You're coming up three to eight final.
A couple of texts on crowds et cetera, David says
you have to cater for kids. Adults are easy to please.
Kids are happy, parents are happy. Thanks David. But another
(42:01):
one through here that says Jason General fans like the
earlier kickoff times like four and five pm as well.
It's not all about families. Yes, indeed, thanks indeed for
all your CAUs and correspondent tonight. Thanks for listening in.
Thanks to any McDonald for producing Marcus lashes Up next,
take you through the rest of Monday. We're back on
weekend sport this coming Saturday. There's another huge weekend of
(42:23):
all sorts of action comes our way. Thanks for tuning in.
Every next long week see us said Date.
Speaker 1 (42:30):
For more from sports Talk. Listen live to News Talk
Said B from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talk SEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Hello that on good evening and welcome in to Monday
night sports Talk on News Talk sad B. April seven,
daylight Saving all done, but darker, isn't it? But we're
here to brighten things up for you with an hour
of sport. I'm Jason Pine Show producers Andy McDonald. We
(00:43):
are here till eight. Speaking of bright sparks. What about
Morea Pacifica right now, it's been.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Defended so well so far, Tamia braks off, go back
to the lift, bustling it up, Sabia, can you get
the ball down?
Speaker 4 (00:54):
No?
Speaker 5 (00:54):
Just shaws if they can go?
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Now from st Over, how he's over the light type time.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
My water back to back wins for the first time,
just outside the top six and Super Rugby the competition's
real entertainers. Are they now genuine Super Rugby contenders? And
what has been behind this really impressive improvement by Mowana
(01:20):
Pacifica this year. Ken Laban on that shortly your thoughts,
welcome to on the rise and rise of Mowanna Pacifica
and where they might go and on a similar kind
of topic, where do the hearts and minds of Auckland
sports fans reside right now? We kind of chatted a
bit about this on Weekend Sport yesterday, didn't get the
(01:42):
chance to already delve into it, thought we might might
open that conversation again tonight with you know a number
of sports teams in the city. You can't go to
all of them. You know, what are you choosing? And
this doesn't just relate to Aucklanders. You look around the
country and you wonder, okay, what are you watching in
terms of you know, the teams from up there. There's
(02:03):
Auckland FC. Of course, there's the Warriors. They represent large
parts of the Warriors rips in the whole country. Auckland
FC one of two teams in the A League the
Super Rugby of course, what is it that you're watching?
And what is it that you're going along too? And
Monday Night of course means Piney's Power Rankings. We're going
to rate the best, the worst and the end between
bits from the Sporting Weekend and there's plenty of variety
(02:24):
for you. I can confirm our lines of communication never
close open right across the out oh eight hundred eighty
ten eighty will get you throw on the phone ninet
two nine two if you would like to send a
text message or an email and to me Jason at
Newstalk SEDB dot co dot ins bang on nine past seven.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
You hear it from the biggest names and sports men.
Have your sale sports Talk on your home of Sports News.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Talks b Slader's had a good game.
Speaker 6 (02:53):
On to Tyler.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
Oh my goodness, may the number it's gone all away,
so me see dood.
Speaker 5 (02:57):
Bo Tyler straight through passport offenders hed the numb right,
dot's down the crown of loving it times up to
Hona enter touch for Pellequini and there have won packed
to back.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Super Rugby days for the first time in franchise history.
They've blitzed the task in the second half. So when
forty five twenty eight at North Harber Stadium.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
And Nathan Lynn with the call on Saturday afternoon, Mowana
Pacifica have won consecutive games for the first time in
their history. They now sit on the cusp of Super
Rugby's top six after their historic win over the Crusaders
and christ Church last weekend. They came back from twenty
one to seven down at halftime on the weekend to
beat the Waratars forty five twenty eight. Let's bring in
(03:44):
long time commentator Ken Laban, who has a particular expertise
in Pacifica rugby can Thanks for joining us this evening.
What have you seen in overall terms from Mowana Pacifica
this season that's seen them pick up three wins, including
the last two back to back.
Speaker 7 (04:01):
Well, there was the biggest story in the offseason Windy
Jason when they signed Ardie Sai there arguably the top
loose forward in the world and also spent some time
with captain Emie or Blacks as well when Scott Barrow
was unavailable, So you know his influence on the field
and particularly Monday to Friday bring around some of those
(04:24):
players and giving them a necessary belief alongside as has
very very experienced for the IQ. You put that together
with a with a very good first five eight that
tanu Umanga has has recruited as well, and they're getting
good decisions made at the contact zone with they're being
dominant man, very good, very good decisions on the edge.
(04:47):
With that with the five eight Peroline who's been tabulous.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
What about the way that they're playing in terms of
meshing the typical and traditional sorry Polynesian flare with ball
in hand, with the structure needed to consistently compete with
the best sides in super rugby.
Speaker 7 (05:05):
Well, they've beaten three teams that are ahead of them
on a table and that doesn't happen unless you can
dominate the middle, dominate the line or whatever you want
to call it, or dominate the contact area. So that's
the first thing is that they need to take care
of business around there, whether they take the ball into
contact and where the opposition take the ball into contact.
And they have been very aggressive and very physical, in fact,
(05:27):
almost a carbon copy of what the Blues were last
year and it's working from one plusificer. And on the
back end of that, they're having some very very smart
decisions made about when they kick and when they run
in their pass election as well. And as you know,
coming down coming from twenty one to seven down against
the team with the experience of the Warrior tis what
(05:48):
have they got? Fourteen internationals and the team is a
fabulous performance and they are probably you know, they're not
their by a long shot, but they're definitely building for
the future.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
What have you made of kind of Umanu's development as
a rugby coach.
Speaker 7 (06:07):
Well, you know the brutal world of assessment of professional
sport plenty as you know, well, it's all about the numbers.
Then as you say, they sit, you know, so they're
three wins on I reckoning six wins, six wins will
give you inside the six seven, eight wins potentially will
we'll get you, We'll get you into the top four.
(06:30):
So based on based on how they're tracking, on how
they're tracking. Now he's doing he's doing a terrific job.
And you've got to understand as well, people forget pretty
quickly that they were in they you know, they weren't
always able to get ECO access to every player on
the market when they came into the competition. So it
wasn't like the Phoenix or Auckland FC, or the Melbourne
(06:52):
Storm or the Dolphins who essentially if they had the
money they could buy whoever they want. They were denied
the players that were already contracted to to Super Rugby,
so they had to start a long way back behind Abel. Obviously,
the exception to that has been the recruitment of of
Ardie Savia and and if the rumors that we hear
(07:13):
are true about what Richie moong is going to do
when he's done in Japan? You know they had they
could potentially be at the beginning of something very very special.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Are you hearing richiemi Wonga to Mouana PACIFICA?
Speaker 7 (07:24):
We not did that? Mate?
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Well? I have, but I just wondered how much credence
there was to it. But if you're saying it, then
it adds a lot more weight to it.
Speaker 7 (07:32):
Well, if you had to ask me, if you ask,
if you would ask anybody minor plus figure, if you
had to recruit a player, who would you go for?
Will it beat him? Wouldn't it?
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Well? Absolutely? I just I didn't know whether the whether
everything would match up to make it happen. I guess
I just assumed the Crusaders would be the team that
he would go back to. But goodness me, can you
imagine Richie moonger and they're more under pacifica shit? And
what about yeah? What about others? Can I mean there
must be others who see what's happening there and think, wow,
maybe I want a piece of that.
Speaker 7 (08:02):
Yeah, exactly. Well, you know, you look at the lives
of Stevenson, Mark t let Tavia Tava, Nawai, Peter and
Thomas U Munger Jensen h Richie, you know Titi, you
know Dalton, Dalton, Papali to Plou, Isaac Walkerley a Wedde
(08:24):
Who's party g and Parmori from Nati Purou. And you
know you're limited by you may suffer more. You're limited
by imagination potentially on on what they could have if
they're able to secure the resources and the necessary money
to make it attractive. Then obviously we're Tana being the
conduit near his knowledge of the game, his knowledge of
(08:45):
the Moldi and Pat speaker communities, as well as the
access to the players and the status in the game.
He's all of those things in his favor. And of
course Addie Savia wouldn't have found a minor part speaker
if it wasn't for Talma. So if there's anybody in
there's anybody in world Rugby that can secure an opportunity
for for Richie Moore or when he's done in Japan,
(09:07):
Tana Umana will be in that conversation.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
I guess they also too have to have to find
the balance, don't they can, and that they are also
a side that develops young emerging PACIFICA talent, and I
look at miracle Fai Alungi as an example of that.
I mean, I know he's not you know, he's emerged already,
hasn't he. But they'll they'll have to still find the
balance between providing opportunities for younger players.
Speaker 7 (09:31):
Yes, well, I guess well all of the teams, all
of the teams have got under twenty programs and they've
all got partway programs, and their players outside of the
top twenty three will have to be more have to
be in the system somewhere. So he would be very
Tana will be very mindful. That would be very mindful
of that. Well, but the bottom line and professional sport
(09:52):
is that you paid to win. Tanna understands that more
than anyone, and based on how they've started the twenty
twenty five campaign, they're well untrue, they're well on track
to make the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
I look at the stat that jumps out at me,
ken more, I want to Pacific I have scored the
most points this season, but they've also conceded the most points.
So if you're a neutral going along to a Malana
PACIFICA game, you're going to get entertainment? Is that something
though that that Tina will have to look at the
number of points they have conceded.
Speaker 7 (10:22):
Yeah, potentially, although I did read a stat a couple
of years ago, Jason where at one point it was
something like seventy two percent of Super Rugby titles had
been one with the team with the best attack at
the end of the Super Rugby round Robin and the
Crusaders particularly, they've probably never got the credit for how
(10:43):
good they were on attack. They were somehow typecast of
some kind of do aside who played this brand of
South Island rugby with a natural figure. You look closely
at the numbers, they scored more trinds and more points
than anyone rights through the round rights through their heyday.
So Tanah obviously will have some concerns about defensively how
(11:03):
many points they can see, but he'd be very happy
that they're the best tacking side of the comp knowing
what influence that has had in terms of success for
other teams in the past.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Do you think they are a Super Rugby title contender
this year?
Speaker 7 (11:17):
Well, they've beaten in the Crusaders, who are going to
be you know there, everybody's picked to be in the
top four. They beat the Hurricanes who won the round
robin last year, and they beat the Warriatas who by
some measure, you know, some people would ever believe that
they're the best Australian franchise couven they benefited the most
from the demise of the Rebels. So based on there's
(11:38):
three victories against teams ahead of them on the table,
all favored to be in and around the top four,
they are capable of making some noise in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
And just to finish, what about the hearts and minds
of rugby fans in Auckland Ken because this weekend it's
Blues the more Wanda Pacifica at Eden Park. Are we
in a situation where there might be more support for
more Ana Pacifica than the Blues on Saturday?
Speaker 7 (12:02):
Yeah, well, no franchise has done more for Pacifica rugby
than the Blues and Auckland historically they've always said a
fabulous pas figure base. Then I think that what Moana,
what mine have done all? You know, I think they're
just crystallized, crystallized that support and you know half half
(12:24):
of both teams are related to each other anyway, that's
the irony of it all, you know. That's that's the
thing we love about support. There's no family enough friends
on the field. You know, you're best at crap out
of each other and hug it out after. So it'll
be a great event on the on the weekend for sure.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
Absolutely great catching up with you, Ken, Thanks for leading
us your insight. Really appreciate it.
Speaker 7 (12:43):
It was a pleasure mate.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
Good on you, Ken, Ken Laban there joining us on
Sports Talk with some really interesting fourteen Perhaps a little
bit of a scoop there as well, just on the
Richie more on the thing i'd heard those roomors. I
think we probably all have you hear stuff like that
all the time. Don't you always going to go to
Morna Pacifica, uh, Ken Laban saying it gives it a
(13:04):
lot more credibility and it makes you think you're chanced
to react now, oh eight hundred and eighty ten eight
he can to open the lines on Winna Pacifica and
all things associated with this with this rugby team that
is just doing brilliant things right now. But Artie Savier's
move to Winer Pacifica could well be a game changer,
(13:25):
not just this year but moving forward. It could be.
As you know, if we teleport ourselves ten years into
the future and look back for a pivotal moment in
the life of this franchise, it may well be twenty
twenty five and Ardie Savier's decision to play for Wier Pacifica.
He's always said, always that he wants to give back
(13:48):
to Pacifica rugby. He's got some more heritage through his parents.
Now he couldn't do it by playing for some more
because he's all in with the All Blacks, But by
going to Mona Pacificer he has lifted every other player
in that team. Imagine walking out onto a rugby field
(14:10):
and seeing that bloke leading you out of the tunnel.
You just do everything you could for him, wouldn't you.
He elevates everybody around him, and by going there, he's
open the way for others to follow suit. Now, the
current rules are that Moner pacific Art can have up
to three New Zealand Rugby contracted players on their books,
(14:34):
so three, in other words, they could take Artie and
two more from super rugby teams if they so chose,
And you feel, don't you that the way they're going
at the moment, they are a rugby team that players
want to play for or would want to play for.
(14:55):
Since they've been around, and it hasn't been that long,
I don't think that they are such that they were
such an attractive proposition. In fact, I think a lot
of people when Artie went there, thought what's he doing?
In terms of a rugby sense. Everybody understood the reason
he went from his motivation to reconnect with his some
own heritage and give back to some mon in Pacific rugby.
(15:17):
But I think there was there was a lot of
speculation about whether or what it would do to his rugby.
So he's proven that wrong, hasn't he because he, as
per usual, has been the best player on the park
most of the time he plays the game of rugby,
(15:38):
so that fear has been dispelled. Again. You can't put
it entirely at the feet of one bloke, but ardisa
Ve's contribution absolutely pivotal, as I say, to this franchise,
because there is no doubt, no doubt that mon apecific
box office. Right now, when you look at the fixtures
(16:00):
for the weekend, if you're anything like me, you look
for your team, when's your team play? And then right
now I'm looking for Winner Pacifica. When are they playing?
Because I want to watch that game, and that didn't
used to be the case. Didn't used to be the
case at all it is now. So what are you
(16:22):
sensing from Mourner Pacifica And what about this Richie more
organ news? Have you heard this? Like I say, I
mean i'd heard this. I just assumed that there was
just you know, social media chat. Oh yeah, Richie, you'll
come to Richie'll come to you know, he'll come to
Ona Pacifica. You know, I just always assumed to go
(16:43):
back to the Crusaders. But then you think, well, the
bloke who kept him mainly at the Crusaders was Scott
Robertson and he's all blacks coach. Now, imagine Richie coming
back to Mojuna Pacifica because they got a pretty decent
first five there now and Patrick Palegrini. But then you think, well,
you know he's good, but he ain't Richie Morner. Oh
(17:03):
eight hundred and eighty ten eighty nine two nine to
If you would like to send a text, let's talk
about this team, what you've seen from them, and what
they might do. I still don't know whether I feel
as though they're their title contenders this year, but then
at the start of the year I didn't have them
anywhere near the top six at all, and now they're
(17:24):
just two points away. They've got the blues Necks, then
the Brumbies, then the Fiji and Drewer there'll be another
great contest. They've already beaten the Hurricanes, they've beaten the Crusaders,
and they've beaten the Watertas. In fact, the games that
they lost, and Peter has made this point on text,
the games they lost were narrow margins. They only lost
(17:47):
to the Force by one point, they only lost to
the Highlanders by two, so with a small degree of luck,
they could have won five out of six. They're also,
as I say, the competition's entertainers. Body has scored more
(18:07):
points than they have. Nobody has conceded more points than
they have. But Ken's made a very good point there.
He said, the team who wins Super Rugby is normally
the team that scores the most points, not necessarily the
one that concedes the fewest. They always say that defense
wins championships, right, but I don't know whether that is
(18:29):
true necessarily in Super rugby. Yes, you have to concentrate
on your defense. But if the stat that Ken brought
up is true, and I've got no reason to suggest
that it's not, then maybe it is. I mean, minor
Pacifica just say, look, if you want to get thirty,
we'll get forty. I mean that game against the Force.
The first two games they got eighty points and lost
(18:51):
them both. So yeah, they got forty five last the weekend,
just gone forty five. The week before that, even when
they lost the Chiefs, they got thirty five points. Let's
talk some more wit a Pacific on helloeen.
Speaker 4 (19:05):
Good, ay there, Jason, how are you mate? Long time
since I spoke to you, mate, I've I've got to
try and call him again one of these saturdays again.
How are your mate?
Speaker 2 (19:14):
A right, I'm very ill. And you know you're always
welcome and even if you even if you aren't there
for a little while, you're always welcome back. It's good
to hear your voice.
Speaker 4 (19:23):
Your program is all I love for now. Jason.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
That can't be right, No, that can't be right. There's
other good things in your life.
Speaker 4 (19:32):
I know that, Yeah, definitely, But you're the boy. Hey,
listen about Tama. Look he had a bit of a
rough spim with the Blues when he was coaching. I
do remember pieces in the paper about it, and h
might have been the herald actually year and he sort
(19:54):
of fell down a wee bit there. But this guy,
he was a hell of an all Black Jason, because
that's the guy I used to watch a lot on
the big games and he was my player. And he
comes not just because he comes from Wellington made. Listen,
he could come from Taranaki and be the same thing.
But no, he's he's done something there. I can't quite
(20:17):
put my finger on it. But as you said to
Ken Layman earlier on on your speech tonight, that guy
knows something about rugby can And also I'm giving Tanner
that we can make it to the you know, to
the four, the finals or something like that, because I've
(20:38):
got some money off them. They're doing, you know, good
for me in the money side of it. I mean
I got a big lot of them when they played
the Hurricane, so you know, I mean your team has
had a little bit of a up and down, Jase,
but they're all rugby teams made to me.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
Yeah, good on you, and look it's good to hear
your voice again, mate. Thanks for calling in.
Speaker 4 (20:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
Look, I was disappointed when my Hurricanes lost to Minor Pacifica,
just as I'm disappointed when my team lose to any
It loses to anybody, as every sports fan should be.
Look much as you like Mina Pacifica, you still chair
for your own team when they play against you, but
you cheer for them when they play another team. As
I was on the weekend, I said to Ryan Bridge
(21:20):
earlier today. When I left the studio on Saturday at
the end of my weekend sports show, it was halftime
in that game and the war Retars were twenty one
seven up, and I thought, Ah, that is such a
shame that they couldn't kick on Wina Pacifica from what
they did against the Crusaders in christ Church a week ago.
Such a shame that, you know, the consistency thereafter has
eluded them. Well, I checked back once once I hit
(21:43):
the opportunity about it now later and that scored what
thirty thirty eight points in the second half and won
at forty five twenty eight, So they did manage it.
The game against the Crusaders was based on an eighty
minute effort. The game against the Warritars clearly a forty
minute effort. But if they're forty minutes is good enough
(22:04):
to beat the war Retars. You know, if they can
continue to look for that consistency and find it, then
they are a match for anybody, including the Blues. This
weekend at Eton Park. A couple on text here before
we go to a break spear line, if you want
to jump on eight hundred and eighty ten eighty Ton
of Umanga says this one also has a strong coaching
(22:25):
group around him. Yep, without a doubt as to all
these super rugby franchises, they're not just about their their
head coach. The Chiefs aren't just about Clayton McMillan. They've
got a lot of very wise heads in that coaching box.
I love I love it when they go into the
coaching box on the TV coverage and you see the
different emotions during a game, but certainly after a game,
(22:47):
you know, the coaching box, the Whitor pacifica coaching box.
Certainly after the Crusaders game and again on the weekend
after the Warritars game, there were some very very happy
coaches in there. But then you now getting to the
point where they're not just happy and elated to win games.
The Crusaders was a bit of an outlier. Had you know,
I hadn't ever down there. You know, big team, big win.
(23:09):
I guess the Warritors are like, okay, yep, cool, we're happy,
but we're not absolutely elated because we got more work
to do. Richard says the Drewer must be the biggest
disappointment of the season. I totally agree, Richard. I think
the Fiji and Drawer have gone the other way. You
know there's a team that in the last couple is well,
they made the top eight last year, didn't they They they
made the quarter finals and their magic power was winning
(23:34):
at home. Well, the Crusaders went up there, good team
and went up there on the weekend. How many games
of the Drewer won the season one? I think yeah, one.
They've won one game and lost six for a team
that last year, as I say, they were seventh last year,
they had six wins out of their fourteen games last year.
(23:56):
The Drewer season before that, they made the top eight
with six wins from eight in their debut season not
quite as good. But the last two seasons the Fiji
and Drewer have been a playoff team Mowana Pacifica have
not it's flipped. It's flipped to be Yeah, there's some
(24:16):
thinking to do for the Fiji, And Drewer steven says,
I've got some reliable noise that two Port veighty is
going to Mawana Pacifica. He would be another very good
acquisition for them. And one here great insights from Ken Laban,
another star Scott's College old boy. Yes he is proud Wellingtonian,
proud man from Wanuiya Mutta closely tied to Scott's College
(24:37):
as well, of course, and just an all round good bloke.
Speaker 6 (24:40):
Really.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
Oh eight hundred and eighty ten eighty, let's talk some
more Iner Pacifica. Got some time in the next five
ten minutes or so if you'd like to jump on, oh,
eight hundred eighty ten eighty or nine two nine to
two one text back after this.
Speaker 1 (24:50):
The great call is your call on, Oh eight hundred
and eighty ten eighty Sports Talk call on your home
of Sports News Talk, Zibby.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
News Talks and Sports Talk twenty six away from eight
Pinty's Power rankings to come upfore. Eight bit of time
to talk from rugby though, and actually I want to
just get your view in a minute on crowds and
who people in the Auckland region and around the country
actually are focusing their attention on. If you were to
create a pecking order in your mind, what is it
(25:20):
that you're watching just on wine to PACIFICA though. I
spoke to head coach Tana Umanga on Weekend Sport a
week ago after the win over the Crusaders, and I
listened back to that chat today to see if what
he had said kind of resonated given the fact that
they came out the next week Saturday is gone and
one again. I asked them the same thing I asked
(25:41):
Ken really, which was about blending the pacifica flair with
the structure needed for consistency and how hard they'd been
working on that. Here's ten to last Sunday.
Speaker 8 (25:53):
You know, we know we can play the game, we
know we're exciting to watch and traditionally that's an US.
But we also know what the coaching group and the
playing group and the leadership that we have that we
can't just rely on that win games. And we want
to be more than just a teend that everyone loves
watching and a highlight real team. We want to be
(26:14):
a team that is consistent and can put out performances
that people are proud of, not losing sight of who
we are and what we can do. And we know
we've got that, but we want to show exactly what
you talked about around our work creating those effort areas
and also you know, the detail around what good teams
do to win games. And I think you know you
(26:36):
saw a bit of that last night, and it's great
to hear people talk around our work create not just
the flair that we naturally bring to games has.
Speaker 2 (26:43):
Done Umaga, who I also asked about whether the Crusaders
win would become a blueprint for them moving forward with
regard to the things he'd just talked about there.
Speaker 8 (26:56):
Yeah, we've had the blueprint for a while, as you know,
putting that plan in place, adhering to the plan, trusting
the plan it and you know, just you know, for
us as it's combining the emotion we have and all
that energy that we want to do well and understanding
that you know, we do this for a bigger purpose
(27:19):
than just ourselves as a group. But we've got to
channel that energy somewhere and channel channel it in a
way that you know, we're all doing it all doing
it for the same reason. And you know, as we
see we sing off the same hymn sheet, because we
know when we do that, when we channel that energy
(27:41):
in the right places at the right times, and as
a collective, then you know, we know we can get
more more results like we did last night.
Speaker 2 (27:49):
That is kind of among us speaking a week ago.
And so it proved the blueprints, while not necessarily completely
followed against the war Atars, particularly in the first half,
did come to fruition in the second. I've had a
pointed out to me by producer Andy and also a
couple of texts that the Drewers only win this season
was against the Chiefs, who have stuff at their only
(28:13):
loss against the drew That game was up in Latoka,
which look like I said, they tend to be far
more difficult to beat at home than away. But the
Crusaders went up there on the weekend, a place that
never won nothing. They lost two games up there last
couple of seasons, and they were able to get the win.
I thought to myself, Okay, was that a Chief side?
(28:33):
Did they? Did? They do the old they We're not
going to send our full team, but you look at
the team they put out that day. In it, you know,
it's all the stars are there. Damien McKenzie was injured,
he didn't go. He was the one exception. But the
back line was still you know, Cortez Latima, all black,
Josh Jacob highly promising, first five, Quinta pie Antonin, Lennont
(28:57):
brann and midfield both all blacks, Carter Rona and Nadawah.
The back three still pretty good side in terms of
the backs, the Fords, Norris Torcao all black, Dias tell We,
Rick at Vay all black female, all black Bowcheer and Tupor.
It's still a good side they put out. So I
don't know what's going on with the drewer. They probably
wish they knew what was going on with the drawer.
(29:20):
The other thing I wanted to mention was around crowds,
the holy grail of sports administrators' lives. How you get them,
how do you engage them, how do you keep them?
How do you grow them? These are the things that
occupy the minds I'm sure of upper management at all
(29:42):
elite sports teams. Yes they have to get sponsorship dollars,
Yes they have to get the best broadcast, The often
that's done above them, but crowds, fans bums on seats
one of the biggest KPIs, if we can call it that,
of sporting organizations. And again over the weekend there were
(30:04):
some stark contrast when it came to the crowds that
turned up for the elite sporting fixtures that were available.
Saturday night Eden Park Blues v Hurricanes, one of the
marquee fixtures of any Super Rugby season, a couple of
(30:24):
rivals from way way way back, even to the Auckland
v Wellington days, a couple of exciting sides chock full
of all blacks, always seemed to put on a show.
Love to run the ball, love to play entertaining rugby.
If you're going to turn up to watch a game
of Super Rugby in Auckland and you looked at the
fixture list and you chose one, you might have chosen
that one Blues v Hurricanes. And yet only eight or
(30:50):
nine thousand made the trip to Eden Park to watch
that game on Saturday night. Meantime, across town at go
Media Stadium, the new Boys on the bloc, Auckland FC,
with no history at all to draw on, attracted eighteen
and a half thousand for their game in the A
(31:13):
League against the Western Sydney Wanderers. Now I know there
are other things at play here. One is the kickoff
time five o'clock for the football, seven o'clock for the
rugby five o'clock, clearly a lot more palatable for families.
Another one is the ground, because try as you might,
(31:35):
it's really hard to mount an argument that Eden Park
is a good place to watch a game of rugby.
Its shape is wrong. You know, it can never be
as good as a rectangular ground. You're thirty forty to
fifty meters back from the action at go Media Rectangular.
You're right there, right on top of the players. The
(31:57):
atmosphere is always going to be a lot better. Now,
I don't think it's got anything at all to do
with the rugby itself. Think Super Rugby is as good
as it has ever been in terms of the product
on the pitch, the rugby that has been played, and
as we've said many many times, the evenness of the
(32:19):
competition now and Mowana Peceifica are a great example of this.
You really don't know from week to week who's going
to win the games. Tipping competitions are so difficult at
the moment. With Super Rugby, you simply cannot pick winners
from week to week because it is so even, and
that is one of the hallmarks of any great sporting competition.
(32:44):
The other thing is the broadcast of the games that
rugby is broadcast on television is world class. Here what
Sky sported doing for me is the equal of any
TV coverage of any sport anywhere in the world. And
maybe that's part of it. Just too easy to stay
home and watch it. But I think I think the
Blues have just been unable to do something which Auckland
(33:08):
FC and the Warriors have been able to, and that
is to engage their fan base and make being there everything,
because I think too many rugby fans are deciding, you
know what, I'll watch it from home on the couch
because I don't have enough reason to go along. Now
(33:28):
commit that to say Auckland FC and the Warriors, where
if you don't go to a game, you have that fomo,
that fear of missing out. Being there is everything, and
I think that's what the Blues and probably a few
of the other Super Rugby franchises have to create among
their fan bases a sense that unless you are actually there,
(33:49):
you are not getting the full experience. Tough one, but
as one they have to face head on because it
is a crowded sporting market and there's only so much
discretionary income to go around. So engage your fans or
(34:09):
continue to look at empty stands. I think that's probably
the easiest way to look at it. Got a few
minutes for a few more calls if you would like
to pick up the phone at eight hundred and eighty
ten eighty nine, two ninety two on text on email
from Leon Piney. I was listening to you guys this
morning on the Breakfast Show and throughout the day and
(34:31):
was somewhat surprised not even a mention was made of
our black Ferns. Over the weekend they won the Singapore leg,
thrashing Australia in the final and also winning the overall title.
We expect excellence from them and that consistently deliver the results.
I have to wonder that because they are so good
at what they do, we tend to take them for granted.
I feel their off and overlooked because we expect them
to win every time. The team and the coaching staff
(34:51):
at the top of their game and have a real
family feel about them both on and off the field.
These women are wonderful ambassador for our country. Let's give
them their flowers today when you release your power rankings,
all right, Leon, Well, let's see where they rank on
the power rankings when we get there. Richard, Hi, how's
it going good? Thank you? Richard.
Speaker 9 (35:09):
I was just ringing up about my I've fingted lots
and lots of Blues games yep, with kids, and just
recently been to I think three AFC games with my
son I made of mine and his kids, and they
just sort of what they've worked out is everybody's having
a good time. So there were two young girls who
(35:29):
are probably eleven. They just went off and they went
on the ferris wheel and had candy flocks and that.
The two boys they hung out with us till halftime
and they went behind behind the goal at the northern end.
Seems to be a big social area for kids and
they go and watch the soccer from the air and
bump into friends from school and me and my mate
we just hung out and had a couple of beers. So,
(35:51):
I mean, everybody was catered for and if you didn't
like the soccer or whatever, it was just a really
good day out and the other massive drivers. There's thousands
and thousands of kids playing soccer in Auckland and that's
what's driving my whole movement to football. And it's just powerful.
And when you go along there, it's all families, it's girlfriends,
(36:13):
it's mums, that's kids, and I've all got the shirts on.
Speaker 2 (36:18):
Yeah, they've very quickly created a community having they Richard
And yeah, from what you say there, I mean i'd
imagine that that what you've outlined there for you, you know,
your kids to go off and you know, and and
do other things when the game is on just doesn't
exist at Eden Park.
Speaker 9 (36:35):
No, I think most of most of the time I've
taken and maybe my sons aren't mad on rugby, but
they're just sort of get bored at where. I don't
know the AFC has somehow worked out everyone's having any
good time. I don't know how they've done. They're for everyone. No, it's.
Speaker 2 (36:55):
Yeah, yes they have, Yes they have, that's part of it,
of course, but yeah, but you're still got to you're
still got to spend it in the right places. And
I think You're right, Richard. They have They've they've created
a match to experience that people want to come back to.
You know a number of people I've heard say they
come to a game and go when's the next one?
For a variety of reasons. If their fans, their families,
they're just you know, they're just there for the occasion.
It's a it's a cool place to be, I think.
Speaker 9 (37:18):
Yeah, Tom and Richard.
Speaker 2 (37:20):
Thanks for your called make drive safe. Thirteen away from eight.
All right, let's take a break. When we come back,
it'll be Piney's Power Rankings for the night. Our rankings
Monday night time to rate the weekend. Piney's Power Rankings
rating the best, the worst, and the in between. Bits
(37:41):
from our sporting weekend. Let's go the Bay Oval flood lights.
They're timing impeccable.
Speaker 1 (37:49):
You know it's on here, don't you.
Speaker 3 (37:51):
Oh my goodness, they could not have cut out of
the way hardness.
Speaker 2 (37:56):
Oh that is serifying for the better. Well, this game
has got it all. Even the lights have given up
on it. Yeah, are blackout? A bit dangerous but quite
comical when it happened nine the Penrith Panthers four straight losses.
Speaker 10 (38:11):
The Cowboys have won for the second week in a row.
They've taken down the four time Chaps.
Speaker 2 (38:19):
Something not quite right there at the foot of the
Blue Mountains. Eight is Harry Potter. No, No, not that one,
this one.
Speaker 10 (38:28):
Nick White left running ball out into the center field
at Joe's. It's with Will Harris, Will Harris to Ben
Donaldson to Harry Potter and Harry Potter. It's gonna score
in the left hand corner and they hit the front.
Speaker 2 (38:42):
Here his wizardry leading the Western Force into the top four.
Speaker 1 (38:46):
Seven.
Speaker 2 (38:47):
Seven, the Blues.
Speaker 11 (38:49):
Prestige asking if it's time, and Giscarda says it is.
Speaker 1 (38:52):
He kicks it over the touch and the Blues.
Speaker 8 (38:55):
Hang on by one.
Speaker 2 (38:56):
Unconvincing, but they landed a much needed win over my Hurricanes.
Speaker 6 (39:01):
Six.
Speaker 2 (39:02):
Stay with me here, Bodily Fluids and Formula One drivers.
First of all, David Coulthard on the show yesterday talking
about being in a Formula One car for the first time.
Speaker 7 (39:15):
I was a puppy and aped in the carpet.
Speaker 2 (39:18):
And Max for step and talking about the Red Bull
car at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Speaker 6 (39:23):
If you want to drive the car and can give
it a go, I think you're gonna pook your pants.
Speaker 2 (39:27):
I'm not quite sure what has caused this fascination among
Formula one drivers. Five five has Ben Sears with back
to back five wicket bags.
Speaker 6 (39:37):
He's got one last chance, that is up and that
is out, and he's done it. Back to back five
wicket bags for Benceysir terrific stuff.
Speaker 2 (39:49):
A new Black Caps star growing before our eyes. Alexander Ovichkin,
the chasing Daser done.
Speaker 3 (39:57):
Alex Solvitchkin is the greatest gold.
Speaker 2 (40:00):
Scorer in the history of the NHL, going past the
great one Wayne Gretzky, stamping his name into n HL history.
A worthy record for an ice hockey legend. But Max
for stepping again, this time on the race track.
Speaker 3 (40:17):
Max for stapping started first, finish first, never in doubts.
Speaker 7 (40:23):
That's perfection, just perfection, fus fantastic.
Speaker 2 (40:29):
Not much more to say. A weekend that could hardly
have gone better for Max for stepping two, two and
down a place from last week. Mowana, Pacifica and.
Speaker 3 (40:40):
From Pellequini have won Vector Bax Super Rugby Dame for
the first time in franchise history.
Speaker 2 (40:46):
You have plenty of chat on the show tonight about
Mighty Mawana Pacifica marching on, but they are not number one.
Number one tonight the Black Fern sevens continuing to set
the standard for sevens rugby line.
Speaker 6 (41:06):
Well, I need not entertained and museum and hut Shandians
in Singapore again.
Speaker 2 (41:13):
I just realized I never found room for Sammy Maxwell.
I should have put Sammy Maxwell in there somewhere, but
I think there might be more success ahead for her.
How do you feel about the ten to one rankings tonight.
Speaker 11 (41:23):
Well, you see, Piney, I've worked it out. Formula one
drivers cool tards and the staff in both Red Bull
drivers Red Bull of course contain laxatives. You know what
happens there and sort of help you see your business
in the morning. If you get where I'm going with
that one, I do.
Speaker 2 (41:41):
And maybe we should stop there because I think it's
feed over explained already, probably worth leaving that behind. I
think you're I think you're right. Find his power rankings
back next Monday. You're coming up three to eight final.
A couple of texts on crowds et cetera, David says
you have to cater for kids. Adults are easy to please.
Kids are happy, parents are happy. Thanks David. But another
(42:01):
one through here that says Jason General fans like the
earlier kickoff times like four and five pm as well.
It's not all about families. Yes, indeed, thanks indeed for
all your CAUs and correspondent tonight. Thanks for listening in.
Thanks to any McDonald for producing Marcus lashes Up next,
take you through the rest of Monday. We're back on
weekend sport this coming Saturday. There's another huge weekend of
(42:23):
all sorts of action comes our way. Thanks for tuning in.
Every next long week see us said Date.
Speaker 1 (42:30):
For more from sports Talk. Listen live to News Talk
Said B from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
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Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.