Category: Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

A massive second half has seen NZ Kiwis defeat Toa Samoa 36-14 at CommBank Stadium in Sydney.

The result means coach Stacey Jones’ side has lifted the Pacific Championship title, after an unbeaten campaign.

Tries to second-rowers Isaiah Papali’i and Erin Clark were the turning point in the match, as both scored within 10 minutes of each another before the hour mark.

Both former Samoan internationals made big impacts, benefitting from a smooth halves pairing of Dylan Brown and Kieran Foran.

Earlier, Samoa took the lead through wing Brian To’o after 10 minutes and then Simi Sasagi raced almost the length of the field, after intercepting a Foran pass.

Interchange forward Naufahu Whyte answered back for New Zealand to make it 14-6 at the break.

The Kiwis came out with a mission to simply hang onto the ball and it worked, utterly dominating proceedings, until they were able to unlock the Samoan defence for tries to Papali’i and Clark.

By the time Brown danced his way through the left edge to set up Casey McLean to score, the momentum was so well and truly with the Kiwis that they’d completed a full 10 sets more than the Samoans.

Meanwhile, Keano Kini was outstanding at fullback, enduring some rough treatment at the hands of the Samoan defence.

Jamayne Isaako – another former Samoan player – knocked over a penalty goal with seven minutes to play, adding a little insurance, allowing Foran to relax and enjoy the final moments of his long career.

The veteran half was retiring at the end of this season and his partnership with Brown during the tournament had been very good, with Brown playing a massive role in the Kiwis’ win.

He played a hand in the last couple of Kiwis tries, first smashing To’o to jar the ball loose for Papali’i to eventually score out wide, then stepping and offloading for Charnze Nicoll-Klockstad to complete the 30-point swing.

Read how the game unfolded here:

Kiwis: Keano Kini, Jamayne Isaako, Matthew Timoko, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Casey McLean, Dylan Brown, Kieran Foran, James Fisher Harris (captain), Phoenix Crossland, Moses Leota, Briton Nikora, Isaiah Papali’i, Joseph Tapine. Interchange: Te Maire Martin, Naufahu Whyte, Erin Clark, Xavier Willison, Scott Sorenson, Zach Dockar-Clay, Josiah Karapani.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Some races end at a finish line – instead, the Arrowtown Backyard Ultra is all about how many times runners can cross the start line.

On Saturday, 150 competitors lined up to see how many laps of the 6.7 kilometre loop alongside the Arrow River they could complete, on the hour, every hour, until they could go no further.

Race organiser Brandon Purdue said the sold-out event was designed to test the grit and resolve of even the most determined runners.

“One of the catchphrases is ‘it’s easy until it’s not’ – so runners might do the first 3-6 laps, thinking ‘this is super easy, I can go all day,’ and then you get to like 12, 18 laps and slowly but surely it wears you down and it just gets harder and harder,” he said.

Wānaka runner Dan Hammett made it right through the first night and found his breaking point at 27 laps.

He said his knees were seized up, and he “couldn’t think straight anymore”.

“A tough day, a tough night, but a great bunch of people. I’m just knackered,” he said.

Nick Doig from Christchurch said the key was in the precious minutes of recovery in his tent between laps.

“Legs up, fuelling, salt pills, whatever I need,” he said.

Last year’s event was won by Paul Maxwell from Waitati, who clocked up 302 kilometres over 45 laps.

Christchurch runner Hadani Woodruff – last year’s women’s winner – was aiming to beat her previous record of 37 laps partly to “beat the boys”.

She said her feet “felt like a big hammer had been mashing into them,” and she was trying to eat around 250 calories each hour to keep going.

On the upside, by the second day, the course took on a meditative quality, she said.

“It’s a bit like mindfulness, actually. You just go into quite a calm, relaxed state when you’re running. You follow the path, you chat to people. It’s a cool experience – until it hurts.”

That was an experience shared by Cromwell’s Kieran Philip.

“You kind of learn where your walk spots are, where your running spots are. You get all these little characteristics you get familiar with. I haven’t named everything yet, but that will come later,” he said.

He said he was driven by a need to see how far he could push himself.

“You don’t know until you try,” he said.

Behind each stubborn runner was a patient support crew – including, in Kieran’s case, his parents.

Lynne Philip said she was enjoying being part of the race, and fielding requests for different supplies and food.

“Kieran tells us basically what he thinks he will want next time when he comes in. So we make sure it’s here, instantly ready for him so all he has to do is sit down and grab it, eat it, drink it, whatever.”

Backyard Ultras began in Tennessee in 2011 and have since amassed a global following.

Over the next year, at least 16 races following the same format were scheduled across New Zealand.

Brandon Purdue said the community and atmosphere were what made them special.

“If you think about a marathon – it’s amazing that feeling you get when you cross the finish line. Now our runners get to do that on the hour, every single hour,” he said.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Despite being reduced to 14 players, the Springboks have pulled off a remarkable 32-17 win over France in Paris. Lock Lood de Jager was shown a straight red card by referee Angus Gardner just before halftime for a clumsy shoulder to the head of Thomas Ramos, however the underhanded world champions kept the home side to just a penalty goal from then on.

The match was billed as a rematch of the epic World Cup quarterfinal two years ago that saw the Springboks break French hearts, as well as being talismanic Springbok captain Siya Kolisi’s 100th test match. However, it was the hosts who started in perfect fashion with a try to Damian Penaud after only four minutes.

Sacha Feinburg-Mngomezulu struck back with two penalties, before Penaud scored his second to give France a 14-6 lead. France looked to be in control of the game before Cobus Reinach scored a brilliant individual try to pull the Springboks back within three points.

De Jager was marched just before the break, then Ramos extended France’s lead after the resumption. After that, it was all one way traffic as the Springboks silenced the Stade de France crowd with tries to Andre Esterhuizen, Grant Williams and a stunning individual effort to Feinburg-Mngomezulu to make the score a veritable blowout.

It’s a big statement for Kolisi and Rassie Eramus’s side, who have won the Rugby Championship this season and now have knocked off the Six Nations champions at home. They face Italy next weekend, while France take on Fiji.

Read how the game unfolded here:

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Analysis – The All Blacks’ unbeaten record against Scotland has remained intact – just . The 25-17 win at Murrayfield was on track to being a brilliant statement, turned into a thrilling spectacle, but ultimately ended up posing a lot of the same questions about Scott Robertson’s All Black side.

One thing is for sure, though. When the Scottish team and their fans wake up tomorrow, their hangovers are going to feel worse than usual, because they absolutely blew it. The All Blacks handed them a one-man advantage for a full half an hour, couldn’t capitalise on their two early tries, then rolled out the welcome mat to the 22 for almost the entire second half.

It was all there for Scotland to break their 120 year duck. But even a brave display from a banged-up Finn Russell, a captain’s knock from Sione Tuipulotu and an absolute glut of possession couldn’t stop them doing what they’ve always done.

Because when it came down to it, they got inside their own heads and fell to bits when they needed it most. Which admittedly does say a bit about the All Blacks, who tapped into the team’s historic ability to ruthlessly exploit even the slightest bit of hesitation. Damian McKenzie’s try didn’t just come off the back of his stunning 50/22, with Ardie Savea’s call to go for a lineout off a subsequent offside penalty a smart, high-percentage play.

As far as smarts go, there’s not much else to report. Josh Lord’s perception to pick and gallop up field to set up Cam Roigard was a good start, while Savea and Peter Lakai’s work at the breakdown was crucial. But the three yellow cards shattered a very good trend for the All Blacks in the back half of the season.

They’d given up six yellow cards in the first five tests, but none since, so this sudden and brainless lapse in discipline is the real talking point once Scotland’s tears are wiped away.

Savea’s yellow felt unavoidable when he pulled down a drive that led to Ewan Ashman’s try, but it ultimately wouldn’t have made any difference, so can’t be classified as a desperate roll of the dice. Besides, Savea shouldn’t be doing anything as skipper and best player on the park to potentially have him leave it.

The other two were just dumb, especially when Leroy Carter didn’t even realise he’d been binned after his foot trip on Darcy Graham. Wallace Sititi fell victim to rugby’s most unpopular law, but that made it four knock down yellow cards this year for the All Blacks, easily the most out of any test side. The most annoying thing is that without the cards, this would be a good news story as the penalty count ended 10-8 in the All Blacks’ favour.

Both sides spent long periods on defence and the All Blacks’ resilience in the second half should be applauded, but it’s hard not to question why they waited till the Scots were 10 metres away from the tryline to start tackling them properly.

McKenzie’s shift off the bench once again proved that the All Blacks are developing some serious problem-solving ability in that area. It’s not the first time he’s been the difference on an end of year tour match, while around him the replacement forwards simply did what they needed to in the game’s critical last 10 minutes.

So there was a bit to like in all of it, plus it’s worth remembering that this tense result and Scotland’s positive performance are very much on brand for this fixture. The last three matches at Murrayfield, two of which involved Steve Hansen’s then-world champion All Blacks, ended with almost identical scorelines.

But given the importance this tour now has for Robertson since he has a chance to close out an up and down season in the right way, the introspection this week needs to be high. There should be plenty of pride to take out of the defensive effort, however the point should be getting hammered home that, after being up 17-0, it never should have come to that in the first place.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Blair Tickner retains his place in the Black Caps one-day side, after taking successive four-wicket hauls against England.

The Central Districts paceman was called into the squad last month for the first time in two years, as injury cover for Kyle Jamieson.

Both Tickner and Jamieson have been named in the ODI squad to face the West Indies, but Kane Williamson remains sidelined with a groin injury.

Tickner took his chances, claiming figures of 4/34 and 4/64 in his two matches.

He steered New Zealand home with the bat in the third ODI in Wellington, as the team sealed just their second-ever ODI series win over England.

“We couldn’t have asked for more from Ticks against England,” said New Zealand coach Rob Walter. “He brought plenty of energy, and his pace and bounce proved to be a big test for some of the best batters in the world.

“It was pleasing to see him come in at short notice and perform at that level, and that’s a testament to the hard work he’s been putting in.”

Matt Henry returns to action, after missing the final two one-dayers against England with a calf strain.

The pace-bowling group also includes Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes and Nathan Smith, with captain Mitchell Santner, Michael Bracewell and Rachin Ravindra providing spin options.

The squad assembles in Christchurch on 14 November, before the series-opener at Hagley Oval on 16 November.

Williamson, who is recovering from injury, will not take part in the series, but he is preparing for the test series against the West Indies, starting in December.

New Zealand squad for West Indies ODI

Mitchell Santner (captain), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham (wk), Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, Will Young.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand