The All Sport Breakfast

The underdogs claimed the victory last week. Southland has won the Ranfurly Shield for the first in in 14 years with their defeat of Waikato, 25-10, but their first challenger may be the fiercest test of the season as Canterbury aims to take the Shield back. D'Arcy Waldegrave was joined by Southland Stags Captain Sean Withy ahead of the game to discuss what bringing the Shield home means to the region. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Black Sticks women are looking to create more goalscoring chances in this afternoon's second Oceania Cup hockey fixture against Australia in Darwin. New Zealand striker Olivia Shannon says they want to back up their 1-nil win in the opener. Shannon joined D'Arcy Waldegrave for a chat ahead of the second match to discuss scoring the winning goal, and their relationship with the men's side. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Springboks are confident despite the All Blacks' undefeated streak at Eden Park. The Rugby Championship clash is hotly anticipated, both rugby heavyweights having shown vulnerability with a loss apiece. Matt Pearce, Super Sport Commentator and voice of South African Rugby, joined D'Arcy Waldegrave to give his perspective ahead of the showdown. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After defeating Nelson Suburbs 3-0, Auckland United have clinched their spot in the Chatham Cup final against Wellington Olympic. It all goes down at 1pm this Sunday afternoon at North Harbour Stadium in a double header with the Women's Kate Sheppard Cup Final – in which Auckland United has also claimed a spot. D'Arcy caught up with Auckland United Captain Ross Haviland to preview the match and highlight what it means to the club having both teams in the pinnacle finals of club football in New Zealand. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

History is weighing heavily on the All Blacks, as they seek to defend their over 30 year long undefeated streak at Eden Park. They're facing the Springboks tonight in what's likely the biggest test of the 2025 calendar. Newstalk ZB's voice of rugby Elliott Smith caught up with starting first five Beauden Barrett at the team naming press conference on Thursday to get his thoughts on the upcoming clash and the learnings to come from the Argentina loss. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The biggest test of the 2025 calendar has come, with the All Blacks taking on South Africa tonight at Eden Park. Regardless of the result, history will be made, either by the All Blacks continuing their undefeated streak at Eden Park, or by the Springboks breaking the record and cementing their dominance on the world stage. D'Arcy spoke with All Blacks replacement hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho about the magnitude of this test match, his selection, and the expectations of the coaching staff. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are we watching the most spectacular slow motion sports team collapse of the ages? The protracted spiral of the Warriors has been stunning. Last night's stumble against the Sea Eagles wasn't surprising, or frankly that upsetting, as this team has made fluffing their lines an art form. The myriad of ways the Penrose Mud Dogs have managed to soil their bed sheets is impressive, the mercurial manner in which they play is rollercoaster exciting, sadly the car always seems to part ways with the track, leaving a smouldering wreck for the coaching staff to pick through. Cruel? Sure. Not as cruel as having your hopes slowly eroded throughout the back end of the season. Death by a thousand cuts. Spectacular one moment, spectacularly bad the next. The only comfort here is that this is not an outlier. This is not unusual. This is life as a Warriors fan. If you expect anything else, you're new to the bandwagon and you'd better get used to it. To be fair, the NRL is an incredibly tough comp to win. It took Cronulla 50 years to win a title. 50. And they're based in Sydney. The Wahs must deal with many a hurdle, the endless trans-Tasman flights being one. They've had a pretty rude casualty list. They tend to be rhubarbed by the officials. They're used as a stepping stone back to Australia for promising young talent. The list, like the team, staggers on. The beauty here is the Forrest Gump in them. At any given time, their box of chocolates might produce a gem, this is why we keep watching. Oh, and they're our team. That's why we follow them. We don't follow them because we know they'll win; we follow them because they're ours. As distressing as it can be, it's part of being fan. It's looking sad AF right now, but hey, dum spiro spero. While I breath, I hope. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A controversial knock-on call has left the Warriors' NRL top four hopes hanging by a thread as they fell 26-22 to the Eels at Mt Smart. The Warriors —who at one stage faced a 16-point deficit— stormed back in the contest, only to have a late Adam Pompey try that would've seen them take the lead denied by the bunker due to a knock-on in the kick chase. D'Arcy Waldegrave was joined by NZ Herald Sports Journalist Ben Francis to break down the action. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The women's Rugby World Cup is well and truly underway, with the second round of action beginning later on tonight. The Black Ferns had a strong showing in their opener, beating Spain 54-8, but understandably had a little rust with it being their first match in 7 weeks. They'll be looking for an improved performance to pick up their second win against Japan on Monday morning. Ahead of their round two fixture, D'Arcy caught up with forwards coach to Dan Cron to discuss what he liked and disliked about their first game, how their younger players are adapting, and how this World Cup is different to ones he has experienced in the past. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tauranga is gearing up to host 14 thousand junior athletes in Australasia's biggest junior sporting event. The Zespri AIMS Games have grown every year since 2004 – with 431 schools now competing in 27 sports throughout the week. Tournament director Kelly Schischka joined D'Arcy Waldegrave to run through what we can expect throughout the week. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The NRLW Warriors are looking to snap a 2 match skid as they come up against the Dragons. They're currently sitting 7th on the table, and a win is crucial in keeping their playoff hopes alive. D'Arcy talked to Patricia Maliepo, ex Black Fern and current NRLW Warriors five eighth, to preview this weekend's match up, and discuss how she found the transition between Rugby Union and Rugby League. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland are looking to pick up their first win of the season. They're sitting on 0-4, and are set to face Wellington – a side who's title defence has gotten off to a shaky start, sitting at 1-3. Caleb Clarke joined D'Arcy Waldegrave ahead of the match for a chat about what Auckland needs to do to turn their season around. Plus, they touch on the messages Clarke's received from the All Blacks staff around his return to rugby, having not played since the Blues' semifinal loss to the Crusaders earlier in the year. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The famous All Blacks collector cards have been a staple of children's breakfast routine for generations. Hopefully the infamous ability of the All Blacks to collect cards won't be as ingrained as the cereal freebees. This is getting beyond an inconvenient truth of international rugby for the nation's male first 15. When recidivist action becomes a predictable part of behaviour, it becomes a habit. We know how difficult habits can be to break. Those indiscretions have cost the team dearly, last week's sloppy defeat at the hands of Los Pumas underlined and emphasized it in bold italics. Granted, the Argentines played well, but I can't accept that as a primary driver for their unlikely victory, although their consistent pressure and more disciplined play was impressive. Los Pumas didn't win that game, the All Blacks lost it. They were clumsy, out of phase with each other, and showed ill-discipline bordering on recklessness, which is essentially just stupidity pretending to be bravery. The iconic 1971 film Vanishing Point had this memorable line, “This radio station was named Kowalski, in honour of the last American hero to whom speed means freedom of the soul. The question is not when's he gonna stop, but who is gonna stop him”. I feel the same about the All Blacks' questionable red card/yellow card spiral. The question is not when it's going to stop, but who's going to stop it? The malaise they are, and we are, experiencing could be explained many ways. Is it the overly judicious refereeing phalanx? The apparent inability of the players to switch from the perilous red head space to the measured blue head zone? The coaching staff not providing the foundations for a stoic and immovable state which will not, cannot be shaken even under duress? You choose. Like most disasters though, this card chaos is not a result of one action, it's a combined effort across numerous areas. Calling it a disaster may seem heavy handed, but when this rapidly evolving habit costs the team a world cup, it will be seen as such. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Northern League sees Auckland City and Auckland United face off in an all-important match this weekend. The two teams are level in points as they battle for a spot in the national league. D'Arcy caught up with Auckland City captain Mario Ilich ahead of the clash to preview what to expect from his side and what they need to do for the win. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The New Zealand Rally Championships continue this weekend with the fourth round taking place in the Coromandel. Featuring iconic Coromandel routes, it's an exciting weekend for both racers and spectators. D'Arcy spoke with NZ Rally Championship racer Jack Stokes to preview the event and discuss his career as a rally driver. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks opened their Rugby Championship campaign with a dominant win, but they'll be aiming to keep the ball rolling as the Springboks clash looms. With the rematch against Argentina set for tomorrow, All Blacks forwards coach Jason Ryan joined D'Arcy Waldegrave to discuss the key messages going into the second test, the selections, and the need for consistency. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Women's Rugby World Cup has officially kicked off, with England's clash against the USA. D'Arcy Waldegrave caught up with NZ Herald columnist Alice Soper as she waited in line to enter the stadium. She broke down the event and touched on some of the key Black Ferns players as they seek to defend their title. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The NRLW Warriors slipped up last weekend, falling to the Raiders 20-16. Despite their numbers being reduced to 11 partway through the first half, they kept in the fight and remain in the Top 6. Sunday sees them face off against the Sharks, and D'Arcy Waldegrave caught up with 2nd Row player Shakira Baker to discuss the matchup and her transition from rugby union. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Warriors have got their season back on track and broken their three-match losing streak, however, their race to the Top 4 is heating up. They're facing off against the Gold Coast Titans this weekend, a team they haven't beaten since Round 23 in 2023. D'Arcy spoke with Warriors assistant coach Richard Agar ahead of tonight's clash to break down what the team needs to do to pick up a win over our rivals on the Gold Coast. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is the devil in the detail? Yesterday NZR proudly released the news that they have finally got their long-negotiated broadcast deal with Sky TV across the line. On the face of it, the deal looks good for all concerned. The All Blacks, Super Rugby, and the Black Ferns are all tied up for five years, driving subscription numbers for the pay TV behemoth. Those products are what Sky, and realistically the subscribers, really desire. The free-to-air deal provides those unwilling or unable to pay for satellite TV a taste of domestic rugby through the exploits of the teams in the NPC, with some Farah Palmer Cup and Heartland Championship games thrown in. The vehicle for this is TVNZ, which in lieu of Sky TV's recent purchase of the Three network, appears out of alignment with the pay TV monster's trajectory. The Three deal not only arrived too late for consideration (I presume), and in eyeball terms, TVNZ has a greater reach, with a larger and less complex method for New Zealanders who aren't tech savvy or have no interest in multiple platforms. The ointment fly is the additional All Black matches that fall outside of the World Rugby test requirements. As yet unscheduled but more than likely to occur, these ‘extra' matches involve the revenue generating fixtures such as the American-based games. This is where more ‘fat' for NZR lives. These matches will likely be sold off to the highest bidder, think DAZN or Netflix, so if we want to watch, we'll be paying. Again. I will. I have to. I want to. But is this the thin end of the future pay wedge for AB fans? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The grand final series in the New Zealand Ice Hockey League gets underway this afternoon, with the Sky City Stampede taking on the Botany Swarm in Auckland. D'Arcy Waldegrave spoke with Sky City Stampede coach Cam Frear, previewing the upcoming series and discussing how the competition has risen to a new level of competitiveness in 2025. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Chatham Cup, New Zealand footballs premier knockout tournament has reached the semi-finals. Auckland United are taking on Nelson Suburbs and Eastern Suburbs are playing Wellington Olympic. Auckland United captain Ross Haviland caught up with D'Arcy hours before taking the field to preview their clash against Nelson Suburbs. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks coaching crew feel they're finding their mojo in their second year in charge. Heading into tomorrow morning's Rugby Championship opener against Argentina in Cordoba, assistant coach Jason Holland says they have real confidence in the direction they're heading. He told D'Arcy Waldegrave that they're really sure on how they want to play the game now, and what's important in terms of who can do what on what parts of the field. “I think you can continue to see some real consistency.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The NRLW Warriors are on a roll, winning two on the bounce and finding themselves in the top 6. This weekend they face off against the NRLW Raiders down at their home away from home, FMG Stadium in Hamilton. NRLW Warriors second rower, Kaiyah Atai sat down with D'Arcy Waldegrave to discuss her recent re-signing until the end of the 2027 season, preview the game, and talk about the growth of Women's Rugby League in New Zealand. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Bunnings NPC continues to roll on, the prime-time game this week a clash between North Harbour and Hawke's Bay. D'Arcy Waldegrave caught up with North Harbour captain Tom Savage to preview the showdown and delve into how his side can build on their last two performances. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I applaud the Warriors for picking up two points last night against the Dragons. Applauding the points. That's about it. Sure, there were meritorious efforts from some individuals, some masculine grind was shown, but the effort was marred by sloppy mistakes, terrifying concentration lapses, and an inability to put away a team reduced in numbers through HIA protocols. If I was being a stern father, I'd say the Warriors didn't win that, the Dragons lost it. But the rot has been temporarily stopped. But does rot, like rust, ever sleep? Herald league scribe Michael Burgess used the term winning ugly, apt, because two points is two points, regardless of the manner in which they were collected. The much celebrated, indeed required, top four spot is theirs, with three teams well outside of the eight to come, destiny is in their own hands. The question is what has this team retrieved from their calamitous last few weeks which dragged their confidence through the mud and severely tested their depth across numerous positions? To reach deep into the uncomfortable reality of an elongated results skid, and sit with the pain, will be instrumental in their next three matches. They have shown just enough to suggest that they can keep the barbarians from the gate and hit the finals ground running with flames licking at their feet, but those flames may well burn them beyond recognition if they stumble in their dash to the end. Like most Warriors seasons —or games— the fans will be tortured with possibilities to the last. There is no such thing as a comfortable game in Warriors-land, this reality won't cease. As the Mad Butcher titled his book: What a Ride, Mate! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's All Star Panel features Newstalk ZB Sports News Director Clay Wilson and Sky Sport Commentator Jeff McTainsh. On today's agenda: Mo'unga returns! How much pressure does it place on Barrett and MacKenzie? Can the Wahs save their season and remain in the top 4? Or are they toast? Can we read anything into the Black Caps domination of Zimbabwe? When are we going to give up on NZ hosting State of Origin? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Snow Sports New Zealand (SSNZ) Freestyle series is well and truly underway, with the next event being held this Sunday at the Remarkables in Queenstown. Scott Palmer, the Competitive Pathway Manager of SSNZ, joined D'Arcy Waldegrave to break down the competition. He touched on how it operates, what tracks are available for people to try, and the development of the sport in New Zealand. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's crunch time in the New Zealand Ice Hockey League this weekend, with the Botany Swarm and West Auckland Admirals facing off in a two game semi-final series. D'Arcy Waldegrave caught up with Botany Swarm Captain Michael Attwell to preview the series – delving into how the semi-final will impact the final, and how the team is looking heading into the most important games of the season thus far. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The V8 Supercars is headed to Queensland this week, set to race at the Ipswich Super 440. Kiwi driver Ryan Wood joined D'Arcy Waldegrave to preview the event – discussing his experience at the track, development as a driver, and his run home towards the championship. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Warriors are aware that a dangerous road lies ahead if they're to earn their place in the NRL's top four. That begins with tonight's clash against the third-placed Bulldogs in Sydney – the only top eight side from their five remaining games. Warriors hooker Sam Healey joined D'Arcy Waldegrave to discuss what the team needs to change after last week's disappointing loss, the impact of injuries on the side, and how having an experienced hooker in the former of Wayde Egan has aided his development. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A tough first-up clash for the Auckland Storm to kick off rugby's Farah Palmer Cup against defending champions Waikato at College Rifles this afternoon. The two sides last met in last year's semi-final, with Waikato storming to a 69-12 victory. Captain Eloise Blackwell joined D'Arcy Waldegrave to dicuss the team's preparations for the season ahead. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was a dramatic start to the 2025 Bunnings NPC, with Auckland's narrow loss to Waikato at Eden Park – 36-35. The team started strong, with new captain Anton Segner opening the scoring in the fifth minute, but they were unable to hold back the Tron, who landed four tries in the last twenty minutes. Segner joined D'Arcy Waldegrave to discuss how they'll bounce back this weekend, and their plan to take on Canterbury as the away underdog. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

4 thousand for 3. Okay, that's a little over the top, but it represents the chasm between Zimbabwe's test cricket team and the rest. Overnight the Black Caps turned the screws on the hopelessly out classed Africans, piling on the runs at Bulawayo, at stumps NZ had extended their lead to 476, amassing 603 for the loss of 3. Centuries for Conway, Nicholls, and Ravindra, with the latter two still at the crease, represents a sound flogging after only two days of cricket. If this was softball, the mercy law would've sent them all home. The oft used phrase in circumstances such as this is ‘you can only play who's been put in front of you', which is accurate but wholly depressing when this game has been given faux test status. This should never have been the case. This should have been part of a New Zealand A tour, which it essentially is when the lineup is taken into account. The Black Caps are without a number of their go to first XI yet are still poleaxing the opposition. The match is not part of the World Test Championship which further erodes any import the game thought it had. We all understand that Zimbabwe cricket needs to be nursed along, but is this exchange benefitting them or merely serving as a reminder of how poor Zimbabwe cricket is? This series isn't helping anyone. The fresh Black Caps aren't being exposed to any clear and present threats, the older and returning players inflating their averages, essentially masking the efficacy of their input. It may pump up their tires but with little test cricket on the horizon, is there a point to it? This series should never have been afforded test status. Still, it's cricket in whites, so I'll watch it. Tragic. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hundreds are hitting the ground running at a brand new course this weekend. The NZ Cross Country and Relay Championships are taking place at Christchurch's Hagley Park, with 530 athletes competing. Defending Champion Connor Melton is racing on his home soil, and joined D'Arcy Waldegrave for a chat about the event. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A huge third day of week one of provincial rugby's men's NPC. Taranaki is putting the Ranfurly Shield on the line tonight with a clash against Northland. Northland is hoping to host the Shield over the summer, heading into their first clash of the season with some serious amp. Rivez Reihana joined D'Arcy Waldegrave to preview the season and touch on what it means to take on the defending champions in the opening match. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Warriors women are looking to shore up their defensive line in Sunday's NRLW Magic Round contest against the Cowboys in Newcastle. They've conceded 86 points across four games, tied for the second-most in the competition. Lock Laishon Albert-Jones joined D'Arcy Waldegrave to preview the clash and talk about how they plan to pick things up again from their third loss of the season. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sneakers are hitting the ground this morning in Taupo, as the country's longest-standing running and walking event kicks off. The Taupo Marathon will see around 5000 people hit the streets and race around the lake. Director of Total Sport and race organiser Aaron Carter joined the show to discuss the swell in participation events like this are seeing, and shares a few details for those keen to jump in last minute. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NPC's 2025 season has gotten underway and the south is gearing up for one of rugby's most passionate rivalries this weekend. Stag Day —as the fixture has become known— sees Otago take on Southland for the opening of their campaigns. Last year Southland came out on top with a 22-13 victory in front of a crowd of over 7000. Stags player Scott Gregory joined D'Arcy Waldegrave to discuss the hotly anticipated content and take a look at the team's focus for the season. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ask and you shall receive. During the week, stand-in Warrior's skipper Kurt Capewell told media that what the Wahs needed to do was to get back to their style of footy. Be careful what you wish for right? Last night they did. A perfect example of Warriors football. Brilliant one minute, wretched the next. Free flowing, awe inspiring movement followed by a clunk-a-thon. Accurate aggressive defence backed up with turnstile slop. Wrestling defeat from the jaws of victory. Which is exactly what the Warriors dished up last night. In a fixture which loomed as pivotal to their wobbling season, questions were posed by the Dolphins, the answers weren't what we wanted, but to a degree, expected. Granted, the Dolphins provided stout defence and must be lauded for scrapping their way to two competition points without Herbie Farnworth and playing the last 7 minutes a man down. Surely though Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf couldn't have seen the harem-scarem last minute offensive flood that pinched victory at the death. The Wahs' early season heroics are but a memory as they face a potentially treacherous run home. With arguably the comps best fixtures lined up for a final thrust, confidence now must surely be at the lowest ebb this season. This is not entirely of their own making, with the continued menace of injuries now kicking their door in, but last night's display down the stretch, although initially showing great heart, revealed an alarming albeit predictable side of the Penrose Muddogs. Like most Warriors seasons, the dreaded mathematical chance rears its ugly head - not of reaching the finals, but falling out of the top 8. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a battle of the North and South in today's football quarter final. Auckland United is facing off against Christchurch United in the first of the Chatham Cup quarter finals, the Auckland team heading down south for the clash. Captain Ross Haviland has made over 250 appearances for the Auckland side, and joined D'Arcy Waldegrave ahead of the match. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two teams are taking to the ice, aiming to get one step closer to gold. The Auckland Steel are facing the Dunedin Thunder in the 2025 NZ Women's Ice Hockey League Championship semi-final. The Steel have won three championships in their history, and their captain Jamie Jones joined D'Arcy Waldegrave for a chat about their strategy when it comes to such a pivotal game. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.